Leo B. Twiggs, M.D., professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology was appointed co-director of a course on HPV that was presented to health care professionals in  Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Beirut, Lebanon in April, in conjunction with George Washington University Medical Center. His lectures included, “Update on HPV Vaccines,” and “Immunology of HPV Infection.”

Andrew V. Schally, Ph.D., M.D.h.c., D.Sc.h.c., the 1977 Nobel Prize winner for physiology or medicine, Distinguished Medical Research Scientist of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and professor of pathology and medicine at the Miller School, was bestowed with yet another Doctor Honoris Causa. Schally was recognized for his contribution to peptide science and modern endocrinology by the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Patras in Greece at a special ceremony in May.

James Potter, Ph.D., professor of molecular and cellular pharmacology, has been inducted into the Hall of Honor at Amity High School in Woodbridge, Connecticut, his alma mater. He was recognized not only for his prolific scientific career, but also for his mentoring and support of young scientists. Dr. Potter took high school students as well as college interns into his lab to introduce them to the wonders of science.

Lynn Feun, M.D., professor of medicine and co-leader of the Melanoma Site Disease Group at Sylvester, presented study results of a Phase II trial at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, on June 7. He presented evidence that pegylated arginine deiminase (ADI-PEG 20), a novel anticancer drug that targets ASS(-) tumors, was effective in inhibiting the growth of metastatic melanoma cells.

Eduardo Alfonso, M.D., chairman of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, served as one of three national spokesmen for the National Eye Institute’s “May is Healthy Vision Month” radio media tour. Dr. Alfonso spoke primarily about the importance of promoting eye screenings, particularly within the Hispanic community. As reported in the May 2010 issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, rates of visual impairment and worsening of visual acuity in Hispanics are higher than any other racial/ethnic group studied in the United States. The interviews aired on National Hispanic Communications Network; Radio Caracol in Miami, Orlando and Tampa; and WGNK-FM in Miami.

Marjana Tomic-Canic, Ph.D., professor of dermatology and cutaneous surgery, published a study in the January 15 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. The study, funded by the NIH, was titled “Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Inhibits Epithelialization and Wound Healing through the Glucocorticoid Receptor,” and focused on a molecular mechanism through which statins accelerate wound healing.

David M. Levi, M.D., professor of clinical surgery, was the lead author of the paper titled “Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Era”  published in the May issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The findings were presented at the 121^st Annual Meeting of the Southern Surgical Association in Hot Springs, Virginia, in December. The study reviewed the experience with liver transplant for primary liver cancer at the University of Miami since 2002 and represents the largest North American series reported since the introduction of the current liver allocation system. The paper was a true multidisciplinary effort with coauthors from across the Miller School including Paul Martin, M.D., professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Hepatology; Monica T. Garcia, M.D., from the Department of Pathology; Lynn G. Feun, M.D., from the Division of Hematology/Oncology; Beatrice L. Madrazo, M.D., and Govindarajan Narayanan, M.D., from the Department of Radiology; Seigo Nishida, M.D., Ph.D., Jang Moon, M.D., Akin Tekin, M.D., Eddie Island, M.D., Gennaro Selvaggi, M.D., and Panagiotis Tryphonopoulos, M.D., from the Miami Transplant Institute; Andreas G. Tzakis, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Liver/GI Transplant Program; and Alan S. Livingstone, M.D., professor and chairman of the DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery.