Illinois Medicine

I L L I N O I S M E D I C I N E | 37 Group and Verity Health System in southern California. A nationally renowned medical oncologist who specializes in treating cancers of the pancreas, esophagus, colon, rectum, anus and liver, Seery has extensive experience in researching pancreatic cancer, with multiple scientific publications. She is one of the nation's highest enrollers in early phase pancreatic cancer trials. The even if they have other risk factors. He went on to lead an international group of researchers who looked for mutations that destroyed the gene, finding that it occurred in just one 1 in 309 people. But he and his colleagues discovered the mutation reduced heart attack risk by a third. As a result of Stitziel's research, along with that of others, two pharmaceutical companies are now testing drugs based on the genetic mutations in hopes of finding the next blockbuster heart disease treatment. Stitziel is the director of the Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, the director of the McDonnell Genome Institute, and assistant professor of medicine and genetics at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. After receiving his MD and PhD in bioinformatics from the COM, Stitziel completed his residency at the University of Chicago, a cardiology fellowship at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and a combined postdoctoral research fellowship in cardiovascular genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital, Broad Institute, and Brigham and Women's Hospital. He joined the faculty at Washington University in fall 2012. Nitin Kumar, MD '07, has joined the HSHS Medical Group in Effingham, Illinois. A gastroenterologist, Kumar is skilled in colonoscopies, endoscopy, intragastric balloon placement, and specialization in obesity medicine. After earning his MD, he completed gastroenterology and advanced endoscopy fellowships at Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital. Board-certified in internal medicine, gastroenterology and obesity medicine, Kumar is a member of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American Pancreatic Association and the Association for Bariatric Endoscopy. Tara Seery MD, Fel '08, has been appointed director of the newly established pancreatic cancer program at Verity Medical primary investigator for 20 oncology trials, Seery has research experience in neoadjuvant chemotherapy, intraoperative chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, and treatments for neuropathic pain. A dedicated teacher, Seery was featured at the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Annual Lecture Series. After receiving her medical degree from University College Dublin School of Medicine, she did her residency and fellowship training in hematology/oncology at Caritas St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Boston and completed her fellowship training at the COM Chicago. Most recently, she served as an associate professor at the University of California, Irvine in the division of hematology oncology, where she received the prestigious C. Ronald Koons, MD Humanitarian Award for service and compassion to patients. James Cheon, MD '11, has joined Allied Anesthesia, a Southern California medical group that provides adult and pediatric services to several area hospitals. Board-certified in anesthesiology, Cheon practices at Children's Hospital of Orange County, St. Joseph Hospital, and the Orthopaedic Institute for Children in Los Angeles. After receiving his MD, Cheon completed his residency at the University of Chicago. He was a pediatric anesthesia fellow at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Krista Childress, MD '11, has joined Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine as an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology. Board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, Childress is a member of a number of professional societies including Alpha Omega Alpha, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, the North American Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Gynecology, and the Pediatric Initiative Network- The Oncofertility Consortium. She received an Outstanding Teacher Award from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and her Mental Health PG Prize Paper was selected by the Scientific Program Committee of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine in 2014. After receiving her MD, Childress completed her residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a fellowship in pediatric and adolescent Nitin Kumar Krista Childress Tara Seery James Cheon '07 '08 Radiologist a prominent contributor of ideas to improve the field AMES BORGSTEDE '70, MD '74, has taken a leadership role in helping radiologists do their jobs well. Alongside his clinical practice and professorship at the University of Colorado in Denver, Borgstede has committed himself for years to the mission of the Radiological Society of North America. Now, he's board chair of the organization, which provides a forum for conversations about incorporating advances and providing the best possible care. An RSNA member since 1976, Borgstede lectures, gives scientific presentations and publishes articles about issues such as safety standards and the dramatic increase in diagnostic imaging —and when it's truly warranted. He has presented at more than 100 scientific and educational meetings around the world. International service has long been part of his career, with projects in the Philippines, Cameroon and Haiti, where he traveled multiple times with the American College of Radiology to provide radiology services and education at Grace Children's Hospital in Port-au-Prince. A reviewer for the Journal of the American College of Radiology and past president of the group's Board of Chancellors, Borgstede received the organization's highest honor in 2009, the peer-nominated Gold Medal for distinguished and extraordinary service to the discipline. It's one of many awards he has received through years of affiliations with numerous professional groups, including the International Society of Radiology, where he formerly served as president. Borgstede also has been an active presenter at the RSNA's yearly assembly. "The RSNA annual meeting is the venue for education and research presentations and for radiologists around the world to meet face to face and discuss issues relevant to the future of our specialty for the benefit of our patients," he says. — Rose Shilling J HONING THE CRAFT OF MEDICAL IMAGING James Borgstede '11

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