The Wayne State University School of Medicine Alumni Association celebrated and honored the contributions of four distinguished physicians during an awards banquet that capped the 2017 Medical Alumni Reunion weekend.
The four were recognized May 20 at a reunion dinner at the MGM Grand in Detroit following a day of continuing medical education sessions at the School of Medicine. The annual event allowed members of graduating classes from across the country to meet and catch up with classmates, and to learn about the schoolâs progress from Dean Jack D. Sobel, M.D.
More than 350 alumni and guests attended Medical Alumni Reunion weekend 2017, which began May 19 at Comerica Park with the Detroit Tigers taking on the Texas Rangers. The cool temperatures and light mist in the later innings didnât hinder sports-loving alumni from enjoying the game.
The reunion kicked into high gear at the School of Medicine the next day, beginning with informative and thought-provoking CME presentations, followed by lunch and student-led tours of Scott Hall and the Mazurek Medical Education Commons. After a short break, the evening festivities resumed at MGM Grand Detroit with class receptions, dinner and the awards program. The weekend concluded with an educational and entertaining bus tour of Detroit, followed by a concert featuring the Detroit Medical Orchestra.
The Lawrence M. Weiner Award, established in 1979, honors the outstanding contributions made by individuals who are not M.D. alumni of the WSU School of Medicine. The award is based on exceptional performance in teaching, research and/or administrative duties. This year the award was presented to Phillip Levy, M.D., M.P.H., professor of Emergency Medicine for the Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Recently appointed assistant vice president for Translational Sciences and Clinical Research Innovation for the university, Dr. Levy also serves as associate chair for Research in the Department of Emergency Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. He also is a standing member of the National Institutes of Healthâs Cancer, Heart and Sleep Epidemiology Study Sections, the Grants Advisory Panel for the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation and the Scientific Review Committee for the American College of Emergency Physicians. In addition, he chairs ACEPâs Research Committee and the American College of Cardiologyâs Cardiovascular Service Accreditation Management Board.
Dr. Levyâs research interests center on heart failure and hypertension, with a dual focus on acute management and early disease detection. He is an internationally recognized expert in cardiovascular disease research. He has been the principal investigator for cardiovascular-related studies funded by multiple entities, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the National Institutes of Healthâs National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. He is a co-investigator on Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute- and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-funded studies.
The Recent Alumni Award, established in 2003, is presented to alumni who received a medical degree from the Wayne State University School of Medicine within the last 15 years and who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement, community contributions or service to the school. Ciara Jane Barclay-Buchanan, M.D., of the Class of 2007, received the award.
Dr. Barclay-Buchanan completed her training in Emergency Medicine at Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit, where she served as chief resident. In 2010 she joined the Wayne State University faculty, serving as the Emergency Medicine clerkship site director for Wayne State University and Michigan State University at Sinai-Grace Hospital for three years. She then served as associate residency director for the Emergency Medicine program at Sinai-Grace Hospital before being recruited to Madison, Wis., in 2015.
She is the associate residency program director for the University of Wisconsin Emergency Medicine residency program, and the medical director of Clinical Staffing for the Berbee Walsh Department of Emergency Medicine. She is involved nationally with the Academy for Women in Academic Emergency Medicine and the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors.
Brian OâNeil, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., F.A.H.A., professor and Munuswamy Dayanandan Endowed Chair of the WSU Department of Emergency Medicine; and the Rev. Don Tynes, M.D., F.A.C.P., both received the Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is presented each year to alumni who have made outstanding contributions to humanitarian causes, whose contributions to the health field in the broader sense is outstanding and for service to the School of Medicine.
Dr. OâNeil, Class of 1986, is the specialist-in-chief of Emergency Medicine for the Detroit Medical Center. He is a nationally recognized expert in the fields of cardiac and cerebral ischemia and cardiac resuscitation. He has been involved with guideline and policy development within the American Heart Association and other specialty organizations. The past-president of the AHAâs Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science Subcommittee, he is a member of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. He was a member of the Writing Committee for the American Heart Associationâs 2010 Acute Coronary Syndromes Guidelines and the 2015 Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support guidelines.
He received the American College of Emergency Physicians 2013 Outstanding Contribution in Research Award, the Emergency Medicine Foundation Fellowship Award and the Career Investigator Development Award from the National Institutes of Health. He has been recognized for his outstanding teaching, receiving the Academician of the Year, Sinai-Grace Hospital; Teacher of the Year, St. John Hospital; Lawrence R. Schwartz, Faculty Devotion Award, William Beaumont Hospital; and the Emergency Medicine Residents Association of Michigan Teacher of the Year Award. He is a member of the Research Committee for the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Dr. Tynes, Class of 1995, is the co-founder of the schoolâs annual Reach Out to Youth program, which seeks to attract urban children to the medical sciences. The clinical assistant professor is an historian, educator, lecturer and author of âFor the Black Men and Women of Tomorrow,â (Darrell Ross Publishing).
Dr. Tynes specializes in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, with special interest in diabetes, hypertension, asthma, sexual dysfunction and peripheral arterial disease. He practices at the Benton Harbor (Michigan) Health Center as the chief medical officer. He has received numerous awards, including the Outstanding Service Award from the Black Medical Association, the Detroit City Council Award of Recognition, the Spirit of Detroit Award, a Michigan House of Representatives Special Tribute and a Certificate of Tribute from Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Crainâs Detroit Business recognized him as a Health Care Hero for 2012. In 2015, he was presented the Benton Harbor Men of Honor Award and Healthcare of Michigan 2015, Award of Excellence in Patient Care. In 2016, Dr. Tynes was recognized as a community hero at the second annual Community Champions Awards program presented by Molina Healthcare in Grand Rapids for his work with the Reach Out To Youth program.
An ordained minister, Dr. Tynes is involved several community activities, including Project New Hope National & International Relief Program, Future Doctors-Future Leaders, Christ in The Mix, Kick the Peace Stop the Nonsense Crush the Violence Anti-Riot Program, Mobile Youth Gospel Concert Program, College Bound Program, Future Leaders Basketball Program and the Keep It Real Ministry Drill Team. He believes strongly in his mission to increase self-esteem in African-American children, youth and medical students.
The awards presentation ended a day-long agenda of continuing medical education sessions and the Dr. Morris S. Brent Lectureship Series at the School of Medicine. George Mogill, M.D., of the Class of 1942, was the oldest graduate to attend the reunion. Special recognition went to the classes of 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 and 2012.