The 2013 Guest Speakers

L-R  Steven Stain, MD; David Mahvi, MD; John Patrick Walker, MD and Andrew L. Warshaw, MD

Members of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and the University of Oklahoma Surgical Society were provided with information about the changes in surgery and education by out Guest Speakers and provided the opportunity to visit with fellow surgeons at the annual meeting in Oklahoma City on March 1.  Dr.Warshaw also gave the Eighth G. Rainey Williams Williams Lecture "A Tale of Three Cancers" - you should have been here.

Albrecht Honored By Oklahoma County Medical Society

Above, Dr. Albrecht receives the Rhinehart award
from Dr. Tomás P. Owens, outgoing OCMS president

Roxie Albrecht, M.D., director of OU Medical Center’s Level 1 Trauma Center, is the recent recipient of the Rhinehart Community Service Award. The award was presented by the Oklahoma County Medical Society in connection with its 2013 Inaugural Dinner held at the Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club in January.

The Rhinehart award is given annually to an Oklahoma County Medical Society physician who has demonstrated significant involvement in projects to improve health care in the community and state. Albrecht is the first and only fully dedicated trauma medical director at the trauma center. She has been recognized for her distinctive expertise and dedication to the improvement of Oklahoma’s trauma system.

“The Don Rhinehart Award recognizes a physician who has made significant contributions to the community. Dr. Roxie Albrecht is a most deserving recipient of this award,” said Russell G. Postier, M.D., chair, Department of Surgery. “Honored for her dedication to the citizens of Oklahoma, Roxie’s tireless efforts have served to improve the care of trauma patients. Due in large part to these efforts, Oklahoma County and the state of Oklahoma have one of the best funded and best organized trauma systems in the entire country,” he continued. “Dr. Rhinehart would be proud to know Roxie has received the award that bears his name.”

Welcome Reception and G. Rainey Williams Lecture

On Thursday evening, February 28, at 7:00 pm, there will be a Welcome Reception at the Renaissance Hotel, for OUSS members and guests. Plan to come, spend the night and attend the G. Rainey Williams Lecture on Friday.
The G. Rainey Williams Lecture will take place on Friday, March 1, 2013 at 11:00 am at the
Renaissance Hotel Convention Center at 10 North Broadway Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City.
Dr. Andrew L. Warshaw of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, is our Invited Lecturer. He will talk on “A Tale of Three Cancers.”

We hope you will plan to join us on this occasion to honor the memory of Dr. Williams and to see old friends.

Two former residents join the faculty

Steven N. Carter, MD, a Lawton native, completed his surgery residency at OU in 2011 then spent a year at Baylor University in Dallas specializing his training in colorectal surgery.  He joined the faculty in August 2012.

Joshua L. Gierman, MD, rejoined the Department of Surgery in September after a year of specialized training at Baylor University in Dallas where he studied endovasular disorders of the arteries and veins.  Dr. Gierman completed his surgery residency at OU in 2009 and then spent a year on the trauma faculty before completing his vascular fellowship.

It's great to have them both back on staff.

OU Academy of Teaching Scholars

The OU College of Medicine inaugurated a new academy in May known as Academy of Teaching Scholars. This Academy has been created to foster, recognize, celebrate and encourage excellence in teaching and scholarly pursuits in education itself. The initial members that were inducted into the Academy May 16 included two groups: (1) all former Stanton L. Young Master Teacher Award winners who are still active members of the faculty, and (2) a group selected from the faculty after careful consideration by a faculty task force.  Four members of the Department of Surgery faculty were included in the newly formed Academy:  M. Alex Jacocks, MD, Jason S. Lees, MD, Jacqueline O’Herrin, MD and Russell G. Postier, MD.  Congratulations and thanks for the excellent teaching.

OU Regent's Alumni Award

Eleven exceptional University of Oklahoma alumni and friends received the Regents’ Alumni Awards for their dedication and service to OU in a ceremony May 11 on the Norman campus. Included in this year's honorees was Douglas "Che" Miller, MD ('07).


A committee formed by the Alumni Association selects the award recipients from nominations made by alumni, friends, and OU faculty and staff. Each recipient receives a plaque and their names are engraved on a permanent plaque in Oklahoma Memorial Union.  He joins Sam T Hamra, MD ('68) who was honored in 1995. Congratulations!

Frequent flyer

David W. Tuggle, MD is an invited guest lecturer at a meeting in Kanagawa, Japan at the Japanese Society of Pediatric Surgeons this May sharing with them his experiences from OU Pediatric Surgery.