With both hands on the controls, Hassan Zbeeb slowly backed a colonoscope and extraction device out of a simulated intestinal tract and revealed his prize — a piece of makeup sponge standing in for a polyp.

“Look at that, a biopsy,” said Tiffany Killblane, M.D., a first-year surgery resident instructing Zbeeb in the procedure.

“Put it under the microscope now!” Zbeeb said.

Named after the first woman in the U.S. to earn a medical degree, the Blackwell Club — created by a KU School of Medicine-Wichita general surgery residency alumna — is providing peer support and education for female surgical residents and attending physicians that often can’t be found in the classroom or the operating room.

Lindsay Strader, D.O., initially started the club in 2020 to help fight the stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"She is the first female to graduate from our general surgery residency in 1982 and to my knowledge is the first surgeon in the entire KU Surgery system to achieve full member status,” said Alex Ammar, M.D., professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

More than 50 third graders from Park Elementary School recently visited KU School of Medicine-Wichita for their annual Halloween event. This year marks the medical school's 25th year of partnership with Park Elementary and Wichita Public Schools. The students also got to vote for their favorite pumpkin in the staff pumpkin decorating contest. View the photo album to see which pumpkin won their vote!

The newest art exhibit coming to KU School of Medicine-Wichita is a family affair. 

“Quilts & Carvings” will premiere in the William J. Reals Gallery of Art with an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3. A combined show by a grandmother and granddaughter, it will be in both the East and West galleries during First Friday in Wichita.

KU School of Medicine-Wichita faculty members and resident physicians were recognized during the American College of Physicians-Kansas Chapter's annual Scientific Meeting & Hospitalist Day on Oct. 4-6 in Wichita. Honorees included:

Laureate Award - Jennifer Jackson, M.D., FACP, associate program director and associate professor
Hospitalist of the Year - Samuel Akidiva, M.D., associate professor
Mahlon H. Delp Resident Award - Kevin Kadado, D.O.
Best Resident Poster Presentation – Abdul Rahman Akkawi, M.D.

From left to right: Scott Smiley, M.D.; Donna Sweet, M.D.; and Jennifer Jackson, M.D.

Laurel Witt, M.D., a KU School of Medicine-Wichita alumna, was recently honored during Alumni Reunion Weekend as the Early Career Achievement in Medicine Alumna. Witt is assistant dean for medical education and an associate professor in Family Medicine & Community Health at KU Medical Center. She had an unconventional path to medical school – not every doctor can say they have an advanced degree in literature. But her deep commitment to innovation and service of her community makes it clear that she was always meant to be a physician.

Congratulations to Kent Bradley, M.D., clinical professor and vice chair of Obstetrics & Gynecology at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, on being elected as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District VII secretary/program chair. District VII includes Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee, as well as Mexico. He was also asked to create and chair ACOG’s Business of Medicine committee, which has a goal of educating physicians on practice management, personal finance, billing and coding, and insurance reimbursement issues.

The finalists in the Rural Kansas Photography Contest have been announced, and from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16, you can stop by the Sunflower Room at KU School of Medicine-Wichita to vote for your favorites during a free National Rural Health Day breakfast reception hosted by Rural Health Education & Services. Can’t make it in person? Follow the link below to sign up for online voting.

Combine Harvest Supermoon by Kevin Kirkwood, Leavenworth County

Rock Chalk, Jayhawk!

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