Brian McMahon named WWAMI Science in Medicine Lecturer

Dr. Brian McMahon, Affiliate Professor in the Alaska WWAMI Biomedical Program, has been selected as the WWAMI Science in Medicine Lecturer for 2007 08. This prestigious award recognizes a single WWAMI scientist from the 5-state region

- Wyoming, Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho for exemplary scientific research accomplishments in medicine.  Dr. McMahon is the Director of the Viral Hepatitis Program for the Alaska Area Native Health Service and conducts research at the CDC in Anchorage.  He is concurrently a staff physician and clinical hepatologist at the Alaska Native Medical Center.

 

Dr. McMahon has been and continues to be an innovator generating new knowledge.  He takes his work from the lab to the bedside, effectively ranslating basic research into practical standards that are applicable to patients.  He is a master communicator who engages students and colleagues like as he describes the intricacies and impact of hepatitis in a thorough manner, yet in a way that an educated layman can easily comprehend.

Many organizations have recognized Dr. McMahon's achievements through the years, culminating in his election in 2005 as a Master of the American ollege of Physicians.  In recent years he has been responsible for significant changes in the standards for prophylaxis of hepatitis A and management and treatment of hepatitis B and C.

The WWAMI Science in Medicine Lectureship recognizes accomplished WWAMI faculty at the rank of Professor whose research programs have led to recent exciting scientific discoveries.  Awardees must be able to effectively communicate those innovations to demonstrate their relevance to "clinical care, the basic sciences and translational research now and in the future."

WWAMI is Alaska's Medical School.  Alaska WWAMI students complete their first year of medical school at UAA.  More than 100 clinical clerkships instruct WWAMI medical students in their 3rd and 4th years in Alaska.  Thus, Alaskans can complete 3 of the 4 years of medical school in Alaska through WWAMI.