TODAY news - Feb 20, 2003 - School of Medicine news

Thursday, February 20, 2003 TODAY

School of Medicine news

Brian Bull, MD, honored for years of service as School of Medicine dean

B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS (left), president and chief executive officer, Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center; and Donald G. Pursley, DBA (right), executive vice president, Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, present Brian S. Bull, MD, immediate past dean, School of Medicine, and his wife Maureen Bull, MD, with a silver platter etched with the names of the LLUAHSC leadership team..

Amidst a crowd of well-wishers, Brian S. Bull, MD, completed his tenure as dean of the School of Medicine on Monday evening, February 10.

Scores of colleagues and contemporaries from Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center gathered to honor Dr. Bull’s 10 years of service as dean. After a short introduction to the evening, a special musical presentation, and dinner, several people extolled his dedication to the students and School.

Neal C. Wilson, member emeritus of the Board of Trustees, commented on Dr. Bull’s generosity and loyalty to the School of Medicine. He compared Dr. Bull’s tenure to Sir Edmund Hillary’s and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay’s climb of Mount Everest. As Mr. Norgay said to reporters at the end of the climb, “Mountain climbers always help each other.” Elder Wilson honored Dr. Bull for having added to the climb that Loma Linda University has been taking throughout the past years.

Leonard L. Bailey, MD, chair of the department of surgery at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, painted a portrait of Dr. Bull for the audience. With broad strokes of “the rich colors of competence, intelligence, character, judgment, and skills,” Dr. Bailey went on to convey a picture of Dr. Bull’s character both professionally and personally.

Dr. Bull’s family takes a few moments after dinner as they share in his celebration of service. Pictured are (back row, from left) Ralph Longway; Maurine Bull, MD; Brian Bull, MD; Dusty Rigsby; (front row, from left) Nancie Parmeter; Berryl Longway; Beryl Bull; and Beverly Rigsby.

“ I have found Brian to be both generous and effective,” said Dr. Bailey, describing Dr. Bull’s mastery of the administration process. He recalled a memory of first meeting a young Dr. Bull, who conducted himself with such poise and calmness; traits he carried with him throughout his career as dean. But Dr. Bailey also remembered Dr. Bull’s personal touch, as evidenced by his holiday gifts of nuts—pistachios hand-picked and packed in bags marked with Rancho El Torro brand, a seal of Dr. Bull’s own making.

“ You are an excellent and elegant man, Brian,” said Dr. Bailey in closing. “You are leaving the dean’s office standing tall and the School of Medicine much better for having been there.”

Leonard Werner, MD, associate dean for educational affairs for the School of Medicine, praised Dr. Bull’s length and quality of tenure.

“ Dr. Bull is a tireless advocate for medical students,” said Dr. Werner, and listed a slew of programs, scholarships, and endowments started by Dr. Bull in benefit of the School and its students. He thanked Dr. Bull for instilling trust in his colleagues, the foundation for working through complex challenges.

Leonard L. Bailey, MD, chair, department of surgery, commends Dr. Bull for his “rich colors of competence, intelligence, character, judgment, and skills.”

Calvin B. Rock, PhD, DMin, immediate past chair of the Board of Trustees, presented a poem praising Dr. Bull’s years of service. “His love for youth, his quest for truth,” were more than enough to prove Dr. Bull is “a hero among us.”

Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, chancellor for Loma Linda University, shared his memories of working with Dr. Bull.

“ I’ve had the privilege twice a week to spend time with him,” said Dr. Hart. He gave a glimpse of Dr. Bull’s character by offering a few phrases affectionately known as Bullisms, in honor of Dr. Bull’s skill as a wordsmith. The “ceremonial shade structure,” as Dr. Bull refers to the canopy used for graduations, is more often termed the “Bull Pen.” The audience responded to his “Bullism” with the most laughter.

B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, president and CEO of Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center; and Roger Hadley, MD, the new dean of the School of Medicine, presented Dr. Bull with silver platters inscribed with the names of his colleagues. Dr. Bull responded to the kind and various remarks shared throughout the evening.

“ The rewards of this particular position are the people I’ve been able to work with,” he stated. “If you need someone to walk into a difficult situation with, I would choose Drs. Behrens and Pursley every time.”

The former dean was adamant in his recognition of the assistant and associate deans, who he thanked for completing the real work. He also thanked the staff, secretaries, and administrative assistants, who he noted were often only known by their first name, but nonetheless keep the institution running on a daily basis. In closing, he expressed his gratitude for being able to serve.

“ Thank you for the privilege of serving,” said Dr. Bull. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve the institution and the students. They’re why we’re here in the first place.”

Though he is stepping down from the dean’s office, Dr. Bull will continue to help fulfill the mission “to make man whole.” He will remain active as a department chair and a member of the University faculty. But for now, he and his wife, Maureen, will enjoy some well-earned time away.

Calvin B. Rock, PhD, DMin, immediate past chair, Board of Trustees for Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, congratulates Dr. Bull on his 10 years of service as dean of the School of Medicine.

Brian S. Bull was born in 1937 in Watford, Hertfordshire, England. He graduated from Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington, with a bachelor of science in zoology in 1957, and finished his medical degree at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1961 with a specialty in pathology.

Dr. Bull’s first appointment at Loma Linda University began in 1968 as assistant professor of pathology in the School of Medicine. He has been a part of the institution ever since. By 1973, he had moved up to chair of the department of pathology.

In 1977, he was appointed medical director for the medical technology program at the School of Allied Health Professions.

His first taste of the dean’s office came in 1993, when he was associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Medicine. He became dean of the School of Medicine the following year, as well as vice president for clinical faculty.

In 1996, Dr. Bull accepted the position of chair of the department of pathology/human anatomy. And in 1997 he was appointed senior vice president of LLUAHSC.

Dr. Bull holds positions on numerous committees, including the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center deans committee; the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation board; the Loma Linda University School of Medicine alumni association board of directors; and the Social Action Clinic Health Care board.

In 1997, Dr. Bull received the 1996 Citizen of the Year award from the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce.

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SM alumni association hosts ‘Buddy’ concert

Two “Buddys” from Michigan and Tennessee will team up on Saturday night, March 8, at 7:30 p.m., in the University Church of Seventh-day Adventists in Loma Linda.

Star performers will be Buddy Greene of Nashville, Tennessee, and Buddy Houghtaling, DDS, of Battle Creek, Michigan.

Dr. Houghtaling, a keyboard artist and singer, will celebrate the debut of his newest CD release, “Mercy Road” on March 8. Buddy Greene is co-author of the well-known holiday carol, “Mary, Did You Know?”

Tickets are available through the School of Medicine alumni association office, telephone (909) 558-4663. Front reserved seats are a $12 donation; $10 donation for open seating in the sanctuary and balcony; and a $6 donation for seating in the wings. A “golden circle” preferred seating (front and center) is available for a $50 donation and includes a reception with the artists.

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British physician presents guest lecture at School of Medicine

On Friday, February 7, guest professor David J.P. Barker, MD, PhD, fellow of the Royal Society and director of the Medical Research Council Environmental Epidemiology Unit at Southampton General Hospital–School of Medicine, gave a special presentation on his world-renowned research indicating a link between low birth and infant weight to increased risk of adult hypertension and coronary artery heart disease, also known as the “Barker hypotheses” of prenatal programming of adult disease.

Lawrence D. Longo, MD, distinguished professor of physiology and obstetrics and gynecology, and director of the Center for Perinatal Biology for Loma Linda University School of Medicine invited Dr. Barker to visit LLU and present some of his findings.

Dr. Barker discussed “Fetal and Childhood Nutrition and the Development of Chronic Disease.” As he began his comments, Dr. Barker noted, “This isn’t just a British problem, this is a problem of the entire West.” A demographic map of England of known birth weights from 1910 and 1911 revealed areas of high coronary heart disease.

When Dr. Barker and his research team began their studies, they searched for a vulnerability factor as to why certain areas and people were more prone to this disease.

“ Anything that doubles your chances for the most common killer in the world is a big deal,” says Dr. Barker. And through their studies, that’s exactly what his team found low birth weights did. “There is a pathway toward coronary heart disease that begins in the fetal stage.”

Slow growth in utero and during infancy permanently changes the structure and function of the body. The body’s organs and systems go through critical periods of development, and failure of growth during these critical periods has irrecoverable effects. The kidney, for example, has a critical period in late gestation, and babies with low birth weight have fewer nephrons (the functional unit of the kidney that filters blood): this is a life-long deficit. This is an example of a universal biological phenomenon, “developmental plasticity,” whereby a single genotype gives rise to a range of different structural and physiological settings in response to variations in environmental conditions during development.

People who were small at birth remain biologically different to other people through their lives. The differences include higher blood pressure, altered regulation of glucose metabolism, and altered liver function. They are also more vulnerable to the effects of poor living conditions in childhood and adult life.

Dr. Barker also found that people who develop cardiovascular disease or type-2 diabetes grow differently during fetal life and childhood. Slow growth in utero and during infancy is followed by accelerated weight gain in childhood. The combination of small size at birth and accelerated childhood weight gain is associated with large increases in the risk of disease.

There are a number of mechanisms through which rapid gain in weight or height may increase the risk of later disease. One proposed mechanism is that large body size increases the blood flow to the kidneys.

Hyperperfusion of the reduced number of nephrons associated with low birth weight is thought to lead to glomerulo-sclerosis and further loss of nephrons, especially as the body ages. This leads to a rise in blood pressure and further renal damage, and a self-perpetuating cycle of rising blood pressure and nephron loss.

According to Dr. Barker’s presentation, prevention of coronary heart disease and type-2 diabetes may depend on promoting fetal growth by protecting the nutrition and health of girls and young women, protecting growth in the first year after birth, and preventing rapid weight gain in early childhood.

“ Clearly this problem will not be solved by any one group,” said Dr. Barker in closing. “But birth weight does not doom you to hypertension.”

Dr. Barker trained as a physician at Guy’s Hospital, London, and thereafter at the Queen Elizabeth Center in Birmingham. He spent three years in Uganda at Makerere University Medical College, returning to Britain to join the newly founded medical school at Southampton.

During the past 15 years, his research has focused on how fetal and infant nutrition and growth determine health in adult life. This work arose from studies showing that individuals of low birth weight and infant weight are at increased risk of adult coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and related disorders.

This has led to the “fetal origins” hypothesis that proposes that these diseases originate through under-nutrition during critical periods of early development.

Dr. Barker has received a number of international awards for his work on the fetal origins of disease, including the Wellcome Gold Medal from the Royal Society, the Feldberg Foundation Award, and the Prince Mahidol Prize for Medicine.

The MRC environmental epidemiology unit at the University of Southampton investigates how the environment in utero and during infancy influences susceptibility to relatively common diseases in adult life. Research at the MRC unit throughout the past decade has supported the hypothesis that cardiovascular disease arises from fetal adaptation to an adverse environment in utero, and has raised a series of questions about the range of chronic diseases which originate in the womb; about the cellular and molecular processes which are initiated in the womb and lead to disease; and about the influences which, acting through the mother, control these processes. More information about the MRC environmental epidemiology unit can be found at <www.mrc.soton. ac.uk>.

On-going research at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in the Center for Perinatal Biology, led by Dr. Longo and his group, on the effects of high altitude on fetal and adult complications complements Dr. Barker’s research.

The high caliber of research throughout the Center for Perinatal Biology has garnered respect in the worldwide research community, and is one of the reasons renowned presenters such as Dr. Barker visit Loma Linda University.

“ That’s why I come to visit you,” smiled Dr. Barker to one of the questions asked at the end of his presentation on the fetal affects in high altitude.

The research on fetal and adult adaptations to long-term hypoxemia, begun more than a decade ago, offers a chance to reveal some of the mechanisms of the Barker hypotheses of prenatal programming of adult disease.

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Thursday, February 20, 2003 TODAY