Einstein Residents Win American College of Physicians ‘Doctor’s Dilemma’ Contest

Philadelphia, PA, May 01, 2007 ─ Residents representing Albert Einstein Healthcare Network defeated 29 teams from around the nation in the “Jeopardy”-style medical knowledge competition sponsored by the American College of Physicians (ACP).

Residents Uma Borate MD, Supriya Narasimhan MD, Harish Iyer MD and backup player Santosh Uppu MD comprised the 2006-2007 Einstein Residents’ team. Each physician received individual certificates and a share in the Osler trophy for their team’s victory at the annual meeting of the American College of Physicians in San Diego.

The ACP’s  “Doctor’s Dilemma” is a medical knowledge competition that pits residents and medical students from across the country for the coveted title of national champions. Organized in the format of the television game show “Jeopardy,” the competition includes questions that span all aspects of medicine and include medical calculations, strange diseases and medical history. 

To reach the national level, the team defeated six local hospitals – including Abington, Drexel, Thomas Jefferson, Hahnemann, Mercy Fitzgerald, and Temple – for the right to represent eastern Pennsylvania. Coached by Janani Rangaswami MD, the team then triumphed over two other Pennsylvania regional teams to represent the entire state at the national competition in April. They then went on to win the championship at the national competition in San Diego, CA.  This is the third time a team from Albert Einstein Healthcare Network has won the “Doctors Dilemma” national competition. Other victories occurred in 1997 and 1998.

“It was very exciting to watch these bright young physicians compete in a contest that tests not only knowledge but the ability to answer tough medical questions with the least amount of information. This is ordinarily what doctors do and since I work directly with the Einstein residents every day and observe their excellent clinical skills, I am not surprised that they won the national competition,” said Steven Sivak MD,Chair of the Department of Medicine for the network.

 “The biggest reward of participating in the Doctor’s Dilemma is the joy of playing and the opportunity to represent your residency program. And one of the longer term benefits is that the process helps reinforce the benefits resulting from good team work,” said Dr. Rangaswami.

Dr. Borate will be Chief Resident in Einstein’s Department of Medicine for 2007-08  and will specialize in Hematology-Oncology. Dr. Narasimhan will start a fellowship in infectious diseases at Baylor University in Texas in July. Drs. Iyer and Uppu continue their residencies at Einstein.  And coach Rangswami will begin a fellowship in Nephrology at Weill Medical Center at Cornell University in July.

About Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, is a 1,200 bed integrated delivery network serving the communities of North Philadelphia and Montgomery County, PA.  A founding member of the Jefferson Health System, Einstein combines the best of academic medicine and community service, employing nearly 7,000 people, and offering training programs for physician residents and fellows, nurses and other health professionals.  The Network provides healthcare services through the Albert Einstein Medical Center and Einstein at Elkins Park hospitals, its MossRehab and Belmont Behavioral Health divisions, Germantown Community Health Services, Willow Terrace (a nursing home), Willowcrest (a center for subacute care), outpatient facilities such as Center One and Einstein Neighborhood Healthcare, network of primary care and specialist practices throughout the community. For more information, visit www.einstein.edu or call 1-800-EINSTEIN.

CONTACT: Alexis Moore
Communications Director
Albert Einstein Healthcare Network
215-456-6734
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