116th Annual NMA Convention and Scientific Assembly - August 2018

Longtime physician Dr. Sammie I. Long formerly taught radiology as a clinical assistant professor at the University of South Alabama Medical Center. Engaged with several professional medical organizations, Dr. Sammie I. Long maintains membership with the National Medical Association (NMA). The association is preparing for its 116th Annual NMA Convention and Scientific Assembly in August. 

The conference is considered a leading forum for medical science and African American health, drawing attendance from health professionals across the country. Participants share their experiences and engage in scholarly discussions regarding medical advances and health policy priorities. In addition, the event allows attendees to expand their professional connections through a variety of networking opportunities. 

For its 116th gathering, the conference will bring healthcare providers together to explore innovative technologies and smarter forms of health care that save lives and prevent illness and disease. With an emphasis on collaboration and a multidisciplinary approach, it also equips participants with the necessary tools and support to foster a new culture of health. Attendees will also assist with the development of a National Action Plan for Health Equity, thereby encouraging involvement among all elements of the healthcare community. 

Scheduled events range from scientific programs and plenary sessions to presentation theaters and colleague networking lounges. The conference will also host a number of meetings and special programs, such as the NIH/NMA Fellows Program. Additionally, some activities will offer continuing medical education credits. Special events include the opening and awards session, the president’s installation, and many others. 

The conference will take place August 11-15, 2018, in Orlando, Florida.

Restaurants Required to Publish Calories

Dr. Sammie I. Long is a graduate of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. There, she received training for her career as a practitioner and educator of radiology. In addition to her professional endeavors, Dr. Sammie I. Long is a supporter of the American Heart Association. Well known for its commitment to promoting a heart-healthy lifestyle, the organization supports new legislation requiring restaurants to publish additional nutritional information on their menus.

As of May 7, 2018, the FDA now requires restaurants with more than 20 locations to publish caloric information on their menus and menu boards. The law also applies to convenience stores and supermarkets that sell prepared foods. 

The regulations have been initiated in an effort to help Americans make better, more informed choices about the foods they eat. Studies show that when people eat out, they consume as much as 40 percent more calories than they would at home and often misjudge the amount of calories in the foods they select. Over time, the additional, unnecessary calories lead to obesity and other problems such as high blood pressure and chronic disease. When the caloric content is easily accessible, however, Americans will hopefully search for healthier options.

Anticipating the change, many food producers have already started publishing the caloric content of their menu items. Many have also met with dietitians and others to discuss how to offer healthier options.

In addition to publishing the calories contained in each item, restaurants are required to note that the recommended daily intake for an average person is 2,000 calories. They must also offer patrons supplemental nutritional information that covers total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, sugars, fiber, and protein.

Continuing Education with the National Medical Association

An accomplished radiology professional, Dr. Sammie I. Long has shared her expertise with the next generation of medical professionals in roles such as clinical assistant professor of radiology at the University of South Alabama. An active member of her field, Dr. Sammie I. Long stays current through continuing medical education programs and her membership in professional groups such as the National Medical Association (NMA).

The nation’s largest medical association dedicated to representing African-American medical professionals, the NMA currently serves more than 30,000 members through a combination of national and local programs, policy advocacy, and networking events. The organization also offers continuing medical education (CME) credits through the William E. Matory, Sr., M.D, Continuing Medical Education Program.

CME options through the NMA include conference lectures, workshops, and symposia as well as 
web-based education alternatives. Many of the in-person CME events take place at the Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly, where thousands of medical practitioners and researchers gather to share study findings and discuss health policy. The event features 25 specialty sections ranging from aerospace medicine to women’s health, with each offering workshops and lectures throughout the course of the convention.

To learn more about CME at the Annual Convention, please visit www.nmanet.org/page/CME_Activities.

New Editor for AHA's Journal, Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging

An accomplished radiologist and professor of radiology, Dr. Sammie I. Long possesses more than three decades of experience working in both clinical and educational environments across the United States. Over the years, Dr. Sammie I. Long has established relationships with various health-related organizations, including the American Heart Association.

Last March, the AHA selected Robert J. Gropler, M.D., to serve as the new editor-in-chief of its journal, Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. The online-exclusive journal, which has been in publication for a decade, specializes in featuring research that highlights new methods of diagnosing cardiovascular disease using new innovations in imaging. Some of the imaging methods studied in the journal include resonance angiography, cardiac computed tomography, and echocardiography. 

Dr. Gropler serves at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, as the senior vice chair and director of the radiological sciences division. He brings more than two and a half decades of experience in the field to his new role overseeing the journal.

Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society Offers Research Fellowships

A radiologist with 30 years of experience in the field, Dr. Sammie I. Long has experience as an educator in addition to being a patient-care provider. Standing out as a clinical assistant professor of radiology and special fellow at the University of South Alabama Medical Center, Dr. Sammie I. Long also holds membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha medical society.

Among other initiatives, Alpha Omega Alpha supports the professional development of tomorrow’s leading medical researchers. Through the Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, the society funds research work proposed by recipients, such as clinical investigation, laboratory research, epidemiology, or social science or health services research.

The award amount is $5,000, with half paid upon announcement of the award and half paid after the recipient submits his or her final research report. The awardee’s research can either be intensive, in the form of 30 hours per week for a minimum of eight weeks, or spread out, such as an average of 4 hours per week over a period of one to two years. First-year through third-year medical students are eligible to apply if their schools have an active Alpha Omega Alpha chapter or association.

Alice Lloyd’s Caney Cottage Scholarships Help Fund Post-Grad Students

Dr. Sammie I. Long is a radiologist who possess more than three decades of clinical and academic experience. An author of children’s books in her spare time, Dr. Sammie I. Long also supports many nonprofit organizations and academic institutions, including Alice Lloyd College (ALC) in Kentucky.

ALC offers a financial support program for graduate students that is the first of its kind in the country. Called the Caney Cottage Scholarship Program, it provides financial support to ALC graduates seeking advanced degrees at other institutions. Partly thanks to this program, ALC alumni enjoy a high post-graduation success rate, with about 96 percent either enrolled in graduate schools or employed within six months of graduation.

The Caney Cottage Scholarship Program was founded by Alice Lloyd herself in the 1920s, when she acquired a building in Lexington, Kentucky, to house scholarship recipients rent-free. The 15,000-square-foot scholars’ residence hall was rebuilt in 1992 and named the H. N. and Frances C. Berger Residence Hall. However, it is still affectionately referred to as Caney Cottage. The building features thirteen living units that house 32 students who pursue graduate work at the University of Kentucky. Scholars attending other colleges or universities are given a cash award.

A Look at Operation Sharing at the Christian Appalachian Project

A radiologist with more than 30 years of clinical and academic experience, Dr. Sammie I. Long is also an author, who is developing a children’s book that explores the area of childhood grief. In addition, Dr. Sammie I. Long provides support to the Christian Appalachian Project.

A Catholic nonprofit organization, the Christian Appalachian Projects delivers services to individuals in the Appalachian region of the United States. Designed to build hope and transform lives, these social services span the areas of elderly and family support, disaster assistance, education programs, and poverty relief and reach more than 1 million individuals each year.

Poverty relief programs at the organization include the Grateful Bread Food Pantry, the Grateful Threadz Thrift Store, and the Operation Sharing initiative. A donation-based project, Operation Sharing makes use of two warehouses in Kentucky to collect donations that are distributed to individuals in the region. Items such as food, paper products, furniture, and household supplies are collected and distributed through an extensive network of over 1,200 nonprofit agencies. For additional information on the program, visit www.christianapp.org.

Preparing for X-Ray Testing - The Basics

Dr. Sammie I. Long has more than three decades of experience as a radiologist. Prior to the start of her career, Dr. Sammie I. Long studied and trained extensively in the areas of cardiovascular diagnostic radiology and cardiovascular and interventional radiology.

For some patients, the idea of having an x-ray can be unnerving. However, there are several steps individuals can take in order to effectively prepare for the test and ease any anxieties. First and foremost, patients must understand that there are many different kinds of x-ray exams used to test for different injuries, illnesses, and conditions. With this in mind, the single best way to prepare for an x-ray is simply to discuss any confusion or concerns with a doctor.

That said, there are a few general ways to prepare for an x-ray. Most exams require patients to undress whatever part of the body is being imaged, so patients should dress accordingly. Patients should also refrain from wearing jewelry or other metal accessories, including (if possible) eyeglasses. Finally, some exams make use of contrast mediums, so patients should learn in advance whether they should be ready to receive liquids such as barium and iodine, and if so, whether by injection or enema.

The Inspiring Impact of the Christian Appalachian Project

Previously employed as the clinical assistant professor of radiology and special fellow at the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile, Alabama, Dr. Sammie I. Long is board-certified in radiology, and has a career that has spanned over 40 years. In her leisure time, Dr. Sammie I. Long is deeply invested in charity work, supporting the Christian Appalachian Project, which helps families in need in 13 states.

The Christian Appalachian Project seeks to inspire hope and improve lives for families living in the Appalachian region, one of the poorest regions in America. Over 41 percent of households in this area live in poverty, and the rates of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease are higher in this area than anywhere else in the nation. Currently, many of the project’s main resource centers are located in Kentucky, though the organization continues to expand its reach. 

Among its programs are the Grateful Bread food pantry, which offers free, healthy food to families in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. The Operation Sharing Program provides necessities to those who may otherwise not be able to afford them by collecting donated goods from volunteers and corporate sponsors. These goods include not only food, but household supplies and furniture as well.

Each spring, many college and high school student volunteers come to Eastern Kentucky for WorkFest, which asks charitably-minded young people to repair homes and construct sustainable housing for those in need.

AHA Responds to CDC Mortality Rates Report

An experienced radiologist and professor, Dr. Sammie I. Long previously taught at the University of South Alabama Medical Center both as an assistant professor of radiology and as a director of angiography and interventional radiology. Dr. Sammie I. Long is also a member and supporter of the American Heart Association.

According to recent data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is still the most common cause of death in the country, and strokes are the fifth most common. It is worth noting that the heart disease mortality rate in Americans did fall over the prior year, from 168.5 to 165.5 out of every 100,000 people; however, the small decrease isn’t in line with previous years, in which the death rate from heart disease and stroke fell more sharply. 

According to the CDC, younger people are now being diagnosed with heart disease. This is most likely associated with the increased diagnosis of high blood pressure at earlier ages, as well as climbing obesity rates. American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown commented that the organization sees that it still has a lot of ground to cover in order to help raise awareness of heart disease, and support measures to help Americans become healthier.

RSNA Looks at Nuclear Medicine and Cataracts

An experienced radiologist and clinical educator, Dr. Sammie I. Long has spent more than 30 years helping prepare young radiological professionals for their careers. Alongside her academic career, Dr. Sammie I. Long is a longtime member of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

According to a recent study highlighted by the RSNA, radiological technicians who administer nuclear medicine scans and tests are more likely to develop cataracts than those who have never given that type of procedure. With nuclear medicine procedures becoming increasingly common in the United States over the past 30 years, researchers have begun looking at the association between the ionizing radiation of these tests and any long-term effects that may befall those who administer them.

The lead study author, Marie-Odile Bernier, MD, PhD, said that according to the research, this exposure led to more cataract diagnoses. She also urged that further research be done regarding the different lens doses in nuclear radiation and their relation to cataract diagnoses, to see if some doses are more likely to lead to cataracts than others.