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March 2010 
 

 

June 30, 2009

 

Nephrologist  joins HIMG

 

Huntington, W.Va., - The Board of Directors of HIMG is proud to announce that Michael Collins, D.O. has joined the practice in the HIMG Regional Medical Center located in Huntington, West Virginia.

 

Dr. Collins completed his undergraduate studies at Marshall University in 1997 and went on to receive his degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2002. His internship was conducted at the Charleston Area Medical Center and completed in 2003.  He recently completed his fellowship in Nephrology at the Ohio State University.

 

A member of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Collins is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and will focus on the health care needs of adolescents and adults in the area of nephrology, alongside Dr. Dev Rellan and the entire team at HIMG.

 

“We are proud to add another outstanding physician to our team at HIMG.  Dr. Collins will make immediate contributions to the health and wellness of our region and we look forward to a strong professional career with him,” said Dr. Rellan, President of the Board of Directors of HIMG and fellow Nephrologist.

 

HIMG is a thriving multi-specialty group practice founded in 1969 now consisting of more than sixty physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners including primary care, medical subspecialties and general surgery. The physician group is considered to be the premier group practice in the tri-state area including and around Huntington, West Virginia with a proven track record in attracting high caliber, qualified physicians.  The new HIMG Regional Medical Center is the newest ambulatory healthcare facility located in the State of West Virginia.  It houses HIMG as well as other health and wellness-related businesses and is located at 5170 U.S. Route 60 East, Huntington, WV 25705.  More information can be gained by visiting www.uhswv.com.

 

 

June 30, 2009

WVU team develops anti-infection technology

Microcapsules could have potential for use on battlefields

Morgantown, W.Va. - Combat-related injuries have long plagued the military in part because of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Imagine being able to spray a compund fracture with microcapsules that deliver a drug to bolster the imunne system, stopping infection before it starts.

That technology might be around the corner, says Bingyun Li, Ph.D., of the West Virginia University Department of Orthopaedics and director of the WVU Biomaterials, Bioengineering & Nanotechnology Laboratory. Li’s team has developed a drug-delivery technology involving microcapsules – and a second technique, nanocoating – that have been shown to work in animal studies.

Results of the team’s research involving the drug interleukin-12, a drug currently in anti-cancer clinical trials, has been published in the May issue of the journal Biomaterials. A deeper explanation of the approach, which could develop into an alternative to antibiotic therapy, is scheduled to be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Orthopaedic Research.

“These pioneering techniques could be important to the United States because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Li says. “The treatment of battlefield casualties is expensive, and the infection rate runs from 2 percent to 15 percent. In some cases, because the organisms have developed resistance, antibiotics don’t work.”

Outside the arena of warfare, millions of people could potentially be helped by the technology because infections can result whenever a biomedical device is implanted.

Li’s team developed two ways to deliver interleukin-12.

The first is in microcapsules that can be injected or, potentially, delivered in a fine-mist spray directly to the site of an injury. The second is a nanocoating of interleukin-12 applied directly to stents, pacemakers, pain pumps, artificial limbs – virtually any biomedical device – before implantation. The coating is measured on the nano scale; one nanometer is one billionth of a meter.

“Interleukin-12 will maximize the body’s natural response to an extent where infections can be prevented without the risk of the offending bacteria developing resistance to the treatment, as is becoming more of a problem with antibiotic therapy alone. With nanocoating, the drug is right where it needs to be – at the interface of the implant and your tissue,” Li said. “With the microcapsule, the drug can be injected or sprayed where desired, and the nanocoating and microcapsule prolong the half-life of interleukin-12.”

In both methods, because the interleukin-12 is delivered locally rather than spread throughout the body, as in antibiotic therapy, side effects are minimal, Li explained.

Li drew his team from the WVU Department of Orthopaedics, the WVU School of Pharmacy, the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), and the WVU Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology.

Li, who is also a guest researcher with NIOSH, is giving a presentation on the technology later this summer to officials from the Naval Medical Research Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is also working with Christopher Kolanko, Ph.D., a Department of Defense consultant for the WVU Research Corporation, and program managers with the Department of Defense, to discuss further research possibilities and possible military applications.

Li’s team has spent the past four years developing the technology, funded in part by the WVU Research Corporation, the National Science Foundation and the Osteosynthesis and Trauma Care Foundation.

For information on the WVU Department of Orthopaedics see http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/ortho/.

For information about the research see http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/ortho/nanomedica-group/.

 

 

March 26, 2009

 

Hand surgeon and physician assistant join Cabell Huntington Hospital and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

 

HUNTINGTON, WV – Steven R. Novotny, MD, a fellowship-trained hand surgeon, has joined the Cabell Huntington Hospital Medical Staff.

 

Dr. Novotny is an experienced surgeon who specializes in treating patients with hand and upper extremity injuries or ailments. Dr. Novotny is the second hand and upper extremity specialist to join the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. Alan Koester, MD, chief of hand surgery, has been with the department for a year and had previously worked with Dr. Novotny in Indiana.

 

Dr. Novotny earned his medical degree from the UCLA School of Medicine and completed his fellowship in hand and upper extremity at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

 

Dr. Novotny is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

 

Cabell Huntington Hospital and Marshall University have expanded the orthopaedic hand services for patients with the addition of physician assistant Rene Battista, PA-C. Battista is a retired U.S. Army officer and a distinguished Gulf War veteran with 20 years of experience as a physician assistant in areas including orthopaedics, family practice and emergency care. She received her Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska.

 

For more information, please call (304) 691-1258.

 

 

 
January 27, 2009

WVU wins $1.47 million grant to study stem cell role in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The National Cancer Institute has awarded Laura Gibson, Ph.D., of the West Virginia University Department of Pediatrics a five-year, $1.47 million grant to study stem cells to learn better ways to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Almost a quarter of all children with cancer suffer from ALL.

“The project is designed to study the survival and growth of leukemia stem cells in the bone marrow to identify strategies to render them more responsive to treatment,” said Gibson, who is a professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Pediatrics. “We hope that if we can learn more about how some individual cancer cells are able to survive after chemotherapy, we can then develop treatment strategies that are more effective while having
fewer side effects on children with cancer.”

Leukemic cells that are not successfully killed by treatment often survive in the bone marrow and later begin to grow and contribute to relapse of disease after treatment has stopped.  Children with relapsed leukemia are challenging to treat and have a lower survival rate than those with first-time diagnoses, so generating an optimal response during the initial phase of treatment is critical. 

In addition to the recently awarded grant focused on leukemia, the National Institutes of Health has funded Gibson's lab for more than 10 years in its studies of mechanisms by which aggressive chemotherapy alters the bone marrow microenvironment. Identifying ways to help the patient’s immune system efficiently rebuild following bone marrow transplantation is the primary goal of these studies.

The team works in close collaboration with clinical faculty members who work with patients in WVU Children’s Hospital and WVU’s Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center.

For information on Children’s Hospital see www.wvukids.com.

For information on the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center see http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/mbrcc/.
 
For More Information:
Andrea Brunais, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087
brunaisa@wvuh.com

 

 

January 15, 2009

Morgantown Midwife, Author, Featured in People Magazine

The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife’s Memoir (Beacon Press, Oct. 2008)), written by Morgantown nurse midwife, Patsy Harman was recently featured in People Magazine. Harman wrote “The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife’s Memoir”, as she assisted women with their health care needs throughout her many years of practice at Partners in Women’s Health Care located in the Health Care Center on the campus of Monongalia General Hospital.

People Magazine writes in their synopsis of Harman’s book: “A flower child who found her calling after coaching a friend through a home birth, nurse-midwife Harman works with her ob-gyn husband at their private office in West Virginia.  In her sweetly perceptive memoir, she reveals how her exam room becomes a confessional as women in thin gowns share secrets – about abusive boyfriends, Oxy-Contin habits, unplanned pregnancies.  She reminds them they’re not alone.” (Nov. 24, 2008 issue.)

“When I started the book four years ago,” stated Harman, “I never expected it to be a bestseller.  I wrote it because I wanted to celebrate the courage of the ordinary women. This is not a book just about birth, but about women’s rising to the occasion and giving birth to themselves.

”The fact that The Blue Cotton Gown reads like fiction, makes it compelling , but remember the stories are true.  Every patient in the book had an opportunity to review her chapters and sign consent.  Not one said no. What they told me was, ‘If this book will help one woman not feel alone, I want my story told.’  The fact that the book is receiving national attention is rewarding, but more important is the fact that The Blue Cotton Gown is being read.”

 

December 19, 2008
 
St. Mary’s Occupational Health Center welcomes Dr. David Steele

Dr. Allen Young and St. Mary’s Occupational Health Center are pleased to announce the addition of Dr. David Steele to the center’s medical staff.
 
“The addition of Dr. Steele cements our place as the premier provider of the full compliment of occupational health services in the Tri-State,” said Dr. Allen Young, lead
physician at St. Mary’s Occupational Health.  

Dr. David Steele is one of the area’s most trusted names in occupational medicine and brings 25 years of experience in providing service to the Tri-State. He has a wealth of knowledge in workers’ compensation injury treatment and Department of Transportation employment physicals, and is a certified medical review officer.
 
St. Mary’s Occupational Health Center is the only DATIA (Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association) accredited facility in the area. The center now provides the services of two medical review officers to better serve the drug and alcohol testing needs of the community.
 
St. Mary’s Occupational Health is located in the Merritt’s Creek Plaza, 3012 Champion Drive, Barboursville. For more information on the services provided, call (304) 736-8764.

 

 

October 29, 2008

 

WVU study calls for new, faster method of stroke diagnosis

Large study of CT perfusion could change protocols for stroke treatment

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –  A study conducted by a team of stroke experts from the West Virginia University Health Sciences Center demonstrates that CT (computed tomography) perfusion imaging may dramatically improve stroke diagnosis. The study showed CT perfusion had 90 percent sensitivity for detecting the large, devastating type of stroke.

If adopted, this advancement in stroke detection will mean dramatically faster diagnosis time – less than half the time of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening – and will enable physicians to provide more accurate and targeted care, thereby avoiding potentially life-threatening complications that can occur when “clot buster” (thrombolytic) drug therapy is used inappropriately.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Each year, some 780,000 Americans will fall victim to stroke and, sadly, more than 150,000 lives will be lost. The cost associated with stroke care is estimated to be $65 million and growing.

The most common form of stroke, ischemic stroke (obstruction within a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain), is treated with the clot-busting drug tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). However, for tPA to be most effective, the patient must receive an accurate diagnosis within three hours of the first sign of a stroke. Only three to five percent of stroke victims make it to the hospital within the critical three-hour window of treatment.

 While recent research demonstrates that there may be a larger window for tPA administration than previously thought, the issue remains that tPA can be dangerous when given to patients for whom it is not indicated, causing bleeding in the brain. Other recent research found that 40 percent of ER physicians would not use tPA because they were concerned about its potential risks, but most would use it if they had access to accurate brain scans and experts who could interpret the scans’ results.

The WVU study, published in the October 2008 issue of The Journal of Emergency Medicine, is the largest to date examining CT perfusion, a technology that measures blood flow and is available to most hospitals.  The study looked at the brain scan technology’s effectiveness at early diagnosis of stroke and quickly determining accurate treatment. WVU researchers believe their results could change national stroke triage protocols.

“Our study reveals that the widespread use of CT perfusion is a practical way to help busy emergency departments save precious time in stroke diagnosis, to target treatment and reduce the risks of inappropriate thrombolytic use,” said Ansaar T. Rai, M.D., director of interventional neuroradiology at WVU Hospitals.  “CT perfusion was able to pinpoint strokes with high levels of accuracy, particularly the major intracranial vessel strokes that result in more devastating outcomes.”

The researchers demonstrated that CT perfusion is highly accurate, while decreasing diagnosis time. CT perfusion had a 92 percent rate for detecting infarcts, the most debilitating kind of strokes, and a 100 percent rate for the most common type, acute ischemic stroke.

CT perfusion offers distinct advantages over MRI because most hospital emergency rooms use CT scanners for other purposes, they take one to two minutes to scan, and they provide clear images even if a patient cannot lie perfectly still. Most hospitals need only to buy relatively inexpensive software to upgrade their systems and institute training programs – making the use of CT perfusion highly accessible for most community hospitals.

This is particularly promising news for the cluster of states known as the “Stroke Belt,” for inner city and rural hospitals that may rely on telemedicine, and for African-Americans and Hispanics, who suffer strokes at much higher rates than other ethnic groups.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Stroke Belt is a region of 10 states (Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas and Louisiana) where, for the past 50 years, the mortality rate from stroke has been two times that of the rest of the nation. It has been suggested that high stroke mortality in these states is due in part to limited access to health care and specialized medicine.

The WVU study indicated that with CT perfusion’s quick scan time and clear imaging, it can be an effective teleradiology tool for urban and rural hospitals, which are often understaffed and lack immediate access to specialists who can diagnose stroke quickly. The ability to transmit scans from one location to another through teleradiology shows encouraging preliminary results and may allow community hospitals in rural areas to treat stroke faster and more completely.

For African Americans and Hispanics, this advancement in stroke diagnosis and care could mean improvement in morbidity and mortality.  African-Americans, who have high population numbers within the Stroke Belt and medically underserved urban areas throughout the United States, are the hardest hit by stroke. It is estimated that African-Americans ages 45 to 64 have a 38 percent greater risk for stroke than whites, with African-American males having the highest incidence. According to the Office of Minority Health, African-American males are 60 percent more likely to die from a stroke than white males.

Hispanics are twice as likely as whites to suffer a stroke. Even though stroke is the fourth leading cause of death for Hispanics, they are stricken at a much earlier age than other groups. Hispanics are far less likely to receive diagnosis during the critical three-hour window of treatment.

CT perfusion can also combat what is known as the “weekend effect” for stroke mortality. Patients admitted to hospitals for stroke on weekends have a 14 percent greater risk of dying because of a lack of access to specialized medical care.

With the publication of this study, WVU is leading a high-tech effort to integrate care across multiple practice locations and make use of its collection of stroke brain scans, which is one of the largest in medicine.  WVU researchers are also consulting with the government of the UK to help improve that country’s national stroke program.

For the full study see http://www.jem-journal.com/current.

For information on the Stroke Center at WVU see http://www.health.wvu.edu/services/stroke-center/index.aspx.

For More Information:
Amy Johns, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087
johnsa@wvuh.com

October 13, 2008

New heart-assist device now available at WVU 
 
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. –  Doctors at West Virginia University are the first in the state to use a new device to help patients suffering heart attacks or congestive heart failure or undergoing angioplasty. The Impella left ventricular assist device is new technology that enables the heart to rest during difficult procedures and to heal and recover during episodes of congestive heart failure.

“It’s a novel therapy,” said Bradford E. Warden, M.D., who along with Wissam Gharib, M.D., performed the first procedure using the Impella. “It’s a new technology that makes angioplasty safer. And it also offers an additional therapy to people with congestive heart failure to help them through an acute episode.”

The first patient to receive the heart-assist treatment was a 71-year-old who had previously undergone bypass surgery and stent placements. The Impella was employed during his latest stent placement on Oct. 9, and the patient recovered quickly and went home within days of the procedure.

“It’s also a good therapy for people who are having a heart attack,” Dr. Gharib explained. “The Impella can take over when the heart is stunned after a heart attack, helping it along until the muscle and tissue begin to work normally again.” Gharib and Warden are cardiologists with the WVU Heart Institute.

“We are the first ones in West Virginia to offer it,” Warden said of the $25,000 device. “We trained about 10 people in all to be fully comfortable with it – everyone from nurses to cath lab technicians to physicians.”

The Impella works by redirecting blood from the heart, increasing and supporting the patient’s blood circulation.

 “We insert a catheter into the major artery of the leg,” Warden said. “The device’s pumping mechanism supports the heart during angioplasty or other times we are working on the heart during high-risk procedures.”

Cardiac assist devices are also useful in patients experiencing congestive heart failure because the device, often employed for only a few hours, can also stay in place for several days if necessary to improve blood flow.

WVU Heart Institute doctors perform between 1,300 and 1,500 angioplasties and stent placements annually. WVUH expects to use the Impella device a few times a month.

For information on the WVU Heart Institute’s interventional cardiology program see http://www.health.wvu.edu/services/heart-institute/cardiology-interventional.aspx.


For More Information:
Amy Johns, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087
johnsa@wvuh.com

October 9, 2008

WVU’s Piedimonte awarded visiting professorship

Featured as a pediatric asthma, allergy and immunology expert in journal


MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Giovanni Piedimonte, M.D., chair of the West Virginia University Department of Pediatrics and Wyeth Research Scholar, has been awarded a 2008 Pfizer Visiting Professorship in Pulmonology.

Pfizer awards $7,500 to up to 10 visiting professorships in various medical specialties, including preventive cardiovascular medicine, diabetes, oncology, pulmonology and rheumatology.

The visiting professorships are a three-day exchange with students, faculty, physicians, nurses, research fellows, community members and others at medical schools, teaching hospitals and other organizations promoting health literacy across the country.

Dr. Piedimonte was one of seven professors selected in the field of pulmonology. He will complete his visiting professorship at the University of South Florida in Tampa in January.

Of participating in these types of academic exchanges, Piedimonte said, “I think it is very important that the faculty of WVU reaches out. With this professorship, I have the opportunity to give a lecture at another institution and increase WVU’s visibility, which is incredibly important in terms of recruiting and retaining good people.”

In addition to the visiting professorship, Piedimonte was also recognized in the August 2008 issue of Pediatric Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, a quarterly publication that contains articles on best-care practices for infants, children and teen-agers diagnosed with asthma, allergies and other immunological diseases.

Piedimonte was featured in the article, “In My Opinion – Interview with the Expert.” He discussed his research on viral infections and their effects on the development of pulmonary diseases, the importance of the early recognition of asthma in children, new treatment options and emerging trends in the training of future pediatric pulmonologists.

For more information on the Department of Pediatrics see www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/pediatrics.

For more information on Pfizer Visiting Professorships see www.promisingminds.com. 

For More Information:
Angela Jones, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087
jonesan@wvuh.com

September 3, 2008

 

Jeff Neely resigns as UHA President and CEO

Gary Marano is interim leader

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Jeffrey L. Neely, M.D., president and CEO of University Health Associates (UHA), announced his resignation today, effective Oct. 31.  Dr. Neely said he would remain on the West Virginia University faculty and return to full-time teaching and patient care as an internal medicine physician and professor.

The UHA Board of Directors by unanimous consent Wednesday night appointed Gary Marano, M.D., to serve as interim president and CEO. Dr. Marano is a WVU radiologist.

UHA is the physician and dental practice plan at WVU Health Sciences.  It’s the largest multi-specialty physician group in the state, with more than 400 physicians and dentists, and more than 1,000 support staff in Morgantown and at clinics throughout West Virginia.

Dr. Neely was elected to the UHA Board in 1999, and then served as chairman before becoming interim president and CEO in July 2004.  He was named president and CEO in January 2005.

“I have had a wonderful opportunity to serve, and had a seat at the table. However I knew when I took this position that it wouldn’t be a job for life,” Neely said.  “I have made a personal decision to return to something I really love – that’s teaching and taking care of patients.  We’ve had phenomenal achievements, but now it’s time for me to focus on my patients, students and family.”

Neely also has been serving as the UHA representative on the Joint Planning Group, which consists of leadership from WVU Health Sciences, WVU School of Medicine, WVU Hospitals and the West Virginia United Health System.  The group has been working to align the clinical, educational, research and service missions of all the entities of WVU Health Sciences. 

“It’s a time of change for the institution.  As we’ve been evaluating the direction and structure of Health Sciences, I’ve been evaluating my own personal role and goals for the future,” Neely said. “I feel confident that there are other experienced voices at the table, and I believe in the collective wisdom of our leaders and faculty.”

“Jeff Neely has been devoted to WVU all his professional life.  He has been a part of a lot of great things here and we’re looking for that to continue in the future,” Jim Brick, M.D., interim dean of the WVU School of Medicine, said. “Now he wants to go back to what he loves most – and that’s good for everybody, because he’s the kind of doctor you want your mom to go to.”

Fred Butcher, Ph.D., interim vice president for WVU Health Sciences, said that he was sorry to see Neely leave the leadership team but respected Neely’s decision to return to patient care and teaching.

“Jeff can take a lot of credit for all the positive things that UHA has accomplished in recent years – the Urgent Care Center, Sports Medicine Center, recruitment of quality physicians and so much more,” Butcher said.  “He’s leaving the corporation in good standing.”

Neely, 55, is a Morgantown native and a graduate of West Virginia University.  He earned his medical degree at WVU and did specialty training at the Medical University of South Carolina.  He joined the faculty of WVU in 1983. 

Dr. Marano is a graduate of the University of Virginia.  He earned his medical degree and did his residency at WVU.  He joined the faculty in 2001 and is professor and vice chair of radiology and director of nuclear medicine.  He has served on the UHA Board since 2004.

“I’m leaving UHA in good hands, “ Dr. Neely said. “Gary Marano offers special skills in education, clinical service, and as an excellent businessman. He provides us solid organizational continuity.”

For More Information:
Amy Johns, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087
johnsa@wvuh.com

 

 

August 24, 2008

 

7 WVU doctors named ‘Best in Class’

Physicians see patients covered by coal companies’ health insurance

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The Coal/Energy Coalition has identified seven faculty physicians at West Virginia University School of Medicine's Morgantown campus as "Best in Class." Only about 4 percent of providers serving patients covered under the insurance plans of coal companies earned the honor.

The coalition is leading a national effort to improve healthcare and slow down runaway pharmaceutical costs.

Paul Ridgely, of Wheeling, representing ProPharma Pharmaceutical Consultants, Inc.,  and the Coal/Energy Coalition, announced that "Best in Class" certificates were recently awarded to Claudette Brooks, M.D., Laurie Guttmann, M.D., Kevin Halbritter, M.D., Mary Ann Long, M.D, Karen MacKay, M.D., Jack Riggs, M.D., and Rebecca Schmidt, D.O.

"Five coal companies have joined together to seek nontraditional solutions to the unsustainable increases in health costs," Ridgely said. "For several years, the pharmacy costs for the mine workers and their families have increased by 16 percent a year or higher. We believe that working with practitioners is the best way to improve quality and manage costs."

Increasing prescription drug costs put a burden on both the companies, whose total healthcare costs are rising, and the employees, who bear more out-of-pocket costs, he added. By working with the physicians and others who provide care to these patients, the coalition has slowed the rate of increase in costs.

Pro Pharma, which manages the Coal/Energy Coalition, reviewed the medical records of thousands of patients treated by almost 10,000 doctors and other health professionals across the country.

Only about 4 percent of the providers, including the seven at WVU, were certified as "Best in Class" in categories including appropriate use of generic medicine and following proven treatment guidelines.

Pro Pharma works with practitioners on improving quality of prescribing, reducing out-of-pocket costs for patients and managing healthcare costs.

Companies participating in the coalition are Peabody Energy, Patriot Coal, Foundation Coal Holdings, Riverton Coal Company and Pittston Coal Company.


For More Information:
Amy Johns, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087
johnsa@wvuh.com

 

August 20, 2008

 

WVU researchers correlate levels of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer patients

New test shows aggressiveness of tumors

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Researchers have long suspected that circulating tumor cells (CTC) may play a role in determining survival rates for patients with breast cancer. Now a team at West Virginia University has discovered that a test for CTC levels signals whether a tumor is aggressive.

Understanding the tumor’s aggressiveness, as opposed to its size or bulk, could impact the treatments physicians recommend to patients.

“We know that malignant cells break off from the original tumor site. They shed, and the majority of them die. But a few cells survive in the blood vessels,” said Jame Abraham, M.D., medical director for the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, who led the research team.  “The more cells in the blood, the worse the outcome for the patient.”

New WVU research published this month in the journal Clinical Breast Cancer shows that a CTC blood test won’t tell much about the tumor’s size or bulk but will provide a valuable predictor of its aggressiveness.

 “The CTC blood test is a new test,” Abraham explained. “We have found that the test may reflect the behavior of the tumor rather than its size.”

The research team studied records of 35 patients whose disease had spread, analyzing the patients’ test results at 166 time points. “Looking at the PET scans and CTC blood tests, we found that they are statistically correlated. But the correlation is not absolute,” Abraham said. “In many instances the PET scan is positive, but there are few circulating tumor cells. And in the opposite case there are high CTC levels, but the PET scan shows minimal or no disease.”

WVU researchers paired this finding with another recent discovery – patients with a high CTC count fare worse than other patients, regardless of whether their imaging scans provide encouraging results.

“We knew that patients with high CTC levels fared worse. But we didn’t know it was because of the tumor’s aggressiveness,” Abraham said. “Now we know that CTC is a key player.”

Clinical trials are needed to determine whether the test will be useful to physicians in constructing treatment regimens.

The article, titled “Correlation among [18F] FDG-PET/CT, tumor marker CA 27.29, and circulating tumor cell test in metastatic breast cancer,” is based on research that received a merit award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June 2007.

For more information about WVU’s Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, visit www.hsc.wvu.edu/mbrcc/.

For More Information:
Andrea Brunais, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087
brunaisa@wvuh.com

 

 

July 26, 2008 

 

Cancer physicians form West Virginia Oncology Society

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Cancer physicians from around the state have agreed to become a formally recognized organization called the West Virginia Oncology Society.

The new professional group will provide a forum for cancer specialists to exchange ideas and to represent their interests and those of their patients before governmental entities, insurance carriers, pharmaceutical companies and the public.

Jame Abraham, M.D., chief of Hematology/Oncology at West Virginia University, coordinated the first statewide meetings of oncologists to begin discussions on how cancer specialists can collaborate in research, education and patient care.

“More than 80 percent of oncology practices in West Virginia were represented at those historic meetings,” Dr. Abraham said.  “One-hundred percent said yes to becoming a formal body with a singular voice to improve cancer care.”

“We used to be part of Ohio’s oncology society, but decided we need our own organization to address the unique problems we have in West Virginia,” said John Azar, M.D., of Fairmont General Hospital, who was named president of the West Virginia Oncology Society.
“Access to clinical trials is one of them.  If we work together we can build a network to make them available in more communities.  We are also interested in extending the genetic counseling offered at WVU to oncology practices throughout the state.”

“This is a major accomplishment that will help ensure that patients throughout the state receive the highest quality cancer care,” said Scot C. Remick, M.D., director of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at WVU.  “I am convinced that the greatest measure of our success is simply how well we partner.”

Officers of the West Virginia Oncology Society are:

  •  President – John Azar, Fairmont General Hospital
  •  Vice President – James Frame, David Lee Outpatient Cancer Center in Charleston
  •  Treasurer – Tim Bowers, Medical Director of the WVUH-East Cancer Program in Martinsburg
  •  Secretary – Jon David Pollock, Schiffler Cancer Center in Wheeling

Members at large include:

  •  Jame Abraham, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown
  •  Gerrit Kimmey, St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington
  •  Sushil Mehrotra, Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling
  •  Arvind Shah, Charleston Area Medical Center, South Charleston
  •  Mukund Shah, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Parkersburg
  •  Maria Tirona, Cabell Huntington Hospital, Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center, Huntington

The West Virginia Oncology Society is open to all oncologists in West Virginia, along with other professionals engaged in cancer care.

Healthcare professionals interested in joining the society should contact Julie Shroyer, executive director, at julie@wvos.info or 304-368-4575.

-WVU-

ss: 7/26/08
For More Information:
Sherry Stoneking, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center
sstoneking@hsc.wvu.edu
08-134

 

 

June 27, 2008

 

 

Dr. John E. Prescott To Join AAMC As Chief Academic Officer

 

Washington, D.C.,—The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) announced today that John E. Prescott, M.D., will be the association’s new chief academic officer. Selected after a nationwide search, Dr. Prescott plans to join the AAMC in September to lead the association’s efforts to improve the education and training of new physicians, and enable them to meet the changing health care needs of the public.

 

“Dr. Prescott will bring outstanding skills and experience as an educator, clinician, and executive to his new role at the AAMC,” said AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. “His vast experience and commitment to excellence in all aspects of medical education, patient care, and public service will be invaluable to the association and its members as we work to expand the physician workforce, and provide the high quality health care everyone deserves.”

 

 “I am humbled by my selection to this position and look forward to working with all the AAMC’s constituencies to enhance medical education throughout its continuum,” said Dr. Prescott. “Medical education faces many challenges, including the need for more physicians with greater diversity, rising medical school tuition, and a knowledge explosion that places increased demands on medical school faculty and curriculum. I truly believe that our medical schools, teaching hospitals, and research centers are up to meeting these challenges, and I look forward to working with the deans, teaching hospital leaders, students, residents, faculty, and staff in my new role.”

 

Dr. Prescott will come to the AAMC after 15 years of leadership at West Virginia University (WVU).  As the first chair of the WVU Department of Emergency Medicine from 1993 to 1999, Dr. Prescott founded and was the first director of the WVU Center for Rural Emergency Medicine.  He served as president and CEO of University Health Associates, WVU’s integrated multi-specialty faculty practice plan, from 1999-2004, and became the dean of the WVU School of Medicine in 2004.  

 

During his tenure at WVU, the school of medicine received the AAMC’s Outstanding Community Service Award in 2006 for its integrated, interdisciplinary network of educational, community outreach, and clinical care programs. The award recognizes a major commitment by a medical school or teaching hospital to address the needs of surrounding communities through exceptional programs that go beyond an institution’s traditional service roles.  Dr. Prescott also has been an active member of the association’s Council of Deans (COD), through which he chaired the association’s Holistic Admissions and Enhancing Diversity Committee, and served as COD representative to the Advisory Committee for Medical School Programs of the National Board of Medical Examiners.  He was also a member of the AAMC Group on Faculty Practice from 1999-2004.  

 

Dr. Prescott earned his medical degree from Georgetown University, where he served in the AAMC's Organization of Student Representatives, and completed his residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.  After serving four years at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Dr. Prescott joined the faculty of the WVU School of Medicine in 1990.

 

# # #

 

The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 129 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.

 

 

Contact:  Retha Sherrod  (202) 828-0975  rsherrod@aamc.org

 

 

 

 

June 17, 2008

 

 

Cabell Huntington Hospital renovates unit for new mothers, offers more private rooms

 

HUNTINGTON, WV – A recently completed renovation at Cabell Huntington Hospital has made it possible for more new mothers to have private hospital rooms after their babies are born.

 

Using the space vacated by the former Labor and Delivery Unit, 11 private rooms were renovated to accommodate new mothers and their families. The additional space means nearly every mother will be able to stay in a private room following her delivery.

 

“These renovations allow us to offer new mothers and their families more privacy while experiencing the care and compassion that our Mother-Baby Unit has provided for many years,” said Emily Stacy, nurse manager of the Mother-Baby Unit.

 

More than 2,600 babies were born at Cabell Huntington Hospital in 2007, sometimes creating circumstances when mothers had to share rooms with another new mother.

 

“These additional rooms address a need that we had to accommodate the thousands of mothers who come to Cabell Huntington Hospital to have their babies,” said Amy Smith, director of Women and Children’s Services. “We are pleased to be able to offer more private rooms to new mothers.

 

Cabell Huntington Hospital has a full range of services for expecting mothers and their families. For more information about childbirth, breastfeeding, baby care, infant CPR, grandparenting or sibling classes, please call (304) 526-BABY (2229) or check our calendar of events at www.cabellhuntington.org.

 

For more information

Charles Shumaker

Media Relations Manager

(304) 399.6742

April 9, 2008

WVU School of Medicine leadership changes
John Prescott resigns; James Brick is interim dean

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - James E. Brick, M.D., has been appointed interim dean of the West Virginia University School of Medicine.  He takes the position vacated this week by John E. Prescott, M.D., who has stepped down to pursue academic activities in the WVU Department of Emergency Medicine, including health policy research, teaching, and clinical duties.

“Dr. Prescott leaves the dean’s office on a high note,” said Fred Butcher, Ph.D., interim vice president for health sciences. “During his tenure as dean, the WVU School of Medicine received national attention for its work to improve the health and lives of West Virginians, including a community service award from the Association of American Medical Colleges, and, just last week, a top-ten rural health rating from U.S. News & World Report.”

Prescott also has served as president of University Health Associates, and before that was chair of emergency medicine at WVU, and founding director of the Center for Rural Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Brick earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from WVU.  He did specialty training at WVU and the University of Missouri.  He has been a faculty member at WVU since 1984. Dr. Brick chairs the Department of Medicine and is a widely-known expert in the care of patients with arthritis.

Brick has been a leader among the medical faculty for much of his tenure. During the 1990s, along with his brother John, also a WVU physician, he pioneered the use of telemedicine to bring WVU health experts to rural West Virginia. In his post as chair of the school’s largest department, he has recruited a large number of new faculty to the school, and has been instrumental in establishing a WVU medical clinic in Gilbert, W.Va.

The dean of the School of Medicine leads more than 600 faculty and more than 1,500 students in various educational programs on three campuses - in Morgantown, Charleston, and Martinsburg. Those programs include medicine, physical and occupational therapy, medical technology, exercise physiology, and basic biomedical sciences. The dean also serves on the boards of WVU Hospitals, University Health Associates, and the West Virginia United Health System.

For More Information:
Amy Johns, HSC News Service, (304) 293-1412 or 293-7087
johnsa@wvuh.com

 

September 28, 2007

 

Monongalia Health System

1000 J.D. Anderson Drive

Morgantown, WV 26505

Contact: Greg Kealey  304-285-2792

 

Mon General Lands AARP National Top 50 Designation for Workers Over 50

 

            Morgantown, WV - Monongalia General Hospital (Mon General) has been named a Top 50 national recipient of the “AARP Best Employer of Workers Over Age 50.”

            Mon General was recognized because of using best practices in recruiting and retaining mature workers, notably those who provide flexible work options, operate creative recruitment programs and rehire retirees.

            “This is a very prestigious recognition, and I am very proud of the very proud employees who have helped us achieve this outstanding designation,” said Mon Health System President & CEO David Robertson.

            The winning employers stand as exemplary models for others who have yet to plan for the graying of their workforce. AARP invited employers to apply for the Best Employer designation by describing their innovative practices toward 50 and over workers in an extensive questionnaire. A consulting firm provided a preliminary rating of the applicants. Then a panel of six outside judges evaluated the applications and their opinions, combined with the consultant’s evaluations, led to final ratings.

            The award is significant, says Shawn Keenan, a Director in the Emergency Department for 13 years, who once retired and then decided to come back recently to work in both admissions and maintenance, as well as a volunteer in the Gift Shop.

            “It’s the general attitude of the institution,” (Mon General) Keenan said. “What I have noticed is that the hospital goes out of its way to accommodate those with physical problems or an employee with a child who has a health issue – and employees are forever thankful. Happy people do good work.”

            Linda Rex, 58,  worked at other health care facilities and went back to school to pursue her R.N. degree at age 50.  She said Mon General was where she started her career as a registered nurse.

            “Mon General is more personable, the upper echelon will come around and talk to you and take an interest in you,” she said. “Everyone’s really friendly, from the CEO on down. It doesn’t seem like there’s any class barrier because of your job description.

            Rex makes a 35 minute commute from Pennsylvania to work each day and likes the flexibility of her hours.

            “We have self-scheduling and that is so important when you do have a family,” she said. “So when you know you have something that’s coming up  - you can plan your work around that.”

            One third of Mon General’s workforce is over 50. Mon General and the rest of the recipients will be honored at a dinner in New York City on Sept. 26. MGH will also be featured in the next AARP publication.

            AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole.

 

 

July 30, 2007

 

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center

West Virginia University

Morgantown, W.Va.

www.health.wvu.edu

 

 

WVU Offers Treatment to Improve Varicose Veins

Minimally invasive procedure provides lasting results

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Since becoming pregnant with her daughter nearly 25 years ago, Stephanie Wilson suffered from pain and fatigue in her right leg.  Now, after undergoing VNUS Closure vein treatment at West Virginia University Hospitals, her leg is essentially pain-free.

 

"My right leg would feel heavy and tired at the end of the day," Wilson, a vascular surgery nurse, said.  The pain previously associated with her leg is a common problem for women who are pregnant, people with a family history of varicose veins, and professionals who spend the majority of their days standing.

 

"I didn't notice how bad my leg actually felt until I had the procedure," she said.  "After that, there was such a noticeable improvement.  I had no idea how much it bothered me before.  I guess after 25 years you become used to the pain."

 

Wilson's testimony is like so many others Pamela Zimmerman, M.D., has heard since she began treating patients for venous reflux and insufficiency using the VNUS Closure Device.

 

"Patients may have years of leg pain diminished by simply undergoing this quick, outpatient procedure," Dr. Zimmerman, director of the WVU Vein Center, explained.

 

The VNUS Closure procedure begins by tracing leg veins with an ultrasound machine.  After receiving anesthetic, a catheter is inserted into the vein.  Another ultrasound is performed to ensure the catheter is properly placed.  The vein wall is warmed, effectively shrinking the

wall and eventually varicosities.   A final ultrasound is administered

before the patient is sent home.

 

The procedure typically takes less than an hour, from start to finish. Patients are advised to elevate their leg for the first 24 hours.  After 24 hours, it is recommended they resume walking and participate in most of their daily activities.

 

"Prior to this treatment, doctors would pull the vein from your leg," Zimmerman said.  "The new VNUS procedure is minimally invasive. Patients have minimal bruising, scarring or swelling.  The veins disappear on their own."

 

A minimally invasive procedure was what John Mancuso had hoped for when his varicose veins stopped responding to injection therapy treatments.

 

"When I stopped responding to the injections, Dr. Zimmerman said the VNUS Closure was my best option," Mancuso, an administrative law judge, said.  "I was nervous about the procedure but she thoroughly explained what would happen and there was no pain associated with having the procedure."

 

"I've had patients who have waited several years before having this procedure done," Zimmerman said.  "Most people tell me they wish they had done it years ago.  Their legs look and feel so much better."

 

Cosmetic improvement is an added benefit of the pain-reducing procedure. "Patients have told me, prior to this procedure they hadn't worn shorts in years," Zimmerman said.  "This summer, they're wearing shorts."

 

Zimmerman said she sees patients from ages 20 to 80.  There is no age limit for having the VNUS Closure performed. "I think we all deserve to look and feel our best," Wilson said.  "Leg pain isn't something you have to live with.  It's treatable."

 

For an appointment with the WVU Vein Center call (304) 598-4890.  For

questions or more information, call (304) 293-2367.       

 

 

For More Information:

Amy Johns, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087

johnsa@wvuh.com

 

 

July 3, 2007

 

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center

West Virginia University

Morgantown, W.Va.

www.health.wvu.edu

 

 

INBRE Internships at WVU Initiate Research Interest

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Most college students would gladly trade in their books for the beach once summer rolls around.  But for many undergraduates from smaller West Virginia institutions, the so-called lazy days of summer are spent in the fast-paced laboratories of West Virginia University's Health Sciences Center.

 

WVU is one of two schools housing interns through the West Virginia IDEA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), a grant project of the National Institutes of Health and the West Virginia Experimental Project to Stimulate Competitive Research.

 

"INBRE makes research opportunities more accessible to students who don't belong to a major research institution," said Robert Griffith, Ph.D., associate professor of medicinal chemistry at the School of Pharmacy.  

 

The INBRE grant allows students from the state's smaller colleges to complete hands-on internships at either WVU or Marshall University, the state's largest institutions.

 

"When you perform a lab experiment as an undergrad, you don't really see the science behind it," said Jonathan Proto, a Wheeling Jesuit University senior.  "In a research laboratory here, the theory behind each procedure becomes evident.  It's nice to see that the procedures I perform in my undergraduate labs are actually important."

 

This hands-on approach is one of the main draws for student participation. "Seeing the work we do in the labs provides a lot of validation for the techniques we use in undergraduate research," said Sarah Reinhardt, a senior at Shepherd University.

 

WVU graduate students work with faculty to assist and train the interns with lab work and procedures.

 

"The students gain the confidence in their ability to conduct meaningful biomedical research," said James Sheil, Ph.D., vice chairman of the department of microbiology, immunology and cell biology.  "They learn that conducting biomedical research can be a realistic career choice."

 

A few of the students were so impressed with the experience; they decided to return for a second year.  Returning students, like Proto, claim they have put their INBRE obtained knowledge to use when returning to school last fall.

 

"I was able to bring my research back to Wheeling Jesuit and personalize it towards my senior biology thesis," he said.  "This program has definitely enhanced my performance as a researcher."

 

Proto noted WVU's partnership with INBRE "provides an opportunity for biomedical and cancer research which a smaller university is unable to provide.  Even if a particular procedure isn't being performed in the lab I work in, I can still learn about it from the other interns' presentations."

 

"Only the best students are accepted into the internship program," Griffith said.  "What we're finding is that the best and the brightest students aren't just at the top universities."

 

However, INBRE's opportunities are not limited to students.  Professors at smaller schools can apply for research grants and join in on collaborative research projects with WVU and Marshall faculty members.

 

Participants hail from Alderson-Broaddus, Bethany, Davis and Elkins, Glenville State, West Liberty State, and West Virginia Wesleyan colleges.  Shepherd, Fairmont State and Wheeling Jesuit universities also send students to the program.

 

Other summer internships taking place in the WVU Health Sciences laboratories include the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Forensic Internship Program, Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center internships, Research Experience for Undergraduates, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience and WVNano SURE.

 

For more information on the WVU Health Sciences Center, visit www.hsc.wvu.edu.  

 

 

For More Information:

Cassie Waugh, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087

waughc@wvuh.com

 

 

 

May 29, 2007

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center

West Virginia University

Morgantown, W.Va.

www.health.wvu.edu

  


WVU Names Cancer Center Director
Scot C. Remick, M.D., will lead growing research and cancer care effort

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Scot C. Remick, M.D., a renowned cancer physician and researcher, has been named director of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at West Virginia University.

Dr. Remick, currently the associate director for clinical research at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, will join the WVU leadership team this summer. He currently holds the Dr. Lester E. Coleman Chair in Cancer Research and Therapeutics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

“Dr. Remick brings with him a history of compassionate cancer care, dedication to advancement of medicine through clinical research, and strong organizational and institutional leadership,” said John Prescott, M.D., dean of the WVU School of Medicine.

Dr. Prescott has been serving as interim director of the cancer center during the nationwide search for the institution’s next leader.

“We see Dr. Remick as the ideal person to lead the Cancer Center into a new era of growth that will benefit our patients, our state and our hospital,” said Bruce McClymonds, president and CEO of WVU Hospitals.

“It was an easy decision for me and my family to choose to come to Morgantown,” Remick said. “Among the most attractive aspects of this position is the extraordinary energy and commitment of all our partners in the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center – including the clinical and research faculty, staff, institutional leadership, and most importantly the residents of Morgantown and countless friends and benefactors throughout the State of West Virginia.  I am convinced the center is poised for great things.”

At Case, Remick has been among the physician leaders of a world-class comprehensive cancer center. He has won a number of large, competitive, peer-reviewed research grants from the National Cancer Institute and other funding agencies. He has established relationships with pharmaceutical industry research-funding groups, and has participated in numerous clinical trials. He has been an active participant in national and international cancer research efforts.

Remick has been principal investigator or co-investigator on tens of millions of dollars in externally funded cancer and AIDS research at Case. He is a graduate of New York Medical College, with residency training at Johns Hopkins and fellowship training at the University of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center.

“We are excited about Dr. Remick, who is a scientist of international stature, joining MBRCC,” said Jame Abraham, M.D., cancer clinic medical director. “Under his leadership we will be able to build a state of the art cancer center and cancer program in West Virginia."

“We are particularly lucky to have attracted a person who has given such thoughtful study to the role of the patient in the advancement of medical science,” Prescott said.

“Earlier this year, Dr. Remick delivered a grand rounds lecture to a packed house of WVU students and faculty members,” Prescott added.  “His talk, ‘Phase I Trials in Cancer: The Ethics - Efficacy Conundrum,’ helped crystallize for us the moral and medical decision-making process that takes place every time we advise a patient with a life-threatening disease.”

"I am convinced that in Scot Remick the Cancer Center is getting the perfect leader for where we are now poised to advance in research and committed to reducing the unequal burden of cancer in our state," said Pamela Brown, the Cancer Center’s director of cancer prevention and control.

The selection of such an accomplished researcher is encouraging to scientists at WVU, said Dan Flynn, Ph.D., the Cancer Center’s deputy director. "Scot Remick brings to the cancer center a wealth of experience in clinical trials.  His expertise and knowledge will help the cancer center integrate research with clinical care, expand our services and offer cutting edge treatment options for our patient populations."

The Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center is West Virginia’s premier cancer facility, with a national reputation of excellence in cancer treatment, prevention and research. The Cancer Center is in the midst of an unprecedented expansion, with current construction that will double the size of the patient care and research facilities.

The Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center serves thousands of people from around the state and region, and offer patients access to both well-established treatments and the latest clinical trials of new medications and other cancer treatments. Patients have access to WVU’s advanced imaging center for precise diagnosis. 

Cancer research at WVU is concentrated in three main areas: basic research, which is conducted mostly in the laboratory and explores the cellular and other biological functions of cancer growth; translational research, which involves applying basic research findings in the care of patients; and population-based research, which studies the effects of cancer on large numbers of people and the disparities among social, geographic or ethnic groups in prevalence or mortality from cancer.

Dr. Remick’s first public appearance on the WVU campus is scheduled for June 21, when he will deliver the annual DeLynn Lecture to faculty, students, staff and supporters of the Cancer Center. He will begin his duties as director later in the summer.

For More Information:  
Steve Bovino, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 bovinost@wvuh.com

May 17, 2007

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center

West Virginia University

Morgantown, W.Va.

www.health.wvu.edu

 

 

Multi-million Dollar Funding for WVU Digestive Diseases Section Brings Awards, Prestige

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Researchers at West Virginia University have won nearly $5 million in National Institutes of Health funding to help research inflammatory bowel disease, which is highly prevalent in West Virginia.

 

"The NIH has labeled IBD research as a high priority area," said Uma Sundaram, M.D., chief of WVU's Digestive Diseases section of the Department of Medicine.  "We don't know what causes the disease but we know it needs treated."  Inflammatory bowel disease affects more than 600,000 Americans every year.

 

The WVU digestive diseases research team includes nine researchers; seven will present their research at the 2007 Digestive Disease Week Conference, May 19 to 24 in Washington, D.C.

 

"Prior to 2004, we had never presented a paper at this conference," said John E.  Prescott, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine.  "Now, just a few years later, WVU is a leader at the conference.  It shows that our research is valuable and our researchers are recognized by their colleagues as some of the best in the field."

 

V.M. Rajendran, Ph.D., and Sundaram were both selected as committee chairs for the conference of more than 16,000 scientists and researchers from across the globe.  This is the first time two WVU faculty members have been chosen as chairs.  

 

"The chairs are often seen as experts in their field," Sundaram said. "Dr. Rajendran and I are so honored that our peers and colleagues have selected us to participate in the presentations."

 

Their invitations are likely a result of the recent success and new recruits for the department.  Researchers like Rajendran, who joined WVU after a 20-year tenure at Yale University, bring their lab and funding operations when arriving at the university.  

 

WVU is also the one of only 20 centers in the nation to offer a new clinical treatment drug for Hepatitis C.  According to Sundaram, this pill is the first effective new treatment for Hepatitis C made available in the past ten years.  

 

"Hepatitis C affects 4 to 5 million people in the United States," he said.  "Our state has a very large population of Hepatitis C sufferers."

 

Sundaram stresses that these clinical trials and awards are just the beginning for the digestive diseases section.

 

"Cutting edge research will result in state-of-the-art patient care for our citizens," Sundaram said.  "This will continue to be our focus."  

 

The department's research efforts continue to gain national praise. Two lead articles published in the February issue of the American Journal of Physiology were products of the Digestive Diseases research team.  

 

For more information on the WVU Digestive Diseases department go to www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/medicine/digestiveDiseases/ or call (304) 293-4123.

                 

For More Information:

Steve Bovino, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 bovinost@wvuh.com

  

 

 

 May 1, 2007

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV

www.health.wvu.edu

 

Air Pollution Linked to Cardiovascular Disease, WVU Researcher Says

 

A new study from researchers at West Virginia University finds that diesel exhaust can compromise the arteries’ abilities to regulate blood flow.  The elderly, males and post-menopausal females are at greatest risk, based on animal model studies.

 

Air pollution particles are traditionally associated with lung disease but Timothy R. Nurkiewicz, Ph.D., assistant professor at the WVU School of Medicine, says that pollution problems are not limited to the lungs.  His research focuses, in part, on the effects of particle matter exposure on the cardiovascular system.  

 

Nurkiewicz is presenting the research findings at the American Physiological Society Annual Meeting, April 28 – May 2, 2007 in Washington, D.C. He will present on behalf of the WVU Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Cardiovascular Sciences (CIRCS).

 

“We can breathe in larger particles without damaging the cardiovascular system,” Nurkiewicz, a CIRCS researcher, explained. “This is possible because the larger particles are filtered out or captured in our noses and upper respiratory tract, but smaller particles, like ultra-fine particle matter and nanoparticles penetrate deep into our lungs, where oxygen exchange occurs.”

 

The particles may then enter the body and affect a blood vessel’s ability to dilate.

 

Particulate matter occurs naturally from things such as sand and rock erosion or fires and volcanic ash.  However, it is most commonly man-made and results primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels such as wood, coal and oil.  Frequent sources of particulate matter include engine exhaust (particularly diesel engines), industrial or manufacturing processes and power plants.

 

Nurkiewicz is a microvascular specialist – he studies tiny blood vessels, called arterioles and venules that are not visible to the naked eye.  They govern the parameters of blood flow, nutrient delivery and waste removal in the body.

 

“When muscles work, they require more blood,” he said.  “The arterioles must dilate in order to deliver more blood.”  

 

Nurkiewicz’s research with rat models demonstrates that after exposure to particulate matter, not only do the arterioles no longer dilate, but in some instances they also constrict or get smaller.

 

“When fresh blood and oxygen do not reach tissues and organs, like the heart and brain, these tissues malfunction and parts of them can die,” said Nurkiewicz.  “This may result in a heart attack or stroke.  What’s worse is that certain populations may be at greater risk after exposure to air pollution.”  

 

Nurkiewicz’s experimental models suggest youth and the elderly are more likely to experience health complications after exposure to air pollution.  

 

“This may not be a huge surprise to those who live in big cities, but it is a very serious threat,” said Nurkiewicz.  “Developing areas such as West Virginia must take it seriously, especially when we are already burdened with diabetes and obesity epidemics.”

 

According to Nurkiewicz, collaboration with other CIRCS researchers is absolutely essential for developing effective new strategies to prevent and treat cardiovascular complications associated with air pollution.

 

“If we can identify which components of air pollution are making people sick, then we hold the first pieces of the puzzle necessary to make our air cleaner and healthier,” he said.

 

“We are dealing with very difficult questions that can have a dramatic impact on the health of many West Virginians,” Matthew A. Boegehold, Ph.D., CIRCS director, said.  “It takes a team approach to find these answers.”

 

“We use different tools and have vastly different backgrounds and approaches,” said Boegehold.  “But we’re all fundamentally interested in the same thing – reaching a better understanding of cardiovascular biology and medicine, for the sake of our current, as well as future generations.”

 

Co-investigators for the research study include Rhonda D. Prisby, PhD, and Judy Muller-Delp, PhD, both of CIRCS.  For more information on the CIRCS visit www.hsc.wvu.edu/circs/.

 

 

For More Information:

Steve Bovino, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 bovinost@wvuh.com

 

The American Physiological Society press release follows

 

 

POST-MENOPAUSAL FEMALES, THE ELDERLY AND MALES MOST HEAVILY IMPACTED BY A CHEMICAL COMPONENT OF DIESEL EXHAUST PARTICLES

 

Estrogen appears to provide protective effects in animal model

 

WASHINGTON – A new study finds that exposure to a chemical component of diesel exhaust particles can compromise the ability of resistance arteries to regulate blood flow to bone marrow. Post-menopausal females, the elderly and males are most likely to be impacted, according to a new vascular biology study– using an animal model – being presented at the 120th Annual Meeting of The American Physiological Society (APS; www.The-APS.org) from April 28-May 2, 2007 in Washington, DC.

 

The study, Effects of Age, Gender, and Estrogen on Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation Subsequent to Phenanthraquinone Exposure, was conducted by Rhonda D. Prisby, Judy Muller-Delp and Timothy R. Nurkiewicz, all of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Cardiovascular Sciences at the West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, WV, USA.  Dr. Nurkiewicz is presenting the findings on behalf of the University’s interdisciplinary cardiovascular research team. The research was funded by the Health Effects Institute and the National Institutes of Health.

 

Background

Diesel exhaust contributes significantly to the U.S. ambient air pollution burden. This form of air pollution is the product of diesel fuel combustion, commonly generated by buses, trucks, trains and ferries. The particles can remain airborne for extended time periods, and travel long distances prior to being inhaled.  When inhaled, chemical components such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) attached to the particles can interact with the body. Quinones are PAHs and are among the more toxic components of diesel exhaust. In the current study, the investigators used phenanthraquinone (PQ) because previous research found PQ to compromise the ability of larger blood vessels to relax.  They have also noted that in certain populations, exposure to particle pollution may exacerbate various cardiovascular diseases.

 

The principal nutrient artery (PNA) is the major resistance vessel that regulates blood blow to the femoral bone marrow. The ability of arteries to dilate (widen) declines with age and this corresponds with reduced blood flow in an artery’s target organ. Impaired blood flow regulation in the bone marrow can have wide- and long-reaching health consequences. It is unclear what PQ does to the ability of this artery to dilate, and how age or gender alters any such effect.

 

 

Summary of Methodology

Against this backdrop the research team sought to determine whether PQ impairs vasodilation in the PNA and identify whether age, gender or estrogen alters the presumed effects of PQ.  The researchers isolated and cannulated femoral PNAs from intact and ovariectomized (OVX) female rats (6, 14 and 24 months) and male rats (6 and 24 months). To evaluate the ability of the PNA to dilate when it was incubated with PQ, researchers used the chemical acetylcholine (ACh). A series of ACh doses were administered over time, starting with low doses and graduating to higher doses to produce maximum dilation of the artery

 

Results

The researchers found that:

 

?         exposure to PQ had greatly compromised – by approximately 65 percent – the ability of the blood vessels to effectively dilate in six month old male rats, but had no effect      in female rats;

 

?         at 14 months (female rats) and 24 months (female and male rats), PQ had impaired and abolished vasodilatation, respectively;

 

?         in all OVX rats (i.e., the young females who had lost estrogen due to menopausal status), PQ abolished vasodilatation;

 

?         following the loss of estrogen, particularly at six months where a cardioprotective effect was previously observed, PQ exposure had obliterated vasodilation.

 

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that exposure to the diesel particle component PQ, can compromise the ability of the PNA to regulate bone marrow blood flow in males, the elderly and post-menopausal females in an animal model. These findings may provide an important link to other discoveries involving the protective effects of estrogen to environmental pollutants.

 

***

The American Physiological Society (APS) has been an integral part of the scientific discovery process since it was established in 1887.  Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create health or disease.

 

 

March 16, 2007

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU Medical Grads Lean Toward Primary Care
Bucking national trend, top choices are family medicine and pediatrics

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - This year's class of medical graduates at West Virginia University learned where they would continue training this week - and the majority will focus on primary-care specialties such as family medicine, pediatrics and internal medicine.

The 105 students participated in the National Residency Match program this year. WVU held simultaneous "Match Day" ceremonies in Morgantown, Charleston, and Martinsburg on Thursday, according to Anne Cather, M.D., associate dean of student services and professional development in the WVU School of Medicine. When all the envelopes were opened, 19 had matched with family medicine training programs, 16 in pediatrics, 12 in internal medicine and five in obstetrics and gynecology. Another four will join combined internal medicine/pediatrics programs.

WVU graduates also matched with prestigious programs across the state and around the country in a wide range of medical specialties.

The strong showing of interest in family medicine and other primary care specialties distinguishes WVU from other medical schools across the country, said John E. Prescott, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine.

"Nationally, fewer than 8 percent of U.S. medical graduates matched to family medicine programs this year," Prescott said. "At WVU, we more than doubled that 18 percent. I think this demonstrates that our students are oriented toward the needs of the state and choosing their careers accordingly."

The results of the national match show that "there's a detachment between America's medical school production and health care need," said Rick Kellerman, M.D., of Wichita, Kan , president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. "Medical schools and medical students are going one way, and the needs of society are going the other way."

WVU exposes its students to primary care and rural health career opportunities throughout their medical education, Prescott noted. "We work with West Virginia students in middle school and high school to develop their interest in medicine and science, we require all our students to participate in rural health care during medical school, and we work hard to recruit our most promising graduates into our residency programs," he said. "It pays off in the end for communities all across West Virginia."

WVU's graduates also showed a strong preference for continuing their education within the state. Forty-one of the graduates will train at West Virginia hospitals, with many remaining at WVU-related facilities in Morgantown, Charleston and the Eastern Panhandle.

Residency training typically takes three to five years. Residents practice medicine under the supervision of experienced physicians before being certified in a specialty.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, more than 15,000 U.S. medical school seniors applied for residency positions through the National Residency Matching Program this year.

For More Information:

Steve Bovino, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 bovinost@wvuh.com

 

 


October 12, 2006

St. Mary's Medical Center Welcomes David S. Ratliff, M.D.

Dr. Ratliff specializes and is board certified in general surgery and surgical critical care. On Wednesday afternoons, he will see patients in St. Mary’s Breast Center. Dr. Ratliff also will see general surgical patients in his office, located in the 1 East wing of St. Mary’s, on Wednesday mornings beginning Oct. 25.

Dr. Ratliff is a graduate of Marshall University School of Medicine, where he also completed an internship and residency. For more information, please call St. Mary's Breast Center at (304) 526-8221, (304) 399-7488 (Dr. Ratliff's Huntington Office) or (304) 757-2519 (Dr. Ratliff's Teays Valley offcie).

Contact: Dan Londeree
(304) 526-1257
dan.londeree@st-marys.org



 

October 10, 2006

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center
West Virginia University
Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

 

UHA Names Executive Vice President

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - David R. Brisell has been named executive vice president of University Health Associates. The appointment was made by Jeff Neely, M.D., president and CEO of UHA.

Brisell will assume new responsibilities for the oversight of UHA's relationships with WVU Hospitals and other affiliated organizations, government and non-governmental agencies and interactions with the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry.

 

"During my tenure as president and before that as a faculty and board member, I have depended on David in matters relating to the business operations of UHA, our strategies for growth and for improved support of the educational mission," Dr. Neely said. "We are pleased to have him in this new role, where he will work with other members of the management team to develop new business opportunities. He will also retain his post as chief legal officer."

 

Brisell, who graduated from the University of California and Case Western Reserve School of Law, has been affiliated with WVU's health care enterprises since 1987. He has served as general counsel and vice president of WVUH and the West Virginia United Health System.

 

After several years away from campus in private business, Brisell joined UHA as general counsel and vice president in 2001.

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Steve Bovino, HSC News Service

(304) 293-7087

bovinost@wvuh.com

 



September 26, 2006

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center
West Virginia University
Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

 

Onder Joins WVU Pediatrics

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Ali Mirza Onder, M.D., a pediatric nephrologist, has joined West Virginia University’s Department of Pediatrics in the WVU School of Medicine. With the addition of Dr. Onder, WVU Children’s Hospital now offers care in 33 pediatric specialties.

 

Pediatric nephrologists are dedicated to the care of children with kidney diseases. They also evaluate and treat problems with growth and development specifically related to chronic kidney disease.

 

Dr. Onder earned his medical degree from Uludag University in Turkey in 1997, and completed a pediatric residency at Marmara University Hospital in Istanbul. He did his internship and residency at Miami Children’s Hospital in Miami, Fla., and his pediatric nephrology fellowship at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he worked with Giovanni Piedimonte, M.D., chair of the Department of Pediatrics at WVU.

 

“Dr. Onder is an excellent physician and dedicated researcher,” said Dr. Piedimonte. “He is just the second pediatric nephrologist in West Virginia and his hiring helps support our goal to make sure all pediatric subspecialties are represented at WVU Children’s Hospital. Children should be able to receive any type of general and specialized medical care here in Morgantown.”

 

WVU pediatricians see patients – from newborns to teenagers – in the Physician Office Center and at WVU Children’s Hospital. Last year, they welcomed more than 38,000 young patients in their clinics and treated 7,500 in the hospital.

 

“I look forward to once again working with Dr. Piedimonte and joining WVU Children’s Hospital,” Dr. Onder said. “The leadership and vision of the Department of Pediatrics and the range of specialties offered here ensures quality care for the children of West Virginia and beyond.”

 

“Our pediatrics department has a very strong core of specialties, such as general pediatrics, cardiology, allergy/immunology, intensive care, and neonatology. Adding nephrology adds depth to our existing programs,” Piedimonte said.

  

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Steve Bovino, HSC News Service

(304) 293-7087

bovinost@wvuh.com

 

June 26, 2006

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center
West Virginia University
Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

Robert Beto, M.D., to Lead WVU Cardiology Faculty

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Robert J. Beto, M.D. has been named section chief of cardiology in the West Virginia University School of Medicine. James Brick, M.D, chair of the Department of Medicine, made the appointment, which will be effective July 1.

Dr. Beto, an interventional cardiologist who holds degrees in both medicine and pharmacy, has been a member of the WVU faculty since 2003, and has provided heart care to thousands of patients from across West Virginia since 1999.

He will assume leadership of WVU’s growing cardiology program at a crucial time, said John E. Prescott, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine. “The WVU Heart Institute – including people from many parts of the School and many areas of WVU Hospitals – provides care to people from all over the state and region. Our faculty heart experts – cardiologists, surgeons, radiologists, vascular specialists, pediatric heart specialists and others – work as a team to provide each patient with the highest level of care. And the hospital has invested millions of dollars in the latest diagnostic, interventional and surgical technology so that these doctors can work at the leading edge of their profession.”

Beto said that the high-volume heart program at WVU includes nine cardiologists. Together, they perform 1,500 or more angioplasties every year, and nearly three times that number of diagnostic heart catheterizations. “National statistics show that programs with high numbers generally have better outcomes for patients,” he said.

Advanced technology is also important, he adds. WVU Hospitals recently acquired a 64-slice CT scanner that allows doctors to create detailed 3-D pictures of a patient’s heart. “That’s just one of a wide array of imaging tools and interventional tools that we have available,” Beto said.

In his own practice, he often places tiny wire devices, called stents, into weak or damaged arteries of a patient’s heart – a technique that can help prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Beto credited his predecessor and former teacher, Abnash Jain, M.D., with building WVU’s strong cardiology team. Dr. Jain, who has been on the faculty for more than 30 years, led the cardiology section from 1979 until Beto’s appointment this week. “Dr. Jain is a superb mentor who teaches his fellows not only the science of cardiology, but adds the art and emotional aspects as well,” Beto said.

Beto is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College and the WVU School of Pharmacy, and completed his medical degree and advanced training in cardiology at WVU. He is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiology, and was in private practice in Morgantown before joining the faculty.

“I missed being a part of the team,” he said. “It was a little lonely in private practice. Here, I can work with residents and fellows, communicate about a patient’s care with other colleagues, and give back some of what I have learned to people who are in training.”

He was named a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology in 2001, and a Fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions in 2003.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

HSC News Service
Bill Case, (304) 293-7087

 

May 31, 2006

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center

West Virginia University

Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

 

New Device Advances Heart Care

64-Slice CT Scan Shows Details of Beating Heart

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The pictures are incredibly sharp and lifelike - and show a human heart in all its complicated detail. Yet the process is faster than getting a studio photo.

 

West Virginia University Hospitals' new 64-slice CT scanner greatly enhances the diagnosis and characterization of diseases of the cardiovascular system, especially coronary artery disease.

 

The reduced scan times - usually five to 13 seconds make the process easier for patients. The machine takes up to 200 pictures per second, which are then processed in a computer to generate 3-D images that can be viewed from any angle.

 

When a patient with chest pain is scanned, the images help radiologists and cardiologists determine if there's a problem with the heart. The information can help get patients with heart problems the care they need more quickly. Just as important, doctors say, it helps avoid invasive tests for patients with healthy hearts.

 

"Before this test, even the best external scans often did not provide enough information for an accurate diagnosis," said WVU cardiologist Anthony Morise, M.D. "A significant number of patients who now are sent for heart catheterization can undergo a cardiac CT first, and possibly avoid a catheterization, if the results do not indicate significant coronary artery disease.  On the basis of the test result, many will either receive the treatment they need or look for some other cause of their symptoms."

 

The Toshiba scanner provides greater detail than previously available in conventional 8, 16 or 32-slice CT scanners. The 3-D views of the heart and the coronary arteries show not only narrowed areas of the blood vessels but also early disease in the vessel walls.

 

The device, one of only a few in the region, can also aid in the diagnosis of aneurysms, circulation problems, and diseases of the lungs, liver, and other internal organs.

 

The 3-D images are also very useful for surgical planning, according to WVU radiologist Robert Tallaksen, M.D. "The information we provide for the surgeons can help them determine the correct approach to repairing a heart or circulatory problem, whether the patient needs peripheral angioplasty, stenting, arterial bypass, or aortic aneurysm repair."

 

The scans are expensive and so far, most insurance companies have been reluctant to approve payment. But they are cheaper than the invasive tests now standard for patients with heart problems.

 

Coronary scanning at WVU Hospitals is available only upon referral from a physician. Patients who do not have a personal physician should contact the WVU HealthLine at 1-800-982-8242.

 

Bill Case

Director, Public Information

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center

West Virginia University

Mail: PO Box 9083 Morgantown, WV 26505

Phone: (304) 293-7087

Fax: (304) 293-3890

E-Mail: casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu

 

 

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center
West Virginia University
Morgantown, W.Va.

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU Offers Treatment to Improve Varicose Veins

Minimally invasive procedure provides lasting results

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Since becoming pregnant with her daughter nearly 25 years ago, Stephanie Wilson suffered from pain and fatigue in her right leg. Now, after undergoing VNUS Closure vein treatment at West Virginia University Hospitals, her leg is essentially pain-free.

"My right leg would feel heavy and tired at the end of the day," Wilson, a vascular surgery nurse, said. The pain previously associated with her leg is a common problem for women who are pregnant, people with a family history of varicose veins, and professionals who spend the majority of their days standing. "I didn't notice how bad my leg actually felt until I had the procedure," she said. "After that, there was such a noticeable improvement. I had no idea how much it bothered me before. I guess after 25 years you become used to the pain."

Wilson's testimony is like so many others Pamela Zimmerman, M.D., has heard since she began treating patients for venous reflux and insufficiency using the VNUS Closure Device. "Patients may have years of leg pain diminished by simply undergoing this quick, outpatient procedure," Dr. Zimmerman, director of the WVU Vein Center, explained.

The VNUS Closure procedure begins by tracing leg veins with an ultrasound machine. After receiving anesthetic, a catheter is inserted into the vein. Another ultrasound is performed to ensure the catheter is properly placed. The vein wall is warmed, effectively shrinking the wall and eventually varicosities. A final ultrasound is administered before the patient is sent home.

The procedure typically takes less than an hour, from start to finish. Patients are advised to elevate their leg for the first 24 hours. After 24 hours, it is recommended they resume walking and participate in most of their daily activities.

"Prior to this treatment, doctors would pull the vein from your leg," Zimmerman said. "The new VNUS procedure is minimally invasive. Patients have minimal bruising, scarring or swelling. The veins disappear on their own."

A minimally invasive procedure was what John Mancuso had hoped for when his varicose veins stopped responding to injection therapy treatments. "When I stopped responding to the injections, Dr. Zimmerman said the VNUS Closure was my best option," Mancuso, an administrative law judge, said. "I was nervous about the procedure but she thoroughly explained what would happen and there was no pain associated with having the procedure."

"I've had patients who have waited several years before having this procedure done," Zimmerman said. "Most people tell me they wish they had done it years ago. Their legs look and feel so much better."

Cosmetic improvement is an added benefit of the pain-reducing procedure. "Patients have told me, prior to this procedure they hadn't worn shorts in years," Zimmerman said. "This summer, they're wearing shorts." Zimmerman said she sees patients from ages 20 to 80. There is no age limit for having the VNUS Closure performed.  "I think we all deserve to look and feel our best," Wilson said. "Leg pain isn't something you have to live with. It's treatable."

For an appointment with the WVU Vein Center call (304) 598-4890. For questions or more information, call (304) 293-2367.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 


May 10, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University

www.health.wvu.edu

New Programs To Increase Health Professionals In the State

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University and Shepherd University have created two health sciences programs designed to keep health professionals in the state. Details about PharmSTEP and DentSTEP were announced at a press conference held at the Auditorium of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies on Shepherd's campus on Monday. PharmSTEP and DentSTEP provide high school students with early admission to the WVU School of Pharmacy or WVU School of Dentistry. The "STEP" acronym stands for students in the Eastern Panhandle.

PharmSTEP and DentSTEP enrollees will complete pre-coursework requirements at Shepherd University and then attend pharmacy or dental school at WVU's Morgantown campus. During the experiential portion of the student's studies, they will be placed back in the Eastern Panhandle to complete their practice rotations.

"This is a great way to provide students in the Eastern Panhandle with access to the various health sciences programs we have at our Morgantown campus," said James Koelbl, D.D.S., dean of the WVU School of Dentistry. "It also gives them an opportunity to work alongside healthcare professionals in the Eastern Panhandle.

"Not only is this a great way to attract high-quality students from this part of the state, but will also increase the chances that these students will want to remain in the area to practice once their education and training is complete," added George Spratto, Ph.D., dean of the WVU School of Pharmacy.

Both Dr. Koelbl and Dr. Spratto participated in the inaugural ceremonies for the programs Monday at Shepherd University.

The Eastern Panhandle is experiencing rapid growth, but faces a shortage of health care professionals. PharmSTEP and DentSTEP are focused on attracting more pharmacists and dentists to the area. MedSTEP, which is a joint venture between Shepherd and the WVU School of Medicine, was launched in 2004. It is designed to attract more physicians to the area.

PharmSTEP and DentSTEP are very competitive programs, with a limited number of admission slots awarded in the School of Pharmacy and the School of Dentistry. Along with stringent criteria used to accept students into the program, high standards must also be attained once admitted. These requirements include maintenance of grade point average minimums while completing pre-course work, achievement of a minimum score on each school's national admissions test, and completion of a shadowing and a community service program.

The DentSTEP program is partially funded by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant designed to help dental schools in the United States to attract more minority and low-income candidates. Currently, the WVU School of Pharmacy has one enrolled PharmSTEP student. The School of Dentistry has two students currently enrolled in DentSTEP.

For More Information:  Shelly Stump, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 stumps@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:stumps@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>


April 27, 2005

St. Mary’s accredited Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program to welcome Glenn W. Burris, M.D., M.S., as new fellow  

 

St. Mary’s Medical Center will welcome Glenn W. Burris, M.D., M.S., to the Regional Sleep Center’s Sleep Medicine Fellowship Program on July 1. The program is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and is the first of its type in the Tri-State and in West Virginia. There are fewer than 50 accredited sleep fellowship training programs in the world.

 

Dr. Burris comes to St. Mary’s from The Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C., where he has been a fellow in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Clinical Immunology since 2003. He was a staff physician at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., in 2002 and was chief resident and clinical instructor at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa., in 2001. Dr. Burris has co-authored articles in the Biochemical Journal, the Journal of Neuro-AIDS and Clinical Nuclear Medicine. He earned his Doctor of Medicine from The Medical University of South Carolina and his Master of Science in Biology from the University of Alabama. Dr. Burris is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and is licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners in South Carolina and as Medical Physician in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

During his one-year term in the program, Dr. Burris will receive training and education, give lectures to the medical community and public, and be involved in a research study in sleep medicine. To request a lecture on sleep disorders medicine, please call the Regional Sleep Center at (304) 526-1880.

 

The Regional Sleep Center and the Sleep Fellowship Training Program are under the medical direction of William R. Beam, M.D., and technical direction of Kathy Johnson, R.EEG/EPT., RPSGT. The staff includes physicians in pulmonology, psychiatry, neurology and technologists registered in polysomnography, electroencephalography and respiratory therapy. More than 1,500 patients per year are evaluated by the center. Physicians who have completed a residency accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education are eligible to apply for the fellowship.

For more information: Dan Londeree, St. Mary’s Medical Center, (304) 526-1257 dan.londeree@st-marys.org



April 25, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU School of Medicine Announces Dean's Award Recipients

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University School of Medicine Dean John E. Prescott, M.D presented twelve Awards for Excellence April 25 at the WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center in Morgantown.

Awards went to faculty and groups that excelled in the areas of education, clinical service, research, service to the community and service to the school. This year, an additional award was created - the Dean's Award for Dedication to the Profession of Medicine to be given by the dean when a faculty member has made an outstanding contribution to the profession as a whole.

"All of the award winners make outstanding contributions to our work, each in his or her own way," Prescott said. "The variety of work done at the school of medicine is stunning - and even though I have been here a long time, it was not until I became dean, and began to interact with the chairs and the faculty in a new way, that the full scope of this school's abilities, interests and expertise was truly apparent."

The 2005 winners are:

Award for Excellence in Education

Rosemarie Cannarella, M.D., associate professor of family medicine and assistant dean of student services, Department of Family Medicine, Eastern Division.

Michelle Nuss, M.D., associate professor of general internal medicine and geriatrics, Department of Medicine; and Dorian Williams, M.D., associate professor and predoctoral director, Department of Family Medicine.

Award for Excellence in Research

Geri A. Dino, Ph.D., director of the Prevention Research Center, Department of Community Medicine; and Kimberly A. Horn, Ed.D., assistant professor, Department of Community Medicine.

Mitchell Finkel, M.D., professor of cardiology, Department of Medicine.

Bernard Schreurs, associate professor and graduate program director, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology.

Award for Excellence in Community Service

The Steering Committee of the West Virginia Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence, WV-INBRE.

Rebecca Schmidt, associate professor of nephrology, Department of Medicine.

Award for Excellence in Clinical Service

The WVU stroke team - faculty physicians from the departments of Neurology, Emergency Medicine, Radiology and several others, along with the hospital administration and staff, and practitioners in community hospitals, EMTs, and others.

The neonatal team - faculty and staff of the Department of Pediatrics.

Award for Excellence in Service to the School

Charles Moore, M.D., adjunct assistant professor, Department of Ophthalmology.

Douglas Glover, M.D., professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Award for Dedication to the Profession of Medicine

The late Ronald Albuquerque, M.D., assistant professor of trauma/critical care, Department of Surgery.

For More Information: Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu



April 19, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU Geriatric Fellowship is Accredited

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. -West Virginia University has received accreditation for the state's first training program in geriatric medicine. The program will be a part of the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, Eastern Division. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education granted their approval for a one year training program to begin this year.

In collaboration with the Martinsburg Veteran's Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and the WVU Center on Aging, the Eastern Division Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program will educate specialists in the interdisciplinary delivery of health care to the elderly, such as memory loss, arthritis, end of life care, and the treatment and rehabilitation of acute and chronic illnesses.

"The training will mostly take place at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Berkeley County," said Konrad C. Nau, MD, director of the new program. "It will also take place at the Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Ranson and City Hospital in Martinsburg. As far as faculty, we are fortunate to have several experienced physicians in the community - including three at VAMC who are certified in geriatric medicine."

West Virginia leads the nation in the mean age of its population, yet trails in capacity to train physicians to care for the elderly. Until this program, West Virginia had no geriatrics fellowship or residency training programs in any of its medical school or community teaching hospitals.

The Geriatric Fellowship Program will be administered by the WVU Rural Family Medicine Residency Program in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. In order to obtain geriatric specialty certification, doctors must complete one year of training in a geriatrics residency program after residency training in family or internal medicine.

Candidates for the program will be selected after July 1.

For More Information:  Tracie Ford, WVU Eastern Division (304) 264-9202



April 15, 2005

Dr. David Caraway first in the nation to successfully implant new rechargeable device for treating chronic pain

First successful procedure in the nation performed at St. Mary’s

 

Earlier this week, Dr. David Caraway, medical director of St. Mary’s Pain Relief Center, became the first in the nation to successfully implant the Restore™ Rechargeable Neurostimulation System. Manufactured by Medtronic, Inc., Restore is a new treatment option for people suffering from complex, difficult-to-treat chronic pain, and those requiring high-power stimulation for pain relief. The system was granted approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on April 12.

 

The system offers the most powerful and longest-lasting rechargeable battery available. The Restore battery can last for up to nine years, exceeding that of any other rechargeable spinal cord stimulator on the market.  And like a cell phone battery, the Restore System’s battery can be recharged.  When battery levels are low, an alarm sounds and an icon appears on the system’s programmer screen, alerting patients of the need to recharge.  Recharging can occur without interrupting delivery of the stimulation. 

 

The System’s high-power battery offers patients the convenience and flexibility of the longest time between recharge periods.  Patients will typically need to recharge the Restore battery approximately once per month, whereas other devices on the market may require recharges as frequently as once per week. 

 

Another feature of the Restore System is the hand-held programmer that is similar to a remote control.  Patients use it to manually choose from an unmatched number of program options – as set by a physician – to meet his or her individual treatment needs.

 

Dr. Caraway said the launch of Restore marks a significant step forward in the treatment of chronic pain. “Medtronic’s newest spinal cord stimulator should help us treat some of the most complex forms of chronic pain better than we have in the past," said Caraway. “This is welcome news for patients who

 

haven’t had much success with other chronic pain treatments.  By delivering a high level of sustainable power, this new rechargeable device will provide relief to many who suffer greatly and may be functionally impaired by pain. With this device, the patient controls the pain – the pain doesn’t control the patient."

 

About the Restore™ Rechargeable Neurostimulation System

 

The Restore System is indicated to manage chronic, difficult-to-treat pain in the trunk and/or multiple limbs that is associated with failed back syndrome, post laminectomy pain, unsuccessful disc surgery or degenerative disc disease, among others.

 

The device, about the size of a stopwatch, is implanted under the skin.  Up to two leads – with eight electrodes each – deliver electrical pulses to the spine.  Based on individual patient need, doctors can customize the positioning of the electrodes to deliver stimulation directly to the target area on the spine, and in doing so, block pain signals from reaching the brain.

 

About Chronic Pain

 

Defined as pain that persists or recurs for more than six months, chronic pain can be caused by a variety of injuries and diseases, and most commonly affects the lower back and legs.  Left untreated or under-treated, chronic pain can destroy a person's life.  Beyond the physical disability that often results, it can lead to difficulty holding a job, low self-esteem, strained relationships, depression, and suicide.

 

It is estimated that chronic pain affects approximately 25 percent of the U.S. population.  Chronic pain accounts for an estimated $100 billion per year in medical costs, including 515 million lost workdays and 40 million physician visits.

 

For more information on chronic pain, visit the American Pain Foundation web site at www.painfoundation.org.

 

About St. Mary’s Pain Relief Center

 

The Pain Relief Center is an interdisciplinary healthcare practice for the treatment and management of difficult pain syndromes. Led by a team of trained pain relief specialists, the medical staff provides pain treatment and relief for patients with acute or chronic illnesses and disabilities. Many of the center’s patients have undergone medical and/or surgical treatments yet still are experiencing significant pain.

 

At the Pain Relief Center, physicians and staff work one-on-one with each patient to design and implement a personalized pain management program. To visit the Pain Relief Center, a physician referral is required.

 

For more information contact Dan Londeree, St. Mary’s Medical Center, (304) 526-1257 dan.londeree@st-marys.org




April 11, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU Appoints Chair of Anesthesiology

David A. Zvara, M.D., will join School of Medicine

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - David A. Zvara, M.D., a specialist in cardiovascular anesthesia, will become chair of the Department of Anesthesia in the WVU School of Medicine in June.

"We are eager to welcome Dr. Zvara to WVU," said John E. Prescott, M.D., dean of medicine. "He brings background and experience that will be tremendously helpful in providing leadership for the department as it grows to meet the needs of our students, residents and patients."

Zvara is currently associate professor of anesthesia at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where he has been a faculty member since 1993. At Wake Forest, he has been active as a faculty advisor for medical students, has engaged in research, and has had an active practice in surgical anesthesia.

He is also well-known and respected in national medical organizations, and serves on the Education Committee of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, on the Council on Cardio-Thoracic and Vascular Surgery of the American Heart Association, and as an associate examiner for the American Board of Anesthesiology.

"It's important for the School of Medicine to promote excellence in patient care, teaching, and research, and to deliver the highest quality of services to our patients in a collaborative, consumer friendly, efficient, and technologically advanced manner," said Dr. Prescott. "Dr. Zvara has shown leadership abilities in all of these areas in his career to date, and we expect him to contribute greatly to the success of his department and the School."

Zvara is a graduate of the Ohio State University medical school, and completed residency training there. He served as an anesthesiologist in the U.S. Air Force, including an overseas deployment during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Robert Johnstone, M.D., retired from his post as chair of anesthesiology at WVU in late 2004. Stephen Wetmore, M.D., has been serving as interim chair.

For More Information: Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>



April 4, 2005


Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU Surgeon's Book Addresses Steroids

Bailes was NFL Team Physician

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. A soon-to-be-published book, co-authored by a West Virginia University neurosurgeon, says that children are at risk from the win-at-all-costs culture prevalent in American sport. "When Winning Costs Too Much," available in early April from Taylor Trade Publishing, is a comprehensive analysis of the rise in steroids and supplement abuse at all levels of sport, including our most powerful and popular organizations.

WVU's chair of neurosurgery, Julian Bailes, M.D., wrote the book with John McCloskey, a senior editor in the sports department at the Houston Chronicle.

Children in dangerous social situations are becoming a part of a cycle that encourages drugs to enhance their chance of athletic success. This abuse, combined with a decline in respect for all authority - coaches, officials, rulebooks, parents - and the increasing number of high-profile athletes who lack respect for sportsmanship and fair competition, has created a sports environment that breeds bad behavior. There are solutions, however. And with experience perfectly suited to identify the problems, understand their severity and develop realistic plans to attack them.

Dr. Bailes and McCloskey have invested years of research and critical thinking to present what is truly a revelation of how dire the condition of competition has become.

Despite levels of death and disease among Italian soccer players, American professional wrestlers, European cyclists and bodybuilders worldwide, that are far above normal levels for men in similar age groups, athletes continue to use steroids, blood-doping drugs and supplements that are as dangerous as ephedrine. Kids who imitate these athletes are more susceptible to the dangers of the chemicals because their bodies have not fully developed.

In addition to the physiological nightmares of blowing past performance limits, serious social problems can also be attributed to sports: rape by athletes, violence toward their girlfriends, academic fraud, extra benefits to amateur athletes, coaches bending eligibility rules every way imaginable, Little League coaches and parents setting terrible examples by losing their tempers and overusing kids, and many more problems. Despite its many negative aspects, sport remains a crucial character-building development tool and weaves a strong community fabric across the world. This book - unmatched in the depth of these issues - offers expert advice on how sports can remain a strong, viable part of society.

Praise for When Winning Costs Too Much:

"The use of performance-enhancing drugs is an invidious practice, condoned by too many and ignored by more. This work explores the nature and extent of such activity and its authors are to be congratulated for turning over some of the rocks and exposing the rot that threatens the lives and well-being of young athletes."

Richard W. Pound, Founding Chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency, member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for 25 years, and author of "Inside the Olympics: A Behind-The-Scenes Look at the Politics, the Scandals and the Glory of the Games."

"Have you ever wondered what's happened to the 'purity' of sport - where playing the game for sheer enjoyment and the thrill of competition were reward enough; where fair play, i.e. ethics and integrity, were an integral part of each contest? Dr. Bailes and McCloskey have invested years of study to produce this incredibly informative book on the 'state of the sports world.' As a former professional athlete I am ecstatic that the authors of 'When Winning Costs Too Much' are willing to identify and confront the 'wrongs' in the world of sport. This book should be required reading for the parents of all aspiring athletes!"

Steve Bartkowski, two-time Pro Bowl quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons

"I loved the book, and was blown away by all the information and warnings about the impact of concussions and steroid use. I was forced to retire prematurely due to concussions so I know first hand of the dangers from head trauma. The book will help all who read it to know what takes place at the time of a concussion, what to look for, and the best way to care for that person before returning back to action. The information on the prevalence of steroid use was mind-boggling. Every player, coach and parent should read it so that everyone understands the potential disasters that can occur." -Merril Hoge, former Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears running back and current ESPN analyst

"In 'When Winning Costs Too Much,' Julian Bailes and John McCloskey provide factual data and compelling testimonials to present a devastating portrait of sports in America today. Together the authors have assembled more hard-won research than I've ever seen on the subject of steroid abuse and its effects not only on the individual performer but also on society as a whole. Here is a screed against a culture that celebrates dopers who cheat to get ahead. It also is a document with a powerful personal message that comes with equal measures of good and bad news. First the good: Only about one out of 10 young athletes in this country is using drugs to help him perform better. Now the bad: Every last one of us is being victimized as a result."

John Ed Bradley, All-American center at LSU and Sports Illustrated writer

"Throughout my career I have had both great success and great struggles. But I have always been able to overcome the struggles with honor and with a respect for the rules and integrity of the game. Kids today need to know how important that is to succeed in sports and life. 'When Winning Costs Too Much' can help parents know whether or not their kids are on the right track."

Hal Sutton, winner of 12 PGA Tour events, including the 1983 PGA Championship, and the captain of the 2004 Ryder Cup team

"The single greatest lesson I learned from athletics that has contributed to my success in other areas of my life is that winning isn't everything. Somewhere along the way too many people have forgotten that it is the pursuit of success, not success itself, which makes the games worth playing. 'When Winning Costs Too Much' will help parents and athletes understand how much of the journey is lost by taking the easy route."

Chris Nowinski, World Wrestling Entertainment star, former Harvard football player, Founding Board Member of Teams of Angels

For More Information:

Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>
Tracy Miracle, Taylor Trade Publishing, (301) 459-3366 x 5622 tmiracle@rowman.com <mailto:tmiracle@rowman.com>


March 25, 2005

Two Marshall Medical Faculty Honored in "Local Legends" Project

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. Two physicians at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine have become the first West Virginians honored as part of the national "Local Legends" project.

Dr. Mildred Mitchell-Bateman of Charleston and Dr. Paulette S. Wehner of Huntington will be included in the "Local Legends" gallery web site, which is a companion to the National Library of Medicine exhibition "Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Women Physicians." The site will be included when the "Changing the Face of Medicine" exhibition goes on national tour this spring.

Although semi-retired, Bateman continues to teach and see patients part-time at Marshall. The first chair of the school's Department of Psychiatry, she has had a distinguished career that included serving as one of four members of the President's Commission on Mental Health, vice president of the American Psychiatric Association, and West Virginia Director of Mental Health. She has received numerous local, state and national honors for her contributions to mental health care.

Wehner, a cardiologist, joined the school's faculty in 1995 and is director of its Adult Cardiovascular Training Program. She also is director of the Cabell Huntington Hospital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, medical director of the hospital's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, and medical director of the St. Mary's Hospital Early Defibrillation Program. A member of Marshall's Academy of Medical Educators, she has received more than a dozen awards for her teaching and medical service.

Physicians in the "Local Legends" gallery are recognized by members of their state's congressional delegation. Bateman was selected by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and Wehner by Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV and Rep. Nick J. Rahall.

More information: Beverly McCoy, 691-1713 or mccoy@marshall.edu



March 22, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU Medical Grads Selected for Residency Training

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Half of West Virginia University's School of Medicine Class of 2004 will continue training in the state. Most students learned their selections Thursday, March 17, at simultaneous "Match Day" ceremonies at the West Virginia University Erikson Alumni Center in Morgantown, the Charleston Division Education building in Charleston, and the Eastern Division's McCormick Building.

"Forty out of 80 of our graduates will stay in West Virginia, said G. Ann Cather, M.D., WVU professor of family medicine and associate dean of student services and professional development. "Our students matched in 15 different fields and will go to 14 states."

Sixty-four percent of the graduates will train in internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, or obstetrics/gynecology, fields that typically represent a person's primary health care. The balance of the class will study specialties such as surgery, psychiatry and anesthesiology.

"We are proud knowing that half of our students have chosen to continue their training with WVU faculty," said John E. Prescott, M.D., dean of the WVU School of Medicine. "Our students recognize the quality of education they've received at the WVU School of Medicine in Morgantown and at our Charleston and Eastern divisions, and they are truly dedicated to serving our state."

Residency training typically takes three to five years. Residents practice medicine under the supervision of experienced physicians before being certified in a specialty.

Of the graduates who will train at medical centers outside the state, many have been matched with some of the most competitive specialty programs.

For more information, see the National Residents Matching Program Web site,www.nrmp.org, or the Association of American Medical Colleges Web site, www.aamc.org.

For More Information:

Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>


March 18, 2005

ATTENTION EMPLOYERS & MEDICAL PROVIDERS:

Workers' Compensation Made Easier.

Sign up today for E-Comp! http://ecomp.wvwcc.org

 

Charleston, WV- The West Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission is developing a Preferred Provider Organization for the treatment of all injured workers submitting claims after July 1. The Commission’s PPO will allow injured workers to benefit from the treatment and care provided by high quality medical providers who have demonstrated their commitment to appropriate treatment and responsible return-to-work programs.

 

The Commission is creating this PPO in order to insure that injured workers receive prompt, speedy treatment of the highest possible quality. As it develops, the PPO will offer injured workers a broad choice of providers while allowing the Commission to work with employers, health care providers and injured workers to ensure successful treatment and return to work. The goal is to get injured workers prompt and quality treatment to ensure successful treatment outcomes and their return to work. This will allow the injured worker to recover faster and lower claim costs, which are pluses for employers and the Commission.

 

Several other insurance companies, or insurance-related companies, also are creating preferred provider groups. Medical providers can join several different PPOs, but they must join the Workers’ Compensation PPO separately from the others.

 

All medical providers treating injured workers receiving benefits from the Workers’ Compensation Commission, or wishing to treat these injured workers in the future are encouraged to register for membership in the PPO. Medical providers can register for the Commission’s PPO by calling Andrew Searls in Provider Registration at (304) 926-3400, Ext. 5289.

 

The Commission is developing this PPO under provisions of Senate Bill 2013 which created the Workers’ Compensation Commission and started the reforms which were expanded in Senate Bill 1004 and which are leading to the privatization of workers’ compensation in West Virginia. Rules governing the PPO were approved by the Workers’ Compensation Commission Board of Managers.

 

Self-insured employers also are allowed to create their own PPO networks and require their employees injured on the job to seek treatment and other services within their managed care network. This provision helps self-insured employers control their direct and indirect workers’ compensation costs such as medical and indemnity expenses and replacement and training costs.

 

The Commission’s PPO will be supervised by the Office of Medical Management which will direct quality assurance programs and develop uniform standards for treatment, duration of recovery and return to work. Training will be given to providers along with on-going monitoring of practice patterns. Providers who excel in the proactive treatment of injured workers and move them through a medical treatment plan without unneeded delay or inappropriate treatment will be placed in a quality tier. Providers in that quality tier will not be required to seek prior approvals for most treatment and various paperwork requirements. These providers will have expedited payment of their bills and will be assigned a customer service representative to help with questions about billing issues.  

 

The Commission also will offer an administrative dispute resolution to injured workers and health care providers to insure treatment and billing issues are quickly resolved and to help reduce litigation.

 

Claims adjusters will be trained to assist the injured worker in locating a suitable medical provider within the PPO network and help coordinate the injured worker’s return to transitional or normal work duty. The Commission will ensure the injured worker will retain sufficient provider choice for treatment in their PPO network.

 

The Commission will maintain a quality PPO network by adopting these quality principals.

 

 

  • Maintaining quality standards through provider credentialing, quality assurance reviews and compliance with Rule 20 treatment standards
  • Proactive provider communication and education
  • Administrative dispute resolution for providers and injured workers
  • Medical and professional oversight of providers
  • Data analysis and treatment review of network providers
  • Choice of network providers for injured workers
  • Improved nurse case management and claims focus on quality treatment and return to work



March 10, 2005

OVMC & UPMC Announce Partnership For Cancer Services
Partnership to Provide Highest Level of Cancer Care to the Ohio Valley 

Wheeling, WV—Leaders from Ohio Valley Medical Center (OVMC) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)/UPMC Cancer Centers have entered into a partnership for cancer care services. Working in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), the region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, the partnership will expand OVMC ability to provide exceptional care and state-of-the-art cancer treatments close to home.

Beyond the enhancement of cancer care services, the partnership also will offer expertise from UPMC in oncology services, create a referral base for physicians and assist in the development of additional oncology services throughout the Ohio Valley community.  

 

Brian K. Felici, president and CEO of OVMC, commented that the new partnership builds on Ohio Valley Medical Center’s long tradition of excellence in patient care. “Providing the highest standard of care to patients treated at our facilities remains our mission, and this partnership with UPMC builds on that foundation.  The partnership will provide greater convenience for our patients and expand treatment options for those who want to stay in the Ohio Valley area to receive the best cancer care available,” said Felici. "By collaborating with Ohio Valley Medical Center, cancer patients in this community will have improved access to therapeutic agents that target cancer and promising new treatment options,” said Jeffrey Shogan, M.D., deputy director for business affairs, UPMC Cancer Centers/UPCI.  “We are truly honored to work with area physicians in their mission to serve the people of this community.”

Sushil K. Mehrotra, M.D., medical oncologist at OVMC, G.N. Reddy, M.D., chairman of the department of radiation oncology at OVMC and Gregory M. Saracco, M.D., cancer liaison physician at OVMC will begin to work with physicians in medical and radiation and surgical oncology at UPMC Cancer Center to enhance Cancer Center at OVMC.  “The partnership between OVMC and UPMC will provide the most effective, technologically advanced cancer care to people in the Ohio Valley,” said Bobbie Caldwell, R.N., B.S.N., O.C.N., clinical coordinator of oncology services at OVMC.  “We continue strive to serve the people of this community by providing patients and their families with the support and care they need to overcome cancer.”

OVMC is enhancing its radiation oncology services with the installation of a new, state of the art linear accelerator to provide patients with an advanced form of radiation therapy called intensity modulated radiation therapy, or IMRT.  OVMC has been working with the Oncology Care Systems Group, Siemens Medical Systems to provide the hospital with the ONCOR Linear Accelerator, the latest and most technologically advanced accelerator in the area.  IMRT precisely targets radiation to the shape and thickness of a tumor to treat cancer cells while minimizing the dose of radiation received by healthy tissues that surround the tumor. The process enables the Radiation Oncologist to give a higher radiation dose.  This results in fewer adverse side effects for patients undergoing treatment and can significantly improve their quality of life compared to those receiving standard radiation therapy.  UPMC Cancer Centers, which leads the region in this technology, will offer enhanced IMRT treatment planning services to OVMC.  The IMRT technology in conjunction with high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) and conventional beam therapy will ensure OVMC provides the most technically advanced radiation treatments in the Ohio Valley. 

OVMC’s comprehensive cancer program is accredited by the American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer.  This program, founded in 1969, was the first medical facility in West Virginia to start a comprehensive cancer program.  It provides comprehensive cancer care services to patients and the community through educational programs, prevention and detection screenings, cancer treatments and support services.  The cancer program consists of many services including radiation oncology, medical oncology, oncology nursing, cancer registry, advanced imaging technology and genetic counseling, as well as its two centers, the OVMC Center for Breast Care and the OVMC Women’s Center.  In addition, OVMC features a 16-bed Inpatient Oncology Unit that provides cancer care services for patients with surgical, medical and palliative/hospice needs.  The program also is very active in community cancer education and support services through several American Cancer Society sponsored programs.  


The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is the leading integrated delivery system for health care in Pennsylvania. UPMC is dedicated to providing exemplary patient care, educating the next generation of health care professionals and advancing biomedical research. UPMC includes primary care and specialist physician practices, rehabilitation services, in-home services, retirement living options, a mail-order pharmacy, occupational medicine services, durable medical devices, technology transfer ventures and international health care initiatives.


For more information about the Cancer Center at OVMC or questions about any of the cancer care programs contact Bobbie Caldwell, OVMC clinical coordinator of oncology services at (304) 234-1692.  www.ohiovalleymedicalcenter.com


Howard Gamble, MPH                                                                                   

Director of Marketing & Public Relations

(304) 234-8135 · Page 633-7934 · hgamble@ovrh.org

 

Clare Collins

UPMC News Bureau

(412) 647-3555 · CollCX@upmc.edu




March 3, 2005

Cornerstone Healthcare Group Opens First Hospital in Huntington, West Virginia


(Austin, TX) - - Cornerstone Healthcare Group announced plans to open a long-term acute care hospital in Huntington, West Virginia.  The LTAC hospital will have 28 beds and is scheduled to open March 2005.  Cornerstone Hospital of Huntington will be located within St. Mary’s Medical Center at 2900 First Avenue, 2 East, Huntington, WV to continually respond to the changing and growing needs of those in the area.  The facility will provide specialized services for medically complex patients requiring ventilator weaning, wound care, dialysis, and intravenous (IV) therapy.

 

Cornerstone Healthcare Group President, Michael D. Cress, stated, “We are excited about expanding in the West Virginia market, and we are looking forward to becoming part of the continuum of care within the St. Mary’s Medical Center as well as the medical community of Huntington.”

 

St. Mary’s President and CEO Michael G. Sellards said, “St. Mary’s Medical Center is pleased that Cornerstone Healthcare is opening Cornerstone Hospital of Huntington within our facility. We believe St. Mary’s and Cornerstone share a core value of providing the finest quality healthcare to the people we serve. This is an important addition to the Tri-State healthcare community.”

 

Cornerstone Healthcare Group is a rapidly growing national network of Long Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACs).  Additional information about Cornerstone Healthcare Group can be found at www.cornerstonehealthcaregroup.com.


Dianne S. Crawley, Cornerstone Corporate Director, Provider Relations  512/533-2400



March 1, 2005

Cabell Huntington Hospital Opens Sleep Disorders Center in Putnam County

Cabell Huntington Hospital, which opened its original Sleep Disorders Center in Huntington in 1993, has extended its services to Putnam County.

The Sleep Disorders Center in Putnam County is located at 1401 Hospital Drive, in Suite 101 of the Seville Building. The two-bed center offers state-of-the art technology in a comfortable home-like setting and a more convenient location for patients in Putnam County.

The center provides patients in Putnam County a location to have their sleep studies conducted that is closer to home or work," said Imran Khawaja, MD, medical director of the center and pulmonologist with the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. "Patients can come here, have their study performed while they sleep - then get up and go home or to work straight from here, if they like."

During a sleep study the staff measures a patient’s body functions during sleep to determine the cause of disturbances that interrupt sleep.

"The most common complaint we receive is that the patient is snoring excessively at night," Khawaja said. "Often, it is sleep partners who notice the problem with snoring, or they notice that the patient is experiencing moments when he or she seems to stop breathing periodically throughout the night, a condition called sleep apnea."

According to Khawaja, who is board-certified in sleep medicine, the condition he diagnoses the most is sleep apnea, which is a breathing disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when air cannot flow into or out of the person’s nose or mouth although efforts to breathe continue.

In addition to snoring, many people with sleep apnea wake up feeling tired and suffer from fatigue or difficulty concentrating throughout the day. Some fall asleep while driving, in meetings or even while having conversations with other people because they are so deprived of sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, the number of involuntary breathing pauses or "apneic events" may be as high as 20 to 60 or more per hour. These breathing pauses are almost always accompanied by snoring between apnea episodes, although not everyone who snores has this condition. Treatment for sleep apnea most often includes prescribing continuous positive airway pressure, or nasal C-PAP, and the patient wears a mask covering the nose while he or she sleeps, and pressure from an air blower forces air through the nasal passages. The air pressure is adjusted so that it is just enough to prevent the throat from collapsing during sleep. Some patients with sleep apnea may need surgery, including the removal of adenoids and tonsils (especially in children), nasal polyps or other growths, or other tissue in the airway and correction of structural deformities. Younger patients seem to benefit from these surgical procedures more than older patients. "The vast majority of our sleep apnea patients benefit from the C-PAP therapy," Khawaja said. "We’ve had patients who tell us they can’t believe the difference after just one night’s sleep using C-PAP. They wake up feeling energized and refreshed and they feel better throughout the day." Appointments are made by physician referral only, but more information about the center can be obtained by calling (304) 757-1995.

Kathy Cosco, Media & Community Relations Manager Cabell Huntington Hospital 1340 Hal Greer Boulevard Huntington, WV 25701 (304) 526-2254 office (304) 526-2008 fax



February 28, 2005

HealthNet adds helicopter to Southern WV

 

(Bluefield) – HealthNet Areomedical Services is pleased to announce it is expanding its medical coverage to southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia.

 

Beginning April 1, the air medical company is placing a helicopter in Mercer County, West Virginia and will be referred to as HealthNet V (five). This new helicopter brings the total number to four throughout West Virginia; the others are located in Charleston, Huntington and Morgantown.

 

“We are excited for the people in southern West Virginia because when it comes to medical care every minute counts,” said Chip Sovick, HealthNet president and CEO. “This means people living in counties such as Mercer, Summers and McDowell as well as southwestern Virginia will get quicker access to critical care health services.”

 

Right now it may take a HealthNet helicopter as well as other helicopter services up to 45 minutes to reach area accident scenes or rural hospitals. The new remotely located helicopter will be closer to the patients and will shorten transport times to large trauma centers. “Fifty to 60 percent of our flights are inter-hospital transfers,” Sovick said.

 

HealthNet will be spending $500,000, up front, to start the service. The company anticipates hiring nine people through its partner Charleston Area Medical Center, including registered nurses and critical care paramedics, to staff the helicopter 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

 

HealthNet was established in 1986 and at the time was the nation's only statewide emergency aeromedical service. Patients in need of immediate helicopter transport for high-tech, lifesaving treatment are flown to CAMC in Charleston, Cabell-Huntington Hospital in Huntington, or Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown or other regional health care facilities. HealthNet has completed more than 35,000 accident-free missions in its 19 years of operation and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. HealthNet is committed to providing high quality care to patients in a compassionate manner. The patient care and flight safety are HealthNet’s first priority.

 

For additional background information on HealthNet Aeromedical Services, log on to www.healthnetaeromedical.org.

 

For more information, contact:

Dale Witte, CAMC Marketing and Public Affairs, (304) 388-5766



February 17, 2005

NRHA Testifies On Medical Liabilty Reform
Tells House Committee Multi-Sector Approach Needed

(Washington, D.C)  Hilda R. Heady, president of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), testified this morning before the House Committee on Small Business regarding issues rural Americans face due to rapidly rising medical malpractice costs. Large jury awards, big settlements, and other financial losses to medical insurance companies are triggering rapid increases in the costs of liability insurance premiums. As insurance becomes unaffordable or unavailable for rural providers, doctors are forced to leave their practice and drop vital services. In rural and underserved communities, where access to quality care is already limited, rising liability costs are creating a crisis situation.

"In rural communities across the country, exorbitant malpractice insurance costs are driving providers out of business," said Heady. "they are either shutting down their practices, or moving to states with lower premiums caused by caps on non-economic damages."

In her testimony, Heady cited several examples from her home state of West Virginia of communities losing valuable physicians across state borders where insurance premiums are much lower. As a result, many rural communities have been left without OB or orthopedic services, among other specialties. In areas where service still exists, options are very limited. Heady told members of the committee that a multi-sector approach was needed to address this crisis.

"The medical community, legal community, insurance community, and consumers are all invested in this problem and each has a piece of the solution." Heady added. "Congress must bring all these sectors together to solve this crisis once and for all."

The NRHA is a 7000 member national nonprofit organization that provides leadership on rural health issues. The association's mission is to improve the health and well-being of rural Americans and to provide leadership on rural health issues through grassroots advocacy, communications, education and research. The membership of the NRHA is a diverse collection of individuals and organizations, all of whom share the common bond of an interest in rural health. The full testimony can be found at www.nrharural.org/pagefile/liabilityTestimony.pdf.

Contact: Alan Morgan 703/519-7910



February 16, 2005

 

Interventional Radiologist Paul Blom, M.D.  to treat brain aneurysms with minimally invasive procedure

 

Recently at St. Mary’s Medical Center, interventional Radiologist Paul Blom, M.D., was the first in the Huntington, WV, Ashland, KY, Southeastern Ohio area to perform a minimally invasive procedure to treat brain aneurysms. The procedure, called endovascular coiling, uses platinum Guglielmi Detachable Coils (GDC®), and enables a physician to access the treatment area from within the blood vessel. Endovascular coil treatment involves insertion of a catheter into the femoral artery in the patient's leg and navigating it through the vascular system under X-ray guidance into the head and into the aneurysm. Tiny platinum coils are then threaded through the catheter and deployed into the aneurysm, obstructing blood flow into the aneurysm and preventing further damage.

 

Historically, most brain aneurysm patients in the United States have been treated by neurosurgical clipping, which involves performing a craniotomy (temporarily removing a section of the skull during surgery) and placing a surgical clip at the neck of the aneurysm. However, an increasing number of patients are receiving less-invasive endovascular coil treatment. It is estimated that as many as 50 percent of patients treated for brain aneurysms this year will receive endovascular treatment.

 

Results from the International Subarachnoid Aneurysm Trial (ISAT) published in the peer-reviewed medical journal The Lancet demonstrated that in ruptured brain aneurysm patients equally suited for both surgical and less-invasive treatment options, endovascular coil treatment is significantly more likely to leave patients alive and free of disability at one-year follow-up than is surgical clipping.

 

The majority of neurosurgical procedures in the Tri-State are performed at St. Mary's Regional Neuroscience Center. A specialized neuroscience unit has been designated for adult neurology and neurosurgery patients, including stroke patients, and St. Mary’s recently received accreditation for its primary stroke center program. The center's board certified neurologists, neurosurgeons and interventional radiologists offer advanced treatment for various neurological disorders and injuries, including aneurysms, diseases of the central nervous system, injuries of the head, neck and spine and tumors of the brain and spine.

 
Contact: Dan Londeree (304) 526-1257   dan.londeree@st-marys.org


February 14, 2005

St. Mary’s Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Department recognized as an accredited vascular laboratory

The only hospital in their service area to be awarded accreditation by ICAVL

 

St. Mary’s Medical Center’s Non-Invasive Cardiovascular Department has been recognized for its high level of patient care and quality testing in the diagnosis of vascular disease. The department recently earned a three-year accreditation from the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Vascular Laboratories (ICAVL) in three areas – extracranial cerebrovascular, peripheral venous and peripheral arterial testing. St. Mary’s is one of a select number of vascular laboratories in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico to meet or exceed the ICAVL standards.

 

During the ICAVL accreditation process, every aspect of the laboratory’s daily operations and its impact on the quality of health care provided to patients is assessed and reviewed. While completing the application, laboratories are required to identify and correct potential problems, revising protocols and validating quality assurance programs. A group of physicians, technologists and sonographers review the application and the ICAVL board of directors decides whether to grant accreditation.

 

Cathy Hamlin, technical director of St. Mary’s Vascular Laboratory, and Tim Damron, M.D., medical director, spearheaded the accreditation process. Brooke Leaberry, a consultant, handled application, submission and data compilation.

 

Cardiovascular disease is the leading and stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Non-invasive vascular testing techniques performed in vascular laboratories make possible the early detection of these life-threatening vascular diseases.

 

ICAVL is a nonprofit organization established with the support of eleven medical societies that represent medical specialties, including cardiology, neurology, radiology, vascular medicine, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, internal medicine and biology. The organization has accredited more than 1,600 vascular laboratories since its inception in 1990.


Contact: Dan Londeree (304) 526-1257   dan.londeree@st-marys.org



February 10, 2005

New Prostate Brachytherapy Textbook Released Internationally Has a West Virginia Connection

 

Wheeling, WV– A new medical textbook, Basic and Advanced Techniques in Prostate Brachytherapy (Martin Dunitz Ltd., London, 2004) released in January 2005 features Dr. Gregory S. Merrick of the Schiffler Cancer Center in Wheeling, WV as a co-editor.  This textbook is the first comprehensive brachytherapy textbook for prostate cancer professionals ever published and was conceived jointly by Dr. Merrick, Dr. Adam Dicker, an internationally renowned radiation oncologist with the Kimmel Cancer Center and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, and Dr. Leonard Gomella, Chairman, Department of Urology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

 

Prostate brachytherapy (transperineal interstitial implantation of the prostate with either permanent or temporary radioactive sources) has evolved into a sophisticated and definitive treatment modality, used either as monotherapy or in combination with external beam radiation therapy for the definitive treatment of prostate cancer.  This popular form of therapy is frequently integrated with neoadjuvant and/or concurrent androgen suppression therapy in the intermediate and advanced risk patient.  The textbook covers both basic and advanced techniques for prostate brachytherapy and is appropriate for the practitioner either anticipating or currently performing implants.  A partial list of topics covered in the text include: patient selection, equipment decisions, treatment planning, operative technique, post-implant evaluation, management of acute/long term treatment-related effects and follow-up after implant.

 

The editors, along with a panel of outstanding urologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, pathologists and radiologists, comprehensively review in detail all aspects of prostate cancer and brachytherapy, with particular attention to practical techniques and issues that can be incorporated into daily practice.  The authors also review timely issues regarding urodynamics, quality-of-life, and methods to evaluate the quality of permanent implants with specific recommendations.  Up-to-date and highly practice-oriented, Basic and Advanced Techniques in Prostate Brachytherapy offers frontline urologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and medical oncologists, a comprehensive reference for treatment approaches that include prostate brachytherapy.

 

Gregory S. Merrick, M.D. is a nationally recognized prostate cancer expert. Since 1989, he has been the Director of the Schiffler Cancer Center, a Center of Excellence at Wheeling Hospital in Wheeling, WV.  Dr. Merrick is also an Associate Professor of Physics at Wheeling Jesuit University, which is also located in Wheeling.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Brachytherapy Society, currently serving as Treasurer and Public Relations Chairman.  He sits on the Editorial Board of the journal Brachytherapy and serves as a manuscript reviewer for numerous other peer-reviewed scientific oncologic and urologic journals.  He has published 125 original scientific publications and 80 scientific abstracts, as well as contributing to and/or editing multiple medical textbooks.  In conjunction with Dr. Kent E. Wallner of the University of Washington, Dr. Merrick has recently completed the only two large prospective randomized prostate brachytherapy trials ever conducted. Patients from 29 states and 7 foreign countries have sought Dr. Merrick’s expertise for treatment of prostate cancer.

 

For additional information on prostate brachytherapy, please contact Dr. Merrick at the Schiffler Cancer Center in Wheeling, WV.  The Center’s main number is 304-243-3490.  The email address is SchifflerCancerCenter@wheelinghospital.com.  

 

                                                                 

February 8, 2005

James H. Morgan III, M.D., appointed as Cancer Liaison Physician for Hospital Cancer Program at St. Mary’s

 

James H. Morgan III, M.D., FACS, recently received a three-year appointment as Cancer Liaison Physician for the Hospital Cancer Program at St. Mary’s Medical Center. The Cancer Liaison Physician Program is an integral part of the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons.

 

Dr. Morgan is among a national network of more than 1,600 volunteer cancer Liaison Physicians who provide leadership and support to the CoC Approvals Program, and other Commission on Cancer activities at St. Mary’s. Dr. Morgan has a significant interest in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with malignant diseases and provides direction as a member of the multidisciplinary cancer committee at St. Mary’s to maintain CoC approval of the cancer program.

 

The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality of cancer through education, standard-setting and monitoring of cancer care. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and 39 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care. The Commission’s core functions include setting standards for quality, multidisciplinary cancer patient care and cancer patient data collection at more than 1,400 approved facilities. Twenty-two percent of the hospitals in the United States have cancer programs approved by the Commission on Cancer and 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients are treated in these institutions.

 

Cancer Liaison Physicians are responsible for fostering and communicating CoC initiatives at the facility level, and for coordinating community outreach activities in conjunction with the cancer committee. As Community Outreach Coordinator, the Cancer Liaison Physicians develops goals for the cancer program to include the provision of support services and prevention and early detection programs to the community; works with the local American Cancer Society on strategies to accomplish community outreach goals and other cancer control projects of interest to the facility; and utilizes facility cancer patient data submitted to the CoC’s National Cancer Database. In an effort to assist the more than 1.3 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year, Cancer Liaison Physicians at CoC-approved programs facilitate participation in the Commission’s Facility Information Profile System.

 

Dr. Morgan is the medical director of St. Mary’s Breast Center and is currently in his 12th year of practice. The Breast Center team is comprised of breast surgeons, pathologists, medical oncologists, and plastic surgeons, all committed to ensuring each patient has a good understanding of her disease and knows the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option. The team is dedicated to making sure patients have all the essential tools needed to begin the journey to recovery.


Contact: Dan Londeree, (304) 526-1257    dan.londeree@st-marys.org


February 2, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

Dr. Eddie Reed Honored by Dominion

Black History Month Project Names "Strong Men and Women"

"Stay focused on your goal. Beginning today, take control of your destiny."

That's the advice students in 12,000 schools in five states will hear from West Virginia University's Eddie Reed, M.D., one of nine African-Americans recognized for their accomplishments and leadership by the Dominion energy company in its 15th Annual "Strong Men and Women" Educational Series.

Dr. Reed is the director of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at WVU and a professor in the WVU School of Medicine.

"Strong Men & Women" highlights the accomplishments of selected African-American role models and converts their stories into an educational series that will be distributed during February - Black History Month - to schools across Dominion's natural gas and electric retail service areas in West Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

"I am pleased, proud, and honored to have been selected for the Dominion Strong Men and Women Award," Reed said. "I am humbled to join the company of Colin Powell, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Kenneth Gray, and my co-honorees for 2005. Among the 2005 group were: the African American woman physicist who developed the seminal computer programming for sonic boom technology; and, an African American neuroscientist who received the highest award from the National Science Foundation last year. I believe that this is not only an honor for me, but speaks to the opportunity that West Virginia offers to all its citizens."

A team of Dominion employees selects each year's "Strong Men & Women." Judges look for candidates who have demonstrated leadership and courage in public life.

"Dr. Reed is a natural choice to inspire the next generation of African-American scientists and physicians," said Robert M. D'Alessandri, M.D., WVU vice president for health sciences, who was one of several University leaders present when Reed's award was announced Jan. 21 in Richmond, Va. "He is one of WVU's most important leaders in research, in patient care, and in education, and his work for women's health has been felt worldwide."

Reed is well known for his work on the use of drug therapy for ovarian cancer, which is the most deadly cancer of the female reproductive system. Before joining WVU, Reed served as the chief of the Medical Ovarian Cancer Section at the National Cancer Institute's Bethesda, Maryland, campus. Under his leadership, the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer center has developed a new anti-cancer drug development program and a comprehensive breast cancer program.

"Dr. Reed is a mentor to young faculty members, researchers and students," said John E. Prescott, M.D., dean of the WVU School of Medicine. "This award will tell his story to tens of thousands of young people - and inspire them to greater accomplishment."

WVU Hospitals President Bruce McClymonds also attended the Richmond event. "Dr. Reed's is known by our patients as a brilliant and caring physician, and they often express appreciation for his work. This award will help others across the region learn of the excellent care available at the Cancer Center, and the leadership Dr. Reed provides here."

Other 2005 honorees are: Valerie Daniels-Carter, founder and chief executive officer of V&J Holding Co., Milwaukee, Wis.; Christine Mann Darden, Ph.D., a leader in the field of sonic boom technology at NASA, Hampton, Va.; novelist Marita Golden of Michellville, Md.; neurobiologist Erich Jarvis, Ph.D., Duke University; George L. Miles Jr., president and CEO of WQED Multimedia, Pittsburgh; Laura W. Murphy, director of the national office of the ACLU, Washington, D.C.; former Cleveland Browns player Ozzie Newsome; and retired Col. Porcher L. Taylor Jr., Ph.D., of Petersburg, Va.

Biographies and portraits of all the honorees will be included in the Black History Month materials that Dominion is distributing to schools in the region. The materials are also available online at: http://www.dom.com/about/education/strong/index.jsp .

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with an energy portfolio of about 28,100 megawatts of generation. Dominion also serves retail energy customers in eight states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

For More Information: Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>

 

 

 

April 28, 2006

 

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center

 

www.health.wvu.edu

 

 

WVU School of Medicine Announces Dean's Award Recipients

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University School of Medicine Dean John E. Prescott, M.D., presented nine Awards for Excellence April 24 at the WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center in Morgantown.

 

Awards went to faculty who excelled in the areas of education, clinical service, research, service to the community and service to the school. This year, an additional award was created -the Distinguished Teacher Award.

 

"All of the award winners make outstanding contributions to our work, each in his or her own way," Prescott said. "These individuals are truly dedicated to serving our students, our school, and our profession."

 

The 2006 winners are:

 

Award for Excellence in Education

Frank Reilly, M.D., professor, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy

 

Award for Distinguished Teacher

Stanley Zaslau, associate professor, Section of Urology, Department of Surgery

 

Award for Excellence in Research

Nyles W. Charon, Ph.D., professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Cell Biology

 

Award for Excellence in Community Service

David M. Deci, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Family Medicine

 

Award for Excellence in Clinical Service

Harakh V. Dedhia, M.D., professor, Department of Medicine

Debra J. Paulson, M.D., associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine

 

Award for Excellence in Service to the School

Roger C. Toffle, M.D., professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

MaryBeth Mandich, P.T., Ph.D., associate dean of professional programs and chair of physical therapy, Division of Physical Therapy

 

Award for Dedication to the Profession of Medicine

Richard K. Dattola, M.D., associate professor, Department of Family Medicine

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

HSC News Service

(304) 293-7087

 

 

 

April 5, 2006

 

BRNI Names Scientist-Entrepreneur as CEO

 

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Mark A. Cochran, Ph.D., a biosciences researcher and entrepreneur, has been named CEO and executive director of the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI).

 

Dr. Cochran was most recently managing director of the $16 million NeuroVentures Fund, based in Charlottesville, Va. Over the past six years, the group has invested in companies developing drugs, devices and other medical technologies for clinical neuroscience.

 

"Dr. Cochran has the right background and skills that we need to continue BRNI's emerging role as a preeminent scientific institution," said U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, the founder of BRNI.  "I'm confident that Dr. Cochran shares our excitement and commitment to making West Virginia and West Virginia University a world leader in Alzheimer's research and treatments."

 

BRNI has secured patents on several approaches to Alzheimer's treatment, particularly in the use of bryostatin, a drug originally developed for cancer patients.

 

"One of our primary missions at BRNI is to put new diagnostic and treatment tools into the hands of the physicians who treat people with Alzheimer's disease and other related diseases that affect memory," said BRNI president Robert M. D'Alessandri, M.D. "Dr. Cochran's experiences in venture capital, the pharmaceutical industry and in the laboratory make him uniquely qualified to push this organization forward."

 

Cochran holds a doctorate in microbiology and immunology from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario; a master's in microbiology from the University of Guelph, Ontario, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.

 

His previous experience in the pharmaceutical industry includes work for the Bayer Corporation, Miles, Inc., and MicroGeneSys, Inc., doing both laboratory research and business development.

 

He is listed as the author on 22 scientific papers, 66 abstracts and six patents.

 

Cochran and his wife, Joanne, have three children.

 

Senator Rockefeller founded BRNI  in memory of his mother, who died of Alzheimer's disease. More information about the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute is available at www.brni.org.

 

For more information:

Bill Case, (304) 293-7087

 

 

April 4, 2006

 

OHIO VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER OFFERS TARGETED FIVE-DAY RADIATION THERAPY FOR BREAST CANCER; PARTICIPATING IN LANDMARK STUDY

 

FDA-Cleared MammoSiteÒ Radiation Therapy, Currently Available at the Cancer Center, Will Play Key Role in National Cancer Institute Study of Targeted Partial Breast Irradiation Techniques

 

WHEELING, WV— The Cancer Center at Ohio Valley Medical Center has announced that it is offering patients with breast cancer the MammoSiteâ Radiation Therapy System (RTS), a radiation therapy device cleared by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002. By internally delivering radiation directly to the tissue surrounding the cavity created by a lumpectomy (the surgical removal of a breast tumor), where tumors are most likely to recur, the MammoSite RTS minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissue with a treatment course of five days compared to the traditional therapy of 6 weeks or more.

 

In addition, the Cancer Center at OVMC is among the first cancer centers in the country that will participate in a landmark 3,000 patient National Cancer Institute breast cancer study comparing the benefits of partial breast irradiation to whole breast radiation in the treatment of early stage breast cancer. Radiation therapy is commonly used to destroy cancer cells that remain in the breast, chest wall, or underarm area after surgery for breast cancer. Partial breast irradiation (PBI) is the practice of delivering radiation only to the tissue immediately surrounding the removed tumor, where cancer is most likely to recur, limiting radiation exposure to healthy tissue and enabling treatment to be completed in five days. Ohio Valley Medical Center has been using MammoSiteÒ, the most widely-used form of PBI and a treatment modality used in this post-market study, since late 2004.

 

“We are always looking to provide our patients with treatment choices that will be minimally-invasive and help them get back to their lives faster, and we have seen a growing interest in partial breast irradiation in recent years,” said Dr. G.N. Reddy, Radiation Oncologist at Ohio Valley Medical Center. “We believe that partial breast irradiation provides a safe and effective option for women undergoing radiation therapy following breast surgery and published research confirms this. Continued clinical research is important to determine patients most appropriate for newer therapies so patients and physicians can make the best possible decisions regarding their treatment.”

 

The National Cancer Institute (NCI)’s clinical trials cooperative groups, the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), issued a protocol (B-39) in February 2005 for the largest study of partial breast irradiation to date. The NCI study will expand on existing positive study results comparing PBI to whole-breast radiation therapy. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2003) found that, over the course of five years, PBI produces comparable results to whole-breast radiation therapy in preventing recurrence in women with early-stage breast cancer who are treated with breast-conserving therapy. Additionally, the initiation of the NCI study will, for the first time, broaden the criteria of patients considered for PBI to include younger women.

 

Safety and performance of the device for delivery of internal radiation were evaluated in a multi-center study, which involved women with early-stage breast cancer. The study results were reported in 2001 at the annual scientific meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The safety and effectiveness of the MammoSite RTS as a replacement for whole breast irradiation in the treatment of breast cancer has not been established.

 

OVMC is dedicated to offering the latest treatment solutions to cancer patients in the community and is continually striving to improve patient care.  For more information about the Cancer Center at OVMC or information about the study can contact Bobbie Caldwell, OVMC clinical coordinator of oncology services at (304) 234-1692 or visit our website at www.ohiovalleymedicalcenter.com.  

 

 

April 4, 2006
OVMC Welcomes New Physician to Cancer Center

 

WHEELING, WV— Ohio Valley Medical Center welcomes Ryan Smith, MD, to the Prostate Institute at OVMC.  Dr. Smith is a board certified radiation oncologist who is based at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh.

 

The UPMC Cancer Centers has partnered with the Cancer Center at OMVC to offer patients convenient access to cutting-edge treatment for prostate cancer at the Prostate Institute.  Under the direction of Dr. Smith, the Prostate Institute at OVMC gives patients the option to receive the highest level of care right in their community.

 

Dr. Smith earned his medical degree at Temple University, followed by an internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center and residency at the University of Pennsylvania, where he served as chief resident. He is a member of both the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncologists and the American Society of Clinical Oncologists.

 

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men. Nearly 200,000 new cases will be diagnosed this year. The partnership between the OVMC Cancer Center and the UPMC Cancer Centers provides patients state-of-the-art care for prostate and urologic cancers, including intensity modulated radiation therapy and brachytherapy treatments.

 

Brachytherapy, also known as internal radiation therapy or seed implantation, delivers a high dose of radiation directly to a cancerous area. Through a minimally- invasive procedure, radioactive materials, or seeds, are permanently implanted in the affected area. The radiation kills cancerous cells and keeps new ones from growing. The seeds give off their radiation slowly over several months and within one year, the radiation completely decays. The seeds can remain safely in place for the rest of the patient’s life. Data supporting the use of brachytherapy has shown that more than 87 percent of men are still free of prostate cancer 10 years after brachytherapy treatment.

 

Your urologist and radiation oncologist will work together to perform the implant. Most patients are discharged three to four hours after the implant procedure, although an inpatient stay may be required. For more information about the Prostate Institute at OVMC or to schedule an appointment, call 1-866-825-8108.

 

Ohio Valley Medical Center, located in Wheeling West Virginia, and East Ohio Regional Hospital, located in Martins Ferry Ohio, is a 340 bed combined organization providing quality primary and tertiary healthcare to the Ohio Valley.  Ohio Valley Health Services and Education Corporation is the integrated health care delivery system comprising of the two hospitals, River Health Enterprises and Family Service-Upper Ohio Valley.

 

UPMC Cancer Centers offers cancer patients exceptional care and innovative treatments close to home.  Working in tandem with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), the region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, UPMC Cancer Centers provides the latest advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment at more than 40 community-based locations throughout the region.  UPCI comprises the academic and research activities for cancer at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

 

 

 

 November 30, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU Trauma Center Earns Dual Recognition

State, National Level One Certification is Recognized

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center at WVU Hospitals has been verified as a Level One center by both the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma and the State of West Virginia. The designation, a renewal of the status first recognized by ACS in 2001, means that the hospital meets or exceeds all national standards for the care of severely injured persons.

The Center, which treats more than 3,000 patients a year, is the only ACS verified Level One trauma center in West Virginia, and one of only about 100 in the United States. To achieve this verification, a hospital must meet strict, voluntary national standards for the care of injured persons. The verification is granted only after an on-site review by a team of experienced trauma surgeons.

The center was also recently re-designated by West Virginia's Office of Emergency Medical Systems as a Level One center. The state has two such designated centers; the other is at CAMC in Charleston.

"Operating a trauma center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, is a tremendous undertaking that involves hundreds of people," says WVU President Bruce McClymonds. "But it's something we want to do and it's consistent with our mission and our position as a safety net hospital for the State of West Virginia."

On Wednesday, (Nov. 30) WVU Hospitals held a ceremony to mark the dual honor.

WVU's center is one of only a handful of nationally recognized Level One trauma centers serving a mostly rural population. It was created in the 1980s with the assistance and support of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, and is named for his grandson, Jon Michael Moore, who died as the result of an automobile crash.

"The doctors and nurses at the Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center work each day to help other families cope with trauma and tragedy," said Senator Byrd in a letter read at the ceremony. "My grandson would be most humbled to have this facility named in his memory, but, more importantly, he would be proud of its incredible record of saving lives from tragedy. It is a tremendous legacy."

"Part of a Level One trauma center's obligation is in injury prevention and research," says Lawrence Roberts, MD, FACS, director of the Jon Michael Moore Trauma Center. "Our relationship with the WVU Injury Prevention Center and injury prevention community outreach programs speaks to our commitment to decreasing the number and severity of injury."

WVU's trauma team works closely with emergency service providers from throughout the region, including EMS services, the HealthNet helicopter, and emergency departments at other hospitals.

"The citizens of West Virginia can be proud of the progress and improvements that have occured in the last few years with the implementation of a Statewide Inclusive Rural Trauma System," said William D. Ramsey, M.D., WV State EMS Medical Director. "The national verification and state designation of WVUH as a Level 1 trauma center and the progress and accomplishments of other hospitals throughout the state, places West Virginia in the position of being a national model for rural trauma systems."

 

-WVU-

Links:

U.S. Trauma Centers verified by the American College of Surgeons: <http://www.facs.org/trauma/verified.html>

Trauma Centers designated by the W.Va. Office of Emergency Medical Services: <http://www.wvochs.org/shared/content/trauma/traumaweb/pdf/traumacenters_new103105.pdf>

For More Information:

Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>



October 6, 2005

 

Auxiliary to St. Mary’s Medical Center donates $357,000 to St. Mary’s for shuttles, hospital renovations

 

The Auxiliary to St. Mary’s Medical Center donated $257,025 to the medical center in fiscal year 2005 and recently donated an additional $100,000 to kick off fiscal year 2006. The contributions made possible the purchase of two new campus shuttles, two new employee buses and several renovation projects throughout the hospital.

 

The Auxiliary, a non-profit organization, has 220 members who volunteer their time at St. Mary’s. They raise funds for the medical center through work in the Gift Shop and The Gift resale shop. The Auxiliary also receives revenue from coffee cart sales; vending; uniform, jewelry and book sales; community contributions; and the Espresso Mojo coffee shop.

 

“The amount of money donated reflects the enormous effort by our volunteers,” said Pat Chambers, CDVS, director of Volunteer Services at St. Mary’s. “The Auxiliary to St. Mary’s represents the mission and values of this institution. The gift of time is something that cannot be measured. The volunteers’ value lies within their generous hearts.”

 

Hospital projects funded by the Auxiliary to St. Mary’s Medical Center include:

·    Two Toyota Scion xB campus shuttles to transport patients, visitors and staff on campus

·    Two Ford StarCraft buses to transport hospital employees and students to and from parking areas

·    Renovation of ICU and other waiting areas, quiet and common rooms

·    Sponsorship of the 2005 St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation Gala

·    Purchase of in-hospital family pagers

·    Seasonal decorations

 

For more information about the Auxiliary to St. Mary’s Medical Center, call Volunteer Services at (304) 526-1400.


October 4, 2005

WVUH Hurricane Relief Donations Total $34,584

Temporary Camp Dawson Clinic Closes

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Employees of WVU Hospitals, the WVU Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center and University Health Associates have rallied together to raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts, contributing $24,584 in donations to support ongoing relief efforts. WVU Hospitals matched $10,000 of employee contributions, bringing the total donation to $34,584.

"Several WVU health professionals were able to respond to disaster relief efforts by providing medical care to hurricane evacuees staying at Camp Dawson. I am very proud that, in addition, employees at WVU Hospitals and the Health Sciences Center responded with financial contributions exceeding our goal to raise $10,000 for hurricane relief efforts, said WVUH President Bruce McClymonds. "Our employees' generosity in fund-raising efforts throughout the years has helped countless West Virginians, and they will now help evacuees as they begin to rebuild their lives."

All donations were sent to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, and will be used to provide hurricane evacuees with shelter, food, counseling and other assistance.

The temporary primary care clinic, established in early September for hurricane evacuees who were transported to Camp Dawson, recorded 644 patient visits before closing on Oct. 1. Under the direction of David Deci, M.D., of the WVU Department of Family Medicine, more than 160 volunteers contributed their expertise to the effort.

This group included physicians, a physician assistant, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and support staff.

"This was an effort that involved the entire Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center and many of our alumni and colleagues in West Virginia," said John E. Prescott, M.D., dean of the WVU School of Medicine. "It made an enormous difference in the lives of 281 people who were far from home sometimes separated from their families and uncertain of their futures."

Volunteers came from University Health Associates, the WVU Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy, WVU Hospitals, other WVU departments, Mon General Hospital, Preston Memorial Hospital, Preston County Health Department, United Hospital Center, Patton Building Services, and individuals from Parkersburg, Wheeling, Charleston, Huntington and Uniontown.

The Camp Dawson clinic staff worked collaboratively with the following agencies and health care organizations: Department of Health and Human Resources, Public Health Administration, American Red Cross, Social Services, Behavioral Health Services, Preston Memorial Hospital, WVU Hospitals, the Physician Office Center, the Medical Center Pharmacy, Kingwood Pharmacy, Kingwood Rite Aid, Mon Health Care, the WVU Dental Clinic, Care Partners, the Westover Dialysis Center, Renner's Pharmacy at Mylan, Dr. Thad Rusiecki, D.D.S, Field of Vision in Masontown, KAMP Ambulance Service, Jan-Care Ambulance Service, and STAT Ambulance Service.

Patients who required health care beyond the services available at the Camp Dawson Clinic, or when the clinic was closed, were transported by ambulance to either Preston Memorial Hospital or WVU Hospitals for their immediate health care needs.

Many of the evacuees have now found temporary homes, in West Virginia and elsewhere, and others have been relocated by the American Red Cross.

Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Aug. 29, ranks among the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.

For More Information: Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>


August 22, 2005

WVU Announces $11.79 Million Wyeth Grant

Pharmaceutical giant supports heart, diabetes, obesity researchers

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has committed $11.79 million in support of biomedical research at West Virginia University over the next three years, the University announced today (August 22).

The Wyeth Pharmaceutical Research Fund at WVU will be used to support up to 15 new faculty positions at the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center.

The University hopes to hire scientists in heart and vascular diseases, diabetes and obesity, neurobiology and respiratory biology.

"These Wyeth Research Scholars will contribute their efforts toward finding the causes and cures of diseases that afflict tens of thousands of West Virginians. This will add immeasurably to the advancement of WVU as a research institution, and the achievement of our strategic research plan," says David C. Hardesty, University President.

"Wyeth chose WVU for this research support because of its history of high quality research and a faculty and administration committed to pursuing the best science possible in state-of-the-art biomedical research facilities," says Robert R. Ruffolo, Jr., Ph.D., President, Research & Development, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Senior Vice President, Wyeth.

Wyeth agreed in 2000 to fund this research as part of an agreement that settled West Virginia diet drug litigation. The Wyeth Fund will enable WVU to take immediate action in filling faculty positions called for in its long-term bioscience research plan.

WVU health researchers have identified six core areas of research, based in large part on the health needs of the state. The Wyeth funds will support basic research in three of the core areas: cardiovascular sciences, respiratory biology and diabetes/obesity.

"We have a very high incidence of obesity and diabetes in our adult population in West Virginia, especially in women," says Thomas Saba, Ph.D., WVU's associate vice president for health sciences research. "There is an unusually high incidence of diabetes in children, likely also linked to obesity. Respiratory mechanisms are significantly altered by obesity. We can use the Wyeth Research Fund to accomplish the University's strategic goals in research, and honor the desire by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals to strategically invest in these areas of research.

The new researchers will help WVU fill laboratory spaces being constructed as part of the University's ambitious research expansion project. Among projects under construction at WVU or planned for the immediate future funded in large part with Federal dollars secured by U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd are the Health Sciences Library/Learning Center; the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Center (which also has state and private funding); a new biosciences research building; and renovations and expansions to existing spaces in the Health Sciences building.

"Because of the infrastructure we are building - with the support of Senator Byrd, Senator Rockefeller and the State of West Virginia - we are ready to move forward with recruitment," says Robert M. D'Alessandri, M.D., WVU vice president for health sciences.

"We are already in an aggressive recruitment program," D'Alessandri notes. In the last year, WVU has attracted several established scientists with ongoing NIH research projects. "The Wyeth Research Scholars will include both junior and senior scientists, and will join either the WVU School of Medicine or School of Pharmacy at the professor, assistant professor or associate professor level. In addition to strengthening our research programs, they will add depth to our teaching faculty and to our clinical departments."

WVU's Core Biosciences Research Areas

The Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center's Strategic Research Plan focuses on six core areas of interest. These focus areas coincide with areas of expertise already available at the HSC, or are areas of special interest to the health and welfare of West Virginians. The research plan also follows a pattern set by the National Institutes of Health, a major source of funding for health-related research.

Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Cardiovascular Sciences Matthew Boegehold, Ph.D., director CIRCS investigators are working to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms that govern normal and abnormal cardiovascular function, as well as cardiovascular growth and development. Under this broad umbrella of cardiovascular research, scientific investigation within the center is organized more specifically around the following themes: Angiogenesis and Vascular Development, The Endothelium and Vascular Control, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress, Lipid Metabolism and Gene Expression, and Hypertension and Aging. In addition to its research mission, a second and equally important mission of the CIRCS is to provide first-rate training of students, residents and fellows to produce the next generation of scholars in cardiovascular science and medicine.

The CIRCS is comprised of individuals who hold faculty appointments in ten different academic departments at WVU. This cross-disciplinary nature provides an environment that is conducive to collaborative research and teaching. Through these efforts, CIRCS investigators are working to help develop more effective strategies to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease.

Center for Diabetes and Obesity Research

Director - Search is under way.

Diabetes and obesity are major health issues in West Virginia, and particularly so in women and children. WVU has committed to building a multi-disciplinary research team that will investigate basic biological processes that are involved in the development of these conditions.

Interdisciplinary Center for Research on Respiratory Biology and Lung Diseases Richard Dey, Ph.D., director The Center promotes the application of knowledge from basic and clinical sciences to increase understanding, identify methods for prevention, and improve the treatment of respiratory diseases, especially those important to people in West Virginia and Appalachia. A primary focus will be to establish research collaborations between basic and clinical sciences and to develop novel and innovative translational approaches to bring laboratory discoveries into clinical applications.

Activities focus on two areas of lung diseases. In one area, we are studying the effects of inhaled exposures to lung irritants during early life. Exposure to environmental pollutants, cigarette smoke, and household allergens during the first few months of life may have long lasting and detrimental effects on lung capacity and may increase susceptibility to lung disease. The other area of interest examines the health effects of air pollutants in adult populations. Of particular interest in role of nanoparticle composition and toxicity in diesel exhaust and in novel materials that will be used in the future to manufacture a wide range of products we use every day. Nanomaterial present great promise for future, but the toxicity of these chemicals is untested in the lung and other organs.

Center for Immunopathology and Microbial Pathogenesis

John Barnett, Ph.D., director

Advancing knowledge that improves human health and the quality of life is the ultimate goal of each investigator. The faculty research interests are diverse. Faculty research interests include studies in molecular mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis and immunity, cell biology, and immunology. The department offers many opportunities to conduct groundbreaking research in these fields in a collaborative, stimulating environment. Current research is conducted in immunology, molecular genetics, and medical bacteriology.

Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience

George Spirou, Ph.D., director

Neuroscience research at WVU is organized around interdisciplinary approaches to thematic focus areas. There are strong programs in sensory and cognitive neuroscience, along with studies of cellular responses to injury, neuroendocrinology, and autonomic control of feeding and respiration.

The Sensory Neuroscience Research Center is a multidisciplinary group of scientists studying sensation at levels of organization ranging from molecules to perception. Its mission is to link biological processes across levels of organization and among sensory systems to their functions in perception, as a basis to develop solutions and assistive technologies for human sensory disorders. It is organized along the premise that comparing biological mechanisms across sensory systems is a key to understanding each individual system. SNRC faculty study normal function and development of sensory systems, and explore the genetic basis and loss of function resulting from congenital sensory disorders.

Center for Cancer Cell Biology Research

Daniel Flynn, Ph.D., director

The research arm of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center has 34 basic and translational research scientists whose work are focused in three distinct area of cancer cell biology. The Signaling Networks and Cancer Program has 14 faculty and focuses on how tumor cell process a signal that allows it to grow or move. The Tumor Microenvironment Program has 10 faculty members and focuses on how tumor cells and normal cells send signals back and forth that promote tumor growth. The Molecular Therapeutics Program has 9 faculty members and focuses on the mechanism of action of novel chemotherapeutic agents as well as drug development. Together, these three research programs generate $6 million in annual research funding and sponsor centralized core facilities for our investigators to support studies on how tumor cells are able to grow and move in an effort to develop novel strategies and targets for treating cancer.

The Center also has an academic Ph.D.-awarding program of study for graduate students and offers education and research opportunities to undergraduate students.

www.health.wvu.edu
For More Information:

Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>


August 9, 2005

St. Mary’s offers new device for treating potentially deadly aneurysms

 

Recently at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Dr. Jeffrey E. George, cardiothoracic surgeon with University Cardiovascular Services, and Dr. Paul H. Blom, interventional radiologist with Radiology, Inc., performed a groundbreaking surgery to repair a potentially deadly aneurysm. The procedure, the first performed in the Tri-State and in West Virginia, was performed using the GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment option for repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). When left untreated, a thoracic aortic aneurysm can rupture, causing death within minutes. If detected in time, the aneurysm can be treated with the GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis by way of endovascular repair, a minimally invasive procedure.

 

The GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis is the first and only endovascular device approved by the FDA for treating TAAs. Prior to approval of the GORE TAG Device, repair of TAAs was limited to traditional open surgical repair, a procedure many patients with complex pre-existing conditions could not endure. Patients able to withstand the traditional open surgical procedure are faced with risks during the operation, potential infection and long recovery times. In clinical trials comparing the GORE TAG Device to open surgical repair, GORE TAG Device patients experienced fewer complications, significantly less procedural blood loss, shortened hospital stay and a two times faster return to normal activity.

 

“St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute is pleased to offer the GORE TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis as a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with a thoracic aortic aneurysm,” Dr. George said. “This technology represents a safer alternative to open surgery. Patients who are candidates for this procedure can look forward to improved treatment outcomes, and a shorter hospital stay.” Dr. George and Dr. Blom are the only two physicians in the area trained to perform this procedure.

 

Regular screenings for people who are at risk of having a TAA are the key to identifying and treating the condition early. People who have high blood pressure, diabetes, family history of TAA or who smoke may be at risk of having a TAA.

 

St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute has been providing cardiac care for Tri-State residents for 25 years. The Medical Center was the first in the region to provide open heart surgery, and the Heart Institute's board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons perform hundreds of open heart surgeries annually. The Institute’s cardiologists specialize in both invasive and non-invasive procedures. St. Mary’s Regional Heart Institute is also the only center in the Tri-State to offer the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease.

Contact: Dan Londeree  (304) 526-1257  dan.londeree@st-marys.org



July 7, 2005

 

SMMC welcomes new Foundation president

VPs of Support Services, Schools of Nursing and Health Professions

 

St. Mary’s Medical Center is proud to announce that the following individuals have accepted new positions:

 

  • David Sheils, former Vice President of Planning and Development at St. Mary’s, is President of the St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation. He has been with St. Mary’s for 10 years, in 1996 as Service Director and 1997-2004 as Vice President of Facilities & Support Services.
  • Tim Parnell, former Director of Support Services, is Vice President of Support Services. He has been with St. Mary’s for eight months.
  • Shelia Kyle, former Director of St. Mary’s School of Nursing (SON), is the new Vice President of Schools of Nursing and Health Professions. She has worked at St. Mary’s for 28 years, 24 as an SON faculty member and four as director.

For more information contact Dan Londeree, St. Mary's Medical Center, (304) 526-1257, dan.londeree@st-marys.org


June 1, 2005

WVUH-EAST

Health System Names CEO

MARTINSBURG/RANSON, W.Va. - The Board of Directors of West Virginia University Hospitals - East announces the appointment of a new president and chief executive officer. Roger M. Eitelman will assume the post on July 18, this according to Board Chairman J. Wayne Lancaster.

Eitelman joins WVUH-East with over 30 years of experience in hospital administration, primarily holding healthcare management positions in the Norfolk-Newport News area of Virginia. For the past two years, he has served as administrator at St. Francis Medical Center - West in Ewa Beach, Hawaii and senior vice president of the St. Francis Health System.

In 1988, as CEO of Hampton General Hospital, Eitelman guided the community hospital in Hampton, Virginia, through an affiliation with Sentara Healthcare. He later served as administrator at two other Sentara hospitals and provided leadership to integrated support and ancillary service operations that spanned three hospitals.

"We feel very fortunate to have been able to recruit Mr. Eitelman, given his background in merger and health system development," Lancaster said, adding, "The Board feels confident that he is the right person to lead our new health system, and we look forward to his arrival in July."

Eitelman is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) from the Medical College of Virginia. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has been active in numerous community organizations throughout his career.

"Mr. Eitelman has the personal and professional skills needed to move WVUH-East forward," said Bruce McClymonds, president of WVU Hospitals. "We have made a strong start in the first few months. He will be able to build upon the successes of our hospitals and the accomplishments the new system has made during the first several months of its existence."

Since the merger on Jan. 1, the new WVUH-East Board of Directors has been meeting monthly to focus on merger implementation and the development of a strategic plan for the new health system. In February, WVU Hospitals refinanced the existing debt of City Hospital and Jefferson Memorial Hospital at substantially lower interest rates, saving $3.9 million in interest costs and making funds available for improvements at the two hospitals.

According to Lancaster, these funds will be used for capital improvements such as patient equipment, information technology applications and facility improvements. "The refinancing was the first major benefit for our patients from the creation of WVUH-East," he stated, adding that future plans include new and/or enhanced service development, increased physician recruitment

activity and the development of a long-term facility strategy.

WVUH-East is a regional, not-for-profit, healthcare system serving the Eastern Panhandle. The system includes City Hospital, Jefferson Memorial Hospital and all related entities of both hospitals. The parent company of WVUH-East, West Virginia University Hospitals in Morgantown, is a member of the Fairmont-based West Virginia United Health System, the state's largest healthcare network.

For More Information:

Tina Stover, Jefferson Memorial Hospital (304) 728-2226

Teresa McCabe, City Hospital, (304) 264-1223

Bill Case, WVUH, (304) 293-7087



May 18, 2005

Governor Appoints Dr. Julian Bailes To Oversee Electronic Medical Records Initiative

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Gov. Joe Manchin today announced his appointment of Dr. Julian E. Bailes, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at West Virginia University School of Medicine, to oversee a statewide working group studying implementation of electronic medical records technology - an initiative highlighted in the governor's first State of the State address.

A Louisiana native, Dr. Bailes brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from the medical and health care arenas to this leadership position. He has extensive experience in neurological research, telemedicine and patient care, and his written work has been published in more than 100 academic publications.

He established one of the nation's largest specialty telemedicine networks while practicing in Pittsburgh, Pa. and was the co-principal investigator & leader of the National Medical Practice Knowledge Bank project, a $52 million effort at computerization and dissemination of medical information.

"Dr. Bailes is a precious asset to West Virginia's medical community and I am pleased that he has agreed to assist with our efforts to improve doctor and patient accessibility to medical records through the innovative use of technology," the governor said. "Under his leadership and guidance, West Virginia will develop sound policy aimed at making health care information more readily available to consumers so that they can make timely and informed choices about their doctors and treatment options."

During Dr. Bailes five-year tenure at WVU, the Department of Nerosurgery has experienced significant growth. The department has increased to 10 faculty members with subspecialty expertise in all areas of neuroscience, and provides care for neurological conditions and injuries at WVU Hospital and in Wheeling.

Dr. Bailes is a graduate of Louisiana State University, where he earned his B.S. and Doctor of Medicine degrees.

Contact: Lara Ramsburg, 304-558-2000

 


February 2, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU Physician Named Co-Editor of Journal Club

Thammasitboon to Contribute to Online Pediatric Literature Reviews

West Virginia University physician Satid Thammasitboon, M.D., MHPE, has been appointed co-editor of the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Evidence Based Journal Club (EBJC), an online resource for pediatricians to publish and access evidence-based reviews of current literature in the field. Dr. Thammasitboon is an assistant professor in the WVU School of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics, specializing in critical care.

"The EBJC is the leading source of evidence-based medicine analysis within the pediatric critical care community," said Michael Romano, M.D., MBA, head of the critical care section of the WVU Department of Pediatrics. "Dr. Thamassitboon's appointment reflects his national reputation in the field, and his recruitment to WVU will greatly enhance the educational experience of all medical students and residents."

Through its Web site, the journal club provides critical analysis of publications of clinical trials and encourages an "evidence-based" approach to medical literature and patient care. Evidence-based medicine is defined as using the best evidence available in medical decision-making.

For more information about the journal club, visit www.pedsccm.org <http://www.pedsccm.org>

Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>


January 27, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

Bioterrorism Preparedness Classes Offered

Online sessions offer continuing education credit

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The West Virginia University Virtual Medical Campus offers online bioterrorism preparedness training for healthcare providers, public health employees, and others. In the Charleston area, the Area Health Education Center at WVU-Charleston Division coordinates these classes.

Three classes are available at no cost:

* "Terrorism Recognition and Reporting" is designed to prepare individuals in recognition of, alerting the public health systems of, an event at community, state, and national levels.

* "Multidisciplinary Response" is designed to aid in the coordination and interdisciplinary response to terrorist events and other public health emergencies.

* "Acute Care of Patients from WMD Events," addresses acute care needs for vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly in the event a weapon of mass destruction is used.

Two Continuing Medical Education (CME) or Continuing Education (CEU) credits will be awarded upon successful completion of each online class.

In the spring, there will be hands-on, tabletop training exercises in which course participants will have the opportunity to be involved in community response planning and evaluation.

All of the courses are part of a two-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Health Resources Services Administration.

For more information about course registration and participation, visit the West Virginia University's Virtual Medical Campus website at www.vmc.wvu.edu/hrsa/. To register and take the course, go to http://ikb.vmc.wvu.edu. If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Giles at the WV Area Health Education Centers Program Office at sgiles@hsc.wvu.edu or 304-347-1226.


January 24, 2005                                                                       

Timothy DeEulis, M.D., joins St. Mary’s as the only board-certified gynecologic oncologist in Huntington

Specializes in cancer care and palliative medicine to treat body, mind, spirit

 

Timothy DeEulis, M.D., a board-certified physician at St. Mary’s Medical Center and Regional Cancer Center who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, is the only physician in Huntington who is subspecialty board-certified in gynecologic oncology by the Division of Gynecologic Oncology of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also is subspecialty board-certified in hospice and palliative medicine by the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. There are few physicians in the nation who have certifications in both gynecologic oncology and hospice and palliative medicine, and provide comprehensive surgical and medical care to women with various types of cancer or pelvic masses.

 

“As a gynecologic oncologist and, as a part of the St. Mary’s Cancer Center team, I perform cancer surgery and, as needed, post-operative cancer therapy, such as chemotherapy,” Dr. DeEulis said. “I work with the radiation oncologists in providing radioactive treatments and I provide palliative care throughout the illness or hospice care if it becomes necessary.

 

“Even in remission, gynecologic cancers can have long-term effects on other aspects of a woman’s health and on her relationships,” he said. “Palliative care treats those ongoing problems and provides effective pain management. It’s a ‘Whole Woman’ approach to cancer care, very much in keeping with St. Mary’s holistic philosophy of treating body, mind and spirit.”

 

Dr. DeEulis is the medical director of palliative care at St. Mary’s and an assistant medical director of Hospice of Huntington. He attended West Virginia University School of Medicine, was a resident in obstetrics and gynecology at Riverside Methodist Hospitals and completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Dr. DeEulis is licensed with the West Virginia Board of Medicine and his hospital affiliations include the University of Pennsylvania, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina and St. Peters Healthcare in New York.

 

For more than 40 years, St. Mary's Regional Cancer Center has been on the front lines of the battle with cancer. St. Mary's provides a full range of radiation, medical and surgical oncology services. St. Mary's Regional Cancer Center is affiliated with Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center. This team effort in cancer prevention, detection and control will facilitate the development of leading-edge oncology services in Huntington for years to come.

 

Dr. DeEulis’ practice is located in Room 1031 on the first floor of the East wing at St. Mary’s. To schedule an appointment, call his office at (304) 526-8906.

 
Contact: Dan Londeree  304-526-1257  Dan.Londeree@st-marys.org


 

January 18, 2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Siences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

Hope that Athletes with Temporary Paralysis can Return to Sports Research Shows Temporary Paralysis Does Not Increase Odds of Catastrophic Injury

The athlete lays on a field, unmoving. As the crowd watches silently, the player is wrapped securely in a neck brace, loaded on to a stretcher, wheeled to an ambulance, and carried off the field of play. There are many questions in the mind of teammates, opponents and fans, but chief among them are "is it serious" and "is this the end of a career?"

Finding as answer to those question is the aim of an article published in the January issue of Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine.

For the athlete, the feeling that legs, feet, toes, even arms and fingers don't work is terrifying. And for some, that feeling never goes away. For others, however, the paralysis lasts only a short time. Those athletes suffer what is known as a transient spinal cord injury.

"A transient spinal cord injury is temporary," explains Julian Bailes, M.D., chair of the neurosurgery department at West Virginia Unviersity. "But at the time it occurs, no one knows that it is not permanent. TCSI in athletes presents a challenging clinical scenario. The early neurological signs, on-field management of the injury, and triage can be confusing for the athlete, the trainer, team physician and neurosurgeon."

According to Dr. Bailes, decisions about diagnostic evaluation and returning to participation in contact sports are also complex with a transient spinal cord injury.

"The injured athletes often want to return to competition, making these cases difficult to manage," Bailes added. "By returning to the sport, they put themselves at risk of subsequent head and spinal injuries."

In an article published in the January 2005 issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Bailes concludes that a single episode of transient spinal cord injury, with no further indication of injury, does not substantially increase the risk of future catastrophic spinal cord injury. "It is important, however, that athletes at any level realize that neurological sports medicine is highly individualized," Bailes said. "There are many factors to consider before deciding if an injured athlete should return to competition. Most importantly, an athlete who has suffered a transient spinal cord injury must be aware that the injury was not necessarily harmless and that while the risk is small, there is still a risk of permanent spinal cord injury."

For More Information:

Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>

 

January 12, 2005

Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and St. Mary's Medical Center sign agreement for cardiac services

Dr. Charles H. McKown Jr., dean of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, and Michael G. Sellards, president and CEO of St. Mary's Medical Center, recently signed a 10-year agreement that ensures a strong tie between the School's cardiac program and St. Mary's Regional Heart Institute.

This agreement is the result of a commitment on the part of the School and St. Mary's to collaborate in the development, implementation and ongoing review and assessment of clinical and operational protocols for St. Mary's Regional Heart Institute in order to create an integrated continuum of cardiac care.

Marshall physician Dr. Mark Studeny, an interventional cardiologist, and Dr. Jeffrey George, a cardiothoracic surgeon formerly in private practice, were named as co-medical directors of St. Mary's Regional Heart Institute. Dr. George and his associate, Dr. Edward Setser, will join Dr. Dennis Moritz and Dr. Arthur Mcunu in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Marshall's Department of Cardiovascular Services, in offices located on the St. Mary's campus.

"This collaboration will provide benefits for doctors in training as well as patients," McKown said. "This agreement permits our Department of Cardiovascular Services to expand our cardiology and cardiothoracic medical and surgical services at St. Mary's Medical Center and other sites in our community and region."

The agreement provides for day-to-day input from physicians and working groups regarding continued advances in cardiac services at St. Mary's and is inclusive of all physicians providing cardiac services at St. Mary's Regional Heart Institute.

"This agreement exemplifies St. Mary's commitment to collaborate with these physicians to assist with the planning and implementation of our mission to better serve the healthcare needs of our community," Sellards said. "Our continued close working relationship with the Medical School is integral to our continued success as the Tri-State's most experienced cardiac program."

Contacts:
Renee Maass, St. Mary's Medical Center, 304-526-8957 (rmaass@st-marys.org)
Beverly McCoy, Marshall University Joan C. EdwardsSchool of Medicine, 304-691-1713 (mccoy@marshall.edu)


1/06/2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.VA.

www.health.wvu.edu

WVU Center on Aging Professor Awarded Grant

Goins to Study Healthy Aging in Rural Communities

A simple visit to the doctor can be an all-day activity for older adults living in rural areas due to the amount of travel involved to get to a clinic or hospital. Physical activities, such as taking a walk down the street in the evening, are not as simple for some rural elders as for those who live in a town with sidewalks and stoplights. Research on access to health care and other issues that impact healthy aging are an increasing priority with the aging of the baby boom generation.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has awarded West Virginia University faculty researcher R. Turner Goins, Ph.D., a $265,450 grant to focus on unique issues faced by rural elders and to assist with the development of research related to aspects of healthy aging. Goins' project, the Rural Healthy Aging Network (RHAN), is part of the CDC-funded Healthy Aging Network. RHAN is a collaboration between the WVU Center on Aging and the WVU Centers for Public Health Research and Training (formerly the Prevention Research Center). WVU was one of six CDC-funded prevention research centers that received one of these awards.

"This is a wonderful achievement for WVU and for Dr. Goins," said Geri Dino, Ph.D., director of the Centers for Public Health Research and Training. This highly competitive award reflects excellence in research and outreach designed to impact community health."

These two centers will work together to develop recommendations relating to rural healthy aging. The RHAN has three overall objectives, the first to identify the gaps in research, knowledge, and practice to improve health and access to health care among rural older adults. Secondly, the program will work to improve the effectiveness of public health information by making it easier to understand, thereby bridging the divide between older adults and health care providers. Finally, the RHAN program will develop a five-year plan of organized research, intervention, and dissemination activities to guide the future design of RHAN in West Virginia. These efforts coincide with the goals of Healthy People 2010, a CDC program, by increasing both the quality and years of healthy life and eliminating health disparities. The newly created RHAN of West Virginia Web site (www.ruralaging.org/rhan) will be launched in late January 2005.

Dr. Goins is the associate director for research for the WVU Center on Aging and associate professor with the WVU Department of Community Medicine. In addition to her research on rural aging issues, Goins teaches courses in Gerontology and is studying long-term care issues of the American Indian and Alaskan Native elderly. In September, she was appointed to the advisory panel for the Johnson & Johnson/Roselyn Carter Institute Caregivers Program, a panel which consists of ten national experts on caregiving.

The WVU Center on Aging is part of the Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center at West Virginia University. The Center works through research, education, clinical service and technology to improve the health, wellbeing and security of older people and those who care for them in West Virginia and across the nation.

For more information, contact the WVU Center on Aging at (304) 292-2968 or visit www.ruralaging.org/rhan <http://www.ruralaging.org/rhan>.

Contact: Maria Durbin, 304-293-2968, mdurbin@hsc.wvu.edu


1/06/2005

Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV

www.health.wvu.edu

Leader of U.S. Medical Colleges to Visit WVU

Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., will lecture Jan. 20-21

Jordan J. Cohen, M.D., president of the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), will be the first A.G. DiBartolomeo Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in Medical Education at West Virginia University Jan. 20-21.

As a visiting lecturer, Dr. Cohen will participate in a number of educational sessions with WVU faculty and students, and will deliver the Grand Rounds lecture for the Department of Medicine at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 21, in the Health Sciences Auditorium. The presentation, "Preparing Doctors for a New Era," is open to the entire community.

The DiBartolomeo Lecture will be an annual event, commemorating the contributions of the late Anthony DiBartolomeo, M.D., who died in 2004 after a long career as a WVU medical faculty member, administrator, teacher, clinician and researcher. WVU Hospitals, University Health Associates and many friends and colleagues of Dr. DiBartolomeo contributed funds to the WVU Foundation to establish the lecture series.

The AAMC represents all 125 U.S. medical schools, nearly 400 major teaching hospitals, 94 academic and research societies, and more than 160,000 U.S. medical students and residents.

Cohen previously served as dean of the medical school and professor of medicine at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and as professor and associate chairman of medicine at the University of Chicago-Pritzker School of Medicine. He has held medical faculty positions at Harvard, Brown, and Tufts universities. He has held a wide variety of leadership positions in academic medicine, including chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine and of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, as well as president of the Association of Program Directors of Internal Medicine.

He is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Medical School. His chief areas of research interest are acid-base metabolism and renal physiology. He is the author of more than 100 publications and is editor of Kidney International's Nephrology Forum.

For More Information: Bill Case, HSC News Service, (304) 293-7087 casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <mailto:casew@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>
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