Profiles in Medicine is a special supplement published by Anton Media Group by Anton Community Newspapers

MEDICINE PROFILES IN

AN ANTON MEDIA GROUP SPECIAL • FEBRUARY 9 - 15, 2022

CHILDREN’S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH INSIDE

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WITH MORE ST. FRANCIS HEART CENTER LOCATIONS FROM THE SOUTH SHORE TO THE NORTH SHORE,

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The most awarded heart care is now available to more people throughout Long Island. For over a half century, we’ve been a national leader in cardiac medicine. And now our unmatched heart care and patient experience is available at more Catholic Health practicesand hospitals, including Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown, and soon, St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage. For a location near you, visit chsli.org/heart

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February Is National Children’s Dental Health Month F

ebruary is National Children’s Dental Health Month. During the entire month of February, the American Dental Association (ADA) honors and recognizes dental professionals and all who are passionate about children’s healthcare. Take this time to increase awareness about pediatric dental hygiene and find out how you can best support your child’s dental care. What is National Children’s Dental Health Month? The ADA’s Children’s Dental Health Day was first celebrated on Feb. 8, 1949. It became a month-long commemoration in 1981. 40 years later, children’s dental health continues to be promoted throughout February for National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM). Celebrating children’s oral health awareness is incredibly important for the community. Tooth decay remains the most common chronic childhood disease. Continuing educational programs and prevention awareness will help motivate more parents and other adults to recognize the seriousness of children’s dental disease. Why is Children’s Dental Health Month Important? NCDHM raises awareness of the importance of teaching children good oral habits early to ensure a lifetime of healthy smiles. Parents or caregivers are essential and can promote children’s dental health this month and throughout the year.

Support children’s dental health by working with dental professionals on specific topics such as:

· Tooth decay · Getting your child familiar with their dentist’s office · Preventing crowded teeth · Healthy gums in later years Keeping up with daily oral care and visiting the dentist at least twice a year for an oral examination and professional cleanings are steps you can take towards a happier and healthier mouth. Setting the foundation for your child earlier in life will set your child up for success in the future.

Schedule an Appointment

Making an appointment at the dentist is one of the best ways to celebrate February’s theme. The more time they

spend with their dental professionals, the more comfortable they’ll be when they visit. It is encouraged for children to have regular cleanings every six months. If you schedule an appointment in February, your child’s second appointment will fall just-in-time before back-to-school in August.

Buy New Toothbrushes

Did you know that toothbrushes should be replaced every three to four months, as frayed bristles decrease their effectiveness? Get kids excited about their regular hygiene routine by letting them select toothbrushes with their favorite characters and choose toothpaste that they like. NCDHM is an excellent time to toss out old toothbrushes and replace them with new ones.

Check Their Brushing Technique

If your kids tend to brush their teeth unattended, take time this month to

check-in on their brushing habits. Checking in with your kids and offering helpful Check your child’s brushing technique. tips and tricks will keep their teeth looking great and healthy. new toothbrushes, and ensure your National Children’s Dental Health child knows how to clean their teeth month is a great time to learn about properly. Your whole family will know and promote good oral hygiene how important dental health is to habits with your family. Keep up their overall health. with checkups, treat the family with -Colgate

New Medical Technology Developed On Long Island Designs for Vision recently introduced its newly developed Reveal FGS System—an innovative tool for the procedure known as fluorescence guided surgery (FGS). This system uses advanced wearable specialty lighting and appropriate optical filters to provide such lighting conditions to tumor surgeons. The significant advantage of the Reveal FGS System is that surgeons can operate quickly with added emphasis on efficient fluorescent guided procedures on glioma (brain tumor) surgery. Glioma is a tumor that develops in the brain and spinal cord, diagnosed as suspect high-grade gliomas. This condition is difficult to operate on since the cancer has “finger like projections” that penetrate into the normal brain tissue making it difficult to remove all the infiltrating tumor tissue. Glioma is a rare orphan disease with about 12,000 individuals diagnosed annually in the United States.

“Reveal FGS System is wearable technology that makes fluorescence guided surgery more accessible by lowering the entry cost to a fraction of the previous technology,” said Ken Bragança, Vice President of Operations at Designs for Vision. “Rather than just the largest, best-funded hospitals being able to provide this technology, the Reveal FGS System brings the miracle of fluorescence guided surgery to all hospitals.” Fluorescence guided surgery has been used to operate on brain tumors in Europe for a few decades but has only been practiced in the United States for the last few years. The procedure requires patients to be administered an optical imaging agent that becomes absorbed by the tumor and visualized by the use of specific wavelengths of light required to make such agents fluoresce or glow in response to stimulation by light. Currently, most brain surgeons operating on gliomas will use

specialized surgery microscopes appropriately equipped with this lighting system. Due in part to the very high cost, there is often a limited number of these microscopes accessible to surgeons, which in turn reduces the number of possible surgeries. The Reveal FGS System costs approximately $8,000. At this price point, medical centers that choose this system can make this complex surgical procedure possible and improves not only the ability to see tumor tissue but aids in the removal of material that the surgeons can now see. “Reveal FGS System is a refinement of fluorescence guided surgery equipment,” Bragança said. “Many doctors who’ve tested the system say that it significantly reduces the time of surgery by minimizing the set up and relocation of the microscopes and offers a more complete visual field of the operation area.” Visit www.designsforvision.com/ REVEAL-FGS.htm to learn more.

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Reclaim Your Health During American Heart Month

ebruary is American Heart Month, a time to pay special attention to understanding, preventing and treating heart disease—the leading cause of death in the nation. More than 874,000 Americans died of cardiovascular disease in 2019, according to the American Heart Association’s “Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2022 Update.” This February, the 58th American Heart Month, the AHA is urging people all over the country to “reclaim your rhythm.” What does that mean? Quite simply, the AHA is encouraging people to reclaim control of their mental and physical well-being after two difficult years of the COVID-19 pandemic. (or, just getting started and working For American Heart Month, the your way there) AHA and other organizations rein· Eating healthy (the AHA’s Heartforce the importance of heart health, the need for more research and efforts Check mark can guide you in the grocery store) to ensure that millions of people live · Not smoking or vaping longer and healthier. · Maintaining a healthy weight · Controlling blood sugar, cholesterol Here are just a few and blood pressure examples of how · Getting regular checkups you can reclaim · Learning Hands-Only CPR your health: · Following COVID-19 safety protocols · Doing at least 150 minutes of moder- · Finding ways to relax and ease your ate-intensity physical activity a week mind, such as meditation

Many people have delayed or avoided seeking medical care. Unhealthy use of alcohol and other substances has been on the rise. All these things can increase the risk of heart disease. For nearly a century, the AHA has worked to encourage people to live healthier and longer, free of heart disease and stroke. But the first American Heart Month didn’t come until 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson, among the millions of people in the country who’d had heart attacks, issued the first proclamation for American Heart Month in 1964 to spotlight heart disease. Since then, U.S. presidents have annually declared the federally Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision designated event for February. The first Friday of American Heart Caring for yourself and others are Month, Feb. 4, is also National Wear great ways to counter the pandemic’s Red Day as part of the AHA’s Go Red for heavy toll on health. Also, taking care Women initiative. of your heart is good for your brain. Coast to coast, landmarks, news That’s because many of the risk factors anchors and neighborhoods go red for heart disease, including high blood to raise awareness and support the pressure, diabetes and obesity, are fight against heart disease—the No. 1 also related to brain diseases such as killer of women, causing 1 in 3 deaths. stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other That’s more than all forms of cancer dementias, experts note. combined. Heart disease has remained the leadFor more information on the event ing health threat during the pandemic, and other activities during the month, visit goredforwomen.org. and more people are reporting lower —American Heart Association physical and emotional wellness.

Alzheimer’s Foundation Awards Research Grant The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) began its 20th anniversary year by announcing a $998,156 grant to Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research to expand research into developing new treatments aimed at addressing some of the most problematic behaviors of dementia—hallucinations, delusions and aggression. The new five-year study builds on research previously conducted with a $500,000 grant AFA awarded to the Feinstein Institutes in 2016. “There’s no better way to begin AFA’s 20th anniversary year than by making this investment in hope,” said AFA Founder and Board Chairman Bert E. Brodsky. “Finding new ways to treat these symptoms would have an enormous impact on safety and quality of life—both for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Researchers at the Feinstein Institutes

Working in the Litwin-Zucker Research Center at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research (right to left), Jeremy Koppel, M.D., co-director of the Litwin-Zucker Research Center with Peter Davies, PhD, who led the initial five-yearstudy and passed away in 2020. are making exciting progress, and this new funding will enable them to continue building on it.” Psychotic symptoms and aggression are among the most troubling manifestations of dementia-related

illnesses. Violent behavior directed towards caregivers is emotionally devastating and can be dangerous for those charged with providing a safe environment. Tragically, these behaviors are difficult to treat; and persistence of these symptoms are often the indication for placement outside of the home in a residential healthcare setting. “A new year brings new beginnings, and we hope that this research will be a new chapter in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease,” said AFA President and CEO Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. “Just as AFA builds on the progress of its past 20 years, this new funding will help the Feinstein Institutes start the next phase of its research toward new treatments.” A team of scientists led by Jeremy Koppel, M.D., co-director of the Litwin-Zucker Research Center at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical

Research, have recently found an association between the distribution of abnormal tau proteins in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients as visualized with advanced PET neuroimaging and psychotic symptoms. A previous discovery made by the team linked impairments in the processing of facial emotion with the onset of psychosis in Alzheimer’s. “The funding provided by AFA made our work possible; and the ongoing support is critical, allowing us to do the necessary research to translate these discoveries into safe and effective treatments for patients and caregivers,” said Koppel. AFA is able to award grants such as this through the generosity of individuals and organizations. Visit www.alzfdn.org to make a donation and learn about AFA’s programs and services. —Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

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Glaucoma Is A Leading Cause

lindness caused by glaucoma is insidious. In most cases, there is no pain, and the loss of vision occurs slowly from peripheral to central. Many people do not even realize it’s happening until they have lost a substantial amount of peripheral vision. But Dr. Daniel Laroche, director of Glaucoma Services and President of Advanced Eyecare of New York, wants you to know there is a way to prevent the devastating effects of glaucoma: Don’t skip your eyecare visits.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a disease of the eye characterized by three components: 1. Damage and loss of the retinal ganglions cells and optic nerve described as cupping 2. Loss of visual field 3. Usually increased eye pressure (the mean normal eye pressure is

Don’t skip eyecare checkups. 15mmHG) People at risk for glaucoma include the elderly, people with elevated eye pressure, primary relatives with glaucoma, persons with high myopia, high hyperopia, history of eye trauma

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and diabetes. The elevated intraocular pressure from glaucoma damages the optic nerve mechanically and creates decreased blood flow to the eye. The most identifiable cause of glaucoma is

the enlarged lens or cataract in the eye. Early cataract surgery and trabecular bypass has become the best option to stop vision loss in patients with glaucoma. The current use of eyedrops and laser help to lower intraocular

World Kidney Day To Be Celebrated From Top Of Mt. Kilimanjaro A group of 22 kidney donor athletes are in training across the country to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro on World Kidney Day, March 10. All are members of an aptly named nonprofit, Kidney Donor Athletes (KDA), founded by ultra-athlete Tracey Hulick who donated her kidney in 2017. “I want people to be able to use this as an example to show you can be an endurance athlete and do well with one kidney,” Hulick said. According to the National Kidney Donation Organization (NKDO), more than 100,000 people in the U.S. are on the waiting list for kidney transplants. More than 3,000 new patients are added to this list every month. With fewer donors than there are those in need, 13 people die every day waiting for a kidney. The benefits of being a recipient of a living donor may be apparent, but what isn’t as obvious is the positive impact donation can have on the person donating. As in all major surgeries, there is an inherent

risk, however, we’re born with two kidneys, but in most cases, we can not only survive, but thrive with one. “The message is awareness, that’s the ultimate goal,” said Steve Wilson who will be climbing with Hulick. “More people would consider donating if they knew how easy the surgery is, it saves someone’s life and it doesn’t have to change yours at all.” And aside from the physical considerations, it’s the emotional benefit the donor athletes have experienced that motivates them on this quest. According to Wilson, recipients are grateful to the donors, but it works the other way around too. “I may never meet my recipient, but if I do, I will give her a tight, long hug and say thank you for giving me the opportunity to live past myself,” he said. More information about living kidney donation and kidney donor athletes can be found at kidneyregistry.org and kidneydonorathlete.org.

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PROFILES IN MEDICINE • FEBRUARY 9 - 15, 2022

Of Preventable Blindness pressure but do not address the causative mechanism of the glaucoma being the enlarged lens. Incisional cataract surgery and glaucoma surgery is often needed to truly stabilize glaucoma. All people should be screened regularly for glaucoma as part of a medical eye exam. Screening should consist of an eye examination consisting of gonioscopy (examination of the drainage angle), intraocular pressure measurement with Goldmann applanation tonometry and a dilated optic nerve examination. If there appears to be any damage to the optic nerve or abnormal pressure, then a visual field test should be performed, and optic nerve photos taken. Persons with thin corneas should be more aggressively monitored and treated for glaucoma as the disease tends to be worse in these patients. “Eyesight or human vision is one of the most important senses. As much as 80 percent of what we feel comes through our sense of sight,” said Laroche. “By protecting the eyes, people will reduce the chance of blindness and vision loss while also staying on top of any developing eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts.” If you have eye pressure or glaucoma

and feel that you may be losing vision, Laroche recommends that you seek the care of a glaucoma specialist for a second opinion. Don’t go blind from glaucoma. People with conditions such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy

telehealth visits or video consultations until the pandemic flattens. He also encourages people to wear face masks on visits and maintain social distancing, even if they are in a health clinic, and if you’re high-risk, consider adding eye protection when in public spaces. “A healthy brain function requires a healthy vision. The brain is our most essential organ and it allows us to control other organs,” said Laroche. “Normal and healthy vision contributes to improved learning and comprehension for a better quality of life.” About Dr. Daniel Laroche Dr. Laroche is a glaucoma specialist in New York. He studied and received his bachelor’s degree from New York University and a medical doctorate with honors in research from Weil Cornell University Medical College. He underwent a medical internship at Montefiore Hospital and finished his ophthalmology residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington D.C., where that could lead to blindness if left he was the chief resident in his third unchecked need to stay particularly vig- year. He later completed his glaucoma ilant with their checkups. The pandem- fellowship at New York Eye and Ear. ic shouldn’t keep you from visiting your Visit www.advancedeyecareny.com doctor, but for patients over 60, Laroche to learn more. advises it’s better to stay home and do —Advanced Eyecare of New York

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Doctor Launches Website To Address Chronic Pain

r. Jonathan Bank, board-certified plastic surgeon with specialty training in microsurgery at NYBRA Plastic Surgery has launched a new website, www. BreastRelief.com, as a multidisciplinary solution to Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome. Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome (PMPS) is a chronic pain that occurs and persists in the breast, chest and underarm areas after mastectomy or other breast surgeries. This can affect a significant percentage of women after mastectomy. Since one-in-eight have a risk of developing breast cancer, a large number of women suffer from this condition, and may not be properly diagnosed or treated. “We believe that surgery can affect the sensory nerves in this area and is the driving force behind this condition. These nerves are often disturbed as part of standard mastectomy techniques,” Bank explained. Breast Relief was developed as a unique, multidisciplinary, clinical and research initiative to diagnose,

treat and prevent PMPS focusing on four keys areas: physical therapy, pain management, regional anesthesia and reparative surgery. A tailored treatment plan, based on the individual’s needs, is created with elements of these modals.

“We are proud to offer this service to our patients. Our surgeons are experienced in resensation procedures, which can help mitigate neurological issues after mastectomy,” Bank added. “We have been able to help patients who have had years of chronic breast

pain go on to lead pain free lives.” One of these patients, Lori, had undergone a breast reduction procedure and experienced PMPS shortly after the initial surgery before she became a patient of Bank’s. “I cried on and off for 18 months. Everything was so excruciating. It felt like I had a 20-lb weight in my breast,” she explained. Three days after undergoing nerve reconstruction techniques as part of the Breast Relief approach, Lori revealed her chronic pain was gone. “I just say, ‘Thank you, God!’” she said. “Every patient’s situation is different, but there is growing evidence that this approach can help relieve this problem,” Bank said. “Our experience has taught us that appropriate nerve handling during the mastectomy, or any breast surgery, may avoid the problem completely.” Breast Relief is a service of NYBRA Plastic Surgery. For more information, visit www. BreastRelief.com. —NYBRA Plastic Surgery

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LIJ Valley Stream Hospital Names Hsiang-Chi Meng, DO, Medical Director

ong Island Jewish (LIJ) Valley Stream Hospital has appointed Hsiang-Chi (Angel) Meng, DO, as its medical director. Meng comes to LIJ Valley Stream from Lenox Hill Hospital, where she served as associate medical director, physician advisor and hospitalist. While at Lenox Hill, Meng’s responsibilities included overseeing improvement initiatives that focused on transitions of care, readmission reduction, patient experience and patient safety. She also played a pivotal role in the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “She [Meng] has extensive experience leading clinical teams in their pursuit of clinical and service excellence. Throughout her tenure at Lenox Hill Hospital, Dr. Meng partnered with interdisciplinary teams to develop a broad array of clinical programs. Dr. Meng’s recruitment is further evidence of our ability to attract exceptional clinical talent to LIJ Valley Stream as we raise the health of the southern Nassau and southeastern Queens communities we serve,” said David Seligman, executive director of LIJ Valley Stream Hospital. Meng grew up in Taipei, Taiwan,

Dr. Angel Meng Northwell Health

where her father was a government diplomat. Meng and her family also lived in Malawi for four years when her father was stationed there. While in Malawi, she witnessed how a lack of proper medical care impacted communities, which would play a role in her decision to study medicine. Meng moved to the United States in her early teens. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, she began her career as a research assistant at Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. While at Feinstein

Institutes, she decided to go on to medical school. She graduated from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine before starting her residency at Lenox Hill Hospital, where she would become an attending physician practicing internal medicine. As medical director, Meng will preside over the hospital’s clinical staff as well as the advanced care practitioner, case management and social work teams. “I want to bring a sense of pride to Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Information To Stay Healthy In honor of February’s Cancer Prevention Month, the Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Program created 4 free short educational videos for organizations and individuals to review and post on their social media pages. The videos cover these topics: health tips, environmental factors, nutrition and exercise, and smoking and alcohol consumption. Visit www. youtube.com/aubreastcancer to view the videos on The Breast Cancer Program’s YouTUbe channel. The program is encouraging

Hospital,” said Meng. “I want people to think of it as their hospital, and that this is the first hospital they would choose to go to. I want to bring the community together, not just by sharing our knowledge in the hospital but by trying to find ways to share that knowledge and care in the community.” Meng’s husband also works for Northwell Health. The couple have a 10-year-old daughter and a sevenyear-old son. —Northwell Health

individuals to like the videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel for free educational content in English and Spanish. To reach the Adelphi Breast Cancer Hotline, call 800-877-8077. —Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Program

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Transplants And Donations A s we ring in the New Year, it is a good time to think about liver transplantation and organ donation. Liver transplantation, a miracle procedure, has given a new life to thousands of adults and children who would have otherwise died of their liver diseases. The need for liver transplantation is great, the number of available organs is limited and patients wait on long lists hoping to get the life-saving organ that they need. Many never will. There are three types of liver transplants. Orthotopic transplant meaning that a liver from a recently deceased donor is used, a living donor in which a living person donates part of their liver to someone else and a split liver where a liver is removed, split in half, and each half is given to a different patient. Split livers are used mostly for children as half a liver is usually too small to be used in an adult. Liver transplantation has become the standard therapy for patients with end-stage liver disease and for those with acute liver failure. The one-year overall survival is about 90 percent and the five-year survival rate is 75 percent. Sometimes, the transplanted liver can fail or the original disease may return. The in-hospital recovery period after surgery is highly variable with many transplant recipients being discharged within one week of surgery. After transplantation, the patients are placed on immunosuppressive therapy which is generally life-long. These medications are usually well tolerated but occasionally patients can have side-effects related to these medicines. After a liver transplant, patients are typically followed by their transplant physicians for the rest of their lives. When evaluating someone for a liver transplant, the medical/surgical team will assess the severity of the liver disease, other medical conditions which are present, the patient’s overall physical condition, the patient’s mental well-being and the level of support from family and friends. Currently, there are about 11,000 people on the waiting list and in 2021 slightly more than 9,000 liver transplants were performed in the United States. The number of liver transplants have continued to steadily rise, which is good news. New York ranks third on the number of transplants performed, after California and Texas. The most common indications for liver transplantation from chronic liver disease in the United States include alcohol

THE SPECIALIST

David Bernstein, MD

related liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, primary liver cancer without spread outside of the liver, viral hepatitis B and C, primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, in-born errors of metabolism, and autoimmune disease. Causes of acute liver injury necessitating liver transplantation include medication-induced liver injury from over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs and herbal supplements, acute viral infection, toxins such as poisonous mushrooms and metabolic disorders such as Wilson’s disease. The limiting factor for increasing liver transplantation rates is the shortage of available organs. In our country, people need to opt-in to be an organ donor. Organ donation is an opportunity to help another person. One organ donor can change as many as 10 lives for the better. Organ donation can be a rewarding and positive experience and may help families get through the grieving process. Most religions support organ donation. As we start this new year, I would like to wish all the readers and their families a happy and healthy year. In the spirit of community and helping one’s neighbor, please remember to consider organ donation to aid the thousands of children and adults in need of liver transplantation. David Bernstein, MD, FAASLD,FACG, AGAF, FACP is the vice chair of medicine for clinical trials and chief of hepatology at Sandra Atlas Bass Center for Liver Diseases. He is a professor of medicine and education.

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