Alumni Gifts Launch

Parkinson’s Risk Factors Among Rural New Englanders

A study by researchers at the Geisel School of Medicine suggests ways that rural New Englanders can lower their risk of Parkinson’s Disease, a progressive, neurodegenerative condition whose debilitating symptoms include balance and mobility issues. The team, led by Angeline S. Andrew, PhD, found that among people living near the Vermont-New Hampshire border, head trauma or concussion was associated with a fourfold greater risk of Parkinson’s. Exposure to lead—whether at work or through such hobbies as bullet casting, fishing with lead weights or sinkers, or stained glass making—increased risk by 2.7-fold. In their report in the journal Parkinson’s Disease, the investigators note that encouraging the use of lead substitutes and helmets are general health recommendations that may also reduce the risk of Parkinson’s. The study also highlights the importance of understanding regional variations in risk; while other studies have implicated pesticide exposure as a risk factor for Parkinson’s, few participants in the Geisel study reported such exposures. Angeline Andrew, PhD, is an associate professor of neurology at Geisel.

Intervention Promotes Healthy Weight Behaviors

Obesity affects more than 13 million youngsters, increasing their lifetime risk of diabetes and heart disease. Thus the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) standard of care for all pediatric patients includes measuring Body Mass Index (BMI) and laboratory screening for diabetes, high cholesterol, and liver function. Among patients with high BMI, the AAP recommends positive reinforcement for healthy behaviors. Yet nationwide, screening is inconsistent and positive behavioral change can be difficult for families and providers alike. To promote better care for patients at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Komal F. Satti, MD, MPH’19, and colleagues launched a quality improvement program to promote compliance with the AAP standard of care. The intervention—which included education sessions, the identification of “obesity champions” among providers and staff, and provider cues within the electronic medical record system— increased providers’ rates of laboratory screening, obesity documentation, referral to weight management programs, provision of lifestyle counseling, and weight-specific follow-up visits. Komal F. Satti is a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Geisel.

PLACEHOLDER TEXT TO SHOW ON DONOR SECTION

Thank You!

In a time that has been difficult – and too often, heartbreaking – for so many, the caring and generosity of our community of donors has been extraordinary. During the 12 months ending June 30, 2020, 20,426 individuals, foundations, and organizations made gifts and pledges to Dartmouth-Hitchcock (D-H) and the Geisel School of Medicine. Together, their giving totaled nearly $59 million–the highest sum in over a decade. While many were moved to respond to the critical needs presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, others demonstrated their commitment to educating resilient and compassionate physicians, advancing innovation and discovery in the fight against cancer and other diseases, or ensuring that the most vulnerable children and adults across Northern New England receive the care they need. The following pages list all those who made gifts or pledges of $1,000 or more to D-H or Geisel during the period July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. We regret that space does not allow us to list all donors here. We are deeply grateful for each and every gift, and we are honored by the gratitude, the hope, and the confidence in D-H and Geisel that they represent.