February 2017 Vol. 19 Issue 2
ECHO STORIES AND NEWS FROM THE HSS FAMILY
HSS Grows Dominican Republic to Be No. 1 International Market critical component of our Roadmap to 2020
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is fulfilling our potential to impact healthcare around the world. An increased international
presence helps us “win” at home. HSS has many
Intraoperative Monitoring Lab Receives Prestigious Award he Department of Neurology’s Intraoperative
ensure the success of the entire organization overall.
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One of the countries where we have made a large
prestigious designation, which is based on evaluation
impact over the last year is the Dominican Republic.
of the program operations, staffing, established
global initiatives underway that not only extend our
Monitoring (IOM) Lab has been granted a five
reach internationally, but also raise the visibility and
year accreditation by the credentialing board
ABRET. This is the first time HSS has received this
Through a collaboration between the Global Sports Marketing Department and the International Center, we have expanded our partnerships in the country to help extend our brand reach and increase the number of patients coming to HSS for care. According to Emil Calcano, AVP, Global Sports Marketing and Business Development, the Dominican Republic is the number one market for HSS internationally; we see more patients from this country than any other country outside of the US. The Dominican Republic is a highly competitive market for US hospitals because they are very focused on US healthcare. “You don’t have to convince patients from the Dominican Republic to come to America for healthcare, because they already know how good it is,” said Brian VanVelzor, AVP, International Center. “What we need to do is differentiate ourselves and create brand recognition so they know that for orthopedic care, HSS should be their top choice.”
standards and policies. Antonio Mir, President of LNB, poses with Laura Porcella, Dr. Answorth Allen, Emil Calcano and Brian VanVelzor after HSS and LNB announced their official partnership.
IOM is a specialized service provided by the
As a first step, HSS hired Laura Porcella as the
informed about possible neurological complications
Dominican in-country liaison for the Hospital.
during spine surgery. The purpose of IOM is to
Laura lives in the Dominican Republic and is there
reduce the risk of injury to the spinal cord and nerve
Department of Neurology to help keep surgeons
to help support our efforts on the ground. She does
roots during surgery by continuously monitoring the
everything from finding patients and gathering their
ability of a patient’s spinal cord and nerve roots to
information to meeting with insurance companies
transmit signals.
and local businesses to assisting with our marketing and advertising strategy in the country. With Laura’s help, we began building relationships with physicians, hospitals, sports team and athletes in the Dominican Republic. On August 29, 2016 we announced a partnership with Liga Nacional de Baloncesto (LNB), the men’s professional basketball league in the Dominican Republic, which was our second official partnership outside of the US. “With this partnership, we wanted to replicate what we do for sports organizations in the US down in
When Brian began working here more than three
the Dominican Republic and use the power of sports
years ago, not many people in the Dominican
to influence the way people perceive healthcare,” said
The IOM Lab team includes (back row, l-r) Arturo Sanchez, Sean Freeman, Caleb Natale, Jon Dizon, Kristin Mercado, Christine Kurda, Kirsten Smith, Rinil Merdegia, (front row, l-r) Maya Karshenboyem, Marlene Brown, Nashali Castillo, (not pictured) Susan Vergara and Andrei Spirin.
Republic knew HSS by name. To help change that,
Emil. “No one does sports medicine like HSS, and we
the International Center worked with Emil and the
wanted to show sports fans in the Dominican Republic
By using this procedure, neurophysiology technolo-
Global Sports Marketing Department to increase
that we are willing to provide the same services to
gists continuously monitor the function of the spinal
efforts in the country through several sports-focused
athletes there as we do in the US, and hopefully have
cord during the operation and are able to alert the
initiatives and partnerships.
that resonate with consumers in general.”
surgeon if there are problems arising in the nervous
As part of the partnership, Answorth Allen, MD, Associate Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon, is serving as a medical consultant for the league, with an emphasis on contributing to the development of the league’s medical structure over the next few years. HSS clinicians are spending time on the island
system. At HSS, we use a three-tiered monitoring system to provide the best possible care to our patients. In addition to the technologist present in the operating room, there is both a senior technologist and a neurologist monitoring the patient outside of the OR.
educating local physicians, coaches and physical therapists on injury prevention methods to keep all basketball players in the game. “It is an honor to share my knowledge and collaborate with medical staff in the Dominican Republic,” said Dr. Allen. “Our goal is to help provide world-class Drs. Riley Williams and Bryan Kelly performed five surgeries in the Dominican Republic as part of HSS’s surgical sports mission in late October 2016.
care for athletes so they can avoid injury as much as possible.”
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Inside
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Heart of a Giant Holiday Roundup Culture of Health
CONTINUED on page 2
Intraoperative Monitoring Lab
Dominican Republic CONTINUED FROM COVER HSS also sponsored events in the Dominican Republic throughout 2016.
CONTINUED FROM COVER The IOM program at HSS includes 11 technologists,
• On September 10, we served as a sponsor for the Workout of the Day (WOD) at the Beach 2016
one technical manager and five physicians. ABRET
CrossFit Tournament held in Punta Cana, the
in part bases their laboratory accreditation on the
largest CrossFit event in the country with more
achievement of CNIM (Certification for Neurophysio-
than 400 athletes participating. HSS provided a
logical Intraoperative Monitoring) by its technologists.
recovery zone, which saw nearly 50 athletes come
At HSS, eight of the 11 technologists have obtained
through. Rob DiGiacomo, PT, DPT, ATC, Senior
the CNIM certification, with the remaining three
Director, James M. Benson Sports Rehabilitation
being junior technologists in training.
Center, identified potential injuries and provided
“I am extremely proud that the IOM lab has received
helpful stretching techniques on-site.
ABRET accreditation,” said Ronald Emerson, MD,
• On November 27, we sponsored the Casa de
Attending Neurologist and Director of IOM. “There
Campo Corre por el Hogar del Nino, the largest
are only 25 accredited labs nationwide and only
running event in the Dominican Republic with
one other in New York State with this honor. This
about 800 participants. The event featured a
Jorge Giral, PT, DPT, SCS, COMT, CSCS, and Julie Khan, PT, DPT, SCS, USATF-L1, assisted runners at the Casa de Campo Corre por el Hogar del Nino.
accreditation reflects the recognition of the highest
marathon, half marathon, and 10k and 5k races.
managers to the events. It is important for potential
levels of excellence and speaks to the hard work and
Once runners completed their races they were
patients to meet them, as they provide on-site
dedication of our entire department.”
able to visit the HSS recovery zone where physical
support for patients and their families when they
therapists Jorge Giral, PT, DPT, SCS, COMT,
come to HSS, assisting with appointment scheduling,
CSCS, and Julie Khan, PT, DPT, SCS, USATF-L1,
finances and any other needs while at the Hospital.
were on hand to assist with injuries and stretching.
Making Rounds News & Insights from Lou Shapiro, President and CEO
Access “Making Rounds” at www.hssmakingrounds.com to read the below posts and more. I look forward to your comments.
Dominican Republic, as well as the number of patients we are seeing from the country. In 2016, we had a total
in Santo Domingo on a surgical sports mission that
of 550 surgical cases from outside of the US, with
took place in October. Bryan Kelly, MD, Chief, Sports
more than 90 from the Dominican Republic. That is
Medicine and Shoulder Service, and Riley Williams
more than double what we saw just three years ago.
traveled to the Dominican Republic along with their medical teams – physician assistants, scrub nurses
• Hello Connecticut
and unit assistants – to perform surgeries on five
• Outside Interest in Our Focus on ‘Better, Knowledge, Scale’
helped to increase brand recognition of HSS in the
with Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud (HGPS)
• Town Hall Meetings
• Epic at 1
The success of these partnerships and events has
In addition to these sponsorships, HSS partnered
III, MD, Associate Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, – Lou Shapiro
patients with sports-related orthopedic injuries. The patients, who were thoroughly reviewed and pre-selected by both HSS and HGPS surgeons, had
As successful as we were in the Dominican Republic in 2016, we have even bigger goals moving forward. “We want to break 100 surgeries in 2017 and continue to differentiate ourselves in orthopedics,” said Brian. “We want to let them know that HSS is THE place to come for orthopedic surgery.”
the opportunity to receive shoulder and/or knee
There are already several events underway for 2017.
• Laser Focus
arthroscopic surgical procedures which otherwise
In mid-February, HSS hosted an educational seminar
• When ‘34’ Becomes Remarkable, and A Challenge
would not have been possible due to financial
in collaboration with LNB for more than 250 physical
• Spreading the Word
restraints. A charitable donation of implants,
therapists, medical professionals, students and
supplies and medical equipment was granted by
athletes in Santo Domingo, and also served as a
Arthrex, an orthopedic medical device company,
sponsor of the Hogar del Nino Annual Weekend, a
for the procedures.
local golf and tennis tournament attended by some
• Here We Go
Compliance Helpline Reminder The Compliance Helpline is a service for employees who wish to anonymously or confidentially report suspected violations of the Hospital for Special Surgery’s Code of Conduct, officially stated policies or relevant public laws and regulations. This includes concerns about patient safety.
Dr. Kelly and Dr. Williams also held a conference at HGPS after the surgeries focusing on sports injuries in athletes, which was attended by approximately 100 individuals consisting of physicians, residents, fellows and members of local medical societies.
of the most prominent business owners on the island. We will also serve as the official hospital of the 2017 Caribbean Polo Challenge, with permanent signage in the field from January through April. HSS will be the presenting sponsor of the Gold Tournament on March 25 where we will present the tournament’s
“It was a privilege to represent HSS in the Dominican
MVP with a trophy. There are also plans for an even
Republic for the surgical sports mission,” said Dr.
larger surgical sports mission in June focusing on
The Helpline does not replace other resources available to you, including supervisors, managers and Human Resources staff, but it is an alternative channel available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is operated on our behalf by National Helpline Services, Inc., an independent firm.
Kelly. “I look forward to more successful missions in
hip and knee arthroscopic surgeries, as well as other
the future.”
highly visible sports-related partnerships.
The Compliance Helpline number is 888-651-6234.
share our skills and expertise on this scale.”
make Panama the next Dominican Republic,” said
Brian and Emil have also hosted several social events
Emil. “We have hired an in-country liaison and have
with our surgeons, former patients, sports partners
plans to do a surgical sports mission this year. We
and other locals to continue to familiarize them with
have also started to build relationships with several
HSS and our world-class care. Brian brought several
sports teams to begin growing brand recognition
of his team members from the International Center
and differentiating HSS as the leader in muscu-
who serve as Spanish-speaking patient relationship
loskeletal health.”
All information will be kept confidential unless the law requires it to be shared with law enforcement authorities. Hospital for Special Surgery policy forbids any retribution or retaliation against an employee who reports a compliance issue in good faith. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Corporate Compliance office directly at x2398.
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More than 100 runners visited the recovery zone.
Added Dr. Williams, “The patients we helped would
Additionally, we will be focusing on other markets in
not have had access to the surgeries we performed
Latin America in 2017 to replicate the success we
without this mission. It was an honor to be able to
have had in the Dominican Republic. “We want to
Dr. Bostrom Bestowed the Austrian Cross of Merit he American Austrian Foundation held
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their 20th Annual Music for Medicine Benefit Concert late last year. The event supported the
Salzburg Weill Cornell Seminars of the Open Medical
SS is proud
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Institute and raised more than $630,000 through a
to welcome
live auction and raffle. At the event, Ambassador
Karen Brandt
Wolfgang Waldner, Austrian Ambassador to the US,
Onel, MD, as the new
bestowed the Austrian Cross of Merit to Mathias Bostrom, MD, Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon.
Dr. Karen Onel Joins HSS as Chief of Pediatric Rheumatology
Chief of Pediatric Rheumatology. Dr.
the Austrian Cross of Merit was established by
Mathias Bostrom, MD, was honored with the Austrian Cross of Merit at the American Austrian Foundation’s 20th Annual Music for Medicine Benefit Concert. (Photo credit: Da Ping Luo)
the National Council in 1952. It is conferred by the
English proverb. You give a man a fish and you feed
teens with arthritis
Republic of Austria to honor individuals from Austria
him for a day. You teach him to fish and you give him
and other autoimmune
and abroad who have rendered meritorious services
an occupation that will feed him for a lifetime. “This
disorders. In particular,
to the country. Recipients are selected by the govern-
program teaches surgeons surgical knowledge and
she diagnoses and
ment, and the awards are made by the president in
skills that will benefit their patients for a lifetime,”
treats lupus, juvenile arthritis, vasculitis, uveitis,
accordance with the respective laws. Dr. Bostrom was
Dr. Bostrom said. “I am honored to have been selected
dermatomyositis and the periodic fever syndromes.
selected as a recipient for his work mentoring count-
as a recipient of the Austrian Cross of Merit. It is so
less young surgeons and leading 11 Salzburg HSS
Her research focuses on gaining a greater under-
important to be able to share my knowledge on
Seminars in Bone and Joint Surgery through 2016.
standing of the causes of rheumatic illnesses, as
bone and joint surgery with young surgeons through
well as evaluating the safety and tolerability of
In describing the American Austrian Foundation
mentoring and seminars. I look forward to continuing
new treatments. Dr. Onel is collaborating with other
Salzburg Seminars, Dr. Bostrom referred to an old
this work in the future.”
institutions to define evidence-based best treatment
According to the American Austrian Foundation,
Onel specializes in the care of children and
practices for children with JIA, SLE and recurrent
Local High School Student Shows Us What It Means to Have the “Heart of a Giant”
non-infectious osteomyelitis. After receiving her medical degree from Cornell University Medical College, Dr. Onel completed her
harlie Burt is not your average high school
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internship and residency at Columbia Presbyterian
senior. Born without his left hand, he has
Medical Center and her fellowship at HSS. She
been playing sports since a young age and
served as an assistant attending pediatrician here
is now the captain of his high school football team
at HSS from 1995-2004, as well as Director of
in Mahopac, NY. He graciously uses his own experi-
Pediatrics from 2003-2004. Dr. Onel left HSS
ences to help motivate others and serves as a role
to serve as Program Director of the Pediatric
model for many of his friends, teammates, family
Rheumatology Training Program and Division
and members of the community.
Chief of Pediatric Rheumatology at the University of Chicago, and has now returned to the Hospital.
It is for all of these reasons and more that Charlie was selected as the 2016 winner of the USA Football
“There truly is no place like home when home is
Special Surgery and the New York Giants. The award
Charlie Burt was presented with the Heart of a Giant award by Samuel Taylor, MD, and former Giants running back Rashad Jennings.
recognizes high school football players in the tri-state
the Heart of a Giant trophy by both Rashad Jennings,
area for their unparalleled work ethic and passion for
former running back for the New York Giants, and
Dr. Onel succeeds Thomas J.A. Lehman, MD, as
the game of football.
Samuel Taylor, MD, Assistant Attending Orthopedic
Chief of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology.
High school football coaches in the area were
Surgeon and Associate Team Physician of the Giants.
Dr. Lehman has been with HSS for 30 years and
asked to nominate a player from their team who
During the ceremony, Dr. Taylor spoke about his own
will continue to play an important role in the
best embodies what it means to have the “Heart of
experiences with football as a former player and why
development of the department. Dr. Onel learned
a Giant.” Six finalists were selected and then asked
Charlie is so deserving of this award. He brought
a great deal from Dr. Lehman’s training and guidance
to submit a video showcasing why they should be
Rashad onstage to speak some inspiring words
during her previous time at HSS.
selected as the winner. Charlie’s video stood out
about Charlie while presenting him with the trophy.
“I am happy to welcome Dr. Onel back to HSS,” said
among a pool of inspiring and qualified candidates.
“At HSS, we are pleased to partner with the Giants
Dr. Lehman. “Her knowledge and experience in the
“Many people say that life is not about the destina-
and USA Football on this program to recognize com-
field make her a great asset to the organization and
tion, but the journey,” said Charlie in his submission
mitment, teamwork, will, character and dedication
the department. She is extremely passionate about
video. “I believe my differences in playing football
in the local community,” said Dr. Taylor. “While born
the field of pediatric rheumatology, which is evident
helped me overcome obstacles and taught me many
without his left hand, Charlie has been playing sports
in her extraordinary patient care.”
valuable lessons that I will take with me along my
since he was 5 years old, including football. Charlie
journey. Life, like football, may knock me down, and
seems to just keep working harder and harder to
I will have to overcome adversity and other challenges,
reach his goals. He is a role model for many.”
Heart of a Giant award presented by Hospital for
but I will be grateful for all I do have and I will get up
Charlie received a $5,000 equipment grant for
and keep moving forward toward my goals.”
Mahopac High School and was also honored on the
Charlie was honored at a school assembly in mid-
field during the Giants game against the Detroit
December where he was surprised to be awarded
Lions on December 18 at MetLife Stadium.
HSS,” said Dr. Onel. “I couldn't be more excited to be back. The growth in pediatrics has been amazing, and I cannot wait to be a part of what happens next.”
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HSS Holiday Roundup HSS Holiday Party
Toy Drive
Charla de Lupus Holiday Party
More than 1,100 members of the HSS family
The Employee Activities Committee (EAC) once
The Charla de Lupus (Lupus Chat)® Program hosted
celebrated the holidays together at the Hospital’s
again sponsored a toy drive throughout the Hospital
their annual Holiday Party and Talent Show for kids,
annual party in December. Those in attendance
during the holiday season, organized by Mary Hargett,
teens and young adults with lupus, as well as their
enjoyed delicious food, music, dancing, raffles and
Administrative Director, Education, Department of
families. With more than 130 people in attendance,
a photo booth at the Grand Hyatt New York.
Anesthesiology. Toys were distributed to our pediatric
this event is the program’s largest of the year.
In addition, HSS family members surprised Lou
patients, as well as to those who attended the Charla
The party provides a unique opportunity for patient’s
Shapiro, President and CEO, with a candle-lit cake
de Lupus Holiday Party.
families to come together to celebrate the holidays
to celebrate his birthday.
The EAC thanks all members of the HSS family who
and showcase their special talents onstage. It also
generously donated and brought so much happiness
fosters a sense of shared support by connecting
and joy to these children.
families to one another and building relationships.
EAC members Pamela Katkin, Westley Holiday, Stephanie Thacker, Mary Hargett and Christopher James pose with some of the toys collected during the drive.
Lerner Children’s Pavilion Annual Holiday Party
Holiday Door Decorating Contest
Pediatric patients, along with their families and
The creativity of the HSS family was on full display in
members of the HSS family, had a great time getting
December as teams across the Hospital participated
in the holiday spirit at the Lerner Children’s Pavilion
in the annual door decorating contest, sponsored
Annual Holiday Party. Those in attendance enjoyed
by the Employee Activities Committee (EAC) and
art projects and a photo booth station provided
organized by EAC member Christopher James,
by Project Sunshine, live music by the Ronald
Executive Administrator, Professional Education.
McDonald House of New York band and a backpack
Decorated doors/areas were judged on content,
filled with gifts sponsored by the Florence and
presentation and creativity, and a winner was
Harvey McCoy Children’s Fund and the Garden of
selected in four different categories.
Dreams Foundation.
Congratulations to the winners and all who
Thank you to the Pediatric Council and the Handal
participated!
Holiday Pediatric Fund for their support in making this event possible!
Clockwise from left: Best Winter Holidays, Managed Care— Insurance Advisory & Financial Assistance, East River Plaza, Plaza Level; Best Unconventional Holiday, Customer Service/ Patient Accounting, East River Plaza, Basement Level; Best Classical-Christmas Theme, MRI Department, Basement; Best HSS Holiday, Anesthesia Research Department, Belaire Building, 12th Floor, Room C & D
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Annual Benefit for Pediatrics Celebrates its 10th Year
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n Saturday, November 19, more than 850
an illusionist and hula hooper, the New York Red
guests gathered on Randall’s Island for HSS’s
Bulls Street team, and a performance of “Kurios:
10th Anniversary Benefit for Pediatrics to
Cabinet of Curiosities” by Cirque du Soleil.
HSS Supports Athletes at 2017 Tournament of Champions
celebrate a decade of accomplishments in pediatric
Some notable guests in attendance were Trevor
care and research at the Hospital. This was the first
Booker of the Brooklyn Nets; New York Knicks
year that the event, which was previously held at the
legend Larry Johnson; TJ Rivera of the New York
Big Apple Circus in Manhattan, took place on Randall’s
Mets; Connor Lade of the New York Red Bulls; Norah
Island. Under the leadership of Trustee Monica A.
O’Donnell, co-anchor of CBS This Morning; Stacy
specially constructed glass court in the Vanderbilt
Keany, Board of Advisors Member Kate Doerge and
London of TLC’s Love, Lust or Run; and Daphne Oz
Hall at Grand Central Terminal in January.
Associate Attending Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon
of The Chew.
David Scher, MD, the 2016 benefit raised more than $1.1 million – the most ever for this event!
SS was proud to serve as the official hospital
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of the 2017 J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions, an annual international squash
championship. The week-long event was held in a
HSS physicians Charles Goodwin, MD; Brett
A special thanks to the Pediatric Council, the
Toresdahl, MD; and Stephen Fealy, MD, provided
Pediatric Benefit Committee and all members of
support to athletes at the event. In addition, members
Entertainment and activities included face painting,
the HSS family who contributed to the success
of the HSS rehab team, including Jaime Edelstein,
temporary tattoos, a coloring wall, a photo booth,
of the event.
PT, DScPT, COMT, OCS, CSCS; Violet Yuen; Cara Ann Senicola, PT, DPT, OCS; Brian Goonan, PT, DPT, SFMA, ART; Jason Mayerhofer, PT, MSPT, MTC, CSCS, SFMA; Ioona Felix, PT, DPT, OCS, CTPS; Curtis Wu, PT, DPT, CSCS; Leigh-Ann Plack, PT, DPT; and Hector Lozada, PT, DPT, were on-site to assist those playing in the tournament. Thank you to all members of the HSS family who supported the event!
HSS pediatric orthopedic surgeons Peter Fabricant, MD, MPH; Roger Widmann, MD, Chief of Pediatrics; and David Scher, MD, attended the benefit.
Todd Albert, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief, poses with Larry Johnson, New York Knicks Legend, and benefit co-chairs Kate Doerge and Monica Keany.
HSS Celebrates National Professional Social Work Month in March he National Association of Social Workers
Coordinator, Charla de Lupus (Lupus Chat)®, at
honors professionals in the field annually
extension 8934 or FloresMe@hss.edu by March 24
with National Professional Social Work
to reserve a spot.
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Month in March. In honor of this month of recogni-
In addition, informational tables will be set up on
tion, the Department of Social Work Programs
Wednesday, March 22, from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, as
is sponsoring an event open to all members of
well as before the presentation on March 27, outside
the HSS family.
of the 2nd floor elevator lobby. The tables will offer
On Monday, March 27, Jillian Rose, LCSW, MPH,
information highlighting the role of HSS social workers
Assistant Director, Social Work Programs, will
and the numerous and varied programs provided to
present a lecture titled, “Understanding Implicit Bias
our patients, their families and diverse communities
and its Impact on Clinical Practice, Decision-Making
locally, regionally and nationally.
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm in the Richard L. Menschel Education Center, 2nd Floor, Room C. The Institute
Hospital for Special Surgery is committed to providing safe, quality care to all of its patients. In the event you have a concern regarding the safety or quality of care provided by the Hospital or the Laboratory, you may report these concerns to the Joint Commission. Please be assured that no retaliatory disciplinary action will be taken if an employee makes such a report.
You may file your report in the following ways:
of Medicine and The Joint Commission report that the role of implicit bias contributes to health disparities. Implicit biases are unconscious and unintentional assumptions that can be based on different factors, such as language, age, race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, weight and economic status. As we align with HSS’s Strategic Roadmap to 2020 and sustain our leadership in providing the finest musculoskeletal
1. By e-mail:
complaint@jointcommission.org
2. By fax:
Office of Quality Monitoring, 630-792-5636
3. By mail:
Office of Quality Monitoring The Joint Commission One Renaissance Boulevard Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
For fax and mail reports, submissions must be on a Quality Incident Report Form available on the Joint Commission website at www.jointcommission.org.
care for all patients, being aware and addressing these unintended factors is key.
contact Melissa Flores, LMSW, MPH, Social Work
Joint Commission Reporting
In addition, the Joint Commission has stated that your name will be treated as confidential information, and will not be shared with any other party.
and Achieving Optimal Health Outcomes” from
If you would like to attend the lecture, please
John Nimick, President of Squash Engine, Inc.; Ali Farag, no. 7 ranked squash player in the world; and HSS physical therapist Curtis Wu pose for a photo at the tournament.
The Department of Social Work Programs invites all HSS family members to celebrate National Professional Social Work Month this March.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Executive Offices at x1236.
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Back in the Game SS’ online patient forum – Back in the Game –
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HSS Recognizes Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
now has more than 1,600 patient stories! The postings share how HSS helped patients get
“back in the game.” Every month we will include one of the stories that highlights the extraordinary care
SS celebrated Certified Registered Nurse
all CRNAs in recognition of their hard work and
Anesthetists (CRNA) Week from January
dedication to world-class patient care.
22 – 28 to recognize the 16 CRNAs practicing
Thank you to all of our CRNAs for providing excellent
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members of the HSS family provide.
within the Department of Anesthesia at HSS.
Read how HSS helped Nancy Tompkins of Shalimar, FL
CRNAs collaborate on all aspects of
get back in the game.
perioperative care, including formulating
Becoming non-weight bearing on one foot for three months due to an ankle fusion is a real kicker. Imagine how I felt after rolling around on a scooter, using crutches and a stair-lift to discover it went
care in all anesthetizing sites throughout HSS.
an anesthetic plan, administering anesthetics, managing emergence and recovery from anesthesia, discharging patients from the PACU, and more.
way wrong. I had my first surgeon (in NH) inform
On January 24, a lecture was given by
me after 18 painful months that it was a ‘non-union’
Nicholas M. Perrino, DNP(c), MPH,
and my choices were either to have it redone,
MS, RN, FNP-BC, NE-BC, Assistant
heading backward to square one, or wear a metal
Vice President, Clinical Practice, titled,
brace indefinitely (That meant forever because
“Understanding the Historical and
I asked). I tried to be brave about it but my cheeks
Modern Role of the Nurse Anesthetist.”
were like a waterfall.
In addition, a special lunch was held for
HSS honored CRNAs at a special lunch to recognize their hard work during CRNA Week.
New Medical Staff Lila R. Baaklini, MD Lila R. Baaklini, MD, is an assistant attending anesthesiologist at Hospital for Special Surgery. Dr. Baaklini received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed her internship at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. She completed her residency at Yale-New Haven Medical Center where she
My only real choice was the first option, but this time
served as chief resident in her final year. Upon completing
I did my research and picked the best hospital, HSS.
her residency, Dr. Baaklini spent one year as an HSS Regional
As soon as I met Dr. Demetracopoulos, my anxiety
Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine fellow.
about going through all of that again switched into confidence that we had come to the right place. Dr. ‘D’ with his mild demeanor, dark hair, tall sturdy stature, and aptitude reminded me of Superman—he proved it when he performed my second operation. He removed extraneous bone that had grown, and replaced the remaining two broken and loose staples
Employee Safety Zone
with a more secure plate and screws. It has been eight months since my second fusion,
Culture of Safety Meets Employee Safety
and it is actually healing... I can easily go up and
In the interest of keeping every member of the HSS family safe, healthy and happy, we would like to
down the numerous steps in our old New England
highlight several opportunities that allow the Employee Safety Committee to understand how we can
Victorian, take daily walks in the Florida sunshine
best help you.
when we are there, but best of all, I can wear normal
1. Identify potential dangers: When faced with a work-related process you fear to be potentially injurious
shoes again that I’d pushed to the back of my closet
(even if you have not yet sustained the injury), let your supervisor know. We cannot fix a problem that we
for two years while my ankle was the size of a
are unaware of.
cantaloupe. My daughter-in-law was so impressed with the difference Dr. Demetracopoulos made for me that she is coming from Dallas to have him work on her problem ankle this summer. There is a reason HSS is the best. They pick the right doctors and
2. Report: If you have an accident or almost have one (a “near miss” as we call it), let us know via the occurrence reporting system (RL). You can submit a report anonymously, if so desired, or you can send an email to the team at EmployeeSafety@HSS.edu. 3. Look out for one another: Seemingly harmless activities like bending or lifting an object can possibly
I was lucky enough to find mine. To me, he just
lead to injury if done in an improper way. If you see someone moving in a way that could injure them,
happens to look like Clark Kent.
kindly point it out to them and offer a hand. 4. Notice chronic issues: If you feel the same nagging ache and pain at work, let your supervisor know or report to Occupational Health Services. It may require reasonable accommodations for resolution. Please contact EmployeeSafety@HSS.edu with any questions.
6
HSS Family Creates a Culture of Health n late 2016, the Employee Wellness Committee
I
Development. “We set common healthy habits,
encouraged HSS family members to “get in the
which we continue to institute, such as eating fresh
game” through the Create a Culture of Health
fruit and exercising regularly. We enjoyed coming up
Competition. Participants from across the Hospital
with new ideas and learning about our strengths and
were tasked with forming teams of five to 20 individ-
how we can overcome obstacles to our goals. For
uals and designing a month-long wellness-related
example, we organized weekly follow-up meetings,
initiative focusing on specific goals and outcomes.
which held us accountable to show up. Overall, this
“Wellness has many facets, such as healthy eating;
competition allowed us to build a stronger team.”
fitness; finances; and spiritual, emotional and
The runner-up team was The Pain Killers. They
professional growth,” said Laura Jasphy, EdD, LCSW,
developed an initiative that allowed them to exercise
Clinical Social Worker, Case Management, who led
more, increase water intake, bring lunch to work
the program. “This competition encouraged HSS
and meditate.
family members to look for ways to make their lives
“The competition helped keep us motivated and
healthier in aspects that were meaningful to them.”
accountable, and it was fun to challenge each other
Nearly 100 HSS family members participated in the
while improving our health,” said The
competition. Team goals varied and included every-
Pain Killers team captain Victoria
thing from drinking more water daily to exercising
Emem, Office Manager, Anesthesia.
regularly to maintaining a healthy work life balance.
“Our goals are all things that we all
Each team submitted a video or poster presentation
continue to do today – it really was a
illustrating their initiative and the successes they had.
lifestyle change!”
The Employee Wellness Committee selected Team
The winning and runner-up teams
DEVO as the competition winners for their innovation,
received health-focused prizes, and
outcomes and use of peer support. Through the
all participants were treated to a
program they designed, they worked as a team to
celebratory breakfast or lunch.
buy fresh fruit for the office, attend fitness classes,
Congratulations to all who partici-
host a healthy office potluck and more.
pated! The Employee Wellness
“This competition helped us improve and grow
Committee will be hosting another
individually and as a department,” said Team
competition this spring, so stay
DEVO captain Eliza Lazo Borges, Finance Manager,
tuned for details.
The Pain Killers included (back row, l-r) Samuel Schuessler, Mikhail Miller, (front row, l-r) Lillian Morales, Andrea Martin, Victoria Emem and (not pictured) Elvi Taveras.
Team DEVO included (back row, l-r) Linna Fang Quigley, Rebekah Grote, Mike Marzen, Thimothan Manickawasagar, Eliza Lazo Borges, Alexandra Wilson, (front row, l-r), Katie Dearing, Kaitlin Walter, Sabrina Esclavon, Holly Menzie, Katherine Gentile and (not pictured) Emily Miller.
Employee of the Month December 2016, Liliana De Jesus Congratulations to Lili, Employee of the Month for December! Lili is an administrative coordinator in the Department of Human Resources who has been a member of the HSS family since 2015. She is an extremely integral member of the HR team and has been praised for her hard work and dedication. No matter what the challenge may be, Lili takes on all assignments with skill, professionalism and a commitment to excellence – doing it all with a smile and a sense of humor! From organizing employee events at the hospital to working tirelessly during the 2015 snowstorm, she consistently goes the extra mile to make a difference. Her positive demeanor and can-do attitude make her a pleasure to work with and a truly deserving employee of the month.
January 2017, Oscar Alvarado Congratulations to Oscar, Employee of the Month for January! Oscar is a managed care liaison in the Department of Sports Medicine-PT who has been a member of the HSS family for more than 10 years. He has been described as a tremendous resource to his department who is always available to assist his teammates. Oscar took on the role of Super User during the launch of Epic and came up with different tools to help explain various processes to his colleagues. He has been there to assist members of his department with educational materials, technical support and in-services during the transition, making him an invaluable team member. His effort and enthusiasm, along with his willingness to learn and share his knowledge, make him a most deserving employee of the month.
7
Milestones Research, Academic and External Activities • A research poster by David W. Meister, MD;
Grants Review Committee of NIAMS, reviewing
Frank P. Cammisa Jr., MD; Darren R. Lebl, MD,
career development and training award proposals.
FAAOS; and Chad M. Craig, MD. Finally, he gave
• Scott Rodeo, MD, served as a grant reviewer
Krystle A. Hearns, MA; and Michelle G. Carlson,
on the NIH Special Emphasis Panel for
MD, Dorsal Scaphoid Subluxation on Sagittal MRI
Musculoskeletal, Oral and Skin Sciences.
as a Marker for Scapholunate Ligament Tear, won The Julian M. Bruner Award for Outstanding Poster at the American Society for Surgery of the Hand’s (ASSH) 71st Annual Meeting in September. New Grant Awards
University of Hawaii Dance Department. • The Pediatric Core Curriculum is now available on HSS eAcademy. Topics and faculty are:
Lectures and Symposia • Douglas Padgett, MD, was the Keynote speaker at the International Society for Technology in Arthroplasty meeting held in Boston, MA and presented a talk on the “Impact of Spino-Pelvic
• Lionel Ivashkiv, MD, renewed a research grant from NIAMS to study “Cytokine Balance in Rheumatoid Arthritis.”
Ligent on Functional Hip Position.”
“Orthopedics for the Knee, Ankle, and Foot and Rehabilitation Following Limb Lengthening Surgery,” Lisa Drefus, PT, DPT, and Siobhan Mangan Clarke, PT, DPT, PCS; “Idiopathic Toe Walking and Sensory Integration,” Lorene C. Janowski, DPS, OTR/L, MS, C/NDT; Christina
• Hollis Potter, MD, was Visiting Professor at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
• Suzanne Maher, PhD, and Peter Torzilli, PhD,
a workshop on the dancer’s foot and ankle at the
Pierozzi, MS, OTR/L; and Corinne Slevin, PT, DPT, MS, PCS, C/NDT, CKTP; “Introduction to
• Robert Spiera, MD, was invited to participate in
Sports Medicine in the Young Athlete and ACL
received a Minority Supplement grant from NIAMS
the Harvard Medical School 2016 Advances in
Reconstruction in the Skeletally Immature Athlete
for their studies of “Mechanobiological Risk Factors
Rheumatology Course and presented talks on
and MPFL Reconstruction,” Kelsie Ganshert, PT,
for Initiated Post Traumatic Osteoarthritis.”
“Polymyalgia Rheumatica” and “Therapeutic
DPT; “Atypical Development and Clinical Decision
Challenges in Systemic Sclerosis.”
Making in Cerebral Palsy,” Jennifer Jezequel, PT,
• Kyung-Hyun Park-Min, PhD, received a new research grant from NIAMS to study “The Crosstalk between MYC and Metabolism during Osteoclastogenesis.” • Jane E. Salmon, MD, received a new Exploratory/ Developmental Research grant from NIAMS to study “TNF-alpha Blockade with Certolizumab to Prevent Pregnancy Complications in High-Risk Patients with APS.”
DPT, PCS, and Jennifer E. Crane Paszko, PT,
Rehabilitation
DPT, C/NDT, PCS, CKTP; “The Pediatric Spine
• Rupali Soeters, PT, MEd, PhD, and Sherry I.
and Hip,” Karen Resnik, PT, DPT, PCS, Certified
Backus, PT, DPT, MA, presented at the HSS 28th
C1 Schroth Therapist, and Maureen Suhr, PT,
Annual Holiday Hip & Knee Course.
DPT, PCS; “Skeletal Dysplasia: Achondroplasia
• Robert Turner, PT, OCS, MS, OM, PMA®-CPT,
and Osteogenesis Imperfecta,” Frances Baratta-
gave a presentation on the dancer’s hip at the
Ziska, PT, DPT, MS, PCS, C/NDT; “Congenital
International Association of Dance Medicine and
Muscular Torticollis” and “Infants Typical Motor
Science 26th Annual Conference in Hong Kong.
Development,” Magda Oledzka, PT, MBA, PCS;
Study Sections, Editorial Boards, Professional
He also spoke at the North American Spine
and “Speech and Language Pathology: An
Organization Roles
Society Conference in Boston about “Rehabilitation
Introduction,” Elizabeth Gerosa, MS, CCC-SLP,
• Joseph Lane, MD, was appointed to the Arthritis
for the Elderly Spine” with Paul M. Cooke, MD;
C/NDT, TSSLD.
and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Special
Picture This
Chitranjan Ranawat, MD, Attending Orthopedic Surgeon, performed his final surgery ever at HSS late last year. For the past 50 years, Dr. Ranawat has performed hip and knee replacements at HSS and has dedicated his professional life to the education and training of residents, fellows and surgeons. His son, Amar S. Ranawat, MD, Associate Attending Orthopaedic Surgeon, and his OR team gave him an ovation as he left the OR for the last time.
Editor:
Marisa DeFilipps
Executive Editor:
Rachel Sheehan
Editorial Committee:
Lisa Goldstein, Bruce Slawitsky, John Englehart
Next Issue:
March 2017 echo@hss.edu
8
Welcome Sadath Ahmed, Temitayo Akintunde, Franklin Alonso, Dina A. Alper, Sheena Alva, Nicole E. Atkins, Jenna M. Baynes, Shameeka D. Brown, Julius T. Bugante, Sarah Bunnell, Kathleen G. Burke, Carmen T. Cabrera, Tiffany J. Campbell, Lorena M. Castillo, Veronica A. Colacurcio, Christian F. Colon, Ronda Combs, Nora R. Daly, Alexcus c. Daniels-Barrow, Maria C. David, Dhriti Dedhia, Gianna DiPietro, Christina E. Dowe, Barbara R. Dowling, Nicholas Estis, Mohammed F. Fahim, Frank Ferre, Mark A. Fontana, McKenna A. Gibson, Michelle E. Gomez, Lourdes R. Gonzalez, Olga L. Gonzalez, Stephen Gooding, Mercedes C. Greene, Khalid A. Hakim, Charae Hatwood, Tiffany J. Iannizzotto, Leslie O. James, Grace M. Joung, Yoonsoo Jung, Kenyatta O. Kennedy, Hojung Kim, James Kim, Michael C. Kontaras, Rachel P. Kramer, Cecelia M. Lawrence, Amonie M. Leon, Samantha G. Lessard, Matthew G. Lewis, Daphne Ling, Nyasia Martinez, Allyson M. McDougall, Michael Mejia, Comfort A. Mensah, Erica Mercedes, Priscilla Minott, Huma Morel, Raja Gowtham Mullaguri, Jill W. Nevins, Marsha A. Noel, Florence D. Nozier, David Oliver, Karen Onel, Avelino M. Orejuela Bastidas, Courtney D. Ortiz Miller, Jordan A. Ott, Cesar G. Padilla, Gopaldatt Persaud, Joshua A. Pollack, Kristina Primavera, Christina Quintana, Moeez Qureshi, Rosemary B. Ragle, Hebatallah Rashed, Jennine Reid, Rishina S. Richards, Lisa Rivera, Shantel G. Robertson, Mariely Rosado, Meghan Rose, Michael J. Rothstein, Meagan L. Rueda, James F. Russomano, Guilherme H. Saito, John Salva, Susan Sampson-Jordan, Ian Santana, Jasmin Santiago, Kiara Schoolfield, Lilianne Nichol M. Sembrano, Rachel B. Simon, Purva Singh, Balaji Sukumaran, Alexis V. Szewczyk, James Tan, Deborah L. Thorne, Lois A. Tobin, Madeline Torres, Tracy C. Uba, Giselle Urbaez, Jose F. Valeriano, Clarissa Villanueva, Jaime Villar, Luz Wade, Kymberly K. Webb, Lydia Weitzler, Patrick Wilson, Brandon A. Yates, Shelby W. Yeager, Gabriela Zea, Daniel A. Zoquier, Claudia Zurlini