SPRING-SUMMER 2022
Health, Science & Wellness
A MARATHON SURGERY. THEN HER FIRST MARATHON. Complex procedure to remove a vascular malformation is a runaway success for patient Elizabeth Jimenez
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Learning to live with COVID-19 PAGE 4
New guidelines for lung cancer screening PAGE 5
Easing knee pain without surgery PAGE 11
GREETINGS FROM THE FOREFRONT OF MEDICINE
A chance to reimagine cancer care In February, on the day before we announced our plans to build Chicago’s first freestanding cancer center, President Biden relaunched his Cancer Moonshot project. He shared a new set of ambitious goals to help advance scientific discovery, accelerate the rate of progress in therapies and ultimately find a cure for cancer. We believe we have an opportunity to lead in this renewed fight against cancer — right here on the South Side. The University of Chicago Medicine is proposing to build a facility and program that will offer unparalleled cancer care and expertise. The project is a $633 million investment, the second largest we’ve made on our South Side campus. (Learn more about our plans on Page 7.) We have three goals for the new cancer center: First, we want to increase access to cancer care and help address health inequities on the South Side, where residents are medically underserved and carry a disproportionate share of the cancer burden. On the South Side, cancer death rates are nearly twice the national average, and cancer is the second-leading cause of death (behind heart disease). The problem is expected to grow worse: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts cancer rates in the U.S. will increase by 49% between 2015 and 2050.
Finally, we want our cancer center to be
We believe we have an opportunity to lead in this renewed fight against cancer — right here on the South Side.” a broad range of therapies and care that best fit their needs. Having a dedicated space for well-coordinated cancer care that spans the continuum of a patient’s needs is known to improve outcomes. A diagnosis of cancer is a life-altering event for patients and their loved ones, and we aim to create a seamless patient experience by providing all of their clinical services in one healing, stressreducing facility.
a place of collaboration and
innovation for breakthroughs in cancer care and therapies. This is an exciting time in cancer research, and we want our Comprehensive Cancer Center to remain at the forefront of advances in oncology. Precision and personalized medicine — which require the development of specialized treatments for each type of cancer that can be tailored to specific tissues based on a patient’s genetic data — is the future of cancer therapy. In addition, we are increasingly able to identify the treatments that are likely to be most effective, minimizing harsh side effects and damage to healthy tissues. This may include targeted antibodies, vaccines and T-cell therapies, for which UChicago Medicine has been a national leader. We are excited about this new opportunity to serve our patients and their families, and we will continue to work with our medical partners to ensure that our patients receive the world-class cancer care they deserve. Please look for updates in the coming months about our plans to establish the very best cancer center and our efforts to reimagine cancer care.
Kenneth S. Polonsky, MD
Our second goal is to design the facility
Dean and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Chicago
around the patient,
offering the most modern, compassionate and efficient approach to cancer care. The new cancer center will enhance our ability to treat patients as individuals, providing
The Forefront magazine features stories about life-changing care and breakthroughs in medical research at the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences. Kenneth S. Polonsky, MD Dean of the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Thomas E. Jackiewicz President of the University of Chicago Medical Center
Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer: Daiquiri Lewers Editor: Anna Madrzyk Assistant Editor: Angela Wells O’Connor Designer: Ken Rickard Contributing writers: Emily Ayshford, Jamie Bartosch, Alison Caldwell, PhD, Kate Dohner, Natalie Helms, Angela Wells O’Connor, Sarah Richards and Anne Stein Contributing photographers: Mark Black, Jimmy Fishbein, Jean Lachat, Jordan Porter-Woodruff, Ken Rickard and Nancy Wong
Tom Jackiewicz President, the University of Chicago Medical Center
Main number: 1-773-702-1000 Appointments: 1-888-824-0200 Visit our website for more information: Adult care: UChicagoMedicine.org Children’s care: ComerChildrens.org Science, health and wellness news: UChicagoMedicine.org/Forefront Read The Forefront online at UChicagoMedicine.org/TheForefront Facebook.com/UChicagoMed Instagram.com/UChicagoMed Twitter.com/UChicagoMed Email us at imagine.editor@uchospitals.edu
This publication does not provide medical advice or treatment suggestions. If you have medical problems or concerns, contact a physician, who will determine your treatment. Do not delay seeking medical advice because of something you read here. For urgent needs, call 911. UChicago Medicine Medical Group is comprised of UCM Care Network Medical Group, Inc., and Primary Healthcare Associates, S.C. UChicago Medicine Medical Group providers are not employees or agents of The University of Chicago Medical Center, The University of Chicago, UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial, UChicago Medicine Dearborn Station, UChicago Medicine Medical Group – Homewood, UChicago Medicine at Ingalls – Tinley Park, UChicago Medicine River East or UChicago Medicine Orland Park.
The Forefront / Spring-Summer 2022
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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ON THE COVER Wheaton runner Elizabeth Jimenez was able to cross the finish line in her first marathon thanks to the expertise of a UChicago Medicine otolaryngologist.
DEFENDING CHAMPS / The Chicago Sky are ready to hit the hardwood as the reigning WNBA Champions. UChicago Medicine is the official medical provider and major sponsor of the Sky.
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PROTECT YOUR PEEPERS / Yes, your eyes can get “sunburned.” Tips to keep your eyes safe in the summer.
ADVANCING CARE / Theranostics, a combination of approaches to treatment, is providing physicians with more tools to fight certain cancers. TASTE OF RELIEF / A new knee gets an executive chef back on his feet after years of joint pain. CALLING THE PLAYS / Even if you are young and healthy, a primary care physician is key to managing your health.
READ ONLINE Patient Amirez Lofton-Hurt with his new book.
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BOOK ’EM, KIDDO / Reach Out and Read program encourages young patients and their families to incorporate reading into their daily routine.
COVID-19 UPDATES / Get the latest information from our experts on COVID-19 at UChicagoMedicine.org/Forefront. MORE FROM THE FOREFRONT / Sign up for our Health & Science e-newsletter at UChicagoMedicine.org/enewsletter.
Compassionate end-of-life care for your loved one For more than 30 years, the UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial hospice program has delivered exceptional end-of-life care for patients and their families. Visit UChicagoMedicine.org/Home-Care-Hospice or call 708-331-1360 or for more information.
Marking a milestone: 15,000th robotic procedure
Coming to Northwest Indiana in 2024 The University of Chicago Medicine will soon break ground on a 130,000-square-foot multispecialty care center in Crown Point, Indiana. The proposal for the center — UChicago Medicine’s largest off-site facility — includes:
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A micro-hospital, with an emergency department and short-stay inpatient unit Comprehensive Cancer Center Medical office building, staffed by experts in cancer, cardiology, digestive diseases, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, pediatrics, transplant medicine and women’s health Imaging, infusion and laboratory services Outpatient surgery center
The new center will “allow our physicians to collaborate with community providers to deliver an integrated and seamless experience for patients who need convenient access to advanced care, clinical trials, and the latest diagnostic and treatment options,” said Kenneth S. Polonsky, MD, Dean and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Chicago.
Connect today, prevent cancer tomorrow The University of Chicago Medicine invites you to join the Connect for Cancer Prevention Study, a new research study to learn how to prevent cancer. UChicago Medicine has partnered with the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, for one of the largest and most advanced studies of our time. This kind of research can help us better understand the causes of cancer and to help those with cancer live longer, healthier lives. During the study, we will compile information from your health records and periodic surveys as well as from fluid samples that you will donate every few years. Enrollment in the study is open to individuals 40 to 65 years old. Find out if you are eligible by signing up online at MyConnect.cancer.gov or by visiting www.ipph.uchicago.edu/registry. Or you can email Connect@bsd.uchicago.edu.
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Since the arrival of the first surgical robot almost 20 years ago, UChicago Medicine surgeons have performed more than 15,000 minimally invasive procedures. Robotic technology is used in urology, gynecology, colorectal surgery, head and neck surgery, cardiac surgery, general surgery, thoracic surgery, orthopaedics and neurosurgery. “This milestone highlights the pioneering commitment our surgeons and institution made in 2002 to adopt minimally invasive robotic surgery,” said Arieh Shalhav, MD, Director of Minimally Invasive Urology and Director of Robotic Surgery, who performed the first robotic procedure at UChicago Medicine on December 5, 2002. “We strive to minimize the suffering and disruption of our patients’ lives while maintaining the highest quality surgical care.”
Study: Get sufficient sleep, eat fewer calories Want to eat less? Try sleeping more. In a randomized clinical trial conducted at the University of Chicago Medicine, overweight adults who habitually slept less than 6½ hours a night received a personalized sleep counseling session to increase the amount of time they slept. Participants slept in their own beds in their usual home environment, tracked their sleep with a wearable device, and otherwise followed their normal lifestyle without any instructions on diet or exercise. The caloric intake was objectively measured using tracers that can be measured in the urine, and body weight and composition. The intervention increased sleep duration on average by 1.2 hours per night, and reduced participants’ calorie intake by an average of 270 calories per day. “We knew sleep is important for appetite regulation,” said Esra Tasali, MD, Director of the UChicago Sleep Center. “Now we’ve shown that, without making any other lifestyle changes, you can extend your sleep and eat fewer calories. This could really help people trying to lose weight. Our study suggests that healthy sleep behavior could be a new tool to tackle the epidemic of obesity in our society in adults and children.” Tasali led the study, which was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Doctors from the University of Chicago Medicine, Comer Children’s Hospital, Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross and Ingalls Memorial Hospital were named to Chicago magazine’s 2022 Top Docs list.
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Keep your eyes healthy this summer permanent and can be debilitating. In addition, the skin around the eye is susceptible to skin cancer, so it is important to wear sun protection whenever possible. In contrast, even brief sungazing can cause permanent vision impairment, so never look directly at the sun.
Summertime means many of us will be spending more time outdoors in the sun. We already know to use sunscreen to protect our skin, but what about our eyes? Steven Quan, OD, provides some answers about how to protect your eyes in the summer. CAN YOUR EYES GET SUNBURNED?
Yes, eyes can be “sunburned” in a condition called photokeratitis. This commonly leads to urgent medical visits because of severe eye pain and an abrupt onset of symptoms. Luckily, it is typically self-limiting and resolves without permanent blindness, but any significant eye problem should always be evaluated by an eye doctor to properly diagnose and treat the issue. DO YOU STILL NEED TO WEAR SUNGLASSES EVEN IF IT’S CLOUDY OUTSIDE?
Yes. Clouds do not completely block the sun’s rays, so you are still at risk for UV exposure and sunburns. Although sunlight is usually most intense at midday, your eyes are especially vulnerable to harmful UV light at dawn and dusk because of the direct angle of incoming light. It is important to wear sunglasses as much as possible, no matter the time of day or weather. DO CONTACT LENSES PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST UV RAYS?
Several brands of contact lenses are built with UV protection. Keep in mind, however, that contact lenses only cover the center of the eye and not the surrounding areas, such as the
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO WEAR GOGGLES IN THE POOL?
Steven Quan, OD
conjunctiva or eyelids. It is still best to wear sunglasses. WHAT IS THE STANDARD UV PROTECTION TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING SUNGLASSES?
The sunlight that reaches the earth’s surface is made up of two types of harmful rays: UVA and UVB. You should choose sunglasses that provide 100% protection against both UVA and UVB radiation. You may also see the designation UV400, which blocks light under 400 nanometers (including UVA and UVB). If you spend a lot of time on the water, polarized sunglasses may help reduce glare and reflections. Make sure to look for polarized lenses that provide maximum UV protection. CAN LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO THE SUN CAUSE CATARACTS?
Long-term sun exposure can cause cataracts. The most common eye problems related to sun exposure are cataracts and macular degeneration. While cataracts can be removed with surgery, macular degeneration is
Goggles not only allow you to see better underwater, they also protect the eyes from chlorine and other chemicals in the water that may be irritating. If you are a contact lens wearer, please discard any contact lenses after swimming activities, because lenses may harbor bacteria that increase your risk for severe eye infections. SHOULD YOU BE WEARING PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR WHEN DOING OUTDOOR WORK LIKE MOWING THE LAWN?
Always consider protective eyewear when you are working in an environment that puts you at risk for accidents or projectiles. Search for wraparound eyewear that protects the eyes from the sides as well. IS IT NECESSARY TO PROTECT YOUR EYES WHEN PLAYING SPORTS LIKE BASEBALL OR BASKETBALL?
Protective eyewear is recommended for high-risk sports because of the potential for sight-threatening injuries or even concussions. Contact sports such as basketball are especially prone to eye injuries because of the nature of body movements.
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LEARNING TO LIVE WITH COVID-19 Although COVID-19 cases are declining, the coronavirus that causes the disease is unlikely to disappear. University of Chicago Medicine infectious disease expert Emily Landon, MD, says learning to live with COVID-19 means learning to accept our vulnerability to infectious diseases — and taking the right steps going forward to protect our health and the health of others.
Emily Landon, MD
CAN I QUIT WEARING A MASK?
HOW SHOULD PEOPLE WHO ARE
Until coronavirus transmission is much lower, we need to keep masks on in places like trains, planes and buses. Japan uses the three C’s to remind people where COVID-19 risk is highest: closed spaces (places with limited ventilation), crowds and close-contact settings. These are the places where masks offer the best benefit, and individuals should decide whether to use a mask based on their risk and the amount of COVID-19 in the community. Immunocompromised folks may want to keep wearing masks in most of these settings until COVID-19 rates are very low, whereas healthy, vaccinated people may want to forgo a mask.
OLDER AND/OR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED
DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE FLU ALL BUT DISAPPEARED. SHOULD I BOTHER
NAVIGATE THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?
WITH A FLU VACCINE?
High-risk individuals may need to take more precautions because others are no longer wearing masks to help shield them. For instance, in closed spaces with other people, you may need to wear both an N95 and face shield to protect your eyes from large COVID-19 droplets. You probably also need to avoid crowds altogether, even outside, if you can’t keep 6 feet of distance from the unmasked.
The flu vaccine is helpful in preventing bad outcomes like hospitalization, pneumonia and even death. Still, you shouldn’t rely on the vaccine to be your only layer of protection: You also need to wash your hands and stay home when you’re sick. And if you’re high-risk, make sure you have access to medications like Tamiflu.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BE WASHING
AT THIS POINT, WHY BOTHER GETTING
WHY SHOULD I GET MY KIDS
OR SANITIZING MY HANDS?
VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19?
VACCINATED WHEN THE PFIZER
Any time I switch settings or change buildings, I like to wash my hands — for example, when I go from work to home, I’m touching a lot of stuff along the way, so I wash my hands when I get home. Also make sure to wash your hands before preparing food, eating and after using the washroom.
Everyone needs to be vaccinated for COVID-19, and it’s wise to keep up with boosters as well. Individuals who are unvaccinated are 10 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than the vaccinated. The current recommendations that it’s safe to be unmasked and ‘get back to normal’ is meant for vaccinated people.
VACCINE WAS FOUND TO BE LESS EFFECTIVE FOR 5- TO 11-YEAR-OLDS?
Just because it’s less effective doesn’t mean it’s not effective. Your child may get a breakthrough infection, but it’s still extremely effective at keeping them well and out of the hospital.
Read more of Dr. Landon’s tips at UChicagoMedicine.org/Living-with-Viruses
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Lung cancer screening can save your life If you smoke or have smoked, low-dose CT screening can detect lung cancer at an early stage and reduce the risk of death. The lung cancer screening team at the University of Chicago Medicine uses the latest innovative technology to offer lung cancer screening to qualified patients.
More people eligible for screening under new guidelines New guidelines from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expand eligibility for lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography. The new guidelines lower the starting age for lung cancer screening from 55 to 50 years old and reduce the tobacco smoking history from 30 pack-years to 20 pack-years. A person also must be a current smoker or one who has quit in the past 15 years and have no symptoms of lung cancer. Insurance companies follow CMS guidelines in determining reimbursement.
What is a pack-year? Pack-years are calculated by using the number of years you smoked and the number of cigarettes smoked each day. Examples of 20 pack-years include: 20 years where you smoked one pack a day or 10 years where you smoked two packs a day. Your physician can help you calculate your pack-years based on your smoking habits.
What is low-dose CT? A low-dose CT (LDCT) scan is a quick, painless, noninvasive diagnostic test that allows physicians to detect very small abnormalities or nodules in the lungs that could indicate cancer. Patients are exposed to less radiation than during a regular CT scan, and there are no issues with claustrophobia (unlike with MRI scans).
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women in the United States. Screening reduces lung cancer deaths by:
26% in men
61%
in women
For more information, contact us at 773-702-2990 or email us at LungCancerScreening@UCHospitals.edu.
Need help quitting smoking? The most effective way to reduce your risk of developing lung cancer is to quit smoking. Experts at UChicago Medicine can assist you in taking the right steps toward a smoke-free life. Our specially trained clinic staff is available to help you with both behavioral and medical solutions for smoking cessation. Learn more about our Courage to Quit® smoking cessation program: UChicagoMedicine.org/Smoking-Cessation.
OUR TEAM: The University of Chicago Medicine lung cancer prevention and treatment team is a collaboration of specialists from oncology, pulmonology, radiology, surgery, pathology and more. These experts work closely together to diagnose and treat each patient. Our goal is to provide the highest level of patient care at every stage of diagnosis and treatment.
Christine Bestvina, MD
Jessica Donington, MD
Marina Chiara Garassino, MD
D. Kyle Hogarth, MD
LUNG CANCER CLINICAL TRIALS: UChicago Medicine patients have access to clinical trials for some of the newest targeted treatments, which are not widely available and hold tremendous promise.
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THERAPY+ DIAGNOSTICS= THERANOSTICS How new precision approaches are advancing cancer care
AMITA HEALTH AND UCHICAGO MEDICINE LAUNCH CANCER COLLABORATION
When Russell Szmulewitz, MD, describes an emerging tool doctors use to diagnose and treat certain cancers, he sounds more like an army general than an oncologist specializing in prostate cancer. Such is the precision of theranostics, however, that the analogy fits.
AMITA Health and the University of Chicago Medicine have joined forces to bring the South Side academic health system’s specialized cancer expertise, access to advanced therapies and innovative clinical trials, and greater cancer care options to Chicago’s North Side.
“It’s sort of a smart bomb that goes specifically to the cancer target, and we can see where it’s going based on the imaging,” said Szmulewitz, Director of the Genitourinary Oncology Program at the University of Chicago Medicine.
The new partnership, based at AMITA Saint Joseph Hospital Chicago (SJHC) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, includes radiation and medical oncology, as well as surgical oncology and research services. Patients can now be seen by UChicago Medicine oncology physicians at the SJHC campus.
Cancer theranostics — the word itself is a blend of “therapy” and “diagnostics” — involves the use of radioactive isotopes to diagnose and treat cancer. Theranostics uses radiotracers made up of two components: a biological component engineered to latch on to a specific protein on a cancer cell, and interchangeable radioactive isotopes that can alternately be used to make that cell visible on a PET scan and then destroy it. “Theranostics is sort of the ultimate in precision oncology, because we can visualize the target within the patient, then give radioactive-targeted medicine that we know will go where we think we want it to,” said Szmulewitz. Diagnosis and treatment with theranostics do not occur all at once; patients first receive an IV infusion with the diagnostic radiotracer, then get one or a series of IV infusions with the radiotracer treatment a short time later. “Then, a few months after your treatment, you might go back to get another scan with
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From left: Russell Szmulewitz, MD, Daniel Appelbaum, MD, Xavier Keutgen, MD, and Chih-Yi “Andy” Liao, MD
This collaboration reinforces both organizations’ commitment to quality, innovation and a shared vision of increasing access for patients by providing broadened access to academic cancer care.
that diagnostic version of the tracer to see how the treatment worked,” said radiologist Daniel Appelbaum, MD, Chief of Nuclear Medicine and PET. The concept behind theranostics is not new. Radioactive iodine, for example, has been used for decades to both diagnose and treat thyroid cancer. (Rather than being guided to the cancer by a specific cancer cell-searching drug component, however, the iodine is absorbed naturally by the thyroid cells.) In recent years, physicians have been incorporating this more advanced iteration of theranostics to diagnose and treat certain neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This rare type of cancer begins in neuroendocrine cells,
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which are present in organs throughout the body. Xavier Keutgen, MD, Director of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Program, and Chih-Yi “Andy” Liao, MD, Associate Director of the Genitourinary Oncology Program, have been leading this effort. Three FDA-approved theranostic radiotracers target a protein on the surface of NETs. “From a diagnostic perspective, many studies have shown that gallium-68 dotatate or copper-64 dotatate PET-CT is vastly superior to any imaging modality for welldifferentiated NETs,” Keutgen said. “When it comes to treatment with lutetium-177 dotatate, we’re talking about a benefit of several years in life expectancy for patients with NETs.” Physicians are also hopeful about the use of theranostics for prostate cancer, a more
UChicago Medicine to build city’s first freestanding cancer center The University of Chicago Medicine plans to build a $633 million, 500,000-squarefoot facility dedicated to cancer care and research on its medical campus on the city’s South Side. The cancer center, which includes inpatient and outpatient care, will have a focus on prevention and early detection of cancer and be a hub for research into the more aggressive forms of cancer that affect residents on the South Side and many other communities of color across the country.
Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD
“Cancer death rates on the South Side are almost twice the national average, and cancer is the second-leading cause of death for area residents,” said Kunle Odunsi, MD, PhD, Director of the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. A significant portion of the planning and design will focus on the patient and family experience, including making sure all services throughout the care journey are in the same location and creating a healing and stress-reducing environment.
“NEW THERANOSTICS OPTIONS OFFER NEW HOPE FOR OUR PATIENTS, HELPING THEM LIVE LONGER AND WITH BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE” — Chih-Yi “Andy” Liao, MD
common cancer that affects one in eight men in their lifetime. UChicago Medicine was involved in the clinical trials for both piflufolastat F-18 and lutetium-177 PSMA-617. The FDA approved use of the former last year to diagnose certain prostate cancers and is expected to soon approve lutetium-177 PSMA-617 to treat metastatic prostate cancer that doesn’t respond to hormone therapy. Both of these radiotracers
target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), a protein on the surface of prostate cancer cells. With the only academic health system cyclotron in Illinois capable of producing novel radioactive agents, and in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, UChicago Medicine scientists are working to develop better theranostics that build off of those currently or soon available. “We are still at the very early stages of theranostics, but we have the right people here, from basic scientists in chemistry working on new biomarkers, all the way to clinicians,” said Chin-Tu Chen, PhD, Director of the UChicago Medicine Cyclotron Facility. “This is the model of team science.”
“Our health system is looking to establish a cancer program of the future, where groundbreaking science and compassionate, complex care intersect to provide an unrivaled approach to prevent, diagnose, study, treat and cure cancer,” said Kenneth S. Polonsky, MD, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs at the University of Chicago. Pending regulatory approval, construction will begin in 2023 and the new facility will open to patients in 2026. KEY FEATURES » 128 new hospital beds dedicated to patients with cancer » 100 exam rooms » Outpatient services » Full suite of imaging and diagnostic solutions » Clinical trials unit and research clinic space » Stem cell treatment and processing facilities » Genetic testing and counseling » Radiation oncology and infusion services » Urgent care to serve unique needs of patients with cancer
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HE GAVE ME MY
SMILE BACK As she crossed the finish line at the Chicago Marathon, Elizabeth Jimenez thought about the surgeon who helped her reach her goal. Removing a large vascular growth from Elizabeth Jimenez’s face was one of the most difficult surgeries University of Chicago Medicine otolaryngologist Nishant Agrawal, MD, had ever performed. The surgery was so risky, and the condition was so rare, that doctors from other hospitals referred her to UChicago Medicine because of its expertise in head and neck surgery. The surgery was to remove an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a tangled bundle of abnormal blood vessels located within a millimeter of Jimenez’s facial nerve and wrapped around her parotid gland, near her ear. The AVM was much larger than normal. If you got close to her, you could see and hear it pulsing underneath her skin, like a beating heart. Elizabeth Jimenez
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If something went wrong during surgery, Jimenez’s face could be permanently paralyzed or she could end up with a Bell’s palsy-like droop on one side. Not doing the surgery, however, could be life-threatening, as the AVM could burst open and hemorrhage. Agrawal ordered multiple tests, studied her case for several weeks and consulted with UChicago Medicine’s neurointerventional radiology team before deciding he was ready to take on the challenge. “It was tough. I was worried about it,” said Agrawal, Chief of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. “It was an unusual, rare and very complex case, and there was potential risk for damaging a nerve and losing a life-threatening amount of blood.” ‘I CAN’T LOSE MY SMILE’
As Jimenez was being wheeled into the operating room for the July 2018 surgery, she tearfully asked a nurse to pass along a message to Agrawal: “Tell him I want to smile again. I smile every day. It’s my favorite part of who I am. I can’t lose my smile.” “Don’t worry,” the nurse told her. “You’re with one of the best head and neck doctors in the U.S.” The eight-hour surgery was a success. Agrawal took out the parotid gland with the AVM without damaging the facial nerve. The recovery process was difficult. For two months, Jimenez couldn’t move her forehead while she healed. Since lying down caused pain and pressure, she slept sitting up in a chair for a month and a half. She frequently had headaches and avoided mirrors, fearing her face might be disfigured. When she finally looked at herself, she smiled and her entire face moved perfectly. “He gave me my smile back,” said the 44-year-old mother of two. “I am still smiling every day.” Eventually, Agrawal gave Jimenez permission to resume running, allowing her to train for her first marathon. Between her recovery and COVID-19, she had to wait three years — until October 2021 — to run the Chicago Marathon. The night before the race, Agrawal called her to say good luck. She emailed him photos of herself after completing the 26.2-mile course. “I thought about him when I was almost at the finish line and I started crying. I thought, after all I went through, ‘I did it!’” she said. “Dr. Agrawal did so much for me and whenever I needed something, he was there. I don’t know how he makes time to respond to my emails or calls so fast. I don’t have any way to repay him, so I just pray for him and hope for the best for him, and hope that he’s happy.” Vascular malformations are very rare. They’re usually caused by a trauma or injury that creates abnormal blood vessels. Jimenez’s, however, appears to have formed on its own. There are different types of vascular
Nishant Agrawal, MD
‘YOU’RE WITH ONE OF THE BEST HEAD AND NECK DOCTORS IN THE U.S.’ malformations, not all of which require surgery, but arteriovenous malformations like Jimenez’s can be dangerous and are usually surgically removed. Jimenez, who grew up in Mexico, said the dizziness and pulsating sounds began many years ago, but the doctors there didn’t think the symptoms were any cause for alarm. By 2018, the pulsating noise was interrupting her sleep. Her primary care doctor noticed that one side of her face was bigger than the other and recommended she see a specialist. After visiting other hospitals, she eventually found Agrawal. Jimenez returned to her full-time job working in information technology in St. Charles. Her prognosis is very good, Agrawal said. “That surgery changed my life,” Jimenez said. “Every morning when I go to work and I see the sunrise, I thank God I have this opportunity. I can enjoy my life. I see life as beautiful now. Maybe I needed all of this to happen to see life the way I do. And I know Dr. Agrawal is always there for me.”
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Relief on the menu Knee replacement surgery allows chef to live pain-free As an executive chef, Richard Jones routinely worked long hours on his feet. His right knee always hurt because of an old basketball injury he suffered as a teenager that badly damaged his ligaments, muscles and nerves. He had surgery, but the recovery was long and difficult. It left him with chronic knee pain that he learned to live with. It wasn’t until 32 years later, in 2019, that the pain became unbearable. Everyday tasks, including work, became a struggle. One particularly bad morning, Jones fought back tears as he dressed his 2-year-old daughter because it hurt so much to stand. Then he drove her to day care using his left foot on the pedals, since he couldn’t move his right knee or leg. The Lansing resident made an appointment with University of Chicago Medicine orthopaedic surgeon Sara Wallace, MD, MPH, who gave him a cortisone shot to ease the pain temporarily. “When she looked at my X-rays, she said, ‘I’ll be honest, Richard. I don’t know how you’ve walked around without even taking medication. You must be in excruciating pain,’” he recalled.
Richard Jones, an executive chef, cooks at home with his daughter, Royalty Isabella Jones, age 6.
accelerated recovery and pain management programs allow patients to walk just hours after coming out of surgery. Many are able to go home the same day, Wallace said. Within hours of the surgery, Jones got out of bed and walked around the hospital. After a few weeks in physical therapy, Wallace said he was able to do any activity using his knee — no restrictions. Sara Wallace, MD, MPH
knee stability and replaced his multiple damaged ligaments. During the two-hour surgery in July 2020, Wallace removed the damaged cartilage and scar tissue, resurfaced the joint, and used digital templating to precisely measure and position the implants. Using surgical guides and instruments, she added the implants and completely restored his leg’s natural alignment, making it “straight” again and allowing his knee to have a full range of motion.
Wallace told Jones he needed a full knee replacement. The surgery would be complicated because the nerve damage from his 1987 injury had caused permanent numbness and weakness in his right foot. It also damaged the major artery in his leg, placing him at risk for delayed healing.
“Everything went really smoothly,” Wallace said. “Our approach at UChicago Medicine is to be more minimally invasive than many other surgeons. We preserve all functional parts of the knee and replace only what has been damaged.”
Because of his previous joint trauma, he needed a specific type of implant that added
The state-of-the-art technology speeds up recovery times, and UChicago Medicine’s
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“I felt good for the first time in a very long time. I had no pain,” said Jones. The 51-year-old single dad of two daughters lost his executive chef job during the pandemic. Now, he works for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail processing clerk and plans to open his own restaurant soon. With his new knee, he doesn’t worry about having to stand on his feet all day. “The knee replacement surgery at UChicago Medicine was a great experience. Everyone made me feel at home,” Jones said.
EASING KNEE PAIN WITHOUT SURGERY Osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative disease that occurs when protective cartilage in the joint wears away. The pain can become severe if there is no cartilage left and the bones essentially rub against each other. Pain medications, steroid injections, physical therapy and nerve ablation all provide relief, but eventually some patients need surgery to replace their knee’s damaged cartilage and bone. But what about patients who are not good candidates for knee surgery? This can include patients who are on dialysis or who have severe obesity or poorly controlled diabetes. Doctors at the University of Chicago Medicine are exploring whether a minimally invasive treatment that involves sealing off problematic arteries in the knee can help patients for whom Osman Ahmed, MD a knee replacement may not be an option. UChicago Medicine is one of the first in the country to perform the procedure, as well as the only institution in the Midwest currently conducting a clinical trial on the method.
THE CHAMPS ARE BACK The Chicago Sky — reigning WNBA champions — are back in 2022 to defend their league title. UChicago Medicine is the official medical provider and major sponsor of the Sky and partners with the team on community programs and outreach.
Osman Ahmed, MD, an interventional radiologist, is the principal investigator for a pilot study using genicular artery embolization (GAE) to treat poorly controlled pain in osteoarthritis in the knees. Genicular is an anatomical term meaning of or related to the knee. “There’s a huge treatment gap for people whose pain isn’t really well-controlled with medications, but who also aren’t ready for surgery,” said Ahmed. “This is not necessarily a cure, but rather another treatment that can hopefully give patients pain relief.” Embolization — the blocking of blood vessels — has been used for decades to cut off the blood supply to tumors and to stop internal bleeding, including in the knee. With GAE, a doctor uses an X-ray to guide a tube less than 1 millimeter in width into the arteries of the knee, injecting dye to determine which arteries are abnormal. Biocompatible microscopic beads are then injected to block those specific vessels. “The inflammation is what drives nerve growth and pain in the knee area,” said Ahmed. “So if we can reverse that process of blood vessel growth and inflammation, then we can reverse the pain.” Ahmed said that early data suggests the experimental treatment may last at least a year, but that more research is needed. The study’s multidisciplinary research team includes doctors in the Departments of Radiology, Anesthesia and Critical Care, and Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine. A larger study planned for spring 2022 will involve 100 patients and will compare the effectiveness of GAE to nerve ablation for knee osteoarthritis. Patients who are interested in learning more about the procedure can contact Ahmed at oahmed@radiology.bsd.uchicago.edu.
Join WNBA all-stars, from left, Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot and 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper for another exciting season. NBAE photos
2022 SCHEDULE MAY 5/6 vs LA
5/11 vs NY
5/28 vs LV
5/31 vs PHX
5/14 at MIN
5/18 at SEA
5/22 at WASH
5/24 vs IND
Championship ring and banner ceremony night at Wintrust Arena
JUNE 6/3 at ATL
6/5 vs WASH
6/10 at CON 6/26 vs MIN
6/12 at NY 6/29 vs CON
6/17 vs ATL
6/21 at LV
6/8 at WASH 6/23 at LA
6/19 at IND
7/6 at MIN 7/22 vs DAL
7/7 at IND 7/23 at NY
7/12 vs ATL 7/29 vs NY
7/14 at LA 7/31 at CON
7/16 at DAL
8/7 vs CON
8/9 vs SEA
8/11 at LV
8/14 at PHX
JULY 7/2 vs PHX 7/20 vs SEA
AUGUST 8/2 vs DAL
8/5 vs WASH
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PRIMARY CARE PLAYBOOK
Why you need a quarterback on your team Even if you’re young and healthy, a primary care physician can play an important role in keeping you well by effectively addressing your health concerns before they become more serious. University of Chicago Medicine Medical Group primary care physician Edward Kim, MD,* explains why. Primary care physicians (PCPs): Think of them as quarterbacks of medicine. Edward Kim, MD* Not only do they address all your health concerns, from sore throats to chest pain, but they also plan and manage your health by connecting you with the right specialists. Internists see adult patients, and family medicine physicians see patients of all ages.
GETTING STARTED
ANNUAL CHECKUP CHECKLIST
Even if you have no concerns, it’s good to see a PCP for baseline blood work to have peace of mind going forward. High cholesterol, high blood sugar, sexually transmitted infections (STIs): these don’t always present with noticeable symptoms. Regular checkups also are important if you have a family history of a strongly genetic illness like colon cancer. That changes our medical decision making, because you may now qualify for a colonoscopy at 25 years old.
Make sure your doctor checks your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and that you’re up-to-date with all ageappropriate screenings. If you’ve been sexually active, get tested for STIs as well. Check that you’re current with your vaccinations, including tetanus, HPV and the flu. This will go a long way toward ensuring you’ll stay on top of your health concerns.
BUT I’M YOUNG AND FEEL GOOD, SO WHY SPEND THE MONEY?
WHAT TO KEEP AN EYE ON
Health problems get bigger, both physically and figuratively, over time. By the time you notice something is off, it will likely be more complicated, expensive and time-consuming than if you’d addressed it earlier. For instance, if you don’t pay attention to conditions like obesity, diabetes and hypertension in your 20s and 30s, you’re going to pay more in your 40s and 50s to treat complications that have arisen over decades.
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If you’re young and healthy, focus on your blood sugar and blood pressure. These can be easily checked at home or a local pharmacy. Be aware of visible signs or changes in your body, such as any sort of discharge or skin lesions like unusuallooking moles. Most of the time when there’s something wrong, your body will try to signal it to you.
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WHAT MILLENNIAL AND GEN Z PATIENTS ARE ASKING
WHERE TO GET PRIMARY CARE
How long does alcohol stay in your system? Between 12 and 24 hours. If you’re at all concerned about the amount of alcohol you’re consuming, talk to your doctor. Chronic alcoholism can lead to organ damage and liver failure. We can also provide services that include counseling and group therapy, as well as medications for those who wish to cut down on their alcohol and tobacco use.
How do you get a UTI? Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria infecting the bladder, urethra or any other part of the urinary system. They’re more common in women because they’re anatomically more prone to getting them. UTIs require close follow-up by a physician because chronic infection can, in severe cases, cause organ damage. It’s something to remember if you go to an urgent care clinic — urgent care addresses a problem that needs attention that day, but follow-up care isn’t available. The latter can be a crucial part of your recovery to make sure the issue is adequately treated and you avoid complications.
CHICAGO Hyde Park 5700 S. Maryland Ave. Comer Children’s Hospital 5841 S. Maryland Ave. 4th floor UChicago Medicine Dearborn Station 47 W. Polk St. UChicago Medicine River East 339 E. Grand Ave. UChicago Medicine South Loop 1101 S. Canal St. South Shore Senior Center 7101 S. Exchange Ave. SOUTH/SOUTHWEST UChicago Medicine Medical Group – Beverly 11250 S. Western Ave. UChicago Medicine at Ingalls – Calumet City 1600 E. 167th St. UChicago Medicine at Ingalls – Flossmoor 19550 Governors Hwy.
How do you get HPV? If you’re sexually active, at some point, you’re likely to be exposed to the human papillomavirus (HPV) through vaginal, anal or oral sex. That’s why it’s good to get vaccinated against HPV sooner rather than later. You should also make sure you had the hepatitis A and B vaccines as a child. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are often the number one concern of my younger patients. Not everyone uses proper protection like condoms, and some STIs have no symptoms. If you don’t address STIs in a timely manner, not only can you suffer from a wide range of symptoms affecting many different parts of your body, but they can also strain your relationship with your loved one.
UChicago Medicine Medical Group – Homewood 17805 S. Halsted St. UChicago Medicine Medical Group – Lansing 18127 William St. UChicago Medicine Orland Park 14290 S. La Grange Road UChicago Medicine Medical Group – South Holland 401 E. 162nd St. UChicago Medicine at Ingalls – Tinley Park 6701 W. 159th St.
Is vaping bad for you? Vaping is one of the more toxic, malignant forms of tobacco use that can damage and decrease your lung function, sometimes permanently. We physicians are tasked with providing counseling and guidance to help patients avoid toxic behavior.
*Edward Kim, MD, is a UChicago Medicine Medical Group provider. UChicago Medicine Medical Group is comprised of UCM Care Network Medical Group, Inc., and Primary Healthcare Associates, S.C. UChicago Medicine Medical Group providers are not employees or agents of the University of Chicago Medical Center, the University of Chicago or UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial.
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ASK T HE E XPE R T
Are you at risk for fatty liver disease? Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the term for a range of conditions in which excess fat is stored in the liver cells of people who drink little to no alcohol. The University of Chicago Medicine Metabolic and Fatty Liver Disease Clinic brings together experts from several specialties to treat patients with this common disease, which can lead to liver failure and the need for a liver transplant. Mary Rinella, MD, Director of UChicago Medicine’s Fatty Liver Program, explains what you can do to lower your risk and when to ask your doctor about getting assessed. WHAT CAUSES FATTY LIVER DISEASE?
Both obesity and type 2 diabetes favor the development of fatty liver disease. That’s because overnutrition and insulin deliver more fatty acids to the liver than it can use or export. People with diabetes are much more likely to develop the progressive form of the disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Hypertension also is associated with fatty liver and can accelerate disease progression. Certain foods are more likely to promote the development of fatty liver, such as those rich in carbohydrates and saturated fat. Concentrated fructose, common in many processed foods, is particularly damaging. Alcohol use also causes fat to accumulate in the liver, and can compound injury in the setting of underlying NAFLD. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE FATTY LIVER DISEASE?
Most of the time, the disease doesn’t produce any symptoms. That’s why it is important for patients with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes or hypertension to discuss the possibility of NAFLD with their physician. While the majority of people with fatty liver don’t go on to develop cirrhosis, it is the most common reason for
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Those who are considered more at risk should have their liver stiffness assessed with a FibroScan or through specialized blood tests, ultrasound or MRI techniques. HOW IS THE DISEASE TREATED?
Mary Rinella, MD
liver transplants in women and individuals over 65 years of age. With increased awareness and early detection, those at high risk for developing liver cancer and liver failure can be diagnosed and treated in time. WHAT TESTS ARE USED TO DIAGNOSE FATTY LIVER?
Using a simple calculation called FIB-4 — a scoring system based on liver enzymes, platelet counts and a patient’s age — we can reassure the majority of people that they don’t have high risk for severe liver disease.
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The core principles of treatment are nutrition and lifestyle interventions, especially at the early stages of disease when disease progression can be prevented. If you just have a fatty liver with no inflammation or scarring, the fat can be reduced in a matter of weeks to months through diet and exercise. To be successful in improving liver disease, weight loss needs to be sustained. This is why it’s so important to have ongoing support from a nutrition expert with expertise in treating fatty liver, as we have in the UChicago Medicine Metabolic and Fatty Liver Disease Clinic. Beyond that, some drugs that treat obesity and diabetes may be beneficial in fatty liver disease. Learn more at UChicagoMedicine.org/ fatty-liver-disease.
Erasing stigma, sharing support Lisa Guardiola draws on her own experience to give hope to others living with mental illness Lisa Guardiola has made it her life’s work to help break the stigma around mental illness. Guardiola, of Hazel Crest, was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2003. Her symptoms, such as auditory hallucinations or “hearing voices,” started when she was a teenager, but became more severe after she moved out on her own. “It was when I was away from family when things started to spiral out of control,” she said. “I was having a hard time driving and listening to the radio because I thought the radio announcers were sending me signals through the songs that were playing. I thought TV reporters were talking to me specifically. If a squad car would go down my street, I thought they were surveilling me.” After being hospitalized several times over the years, Guardiola was officially diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 32. She started medication and therapy. “At the time I stigmatized myself, I didn’t think I had much of a future,” she said. Eventually she found a psychiatrist who encouraged her to educate herself about mental illness and gave her hope that she would be able to move forward.
Lisa Guardiola
Memorial’s inpatient behavioral health unit. She participated in group therapy as part of the Intensive Outpatient Program, and she continues to take medication and manage her symptoms under the care of psychiatrist Joseph Beck, MD,* Executive Medical Director for UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Behavioral Health.
individual or their loved one is going through,” she said. “I help them to know how to help their loved one in a crisis, and help those in need live productive lives.”
She also serves as vice president of a local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in the south suburbs. Her mother, who joined a NAMI “Lisa’s education and insight support group early in One in five about her disease and her Guardiola’s recovery, is chapter American adults adherence to treatment are president. “The support I She did: She went back to school, earning experiences what has kept her so stable,” received from my mom and the an associate’s degree followed by two some form of Beck said. “We have the NAMI organization was a huge bachelor’s degrees, in psychology and studio mental illness in part of my recovery,” Guardiola resources at Ingalls to treat arts, from Saint Xavier University in 2012. any given year. her mental illness, and she said. She writes a blog for a She got a job assisting in art therapy classes has used those resources to popular health website on living at the same clinic where she had been a day SOURCE: National Alliance their maximum potential.” with schizophrenia, and is on a on Mental Illness therapy program participant. “That was so consumer advisory board for the rewarding, to help my peers in their Today, Guardiola, 50, works Schizophrenia & Psychosis recovery process, using my own personal doing community outreach and education Action Alliance. story,” Guardiola said. for a mental health and counseling provider in Matteson. There, she teaches courses to It’s important for people dealing with But, as she points out, “Recovery has hills the public about health literacy, mental first mental illness to ask for help, she said. and valleys. The road is definitely not linear.” aid, suicide prevention and more. “If people “Recovery is possible, and there’s hope in are not educated about mental illness, I recovery. There’s a large, supportive When she started to struggle again, she was provide information about what that community out there waiting for you.” hospitalized at UChicago Medicine Ingalls *Joseph Beck, MD, is a UChicago Medicine Medical Group provider. UChicago Medicine Medical Group is comprised of UCM Care Network Medical Group, Inc. and Primary Healthcare Associates, S.C. UChicago Medicine Medical Group providers are not employees or agents of The University of Chicago Medical Center, The University of Chicago or UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial.
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Books for bonding and brain development Reach Out and Read program benefits pediatric patients and families
Dantasia Greer with son, Jahir
It’s not unusual to see a toddler clutching their very own book after a checkup at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital pediatrics clinic. That’s because at every well-child visit, from ages 6 months to 5 years, children and their caregivers get a special gift: a new book to read and take home, thanks to the Reach Out and Read program. Reach Out and Read (ROR) is an evidencebased national program, endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, that encourages families of young children to read aloud daily together. Studies have shown that when caregivers and parents incorporate books into a child’s life from a very young age, they expose their child to a broader vocabulary, have more languagerich interactions and improve preliteracy skills.
Megan DeFrates, MD
Niru Mahidhara, MD
parent-child bonding. Parents are reminded that they are their child’s first teacher.
“We know that the connections the brain “The average child will see their pediatrician makes in the child’s early years are shaped up to 15 times by age 5. We’re in a unique by the back and forth interactions that and privileged position to talk to parents parents have with children, starting at birth,” about the important role they play in their said Niru Mahidhara, MD, Medical child’s development,” said Mahidhara. Director of ROR at UChicago Medicine Dantasia Greer and her 3-year-old son, Jahir, Comer Children’s Hospital. “It’s these were introduced to ROR during his most interactions during the critical first years of recent doctor’s visit three months ago. “He brain development that establish a strong loves animals and was very happy to receive foundation for school success.” a book about them that he could take Pediatric clinicians use the books as a catalyst to home,” Greer said. “Now, Jahir makes sure discuss with parents the importance of reading, that we read a book during bedtime. At any back-and-forth communication and limiting point in time, he can recall things that he screen time. Whether it’s reading the actual has read about and that is so exciting.” story or talking about the pictures, daily reading Comer Children’s ROR partners with aloud improves preliteracy skills, increases several vendors, including Chicago self-regulatory behavior and promotes
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY HEALTH The University of Chicago Medicine works with community partners to make high-quality healthcare more accessible and equitable for residents on Chicago’s South Side and in the Southland. According to its recently published Community Benefit Report, in fiscal 2021, UChicago Medicine health system programs resulted in nearly $607 million in benefit to the community, including $520.4 million through the University of Chicago Medical Center and $86.5 million through UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial. To learn more and read the full report, visit Community.UChicagoMedicine.org/2021.
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nonprofit Young, Black & Lit, which supplies books that reflect, celebrate and affirm the experiences of Black children. “The Department of Pediatrics is taking an active role in supporting the campaign for social equity, including distributing books that help facilitate conversations about our multicultural world,” Mahidhara said. ROR was established at Comer Children’s in 2021, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Comer Children’s Development Board. Reach Out and Read also is offered at UChicago Medicine at Ingalls – Flossmoor, under the guidance of pediatrician Megan DeFrates, MD. In 2021, the program received support from the Ingalls Development Foundation through a $2,500 COVID-19 Relief Ingalls Impact Grant. Visit reachoutandread.org to learn more.
“Through partnerships, data-driven programs and meaningful investment, the University of Chicago Medicine is committed to advancing health equity and supporting the most relevant and pressing health concerns in the communities we serve." — Brenda Battle, RN, BSN, MBA, Senior Vice President for Community Health Transformation and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, UChicago Medicine
HONORING DAD
Siblings come together to support bladder cancer research
gift to support a bladder cancer clinical trial led by O’Donnell. The trial will examine the effectiveness of a drug, currently approved for the treatment of lung cancer, for advanced bladder cancer patients. Based at UChicago Medicine, the phase 2 trial is the only one of its kind in the country in urothelial bladder cancer.
When their father, Andrew “Andy” Kunz, of La Grange, was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2015, his adult children were struck by a sense of disbelief. “It felt like when you nearly get in a car crash,” said Phil Kunz, Andy’s son. “Everything slows down, and you realize how lucky you are and stop taking what you have for granted.” After being told that treatment options were extremely limited, Andy sought a second opinion, which led him to University of Chicago Medicine oncologist Peter H. O’Donnell, MD. Today, after participating in two clinical trials under O’Donnell’s direction, Andy is on maintenance therapy once a month. “Thanks to Dr. O’Donnell, we’ve gotten six extra years of ‘Dad time,’” Phil said. The family is grateful for the care their father has received at UChicago Medicine. “Our dad is one of the most generous people you’ll ever meet,” said daughter Beth Kamano. “It has been so gratifying for him to now be on the receiving end of high-quality attention and care.” The siblings are also thankful for O’Donnell’s honest, dedicated approach. “Dr. O’Donnell makes sure tests are followed up on and referring physicians are communicating well,” said daughter Megan Applewhite, MD. “He’ll even call my dad late in the evening if necessary. And my dad knows he can trust him.” To show their gratitude, the siblings and their spouses — Phil (Betsy), Megan (Doug), Rachel, and Beth (Dave) — made a
Peter H. O’Donnell, MD
“The family’s gift came at just the right time to allow us to push this effort forward,” O’Donnell said. “It was especially meaningful to me because I’ve known their father for many years, and we’ve been through so many ups and downs together.” The family wanted to support O’Donnell’s work, while also honoring their dad and helping others. “Someone else’s dad or mom could potentially participate in this clinical trial and receive the same type of fantastic care that our dad has benefited from over the past several years,” Beth Kamano said. The siblings feel that their dad’s positive attitude — along with the tremendous and consistent support he has had from their mother, Susan Kunz — has made a big difference in his cancer journey. “After a long day at the medical center and then driving home in rush-hour traffic, you’d expect Dad to be in a bad mood, but he isn’t,” said daughter Rachel Kunz. “While he’s getting his treatment, he sits next to people who have suitcases because they flew in for their appointments. He recognizes how lucky he is to live so close to a world-class institution and to have access to this level of care.”
The Kunz family, from left: Beth Kamano, Susan Kunz, Rachel Kunz, Phil Kunz, Andy Kunz, Dave Kamano, Megan Applewhite, Doug Applewhite and Betsy Kunz. Leandro/Barcelo Bavaro Palace Hotel photo
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