The Forefront - Spring 2019 - University of Chicago Medicine

SPRING 2 019

Health, Science & Wellness

COVER STORY

A new heart, kidney, liver

How the history-making back-to-back transplants unfolded

Together again Sarah McPharlin and Daru Smith after receiving their new organs ALSO IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 2

Tips for triathlon training PAGES 6 AND 16

Cancer screening can save your life

Spring 2019

The Forefront

IN THIS ISSUE

ON THE COVER

5

STRESSED OUT AT WORK? Our expert’s tips on how to cope.

QUICK FIX Outdoorsman Kevin Agnew chose robotic heart surgery to repair a leaky heart valve without opening his chest.

13

SCREEN TIME

6

READ ONLINE CHEW YOUR FOOD How eating slowly can help with weight loss.

10

Former smoker Marilyn Nesby was at high risk for lung cancer. A simple screening test found it early.

Triple-organ transplant patients Sarah McPharlin and Daru Smith bonded while in the hospital waiting for heart-liver-kidney transplants.

Cover photo by Jean Lachat taken in the healing garden at the University of Chicago Cover photo

by Nancy Wong Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital

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 Sharon O’Keefe President of the University of Chicago Medical Center

UChicagoMedicine.org/ forefront

UNDERSTANDING ENDOMETRIOSIS

18

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION: Adult and children’s care uchicagomedicine.org Science, health and wellness news

Our specialists answer questions about managing this painful condition.

Senior Vice President, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer: William “Skip” Hidlay Editor: Anna Madrzyk Associate Editor: Gretchen Rubin Design: SBDWorks, Inc. Contributing writers

UChicagoMedicine.org/forefront

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Appointments

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1-888-824-0200

Contributing photographers

your treatment. Do not delay seeking medical advice

Ben Bitton, Jean Lachat, Joe Sterbenc,

because of something you read here. For urgent needs,

Nancy Wong, Wendy Heise/Wish Photography

call 911 right away.

or concerns, contact a physician, who will determine

Allie Quigley, one of many Chicago Sky players under our care

CHEERING FANS ARE GREAT. SCREAMING KNEE PAIN, NOT SO MUCH. It’s hard to keep your head in the game when you have knee pain. Take it from Allie Quigley, star guard for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky: “The discomfort is always on your mind.”

So Quigley turned to the Sky’s team physician, Aravind Athiviraham, MD. When he’s not enjoying his courtside seat, Dr. Athiviraham is an MVP on the orthopaedic team at the University of Chicago Medicine, providing patients of all ages with a wide range of surgical and nonsurgical options for knee and shoulder sports injuries, including ACL reconstruction, cartilage transplantation and rotator cuff repair.

In Quigley’s case, a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure was performed to repair a tear in her meniscus.

In just six weeks, her knee pain was history. And six months later, Quigley made history when she broke both the WNBA and NBA records in the Three-Point Contest at the All-Star Game — giving basketball fans even more to cheer about.

To learn more about how the UChicago Medicine Ortho team can get you back in the game, call 1-888-824-0200 for a consultation.

Training for a Triathlon Holly Benjamin, MD, knows firsthand the challenges of training. A lifelong competitive athlete, Benjamin is director of primary care sports medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine and Comer Children’s Hospital. She focuses on pediatric sports medicine and treating adult endurance athletes,

It starts with a 2.1-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run.

Each year, thousands of triathletes push their bodies to the limit in Ironman competitions around the world.

Sports medicine physician Holly Benjamin, MD, competes in sprintdistance triathlons, and was one of the physicians on staff at the 2018 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. She sees patients at the University of Chicago Medicine and Comer Children’s Hospital locations in Hyde Park, South Loop, Orland Park, Naperville and Kankakee.

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including marathon runners, swimmers and triathletes.

With a family and busy career, Benjamin participates in sprint-distance triathlons, which take an hour to complete, compared to 14½ hours on average for a traditional distance triathlon. She is increasing her

distance this year to include an Olympic distance triathlon and a half Ironman.

She says that her athletic background “really helps in treating athletes as a sports medicine doctor.”

Benjamin was one of the physicians on staff at the 2018 Ironman World Championship, held in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as well as a featured speaker at the race’s sports medicine conference.

“Kona brings out some of the very best athletes, but they still struggle,” said Benjamin.

Ironman athletes spend 30 to 35 hours each week preparing to compete. A balanced training approach is essential to having a successful race. Benjamin offers these tips:

» Avoid overtraining. Do a slow, steady increase (intensity and distance) of your swim/bike/run, as well as weight training and stretching. If you have injuries that won’t go away, you are overtraining.

» Rest and repair. In between workouts your body needs adequate rest, sleep and proper food and drink to replenish muscles, along with stretching, massage, hot tub soaks, yoga and easy walks.

» Start the engine. Eat 100 to 150 grams of carbohydrates before your workout. Make sure you consume a combination of protein and carbs within 30 to 60 minutes after training to help muscles repair and recover.

» Get help. A coach or program can provide structure to your training.

» Injuries matter. Modify training to work around previous injuries, and check out new injuries as soon as possible. The earlier you identify your injury, the sooner you can start treatment and the less training time you’ll miss.

» Know your nutritional needs. Prepare your body with the hydration and nutrition regimen you’ll follow on race

Holly Benjamin, MD

day. Many athletes end up in the medical tent from dehydration and vomiting resulting from an upset stomach.

» Break in new equipment. Do this during training to avoid blisters and other complications on race day.

» Don’t jump from a sprint-distance triathlon to an Ironman. Work up to the distance with Olympic and half Ironman races first.

» Enjoy the day – this is what you trained for!

Outpacing prostate cancer Dave Hicks, 67, trained for the Chicago Marathon twice while undergoing treatment for localized stage 4 prostate cancer. Then he turned his focus to Olympic distance and half Ironman (70.3-miles) triathlons. “He’s an inspiration for me and for other patients,” said radiation oncologist Stanley Liauw, MD, a triathlete himself.

Read Dave’s story at UChicagoMedicine.org/Hicks

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A BETTER NIGHT’S SLEEP IN THE HOSPITAL

A more “sleep-friendly” hospital environment was realized through an aptly named experiment: SIESTA (Sleep for Inpatients: Empowering Staff to Act).

UChicago Medicine researchers interviewed patients about sleep disruptions, then designed computer tools for electronic health records that encouraged staff to avoid nighttime disruptions of minimal value, such as awakening patients to measure vital signs or to administer non-urgent medications. A presentation to physicians and nurses highlighted consequences of sleep deprivation, including grogginess, delirium and falls, and explained how to use the computer prompts.

Over the next year, patients experienced six fewer room entries during sleeping hours, a decrease of 44 percent.

The SIESTA experiment, led by hospitalist Vineet Arora, MD, was described in the January 2019 issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

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Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together. ~ Thomas Dekker

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book. ~ Irish Proverb

UChicago Medicine physicians on Chicago magazine’s 2019 Top Doctors list, more than any other hospital on the roster.

TWEET PATTERNS REFLECT SLEEP PATTERNS

Twitter postings reveal that work schedules and school calendars affect sleep more than changing seasons and daylight. Researchers used social media patterns throughout the year to gauge when people were awake or asleep. “We expected a solar or seasonal effect — that your internal clock will shift in the summer,” said Aaron Dinner, PhD, professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago. “But that’s not what we found.” Instead, these patterns change most on weekends and during school vacations; social demands make people wake up much earlier than their biological rhythms would prefer.

“Weekend behavior — and presumably a person’s biological clock — does not change much over the year,” said Dinner, a senior author of the study, published in Current Biology.

HOW THE BRAIN RESPONDS TO TEXTURE

Soft. Rough. Hard. Velvety. Prickly. Bumpy. Just as there are countless words to describe texture, there is a multitude of brain cells processing fingers’ responses to texture. Coarse and fine surfaces were run across the fingertips of monkeys, who respond similarly to humans, while University of Chicago researchers recorded responses in their brains. Their data showed that brain cells have distinctive responses to different textures. The researchers recorded responses to 55 different textures, and could tell which texture was used just by looking at the pattern of activity it generated in the brain. “It’s this variety in the brain cells’ response that allows for the richness of the sensation,” said Sliman Bensmaia, PhD, associate professor and senior author of the study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

TREATMENT TAKES SOME OF THE ANXIETY OUT OF PEANUT ALLERGIES

The first treatment for life-threatening peanut allergies is on track for FDA approval this year. In a landmark trial, young patients were given a small dose of medication containing peanut protein. The dosage was gradually increased over several months. Two-thirds of the group built up a tolerance for a small amount of peanut protein. “Families have been living with constant anxiety that one wrong bite will send their child to the emergency room, or worse. Now, we have a safety net for kids that will prevent an allergic reaction if they accidentally take a bite of a peanut-containing food,” said Christina Ciaccio, MD, allergist at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital and co-author of the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

READ MORE AT

UChicagoMedicine.org/forefront

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COPING WITH WORK STRESS The daily grind of projects, deadlines and pressures at work can be stressful. Felicia Houston, a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial, shares tips on how to recognize and resolve excessive stress in the workplace.

WHAT CAUSES STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE?

Pressure to perform at optimum levels and to meet rising expectations, an ever-growing to-do list, and a lack of resources or selfconfidence are some of the factors that can cause stress at work.

WHAT ARE SIGNS OF TOO MUCH STRESS?

Stress affects each person differently and can present physically, mentally and emotionally.

Some symptoms of stress that can manifest on the job include poor work performance, absences, loss of focus, irritability, headaches, unhealthy eating and strained relationships with co-workers. Long-term stress can

cause more serious conditions such as gastrointestinal upset, high blood pressure, muscle pain, weight gain, heart attack and stroke.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO RELIEVE WORK-RELATED STRESS?

Be sure to take your full scheduled breaks.

Go outside for fresh air or take a walk to “turn off” your racing thoughts. Practice mindfulness by noticing what you’re hearing, smelling and experiencing in the moment.

Make use of wellness facilities and programs your employer might offer, such as gyms and counseling services. Substitute a glass of water for a cup of coffee; dehydration can cause headaches. Learn how to say no to projects that aren’t a priority, and try not to take work matters personally. Have hobbies and a healthy lifestyle outside of work. Volunteer or do good for others on your time off. Visit your doctor for regular checkups, as well as when you feel stress is negatively affecting your work.

HOW CAN EMPLOYERS HELP?

Be aware of, and sensitive to, the needs

Life happens and everyone experiences stress, but the key is to be mindful of your body, recognize when stress is excessive and take action.”

FELICIA HOUSTON, LCPC

of your staff, especially when something stressful may have occurred for your employee outside of work. Create a safe environment for employees to be honest with you about their stress levels and admit when the workload is too demanding.

Give information to your staff about what your company offers to combat stress both directly and indirectly, like financial planning workshops, child care services or incentives for wellness. Offer discounts for gym memberships, host workout challenges, healthy-eating days or cooking demonstrations.

Felicia Houston, LCPC

Felicia Houston is a community development liaison for UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial, offering seminars on stress prevention and related topics throughout the Chicagoland area. For more information or to schedule a behavioral health assessment, please call 708-915-6411. A trained professional is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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A scan in time Six years ago, after smoking up to two packs of cigarettes a day for 50 years, Marilyn Nesby quit.

But her long history of smoking put the 72-year-old South Side woman at high risk for developing lung cancer.

So, during a regular physical last summer, her University of Chicago Medicine

primary care physician told Nesby she should be screened for the disease.

A scan called low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is recommended for screening individuals who have a history of heavy smoking, are currently smoking or have quit in the previous 15 years, are between 55 and 80 years old, and are in good health. Nesby fit all of the criteria.

The quick and painless CT scan uses a low dose of radiation to make detailed pictures of the lungs. When an abnormality was detected on Nesby’s upper right lung, she was referred to the lung cancer team at UChicago Medicine.

Jessica Donington, MD, and Marilyn Nesby

This multidisciplinary group of specialists — radiologists, pulmonologists, oncologists, surgeons and advanced practice nurses — meets weekly to discuss and determine the most effective course of treatment for lung cancer patients. For Nesby, they recommended an ultrasound procedure and surgery.

Pulmonologist Septimiu (Tim) Murgu, MD, performed endobronchial ultrasound, which determined the cancer was stage 1.

Soon after, Jessica Donington, MD, performed video-assisted thoracic surgery, or VATS, to remove the tumor in an upper segment of Nesby’s right lung and 10 nearby lymph nodes. This minimally invasive procedure required just three small incisions, and Nesby was able to go home a few days later.

Because there was no evidence of cancer in the lymph nodes, she didn’t need further treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

“As with most patients with stage 1 lung cancer, Marilyn now has a very high chance to be cured,” said Donington.

As a precaution, Nesby will have regular CT screenings to watch for a recurrence.

Nesby remembers being scared and nervous when she first learned she had cancer and needed surgery. “But I turned to my faith and then I wasn’t worried anymore,” she said. “And once I met Dr. Donington and her team, I knew everything would be all right.”

The cure rate for patients diagnosed with stage 1 lung cancer is more than 70 percent.

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How can I get help to quit smoking?

Quitting smoking is the most effective way to lower your chance of getting lung cancer or other smoking-related diseases. UChicago Medicine offers Courage to Quit, a group-based comprehensive approach to smoking cessation.

For more information, call 773-702-3858.

UChicagoMedicine.org/smoking-cessation

Should I get screened for lung cancer?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends

YEARLY LUNG CANCER SCREENING

CURRENTLY SMOKE

OR

QUIT

in the last

15 YEARS

AND HAVE

for people who are:

SMOKED

TO 80 55 YEARS OLD

AT LEAST

with

15

no unintended weight loss no cough and in generally

OR

1 pack per day

GOOD HEALTH

for

30 years

15

15

2 packs per day for years

15

The only recommended screening test for lung cancer is a low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan. Patients must have a signed physician order demonstrating they meet the screening eligibility criteria. Medicare covers screening for patients up to age 77.

Where can I get screened?

What happens during a screening?

UChicago Medicine offers lung cancer screenings at these locations Hyde Park

290

Calumet City Flossmoor

HYDE PARK

Harvey

55

Orland Park

55 294

Tinley Park 355

90 94

ORLAND PARK TINLEY PARK

HARVEY

57

FLOSSMOOR 80

CALUMET CITY 65

Watch a step-by-step animation about low-dose CT scanning for lung cancer UChicagoMedicine.org/LDCT

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Why choose us for lung cancer care diseases of the lung and chest using laparoscopic and robotic techniques.

EXPERIENCE

Our lung cancer physician team includes experts in eight specialties, providing care at convenient locations in Chicago, New Lenox and Orland Park.

TARGETED THERAPY

SCREENING

We use advanced tools and techniques to screen and monitor people at high risk of developing lung cancer.

LESS INVASIVE DIAGNOSTICS

Our pulmonologists biopsy some cancers without surgery, and, in many cases, can treat cancer hidden in the airways of the lungs without invasive procedures.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY

Our board-certified thoracic surgeons specialize in treating

We search more than 1,000 genes to screen for mutations in every patient with lung cancer. Therapy can then be matched to the specific genetic changes in each tumor.

PRECISE RADIATION THERAPY

Our radiation oncologists use 4D mapping and image-guided treatment to deliver targeted radiation therapy to the tumor, while sparing nearby healthy tissue.

CLINICAL TRIALS

Patients have access to clinical trials for some of the newest targeted treatments, including immunotherapies that supercharge the immune system to fight cancer.

Learn more at UChicagoMedicine.org/lung-cancer

Now in Orland Park 14290 S. La Grange Road

We’re bringing our expert lung cancer care and nationally renowned physicians closer to you.

Lung cancer services now available in Orland Park include:

OUR TEAM

» Low-dose CT screenings » Immunotherapy » Targeted radiation therapy

Jessica Donington, MD Chief, Section of Thoracic Surgery

Jyoti D. Patel, MD Director, Thoracic Oncology

» Thoracic surgery consultations » Clinical trials Surgical procedures are done at our Hyde Park location.

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To make an appointment, call 1-888-824-8222.

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Christine Bestvina, MD Oncologist

Renuka Malik, MD Radiation Oncologist

TEAM

Family physician Amit Patel, MD

YOU Primary care physicians are important players in patient wellness. Amit Patel, MD, who practices family medicine at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial, explains why you should have a primary care doctor on your team.

A primary care physician should be your go-to resource for all basic health care needs, Patel said. They assess and treat everything from chronic or recurring illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure, to acute sicknesses like the common cold.

“A primary care doctor is like the quarterback of the team,” Patel said.

“But for any specialty condition, we’ll pass a referral on to a specialist.”

Patel said you should see your primary care physician once a year, whether or not you have a chronic illness. This will help your doctor become familiar with your medical history and proactively ensure you’re getting the appropriate care. Your primary care physician can also be your central resource for advice on healthy living. Patel recently offered advice to patients who have asked about herbal medicine, fad diets, weight lifting and cardio exercise.

“The most difficult age group to convince to see a primary care doctor is 18 to 35,” he said. “Most people that age don’t deal with chronic conditions and they feel like they’re healthy.” But a comprehensive exam and discussion of personal and family medical history could lead to additional

tests, or the discovery of a problem you didn’t know about, such as an irregular heartbeat.

Regularly visiting a primary care physician could also prevent costly trips to the

Specialists don’t offer preventive care. A primary care physician can perform exams for breast, prostate and colorectal cancers; provide screenings for cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure, and make sure you are up-todate on immunizations.”

AMIT PATEL, MD

emergency room for serious conditions that could have been treated earlier.

Your primary care doctor should be someone you trust, and with whom you feel comfortable communicating about sensitive topics such as sexually transmitted diseases or family struggles, Patel said.

“I tell my patients that if you don’t feel comfortable openly communicating with your primary care physician, you might consider finding a new doctor,” Patel said.

He said a good primary care doctor will make eye contact with you and truly listen to your needs and concerns.

Patients should ultimately feel confident that their primary care physician will provide them appropriate and tailored medical care, taking wellness to the end zone.

To schedule an appointment with a primary care physician at a UChicago Medicine Ingalls location in Harvey, Calumet City, Flossmoor or Tinley Park, call 708-915-2273.

Visit ingalls.inquicker.com/primary-care to book an appointment online.

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TWO PATIENTS. SIX ORGANS. 27 HOURS. A first in U.S. health care history.

Several rooms apart in the University of Chicago Medicine’s ICU, Sarah McPharlin and Daru Smith were on an unexpected journey into the record books, forging a unique friendship along the way.

Both 29, they became the first patients to receive back-to-back triple-organ transplants to replace failing hearts, livers and kidneys. Their surgeries, in December, marked the first time a U.S. hospital has ever performed more than one of these complex procedures within one year, much less within 27 hours. Their cases are only the 16th and 17th heart-liver-kidney transplants ever performed in this country.

While UChicago Medicine spent months preparing, doctors hadn’t planned for the triple-organ transplants to happen almost simultaneously.

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“We never in our wildest dreams imagined these surgeries would wind up happening back to back,” said Nir Uriel, MD, director of UChicago Medicine’s heart failure and transplantation program.

McPharlin, an occupational therapist from suburban Detroit, received her first heart transplant at 12 after contracting a rare inflammatory heart condition.

Complications led to heart failure and eventually damaged her liver and kidneys.

She consulted transplant teams at other hospitals, none of which could perform the necessary triple-organ transplant.

Smith, a truck driver from the South Side, was diagnosed in 2013 with multisystem sarcoidosis, a rare condition that causes inflammatory cells to form in organ tissues.

In addition to impacting his heart, the disease damaged his liver and kidneys.

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“We had Sarah, who we’d just listed on the transplant waiting list, and then came Daru,” said Uriel, who is managing the patients’ medical care. “The team was in the mindset that the triple-organ transplant can be doable and that we can also help Daru, too.”

A successful triple-organ transplant is like hitting backto-back-to-back home runs.

It truly speaks to the quality and the talent of our surgical programs and our entire transplant team.”

VALLUVAN JEEVANANDAM, MD Heart surgeon in all six heart-liver-kidney transplants performed at UChicago Medicine

Both patients were hospitalized in early November. As they waited for their transplants, the pair bonded during group physical therapy.

The call about organs for Smith came first. A day later, the same call came for McPharlin.

In both cases, the new organs came from a single deceased donor. Physicians prefer to use single donors for multi-organ transplants because it’s easier for a body to accept foreign tissue from one source.

Surgical teams from UChicago Medicine were dispatched to two different hospitals — one in Illinois and one out of state — to retrieve the sets of organs.

“The real heroes are the donors,” said Talia Baker, MD, surgical and program director of the hospital’s liver transplant program.

“It’s amazing. In the face of whatever unknown tragedy just happened, these donor families are able to have the peace of mind to give a gift of life to complete strangers.”

Smith’s surgery began at 3:07 p.m. Dec. 19 and took 17 hours and 11 minutes to

complete. McPharlin’s surgery began at 6:04 p.m. Dec. 20, lasting 20 hours and 23 minutes.

THE PATIENTS

Both surgeries followed a similar pattern.

First, heart transplants were performed

by Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD, chief of cardiac surgery. Jeevanandam has performed the heart transplants in all six of UChicago Medicine’s heart-liver-kidney surgeries.

Next, Baker, performed the liver transplants.

Finally, the two received new kidneys.

“We had a 22-person operating room team who rotated in and out — relay style — as each case progressed,” said Yolanda Becker, MD, who performed the kidney transplants.

Daru Smith is spending time with his 4-year-old son, who he calls “my life motivation,” and hopes to explore a career change as well as the possibility of becoming a motivational speaker.

Sarah McPharlin plans to return to work as an occupational therapist.

She is enjoying exploring Chicago, trying out new restaurants and going to sports events and shows.

Smith and McPharlin used each other as inspiration as they recuperated. And they hope publicity about their cases will raise awareness about organ donation.

“Organ donation works because of this selflessness,” McPharlin said. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity and want to do my best to live life to its fullest as a sign of respect for the gift they gave me.”

Sarah McPharlin hugs heart surgeon Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD, as her mother Dianne looks on. | A B O V E | In both surgeries, the heart was transplanted first, followed by the liver and then the kidney.

TRANSPLANT SURGEONS

Talia Baker, MD Liver surgeon

Yolanda Becker, MD Kidney surgeon

Best heart transplant survival rates in Illinois* *Source: Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients

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Expanding a lifesaving gift

Why become an organ donor?

Experts at the University of Chicago Medicine are working to make organ transplant available to more patients by expanding the possibilities for who can receive them and which donor organs can be accepted.

One donor can save up to 8 lives.

This means considering high-risk individuals — for example, some patients with cancer or who are HIV positive — who had previously not been eligible for a transplant. Medical breakthroughs and new technology are also growing the pool of donor organs, such as livers and lungs, for transplant.

UChicago Medicine’s multispecialty Transplantation Institute is led by John Fung, MD, PhD, a world-renowned liver transplant surgeon, and Michael Charlton, MD, an internationally known expert in liver diseases and transplant medicine.

John Fung, MD, PhD

Michael Charlton, MD

Fung envisions a day when the institute goes beyond heart, lung, liver, pancreas and kidney procedures. He would like to start an intestinal transplant program and explore transplant of tissues such as the hand or uterus. Further out on the horizon, UChicago’s Institute for Molecular Engineering is collaborating with scientists at another institution on research that could restore, or even rebuild, a failing kidney. The technology, while futuristic, would expand the number of transplants by creating copies of a patient’s own kidney or using building blocks from a matched donor.

All of these factors — highly skilled medical staff, visionary leadership, leading-edge science and technology — will continue to be a hallmark of the UChicago Medicine Transplantation Institute as it moves toward the next innovations in organ transplant.

“It’s a good feeling to be able to get to yes,” said Yolanda Becker, MD, director of the kidney and pancreas program. “And I think that for complex medical and surgical procedures — in all disciplines, quite frankly — UChicago Medicine is a place where people work very hard to get to yes for the patient.”

Did you know...

UChicago Medicine has performed more heart-liver-kidney transplants than any center in the world.

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Transplants are up, but the need is still great.

20 people die every day while awaiting transplants.

More than 114,000 people are on the transplant waiting list.

EVERY 10 MINUTES, a new person is added to the national

transplant waiting list.

36,527

organ transplants In 2018, were performed in the U.S. there were in 2018, setting the 6th more than consecutive record.

10,700 The oldest donor ever in the U.S. was 93. What

matters most is the health and condition of the donor’s organs.

60%

deceased donors.

of adults age 18 and older in Illinois are registered organ and tissue donors; 16- and 17-year-olds can sign up to be donors, although parents and guardians have the final say.

Major organs that can be donated for transplant

Heart

Kidneys

Liver

Small intestine

Pancreas

Lungs

Each tissue donation can benefit approximately 75 patients Corneas | Bone | Veins | Heart valves | Skin

BACK IN PEAK CONDITION Kevin Agnew climbed the mountains of Grand Teton National Park in 2017, crossing off one more athletic endeavor on his to-do list before competing in a triathlon later that same year.

“I was scared for my family,” said Agnew, who at the time was a father of two children under 5 with a third one on the way. “We knew I would have to get surgery at some point, so we decided as a family to get it done now.”

But then, his annual physical turned up an unexpected finding: Agnew’s heart was beating irregularly. His doctor referred him to a cardiologist, who sent him to a heart surgeon.

The standard surgery for mitral valve prolapse requires cracking open the patient’s chest through a long incision.

Agnew wouldn’t be allowed to pick up his children for weeks, if not months, while recovering from the procedure.

Agnew, 39, an executive coach and law professor from Evanston, was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, which was causing a significant amount of blood to leak back into the left upper chamber of his heart. Untreated, mitral regurgitation can lead to heart failure.

He decided to seek a second opinion with Husam Balkhy, MD, director of minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery at UChicago Medicine. Balkhy is widely recognized as a pioneer in robotic cardiac surgery, a surgical approach that can reduce recovery time and the risk of infection.

| A B O V E | Kevin Agnew is an avid rock climber.

Balkhy repaired the leaky mitral valve through five micro-incisions approximately 1 to 2 centimeters long. “After traditional open heart surgery, the hospital stay is at least five days,” Balkhy said. “When we do robotic surgery, patients go home one to two days after the operation.”

The first night after surgery is not an easy climb for anyone, but Agnew praised Balkhy and his care team for their empathy and expertise. “I felt like a person and not a number,” he said.

Just one week after his surgery, Agnew was back traversing the outdoors. “I took a milelong hike out in the woods,” he said. “I was cooking dinner for my kids. I felt a little sore, but other than that pretty grateful.”

Repairing the heart through tiny incisions Robotic cardiac surgery pioneer Husam H. Balkhy, MD, performed the world’s first totally robotic aortic valve replacement with a sutureless valve. The 76-year-old patient was home in two days and back to his normal, active life in a few weeks.

Watch the video at UChicagoMedicine.org/robotic-avr

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NEWS PHYSICIAN SPOTLIGHT

LEADERSHIP

HONORS

AYTEKIN OTO, MD, has been appointed interim chair of the University of Chicago Medicine’s Department of Radiology.

LUCA VRICELLA, MD Chief, pediatric cardiac surgery

Pediatric cardiac surgeon Luca Vricella, MD, came to the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital from Johns Hopkins Medicine. His areas of expertise include aortic aneurysms, ventricular assist devices and heart transplant.

LESLIE “LES” STERN is the new president of the University of Chicago Medicine’s Care Network.

NEW PHYSICIANS

OLUFUNMILAYO (FUNMI) OLOPADE, MD, an expert in cancer risk and prevention, is one of six Illinoisans receiving the 2019 Order of Lincoln, the state’s highest honor for professional achievement and public service.

MICHELLE LEBEAU, PHD, has been appointed to the American Cancer Society Board of Directors. LeBeau is the director of UChicago Medicine’s Comprehensive Cancer Center.

ALLISON LALE, MD, MPH Family medicine BRIAN JONES, MD Pediatric surgery GREGG MONTALTO, MD, MPH Pediatrics

has been elected president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology Board of Directors.

DIANE YAMADA, MD, RITU VERMA, MD

Chief, pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition Medical director, UChicago Medicine Celiac Disease Center

Pediatric gastroenterologist Ritu Verma, MD, joined Comer Children’s Hospital from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

She is a leading expert in celiac disease.

YASEMIN OZCAN, MD Orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation

SHYAM PRABHAKARAN, MD Chair, Department of Neurology

Neurologist Shyam Prabhakaran, MD, came to UChicago Medicine from Northwestern Medicine. He is an internationally recognized expert in stroke treatment and research.

14 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE

JONATHAN SHIN, MD Orthopaedic surgery and rehabilitation

The Forefront | S P R I N G 2 0 1 9

The American Association for Cancer Research recognized pediatric oncologist SUSAN COHN, MD, with the Joseph H. Burchenal Memorial Award for Outstanding Achievement in Clinical Cancer Research.

Gastroenterologist SONIA S. KUPFER, MD, has received the 2019 Young Investigator Award in Clinical Science from the American Gastroenterological Association for her research on hereditary factors that increase the risk of colorectal cancer.

Funmi Olopade, MD, breast cancer specialist, right, Funmi Olopade, MD,Vitale breast cancer specialist, right, and patient Kristen Funmi Olopade, MD,Vitale breast cancer specialist, right, and patient Kristen and patient Kristen Vitale

Jennifer McNeer, MD, Jennifer MD, specialist, pediatricMcNeer, blood cancer Jennifer McNeer, MD,Elliott pediatric blood cancer specialist, and patient Rachael pediatric blood cancer specialist, and patient Rachael Elliott and patient Rachael Elliott

Jyoti Patel, MD, lung cancer specialist, Jyoti Patel, MD, lung cancer specialist, and patient Ivy Elkins Jyoti Patel, MD, lung cancer specialist, and patient Ivy Elkins and patient Ivy Elkins

Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD, Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD, cancer immunotherapy researcher Thomas F. Gajewski, MD, PhD, cancer immunotherapy researcher cancer immunotherapy researcher

350 350 REASONS 350 REASONS REASONS CANCER CAN’T COMPETE CANCER CAN’T CANCER CAN’T COMPETE COMPETE

That’s the number of cancer clinical trials underway at the University That’s the number of cancer clinical trials underway at the University That’s the number of— cancer clinical underway thethe University of Chicago Medicine the mark of a trials research leader at with breadth of Chicago Medicine — the mark of a research leader with the breadth of Chicago Medicine — the mark of a research leader with the and to discover new treatment options at and That’sdepth the number of cancer clinical trials underway theadvance Universityscientific of breadth Chicago and depth to discover new treatment options and advance scientific Medicine — the mark of a research leader with the breadth and depthscientific to discover and depth to discover new treatment options and advance knowledge. knowledge. new treatment options and advance scientific knowledge. knowledge.

Since 1973, UChicago Medicine has been designated by the National Since 1973, UChicago Medicine has designated been designated by theCancer National Since 1973, UChicago Medicine has been by the National Institute Since 1973, UChicago Medicine has been designated by the National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the most prestigious as a Comprehensive Center, the most prestigious recognition possible for Cancer Institute asCancer a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the most prestigious Cancer Institute as athe Comprehensive Cancer Center, the most prestigious recognition possible for a cancer institution.

It’s the gold standard for a cancer institution.

It’s gold standard for cancer programs, and UChicago recognition possible for a cancer institution. It’s the gold standard for recognition possible for a cancer institution. gold cancer and UChicago is It’s proud to be standard recognized Medicineprograms, is proud to be recognized forMedicine our dedication tothe innovative research forfor cancer programs, and UChicago Medicine is proud to be recognized for cancer programs, and UChicago Medicine is proud to betreatments. recognized for and leading-edge treatments. our dedication to innovative research and leading-edge our dedication to innovative research and leading-edge treatments. our dedication to innovative research and leading-edge treatments.

To learn more about what it means to be NCI-designated, visit: To learn more about what it means to be NCI-designated, visit: To learn more about what it means to be NCI-designated, visit: UChicagoMedicine.org/nci

UChicagoMedicine.org/nci UChicagoMedicine.org/nci

Cancer researcher becomes cancer patient Scientist Gregory Karczmar, PhD, has dedicated much of his career to developing better and more affordable screening methods for early detection of breast and prostate cancer.

Still, he never imagined a screening test would lead to his own diagnosis of cancer.

Greg and Kelly Karczmar with their daughters, Allie, left, and Sasha, and the family’s dogs, Holly, Oakley and Maddie.

During a routine colonoscopy in November 2017, Karczmar’s gastroenterologist found colorectal cancer.

“Now as a cancer survivor, I have become a passionate advocate for cancer screening,” said Karczmar, 64. “I tell everyone: ‘get screened.’ Screening can find cancer earlier, when it’s more treatable and cure rates are higher.”

After getting his diagnosis, Karczmar turned to the cancer specialists at the University of Chicago Medicine. As a researcher for UChicago Medicine’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, he knew many of the physicians who would be treating him and about their team approach to care.

“Together the surgeon, the medical oncologist and the radiation oncologist came up with a plan and discussed it with me,” he said. “And then it happened just the way they laid it out.”

Before starting treatment, radiologist Aytekin Oto, MD, performed MRI scans, which determined the extent of the cancer and ruled out metastatic disease. Radiation oncologist Stanley Liauw, MD, and medical oncologist Blase Polite, MD, collaborated on the first phase of treatment — imageguided radiation and chemotherapy over a six-week course — which treated the tumor and other areas in the pelvis where the disease was likely to spread.

Colorectal surgeon Neil Hyman, MD, then performed a surgical procedure to ensure that no hidden cancer remained and to minimize the chance of it coming back.

16 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE

Throughout the yearlong treatment, Karczmar worked in his lab as much as he could, even getting a National Institutes of Health grant for a research project with Oto to improve prostate cancer screening.

Karczmar says he’ll never forget the

attention and support he received from the doctors, nurses, dietitians, support staff and coworkers at the hospital. His wife, Kelly, and two daughters, Sasha and Allie, kept up his spirits during his treatments and while he was recovering at their home in south suburban Crete.

“My family gave me a free ride for the year,” he said. “Our three dogs would jump up on the couch and cuddle with me when I wasn’t feeling well.”

Hyman called Karczmar a great example of the importance of screening for colon cancer. “He had a colonoscopy and it saved his life,” he said.

Neil Hyman, MD

The Forefront | S P R I N G 2 0 1 9

COLORECTAL CANC E R R ISK

Ask the Expert SONIA KUPFER, MD Director, Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic Colorectal cancer and other cancers of the digestive system usually develop by chance or are related to lifestyle factors such as smoking or obesity. But for some of us, the genes we inherit can contribute to our risk of developing cancer.

If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, the Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic at the University of Chicago Medicine can help you understand your risk for getting cancer.

Sonia Kupfer, MD, director of the clinic, explains more about hereditary colorectal cancer, genetic testing and preventive care.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM AT RISK?

If you have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) or other family member who has had colorectal cancer, your risk of developing the disease may be increased.

WHAT DOES YOUR PROGRAM OFFER?

Our physicians and genetic counselors use personal and family history as well

as genetic testing to assess cancer risk of individuals and their family members.

Genetic testing is performed through a simple, painless blood test. Many insurance plans cover testing for patients with a personal and/or family history of cancer.

Our genetic counselor can help you navigate this process.

ways to find and prevent colorectal cancer.

With these advances and the work of our clinic, our goal is for long, healthy lives for our patients and their families.

WHAT’S NEXT IF I AM AT RISK?

Once the risk is determined, our team works closely with patients and their primary care physician to develop strategies for surveillance and management. These could include prevention counseling, colorectal cancer screening and surgical procedures.

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON FOR PREVENTING COLORECTAL CANCER?

The future for early detection and prevention of colorectal cancers is bright.

We already have several good tools — such as colonoscopy screening — but we are working to find innovative and less invasive

| A B O V E | Gastroenterologist Sonia Kupfer, MD, left, and genetic counselor Jessica Stoll.

Five things to know about colonoscopy screening

SPOTLIGHT ON STOMACH CANCER

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults at average risk starting at age 50. Last year, the American Cancer Society updated its guidelines for colorectal cancer screening, lowering the age from 50 to 45.

»C onnect with others impacted by the disease

2

Although most colorectal cancers occur in people with no family history of the disease, it’s still very important to know your family history.

Open to patients, families and the medical community.

3

emoval of precancerous polyps lowers the chance R of getting colorectal cancer by 70 percent.

4

For every year the initial screening is delayed, the risk of cancer increases twofold.

5

After the first colonoscopy, most patients only need to be screened every 10 years.

1

»L earn about inherited stomach cancer syndromes

Saturday, June 1 | 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Knapp Center for Biomedical Discovery 900 E. 57th St. Chicago

To register for this FREE event, visit: nostomach.org/spotlight

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Severe pain during your period may not be normal.

Could it be endometriosis?

Many women experience discomfort during their menstrual period. Sometimes the pain becomes debilitating. If pain starts shortly before your period and continues for days after, it could be due to endometriosis — the most common cause of pelvic pain and infertility in women of reproductive age.

endometriosis, can be the result of:

» Implants causing inflammation, which

stimulates nerves and creates a sensitive pain response in the pelvis.

» Scarring between the pelvic organs and tissues.

Gynecologists Shari Snow, MD, and Laura Douglass, MD, answer questions about endometriosis and the latest treatments.

» Heavy vaginal bleeding, which increases

WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS?

HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is found outside the uterus. These “endometrial implants” attach to other pelvic organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes or the bowel.

WHAT ARE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF

inflammation and irritation around the pelvic organs.

The first step is to tell your primary care physician or gynecologist that you are experiencing pain or struggling to conceive. Because there is no single definitive nonsurgical test for evaluating endometriosis, your doctor may perform a combination of the following:

ENDOMETRIOSIS?

» A pelvic exam.

Endometriosis symptoms vary depending on the number, location and size of the implants. Some women have no symptoms, while others are affected significantly.

» Imaging of the pelvic area with

Signs and symptoms can include:

» Pelvic pain, particularly shortly before, during or right after a period.

» Heavy or abnormal vaginal bleeding during periods.

» Lower back or leg pains (“cramps”) during periods.

» Significant pain during sex. » Inability to conceive (infertility).

WHY DOES ENDOMETRIOSIS CAUSE PAIN?

Pain, the most common symptom of

ultrasound and/or MRI.

» Minimally invasive surgery to confirm

the diagnosis, biopsy tissue and possibly treat or remove endometrial implants.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?

If mild pain is the most prevalent symptom, over-the-counter medications may offer relief. For severe or chronic endometriosis pain, a combination of medication and non-pharmacologic approaches — such as acupuncture, physical therapy or psychotherapy — may be helpful.

Hormone therapy is another treatment option, because it reduces ovulation.

When the ovaries stop releasing eggs, pain recedes and implants shrink due to a reduction in estrogen.

Because endometriosis can be mistaken for other conditions with similar symptoms, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated.

18 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE

Surgery may be necessary if symptoms do not respond to medication, if implants are widespread, or if implants are found on the ovaries and affect a woman’s ability to conceive within one year. University of Chicago Medicine surgeons are highly trained in minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic techniques to destroy or remove endometrial implants.

The Forefront | S P R I N G 2 0 1 9

Shari Snow, MD

Laura Douglass, MD

Office locations Shari Snow, MD

Laura Douglass, MD

Hyde Park Streeterville

Hyde Park Orland Park

6 things to know about pelvic organ prolapse Pelvic organ prolapse is a sagging of the support of the uterus or vaginal walls. As the support weakens, the walls and/or uterus can drop towards the vaginal opening. As prolapse worsens, the walls or uterus can come through the vaginal opening.

1. Pelvic organ prolapse is common,

affecting about half of women to some degree.

2. It occurs when pelvic support

structures are weakened as a result of a combination of childbirth injury, genetics, aging and chronic straining with constipation.

3. Pelvic organ prolapse is usually treated

when it becomes bothersome. If patients don’t desire treatment, prolapse can usually be watched unless the

prolapse is very large or causes difficulty with bowel or bladder emptying.

4. Pelvic floor, or Kegel, exercises can

help reduce prolapse symptoms, but will not make the prolapse go away.

A pessary — a vaginal support — can be placed in the vagina to hold up the uterus or vaginal walls.

5. Prolapse can be repaired surgically, and a wide variety of minimally invasive procedures can be performed.

6. Reduce your risk by doing Kegel

exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Eat fiber to prevent constipation. Avoiding smoking and reducing chronic coughing will also reduce strain on the pelvic floor.

Dianne Glass, MD, PhD

Dianne Glass, MD, PhD, is a UChicago Medicine gynecologist with advanced training in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.

She is a member of the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering, a partnership of researchers across Chicago, and involved in a project focused on attempting to regenerate bladder tissue and muscle to help treat urinary incontinence.

Care for complex fetal conditions UChicago Medicine’s new Fetal and Neonatal Care Center (FNCC) provides specialized diagnosis and treatment for women with high-risk pregnancies and unborn babies with conditions affecting fetal development.

The FNCC’s multidisciplinary team of experts evaluates and diagnoses complex

fetal conditions, counsels families and provides an individualized care plan, which may include medical and surgical options.

“We recognize how stressful a pregnancy can be, particularly when uncertainty is involved,” said Julia Bregand-White, MD, a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine. “It is our goal to provide families with the answers

they seek within 7 days of the initial request.”

High-risk prenatal care is offered in three locations in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. As the pregnancy evolves, the care plan is seamlessly coordinated to include neonatologists and other pediatric specialists who begin caring for the baby upon delivery at our Family Birth Center and in the neonatal intensive care unit. | L E F T | Julia Bregand-White, MD, performs

an ultrasound.

The new Fetal and Neonatal Care Center lowers risk and manages complications for more than 70 conditions affecting fetal development.

UChicago Medicine Fetal and Neonatal Care office locations: Hyde Park Orland Park Schererville Learn more at UChicagoMedicine.org/fncc For an appointment, call 1-888-824-0200.

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Investing in our community The University of Chicago Medicine provided more than $477 million in benefits and services to the South Side community during fiscal year 2018. The 2018 Community Benefit Annual Report details how UChicago Medicine works with community partners to promote

heath equity and support clinical, educational and community programs for medically underserved and marginalized populations across the South Side. These programs address asthma, diabetes, violence prevention and recovery, and other health priorities.

REACH FOR

THE SKY!

Join UChicago Medicine June 1 for the first home game of the WNBA Chicago Sky 2019 season.

We’re proud to be a major sponsor and exclusive medical provider for the women’s professional basketball team, and to partner with the Sky on activities to improve health and fitness in the community.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT Annual Report 2018

Chicago Sky June Game Schedule | C L O C K W I S E F RO M T O P L E F T |

Read the Community Benefit Report UChicagoMedicine.org/community

UChicago Medicine serves: Donna ChristianHarris, APN, leads a Zumba class at South Side Fit, a community partnership that helps those with diabetes, heart disease and obesity; Pamela Beauduy, APN, counsels a patient with asthma on the Comer Children’s Pediatric Mobile Medical Unit; volunteers participate in UChicago Medicine’s annual Day of Service and Reflection (DOSAR), which provides hands-on help for South Side community organizations.

1

JULY

27

Sunday, June 9 5 p.m. vs. the Seattle Storm

Friday, June 21 7 p.m. vs. the Indiana Fever

The Ingalls Development Foundation’s annual benefit gala presents “A Night with Smokey Robinson,” featuring the acclaimed singersongwriter, at the Tinley Park Convention Center. For information on tickets and to RSVP (by May 17), visit ingalls.org/gala.

Sunday, June 23 5 p.m. vs. the Connecticut Sun

UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial and Family Christian Health Center host KidFest 2019 at Family Christian Health Center, 155th and Paulina Street, Harvey. Free immunizations for infants and children (previous shot records required), resource fair, music, games and more!

Wednesday, June 26 11 a.m. vs. the Washington Mystics

UChicago Medicine will be at the Randolph

Street Market in June, July, August and ALL SUMMER September at Plumbers Hall in Chicago’s West

For games in July-September, visit sky.wnba.com

Loop. Come see us!

20 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE

Saturday, June 1 7 p.m. vs. the Seattle Storm

Tuesday, June 11 7 p.m. vs. the Phoenix Mercury

SAVE THE DATES! JUNE

HOME GAMES Wintrust Arena 200 E. Cermak Road

The Forefront | S P R I N G 2 0 1 9

TAKING ON

STAGE 4 Fund supports innovative research for advanced breast cancer Since 1981, the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund has donated more than $1.9 million to the University of Chicago, with a focus on accelerating research that strives to find new solutions to society’s most complex challenges.

In July 2017, one of those challenges hit close to home when Erika Cornelisen, executive director of the fund, was diagnosed with metastatic (stage 4) breast cancer — cancer that has spread to another part of the body.

Metastatic breast cancer affects nearly 60,000 people, mostly women, each year in the United States, and the incidence is rising among women under age 40. Despite this, only 2 to 5 percent of funding for breast cancer research is dedicated to stage 4.

Although Cornelisen, 43, was initially shocked and devastated by her diagnosis, she was grateful to have a role model — her father, who just turned 80 and was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma at age 39.

“My father was given six months to live,” said Cornelisen. “And it is because of science that he is still here today.”

Cornelisen saw a number of doctors who attributed her symptoms to other causes before coming to the University of Chicago Medicine, where she found answers and a physician who gave her new hope: Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, MD, a renowned expert in cancer risk assessment and individualized treatment for the most aggressive forms of breast cancer.

I am so fortunate to be aligned with such a forward-thinking doctor.”

ERIKA CORNELISEN

Olopade is working with a talented team of investigators in the Specialized Program of Research Excellence in Breast Cancer to develop a new model that will enable them to study aggressive breast cancers and the conditions that affect their growth.

| A B O V E | Alvin H. Baum Family Fund executives

Erika Cornelisen and Joel Friedman

“This model will allow us to rapidly test potential therapies for safety and effectiveness, and to see which are most likely to succeed among different patients,” Olopade said.

Cornelisen shared the need for funding metastatic breast cancer research with her colleague, Joel Friedman, president of the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund. After thoroughly reviewing Olopade’s work, including touring her laboratory and meeting with staff and trainees on the team, Friedman determined it was the right decision to invest in Olopade’s research.

The fund’s $200,000 gift will accelerate Olopade’s efforts to build a team of experts in Chicago to improve understanding of the biology of aggressive breast cancers, more accurately identify those at greatest risk, and develop more effective treatments.

In the future, Olopade hopes to use the new model as part of patients’ treatment plans.

“This research will allow patients like me to one day have their own personalized treatments, which could spare them from a number of serious side effects,” said Cornelisen.

The Baum Fund’s contribution ultimately puts us closer to reaching a point where even the most aggressive cancers can be successfully treated and managed like other chronic conditions.

The next step for Olopade and her team is to expand this project through collaborations with researchers and physicians across Chicagoland to gather more information from a diverse array of patients.

Erika and Joel hope that others will join them in supporting this important work.

“We want to see all of our Chicago institutions and philanthropists come together with all of their brainpower because we see stage 4 as a wicked problem, and mitigating such problems demands targeted resources, cross-institutional expertise, and collaborative perseverance,” Cornelisen said.

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EXCEPTIONAL PRIMARY CARE. EXCEPTIONALLY CLOSE TO HOME. The University of Chicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial is bringing comprehensive primary care for the entire family to the Southland.

Each of our convenient locations provides patients with personalized, coordinated care and direct access to leading experts across a wide array of specialties.

Additionally, urgent care services are available in Tinley Park, Crestwood, Calumet City and Flossmoor for the timely treatment of minor illnesses and injuries. » Same-day appointments available » Walk-ins accepted » Schedule online

Call 1-708-915-2273 (CARE) or visit Ingalls.org to schedule online.