Laser-guided surgery ends teen’s seizures — just in time for college.
Months after knee replacement surgery, 77-year-old resumes hiking.
Medicationassisted weight loss treatment leads to lifesaving kidney transplant.
World-class care, closer to home
Telehealth was one of the biggest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic — and it remains a convenient option for University of Chicago Medicine patients.
Still, virtual visits can’t always replace face time with a trusted clinician, even if it means traveling a long distance to get there. It’s why we’re working to bring our expert care teams closer to home for more people, including residents of Northwest Indiana.
A review of market data found that 15% of patients in Northwest Indiana travel outside the region for medical care. Of that group, roughly 1 in 5 people visit a UChicago Medicine location.
Those numbers led us to build a new multispecialty care facility in Crown Point, Indiana, that includes a 24/7 emergency department and one of only two comprehensive cancer centers in the state. Excitement around construction and a recent grand opening celebration have shown how much our Indiana neighbors value UChicago Medicine’s presence. (Read more about the facility on Page 2.)
Accessibility was also a key consideration in our decision to build the first freestanding cancer center in Illinois. Cancer death rates on the South Side are twice the national average, and roughly 67% of South Side residents currently leave the area for inpatient cancer treatment.
Those numbers are simply unacceptable. Our new cancer care and research pavilion, planned to open in 2027, will eventually handle 200,000 outpatient visits and 5,000 inpatient admissions every year — making cancer care much easier for our patients.
Serving your needs with high-quality, accessible healthcare is our top priority. Thank you for your continuing support of UChicago Medicine.
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.
The Forefront magazine features stories about life-changing care and breakthroughs in medical research at the University of Chicago Medicine, Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine.
Mark Anderson, MD, PhD 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, University of Chicago Health System
Editor: Kevin Joy
Assistant Editor: Angela Wells O’Connor
Art Director: Ken Rickard
Contributing editors and writers: Jamie Bartosch, Beth Bauer, Kat Carlton, Danielle Narcisse, Grace Niewijk, Sarah Richards, Sarah Sargent, Tamara L. O’Shaughnessy, Anita Slomski, Jack Wang and Matt Wood
Contributing photographers: Mark Black, Chris Jones, Robert Kozloff, Jordan Porter-Woodruff, Julian Romano, Carl Walker and Nancy Wong
Tom Jackiewicz President, University of
Cover photo by Carl Walker
Baby’s first doctor’s visits: Why they matter
Within a few days of birth
A pediatrician will gather important details to set the foundation for care. “We’re looking for the basics: ensuring the baby is eating, peeing and pooping, and making sure we’re aware of any immediate issues that might affect their health going forward” such as jaundice, said Joy Elion, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Chicago Medicine. Bring a support person to help, if possible.
One to two weeks
Here, the pediatrician makes sure the baby has gained back their birth weight and the umbilical cord has fallen off. This visit is a great time to ask questions. “We provide a lot of reassurance, telling parents what’s normal and that they’re doing well,” Elion said, noting that families often inquire about sleep schedules, skin rashes, hiccups and other common concerns.
One month
Many babies now start exhibiting developmental milestones, such as lifting their heads and making more discernible expressions. “A month seems short, but it’s a very long time for a baby,” said Elion, who tracks those milestones and refers back to initial tests. A pediatrician also will check on the family, including screening for postpartum depression.
No-cost home visits
UChicago Medicine’s Family Connects program provides free, in-home nursing support to help parents navigate the critical first months after a newborn’s birth. Call 773-834-2641 to enroll.
Comer Children’s opens Small Baby Unit
The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital recently celebrated the launch of its Small Baby Unit. The unit, which offers womblike environmental features such as dim lighting and soundproofing, cares for babies who are born at 30 weeks or less, or who weigh less than 2.76 pounds.
“Research shows dedicated small baby units improve outcomes for extremely preterm infants,” said Kelly Nelson, MD, a UChicago Medicine neonatologist and director of Comer’s new unit — the first of its kind on Chicago’s South Side. “Each team member has a dedicated role in ensuring the best, most optimized care for our babies.”
Expert care in Crown Point
The center is UChicago Medicine’s first freestanding facility in Indiana and its largest off-site location
Following 20 months of construction, the University of Chicago Medicine has opened a multispecialty care center in Northwest Indiana.
The facility — called UChicago Medicine Crown Point — offers advanced specialty care, including pediatric care from UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital experts.
It also houses one of only two comprehensive cancer centers in Indiana, providing infusion therapy, radiation, imaging, medical and surgical oncology, and access to hundreds of clinical trials at UChicago Medicine’s main campus in Hyde Park.
“We’re excited to bring the forefront of medicine to people in Northwest Indiana who would otherwise have to travel long distances to access highly specialized care,”
said Blase Polite, MD, Physician-in-Chief for Northwest Indiana.
Located at I-65 and 109th Avenue, UChicago Medicine Crown Point builds on a network of smaller specialty care medical offices UChicago Medicine has operated for years in Merrillville, Munster and Schererville.
Last September, UChicago Medicine also acquired four regional oncology centers from Michiana Hematology Oncology. An existing Crown Point location has moved to the new Crown Point facility (Chesterton and Valparaiso centers will remain at their current locations).
For Crown Point resident and longtime UChicago Medicine patient Lauren Jansen, the building offers a convenient place to continue her chemotherapy for breast cancer with a trusted team.
“I’m almost done with my treatments, but I think it’s going to be so great for patients, especially in this area, who don’t want to make the commute to Chicago,” Jansen said. “Having the University of Chicago Medicine here is huge.”
To make an appointment at UChicago Medicine Crown Point, call 219-402-3877 or visit UChicagoMedicine.org/VisitCrownPoint
SERVICES AND CAPABILITIES
» Infusion therapy, radiation, and medical and surgical oncology
» MRI, CT, PET, X-ray and ultrasound
» Ambulatory surgery center
» Breast, echocardiogram and vascular imaging
» Laboratory services
» UChicago Medicine clinical trials
» An eight-bed emergency department and eight-bed inpatient unit
SPECIALTIES ON-SITE
BY THE NUMBERS
200
Employees on-site
110,000
Expected annual patient visits
132,000 Square feet of space
24/7
Emergency department hours
We spoke with Blase Polite, MD, UChicago Medicine’s Physician-inChief for Northwest Indiana:
WHY IS THIS NEW CARE CENTER SPECIAL TO YOU?
I grew up in the Hammond and Munster area, so the people and the healthcare of Northwest Indiana mean a lot to me. My dad was an OB/GYN in the region. I grew up in waiting rooms of hospitals every time he had to deliver a baby.
WHY CHOOSE UCHICAGO MEDICINE CROWN POINT?
You’re getting access to the entire UChicago Medicine team. Let’s say you see a general oncologist or cardiologist here. Your case can be reviewed at tumor boards or committees in Hyde Park. We are an extension of one of the greatest medical centers in the world.
WHAT’S EXCITING ABOUT THIS FACILITY?
We are going to have full radiology capabilities, and those scans are read by UChicago experts. I’m excited to have nearly every pediatric subspecialty on-site. We also have leaders in gastroenterology, heart failure and transplant, and cellular therapy for cancer.
HOW WILL UCHICAGO MEDICINE WORK WITH OTHER HOSPITALS?
For all ages: cancer, digestive diseases, heart and vascular care, and neurosciences
For adults: obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), pain management and transplant
For children: allergy and immunology, endocrinology, general surgery, infectious diseases, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology (ENT), plastic surgery, pulmonary medicine and rheumatology
We have a very good relationship with healthcare systems in the area. We share many patients, and we hope that our services will offer a close-tohome option for people who need that extra level of care that can only be provided by academic and specialized medical centers.
Partnership supports lab facility, jobs
UChicago Medicine plans to build a clinical lab facility along East Garfield Boulevard in Washington Park to boost testing capabilities for the health system. A learning center constructed by City Colleges of Chicago will be adjacent to the lab and serve up to 800 students. Both efforts will support jobs and healthcare career pathways on the South Side.
High marks for hospital safety
The Leapfrog Group has granted University of Chicago Medical Center its 25th consecutive “A” Hospital Safety Grade, making it one of only 15 hospitals nationwide — and the only one in Chicago — to receive the “straight A” distinction. UChicago Medicine
AdventHealth hospitals in Bolingbrook, Hinsdale and LaGrange also each received an “A.” Leapfrog analyzes nearly 3,000 acute care hospitals using publicly available data; only one-third receive an “A” grade.
New effort targets cancer inequities
The Center to Eliminate Cancer Inequity (CinEQUITY), run by the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, will address factors that disproportionately affect marginalized people in the Chicagoland area. Pronounced as “see inequity,” the center is focused on community partnerships, inclusive health research and public policy work.
More beds for behavioral health
Honor for equitable care
To meet a growing need for mental health services, UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital has added 15 beds to its inpatient behavioral health unit. The capacity will help emergency department patients move more quickly to an inpatient bed at Ingalls, which houses the primary inpatient psychiatric unit for the entire health system.
For the eighth consecutive time, UChicago Medicine has been named a LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) for the equity and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer patients, visitors and employees. UChicago Medicine earned the maximum score across all HRC evaluation criteria.
Jasmin Tiro, PhD, MPH, is the director of the new center.
Find relief from uterine fibroids
Fibroids are noncancerous growths that can cause abnormal bleeding from the uterus, including heavy periods. Fibroids affect everyone differently — and there are some types of uterine cancer that can look like fibroids — so it’s important to work with an expert team.
Monica Christmas, MD; Sandra Laveaux, MD, MPH; and Shari Snow, MD, are minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons at the University of Chicago Medicine Center for the Advanced Treatment and Research (CATeR) of Uterine Fibroids. They shared answers to common questions from patients.
ARE FIBROIDS PAINFUL?
Fibroids can cause painful periods. You may have bloating or bulging in your lower abdomen. Menstrual cramping can sometimes be alleviated by ibuprofen, birth control pills or IUDs. Painful, heavy periods may be improved with fibroid therapies.
DO ALL WOMEN HAVE SYMPTOMS?
For some, fibroids can be “silent” and cause no symptoms. A gynecologist can detect fibroids during a regular pelvic exam. Imaging tests can confirm if you have fibroids and tell specialists more about the size, location and number of fibroids in your uterus.
WHY ARE FIBROIDS MORE COMMON IN BLACK PATIENTS?
Researchers don’t yet know why people of African ancestry are more likely to have fibroids, but they suspect genetic factors and insufficient vitamin D levels due to skin pigment are potential causes. Socioeconomic and environmental factors may also play a role.
DO FIBROIDS CAUSE PAIN DURING SEX?
Although fibroids grow in the uterus and not the vagina, painful intercourse is a common symptom of fibroids — and one of the main reasons people seek treatment. No matter your pain level, it can have an impact on the quality of your sex life.
WILL FIBROIDS GO AWAY WITH MENOPAUSE?
Fibroids do not go away after menopause. However, fibroid symptoms like heavy bleeding usually stop in menopause because periods have stopped. Symptoms like bulging, bloating and pressure may still be bothersome. Fortunately, these can be treated.
CAN FIBROIDS GO AWAY WITHOUT SURGERY?
Among all ages, only about 10% of fibroids shrink on their own. A hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus, is the only way to eliminate recurrence. You may develop new fibroids after treatments that preserve your
uterus, such as myomectomy or uterine fibroid embolization.
WHAT MEDICATIONS CAN HELP FIBROIDS?
Oriahnn and Myfembree are two pills studied and FDA-approved to manage heavy bleeding in premenopausal patients with fibroids. Birth control pills, hormonal treatments and other drugs also can help manage heavy bleeding. Studies are looking at how nutraceuticals (such as green tea extract) and existing drugs could delay fibroid regrowth.
CAN I STOP FIBROIDS FROM COMING BACK?
Research has shown that maintaining a healthy weight and diet, limiting intake of alcohol and red meat, and taking a vitamin D supplement if you’re deficient may prevent future fibroids.
To make an appointment with a UChicago Medicine fibroids expert, call 773-692-3873 or visit UChicagoMedicine.org/FibroidsCare
Shari Snow, MD
Monica Christmas, MD
Sandra Laveaux, MD, MPH, director of the UChicago Medicine Center for the Advanced Treatment and Research of Uterine Fibroids, meets with a patient.
THE ADVENTURE OF CHICAGO’S
Five successful heart surgeries inspire Leon Darby to cherish life and pay it forward
eon Darby doesn’t consider himself a superhero.
But he does call himself “Chicago’s Aortic Man” — with a custom baseball cap to match — and he’s enjoying life with renewed vigor after five surgeries to repair his heart.
It’s a vast improvement from 2017, when Darby felt a searing pain in his chest one night and was rushed from his home in Lake Villa, Illinois, to the University of Chicago Medicine.
Doctors discovered Darby had a Type A aortic dissection, which begins as a tear in the ascending aorta — the part of the aorta, a critical artery for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the body, that exits the heart. They performed open-heart surgery immediately.
Four more aortic surgeries followed over the next few years.
“At this point, Leon’s entire aorta has been replaced,” said Ross Milner, MD, Chief of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy at UChicago Medicine. “Each procedure carries some risk, so we took a stepwise approach to get him back to a good quality of life as safely as possible.”
Today, Chicago’s Aortic Man is flying high once again (and fly-fishing, too).
“I thank God that because of my family, friends and my UChicago Medicine team, I’ve been given a new chance to live,” said Darby, who now spends much of his time in Colorado.
TWO TEAMS, ONE GOAL
Although many people are used to hearing about the cardiovascular system as a whole, the “cardio” and “vascular” parts of the word are usually separate in the medical world.
Cardiac experts treat problems with the heart itself, while vascular experts treat problems with circulation in the blood vessels outside the heart. Because the aorta is the body’s largest artery — and it connects directly to the heart — aortic issues require attention from both specialties.
“At some places, the two departments have trouble working together,” Milner said. “I speak to medical experts all over the world, and it’s shown me that the level of collaboration at UChicago Medicine is really unique.”
Leon Darby is an avid fly fisherman.
WHAT IS AORTIC DISSECTION?
It begins as a tear in the aortic wall, splitting the main artery in the body into two channels. If not treated immediately, the tear can worsen, ripping the outer layer of the aorta and allowing blood to escape the artery. This compromises the oxygen delivered to vital organs.
WHAT ARE COMMON RISK FACTORS?
They include preexisting congenital disorders (such as Marfan syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other collagen vascular diseases) and high blood pressure. Talk to your doctor if these issues are present.
Milner, a vascular surgeon, co-led Darby’s care with UChicago Medicine cardiac surgeon Takeyoshi Ota, MD, PhD, Co-Director of the Center for Aortic Diseases. Experts in the cardiac and vascular departments work hard to ensure that schedules align and that lines of communication stay open and active.
“I truly didn’t know the difference between teams,” Darby said. “They were all working together to keep me whole.”
A PLACE FOR COMPLEX CASES
HOW CAN AORTIC DISSECTION BE PREVENTED?
Having a long-term blood pressure management plan is critical. Getting and keeping control over your blood pressure will protect your aorta from complications that could leave to serious, or fatal, damage.
AORTIC DISSECTION
Tear in aortic wall
Ascending aorta
True lumen
Heart
Aortic dissection
False lumen
Descending aorta
Beyond discovering the initial aortic tear, Darby’s doctors identified other weak points that posed a risk of future aortic tears and were affecting blood flow to key areas like the brain.
Fortunately, the UChicago Medicine Center for Aortic Diseases routinely takes on complex patients. Cardiac and vascular surgeons, along with nurses and other experts, team up to tailor treatment options and timelines.
“We know transportation is a hassle,” said Julie Park, RN, a UChicago Medicine nurse
with the aortic program. “We try to do imaging and other evaluations in one day, and Dr. Milner sometimes sees patients outside standard clinic days.”
CARE LIKE FAMILY
Between five surgeries to repair his aorta and follow-up visits, Darby spent a lot of time with his aortic care team.
“I got to know Leon as a person, and he got to know me as more than just a vascular surgeon,” Milner said. “If you’re having something that complex done, you have to trust the person who’s doing it.”
When asked about the people who helped him, Darby cries.
“Every day I saw Dr. Ota, it perked me up,” Darby said. “Every day I saw Dr. Milner, it was special. They must have a million patients, and Julie seems to get to know every one of us personally.”
After each surgery, Darby had to endure a challenging recovery. He felt discouraged and afraid each time he found out he needed another surgery.
But Darby persevered and took care of himself — partly because he didn’t want to
HOW IS AORTIC DISSECTION TREATED?
Each patient’s aorta has a unique size and shape. With advanced research, techniques and medical devices, UChicago Medicine experts can design treatments focused on your aortic anatomy and the location and severity of the dissection.
disappoint the people who cared about him, including his UChicago Medicine team.
“If you’ve got a problem like mine, this is the team you want,” Darby said. “I’m living proof.”
GRACE AND GRATITUDE
Darby’s last surgery was in 2022. He spent months at home, building up his strength.
About a year later, Darby was back to hiking, lifting weights and volunteering with youth sports. In October 2023, he was able to attend his son’s wedding and give a speech in his booming voice.
“I was dancing and crying and so happy that I was there for this,” said Darby, a single father of two and a union construction worker for 20 years. “These are the things my care team told me to live for when I was leaving the hospital.”
Now, the 54-year-old has turned his attention outward, assisting his neighbors and working with local nonprofits — activities befitting of his Aortic Man nickname.
“My new aorta is connected to my heart, so I have a lot of love to give,” Darby said.
To make an appointment with UChicago Medicine’s heart and vascular team, call 773-830-3725 or visit UChicagoMedicine.org/Cardiovascular
Takeyoshi Ota, MD, PhD
Ross Milner, MD
Why are more young people getting cancer?
What to know as cases rise
It’s a mystery doctors and scientists have yet to solve: More younger adults are getting diagnosed with cancer.
Adam DuVall, MD, MPH
The number of early onset cancer cases — those that occur in adults under age 50 — is rising by 1% to 2% annually, according to the American Cancer Society. An analysis of global health data published in the journal BMJ Oncology predicts a 30% jump in early onset cancers between 2019 and 2030.
Nita Karnik Lee, MD, MPH
Meanwhile, celebrity cancer cases — including actor Chadwick Boseman’s death from colon cancer at age 43, or the cancer diagnosis at 42 of Catherine, Princess of Wales — have put a spotlight on young people facing the disease.
University of Chicago Medicine oncologists say they’re seeing the increase firsthand, and that they are treating more patients in their 30s and 40s in many cancers, including breast, colorectal and head and neck cancers.
POSSIBLE REASONS FOR INCREASE
Scientists and researchers are still searching for a specific culprit.
“We have yet to identify any singular reason, although it’s likely related to a multitude of
Have these symptoms? See your doctor
These may not indicate cancer, but they’re signs you shouldn’t ignore.
» Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding
» Changes in bowel or bladder habits
» Changes in your breasts
» Difficulty swallowing
» Irregular vaginal bleeding
» Persistent cough
» Lumps on the body
» New abdominal pain or pelvic pain
» New swollen glands
» Skin changes or irregular moles
factors — possibly including lifestyle or environmental ones,” said UChicago Medicine adult and pediatric oncologist Adam DuVall, MD, MPH.
Some possible reasons include:
Chronic inflammation: The body’s response to injuries and “invaders” can be caused by low physical activity, obesity, chronic stress, prolonged infections or chronic exposure to toxins.
Later-in-life birth and/or having fewer children: Reproductive factors can lead to a slightly higher breast, ovarian or endometrial cancer risk.
Gut microbiome changes: When this delicate network of bacteria is thrown off balance — possibly by processed foods, microplastics or other substances — it could be easier for tumors to grow.
Healthcare disparities: Inequities in care can limit access to healthy food and timely treatment.
STAY AWARE AND INFORMED
Young people diagnosed with cancer often fall below the minimum recommended age for screenings that can catch their disease early, said UChicago Medicine gynecologic oncologist Nita Karnik Lee, MD, MPH.
5 ways your primary care doctor can help you prevent cancer
Prevention and risk reduction
IN YOUR 20S AND 30S
Get the HPV vaccine: It’s recommended for boys and girls ages 9 to 26, and it can be given up until age 45. It has been shown to prevent several HPV-related cancers, including cervical, vulvar/vaginal, anal and oropharyngeal.
Get an HPV test: Starting at age 25, people with a cervix should get the test every five years, even if they’ve been vaccinated for HPV.
Know your risk for colon and breast cancer: If your doctor determines you’re low-risk, no testing is needed. Otherwise, a screening might be recommended.
IN YOUR 40S
At age 40: Begin receiving mammograms and talk to your doctor about the best screening plan.
At age 45: Start testing for colon cancer with a colonoscopy or stool testing.
At age 45: Men at high risk of prostate cancer (including Black men and those with close family who had the disease before age 65) should talk to their doctors about screening.
At age 50: Receive annual low-dose CT scans for lung cancer if you have a smoking history of 20 pack-years, currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years.
SOURCES: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, U.S. PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE
That’s why keeping tabs on your health — including any abnormal symptoms (see the list on Page 8) — and knowing your family’s history of cancer are critical details to share with your doctor.
Lee said people of all ages should never hesitate to see their doctor if there’s a concern. Taking early action can help ensure prompt, appropriate care.
“It’s important to identify those warning
symptoms and give them attention as soon as possible,” Lee said. “If you have a family history of cancer, you may need to get screened sooner. We want patients to advocate for themselves.”
To make an appointment with a UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center expert, call 855-487-9552 or visit UChicagoMedicine.org/CancerCare
Whether they’re providing a referral for screening, checking out an unusual mole or addressing any concern, a primary care provider (PCP) can be your partner in spotting — and stopping — cancer.
MONITOR YOUR OVERALL HEALTH
Most PCPs have known their patients for several years. Routine tests to measure blood pressure, heart rate and weight — as well as physical exams and blood tests — provide a wealth of data over time. Got a concern? Ask your PCP anything; no question is taboo.
ADVISE TIMELY CANCER SCREENINGS
Screening is the best way to catch several types of cancer early. PCPs keep close track of the latest guidelines. Recommendations may vary by age, ethnicity, family history and other risk factors; your PCP can help you determine when to start specific screenings.
ENCOURAGE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS
Your PCP can offer tips to quit tobacco, limit alcohol, use sunblock and eat healthfully. They also will review available vaccines (including ones for HPV and hepatitis B — viruses that can cause cancer) and cancer risk factors that may be addressed with preventive medication.
EXPLORE YOUR FAMILY’S CANCER HISTORY
This information is critical for your PCP to look for patterns that could determine whether you might benefit from earlier or more frequent screening. You may be referred to a genetic counselor who might suggest a blood test to detect mutations for certain cancers.
NAVIGATE THE TREATMENT JOURNEY
If you are diagnosed with cancer, your PCP can help you navigate the healthcare system. You may need several different procedures for testing and treatment; these can be coordinated by your PCP.
Seizure-free and off to college
Laser-guided brain surgery offers treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy
Thor Marchio had a massive stroke when he was born, causing him to develop epilepsy at age 8.
At first, his epilepsy was controlled with anti-seizure medication. But in high school, Marchio began to experience near-constant seizures — between 100 and 400 a day.
“It felt as if I couldn’t think for more than a few seconds in class before I had a seizure,” said Marchio, now 18, of Frankfort, Illinois.
Doctors advised that Marchio would need a functional hemispherectomy to stop the seizures.
Neurosurgeons would remove a piece of Marchio’s skull to access his brain, cut connections between different areas of the brain responsible for seizure spread and sever the connections between the two brain hemispheres.
“The procedure seemed so huge and scary,” his mother, Deanna, said.
NOVEL, SAFER APPROACH
The Marchio family was referred to Peter Warnke, MD, a pediatric neurosurgeon and Director of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at UChicago Medicine, who suggested a different — and safer — approach.
Warnke and his expert clinical partners at UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital would instead use lasers to disconnect the two hemispheres of the brain, a novel and far less invasive procedure than traditional open surgery.
Warnke first performed laser functional hemispherotomy to treat drug-resistant epilepsy in 2021, making him only the second neurosurgeon in the world to do so.
84%
Patients surgically treated by Dr. Warnke who are now either seizure-free or have only auras
4 of 5
Patients who received laser hemispherotomies from Dr. Warnke and are now seizure-free
With this approach, the risk of brain injury is less than 2%, compared to a five- to tenfold higher risk of complications from the invasive open surgery, according to Warnke.
“It does not mechanically manipulate the brain, and it can be performed without any blood loss or exposure of the brain to blood, which can cause hydrocephalus,” said Warnke, who also directs the pediatric and adult epilepsy surgery program at UChicago Medicine.
REAL-TIME MONITORING
In July 2023, Warnke performed Marchio’s five-hour surgery at the UChicago Medicine Center for Care and Discovery in Hyde Park.
After drilling five small holes about the diameter of coffee stirrers into Marchio’s head, Warnke inserted catheters containing
laser fibers deep into the brain. The procedure was done in an MRI scanner, providing Warnke with continuous vision and real-time monitoring of the brain.
MRI technology called tractography allowed Warnke to see the configuration of the fiber tracts in Marchio’s brain and identify the ones causing the seizures to spread.
Warnke then used the laser’s heated tip to cut the epileptogenic tissue and seizure pathways with pinpoint precision, sealing off connections between the two brain hemispheres.
Marchio was reassured by Warnke’s experience and renown as a neurosurgeon.
“I had faith that God was going to see me through this,” Marchio said.
COLLEGE DAYS AHEAD
Six weeks later, Marchio started college at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois — on scholarship and seizure-free.
“Thor is cognitively much better than he was before surgery,” Warnke said. “Seizures cause attention deficits and impair memory. Once patients are rid of seizures, they perform much better in school and in life.”
Deanna Marchio is grateful to see her son in good health. “It is wonderful to see Thor start an exciting new chapter without devastating seizures,” she said. “It is a blessing beyond words.”
As a construction worker and family man, Ken Leslie knows a lot about strong foundations.
But his own physical structure was weakened in 2022 by a stubborn wound that wouldn’t heal. Left untreated, it could have required an amputation of his right leg and foot.
“It would have been devastating to me,” said Leslie, 65.
Leslie, who has peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy, diabetes and end-stage renal disease, said his health “just seemed to fall apart” after his wife of 43 years, Dawn, died from complications due to several strokes.
Despite Leslie’s best efforts, his year-old foot wound didn’t improve.
The Orland Park resident turned to
Hospital and its comprehensive services led by Joseph Durham, MD*, Medical Director of the Hyperbaric and Wound Care Center at Ingalls, and Dale Brink, DPM as well as an expert nursing staff.
WORLD-CLASS WOUND TREATMENT
The infection was so extensive it required Leslie to be admitted to the emergency department.
Although Brink had to amputate Leslie’s pinky toe, he saved the foot, preserving Leslie’s independence — allowing him to visit with his grandsons and to keep a tidy
wound-care patients from Chicago, the south suburbs and Northwest Indiana.
“I never took a day off,” said Leslie, whose wound healed completely after 50 sessions.
The Hyperbaric and Wound Care Center provides care for every type of wound, including diabetic wounds, pressure sores, bone infections, burns and radiation burns.
Brink credits a team approach to wound care at Ingalls, which includes vascular surgery, podiatry, general surgery and physical therapy.
“We often get patients who have either stalled or failed with treatments at other places, and so we have to come up with new solutions,” Brink said.
MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE
Leslie is grateful to have regained the freedom to spend time with his daughters, Danielle and Nicole. He also likes being able to hop in his van on a whim to drive to the store or to cruise the roads he’d take with Dawn after her strokes, holding hands.
These days, Leslie also finds himself at the cemetery to visit her. As he gets ready to leave, he knows his improved health and mobility will allow a return.
“All right, Dawn, I’m going to take off,” he’ll say. “I’ll be back.”
To make an appointment for wound care at UChicago Ingalls Memorial Hospital, call 855-556-5033 or visit UChicagoMedicine.org/WoundCare
When a wound won’t heal
A wound that shows no improvement or gets larger within four weeks requires medical care. Look for redness, increasing pain and any drainage or odor. Don’t delay seeking treatment — this can worsen outcomes and raise the risk of amputation.
*Dr. Durham is an independent physician with privileges at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital. Dr. Durham is not an employee or agent of Ingalls Memorial Hospital.
Scaling new heights
Cross-country trip for knee replacement invigorates California adventurer
About 10 years ago, while trekking down Mount Whitney in California, Jil Coolidge noticed her right knee began to hurt.
Her doctor offered an occasional cortisone shot to ease the pain, but relief was temporary. Between the wear and tear she put on her knee over the years and the arthritis in the joint, Coolidge knew she would eventually need knee replacement surgery.
“When it really started to become painful, I said, ‘OK, it’s time,’” she said.
The then 77-year-old received a new knee at the University of Chicago Medicine in late January 2023. By that April, Coolidge was hiking again near her home in Silicon Valley — and she has resumed biking and water skiing.
Several factors led to Coolidge’s quick recovery, said UChicago Medicine orthopaedic surgeon Sara Shippee Wallace, MD, MPH.
The patient was already in excellent health and active. She also scheduled surgery before the pain became debilitating.
“I talked to so many different doctors, but I was impressed that UChicago Medicine was at the forefront of everything new that is happening,” said Coolidge, who interviewed five orthopaedic surgeons around the country — including Wallace.
At UChicago Medicine, Coolidge’s knee was replaced with a medial congruent bearing, a state-of-the-art implant that mimics the anatomical design and native kinematics of the natural knee joint.
The surgery that Wallace recommended for Coolidge — a total knee arthroplasty — uses metal caps to resurface the ends of the knee bone where the cartilage had deteriorated. A plastic bearing is fitted between those two metal pieces, allowing for smooth and pain-free motion.
UChicago Medicine offers an integrated, multidisciplinary approach for joint replacements. Hospitalists and internal medicine doctors help prepare patients for surgery to ensure the procedure goes smoothly.
Additionally, physical therapists schedule postsurgical visits in advance. They also meet patients in the surgery recovery area to help get them up and moving right away.
That spring, Coolidge found herself back on her favorite California hiking trails.
“I like to get a good workout and feel exhausted,” she said. “It makes me feel alive.”
To make an appointment with a UChicago Medicine orthopaedic surgeon, call 773-295-0278 or visit UChicagoMedicine.org/KneeReplacement
Orthopaedic care for women
At UChicago Medicine, 36% of our orthopaedic surgeons are women (compared to just 5% nationally). We offer an all-female surgical and nonsurgical team — and an approach to care that recognizes the anatomical and hormonal differences that may make women more susceptible to specific pain, injury or chronic conditions.
Jil Coolidge enjoying the outdoors in Massachusetts
Need a knee replacement?
Ask these questions first
When it comes to replacing a major joint, it’s important to find the best surgeon. University of Chicago Medicine orthopaedic surgeon Sara Shippee Wallace, MD, MPH, shared what to ask:
HOW MANY SURGERIES DO YOU PERFORM EACH YEAR?
You may not want someone who doesn’t regularly perform knee replacement surgeries. Larger centers with higher volumes have better outcomes.
WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS?
It may be surprising to learn some surgeons don’t specialize in joint replacement. Ask if they are certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and have completed a fellowship.
WHAT ARE MY ALTERNATIVES TO SURGERY?
Options include injections, physical therapy and pain medication.
Remember, you never have to have your joint replaced if you can manage your symptoms.
HOW CAN I PREPARE — AND REDUCE COMPLICATIONS?
Being in optimal health, or in the best health you can achieve, is important. Quitting smoking and losing weight are common steps patients can take.
WHAT’S MY EXPECTED TIMELINE FOR RECOVERY?
Your journey might not look the same as someone else’s. It is important to have the right expectations and to be on the same page as your surgeon.
HOW WILL MY PAIN BE MANAGED?
Regional anesthesia, which uses medication to “numb” the surgical site, can reduce the need for opioid pain medications that have side effects such as nausea and constipation.
WHAT OTHER SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE?
Ask about access to postoperative at-home healthcare. It’s also critical to plan ahead and partner with a trusted physical therapist. This is very important to recovery.
Weight loss for safer surgery
ACTNOW program uses team support, GLP-1 drugs to help patients qualify for transplant
When Belinda Gray needed a kidney transplant, she faced a major hurdle: lowering her body mass index (BMI) to qualify for the organ transplant list.
“I had started losing weight on my own, but it was really difficult,” said Gray, 59, a South Side resident. “I needed more help.”
Help came from the Access to Transplant Through Novel Approaches initiative (ACTNOW for short) at the University of Chicago Medicine.
The clinic offers a medication-assisted program to help patients become eligible for transplant surgery and improve their outcomes after a transplant.
“We wanted to help people who are underserved and underrepresented due to their weight,” said Anesia Reticker, PharmD, BCTXP, a clinical pharmacist specialist at UChicago Medicine.
MEDICATIONS BOOST PROGRESS
ACTNOW participants are prescribed GLP-1 drugs — which many people know by their brand names such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy and Zepbound — to aid with weight loss.
“They help improve blood sugar control, delay stomach emptying, allow people to feel full faster and for longer periods, and they help silence cravings,” Reticker said.
UChicago Medicine surgeon Ashley Suah, MD, emphasized the importance of meeting the BMI criteria before transplant surgery to reduce risks and shorten recovery times. She considers ACTNOW a strong option for patients whose weight could hold them back.
“From a technical standpoint, operations are more difficult when a patient is obese, and our primary goal as surgeons is to keep our patients safe,” said Suah, who specializes in kidney and liver transplants.
In addition to weekly GLP-1 injections taken at home, ACTNOW participants follow a tailored nutrition plan, and they work closely with program experts that include an advanced practice provider, a pharmacist and a dietitian.
“It doesn’t happen overnight, but with small changes over time and continuing posttransplant, we have seen great success,” said UChicago Medicine dietitian Annie Guinane, MS, RD.
Because the GLP-1 medication helps effectively curb cravings, patients have an easier time following a healthful meal plan like the Mediterranean diet and staying motivated.
“They feel empowered,” Guinane said. “I tell them to consider this medication like a trusty sidekick. If they pair it with movement and dietary changes, they will be successful.”
A GOAL ACHIEVED
In Gray’s case, she needed to reach a BMI of less than 35 to have a successful outcome.
Thanks to the ACTNOW program, Gray did so in about one year, qualifying for a kidney transplant performed by Suah in February 2024.
Gray plans to continue taking the GLP-1 medication as part of her post-transplant care.
“I had the support I needed, and the medicine helped me feel full so I could get to my goal easier,” she said. “I would recommend this program to everyone.”
From left: Jenna Boznos, PharmD, BCPS, Courtney Kelley, DNP, APN, patient Belinda Gray and Anesia Reticker, PharmD, BCTXP
Ashley Suah, MD
RESEARCH NOTES
Microbes in poop predict infection risk
Liver transplant patients are susceptible to infection after surgery. University of Chicago Medicine researchers studied over 100 fecal samples, and they found that liver transplant recipients with diverse, healthy microbiomes (an evolving network of trillions of gut microbes) were best equipped to fight off dangerous drugresistant bacteria.
Bad medical advice abounds on TikTok
UChicago researchers recently analyzed sinusrelated health information on TikTok. Their findings? Nearly half of the videos reviewed over a 24-hour period contained nonfactual information — with a large proportion coming from nonmedical influencers. TikToks created by medical professionals overwhelmingly received higher scores for quality and factual information.
Novel drug for metabolic liver disease
Liver disease specialists at UChicago Medicine have begun to prescribe a new drug proven to reverse fibrosis caused by advanced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) — once known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Resmetirom received FDA approval in March. UChicago Medicine was part of a successful Phase 3 clinical trial.
Beef, dairy products may fight cancer
A long-chain fatty acid in meat and dairy products from grazing animals improves the ability of the body’s T cells to infiltrate tumors and kill cancer cells. The UChicago study examined mice fed a diet enriched with this fatty acid; the animals saw significantly reduced growth potential of melanoma and colon cancer cells. It’s still important to eat healthfully, researchers note.
Oral alternative for diabetes treatment
An existing drug could reduce dependence on insulin injections for treating Type 1 diabetes. UChicago and Indiana University researchers have identified α-difluoromethylornithine as a medication that can stabilize insulin levels by protecting beta cells. A clinical trial found that the oral drug is safe for Type 1 diabetes patients, which could speed up federal approval.
Report details community impact, top health needs
The University of Chicago Medicine provided $730.9 million in benefits and services to Chicago’s South Side and the south suburbs in fiscal year 2023, according to the health system’s annual Community Benefit Report.
Over the past 10 years, UChicago Medicine’s reported community investments have totaled more than $5 billion.
These investments help reduce health disparities that disproportionately affect South Side and south suburban residents. The efforts include uncompensated care for Medicare and Medicaid patients, financial assistance, unrecoverable patient debt, medical education and research, and other community support.
UChicago Medicine serves 12 ZIP codes on Chicago’s South Side and 13 ZIP codes across the south suburbs. Health priorities for the service areas are evaluated with community guidance and reported every three years through Community Health Needs Assessments.
UChicago Medicine’s Urban Health Initiative leads planning of community benefit programs and activities, and it works with community organizations on health-related research and services.
Community Advisory Councils, led by civic and faith leaders, also provide guidance to the University of
Southland RISE collaborative celebrates 5 years
In March, Southland RISE (Resilience Initiative to Strengthen and Empower) marked five years of bringing hospitals and community leaders together to find solutions to violence on Chicago’s South Side and in surrounding suburbs. Southland RISE was inspired by HEAL (Hospital Engagement, Action and Leadership), an initiative launched in 2018 by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to reduce community violence and address violence recovery.
Chicago Medical Center and UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital.
“Our partners are essential to our mission by helping us determine the top health priorities for our patients and their families and identify the best ways to reach and support them,” said Brenda Battle, RN, BSN, MBA, who leads the Urban Health Initiative and serves as the health system’s Senior Vice President for Community Health Transformation and Chief Equity Officer.
TOP COMMUNITY HEALTH PRIORITIES
» Chronic disease prevention and management
» Trauma/violence resiliency
» Food insecurity
» Access to medical care
WHAT COMMUNITY CARE LOOKS LIKE
1,805 patients
Served by UChicago Medicine’s Violence Recovery Program
3,400 pounds
Produce grown on rooftop gardens at the UChicago Medical Center for area food pantries
63% increase
Annual (2022-23) rise in patient interactions with community health workers
250 bags of baby supplies
Distributed at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital’s annual DriveThru Baby Shower
1,449 hours
Spent by UChicago Medicine volunteers at community- and serviceoriented events
$126,900
For local organizations to offer hypertension management and breast cancer risk education
SOURCE: 2023 COMMUNITY BENEFIT REPORT
Read the full report at Community.UChicago Medicine.org/2023
UChicago Medicine programs like Liaisons in Care (LinC) expand access to community health workers.
Corporate gift benefits UChicago Medicine cancer pavilion ‘A powerful force for good’
In September 2023, the University of Chicago Medicine broke ground on a new cancer pavilion — the state’s first and only standalone structure dedicated to cancer care and research.
An early financial commitment to the pavilion came from University of Chicago Medical Center Trustee and Regal Rexnord CEO Louis Pinkham via the Regal Rexnord Charitable Foundation.
Regal Rexnord, a manufacturer of electric motors and power transmission components, has thousands of associates working in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The foundation’s generous gift, made on behalf of Regal Rexnord associates, was given to help ensure its employees have a place to receive exceptional cancer care if they ever need it.
“Cancer is very personal, and we have many associates who have been impacted by cancer,” Pinkham said. “This gift is so meaningful to us as an organization.”
IMPROVING ACCESS FOR ALL
Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the United States, with an estimated 2 million new cases diagnosed last year. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention predicts a 50% increase in new cancer cases between 2015 and 2050.
In Illinois, cancer incidence rates are higher than the national average. On Chicago’s South Side, rates are twice the national average.
The new pavilion, expected to open in 2027 on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus, is designed to dramatically improve cancer patients’ experience while reducing health disparities in underserved
communities — widespread benefits that Regal Rexnord celebrates.
“A facility like this brings cutting-edge research and cancer care to people in the heart of Chicago’s South Side community, providing a wonderful opportunity to reach more patients who otherwise may not have access to this level of care,” Pinkham said.
“Having a world-class cancer care facility is a tremendous benefit to the region overall, providing care and treatment options closer to home for many.”
A LASTING EFFECT
Barry E. Fields, chair of the UCMC Board of Trustees, cited the foundation’s contribution as “inspiring,” especially since the company behind it has deep ties to the region.
“Regal Rexnord’s gift will have a meaningful and lasting effect on cancer care for patients from Chicago’s South Side community and other communities in the region,” Fields said.
As the cancer pavilion’s construction moves forward, news of the contribution has generated enthusiasm at Regal Rexnord’s offices.
“Regal Rexnord associates are passionate, committed people who are determined to be a powerful force for good in the communities where we live and work,” Pinkham said. “Our associates were thrilled to hear about this gift.”
Louis Pinkham
The UChicago Medicine cancer pavilion is expected to open in 2027.
