SUMMER 2018
COVER STORY
FIT TO WIN Chicago Sky player Allie Quigley takes to the court after knee surgery PAGE 6
On the same team UChicago Medicine partners with the Chicago Sky to encourage health and fitness
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 3
Sexual health after cancer PAGE 9
Keep your feet happy this summer We’re closer to you A pullout guide to our services and locations
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Imagine
SUMMER 2018 IN THIS ISSUE
ON THE COVER
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NEW HEART, NEW LIFE Kay Fricke feels younger than ever after a heart transplant.
CANCER CARE CLOSE TO HOME
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After a lymphoma diagnosis, Elaine Johnson of New Lenox turned to the UChicago Medicine cancer specialists at
READ ONLINE
Silver Cross Hospital.
LIMPING ALONG The reasons so many older people limp. As Chicago Sky team physician,
‘AM I STONED?’
UChicago Medicine’s Aravind Athiviraham, MD, keeps players
UChicago researchers are
in top form.
developing an app for that.
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Women are more prone to some types of sports injuries. Learn how to
THE EYES HAVE IT
prevent them.
What your eyes can reveal about your health.
Cover photo by Nancy Wong
Imagine 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
VISIT OUR WEBSITES FOR MORE INFORMATION: Adult care uchospitals.edu Children’s care uchicagokidshospital.org
Vice President, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer: William “Skip” Hidlay Editor: Anna Madrzyk Associate Editor: Gretchen Rubin Design: SBDWorks, Inc. Contributing writers
Read Imagine online at uchospitals.edu/Imagine Email us at imagine.editor@uchospitals.edu Facebook.com/UChicagoMed Twitter.com/UChicagoMed
Emily Boehm, Thea Grendahl Christou,
Science, health and wellness blog
John Easton, Angela Wells O’Connor,
This publication does not provide medical advice or treatment suggestions. If you have medical
uchicagomedicine.org
Jordan Porter-Woodruff, Gretchen Rubin, Molly Woulfe
problems or concerns, contact a physician, who will
Main number 1-773-702-1000 Appointments 1-888-824-0200
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Find these stories and more on THE FOREFRONT, our new science, health and wellness website uchicagomedicine.org.
Contributing photographers Ben Bitton, Jean Lachat, Mark Lopez, Anne Ryan, Joe Sterbenc, Joel Wintermantle,
determine your treatment. Do not delay seeking medical advice because of something you read here. For urgent needs, call 911 right away.
Nancy Wong, John Zich
7/10/18 10:50 AM
UCM_
Kristen welcomed baby Freddie into the world on December 19, 2017.
Our Family Birth Center offers parents-to-be a comfortable, nurturing environment surrounded by every modern amenity. We support your choices from prenatal care through delivery and postpartum recovery, while providing the highest quality care for every mother and baby. Our team includes obstetricians and certified midwives as well as neonatologists and other pediatric specialists. Customized birth experiences are at the forefront of care, making UChicago Medicine a great place to have your baby, your way.
Take a virtual tour of our new Family Birth Center at birthcenter.uchospitals.edu, or call us at 1-888-824-0200.
We are a Baby-Friendly USA designated hospital Designated 2018-2023
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BRAIN MAP QUEST The 100 billion neurons in the human brain each make tens of thousands of contacts with other brain cells, bringing the number of connections into the quadrillions. “It’s a huge theory of neuroscience that all of our behaviors, all of our illnesses, all of the learning we do, is due to changes in the connections,” said UChicago neurobiologist Bobby Kasthuri, MD, PhD. With the help of Argonne National Laboratory’s supercomputer, Kasthuri hopes to create a complete wiring diagram of the brain. Mapping the brain could explain the physical basis for our thoughts, emotions and behavior, and lead to advances in science, engineering and medicine.
Learn more uchicagomedicine.org/ brain-mapping
Imagine that! UNCLE SAM AND UCHICAGO MEDICINE WANT YOU!
You could be among the 1 million people who help speed up medical breakthroughs in the United States. The All of Us Research Program of the National Institutes of Health aims to learn about the lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors influencing health by collecting information about people’s health, habits and what it’s like where they live. Researchers will look for patterns to help them understand what affects people’s wellness and how to better prevent and treat diseases. A team led by UChicago health sciences and human genetics researcher Habibul Ahsan, MD, is recruiting 50,000 Illinois residents for All of Us. Participant engagement is the key to success for the initiative, especially for minorities who experience disproportionately higher rates of disease incidence and mortality. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit allofus.uchicago.edu. The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital is ranked among the best nationwide in four pediatric specialties in U.S. News & World Report’s 2018-19 “Best Children’s Hospitals” report: orthopaedics, pulmonology, diabetes and endocrinology, and gastroenterology and GI surgery.
READ MORE AT
uchicagomedicine.org
MORE STROKE PATIENTS ELIGIBLE FOR BLOOD-FLOW RESTORING PROCEDURE
Until this year, patients who suffered an ischemic stroke — a clot blocking blood flow to the brain — could have the clot extracted only if they reached a treatment center within six hours of the first symptoms, before tissue damage was deemed too severe. When two recent studies found ways to quickly and precisely assess brain damage, UChicago Medicine responded by using this information to evaluate stroke patients. Those identified as having potentially The University of Chicago Medicine salvageable tissue can in some cases has received the American Heart benefit from clot extraction procedures Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The performed up to 24 hours after stroke Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality onset. “This offers tremendous hope to Achievement Award. The award people who suffer a stroke in their sleep recognizes the hospital’s commitment or who live in rural areas, for whom to ensuring stroke patients receive the immediate access to advanced care is a most appropriate treatment according to challenge,” said neurologist and stroke nationally recognized, research-based guidelines expert James Brorson, MD. based on the latest scientific evidence.
24/7 online scheduling is here Zocdoc allows you to book your appointment online anytime. Look for the “Book Online” button on the profiles of participating UChicago Medicine physicians to get started.
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Sex after cancer: Talk about it Most women with cancer — as many as 75 percent — experience difficulties with sex and sexuality after their treatment. But most doctors, including cancer specialists, tend to avoid the topic unless the patient brings it up, says gynecologist Stacy Lindau, MD. “Sexual function can be preserved and restored after cancer, but not if no one is talking about it,” said Lindau, director of the University of Chicago Medicine’s Program in Integrative Sexual Medicine (PRISM) for women and girls with cancer. The PRISM team has cared for more than 500 women with all types of cancer. Lindau recommends female patients talk with their physician before starting cancer treatment. Here are some of the questions she suggests to start the conversation:
» Are there any treatment options that would give me both a good cancer outcome and preserve my sexual function? » Do I need to stop having sex and, if so, how will I know when it’s OK to start having sex again?
“WomanLab offers resources and support not only to women affected by illness, but to the doctors and other providers who care for them,” Lindau said. “If we can help the patient and the doctor feel more comfortable talking about sex, we can close the gap in care for women affected by cancer.”
» Will chemotherapy affect my sexual function? » How will surgery affect my ability to have normal sexual arousal and pleasure? » Can I do something to make sex more comfortable during treatment? » Will shutting down my ovaries or blocking all the estrogen in my body affect my sexual function? » Will radiation to or near my sexual organs affect me? Lindau’s team recently launched WomanLab, an online platform that addresses sexual function in women, especially within the context of cancer care and other health conditions.
| A B O V E | Stacy Lindau, MD, talks with
a patient.
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‘From very ill to e For most of her life, Kay Fricke had avoided any
Now at 59, I have never felt so young and energetic. It’s weird to feel stronger as I age. The difference in my life is magical.” KAY FRICKE
exertion that would put stress on her heart. “Never be the person who runs to catch a bus,” a doctor told her. “Always wait for the next one.” So when UChicago Medicine cardiologist Nir Uriel, MD, told her she had no exercise limitations following her successful heart transplant, she wasn’t just surprised. “The thought of it was terrifying,” she said. Fricke’s life as a heart patient began when she was 10. That was when her older brother, Jimmy, then 20, learned he had a genetic heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which causes the walls of the heart muscle to thicken. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young people. Jimmy collapsed and died at age 23. Fricke and her siblings were tested for the disease. “Soon after, I had the first of many heart catheterizations,” said Fricke, the only other child in the family to inherit the condition. When she was a freshman in college, doctors performed a surgical procedure called septal myectomy to reduce the thickening of her heart muscle. When she was in her mid-30s, a cardioverter defibrillator — then a newly available device — was implanted to deliver an electric shock to her heart if it started beating out of control.
| A B O V E | Kay Fricke and Rusty
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o embracing life’ “Between the surgery and the defibrillator, I thought I was fixed,” Fricke said. “No one was talking about transplant.” But in her early 50s, Fricke started noticing that everyday activities such as walking down a hall, crossing the street and carrying files for work left her short of breath. “The most basic things in life became impossible for me to do,” she said. While visiting family in Chicago in spring 2014, Fricke collapsed and was hospitalized at the University of Chicago Medicine. Uriel, director of heart failure, transplant and mechanical circulatory support, and Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD, chief of cardiac and thoracic surgery, told her she’d need a heart transplant soon.
Fricke researched transplant programs at academic medical centers across the country. In the end, she decided to stay at UChicago Medicine. “I had such trust in these doctors and their team,” she said. “I had faith in their judgment and confidence my voice would be heard.” In an effort to postpone the transplant, a pacing device was implanted to help Fricke’s heart beat in a more efficient way. It bought her about a year. “After trying all the therapies and devices available, the time for transplant had come,” Uriel said. “Kay was still a good candidate, but we had a window of opportunity before she would get too sick.”
In 2016, on March 26 — her brother Jimmy’s birthday — a donor heart became available. The transplant surgery and her recovery went smoothly. “Kay’s new heart has allowed her to do things she had never done before,” Uriel said. “Seeing her go from very ill to embracing life is, for me, the biggest joy.” The UChicago Medicine care team will follow Fricke for the rest of her life. “I used to dread going and hearing about my declining health and the need for a transplant,” she said. “Now I enjoy seeing the group of people who, together, gave me back my life.”
UChicago Medicine’s heart transplant program has a 94.3 percent* success rate for survival after one year. | A B O V E | Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD (left) and Nir Uriel, MD
Coming soon! Our expert cardiac care team at the University of Chicago Medicine will be expanding its reach to provide a full spectrum of services for patients with heart rhythm, heart failure and transplant needs at two new locations. UChicago Medicine Center for Arrhythmia Care at Ingalls Ingalls Professional Office Building 71 W. 156th St., Suite 309 Harvey
UChicago Medicine Center for Heart Failure, Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support at Ingalls Ingalls Professional Office Building 71 W. 156th St., Suite 309 Harvey
UChicago Medicine Center for Heart Failure, Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Munster Community Hospital 901 Macarthur Blvd. Munster, Ind.
*Source: Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients: Outcomes for transplants performed between 4/1/14 – 6/30/18
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THE SKY’S THE LIMIT
The Forefront of Medicine partners with the Chicago Sky The University of Chicago Medicine and the WNBA Chicago Sky became multiyear partners beginning with the Sky’s 2018 season. As the major sponsor and exclusive medical provider for the women’s professional basketball team, UChicago Medicine is providing comprehensive services, including heart screenings, orthopaedics and sports medicine, women’s health, and primary care to the players. UChicago Medicine’s Urban Health Initiative and the Chicago Sky are working together to impact health and wellness on the South Side and other communities across the city, providing public education on key health issues including nutrition and physical fitness.
This partnership will help us reach more people with the message that committing to wellness is not just a critical part of living a healthy life, it can also be fun.” SHARON O’KEEFE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER
| R I G H T | Chicago Sky guard Diamond DeShields | B E L OW | Sky Guy and Remoc lead stretches after the third quarter.
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Bouncing back Basketball star and WNBA Chicago Sky guard Allie Quigley has faced some of the toughest competition in the U.S. and around the world. She wasn’t going to be sidelined by knee pain. Quigley — a former WNBA number-two draft pick from Joliet — has twice earned the prestigious WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Award and has led her teams to several playoff and league championship series. A top player for the Sky, Quigley also plays for Turkey’s Galatasaray team in the women’s EuroLeague during the WNBA off-season. Despite her success on the court, Quigley found that her knee pain was affecting the mental edge she needed to compete at her full potential. To address the discomfort, she followed several non-surgical approaches — icing, physical therapy and cortisone injections.
Quigley sought the expertise of Aravind Athiviraham, MD, a specialist in orthopaedic sports medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine. He is also
The University of Chicago Medicine and the WNBA Chicago Sky officially broke the Guinness World Record for the largest basketball lesson, held during the inaugural #ChicagoFit Health and Fitness Festival. A total of 1,442 people participated in the July 8 lesson at Soldier Field.
After examining her knee and results from her MRI, Athiviraham determined Quigley had a significant tear in her lateral meniscus, the band of cartilage responsible for stabilizing the knee. He recommended arthroscopic surgery to repair the tear.
workouts, good nutrition and the care and guidance she received at UChicago Medicine: “Everyone at UChicago Medicine was awesome,” she said. “My care team gave me the information I needed to feel confident going into surgery and during my rehab.”
Quigley agreed. “After years of discomfort, it was time to deal with the pain and make it better,” she said.
Following the successful surgery last November, Quigley departed for Istanbul to join her teammates on the Turkish team. Athiviraham and the UChicago Medicine care team coordinated her rehabilitation and recovery plan with her medical providers in Turkey. Quigley started with light drills, combined with daily conditioning to strengthen the muscles surrounding her knee. After approximately six weeks — a quick recovery according to Athiviraham — Quigley was doing full workouts with her team and able to return to the Aravind Athiviraham, MD active roster.
“Mentally, having a knee issue makes you not as confident on the court,” Quigley said. “The discomfort is always on your mind.”
We did it!
the team doctor for the Chicago Sky.
Eight weeks after surgery, Quigley led all scorers in her team’s victory over a Polish squad. Two months later, in April, Galatasaray won the 2017-18 EuroCup — the league championship — powered by Quigley’s 37-point scoring performance in the finals. Quigley credits her recovery to regular
| A B O V E | Chicago Sky guard Allie Quigley
Bring your family and friends to a Chicago Sky game this summer HOME GAMES Wintrust Arena 200 E. Cermak Road Tuesday, August 7 7:30 p.m. vs. the Minnesota Lynx Friday, August 10 8:00 p.m. vs. the Connecticut Sun Sunday, August 19 5:00 p.m. vs. the Indiana Fever To purchase tickets:
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What women need to know about sports injuries Anatomy, nutrition and other factors can make female athletes — and all active women — more prone to injury and orthopaedic aches and pains. Whether you are a triathlete or just trying to get fit, minimize your risk for injury with these tips from Holly Benjamin, MD, sports medicine specialist at the University of Chicago Medicine. WHY WOMEN ARE AT RISK
Anatomy: Women have greater flexibility than men, thanks to looser ligaments. The downside of greater flexibility is weaker muscles, which can lead to injury. The female body also has a wider pelvis, which alters the alignment of the knee and ankle and puts more pressure on surrounding joints. Nutrition: Many women, including athletes, don’t get enough calcium and vitamin D. Because of menstruation and difficulty absorbing iron, women face a higher risk of irondeficiency anemia.
Holly Benjamin, MD
Hormones: Higher estrogen levels in women are associated with less muscle mass, weaker ligaments and more body fat. Biomechanics: When jumping, women tend to land more upright with their knees closer together. Also, in sports such as soccer, women often cut from side to side on one foot, creating torque — and additional strain and pressure — on the knee and ankle. Female athlete triad: Highly athletic women may be susceptible to “female athlete triad” — a combination of inadequate calorie and nutrient intake, irregular menstrual periods and bone loss. Inadequate calorie consumption can lead to overuse injuries, including sprains, strains, tendonitis and stress fractures. Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, contribute to this triad. SPORTS INJURIES COMMON IN WOMEN
Ankle sprains: Looser ligaments mean weaker ankles and instability when pivoting in sports like basketball and soccer. Rotator cuff tendonitis: Results from looser shoulder joints, weaker muscles and improper form with overhead movements in sports such as tennis and volleyball. Knee injuries: Weak hip and knee muscles can put too much pressure on the kneecap and cause chronic pain and inflammation around the knee joint (patellofemoral pain) because the kneecap is not properly aligned and tracking with movement. WHAT YOU CAN DO
Conditioning: Identify weaker muscles or areas that need more flexibility and target those in your training. Weight lifting can be very beneficial for women who want to prevent overtraining injuries. Because women tend in general to be more flexible and have looser joints, they should make core strengthening a priority in their workout routines.
Studies show ACL prevention programs — exercises to strengthen the hamstrings and inner thigh and techniques for jumping and landing — reduce this common knee injury by more than 50 percent for women.
If you are injured, be sure you recover completely to avoid further damage and the long-term risks of inadequate rehabilitation. For example, a strained hip flexor could lead to an altered running gait that causes a labral (cartilage) tear in the hip. Nutrition: Know your risk factors for nutritional deficits and have your iron, calcium, vitamin D and bone density checked for a baseline measurement and then as often as recommended by your health care provider. In addition to the short-term risk for injury, chronic calcium and vitamin D deficiency can lead to low bone density and a much higher risk of osteoporosis later in life. Consult your care team: Counseling from nutritionists, primary care physicians, coaches and psychologists can help address the female athlete triad and other challenges facing female athletes.
Where to find us for orthopaedic care We’re bringing academicpowered orthopaedic care to the Southland communities. Visit our convenient outpatient locations for consultations and postsurgical care. NEW! Calumet City
Crestwood Flossmoor Hyde Park Orland Park South Loop Tinley Park
uchicagomedicine.org/ortho
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Ask the Expert
HAPPY FEET Summer means sandals — and sand between your toes. Follow these tips from orthopaedic surgeon Kelly Hynes, MD, to keep your feet feeling and
K E L LY H Y N E S , M D
you are no longer comfortable wearing any kind of shoes and the pain interferes with your daily activities. But it’s not a good idea to have bunion surgery just to improve the appearance of your feet.
looking good.
WHAT DOES BUNION SURGERY
Flip-flops don’t generally cause foot problems, but they don’t provide support. As we age, the soft tissues in our feet, such as tendons and ligaments, can lose some of their strength. Choose a sandal with arch support and a stiffer sole to prevent tired, achy feet.
INVOLVE?
Bunions can make walking — or even wearing shoes — painful. University of Chicago Medicine orthopaedic surgeon Kelly Hynes, MD, who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle conditions, answers common questions about bunion treatment. WHAT CAUSES BUNIONS?
A bunion is caused by a gradual change in the position of the bones that make up the big toes. It makes the bones stick out more on the inside part of the big toe. It is not a “growth” or a callus. WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR BUNION PAIN?
Avoid shoes that make the pain worse. Usually shoes that are wider at the toes or open-toed (weather permitting) are best. Splinting or bracing the toes will not affect how the bunion changes over time. Unless you have other issues with the shape of your foot, custom insoles are not usually helpful for bunions either. WHEN IS SURGERY NECESSARY?
Surgery is an option to consider when
Surgery realigns the bones to make the foot more narrow, so the bunion doesn’t stick out as much. We also cut off a small amount of bone on the bunion area and adjust the surrounding soft tissues so they stop pulling the bones in the wrong way. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER?
All bunion surgeries require at least two weeks with zero walking and keeping the foot elevated to control swelling and promote wound healing. After that, recovery time will depend on the type of surgery and the size of the bunion, ranging from two to six weeks. Most people are not able to fit into a regular shoe for at least two months after surgery due to swelling.
Avoid walking outside in bare feet, which can cause calluses and injuries.
For hiking or walking, make sure you wear supportive, well-fitting running or hiking shoes to avoid pain and blisters. For active pursuits, doing some stretches first, especially for your calves, helps prevent overuse injuries to the feet and ankles.
WILL I BE ABLE TO WEAR HIGH HEELS AGAIN AFTER BUNION SURGERY?
There is never any guarantee which shoes you will be able to wear after bunion surgery. For most bunion surgeries, though, if appropriate stretching is done and the motion of the big toe gets back to normal, you should be able to wear a variety of shoes, possibly including a heel. But the goal of wearing high heels again should not be a reason to have bunion surgery.
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Dreams do come true | R I G H T | Elaine Johnson
During her treatment for lymphoma, Elaine Johnson often recalled advice from a much-loved Disney character. “Just keep swimming,” she’d tell herself. She dreamed of beating cancer and spending more time in the Magic Kingdom. Johnson, 57, is a huge Disney fan. And her care team at the University of Medicine’s Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital knows all about it. “When I came for appointments, the nurses and doctors talked to me about my love for all things Disney,” said Johnson, who lives in New Lenox, not far from the hospital where she got much of her cancer care. “It got my mind off of what was going on.” Elaine was diagnosed with large B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in May 2014. She and her husband, Jerry, were aware that UChicago Medicine specialists provide comprehensive cancer services at Silver Cross Hospital. “Jerry and I felt the cancer center staff in New Lenox would be the same caliber as the oncologists at UChicago Medicine in Hyde Park,” she said. For the next two years, Johnson received all of her treatment at Silver Cross, undergoing several courses of chemotherapy. When the aggressive cancer failed to go into remission, she was referred to oncologist Michael Bishop, MD, an expert in cellular therapies for blood cancers who sees patients at both locations.
Bishop managed Johnson’s care as she underwent two advanced treatments — a stem cell transplant and then CAR T-cell therapy, a new immunotherapy for blood cancers, which at the time was available only at select centers across the country through a clinical trial. Those treatments took place on UChicago Medicine’s Hyde Park campus, but whenever possible, checkups, blood work and scans were performed at Silver Cross.
UChicago Medicine’s Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital offers:
»» Chemotherapy, radiation
therapy and care for patients undergoing stem cell transplants and other advanced therapies.
»» Access to clinical trials
not typically available in a community hospital setting.
»» Support groups, preventative screenings and a cancer resource center.
We combine the science and research of a world-class cancer center with the feel of a community hospital.” GRACE SUH, MD
“We helped Elaine and her family navigate her care at the two facilities,” said medical oncologist Grace Suh, MD. “Our goal was to give her the best care possible so she could get her life back.” Added Bishop, “And get her back to Disney World.” Now, two years after her last cancer treatment, Johnson is thrilled to be taking extended vacations to the theme park, where her daughter Rachel is a cast member. But Johnson will continue to see Suh, Bishop and the other cast members on her Silver Cross cancer team for follow-up care.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
uchospitals.edu
Adult cancer care and radiation oncology 855-826-1400 Gynecologic cancer care 773-702-6118
University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center at Silver Cross Hospital Carolyn J. Czerkies Pavilion 1850 Silver Cross Blvd. New Lenox
“The staff at Silver Cross are like family now,” Johnson said. “We’ll always come back here.”
| R I G H T | Grace Suh, MD, Elaine Johnson
and Michael Bishop, MD
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WHERE TO FIND US FOR EYE CARE CHICAGO–HYDE PARK
Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine 5758 S. Maryland Ave., Suite 1B CHICAGO–DOWNTOWN
900 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1425
Eye on your health Your next eye exam could reveal important clues about your overall health. By looking at the blood vessels in the back of your eye, an ophthalmologist can detect signs of high blood pressure, diabetes and other common conditions.
BLOCKED ARTERIES
Dimitra Skondra, MD, PhD
That’s because the retinal vasculature — veins and arteries — is closely related to the health of your heart and circulatory system. Here’s a closer look at what abnormalities in these vessels might mean. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Some patients don’t know they have high blood pressure until it’s discovered in an eye exam. “I have had patients come in for a regular checkup, and I found some evidence of changes in the ratio between the size of retinal arteries to veins or small blood clots in the eye,” said University of Chicago Medicine ophthalmologist Dimitra Skondra, MD, PhD, a retinal specialist. “The clots were not affecting their vision even though they were there, and then when the patients were checked, it was discovered that they had high blood pressure and high cholesterol.” In the eye, high blood pressure can cause retinopathy, or damage to the eye’s main blood supply. This can cause bleeding in the eye, blurred vision, blood clots, damage to the optic nerve or a retinal stroke.
“If we see small emboli in the eye, they can be coming either from an arteriosclerotic plaque in the carotid artery, which is the main artery that brings blood to the head and neck, or they can come from emboli in the heart,” Skondra said. Without treatment, the patient could be at greater risk of a stroke or embolism.
DIABETES
Early treatment to control blood sugar levels helps prevent such complications as diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness. “If we see someone who has evidence of diabetes, we know that diabetes promotes cardiovascular disease,” Skondra said.
NEW! ORLAND PARK
14290 S. La Grange Road Optometry services For an appointment, call 773-702-3937. For information about eye care at Ingalls, visit ingalls.org/ophthalmology.
Just opened! Our newly renovated ophthalmology clinic in the Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine is designed to be easily navigated by patients with visual impairments or physical challenges. Hallways are wider, and different types of flooring and paint provide visual cues. Up to four patients can be checked in simultaneously in a new, larger reception area. Pediatric exam rooms are bigger and equipped with “distance fixation animals” that light up, move and make animal sounds.
ARTHRITIS
Systemic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis also can be detected during an eye exam. Arthritis and inflammation in the eye can cause pain, redness and vision loss. Dry eye is commonly associated with these conditions. If severe and untreated, it can damage the cornea, the dome-shaped clear surface of the eye.
| A B O V E | Animated characters help
children focus during eye exams.
Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD, chair of ophthalmology and visual science
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One-stop resource for asthma information The University of Chicago Medicine, in partnership with the South Side Pediatric Asthma Center (SSPAC), recently launched an asthma resource line. Call 1-833-3ASTHMA (1-833-327-8462) to ask questions, learn about community resources and connect with a primary care physician.
Asthma specialist B. Louise Giles, MD, with patient Daniel McCloud
Approximately 20 percent of children on Chicago’s South Side have asthma, compared to 10 percent in Illinois and 12 percent nationally. Children with asthma are more likely to miss school days, visit the emergency department and be hospitalized. The SSPAC is a collaboration launched in June 2017 between UChicago Medicine’s Urban Health Initiative and Comer Children’s Hospital, and local health providers La Rabida Children’s Hospital, Friend Family Health Center and St. Bernard Hospital. The SSPAC is expanding the network of providers and caregivers trained to identify and treat asthma on Chicago’s South Side.
The asthma resource line is designed to provide a one-stop, convenient and reliable source of information, as well as a pathway for children in the community to receive the care they need.” BRENDA BATTLE, BSN, MBA, RN VICE PRESIDENT, URBAN HEALTH INITIATIVE CHIEF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUITY OFFICER
AT THE FOREFRONT
A leader in health care equality For the fourth year in a row, UChicago Medicine was named an LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for the academic health system’s inclusive policies and practices related to LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees.
A leader in safety In April, UChicago Medicine earned its 13th consecutive A in hospital safety from The Leapfrog Group. This makes UChicago Medicine one of only 49 hospitals in the country to earn 13 A’s in a row since Leapfrog began its twice-a-year survey in 2012.
MyChart on your iPhone UChicago Medicine is now one of nearly 40 health care institutions to support the integration of MyChart-available medical information in the Apple Health app for the iPhone. The Health Records feature within the app will make it easier for patients to conveniently access and manage their personal health information in seven important categories: allergies, health conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures and vitals. Learn more uchicagomedicine.org/health-recordson-phone
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GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN Family supports research into a cure for celiac disease Alissa and Peter W. Carlino wish they could sit down with their three daughters and enjoy a worry-free dinner. The meal could be simple: pasta, crusty bread and salad with dressing. Yet, family recipes are taboo. The Carlinos, of Berks County, Penn., rely on gluten-free alternatives to protect Alissa, 41, and Gianna, 10. Both mother and child have celiac disease, an inherited disorder in which the immune system has a toxic reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Gianna, diagnosed two years ago, is vigilant about her diet. Siblings Siena, 9, and Lucia, 5, help by keeping their cookies and snacks in separate bins. The family’s firstborn is remarkably well-adjusted, yet her parents are determined to help find a cure for the more than 3 million Americans who share this chronic condition. The couple has donated an unprecedented $1.56 million to the University of Chicago Medicine Celiac Disease Center, which doubles as a research and treatment hub, and established the Alissa and Gianna Carlino Fellowship in Celiac Disease Research. The fellowship will support a full-time researcher and studies to advance understanding of the disease and discover new treatments. “A cure is important to me because two of the people that I love more than anything else in the entire universe are afflicted with celiac disease,” said Peter W. Carlino, 42, a real estate developer, of his wife and daughter. “It’s incredibly difficult to witness their suffering when they’re exposed to gluten.”
I hope to motivate others and want, hopefully in Gianna’s lifetime, a cure for the disease.” PETER W. CARLINO
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| A B O V E | Gianna Carlino with Bana Jabri, MD, PhD, director of
research for the University of Chicago Medicine Celiac Disease Center, at the center’s annual Spring Flours Gluten-Free Gala in April.
The Carlino family’s story uchicagomedicine.org/carlino-family More on celiac disease and research cureceliacdisease.org
Celiac disease affects at least 1 out of 100 Americans, but approximately 85 percent are undiagnosed, largely because many physicians don’t recognize the symptoms or think to test for it. To complicate diagnosis, the onset of the disease is unpredictable. Pregnancy, surgery and viruses are among the factors that may trigger the digestive system to reject gluten. Symptoms include cramping, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. Gianna was so sick that she missed school about once a month. “It was terrible,” she said. That’s when Peter W. Carlino turned to the internet for help. As adults, he and Alissa were equipped to handle the situation, he said. But watching their child’s pain was gutwrenching. As he searched online for experts focused on a cure, “the University of Chicago kept coming up,” he said. For the Carlinos, philanthropy is a family legacy. Peter’s grandfather, Peter D. Carlino, was a patron of many charitable organizations. His parents, Marshia and Peter M. Carlino, have generously supported research and actively raise funds every year for their local hospital in Pennsylvania. “They set a shining example for me by the things they did,” Peter W. Carlino said. “I hope my kids are inspired as well to help others.”
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AT THE FOREFRONT OF NURSING EXCELLENCE We knew our nurses were among the best. Now we have proof. The University of Chicago Medicine has received the prestigious Magnet Recognition, the highest national honor for nursing excellence and patient care. Magnet hospitals foster the ideal environment for nursing by investing in education and development and nurturing a collaborative culture where nurses are valued as integral partners in every patient’s care.
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