The Arch
summer 2011 college-wide edition college of health professions • medical university of south carolina
REHABILITATION CENTER TO RESHAPE THERAPY By Dawn Brazell, The Catalyst, MUSC Eric Monsch walked about the Locomotor Energetics and Assessment Lab with 65 red lights flashing about his body, 12 cameras mounted high on the walls monitoring his every move. This motion capture system— the same type used by the Black Eyed Peas to animate its latest music video—is coupled with a splitbelt treadmill that measures the forces acting on Monsch’s feet. The data being collected will allow researchers to create a specific mathematical model of his musculo-skeletal system with a high power computer. It was one of the demonstrations being held May 4 as visitors packed MUSC’s Center for Rehabilitation Research in Neurological Conditions at 77 President St. to celebrate the center’s grand opening. It’s a center expected to reshape the way rehabilitation therapy is done for a variety of neurological conditions, including stroke, spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy. Like a proud father, Steve Kautz Ph.D., the center’s co-director, points out features of the lab’s high-tech capabilities, explaining how some of the equipment is the only kind of its design in the world. Data that used to take hours to process at a cost of more than $50,000 now can be done in seconds given the equipment’s sophistication. Kautz said the center will be developing the next generation of rehabilitation practice.
Cutting the ribbon are: Drs. Ray Greenberg (from left), Mark Sothmann, Steve Kautz, Jim Krause and Lisa Saladin.
“Cutting-edge technology will allow us to develop new measurement techniques and better clinical assessments that will allow clinicians to define a patient’s specific deficits and link them to the affected underlying systems,” he said. “While we will use the state-of-the-art tools you will see today to develop these measures, our ultimate goal is to also develop either low tech or inexpensive versions of these measures that could be available in clinics throughout South
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GRADUATING STUDENTS The College enjoyed another successful graduation this year with 327 students earning their degrees. One of the highlights of the graduation events was this year’s Commencement Speaker, Darius Rucker. Grammy winner and former front-man of “Hootie and the Blowfish.” Mr. Rucker offered the graduates three pieces of advice during his speech: “find something to make you laugh”; “always believe in yourself” and “try to make the world a better place”.
INSIDE
2 Tribute to Askins 2 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award
3 CHP Staff Gives Back 3 D. G. Askins Scholarship Recipient
4 Rehab Center Reshapes Therapy (Cont’d) 4 MUSC Alumni Association
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summer 2011 edition • college-wide edition
TRIBUTE TO D. GLEN ASKINS By Wally Pregnall (with adaptation) When Glen Askins, M.D.passed away on May 2, 2011, the obituaries that followed were appropriately extensive, noting the many achievements and honors of a lifetime spanning 76 years. For the MUSC community and beyond, it is the qualities known to those closest to Askins, College of Health Professions professor and clinical services department chair, that make his legacy and his loss all the more profound. Colleagues repeated certain words to describe Askins: thoughtful, insightful, steady, low-key, unflappable, caring, empathetic, humble, endearing and intellectually curious are among the most common. Not one to hesitate expressing what he thought, Askins was often direct, a quality sometimes misunderstood until it was evident that his motivation was simply the desire for the best for the patients, students, colleagues and institutions he served. As Arnie Metz, assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Studies Program recalled, “At first, when we were trying to get the PA Program off the ground, I thought of him as a gruff, smoking doctor. As our relationship developed, we both opened up and I saw the kind, thoughtful man behind the deep Southern drawl.” The qualities which endeared Askins to colleagues, students and
patients transcended formal relationships and resulted in deep, lasting friendships. Becki Trickey, PhD, Interim Executive Dean, described Askins as a “southern gentleman and a true friend.” She shared a quote of George Washington that depicted her relationship with Askins, “True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.”
D. Glen Askins, MD
For innumerable reasons, both personal and professional, Askins will be missed by the MUSC community. As shared by Dr. Lisa Saladin, Interim Dean, “Askins was a gifted clinician and outstanding educator whose impact on the physician assistant profession in South Carolina is immeasurable. He will be truly missed as a friend and colleague.” His legacy will live on not only through his achievements and the many students he sent forth to practice, but through the manner in which he lived life.
2012 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD NOMINATIONS NEEDED! The Distinguished Alumnus Award is given annually to one or more graduates of the MUSC College of Health Professions in recognition of outstanding professional achievement, service to the individual’s profession, the community, the College, and/or the University, excellence in leadership, professional growth, and/or educational advancement or service. This year’s award(s) will be presented during the winter homecoming event on February 4th in Charleston, SC. Many more details coming soon. A photo of the winner will also be added to the College’s Alumni Hall of Fame Gallery. To nominate an alumnus for this award, please complete and return the form to the Alumni Office at the address shown. Final candidates will be contacted directly to request copies of their current resume or curriculum vitae and other supporting information needed for the selection process. Nominations for the 2012 award are needed no later than October 31, 2011.
MEDICAL MISSION TRIP This is the 3rd year for OT and PT students to travel to Masindi, Uganda with Palmetto Medical Initiative. The team saw over 1,200 patients, roughly 500 were seen by the OT/ PT therapy team. North Coast Medical and Patterson Medical donated of supplies for the trip.
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summer 2011 edition • college-wide edition
CHP STAFF GIVES BACK Ronald McDonald House: In the spring of 2011, the College of Health Professions’ faculty and staff donated approximately $274 to help provide meals for the families staying at the local Ronald McDonald House located on Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC. 45 people in residence at the house graciously appreciated the generosity. In addition to providing meals for the families, enough funds were generated to provide two nights stay for a family. March of Dimes: This year the CHP Staff participated in the annual MUSC March of Dimes Campaign. Fundraisers included Blue Jeans for Babies, Purses for Preemies, and the March for Babies. CHP staff played a major role in each fundraiser by making gifts as well as volunteering their time to organize and run the events. As an added attempt to increase CHP support towards the March of Dimes, volunteers from all around the College contributed goodies for a bake sale held in the lobby of the children’s hospital and the atrium of the college. The College raised over $500 for the March of Dimes this year while MUSC as whole raised over $24,000! Pictured left to right: Lauren Smith, Lauren Melton Dickerson, and Jim Moore with statue of Ronald McDonald after donating $274 to help provide meals for families staying there while their loved ones are patients at nearby hospitals. This was just one of many serivce activities CHP staff participated in this year.
MR. HYMAN FOWLER - RECIPIENT OF D. G. ASKINS, JR., M.D. SCHOLARSHIP In 2004 the D. G. Askins, Jr., M.D. Scholarship was established about 10 years old, Fowler’s sister was diagnosed with thyroid by former CHP Professor and Department Chair, Dr. Askins. cancer, a disease that is often asymptomatic until it reaches an The scholarship is for the purpose of advancing the Physician advanced stage. Thankfully for the Fowler family, her primary Assistant (PA) profession by providing awards to deserving care physician and other providers caught the disease in an students of the CHP PA program who demonstrate the early, treatable stage. Hyman Fowler attributes his sister being commitment to practice their profession according to the alive today to the care she received from her primary care team. highest standards of excellence Another motivating factor to and leadership as exhibited by go into primary care came Dr. Askins. In 2010, on the 50th from Fowler’s recent trip to anniversary of his graduation from South Africa. He saw up close the Medical University of South the impact that primary care, Carolina’s College of Medicine, the or lack thereof, can have on D. G. Askins, Jr., M.D. Scholarship vulnerable populations. The was fully endowed. Now, in the ability to manage or prevent first year of endowment, Dr. Askins disease through primary care would undoubtedly be proud made an impact on his career that the scholarship in his name goals. He sees himself practicing has been awarded to PA student in the southeast, if not South Hyman Fowler, who embodies Carolina, and helping to serve the excellence and leadership Hyman Fowler is the recipient of the D.G. Askins, Jr., MD the medically underserved in promoted by the scholarship. Scholarship. Fowler attributes the exceptional care his sister rural areas. It’s that sense of Despite not having the opportunity received at a young age when fighting cancer to his desire to compassion and commitment become a physician assistant. to meet Dr. Askins prior to his to excellence that makes Fowler passing in May 2011, Fowler shares such a fitting recipient of the the same commitment to excellence Askins Scholarship, and another that inspired the scholarship. For Fowler, the commitment was reason why Dr. Askins would be proud that his scholarship is borne from personal experience at a young age. When he was contributing to Hyman Fowler’s success as a Physician Assistant. To unsubscribe to this e-newsletter please email “Unsubscribe” to meltonl@musc.edu
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summer 2011 edition • college-wide edition
REHABILITATION CENTER TO RESHAPE THERAPY Continued from page 1
Carolina.
already strong tie between the two groups.
Jim Krause, Ph.D., and co-director of the center, set the stage for the center with his research focus on risk assessment and prevention of adverse outcomes for those with spinal cord injury, said Kautz. “With the new labs you will see today, the center is building on this strength by adding a second research focus on neurorehabilitation research that will assist clinicians in getting the best outcome possible for each individual.”
Greenberg said the grand opening marks a much-needed milestone in the university’s history.
Kautz, a research career scientist at the VA Medical Center, said this center provides investigators at both institutions great opportunities to build their research programs. MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., agreed saying that the center strengthens an
“It’s one of the most exciting events at the medical university—not just this year but in a long time—because it’s just such an important area, and it’s been truly underrepresented at the medical university both on the clinical and the research side for so many years. Now we really have the growth in neurosciences and the recruitment of a truly worldclass research team to partner with them. We have the elements of building a worldclass physical rehabilitation program.”
Dr. Aaron Embry demonstrates the ZeroG bodyweight suspension system during a lab tour.
MUSC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MEMBER BENEFITS MUSC is extremely proud of its alumni and realizes that the ongoing success of the University is largely dependent on the success of its alumni. For this reason, the Office of Alumni Affairs serves as a resource dedicated to providing administrative and leadership support to the alumni of MUSC. MUSC alumni are always welcome to visit the office, located at 261 Calhoun Street, Suite 306. Our staff is available during normal business hours and can be reached by calling (843) 792-7979 or toll free at 1-888-202-9306. To thank you for your participation and support, we have developed a package of benefits available to members only. CLICK HERE to learn more about the membership benefits. Your membership will allow the Alumni Association to enhance alumni programming, serving as the bridge between our alumni population and the University, and contribute to the ongoing success of our students by offering scholarships to those who excel, based on financial need. Click here to join the Alumni Association
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Please send us your comments, compliments or concerns! Contact: Lauren Melton Dickerson meltonl@musc.edu
Office of Development | College of Health Professions | 843.792.9134 | http://www.musc.edu/chp
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