April 17, 2015
Inside
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA
YES campaign celebrates 30 years of giving
Global
Telemedicine
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MUSC impacts patients worldwide.
20Th
anniversarY
8
Earl B. Higgins Awards rewards inclusivity.
2
Recognition
4
Travel Grants
11
Meet Regina
photo provided
YES Campaign employees applaud long-time donors at the April 7 kickoff event. The 2015 YES campaign goal is $400,000.
By Cindy aBole Public Relations Festivity and high spirits were in the air at the 2015 kickoff and 30th anniversary celebration of MUSC’s annual YES (Yearly Employee Support) Campaign held Tuesday, April 7 in the Drug Discovery Building lobby. More than 70 employees came out to the midday event to celebrate three decades of employee giving to YES, which has resulted in more than $7 million in total contributions. Leading the celebration were 2015 YES Campaign co-chairs Sabra Slaughter, Ph.D., Office of the President, and Fred Tecklenberg, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, and also MUSC President David J. Cole, M.D., FACS. Contributions to the YES Campaign support MUSC programs, services, scholarships and special projects. Donors can choose to designate
YES – Many Ways to Give T h e c aTa lY s T online http://www. musc.edu/ catalyst
Employees can donate their gifts through payroll deduction, PTO donation or as a one-time gift or pledge via credit card, check, or stock transfer. All gifts made to the YES Campaign are tax deductible. Donate at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/ development, click on the “YES.” box or contact Whitney McLuen, YES campaign coordinator, 792-1973.
their tax deductible gifts to any of the 1,300 active funds within the MUSC Foundation, including the YES Family Fund, which was established in 1999 as a resource where employees can apply for grants that support projects within their work areas. The YES Family Fund generated more than $30,000 in funding to support 16 projects in 2014. According to Slaughter, YES committee leaders and organizers were unsure of the program’s potential for success following its launch as a largescale internal fund-raising effort in 1985. “MUSC employees already give their time and energy to this institution, eight hours or more a day, five days a week; would they step up and give more?” Slaughter asked. “After 30 years of successful giving, the answer continues to be ‘yes.’” Cole spoke about the importance of YES to the university, as it supports students and employees in their jobs, improving the health of South Carolinians. “Throughout this campaign, YES dollars have funded scholarships, research programs, community health programs, mobile health units and other outreach services, patient education programs and building funds. These are things that help make MUSC special and different from any other institution in the Lowcountry and throughout
See Giving on page 3
Vol. 33, No. 33
29 Years of Yes “While philanthropy has always been important, I believe that it will play an increasingly important role in the future of MUSC. In my opinion, “giving back” to MUSC is one of the measures of an individual’s commitment to the institution. I believe that every employee should contribute, even if the actual amount is small. Realistically, how can we expect others to support MUSC and its mission if we don’t support it ourselves? MUSC has been extremely good to me, and to my family, friends and patients. I hope to continue to support MUSC for a long time and, through bequests, even after I am long gone.” Fred Crawford, M.D., Department of Surgery
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Medical Center
‘Making a difference every day’ Employees of the Month Award Stephanie Greiner Hollings Cancer Center
was overreacting. The patient ended up admitted to cardiology. If Stephanie had not been so diligent the patient would have ended up in the car driving for two hours. I feel that Stephanie helped save this patient’s life that day.” Nominated by Tess Morris
“Stephanie Greiner was covering triage one day when she got a page from the lab that a former patient of Dr. Costa’s was feeling a little funny. The patient did not have an appointment to see anyone that day, just a lab appointment. The patient was scheduled to see Dr. Mims in a few weeks. Stephanie made a phone call and had one of the CMA’s check a quick set of vitals. The patient’s heart rate was in the 170’s. Stephanie came upstairs to see the patient and do a quick exam. Knowing that her physician was out of town, she called the patient’s cardiologist and got orders for additional labs and to let him know she was sending him to the chest pain center. The patient was quite put out that he had to be transported via Meducare and started to argue with Stephanie. She stayed calm and explained that if something happened she would be responsible. That calmed him down, but he still felt everyone
Catherine Williamson North Charleston Children’s Afterhours & Specialty Clinics “I want to applaud Catherine for going above and beyond last Wednesday during Genetics clinic. We had a Russian father with three children coming from Myrtle Beach; the father spoke no English at all. The children needed to have special labs done after the visit, and we were having a very hard time trying to explain to him how to get to the MUSC lab. Catherine drove her car and had the father follow her to the lab. She also went in with them and made sure the person at the lab understood exactly what the family was there for. The father was so grateful
Editorial of fice MUSC Office of Public Relations 135 Cannon Street, Suite 403C, Charleston, SC 29425. 843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723
The Catalyst is published once a week. Paid adver tisements, which do not represent an endorsement by MUSC or the State of South Carolina, are handled by Island Publications Inc., Moultrie News, 134 Columbus St., Charleston, S.C., 843-849-1778 or 843-958-7490. E-mail: sales@moultrienews.com.
Editor: Cindy Abole
catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Mikie Hayes, hayesmi@musc.edu Dawn Brazell, brazell@musc.edu J. Ryne Danielson, daniejer@musc.edu Helen Adams, adamshel@musc.edu Sarah Pack, packsa@musc.edu Jeff Watkins, watkinsj@musc.edu
that he almost kissed her. Thank you Catherine for being so great.” Nominated by Rocio Bullock Physician of the Month Award Joseph Abro, M.D. Department of Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine “Dr. Abro has been our Trauma/ Gen Anesthesia physician for 6West during the month of March. From the beginning, he has demonstrated the true meaning of compassion, empathy and respect toward not only our patients, but also our staff. Even during the busiest of times when he is dealing with traumas off of our floor, Dr. Abro has always responded to his pages in a timely manner and has listened to our concerns about our patients. There has been a strong collaboration with Dr. Abro and our floor staff, along with other members of our health care team (RT, Radiology, etc.). Dr. Abro deserves to be recognized as an outstanding team player and he is an excellent addition to our team.” Nominated by Carrie Cooney Jane Charles, M.D. Developmental Pediatrics “Most people don’t have any idea what families go through when they
have a child with autism. Having a teenager with autism is even harder. Two weeks ago, we experienced a real crisis in our daughter’s behavior and were absolutely at a loss of how to help her. We didn’t want her to hurt herself or us, but we couldn’t calm her down. I paged Dr. Charles since she is her doctor, and I hoped and prayed she could tell me what to do. She called me back almost immediately, and all I could do when I heard her voice was cry. Somehow she made sense of everything I was saying. She calmed me down first, and was able to assess the situation over the phone and tell me exactly what to do to help my daughter. Not only did it work, but she called back a couple of hours later to check on us. I wasn’t on her schedule, and she still fit us in. She didn’t pass it on to a resident or another doctor on call, she took it herself. To me she is a real super hero. Her expertise in the field of autism is invaluable to MUSC. She is an advocate for her patients and their families.” Nominated by Katy Kuder
2015 Outstanding Clinician Award nominations accepted until April 24 Nominations for the 2015 MUSC Foundation’s Outstanding Clinician Award are being accepted. The award honors full-time faculty who have made outstanding contributions to patient care at MUSC. Currently active clinicians who commit a significant portion of their time caring for patients in ambulatory or inpatient settings are eligible for this award. Nominees should be role models for residents, students and their faculty colleagues. The deadline for nominations is April 24. Nominations may be submitted to Mark Sothmann, Ph.D., 179 Ashley Ave., Colcock Hall, MSC 002, MUSC.
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March Mindful Challenge winner is snacking smarter, healthier Hydroponic tomatoes may not be the first food that comes to mind to satisfy a craving for a snack, but the March Mindful Challenge winner, Noni Langford, found it to be a tasty option. Langford decided to try something new after she took the initial challenge survey that invited participants to opt for healthier snacks during March. Like many people, she tries to keep her kitchen stocked with healthy choices like fresh fruit to keep her feeling full and “not grouchy since it is too easy Langford to go for processed snacks like crackers when their isn’t a better choice around.” This project coordinator for the Grounds Department and MUSC Urban Farm garden educator also opts for smoothies during her work day, though she admits to avoiding kale, which has been popular with many lately. What else didn’t make the cut? Chia seeds — “tried it but not a fan.” When Noni wants something nutrient– dense to nibble on and her cupboard is bare, she visits
GivinG
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South Carolina,” said Cole, thanking employees for their loyalty and continued support.“It’s making a difference in more lives than you can imagine.” Following his address, Cole took a moment to recognize the campaign’s most loyal donors, including five employees who have given generously every year since the campaign began in 1985 – 29 years and counting: Fred Crawford, M.D., Department of Surgery; Betts Ellis, MUHA Institutional Relations; Jim Fisher, Office of Development; Sherry Gillespie-Miller, Ambulatory Care; and Peggy Schachte, Office of Research Development. The 2015 YES campaign goal of $400,000 was announced by Tecklenburg. New for this year’s employee giving campaign is the addition of a recently-created fund to support the Children’s Hospital and Women’s Pavilion campaign. The new hospital, which is slated to be built next to Ashley River Tower, will replace the current 28-year-old Children’s Hospital. It will be a state-of-the-art facility that focused on family-centered care, according to
Health at work Susan Johnson
the cafeterias. Though some may find that surprising, she’s found healthy foods there such as hard boiled eggs, hummus and apples. There’s a new challenge each month. The April Monthly Mindful Challenge is Eat Sustainably: What’s good for the body is good for the planet. To begin, take the April Monthly Mindful Challenge first survey at http://tinyurl.com/ kkl86ud. A link to the final survey will be sent at month’s end to those who take the first one.
Wellness Events
q A Taste of African Heritage — Free cooking series starting April 18 to May 16, 10 to 11:30 a.m., ART Auditorium and cafeteria. Open to anyone age 15 and older. Class begins with a lesson, the heritage of African–American cuisine, followed by hands–on cooking and tasting. Participants must commit to all five classes. Space is limited. Contact Debbie Petitpain, 792--9644. q Chair massages — Free massages are offered to employees midday on Wednesdays. Check broadcast
Tecklenburg. This $350 million project is expected to be completed with help from public funds as well as the campaign to raise $50 million in private donations. So far, the Imagine What’s Possible Children’s Hospital and Women’s Pavilion Campaign has raised almost $15 million for the project but needs additional support. “We are depending on YES Campaign donors and many others to help make this new hospital a reality,” Tecklenburg said. “I hope you will consider joining me in ‘imagining what’s possible’ for the future of children’s health in South Carolina and beyond.” At the event’s conclusion, the crowd viewed the Children’s Hospital and Women’s Pavilion’s “Let’s Build It” video, featuring patient and family stories advocating for the need for such a new facility in the Palmetto state. MUSC’s YES Campaign period continues through June 30. Employees may donate their gifts through payroll deduction, PTO donation or as a onetime gift or pledge (via credit card, check, or stock transfer). All gifts made to the YES Campaign are tax deductible.
messages for locations and times. q Farmers Markets — Fresh fruits and vegetables are available from local farmers on Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Horseshoe.
MUSC Wellness Center
q Beach Ready Boot Camp — 6 a.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, April 6 to May 14. This sixweek program includes 18 workouts at varied locations that focus on improved fitness and muscle definition. Taught by active duty Marines (not a boot camp) who will share their expertise in developing fit bodies with added strength and definition. Visit www.musc.edu/hsc or call 792-5757.
MUSC Urban Farm
q Midday Work and Learn — 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., Tuesdays q Early Bird Maintenance — 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Wednesdays q Sunset Work and Learn — 4 to 5 p.m., Thursday q Third Saturday Family-friendly Work and Learn — 9 to 11 a.m., April 18 q Lunch and Learns — 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., Thursday, April 16 (Composting) For information about health and wellness events, contact Johnsusa@musc.edu or Whela@musc.edu.
29 Years of Yes “My support to the YES Campaign is very meaningful to me. The Medical University rolled the dice and took a chance when hiring me 36 years ago. I have never forgotten that. This institution has provided me every opportunity to grow and succeed both professionally and personally, probably more so than I deserve. It has allowed me to meet and interact with outstanding and inspirational individuals both on campus and through the countless supporters, advocates and volunteers that have crossed my path. Also, I have been very blessed throughout my life with good health and through the YES Campaign I hope to return those blessings to others who might not be quite as fortunate.” Jim Fisher, Office of Development “Giving back to MUSC this way just seems like a natural thing to do. Since I started at MUSC in 1969, you might say we grew up together. Being part of MUSC is way more than just a job. The YES Campaign and its spinoffs – all the great initiatives and special projects that our donations support every year – are great examples of what it means to be part of the MUSC family.” Peggy Schachte Office of Research Development
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Center announces Global Health travel grant recipients Staff Report The Center for Global Health has awarded 10 students and a resident travel grants of $2,000 each to support global health research and training. Established in 2013, the Trainee Global Health Travel Grants give MUSC students the opportunity to develop their clinical skills and research worldwide. Additionally, the center will fund three faculty members as faculty mentor grant awardees leading students abroad. The award will assist faculty in providing mentorship to student groups participating in global health research or training projects. The 2015 grant recipients are: q Sara Atkinson, College of Health Professions Project — “Implementing the use of adaptive equipment in Nicaragua” Atkinson will be working with Palmetto Medical Initiative in El Viejo, Nicaragua to provide care to patients of work-related and occupational injuries. An occupational therapy student, she will work with colleagues across disciplines to enhance the lives of injured and at-risk patients. Atkinson is passionate about creating new opportunities for these patients to work and have a better quality of life. “A teacher of mine once made me realize exactly what passion means to an individual and how it drives decision making and actions,” Atkinson said. “However, I have learned throughout my own experience that having passion without direction causes confusion. For example, I was passionate about science, and I was passionate about helping others, but I did not know how to blend the two. Thankfully, I found occupational therapy, and now feel I live out those two passions simultaneously.” q Jacqueline Bangma, College of Graduate Studies Project — “Perfluorinated compounds and the tale of pansteatitis in Mpumalanga province, South Africa” Bangma’s project adds something unique to this year’s group of travel grant recipients. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in marine biomedical
growth that I otherwise may have not pursued,” Hite said. “It is my hope that with successful implementation of these projects, SLI can adopt them as their own, develop them further and incorporate them in their yearly trip.”
photo provided
MUSC students, working with the Uganda Village Project, explain the importance of having a pit latrine in a village in Iganga, Uganda. sciences at MUSC with the hope of continuing research on animal diseases across the world. Bangma feels she has the knowledge and training to complete what will be one of the most difficult projects of her academic career. Thanks to previous work with her mentor, Louis J. Guillette, Jr., Ph.D, MUSC CoEE Endowed Chair in Marine Genomics, Bangma is learning investigative practices to aid in understanding the effects of anthropogenic chemicals on the vertebrate immune system. “With Dr. Guillette’s mentorship, I believe the opportunity to research with Dr. Hannes Botha in South Africa will help me become a more versatile researcher who is able to establish strong working relationships with collaborators across the globe,” Bangma said. “This experience will also merge my background in chemistry with biology and ecotoxicology while helping to answer complex environment questions.” q Elizabeth Bernard, College of Health Professions Project — “Palmetto Medical Initiative – Masindi-Kitara Medical Center, Uganda” Bernard will be traveling to Masindi, Uganda this summer with PMI and an interprofessional team of her peers to evaluate and treat patients with shoulder pain, back pain and other musculoskeletal issues. Bernard is
pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in the College of Health Professions at MUSC. She plans to provide corrective exercise techniques and body mechanics for lifting to the Ugandan people. With Bernard’s skills and PMI’s experience in the region, she is bound to make an indelible impact in Masindi. While she admits that traveling to rural Africa is a challenge, she is confident that the trip will be worth it. “Not only will this trip give me an opportunity to put my clinical skills to work, but I will also learn to evaluate and treat conditions that are not frequently seen in the United States, such as polio and elephantitis,” Bernard said. q Melissa Hite, College of Medicine Project — “Improving global health education and community outreach in the Haitian Central Plateau region” Hite is traveling to Thomonde, Haiti as part of Project Medishare, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to rebuilding the country’s health care infrastructure. As a third–year medical student, Hite will be working in mobile clinics in rural communities throughout the Central Plateau. “Receiving the Center for Global Health grant will not only help eliminate the financial burden of the trip, but also assist in fostering projects and personal
q Amanda Key, College of Health Professions Project — “Providing patient education to Ugandan patients with low back pain” Key will travel to Masindi, Uganda to provide occupational therapy and rehabilitation to patients suffering from musculoskeletal injuries, wounds, back and neck pain and developmental delays. Key is an occupational therapy student in the College of Health Professions and brings experience working with several campus and community groups. She has served with the Early Autism Project, Student Occupational Therapy Association and the CARES student-run therapy clinic. “This trip will allow me to implement the evaluation and treatment strategies that I have learned in my academic experience in an intense and fast-paced clinical environment,” Key explained. “Developing the skills to provide patients with educational material and educational demonstrations will impact my practice as a future clinician.” q Philip Rodriguez, Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Project — “Centering pregnancy model teaching and implementation: Masindi, Uganda” Rodriguez is traveling to Masindi, Uganda with PMI as a second-year MUSC gynecology resident. While in Uganda, Rodriguez will employ a group model for providing prenatal care called Centering Pregnancy. According to Rodriguez, Centering Pregnancy has been shown to lower preterm birth rates among African–American women and women of low socioeconomic status, increase rates of breast–feeding and improve patient perceived stress. Rodriquez hopes to establish a low– cost and sustainable form of prenatal care for a population in need, and
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The CaTalysT, April 17, 2015 5
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How you are changing what’s possible at MUSC As a medical student doing rotations, I strive to actively and respectfully engage patients, their families and their health care providers in order to understand all aspects of their health condition, treatment and management. As SGA programs vice president, I have the honor of planning a variety of cultural and social events that bring students together.
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Telemedicine: It’s a small world after all Sharing expertise from halfway around the globe By Mikie hayes Public Relations
I
n the small town of Masindi, Uganda, in eastern Africa, 7,725 miles away from Charleston, a local doctor, Godson Senyondo, M.D., sees a room full of patients at his community clinic. Some have symptoms that have been extremely difficult to diagnose and treat. Some have suffered with diseases for a very long time and finally are able to access care at this new clinic. A kind, soft-spoken man, he does his best for each. For Senyondo, being able to present some of his toughest cases to a room full of medical specialists who could physically see his patients, hear their histories and render an expert opinion, would be a very good day indeed. Reyna Duron, a neurologist in Tegucigalpa, Honduras struggles with a particularly difficult case — a child having 30 seizures per hour. With colleagues at MUSC, she, too, is hopeful they can help with her pediatric patient. For both of these doctors, March 12 was to be that day. Senyondo and Duron would present tough medical cases to a roundtable of MUSC specialists volunteering their time and expertise — all done via a large computer telecommunications screen. MUSC telehealth had reached new heights. Mark Lyles, M.D., MUSC chief strategic officer, and a team of 27 other health practitioners, mostly from the Charleston area, were on a Palmetto Medical Initiative (PMI) medical mission trip to Uganda that week. While the full team of volunteers fanned out daily to outlying areas to treat those who aren’t able to make it into the Masindi–Kitara Medical Center, on March 12 Lyles stayed behind in Misindi and joined Senyondo at the clinic, which was built and outfitted by PMI. Shortly, they would connect live to MUSC and the team of physicians waiting to help. Back at MUSC, seated around a large conference table in the Simulation Lab on Jonathan Lucas Street, 11 MUSC medical specialists watched as Michael Haschker, manager, Network Systems and Telehealth Technologies, brought Lyles and Senyondo up on the large video screen mounted on the wall. A moment later, Haschker welcomed doctors from two cities in Honduras. Located 8,185 miles from Masindi, the Honduran teams were also eager to participate in this worldwide telehealth consultation. Edward O’Bryan, an assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and co–founder of PMI, who has had significant experience in Masindi, Uganda, having established the clinic there, was on hand in case any language interpretation was necessary, in addition to
photos by Sarah Pack, Public Relations
Uganda physician Dr. Godson Senyondo, center, introduces his patient, a Masindi woman, who suffers a severe skin condition. The planned telemedicine group consultation took place March 12. Sites involved included MUSC, Masindi, Uganda; Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Santa Maria del Real, Honduras. helping with diagnosing. In a picture–perfect example of successful telemedicine, doctors in Uganda and Honduras were face to face with MUSC personnel, and each other, exchanging pleasantries. On one half of the display was the Ugandan village of Masindi; the Honduran cities of Tegucigalpa and Santa Maria del Real occupied the remaining half. The group got right down to business — Internet connectivity and maintaining power in Uganda were a concern. The Uganda team would present first. Senyondo introduced a case of suspected dengue fever after the patient ran an extremely high fever for an extended period of time and was experiencing seizures, lethargy and extreme fatigue. MUSC neurologist and epilepsy specialist, Kenton Holden, M.D., asked if they had done a CT scan or EEG. Senyondo said no and shared that the cost there is prohibitive. MUSC physicians asked a series of questions, ruling things in and out: Had they done a lumbar puncture or peripheral smear? How are the hemoglobin levels? Lymphocytes? Had they checked the fundi? Were platelets high or low? Had the head circumference changed? Had they run tests for cerebral malaria? Andrea Summer, M.D., a pediatric specialist,
MUSC physicians Drs. Ed Jauch, from left, Andrea Summer, Kenton Holden, Robert Cantey, Lacey Menkin and Noah Kahn watch a video of a child experiencing petit mal seizures in Honduras.
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UGanda
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suggested the Honduran teams, led by Duron, weigh in on the previous diagnosis of dengue fever, because of the prevalence of it in that country. “They see it all the time,” Summer said. “They have far more expertise in dengue fever than we do.” Duron and her team did not believe it to be dengue and weighed in some things they might try for the patient, one being a ketogenic diet, which elicited support from Holden and Summer. Once they completed the patient’s history, Holden and Summer discussed several possibilities, none of which included dengue fever. They recommended a lumbar puncture and viral studies. Holden recommended a long–term anti–convulsant medication, one that would be long-acting, effective and affordable. “Check the opening pressure with a lumbar puncture and send labs,” he said. “If labs show infection, you most likely have your diagnosis. If opening pressure is OK and spinal fluid is normal, just use anti– seizure meds.” And so the morning went. The second Ugandan case was a young woman presented to the team with what looked to the MUSC dermatology residents to be vitiligo, a condition that causes depigmentation of parts of the skin. It is the same condition pop star Michael Jackson had suffered before his death. Senyondo spoke for the woman as she didn’t speak English. He had been managing the young woman’s care for three years. Prior to that, she had syphilis and had been injected with an antibiotic that caused an allergic reaction. She had suffered with lesions all over her face, lips, arms, chest, and trunk, which after the injection, began worsening and started spreading. She was given a cream as treatment and had terrible scarring and depigmentation. Robert Cantey, M.D., an infectious disease and travel and tropical medicine expert, mentioned that vitaligo can be associated with syphilis and that her pigmentation problems might have been a result of that past disease. The dermatology team discussed her scarring as a reaction to Stevens Johnson syndrome, a rare but serious problem that can be triggered from a severe reaction to a medicine, causing
photo by Sarah Pack, Public Relations
MUSC’s Dr. Mark Lyles, left, provides a Ugandan patient’s medical history to doctors at MUSC, as Honduran medical teams listen in. skin to blister and peel off. They also noticed she was sunburned and worried she was at serious risk for melanoma. They recommended she be tested for autoimmune diseases and that she find out the name of the antibiotic that gave her the allergic reaction and avoid it. They said she needed to always wear sunscreen and a big hat outside, where she spends a major part of her day. They told Senyondo that repigmentation is unpredictable and probably not a good bet in her case. TurninG ThinGs over To honduras Duron brought to the team a 5–year– old Honduran girl, who is in the first grade and having learning difficulties and some behavior problems. She had been coming to Duron’s clinic for the last few months. The chief complaint involved episodes of head nodding, even while eating or doing homework. She would have staring episodes, according to Duron. Her eyes would roll up in her head, her arms would shake, and she would hyperventilate. The doctors were baffled and trying to figure out why she started having seizures. Her teachers were beginning to think she had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Holden and Summer agreed her symptoms pointed to “petit mal” epilepsy. Holden said, “There is strong evidence that she’s having petit mal seizures, small seizures that interrupt consciousness. If she’s having a lot of little seizures, she can start failing in school. Her behavior may be masquerading as ADHD. But she’s happy. She’s smiling and with it.” Duron was worried because the family
is very poor and can’t afford tests. She had diagnosed her with epilepsy, but was looking for a specific type. She had tried several medications and things were getting worse and the seizures increasing. Holden said he felt it was “absence epilepsy,” which causes short periods of blanking out or staring into space, and Zarontin would lessen the absence seizures and involuntary movements. Sadly, said Duron, they don’t have access to it in Honduras. Holden believed the side effects of medicines were causing problems. “Watching her — she looks very normal to me. I would walk very carefully and not jump too far ahead for a diagnosis. I’d lean more toward a special diet in the long term — if we can’t get Zarontin, which is the drug of choice — until she proves it doesn’t work and she has more myoclonic epilepsy, as I’m hearing most of them at this point are absence.” Uganda presented two more cases. The last case was a particularly sick man. He was slight in build, but his stomach was distended. His tired eyes stared straight ahead as doctors spoke about his condition. Senyondo reported he has multiple lesions on his liver. After learning a bit more about him, and receiving answers to their questions, the MUSC specialists very delicately asked Senyondo to run certain tests on the man. All in the room left it at that without once mentioning the word cancer, the probable diagnosis. The day had come to an end. Senyondo in Uganda and Duron in Honduras thanked everyone for giving up their time and helping them with their patients. Five patients had been helped in numerous ways. And the
doctors knew they had made an impact. O’Bryan was ecstatic with the outcome of the day’s events.“I think what we experienced today will revolutionize global medicine — the practical application is extending subspecialties around the world. Not everybody can get on a plane to Honduras or Uganda — that doesn’t mean they don’t have something valuable to offer. The level of care that we offer here at MUSC is considered subspecialty in other parts of the world.” Lyles was quick to remind everyone that this was not MUSC’s first foray into global telehealth.“Don’t forget,” he said, “Andrea Summer was just in Honduras in early February with Kenton Holden and Michael Haschker, getting that system up and running. They are the pioneers, and we’re thankful for their creativity and tenacity.” During the week of Feb. 2, Summer, Holden and Haschker visited Honduras to establish a pilot telemedicine network there. With nine physicians per 10,000 residents, Honduras has major problems with access to health services; being the second poorest country in Central America doesn’t help things. “The telemedicine network we established connects urban Honduran subspecialists with a rural site. The goal of the project is to facilitate inter–site collaboration within Honduras to improve the quality and availability of health care in remote areas,” said Summer. Summer credited Duron, the Honduran neurologist, for conceptualizing telehealth in Honduras. “She’s the real pioneer,” Summer said. She added, “When the Honduran team gave that advice today (to a patient in Africa) about the importance of a ketogenic diet, we Americans just sat back. This is exactly the way it’s supposed to work.” Haschker, who was responsible for setting up the telehealth capabilities as well as bringing and keeping multiple countries on the screen, feels privileged to be involved. “I’ve been doing IT work for 26 years. It’s easy for me to roll out IT systems, but to see it used for the benefit of people regardless of their location or ability to financially afford it, that’s something special. This kind of work demonstrates my commitment and my purpose and connects it in such a way that I can have a direct impact on a patient. It is really touching.”
8 The CaTalysT, April 17, 2015
Higgins diversity awards celebrate 20 years of excellence
T
his year marked the 20th anniversary of the Earl B. Higgins Achievement in Diversity Awards, whose nominees and recipients were recognized in a ceremony April 1. These awards were created to honor the memory of Earl B. Higgins, Ph.D., former director of affirmative action and minority affairs at MUSC, who died in 1992. The first award was presented in April 1996, and it has since become a tradition to hold the presentation ceremony on the first Wednesday of each April. The award has been expanded and adjusted to ensure that deserving individuals from all
Dr. Cynthia Wright is the 2015 faculty award recipient.
See Awards on page 10
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photos by Jonathan Coultas, Instructional Technology & Faculty Resources
2015 Earl B. Higgins Achievement in Diversity Award student winner Brandi White, from left, joins Higgins family members Hazel Higgins (Dr. Higgins’ mother), Marsha Higgins (sister) and Deborah Higgins (sister) and Dr. Cynthia Wright, Higgins faculty award recipient, on April 1 at the Wickliffe House.
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levels and departments of the university are equally considered, including students. The first student award was presented 10 years after the first award, in 2006. Each year, one faculty member and one student are chosen from a pool of nominees to receive the Higgins award, individuals who have made outstanding contributions or advancements in promoting diversity on MUSC campus. This year, the faculty award recipient is Cynthia F. Wright, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and associate dean of Admissions and Career Development in the College of Graduate Studies. Wright plays an active role in numerous initiatives and campaigns for diversity at the national and statewide levels as well as in Charleston and at MUSC. Wright has been the principal investigator and program director for three National Institutes of Healthfunded training grants designed to advance the careers of trainees, with an emphasis on underrepresented minorities in the biomedical sciences. She is the current program director for two NIH URM training grants that have been successfully renewed. She is a nationally recognized spokesperson and recruiter for URMs and has specifically enhanced the recruitment of trainees for all of MUSC’s graduate programs in the six colleges. She involves her students in these initiatives, inviting MUSC minority students every year to help her recruit at two premier national conferences
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By Jane Ma
The CaTalysT, April 17, 2015 9
Restored pathology museum gets both ‘ews’ and awe By JUlia dUda Public Relations
T
ucked away in room 108 of the Walton Research Building lies a hidden gem that some would consider one of MUSC’s best-kept secrets. But after a 4–year restoration and digitization project in collaboration with the Waring Historical Library, the Gordon R. Hennigar Pathology Museum and its 890 wet specimens are no longer a secret. Inside the museum, a group of high school students gathers around Christine Papadea, Ph.D., professor emeritus and current caretaker of the museum. She draws their attention to a lacerated liver suspended in an acrylic container filled with formaldehyde. “Now that’s cool,” one mesmerized student says. A group of female students exchange “yucks” and “ews” while examining intestines infested by a parasitic roundworm. Other students check out a gunshot-wounded lung and a fatty liver caused by alcoholism. One reason students are able to see the museum’s expansive collection is in part due to the work of Papadea, who has put together one of the campus’ best tours. The museum is an elective tour through the College of Medicine’s “A Glimpse of Medicine” program, which attracts groups of high school students every month. Nickolas Sumpter, a science teacher at the Orangeburg County School District 5 High School for Health Professions, takes his students to MUSC for field trips every year. “We have students who do want to go into the science field, but they’re not really exposed to certain things. With us taking these trips we expose them to thinking outside the box and we challenge them,” Sumpter said. This month Sumpter and his class visited the restored pathology museum for the first time. Students got the
Orangeburg students Lauryn Bryan, from left, Madison Irick and Chandlar Glover get a glimpse of the many specimens displayed.
photos by Sarah Pack, Public Relations
Dr. Christine Papadea shows thyroid specimens to students from the Orangeburg High School for Health Professions during their tour of MUSC’s Gordon R. Hennigar Pathology Museum. opportunity to hear from Papadea and roam through the museum, specimen rosters in hand. The museum got its start in 1914, when MUSC’s first pathologist, Kenneth Lynch, M.D., started collecting specimens to educate medical students. All of the specimens were either collected at autopsy, or in some cases, surgery. The collection enables students to visually learn about human pathology – the study of disease — and the causes and effects of diseases. Gordon R. Hennigar, M.D. took over the collection in 1965 and continued its expansion until 1988. Philip Turner was caretaker for the museum until his retirement from the position in 2003. Papadea, who was a professor and director of the clinical chemistry lab at MUSC for 20 years, became caretaker of the museum in 2010, several years after her retirement. Susan Hoffius, curator of the Waring Historical Library, and S. Erin Presnell, M.D., director of medical and forensic autopsy, tasked Papadea with restoring the pathology museum specimens because of her chemistry background. “We wanted to record the information before it was completely lost, and then as a happy byproduct, we started having students coming in and looking at the specimens themselves,” Presnell said. In September of 2010, Papadea made herself comfortable in Room 108 in the Walton Research building, where she volunteered 15 hours a week for four years. Before her work was completed in 2014, she
started giving tours to high school students in 2012. Restoring some of the damaged and neglected specimen containers was just one part of the collaborative project between the Waring Historical Library and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Aside from preserving the specimens, they were also digitized. Pathology photographer Jim Nicholson photographed the entire collection, which is currently available on MUSC’s online database, MEDICA. Using the digital library’s “Zoomify” tool, medical students can examine and study the 1,738 specimen images in great detail. “Together it was a project that has worked out really well and has both increased the access to the collection, because now people can utilize it online, and extended the life of the individual specimens, because they needed the care and attention that Christine was able to give to them,” Hoffius said. For Papadea, there is always work to be done in the museum, whether it’s patching leaky containers or monitoring fluid levels or prepping for student tours. “It was a great project for me, and very rewarding. Dealing with this many specimens, it was labor of love because I knew the value and significance of the collection.” To visit or inquire more about the Gordon R. Hennigar Pathology Museum, Room RS108, contact Dr. Evelyn T. Bruner, Dept. of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at 792-5008 or brunere@musc.edu.
10 The CaTalysT, April 17, 2015 Continued from Page Eight
promoting diversity in biomedical research. According to her students, her work has created a more inclusive community that supports and inspires others. One of her students remarked, “The program creates a community of scholars within the university and enhances the sense of belonging for students that otherwise feel excluded in the academic world.” Wright is a member of Executive Leadership in America and ARROWS, formerly the MUSC Women Scholars Initiative program; both organizations promote the careers of women. She was a member of the MUSC Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Planning committee last fall and is the faculty advisor for the Multicultural Graduate Student Association. Wright actively supports her students engaging with the local community to promote diversity in the sciences. In spring 2006, she created a course titled, Diversity in Science and its impact has been widely reported. The 2015 student award recipient is Brandi M. White, a doctoral candidate in the College of Health Professions. Standing out among her peers, White, who has a Master’s of Public Health degree, is being recognized for her exceptional contributions in multiple areas supporting diversity and inclusion. White has served as a coordinator for the MUSC Diversity & Inclusion Plan and a graduate assistant for the Office of Training and Intercultural Education. She was instrumental in laying the framework for the plan, which is currently in its first year, to ensure its
“My brother Earl was a warrior for diversity. And he would be proud of the changes and progress being made.” Deborah Higgins longevity and success in the long–term. In the Office of Training and Intercultural Education, she helped facilitate prejudice reduction diversity trainings for all incoming students in each of the six colleges and also for faculty and staff. She also served on the National Coalition Building Institute MUSC Campus Leadership Team, helping to establish Safe Zone, a program that promotes inclusivity for all students regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation at MUSC. According to her nominator, Kevin Smuniewski, associate director in the Office of Student Programs, White has demonstrated a commitment to social justice and improving the lives of the underserved and underrepresented. In her opening statements, Willette S. Burnham, Ph.D., executive director of Student Programs and director of Student Diversity, emphasized to the audience just why these awards are so important: “As we think about the 20th anniversary of this award, we remind ourselves and the other members of our community and extended community that we really do have a legacy of
20 Years of Winners: Earl B. Higgins Diversity q Joanne M. Conroy, M.D. (1996); Anne O. Kilpatrick, DPA (1997); Sabra C. Slaughter, Ph.D. (1998); Layton MuCurdy, M.D. (1999); Jerry Blackwell, Ph.D. (2000); Thomas D. Waldrep (2001); Florence Maria Simmons, R.N. (2002); Raymond S. Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D. (2003); John Franklin (2004); Michael A. deArellano, Ph.D. (2005); Cynthia Cupit-Swenson, Ph.D. (2006); Jerry Reves, M.D. (2007); Liz Sheridan (2008); John Feussner, M.D. (2009); Deborah Deas, M.D. (2010); Carolyn H. Jenkins, Dr.PH (2011); Leonie Gordon, M.D. (2012); Etta D. Pisano, M.D. (2013); and Deborah C. Williamson, DHA, R.N. (2014) q Alexander Whitley, Graduate Studies (2006); Aaron Embry, Health Professions (2007); Dachelle Johnson, Pharmacy (2008); Christanne Hoffman, Medicine (2009); Ryan Rhome, Graduate Studies (2010); Kelly Lambright, Medicine (2011); Mary Alice Hughes, Dental Medicine (2012); Brandon J. Hagan, Dental Medicine (2013); and Brittany Watson, Medicine (2014)
photo by Jonathan Coultas, Instructional Technology & Faculty Resources
Brandi White, a student in the College of Health Professions, is this year’s Earl B. Higgins Diversity Award student recipient. commitment to this kind of work, which is why we take the time out every year to honor the champions of this work.” Deborah Higgins, the late Dr. Higgins’ sister, presented this year’s awards and offered a reminder of her own: “My brother Earl was a warrior for diversity.
And he would be proud of the changes and progress being made. Every time I come back to this campus, I see progress in the area of diversity. But there is still more work to be done, and it takes everyone getting involved. I urge everyone to continue the good work.”
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The CaTalysT, April 17, 2015 11
GloBal
Continued from Page Four
advance himself in his professional, interpersonal, medical and surgical development. “There is a vast amount of pathology that has largely been unseen or become uncommon in our medical training,” Rodriguez said. “As a surgeon in training, the opportunity to operate on rare or difficult cases is impossible to pass up, and it is an experience that will influence my future practices and techniques.” q Danielle Stevens, College of Graduate Studies Project — “Impact evaluation for a trial of HIV oral self-testing kits in Kenya” Stevens, a graduate student pursuing a doctorate in epidemiology in the Department of Public Health Sciences, will travel to Kenya this summer to work on an intervention and impact evaluation study. The project seeks to assess HIV oral self–testing kit uptake at 14 antenatal care clinics across Kenya and offer self–testing kits to couples to increase testing rates among male partners. Secondary outcomes of this project, according to Stevens, are molding perceptions around the use of the self–testing kit, assessing linkages to care among partners who test positive and assessing the occurrence of adverse outcomes like gender–based violence. Stevens feels her involvement will go a long way, not only for her own development, but also for the contributions to ongoing infectious disease research, specifically HIV/AIDS. “This opportunity to assist in the data collection, entry and analyses for the HIV self–testing study in Kenya is an opportunity to apply the methods I have been taught, learn about the challenges unique to research conducted in another country and prepare myself for a career in developing and conducting international research projects,” Stevens said. q Caroline Vrana, College of Graduate Studies Project — “Assessing quantitative outcomes of a study of HIV selftesting kits in Kenya” A first–year doctoral student, Vrana will travel to Kenya this summer as part of a project funded by United States Agency for International Development to
Mark Barry, DDS, professor and associate dean for Clinical Affairs James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine study the efficacy of at-home self-testing HIV kits. Vrana plans to get a head start on dissertation topic formulation by working alongside her mentor, Jeffrey Korte, Ph.D., to conduct interviews, focus groups, end–line questionnaires, follow–ups and quantitative data analysis pursuant to a report for USAID and contributions to other publications. Vrana is completing her doctoral degree in the Department of Public Health Sciences at MUSC and feels that her past epidemiological and analytical experience has prepared her for this rigorous research project. "Research is not done in a vacuum, and it is certainly more than data on a computer or data presented in a journal,” Vrana said. “The gains I will acquire from this experience are going to be not only from the practical information learned from data collection and analysis, but also from personal experiences and interactions with the people in Kenya.” q Victoria Way, College of Medicine Project — “Service-learning project in Baan Namkem, Thailand: Medical Campus Outreach Summer Medical Institute” Way will join Medical Campus Outreach to provide medical services in Baan Namkem, Thailand. MCO trains and encourages medical professionals to conduct missions to clinics in resource– poor areas around the world. Way’s goal is to understand the practice of medicine
Cynthia Dodds, Ph.D., P.T., assistant professor, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program College of Health Professions in an underserved community. Way and her colleagues are empowered to provide a comprehensive mix of medical services including dentistry, rehabilitation and other front–line clinical care to Thai patients. She understands that there is much to learn about the practice of medicine, not just in the U.S., but in low– and middle–income countries. However, given her experience traveling to serve the marginalized, she looks forward to these types of challenges. "Thailand is a place that is completely foreign to me, and my aim by the end of this trip is to understand pieces of their culture that are essential to practicing medicine there," Way said. “I am excited for the chance to return with renewed vision, new information and fresh motivation to be the best physician I can be, as I journey through medical school.” q Tessa Wyborny, College of Medicine Project — “Pediatric rotation at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center – Arusha, Tanzania” Wyborny is traveling to Arusha, Tanzania for a rotation at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center and the Selian Lutheran Hospital to provide care in the inpatient general wards. She will assist in the treatment of common, but oftentimes fatal infectious diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, pneumonia and parasitic infections. She also seeks exposure to the management of malnutrition and preventive medicine in a resource
Cynthia Swenson, Ph.D., professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences College of Medicine deprived area. Wyborny has traveled to do medical relief work in Ghana prior to her residency and has worked in clinics for marginalized patients in Georgetown and Charleston. She is now looking forward to gaining a clearer understanding of the growing resemblances of health indicators in both rural Tanzania and South Carolina. “During my time spent in North Charleston, working at the MUSC Northwoods Clinic, I have learned a lot about Hispanic patients and how their culture affects how they access and utilize the health care system,” Wyborny said. “I hope to be able to build on the knowledge and experience that I have gained and apply it to my experience in Tanzania.”
faculTY menTor GranT awardees q Mark Barry, DDS, professor and associate dean for Clinical Affairs in the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine Barry will lead MUSC dental students in an experimental service learning trip to Quito, Ecuador. q Cynthia Dodds, Ph.D., P.T., assistant professor in the College of Health Professions Dodds will mentor 10 physical therapy students in an interprofessional mission trip to Uganda. q Cynthia Swenson, Ph.D., professor, College of Medicine and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Swenson will mentor students in an immersive village health outreach
12 The CaTalysT, April 17, 2015
sprinG neuroscience sYmposium
photo by J. Ryne Danielson, Public Relations
The Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery held its fourth annual Spring Neuroscience Symposium March 20-21. Designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to manage neurological complaints in the primary care setting, the two-day event consisted of lectures from leading physicians and a forum for vendors to present cutting-edge medical products and devices. Here, MUSC students are given information about a new drug used in the treatment of orthostatic hypotension, a neurological disorder that results in low blood pressure upon standing.
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