Aug. 1, 2014
Inside
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA
Vol. 32, No. 48
a FiT ‘n Fun summer CamP exPerienCe Counselors Trey Bessent, left photo, and Harlan Renken, photo below, give campers tennis and swimming lessons during the annual Wellness Center Summer Camp. This summer, the camp has hosted nearly 800 campers between the ages of 2 to 14. Campers are able to experience activities such as swimming, tennis, soccer and basketball, as well as learn about the theme of the week and develop healthy habits. The camp began on June 2 and will continue until Aug. 8. Registration for next year’s camp begins March 2015.
QualiTy PaTienT Care
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Medical Center honored with quality award.
CuTTing edge sCanners
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New CT scanners open up a world of possibilities.
2 F&A Awards 5
Meet Judy
10 Wellness T h e C aTa ly s T Online http://www. musc.edu/ catalyst
photo by Emily Upshur, Public Relations
Retail stores raise $180,000 for Children’s Hospital Staff Reports Walmart and Sam's Club recently wrapped up a six–week campaign to raise funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the country. MUSC Children’s Hospital partnered with 12 Walmarts and 1 Sam’s Club in Charleston and surrounding areas, such as Georgetown and Walterboro. These stores, thanks to their associates, customers and members, were able to raise $179,203.66, which will help to provide patient visits for more than 200,000 kids again this year. Nationally, through donations accepted at cash registers and in-store fundraising activities, Walmart raised more than $40.2 million for the 170 hospitals that make up the Children’s Miracle Network. These funds help CMNH
provide patient visits for more than 10 million kids each year. Kimberlina Hutson states, “My most important responsibility is to keep my cashiers motivated and help the associates and our community understand why and who we are collecting for. I’m passionate about CMNH because a world with no kids is not a happy place and every child should have the help and support to fight off any obstacle they come across.” Hutson is from the Goose Creek Walmart and she is in charge of the Children’s Miracle Network campaign at her store. In six short weeks, the Goose Creek Walmart raised $38,040.25. It was among the top stores in the country for highest fundraising totals. This year's campaign is the most recent in annual fundraising by the retailers, as Walmart and Sam's Club have collected more than $740 million since partnering with the charity in 1987. Walmart and Sam's Club funds impact each
READ THE CATALYST ONLINE - http://www.musc.edu/catalyst
See Campaign on page 4
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Division of F&A promotes MUSC Excellence The University’s Finance & Administration Division celebrated its Employee Appreciation Event on July 16. The event recognizes staff from the Engineering & Facilities and Finance and Operations departments who were nominated during the past quarter for their commitment to MUSC Excellence, or who received milestone numbers of “Thank you” PEER Postcards. Employee of the Quarter Winners Engineering & Facilities — Michael Campbell, Rudy Chapman, William (Billy) Condon, and Patrick (Eddie) Wellman (group winners) “I am writing to inform you of what a great help and job your team members did for me. CHP Information Technology (IT) purchased a server rack and UPS system for the CHP IT computer server room. Both of these products are extremely heavy and hard to manage. These products were delivered on different days and times. The delivery truck [for the first delivery] was 4 hours later than expected along with having no unloading ability and a difficult delivery driver. Your team members were there and provided all necessary unloading equipment and helped with the unloading and getting the equipment up to the 3rd floor in CHP–A building. They were courteous, professional, very efficient, and never a discouraging word uttered. They turned this into a ‘no big deal’ and easy delivery experience.
Editorial of fice MUSC Office of Public Relations 135 Cannon Street, Suite 403C, Charleston, SC 29425. 843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723 Interim editor: Cindy Abole catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Mikie Hayes, hayesmi@musc.edu
photo provided
Engineering & Facilities manager Bruce Mills, from left, congratulates quarterly winners Patrick Wellman, Rudy Chapman, Mike Campbell and Billy Condon. Also pictured is Greg Weigle, Chief Engineering Facilities officer. The second delivery went very well and “We would like to nominate Gillian again your team members were great. Meyer for her tremendous work in the This delivery was hard; there were three Accounts Payable department. Gillian pallets and each weighed upward of 250 is the travel reimbursement clerk in the lbs. each if not more. So, getting these AP department. She quickly noticed to CHP–A 3rd floor was a challenge. that she kept getting the same types Once again, your team members turned of questions over and over again as this into a no big deal and easy delivery well as having to reject TRs due to experience. If it had not been for your the same types of errors. Gillian on team members there would have been no her own initiative came up with the way I could have accomplished getting idea of creating an AP “Helpful Travel this equipment to CHP–A 3rd floor.” Reimbursement Tips” for TRs that Nominated by: James E. Jones, College of could then be communicated with our Health Professions customers. She did a great job creating this new document and even sent it Finance — Gillian Meyer, Accounts to several customers for their input Payable/Travel Reimbursement prior to releasing it to the campus…. 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.
[This nomination covers all four pillars: Service [the document is now on the Disbursement Services website, the Accounting 101 agenda, and it was sent out via email to new users]. People [the service provided by Gillian ensured that University employee’s travel reimbursements could be processed faster due to fewer errors on the TRs. This also allowed AP to provide excellent customer service and be a “one stop shop” for the customer instead of having to look at each policy separately]. Quality [Gillian created and updated the “tips” document many times before the finished product was published. She ensured that the document was not only informative but more importantly helpful to the departmental users]. Finance [This document provides assistance to departmental users so that the TRs do not have to be rejected and “reworked”. It has also helped cut down on the TR processing turnaround time]. We would like to thank Gillian for thinking outside of the box and for her willingness to go above and beyond.” Nominated by: Angela Alford, Payroll Services and Mellie Klinger, Finance Operations — Warren Sholl, Parking Management/Parking Enforcement and Field Activities “Warren, a retired Public Safety Officer, has worked for Parking
See Awards on page 7
Women’s Club accepting nominees for scholarships The Medical University Women’s Club is accepting applications for scholarship recipients. The group plans to award a total of $15,000 in scholarships. All full–time MUSC students in their second or subsequent years from any of the six colleges are eligible. Previous applicants may also apply. Applications may be downloaded
from http://academicdepartments. musc.edu/womensclub/scholarship. htm. Deadline for submission is 4 p.m., Sept. 8. Applications may be submitted via email to muwcscholarship@gmail. com. For information on the scholarships, email Megan Zwerner at muwcscholarship@gmail.com.
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Medical center tapped with AHA-McKesson Quest award Staff Reports MUSC Medical Center has been awarded the American Hospital Association–McKesson Quest for Quality Prize Citation of Merit. This award recognizes hospitals in the pursuit of excellence and specifically MUSC’s leadership and innovation in quality and patient safety improvement. Patrick Cawley, M.D., CEO of the MUSC Medical Center, describes the hospital’s award–winning program. “MUSC Medical Center has made great strides in effectiveness and safety. By designing and updating clinical decision support tools and harnessing academic resources and talent, our organization demonstrates a strong commitment to quality improvement. We are also effectively engaging families and patients in a broad range of committees and projects.” MUSC strives to continually provide safe, patientcentered and equitable care. Developing a culture that encourages best practices, safe reporting and enhanced clinical support tools is the key to the success of MUSC’s work around safety. And the results have been particularly impressive. Since 2007, the medical center has seen an 84 percent reduction in central-line infections and a 52
photo provided
Jeff Felton, left, president, Connected Care & Analytics with the McKesson Corp. joins Rich Umbdenstock, right, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, in presenting the merit citation to Dr. Patrick Cawley, MUSC executive director and CEO, MUSC Medical Center.
percent reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia. MUSC was one of three hospitals in the U.S. that received the Citation of Merit and the only hospital on the East Coast. Other hospitals awarded Citations of Merit include the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis and the University of Wisconsin and Clinics in Madison, Wisc. The award honors hospitals that are making progress in quality improvement and offer models that can be replicated by others in the hospital field. Top Quality Prize winners were VCPU Medical Center in Richmond, Va. and Carolinas Medical CenterNortheast in Concord, N.C. Criteria for the award included the demonstration of an organizational commitment to and progress in achieving four quality aims: raising awareness of the need for a hospital–wide commitment to highly reliable, exceptional quality, safe, patient-centered care; rewarding successful efforts to develop and promote a systems–based approach toward improvements in quality of care; inspiring hospitals to be leaders in improving the health of their communities while enhancing outcomes and the experience of care for patients and reducing per capita cost of care; and communicating successful programs and strategies to the hospital field.
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College of Nursing receives grant to prepare doctoral degree nurses Staff Reports The College of Nursing is one of only 14 nursing programs nationwide to be among the first to receive a grant from a new Robert Wood Johnson Foundation program aimed at increasing the number of Ph.D. prepared nurses. The Future of Nursing Scholars program is a multi-funder initiative. In addition to RWJF, United Health Foundation, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and the Rhode Island Foundation are supporting the program which plans to support up to 100 Ph.D. nursing candidates over its first two years. “We are thrilled to receive this funding. This support for our Ph.D. students clearly reflects on the Robert Stuart Wood Johnson Foundation’s commitment to a well-educated nursing workforce,” said Gail Stuart, Ph.D., R.N., dean of the College of Nursing. The college recently selected Desiree R. Bertrand, R.N., to receive the inaugural grant. As such, she will receive financial support, mentoring and leadership development over the three years of her Ph.D. program. Bertrand, a resident of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, will begin her Ph.D. studies online this fall. She is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served as a commissioned officer and registered nurse for four years. After completing her military commitment, Bertrand worked as a travel nurse for several years.
In 2003, she took a position with the University of the Virgin Islands as an assistant professor of nursing. Today, Bertrand is a research coordinator and the community engagement and outreach core director at the Caribbean Exploratory Research Center housed in the UVI School of Nursing. In its landmark nursing report, the Institute of Medicine recommended the country double the number of nurses with doctorates as doing so would support more nurse leaders; promote nurse-led science and discovery; and put more educators in place to prepare the next generation of nurses. Fewer than 30,000 (or 1 percent) of the nation’s more than 3 million nurses have doctoral degrees in nursing or a related field. While enrollment in doctor of nursing practice programs has risen dramatically over the past few years, enrollment in Ph.D. programs has been flat. In addition, the average age at which nurses get their Ph.D. degrees in the U.S. is 46, which is 13 years older than Ph.D. earners in other fields. This program will provide an incentive for nurses to start Ph.D. programs earlier, so that they can have long leadership careers after earning their Ph.D.’s. “This is a crucial and ambitious endeavor,” said Susan Hassmiller, Ph.D., R.N., co–director of the program and RWJF’s senior adviser for nursing. “It’s one that everyone in our country should be engaged in and that’s why the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is inviting other funders to participate in this effort. We believe that working together, we can ensure that we are able to educate the Ph.D.-prepared nurse leaders we need to shape the future of health care education, research and policy.”
Campaign Continued from Page One of the 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which treat 1 in 10 children across North America. Hopsitals utilize the funds based on what they need the most — typically for purchasing lifesaving equipment, supporting top therapy programs and providing charitable care. To raise funds, MUSC Children’s Hospital partnered with local Walmart and Sam’s Club to host a variety of fundraising activities such as the car show that Sam’s Club hosted this year that raised more than $5,000. This event, along with the many others that were put on by the stores in the Charleston market, propelled giving totals to exceed previous years. The retailer’s six–week campaign ran May 1 – June 13. Walmart and Sam's Club 2014 fundraising efforts will continue throughout the year at participating locations through various in–store activities. For more information on the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals visit http://www.CMNHospitals.org.
15th Annual Scientific Poster Session Call for Abstracts 20th Annual Diabetes Fall Symposium Sept. 11-12, 2014 North Charleston Convention Center North Charleston, SC The Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina is accepting abstract submissions for the 15th Annual Scientific Poster Session to be held during the 20th Annual Diabetes Fall Sympsosium. Visit http://www.musc.edu/diabetes or call Julie Benke-Bennett, benkej@musc.edu or call 876-0968. For the event brochure, visit, http://www.musc.edu/diabetes.
Accreditation team invites public comment A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA), will arrive Aug. 3 to examine all aspects of MUSC Department of Public Safety’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services. Verification by the team means that Public Safety meets the commission’s standards as part of a voluntary process to maintain its current accredited status — a highly-prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, according to Anthony Dunbar, director of MUSC Public Safety. Public Safety must meet 482 standards to gain Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation status. Accreditation is for three years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited. As a part of the onsite assessment,
agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 5 p.m. on Aug. 4, room 803, 19 Hagood Avenue. Comments also will be taken by the assessment team via telephone from 1 to 3 p.m., Aug. 4. The public may call 7923014 to participate. Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available at the MUSC Department of Public Safety, 101 Doughty St., Charleston S.C., 29425 or contact Debbie Underwood, CALEA program manager, at 792-1986. Written comments may be sent to Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215, 1-800-368-3757 or via email at calea@calea.org.
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MEET JUDY
Judy Rose Department MUSC East Cooper - Orthopaedic How you are changing what’s possible at MUSC By always considering the patient’s needs and using my abilities to get them seen and treated as soon as possible How long at MUSC 10 years Family, pets and their names Children, Randy, Bear and grandson, Bryson; and pet cat, Kringle A unique talent you have Ability to make make people feel comfortable Favorite summertime activity Anything with water Best thing about living in Charleston The beach and the people What food is a must-have in the fridge Chocolate Words of advice There is nothing that you can’t do if you put your mind to it.
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MUSC scientists take closer steps to lab grown organs By lauren sausser of The Post and Courier
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photos by Paul Zoeller, Post and Courier
MUSC post doctoral fellow Dr. Hua Wei views a group of skin cells growing through a process which will turn them into heart cells under a microscope.
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The old geezer suddenly becomes a young geezer. He looks old, but he acts young. This application has the potential to totally change your lifestyle. Martin Morad
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magine a scientist scraping some skin off your arm or the back of your leg and then changing those skin cells into complex heart cells — transforming them into tiny clusters of tissue that go thump, thump, thump under a microscope. Consider the implications this genetic trick would have for heart disease, even life expectancy. Can science untap the legendary Fountain of Youth in a simple skin cell? Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina are trying to figure that out - and they’re already halfway to an answer. “We have skin cells that are beating in the lab,” said MUSC physiologist Martin Morad, Ph.D., also the SmartState BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina endowed chair for Cardiovascular Health. “We want to make a robust, tissue–based pacemaker.” The advantages would be groundbreaking — a $10 billion discovery, Morad estimates. While artificial pacemakers already extend life expectancy for many patients with heart disease, the technology is imperfect. But a natural pacemaker, engineered in a lab with a patient’s own cells, wouldn’t need its batteries routinely changed. Its electrodes wouldn’t break or corrode. Also there’s “no problem of rejection if it’s your own (cells),” Morad said. “The old geezer suddenly becomes a young geezer. He looks old, but he acts young. This application has the potential to totally change your lifestyle.” The broad term for engineering with human cells in a lab, even one day growing full–size organs to treat a range of diseases, is called biofabrication or tissue engineering — a cutting–edge field of research where South Carolina scientists find themselves out front. On Wednesday, the National Institutes of Health awarded Clemson University an $11 million grant to expand its bioengineering center in Greenville. Part of the grant also will be used to collaborate with MUSC researchers in Charleston. This is the latest in a string of awards totalling almost $40 million that MUSC, the University of South Carolina and Clemson University have received in nearly 10 years to study biofabrication. Scientists at the universities work side–by–side. MUSC experts provide guidance to Clemson researchers. University of South Carolina students and Clemson faculty work inside MUSC labs in Charleston. “There is plenty of work to do,” said Michael Yost, Ph.D., MUSC’s associate chairman of surgery for research. “It’s very collaborative.” That work includes using a sophisticated 3D printer to pave layers on layers of cells with bioink — eventually maybe even whole organs — and fine–tuning a process to create molds, or scaffolding, that will help this lab–engineered tissue grow. First, Yost said his team needs to figure Yost
See Research on page 7
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awards
photos by Paul Zoeller, Post and Courier
Cassandra Clift, a research associate, trims a slice of an adult male rat heart after pumping solution into it to keep the cells alive for future experiments. Clift works with researchers who are trying to create a tissue-based pacemaker out of human cells at MUSC.
researCh Continued from Page Six out how to engineer microvascular networks — very tiny systems of arteries and veins, some of them no more than a cell’s width in diameter, to feed the tissue. Technically, researchers could “print” organs today — but printing an organ, even with human cells, doesn’t necessarily mean the organ will function properly inside someone’s body. If, for example, a lab–engineered kidney doesn’t have the nutrition it needs, if it doesn’t have the appropriate vascular network in place, it will die inside the patient’s body, Yost said. “We really don’t want to print the kidney and stick it in you. What we want to do is take kidney tissue, engineer some augmentation to it so that when we put it in you, your body says, ‘Oh. This is a kidney.’ And it finishes it,” Yost explained. “The more ‘you’ you are, the better off you are.” So they’re not growing full–size organs yet. Morad, whose lab is laying the groundwork for the tissue–based
pacemaker, also believes science is still a few years off from this final step. Meanwhile, Morad’s lab is studying how these genetically modified skin cells learn to Morad beat like heart cells — the mechanism that literally makes them tick. Morad believes it’s the mitochondria, which creates energy inside a cell, that generates the heart beat. It’s a new, potentially controversial theory. There may be only five to 10 groups in the world working on this research right now, Morad estimates. “It depends on money,” he said. “If I had $50 million tomorrow, I think I could deliver this in a maximum five years.” Editor’s note: The article ran July 19 in The Post and Courier and is reprinted with permission.
Continued from Page Two
Management for four years. As a parking enforcement officer he is responsible for enforcing the MUSC traffic and parking regulations, an activity which is essential but not always well–received or appreciated by the community. Warren took the initiative to expand his enforcement and field activity responsibilities into providing assistance and support in many ways – effectively becoming an ambassador for parking services. Two recent examples serve to illustrate: q Special events: The great majority of these are held on the Ashley Avenue horse shoe, which daily has a high volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Much activity is generated by an event, but much activity is associated with the daily routine of the hospital and university. If parking support is not required by the hosts, Parking Management is not always informed of the event. In his daily monitoring of activity around campus, Warren recognized that the presence of a parking management field activities officer at the event would be helpful in managing traffic, providing parking and other information and in providing any special assistance to hosts and guests that might be needed. Warren assumed this role, and it has proved so helpful that event planners now notify us and request our support. q There was a hit–and–un accident on Bee Street recently where a driver of a vehicle hit two parked cars. With only a partial description of the vehicle, Warren undertook a check of the area for the vehicle. Warren thought the driver might be a patient or person otherwise associated with MUSC; and, indeed, he found the vehicle parked in [one of MUSC’s] garages. As a result of Warren’s sense of responsibility and his concern, the driver of the vehicle was located and assisted and the owners of the vehicles that were damaged had recourse. These two examples reveal Warren’s dedication and commitment to providing quality service to the MUSC community. In August, Warren will celebrate his 20th anniversary as an MUSC employee — 16 years with Public Safety and four years with Parking Management. There is no better time to recognize Warren than on this occasion. Nominated by: Melinda Anderson and Jim Roche, Parking Management Other EoQ Nominees: Amanda Hofmann, Grants & Contracts Accounting; Miriam Gibson, Human Resources Management; Sonya Shuler, Public Safety; and Daniel Schultz, Public Safety PEER Postcard This recognition is an employee “thank you” card given by F&A employees to their co-workers when they are observed practicing standards of behaviors consistent with MUSC Excellence in the areas of Service, Finance, People, Quality and Growth. PEER Milestone Recipients for April, May and June 2014 include: LaDeidra Berry, Human Resources; Raj Bhagani, Purchasing Services; Sonja Brockington, Controller’s Office; Angelin Brown, Parking Management; Peggy Cunningham, Accounts Payable; VeLonda Dantzler, Human Resources; Terry Denmark, Engineering & Facilities; Ter Rá Du Bois, Controller’s Office; Rosemarie Fancy, Controller’s Office; Monique Felder, Controller’s Office; Sandra Gethers, Engineering & Facilities; Siobhan Hanson, Human Resources; Mellie Klinger, Controller’s Office; Jade Knapp, Controller’s Office; Delores Mitchell, Controller’s Office; Margaret Myrick, Controller’s Office; Denise Reddrick, Controller’s Office; Andrew Rider, Controller’s Office; Eunice Rivers, Controller’s Office; and Katherine Von Ruden, Controller’s Office. Winners of the University F&A’s Employee of the Year and the Cindy Garmon PEER of the Year awards will be selected by the RRC, approved by F&A leadership, and announced at the Annual F&A Employee Celebration, at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 20, 125 Strom Thurmond/Gazes Building.
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MUSC one of two sites to feature newest CT scanner By mikie hayes Public Relations
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atients who must undergo computed tomography scanning now have a new option for care at MUSC: one that uses dramatically less radiation, is kidney–friendly and functions in a split– second. On March 21, under the direction of Joseph Schoepf, M.D., professor of radiology, cardiology, and pediatric medicine, the first cardiac computed tomography scan in the U.S. was performed at MUSC using the Siemens SOMATOM Force CT scanner. This latest generation system, available for patient use only at MUSC and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, can scan an entire body in literally less than one second. CT scanning is a painless test that uses an advanced X–ray machine to take clear, detailed pictures of the body to look for problems. During a cardiac CT scan, for example, the machine will move around the patient’s body in a circle taking a picture of each part of the heart. A computer will then put the pictures together to make a three-dimensional picture of the entire heart. The scanner is designed to function with the lowest possible radiation dose in viewing some of the more vulnerable and challenging patients, according
to Schoepf. Children, patients with decreased kidney function, those who may be unable to hold their breath, and patients who must have frequent CTs to monitor their condition will all benefit greatly. “Obviously a scanner that emits the lowest possible radiation dose is especially important in young patients, as well as when we image women as there is sensitive breast tissue in the field of view. It’s also important for patients who need frequent CT scans for ongoing surveillance of disease. Keeping the radiation dose to an absolute minimum is one of the true hallmarks of this scanner,” said Schoepf. He added, “The scanner also may enable low–dose imaging in lung and colon exams as it significantly improves air and soft–tissue contrast.” Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom Philip Lader recently underwent his scan with the new technology at MUSC. He said, “By increasing diagnostic accuracy and decreasing the amount of radiation, as a patient, it just gives me more confidence in the tools they are using to help monitor my heart and make sure that we are doing what we need to do, when we need to do it.” The system is a dual–source CT scanner, using two X-ray sources and
CT technicians prepare former U.S. Ambassador Philip Lader for the new dual-source scanner.
photos by Sarah Pack, Public Relations
Callie Crawford, a biologist from the College of Charleston and an affiliate with MUSC’s Hollings Marine Lab, prepares to scan a 100– year–old shark specimen at MUSC. two detectors at the same time. This technology is a dramatic leap forward from conventional technology in terms of producing faster and better images and ultimately providing a safer and better patient experience. While he and his team continue to discover all the advantages this system offers, Schoepf is particularly excited by its unique features. “It’s an evolving process as we learn how to fully use the machine, but my initial impression is that it’s better than I even hoped for. We can do amazing things that were not possible previously in the field of imaging. The noninvasiveness of this machine cannot be appreciated enough. What we’ve found is we are seeing drastic, drastic decreases in radiation exposure to patients — so the radiation we apply essentially amounts to that of a warm breeze. The ability to image patients noninvasively at a radiation dose that is many orders of magnitude lower than what other centers are using right now for the same exam is very rewarding indeed.” The Force CT scanner also provides advantages in other applications. For instance, because the scanner is so fast, in an emergency situation when a patient is in critical condition, it allows for getting them in, scanned and out quickly. When patients are unable to
hold their breath, clear diagnostic images can still be obtained as an entire adult chest, abdomen and pelvis study can be performed in less than one second. In cardiac imaging, for example, the Force CT scanner can obtain an entire study within a quarter of a heartbeat. The physician is therefore able to make faster, more confident decisions and better deliver timely interventions. In addition to increased speed and lower radiation, another advantage is that the scanner is able to use lower amounts of contrast material — dye which is used to see body parts more clearly. In patients with decreased kidney function, traditional contrast can place a burden on the kidneys, especially in older patients or those with chronic kidney disease. In the past, clinicians had two options: scan without contrast or avoid scanning entirely. This scanner provides another option. Prior to FDA approval, Schoepf and his team utilized the machine for research studies. The studies they performed with patients were non– invasive yet still allowed for them to take images of the heart and explore early detection of liver cancer. Next they scanned and studied stingrays and 100–year–old shark
See SCAN on page 9
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sCan Continued from Page Eight
specimens, partnering with the College of Charleston to conduct the very specialized research. Gavin Naylor, Ph.D., Centers of Economic Excellence SmartState Endowed Chair in Marine Genomics Bioinformatics, MUSC professor of biochemistry and College of Charleston professor of biology, led College of Charleston’s team. One of the goals of the research group was to create a database of evolutionary information for the Chondrichthyan fish species, which includes stingrays, sharks, skates, and chimeras. Through this project, they sought to understand how these organisms addressed environmental challenges in the past. Anatomical data would provide important clues about the relationship between species, thereby expanding
photo by Sarah Pack, Public Relations
Christian Canstein, a Siemens collaborations manager, positions the shark for a scan of its anatomy. evolutionary knowledge. Scanning the sharks and rays provided just that. "Having access to MUSC's new Seimens Force dual source scanner, and the associated technical expertise in Professor Schoepf's research team, has allowed us to efficiently image rare preserved museum specimens that are fragile and not amenable to dissection," said Naylor. This novel approach to using
the scanner provided rich results, and the teams plan to continue working together in the future. Schoepf added, “We have a good working relationship with the College of Charleston and the Hollings Marine Biology Center. The shark experiment was interesting. Studying nontraditional uses of the machine furthered our understanding of many things and allowed us to study the animals without
destroying them. What we were after in imaging the sharks was to look at evolution to see what species have in common and how they have developed from each other. That obviously has implications in human evolution and we try to elucidate principles that govern biology. We walked away with a better understanding of how species are linked to each other in the developmental process.” According to Schoepf, MUSC has built a national reputation for being at the forefront of new technologies, especially having the “latest and greatest” in CT equipment in particular. “MUSC was one of first centers in the U.S. that installed a 64-slice scanner, first to install the first and second generation dual-source CT scanners, and now the new Siemens Force – the third and latest generation. With every single generation, MUSC was at least among the first five to have it. There is
nothing on the horizon close to this. We will of course see a new quantum leap in the future, and we will be at the leading edge then too,” he said. The third system will soon be installed at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. “Having this equipment is a big differentiator. Patients would rather come to you if you have it. It’s not just the advanced technology however, it’s also critical to have the greatest expertise in interpreting the results. We have the most specialized people to perform imaging studies, and we clearly do the most numbers. You want to have the person interpret your imaging study who does this every day, day in and day out. We are recognized as one of the premiere groups in cardiovascular imaging in the country and in the world,” he continued. “We are known for moving the field forward.”
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Urban Farm promotes Lowcountry Bee Cause Project The MUSC Urban Farm is proud focusing on the role of to be working with The Bee Cause bees in the food chain. Project, a local non–profit that There will be a cooking educates young people about the demo, samples, honey importance of honeybees and their harvest and tasting, silent well–being by the installation of auction, live art, and 1000 beehives in area schools. The plenty of opportunities Urban Farm will be unveiling a new to appreciate the summer observation beehive donated by harvest at the MUSC The Bee Cause Project to support Urban Farm. our mission of building a healthier For more information community by inspiring people with and to RSVP to this event, local, nutritious and delicious food. Susan Johnson email johnsusa@musc. Bees help make one–third of our edu. food by transferring pollen and seeds from one flower to another and fertilizing the plant so it can grow food. Wellness Events Simply put: no bees, no food. q Take the July monthly Mindful ChalPesticides and changes to our lenge —The July challenge is to eat less environment are threatening the processed: Reconnect with real food. To honeybees’ existence. Nearly one–third begin, take the first July Monthly Mindof the colonies have disappeared. The ful Challenge survey at http://tinurl. number of hives is the lowest it’s been in com/la6drdo (A link to the final survey 50 years. will be sent at month’s end to those who On July 31 from 5 to 7 p.m., everyone take the first survey). is invited to join the celebration q Chair massages: Free massages and installation of MUSC’s new are offered to employees on midday observational hive with a Bee Party Wednesdays. Look for broadcast
Health at work
messages for locations and times. q Farmers Markets: Enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers on Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Harborview); Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ART); and Fridays, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Horseshoe).
MUSC Urban Farm
q Sunset Work & Learns – Thursday, 4 to 5 p.m. Take home fresh produce in return for work efforts. Open to all employees, students and the community q Third Thursday Lunch & Learn — 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., Aug. 21. Stay as long as your schedule permits. q Third Saturday Family Friendly Work & Learn — 9 to 11 a.m., Aug. 16. Bring a plastic bag to take home fresh produce in return for work efforts. Please wear closed–toe shoes. No experience or prior knowledge is necessary. Open to all MUSC employees, students and the general community q Early Bird Maintenance —7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Get your day started at the farm. Contact Susan Johnson, Ph.D., johnsusa@musc.edu for information
on the Office of Health Promotion at MUSC. Contact Suzan Beneson Whelan, whela@musc.edu for specific information on Employee Wellness or the MUSC Urban Farm. Events, speakers, classes or any other ideas are
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Furniture King Size Plush Set New, will sacrifice for $275 843-270-4283 Full Mattress Set with Euro Pillow Top New $140. Please Call: 843-270-4283 A-Queen Pillowtop that is Brand New in Plastic. Will take $150. Please call 843-270-4283
S.C. sales tax holiday set for Aug. 1 – 3 weekend Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Aug. 1, and ending at midnight Sunday, Aug. 3, the South Carolina annual sales tax holiday will take place. The code (Section 12-36-2120 [57]) allows for the exemption of tax on: clothing and coats; clothing accessories including, but not limited to, hats, scarves, hosiery, handbags and footwear; linens and beddings; pens, pencils, paper, notebooks, books, bookbags, lunchboxes, and calculators; printers, computers, and printer supplies, computer software, etc. For a complete list, visit http://wwwsctax.org.
Immunology director elected to Microbiology Academy fellowship Staff Reports Michael G. Schmidt, Ph.D., professor and vice chairman of Microbiology and director of Immunology at MUSC, has been elected to fellowship in the American Academy of Microbiology. Schmidt The AAM is a highly–respected leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology, the world’s oldest and largest life science organization. Schmidt was pleased to have achieved
this distinction. “It’s a great honor to have received this recognition by one’s peers,” he said. “It carries with it a responsibility to continue the science of microbiology for the betterment of all.” This prestigious honor recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the field of microbiology. Schmidt was recognized at the Academy Fellows luncheon and meeting at the 114th ASM General Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 20. Fellows of the AAM are elected annually through a highly selective, peer–review process that is based on the candidate’s record of scientific achievement and their original contributions that have advanced microbiology.
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BMT program among five centers earning Center-plus distinction The Hollings Cancer Center Adult and Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Program was granted official designation as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Transplants as of June 15, making it one of only five centers nationwide with the Center+ distinction. According to BlueCross Stuart BlueShield, Blue Distinction Centers for Transplants have demonstrated their commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for transplant patients. Blue Distinction Centers+ are hospitals recognized for their expertise and efficiency in delivering specialty care. Each facility meets stringent clinical criteria, established in collaboration
with expert physicians' and medical organizations' recommendations, including the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research, the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients and the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy. The facilities are subject to periodic reevaluation as criteria continue to evolve. Blue Distinction Centers for Transplants help simplify the administrative process involved in the complex care involved in transplants so that patients, their families and physicians can focus on the medical issues. According to Robert K. Stuart, M.D., MUSC BMT Program director, “This designation represents a big win for our BlueCross BlueShield patients, their referring physicians, and the BMT staff. We’re proud to be recognized among such an elite group of transplant centers.”