September 14, 2012
MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA
Vol. 31, No. 5
Rock Stars of Research
By Dawn Brazell Public Relations Talk about a protein shake. Researcher Philip H. Howe, Ph.D., points to a blender full of a protein-rich shrimp mix that he feeds his zebrafish. These rock stars of research are upstaging more traditional animal models that have been used. He keeps them healthy and well, given how they can advance cancer treatment, particularly in discovering how metastatic cancer progresses in humans. Howe, who holds the Hans and Helen Koebig Chair for Clinical Oncology, said they are
3
ideal for researchers studying the process of metastasis, especially since zebrafish embryos are completely transparent, making them ideally suited for studying developmental processes as they occur. The highly fertile fish, which even have their own website called the Zebrafish Information Network or ZFIN for short (http://zfin. org/), live about two years, with a pair of fish producing about 300 embryos in one week. The fish become full-grown in two days. A mouse, in comparison, would take 21 days. Certain cancer cells are more aggressive in proliferating, similar to what happens in the embryonic development process when cells differentiate to form the tissue and organs of the body, he said. “Ninety percent of all cancer deaths are caused by the metastatic phase of the disease, where cells escape from the primary tumor and establish secondary
Therapeutic Weekend Shannon’s Hope, a camp for children who have lost a loved one, is accepting applications.
Dr. Philip H. Howe conducts zebrafish research in his
See Zebrafish on page 9 laboratory in the Hollings Cancer Center.
7
Day of Caring
2
University F & A Awards
Employees demonstrated their generosity for the community Sept. 7.
5
Meet Marta
10
Applause
READ THE CATALYST ONLINE - http://www.musc.edu/catalyst
2 The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012
Award to create Institute for Primary Care Education Practice
T
he Duke Endowment recently awarded the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium a threeyear grant to establish the Institute for Primary Care Education and Practice. This institute brings together MUSC and the University of South Carolina (USC) to increase the number of primary care providers in the state. Upon receiving word about the grant from The Duke Endowment, David Garr, M.D., executive director of the consortium, said: “We need more primary care providers in South Carolina. This new institute offers an opportunity to increase the support we’ll be able to provide to USC and MUSC students who begin their studies with an interest in primary care careers.” By bringing together the two academic medical centers, the institute also will coordinate its work across interprofessional boundaries. Medical, advanced practice nursing and physician assistant students who have an interest in careers in primary care will be invited to join the institute when they begin their professional education. A team of faculty will coordinate the work of the institute. In the past, students who began professional school with an interest in primary care often changed focus to a non-primary care specialty. The institute will provide special learning opportunities and support for these students during their time at MUSC and USC with the goal of sustaining their interest in primary care. The goal is to prepare these students so that more
Editorial of fice MUSC Office of Public Relations 135 Cannon Street, Suite 403C, Charleston, SC 29425. 843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723 Editor: Kim Draughn catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Cindy Abole, aboleca@musc.edu Dawn Brazell, brazell@musc.edu
of them graduate with plans to work in primary care settings. Stephanie Burgess, USC clinical professor of nursing, said the USC College of Nursing Advanced Practice Nursing Program is thrilled to collaborate with programs at MUSC. “Our vision is to increase the number of primary care providers to help meet the needs of the anticipated large number of South Carolinians who will enter the health care system by 2014.” Activities for the institute will include a longitudinal seminar series that will provide opportunities for students to engage in discussions about a number of primary care-related topics. Communitybased faculty who volunteer their time to teach students from the medicine, nursing, and physician assistant studies programs will be invited to join the institute to serve as teachers and mentors. An annual conference for students, campus faculty from MUSC and USC, and communitybased preceptors will generate a sense of community and sustain a vision for improved primary health care. Paul Jacques, D.H.Sc., faculty member with the MUSC Physician Assistant Program said patient-centered medical homes are the future models for improving access to health care. “These primary care practices will need compassionate, competent clinicians who are comfortable working within interprofessional teams. This project is focusing on the future of health care and preparing students for that future.” 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.
Lisa Montgomery, left, executive vice president of finance and operations, Division of Finance & Administration, honored Monique Felder with the Employee of the Year award, Aug. 15.
Employees recognized for Excellence in performance During the university’s Finance & Administration award ceremony, Lisa Montgomery, executive vice president, recognized employees for their dedication. Employee of the Year was awarded to Monique Felder, who has worked with the institution for more than 20 years. Felder was the division’s third quarter winner. The Cindy Garmon PEER (Promoting Employee Excellence with Recognition) of the Year award went to Kathleen Williams. Williams received nine PEER post cards from coworkers thanking Kathleen Williams, left, receives the her for demonstrating qualities of PEER of the Year award from Lisa excellence and assisting others. Montgomery.
The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012 3
Shannon’s Hope offers campers a therapeutic weekend R C h f egistration is open for Shannon’s Hope, a therapeutic weekend camp for children ages 6 to 15 who have experienced the death of a loved one in the past 24 months. This camp, held Oct. 6 and 7, is an initiative of Hospice of Charleston Foundation in collaboration with Hospice Care of America, MUSC and Roper Hospice. Through participation in fun activities, campers are encouraged to speak about issues of death and grief. The experience is structured to teach children that feelings such as sadness, fear, anger and desperation are all normal aspects of the grieving process. Together they create friendships and support systems that allow them to identify and express their emotions in a safe, secure environment. It is a weekend of laughter, tears, sharing and remembering. The camp is facilitated by professional counselors, and trained volunteer buddies who provide compassionate individual support to the children. Together these adults help the children “create stepping stones from their stumbling blocks.” Shannon’s Hope is held twice a year at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island. A $35 fee is requested; however, scholarships are available based on financial need. Referrals of campers are welcomed from parents, counselors, teachers, ministers, or other concerned persons. Transportation to and from camp is available. Shannon Heisler was the inspiration for Shannon’s
ospiCe of
harlesTon
ounDaTion
Hospice of Charleston Foundation is dedicated to supporting people facing end-of-life realities and expanding access to hospice services in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. Founded as Hospice of Charleston, the organization has served patients and their families for more than 30 years. The mission focuses on two program areas: Bereavement Initiatives: Supporting children and adults grieving the loss of a loved one. Community events like Shannon’s Hope camp for children and Candlelight Memorial Ceremony provide comfort for hundreds of people each year. Educational Outreach: Supporting end-of-life care training for health care professionals and raising community awareness about hospice care and its benefits, including outreach initiatives of other groups.
Hope, initiated in August 1989. The courage and hope demonstrated by this 16-year-old Hospice of Charleston patient, who died in November 1988, were the driving forces behind the development of the camp. To refer a camper or for questions, contact Kathy Berry at Hospice of Charleston Foundation (Kathy@ hospiceofcharlestonfoundation.org or 216-7323).
Corporate sponsorships are available for Shannon’s Hope and all Hospice of Charleston Foundation events. Financial contributions are welcomed to support this program, as well as Hospice of Charleston Foundation’s other charitable efforts to assist individuals and families in the Tri-county area who turn to hospice for help in their most vulnerable moments. For additional information on the camp, visit www. hospiceofcharlestonfoundation.org or call 216-7323.
Honorary degree nominations accepted for contributions to MUSC, nation The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost is accepting nominations for persons to receive honorary degrees from MUSC, to be awarded at Commencement. In general, honorary degrees go to individuals in the following broad categories: contribution(s) to the nation; contribution(s) to science; contribution(s) to the state or MUSC. Nominations of MUSC alumni are generally discouraged. The nominations should be forwarded to Marcia Higaki, Office of the Provost, Colcock Hall, 179 Ashley Ave., MSC 002, higakimc@musc.edu, no later than Friday, Oct. 12.
4 The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012
Currents sept. 4 People – Fostering employee pride and loyalty HR update Helena Bastian, MUHA HR director, presented the following information: q Pay increase: Effective Aug. 26, eligible employees (those who occupy a permanent position) will receive a .5 percent increase; this is a one-time increase and is not related to an employee's performance rating(s); increase(s) will be reflected in the Sept. 19 paycheck. q SuccessFactors: 2013 planning forms are due no later than Sept. 30. q 2012 Service Awards Ceremony: MUHA’s ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Drug Discovery Building; official invitations were delivered to administrators on Aug. 31 and should be distributed to managers for distribution to employees who will be recognized. q New Hire Reception: This quarter’s reception will be held from 1 — 2 p.m., Sept. 13 at Ashley River Tower Mezzanine and recognizes those employees hired April through June who are celebrating their first 90 days of employment with MUHA Benefit of the Month Dependent care flexible spending account (FSA): Benefit authorizes employees to use pre-tax dollars for their dependents (children or elderly family member), age 13 and younger to cover expenses and services from January through December. Qualified dependent care expenses include day care, after school care, adult day care, summer camp, etc. Employees are encouraged to estimate their expenses carefully because they will lose money that is remaining in the account at the end of the plan year. Wellness update Suzan Whelan, Office of Health Promotion and Employee Wellness coordinator, reviewed details of this season's 2012 influenza vaccine. Vaccines will be available for MUHA, MUSC, UMA, Crothall, Sodexo employees and volunteers. Campuswide satellite offices and events will be hosted by Employee Health Services and Infection Control. Employees must bring their ID badge (agency and other non-MUSC paid employees are not eligible). Participants may complete the Flu Vaccine Consent form (http://mcintranet.musc.edu/ehs/) before arrival
and bring for entry in the Express Line. Flu tent schedule: Library portico: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 19 and Sept. 20; and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 19, Ashley River Tower portico: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 19. Employees may get a flu vaccine at Employee Health Services from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weekdays with faster service from 1 to 3 p.m. Clinical managers can administer the flu vaccine to their employees by completing the flu vaccine request form and fax to 792-1200. Influenza vaccination declaration form, Medical Center Policy C-166 will be available online
Quality – Providing quality patient care in a safe environment
Annette Drachman, J.D., MUSC general counsel, reviewed details of MUHA’s contracts policy. She confirmed that her office had conducted a modified improvement project to improve services and assist with contracts. A result from this is the new Medical Center Policy A-013 that addresses negotiation and drafting of contracts. Drachman emphasized the need for managers to exercise due diligence to ensure that agreements meet MUHA’s needs, have been budgeted for and properly approved, and implemented, managed, monitored and executed according to the terms of the contract for department level contracts. The new policy reviews negotiation and drafting, routing and signature authority, details with clinical services contracts and record retention. She also clarified the role of a business associate relationship and protected health information. Drachman also reviewed a new form that assist a department to determine if a business associate relationship exists. The general counsel’s office is available to review contracts by request. The office reviews more than 1,000 contracts annually. Each contract takes an average of eight days to complete. To submit MUHA contracts for legal review, contact muhalegalcontracts@musc.edu.
Service – Serving the public with compassion, respect and excellence
Melissa Forinash, formerly with OCIO and the new Epic program administrator, provided an update on the Epic Enterprise implementation plans. The Epic Ambulatory Care module was implemented on May 17.
In April, MUSC gained permission to purchase the license fees for the Epic Enterprise Solution which is a comprehensive suite of fully integrated products including full revenue cycle and clinical information systems. Epic Enterprise will help integrate different systems and align the organization as the hospital moves forward with the MUSC Health Strategic Plan. Epic started in 1979 as an ambulatory information system vendor. They have evolved into the vendor of choice for many academic medical centers and have more than 250 customers nationwide. It’s estimated that more than 40 percent of U.S. health care consumers have an EMR utilizing Epic software. Currently Epic Ambulatory EMR is available in 80 clinics with 5,000 users and more than 6,500 registered patients using the MUSC MyChart patient portal. There are ambulatory projects including ongoing optimization and training for ambulatory clinics and preparing for Stage 1 meaningful use. Implementation of a referring physician module called EpicCare Link and a software version upgrade are also planned to begin this fall. Other future projects include the Kaleidoscope Ophthalmology module scheduled for next summer and the Phoenix transplant module which will coincide with rollout of Epic Enterprise in 2014. By 2014, nine existing systems will be replaced by modules within Epic Enterprise, such as clinical documentation orders, Pharmacy, Perioperative, Radiology, and Revenue Cycle (registration, scheduling, and billing). Other modules include ASAP (ED), Beacon (Oncology), Care Everywhere (connection with all Epic institutions) and Clarity (reporting and analytics). Several other modules have been licensed but will not be included with initial rollout in July 2014. Forinash also confirmed that some systems will not be replaced, such as our current imaging systems and some other niche information systems serving unique departmental needs. The formal project kickoff period is set for Sept. 18-21 with site visits by Epic personnel. An official kick-off meeting will take place from 1:30 to 3 p.m., Sept. 19 in Baruch Auditorium. User validation sessions to review the model system will take place from mid-October through the end of November. Planners will rely on a broad group of key users to assess functionality and project scope using a traffic light system (green-good; yellow-may need some customization; red-will not work). The validation sessions are essential to ensure that departmental users have input in assessing and designing the system to meet our requirements. Announcement The next Communications meeting is Sept. 18.
The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012 5
Meet Marta
Marta Rivell Department College of Medicine, Student Activities and Student Affairs How long at MUSC A month What are you doing to change what’s possible Medical school can be very challenging, so I want to provide activities that will make this journey pleasant and memorable. What is the best part of your job Working with students on a daily basis, helping them with their residency applications and finally seeing them reach their goal of becoming physicians. Where were you born I was born and raised in Warsaw, Poland, and moved to Charleston three years ago. Best place to visit in Poland Krakow. It is a beautiful city that was not destroyed during WWII. A Lowcountry food you like Oysters. Not only is the food delicious, but the roasts bring people together. Pets My dog, Pintxo (Peen-cho). I bought him with my very first paycheck. Pintxo in Spanish means a small appetizer. The name suits him very well.
6 The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012
Professorship offers international gains By Dawn Brazell Public Relations
T
he bad news is that Jeffrey G. Wong, M.D., will be thousands of miles away from his family for six months. The good news is that they will get to visit him in Japan, where he will be going this fall having been selected for the Kimitaka Kaga Visiting Professorship in Medical Education at The University of Tokyo School of Medicine. Wong, a professor of medicine and internist at MUSC, will be working with the University of Tokyo’s International Research Center for Medical Education (IRCME). “It’s an incredible opportunity for personal growth by learning about Japanese culture and the conduct of Japanese medical education.” Wong, who was selected to fill this appointment after an international search process, said he decided to apply for the professorship because it offers opportunities to collaborate with medical educators at the University of Tokyo, IRCME and colleagues throughout Japan who may share similar interests. Wong will work together with medical education and clinical colleagues in the areas of: q Curriculum development at the clinical clerkship/ senior student level to support Tokyo University Medical School’s response to new national and international accreditation standards, q Medical education research – collaborating with the IRCME faculty on educational research and development projects, and q Clinical teaching at a generalist level, primarily with medical students but also with residents in the university hospital. Wong, who also cares for patients in general internal medicine, has a long-standing passion for medical education. He received his medical degree from the University of Utah School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. He then served on the Duke faculty in the Division of General Internal Medicine for eight years, attaining the rank of assistant professor and serving in several educational administrative roles for Duke medical residents. He was recruited to Washington University in St. Louis in 1996 and was the chief of medical education in the Division of General Medical Sciences. In 1998, he was recruited to Yale University where he served in a number of educational leadership roles in the Yale Primary Care Residency Program. It was with the Yale program that Wong had his first international medical education experience conducting a series of faculty development workshop programs for basic science and clinical teachers at Kazan State
Dr. Jeffrey G. Wong leaves in September to serve a six-month professorship working with the University of Tokyo’s International Research Center for Medical Education. Medical University in Tatarstan, Russia. In 2004, he was awarded an honorary professorship at Kazan just as he was being recruited to MUSC by Jerry Reves, M.D., former dean of the College of Medicine. At MUSC, Wong was the senior associate dean for medical education in the College of Medicine. He worked to improve the local educational environment for medical students and residents as well as enhancing MUSC’s educational reputation nationally and internationally. He has worked with medical educators from France, Spain, China, Canada and Singapore and shared many of MUSC’s educational innovations through published papers and presentations nationally and internationally. Wong said this new experience with the IRCME professorship will further enrich him as a physician and educator when he returns to MUSC. “I hope that my personal experiences in clinical teaching, faculty development and in administering and organizing medical education will prove beneficial for those at the University of Tokyo’s IRCME as they work to improve and adapt clinical training and medical education to meet societal needs in Japan.” This collaboration seems to fit into MUSC’s strategic plan for global initiative, which is exciting, he said. “I believe that having an MUSC professor serving as the Kimitaka Kaga Visiting Professor for 2012-2013
reflects positively on MUSC as a medical educational institution. In addition to the teaching and educational research projects I will be conducting, I hope to learn a bit about the administrative operations of the IRCME. MUSC is moving forward with its Center for Global Initiatives, and I believe that my experiences with IRCME could potentially benefit MUSC in the future. It also can help foster collaborative educational opportunities between our institution and institutions in Japan.” Wong, who will be leaving in September, said he has been personally enriched by his previous overseas projects and strongly believes in the intrinsic value that the diversity of these international experiences can provide. International interconnectedness is necessary for the future survival of all institutions of higher education, he said. “Having a diverse campus comprised of learners and teachers who come from a multitude of backgrounds creates an exciting place to study and work. Through the exchange of these varying points of view, ideas can emerge providing impetus for advancement and innovation, thus augmenting the value of everyone’s experience. The friendships I have established with international colleagues and learners in different parts of the world are wonderful, and I look forward to establishing new relationships with this visit.”
The Catalyst, September 14, 2012 7
As part of Sept. 7 Day of Caring, Pharmacy Services performed landscaping work for the Charleston Miracle League, a baseball league for children and adults with mental and physical challenges.
MUSC employees care T
rident United Way’s Day of Caring gave MUSC employees a chance to volunteer in the Tri-county area Sept. 7. More than 300 employees, organized in 14 groups, cleaned gardens, painted buildings, served
at homeless shelters and packed back–to–school supplies in honor of Day of Caring. To donate to MUSC’s annual Trident United Way Campaign, visit http://www.musc.edu/ tuw or call 792-1973.
University Human Resources’ Tarsha Williams-Smalls reads with a student at Frierson Elementary. Right photo: David Roof, Department of Pediatrics, paints the way at the adult education center at Spann Elementary.
8 The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012
MUSC annual seasonal flu vaccine offered at clinics F lu season is just around the corner and MUSC Employee Health is preparing to fight this illness among employees. Five to 20 percent of Americans contract influenza yearly, and on average around 200,000 of them are hospitalized with the illness or complications related to the disease. With an estimated 36,000 deaths annually from influenza, and its complications, it is the nation’s eighth leading cause of death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Susan Johnson Practices recommend that all health care workers get an annual flu vaccine. Influenza viruses are always changing, so annual vaccination is recommended. Each year scientists try to match the viruses in the vaccine to those most likely to cause flu that year. Flu vaccine will not prevent disease from other viruses, including flu viruses not contained in the vaccine. About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body. Flu vaccine is available for MUHA, MUSC, UMA, Crothall and Sodexo employees and volunteers. For fast and convenient service, employees are encouraged to receive the flu vaccine at one of the campuswide satellites hosted by Employee Health Services and Infection Control. Bring your MUSC ID badge and your MUSC ID number – social security numbers will no longer be used to verify compliance. Students may obtain the vaccine from Student Health Services and will be available at the library portico flu tent event; however agency and other non-MUSC paid employees are not eligible. Wear loose fitting clothing that can easily be lifted to the shoulder. For fastest service complete the Flu Vaccine Consent Form before you arrive (available at http://tinyurl.com/d768t6k) and bring with you for entry into the express line. Forms
Health at work
will also be available at the administration site.
Flu tent schedule q Sept. 19: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Colbert Education Center & Library portico and Ashley River Tower portico q Sept. 20: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., Colbert Education Center & Library portico
Satellite schedule Ashley River Tower Chest Pain Center and the university Emergency Department will administer flu vaccinations to employees daily from 4 to 7 a.m. beginning Sept. 24. Employees also may receive the flu vaccine from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with faster service between 1 and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, at Employee Health Services’ office, 57 Bee St. q Oct. 3: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Children’s Hospital lobby q Oct. 4: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Room 803, Harborview Office Tower q Oct. 17: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., ART first floor q Oct. 31: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Children’s Hospital lobby q Nov. 14: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Children’s Hospital lobby q Nov. 28: 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Children’s Hospital lobby q Dec. 5: 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Children’s Hospital lobby
Employee Wellness events
q ZUMBA at Harborview Office Tower: Join licensed Zumba instructor Felecia Curry for a weekly Wednesday night Zumba class held from 5 to 6 p.m., Room 910 in Harborview Office Tower. Zumba is a dance-based aerobic exercise class and Curry tailors the workout to accommodate any fitness level. Space is limited. Email curryf@musc.edu or call 822-6136 for more information or to register. q MUSC Urban Farm: Family Workday will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., Sept. 15. Topic of the day: Engaging children in the garden. Participants will learn how to make a toad habitat, from a humble home to an amphibian hotel, plus organic strategies for cutworm control. Take home some fresh produce in return for work efforts on the farm.
Bring water, sunscreen and wear closed toe shoes. Email urbanfarm@musc.edu to register.
q Special Urban Farm Lunch & Learn Series – Presented by MUSC Dietetic Interns, this series begins Sept. 17 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in the Urban Farm. Intern Amelia Votapka will host the first topic: “The Game Plan” — ways to control your weight at the tailgate this football season. Learn about which vegetables are in season and simple ways to enjoy your favorite foods without guilt. Bring your lunch, no registration required. q Worksite Screening: Sept. 27 in Room 109, Colbert Education Center & Library Building. This screening, valued at about $350, is available to employees with the State Health Plan for only $15 (covered spouses can also participate for $15). Employees and spouses without this insurance can participate for $42. The screening includes: height, weight, blood pressure and a blood draw for a blood chemistry profile, hemogram, and a blood lipid profile. To register, go to www.musc.edu/ employeewellness and click Worksite Screening. q MUSC Employee Fitness Series: A free exercise bands class will be held from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., Sept. 19 at the Wellness Center. Exercise bands can be used for a great total body workout. This class will be led by fitness expert Katie Blaylock from the MUSC Human Performance Lab. Participants will receive a free one-day pass to the Wellness Center. E-mail musc-empwell@ musc.edu to register. q Farmers market: Fresh fruits and vegetables are available from local farmers from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday in the Horseshoe and in the area next to Ashley River Tower. Contact Johnson, Ph.D., at johnsusa@musc.edu for more information on the Office of Health Promotion and Suzan Benenson Whelan at whela@musc.edu for specific information about Employee Wellness. Events, speakers, classes or any other ideas are welcome.
Abstracts being accepted for Perry Halushka 2012 Research Day The annual Perry V Halushka 2012 MUSC Research Day will be held Friday, Nov. 2. The abstract deadline is Sept. 21. Research Day is open to all students, postdocs residents and fellows at MUSC and students, postdocs residents and fellows at other institutes who have participated this past year in programs of research at MUSC. This year’s keynote address will be presented by Mary Kennedy, Ph.D., from
the California Institute of Technology. Kennedy has been on the faculty at Caltech since 1981 and received her doctorate in biochemistry in 1975 from The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine. She was a postdoctoral fellow in Ed Kravitz’s lab at Harvard Medical School from 1975 to 1978, and in Paul Greengard’s lab at Yale University from 1978 to 1980. She was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, and was a councilor of the Society for Neuroscience from 1998 to 2002. She serves on the scientific advisory board of the John Douglas French Foundation for Alzheimer Research. In 2006, Kennedy was awarded the Ipsen Fondation Prize in Neuronal Plasticity, together with Drs. Eckhart Gundelfinger and Morgan Sheng, recognizing their work on the roles of protein complexes in synaptic plasticity.
More information about Kennedy and her lab can be found at http://www.its. caltech.edu/~mbklab/research.html. The online abstract instruction page can be found at http://www.musc.edu/ grad/srd/abstract_instructions.html. One abstract per presenter is allowed and team presentations are not allowed. Oral and poster formats are available. For information, visit http://www.musc.edu/ grad/srd/ or email srday@musc.edu.
The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012 9
zeBrafish Continued from Page One tumors at multiple sites and organs. Our research is focused on the process of metastasis.” Most anti-cancer drugs take advantage of how cancer cells grow faster than normal cells, targeting the mechanism behind these proliferating cells. The modern view of cancer in the past 10 to 15 years is that it’s an inappropriate reactivation of the normal, developmental processes, he said. “Sometimes the cell forgets it’s old and is supposed to be specialized, and it reverts back to this embryonic stage. Tumors can be viewed as corrupt forms of normal developmental processes. Most of the time the culprit genes and proteins that are implicated in these cancers also are found to be important during development.” Beyond the rapid embryonic growth and transparent eggs that make them popular research subjects, there also are economic benefits. “It’s much cheaper. This is a tenth of the cost of a mouse model. If you find something here, the next phase would be to go to a mouse model where you would validate your target.” As with the mouse model, the zebrafish genome has been sequenced. The vertebrate species has been found to develop almost any tumor type found in humans. It’s another reason he got involved with zebrafish research about five years ago. “It allows you to look at the pathways more specifically than the mouse model because of the transparency and because you can directly manipulate the fertilized egg. If you manipulate a fertilized
egg with a mouse, then you have to re-implant it into the female. With zebrafish, it’s all done externally.” Researchers can take eggs at the one-cell stage right after fertilization, and inject genes, knockout genes or over-expressed genes, and look at the effect of that on the development of the fish. “It’s a really good model to study developmental processes and take what we learn and go back to cancer lines to analyze if those have become reactivated in certain cancers or not.” Another advantage to zebrafish research is that the eggs are permeable, allowing for large-scale drug screens. “You can breed animals so that they develop melanomas, for example. Then you can screen small molecule compounds or plant extracts or drug extracts to try to find out which ones might be beneficial. It allows for rapid, large-scale screening for a permeable drug or small-molecule compounds.” Given that researchers with the National Institutes of Health and chemical companies are going worldwide to isolate compounds from everything from exotic tree bark to sea bacteria, zebrafish offer a way to rapidly screen the libraries of chemical compounds being collected, which is exciting, he said. An area of success in Howe’s lab is in the study of a signaling pathway called the Wnt pathway, which is found to be abnormal in breast cancer, colon and a variety of hematological tumors. They have found the Wnt pathway regulates the growth of the last portion of the tail in the zebrafish, with researchers isolating a protein that blocks the pathway. “If we knock out the receptor that is responsible for this development,
Researchers inject embryos at the single cell stage, right after they are fertilized. Howe said timing is critical. They have to collect the eggs and microinject them within 15 minutes given the rate of embryonic growth of zebrafish. we can get a phenotype where we get no tail. We can rescue that phenotype with a human version of the protein that’s not targeted by our protein.” Other exciting research, although it didn’t involve zebrafish, is that his lab was the first to show results in 20102011 about TGF beta and how it can induce metastasis through a translational mechanism, RNA to protein, and not transcriptional from DNA to RNA. “This is a paradigm-shifting model,” he said about one of his accomplishments. Other laboratories worldwide now also are working on this research area. Howe, who is associate director of basic science for the Hollings Cancer
Center, holds a number of prestigious grants from the National Cancer Institute and has been continually funded for 20 years. His hope is that research in his lab will help lead to promising cancer treatments. Thinking back to when his interest in basic science began, Howe said his father isn’t surprised about the work he’s doing. “They would give me toys, and I’d break them apart to see how they would work. We’re breaking down cells using zebrafish to see how they work. There’s a beauty in seeing how this stuff works. This can lead to all kinds of discoveries.”
10 The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012
Dear Colleagues: At MUSC we have earned a reputation for caring about the communities where we live and work. As the fall season begins, we have another opportunity to demonstrate our community spirit and leadership through the 2012 Trident United Way Campaign. Trident United Way is the area’s largest non-governmental supporter of health and human services. It is unique among non-profits in that all its grant decisions are made by a panel of local volunteers, representing a broad and diverse crosssection of community needs and interests. Locally, the agency funds 70 programs that nurture children and youth, increase self-sufficiency and promote health and healing, including those programs supported by the MUSC Foundation. When you make a gift to the 2012 Trident United Way Campaign, you can earmark it for the MUSC program or any other 501 C3 program of your choice on the pledge form. You also can make your gift online by visiting www.musc.edu/tuw. An online gift can be made through payroll deduction, credit card, or check to be paid at a later date. I strongly encourage you to consider making a gift to this year’s campaign. Every donation makes a big impact. Your support will enable us to reach our goal of $190,000. The 2012 campaign ends on Nov. 30, so please send in your gift today. Sincerely,
W. Stuart Smith Stuart Smith, MHA Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, Medical Center Chair, 2012 Trident United Way Campaign
Traveling exhibit features medical gender inequalities of 19th century MUSC’s Waring Historical Library and Humanities Committee will host the National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health exhibit, “Literature of Prescription: Charlotte Perkins Gilman and ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’” through Oct. 6 in the Colbert Education Center & Library Building. In the late 19th century, women were challenging traditional ideas about gender that excluded them from political and intellectual life while medical and scientific experts drew on notions of female weakness to justify inequality. Artist and writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman, who was discouraged from pursuing a career, rejected these ideas in a story titled, “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
FOR INFO: Call 792-2288 or visit http://waring.library.musc.edu. In conjunction with the exhibit, a panel discussion about postpartum depression from clinical, literary, and personal perspectives will begin at noon, Sept. 27, Room 109, Colbert Education Center & Library Building. The closing lecture will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Oct. 4 in the Basic Science Building auditorium. The lecture will be delivered by Jane Thrailkill, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, associate professor in English and Comparative Literature. A reception will follow in the Colbert Education Center & Library lobby.
Applause Program The following employees received recognition through the Applause Program for going the extra mile: Medical Center
Rachel Burriss, Meduflex Team; Lisa Klasek, 8E; Amy Mullins, Women’s Services; Bette Tezza; Women’s Services; Tara Kist, 6W; Cassie Gureley, 6W; Jennifer Wood, HCC; Alaina Heyward, 10W; Joshua Dakin, 10W; Jackie Smith, Women’s Services; Deborah Cepeda, Revenue Cycle Operations; Brenda Brown, Women’s Services; Kimberly Bennett, ART PACU; Christian Taylor, Volunteer & Guest Services; Patty Johnson, ART 2 CCV; Patricia Donoho, Respiratory Therapy; Hannah Steele, Residents OB/GYN; Cathy Quashie, Revenue Cycle Operations; Breezy Bern-
heisel, 6W; Julie Ross, 6W; Beth Griffin, Neurosurgery; Krystal Clark, 10W; Jennifer Haughney, 10W; Leslie Scott, 8W; Sha’Neisha McQueen, 8W; Lisa Shealy, 8W; Tylise Clark, 8W; Charlene Capers, 8W; Tracy Floyd, Ambulatory Care; and Emily White, Emergency Department. University
Valerie Assay, Infectious Diseases; Tara Campbell, Hollings Cancer Center; Sonia Castellano, Library; Barbara Donnelly, Human Resources Management; Michelle Drake, Pediatric Dentistry; Tim Fletcher, Anesthesia & Perioperative Medicine; Beth Griffin, Neurosurgery; Patricia Mason, Orthopaedic Surgery; Augusta McConnell, Public Safety; George Magrath, Ophthalmology; and Brenda Tooley, Hollings Cancer Center.
The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012 11
CLASSIFIED P AGE
• Household Personal Items for MUSC employees are free. All other classifieds are charged at rate below. Ads considered venture-making ads (puppy breeder, coffee business, home for sale, etc.) will be charged as PAID ADS •• PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY REQUIRED * NO MORE THAN 3 LINES * FREE ADS RUN 2 WEEKS ONLY!
PAID ADS are $3 per line ( 1 line = 35 characters) DEADLINE: TUESDAY – 10:00 AM * CLASSIFIED ADS CAN BE E-MAILED TO sales@moultrienews.com, OR MAILED (134 Columbus St., Charleston SC 29403) Please call 849-1778 with questions. *Must provide Badge No. and Department of Employment for employees and Student I.D. Number for MUSC Students. IP01-681614
Rental Properties
W Ashley 1 BR Condo for Rent at The Arboretum. Exc. location near Boeing/526. Elev, granite CT, H/W flrs, Intercom, secured entry, + amenities. Avail 9/28. $975mo. +1mo. deposit. No pets/smokers. 843-607-3621
Furniture Teak book case w/4 pieces. TV console, draws, shelves, &curio Great cond. 856-3577
TO ADVERTISE IN THE CATALYST CALL 849-1778
12 The CaTalysT, September 14, 2012