Health1 Winter 2012

health WINTER 2012

PERSONALIZED HEALTH CARE IS THE POWER OF ONE

plan of

attack OSU’S EXPERTS WILL HELP YOU TACKLE YOUR HEALTH GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR page 4

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A MATTER OF CONTROL Artist Don Townsend is painting again, thanks to deep brain stimulation page 8

STARTING STRONG New breast center turns 1 year old page 10

WHEN EVERY MINUTE COUNTS Knowing signs of stroke can prevent damage page 12

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square Anterior cruciate ligament

your first step into The Ohio State University Medical Center

safe landings

high honors

PROGRAM HELPS PREVENT ACL TEARS

OSU NAMED AMONG TOP 10 FOR DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY CARE

Are you an athlete concerned about an anterior cruciate ligament tear in your knee? ACL tears most commonly occur in sports involving cutting (changing directions abruptly) and jumping, such as soccer, basketball, football and volleyball. The OSU Sports Medicine ACL Injury Prevention Program is a six-week training course to enhance jumping biomechanics and plyometric training, leg and abdominal strength and balance. Call the OSU Sports Medicine Physical Therapy Department at 800-293-5123 for scheduling information.

The Ohio State University Medical Center is among the top 10 academic medical centers in the United States delivering the highest quality of care. That is according to the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), which has awarded Ohio State the UHC Quality Leadership Award. Recipients are academic medical centers that demonstrate excellence in delivering high-quality care as measured by a Quality & Accountability Study. “Ohio State has earned a place among distinguished company in the UHC top 10,” says Steven G. Gabbe, MD, CEO of The Ohio State University Medical Center.

world-class care close to home A MESSAGE FROM STEVEN G. GABBE, MD, CEO OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER Convenience without compromise. We have all come to expect it, in the way we communicate, and where we dine, travel and shop.

We must provide the same access in health care, and we’re doing that at Ohio State. OSU Medical Center’s dozens of community locations provide the same high-quality care you rely on from OSU Medical

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Center, but a little closer to home.

Our CarePoint locations in Gahanna, Lewis Center and on Columbus’ East Side offer family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopaedics, cardiovascular medicine, imaging and a host of other services, all under one roof.

The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast

Center gives central Ohio women one convenient location, not only for screening mammograms, but also the full spectrum of breast cancer care from prevention through detection, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.

And our walk-in FastCare clinics in Gahanna and Upper Arlington treat colds, strep throat, sinus

infections and other common illnesses.

And now all of our community care locations are linked to our hospitals through our new electronic medical record system.

Every doctor, nurse and specialist who cares for you can access the same patient information. Find out more at medicalcenter.osu. edu.

the rubber meets the road PLANNING STARTS FOR PELOTONIA 2012 Registration has begun for Pelotonia 2012, planned for Aug. 10–12. Pelotonia is a three-day cycling event, open to riders of all experience levels. Due to the generosity of Pelotonia’s funding partners, 100 percent of every dollar raised by riders, virtual riders and volunteers is invested in research initiatives at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. Pelotonia ’11 attracted 4,986 riders from 38 states and four countries who rode up to 180 miles on one of four routes. They raised a record $13.1 million, bringing Pelotonia’s three-year total to more than $25 million. To register, visit pelotonia.org.

Employees of the Critical Care Unit at the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital earned the Beacon Award for the care they provide.

beacon of hope CRITICAL CARE NURSES RECEIVE ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR SECOND TIME The Ohio State University Medical Center provides top-notch care to patients with critical care needs. As proof of this, the fourth floor Critical Care Unit at Ohio State’s Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital has received the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence for the second time. The honor, which is sponsored by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, recognizes the unit as one of the best in the nation at providing excellent nursing care with quality outcomes.

rehab excellence Ohio State’s Rehabilitation Services at Dodd Hall is a 60-bed inpatient rehab facility that helps individuals live their lives to the fullest despite disabilities caused by trauma, illness, congenital deficits or disease. Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, our rehab facilities meet the highest standards in quality, safety and outcome measures.

One reason we are continually rated among the best in the country (19 years in a row) by U.S.News & World Report is our excellent, compassionate patient care. This fall, Michael Samogala, RN, CRRN (shown at left), was honored with the Staff Nurse Award for Excellence from the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses. This recognition is given only once a year to the best nurses in the country.

medicalcenter.osu.edu

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primary care

Try to take 10,000 steps a day as a healthy activity.

ounce

Make prevention this year’s resolution

an

of

prevention Disease prevention seems to get more complicated all the time.

PHOTO: ROMAN SAPECKI

Hormone replacements to prevent heart disease in women? Out. They increase breast cancer risk. Lowering cholesterol? In, but lower only the bad and raise the good. Even cancer screenings are a little confusing. Here, experts at Ohio State offer the most updated advice available for disease prevention.

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You should wash your hands for as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song.

nature, nurture and riSK ManageMent

With cardiovascular disease and cancer, some risk factors you cannot control (age, sex, family history of a disease), and some you can (diet, weight, exercise, lifestyle). The key is knowing all of your risk factors and reducing the risks where possible. Take heart disease, for example.

“Family history is important, but it’s just one of the risks for heart disease,” says Martha Gulati, MD, the Sarah Ross Soter Chair in Women’s Cardiovascular Health.

“For example, the odds of a woman developing heart disease are approaching one in two — meaning a 50-50 chance — which are not great odds. You are at risk even if you don’t have a family

history. Fortunately, 90 percent of heart disease is preventable, so everyone should be trying to reduce their risks where possible.” the plan

For your best chance at preventing heart disease and cancer, stick to the tried-and-true. “Smoking is absolutely the numberone preventable risk “Smoking is absolutely the factor for both heart number one preventable risk disease and cancer,” factor for both heart disease says Laxmi Mehta, MD, clinical director of the and cancer.”

Women’s Cardiovas—Laxmi Mehta, MD, clinical director of the Women’s cular Health Program Cardiovascular Health Program and associate program and associate program director of Education for the Center for Women’s Health director of Education for the Center for Women’s Health. “For nonsmokers, lifestyle decisions should reflect the basics of exercise and healthy eating.” Here are the top suggestions: Don’t forget fiber. Fiber helps the body’s digestive system work well and may help lower the risk of

POWER FOODS SPOTLIGHT ON FUNCTIONAL FOODS

(From left) Laxmi Mehta, MD; Martha Gulati, MD; and Peter Shields, MD, draw up a game plan that prevents disease and promotes healthy living.

Our researchers are developing foods that prevent cancers:  Soy has long been considered to have beneficial effects on cholesterol levels, heart disease, bone health and weight management. OSUCCC – James researchers are developing and testing recipes for soy-infused breads for their potential to prevent and treat prostate cancer.  Some studies have suggested that including tomato products containing lycopene and other phytochemicals in a healthy diet can help prevent prostate and colon cancer and reduce a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease. OSUCCC – James researchers are developing a tomato and soy drink.  According to researchers at OSUCCC – James, nutrients taken from avocados are able to thwart oral cancer cells, killing some and preventing precancerous cells from developing into actual cancers. Extracts from Hass avocados, the most readily available avocados in grocery stores, kill or stop the growth of precancerous cells that lead to oral cancer.  A pilot study suggests that eating garlic might lower the levels of a potential carcinogenic process in the body.  Blueberries, black raspberries and strawberries all have chemopreventive properties, according to research done at the OSUCCC – James. medicalcenter.osu.edu

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primary care

Always cough and sneeze into your elbow to avoid spreading germs.

FIVE ALIVE

Add these five elements to your diet and lifestyle for a fitter, healthier and happier you.

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Fiber

Regular exercise

Vitamin D & calcium

Oily fish

Knowing your numbers

live strong

some cancers and heart disease. A high-fiber diet contains 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories or around 30 grams/day.

Exercise. If you need to lose weight or sustain weight loss, you should get a minimum of 60–90 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week. Aerobic exercise, which strengthens the heart, and weight training, which increases muscular endurance, are both beneficial.

Take vitamin D and calcium. Calcium is needed for our heart, muscles and nerves to function properly and for blood to clot. The body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. Adults should consume at least 1,000 mg of calcium/day.

Eat fish at least twice a week, preferably oily fish. Fatty fish — such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon — are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Or talk to your healthcare provider about taking omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) supplements.

Know your numbers and your family history. You should know your blood pressure, cholesterol numbers (including good, bad and triglycerides), glucose level, body mass index and waist circumference, in addition to any pertinent family history of heart disease or cancer. Keep track of your numbers with OSUMyChart.

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The Strong at heart handout offers day-to-day steps to improve your heart health. To receive it, send back the enclosed business reply card.

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cancer coMpleXitieS

The correlation between a healthy lifestyle and cancer prevention is more complicated than with heart disease prevention, explains Peter Shields, MD, Ohio State’s new deputy director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center. “It’s unclear how much changing your diet and exercise habits lowers your cancer risk,” he says. “Still, given the benefits for reducing heart disease, reducing cancer risk too is an added bonus.”

The future of cancer prevention may lie in the science of biomarkers. Biomarkers is a general name for a test that indicates that you have a disease or are at risk for a disease. For example, the presence of an antibody may indicate an infection, or unhealthy cholesterol levels means an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.

“We are hoping to discover better biomarkers for cancer prevention,” explains Dr. Shields. “For example, smoking significantly increases the risk for many cancers, yet some people smoke their whole lives and live to 90 without cancer. Why? Who gets cancer and who doesn’t? We know there are biomarkers to explain it, and those are the biomarkers we are working to discover.” action iteMS

While knowing how to stay healthy is important, it is no substitute for regular checkups with your doctor.

“You can become an informed consumer and read everything out there, but it won’t help unless you know your own numbers, blood pressure, cholesterol, et cetera,” Dr. Mehta says. “At Ohio State, we practice personalized medicine, which is why a visit with your physician is key.”

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ASK YOUR ADVOCATE Rebecca Grant, MD

Q: I have always heard you should feed a cold and starve a fever. Is that true?

A. This is indeed a myth.

It was once thought that eating food may generate body warmth to combat a cold, and reducing calories would generate less heat, thus reducing body temperature.

However, eating a wellbalanced diet rich in nutrients and antioxidants helps to optimize the body’s immune system. Foods enriched with vitamins C and E may help to reduce the duration of a cold.

FIND A PHYSICIAN For more information about scheduling an appointment with Dr. Grant or at CarePoint East Family Medicine, call 800-293-5123.

leadership

welcome wagon Two new leaders join The Ohio State University Medical Center

Ohio State has two new employees who are helping us reach our mission

of improving people’s lives through innovation in research, education and patient care. They are Richard Goldberg, MD, physician-in-chief of Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, and Charles Lockwood, MD, dean of the College of Medicine. Learn more about them here.

richard goldBerg, Md, phYSician-in-chief, oSuccc – JaMeS

charleS locKwood, Md, dean, college of Medicine

An internationally renowned gastrointestinal oncologist, Dr. Goldberg previously served as physician-in-chief at North Carolina Cancer Hospital at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

A national leader at the Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Lockwood comes to Ohio State after nine years as its chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. what do You hope to accoMpliSh here?

what do we have Yet to learn aBout cancer prevention?

Until we succeed in preventing most or all cancers, our learning is not done. While we know that aspirin, exercise and a prudent diet make a difference, these measures do not prevent all cancers. We need to better understand the different stimuli that drive our own tissue to become tumors and exploit them for prevention. what accoMpliShMent are You proudeSt of So far in Your career?

Together with a team of collaborators, I led a study that resulted in the approval of a new treatment for colon cancer — a drug called oxaliplatin. where Might we Spot You when You’re not worKing?

Running along the Olentangy Trail near Wilson Bridge Road with our 4-year-old vizsla hound dog or watching Buckeyes basketball at the Schott.

PHOTOS: ALAN GEHO

By working with my colleagues over the coming months, I hope to help fashion a series of policy changes and new initiatives that will allow us to carry out President Gee’s vision of moving Ohio State from ‘excellence to eminence.’ how did Your worK at Yale prepare You for thiS poSition?

I think my entire career was preparation.

Beyond being a reasonably skilled clinician and researcher, I learned much from taking on progressively greater administrative challenges. At New York University, I helped rebuild a large clinical department almost from scratch. At Yale, I had to focus on building a great research department, developing physician scientists and reenergizing our clinical services. how do You See p4 Medicine [care that iS predictive, preventive, perSonaliZed and participatorY] iMpacting care over the neXt 10 YearS?

Wow. This answer could take a book. Ultimately, personalized medicine is about tailoring care of an individual to his or her genetic and epigenetic makeup, current condition, family and community setting. what do You liKe aBout coluMBuS So far?

That’s an easy one: the people. I have literally not met a single person I have not enjoyed talking to. medicalcenter.osu.edu

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neuro

Ohio State is ranked among America’s Best Hospitals by U.S.News & World Report for neurology and neurosurgery.

Deep brain stimulation stops artist’s tremors

a matter of The artist’s life: Don Townsend is back at his passion — painting — thanks to deep brain stimulation. The procedure controlled his tremors.

contr Losing control of your hands can mean losing control of your life.

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No one knows that better than Don Townsend of Sylvania, who was diagnosed several years ago with essential tremor, a neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable movements in parts of the body.

When medication stopped controlling the tremors, Townsend turned to Ohio State, where doctors used the newest technology in neurological surgery to restore his quality of life.

Searching for Solutions

When Townsend, an accomplished painter, retired from teaching art, he looked forward to enjoying

his passion full-time, as well as spending winters with his wife, Sandy, and friends in Florida. However, the increasing shakiness and tremors in his right hand were interfering with those plans. So Townsend sought a neurologist in his hometown, who prescribed several different medications.

Five years passed, and eventually the medications — combinations of more than 30 kinds over that time — stopped working. Townsend was unable to paint, and everyday activities like feeding himself became a challenge. The active couple started avoiding social situations and often chose

DBS has shown promise in treating epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

AN ARTFUL APPROACH Don Townsend works with a razor to create intricately elaborate artwork known as the sgraffito technique. To mark his return to painting and to celebrate the success of his DBS treatment, he has created a piece for Ohio State that depicts many of campus’s most beautiful spots. The art is being sold as a poster and notecards, and 100 percent of the proceeds go to Ohio State’s Neurological Surgery Neuromodulation Research Program Fund (313259). This funds vital research of new therapies for DBS — which helps improve the quality of life for people with essential tremor, Parkinson’s, obsessive-compulsive disorder and dystonia. Townsend is convinced it was this research that saved his own life, and he now wants to make a difference in the lives of others.

“I did this piece for the Medical Center with the idea that we could make prints from it and sell them to raise money for research,” he states. “I think of all that the hospital and the doctors have done for me — they gave me my life back. I had to stop painting and now I am able to paint again. Why not give something back?”

art & science

SPOTLIGHT ON PAINTINGS FOR PROCEEDS

Support the Neurological Surgery Neuromodulation Research Program Fund by purchasing a poster or notecards (shown here).

Visit artworkforOhioStateResearch.com.

Punit Agrawal, DO, and neurosurgeon Ali Rezai, MD, who determined Townsend was a perfect candidate for DBS. Dr. Rezai, a world-renowned neurosurgeon and neuromodulation specialist, is the director of Ohio State’s Center for Neuromodulation. He is an internationally recognized DBS surgeon who has performed more than 1,600 DBS surgeries and thousands more neuromodulation procedures. Under his leadership, Ohio State is pioneering DBS to treat chronic disabilities such as epilepsy, stroke and headache as well as addiction, eating disorders, traumatic brain disorders and Alzheimer’s.

Finding the answer DBS requires two surgeries. The first places DBS, also known as a brain pacemaker, is in a class of treatments called neuromodulation, which is being millimeter-thin electrodes into the brain, and the second implants a small device in the patient’s chest that used for Parkinson’s treatments, pain management powers the electrodes. Townsend’s first surgery lasted and even some psychiatric disorders. It involves less than six hours and was completely pain-free. He surgically implanting a battery-operated device into was kept awake during the surgery so doctors could the body to deliver targeted electric stimulation that assess his control of his hands. Sandy was amazed calms abnormal brain signals. when she saw a perfect sketch her husband had Don and Sandy were impressed with DBS, drawn — during his surgery. but the idea of “brain surgery” was daunting.

Although he returns to Ohio State occasionally However, when Townsend’s medication stopped to adjust the programmer’s settings, Townsend working, the couple took the advice of Don’s neucan control his tremor with a click of a button. rologist and consulted with Ohio State neurologist And he’s back to painting, traveling and eatFor a downloadable PDF about deep brain stimulation, ing out with friends — in the middle of his please visit go.osu.edu/DBS. favorite restaurants.

the corner of their favorite restaurants to avoid embarrassment. His neurologist sent him to The Ohio State University Medical Center to learn more about its successful deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy.

“My neurologist recommended Ohio State over any of the places we could have gone. He had wanted me to go there from the beginning, but I wanted to try medication first. If I knew then what I know now, I would have done it right away and not put it off,” Townsend shares.

medicalcenter.osu.edu

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cancer

OSUCCC – James breast cancer survivors helped design The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center.

The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center marks first year

starting

strong Lindsay Giannobile (shown here with husband, Tony) was one of the first patients at Ohio State’s new breast care center.

Her healthcare providers (not affi liated with Ohio State) were not concerned and encouraged her to ‘watch and wait.’ “Although two brief ultrasound screenings were done, the provider said it couldn’t be breast cancer because I was 27 and healthy,” Giannobile recalls. “I didn’t fit their mold of a breast cancer patient.”

Scared, Giannobile sought a second opinion a year later at Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. There she was diagnosed with

TAKING WING

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW RADIATION ONCOLOGY WING The newly opened radiation oncology wing at The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center offers patients the latest in radiation technology from nationally recognized radiation oncology experts. The Center is also home to the Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator, the first in Ohio and just the 65th in the world.

This innovative system delivers faster, more precise and accurate treatment of breast tumors, while

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significantly reducing the amount of healthy tissue, including tissue of the heart and lungs, affected by radiation treatments. Also, this is the first time in the 20-year James history that radiation oncology expertise is available at a satellite location.

“TrueBeam enables us to treat patients with unprecedented speed and precision,” says Arnab Chakravarti, MD, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology.

PHOTO: ALAN GEHO, RALPHOTO STUDIO

In 2009, Lindsay Giannobile of Columbus, then 27, found lumps in her left breast during a self-exam.

The Breast Center has counseling suites, a library and resource center, a meditation room, private waiting areas and other amenities.

stage III invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer.

The cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes. center turnS 1

Jan. 18, 2012, is the fi rst anniversary of the opening of The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center. It’s the fi rst of its kind in the Midwest to offer the full continuum of breast cancer care — from prevention and screening, through detection, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship — in one location.

“The Center was built with a focus on multidisciplinary care,” explains William Farrar, MD, director of the Center. “The building — which the physicians, nurses and patients helped to design — has four floors where specialists and researchers can work closely together for the benefit and convenience of the patients.”

For example, physicians, faculty and staff engage in a weekly multimodality clinic to discuss unique or difficult cases of breast cancer patients. There is also

NEW CENTER, NEW NAME SPOTLIGHT ON THE STEFANIE SPIELMAN COMPREHENSIVE BREAST CENTER

In October, the JamesCare Comprehensive Breast Center was renamed The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center. The new name honors Spielman, the mother of four and wife of former football star Chris Spielman. She was 42 when she died in 2009. An Ohio State alumna, she was diagnosed with cancer in 1998 at age 30.

“Stefanie Spielman was a forceful advocate for early detection and research because she knew those two factors were the keys to curing cancer,” Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee says. “In the first six months after Stefanie’s diagnosis, she and Chris raised more than $1 million for research and patient assistance at Ohio State. To date, the Spielman Funds have raised more than $9.1 million.”

a monthly research conference where possibilities for clinical trials and new advances are explored. the Young face of BreaSt cancer

“Most breast cancers occur in postmenopausal women, and less than 10 percent of breast cancer patients are under 30,” says Maryam Lustberg, MD, Giannobile’s medical oncologist. “But we see many younger patients in large centers like ours.

“One of Lindsay’s strengths is how she participated in her own health care from the beginning,” Dr. Lustberg adds. “That’s an important message, especially for younger patients who face unique challenges.”

For example, chemotherapy, surgery and ongoing medications to combat breast cancer can affect a woman’s fertility. “So my husband and I decided to freeze some embryos before I began treatments, because we still want a family someday,” explains Giannobile. continuuM of care

come see us

Lindsay Giannobile (pictured here with Dr. Lustberg) underwent chemotherapy, radiation and a mastectomy as part of treatment for breast cancer.

To find out more about and take a virtual tour of The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center, go to cancer.osu.edu/go/ breastcenter.

Because of the seriousness of Giannobile’s diagnosis, she was given aggressive treatments of chemotherapy before having a mastectomy. She then had radiation, targeted chemotherapy called Herceptin, a preventive mastectomy of her other breast and breast reconstruction. She meets with a physical therapist in oncology rehabilitation as a precaution against developing lymphedema, a condition that sometimes occurs after the removal of lymph nodes during breast cancer surgery.

“The Breast Center has been absolutely incredible,” says Giannobile. “Everything you need to put the pieces back together during and after breast cancer is all in one place. It’s unfortunate if you are diagnosed, but if you are, there is unbelievable support at Ohio State.”

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ASK YOUR ADVOCATE Laurie Belknap, DO

Q: How early should I start thinking about breast health?

A. Current recommendations for all women include monthly self breast exams and clinical breast exams by a healthcare professional every three years beginning in their 20s. The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms for women age 40 and over.

FIND A PHYSICIAN For more information about scheduling an appointment with Dr. Belknap or at CarePoint Lewis Center, call 800-293-5123.

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stroke

when

every “If you know the signs of stroke and get the right medical care quickly, the chances of a good recovery rise dramatically,”

KNOW THE SIGNS SPOTLIGHT ON IDENTIFYING A STROKE

Stroke is an emergency. It can cause permanent loss of function and death. But damage can be prevented if the right care is delivered quickly, says Dr. Torbey. Get help immediately or call 911 if you see these signs — even if symptoms subside:  weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body  confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding  problems with vision such as dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes  dizziness or problems with balance or coordination  problems with movement or walking  severe headaches with no other known cause 12

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says Michel Torbey, MD, medical director of OSU Medical Center’s Neurovascular Stroke Center.

“That means calling 911 as soon as you recognize signs in yourself or in someone nearby.”

When a stroke occurs, the brain’s blood supply is cut off by a clot or by a broken blood vessel. Brain cells begin to die within minutes. A quick diagnosis and delivery of a clot-busting drug or surgery within three to six hours can mean less damage and even full recovery. “That’s why in our business, we say, ‘time is brain,’” Dr. Torbey explains. ‘aMerica’S BeSt’ StroKe care

When a stroke patient arrives at The Ohio State University Medical Center, the highly trained stroke team is prepared to fight for a good outcome. “Comprehensive care is not just a buzzword in the OSU Stroke Center,” says team member Eric Sauvageau, MD, who is dually trained as a neurological and endovascular surgeon. Round-the-clock stroke intervention includes dual-trained physicians who each

OSU Medical Center’s Neurovascular Stroke Team is available around the clock.

minute

counts

specialize in more than one aspect of stroke care.

That means less time must be spent tracking down specialists as needs arise. It’s also one of many reasons why U.S.News & World Report ranks Ohio State’s Neurology and Neurosurgery program among “America’s Best.” recovering independence

quiz show

Once the appropriate medical or surgical care is provided to stabilize the stroke patient, the next step is to focus on recovery and helping the patient achieve the highest level of function and quality of life. Ohio State’s Stroke Rehabilitation Program at Dodd Hall is the only rehab program in central Ohio that’s certified in stroke and brain injury by the highly respected accreditation body CARF International. And it consistently ranks in the top 20 of U.S.News’ “Best Hospitals” for rehabilitation.

“The strength of our program is that we care about the patient holistically…emotionally, spiritually, their family, their home setup. We are about teamwork with the patient,” says Sharon McDowell, MD, director of Stroke Rehabilitation.

Visit go.osu.edu/strokequiz to take our stroke risk assessment quiz. The quiz asks questions about your age, family history and personal lifestyle.

Act fast in the event of a stroke

stroke care

excellence

Patients treated by OSU Medical Center’s stroke team have access to the best stroke care that exists. No other hospital in central Ohio has a more comprehensive group of stroke specialists who have specialized stroke expertise and training:  We have the only neurosurgeons in central Ohio dualtrained to perform both conventional vascular disease surgery and endovascular techniques, giving us the expertise to manage any surgical need.  We have central Ohio’s only neuro critical care physician.  Our neurointensivists, stroke neurologists, neuroradiologists, neurointerventionists, emergency medicine physicians and stroke therapists are on hand day and night to provide stroke patients with leading-edge treatments.  Our neurosurgical intensive care unit is home to a unique surgical suite that integrates neurosurgical and radiologic care, expediting treatment and eliminating the need to move patients between surgeries.  We are a certified Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission, which means our stroke program safely provides the highest quality care. medicalcenter.osu.edu 13

voice

Any hoarseness or change in voice that lasts longer than two weeks should be brought to the attention of your physician.

startreatment The show goes on, thanks to Ohio State’s Voice Clinic

In 2010, Kara Wilkinson was set to play Joanne in the hit musical Rent produced by Shadowbox Live in Columbus.

But two days before opening night, Wilkinson had a big problem: she couldn’t sing. Fortunately, Shadowbox referred her to Ohio State’s Voice and Swallowing Disorders Clinic and its cofounder, Arick Forrest, MD, vice chair of Otolaryngology and one of the top voice doctors in the country.

belt it out

photo: STUDIO 66

Kara Wilkinson was treated at Ohio State’s Voice Clinic after she experienced problems singing. The therapy worked — she performed opening night.

Opening Act

Founded in 1993, the Voice Clinic was one of the first of its kind for the treatment of patients with voice disorders, such as paradoxical vocal cord dysfunction, and with head or neck cancer. It is home to the only two laryngologists in town: Dr. Forrest and Brad deSilva, MD. The For more information on scheduling an Clinic is recognized appointment or consultation with the Voice as a center of exceland Swallowing Disorders Clinic, call lence in its treatment

Curtain Call

Wilkinson saw Dr. Forrest the morning of opening night. “Dr. Forrest was great; he explained everything,” she says. “I even saw the vocal nodules that were causing my singing problems. I’m grateful for the exceptional care he gave me. I had full range back in my voice in about an hour, and opening night went off without a hitch.”

“Caring for performers is fun and important work,” says Dr. Forrest. “However, improving the quality of life for cancer patients and for people with voice disorders is tremendously rewarding to me. That’s the part that gets me up in the morning.”

800-293-5123.

BECOME PART OF OUR COMMUNITY

learn, share, CONNECT



The Best, Again

Convenient, Fast Care

For the fifth year in a row, OSU Medical Center has been voted by its staff one of the “Best Places to Work” in Columbus in Business First’s annual

Combat cough and cold season with the help of the Medical Center’s FastCare clinics. FastCare clinics are open in the Market District Giant Eagle in Upper

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of laryngeal cancer and vocal cord dysfunction.

“When people have difficulty swallowing and speaking, they withdraw,” notes Dr. Forrest.

“They don’t socialize, which can be depressing.

We help improve their quality of life.”

In 2004, the Clinic became a resource for national musicians who toured through Columbus and required immediate care to sing. Performing arts associations in Columbus are also aware of the services the Voice Clinic offers. Ryan Cork, MHA, administrative manager of the Clinic, says, “We specialize in the care and treatment of professional voice users, but we also offer specialized speech and language therapy that helps all patients across the spectrum.”

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survey. Come see what all the excitement is about — visit our career page for job openings at go.osu.edu/ osumcjobs.

Arlington and in the Giant Eagle in Gahanna. They provide quality, convenient care for common illnesses such as colds, sinus infections, sore throats, earaches and other ailments. No appointment is necessary, and evening and weekend hours are

available. Visits start at $59 and your insurance can be billed. For more information, visit go.osu.edu/ FastCare.

› aroundthe medical center NEWS FROM THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

PRESSURE’S ON

SIX-WAY KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

Kidney donors Idrissa Jalloh of Columbus (left) and James Meyer of Michigan (right) meet for the first time as part of a swap of kidneys between 12 patients at OSU Medical Center. Meyer donated his kidney to Jalloh’s wife and Jalloh donated his kidney to a recipient on the kidney waiting list — the last two surgeries to complete the transplant chain.

Three men and three women received new kidneys in a six-way kidney transplant that took place in September at OSU Medical Center. The synchronized swap of kidneys between the 12 patients required two days to complete and more than two months to orchestrate.

The six-way, single-institution transplant is the first and largest to date in Ohio and one of only a handful that have taken place in the United States. Multiple transplants are uncommon due to the logistics involved in screening pairs of incompatible donors and recipients in hopes of finding matches that can benefit each person. The problem of donor incompatibility is a national concern according to transplant surgeon Ronald Pelletier, MD, who led the series of transplants.

The chain of transplants began with an altruistic donor who stepped forward to donate a kidney to a recipient who was part of one of the incompatible pairs. For information on becoming a living kidney donor, visit go.osu.edu/ livingkidneydonation.

heart plaQue teSt

MatterS of the heart Tune in to NBC4 feb. 29 at 7 p.m. for a special program on heart health titled “Matters of the Heart.” The show will be hosted by Gail Hogan, a 21-year cardiac arrest survivor, and features a Ross Heart Hospital patient’s journey to better health

Do you have high blood pressure? Then you may be a candidate for a new clinical trial taking place at Ohio State. The National Institutes of Health is embarking on a nine-year study to find out if a lower blood pressure range in older adults reduces cardiovascular and kidney diseases and age-related cognitive decline.

The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) is being conducted in more than 80 clinical sites across the United States and is enrolling approximately 9,250 people over age 50. Ohio State’s Department of Family Medicine and divisions of Nephrology and Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism are taking part in the clinical study.

Current clinical guidelines recommend systolic pressure of less than 140 mm Hg in adults. At the present time, it is not known how much blood pressure must be lowered in older persons with high blood pressure to best prevent the complications of hypertension. SPRINT is designed to answer that question.

SPRINT participants are seen in clinics every few months at the beginning of the study and less frequently as their blood pressure is controlled. The study provides FDA-approved blood pressure medications at no cost to the participants, physical exams and standard tests for determining the health of the heart, kidneys and brain.

Participants will be followed for at least four years.

Participants should have a history of cardiovascular disease; be at high risk for heart disease by having at least one additional risk factor, such as smoking or high blood cholesterol levels; or have chronic kidney disease.

For more information or to enroll, call 800-293-5123.

as well as some of the unique cardiovascular health advancements taking place at OSU Medical Center. From 5 to 8 p.m., a panel of experts from the Ross Heart Hospital will take phone calls. Tune in to learn more about how to live a heart-healthy lifestyle.

A Cardiac Calcium Scoring Test provides a clear picture of plaque buildup in arteries in the heart, indicating a risk for coronary artery disease.

This CT scan takes only 30 minutes, with results back to you and your physician’s office within 24 hours. It is available at CarePoint

Gahanna, 920 N. Hamilton Road, and at The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center, 1145 Olentangy River Road. You must have a physician referral to get the scan. Need one?

Call us at 800-293-5123 for a listing of physicians in your area. medicalcenter.osu.edu 15

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there is no such thing As A routine mAmmogrAm

But for Ohio State, mammograms would just be considered routine. However, there is nothing routine about preventing and detecting breast cancer. It demands the expertise of radiologists who read and interpret only mammograms‌all day, every day.

At The James, our Breast Imaging specialists are focused on detecting breast cancer earlier...when the opportunity for a cure is highest. Their trained eyes mean the difference between early, accurate detection and a breast cancer that goes undiagnosed. Don’t just get a routine mammogram...get a James mammogram.

Call 1-800-240-4477 to schedule yours today.

cancer.osu.edu