Volume 15
Issue 1
September 2015
SYSTEMnews I nvesting in the
Future
Education is a cornerstone of Penn Medicine, not only for its medical and doctoral students but also for high schoolers and undergraduates in the region and, in fact, across the globe. That’s why several programs offered during the summer — and sometimes year-round — offer opportunities to learn about working in the health-care environment and training to help participants reach their goals. `` Students used medical ultrasound to image their own hearts, livers, and kidneys, as well as simulated breast and thyroid tumors as part of Penn's Medical School Camp.
In this issue of System News, we’re sharing a snapshot of the programs that are changing the lives of young students in our community.
» A Pipeline to Success
CEO’s corner Ralph W. Muller
CEO, University of Pennsylvania Health System
As many of you know, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania remains without a Fiscal Year 2016 budget agreement. Delays in reaching agreement are not uncommon and often fueled by political differences. However the longer they last, the greater the potential harm to vulnerable citizens and Pennsylvania’s progress as a leader in health care and medical research. When Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, was elected in the fall of 2014 by a substantial majority, one of his primary campaign pledges was to increase education funding in the Commonwealth and implement a tax on unconventional natural gas drilling (i.e. fracking). During the same election cycle, Pennsylvanians elected historic Republican majorities in the State House of Representatives and Senate. Many of these members campaigned on a platform to not raise taxes and decrease overall government spending. Although the Governor and Republicans in the Legislature all agree education funding is critically important, their respective political ideologies have led to a fundamental difference in how to achieve that end.
“I learned that with a lot of hard work, the right thoughts in my mind, and just a little patience, I can achieve everything I need my life to be.” It’s surprising for a graduating high school senior to have so much confidence at this stage of life, but what’s especially inspiring is that much of this student’s belief in his own abilities resulted from participating in the Penn Medicine Pipeline Program. The two-year program provides health-care exploration and work-readiness experience, challenging juniors and seniors to complete their normal classes, work with mentors in departments and areas throughout the Health System, and take college courses at Peirce College and the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP). Some of the program’s graduates become Penn Medicine Academy interns, working 20 hours a week at the Health System while being paid for 40 so they can continue taking college courses. It’s hard work, but “they always exceed our expectations,” said Frances Graham, director of Workforce Development. So far, more than 100 students from four West Philadelphia high schools have participated in the two-year program, with excellent results. In the last four graduating classes, 100 percent of the participants graduated from high school (versus 64 percent for the Philadelphia School District) and nearly all plan to attend college to complete their degrees. Ashley Mason loved “the chance to experience different parts of health care — both clinical and nonclinical. I met so many people and learned about so many specialties.” She received her associate’s degree in Health Services Management from CCP last May and is now a senior at St. Joseph’s University working towards a bachelor’s degree in Health Administration. She currently works as a patient services representative in Penn Orthopaedics.
`` Michelle Campbell and Kayla Bradford received certificates of recognition for achieving a 3.0 or better in their college courses while in the Pipeline Program.
Shanice Jackson, another Pipeline graduate, said, “Without this program, and the driving forces behind it, I wouldn’t be where I am today, emotionally or financially. Over and over again Penn Medicine opened doors for me. I am very thankful for this program.” (continued on page 5)
Lancaster General Health Joins Penn Medicine
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Inside Two Executive Leadership Changes at LG Health...............2 250th Class Enters Perelman School of Medicine...................2 Reducing Readmissions through RED..............................2 Music to Patients' Ears.............2 Penn Medicine@Work..............3 Newsmakers..............................4 Leadership Transitions.............6 Awards & Accolades.................6
Lancaster General Health (LG Health) is now a member of Penn Medicine. The combination unites one of the nation’s top academic medical centers with a health system nationally ranked for its clinical quality. Both are among the top five systems in Pennsylvania, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. “Joining the University of Pennsylvania Health System strengthens our region’s access to cost-effective, high-quality care, will improve our communities’ health and well-being, and will strengthen our complementary teaching and research missions,” said Thomas E. Beeman, former president and CEO of Lancaster General Health who was recently appointed COO of UPHS Regional Operations (see page 2). “An acclaimed partner such as Penn Medicine is essential to our efforts to successfully transform health care during a time of unprecedented change in our industry.” Penn Medicine will provide for the health care needs of the LG Health community for as long as LG Health may be affiliated with Penn Medicine. LG Health’s assets will continue to be used to advance the health and well-being of the LG Health community. LG Health’s governance will continue under its existing Board of Trustees, consisting of 14 volunteer business and community members and LG Health’s CEO. Two of the 14 will be selected by Penn Medicine. Likewise, three LG Health Trustees will join Penn Medicine’s Board of Trustees. (continued on page 2)
A CARE-ing Community...........6
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Lancaster General Health J oins Penn Medicine
Two Executive Leadership Changes at LG Health
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Thomas E. Beeman, PhD, formerly president and CEO of LG Health, was named the COO of UPHS Regional Operations, and Jan Bergen became president and CEO of LG Health.
Two recent executive leadership changes at Lancaster General Health (LG Health) strengthens access to its nationally recognized patient care across South Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania.
LG Health’s extensive community benefit efforts, including its charity-care policies, community health programs, and initiatives improving the health of the elderly, poor and other at-risk populations, will continue and be governed by the LG Health Board of Trustees. The Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences remains a part of the Lancaster General Health system. “Lancaster General Health is an exceptional organization, providing the highest levels of care for patients and a leader in population health management,” said Ralph W. Muller, CEO of the Health System. “Uniting with LG Health offers powerful opportunities to connect medical teams and experts to improve care for all patients we serve and find solutions to health care delivery challenges ahead.”
250th Class
In his new role, Beeman will work in close collaboration with UPHS senior leadership to guide our regional market and ambulatory strategy; facilitate system-wide integration across entities, starting with LG Health; and coordinate relationships with key partners across prioritized market regions. He will oversee LG Health and The Chester County Hospital, and partner closely with Garry Scheib who, as COO for Philadelphia Operations, will continue his executive responsibilities for HUP, Pennsylvania Hospital and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Beeman brings more than 35 years of experience in the health care field. Prior to LG Health, he served as president and CEO of Saint Thomas Health Services (Nashville, TN), and HUP's senior VP for Hospital Operations and executive director in the late 1990’s. Beeman is also assistant deputy surgeon general for Reserve Affairs in the U.S. Navy, where he has served as deputy commander for the National Intrepid Center of Excellence at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. Bergen has more than 30 years of health care experience — including management of hospitals, ambulatory centers and rehabilitation centers — with a 15-year history of successful leadership at LG Health. Most recently she served as executive VP and COO, as well as the chief mission officer. In her new role, she is responsible for leading LG Health’s continued growth and operational excellence, from its hospitals and both suburban and downtown outpatient pavilions, to its physician network and major service lines.
Enters Perelman School of Medicine Last month, Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine bestowed short white coats on 156 first year medical school students during its annual White Coat Ceremony, the rite of passage experienced by students across the country in their journeys toward a health care career. This is the 250th class to enter Penn’s medical school, but the first to begin its training in the new, state-of-the-art Henry A. Jordan Medical Education Center at Penn.
23 156
Students from PA
First year medical students from States
25%
25
Students are from underrepresented minorities in the field of medicine
Reducing Readmissions through the RED Chester County Hospital was one of 10 hospitals involved in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s 2011 rollout of the Re-Engineered Discharge (RED) toolkit. Initially implemented in one unit, the program is now used hospital-wide with a notable positive impact on the patient experience. RED provides evidence-based tools to help hospitals re-engineer their patient discharge processes. This program enables patients to manage their conditions at home, possibly avoiding a readmission to the hospital for the same condition. When initially implemented for congestive heart failure patients, “we achieved a 50 percent reduction in the readmission of these patients discharged to home, without adding more nursing resources,” said Carli Meister, MScA, RN, director of Customer Relations and Risk. RED’s After Hospital Care Plan, on which Chester County Hospital based its “My Discharge Plan,” is a user-friendly guide that covers patients’ hospital discharges through the first visit with their primary care physician. Based on the success with CHF patients, hospital leaders expanded the use of RED throughout the facility. Since the hospital-wide implementation, the average readmission rate for CHF is now between 14 and 16 percent — significantly lower than the national average. The hospital’s readmission rate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also dropped, from 19 percent to 11.7 percent. “We hear of our patients showing up at the pharmacy holding their after-hospital care plan, and bringing it to community meetings and their doctor’s offices. They tell us, ‘I never let this out of my sight now,’ and their physicians love it,” Meister said.
Music to Patients’ Ears Every Friday, Philadelphia Threshold Singers visit Penn Wissahickon Hospice at Rittenhouse to spread comfort to its patients and their families at the bedside. The all-volunteer group, a local chapter of the International Threshold Choir Organization, perform songs created especially for patients and families at various thresholds of life. Their music, which is not religion-based, is intended to soothe and comfort, and is purposefully unfamiliar so as not to draw on previous uncomfortable associations a patient may have to a song. They also do their best to respond with hymns or other songs. Only two to four singers come at a time to avoid overwhelming the patient. “Researchers are starting to identify the benefits of these complementary therapies,” said Jeri A. Timm, manager of Volunteer Services. “It doesn’t always have to be a medication to produce a reduction in anxiety or sleeplessness. Often it’s a psychosocial issue in which the patient needs a volunteer, community support, or music to enhance their care.”
`` Doris Mogen (l.) and Lana Noel of Philadelphia Threshold, a group which sings for patients at Penn Wissahickon Hospice every week.
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The choir has experienced scenes of loved ones visiting a patient and grieving in varying ways, yet unable to attend the patient meaningfully: kids are playing video games; adults are talking on the phone or watching television. When the choir begins singing, clearly focused on the patient in the bed, the visitors turn their attention to the patient and the present situation. “These can be bleak and scary moments for families when they are just beginning to acknowledge that their loved one is going to die,” Doris Mogen, the group’s co-director, said. “Death can be beautiful too. We bring the possibility of acceptance and seeing the beauty where it is often hard to find.”
penn medicine
work
Combat to Care: Helping Veterans Re-enter the Workforce I think that veterans are valuable in any organization. They all share the common goal of working in a team to achieve a mission. Combat to Care, the veteran recruitment initiative Penn Medicine launched in 2013, is designed to strengthen our workforce by recruiting our nation’s war veterans. Through their remarkable accomplishments, proven ability to work through adversity, and commitment to serving others, these men and women have demonstrated themselves to be uniquely suited to careers in health care. However, veterans separating from the military face unique challenges when entering the civilian workforce. For example, some have never created a resume; the military uses a Field Service Record to detail qualifications, training, and experience. In 2013, Penn Medicine hosted a Veterans Career Fair, inviting veterans to sit with recruiters and generalists who not only spoke with them about job openings, but also worked with them on their resumes. Debbie Foster, director of Communications, Organization Development for UPHS, was on the planning committee for the job fair. “One of the most rewarding parts for me was the overwhelmingly positive response we received from veterans for the resume services we provided. For many of them, it was their first opportunity to sit and speak with a recruiting professional who could assist them in translating their military experience and accomplishments for the civilian workforce.” Lucas Marcum, MSN, ACNP-BC, was a student in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Pennsylvania and serving in the Army Reserve Nurse Corps, when he attended the career fair. “I picked the University of Pennsylvania for school and then eventually my career because it had the best program in the country for what I wanted to do,” he said. The career fair was an eye opening experience for Lucas. While there, he connected with Meredith Kirkpatrick, an advanced practice recruiter in Talent Acquisition for UPHS. “Lucas and I had a long conversation that day. I learned about his military background and what his goals were moving forward … and that he was going back to school for Advanced Practice,” Kirkpatrick said. “I knew I wanted to keep in touch with him, so that when he graduated, I could work with him to become an advanced practitioner at Penn Medicine.”
Meredith did stay in touch with Lucas throughout his time in school. When a position opened for an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner on the Neurosurgical Critical Care Unit at PPMC, Meredith immediately thought of him for the role. “His experience as a Critical Care nurse and a flight nurse let me know that Lucas had a strong background in high acuity situations. I could tell from our conversation that he was driven, highly motivated, and passionate about his work,” she said. He was ultimately hired because of his past experiences. “I ended up here in the neuro-trauma section because I was a trauma nurse before. I was on a flight team. I worked as a critical care air transport nurse on a three-man flight team out in Arizona,” Marcum said. “It’s hard to describe. Those people that you’re assigned to work with [in the Army] will absolutely drive you bonkers but they are the best friends you will ever have in your life. I do see a lot of that in the higher intensity areas of health care because everybody is there to support each other to do what your mission is—which is to take care of trauma patients. The camaraderie is essential in the military because often times you have nobody else to rely on but the people you are assigned to work with and it’s quite frankly the best part of the military.” For recruiters like Meredith, who invest the time to connect with potential candidates, there is a great deal of satisfaction that comes from helping people achieve their goals while supporting the organization’s needs. Veterans bring a great value to the workforce, specifically to team-based and mission-based environments. “I think that veterans are valuable in any organization. They all share the common goal of working in a team to achieve a mission. And I think that the team-based mindset is something that can benefit any employer. It may seem a little intimidating to hire a veteran because there’s a lot about the military that people don’t know but for the most part they are good people who want to do the right thing for the people around them,” Marcum said.
New Knowledge Link
Training Opportunities There are two new offerings available for UPHS employees in Knowledge Link. Visit Knowledge Link and log in with your PennKey to get up to speed on the changes coming for ICD-10 and the Leave of Absence policy.
ICD-10 General Awareness Training What is ICD-10? ICD-10 stands for the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition. This standard coding system assigns unique codes for substantially different health diagnoses (CM) and Procedures (PCS). Why is this important? ICD codes impact all areas of the Health System including patient registration, clinical documentation, chart coding, revenue cycle, and data analytics. ICD-10 CM/PCS will expand the current code set from 17,000 codes to 140,000 codes allowing a greater level of specificity. The new specificity will improve patient quality of care, reimbursement, and tracking/reporting capabilities throughout Penn Medicine. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has set a mandatory ICD-10 compliance date of October 1, 2015. Penn Medicine has been preparing for this change for several years. The ICD-10 Project team includes representation from each of the major areas of Penn Medicine and is structured by six work streams – Clinical, Coding & Documentation, Training, Technology, Business/Revenue Cycle and Operations — who have been working hard to ensure we are operationally and technically ready!
Leave of Absence (LOA) Policy and Process Training This eLearning module is a voluntary course that has been designed to provide answers to questions employees and managers may have regarding the UPHS Leave of Absence Policy. You can access this web-based program through Knowledge Link. Identify your role (“manager” or “employee”), and you will be on your way to understanding the Leave of Absence Policy and Process.
First-ever UPHS-wide Penn Medicine
Experience Week! October 5th-9th
We are so excited to come together as a Health System to to celebrate accomplishments, re-energize efforts, and honor our staff members who impact patient experience every single day. You will be receiving more information in the coming weeks about activities being planned. It’s not too early to start thinking about how your entity/department can best celebrate patient success stories and achievements during this week. To learn more, visit Penn Medicine Patient Experience on the Intranet at pme.uphs. upenn.edu or contact your local entity Patient Experience Week lead: CPUP Michelle.Docimo@uphs.upenn.edu CCA Cherie.Lee@uphs.upenn.edu HCHS Rebecca.McCarron@uphs.upenn.edu GSPP Danielle.Gower@uphs.upenn.edu HUP David.Cribb@uphs.upenn.edu CCH Lauren.Speakman@uphs.upenn.edu PAH
Angel.Mccullough@uphs.upenn.edu
PPMC
Melisa.Leighton@uphs.upenn.edu
For more information about Combat to Care and Careers for Veterans at Penn Medicine, visit http://www.pennmedicine. org/careers/apply/combat-to-care/.
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Penn Medicine
NEWSmakers / / / World's First Pediatric DoubleHand Transplant Performed in Philadelphia Top-tier news outlets around the world and across the nation reported on the first bilateral hand transplant performed on a pediatric patient. Led by Penn Medicine surgeons from the departments of Orthopaedics, Transplant, and Plastic Surgery, the 10-hour procedure was nearly two years in the making. "The planning took approximately 18 months," said team leader L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, chair of Orthopaedics and director of Penn and CHOP’s Hand Transplant Program. The patient, eightyear-old Zion Harvey, suffered a life-threatening infection at age two that forced doctors to amputate both his hands and feet. Harvey said the new hands are a dream come true.
/ / / Synthetic DNA–based MERS Vaccine Shows Promise A synthetic DNA–based vaccine targeting the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) protects monkeys from developing symptoms of the disease, according to new research from the lab of lead author David Weiner, PhD, a professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The vaccine also elicits antibodies against the spike protein of the virus in camels, which are thought to facilitate the spread of the pathogen to humans. Articles appeared in many international outlets, including BBC, The Scientist, and HealthDay News, whose article was carried by dozens of other outlets.
/ / / To Medicate With Marijuana or Not, That’s the Question ‘Does medical marijuana ‘work’?” That question, by David Casarett, MD, director of Hospice and Palliative Care, is anything but simple, The Washington Post reported. Casarett’s quest to understand the medical value of marijuana was covered by several other outlets, including Newsweek, Esquire, WHYY Radio’s “Fresh Air,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, KCRW Radio, and an op-ed in The New York Times.
/ / / FDA Approves Controversial 'Little Pink Pill' But With Restrictions The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a pill that aims to increase a woman's desire for sex — a controversial decision made only after an extended lobbying campaign by the drug's makers, NBC News reported. Philip Hanno, MD, a professor of Urology, and Jeanmarie Perrone, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine, who also voted as part of the FDA panel, both served on the FDA advisory panel on the drug, and were quoted in NBC News and a Medpage Today article respectively.
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/ / / Penn Study: Costly Eye Drug No Safer Than Alternative Penn researchers reviewed insurance claims data for patients who received two drugs for the treatment of macular degeneration, Avastin, and Lucentis, the more expensive of the two, and found they posed equally low risks of infection. The study’s lead author, Brian L. VanderBeek, MD, MPH, an assistant professor of Ophthalmology, was quoted in The Philadelphia Inquirer and the research was also covered by HealthDay.
/ / / 'Tweezer' Molecule Can Block HIV in Semen
An Institute of Medicine panel concluded that despite being the third-leading killer in the United States, cardiac arrest does not receive the attention it should. Lance Becker, MD, a professor of Emergency Medicine and director of the Center for Resuscitation Science, who served on the panel, noted that despite the public health risk, spending on cardiac arrest research is just a fraction of what is spent on other cardiac issues. He is quoted in The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Associated Press.
Results of a new study show that a new strategy may be able to effectively prevent transmission of HIV, other sexually transmitted viruses, and additional illnesses. The most common route of HIV transmission is through semen, which contains protein fragments called amyloid fibrils. The fibrils can help HIV attach to the membrane of human cells and enhance the virus’ infectivity by 10,000 times. Coauthor James Shorter, PhD, an associate professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and colleagues, found a way to interfere with this initial phase of infection using a tweezershaped molecule called CLR01. Stories appeared on Wired.com among other outlets.
/ / / After Health Care Act, Sharp Drop in Spending on Birth Control
/ / / Repaired Vacant Houses Coincide with a Drop in Crime
A study, led by Nora Becker, an MD/PhD candidate in the Perelman School of Medicine and the Wharton School, and Daniel Polsky, PhD, executive director of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, estimated that savings from the pill alone were about $1.4 billion in 2013. Their work was featured in The New York Times, TIME, Newsweek, HealthDay, CNBC and The Huffington Post.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Medical Daily and Newsweek reported on a new study by Penn researchers which found that fixing up abandoned buildings significantly reduced crime and violence in the surrounding areas. Charles Branas, PhD, a professor of Epidemiology, and John MacDonald, PhD, chair of Criminology at Penn, looked at rates of violent and nuisance crimes around houses where property owners replaced doors and windows to comply with a Philadelphia ordinance to combat blight, and found an estimated 19 percent reduction in assaults and a 39 percent reduction in gun assaults.
/ / / 1,600 a Day Suffer Cardiac Arrest, and Many More Could Be Saved, Panel Said
/ / / Medicine Without Blood Penn’s Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery at PAH and Patricia A. Ford, MD, were featured in The New Yorker in a three-part series about the ways that Jehovah’s Witnesses have changed how physicians view blood transfusions. Ford, the founder and director of the Center, performed the world’s first bloodless stem cell transplant in 1996 and has successfully performed 140 transplants since. The Center is cited as the model program for best practices in patient blood management by health care professionals and organizations throughout the U.S. and the world.
/ / / Should We Charge Patients for Medical Research? In an op-ed published by The New York Times, Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, chair of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, and Steven Joffe, MD, MPH, vice chair of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, said that while there is no law or rule that prohibits researchers from charging patients to participate in trials, and some research may be funded this way, charging to participate is a mistake.
/ / / Evidence Lacking in Studies of Hospital Cleanliness A new study in Annals of Internal Medicine points to a lack of evidence as to which hospital room cleaning method is the most effective at reducing health care-associated infections. The systematic overview, led by Craig A. Umscheid, MD, MSCE, an assistant professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, Jennifer Han, MD, MSCE, an assistant professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, and Brian Leas, a research analyst in the Penn’s Center for Evidence-based Practice, called for more comparative effectiveness and patient-centered outcomes research. The review was covered by HealthDay, HealthLeaders, MedPage Today and picked up by U.S. News & World Report, Philly.com and WebMD.
Visit the Penn Medicine news website at www.PennMedicine.org/news
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I nvestin g in the
Future
» Not Your Typical Summer Camp
While going to school during the summer is not the top choice for most students, the participants in Penn’s Medical School Camp look forward to it. And it’s easy to understand why. During the four-week program, they can try their hand at suturing an incision, doing a spinal tap, and learning anatomy on a cadaver. It’s all part of a program that gives high school juniors and seniors a good taste of medicine and helps them explore career possibilities. According to Gregg Lipschik, MD, of Pulmonary and Critical Care, each of the four weeks roughly corresponds to an overview of one year of medical school, starting with the basics… from learning CPR and how to do a medical interview and physical to identifying abnormal findings, like a heart murmur, at the Penn Medicine Simulation Center. Students then learn about a variety of medical specialties through presentations and hands-on activities. In one scenario at the SIM Center, a “patient” goes into cardiac arrest and students save him. “They learned to recognize the symptoms and then performed CPR and defibrillation,” Lipschik said. They also worked on cadavers with students and anatomy professors from the Perelman School of Medicine, one of the most popular activities. The following weeks include seeing live surgery from HUP’s Flyers/76ers Surgical Amphitheater and talking with the surgeon during the operation. Then they tried their own skills at laparoscopic surgery at the Sim Center. Lipschik is always impressed with what he sees. “Some kids were incredible!” he said, adding with a laugh, “They’re better than I am!” Field trips to visit ICUs, the ED, and dialysis units at HUP, Penn Presbyterian, and the Philadelphia VA provide the opportunity to talk with providers about what it’s really like to work in a hospital. Students are also exposed to medical careers outside of the clinical arena, for example, in research or government. The program has gained in popularity since starting in 2013, in both this country and abroad. “This year 23 students came from foreign countries, including China, the UK, Australia, Egypt and Mexico,” Lipschik said. Just over 100 students participated this past July, “all highly motivated.” There is a fee to attend the medical camp, but scholarships are available. Based on feedback, “the students love the program, especially the hands-on activities,” he said. “This could be our next group of surgeons and radiologists, dentists, nurses, pharmacists…” The possibilities are endless.
» An In-Depth Look at Medicine
While many young people set their career sights on being a doctor, they often base their visions on what they see on TV. Penn’s Summer Pre-Med Enrichment Program for Under-Represented Minority Students gives undergraduates a true in-depth look at the medical field from a clinical and research perspective. Sponsored by Penn’s Center of Excellence for Diversity in Health Education and Research, the comprehensive 10-week free summer program not only helps students succeed in a professional medical career, but also “positions participants as future leaders in the field,” said program director Jerry Johnson, MD, of Geriatric Medicine. The program has four components. Research comprises 60 percent of the students’ time (three days a week). Each student is assigned to a faculty mentor from the Perelman School of Medicine in one of four types of research: basic science, health services, clinical (translational, community based) and epidemiology. “This is where our program differs from others — the research experience is not just focused on one type,” Johnson said.
`` High school student Eric Tsimborg cuts tissue sections from a brain of a patient with neurodegenerative disease at the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research.
The remaining time includes a presentation series which provides students with an overview of medicine (for example, what it means to be a doctor, what training is necessary) and clinical shadowing experiences in several fields. “Students are exposed to minority mentors, persons like themselves, in a major academic health center,” Johnson said. “They like the passion they feel from persons they meet.” The program also includes preparation for the Medical College Admission Test and other requirements in the admissions process. As of 2014, all of the program’s 131 participants had completed their undergraduate training. Of these, 101 entered a health professional school: 90 were accepted to medical school and 11 were accepted to other health professional schools (dentistry, physical therapy, and podiatry). And, based on feedback, the students love the program. “Every single day was intellectually stimulating…. Through my shadowing and clinical experiences, I watched as various health care professionals collaborated to bring about the best outcome for a patient,” said one former participant in an email. Added another, “Every aspect of this program was amazing and I am grateful that I learned an immense amount of invaluable information.”
» Educating the Next Generation of Researchers
Virginia Lee, PhD, director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR), did not dream of a career in science when she was younger. “I didn’t know what research was about … I didn’t have a role model,” she said, but, late in high school, she was exposed to science, and, once this world did open for her, she knew that was where her future lay. And that’s the type of experience she wants to provide to high school and college students through the CNDR’s internship program. “It’s very important for young people to learn more about science before deciding on a career,” she said. Paired with a post-doctoral student or staff scientist, the students are given the opportunity to contribute to ongoing research about the causes and mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases that the CNDR investigates. For example, students can assist in tissue staining and then look through a microscope to identify plaques, a signature of Alzheimer’s disease, Lee said. “They also get to gown up and watch the harvesting of a brain,” she said. “It’s a thrill — even for an undergraduate.” The students also get together weekly to share what they’re learning, such as how to do DNA sequencing or use a specific technique to answer a biological question. “I was blown away when they started these meetings, among themselves, to educate each other.” Students are paid for this eight-week internship, something Lee feels strongly about. “They learn what it’s like to have a fulltime job with responsibilities,” Lee said. While most of the undergrads in the program have already decided on science or medicine as a career, the high schoolers are a different story, Lee said. “I hope to inspire young people to at least think about going into science as a career. I want to educate the next generation of scientists.” Another research-oriented program — at the Penn Academy for Reproductive Sciences — targets female high school students. Focusing on the science behind human reproduction, the program educates girls about careers in research and clinical medicine, while helping themselves better understand their bodies. “We want to give these girls ideas about a career that maybe they weren’t thinking about before,” said Monica Mainigi, MD, of Obstetrics and Gynecology, who runs the program with Jamie Shuda, EdD, director of Life Science Outreach at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine. During the six-week session, the girls learn through presentations and a variety of hands-on experiences, including in vitro fertilization in a mouse. Since the program started in 2010, more than 130 students from 33 high schools in the region have participated. “Even if they don’t go into a health care career, they know more about their bodies and that’s steps ahead of where they were when they first came,” Mainigi said.
`Carmen ` Guerra, MD, served as research mentor to Edgar Guzman in Penn's Pre-med Program for Underrepresented Minority Students.
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LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS Metz NEW Chair of Radiation Oncology James Metz, MD, has been named chair of Radiation Oncology. He had been serving as the interim chair since November 2014, and previously held a series of administrative positions within the department beginning in 2005, when he was appointed director of Clinical Operations. Metz led the development of the Roberts Proton Therapy Center, the largest proton center in the world that opened in 2010. He has also pioneered the use of online cancer survivorship care plans and web-based cancer education and information. He is nationally recognized as the longtime editor-in-chief and now executive director of OncoLink, named on numerous occasions as one of the Top 10 medical websites in the world by the National Library of Medicine. Metz is a member of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology and is on the steering committee for the Particle Therapy Cooperative Group. His clinical research emphasizes multimodality therapies for locally advanced gastrointestinal malignancies.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES Edna Foa, PhD, director of Penn’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, received the 2015 Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award from the American Psychological Association for her contribution to the theory and clinical practice of psychology, specifically the research and treatment of anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
Caryn Lerman, PhD, senior deputy director of Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center, received the National Cancer Institute Outstanding Investigator Award, a new grant bestowed upon influential cancer researchers to provide long-term support for their impactful and exceptional cancer research.
John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD, director of Penn’s Institute on Aging, has been honored with the American Association of Neuropathologists’ (AANP) Award for Meritorious Contributions to Neuropathology. The award is given each year to physicians who have made significant contributions to the field of neuropathology and provided service to the AANP.
CEO’s corner (continued from cover) As the Commonwealth’s leaders struggle to find a politically acceptable budget, there are a number of programs that Penn Medicine participates in that benefit our patients, clinicians and researchers that may be affected by the continued budget stalemate as both the Governor and the Legislature look for savings to apply to other areas of state government. I would like to call attention to some of the major ones. Medicaid, which is one of the Commonwealth’s largest expenditures, is a vital safety-net for those in need in our community. Penn Medicine is one of the largest providers of care to Medicaid beneficiaries in Pennsylvania. Additionally, the Medicaid program supports acute care provided only at highly specialized health systems like Penn that operate trauma centers and OB/NICU’s. Penn Medicine also partners with the Commonwealth to provide health care outreach, including health screenings and education. Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center, with support from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, administers a patient navigation initiative which works to improve colorectal cancer screening rates for residents of West Philadelphia. The project helps patients better understand and comply with the preparation that comes before the screening. In addition to direct patient care and community outreach, Penn Medicine is the beneficiary of medical research funding — the Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement (CURE) Program provides annual funding for health care-related research. Penn Medicine is the largest recipient in Pennsylvania. Not only do these funds help contribute to scientific discovery and advancement, they yield a substantial economic benefit to the region. As you can see, Penn Medicine is a dedicated partner to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when it comes to caring for our citizens and advancing medical research. Funding for the programs I have highlighted is contingent upon appropriations in the state budget. The budget stalemate has the potential to hamper Pennsylvania’s progress as a leader in health care and medical research, and worse, negatively impact the services that our most vulnerable citizens depend on. Despite the challenge in front of us, I remain optimistic. I believe that people of good will come together to find a solution that puts Pennsylvania and its residents first. I and my colleagues from across the state are watching budget negotiations closely and doing all we can to help bring about an agreement.
PAH Emergency Department Receives Top Award Pennsylvania Hospital’s Emergency Department was one of four hospitals to receive this year’s Lantern Award and is one of only 58 of the more than 5,000 EDs in this country to hold this prestigious recognition. The Lantern Award recognizes EDs that exemplify exceptional practice and innovative performance in the core areas of leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research. The award is a visible symbol of the department’s commitment to quality, presence of a healthy work environment and accomplishment in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation into emergency care. The Lantern Award is named in honor of Florence Nightingale, who is credited with changing nursing from an untrained job to a skilled, science-based profession. She is referred to as the "Lady of the Lamp" for her actions during the Crimean War when she worked deep into the night, bringing a lantern with her as she tended to wounded British soldiers as they slept.
Systemnews Editorial Staff: Sally Sapega, MA Editor
Trissy Laurito & Lisa Paxson Graphic Design
Administration:
Susan E. Phillips Senior Vice President, Public Affairs Holly Auer Director of Communications
A CARE-ing Community Since its inception in 2012, the Penn Medicine CAREs program has awarded nearly $200,000 in grants to support the volunteer efforts of UPHS employees and students from the Perelman School of Medicine who go out of their way to help others less fortunate. All told, 160 projects have received this funding. Penn Medicine will award grants up to four times per year for expenses (not including salary support) directly related to community outreach activities. The grant funding can be used for projects big and small and for new or existing community outreach efforts. If you volunteer your time and expertise to a community organization, you may be eligible to receive a Penn Medicine CAREs grant. To learn more, go to http://uphsxnet.uphs.upenn.edu/community/ and click on "CAREs Grant."
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