St. Joseph's Barrow Neurological Institute by LOCALiQ

St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute® Celebrates 50 Years

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

CREATED BY REPUBLIC MEDIA CUSTOM PUBLISHING

MAY 11, 2012

50 years of bringing great minds together BY: SARAH PADILLA

rom pioneering spinal procedures to identifying genes responsible for potentially devastating conditions, Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center has been at the forefront of medical advances since its inception. And, as the Phoenix facility celebrates its 50th anniversary, Barrow doctors believe the most signiﬁcant accomplishments are yet to come. Consistently ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the nation for neurology and neurosurgery, Barrow’s expertise in brain and spinal disorders draws patients from around the world. The Institute, located in Central Phoenix, performs the most brain surgeries per year of any hospital in the United States.

Nearly two years after being internally decapitated— 4-year-old Micah Andrews has made a remarkable recovery BY: JAKE POYNER

PHOTO BY: RICK DELIA

Micah Andrews greets his surgeon Dr. Nicholas Theodore at Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. At 2 years of age Micah suffered a usually fatal injury.

Miracle Micah W

Surgeons at Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center operated on more than 5,000 patients last year. Barrow doctors refer to the anniversary as the start of their “golden age.” They predict that the next 50 years will bring answers to some of the most challenging neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and malignant brain tumors. “Our surgeons will largely put themselves out of business in the coming years,” says Dr. Robert Spetzler, director of Barrow. “Rapid advances in minimally invasive surgery and gene and stem cell treatments will mean the traditional role of the brain and spine surgeon will disappear.”

atch Micah Andrews run, jump, read or give a wide grin after cracking a joke, and you’d imagine you’re looking at an average 4-yearold boy — with his attention turning from the Wiggles, to pirates and air guitar, to magnets. But in one important respect, Micah is quite different from his pre-K peers. He was internally decapitated, a nearly fatal injury, in a car crash — and has survived and thrived thanks to a highly unusual procedure performed by surgeons at Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. On August 4, 2010, Micah was fastened in a car seat in the back seat of a car when it was hit by another vehicle near his home in Laveen. When emergency responders arrived, Micah was unconscious. At St. Joseph’s Level I Trauma Center, he was outﬁtted with a halo to avoid further damage.

Barrow doctors predict that the next 50 years will bring answers to some of the most challenging diseases. In addition to its hundreds of doctors and nurses, Barrow employs more than 40 full-time basic medical researchers, who are dedicated to developing effective treatments for conditions such as multiple sclerosis Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, ALS and epilepsy. Several procedures pioneered at Barrow have become part of standard medical practice around the world. These include spinal thoracoscopy, a method of operating on the spine through small incisions in the chest, developed by Barrow neurosurgeon Dr. Curtis Dickman. Barrow researchers also discovered the gene responsible for the inherited form of cerebral cavernous malformations, an irregular cluster of blood vessels in the brain, and developed a blood test to identify the gene. Barrow was started in 1962 by a Chicago neurosurgeon, Dr. John Green, who recognized the dearth of medical services in the Southwest. Wealthy businessman and philanthropist Charles Barrow was instrumental in its launch with a $1.1 million gift after his wife was treated by Green. Today, Barrow has the largest neurosurgery residency program in the U.S. and is one of the nation’s busiest brain tumor treatment centers. Last year, Barrow launched an afﬁliation with Phoenix Children’s Hospital to form the second largest pediatric neuroscience program in the nation. Under the direction of Dr. Roy Patchell, chairman of Neurology, Barrow Neurology Clinics had approximately 25,000 patient visits last year. “Barrow has a rich and bold legacy that comes to life every day in patients who come from all over the world for our extraordinary medicine,” says Spetzler. “In the next 50 years, we will see advances unlike anything we have witnessed before.”

Micah Andrews, 4, plays with his older sister Elizabeth, 6, in the healing garden at Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Micah had suffered a traumatic brain injury, but more dire was the injury to the young boy’s neck. The supporting structures connecting the base of his skull to his upper cervical spine had been torn apart, an injury known in medical terms as occipitoatlantal dislocation, or colloquially as internal decapitation. “It’s a highly dangerous injury. It is almost always fatal,” said Dr. Nicholas Theodore, Micah’s

neurosurgeon and chief of the Spine Section at Barrow. “It’s also an injury that’s easily overlooked even with a CT scan or MRI.” Fortunately, Barrow neurosurgeons have been among the world’s leaders in perfecting what’s called the threaded Steinmann pin technique — a procedure that Barrow surgeons have performed more than 100 times — more than any other hospital in the world. During surgery, a custom-crafted titanium rod was contoured to precisely ﬁt Micah’s anatomy and then secured with wires and a piece of rib to reattach the base of his skull to his spine. As he grows, Micah’s bone will grow around the stabilizing implant.

“I’ll take care of him. I’ll operate on him as if I’m operating on my own son.” “I’ll never forget what Dr. Theodore told us,” said John Andrews, Micah’s father. “He said, ‘I’ll take care of him. I’ll operate on him as if I’m operating on my own son.’” The surgery took place on Micah’s ninth day in the hospital, and he awoke from his coma on day 12, but the outcome was still uncertain. He was making noises and clenching his fists, which allayed the fear of paralysis, but he was clearly in a state of frustration. On day 13, relief finally came. John whispered an inside family joke in Micah’s ear — and he smiled. “That’s when Micah came into himself again,” said his mother, Heather. “Doctors and nurses were outside the room, and when he smiled, everyone poured in, laughing, smiling and cheering.” As an inpatient and outpatient at Barrow, Micah has gone through a variety of speech, occupational and physical therapy — progressing from awkward walking to a full-on run. He’s gone from only using five words to being fully conversational. Perhaps most important to the family, Micah’s memories, personality and sense of humor remain fully intact. “He’s beyond what they initially projected and is learning and progressing every day,” said Heather. “We’re just so thankful to the Barrow doctors, hospital staff, emergency staff and God that it was such a miracle.”

Bret Michaels Rocker Bret Michaels was rushed to Barrow in 2010 after suffering from a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage. The brain hemorrhage left the musician in critical condition and hospitalized at Barrow for several days. Michaels has since made a full comeback. To see Michaels’ video, visit barrow50.org and click on the 50 Years, 50 Faces icon.

1-877-602-4111

WWW.THEBARROW.ORG

MAY 11, 2012

WWW.THEBARROW.ORG

1-877-602-4111

Phoenix dad beats the odds

Barrow doctors and researchers set course for medicine’s future BY: PAULA HUBBS COHEN PHOTO BY: RICK DELIA

Muhammad and Lonnie Ali assist Linda Hunt, President and CEO of Dignity Health Arizona, at the ribbon-cutting at Barrow’s Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. Dignity Health is the parent organization of Barrow and St. Joseph’s.

Fighting chance

BY: SARAH PADILLA

hile treatment options for people with Parkinson’s disease have improved dramatically in recent years, the battle against the disease is far from over. That’s why the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in Phoenix is taking its ﬁght to the next level. Part of Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center is a National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence. It is the most comprehensive Parkinson’s treatment center in the United States, coordinating patient care, therapy, surgery, research, education and community outreach. In 2009, the center’s namesake, Muhammad Ali, who suffers from Parkinson’s, and his wife, Lonnie, helped dedicate Barrow’s Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, a 10,000-squarefoot, cutting-edge facility. Less than two years later, the center is expanding once again to better accommodate a rapidly growing number of patients. Last year, Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center physicians treated more than

1,500 new patients. More than 2,500 people attended one of the center’s classes, support groups or other activities. The facility also treats individuals with other movement disorders, such as Huntington’s disease and essential tremor. “We have had remarkable growth in this facility,” said Dr. Abraham Lieberman, director of the center. “We have increased the number of patients we are seeing dramatically, as well as the number of people who come to the center for our education and social programs. We have also increased our ability to develop new drugs and treatments for Parkinson’s disease.” The expanded center will feature a speech lab, additional physical therapy rooms and rooms for innovative treatments for walking and balance. The center is primarily funded by contributions from Celebrity Fight Night, an annual charity event that began 17 years ago. The 2012 event, held March 24, raised $9.1 million for Barrow and other charities.

Magic and the Brain Sept. 17, 2012 | 6 p.m. Phoenix Theatre

Featuring Mac King and the Amazing Randi Stephen Macknik, PhD, and Susana Martinez-Conde, PhD

Erik Humphrey plays with his children Bennett, 18 months, left, Anna, 5, and Charlie, 18 months, right. Humphrey is living brain tumor free nearly 8 years after given a 3-year-to-live diagnosis.

t all started when Erik Humphrey dropped his keys. “I was at my sister’s wedding and couldn’t get the door locked,” he recalled. “My keys kept falling out of my hand.” The results of a brain scan were shocking: a malignant, two-inch brain tumor. Humphrey was given no more than three years to live. “My Barrow surgeon Dr. Kris Smith and I agreed on very aggressive surgery where they’d take more of the ‘good’ area of my brain to try to make sure they got all the cancer,” he said. After surgery, Humphrey underwent physical therapy and radiation treatments. He also entered a clinical trial at Barrow where he was given an experimental oral chemotherapy pill. Eight years later, Humphrey’s tumor has not returned. Now 40 years old, Humphrey is the father of three young toddlers, has learned to ski and hike, and manages a successful interior design ﬁrm. “I’m very thankful and very blessed.”

Barrow Brain Tumor Research Center

Thankfully for Humphrey and for the thousands of brain-injured or diseased patients who come to St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute® each year, the Institute is on the forefront of ﬁnding answers to some of life’s most devastating neurological conditions. One research center at Barrow doing ground-breaking work is the Barrow Brain Tumor Research Center, led by Dr. Nader Sanai. The research center opened in 2010 and since that time, has treated approximately 2,500 patients. Barrow has one of the highest volumes of brain tumor patients of any hospital in the United States. “The center was assembled to take advantage of the critical volume of brain tumor patients who come to Barrow and combine that with research designed to change clinical

therapies or create new clinical diagnostics,” Sanai said. “Simply put, our objective is to increase the survival rate of those who are diagnosed with a brain tumor.” One way the center is helping patients is through the expansion of the number of clinical trials available to patients like Humphrey. “We are using nontraditional approaches in working with partners such as the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology companies, and universities world-wide,” Sanai said. “We’re trying to erase every boundary that ever limited the progress of brain tumor research.”

Barrow Center for Neuromodulation

Along with brain tumors, Barrow is also world-renowned for its research and treatments in areas such as brain mapping and deep brain stimulation, or DBS. At the Barrow Center for Neuromodulation, that research has been extensive and fruitful. “We are increasingly recognizing that abnormalities in brain circuitry may contribute to various disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and epilepsy,” said Dr. Francisco Ponce, director of the Barrow Center for Neuromodulation. “DBS, in effect, helps by correcting abnormal rhythms in the brain, similar to a cardiac pacemaker.” In the past, DBS has been used almost exclusively for patients with movement disorders, but brain mapping and other technologies will expand its use into areas such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, addictions, autism and chronic pain. “The ability to map and image brain circuits shows us a lot about brain functions,” said Ponce. “In the past, our understanding of behavioral disorders was based on symptoms. With brain mapping, we can ﬁnd the actual causes of these behaviors.”

Ryan Westmoreland Boston Red Sox player Ryan Westmoreland underwent lifesaving surgery at Barrow to remove a deadly malformation in the part of the brain that controls all vital life functions. Following treatment at Barrow, Westmoreland is back on the baseball diamond. To see Westmoreland’s video, visit barrow50.org and click on the 50 Years, 50 Faces icon.

Get a behind-the scenes look at how magicians trick us, what magic tells us about the brain and why it matters.

General Manager: CAMI KAISER

Proceeds benefit Barrow Neurological Institute. Tickets go on sale June 2012. Tickets: $75, $100 and $150 ($150 includes VIP reception before the show) For more information, call 602-406-3041.

Manager Creative Development: ISAAC MOYA A division of The Arizona Republic

Editor: JIM WILLIAMS

200 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix AZ 85004

Managing Art Director: TRACEY PHALEN

Advertising: BRIENNE CHANCE, 602-444-6865

Art Director: LISA QUIRIN Editorial Intern: JESSICA RUSH

1-877-602-4111

WWW.THEBARROW.ORG

MAY 11, 2012

Spetzler sets the standard for Barrow and entire profession BY: SARAH PADILLA

Nurse Shayna Laub assesses a patient at St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute®. Laub is among the Institute’s team of certiﬁed neuroscience registered nurses, the largest team in the nation.

A difference in care BY: SARAH PADILLA

atients recovering from brain surgery have different needs than patients recovering from other conditions, so it makes sense that the nurses tending these patients should also have different training. In the past several years, Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center has seen an increase in the number of nurses pursuing advanced degrees and certifications in neuroscience nursing. Barrow has more certified neuroscience registered nurses (CNRNs) – more than 100 – than any other facility in the United States. To become a CNRN, applicants must pass a national certification exam. Barrow helps prepare its nurses for the exam by hosting 12-week review sessions that cover all aspects of neuroscience nursing, from physiology to family issues. Dr. Virginia Prendergast, manager of Barrow’s advanced practice nurses, encourages her peers to become CNRNs to be better equipped to respond to their patients’ needs. “I want nurses to have a strong foundation in clinical brain anatomy,”

says Prendergast who has a doctorate in Health Sciences. “If they don’t understand where a lesion is or what the disease process is, then they are not as able to anticipate or treat problems.” Barrow’s nursing staff also includes 14 nurses with a master’s degree in neuroscience nursing and one with a doctorate in nursing. These men and women incorporate the latest research into bedside practice, and continually educate their peers about the newest treatment methods. Many of these nurses have initiated their own complex research projects. For instance, while obtaining her doctorate, Michele Grigaitis completed a project to teach nurses to identify delirium, which can be reversible if addressed early, in elderly brain surgery patients. Prendergast completed research that has led to improvements in oral health among ventilated patients. “Nurses who have education in research methodology, coupled with a strong clinical background, have the ability to recommend changes that will ultimately improve outcomes and quality of life for our patients,” says Prendergast.

s a 5-year-old boy in his native Germany, there was one thing Dr. Robert Spetzler knew for certain: he wanted to become a neurosurgeon. Sixty years later, as director of Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Spetzler has performed thousands of brain surgeries, and earned recognition as one of the top neurosurgeons in the world. He was recently named one of the most influential people in Phoenix’s history. Spetzler grew interested in the medical field when, as a young child, he was injured and became one of the first individuals to receive a new miracle drug – penicillin – for a usually fatal disease, tetanus. After months in the hospital and the subject of much medical attention, Spetzler was convinced that he wanted to help save the lives of others. A forward thinker, Spetzler was drawn to Barrow in 1983, by its potential to raise the bar in the neurosciences, not just in patient care, but also in research and medical education. One of his proudest accomplishments, he says, is teaching the next generation of neurosurgeons through Barrow’s brain surgery residency program, the largest in the nation. And Spetzler has a lot to teach. He has pioneered multiple surgical techniques and tools now used around the world, and he has performed more brain aneurysm procedures, approaching 6,000, than any other neurosurgeon. “I have been a surgeon for more than 30 years and my job is either agony or ecstasy. As a brain surgeon, I never forget the miracles who shake my hand and walk out of here,” says Spetzler. “But, there are other times when the heartbreak is very real for everyone involved, including the medical team.”

ST. JOSEPH’S BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE

Congratulate

St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute on 50 Years of Extraordinary Service

Dr. Robert Spetzler, director of St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute®, balances his time as a neurosurgeon with physical ﬁtness. The renowned surgeon encourages camaraderie both inside and outside the operating room by often leading his team on bike rides and hiking trips.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

CBIZ and MAYER HOFFMAN McCANN P.C.

As companies that believe in giving back to the community, we are very proud to have the opportunity to support Barrow Neurological Institute’s high-quality healthcare and innovative research. The care offered by Barrow and St. Joseph’s provides hope and healing to our community locally and around the world.

Spetzler’s drive isn’t limited to medicine. He’s an extreme skier, a swimmer and a marathoner. He’s completed a 206-mile bike race from Utah to Wyoming, taking pride in beating some of his residents and winning his age group. And each year, he leads a group of colleagues across the Grand Canyon; his 29th crossing will be this year. Additionally, he heads the annual rugged hike down the North Fork of Oak Creek Canyon, affectionately known at Barrow as the “Hike from Hell.” The married father of two says it’s all about balance. “I believe there are two blessings in life: to be happy at home and to be happy at work. I have been incredibly blessed on both counts. In large part, it is your attitude that paves your road to happiness.”

ON ITS

50TH ANNIVERSARY Gammage & Burnham is proud to serve as legal counsel to St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center, Chandler Regional Medical Center, and Mercy Gilbert Medical Center

CBIZ provides high quality accounting, tax and consulting ser vices, while Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. (MHM) offers an equal level of professional audit and attest ser vices. Our strategic association allows us to work seamlessly with Notfor-Proﬁt organizations, closely-held businesses and high net worth individuals throughout Arizona.

For more information contact: Mike Finnegan 602.264.6835 mfinnegan@cbiz.com 3101 N. Central Ave., Ste. 300 Phoenix, AZ 85012

World Class Counsel. Arizona Roots. GAMMAGE & BURNHAM www.gblaw.com * (602) 256-0566

CBIZ and Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. are associated through an alternative practice structure. AR-0007749746-01

AR-0007749772-01

MAY 11, 2012

WWW.THEBARROW.ORG

1-877-602-4111

Barrow offers brain injured patients a new chance at life BY: DEBRA GELBART AND SARAH PADILLA

hen Valley restaurateur Kelly Sample sustained a brain injury in a 2008 car accident, he ﬁgured he’d be back to work in no time. It wasn’t until he started outpatient therapy at Barrow’s Center for Transitional NeuroRehabilitation (CTN) that he came to terms with the signiﬁcance of his injury. Although the surgeons had saved his life, Sample says, it was his 16 months at Barrow’s CTN that allowed him to start living again. Sample is one of approximately 800 patients who have turned to CTN to regain the cognitive, language, physical and functional skills needed to transition back to a productive life. The program is one of only a few of its kind in the nation. “Our emphasis is on community reintegration, so interaction with other patients and family support are integral to our patients moving forward in a holistic and purpose-driven way,” says Dr. Pamela Klonoff, clinical director of CTN. CTN is just one step in a continuum of brain injury programs at Barrow. Barrow Connection, for example, helps patients connect with post-rehab activities including recreational outings and driving lessons. Barrow’s Deborah and Bruce Downey Neuro Rehabilitation Center provides highly specialized inpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy. It is not uncommon to witness the miracle

of a patient learning to walk or talk again at the center. “Barrow’s Neuro Rehab Center puts patients one step closer to reclaiming the lives they had before their injury,” said medical director Dr. Christina Kwasnica.

“Barrow’s Neuro Rehab Center puts patients one step closer to reclaiming the lives they had before their injury.”

Specialized emergency care Barrow ﬁrst in Arizona with neuro ER

For mildly or moderately braininjured patients, Barrow introduced the B.R.A.I.N.S program to treat conditions including concussion. “Until 2009 when we established this program, those with less severe injury had almost nowhere to go for treatment,” says Dr. Javier Cárdenas, medical director of B.R.A.I.N.S. Barrow also aims to prevent injuries such as concussion. Last year, the Institute developed Barrow Brainbook, the nation’s ﬁrst mandatory concussion education and test for student athletes.

BY: DEBRA GELBART

arrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center is the ﬁrst hospital in Arizona to open an emergency department dedicated solely to treating patients suffering from brain and spine emergencies. The new Barrow Emergency Department opened in April and is staffed around the clock with some of the world’s leading brain surgeons and neurologists. Located inside St. Joseph’s Emergency Department and Trauma Center in central Phoenix, the Barrow Emergency Department provides 16 beds dedicated to patients with neurological emergencies such as strokes, concussions, paralysis, aneurysms or seizures. “If a patient who comes to St. Joseph’s Emergency Department has symptoms that suggest a neurological condition, a team of neurological specialists rapidly evaluates the problem and initiates treatment,” said Barrow chief operating ofﬁcer Tom Bour. “We know that the quicker we can treat someone with a neurological problem, the better the outcome for the patient.” Bour points out that patients who suffer serious neurological trauma – from an accident or a violent

Jose Villela Vizcaya works with physical therapist Brianna Murphy at Barrow’s Neuro Rehabilitation Center. Vizcaya, a doctor from Mexico City, traveled to Barrow for care.

“We know that the quicker we can treat someone with a neurological problem, the better the outcome for the patient.” “When it comes to the health of your brain and nervous system, nothing is trivial,” said Bour. “If you or someone you know experiences a sudden change from what is normal — such as an especially painful headache or suddenly not being able to see out of one eye — don’t ignore the problem. Seek emergency care at Barrow right away.”

Abigail Battles Alabama toddler, Abigail Battles, traveled to Phoenix for care at Barrow after she and her family were told by other hospitals that her brain lesion was too risky to remove. Abigail not only survived the surgery, but went on to make a recovery that even doctors have called remarkable. To see her video, visit barrow50.org and click on the 50 Years, 50 Faces icon.

Giving to Barrow To learn about giving opportunities at Barrow, please contact Barrow Neurological Foundation by calling 602-406-3041 or visiting us online at www.supportbarrow.org

American Valet congratulates St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute for 50 successful years! Thank you for a wonderful 8 year relationship.

CONGRATULATIONS

Since 1980, American Valet has served the southwestern United States providing parking and transportation services. We are proud to work with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

AR-0007749780-01

FROM ONE 50-YEAR-OLD TO ANOTHER. E.B. Lane is proud to recognize Barrow Neurological Institute’s golden anniversary as we celebrate ours as well. As far as we’re concerned, 1962 is a year to remember.

encounter, for example – will continue to receive care in St. Joseph’s Level I Trauma Center. The center treats more neurological trauma than any other hospital in the Valley.

8902 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85020 800-419-2975 Toll Free

CONGRATULATIONS ON 50 INCREDIBLE YEARS!! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR FRIENDS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY! WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE YOU IN ARIZONA. HERE IS TO ANOTHER GREAT 50 YEARS!! FROM ALL OF US AT:

eblane.com | AR-0007749785-01

@eblane |

E.B. Lane AR-0007749751-01

1-877-602-4111

WWW.THEBARROW.ORG

MAY 11, 2012

Magic and the brain

How ‘sleight of hand’ becomes ‘sleight of mind’ BY: ALISON STANTON

Minnesota baseball coach Kasey Gray has returned to coaching following lifesaving brain surgery at St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute®. Gray is among the many individuals who travel to Phoenix for medical care at Barrow.

World-class people, World-class care

BY: SARAH PADILLA

ach year, thousands of people travel to Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon. But others come for something much more serious – life-saving medical treatment at Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. An estimated 1,500 patients from outside Arizona visit Barrow each year. To date, the Institute has treated patients from more than 50 countries and all 50 states. Many of these individuals have previously been told their conditions were untreatable. Ilya Morch was just 15 when she came to Barrow from Denmark in 2009. Morch had already undergone ﬁve brain surgeries to treat a rare condition in which abnormal clusters of blood vessels are embedded in normal brain tissue. “After Ilya lost movement in her left eye, we consulted with her physicians in Denmark and determined that surgery was the best option,” says Karin Morch, Ilya’s mother. “We wanted to ﬁnd the best place in the world and that’s when we found Barrow.” Dr. Robert Spetzler successfully removed Morch’s golf ball-sized malformation using a surgical approach both researched and developed at Barrow. Around the same time, a teenager in the United Kingdom began experiencing a range of odd symptoms. Isobel Malloch-Brown would eventually

be diagnosed with a structural defect in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls balance. She, too, ended up at Barrow, where Dr. Curtis Dickman repositioned her skull and part of her spine. Within months, nearly all of Malloch-Brown’s symptoms had vanished. In 2010, Jose Villela Vizcaya was paralyzed from the neck down when a garbage truck fell on top of his car in Mexico City. After months in a hospital in Mexico, the medical student came to Barrow for neuro rehabilitation, where he was able to regain some function in his arms and hands. “I first heard of Barrow the day after my accident and immediately planned to go there for rehab,” says Vizcaya. “If in Mexico they could offer me 99 percent, I wanted to go for 100 percent.” A long list of public figures, including rock star Bret Michaels, baseball great Joe Garagiola, Cindy McCain, a Saudi Arabian queen and a host of professional athletes, have also been treated at the hospital. Phil Pomeroy, vice president of Barrow, attributes the Institute’s affinity for complex cases to a number of factors. “We offer our patients not only the best team of medical experts, but also a variety of innovative treatment options, many of which were developed at Barrow, in order to deliver the best possible outcomes.”

Joe Garagiola Baseball legend and broadcast personality Joe Garagiola underwent surgery at Barrow to remove a large tumor behind his left eye. Since his treatment, Garagiola has gone on to make a complete recovery. To see Garagiola’s video, visit barrow50.org and click on the 50 Years, 50 Faces icon.

hen a magician saws a lady in half, pulls a rabbit out of a hat or correctly guesses which card someone is holding, he is doing more than entertaining an audience. Wittingly or not, the magician is also manipulating the audience’s attention, vision and perception. He is playing with your mind. Dr. Stephen Macknik and Dr. Susana Martinez-Conde from Barrow Neurological Institute® at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center have used the art of magic to help the medical world understand the brain. As Harvard-trained neuro-vision researchers, they have spent much of their careers exploring the link between what we see and what we actually comprehend. The two have appeared on NOVA, the Discovery Channel and CBS Sunday Morning speaking about their research on magic. They also co-authored the book “Sleights of Mind: What the Neuroscience of Magic Reveals About Our Everyday Deceptions.” As part of this “neuro-magic” research, a number of top magicians from around the world have traveled to Barrow’s research laboratories to help. Additionally, Macknik and MartinezConde travel to Las Vegas regularly to meet with some of the world’s greatest illusionists including Penn and Teller. The study of magic not only pertains to how and why people are fooled during magic shows, Martinez-Conde says, but also has applications in neurological treatments.

“We are excited about how this research can help treat patients with cognitive decline and in the ﬁeld of education, students with special needs.” she said. “If we can learn how to manipulate cognition and take advantage of the attention and cognitive abilities that people still have, we can improve their quality of life.”

Magic and the Brain—an Evening of Science and Illusion Sept. 17 As Macknik noted, while most magicians realize that they are fooling their audiences, many probably have no idea what their work speciﬁcally reveals about the brain. “Magic tricks basically came from the ﬁeld of crime,” he said. “All magic tricks have to do with manipulating attention and perception so that people don’t notice things.” On Sept. 17, Macknik and MartinezConde will be part of an event called Magic and the Brain—an Evening of Science and Illusion, which will be held at the Phoenix Theater. The event, which will raise money for Barrow Neurological Foundation, will feature top Las Vegas magicians, including Mac King and The Amazing Randi who will demonstrate a variety of tricks while the two scientists explain to the audience how the brain is being tricked. The event is open to the public. For information about tickets, please call Phoenix Theater or visit www.supportbarrow.org.

TOP 10 fascinating facts

St. Joseph’s Barrow Neurological Institute® is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a year-long series of activities and announcements. To get the celebration started, here are 10 fascinating Barrow facts.

More brain surgeries are performed each year at Barrow than any other hospital in the United States.

Patients across the U.S. and from more than 50 countries around the world have come to Phoenix for specialized treatment at Barrow.

First Lady Nancy Reagan’s father was interim director of Barrow in 1965 and 1966.

Barrow patients have included royalty, like a Saudi Arabian queen and rock stars, like Bret Michaels.

Top Las Vegas magicians, like Penn and Teller, are partnering with Barrow to help researchers study vision and the brain. When Barrow opened, it was one of only three neuroscience institutes in the U.S. Dr. John Green, Arizona’s ﬁrst neurosurgeon, brought his own surgical equipment with him from Chicago. Today, Barrow trains more neurosurgeons than any hospital in the nation.

A nurse in a Barrow operating room often walks seven miles a day assisting surgeries.

More than 550 surgical scrubs are used in one week in Barrow ORs. That is about 28,000 a year, enough to dress everyone in Kingman!

Barrow became home of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center in 1997. “The Greatest” regularly visits Barrow.

The average brain or spine surgery at Barrow takes 247 minutes and includes a 10 person operating team.

THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS CONG CONGRATULATE RATULATE

Congratulations to Barrow Neurological Institute for 50 years of extraordinary service to our community.

AR-0007749761-01

BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE ON 50 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT

.,% 1/%#)!+ ,.,%-21 &0., %+%"0)26 )'(2 )'(2 #+.#*5)1% &0., 2./ +%&2 .--)% +) ).-%+ )#()% %"! # -2)0% )2! )+1.- !-$ ., !-*1 ." !01.-1 )-"!$ . %0%* 4!-$%0 .+6&)%+$ )+%6 6031 !-$ )!, %,15.02( !#*)% 4!-#(. 03#% !-$ )!-% !++% !1#!+ +!221 .0$)- /!0*1 !-$ !1.- %03+. .-6 !5* !-$ !0! )2#(#.#* )#(!%+ .(-1 !02)-! # 0)$% !4)$ .12%0 )++6 0612!+ !006 )27'%0!+$ !-) !-$ )++ 312)- .(- .0"%22

%-%&)2)-'

5 55 #%+%"0)26 &)'(2-)'(2 .0'

2(% 1)'-!230% !-$ !0% 2(% 20!$%,!0* .& 3(!,,!$ +) -2%0/0)1%1 !-$ !0% 31%$ 5)2( /%0,)11).- .&