WV Physician Magazine Volume 1, Issue 2 by P. J. Hutton

VOLUME 1 • ISSUE 2

A Magazine for Health Care Providers

CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital Provides Specialty Care to Special Patients

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Category Contents

COVER STORY

COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMC

CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital Provides Specialty Care to Special Patients

“We admit about 600 babies per year into our NICU, and the majority of those come from other hospitals,” said Stefan Maxwell, MD, medical director of the NICU at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital.

The thought of a newborn baby having to spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit is one that most parents don’t even want to consider. However, 10 percent of all babies born in West Virginia will have a condition that requires a stay in the NICU.

Cabell Huntington Hospital on leading edge

The five most important estate planning documents.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 7 Business Management Managing Generations

8 Pediatrics

Cabell Huntington Hospital is on the leading edge of NICU Technology

11 Connect to Care Project

Partnership connects physicians and patients in WV through perintal telehealth

12 Finance

The five most important estate planning documents

14 News Although every precaution is taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials. WV Physician Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts expressed by its authors. ©2010, Austin Development Company, LLC dba WV Physician. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Send press releases and all other related information to: WV Physician Magazine Post Office Box 11311 Charleston, WV 25339 Contact us at 866-844-7376, or submit via email to: info@wvphysician.net Visit us on the web at: www.WVPhysician.net Volume 1 - Issue 2

Cover Story

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMC

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CAMC Women and Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital

Provides Specialty Care to Special Patients u By Leslie Carpenter

About 600 babies are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at CAMC annually. Volume 1 - Issue 2

Neonatal Intensive Care The thought of a newborn baby having to spend time in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is one that most parents don’t even want to consider. However, 10 percent of all babies born in West Virginia will have a condition that requires a stay in the NICU.

available and new physicians are trained to provide outstanding, comprehensive health care while contributing to the scientific basis of medicine. CAMC’s status as a teaching hospital helps pediatric services at Women and Children’s remain at the forefront of top quality care.

All hospitals in the state cannot provide a NICU to their patients because having one requires round-the-clock care and coverage of many services, which is a strain on resources and availability of caregivers. There are only three Level III NICUs in West Virginia, which is the highest level available. Women and Children’s Hospital is one of those sites. “Transportation from these other sites can become difficult during the winter months,” Maxwell said. Not to mention that for families of these fragile infants, transporting them is a

Amy Brown, DO, and her husband Scotty delivered their twins at another hospital and had them transported to Women and Children’s Hospital the next day. “Transporting our twins was awful, even though I knew what to expect as a physician,” she said. “The hospital where I delivered decided to do it when they were 36 hours old, so at 10:30 that night, we were preparing to make the hour and 10 minute trip to Charleston. We’ve definitely felt safer here.” “Our NICU has a tremendous focus on achieving the best outcomes for our babies,” said Andrew Weber, vice president and administrator of Women and Children’s Hospital. “The team of caregivers in the NICU has a relentless focus on the latest research for evidence-based standards of care and achieving clinical outcomes that exceed national benchmarks.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMC

Dr. Maxwell is one of many pediatric specialists who are also members of the academic faculty at West Virginia University’s Charleston Division School of Medicine. The collaboration of CAMC and WVU in this effort is multi-faceted. Patients benefit from a synergy of resources that provide excellence in care for their children. Area physicians’ ability to provide care is enhanced by the educational and consulting services

frightening experience any time of the year.

The NICU staff at Women and Children’s Hospital is led by board-certified neonatologists and is the only NICU in the state with care provided by them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These neonatologists respond immediately to issues and also have the support of residents, nurse practitioners and approximately 75 nurses with neonatal resuscitation program certification.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMC

Each year, more than 3,100 babies are delivered at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital, West Virginia’s only free standing children’s hospital.

The NICU at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital is part of the Vermont/Oxford Network, which gets data from level III hospitals around the world. That allows it to benchmark with 750 Level III hospitals worldwide to make sure it is providing the best care available. “We have the technology, competent staff and specialists to take care of premature babies here,” said Nancy Marcus, NICU nurse manager. The NICU staff at Women and Children’s Hospital is led by board-certified neonatologists and is the only NICU in the state with care provided by them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These neonatologists respond immediately to issues and also have the support of residents, nurse practitioners and approximately 75 nurses with neonatal resuscitation program (NRP) certification. “The definition of Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is deaths less than 1 year of age per 1,000 live births,” Maxwell said. “When I arrived

in 1990, the IMR for the Charleston Metro area was 13.1 per 1,000, which was almost twice the national rate at that time. Since 1990, when in-house neonatologists began around the clock care in our NICU, the IMR has dropped to between 4 and 6 per 1,000 live births, which is better than the current national rate.” The NICU provides high-level medical care to its patients with an approach that is centered on families. “The NICU is committed to providing a family-centered approach to the care experience for babies,” Weber said. “Our relationship with the March of Dimes allows us to offer families the support of a dedicated resource to help coordinate the family’s needs and involvement during what can be an unexpected and difficult time.” This family-centered care compelled one previous patient to begin working for the March of Dimes in the NICU at Women and Children’s Hospital in order to help other

families like hers who experience premature delivery. Katie Foster, BA, MA, March of Dimes NICU Family Support Specialist, had to have an emergency C-section at 32 weeks. She had fraternal twins that were immediately taken to the NICU. She is adamant that delivering babies at a hospital with an on-site, level III NICU is a crucial choice for parents to make. “In my situation, I was high-risk since I was carrying multiples,” Foster said. “So, delivering my babies at a hospital with an NICU, first assured that my babies would be at a place with the resources and physicians were available to give them the best possible care they could get. Second, I would not have to be away from my babies at a different hospital.” Foster says that soon after her babies turned a year old and were healthier and stronger, she started volunteering for the March of Dimes where the NICU Family Support Program was being created.

Volume 1 - Issue 2

“I really felt that this position had been created for me,” she said. “I was a counselor before I had my twins, and my life’s work had always been dedicated to helping others. But after I had premature twins, my entire life was changed forever. This position gave me the opportunity to work for the March of Dimes - an organization I could not be prouder to work for; to give back to Women and Children’s NICU staff - a group of nurses and doctors I will never be able to thank enough and will always be thankful for and indebted to; and to help other families who are going through the NICU experience.” This position allows her the honor of providing support to other families and helping them during a very difficult time, some of the many things that she knows would have helped her family when her twins were in the NICU. “The NICU was a terrifying place for me and my family,” she said. “But due to the care we received in there, my babies are now the most amazing and wonderful four-year-old little miracles. We are truly thankful everyday for the care they received in the NICU and that we get to wake up every morning and look at their beautiful little faces.”

in care for their children. Area physicians’ ability to provide care is enhanced by the educational and consulting services available and new physicians are trained to provide outstanding, comprehensive health care while contributing to the scientific basis of medicine. CAMC’s status as a teaching hospital helps pediatric services at Women and Children’s remain at the forefront of top quality care. Most specialists see patients from birth to age 21, and sometimes care for children through their young adult years if they are developmentally delayed, have cystic fibrosis, metabolic or genetic disorders. Women and Children’s nursing staff is familiar with these types of patients. They become close to the patients and know their special needs such as using pediatric microtainers when drawing blood or using a small feeding tube if they need bladder catheterizations. If a child with kidney failure needs dialysis, most nurses in the NICU, PICU and the pediatric floor know how to put them on peritoneal dialysis. CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital also has a child life specialist whose main job is to keep these patients comfortable, address their fears and cheer them up.

For more information about services offered for babies and children at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital, visit camc.org/kids.

CAMC Women & Children’s Hospital Pediatric Specialties Adolescent Medicine Allergy/Immunology Anesthesiology Cardiology Child Advocacy/Abuse Child Development Critical Care Cystic Fibrosis Dentistry Emergency Medicine Endocrinology Gastroenterology Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Maternal/Fetal Medicine Neonatology

Other important specialties The NICU is only one of many specialties offered at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital. There is an exclusive crew of pediatric specialists providing care to children all across West Virginia. They aren’t exclusive as a matter of conceit or pride. They’re exclusive because of their training and sheer market demand. Long distance patients, near constant on-call duties and teaching responsibilities come with the territory. Representing fields such as neonatology, oncology, pediatric surgery, nephrology, gastroenterology and pulmonology, Maxwell and other specialists at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital are sometimes the state’s sole practitioners in their fields.

“Women and Children’s Hospital has a significant array of services to provide care for critically ill children,” Weber said. “The fact that all of these specialists are able to work as a team under the same roof in the state’s only freestanding children’s hospital is of great benefit to our ability to deliver the highest quality of care.” Working closely with each other has created a camaraderie and integration between physicians that facilitates patient care. Through years of heavy call schedules, research projects and teaching, the CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital specialists have honed their ability to diagnose and treat children, and have gotten used to the demands placed on them.

Orthopedics

The collaboration of CAMC and West Virginia University’s Charleston Division in this effort is multi-faceted. Patients benefit from a synergy of resources that provide excellence

“Our doctors represent an exclusive set of specialists in southern West Virginia, and are comfortable with being in demand,” Weber said.

Surgery

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Nephrology Neurology Neurosurgery Oncology Ophthalmology Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery

Otolaryngology/ENT Palliative Care Pathology Psychiatry & Psychology Pulmonology Radiology

Urology Weight Management

Business Management

Managing Generations By Brent Pauley

The aliens have arrived! No, I don’t mean from Outer Space nor do I mean Illegal Aliens – I mean the MILLENNIALS. The topic of the Baby Boomer generation interacting with and managing the Millennial generation has been discussed over many cups of coffee lately. Let’s start by reviewing the current workforce which can be broken down into four generations: • Matures – born 1930 to 1945 • Baby Boomers – born 1946 to 1964 • Gen X – born 1965 to 1980 • Millennials – born 1981 to present The Matures came home from World War II and, for all practical purposes, defined the structure of the American workplace. The Baby Boomers came along and took over the reins. The Gen X’ers started the technology revolution and the Millennials have taken technology to a whole new level. For the purposes of this article, we will address the relationship between the Baby Boomers and the Millennials. Also, due to many similar characteristics, you can assume any portrayal of a Millennial would also apply to a Gen X’er when reading this article. In order to better understand how the Baby Boomers and Millennials need to effectively communicate with each other, we need to have an understanding of the characteristics of each generation. Baby Boomers are known to be workaholics, enjoy public recognition, have paid their dues, prefer social, oral communications, and tend to be very loyal to the company. Millennials value their time more than money, are skilled multi-taskers (thanks largely to their computer skills), prefer individual, private recognition, want fast advancement, prefer direct, e-mail communications, and are more loyal to an individual boss than the company. So how does knowing these differences permit a Baby Boomer to more effectively manage a Millennial? Let’s look at a few examples of what a Baby Boomer can do: • Offer a Millennial additional time off for a job well done. • Provide recognition one-on-one, not in a staff meeting. • Build a relationship by mentoring. • Ask the Millennial for assistance in improving your computer skills. • Communicate with clear, direct communications – don’t chit-chat and tell don’t ask! • Utilize e-mail whenever possible – Millennials prefer written communications such as e-mails or text messages, it helps them multi-task. • Get to know the Millennial jargon – they use terms familiar to a Baby Boomer but with completely different meanings. Example – the term “bookin” to a Boomer would mean going fast, but to a Millennial the term “bookin” means working on their Facebook! • Get to know the Millennial’s interests –don’t assume you have

nothing in common, you may be quite surprised! Hopefully this brief article has provided the Baby Boomer with some insight on how to better interact with and manage a Millennial. And who knows, if you are a Millennial, perhaps you have learned how to better engage with your boss. Regardless of which category you fall into, keep the faith, don’t get too frustrated, and keep all channels of communications open. About the Author: Brent Pauley, a graduate of West Virginia University with a Masters in Business Administration, has over 30 years of management and marketing experience. For more information contact him at brentpauley@kanawha.us

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Volume 1 - Issue 2

Pediatrics

Cabell Huntington Hospital is on the leading edge of NICU Technology By Charles Shumaker

p Cabell Huntington Hospitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 36-bed Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is a state-of-the-art unit staffed by four board-certified neonatologists, five neonatal nurse practitioners and a staff of 60 nurses.

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p Nursing staff and physicians at Cabell Huntington Hospital have spent years developing skills to use NCPAP techniques to help babies in respiratory failure and they have been able produce patients outcomes that match or exceed those at major center across the country.

Seven years ago, the doctors and nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Cabell Huntington Hospital first began to use Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (NCPAP) on premature infants to administer oxygen and ventilation to babies in respiratory failure. While first introduced more than 30 years ago, NCPAP has not been widely used until recently, when several studies showed an advantage to babies managed with this device when compared to those managed with conventional ventilators.

diligence paid off and the willingness to make changes persevered to produce some of the country’s best results seen in babies born with respiratory distress, according to Sara Murray, RN, Clinical Coordinator of Cabell Huntington Hospital’s 36-bed NICU.

At first, the switch from ventilator treatments to nearly exclusive NCPAP care was met with apprehension and frustration as hospital nursing staff and physicians adjusted. But

Inside the hospital’s new, state-of-the-art unit, the use of NCPAP is a way of life these days. Physicians and nurses work together seamlessly to provide tiny babies with their

“We have seen such great successes with using NCPAP on our babies,” Murray said. “The very exciting result for us is that we are seeing shorter lengths of hospital stay and fewer complications than in the past.”

best chance to recover from respiratory distress. “Using a minimally invasive technique such as NCPAP reduces the likelihood of trauma to a baby’s lungs,” Murray said. “Sometimes the cure can be almost as bad as the disease, and what we’ve found with NCPAP is that a baby with respiratory effort at birth gives us the opportunity to assist them with their breathing instead of breathing for them through a ventilator. NCPAP has changed the way we treat our babies.” Joseph Werthammer, MD, Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Volume 1 - Issue 2

p Cabell Huntington Hospital’s NICU began using NCPAP technique on premature babies seven years ago and has seen dramatic changes in the outcomes of patients.

Medicine and acting Medical Director of Cabell Huntington Hospital’s NICU, said the previous use of intubation and mechanical ventilation in preterm babies sometimes had a negative impact on some patients. “Since using NCPAP almost exclusively, Cabell Huntington Hospital has become recognized as having one of the best survival rates for the premature infant and the lowest incidence of complications when compared to other major neonatal centers across the country,” Dr. Werthammer said. The NICU at Cabell Huntington Hospital is a level 3 unit that admits more than 600

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babies annually from southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio. “While the babies at CHH now have fewer complications, improved survival and shorter length of hospitalization,” Murray said, “data from our neonatal follow-up clinic suggests that cognitive and physical development may be better at 18 months of age for those babies managed with NCPAP when compared to those babies previously managed with conventional ventilation.” The unit is staffed by four board-certified neonatologists, five neonatal nurse practitioners and a staff of 60 nurses. Cabell

Huntington Hospital’s specialized NICU includes an experienced team of transport nurses who bring babies from throughout the Tri-State region. “The combination of our people, our facility and our techniques has helped us develop a facility that matches or exceeds the successes and patient outcomes of any other major center in the country,” Dr. Werthammer said. To learn more about Cabell Huntington Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, please visit www.cabellhuntington.org/ services/nicu or call (304) 526-2370.

Telemedicine

Partnership connects physicians and patients in WV through perintal telehealth

Connect to Care Project (Charleston) – More than a million dollars in grants will help connect doctors in rural areas of West Virginia with specialists at larger tertiary care facilities. The grants, totaling $1,036,016 are coming from the West Virginia Perinatal Telehealth Project Rural Healthcare sites ($504,407), the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Services Distance Learning & Telemedicine Program ($371,609), the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation ($150,000) and participating health care organization. An additional ($50,000) has been requested from the West Virginia Health Care Authority to support the project.

the states hospital facilities’ perinatal medical and nursing providers with perinatal medical specialists around the State. The “Connect to Care” Project is being developed in response to health care provider needs identified through the Key Informant Survey conducted in 2006. In the survey, 165

CAMC Health Education and Research Institute, the United States Department of Agriculture and the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership announce the launching of the statewide Perinatal “Connect to Care” Project. The project is funded by the US Department of Agriculture, the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation with matching funds from 18 partnering WV hospitals and community health centers.

The “Connect to Care” Program will provide telemedicine equipment and the necessary training to link 15 rural health facilities with medical specialists from the three tertiary care hospitals in West Virginia and will allow medical and nursing education at the rural sites as well as access for obstetrical referrals. The live telecommunications will allow high risk pregnant women and infants, and their health care providers to obtain important medical advice without leaving their own communities and traveling far distances. It will connect

perinatal providers across West Virginia contributed their ideas on how to improve the states perinatal health system. Many providers pointed out the problems posed for their patients who needed to travel long distance to tertiary care facilities for medical consultation.

The ability to have a more effective and efficient means for medical consultation will be just one of the advantages addressed with this project. Women and babies needing the services of high-risk specialists often have to travel long distances for them. Many do not keep their appointments because of travel time, travel costs and the rural nature of the state. Telemedicine utilizes interactive video and audio teleconferencing technology that allows a physician at a specialty center to see the patient and/or sonogram in real time (almost at the same speed as in person). For the perinatal patient, specialized ultrasound equipment can digitally transfer a sonogram image to a specialty center, thus allowing a specialist to perform diagnostic services rapidly and without patient traveling across long distances. In addition, telemedicine also gives health care providers access to continuing education lectures often available at the university and tertiary care center but not to rural health care providers. • The CAMC Institute is a part of Charleston Area Medical Center and does Health Education and Research in the Kanawha Valley. • The West Virginia Perinatal Partnership is a group of more than 100 health care provider organizations, agencies, associations, government entities and non-profits who believe that the health of West Virginia’s babies has a tremendous impact on the state’s economy, workforce development and family well-being. Since 2006 the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership has studied and made policy recommendations to improve the state’s perinatal health.

Volume 1 - Issue 2

Finance

The Five Most Important Estate Planning Documents By Jeffery Thomas, AAMS — Financial Advisor

It may be the subject matter — death, incapacity and taxes — that causes us to avoid estate planning. However, the fact is that, no matter what your age or how much wealth you’ve accumulated, you need an estate plan to protect yourself, your loved ones and your assets — both now while you’re still active as well as after your death. Having an effective estate plan is one of the most important things you can do for your family. To start the planning process, you should work with an experienced firm that will put your interests first — a firm such as Wells

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Fargo Advisors. The first step in the planning process is to create a comprehensive net worth statement showing all of your assets, including taxable accounts, tax-deferred accounts (IRAs, annuities, retirement plans) and life insurance investments. Your Financial Advisor can create a personal net worth statement containing this important information. Being organized may make your meeting with your attorney more productive and expedite the planning process. But before visiting with your legal counsel, you need a

basic understanding of the documents he or she may recommend for your plan. 1. Will. A will simply provides instructions for distributing your assets to your family and other beneficiaries upon your death. Your attorney can customize its provisions to meet your needs. You appoint a personal representative (also known as an “executor”) to distribute your assets. If you have minor children, you can designate a guardian for them. To be effective, a will must be filed in probate court. Probate is a judicial process for managing your assets if you become incapacitated and for

transferring your assets in an orderly fashion when you die. The court oversees payment of liabilities and the distribution of assets. Generally, your personal representative will need to employ an attorney. Because a will does not take effect until you die, it cannot provide for management of your assets if you become incapacitated. Other estate planning documents, discussed below, become effective if you should become incapacitated. 2. Durable power of attorney. A power of attorney is a legal document in which you name another person to act on your behalf. This person is called your agent or attorneyin-fact. You can give your appointed agent broad or limited management powers. You should choose this person carefully because he or she will generally be able to sell, invest and spend your assets. A traditional power of attorney terminates upon your disability or death. However, a durable power of attorney will continue during incapacity to provide a financial management safety net. A durable power of attorney terminates upon your death. 3. Health care power of attorney. A durable power of attorney for health care authorizes someone to make medical decisions for you in the event you are unable to do so yourself. This document and a living will can be invaluable for avoiding family conflicts and possible court intervention if you should become unable to make your own health care decisions.

at your death and even for generations to come. Your revocable living trust lets trust assets avoid probate and reduces the chance that personal information will become part of public records. Every revocable trust has three important components. The grantor (or settlor) — generally you — creates the trust and transfers assets to it. The beneficiary — often you or a member of your family — receives the income and/or principal according to your trust’s terms. The third component, a trustee — who could be you, a family member or a corporate trustee — manages the trust assets. You can change a revocable trust’s provisions at any time during your life. If you act as your own trustee, you continue to manage your investments and financial affairs. In this case, your account might be titled “(Your Name), Trustee of the (Your Name) Revocable Living Trust Dated (Date).” Because this legal entity exists beyond your death, property titled in the trust does not need to pass through probate.

Once you have executed the appropriate documents for your planning needs, you should review them periodically to ensure they remain up-to-date given any significant changes (births, deaths, divorces, etc.) in your situation. While having these documents is important, there’s more to the estate planning process. For example, you may need to deal with possible estate-tax issues, as well as coordinate primary and contingent beneficiary designations on your IRA, employer-sponsored retirement plan [such as a 401(k) or 403(b) plan], annuity contracts and life insurance policies with your estate plan. J.D. Thomas & Co., LLC does not provide legal or tax advice. Be sure to consult with your tax and legal advisors before taking any action that could have tax consequences. Any estate plan should be reviewed by an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is licensed to practice law in your state. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE For more information call 888-567-2254.

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5. Revocable living trust. There are many different types of trusts with different purposes, each accomplishing a variety of goals. A revocable living trust is one type of trust often used in an estate plan. By transferring assets into a revocable trust, you can provide for continued management of your financial affairs during your lifetime (when you’re incapacitated, for example),

Volume 1 - Issue 2

News

CAMC Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Awarded $2.5 Million Grant

The CAMC Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has been awarded a fiveyear $2.25 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to continue to provide the only source of outpatient health care for people infected with HIV/AIDS in southern West Virginia, according to Dr. Christine Teague, the program’s director. “Our mission is to increase access to services and provide quality, HIV-related care, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay,” Teague said. “Thanks to these funds and the support of our partners CAMC, CAMC Health Education and Research Institute and West Virginia University School of Medicine in Charleston, we can continue to work toward this goal.” Since 2002, the CAMC Ryan White Program, located at CAMC

Memorial Hospital in Charleston, has received federal funding from the Ryan White Care Act to provide early intervention services. “We treat not only the HIV-related health needs, but every aspect of our clients’ overall, general health such as keeping check on blood pressure and cholesterol, prostate or gynecological health, and vaccinations,” Teague explained. “Our program also provides access to psychiatrists, psychologists, nutritionists, dentists, pharmacists, and medical social workers. The newly funded project period runs through March 31, 2015. For more information about the CAMC Ryan White Program contact Dr. Christine Teague at (304) 388-8106 or visit the website www.camcrwp.org.

Fruth Pharmacy Delivers More than $3,000 From first months of milk sales to benefit Children’s Hospital project at Cabell Huntington Hospital HUNTINGTON, WV – More than $3,000 has been raised in the first months of a partnership between Fruth Pharmacy and the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation to donate five cents for each gallon of milk sold in Fruth Pharmacy locations in support of the Children’s Hospital project. Lynne Fruth, Chairman of the Fruth Board of Directors, recently presented Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation officials with the first donations from this year-long project expected to raise $25,000. “It is a privilege to help support this very important project for the children of our area,” Fruth said. “Our customers have been very excited about being able to participate in helping to build the Children’s Hospital by purchasing milk at Fruth.” The amount raised so far has exceeded expectations and given Fruth customers an easy way to be involved in the Children’s Hospital project. “When Fruth Pharmacy came to us with this idea to contribute to our Children’s Hospital project, they were our first business partner to create a way to participate in our fund-raising,” said Velma Workman, Development Outreach Coordinator for the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation. “We are grateful to all the Fruth customers who are supporting us.” For more information about the Children’s Hospital project, please call (304) 526-6314 or visit www.cabellhuntington.org and click on the Children’s Hospital logo.

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Lynne Fruth, chairman of the Fruth Pharmacy Board of Directors (right), presents Velma Workman, Development Outreach Coordinator for the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation (left) with the first proceeds from a fundraising partnership for the Cabell Huntington Hospital Children’s Hospital Campaign.

News

Cabell Huntington Neurophysiology Lab Receives National Accreditation Only one other WV program holds similar distinction HUNTINGTON, WV – Cabell Huntington Hospital’s Neurophysiology Lab recently was granted a five-year national accreditation based on quality management and policies. The accreditation is the first for the two-year-old Neurophysiology Lab that provides brain wave monitoring services to diagnose seizure-related diseases such as epilepsy. “This is a measure of our commitment to provide excellent neuroscience care for our patients including EEGs, EMGs and epilepsy monitoring,” said Mark Stecker, MD, PhD, Director of the Neurophysiology Lab at Cabell Huntington Hospital. “This accreditation process measured the quality and knowledge of our

staff and services and this distinguishes us from other facilities that may offer the same services.” Only one other neuroscience lab in West Virginia has the accreditation from ABRET (American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists). Cabell Huntington’s program has shown rapid growth in the past year offering state-of-the-art technology from experienced specialists. For more information about epilepsy or the Neurophysiology Lab at Cabell Huntington Hospital, please call (304) 526-6387. http://www.cabellhuntington.org

Radiology, Inc. Makes $75,000 Pledge

To Children’s Hospital project at Cabell Huntington Hospital HUNTINGTON, WV – Cabell Huntington Hospital’s Children’s Hospital project has received a $75,000 pledge from the physicians of Radiology, Inc., the state’s largest radiology physician group. “We, the physicians of Radiology, Inc., are very proud to be a part of the Children’s Hospital project at Cabell Huntington Hospital,” said Peter Chirico, MD, Medical Director of the Department of Radiology at Cabell Huntington Hospital, Professor and Chairman of Department of Diagnostic Radiology of the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and Chairman of physician fund raising for the Children’s Hospital. “We feel there is no better investment than our children and our community, and the citizens of our region are very fortunate to have such a high level of pediatric care. It is now time to give our pediatric specialists the state of the art facility that they need.” To mark the generosity of the physicians, a patient room in Cabell Huntington Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will be dedicated in the company’s name. “Cabell Huntington Hospital has a long-standing relationship with Radiology, Inc,” said Brent A. Marsteller, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cabell Huntington Hospital. “This donation demonstrates their commitment to the children of our community and to our hospital.” The Children’s Hospital project will reconstruct the hospital’s Pediatrics Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, in addition to constructing procedure rooms, family lounges, play rooms and a new entrance to be used for young

patients. More than $6 million has been committed or donated to the Children’s Hospital project. “This is a generous donation by a group of caring physicians who have always been supportive of the care for infants and children at Cabell Huntington Hospital,” said Christie Kinsey, a volunteer fund raiser for the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation. “These physicians have a great desire to not only give back to our children with their professional talents but also with their financial support.” For more information about the project or to inquire about ways to become involved, please call (304) 526-6314. http://www.cabellhuntington.org

Delivered with Care. CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital has more experience delivering precious bundles than any other hospital in the state. And, as the only provider in the state with the highest-level newborn intensive care specialists on site around the clock, it’s easy to see why CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital is the total package.

Volume 1 - Issue 2

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WVU Researcher Warns Pregnant Women To be especially cautious of lead exposure MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In 2010, most everyone knows about the dangers of lead. But, a researcher from West Virginia University warns pregnant women that lead can be harmful to their babies in even the smallest quantities.  While numerous studies have shown the dangers of high-level lead exposure, Motao Zhu, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the WVU Department of Community Medicine, and his colleagues examined whether pregnant women exposed to low levels of lead were at a higher risk for low birth weight babies.   Dr. Zhu said people are exposed to lead more often than they think. Women have 1.2 micrograms per deciliter of lead in their bloodstreams. At 10 micrograms per deciliter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend public health actions be taken.

of its former uses in paint and gasoline. The U.S. government banned lead-based paint in 1977 and the use of lead in gasoline for on-road vehicles in 1996. However, on average, 70 percent of the houses in West Virginia were built before 1980, which means that most if not all of them may have at least some lead-based paint in them, Zhu said.    In addition, because lead is found in soil, people who live near roadways, old orchards, mining areas, industrial sites, power plants, incinerators, landfills and hazardous waste sites should be especially mindful of lead exposure. Zhu said a simple blood test can show how high a person’s lead level is.

This study will be published in “Environmental Health Perspectives,” a monthly journal of peer-reviewed research and news published Once an individual is exposed to lead, it can be absorbed into by the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. the body for decades.  According to Zhu’s study, a lead level of 5 Zhu drafted the article when he was a Ph.D. candidate at the State micrograms per deciliter was associated with an average decrease University of New York.   in birth weight of 61 grams, or 2.15 ounces. At the higher level of 10, For more information on the WVU Department of Community an 87 gram (or 3.07 ounces) decrease in birth weight was shown. Medicine, see www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/cmed.   Babies born weighing less than 2,500 grams (or 5 pounds, 8 ounces) are considered low birth weight.  “We definitely recommend women For More Information: Angela Jones, HSC News Service, get screened during pregnancy or prior to becoming pregnant, if 304-293-7087 jonesan@wvuh.com  possible,” Zhu said.  Generally, when people think of lead they think

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WVU and NIOSH Study

Find flu is airborne virus. Published study nominated for award MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The influenza virus can be carried by airborne particles, and not just spread through contact, according to the results of a two-year study conducted by the West Virginia University Department of Emergency Medicine and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). However researchers don’t know yet whether those particles can cause flu. The studies have been published in a prestigious scientific journal and nominated for a national award.  Researchers used air samplers to capture particles in the WVU Emergency Department during the 2008 flu season and in WVU Urgent Care during the 2009 flu season. Air particles were captured through stationary air samplers in patient rooms and waiting areas. Some staff members also wore backpacklike samplers, a personal bioaerosol cyclone sampler, which drew in air through a portable vacuum pump.  In addition, rapid flu tests were given to each patient in Urgent Care exam rooms. This information allowed the team to correlate the particles collected in the samplers with the patients in the room.   “On the busiest day for influenza patients, we detected airborne particles containing influenza in every location in the Urgent Care clinic. We also found that much of the influenza virus was contained in very small particles that can drift for a long time and are easy to inhale,” Bill Lindsley, Ph.D., NIOSH researcher, said. “In a sense, we weren’t surprised by the results, simply because no one had ever done this in a medical clinic before, so we really didn’t know what to

expect,” Lindsley said. “Before this project, the only reported study looking at the amount of airborne influenza virus anywhere was done by us the previous year in the WVU Emergency Department.”  Steve Davis, director of clinical research for WVU Emergency Medicine, said this knowledge could make a big difference in flu prevention in the future. “Now that we know that influenza is in fact being carried by airborne particles, the next step is to determine if those air particles can cause infection and, if so, what factors like temperature or humidity affect how infectious they are.” The paper written about the Emergency Department portion of the study, “Measurement of Airborne Influenza Virus in a Hospital Emergency Department,” which was published in the journal “Clinical Infectious Diseases” in 2009, was nominated for a Charles C. Shepard Science Award. The awards recognize excellence in science achievement by CDC authors of outstanding scientific papers.  The article on the Urgent Care portion of the study was published in the March 2010 issue of “Clinical Infectious Diseases.” The Special Libraries Association named “Clinical Infectious Diseases” one of the “100 Most Influential Journals in Biology and Medicine” of the past 100 years.  Rashida Khakoo, M.D., and Melanie Fisher, M.D., WVU infectious disease specialists, were also part of the research team. For More Information:  Angela Jones, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087  jonesan@wvuh.com

Gift Supports WVU Children’s Eye Services in Mercer County

Kendrick also helps WVU Eye Institute research and patient care MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Earl G. “Ken” Kendrick, owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has extended his generosity to the West Virginia University Eye Institute. His recent gift of $120,000 will support two Children’s Vision Rehabilitation Program (CVRP) clinics in Mercer County, W.Va., this year, as well as one of the CVRP’s Summer Institutes. The CVRP programs are life-changing opportunities for children with low vision and blindness to have fun with other children like themselves and to learn valuable life skills.   His gift will also support research and patient care for retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disease afflicting premature infants that can lead to blindness. The WVU Eye Institute is the only facility in West Virginia equipped to treat this condition. The remainder of the gift will extend the services of the state’s only neuro-ophthalmologist to indigent patients.  Kendrick said that a powerful presentation by Judie Charlton, M.D., director of the Eye Institute, brought his attention to the need for vision outreach in West Virginia. He also supports similar programs in Arizona. “There has been limited focus on vision in the Southern part of the state,” he said. “This is an opportunity for

me to help.”  While experiencing only mild vision problems himself, Kendrick is deeply sympathetic to the challenges faced by those with impaired sight.   “We at the WVU Eye Institute are excited to have a new friend and supporter in Ken Kendrick,” Dr. Charlton said. “His gift will mean a lot for the children of Mercer County and patients across the state.”   Kendrick, a native of Princeton, W.Va., graduated from WVU in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. After spending a few years at IBM in Baltimore, he left to form his own company, Datatel, Inc. which is now the industry leader in the development of software infrastructure technology for colleges and universities. He also experienced great success investing in the banking industry, including Woodforest National Bank, one of the largest employee-owned banks in the U.S.   Kendrick’s most well known financial endeavor – ownership of the Diamondbacks – was a dream born of his lifelong passion for baseball. He serves on the Board of Directors for the WVU Foundation.  For More Information:  Kim Fetty, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087 fettyki@wvuh.com Volume 1 - Issue 2

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Chicago Medical School’s Ross Named Dean at WVU School of Medicine Ninth person to hold title since 1912 MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Arthur J. Ross III, M.D., M.B.A., dean of Chicago Medical School and vice president for medical affairs of Rosalind Franklin University, was named dean of the West Virginia University School of Medicine today (June 4).  A respected researcher and award-winning teacher, Dr. Ross, 61, was selected by WVU Chancellor Christopher Colenda, M.D., M.P.H., following a national search. He will begin his new role in August. “Dr. Ross is an outstanding individual and we are very fortunate to have him lead the School of Medicine,” Chancellor Colenda said. “Dr. Ross has a distinguished track record as a pediatric surgeon and as an academic leader in Chicago. He brings vision, energy and considerable talent to this important position.”   Ross is board certified in both general surgery and pediatric surgery. He graduated with honors from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., earned his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University and did his residency at Duke University Medical Center.  “I am greatly honored by this appointment. WVU is one of the nation’s finest medical schools, and I look forward to serving the students, faculty and staff as their dean,” Ross said. “I have every confidence that we can work together to make the school even greater and to enhance the way our Health Sciences Center meets our mission of education, research, patient care and outreach in the land-grant tradition.”   Ross has been dean at the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University since 2004. In 2005 he was also named vice president for medical affairs there. He has also practiced and served as a faculty physician

at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; and at Gundersen Lutheran Health System, the western clinical campus of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.  While at Penn, Ross received the Teaching Excellence Award. Upon his departure from Wisconsin, the Health System named its new distance learning facility the “Ross Distance Education Center” in his honor. In 2007 the Chicago Medical School Alumni Association awarded him its Outstanding Service Award.  Dr. Colenda thanked James Brick, M.D., for his service as interim dean. Brick assumed the post in April 2008. “We are grateful for Dr. Brick’s dedication and service to WVU. He will leave Dr. Ross with a very strong and successful school.”  Colenda also expressed his appreciation to the search committee, led by WVU School of Pharmacy Dean Patricia Chase, Ph.D., and to faculty, staff and students who attended the candidate forums and provided evaluations of the candidates. “The participation of people from across the Health Sciences Center and the university in the selection of our next dean has made this a truly inclusive process,” he said.  Ross becomes only the ninth person to hold the title of dean of the WVU School of Medicine since 1912. He will be the first among the school’s deans to have served in that post at another medical school. He is also the first new medical dean since 1983 not drawn from among the university’s faculty.  For Dr. Ross’ biography, go to http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/dean.   For More Information:  Amy Johns, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087  johnsa@wvuh.com

WVUH Diabetes Education Center Recognized by American Diabetes Association MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The staff of the West Virginia University Hospitals Diabetes Education Center knows that there’s more to managing diabetes than testing blood sugars and taking medicines. And for that reason, the center recently received recognition from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The ADA presented the WVUH Diabetes Education Center with a recognition certificate for quality diabetes self-management education programs. The program was originally recognized in June 2004. Certificates are awarded every four years.  “This recognition is very important to us. It proves that we are truly doing the best job and providing the best services that we can,” Vicki Chase, R.N., WVUH diabetes education coordinator, said.  Program staff apply for recognition voluntarily. They must have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management. The WVUH Diabetes

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Education Center staff includes three nurses, a registered dietitian and a business manager.  According to the ADA, there are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States who have diabetes. About 1.6 million new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each year. The Diabetes Education Center staff at WVUH sees between 400 and 500 patients a month. They range in age from children to the elderly, and are both the recently diagnosed and those who need a refresher course. The education provided by the staff includes everything from understanding sugar levels to managing stress.  “Our ultimate goal is for our patients to have a great quality of life that is minimally affected by their diagnosis,” Chase said.  For more information on the WVUH Diabetes Education Center see http://health.wvu.edu/services/ diabetes-education-center/index.aspx.    For More Information:  Angela Jones, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087  jonesan@wvuh.com

News

WVU Stroke Center Re-certified and Honored MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University Stroke Center has earned Primary Stroke Center re-certification from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The program earned the distinction after a rigorous on-site review in March.  The WVU Stroke Center is being honored also by the American Heart Association (AHA) with a Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award. The national award recognizes the efforts made by WVU Hospitals and healthcare providers to improve the lives of stroke patients, following guidelines established by the AHA.  At an event celebrating the re-certification and award, WVU Hospitals President and CEO Bruce McClymonds said these are significant achievements. “This recognizes our commitment to providing outstanding care to our patients and our community,” McClymonds said.  In 2009, WVU cared for about 800 stroke patients from throughout West Virginia and neighboring states.   “It’s our multidisciplinary team that makes the difference. We have experts in emergency medicine, radiology, neurology, neurosurgery and more,” John Brick, M.D., chair of neurology at WVU, said. “Our emergency response team answers calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to evaluate and treat a stroke quickly. We’re saving lives and reducing the chance of disability for our patients.”  Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the country. It’s also the leading cause of serious, long-term disability, with about 6.4 million stroke survivors alive today. Each year, about 700,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke. While stroke is primarily thought of as a disease related to age, people of all ages, including children, can suffer from stroke.  The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s guidelines for stroke care. The WVU Stroke Center was first designated as a Primary Stroke Center by JCAHO in 2006.  The American Heart Association’s (AHA) Silver Performance Award is achieved when hospitals use the AHA’s premier hospital-based quality improvement program,

Get With the Guidelines, for the treatment of stroke patients. WVU Hospital previously earned the Bronze Performance Award.  May is National Stroke Awareness Month.

For More Information:  Amy Johns, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087   johnsa@wvuh.com

We Practice What We Teach West Virginia University Physicians of Charleston provides world-class medical care to citizens of Southern West Virginia, while conducting ground breaking research and continuing education at one of the nation’s oldest regional medical education campuses. Our providers are recognized leaders in their chosen specialties. Our practice plan includes providers that specialize in everything from primary to specialty care and from pediatrics to geriatrics. In addition to practicing medicine, each doctor is on the faculty at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. As mentors in the medical field, dedicated to training a new generation of doctors, our physicians have a passion for knowledge that pushes them to learn more. As physicians and medical university faculty members, we are at the forefront of medical science. We are committed to delivering the most technologically advanced and compassionate care available. Our faculty physicians also conduct important research and use cutting edge medical advancements to improve patient outcomes. WVU Physicians of Charleston benefits from a multi-faceted collaboration with Charleston Area Medical Center, West Virginia’s largest hospital system. Patients benefit from a synergy of resources that provide excellence in care. Area physicians’ ability to provide care is enhanced by the educational and consulting services available and new physicians are trained to provide outstanding, comprehensive health care while contributing to the scientific basis of medicine. We aren’t content just to practice medicine -- we’re committed to teaching it, too. Visit our website and see the many specialists and services we offer.

www.wvupc.com

Volume 1 - Issue 2

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WVU Study Finds Suicide Data is Deficient Rates for minorities may be undercounted MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Government statistics indicate the suicide rate for whites in the U.S. is more than double that for blacks and Hispanics. New research at West Virginia University suggests that deficiencies in data gathering may explain at least part of the apparent difference. “This data problem goes beyond race and ethnicity. If you’re not measuring suicide accurately, it makes it all the more difficult to prevent,” Ian Rockett, M.P.H., Ph.D., said.    Dr. Rockett, of the WVU School of Medicine, is the lead author of an article just published in “BMC Psychiatry” on the accuracy of suicide data. He and his colleagues question whether undercounting may be greater for blacks and Hispanics than for whites. Rockett says medical examiners and coroners strive to provide high quality information when they classify suicide, using all available resources and accessible evidence. Resources they use can include toxicology tests and medical records. However, suicide may be particularly underestimated as a public health problem for blacks. The study strongly suggests that at least part of the suicide gap between blacks and whites is due to health data disparities. Data disparities are also apparent between the less and more educated, and younger and older people. Major obstacles include social stigma of mental illness and suicide, and variations between groups in obtaining appropriate healthcare when needed. “Suicide rates for blacks and Hispanics may be lower than that for whites because of better coping skills and stronger condemnation of suicide,” Rockett said. “On the other hand, the great magnitude of the rate gap may be because authorities have more complete evidence in justifying suicide classifications for white victims.” The research is based on recent death certificate data (2003-2005), including information on multiple causes of death and mode of injury, compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Individuals with no health insurance are less likely to see a doctor when they are ill, and so they have fewer health records. In addition, a mental illness may go undiagnosed and untreated. Mental illness may lead to suicidal thoughts, and with no medical intervention, can end in suicide. Alcohol and other drug abuse also may figure in suicide. Rockett says equal access to healthcare and improved educational opportunities should lead to more accurate suicide data, and even more importantly, reduce suicide substantially among all racial/ethnic groups.

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Provision of additional resources for death investigations is also important for improving suicide surveillance and prevention.  Rockett, associate chair in the Department of Community Medicine and a member of the Injury Control Research Center at WVU, published this research with two WVU colleagues and five others from the U.S. and overseas. WVU researchers are Alan Ducatman, M.D., chair of Community Medicine and James Frost, M.D. from the Department of Pathology.   Other authors include:   • Shuhui Wang, M.S., National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health  • Steven Stack, Ph.D, Wayne State University  • Diego De Leo, M.D., Ph.D., Griffith University, Australia  • Rheeda Walker, Ph.D., University of Georgia  • Nestor Kapusta, M.D., Medical University of Vienna, Austria   “Race/Ethnicity and Potential Suicide Misclassification: Window on a Minority Suicide Paradox?” was published in the online open access medical journal, “BMC Psychiatry,” headquartered in Great Britain.  To read it, see www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471244X-10-35.pdf.  For More Information:  Amy Johns, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087  johnsa@wvuh.com

News

Dr. Stephen Sondike

Appointed to PREP Pediatric Advisory Board Stephen B. Sondike MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at WVU’s Charlestion Division has been appointed to the PREP (Pediatrics Review and Education Program) Adolescent Medicine Self-Assessment Advisory Board by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) together with the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM). In a commitment to meet the needs of pediatric Adolescent Medicine subspecialists for Part 2, Maintenance of Certification and to provide a highly regarded online self-assessment series, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) together with the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) formed the PREPR Adolescent Medicine SelfAssessment Advisory Board. Modeled after the established PREP (Pediatrics Review and Education Program), the subspecialty selfassessment will be based on the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) adolescent medicine content specifications. As a member of the PREP Adolescent Medicine Advisory Board, Dr. Sondike will play a very important role in the development and success of the PREP Self-Assessment that will be written for and by specialists in adolescent medicine. For More Information:  Kim Fetty, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087 fettyki@wvuh.com

Stephen B. Sondike MD

1111A Jefferson Road South Charleston, WV 25309 304.414.3660 telephone 800.531.2304 toll free

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Volume 1 - Issue 2

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WVU is Fifth in U.S. for Family Medicine

Medical school graduates choose training in primary care The West Virginia University School of Medicine was recently honored by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) for the large number of graduates who have chosen to train in family medicine. AAFP presented its Top Ten Awards during the recent Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Annual Conference. The awards recognize schools based on the training choices of graduates over the preceding three years.   Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. Today, family physicians provide more care for West Virginia’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty.  WVU Department of Family Medicine Chair James Arbogast, M.D., credits special programs at all three School of Medicine campuses that encourage students to choose to practice family medicine. Those programs include a rich third year clinical rotation, including time with rural community family physicians, a fourth year Rural Scholars program, and ongoing activities, such as the homeless outreach program. “It is our mission to give interested students the opportunity to see the rewards of being community physician leaders who impact every aspect of their patients’ lives,” Dr. Arbogast said.   The WVU School of Medicine’s family medicine program has been an important part of medical education for decades. In addition to training in the family medicine clinic on the Morgantown campus, WVU medical students and residents benefit from family medicine programs at WVU’s Eastern Division, based in Martinsburg, and at the school’s Charleston Division, affiliated with Charleston Area Medical Center.  “Family medicine faculty are essential to ensuring that students receive a high quality medical education from caring and competent family physicians. Their commitment to family medicine and their contributions to providing the best possible education are essential to the future of our specialty and

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to the care of patients,” AAFP President Lori Heim, M.D., said.   The 2010 award recipients and the percentage of graduates entering family medicine are:   • The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences--20.4 percent.  • The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University--19.2 percent.  • Sanford School of Medicine of The University of South Dakota--16.9 percent.  • The University of Kansas School of Medicine--16.6 percent.  • West Virginia University School of Medicine--16.5 percent.  • The University of Minnesota Medical School--16.3 percent.  • The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences School of Medicine--16.2 percent.  • The University of Nevada School of Medicine--15.8 percent.  • James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University--15.5 percent.  • The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine--14.6 percent.

According to AAFP, the schools use several initiatives that support students who are interested in, and most likely to become, family physicians. These efforts include student outreach, admissions policies that target students from rural and medically underserved areas, clinical rotations that emphasize positive experiences in family medicine, faculty involvement in medical school committees, strong family medicine interest groups and financial aid packages that minimize student debt.   In the increasingly fragmented world of health care where many medical specialties limit their practice to a particular organ or disease, family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person across the life span.    For more information about the WVU School of Medicine, see http://www.hsc.wvu.edu/som/.    AAFP news release: http://www.aafp.org/ online/en/home/media/releases/2010b/ top10familymedicineschools.html    AAFP media contact: Leslie Champlin, (800) 274-2237, Ext. 5224, lchampli@aafp.org

(Pictured L to R): Jeannie Sperry, Ph.D., Christopher Kincaid, M.D., AAFP President Lori Heim, M.D., Derek Mongold, M.D.

News

WVU a Finalist for Magrath Award Health Sciences and Technology Academy noted for community engagement The West Virginia Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA), a statewide partnership among educators, community leaders, health professionals and colleges, is one of five winners of the 2010 Outreach Scholarship W.K. Kellogg Foundation Engagement Award. The award will be presented during the National Outreach Scholarship Conference in October in Raleigh, N.C. Winners each receive a prize of $6,000 and qualify to compete for the 2010 C. Peter Magrath University Community Engagement Award presented annually by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU).    “We are extremely pleased with this honor,” said WVU President James P. Clements. “HSTA empowers youth in our state to pursue their dream of a college degree and opens the door for many exciting career opportunities. What’s more, this program is grounded in community and campus engagement -- the heart of a land-grant institution’s mission. I want to thank Dr. Ann Chester for her leadership of this important partnership and everyone around the state who has supported this program over the years.”   The awards recognize four-year public universities that have redesigned their learning, discovery and engagement functions to become more sympathetically and productively involved with their communities. Other winners are Indiana UniversityPurdue University--Indianapolis, Lincoln University, North Carolina State University and the University of Idaho.     “These projects exemplify the outreach and engagement commitment of public universities,” said Peter McPherson, president of APLU. “We salute each of these model engagement programs which feature students, faculty and administrators working in their community to improve the quality of life for all.”    HSTA reaches about 800 students annually in grades 9-12 and prepares them for college and professional school in careers in health, science, math, and technology. The program brings students and their teachers to campuses across West Virginia each summer for laboratory and classroom training and enrichment activities, and then provides the infrastructure and support for community-based science projects mentored by teachers and community leaders during the school year.   “This award is recognition that people all over West Virginia have made the effort to create avenues to achievement for young people,”

said Chester, who is assistant vice president for social justice at West Virginia University’s Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center. “The HSTA Program is designed and operated by local volunteers with assistance from WVU and several other West Virginia colleges and universities. Our success is due almost entirely to their work – and it is a testament to what can result when a University engages with people and communities on a sustained basis. The proof is in the people – more than 97 percent of our 1275 graduates have gone on to college.” Chester said many of the community and school participants, like Wallace Jones of Rainelle, now serving as chair of the HSTA Joint Governing Board, have been involved in the program for a decade or more.    “Our goal – and their goal – is to increase the college-going rate among under-represented students in the Appalachian region, to improve science and math education, to empower communities through leadership development of their youth, and ultimately, to increase the number of health care providers, scientists and science educators in West Virginia’s underserved communities,” she said.    The Magrath Award, made possible by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is named for C. Peter Magrath, APLU president from 1992-2005, and WVU’s interim president in 20082009. Dr. Magrath is a leading advocate for public universities embracing the concept of outreach and community engagement.    “WVU is dear to my heart, having served this remarkable landgrant university and growing to love its programs and its people,” said Magrath. “During my time there it was obvious to me that WVU deeply embraces outreach and community engagement, and HSTA underscores that commitment by preparing talented minority and underrepresented high school students for college and professional school. I congratulate all those involved with this successful program.”    For More Information: Paul F. Hassen, APLU, 202-478-6073 or phassen@aplu.org  HSTA video: http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2010/1/26/ program-helps-underrepresented-students-go-to-college    For More Information:  Kim Fetty, HSC News Service, 304-293-7087 fettyki@wvuh.com

Volume 1 - Issue 2

News

Thomas Memorial Hospital’s New Clinical Pavilion Grand Opening

South Charleston, WV — Thomas Memorial Hospital held their grand opening June 9 in front of the hospital’s Pavilion on Vine Street in South Charleston, with Governor Joe Manchin III as a guest speaker. The Clinical Pavilion is a six-floor, $70 million dollar addition that includes all private rooms, obstetrics unit, surgical center, gift shop and café. “This project is demand-driven, not dreamdriven. We’ve built this because more patients and physicians are coming to Thomas who need operating room time. We’ve more than doubled the number of births here in the past 10 years,” states Steve Dexter, President and CEO of Thomas Health System. The top three floors will have 32 private rooms for a total of 96 private rooms. This will increase the total bed capacity at Thomas to 260. Studies have shown that by going from a semi-private room to a private room, there are fewer hospital acquired infections, fewer medication errors and fewer falls. “When you come to Thomas to visit, you spent time in the hospital room with your loved one and in the cafeteria visiting with family. We have upgraded to modern spaces where patients and families can feel comfortable in a nice atmosphere. Thomas is introducing a new era in healthcare. We are exceptional medicine, every day at Thomas,” states Dexter. For more information, please contact: Paige Johnson, (304) 766-3707 or paige.johnson@thomaswv.org

WVU Charleston Division Pediatrics

Top Pediatric Honors for Charleston Charleston Area Medical Center pediatric residents made a clean sweep of all of the top prizes at American Academy of PediatricsWest Virginia Chapter’s Annual meeting held in April in Morgantown. Residents from all three pediatric residency programs in the state submitted a total of 22 entries for resident research competition. Dr. Beth

Emrick received the First Prize in original research; Dr. Shilpa Balikai received the First Prize in Case Report and Dr. Christy Robinson got the First Prize in Poster presentation. WVU-Charleston physicians, Drs. Melissa Fox and Raheel Khan were elected Secretary/ Treasurer, and Vice President respectively, of the AAP-WV Chapter at the same meeting.

Teays Valley Orthopedics, affiliated with CAMC Teays Valley Hospital, offers the latest techniques in orthopedic care • Minimally invasive total hip and knee replacement surgery

• Arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee and ankle

• Kyphoplasty (minimally invasive spinal procedure used for treating vertebral fractures from osteoporosis) • Cartilage replacement surgery • Pediatric orthopedics • Occupational medicine • Sports medicine • Treatment of arthritis

James B. Cox, DO Board certified orthopedic surgeon Special interest in joint replacement surgery and shoulder surgery 3703 Teays Valley Rd. • Hurricane, WV 25526 Phone: (304) 757-2273 • Fax: (304) 760-9290 camc.org ©Charleston Area Medical Center Health System, Inc. 22001-D10

WV Physician

West Virginia University’s

Pediatric Allergy/Pulmonology Center of Excellence

• asthma • cough • sinusitis • chronic lung diseases • sleep apnea

• dermatitis • pneumonias • allergies • respiratory infections • allergic rhinitis

Pulmonary Giovanni Piedimonte, MD, FCCP, FAAP

Talia B. Sotomayor, MD

Maple T. Landvoight, MD

Kathryn S. Moffett, MD

Silvia C. Cardenas, MD

Allergy

Otolaryngology Yesim Y. Demirdag, MD

Hassan Ramadan, MD, MSc, FACS

David P. Skoner, MD

Information and referrals: 800-WVA-MARS 800-982-6277

wvukids.com

• food allergies • immuno-deficiencies • exercise-induced asthma • cystic fibrosis

Trust Your Orthopedic Sports Medicine Care to this Team.

The Thundering Herd Does. The Marshall University Orthopedic Sports Medicine Team is the exclusive provider of orthopedic sports medicine care to Thundering Herd athletes. And each member of this diverse and highly experienced team is committed to providing you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; no matter your athletic ability â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with that same level of care.

SPECIALISTS HAVE SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN: Arthroscopic Surgery Foot and Ankle Injuries Leg and Knee Injuries Shoulder Injuries Hand and Upper Extremity Injuries Operative and Non-Operative Sports Medicine Care

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (304) 691-1262.