Taking care of New York is what we do, every day
Photographer Susan Kahn shoots photos at Jowonio School of Nienke Dosa, MD and Miracle Thompson for this issue.
physical therapist offers encouragement, along with her therapy session. A surgeon offers hope to a patient who wants to be able to walk. A professor offers enthusiasm for science.
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Upstate Medical University is academic medicine at its best. We care for patients with a range of health issues from routine to complex. We train tomorrow’s healthcare providers, and we conduct research that may lead to the cures of the future. This year as we celebrate 50 years (p. 17) our hospitals welcome a dynamic electronic medical records system called Epic that wasn’t even dreamed of 50 years ago. It will organize patient care documentation and allow patients access to much of their health information. Even as Epic illustrates technical advances, we are mindful to maintain the human touch (p. 14) and our important role in the Central New York community. Three examples in this issue: • the physician who prescribes ballet to improve the lives of her patients with cerebral palsy (p. 6) • the scientist who helps us understand how smoking addictions affect babies in utero (p. 11) • the staff who volunteer on Onondaga County’s Search and Rescue Team (p. 15)
We hope you enjoy your Health, brought to you by Upstate.
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Contact Upstate Connect at 315-464-8668 or 1-800-464-8668, day or night, for appointments or referrals to the health care providers on these pages or anywhere at Upstate — or for questions on any health topic.
Contents PATIENTS FIRST Pinpointing prostate cancer
cover story
Prescription: Ballet
A therapist who can empathize about cancer
page 4 page 6 page 8
FROM OUR EXPERTS Facts about medical marijuana
page 9
Modern birth control options
page 10
SPECIAL REPORT: The dangers of prescription creams
page 12
FOR OUR COMMUNITY Search and rescue volunteers
page 15
Special care for moms-to-be with diabetes
page 16
Upstate celebrates 50 years
page 17
IN OUR LEISURE Shooting pool
page 19
The student who walks everywhere
page 20
Recipe: roasted delicata squash
page 22
The Humorist
page 23
winter 2014
U P S TAT E H E A LT H
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