WINTER 2 019
Health, Science & Wellness
COVER STORY
LIFESAVING LIVER
How an innovative liver transplant gave Brad Goodman his life back ALSO IN THIS ISSUE PAGE 7
What’s new in treating children with epilepsy PAGE 9
Breakthrough care for teen’s hard-to-treat leukemia
Winter 2019
The Forefront
IN THIS ISSUE
ON THE COVER
2
7
EPILEPSY AND KIDS An expert talks about pediatric epilepsy symptoms and the latest treatments.
CANCER CAN’T COMPETE
8 A donor’s hepatitis C-positive liver becomes a lifesaving organ for political consultant and family man
Three patients with challenging cancers share their stories.
11
PREVENTING PREECLAMPSIA
SPICE OF LIFE
What you need to know about this
Are spicy foods healthy or
serious complication of pregnancy.
dangerous? A gastroenterologist separates fact from fiction.
Brad Goodman.
5
READ ONLINE
uchicagomedicine.org/spicy
How three cups of coffee a day can help patients
TO OUR READERS
with a common liver
Imagine has a new name! With this issue, UChicago Medicine’s consumer
disease.
magazine is now The Forefront. You’ll continue to find stories about wellness, life-changing care and scientific breakthroughs at the forefront of medicine. And you can read even more on our new website at uchicagomedicine.org.
Cover photo by Nancy Wong
The Forefront magazine features stories about life-changing care and breakthroughs in medical research at the University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences. Kenneth S. Polonsky, MD Dean of the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division and the Pritzker School of Medicine and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs Sharon O’Keefe President of the University of Chicago Medical Center
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION: Adult and children’s care uchicagomedicine.org Science, health and wellness news
Vice President, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer: William “Skip” Hidlay Editor: Anna Madrzyk Associate Editor: Gretchen Rubin Design: SBDWorks, Inc. Contributing writers
Read The Forefront online at uchicagomedicine.org/TheForefront Email us at forefront.editor@uchospitals.edu Facebook.com/UChicagoMed Twitter.com/UChicagoMed
uchicagomedicine.org/forefront
Kat Carlton, Thea Grendahl Christou,
Main number
Heather Linder, Rob Mitchum,
This publication does not provide medical advice or
Kristin Baird Rattini, Gretchen Rubin
treatment suggestions. If you have medical problems
1-773-702-1000 Appointments 1-888-824-0200
John Easton, Elizabeth Edwards,
Contributing photographers Beth Rooney, Anne Ryan, Joe Sterbenc, Courtesy of UCAN, Courtesy of Chamberlain Group
or concerns, contact a physician, who will determine your treatment. Do not delay seeking medical advice because of something you read here. For urgent needs, call 911 right away.
FPO
AN UNLIKELY LIVER
HOW THE TRANSPLANT OF A HEP C-POSITIVE DONOR LIVER SAVED A FAMILY MAN’S LIFE With three daughters and eight nieces and nephews, Brad Goodman, 37, always has a family celebration on his calendar. “My family is everything to me,” said the north suburban man. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t
an estimated 71 million people worldwide. It used to be very difficult to treat. But seven years ago, a new class of antiviral medications dramatically improved outcomes. This progress in treating hepatitis C is creating unexpected ripple effects in the world of organ transplants. Organs from hepatitis C-positive donors were typically rejected by most transplant teams in all
do to be a part of their lives.” But starting in 2011, Goodman’s health gradually declined due to a rare liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). This chronic, progressive condition inflames and blocks the bile ducts connecting the liver and small intestine. “My first hospitalization took place the week before my wedding,” he said. Eventually Goodman, a political consultant, was in and out of the hospital regularly with complications from PSC. “My liver was failing and I had lost any quality of life,” he said. “I knew that without a new liver, I would not live to see my children grow up. It was a very scary time for our family.” Goodman was added to the liver transplant waiting list in 2015. More than a year went by without an available organ. He was running out of time. Then his University of Chicago Medicine doctors asked him a surprising question: Would he accept a donor liver that was positive for the hepatitis C virus? “The only thing I knew about hepatitis C was that people get liver transplants because they had it,” Goodman said. “Once I was educated about it, there was no hesitation, not at all.” Hepatitis C is a viral disease that affects 2 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE
The Forefront | W I N T E R 2 0 1 9
but the most desperate of cases, due to concerns over the infection causing posttransplant organ loss. But a select few centers, including UChicago Medicine, have reconsidered that philosophy in light of the new drugs. “Hepatitis C is the easiest thing we treat these days and we can cure almost everyone,” said Michael Charlton, MD, director of the Center for Liver Diseases at
UChicago Medicine is one of the few centers that transplants hepatitis C-positive livers.
UChicago Medicine. “So if we take livers that are really healthy from young, heroic donors who had hepatitis C and offer them to patients who have life-threatening or quality of life-altering conditions, they can get a transplant much sooner.” Goodman said he appreciated the honesty with which Charlton and his other physicians — including David T. Rubin, MD, co-director of the Digestive Diseases
Center, and surgeon Talia Baker, MD — presented him with the choice. On August 10, 2017, 640 days after Goodman went on the transplant list, he got the call: A liver was available. The surgery was successful, and after three months on antiviral medication, Goodman was cured of hepatitis C. As he recovered, Goodman regained his
energy and the 50 pounds he lost while sick. After working for candidates during the busy election season in the fall, he and his family headed to Florida for a muchneeded vacation. “I feel great, and I can now enjoy my family time so much more,” he said. “Without my medical team, I wouldn’t be here today. I am beyond blessed.”
| L E F T | Brad and Rebecca Goodman
with their daughters Charlotte, left, Rachel and Harper.
SHOULD YOU BE SCREENED FOR HEPATITIS C? Millions of Americans are infected with the hepatitis C virus without knowing it. Infection can lead to scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver, liver cancer and end-stage liver disease. Today, the virus can be successfully treated, preventing long-term damage to the liver. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends regular screening (simple blood tests) for persons at high risk for hepatitis C infection and one-time screening for adults born between 1945 and 1965.
Baby boomers — born between 1945 and 1965 — make up 80% of chronic hepatitis C cases.
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UChicago Medicine has been a leader in liver transplantation in the U.S. for more than 30 years.
1985 1988
1989 Alyssa Smith received part of her mom’s liver in the first successful living-donor liver transplant.
First segmental liver transplant
First split-liver transplant (one donor, two recipients)
Liver specialist Michael Charlton, MD
First successful living-donor liver transplant (in the U.S. and the world)
1993
First liver transplant from an unrelated living donor
COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR LIVER DISEASES THE CENTER FOR LIVER DISEASES AT UCHICAGO MEDICINE
offers leading-edge approaches for diagnosing and treating the full range of chronic and acute liver diseases in adults, including: » Fatty liver disease » Liver tumors » Autoimmune liver disease
Fatty liver disease affects 90 million to 100 million people in the U.S., making it the nation’s most common chronic liver condition.
Co-directors of the UChicago Medicine Transplantation Institute
» Alcoholic liver disease » Viral hepatitis » Genetic liver diseases » Drug-induced liver injury » End-stage liver disease
Specialized liver disease clinics The Metabolic and Fatty Liver Diseases Program brings together experts from multiple specialties to care for patients with different types of metabolic liver disease.
Transplant surgeon John Fung, MD, PhD
From liver disease diagnosis with state-of-the-art imaging techniques to liver failure treatment, including transplant for end-stage disease, our liver specialists have extensive expertise in providing care for patients. Our liver transplant team works together to evaluate patients, develop a care plan and provide ongoing treatment. This seamless coordination allows transplant patients to see several specialists in one visit so they don’t have to make frequent trips to the clinic. The liver transplant program delivers some of the best results in Illinois. World-renowned transplant surgeons offer hope for many patients who may have been turned down by other transplant programs. We care for patients with the most complex cases, including those who need multiple or split-liver transplants. Where to find our liver disease specialists Hyde Park Merrillville, Ind.
The Liver Tumor Program offers expertise in both end-stage liver disease and cancer that begins in the liver.
Schererville, Ind.
Learn more: uchicagomedicine.org/liver-diseases
Streeterville
4 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE The Forefront | W I N T E R 2 0 1 9
South Loop
More than just for making you feel human in the morning...
is beneficial to people with
( Which affects about 100 million Americans)
DID YOU KNOW...
HELPS YOUR LIVER: Offset a high-fat diet Reduce liver scarring Slow liver disease
ATIENTS WITH FATTY LIVER DISEASE SHOULD DRINK AT LEAST 3 CUPS OF COFFEE A DAY TO HELP REDUCE THE STIFFNESS IN THEIR LIVER, WHICH LOSES ELASTICITY DUE TO FAT IN THE ORGAN.
But why Studies show
it could be the
CAFFEINE
or:
How do you take YOUR coffee? POLYPHENOLS A type of flavonoid TOCOPHEROL A form of vitamin E CHLOROGENIC ACID An antioxidant
GOOD
OK
Drip-filtered
Splash of skim
Black coffee Caffeinated
NOPE!
Sugar Low-fat dairy High-fat dairy Lattes Decaffeinated Frappes Add nutmeg Macchiatos or cinnamon
To learn more, visit uchicagomedicine.org • Appointments, call (773) 702-5571
ZOMBIE GENE WHACKS CANCER
CHECK OUT OUR NEW CHOPPER!
University of Chicago Aeromedical Network (UCAN), the city’s only hospital-based medical flight program, is now transporting patients in a more advanced helicopter. The twin-engine Airbus EC145 is considered top-of-class for rescue missions. It replaces a helicopter that transported more than 13,000 patients over its nearly 30 years of service — and, in between flights, appeared on episodes of “ER” and “Chicago Med.” The new helicopter loads from the rear, making it easier to get the patient in and out quickly. A custom medical interior has more room for high-tech lifesaving equipment and accommodates up to four flight nurses and physicians. Learn more: uchicagomedicine.org/helicopter
Why do elephants have 10 times as many potentially cancerous cells as humans, but are much less likely to die from cancer? University of Chicago researchers tackling this question found that humans, like most animals, have one copy of a tumorsuppressing gene, while elephants have 20 copies. They also found a “zombie gene” — one that had mutated to an inactive form, but then evolved a new on-switch. A damaged cell rouses the zombie gene, which then attacks and kills the cell. “Getting rid of that damaged cell can prevent a subsequent cancer,” said Vincent Lynch, PhD, assistant professor of human genetics and senior author of the study published in Cell Reports. Lynch’s team’s investigation into exactly how the zombie gene works is ongoing.
ROBOSCOPE PROBES LUNGS
A new robotic probe examines patients’ lungs more thoroughly and accurately than ever before, enabling early identification and treatment of lung cancer. Pulmonologist D. Kyle Hogarth, MD, is an expert in examining patients’ airways via tiny cameras attached to tubes inserted through the mouth. Hogarth advised a team of engineers to develop a robotic device that can probe even farther and more precisely. Lung cancer, the leading cancer killer in the U.S., often has been diagnosed too late for effective treatment. “I’ve been able to see patients I would have had to turn down previously,” Hogarth said. “Now I have the tool to help them.” UChicago Medicine was the second hospital in the country to use the Monarch Platform after it was approved in March.
SEXUAL BEHAVIOR AMONG ADULTS WITH DEMENTIA
Most people in the U.S. with dementia who live at home with partners are sexually active, researchers at UChicago Medicine reported in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. In addition, individuals with cognitive impairment and dementia often have bothersome sexual function problems they don’t discuss with a doctor. A growing number of people with dementia live at home, cared for by spouses, who — like doctors and society more generally — don’t have the knowledge to manage the sexual aspects of life with a person who has dementia, said obstetrician/gynecologist Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, the study’s lead author. “The lack of basic information about sexual behavior, function and desires in this population raises ethical, legal, clinical and even moral questions that we as a society are largely unprepared for,” she said. More information on the topic is available on her website, WomanLab.org.
READ MORE AT
uchicagomedicine.org
6 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE
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PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY
Ask the Expert D O U G L A S N O R D L I J R ., M D
Comer Children’s is a level 4 epilepsy center. This designation is granted to hospitals providing the highest level of medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for children with complex epilepsy.
WHAT ARE THE LATEST MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TREATMENTS?
| A B O V E | Douglas Nordli Jr., MD, with pediatric epilepsy experts Julia Henry, MD, left,
and Chalongchai Phitsanuwong, MD.
Douglas Nordli Jr., MD, chief of child neurology at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital, is an expert in pediatric epilepsy. He answers common questions about epilepsy in children.
Usually, some sudden, unprovoked change in the behavior of a child is the first sign. The most dramatic example is a convulsion. In reality, there is a spectrum, with some seizures causing only a subtle interruption in behavior.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CAUSES?
SEIZURES AND EPILEPSY?
A seizure is a momentary, sudden electrical discharge or abnormal activity that temporarily takes away voluntary control. If a child has two or more unprovoked seizures or a condition where they are predisposed to unprovoked seizures, we call that epilepsy. HOW DO YOU SPOT EPILEPSY?
A parent or caregiver may be the first to notice signs associated with epilepsy.
Douglas Nordli Jr., MD
Epilepsy has hundreds of causes and often results from a combination of factors. In the most common form of epilepsy, we believe that several genes come together to make people susceptible. This form of epilepsy is often favorable because children can grow out of it. In contrast, there are symptomatic causes, such as a head injury, brain tumor or other condition. WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE WAY WE DIAGNOSE AND TREAT IT?
Ten years ago, we had a lot of cases that we thought were symptomatic, but we could not specify the cause. With modern genetic diagnostic tests like next-generation sequencing, we’ve discovered many of these cases are based in genetics. It’s an incredibly satisfying time to be in child neurology, because we’re getting the answers we’ve long sought. Our hope is, now that we’ve characterized what’s causing them, we can customize treatments that get at the root cause of the epilepsy.
Broadly speaking, there are three major ways we treat it. The first is with medications. One of the compounds people are talking about now is CBD (cannabidiol). It’s shown promising results in some early studies. In addition, we prescribe diets. Different diets for epilepsy have existed since the 1920s, but we continue to make refinements. Some of these include a modified Atkins diet, a ketogenic diet and a low glycemic index diet. Finally, we recommend surgery in some cases. We’re one of a select number of centers doing laser ablations in children for epilepsy. This involves surgeons putting a tiny hole in the skull, introducing a laser and heating up a problem area until it’s destroyed in a precise manner. CAN A CHILD BE CURED OF EPILEPSY?
Yes, absolutely. Children can be cured, and that should be the expectation and goal.
FIND A PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGIST Chicago Hyde Park Little Village South Shore Evergreen Park Merrillville, Ind. Naperville Orland Park
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Some cancers are very hard We take on the challenge. Our physicians and researchers are at the forefront of cancer care, offering the latest treatments and clinical trials of emerging therapies for cancers that are likely to spread or to come back. Charlie Betzold, Cedric Elery and Eddie Harley each faced an aggressive form of cancer. Their UChicago Medicine teams offered leading-edge care and now these young people are moving forward with their lives. Learn more about cancer care at UChicago Medicine: uchicagomedicine.org/cancer
Charlie Betzold loves playing with his collection of toy animals: elephants, giraffes, zebras, gorillas, monkeys and sloths.
Charlie Betzold
Having so many favorites would keep any child busy. But back in the fall of 2014, Regina Wan and Eric Betzold became concerned when their little boy stopped being active. When Charlie didn’t get better, the Jefferson Park couple took him to a nearby emergency room. There, they got a heart-wrenching diagnosis. Charlie had a rare pediatric cancer called neuroblastoma, a cancerous tumor that affects young children. He was transferred by ambulance to Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago Medicine.
High-risk High-risk neuroblastoma neuroblastoma
8 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE
The Forefront | W I N T E R 2 0 1 9
Pediatric oncologist Susan Cohn, MD, an authority on neuroblastoma, met with the family soon after they arrived
Cedric Elery
to beat. Comer Children’s is the only hospital in Illinois offering MIBG therapy for neuroblastoma.
at Comer Children’s. The cancer, which had started in his abdomen, already had spread. The treatment for the high-risk tumor would be complex. Cohn told Charlie’s parents about a clinical trial testing the effectiveness of adding a drug called MIBG that contains a form of radioactive iodine to standard high-risk neuroblastoma therapy, which includes intensive chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplant, radiation and immunotherapy. MIBG is a compound that is actively absorbed by neuroblastoma cells. The therapy is given to patients through an IV. As the cancer cells absorb the MIBG, the linked iodine delivers cancer-killing radiation to the tumor cells. In March 2015, after five cycles of chemotherapy and surgery, Charlie received the MIBG treatment. A few weeks later, he underwent high-dose chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant and radiation. He then received an additional six months of treatment with immunotherapy. “The whole treatment was hard for a little person to handle,” Regina said. But through it all, the couple tried to stay strong for Charlie and keep his life as normal as possible. They leaned on their families and the care team at Comer Children’s. “Even when Charlie wasn’t feeling well,” said Cohn, “he and his parents managed to stay positive. They were remarkable.” Today, the 5-year-old is happy, healthy and full of energy and life.
Treatment-resistant leukemia
Cedric Elery was in the school gym when he suddenly felt tired and like he was going to pass out. Then it happened again. And again. Cedric’s mom, Tomika Nelson, took him to a hospital where doctors diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and referred him to Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago Medicine. Pediatric ALL is the most common childhood cancer. For 80 percent of children and teens with the disease, chemotherapy puts the leukemia into remission. But for Cedric, the cancer relapsed after he completed his course of chemotherapy. He underwent a stem cell transplant. Still the cancer persisted. “Telling a patient that the disease has come back after months and months of treatment is one of the toughest things we do,” said John Cunningham, MD, one of the pediatric oncologists on Elery’s care team. “Fortunately, we had something new and promising to offer him.”
Comer Children’s was one of the first sites in the country to offer CAR T-cell therapy for pediatric patients after FDA approval.
His team recommended CAR T-cell therapy, a groundbreaking immunotherapy that had just been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The West Side teen would be the first patient at Comer Children’s to be treated with CAR T-cell therapy, which reprograms a patient’s own disease-fighting white blood cells (T cells) to seek out, recognize and attack cancer cells without harming healthy cells. Cedric had the treatment in spring 2018. He started feeling better right away, and soon his blood showed no sign of the disease. The cancer is still in remission. Since then, “I went to prom and I’ve been on several trips,” Cedric, now 15, said with a big smile. “I do a lot.” Michele Nassin, MD, another pediatric oncologist on the medical team, admires Elery’s strong spirit. “Cedric is such a cool kid,” she said. “Seeing him on the other side of all of the tough things he went through has been really amazing.”
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In March 2017, Edward Harley and Cassandra Hensley flew home to celebrate their engagement with their families in Harvey, Ill. They were on cloud nine. But when Harley’s mom, Victoria Edwards, hugged her son, she immediately knew something was wrong. “He had lost so much weight,” she said. “I felt like I was hugging bones. Harley had been experiencing stomach problems while away at college in Florida. “I had persistent dull pain,” he said. “I blamed it on too much fast food and typical college life.” At home, the 21-year-old quickly started getting sicker and soon went to the emergency department at Ingalls Memorial Hospital.
An Ingalls pathologist diagnosed Burkitt lymphoma, an extremely rare type of nonHodgkin lymphoma. Although the rapidly growing tumor can be fatal if untreated, intensive chemotherapy can bring longterm survival. Ingalls oncologist Kimberly Kruczek, DO, consulted with Kenneth Cohen, MD, a lymphoma expert at the University of Chicago Medicine. Ingalls and UChicago Medicine recently had merged, creating a partnership that integrates convenient, high-quality community-based health care with world-class academic medicine.
“The treatment for Burkitt lymphoma has tough side effects,” Cohen said. “But for patients who are young and can tolerate the intensive therapy, most can be cured of the cancer.”
Given the rarity and complexity of Harley’s condition, Kruczek and Cohen recommended that he transfer his care to UChicago Medicine.
Harley experienced many ups and downs as he went though the treatment, but he always had the support of his fiancée and his family. “They were with me every step of the way,” he said.
He was taken by ambulance that night. Cohen explained that the treatment required inpatient chemotherapy, with the goal of initially shrinking the tumor and then ultimately curing the disease.
Harley has now been in remission for more than a year. He returned to college where he is working on a degree in computer science. He and Hensley are planning their destination wedding in Mexico for next year.
Rare lymphoma Eddie Harley and Cassandra Hensley
10 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE
UChicago Medicine is one of only two National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in Illinois — and one of 49 nationwide.
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A condition of pregnancy called preeclampsia can lead to serious, or even fatal, complications for a mother and her baby. Researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine and around the world are working to better understand the cause of preeclampsia and to reduce, and one day eliminate, the effects of this disease. Sarosh Rana, MD, MPH, chief of maternal-fetal medicine at UChicago Medicine, answers questions about preeclampsia and what pregnant women can do to help prevent it. WHAT IS PREECLAMPSIA?
Preeclampsia is a serious medical condition, characterized by high blood pressure, that can occur anytime during the second half of a woman’s pregnancy and up to six weeks after delivery. If preeclampsia progresses, it can cause seizures and death in the mother and premature birth and death in the baby. WHO IS AT RISK?
The cause of preeclampsia is not known. But these factors may make women more susceptible to developing the condition: » Younger than 18 or older than 40 » African American race » Obesity
» Chronic high blood pressure, diabetes,
kidney disease or organ transplant
» First pregnancy or previous history
of preeclampsia
» Family history of preeclampsia » Autoimmune disease, including lupus
and multiple sclerosis
» Sickle cell disease » In vitro fertilization WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
In some cases, preeclampsia can develop without any symptoms or with ones that overlap with normal pregnancy. It can also occur in the mother up to six weeks after delivery. Signs and symptoms include:
Sarosh Rana, MD, MPH
For women who have risk factors, a daily aspirin starting early in pregnancy can help prevent preeclampsia. Ask your doctor if you are eligible for aspirin therapy. IS THERE A CURE?
» High blood pressure » Protein in the urine » Swelling of the face and hands » Severe headache » Heartburn » Rapid weight gain » Abdominal pain
Control of blood pressure and careful monitoring may prolong the pregnancy, increasing the chance of the baby’s survival and good health. Delivering the baby can resolve symptoms of preeclampsia. However, preeclampsia can persist after delivery and in some women can occur for the first time after delivery. ARE THERE LONG-TERM EFFECTS?
CAN WOMEN DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT IT?
Your obstetrician should monitor your blood pressure and urine, and review signs of preeclampsia. If found early, close monitoring by your doctor can help you and your baby stay healthy.
Women with preeclampsia are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and stroke later in life. Be sure to follow up with your primary care physician or cardiologist so they can help modify your risk for a healthier life many decades after preeclampsia.
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Closer to where live, ade for Patients andyou Families work and shop
sicians, nurses and other caregivers to patient safety ve Grade ‘A’ ratings from hospital watchdog Leapfrog icago Medicine is the only academic health system d 14 straight A’s. And out of 2,600 hospitals wide, only 42 have earned that safety record. of health, medicine and science.
Making the grade for patients and families
A
UChicago Medicine received its 14th consecutive A grade in patient safety from the hospital watchdog Leapfrog Group. We’re the only academic health system in Chicago to have achieved 14 sequential A’s. And out of 2,600 hospitals graded by Leapfrog nationwide, only 42 have earned this safety record.
ChicagoMedicine.org to learn more.
One-stop outpatient care is coming to River East UChicago Medicine will be opening a new facility at 355 E. Grand Ave. to serve people who live in, or commute to, downtown Chicago. The new outpatient facility will consolidate primary and multispecialty care services now provided at 150 E. Huron St. and women’s care at 680 N. Lake Shore Drive. In recognition of patients’ growing needs
Leapfrog assesses hospitals using nearly 30 publicly available safety metrics, which are selected and reviewed by a panel of experts. Data cover everything from infection rates, surgical complications and medical errors to safety problems and staffing.
to access quality health care when their physician’s office is closed or when they need urgent care that is not life-threatening, the 42,706-square-foot space will also include an urgent care center. The new clinic will begin construction in early 2019 and is expected to open as soon as the end of the year.
A colonoscopy can save your life The National Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second
Institute’s Cancer
leading cause of cancer death in
Moonshot Initiative granted UChicago Medicine $6 million to study ways to increase rates of screening and follow-up care for colorectal cancer, especially in vulnerable groups of people.
12 » THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE
men and women in this country. Screening by colonoscopy can prevent cancer or find it at an early stage. During screening, a physician looks for polyps (abnormal tissue growth) or cancer. If precancerous polyps are found, they can be removed before they turn into cancer. FIVE QUICK FACTS ABOUT COLONOSCOPIES
11. Most colorectal cancers occur in people with no family history of the disease, but it is very important to know your family history.
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2
R emoval of precancerous polyps lowers the chance of getting colorectal cancer by 70 percent.
3 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 50. The American Cancer Society recommends screening starting at age 45 for people with average risk.
4 For every year the initial screening is delayed, the risk of cancer increases twofold.
5 After the first colonoscopy, most
patients only need to be screened every 10 years.
MOVING FOR KIDS
For each healthy step, a donation to Comer Children’s Hospital Employees of the Chamberlain Group were on the move last summer to stay healthy and support kids. The Chamberlain Group (CGI), a Duchossois Group, Inc., company headquartered in Oak Brook, created the ONETeam Moves Walking Challenge and 5K Walk/ Run to encourage health and fitness. In partnership with CGI’s ONETeam Cares good corporate citizen program, employees supported the Child Life and Family Education Program at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital. More than 1,000 employees from all North American locations of CGI, a global leader in access solutions and products, tracked their steps throughout the month of June. Each step from an employee meant a donation to Child Life, which supports Comer Children’s patients and their families by providing educational, developmental and therapeutic services to infants, children and teens. Comer Children’s Child Life specialists focus on children’s psychological and developmental needs to help them manage pain, anxiety and stress while undergoing treatment, or to help them cope with the illness of a parent or sibling. “Our program is unique because our Child Life specialists are master’s-prepared with expertise in child development and family-centered care that they bring to caring for children,” said Jennie Ott, director of the program. “We are partners with families in the care of their children.” The CGI ONETeam Moves and ONETeam Cares programs,
We not only recognize our responsibility to our community, we also support causes committed to benefiting the development, health and well-being of children and their families. JOANNA SOHOVICH
| A B O V E | Employees of the Chamberlain Group running
during the ONETeam Moves 5K Walk/Run last summer to support the Child Life and Family Education Program at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital.
together with employee donations and a matching gift from The Duchossois Family Foundation, resulted in a $40,000 donation to Child Life. With this gift, the program was able to purchase Spellbound Cards, a therapeutic tool to help children cope with medical treatment using augmented reality technology. JoAnna Sohovich, CGI’s chief executive officer, said the ONETeam Moves and ONETeam Cares programs are important initiatives to the organization. “We not only recognize our responsibility to our community, we also support causes committed to benefiting the development, health and well-being of children and their families,” Sohovich said. Comer Children’s patient Taylor Merriwether understands firsthand how the program supports children and families. She came to appreciate how the program caters to the social and emotional needs of children, which has made a significant impact in her life and others. Now, Merriwether, 25, volunteers at Comer Children’s by serving on the Teen Advisory Board, whose members make suggestions to help create a more “kid- and teen-friendly” hospital. “From the patient’s perspective, being sick for anyone can be really disempowering, so the opportunities that I had to give back and be part of what goes on at the hospital were really empowering for me,” she said. Check out a video from the event: bit.ly/movingforkids
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Explore the Forefront of Care and Discovery The University of Chicago Medicine’s new website makes it easier to learn about our services, find a physician and make an appointment. Launched with more than 4,000 pages of content, uchicagomedicine.org offers an enhanced user experience featuring: » Powerful search tools » Mobile-responsive technology » Easier navigation » Consumer-friendly content » Health, science and wellness news » More photos and videos
The new site serves UChicago Medicine’s entire adult and pediatric health system, which includes more than 40 locations in Chicago, the suburbs and Northwest Indiana.
uchicagomedicine.org