MUSC Catalyst 1-24-2014

January 24, 2014

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 32, No. 22

Senator meets with patients, announces national program

BY MIKIE HAYES Public Relations

I

magine a child crying out in excruciating pain, just wanting her mom to take care of her. Her mother, however, is herself in agonizing pain. She puts her needs aside to care for her child, but who is there to care for her? Lucretria Sheridan and her daughter, Kali Kinloch, both of whom suffer with sickle cell disease, live this reality.

This situation troubles Julie Kanter, M.D., director of Sickle Cell Research at MUSC. She sees it all too frequently and it fuels her passion to find ways to treat families who lack supportive services to help them.

A disease that causes unbearable pain as well as symptoms that are frequently misunderstood, sickle cell disease has captured the attention of U.S. Sen.Tim Scott, who on Jan. 20 spent time visiting with sickle cell patients and families at MUSC while they shared with him how they suffer physically, mentally and emotionally.

The senator, whose own mother, brother and nephew have the trait, shared with the group his long-term commitment to finding solutions to the dreaded disease.

“Having seen effects of SCD in my own family and others in South Carolina, I have partnered with colleagues to create the bicameral and bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Sickle Cell Disease,” he said.

“This caucus will serve as a resource for members of Congress to learn more about the effects of SCD as well as promoting legislative agendas and public policy that will raise awareness and encourage improved treatment of SCD for individuals and their families.”

Sickle cell disease is a range of hereditary blood disorders, the most common of which is sickle cell anemia. It affects the body’s red blood cells, distorting the cell’s shape into a rigid sickle shape, according to the National Institutes of Health. The distorted shape blocks blood flow, induces inflammation and leads to

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Hollings Chaplain Hollings Cancer Center chaplain shares intelligence roots.

photo by Mikie Hayes, Public Relations

South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott, second right, listens to Rossi Brown, left, an adult sickle cell patient, as he describes his struggles in living with the disease. ischemic pain and multi-organ damage.

The senator listened intently to patients like Kenneth Stewart, who attended the meeting with his family. His son, Kenneth Jr., and daughter, Jaylyn, both suffer from sickle cell disease. His wife has the trait.

With tears in his eyes, Stewart shared with the senator that he wants to work to provide for his family.

He worked for SPAWAR in communications until the disease took its toll and he couldn’t keep up. He now works for an automotive parts company. He looked Scott in the eye and thanked him for caring. “Cancer, leukemia patients have someone to go to for help. We have had no advocates. We receive bad treatment. We just deserve fair treatment,” he said.

Stewart is encouraged by Scott’s interest and compassion. “The recognition of this disease is so

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important. I met someone personally who cares about it, who will take an interest in it, is positioned to do something about it and make changes. The senator will make all the difference.”

Kanter is also hopeful that Scott will help make strides in increasing visibility and awareness of a disease that is misunderstood and often ridiculed. “Sickle cell disease is the most common inherited blood disorder.

It was originally identified 100 years ago but there is only one current disease-modifying medication. Having Sen. Scott come to MUSC to learn more about the disease and our patients may lead to much needed health advocacy for sickle cell disease. By committing to co–chairing a sickle cell disease committee, Scott is

See Patients on page 7

New campus role

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Catamaran Plan

MUSC’s first chief research information officer shares his vision.

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Meet Liz

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Classifieds

READ THE CATALYST ONLINE - http://www.musc.edu/catalyst

2 THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014

Catamaran selected as plan’s new pharmacy manager

BY MIKIE HAYES Public Relations

As of Jan. 1, all MUSC and MUHA employees who were previously enrolled in the Standard State Health Plan were automatically enrolled in the new MUSC Health Plan. On that same day, yet unrelated to the rollout of the new MUSC plan, the entire state changed to Catamaran when it replaced Medco/ Express Scripts as the pharmacy benefit manager for all state employees covered by the State Health Plan.

As the entity responsible for the state plan, the South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority issued the request for proposals for the pharmacy benefits manager contract and evaluated several potential vendors. Ultimately, PEBA chose Catamaran, the nation’s fourth-largest pharmacy benefit manager, deeming Catamaran the most advantageous plan for the state.

While the timing of the simultaneous rollouts was purely coincidental, it has caused some confusion for those participating in the new MUSC Health Plan. Since the Jan. 1 introduction of both new programs, employees have noticed that the change to Catamaran has sometimes resulted in higher copays for prescriptions. As such, they have sought answers about the cost increases.

According to Mark Lyles, M.D., MUSC chief strategic officer, when

Editorial of fice MUSC Office of Public Relations 135 Cannon Street, Suite 403C, Charleston, SC 29425.

843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723 Interim editor: Cindy Abole catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Mikie Hayes, hayesmi@musc.edu

Catamaran Pharmacy Benefit Manager

Preferred Pharmacy Copays: Tier 1 Tier 2

30 day supply $9 $36

90 day Supply $22 $90

Tier 3

$60

$150

Participating Pharmacy Copays: Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3

30 day supply $9 $36 $60

90 day Supply $27 $108 $180

The MUSC pharmacies discount copays of members with the PEBACOMM group code on their card: Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3

30 day supply $6 $30 $50

90 day Supply $15 $80 $140

PEBA decided to increase the prescription copayments beginning Jan.1, they stated publicly that copayments would have gone up regardless of the PBM vendor.

“The move to Catamaran was not associated with the new MUSC Health Plan; it just so happened that the rollouts for both programs took place on Jan.1.

South Carolina Public Employee Benefit Authority selected Catamaran as the new pharmacy benefit manager for all state employees and dependents, and this change affects MUSC employees in the new MUSC Health Plan,” said Lyles.

Another concern that has been expressed by some in the new MUSC Health Plan relates to the changes to prescription tiers. The formulary and its associated tiers are based on recommendations made by Catamaran.

Lyles explained, “Because there is a The Catalyst is published once a week.

Paid adver tisements, which do not represent an endorsement by MUSC or the State of South Carolina, are handled by Island Publications Inc., Moultrie News, 134 Columbus St., Charleston, S.C., 843-849-1778 or 843-958-7490. E-mail: sales@moultrienews.com.

formulary — a list of prescription drugs — associated with the prescription plan, some medications may have changed tiers (copay levels) from the Medco/ Express Scripts Plan in 2013 to the Catamaran Plan in 2014. It’s important to note that this change will affect all state employees and dependents, not just those at MUSC. However, those of us covered by the new MUSC Health Plan do have the advantage of lower copays when we fill prescriptions at MUSC’s on-campus retail pharmacies.”

Under Catamaran, prescription drugs are classified in three categories, Lyles explained: Tier 1 includes generic drugs, Tier 2 includes preferred name brand drugs and Tier 3 includes non-preferred name brand drugs.

Off–campus pharmacies are considered either “preferred” or “participating.” If an employee/dependent uses a preferred

or participating pharmacy, they will pay the following (see table above).

Currently, the MUSC discount is a manual process done at the pharmacies.

As such, the Catamaran website will not reflect the MUSC pharmacy discount.

As always, if the cost of the drug is lower than the copay, the employee will pay the lower amount.

Employees can visit mycatamaranrx. com to determine if their pharmacy is considered preferred or participating.

At this site, the employee is able to set up a free account with their card ID and password of their choice and enter their medication name, strength and day-supply to see what the medication copay will be (brand vs generic, as well as at various pharmacies.) Retirees are a different classification as it relates to copays and should check with the Catamaran site (listed above) for further details.

The move to the new plan and introduction of added benefits for participants has been a relatively smooth one, and the leadership associated with the rollout remains committed to its success.

“While we continue to address a few minor issues, the rollout of the MUSC Health Plan has been proceeding incredibly well,” said Lyles. “Employees are getting accustomed to the changes and the many benefits associated with the patient-centered medical home design, and as always, we continue to welcome feedback, questions, and concerns.”

For information on Catamaran, visit https://www.musc.edu/medcenter/ MUSChealthplan/index.html

Nominations being accepted for awards

A call for nominations is under way to all faculty and students. The purpose of these awards is to recognize members of the MUSC faculty who have made outstanding contributions to the university through teaching.

Awards may be given from the Clinical/Professional (Educator-Mentor); Scholarship/Academic (EducatorMentor); Educator-Lecturer; and Developing Teacher.

Any regular, full-time faculty member who holds an academic rank

of instructor or higher in a college or department of MUSC, who has not been the recipient of this award within the previous three years is eligible for nomination.

The deadline for nominations is Jan. 27. Nominees will be invited to submit supporting materials, and a committee of faculty and students will select the recipients for this year’s awards.

Forms may be found at http://www. carc.musc.edu/nomination/.

For information, call 792-2228.

THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014 3

Physician finds success writing medical thrillers

BY ALLYSON BIRD Office of Development, Alumni Affairs

M

idway through his medical career, Leonard Goldberg, M.D., realized how much a hospital discharge summary for a tough case resembled a novel.

“A patient is stricken by disease. The patient is the victim, and the disease is the villain,” he explained.

“The doctor is the protagonist, and it’s like a mystery.

Lab tests are the evidence, and the solution is the diagnosis.”

Guided by that logic, he embarked on a writing career that took him to the USA Today Best-Selling Books list and options for movies. Goldberg, a Charleston native and member of the MUSC College of Medicine’s class of 1960, now is at work on his 14th medical thriller. He retired from his rheumatology practice in California a little more than a year ago and moved back to his beach house on Sullivan's Island to write full time.

Goldberg credits his success to “one part talent and one big part luck.”

He grew up in Charleston’s Radcliffeborough neighborhood. His father had aspired to become a physician and reached his sophomore year at the College of Charleston by age 18, but had to drop out after his own father’s death.

“I lived his dream,” Goldberg said. When the younger Goldberg attended MUSC, he numbered among only 80 students in the COM. From there, he completed his graduate internship and residency in St. Louis, Mo., and then received military draft orders to work at an Air Force referral hospital near Tokyo. When he returned to Goldberg the United States, he moved to California to pursue a career treating blood disorders at UCLA. There, in the early 1980s, he met the patient who inspired his first novel.

An elderly woman's immune system produced antibodies that destroyed her red blood cells and caused severe anemia. Blood transfusions failed, until Goldberg and his colleagues discovered, by chance, a family with a rare blood type which made them universal donors.

The family ignited Goldberg’s imagination. After working all day in clinic, he then went home to write and found himself immersed in the story. He skipped a night’s sleep here and there, and a tale unfolded about a young woman whose organs could be transplanted

into anyone without fear of rejection.

That’s when the “one big part luck” came in.

Goldberg saw a magazine feature on the top five up-andcoming literary agents at the time, and he called the first name on the list. The agent told him she would read his book, but since he was a first-time novelist, she required a small payment up front.

Goldberg agreed to her terms, but asked that, if she accepted the novel, she refund his check. Three days later, the agent called to tell him his check was in the mail. A second career had begun.

Goldberg set up a writer’s oasis for himself at his home on Sullivan’s Island, and soon his after-hours hobby became a full-time job. Today Goldberg writes his medical thrillers in pen on legal pads while standing at a podium overlooking a desk he never uses to write. He sends the work off to a typist to transcribe.

His new release, Plague Ship, explores the idea of a deadly viral outbreak aboard a cruise ship that is placed under federal quarantine and must remain at sea indefinitely. A conflict erupts among the passengers and crew on whether to pull ashore and save themselves or die at sea to protect the public from a pandemic.

Goldberg said each character in his novels represents a composite of people from his own life including, undoubtedly, a few personalities from Charleston and MUSC.

4 THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014

Former CIA analyst named as HCC chaplain

BY JENNIFER BERRY HAWES Of The Post and Courier

T

here was a moment, sitting in the Oval Office with then–President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney when she asked herself: Am I really here?

It was 2007, and Nancy Pellegrini had spent many late nights preparing for the intelligence briefing, one of her duties as a senior Iraq military analyst for the CIA. The president was gracious; Pellegrini conquered her nerves. And she did it all again during other briefings for the president and policymakers, highlights of her career as a CIA military analyst.

But then came a new season after raising children, after achieving her goals at the CIA, when Pellegrini wondered what was next. Life was long, or so she hoped, with many springs and summers and interests along the way.

One day, her husband asked: "If you could do anything else, what would you do?"

"I'd become a Unitarian Universalist minister," she recalls responding.

"Then, why don't you do it?"

So she did.

HOPE FOR MAN? Pellegrini grew up with socially– minded parents who instilled the importance of serving the world.

"They modeled social activism and putting faith into action," she recalls.

Pellegrini wanted to be a poet. Or a writer.

But at Dartmouth College, she took an international relations class and read "An Inquiry into the Human Prospect" by Robert L. Heilbroner, which opens with the professor's question: Is there hope for man?

The book delved into such issues as planet-destroying weapons and the global toll of human population growth.

It forced her to question her goals, her future, all of humanity's future. Could she play a role in avoiding such fates?

She headed to the London School of Economics in England to earn a master's in international relations, then back to the U.S. to earn a master's in law and diplomacy.

photo by Wade Spees, Post and Courier

New chaplain Nancy Pellegini coordinates her work at Hollings Cancer Center with registered nurses Bonnie Vasenda and Tina Graves.

In 1979, she landed a summer graduate fellowship at the CIA. She still recalls being a 25–year–old stepping inside CIA headquarters in Washington, D.C., and walking over the giant seal on the lobby floor and seeing rows of stars on one wall that represent agents killed serving the country.

Her first duties involved analyzing and verifying European arms control issues.

"I was very impressed by the dedication there and the fact that there were many political persuasions," she says about her new colleagues.

The following year, she was hired as a staff Soviet military analyst focusing on intermediate-range nuclear weapons and supported arms control talks.

Although one of the few female military analysts, and often the only woman in briefings, she felt supported by the men around her.

"In some ways, it was an old boys' network," says Pellegrini, whose name then was Nancy Bird. "But I was given every opportunity."

Soon, however, she faced a dilemma shared by women of all careers: She became pregnant.

Should she continue working and career building? Or, put that season of life on pause and stay home?

DIFFERENT SEASONS The choice became easy when her child was born.

"I couldn't leave that baby," she recalls.

"And I wanted to teach her the values my parents taught me."

She stayed home with her two children for nine years, a time also devoted to volunteer work.

She served as president of an ecumenical group of 25 churches. She

helped her church find a new pastor. She coordinated a food pantry and helped resettle a homeless family.

It was a season of giving.

In 1993, she returned to the CIA, working part time for the first few years to balance work and family.

By then, nuclear proliferation concerns reached beyond the Soviets. And after Sept. 11, 2001, monitoring for nuclear theft took a top seat alongside analyzing proliferation.

In 2003, she was promoted to senior Iraq military analyst responsible for writing intelligence assessments, monitoring insurgency and ethnosectarian issues. She briefed President Bush and other policy makers during the Iraq war.

In coming years, she was inducted into the senior analytic service, received numerous performance awards and became an intelligence fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

She loved the work.

See Chaplain on page 8

THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014 5

MEET LIZ

Elizabeth Quinn Department Medical Center Volunteer & Guest Services Department and how long working Accounts Payable for 14 months How you are changing what’s possible at MUSC I support the accounts payable fiscal techs in processing the immediate work involving multi–tasking and data entry.

Family Daughters, Laurie (nurse) and Karina (legal secretary) who live in Indiana and New York Favorite restaurants Panera Bread, Hyman’s Seafood and Chickfil-A Best thing about living in Charleston Driving East Bay Street and enjoying the beautiful views — sailboats and people.

Your idea of a dream vacation Return trip to Hawaii What would you do with $1 million Give a share to our immediate family and distribute to favorite charities

6 THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014

Campus’ first chief research info officer welcomed

BY MIKIE HAYES Public Relations

A

s an academic medical center, MUSC strives to remain at the forefront of innovative enterprises, programs and technology. “Enterprise Architecture” represents one such way.

On the vanguard of what is now becoming a nationwide trend, Mark Sothmann, Ph.D., interim MUSC president and provost, sought last year to recruit a chief research information officer to design and implement an integrated research — IT infrastructure to coordinate MUSC research and clinical efforts.

On Dec. 2, Leslie (Les) A. Lenert, M.D., M.S., was welcomed as MUSC's first chief research Information officer (CRIO), SmartState Endowed Chair in Medical Bioinformatics and professor of internal medicine. Lenert and his wife, Kate, who serves as the MUSC director of state authorizations for distance education, join MUSC from Lenert the University of Utah.

Lenert brings a 20–year history of research and development work in informatics and predictive analytics to MUSC. Having served as the founding director of the National Center for Public Health Informatics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he managed the development of key national biodefense computer systems.

As a practicing primary care physician, Lenert will see scheduled patients at MUSC one half–day each week. In addition, he will work closely with Health Sciences South Carolina, as well as the South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research Institute, providing expertise and leadership in the areas of bio-informatics and enterprise architecture to both endeavors.

Kathleen T. Brady, M.D., Ph.D., director of the SCTR, said, “Dr. Lenert brings an extraordinary level of expertise and broad experience in bioinformatics and medical informatics to MUSC. His contributions will move the campus forward in using the vast amounts of data available from a variety of sources to drive improvements in health care delivery and patient outcomes.”

The CRIO is a relatively new position that has emerged over the last few years. In 2012, for instance, there were only three located throughout the United States, according to Peter J. Embi, M.D., CRIO, Wexner Medical Center. Today, there are still less than a dozen of these highly sought-after bioinformatics experts at top medical institutions throughout the United States, but numerous national recruitments are underway.

“MUSC is ahead of the curve in biomedical

“Overall, the goal of the office of the CRIO is to support MUSC’s translational research program and to work closely with our researchers, clinicians and IT professionals to accelerate the use of evidence–based medicine to create new models of health care delivery for the betterment of patient health.”

Dr. Les Lenert informatics,” said Lenert. “Dr. Sothmann is a visionary.

He saw the merit in integrating this new area of science into our rich research infrastructure. By taking an enterprise-wide view of the current flow of information and technology, we can ensure clinical information is more useful to research efforts so we generate research that is more useful. This will ultimately lead to better health outcomes for our patients.”

To make new discoveries and quickly translate them to the bedside, Lenert believes researchers must have access to the right information at the right time. He and his team will design solutions to ensure vital patient information and multi–disciplinary research data is continually collected, methodically organized and quantitatively analyzed, and available for immediate use by researchers and clinicians. Even students will benefit as this source of real–time information provides opportunities for them to learn in a new model.

“Today, research dollars are stretched to their limits and therefore all systems must do double or triple duty, supporting the management of populations as well as helping provide new insights into disease. It really is all about ‘Changing What is Possible,’” Lenert said. “Overall, the goal of the office of the CRIO is to support MUSC’s translational research program and to work closely with our researchers, clinicians and IT professionals to accelerate the use of evidence–based medicine to create new models of health care delivery for the betterment of patient health.”

If innovations are the engine for growth, then “Changing What’s Possible” is the engine’s catalyst.

For Lenert, MUSC’s commitment to that philosophy was the chief reason he accepted the position. “MUSC has great scientific programs: heart, addictions, cancer, among others,” Lenert said. “Now we have to look across systems to see gaps, bottlenecks, and silos, and provide a working health system. We must work collaboratively and change behaviors in an effort to transform data to information and information to knowledge. This design will allow us to more fully understand the specific needs of the patient and

make health care more patient–centric and improve population health.”

Lenert’s mantra is “actionable information is integrated information.” Enterprise architecture connects the dots between databases, clinical programs and research initiatives here at MUSC to create the working system that changes what is possible. When the right processes, tools, and data are strategically integrated, biomedical information architects can deliver an effective system. “Translational research — bench-to-bedside collaboration — has allowed research conducted in the laboratory to be directly used to develop new ways to treat patients. Through the use of medical bioinformatics, the process comes full circle,” Lenert said. “By managing and processing data to improve and facilitate research and clinical care, the process becomes bench–to–bedside and vice-versa which accelerates innovations and allows researchers to refine their hypotheses and get results back to the bedside more rapidly.”

MUSC is greatly contributing to the creation of learning systems across the state, Lenert said. In addition to his role as CRIO, Lenert will also serve as the chief medical informatics officer at Health Sciences South Carolina, the nation's first statewide biomedical research collaborative. Approximately 30 percent of his time will be spent developing a statewide learning system through HSSC. MUSC is one of nine member institutions involved in the project and serves as the technical arm, supplying technology informatics that allows the system to run, according to Lenert. HSSC is a central repository for research and houses data from 70 percent of South Carolina’s hospital beds in their clinical data warehouse. “Health Sciences South Carolina is an extraordinary resource for the state,” said Lenert.

Lenert credits MUSC leaders for their foresight in recognizing the need for specialized collaborative translational research efforts across the state, in addition to the incorporation of medical bioinformatics to support those efforts. “Drs. Sothmann, Brady, and Greenberg have all shown tremendous leadership and wisdom in taking the steps necessary to ultimately change what’s possible — not just for MUSC, but for the state of South Carolina.”

SCTR Pilot Project Program Funding SCTR Pilot Project Program Grant RFA for 2013-2014 are available. Fast Forward Seed Grant and the High Innovation High Reward Grant Applications are both due by 12 p.m., Feb. 14.

For details about RFA, visit https://sctr.musc. edu/index.php/programs/pilot-projects.

For information, email Dayan Ranwala, Ph.D., ranwala@musc.edu or call 792-8300.

THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014 7

Employees, staff supports charities, organizations MUSC would like to thank the hundreds of MUSC, Medical University Hospital Authority and MUSC Physicians employees who donated during the 2013 Trident United Way Campaign. More than $156,900 was raised for TUW’s Lowcountry charitable organizations as well as support to three MUSC Programs — Children’s Care Clinic, Family Literacy Program and PASOS. For information on the campaign, call 792-1973. Thank you to the following individuals who donated this year:

Employees donating up to $1,000 each Mary Albano, Elaine Amella, Richard Anderson, Lucy Arnold, Joanne Bainer, Susan Barnhart, Sandra Belton, Jennifer Blalock, Yvonne Bradley, Karen Bridgeman, Kathleen Brower, Debora Brown, Joy Burns, Shana Caporossi, Susan Clark, Brian Collins, Kristy Collins, Kathryn Coons, Jean Craig, Heather Craven, Bruce Crookes, Anna Delamar, Catherine Dillon, Joseph Dipiro, Becky Dornisch, Arly Douglass, Erin Drevets, Mary Dubis, Susan Duckworth, Bonnie Dumas, Valerie Durkalski-Mauldin, Megan Edge, Karin Elkins, Dallas Ellis, Charles Ferguson, James Ferris, Mary Fischer, Joyce Foster, Jeanine Gage, Christine Gainer, Barbara Garrett, Shelley Garvin, Theresa Ginn, Frances Glanville, Joan Graesch, Sheryl Green, Myra Haney Singleton, Kimberly Harrelson, Karen Hiott, Liezel Ilarina, Patricia Iverson, Richard Jablonski, Sara Jantzen, Dorothea Jenkins, Michael Keels, Jane Kelley, Patrick Kelley, Jade Knapp, Mary Koval, Michelle Lattimore, Morris Lent, Christine Lewis, Susan Lucas, Elizabeth Mabry, Nancy Macaulay, Lauren Magaldi, Stephen Malley, Leigh Manzi, Catherine Martin, Diane Mauney, Shirley Maxwell, Debbie McCravy, Nancy McKeehan, Whitney McLuen, Maralynne Mitcham, Vivian Mitchell, Valerie Morton, Jennifer Nall, Brad Neville, Stephanie Oberempt, Terrence O’Brien, Lauree Pearson, Robert Poyer, Adrian Reuben, Deborah Reynolds, Deborah Reynolds, Shannon RichardsSlaughter, Theresa Roberson, William Robinson, Benjamin Rogers, Robin Rose, Teresita Ruz, Naomi Sampson, Sharyn Sandstrom, Christopher Schachte, Sherri Scott, Suzanne Scott, Richard Segal, Hazel Shefton, Pamala Shoaf, Chloe Singleton, Georgette Smith, Helen Smith, Jenny Ann Smoak, Laura Southerland, James Spearman, Ganga Srinivas, Terry Stanley, Jessica Stein, Sallie Storen, Jennifer Swigart, Michael Taylor, Wanda Taylor, Kenneth Thomas, Thomas Uhde, Odessa Ussery, Nancy Wessell, Susan Wetherholt, Margaret Wheat, Velma Wigfall, Laurel Willis, Marilyn Winkel, Suzanne Withers, Daynna Wolff, Cynthia Wright and Judith Yost

More than $1,000 each Howard A. Evert, Thomas P. Anderson, Helen E. Snow, Robert W. Warren, Steven Ornstein, Michael R. Gold, Bruce W. Usher, Fletcher T. Penney, Paul E. O’Brien,

Marion Boyd Gillespie, Nicholas I. Batalis, Fred W. Tecklenburg, Maria V. Spampinato, David B. Adams, Samir M. Fakhry, Lynne S. Nemeth, Peter Cotton, Fred Crawford, Walter Huda, James C. Oates, Priyattam J. Shiromani, Charles D. Smith, Paul R. Lambert, Eric S. Rovner, David C. Neff, Michelle Rovner, C. Wayne Weart, Kathleen M. Mahoney, John Lazarchick, Raymond F. Anton, Margaret Schachte, Catherine G. Wood, Amy L. Bredlau, Concetta M. Riva, Paulett A. Laroche, Phyllis J. Floyd, Gregory W. Weigle, C. June Darby, Brenda M. Dorman, Charles S. Rittenberg, James W. Harris, Marilyn J. Schaffner, Patrick J. Cawley, Wil-

PATIENTS Continued from Page One demonstrating his commitment to truly improving the outcomes and availability of resources for this orphaned patient population,” she said.

Scott’s visitors openly shared their frustrations with him. Longing to work, to be accepted, to be understood were common themes among those assembled.

Rossi Brown, an articulate, youthful 30–year old, who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at 6 months, spoke from the heart and with great resolve: “The two biggest challenges I see,” he shared, “are how people view the disease and adequate resources to treat it.

There are good programs for children, but when you transition from pediatrics to adulthood, it’s frustrating.

There is a lot holding people (with sickle cell) back: employment, school, doctor’s appointments.”

According to both Stewart and Brown, the illness presents many challenges for employment. When an episode hits, the patient may be in the hospital for days or weeks at a time, in pain comparable to that which cancer patients suffer.

“This illness prevents us from doing some types

liam K. McKibbin, David J. Cole, John A. Bosso, Nancy Curry, Orin F. Guidry, William J. Fisher, David E. Soper, Philip D. Hall, Philip Costello, Jennifer Young Pierce, Juanita A. Epps, David Q. Soutter, Etta D. Pisano, Alexander W. Chessman, Langdon A. Hartsock, Sally E. Self, Sherron M. Jackson, Murray H. Passo, Lisa K. Saladin, Laurine T. Charles, Jane C. Ariail, Janice Key, Gail W. Stuart, Steve Paterniti, Darcy Ann Kalles, Dennis K. Watson, Mark Lockett, Bruce A. Mills, Ross B. Pollack, William Simpson, David R. Garr, Mary P. Mauldin, Walter E. Limehouse, Richard Gross, Michael G. Schmidt, Peter W. Kalivas and Lisa P. Montgomery. of work when we have an episode and that makes it difficult for employers, especially managers,” said Brown. “They are focused on the bottom-line dollars and they don’t want to have their employees out for two to three weeks.”

Brown believes that further education for sickle cell patients is key. “If we could do less manual labor and more work with our brains, it would be better for all concerned,” he said. “I would love to do communications work, if someone would give me a chance.”

Scott stayed after the meeting to personally speak with all the patients and to let them know he cares. He reiterated his commitment to making a difference in their lives.

“It would be difficult to overstate the enormous human and economic costs caused by sickle cell disease, and I was grateful to MUSC and the doctors, patients, and their families who came together to share their stories dealing with the disease,” he said.

For information on MUSC’s sickle cell program, visit http://www.musckids.org/blooddisorders/sicklecell. htm

Center for Global Health offers travel, trainee grants MUSC Center for Global Health has announced funding opportunities of up to $2,000 for global travel to conduct research or training projects in low or middle–income countries.

The center’s goal in releasing this request–for– applications for Trainee Global Health Travel Grants is to foster and support skill development through research and training programs abroad.

All grant proposals must be submitted by Feb. 12 at 5 p.m. For information, visit http://globalhealth. musc.edu/trainee–global–health–travel–grant.

The center also is offering Global Health Travel Grants to Support Faculty Mentors Leading

Students Abroad.

Awardees will receive up to $2,000. Proposals are limited to MUSC faculty leading student groups to international settings for education, research or service learning programs.

The goal of these awards is to assist faculty in providing mentorship to student groups participating in global health research or training projects in low or middle–income countries.

Proposals for the faculty mentor grants are due no later than Feb. 12. For information about the global health programs, visit http://globalhealth.musc.edu/ programs.

8 THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014

CHAPLAIN

Continued from Page Four

But then, as she entered her 50s, came her husband's question: If you could do anything you want ...

HER CALLING During a visit to her home church, a female minister stepped to the pulpit.

Pellegrini saw herself up there.

"This is what I am supposed to," she realized. "It was this very gut type of feeling, of a calling."

She was in her late 40s and still had plenty of time for a whole new career.

"Life is long," Pellegrini says. "You don't have to do everything at once."

In her 50s, with her children grown, she pursued her third master's degree, this one in divinity. It was tough to say good-bye to her CIA colleagues. "But I had a dream of doing something else."

She grew up Methodist and long was attracted to churches that emphasize asking questions about religious dogma.

"I wanted to be involved in a denomination that promoted that," she recalls.

She went to divinity school and was ordained into the Unitarian

she left Washington, D.C., to move to Charleston in April with her husband, Vincent Pellegrini, M.D., Department of Orthopedic Surgery chairman.

Along with serving as a chaplain, she assists at the Unitarian Church of Charleston, preaching occasionally and receiving counsel herself from Pastor Danny Reed.

"You expect this Tom Clancy character or something when you hear about her background," Reed jokes. "But there is this gentleness and an unassuming photo by Tim Roylance, Digital Imaging quality to her."

He recalls when, shortly after Pellegrini Rev. Nancy Pellegrini arrived in town, she conducted a service Universalist Association, defined by a in his absence that included a child's "free and responsible search for truth and dedication. meaning."

"Her mother's heart was very evident that day," Reed says. "It touched a lot of folks and really moved them."

HOLLINGS CHAPLAIN In the Rev. Nancy Pellegrini's new office Her new ministerial roles take helping is a picture with Psalm 121, "I will lift up others from the analytical work of my eyes to the hills. Where does my help studying intelligence to being part of life's most personal moments. come from?"

She enjoys walking Hollings' hallways, The Scripture fits the questions, the introducing herself, asking patients and conversations she has now as the new staff what they need, offering prayer chaplain at MUSC's Hollings Cancer or simply a listening ear. Although she Center.

At 58, in this empty nest season of life, is Hollings' chaplain, she isn't there to

promote religion.

Many patients don't have a strong faith, she says. They simply need someone to talk to, or a way to process terrible news, or a chance to vent during the toughest days of treatments.

"She meets them where they are with acceptance and love," says Diane Aghapour, Hollings' patient support services coordinator. "Sometimes it starts with just a chat about the weather but often turns into a deeper conversation that brings the patient to a more peaceful and less fearful state of mind."

Pellegrini also can extend empathy to families and patients. Her own father died of stomach cancer in 1992.

She, too, has asked: "Why is this happening to me?" and "If God is good, why do bad things happen?"

Yet, she tries to guide patients down paths to their own answers, not hers.

And in return? Patients make her pause, make her remember to be thankful for waking up each morning to live this new season of life.

Editor’s note: The article ran in the Jan. 12 edition of The Post and Courier and is reprinted with permission.

Campus’ international travel policy promotes health, safety MUSC is engaged around the world through education activities, research and service of its faculty, staff, trainees and students.

The university supports and encourages international travel and collaborations and recognizes that a global perspective is essential to its academic mission.

The university’s international travel policy is intended to promote the health, safety and security of all members of the MUSC community while traveling abroad. Colleges or business units may have additional procedures and requirements that support this overall policy.

q MUSC International Travel Policy— applies to faculty, staff, trainees and students traveling outside of the United States for University–related purposes.

This policy sets forth the requirements that faculty, staff, trainees and students must meet before and during university– related travel. q University-Related Travel — International travel applicable to this policy includes travel in the course and scope of MUSC employment; travel that is funded in any part by MUSC or its affiliates (MUSC Physicians, MUHA); travel within the scope of a MUSC–sponsored research grant or contract; travel that is eligible for MUSC approved academic credit as well as travel under MUSC auspices for non-credit experiences; student travel under the direction or supervision of MUSC faculty or staff. Personal leisure travel without university support and where university

employment or study is not relevant to the activity, are not considered travel for university–related purposes.

Student travel with non–MUSC organizations may still qualify as university–related travel. If clarification is needed to determine whether student travel is “university–related,” contact the Center for Global Health prior to travel. q International Travel Assistance and Travel Registration — MUSC has entered into a contract with International SOS to provide security and medical evacuation services, assistance with hospital referrals, repatriation insurance and a variety of online health, safety and security resources for the university community traveling abroad on university business or sponsored activities. Note: International SOS Travel Assistance is not the same as or intended to take the place of health insurance.

All faculty, staff, trainees and students traveling abroad for University–related purposes are required to register their travel itinerary with International SOS before the expected departure date.

Registration provides information that will enable the university to activate intervention services on the traveler’s behalf in the event of a health emergency, natural disaster or a crisis of civil or political unrest in a foreign location that requires assistance or evacuation.

Travelers are encouraged to carry the International SOS membership card with them at all times during their travel.

To review details of the policy, visit http://globalhealth.musc.edu/files/img/ InternationalTravel010814.pdf.

THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014 9

10 THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014

PROCEEDS FUND PEDS CANCER RESEARCH

Cousins Truman and Daniel Drolet Jr., Helen, Henderson, Carol and Michael Drolet join Children’s Hospital pediatric oncologists Drs. Jacqueline Kraveka, second right, back row, and Michelle Hudspeth, third right, back row, and Amy, Jamie, Millie and Cashion Drolet for a check presentation in the amount of $58,644.40 from the family’s third Annual Hugs for Harper Tennis Tournament. Hugs for Harper tourney is a local, non-profit event the proceeds of which benefit pediatric cancer research at the Darby Children’s Research Institute of MUSC Children’s Hospital. Harper Drolet was their 9-year old cousin who was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare pediatric soft tissue cell cancer. She died Sept. 30, 2011.

THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014 11

Furniture

Misc. Services

Full Mattress Set with Euro Pillow Top New $115. Please Call: 843-270-4283

Charleston Style Exchange is Charleston’s 1st Seasonal Women’s consignment event! www.charlestonstyleeexchange.com Consign, volunteer & shop Mar., 7-8 2014

King Size Plush Set New, will sacrifice for $275 843-270-4283 Bed-Queen Pillowtop that is Brand New in Plastic. Will take $125. Please call 843-270-4283

Astra Reservations Employees, faculty and staff are invited to a training session on how to use the new Astra classroom web calendaring system.

This new system is being used to reserve classroom spaces across the university.

The session will be held at 12 p.m., Jan. 24, Colbert Education Building/Library, room EL405.

12 THE CATALYST, January 24, 2014