MUSC Catalyst 11-08-2013

November 8, 2013

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 32, No. 13

Children’s hospital’s youngest patients design holiday cards “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” It won’t be long until Thanksgiving leftovers are a distant memory and it’s time to Deck the Halls.

What better way to spread a little holiday cheer than to listen to carols while writing notes to dear friends on holiday cards created with love by patients of the MUSC Children’s Hospital, and their siblings. “Kids Helping Kids” is an annual project that benefits research and programs at the Children’s Hospital. One hundred percent of the proceeds generated by sales of the cards directly support Children’s Hospital efforts.

McKenzie Evans, now 3, of Scranton, SC, was born 14 weeks early, weighing only 1 pound, 1 ounce. Her card features a hand-print Rudolph tangled in Christmas lights. Ronni Fisher, 8, of

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Charleston, is currently a leukemia patient at the Children’s Hospital, and her gingerbread couple is adorned with a frame of Starlight candies. Each card is a work of art, hand-painted and brought to life by children treated at the Children’s Hospital.

Last year, the program raised $55,000.

Each pack features 16 unique cards and sells for $15. The cards are available at the University hospital and Ashley River Tower gift shops; all four local Belk stores; select Great Clips; True Value; James and John Islands; all South Carolina Federal credit unions; Wonder Works stores; Charleston Place gift shop; Jim ‘N Nick’s restaurants and the Open House.

To order cards, visit www.musckids.org/ holidaycards.

Longevity After Injury Focusing on quality of life for spinal cord injury patients

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Left photo: Children’s Hospital Holiday Card artist Veronica (Ronni) Fisher, 8, center, shows off her card and is joined by her card sponsors, the Francis Marion Hotel’s Brittany O’Shaughnessy, left to right, and Kella Olsen and Y102.5’s Brian Cleary at the Holiday Card Project’s special ceremony.

Recognizing Veterans

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Nursing honors

Honoring the courage and dedication of those who serve

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Meet Pamela

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Classifieds

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

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MUSC Longevity project promotes life after injury By alex JaCkson Special to The Catalyst

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iving with a physical disability comes with a number of challenges including accessibility issues overcoming the stigmatization of living with a disability and adapting to a new way of living.

The Longevity After Injury Project at MUSC focuses on quality of life after spinal cord injury. Health disparities, recreational opportunities and access to employment are among the top concerns for Jim Krause, Ph.D., and his research team.

Life was challenging for Tyrone Singletary, 48, after his motor vehicle accident left him with a spinal cord injury at 19 years old.

Singletary said, “I thought it was the worst thing until I went to rehab.”

Singletary, who had been a high school drop-out, found his purpose in life while in rehab. Not only did he learn how to adapt to his new disability, he took classes to earn his GED certificate and begin a career in data processing and computer programming.

Singletary’s success after such a life-altering injury would not have been as manageable without the support of others with disabilities who were also undergoing rehabilitation. In addition, he credits his faith and family. Helping others succeed in spite of their injuries was important to Singletary who volunteered his time to assist those with new injuries so that they too might live a prosperous life.

Most recently, Singletary has been battling with pressure ulcers and urinary tract infections, which are common complications resulting from spinal cord injury.

Jim Outlaw also understands the realities of living with a spinal cord injury. He was injured in a car accident in 1990.

Outlaw, 48, says you must keep the best attitude

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

843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723 Editor: Kim Draughn catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Cindy Abole, aboleca@musc.edu Mikie Hayes, HayesMi@musc.edu

photo provided

Participants discuss issues at the Longevity After Injury Project’s Consumer Advisory Panel. when living with a disability.“It’s not as easy as it looks, but I’ve just been lucky,” he said.

Outlaw has been a Walmart employee for 15 years and for that he is most grateful. He works with customers at the fitting rooms and he also answers the phones. While he has to use Tel-A-Ride, a paratransit company, to get to and from work, he

enjoys being part of the workforce.

As part of a Consumer Advisory Panel, the Longevity After Injury Project meets regularly with people with disabilities to discuss such topics as healthcare, accessibility and employment. Outlaw attends these meetings and he thinks it’s important to get the community’s perspective on such issues.

South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department provides support Last month, the Longevity After Injury Project recognized National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Marsha Smalls and Kelly Sieling, from South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department were interviewed to discuss the programs and services offered by their organization.

An employment specialist for people with spinal cord injuries, Smalls helps clients assess their vocational needs and begin the process for seeking employment. SCVRD provides other services including resume writing and mock interviews.

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.

Rehabilitation technicians are available to assess working environments to ensure employees with disabilities have the necessary accommodations to do their jobs successfully. Seiling enjoys seeing Lowcountry citizens reaching for their goals in an effort to become more involved and successful in their communities. Smalls enjoys seeing a person change their life while gaining self-respect and dignity.

Both Seiling and Smalls hope to see more people like Singletary and Outlaw, who not only look beyond adversity, they strive toward living with a purpose.

Pink Glove 2013

Voting continues through Nov. 8

MUSC entered the Medline Pink Glove Dance Competition for a chance to win a $25,000 donation to a local breast cancer charity and international social media attention — and needs your vote.

This year, MUSC chose a storyline that follows a “pink glove guardian angel” set to the allowed 90 seconds of music to Fun’s “Carry On.” With group dance scenes and the

portrayal of a cancer patient by MUSC’s Children’s Hospital’s Melissa Martin, R.N., and her family, MUSC uses pink-colored exam gloves to raise awareness about the importance of early detection through mammograms.

To vote, visit http://www. pinkglovedance.com/videos/2013video-contest/medical-university-ofsouth-carolina/.

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Nurse researcher receives nursing’s highest honor Staff Report This year, only one South Carolina nurse has been named a fellow by the American Academy of Nursing.

Lynne S. Nemeth, Ph.D., R.N., associate professor in the MUSC College of Nursing, was bestowed the organization’s highest honor at a ceremony during its annual meeting Oct. 17-19 in Washington, D.C. Induction into the AAN Fellowship is one of the most prestigious honors in nursing. Fellows — now numbering 2,068 — are considered nursing's most accomplished leaders in education, management, practice and research. They are elected through a highly selective process that recognizes individuals who have made major contributions to nursing and health care and whose work has influenced health policies benefiting all Americans.

Today, there are 10 faculty members and five emeritus faculty in the MUSC College of Nursing who are members of the academy. CON dean Gail Stuart, Ph.D., R.N., praised Nemeth on this career accomplishment.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Nemeth to the ranks of our AAN Fellows. She represents excellence and has had a truly significant impact on quality health care throughout the country,” Stuart said.

In addition to being a faculty member in the MUSC

Lynn Nemeth, Ph.D., R.N. is an associate professor in the College of Nursing and a nurse researcher with the Medical University Hospital Authority.

Her clinical areas of interest focus on critical care, emergency, trauma, neuroscience and outcomes and case management.

College of Nursing, Nemeth also is a nurse researcher at the MUSC Medical Center. Her specialties include implementation research, theoretical modeling and qualitative methods. Nemeth has a diverse career

in nursing with extensive clinical, educational, administrative and research experience. Her clinical areas of interest have developed broadly as a result of opportunities she has had to practice in such areas as critical care, emergency, trauma, neuroscience, outcomes and case management.

Nemeth has led numerous quality initiatives over the past decade, including coordinated care development and implementation of clinical pathways, medication safety, and hospital patient flow.

Nemeth earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, her Masters of Science degree from Boston College as a clinical nurse specialist, and her doctoral degree in nursing science from MUSC. This year, the AAN installed 172 nursing researchers, educators, practitioners and executives from across the country. Following induction, new Fellows have the privilege of using the FAAN credential (Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing).

These nursing leaders have been recognized for their extraordinary nursing careers and are among the nation's most highly-educated citizens; more than 80 percent hold doctoral degrees, and the remainder have completed masters programs.

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MUSC Wellness, Challenge support Louie’s Kids MUSC Wellness Joins Louie’s Kids to “Slim Down the South.”

The Southwest Airlines Slim Down the South Celebrity Softball Challenge is an “amazing” ‘Field of Dreams’ day at the ballpark and a softball game between celebrity teams to raise awareness and money for Louie’s Kids to combat childhood obesity in the areas hardest hit by this epidemic.

Susan Johnson Louie’s Kids is a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that raises funds to help treat childhood obesity, which afflicts 25 million American children today. Louie’s Kids works to find the best treatment options to meet the needs of each child.

Founded in 2001 in Alexandria, Va. and operated today out of Charleston, Louie’s Kids serves economically disadvantaged kids nationwide.

MUSC Office of Health Promotion, MUSC Urban Farm and MUSC Wellness Center are partnering to promote this worthwhile event offering interactive, educational activities that promote healthy eating and active living.

The game is set for Saturday, Nov. 9, at Joe Riley Park in Charleston. Gates open early at noon, with live music from Adalya and Southwood starting at 12:30.

There will be kids’ activities leading up to the first pitch at 2:05 p.m. Don’t miss it, as the celebrities will be battling for the crown and raising money to benefit Louie’s Kids.

To purchase tickets, visit http://www. slimdownthesouth.com/event-info/buytickets/

Health at work

Employee XPress Memberships to Wellness Center q Employees can join a one-year membership for $25 per month with a $15 enrollment fee. In celebration of the Gold Medal Award, the enrollment fee has been waived until Nov. 10.

Membership will not extend to spouses or dependents and will be offered during limited hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Monday through Thursday; and 6 to 8 p.m., Fridays. The fee can be paid via credit card, check or payroll deduction.

Employees may sign up at the Wellness Center membership desk.

Flu shots at Wellness Wednesdays q Nov. 13, Nov. 20 and Dec. 4: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Children’s Hospital lobby.

Employee Wellness Events q Worksite screening: The next worksite screening will be held on Nov. 15 at the Wellness Center Auditorium.

This screening, valued at approximately $350, is available to employees with the State Health Plan for $15 (covered spouses for $15).

Employees and spouses without this insurance can participate for $42. The screening includes: height, weight, blood pressure and a blood chemistry profile, hemogram, and a blood lipid profile.

Optional thyroid panel is available for $10. Add this test by alerting the staff at the screening. q MUSC Employee Fitness Series: Spin Class, from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the MUSC Wellness Center. This free class will feature a warm-up to sprints and climbs and will be led by fitness expert Katie Blaylock from the MUSC Human Performance Lab. Free daypass to MUSC Wellness Center for all participants.

To register, go to musc.edu/employee wellness and click Worksite Screening Appointment. q Chair massages: Free massages are offered to employees on Tuesday nights and midday Wednesdays. Details can be found in broadcast messages. q Farmers markets: Fresh fruits and vegetables are available from local farmers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays in the Harborview Office Tower lobby; from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday at Ashley River Tower; and from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday at the Horseshoe. Look for new vendors at the Horseshoe.

MUSC Urban Farm q Lunch & Learn: The next Lunch

and Learn will be held from noon to 1 p.m., Thursdays under the oak tree.

Harvey Gibson, Charleston County Environmental Management Compost expert, will teach people how to backyard compost. The compost lunch & learn will cover how to start composting, maintain a compost pile and use finished compost. Take home free compost from Bees Ferry Compost Facility. q Work and Learns: 4 to 5 p.m.,Thursdays. The event is canceled. q Work & Learn with child-friendly activities – First and third Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m., Nov. 16. Bring a plastic bag and take home some fresh produce in return for work efforts or help gather for donations on certain days. No experience

or prior knowledge necessary. Open to all MUSC employees and students and the general community. Families welcome on Saturdays. q Early Bird Maintenance 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., Nov. 13 Contact Johnson at johnsusa@musc. edu for more information on the Office of Health Promotion at MUSC and Suzan Benenson Whelan at whela@ musc.edu for specific information about Employee Wellness.

Events, speakers, classes or any other ideas are also welcome. Like the Employee Wellness Facebook page and keep up with all the wellness events at MUSC. To receive the weekly newsletters, email a request to musc-empwell@

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Meet PaMela

Pamela Polite Department Medical Records, MUSC Health East Cooper How you are changing what’s possible at MUSC By providing excellent customer service to outpatients How long at MUSC 2.5 years What branch of the military did you serve in and what was your job U.S. Army as a secretary for eight years Where did you travel while in service Korea, Egypt, Hawaii, Bosnia, Germany, Arizona and Texas A unique talent you have Avid flute player What is your idea of a dream job Being a business owner and assisting everyone to become homeowners Meal you love to cook Red rice Favorite quote or saying “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” — Bernard M. Baruch

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MUSC employees also serve in military capacity E The Veterans Day Celebration ach day MUSC employees are valued for their efforts and contributions in the education of health care professionals, research and providing patient care.

MUSC employees and students also share an important dual role as citizen-soldiers working with National Guard, active duty or reserve troops.

EmployEEs, staff Jason R. Abbott, Beau Adams, Edward W. Agbevey, Dottie Aimar, Wendy W. Alexander, Claude Allande, Rhonda Olivia Allen,, Thomas P. Anderson, Richard Anderson, Michael George Andrews, Melanie Ann Archer, Lucy Parsons Arnold, Kenneth J. Bachewicz, Patrick S. Baker, Jennifer Nicole Ball, John Ballard, Jr., Michele Marie Ballister, Larry Von Banks, Andrew Barrett, Christopher S. Barrett, Harold Barron, J. Mark Barry, Marilyn Smith, Beal, Carlson Ray Beeman, Barbara A. Bell, Greg Bellamy, Rebecca V. Benesh, Marissa J. Benigno, Dionne Bennett, Frederick L. Bennett, Jr., Charles W. Bergman, Tiffany Berry, Connie Best, Robert P. Bethea, Sr., Robert J. Black, Sherry C. Blackwell, Anthony Vernon Blake, Harry H. Blanke, Jeffrey P. Blice, Laronda J. Boddie, Laura K. Bodine, Wallace T. Bonaparte, John R. Boolen, Donna Kay Bouissey, Mike Bouissey, Pamela D. Bowens, Kenneth J. Bowman, Sarah A. Breaux, Hazel Breland, Frank J. Brescia, Debra Brewer, Michael R. Briggs, Mary Margaret Brigman, Robert Eric Britt, Jeff Brittain, Merritt M. Brockman, Arthur Brown, Christopher D. Brown, Janet F. Brown, Ron Brown, Raymond C. Brown, Stephanie Brown-Guion, William M. Browning, Jay Brzezinski, Catherine I. Burns, Timothy Bussey, Alexandria D. Butler, David Callahan, Mark D. Carey, James F. Carter, Tonia Carter, Desiree E. Case, Tamara S. Cawthorn, Julio A. Chalela, Bruce Chambers, Rudolph A. Chapman, Steve Chattin, Edward W. Cheeseman, Renee A. Chemfor, Stephanie F. Chomos, Marsha McCarty Cisa, Ted Clark., Debra A. Clontz, Christine Coleman, Eddie Collins, William D. Cook, Spencer C. Coombs, Rodney Coons, Lewis Cooper, Samuel L. Cooper, Mullen O. Coover, Alfred R. Cox, Joshua B. Cox, Fred A. Crawford, Nicholas

Noon – 1 p.m., Nov. 8 Drug Discovery Building Auditorium MUSC Interim President Dr. Mark Sothmann along with the Veterans Day Task Force invite MUSC employees, students, faculty and staff to the Veterans Day Celebration.

Guest Speaker Lt. Col. James Wilson U.S. Air Force Reserve, Retired MUSC Public Safety Color Guard Video in Celebration of MUSC Veterans Presentation of Lapel Pins to All Veterans Reception to follow in the Drug Discovery Building lobby

F. Crossland, Jack Crumbley, William J. Crummer, James W. Cummins, Theresa Cuoco, Timothy M. Daniell, Casandra Daniels Alexei O. DeCastro, Sharon DeGrace, John B. Deremer, Angie Deveaux, Samuel Deveaux, Christopher J. Devine, James D. Dewitt, Leroy "Roy" Dingle, Denise Lasha Dopson, Katherine A. Doud, Chris Drake, Natalie Dunn, Gregg Dwyer, Raymond Edwards, Robert J. Egbert, Andrew S. Eiseman, Bruce M. Elliott, Dallas Ellis, Jeff Etheridge, Jill Evans, Camillus O. Ezeike, Arthur Fayne Charles Ferguson, Nicholas M. Ferretti Julius P. Fielding II, Shaune Lee, Flournoy, Marion J. Floyd, Jacob J. Fountain, James Fox, Lou Franz, David A. Frasier, Dennis James Frazier, Melissa A. Freeland, Geoffrey Freeman, Jonathan Fried, Calvin Michael Gathers, Sr., Patricia Kathryn Gaylor, Greg Gischia John W. Gnann Jr., Joseph C. Good, George Goodhue, Christopher M. Graham, William Jack Graham, Crystal L. Graham, Dominique S. Gravett, Jaquet Green, Rickey Alexander Greene, Susan S. Greene, Robert P. Gregowicz, Naomi B. Griffin, Tiffany N. Griles Richard Gross, David A. Guarino, Jr., David A. Guarino, Sr., James E. Guest, Polly B.Guffin, Brande D. Guillory, Michael Haddle, Jameaka L. Hamilton, Larry D. Harding, Ben Harrington, Michael Haschker, Robert C. Hedin,

Shannon J. Heiling, Kevin M. Heis, Aaron G. Henderson, David T. Henderson, Jim Hensley, Kenton Holden, Elizabeth Holmes, Ernest C. Hood, Lamar C. Hood, Jennifer Hooks, Jerry Houston, Lee T. Howard, Thomas A. Hubbard, Sharon A. Hudson, Jacob T. Hurley, Heeyoung M. Hwang, Gabie Ingraham, Michael David Iorio, David Ivey, Kara Jackson, Kelvin Jackson, Michael P. Jacobbe, Delwin B. Jacoby, Joshua Jaques, Jr., Lisa Denise Jefferson, Dan E. Jenkins, Kelly Jenkins, Harold C. Jensen, Elizabeth Ann H. Jensen, Gerald Johnson, James Francis Johnson, Karen Elaine Johnson, Lance H. Johnson, Laureen Renitta Johnson, Joseph D. Johnson, Floyd Jones, Kimberly M. Jones, LaSonya R. Jordan, Amber S. Kelly, Walter R. Kirby, Barbara Knick, Peter Kobes, Christopher J. Kopeck, Jason A. Kopp, Yianne G. Kritzas, Paula Jean LaJeunesse, Tammy Lamont, Melissa A. Lampkin, John Lancaster, Kristin D. Land, Lori Walker Langston, John Lazarchick, David A. Lee, Lori A. Lee, Chad Gregory Leech, Bruce F. Lester, Glen N. Lilly II, Larry Littman, Paul LoCicero, Karla K. Locklear, Christopher T. Long, Alan Louis Lopez, Teresa Lopez-Anderson, KellyLee Lucas, Adam L. Luckey, Scott Matthew Luedtke, Tim MacFall, Gary W. Mahanes, Richard Lee Majure, Steve Malley, Robert Mallin, L. Wade Manaker, David Marcum,

Derek H. Martindale, Johnnie Martines, Brandon L. Matthews, Steffany M. Mattson, Tommy L. Maw, Ashley S. Maybin, Mark W. McCaslin, Shareen Celeste McCoy, Allen McCreary, Clifton L. McDonald, Sr., Marshall McFadden, Terry McFall, Gerald Mckee, Jr., Justin Seigler McNealy, David W. Menendez, Terri Mizner, Lawrence C. Mohr, Joaquin Molina, Kyle V. Montgomery, Rebecca Jane Moore, David J. Moses, Paul Moss, Marissa M. Moultrie, Tonnia A.O. Mullen, Steven Michael Naert, A. Tyler Nance, Maritere Nazario, William Neece, David C. Neff, Lane S. Nelson, Robert F. Neuner, Pamela C. Nevill, Domnique S. Newallo, Donald Newburn, Sr., Nash A. Newsome, Ron Neyens, Shawn Nimons, Jackie Nolen, Matthew J. Nutaitis, Donna Jean Oden, Tokunbo Olukoya, Jeffery D. Osmer, Donna M. Padgette, Angie Palmer, Lyndsey Ann Palumbo, Gwendolyn Parker, Lloyd Pate, Steve Paterniti, Roger Peebles, Jr., Monica Peeples, Charles Henry Pegram, Jr., Robert Peiffer, David Penick, Gregory A. Perron, Rosalyn S. Peterson-Hale, Michael G. Petrides, Randy S. Pilch, David Ploth, Pamela M. Polite, Ross Pollack Cassandra Poole, Mansle E. Raines, Jr., David P. Rainville, Carlos A. Ramirez, Jon Rampton, Steven G. Ratliff, Susanne V. Ratzlaff, Michele Ravenel, James Ravenel, Archie L. Reid, Latoya Alice Reid, William J. Rentz, Beth-Ann Rhoton, Jonn Rhoton, Stacey Ribble, John G. Richardson, Richard Richter, Tyrone Rivers, Jacob G. Robison, Jose Rodriguez, Christian K. Romanchek, Kaitie Rosen, Phyllis Ross, George M. Rossi, Roger Rowell, Tim Roylance, John Runyon, Teletha L. Ruth, Robert M. Sade, Nancy J. Sampson, John J. Sanders, Michael A. Sawin, Stephen Schaer, Christine Schaub, Bradley Schulte, Ferris Scott, Harriett E. Seabrook, John Bayne Selby, Jr., Gary Semb, Leanne Shattuck, Kristin L. Sheehan James Morris Sheppard, Bethany L. Shively, Warren Sholl, Eugene J. Sibal, Cephus E. Simmons, Sr., Rodmond L. Singleton, Brock B. Sittinger, Christine Skope, Sabra Slaughter, DeBorah Smalls-Brown,

See Veterans on page 9

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CollEgE of HEaltH profEssions rECognizEs dEpartmEnt aCHiEvEmEnts The College of Health Professions held its annual awards ceremony, Showcasing Success, on Friday, October 11. The college comes together each year to highlight the accomplishments of CHP faculty, staff and students, as well as to honor the continued support of its donors. During this annual event, the college welcomed nearly 30 scholarship donors and student recipients. During brunch, scholarship recipients and donors had the opportunity to meet one another, many for the very first time. At the awards ceremony that followed at St. Luke’s Chapel, scholarship donors were recognized on stage, along with their respective student scholarship recipients.

In addition, the 2013 MUSC College of Health Professions Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to Mrs. Eleanor Durgee, on behalf of the CHP Alumni Association Board, by Courtney O’Neill. photo provided

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Research management system expanded across campus system. Multiple CTSA consortium institutions around the country are adopting and will be implementing the system.

To list your research services and resources, and/ or to schedule a presentation or demonstration of the SPARC Request system, please contact the SCTR SUCCESS Center at 843-792-8300 or visit success@ musc.edu.

By ReBekah WRighT S.C. Clinical & Translational Research Institute

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PARC Request has been expanded to include all research services and resources across the MUSC enterprise, creating an MUSC “One Stop Shop” research management portal.

The portal facilitates development of research proposals, marketing of MUSC’s robust research support services and catalyzes collaborations with the community and other institutions. SPARC Request provides an electronic solution to locate, price, and request research services and resources. This enhanced support facilitates streamlined and accurate research proposal development, budgeting, implementation and study conduct.

SPARC Request also supports billing compliance and Medicare coverage analysis; sharing of study documents and communications between investigators and service providers; and tracking and invoicing of services provided for research studies.

The latest version of SPARC Request contains many new features developed from feedback provided by our research community. SPARC Request has the capacity to interface with other MUSC systems to realize operational efficiencies. A SPARC Request and Epic interface is under development that will reduce

photo provided

SPARC Request senior applications analyst Lane Glenn and Epic Research Integration analyst Leila Forney presented at the recent Tech Fair. duplicative data entry, enhance patient safety and support billing compliance.

SPARC Request was developed by the South Carolina Clinical & Translational Research Institute, in collaboration with the Biomedical Informatics Center, and made possible with partial support from MUSC’s Clinical & Translational Science Award.

From a national perspective, SPARC Request represents a major accomplishment for MUSC, and a Record of Invention has been filed for this research management

An interface has been built between SPARC Request and Epic to simplify and streamline the process of setting up research studies in Epic. The new interface will be live on July 1, 2014 and will allow investigators, through Epic, to associate their study participants with a research study in the electronic record and will include investigational medications in the record for the benefit of other clinicians.

This functionality increases patient safety, provider communication and billing accuracy for research studies and third party payers.

Before the system goes live, SCTR will assist researchers in setting up their active studies in the SPARC Request and Epic Systems.

For more information contact the SCTR SUCCESS Center at 843-792-8300.

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Meds, lifestyle change keys to stroke prevention

Staff Report

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he final results of a stroke prevention study in patients with a narrowed brain artery confirms earlier findings from the study: medication plus lifestyle changes are safer and more effective than a surgical technique called stenting for preventing stroke.

The results appear in The Lancet Oct. 26 to coincide with a presentation of the study results at the joint meetings of the 6th International Conference on Intracranial Atherosclerosis and the 6th annual meeting of the Society of Vascular and Chimowitz Interventional Neurology held in Houston.

The study, led by researchers at MUSC, Emory University, Washington University School of Medicine and State University of New York at Stony Brook analyzed long-term health outcomes from a multicenter clinical trial in which enrollment was halted two years ago when it became apparent that stenting was associated with a higher risk of early stroke and death.

“We knew from the early trial results that stenting was associated with a high risk of stroke and death in

VeTeRans

Continued from Page Six

Bryan A. Smith, David Smith, Sally Ann Smith, Jeffrey J. Smith, Dick Smith, John D. Smith, Jr., Tim Smith, Michael D. Snyder, Ed Sookikian, David Soper, Mike Southgate, Taylor L. Spearman, Angela Y. Stanley, Charles E. Stevens, Robert T. Stickney, Russell J. Stillwagon, Tonia Stoney, Ronald E. Straub, Kathleen M. Struthers, Preston A. Tanner, Christina A. Tebben, Anthony Thomas, Anita Thommes, Joe Thompson, Jr., Vernell Threat, Lori Celeste Tisdale, David P. Tobin, Jimmie H. Toler, Edward W. Trudo, Jr., Edwin A. Tufts, Zaw Tun, Mark Douglas Uhler, Bruce W. Usher, Mark H. Van Horn, Karen W. Van Maanen, Michael Vanderhurst, Kenneth N. Vanek, Tiffany R. Van Maanen, Gayle Rochelle Wadford, Michael J. Wagner, Matt Wain, Jimmy Walker, John A. Walker, James P. Walker, James B. Walker, Jr., Deborah H. Wallace, John L. Waller, Melinda R. Walters, John Walton, Braxton B. Wannamaker, Linda Washington, Marion H. Watson, Jr., Matthew T. Weas, Sharlene D. Wedin, Edgar J. Weiss, Thomas Weslager, Scot P. Wetzig, Olivia C. Whitehurst, Floyd Allen Whittington, George D. Whitton, Barbara Sue Wiggins, Mark A. Wilberding, Elizabeth Marie Williams, Nicole Lynsy Williams, Raymond George Williams, Ruthel F. Williams, Cedric D. Williams, Kyra N. Wilson, M. Edward Wilson Jr., Gregory A. Woelfel, Annabel Woodman, James Ball, Ed Griles, Greg Hackworth, Darin McNeal, Chris Romanchek, Charles Sander, James Sanders, and Desha Simpson

the peri-operative period but we expected stenting to be associated with a lower risk of stroke than medical therapy later on. That did not happen,” said principal investigator and a lead author, Marc Chimowitz, MBChB, professor, Department of Neurology.

About 800,000 people have a stroke every year in the United States. Physicians think about 10 percent of strokes in the U.S. result from a narrowed artery inside the brain. For decades, doctors have treated these patients with medications that help prevent clot formation by thinning the blood and lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

Recent advances in surgical techniques and tools have allowed physicians to improve blood flow in narrowed brain arteries by adapting procedures used to open clogged arteries in the heart.

To assess the effectiveness of the new treatments, the Sammpris (Stenting and Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent stroke in Intracranial Stenosis) trial, which was funded by the NIH, enrolled 451 patients at high risk of repeated stroke. All the participants had a brain artery with at least a 70 percent narrowing that had already caused a stroke or a transient ischemic event (often referred to as a mini stroke).

Participants were divided into two groups. One group had a metal stent put in the narrowed brain artery, to open up the artery, and received strong medications to

reduce clot formation and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Participants in the second group received the same medications, but did not undergo stenting. Both groups also were contacted regularly by lifestyle modification coaches, who encouraged participants to exercise more, stop smoking, improve their diet and lose weight.

For the new analysis, the scientists followed all the patients for at least two years after treatment. Some patients were followed for as long as four years.

“The final results of the Sammpris trial show that aggressive medical therapy was superior to stenting at both early and later phases of follow-up in the trial.

These results strongly support the use of aggressive medical therapy rather than stenting for preventing recurrent stroke in high-risk patients with narrowing of a brain artery”, added Chimowitz.

After the early trial results were published, the FDA narrowed the criteria for the stent used in this trial (the Wingspan stent) to patients with at least a 70 percent blockage who had already had two previous strokes while undergoing aggressive medical management.

While the Sammpris trial did not compare stenting with medical therapy specifically in patients who already suffered two strokes while undergoing aggressive medical therapy, the study did compare stenting with medical therapy in several subsets of patients and did not identify any that benefited more from stenting.

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Local couple’s gift makes cataract surgery possible By allyson BiRd Office of Development & Alumni Affairs Bill and Ruth Baker’s gift, which made groundbreaking surgery possible for cataract patients in South Carolina, began with some doctor’s office banter.

Bill had come in for a regular eye exam with George O. Waring IV, M.D., medical director of MUSC’s Magill Vision Center. Waring took Bill through a series of machines that provide a digital tour of the eye, down to nutritional health. At the end, Waring said, “You’ve just received the finest eye exam you’ve ever had.”

Bill chuckled, but listened closely, as Waring explained that the Magill Vision Center was the first center in the state to provide LASIK vision correction surgery, and that Magill offers the most advanced LASIK technology in the country. Waring wanted to provide that same level of technology for cataract patients, who suffer from a cloudy lens that distorts and blurs their vision. He knew that Ruth had served on the Storm Eye Institute board of directors for nearly a decade and that Bill was an emeritus member of the MUSC Foundation Board, so Waring shared his ideas for new technology during Baker's visit.

“He had that vision and knowledge,” Waring said.

“He really gets it.” Bill decided he wanted to provide

Historically, a surgeon performs the entire procedure by hand. With the Catalys machine, lasers make the incision, correct the patient’s astigmatism and soften the cataract to prepare for the operating room, where a surgeon touches the eye for the first time by removing the softened cataract and inserting a new lens. The entire process takes only about 15 minutes. The patient remains awake and recovers immediately, the blurred vision of a cloudy lens only a memory.

The Bakers set up a challenge grant in May, providing $250,000 in seed money to bring the Catalys machine to the Magill Vision Center in August. The fundraising challenge to keep the technology at MUSC runs through November, and the Bakers continue to rally Photo provided support for the project in the meantime. “It’s really exciting technology, and we felt very fortunate to be a Kiawah Island residents Bill and Ruth Baker part of it,” Bill said. not only advice but financial support to bring the new Waring estimates that he and his colleagues will have cataract treatment to MUSC. performed 75 Catalys procedures by the end of this The $500,000 Catalys Precision Laser System from month. “If it weren’t for the Bakers, we couldn’t offer OptiMedica looks more like a red filing cabinet than this procedure to our patients,” he said. “Now we can the most advanced cataract laser system available, but it offer this procedure to the whole country.” provides precision beyond the capabilities of the human The Bakers met in 1997 at Kiawah Island where hand. Although one of the more common surgical Ruth, a widow, had retired, and Bill, a widower, had a procedures in the world, cataract surgery is a delicate second home. Ruth convinced Bill to become a fullprocess likened to cutting the skin of a grape without disturbing the flesh of the fruit.

See Couple on page 12

Hollings CanCEr CEntEr

On behalf of the Hollings Cancer Center, former U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings, far right, was joined by Dr. Steve Ethier, center, Spaulding-Paolozzi Chair in Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment and Research, in accepting a check in the amount of $3,250 from staff and visitors of Patriots Point on Nov. 1. Funds were contributed in support of the HCC Breast Fund to help Tri-county patients during treatment. Mac Burdette, Patriot Point executive director, second from left, presented their donation. photo by Tim Roylance, Digital Imaging

The CaTalysT, November 8, 2013 11 The CaT

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12 The CaTalysT, November 8, 2013

rECognizing dEdiCatEd sErviCE

Couple

James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine dean Dr. John J. Sanders, left, presents a certificate to Dr. Raymond Kassis who has worked part-time at the college since 1973. The dental school hosted its first annual reception to honor and thank part-time faculty on Oct. 24. Nearly 75 guests attended the reception held in college’s Clinical Education Center’s grand lobby. Kassis was among 300 part-time faculty who have worked at the college for 10 years or longer and were presented with certificates. These valuable volunteers assist in every division of the college by assisting fulltime faculty and training and mentoring dental students. photo by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging

Continued from Page Ten

time resident, and they married in 1999. Together, they decided to become part of the fabric of their new Charleston community.“We both like to play, but we believe there’s a commitment in life,” Ruth said.

In addition to joining several philanthropic organizations, the couple set up the Bill and Ruth Baker Foundation, which provides housing and education to some of the indigent people who live just beyond the gates of Kiawah Island, primarily on rural Johns Island.

Although Bill has six children, 13 grandchildren and a great-grandchild, the Bakers also like to say they have one child in college. They initially met that young man’s family when they agreed to buy a new mobile home to replace the insect-infested rental unit where two parents and their three children had been living. The oldest son, then 13, translated his parents’ Spanish for the Bakers during their meetings.

The boy kept in touch with the couple as the years passed. When he told the Bakers that he wanted to go to college, but couldn’t get accepted into South Carolina schools as an undocumented immigrant, they helped him get his education at a private school in Alabama.

From their college “son” to the Catalys machine, the Bakers regard their work as both a passion and a pledge.

“There are points in people’s lives where you realize that, for the want of money, you can change people’s lives,” Bill said.