MUSC Catalyst 3-06-2015

March 6, 2015

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 33, No. 27

Inside

Vanna WhiTe BrinGs GOOd FOrTune TO MusC South Carolina native and Wheel of Fortune game show celebrity Vanna White, center, presents a check for $18,300 with help from patient Hunter Taylor, second right, and Heidi Shepherd, far left, of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, to President Dr. David Cole for the MUSC Children’s Hospital. The money was presented after a member of the show’s Wheel Watcher’s Club won a sweepstakes and selected the Children’s Hospital for a matching donation. Raised in North Myrtle Beach, White has been with Wheel of Fortune since 1982. It is the longest running syndicated game show in the country.

in GOOd hands

4

Public Safety chief keeps MUSC safe and secure.

early

photo provided by The Chart Group

8

deTeCTiOn

Pediatric medical campus planned for N. Chas.

Staff Reports MUSC is moving forward with plans for a new pediatric medical campus in North Charleston. The North Charleston City Council voted unanimously Feb. 26 to spend up to $4 million to buy approximately 24 acres of land at the intersection of Rivers Avenue and Mall Drive and donate part of it to MUSC. The campus, scheduled to open in 2017, will include a 33,000 square–foot pediatric outpatient surgical facility and is estimated to cost about $26.4 million. A 40,000 square–foot pediatric multispecialty medical office building will follow and will include an urgent care clinic, imaging facility and therapy rooms. It is estimated to cost between $14 to $16 million.

MUSC President David Cole, M.D., FACS, said the new campus meets an important need. “If you look nationally, the structure for children’s care is not having everybody come to your major flagship,” Cole said.

“You have to have more outpatient facilities that reach into the communities that you serve. We have two parallel tracks that we are pursuing vigorously: getting the children’s and women's hospital built while simultaneously developing our regional outpatient pediatric subspecialty care presence. We are trying to complement, not duplicate,

what we’re doing downtown.”

Cole and his fellow leaders at MUSC put together the following series of questions and answers to address common questions about the new campus.

New detection device helps heart failure patients.

Why is the city of North Charleston giving this land to MUSC? Our understanding is that the city of North Charleston is seeking to donate this property to enable MUSC to address South Carolina’s need for expanded and enhanced pediatric sub–specialty services.

2 Applause

Who approached whom first about this deal?

MUSC filed a certificate of need with the Department of Health and Environmental Control for a new pediatric ambulatory surgery center on Dec. 14, 2014. Prior to that time frame and after numerous discussions, a memo of understanding was drafted with the city of North Charleston that outlined that the land will be used to create MUSC’s new hub that will deliver state–of–the–art pediatric outpatient and ambulatory surgery services to children in

See Pediatric on page 9

5

Meet Terrie

9 Women’s History T h e C aTa ly s T Online http://www. musc.edu/ catalyst

2 The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015

Applause Program The following MUSC employees received recognition through the Applause Program for going the extra mile: Medical Center Morgan Angela Ford, Guest Services; Natasha Cancer, 9East; Katie Steidle, 8East; Rhonda Mitchell, 9East; Angel Grant, 9East; Justice Steed, Peds After Hours Care; Caroline Rivera, 9East; Chris Hock, 9East; Phyllis LaBoard, RT Internal Med; Frank Hays, 6West; Leslie Adams, STNICU; Adam Miller, 6West; Brandy Olson, Guest Services; Deborah Oliver, Peds-Gastroenterology; Johanna Palmadottir, Peds-Gastroenterology; Queen Bowens, Therapy, Prof Support Svcs; Karen Loury, 7C Pediatrics; Cynthia Corson, 7B, Pediatrics; Patty Thompson, 7A, Pediatrics; Casey Howett, Women’s Services; Debbie Cepeda, Revenue Cycle; Linda Peters, Guest Services; Anna Powell, OB/GYN; Rene Mallari, MICU; T. J. Jennings, Engineering & Facilities; Kayla Lobaugh, Women’s Services-Genetics; Isiah White,

Physical Plant; Roberta Campbell, Meduflex; Tyra Johnson, 9West; Alexandra Dillion, Peds ED; Holly Edgerton, Peds ED; Michaela Lewis, Peds ED; Nancy Johnson, Peds ED; Jennifer Redfern, Child Life; Shamica Braxton, Environmental Svcs; Christine Oliver, Therapeutic and Professional Svcs; Lisa Pinckney, Revenue, Operations & Outpatient Reg; David Jones, 9NSI; and Kurt Ruz, 9East University Karan Bellacicco, Dental Faculty Practice; Mullen Coover, Oral Rehabilitation; Evola Dawson, Parking Management; Miriam Hutton, President’s Office; Gabriel Ingraham, Dental Faculty Practice; Gloria Kinard, Dental Clinical Affairs; Michael Skovira, Oral Rehabilitation; George Summerford, Engineering & Facilities; Ernest Thomas, Internal Audit; and Alvinia Wilson, Dental Faculty Practice* *Received two nominations

Charleston Walk to Cure Diabetes on March 8 MUSC’s Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes is fundraising and seeking volunteers to help out with the Charleston Walk to Cure Diabetes on Sunday, March 8 at Smythe Park on Daniel Island.

The 1.2 mile walk begins at 2 p.m. with check in at 1 p.m.

Proceeds from this event will support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the largest global organization raising money to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes. The disease impacts 1–in–400 children and MUSC’s clinic sees more than 600 children with diabetes a year.

To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/p3pyhtz. To donate or volunteer, call Jessica Beattie, 876-1527 or credeur@musc.edu.

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

843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723

Editor: Cindy Abole

catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Mikie Hayes, hayesmi@musc.edu Dawn Brazell, brazell@musc.edu J. Ryne Danielson, daniejer@musc.edu Helen Adams, adamshel@musc.edu Sarah Pack, packsa@musc.edu Jeff Watkins, watkinsj@musc.edu

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.

Pediatric nurse praised with DAISY The February DAISY (Disease Attacking the Immune System) award winner is Allie Peele R.N., who works in the Pediatric Primary Care Clinic. Peele was nominated by Amy Allen, R.N., who is an outpatient clinic manager within the department.

Below is her nomination: “Allie is a registered nurse in the Pediatric Primary Care clinic where she is always the person volunteering to stay late to ensure the pediatric patients and their families have their Peele needs met before she leaves clinic.

An example of her compassionate care occurred last week in clinic, the day before Thanksgiving break. During clinic, it had been determined that a patient, who was age 4, was unable to return home with her mother, as it was unsafe to leave this child in her mother’s care. It was at the close of clinic and the choice had to be made whether to contact Social Services and determine if anyone could place the child with family or admit her to the hospital.

Allie was an advocate in this process and began the steps to keep the patient safe in clinic while the difficult task of placing her in a safe home started. Allie said she would do whatever it takes so that the child was not in the hospital, alone, on Thanksgiving day. Allie said

as she was playing and reading books to her for four hours in clinic, she had a plan on her mind about visiting her and bringing her a special meal in the hospital if she was not successfully placed with family. Allie prepared the child a meal so she had food to eat that evening in clinic (from a potluck held by staff earlier in the day). Allie kept the child calm and answered her questions all while reading books, coloring and playing games with her.

The child was successfully placed with family that evening and avoided having to spend Thanksgiving in the hospital alone by Allie’s caring and compassion because of the difficult situation. Allie stayed until after 8 p.m. that evening in clinic to ensure that this would happen.

Allie is a true example of what the Daisy award signifes and should be recognized for her care.”

Each month, MUSC nurses are honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. It is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program recognizing the efforts that nurses contribute daily in their jobs around the country.

The award recognizes outstanding nurses in more than 1,800 health care providers in the U.S. and 14 other countries.

Nominations can be submitted by anyone — patients, visitors, physicians, fellow nurses and all MUSC staff and volunteers.

To nominate a nurse, visit http://www. musc.edu/medcenter/formsToolbox/ DaisyAward/form.htm.

The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015 3

University leaders focus on collaborative efforts

By Mikie hayes Public Relations MUSC President David Cole and College of Charleston President Glenn McConnell met March 3 on the MUSC campus to initiate the MUSC/College of Charleston Collaborative Council. This council is the next step in a series of ongoing discussions to focus on ways to collaborate that would ultimately benefit students and the community.

While some may have wondered if the topic of a merger between institutions would resurface, it was evident that that specific issue was settled for both leaders.

McConnell said, “A merger is not where either one of us wants to go, but together we can be much stronger. Competition is not the formula for public institutions, it is cooperation.”

Cole agreed, saying, “I strongly support any opportunities we have for collaborations with the College of Charleston.”

Cole outlined a few items that he saw as “dimensions for cooperation” which included educational opportunities as well as opportunities for partnering as state institutions, for example, administratively, between police forces and at the legislative level.

photo by J. Ryne Danielson, Public Relations MUSC President David Cole, center, met with College of Charleston President Glenn McConnell and other educators on March 3.

The leaders discussed the importance of public health to both institutions and ways to leverage each other’s strengths in order to meet the needs of students and the community. Cole also stressed the importance of the

community’s involvement. “The third partner that isn’t at the table is the community that we’re trying to serve.”

Other ideas centered around creating partnerships so there would be more research opportunities for undergraduates at the College of Charleston, developing joint online education programs to increase flexibility for students and recruiting joint faculty.

The subject of the Lowcountry Graduate Center — a partnership between MUSC, the College of Charleston and The Citadel designed to offer graduate–level courses and expand research opportunities — was discussed briefly. While the center has made strides, the collaboration has run into some inconveniences and challenges. Leaders, however, are committed to working toward long–term solutions aimed at meeting the needs of all partners and ensuring that stand-alone decisions related to individual needs like software, purchasing, procurement and scheduling are minimized so as not to create barriers.

The meeting ended on a positive note with both leaders pledging to continue the dialogue. Cole proposed a six–month time frame in which to make headway. “I’m not interested in ‘let’s just talk,’” he said, adding that talks needed to include structure and goals — a clear indication that he is serious about collaborative efforts happening sooner than later.

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4 The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015

Public Safety chief prepared to take on challenges

By J. Ryne Danielson Public Relations

I

n September 2014, Deputy Chief Kevin Kerley was promoted to chief of Public Safety. Now, six months later, he is settling into the job.

“Chief Dunbar, my predecessor, was very competent and set the standards very high. Adapting to the new role has been a challenge, but it’s been an enjoyable challenge. I think things have gone well,” he said, Kerley has worked for the Department of Public Safety for nine years, starting out as a captain on patrol in 2006 before working his way up to the ranks of major, deputy chief, and finally the highest position in the department.

Before coming to Charleston, Kerley worked for the New York City Police Department, retiring with more than 25 years of service. Kerley knew from a young age that he wanted to follow in the footsteps of four uncles who were on the force. He joined the NYPD in 1981 and quickly rose through the ranks: from patrolman to commanding officer of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, where he worked closely with the FBI and DEA to halt international narcotics trafficking. Kerley was also a first responder on 9/11.

“I had a very good career with the NYPD,” he said.

“But nothing really newspaper worthy.”

Kerley first visited Charleston in 2004 while celebrating his 20th wedding anniversary. “My wife fell in love with the city,” he said. “And we wound up down here.”

Kerley said he enjoys the change of pace. “Charleston is dramatically different from New York. In big city policing, you’re constantly running around from radio call to radio call. Here, thankfully, we’re not doing that.”

On a small campus like MUSC, Kerley said he views his role as a problem solver. “A lot of times with students, they get to their car and have a flat, and they’ve never changed a tire before in their lives. So, we’ll do that for them or help them do it. Sometimes, their batteries will be dead and they’ll call us because they don’t know who else to call. We’ll jump their cars, get them started, and make sure they get on their way. We have the opportunity to provide a service that traditional law enforcement doesn’t provide – cutting locks off bicycles or escorting people from one place to the other if they feel unsafe.”

Kerley said that, all in all, MUSC is a very safe campus. “We don’t have any real crime problems, thankfully. The predominant crime on campus is larceny, which mostly happens when people don’t safeguard their things. We don’t have a lot of that, though.”

“We live in a different society now, and we prepare for any type of scenario where the campus population could be put in danger from hurricanes to terrorism.”

Chief Kevin Kerley While Kerley is grateful for a safe campus, he still prepares his force for the worst. Public Safety works closely with hospital emergency management, the Charleston Police Department and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office to train for mass casualty events and active shooter situations.

“We’re lucky that we have a lot of very experienced people,” Kerley said. “We have people that used to be on SWAT teams and people who were bomb techs. We live in a different society now, and we prepare for any type of scenario where the campus population could be put in danger, from hurricanes to terrorism. We’re a professional law enforcement organization. If there were an active shooter on campus — the typical active shooter situation is only a couple minutes long — so getting CPD SWAT here is probably not an option.

We’re going to have to face that threat. In the world that we live in now, unfortunately these things appear to be happening a little more often than they used to.

Hopefully we never need to deal with something like that, but we have the training and capability to deal with it just in case.”

Kerley said that technology is one of his biggest allies in protecting the MUSC campus. “We’ve improved a lot of video cameras on campus recently. The older cameras were okay, but as technology gets better, it also gets cheaper, so we’ve upgraded to high quality cameras for the same price we used to get the old ones. We’ve got better coverage and better pictures.”

He said that Public Safety has already managed to solve several crimes using the new cameras.

Kerley continued: “Another thing coming out is an app we’re developing with OCIO. You’ll be able to push a button to call dispatch directly. It’ll also have a list of important phone numbers and directions on what to do in various emergency situations — in case of an active shooter, a bomb scare, a hurricane, an earthquake. That should be out fairly soon.”

When Kerley assumed his new position, there was a cascading effect throughout the department as personnel were promoted and responsibilities shuffled.

He decided to bring each person in the Department of Public Safety into his office to have one-on-one conversations regarding the new changes, to make sure everyone was adapting and the department was performing at full capacity.

“So far all the feedback has been positive,” he said. “I think everything’s going pretty well.”

The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015 5

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6 The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015

MUSC Dental Scholars Day Event tagged a success

I

n an effort to address research goals within the College of Dental Medicine and further strengthen clinical and research interactions, the Annual James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine Scholar's Day was established in 2011. This year marks the fifth year of this program.

The James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine Scholars Day is a day–long event where both clinical and research constituents interact and their scholarship is acknowledged. The Scholar's Day event includes competition for the third–year predoctoral dental students in the junior category as well as all graduate students in the senior category. Postdoctoral fellows and residents along with junior faculty involved in oral health-related research present their research in a poster session.

Award categories have been developed for these competitions. The 2015 Scholars Day winners are:

Junior Category First Place — Will attend the ADA DENTSPLY meeting, Washington, DC •Sarah Carlisle and Laura Kuhne Junior Category Second Place— Will attend the Hinman Dental meeting in Atlanta, Georgia •James Wood Junior Category Third Place — Will attend the Hinman Student Research Symposium, Memphis, TN •Mallory Ulmer Junior Category Honorable Mention — Will attend the South Carolina Dental Association meeting in Charleston, SC •Avina Adamiyat and Rima Solanki; Dimitrios Basilakos; Caitlin Coracy and Rebecca Shamis; Abbie Garrison and Kinsley Johnson; Jabrenta Hubbard and

Acknowledgements Thank you to the following faculty for volunteering to serve as judges for the 5th Annual James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine Scholars Day. Junior Category Judges Monica Cayouette, DMD, Oral Rehabilitation; Robert Draughn, DSc., Oral Health Sciences; Theresa Gonzales, DMD, Stomatology; Lindsey Hamil, Ph.D.,Stomatology; Gabie Ingraham, DMD, Oral Rehabilitation; Michael Kern, Ph.D.,Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology; Raymond Kessler Oral Rehabilitation; Peter Kobes, DDS, Oral Rehabilitation; Joe Krayer, DDS, Stomatology; Renata Leite, DDS, Stomatology; Stephen Malley, DDS, Oral Rehabilitation; Amy Martin, DrPH,

photos by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging

Students, residents and post-doctoral fellows competed for awards in various categories at the day-long poster session.

Kristra Koch; Zakery James and Caitlin McPherson; Jason Macik; Preston Payne and Michael Tran; Katherine Rutland and Anna Moorhead; and James Wilson Senior Category First Place—$500 •Haley Buff–Liner Senior Category Second Place—$250 •Angela Alexander–Bryant Senior Category Third Place—$100 •Caroline Wallace Post-Doc Category First Place—$500 •Reniqua House, Ph.D. Post-Doc Category Second Place—$250 •Mrinmoyee Majumder, Ph.D. Post-Doc Category Third Place—$100 •Harinarayanan Janakiraman, Ph.D. Stomatology; Brad Neville, DDS, Stomatology; Jon Rampton, DDS, Oral Rehabilitation; William Ries, DDS, Ph.D., Stomatology; Michael Schmidt, Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology; Elizabeth Schuler, DMD, Oral Rehabilitation; Joe Vuthiganon, DMD, Oral Rehabilitation; and Caroline Westwater, Ph.D.,Oral Health Sciences seniOr and POsT dOC CaTeGOries James Cray, Ph.D., Oral Health Sciences; Courtney J. Haycraft, Ph.D.,Oral Health Sciences; Andrew G. Jakymiw, Ph.D., Oral Health Sciences; Amanda C. LaRue, Ph.D., Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; Meenal Mehrotra, M.D., Ph.D.,Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; and Natalie Sutkowski, Ph.D., Microbiology & Immunology

Dental student Michael Tran, center, and a costudent review their research poster with Drs. Jon Rampton, second right, and Bob Draughn.

Bottom photo: Speaker Dr. Peter Polverini, left, joins Dental Medicine Dean Dr. John Sanders and Dr. Keith Kirkwood, the event’s director.

The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015 7

Scholar’s Day speaker: translating science into policy

By J. Ryne Danielson Public Relations

T

photos by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging

Junior dental student Annie Chao, right, presents her poster to Dean John Sanders.

Junior dental student Katherine Rutland and Dr. Joe Vuthiganon examine posters at the daylong poster session held in the Drug Discovery Bioengineering building’s lobbies.

he College of Dental Medicine hosted its 5th annual Scholars Day Feb. 19. The keynote address was presented by Peter Polverini, DDS, DMSc, dean emeritus at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and professor of pathology at the University of Michigan Medical School.

"I've been in the business of academic dentistry over 35 years," Polverini said. "Even as a student, I had an interest in pursuing serious research. I was fortunate to get into the doctor of medical science program at Harvard University. If you're interested in science, that's like being a kid in a candy store."

Polverini’s work now is focused on translating science into good health care policy.

"Why isn't the best science driving policy?" he asked.

"How do you frame research in such a way that policy makers and legislators see the value in it? It's not as easy as one would think. We have a lot of good people doing excellent science, but we have very few translating that into policy. As a matter of fact, very few health professionals have an understanding of the impact of policy and the role they need to play as advocates to ensure they are in a position to be successful in their practice."

Polverini's lecture focused on one aspect of policy: personalized health care as it applies to dentistry. "The role that health professionals play in providing care has important implications for how patients are treated and what type of care they are provided," he said. "Are we going to focus, as we have for the last so many hundred years, on disease, or are we going to get serious about managing health?"

Polverini shared his personal view of where health care should go in the future, and how administrators have to think differently about how health professionals are educated.

"For the most part," he said, "the education of health care professionals is very siloed. There are opportunities for communication and collaboration, but they tend to be sporadic. While that may be okay for individual health professionals, it's really not okay for patients, which, at the end of the day, is why we're here. If we think differently about how we educate our students, we could provide better, more efficient care at a lower cost."

Polverini believes in "blowing up the silos." He cited, as an example, a collaborative care clinic currently under development at the University of Michigan.

University of Michigan’s Dr. Peter Polverini was the keynote speaker at the Feb. 19 event.

"It will provide care for a group of special needs patients who we believe will really benefit from a collaborative care environment," Polverini said. "We will treat patients that range from children to adults with metal disabilities, patients with PTSD — a wide spectrum of patients with disabilities. In dentistry, specifically, there is a great need for that, but most dental students aren't prepared to treat those patients.

Most of them are treated in the hospital, and the cost is extremely high. We want to create an environment with physicians, dentists, psychologists right there — a onestop shop for health care."

This would be a new model, Polverini explained.

"There is no template out there. We're sort of building the bridge as we're walking on it. This will be a laboratory as much as a patient care environment."

Polverini said that support from the National Institutes of Health and Department of Health and Human Services will be essential for the long term support of such projects. "We have to demonstrate that we can afford it; that it will improve people's lives.

There are many different stakeholders and getting them all in agreement will be a challenge. It has to be done carefully and thoughtfully, in a way that makes sense."

Polverini said he doesn't expect to change how physicians, dentists, nurses and other health professionals are trained overnight. He just wants them to be aware there is another way to do things.

He believes focusing on collaboration and early intervention efforts rather than simply continuing to manage chronic disease is the key to managing rising health care costs and improving patient outcomes.

"I started as a basic scientist," Polverini said. "I'm ending my career the same way — as an advocate for evidence–based health care, incorporating innovation both in education and the practice environment."

8 The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015

CardioMEMS implantable monitor reduces readmissions

By Mikie hayes Public Relations

R

ay Goethe is a man of few words — the burden of what he’s been through is written all over his face. He tends to leave most of the talking to his sister, Rosalind Smith, who makes the four-hour roundtrip drive to MUSC with him sometimes as many as four times a month.

After surviving four heart attacks, undergoing open– heart surgery, and living with congestive heart failure for the past 2½ years, life for the Bluffton resident had dramatically changed for the worse.

Goethe is one of more than 5 million Americans currently living with congestive heart failure. And every year, somewhere north of 550,000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. CHF is a serious medical condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the demands of the body or does so at the expense of high pressures in the heart. In some cases, the heart doesn’t squeeze normally and in other cases the heart doesn’t relax normally — some people suffer from both problems. In either case, patients display the common symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling.

In Goethe’s case, his heart does not relax or squeeze normally and it causes him to feel tired, short of breath, fearful and frustrated. In fact, it has stolen from him most of the joys of life, such as taking walks or fishing.

He just doesn’t have the energy.

Goethe’s condition made him an ideal candidate for a new cardiac device that should improve his quality of life and offer some peace of mind.

On Jan. 29, Michael Craig, M.D., an MUSC cardiologist and expert on CHF, permanently implanted the first CardioMEMS HF System in South Carolina in Goethe’s pulmonary artery — the vessel that carries blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. The device is delivered via a catheter placed in a vein in the groin and is a non-surgical procedure that takes less than 15 minutes to implant. Goethe’s was the third of the four procedures Craig performed at MUSC in January.

The device, which is roughly the size of a small paperclip, is designed to last the lifetime of the patient and doesn’t require batteries. It does, however, monitor Goethe’s pulmonary artery pressure and heart rate daily via a portable electronic unit and special pillow containing an antenna that Goethe lays on once a day. And, from the comfort of his home, it painlessly transmits critical information about his heart failure status.

In real time, the collected data is transmitted to a secure database at MUSC and is reviewed by Craig or members of his team. This type of monitoring allows

Left photo: MUSC cardiologist Dr. Michael Craig, left, and his nurse Lisa Freeman, right, explain to patient Ray Goethe his results from his CardioMEMS readings.

Above photo: The CardioMEMS sensor is no bigger than the size of a dime with two thin loops at each end.

the team to immediately deliver personalized and preemptive management of abnormal heart pressures before he develops symptoms, potentially eliminating or reducing the number of times Goethe is hospitalized.

Craig explained that pressure increases are an indication that the patient may be heading for worsening symptoms of heart failure. “Increases in pulmonary artery pressures occur before the development of symptoms like shortness of breath or fatigue and prior to changes in vital signs and exam findings like weight increases and swelling,” he said.

“The CardioMEMS device is designed to pick up these pressure and heart rate changes that are clues to worsening heart failure. That type of early detection allows us to make immediate medication adjustments, for example, in Mr. Goethe’s treatment regimen before fluid retention results in a trip to the hospital for him.”

Goethe may have been the third patient to receive the device, but he immediately came to mind when Craig received approval to implant the devices.

“He was the first patient Dr. Craig thought of,” Goethe’s sister Rosalind Smith said. “It was a spur of the moment thing, but we got it done. They called him on a Friday, and said ‘We got something for you,’ and

by Tuesday, he was having the procedure done.”

“Mr. Goethe was an ideal candidate for this new procedure,” said Craig. “He has NYHA Class III heart failure and had been hospitalized in the previous year, both of which are necessary to satisfy the criteria.

NYHA Class III heart failure is the label given to patients with CHF resulting in marked limitation of physical activity. They are typically comfortable at rest but less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath or chest pain.”

Goethe was diagnosed with CHF at the age of 55, and it has gotten progressively worse. While the common perception, according to Craig, is that CHF is a disease of the elderly, it affects people of all ages, including children, young and middle-aged adults as well as the elderly.

For a patient like Goethe, who was hospitalized three times in just the last quarter of 2014, and visited the ER an additional five trips during that same period, the procedure has already proved to be a game-changer — even one month out. No hospitalizations. No ED visits.

Peace of mind. In fact, of the four of Craig’s patients who are more than 30 days out from their implantation, none has been admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure.

While they are just past their one–month mark, no hospitalizations is good news and an important outcome when considering the fact that CHF is a $40 million industry in the U.S. Craig stated that CHF accounts for more hospitalizations per year in adults over the age of 65 than any other diagnosis. Once a patient is admitted for CHF, he said, their chances of

See Device on page 10

The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015 9

Therapy student honored for policy-changing activism Women’s History Month at MUSC honors women leaders with vision and heart

By Jane Ma Public Relations

T

he theme for each year’s Women’s History Month is chosen by the National Women’s History Project, a national organization dedicated to championing and promoting the accomplishments of women throughout history. Through its work, the organization strives to recognize the integral role that women play in society in order to foster new opportunities and a collective sense of self–respect for girls and young women.

In keeping with this mission, the theme this year is “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives.”

The national organization has chosen

PeDiaTRiC Continued from Page One outpatient and ambulatory surgery services to children in local areas and throughout the state.

This new facility will enable MUSC to offer pediatric specialty services in a convenient, readily accessible location that has ample surface lot parking.

MUSC is thrilled to be offered this land, as it is large enough to accommodate our needs and is well-positioned geographically.

What are the advantages to building this center in North Charleston?

First, the proposed building site is positioned well to best serve the Tricounty area, at the intersection of Mall Drive and Rivers Avenue, close to I-526 and I-26.

Second, many of MUSC’s young patients and their families travel from far beyond the Tricounty region to receive high quality pediatric specialty services at MUSC. Locating MUSC’s core set of pediatric services in a more convenient

a list of nine honorees — outstanding women whose achievements mark them as role models and inspirations for generations to come. The list is populated by a wide range of activists, professionals, artists, and academics who demonstrate the “depth and breadth of the multicultural female experience.” All over the country, other organizations, such as MUSC, are following suit, recognizing the stories of women who are agents for change, social equality and inclusivity.

Allison Conlon Perry, an occupational therapy student at MUSC, is one such passionate and influential individual.

She spearheaded the campaign to add gender identity and sexual orientation to the nondiscrimination clauses for geographic location with ample free parking improves access to services that currently are delivered on the peninsula in downtown Charleston.

What will happen to Rutledge Tower?

On most mornings, MUSC has a list of 25- to 40-plus very sick patients who need inpatient specialty care at MUSC. These patients are waiting in the MUSC emergency room, other emergency rooms and inpatient beds in hospitals throughout the state. MUSC is developing plans now to backfill the vacated pediatric spaces currently located on the peninsula, and we will use those beds and examination rooms to meet the growing needs for adult services at MUSC. You are trying to build a new Children’s Hospital. Why won’t that new building accommodate what’s going to be in this building in North Charleston?

The parcel of land on which MUSC’s new children’s hospital will be built is

photo provided MUSC student Allison Perry is the first of four women to be honored throughout March.

MUSC employment policies. As the second largest employer in the state of South Carolina, this was a big step with a correspondingly powerful ripple of influence.

Laurine Charles, Ph.D., associate director of student diversity, said of Allison, “I think the legacy she will leave at MUSC is making it a more not large enough and does not have enough associated parking to include MUSC’s full range of pediatric specialty outpatient services. In order to provide the full range of pediatric outpatient specialty services, MUSC needs to find another location, preferably a location that is of ample size and located in an area that is conveniently accessible by all.

At the national level, the models for successful pediatric care are changing.

Our local and statewide community needs us to come to them, whenever and wherever we can. Moving ambulatory care to North Charleston improves our ability to deliver excellent care on both the local and statewide level.

Our vision for children’s care is probably best described if you think about a wheel, with a hub in the center and spokes reaching out from that center to support various parts of the wheel, which in turn form a continuous, effective circle.

We are building a new footprint for pediatric specialty care that includes the new hospital on the peninsula, all our outreach and after hours care sites

welcoming and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ community.” Charles further elaborated, “It was stunning how she accomplished something we’ve been working on for seven years in so little time; Allison has a bright spirit and a can-do attitude that she cheerfully applies to everything she does.”

Perhaps the best person to hear the story from is Perry herself.

Perry’s passion is apparent in not only her achievements but also her words. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida Southern College, she gained employment, but more importantly, she discovered her profession. While employed by Easter Seals, she spent quite some time working with a young boy affected by cerebral palsy.

“During that time,” she recalled, “I really began to think about occupational therapy as a career. I liked that it is a physical job, but also required understanding of anatomy and how pathology and physical deficits can

See Women’s on page 12 throughout the Lowcountry, and this proposed facility that will make it easier for our patients to access ambulatory and procedural care, imaging services and the multiple specialties that people travel from across the state to access.

Just like the new hospital, this facility will promote a family-centered approach to patient care.

Who will work in this new facility?

The majority of staff currently in Rutledge Tower will move to the facility and we anticipate having to hire for new positions.

Match to Marrow 5K on March 21 Come out and support the 2nd Annual Charleston Match to Marrow 5K event, Saturday, March 21 at Wannamaker County Park.

For info, visit www. bethematchfoundation.org/ charlestonmatchtomarrow. For information, call Janet Winkelmann, 792-5327.

10 The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015

DeviCe

Continued from Page Eight

being readmitted again within 30 days is 25 percent and within 6 months the readmission rate is 50 percent. Not only does this constitute a huge clinical burden, it’s also an enormous financial strain.

And while there is no cure for CHF, Craig is hopeful about this new device. “It’s been a long time,” he said, “since anything new in the way of technology related to heart failure has been introduced and shown to be effective. In the heart failure world, there are pivotal times — the last one being resynchronization therapy. We haven’t had a lot of new medications or device therapies for CHF in recent years.”

This new technology significantly changes the way health care providers are able to interact with CHF patients. Craig explained, “First, we know that the hemodynamic changes in the heart can occur as early as one to two weeks before the development of symptoms. Before CardioMEMS, a patient would get sick and go to either the ED (emergency department) or doctor’s office, or their symptoms would be picked up during a routine appointment. With this new technology, we are able to identify changes in hemodynamics and act on them before the patient even becomes symptomatic. Not only do we keep them out of the hospital, we can improve their quality of life.”

“With CardioMEMS,” he continued, “rather than waiting to hear from them when they call or present to the hospital with symptoms, now, we’re calling them to let them know that discernable changes are taking place, and importantly, we are able to triage right over the phone. This allows the patient to play an active role in their care and provides great peace of mind.”

For Goethe, the security the CardioMEMS affords has made all the difference.

“The peace of mind that someone is always overseeing my care means everything.

Before getting the CardioMEMS, I always felt uncertain. I didn’t know when I was getting sick. I used to call Lisa Freeman, Dr. Craig’s nurse, all the time, now she’s calling me. She can adjust my medicine every day or every few days. I feel better when my medicine is right. Otherwise, I can’t breathe. I used to question myself whether I was getting sick, but this device knows when I’m getting sick.”

When CardioMEMS was approved in May 2014 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Craig was eager to introduce it to patients like Goethe at MUSC. A long-term, extensive clinical study, known as the CHAMPION Trial, had been conducted at over 50 sites in the United States, and the results were promising.

The trial randomized 550 participants and compared the system’s effectiveness in half the CHF patients against optimal medical therapy alone. In 2008, while the study was in its second year, Craig was completing a fellowship in Advanced Heart Failure at The Ohio State University, which allowed him to be involved in the trial and participate in implantation.

The results of the trial, which were published in The Lancet in 2011, showed a 28 percent reduction in the rate of heart failure hospitalizations at six months and a 37 percent reduction in hospitalizations during an average follow-up duration of 15 months.

Craig has high hopes for the device as MUSC admits roughly 55 CHF cases per month and the state averages between 8,000 and 10,000 admissions a year, he said.

“Based on our patients, we could probably implant more than 100 CardioMEMS devices a year. This device does not treat the patient’s heart failure, but it’s allowing us to take better care of their underlying disease, and without question, it’s the most exciting thing in the heart failure world in a long time. There are two important considerations. From a hospital perspective, the most exciting thing will be reduction in readmissions. More importantly, from a patient perspective, reacting to their heart rate and pressure changes before they have symptoms will translate into a better quality of life.”

Goethe had never been to MUSC before seeing Craig in 2012, but now receives all his specialty care here. He is grateful that the implant is slowly giving him the confidence that allows him to enjoy a few of the simpler things in life like fishing on occasion or taking short walks.

Former Hollings Cancer Center director remembered By allison leggeTT Hollings Cancer Center Mark R. Green, M.D., former Hollings Cancer Center director from 1996 to 2000, died Feb. 23. Green, 70, was an important figure in the development of medical oncology and played a pivotal role in the history of the Hollings Cancer Center.

Green received his medical degree from Harvard University and trained at Green Harvard’s Beth Israel Hospital, the National Cancer Institute and Stanford University. In 1976, he joined the University of California San Diego, where he held the Edwin and Evelyn Tasch Chair in Cancer Research, established in his honor, and served as director of the UCSD Cancer Center.

In 1986, he led the center to NCI designation for the first time.

Green joined MUSC in 1996 as the director of the Hollings Cancer Center and the Mary M. Gilbreth Professor of Oncology. Serving as director until 2000, Green made important contributions to the development of the Hollings Cancer Center in its early stages. He retired from the full-time faculty as a Professor Emeritus in 2004.

Green was recognized as a preeminent clinical investigator, clinician, teacher and mentor. A highly respected oncologist, he contributed significantly to the understanding and treatment of solid tumors. His research focused on clinical trials of new therapies for the treatment of cancers of the lung and pancreas. He was widely published, and his research to improve cancer treatments made a difference in the lives of thousands of cancer patients worldwide.

Gerard A. Silvestri, M.D., Hillenbrand

Professor of Thoracic Oncology at MUSC, commented, “Dr. Mark Green was one of the most influential lung cancer medical oncologists in the past 50 years. He had a command of the oncologic literature that was second to none. He was one of the few doctors I have known who was not only able to quote chapter and verse about the latest cancer research, he was also able to synthesize it for your particular patient a marvelous combination and one that is rare in medicine. He will be missed.”

Green was a leader in the field of oncology, serving as chair of the NCI’s Cancer and Leukemia Group B Respiratory Committee for over 20 years and CALGB vice chairman from 1995 to 2007. During his tenure as CALGB chair, Green oversaw the development of new and innovative treatments used in thirty member universities and hundreds of medical centers. He was also a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine subspecialty Board of Medical Oncology from 1989 to 1999 and served as the subspecialty board chair from 1995 to 1999.

To honor his contributions to Hollings Cancer Center and the field of thoracic oncology, the Mark R. Green, M.D., Distinguished Endowed Visiting Professorship in Thoracic Oncology was established in 2011. This educational event to advance thoracic oncology is held annually at Hollings Cancer Center.

Green had been the driving force behind this lectureship, including the most recent lecture in January.

Green served as chief medical officer of Xcenda and vice president of Xcenda's Oncology Insights consulting practice, a position he held since 2007.

Green is survived by his wife, Judith Lax Green of Charleston; two daughters, Dr. Rebecca Heinowitz, of Boiceville, New York and Hillary G. Mahon of Charleston; in addition to other family.

Memorials may be made to the Mark R. Green, M.D. Visiting Professorship, MUSC Foundation, 18 Bee Street, MSC 450, Charleston, S.C. 29425.

The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015 11

March is National Nutrition Month Each March the Academy of Nutrition and Look for weekly specials and promotions Dietetics creates an information campaign at both cafeterias and Mindful snack items for National Nutrition Month®. This •Check broadcast messages and Facebook year’s theme, Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle, (MUSC Food and Nutrition) for specific encourages everyone to adopt eating and details. And take the March Monthly physical activity plans that are focused on Mindful Challenge: Bite into Better Snacks consuming fewer calories, making informed •Opt for 100 calories (or less) of satisfying food choices and getting daily exercise in foods (nutrient-rich choices preferred). To order to achieve and maintain a healthy begin, take the March Monthly Mindful weight. The MUSC Office of Health Challenge first survey at http://tinyurl.com/ Promotion is partnering with Sodexo and oy3kq75. A link to the final survey will be MUSC’S Dietetic Internship to celebrate sent at month’s end to those who take the National Nutrition Month with a variety of first one.

Susan Johnson events scheduled throughout the month.

Weekly themes will emphasize a conscious Wellness Events focus on high-quality choices, the right–sized portions, q Bite Into a Healthy Lifestyle — March is National and mindful snacking.

Nutrition Month. Check broadcast messages and Look for the Dietetic Interns at Wellness Wednesdays Facebook (MUSC Food and Nutrition) for activities from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Stop by the table for interactive from March 9–31 at the cafeterias, Wellness activities and a chance to win prizes.

Wednesdays and Urban Farm lunch and learns. Look •March 11, Children’s Hospital Lobby: Bite Size for weekly specials and promotions at both cafeterias. (portion control) q Worksite Screening: Friday, March 13 — (Room •March 18, ART Lobby: Quality of the Bite HE 628h, Clinical Sciences Building) This screening, •March 25 Children’s Hospital Lobby: GigaBite valued at about $350, is available to employees with (Technology and Nutrition) the State Health Plan (including MUSC Health Plan) at no charge for the basic test. Employees and Urban Farm Thursday Lunch & Learns their spouses, without insurance, can participate Join the MUSC dietetic interns at the Urban Farm for $46. For information, visit www.musc.edu/ for a series of interactive talks featuring influential and employeewellness/2015Worksite Screening and register passionate partners. Bring a lunch and enthusiasm for at link provided. health and wellness and enjoy the outdoors 12:15 – q Employee Fitness Series — 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., 12:45pm. (In case of rain meet at the Colbert library, March 18. Physio-ball Workout. This free class will room 109, check the MUSC Urban Farm Facebook deliver an overall body workout that will challenge and page to confirm the location.) improve muscular endurance, strength, cardiovascular fitness, core strength and control. Participants will q Thursday, March 12: A Healthy Charleston receive a free day pass to the Wellness Center. Email Challenge (HCC) winner will share information musc-empwell@musc.edu to register. about this successful 12–week weight loss and activity q Quit Smoking in 2015 — MUSC is conducting a competition located at our Wellness Center. Come research study to see if magnetic stimulation can reduce learn more about the inspirational, health improving nicotine cravings and make it easier to stop smoking. effects of this program and how HCC has positively Payment for participation is provided and free parking affected the lives of many participants. is available. For information, contact Scott Henderson, q Thursday, March 19: Verde, a popular restaurant 792-5560. with locations on King Street and Coleman Boulevard, q Chair massages — Free massages are offered to will discuss the ideas behind their delicious, fresh employees midday on Wednesdays. Check broadcast and wholesome products. Come out and learn more messages for locations and times. about how this restaurant incorporates bright flavors, q Farmers Markets — Fresh fruits and vegetables are nutrition and fresh ideas into every dish. available from local farmers on Fridays from 7 a.m. to q Thursday, March 26: GrowFood Carolina —South 3:30 p.m. at the Horseshoe.

Carolina’s first local food hub. This amazing business MUSC Wellness Center provides support to local food growers, making q Foam Rolling (SMR) is a great way to learn how to local and healthy food more accessible to the entire foam roll safely and effectively. Recover faster, move community, including many area restaurants. Plus, learn how King of Pops came to be and about their goal better and increase results. Classes are at 6 p.m., “to provide an ecologically responsible, fresh, all-natural Mondays; 4:30 p.m., Wednesdays; 1 p.m., Saturdays in the Crow’s Nest. frozen treat in a fun neighborhood environment.”

Pops will be available for purchase.

Health at work

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12 The CaTalysT, March 6, 2015

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affect a patient’s ability to participate and succeed in daily life. I also realized I had a talent for motivating people- getting to know them and encouraging them to push themselves. This boy made a lot of physical gains when I was working with him; I was also a valuable resource for his therapists because I knew just how far he could be pushed.”

Perry really looked up to those therapists, one in particular, whose compassion, expertise and empathy were qualities that she hoped to one day emulate as a professional therapist.

When discussing women in her chosen profession, she laughed. “Actually,” she said, “it’s overwhelmingly populated by women. People get very excited about the five guys in our class of 44 students. Occupational therapy was originally marketed to women. In the late 1800s health care professionals began utilizing purposeful daily activities to rehabilitate mental health patients, and later, soldiers returning from war. After World War I, the need for this type of rehabilitation became apparent, as returning soldiers struggled to adjust to life at home. Women were recruited to be trained as occupational therapists."

Hopefully the gender imbalance won’t always be the norm. Perry’s understanding of history and zeal for current social rights issues undergird her clear and resolute beliefs: “You could say that my religion is being

American. I love the values our country stands for, equality and civil rights, liberty and justice; I believe that people should be judged by the content of their character and not by anything else.”

Those strong beliefs have given her the drive and motivation to push for change on a campus she loves.

Having been a member of the Gay Straight Alliance as an undergraduate at Florida Southern, she knew she wanted to be involved at MUSC as well.

Although she greatly enjoys studying in the MUSC Occupational Therapy Program, she learned early on that while students were protected by nondiscrimination clauses that included gender identity and sexual orientation, employees’ non–discrimination clauses fell short of including those two provisions.

“This wasn’t news to us,” she said, referring to members of the GSA, “We had wanted to do something about it for a long time, but weren’t sure how to go about it. We got tired of waiting."

After a “Coffee Talk” featuring Jeff Ayres from South Carolina Equality, they finally decided to start a petition to get employee policies changed.

As it turned out, her timing was perfect. MUSC was inaugurating Dr. Cole as the new president, and she decided to send the petition to him to ask for his support as the first signature. She said, “It seemed like the right thing to do."

The response was immediate. “Two days later, I got a call back from Dr. Shaw, in the provost office, telling

me that we had their full support. Beyond that, they said that if possible, they would try to make the changes outright, without the petition process. I got this call on a Friday. By Monday it was changed. I was so excited.

I was jumping around my living room. I had a test the next day and totally didn’t get any studying done.”

Perry described feeling exhilarated and grateful to have been part of true social change. “I don’t want to take all the credit, my teammates in GSA (now called the Alliance for Equality) were extremely instrumental in making this happen, and Dr. Laurie Charles was our advisor and cheerleader every step of the way. I also credit Dr. Willette Burnham and Dr. DaNine Fleming for their support on our journey. And of course, none of this would have been possible without the courageous integrity of the president's office. I actually later found out that more employee policies changed to extend health benefits to same–sex partners, which is just amazing.”

Perry is looking forward to the future even as she impacts the present. “Another reason I chose occupational therapy is because of all the flexibility it offers. I could work with veterans, or with infants in the intensive care unit, with elderly people recovering from strokes, in horse therapy or aquatic therapy - there are so many possibilities.”

Editor’s note: Throughout March, The Catalyst will feature women who make a difference at MUSC as part of Women’s History Month.

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