MUSC Catalyst 3-11-2016

March 11, 2016

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 34, No. 26

Inside MUSC leads nation with first use of new MRI-safe defibrillator MEulti xcEllEncE -cEntER DinRug Action tRiAl

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Two Institute of Psychiatry nurses New drug come to the aid of holds hope a for visitor after transplanthe appeared patients with tohepatitis be having C. a heart attack.

R WEsEARch oMEn’s s ERvicE linE histoRy Month

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Nexus will enhance Manager, mom, translational volunteer research and nurtures serve patients, as an families staff. extendedand partner for medical discoveries.

Firework Award safety 2 DAISY TJ 5 Meet Reba Applause 11 Wellness 10

t h E c AtA ly s t onlinE http://www. musc.edu/ catalyst

By Helen AdAms adamshel@musc.edu

W

hen Lucille Robinson woke up in a recovery room at MUSC, she had a big smile on her face. “The first thing I’m going to do is go to church,” the Beaufort woman said.

She should be able to that a lot more easily now that she’s become the first person in the country to get a new kind of heart defibrillator. Not only will it do a better job of helping her heart than her old device did, but it also won’t cause problems if she needs a magnetic resonance imaging scan.

The cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator is called Amplia.

MUSC cardiologist Michael Gold, M.D., performed the procedure on Robinson. He had good reason to think the implanted CRT defibrillator would work well. “I was the principal investigator of the worldwide trial of the first MRI–safe implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year. The CRT is an extension of the ICD device, so it didn't require any implants before U.S. approval.” His experience made him a natural choice to lead the country in using the new CRT device.

CRT defibrillators are used in people whose hearts are damaged from heart attacks, high blood pressure or other causes.

Robinson already had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD, a batterypowered device that keeps track of the heart rate and delivers a shock if needed.

But it wasn’t enough. Robinson’s son said she was so sick that it scared him. His mom, 73, was passing out and had to go to the emergency room several times. She recently had to be given intravenous medicine to

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photo by Dawn Brazell, brazell@musc.edu

Lucille Robinson recovers from surgery with the help of her daughter, Leotha Wilkins. Robinson was the first person in the country to get the new Amplia

This image from Medtronic shows the MRI-safe CRT defibrillator.

remove fluid from her body.

Gold said Robinson needed to be upgraded to the CRT ICD. While an ICD has one or two wires going into the heart, the CRT adds a third to help the two sides of the heart stay in rhythm and pump more efficiently. “A CRT ICD senses the heartbeat and paces both sides of the heart,” Gold said. “When dangerous fast or slow heart rates develop, it can pace or shock the heart to restore normal heart rates.”

Best of all, he said, with the new device, Robinson can safely get MRI scans, which use magnetic fields and radio waves to create images of the inside of the body. Those images

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See Device on page 9 @ Catalyst_MUSC

2 THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016

DAISYs awarded to two nurses on ART’s Hope Unit The February DAISY (Disease Attacking the Immune System) Award winners are Julia Potts RN, and Jill Meetze, RN, who both work on the renovated seventh floor oncology Hope Unit of Ashley River Tower. Potts and Meetze were nominated by Melanie Wilson, RN. Below is Potts and Meetze’s nomination: “Julia was caring for a young 23– year–old man dying of leukemia who was well known to the staff on our unit. The patient had a beloved dog at home who he missed terribly. When it became evident that the patient would likely not be able to return home or see his dog again, Julia and the charge nurse Jill sprung into action. With the help of the patient’s father, Julia and Jill arranged to have the father bring the patient’s dog to the hospital and got the bedridden patient into a wheelchair.

Despite his illness and myriad other

symptoms at the time, Julia and Jill were able to stabilize him enough to wheel him downstairs where he was reunited with his beloved dog one last time. The reunion brought joy to both the patient and his father. Sadly, the patient passed about two weeks later, but it was the caring, compassionate work of Julia and Jill that brought happiness to this patient in his last days. I am proud to work with nurses like this who exemplify caring and go out of their way to meet the needs of their patients.”

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.

The award is given to outstanding nurses in more than 1,800 health care provider hospitals in the U.S. and 14 other countries. Nominations can be

photo provided

DAISY nurses Julia Potts, left, and Jill Meetze were recently honored. submitted by anyone — patients, visitors, physicians, fellow nurses and all MUSC staff and volunteers.

For information or to nominate a nurse, visitwww.musc.edu/medcenter/ formsToolbox/DaisyAward/form.htm.

YES Family Fund accepting grant applications

Project hosts listening sessions through April

Looking for a way to fund a special program or research opportunity? The YES Family Fund, sponsored by the Yearly Employee Support Campaign, is currently accepting grant applications until March 31.

The fund provides grants to support projects that benefit the mission of MUSC through education, patient care and research. Applications should include name, department, phone, number, name of project and amount of funding requested. Include a brief summary of the project or program and how funding will benefit MUSC’s mission. For information, email mcluen@ musc.edu or visit www.academicdepartments.musc.edu/development/help/ YESgrant html.

The Charleston community is invited to take part in The Illumination Project — a yearlong effort to improve relationships between citizens and the police.

In February, about 75 community members participated in listening sessions as an opportunity to engage citizens, ask questions and share

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

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., 843-958-7480 or 843-937-4803. E-mail: sales@moultrienews.com.

ideas between citizens and the police.

Throughout March and April, more listening sessions will be held. The goal is to register 1,000 people. To register for an upcoming public listening sessions, visit http://www.illuminationproject@ charlestonpolicefund.org.

Applications for Developing Scholars Award accepted This award recognizes and rewards junior faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the research mission of MUSC, either with their individual research program or as part of an interdisciplinary research team, to promote the continued development of these creative scholars. It is aimed at individuals who have successfully competed for extramural funding but who are still in the formative stages of their careers.

Candidates are restricted to faculty members holding the rank of assistant professor who have been on the MUSC faculty at least two, but not more than six academic years.

Deadline for nominations is Thursday, April 30. Nominating packages should include the nominee’s C.V. , letters from scholars and mentors and a statement from the nominator. Nominations (PDF file) should be sent to Robin Hanckel at hanckelr@musc.edu.

THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016 3

$3.8 million grant awarded to surgeon to test transplant drug

By J. Ryne dAnielson daniejer@musc.edu Seldom can one say $3.8 million is just the tip of the iceberg, but a newly-awarded grant from Gilead is just that. MUSC transplant surgeon Kenneth Chavin, M.D., Ph.D., says the true value of the multi-center drug trial is closer to $26 million, including $22 million in free drugs provided by pharmaceutical company Gilead.

As the trial’s principal investigator, Chavin wants to know whether the drug Harvoni, which received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of the hepatitis C virus, will retain its 97 to 99 percent cure rate for patients who have undergone a liver transplant. Depending on the outcome of the trial, Gilead may seek FDA approval for another indication for Harvoni, opening up more options for HCV patients post-transplant.

HCV, an RNA virus that inflames liver cells, often leads to cirrhosis — or scarring — of liver tissue. It is the primary cause of liver disease in adults and by far the most common reason for a patient to need a transplant.

Unfortunately, liver transplant alone may simply delay the worst unless the virus itself is cured.

“One of the leading causes of graft failure — the failure of the organ to thrive — in liver transplant patients is a recurrence of HCV, including fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis C, a rapidly progressing recurrence with a very high mortality rate,” Chavin said. “If HCV reoccurs within two years, then the patient is not considered a good candidate for another transplant; more than likely, it will occur again, and you’ll have lost two livers and a patient in the end.”

Such stark assessments highlight the need for good treatments for HCV among liver transplant patients.

Other drugs do exist, Chavin explained, but these require longer courses of treatment and are much more poorly tolerated after transplant than preliminary results show Harvoni to be.

“Side effects of the old drugs include severe fatigue, nausea, body aches — the old drugs basically induce continuous flu-like symptoms in an attempt to cure the virus,” Chavin said. “Retroviral therapies like Harvoni offer patients better outcomes with fewer side effects.”

The trial is the first of its kind in the United States and will include 220 patients at four centers across the country: MUSC, Emory, Georgetown and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Researchers at MUSC, including Chavin, transplant hepatologist Kimberly Beavers, M.D., and pharmacist James Fleming, PharmD, are taking the lead and have written protocols for each of the centers to follow.

Chavin believes MUSC was a natural choice to head up the trial, even among other world–renowned institutions. “MUSC's transplant group has always been involved in clinical research,” he said. “We have a track

photo by Sarah Pack, packsa@musc.edu

Dr. Keneth D. Chavin is vice chair of research in the Department of Surgery and is the director of the MUSC Center for Cellular Therapy. record of multiple, successful investigator–initiated While future transplant patients will not have the trials with big pharma as our sponsor. And we have the good fortune of free medicine, Chavin thinks the appropriate infrastructure in surgery, medicine and drug is still a good deal. “A one–time cost of $100,000 pharmacy to lead a trial like this. It's because of that saves all the cost of having liver disease, which can be and our interest in serving our patients that I think we millions of dollars. For a liver transplant, the average is were selected.” $150,000 to $200,000, not including hospitalizations Coordinating such a complex trial, not only and complications. It's very cost–effective in the across areas within MUSC but also across different long run, both individually and from a public organizations, has been a challenge, but not one health perspective to eradicate HCV in the general for which Chavin was unprepared. “Transplant is population.” a multidisciplinary care team,” he explained. “We have proven track records in the areas of collaborative Outstanding Clinician Award academic as well as clinical work. From the presentation of a patient with whatever disease he or she may have, applications due by April 30 through the operation and post–transplant care, we Applications for the 2016 MUSC Foundation have ongoing robust interactions with colleagues across Outstanding Clinician Awards are being the institution, and this trial is just an extension of accepted. Application deadline is Thursday, that.”

April 30.

Fleming, who is the lead pharmacist on the trial, The award honors full–time faculty of any hopes the trial may form the basis for a new working duration of service who have made outstanding relationship between the four centers. “The new contributions to patient care at MUSC. research relationship between MUSC, Emory, Currently active clinicians that commit a Georgetown, and UPMC will hopefully result in more significant portion of their time caring for collaborative research opportunities in the future,” he patients in ambulatory or inpatient settings are said. eligible for this award.

Chavin hopes to begin open enrollment for the trial Submit nominations to Dr. Mark Sothmann,

by April 1. The other three centers will follow within VP for Academic Affairs and Provost, 179 30 to 60 days. He reiterated that the trial is novel Ashley Avenue, Colcock Hall, MSC 002, and unique, especially considering the cost of the MUSC. medication provided, which typically runs in excess of $100,000 per patient for a course of treatment.

4 THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016

Students are discovering MUSC via career fair

By J. Ryne dAnielson daniejer@musc.edu

M

ore than 200 students from 15 area high schools had the opportunity to explore their future careers March 4 at the Discover MUSC career fair.

DaNine Fleming, Ed.D., director of training and intercultural education, welcomed the students to MUSC’s campus and encouraged them to explore all their options for a future career. “If you think you know what you want to do, that’s great, but explore others too,” she said. “Just like your tastes may have changed in the last few years, your interests can too. So be open to the opportunity to change.”

Fleming surprised many students when she explained that MUSC is far more than just the College of Medicine.

“How many of you can name all the colleges at MUSC?” she asked. “We have six. Everybody knows the College of Medicine, but not everybody knows the Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies or Health Professions. Did you know the College of Health Professions alone has 11 different programs?”

Altogether 40 departments were represented at the career fair, held in the MUSC Wellness Center Gymnasium, including not just the six colleges but

also OCIO, Public Safety, Engineering and Facilities, SODEXO and others.

Students watched medical simulation demonstrations, tried out Geiger counters, learned proper hand–washing techniques and even got the chance to touch a human brain.

As students explored the fair, they played a version of bingo, receiving stickers for tasks such as performing CPR on a medical mannequin, discovering the cause of cavities or using the Glo Germ black light to test their hand–washing techniques. Students who successfully completed their bingo cards were entered to win a door prize provided by one of the colleges or departments represented on the planning committee.

Assistant professor in the Department of Oral Rehabilitation, Joe Vuthiganon, DMD, represented the Alliance for Equality at the career fair. “It was amazing to see this event come to fruition,” he said. “It was in line with one of the recommendations my team made for the Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. I represented a student group with the mission of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ community. It was particularly touching to hear from students and faculty about similar groups at their high schools and to see some students pick up and wear a “Born this

MUSC student volunteers led their high school counterparts on campus tours, answering questions and offering personal advice for those wishing to follow in their footsteps.

photos by Anne Thompson, Digital Imagaing

Students from 15 area high schools explored a future in health care at the Discover MUSC career fair held March 4.

Students explored health care up close and personal through hands-on demonstrations like this one set up by the graduate students Reaching Out With Science (GROWS) program.

Here, high schoolers touch a human brain and learn about the many opportunities for scientific research at MUSC. Way” button to show their pride as a member of the LGBTQ community — something I wouldn’t have dreamed of when I was in high school.”

After the fair, MUSC student volunteers led their high school counterparts on a tour of the campus. A lunch–and–learn lecture was provided in Baruch Auditorium, covering the rapidly developing fields of telehealth and hightech dentistry.

Suzi Raiford, education initiatives director for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, was impressed

with the event. “The MUSC career fair is going to be held up as a model for other organizations to implement activities like this for students,” she said. “It is essential for the business world to get involved in education, for us to get business people into the classroom and students out of the classroom so they can discover as many jobs as possible in the Charleston area.”

Fleming stressed the importance of the event for MUSC. “One of the Diversity

See Career on page 11

THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016 5

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6 THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016

Children’s Hospital volunteer manager puts patients first By mikie HAyes hayesmi@musc.edu “Patients First” is not just a compassionate sentiment or a saying on a poster to Melissa Kubu. It’s what drives her. It’s also why she is being honored

by MUSC for Women’s History Month, as the representative of Imagine MUSC 2020’s strategic goal Patients First.

Ever since she was a little girl, she knew she wanted to give back and help people. That was how she and her brother were raised by their mother.

Even before she entered middle school, Kubu, manager of Children’s Hospital Volunteer and Guest Services, was already volunteering her time and talent to help others.

Kubu had a particularly soft place in her heart for the special needs community, and for her, it was personal.

Her mom’s older sister has always been an important part of her life. Her aunt, for most of her life, has been mentally and emotionally challenged.

“That started my passion for working with special needs children and adults,” she said. “They don’t have a lot of the opportunities that people in the everyday world have. I really wanted to be a part of helping them.”

When she was 11, she began to volunteer with the Special Olympics, the world's largest sports organization for kids and adults with intellectual disabilities. And even at that age, she was aware of the difference those activities made in the lives of the people she was helping. Later, while other teens were busy with their own lives, Kubu continued her efforts with the organization, volunteering her time all the way through high school and college.

After she graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in physical education and health and a minor in health promotion, she accepted a position with St. Andrews Parish Parks and Playground Commission. Through those efforts, she became a member of the Special Olympics Winter Games board. Kubu said the two organizations partnered any time it was possible, which for her, was the best of all worlds.

Because she had always been interested in health and well–being, she enjoyed

her work there, and at the same time, she was able to help even more kids become involved in sports programs and worthwhile activities. “Raising money and working with underprivileged children from the community so they could go to camps and do special activities was really meaningful for me, and it made such a difference in their lives,”she said.

Kubu soon was named the executive director of Charleston Miracle League — a nonprofit organization that creates an environment where children ages 4 through 18 with mental and physical challenges can feel a sense of belonging and create fun memories playing league baseball. Later, she helped develop a program for special–needs adults. Every Saturday during the spring and fall, she and approximately 75 volunteers would mentor and play baseball with 130 players at Joe Griffith Miracle Field. It took a lot of organizational ability and even more passion to make it successful.

Both, it turned out, Kubu had in spades, and as a result, she was able to help provide opportunities for many.

2008 was a particularly exciting time for CML, Kubu explained, as she was able to form a partnership with the MUSC Children’s Hospital and work with administrator John Sanders, solidifying an early and positive working relationship between the two. Because the vast majority of the CML players were MUSC patients, the Children’s Hospital was able to fund a grant that allowed even more children to get involved. Kubu also began to work with the MUSC Medically Fragile Program to offer opportunities to those children who had little to no options for recreation in the community. “It was wonderful to see some of the medically fragile children from MUSC able to come out and play.

They had very complex chronic diseases and illnesses. Some of them had, for the first time ever, a sport they could participate in and fans cheering them on from the bleachers. It was amazing.”

At the beginning of 2012, the manager of Volunteer and Guest Services position at the Children’s Hospital came available. Kubu said the position is the perfect fit for her and allows her to ensure patients, families

photo provided

Melissa Kubu is joined by MUSC President David Cole and volunteers. and staff are well taken care of. She manages all aspects of the extensive volunteer program that entails selecting, training and scheduling more than 200 volunteers and placing them throughout the Children’s Hospital’s many units, as well as in nurseries, the atrium and outpatient clinics.

“Our volunteers provide so much happiness. They give our patients and their families a reason to forget why they’re here. They play with them, read books, have conversations about anything other than being in the hospital. In our nurseries, they are one on one with babies. They give parents a break so they can get a coffee or go outside and get some sunshine or just take a break or a shower, which is such a luxury when you don’t want to leave your child’s bedside. My favorite part of the

day is listening to the wonderful stories volunteers bring me of their experiences and how much they get out of it.”

And for the volunteers who hold, rock and feed babies, Kubu can’t stress enough how providing that human touch when the parents can’t be with them is so important for the babies’ progress.

There are many other volunteer experiences, like Happy Wheels, a program that provides toys and books that bring joy to the patients. Also, there are volunteers who provide massages for the patients, families and staff, as well as volunteers who play music in the halls and in the rooms on the units.

She also credits the Guest Services representatives for the difference they make in the lives of families during

See Patients on page 7

THe CATAlysT, March 11 2016 7

PATienTs

Continued from Page Six

photos provided

Left photo: Enjoying family time is Melissa Kubu, right, with husband, Tim, and children, Jamison and Olivia. Above photo: Kubu is pictured with her aunt Vicki Sinclair.

particularly stressful times. “They are incredible. They take care of the families.

They love on the families. They help them get acclimated, get resources, find hotels and provide communication between units and waiting rooms. They provide a presence and help any way they possibly can. A little bit of compassion, listening and understanding goes a long way, and that’s what our Guest Services does for families.”

Kubu also works closely with Al Hoffman and the Pet Therapy Program.

“Who wouldn’t love working with Lucky and Happy and Bristol and Scamp and the many other dogs who volunteer here?” she asked. She plans four pet parades a year, and she and Hoffman go floor to floor, room to room with the pups and their handlers. “The kids love it. The doctors and nurses love it. Parents love it. It brightens everyone’s day and brings smiles to their faces. Everyone just relaxes and enjoys the moment during such a stressful time. It kind of feels like home to many whose pets are not there to comfort them,” Kubu said.

She will tell you that no two days at the Children’s Hospital are the same. At

any given moment, you might find her coloring with a sibling; encouraging a parent; giving out toys, books, blankets and toiletries; even sitting with a child as they cuddle with a pet therapy dog.

It’s a gift, she said, getting to know these wonderful families.

A recent situation sticks out in her mind. “There is a mom who has been here for many months with her baby,” she said. “She comes down and talks to me. She doesn’t have family here, so it’s a great feeling knowing she can come and get away for a few minutes. She’s essentially living here at the hospital, so to have somebody, a friend, to sit and talk to and be with, it means the world to her. That’s what I do. I have the opportunity to connect with people. I’m a listening ear.”

While it’s a foregone conclusion for Kubu that children at the Children’s Hospital are receiving the finest care available, she also wants families to feel cared for. It’s her personal quest to ensure the families are taken care of and understand what’s happening and what resources are available to them. That conviction comes from a special place of

understanding.

In August 2012, after having started her position the previous April, Kubu gave birth to her second child, Olivia. At 2 1/2 weeks, doctors became concerned when she couldn’t keep food down and was losing weight rapidly. She was admitted to the Children’s Hospital.

“It was a very scary episode. Olivia was here for three–and–a–half days. She was so tiny and losing weight. It was very terrifying. I’d been working here for three months, but until this experience, I didn’t have a full sense of everyday life here. Coming into the hospital is a completely different world than being any other place when your child is receiving care. You’re dealing with so many different dynamics and emotions.

I remember every single second and every person who helped me get through that stay and helped my daughter get better. Being in those shoes helped me understand what it’s like for others to be here. That drives me every day.”

Olivia recovered and thrived, but the Kubus had a second experience at the Children’s Hospital when it looked like Olivia was going to need neurosurgery.

Luckily, her doctor was able to treat her case without surgery, but Kubu’s belief in her work deepened. “These experiences help me understand what it’s like to be here. They make me appreciate and understand what nurses do for our families and how amazing they are, not to mention our incredible doctors and residents. It’s hard to describe a day in their lives.”

That understanding, that level of caring permeates everything she does. “It makes my day to be with the patients and families. I love meeting them in halls and waiting rooms, talking to them, finding out how things are going. It’s important that they feel cared for and have a firstrate patient experience. I always say that being in the hospital is the most expensive hotel stay you’ve ever had.

And, you didn’t ask for it. Our families deserve the best customer service and the best experience we can provide.”

At the end of her day, she will head home to care for the other team of people who mean the most to her — her husband of eight years, Jim; her two children, 7–year–old first–grader Jamison and Olivia, now 3 years old; and her fur baby, Hank, a rescued goldendoodle they call Hankidoodledandy.

But before she can do that, Kubu will interview another possible volunteer — one of 70 she will meet with for an hour this month. Three times a year she receives as many as 170 applications from people interested in becoming volunteers.

“I go home every day knowing this department has made such a difference in so many different lives. I had a good example in life,” she explained. “I got my drive from my mom. She was a single mom from the time I was 5 years old and raised my brother and me. She got me started doing volunteer work with her and caring about people. To see her drive and dedication to her children — she’s my inspiration for being a better person.”

8 THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016

Recent political visits at MUSC catch the spotlight It’s election season, and many politicians have stopped by MUSC in recent months to visit patients, brush up on health care policy or stump for their candidate. South Carolina held the first– in–the–South presidential primary in February, and Charleston was a key stop

for almost every campaign. As one of the largest employers in the region, and a statewide name in health care, it was only natural for MUSC to play host to these guests and politicians on their long road to the White House.

photos by Ryne Danielson, Public Relations

Susan G. Komen Foundation Foundation founder and breast cancer advocate Nancy G. Brinker toured the Hollings Cancer Center and showed her support for presidential candidate Jeb Bush on Feb.18.

Brinker met with Interim HCC director Dr. Anthony Alberg, center, immunologist Dr. Adam Soloff and other research staff.

Join Us Mary Moultrie Patient Safety Day Wednesday, March 16 at 12 noon, MUSC Horseshoe Wednesday, March 16 has been designated as Mary Moultrie Patient Safety Day. MUSC has decreed that every year during Patient Safety Awareness Week, each Wednesday will be celebrated in Moultrie’s honor. Moultrie was an African– American nurse who worked during the late 1960s at Medical College Hospital (preceded MUSC). Moultrie was an advocate for patient safety and civil rights.

Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, visited MUSC’s Children’s Hospital Feb. 26. She met with Drs. Sherron Jackson and Julie Kanter, of MUSC’s Lifespan Sickle Cell Clinic, as well as several of their patients who suffer from sickle cell disease.

Presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson, left, talks to pediatric critical care physician Dr. David McSwain and others during a Dec. 22 visit. Carson was joined by his wife, Candy Carson, and members of his campaign staff as they met with employees, patients and patient families and sang Christmas carols at the Children’s Hospital Atrium. photos by Cindy Abole, aboleca@musc. edu

THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016 9

deviCe Continued from Page One give her doctors important information about her condition. “The MRI–safe devices work just like regular devices, but have changes in the device and a special mode to make them safe from the strong magnetic fields of an MRI,” Gold said.

Gold is a national leader in research involving cardiac devices, including the Medtronic Evera MRI SureScan ICD System, which is also MRI–safe. “It is expected that in the future, all devices will be MRI–safe,” Gold said.

The implications are far-reaching. A million people are hospitalized in this country for heart failure every year. Some get CRT defibrillators. Among that group, as many as 40 percent need an MRI within four years. Until now, they haven’t been able to get one.

Gold said this type of research pays off for patients. “Having access to cutting– edge therapy is an advantage for our patients. Being involved in new research and helping to develop new treatments is both an opportunity for patients as well as an attraction to bring the best and brightest young doctors to MUSC.” He said Robinson’s operation went

photos by Brennan Wesley, wesleyb@musc.edu

Dr. Michael Gold says in the future, all heart devices will be MRI-safe.

“Having access to cutting–edge therapy is an advantage for our patients.”

Michael Gold, M.D.

smoothly, and the patient agreed. She was thrilled to be the first in the nation to receive the device. Her family joked that she’s famous now, and her story should be on CNN. But Robinson was focused on something else. She thanked the doctor and said she had a message for others in her condition: Have faith. “Watch God. That’s what I want the title of this story to be.”

cElEbRAting sociAl WoRkERs At Musc

MUSC social workers met March 3 for the group’s annual gathering celebrating March is Social Work Month proclamation. The team includes Crysta Schaff, Kesha Wall-Graham, Tiombe Plair, Sherrell Thomas-Nelson, Sherri Carvello, Elizabeth Britt, Kristin Farris, Brittany Smalls, Kelly Finke, Erin Courtney, Renea Bligen, Andrea Huhnerkoch, Megan Scallion, Mamie Futrell, Jessica Winkler, Jennifer Jacobs, Zakevia Lewis–Kendrick, Dr. Daniel Handel, Anton Gunn, Paul Meyers, Eanna Aaron, Mary Catherine Dubois and Catherine Mattox. Not pictured is Joyce Rivers–Miller, Peggy Willis,Sarah Bishop, Mary Elizabeth Gunter, Kelly Smith, Natasha Davis, Cynthia Plasters, Cheryl Jefferson and Abigail Williams. photo by Cindy Abole, aboleca@musc.edu

10 THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016

MUSC receives recognition for workplace wellness where employees can make entire MUSC community healthy choices,” says Meg in leading by example to Molloy, president and CEO improve the health of their of Prevention Partners. “I fellow employees and MUSC applaud this great effort and Health Plan members. The the commitment of their MUSC Health Innovation leadership to sustain a culture Center recently launched of wellness.” MUSC remains an Employee Wellness Idea among a select number of Campaign and received over employers who have worked 200 creative submissions to build employee policies with plans to pilot the top and programs for tobacco five among select employee cessation, increased physical groups. One of the goals of Susan Johnson activity, good nutrition and an the Imagine MUSC 2020 overall culture where health strategic plan is to build and wellness are valued and supported. healthy communities, beginning with our To create a culture of wellness own. requires commitment to what we MUSC Office of Health Promotion value, connection to the community serves as an organizationwide resource and leading by example. Examples of for multi–disciplinary health promotion MUSC’s organizationwide commitment and wellness programs and initiatives. to wellness can be seen in several For more information, visit www.musc. top-level initiatives implemented in edu/ohp or email me at johnsusa@musc. the past year. Starting with our most edu. senior leaders, Patrick Cawley, M.D., announced the addition of a new Employee Wellness population health goal to engage the q Worksite Screening: Thursday,

Health at work

t

March 24 at Harborview Office Tower in room 803. This screening, valued at about $350, is available to employees with the State Health Plan (including MUSC Health Plan) at no charge for the basic test in 2016. Employees and spouses without this insurance can participate for $47. For information, including updated pricing for optional tests and to register online visit musc. edu/ohp/employee-wellness/worksitescreening.html. q Adventure Out: The Adventure Out program offers free fitness classes in City of Charleston parks and on the MUSC Campus to help you turn over a new leaf and discover the benefits of green exercise. Join MUSC Wellness Center’s Gail Corvette on Saturday, 9 a.m., March 12 at the Hampton Park gazebo in downtown Charleston for a free yoga class and Katie Blaylock at 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 16 in Cannon Park for a free circuit class.

For more information, visit www.musc. edu/ohp/adventure-out.

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For the third year in a row, MUSC has sustained the WorkHealthy America Excellence Recognition, the highest standard in workplace health and prevention, from the national nonprofit organization Prevention Partners.

Prevention Partners builds healthier communities through a suite of products that guide schools, workplaces, hospitals and clinics to address the leading causes of preventable disease: tobacco use, poor nutrition, physical inactivity and obesity. The South Carolina Hospital Association’s Working Well Program has been partnering with Prevention Partners since 2011 to promote a healthy state through workplace wellness programs.

MUSC serves as a Center of Excellence for this program.

The Excellence Recognition honors MUSC’s commitment to employee health as demonstrated by its policies, programs and benefits to support employee health, optimize employee productivity and integrate wellness into daily operations. “MUSC sets a high bar in establishing a workplace

THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016 11

FoRMER sMokERs Quit to Win

CAReeR

photo provided

Hollings Cancer Center tobacco researcher Dr. Michael Cummings presents a check to exsmokers Charles Smith, center, and James Paladino on Feb. 25. Both men were winners after participating in the inaugural Quit to Win contest organized by HCC and co-sponsored by The Post and Courier. A total of 548 people participated in this tobacco smoking cessation contest.

Bell Motor Company Announces Personalized Vehicle Sourcing for the Busy Professional A Totally Hassle Free Transaction It can’t be easier than this: • Tell us what type of vehicle(s) you’re interested in. • We source it. • When we find the vehicle; you say yes or no to price quoted. • If yes..We buy it ..Not You. • We deliver the vehicle to you. • Upon delivery and 100% satisfaction you pay for the vehicle. • We handle all the paperwork. • No fees of any kind.

Continued from Page Four

and Inclusion strategic goals is to increase the pipeline of underrepresented minorities in medically related fields as well as STEM careers,� she said, referring to science, technology, engineering and math. “It was amazing to witness this diversity in action. I was able to meet and greet each of the students representing the three local school districts and witness their responses to the program. The community invests so much in MUSC — this fair is one way we can invest back in the community.�

The students seemed to value the experience. Many were excited about what the future might hold. “It opened many doors and made me think about more options than I had considered,� said one. “I liked the fact that I got some answers in the field I aspire to work in,� said another. Many mentioned how friendly and encouraging MUSC students and staff were.

Fleming hopes the event, and others like it, will inspire students to pursue their dreams through higher education and to consider MUSC when choosing a school. “Programs like this, because you’ve made a personal connection with MUSC students and faculty, should give you leverage to assist you in your journey,� she said to the students in closing. “It’s not always what you know, but who you know. Well, now you know us. We truly care, and we want to invest in you. It’s been our pleasure to have you visit, and we truly mean it when we say, ‘If there’s anything we can do, let us know.’�

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12 THe CATAlysT, March 11, 2016

lAboR & DElivERy nuRsEs biD FAREWEll

Women’s Care Services—Labor and Delivery nurses, Kit Kucera, Beckie Staples and Debra Bell, who share a combined total of 94 years of nursing experience, celebrated their retirements March 1 with co-workers. The women were grateful for the teamwork of a supportive staff and the joyful outcomes of their patients.

photos by Cindy Abole, aboleca@musc.edu

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