MUSC Catalyst

June 8, 2012

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 30, No. 41

Children’s Hospital makes top rankings

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USC Children’s Hospital was again ranked in the top 20 hospitals for children’s heart programs in U.S. News Media Group’s 2012-2013 edition of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals, along with a first-time top 50 ranking for the pediatric gastroenterology program. The rankings are at www. usnews.com/childrenshospitals and in the Best Hospitals 2013 guidebook, available in August.

“We are indeed proud to be recognized again as one of the top children’s hospitals nationally for heart and heart surgery,” said J. Philip Saul, M.D., MUSC Children’s Hospital medical director and director of pediatric cardiology. “In past years, our ranking was heightened by our top survival statistics, which we know have been equally stellar during this ranking period.

How well our patients do is clearly the most important measure of the program for us.”

Of the 10 specialties ranked by U.S. News & World Report (USNWR), MUSC Children’s Hospital now has two specialties recognized with the inaugural showing of the gastroenterology program.

“We are very excited about our developing GI program, and that MUSC Children’s Hospital was able to add one faculty member last year, Dr. Christine Carter-Kent from the Cleveland Clinic, to join Dr. Bhanu Pillai and our two nurse practitioners in our clinic,” said Rita Ryan, M.D., Department of Pediatrics chair. “Next month we will have a new pediatric GI division

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MUSC pediatric nurse, Adrienne Groh, RN 2, checks the tubes of the Berlin Heart that is hooked up to 4-month-old Kathryn Ann Mullis in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. director, Dr. Antonio Quiros from San Francisco, who brings additional expertise in the care of children with inflammatory bowel disorders and is one of the few fully–trained pediatric therapeutic endoscopists in the country.

PRoactive LeadeRshiP MUSC’s gastroenteroly nurse, Phyllis Malpas, was selected as SGNA president.

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With the addition of these extra faculty members, we’re happy to report that the wait time for an outpatient clinic appointment with an MUSC pediatric gastroenterologist has already greatly decreased.”

The 2012-2013 America’s Best Children’s Hospitals, the most extensive listing of its kind, includes 50 hospitals in each of 10 pediatric specialties:

See Rankings on page 8

ReseaRch Funding

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Excellence in Action

Policy makers visited MUSC to express the importance of cancer research.

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Meet Derrell

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Obesity Awareness Month

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

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Schachte Research Mentor Award accepting nominations Nominations are being accepted for the Peggy Schachte Research Mentor Award.

This award was established by an endowment from the College of Medicine in honor of Margaret P. (Peggy) Schachte, who founded and served as director of the MUSC Office of Research Development from 1993 to 2009. The purpose of this award is to recognize individuals at MUSC who mentor faculty in obtaining research support from private and public organizations or government agencies.

The Research Mentor Award will be presented at the MUSC Faculty Convocation and will include $1,000 as part of the recognition.

Nominations are accepted from

ExcEllEncE in action

all MUSC faculty and staff. The nominating package should include the full curriculum vitae of the nominee with examples of research mentorship activities; three supporting letters from MUSC faculty, postdoctoral fellows, students, or staff attesting to the research mentorship activities of the nominee; and a letter from the nominator (not to exceed 1,000 words) summarizing the nominee's background and achievements as a research mentor.

Nominations should be sent to: Stephen Lanier, Ph.D., associate provost for research, c/o Robin Hanckel (hanckelr@musc.edu) Colcock Hall, MSC 002. For information, call 7924333. The deadline for nominations is June 14.

MUSC Strategic Plan speakers’ series continues June 11 Educator and author Jody HofferGittell, Ph.D., will speak to faculty from 4 to 5 p.m., June 11 in Room 110, Bioengineering Building. The talk will involve evidence-based results of interprofessional activities in the workplace.

More specifically, she will address the theory of relational coordination, which is the idea that work is most effectively coordinated through relationships of shared goals, shared shared knowledge and mutual respect.

MUSC has been a national leader on interprofessionalism in the educational settings, and the university

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

843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723 Editor: Kim Draughn catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Cindy Abole, aboleca@musc.edu Dawn Brazell, brazell@musc.edu

is strategically mapping this across research and clinical delivery practices.

Hoffer-Gittell, is a professor of management at Bradeis University.

Her publications include “High Performance Healthcare: Using the Power of Relationships to Achieve Quality, Efficiency and Resilience,” “The Southwest Airlines Way,” and a number of other articles concerning health care management.

The series is part of MUSC Strategic Plan 2010 – 2015.

For information on the plan, visit http://etl2.library.musc.edu/ strategicplan/home.html.

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.

For the first time since their fateful meeting in April, Melvin Williams and Kelly Howard share some words and smiles during their May 22 reunion at Ashley River Tower. Watch the video at http://bit.ly/M5l51D.

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n MUSC chaplain and X-ray technician will always have a bond.

It’s not every day that someone helps save your life on a bus. The two, the Rev. Melvin S. Williams and Kelly Howard, had a reunion May 22.

Williams and Howard were heading home April 9 aboard a crowded CARTA Express bus bound for North Charleston. Less than seven minutes into their commute, Williams collapsed. Reacting quickly, Howard, who works in the Heart & Vascular Adult Catheterization Lab, assessed him and found that he had no pulse. She began performing chest compressions on Williams who could barely open his eyes and breathe on his own. Howard asked the bus driver for an automated external defibrillator (AED) device but learned they did not carry one. Almost immediately two other passengers volunteered to get an AED device at a building adjacent to their location on Calhoun Street.

Howard connected the device to Williams, and it delivered a shock to him. By that time, emergency medical responders had arrived and transported

the patient to MUSC’s Chest Pain Center for further treatment. Williams was classified as a STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) patient, which allows an individual to receive a rapid response level of care from cardiology, cardiac catheterization lab personnel and other areas. Williams eventually underwent a multiple bypass surgery and is recovering well.

Each year, people complete CPR training in preparation for giving aid, but not many people can apply these life-saving skills in a real-time emergency situation, Howard said.

A cardiac cath lab veteran for seven years, Howard previously worked with a three–call response team for patients and is among MUSC staff who must continually complete basic life support certification and advanced life support training, according to Natalie Ankney, R.N., Heart & Vascular Center Cath/ EP Labs, Prep and Recovery manager.

“Kelly is one of my most valuable employees. She’s committed, detail oriented and a high performer in our area. She puts 110 percent into everything she does.”

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Endoscopy nurse elected to lead on national scale

By Cindy aBole

“Phyllis is a dedicated, determined leader in our area. She’s compassionate to our patients and staff and has a great sense of humor.”

—Janice Freeman, R.N., DDC Endoscopy Services

Public Relations When it comes to providing local examples of proactive leadership and excellence, MUSC gastroenterology nurse Phyllis Malpas is tops among her staff.

Malpas, who is nurse manager of endoscopy services at the Digestive Disease Center, will cap off her 30 years in nursing as the newly installed president of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates Inc. (SGNA). She was installed at the SGNA Annual Course meeting May 18 – 23 in Phoenix.

“I’m humbled to be selected for this opportunity and I look forward to serving my colleagues and bringing emphasis on issues on a national scale and finding solutions that will provide the highest quality of patient care.”

SGNA was founded 40 years ago and is a professional organization committed to the support of nurses, technicians and associates dedicated to the fields of gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing. The group promotes advances in technology and development through educational programs of its practitioners while advocating for excellent care for patients undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Marilyn Schaffner, Ph.D., R.N., Clinical Services

“Phyllis is a gifted and knowledgeable teacher, mentor, leader and advocate. She loves GI nursing and is one who leads by example and always encourages others.”

—Alida Dempsy, R.N., DDC Endoscopy Services

DDC endoscopy services staff congratulate nurse manager Phyllis Malpas, center, during a May 8 celebration. administrator and chief nursing executive for the medical center, has worked alongside Malpas as a gastroenterology nurse. In 2009, Schaffner served as SGNA president.

“It is a huge honor to have Phyllis Malpas, one of our MUSC nurses and leaders, serving as the president of a national organization (SGNA). I served as president of this national organization, and I am proud that MUSC has the opportunity to have another colleague in this

“Phyllis and I were involved in the move and transition of Endoscopy Services to ART in 2008.

She’s energetic, well spoken, insightful and open to improving how we provide quality care for our patients while supporting the needs of her staff.”

—Jacqueline Napier, R.N., DDC Endoscopy Services leadership position 12 years later.”

In her year as president, Malpas has several items on her agenda to address. Tops on her list is to establish a new strategic plan, continue to promote advanced education and certification of SGNA nurses, address several gastroenterology issues in health care policy including sedation practice and infection and prevention control.

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cuRREnts JunE 5 People – Fostering employee pride and loyalty Employee of the Month — April Contrenia Hayes, Volunteer & Guest Services, was praised for helping a family in need following a car accident as a family member was treated as a trauma patient. Using her own money, she purchased women’s and children’s clothes for family members who didn’t have a change of clothes and provided a meal for them. (Nominated

by Vanessa Stewart) Wellness update Susan Johnson, Ph.D., Office of Health Promotion director, shared news that the program is now under the newly created Office of Health Promotion (University’s Finance and Administration).

The mission will be to educate the MUSC community of maintaining a healthy lifestyle; empower students and employees to make informed decisions and develop skills to enhance their well being; and build a collaborative multidisciplinary network that supports collaboration, coordination and commitment for wellness.

June activities includes include Obesity Awareness Month, a worksite screening, June 12 (2West classroom); MUSC Employee Fitness Series—free sprint intervals class, 4:15 to 4:45 p.m., June 20; and mobile mammograms (digital mammograms), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 20 (behind the Clyburn Research Center off President street) MUSC Urban Farm will host an Open House, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 28.

Visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/ MuscURbanFarm.

Service – Serving the public with compassion, respect and excellence

Phil Costello, M.D., MUSC Physicians president and Department of Radiology and Radiological Science chair, spoke

about plans to open Mount Pleasant’s MUSC Health East on July 9. The project, which is funded by MUSC Physicians, features an 84,000 square foot, three-story facility that’s accessible via I-526 and US 17 North via Hungry Neck Boulevard.

The building was established to help consolidate many East Cooper – MUSC offices under one roof. Services offered include orthopaedics, neurology, cardiology, radiology, an onsite lab, dermatology, family medicine, an afterhours clinic (Carolina Family Care), a 10–bed infusion center, and other subspecialties.

The facility’s design is a modern, efficient patient-centric site featured in layout and art work. Features included in this energy–efficient facility are: an open atrium, mood lighting, a rooftop healing garden, community room and Black Bean Café.

Looking ahead, Costello mentioned that MUSC Physicians plans to build similar clinical facilities in West Ashley and North Charleston.

Quality – Providing quality patient care in a safe environment

Jennifer Aldrich, quality and compliance manager, Engineering & Facilities, and Greg Weigle, construction and design director, Facilities Management, reviewed details of the institution’s campus wayfinding strategy. Campuswide signage standards were initiated in 2007 as part of a new campus signage master plan conducted by Ayers, Saint and Gross. The plan made improvements to exterior, interior and parking signage.

Since 2007, new signage standards have been used for renovated areas, new space and other improvements. The longterm focus for signage improvements would be to start with the clinical areas first, then academic and student areas, research, administration, etc., as funding becomes available. Described were the

To Medical Center Employees A series of Medical Center town hall meetings were conducted May 16 through June 1. We got off to a slow start with attendance, but I am pleased that 1,477 individuals participated in the town hall meetings. The town hall evaluation comments are being reviewed and we hope to use this information to enhance future town hall meetings.

The town hall agenda included: pillar goals update; recognition of exceptional achievements of employees and departments; preliminary information concerning the employee commitment survey; general comments concerning the MUSC Health strategic Smith plan; Joint Commission survey outlook; and our Magnet journey.

A Tegrity recording of the town hall presentation has been posted on the MUSC Excellence website.

At the June 5 management communications meeting Dr. Philip Costello, chair, Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, and president of MUSC Physicians, gave an update on the new MUSC Health East facility. Dr. Costello began by explaining the purpose of the name change from University Medical Associates (UMA) to MUSC Physicians was for a “unified message” and to improve public communication.

MUSC Health East will open July 9. This new patient-friendly 84,500 square foot facility will house all currently leased facilities in the East Cooper area under one roof. It is located on Hungryneck Boulevard next to the 526 flyover drop.

MUSC Physicians funded this $20 million facility plus $5 million equipment costs.

Services will include a range of specialties and subspecialties, radiology and on-site laboratory and after-hours clinic. Building highlights will include the Black Bean Café, a rooftop healing garden, and community room. Additional details are included in this newsletter.

W. Stuart Smith Vice President for Clinical Operations and Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center

differences between wayfinding as a methodology of providing indicators to guide people to their destinations and signage as a tool.

Branding refers to the emotional connection with the goal to create an automatic association between the name brand and positive impression. At MUSC, organizers have merged evidencebased industry standards for wayfinding methodology with campuswide sign standards.

Discussed were the use of patient touchpoints (first impressions, arrival points, parking, welcome and family support, medical care, wrap up and lasting impressions) to help patients and visitors navigate through the medical center. Also described were the wayfinding hierarchy (parking, building destination, elevator, floor, service line) ranked in importance. Working with a campus signage advisory committee, the process develops the hierarchy,

establish sign locations, select sign types, develop sign messages and committee review. Current wayfinding projects include the university hospital main corridors, Rutledge Tower connector and implement exterior signage directionals throughout campus.

Next, the team will continue work on corridor projects, evaluate wayfinding in the upper floors of the university hospital and Rutledge Tower and implement exterior signage.

Announcements q Tonya Wagner, R.N., was named as a nurse educator with the patient safety team in the Center for Clinical Effectiveness & Patient Safety. q Mike Sawin, R.N., accepted a job as a nursing specialty manager for Therapeutic & Professional Support Services. He will begin in his position June 17. q The next meeting is June 19.

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MEEt DERREllE

Derrelle Green-Patrick Department Safety & Security How long at MUSC 4 years How are you changing what’s possible at MUSC I take my job seriously, and I don’t mind helping. I try to be as professional as I can be and get personal with people who I meet.

I try to be a positive influence.

Favorite part of being a sergeant in the Army National Guard Meeting people. When the new soldiers come in, I’m responsible for showing them the ropes and making sure they are squared away. I like doing that.

Favorite singer Patti LaBelle. We share the same birthday.

Best thing about living in Charleston Eating seafood Dream vacation I’d love to go to Aruba.

Greatest moment of your life The birth of my children, each one. Three boys and the youngest is a girl. She makes my day when she tells me I am the best mommy in the world.

View her video at http://bit.ly/KXxmaK

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Officials’ visit puts cancer research in spotlight T

wo influential policy makers visited MUSC’s Hollings Cancer Center extolling the importance of maintaining funding for cancer research given looming governmental cutbacks.

Sen. Lindsey Graham and Harold Varmus, M.D., director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and corecipient of a Nobel Prize for studies of the genetic basis of cancer, met with press and health care professionals at Hollings Cancer Center (HCC) June 4. Varmus addressed a standing–room–only crowd for a special seminar held at the Bioengineering Building explaining the new themes at NCI of precision medicine, global health and provocative questions.

Lindsey, who offered statements to the press before Varmus’ presentation, said that South Carolina has disproportionately high rates of some types of cancer and needs to do what it can to ensure that Holling’s Cancer Center maintains its research funding. NCI faces a possible funding decrease of 8.5 percent, a drop that Graham described as political malpractice.

The center currently receives $1 million from the institute’s $5 billion annual budget that is set to be trimmed.

“For $5 billion, we’re making dramatic strides against cancer across the board,” Graham said. “The idea of cutting that 8.5 percent makes no sense to me. The amount of money coming into the Holling’s Cancer Center has phenomenally increased the ability of people to survive cancer episodes in South Carolina. If government isn’t about saving lives and improving the quality of life, what is it about?”

Varmus said he was impressed that HCC was able to get the status of being an NCI–designated cancer center, one of 66 nationally, in 2009. “We at the NCI value our cancer centers very highly. When they pass the scrutiny of our peer reviewers and win the designated status, we know they are strong. We like having cancer centers spread throughout the country and not just in New York, San Francisco and Boston.

We’re very pleased to find here in South Carolina, you have a strong center.”

In his presentation, Varmus covered some of the exciting changes happening in cancer research.

“We’re seeing in some types of cancer revolutionary changes in the way we diagnose and treat the disease and new ways to prevent it and to screen for it. We’ve gone from a time when cancer was a complete mystery to a time now just 20 or 30 years later when we understand exactly the type of changes that occur in our chromosomes that turn a normal cell into a cancer cell. That’s had profound implications for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.”

Covering the NCI’s provocative questions project, Varmus shared with researchers and clinicians some of

photos by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), front, meets with Drs. Andrew S. Kraft, left, Harold Varmus and Ray Greenberg June 4.

NCI Director Harold Varmus addresses a packed house June 4 for his special seminar on new themes at the NCI. the questions driving the frontiers in cancer research.

(For information, visit http://provocativequestions. nci.nih.gov/.) Given recent technological advances, especially in genomics, molecular biology, and computational sciences, there has never been a better time for doing cancer research, he said.

“We have made large leaps in our basic knowledge about cancers — especially about the genetic and biochemical mechanisms by which they arise.”

Andrew S. Kraft, M.D., HCC director, said he

was pleased by the visit during what is a challenging fiscal environment. Cancer centers grow based on the commitment of state leaders to have an outstanding one.

“In South Carolina, where rates for some cancers are among the highest in the nation, increased funding means we can intervene in cancer earlier — from preventing and controlling it to diagnosing it earlier and developing better therapies to treat it.”

Cancer is set in a few years to overtake heart disease as the leading killer of Americans, Kraft said.

“Further cuts to the NCI would be passed down to us and our research programs. Cancer research here and other places would be set back at a time when we need to be more aggressive than ever in exploiting what we’ve learned about this complex disease and investing in people and technology to slow it down.”

In the meantime, Varmus’ special seminar had MUSC medical professionals discussing the issues.

Research specialist Deirdre Walker, who attended the seminar, said she enjoyed the provocative questions project and the overview of the advances in the field.

“There were a lot of things worth thinking about,” she said, noting the disparities in cancer rates based on variables such as geography and gender. “It was very worthwhile. It changes the way you look at things.”

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huRRicane awaReness day

Hematology-Oncology social worker Tiombe Plair visits the Salvation Army’s booth during MUSC’s Annual Hurricane Awareness Day, May 23. The fair, sponsored by University Risk Management, gave employees and staff an opportunity to receive information on where to go for help during a hurricane and other disasters.

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rankings Continued from Page One

liTTle hearTs

cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and urology. Eighty hospitals across the country ranked in one or more specialties.

USNWR health rankings editor Avery Comarow said MUSC Children’s Hospital deserves high praise for its accomplishments. “MUSC Children’s Hospital has a reservoir of dedication and expertise that helps the sickest kids. Our goal at U.S. News is to identify and call attention to pediatric centers like this one.”

For families of sick children, Best Children’s Hospitals provide unparalleled quality-related information in addition to rankings, including survival rates, adequacy of nurse WaTCh staffing, procedure volume, a Video and more. Since their 2007 debut, the rankings have put an increasing emphasis http://tinyurl.com/ on data that directly reflect 83y2vp8 hospitals’ performance over the opinions of physicians. http://tinyurl.com/ This year, U.S. News 77zdsbq surveyed 178 pediatric centers to obtain hard data such as availability of key resources and ability to prevent complications and infections. The hospital survey made up 75 percent of the rankings. A separate reputational survey in which 1,500 pediatric specialists — 150 in each specialty—were asked where they would send the sickest children in their specialty made up the remaining 25 percent.

John Sanders, Children’s Hospital administrator, said the recognition provided by USNWR shows the hard work and passion that the team has for providing the best care possible for the children who are served.

“When parents research the outcomes for various programs across the country as they are looking for a center for their child, MUSC Children’s Hospital is routinely high on their radar screens. We are very proud of the physicians and all the staff involved in our Children’s heart and pediatric gastroenterology programs.”

did you Know? q Opened in 1987, MUSC Children’s Hospital is the largest pediatric health care center in South Carolina. q MUSC Children’s Hospital is nationally ranked for its

The Children’s Hospital’s heart program has obtained a 99 percent, 30–day surgical survival rate for the last eight years (2002 – 2010), ranking it among the best in the world.

MUSC physicians and surgeons use a variety of imaging and interventional techniques to optimize planning and treatment, including: 3D echo, cardiac CT and MRI, diagnostic catheterization and nonsurgical interventions such as minimally invasive catheter procedures to complement, postpone or even eliminate the need for cardiac surgery.

The Children’s Heart Center, where all pediatric cardiology efforts take place, supports family-centered comprehensive care enhanced by one of the country’s only dedicated pediatric cardiac intensive care units, designed for the critical care of all pediatric cardiac cases including postoperative monitoring and management.

A multidisciplinary nursing team with expertise in caring for children with heart defects minimizes discomfort and stress for every patient. Other family support services such as child-life specialists further enhance the patient’s experience. This team approach to caring for the littlest of hearts is also reflected in the statewide network that supports children with heart disease.

More than 20 pediatric cardiologists throughout South Carolina and two pediatric cardiac surgeons in Charleston provide coordinated care through the Children’s Heart Program of South Carolina.

Cardiology groups are based in four locations – Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Florence – with outreach clinics in a variety of other cities.

All of the surgical and catheterization procedures are performed in the Children’s Heart Center at the MUSC Children’s Hospital. This system allows for the highest level of care by the specialized teams while still assuring that most of the patient’s care is delivered closer to home.

Drs. Christine Carter-Kent and R. Bhanu V. Pillai of MUSC’s Pediatric Gastroenterology

Tiny Tummies The Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition program at MUSC Children’s Hospital supports the only Pediatric Liver Transplantation program in the state. The aim of the program is to supply care for children in the Charleston area with gastrointestinal disorders and serve as a resource to GI specialists in the region.

Currently, general pediatric GI consultation services are offered at the main campus of MUSC Children’s Hospital in downtown Charleston, with the plan of offering services in the East Cooper, Myrtle Beach, Florence and other surrounding areas in the near future.

New division chief Quiros, M.D., brings with him expertise in pancreato-biliary endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound which is available in only a handful of centers worldwide.

The new Pediatric Therapeutic Endoscopy Unit will be ready by this fall with the capacity to offer minimally invasive treatment options to children with pancreatic, biliary and gastrointestinal disorders.

specialty services by Child Magazine, Best Doctors and U.S. News & World Report.

Carolina, which was ranked ninth nationally in 2007 by Child Magazine.

q The hospital has the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the region, and the only full-service Children’s Emergency Department in South

q MUSC Children’s Hospital was also designated a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center by South Carolina and also is part of the American College of Surgeons Level I

Trauma Center national MUSC ranking. q For additional information on MUSC’s Children’s Hospital, visit its website at MUSCkids.com or

MUSChealth.com/children or call 792-1414.

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Charleston mayor supports campaign to get healthy M USC employees and students have a new way to get and stay healthy. Several local campaigns and organizations are working to improve the health of the community through weight loss and healthy lifestyles. City of Charleston Mayor Joe Riley launched the Lighten Up Charleston campaign March 26, challenging residents to lose 100,000 pounds this year, enabling Charleston to be recognized as the healthiest city in the Southeast.

The mission of Lighten Up Charleston is to reduce obesity by promoting healthy eating and physical activity. The campaign will help residents identify local community organizations, programs and facilities that will help them adopt healthier food and exercise choices.

The interactive website www.lightenupcharleston.org, provides information on programs in the community to help participants get healthy, track their progress and learn ways to lose weight. MUSC employees and students are encouraged to log in and report weight loss, create a group, tell their story or seek help from the many partners in this huge effort to get healthy.

MUSC also provides many resources, programs and support for those looking to lose weight. q MUSC Weight Management, http://www. muschealth.com/weight has been helping people in the Charleston area to manage their weight since 1974. A team of psychologists, physicians, dietitians and exercise physiologists work together to help participants reduce excess weight. q MUSC Wellness Center’s Healthy Charleston Challenge program, http://academicdepartments. musc.edu/hsc/programs/challenge/

healthycharlestonchallenge.html is a 12-week weight loss and activity competition located at the MUSC Wellness Center. A team of professionals includes personal trainers, a registered dietitian, exercise physiologists, a program clinical psychologist and other exercise specialists with experience in exercise, weight loss, and lifestyle management. Participants should be 25 or more pounds overweight and in need of permanently changing lifestyle habits for decreased risk of chronic disease. q The MUSC Bariatric Surgery program, http://www. muschealth.com/weightlosssurgery/index.htm includes experienced mental health professionals, dietitians, nurses and physicians, and is dedicated to helping patients safely realize weight loss success. q MUSC Lean Team, http://academicdepartments. musc.edu/lean_team is a collaborative program with the schools and community that has been successful in changing unhealthy policies, environments and behaviors in schools, health care systems, physician practices and the community. Support from the Boeing Company has led to the joining of this obesity prevention program with MUSC’s clinical childhood obesity treatment program, Heart Health, under the new Boeing Center for the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Children and Families. q MUSC Employee Wellness, http://mcintranet. musc.edu/health1st offers programs designed to assist employees achieve their weight management goals including free fitness classes, walking events and trails, educational sessions and access to healthy food through MUSC’s farmers market and the MUSC Urban Farm. q MUSC Nutrition Services, http://www.muschealth. com/nutrition coordinates nutrition activities across MUSC and the community and to promote partnerships, which leads to effective education, research and practice in nutrition. MUSC’s registered dietitians provide clinical knowledge and expertise through a variety of resources.

Inaugural Radiology Research Day June 9 The Department of Radiology and the Center for Biomedical Imaging are hosting a Radiology Research Day June 9.

The event starts at 8:30 a.m. and will be held inRoom 110, Bioengineering Building.

Radiology residents and post-doctoral scholars will present their research.

MUSC Employee Wellness events q MUSC's Pitch the Pack Program: Free smoking cessation program offered to MUSC employees and students. Enroll at http://ceii.muschealth.com/SCP/ SCPRegistration.aspx. q MUSC Urban Farm: Work & Learn. Learn through working with the soil and seeds in the MUSC Urban Farm on Family workday from 9 – 11 a.m. Saturday, June 9 and from noon – 1 p.m., June 13. Bring a plastic bag and take home some fresh produce. Also bring water, sunscreen and wear closed toe shoes. Email muscempwell@musc.edu for information and to register. q Farmers market: Fruits and vegetables are available from local farmers from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. every Friday in the Horseshoe and in the area next to Ashley River Tower behind McClennan Banks Building. q Worksite screening: June 12 in 2W classroom (North Tower). This screening, valued at about $350, is available to employees with the State Health Plan for $15 (covered spouses can also participate for $15).

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

To register, go to www.musc.edu/medcenter/health1st and click “Worksite Screening.” q MUSC Employee Fitness Series: There will be a free sprint intervals class from 4:15 – 4:45 p.m., June 20.

Registration is required. Send your name and email to musc-empwell@musc.edu. Sign in at the MUSC Wellness Center Membership Desk. q Mobile mammograms: The Hollings Cancer Center Mobile Van will be conducting digital mammograms from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., June 20 behind the Clyburn Research Center off President Street. Call 792-0878 to schedule an appointment.

Contact Susan Johnson at johnsusa@musc.edu to become involved in employee wellness at MUSC. Events, speakers or any other ideas are welcome.

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Researcher receives award for excellence in science P eter Kalivas, Ph.D., professor and co-chair of the Department of Neurosciences, received the South Carolina Governor’s Award for Excellence in Scientific Research while attending the S.C. Academy of Science Annual Meeting on April 14.

Kalivas was recognized for his scientific discoveries regarding drug addiction and serving as an academic leader and department chair at MUSC’s College of Medicine for more than a decade.

Kalivas’ work contributed to a significant rise in national stature as a leading medical research institution.

“Peter is highly deserving of this award, and we are fortunate to have a scientist of his caliber focused on translating basic science discoveries into clinical interventions for drug addiction, which is a significant problem for South Carolina and the nation as a whole,” said MUSC College of Medicine Dean Etta Pisano, M.D. “In large part due to Dr. Kalivas’ leadership during the last decade, South Carolina now harbors one of the top-tier addiction and neuroscience research organizations in the country.”

Drug addiction in South Carolina is estimated to cost the state $2.5 billion a year in medical treatment, judicial system or incarceration and lost work hours, and in 2005 addiction was directly responsible for the death of 21,932 South Carolinians.

Kalivas and a team of researchers at MUSC receive approximately $15

Dr. Peter Kalivas received the South Carolina Governor’s Award for his strides made in drug and alcohol research.

million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) each year to make basic scientific discoveries and translate these findings into clinical trials for addicts. For example, his discovery of the role played by glutamate in addiction has led to testing new treatments in cigarette, marijuana, cocaine, and soon in alcohol addicted citizens of South Carolina.

Kalivas received his doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Washington in 1980 and completed postdoctoral studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982. Following faculty appointments at Louisiana State University Medical Center and Washington State University, where he served as director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, he joined the MUSC faculty in 1998 as professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Neuroscience. His publication record reflects 293 peerreviewed papers, serves on many editorial boards and has received numerous honors and awards throughout his career. He also holds a patent, with another patent pending.

The CaTalysT, June 8, 2012 11

CLASSIFIED P AGE • Household Personal Items for MUSC employees are free.

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12 The CaTalysT, June 8, 2012