MUSC Catalyst 9-13-2013

September 13, 2013

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 32, No. 5

Inside New cataract machine offers precision Credit Cards

By Sarah Pack

Compromised

Public Relations

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According to a third-party processing vendor, some individuals may have been victims of a cyber-theft of personal information.

Good samaritan

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CritiCal link

Dr. Michael Denson’s action set in motion a sixperson, living organ donor chain that would end up with a payback kidney.

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Service awards

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Meet Jim

t h e C ata ly s t online http://www. musc.edu/ catalyst

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new precision laser system to treat cataracts enhances precision and faster recovery, according to George O. Waring IV, M.D., who was the first doctor in the state to use it.

Waring, medical director of Magill Vision Center and director of Refractive Surgery at MUSC’s Storm Eye Institute, performed the first cataract surgery with the Catalys Precision Laser System from OptiMedica Aug. 20. The patient, Anne Love of Orangeburg, had a cataract removed from her left eye. Compared to her other cataract removal surgery, which used an older system, this one was better.

“I didn't realize what I was missing out on, but Magill Vision Center and Dr. Waring and his staff really saved my life.

I am so happy,” Love said.

The Catalys was See more PhotoS developed and a video from the ground up visit www.musc.edu/pr/ specifically newscenter/2013/ for cataract cataract.html surgery.

Because of this, the system uniquely caters to the needs of cataract patients.

A cataract is a common condition in which the normally clear lens of the eye becomes progressively cloudy. When light passes through a clear lens, the light can focus to a point, creating a clear view. When light passes through a cataract, the light gets distorted, creating a blurred view. There were approximately 2 million cataract surgeries in the U.S. last year.

Traditionally, cataract surgery is performed using handheld tools by the

See Cataract on page 3

photos by Sarah Pack, Public Relations

Karnesia Hicks, certified surgical technician, right, assists Dr. George Waring IV during Anne Love’s cataract removal surgery.

Dr. Waring removes the cataract that was softened by the Catalys Precision Laser System prior to putting the new lens in Anne Love’s eye at Magill Vision Center.

Right photo: Regional clinical application specialist from OptiMedicanJason Artice, center, works with Waring and Magill site manager Alisa Brill to start Love’s cataract removal procedure.

2 the catalySt, September 13, 2013

40 yearS John M. Kratz

University Service Awards Surgery

30 yearS Pamela J. Beasley Family Medicine Pamela Benjamin College of Medicine Erika Bullesbach Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Melvin D. Butler College of Dental Med Valerie Chestnut Research & Sponsored Programs Russell Cox Comp Med, Lab Animal Res Betty G. Craven Finance, Chief Financial Officer Karen Frederking Library Vivian Hall Public Health Sciences Belinda Felice Holloway Finance, Purchasing Joseph M. Jenrette III Radiation Oncology Gordon D. Knight Jr. Press Robert B. Leman Med Jacob L. Maxey Parking Mgt Benjamin Saunders Psy & Behavioral Sciences Anna Skipper Alumni Affairs

20 yearS Richard R. Anderson Pediatrics Vertonya Perry Anderson Library John E. Baatz Pediatrics Prabhakar K. Baliga Surgery Mary Neale Berkaw Cell & Molecular Pharmacology David L. Blick Sr. Engineering & Facilities John A. Bosso College of Pharmacy Thomas Karl Byrne Surgery Peter J. Carek Family Med James F. Carter Obstetrics & Gynecology Anthony E. Ciuffo Public Relations Wanda Y. Connor Transportation Srvcs Eric P. Cooke Press Vanessa L. Daniels College of Dental Med James Edwards Psy & Behavioral Sciences Susan F. Edwards Controller’s Office Brent M. Egan Med Evelyn Fabunan Regenerative Med & Cell Biology Tracy Fleming Transportation Srvcs Robyn M. Frampton MUSC Foundation Shelley S. Garvin College of Dental Med Jean-Eric Gedeon Engineering & Facilities Donna J. Gerke Med Dwight Gore Education & Student Life Susan C. Harvey Anesthesia & Perioperative Med Kathie L. Hermayer Med Cynthia Lea-Hardin Hipp College of Dental Med Kenton R. Holden Neurology Sonta P. Holmes Transportation Srvcs Wanda K. Hutto Office of Research Development Frances S. Joyner Office of Enrollment Mgt Paul J. Kelly Office of Research Integrity Joann S. King College of Health Professions Edward L. Krug Regenerative Med & Cell Biology

Medical University Annual Service Award Ceremony and Reception, held Tuesday, Sept. 10

View a video of service award recipients at http://bit.ly/1akXYPm Michelle Lally Pediatrics Mardi G. Long College of Nursing Harold A. Mackey Office of the CIO Lorine Matthews-Graham Mail Services Stephen R. McLawhorn Engineering & Facilities Connie D. Medley Neurosciences Research Sheryl L. Meier College of Dental Med Keith D. Merrill Orthopaedic Surgery Annette B. Mixon Med Thomas A. Morinelli Med Jean M. Nappi College of Pharmacy Colleen A. Nichols Ophthalmology George W. Ohlandt Office of Enrollment Mgt Lloyd R. Pate Jr. Psy & Behavioral Sciences Tina M. Pinckney College of Dental Med Elizabeth Poth Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery John T. Pritchett Psy & Behavioral Sciences Scott T. Reeves Anesthesia & Perioperative Med Mary S. Richardson Path & Lab Med Catherine S. Rubinstein Surgery Michael E. Saladin College of Health Professions Joseph Salley Engineering & Facilities Royce R. Sampson SCTR Institute Michael H. Schultz Engineering & Facilities Anbesaw W. Selassie Public Health Sciences Margaret E. Sheridan MUSC Gives Back Theodore J. Simons Public Safety Kenneth Singleton Engineering & Facilities Jennie Marie Sirisky Public Safety Jannetta Whitsett Smith Comp Med, Lab Animal Res William M. Southgate Pediatrics Eve G. Spratt Pediatrics Annette B. Stoney Radiology Yukiko Sugi Regenerative Med & Cell Biology Cynthia Cupit Swenson Psy, Behavioral Sciences James B. Tomsic Education, Student Life Dana S. Tumbleston Human Resources Mgt Debra Ann Underwood Public Safety Carol L. Wagner Pediatrics Mark T. Wagner Psy & Behavioral Sciences Sally A. Webb Pediatrics Lynn West College of Dental Med Nina Rosalee West Surgery

10 yearS Rebecca J. Antley Research & Sponsored Programs Varsha M. Bandisode Pediatrics Suzanne Bean Finance Disbursement Srvs Craig C. Beeson College of Pharmacy David H. Bernanke Regenerative Med & Cell Biology

Carla Holt Bistrick College of Health Professions Amanda E. Blue Pediatrics Mary Amanda Bongiorno Clin Eff, Patient Safety Ctr Deborah L. Bordeau Neurosciences Amy Dodd Bradshaw Med Jerald Destolia Brown College of Med Katherine Denise Bryant Comp Med Lab Animal Res Linda D. Bunch Office of Research Integrity Marlene A. Bunni Med Paul Andrew Burns Risk Mgt Radiation Safety Amy Elizabeth Burrell Pediatrics Lorry Y. Bush College of Dental Med Katherine Campbell Engineering & Facilities Sheryl S. Cannon College of Dental Med Burgess Bernard Canty Parking Mgt Colleen Ward Carver Pediatrics Patrick J. Cawley Med Eugene Y. Chang Obstetrics & Gynecology Geoffrey Cheek Psy & Behavioral Sciences Frank Colden Clark Office of the CIO Harry S. Clarke Jr. Urology Laura Lee Cohen Engineering & Facilities William F. Condon III Engineering & Facilities Andrea Summer Cothran Pediatrics Joseph W. Coulbourn Jr. Hollings Cancer Center Felecia A. Curry Grants & Contracts Acctg Betsy K. Davis Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery Grayce P. Davis Anesthesia & Perioperative Med Stefanie Davis Grants & Contracts Acctg Michael A. Delambo Education & Student Life Joseph Vanlear Dobson Pediatrics Laura Ann Droege Otolaryngology Head & Neck Joseph Anthony Eisenhart Path & Lab Med John R. Feussner College of Med Jacqueline Rae Fisher College of Dental Med Kenneth Ford Engineering & Facilities Susan K. Franklin Office of Research Integrity Victor Frescom Regenerative Med & Cell Biology

See University on page 8

The Catalyst 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 Ashley Barker, barkera@musc.edu The Catalyst is published weekly. Paid adver tisements, which do not represent an endorsement by MUSC or South Carolina, are handled by Island Publications Inc., Moultrie News, 134 Columbus St., Charleston, S.C., 843849-1778 or 843-958-7490.

the catalySt, September 13, 2013 3

Vendor suffers cyber-theft of credit card information Staff Report

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n Aug. 22, MUSC was notified by a thirdparty credit card processing vendor, Blackhawk Consulting Group, that approximately 7,000 individuals who used a credit or debit card online or by telephone to pay for health care services were victims of a cyber-theft of personal information.

Forensic discovery of this kind typically takes multiple days in order to provide a thorough and accurate assessment of what happened and to complete system repairs.

Based on the investigation, no patient medical record information was accessed during the theft. It seems the goal of the intrusion was to steal financial information, which included names, billing addresses, credit and debit card numbers and expirations dates, credit and

cataract

debit card authorization numbers and email addresses.

The theft occurred for customers who made payments via the MUSC Physicians online payment portal or for an MUSC Physicians or MUSCHealth account by credit or debit card over the telephone between June 30 and Aug. 21.

Anyone who believes his or her information may have been compromised should contact their credit or debit card company or bank immediately. It is MUSC’s understanding that Blackhawk has reported the theft to the FBI. When MUSC learned of the attack, the online payment option was immediately suspended, and Blackhawk began to investigate the intrusion. As always, safe and secure information remains a top priority, and MUSC implemented a notification process for affected individuals to share the details of this crime and advise

them on what steps they need to take now.

Affected individuals received a pre-recorded phone message providing more information about the theft.

MUSC is working with Blackhawk and Experian’s fraud protection program to launch a support system that will provide free credit monitoring through a customized call center designed to walk all concerned customers through the steps they should take to further protect their personal information.

An MUSC-based call center will help confirm whether a person was a victim of this information theft and, if necessary, will provide confirmed victims with information regarding the credit monitoring service.

Information is available online at academicdepartments.musc.edu/cyberinfo/. The number for the MUSC call center is 792-6200 or toll free at 800-868-5051.

Continued from Page One

surgeon. With the Catalys Precision Laser System, doctors use a circular opening for accessing and removing the cataract. Clinical studies have shown that this opening is much more accurate when performed with the Catalys laser system than what is achievable by hand.

The laser then is used to break up and soften the hard cataract. Softening the lens with the Catalys laser enables the surgeon to then remove the cataract more gently and with significantly less ultrasound energy than is used in traditional manual cataract surgery. This

gentle, low-energy approach reduces inflammation and helps speed recovery.

“You can expect little or no discomfort during your treatment,” Waring said.

During the laser portion of the procedure, Love described seeing a kaleidoscope of light and only

experiencing slight pressure.

“I was amazed at how fast the procedure was,” she said. She had LASIK-like results with one line better than perfect vision or 20/15, termed “super vision,” within 24 hours of her procedure, Waring said.

4 the catalySt, September 13, 2013

Medical Center Service Awards 40 yearS Sherry G. Miller Ambulatory Care Clinical Srvs Admin Thelma O. Roberts Environmental Srvs Richard E. Sillivant Fast Flow & Satellite Labs Dorothy A. Wiggins DDC 6W

30 yearS Francisco P. Bautista Fast Flow & Satellite Labs Janette Brown Business Support Srvs Radiology Roman E. Brunson Radiology Diagnostic Rebecca Carter-Achey Respiratory Therapy Mary A. Constantin Special Chemistry & Immunology Lorraine J. Daspit Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Margaret A. Gethers Medical Records Marlene Haselden-Mizell Bed Management Rosa R. Herbert Enterprise Analytics Sherell G. Lucas Youth Psy Inpatient Jane K. Lunn Communications Gwendolyn G. Mack 8D Pediatric Cardiac Unit Constance D. Manigault Dermatology Linda B. McDonald 10W Orthopaedics Sandra C. Oberman Child Life Pediatrics Diane Pooser Ambulatory Holding Sheila S. Springer Medical Records File Retrieval Demetria J. Washington Utilization Mgt

20 yearS Jeffrey R. Acsell Perfusion Srvs Sherry D. Arnold Peri Anesthesia Nancy E. Bair-Robinson Compliance Program Marilyn Y. Banks Epic Inpatient Clinical Johnathan O. Bass Admission Team Terri P. Beale Youth Psych–Inpatient Lana D. Beckley Specialty Nursing Patricia D. Bennett Adult Inpatient Pharmacy Srvs Cynthia I. Boolen Postpartum James Bradley Equipment Distribution Ctr Mary M. Brigman Human Resources Samuel M. Chaney Liver Transplant Kim A. Cooper Childrens Specialty Stella L. Culton Radiology–Special Imaging Admin Lena M. Curry Kidney Transplant Program Marcel A. Darrieux Physical Therapy Lorraine C. Demarois Ambulatory OR Paige Duboise Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Angela K. Duncan Human Resources Jessica Edwards Peri Anesthesia Dewey L. Ellington IOP Scheduling Valery Ellis PACU Brenda Everett Main OR Pamela H. Farmer Womens Care Srvs Line Admin Hugh A. Farris Biomedical Engineering Bernard Ferrette Plant Maintenance Julius P. Fielding Autopsy Pathology Maureen B. Fischinger PACU Renotia B. Fludd Guest Srvs Annie M. Frasier Ambulatory Preop Clinic Cynthia H. Fuda Surgery Trauma ICU Beverly A. Gaillard Emergency Dept Registration Edna P. Gailliard Fast Flow & Satellite Labs Carmen S. Giordano NNICU 8 CHE Rhonda T. Goldberg Ambulatory OR Paulette Green Patient Transport Srvs

Annual Service Award Ceremony Sept. 11 Shirley B. Hadnod Medical Records File Retrieval Marsha Hamilton Environmental Srvs Susan B. Hamner Quality Improvement–Staff Dev Carla S. Harvey Ambulatory Preop Clinic Joanna S. Heywood Radiology Nursing Srvs Betty L. Hobbs 3W Fred L. Holston 4E Tasha Hoover 8D Pediatric Cardiac Unit Beverly D. Horne Fast Flow & Satellite Labs Barbara J. Hutchison Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Valerie J. Jamison Peri Anesthesia Agnes I. Jenkins Medical Intensive Care Unit Karen S. Johnson Postpartum Jeffrey A. Kaiser Meducare Flight Activities Fund Lisa K. Kaiser Bronchoscopy Patrice Katsanevakis PACU Jack B. Kilpatrick Respiratory Therapy Pamela S. Kilpatrick Ambulatory OR Mary P. Kirk OR Tina L. Lawrimore SACC & MACC Srvs Line Admin Katherine K. Lee SEI Diagnostic Testing Roberta Lockwood Antepartum Gyn Srvs Jeanette M. Lupini General Adult Inpatient Program Terrence W. Malone General Adult Inpatient Program Colette Marihart Respiratory Therapy Conchita B. Masandag NNICU 8 CHE Sharon D. Mazyck Registration Admin Terry D. McFall Clinical Resource Karen L. McGee Main OR Elizabeth P. McMillan Child Life Pediatrics Darin McNeal Dept of Biomedical Engineering Rebecca Middleton Endoscopy Rosemary Milligan Medical Records Coding & Incom Nancy J. Monogan Business Support Srvs–Radiology Mitchelle S. Morrison OCIO Madeline Mungin Medical Records Coding Kimberly L. Myers-Wimpee Main OR Becky W. Nunnally Meducare Comm Ctr Melanie W. Oswald OR Lab Jennifer V. Pitassi Physical Therapy Evelyn Polite OR Michelle M. Principe-Tanner Ambulatory OR Valarie L. Radcliffe RT CT Susanne V. Ratzlaff Peri Anesthesia Rose M. Reeves Radiology–Mammography Sheila H. Scarbrough Patient Safety Beverlyn Shuler Respiratory Therapy Charlotte B. Siau Respiratory Therapy Chloe Singleton Business Dev & Marketing Srvs David L. Sisco OCIO Virginia A. Skidmore Bed Mgt Dennis L. Slade OCIO Ann M. Smith Radiology–Special Imaging Admin Rosanne V. Smith Human Resources Cynthia P. Steffen ICU–Neuroscience Karen A. Stephenson Labor & Delivery Sallie S. Storen OR Lab Rodney B. Strickland CEP/Infrastructure Sandra W. Tolen Youth Psych Inpatient Susan S. Townsend Pediatric Emergency Srvs Clara C. Tretola OCIO Ronda R. Washington Mikell Cytopathology

Sheryl E. Weathers Alice L. Webb Annie E. Williams Cynthia Williams Christine E. Williamson Melvina C. Wilson

Respiratory Therapy DDC Operations Ambulatory Preop Clinic Admin Training & Staff Dev OCIO Youth Psych Inpatient

10 yearS Jennifer B. Ackerman OR Kellie V. Adams Radiology Mammography James M. Ball Biomedical Engineering Donna J. Barrio Pharmacy Distribution Ctr Donnie L. Beason MRI Kimberly R. Bennett PACU Carol H. Bolton HVC Prep & Recovery Kathleen A. Brady Neonatal ICU 8 CHE Billie F. Brasfield 6E Renal Transplant Nephrology Alice Bright Radiology Nursing Srvs August L. Brown CDAP Inpatient Program Consonia P. Brown Surgery Trauma ICU Janet F. Brown Radiology Nursing Srvs Susan A. Burrow Psy Nursing Programs Jennifer G. Caldwell Anesthesia Tracy D. Campbell Pediatric Procedure Area Patrick J. Cawley Hospital Admin Deborah A. Cepeda Womens Health Registration William L. Chambers Adult Psy 1N Sam F. Cogdell Interpreter Srvs Kathleen Comley Anesthesia Carol L. Conklin Pastoral Care & Education Susan S. Curran Gen Adult Inpatient Program Marlena H. Davis Human Resources Jean S. Day Anesthesia Sarah M. De Barros Childrens Srvs Admin David J. Dechant Radiology Diagnostic Tracie A. Delay Clinical Specialists Alida C. Dempsey Endoscopy Sheryl P. Doniphan-Davies Univ Internal Med Alexander Dupree Safety & Security Sharon L. Dupree-Capers Med-Surg Registration Linda W. Easler HVC Clinical Outcomes & Quality Jennifer L. Fabricant Cardiac Care Unit Mark D. Fennessy CEP/Infrastructure Cindy K. Ferguson DDC Clinical David W. Ferguson Surgery Trauma ICU Paige H. Fowler OR Thomasina L. Frasier Adult Inpatient Pharmacy Srvs Glenn A. Gadsden Admission Team Joseph G. Gardner CHS Pharmacy Bernadette M. Garry Infection Control Alicha D. Gibbs NNICU 8 CHE Drew W. Graham NNICU 8 CHE Valda M. Grant Communications Wakeetha W. Green Foster Care Clinic Sharon V. Groat Postpartum Tracey F. Hagy Postpartum Carol A. Hanton Hemapheresis Gary R. Harden Respiratory Therapy Deborah S. Harder Medical Records Coding & Incom Janette B. Hari CHS Pharmacy Shmica R. Henderson CT Tina R. Hinkle Postpartum Scott M. Huggins Radiology Ultrasound Melissa M. Hulsey DDC Clinical

See awardS on page 8

the catalySt, September 13, 2013 5

Meet JiM

Jim Fisher Department Office of Development and Alumni Relations How you are changing what’s possible at MUSC The private gifts we receive from our many supporters impact virtually every life on our campus ... patients, students, researchers, faculty and staff.

How long at MUSC More than 34 years Meal you love to cook Baby-back ribs on the grill Greatest moment in your life I was 16 years old playing guitar in a West Ashley Pizza Hut, and in walks the girl of my dreams in bell bottoms and long straight hair. We’re still together 38 years later.

Words of advice Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.

Favorite summer activity In the pool with my grandsons Unique talent I’ve played guitar in a Charleston band for about 25 years now. I’m not sure if it’s a talent, but it provides money for strings.

6 the catalySt, September 13, 2013

Good Samaritan critical link in living donor chain By dawn Brazell Public Relations

W

ith orange earrings dangling beneath perfectly coiffed hair, Amber Cue shows no sign of her recent kidney transplant except that she sits by her hospital bed at MUSC. “She is the heart of the family,” her mother said, beaming, describing her 17-year-old daughter’s sweet, compassionate nature and how happy the family is that she was finally able to get a life-saving kidney transplant.

That she is the heart of the family is fitting, given how the story of her transplant all started. (See her story in the Sept. 20 issue of The Catalyst or on MUSC News Center.)

The person who set events in motion for Cue to get her kidney was Michael Denson, Ph.D., director of Marine Resources Research Institute with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, who decided one day he’d like to donate a kidney. His altruistic action set in motion a six-person, living organ donor chain – the first one at MUSC – that would end up with a payback kidney coming to this teen from Cheraw, who for the first time in a long time can live without the constraints of dialysis.

Sara Parker, R.N., Living Donor Transplant coordinator at MUSC, said Denson was the perfect first candidate for the program. “What makes Mike special is his heart is made of gold. He’s a wonderful person. He’s incredibly intelligent, educated, cares about people, and he wanted to do the most good for the most amount of people that he could,” she said.

Denson, who wanted his donation to help a child, was glad to hear how well the transplant went of his kidney to a young Cleveland woman, whose numbers showing her kidney functioning dropped in half to a healthier level overnight after his donation. He especially was thrilled to hear how he helped a child. “I’m over the moon about it. That’s the best possible ending,” he said.

Surprised that more people don’t know about the living donor program,

Brennan Wesley, Business Development & Marketing Services

Dr. Michael Denson donated a kidney April 3 to start a living donor chain, the first for MUSC that resulted in a payback kidney for a pediatric patient at The Children’s Hospital of South Carolina.

mUSc newS center To see the full multimedia transplant package that includes videos, visit www.musc.musc.edu/ pr/newscenter/2013/donorchain. html. To learn about being a donor, contact email burbages@musc. edu or 792-4722.

Denson found out about it from a friend who had done it. He began researching it and ended up looking into MUSC’s program.

“I learned it was something realistic that you could do and maintain a healthy and happy life afterward.”

Initially he wanted to donate to a child, then he learned about the National Kidney Registry’s program for kidney chain donation. “It seemed to be an interesting program because you wouldn’t just donate your kidney to one person, but several people would get kidneys down the line, which became more of an interest to me. I thought I would get more bang from the buck.”

Good Samaritan That’s the thinking of Garet Hil,

founder of the National Kidney Registry that facilitates living donor transplants.

Hil became involved in kidney-related health care when his daughter was diagnosed with kidney failure at age 10, but he and his wife were not eligible to be donors. Though they eventually found a suitable relative, the experience led him to found the registry in 2007. The registry uses sophisticated algorithms to arrange the best possible matches between donors and recipients.

Good Samaritan donations, as they are being called, initiate a chain that can pair better-matched donors and recipients.

One of the tests performed before a transplant is HLA typing, also called tissue typing. This test identifies certain proteins in the blood called antigens.

Although there are many different antigens, there are six that have been identified as having an important role in transplantation, with the goal to have as high a match as possible to decrease the chances of rejection and the need for immunosuppressant drugs.

According to the registry’s website, it has facilitated two, six-antigen match transplants (about 1 percent of transplants) using chain matching – a hard-to-match feat.

As word gets out about advantages of donor chains and the registry pool size increases, the number of six-antigen matches should increase. Living donor exchanges with a six-antigen match are likelier to benefit from decreased immunosuppression.

Many Good Samaritan donors choose to start donor chains because it is a way to help more than one person suffering from kidney failure. Chains can be short or long, in some cases involving “clusters” that link up to form long chains as was the case in 2012 with a 60-person, 30-transplant chain.

In Denson’s case there was a 12-person, six-transplant chain. It started with six people going into surgery at the same time April 3 and 4, three donors and their respective recipients. His kidney, packed in ice and complete with its GPS tracker, flew to Cleveland to a woman who was recently married. She was recuperating in the same room as her husband, who had donated a kidney for the chain. For the scientist in Denson, the donor chain is the best way to go, he said.

See Samaritan on page 7

the catalySt, September 13, 2013 7

Samaritan Continued from Page Six “One of the best parts of the National Kidney Registry is that they consider medically the best possible matches – six out of six antigens – the better the match the fewer drugs they have to take later on, and the longer the kidney will last,” he said, adding that his recipient was a five-out-of -six antigen match, which is really high. “It was likely she would keep this kidney happy and healthy for a long time.”

Denson, who is very athletic, said recovery was easier than he expected.

Following surgery he had to feel his scar to remember he’d had the procedure, and he has had to slow down some. He was back to work in 10 days, and his recipient’s insurance paid for all the costs.

He wishes more people knew about the program. If a person can’t donate to a Parker loved one, then they can donate through the chain and make it likelier their loved one will be matched with a kidney.

Denson said he’s had friends on dialysis, and it’s not a good life. He wanted to be able to spare others that fate.

“I feel like I donated to six people on the chain. There’s no telling when those other folks would have received a kidney,” he said. “It may have been a year from now. It may have been next week. You don’t know.”

Second thoUGhtS There were moments, though, when he doubted his decision. “I had some of those irrational fears that you get.

You wake up at 3 in the morning and think, ‘wait a minute – am I stupid for doing this? This is crazy.’ I think one of the cool things at MUSC is that my doctors, nurses and transplant coordinator were awesome. Every step of the way they said, ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do?’ – even to the moment they were rolling me into the operating room.”

Denson praised the skills of his transplant coordinator, Parker, who always made him feel he could change his mind.

“I wouldn’t have followed through if she hadn’t been there on top of things and answering questions. “It wasn’t like, ‘We just want your kidney, now get out.’ They were really interested in me and my well-being.”

Parker said she enjoys working with incredibly healthy and well patients, which is very different from prior jobs she’s had in nursing. Donors have to go through a vigorous evaluation screening process, and MUSC is careful to follow up with them for at least two years after their donation.

“I’m sure it’s a scary process to be stepping forward to donate an organ to someone you really care about or to a total stranger. It’s saving someone’s life. Transplant and dialysis are the two treatment options that a person with kidney failure has, she said. “The option of dialysis is essentially being tethered to a dialysis machine three hours a day, three days a week, and it’s exhausting. To be able to take that away and give them a new life – it’s freedom in a lot of ways that they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

If a donor goes into kidney failure after they’ve donated,

then they go onto the top of list should they ever need one.

She hopes more people will become aware of the work of the National Kidney Registry and that MUSC can be a part of more chains.

MUSC joined the registry in late 2011, and Parker had been in her job as transplant coordinator for only four months when Denson volunteered. “He was highly educated, and he wanted to learn it all. It was a great experience for me.” Like Denson, she likes the logic and efficiency of the living donor chain approach. The Good Samaritan donation allows a chain to kick in among strangers where science and algorithms work to make better matches so recipients are less likely to reject the transplant, she said.

“It becomes a whole domino effect with the Good Samaritan being the tip of it. They cascade down.”

MUSC is one of 70 centers that participate in the National Kidney Registry’s living donor kidney program, and it is the only transplant center in this state. “Sometimes our center will come up two or three times in a chain, which makes for an incredibly busy period, but it’s exciting,”she said. miracle matcheS Parker said she’s motivated by the children who benefit from the program. “Seeing these little kids who have to be on dialysis is hard. I want to see them all have normal little lives and get transplanted – to be able to be free of dialysis and not be sick,” she said.

There are children, such as Cue, enrolled in the Children and High Panel-Reactive Antibody (PRA) Program (CHIP), who are unlikely to find a donor because they’ve developed immunological sensitivities making them likely to reject organs from most donors. Enter in the “miracle matches” afforded by the algorithm programs of the National Kidney Registry, and Parker gets to see more MUSC CHIP children helped. As a registry-affiliated institution, MUSC is granted 50 CHIP slots and Cue’s kidney, which came from a police officer, is considered “payback” for Denson’s non-directed donation on April 3.

In the end, Denson got his wish to help a child. Parker got her wish to check off another child on the CHIP list.

Parker said she has so much respect for the donors with whom she works.

“You’re 100 percent healthy, and you’re gearing up to go to surgery for really no benefit of your own. No one has asked you to do this but you’re just doing this because your heart is leading you that way. As long as his heart kept leading him that way, I told him I’d walk with him,” she said of her experience with Denson. “I would go to the OR with him. I was in the PACU when he opened his eyes. I told him that every step I would be there.”

Denson is doing well and back to his P90X and Insanity workouts. Parker is working with her fifth donor as MUSC moves on to new chains. Cue is eagerly awaiting a trip to Myrtle Beach.

“This job is very rewarding,” said Parker. “There’s happy in this job. There’s a lot of feel-good stuff that goes on. It’s nice to make a difference with one donation to make it six, 10, 12 or more lives that are changed, and we still change a life in our own hospital.”

By the numBers More than 96,000 people

await kidney transplants.

16,812

Last year, kidney transplants took place.

4,900

More than people died waiting on a kidney.

3,000

Nearly patients are added to the kidney waiting list each month.

According to the National Kidney Foundation

how paired Chains work:

Sources: National Kidney Registry, National Kidney Foundation

8 the catalySt, September 13, 2013

UniverSity

Continued from Page Two

Juanmanuel Gomez Med Stacey C. Goretzka Office of Research Integrity Robin R. Hanckel VP for Academic Affairs & Provost Donna Suzanne Harrison College of Pharmacy Jennifer M. Hoel Engineering & Facilities Susan E. Dick Hoffius Library Science & InformaticsDorothy Bishop Hope Path & Lab Med Dwight A. Hudson Engineering & Facilities Carla L. Huggins Med Shahid Husain Ophthalmology Paul F. Jacques Health Professions Mark S. Kindy Neurosciences Research James S. Krause Health Professions Emmett Michael Lampkin Psy & Behavioral Sciences Eric J. Larson Med Stuart M. Leon Surgery Kenneth D. Lester Dental Med Li Li Pediatrics Martha Lynn Lipton Education & Student Life Kelly K. Long Health Professions Tina Renee Luke SCTR Institute Nick T. Luong Neurosciences Research

awardS

Margaret Markiewicz Med Patricia G. McBurney Pediatrics Augustus J. McConnell Jr. Public Safety Allison Leshaye McCreary Surgery S. Ted McGill Dental Med Stewart A. Mixon Finance & Admin Sangeeta Mohanty Neurosciences Research Leslie Christina Moore Public Safety Diana Lynn Mullis Psy & Behavioral Sciences Susan Williams Mundo Comp Med Lab Animal Res Sergi A. Novgorodov Med Tara M. Novit HCC Tamara Kristine Nowling Med Margaret Elaine O’Brien Dental Med Dedree Plummer Owens HCC Frances S. Pach Neurology Sherman Paggi Library Angela Payton-Harmon Pediatrics Jeffery N. Pritcher Library John P.M. Redant Pediatrics Allison Camille Reece Parking Mgt Shaundrea Shisko Reid Surgery Kumar Sambamurti Neurosciences Research Rodney J. Schlosser Otolaryngology

Steven D. Shapiro Dental Med Dwayne Shearer Engineering & Facilities Ann-Catherin Simpson Health Professions Emily A. Smalls SCTR Edward E. Soltis College of Pharmacy Wendy A. Sosebee IT & Faculty Resources Krista Demattio Stackley College of Pharmacy Marna Carlisle Stilley OCIO Marian H. Taylor Med Marvin D. Wagner Jr. Public Safety Roshonta Buggs Walker Med Linda Walton Pediatrics Frederick C. Wanner Public Safety Greg R. Watts Library Science & Informatics Thomas D. Watts Engineering & Facilities Andrea M. Wessell Family Med John Marcus Wharton Med Christie E. Whitener HCC Je-Seong Won Path & Lab Med Heather M. Woolwine Public Relations Jin Yu Neurosciences Research Jane M. Zapka Public Health Sciences Hong Zhur Neurosciences Research Lisa M. Zokas College of Med

Katherine N. Morris Dermatology Laurie A. Moultrie 10W Orthopaedics Gayle S. Mullins Endoscopy Deidre S. Murphy 5W Hematology Oncology Alanie S. Narciso 6W Trauma Surgical Srvs Cheryl L. Nasse HLA Lab Sheryl L. Tolliver Naugle Surgical Centers Nancy B. Nolen Med-Surg Registration Jacquetta D. Norton Central Supply Faith H. Nye OR Robert F. Owens Epic Inpatient Clinical Daniel E. Pach Transfusion Med Astra P. Paro Meducare Emergency CHS Karen C. Parsons Womens Health Faculty Practice Cora P. Pascual 9W Neurology Neurosurgery Tanchella G. Perry Med-Surg Registration Lisa L. Pinckney Family Med Registration, Scheduling Krutesha Prime 4E Nancy R. Putman Venipuncture Kelley P. Reagan OR Glenwood L. Redden Electrophysiology Lab Sonya L. Richardson Nuclear Med Div Trenace Richardson Patient & Family Centered Care Mary D. Riddle Tissue Bank Cynthia P. Rivers Ambulatory Holding Mary E. Robinson Patient Admissions Christian K. Romanchek Biomedical Engineering Jackie C. Roper Meducare Emergency CHS Suzanne C. Rosenthal Hospital Patient Acctg Phyllis D. Ross Histopathology & Special Stains Lauretta J. Ryan NNICU 8 CHE Perette J. Sabatino Stroke Program Ashley F. Sabo 4 Childrens Specialty Regan W. Saxton Anesthesia Sara L. Shealy Fast Flow & Satellite Labs Kerri D. Shorter NNICU 8 CHE

Teresa E. Shuler Sleep Lab Alicia N. Sievert Perfusion Srvs Bridget M. Simmons HVC Prep & Recovery Caroline H. Simmons OR Stacey C. Simmons Neurology Tracy M. Sinnott OR Brian R. Slay Special Chemistry & Immunology Jennifer N. Smith Ambulatory Holding Cheryl S. Speelman PCICU David W. Springle Nuclear Med Susan S. Stencer Adult PHP/IOP Diane M. Thorpe Childrens Services Admin Patricia A. Trame Dermatology-Oncology William C. Troublefield Construction/Design Rodney N. Tyler Phys Occup Therapy Caroline D. Vaughn SACC & MACC Srvs Line Gayle R. Wadford Neurosurgery & Spine Melany H. W. Warfuel Youth Psy Inpatient Caroline M. Warren Speech Pathology Valerie A. Warren 5W Hematology Oncology Yvette J. Washington Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Lynn C. Watson Hospital Patient Acctg Lesley M. Weick NNICU 8 CHE Kevin J. Welch Cardiac Care Unit Jacqueline M. Whelan Family Med Vera M. White Endoscopy Tessa G. Whitworth Revenue Systems Samuel J. Williams Patient Transport Srvs Catina J. Williams 4E Shatora L. Williams Endoscopy Eugene C. Woodall CDAP Inpatient Program Annabel Woodman Ambulatory EMR Project Laurie K. Woods Phys Occup Therapy Carol L. Younker Medical Staff Office Jacob C. Zimmerman Pharmacy Distribution Ctr

Continued from Page Four

Megan Iannuzzi NNICU 8 CHE Julie Ireland Pediatric Sub-Specialty Marilyn James Neuroscience Service Line Stacey Jarrett Pediatric Emergency Services Dan Jenkins Star-North Harold Jensen ART Interventional Radiology Marvin Johnson ART CEP/Infrastructure Erin P. Johnson ART 3W Carolgail Justesen Hospital Patient Acctg Anne F. Kerr NNICU 8 CHE Deanna A. Kidwell Adult Inpatient Pharmacy Srvs Heather Kokko Clinical Srvs Admin Kathryn T. Kucera Labor & Delivery Lynna C. Lampkins PACU Dolores B. Lands DDC 6W Gwen P. Lane NNICU 8 CHE Reba L. Langston 9W Neurology Neurosurgery Sonia M. Larson 5W Hematology Oncology Stacey E. Laws Peds Clinical Resources Education Mary S. Lewis OCIO Amy M. Marfia Kidney Transplant Program Johnnie Martines Pediatric Primary Care Sylvia C. Mascoe Youth Psy Inpatient Theresa A. Mathrua Guest Srvs Jacqueline L. Maunder Radiology Nursing Srvs Stephanie J. McCullough Construction/Design Kelley C. McElligott Adult Emergency Dept Tamara F. McGougan Electrophysiology Lab Cynthia McHoney Radiology Special Imaging Admin Lynn McInerny Anesthesia Robert R. McKenna Central Supply Jacqueline M. Mcrinna IOP Resident’s Clinic Esperanza T. Melling Main OR Ana I. Mendoza Histopathology & Special Stains Suzanne G. Mobberley DDC Clinical Kelly D. Moody Maxillofacial

the catalySt, September 13, 2013 9

10 the catalySt, September 13, 2013

MUSC to recognize year of statistics Sept. 20 T he MUSC Department of Public Health Sciences is celebrating the International Year of Statistics with a symposium 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sept. 20, Room 110, Bioengineering Building.

It’s goal is to increase the impact of statistics in people’s lives.

Presentations include functional causal mediation analysis with an application to brain connectivity; role of statistics in the research and career of clinicians and health scientists; key study design; effective collaborative research; and statistical resources at MUSC. Keynote speakers include Etta Pisano M.D., dean of the College of Medicine; and Dr. Martin Lindquist, associate professor, Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University.

There will be additional presentations

St. Luke’s Recital Series continues The St. Luke’s Recital Series continues from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., Sept.

17 at the corner of Bee Street and Ashley Avenue.

There will be a variety of performers. The recital will continue each Tuesday through Dec. 10.

The recital for Sept.

17 will be performed by Linda Will (organ) and David Cran with Robert Birch (trumpets).

The series, sponsored by the Charleston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, is free and open to the community.

For information, call Barbara Wallace at 7926775.

To view the recital schedule, visit academicdepartments. musc.edu/stlukeschapel and click on recital series.

by faculty from MUSC and the Univeristy of South Carolina.

Speakers from the Collaborative Unit and Data Coordination Unit at the Department of Public Health Sciences will present on topics designed to help MUSC researchers better understand the role of statistics and statisticians in the undertaking of biomedical research.

For information and to register, visit academicdepartments.musc.edu/phs/ news/iystat.htm. Participants may also call 876-1100 or email gebregz@musc. edu. Registration is free.

Organizing Committee Members

Mulugeta Gebregziabher, chair, Valerie Durkalski, Nate Baker, Cody Chiuzan, Delia Voronca and Ralph Ward

Open enrollment begins for permanent life insurance According to the office of university Human Resources Management, when an employee leaves MUSC he or she is offered the opportunity to convert the life insurance to an individual policy.

If the employee retires from MUSC the state Optional Life insurance can be continued at the same premium paid when he or she was an employee. A retiree may also convert the life insurance to an individual policy, which is good for life, but the

premium can sometime be as much as $1,000 a month.

Open enrollment for voluntary Permanent Life Insurance, offered through MetLife, ends Sept. 27. Life insurance rates are based on specific demographics. A representative will provide policy specifics at an individual appointment For information and on-campus locations, call 819-3744 or email rlegare@metlife,com.

the catalySt, September 13, 2013 11

Rental Properties

Furniture

Items for Sale

James Island: Beautiful 1BR, ceiling fans, hwd floors, sun porch, 2 walk-in closets, stove, fridge, DW, microwave, off street parking. $900 month Owen Meislin RE 556-0056 owengmeislinrealestate.com

King Size Plush Set New, will sacrifice for $200 843-501-3485

Roseville pottery 1949 Ewer Apple Blossum blue twig hdl 316-8 $145 843-762-2002

Bed-Queen Pillowtop that is Brand New in Plastic. Will take $150. Please call 843-270-4283

12 the catalySt, September 13, 2013