MUSC Catalyst 11-22-2013

November 22, 2013

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 32, No. 15

PHARMACY FUNDRAISER SUPPORTS FOOD BANK

Justin Sanford and members of the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity serve up an early Thanksgiving dinner, with all the fixings, to a supporter as part of their annual turkey fry fundraiser at MUSC’s Horseshoe Nov. 18. The group, along with support from Wal-Mart and Kappa Epsilon, raised more than $600 for the Lowcountry Food Bank in this effort. Participants include Leo Gonzalez, Rachel Sanford, Keely Putnam, Dave Cook, Ross Fuller, Minesh Bhula, Mario Machado, Collin Kelley, Todd Larson, Alex Travaglini, Blake Senn, Jordan Chaisson Ryan Sykes and Zachary Temple. photo by Cindy Abole, Public Relations

Competition for breast milk donations pits for-profit vs. nonprofit

BY LAUREN SAUSSER Of the Post and Courier Staff

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s hospital neonatal intensive care units across the state face a shortage of breast milk to feed some of South Carolina’s sickest newborn babies, a California company has stepped into the market, making the competition for breast milk donations fiercer.

Columbia-based Palmetto Health hospital system announced Monday it will team up Prolacta Bioscience to collect and pasteurize breast milk donations.

The Palmetto Health Donor Milk Program will allow South Carolina moms to donate their breast milk without ever leaving home, a press release about the new partnership explained. Prolacta Bioscience will collect those donations and process the milk in Southern California to ensure it’s safe for other babies to drink.

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Nurse recognized A community honors a nurse for his extraordinary level of care.

Moms won’t be paid for their milk donations, but Palmetto Health receives a $1 per ounce referral fee for every ounce collected. The list price for Prolacta milk, which can only be purchased by hospitals, is $14 an ounce.

“Moms will have a choice to support their hospital with their excess (milk),” said Prolacta CEO Scott Elster.

But one Medical University Hospital physician has raised concerns about the announcement.

Taylor “(Prolacta) is a good company, but it is for profit,” said Sarah Taylor, M.D., an MUSC neonatologist. “That’s important for moms to know that they’re donating to a

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company that will make money off of that donation.”

Human breast milk is a hot commodity these days — especially for babies born prematurely, Taylor explained.

Research shows that premature babies are already about 7 to 10 percent more likely to develop a disease called necrotizing enterocolitis — an inflammatory reaction of the gut that can cause the intestines to die. The chance of contracting the disease is even greater if premature babies are fed instant formula, Taylor said.

While breast-feeding your own baby is best, sometimes that’s not an option, she explained.

Mothers who deliver pre-term babies are sometimes sick and can’t breast-feed. Others are unable to nurse their children for other reasons.

“When moms aren’t able to make enough milk for their babies, giving donor milk — the milk from another

See Milk on page 7

NICU Beads of Courage

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Retiree remembered

Extraordinary journey of hospital’s youngest patients reflected in beads.

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Meet Angela

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Student Research Day

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

2 THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013

Nursing alumnus earns distinction as best pediatrician

BY ALLYSON BIRD Office of Development, Alumni Affairs

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acob Coward popped into the Jungle Room, where a baby looked up at him, wide-eyed, from a paper-covered examination table beneath a cartoonish monkey painted on the wall.

“She’s beautiful,” he told the child’s mother. “Just beautiful.” Jacob Coward sees a patient at Caring Hearts Pediatrics.

Here in Hartsville, where the motto is “a small town with a big heart,” people love Jacob. He grew up in this

“Nursing is a compassion-driven field, and I think the Lord has given me a heart for this type of work.”

Jacob Coward community, where charming homes border family-owned crop fields. People can remember when Jacob, as a boy, used to run 3 miles to his father’s pediatrics office while cross-training for soccer.

He came home after graduating from MUSC with his master’s degree from the College of Nursing in 2007, and began working with his father at CareSouth

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

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

Carolina. Two years later, residents voted Jacob the “Best Pediatrician in Darlington County,” an award usually reserved for doctors.

“When they came to present the award, I said, ‘Are you here for me?

Or did you want Dr. Coward?’” Jacob remembered.

His father, Paul Coward, M.D., numbered among the first doctors in the state to hire nurse practitioners in the 1980s and the 1990s. Coward graduated from MUSC’s College of Medicine in 1969, shipped out to Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Fla., and struggled to keep up with the demand of seeing 100s of patients per day and field phone calls from another 200 people.

“I trained a nurse to do some screening, and she went on to become a nurse practitioner,” Coward said.

He brought that logic back to his own practice, which CareSouth Carolina bought out in 1996.

Coward does everything his own way, such as nontraditional work attire that abandons the white coat for buttondown shirts and leisure pants. He continued working for CareSouth until one Thursday night in February of 2012, when he went to bed early but stayed up praying. For some time, Coward had wanted to devote part of his life to Christian mission work, and that calling left him restless.

“It became very clear to me that I might not be able to go because of my The Catalyst is published once a week.

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Jacob Coward sees a patient at Caring Hearts Pediatrics in Hartsville. age and my health,” he realized. “But I could send people.”

Coward and Jacob drove around looking for office space to rent. They spotted the very building where Coward started his first practice in the 1980s, which was owned by a man who runs a Bible college in Zambia, Africa.

“I asked him how long he had the ‘for rent’ sign up, and he said, ‘Two days,’” Coward remembered. The father and son team decided that the timing wasn’t a coincidence, but instead part of a bigger, divine plan. “I told him, ‘Well, take it down,’” Coward said.

He and his son opened Caring Hearts Pediatrics in June of 2012. They know their patients personally and bring them into themed rooms for treatment.

They designed a pink-striped room with Disney princesses on the walls and blinking lights on the ceiling for little girls, while boys and tomboys get the fire truck and train rooms.

On a world map in the office’s waiting area, heart stickers mark the locations of mission work conducted by the Cowards.

From Haiti to India and Africa, Caring Hearts Pediatrics has contributed more than $20,000 to support 16 mission groups each month.

Jacob traveled to Zambia in May, where he worked in a clinic from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. each day, primarily treating children with malaria. One morning, he

arrived at 7 a.m. to find a father waiting with his child outside the clinic.

“There’s no telling how far he walked to get there, and we didn’t see them until 9:15,” Jacob said.

He already wants to go back. He and his father also intend to send anyone from their office who wants to go on a mission trip, including front-desk staff.

Gigi Smith, an assistant professor in the pediatric nurse practitioner program at MUSC, said that, even as a student, Jacob committed himself to public service. Successful nurse practitioners not only diagnose and treat but educate and guide patients through the healing process, she said.

“Jacob does a great job of that,” Smith said. “He and his father always had the dream of working together. They’re really beloved by their community, and Jacob is just an excellent role model for nurse practitioners.”

Jacob brushes aside the compliments.

The way he sees it, his job is simply following the science, and his affinity for the work is simply accepting a blessing.

“If you ask the right questions, have the right interview and do the right exam, that should lead you to an appropriate diagnosis without running a bunch of tests,” Jacob said. “Nursing is a compassion-driven field, and I think the Lord has given me a heart for that type of work.”

THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013 3

Transplant Center retiree remembered for easy humor Staff Report Keith Richard Bennis, 43, a retired statistical analyst and researcher with MUSC’s Transplant Center, died Oct. 17 after a long illness.

Bennis was born on Feb. 7, 1970 in Warwick, R.I. He is the son of the late Rear Admiral Richard Ellis Bennis, USCG, and Gloria Smith Bennis of Mount Pleasant. He was a graduate of the College of Charleston and retired from the MUSC Transplant Center in June 2013.

Bennis He is survived by his mother and other family. Bennis was predeceased by his wife, Tammy Rowland Bennis.

A memorial service was held Oct. 27 at J. Henry Stuhr Mount Pleasant Chapel. Memorials may be made to Hollings Cancer Center Office of Development, 86 Jonathan Lucas St., Charleston, SC 29425.

“Keith was always very quiet, but when he did speak, it was with authenticity. He was passionate about the work we do in Transplant and our patients. He was

always the calm around a storm at work because he had learned to weather the storms in his own life with his illness. I will miss his presence in Transplant and what he did for our center, but I will really just miss Keith.”

—Sharon Knowles, Transplant Center “I only knew Keith for a few months before he passed away, but he could always make me smile. He had a particular type of sense of humor that made you laugh but also made you think. He is missed by many.”

—Lorraine Kemp, R.N., Transplant Center “Keith was always good for a laugh as long as it wasn’t in the morning.”

—Debbie Jenkins, Transplant Center “A kind and thoughtful person who will be missed by many.”

—Lena Curry, Transplant Center “Keith was a good man, humble, light-hearted, thoughtful of other’s feelings, an easy-go-lucky man.

I had the pleasure of training him for the research statistical analyst position; he took on the challenging position with an open mind and was eager to learn the UNOS forms and understand the interworkings of the Transplant database. He once said he had the perfect

job for him. The most memorable event was Keith as the Easter Bunny at Ashley Hall for the Transplant Employees’ children Easter egg hunt.

Keith smiled a lot after he met his late wife, Tammy. I can envision Tammy putting her arms arond Keith and telling all the ladies at Heaven’s gate saying, ‘He’s my man.’ I’ll bet Keith is smiling again.”

—Rhonda Long, Support Services-Biomedical Engineering “Keith was a genuine person and will be missed by all.”

—Steve Naert, Main OR “In the parade of life, it would have been so boring if you had not been a float that passed by.”

—Kimberly Goad, R.N., Transplant Center “Keith was an inspiration to me. He was faced with many trials and tribulations through the last few years, but refused to allow his situation to rule his life.

Instead, he rose above and faced life full-on. He touched my life in a very special way and I will truly miss him.”

—Katherine B. Taylor, Transplant Center “Your Red Sox won it this year, but your Florida Gators suck. Can’t win ‘em all buddy. Miss you. God speed.”

—Charles Watts, Transplant Center

4 THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013

Stringing together a story of courage, triumph

BY MIKIE HAYES Public Relations

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rightly colored beads typically evoke memories of festive occasions; catching a shiny strand during Mardi Gras, friends creating bracelets at a birthday party. But when a purple bead represents a newborn’s infusion or a turquoise bead symbolizes a 4–day– old’s lumbar puncture, beads take on a different tone, one of triumph. Thanks, that is, to an uplifting program called Beads of Courage.

In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, every baby has a story. Beads of Courage helps families deal with the anxieties and the stress of their baby’s illness by recording every milestone, procedure, and act of courage. Parents receive a color-coded bead for events in their baby’s treatment and these beads are strung on a necklace that symbolizes what they’ve been through.

Stephanie Dumin, mother of Henry, waits patiently in the NICU. They have been in the NICU since Sept. 27, while Henry has endured several surgeries and many ups and downs. Dumin looks forward to journaling Henry’s daily struggles and his recovery. Dumin said, “It’s been a long 50 days facing the unknown. You never know what each day will bring. We go minute–to–minute some days. I know when we do the

Former NICU patient Carter Sears with his beads.

photos by Tony Ciuffo, Public Relations

NICU nurse Charlotte Edwards, from left, helps string beads for Stefanie Lane’s son, Trace, with the Children’s Hospital Volunteer Services’ Emily Wallace during the NICU’s launch of the Beads of Courage Program. beads we will realize how tough this time has been. We can explain the hardships to him and what he’s made it through.”

Henry has been off the ventilator for nearly two weeks, a benchmark for which he will receive a very special, handmade glass courage bead.

Emily Wallace is with Children’s Hospital’s Volunteer Services and oversees the program. Beads of Courage gives parents a tangible connection to their babies when they are not able to be together. Babies are in our NICU for weeks or months, and the parents are not able to be here all the time. It allows them to have something physical to hold on to that represents their brave babies and everything they go through,” said Wallace.

The beads are a special keepsake for a family to remember just how far their baby has come: A yellow bead is given for each overnight hospital stay, black beads for every IV start and blood draw, a special dove for being discharged from the NICU. It's not uncommon for a patient to amass 800 to 1,000 beads

during their stay.

Bringing the Beads of Courage program to the NICU was a labor of love for Charlotte Edwards, R.N., who gave birth to her son, Legare, when she was only 25 weeks along. Following an emergency C-section, Edwards was transported to MUSC where she, and husband, Adam, stayed by Legare’s side for 118 days.

Edwards soon came to the realization that parents in the NICU needed something that provided hope.

Eighteen months later, while volunteering at the Children’s Hospital, Edwards learned about Beads of Courage and felt it could be a comfort to parents who were suffering as her family had. As she finished nursing school, she asked family and friends to make gifts to a fund in Legare’s honor in lieu of buying her graduation presents. She raised nearly $2,000 of the $5,000 necessary to start the program.

Legare is now a healthy 6-year-old who loves to share the story of his necklace.

His favorite bead is his Bead of Courage — commemorating his extubation after

having been on a ventilator for 75 days.

“Over time, parents remember the major milestones, and big events like surgeries, but forget the day–to–day.

The beads are a storyboard that allows me to tell his story and his fight to be here. Legare can see, touch and feel his beginnings and the courage it took for him to survive." Edwards said.

Edwards now works in MUSC’s neonatal nurseries and feels fortunate to be caring for babies like Trace Lane, who was born 11 weeks premature and has been in the NICU for more than 90 days. His mom, Stefanie, is by his side every possible moment, but she and her husband, Brandon, both work full–time.

She laments every moment she is apart from Trace. “It’s very tough putting him in his little bin and walking away.”

NICU staff’s Charlotte Edwards holds up beads for her son, Legare.

As Stefanie strung Trace’s necklace, starting with the five square beads that spelled out his name, she noted, “This gives me a tie-line to him. We focus on the day–to–day and this necklace will give us the whole picture. When we are away from Trace, this will occupy our time. It’s very sentimental.” She looks forward to the day she can share Trace’s journey of survival with him, bead by precious bead.

THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013 5

MEET ANGELA

Angela Brown-Richards Department Institute of Psychiatry, Admissions & Access How you are changing what’s possible at MUSC Every day my team and I work diligently to facilitate the admission and transfer of psychiatric patients as efficiently and effectively as possible to improve patient outcomes and access to care. It’s all about service to the community.

How long at MUSC 8 years Children, pets and their names Daughter, Jasmine; sons, Joshua, Jonathan and Jordan. Three labrador retrievers, Buddy, Rocky and Coco and two turtles, Lightening and Red Thunder.

Your idea of a dream job One that promotes family-work life balance and affords me the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life. I am fortunate to live that dream every day.

Person you most admire My mom, Annie Brown. She taught me the value of being good to my fellow man and staying true to who I am.

6 THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013

Perry V. Halushka MUSC Student Research Day 2013

photos by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging

Left photo: Event namesake Dr. Perry V. Halushka, from left, joins keynote speaker Dr. Peter Kohl and event director Dr. Steven Kubalak. Right photo: Cardiology’s Lillianne Harris reviews her poster with judges at the event’s poster session.

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USC’s annual Perry V. Halushka 2013 MUSC Research Day was held Nov. 8 at the Wellness Center Gym and Drug Discovery Building.

Research Day was open to all students, postdoctoral residents and fellows at MUSC, as well as those from other institutions who had participated in the past year in research programs at MUSC. The event’s Nov. 7 keynote address was presented

by Peter Kohl, M.D., Ph.D., who is chair in Cardiac Biophysics and Systems Biology at the Imperial College of London and senior fellow of the British Heart Foundation. Kohl’s talk was about the systems biology of the heart.

Perry V. Halushka, M.D., Ph.D., Distinguished University Professor and dean emeritus of the College of Graduate Studies for whom the event is named, was present throughout all the activities.

“It was very gratifying to see so many of our trainees conducting outstanding research, in many cases, at the cutting edge of their respective disciplines. The quality of the research on this campus continues at the highest levels as evidenced by the trainees presentations. Also, Dr. Peter Kohl, gave an outstanding talk, which was also entertaining and had a great message for all trainees,” said Halushka.

The winners are listed below: Undergraduate Poster I — First place: Olivia Coco Session; second place: Logan Dowdle Clinical/Professional-Masters Poster I — First place: Markey Haselden; second place: Emily Cook Clinical/Professional/Masters Poster II — First place:

Blair Stec; second place: Camilo Mateus Clinical/Professional/Masters Poster III — First place: Dayvia Laws; second place: Robert Baranello Clinical/Professional/Masters Poster IV — First place: Jessica Bentzley; second place: Alexandra Parashos Clinical/Professional/Masters Poster V — First place: Eric Singhi; second place: Clark Sealy Clinical/Professional/Masters Poster VI — First place: Andrew Rabley; second place: Kristen DeYoung PhD Poster I — First place: LaShardai Conaway; second place: Ryan Kelly PhD Poster II — First place: Kimberly Sauls; second place: Sara D. Johnson PhD Poster III — First place: Brandon Bentzley (Kinard Gadsden Award); second place: Katherine S. Nicholas Postdocs/Residents/Fellows Poster I — First place: Heidi M. Steinkamp; second place: Lillianne G. Harris Postdocs/Residents/Fellows Poster II — First place: Navin Nikam; second place: Agnieszka Jezierska-Drutel Undergraduate Oral II — First place: Luke T. Havens; second place: Alexandra M. Moreira Clinical-Professional-Masters Oral VII — First place: Caitlin Moore; second place: Mallory A. Ulmer Clinical/Professional/Masters Oral VIII — First place: Mallory N. Roberts; second place: Balvir Singh Clinical/Professional/Masters Oral IX — First place: Samantha Sergi; second place: Jordan A. Maivelett PhD Oral IV — First place: Jaime L. Speiser; second place: Stefanie R. Bailey PhD Oral V — First place: Jordan D. Gruber (Eric James Award); second place: Matt Scheffel

Medical student Andrew Rabley reviews his poster with a participant.

PhD Oral VI —First place: Marie M. Lockhart (Willard & Betty Peterson Award); second place: Jacqulyne P. Robichaux Postdocs/Residents/Fellows Oral III — First place: Michelle H. Nelson; second place: Boobalan Pachaiyappan Postdocs/Residents/Fellows Oral IV — First place: Shawn M. Stevens; second place: Shilpak Chatterjee

See Research on page 7

THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013 7 The annual MUSC Student Research Day poster sessions were held at the Harper Student Center Gymnasium on Nov. 8, and featured participants presenting a total of 227 posters and oral presentations in approximately 20 categories. Below photo: Research Day judges, Dr. Michael J. Kern, from left, regenerative medicine and cell biology professor; Dr. Thierry Bacro, regenerative medicine and cell biology associate professor; and Department of Radiology and Radiological Science’s Dr. Munazza Anis, assemble in a quiet place to review, tabulate and discuss the final outcomes. photos by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging

RESEARCH

Continued from Page Six

Special Awards Innovation Award — First place: Craig Kutz; second place: Boobalan Pachaiyappan Sigma Xi — First place oral: Jordan D. Gruber; first place poster: Heidi M. Steinkamp Interprofessional — First place: Jessica Trombetta-eSilva; second place: Rebekah Walker Health Disparities Poster — First place: Michelle

MILK

Continued from Page One

mom — is safer than giving formula for the very pre-term babies,” Taylor said.

To fill that need, MUSC orders about 100 ounces of pasteurized human breast milk a week from a nonprofit milk donation bank in Austin, Texas. Even though the Mothers’ Milk Bank in Austin is a nonprofit, it’s still expensive.

Taylor estimated the medical center pays about $5 per ounce for the breast milk.

“Because so many hospitals are giving donor human milk to pre-term babies, there is a shortage in the country,” Taylor said. “We go higher on the Austin milk bank priority list if more South Carolina mothers are donating.”

South Carolina mothers who want to donate breast milk to MUSC must be tested and cleared for donation by a health care professional.

New moms can generally produce about 20 ounces of milk a day, Taylor

Khawaja; second place: Rebekah Walker Health Disparities Oral — First place: Mallory Roberts; second place: Sybil Nelson VA Oral — First place: Joseph Taylor; second place: Adam Akerman VA Poster — First place: Dayvia Laws; second place: Rebekah Walker VA Young Investigator — Camilo Mateus Ethics — First place: Logan Dowdle; second place: Gregory Fran

said. The Austin donation center will pay to ship the frozen milk on dry ice for moms who have accumulated at least 100 ounces of excess breast milk.

“We need moms from our area donating to where the MUSC NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) is receiving milk. That way the moms here are really supporting the Charleston area, the Lowcountry babies,” Taylor said.

Prolacta Bioscience will cover the cost of screening and shipping for moms who choose to donate their milk to Palmetto Health.

While the breast milk donations will not be sent directly to Palmetto Health, the donations will ensure that the hospital system has an opportunity to purchase an equivalent amount through the company. Palmetto Health, an existing Prolacta customer, already receives a discounted price for the company’s products.

“It is something that allows us to

reduce the cost of using the product by donating milk from the area,” said Victor Iskersky, M.D., medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit at Palmetto Health Richland.

Palmetto Health is a nonprofit hospital system. Iskersky estimates the system uses about 150 ounces of donated breast milk each week.

“Breast milk is one of our most important medications in the NICU,” he said. “It’s truly an amazing substance.”

While hospital systems may quibble about the best way to do business and compete for potential donors in South Carolina, there’s one thing that they all agree on. Moms should donate or buy breast milk through legitimate milk banks — either nonprofit or for-profit — instead of buying the product from a stranger on the Internet.

“Get it from a bank,” said Monica Pelletier, a La Leche League leader in Mount Pleasant. “They screen every

mother and they treat the milk as well.”

Prolacta and the Mothers’ Milk Bank in Austin screen potential donors for a variety of risk factors, including HIV and AIDS. There’s no guarantee that breast milk bought on the Internet is safe.

“It can be very scary,” Pelletier said.

While the market for buying breast milk online has soared, an October study published by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows it’s often unsafe.

“Human milk purchased via the Internet exhibited high overall bacterial growth and frequent contamination with pathogenic bacteria, reflecting poor collection, storage, or shipping practices.

Infants consuming this milk are at risk for negative outcomes, particularly if born pre-term or are medically compromised,” the study’s authors wrote.

For information, visit http://www. milkbank.org.

Editor’s note: The article ran Nov. 19 in The Post and Courier and is reprinted with permission.

8 THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013

Urban Farm events promote fun, healthy holiday giving

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USC Office of Health Promotion and Sodexo are hosting the fourth annual “Healthy Holiday Live” on Nov. 22 at noon in the Urban Farm. Our theme this year focuses on tips for creating budgetfriendly, healthy holiday meals and celebrations.

A panel of speakers will discuss topics related to healthy holiday cooking, decorating, and gifting on a budget.

The main event Susan Johnson features live cooking demonstrations by MUSC executive chefs Brett Cunningham, Ferando Middleton and Martin Neely using cost-cutting, healthy ingredients and culinary methods and presenting recipes including grilled turkey cutlets and corn bean relish, apple and raisin stuffing and grilled balsamic zucchini and squash.

Wellness Grab and Go Boxed Lunches — healthy, delicious lunches available for purchase — $5 includes bottled water, while supplies last. Samples and recipes will be provided, and representatives from MUSC and the Charleston community will be available to answer questions and provide information on keeping it low-cost and healthy this holiday season. The MUSC Farmers Market and local businesses will also be on hand, providing low-cost products and services for the holidays and throughout the year.

For the second year, MUSC Urban Farm is promoting the “Make a Wish for a STAR” Gift Program to make holidays a little brighter for some local teens.

Each week, students from the Institute of Psychiatry’s STAR Adolescent Day Treatment program visit the Urban Farm for special work and learn sessions as a reward for their accomplishments. For one hour a week, STAR teens get their hands dirty and their minds cleared of some very difficult problems in their daily lives. They can forget about their anger, frustrations, depression, anxiety, and stress and experience the joy of

Health at work

watching things grow. We would like to do our part to bring a little holiday joy to these students by collecting donations from their “wish lists.” There will be approximately 24 students, ages 13 to 16, from low-income families in the Charleston area who are currently enrolled in the STAR adolescent day program that will be participating in the “Make a Wish” for a STAR Program.

Those who would like to give to this worthwhile gift drive can select a star from the Urban Farm Oak Tree and purchase items for a STAR student.

For more information email urbanfarm@musc.edu.

Employee Wellness Events q Healthy Holiday Live, Noon to 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 22, Urban Farm q Employees XPRESS membership to the Wellness Center — Employees will be offered a one-year membership for $25 per month with a $15 enrollment fee. The membership will not include spouses or dependents and will be offered during limited hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and 6 to 8 p.m., Fridays. The fee can be paid via credit card, check or payroll deduction. Employees may sign up at the Wellness Center membership desk. q Flu vaccines will be available during Wellness Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 4, Children’s Hospital lobby.

MUSC Urban Farm q Lunch & Learn: The next event will be held from noon to 1 p.m., Dec. 5 under the oak tree. The topic is making a vermicomposting bin. q Sunset Work & Learn: 4 to 6 p.m., Thursdays. Topic is Light up the Farm q Work and Learn with child-friendly activities – first and third Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m., Dec. 7. Bring a plastic bag and take home some fresh produce in return for work efforts or help gather for donations on certain days. No experience or prior knowledge necessary. Open to all MUSC employees, students and the general community.

For information, contact muscempwell@musc.edu.

THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013 9

10 THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013

Charleston Medical Society members honor physicians and students.

Charleston Medical Society honors physicians and medical students

BY MIKIE HAYES Public Relations

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he Charleston County Medical Society honored three MUSC physicians and four College of Medicine students at its 2013 annual meeting on Nov. 7. During the meeting, Clarence W. Legerton, III, M.D., a graduate of MUSC College of Medicine, was installed as the new president.

A particular highlight of the event was the presentation of four named scholarships to MUSC medical students, all of whom hail from South Carolina.

Three of the four scholarships were named in honor of MUSC physicians in appreciation of their long-standing support of the organization.

“Charleston County Medical Society is appreciative of the long-standing relationship with MUSC. Your physicians have been and will continue to be integral to our success. We are most grateful to the MUSC physicians and staff whose generous gifts allow us to grant scholarships to the brightest and best medical students in Charleston County, such as the four scholarships we recently awarded," said Margaret Mays, CCMS executive director.

The Layton McCurdy Award was presented to Gregory Franklin a second- year student from Blythewood.

McCurdy, Distinguished University Professor, served as MUSC’s vice president for medical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine for 11 years.

A long-time champion of the CCMS, this award honors McCurdy’s support of the CCMS mission and its invaluable initiatives. During his time as dean, McCurdy encouraged collaboration between the two organizations.

“It is a great honor having a scholarship named for me especially by the Charleston County Medical Society as the society represents a broad array of doctors from the entire area. I am deeply honored by this award and I am particularly moved by this particular young man, Gregory Franklin, who is the recipient. They simply could not have selected a better person than Gregory,” said McCurdy.

The Richard H. Gross Award was presented to Rhonda Winchester a fourth-year medical student from Richburg. Gross is a physician and professor in the departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Pediatrics.

He is on the executive committee of the Children’s Hospital and CCMS past president.

The Frederick E. Reed, Jr. Award was presented to Brian Still a second- year medical student from Charleston. Reed, who is an MUSC’s College of Medicine alumnus, was a professor in the departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Pediatrics until he recently retired.

The Katharyn J. Ouzts Award was presented to Jacqueline Savage, a fourthyear medical student from Conway.

Ouzts is a psychiatrist who practices in Mount Pleasant.

THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013 11

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12 THE CATALYST, November 22, 2013