HEALTH NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM MEDSTAR MONTGOMERY MEDICAL CENTER FALL 2015 FOCUSED ON YOU MedStarMontgomery.org

INSIDE: Cutting-Edge Vascular Care At MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Wide-Awake Low Risk, High-Quality Results Individualized Cancer Care What You Should Know Annual Golf Classic Local Stars Support Local Cancer Patients

COMMON CONDITIONS OF THE ELBOW, & HAND FREE SEMINAR SEE PAGE 5 MEDSTAR MONTGOMERY MEDICAL From CENTER UPCOMING CLASSES

the President FITNESS Gentle Flow Yoga for Seniors LOOKING BACK Learn a variety of yoga poses to increase ON 25 YEARS strength, balance and flexibility. Tuesdays, October 27—December 15, Since I began working at December 22—February 8 MedStar Montgomery in Fee: $40 per eight-week session 1990, the has seen tremendous change, innovation and growth in its Yoga Beginners technology, campus, buildings and staff. It has been Learn the physical and mental exercise that amazing to watch our hospital, once on a dead- brings the body and mind together. end street surrounded by farmland, evolve into the Sundays, December 13—January 17 urbanized and highly advanced community hospital Fee: $60 per six-week session that so many people trust for their care. DIABETES CLASSES It has been an honor to serve as MedStar Montgomery Medical Center president for the Diabetes Self-Management past 25 years. As I reflect on this time, now that I Learn how to better manage your diabetes with will retire at the end of January 2016, I am struck by tips on self-care, healthy eating and being active. this growth and also by how many memories and Wednesdays, October 28 & November 4, friendships have developed over the years. November 11 & November 18 All of our associates, medical staff, Women’s Board, Fee: $40 per two-week session and volunteers have helped shape the hospital Pre-Diabetes and have made my time here so rewarding. We Learn about pre-diabetes and preventing have all grown together. Each person has helped type 2 diabetes. me succeed professionally and personally and Mondays, October 26 & November 2, has helped to provide outstanding care for this November 9 & November 16 community. Fee: $40 per two-week session MedStar Montgomery Chief Operating Officer T.J. Senker will take over as president at the time of my For more classes, see page 8 or visit retirement. I am certain that MedStar Montgomery MedStarMontgomery.org/Classes. will benefit from the new talent and leadership that To register, call 301-774-8881. will succeed me, gaining new perspectives, ideas and a renewed drive to continually push the hospital forward to serve the needs of our community. As I reflect on my fulfilling career at MedStar Montgomery, my hope is that I have contributed to building a FOCUSED strong foundation for continued growth and success of the hospital. ON YOU

Though I will miss the close-knit community of KENNETH A. SAMET, FACHE NIKKI YEAGER MedStar Montgomery, I look forward to traveling, President and CEO, MedStar Health Vice President, Strategic Planning, Marketing and Business Development spending more time with my family and spending JOSEPH BELL more time on the golf course. I am also preparing to Chairman, MedStar Montgomery GINA COOK do some executive coaching to support non-profit Medical Center Board of Directors Manager, Marketing and Communications organizations. PETER W. MONGE, FACHE President, MedStar Montgomery I sincerely thank the hospital staff and community Medical Center for the support I have received during my time at Senior Vice President, MedStar Health MedStar Montgomery. I look forward to celebrating Writers the hospital’s advancement and growth in the future. Heidi Rosvold-Brenholtz, Emily Turk and Leslie Whitlinger Yours in good health,

PETER W. MONGE, FACHE President, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Senior Vice President, MedStar Health

Focused on You is published by MedStar Health to provide general health information. It is not intended to provide personal medical information, which should be obtained directly from a . © 2015. MedStarMontgomery.org | 3

. << 301-774-8881 like Deborah’s may require up to four hours to complete. to four hours to complete. up may require Deborah’s like local hospital. from a vascular specialist,” advises Dr. Abramowitz. advises Dr. a vascular specialist,” from major restrictions. means.” other surgical or minimally invasive approaches, needed—along with a whole new perspective on her treated very well," says Deborah. "And, thanks to Dr. to Dr. thanks "And, very well," says Deborah. treated them further understand why some patients require require understand why some patients them further right away without and usually feel better the same day, places us among the top volume groups in the nation.” places us among the top volume groups including ulcers, should seek diagnosis and treatment should seek diagnosis and treatment including ulcers, invasive IVC reconstructions over the past year. That That over the past year. reconstructions invasive IVC be an explanation for leg swelling. Fortunately, many Fortunately, for leg swelling. be an explanation surgery and others don't. surgery the without exploring the leg, and elevate socks MedStar Health to initiate a clinical database to help a clinical database to initiate Health MedStar cases complicated while hour, an take Most go home in the morning, surgery typically have Patients Montgomery Medical Center and MedStar Washington Washington and MedStar Montgomery Medical Center than 30 minimally we’ve done more Hospital Center, country who performs the surgery I needed—I’ve had country who performs the surgery cause of the symptoms,” he says. “Yet there should there “Yet he says. cause of the symptoms,” care, supportive through conditions can be treated a good recovery.” a good recovery.” Thanks to vascular surgeon Dr. Abramowitz’s astute observation astute observation Abramowitz’s Dr. to vascular surgeon Thanks is now walking she leg, in Deborah’s total blockage of a rare, pain-free. Abramowitz—one of in the Abramowitz—one the few vascular surgeons This volume of This cases has also allowed the specialists at she the specialty care received Deborah Thankfully, “I was so impressed with the doctors and nurses and “I was so impressed “Anyone who experiences leg swelling or skin changes, skin changes, leg swelling or who experiences “Anyone compression wear just told to are patients often, “Too

from the lower body back to the the from (IVC), the large vein that carries blood vein that the large (IVC), to the operating room to administer room to the operating procedure to open the blocked to open the blocked procedure imaging revealed a very rare total a very rare imaging revealed both legs. blockage ofblockage the inferior vena cava She would need an additional heart. clot-busting drugs, intra-operative intra-operative clot-busting drugs, vessels and restore blood flow in vessels and restore When Dr. Abramowitz took Deborah took Deborah Abramowitz When Dr. uring her years as a volunteer in the billing as a volunteer uring her years Montgomery Medical Medstar at department had been a frequent Letow Deborah Center,

To make an appointment with one of our vascular surgeons, call an appointment with one of make our vascular surgeons, To when blood is not flowing or clotting properly, and properly, when blood is not flowing or clotting now the treatment of extensive choice for the most now the treatment now swollen, she came to MedStar Montgomery’s Montgomery’s to MedStar she came now swollen, replacement were to blame,” says Deborah. “But then says Deborah. to blame,” were replacement thrombosis (DVT). Relatively common, DVT is caused DVT common, Relatively (DVT). thrombosis the pain became excruciating.” suspected that the 57-year-old had deep vein the 57-year-old physicians suspected that blockages, given its safety and patient outcomes,” outcomes,” given its safety and patient blockages, better hospital for what turned out to be a rare and turned out to be a rare hospital for what better says Dr. Abramowitz, one of the few specialists in the Abramowitz, says Dr. swelling suggested to vascular surgeon Steven Steven swelling suggested to vascular surgeon Based on her symptoms, Emergency Department Department Emergency Based on her symptoms, Emergency Department. Emergency a have picked could not Deborah back, Looking ends up forming clots deep in the veins. But Deborah’s But Deborah’s veins. ends up forming clots deep in the due to a mild form of cerebral palsy. With both legs palsy. due to a mild form of cerebral complicated condition. complicated area performing the procedure. “Between MedStar “Between MedStar performing the procedure. area

as well. Cutting-Edge Care Cutting-Edge Steven Steven MD Abramowitz,

visitor, but never a patient. That all changed this past all changed this past That patient. but never a visitor, leg. pain in her left May when she developed for a Complicated afor Complicated Abramowitz, MD, that something else was going on that MD, Abramowitz, The pain affected her ability to walk, already difficult difficult already pain affected her ability to walk, The “For some candidates, reconstructive IVC surgery is surgery IVC reconstructive some candidates, “For “At first I thought arthritis or complications from a hip from complications or arthritis first I thought “At

D Vascular Condition Vascular 4 | FOCUSED ON YOU > FALL 2015 L Wide-Awake “With thesesmallprocedures,“With wecanavoidtherisks of “It maybehard tobelieve, butitwasafunafternoon,” Low Risk, High- The reason fortheseunanticipated reactions isa Hand Surgery: Quality Results the inevitablenext step. injections, sheunderstoodthat surgery wouldbe Vilschick's triggerthumbnolongerresponded tosteroid plagued herforyears. SimilarlywhenthepaininBarbara Orthopaedist Alison Kitay, MD, handsurgery of chief a lecture Dr. Kitay wasgivinginthecommunity. She andsedation bysimply numbingthearea,” at MedStar MontgomeryMedicalCenter, the part of of life.”of common problems. cakewalk. Bothwere verypleasantly surprised. dragged methere—and I’mso gladshedid.” decade, andahugeboostthat improves patients’ quality MedStar Orthopaedic Institute, thearea’s largest and Neither womanthoughttheprocedures wouldbea For Jeannie, numbness andtinglinginthree fingers in she says. “Butthen afriendencouraged metogo to some cheeseandcrackers, patients candrivethemselves says Dr. Kitay. “Surgery cantake just10minutes, andafter says, laughing. shares Jeannie. “Ilaughedandchatted withthenurses hesitant tohavesurgery. “Iwashesitantaboutanesthesia,” both handshadbeentroubling herforyears. Yet shewas home. It’s thebiggestchange inhandsurgery in thelast it wasn’tanydifferent from getting myhairdone,” she the techniqueareal boonfortreatment thesetwo of through thewholething.” Barbara agrees. “Honestly, most experienced team of orthopaedicmost experiencedsurgeons, team of calls revolutionary advancement:wide-awake handsurgery. RAISING THE ROOFONCARPAL TUNNEL to take thecarpaltunnelsyndrome care that of had sleep, Mary“Jeannie” Englingknewitwaspasttime ong before thepaininherfingerswoke herfrom

“I hadverylittle painandwasbacktonormal activities Jeannie’s symptomsresulted from thecompression of procedure hercarpaltunnel syndrome. that tookcare of Jeannie is backtogardening after theminimallyinvasive of inflammation,of arthritis orfluidbuild-up. Patients experience painandnumbness. During Jeannie’s procedure, Dr. Kitaymadeasmall says Jeannie. incision and released the tunnel “roof” toprovideincision andreleased more thetunnel“roof” tunnel syndrome, thepassagewaynarrows because through apassagewaycalledthecarpaltunnel. Incarpal the mediannervethat runsfrom theforearm tothehand right away. I’mgoingtohave theotherhanddonesoon!” room forthenerve—andthenclosedincisionwith a few stitches. MedStar MontgomeryMedicalCenter - Alison Kitay, MD, HandSurgery at of Chief quickly theyrecover. experience is for them—andhow marvel at howsimplethesurgical Like Jeannie andBarbara, patients

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<< . who help make every patient feel every patient who help make region. “At MedStar Montgomery, Montgomery, MedStar “At region. how simple the surgical marvel at experience is for them—and howexperience quickly they recover.” I work with a terrific team of I work with a terrific team nurses, comfortable,” says Dr. Kitay. “Like “Like Kitay. says Dr. comfortable,” Jeannie and Barbara, patients patients and Barbara, Jeannie

301-774-8881

the region performing wide-awake wide-awake performing the region hand surgery. specialists who are providing highly providing specialists who are the throughout specialized care Dr. Kitay is one of a well-trained Dr. cadre of orthopaedic Health cadre MedStar only a small number of in surgeons Surgery Fellowship, and is one of Fellowship, Surgery Barbara is back to playing piano after a revolutionary, wide-awake hand surgery that that hand surgery wide-awake a revolutionary, is back to playing piano after Barbara her trigger thumb. released

MedStarMontgomery.org/Classes EXPERTISE AND EXPERTISE EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE, the specialized OUTCOMES helps ensure these helps ensure success stories. success stories. Dr. Kitay has Dr. expertise that expertise After her her residency After 301-774-8881. or call or 14906 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866 Pike, Old Columbia 14906 visit register, To Tuesday, October 20, 2015 | 10:30 a.m. 10:30 | October 2015 20, Tuesday, Center Community Praisner Marilyn Recreation J. Alison Kitay, MD, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center’s chief of Montgomery Medical Center’s MedStar hand MD, Alison Kitay, , like will discuss common disorders surgery, hand and wrist lumps and bumps and arthritis. tennis elbow, COMMON CONDITIONS OF THE ELBOW, WRIST AND HAND WRIST THE ELBOW, OF CONDITIONS COMMON seminar: informational Join us for a free To schedule your appointment with one of our orthopaedic surgeons, call schedule your appointment with one of surgeons, our orthopaedic To was home by five,” Barbara says. says. Barbara was home by five,” medication just in case—but there was case—but there in just medication it was a much I have to say, no pain. motion of the tendon. the Harvard Hand/Upper Extremity Extremity Hand/Upper the Harvard thumb, the pulley becomes irritated pulley becomes irritated the thumb, thumb and released the pulley—a thumb and released . But when stiffness But when stiffness in trigger finger. in , she completed surgery, in orthopedic injection—routine treatment for treatment injection—routine have surgery. her thumb persisted, locking it into locking persisted, her thumb structure around the tendon that the tendon that around structure During the procedure, Dr. Kitay made Dr. During the procedure, Dr. Kitay, she gave her a steroid a steroid she gave her Kitay, Dr. easier experience than I imagined.” experience easier around two in the afternoon and two in the afternoon around and interferes with the gliding and interferes allows the fingers to flex. In trigger to flex. allows the fingers a small incision at the base ofa small incision at the a bent position, Barbara decided to decided Barbara a bent position, On Barbara’s first visit with first On Barbara’s TRIGGER THUMB THUMB TRIGGER RELEASED Alison Kitay, MD Alison Kitay, “I went to MedStar Montgomery“I went to MedStar pain “I took some over-the-counter 6 | FOCUSED ON YOU > FALL 2015 M Individualized Cancer Cancer Individualized As withmanycancers, ittooksomeinvestigating to Outcomes At MedStar MontgomeryMedical Luther Ampey,MD Center, cancertreatment isasunique Care Care cancer care Center forRadiation ; Paul Bannen, MD, medical aggressive andindividualizedtreatment planforMark. headaggressive andneckcancer. typeof and ENT procedures allowedDr. Mehta toexamine the using imagingtechnologysuchasCAT scans, aPET scan oncologist withCommunity andOncology oncologist andmedicaldirector fortheHelenP. Denit discover the source of theproblem.discover thesource of Careful sleuthing as each patient. Mark’s cancercovered alarge area at thebaseof Nicholas Mehta, MD, aspecialistinear, noseandthroat Mark’s journeybeganwhenhepointedoutaswollen Practitioners; andDr. Mehtacametogethertodevelopan Montgomery specialistsLuther Ampey, MD, radiation stage 3squamouscellcarcinoma, acommonand his tongue—too largehis tongue—too toremove surgically. MedStar Mark’sback of mouthandthroat toidentifythecause: (ENT) conditions. lymph nodeinhisneckduringaroutine officevisitwith our cancernurse navigator, call To thesephysicians, make anappointmentwith oneof oranyspecialist, call k and barbecuechampionfrom Olney, Md., ark Focht, a54-year-old sheetmetalmechanic nows somethingaboutindividualized . For Winning For Paul Bannen, MD 301-774-8693 Nicholas Mehta, MD

. “Patients advancedcancerhavebetter with thistypeof “Building ongoingrelationships withour patients helps MedStar“The strengthMontgomery’s of program isthe ADDRESSING PATIENT NEEDS WITH Mark hasreturned tocookingupcompetitiononthebarbecue, the specialistsat MedStar Montgomery. thanks to thepersonalizedcancertreatment hereceived from five daysaweekforsevenweeks andchemotherapy address theiruniqueneeds,” addsDr. Ampey. “We understand the scope of Mark’sunderstand thescopeof disease anddesignhis us designhighlyindividualizedtreatment plansthat commitment toacomprehensive patient approach,” says care, MedStar Montgomeryspecialistsworkcloselywith I am happy to be a part of sucheffectiveteams.”I amhappytobeapart of don’t justconsidermedicalinterventions—wefactor Mark’s treatment team recommended Dr. Bannen. ”That attracts terrificphysicians, alotof and From cancerdiagnosisthrough follow-up thepointof see improved outcomes.” in thepatient’s existing support systemasmuch possible. When allthese thingscometogether, we patients fordays, weeks and even years. treatment plantoaddress it,” saysDr. Ampey. radiation.the effectsof Asateam, wewere ableto twice aweekforeightweeks. results withradiation andchemotherapy, which enhances PERSONALIZED CARE 301-774-8881. To speak with

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<< n Thursday, May 21, the MGH Health the MGH Health May 21, Thursday, n arm of the fundraising Foundation, Montgomery Medical Center, MedStar MedStarMontgomery.org/Golf2015 preventative programs and services. and oncology services. programs preventative handful of general contributors, the event raised the event raised handful of contributors, general cancer patients and families resources, education education and families resources, cancer patients a record $103,072! a record also provides funds to cancer support groups, groups, funds to cancer support also provides diagnosis to recovery. from and support Raises $103,072 for for $103,072 Raises Montgomery MedStar With philanthropic dollars, we are able to give our we are dollars, With philanthropic Visit Visit the event photos from the full list of sponsors, information. and more The first-place Low Gross Team, pictured with Master pictured Team, Low Gross first-place The of Sandy Spring Bank, Kuncl of Cynthia Ceremonies Joe Betz, Vanhorn, to right) Marlin included (left Greene. Andrew and Chris Ruppert, Golf Health Your Annual Fore! hosted its 39th Sandy Spring sponsor with partnering Classic, for Campaign the Capital to support Bank, the event benefit from Proceeds Oncology. of our cancer patients, and treatment the care of the and renovation funding the expansion with Therapy, for Radiation Denit Center Helen P. of Elekta Infinity the purchase the state-of-the-art accelerator. linear Oncology Patients Oncology Annual GolfAnnual Classic 45 green/tee sign donors, 140 golfers, and a 140 golfers, sign donors, 45 green/tee Aside from the new center, the campaign the new center, Aside from Thanks to the support of our 25 sponsors, of to the support our 25 sponsors, Thanks O

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. Compliance with after-care routines with after-care Compliance positive attitude A diet during a healthy and eating Exercising treatment and after A strong support network support strong A • • • • 301-774-8693 To join a cancer support group at MedStar MedStar at group join a cancer support To call Montgomery Medical Center, Each person's cancer experience can vary greatly, can vary greatly, Each person's cancer experience even if the diagnosis is the same. healthcare provider for a check-up. provider healthcare you can help If diagnosed with cancer, you are the odds with beat you have a sore throat, lump, hoarseness or lump, throat, you have a sore than persists for more swallowing that trouble an appointment with your make months, three In head and neck cancer—as with many cancers— and neck In head If to the best outcomes. detection leads early BEATING CANCER BEATING win. Mark is a trained chef barbecue Mark is a trained who relishes win. WINNING ON THE PATH TO RECOVERY TO THE PATH ON WINNING for head and neck cancer like mine.” But despite mine.” neck cancer like and for head now I can set my sights on a new prize.” now I can set my sights on a new prize.” the battle ofthe battle the barbecue. than 90 percent chance of cancer-free.” than 90 percent remaining salivary glands and a diminished ability to taste food— salivary glands and a diminished ability sores, Mark set his sights on a full recovery and remained and remained recovery his sights on a full Mark set sores, and optimistic. strong some symptoms typical of chemotherapy and radiation typical ofsome symptoms and radiation chemotherapy MedStar Montgomery helped me beat my cancer, and cancer, my Montgomery helped me beat MedStar Now that Mark’s fought off cancer, he’s free to focus on free he’s fought off cancer, Mark’s Now that MedStar Montgomery. MedStar especially sweetness—he is determined to savor anotherespecially sweetness—he is determined experiencing loss of appetite, fatigue and painful mouth and painful fatigue loss ofexperiencing appetite, It’s an important anniversary, according to Dr. Ampey. Ampey. to Dr. according anniversary, an important It’s couple has many trophies that attest to winning recipes. to winning recipes. attest that couple has many trophies competitions that he and his wife enter as a team. The The he and his wife enter as a team. competitions that cancer therapy, such as dry mouth caused by damaged such as dry cancer therapy, of being cancer-free since completing his treatment at at completing his treatment since of cancer-free being Although Mark still struggles with the ofAlthough Mark still his This summer, Mark celebrated his second anniversary Mark celebrated summer, This “I want to win more trophies,” Mark says, “My doctors at “My doctors at Mark says, trophies,” “I want to win more “If patients make it to this milestone, they have a greater they have a greater it to this milestone, “If make patients “The journey was tough at times,” Mark says. “I had says. Mark times,” was tough at “The journey MedStar Montgomery Medical Center Non Profit Org 18101 Prince Philip Drive U.S. Postage PAID Olney, MD 20832 Suburban MD Permit No. 6466

MEDSTAR MONTGOMERY MEDICAL CENTER UPCOMING CLASSES, SUPPORT GROUPS AND EVENTS YOUTH PROGRAMS SUPPORT GROUPS Home Alone Postpartum Support Provides 8- to 11-year-olds the skills to stay Provides a safe place to express the anxieties, safe when home alone for brief periods of time, stress and emotions that come with welcoming including answering the door and telephone, using a new baby. the microwave, and when and how to call 911. FREE Drop-In: Saturdays, November 14 & December 12 Every Monday at 10 a.m. Fee: $35 Breastfeeding Support Babysitting + CPR Learn about nighttime feedings, pumping and Trains 12- to 15-year-olds in childcare, safety, safe storing milk, returning to work and other questions play, first aid and CPR to become the competent about breastfeeding. babies welcome. babysitter every parent wants. 2-year CPR FREE Drop-In: certification included. Every Thursday Saturdays, November 7 & November 14, December 5 & December 12 All Cancers Support Fee: $65 per two-week session Provides a safe place to explore ways of coping with the stress of cancer diagnosis and treatment. PARENTING CLASSES Meets: First and third Wednesday of Childbirth Express each month from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. A condensed version of the complete class to help prepare couples for a positive birthing experience. Call our Cancer Navigator Nurse at Presented in lecture/video format. 301-774-8693 to register. Sundays, November 15 & December 6 EVENTS Fee: $75 Women’s Board 30th Annual Gifts of Infant Care Light Ceremony A complete look at caring for your baby, including All funds benefit the Women’s Board, supporting bathing, feeding, diapering, safety issues and more. their annual Scholarship Program for students Tuesday, November 10 of nursing and other healthcare fields, and the Fee: $30 renovation and expansion of the hospital lobby. Visit MedStarMontgomery.org/GiftsofLight for Lamaze Technique more information. Learn breathing patterns, position changes, Sunday, December 6th at 5 p.m. relaxation techniques and massage to help

enhance the progress of labor. Fridays, October 23, November 20 & December 11 Fee: $60

For more information on times and locations of our classes and to register, call 301-774-8881 or visit MedStarMontgomery.org/Classes