THE MAGAZINE OF TULANE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | FALL 2015
THE MINUTES THAT MATTER MOST TULANE ADVANCES THE SCIENCE & TREATMENT OF STROKES
THE NEW UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER NEW ORLEANS OPENS | TULANE SPORTS MEDICINE’S CLIMB TO SUCCESS TULANE |MEDICINE
f you’re like me, every fall you VOLUME 42, ISSUE 2 2015 welcome not only the cooler Senior Vice President and Dean Iweather, but also the return of L. Lee Hamm, MD football season. When I have the Contributors chance, I like to spend my Sunday Sally Asher afternoons watching the giants of the Keith Brannon gridiron. Barri Bronston Cynthia Hayes I see our Tulane faculty in much the Mark Meister same way I see those larger than life Kirby Messinger football stars. They are dedicated, Arthur Nead determined and focused on winning. They battle day in and day out to Fran Simon become the best in their field. But, instead of injuries, our faculty are battling Zack Weaver funding challenges and research delays to ultimately succeed in their goals. It is Photography because of our faculty’s hard work and passion that we can be so proud of our Sally Asher accomplishments. Frank Aymami Paula Burch-Celentano Guillermo Cabrera-Rojo “ I see our Tulane faculty in much the same way I see Cheryl Gerber those larger than life football stars. They are dedicated, Craig Mulcahy determined and focused on winning.” Editing and Design Zehno Cross Media Communications In this issue of Tulane Medicine you will read about two of our programs that represent the best of the best. If you are in New Orleans and have had a stroke, chances are you have asked to receive care from Tulane Medical Center. You will President of the University learn more about why our program is scoring big with patients. Michael A. Fitts Vice President for University You will also read about the great momentum in our sports medicine program. Communications and Marketing Our sports medicine team is truly in a league of its own. These talented Deborah L. Grant physicians, trainers and nurses are bringing care to former NFL players Vice President for School of throughout the country. Medicine Development David W. Kinahan And to achieve greatness, of course, you must have excellent facilities. This fall our students and faculty helped open the doors to the new University Medical Tulane Medicine magazine is published semiannually Center New Orleans. We are excited to be a part of this world-class facility. for Tulane University School of Medicine alumni, faculty, We have the ball, and we’re ready to make great things happen at Tulane residents, students, staff and friends. School of Medicine. Letters and comments should be sent to: Tulane Medicine magazine c/o Tulane University Public Relations 215 Gibson Hall 6823 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118
L. Lee Hamm, MD Phone: 504-865-5210 Fax: 504-862-8777 Senior Vice President of Tulane University Email: [email protected] Dean of the School of Medicine Website: tulane.edu/som
Published letters and comments may be edited for length.
Tulane University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. Contents © 2015 by Tulane University. All rights reserved. CONTENTS
TULANE |MEDICINE
DEPARTMENTS FEATURES 2 NEWS 8 n Tulane Travel Clinic Tailor-made for Globetrotters THE MINUTES THAT MATTER MOST n Selling Consumers on Healthy Eating Tulane Advances the Science & n National Expansion for Culinary Medicine Treatment of Strokes n New Study Verifies Accuracy of Rapid Ebola Test n Remembering Professor Emeritus Dr. Sam A. Threefoot Jr. n Making Airwaves for Social Justice n Offering New Orleans Youth a Helping Hand n Mastering the Business of Health Care n The White Coat: A Uniform and a Calling n Tulane Alumna Appointed Pennsylvania Physician General n Two Tulane Teams Win Big n VA Spotlights Research Opportunities 12 A LEGACY REBORN The New University Medical Center 22 New Orleans Opens REMEMBERING A LEGEND n Dr. Norman McSwain
24 A GOOD INVESTMENT n The Orestano Scholarship
26 N O T E S n Dr. Robert “Bobby” Brown receives award from the 18 College Baseball Hall of Fame TOUCHDOWN! Tulane Sports Medicine’s Climb to Success
tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 1 MEDICINE NEWS
TULANE CLINIC TAILOR-MADE FOR GLOBETROTTERS
f you’re jetting off to go camping in patterns of drug resistance and an increase the wilds of sub-Saharan Africa, it’s in travelers with chronic health conditions, Ia good idea to soak your clothes in she says. Staff members counsel patients on insecticide before you pack. And if you’re their itinerary, medical risks and all aspects really roughing it, you’ll need antimalarial of health while abroad. pills and mosquito netting. “We map that to the countries they are If this sounds like expert advice from a visiting to come up with comprehensive seasoned travel agent, think again. It’s part safety and prevention recommendations,” of a typical day’s work for doctors at the says Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels, the clinic’s Tulane University Travel Clinic, a one-stop associate director. shop where travelers get vaccinations, For example, a client may ask: what’s medications and expert advice about health different about planning for a trip to
precautions for trips to exotic locales. The Cambodia or rural India versus an Tulane University Travel Clinic director clinic, which relocated to a new space on African safari? Dr. Susan McLellan and associate director the 15th floor of the Tidewater Building, “Every destination has specific risks Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels. caters to researchers working abroad and and conditions. If we just look at risks for tourists preparing for vacations. malaria, Cambodia has lower transmission Don’t swim in areas known for rough surf “Most people come to a travel clinic than, say, most parts of Africa, but the without a lifeguard. The advice ranges because they’ve heard they need some malaria you get in Cambodia is more likely from the mundane (wear sunscreen), to the ‘shots,’” says Clinic Director Dr. Susan to be resistant to treatment,” McLellan risqué. McLellan, associate professor of medicine. says. “Malaria risk in India is variable “If you are asking for a supply of Viagra “Most are surprised to learn that vaccine- depending on season and area.” for your travel, we are first going to have preventable illnesses make up only a small Since most think of travel as a carefree, a nice long chat about safe sex,” McLellan [percentage or portion] of illness related adventurous time, doctors spend a lot says. Wherever travelers plan to go, and to travel.” of time talking about avoiding risky whatever they plan to do, a stop by the Travel medicine has become behaviors. Thinking about bungee jumping Tulane University Travel Clinic is an ounce increasingly complex due to changes in off a cliff? Don’t unless you’re around a of prevention that may save them many global infectious disease epidemiology, new region with at least a Level 3 trauma center. pounds of cure.
SELLING CONSUMERS ON HEALTHY EATING
hile food and nutrition are at self-regulation, but researchers have Sujan says. “It really, really drives their the focus of the Goldring not systematically studied what good ability to self-regulate.” W Center for Culinary self-regulators actually do in life,” says Sujan says that individuals who have Medicine at Tulane University, the center Mita Sujan, who holds the Malcolm S. difficulty self-regulating can significantly also incorporates research from other Woldenberg Chair of Marketing. “We’re improve their outcomes by focusing disciplines, including business. trying to figure out what people who are not on distant goals—such as lowering Dr. Timothy Harlan, Goldring Center good self-regulators do to regulate their cholesterol or losing weight—but rather executive director, is working with eating and then build those skills and on specific short-term strategies. Those Harish Sujan and Mita Sujan, marketing strategies into the curriculum.” tactics include planning ahead (packing a professors at the A. B. Freeman School of Sujan co-authored a study in the lunch instead of dining out), substitution Business, to use insights from consumer Journal of Consumer of Psychology that (fresh fruit instead of cake), moderation behavior research to help doctors looked at what successful participants (ordering a small instead of a large), communicate health recommendations in an exercise program did to achieve restraint (eating only half a dessert or to patients more effectively. Their their goals. She discovered that good self- entree), and developing intrinsic interest most recent study investigates how fit regulators also tend to be good planners. (resolving to find a recipe to make a individuals achieve health-related goals. “What we show in the paper is that healthier dessert). “There’s a lot of research that looks giving people planning aids is really big,”
2 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som NATIONAL EXPANSION FOR PIONEERING CULINARY MEDICINE PROGRAM
s more medical schools across the country adopt Tulane University A School of Medicine’s pioneering culinary medicine program, organizers are making sure the curriculum’s core ingredients—recipes, course modules and nutrition research—stay fresh as they travel. The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine hosted a two-day retreat for 13 universities and healthcare centers that license its curriculum to teach medical students culinary skills, which they use Kelsey Downey (Johnson & Wales Culinary Nutrition, Providence), center, an intern with the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine at Tulane University, discusses using fresh vegetables with, from to counsel patients about nutrition. The left, Emine Ercikan Abali (Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School), Linda Knol (University of goal was to get feedback to improve and Alabama) and chef Maria Palma (Christus Children’s Hospital of San Antonio). grow the program, and to share successes and challenges others have in creating a Some of the suggestions included Arnot Health Graduate Medical Education “food as medicine” culture within their customizing recipes for regional tastes and in Elmira, New York, uses it as an elective communities. offering more options for specialized diets for those reaching clinical training in More than 40 people participated, to accommodate those who, for example, the final two years of medical school. Its including representatives from 11 licensee want to limit dairy consumption. A “Healthy Kitchens” course accepted 15 schools and five other institutions who plan participant from Chicago noted that their students the first year with a growing wait to join, says Dr. Timothy Harlan, Goldring residents make collard greens differently list, says Dr. Beth Dollinger, an orthopaedic Center executive director. from Southern cooks, preferring more surgeon who oversees the program. “These are all organizations that have cosmopolitan spices like turmeric. “The response has been fabulous,” food, lifestyle and health as their core Others talked about how they have Dollinger says. mission,” Harlan says. “It went quite adapted the program to fit specialized needs Goldring will incorporate retreat smoothly with a good balance of exchange within their schools, which are spread suggestions into an updated curriculum of ideas, meeting people at other sites and across the country. Tulane’s program targets and has plans to add a new course for solidifying the group.” first- and second-year medical students, but pediatricians.
STUDY VERIFIES ACCURACY OF “Rapid diagnostic tests can answer critical medical questions RAPID EBOLA TEST quickly in any geographical location, including areas that are miles away from any source of electricity.” new finger-prick rapid Ebola test co-developed by —DR. ROBERT GARRY, PROFESSOR OF MICROBIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY Tulane University School of Medicine researchers is A as accurate as traditional lab testing for the disease, quickly in any geographical location, including areas that are according to an independent study published in the British miles away from any source of electricity,” Garry says. “This study medical journal The Lancet. clearly demonstrates that the test can be used in a much broader Instead of taking days for lab results, the new test, which is way than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines produced by Corgenix Medical Corporation, uses a drop of blood to specify, adding to the inherent value of the test.” deliver a diagnosis in as little as 15 minutes, allowing public health The Food and Drug Administration and WHO have approved workers to isolate and treat patients immediately. The study results the test for limited emergency use. Developers are pushing for confirm that the test can be used in the field and deliver a high level more field testing so that regulators approve widespread use of the of accuracy, says Dr. Robert Garry, professor of microbiology and test. The rapid tests are designed to use fresh blood coming directly immunology at the Tulane University School of Medicine. from a person’s fingertip, not from older, stored blood that can “Rapid diagnostic tests can answer critical medical questions reduce its accuracy compared to clinical laboratory testing. tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 3 MEDICINE NEWS
REMEMBERING PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF MEDICINE DR. SAM A. THREEFOOT JR.
r. Sam A. Threefoot Jr., professor emeritus of medicine Dand Tulane School of Medicine medical educator and researcher, died in New Orleans on April 25. He was 94 years old. A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Threefoot lived most of his life in New Orleans. After graduating from high school in Selma, Alabama, in 1938, he began his Tulane education at the Dr. MarkAlain Dery, left, assistant professor of clinical medicine, and doctoral student Andrew Ward are the College of Arts and Sciences on an forces behind WHIV, a radio station whose programming includes HIV awareness and other social causes. honors scholarship. He was a member of Zeta Beta Tau, Phi Beta Kappa and MAKING AIRWAVES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE the marching band. After graduating he ike many casual encounters in concept that has been replaced with just attended Tulane University School of New Orleans that lead to a great a few voices that continue to support the Medicine while he was on active duty in idea, the meeting of Dr. MarkAlain power structure. WHIV is committed the Army Specialized Training Program L Dery and Andrew Ward was accentuated to providing programming dedicated to during World War II. by music and libations. At the Fais Do Do human rights and social justice.” From 1945-47, he served an stage at Jazz Fest, standing in the shade, Dery has succeeded in establishing internship at Michael Reese Hospital sharing a beer and discussing current a lineup with diverse programming, in Chicago, and then returned to a affairs, the two friends made a pact to including shows by members of the Tulane fellowship at Tulane in the Department promote human rights and social justice. community (see inset below). of Medicine. He remained at Tulane A year later, in 2014, community radio Ward, a Tulane doctoral student, is the as a teacher and researcher from 1947- station WHIV-FM 102.3 was born. station’s general manager. He is working to 70, advancing to a full professorship. Dery, assistant professor of clinical add more independent voices to WHIV’s Threefoot also served as the director of medicine at Tulane University School mix. “Nowhere else can New Orleanians research and medical education at Touro of Medicine, called the station WHIV hear real stories by real people about living Infirmary from 1953-70. because he wanted the letters repeated with HIV, being a radical black feminist, After a brief stint in Georgia, he over and over to de-stigmatize HIV and being a Christian anarchist, overcoming returned to New Orleans as associate build awareness of the disease. But HIV addiction, etc.,” Ward says. “These are chief of research at the VA Medical awareness is only part of the station’s story. the people in your neighborhood, and for Center. He served as an assistant dean at “Contemporary radio is corporate the first time in history, they have a voice Tulane until his retirement in 1991. After radio,” says Dery. “Community radio ‘for on-air and a place at the table.” So pull up his retirement, he continued to give back the community, by the community’ is a a chair and tune in. to Tulane, volunteering as an adjunct professor emeritus of applied health science at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. WHIV-FM 102.3 PROGRAM LINEUP INCLUDES THE TULANE COMMUNITY Threefoot was involved in medical TUESDAY 6-7 p.m. THURSDAY 5-6 p.m. SATURDAY 5-6 p.m. research for over 40 years, publishing over 150 papers, book chapters and abstracts, Dorian-Gray Alexander, Liana Elliott, 2007 Katy Hobgood Ray, standardized patient Tulane graduate, hosts assistant director of as well as three non-scientific books. He trainer, hosts “Proof “NOLA Matters” on web communications, served on the editorial board of Tulane Positive” on Tuesdays, Thursdays, covering hosts “Confetti Park” Medicine, and was an avid supporter which addresses living news that affects on Saturdays, featuring with HIV and staying New Orleans. Louisiana children’s of Tulane Athletics and the Tulane healthy and positive. music and storytelling. Marching Band.
4 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som MEDICINE NEWS
OFFERING NEW ORLEANS YOUTH A HELPING HAND
or nearly 25 years, New Orleans has had a place for youth University Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine. who don’t have insurance but also aren’t receiving medical While the Drop-In Center is an independent entity, Tulane F and social assistance: The Drop-in Center. Now, there’s a provides fiduciary oversight for the organization. second location. The Drop-In Center, which offers health and social services “The Drop-in Center is a place where homeless and at-risk to the youth of New Orleans, now has a second location: the youth can go to get off the streets; a place to call home for many original site at 611 North Rampart St. (located inside Covenant who do not have another place to go,” says Joshua Beverly, senior House), and the new Drop-in Center at 1461 N. Claiborne Ave. program director of the center, which is affiliated with the Tulane The clinic serves infants, children and youth to the age of 24. “With this latest development, individuals will be able to come to the center, grab a hot meal, put their clothing in the washing machine, take a shower, get tested for STDs/STIs [sexually transmitted diseases/sexually transmitted infections], check their email and watch TV all before their clothes finish in the dryer,” Beverly says. The center, at which Tulane students can volunteer, is constantly growing and implementing new programs, such as updated STD-testing technology. A long-term goal is to provide educational services. “Every day the center is expanding,” Beverly says. “To keep
The new Drop-In Center location at 1461 N. Claiborne Ave., expands their up with the ever-changing population, we, as staff, have to programs for homeless and underserved youth in New Orleans. make sure we stay hip to current trends.”
MASTERING THE BUSINESS OF HEALTH CARE
r. Kenny Wang began his and fast-track their careers. Since 2003, the residency in emergency number of joint MD/MBA programs in Dmedicine this fall, but the Tulane America has grown from 39 to 65. More University School of Medicine graduate than 500 students now graduate with dual has career aspirations that go far beyond MD/MBA degrees each year. This summer, the ER. Wang hopes eventually to go into the School of Medicine and the Freeman academic medicine and, one day, direct a School introduced a new, four-year, residency program. To help achieve that accelerated MD/MBA program to make goal, Wang enrolled in the five-year MD/ it even easier for medical students to earn From left, Dr. Jonathan Eskander, the newest MBA program, a joint offering of the School a business degree. The intensive format scholarship recipient, with Dr. Michael Yarborough, former director of the residency program, and John of Medicine and the A. B. Freeman School enables students to earn a medical degree Clarke, associate dean for graduate programs at the of Business that enables medical students to and an MBA concurrently, eliminating the A. B. Freeman School of Business. earn a Master of Business Administration need for an additional year of study. with just one additional year of study. “Tulane is one of only several schools and rapid changes we are seeing in the “Having a good business background that allow students to get both degrees in healthcare industry,” says John Clarke, is important for so many reasons,” says four years,” says Dr. Marc Kahn, Peterman- associate dean for graduate programs at Wang, a 2015 graduate of the program. A Prosser Professor of Medicine and senior the business school, who oversees the MD/ lot of doctors use business degrees to go associate dean at the School of Medicine. MBA program. “But a business background into private practice, but I think everyone “Combining business education with is valuable in a variety of situations, whether can benefit from skills like negotiation, medical education gives students the best of you’re looking to run your practice more leadership and financial management.” both worlds—the ability to care for patients efficiently, implement best practices, take Wang is one of a growing number of and the ability to practice in a cost-effective on a senior management role or move out students combining medical studies with manner,” says Kahn. of clinical medicine into consulting, venture business in an effort to broaden their skills “It’s partly driven by the complexity capital or private equity.” tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 5 MEDICINE NEWS
THE WHITE COAT: A UNIFORM AND A CALLING
ewly minted medical students lined up on a Saturday in August Nat the Hyatt Regency New Orleans to receive the symbol of their future profession at the White Coat Ceremony, marking the official beginning of their Newly minted medical students at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans receive the symbol of their future medical careers at Tulane University. profession at the White Coat Ceremony. The coat, a hallmark of a doctor, is much more than a uniform. It represents More than 9,880 applied to join and celebrated the opening of the new a responsibility and commitment to this year’s class, which hails from 38 University Medical Center downtown. patients, Dr. Marc Kahn, senior associate states and Canada. Students completed McSwain, who led the city’s only Level 1 dean of student affairs, told new members undergraduate studies at 82 schools and trauma center, represented the “Spirit of of the Class of 2019. colleges across the country, including 10 Charity,” an ideal to always put patient “The white coat symbolizes the from the University of Virginia, eight from care first see( pg. 22 for more). compassionate humanity that really is the University of California–Berkeley, “The class will work in the new facility, essential to what we do,” says Kahn, seven from the University of Southern but the new hospital is just a building,” Peterman-Prosser Professor of Medicine. California and six each from UCLA and Hamm says. “What will make a difference “Wear your white coat with honesty, Vanderbilt University. The class includes is the compassion they bring as they care for integrity, professionalism and pride.” 25 from Tulane. their patients.” The Tulane University School of Dr. Lee Hamm, dean of the medical For new student Tim Prior, of Westport, Medicine welcomed 185 new medical school, noted that students began their Connecticut, the day represented the students at the ceremony, which featured training during a momentous week as the realization of years of hard work to get into a keynote by Dr. Nia Terezakis, an alumna school mourned the loss of distinguished medical school. and distinguished dermatologist. trauma surgeon Dr. Norman McSwain “This is when it becomes tangible.”
TULANE ALUMNA APPOINTED PENNSYLVANIA PHYSICIAN GENERAL
ennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has that’s a conservative estimate, Levine adds. Dr. Rachel Levine, appointed a Tulane University She will help guide efforts to prevent Pennsylvania’s physician general. School of Medicine graduate as the and treat opioid abuse, such as writing P state’s physician general. Dr. Rachel Levine prescription guidelines and continuing was named to the position on Jan. 20 medical education for healthcare providers, and approved by the state Senate in June. implementing a prescription drug-
Levine was appointed for her impressive monitoring program and planning for the DANIEL SHANKEN, REUTERS background but is a pioneer as well: She is distribution of naloxone, a drug that can the first transgender individual named to a counteract overdoses. issues like eating disorders. “My interest has gubernatorial cabinet post in Pennsylvania. Other health issues that Levine will always been where medical issues intersect As physician general, Levine will advise tackle include improving immunization with behavioral health issues,” Levine says. the state’s governor and secretary of health rates and preventing and treating Lyme As a transgender woman, Levine adds on medical and public health matters. This disease. that she is pleased to serve as a mentor is her first role in public service. Levine graduated from Tulane in 1983 and role model for the LGBT community, “The biggest public health issue that and worked as a pediatrician, adolescent especially young people. “I think that we have in Pennsylvania is opioids. That medicine specialist and professor of that’s an important role that I serve, but includes prescription drug abuse as well pediatrics and psychiatry at the Penn State it’s not the only role that I serve—and not as heroin use,” Levine says, addressing her Hershey Medical Center for many years really the primary role. My role is to help immediate goals. Last year, overdoses killed before her appointment. She specialized in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with about seven Pennsylvanians a day—and treating young people with psychological public health issues.”
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TWO TULANE TEAMS WIN BIG
ulane University students and Estia Pharmaceuticals will seek to Freeman School of Business, School graduates have done it again. For develop a new, commercially successful of Science and Engineering, School of T the second year in a row, two formulation of the drug Modafinil, Public Health and Tropical Medicine teams led by current Tulane students or which has shown promising results in and the Office of Technology Transfer graduates are among the winners of the treating ADHD. Estia Pharmaceuticals at Tulane, along with the New Orleans Neuro Startup Challenge, an international is a start-up founded by Lowry Curley, a Bioinnovation Center, played critical roles competition designed to bring National graduate of the Tulane School of Science in the success of the two winning teams. Institutes of Health medical inventions to and Engineering, along with Nick Fears, “This was truly an interdisciplinary market. “It is completely amazing that two a Tulane psychology graduate student; effort among faculty, students and years in a row two teams from Tulane have David Bode, a graduate of the Tulane graduates that leverages our university’s won; statistically the odds of this are very MBA program; and Mitchell Fullerton, a collective strengths and contributes on low,” says Rosemarie Truman, founder Tulane bioinnovation doctoral student. a national level,” says Sherif Ebrahim, and CEO of the Center for Advancing Vascular Therapeutics, which director of entrepreneurship and Innovation. “Obviously, you have some includes Tulane engineering and medical innovation education and a lecturer in very bright and talented people there.” students Kevin Chiu, Kim Lee, Michelle strategy and innovation at Tulane. This year’s winning Tulane teams McCarthy, Jason Ryans and Ashwin Challenge collaborators include the were Estia Pharmaceuticals and Vascular Sivakumar, will work to commercialize Center for Advancing Innovation, the Therapeutics. They were among only 13 a therapeutic that seeks to increase the Heritage Provider Network and the teams selected as winners of the challenge, treatment window for stroke patients. National Institutes of Health. Heritage which attracted more than 70 teams. The School of Medicine, A .B. sponsored the challenge.
VA SPOTLIGHTS RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
hile most know the National Institutes of Health as a research powerhouse, there’s another familiar W name in the game that’s a major backer of medical research: the Department of Veterans Affairs. In fact, Tulane University’s first Nobel Prize-winning scientist, Dr. Andrew Schally, a former endocrinologist at the Tulane University School of Medicine, was a VA Distinguished Medical Research Scientist whose labs studied peptide hormone production at the New Orleans VA Medical Center. “Tulane always has had a very strong relationship with the VA for research,” says Joseph Constans, associate chief of staff for research at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System. The local VA hosted a one-hour seminar recently to let medical researchers know about funding opportunities for research projects Architectural rendering from the Veterans Administration of the new VA within the VA, which issues approximately $600 million in grants research facility that incorporates a portion of the Dixie Brewery building. annually. The event was part of National VA Research Week. “Our facility is very proud to host a VA Research program,” system allows for more efficient research and is a wealth of data Constans says. “The innovations our researchers discover and for retrospective analysis. There are also career development develop advance health care not only for veterans in the New opportunities for VA scientists and funding programs for smaller Orleans area, but also for veterans throughout our nation and for research projects that can grow into larger grants. all American citizens.” The VA is building a new research facility that is part of Medical researchers within the VA have access to an extensive the newly built Project Legacy complex. The facility, which patient population within a program that has “the best and most incorporates a portion of the iconic Dixie Brewery building in elaborate electronic medical record system,” Constans says. The New Orleans, is slated to open in early 2017. tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 7 DR. AARON DUMONT, CHAIRMAN OF DR. SHERYL NEUROSURGERY MARTIN-SCHILD, AT TULANE HEALTH DIRECTOR OF THE SYSTEM STROKE PROGRAM
Quick recovery thanks to Tulane Stroke Center
CHARLIE AND JEAN MATKIN Using advanced drugs and new technology, Tulane is treating strokes faster than ever before, with remarkable results for patients. 1 of 2
TULANE STROKE CENTER IS 1 OF 2 LEVEL 1/ COMPREHENSIVE Target: Stroke STROKE CENTERS IN LA Honor Roll Elite 1st hour Plus Status
ADMINISTER TREATMENT WITHIN 1ST HOUR OF STROKE
“WITH A STROKE, TIME LOST IS BRAIN LOST.” –DR. SHERYL MARTIN-SCHILD THE MINUTES THAT MATTER MOST Tulane Advances the Science 130,000
and Treatment of Strokes PEOPLE DIE OF STROKES A YEAR IN THE U.S. BY BARRI BRONSTON
8 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som he signs that her It also means proficiency in the New England Journal of Medicine. husband Charlie, 79, delivery of the clot-buster tissue Until then, there had been no existing was having a stroke plasminogen activator, or tPA, the treatment for stroke victims. were all too clear to Jean only drug approved by the U.S. “He blew me away,” Martin-Schild Matkin—the slurred Food and Drug Administration to recalls of her training with Grotta. speech, the weakness in treat ischemic stroke, which occurs “I learned from him how to come This left arm and leg, his struggle to pull when a blood clot blocks or plugs an back to my hometown and my home himself up after falling in the bedroom artery leading to the brain. If given institution and build a program.” of their Lake Vista home in New Orleans. intravenously in the first 4.5 hours Admittedly, it wasn’t easy. “The “At first I thought he had tripped,” after the start of stroke symptoms, first several years were dedicated to she says. “When I asked what had tPA has been shown to significantly building the infrastructure of the happened, he couldn’t answer. He was reduce the effects of stroke and lessen hospital–putting together policies trying to push himself back up, but he the chance of permanent disability. and procedures, hiring a full- couldn’t get up. I called 911 and said, So proficient is Tulane Health time coordinator to monitor our ‘I need an ambulance. My husband is System in delivery of tPA that in 2015 performance on all the metrics, having a stroke.’” the American Heart Association/ correcting problems through action “I come from a medical family,” American Stroke Association bestowed plans, increasing staff with stroke Matkin says of her uncle, four cousins their highest honor on the center— neurologists and nurse practitioners and father, Dr. Ernest Celli, all Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus. and hiring doctors who could do graduates of Tulane University School To achieve that status, hospitals must endovascular procedures. of Medicine. “My dad was a doctor, and meet quality measures developed to I had heard enough just in conversation reduce the time between the patient’s to know what was happening.” arrival at the hospital and treatment EMS arrived within 15 minutes, with the clot-buster drug. “At first I thought he had loaded him onto a stretcher and into “With a stroke, time lost is brain tripped,” she says. “When I the ambulance, and headed straight to lost,” Martin-Schild says. “We are asked what had happened, Tulane Medical Center, home of the absolutely committed to providing highly acclaimed Tulane Stroke Center, aggressive, proven stroke care. To make he couldn’t answer. He was one of only two Level 1/Comprehensive this happen, you have to have a highly trying to push himself back Stroke Centers in Louisiana. dedicated, hard-working, flexible and up, but he couldn’t get up. I Within two days, Charlie Matkin passionate team. And you have to have called 911 and said, ‘I need was back to his old charming self. He support from hospital administration, was talking normally again, and the because it doesn’t come without an ambulance. My husband weakness on the left side of his body demand for resources.” is having a stroke.’” was all but gone. —Jean Matkin His quick recovery came as no Building a Program at Tulane surprise to Dr. Sheryl Martin-Schild, a Martin-Schild, who earned her vascular neurologist at Tulane Health undergraduate, medical and doctorate
System and director of the Stroke degrees at Tulane, started the Tulane Below: tPa is the Program. Martin-Schild began the Stroke Program seven years ago. She only drug approved program in 2008, and has spearheaded was inspired by Dr. James Grotta, by the FDA to treat its growth into one of the best in a renowned neurologist, during her ischemic stroke and Louisiana. two years as a Stroke Fellow at the dramatically reduce permanent disability A Level 1/Comprehensive Stroke University of Texas Health Science if administered Center requires 24/7/365 access to an Center at Houston. Grotta had been a within 4.5 hours. emergency room staffed with a stroke principal investigator in the first major team, vascular neurological expertise within trial showing the benefits of tPA as a 15 minutes of patient arrival, the ability treatment for stroke. The 1995 paper to perform labs and CT scan of the head announcing the results was voted with rapid interpretation and experienced one of the top nine papers in proceduralists and neurosurgeons. the 200-year history of
tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 9 health officials launched the Tulane Health System for having TeleStroke Network to improve an unusually stroke outcomes in communities high incidence without access to specialized stroke of stroke and care programs. And last year, under other forms of Dumont’s leadership, the Tulane cardiovascular Neurosurgery Group took over disease. neurosurgical care at East Jefferson Dr. Aaron General Hospital in Metairie, Louisiana. Dumont, Dumont arrived at Tulane Health chairman of System a little more than two years ago, neurosurgery at charged with creating a larger footprint Tulane Health for educational programs, outreach and System, blames clinical research. the higher Telemedicine, for example, “brings incidence of timely expertise to communities stroke partly that previously didn’t have that on lifestyle and opportunity,” he says. “The process is Telemedicine extends Tulane’s reach and gives rural communities diet but also similar to communicating via a web access to high-quality care. on genetics and cam. We are able to see and interact demographics. with the patients and their families and “It also involved a mentality shift That the hospital boasts such an they are able to see us.” away from passive approaches to active outstanding stroke program speaks “You get patched through by phone approaches to stroke treatment,” volumes about Tulane’s commitment to initially to get a sense of what’s going Martin-Schild says. fighting the disease. on with the patient,” Martin-Schild By active, she means treatments to “I think it’s critical to have a says. “More likely than not they’ve restore blood flow by dissolving clots multi-disciplinary team with expertise been screened pretty well. But we have with the clot-buster or endovascular in stroke and other neurological to decide, ‘Do I treat or not? Does treatment, which involves more invasive disorders—physicians, nurses, therapists this patient need to be transferred to a treatment to remove clots during an and other health care providers. Early higher level of care or not?’” angiogram. “Part of being active is recognition and prompt treatment As part of the process, she says, “I responding as if every minute matters are critical. Stroke is a potentially can zoom in to the point where I can during a stroke…because it does,” devastating disease and timely cutting– see the patient’s pupils and listen to the Martin-Schild says. edge treatment can make an enormous heart, if appropriate. More relevant, “It’s been shown that if you get difference in helping patients recover,” I can review the CT scan and make a treatment in the first hour, you have says Dumont. decision as to whether a patient may a great chance of having a near or benefit from the clot-buster or not.” complete recovery,” she says. “We A New Horizon: the Depending on the seriousness of are able to administer this treatment Telestroke Network the situation, the patient could be air quickly due to effective and efficient Tulane’s commitment to stroke lifted and transferred to a hospital teamwork. In fact, we have a patient treatment goes well beyond the walls better equipped to treat stroke patients. right now who went from having a of its own hospital. Martin-Schild, Louisiana hospitals are classified by devastating stroke to being able to walk for example, serves as the stroke treatment capability, ranging from out of here with very few issues.” medical director for the Louisiana Level 1, the most comprehensive, to Each year, about 130,000 die as Emergency Response Network (LERN), Level 4, considered no-stroke hospitals. a result of stroke, making it the fifth a government agency charged with The Joint Commission, a nonprofit leading cause of death in the United developing and maintaining a statewide group that accredits and certifies more States. The southeastern United States system of care coordination for patients than 20,500 health care organizations is especially vulnerable, with Louisiana suddenly stricken by serious traumatic and programs in the United States, is and 10 other states part of the so-called injury, such as a stroke or heart attack. one mechanism for certification as a Stroke Belt, recognized by public Dumont is part of the team that Comprehensive Stroke Center.
10 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som Tulane was accredited as a Level 1/ to determine why they form and why of what the Stroke Program has Comprehensive Stroke Center in 2013 some of them rupture—with the goal accomplished in the past seven years, and is one of only two such hospitals of developing medical therapy or but even with its top rating, believes it in Louisiana. In addition, there are minimally invasive treatment.” can achieve much more. 12 Level 2/Primary Care Centers Tulane University partnered with “We can sustain what we’ve done, in the state and many more Level 3 University of Texas Health Science but we’re looking to expand our Stroke Centers. Level 3 Stroke Centers Centers at Houston and San Antonio manpower so we can offer our services follow the criteria for Acute Stroke to form the Gulf Regional Area beyond where we are now,” she says. Ready Hospitals established by the Stroke Programs (GRASP), which “We just need additional people with American Heart Association/American was funded by the National Institutes the same kind of training, experience, Stroke Association, and are capable of of Health StrokeNet. StrokeNet work ethic and love for fighting this evaluating and treating stroke patients consists of 25 regional coordinating disease.” with tPA, often assisted via telemedicine. centers with satellites and high volume Charlie Matkin can’t imagine “It is currently impossible, without centers providing greater access to having received better care, from the telemedicine, for all patients with stroke participation in clinical trials of new moment he entered the emergency in Louisiana to receive care in a Level 1 treatments for stroke prevention, room. And while he and his wife hope or 2 Stroke Center,” says Martin-Schild. acute stroke treatment and stroke they never have to return to Tulane “But, the Tulane Stroke Program makes recovery. Martin-Schild is Tulane Medical Center, they are comforted a difference for our community and Health System’s principal investigator knowing that it is just a few miles beyond through our TeleStroke service. for StrokeNet. away. “The medical staff,” Jean Matkin As coordinator of the Stroke Martin-Schild says she is proud says, “is truly impressive.” Program, Melissa Freeman, a registered nurse who holds a master’s degree in public health, spends much of her time ensuring that all guidelines set forth First identified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) by the Joint Commission are followed, in 1962, the Stroke Belt still has markedly high death from patient admittance to discharge. rates from stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. “The program is very patient Hypotheses about causes range from selenium focused,” she says. “It not only sets standards for practitioners following deficiency in the soil to high rates of tobacco use. evidenced-based medicine, but provides a strong emphasis on patient/family education and integration back to their life post-stroke. We give everybody information on resources available to them. We even started a support group for stroke survivors and family members.” In addition to standards dealing with direct patient care, a certified Comprehensive Stroke program must be involved in community outreach as well as cutting-edge research. “We’re interested in a number of things focusing on stroke,” Dumont says. “We are looking at ways to improve endovascular stroke care, and we’re involved in clinical studies that examine brain aneurysms, disorders of the spine and brain tumors. We’re conducting lab research on brain aneurysms—trying
tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 11 105 Tulane residency positions
2,000 full-time employees 56 emergency treatment rooms
34-acre campus NBBJ/Benjamin Benschneider 2.3 million square feet 446 beds
Hospital beds that drive themselves A Legacy Reborn The New Academic Medical Center Opens
University Medical Center New Orleans, the city’s new $1.1 billion teaching hospital, is a state-of-the-art new training ground for medical students and residents.
BY KEITH BRANNON
TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 13 sk any resident or faculty member what it’s like students rotate through the hospital. Nearly 40 percent of all to work in the new University Medical Center University Medical Center faculty are from Tulane, says Dr. New Orleans and you’ll get two quick first Lee Hamm, senior vice president and medical school dean. impressions. Foremost will be general gushing “This hospital has always been historically important for that the new facility is stunningly beautiful; its Tulane,” says Hamm, noting that the school had residents at colorful art installations, serene public walkways the city’s primary public hospital when the precursor to Tulane andA chic décor make it feel more like a hotel than a hospital. University—The Medical College of Louisiana—first opened in “It’s gorgeous. It’s full of natural light, full of art and 1834 to train doctors to treat yellow fever. “We look forward to everything is new,” says third-year Tulane University School continuing to play an important role in caring for patients and of Medicine internal medicine resident Sarah Candler, who training the next generation of doctors as the hospital is reborn.” felt “star-struck” during her first tour of the new $1.1 billion academic medical center. “There was this moment where we A Radically New Approach were asking ourselves, ‘Is this actually real? Do the [hospital] The new hospital takes cues from the hotel industry. Waiting beds really drive themselves?’ Yes, they do. They have motors on areas feature rich colors, modern design and natural light. The them! You don’t have to push.” floors in the clinic building mimic darkly stained, natural wood And the second reaction? Wear comfortable shoes. At 2.3 and walls in patient rooms feature filigree patterns resembling million square feet, it’s big. classic New Orleans architecture. Patient towers and the clinic “There are nights when I’m on call, and I’ll walk three miles are color-coded to make it easier to navigate. There’s a reflecting inside the ICU—easily,” says Candler, who logs more than pool courtyard between buildings and vibrant green landscaping 6,000 steps per shift, according to her iPhone fitness tracker. out front. A huge, brightly colored glass sculpture floats above “I’m definitely walking more.” the lobby, forming a map showing the city’s growth and A healthy dose of exercise is just one thing Tulane University pinpointing all seven iterations of Charity since the 1700s. School of Medicine students, residents and staff are adjusting to While the art and décor are the most eye-catching, the larger, since the new hospital and clinic opened in early August. The private patient rooms may be the most significant change—they new UMCNO is the successor to the iconic Charity Hospital, are bathed in natural light coming through floor-to-ceiling which was shuttered a decade ago after Hurricane Katrina windows. All inpatient rooms are private, with the exception of flooded the city’s downtown medical district. a few in the Behavioral Health Unit. “That already has made an enormous difference in how our Anderson Huge Hub for Medicine in New Orleans patients view the hospital, how our residents view working in
The new facility is a significant upgrade. Since 2006, the city’s the hospital and the general ambiance of the hospital,” says Kathy primary public hospital and only Level 1 trauma center had Dr. Cathy Lazarus, UMCNO chief academic officer. “The happier been operating out of the former University Hospital, a 386-bed patients are, the better the experience is for everybody here.” facility on Perdido Street. Clinical services were delivered from In old hospitals, the hallways were frequently crowded several locations, including a temporary site in a former Lord & and frenetic. Now, they are serenely quiet, as larger rooms Taylor department store downtown. accommodate attending staff and family members. Each room The sleek new hospital sits on a smartly landscaped, 34-acre also has a pull-out couch that converts into a sleeper bed so campus between Tulane Avenue and Canal Street in Mid-City. family members can comfortably stay overnight with their It features three six-story patient towers with a capacity for 446 loved ones. beds, 19 operating rooms, an emergency department with 56 “It is a fantastic facility,” says Dr. Jeffrey Wiese, associate exam rooms, nine rapid treatment rooms and a trauma center dean of graduate medical education at Tulane and head of the with five resuscitation rooms and nine acute treatment rooms. internal medicine residency program. “I think the best thing The state-owned UMCNO is run by local LCMC Health, for the faculty and students has been the single-patient rooms which operates Children’s Hospital, Touro and New Orleans and the space in those rooms. Tulane is a big believer in patient- East Hospital. The hospital will continue Charity’s mission to centered care and rounding at the bedside, and this has allowed offer quality and accessible health care to all. the faculty the space and patient privacy to teach students these Like its predecessor, the new UMCNO is the city’s largest essential patient-centered skills.” training center for physicians. The hospital currently hosts 370 At University Hospital, most patients shared a room, and the residency slots. It’s the primary residency site for Louisiana State total room size was about the size of a single room at UMCNO. University School of Medicine and the second largest for Tulane At Charity, the conditions were more spartan, with up to 20 residents and medical students, behind Tulane Medical Center. patients sharing a single open ward, separated only by a curtain Tulane has 105 residency positions at UMCNO, and 71 medical between beds, Wiese says.
14 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som “I resonate with the Charity The 40 Intensive Care Unit rooms are even larger and include bathrooms and state-of-the-art automated beds with mission of providing the ceiling-mounted patient lifts. The beds play music and even “speak” in several different languages. “If it’s an emergency, and best quality care to all, no you don’t have a translator with you, you can ask the bed to matter the circumstances.” tell the patient to calm down and that everything is going to be OK,” Candler says. “It’s amazing.” —Dr. Jeffrey Wiese, associate dean of graduate The larger space makes it easier to conduct procedures and medical education at Tulane and head of the accommodate life-saving medical equipment with ample space internal medicine residency program. for staff and students. “It’s great for teaching,” Candler says. “I just had six students with me for a clinical diagnosis course, and we all felt very A gift from the medical staff, an comfortable in one patient’s room talking with the patient exact replica of “Big Charity’s” original seal in the lobby. because there was plenty of space. Everyone felt like they were welcome. You didn’t feel like you were in the way.” Floors also include physician training rooms and conference rooms for rounding discussions. While the new hospital is vastly different from the facility it replaces, there is one aspect that will be familiar. The medical staff donated an exact replica of the original bronze seal from the entrance of “Big Charity” for the lobby. The seal depicts the moniker to “care for the sea-worn as well as the young, newly launched in life,” says Dr. Gabriella Pridjian, Tulane chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “In gifting this seal, we honored the many doctors, nurses and other personnel who worked countless hours, at times with limited resources, to give quality care for everyone who walked through the doors of Charity Hospital,” Pridjian says. “The seal
Kathy Anderson represents the Charity philosophy that we take care of all. Even though we have a new building, we still plan on taking care of anyone who needs care in the city.” That “Spirit of Charity” is an important guiding principle for those who still look fondly on their days serving and training in the old hospital and the fighting spirit of its dedicated staff. “I resonate with the Charity mission of providing the best quality care to all, no matter the circumstances,” Wiese says. “It’s why I came to New Orleans. But like all missions, this mission is not comprised of bricks and mortar. It’s comprised of the people that hold it near to their heart, and demonstrate it in their day-to-day actions. The same people that were in University Hospital, and Charity before it, are providing care in the UMC. The Charity mission lives on.” New generations of doctors are proud to carry that legacy, Candler says. “I wasn’t here for Charity, but I have worked with so many people who were the lifeblood of that place and who are now the lifeblood here as well. I feel just as spirited as I did at [University Another homage to “Big Charity,” exterior art deco mural replicated indoors. Hospital]. Sometimes more so because it’s almost like, ‘Wow… This is the hospital my patients deserve.’ Maybe this is what we get for working so hard for so long.”
tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 15 Talking multilingual beds help bridge communications gaps.
Taking cues from the hotel industry, works of art are on display throughout the hospital.
“River Spirit,” a glass sculpture by artist Ray King floats above the lobby, forming a map showing the city’s growth and pinpointing all seven iterations of Charity since the 1700s.
A scroll pattern is ornamented throughout patient rooms.
Crown molding is used to create a textural effect for the reception towers.
Color-coded towers make the hospital more navigable.
16 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som The lobby, much like patient rooms, fills with natural light beaming through floor-to-ceiling windows.
“It’s gorgeous. It’s full of natural light, full of art and everything is new.” —Sarah Candler, third-year Tulane University School of Medicine internal medicine resident
A sculpture by renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly rises from a reflecting pond between towers. INTERIOR PHOTOGRAPHS BY WILL CROCKER
tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 17 TOUCH DOWN! Tulane Sports Medicine’s Drive to Success
BY KIRBY MESSINGER PHOTOGRAPHS BY WILL CROCKER
Tyrone Hughes, former NFL defensive back for the New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys, and Dr. Greg Stewart, director of sports medicine for the Tulane Athletic Department.
18 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som JUST YARDS AWAY FROM THE new Yulman Stadium, Will Keller opens the doors to his office at Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine (TISM). It’s 7 a.m., and the clinic is already TOUCH abuzz with activity. Keller is gearing up for a jam-packed day. For the next eight hours, he will be guiding a former professional football player through an intensive medical evaluation. DOWN! As a Tulane athletic trainer, Keller is Tulane Sports Medicine’s Drive to Success used to working with high school and BY KIRBY MESSINGER college athletes, but because of Tulane’s PHOTOGRAPHS BY WILL CROCKER exciting partnerships with the NFL Player Care Foundation and the NFL Players Association Trust, he is now working with the big leagues. Recently named the screening partner of choice by the NFL Player Care Foundation, Tulane has become the go-to healthcare provider for former professional football players.
Gridiron Guardian Led by Dr. Felix “Buddy” Savoie, chair of the Department of Orthopaedics, TISM has been caring for New Orleans athletes for over 30 years. “I’m in my 29th season taking care of Tulane players on and off the field,” says Dr. Greg Stewart, director of sports medicine for the Tulane Athletic Department. “And even after they graduated, those athletes would often come back and continue to receive care at TISM. We just understand athletes.” That understanding and dedication to care made the sports medicine program a standout locally, but it wasn’t until Stewart was approached by the nation’s most powerful sports program that he realized just how much Tulane’s work was being recognized nationally. In early 2012, the NFL Player Care Foundation invited Tulane to join their Neurological Care Program. Tulane is now one of only five medical centers to evaluate and treat possible neurological conditions among retired players. “We began to see patients through the Neurological Care Program, and
tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 19 arise from playing in the NFL and with the sheer size and girth of many players “Even after they graduated, those athletes would creating heart and health problems, often come back and continue to receive care at there is a strong need for healthcare services. Unfortunately, Stewart says TISM. We just understand athletes.” that it isn’t uncommon to see these former athletes neglecting their —Dr. Greg Stewart, director of sports medicine for health, and it’s often because they are the Tulane Athletic Department unsure how to navigate the healthcare landscape without a team’s support. “A player’s wife made an appointment with their local doctor,” says Stewart. “He waits and after 20 minutes he leaves the appointment. When he gets home he tells his wife, ‘I’ve never had to wait to see a doctor before so I left.’” Those scenarios are all too common among professional athletes, but Tulane has worked to combat that problem by using an innovative approach to care. Former NFL players feel at home with the care they receive at Tulane because athletic trainers, like Keller, along with Mindy McDonell and Ellen Garrett, are their personal medical coordinators. “We always have someone helping them and guiding them through the process,” says Keller, follow-up care 1 of 4 manager at TISM. “That is unique to our program.” Tulane is one of only four programs in the Stewart says that when athletes are country that provides treated at the Tulane Institute of Sports a comprehensive Medicine they are given access to care health evaluation to in a way that they are familiar with. former players. Players are accustomed to conferring with athletic trainers for their injuries, so having the athletic trainers coordinate their appointments and meetings with physicians is a natural process. The screenings are vitally important to these former players. “Of the 200 really started to expand our network overall health and help their transition guys we have seen, only a handful with former NFL players,” says Stewart. to life after football. Along with the have been healthy,” says Keller. “We’ve “Because of our work with the NFL Cleveland Clinic, the University of caught some serious situations.” Player Care Foundation, we were North Carolina and Massachusetts Keller says they’ve gotten a great then approached by the NFL Players General Hospital, Tulane is one of response from the former and current Association to provide medical services only four programs in the country NFL athletes, including glowing reviews for The Trust.” that provides a comprehensive health on the post-program surveys. Many The NFL Players Association created evaluation to former players. participants even want to come back and The Trust to improve former players’ With the brain and body issues that receive care from Tulane doctors.
20 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som Running Interference mental. We have so many With access to over 300 faculty resources at Tulane to be able members and a world-class level of to help these players.” Dr. Felix “Buddy” Savoie care in sports medicine, it is not a Stewart, along with Chair, Department of surprise that Tulane’s relationship with colleague Gabe Feldman, Orthopaedics the NFL Player Care Foundation has director of the Sports Law continued to expand. Recently named Program at Tulane, think Internationally the association’s official health screening that Tulane is the perfect recognized partner, the Tulane team travels to place to address almost any surgeon and NFL cities across the country screening need within the athletic sports medicine former players. The NFL Player community. They envision expert, Dr. Felix Care Foundation research program Tulane becoming a hub H. “Buddy” Savoie has been works with Tulane physicians to run for research, education, appointed to a battery of tests including prostate healthcare, business and the position of chair of the Tulane ethics in sports. cancer screenings, kidney exams, a Department of Orthopaedics. full cardiovascular exam plus mental “We are just uniquely Savoie joined Tulane in 2007 health resources and education. These positioned to do a lot of as the chief of the division of programs advance public awareness and interesting things,” says sports medicine and director of the scientific understanding of health issues Stewart. “In the long term Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine. that affect former NFL players. I would love to see Tulane After just a year at Tulane, he was “So far this year we’ve been to become a place for all things named the vice chairman of the Jacksonville, Florida, Pittsburgh, sports related.” Department of Orthopaedics. Denver, Seattle and Canton, Ohio, for Savoie says he is proud “Dr. Savoie is an advocate of the Hall of Fame game,” says Stewart. of the excellent work of the research, a world-class surgeon, and a proven leader,” says Dr. “And we’ll be in San Francisco for the sports medicine team. “Our Lee Hamm, dean of the School Superbowl. Over the course of the partnerships with the NFL of Medicine. “He is a perfect Player Care Foundation and next three years we should be able to person to lead the Department of cycle through all of the cities with the NFL Players Association Orthopaedics forward.” NFL teams.” show that these national Savoie is known for his dedication Stewart and Savoie are proud of the organizations recognize our to every facet of orthopaedics, and work that sports medicine has done expertise and dedication to colleagues respect and admire his to achieve national recognition. They care,” says Savoie. “I only see strong work ethic. He is the author credit the great team of physicians, our relationship continuing of over 100 peer-reviewed journal nurses and athletic trainers with the to strengthen over the articles and is constantly in demand ability to give such a high level of care coming years.” as a speaker, having given over 1,600 to world-class athletes. lectures throughout the world. He is currently the vice president of “We’ve put together a group of the American Shoulder and Elbow people that understands athletes and Surgeons and a past president really know what it means to be part of and trustee of the Arthroscopy a team,” says Stewart. “These players Association of North America. are in an environment where they have He is the first vice president of the an advocate.” Louisiana Orthopaedic Association. Savoie is a board member and co- Center for Sport chair of the Shoulder Committee Stewart hopes to offer the same level of of the International Society of service to former athletes at every level Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and and in every sport. Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. “You know there are no longer any off seasons in sports,” says Stewart. “Athletes are under a tremendous amount of stress—both physical and tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 21 Remembering a Legend: Dr. Norman
DAVE STUEBER DAVE McSwain RICK OLIVIER BY KEITH BRANNON
hat have you done who conceived of and implemented the EARLY YEARS AT TULANE for the good of framework for the modern 911 emergency McSwain joined the Tulane University mankind today?” response system, the founder of the faculty in 1977. His dedication and It was Dr. Norman worldwide standard for training first- commitment as a practicing trauma McSwain’s trademark responders and military medics, part of surgeon garnered him national accolades. challenge, delivered a team that helped design the healthcare He served as trauma director and a Wcountless times, in earnest, with a warm system for future NASA flights to Mars member of the teaching staff of Charity smile to students and colleagues he and an advisor to the president on how to Hospital of New Orleans, surgeon for inspired each day as a legendary surgeon, respond to mass-casualty events. the New Orleans Police Department mentor and friend. His commitment to improving the beginning in 1979, and medical director This summer, the Tulane University care of critically injured patients saved of New Orleans’ Emergency Medical School of Medicine and the New Orleans countless lives and improved the quality Services Division. In 1978, shortly after healthcare community mourned the of life of untold millions of people, says his arrival in New Orleans, the city tapped passing of the internationally renowned Dr. Lee Hamm, dean of Tulane University McSwain to develop an EMS system here. trauma surgeon who helped transform the School of Medicine. McSwain viewed improving trauma way doctors and first responders treat the “He was one of those rare personalities surgical care as a global public health most severely injured. McSwain, 78, died and characters who were bigger than initiative, working with healthcare July 28 at his French Quarter home after life,” Hamm says. “He was always upbeat, organizations and governments around a brief hospitalization for a cerebral bleed always enthusiastic and always coming up the world to develop and improve systems earlier that month. with a new idea. He was fantastic to work for effectively caring for injured patients. His passion for medicine and around, and I think that is why he was In New Orleans, he worked tirelessly boundless drive led him to accomplish able to accomplish so much and had such to ensure that the missions of clinical a great deal. He was one of a select few a loyal following.” care education and research were at the
22 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som “His humility and genuine commitment to the greater good led to a combined trauma service that has exceeded expectations at every— DR. DOUGLAS level.” SLAKEY
—DR. DOUGLAS SLAKEY, ROBERT AND VIOLA LOBRANO CHAIR OF SURGERY AT TULANE
highest levels and consistently applied and says. “He truly thought that the team was EMTs resulted in a Pre-Hospital Trauma delivered to all people regardless of their more important than the individual. This Life Support program that is a global personal circumstances, says Dr. Douglas is how Norman achieved things. He put standard for trauma care. That program Slakey, Robert and Viola Lobrano chair commitment to a vision ahead of personal has trained more than 500,000 people in of surgery at Tulane. self-interest. It was what he did for others 45 countries. rather than what he did for himself that McSwain wrote numerous textbooks COMMITMENT TO CARE made him such a powerful influence for and articles and received many awards for “He was of a generation who largely put so much and for so many. his trauma work. He is the only person their self interest secondary to the mission “His humility and genuine in the history of the American College of being a physician,” Slakey says. “He commitment to the greater good led of Surgeons to receive all five of its major felt that the privilege of being a physician to a combined trauma service that trauma awards. and caring for patients was of the highest has exceeded expectations at every Dr. Peter Meade, William Henderson callings and far more important than level: improved patient care, improved chair in surgery at Tulane, remembers personal gain. He was the sort of person efficiency and effectiveness, improved McSwain as the surgeon everyone wanted who would tell people that if you do what research productivity and improved to emulate. Despite his legendary status you love, success—however you measure education,” Slakey says. as a doctor, he was approachable and it—will follow. McSwain relocated to New Orleans generous. “His focus was clearly on providing the because he considered Charity Hospital “The great ones don’t have to act great. highest quality of care and passing on his to be one of the nation’s most important There was a tremendous amount of love experience and knowledge in the form trauma centers. But his efforts resonated for this man—at all levels of the hospital,” of education and training to not only worldwide: his work with the American Meade says. “You just don’t meet a lot of physicians and medical students but also College of Surgeons Committee on people like that. He meant a lot to us. He every level of health care provider,” Slakey Trauma and National Association of was Tulane.”
tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 23 DR. ANDREW ORESTANO “I could tell you a million stories from my time at Charity Hospital.”
24 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som A GOOD INVESTMENT BY KIRBY MESSINGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SALLY ASHER
his year marks the 60th to attend medical schools out of state, anniversary of Dr. Andrew Orestano couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Orestano’s graduation from “At the time Florida had no medical Tulane University School schools,” he says. “And Tulane accepted of Medicine. And when he a certain number of Florida medical Treflected on the past 60 years, he was students.” moved to give back to the institution It was his time as a medical student that gave him his start. that truly changed the course of his life. Alixandra Domney: Recipient “If it weren’t for Tulane Medical He says that seeing patients at Charity of the Orestano, MD Scholarship School, I wouldn’t have what I have Hospital and learning physical diagnosis Endowed Fund. Hometown: Great today,” says the 1949 graduate of Tulane is what cemented his love of medicine. Neck, New York Year: Class of 2019 University and 1955 graduate of the “I could tell you a million stories Undergraduate Institution: medical school. “It made me who I am.” from my time at Charity Hospital,” says Tulane University Hobbies: Ballet, But his relationship with Tulane Orestano with humor in his eyes. reading, traveling, pilates/yoga and New Orleans didn’t start out on From sneaking bottles of whiskey Why medicine? My interest was such a positive note. In fact, it started into the Christmas Eve eggnog, to first piqued at a young age when with the frenetic beat of the spare drum amputating a patient’s big toe and unfortunate family circumstances and the commonly heard phrase “throw almost fainting at the sight of blood, exposed me to the trials and me something mister.” Orestano says the memories he made tribulations of disease. I experienced “I arrived in New Orleans in at Tulane have lasted him a lifetime. firsthand how a single diagnosis February 1946, just in time for the first The memories, friendships and lessons can cause such emotional upheaval Mardi Gras after World War II,” says learned helped him blossom into a and stress felt by not only a patient, Orestano. “And it was complete chaos.” successful internist who practiced for but his or her family members as For the Tampa, Florida, native, over 30 years at West Jefferson General well. Ever since, I have felt a need to the wall-to-wall costumed madness Hospital in Marrero, Louisiana, on the actively prevent others from enduring was enough to make him think about outskirts of New Orleans. the hardships that accompany any turning tail and returning home. He was inspired to create the Andrew type of health care risk. In search “I was just shocked by what I saw,” Orestano, MD Scholarship Endowed of the best way to go about this, says Orestano. “But eventually New Fund to aid students in their quest to I turned to medicine! Any idea Orleans got in my blood.” become Tulane physicians. What began what you want to specialize His love affair with New Orleans as a $100,000 scholarship commitment in? I am definitely considering began with his time on the uptown has grown into a $2.5 million gift, surgery—possibly neurosurgery campus as a zoology major. Although he which includes a $1.5 million bequest or reconstructive plastic surgery. always knew he wanted to be a doctor intention. Orestano’s gift will be Anything you would like for he became fascinated with research, transformational for students hoping Dr. Orestano to know? I am specifically on different species of birds to attend Tulane University School of sincerely grateful for Dr. Orestano’s and winged insects. Medicine, offering opportunities for contribution to my medical education. “As a young child, I always told promising students and setting them on It is an enormous help and has people ‘I’m going to be a doctor,” says a path to a successful medical career. allowed me to pursue a dual MD/ Orestano. “Along the way I decided to go “I love to give back and I’m proud to MPH degree. Hopefully I can repay to graduate school. I became fascinated be able to give this gift,” says Orestano. his generosity with a successful with these little blue dragonflies.” “My education was worth so much career in the future! But when the state of Florida offered a more than I paid for it. Tulane is a good special scholarship program for residents investment.” tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 25 MEDICINE NOTES
Honoring Dr. Robert “Bobby” Brown (M ’50), who was recently presented the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award from the National College Baseball Hall of Fame.
The George H.W. Bush Distinguished and around Naval Officer Training and Alumnus Award from the National College medical school. Brown joined the Yankees Baseball Hall of Fame is named after its organization and played in four World inaugural recipient, George H.W. Bush, Series during a career spanning parts who played at Yale from 1946–48 and of eight Major League seasons. He also eventually went on to be elected the 41st served as the president of the American President of the United States. Brown League for a decade, after practicing as Dr. Bobby Brown played for the New York played at Stanford, UCLA and then Tulane, a cardiologist. Yankees organization from 1946–54.
Dr. Robert Lee Rueb, Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center Dr. Michael Wasserman 83, died peacefully at home in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also was recently given the Jewish ’57 on July 11, 2015, surrounded founder, chairman and medical director ’77 Federation of North America by his wife and children following a brief of the American Sports Medicine Institute Endowment Achievement Award for illness with pancreatic cancer. He practiced (ASMI), a non profit institute dedicated to dedication to the local New Orleans Jewish general surgery in Longmont, Colorado, injury prevention, education and research community, the national Jewish community from 1964–91, where he was instrumental in orthopaedic and sports medicine. In and to Israel. in founding the Longmont United Hospital, addition, he is a founding partner and merging the Longmont Community medical director of the Andrews Institute Dr. Marc Maller is Hospital and the Osteopath Hospital. Rueb and the Andrews Research and Education currently a practicing was active in the Boulder Medical Society Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida. He was geriatrician and the medical also crucial to the development of the ’78 and in the Colorado medical community director of the community living centers throughout his career. He is survived by STOP Sports Injuries campaign to help for the Veterans Administration Healthcare his wife Judith, their five children and ten prevent athletic overuse and trauma injuries System of Western New York, which grandchildren. in children. operates facilities in Buffalo and Batavia. He is also a member of the teaching faculty Dr. Russell Steele was Dr. Michael Brunet of the physician assistant training program nominated by medical (I ’74, R ’78) has been at RIT in Rochester and Le Moyne College ’67 students to serve as ’74 selected as this year’s in Syracuse. He and his wife Cathy, their faculty mentor for the Tulane Learning recipient of the prestigious Thomas A. daughter Brandi and granddaughter Ana Communities, a new, comprehensive Brady Award. This award has been given Rose all live in Rochester. His son Aaron, an mentorship and professional development annually, since 1999, by the American architect, lives in Dallas. program at Tulane University School Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine of Medicine. to an orthopaedic surgeon dedicated to Dr. Brian Rees (PHTM excellence in sports management at the ’79) has written a new book: Dr. James Andrews local level. An achievement for which he is ’79 Detained: Emails and musings (R ’72), orthopaedic sports especially proud, he says, is helping former from a spiritual journey through Abu Ghraib, medicine leader and past Louisiana High School Athletic Association Kandahar, and other garden spots. It is ’72 (LHSAA) commissioner Tommy Henry— available on Amazon and other retailers. American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) president, has been with the help of Tulane University—set up a inducted into the AOSSM Hall of Fame. Medicaid insurance program for Louisiana’s Dr. Robert Kenney AOSSM Hall of Famers are individuals in high school athletes. He continues to be has been named by the the sports medicine community who have an active member of the LHSAA Medical Tulane University School of Advisory Board, which he helped establish ’80 contributed immensely and set themselves Medicine as regional dean for the school’s apart from others in the field. Andrews is in the 1980s. Brunet moved to Alexandria, Baton Rouge General satellite campus. one of the founding members of Andrews Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina. In that role, he oversees the Leadership
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26 TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 tulane.edu/som MEDICINE NOTES
Education Advocacy and Discovery University, Georgetown University and Oncology (ASTRO). He is professor Academy at Baton Rouge General’s Mid- Howard University. Additionally, he serves and interim chair of the Department of City campus. Kenney also serves as the vice as a consultant to, among others, the Radiation Oncology at the University of president of medical operations and is a core Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, and faculty member in the hospital’s Internal and National Institutes of Health in the an attending physician at the University Medicine Residency Program. He has nearly fields of dermatology, tropical medicine of Colorado Hospital. Kavanagh is an 30 years of nephrology practice experience. and bioterrorism. active clinician with a primary focus on After graduating from the Tulane School of stereotactic body radiation therapy and Medicine, Kenney completed his internal While pursuing her MD/MPH degree at population data-based health services medicine residency training and fellowship Tulane in the ’80s, Dr. Joette Giovinco research. He is co-director of the ASTRO- in nephrology at the University of Texas (PHTM ’86, R ’87) was told by a public AANS Stereotactic Radiosurgery Registry, Health Science Center in Dallas. health advisor to consider becoming a and he has served ASTRO as a member of “media doc.” She laughed at the time, but the Board of Directors (2011–15); as the Dr. Charles “Chuck” has spent the last 10 years as a medical vice-chair and then chair of the Health Hoffman (R ’83) has moved reporter for WTVT and the Fox Medical Policy Council; as chair of the Payment to Hawaii and would love to team. Giovinco says her Tulane experience Reform Task Group; and as a member ’81 of the Health Policy Council Regulatory hear from classmates. definitely helped her think outside the box. Committee, the Communications Committee, the Clinical Affairs and Dr. David Ellis was Dr. Brian Kavanagh Quality Committee, and the Code appointed chief medical (E ’84, PHTM ’88, R ’89) Development and Valuation Committee. officer of Pardee Hospital was named president-elect ’83 ’89 His additional service has included the in Hendersonville, North Carolina, in of The American Society for Radiation May 2015. He served as interim chief medical officer of the hospital beginning in November 2014. Ellis, an obstetrician/ gynecologist, has held several positions with Pardee, including medical chief of staff, chair of the medical executive committee In Memoriam and a member of the hospital board. ’40 Dr. Louise M. Ireland-Frey ’60 Dr. Thomas John Athanassiades Dr. Charles Pollack has Dr. Francis Anthony Esposito moved to Thomas Jefferson ’42 Dr. William Dumas Futch Dr. Rodney MacGene Patterson University in Philadelphia ’84 ’45 Dr. Gilbert Ernest Adami where he has several titles: associate provost ’62 Dr. Larry Eugene Brightwell for innovation in education; director, Dr. Sam Abraham Threefoot Jr. Dr. David Jerome Russin Jefferson Institute of Emerging Health Professions; associate dean for CME and ’46 Dr. Alvin R. Yapalater ’63 Dr. G. Alan Robison Dr. Roger Lawrence Spark Strategic Partner Alliances; and professor ’47 Dr. James S. Boren Sr. and senior advisor for Interdisciplinary Dr. Thomas E. Strain Jr. Research and Clinical Trials, Department ’65 Dr. Charles Robert Hand Dr. Malcolm Anthony Meyn Jr. of Emergency Medicine. Prior to this ’49 Dr. Alvin Harold Lassen move, Pollack had been chairman of the ’66 Dr. Norman George Lewis Department of Emergency Medicine ’51 Dr. Eleanor Solomon Irvine Dr. Logan Postell Perkins Jr. at Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania, also in Philadelphia. He is ’53 Dr. Edward Walton Phillips Jr. ’68 Dr. Thomas Reynolds Calhoun leading the international RE-VERSE AD Dr. Jack Sherman study of idarucizumab as a reversal agent for ’73 Dr. James E. Changus dabigatran. The interim results of the study ’54 Dr. William M. Brantley were published in the New England Journal ’74 Dr. Robert Stephen Baxter ’55 Dr. Phillip Harold Bookman of Medicine this summer. Dr. Joe Netick Jr. ’83 Dr. Joseph Brion Rusinko
Dr. Scott Norton (A&S ’57 Dr. Nathan C. Galloway Jr. ’84 Dr. Steven Vincent Grady ’78, PHTM ’86) is chief of Dr. Robert L. Rueb ’86 dermatology for the Diana ’88 Dr. Judith A. Nash L. and Stephen A. Goldberg Center for ’58 Dr. Nick Cossey Nichols Community and Pediatric Health at the ’89 Dr. Ellen L. Gandle Children’s National Health System; he ’59 Dr. John Edward Green previously served as interim chief. Norton Dr. Charles Hadden Magee ’92 Dr. Diego Osuna is on faculty at George Washington
tulane.edu/som TULANE | MEDICINE FALL 2015 27 performing diagnostic radiology with a more specific focus on musculoskeletal imaging, spine imaging and women’s imaging. Gupta teaches at Tulane University and has continued many academic affiliations with Tulane, LSU and Ochsner, instructing radiology, orthopaedic and physical medicine and rehabilitation residents. He will get married in December 2015.
Dr. Justin Westervelt recently joined Hattiesburg Clinic Nephrology in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Westervelt is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. His professional affiliations include the American Society of Nephrology and the Drs. Usha Ramadhyani Bourgeois and Warren R. Bourgeois III (E ’78, M ’82, R ’87) American Society of Transplantation. and the recipient of the Bourgeois Research Scholarship fund, Joe Garagliano, observe his research this summer. Dr. Andrew Smith has joined the UMass Memorial ’09 Medical Group. After graduating from the Tulane School of Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Dr. Robert Cohen, a Medicine, Smith completed his residency Hospital Outpatient Payment Advisory plastic surgeon in Scottsdale, training and abdominal imaging fellowship Panel and the Ambulatory Payment ’99 Arizona, spoke recently at University of Massachusetts Medical Classification Advisory Panel, as well as a about an innovative cohesive silicone gel Center/University of Massachusetts member of the National Comprehensive breast implant that helps reduce the rate Medical School. Cancer Network’s Policy Advisory Group. of a common complication—capsular contracture. He is a board-certified plastic Dr. Siu Ping Chin Feman Dr. Nicholas E. Voss was surgeon offering extensive options for plastic has joined UMass Memorial a guest speaker at a recent surgery procedures. ’10 Medical Group. After receiving ’94 “Lunch and Learn” hosted her medical degree from Tulane School by Medical Center Barbour at the Eufaula/ Dr. Mariam El-Baghdadi of Medicine, she completed her residency Barbour County Chamber of Commerce has joined the Holy Family training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/ in Alabama. Voss, a neurological surgeon ’06 Memorial Pain Clinic in Harvard Medical School and an addiction and surgical specialist affiliated with the Manitowoc, Wisconsin. El-Baghdadi brings psychiatry fellowship at Massachusetts NeuroSpine Center in Dothan, Alabama, experience to the practice and utilizes General Hospital. She is board certified spoke to those in attendance on the subject a philosophy that limits the use of pain in psychiatry and specializes in psychiatry of what a neurosurgeon does, when and why medications while focusing on minimally at Community Healthlink in Worcester, to see one, and what types of conditions invasive procedures that help control each Massachusetts. they treat. patient’s discomfort. Dr. Colibri Jenkins (R ’11) Dr. William Jackson has Dr. Jagan Gupta (TC ’02, R ’11) has joined Merit Health River been appointed by Erlanger completed a neuroradiology fellowship at Region’s staff as a board-certified Health System as chief ’11 ’97 Duke University Medical Center in 2013, general psychiatrist on the inpatient medical officer; he will be in charge of all of and is now a neuroradiologist at West behavioral health team at the West Campus. the doctors, nurses and other medical staff Jefferson Medical Center. He is clinical for medical issues. Jackson is an associate assistant professor of Radiology at Tulane Dr. Shavaun Cotton professor of medicine at Commonwealth University Medical Center, Department (PHTM ’12) has joined Baton University in Virginia. of Radiology. ’12 Rouge General Physicians. Cotton is board certified in family medicine Dr. Justin McGoldrick Dr. Neel Gupta (TC ’02, R ’11) and completed her residency in family was named chief medical completed a musculoskeletal radiology medicine at Baton Rouge General Medical ’98 officer of Mercy Health- fellowship at University of California, Center. She is a member of the American Cincinnati. He will now be the primary San Diego in 2012 after completing his Academy of Family Physicians, National liaison between medical staff and Mercy diagnostic radiology residency at Tulane Medical Association and Louisiana Health’s executive team. in 2011. He has been working in private Academy of Family Physicians. practice in New Orleans since August 2012
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