Outlook Magazine, Autumn 2018
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Washington University School of Medicine Digital Commons@Becker Outlook Magazine Washington University Publications 2018 Outlook Magazine, Autumn 2018 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/outlook Recommended Citation Outlook Magazine, Autumn 2018. Central Administration, Medical Public Affairs. Bernard Becker Medical Library Archives. Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri. https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/outlook/188 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Washington University Publications at Digital Commons@Becker. It has been accepted for inclusion in Outlook Magazine by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Becker. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AUTUMN 2018 Elevating performance BERNARD BECKER MEDICAL LIBRARY BECKER BERNARD outlook.wustl.edu Outlook 3 Atop the Karakoram Mountains, neurologist Marcus Raichle, MD, (center) displays a Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology banner he created. In 1987, he and other members of a British expedition climbed 18,000 feet above sea level — and then injected radioactive xenon to see how it diffused through their brains. Raichle, 81, has been a central force for decades in the history and science of brain imaging. See page 7. FEATURES MATT MILLER MATT 7 Mysteries explored Pioneering neurologist Marcus Raichle, MD, opened up the human brain to scientific investigation. 14 Growing up transgender The Washington University Transgender Center helps families navigate the complex world of gender identity. COVER Scott Brandon, who sustained a spinal cord injury 16 years ago, said he is 21 Building independence grateful to the Program in Occupational For 100 years, the Program in Occupational Therapy has Therapy for helping him build physical and helped people engage mind and body. mental strength. “There is life beyond the wheelchair,” said Brandon, who works in guest services for the St. Louis Cardinals and tries to set a positive example for new wheelchair users. See page 21. Washington University School of Medicine OUTLOOK.WUSTL.EDU AUTUMN 2018 Karen Stokes (left) with her young daughter, who later would come out as a transgender male. See page 14. COURTESY OF MARCUS RAICHLE MARCUS OF COURTESY STAFF: DEPARTMENTS MANAGING EDITOR DEB PARKER MATT MILLER MATT DESIGNER SARA MOSER 2 Pulse ART DIRECTOR ERIC YOUNG EXECUTIVE EDITOR VIRGIL TIPTON PHOTOGRAPHER MATT MILLER 28 Alumni & CIRCULATION THERESA HOWARD Development Published by Washington University School of Medicine, Office of Medical Public Affairs, MS 8508-29-12700, 28 Bauer deanship 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110-1010 ©2018 30 Cardiovascular gift PHONE (314) 286-0100 EMAIL [email protected] 32 Classnotes Outlook is distributed three times a year to alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of Washington University School of Medicine. David H. Perlmutter, MD, internationally recognized Issues are available online at outlook.wustl.edu. for his research on alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, is the inaugural holder of the George and Carol Bauer facebook.com/WUSTLmedicine.health Deanship. See page 28. Social icon Rounded square Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Brand Guidelines. @WUSTLmed @WashUMedicine pulse BOSTON ROBERT MATT MILLER MATT Detecting Alzheimer’s in eye exams? Gregory Van Stavern, MD, (seated) and Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, examine Kathleen Eisterhold’s eyes, using technology that one day may make it possible to screen patients for Alzheimer’s disease during an eye exam. Noninvasive test may one day screen for disease before symptoms appear sing technology similar to what said co-principal investigator Gregory P. The participants, with an average age in is found in many eye doctors’ Van Stavern, MD, a professor of ophthal- the mid 70s, are patients in The Memory Uoffices, School of Medicine mology and visual sciences. “In patients and Aging Project at the Knight Alzheimer’s researchers have detected evidence whose PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid Disease Research Center. About half had suggesting damage from Alzheimer’s showed preclinical Alzheimer’s, the area elevated levels of the Alzheimer’s proteins disease in asymptomatic older patients. at the center of the retina without blood amyloid or tau as revealed by PET scans or Their study, involving 30 patients, is vessels was significantly larger, suggesting cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting they likely published Aug. 23 in the journal JAMA less blood flow.” would develop Alzheimer’s. In the other Ophthalmology. In previous studies, researchers examining subjects, PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid Significant brain damage from the eyes of people who had died from analyses were normal. Alzheimer’s disease can occur years Alzheimer’s reported thinning in the center of “In patients with elevated amyloid or tau, before symptoms appear. Physicians use the retina and degradation of the optic nerve. we detected significant thinning in the center PET scans and lumbar punctures to help In the new study, the researchers used of the retina,” said co-principal investigator diagnose Alzheimer’s, but they are a noninvasive technique commonly Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, the Paul A. Cibis expensive and invasive. available in ophthalmologists’ offices — Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology “This technique has great potential to called optical coherence tomography and Visual Sciences. “The retina and central become a screening tool that helps decide — to examine the retinas of asymptomatic nervous system are so interconnected that who should undergo more expensive and participants. The researchers added an it’s possible changes in the brain could be invasive testing for Alzheimer’s disease prior angiography component to distinguish reflected in cells in the retina.” to the appearance of clinical symptoms,” red blood cells from other retinal tissue. 2 Washington University School of Medicine Autumn 2018 Inducing labor at 39 HEALTHCARE BJC weeks reduces C-sections Inducing labor in healthy first-time mothers in the 39th week of pregnancy results in lower rates of cesarean sections compared with waiting for labor to begin naturally at full term, according to a multicenter study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). SERVICE EXPANSION Siteman Cancer Center, based Additionally, infants born to women induced at 39 weeks at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School did not experience more stillbirths, newborn deaths or other of Medicine, began construction in north St. Louis County on major health complications. its newest outpatient facility. Completion of the $26.3 million “This study is a potential game changer and will have a project on Christian Hospital’s Northwest HealthCare campus significant impact on the practice of obstetrics,” said senior in Florissant, Missouri, is planned for December 2019. The author George Macones, MD, head of the Department facility will feature state-of-the-art technology, including a of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study was conducted new linear accelerator to deliver radiation therapy, and an through the Maternal- inviting, patient-centered design, with a cozy fireplace and Fetal Medicine Units healing garden. Network, which is supported by the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child New leader for diversity and inclusion Health and Human Development. Macones Sherree Wilson, PhD, a highly regarded administrator at the chairs the network. University of Iowa (UI) Carver College of Medicine, has been “The concern has named associate vice chancellor and associate dean for diversity GETTY IMAGES been that inducing labor and inclusion at the School of Medicine, effective Oct. 1. — even at 39 weeks — Wilson will join senior would increase the cesarean section rate and health problems leaders in bringing direction to in newborns,” said Macones, the Mitchell and Elaine Yanow diversity, equity and inclusion Professor. “We found inductions at 39 weeks lowered, not initiatives. She also will identify raised, the number of deliveries by cesarean section.” best practices among medical The findings were published Aug. 9 in The New England school peers, outside industries Journal of Medicine. and other sources. Delivering by cesarean section generally is considered In her role at the Carver safe for mother and baby. However, the procedure involves College of Medicine, Wilson major surgery and, therefore, poses increased complication developed and implemented a risks and longer recovery times for mothers compared with strategic diversity plan, which SUSAN MCCLELLEN/UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HEALTH CARE HEALTH IOWA OF MCCLELLEN/UNIVERSITY SUSAN women who deliver vaginally. led to a 24 percent increase Previous studies have shown that inducing labor without among faculty in school-identified diversity categories and medical reason before pregnancies are full-term at 39 weeks incorporation of implicit bias training. Additionally, she poses health risks for newborns, primarily because the co-led a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded program lungs, brain and other organs haven’t fully developed. But offering intensive instruction and research experience inductions at 39 weeks — one week before a woman’s due to underrepresented individuals with bachelor’s degrees, date — has become more common in recent years, and the enhancing their qualifications for top-tier biomedical sciences researchers wanted a better understanding of the risks and graduate programs. benefits to mother and baby. Wilson also