BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER SUMMER 2010

Renewable Energy p. 5

KNOWING NO In the Spotlight p. 9 BOUNDS VIKAS SUKHATME, M.D., PH.D.

It’s diffi cult to pigeon-hole Most would disagree. Sukhatme’s Vikas P. Sukhatme, M.D., Ph.D., into ability to almost seamlessly usher any particular occupational scientifi c knowledge from one category—a situation that suits this fi eld to another and bring it to bear soft-spoken individualist just fi ne. on some of the most pressing Preeminence in A doctoral physicist who went on to problems in medicine has led to Prostate Cancer get his medical degree, Sukhatme groundbreaking discoveries in the p. 10 has since added chief of nephrology, vasculature of tumors; the pregnancy cancer scientist, and, most recently, disorder, preeclampsia; and the chief academic offi cer at Beth Israel side effects of cholesterol-lowering Deaconess Medical Center to drugs, just to name a few. “I’d his wide-ranging resume. “Over the like to think that some of the best years, I have always been interested solutions to problems have come in how cells multiply and spread and from people who traditionally have the general problem of cancer,” not been educated in that discipline he muses. “But along the way there but who bring in something from has been, I would say, more than somewhere else,” says Sukhatme. one signifi cant detour, making me “It could be a technology, it could a bit of a jack of all trades and be a way of thinking, it could be Repair of perhaps not a master of any one.” anything, but it’s that crossing of Genetic Wear and Tear CONTINUED ON P. 2 p. 13

403255.LA.CS4.indd 1 5/13/10 7:31 PM KNOWING NO BOUNDS VIKAS SUKHATME, M.D., PH.D.

CONTINUED FROM P. 1

borders, that interface between Finding creative strategies to break Recently, Sukhatme changed the two areas that often pays off the down these barriers is what direction of his cancer investigations richest dividend.” Sukhatme enjoys most. In 2006, to focus on two different avenues he established the Division of of promise: metabolism, how the cell With the majority of his emphasis Interdisciplinary Medicine and generates energy and regulates now on research and research Biotechnology at BIDMC, which, its internal environment, and tumor administration (although he does as its name suggests, was designed immunology, how the cancer cell still see a few patients on the side), to facilitate efforts among divisions, evades recognition by the body. Not Sukhatme believes that the departments, and even institutions surprisingly, he is particularly potential rewards of this philosophy to tackle biomedical problems. intrigued by where these two distinct are such that he’s applying it to Although a major goal of the division fi elds may intersect. “The area that just about everything he does, from is to foster translational research, we’re very excited about is this: if we the interdisciplinary focus of his it focuses not on a single disease manipulate the local environment own laboratory to fi nding synergies entity but medical problem-solving of the tumor, say if the tumor makes across the medical center at large. in the broadest sense, drawing less acid or takes up less sugar, Indeed, the chief academic offi cer especially on the quantitative, are the immune cells more likely to post he now holds was created so computational, and engineering do their thing,” says Sukhatme. “And that there would be one individual sciences. A theme that runs through we have very early data that this reporting directly to the CEO with its recent work is signals. “They is the case. We can by manipulating the ability to cross departmental look at signals that vary in time,” one system actually get the host, borders to help set and implement says Sukhatme of several of his the immune system, to be much the research and academic strategy division colleagues, “and they try to more alert.” for the medical center. While uncover certain patterns in those Sukhatme might seem tailor made Measuring and manipulating the signals that tell you something about for this role, building consensus intracellular milieu of a cell can the underlying medicine or biology around sensitive issues like space be technically and technologically that’s generating them. So it’s a way allocation, recruitment, and fi nances complex, and Sukhatme is initiating of analyzing the data that is quite is no simple task. “We have to some intriguing collaborations innovative and much more complex have administrative silos; you can’t that might be key to unlocking the than just taking an average of things have an organizational structure cell’s secrets. Working with Ary or looking at standard deviations.” without them. But they ultimately Goldberger, M.D., his co-chair of the shouldn’t become intellectual Because of his affi liation with this Division of Interdisciplinary Medicine silos,” says Sukhatme. “It requires group, Sukhatme is looking at and Biotechnology, Sukhatme is in a lot of effort, though, to get people the possibility of incorporating this the initial phases of a project to look to work with each other, and the type of analysis into his own at pairs of cells that differ only by a barriers are many.” interdisciplinary laboratory work. single gene mutation—one exhibiting

2 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

403255.LA.CS4.indd 2 5/13/10 7:49 PM “ I’d like to think that some of the best solutions to problems have come from people who traditionally have not been educated in that discipline but who bring in something from somewhere else...”

cancerous properties and one not; Funding, or lack thereof, is their goal is to determine if there a recurring theme in Sukhatme’s are early metabolic signals that professional life because the Goldberger’s sophisticated analysis numbers tend to add up very quickly Howie Rich with members of Team Howie in 2009 can detect, which ultimately might in biomedical science. Luckily indicate that the cell is moving some of his fi scal worries have on a cancerous path. “It’s highly been tempered by the generosity speculative,” he notes. “It’s one of of BIDMC donors, including an How We those far-out ideas that might anonymous philanthropist and make a big splash in the journals Marian Miller Cronin and Michael Remember Howie if it were to work.” Sukhatme F. Cronin, longstanding and ardent and his colleagues also recently won supporters of innovative research. Bike-a-thon’s success a lasting a Harvard Catalyst pilot grant to Sukhatme has been pleased partner with the medical center’s to see individual donors take up tribute to local pastor radiology team to see if imaging this cause because he believes techniques might be useful in it is an area where philanthropy Howie Rich’s optimism throughout his battle with brain assessing the metabolic changes can have a tremendous impact, cancer was an inspiration to the people around him. within a tumor, either when it’s with smaller donations leveraging As an ordained minister, Rich was a man of great faith, growing independently or when future government and foundation commenting once that “if my tumor can do some manipulated with prospective grants. “Promoting unique collab- good for others, it’s worth the journey.” drug therapies. orations, purchasing specialized equipment, supporting out-of-the- Along the challenging path of diagnosis and treatment, Sukhatme fi nds inspiration in the box ideas—these are all things Rich found motivation and encouragement in the 2009 Harvard Catalyst, a university- that individuals can bring to pass wide project designed to provide A Reason to Ride bike-a-thon presented by Fuddruckers, that larger funding sources cannot,” a systematic way for investigators a fundraiser to support brain cancer research at BIDMC. he says. from disparate disciplines and “Howie had a childlike enthusiasm about the ride,” institutions to fi nd and collaborate In particular, Sukhatme notes says his close friend Jim Boland, “and could see the with each other with the goal of what a saving grace this kind of tremendous impact it had on others with cancer, as well reducing human disease. For one, funding can be for physician/ as their loved ones. In some ways, I think being a part it provides modest seed grants for scientists who are early in their of it kept him going.” more adventurous, cross-disciplinary careers. “I honestly believe they’re efforts, like his own, that traditional a courageous bunch of characters,” It kept his loved ones going, too. Rich was a respected larger funding sources tend to shun. he says of this group, “because member of the North Shore community, where the ride “The kind of ideas that people are there are a lot of other occupations takes place, and his friends and family in the area were putting forward when they’re asked you can be in with a lot more job eager to support his cause. Members of Rich’s church, the to work with somebody they haven’t security and a lot better pay. These Union Congregational Church of Magnolia, formed a usually worked with for a relatively people are doing what they’re team of riders and set up a water stop in its parking lot. small amount of money is quite doing because it’s their passion, but Another group formed “Team Howie.” The ride last year remarkable,” says Sukhatme, who they are also very vulnerable so raised $60,000. adds he would love to create a similar if we don’t sustain them and mentor project specifi cally for the medical them in the right way, I think they Rich passed away from his illness on November 20, center. “It really gets the juices going.” will fail. And then we ultimately only 2009. The 2010 A Reason to Ride bike-a-thon presented Sukhatme also directs the Catalyst’s have ourselves to blame.” To keep by Fuddruckers will take place on Sunday, September 12. work in novel technologies, which that from happening, Sukhatme has Riders will be striving to reach this year’s goal of has a laboratory where investigators started the Young Investigators $80,000 in memory of Rich and so many others like him. can experiment with innovative tools Think Tank, which offers early-career in their infancy. “These are emerging physician/researchers at BIDMC You, too, can fi nd meaning in the journey. For technologies,” he says, “and often the resources, advice, and empathy. more information on riding, starting a team, donating, people developing them don’t know After all, he knows that his vision or volunteering, please visit what the clinical questions are and for interdisciplinary research lies www.gratefulnation.org/areasontoride. } the clinicians don’t know about their in their hands. “It’s a great group existence. This would also be a very to be with,” he smiles. “It keeps nice area to build here at BIDMC; we you young and through their eyes just haven’t had the funding to do it.” you can see the future.” }

Giving Matters | www.gratefulnation.org 3

403255.LA.CS4.indd 3 5/12/10 9:54 PM LETTER FROM THE SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF DEVELOPMENT

Dear Readers,

The end of March marked the midpoint of our fi scal year, and I am excited Giving Matters is published by about all the activity that has taken place in our development program thus far. the Offi ce of Development at BIDMC. Kristine Laping As we move into our second half, we have raised $10.6 million toward our $40 Senior VP of Development million goal for new gifts and pledges to support BIDMC’s strategic priorities (617) 667-7334 [email protected] and almost $3 million toward our $8.5 million cash goal for operating budget Samantha Sherman support. Many of the generous gifts we have received are highlighted in Executive Director of Development and Strategic Planning the pages herein, including a wonderful $1 million unrestricted donation from (617) 667-7351 Bill Johnston, chair of our Finance Committee, and a signifi cant donation [email protected] Alexandra Molloy from Jo Ann and Stuart Nathan to support our immunology research. Director of Development Communications (617) 667-7350 [email protected] Just in the past few months, we have hosted some spectacular events on the vitally important topic of health care reform. We were honored to have U.S. Managing Editor: Alexandra Molloy Senator John Kerry join us for our annual Palm Beach event in March to Writing: give us insights on the issue from the front lines in Washington. Glenn Steele, Alexandra Molloy, Alyson St. Amand Jr., M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Geisinger Health System, whose Event and Marketing Coverage: Lisa Bloom, Jennifer Standley, innovative approach to health care was highlighted in President Barack Obama’s Kelly Wallace, Erin Wholey State of the Union address, also graciously gave the keynote speech at the third Photography: Braga Photography, Lucien Capehart, annual celebration of the Silverman Institute for Health Care Quality and Bill Gallery, Joel Haskell, Kathy Joyce, Justin Safety. These events are in step with the unwavering commitment of BIDMC’s Knight, Stephen Maclone, Winslow Martin, Matthew Modoono, Len Rubenstein staff, administration, and Board members to making health care better, safer, Design: and more cost effective for patients everywhere. kor group, Boston © 2010 BIDMC Volume 1, Issue 2 Sincerely, PRINTED ON 100% PCW RECYCLED PAPER

Kristine C. Laping

Cert no. SW-COC-002514

Grateful Nation Makes It Easy for People to Share and Express Their Gratitude. While this expression can take many forms, one of our favorites is receiving grateful letters from the Nation. We are pleased to share some of these letters with you in the hope that one thanks will lead to another and we’ll create an unending cycle of gratitude. Want to share your gratitude too? E-mail us at [email protected] or visit www.gratefulnation.org/lettersfromthenation.

Dear Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NICU, We are happy to present you with this check of $236.06 on behalf of the Lt. Job Lane Elementary School of Bedford, Massachusetts. We hope that you will use this money to continue your important work saving the lives of so many tiny babies. This year, the Lane School Student Council organized a bake sale to raise money for worthy charities. One of our students sponsored this unit in honor of a former patient who was a baby in your NICU for ten weeks in 1997. Sincerely, The Lane School Student Council

Dear BIDMC, Dear Mr. Levy, Giving birth live on the Today show My 2009 encounters with BIDMC have been absolutely wonderful, something I really at your hospital was an experience didn’t expect from a big medical organization. we will treasure forever. All the After a hiking accident, I was taken care of by Drs. Tamara Rozental, Arun Ramappa, nurses, doctors, and food service and Emily McPhillips as well as by the wonderful Physical and Occupational Therapy staff made our stay so fulfi lling, staff at the BIDMC Lexington facility. and we thank you for making the I never thought I’d write an enthusiastic letter to a health care organization, but you birth of Brody so memorable. all deserve it and more. I come away as a satisfi ed patient and “customer.” Kerrie, Josh, and Brody Enclosed please fi nd my check. I know it is only a small contribution to a great effort, but I want to show my appreciation for the care I received and for your organization. Many thanks, Maggie P.

4 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

403255.LA.CS4.indd 4 5/12/10 9:54 PM LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT Cheryl LaFleur: Renewable Energy

Cheryl LaFleur knows sometimes approaching a problem While LaFleur fi rmly believes the from a different perspective can be just what the doctor hospital’s attention to improving patient safety and eliminating ordered. She’s found her background, most of which preventable harm is “exactly in line is well outside the scope of health care, to be a powerful with where the health system asset in making meaningful contributions to Beth Israel has to be going,” she agrees that the learning curve for everyone Deaconess Medical Center. remains steep. For LaFleur, getting immersed in a new fi eld, particularly “This organization,” says LaFleur, “is blessed with through her involvement as vice chair of the Patient Care “ If you look at a hospital having a talented cadre of lay leadership and volunteers Committee and member of the Patient Care Assessment on TV, it’s just doctors across the organization who bring a wealth of different and Quality Committee, has been an opportunity life experiences to the table—in many cases in related for personal growth. “I still have an enormous amount to and nurses, they are fi elds but also from unrelated fi elds, like mine in energy.” learn about the subject matter with all its complexities,” obviously important, but she says. “Even if I’m working on a challenge that when you’re actually A lawyer by training, LaFleur has spent most of her has some parallel to what I’ve seen before, it’s a different involved as a volunteer, 30-year career at the management level in the electric environment and I’m using different muscles to think and gas industry. She watched BIDMC president and about it. And I think you can always grow in how you you also see the patient CEO Paul Levy make the transition from public works interact with other people.” care techs, the people to health care so when he asked her to join the Board who clean the operating of Trustees at the medical center, it seemed a natural Personal interactions certainly have made LaFleur’s fi t. Her experience as a trustee over the last four years experience as a Board member extremely rewarding. She room between surgeries, has only deepened that impression. “I previously worked says that some of her most inspiring moments as a trustee the food preparers, the in a large organization with a big dedicated workforce have come at events where the members of the BIDMC housekeepers, and the IT and a 24/7 environment with real-time challenges,” says community celebrate each other’s efforts, like the Nursing people—all the people LaFleur. “I’ve seen a lot of parallels with the issues that Scholarship Awards and the Melzer Awards at the Annual BIDMC faces, whether it’s redesigning processes to help Meeting of the Boards. “It’s all about the patients and taking that it takes to make a different silos communicate better, enabling cultural good care of them, but you can’t do something well unless place like this run. It’s an transformations to make sure people in different jobs you feel good about it,” says LaFleur. “And I see the role amazing team.” work as a team, or structuring checklists to ensure of a trustee as being a champion for the organization to patient and employee safety.” recognize and appreciate what the wonderful people here are doing and to encourage them philanthropically if It’s BIDMC’s leadership in clinical safety that has you’re in the position to do so.” particularly piqued LaFleur’s interest, an area that has adopted many of its processes and procedures from With that in mind, LaFleur and her husband, industries outside the medical fi eld. LaFleur notes that Bill Kuncik, recently made a generous fi ve-year pledge to in the world of energy, the safe delivery of electricity the medical center, thoughtfully making it an endowment, and gas for both the public and employees is paramount; for longevity, with an unrestricted annual payment, for as a result, she became very involved in transforming greatest impact. While a “stretch gift” for the couple given her fi eld’s approach to safety basing it on understanding their capacity and history of philanthropy, they viewed systems rather than assigning blame. “It’s all about their donation as a natural extension of their increasing behavior,” she says. “Nobody goes to work, whether they’re engagement with the medical center and confi dence in its an electric lineman or a medical caregiver, and says, ‘I think leadership. “I think why we give relates to why I volunteer: I’ll have an accident today.’ The people who do those we think this institution is really important to patients jobs do them because they have genuine expertise and care and to the city and to the region and even nationally about what they’re doing. Preventable harm and accidents through its research,” says LaFleur. “We feel lucky to have usually happen because multiple things went wrong.” had the opportunity to make a contribution.” }

After this interview took place, LaFleur was nominated by President Barack Obama to be a commissioner in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If confi rmed by the Senate and sworn in as a commissioner, she would be required to resign from her Board trustee positions. However, she and her husband would plan to continue as friends and supporters of BIDMC. 5

403255.LA.CS4.indd 5 5/12/10 9:54 PM “ It’s not magic, it’s not science, and it’s really not mystifying. Our job is pretty straightforward.”

By the Numbers William Johnston and the BIDMC Finance Committee

illiam Johnston knows when he started on the committee. team keeps him engaged at the business whose primary mission— that, for many, the world “So there’s the intellectual challenge medical center. Johnston says that patient care—can be incompatible Wof fi nance holds a certain of learning what low margins they the trio makes his job easy because with meeting its fi nancial needs, ineffable mystique. As a result, he work on and how there are so many while they are always abreast of every but when confronted with a often fi nds himself trying to put his factors involved. It’s like steering issue, they are also open to debate market downturn that affects both role as chair of BIDMC’s Finance a super oil tanker—you can’t dodge and challenging dialogue, which philanthropy and endowment, Committee in more accessible terms. and weave; if you’re going to make allows for progress. “Steve is a CFO the focus has to switch from “Everyone says, ‘Ooooh, the Finance a change in course, it’s going to take who’s really on top of the numbers, an organized approach to growth to Committee,’” laughs Johnston. you a long time to do it. And there’s he knows what’s going on,” he says. putting out multiple fi res. “I didn’t “For some reason, people attach this no single decision you make that’s “Eric doesn’t need to be out in front know when I got engaged here that aura to it and think that to be on it, going to have a huge impact; they’re of everyone and quietly, with a I was going to be on the committee you must understand a whole lot small incremental decisions.” high level of effi ciency, gets things in such times. If I had, I might have of intricate fi nancial details. But I done. And Paul, he’s got conviction, rethought things,” he quips. Helping the management team don’t really think so. It’s not magic, and he’s not afraid to show it. I think in this ongoing decision-making But Johnston is quick to add in it’s not science, and it’s really the combination of the three is what process is what Johnston sees more serious tones that the recent not mystifying. Our job is pretty makes it so refreshing.” as the Finance Committee’s primary situation has been a wonderful straightforward.” function. “We’re not making The team’s out-of-the-ordinary learning experience on many levels, Straightforward perhaps, but the diffi cult choices here. Paul, Eric, temperament was also fundamental from weighing the hospital’s fi scal not necessarily simple. The Finance and Steve are,” he says of Paul Levy, in the couple’s decision to make options to watching how others make Committee is charged with Eric Buehrens, and Steven Fischer, a $1 million unrestricted gift to critical decisions in times of stress. periodically reviewing the medical chief executive offi cer, chief operating BIDMC for the administration to “You don’t want to go through it center’s fi scal situation, from its offi cer, and chief fi nancial offi cer at use as it sees fi t. “This team is trying every day,” he says, noting the incoming funds from operations to BIDMC, respectively. “But I think it to do a whole lot without the luxury unprecedented sacrifi ces BIDMC its outgoing capital expenditures, helps when they can go to the Board of the means to fulfi ll the wish list staff made including salary, 401K to ensure that obligations at both and say that the Finance Committee, they have,” says Johnston, “and yet match, and earned time cuts to ends of the spectrum are being which is made up of fi nancial people, day in, day out, they keep fi ghting save people’s jobs, “but I think this met. For Johnston, who has been patient care people, and people with the good fi ght. And so it was pretty experience has been an interesting a high-level fi nancial executive long-standing legacies here, supports simple to make our gift unrestricted ordeal for everyone. All the painful for decades, it’s somewhat familiar or doesn’t support something. because they said that was really things everyone went through here, territory, but he also recognizes It expedites their ability to run important. Why would I ever second the management team handled the unique complexities that health the hospital.” guess them?” with great empathy, concern, care adds to the mix. and knowledge—not a trace of Since he and his wife, Leslie Sennott, Johnston bore witness as the arrogance. You have to admire “I think that most people, unless have had little reason to go to a management team’s need for the way they’ve managed through they’re in this industry, don’t hospital aside from the births of their unrestricted philanthropy became it all.” } understand how hospitals operate,” three children, Johnston says that particularly acute during the recent says Johnston, who stresses that he, the opportunity to interact with and economic crisis. He observes that too, knew little about this specialty assist such a talented management it is diffi cult enough for a

6 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

403255.LA.CS4.indd 6 5/12/10 9:54 PM Faces of BIDMC with Terry B. Strom, M.D.

What is your primary Wouldn’t we want the immune No, as an immunologist I’m research interest? system to sometimes remain focused on fi nding therapies TERRY B. STROM, M.D. aggressive to fi ght off disease? I’m interested in immune tolerance— for several autoimmune diseases. Director of the Transplant Is there a way to control this? when the immune system does I’m tremendously thankful Research Institute at BIDMC for philanthropic support that opposite of what it should do. The The immune system has within Early philanthropic investment from immune system’s job is to identify it a protective sub-compartment and enables me to develop new the following people has made and fi ght off microbes and destroy if protective cells gather at the site treatments that we think will Strom’s work possible: Stuart C. and foreign or malignant cells, and in of the transplant or autoimmune have broad implications. Jo Ann Nathan, Daniel E. Rothenberg, almost all cases it’s a wonderful thing. injury, they can “turn off” the Scott C. and Heidi Schuster, and My lab designed what we call But in the case of organ trans- aggressive cells and protect the tissue Carole Segal. “power mix,” a protein cocktail plantation, the immune response can from further damage. therapy that destroys aggressive cause major problems; the body T-cells and fosters the growth may reject the organ and even after Have you developed any of tissue-protective immune cells. a successful transplant, a patient’s therapies that do this? We think “power mix” will immune system may continue to My lab was the fi rst to develop successfully treat new-onset Type 1 attack and damage the new tissue. will be initiated in new-onset and use an antibody therapy that diabetes, an autoimmune disease Type 1 diabetes patients. kills aggressive immune T-cells, in which a person’s own T-cells So a successful transplant does cells that aid in immune response, destroy insulin-producing pancreatic not necessarily mean improved With even more therapies on stimulated by a transplant. When cells. The National Institutes of health for a patient? the horizon, where do you see T-cells stimulated by a transplant are Health is currently producing our your research headed? An organ transplant is often the destroyed, they lose the ability to protein mix under pharmaceutical- best choice in the case of organ recognize and destroy the new organ. grade conditions. There are millions of people failure, but patients can be troubled The therapy is extremely safe because with organ failure so I’ll continue by complications from taking daily it does not destroy resting T-cells that Also, we’re investigating the to focus on making organ immunosuppressant medications— can still fi ght invading microbes. We therapeutic potential of proteins in transplants work better for patients. which prevent the immune system also developed a therapy that controls infl ammation. A protein called At some point, because there is a from attacking the new organ but malignant T-cell growth and is alpha-1 antitrypsin works to stop limited amount of organs available, increase susceptibility to cancer and used as a therapeutic agent in T-cell prolonged infl ammation and may aid my interests will merge with stem infectious disease. I’m researching disorders, like some lymphomas. in autoimmunity, transplantation, cell technologies to develop how we can create immune and metabolic diseases. Our data in ways to regenerate tissue from tolerance—essentially “fl ipping” Is your research only focused preclinical disease models shows our own stem cells and help the immune system to a protective on complications with organ promise for clinical application, and the body foster its own successful rather than an aggressive mode. transplantation? a clinical trial of alpha-1 antitrypsin healing process. }

One of the leading cancer scientists in the world, “ I am convinced that BIDMC offers Pier Paolo Pandolfi , M.D., Ph.D., discovered the genes under- lying a rare form of leukemia, transforming its diagnosis from the right environment for breakthroughs “death sentence” to “curable” in almost all the young adults to happen. In fact, they already have.” it strikes. Today, his goal is to apply his knowledge from this —Pier Paolo Pandolfi , M.D., Ph.D. experience to a wider range of cancers.

Thanks to unrestricted donations to the BIDMC Annual Fund, the medical center has the resources to invest in the talent that makes it extraordinary. Be a part of the wonder and progress of biomedical research at BIDMC, and support the Annual Fund today.

TO MAKE YOUR ANNUAL FUND GIFT

Go online at www.gratefulnation.org/annualgiving

Call (617) 667-7330

Send a check (made payable to BIDMC) to: The Annual Fund, Offi ce of Development Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center 330 Brookline Avenue (BR), Boston, MA 02215

Giving Matters | www.gratefulnation.org 7

403255.LA.CS4.indd 7 5/13/10 7:20 PM The Science that Binds Philanthropy enables neurologist to fi nd links between two deadly diseases

heterotopia (PH), a rare congenital different types of brain cells—and invade tissue and metastasize further. disorder that causes seizures in thereby affects where cells ultimately Sheen and collaborator Orge Alper, women and is generally fatal in men. reside in the brain and what type president and CEO of Alper Biotech, Sheen’s PH research is funded in of brain cell they will become. discovered that fi lamin is secreted at part by the Beckman Foundation, the Mutations in a gene called fi lamin high levels by breast and brain cancer Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, can cause PH; people with cells. When secreted, fi lamin may and Carol Feinberg Cohen and this mutation have seizures and actually block the adhesion proteins the late Julian Cohen. Thanks to this sometimes mild mental retardation. of neighboring cells, causing generous support, Sheen discovered these cells to lose their “glue-like” specifi c proteins that contribute to Thanks to a recent $405,000 capabilities and impair tissue the development of PH and possibly gift from the Doris Duke Charitable integrity. “It’s like greasing a wheel,” to the metastasis, or spread, of breast Foundation that has allowed him says Sheen. “If the surrounding and brain cancers. to continue this avenue of research, tissue is less sticky, it presents less of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Sheen discovered that fi lamin, a a barrier for a cancer cell to invade Center neurologist Volney Sheen, “My lab began researching the protein which helps other adhesion and spread.” M.D., Ph.D., knows that when cause of PH with the idea that once proteins within a cell stay together, basic scientifi c research helps link you identify the genes that cause preserves cell structure. These While his work is still in two different diseases, the results this stem cell disorder then you can adhesion proteins act as a “glue” its early stages, Sheen believes can be twice as powerful. His somehow regulate them,” says that is required for a cell to bind that the fi lamin secreted by research to understand the genetic Sheen. “But this research has also and interact with neighboring cells, cancer cells is important for cancer components of a rare neurological taken a twist that may help us to move, and to differentiate into progression. Because fi lamin is disorder is also helping him better understand some cancers.” a neuron. If fi lamin is mutated, secreted, it is an attractive target further explain the progression the cell becomes “less sticky,” and for therapeutic intervention. of some types of cancers. PH is an abnormality that the loss in adhesion disrupts these “Further investigation will allow occurs during brain development normal developmental activities. us to understand the mechanisms Sheen, who primarily treats that disrupts the initial migration that cause PH and help us under- patients with epilepsy, is researching and fate of neural stem cells— A similar process may be involved in stand and control the metastasis potential therapies for periventricular cells that have the ability to become determining a cancer cell’s ability to of some cancers,” he says. }

HITTING THE ROAD FOR A REASON CEMENT YOUR SUPPORT OF THE CANCER CENTER Rallying behind a good cause, the New England Firebird Auto Club will give all proceeds from its 2010 Cruisin’ Sustain the efforts of BIDMC’s Cancer Center with a lasting tribute to a loved one when you purchase a plaque or for Cancer event, the club’s annual rolling car show, to the brick in the Cancer Garden of Hope at Boston City Hall Plaza. A Reason to Ride fundraiser presented by Fuddruckers benefi ting brain cancer research at BIDMC. “ Being able to make a contribution to BIDMC while at the same time honoring my late husband made me so happy. The staff at BIDMC took such good care of us, and this is one way I can Take part in the Cruisin’ for Cancer festivities on express my thanks.” Sunday, August 22 (rain date: Sunday, August 29). – Nancy Lynch, Cancer Garden of Hope supporter

The Cancer Garden of Hope is sponsored by the For more information, please visit Conquer Cancer Coalition of Massachusetts. To learn more, www.gratefulnation.org/cruisinforcancer. please visit www.conquercancer.org/gardenofhope.

8 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

403255.LA.CS4.indd 8 5/13/10 7:19 PM In Grateful Nation’s new Spotlight Series, well-known GRATEFUL NATION people from all walks of life discuss the idea of gratitude— PUTS ITS STARS what it means to them and the role it plays in their lives. IN THE SPOTLIGHT

LONGTIME BOSTON BRUINS DEFENSEMAN AND AUTHOR OF THE BEST SELLER CANADIAN OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER LOOK ME IN THE EYE AND THE UPCOMING BE DIFFERENT DON AND CHRISTINE SWEENEY JOHN ELDER ROBISON

“ We have a very close connection to BIDMC….Our boys “ I am grateful for Dr. Alvaro Pascual-Leone and the are here in this world because of the people and brilliant doctors and scientists in BIDMC’s TMS lab. the facility that we were fortunate to be a part of.” I am also grateful for the opportunity to have contributed to what I believe is one of the fundamental When former Boston Bruins hockey player Don Sweeney—who is now an assistant general manager with the team—and Christine breakthroughs in autism research and neuroscience.” Sweeney, a two-time Canadian Olympic fi gure skater, had their For best-selling author John Elder Robison, a diagnosis of Asperger’s twin sons, Jarrod and Tyler, more than ten years ago, the situation syndrome at the age of 40 was something of a revelation, was grave. That the boys, born at 25 weeks, each weighing only 1.5 explaining everything from the social isolation of his youth to his pounds, even survived was a miracle—one the Sweeneys attribute penchant for electronics. With this new insight into his life, to the remarkable efforts of the doctors, nurses, and staff of Robison discovered that he could help others with the disease, BIDMC’s labor and delivery unit and the Klarman Family Neonatal an autism spectrum disorder. Writing a book (with another to Intensive Care Unit (NICU). come in April 2011) and speaking publicly about his own experiences has earned Robison national recognition and caught the attention Aside from having access to the most advanced technologies of BIDMC neurologist Alvaro Pascual-Leone, M.D., Ph.D. and treatments for premature newborns, the Sweeneys were most amazed by all the extra touches that the BIDMC team added to In April 2008, Pascual-Leone invited Robison to participate in their sons’ care—from providing the couple with a special groundbreaking research involving transcranial magnetic computer so they could see Jarrod and Tyler before bedtime to stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive technique that is helping doctors dressing the boys up in Bruins outfi ts (taken from teddy bears) better understand how the brain works and alter its performance to keep things light. The Sweeneys believe that they have BIDMC to potentially treat disorders as varied as autism, depression, to thank that the twins, now 11, are doing well, attending school epilepsy, and stroke. For Robison, TMS has been a life-changing and, of course, playing hockey. experience. He attributes it with giving him the ability to read ordinary nonverbal cues from other people, an essential part of To read more of the Sweeneys’ story and watch a successful social interaction and something otherwise diffi cult video featuring both Don and Christine, please visit for people with Asperger’s. www.gratefulnation.org/sweeney.

To read more of John Robison’s story and watch a video featuring Robison, please visit www.gratefulnation.org/robison. Giving Matters | www.gratefulnation.org 9

403255.LA.CS4.indd 9 5/12/10 9:55 PM T Gabe Schmergel and Marc B. Garnick, M.D.

WHEN COMPREHENSIVE MEETS COMPASSION

Generous Donations Advance Prostate Cancer Center’s Patient-Focused Efforts

here is calmness and patience in the way Glenn Bubley, M.D., a co-director of the Prostate Cancer Center at Beth Israel Deaconess TMedical Center, speaks; his comforting demeanor is something in which even the sickest of patients can fi nd solace. But he isn’t alone in his compassion. From the way his colleagues are working to develop gentler hormone therapies to studies focused on improving quality-of-life outcomes for people with prostate cancer, the focus is always the same: the patient.

“They are a hard-working and motivated group,” says Bubley. “They don’t care about the accolades anymore; they care about the benefi ts of their work for the patient.” Bubley isn’t concerned with the accolades either. He came to BIDMC almost 30 years ago and became friendly with William DeWolf, M.D., now chief of urology at the medical center. Bubley developed an interest in urologic disease, which eventually led to his specialty in prostate cancer; it has S Glenn Bubley, M.D. remained his focus ever since.

The Prostate Cancer Center now includes many designated prostate cancer clinicians, urologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, research investigators, nurses, and the staff who manage the center’s tissue bank. “We provide soup to nuts in terms of what we offer patients,” says Bubley. “We have prevention, genetic diagnostics, and a variety of therapies. We can manage the most aggressive cancers, and we have tools in place to help patients decide what’s best.”

10 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

403255.LA.CS4.indd 10 5/12/10 9:55 PM The Power of Prediction Manzanilla gift allows prostate cancer patients to make more informed decisions

patients and their spouses across “and it’s really something that we eight hospitals. wouldn’t be able to do if it weren’t “The Manzanillas’ gift allowed us for the Manzanillas.” to continue to follow those men As a result of this work, the and women to reanalyze data program recently secured a new to predict outcomes based on a grant from the NIH that will patient’s individual characteristics enable Sanda and his colleagues to like age, how big their prostate continue long-term follow-up of was, how high their PSA levels the patients in this study to look at were, and what their quality of life the effects of prostate cancer was like before treatment,” says recurrence and its treatment. Both Martin G. Sanda, M.D., director of the NIH grant and the Manzanillas’ the Prostate Cancer Center. “We gift are funding a new national hope it will become a valuable study that will also compare out- tool that gives patients an active comes in traditional versus robotic- S Martin G. Sanda, M.D. role in their own treatment plan.” assisted surgery in prostate cancer. While research to develop guide them in envisioning what A Web site is under development Sanda says he hopes to expand gentler, more tailored therapies their own quality of life might be that compiles this data and the project even further to for prostate cancer remains a like after different prostate cancer will allow patients to log in and include assessments of quality focus, another initiative within treatments. enter specifi c information about of life for patients who were the Prostate Cancer Center The initiative is built upon themselves and their own cancer treated more aggressively for at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical information the Prostate Cancer to generate predictive outcomes their prostate cancer versus Center aims to help patients Center collected as part of a large for different treatments. Results, those whose treatment, or make decisions about their own nationwide study funded by the for example, will tell a patient lack thereof, began with “active treatment options. National Institutes of Health (NIH) if a therapy may cause urinary or surveillance.” Also known A generous gift from Luisa and that researched quality-of-life bowel problems or may interfere as “watchful waiting,” active Fernando Manzanilla is funding the outcomes for patients within the with sexual activity. “This type surveillance describes an option to effort to create a “predictive fi rst years following treatment. of patient-focused use of data is not immediately treat the cancer calculator” that equips patients The NIH selected BIDMC to lead tough to fund through federal based on factors about the patient with statistical information to the study, which surveyed 1,200 grant agencies,” says Sanda, and the cancer’s progression. }

Helping patients make informed decisions about their own care is a The information includes research fi ndings based on what the prostate personal interest of Marc B. Garnick, M.D., a clinician and the medical cancer team learns from the more than 600 patient prostate samples director of cancer network services at BIDMC. Thanks to several that exist in the Hershey Tissue Bank, the largest tissue bank in Boston. philanthropic gifts from his patients, Garnick created a free comprehensive A gift from one of Garnick’s patients, made through the Hershey Web site, called www.harvardprostateknowledge.org, which provides recent Family Foundation, funded its establishment and several related research news about prostate cancer, research updates, commentary, and personal projects. “This gift catalyzed a lot of what we can do now,” says patient case studies. “My work is to provide patients with a clear Martin G. Sanda, director of the Prostate Cancer Center. “We can review understanding of prostate cancer and the issues surrounding the disease,” tissue and blood samples from patients over time, which is incredibly says Garnick, “to help patients understand the medical and biological aspects valuable to learn what’s working and what’s not. This resource has put us of their disease and how it will affect them physically, emotionally, socially, on the map in prostate cancer research.” and sexually.” Over the past three years, Sanda has led a nationwide network of prostate Garnick, who in the 1980s helped put Lupron—a widely used prostate cancer researchers funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to improve cancer drug—on the market, says that a lot of confl icting information prostate cancer screening and early detection. In collaboration with several exists on the disease. “We are constantly refi ning therapies to treat aspects cancer centers nationwide, this group has developed new approaches to prostate of the cancer, but we’re still learning how to treat the whole cancer,” cancer screening that use urine tests to detect genetic abnormalities, such he says, “and this information is changing and previous strategies are as gene rearrangements called gene fusions that are a ‘fi ngerprint’ of prostate being debunked.” Garnick is also editor-in-chief of an annual report on cancer. In addition, BIDMC’s team is leading a collaborative initiative to prostate cancer, published by Harvard Medical School. Both the Web determine whether such new urine tests for prostate cancer can improve upon site and the publication, funded through philanthropic support, aim the limitations of using protein specifi c antigen (PSA), a protein that to provide the most up-to-date and scientifi cally accurate information causes cancer when produced in high levels by prostate cells, as a prostate to the public. cancer screening test.

CONTINUED ON P. 12

Giving Matters | www.gratefulnation.org 11

403255.LA.CS4.indd 11 5/12/10 9:55 PM WHEN COMPREHENSIVE MEETS COMPASSION Gentle Science CONTINUED FROM P. 1 1 $1M Prostate Cancer Foundation gift funds research to fi nd less While the tissue bank offers research opportunities at BIDMC and beyond, debilitating therapies maintaining it is costly. “The tissue bank is an upside down pyramid. We add samples daily from new patients and samples from patients who we continue to follow,” says Bubley. Gifts from Randi and Joel Cutler and Pamela and Richard Remis are helping to keep the tissue bank running and support translational research within the program.

In keeping with the center’s patient-centric philosophy, the focus of research is translational—to develop therapies and tests to help prostate cancer patients today. “Glenn sees patients, and I do research,” says Steven Balk, M.D., Ph.D., “and we interact well because he understands the biology of lab work and I understand what the prostate cancer population is like. What results is bench- to-bedside work.”

Balk is working to develop improved hormonal therapies for the large number of advanced stage, or castrate-resistant, prostate cancer patients—patients for whom removal of the testicles is no longer effective. Testicular removal deprives the body of testosterone, slowing the growth of cancer in the prostate gland. With time, however, the body can readjust to the chemical’s absence, and the cancer continues to grow. “Balk has been a leader in second-line hormonal Prostate cancer research at Beth Israel Deaconess therapies, and his scientifi c observations have helped us bring several drugs to Medical Center is not just about fi nding new therapies clinical trials,” says Bubley. “Using some of the therapies that we have that work; it’s about fi nding new therapies that pioneered here has been most rewarding.” work with the patient. Steven P. Balk, M.D., Ph.D., and his lab are investigating how to improve therapies to reduce side effects and eliminate the chance While a majority of research in the prostate center at BIDMC is translational, of cancer relapse. some young investigators are conducting basic research to learn more about the disease. Garnick, a senior clinician who helps young investigators secure In addition to its generous support of innovative funding for their work, recently received a generous gift from Valerie and Gabe research and young investigators at BIDMC, the Prostate Cancer Foundation is funding Balk’s work with Schmergel that supports these efforts. “As a senior clinician, I look to enable a $1 million challenge grant which has allowed him to a wide group of young investigators who are doing important and meritorious develop small clinical trials to measure success of work,” says Garnick. In addition, under Sanda’s leadership, the prostate therapies in patients. His research aims to improve and program established the Prostate Cancer Executive Committee to allocate create new hormonal therapies—therapies that involve donor funds to spur innovation and improve patient care. adjusting hormone levels as a form of treatment. “This patient-centric work holds the promise to reduce The prostate cancer group has also teamed up with other leaders in cancer death rates from advanced prostate cancer,” says research at BIDMC, like Lewis C. Cantley, Ph.D., and Pier Paolo Pandolfi , Howard R. Soule, Ph.D., executive vice president of M.D., Ph.D., to integrate some of their discoveries into clinical trials to discovery and translation and chief science offi cer test drug treatments for advanced stage prostate cancer patients. A gift from at the Prostate Cancer Foundation. “We hope it will Priscilla S. and Richard M. Hunt, made in honor of Garnick, is helping to fund help physicians to better understand how to use new this collaborative research to study the genetics of prostate cancer. and existing drugs to maximize their effectiveness.” Balk’s team is focused on selectively lowering But efforts within the Prostate Cancer Center are not limited to developing androgen levels to treat prostate cancer. Androgenic new therapies. In fact, Sanda and DeWolf, who have been dedicated to treating hormones, like testosterone, stimulate and control the disease for years, are exploring “active surveillance,” an alternative way male characteristics; when androgen levels are high, to treat patients. The approach, which involves monitoring a patient for disease prostate cancer can develop. Lowering androgen progression, is used when maintaining a patient’s quality of life outweighs levels, called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), the benefi t of drug treatment. “Our work in early detection, to fi nd new ways is an effective method to shrink tumors but can to detect prostate cancer and distinguish which cancers can be left alone cause serious side effects like metabolic and cardiac and which should be treated aggressively, is how we focus on the patient,” issues, muscle loss, and sexual complications. says Sanda. “I’m interested in selectively blocking the androgen receptor in prostate cells only, to reduce or Thanks to Sanda’s pioneering advances in developing vaccines for prostate avoid the patient cost,” says Balk. “We have a good cancer over the past decade and the combined efforts of the prostate cancer understanding of how the androgen receptor’s team at BIDMC, vaccines for the disease are poised to become a widely metabolism is regulated, and we’ve developed some available treatment for advanced prostate cancer. “One of the unique strengths novel androgen receptor antagonists that we think will be effective in more advanced prostate cancer.” that brought me to BIDMC was the creative abilities and commitment of my colleagues,” says Sanda. The group recently embarked on an initiative BIDMC is among the leaders in developing more funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Prostate Cancer aggressive and selective ADT treatments, Foundation to develop new immunotherapies for prostate cancer. and Balk’s clinical trials have helped lead to the development of a trial drug that blocks androgen synthesis in tumor cells. With an experienced team of clinicians and researchers, many of whom have been working together for more than three decades to better treat the disease, “If I look where we were when I started working in patients of the Prostate Cancer Center at BIDMC can expect some of the best this area 15 years ago to where we are now, it has been personalized clinical care around. “I’m the guy who gets to treat some of the a big change,” says Balk. “We’ve made seminal fi ndings along the way; we have a consistent record of worst off patients and when I see our own therapies and treatments work that’s } advancing the fi eld.” } the best thing,” says Bubley.

12 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

403255.LA.CS4.indd 12 5/12/10 9:55 PM Foundation support enables repair of genetic wear and tear

In particular, Yan’s lab is studying investigate the impact of eliminating how one specifi c pathway, called NHEJ on DNA methylation, the the non-homologous end-joining process by which a cell “remembers” pathway (NHEJ), repairs DNA its specifi c cell role. “If the and works with proteins and genes methylation process is not working,” in the body. She is investigating says Yan, “cells can forget what kind how this pathway collaborates with of cell they are and mutate. “ p53, a crucial protein that either initiates cell death in a severely Thanks to a $150,000 gift from damaged cell, called apoptosis, the Emerald Foundation, Yan has or stops a damaged cell from expanded her research to investigate multiplying until a repair pathway, some of the basic genetic aspects like NHEJ, can fi x it. NHEJ is of DNA repair to identify errors t’s true; humans do have a lot of Catherine Yan, Ph.D., a pathologist pivotal in repairing DNA breaks. and patterns in pathway repair and stress. In fact, cells within the at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Malfunctions in NHEJ can result ultimately ways to fi x them. Her Ibody constantly undergo stress, Center, is studying the body’s in chromosomal translocations— sophisticated research in mouse from exposure to sunlight to the inability to repair its own genetic or the improper swapping of genetic models has also led to an important chemical effects of chemotherapy, structure to provide insight into the material. Defective NHEJ, combined observation—as mice age, their which cause DNA within cells pathology of certain cancers with with a loss of p53, can contribute genetic ability to suppress the to break apart or mutate. Thankfully, the goal of fi nding new therapies. to the development of cancers and development of mutated cells the body fi ghts back with repair Recent gifts from the V Foundation other diseases. decreases, suggesting a potential pathways, chemical processes that for Cancer Research and the link between aging and tumor rejoin breaks in a cell’s DNA to Emerald Foundation are supporting Part of Yan’s work seeks to answer if suppression. “What’s really restore function. If repair pathways Yan’s research. “To be a young cancer is a result of cell damage due interesting is that aging actually cease to work, however, cells mutate researcher and to have organizations to outside stress or from malfunctions may be a by-product of the several and multiply leading to cancer, fund you is very inspiring,” says in DNA repair. A $200,000 gift attempts the body makes to the acceleration of aging, and age- Yan. “Foundation support allows from the V Foundation for Cancer prevent a cell from becoming related diseases. a researcher to be innovative.” Research is supporting research to malignant,” says Yan. }

TICKETS PLEASE! Grateful Nation is calling for tickets to raffl e off in support of BIDMC’s efforts to advance patient care. From concert to sporting event tickets, any donation to the Nation will be gratefully accepted. Your tickets will be put to good use, WALK THIS WAY and the proceeds of our contests will be used to do good. AND TAKE STEPS TO Please sign up at www.gratefulnation.org END OVARIAN CANCER to hear about our sweepstakes. FOR GOOD To donate, e-mail us at [email protected]. The Third Annual Step Up and Break the Silence Ovarian Cancer Walk September 11 Start/Finish: Stone Zoo, Stoneham Sponsored by Sisters Against Ovarian Cancer to benefi t the ovarian cancer research program at BIDMC www.gratefulnation.org For more details, please visit www.gratefulnation.org/saocwalk.

Giving Matters | www.gratefulnation.org 13

403255.LA.CS4.indd 13 5/12/10 9:55 PM “ We’re not doing this because there’s something inherently wrong with the relationship but because the information they have access to is not equal” JAN WALKER

S Henry Feldman, M.D., Tom Delbanco, M.D., and Jan Walker, R.N., M.B.A.

An Open Notes Test RWJF-funded project aims to increase transparency between doctor and patient

The key to any good relationship is open communication, the OpenNotesSM team to put this hypothesis to the test. so the saying goes. For a group of clinicians and staff “It’s a subtle change,” says Stephen Downs, assistant at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, these are more vice president at RWJF and a Pioneer Portfolio member, than just words—they have spent years of dedicated effort “but it could reposition notes to be for the patient as toward bringing more transparency to the traditionally well as about the patient, which might have a powerful enigmatic, complex, and often one-sided relationship impact on the doctor/patient relationship and in the long between doctor and patient. Their longstanding experience, run lead to better care. Doctors have a strong difference helped by recent advances in electronic technology, has of opinion about this, but there is an almost religious culminated in a project designed to transform how these character to the debate—it’s uninformed by evidence.” two mutually dependent individuals interact. “The best way to articulate it is that the doctor has a unique body Despite some doctors’ hesitation to this degree of of knowledge that the patient, unless he or she is also openness, citing fears of misinterpretation or additional a doctor, usually doesn’t have,” says Tom Delbanco, M.D., demands on their time for editing or clarifi cation, a primary care physician at BIDMC and the Richard and Delbanco and Walker fi rmly believe that the benefi ts for Florence Koplow-James Tullis Professor of General Medicine patient care will far outweigh the drawbacks. Referencing and Primary Care at Harvard Medical School, “and the previous studies out of their research team, they say that patient has unique knowledge about him or herself that the patients today not only want but increasingly expect this doctor cannot possess. The goal is to facilitate moving degree of transparency in health care, a situation these perspectives closer together. In my view, that gives encouraged by the evolution of information technology. patients the best chance to do well.” Indeed, the fact that much of this information is now electronic has made the execution of OpenNotesSM pretty For the past 30 years, Delbanco has been on a mission straightforward despite the inherent complexity of the to learn from patients’ experiences in the clinical setting medical environment. “Health care is hard,” says Walker. and involve them more directly in enhancing care. “Our care systems can be wonderful, but they are Harkening back to experiments he led in the 1970s giving incredibly complicated. One of the things about this patients control of their own medical records, he and particular project is that it’s very simple, which appealed co-investigator Jan Walker, R.N., M.B.A., have now both to us and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It’s embarked on a project called OpenNotesSM to evaluate the something anybody, theoretically, could do because it’s impact of giving patients full access to the observations just fl icking a switch in the electronic medical record—the and plans their physicians make about them after each note is there, you just have to open it up.” clinical encounter. “We’re not doing this because there’s something inherently wrong with the relationship but With the RWJF funding, a 12-month OpenNotesSM study because the information they have access to is not equal,” will fl ick that switch between close to 100 participating says Walker. “It’s the classic professional interaction, primary care physicians and more than 30,000 of their where the professional has all the knowledge and the diverse patients not only at BIDMC but also from the client doesn’t, and patients can suffer because of that.” Geisinger Health System in rural Pennsylvania and the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. In particular, the To make this interaction more equitable, OpenNotesSM will team will examine if this new access will promote better uncover a previously hidden core of the medical record— communication, improve recall, prevent errors or the doctor’s note, which documents a patient’s unique misconceptions, and ultimately create an environment of personal characteristics and medical history and insights shared decision making. “We’re counting e-mails, phone into determining diagnoses and care strategies from calls, and visits, and we’re surveying doctors and patients the physician’s perspective. A logical extension of the before and after,” says Delbanco, who adds that they type of information increasingly available to patients on are working with an incredible group of both clinicians secure medical portals like BIDMC’s own PatientSite, this and information technology professionals, including documentation could potentially be a critical untapped physician/information specialist Henry Feldman, M.D., and resource for patients to improve recall or understanding of health systems researcher Suzanne Leveille, R.N., Ph.D. what took place in the examination room and put them on “So we’re not just doing it; we’re really studying it. And a more level playing fi eld in terms of health care decision the basic question we’re asking is simple: after a year, will making. A recent $1.4 million grant from the Robert Wood the doctors and/or the patients want to turn the machine Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Pioneer Portfolio will allow off? Our best guess is that they’ll say no, but we’ll see.” }

14 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

403255.LA.CS4.indd 14 5/12/10 9:55 PM Courting a Good Cause NEWS Tennis tournament supports valuable community-oriented programs OF NOTE Visit www.gratefulnation. org/newsofnote for more.

YES BONES ABOUT IT Christopher Evans, Ph.D., director of BIDMC’s Center for Advanced Orthopaedic Studies, received the 2010 Arthur Steindler Award from the Orthopaedic Research Society, created to recognize experts who have made signifi cant contributions to the understanding of the musculoskeletal system and related diseases. A molecular biologist, Evans is a leader in the development of gene therapies for the treatment of arthritis. something that would parallel On Wednesday, September 29, BRA For the principals of Boston our business,” says Jeremy Freid, will hold another full day of round Realty Advisors (BRA), MUSIC TO OUR EARS a partner at BRA. “By creating robin tennis matches at the famed supporting the community BIDMC neurologist Gottfried our own targeted fundraiser, Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut is something that brings Schlaug, M.D., Ph.D., and his our efforts could go a long way Hill, which for the fi rst time will research team have shown out their passion. for lesser known causes.” make all of its historic grass courts extremely promising preliminary available for tournament play. The results from their fi rst clinical A premier commercial and residential Partnering with BIDMC, BRA proceeds from this year’s event, which trial using melodic intonation therapy to treat aphasia loss real estate company in Boston developed a successful tennis will also include a dinner, will benefi t — of speech—in stroke victims. and New York, BRA has a long track tournament, now in its third year. BIDMC’s Parkinson’s Disease The team hopes their work will record of giving to a number of To date, the tournament has raised and Movement Disorders Clinic. encourage broader acceptance regional charitable groups, and in more than $30,000 to benefi t of the therapy, which uses 2008 the management team the medical center’s Healing Music For more information or singing and rhythmic tapping embarked on a mission to create harp program, DriveWise program to get involved, please visit to engage compensatory communication centers in the a fundraising effort they could for aging driver safety, and www.gratefulnation.org/ brain. call their own. Center for Violence Prevention tennistournament. } and Recovery—all of which TODAY’S CHILD “As a small boutique brokerage fi rm, rely enormously on philanthropy NBC’s Today show recently we wanted to fi nd unique, under- to carry out their meaningful put the BIDMC obstetrics team funded programs to support— work in the community. center stage as part of its three-part, three-city series called “Today Goes Inside the OR.” Nancy Snyderman, M.D., the program’s medical editor, Playing it safe with a BIDMC Charitable Gift Annuity provided the play-by-play as the team brought Brody Rock Johnson into the world by a scheduled Caesarean section. While Charlotte and Harold like excitement, their health and their fi nancial stability are not something RESEARCH OF MERIT they are willing to chance. For this reason, they As part of the most recent class chose a charitable gift annuity to support BIDMC, of young scientists participating which has provided them excellent care throughout in the Harvard Catalyst K12 their adventures. Medical Investigator Research Training (MeRIT) program, BIDMC neuroscientist Lindsay Benefits of a BIDMC Oberman, Ph.D., is examining Charitable Gift Annuity include: how the brain’s circuitry might differ in patients with autism • Lifetime income from your contribution spectrum disorders. Founded in 2008 with the help of a • Secure annual payments to you and/or a loved one “ Harold and I enjoy our lives and live them to fi ve-year $117.5 million NIH grant, the Harvard Catalyst the fullest; however, when considering our • An immediate income tax charitable deduction brings together the intellect, fi nances, we don’t take risks. This is why I chose • The knowledge that your gift supports the important technology, and clinical expertise to fund a charitable gift annuity at Beth Israel of the university and its work of the medical center Deaconess Medical Center. The annuity provides affi liates/partners to reduce the a secure income to me for my lifetime, and For more information, please contact Greta Morgan burden of human illness. we are supporting one of our favorite charities.” at (617) 667-7395 or [email protected], CHARLOTTE MAZONSON or visit us online at www.bidmc.org/plannedgiving.

Giving Matters | www.gratefulnation.org 15

403255.LA.CS4.indd 15 5/12/10 9:55 PM RUNNING A HOSPITAL

THIS IS A BLOG STARTED BY A CEO OF A LARGE BOSTON HOSPITAL TO SHARE THOUGHTS ABOUT HOSPITALS, MEDICINE, AND HEALTH CARE ISSUES.

BIDMC President and CEO Paul Levy recently posted on his blog about not deny that such a payment to release information like the medical center’s success in reducing two common complications in the methodology may be worth this about their quality intensive care unit (ICU)—ventilator associated pneumonia and central implementing for other reasons, improvement efforts to provide line infections—and its societal and fi nancial impact. His comments are but there is a lot that can and the public and public offi cials reprinted here. For more, visit www.runningahospital.blogspot.com. should be done under the current with a sense of confi dence payment system. that we care about these Our Medical Executive Committee This probably refl ects lost revenue matters and are willing to be While the state debate goes on recently received a report from for the hospital under the fee-for- held accountable? } our Critical Care Committee. I cannot service reimbursement system. So about cost control, why can’t we be more proud of our staff and the why do we do it? First, because it is get all of the hospitals in Boston progress they have made to reduce the right thing to do and saves lives. harm and improve quality of care Hundreds of lives. 1800 in our ICUs. On the business front, it has 1600 Expected Cumulative Cases (Conservative) Let me translate the implications contributed to a reduction in length Expected Cumulative Cases (Liberal) of the reduction in ventilator associ- 1400 of stay in our ICUs. We were able to Observed Cumulative Cases (Or Estimate) ated pneumonia (VAP). Preventing avoid the multi-million dollar capital 1200 744 cases over three years—at cost of expanding our ICU capacity. a treatment cost of about $20,000 Indeed, we were able to create 1000 per case—translates into a societal capacity out of the existing facilities savings of $14.9 million during 800 and improve throughput. 744 VAPs this period. prevented 600 I hope that those who argue that The rate of central line infections global payments (i.e., capitation) 400 also dropped from 4.14 to 0.52 cases are a necessary condition to create per 1,000 patient days between 200 societal cost savings and improve FY2003 and FY2009, a reduction patient care will read this. I do 0 of 83 percent. FY06 Q2 FY06 Q3 FY06 Q4 FY07 Q1 FY07 Q2 FY07 Q3 FY07 Q4 FY08 Q1 FY08 Q2 FY08 Q3 FY08 Q4 FY09 Q1 FY09 Q2

WHAT AN EVENTFUL WAY TO SAY THANKS! Are you a fan of jazz music? Do you enjoy playing golf? Grateful Nation can provide you with the tools to turn Sponsored by the BIDMC Board of Overseers any kind of fun into a fundraiser in Tuesday, June 8 One Marina Park Drive at Fan Pier support of the great work of BIDMC. 6 p.m. Cocktail Reception Boston 7 p.m. Panel Discussion (Located next to the new Louis store) With everything from social events to sporting events, people just like you Health Care Reform continues to occupy the national stage and with the historic passage of the bill, the implementation will affect us all—hospitals, physicians, have raised hundreds of thousands of community health centers, and patients. We now have the right and the responsibility dollars for patient care and research to be even more intimately involved as policymakers unite with decision makers at the medical center. in the fi eld to put this bill into action.

with special guests Make something you love a little more STUART ALTMAN, PhD eventful for a worthy cause. Professor of National Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University To learn more, please visit ROBERT J. BLENDON, PhD Professor of Health Policy and Political Analysis, Harvard University School www.gratefulnation.org/events of Public Health and Harvard Kennedy School of Government or contact Erin Wholey at (617) 667-7426 or PAUL F. LEVY [email protected]. President and CEO, BIDMC REVEREND LIZ WALKER Award-winning television journalist, documentary fi lm producer, entrepreneur, and humanitarian currently working in the war-torn country of Sudan. She is also a member of the Board of Overseers at BIDMC.

Valet Parking is Complimentary Kindly reply by June 1 Business Attire to Kirsten Doyle at 617.667.7331 Additional Guests Welcome or [email protected]. www.gratefulnation.org This event is complimentary.

16 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

403255.LA.CS4.indd 16 5/12/10 9:55 PM GRATEFUL NATION EVENT

Since the launch of Grateful Nation, BIDMC’s program centered all of our fundraisers support the great work of BIDMC. To learn around gratitude, we have brought more than 4,500 people more about attending our upcoming events or even starting together through more than 20 events, raising close to $590,000. one of your own, visit www.gratefulnation.org/events, where you Sponsored by grateful patients and their friends and family, can also view more photos under “Past Events.”

1 2 RUNNING FOR A CAUSE: THE GRATEFUL NATION MARATHON TEAM april 19

Thanks to the generosity of John Hancock Financial Services, which gifted BIDMC fi ve numbers for the 114th Boston Marathon, Grateful Nation team members Jaclyn Everett, Julia Lindenberg, M.D., Kathleen Quackenbush Spiegel, Aaron White, and Mark Zeidel, M.D., hit the ground running in support of the Healthy Champions program at Bowdoin Street Health Center. As a team they ran the grueling 26.2 mile course raising more than $30,000 to benefi t this program that teaches children about important health and wellness issues such as 3 nutrition and violence prevention.

Even though the race has been run, the Marathon Team’s cause, Healthy Champions, still needs your support. To donate, please visit www.gratefulnation.org/bostonmarathon.

1 Kathleen Quackenbush Spiegel 2 Phillomin Laptiste, Program Manager, Healthy Champions, Bowdoin Street Health Center; Erin McCloskey, Senior Coordinator, Corporate Social Responsibility, John Hancock Financial Services; Adela Margules, Executive Director, Bowdoin Street Health Center 3 Mark Zeidel, M.D., with his wife, Susan Freedman, M.D., (left) and daughter, Rebecca Zeidel (right)

ON THE SCENE

4 5 BRAIN HEALTH–BODY WEALTH february 9

In February, BIDMC’s Board of Overseers sponsored the Brain Health–Body Wealth event in support of The Center for Brain Health at BIDMC, whose mission is to extend overall health, societal productivity, and quality of life as we age through the development of novel technologies and interventions. The evening included interactive brain fi tness assessment activities and engaging 6 7 presentations by BIDMC staff members Alvaro Pascual- Leone, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, and Daniel Press, M.D., a neurologist in the Cognitive Neurology Unit.

4 Daniel Press, M.D., Jonathan L. Samen, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, M.D., Ph.D. 5 Alvaro Pascual-Leone, M.D., Ph.D., John Elder Robison 6 Guests enjoy the Connections Count booth hosted by Antonio Bullon, M.D. 7 Pat Black, Lisa Franks, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, M.D., Ph.D. Giving Matters | www.gratefulnation.org 17

403255.LA.CS4.indd 17 5/12/10 9:55 PM BIDMC AND QUALITY CARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF REFORM

As the government embarks on reforming the nation’s health care care, BIDMC will continue to invest signifi cantly in programs like these system, BIDMC recently developed a number of events designed to promote along with groundbreaking projects to improve quality and safety. If meaningful discussions on the topic. In this time of great change, the you are interested in supporting the medical center’s work in this area, medical center’s goal is to keep its community informed while continuing we have a wide range of funding opportunities available at all levels to provide the highest quality patient-centered care to anyone in need. of support. For more information, call the Offi ce of Development at As a national leader in innovative efforts to transform the delivery of health (617) 667-7330.

1 2 PALM BEACH 2010 march 6

BIDMC President and CEO Paul Levy and BIDMC Chair of the Board of Directors Steve Kay along with Event Co-Chairs Elayne and David Weener welcomed loyal members of the BIDMC family to a special dinner featuring keynote speaker Senator John F. Kerry at 3 The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. Senator Kerry discussed the complexities of health care reform and the transparency of bringing the bill to life including televised hearings. He also spoke about the specifi c content of the bill and the implications on the health care system in the United States overall. Guests of the event had the opportunity to hear from someone at the forefront of the health care debate before the recent bill was passed.

1 David and Elayne Weener 4 5 2 Carl Sloane, Senator John Kerry, Toby Sloane 3 James Yashar, M.D., and Lois Silverman Yashar 4 Jack Manning, Ted Ladd, Senator John Kerry, Paul Levy 5 Althea and Buddy Lank

6 THIRD CELEBRATION OF THE SILVERMAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH CARE QUALITY AND SAFETY march 22

Lois Silverman Yashar, founder of the Silverman Institute of Health Care Quality and Safety, Paul Levy, BIDMC president and CEO, and Kenneth Sands, M.D., M.P.H., senior vice president for health care quality at BIDMC, welcomed the BIDMC community to this celebration of the national recognition earned by the medical center for its ambitious goals including: being in the top two percent of hospitals in the country in terms of patient satisfaction and eliminating all preventable harm by 2012. The evening also included the Michael F. Epstein, M.D., Lectureship on Clinical Quality and Patient Safety, featuring guest speaker Glenn Steele, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., president 7 8 9 and CEO of Geisinger Health System, who spoke about the climate and expectations of health reform.

6 From left to right: Gene Lindsey, Susan Epstein, Michael Epstein, M.D., Glenn Steele, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., Lois Silverman Yashar, Kenneth Sands, M.D., Paul Levy 7 Cynthia and Robert Lepofsky 8 Mary Ellen and David Stevenson 9 Sandra and Jordan Golding

18 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

403255.LA.CS4.indd 18 5/13/10 7:21 PM Q&A WITH GLENN STEELE

Glenn D. Steele, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., is the president and CEO of Geisinger Health System, an integrated health delivery system in central Pennsylvania. Geisinger has earned the accolades of President Barack Obama, among others, for its innovative chronic disease care management and unique provider-driven, pay-for-performance program. Aided in its efforts by a system-wide electronic health record and a wholly owned insurance plan, Geisinger has become a leader in pioneering approaches aimed at increasing effi ciency and quality in health care. Steele worked for two decades at BIDMC’s predecessor institution, New England Deaconess Hospital, and Giving Matters recently chatted with him prior to his keynote address at BIDMC.

Here’s what he had to say…

Q. Many say the U.S. health Q. Geisinger, with you at the A. We will learn if some of what BIDMC’s OpenNotesSM (see page 14) care system today is overrun helm, has been praised almost we’re doing is scalable to completely to transmit information between with challenges. What do you universally for being a leader different health care environments the patient and the provider prior see as the biggest problem in changing the status quo to and if organizations can innovate to interacting. We’re not there yet. facing health care currently? optimize health care delivery. without owning an insurance It’s a promissory note. But that’s a What makes you so “innovative?” A. The fi rst issue is that we don’t company. There will have to be future that is predicated on the really have a U.S. health care system. A. Our number one strategic goal institutions, even though they’re kind of electronic infrastructure we I’m talking about System with is innovation—that’s something in different markets and different both have. a large “S”—a system in general. we actually set at the top of our own sociologic milieus, that are com- In fact, not many places even have fi ve-year strategic plan. And our mitted to care re-engineering. And Q. Beyond technology and a system with a small “s.” You have particular structure and sociology are I would love to see a great institution infrastructure, does it take a one, we have one, and we’re trying perfect for doing care innovation. like Beth Israel Deaconess have certain type of culture or to learn from each other, but overall We’re responsible for a stable group care re-engineering as a top mission. mentality for a health care organization to be successful there’s no strategic plan, no align- of citizens; we have a provider group You have the ability to analyze these at innovation? ment, or even a mission as far as I and an insurance company; and programs in ways we aren’t. You’re can see. And the way we get paid we have had great operational success. exploring some of these issues A. When you are trying to build essentially exacerbates the situation. So these elements allow us to take in your very interesting experiment a unique identity and distinctive So I think the lack of “system- chances in changing how we care for with Atrius Health right now. mission dedicated to the re- ness” is the biggest problem we have high-volume hospital-based and engineering of care like Geisinger or in this country, and everything else, non-hospital-based patients. We’re Q. What role does technological Beth Israel Deaconess, I think it’s whether it’s strategic or transactional, able to see if what we are doing makes innovation play in the kind interesting to hark back to pedigree. is a subset of that problem. a difference, not only short term of thoughtful analysis that both It’s amazing how often we look to but also long term. Geisinger and BIDMC are trying the values our founder Abigail Q. Is there anything hospitals to do in this arena? Geisinger espoused to emphasize are doing right under the Q. Sounds risky. How can you A. In our programs, we’ve committed what’s important to us strategically. constraints of this system-less do this and still run an effective to hit best practice targets along the It’s no different for Beth Israel situation? business? entire continuum of the pre-hospital, Deaconess. When I was at the A. Absolutely. If you look at A. If you’re really going to do hospital, and post-hospital episode. Deaconess, I could not think of a that seminal report issued more core innovation, not everything It’s hitting those targets that allow better place to practice. Other places than ten years ago by the Institute is going to work. But at the us to feel a little more comfortable in the area were great, but the of Medicine looking at needless same time, you don’t want to fail in guaranteeing an outcome and Deaconess had a very special fl avor, bad outcomes in hospitals, there’s too much. So we’re not betting the taking fi nancial responsibility for and my bet is that it was the same evidence that we can improve entire ranch on it. We’re focusing our any complications. You can’t do that at Beth Israel. I hadn’t experienced in areas like hospital-based mortality core re-engineering and innovation unless you know precisely what’s that again since—until I joined and hospital-acquired infections. on about 30 percent of our business, happening to every patient in every Geisinger. For those of us who’ve got It showed that if you set really at the sweet spot where we provide one of our platforms in real time. the right cultures along with all the defi ned and high-minded health care to and insure the same patients. Technology is the enabling factor in structural components, the goal care goals—which everyone except Now if things work, either by the equation. Looking to the future, should be to change the entire clinical for the most egregious outliers increasing quality or decreasing cost, I’m convinced we must get patients model. We should learn from would agree are worthy goals—and then we can scale up and take it out much more actively involved in their everything we do, and we should if you have established metrics, some to all of our other patients and health maintenance or care, and that’s assume every result we get is a sort of a data feedback approach members. not going happen through the phone baseline for some subsequent and accountability, you can make and certainly not through physical improvement. Now I know that’s improvements even within this lack Q. What do you think leaders interactions. At Geisinger we have glib, but I’ve tried to advocate for of system-ness. But it’s not enough, in health care quality innovation about 150,000 (with a goal of that through most of my ten-year and what places like BIDMC like Geisinger and BIDMC—one 200,000) patients who deal with us tenure at Geisinger, and I think and Geisinger are trying to do is in a rural, homogenous setting in large part through MyGeisinger, that has helped get this innovation and one in an urban academic change that. our patient portal. We’re engine concept going. } setting—can learn from one collaborating on projects like another?

Giving Matters | www.gratefulnation.org 19

403255.LA.CS4.indd 19 5/12/10 9:56 PM Nonprofi t Organization Offi ce of Development U.S. Postage 330 Brookline Avenue (BR) PAID Boston, MA 02215 Boston, MA Permit No. 50350

www.gratefulnation.org www.bidmc.org

On March 6, BIDMC welcomed United States Senator John F. Kerry as the keynote speaker at the medical center’s annual Palm Beach event. With the landscape of health care uncertain, this year’s event focused on future reform and the implications for Massachusetts teaching hospitals, physicians, community health centers, and patients. As someone at the forefront of the debate, Senator Kerry offered attendees a more in-depth perspective on the topic. BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER Senator John Kerry (center) with Steve Kay, chair of the BIDMC Board of Directors, (left) and SUMMER 2010 his wife, Lisbeth Tarlow

UPCOMING EVENTS

FRIDAY Mary E. Lunn Society Luncheon SATURDAY The Jane Battaglia Fight for Breast Cancer JUNE 4 12:00–2:00 p.m. JUNE 26 Foundation Fundraising Event Leventhal Conference Center at BIDMC 6:30 p.m. Cafe Escadrille, Burlington TUESDAY BIDMC Board of Overseers Hosts: JUNE 8 Health Care Reform Has Passed—Now What? SATURDAY Sisters Against Ovarian Cancer Walk 6:00 p.m. SEPTEMBER 11 Benefi tting Dr. Stephen Cannistra’s Ovarian One Marina Park Drive at Fan Pier, Boston Cancer Research at BIDMC 8:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m. TUESDAY BIDMC Board of Trustees Meeting Begins and ends at the Stone Zoo JUNE 15 8:00–9:30 a.m. Stoneham Leventhal Conference Center at BIDMC SUNDAY A Reason to Ride Bike–a–Thon, THURSDAY “Model M.D.”: Bloomingdale’s Shopping Event SEPTEMBER 12 presented by Fuddruckers JUNE 17 and Fashion Show Benefi tting Dr. Eric Wong’s Brain Tumor 6:00– 9:00 p.m. Research at BIDMC Bloomingdale’s Men’s Store, Chestnut Hill 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Begins and ends at the Liberty Tree Mall Danvers SATURDAY Eighth Annual Robert Murphy Memorial JUNE 19 Golf Tournament Benefi tting Dr. Mark Huberman’s Thoracic THURSDAY Annual Meeting of the BIDMC Boards Oncology Research Program at BIDMC SEPTEMBER 23 6:00– 8:30 p.m. 9:30 a.m.– 6:30 p.m. Four Seasons Hotel Boston Heather Hill Golf Club, Plainville WEDNESDAY Boston Realty Advisors’ Tennis Tournament SEPTEMBER 29 and Dinner Benefi tting Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic at BIDMC 11:00 a.m.– 8:00 p.m. Longwood Cricket Club, Chestnut Hill

For questions or to register for an event, please call the events line at (617) 667-7348 or e-mail [email protected]. 20 Giving Matters | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

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