UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MEDICAL SCHOOL PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA PUBLISHED BY
A window on health What the eyes can tell us about our well-being
FALL 2014 Medical School researchers take aim at health disparities At University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, an infusion of integrative therapies What makes a good teacher great? FALL 2014 Contents
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About the Features Medical School 8 A WINDOW ON DIAGNOSIS AND HEALING THE UNIVERSITY of Minnesota Medical What the eyes and their 2 million working parts can School encourages collaborations that tell us about our well-being spur innovations — discoveries that advance biomedical knowledge, patient 13 THE GREAT DIVIDE care, and educational programs. The University scientists take aim at the vast disparities that Medical School now trains 920 medical students and more than 800 residents segregate us into a nation of medical haves and have-nots and fellows and is home to 1,600 faculty physicians and scientists. 18 WHOLE HEALING An infusion of integrative therapies at University of Brooks Jackson, M.D., M.B.A. Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital helps kids Medical School Dean and manage pain and feel better faster —without more drugs Vice President for Health Sciences 22 TEACHERS WHO GET AN A+ Veteran teachers and knowledge-hungry students know what makes a good teacher great
ON THE COVER: photo by Jonah Gouin, istockphoto.com 18 22
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE FIND US ONLINE
2 Medical School News Visit give.umn.edu/bulletin to read the online edition of the Medical Bulletin. 6 Global Outreach Leaky pipes: Finding social Email us at [email protected] to context behind disease receive the Medical Bulletin by 26 Alumni Connections email instead of as a paper copy.
26 Scholarship Winner Josh Farley aims to do good by other military veterans
28 Alumni Spotlight Mary Owen, M.D., brings frontline knowledge of Native health
32 A Look Back Fifty years after the first Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health MEDICAL SCHOOL NEWS 2 Medical School News School Medical MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 archives. newsroom http://mn.gov/governorvisit select and members, committee the of a list For School. Medical M Uof the from degrees medical their earned or at classes taken have physicians Minnesota’s of percent 70 than More following: the on focused recommendations budget and policy Legislature 2015 state the to ing care. and research, training, in medical leader is anational School MMedical U of the ensure help to committee blue-ribbon a launched August in Dayton Gov. Mark School Medical advise Blue-ribbon panel to
He charged the committee with deliver with committee the charged He chronic health problems. an aging population andpeople with more primary care physicians to serve force demands, including theneedfor addressing thestate’s health care work and health sciences; and ing source for theU’s Medical School clinical research, andas acritical fund- and residents, as asite for cutting-edge site for health professional students wide health care resource, as atraining strengthen its ability as to serve astate- expanding theU’s clinical services to biomedical research; izing onthestate’s investments in innovation anddeliverywhile capital- in medical research andhealth care sustaining theU’s national leadership and residents; world-class faculty, staff, students, preeminence by retaining andattracting ensuring theMedical School’s national M | B
- - to more than $125 million. than more to University the of support total Masons’ Rendering of the hospital with its new name new its with hospital the of Rendering decades six last the over made has Fraternity Masonic the gifts other with combined When therapies. cell stem and disease, infectious and rare development, neurobehavioral as such areas in research advance and families and children for experience patient the enhance to used be will support. of legacy Masons’ the of recognition in and Charities Masonic Minnesota from a$25 gift of million announcement the following Hospital Children’s Masonic Minnesota of sity Univer children’s hospital its renamed has MINNESOTA OF UNIVERSITY THE New name honors Masonic legacy since 2008 care and research cancer $75 support to million The gift, made public on October 14, 14, October on public made gift, The —
it brings the the brings it — including
- have strong community support.” support.” community strong have we when possible is only care health “Top-quality Ph.D. Kaler, Eric President University says lives,” people’s in a difference making are that programs medicine academic leading develop us helping for Charities Masonic Minnesota to thanks of deal a great world.” the around and state the across families and patients benefit will that cures and treatments new facilitate to hope we children’s hospital, the supporting By lives. healthier and longer lead Minnesotans helping about passionate is Fraternity Masonic CEO. “The and president Charities Masonic Minnesota Neetenbeek, Eric says Minnesota,” of University the with partnership “The University of Minnesota owes owes Minnesota of University “The long-standing our of proud are “We
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New law bans minors from tanning beds Johns appointed interim
Teenagers have often used tanning regional campus dean beds to get a sun-kissed look before for Duluth big events like prom or a vacation. But on August 1, Minnesota teens were Alan Johns, M.D., M.Ed., was one of the first forced to rethink their tanning habits. students at the University of Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton in May signed Medical School’s Duluth campus more than a bill into law that prohibits minors 40 years ago, and in July he became its from using indoor tanning beds, interim dean. making Minnesota the eighth state “I’m certainly excited. I’ve had connec- to pass such a law. tions with this school since I was 20 years The research that led to this old,” says Johns, change in policy was driven by the who also has served Masonic Cancer Center’s DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., M.P.H. She provided as assistant dean for critical testimony during the legislative session about her research that has medical education overwhelmingly linked indoor tanning to melanoma, one of the deadliest and curriculum forms of skin cancer. since 2011. People who tanned indoors were 74 percent more likely to develop mel- Johns succeeds anoma than those who had never tanned indoors, according to Lazovich’s former regional cam- studies. The more times a person tanned indoors, the higher the risk. pus dean Gary Davis, The legislation was proposed in 2013 and passed in 2014, a timeline Ph.D., who announced much faster than Lazovich expected. in April that he was stepping down. Prior to the legislation, Minnesota law required all those under 16 to Alan Johns, M.D., M.Ed. have parental permission to use indoor tanning beds, but salons weren’t Since it opened, the always enforcing the rule. Now Lazovich hopes banning indoor tanning for Duluth campus has turned out more than all minors will make it easier to enforce. 1,700 medical doctors, many in rural and “It’s definitely a good start,” she says. M|B Native American communities — two of the school’s stated areas of focus. “You could go to any small town and U campuses go smoke- and tobacco-free find two or three physicians who are former UMD students,” says Johns, who also is an As of July 1, University of Minnesota facilities, buildings, internist at Essentia Health in Duluth. and grounds on the Duluth, Crookston, Rochester, and The search for a permanent regional Twin Cities campuses are smoke- and tobacco-free. campus dean is under way; a decision is U leaders intend for the new policy to enhance the expected in the spring. M|B health of students, faculty, staff, and visitors by encour- aging healthy lifestyle choices and limiting involuntary exposure to harmful secondhand smoke. “The University is committed to protecting the health and well-being of all campus community members,” says President Eric Kaler, Ph.D. “We all ‘share the air,’ and a smoke- and tobacco-free environment will provide many benefits to our community.” M|B
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 3 MEDICAL SCHOOL NEWS
IMAGE COURTESY OF REDISH LAB food aless-preferred encounter to only food apreferred up passed they when regret of signs showed rats Row,” “Restaurant researchers’ the On 4 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 will experts outside of A committee year. next starting annually, funds grant Medicine. Regenerative for Center Clinic Mayo the and Institute Cell Stem Minnesota of University the by supported was which lation, legis the leader, spearheaded majority assistant Sieben, Katie Sen. and House, Minnesota the of leader majority and in Minnesota. research medicine regenerative to 10 years next the over million $50 nearly allotting population, our facing conditions health devastating most the of some for treatments and cures new unlock could that efforts fund to AGREED LEGISLATORS STATE medicine in Minnesota advance to regenerative$50M The new law provides $4.35 million in $4.35 million provides law new The nurse aregistered Murphy, Erin Rep. —
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- - just about any discipline.” any about just in tool exceptional an be can medicine regenerative levels, many so on selves them rebuild to mechanisms complex body’s the of ability the of “Because Institute. Cell Stem University’s the of director Ph.D., Tolar, Jakub M.D., says opportunities,” and doors new open may medicine regenerative and eases, dis chronic for especially methods, treatment current many on ceiling “The fact is, we’ve reached the the reached we’ve is, fact “The z.umn.edu/ratregret. at experiment the about more Read wrong and how to fix them.” fix to how and wrong go they how about understand can we more the work, processes making decision- how about understand we more “The Redish. says it,” do humans how about something us tells it decisions, decisions. makes brain the how probe researchers as humans for stand-ins as act may rats means it And regret. of essence is the Redish, says That, “When we understand how rats make rats how understand we “When M | B
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Medical School News
Longtime Duluth educator named Rural Health Hero
A charter faculty member of the University of Minnesota Medical School’s Duluth campus has received the Rural Health Hero award from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Rural Health Association. Early elective deliveries make up more James G. Boulger, Ph.D., director of the than 3 percent of nation’s births Center for Rural Mental Health Studies and of alumni relations for the Medical School’s Duluth Labor induction or cesarean delivery in the chances a pregnant woman has campus, is being without medical reason before babies an early elective cesarean or an early honored for more reach 39 weeks gestational age, when elective induction of labor.” than 40 years of edu- they are considered full-term, can be The chance of early elective induction cating and mentoring associated with health problems for the was higher among women who were family medicine phy- newborns, according to University of age 35 or older, were white with higher sicians. The Duluth Minnesota research published in the education levels, were privately insured, campus boasts one journal Medical Care in June. or gave birth at rural or nonteaching of the largest per- Led by School of Public Heath assis- hospitals. centages of its James Boulger, Ph.D. tant professor Katy Kozhimannil, Ph.D., Early elective cesareans were more graduating class the study is the first of its kind to show likely for women who were younger than choosing to become rural physicians and who is having these “early elective age 20 or age 35 or older, were black, family medicine physicians in the nation. deliveries” and whether these deliveries had higher education levels, or gave Boulger holds a doctorate in psychology happen following labor induction birth at smaller-volume hospitals. and has been instrumental in building the or cesarean. The study found that infants born by program to succeed in its missions of train- “Our study showed that early elective early elective cesareans were 60 percent ing students who plan to practice family deliveries made up more than 3 percent more likely to stay longer in the hospital medicine in rural Minnesota and American | of U.S. births each year over the past and more than twice as likely to have Indian communities. M B 20 years. This may seem to be a small respiratory distress compared with number, but with 4 million births a year infants born on or after 39 weeks. Infants in the U.S., each percentage point repre- born via early elective induction were sents 40,000 babies,” says Kozhimannil. also more likely to stay in the hospital “In addition, we showed that there are longer than expected. M|B important sociodemographic differences
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 5 Global Outreach | Missy McCoy LOCATION: Ngaoundéré, Cameroon MISSION: Finding social context behind disease
Leaky pipes
Drip. More blood dripped. Drip. Her massive tumor, a surgical “zebra,” Drip. was caused by iodine deficiency (a Sweat poured like a river out of my rarity in my own country). How ironic, pores, streaming down my back as I I thought, in sub-Saharan Africa — land tugged at the giant tumor with my trem- of the zebras. I had to remember she bling hands. I held the soaking monster was one of the fortunate ones with the out of view of the surgeon as he meticu- meager funds to receive treatment. As lously tied one-handed knots around I placed a drain and sutured the gaping the neck vessels threatening to burst. incision back together, I imagined sew- ing the broken pieces of her life back Drip. together, in this drippy hospital, a part Drip. of a gushing broken system. The patient’s blood puddled on the Drip. stained floor, swirling into a tributary Drip. on its slow journey toward the drain Drip. four feet away. I walked home, still dripping in sweat, Drip. thirsty and exhausted. I was still not Drip. accustomed to the baking sun of the dry The mold-encrusted air conditioner season of the southern Sahel. A crowd gasped, desperately attempting to expel gathered ahead of me on the road. A air. A three-inch spider scuttled past. It broken pipe jetted water into the air. The sank in that I was far away from my pris- pipes here are practically constructed SUBMIT YOUR WORK tinely sterilized, disposable-everything, for failure. Brittle plastic pipes, which beneath the dirt road are exposed by The Medical Bulletin is seeking rigorously documented surgical rotation compelling photos and stories in a world-class teaching hospital. erosion from rainfall. With time, passing featuring U of M Medical School vehicles inevitably rupture the pipes, student, alumni, or faculty I focused on this mother of six, with her leaving all those downstream affected. experiences abroad. Selected soft dark eyes, wisps of gray starting to submissions will be published appear in her tightly braided hair. I held Precious water snaked its way toward in future issues of the Medical her hands before the anesthesia took my Cameroonian family’s little home at Bulletin. For more information hold, and remembered how rough and the bottom of the hill. Where does the or to submit your photo or story, strong they were, hands that told a story blame lie in a cracked community water email managing editor Nicole of harvesting manioc and groundnuts. main? Who would pay for this damage Endres at [email protected]. I needed her to be strong right now. and the strain it caused? Surely working through this together would be more
6 MEDICAL BULLETIN SPRING 2014 useful than making accusations, as Tears streamed onto my green surgical Privilege and power do not easily trickle was now happening. For now, assigning scrubs. My heart threatened to burst, down. The memory of my patient has blame was a purely human response pounding so hard I was sure it would inspired me to charge upstream, along- in the face of stress. be overheard. Overwhelmed, I sank into side nurses and neighbors, in more an empty rust-covered wheelchair in the authentic partnership. We must work The next morning on my walk back up cluttered corridor, sobbing. This scene toward a more cohesive system, one the hill, the water still flowed, my sweat would have played out so differently that starts with the problems upstream, still dripped, and my mind brimmed with at home. Anger was palpable in the in order to stop the hemorrhaging down- questions. How was my dear patient air around me. stream for the ultimate realization of a recovering? Would the 54-year-old with world with fewer leaky pipes. M|B charming crow’s feet and the soft, On my way home, the crowd still sur- French-speaking voice I had listened rounded the burst water main. Now using Missy McCoy is a University of Minnesota Medical to so attentively still remember me? buckets and bottles to detain excess School student in the Flexible M.D. program. When I arrived, I glanced to her bed. water, my neighbors made the most of She was nowhere to be found. Odd. their scarce resources to alleviate the My heart pounded. Where had she issue. I wondered, who was responsible? been transferred? Maybe the manufacturing company was at fault for making such weak pipes. A vital pipe had burst. What about the driver who ran over the She died in the night. pipe? Maybe the leak was just another The surgeon tensely explained to me he consequence of a government failing to was sure the nurses had been negligent. invest in infrastructure for its citizens. The nurses found her after the vessel in How could my neighbors, women selling her neck had ruptured. They desperately 10-cent bags of groundnuts for a living, grabbed sponges, removed the drain to solve all these problems? divert the flow away from her airway, Likewise, who was responsible for the and did the best they could with what tragic death of my humble patient? Was it they had. It was too late. the powerful surgeon, giving commands Had the nurses been negligent? Perhaps from the high ground? Was it the over- they would tell a different story of poorly worked nurses, trying to follow the post- written job descriptions, inadequate op orders from below? Maybe the lack training, and corruption that had led of functioning equipment was to blame. to missing paychecks for months. This Looking closer, maybe it was the hospital system was leaking in so many places; itself, selling health as a commodity it was practically constructed for failure. rather than providing it as a human right.
Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.
7 A wind w n diagnosis and healing
What the eyes can tell us about our well-being
As poets and others have observed, the eye is the window of the soul. But for a long time, medicine has also known that our eyes — with 2 million working parts, they rank only behind the brain in terms of complexity — provide more than an aperture into our spiritual state of being.
They are also a window that allows discover signs of high blood pressure, doctors and researchers to peer into infectious diseases like TB and HIV, the state of our physical and mental and lupus, among others. We can well-being. Today, researchers and diagnose atrial fibrillation, rheumatoid clinicians at the University of Minne- arthritis, and sometimes diabetes.” sota are rapidly expanding the scope The list goes on — and keeps growing. of disorders that can be diagnosed by “Syphilis, MS, brain tumors, Lyme examining a patient’s eyes — and in disease, some cancers and genetic some cases, using that information disorders,” says Michael S. Lee, M.D., yielded by the eye as a starting point a professor in the departments of for uncovering treatments for ailments Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosci- that affect both body and mind. ences, Neurology, and Neurosurgery “What kinds of diagnoses can be made and holder of the Mackall-Scheie through the eye?” asks Erik van Kuijk, Research Chair in Ophthalmology. M.D., Ph.D., who leads the University’s “All can be diagnosed through the eye, Department of Ophthalmology and sometimes definitively; in other cases, Visual Neurosciences. “In addition to as part of a battery of clues pointing diseases of the eye itself, we can toward a disorder,” adds Lee, whose
8 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 BY RICHARD BRODERICK A wind w n diagnosis and healing
own practice spans work in the clinic which the upper eyelid retracts until and the research lab from thyroid the entire pupil is visible. About 90 problems to schizophrenia. percent of people who have thyroid disease suffer from this condition. The eyes have it Of all the disorders that manifest Another common symptom is a bulg- themselves in the eyes, perhaps the ing of the eye. “These are often seen most familiar are those associated together and, when they are, it’s with dysfunctions of the thyroid gland. almost always caused by thyroid disease. Many thyroid patients also “The explanation we usually give our experience inflammation of the eye patients is that thyroid disease is to muscles that causes the eye to turn the immune system like a match that in or down,” he says. lights fires in both the thyroid gland and in the eye,” explains Andrew “Nobody knows for sure why thyroid Harrison, M.D., who specializes in conditions do this,” Harrison continues. ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive “It probably results from the immune surgery and codirects the University’s system detecting antigens on the eye Center for Thyroid Eye Disease with as a result of an autoimmune disease.” Lee and Erick Bothun, M.D. “The In his area of practice, the most thyroid portion is treated by endocri- worrisome symptom is droopy eyelids. nologists, while we work with the eyes. Only careful diagnosis can determine It’s a strong interdisciplinary team.” whether the condition is benign — the According to Harrison, the most result of aging or a birth defect — or the common ocular symptom of thyroid result of far more serious conditions, disease is eyelid retraction, an uncom- like a tumor or an aneurysm. fortable and irritating condition in
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 9 The expanding list “A patient with a droopy eye and a new blood vessels happen late in the fixed and expanded pupil is often game. “In a diabetic patient, you find of disorders, both suffering from an expanding brain that the dilation of blood vessels in physical and mental, aneurysm,” Harrison says. “The good response to light is reduced by as STREBLE SCOTT PHOTOS: news is that a timely diagnosis can much as 60 percent well before any that can be diagnosed lead to lifesaving preventive surgery.” morphological change in the retina by means of the eye occurs,” Newman explains. Bringing blindness into the light has led to a growing One of the major complications of Meanwhile, changes in what are called glial cells in the retina can acknowledgment of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, which causes a host of symptoms, ranging be detected long before the onset the value of linking from blurred vision to total blindness. of full-blown retinopathy. Glial cells clinical ophthalmology surround and protect neurons. Once “People who have had diabetes a long it was believed that these cells had with interdisciplinary time have a good chance of suffering only a passive, support function role, from diabetic retinopathy — about an research. but now researchers, including New- 80 percent chance after 20 years of man, have discovered that glial cells diabetes,” says scientist Eric Newman, are key players in controlling blood Ph.D., a Distinguished McKnight Uni- flow and also can release chemicals versity Professor in the Department that affect neuronal activity. of Neuroscience. Newman recently received a grant With funding from, among other from the organization Research to sources, a 2013 Innovative Ophthalmic Prevent Blindness to repeat experi- Research Award from the Research to ments with diabetic patients that he Prevent Blindness Foundation and a conducted with diabetic rats treated grant from Fondation Leducq of France, with a readily available chemical Newman leads a team of researchers supplement that stimulated the in the search for neurological causes activity of glial cells — and it slowed of retinopathy and for treatments that the progress of retinopathy. may prevent eye damage. “In our animal experiments, injecting Doctors have long known the proximate this chemical into the bloodstream cause of diabetic retinopathy: as with can restore normal blood flow in all components of the central nervous 15 minutes,” he says. “We believe that system, the retina needs a large supply the same thing will happen in diabetic of blood to function properly. As diabe- patients when this chemical is admin- tes causes capillaries throughout the istered orally.” body to deteriorate, blood flow to the retina is reduced. Further complicating As research by Newman’s team moves matters is the likelihood that new blood into studies involving humans, there vessels begin to develop in the eye in are serious hurdles to overcome; response to the shutdown of capillaries. for example, the supplement can be These blood vessels cause pressure on harmful to humans in high doses, so the already stressed retina, leading to Newman will look into the possibility further damage. of topical applications and will experi- ment with related substances that Research has revealed that the break- might have the same ameliorative down of capillaries and formation of effects but without the toxicity.
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Despite those hurdles, Newman This connection has led University LEFT foresees the possibility of an exciting neuroscientist Robert F. Miller, M.D., Robert Miller, M.D., is evaluating whether an enhanced eye exam breakthrough for the millions of holder of the 3M Bert Cross Chair in could predict who might develop diabetics in the United States and Visual Neuroscience, to look for ways schizophrenia. beyond. “This could potentially be to identify people who might develop a very cheap way to prevent blindness schizophrenia by examining the RIGHT Neuroscientist Eric Newman, in diabetics,” he says. ganglion cells of the retina using an Ph.D., is studying whether a enhanced form of a 10-minute eye Scoping out schizophrenia chemical supplement could test called a pattern ERG. By having prevent blindness in people In the 1970s, when angel dust emerged patients stare at a brightly lit checker- who have diabetes. as a popular drug among the disco board pattern of shifting dark and light crowd, emergency departments around squares, it’s possible to stimulate the the country began reporting that ganglion cells — and determine, by patients were being rushed from the their response, whether NMDA sites dance floor to the ED exhibiting symp- located on those cells are compro- toms identical to those found among mised, Miller says. people who have schizophrenia — visual and auditory hallucinations, Since NMDA cells located on the experiences of profound dissociation, retinal ganglion are identical to those disordered thinking, bouts of paranoia, found in the brain, he says it’s reason- and others. able to assume that deficient NMDA receptors in the eye means there are Researchers soon discovered that angel deficient NMDA receptors throughout dust interfered with the functioning of the nervous system. a receptor called NMDA, found in the nervous system. Later, research would Newly funded with a $400,000 grant find that NMDA receptor dysfunction from the National Institute of Mental is implicated in schizophrenia. Health, Miller and colleagues Lee and C. Gail Summers, M.D., along with
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 11 Department of Psychology assistant Eve of a revolution professor Angus McDonald III, Ph.D., The expanding list of disorders, are working with people suffering from
PHOTO: SCOTT STREBLE SCOTT PHOTO: both physical and mental, that can schizophrenia as well as a group of be diagnosed in whole or in part by unaffected subjects. Each person in means of the eye has led to a growing the study undergoes an eye exam that acknowledgment of the value of includes a pattern ERG. linking clinical ophthalmology “The study isn’t complete yet, but it with interdisciplinary research. appears that we are beginning to see This understanding spurred the considerable differences [in responses 2012 renaming and refocusing of to the pattern ERG] between schizo- the Medical School’s Department phrenics and matched control sub- of Ophthalmology and Visual Neuro- jects,” Miller says. sciences (formerly the Department of While his work won’t cure schizophre- Ophthalmology), which today includes nia, Miller believes it’s possible that, by 60 clinical and four research faculty detecting NMDA receptor dysfunctions members among its staff of more early enough, before the symptoms than 100 people. Ophthalmic plastic and of the full-blown disorder surface, it “In our department, ophthalmology, reconstructive surgeon Andrew might be possible to prevent its onset Harrison, M.D., provides relief we were treating eye diseases and or reduce the severity of the disease to people who suffer from doing research on the pathogenesis thyroid disease that affects by preventing or reducing the neuro- of eye disorders, while in the neuro- the eyes. logical damage in people who have science department, they were looking schizophrenia. That damage, Miller specifically at the mechanism of says, is probably the source of the disease,” observes van Kuijk. “We disorder’s symptoms. thought it was important to begin “If we can show that our observations talking to one another and pursue are very predictive, then we can move more active collaboration between the on to test people who we know are two fields — to combine ‘benchtop to at risk genetically, for example, the bedside’ research and applied clinical identical twin of a patient suffering care in one department.” with the disease,” he says. “Assuming This kind of collaboration, van Kuijk the disorder is caused by NMDA recep- believes, has put the field on “the eve tor dysfunction, we could treat those of a revolution” in advanced diagnosis at-risk patients and perhaps overcome and treatment of a host of disorders. the deficiency before it is too late. By the time people show symptoms of “But we will only succeed through schizophrenia, in late adolescence or interdisciplinary collaboration,” early adulthood, it is too late to reverse he says. “Not by ophthalmologists the brain damage, which probably sets working alone.” M|B in progressively during childhood and early adolescence.” Richard Broderick is a freelance writer who lives and works in St. Paul, Minnesota.
12 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 PHOTO: SCOTT STREBLE SCOTT PHOTO: BY BARBARA KNOX
The great divide University scientists take aim at the vast disparities that segregate us into a nation of medical haves and have-nots
TAKING A FEW MINUTES between haircuts, Brian Davis relaxes on one of the black metal stacking chairs lined against the wall in the waiting area of his shop, Brian D’s Old School Barbers, in North Minneapolis.
“African American men,” he says, gesturing at himself, “we don’t talk about retirement. For us, we work and then we die.”
We’re talking about health disparities, about why African Americans suffer at much higher rates of disease than do their Caucasian American counterparts, and why African Americans may not seek medical screening to help catch serious illness before it becomes fatal illness.
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 13 PHOTO: SCOTT STREBLE SCOTT PHOTO: CLOSING THE GAP “There’s a fear of hospitals that goes Under the enormous umbrella of back a long, long way,” says Davis. “health disparities,” certain statistics The Medical School offers several “A lot of African Americans think, (from the Centers for Disease Control programs aimed at reducing health ‘Hospitals, that’s a place you go to and Prevention) stand out starkly: inequities by building a more die, not to get help.’” diverse workforce, including: African Americans are seven times Davis has thought a lot about health an internship designed for more likely to die from HIV/AIDS disparities that plague his friends and minority students who are than Caucasian Americans. neighbors in North Minneapolis, and interested in medical careers; Twice as many babies born to he’s stepped into a leadership role by Urban Community Ambulatory African Americans, Native Ameri- volunteering to host Clipper Clinics in Medicine and MetroPAP clerk- cans, and Native Alaskans die his barbershop. The brainchild of Kola ships, which bring students before 1 year of age, as compared Okuyemi, M.D., M.P.H., director of the face-to-face with the under- with Caucasian Americans. U of M Medical School’s Program in served communities that suffer Health Disparities Research, Clipper most from health disparities In 2009, homicide rates were and encourages them to con- Clinics are mobile operations that set 665 percent higher for African Ameri- sider careers in urban primary up shop for the afternoon in a neigh- cans than for Caucasian Americans. borhood barbershop or beauty salon care medicine; and invite residents to come in for free The African American preterm the Center of American Indian blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, birthrate is 60 percent higher than and Minority Health on the and HIV screening. Caucasian Americans’. Duluth campus, which helps Native American students “I remember one guy,” says Davis, The list seems endless. Rates for high pursue health care careers; and “who happened to be passing by blood pressure, prostate and breast cancers, obesity … all higher among the Minnesota’s Future and came in for screening. His blood Doctors program, which pressure and blood sugar turned out to minority and lower socioeconomic helps college-age students be through the roof, and they rushed status groups as compared with from communities under- him off to Hennepin County Medical middle-class whites. represented in medicine Center. Later, he came by and told us, In our own backyard, too prepare for admission to ‘Man, you all saved my life.’” medical school. Minnesota consistently rates as one The haves and have-nots of the country’s healthiest states — and The problem of health disparities is recognized as having one of the top has been well documented. Famously, health care systems — with a glaring Martin Luther King Jr. brought it up in exception: “Minnesota has the largest his remarks to the Medical Committee health disparities in the country,” says for Human Rights in 1966, when he Okuyemi, “even larger than states reportedly said, “Of all the forms of where there is a deeper level of pov- inequality, injustice in health care is erty. Yes, we have one of the best the most shocking and inhumane.” health care systems, but it doesn’t reach out to everyone.” Among the disenfranchised when it comes to health care are people in “It might not surprise you to learn that poverty, African immigrants, African life expectancy for a black male living Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, in urban D.C. is 59, while for a white the LGBTQ community, and homeless male living 15 miles away in Potomac, people. Maryland, it’s 82,” says Jasjit Ahluwalia,
14 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 PHOTOS: SCOTT STREBLE SCOTT PHOTOS:
M.D., M.P.H., executive director of the U’s Center for Health Equity. “But would it surprise you to learn that the life expectancy of people living in certain parts of northeast Minneapolis is 20 years fewer than for people who live 15 miles away in Wayzata?”
Critical mass There’s a 20-year life expec- The number of scientists researching tancy difference between health disparities, designing programs people living in some parts to mitigate the problem, and influenc- of Minneapolis and those ing public policy to affect long-term 15 miles outside of the change has reached a critical mass city, says Jasjit Ahluwalia, M.D., M.P.H. that has given the University of Minnesota gravitas in this area.
In the Medical School and beyond — in nursing, public health, pharmacy, and dentistry as well — dozens of projects are focused on eliminating the gap between the healthy and the unhealthy, and numerous community clinic partnerships are seeking to improve health care in underserved parts of Minnesota.
“The U is a great place for disparities research because of the growing infrastructure here,” says Katy Kozhi- mannil, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the School of Public Health, who studies health policy that affects reproductive-age women and their families. “It’s one thing to care about disparities, but another thing to effectively build organizations that Kola Okuyemi, M.D., M.P.H., can innovate around this problem.” designed a mobile clinic operation that brings basic Badrinath Konety, M.D., M.B.A., is health screening tests to one of the innovators. Director of Minneapolis barbershops the U’s Institute for Prostate and and beauty salons. Urologic Cancers, he leads the Center for Healthy African American Men through Partnerships (CHAAMPS), a pioneering new center that looks
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 15 PHOTOS: SCOTT STREBLE SCOTT PHOTOS:
beyond physiological causes of disease to simultaneously explore environ- mental, behavioral, and psychosocial factors that contribute to much higher rates of disease and violent death for African American males.
“The fact that African American men suffer from disproportionately high Badrinath Konety, M.D., rates of disease has been well docu- M.B.A., is leading an effort to mented,” says Konety, “but the condi- improve the disproportionately high rates of disease and tions that lead to those diseases have violent death among African gotten much less attention. Establish- American men. ing strong community partners and developing ideas that float up from all of those partners will be key to our mission.”
Working with these partners — which so far include 100 Black Men Inc., the National USA Foundation, and the Minnesota Vikings with the National Football League — CHAAMPS’ investiga- tors will design and implement pro- grams to intervene with at-risk African American males of all ages, from elementary school on up, with the aim of improving living conditions, diets, family relationships, education related to critical health topics, and more.
“Impacting certain rates of cancer among African American males may be a longer haul,” says Konety, “but lowering the incidences of heart disease, violence, and prostate cancer?
Policy change, not just I think all of those are more immedi- doctors in the trenches, ately viable. We’re very optimistic that is critical to truly reducing our collaborative approach will make health disparities, believes a difference.” Katy Kozhimannil, Ph.D.
16 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 Confronting entrenched bias A changing landscape INTERVENING ON By designing Clipper Clinics to go out Building a more diverse medical work- BEHALF OF WOMEN into the community and confront the force is just one part of the solution, he “A lot of health disparities problem, Okuyemi’s team has acknowl- says — and the U is working on that as can’t necessarily be remedied edged the deep-seated lack of trust well (see sidebar on page 14). by traditional medicine,” says that some people have for the medical Okuyemi, who recently got a grant Katy Kozhimannil, Ph.D., an assis- establishment. But that’s just one of to train doctoral candidates and tant professor in the School of many challenges. postdocs in building successful diver- Public Health who is passionate “There are serious issues of trust in the sified workforces, says, “The leaders about her disparities work. She Native American and African American here are doing something about that, focuses most of her research communities,” says Okuyemi, “but but when we say, ‘We need more black on health policies that affect there are also issues of discrimination and Latino doctors,’ it doesn’t start reproductive-age women and their and bias, sometimes unintended, with the medical school application families. This year, her research when some people access the health committee. Applicants need good findings helped convince the Minnesota Legislature to pass a care system.” grades in college, but they needed significant new public health policy good grades in high school to get Those are the much more troubling allowing Medicaid dollars to pay into college, and they needed the problems that elude easy fixes. for doula services for pregnant right direction and support in grade women. “We’ve learned that “Studies have shown that health care school to make them successful in reducing disparities means inter- high school. … You see how massive providers have implicit bias,” explains vening much further upstream, the problem really is.” Okuyemi. “When it comes to pain, for beginning with a healthy pregnancy instance, blacks and Latinos get differ- The problem may be daunting, agrees and birth,” Kozhimannil says. ent treatment than do whites. There Ahluwalia, but he’s optimistic that he, seems to be a preconception that and his many like-minded colleagues blacks have a higher tolerance for at the U, can help turn the tide. “This pain, and they’re prescribed pain is my career passion, and I’ve been meds at a lower rate.” gratified to see the landscape here at These types of implicit biases appar- the U change over the past eight years ently take root as early as age 7, when, or so when it comes to focusing on according to recent studies, children disparities. But the issue of health rating the severity of pain suffered for equity has to become part of a national the same reason — say, getting a hand dialogue because, as a nation, what slammed in the door — assigned lower we value is equity, and what shames levels of pain to black children. us is inequality.” M|B
It’s a complicated issue, Ahluwalia Barbara Knox is a freelance writer and editor living says. “The problems are huge and in Minneapolis. entrenched. I’ve heard more than one doctor say, ‘My job is to be a doctor, not a social worker.’ It doesn’t mean they aren’t good doctors, but the truth is, we all need to work together as a team to break through these problems.”
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 17 Whole healing An infusion of integrative therapies helps kids manage pain and feel better faster — without more drugs
BY ELIZABETH FOY LARSEN
Twelve-year-old Alexis Barton found that Reiki treatments by Megan Voss, D.N.P., throughout the process of her stem cell transplant reduced her pain and anxiety.
18 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 PHOTOS: BRADY WILLETTE PHOTOS:
egan Voss, D.N.P., walked Thanks to lead philanthropy from into the room of a 12-year- Children’s Cancer Research Fund and a M old girl who was recovering new collaboration between the Center from a bone marrow transplant (BMT) for Spirituality & Healing and the at the Pediatric Blood & Marrow Pediatric Blood & Marrow Transplant Transplant Center at University of Center, all of the roughly 90 kids under- Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospi- going blood or marrow transplants every tal. The girl was in intense pain, but year at the hospital will have access not it was difficult to determine what only to Reiki, but also a menu of other was causing her discomfort. integrative therapies, including aroma- therapy, acupoint, massage, healing Voss’ role with patients goes beyond touch, guided imagery, hypnosis, and assessing vital signs and monitoring stress management techniques. medications. That’s because as the integrative therapies pro- In addition to lessening gram manager for pediatric stress, integrative therapies BMT, Voss provides patients have been shown to reduce with additional therapies nausea and manage pain that complement the more with fewer side effects mainstream traditional than medications. Western methods. “Today, there is more To help ease her patient’s recognition that we have to pain, Voss used Reiki, a provide care and support for hands-on Japanese tech- all aspects of health in order Megan Voss, D.N.P. nique that noninvasively to get the best outcomes,” harnesses the energy force says Brenda Weigel, M.D., that its practitioners believe surrounds who directs the Division of Pediatric all living beings. In addition to provid- Hematology/Oncology and is an associ- ing relaxation, Reiki has been shown to ate professor of pediatrics at the Uni- decrease stress and increase healing. In versity of Minnesota Medical School. fact, Voss’ patient fell asleep within five “Well-being isn’t just physical. It also minutes of beginning the treatment. includes spiritual, mental, and emo- tional health.” When the session ended, she told her mother and Voss that not only was her This whole-person approach is now pain better, she also was much less considered the gold standard of leading anxious. The transformation was pediatric BMT and oncology programs. nothing short of dramatic. “A bone marrow transplant is one of the Moments like this are becoming increas- most life-threatening, complex proce- ingly common at University of Minne- dures we do,” says John Wagner, M.D., sota Masonic Children’s Hospital. who directs the Division of Pediatric
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 19 PHOTO: BRADY WILLETTE Lynn Gershan, M.D., says that both resiliency and learn so that you can contribute to compliance increase when patients are an active your healing.’ The evidence shows part of their own treatment processes. that both your resiliency and your compliance increase.” BMT and holds the Hageboeck Having a hand in your own care is Family/Children’s Cancer Research empowering for all patients. But it’s Fund Endowed Chair in Pediatric especially so for children, who aren’t Oncology and McKnight Presidential always able to articulate how they Chair in Hematology and Oncology. feel about having a very serious “We want to figure out ways to disease that requires invasive and reduce the patient’s pain, to reduce often painful treatments, not to the patient’s and the family’s anxi- mention months of hospitalization. ety, and to promote healthy living before and after the transplant.” “If you are 6 years old and you are in the hospital for chemotherapy That is why University leaders, and have a central line and are including Wagner and Center for having surgery for tumors, your life INTEGRATIVE THERAPIES Spirituality & Healing director is now dictated by your disease,” Mary Jo Kreitzer, Ph.D., R.N., hope ACUPOINT A Chinese medicine staple, says Jason Albrecht, manager of to create one of the world’s most acupoint works like acupuncture but without patient/family interactive services comprehensive and innovative needles. It stimulates points on the body to for University of Minnesota Masonic integrative health programs for restore the circulation of Qi, or energy flow. Children’s Hospital. “Integrative children who are undergoing blood therapies give patients options. AROMATHERAPY The use of essential and marrow transplants. In addition And with options comes a sense oils to promote well-being. Aromatherapy to Voss, University of Minnesota that you have more control.” has been shown to reduce nausea and Masonic Children’s Hospital has increase relaxation. hired Lynn Gershan, M.D., as medical That’s also true for parents and GUIDED IMAGERY Using words and music director of pediatric integrative families, whose lives are completely to help a patient create imagined scenarios health and well-being. She will upended not only by the shock of that promote relaxation and healing. begin by working with outpatients their child’s diagnosis but also by HEALING TOUCH An energy therapy that in hematology and oncology at the disruption to their daily lives uses gentle hand techniques to help shift the the hospital’s Journey Clinic. that many families face. patient’s energy field in order to accelerate An active part of your own healing “Many integrative therapy tech- emotional, spiritual, and physical healing. Unlike mainstream medicine, many niques can be taught to parents so MUSIC THERAPY The evidence-based use integrative techniques can be taught that they can actively nurture their of music interventions to manage stress, and modified so that they can be child in a positive, holistic way,” says alleviate pain, enhance memory, or promote performed by even young patients Lyn Ceronsky, D.N.P., system director healing. Music also can help patients or their caregivers. for palliative care at University of articulate their experiences in a way Minnesota Medical Center. that they might not be able to articulate “In medicine, many of the ways we in an ordinary conversation. care for patients are passive: ‘Take Under one roof this pill and feel better,’” says Ger- REIKI A healing technique that uses light, Voss’ and Gershan’s full-time work in nonmanipulative touch to promote balance shan, who is also board-certified in BMT, hematology/oncology, and the and healing. Reiki can result in increased medical acupuncture. “Now we can Journey Clinic is a welcome addition relaxation, pain relief, decreased anxiety, say, ‘In addition to taking this pill, to the treatments — including music and a general sense of well-being. we are going to teach you some therapy, art therapy, guided imagery, relaxation strategies that you can and massage — that have been per-
20 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 formed by child-family life professionals PHOTO: SCOTT STREBLE SCOTT PHOTO: and a network of volunteers in other parts of the hospital for years. In addition to doing research, both plan to teach nurses and hospital staff integrative techniques to help them in their roles as caregivers.
“The goal is to train staff so that we can provide seamless care,” says Voss. “If a patient wakes up at 3 o’clock in the morn- ing, a nurse can offer an integrative ther- apy to help them sleep.” A note on healing “This is allowing us for the first time to really integrate all of these services under one roof,” adds Weigel, holder of the WHAT IS IT ABOUT MUSIC that’s so therapeutic? Though the relaxing Lehman/Children’s Cancer Research Fund qualities of music may seem intangible to many of us, there are certainly Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer. Both tangible aspects, too, says music therapist Annie Heiderscheit, Ph.D. she and Wagner also are Masonic Cancer “Rhythm is such a foundational element to music, but it’s also a Center members. foundational element to our body,” she says, “from our breathing to While the work is starting in pediatric our heart rate to our brain waves to our digestion to how we walk and hematology/oncology and BMT, the ulti- how we talk. We can use rhythm to slow down our breathing, slow mate goal is to make these treatments down our heart rate, slow down our brain waves … to foster this available to all children at the hospital, relaxation response.” whether they are undergoing a kidney The stresses of being sick and being hospitalized tend to push up transplant or a tonsillectomy. those vital signs, which over time weakens the immune system — which in turn keeps kids in the hospital longer. Despite the hospital’s commitment, fund- Music therapy is considered an integrative therapy that can be ing these treatments remains a challenge, used alongside traditional Western medicine to potentially speed the since many integrative therapies aren’t healing process or, at the very least, improve patients’ quality of life. covered by health insurance. Though researchers around the world are adding to a growing body of knowledge about the value of music therapy, today much of the “It’s important to get philanthropic sup- evidence that suggests it works is anecdotal. port,” says Gershan. “These approaches can Enter cancer survivor Ruth Bachman. Throughout her treatment help how a body reacts to stress. And who and continuing today, practices such as yoga and meditation helped could be more stressed than a kid who is Bachman move through the fears and uncertainties of cancer. coping with cancer and chemotherapy?” M|B In gratitude for the care she received from physicians associated with the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, she has set Elizabeth Foy Larsen is a Minneapolis-based freelance writer out to raise funds for collaborative research on integrative cancer care. and author who writes frequently about youth issues. Bachman’s Hourglass Fund is currently supporting a pilot study of a soothing instrument called a reverie harp, directed by Heiderscheit and To make a gift and help bring integrative partnering with University pediatric BMT physician John Wagner, M.D. therapies to more kids at University of “I have heard that the patients and their parents are finding the presence and use of the reverie harp to be a meaningful form of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, visit relaxation and communication during the very stressful time of BMT,” giving.umn.edu/giveto/integrativetherapy Bachman says. “I could not have asked for a more meaningful program or contact Elizabeth Patty at 612-625-6136 or two better researchers to be leading it.” or [email protected]. – Nicole Endres
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 21 Teachers who get an
What makes a great teacher stand apart from the pack?
Enthusiastic. Knowledgeable. Funny. Organized. Passionate. Available.
When asked to name the qualities that make good teachers great, University of Minnesota Medical School students, professors, and administrators alike rattled off this list without hesitating.
And many also agreed that great teachers of medicine, specifically, must have an additional set of attributes to truly excel:
They’re patient. Compassionate. Great listeners. Able to provide context and relevance to real-life scenarios. Approachable. They’re simply good doctors — and good human beings.
“Everyone’s challenge is to make sure we’re producing humane, professional, mindful, good listeners who also have skills and the ability to think critically,” says Kathy Watson, M.D., senior associate dean for undergraduate medical educa- tion for the Medical School. “But a great clinical teacher can bring the patient’s story into all the discussion of the pathophysiology and statistics and science that weave that person’s story in skillfully, just by listening and having a conversation at the bedside or in the clinic.”
James Nixon, M.D., sees hundreds of students’ critiques of faculty members per year in his job as the Department of Medicine’s vice chair for education. And he has seen three common themes emerge from evaluations of the most highly rated teachers: they’re good with patients, they’re good diagnosticians, and they’re available.
“Part of it is just taking the time and making the time to realize there are students with you and that you were a student yourself not so long ago,” Nixon says. “It’s because someone took that time with you that you chose this field and were able to become a good doctor yourself. It’s the way we can all give back to the next generation, and, ultimately, they might be who’s taking care of us, so it’s to our benefit to make sure they’re good doctors as well.”
– COMPILED BY NICOLE ENDRES
22 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 ILLUSTRATION: JIM DRYDENILLUSTRATION: JIM
What makes someone “They’re role modeling all of the pieces of being a physician. So they’re nice to the patients, they’re a great teacher? nice to everybody who works in the hospital, they’re nice to the students, they’re pleasant to “A great teacher is inspirational. Teachers must be around. The student could look at them and love their subjects and must love to teach. Great say, ‘Oh, that’s someone I want to be like when teachers care about and respect their students I’m done with my training.’”
and are passionate about helping students fulfill – James Nixon, M.D., vice chair for education their potential.” in the Department of Medicine
– J. Brooks Jackson, M.D., M.B.A., Medical School dean “I like a teacher who can incorporate some humor and the University’s vice president for health sciences into their lecturing. No matter how interesting, “They ask you to take what you have learned every subject can get dry throughout the course and actively apply it to the world around us. of a semester. A great teacher, every once in a They push you to tie together all the pieces, while, will land a good joke to keep students pay- so that you have a fuller understanding and ing attention. Humor can relieve the tension in a can think on your feet.” room full of stressed-out, confused students.”
– Brian Berglund, fourth-year medical student – Nate Juergens, second-year medical student
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 23 What stands out about the “They are super excited about their best teacher you’ve ever had? respective topics and have sharp senses of humor. Weinhaus has a pretty dry wit, almost to the point where you don’t know when he’s joking until a few “He was this person who just kind of months into the course, but it keeps you seemed bigger than life. It seemed like he paying attention, waiting for a little gem. knew everything about everything related to Katz is more theatrical, with each lecture being a doctor and had just this limitless like a one-man Broadway show. I found knowledge. And not only did he have this him hilarious; who knew that the kidney limitless knowledge but he would teach has so much built-in comedic material?” you—however much time you had to learn, he would teach. He was great at the bedside — Second-year medical student Nate Juergens, on anatomy professor Anthony Weinhaus, Ph.D., and with the patients and seemed to know every- kidney physiology professor Stephen Katz, Ph.D., both body and could make a personal connection in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology with them. He was very energetic and enthu- siastic, and loved being a doctor and loved “George loves medicine. He loves talking being a teacher. It just came through in with patients. He seems to have not everything he did.” forgotten anything about science. He Are there born teachers — James Nixon, M.D., on Dewayne Andrews, M.D., whom meticulously and systematically applies or not? That is one great Nixon met on his internal medicine rotation at the University scientific reasoning individualized to of Oklahoma College of Medicine, where Andrews is now every patient, and he does it with fun question. Maybe a little executive dean and laughter. Mirth. He’s the best bit. But I think we always teacher I’ve ever seen.” “He’s truly inspiring. He is so well read and overestimate how natural has such fundamental knowledge. I always — Kathy Watson, M.D., on George Sarosi. M.D., whom Watson describes as having “won every teaching award teaching is. Good teach- thought Dr. Severson could teach anything.” ever” and who was chief of staff at the Minneapolis VA ing is a lot of hard work. — Interim Duluth regional campus dean Alan Johns, M.D., M.Ed., Health Care System while Watson was chief resident on Arlen Severson, Ph.D., a Medical School Duluth campus there in the early 1980s If you a see a teacher [for faculty member since the school opened its doors in 1972 whom teaching] seems “I had this kind of lengthy write-up about “It’s the intangibles. She’s a brilliant sur- all these different things about what I like it’s pretty effortless, geon. She just has phenomenal relationships thought was supposed to be in the write- that person has put in a with her patients. She is so empathetic.” up, and he said to me, ‘Well, what do you lot of hard work. — Fourth-year medical student Maddy Lenhard, on really think is going on?!’ He brought me Julie Switzer, M.D., an assistant professor in the front and center to the point.” – Alan Johns, M.D., M.Ed., interim Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Duluth regional campus dean — Department of Family Medicine and Community Health professor Sharon Allen, M.D., Ph.D., who now poses the same question to her students, on her surgery rotation preceptor in medical school
24 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 Te a c hing t ips from the pros
“As one of my own mentors once told me, I like to ask questions in a gentle Socratic method. What do they know “Every good teacher says this: You have to be about the problem we are seeing? What prepared to learn from and with the students.” don’t they know about the problem we are seeing? What information do we — Kathy Watson, M.D., a recipient of the All-University Distinguished Teaching Award and the Parker J. Palmer need to search in the literature? I think Courage to Teach Award from the Accreditation Council asking questions engages the learner, for Graduate Medical Education helps them (and me) know what infor- mation they do not know, so then we “You want to get to [your students’] level of can discuss the topic in further detail, understanding, which is sometimes a chal- emphasizing what is important to know lenge because it’s comfortable to stay at your and what else can we hope to learn in own level. Be flexible and be tuned in to where this situation.” they are. And be responsive to them. Be willing to learn and be a student yourself.” — Anne Blaes, M.D., an assistant professor of hematology/ oncology and a recipient of the Medical School Year 3 — Sharon Allen, M.D., Ph.D., who has received the Herz Faculty Distinguished Clinical Teaching Award and the Teaching Development Award and the Outstanding Medical Educational Excellence Award for the Department School Teacher Award in the Clinical Sciences and is a 2014 of Medicine, among others Harold S. Diehl Award winner
When you’re hiring new faculty members, how do you know you’ve got a great teacher in the room?
“I think a lot of the qualities are the same ones you look for when you admit a medical student. Really. You’re looking for someone with an intense curiosity and who is driven and focused on improving health and health care for groups and individuals and has a demonstrated track record. Who is a good critical thinker but original and open to new ideas. Adaptable. Someone who, above all, wants to teach for the patients and about the patients. Someone who is a good listener and really believes in the dynamic interaction that goes on. Someone who wants to keep growing.”
– Kathy Watson, M.D., senior associate dean for undergraduate medical education for the Medical School
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 25 ALUMNI CONNECTIONS 26 mine,” Farley says. “He’d had a hard time time ahard “He’d had says. mine,” Farley to experience military similar with me, have. not might otherwise he make to him connections allowed experience his own through gained he empathy and compassion of depth the believes Farley in Minneapolis. System Care VA Health the at rotation psychiatry his in recent met he patients of ponder to Afghanistan and Iraq both — deep? How scars? there Are wondering: help can’t viewer the But relief. and resolution of apicture mainly it’s and affluent, materially clearly They’re family. their on have might war the impact lingering the and his wife, and officer the peace. to meant symbolize presumably adove, holds child other The Empire). man (Otto turkey and (France), rooster (Russia), bear (Britain), alion war: the in involved countries the represent that animals toy four with plays daughter One family. young wound abattle from perhaps recovering, —seemingly officer War aCrimean depicts work Millais Everett Peace Concluded Called Farley. Josh student medical third-year captivates that (MIA) Arts of Institute Minneapolis the MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 make connections with veterans. gained through his military experience own allows him to Farley believes the depth of compassion and empathy he THERE’S Doing good for other military veterans ScholarshipWinner | JoshFarley a war veteran himself, who served in served who himself, veteran a war “I had one patient, a little older than than older alittle patient, one had “I Farley questions of kinds the are Those of faces the are read to harder What’s
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PHOTO: SCOTT STREBLE Alumni Connections
Loss, injury, and progress Unwinding with friends helps. A Medical School appoints self-described “beer snob” who takes Farley’s first thoughts of working in its first assistant dean health care came a decade ago, after pride in his home brews, Farley also a harrowing Army stint in Afghanistan. relaxes by working out, watching mov- for clinical education Then a sergeant and team leader, he ies, and visiting art museums like the became intimately acquainted with MIA, where he contemplates paintings Aiming to bridge the gap between medical loss and suffering. such as Millais’ Peace Concluded. education and clinical practice, University of “We lost a lot of guys to IEDs and Currently, he’s leaning toward a Minnesota Medical School leaders have cre- to firefights,” he recalls. “We had a medical career in psychiatry or inter- ated a new position to address the breach: couple guys who lost their legs, and nal medicine, preferably working with assistant dean for clinical education. I had one of my own soldiers get other vets. The “macho” mindset Anne Pereira, M.D., M.P.H., is the first per- severely burned. It was horrible. that still pervades the military makes son charged with the task. A 1995 Medical Those guys, they wanted to die.” helping veterans a bit tougher, School alumna, Pereira completed her public But what he saw months later, when Farley says — but it’s a challenge health degree with a he met them again at the Army base he would relish. focus on clinical in Vicenza, Italy, filled him with hope. “If you got injured in the military, effectiveness while “They were doing better. They had you were looked upon as weak,” he completing her gen- prosthetics, and the guy who’d been says. “If you broke a bone in training, eral internal medi- burned had some skin grafts. I maybe you were kind of looked down upon. cine fellowship at hadn’t thought of medicine at that You’re supposed to be tough, to be Harvard Medical point, but I was amazed [by their able to overcome any obstacle … and School. She returned progress].” Perhaps his calling lay in [the stigma] is even worse with depres- to the University of helping to foster that kind of healing. sion or mental illness. You didn’t really Minnesota to focus want to talk about it when you got out, on the growing need
Diffusing the ‘macho’ mindset and you certainly didn’t want to talk for a smooth transi- Anne Pereira, M.D., M.P.H. After getting out of the Army, the about it while you were there.” tion from medical Pennsylvania-reared Farley took a few Patient by patient, Farley would like school to clinical practice. courses at Temple University, then to help change that. “I really feel like I Before assuming her new role in August, applied as an undergraduate to the could do some good.” M|B Pereira served as program director of the University of Minnesota. He was internal medicine residency program at accepted, electing to study neuro- Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), science with the goal of getting into program codirector of HCMC’s combined medical school. emergency medicine/internal medicine For a while, at least, his military residency program, and assistant chief for experiences helped him put the stress education and faculty development in its of academic life into perspective. “For Department of Medicine. M|B the first year or two, I was able to say to myself, well, at least I’m not getting shot at in Afghanistan,” Farley says with a laugh.
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- chronic disease, we also need to need also we disease, chronic and health address to want really we “If says. she problem,” same the with weeks two after back come them have to only up people patching are like you feel standpoint. a new from in medicine year. the throughout school, graduate to kindergarten from ages, all of students for programs offers center The level. college the at than says. she school,” medical into get to do to have you everything understand them and help education higher obtaining to barriers many the past get students Duluth. to back her brought job CAIMH the but Juneau, in Consortium Health Southeast Alaska Regional the at physician a family as working been had Owen A newperspective care. health in careers pursuing dents stu American Native ing and educat supporting by Americans Native of status health the raising is mission the where (CAIMH), Health Minority and Indian ican Amer- of Center well-known its of director role: new a in campus Duluth the 2003. in program residency Memorial North U’s the with training cine medi family her completed “In clinical medicine, sometimes you you sometimes medicine, clinical “In involved be to she’s excited says Owen earlier much starts support that And help is to center the of point “The on is back Today Owen
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sensitive and appropriate. and sensitive is culturally that away in communities the to research bring to tribes local and School Medical Minnesota of University the between abridge building by second and workforce the in physicians Native Alaska and American Native of number the increasing by first health American Native impact positively is to vision “My she says. experience,” in clinical bringing by teaching with help to and experiences these of some sharing by part in doctors physician. afrontline as ences experi her sharing by issues larger these address can she believes Owen CAIMH, health.” aperson’s impact that poverty and education, jobs, housing, adequate of lack the address “I hope to inspire students to become become to students inspire to hope “I at working by But task. abig that’s And — things things
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PHOTO: JEFF FREY Alumni Connections
“Since we know that minority physi- cians are more likely to go back to underserved areas, it just makes sense to invest in programs that are aimed at recruiting minority students.”
Returning to Duluth RESIDENTS HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL Since her first day on the job at CAIMH in July, Owen says she feels like she’s hit the ground running. In her spare STARTING THIS FALL, some family get out in their own practice,” says time, she and her family — which medicine residents will have the Chaisson, who also is associate includes husband John Krumm and opportunity to go back to high program director of the University teenage daughter Elia — are enjoying school — and to provide care for teens of Minnesota Medical Center Family Duluth’s culture of local food and out- through the little-known Minneapolis Medicine Residency Program. door living. “We enjoy biking, reading, School-Based Clinics. She will be matching six third-year hiking, and meeting folks involved in Housed in all seven Minneapolis family medicine residents to school- community activism,” she says. public high schools, the clinics pro- based clinics in Minneapolis as part Colleagues say they’re glad she’s back. vide a variety of health care services, of an outpatient adolescent medicine Interim regional campus dean Alan including mental health, health edu- rotation that also includes training at Johns, M.D., M.Ed., was on the search cation, and nutrition consultation. Teen-Age Medical Services and the committee that chose Owen and says Nicole Chaisson, M.D., M.P.H., Hubert H. Humphrey Job Corps Center. he admires her work with the Indian medical director of the program, “Teens can be a vulnerable popula- Health Service. describes the clinics as hidden gems. tion, and sometimes they are misunder- “That is hard work,” says Johns. “It “No one knows about them, even stood by health care professionals, but takes a lot of determination, and I think though they’ve been around forever,” they are actually really great to work she can bring that to our school. You’re she says. with,” Chaisson says. trying to get students to relate to the In fact, for the past 40 years, these Besides, the clinics may offer teens future — well, she has walked the walk.” school-based clinics have been pro- an extra perk: “Maybe it could spark CAIMH associate director Anna viding direct care to adolescents, who an interest in medicine for somebody,” Wirta Kosobuski knew Owen when are more likely than some populations she says. “It may connect students Owen was a medical student. to be medically underserved. Now the who use those clinics to the greater “It was very clear that that was the clinics will also provide medical resi- world of medical education.” M|B dents the opportunity to learn more reason she came to medical school,” By KALI DINGMAN, a student at the University about adolescent health care in a Wirta Kosobuski says. “Her goal was to of Minnesota become a physician and to serve Native nontraditional medical setting. communities — and that shows through “It’s important for families to know in everything she’s done. She’s out- that their future doctors have actually standing — so positive and strong worked with teenagers before they and committed.” M|B
By CATHERINE CONLAN, a freelance writer in Two Harbors, Minnesota
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 29 ALUMNI CONNECTIONS 30 and an active clinical practitioner. clinical active an and researcher cessation smoking Health–funded of Institutes aNational is also 1982, Allen since University the at Health Community and Medicine Family of Department the of member Afaculty exams. physical perform and patients interview to students second-year and first- of dozens taught skillfully has she which through courses, Medicine Clinical of Essentials and Patient and Physician long-term the through M.D. Diehl, Sheely Harold dean, fifth School’s Medical the of in honor established was It munity. com the and a whole, as University the School, cal Medi Minnesota of University the to contributions outstanding made have who grantedindividuals to achievement lifetime The AWARD S. DIEHL HAROLD awards: following the with graduates these is honoring (MAS) Society Alumni Medical Minnesota of University The campus. Bank East Minnesota’s of University the on Center Alumni McNamara the at 18 September on Banquet Awards Alumni School Medical the at profession medical the of service the in work their for honored were alumni School Medical MINNESOTA OF UNIVERSITY FOUR graduates outstanding four Society honors Medical Alumni MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 outstanding physician physician outstanding an be to takes it what for model arole become has alumna 1981 resident The education. student medical to devotion selfless her for many by is recognized Allen P M.D., ALLEN, SHARON is is Award Diehl S. Harold
h
.D.
- - level national or regional, local, the at tional rotations, and many have called their experiences “life-changing.” “life-changing.” experiences their called have many and rotations, tional interna completing were who students medical Minnesota of University 30 than more hosted has graduate School Medical 1978 the addition, In demands. health region’s the Tanzania in meet to Center Medical Lutheran Arusha and Hospital honors. military other several among Star, Bronze and Heart a Purple War, earning Vietnam the during Army U.S. the in corpsman amedical as served activities. humanitarian other or research, communities their to contributions outstanding made have who alumni School DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDDISTINGUISHED ALUMNI Canada. and States United the throughout used now are that doctors-in-training for measures competency developed has and program hospitalist academic outstanding an led and built has also alumnus, School. Medical Minnesota of University the at residency her his or completing or from graduating of 15 years within accomplishments The AWARD ALUMNI EARLY CAREER DISTINGUISHED The The Early Distinguished Career Alumni Award recognizes University of Minnesota Medical Medical Minnesota of University recognizes Award Alumni Distinguished barriers financial and physical, mental, insurmountable seemingly faced having despite Jacobson practices, sanitation and nutrition, quality, water improve to strategies community-level employing Besides Tanzania. of people the for health improving to his career devoted skillfully and compassionately has Jacobson student, medical afirst-year as Africa to trip atransformative After M.P.H. M.D., JACOBSON, MARK he school, medical attending Before locally. care to access have to continue would town the so clinic amodern build to savings retirement their invested and loan ahome out took Vickie, his wife, and Bösl 2005, in closed hospital local the When physician. only city’s the since 1982 is now and Starbuck of town Minnesota central west small the served has Bösl 1979, of Class School Medical the of A member M.D. BÖSL, ROBERT Division of General Internal Medicine, Benson, a 1999 resident resident a1999 Benson, Medicine, Internal General of Division Medicine’s of Department the of director Now training. dency resi of years four their through residents 100 nearly mentored and guided he role, this In 2002. in Program Residency rics Medicine-Pediat University’s the of director became he when excellence clinical and teaching for his passions combined Benson physician, aconsummate and example by A leader BENSON, M.D. BRADLEY — through medical practice, teaching, teaching, practice, medical through is given to a physician for exceptional exceptional for a physician to is given — also opened Selian Lutheran Lutheran Selian opened also M | B
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Supporting a new generation of physicians
Since he was in eighth grade, Charles Vang is among the first six STREBLE SCOTT PHOTO: Vang knew he wanted to be a doctor. MFD participants admitted to The combination of science and humani- the University of Minnesota ties and his desire to help people Medical School to complete sparked his interest in medicine. their medical degrees. Since As an undergraduate at Macalester the program was launched in College and throughout medical school 2007, 25 percent of MFD stu- at the University of Minnesota, Vang dents have been admitted to never took his eyes off the prize. Thanks medical schools across the to his determination and a boost from country, and 50 percent are the U’s Minnesota’s Future Doctors now enrolled as undergradu- (MFD) program, Vang has completed ate students with the intent to his medical degree and is now a family pursue medical school after medicine resident at St. Joseph’s Hospi- graduation. The others are tal in St. Paul. entering or pursuing other MFD helps college-age Minnesotans graduate or professional pro- from communities underrepresented in grams, or are working outside medicine — ethnic minorities, students of medicine. from low-income families or rural areas, Program director Simone and first-generation college students — Gbolo says the program clearly prepare for admission to medical school. benefits students from under- Beginning their sophomore year of col- represented communities. Charles Vang, M.D., one of the first medical school graduates to lege and ending at graduation, MFD par- “There are barriers to have completed the Minnesota’s Future Doctors program, is now ticipants explore hospitals and clinics; accessing medical school for a family medicine resident at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul. meet current medical students, resi- students from communities dents, and physicians; and learn how to that are underrepresented in prepare a competitive application to medicine. If you don’t have programs As the program expands, Gbolo says medical school. like this — that motivate, advise, and it’s important to understand its larger “I believe that the MFD program support students and that address impact: “MFD is not only fueling our played a critical role in helping me these challenges — barriers will continue pipeline for training future physicians achieve my goal of becoming a physi- to exist,” Gbolo says. from communities that are underrepre- cian,” Vang says. “The MFD program Initially, a generous gift from an sented in medicine but fueling that pipe- provided direction, which was appreci- anonymous donor helped get the MFD line on a national level as well.” M|B ated, as my [previous] role models in program started. Over time, funding By KALI DINGMAN, a student at the University medicine were limited.” sources have grown, and today most of of Minnesota the program’s funding comes from the Medical School.
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 31 A LOOK BACK 32 32 in culture. our place smoking’s alter would that change asea triggered report that time, our of achievements health public important most the of one be to considered widely Now devastating.” and “bold called promptly York New Times the a report Health, and Smoking on Report General’s Surgeon 1964 landmark the of face death. of risk higher percent a70 faced you said, he smoked, you If bush: the around beat didn’t He health. your to hazardous were cigarettes that announced and ence confer apress into walked Terry Luther General Surgeon year, U.S. that of you. with smoking there right were Americans of 43 percent almost didit: you while company good in were you And surgery. heart after bed hospital your in Camels unfiltered inhale even planes, on smoke chain MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 research. for tar collect to used machine asmoking demonstrates 1956 January in M.D., Diehl, Harold Dean School Medical Former I Smoking and Health, the tide has turned years Surgeon the after General’s first Fifty on Report changeSea rings over produce the rings while you shopped for groceries, up as you watched Poppins Mary That press conference was the public public the was conference press That January in morning aSaturday on But around cents, 30 stroll into amovie theater, and light youn 1964, could pick up apack of cigarettes for
- and a member of the Masonic Cancer Cancer Masonic the of amember and of Cancer Prevention Professor Grant smoking. stop people help to how and it, treat to how disease, causes smoking how of understanding new to led has that research with his in footsteps followed have scientists University countless then, Since Health. and Smoking on Committee Advisory General’s Surgeon the on serve to asked 10 scientists of one was M.D., Schuman, Leonard epidemiology, of head Minnesota’s of University the 1962, In play roles key Mscientists U of Stephen Hecht, Ph.D., Wallin Land- Wallin Ph.D., Hecht, Stephen . You could blow smoke — but work remains
them smoking-related. of percent 90 almost States, United the in year per deaths 150,000 some for accounting killer, 1cancer No. the is still cancer Lung death: of cause ing alead remains smoking cautions, Hecht adds. he smoking,” people fewer to due completely was which mid-’90s, the in decrease to started mortality cancer lung “And population. the of percent 18 about to declined has smoking says, Hecht most egregious cancer-causing agents. the of some be to considered are and process tobacco-curing the during form which nitrosomines, tobacco-specific the including carcinogens, tobacco many identify helped He ’70s. early since the research tobacco of center the at been has Minnesota, of University Center, Despite important scientific advances, advances, scientific important Despite report, General’s Surgeon the Since -
PHOTO: UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES A Look Back
“People don’t realize that, unless it’s positive effects of nicotine,” says Hatsu- caught early — which it rarely is — lung kami. “Our endgame for tobacco control cancer is incurable,” says Hecht. “The would be to get rid of the use of all ciga- average five-year survival rate is still rettes and other combustible tobacco about 15 percent, just where it was in the products by developing more effective 1950s. So some of the most important treatments and policies, such as reduc- progress we’ve made is in convincing ing levels of nicotine in cigarettes to people to stop smoking. That’s where nonaddictive levels.” the experts on addiction come in.” Major progress, The tough road to quitting battles still to fight Dorothy Hatsukami, Ph.D., is one of “We’ve made significant progress in 50 those experts. Internationally recog- years,” says Kola Okuyemi, M.D., direc- nized for her work on nicotine addiction tor of the U’s Program in Health Dispari- and tobacco cessation, she wears many ties Research. “The norm has changed; hats at the U, serving as associate direc- smoking has become socially undesir- tor of cancer prevention and control for able. But tobacco is still a big problem the Masonic Cancer Center, Forster Fam- in a number of vulnerable groups like ily Chair in Cancer Prevention, and direc- Native Americans, the homeless, LGBT translated into public programs and poli- tor of the Tobacco Research Programs, youth, and people in poverty.” cies,” says Hatsukami. “But in the course among other roles. A snapshot of events that followed in of our research, we see a lot of smokers “Our team here in the early ’80s was the wake of the ’64 Surgeon General’s who struggle with their addiction to one of the key groups that helped to report show just how comprehensive cigarettes, and the medical morbidity characterize physical addiction to that progress has been. First came warn- we see, particularly in the lower socio- tobacco,” she explains. “And once we ing labels on cigarette packs (1965); economic groups, is very disconcerting. knew that, we could begin to figure out followed by a TV and radio cigarette We still have a lot of work to do.” M|B what medications could be used to help advertising ban (1971); Minnesota’s By BARBARA KNOX, a Minneapolis-based people stop smoking.” landmark Indoor Clean Air Act, the first writer and editor and frequent contributor to In the early ’80s, Hatsukami’s col- in the nation (1975); and a slew of smok- the Medical Bulletin league Harry Lando, Ph.D., a professor ing bans, including on airplanes (1988), in the School of Public Health, was in hospitals (1993), and in bars and res- among the first to develop behavioral taurants (Minnesota’s was passed in treatments to help smokers quit. Later, 2007). Today in Minnesota, sin taxes nicotine gum and patches came on have caused the cost of premium ciga- the market. rette brands to skyrocket to more than “Now teams here are working on $10 per pack. anti-nicotine vaccines that create anti- “I’m very proud of the U and the work bodies that target the nicotine molecule so many gifted scientists here have gen- so the smoker doesn’t experience the erated that has, and will potentially be,
MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 33 ALUMNI CONNECTIONS 34 MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 and great-grandchildren. grandchildren eral sev and 2children; Connie; wife, his by vived sur is He Colorado. and Minnesota in practiced He 88. age 25 at May died Minn., Duluth, 1952, W.ROGER BROCKWAY, M.D. 6grandchildren. and 4children; Jeanne; wife, his by survived is He Athletics. School High Prairie Eden for physician attending an was and Minneapolis in Center Medical County Hennepin at medicine family taught Brandt Dr. 86. age 25 at February died Minneapolis, M.D. BRANDT, E. HENRY 3great-grandchildren. and dren; grandchil 30 children; 10 Corinne; wife, his by survived is He Fe. Santa in Hospital Vincent St. at staff of chief as served and gynecology and obstetrics practiced Dr. Bodelson 90. age 9at February died N.M., Fe, Santa 1946, M.D. BODELSON, H. ADRIAN relatives. and friends many and boyfriend, her 1sibling, parents, her by vived sur is She Uganda. in research HIV ducted con and Clinic Mayo at resident medicine internal an was Dr. Birkenkamp 29. age at 17 April died Minn., Rochester, 2011, of Class M.P.H. M.D., BIRKENKAMP, E. KATE great-grandchildren. 2 and 5grandchildren, 3children, by vived sur is He 1child. and Joan, wife, his by death in preceded was He practice. gynecology and obstetrics aprivate founded Bergquist Dr. 94. age at 16 May died Minn., Ely, 1950, M.D. BERGQUIST, R. JAMES his children. and Kathleen, wife, his by survived is He 85. age at 27, 2013, November died Calif., Diego, M.D. APPLEN, E. JOHN 2great-grandchildren. and dren; 17 grandchil 6children; Norma; wife, second his by survived is He Ellen. Mary wife, first his by death in preceded was He Foundation. Institute Heart Minneapolis the and Institute, Heart Minneapolis the Associates, diology Car Minneapolis of afounder was Andreassen Dr. 91. age 5at March died Minneapolis, 1946, M.D. ANDREASSEN, L. ROLF Memoriam In , Class of 1954, San San 1954, of , Class , Class of 1953, 1953, of , Class , Class of of , Class , Class of of , Class , Class of of Class , , Class of of , Class - - , ------ceded in death by his wife, Rosemary. He is He Rosemary. wife, his by death in ceded pre was He 93. age 4at July died Minn., field, M.D. F.JACK HAAS, great-grandchildren. many and 11 grandchildren; 2 stepchildren; 4children; Lana; wife, second his by survived is He Helen. wife, first his by death in ceded pre was He towns. Minnesota other and bault, Fari- Northfield, in practitioner afamily was Dr. Good 90. age 1at May died Minn., bault, M.D. GOOD, ROY H. 7grandchildren. and 3children; Susan; wife, his by survived is He Northwest. Clinics Heart now is what and Spokane of Institute Heart the create helped Dr. Eugster diologist, Acar 73. age 4at May died Wash., Spokane, M.D. EUGSTER, S. GEORGE 2children. by survived is She gery. and sur medicine family practiced Dr. Erwin 72. age at 12 March died Texas, Brownsville, M.D. ERWIN, M. CAROL grandchildren. 3 and 2children; JoAnn; wife, his by vived sur is He 25 years. than more for California in Permanente Kaiser at worked Dr. Enstrom 81. age 5at February died Calif., Lincoln, 1958, M.D. II, ENSTROM G. OSCAR 2grandchildren. and 1 child; Yvonne; wife, his by survived is He 1child. by death in preceded was He Bismarck. in Clinic Eye Ellingson the established Dr. Ellingson 78. age 29 at March died N.D., Bismarck, 1962, of M.D. T. ELLINGSON, FREDERICK 2children. and Cynthia, wife, his by survived is He County. Stevens for coroner and Service Ambulance County vens Ste the of director medical as served Busian 67. age at 27 Dr. April died Minn., Morris, M.D. BUSIAN, R. MICHAEL 7grandchildren. and dren 2chil by survived is He 1child. and Dorothy, wife, his by death in preceded was He years. 30 nearly for Mora in medicine practiced eth Dr. Burs 95. age 11 at June died Minn., Mora, M.D. BURSETH, C. EDGAR , Class of 1952, Fari- 1952, of , Class , Class of 1952, North 1952, of , Class , Class of 1972, 1972, of , Class , Class of 1943, 1943, of , Class , Class of 1967, of , Class , Class of 1974, of , Class , Class of of , Class , Class Class , ------6 children; and 5 grandchildren. 5grandchildren. and 6children; Edna; wife, his by survived is He 1child. by death in preceded was He 20 years. than more for in California medicine family practiced Dr. Hovde 83. age at 30 April died Wis., Pepin, M.D. HOVDE, R. LARRY 2grandchildren. and 3 children; Marlys; wife, his by survived is He care. urgent in worked and pediatrics practiced Dr. Hodge 72. age 11 at July died Mont., Butte, M.D. PAUL HODGE, L. 1 great-grandchild. and 5grandchildren, 3children, by survived is He Phyllis. wife, his by death in preceded was Dr. Hegrenes physician, 77. Afamily age at 12 April died Minn., Hutchinson, 1962, M.D. HEGRENES, L. ROBERT 4grandchildren. and 3 children by survived is He Dolores. wife, his by death in preceded was He School. Medical Minnesota of University the including schools, of number a at physiology taught Dr. Harvey 91. age at 2013, 22, November died Minn., Mahtomedi, M.D. HARVEY, B. RODNEY and 7 great-grandchildren. grandchildren; 13 5children; Colleen; wife, his by survived is He medicine. internal practiced Dr. Hartman 93. age 19 at April died Calif., Encino, 1944, M.D. HARTMAN, A. SEYMOUR 3children. and Beckett, wife, his by vived sur is He Taos. in physician medicine a sports later and Duluth in Hospital Luke’s St. at tation rehabili inpatient of director was Dr. Harrison 52. age at 21 February died N.M., Taos, 1990, M.D. HARRISON, S. MATTHEW 8grandchildren. and children; 4 Barbara; wife, second his by survived is He Nancy. wife, first his by death in preceded was He years. 30 than more for Fla., City, Kenneth in practitioner ageneral was Dr. Hanson 85. age 20at May died Fla., Petersburg, St. 1956, M.D. W.EUGENE HANSON, 9 great-grandchildren. and 11 grandchildren, 5children, by survived , Class of 1967, of , Class , Class of 1956, 1956, of , Class , Class of 1946, 1946, of , Class , Class of of , Class , Class of of , Class , Class of of , Class , Class of of , Class
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JOHN S. HUFF, M.D., Class of 1953, Bloom- ROBERT W. GOLTZ, M.D., Class of ing chief of dermatology at the ington, Minn., died July 21 at age 85. Dr. Huff 1944, La Jolla, Calif., died March 23 at University of California, San Diego. practiced otolaryngology and taught at the age 90. Dr. Goltz led the Department Dr. Goltz was known for his ground- University of Minnesota Medical School. He of Dermatology at the University of breaking work on inherited genetic was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and Minnesota Medical School from 1970 skin conditions. He was preceded in is survived by 8 children, 17 grandchildren, to 1985. He also served as the first death by his wife, Patricia. He is sur- and 1 great-grandchild. professor of dermatology at the Uni- vived by 2 children, 4 grandchildren, versity of Colorado, Denver, and act- and 4 great-grandchildren. RALPH D. HYDEN, M.D., Class of 1967, Santa Barbara, Calif., died April 20 at age 76. A surgeon, Dr. Hyden is survived by his wife, Helga. ROBERT L. GOODALE, M.D., introducing laparoscopic technology MICHAEL J. KOZAK, M.D., Class of 1957, Ph.D., a 1968 resident alumnus, to U.S. medicine. “He set the stan- Golden Valley, Minn., died May 2 at age 91. Minneapolis, died July 17 at age 84. dards and taught the rest of us,” says Dr. Kozak practiced family medicine. He is A pioneering surgeon, Dr. Goodale was his colleague Henry Buchwald, M.D., survived by his wife, Lidia; 2 children; and founding director of the Department of Ph.D. Dr. Goodale is survived by his 2 grandchildren. Endoscopy at University of Minnesota wife, Katherine; 4 children; and Hospitals and was instrumental in 5 grandchildren. PAUL R. LEON, M.D., Class of 1954, Aber- deen, S.D., died April 11 at age 85. Dr. Leon founded the School for Radiological Technol- ogy at St. Luke’s Hospital and introduced nuclear medicine and radiation cancer therapy FREDERIC “FRITZ” J. KOTTKE, ulty for more than 40 years and served to the region. He was preceded in death by his M.D., Ph.D., Class of 1945, Minneap- as the first chair of the school’s wife, Therese, and is survived by 6 children, olis, died May 23 at age 96. Dr. Kottke Department of Physical Medicine and 28 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. was internationally recognized for his Rehabilitation. He was preceded in ROGER I. LIENKE, M.D., Class of 1946, contributions to physical medicine and death by his wife, Astrid, and 1 child. Oklahoma City, Okla., died December 25, rehabilitation and was on the Univer- He is survived by 3 children, 6 grand- 2013, at age 91. He practiced pediatrics and sity of Minnesota Medical School fac- children, and 5 great-grandchildren. family medicine and created the family prac- tice residency at the University of Oklahoma Medical School. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, and is survived by 4 children, 7 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. He worked at the University of Washington Hospital in Provo. He is survived by his wife, for nearly 30 years and directed the Division Marian; 3 children; and 5 grandchildren. MALCOLM I. LINDSAY JR., M.D., Class of Pediatric Neurology. He is survived by his of 1961, Rochester, Minn., died February 19 at MARGARET V. NELSON, M.D., Class of wife, Leslie; 2 children; and 5 grandchildren. age 78. He worked for Mayo Clinic’s Division of 1966, Madison, Wis., died May 2 at age 73. Community Internal Medicine for 30 years and WILLIAM D. MISBACH, M.D., Class of Dr. Nelson practiced medicine for nearly was chair for 8 years. He is survived by his 1946, Carlsbad, Calif., died February 21 at age 30 years, spending more than 20 years at wife, Karin; 4 children; and 6 grandchildren. 91. Dr. Misbach practiced medicine and pedi- University of Wisconsin Health Services. atrics in Minnesota and California. He is sur- She is survived by 2 children. ROBERT B. LITIN, M.D., Class of 1953, vived by his wife, Virginia; 4 children; 5 Portland, Ore., died June 22 at age 87. Dr. Litin RONALD J. NELSON, M.D., Class of 1960, grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. practiced medicine for nearly 60 years. He was Maplewood, Minn., died April 27 at age 80. preceded in death by his wife, Rita, and 1 child. JAMES R. MONNAHAN, M.D., Class of Dr. Nelson helped found and served as presi- He is survived by 2 children and their families. 1952, Provo, Utah, died May 11 at age 88. He dent of East Metro Health Organization in established Mountainview Radiology Associ- St. Paul and served as chief of staff at JERROLD M. MILSTEIN, M.D., Class of ates and was chief of radiology at Payson St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood. He was 1964, Bellevue, Wash., died July 12 at age 75.
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MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 35 ALUMNI CONNECTIONS 36 focus on stem cell therapies. cell stem on focus aresearch with (BMT) transplantation marrow and blood in acareer members: family her than science of branch different a follow to hopes who Parker, says it,” to exposed constantly Iwas Ithink because too. aphysician, was grandfather One physics. in adoctorate has other The doctors. medical are siblings older three Two her of physician. medicine internal is an father her teacher, school tree. the from far fallen hasn’t Parker Sarah of medical Minnesota student University third-year people, science of afamily In Student award wins for stem cell research relatives. several by survived is She Korea. South Seoul, in University W.Va.; Yonsei and Huntington, in University Marshall Neb.; Island, Grand in Center VA Medical the at worked She 96. age 1at April died Mo., City, Kansas M.D. ROBERTA RICE, G. Foundation. Nurses’ American the of director as served and University, Northwestern at program education nursing the chaired Kansas, of University the at Nursing of Department the led Dr. Pitel 93. age 19 at April died Ill., Park, P PITEL, MARTHA 2grandchildren. and 4children by survived is He States. United the throughout research and conducted and taught gynecology and obstetrics practiced Dr. Peterson 84. age at 24 May died S.C., Island, Pawleys 1954, of M.D. JR., PETERSON EDWARD N. 1child. and Ruth, wife, his by survived is He years. 50 than more for area County Diego San the in physician afamily was Dr. Pearson 80. age 6at May died Calif., Diego, San 1963, M.D. PEARSON, G. ALFRED 7grandchildren. and 4children by survived is He Sandra. inpreceded wife, his death by IN MEMORIAMcontinued MEDICAL BULLETIN FALL 2014 just mind, my in medicine had always “I elementary is an mother her While h .D. , Class of 1954, Oak Oak 1954, of Class , , Class of 1943, 1943, of Class , , Class of of , Class , Class Class ,
years. He is survived by his wife, Julie. Julie. wife, his by survived is He years. 30 nearly for Calif., City, Panorama in tal Hospi Foundation Kaiser at services imaging of chief as served Dr. Shaperman 89. age at 1 March died Calif., Oaks, Sherman 1946, of MARTIN M. SHAPERMAN, M.D. SHAPERMAN, M. MARTIN 2stepchildren. and 1child; Robert; husband, her by survived is She mologist. ophthal an was Dr. Schader 61. age 15 at May M.D. SCHADER, LEAVENWORTH NANCY 1great-grandchild. and dren; 2grandchil 4children; Eleanor; wife, his by survived is He Service. Health Student ming’s Wyo of University the of director and 20 years for Minnesota in practitioner afamily was Roth Dr. 80. age at 21 March died Wyo., Laramie, M.D. JR., ROTH H. ALBERT 6grandchildren. and 5children; Elaine; wife, his by survived is He board. Disability Security Social Minnesota’s with worked and surgery and medicine practiced Dr. Rogin 95. age 4at March died Minn., Park, Louis St. M.D. ROGIN, NORTON stem cells in culture. cells stem embryonic from Tcells making involves now which there, work her continue to Hematology of Society American the from Award Scientists Research of Generation Next the for Opportunities Hematology research. on focus to school medical from off ayear take to her year, allowing second her during Institute Medical Hughes Howard the from afellowship won and work the liked She Tcells. from cells stem pluripotent induced making M.D., Blazar, Bruce physician BMT and member Center Cancer Masonic of lab the in ajob got Parker school, In May Parker received a 2014 a2014 received Parker May In medical of year first her After , Class of 1982, Longmont, Colo., died died Colo., Longmont, 1982, of , Class , Class of 1943, 1943, of , Class , Class of 1962, 1962, of , Class
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PHOTO: JIM BOVIN Medical Bulletin
Meredith McNab The Medical Bulletin is published UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EDITOR twice a year by the University of MEDICAL SCHOOL DEANS Minnesota Foundation. Nicole Endres Brooks Jackson, M.D., M.B.A. MANAGING EDITOR For more information or to update DEAN Richard Broderick your address, please contact: TWIN CITIES CAMPUS Kali Dingman Meredith McNab, editor John Andrews, M.D. Nicole Endres University of Minnesota Foundation ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION Barbara Knox McNamara Alumni Center Elizabeth Foy Larsen University of Minnesota Jeffrey Chipman, M.D. Susan Maas 200 Oak Street SE, Suite 500 ASSISTANT DEAN FOR SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS CURRICULUM Lesley Schack Minneapolis, MN 55455-2010 Bobbi Daniels, M.D. WRITERS VICE DEAN FOR CLINICAL AFFAIRS 612-625-0657 Jim Bovin 800-775-2187 Tucker LeBien, Ph.D. Jeff Frey VICE DEAN FOR RESEARCH Scott Streble [email protected] Mark Paller, M.D., M.S. Brady Willette give.umn.edu SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS The University of Minnesota is committed to Dimple Patel, M.S. Woychick Design the policy that all persons shall have equal ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ADMISSIONS DESIGN AND PRODUCTION access to its programs, facilities, and employ- ment without regard to race, color, creed, Anne Pereira, M.D., M.P.H. Sexton Printing ASSISTANT DEAN FOR CLINICAL EDUCATION religion, national origin, sex, age, marital PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION status, disability, public assistance status, Nancy Raymond, M.D. veteran status, or sexual orientation. ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR FACULTY AFFAIRS Mark Rosenberg, M.D. VICE DEAN FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION
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FROM ONE HISTORIC BONE MARROW in TRANSPLANT, WE’RE DISCOVERING WAYS deaths in the United States TO MAKE MANY DISEASES HISTORY. is a result of heart disease
They say there’s no such thing as a cure-all. We say we have a real BONE MARROW 6,000TRANSPLANTS chance at finding one. Dating back to the world’s first successful bone have been performed at the U of M marrow transplant in 1968, the University of Minnesota continues to since 1968 be a leader in stem cell research and regenerative medicine—a field of innovative therapies that enable the body to heal itself. Now with new discoveries, we’re working on cures for everything from diabetes to dementia. It’s one more way the future is being Made in Minnesota.
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