VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

HOUHOUwww.mc.vanderbilt.edu/houseorgan SSEE OORRGGAAFeNNbruary 2010

Pets 2010

Gilda the Great Dane, pet therapy star watching the wheels Same as the HOU SE ORGAN www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/houseorgan February 2010 old Boss COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE HOWELL BY WAYNE WOOD come here to praise Bruce Pets of the Springsteen, but first: there are Medical Center 2010 I several things about his song - Every year we ask for your favorite pic - writing that annoy me: specifically I tures of your dogs, cats, and other dislike his overreliance on a few assorted beasts. We get several hundred. familiar phrases and concepts, And then we select some of the best to among them: feature. Go to the House Organ Web site • “Little girl,” usually not meant to at http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/houseor - mean “female child,” but instead gan/ to vote for your favorites in the Dog, “girlfriend or person I would like to Cat, and Group or Duo categories, and also see a lot more photos of pets that we be my girlfriend.” When you start Dingle. Erin Dietrich, Human Resources. paying attention to this, it takes on didn’t have room for in the print edition. the quality of a weird verbal tic. This phrase is used more than 100 Gilda the Great times in his songs. Great Dane, that is. Gilda is a pet therapy dog who comes to the • “Night.” Think of just some of his Pediatric Rehabilitation area at song titles: “Spirit in the Night,” Vanderbilt Health One Hundred “Prove it All Night,” “Because the Oaks, and doesn’t mind when Night,” “Drive All Night,” “Open children rub her, lie against her or All Night,” “Rosalita (Come Out even paint her toenails. Tonight),“ “Something in the Night,” “Restless Nights,” and, uh, what was that song on side one of Writing Contest, 2010: Born to Run ? Oh, yeah: “Night.” Call for Entries Some of these are great songs, but Are you a poet or writer walking around still. That’s an awful lot of night. disguised as a regular person? Enter the House Organ Writing Contest and come • “Day.” Possibly for equal time rea - one day this summer you can be forward - sons, he has also written “Glory ing the link to your story or poem around Days,” “Better Days,” “Indepen - to all your envious friends. dence Day,” “Lonesome Day,” “Light of Day,” “Kingdom of Days,” “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day,” and “My Lucky Day.” On Facebook? • “Rivers.” They may be muddy, Become a fan of VUMC House Organ black, clear or cold, but he stocks his and post comments about the pet issue. songs liberally with them. Lots and Connect at the House Organ Web site at lots of rivers being crossed, flowing http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/houseorgan by, being used as a meeting place, On Twitter? and generally filling in lyrical holes in songs. Comment on the issue or the pet poll using the hashtag #vandypets • And, as my colleague and fellow Springsteenophile Kathy Whitney noted when I got off on this rant © 2010 Vanderbi lt Un iv ersi ty Me di ca lC enter one day with her: “Roads.” Here’s House Organ is the magazine for the staff, faculty, volunteers, and students of Vanderbilt University Medical Kathy’s list: “Backstreets,” “Does Center. It is published monthly, with a combined December/January issue, by the Office of News and Public Affairs of VMC. News stories, ideas, and suggestions are welcome, and should be sent to House Organ, CCC- This Bus Stop At 82nd Street?” 3312 Medical Center North, Nashville, Tenn., 37232-2390. E-mail: [email protected]. “Further On (Up The Road),” The paper used to print House Organ is recycled and recyclable. “Highway 29,” ”Highway Patrol - Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university. man,” “Incident On 57th Street,” Editor and Ex. Director of New Media and Electronic Publications: Wayne Wood ”Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” The E Director of Publications: Nancy Humphrey Staff Writer: Carole Bartoo continued on page 12 Photographer: Joe Howell Designer: Keith Wood, Vanderbilt University Creative Services

2 HOUSE ORGAN ices Serv trition linical Nu udy Arena, C Hope. J Pets of the Medical Center 2010

Vote online for the Medical Center Dog, Cat, and Group or Duo of the Year

Ten things about the Pets of the Medical Center 2010.

• More than 500 entries poured in after the contest was • Those attempting to circumvent the voting process by auto - announced in September. matic votes or other means will be disqualified. • One of the best ways to describe the overall effect is “A • The categories and pets in the poll are the same as those in bonanza of cuteness.” the print version—10 dogs, 10 cats, and 10 groups or duos. • For budget reasons, fewer pages of pets are included in the • Voting begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 5, and concludes at print version than in previous years; to make up for this, 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18. many more pets are featured on the House Organ Web site, • Top vote getters in each category will be announced on the http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/houseorgan/ House Organ site, and will also be featured in the March • The pets in the print version represent 10 dogs, 10 cats, and 2010 issue, which will be posted online Friday, March 5. 10 groups or duos of friends. • Those who missed the deadline for entry for this pet con - • Also at the House Organ site, there is a link to the 2010 test should look for the call for entries in the September House Organ Pet Poll, which allows readers to vote on 2010 issue of House Organ . favorites, one vote per computer per category.

February 2010 3 avorite for your f DOG Lucy. Lauren Ferzoco, NICU.

Nick. Vicki Gann, Liver Transplant. Bella Grac e. E vie Carroll, P e rioperative Services.

Bitsy. De bbie Arnow, N u rsing Education.

“A friend gave her the Mocha. Sandy Yoder, Vaccine Center. her to model it.” snazzy black party dress and I put it on

4 HOUSE ORGAN Zeus. S helley Sa dler, C linical Staffi ng Resource Center.

Riley. Vicki Scala, B ill Wilkerson Center.

r, Human Resources. Buster Douglas. Misty Sumne

Macy. Laura Williams, Pediatric Surgery.

Vote online at www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/houseorgan

Han na. A nnette Ehrhart, Center for Health Service she has to go get t s.“Every morning he newspaper from the en rain, th d of the driveway. Neithe understorms, nor snow k r eeps her from her duty.” February 2010 5 avorite for your f Lilly Belle. K athleen M andato, V M CAT G Training.

Jake. Donna De Pasquale, Office of Research. Oreo. T om Faircloth, Perioperative Informatics and Computing.

Porgy. Dolores Go Pharmacy. old, Pediatr ey. David M. DiPersio, ic Echo Lab. Barn

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Poppey. Michele Stratton, Radiology.

Mr. Head. L ou ise Warren, 1 1 N untoucha orth Myelosupre ble, malnourished ssion. "Our once stray [is] now a fat, sassy lap cat."

hopaedics ocial Work (Ort ger Ketschke, S Maggie, Gin o thrive kitten, e was a failure t rology)."Maggi al Shelter. & U on County Anim om the Williams adopted fr unds." eighs in at 21 po She currently w

vices. abilitation Ser Lindsey, Reh Sydney. Sally

Vote online at www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/houseorgan

Smuckers. D ebbie Pounders, I ns urance Management. February 2010 7 M organ and Tess. Jud y Arena, C linical Nut avorite rition Services. for your f GROUP OR DUO

ston.” andson, Pre rotecting gr sh Bulldog p ic. el the Engli ry Care Clin “Colon iatric Prima meyer, Ped Kathy Weh

Hank and M olly. Diane K cast offs olb, Biostatist from other fam ics. “Hank and br ilies and ende Molly were other, you can d up in rescue. not separate th Though not si e two of them.” ster and

“Midnight, S ydney & C harlie Brown.” Ronal d Emeson, Pharmacology.

8 HOUSE ORGAN oding and rough, VMG C s. Shawn Scarb Stella and Tes Charge Entry.

Smalls and Minnie. Bryana Andrews, VMG Clinic Pharmacy.

“They sleep like this every night and follow each other around like they are stuck at the hip.”

Gypsy, Kess and Mocha Bits. Mary C. Stevenson, Pediatric Endocrinology.

Bella (mini ature Vietnamese p Clin otbellied pig) and ical Staffing Resourc Bo. Lisa Sisk, e Center. "I just happ their first meetin ened to snap this pic g nose to nose as they of explored each other."

Sylvester and Rascal. B eth Braswell, Neurosurgery.

Vote online at www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/houseorgan

ox, Systems Support. Preston and my daughter, Cameron. Timothy C

February 2010 9 Friend

Gilda the Great Dane provides a gentle A presence for children at Pediatric Rehab

BY CARGOLE BARTOO REAT ilda the Great Dane is getting dressed to visit the chil - animals. Sometimes children are more confident with a hand on dren in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital Pedi - the big dog than they might be holding an adult’s hand. The atric Rehabilitation Services at Vanderbilt Health. She children and the adults are doing serious work here and Gilda puts on a T-shirt— covered in signatures from her many plays her part with great patience and trust. She is a natural. L L

fans— and a pink tutu. Rizhaupt says she could see Gilda was special right from E W O H She trots down the hallway at Vanderbilt Health One the start. A few years ago, after losing her first beloved Great E O Hundred Oaks, and is stopped by an employee who Dane to bone cancer, she went looking for another. The only J wants to give her a kiss. This happens all the time. Gilda requirement was that the dog had to have a calm personality. reaches up with her cavernous snout to give her fan a Gilda was up for adoption, after her owners had retired her little love back. from a budding career as a show dog, when a slight heart GGilda manages to be both a big, lumbering dog and precious, murmur was discovered. As a groomer, Rizhaupt has seen all tender caregiver at the same time. She and her handler, Sarah types. She knew Gilda was the one. Rizhaupt, prove that love knows no bounds: not ability level, or “Gilda is the gentlest dog I have ever known,” says size, or even species. Rizhaupt. “At home she doesn’t even get up or bark at “She’s amazing, I like the way she interacts with the kids. strangers. One time a strange guy showed up at my back door She’s humble, as big as she is,” said Travis Frierson, whose 10- with a clipboard. Gilda came around the corner and he took year-old son Travis Jr. sees Gilda on Mondays at his pediatric one look and just ran off without even saying anything. I rehabilitation appointments. thought— ‘If he only knew .’” Frierson watches as the Great Dane and Rizhaupt get Travis into a coloring project in the waiting room. Gilda lies serenely J O

while Rizhaupt encourages the boy to draw a birthday cake on E

H O Gilda’s T-shirt. It’s Gilda’s fourth birthday. Travis asks if he can W E L draw on Gilda’s huge, black toenails. No problem. Out comes L the yellow marker for a doggy pedicure. The Dane lifts her huge head to peek at the artist for a moment before lumping her head right into his lap. “Loving, very loving personality. She loves kids like Travis. She was lying on Travis. I’m like, ‘OK, Travis wants to take her home ,’” chuckled Frierson, adding “but that’s good.”

She’s a natural Not all young patients want to take the Great Dane home. Some are simply afraid of dogs, so Gilda and Sarah are careful to stay away. Other children might grab at her or try to climb up for a ride, but no matter what the reaction from young patients, Gilda stands calmly as Rizhaupt and the therapists work with the children. Gilda gets a kiss from her owner Sarah Rizhaupt at One Hundred Oaks Lessons are learned about proper touching and respect for after volunteering with children in Pediatric Rehab.

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Cheyann Dillard, 3, shares a laugh with Gilda and her owner Sarah Rizhaupt.

Rizhaupt wanted to find a way for Gilda to use her gentle Kush says the Delta Animal Assistance teams are among spirit with children. An intensive Delta Animal Assistance the most dedicated, and popular volunteers. Gilda even has course followed for both Rizhaupt and Gilda. Gilda is a Delta her own fan club. registered Great Dane, which means she has met the stan - “A Delta Team takes a patient’s mind off of perhaps the worst dards of the Delta Society, a group which trains and registers day of their life. Just to have a non-judgmental set of eyes and a pet therapy animals and handlers. Then they found the volun - soft coat to touch really defuses anxiety. The dogs provide stress teer opportunities at Vanderbilt about eight months ago. relief for everyone at One Hundred Oaks—our patients, families Sarah completed the Vanderbilt Volunteer Services volun - and staff,” Kush said. teer requirements, which parallel the process to become an On this typically-rewarding Monday, after two hours of lov - employee at Vanderbilt. It was no small task with an inter - ing children and their families, and employees and everyone view, trainings, immunizations, and a background check—all else, Gilda and Rizhaupt head home. On the way to the car, it are necessary steps to serve at Vanderbilt University Medical doesn’t matter how many times people stop them in the long Center. But it has turned out to be a perfect fit. hallway at One Hundred Oaks; Gilda always has the patience to stop, and absorb a little petting with a wag of a tail. Come on, Eileen “It is really awesome to be Gilda’s mom and handler but the “Her middle name is ‘Eileen.’ That’s what Sarah says, because best part is to see us together improving human health,” she just comes up and does ‘the lean’ into everyone she meets. Rizhaupt said. I think that Gilda recognizes how each patient is feeling intu - itively,” said Laurie Kush, volunteer coordinator for Vander - To see a video about Vanderbilt volunteers, including Gilda, go bilt One Hundred Oaks. to: www.vanderbiltchildrens.org/interior.php?mid=6296&video_id=71

Sometimes children are more confident than they might be with a hand on the big dog holding an adult’s hand.

February 2010 11 watching the wheels continued

Street Shuffle,” “Thunder Road,” with my girlfriend, Sharon. Coinciden - had this moment of instant recogni - “Two For The Road,” “Working On tally, Sharon has been with me every tion: I knew one of them . It was my The Highway” and “Wreck On The other time I’ve seen Springsteen over Division of Public Affairs colleague Highway.” the years. Funny how that worked out. Beth Fox (who happens to be Kathy Anyway, when he played Nash - Whitney’s sister—love of the Boss is a Please note what I said above. Bruce ville a few weeks ago, we were in the family trait). And, after dancing, as Springsteen is one of my favorites, and audience again. It’s a good thing, Beth was about to leave the stage, she I’m grateful for the company his music because I had trouble believing what I realized she had been standing right has provided me through the last 35 was seeing. beside Bruce Springsteen and had years or so of my life. Really, when I Fact one: Bruce Springsteen is 60 not, of all the ridiculous oversights, was 16 I was running around my high years old. kissed him. So she ran back and did. school telling people how great he was, Fact two: The first time I saw him he Really. You can see all this on You when he was unknown—possibly the was in his 20s. Tube at http://www.youtube.com/ only time in my life I’ve been ahead of Incredible fact three: He seems to watch?v=Epu-tzESK00 Beth is the one a major trend. Unless you count that have more energy now than he did in the blue scarf. unfortunate haircut from the fourth then. The entire concert, even to those of grade, which, in its own way, set the I’m not kidding. The music was us who did not get to share the stage stage for the punk movement. great, the E Street Band was somehow with the band, was, to borrow the title I bought his first two albums and tight and loose at the same time, and of a recent Springsteen album, magic. drove my parents crazy playing the energy in the Sommet Center was Springsteen produces music that mat - them over and over on the Capehart such that a to-remain-nameless mid - ters to me, music that could seem console stereo in the living room. I dle-aged white guy was loudly singing both profound and joyful when I first couldn’t wait to buy Born to Run along to “Thunder Road” and didn’t experienced it as a teenager. We’re all when it was released, and the night I care who knew. older now, but that cold night at the got it home I played it all the way And then there was the moment Sommet Center was proof that the joy through, from start to finish, twice, we were all talking about the next still remains. reading the lyric sheet as it went. I day. During the song “Darlington I’ll forgive him, even if he writes a decided my favorite was “Jungle - County,” a group of young women on song about taking the highway down land.” I was a kid with good taste. the front row, most of whom were to the river to meet his little girl one The first time he came to my home - sporting pink cowboy hats, were night. If he hasn’t already. town, Knoxville, I was there. I went invited up on stage to dance. And I

Call for Entries: House Organ Writing Contest 26th Annual House Organ Writing Contest Deadline May 10

n For the 26th year, the July House Organ thing else that’s true, also has a 4,000- Please push the send button before mid - will be the Summer Reading Issue, filled word limit. night on that day. with the winners of the House Organ Please indicate the category of your The winners will be published in Writing Contest—poems, short stories entry; sometimes it’s a little hard for the House Organ . In past years, it has also and nonfiction pieces contributed by judges to figure out what is fiction and been possible to publish some honorable Vanderbilt staff, faculty and students. what is nonfiction. mentions. Every year demonstrates that Vander - All Vanderbilt staff and faculty, except Address any questions to the editor, bilt has a lot of people with literary tal - those who work in News and Communi - Wayne Wood, at 322-4747, or at the e- ent walking around disguised as regular cations, are eligible. Medical, nursing mail address above. people, and the House Organ Writing and graduate students are also eligible. Contest is a chance to show everybody Submissions are limited to three per Checklist for entries: what you can do. category. Each entry must be submitted • Author information: Name, depart - The rules are pretty simple. online as an attachment in Microsoft ment or school, address and phone There are three categories: poetry, fic - Word (or other compatible format), and number on first page. tion and nonfiction. have the author’s name, place of • Entry information: Category—fiction, There are no length restrictions in the employment or school, and a phone nonfiction or poetry. Check to be sure poetry category. number at the top of the first page. your work is within the length The fiction category is limited to 4,000 Entries may be sent to wayne.wood@van - requirement. words. derbilt.edu . Please put “writing contest The nonfiction category, which entry” in the subject line. • Entries must be sent as an attachment encompasses journalistic writing, mem - Entries may be edited for space, clar - in Microsoft Word (or other compati - oirs, feature stories, historical pieces, ity or style before publication. ble format). profiles of interesting people, or any - Deadline for entry is Monday, May 10. • Deadline is May 10.

12 HOUSE ORGAN