ALUMNI BULLETIN effersonJEFFERSON MEDICAL COLLEGE • THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY • FALL 2006 Global Initiative Inspiring Stories of Jefferson Alumni Serving Others Worldwide Message from the President This now-familiar phrase, a hallmark of A global component is a key facet of the daily activist thinking over the past few decades, operations of Jefferson. During their time here, conveys both a call to civic action and a recog- students are exposed to an international array nition that even local actions can have of ideas and viewpoints in research, education, far-reaching consequences. It encourages us and patient care. We welcome men and to change the world by focusing first on our women from other countries to work, study, own backyard. Enough people improving their and engage in research with us in own individual spheres, the thinking goes, can Philadelphia, and we encourage Jefferson have the aggregate effect of significant, students and faculty to study, lecture, and sustainable change across communities. conduct research abroad. Through the efforts of our Office of International Affairs, Jefferson That is a nice concept, but here at Jefferson we fosters action that makes a difference in take that philosophy a step further. Act locally people’s lives in our own city, in our own first, but then extend your own efforts globally country, and in far-flung corners of the world. as well. Don’t ignore the problems in your neighborhood, your city; but don’t let local Those who have supported Jefferson’s work Robert L. Barchi, MD, PhD priorities blind you to broader issues requiring have also, in their own way, heeded the call to urgent and personal attention around the act both locally and globally. Their contribu- world. The AIDS pandemic in sub-Sahara tions increase our reach and influence by Think Globally, Africa; the human tragedy in Darfur; the making it possible for our students to receive a cultural catastrophe in the Middle East; the world – class education – and by inculcating a Act Locally malaria epidemic in Asia – these global issues mission of collaboration, innovation, and cannot wait for the slow diffusion of our local commitment in the pursuit of better health. I efforts to reach them. offer profound thanks to all who join us in this important and necessary work. “Our alumni have At Jefferson, our faculty, students, and alumni work both locally and globally. Our students Working together – students, alumni, faculty, trekked to countless organize and run community health clinics staff, donors – I have no doubt that we will that serve those in our own area who are continue to transform healthcare at the points across the without healthcare. Our alumni combine the bedside, in the laboratory, in the classroom, and globe in the service of training they received here with their own in the boardroom. And I have no doubt that our personal dedication and trek to countless successes are as likely to come abroad as they health, science, and points around the globe in the service of are here, changing the world in the process. health, science, and humankind. In many humankind.” cases this vital work has been ancillary to Sincerely, whatever primary duty took them to distant lands in the first place. Physicians and other healthcare professionals educated at Jefferson are quite clear about their responsibility to Robert L. Barchi, MD, PhD improve the health of all peoples. Whether President delivering clinical services where they’re Thomas Jefferson University needed most here or abroad, or conducting pioneering biomedical research, whether teaching the next generation of health profes- sionals or leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies, they advance the human condi- tion, one increment at a time. Contents Features 10 Global Initiative: Jefferson Abroad 16 Into Africa: An International Health Elective 17 JUREI: World Class, Right At Home 18 You’re In The Military, Then...And Now Departments 2 Dean’s Column: The Ties that Bind 4 FINDINGS Gene Mutation Potentially Involved in Breast Cancer Initiation New Potential Drug Targets for Metastatic Breast Cancer “Miracle” Cancer Drug Can Be Toxic 6 ON CAMPUS 22 Alumni Weekend 24 CLASS NOTES 31 In Memoriam 32 Giving 48 By The Numbers: Jefferson In The World ALUMNI BULLETIN Fall 2006 Address correspondence to: Jefferson Volume 55, Number 3 Editor, Alumni Bulletin Jefferson Medical College of Editor Thomas Jefferson University Nikki Senecal 925 Chestnut Street, Suite 110 Design Philadelphia, PA 19107-4216 JeffGraphics 215-955-7920 Bulletin Committee Fax: 215-503-5084 William V. Harrer ’62, Chair [email protected] Lori Siegel DePersia ’81 www.jefferson.edu/jmc/alumni/bulletin.cfm John J. Gartland S’44 The Jefferson community and supporters John H. Moore Jr. GS’85 are welcome to receive the Bulletin on a Robert T. Sataloff ’75 regular basis; please contact the address The quarterly magazine above. Postmaster: send address changes published continuously since 1922 to the address above. Periodicals postage paid at Philadelphia, PA. ISSN-0021-5821 2 Jefferson Medical College Alumni Bulletin The Ties that Bind am continuously amazed at the spirit and Then there are the “characters”– faculty who Iaffectionate attachment of our alumni to are legendary in their teaching methods, Jefferson and have tried to grasp its depth. It their professional skills or deportment, their is somewhat understandable that those of us professional accomplishments, or their alumni, whose professional careers have kept personal lives. The stories about these faculty us on the campus, have a sense of excitement are usually positive, occasionally negative, and emotional connection to Jefferson. We but always memorable both to the teller as spend most of our waking hours on the well as the listener. These characters are part campus. We have the privilege of partici- of the fabric of Jefferson and continue to have pating in the maturation of the next an impact on all of us. True to the impact of generation of young physicians. Their the tincture of time, even the negative expe- altruistic commitment to medicine and a riences are recounted with a smile of career of service, as well as their enthusiasm astonishment and enjoyment, as if survival of for the school, is contagious. these events is proof of the resilience of the Jefferson medical student, steeled to take on But what ties our alumni to the school? After the rigors of a professional life of service by all, we don’t have a football team, and the the experience. usual ties to undergraduate institutions such as the rites of passage and memories of initial The final yet most important group is their independence don’t apply to medical school. classmates. Each person has stories of his or her classmates and seeks information on As I reflect on the stories of our alumni about those who may not be well or who may be their memories of their time spent at Jefferson, experiencing challenges in their lives. They a number of factors appear important are aware of the offspring of their classmates, regarding their emotional connection back to and are especially excited to hear of entry of Jefferson. the next generation at Jefferson. Fortunately, All alumni that I meet have a story that they I am able to relate many stories of Jefferson can recount about a faculty member who has progeny who are students or who have made a difference in their lives. Stories of recently graduated. This sense of family in individual attention by faculty who mentored each class, brought together at Jefferson by The Dean’s them, who provided constructive criticism chance from all over the country, sharing the that led to personal and professional growth, experience and common goals for the future, and who demonstrated through actions that appears never to leave most of our graduates. Column they cared deeply about the professional And, it is my impression that this is somehow development of their students are continu- different from most other medical schools. ously mentioned in almost reverent terms. Perhaps, some day, I will be able to under- stand why. Fall 2006 3 “This sense of family in each class, brought together at Jefferson by chance from all over the country, sharing the experience and common goals for the future, appears never to leave most of our graduates.” Thomas J. Nasca, MD’75 I have a final reflection. I am truly amazed at If we fast forward about 10 years, I met with And, then, there are these moments that vali- what nice people our alumni are. There is a another young student who was seeking to date what we do, and on occasion, make a thread of common decency, kindness, and transfer to a school in Washington, DC. difference. Those moments are not only joyful desire to help others, along with an altruistic When questioned, she told me how she was for their personal meaning and reinforce- approach to patient care. Concerns over the in significant economic straits because her ment, but in the broader sense they tell me current practice environment are present, fiancé had been unable to gain employment that the events and interactions between but they emanate from the perspective of its in Philadelphia. He had better prospects in faculty and students are resulting in the same impact on their ability to provide service to Washington and despite the fact that she type of meaningful connections that occurred patients, rather than self-serving economic loved Jefferson and was doing well academi- generations ago. It gives rise to hope that 20 or or social positions. They also share a cally, she was going to have to leave for their 30 years from now, alumni gathered in the common concern for the next generation of economic survival.