Progress DECEMBER 2013 When It Comes to Groundbreaking Cancer Care, There’s No Place Like Home In 2012 David Eisenberg, MD, a surgical oncologist with the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center, was diagnosed with lymphoma. His physician and colleague, Robert Siegel, MD, recommended an aggressive protocol: a series of chemotherapy treatments followed by a stem cell transplant. “This was obviously turning my world upside down,” Dr. Eisenberg said. “I met up with a former classmate of mine who was on the lymphoma service at Memorial [Sloan- Kettering (MSK) in New York]. We discussed alternative therapies to try to get a sense if there was anything better out there for me.” In the end, all agreed with Dr. Siegel’s recommendation. “I was thrilled,” Dr. Eisenberg said. “I wanted my care at Hartford Hospital. This was my home cancer unit, where From left, Andrew Salner, MD, director, Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center; I round every day—a brand new state-of-the-art facility, Wendy Perchick, chief of strategy and innovation, Memorial Sloan-Kettering all private rooms, and the greatest nurses in the world.” Cancer Center (MSK); Elliot Joseph, president and chief executive officer, After months of chemotherapy, Dr. Eisenberg was in Hartford HealthCare (HHC); Craig B. Thompson, MD, president and chief remission and ready for the stem cell transplant, an advanced, executive officer, MSK; James Blazar, senior vice president and chief strategy high-risk therapy that Hartford Hospital did not offer. and transformation officer, HHC; José Baselga, MD, physician-in-chief, MSK; But, as Dr. Eisenberg recalls, “the transition [to MSK] was Donna M. Handley, vice president of Cancer Institute Operations, HHC; and absolutely seamless.” Victor Ribaudo, executive director of regional network and alliances, MSK. Dr. Eisenberg’s experience is a perfect illustration of the transformational "Our presence in the cancer care community will increase significantly," says José Baselga, MD, physician-in-chief at MSK. opportunities in cancer research and “Hartford HealthCare hospitals have 6,000 new patients a year. patient care that Hartford HealthCare We're talking about a significant volume of cancer patients." (HHC) will provide as the founding HHC partnered with MSK to build a first–of–its–kind relationship and is the founding member of the MSK partner in the Memorial Cancer Alliance. Sloan-Kettering Cancer Alliance. As Elliot Joseph, president and CEO of HHC, explained, “I truly benefitted from the relationship between these “We have been building Hartford HealthCare to transform two world-class institutions before the relationship was healthcare delivery in Connecticut. Part of that transformation formalized,” he said at a news conference in September is to make sure excellent care is close to home, in the announcing the alliance. “I was able to do that in large part communities we serve. We are building on the strengths of our because of my professional relationships and my connections. current cancer programs—Hartford Hospital‘s Helen & Harry But to think that now this relationship is open to all of our Gray Center, itself a nationally recognized cancer center; the patients in our state, that everybody can get the same level of Hospital of Central Connecticut’s George Bray Cancer Center; care that I had, is truly remarkable.” our cancer program at MidState Medical Center; our cancer MSK, the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center, center at Windham Hospital; and our cancer center at our will offer patients throughout the Hartford HealthCare newest partner, Backus Hospital in Norwich. We are moving community access to cutting-edge clinical trials and standards from distinct cancer centers to one cancer program, a single of care. Hartford HealthCare, home to the nationally standard of excellence.” recognized Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center, which houses talented and experienced medical specialists and support What’s inside... personnel in addition to the latest technology to provide state-of-the-art care, will offer MSK the opportunity to deliver Meeting the Challenges of Success— Page 2 its innovative treatments to a larger community of 2014 Black & Red — Page 3 cancer patients. Philanthrophy at Work— Page 6 Stuart Markowitz, MD, is the new president of Hartford Hospital. The leadership changes announced in September also include •In a transition announced in September, he also became president the creation of a regional structure for HHC. In addition to the of Hartford HealthCare’s (HHC) newly formed Hartford Region, Hartford Region, the network consists of which includes Hartford Hospital, Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network, and academics. The new leadership • The Central Region, which includes MidState and the structure and regional framework will allow HHC to sustain Hospital of Central Connecticut (HOCC). Lucille Janatka, consistent and systemwide quality, improve the patient HHC senior vice president and president and CEO of Mid- experience, and control costs. • State Medical Center, will become president for the Cen- Dr. Markowitz has been a leader at Hartford Hospital for tral Region. She also retains oversight of VNA HealthCare decades, serving as chief medical officer from January 2012, as and Connecticut Senior Health Services. She will be the vice president of the medical staff for two years, and as the chair chief executive of MidState and HOCC. and medical director of the Department of Radiology since 1995. He also spent nearly 30 years in private practice. The East Region, which includes Backus and Dr. Markowitz is Hartford Hospital’s first physician leader since Windham hospitals. David Whitehead is HHC senior vice T. Stewart Hamilton, MD, stepped down in 1976. president and president of the East Region, making him “I hope to bring a slightly different flavor to this position,” the chief executive of Backus and Windham hospitals. In Dr. Markowitz said. “As a physician who has been in practice here addition, he will assume oversight for Clinical Laboratory since 1985, I understand what happens at the bedside and the Partners. He also will lead the system’s business and challenges presented by clinical issues.” ambulatory network development efforts, coordinating Jeffrey Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford Hospital since systemwide focus and accountability on the growth of 2011, steps into the newly created position of executive vice HHC’s individual businesses. For the system’s business president and chief operating officer of HHC. and ambulatory network duties, Whitehead will report “Hartford Hospital is in a very good place today, and there is no directly to Elliot Joseph, president and CEO of Hartford doubt in my mind that it is because of our tremendous accom- HealthCare. plishments during the tenure of Jeff Flaks,” Dr. Markowitz said. John F. Greene Jr., MD, succeeds Dr. Markowitz as the chief medical officer. His appointment as the new Hartford HealthCare The HHC Behavioral Health Network, which includes regional vice president of medical affairs for the Hartford Region the Institute of Living, Natchaug Hospital, the Rushford and Hartford Hospital was announced in October. Greene has Center, and other behavioral health affiliates. Steven been part of the Hartford Hospital staff since beginning his Larcen, PhD, is HHC senior vice president of the network. residency in 1983. He is board-certified in ob-gyn and has received In announcing the organizational and leadership restructuring, numerous awards and recognitions for his clinical, quality, and Joseph said, “The structure consolidates resources and decision teaching performance over the years. Most recently, he assumed making to generate the speed and flexibility we need to be able the position of chief medical officer at MidState Medical Center. to execute our essential strategies.” Restructuring Positions HHC To Meet Challenges of Success STUART MARKOWITZ , MD JEFFREY FLAKS JOHN F. G REENE , MD 2 2014 Black & Red Institute of Living in the Spotlight The world-renowned Institute of Living (IOL) will be showcased at Hartford Hospital’s 2014 Black & Red. The gala, featuring entertainment by the pop band Barenaked Ladies, is set for Saturday, January 25, 2014, at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Funds raised through the gala will be used to assist the IOL as it takes a lead role in responding to a national call for increased access to mental health treatment and mental health parity, especially for adolescents and young adults. After a series of mass shootings involving individuals with mental illness, including the Sandy Hook School tragedy in Newtown, Conn., Dr. Harold Schwartz, psychiatrist-in-chief and vice president of behavioral The Marquee Entertainment: Barenaked Ladies health at the IOL, was called to serve on Gov. Dannel Malloy’s Known for light-hearted, comedic performances, the Canadian Sandy Hook Advisory Commission. Schwartz also assisted in pop band Barenaked Ladies (BNL) had its first commercial shaping President Barack Obama’s “national dialogue on release The Yellow Tape in 1991. The band caught America’s mental health.” attention in 1998 with its fifth album, Stunt , and the No. 1 hit Hartford Hospital’s signature fund-raising event will single "One Week"—as Rolling Ston e calls it, “a deliberately provide support to the IOL as it addresses the issue of access silly hybrid of pop and rap.” to mental health treatment with critically needed research, The band is also known for the hits “The Old Apartment,” increased services, and education for those impacted by “Pinch Me,” “If I Had $1000000,” “Brian Wilson,” as well as the mental illness. theme song for the TV sitcom The Big Bang Theory . BNL has won Also on the IOL’s agenda is the Depression Initiative. multiple Juno Awards and has been nominated for two It is aimed at enabling people with depression, bipolar Grammy Awards. disorder, or anxiety disorders to achieve full, functional The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan recovery. With innovative clinical and research programs, (bass/vocals), Kevin Hearn (keyboard/guitar/vocals), the initiative seeks to advance the global medical community’s Ed Robertson (guitar/vocals), and Tyler Stewart (drums/vocals).