2005 News Makers
The following News Makers are listed by month in reverse chronological order.
December
Robert A. Klugman, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine, was quoted in a Dec. 30 article in the Westborough News that highlighted the reasons several of the town’s residents donate to given causes.
Jennifer S. Daly, MD , professor of medicine, was interviewed Dec. 29 on WTAG-AM for an update on flu. Dr. Daly discussed the availability of flu shots and provided information on staying healthy during the flu season.
President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care John G. O’Brien, MBA, instructor in medicine, was quoted in a Dec. 26 Worcester Business Journal feature recapping health care highlights in 2005.
Credited with pioneering the concept of the "cough clinic," Richard S. Irwin, MD, professor of medicine, was quoted in the Dec. 26 L.A. Times discussing the varied and often complex causes of cough and new guidelines being crafted to treat them.
UMass Memorial President and CEO John G. O'Brien, MBA, instructor in medicine, was featured in the Dec. 22 Worcester Telegram & Gazette in an article touting the clinical system's record $94.3 million surplus, a positive financial performance for the second consecutive year.
Kathleen Biebel, PhD, research assistant professor of psychiatry, was a guest on WUML 9.5 FM’s “The Sunrise Show” on Dec. 22. Dr. Biebel discussed the Family Care Management Project, an AstraZeneca-funded initiative to establish and evaluate a pilot family care management intervention for parents with serious mental illness and their children. The project will be conducted in partnership with Employee Options, Inc. of Marlborough.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Darshak Shanghavi, MD, was quoted in a Dec. 19 Worcester Telegram and Gazette Health Page feature which covered a recent Schwartz Center Rounds, held at UMass Memorial Medical Center's Memorial Campus. The Schwartz Center Rounds are the signature program of the nonprofit Kenneth B. Schwartz Center, which promotes compassionate health care. Dr. Shanghavi, who wrote a white paper summarizing issues raised by Schwartz Center Rounds, discussed the disconnect between medical advances that have been made and the human contact that individual's crave.
G. Naheed Usmani, MD, associate professor of clinical pediatrics, penned an editorial titled, "Out in the Cold" for the Dec. 11 Boston Sunday Globe that discussed the continued devastation faced by the victims of October's Pakistani earthquake, which killed some 86,000 individuals and left 3.3 million homeless.
Yunsheng Ma, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine, and Barbara Olendzki, MPH, instructor in medicine, were interviewed for a Dec. 9 Worcester News Tonight feature on their recently published paper that examined the relationship between winter weather and weight gain. Dr. Ma and Olendzki noted that increased caloric intake combined with a decrease in physical activity in the winter months can lead to moderate weight gain. Dr. Ma was also interviewed for a related feature published by Reuters Health on Dec. 19.
Elizabeth Dugan, PhD , assistant professor of medicine, was featured on WUML 91.5 FM's "The Sunrise Show" on Dec. 9, to discuss her recent paper, "The Impact on Patient Trust of Legalizing Physician Aid in Dying." Dr. Dugan was a co-author of the study that found that, despite the concern that legalizing physician-assisted suicide would significantly undermine patients' trust in physicians, the evidence points to the contrary.
Eric J. Alper, MD, associate professor of medicine, was interviewed for a Dec. 8 Worcester News Tonight report on his contribution of original photographs to the Arts Night II/Hurricane Katrina Fundraiser event, organized by students from the School of Medicine to benefit Habitat for Humanity's rebuilding effort along the Gulf Coast. Second-year medical students Trinh Tran and Becca Singer were also interviewed for the story.
Aaron Lazare, MD, Chancellor and Dean, was interviewed for a Dec. 7 York (PA) Daily Record article regarding possible compensation to the family of a woman murdered in the city's 1969 race riots. Dr. Lazare focused on statements made by city officials and whether they constitute a proper apology to the family.
Michael P. Hirsh, MD, professor of pediatrics and surgery and Mariann M. Manno, MD, clinical associate professor of pediatrics, were interviewed Dec. 6 by WBZ-TV Channel 4, WTAG-580 AM, NECN's Worcester News Tonight and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette regarding the 2005 Goods for Guns gun buy-back program, sponsored by the Injury Free Coalition for Kids-Worcester and UMass Memorial Medical Center. The program seeks to remove unwanted or unsafe guns from homes where they could harm children; in the past three years, it has confiscated nearly 800 firearms. Dr. Manno also appeared on the Jordan Levy Show on WTAG-AM to talk about the buyback and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette's Dec. 10 issue featured an Opinion piece touting the program.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Darshak Shanghavi, MD , authored a "Pediatric Perspective," published in the Dec. 5 Boston Globe, which highlighted the importance car seat usage for infants and children.
Brian Busconi, MD, associate professor of orthopedics and physical rehabilitation and pediatrics, was interviewed for a Dec. 5 Worcester News Tonight health story that examined weight control in young athletes in light of a newly released policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Busconi commented on the report's recommendation that physicians play a more active role as an informed resource for athletes, parents and coaches in the area of safe weight loss and weight gain.
On December 2, Jeffrey D. Bernhard, MD, professor of medicine, was a guest on "The Sunrise Show" on WUML 91.5 FM at theUniversity of Massachusetts, Lowell. Dr. Bernhard discussed the causes of itch, including dry skin and underlying medical issues that can contribute to chronic itching.
November
A Nov. 30 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article, touting University licensing efforts in 2004, featured an interview with James P. McNamara, PhD , executive director of the UMMS Office of Technology Management.
President of UMass Memorial Medical Center Walter H. Ettinger, MD, MBA , professor of medicine, penned an As I See It column, published in the Nov. 30 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, that discussed how the hospital is achieving its top priority of providing safe and quality care to its patients.
Carole C. Upshur EdD, professor of family medicine & community health, was quoted in a Nov. 30 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article discussing the success of the Together for Kids Coalition, which has worked to reduce the rate of expulsions of young children from daycare programs. Dr. Upshur was asked to assist the program upon its initiation in 2001.
David S. Hatem, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine, was interviewed on WUML 9.5 FM’s “The Sunrise Show” on Nov. 28 for a feature on Communication and Performance Improvement, a collaborative program ofUMMS, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Health Care Institute that is aimed at assessing and improving physician communication skills. Dr. Hatem is an instructor for the program.
Mark E. Quirk, EdD, professor of family medicine & community health, and Aaron Lazare, MD, Chancellor and Dean, were featured in a Nov. 28 Worcester Business Journal article regarding the importance of communication in promoting patient satisfaction.
President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care John G. O'Brien, MBA , instructor in medicine and Thomas D. Manning, deputy chancellor for Commonwealth Medicine and Strategic Facilities Planning at UMMS, were pictured in a Worcester Business Journal article on Nov. 28 that highlighted an event sponsored by the publication that honored the region's top growth companies in 2005.
Assistant Professor of Medicine Christian Hartman, PharmD , was interviewed the week of Nov. 28 for a feature on best practices in medical reconciliation and what hospitals are doing in this area to meet national patient safety goals for Inside the Joint Commission. Dr. Hartman is manager of Medication Safety and Quality forUMass Memorial Medical Center.
Katherine F. Ruiz de Luzuriaga, MD, professor of pediatrics and Liisa Selin, PhD, associate professor of pathology , were interviewed for a Nov. 28 Boston Globe article discussing their ground-breaking research that has shown flexibility in the body’s immune response and that, in fact, certain diseases may actually be “exacerbated or ameliorated” by this response. According to the article, the work — considered “heresy” some 10 years ago by infectious disease experts —will be published in the prestigious Journal of Clinical Investigators this month. Dr. Selin was also pictured with the article.
David S. Hatem, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine, appeared on WUML 91.5 FM’s “The Sunrise Show” on Nov. 28, to discuss a collaborative program of UMMS and Tufts University School of Medicine that offers communication skills training to practicing physicians.
Paul S. Appelbaum, MD, the Arnold F. Zeleznik Professor of Psychiatry and chair of psychiatry, was interviewed for a Nov. 23 Worcester News Tonight story on the positive effect of the holidays on mood and attitude.
UMass Memorial President and CEO John G. O’Brien, MBA , instructor in medicine, was featured in a Nov. 22 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article covering the $1 million donation given by Hanover Insurance Group, formerly Allmerica Financial Corp., to name the 468-square-foot pediatric emergency room waiting area for the company.
UMass Memorial Medical Center epidemiologist Richard T. Ellison, MD , professor of medicine and molecular genetics & microbiology, commented on the health risks posed by methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), for a Nov. 18 Worcester News Tonight segment.
In the Nov. 10 edition of the Daily Bruin, the newspaper of the University of California Los Angeles , George B. Witman III, PhD, the George Booth Chair in the Basic Sciences, was quoted in an editorial column promoting male birth control. Dr. Witman specifically discussed his discovery of a protein in sperm cells that regulates their ability to swim and, via a licensing deal with Spermatech AS of Oslo , Norway , could be a potential target for a male contraceptive.
Richard V. Aghababian, MD, professor and chair of emergency medicine, was interviewed on-camera Nov. 2 for a Worcester News Tonight report regarding hospital preparations for what may be a difficult flu season. Dr. Aghababian has led the hospital’s efforts to prepare for both man-made and natural disasters, as well as for surges in the number of patients seeking care for flu each winter.
Robert A. Phillips, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine and medical director of the UMass Memorial Medical Center's new Heart and Vascular Center of Excellence, was featured in a Nov. 1 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article discussing the reopening of the hospital's cardiac program. Also quoted in the story were Professor of Medicine and President of UMass Memorial Medical Center Walter H. Ettinger Jr., MD, MBA, and Professor and Chair of Surgery Demetrius E.M. Litwin, MD.
October Brian D. Busconi, MD, associate professor of orthopedics & physical rehabilitation, was quoted at length in an Oct. 31 Worcester Business Journal feature discussing the disparate situations facing soldiers and reservists called to active duty with regard to employment security. Dr. Busconi specifically discussed the challenges he faced by both leaving and coming back to UMass Memorial as well as the importance of having an understanding employer.
Aaron Lazare, MD, Chancellor and Dean, was featured in a Christian Science Monitor article regarding apology as a growing phenomenon in the workplace and in public. The interview was printed Oct. 27 and highlighted on the Christian Science Monitor Web site.
Richard T. Ellison, MD, professor of medicine, and Richard A. Moriarty, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics, discussed the demand for and availability of meningitis vaccines for the upcoming school season in an Oct. 3 Worcester Telegram & Gazette feature. Dr. Ellison was also interviewed for a Telegram & Gazette article on the threat of an avian flu pandemic on Oct. 24.
Donna Ambrosino, MD, director of the Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories (MBL) and professor of pediatrics, was quoted in articles published in both The Boston Globe and Worcester Telegram & Gazette newspapers on Oct. 22 following the official opening of the MBL's new $100 million biologics manufacturing and vaccine filling facility on the campus of the old Boston State Hospital in Mattapan. This opening marked the culmination of four years of planning and construction for the new building, which serves as an extension of the MBL's existing facilities on UMMS' nearby Jamaica Plain campus. Dr. Ambrosino also commented on questions regarding concerns about the avian flu.
Jeffrey D. Bernhard, MD, professor of medicine, was featured in an Oct. 19 Dallas Morning News article that explored the causes and treatments of itch. Dr. Bernhard, an expert on the subject, noted that too little basic research has been done in this area.
Marc Fisher, MD, professor of neurology, contributed to an Oct. 18 article in The Boston Globe that discussed New England Patriots' football player Tedy Bruschi's return to the game after suffering a stroke in the previous season. Dr. Fisher discussed the risks associated with a return to sports.
In an Oct. 15 Worcester Telegram & Gazette story examining the negative influence of continuous days of rain on mood and attitude, Anthony Rothschild, MD, the Irving S. and Betty Brudnick Chair of Psychiatry and professor of psychiatry, commented on the general symptoms of lethargy and irritability that people may experience when faced with dark and dreary weather.
Following a devastating earthquake in Pakistan on Oct. 8, G. Naheed Usmani, MD, associate professor of clinical pediatrics, was quoted by numerous media outlets during the week of October 17 regarding her reaction to and involvement in relief efforts as president of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of New England. The various broadcast and print media that spoke with Dr. Usmani included: all three Boston television stations, NECN's "Worcester News Tonight", "Voice of America," the Boston Herald and India Today.
Professor of Molecular Medicine Stephen J. Doxsey, PhD, was featured in the Oct. 10 edition of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette regarding his team's findings, published in the Oct. 7 issue of Cell, that a remarkable activity takes place in an overlooked cellular structure during human cell division that could be an important element in aging and cell death.
September
The research of Assistant Professor of Cancer Biology Sharon B. Cantor, MD, was the highlight of the Sept. 19 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Health page discussing Fanconi anemia, one of several deadly inherited anemias and its relation to hereditary breast cancer.
Internationally renowned expert in infectious diseases Robert W. Finberg, MD, the Richard M. Haidack Professor of Medicine and chair of medicine discussed "Plague Past & Present," on WUML 91.5 FM's "The Sunrise Show" on Sept. 16. Dr. Finberg recently gave a presentation on the same topic as part of a symposium held in conjunction with the Worcester Art Museum's exhibition, Hope and Healing: Painting in Italy in a Time of Plague, 1500-1800.
Marianne E. Felice, MD, professor and chair of pediatrics, was interviewed Sept. 16 on NECN's Worcester News Tonight for a segment discussing the societal and public health implications of an increase in the number of adolescents, both male and female, who have experimented with oral sex.
Philip A. Lowry, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine, was interviewed for a Sept. 15 SmartMoney.Com article that discussed the banking of umbilical cord blood. Dr. Lowry offered his insights regarding the likelihood that a sibling's cord blood could provide a potential for transplant in the case of illness.
Raymond M. Dunn, MD, professor of surgery, was interviewed for an article in the Sept. 13 Metrowest Daily News regarding the increasing medical use of leeches and maggots in the field of reconstructive and plastic surgery.
Alan D. Michelson, MBBS, professor of pediatrics, was quoted in a Sept. 12 article in the Milford Daily News featuring one of his young patients, who is recovering from a rare blood disease. The 5-year-old boy and his father were highlighted as the featured musicians in a story focused on the second annual benefit concert for the Center for Platelet Function Studies.
Jeff Kennedy, MD, assistant professor of medicine and member of the UMMS Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, was featured in a Sept. 8 Worcester Telegram & Gazette story regarding preliminary results, compiled from a phase 1 clinical trial of a new vaccine for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which demonstrated the vaccine's ability to generate antibody and T-cell responses in otherwise healthy people not infected with HIV. Shan Lu, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine and head of the HIV vaccine development efforts at UMMS, was also named in the article.
On Sept. 7, Richard Aghababian, MD, professor and chair of emergency medicine, appeared on The Sunrise Show on WUML 91.5 FM, to discuss the challenges of providing medical care during and after a hurricane.
Professor of Family Medicine & Community Health Linda F. Weinreb, MD, was quoted in The Boston Globe on Sept. 4 regarding “what works” in assisting the homeless. Dr. Weinreb, who serves as a medical director of the Family Health Center, specifically discussed the combination of medical and social services offered through the Center to homeless individuals.
August
In response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, which battered the country’s Gulf coast in August, a number of faculty offered comment on the public health risks wrought by such a natural disaster. Marc A. Gautreau, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine, was interviewed by NECN on Aug. 29.
Robert Licho, MD, UMMS associate professor of radiology and director of nuclear medicine at UMass Memorial Medical Center, was quoted Aug. 26 in The Boston Globe regarding the growing number of hospitals in Massachusetts seeking to install PET scanners. Dr. Licho described the utility of the scanning devices in the context of the Medical Center's application to install one at the University Campus.
On Aug. 23, NECN's Worcester News Tonight broadcast a story about Lyme disease which featured an interview with Jennifer S. Daly, MD, UMMS professor of medicine and clinical chief of infectious disease at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Daly explained the causes and symptoms of the disease and discussed preventative measures as well as the treatments available.
Richard S. Irwin, MD, professor of medicine, was the focus of an Aug. 22 Worcester Business Journal article that discussed his new appointment as editor-in-chief of CHEST magazine, the highest circulating pulmonary critical care journal in the world.
James P. McNamara, PhD, executive director of the UMMS Office of Technology Management, was quoted in an Aug. 19 Worcester Telegram & Gazette business story discussing UMMS licensing revenue which reached an all-time high of $27.8 million in 2005.
A recent study, authored by Allard E. Dembe, ScD, associate professor of family medicine & community health, which discussed working overtime and its correlation to risk of injury received extensive media coverage. In addition to a local story that ran in the Aug. 18 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, national and international outlets that published articles included BBC News, Forbes, the Bloomberg Business Report, the Daily Mail and the Scotsman.
James B. Hanshaw, MD, professor emeritus of pediatrics, was the focus of the Aug. 18 Arts Column in The Boston Globe, discussing his second life as an artist and his show of pastel and oil landscapes titled "The Landscape: Cubism to Naturalism," on display through Sept. 11 at Tower Hill in Boylston.
Steven M. Reppert, MD, the Higgins Family Professor of Neuroscience and professor and chair of neurobiology, was named in an Aug. 18 on-line Science Daily article discussing research into the migration of monarch butterflies.
On Aug. 9, The Boston Globe published an extensive business story about financial and operational improvements at UMass Memorial Medical Center over the past several years. The article profiled President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care John G. O'Brien, MBA, instructor in medicine, and highlighted the initiatives he’s led to get the hospital on firm financial ground. The story also quoted David C. Ayers, MD, the Arthur M. Pappas, MD, Chair in Orthopedics and professor of orthopedics & physical rehabilitation, and included a photo of Walter H. Ettinger Jr., MD, MBA, professor of medicine and president of the Medical Center.
Michael P. Hirsh, MD, professor of surgery, was the focus of an Aug. 7 Worcester Telegram & Gazette story highlighting the inexperience of teen drivers. Dr. Hirsh specifically discussed the factors of speed, alcohol use and "multi-tasking" among teens that often leads to these devastating "injury events" as well as a program being initiated through the UMMS Injury Free Coalition and Worcester Juvenile Courts that would target teen offenders to educate them about the consequences of negligent driving.
The August 4 Worcester Telegram & Gazette featured a page one story titled "A Home of Their Own" that quoted UMass Memorial Health Care CEO and President John G. O'Brien, MBA, instructor in medicine, discussing the UMass Memorial Bell Hill-East Side Homeownership Initiative. The program, which supports the purchase and renovation of homes that neighbor the Medical Center, is a collaboration among UMass Memorial and city and state agencies, to help retain and recruit staff while improving the neighborhoods of Worcester. The model program was also cited in an editorial.
Azra Raza, MD, the Gladys Smith Martin Chair in Oncology, and professor of medicine, was interviewed for an August 3 WBZ-TV Channel 5 health segment on the potential anti-cancer properties of certain spices, particularly garlic, turmeric and ginger.
Prompted by the suspension of major league baseball star Rafael Palmiero, Lee A. Mancini, MD, assistant professor of family medicine & community health, was interviewed by WTAG-AM radio on Aug. 2 regarding steroid use by athletes. Dr. Mancini enumerated the dangers of so-called performance-enhancing drugs for athletes of all ages.
On August 1, Marjorie A. Clay, PhD, professor of medicine, was interviewed on a variety of current topics in medical ethics on "The Sunrise Show," WUML 91.5's morning talk show.
July
David M. Clive, MD, professor of medicine, was featured on the July 28 edition of WUML 91.5's "The Sunrise Show," to offer a physician's perspective on the topic of living wills.
Leslie R. Harrold, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine, commented on the expense patients generally face when opting to use alternative therapies to treat their chronic pain in The Boston Globe's July 5 "Sound Body" column.
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine Andre Markarian , MD, was interviewed on July 26 by WBZ-TV Channel 4 for a story on the health risks of the heat and symptoms of heat-related illness.
Azra Raza, MD, professor of medicine, was the subject of a lengthy profile in the July 18 Telegram & Gazette. The profile detailed Dr. Raza's quest to improve cancer treatment through the application of basic research and scientific technology. Along side the feature was a complementary article about a $1 million gift to support Dr. Raza's research that was made by a patient.
In a July 18 Boston Globe feature on the physical problems aging Americans can face when their "replacement parts" begin to fail, David C. Ayers, MD, the Arthur M. Pappas, MD, Chair of Orthopedics and professor and chair of orthopedics & physical rehabilitation, discussed a trial he is leading that tests an improved hip replacement. The new components use materials designed to increase the longevity of the product to match the lengthening lifespan of its recipients.
On July 12, Judith K. Ockene, PhD, the Barbara Helen Smith Chair in Preventive and Behavioral Medicine and Chief of the Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, was interviewed by a number of media outlets for her work as lead author on the article “Symptom Experience After Discontinuing Use of Estrogen Plus Progestin,” a paper published in the July 13 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The paper detailed how researchers, led by Dr. Ockene, examined the symptom and psychosocial consequences for women when they stop hormone therapy. Outlets that interviewed Dr. Ockene included: WCVB-TV Channel 5, NECN’s Worcester News Tonight, CBS Radio, The Associated Press, WebMD, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, The Boston Globe, National Public Radio's Morning Edition, HealthDay, The Kansas City Star, Bloomberg News, USA Today, Newsday and CBS News.
UMMS Chancellor and Dean Aaron Lazare, MD, penned a lengthy editorial, published in the July 3 Washington Post, discussing the recent “thirst for apologizing in Washington” and the lack of true sincerity in these public apologies.
In the July 2 issue of Science News, a feature discussing the prevalence of RNAi interference as a scientific tool in labs worldwide named co-discoverer Craig C. Mello, PhD, the Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, and quoted Phillip D. Zamore, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular pharmacology.
Marc Restuccia, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine, discussed the symptoms of exposure to styrene in a July 1 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article covering a chemical leak on Rte 140 in Shrewsbury.
The July issue of Residency Program Alert featured an extensive interview with Deborah M. DeMarco, MD, associate dean of graduate medical education, on the subject of electronic evaluation systems for medical residents. Dr. DeMarco, who led the Medical School's transition to electronic evaluations in 2001, discussed the impact of such systems and offered a number of thoughts on their utility.
An article in the spring 2005 issue of HHMI Bulletin announced the newly elected members of the National Academy of Sciences, which included Professor of Molecular Medicine Craig C. Mello, PhD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine. In a separate article, HMMI Bulletin noted Dr. Mello's receipt of the 2005 Gairdner Foundation International Award, in honor of his "discovery of RNA interference, which initiated a revolution in the study and use of RNA in gene silencing."
June
Demetrius E. M. Litwin, MD, professor and chair of surgery, was quoted in a June 30 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article highlighting the family-owned business of Karl Storz Endovision, Inc. The Charlton company, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, is the supplier of instruments that are being integrated into 10 new and two renovated operating rooms at UMass Memorial Medical Center to accommodate more efficient minimally invasive surgeries — Dr. Litwin's specialty. An article published in The American Journal of Medicine by lead author Jerry H. Gurwitz, MD, the Dr. John Meyers Professor of Primary Care Medicine, was cited in a June 30 story by CNS LongTermCare, discussing the lack of sophisticated software used by many hospitals to monitor adverse drug events (ADE), despite the high number reported in those facilities. Dr. Gurwitz’s study specifically found a level of inaccuracy that translated into 1.9 million ADEs across the U.S. per year.
UMMS Chancellor and Dean Aaron Lazare was quoted in a June 30 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article covering the official kick-off event for the UMass Memorial Emergency Department and Trauma Center expansion.
Robert J. Goldberg, PhD, professor of medicine, was quoted on the Web-based MedPage June 29 regarding his findings, published in the July issue of The American Journal of Medicine, which found that the aging U.S.population is at a higher risk for heart failure — triggering a need for more population-based surveys of the syndrome.
The June 27 Worcester Business Journal ran a story on the recent appointment of James McNamara, PhD, as the new executive director of the Office of Technology Management.
Department of Medicine faculty Peter Westervelt, MD, assistant professor and director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Program, and Azra Raza, MD, professor and chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology, were among those cited for their involvement in the testing of thalidomide for use as a weapon against certain cancers in the June 27 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article titled "Thalidomide moves from horror to hope."
A June 23 story in The Boston Globe about innovative policies developed at UMass Memorial Health Care and Partners Health Care to offer discounted fees for uninsured individuals featured UMass Memorial President and CEO John G. O’Brien, MBA, instructor in medicine. Mr. O’Brien explained the clinical system’s hope that the new policy will improve access to appropriate care for people of modest means.
Dermatologist Mary E. Maloney, MD, professor of medicine, was interviewed for a June 22 NECN Worcester News Tonight story on skin cancer. In addition to mentioning sobering skin cancer statistics, Dr. Maloney emphasized the importance of daily sun protection and of having a doctor examine suspicious skin changes immediately.
Richard C. Antonelli, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, was interviewed for a June 20 WorcesterTelegram & Gazette Health Page feature on “medical homes,” a concept by which children with complex health care needs receive the wrap-around care they require. The article included information about the sometimes confusing array of care some patients need and the benefit of health care professionals helping empower parents to obtain and manage the appropriate care for their children.
UMass Memorial President and CEO John G. O'Brien, MBA, instructor in medicine, was interviewed by the Boston Business Journal, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, NECNs Worcester News Tonight, WTAG-580 AM radio, the Webster Patriot and the Blackstone Valley Tribune, following his June 15 announcement of a $10 million gift received by the Remillard Family Foundation in support of the Emergency Care Campaign.
Beginning on the front page of its June 12 issue, the WorcesterTelegram & Gazette published a seven-part series regarding the ability of, and access to, pediatric mental health services in Central Massachusetts. A number of medical school and clinical system experts were featured in the series, including: W. Peter Metz, MD, associate professor of pediatrics and psychiatry; Daniel Connor, MD , professor of psychiatry; Thomas Grisso, PhD, professor of psychiatry; William O'Brien, MSW, executive director of the UMass Memorial Behavioral Health System; Munisha Punwani, MD, pediatric and adolescent psychiatry resident; and Suzanne Hannigan , project director for Worcester Communities of Care.
A June 7 story in The Boston Globe regarding the health risks posed by small pets quoted William A. “Jerry” Durbin, MD, professor of pediatrics.
Richard H. Glew, MD, professor of medicine, and Richard A. Moriarty, MD, clinical professor of pediatrics, were quoted in a June 6 Worcester Telegram & Gazette feature about travel medicine. The article discussed various illnesses often associated with foreign travel and ways to best avoid contracting disease.
The June 3 issue of ProteoMonitor featured extensive coverage of the recently organized Proteomoics Consortium, which links the Medical School and Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives (MBI) to offer enhanced proteomic and bioinformatics resources to the region’s burgeoning academic and commercial research laboratories. Quoted in the story were John D. Leszyk, PhD, James E. Evans, MS, Sun W. Tam PhD, and Douglas A. Hinerfeld, PhD, research assistant professors of biochemistry & molecular pharmacology.
Michael P. Hirsh, MD, professor of surgery, was quoted in a June 3 WorcesterTelegram & Gazette article that described a special recognition ceremony honoring the Variety Club’s International Children’s Lifeline Program for its generous support of the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center Pediatric Feeding Clinic. As director of the clinic, Dr. Hirsh discussed the nature of pediatric eating problems and the services offered by the clinic.
Steven N. Treistman, PhD, professor of psychiatry and neurobiology and Director of the Irving S. and Betty Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, was interviewed by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette for a June 3 profile of student and laboratory colleague Paula Feinberg-Zadek , a 2005 graduate of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The article focused not only on Dr. Zadek and her work in Dr. Treistmans’ lab studying the effect of alcohol on a particular ion channel, but also upon her work raising five children, in particular triplets Tascha, Brittany and Alec, who graduated this year at the top of their class at Brandeis University. Brittany studied the same ion channel her mother focused on in her dissertation.
The June edition of CNS LongTerm Care featured Jerry H. Gurwitz, MD, the Dr. John Meyers Professor of Primary Care Medicine, in a story discussing adverse drug events (ADE) in long-term care settings. Dr. Gurwitz detailed findings of his recent research on the topic, which showed higher incidence of ADEs than past studies. He also highlighted the fact that many drugs can cause problems in the elderly population when not used or monitored properly, not just a handful of problematic medications.
Mark Vining, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics, authored an article on skin safety tips for children in the June issue of Bay State Parent. The article focused on summer burns and how to treat them.
May
Six physicians, faculty members and residents were profiled in a feature article in the May issue of Worcester Quarterly, a new magazine published by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. The article, which took a light-hearted look at doctors married to doctors, interviewed and photographed W. Peter Metz, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics and Phyllis Pollack, MD, clinical associate professor of pediatrics, medicine and obstetrics & gynecology; Marc C. Restuccia, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine and Robin Yukelis, MD, a family practitioner with Fallon Clinic (and a UMMS graduate); and soon-to-be-newlyweds and UMMS graduates Kristin Galarneau, MD, a psychiatry resident, and Konstantinos Deligiannidis, MD, a family practice resident at Barre Family Health Center.
Alan Rothman, MD, professor of medicine and co-director of the Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, provided medical insight for a story aired May 31 on NECN’s Worcester News Tonight regarding mosquito-borne illnesses, particularly West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis. Dr. Rothman explained the differences between the illnesses, including symptoms, when to seek medical care and how to best avoid mosquito bites.
UMass Memorial President and CEO John G. O'Brien, MBA, instructor in medicine, announced a partnership between the hospital and the City of Worcester on May 31, through which UMass Memorial will fund the position of the City’s Commissioner of Public Health. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business Journal, WTAG-AM Radio, and NECN’s Worcester News Tonight attended the press conference, which also featured remarks by City Manager Michael V. O’Brien and Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Jill C. Dagilis.
C. Robert Matthews, PhD, the Arthur F. and Helen P. Koskinas Professor and chair of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, was featured in a May 24 story in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette about UMMS’s new Proteomic Consortium. Dr. Matthews discussed how the consortium combines existing Medical School protein analysis facilities with newly acquired fractionation technology and expertise to further support academic and commercial proteomic research in the region. Sun W. Tam PhD, research associate professor of biochemistry & molecular pharmacology, was also quoted in the story.
Mary M. Lee, MD, professor of pediatrics, was interviewed May 20 for a short segment on NECN’s Worcester News Tonight about diabetes, in advance of a local diabetes fair being held to offer screenings and to raise awareness of the disease. Dr. Lee discussed the importance of careful monitoring of glucose levels and the long-term effects of diabetes.
A May 19 story on NECN’s Worcester News Tonight about the use of steroids by professional and amateur athletes featured an interview with Lee A. Mancini, MD, assistant professor of family medicine & community health and a member of the sports medicine clinic at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Mancini spoke about the major health risks of steroid use and gave advice to younger athletes about the importance of nutrition and proper exercise for maintaining good physical condition.
Dario C. Altieri, MD, the Eleanor Eustis Farrington Chair in Cancer Research and professor and chair of cancer biology, was interviewed for a May 17 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Health Page feature discussing his lab’s recent findings – published in the May issue of Cancer Cell – that a compound they engineered called “shepherdin” disrupts the interaction of two proteins that work together to encourage cancer cell proliferation, killing the cancer cells and sparing the normal tissue. This "pro-drug" was tested and found successful in both human cell cultures of cancer and in mouse models.
Dermatologists Mary E. Maloney, MD, professor of medicine, and Nathaniel J. Jellinek, MD, instructor of medicine, were interviewed for a May 16 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Health Page feature on skin cancer. In addition to describing the latest skin cancer treatments, Drs. Maloney and Jellinek emphasized the importance of daily sun protection and of having a doctor immediately check any suspicious skin changes.
Thoru Pederson, PhD, the Vitold Arnett Professor of Cell Biology and professor of biochemistry & molecular pharmacology, was featured in the May 15 Sunday Telegram & Gazette column by Albert Southwick that discussed the “science surge at Worcester colleges.” Dr. Pederson specifically noted his strong belief that the “flowering of science buildings” on campuses throughout the city is partly coincidental and partly sparked by the current era of research – begun 50 years ago with the deciphering of DNA and RNA by Watson and Crick.
A May 15 story on Fox 25 TV about the sudden death of a Boston College crew member featured an interview with Lee A. Mancini, MD, assistant professor of family medicine & community health and a member of the sports medicine clinic at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Mancini spoke about the importance of pre-participation physicals for student athletes and the need for players and coaches to be acutely aware of any onset of symptoms that may indicate significant problems.
H. Brownell Wheeler, MD, the Harry M. Haidak Distinguished Professor of Surgery Emeritus, was the focus of a May 12 Worcester Telegram & Gazette article covering his receipt of the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Massachusetts Medical Society. Presented by the statewide organization to an individual who has made a lasting contribution to the practice of medicine over his or her lifetime, the award specifically recognized Dr. Wheeler as “a compassionate and dedicated physician who inspires all by his many fine qualities: wisdom, grace, wit, personal and professional integrity."
Craig C. Mello, PhD, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator and the Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine, was featured in a front-page article in the May 4 Worcester Telegram & Gazette following his election to the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Mello was formally elected into the prestigious organization in recognition of his role in the co-discovery of RNAi or gene silencing by double-stranded RNA. John L. Sullivan, MD, professor of pediatrics and molecular medicine and director of the Office of Research, was also quoted in the Telegram article, noting the global importance of RNAi in research. In addition to the newspaper coverage, Dr. Mello and UMMS Chancellor and Dean Aaron Lazare, MD, were both interviewed by NECN's Worcester News Tonight during a May 5 reception celebrating Mello’s election.
James M. Gleason, MS, PT, instructor in pediatrics, appeared on WGBH-TV’s talk show "Greater Boston" May 4 to discuss the physical benefits of horseback riding for children with developmental disabilities.
David Chad, MD, professor of neurology, was interviewed for a May 2 FitchburgSentinel Enterprise article, regarding the damage wrought by amytrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. The story focused on the family of a Westminster man suffering from the disease and on the golf tournament that they have organized for the last ten years to raise money for ALS research.
April
Sports medicine expert Lee Mancini, MD, assistant professor of family medicine and community health, was interviewed for an April 29 Boston Herald article discussing the disturbing increase in steroid use by preteen and teen girls. Dr. Mancini emphasized that the potential hazards are even greater for girls than boys.