MCG Today

2007·2.6 MB·English

by  Medical College of Georgia

The magazine of the Medical College
of Georgia
Work
Makins
it
MCG's Kinship Care Program
Ielps Non-Parent Caregivers
Currency of Kindness
Scientists uncoversickening MCG's ResidentoftheYear draws on her
properties of undercooked beansand rice. PeaceCorpsand nursing experience.
Ibday
Dear Readers,
This edition ofMCC Today introduces
you to people such asTerryWeaver, Helen In this issue...
Cavitt and Heriberto Dominguez.
What the three ofthem have in
common is that they have no affiliation w\th
the Medical College ofGeorgia ... other
than the factthatthe universityserves their
needs. Ms. Weaver, whose multiple health Brushing Up
problems have left her unable to work, is
Cell damage may keep 18
a beneficiary ofaSchool ofNursinggrant
gums healthy.
establishing an Augusta network linking
the medically underserved to health care.
"I never knew I was going to fall apart at47
years old, but I'm lucky to have found the
help have," she says.
I
Ms. Cavitt, who is raising her niece's
three children, is a beneficiary ofthe School
ofNursing Kinship Care Program, which
reaches out to non-parentcaregivers.
Services include referrals to various
programs, one ofwhich is a summerday
camp forthe children. "Thatgave me some
peace ofmind because knewwhere they
I
were everyday and had a chance to get
I
some rest," says Ms. Cavitt.
Heriberto, 6, recentlysatin adental
chairforthe firsttime in hisyoung life,
courtesyofaSchool ofDentistryclinic
forchildren ofSpanish-speaking parents.
Everyone atthe clinicspeaksSpanish, so he
felt rightat home.
These arejust a few MCG programs WWW,MCG-EDU
that reach directly into the community to
serve its neediest citizens. Outreach is a
central tenet ofMCG's mission, as outlined MCG President: DanielW. Rahn,M.D.
in President Daniel W. Rahn's 2007 State of VicePresidentforUniversityAdvancement: R. BryanCinnJr.
the UniversityAddress (see page 5). True, Director,StrategicCommunications: CarylCainBrown
Ms. Weaver, Ms. Cavitt and little Heriberto Editor: ChristineHurleyDeriso
have no direct affiliation with MCG—but DesignandLayout: TrudyGove
the university is proud to call them family. Photographer:PhilJones
We invite you to read theirstories, Writers: ToniBaker, ChristineHurleyDeriso,JenniferHilliard
alongwith manyothers, in this edition of andSharronWalls
MroCleGinTohdealyp,iwnhgipcehopcleleesbrtaatnedsotnhethueniirveorwsinty's MAdCvCanTcoedamyenistpwriotdhufciendanqcuiaalrtaenrldyebdyitMorCiaGl sDuipvpisoirotnporfovUniidveedrsbiyty
two feet. MCG Health, Inc. Division ofStrategicSupport.
-Editor
©2007TheMedicalCollegeofGeorgiaisthe
healthsciencesuniversityoftheUniversitySystemofGeorgia
The magazine of the Medical College of Georgia Fall 2007 Volume 35 Number2
2 Newsbriefs 22 Currency ofKindness
MCG's Resident ofthe Year
draws on her Peace Corps and
nursing experience.
5 Rising to the Challenge
President Rahn counsels
GOOD stewardship OFTHE
state's PREEMINENT MISSION. 24 Innovation in Education:
Full Circle
A preemie returnsto MCG as
AN aspiring medicalSTUDENT.
6 Back On Her Feet
A Schoolof Nursing grant helps
ESTABLISH AN INDIGENTCARE NETWORK.
26 Profile in Giving
The promise of possibilities.
8 Making Work
it
MCG's Kinship Care Program
HELPS non-parentCAREGIVERS. 27 Gift Planning
Athree-stepapproach to giving.
12 wiping the Slate Clean
An do finding pavesthe 28 Newsmakers
I
WAY for drug combinations
TO battle cancer.
29 Class Notes
15
Foul!
Scientists uncover sickening
properties of undercooked 33 Reflections
beansand rice. 'I'm helping more peoplethan
everthought possible.'
i
20 Skin Signal
A LIPID HOLDS PROMISE FOR SKIN DIS-
EASES AND AGE-RELATED DAMage.
CORRECTION
A photo caption in the summer2007
MCC
edition of Today misidentified the
Pulmonary Diagnostics Laboratoryin
the School ofAllied Health Sciences
DepartmentofRespiratoryTherapy.
MCC
Todayregrets the error.
Fall 2007 1
0
BRIEFS
CLASS SIZE EXPANDING the future, Dr. Millersaid. Georgia
ranks 37th in the nation for physicians
The School ofMedicine will per population and 35th for medical
increase its class size by 5 percent to students to population, with fewer
200 freshmen forfall 2009. public medical student slots than
"We wantto continue to move those in neighboring states.
forward with qualityexpansion ofour Physician shortages across the
medical school to help meet the health nation prompted the Association of
care needs ofourstate," said Dean D. American Medical Colleges to call
Douglas Miller. "Ourapplicant pool forall medical schools to increase
is strong and we can easily accept 1 enrollment 30 percent by 2015. The
more qualified students for 2009 after School ofMedicine, which already
making appropriate accommodations has the 19th largest class size in the
forincreased space, teachers and nation, wants to increase its class size
patients. We can and will expand by 33 percent—from the longtime size
without havingto compromise quality." of180 to 240, Dr. Millersaid.
MCG went from 180 to 190 MCG recently requested proposals
freshmen in 2006, the first increase fora planning firm to help the medical
since 1974. Enrollment at most ofthe school determine the most effective,
nation's medical schools has been flat efficient wayto expand. Once selected,
forabout 25 years. the firm will have 90 days to study
Georgia's aging population, the issues and provide information.
MCG
coupled with an aging physician plans to present expansion
population—one in three active recommendations to the University
physicians are over age 55—add up System ofGeorgia Board ofRegents
to more doctors needed now and in inJanuary.
SchoolofMedicine
Dean D. Douglas Miller
HEART TRANSPLANTS APPROVED
The United Network forOrgan Sharing Board ofDirectors has
approved an MCG Health System heart transplantation program.
"This is the first step in a process that will allow us to become
the only heart transplant program in the CSRA," said Dr. Kevin
Landolfo, MCG Health System's clinical service chiefand director
ofthe HeartTransplant Program. "After November, we expect that
area heartfailure patients will no longer have to leave the area
to get a heart transplant. They'll be able to come to MCG."
Since 1968, MCG has performed more than
1,700 kidneytransplants. Simultaneous kidney/
pancreas transplantation began in 1994. Today,
the health system is the only medical facility m
the state outside ofAtlanta to perform kidney
and pancreas transplants.
2 MCGTODAY
SKIN CELL REGULATOR
Green tea could hold promise for
skin disorders such as psoriasis and
MCG
dandruff, researchers say.
Researchers studied an
animal model for inflammatory
skin diseases. Those treated
with green tea showed
slowergrowth ofskin cells
and the presence ofa
gene that regulates the
cells' life cycles.
"Psoriasis, an autoimmune
disease, causes the skin to become
thicker because the growth ofskin cells
is out ofcontrol," said Dr. Stephen Hsu,
an oral biologist in the School ofDentistry
and lead investigator on the study published in the
Aug. 18 edition ofExperimental Dermatology. Other
autoimmune diseases with similarside effects include
lupus and dandruff.
Green tea,
already shown to
suppress inflammation, helps by regulating the expression
ofCaspase-14, a protein in genes that regulates the
life cycle ofa skin cell. "That markerguides cells by
telling them when to differentiate, die offand form a
skin barrier," Dr. Hsu said. "In psoriasis, that process is
interrupted and the skin cells don't die before more are
created and the resulting lesions form."
Animals treated with green tea also showed reduced
levels ofproliferating cell nuclear antigen, a gene
expressed when skin cells multiply. In psoriasis, the gene is
over-expressed and speeds production ofskin cells.
"Before treatment, the antigen, PCNA, was present
in all layers ofthe skin," Dr. Hsu said. "Typically, PCNA is
only found in the basal layer, the innermost layerwhere
skin cells continually divide and new cells push the older
ones to the skin surface, where they eventually slough
off. After being treated with green tea, the animal models
showed near-normal levels ofPCNA in only the basal
layers."
He hopes the research will lead to new treatments for
psoriasis and dandruffwith minimal side effects.
Dr. Stephen Hsu Seerelatedstory, page20
Fall 2007 3
NEWS
BRIEFS
Foundation Names Chair
Dr. Dan DeLoach, a 1974 School ofMedicine graduate and plastic
surgeon in Savannah, Ga., has been named chairofthe MCG Foundation,
Inc., Board ofDirectors.
Dr. DeLoach also serves asvice chairofthe Medical Association
ofGeorgia Board ofDirectors and chairs the MAG Mutual Insurance
Company Claims Committee. Otherfoundation officers are Dr William
Mayher, firstvice chair; Dr Murray Freedman, second vice chair; Dr. Lloyd
Schnuck, treasurer; and Dr Peter M. Payne, secretary.
Dr DeLoach succeeds Dr Cecil Whitaker, a retired physician from
Columbus, Ga., who chaired the board since 2005. He will continue on
the foundation as past chairofthe board and chairofthe Investment
Committee.
The foundation's assets grew from $131 million to $152 million during
fiscal 2006-07. The value ofits endowmentgrew from $106 million to
$1 26 million, reflecting a 20.7 percent investment return. "Ourdonors
Dr. Dan DeLoach can take pride in the financial strength ofthe foundation," said MCG
Foundation President and CEOJames Osborne.
TEAMWORK
t
The Department ofEmergency Medicine
has implemented a program in which first-year
emergency medicine residents shadow nurses in
adult and pediatric emergency rooms. Physician
\
assistants completing a yearofemergency I r
medicine training also participate.
"The essential idea is team-building," said
Dr Larry Mellick, directorofthe department's
residency program. "We
think this experience
will give greater insight
into how to work
interdependentlywith
nurses and thereby
i provide betteroverall
care to our patients."
Each resident
spends a shift shadowing a nurse through the three main
^^^^ ^^^v emergency room areas: triage, critical care and acute care.
^^^B
"They do things nurses would traditionally do, like
^^^H
set up chest tube drainage systems, arterial orcentral
^^^H
venous line systems, run EKGs orstart peripheral lines,"
^^^^B Dr Mellick said. "This gives them an opportunity to walk
^^^^^ /^L^ in the shoes oftheir nursing colleagues."
^^^^^^^ He thinks cross-trainingwill enhance understanding and
appreciation ofthe roles ofdifferent health care providers.
4 MCGTODAY
Rising to the Challenge
President Counsels Good Stewardship of
State's Preeminent Mission
When Dr. Daniel W. Rahn "Overthe past sixyears, we looked
assumed MCG's presidency six years change and challenge—and sometimes
ago, tremendous changeswere altering even chaos—right in the eye, and
the landscape ofevery aspect ofthe we not only survived, we thrived,"
university's operation. President Rahn said.
Today, even biggerchange is MCG's strategic plan to address
afoot—and the university must be new challenges includes expanding
nimble and innovative to notjust educational programs, diversifying
adapt, but to excel, according to funding streams, creating efficient
President Rahn. business models for academic and
"Ifwe keep doing the same things research enterprises and improving
we have always done, we will getwhat access to academic programs.
we already have," President Rahn said Immediate goals include
during his 2007 State ofthe University completing a funding plan fora
Address Sept. 6. "To address new new School ofDentistry, creating
challenges, we will have to approach a statewide consortium for nursing
ourwork, our professional lives and education, growing the physical
our mission with new strategies." plant, educating more physicians,
Those challenges include costly expanding the clinical system and
faculty turnover in a highly competitive optimizing research initiatives to
market; National Institutes ofHealth achieve national preeminence in
funding that is not keeping pace with MCG's areas ofstrength.
inflation; workforce shortages in many "Clearly, we've got some work to
health professions butgrowing costs in do," President Rahn said. "But our
expanding the ranks; and inadequate strategic planning arms us with a
resources to treat the uninsured and renewed sense ofthe most important
fund trauma services. institutional priorities as we enter
"The change that confronts us is a new budget cycle and a new
acute and escalating," President Rahn environment rife with new challenges.
said. "Ourchallenge, our opportunity, "MCG needs the committed,
our responsibility is to not simply focused, creative energy and talent
adapt, but to lead in a challenging ofevery memberofthis academic
environment." community to advance ourshared
MCG has a proud history ofrising mission," he said. "We are stewards
to formidable challenge. President ofone ofthe most important
Rahn noted. For instance, the past missions—perhaps the most important
sixyears have seen a 38 percent rise mission—in this state."
in student applications, a 24 percent Collectively, he said, MCG can
increase in enrollment, an 85 percent overcome obstacles and forge greater
jump in NIH funding, a strategic success than even "Thankyou for
vision forthe MCG CancerCenter, standing shoulderto shoulderwith
a leadership role in patient- and me and the members ofMCG's senior
family-centered care and tremendous leadership team as we chart a course
research strides, to citejust a few to better health—today and into
accomplishments. the future."
Christine Hurley Deriso
Editor's note: To read the full text ofPresident Rahn's 2007 State ofthe President DanielW. Rahn deliversthe
UniversityAddress, visitwww.mcg.edu/admin/sou/2007. 2007State OFTHE UniversityAddress
Fall 2007 5
On
Back Her
FEET
School of Nursing
Grant Helps Establish
Indigent Care Network
She'd worked on herfeet for35 years,
soTerryWeaverwas no strangerto a
little backache.
But in early 2005, when the pain moved
to herfeet and became nearly unbearable,
she knew the problem wasn't something
she could fixwith over-the-counter pain
relievers anymore.
A trip to her physician confirmed the
diagnosis she suspected: osteoporosis.
"It runs in my family, so I wasn't all
that surprised," Ms. Weaversays. "I had
overcompensated for my back pain with my
feet, and that caused heel spurs."
She had to quit herjob as a waitress.
Doctors prescribed regularoffice visits
and physical therapy, including aquatics
therapy to ease the pain ofbone fractures.
Therewasjustone problem: Ms. Weaver,
who had worked in hotels and restaurants
most ofher life, had no health insurance.
She had no idea how she was going to pay
forthe expensive treatments.
"I began to beg and grovel with some
degree ofsuccess," she says. "But it was all
very piecemeal. had to take what could
I I
getwhen I could get it."
Four months later, doctors ordered
an MRI that confirmed degenerative disk
disease. She couldn't pay the $3,000 bill.
"That diagnosis totally altered my life in
more ways than one," Ms. Weaversays.
Through the kindness ofothers and her
own resilience, she tapped into community
resources, including indigent care at
University Hospital and a semi-regular
doctor at Druid Park Community Health
Care Center
TerryWeaverWITH several
OF HER MEDICATIONS
6
But her health problems have mounted. Ms. Weaver, project directorfor the grant. "We have a variety ofcare
48, has since been diagnosed with high cholesterol, providers, but each seeks the same piece ofthe funding
hypertension and nerve damage—all ofwhich require pie. We want to bring everyone to the table, including
expensive medications. those who are already providing indigent care, and discuss
"My medications would cost me around $700 each howwe can fix what is broken and enhance what is not."
month ifI didn'tget some sort ofassistance," she says. "These are individuals who are less likely to fill
"With prescription assistance, get some ofthem for $5. prescriptions, receive preventive care ordetect the early
I
never knew was going to fall apart at 47 years old, but signs ofdisease," says Dr. Marion. "Because ofthat, they
I I
I'm lucky to have found the help have. have friends take longerto recover and die at a greater rate than those
I I
in their early 60s who arejust praying to make it until with adequate care, all ofwhich creates a burden on the
they're 65 and can get on Medicare or Medicaid. They're current health care system."
neglecting things for now and hoping they make it." Another problem, she
MCG
Unfortunately, according to researchers, says, is that hospitals are
Ms. Weaver's story is not unusual. A large part ofthe forced to limit non-emergency
problem, they say, is that no organized effort provides health care forthe indigent
health care to the uninsured and under-insured in the and uninsured because of
Augusta area. With a two-year planninggrantfrom the increasing treatment costs
Healthcare Georgia Foundation, the School ofNursing and lowergovernment
hopes to begin fixing that problem. reimbursements.
The $200,500 grant enables the school to establish MCG School ofNursing
an Augusta network linking the medically underserved leaders are collaborating
to health care, and linking their providers with resources with a 1 5-memberexecutive
needed to give quality care. The first step is assessing board ofcommunity
community needs and gathering input. stakeholders, including
"Developing a health care network forthe uninsured Augusta Mayor Deke
and under-insured is a pressing issue, not only forAugusta Copenhaver, honorary chair,
and the surrounding areas, but forGeorgia and the entire to create a network that
country," says School ofNursing Dean Lucy Marion. can eventually be replicated
"We cannot ignore the problem and mustwork together elsewhere. The ultimate
to increase access to qualitycare and remove existing goal is forthe network to
barriers, such as uncoordinated and tenuously funded gain Federally Qualified
services." Healthcare Centerstatus
"The health care system is clearly broken forsome and be eligible for
individuals," says Dr. Gary Nelson, president ofthe federal funding, a
Healthcare Georgia Foundation. "We realize the need designation that
for immediate improvement and are glad to be a part of can be shared with '
MCG's efforts." network members.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
estimates that the numberofadults in the United States JenniferHilliard
without health insurance rose by 2 million from 2005 to
2006, an increase of6 percent. In Augusta, nearly 35,000
people are uninsured, according to 2000 CDC data.
In the Richmond County area, nearly 33 percent of
the population receives public health insurance such
as Medicaid, Medicare or Peach Care, according to the
Richmond County Health Department. Fifteen percent
have no health insurance.
"There currently is no organized referral system to
make sure these people are reaching the providers that
can help them," says Dr. NancyWilliamson, assistant
dean forfaculty practice in the School ofNursing and
Work
Making
it
Kinship Care Program Helps
Non-Parent Caregivers
Helen Cavitt still remembers the phone call. Washington and Wilkes counties.
It came at midnight, Oct. 9, 2003. Her troubled Residents receive hands-on
niece was asking her a life-changing question. services and telephone referrals for
issues including health care, housing,
"She told me she'd been put food banks and education.
out on the streets, that she had For instance, "Mike took the kids
nowhere to live," says Mrs. Cavitt, of last sunimerand put them in camp
Lincolnton, Ga. "She'd been in and during the day," Mrs. Cavitt says.
out ofshelters and didn'twant her "That gave me some peace ofmind
three kids to be living in places like because knewwhere theywere
I
that. She asked ifI'd take them." every day and I had a chance to get
Not wanting to separate the some rest."
children, Mrs. Cavitt agreed to take The program also serves an
them in until her niece could get back invaluable liaison function, Mr.
on herfeet and find ajob and a place Patton says. "People can call to ask
to live. questions and make sure that they're
That still hasn't happened. getting the aid that they qualify for.
For nearly fouryears, Mrs. Cavitt We want to make sure people are
has been the primary caregiverfor knowledgeable about their rights and
7-year-oldJamaul, 9-year-old Avis theirchildren's rights."
and 11-year-old Riccardo. She According to the 2001 U.S.
adopted them in 2004, nearly a year Mike Patton Census, more than 2.5 million
aftertheir mother left them in her grandparents are raisingtheir
care and disappeared. grandchildren in parent-absent homes.
"Theirfathers also have problems. Enter Mike Patton. "Interestinglyenough,
One has been injail forsexual abuse. Mr Patton, an MCG School of grandparents and other relatives
The other is into drugs," she says. Nursing social worker, works with often think they're the only ones
"I tookthem in not knowingwhat I the school's Kinship Care Program. who are doing this," saysjudith
could do and adopted them because Funded by a $50,000 grantfrom the Salzer, associate professorofnursing
knew theydidn't belongwith their CSRAAreaAgency on Aging, the and directorofthe program. "Our
I
fathers. We've made itwork." program serves 14 counties in Georgia services help them get to know others
But at age 60, Mrs. Cavitt faces by supporting those who care for and networkwith other people who
challenges raisingyoung children children in parent-absent homes. are in the same situation."
again. There are questions she The Kinship Care Program For more information on the
doesn't know she should ask, services serves caregivers in Burke, Columbia, program and available services, call
she doesn't know exist. Her biggest Glascock, Hancock,Jefferson,Jenkins, Mr. Patton at 706-721-6227.
problem, she says, is finding time to Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond,
JenniferHilliard
care for herself Screven,Taliaferro, Warren,
8 MCGTODAY