MCG Today

52 Pages·2001·5.5 MB·English

by  Medical College of Georgia

DAY
MEDICAL COLLEGE GEORGIA
OF
T
Volume 29, Number 4 Summer 2001
Sometimes The Smartest
Way
To Not
Operate... To.
Is
Now
there's a non-invasive neurosurgical
alternative forcertain brain tumors, blood vessel
abnormalities and other neurologic disorders:
Southeast Gamma Knife" Center stereotactic
radiosurgery at the Medical College of Georgia
Hospitals and Clinics. The Gamma Knife directs
a one-time radiation "super-dose" to a targeted
area within the brain to eradicate abnormal
brain tissue, leaving healthy tissue intact.
When
faced with a serious medical decision, your patients rely on
you to inform them ofall available treatment options. Gamma Knife
radiosurgery offers you and your patients a technologically advanced
—
choice that's proven safe and effective with no incision and no
surgical complications. Your patients can expect excellent results and,
in most cases, resume normal activities the day following treatment.
Our team of specialists provides technical
excellence plus the added quality assurance that a premier academic
medical center brings to patient care. You can stay involved through
every step of the treatment process-from referral to discharge.
We
think you'll agree, for many patients it's a smarter way to operate.
For further information, contact the Southeast Gamma Knife Center
at 706-721-1828 or 800-733-1828.
MCG
Healthcare"
The Health System ofthe Medical College ojGeorgia
DAY
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA
T
MCG
President At a Glance 2
Dan Rahn's A newprotein-analyzing lab and apaperlesspractice for health information managers
commitment to are among the items making news at the Medical College ofGeorgia.
excellence A Man with a Mission 4
extends beyond the confines
MCG's newpresident brings energy, enthusiasm and exacting standards to the task.
ofthe Medical College of
Georgia campus. It extends A New Source of Cells? 9
MCG
to his commitment as a An researcher is hot on the trail ofcells he thinks arepivotal
husband, father,physician, to fetal development.
pianist, churchgoer...to every Keeping Hope Alive 12
aspect ofhis life.As you'll A
Medical College ofGeorgia researcher overcame the degradation andprivation
learn in this edition of
ofa Chinese laborcamp to finally live his dream.
Medical College ofGeorgia
Today, Dr. Rahn (pictured Wellness in a Cup 14
on the cover with his family) Green tea seems to hold remarkablepowers for declaring war on cancercells.
moves seamlessly from one
Woman Woman
to 16
role to the next. It feels nat-
ural to him.After all, his ded- MCG's new midwifery service offers the best oftechnology
in the warmest ofenvironments.
ication to his family is an
extension ofhis dedication Sensory Symphony 20
to his church,which is an A Medical College ofGeorgia neurophysiologist isprobing one ofthe body's most finely
extension ofhis dedication tuned systems: its balancing act.
acsetaercaa.rWegeivienrv.i.t.eetyoceutetroa,reetad Plan Your Giving 23
about his many roles, and Let the IRSpick up most of the tab.
how they all enhance his AlumNews 24
ability to preside over School-by-school newsforand about MCG alumni.
Georgia's health sciences
university.
We also invite you to read MCG President: DanielIVRahn,M.D. Editor: Christine Hurley Dcriso
about MCG's new midwifery AIndtvearnicmeVmiecnetP:reBsriudceenHtowfoerrtUonniversity APrhtotDoigrrecatpohre:r:BrePnhtilDJ.onBeusrch
program, which combines the
best oftechnology with the ©2001,Medical College ofGeorgia.The Medical College ofGeorgia is the healthsciences universityof
warmest oftouches. MCG is tAhueguUsntiav-ebrassietydSinyssttietumtioofnGceoonrsigsitas.oFfocMuCsiGngHoonspihteaall,thm-ocarreetehdaunca8t0iosnu,prpeosretarcclhiniacnsd,sptaattieewnitdcearoeu,ttrheeach
continually seeking new ways programsand the SchoolsofAllied Health Sciences,Dentistry,Graduate Studies,Medicine and Nursing.
MCG MCG
to offer second-to-none Medical CollegeofGeorgiaTodayis sponsoredbygrants from Foundation,Inc.and the
School ofMedicineAlumniAssociation.Itis producedbythe Divisions ofInstitutional Relations and
health care in a nurturing Health Communication;Medical College ofGeorgia;Augusta,Georgia 30912.Advertisinginquiries
environment.We think you'll shouldbedirectedtoAugustaMagazine,[phone],P.O.Box 1405,Augusta,Georgia 30903.
agree that the midwifery pro- Published quarterly,MCGTodayis furnished toalumni andfriendsofMCGwithoutcharge.Theappear-
anceofadvertisementsin thispublication doesnotconstitute an endorsementby the Medical Collegeot
gram exemplifies this ideal. Georgia ofthe products orservicesadvertised.
GLANCE
AT
A
Protein-Analyzing Lab thing," Dr. Stoming said. But he suspects they may
contribute to cancer metastasis.
The laboratory also will enable researchers to
ow that the human genome is mapped, the find the most effective drugs with the fewest side
next step is determining the proteins genes effects by looking at the impact ofthe drugs on
make and how they may be targets for proteins in organs such^as the liver, a"power-
better diagnosing and treating disease. house"for metabolism, Dr. Stoming said.
Dr. TerranceA. "The level ofthe protein is the ultimate expres-
Stoming (left) with sion ofthe gene," said Dr.Terrance A. Stoming,
Dr. RobertYu, molecular biologist and director ofthe Medical
College ofGeorgia Molecular Biology Core
director ofthe
MCG Institute of Facility, which recently obtained an Amersham
Molecular core proteomics laboratory.
MCG
Medicine and The facility, established at by the Georgia
Genetics Research Alliance, will help faculty identify previ-
ously unknown proteins and determine differences
in protein expression in healthy vs. diseased tissue.
They can then find drugs that inhibit proteins
expressed, for example, in cancer tissue with mini-
mal impact on healthy tissue, Dr. Stoming said.
The collaboration between the Georgia
ResearchAlliance and NewJersey-based
Amersham Pharmacia BiotechTechnologies pro-
vides unprecedented access to proteins not only
responsible for human disease,but those found in
plants, animals and microorganisms as well, said Dr.
MCG
Matthew Kluger, vice president for Paperless Practice
J.
research."This laboratory facility is one ofthe first
to be established in an academic medical center,"
Dr. Kluger said. Greenway MedicalTechnologies has donated
Proteins are involved in both healthy bodily more than halfa million dollars' worth of
functions, like digestion, and disease processes, per- computer hardware, software, services and
haps including the spread ofcancer, Dr. Stoming support to help Medical College of
said."You can take normal and cancerous tissue Georgia health information management students
and isolate the proteins in both," he said."It there learn how to manage a paperless practice.
are similar proteins [at extremely high levels) in Greenway MedicalTechnologies, based in
cancer, they can serve as targets for drugs. If we Carrollton, Ga., has provided the students with
can bind drugs to those proteins, we might be able PrimePractice, its ambulatory software suite.The
to kill the cancer cells." software follows a patient through each clinical,
Fluctuating protein levels can be normal, so administrative and financial process within a physi-
"the question remains whether protein changes in cian's practice, according to Dr. Carol Campbell,
cancerous tissue or drug-affected tissue mean any- chairwoman ofthe Department ofHealth
2 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIATODAY
Information Management. nological aspect ofthe course."I really felt I could
Students will use automation to schedule patient integrate computers into my health care practice,"
visits,register new patient insurance and demo- she said."I'd like to go into the computer field
graphic information, verify insurance eligibility, elec- within the health care arena, something like com-
tronically document patient encounters,place physi- puterized medical records."
cian orders and prescriptions online,initiate coding The program's graduates will help fill a signifi-
and billing,maintain fee schedules, post payments cant gap in the health care industry, according to
MCG
and manage accounts receivable, Dr. Campbell said. Jim Condon, health information manage-
"Our students are entering an industry where ment program specialist."There is a growing
understanding technology's application in provid- demand for multi-credentialed health care profes-
ing better care is critical to their career success," sionals and an unmet demand for health informa-
Dr. Campbell said."The fact that PrimePractice tion professionals," he said.
truly represents the latest evolution in health man-
agement technologyjust makes this initiative even
more valuable as the health care industry continues Help for the Homeless
to contemplate different uses for the Internet."
When
RickyJoseph thinks ofa homeless
Filling a Gap person, he thinks ofa college-educated
soccer mom who lived a middle-class
lifestyle until her husband abandoned
Deanna Boney, Peggy Boyd and Rita Colwell the family. Or he thinks ofa highly skilled chef
decided recently that their experience as who earned a wonderful living in NewYork City
health care professionals was outgrowing the but found his skills unmarketable in Augusta.
degrees they'd earned in their fields.They He knows these people personally.And he
wanted to broaden their skills and knowledge knows that stereotypes don't apply.
base...yet they didn't want to interrupt their careers. "Some ofthe most interesting people I've met
Enter the Medical College ofGeorgia. MCG's also happen to be homeless,"said Mr.Joseph, an
Department ofHealth Information Management assistant professor in the Medical College ofGeorgia
began a new program in fall 2000 enabling Department ofOccupationalTherapy."They're not
licensed nurses and allied health professionals to who you think they are. Most ofthem have high
earn a post-baccalaureate certificate in health school educations. Some are college-educated."
information administration without putting their Mr.Joseph, whojoined the MCG faculty two
lives and livelihoods on hold. years ago after a 23-yearArmy career,volunteers
The 1 1-month program offers intensive instruc- for the Interfaith Hospitality Network ofAugusta
tion in skills related to computers, management, Inc., a non-profit organization supported by area
information, leadership, human resources, perfor- churches that offers temporary housing to the
mance evaluation, accreditation standards and legal homeless. But more than providing shelter, the
matters related to the health field. Graduates are organization provides the means to stand on one's
qualified to take theAmerican Health own two feet again."We work on helping the
ManagementAssociation's registration examina- homeless make a successful transition back into the
tion.Those who pass the examination earn the community," Mr.Joseph said."And it works. I've
health information administrator credential. never seen one ofour families come back."
Ms. Boney, Ms. Boyd and Ms. Colwell will That success is due largely to people like Mr.
become the first three graduates ofthe program Joseph,who teaches a weekly, 90-minute course
when they complete their practicum this summer. on practical life skills."I cover everything from
Ms. Boney and Ms. Colwell are medical technolo- budgeting to problem-solving to communication
gists; Ms. Boyd is a nurse.The skills they've learned skills," he said. Mr.Joseph noted that his classes are
are designed to enhance all their careers. natural extensions ofhis career,which helps people
"It's a very well-rounded program for any maximize their abilities and work around their dis-
health professional," Ms. Boyd said. She plans to abilities so that they can live life to the fullest.
stay in nursing,"but I needed to update my skills Mr.Joseph noted that his 90-minute classes
in information, management and leadership. I was often stretch to two hours or longer."Sometimes,
looking for a more broad-based way ofenhancing they have so many questions that I don't want to
my nursing skills." leave. I never leave thinking this is hopeless.
Ms. Boney is particularly interested in the tech- They're always willing to listen."
VOLUME 29, NUMBER 4 / SUMMER 2001
A
MAI
for almost a year,and then he was able
to get up and get going again," Dan
Rahn says.Their father would experi-
ence periodic health problems for the
rest ofhis life."My mother went back
to work during those periods oftime.
She held the family together."
The brothers held each other togeth-
er as well."I think my brother and I
grew up at a young age because when
you are in difficult circumstances,you
either triumph or you cave.We decided
we weren't going to cave," says the now
M
51-year-old husband, father, physician
and seventh president ofthe Medical
-> College ofGeorgia.
\r Dr. Rahn had traveled no farther than
v NewYork City and the NewJersey shore
f until,at age16, the naturally athletic teen
\ went to a ski camp on a glacier in the
\ northern Rocky Mountains."I realized
i there was a big world out there;it
absolutely changed my life." His intelli-
i, gence and talent transported him from
Stroudsburg toYale University,where he
got a music scholarship.
It was turbulent 1968 when he
moved from small-town U.S.A. to an
The tiny,blue-collar town of and not so perfect in others. international student body. Brother Ned
Stroudsburg, Pa., was a child's Their parents, Cherry and Ed,loved dropped him offat school and the affa-
friend. their boys and their youngest,Jenny, and ble Dr. Rahn decided to start mingling.
With a lawnmower, Dan always wanted more for them than the "I saw this guy reading Atlas Shrugged
Rahn, his big brother, Ned, and their high school education they received.Ed byAyn Rand. I said,'Hi. I'm Dan
friends transformed an empty neighbor- was an electrician who, like so many of Rahn,' and he said,'So what?"'Thus
hood lot into a baseball field.The long, his peers, enlisted in the U.S. Navy dur- began life atYale...but within a month,
dark winter turned the pond into an ingWorldWar II. He was later recalled he had begun to thrive in the environ-
ice-skating rink.The brothers cut a path during the Korean conflict. He'djust ment, once again augmenting his natur-
through the woods, even built a bridge come home from his second war and al abilities with hard work.
over the creek, so they could walk to was busy painting his family's new Physics seemed a likely major for him;
school injust five minutes.They played house when he fell through the rungs he enjoyed causation,science and solvable
ping-pong and shuffleboard in the pub- ofa ladder, crushing his heels and land- problems."I'd had this struggle for struc-
he playground, Softball and baseball on ing in a wheelchair where he was told ture in my life.As a young kid, I felt I was
the Little League field.They swam in he would stay. in a situation that couldn't be managed no
the town pool. "We lived on the charity ofthe matter how hard I worked at it. I think I
It was life: perfect in some regards church and theVeterans ofForeignWars was attracted to areas I could manage."
4 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIATODAY
WITH A
MISSION
Toni Baker
By hisjunior year, he was consider- dent, a resident, chiefresident in internal But his profession also offered sweet
ing a profession that constantly seeks medicine and finally as a rheumatology inspiration. His mentors included Dr.
answers to pretty tough questions.As fellow atYale that he looked around and Allen C. Steere,a rheumatologist who
was the case when he started college, he wondered how he got there. discovered Lyme disease, and Dr.John A.
had no idea what medical school would "There have been times when I felt Hardin, a rheumatologist and MCG
entail. But he believed that with hard like an imposter...that feeling that you School ofMedicine alumnus whojoined
work, he could do it. alone have slipped through the usually theYale faculty during Dr. Rahn's resi-
Still, something about Stroudsburg rigorous screening processes and now dency.Their pioneering studies ofthe
kept calling him home. Her name was find yourselfin a situation for which immune system caught his fascination
Lana MarieJoyce. you are totally unprepared. Everybody and helped Dr. Rahn settle on his future.
"Lana is a very genuine person, a else deserves to be there and you don't. After his rheumatology fellowship,
straightforward person yet shy,"says the The time that it really hits you is when Dr. Rahn spent eight years in private
man who clearly loves her. She and Dr. you have patient-care responsibilities practice in Guilford, Conn."Guilford is
Rahn married in summer 1972. She and you realize that no amount ofhard a historic town with about 20,000 peo-
was a research assistant atYale, so he work is necessarily going to translate ple. I took care ofevery single person in
stayed there for medical school. into a good outcome." my neighborhood. I took care ofthe
This man who seems the picture of He struggled as a young man to
confidence says he is comfortable with come to terms with those occasional, Dr. Rahn at home indulging in afavorite
himselftoday,but that he hasn't always inevitable bad outcomes."That was hobby; heplays piano Monday nightsfor
been.There were times as a medical stu- hard," he says."That was hard." a 300-tnember Bible studygroup.
Episcopal priest, the minister of the offered a position as chairman ofthe the not-for-profit corporation took over
MCG
Congregational church, the liquor store Department ofMedicine and management ofthe clinical system.
owner and the mayor. I made house wanted Dr. Rahn as his vice chairman. As the clinical operation was chang-
calls. I sat at the bedside with elderly "Without skipping a beat, I said,'John, I ing management hands, the chancellor
spouses and children while their loved love you dearly. Go ifyou must. But ofthe University System ofGeorgia
ones died at home," he says. that's really not in my life plan.'" was announcing search committees to
He is grateful for those years, certain But his boss persisted and when Dr. help identify a successor for retiring
they made him a better doctor and man. Rahn came to MCG for a daylong visit, President FrancisJ.Tedesco.The first call
But the schedule was grueling and he his lite plan changed."! was really 1)r. Rahn got from the search firm said
missed the stimulation ofresearch. He struck by the mission ofthe institution, he was on a long list ofcandidates;it
returned toYale in 1988,gaining his first its clinical and educational heritage, its was when he learned he was among the
experiences as a principal investigator, importance and its potential." five finalists that he began to realize the
speaker,writer and administrator direct- In 1991, Dr. Rahn and his family job could be his. His first thoughts were
ing the faculty practice for the 200- came to the Medical College ofGeorgia. ofhis family:Would this mean even less
member Department ofMedicine. He He has served many roles at time with them? "We talked it through
helped build a management team and Georgia's health sciences university: vice and decided ifcalled, we would do it."
business structure with consistent per- chairman, program director for the March 5, 2001, Ned Rahn, a
formance expectations for all."We creat- Internal Medicine ResidencyTraining Philadelphia lawyer, called to wish his
ed a structure that was understandable Program, chief ofthe Section of brother a happy birthday.Two days later,
and could be applied uniformly. It kind General Internal Medicine, director of the brother he describes as intellectual,
of drove itself, once we implemented it." the Center for Healthcare Improvement curious, hard-working and caring was
Dr. Rahn's career was in high gear. and vice dean for clinical activities for named president."I have not been sur-
With childrenJason, Rebecca and the School ofMedicine. prised by anything [Dan's] accom-
Zachary rounding out the family, the In 1999, he was named medical plished, quite frankly," Mr. Rahn says.
Rahns seemed settled in for the long director for the university's clinical sys- "It's a great honor,but nothing has been
MCG
haul.Then, Dr. Hardin—the tem and became senior vice president handed to him; he has worked tor it."
graduate who was nowYale's chief—of for medical affairs and chief medical offi- Dr. Rahn's mentor, Dr. Steere, echoes
rheumatology and Dr. Rahn's boss was cer for MCG Health, Inc. lastJuly when the sentiment:"Dan was clearly a leader.
6 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIATODAY
It makes perfect sense to me that this
has happened."
In the final weeks before assuming
the presidency, Dr. Rahn was preparing
for this role as he has for all his others:
by listening, learning and working. He
does not intend to do thejob alone,but
as part ofa team that empowers the fac-
ulty and staff. Bank
"I think the role ofsenior leadership First
is to preside over the development of
the strategic plan, prioritize, match
resources to those strategies, articulate
the mission and clear the barriers," he TftedteM Center
says."I said to alumni [recently],'I think
the faculty and staffare the ones who
do the work.They are the ones who are
going to accomplish the missions.'The
LCME
saw that," he says ofthe Liaison
Committee on Medical Education
which recently awarded full accredita-
tion to the School of Medicine.
"They saw the confidence that the
core missions are going to be accom-
plished uninterruptedly,that we will get
MMLMUMM
thejob done.We should take that to LENDER
heart. During the time ofan interim Member
FDIC
dean,interim president, interim almost
everything, the LCME came in and said,
'The medical education program is fine.'" ^eifa tfti/i on teaiity & tei^n in the mot/<l.
Ensuring the continued quality of
MCG's educational programs is a high (JdcVombehindthewheelofEscalade,aboldyettasteful
priority.As president, he will appoint controlcenterisatyourcommand.
deans ofAllied Health Sciences,
Dentistry Medicine and Nursing, and
within all five schools are numerous
other key positions to till."I believe we
must be patient and hold out for excel-
lence,"he says."Ifyou look around the
country, this is a great place to be com-
ing." He also wants to ensure that
MCG's student body closely reflects the
diversity ofthe state ofGeorgia.
Increased research activity is on the
agenda as well."It's a wonderfully excit-
ing time; the time from discovery to
implementation is getting progressively
shorter," he says.The plan for building ffitwe 1936
research is already is in place, developed
[JOHNSON
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J. V
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VOLUME 29, NUMBER 4 / SUMMER 2001 7
which is our greatest shortage,"he says. the context ofcancer, with Emory Dr. Rahn and Georgia Sen. Charles
In the area ofpatient care, he University as well,"he says. Wblker were among the representatives
believes the clinical system needed the Key to the agenda is the continued welcoming Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes to
operating flexibility it gainedJuly 1 to support ofthe alumni."It will help us Augusta during a visit in May to assess
support education and research at the enormously ifthe alumni understand, the city's suitability to house one ofthe
university.And, while it's no longer the support and feel good about the vision state's three designated cancer centers.
job ofthe president to direct the clinical tor the future ofMCG,because they are
system, it is hisjob to ensure that the strategically placed all over the state. don't, my patience with others is limited
intended purpose is accomplished."We They exert influence wherever they are. when they don't."
need to consolidate and stabilize the They can help us in their own commu- He wants to stay well-grounded
MCG
structural transformation that has nities by representing and its val- through the work ahead, ever mindful
occurred,"Dr. Rahn says."We need to ues so we can continue to recruit the ofhis family, his religion and the fact
solidify relationships between the health highest-caliber students.They can help that he couldn't and wouldn't do the
system, the Physicians Practice Group us financially as well.The state is never work alone.—He hopes that continuing
andHtehesacyasmMpuCs.G" also needs to solidify gTohienygatlososecnadn ehenlopuguhs bfyinacnocmiamlunsuipcpaotr-t. paawtieeenkt—caraend tihfeonmleydifcoarlonmiessaifotnerwnooornk
its role in the Georgia Cancer Initiative, ing ifthey think we are not doing the that has taken him across the world will
designed to strengthen cancer preven- right thing. help keep him steadfast as well.
tion, detection, treatment and research "Am I going to make mistakes?Yes. "I want the people who work here
in Georgia.The initiative includes the Do I have the knowledge to do every- to be engaged in meaningful work and
designation ofthree cancer centers. thing m thisjob? No. Can I hold myself have a high level ofprofessional and
"This is clearly an extraordinary oppor- accountable?Yes. I can accept responsi- personal satisfaction out ofwhat they
tunity. It is clear that a major order of bility for a decision, but I want the put into their efforts for MCG. I want
business is to preside over the academic decision to be a group decision,"Dr. this institution to be able to accomplish
component ofthe cancer initiative in Rahn says.And once a decision is made, its purposes for the state ofGeorgia
Augusta and Georgia.We need to build he wants to move forward."That's which are, at a very basic level,to
collaborative research with the probably when I'm the toughest. My improve the health ofthe people of
University ofGeorgia and, certainly in patience with myselfis limited when I Georgia."
8 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIATODAY