You Can Get There From Here: Alumni Who Have ... - Cleveland Clinic
You Can Get There From Here: Alumni Who Have ... - Cleveland Clinic
You Can Get There From Here: Alumni Who Have ... - Cleveland Clinic
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<strong>You</strong> <strong>Can</strong> <strong>Get</strong> <strong>There</strong> <strong>From</strong> <strong>Here</strong>:<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>Who</strong> <strong>Have</strong> Changed Their Lives<br />
Stormy seas, or sometimes new opportunities over the<br />
horizon, can cause people to make a big change of plans<br />
in their career.<br />
In the last issue of <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection, we discovered how<br />
H.Wendell Gray, Jr, MD (IM’68, S’72, PL/RS’74), re-tooled<br />
his life and obtained a degree in Tudor Reformation from<br />
Oxford (page 5, “Rugged Winters Don’t Stop <strong>Alumni</strong> <strong>From</strong><br />
Loving Maine.”) <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> training is excellent<br />
preparation for whatever lies ahead for most physicians,<br />
and several other alumni recently shared their stories of<br />
reinventing their careers and letting their dreams take<br />
them down a new road.<br />
If you have a successful tale of navigating through career<br />
change, we’d love to hear from you, too (alumni@ccf.org).<br />
Finding the time to really care<br />
David Scott Madwar, MD (IM’98), wanted to be a guardian<br />
angel to his patients, to be there for all of their needs and<br />
really own their care. But such ideals are not possible in today’s<br />
insurance-driven Internal Medicine practices, where<br />
Victor W. Fazio, MD, with his bust.<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Newsletter<br />
Connection<br />
ALUMNI<br />
continued on page 2<br />
Tribute Project Honors<br />
Victor W. Fazio, MD<br />
Friends and colleagues of Digestive<br />
Disease Institute Chairman Victor W.<br />
Fazio, MD (S’73, CRS’74), honored<br />
him for his career achievements at<br />
the 29 th annual Turnbull Symposium<br />
held in November.<br />
Special tributes included the surprise<br />
announcement of $13 million in<br />
contributions from friends, former<br />
Volume XIX No. 1 | 2009<br />
David Scott Madwar, MD (IM’98), practices Concierge Medicine<br />
in Naples, FL.<br />
patients, trustees, alumni and<br />
colleagues toward a $20 million<br />
project to create the Victor Fazio,<br />
MD Center for IBD and the Victor W.<br />
Fazio, MD Digestive Disease Institute<br />
Surgical Suites. The total now stands<br />
at $15 million.<br />
A bust of Dr. Fazio’s head, which will<br />
be displayed in the new facility, also<br />
was debuted.<br />
continued on page 18
Making Changes (continued)<br />
physicians have about 15 minutes for each patient. <strong>There</strong><br />
is little time for adequately diagnosing problems and engaging<br />
the patient to fully participate in the care plan.<br />
So Dr. Madwar decided to follow a different road – he<br />
launched a Concierge Medicine practice in Naples, FL. In<br />
Concierge Medicine, patients pay a flat annual fee, typically<br />
around $5,000 for an adult and $8,000 for a couple,<br />
and in exchange get 24-hour access to a physician who<br />
always has time for them and who will see them in the office<br />
or in the hospital, meet them in the emergency room<br />
or even make a house call if needed. They have his home<br />
and cell phone numbers and are welcome to call any time<br />
they have an urgent need.<br />
They also receive a thorough physical every year and<br />
opportunities to discuss ways to actually improve their<br />
health, not just manage problems.<br />
“<strong>There</strong> is a disconnect to the 15-minute model,” says Dr.<br />
Madwar. “It doesn’t allow us enough time to get patients<br />
fully on board for what is best for them. We always think<br />
patients respect our opinions and will follow our advice,<br />
but, surprise! They don’t always comply, and that is largely<br />
because we haven’t been able to fully educate them.<br />
“Many physicians will respond by saying that they tried<br />
and it’s the patient’s responsibility to listen,” he continues.<br />
“Concierge Medicine approaches things very differently.<br />
I own their care and I want us both to take the<br />
tremendous amount of time we need to gain knowledge<br />
about their condition and their goals.”<br />
Most Internal Medicine practices have about 4,000 to<br />
5,000 patients; Concierge Medicine practices cap out at<br />
about 300, he explains.<br />
He says that patients are often accustomed to paying only<br />
premiums and co-pays for office visits, tests and prescriptions,<br />
and at first, the notion of paying a physician “retainer”<br />
seems odd. However, he emphasizes that a rushed<br />
doctor will often turn to “care surrogates” such as ordering<br />
tests or referring to a specialist who may order even<br />
more tests, all of which costs more in the long run.<br />
“That is engaging the health system in the wrong way<br />
without necessarily delivering better results,” he says.<br />
“I offer continuity to streamline their care and avoid duplication<br />
of services or tests and reduce hospitalizations.”<br />
<strong>There</strong> is no charge for anything done in his office – especially<br />
no co-pays that discourage patients from accessing<br />
care in a timely way.<br />
2 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
“Medicare encourages patients to find a ‘medical home,’<br />
and Concierge Medicine really allows that to happen,” Dr.<br />
Madwar says.<br />
He says this is an appealing practice model for doctors in<br />
primary care, a field that is experiencing declining numbers,<br />
because “no one wants to be a gatekeeper.”<br />
<strong>There</strong> are about a dozen Concierge Medicine practices in<br />
Naples, and Dr. Madwar finds the community receptive to<br />
the concept. “It is an affluent town with an older population.<br />
It is easier to demonstrate the value of this service<br />
to older people than younger ones who are in excellent<br />
health,” he says.<br />
He started his practice in 2007 and is currently at about<br />
two-thirds of his desired capacity. “It was slow the first year,<br />
but the practice tripled in size the second year,” he says.<br />
About 5 percent of patients per year will leave a Concierge<br />
Medicine practice due to death or relocation, but “few or<br />
none drop out for any other reason,” he says. “Once they<br />
are in, there is no going back.”<br />
Dr. Madwar says his <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> training has been<br />
tremendously helpful in making this transition.<br />
“My mentors did a fantastic job of creating an intimate<br />
environment for patients in an otherwise huge institution,”<br />
he says. He specifically credits Harry Isaacson, MD, and<br />
Richard Lang, MD (GL-1’80, IM’82), for their influence.<br />
Helping others embrace change<br />
Gary L. Saltus, DO, FACOS (TS<br />
‘80), of Columbus, specializes in<br />
helping people make transformational<br />
changes in their lives<br />
through his work as a consultant<br />
at Creative Health Care Management<br />
of Minneapolis.<br />
“I help them find out who they<br />
are and what their purpose is and<br />
what they want to do for the rest<br />
of their lives,” says Dr. Saltus. “It’s<br />
about taking the time to just be<br />
and reflect.”<br />
Gary L. Saltus, DO,<br />
FACOS (TS’80),<br />
helps people make<br />
transformational changes<br />
in their lives.<br />
He teaches the process of change from first-hand experience.<br />
After he spent about 20 successful years as a cardiac<br />
surgeon, medical problems, including open heart surgery<br />
and two neck surgeries, forced him to stop. He had to find a<br />
new path for himself.
His strong interest in organizational development led him<br />
to expand his knowledge of transformational transitioning<br />
by training at the Hudson Institute in Santa Barbara,<br />
CA, and becoming a Certified Executive/Life Coach.<br />
He then trained in both the clinical and organizational<br />
system development sections at the Gestalt Institute of<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> (GIC). He did specialized training in group work<br />
both in Israel GIC as well as in <strong>Cleveland</strong>. He also completed<br />
the Leadership Development through Emotional<br />
Intelligence Program at Case Western Reserve University’s<br />
Weatherhead School of Management.<br />
Dr. Saltus describes his work today as having two arms.<br />
One is a clinical arm in which he works with weekly support<br />
groups for breast cancer patients and cancer caregivers.<br />
“These patients may be facing a limited time and need<br />
to decide what they want to do with that time.”<br />
His second arm involves working with organizations to<br />
help them develop Relationship-Based Care. This model<br />
of care is being used by many hospitals as they pursue<br />
magnet status.<br />
“I am taking Relationship-Based Care to physicians and<br />
nurses to help them become collegial partners,” he explains.<br />
“First, I work with each group separately, and then<br />
I bring them together for a three-day program, ‘Leading an<br />
Empowered Organization.’”<br />
This program leads to the creation of action plans to<br />
move both groups toward implementing Relationship-<br />
Based Care, and Dr. Saltus follows up with them several<br />
months later.<br />
“My goal is to get them working together on the same<br />
plane, keeping patients and families at the center of what<br />
they do,” he says. “This requires collaborative communication<br />
as we work to fix the system without blaming anyone.<br />
It leads to fewer errors and higher patient satisfaction.<br />
“It is really a changing of the lens,” he adds.<br />
Dr. Saltus says this change is necessary because “the previous<br />
model that once served us no longer does” as external<br />
forces weigh down physicians. “I help them see that<br />
others are on the same journey and that supporting each<br />
other helps them grow and take the journey together as we<br />
come up with a new way to practice medicine.”<br />
He says that the hardest part of his own health problems<br />
and the changes he had to undergo was losing his concept<br />
of immortality. “This was something that happened to<br />
other people, not me,” he says.<br />
“But my journey prepared me to do this work. I don’t have<br />
all the answers for people but I create a space for them to<br />
find their own new beginnings,” Dr. Saltus concludes. “It is<br />
very exciting work.”<br />
Rejoining the Army – at age 65<br />
When Philip Caravella, MD (TRS’71), joined the military<br />
during the Vietnam War, he fully expected he would be sent<br />
to a combat zone. However, he ended up being assigned to<br />
Ft. Lee in Virginia and never went overseas. Although many<br />
people would see that as a stroke of good luck, it always felt<br />
like a bit of unfinished business to Dr. Caravella.<br />
He stayed in the Reserves but<br />
came home and went on to have a<br />
successful Family Medicine practice<br />
in <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Westlake<br />
Family Health Center, and<br />
later the Avon Lake Center, and<br />
raise three children. Although the<br />
itch to return to the military never<br />
left him, the fact that he had had<br />
laser vision correction done by<br />
his brother, Louis Caravella, MD,<br />
retired CEO of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s<br />
Western Region, made him ineligible<br />
for many years.<br />
Philip Caravella,<br />
MD (TRS’71), was<br />
commissioned into the<br />
U.S. Army in a ceremony<br />
at the Westlake Family<br />
Health Center.<br />
Then, at age 64, at a time when comfortable retirement was<br />
in view, he learned that his eye surgery no longer disqualified<br />
him, and he decided to pursue the military again. His<br />
first attempt at entering the Air Force was thwarted when<br />
a recruiter missed an appointment with him, but an Army<br />
recruiting office was right next door, and fate led Dr. Caravella<br />
in.<br />
This time, he had another disqualifying barrier to overcome:<br />
The age cut-off for physicians to enlist was 56. But<br />
the recruiter worked with him, and they lobbied higher<br />
powers in the government. Several months later, Dr. Caravella<br />
was granted an age waiver. He was commissioned on<br />
Nov. 11, 2008 – Veterans Day – in a ceremony held at the<br />
Westlake Family Health Center.<br />
continued on page 4<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 3
Making Changes (continued)<br />
Dr. Caravella – now LTC Caravella – reported for duty at<br />
Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, Texas,<br />
on Dec. 5.<br />
“I am a faculty member and an educator and a provider in<br />
the Family Medicine program,” he says, calling the Army’s<br />
Family Medicine program comparable to the training offered<br />
anywhere.<br />
He expects to be deployed to the Middle East, most likely<br />
Iraq or Afghanistan, in about a year. “But I knew that going<br />
in, even with the risk involved,” he says. “Many people<br />
don’t understand that, but it’s just unfinished business<br />
that I have.”<br />
Due to his high rank as a lieutenant colonel (most physicians<br />
in the field would be majors or captains), his role in<br />
a combat zone will most likely be setting up and managing<br />
mobile hospital units, although he expects to be involved<br />
in some patient care, as well. Before that can happen<br />
though, he will need to attend several training sessions at<br />
Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Association<br />
Mission<br />
The <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Foundation alumni represent a constituency of physicians<br />
and scientists throughout the world who reflect the institution’s commitment to<br />
excellence. The <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Foundation is committed to continue serving<br />
as a resource to its alumni in their post-residency years by providing access to<br />
information and programmatic support necessary to assure their professional<br />
growth and success. The goal of these efforts is to bolster the bond between the<br />
institution and its alumni and create an atmosphere that encourages a commitment<br />
among alumni to offer support for and to participate in the life of the institution.<br />
I Hope That As Time Goes On<br />
...that those who have received these certificates will, perhaps even more in the<br />
future than in the present, have a feeling that what has been done for them here<br />
in this institution has been of great practical value. We would like you to feel that<br />
the permanent staff and Board of Directors feel a great interest in your welfare and<br />
that we shall follow you as far as possible with our interest and hope that you will<br />
always remember that this is an institution that is a sort of a home, not like your<br />
college to be sure, but perhaps even more of a home to which you may always<br />
return from time to time. We wish you the very best of success.<br />
George Crile, MD, Founder<br />
November 3, 1926, upon conferring the first five certificates<br />
4 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
Dr. Caravella admits that making the change back to<br />
military life has been a bit of a culture shock. Although his<br />
Vietnam-era experience helped prepare him, much of his<br />
service was spent in “wind-down” mode toward the end of<br />
that war. In contrast, Fort Hood today is very active. <strong>There</strong><br />
are about 52,000 soldiers and their dependents there and<br />
people are constantly moving in and out.<br />
But he is settled into his new life and plans to stay awhile.<br />
“As long as I feel like I am making a difference and accomplishing<br />
something, I will extend my commitment.”<br />
He is thankful for his blessings and encourages anyone<br />
who has an urge to try a new path to do something toward<br />
that goal today.<br />
“The Chinese say that a trip of 1,000 miles starts with a<br />
single step. If I hadn’t gone for it, I would never have been<br />
happy. If you have a desire to do something, you can’t just<br />
think about it. <strong>You</strong> have to do it!” he concludes.<br />
Editor’s note: If you would like to communicate with Drs.<br />
Madwar, Saltus or Caravella, please contact Sandy Stranscak<br />
at alumni@ccf.org or 800.444.3664.
Public Health Job Takes Alumna All Over the World<br />
Sapna Bamrah, MD (ID’06), has been living the jetset<br />
life since completing her <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> training,<br />
traveling the world over. It isn’t as glamorous as it<br />
may sound though: Her trips usually are to remote,<br />
undeveloped locations that are struggling with public<br />
health problems and displaced people<br />
Dr. Bamrah is Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Public Health<br />
Service. She joined the Center for Disease Control in 2006<br />
as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Officer with the<br />
International Emergency and Refugee Health Branch in<br />
the National Center for Environmental Health, an assignment<br />
which led to work with displaced populations in<br />
Kenya, Nepal, Vietnam, Azerbaijan, and Swaziland, and to<br />
a partnership with Division of Tuberculosis Elimination<br />
during a 2007 TB Epi-Aid in Michigan.<br />
Since then, she has completed two years as an Epidemic<br />
Intelligence Officer and has taken a Medical Officer<br />
position with the Division of Tuberculosis Elimination<br />
Outbreak Investigation Team. She recently bought a home<br />
in Atlanta, but she isn’t there much: she travels at least 30<br />
percent of her time, sometimes more.<br />
Dual board-certified, Dr. Bamrah completed her residency<br />
in internal medicine at Case Western Reserve University<br />
before her fellowship in infectious disease at <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>. With a background in social work before attending<br />
medical school, she has volunteered extensively with<br />
homeless and incarcerated populations. Her family is<br />
deeply involved in medicine and she wanted to tie her<br />
interests to a career in medicine as well, she explains.<br />
Her work requires a depth and breadth of compassion for<br />
the underprivileged that would overwhelm many people.<br />
Her 2008 holiday card came in the form of a belated email,<br />
and instead of including photos of family and cute pets, it<br />
was accompanied by photos of people she has visited and<br />
helped around the world.<br />
She explains that her strong interest in working with tuberculosis<br />
solidified during her residency because TB and<br />
AIDS are problems that disproportionately affect poor and<br />
displaced people.<br />
“My mentors encouraged me to get training in infectious<br />
diseases, and the fellowship at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> gave me<br />
a great opportunity,” she says. “I didn’t know where my<br />
career was going and I wanted to keep all my doors open<br />
by getting my academic training upfront.”<br />
Sapna Bamrah, MD, sits with one of several children in a<br />
quarantine unit due to MDR TB in Chuuk, Micronesia, in early<br />
2009. In addition to providing medical expertise, Dr. Bamrah and<br />
a colleague also worked to make the children’s lives a little more<br />
pleasant by carrying care packages and providing some games and<br />
DVDs. (Photo by Richard Brostrom, MD, Public Health Controller,<br />
Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands.)<br />
Her lifestyle works now because she is single and has no<br />
children, but she does wonder how she can balance work<br />
and family down the road. “That is part of the reason I<br />
took my new job,” she explains. “It requires less travel.”<br />
She now works exclusively on issues surrounding<br />
TB outbreaks.<br />
Dr. Bamrah has learned much about disease outbreaks<br />
over the past two years, giving her an insight into world<br />
health that few U.S. doctors have. “I did not fully understand<br />
what an outbreak investigation team did until I got<br />
there. I did not appreciate the role that physicians can have<br />
in responding to crises in the world, and some American<br />
doctors who focus on clinical medicine have told me they<br />
aren’t sure what we do,” she says.<br />
“A lot of our work is helping governments look at their<br />
public health structure and helping local staff understand<br />
the situation. We look at ways to help build healthcare ca-<br />
continued on page 6<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 5
Dr. Bamrah (continued)<br />
pacity and best provide support,” she says. “Sometimes we<br />
have to get our hands dirty, but other times, we are mostly<br />
analyzing ways to help their systems work better.<br />
“We never go into an area unless we are asked to by the<br />
Ministry of Health, or the local government,” she adds.<br />
When interviewed in late December, she was heading<br />
home from a trip to Wisconsin to see her family and was<br />
going to be leaving for Micronesia in a few days to work on<br />
an outbreak of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Conditions<br />
there are far from ideal: Electricity and phone service<br />
and other amenities are intermittent, at best. In such conditions,<br />
she always tries to focus on her work and find time<br />
to enjoy the locale, which can include taking short side<br />
trips such as hiking or scuba diving.<br />
“We try to have a little fun wherever we go,” she says with<br />
a laugh.<br />
Man Helping Man<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> has always been proud of its tradition<br />
of volunteerism in our local communities and throughout<br />
the world. We applaud and encourage these acts<br />
of kindness. They speak to our humanity and mission<br />
of social responsibility. In this spirit, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
has organized an easily accessible website that lists the<br />
many activities in which staff and alumni have participated,<br />
as well as organizations and areas in need of<br />
volunteer help.<br />
Under the direction of Gary S. Hoffman, MD, MS, we<br />
are eager to expand our reach and embrace alumni into<br />
these noble efforts, as well as to partner with alumni<br />
initiatives that are already in progress.<br />
Please browse the Staff Volunteer Opportunities<br />
website at http://portals.clevelandclinic.org/<br />
Default.aspx?alias=portals.clevelandclinic.org/<br />
staffvolunteeropportunities.<br />
Consider listing your volunteer initiatives or joining<br />
one of those linked at this site. Links are available to<br />
contact organizations in need. If you are unsure about<br />
volunteering, names and email addresses of volunteers<br />
are posted for you to contact them to learn more about<br />
their experiences and answer your questions.<br />
6 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
Where is Sapna?<br />
Sending email updates about her travels helps keep<br />
Dr. Bamrah in touch with her friends and family back<br />
home. The emails are a mixture of poignant tales of<br />
the suffering she witnesses and humorous observations<br />
about life. <strong>Here</strong> are just a few excerpts:<br />
Kenya (looking at how post-election violence affects<br />
healthcare delivery)<br />
We have visited 35 healthcare facilities throughout<br />
the three most affected provinces in Kenya and nine<br />
camps for the internally displaced. In Nairobi, things<br />
seem business as usual, back to normal, quiet, calm,<br />
but out in the rural areas, the country has been divided<br />
by tribal lines.<br />
Numerous times, we have asked clinics that care<br />
for patients with chronic illness if they have lost any<br />
patients to follow up. They show us their registries<br />
and say, “If you see a Luo or Luyha name, then those<br />
patients have gone away,” and the same with Kikuyus<br />
and Kisiis in other parts of the country. People are<br />
frightened to return to where they were living or working,<br />
and often have nothing to go back to (or for).<br />
The IDP camps (internally displaced person, as opposed<br />
to refugees) are in relatively bad condition.<br />
No consistent food, no consistent water treatment,<br />
in some places, not enough tents. In particular, we<br />
visited a camp in Ekerenyo recently, and the 1,300<br />
residents had not had clean water for a week, minimal<br />
food, more than 200 people without tents, no mattresses,<br />
no place for kids to go to school and minimal<br />
access to health care without having to pay something<br />
(which is not legal). My team talked to too many<br />
people with healing machete wounds.<br />
It was really difficult to be there, and even more so<br />
knowing I came with empty hands, empty arms,<br />
lacking answers and could make no promises. I left<br />
there with an empty heart, and few tears left. But I<br />
am well aware that being there to document these<br />
problems is literally nothing compared to having to<br />
live through them.<br />
Nepal (nutritional study in Bhutanese refugees )<br />
When we first arrived at the guest house in Damak,<br />
there were four Swedes packing their things and<br />
using the showers. Apparently, because we are U.N.
consultants and they weren’t, we got priority and essentially<br />
they were kicked out for us. When we asked them who<br />
they were, they said Clowns Without Borders! <strong>You</strong> have all<br />
heard of Doctors Without Borders, well apparently, there<br />
are lots of groups that are “___ without borders.” These<br />
four Swedes are circus performers, acrobats in particular,<br />
and they are doing some training in the refugee camps.<br />
Now, I am a little torn on this. These (Bhutanese) refugees<br />
here have been stuck, country-less, without any real rights<br />
for over 15 years. They have no hope, and the poor kids,<br />
who actually are quite well educated, need activities. Learning<br />
a bit of circus acrobatics is probably good for them.<br />
But hearing this week that the donor source for the food to<br />
feed these 100,000 people will dry up soon, one does have<br />
to pause and consider priorities. Anyway—the performers<br />
are quite talented and nice, despite how odd their mission<br />
may be.<br />
Swaziland<br />
I am here providing technical support to UNICEF for a national<br />
survey on sexual violence in school-aged girls. So far,<br />
it’s been quite an amazing and challenging experience.<br />
Rather than taking a normal allotment of clothes for<br />
the month, I downsized in order to stuff my backpacker’s<br />
guitar into my bag so I could sit outside, overlooking the<br />
Swazi hills and play cheesy campfire songs with my new<br />
friends (euphemism for much-needed music therapy<br />
due to the very depressing subject matter that brings me<br />
to Swaziland).<br />
We are using cluster sampling methodology to select<br />
and survey a representative population of girls ages 13-24<br />
all over Swaziland. We are sampling 48 households in 40<br />
ZIP codes, essentially. We have eight teams of five women<br />
each who will be going to households all over Swazi interviewing<br />
girls using the longest questionnaire in the history<br />
of time. Well, it’s 100+ questions, which truly only takes 20<br />
minutes if there is no history of abuse, and up to an hour<br />
with an extensive history.<br />
The Ministry of Education did a brief school-based survey<br />
and found a significant number of girls (above 30%) experienced<br />
the worst forms of sexual violence (rape, molestation),<br />
hence UNICEF wanted to do a more extensive,<br />
national survey.<br />
Sapna Bamrah, MD, works with children in a camp in Kenya.<br />
It’s been a very interesting few weeks already. I have had<br />
a chance to learn a lot about Swazi’s history and Siswati<br />
culture.<br />
One of the most remarkable things is the stark contrast<br />
in aspects of society. Swazi was a British colony until the<br />
mid 1960s and currently is a strict monarchy (tearing up<br />
the constitution four years after the Brits departed). It<br />
only has 1.1 million people, and it was quite a benefactor<br />
of apartheid-ridden South Africa as businesses fled to the<br />
peaceful hills of Swazi, bringing tremendous economic<br />
growth. Of course, that economic growth did not diffuse<br />
throughout the country, leaving one-third of the population<br />
doing quite well and two-thirds struggling to maintain<br />
maize crops, find clean water, and feed, clothe and school<br />
their children.<br />
This is an outright feudalistic society run by an absolute<br />
(virtual) monarch with the regular practice of polygamy<br />
and the highest HIV prevalence in the world. That translates<br />
into an incredible hole in the population, as a large<br />
percentage of the productive society is vanishing. <strong>There</strong><br />
are four to five women for each man and it is expected that<br />
there will be 100,000 orphans by 2010. <strong>You</strong> can imagine<br />
how this makes the culture of sexual violence against children<br />
that much more frightening.<br />
First, the practice of polygamy is still quite common. It<br />
doesn’t help that the king himself has 13 wives. Childhood<br />
marriage also is still a problem. The growing number of<br />
displaced or orphaned children clearly leaves them vulnerable,<br />
and the fact that girls are raised with this notion that<br />
they will have to share whomever they date or marry leads<br />
to each man having numerous partners at one time. It’s<br />
been remarkable to get to know all of these highly educated,<br />
successful women and realize that they completely buy<br />
into this idea. If you demand monogamy, you end up alone.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 7
Co-Founder of Pediatrics at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
a Tireless Advocate for Wooster Free <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
The need for low-cost or free medical care is reaching alltime<br />
highs as people lose their jobs and accompanying<br />
health insurance.<br />
Wayne County, Ohio, located on the edge of Amish Country<br />
to the southwest of <strong>Cleveland</strong>, has one free clinic and<br />
its pioneering namesake, Viola Startzman, MD, 94, is as<br />
committed as ever to its mission.<br />
The Viola Startzman Free <strong>Clinic</strong> (VSFC) provides health<br />
and dental care, medications and laboratory testing at<br />
no charge to low-income (up to 200 percent of the federal<br />
household poverty level) uninsured Wayne County residents.<br />
It operates walk-in clinics three times a week, and<br />
chronic patients such as those with diabetes or hypertension<br />
are seen by appointment at other times. In 2008,<br />
the clinic is expected to have served more than 10,000<br />
patients, an increase from the approximately 9,000 seen<br />
in 2007, Dr. Startzman says.<br />
“The bad economy is absolutely increasing business for us<br />
and other nonprofit organizations,” she says. “Even people<br />
who do have health insurance are sometimes discouraged<br />
from seeking care due to the high co-pays they face.”<br />
Her involvement with the free clinic is far from Dr. Startzman’s<br />
first notable contribution to healthcare. She has a<br />
place in <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> history for the role she played in<br />
the creation of the first Pediatrics Department. She was<br />
practicing pediatrics in Wooster when Robert Mercer, MD,<br />
asked her to help him launch a department in <strong>Cleveland</strong>.<br />
She joined him in 1952.<br />
As recalled in To Act As a Unit, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s historical<br />
chronicle, the first pediatric outpatient department was<br />
located in two rooms “loaned” by the Department of Urology.<br />
They were just around the corner from the original<br />
cardiac catheterization laboratory of Mason Sones, MD. Dr.<br />
Sones was using his new cardiac visualization technique to<br />
help surgeons perform heart operations on children, with<br />
excellent results. With the formal establishment of the pediatrics<br />
department, 30 of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s 357 hospital<br />
beds were reserved for a pediatric ward.<br />
The book describes Dr. Startzman as a superb clinician<br />
who was admired and respected throughout the community:<br />
“Startzman had been trained as a laboratory technician<br />
before going to medical school, and her understanding<br />
of blood chemistry proved invaluable.”<br />
8 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
When she decided in 1956<br />
to marry James E. Robertson,<br />
MD, of Wooster, who<br />
had four sons, Dr. Startzman<br />
moved back to Wayne<br />
County. She became director<br />
of the student health<br />
center at the College of<br />
Wooster, from which she<br />
had graduated in 1935 with<br />
a degree in chemistry.<br />
Viola Startzman, MD<br />
She retired in 1979 but<br />
stayed active in the community.<br />
In 1992, Wooster Mayor Clyde Breneman and the<br />
Board of Governors of Wooster Community Hospital asked<br />
her to chair a task force looking at ways to improve local<br />
healthcare. The committee met for about six months and<br />
agreed that a free clinic was needed.<br />
The hospital made a small building on its campus available<br />
for $1 annual rent for 25 years, and Healthcare 2000<br />
Community <strong>Clinic</strong> opened its doors on Aug. 3, 1995. Many<br />
individuals and organizations came together to support the<br />
clinic with donations of time and money, and more than<br />
200 volunteers still are involved today.<br />
In 2000, the clinic’s name was changed to reflect Dr. Startzman’s<br />
vision of serving lower-income uninsured residents<br />
of Wayne County. Three years later, she purchased and<br />
donated the former Wooster Orthopaedics building, allowing<br />
the Viola Startzman Free <strong>Clinic</strong> to meet the increasing<br />
demand for its services.<br />
Today she remains an active member of the Board of Trustees,<br />
describing her role as mostly “sticking my nose in<br />
stuff there.”<br />
In addition to her work with the clinic, she also has taken<br />
monthlong trips to Egypt in 1980, 1983 and 1996 to teach<br />
and consult with medical personnel there, and she keeps<br />
busy with the First Presbyterian Church in Wooster, where<br />
she has volunteered in many capacities. In 2002, she was<br />
inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame.<br />
“I’m slowing down a bit,” she admits, adding that she<br />
does what she can because “the community has been so<br />
good to me.”
Research Roundup<br />
Deadly Overreaction: Platelet Hyperactivity Might<br />
Affect Coronary Disease – But <strong>Can</strong> It Be Controlled?<br />
It’s generally not good to overreact, and that’s especially<br />
true for platelets.<br />
Ideally, platelets are activated when there is an acute<br />
wound, and they help to form a clot that blocks damaged<br />
blood vessels and prevents blood loss.<br />
In atherosclerosis, cholesterol deposits accumulate<br />
and form plaques on the inner lining of large and<br />
medium-sized arteries, eventually leading to a rupture<br />
by the plaque.<br />
Unfortunately, platelets perceive such a rupture as a<br />
wound and try to plug it. A person can survive small clots<br />
within the artery, but the chances of survival decreases if<br />
platelets overreact and form large clots that completely<br />
block blood and oxygen supply to the heart or brain tissue.<br />
An activated platelet (left) and a thrombus (clot) in an artery<br />
(right). (Illustrations by David Schumick, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Center<br />
for Medical Art and Photography).<br />
This is what happens in hyperlipidemia. When blood<br />
contains too many lipids, platelets tend to overreact.<br />
This condition is called platelet hyperreactivity and is<br />
thought to contribute significantly to death from coronary<br />
artery disease.<br />
But why are platelets hyperreactive in hyperlipidemia, and<br />
can this response be controlled?<br />
Evgeny Podrez, MD, PhD (RES/CE ’99), Molecular Cardiology,<br />
and his colleagues have identified two key components<br />
in the improper reaction of platelets – a protein called<br />
CD36 that is found in the membrane<br />
of platelets and a particular<br />
lipid that is formed in the body in<br />
cases of chronic inflammation such<br />
as atherosclerosis.<br />
“We found that there is an unusual<br />
family of lipids, discovered by us a<br />
few years ago, that accumulate in<br />
hyperlipidemic blood and that these<br />
lipids interact with the platelet<br />
protein CD36 and promote platelet<br />
hyperreactivity,” Dr. Podrez says.<br />
Evgeny Podrez, MD,<br />
PhD<br />
“Another important finding of this study is that even in<br />
blood with a relatively normal lipid level, this particular<br />
group of lipids may still accumulate and promote platelet<br />
hyperreactivity if the blood has a low level of HDL [highdensity<br />
lipoprotein], a lipoprotein particle with strong<br />
anti-inflammatory activity,” he says.<br />
“We have found that blocking CD36 may normalize platelet<br />
function and prevent platelet hyperreactivity. Thus,<br />
CD36 might be the target for new therapies that hopefully<br />
will reduce the risk for life-threatening events. That’s the<br />
research we are undertaking now. In addition, our study<br />
gives one more reason to have less fat in the blood and to<br />
pay attention to low HDL levels,” he continues.<br />
Dr. Podrez was joined by the following researchers: Tatiana<br />
Byzova, PhD (RES/JJ ’99), Juhua Chen, MD, PhD (RES/MC<br />
’04), Yi Ma and Manojkumar Valiyaveettil, PhD (RES/BE<br />
2003), all of Molecular Cardiology; Maria Febbraio, PhD,<br />
Mingjiang Sun, PhD (RES/CE ’04), Paula Finton, Renliang<br />
Zhang, MD, PhD (RES/CE ’01), Roy Silverstein, MD,<br />
Chairman, Cell Biology, and Stanley Hazen, MD, PhD, Cell<br />
Biology and Head of the Section of Preventive Cardiology<br />
and Rehabilitation; Robert G. Salomon, PhD, and Eugenia<br />
Poliakov, PhD, Department of Chemistry, Case Western<br />
Reserve University; and Brian R. Curtis, Blood Center of<br />
Wisconsin (Milwaukee).<br />
The research appeared in Nature Medicine. This work was<br />
supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health<br />
and <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s General <strong>Clinic</strong>al Research Center.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 9
Graduate Medical Education Keeps Up With the Times<br />
As <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> has restructured itself into patientcentered<br />
institutes, many programs that reach across<br />
departmental lines also have had to restructure.<br />
Graduate Medical Education (GME) is no exception<br />
and recently changed the membership of its Graduate<br />
Medical Education Council to include representation<br />
from all institutes.<br />
This change has been good, says GME Administrator Pat<br />
Chapek, because it makes the council more representative<br />
of all training programs.<br />
Elias I. Traboulsi, MD<br />
10 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
“Most members are now the<br />
chairperson of their Institute’s<br />
education committees, so they<br />
are already very committed to<br />
education and have the same ultimate<br />
goals in mind,” she says.<br />
Elias I. Traboulsi, MD, Chairman<br />
of GME, recently gave a presentation<br />
to the <strong>Alumni</strong> Board of Directors<br />
highlighting this and other<br />
changes in the GME program.<br />
He said that application requests increased by 17 percent<br />
in the 2007-08 academic year. The vast majority of<br />
these applications were requested through the Electronic<br />
Residency Application System. <strong>There</strong> are 1,375 trainees<br />
enrolled in <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> programs, 976 clinical and<br />
399 research. <strong>There</strong> are 58 programs accredited by the<br />
Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education<br />
(ACGME), in addition to 58 clinical fellowship programs<br />
and 32 other training programs, he said.<br />
Fourteen Internal Reviews were conducted from Sept. 1,<br />
2006, through Aug. 31, 2007: Geriatric Medicine, Neuromuscular<br />
Medicine, <strong>Clinic</strong>al Cardiac Electrophysiology,<br />
Vascular Surgery, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Sleep<br />
Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Endocrinology, Sports<br />
Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatric Anesthesiology, Neurology<br />
and Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.<br />
In that same time frame, Residency Review Committee<br />
visits as part of the ACGME process were held in Cytopathology,<br />
Plastic Surgery, Hematopathology, Thoracic Surgery,<br />
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical Microbiology,<br />
Child Neurology, Gynecology/Oncology, Transfusion<br />
Medicine, Dermatopathology and Colorectal Surgery.<br />
The ACGME Institutional Site Visit was held in January<br />
2008 and a four-year approval was granted, with just four<br />
minor citations. Before this, the most recent visit was in<br />
2002.<br />
“It was a lot of work but it was worth it,” says Chapek, who<br />
is well known to many alumni after more than 25 years of<br />
working with residents and fellows.<br />
Dr. Traboulsi noted that Joint Commission standards mandate<br />
that nursing staff have access to information related<br />
to residents’ competence. To address this requirement, a<br />
GMEC task force was formed, which resulted in the development<br />
of a website that links clinical trainees with the<br />
procedures they are able to perform at that graduate level.<br />
Their photograph is included.<br />
Other updates mentioned by Dr. Traboulsi: name/pager<br />
stamps were ordered for all trainees and policies were<br />
formed requiring the use of the stamp for all medical entries<br />
in patient records, and a standardized patient handoff<br />
policy was developed.<br />
Another update he mentioned was that the in-house database<br />
program METS used by the GME office and program<br />
directors/coordinators to administer various aspects of<br />
their programs has been replaced with MedHub, commercial<br />
residency management software.<br />
MedHub facilitates such tasks as scheduling and tracking<br />
activities, communicating with trainees and logging evaluations<br />
of the residents and by the residents.<br />
“It helps keep everyone on track,” he says.<br />
Overall, Dr. Traboulsi, who also heads the Department<br />
of Pediatric Ophthalmology and directs the Center<br />
for Genetic Eye Diseases at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Cole Eye<br />
Institute, believes that <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s GME programs<br />
are doing well.<br />
“We are in good shape. Interest continues to grow. We have<br />
excellent board pass rates and all of our programs are accredited,”<br />
he says.<br />
“We really appreciate our alumni and urge them to come<br />
back to visit and attend conferences and encourage the<br />
medical students they know to consider applying here.”
GME at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida<br />
The Graduate Medical Education Program at <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> Florida receives nearly 4,000 applications a year for<br />
its eight ACGME Accredited training programs as well as<br />
its other clinical training programs and research training<br />
programs. It offers a diverse array of programs, with<br />
Internal Medicine being the largest with 30 residents and<br />
it ranks in the 99 th percentile of programs by the American<br />
College of Physicians. The Colorectal Surgery program is<br />
the second largest such program in the United States.<br />
Although the programs share<br />
some resources with <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>’s main campus, they are<br />
fully accredited as their own<br />
programs, with <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Florida being the sponsoring institution.<br />
The Chairman of Graduate<br />
Medical Education and the<br />
Designated Institutional Official<br />
is Eric G. Weiss, MD (CRS’94).<br />
Eric G. Weiss, MD<br />
Training programs offered<br />
include Colorectal Surgery; Colorectal Surgery Research;<br />
Electrodiagnostic Medicine (Fellowship); Internal Medicine;<br />
Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery (Fellowship);<br />
Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Research<br />
Fellowship; Movement Disorders (Fellowship); Sports<br />
Medicine and Adult Reconstruction (Fellowship); Neurology;<br />
Plastic Surgery; Urogynecology/Reconstructive Pelvic<br />
Surgery (Fellowship); Vascular Neurology (Fellowship);<br />
Voiding Dysfunction and Female Urology (Fellowship);<br />
Orthopaedics Research (Fellowship); Cardiology (Fellowship);<br />
Nephrology (Fellowship); Gastroenterology (Fellowship);<br />
and Geriatrics (Fellowship).<br />
About 150 medical students participate in training each<br />
year, as well as 95 to 120 observers.<br />
The total number of graduates by programs up to June<br />
2008:<br />
Accredited Programs<br />
Colorectal Surgery – 54<br />
Internal Medicine – 84 + 9 chief residents<br />
Neurology – 15<br />
Cardiology – 6<br />
Nephrology – 3<br />
Gastroenterology – 2<br />
Geriatrics - 2<br />
Plastic Surgery – 4<br />
Non Accredited – Advanced Fellowship Programs – 75<br />
Highlights of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida’s Program include:<br />
1988: <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida opens as the first medical<br />
center in Broward County committed to research and<br />
education as well as patient care. An Institutional Review<br />
Board (IRB) is established to monitor the ethical and scientific<br />
aspects of clinical research projects.<br />
1989: Colorectal surgery residency program established as<br />
first in Florida and first specialty training program of any<br />
kind in Broward County.<br />
1990: First international colorectal surgery symposium<br />
held. It quickly became the largest annual colorectal<br />
course in North America, every year attracting almost<br />
1,000 participants from more than 50 countries.<br />
1991: A. Lorraine & Sigmund Goldblatt Medical Library<br />
opens as first medical library in Broward County available<br />
to the public. <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida begins participation<br />
in cancer research protocols sponsored by the<br />
National <strong>Can</strong>cer Institute.<br />
1992: <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Foundation residents begin elective<br />
rotations in Florida. In just four years, the program will<br />
include more than 50 residents in at least 13 specialties.<br />
1993: <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida receives national accreditation<br />
status for continuing medical education courses.<br />
1994: <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida establishes basic science<br />
research program.<br />
1995: <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida internal medicine residency<br />
program begins.<br />
1996: <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida cardiac surgeons pioneer<br />
minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.<br />
1997: <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida chosen as an alternate<br />
training site for students from Ohio State University<br />
School of Medicine.<br />
2001: <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida moves to its new integrated<br />
campus in Weston, including the David G. Jagelman Conference<br />
Center.<br />
2001-2004: Newly accredited residency programs in Internal<br />
Medicine, Neurology, Colorectal Surgery, Cardiology,<br />
Gastroenterology, Plastic Surgery, Geriatrics and Nephrology<br />
get approved by the ACGME.<br />
2004: <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida is ACGME accredited as a<br />
sponsoring institution, the first in Broward County.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 11
Appointments<br />
Andrew J. Fishleder,<br />
MD<br />
12 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
Andrew J. Fishleder, MD (GL-<br />
1’79, LMED’82), previously Chair,<br />
Education Institute, and Executive<br />
Dean, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Lerner<br />
College of Medicine, has been<br />
appointed Chief Executive Officer<br />
of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Abu Dhabi, effective<br />
Dec. 1, 2008. Dr. Fishleder<br />
is responsible for the overall operations<br />
at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Abu<br />
Dhabi and will be implementing<br />
the systems, procedures, guide-<br />
lines and standards as an extension of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s<br />
model of medicine and clinical capabilities in the Middle<br />
East.<br />
James <strong>You</strong>ng, MD, Chair, Endocrinology<br />
and Metabolism Institute,<br />
become Executive Dean of the<br />
College of Medicine, effective Jan.<br />
1, 2009. Dr. <strong>You</strong>ng will continue<br />
to head the Endocrinology and<br />
Metabolism Institute.<br />
Drs. <strong>You</strong>ng and Fishleder are both<br />
respected physician leaders and<br />
James <strong>You</strong>ng, MD educators in academic medicine.<br />
They bring outstanding vision<br />
and leadership to their new roles and will contribute to<br />
the continued growth and success of the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
health system – training the next generation of physicianinvestigators<br />
as well as physicians around the world.<br />
Dr. Fishleder will be back and forth between Abu Dhabi<br />
and <strong>Cleveland</strong> through May 2009, helping to ensure a<br />
seamless leadership transition at the medical school.<br />
Brian F. Mandell, MD,<br />
PhD, FACR, FACP<br />
Brian F. Mandell, MD, PhD, FACR,<br />
FACP, Vice Chairman of Medicine<br />
for Education and a senior staff<br />
physician in Rheumatology and<br />
Immunologic Diseases, Center<br />
for Vasculitis Care and Research,<br />
will serve as interim Chair of the<br />
Education Institute. Dr. Mandell<br />
joined <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> in 1993.<br />
He earned a doctorate degree in<br />
physiology and biophysics from<br />
Washington University in Saint<br />
Louis and a medical degree from the New York University<br />
School of Medicine. Dr. Mandell is editor-in-chief of the<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Journal of Medicine, and is Director of both<br />
the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Internal Medicine Residency Program’s<br />
Scholarly Activity Program and the Division of Medicine<br />
Humanities Program. Dr. Mandell has served on and<br />
chaired several national planning and writing committees<br />
and has published more than 100 articles, chapters and<br />
editorials in peer-reviewed publications and textbooks.<br />
Robert R. Lorenz, MD (OTO’02),<br />
Chief Medical Officer of <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> Abu Dhabi, was<br />
awarded the American Academy<br />
of Otolaryngology Head and<br />
Neck Surgery Honor Award at the<br />
annual meeting in September.<br />
The Academy presents the Honor<br />
Awards to otolaryngologists in<br />
recognition of outstanding ser-<br />
Robert R. Lorenz, MD vice through the presentation of<br />
instructional courses, scientific<br />
papers or participation on a continuing education committee<br />
or faculty. As the Chief Medical Officer of <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> Abu Dhabi, Dr. Lorenz describes his personal and<br />
professional experience relocating there on his blog:<br />
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/abudhabi/<br />
cmo_blog.aspx<br />
Dr. Lorenz and his alumna wife, Aylin M. Ozdemir-Lorenz,<br />
MD, MBA (RES/CB’99, RES/CA’01), moved to Abu Dhabi<br />
in early September 2008. Previously, he was Head of the<br />
Section of Head and Neck Surgery at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
in <strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH, and his wife was working as a Medical<br />
Science Liaison. “After spending 12 years in <strong>Cleveland</strong> and<br />
leaving friends, colleagues and a large surgical practice, I<br />
am excited and anxious to make CCAD a humming, busy<br />
hospital of world-renowned medical care,” he says.<br />
Editor’s Note: Visit http://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/abudhabi/default.aspx<br />
to follow the progress at <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> Abu Dhabi.<br />
J. Michael Henderson,<br />
MD<br />
J. Michael Henderson, MD, was<br />
appointed Chief Quality Officer in<br />
January 2009. Dr. Henderson has<br />
served as Chairman of the Quality<br />
& Patient Safety Institute since<br />
2006. “Although Mike’s responsibilities<br />
will stay the same, this<br />
new title more accurately reflects<br />
his role and the important contributions<br />
he has made to quality<br />
improvement and patient safety<br />
initiatives,” says Chief of Staff Jo-
seph Hahn, MD. “It also emphasizes our institution’s commitment<br />
to quality.” <strong>There</strong> is a growing trend in healthcare<br />
organizations nationwide to use Chief Quality Officer as<br />
the formal title for individuals who provide leadership,<br />
direction and oversight to clinical quality, quality performance<br />
improvement and patient safety programs. Dr.<br />
Henderson joined <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> in 1992 and has served<br />
in numerous roles, including Director of the Transplant<br />
Center and Chairman of General Surgery. He maintains his<br />
surgical practice because he believes “quality and safety are<br />
all about our patients.” He has increased <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s<br />
visibility in quality at the state and national level as a member<br />
of the Ohio Department of Health Advisory Council for<br />
Hospital Quality Measures and the American College of<br />
Surgeons Advisory Board for the National Surgical Quality<br />
Improvement Program.<br />
Institute Appointments<br />
Daniel F. Martin, MD<br />
Daniel F. Martin, MD, a distinguished<br />
ophthalmologist and<br />
leading researcher in major causes<br />
of age-related vision loss, has<br />
been appointed chairman of the<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Cole Eye Institute<br />
effective Dec. 1, 2008. Interim<br />
Chairman Andrew Schachat, MD,<br />
remains with Cole Eye Institute as<br />
Vice Chair of <strong>Clinic</strong>al Affairs.<br />
Dr. Martin comes to <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
from Emory University in Atlanta, where he held an endowed<br />
professorship and was director of the retina service.<br />
He will lead a comprehensive eye institute that handles<br />
150,000 patient visits each year, offering services in ophthalmology<br />
and optometry, in addition to a significant<br />
research program.<br />
“Over the past 15 years, Dr. Martin has established deep<br />
expertise in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration<br />
(AMD) and has become the foremost authority on the<br />
design and execution of clinical research in this area,” says<br />
Joseph Hahn, MD, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Chief of Staff.<br />
Dr. Martin is chairman of a 45-site, 1,200-patient clinical<br />
trial comparing the effectiveness of two leading drugs used<br />
in the treatment of AMD. He has served as the study chairman<br />
for six other multi-center randomized trials, including<br />
studies that led to FDA approval of the drug and implantable<br />
drug delivery system that is the standard of care for<br />
treating CMV retinitis in AIDS patients.<br />
Dr. Martin also has served as principal investigator for<br />
more than 25 clinical trials and has significant experience<br />
serving on clinical trial steering committees, as well as data<br />
and safety monitoring boards.<br />
He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and<br />
delivered more than 170 lectures by invitation. He has<br />
received numerous awards, including the 2004 Rosenthal<br />
Award from the Macula Society for outstanding contributions<br />
to the field, a 2007 Honor Award from the American<br />
Society of Retina Specialists and a 2007 Senior Honor<br />
Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology<br />
Dr. Martin is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University<br />
School of Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency<br />
at Emory University School of Medicine, where he<br />
was chief resident. He completed a fellowship in vitreoretinal<br />
surgery and diseases at Duke University Medical Center<br />
and a fellowship in ocular immunology and uveitis at the<br />
National Institutes of Health.<br />
Dr. Martin replaces Hilel Lewis, MD, who left in January<br />
2008, after 15 years as chairman.<br />
Eric A. Klein, MD<br />
Eric A. Klein, MD (U’86), has been<br />
appointed Chairman of the Glickman<br />
Urological & Kidney Institute.<br />
Dr. Klein has served as interim<br />
Chair since the passing of Andrew<br />
C. Novick, MD (U’77), in October.<br />
Dr. Klein, a 19-year <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> veteran, will lead one of<br />
the country’s top urological and<br />
kidney programs in the new Glickman<br />
Tower, which was unveiled in<br />
September 2008.<br />
“As a national and international expert in his field, Eric<br />
is well-positioned to further expand the institute’s reputation<br />
for medical and surgical advancements while fostering<br />
an environment of collaboration,” says Joseph Hahn,<br />
MD, Chief of Staff. “Eric brings a wealth of medical and<br />
research experience and expertise to this position, which<br />
will benefit the highly-ranked Glickman Urological & Kidney<br />
Institute.”<br />
Dr. Klein is a leader in the biology and management<br />
of prostate cancer. His clinical area of interest is urologic<br />
oncology, including cancers of the prostate, bladder,<br />
testis and kidney; he also is highly regarded for his surgical<br />
finesse in reconstructive procedures. Throughout his career,<br />
he has been recognized with numerous awards from<br />
continued on page 14<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 13
Appointments (continued)<br />
organizations like the American <strong>Can</strong>cer Society,<br />
Washington University in St. Louis, the University of<br />
Pittsburgh School of Medicine and <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>, and<br />
he has been included among the Best Doctors in America<br />
for several years.<br />
Sarah Sinclair, MBA,<br />
RN<br />
14 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
Sarah Sinclair, MBA, RN, has been<br />
appointed Executive Chief Nursing<br />
Officer of the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
health system, effective Feb. 1,<br />
2009. A healthcare executive with<br />
more than 25 years of executive<br />
leadership, she will oversee and<br />
integrate nursing throughout the<br />
enterprise in this newly created<br />
role. Sinclair comes from Memorial<br />
Hermann Health System in<br />
Houston, Texas, where she served<br />
as System Chief Patient Care Officer. “Sarah touts an<br />
impressive history of executive leadership and strategic<br />
planning,” says Joseph Hahn, MD, Chief of Staff. “She has<br />
broad-based experience in multi-hospital systems and<br />
networks and has led numerous community initiatives to<br />
enhance healthcare delivery.” Sinclair was responsible for<br />
patient care, critical care services, organizational effectiveness,<br />
emergency services and other services at Memorial<br />
Hermann, an 11-hospital health system serving the Greater<br />
Houston area. As the first system chief patient care officer<br />
in the hospital system, she led initiatives that resulted in<br />
annual savings of more than $12 million.<br />
Debra Albert, MSN, MBA, RN NEA-BC, who had served as<br />
interim Chief Nursing Officer at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s main<br />
campus since late summer following the departure of CNO<br />
Claire <strong>You</strong>ng, has been named CNO, Main Campus, and<br />
Chair of the Nursing Institute on Main Campus.<br />
Department Appointments<br />
Laurence Kennedy, MD, FRCP, Professor and Chief of the<br />
Division of Endocrinology at the University of Florida, has<br />
been named Chair of the Department of Endocrinology,<br />
Diabetes and Metabolism. Dr. Kennedy attended medical<br />
school at Queen’s University in Northern Ireland and completed<br />
a research fellowship in the Division of Endocrinology<br />
at the University of Florida. Dr. Kennedy was elected as<br />
the inaugural Nordisk Irish Endocrine Society Lecturer, the<br />
highest accolade of the Irish Endocrine Society.<br />
John Hickner, MD,<br />
MSc<br />
John Hickner, MD, MSc, Professor<br />
and Vice Chair of the Department<br />
of Family Medicine at the University<br />
of Chicago’s Department of<br />
Family Medicine, has been named<br />
Chair of the Department of Family<br />
Medicine at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>. Dr.<br />
Hickner served as director of the<br />
American Academy of Family Physicians<br />
National Research Network<br />
and has a distinguished history of<br />
research journal appointments.<br />
Dr. Hickner attended Indiana University Medical School<br />
and completed his residency at the Medical University of<br />
South Carolina.<br />
Jeremy Rich, MD, has been named<br />
chair of the newly created Department<br />
of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative<br />
Medicine in the Lerner<br />
Research Institute. Dr. Rich will<br />
build upon Lerner Research Institute’s<br />
adult stem cell research and<br />
regenerative medicine program,<br />
and lead a team of investigators<br />
conducting basic research and its<br />
Jeremy Rich, MD<br />
translation into clinical practice.<br />
The research may one day lead to<br />
the development of adult stem cell treatments for heart disease,<br />
leukemia, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.<br />
The new department will be actively involved in the <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, of<br />
which Dr. Rich will serve as co-director, and the <strong>Cleveland</strong>based<br />
National Center for Regenerative Medicine.
Paul DiCorleto, PhD, Chair of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Lerner<br />
Research Institute, said Third Frontier funding from the<br />
State of Ohio was integral in the establishment of the<br />
department and recruitment of Dr. Rich. Ohio’s first grant<br />
to the <strong>Cleveland</strong> Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative<br />
Medicine in 2003 supported the construction of Dr. Rich’s<br />
new laboratory space.<br />
As a renowned researcher who investigates cancer stem<br />
cells in brain tumors and novel treatments aimed at slowing<br />
brain tumor growth, Dr. Rich will be recruiting faculty<br />
over the next five years to build a department of about 100<br />
new employees.<br />
Dr. Rich comes from Duke University Medical Center in<br />
Durham, NC, where he was Associate Professor in the<br />
Department of Medicine’s Division of Neurology, Associate<br />
Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and <strong>Can</strong>cer<br />
Biology and Associate Professor in the Department of Surgery.<br />
He received his medical degree from Duke University<br />
School of Medicine, and had clinical training in neurology<br />
at Johns Hopkins University.<br />
Richard D. Parker, MD, has been<br />
named Chair of the Department of<br />
Orthopaedic Surgery, as of Dec. 10,<br />
2008. Dr. Parker has been a <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> staff member since<br />
1992 and has held leadership roles<br />
in both the Department of Orthopaedic<br />
Surgery and the Sports<br />
Health Center. He is the head team<br />
physician for the <strong>Cleveland</strong> Cava-<br />
Richard D. Parker, MD liers and is director of education<br />
for Sports Health. Dr. Parker also<br />
has been a professor of surgery for the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Lerner College of Medicine since 2005. He is well-known<br />
for his expertise in sports medicine and knee surgery.<br />
The <strong>You</strong>ngstown native completed medical school at Ohio<br />
State University in 1981 and served an orthopedic surgery<br />
residency at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in <strong>Cleveland</strong>. He<br />
completed a sports medicine fellowship in 1987 before<br />
joining the staff at Mt. Sinai.<br />
Dr. Parker called his new post “a tremendous opportunity<br />
for me to be able help the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> health system<br />
orthopedists find common ground to build relationships<br />
as well as continue innovative and quality care throughout<br />
the region.”<br />
Feza Remzi, MD,<br />
FACS, FASCRS<br />
Feza Remzi, MD, FACS, FASCRS<br />
(S’96, CRS’97), has been named<br />
Chair of the Department of Colorectal<br />
Surgery. Dr. Remzi was appointed<br />
a staff colorectal surgeon<br />
in 1997 and was awarded the Ed<br />
and Joey Story Endowed Chair in<br />
Colorectal Surgery in 2007. Dr.<br />
Remzi graduated from the Hacettepe<br />
University School of Medicine<br />
in Ankara, Turkey, and completed<br />
his residency at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>.<br />
Dr. Remzi performed the world’s first single-port laparoscopic<br />
colon resection entirely through a single incision in<br />
the navel in 2007.<br />
Jaroslaw Maciejewski,<br />
MD, PhD<br />
Jaroslaw Maciejewski, MD, PhD,<br />
has been appointed Chair of the<br />
newly created Department of<br />
Translational Hematologic and<br />
Oncologic Research. Dr. Maciejewski,<br />
who has been a staff<br />
member in the Taussig <strong>Can</strong>cer Institute<br />
for several years, is respected<br />
internationally as an authority<br />
on myelodysplastic syndrome,<br />
pre-leukemic states and molecular<br />
prognostication. He holds in ex-<br />
cess of $10 million in peer-reviewed grants, has published<br />
definitive manuscripts in many highly cited journals, is on<br />
the editorial board of the journal Blood and has mentored<br />
a large cadre of translational researchers. His appointment<br />
represents another opportunity for the Taussig <strong>Can</strong>cer Institute<br />
to evolve its research agenda and to provide an even<br />
higher level of care and translational research for patients.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 15
The MyPractice Community:<br />
Electronic Medical Record System for Private Practice<br />
President Barack Obama has mandated making our<br />
country’s healthcare system safer, more affordable<br />
and more accessible through the use of information<br />
technology.<br />
In particular, he has called for most Americans to have<br />
electronic health records within the next 10 years and for<br />
the development of an Internet-based Nationwide Health<br />
Information Network to connect patients, practitioners<br />
and payers. These initiatives will reduce redundancies<br />
and save administrative time, and could also improve the<br />
safety and quality of care.<br />
On Aug. 8, 2006, the U.S. Department of Health and Human<br />
Services (HHS) published final regulations concerning<br />
the use of electronic prescriptions and electronic<br />
medical records (EMRs). HHS did so in a two-step rulemaking,<br />
creating regulatory exceptions to Stark through<br />
a rulemaking by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid<br />
Services (CMS) and comparable safe harbors to the Anti-<br />
Kickback Statute through a separate rulemaking by the<br />
HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG). This allowed <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>’s health system to dramatically reduce the cost<br />
of implementing an EMR.<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> has been implementing an EMR (Epic)<br />
for nine years and has begun offering community physicians<br />
the ability to use it. We call this MyPractice Community.<br />
The program has been in place for about two-anda-half<br />
years. It has been implemented in more than 45<br />
practices consisting of approximately 185 providers, 141<br />
residents and almost 1,000 users in Northeast Ohio.<br />
The MyPractice Community (EMR) medical record<br />
system comprises an integrated suite of software modules<br />
created by Epic ® Systems, a recognized leader in healthcare<br />
information technology systems. (Epic Systems is<br />
certified by the Certification Commission for Healthcare<br />
Information Technology [CCHIC] and ranked number<br />
one in the Ambulatory EMR category of the “KLAS 2007<br />
Year-End Top 20.”) The product of years of refinement,<br />
the MyPractice Community system is a specially designed<br />
expression of the same EMR system used in all <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> facilities.<br />
16 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
MyPractice Community allows private practice physicians<br />
access to their entire practice from any Internet connection.<br />
All patient information, test results, orders, progress<br />
notes, medications and treatment plans are available<br />
with just a login name and password. Best of all, because<br />
MyPractice Community is an integrated EMR system, it<br />
can connect all the members of a care team in a single,<br />
efficient environment.<br />
MyPractice Community has been developed specifically<br />
for the private practice physician. It is affordable, efficient<br />
and supported by an experienced team of health information<br />
technology professionals dedicated to delivering<br />
reliable EMR tools.<br />
Advantage<br />
When you think of EMR technology, you probably think<br />
of up-to-date patient charting that is always available and<br />
is never misplaced, illegible and incomplete. And while<br />
accessing messages, documents, lab results and other<br />
orders are the foundation of the MyPractice Community<br />
system’s value, the system’s true power is its integrated<br />
suite of functions, all designed to support the full range of<br />
tasks performed in private practices every day.<br />
Unlike other EMR systems, MyPractice Community comes<br />
pre-populated with patient data. If your patient has ever<br />
been treated anywhere within the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> system,<br />
the information is already there, giving you the reliable,<br />
accurate records you need to make the best decisions.<br />
Functionality<br />
MyPractice Community leverages the power of health information<br />
technology to align every aspect of a busy practice’s<br />
workflow. Its suite of EMR functionalities includes:<br />
• Patient information integrated with the entire<br />
MyPractice Community users environment<br />
• Outpatient encounter documentation, outpatient<br />
progress notes and inpatient visits<br />
• In-basket electronic results<br />
• Medications<br />
• Problem lists<br />
• Smart Links: data linked to patient and Smart Phrases,<br />
which are commonly used words and phrases<br />
• Smart Text: commonly asked questions and documentation<br />
templates
• Letter templates<br />
• Interfaced dictation<br />
• Remote access with security token<br />
Connectivity<br />
MyPractice Community is pre-loaded with 100+ million<br />
data elements related to approximately 5 million patients,<br />
providing comprehensive patient histories upon which to<br />
build ongoing treatment strategies. Because MyPractice<br />
Community is a secure, HIPAA-compliant system, only<br />
medical professionals actively participating in a patient’s<br />
care can access medical information, creating a true “care<br />
team” environment that focuses on aligning resources.<br />
MyPractice Community also is connected to <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> Health system laboratories and radiology services<br />
and most major pharmacy outlets. MyPractice Community<br />
is connected to the following transcription companies:<br />
• C-Bay Transcription Services<br />
• Premier Office Technologies, Inc.<br />
• Spheris<br />
Pricing<br />
As reported by independent researchers, initial EMR<br />
technology system costs for private community physician<br />
practices commonly amount to $44,000 or more per physician<br />
(or nurse practitioner) user, with ongoing yearly costs<br />
of about $8,400 per physician. Due to regulatory changes<br />
designed to facilitate the broad adoption of EMR technology<br />
across the U.S., healthcare provider organizations are<br />
now able to provide technology solutions to physicians<br />
in private practice at substantially discounted prices. In<br />
compliance with these new federal regulations, the price of<br />
installing and using MyPractice Community in a practice<br />
is substantially less than many comparable EMR systems<br />
presently available.<br />
If you have considered implementing an EMR system,<br />
please take some time to review MyPractice Community.<br />
Representatives are prepared to review the pricing structure<br />
of the service at the time of a scheduled, in-office system<br />
demonstration, or you may call 216.738.4617 to speak<br />
to a MyPractice Community representative today.<br />
Star Comes to <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
On Thursday, Nov. 20, the day of the local premiere<br />
of his new movie Seven Pounds, actor Will Smith<br />
spent part of the morning with patients and families<br />
at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Children’s Hospital. Smith<br />
passed out copies of an assortment of movies and<br />
stuffed animals, and signed autographs. He also<br />
posed for individual photographs with patients and<br />
visited rooms of children who were unable to gather<br />
in the M30 playroom.<br />
In addition, the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation<br />
presented Children’s Hospital Chairman<br />
Robert Wyllie, MD, with a $5,000 donation.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 17
Tribute (continued from page 1)<br />
Dr. Fazio, who holds the Rupert B. Turnbull, MD, Chair in<br />
Colorectal Surgery, is among the highest-regarded colorectal<br />
surgeons in the world. He was named chairman of the<br />
Digestive Disease Institute in January 2008, after chairing<br />
the Department of Colorectal Surgery for 33 years.<br />
His wife, Carolyn, had fun helping the event planners keep<br />
him in the dark until the last minute.<br />
“He saw that the program said ‘Bust Presentation,’ followed<br />
by dinner and then ‘Remarks and Special Tribute.’<br />
I told him the second tribute was just personal video and<br />
speech tributes because a lot of people had more to say. He<br />
didn’t realize what was going on until the announcement<br />
was actually made, then he started scribbling notes on<br />
what he could say. I told him to stop because he couldn’t<br />
really be prepared for such a thing!” Mrs. Fazio recalls. “He<br />
was quite overwhelmed.”<br />
The Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Course/Turnbull<br />
Symposium is a four-day educational activity comprising<br />
a two-day Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery Course and a<br />
two-day Turnbull Symposium presented by the Department<br />
of Colorectal Surgery.<br />
James M. Church, MD (CRS’84), Director of the David G.<br />
Jagelman Inherited Colon <strong>Can</strong>cer Registries and Head of<br />
the Section of Endoscopy, says he wanted to use this year’s<br />
Turnbull Symposium as an occasion for honoring Dr.<br />
Fazio’s long tenure as Chairman of Colorectal Surgery.<br />
“He has affected the lives of generations upon generations<br />
of fellows who have studied under him, and they, in turn,<br />
went out and trained others, who then trained others,” Dr.<br />
Church says. “His legacy is one of generations of colorectal<br />
surgeons in the U.S. and abroad.”<br />
Pictured at the event, from left, are Jefferson “Jeff” B. Hurley, MD (CRS’99), Dallas, TX; A.<br />
Gerald Frost, MD (S’81, CRS’82), Norristown, PA; Ziad N. Kutayli, MD (SP’03), Columbus, OH;<br />
Ian C. Lavery, MD (CRS’76, CF’77), Staff; Charles “Chuck” C. Gardner, Jr., MD (CRS’82), Fort<br />
Wayne, IN; Kirk A. Ludwig, MD (CRS’96), Milwaukee, WI; Harry L. Reynolds, MD (CRS’96),<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH; and Lynda S. Dougherty, MD (CRS’99), Fairfax, VA.<br />
18 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
Dr. and Mrs. Fazio with sons Victor and David and daughter<br />
Jane.<br />
“We held a special outreach to invite past fellows to attend.<br />
About 80 came and presented at the meeting,” he<br />
continues. “The Gala Dinner, where we announced the<br />
tribute, was really the highlight of it all.”<br />
Among the many people who rose to speak in honor of Dr.<br />
Fazio were <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> CEO Toby Cosgrove, MD, and<br />
Joseph Hahn, MD, Chief of Staff, Trustee Sam Miller and<br />
Phil Douglas, MD, from Australia.<br />
During his tenure as Chairman, Dr. Fazio maintained<br />
the pre-eminence of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s colorectal surgery<br />
program, expanding it from four surgeons to 18. He<br />
has pioneered numerous surgical techniques, many of<br />
which have changed the course of colorectal surgery as<br />
they have been adopted by surgeons around the globe.<br />
He has published hundreds of papers, book chapters and<br />
presentations, as well as writing and delivering numerous<br />
presentations. He received the <strong>Alumni</strong> Association’s<br />
Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2005.<br />
His commitment to his patients<br />
remains the most noteworthy<br />
aspect of his career, however.<br />
As a result, he has won much<br />
praise from people who received<br />
help from him when there was<br />
no other help available. His<br />
compassion for patients is a<br />
large part of the reason he was<br />
the first holder of <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>’s Master <strong>Clinic</strong>ian Award<br />
in 1992 and was the first recipient<br />
of the Alfred and Norma<br />
Lerner Humanitarian Award.
Dr. Fazio has been very involved in securing philanthropic<br />
support for his program and his participation<br />
has resulted in the establishment of more endowed<br />
chairs than all but one department at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>.<br />
This tribute project will formally link his name to the areas<br />
in which he has made such an incredible impact. The<br />
Victor Fazio, MD Center for IBD will, in perpetuity, support<br />
the education of future specialists in irritable bowel<br />
disease through clinical and research fellowships and<br />
the investigation of clinical outcomes as well as basic and<br />
translational research focused on the role of genetics.<br />
In addition, the opening of new facilities on <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>’s main campus allows the Digestive Disease Institute<br />
to move to operating rooms formerly belonging<br />
to cardiac surgery. Dr. Fazio has wanted to update and<br />
enhance the rooms’ capabilities to allow for a full suite<br />
of operating rooms designed specifically for Digestive<br />
Disease Institute surgeons. The Victor W. Fazio, MD,<br />
Digestive Disease Institute Surgical Suites will include<br />
state-of-the-art equipment to make this dream possible.<br />
Other highlights of the symposium included several<br />
new features:<br />
• Registrant’s Choice: One session was reserved for<br />
speakers and topics chosen by registrants via an<br />
email survey.<br />
• Adventures with <strong>Alumni</strong>: Two sessions of “Colorectal<br />
Jeopardy” featuring alumni and staff teams attempting<br />
to answer a series of questions based on challenging<br />
cases.<br />
• Fazio’s Favorites: Four 30-minute lectures by the two<br />
guest speakers on topics close to Dr. Fazio’s heart.<br />
• Research Forum: An opportunity to hear about the<br />
groundbreaking research being conducted by the<br />
Digestive Disease Institute at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>.<br />
• History of the Department of Colorectal Surgery: An<br />
informative lecture by the department’s historian,<br />
James Wu, MD.<br />
• The Turnbull Oration: Given by Dr. Fazio.<br />
To Help: Anyone who wishes to contribute to<br />
the Victor Fazio, MD, Tribute Fund, can contact<br />
Diane Tomer at 216.445.8540 or tomerd@<br />
ccf.org. Her mailing address is 9500 Euclid<br />
Avenue/A30, <strong>Cleveland</strong>, Ohio 44195.<br />
Event Faculty<br />
Many colorectal surgeons who trained under Dr. Fazio participated in the<br />
events held in his honor.<br />
Christine M. Bartus, MD (CRS’05)<br />
Connecticut Surgical Group<br />
West Hartford, CT<br />
Carol A. Burke, MD (GE’93)<br />
Gastroenterology, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
James M. Church, MD, FRACS,<br />
FACS (CRS’84)<br />
Vice-Chairman, Colorectal Surgery,<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Conor Patrick Delaney, MB,<br />
BCh, BAO, MCh, PhD, FRCSI(Gen),<br />
FACS (CRS’00)<br />
University Hospitals of <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
David W. Dietz, MD<br />
(S’95, CRILE’97, S’00, CRS’01)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Henry W. Eisenberg, MD (CRS’73)<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> State University Health<br />
Thomas E. Garofalo, MD (CRS’02)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Brooke H. Gurland, MD (FCCRS’01)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Tracy L. Hull, MD<br />
(CRS’92, CFCRS’93)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Ian Trevor Jones, MD<br />
(CRS’85, RES’85)<br />
Royal Melbourne &<br />
Western Hospitals<br />
Parkville, Victoria, Australia<br />
Matthew F. Kalady, MD (CRS’06)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Hermann Kessler, MD, PhD<br />
(RESCRS’98)<br />
Professor of Surgery<br />
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg<br />
Erlangen, Germany<br />
P. Ravi Kiran, MD<br />
(RESCRS’02, CRS’07)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Ira J. Kodner, MD (CRS’75)<br />
Washington University of St Louis<br />
Frontenac, MO<br />
Ian C. Lavery, MD (CRS’76, CF’77)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Patrick Y. H. Lee, MD (CRS’95)<br />
Surgical Specialty Group, PC<br />
Portland, OR<br />
David S. Medich, MD (CRS’94)<br />
Allegheny General Hospital<br />
Pittsburgh, PA<br />
James I. Merlino, MD (CRS’05)<br />
MetroHealth Medical Center<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH<br />
Jeff Milsom, MD<br />
(Former staff, ’90-’98)<br />
Section Chief of Colon and Rectal<br />
Surgery<br />
The Jerome J. DeCosse Professor of<br />
Colon and Rectal Surgery<br />
Weill Medical College of Cornell<br />
University<br />
Joseph M. Payne, MD (CRS’90)<br />
Wilmington Health Associates<br />
Wilmington, NC<br />
John A. Procaccino, MD (CRS’90)<br />
North Shore University Hospital<br />
Manhasset, NY<br />
Feza H. Remzi, MD (S’96, CRS’97)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Harry L. Reynolds, MD (CRS’96)<br />
University Hospitals of <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
David E. Stein, MD (CRS’03)<br />
Drexel University College of<br />
Medicine<br />
Merion Station, PA<br />
Scott A. Strong, MD (CRS’92)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Wayne B. Tuckson, MD<br />
(RES’88, CRS’89)<br />
Kentuckiana C&R Surgical<br />
Louisville, KY<br />
Jon D. Vogel, MD (CRS’05)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
M. Jonathan Worsey, MD<br />
(CRS’98)<br />
Advanced Surgical Associates of<br />
San Diego, San Diego, CA<br />
Christopher J. <strong>You</strong>ng, MD<br />
(CRS/A’99)<br />
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital<br />
Medical Center<br />
Newtown, NSW, Australia<br />
Massarat Zutshi, MD (CRS’05)<br />
Colorectal Surgery, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 19
Focus on Institutes<br />
The Digestive Disease Institute<br />
The Digestive Disease Institute is one of 16 new clinical institutes<br />
at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> that were formed by bundling<br />
multiple specialties together based on specific organ and<br />
disease states. The Digestive Disease Institute includes<br />
the liver transplant team, the nutrition support team and<br />
upper gastrointestinal surgery – along with the former Digestive<br />
Disease Center’s departments of colorectal surgery<br />
and gastroenterology and hepatology. The Institute is led<br />
by Victor W. Fazio, MD (S’73, CRS’74).<br />
This close-knit team of healthcare providers draws on<br />
each other’s strengths and experience. As a result of this<br />
integration, they offer patients the most advanced, safest<br />
and proven treatments performed in the most effective<br />
and convenient way. Creation of the Digestive Disease<br />
Institute also offers exciting advantages and unmatched<br />
opportunities for research and physician education.<br />
Digestive Disease Institute outcomes are driven by an<br />
unrelenting pursuit to continuously raise the standards<br />
of patient-centered care. For example, the Institute’s morbidity<br />
and mortality rates are low or lower than national<br />
averages for many digestive diseases, and cure rates for<br />
colorectal cancer are well above the national average.<br />
In addition, innovation, research and patient satisfaction<br />
results have been instrumental in the program being<br />
ranked in 2008 as No. 2 in digestive diseases in the nation<br />
by US News & World Report for the sixth straight year.<br />
20 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
2007 Digestive Disease<br />
Institute Statistics<br />
Total Patient Visits: 92,493<br />
Total New Patients: 3,899<br />
Admissions: 3,829<br />
Patient Days: 28,179<br />
ALOS: 7.36<br />
Total Endoscopic Procedures: 24,853<br />
Total MIS Cases: 425<br />
Total Inpatient Surgical Cases: 3,689<br />
Capabilities: Digestive Disease Institute Key Specialties<br />
Digestive Disease Institute doctors are among the most<br />
active in the country in utilizing capsule endoscopy, a<br />
technique that has proven invaluable in the evaluation of<br />
patients with occult gastrointestinal bleeding, polyps of<br />
the small intestine, small intestine tumors and inflammatory<br />
bowel disease.<br />
The Center for Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders<br />
maintains the largest non-VA hospital registry in the<br />
United States, following more than 800 patients – nearly<br />
25 percent are women – with Barrett’s esophagus.<br />
The surgeons have extensive experience with relatively<br />
uncommon hepatobiliary procedures including resection<br />
of benign and malignant liver tumors, laparoscopic radiofrequency<br />
ablation for inoperable liver tumors and portal<br />
hypertension surgery.<br />
Due to participation in clinical trials and the excellent outcome<br />
of surgical cases, we receive increasing worldwide<br />
referrals, particularly for complex IBD cases.<br />
Our colorectal surgeons are highly experienced in laparoscopic<br />
procedures, having performed more than 2,100<br />
laparoscopic intestinal resections and currently averaging<br />
eight to 10 cases each week.<br />
About 260 operations are performed annually to treat<br />
Crohn’s disease.<br />
An average of 20 patients a week from around the United<br />
States and other countries are seen at our Pouchitis <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
– the first of its kind in the nation.<br />
Our liver transplant program is one of the nation’s largest,<br />
performing 148 liver transplants in 2007.<br />
We performed our first adult intestinal transplantation<br />
in June 2008, becoming one of only a few hospitals in the<br />
country that perform adult intestinal transplants.<br />
The Nutrition Support Team offers comprehensive care<br />
for one of the largest cohorts of home parenteral nutrition<br />
patients in the nation. Enteral nutrition is provided<br />
to patients with functioning GI tract issues, but who also<br />
require a feeding tube.
Letters to the Editor<br />
Dr. Sheldon Grateful for <strong>Alumni</strong> Award<br />
Words are simply inadequate to express my appreciation<br />
for the honor that the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Board<br />
bestowed upon me with the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus<br />
Award (Cover story, <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection fall issue). The occasion<br />
was, thanks to the <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations staff, my wife<br />
and several friends, a complete surprise. I never dreamed<br />
of receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award, and am<br />
proud and humbled to be included among the list of previous<br />
distinguished recipients.<br />
Dr. Sheldon’s book Pathfinders<br />
of the Heart – The History of<br />
Cardiology at the <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>, is published by Xlibris<br />
Corp. (www.xlibris.com) and<br />
is available at many local<br />
bookstores and at www.<br />
amazon.com. To purchase an<br />
autographed hardbound or<br />
paperback copy of the book,<br />
contact alumni@ccf.org.<br />
Needless to say, the experience on the evening of Sept.<br />
26 was exhilarating. It was wonderful to see so many old<br />
friends, former fellows and colleagues. It was especially<br />
heartwarming to be able to share the experience with my<br />
sons Scott and John and close friends Bill Proudfit and<br />
Earl Shirey. The venue and the dinner were marvelous and<br />
the planning superb.<br />
I hope this letter may also convey my sincerest thanks to<br />
the members of the <strong>Alumni</strong> Board and all those in attendance.<br />
I would also especially like to take this opportunity<br />
to publicly acknowledge all those who took the time to call<br />
or send me their personal congratulations.<br />
William C. Sheldon, MD (CD’62)<br />
Winner of the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award<br />
First DO Resident Shares His Memories<br />
I see my name mentioned in the <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection (Fall<br />
2008) as the first DO to train at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> starting as<br />
a straight medicine intern in July 1970. Paul M. Wolfson,<br />
DO (GL-1’71, IM’72), and I started together, he having just<br />
graduated from Chicago College of Osteopathy and I just<br />
finished a DO internship at Chicago after graduating from<br />
CCO the year before. Penn Skillern, MD, an endocrinologist,<br />
was our champion for training at that level. Previ-<br />
ously, DOs had been trained at the post-fellowship level for<br />
months or a year.<br />
After my fourth year at <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>, I moved to The Marshfield<br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> in Wisconsin, where I have<br />
practiced infectious disease for<br />
more than 34 years. This includes<br />
decades as Chairman of Infection<br />
Control at St. Joseph Hospital,<br />
President of the Marshfield <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Research Foundation in 1984 and,<br />
presently, numerous phase II & III<br />
Ray C. Haselby, DO<br />
vaccine studies, a <strong>Clinic</strong>al Professor<br />
of UW Madison Medical School, Department Chair<br />
for 11 years and a current project in collaboration with<br />
Timothy Lyden, PhD, of UW River Falls of growing cancers<br />
on three-dimensional scaffolding. Richard A. Dart, MD<br />
(IM’71, H/N’73), a nephrologist who trained at <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>, came to Marshfield upon completion of his training<br />
the year before I did and was instrumental in my coming<br />
to The Marshfield <strong>Clinic</strong>. When I started at <strong>Cleveland</strong>, he<br />
was my senior resident! Ray A. Van Ommen, MD (IM’51),<br />
and Marty McHenry, MD, were my mentors in ID, along<br />
with Dr. Tom Gavin in microbiology. What impressed me<br />
were patients came in in-extremis, say with meningitis, and<br />
commonly completely recovered.<br />
About 6 years ago, the ID department recruited Rana M.<br />
Nasser, MD (IM’94, ID’96), and her husband, Camille F.<br />
Torbey, MD (GE’95), a GI specialist, both <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
alumni. Previously, Robert H. Winemiller, MD (IM’65,<br />
H/N’68), and Thomas F. Nikolai, MD (IM’62, END’63), were<br />
long-time Marshfield <strong>Clinic</strong> doctors who were <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>-trained. The Marshfield <strong>Clinic</strong> has had good luck<br />
with <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>-trained physicians.<br />
As for me, the breadth and depth of pathology I encountered<br />
in <strong>Cleveland</strong> was a real eye-opener and prepared<br />
me well. The similar set-up of a group practice was to<br />
my liking, and the opportunity to practice sophisticated<br />
medicine in a rural setting has kept me here. This includes<br />
seven kids, the planting of 70,000 trees in a hobby farm setting<br />
and a city home in downtown Minneapolis. <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> and its initiative to take DOs was a seminal event for<br />
me and literally changed my life.<br />
Ray C. Haselby, DO (Gl-1’71, IM’72, ID’74)<br />
Infectious Disease Chairman, Marshfield <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>al Professor, University of Wisconsin<br />
Madison School of Medicine, Marshfield, WI<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 21
Letters (continued)<br />
Osteopathic Physician Thankful to <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
I was in the Heart Failure/Transplant Fellowship at<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> from 2005 to 2006 in the Department of<br />
Cardiovascular Medicine. I was fortunate to be mentored<br />
by the best transplant cardiologists and cardiothoracic<br />
surgeons, in my opinion. Being trained through a traditional<br />
osteopathic route from internship, residency<br />
and fellowship, and then coming to <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> for<br />
advanced fellowship training not only broadened my<br />
medical education and knowledge, but also opened vast<br />
opportunities for me in the cardiology field. At first, I was<br />
apprehensive about coming to <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> since<br />
most of the Cardiovascular Medicine fellows had extensive,<br />
renowned pedigrees in their residency, compared to<br />
my own residency.<br />
But because of my excellent and solid osteopathic background,<br />
I quickly overcame my apprehension and was<br />
able to adapt, function and gain respect and confidence<br />
from my preceptors during my fellowship.<br />
I feel that <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> has always recognized the valuable<br />
contributions osteopathic physicians have brought to<br />
Northeast Ohio and the rest of the country. I truly believe<br />
that it is not the DO designation that <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
recognizes but the individual who stands behind the<br />
degree who has strived to bring recognition, knowledge<br />
and respect for the advancement of our profession. This is<br />
what I believe <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> has always recognized and<br />
has contributed to the many young osteopathic physicians<br />
in training entering its doors.<br />
I feel that my mentors should be recognized for their<br />
efforts and acknowledged for their contributions in<br />
training me and other osteopathic physicians. Kudos to<br />
Randall Starling, MD, David Taylor, MD, Wilson Tang, MD<br />
(CARD’03, C/HFT’04), and the staff of Heart Failure Division<br />
at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>.<br />
Kenneth P. Dizon, DO (C/HFT’06)<br />
North Phoenix Heart Center, Phoenix, AZ<br />
Dr. Einstein’s Help Still Appreciated<br />
I am writing in response to the recent feature in <strong>Alumni</strong><br />
Connection concerning osteopathic physician education at<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>.<br />
I was a fourth-year medical student when I rotated<br />
through Radiology at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> in December 1996.<br />
22 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
I knew at that time that I wanted a career in radiology but<br />
was unclear as to where to go. Radiology was and is a very<br />
competitive specialty, and it is very difficult for DOs to get<br />
opportunities at world-class institutions.<br />
Radiology was in the midst of a transition from a straight<br />
four-year residency to requiring a one-year preliminary<br />
internship. I am from Michigan, and in Michigan, osteopathic<br />
physicians were required to complete an American<br />
Osteopathic Association-approved internship to qualify<br />
for licensure. <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> had, unfortunately, decided<br />
to incorporate the preliminary year for radiology into the<br />
residency, thus making it a five-year radiology residency.<br />
It just so happened that one day as I was working in GI<br />
Radiology, one of the residents asked me what I was going<br />
to do. When I replied that I wanted to do Radiology, I was<br />
asked if I had applied to <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>. I said no because<br />
I would not have been able to get my license in my<br />
home state if I did my internship at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>. We<br />
both agreed that was a shame, and I actually forgot about<br />
the conversation until David M. Einstein, MD (Gl-1’79,<br />
DR’82), spoke with me a few days later. Dr. Einstein was the<br />
residency program director and had overheard my story<br />
that fateful day. He had checked with some of the other<br />
radiologists and residents that I had worked with, and I<br />
guess I must have passed muster. Dr. Einstein informed me<br />
that the decision to include the internship in the residency<br />
was made for the convenience of the residents, certainly<br />
not to exclude anyone. Apparently I had made a favorable<br />
impression and he really thought I should apply to <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> and I would be free to do my internship in an<br />
AOA-approved program.<br />
Well, the rest is history. In 2002, I graduated from <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> after serving as Chief Resident and did an Interventional<br />
Neuroradiology Fellowship at McGill University<br />
in Montreal. I am now an Associate Professor of Radiology<br />
at the University of Vermont.<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> and Dr. Einstein opened the door of opportunity<br />
for my career, and I could not have a more positive<br />
memory of my training. Thank you.<br />
Grant J. Linnell, DO (DR’02)<br />
Associate Professor, Radiology, University of Vermont<br />
Neurointerventional Radiologist,<br />
Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT
Owing His Success To <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Training<br />
I am delighted to have the <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection come<br />
to my house. I am much honored to have completed<br />
my Internal Medicine residency at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> in<br />
1993.<br />
I am currently practicing cardiovascular medicine in<br />
Jacksonville, FL. I am married to Dr. Sonnie Kim-<br />
Ashchi, OB/GYN, an alumna of Case Western Reserve<br />
University. God blessed us with four children, the<br />
most recent being twin boys born in 2006.<br />
I was honored to have been selected as the 2007<br />
Florida Osteopathic Medical Association Physician of<br />
the Year. I was also awarded the 2008 Distinguished<br />
Physician Alumnus of the Year from NOVA South Eastern<br />
College of Osteopathic Medicine.<br />
I owe a large part of my success to my solid training at<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> and I would like to thank my professors<br />
and mentors, including all my attendings and specifically<br />
Jess R. <strong>You</strong>ng, MD (IM’59), Phillip M. Hall, MD<br />
(IM’68, H/N’69, RES’70), and Martin McHenry, MD.<br />
Thank you, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>, for all you do for humanity<br />
and its health.<br />
Majdi Ashchi, DO, FACC, FSCAI, FABVM (IM’93)<br />
President, First Coast Cardiovascular Institute, PA<br />
Jacksonville, FL<br />
Meads Family Appreciates Article<br />
On behalf of the family of the late Garner B. Meads,<br />
MD, we would like to thank you for the article in the<br />
recent <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection (Fall 2008 issue) using some<br />
of Dad’s recollections of training with Tommy Jones,<br />
MD. William Proudfit, MD, himself an amazing physician,<br />
was most kind to quote Dad and add insights of<br />
his own.<br />
As a family, we are most appreciative of Dr. Proudfit’s<br />
efforts, as well as yours. The article reflected the excellent<br />
training these great doctors gave and received at<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>.<br />
Thank you for the honor of seeing our late father in<br />
print.<br />
Marjorie Meads Spencer for Mrs. Garner B. Meads<br />
and Family<br />
Fiscal Fitness<br />
Support Family and Charity<br />
With a Gift from <strong>You</strong>r IRA<br />
Good news! We have just learned that the extension of the<br />
IRA rollover provision has passed.<br />
This provision allows an owner of a traditional or Roth IRA<br />
to instruct the IRA manager to distribute directly to a public<br />
charity up to $100,000 without the distribution being included<br />
in taxable income, and that distribution will count<br />
toward the IRA owner’s mandatory withdrawal amount.<br />
This extension has been granted until Dec. 31, 2009.<br />
<strong>You</strong> qualify for a Charitable IRA Rollover if:<br />
• <strong>You</strong> are age 70 and a half or older<br />
• The cash distribution is made directly to a qualified<br />
charity<br />
• The distribution is $100,000 or less per year<br />
• <strong>You</strong>r gift is outright (rollovers to a planned gift, such as a<br />
gift annuity or charitable remainder trust, do not qualify)<br />
If you are required to take minimum distributions from<br />
your IRA, you have two options:<br />
1. Keep the distribution and pay taxes. If you reinvest it, you<br />
are subject to market risk.<br />
2. Roll it over directly to <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> and pay no tax<br />
(your gift will go to support your favorite program or area<br />
within <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>, but since the money in your IRA<br />
has never been taxed, you will not be eligible for a charitable<br />
tax deduction).<br />
Or, take away the market risk and support your family at<br />
the same time! By choosing the first option of taking a distribution<br />
and using the after-tax remainder to make a gift<br />
to <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>, you could establish a charitable gift annuity,<br />
which guarantees you income for life. Plus, you may<br />
benefit from partial tax savings.<br />
Check with your legal or financial advisor or call <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>’s Office of Institutional Development to see which of<br />
these options is right for you and your family.<br />
For further information, please call 800.223.2273 ext. 41251<br />
or 216.444.1251, or email your questions to giftplanning@<br />
ccf.org.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 23
Campus Clips<br />
Corrections<br />
We mistakenly excluded the alumnus brother of Roger<br />
F. Classen, DO, from the cover story, “Osteopathic<br />
Physicians <strong>Have</strong> Long History at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> and<br />
the “Calabrese Named to Second Chair” article (page<br />
17): Gregory T. Classen, DO, trained at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
in Plastic Surgery, 1981–1982.<br />
Apologies, also, to another DO featured: William S.<br />
“Scott” Sheldon was correctly identified as a DO in the<br />
page one article on his father, “Distinguished Alumnus<br />
Award a Surprise for Sheldon,” but the photo ID (page<br />
15) had the wrong degree.<br />
Jay Alberts, PhD, Biomedical Engineering, was awarded<br />
$310,260 over two years for “Online Motor and Cognitive<br />
Analysis System” by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s<br />
Research in New York , NY.<br />
C. Martin Harris, MD, Chief Information Officer, was appointed<br />
to the Board of Directors of the American Health<br />
Information Community Successor Inc. The new organization<br />
is being established in cooperation with the U.S. Department<br />
of Health and Human Services and will work for<br />
the creation and use of a secure interoperable nationwide<br />
health information system.<br />
Michael Kattan, PhD, Chair of Quantitative Health Sciences,<br />
recently received the Eugene Saenger Distinguished<br />
Service Award from the Society for Medical Decision Making<br />
and was named as a permanent member to the NIH<br />
Epidemiology of <strong>Can</strong>cer Study Section. Dr. Kattan also will<br />
be editing the forthcoming Encyclopedia of Medical Decision<br />
Making.<br />
Elliot Philipson, MD, Vice Chairman Obstetrics & Gynecology,<br />
co-edited Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy (The<br />
Humana Press, Inc., 2008). The book’s 23 chapters provide<br />
a comprehensive overview of the expectant mother’s nutrition<br />
needs and cover a range of topics including obesity,<br />
diabetes and exercise during pregnancy, weight loss surgery,<br />
special diets and nutrition and maternal survival in<br />
the developing world.<br />
Erick Remer, MD, Imaging Institute, will chair the genitourinary/obstetric/gynecologic<br />
radiology section for the 2009<br />
American Roentgen Ray Society meeting. Dr. Remer has<br />
been a subcommittee member for the past several years.<br />
Roy Silverstein, MD, Chairman of the Department of Cell<br />
Biology in the Lerner Research Institute, was invited by<br />
the National Institutes of Health to co-chair a committee<br />
24 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
on “Vascular Biology/Pathophysiology” at an October 2008<br />
workshop on “Sickle Cell Disease: <strong>Clinic</strong>al Priorities/<strong>Clinic</strong>al<br />
Trials,” in Bethesda, MD.<br />
Carl V. Tyler, MD, a family and geriatric medicine specialist<br />
at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Fairview Hospital, was one of seven<br />
inductees to the Charles F. Brush High School (Lyndhurst /<br />
South Euclid, OH) <strong>Alumni</strong> Association’s “Wall of Achievement.”<br />
The purpose of The Wall of Achievement is: “To<br />
recognize and honor graduates of Charles F. Brush High<br />
School who have displayed outstanding achievement in areas<br />
such as leadership, service of the community, service to<br />
Brush High School, humanitarianism, creativity, courage,<br />
and careers which have benefited others.” Also honored<br />
were the top 30 Brush High School seniors based on grade<br />
point average for six semesters of academic work. Dr.<br />
Tyler received his medical degree from Northeastern Ohio<br />
Universities College of Medicine and, after completing his<br />
internship at the University of California, Irvine, graduated<br />
from the family practice residency at Fairview Hospital in<br />
1976. He also holds a masters degree from Case Western<br />
Reserve University, <strong>Cleveland</strong>.<br />
Brian Wells, MD, MS, Quantitative Health Sciences, won<br />
the Lee B. Lusted Student Prize for Outstanding Presentation<br />
of Research at the Society for Medical Decision Making<br />
Annual Meeting.<br />
Five <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> physicians have been appointed<br />
to new chairs endowed by <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> supporters.<br />
Endowments of the following chairs support research,<br />
education and innovation that will help further medical<br />
progress and improve patient care. William Bingaman, MD<br />
(NS’96), Section Head of the Epilepsy Center, will hold the<br />
Karen and Richard Shusterman Family Endowed Chair,<br />
which supports research, training and education within<br />
the Epilepsy Center. Daniel Clair, MD, Chairman of Vascular<br />
Surgery, will hold the Len Stuart Distinguished Chair in<br />
Vascular Surgery, which will help enhance and expand innovative<br />
educational opportunities in vascular surgery and<br />
provide training for future cardiovascular surgeons. Tomislav<br />
Mihaljevic, MD, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery,<br />
will hold the Donna and Ken Lewis Endowed Chair in<br />
Cardiothoracic Surgery, which will provide support for<br />
research, education and patient care. Steven Nissen, MD,<br />
Chairman, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, will<br />
hold the Lewis and Patricia Dickey Chair in Cardiovascular<br />
Research. Stephen Rao, PhD, Director of the Ralph and<br />
Luci Schey Foundation Center for Advanced Cognitive<br />
Function, will hold the Ralph and Luci Schey Endowed<br />
Chair in Cognitive Function, which supports the development<br />
of strategies for understanding changes in cognitive<br />
brain function caused by neurodegenerative diseases and
traumatic brain injuries.<br />
Three <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> researchers are awarded grants to<br />
fund early clinical studies in Translational Science. The<br />
Case Western Reserve University <strong>Clinic</strong>al and Translational<br />
Science Collaborative (CTSC) has announced the recipients<br />
of its 2008 Pilot Project grants. Three of the seven<br />
recipients chosen from among 30 applicants are <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> researchers with strong inter-institutional and collaborative<br />
studies:<br />
• W. H. Wilson Tang, MD (CARD’03, C/HFT’04), Cardiovascular<br />
Medicine and Genomic Medicine Institute,<br />
“Understanding Disease Progression in Inherited<br />
Cardiomyopathies: Detection and Longitudinal Monitoring<br />
of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Heterozygous<br />
MYBPC3 Mutation Carriers in the Geauga County Amish<br />
Community.”<br />
• John Kirwan, PhD, Gastroenterology & Hepatology and<br />
Pathobiology, “Insulin Resistance: Detection of Hepatocellular<br />
Lipid Sub-Species by Magnetic Resonance<br />
Spectroscopy.”<br />
• Donna Hansel, MD, PhD, Glickman Urological and<br />
Kidney Institute and Taussig <strong>Can</strong>cer Institute, “mTOR<br />
Phosphorylation and Associated Upstream PTEN Alterations<br />
in the Prediction of Urothelial Carcinoma Metastases<br />
and Patient Outcomes.”<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> takes leadership of Speaking of Women’s<br />
Health Foundation. The board of the National Speaking<br />
of Women’s Health Foundation decided to transition its<br />
assets to <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> at the end of 2008 in order to further<br />
the mission and efforts of the organization. Holly L.<br />
Thacker, MD (IM’89), a nationally known leader in Women’s<br />
Health, will incorporate the mission and efforts of the<br />
group as part of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Center for Specialized<br />
Women’s Health within the Women’s Health Institute.<br />
This new phase for the organization comes after <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> hosted its seventh sold-out Speaking of Women’s<br />
Health event on Nov. 1, 2008, and its fifth successful Universal<br />
Sisters event on Aug. 23.<br />
As patient acuity increases, hospital seeks training at<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>. When the complexity and acuity of<br />
patients within the Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU)<br />
at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, NY, began<br />
to increase, the hospital reached out to <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>.<br />
Our reputation, combined with our ability to treat some<br />
of the sickest patients, makes us a top choice not only for<br />
patients but for healthcare professionals seeking advanced<br />
training. <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> arranged an observational experience<br />
for 13 of New York Methodist Hospital’s RNs, with<br />
two RNs visiting <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> for a week at a time to<br />
6th Annual Medical Innovation Summit<br />
held in November<br />
Innovations such as a simple blood test that detects<br />
recurrent cancer earlier and predicts a patient’s prognosis<br />
and a palm-sized device that could help a paraplegic<br />
breathe without a bulky ventilator are among <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>’s Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2009. The list<br />
was selected by a panel of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> physicians<br />
and scientists, and was unveiled during the 2008<br />
Medical Innovation Summit that drew more than<br />
1,000 medical and business people to <strong>Cleveland</strong> in<br />
November. Also attending were representatives from<br />
various countries, including Ireland and Saudi Arabia,<br />
where science, technology and healthcare are growing<br />
economies.They were looking to support partnerships<br />
with American entrepreneurs.<br />
The Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2009<br />
10. Private Sector National Health Information Exchange<br />
9. Doppler-Guided Uterine Artery Occlusion<br />
8. Integration of Diffusion Tensor Imaging (Tractography)<br />
7. LESS and NOTES Applications<br />
6. New Strategies for Creating Vaccines for Avian Flu<br />
5. Percutaneous Mitral Valve Regurgitation Repair<br />
4. Multi-Spectral Imaging Systems<br />
3. Diaphragm Pacing System<br />
2. Warm Organ Perfusion Device<br />
1. Use of Circulating Tumor Cell Technology<br />
“<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> was founded by innovators, and this Top<br />
10 list reflects the continuing passion for innovation of its<br />
scientists and clinicians,” says Christopher Coburn, Executive<br />
Director, Innovations. He adds that the list lets the<br />
public in on the thinking of top physicians working on the<br />
front lines of medicine.<br />
Four major criteria served as the basis for qualifying and<br />
selecting the Top 10 Medical Innovations. Nominated<br />
innovations were required to have significant potential for<br />
short-term clinical impact; have a high probability of success;<br />
be on the market or close to being introduced; and<br />
have sufficient data available to support their nomination.<br />
To whet your interest in the 2009 Medical Innovation<br />
Summit, take a look at this year’s program agenda<br />
and participants at: www.clevelandclinic.org/innovations/<br />
summit/default.htm<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 25
Campus Clips (continued)<br />
learn more about caring for sicker cardiac patients. Deborah<br />
Klein, MSN, RN, <strong>Clinic</strong>al Nurse Specialist CICU and<br />
Heart Failure ICU, who coordinated the experience, says<br />
the RNs learned more about pulmonary artery catheters,<br />
hemodynamic monitoring, intra-aortic balloon pump<br />
therapy and acute myocardial infarction management. In<br />
addition, the nurses shadowed our CICU RNs and observed<br />
a cardiac catheterization. The CICU nurse manager<br />
from New York Methodist Hospital met with Judy Pearce,<br />
BSN, RN, Nurse Manager CICU and HFICU, to discuss staff<br />
ratios, the importance of ongoing education, professional<br />
development and our shared governance program.<br />
“We take care of very sick patients and expect our nurses<br />
to be knowledgeable and perform advanced skills,” Klein<br />
says. “The visiting RNs were very impressed with our high<br />
level of nurse-physician collaboration and how empowered<br />
nurses are in their practice at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>.”<br />
Medical students from across the country traveled to<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> for the Student National Medical Association’s<br />
fall National Leadership Institute, Sept. 19-21,<br />
2008. Co-hosted by <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>, MetroHealth Medical<br />
Center, University Hospitals of <strong>Cleveland</strong> and Case<br />
Western Reserve University Medical School, the event gave<br />
Student National Medical Association (SNMA) members<br />
an opportunity to gain leadership skills from some of the<br />
best faculty and professional staff at our Northeast Ohio<br />
medical institutions.<br />
SNMA was established in 1964 by medical students from<br />
Howard University School of Medicine and Meharry Medical<br />
College. It is the oldest and largest independent, studentrun<br />
organization that focuses on the needs and concerns of<br />
medical students of color. Its membership includes more<br />
than 7,000 medical students, pre-medical students, residents<br />
and physicians. The weekend consisted of workshops<br />
with several of our world-class physicians. Some <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> residents also took part in an informal panel discussion<br />
and interacted with SNMA members/leaders to gain<br />
insight, network and develop mentorship relationships.<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> has received the American Stroke Association’s<br />
<strong>Get</strong> With The Guidelines SM –Stroke (GWTG–<br />
Stroke) Silver Performance Achievement Award. The award<br />
recognizes <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s commitment and success in<br />
implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring<br />
that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally<br />
accepted standards and recommendations.<br />
“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the GWTG–Stroke<br />
Silver Performance Achievement Award addresses the<br />
important element of time,” says Peter A. Rasmussen, MD<br />
26 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
(NS/CB’00), Director of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Cerebrovascular<br />
Center. <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> has developed a comprehensive<br />
system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients<br />
admitted to the emergency department. This includes<br />
always being equipped to provide brain imaging scans, having<br />
neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations<br />
and using clot-busting medications when appropriate.<br />
To receive the GWTG-Stroke Silver Performance Achievement<br />
Award, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> for at least one year consistently<br />
complied with the requirements in the program.<br />
These include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics,<br />
anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis,<br />
cholesterol-reducing drugs and smoking cessation. This<br />
12-month evaluation period is the second in an ongoing<br />
self-evaluation by the hospital to continually reach the 85<br />
percent compliance level needed to sustain this award.<br />
To arrange for a consult or referral to the Cerebrovascular<br />
Center, call our referring physician line at 800.553.5056. For<br />
urgent stroke transfers, call 800.553.5056 and request the<br />
2-CLOT pager (22568) for direct contact with a Cerebrovascular<br />
Center staff member.<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Children’s Hospital performs its 100th<br />
pediatric heart transplant. The 100th pediatric heart transplant<br />
patient, 6-year-old Zoe Tanner of Elyria, OH, is recovering<br />
well and spent the December 2008 holidays at home<br />
with her family. Zoe’s heart was attacked by a virus when<br />
she was only 6 weeks old, and she suffered congenital heart<br />
failure in October 2008. Muhammad Mumtaz, MD, Pediatric<br />
and Congenital Heart surgeon, in conjunction with<br />
the Pediatric Cardiology team, performed her surgery on<br />
Dec. 2, 2008. The first pediatric heart transplant at <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> was performed in 1985. In 2008, 11 pediatric<br />
heart transplants were performed at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>. It is<br />
estimated that fewer than 10 centers in the world have this<br />
level of pediatric heart transplant experience.<br />
Eric Kodish, MD, Chairman of the Department of Bioethics,<br />
was named Director at Large for the Association of<br />
Bioethics Program Directors, which advances the field of<br />
bioethics by fostering the development and success of bioethics<br />
programs in educational and scientific institutions.<br />
Dr. Kodish, F.J. O’Neill professor and chairman of the<br />
Department of Bioethics and a professor of pediatrics at<br />
the Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve<br />
University, and alumnus, Anil M. Parikh, MD (P’87), a<br />
private practice psychiatrist in Fairlawn, OH, are two of the<br />
new eight-member Board of Trustees for the Northeastern<br />
Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy appointed<br />
by Gov. Ted Strickland on Jan. 9, 2009. Dr. Parikh
teaches psychiatry residents at Akron General Medical<br />
Center. Dr. Kodish, a 1986 graduate of NEOUCOM,<br />
received its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001. In the<br />
past, the presidents of the University of Akron, Kent State<br />
and <strong>You</strong>ngstown State, which founded the medical school<br />
in the 1970s, were on the board. A new board structure was<br />
recommended by a study commission that met last year<br />
to look for ways to improve higher education in Ohio. The<br />
new members begin their terms of service immediately<br />
and will serve for nine years.<br />
M. Bridget Duffy, MD, Chief Experience Officer, received<br />
an award recognizing her vision of patient-centered care<br />
and her initiatives toward changing the delivery of healthcare<br />
in America at Carmella Rose Women’s Health Foundation’s<br />
annual fundraiser.<br />
Gopal Saha, PhD, Director, Nuclear Chemistry and Pharmacy,<br />
was awarded the Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Oration<br />
Award, the most prestigious award of the Society of Nuclear<br />
Medicine (India) offered to an international scientist. The<br />
SNMI granted the award to Dr. Saha at the annual meeting<br />
held in New Delhi in conjunction with ninth Asia Oceania<br />
Congress of Nuclear Medicine and Biology, where he spoke<br />
on “Molecular Imaging: Its Current Status and Future.”<br />
<strong>From</strong> the Nation’s Capital<br />
Healthcare – Expect Three Phases of Reform<br />
By Dan Nickelson, Retired Director, Government Affairs, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
<strong>There</strong> is no doubt that a major debate over megahealthcare<br />
reform looms. It directly challenges the reactive<br />
politics of healthcare since the Clinton debacle in 1992.<br />
The conventional wisdom has been “take small bites;<br />
don’t try anything too big.”<br />
<strong>There</strong> are three major phases. The first two are already in<br />
process. The State Children’s Health Program, known as<br />
SCHIP, which has been reauthorized after a series of vetoes<br />
by President Bush, offers broadened coverage for children<br />
in families above the federal poverty level. The second<br />
phase is the recently enacted stimulus legislation which<br />
gives states money to shore up and expand their Medicaid<br />
programs. Last, but not least, there are federal funds<br />
available to help recently laid-off employees buy COBRA, a<br />
continuation of their employer-based policy.<br />
These first two phases are intended to slow the increase<br />
in the numbers of uninsured people due to the failing<br />
economy. They represent an effort to help troubled state<br />
budgets as well. But they are not reform. That debate, the<br />
third phase, comes later this year/first of next.<br />
While this debate will encompass all ranges of the philosophical<br />
spectrum, the result will most likely build on<br />
what exists, not create some new, untried approach. Will<br />
a single-payer system pass? No. Will “market forces” be<br />
emphasized, as they were in the Bush Administration? No.<br />
Will there be more government intervention in healthcare?<br />
Yes. Will it constitute a public takeover of the healthcare<br />
system? No. Will it happen overnight? No.<br />
The initial push will come administratively, based on the<br />
legislative part of the stimulus, emphasizing the electronic<br />
patient record. While this initiative is heralded as improving<br />
quality and reducing costs, skeptics believe that the<br />
impact will not be as great as touted. It is hard to break<br />
long-standing practice patterns, and these information<br />
systems are only as good as the use to which they are put. If<br />
they become just another way of filing patient information,<br />
but are not used to improve the coordination of patient<br />
care, reduce redundant diagnostic tests and catch inadvertent<br />
drug interactions, the result will be marginal. Thus,<br />
while there is much talk about the federal funds being<br />
made available, the more difficult agenda is changing practices<br />
to take advantage of this technology.<br />
We also can anticipate that the initiatives begun in the<br />
Bush Administration to encourage evidence-based practice<br />
and value-based purchasing, and comparative effectiveness<br />
of drugs, devices and various procedures, will continue.<br />
The emphasis on quality reporting and transparency<br />
will increase.<br />
All of this sets the framework for the upcoming debate.<br />
We will get to the specifics of that in the next issue.<br />
<strong>You</strong> can reach Dan Nickelson at dnickelson921@comcast.net.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 27
Calendar<br />
Contact Information<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH<br />
216.297.7330 | 800.238.6750<br />
216.297.7345 (fax)<br />
www.clevelandclinicmeded.com<br />
Weston, FL<br />
954.659.5490 • 866.293.7866<br />
954.659.5491 (fax)<br />
www.clevelandclinicflorida.org<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> are entitled to a<br />
substantial discount on CME<br />
sponsored by the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Center for Continuing Education,<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH, and by Continuing<br />
Medical Education of <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> Florida.<br />
Center for Continuing Education<br />
www.clevelandclinicmeded.com<br />
The <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Center for<br />
Continuing Education is responsible<br />
for one of the largest and most<br />
diverse CME programs anywhere<br />
in the U.S. Check the webpage for<br />
the latest course announcement<br />
information.<br />
Stay informed of all the<br />
available live and online CME<br />
opportunities by signing up to<br />
our monthly newsflash: www.<br />
clevelandclinicmeded.com/<br />
SignMeUp<br />
28 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
NOTE: All courses are at the spectacular, state-of-the-art InterContinental Hotel & Bank of America Conference<br />
Center on the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> campus in <strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH, unless otherwise noted.<br />
March 2009<br />
19 3 rd Annual Innovations in<br />
Ophthalmology<br />
Ocean Reef Club<br />
Key Largo, FL<br />
28- Comprehensive<br />
4/2 Anesthesiology Review<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
April 2009<br />
3 5 th Annual Contemporary<br />
Issues in Pituitary Disease:<br />
Case-based Management<br />
Update<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
4 Update on the Management<br />
of Adrenal Diseases and<br />
Lesions<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
24 Cardiovascular CT Training<br />
Program<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
25 Thoracic Malignancies 2009:<br />
Up for Debate<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
22 The 6 th International Human<br />
Peroxidase Meeting<br />
Carolina Inn<br />
Chapel Hill, NC<br />
23 39 th Annual Meeting of the<br />
American Osler Society<br />
Renaissance Hotel,<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH<br />
24 Lung Summit<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
27 Diabetes Day 2009:<br />
Complications and<br />
Controversies<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
30 Current and Emerging Trials,<br />
Mechanisms, and Agents in<br />
B-Cell-Directed Therapies: A<br />
Multidisciplinary Approach<br />
May 2009<br />
1 May Day<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
1 <strong>Can</strong>cer Survivorship<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Beachwood<br />
Campus<br />
8 Cardiology Disease in<br />
Inflammatory Arthritis:<br />
<strong>Get</strong>ting to the Heart of the<br />
Matter<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
7-9 Biologic Therapies III –<br />
Focusing on Infections,<br />
Malignancies, Cardiovascular<br />
Disease and Other<br />
Comorbitities in Special<br />
Populations featuring<br />
Managing Complex Cases in<br />
Biological Therapies Mini-<br />
Symposium<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
15 Orthopaedic and<br />
Rheumatology Care Quality<br />
Innovation Summit<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
15-16 2 nd Annual Advances<br />
in Gynecologic Surgery<br />
Conference<br />
Innovations, Modern<br />
Management and Future<br />
Therapies<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
16 Lead Management 2009: HRS<br />
Guidelines and Case Based<br />
Implemtation<br />
Hyatt Rhythm Society Satellite<br />
Boston, MA<br />
29 2 nd Annual Advanced<br />
Management Issues in HIV<br />
Medicine<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
29-30 Single Port Laparoscopy ,<br />
NOTES and Endoluminal<br />
Surgery: A Multi-Disciplinary<br />
and Collaborative Summit<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
For current information on these as well as on-line CME, medical publications<br />
and to register for free e-mail updates, please visit www.ccfcme.org and<br />
www.clevelandclinicflorida.org/research/cme.<br />
June 2009<br />
3-5 The Treatment of<br />
Cardiovascular Disease:<br />
Legacy and Innovation<br />
See back page of this issue<br />
for information<br />
19 Cardiovascular CT Training<br />
Program<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
19 21 st Annual Intensive Review<br />
of Internal Medicine<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
19 Annual Research Residents<br />
and <strong>Alumni</strong> Meeting<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
21 Epileptology: Comprehensive<br />
Review and Practical<br />
Exercises<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
24 18 th International <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> Epilepsy Symposium:<br />
Epilepsy Surgery – Improving<br />
Outcomes<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
25 Pulmonary Summit<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
26 Innovations in Epilepsy<br />
Diagnosis and Treatment<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
July 2009<br />
25 Innovations in Optical<br />
Coherence Tomography:<br />
Spectral Domain and Beyond<br />
Ritz-Carlton, <strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH
<strong>Alumni</strong> Receptions /<br />
“Mini Reunions” and other<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Events:<br />
The <strong>Alumni</strong> Association and various<br />
department chairmen are pleased<br />
to sponsor alumni gatherings at the<br />
following major national medical<br />
meetings and other venues. All local<br />
alumni, as well as those attending<br />
the meetings, are cordially invited,<br />
with their spouse/companion. Watch<br />
your mail for more information,<br />
check the <strong>Alumni</strong> home page at<br />
www.clevelandclinic.org/education/<br />
alumni or contact <strong>Alumni</strong> Affairs<br />
at 216.444.2487, toll-free,<br />
800.444.3664 or alumni@ccf.org<br />
March 2009<br />
30 American College of<br />
Cardiology<br />
7-9 p.m.<br />
The Peabody Orlando,<br />
Florida II Ballroom<br />
Florida<br />
April 2009<br />
24 American College of<br />
Physicians<br />
6-8 p.m.<br />
Philadelphia Marriott,<br />
Downtown, Franklin 5 Room<br />
Philadelphia<br />
27 American Academy of<br />
Neurology<br />
6:15-8:30 p.m.<br />
Sheraton Seattle Hotel,<br />
Juniper Room<br />
Seattle<br />
28 American Urological<br />
Association<br />
5:30-7:30 p.m.<br />
Palmer House Hilton,<br />
Wilson Room<br />
Chicago<br />
May 2009<br />
4 American Association of<br />
Neurological Surgeons<br />
6:30-8 p.m.<br />
San Diego Marriott Hotel &<br />
Marina, TBA<br />
San Diego<br />
4 American Society of Colon &<br />
Rectal Surgeons<br />
6:30-8:30 p.m.<br />
Westin Diplomat Resort &<br />
Spa, Juniper Room<br />
Hollywood, FL<br />
4 Association for Research in<br />
Vision & Ophthalmology<br />
7:30-9:30 p.m.<br />
Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six,<br />
Crystal Ballrooms 1 & 4<br />
Fort Lauderdale, FL<br />
14 American Association of<br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>al Endocrinologists<br />
7-8 p.m.<br />
Hilton Americas Houston<br />
Houston<br />
June 2009<br />
1 Digestive Disease Week<br />
6-8 p.m.<br />
TBA, Denver, CO<br />
8 American Academy of<br />
Sleep Medicine & the Sleep<br />
Research Society<br />
6-8 p.m.<br />
Dinner ,TBA, Seattle<br />
11 Society for Vascular Surgery<br />
7-9 p.m.<br />
Hyatt Regency, Agate A/B<br />
Rooms<br />
Denver<br />
Extremely Good<br />
Residents<br />
Almost everyone can remember a teacher who held<br />
true passion for his or her subject and brought<br />
out the very best in students. Jerrold Saxton, MD,<br />
is among them. He’s been teaching in Radiation<br />
Oncology at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> since 1982, and was<br />
named Best Teacher in Radiation Oncology in 2006.<br />
But he won’t take the credit. Dr. Saxton says some of<br />
the biggest factors that keep him motivated are the<br />
bright residents and medical<br />
students <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
attracts. Imagining himself<br />
as a student today, Dr. Saxton<br />
jokes that he might not be<br />
able to keep up.<br />
“The new advanced exposure<br />
to the field brings the upper<br />
echelon of students to our<br />
program,” he says. “We have Jerrold Saxton, MD<br />
extremely good residents,<br />
with the number of applicants increasing every<br />
year.”<br />
Since his days in medical school, Dr. Saxton, who<br />
was included in the peer-nominated list of “Best<br />
Doctors” in the March 2008 issue of <strong>Cleveland</strong> Magazine,<br />
has watched the field – and oncology management<br />
and patient management protocols – evolve<br />
and improve. As a specialist in treating head and<br />
neck cancers, he is hopeful for the future of radiation<br />
technology and therapy. He adds that as interest<br />
in cancer treatment, co-development of chemotherapy<br />
and advancement of computer imaging programs<br />
grows, the level of talent also continues to rise – and<br />
it is <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> teachers like Dr. Saxton who<br />
develop this talent.<br />
Editor’s Note: Do you have a recollection of a favor-<br />
ite <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> teacher or mentor? Please share<br />
your comments with us! Whether current staff or long<br />
departed, we’d be interested in hearing about who and<br />
why they top your list of favorite teachers. <strong>You</strong>r comments<br />
will be kept confidential . . . unless they’re just too<br />
good not to share in <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection . . . in which<br />
case, we’ll ask your permission prior to publication.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 29
Contacts<br />
| 40s |<br />
Charles P. Wofford, MD (IM’38, IM’40), celebrated<br />
his 100 th birthday on Dec. 23, 2008, with his wife,<br />
Minni, in the Colonial Hill Retirement Center in<br />
Johnson City, TN.<br />
| 60s |<br />
Cyrus Moayad, MD (OTOCD’62), of Valparaiso,<br />
IN, was honored by the American Academy of<br />
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with the<br />
Distinguished 1887 Member Award, presented<br />
Sept. 19, 2008, by Past President Vito C. Quatela,<br />
MD, at the AAFPRS annual Fall Meeting. The award<br />
is presented to individuals who have gone the extra<br />
mile for the development office. Dr. Moayad, an<br />
Emeritus Member of AAFPRS, continues to have a<br />
passion for the advancement of facial plastic surgery<br />
and has generously remembered the AAFPRS<br />
Foundation in his financial planning. Dr. Moayad<br />
feels that the Academy was instrumental in his<br />
continual learning in both skills and knowledge and<br />
says that establishment of the Academy in 1964<br />
did much to advance the training and practice of<br />
the specialty.<br />
Mehdi Razavi, MD (CD’67), <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
cardiologist since 1967, was honored Dec. 5,<br />
2008, with an endowed chair in Cardiovascular<br />
Medicine. The Robert and Suzanne Tomsich<br />
Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine<br />
was dedicated to Dr. Razavi’s continued<br />
growth, building upon a 40-year legacy of<br />
innovation in the cardiology community. The<br />
endowed chair was established by Robert J.<br />
and Suzanne M. Tomsich to honor Dr. Razavi’s<br />
dedication and remarkable career achievements<br />
in cardiovascular research and patient<br />
care. Additionally, Dr. Razavi is being honored<br />
through an endowed annual lectureship series<br />
supported by a major gift from philanthropist<br />
William A. Rea II. The Mehdi Razavi, MD,<br />
Endowed Lectureship will address important<br />
cardiovascular issues. Nationally renowned<br />
speakers will be featured, including Heart &<br />
Vascular Institute leadership and other prominent<br />
members of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s medical<br />
staff. The annual lectures will be open to <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> employees and visiting physicians.<br />
30 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
| 70s |<br />
Tavevatana Keo, MD (GL-1’65, S’69, TS’71),<br />
cardiothoracic surgeon who served at Lakewood<br />
Hospital, was one of six honorees at the fifth<br />
annual “Pillars of<br />
Medicine” award hosted<br />
by Fairview, Lakewood<br />
and Lutheran Hospitals of<br />
the western region of the<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> health<br />
system. The presentations<br />
took place Dec. 17,<br />
Tavevatana Keo,<br />
MD<br />
2008. These prestigious<br />
awards honored retired<br />
physicians who have<br />
exhibited a lifetime of exemplary commitment to<br />
medicine, our hospitals and communities. A native<br />
of Thailand, and the son of a well-known physician<br />
who served as Thailand’s minister of health, Dr.<br />
Keo attended medical school at The Faculty of<br />
Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University in<br />
Bangkok, Thailand, the oldest medical school and<br />
hospital in Thailand. Dr. Keo trained at <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> with pioneers Drs. Donald Effler, Rene G.<br />
Favaloro (TS’62, TS’65) and Laurence K. Groves<br />
(S’52, TS’53), and began his practice in 1971 at<br />
Lakewood Hospital, where he and his colleagues<br />
were the first to perform open heart surgery<br />
on <strong>Cleveland</strong>’s west side. Dr. Keo and his wife,<br />
Margaret, have two sons, John and Tim.<br />
Arthur J. McCullough Jr., MD (GL-1’75, IM’77),<br />
Chair, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Gastroenterology and<br />
Hepatology, was given “special recognition for<br />
achievements in liver disease” by the American<br />
Association for the Study of Liver Diseases<br />
(AASLD) at the Seventh Annual Liver Update on<br />
Dec. 6, 2008, at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Administrative<br />
Campus. The current president of AASLD, Dr.<br />
McCullough’s interest is in liver disease, including<br />
fatty liver disease and cirrhosis of the liver.<br />
Yoshinori Mitamura, PhD (RES’76), is now<br />
Professor at Tokai University and Emeritus Professor<br />
of Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. Dr.<br />
Mitamura sent an email saying that although he<br />
left <strong>Cleveland</strong> 35 years ago, he recalls “fruitful and<br />
wonderful days at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>” and “fortunately”<br />
has opportunities to visit about every two<br />
years. “The <strong>Clinic</strong> changed almost completely and<br />
is still changing. I hope I can visit the <strong>Clinic</strong> again<br />
in the near future,” he wrote.<br />
John J. Mizenko, DO (GE’72), was one of four<br />
physicians from South Pointe Hospital, a <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> hospital, recognized in its annual “Pillars<br />
of Medicine” award program that honors retired<br />
physicians who have exhibited a lifetime of<br />
exemplary commitment to medicine, their hospitals<br />
and communities. Thomas J. Ebner, DO (END’74),<br />
was recognized posthumously. He passed away<br />
Jan. 14, 2008.<br />
Drogo K. Montague, MD (GL-1’69, S’70, U’73),<br />
Director of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Glickman Urological<br />
Institute’s Center for Genitourinary Reconstruction,<br />
was nominated by the Urology residents,<br />
staff, department and institute chairs in Urology<br />
and Education for the Accreditation Council of<br />
Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Courage to<br />
Teach Award. Dr. Montague was selected by the<br />
ACGME for this award, which recognizes training<br />
program directors for their contributions and<br />
dedication to graduate medical education. The<br />
ACGME receives about 150 nominations nationally<br />
and selects 10 training program directors each<br />
year for this prestigious award. <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
has had four training program directors nominated<br />
previously, but Dr. Montague is the first to receive<br />
this award. He was the Urology residency program<br />
director for the past 33 years. He also served as<br />
chair of the Surgical Education Subcommittee for<br />
24 years. He has made significant contributions<br />
to Urology residency education as well as other<br />
surgical training programs at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> and<br />
nationally. His input as a member of the Graduate<br />
Medical Education Council has been invaluable. Dr.<br />
Montague was honored at the ACGME Educational<br />
Conference in Dallas in March 2009.<br />
| 80s |<br />
Tom I. Abelson, MD (OTOCD’81), an otolaryngologist<br />
on staff at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> since 1997, was<br />
named Director of the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Beachwood<br />
Family Health Center, effective Feb. 23, 2009. Dr.<br />
Abelson served as head of Beachwood Otolaryngology<br />
since moving the majority of his practice to<br />
the Beachwood FHC in 2002. In 2004, Dr. Abelson<br />
became Associate Surgical Director of the Beachwood<br />
Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) and serves<br />
on the ASC Board and the ASC Capital Committee.<br />
Dr. Abelson has been involved in precepting<br />
first- and second-year medical students in the<br />
Foundations of <strong>Clinic</strong>al Medicine course since the<br />
inception of the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Lerner College<br />
of Medicine and is involved in resident education<br />
in the Head and Neck Institute. Additionally, Dr.<br />
Abelson is a member of the American Academy<br />
of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and the<br />
Voice Foundation. He lectures regularly on Medical<br />
Care of the Professional Voice at Oberlin College,
the Chautauqua Institution and other groups in the<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> area. He is co-author of 22 articles and<br />
book chapters in medical literature.<br />
Michael S. Benninger, MD (OTO’88), Chairman<br />
of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Head and Neck Institute, was<br />
honored in late 2008 with a Distinguished Service<br />
Award from the American Academy of Otolaryngology.<br />
The award recognizes medical professionals<br />
for their extensive meritorious service through the<br />
presentation of instructional courses, scientific<br />
papers, participation on a continuing education<br />
committee or academy leadership position.<br />
Andrew J. Fishleder, MD (GL-1’79, LMED’82). See<br />
“Appointments,” page 12.<br />
Prakash Kotagal, MD (CHN’86, NPHY’88), Head<br />
of Pediatric Epilepsy at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>, received<br />
the Legacy Award at the 2008 Epilepsy Association<br />
Gala on Nov. 14.<br />
Richard S. Lang, MD, MPH (GL-1’80, IM’82). See<br />
Raul J. Seballos, MD, 90s, below.<br />
Imad M. Najm, MD (N’96, NPHY’97), Director of<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Epilepsy Center in the Neurological<br />
Institute, will be the first to hold the Joseph H.<br />
and Ellen B. Thomas Endowed Chair in Epilepsy.<br />
The chair will support Dr. Najm’s work with the<br />
Epilepsy Center.<br />
Anil M. Parikh, MD (P’87). See “Campus Clips,”<br />
page 26.<br />
Holly L. Thacker, MD (IM’89). See “Campus<br />
Clips,” page 25.<br />
Donald A. Underwood, MD (CARD’80), cardiologist<br />
at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>, was nominated for and<br />
elected to receive the Evelyn V. Hess, MD, MACP<br />
Master Teacher Award of the Ohio Chapter of the<br />
American College of Physicians for 2008. The<br />
award was presented at the annual Ohio Chapter<br />
Meeting at the Awards Banquet on Oct. 17 in<br />
Columbus, OH.<br />
A. Mary Walborn,<br />
MD<br />
A. Mary Walborn, MD<br />
(IM’80, CARD’82), an<br />
internist with <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> since August 1995,<br />
was one of 12 employees<br />
honored as “Exceptional<br />
Healing Partners” during<br />
Patient-Centered Care<br />
Awareness Month in<br />
November 2008. The Office of Patient Experience<br />
asked employees and patients to nominate<br />
“Exceptional Healing Partners” and carefully<br />
considered nearly 200 nominations.<br />
Mario Zappia, MD (RES’85, NEMG’86), is a<br />
full professor of Neurology and Chairman of the<br />
Department of Neurosciences at the University<br />
of Catania in Catania, Italy. He also is president<br />
of the Italian Society of Movement Disorders and<br />
Parkinson’s Disease.<br />
| 90s |<br />
Raed A. Dweik, MD (PULMCC’96), <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
Critical Care Medicine/ Respiratory Institute, and<br />
Pathobiology/Lerner Research Institute, was guest<br />
editor of a special issue of the Journal of Breath<br />
Research (Volume 2, Number 3, September 2008),<br />
which highlighted the International Association for<br />
Breath Research “Breath Analysis Summit 2007:<br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>al Applications of Breath Testing” that he<br />
organized and hosted at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>. To read<br />
the full issue, visit www.iop.org/EJ/journal/JBR.<br />
Olaf B. Johansen, MD (CRS’92). See Shirley Shih,<br />
MD, Future <strong>Alumni</strong>, page 33.<br />
Michael Kirsch, MD (GE’90), a freelance author<br />
and frequent contributor to <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection,<br />
started a blog in January 2009. It offers patients an<br />
insider’s view of the medical profession. His aim is<br />
to stimulate thought and dialogue both to empower<br />
patients and to promote healing of our ailing health<br />
care system. He has written numerous articles on<br />
the joys and challenges of medical practice including<br />
controversies in the doctor-patient relationship,<br />
medical ethics and measuring medical quality.<br />
When he’s not writing, he is performing colonoscopies<br />
as a full-time practicing gastroenterologist<br />
in Mayfield Heights, OH. He invites you to visit his<br />
blog, post your comments and join in the conversations:<br />
http://mdwhistleblower. blogspot.com.<br />
Pavel J. Levy, MD (RES’94, VM’95, RES/VM’97),<br />
became Section Head of Vascular Medicine in<br />
the newly formed Department of Vascular and<br />
Endovascular Surgery and Medicine at Wake Forest<br />
University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem,<br />
NC. He will host the first International Fellow<br />
for a mini-sabbatical in Vascular Medicine. Dr.<br />
Levy is also co-director of the K-12 NIH Award in<br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>ian-Scientist Vascular Medicine Fellowship.<br />
Satoshi Nakatani, MD, PhD (RES/BE’82 & ‘89,<br />
RES/C’95), was appointed to a professorship in the<br />
division of Functional Diagnostics at Osaka University<br />
Graduate School of Medicine in Osaka, Japan.<br />
Previously, he was with the National Cardiovascular<br />
Center, also in Osaka. He and his wife, Akiko,<br />
have two children, Hiroko and Susumu.<br />
David R. Otto, MD (AN’96), completed an<br />
Echocardiography fellowship through the University<br />
of Utah, Salt Lake City, in 2007, and in 2008 became<br />
a diplomat, National Board of Echocardiography,<br />
TEE Certification. He practices in Wichita, KS.<br />
Feza Remzi, MD (S’96, CRS’97). See “Appointments,”<br />
page 15.<br />
Edmund S. Sabanegh Jr., MD (U/MI’94), Director,<br />
Center for Male Infertility at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>, and<br />
Ahmed Ragheb, MD (Urology Research Fellow),<br />
recently became the first urologists to receive<br />
the Risman Research Award. Drs. Sabanegh and<br />
Ragheb received a grant as part of the award,<br />
which is donated by the Risman family to the<br />
Beachwood Family Health Center to support the<br />
best scientific research concerning society health<br />
welfare. They will study the effects of smoking, and<br />
quitting smoking, on sperm count and quality. Drs.<br />
Sabanegh and Ragheb are working in collaboration<br />
with <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Tobacco Treatment<br />
Center to find men to take part in their study. “The<br />
potential implications of this study from a public<br />
health as well as a urological health standpoint<br />
are substantial,” says J. Stephen Jones, MD,<br />
Chairman, Regional Urology. Males who smoke,<br />
live in Ohio and have seriously considered quitting<br />
should contact the Tobacco Treatment Center at<br />
216.444.8881 to schedule an appointment to<br />
start a smoking cessation program and learn more<br />
about this research study.<br />
Raul J. Seballos, MD (PULMCC’95), decided at a<br />
young age to follow in the professional footsteps<br />
of his parents, who moved his family from the<br />
Philippines to <strong>Cleveland</strong> to complete their medical<br />
residencies in 1978. Today, Dr. Seballos practices<br />
preventive medicine in the Executive Health Program<br />
at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>, where he takes patients<br />
through a full day’s worth of thorough physical<br />
tests, including a full spectrum of preventive<br />
health measures. Dr. Seballos joined <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> in 1997 and is board-certified in internal<br />
medicine, is a fellow of the American College of<br />
Physicians and the American Medical Association<br />
and a member of the American College of Preven-<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 31
Contacts (continued)<br />
tive Medicine. A graduate of Case Western Reserve<br />
University, he earned his medical degree at the<br />
Medical College of Ohio at Toledo and completed<br />
his residency training in internal medicine at St.<br />
Luke’s Medical Center. He then served a fellowship<br />
in pulmonary and critical care medicine at <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>. Roughly half of his program’s patients<br />
are from outside Ohio and are often seen through<br />
corporate contracts, but the program is open to<br />
everyone. Dr. Seballos says that men are often not<br />
proactive enough with their health. “Many patients<br />
who come through the program are men who have<br />
not had a physical in 10 to 15 years and have<br />
recently seen a family member or coworker experience<br />
a serious illness,” he says. Voted by his peers<br />
as one of the Best Doctors in America in 2007, Dr.<br />
Seballos says the best compliment a doctor can<br />
receive is when a patient refers a friend or relative.<br />
“That’s when you know you’ve made a difference.”<br />
Richard S. Lang, MD, MPH (GL-1’80, IM’82), Vice<br />
Chairman of the Wellness Institute, also heads the<br />
Section of Preventive Medicine.<br />
Editor’s Note: For more information on the<br />
Executive Health Program, or to schedule an<br />
appointment or make a referral, please call<br />
216.444.5707 or 800.223.2273, ext. 45707.<br />
International patients may make an appointment<br />
through the International Center by calling<br />
216.444.6404 or 800.223.2273, ext. 46404 or<br />
visit online: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/<br />
executive_health/default.aspx.<br />
Lt. Col. Constandinos Villias, MD, PhD (RE-<br />
SCRS’97), is Director of the 1 st Surgical Department<br />
of the Veterans Hospital of Athens, Greece.<br />
R. Matthew Walsh, MD (S’91), <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
general surgeon, is the first holder of a new chair<br />
from Bob and Mindy Rich and their family to<br />
support research at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Digestive<br />
Disease Institute. The Rich Family Distinguished<br />
Chair in Digestive Diseases is made possible by<br />
a $2 million gift from the Rich family honoring the<br />
high-quality medical care that Dr. Walsh provides<br />
to his patients. Bob Rich is the Chairman of<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Board of Trustees Development<br />
Committee and of Today’s Innovations, Tomorrow’s<br />
Healthcare: Campaign for <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>. Mindy<br />
Rich is a Vice Chair of the campaign.<br />
32 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
| 00s |<br />
Maria Fernanda Bonilla, MD (IM’05, IMPC’07),<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Infectious Disease Fellow, and<br />
Martin E. Lascano, MD (IM ‘04, H/N’07),<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>al Associate Staff in the<br />
Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, are<br />
the proud parents of Mateo N. Lascano Bonilla and<br />
Lucas D. Lascano Bonilla, born Aug. 29, 2008. Mateo<br />
and Lucas join big brother Simon, who turned 2<br />
years old on July 7, 2008.<br />
Bonilla/Lascano family<br />
Ursula A. Galway, MD (AN’06, CC’07), general<br />
anesthesiologist with the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
health system, was married in her home town of<br />
Gaothdobhair in County Donegal, Ireland, on Oct.<br />
25, 2008, to Ben Repenning, MD, a Med/Peds<br />
physician at Elyria Memorial Hospital.<br />
Ben Repenning, MD, and Ursula A.<br />
Galway, MD<br />
P. Daniel Knott, MD (OTO’06), of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s<br />
Head and Neck Institute, has been awarded the<br />
Ben Shuster Memorial Award from the American<br />
Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive<br />
Surgery in recognition of the “most outstanding research<br />
paper in the field of Head and Neck Plastic<br />
Surgery.” The title of the paper is “Evaluation of<br />
hardware-related complications in vascularized<br />
bone grafts with locking mandibular reconstruction<br />
plate fixation.”<br />
Martin E. Lascano, MD (IM ‘04, H/N’07). See<br />
Maria Fernanda Bonilla, MD, above.<br />
Robert R. Lorenz, MD (OTO’02). See “Appointments,”<br />
page 12.<br />
Dipen C. Maun (FCCRS’07). See Shirley Shih, MD,<br />
Future <strong>Alumni</strong>, page 33.<br />
Aylin M. Ozdemir-Lorenz, MD (RES/CB’99, RES/<br />
CA’01). See Robert R. Lorenz, MD, “Appointments,”<br />
page 12.<br />
Siriorn Paritpokee Watcharananan, MD (ID’04,<br />
MB’05), sent her holiday greetings to staff and<br />
friends at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> from her home in<br />
Thailand, along with a photo of her with sons<br />
Art, 3, and Andy, 1.<br />
Dr. Paritpokee Watcharananan and sons<br />
Peter A. Rasmussen, MD (NS/CB’00). See “Campus<br />
Clips,” page 26.<br />
Bridget M. Sanders, MD (FCCRS’05). See Shirley<br />
Shih, MD, Future <strong>Alumni</strong>, page 33.<br />
Sherrie L. Sharp, MD (PD’04, P’06), is working<br />
at Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook, ME, running<br />
an adolescent psychiatry unit. She says she<br />
recently became an ABPN Diplomate with one try<br />
on each part, adding, “Whew!” She happily reported<br />
still staying in touch with several colleagues<br />
from residency.<br />
W. H. Wilson Tang, MD (CARD’03, C/HFT’04). See<br />
“Campus Clips,” page 25.<br />
| Future <strong>Alumni</strong> |<br />
Ram Chadalavada (Class of 2009) received the<br />
Medical Student of the Year award from the Association<br />
of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio (AIPNO)<br />
for 2008. He received the award at the 25th Annual<br />
Function of AIPNO on Nov. 1, 2008, from Sangita<br />
Patel Mehta, MD (IM’96), AIPNO President, Dr.<br />
Satish Mahna, AIPNO President-Elect, and Neil B.<br />
Mehta, MD (IM’95), AIPNO Publication Chair. Delos<br />
M. Cosgrove, MD, CEO and President of <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>, was the chief guest at the function. Ram
was selected from among several applicants for<br />
his academic achievement, extracurricular activities<br />
and community service. Ram’s parents were<br />
present at the event, having traveled from Battle<br />
Creek, Mich. IPNO is an organization with about<br />
350 physicians that raises funds for local charities,<br />
organizes two health fairs each year, supports<br />
medical aid in case of natural disasters and sends<br />
physician teams to underserved areas of the world.<br />
Every year, AIPNO selects one medical student<br />
from one of the northern Ohio schools for this<br />
award. Students get free membership in AIPNO.<br />
Apply at http://www.aipno.org.<br />
Ram Chadalavada, flanked by Drs. Mehta<br />
(left) and Cosgrove.<br />
Ahmed Ragheb, MD, Urology Research Fellow. See<br />
Edmund S. Sabanegh Jr., MD, above.<br />
Jason Robertson (Class of 2009) presented a talk<br />
“Angiographic evidence of early coronary artery<br />
disease and increased risk of mortality in smokers<br />
with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary<br />
syndrome” at the 7th International Symposium on<br />
“Multiple Risk Factors in<br />
Cardiovascular Diseases<br />
Prevention and Intervention<br />
– Health Policy in<br />
Venice, Italy,” in October<br />
2008. The conference<br />
was sponsored by the<br />
Fondazione Giovanni<br />
Jason Robertson<br />
Lorenzini Medical Science<br />
Foundation. Jason also<br />
presented the work in<br />
New Orleans at the American Heart Association<br />
Scientific Sessions 2008.<br />
Sumit Sharma (Class of 2009) and Dawn Wiese<br />
(Class of 2009) were selected as the year 4 and<br />
5 winners of the 2008 International Traveling<br />
Scholarships. The scholarship award, initiated by<br />
the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Lerner College of Medicine in<br />
January 2008, is designed to broaden students’<br />
development as physician leaders by providing<br />
funds for students interested in an international<br />
educational opportunity.<br />
Eligible students will have<br />
completed both Basic Core<br />
rotations, two out of four<br />
Advanced Cores and one<br />
Acting Internship. Sumit<br />
will be doing an elective<br />
rotation in the Department of Ophthalmology at<br />
Government Medical College, Jammu, India, under<br />
Suraj Prakash, MS (Master of Surgery). Dawn<br />
will be in Costa Rica at the Arenal and Dominical<br />
Campuses in the Medical Spanish Immersion<br />
Program. Her four weeks will be split between<br />
two campuses to maximize exposure to medicine<br />
in different types of communities. As with any<br />
other rotation, the international faculty preceptor<br />
will assess the student’s performance and the<br />
student will evaluate the educational experience.<br />
To apply for the scholarship, students submitted a<br />
proposal of up to 200 words to the Associate Dean,<br />
Admissions and Student Affairs indicating why he<br />
or she should receive support for this international<br />
educational activity. Letters of recommendation<br />
and the student’s previous academic performance<br />
were taken into consideration. Awards were made<br />
following competitive review.<br />
Sumit Sharma Dawn Wiese<br />
Shirley Shih, MD<br />
(research fellow at<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Florida),<br />
has been appointed as the<br />
first fellow of the Indiana<br />
University School of<br />
Medicine Colon and Rectal<br />
Residency Program at Kendrick Regional Center<br />
for Colon and Rectal Care at St. Francis Hospital-<br />
Mooresville. Dr. Shih’s fellowship training − the<br />
first program of its kind in Indiana − will begin in<br />
July 2009. The residency program was established<br />
through a partnership between IU, St. Francis<br />
and Kendrick Regional Center and marks the first<br />
educational joint venture between St. Francis and<br />
the medical school, the nation’s second-largest<br />
academic medical institution. Dr. Shih received<br />
her medical degree from Albany Medical College<br />
in Albany, NY, and completed her general surgery<br />
residency at George Washington University Hospital,<br />
Washington, DC. The teaching staff comprises<br />
surgeons with Kendrick Regional Center, including<br />
three alumni, and assistant clinical professors<br />
with the IU School of Medicine’s Department of<br />
Surgery. They are Drs. Olaf B. Johansen (CRS’92),<br />
Fred Lane, R. Barry Melbert, Bridget M. Sanders<br />
Students from the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Lerner College of Medicine attend the Ohio<br />
American College of Physicians Scientific Meeting in Columbus.<br />
Eight students from the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM) attended the<br />
Ohio American College of Physicians (ACP) Scientific Meeting in Columbus, OH, Oct. 16 to 17,<br />
2008. Mark Mayer, MD, who directs Longitudinal <strong>Clinic</strong>s, hosted the meeting as Ohio ACP Governor<br />
and was joined by several other CCLCM faculty, including Drs. David L. Bronson; J. Harry Isaacson;<br />
Franklin A. Michota Jr. (IM’96); Craig D. Nielsen (IM’97); and Lori Kmiec Posk (IM’94). Even<br />
though CCLCM has fewer than 4 percent of Ohio’s medical students, 13 percent of the posters presented<br />
by Ohio medical students at the conference were from our students. These students included<br />
Ram Chadalavada (Class of 2009), Sherwin Yen (Class of 2009), Kevin Blaine (Class of 2010),<br />
Anna Brady (Class of 2010), Shana Weiner (Class of 2010), Rachel Roth (Class of 2011) and<br />
Jean Hu (Class of 2012). Roth placed second in the 2008 Ohio Chapter Annual Abstract Competition.<br />
Sam Edwards (Class of 2009) joined the other CCLCM students at the meeting and attended<br />
the Ohio ACP Health and Public Policy committee meeting as well as the scientific session.<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 33
Contacts (continued)<br />
(FCCRS’05) and Dipen C. Maun (FCCRS’07) from<br />
Kendrick, and Drs. Bruce Robb and Virgilio George<br />
from IU.<br />
In 2007, St. Francis established the Colorectal<br />
<strong>Can</strong>cer Center of Excellence for the prevention,<br />
diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. It is<br />
one of the largest programs of its<br />
kind in Indiana.<br />
Aaron Viny (Class of 2009) was<br />
selected to receive an American<br />
Society of Hematology Travel<br />
Award for his abstract titled “Expression<br />
of MICA by Granulocytes<br />
in Neutropenia Due to Large<br />
Aaron Viny<br />
Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia<br />
Points towards Cytotoxicity<br />
Exerted Via NKG2D on Clonal Cytotoxic T Cells.”<br />
This award helps defray costs for attending the<br />
50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of<br />
Hematology in San Francisco in December 2008.<br />
| In Memoriam |<br />
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if<br />
you just show up and try to do the right thing, the<br />
dawn will come.<br />
− Anne Lamott<br />
Martin Atdjian, MD (IM’58, IM’62, RH’63), 86,<br />
of Cordoba, Argentina, passed away on Oct. 11,<br />
2008, after a protracted decline attributed in part<br />
to poliomyelitis. He always fondly remembered his<br />
time at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> and knowing Drs. Rene<br />
G. Favaloro (TS’62, TS’65) and his rheumatology<br />
mentor, Arthur L. Scherbel. He had a rheumatology<br />
career in Detroit, with time spent at Wayne State<br />
University there. He is survived by his wife, Celina,<br />
and two daughters, who are now U.S. citizens,<br />
Millie and Sylvia Atdjian, MD, a psychiatrist in<br />
Washington, DC.<br />
Aubra David Branson, MD (U’68), 80, passed<br />
away at his home in Knoxville, TN, on Sept. 12,<br />
2008. Born Sept. 14, 1927, he was a descendent<br />
of Lloyd Branson, prominent East Tennessee artist.<br />
A polio survivor at the age of 21, he served in the<br />
U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea in 1945. He<br />
was a life-long member of Lincoln Park Baptist<br />
Church. Dr. Branson was the 1956 senior class<br />
president at the University of Tennessee College<br />
of Medicine in Memphis. He spent six years in<br />
primary care practice from 1957 to 1963 and<br />
three years at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> from 1965 to 1968,<br />
completing a urology residency. He then returned to<br />
34 | <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
Knoxville and founded the Knoxville Urology <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
in 1968. He was a founding physician of Park West<br />
Hospital in 1971. In 1971, along with his friend<br />
and colleague, Dr. Steve Morris, he was instrumental<br />
in locating the first lithotripter machine<br />
in Tennessee, only one of 13 nationwide at the<br />
time. He retired from practice in 1993. Preceded<br />
in death by his parents and his sister, Hannah<br />
Branson, he is survived by his loving spouse of 36<br />
years, Sally Skocic Branson, who remarked that<br />
Dr. Branson “remained very proud of his education<br />
at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>.” He also is survived by<br />
Loranna Rittamel Branson, the mother of his four<br />
children; daughters, Debra Branson of Nashville,<br />
TN, Donna (Timothy) Brown of Watertown, TN, and<br />
Denise (Larry) Workman, of Medford, OR, and son,<br />
Aubra David Branson, of Watertown, TN; and five<br />
grandchildren. Funeral services were held Sept.<br />
16, 2008, at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel<br />
with interment at Greenwood Cemetery. Donations<br />
may be made to the Cutaneous Lymphoma Fund,<br />
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Dermatology<br />
Suite 3975, 1301 22 nd Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37232<br />
or the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation, POB 374,<br />
Birmingham, MI 4812.<br />
Clyde G. Chamberlin, MD (OTOCD’40, OTOCD’42),<br />
95, died Jan. 21, 2009. He was born March 16,<br />
1913, in Westchester, OH, the son of Dr. Charles J.<br />
and Alyce (Gerard) Chamberlin. He graduated from<br />
the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine<br />
in 1938. He trained under Paul M. Moore, MD,<br />
who headed <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s ENT Department<br />
at that time. Dr. Chamberlin served in the U.S.<br />
Army Air Force Medical Corps from 1942 to 1946<br />
and continued to practice medicine in Hamilton,<br />
OH, until his retirement in 1986. He married June<br />
Morner on Aug. 22, 1936. After his retirement,<br />
they moved to Greenwood, IN, in 1991. His wife<br />
preceded him in death in 2001. He is survived by<br />
four sons: Dr. Jerry R. (Emmy) of Westmoreland,<br />
NH; Thomas L. (Susan) of Greenwood, IN; William<br />
D. (Becky) of Findlay, OH; and James E. (Rikki) of<br />
Stevenson, WA. One daughter, Alice, preceded him<br />
in death in 1944. He leaves nine grandchildren and<br />
nine great-granddaughters. The family suggests<br />
that memorials can be made to the Hamilton<br />
Community Foundation, the Presbyterian Church of<br />
Hamilton or the charity of your choice.<br />
J. Michael de Ungria, MD (AN’00), 39, died<br />
Jan. 26, 2009, when he sustained massive head<br />
injuries secondary to a fall while traveling. Dr.<br />
de Ungria’s death was tragic in many ways. He<br />
was a young doctor whose enormous potential<br />
was becoming vividly apparent as he started to<br />
take on important administrative responsibilities<br />
at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>. He was a fine anesthesiologist<br />
who could be depended upon regardless of<br />
circumstances and was an award-winning teacher.<br />
He was recognized twice with the “Colleague of the<br />
Year” award in General Anesthesiology. A celebration<br />
of his life was scheduled for Saturday, March<br />
14, 2009, at 9 a.m. in the InterContinental Hotel<br />
Bank of America Amphitheatre. A memory book is<br />
being created and will be presented to the family<br />
at the service. Li Ling Lim, MD (N’01, NEMG’02,<br />
N/SD’03), and several of Dr. de Ungria’s friends<br />
in Singapore have set up an online memorial for<br />
him with photos and an opportunity for postings<br />
at: http://drjosephmichael-de-ungria.virtualmemorials.com.<br />
Michael S. Eisenstat, MD (S’68), 73, of Hobe<br />
Sound, FL, formerly of <strong>Cleveland</strong>, passed away at<br />
his residence on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. Born<br />
Sept. 21, 1935, in Montreal, Quebec, he was the<br />
dearly beloved husband of Marilyn; devoted father<br />
of Aida B. Greenberg (Arthur), Debra L. DeRoche<br />
(James), Paul T. Eisenstat (Dori) and Charles R.<br />
Eisenstat; loving grandfather of Lila, Levi, Erica,<br />
Gillian, Kestrel and Cooper. His loving family,<br />
myriad friends and former medical colleagues<br />
mourn the passage of a devoted husband and<br />
father, generous friend, and esteemed surgical<br />
pioneer who retired from practice in 1998. He received<br />
his medical degree from Queen’s University<br />
in 1963 and completed medical training at the<br />
Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, from 1964 to<br />
1965 and <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> from 1965 to 1968,<br />
where he had an assistantship in the Department<br />
of Colon and Rectal Surgery. An exemplary surgeon,<br />
Dr. Eisenstat joined the medical staff at Hillcrest<br />
Hospital in 1971. While at Hillcrest, he was elected<br />
President of the Medical Staff and Chairman of<br />
the Medical Council, and served as Director of<br />
the Division of Surgery. A medical trailblazer, Dr<br />
Eisenstat introduced laparoscopic surgery to the<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> area, leading subsequent generations<br />
of doctors in exploring safer and less invasive<br />
surgical techniques. Services were held on Feb.<br />
1. Interment was at Mt. Olive Cemetery. Memorial<br />
contributions can be sent to Treasure Coast<br />
Hospice, 1201 S.E. Indian St., Stuart, FL 34997.<br />
Andrew B. Greene, MD (GS resident), 28, passed<br />
away Dec. 31, 2008. Dr. Greene was born Nov. 19,<br />
1980, in New York, NY, and received his medical<br />
degree from Columbia University College of Physicians<br />
and Surgeons in 2006. Dr. Greene is survived<br />
by his parents, Robert Greene and Dianne Stillman<br />
Greene, and his fiancé, Jennifer Lee, as well as
aunts and uncles. Dr. Greene’s family said he was<br />
a “brilliant, sensitive, riotously funny young man.”<br />
Funeral services were private.<br />
George C. Hoffman, MD (CLPTH’59), 84, former<br />
Chairman of the Division of Pathology and<br />
Laboratory Medicine (1981-85), passed away<br />
Sunday, Jan. 22, in Englewood, FL. Originally<br />
from England, Dr. Hoffman joined the <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong> staff in 1957, and his work advanced both<br />
patient care and research in the field of hematopathology,<br />
particularly the study of erythrocyte<br />
disorders, hemoglobinopathies and coagulopathies.<br />
Past President of the American Society of<br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>al Pathologists, Dr. Hoffman also held many<br />
leadership positions in pathology societies, and<br />
received numerous awards for his contributions.<br />
Dr. Hoffman was a famed and patient teacher, and<br />
the George Hoffman Teaching Award is granted annually<br />
in his honor by the Pathology and Laboratory<br />
Institute to a resident who embodies his excellent<br />
teaching and clinical service attributes. In 2002,<br />
he received <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Association’s<br />
Distinguished Alumnus Award. His son Peter said<br />
that his father loved his work at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
and that the principle to “Act as a Unit” was<br />
important to him. In lieu of flowers, donations may<br />
be made to Tidewell Hospice and Palliative Care,<br />
5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238. Dr. Hoffman<br />
Please Keep in Contact<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Relations wants to stay on top of significant<br />
changes in your life. <strong>Have</strong> you moved? Taken on a teaching position?<br />
Received an academic promotion or professional recognition of some<br />
sort? Decided to retire? <strong>Have</strong> an interesting hobby or avocation you’d<br />
like to share? <strong>You</strong>r former <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> colleagues really want to<br />
know what you are up to. Please take a few moments to complete this<br />
coupon so that we can keep them informed via “Contacts” (starting on<br />
page 30 of this issue).<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
NAME<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
PHONE<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
ADDRESS q HOME q OFFICE<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
CITY, STATE, ZIP<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
E-MAIL ADDRESS<br />
is survived by his wife, Ann, and four sons, Peter,<br />
Andrew, John and James, and eight grandchildren.<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> held a memorial service on Feb.<br />
26. To forward a written tribute, contact Holly Jones<br />
at jonesh2@ccf.org or 216.444.4063.<br />
Willem Kolff, MD, PhD, 97, a <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong><br />
staff physician from 1950 to 1967 and a pioneer<br />
in kidney dialysis and artificial organs, died Feb.<br />
11 at a Philadelphia care center. Born Feb. 14,<br />
1911, Dr. Kolff founded and served as the first<br />
Head of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Department of Artificial<br />
Organs (now Biomedical Engineering), developed<br />
one of the first heart-lung machines and founded<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s Dialysis Center. He pioneered<br />
a European blood bank and designed the first<br />
functioning artificial kidney during World War II. He<br />
established the Kolff Foundation to help patients<br />
pay for dialysis treatment. Among Dr. Kolff’s other<br />
contributions to medicine are the intra-aortic<br />
balloon pump heart assist device, artificial eye,<br />
artificial heart and membrane oxygenator. His work<br />
on the artificial heart began in 1957 at <strong>Cleveland</strong><br />
<strong>Clinic</strong>. In 1967, he became head of the Division<br />
of Artificial Organs at the University of Utah and<br />
director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering.<br />
In 1982, he was part of a team of surgeons who<br />
implanted an artificial heart into Seattle dentist<br />
Barney Clark. In 2002, Dr. Kolff received the Albert<br />
WHAT’S NEW?<br />
Lasker Award for <strong>Clinic</strong>al Medical Research for<br />
his work on kidney dialysis. He is survived by his<br />
five children, sons Therus, Jacob “Jack” Kolff,<br />
MD (RES’67, S’72, TS’74), Albert and Kees, and<br />
daughter Adrie Burnett, 12 grandchildren and six<br />
great-grandchildren.<br />
Romeen Kochhar Whinney, MD (H/OPM’03),<br />
36, of South Euclid, OH, died Dec. 17, 2008, after<br />
a heroic battle with breast cancer. Dr. Kochhar<br />
Whinney is survived by her husband, Christopher<br />
M. Whinney, MD, a member of <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>’s<br />
Hospital Medicine staff; young daughter, Pomee<br />
<strong>There</strong>se; and father, Dr. Devendra Kochhar. She is<br />
preceded in death by her mother, Dr. Omila Sagar<br />
Kochhar. Survivors also include her parents-in-law,<br />
Joseph and June Whinney, and countless relatives,<br />
close friends and colleagues. Formerly of Cherry<br />
Hill, NJ, Dr. Kochhar Whinney attended Lehigh University<br />
in Bethlehem, PA, and received her medical<br />
degree from the Medical College of Pennsylvania,<br />
Philadelphia. She completed a fellowship in Palliative<br />
Medicine at <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong>. A celebration<br />
of her life was held Dec. 20, 2008, in a traditional<br />
Hindu ceremony. The family suggests memorial<br />
donations could be made to The Gathering Place,<br />
23300 Commerce Park, Beachwood, OH 44122 or<br />
Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 E. 185 St.,<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH 44119.<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
_________________________________________________________________<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Connection | 35
The Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease:<br />
Legacy and Innovation<br />
June 3–5, 2009<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Heart & Vascular Institute invites you<br />
to Cardiovascular Care: Legacy and Innovation, the most<br />
important event of its kind this year. This CME program is<br />
a one-time event and will be a comprehensive, single-site<br />
overview of the state of cardiac surgery, cardiovascular<br />
medicine and their related disciplines. This three-day<br />
event will offer a complete overview of current trends,<br />
ideas and innovations. Presenters include the recognized<br />
leaders in all major aspects in cardiovascular care.<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> is holding this event to mark the opening<br />
of the Arnold and Sydell Miller Family Pavilion, the new<br />
home of the Heart & Vascular Institute, and the largest and<br />
most advanced heart care facility in the world. Participants<br />
will have the opportunity to tour this remarkable building<br />
We also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first coronary<br />
angiography and the 40th anniversary of the first coronary<br />
artery bypass graft.<br />
Cardiovascular Care: Legacy and Innovation will explore<br />
the most urgent topics and controversies in the field. It<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Connection<br />
A publication of the <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> <strong>Alumni</strong> Association. Produced<br />
for medical alumni and friends by the Office of Institutional Relations<br />
and Development, <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue,<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH 44195. 216.444.2487 | 800.444.3664 | fax 216.445.2730<br />
| e-mail alumni@ccf.org<br />
CCF <strong>Alumni</strong> Association Board of Directors<br />
Lee M. Adler, DO<br />
Kenneth W. Angermeier, MD<br />
Elumalal Appachi, MD<br />
Janet W. Bay, MD<br />
Steven Benedict, MD<br />
John A. Bergfeld, MD<br />
Edwin G. Beven, MD<br />
Patrick Blake<br />
Joseph M. Damiani, MD<br />
Gary H. Dworkin, MD<br />
Zeyd Y. Ebrahim, MD<br />
Omar A. Fattal, MD, MPH<br />
Elizabeth A. File, MD<br />
Kathleen N. Franco, MD<br />
Gita P. Gidwani, MD<br />
Jaime F. Godoy, MD<br />
Mark K. Grove, MD<br />
Robert E. Hobbs, MD<br />
Pauline Kwok, MD<br />
Lucy (Massullo) LaPerna, DO<br />
James W. Lewis, MD<br />
Careen Y. Lowder, MD<br />
Jennifer L. Lucas, MD<br />
David E. Martin, MD<br />
Tarek M. Mekhail, MD<br />
Jonathan L. Myles, MD.<br />
Monique Ogletree, PhD<br />
William L. Proudfit, MD<br />
Susan J. Rehm, MD<br />
Marc S. Rovner, MD<br />
Edward D. Ruszkiewicz, MD<br />
Leslie R. Sheeler, MD<br />
Divya Singh-Behl, MD<br />
Scott A. Strong, MD<br />
Elias I. Traboulsi, MD<br />
David P. Vogt, MD<br />
Lilian V. Gonsalves, MD, President<br />
Robert E. Hermann, MD ............................................ Medical Director<br />
William M. Michener, MD ............................ Emeritus Medical Director<br />
Sandra S. Stranscak ...............................................Executive Director<br />
Marilyn Bryce ......................................................... Associate Director<br />
Beth Thomas Hertz .................................................................... Editor<br />
Lois Sumegi ................................................. Director of Development<br />
<strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> is an independent, not-for-profit, multispecialty<br />
academic medical center. It is dedicated to providing quality specialized<br />
care and includes an outpatient clinic, a hospital with more than 1,000<br />
staffed beds, an education division and a research institute.<br />
will reflect on the achievements that have brought cardiovascular<br />
care to its current state. <strong>You</strong> will hear and meet<br />
today’s cardiovascular innovators, tomorrow’s leaders and<br />
pioneers of medicine and surgery. <strong>You</strong> will leave with fresh<br />
insights, new perspectives and valuable information for<br />
your practice.<br />
Housing and registration information, as well as the<br />
program agenda, can be viewed at www.ccfcme.org/<br />
CardioCare09.<br />
The <strong>Cleveland</strong> <strong>Clinic</strong> Foundation<br />
<strong>Alumni</strong> Relations, DV1<br />
9500 Euclid Avenue, <strong>Cleveland</strong>, OH 44195<br />
Address Service Requested<br />
Non-Profit Org.<br />
U.S. Postage Paid<br />
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