MCG Today

36 Pages·2000·3.1 MB·English

by  Medical College of Georgia

MEDICAL COLLEGE GEORGIA
OF
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MEDICAL COLLEGE GEORGIA
OF
T
What
do you see when you At a Glance 2
peer into a baby's face, other New treatmentsforsickle cellpain andpediatric cancers are among the items
than chubby cheeks and making news at the Medical College ofGeorgia.
button noses? Medical College of
Critical Steps 4
Georgia School ofNursing research has
Tlic Medical College of Georgia is making the tough calls needed to optimize its
tapped into the world ofsecret signals clinical, educational and research missions.
babies use to communicate with their
Retooling for the 21st Century 6
mothers,often via their expressions.This
MCG
edition ofMedical College ofGeorgia President FrancisJ.Tedesco reflects on thefuture ofthe university.
Today describesjust how important this Baby Face 10
communication is to the bonding Nursing research is studying the importance offacial expressions to the
process. mother-infant bond.
There are no secret signals in U.S.
Stress Test 14
Medical Licensure Examinations,but MCG
that doesn't make the tests any less mad- Take apeek at aplace where only the bravest dare to tread: the
dening for medical students.We invite School ofMedicine testing sitefor national licensure.
you to learn how MCG students cope Stopping to Smell the Roses 18
with the ultimate test ofnerves.And Dr. Paul Stanton (School ofMedicine, '69) has a fullplate aspresident ofEast
read about one test-taker in particular: Tennessee State University, but he's never too busy toforget what's important in life.
artist/medical student Marti Haykin. The Fitness Factor 20
The licensure test was no day at the A/CG'5 new wellness center will soon be a reality.
beach for Marti,but this remarkably
Plan Your Giving 21
talented young woman has seldom
walked away from a challenge. Charitablegifts of life insurance.
Yet another member ofthe MCG AlumNews 22
family who thrives on challenge is Dr. News from MCG'sfive alumni associations.
Paul Stanton,a School ofMedicine
alumnus and president ofEastTennessee
State University.The surgical suite MCG President: FrancisJ.Tedesco,M.D. Editor: ChristineHurleyDcriso
Executive Editor: fames B. Osborne,Ed.D. Art Director: BrentD. Burch
prepared him well for his unflappable DirectorofMarketing Photographer: PhilJones
approach to academia. Meet him in this and PublicRelations: Dale Crail
MCG
edition of Today.
Also included in this edition ofthe ©2000,Medical College ofGeorgia.The Medical College ofGeorgiaisthe states'health sciences
university.Focusingon health care education,research andpatient care,theAugusta-basedinstitution
magazine is an update on MCG's efforts consists ofMCG Hospital,morethan 80supportclinics,statewide outreach programs and the Schools of
to ensure ample clinical experience for Allied Health Sciences,Dentistry,Graduate Studies,Medicine and Nursing.
its students.As MCG President Francis Medical CollegeofGeorgiaTodayissponsoredby grants fromMCG Foundation.Inc.andthe MCG
School ofMedicineAlumniAssociation.It isproducedby the Division ofInstitutional Relations;
JU.nTievdeerssciotypAodidnrtessso,utevienrhyisdeSctiastieonofisthe AMuegduisctaalMCaoglalzeignee,of(7G0e6o)rg7i2a2;-5Au8g3u3s,taP.,OG.eoBrogxia1430059,1A2u.gAudsvtear,tiGseionrggiinaqu3i0r9i0e3s.sPhuobullidshbeeddqiuraerctteerdlyt,oMCG
firmly rooted in the best interests of Todayis furnishedto alumni andfriends ofMCG withoutcharge.The appearance ofadvertisements in
MCG's most valuable asset: its students. stheirsvipcuebsliacdavetritoinseddo.es notconstitute an endorsementby the Medical College ofGeorgiaofthe productsor
GLANCE
AT
A
Pinpointing Pain hematologist/oncologist and director ofMCG's
Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center. Crises also can
be precipitated by such events as illness, emotional
Whether a drug that lubricates the stress or a change in weather which affects the
surfaces ofred blood cells and blood tone ofthe blood vessels.
vessels can alleviate the pain ofa sickle "This is notjust a painful nuisance. Long-term
cell crisis is under investigation at the studies show that those with more frequent pain
Medical College ofGeorgia Comprehensive Sickle have more organ damage and die at an earlier age,"
Cell Center. Dr. Kutlar said. Symptoms are treated with pain
MCG
is one of40 centers nationwide evaluat- medication.
ing the effectiveness ofFLOCOR-a drug used to FLOCOR is given intravenously for 48 hours,
treat heart attacks-in reducing the pain that results during which time patients are monitored closely
when blood flow is restricted by sickle-shaped red in MCG Hospital and pain levels recorded. Studies
blood cells sticking to each other and to blood also are done to determine how long FLOCOR
vessel walls. stays active in the body. Another sub-study is
A sickle cell crisis results from extensive looking at the drug's use in acute chest syndrome,
blood deprivation to the arms,legs, organs,bones a combination ofinfection and sickling in the lungs
and bone marrow, said Dr.Abdullah Kutlar, ofsickle cell patients, which can destroy both lungs.
2 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIATODAY
New Cancer Program HPV and have had only normal Pap smears.
About 70 types ofHPV exist and are a
Shafqat Shah, a pediatric hematologist- common cause ofgenital warts, said Dr. Daron G.
Dr.oncologist, has implemented a new stem Ferris,MCG principal investigator on the vaccine
and bone marrow transplant program at study funded by Merck.
the Children's Medical Center. The new vaccine is for HPV 16, the most com-
Potential transplant candidates include children mon ofsome 20 types ofthe virus that raise the risk
with almost any type ofcancer that resists standard ofcervical cancer."Ifwe can prevent women from
treatment, recurs or spreads.Typically only getting infected with HPV 16 and other oncogenic
extremely high doses ofchemotherapy or radiation HPV types, [we'll have] the first vaccine to prevent
will destroy these cancers,but at the price of cancer ofthe lower genital tract,"Dr. Ferris said.
destroying bone marrow."But ifyou can give that
treatment, eradicate all the last tumor cells then
rescue the patient by giving stem cells,you may be Less-Invasive Treatment
A
able to cure a patient,"Dr. Shah said.
Bone marrow produces blood components. technique that targets the "sentinel" lymph
Stem cells, the 'mother' cells ofbone marrow, are node to which breast cancer is most likely
found in the marrow and circulating in the blood. to spread may give women the option of
The aim ofeither a stem cell or bone marrow having less tissue removed from under their
transplant is to provide a fresh supply ofstem cells arm, reducing the discomfort and disability that
to repopulate the bone marrow. often follows surgery.
With an autologous transplant, a child's own Standard breast cancer surgery includes remov-
bone marrow or stem cells are retrieved before ing nearby lymph nodes under the arm to check
high doses ofchemotherapy or radiation are given. for cancer, said Dr. Rory R. Dalton, chiefofthe
Afterward, the child gets the marrow or stem cells surgical oncology service at the Medical College
back intravenously. Other times a sibling, other ofGeorgia. But only about 30 percent have cancer
relative or a donor who is simply a good genetic that has spread to the nodes.Those 30 percent of
match is used. women must know it has spread to help determine
treatment, Dr. Dalton said. But now doctors may
identify those women by applying techniques
Battling Back Pain developed for melanoma.
Since skin and breast lymph nodes are easy to
The Medical College ofGeorgia is one access,surgeons can inject a radioactive substance
ofseveral U.S. sites studying whether in the tissue near the tumor in the breast or the
botulinum toxin, a bacterium that weakens melanoma.They watch with a camera as the
muscles, can ease back pain resulting from substance moves to the lymphatic system, the same
excessive muscle contraction. path a spreading tumor would take.They then use
"When you want to move a muscle, [the body a hand-held probe to determine the radioactive
fires] a motor neuron.That signal travels to the end substance's first stop.There they make a small inci-
ofan axon terminal, releasing a neurotransmitter sion and take outjust that lymph node, rather than
that allows the muscle to contract,"said Dr. Michael the 15 to 30 that are routinely removed."[That
MCG
H. Rivner, director ofthe electromyography node is] the guard at the gate ofall the other
laboratory. Botulinum targets axon terminals, lymph nodes.That is the node most likely to have
interrupting this normal contraction process. tumor in it ifthe cancer has spread from the main
tumor and through the lymphatics,"Dr. Dalton
said. So surgeons remove the sentinel lymph node
HPV Vaccine Tested and pathologists check it for tumor cells.
As part ofthe continued evaluation ofthe new
MCG
he Medical College ofGeorgia is testing biopsy approach, is participating in a study
a vaccine against human papilloma virus,a protocol sponsored by the University ofLouisville
common sexually transmitted disease that is in which women who have the biopsy procedure
a major risk factor for cervical cancer. also have the more standard dissection.About
The vaccine-developed by the Merck Research 1,000 women nationwide will participate in the
Laboratories and CSL, anAustralian biotech com- study in which the findings ofbiopsy and
pany-is being studied nationwide in a three-year dissection can be directly compared by looking at
trial in young, healthy women who do not have the results ofboth in the same woman.
VOLUME 28, NUMBER 2 /WINTER 2000 3
u
CRITICAL STEPS
1/1
UJ to ensure a
to patient base that
sustains MCG's
<
u educational,
research and clini-
cal missions.
u The Board of
CRITICAL STEPS Regents has
MCG
authorized
IS)
CL Health, Inc., a
HI
501(C) (3) not-for-profit entity created
in solely to support MCG's educational,
research and patient care missions. Its
5 MCG
board consists ofregents, officials
and community members. Over the last
year, Don Snell, president and chief
u
MCG
executive officer of Health, Inc.,
CRITICAL STEPS
has thoroughly assessed the local,
in regional and statewide health services
CL MCG
UJ environment and Hospital and
I- bursement.The Clinics' financial status."Unless MCG
1/1
shortfall is expected Hospital and Clinics is able to restruc-
<
U to grow consider- ture and assemble a new health system,
H ably within a few it is going to face increasing financial
E years.The Board of difficulties," said Mr. Snell.
MCG
u Regents has The Health, Inc. board on
Peggy O'Leary Seigler CRITICAL STEPS approved actiMonCs G Oct. 12 approved Mr. Snell's plan to
requested by create an integrated delivery system.
MCG
CL President Francis Under the plan, Hospital and
J.
UJ MCG MCG
Tedesco to address Hospital and Clinics (including Hospital, the
m —
Clinics' immediate deficit an estimated Children's Medical Center, Georgia
—
< $22 million in fiscal 2000 through RadiationTherapy Center and Georgia
u cost reduction, increased hospital fees WarVeterans Nursing Home) will be
MCG
(still the lowest in the region) and an managed by Health, Inc.,which
S MCG
early-retirement option for will operate as a cooperative organiza-
u
employees which results in savings to tion under the Board ofRegents.
CRITICAL STEPS the institution without adding costs to The Physicians Practice Group,
theTeachers Retirement System.These MCG's School ofMedicine faculty
OL
UJ steps, when fully implemented, along practice group, will continue to operate
J— he Medical with a one-time increase in indigent- as a separate entity."We agree with the
MCG
College of care trust funds recently authorized by direction in which Health, Inc. is
<u Georgia and Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, will help going,"said Dr. Curt Steinhart, PPG
MCG
the University reduce the immediate deficit. president and Health, Inc. board
System ofGeorgia Additionally, the Board ofRegents is member."The faculty is fully behind it.
u Board ofRegents have requesting $5 million in the fiscal 2000 It is the best vehicle to accomplish the
ITICAL STEPS taken critical steps this supplemental budget to help alleviate tripartite mission ofthe Medical
year to optimize the problem. College ofGeorgia."
MCG's efforts in However,because the same circum- The plan calls for revising the cur-
health sciences educa- stances creating the fiscal 2000 shortfall rent management structure and recruit-
tion, research and patient care. will cause additional serious shortfalls in ing and developing a new management
MCG
Hospital and Clinics, along the next two years and beyond, other team.Team members will include a
with other teaching hospitals nation- long-term steps are necessary.These chieffinancial officer, chiefmedical offi-
MCG
wide, have suffered a well-documented steps will enable Hospital and cer, chiefinformation officer,vice presi-
decrease in resources stemming from Clinics to partner and collaborate with dent for human resources and vice
reduced federal and third-party reim- regional and state health care providers president for strategic support.
4 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIATODAY
and workforce reductions, according to MCG
Health, Inc. Board
Mr. Snell. Savings generated by the
early-retirement program, approved by
the Board ofRegents inAugust, will Mr.Thomas F. AUgood Sr., Chairman
depend on how many ofMCG's 757 (Regent)
eligible employees opt to retire and on
how many oftheir positions must be Mr.TomJ. ColemanJr.
refilled. If50 percent ofthose eligible (Regent)
sign up for early retirement and 40
percent oftheir positions are refilled,the Mr. Charles H.Jones
savings would be $9.1 million in the first (Regent)
year ofthe program's implementation,
said MCG President FrancisJ.Tedesco. Mr. Donald M. LeebernJr.
Cumulative savings of$130 million (Regent)
could be realized over a 10-year period.
A plan for staggering departures and Dr. LindsayA. Desrochers
criteria for replacing necessary positions (Chancellor appointee)
MCG
is being monitored by an
committee headed by the vice presi- Mr. D. Douglas BarnardJr.
dents for fiscal affairs, academic affairs (community member)
Don Snell and business operations.The Board of
Regents also will review the process. Dr. George Gowder
MCG
The Board ofRegents and Only positions essential to operations (community member)
Health, Inc. are developing final agree- will be replaced.
MCG
ments for managing and operating To further control costs, Dr.Julius Scott
MCG
Hospital and Clinics."Under the Health, Inc. plans to renegotiate the (community member)
agreements, all hospital and clinic facili- purchase ofmany campus services.
ties will remain under Board ofRegents Some campus services provided to the Dr. FrancisJ.Tedesco
MCG
ownership and will operate under lease Hospital and Clinics may be (Medical College ofGeorgia)
MCG
arrangements with Health, Inc.," eliminated; others may be reduced.
MCG
said Mr. Snell. Patient fees and other Health, Inc. will also provide Dr. Darrell G. Kirch
MCG
revenues supporting Hospital and some services back to the campus. (Medical College ofGeorgia)
Clinics will continue that support under The plan calls for a continuum of
MCG
a contract between Health, Inc. care with an expanded primary-care Dr. Curt N. Steinhart
MCG
and the Board ofRegents. network, development ofsub-acute care (Medical College ofGeorgia)
employees with an investment in the units, exploration ofa pulmonary unit,
Teachers Retirement System can remain improved home health relationships and Mr. Don Snell
MCG
employees ifthey choose,but improved hospice relationships.The (ex officio)
will provide services under contract system also plans to explore the
MCG
with Health, Inc."The manage- development ofclinical centers of Ms. Patricia Sodomka
ment and operation ofthe hospitals excellence in pediatrics, women's (ex officio)
and clinics will,by agreement, maximize health, cardiovascular services, cancer,
education and research activities of neurosciences, musculoskeletal health, Mr.Thomas KellyJr.
MCG
the faculty and students,"said occupational medicine and gerontology. (ex officio)
Mr. Snell. Another goal is installing enterprise-
The master affiliation agreement wide information systems.
between the Board ofRegents and The plan also calls for better MCG
MCG Health, Inc.should be complete indigent-care management."The public To contact Health, Inc.:
and presented to the Board ofRegents does not realize what a financial burden
for action byJan. 12, according to Mr. uncompensated care is for our hospital," Telephone: [phone]
Snell. He plans to fully implement the said Mr. Snell.The plan will continue a
plan byJuly 1, the beginning ofthe public education campaign, ask for Web site:www.mcg.edu/news/transition
next fiscal year. increased state support and provide
Even after aggressively managing more efficient care delivery and work E-mail: [email protected]
MCG
attrition and early retirement, with the state to develop a statewide
Health, Inc. will likely face management approach to the increasing problem.
VOLUME 28, NUMBER 2 / WINTER 2000 5
With less than six weeks until our
last December 31 ofthe 1900s,
I'm sure we've all heard our fair
share of"year 2000-isms." So
I promise not to use cliches such as
ASTADTE ODF TRHE UENIVSERSSITY "paradigm shift" or"new millennium"
anywhere in this speech. I would,
however,like to talk about retooling
for the 21st century I admit that comes
dangerously close to cliche.
Each year, the State ofthe University
Address is my opportunity to give an
MCG
account ofour stewardship of
and to renew our vision for the future.
So I'd like to begin by posing two
questions:Why are we here? And how
are we doing?
As articulated in our mission state-
ment,we're here to provide outstanding
Retoolin
educational programs for health pro-
fessionals, biomedical scientists and
educators at the undergraduate,
graduate and postgraduate levels.Were
here to provide a high-quality, state-of-
the-art health care system and to
encourage, test and improve access
Century through the use ofinnovations in health
21st care delivery.And we're here to be a
leading center ofexcellence in research
through the generation and application
ofbiomedical knowledge and tech-
nology to human health and disease.
Dr. FrancisJ. Tedesco How are we doing?That's the more
President, Medical College ofGeorgia difficult ofthe two questions.We're near
the conclusion ofour SACS institution-
al self-study process, which involved
MCG
more than 200 members ofthe
community. Occurring once every 10
years, the self-study process provides the
opportunity for us to review and
analyze the academic, research, clinical
and administrative functions ofthe
institution in our effort to continuously
enhance the effectiveness ofour
operations. Never an easy task, this
assessment took place during a period
ofsignificant change for our institution
and academic health centers in general.
One ofthe synonyms for change is
evolution.Another is renewal. Regener-
ation. Innovation.Whatever word we
choose, change can be unsettling and
discomforting. Nonetheless, the self-
study committees and working groups,
under the guidance ofthe steering
committee, conducted a thorough
6 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIATODAY
assessment ofthe campus.While we drawbacks also present an opportunity
identified areas that need some work, ...an opportunity for us to create a You'll be glad
we're very much anticipating the visit more contemporary, more efficient to hear
ofour Reaffirmation ofAccreditation institution ...an opportunity for us to
team in late February. truly change, in positive and innovative about our new
One ofthe most tangible manifesta- ways, how we educate our students, CD
callable
tions ofchange on our campus today is conduct research and provide care to
early retirement. our patients.
As you know. We didn't emerge 7.67%
MCG, as an academ- as one ofthe nation's
ic health center, is MCG oldest medical
facing a financial cri- Since s schools by buckling
sis which is expected to challenges. Look Annual Percentage
to continue into inception in 1828, at our history'We Yield (APY)* Callable
future years. survived a four-year
Certificates of Deposit
Academic medical closure during the
centers across this we've educated more War Between the
country are experi- States.We survived • FDIC insured to 5100,000 per
depositor, per institution**
encing declining Flexner's 1909 report
patient volumes and than 25,000 physicians, on medical educa- • Interest paid semi-annually
patient care revenues. tion.We survived the • Final Maturity in 15 year -
08/19/14
The Federal dentists, nurses, Depression, when
• Non-callable for 2 years
Balanced BudgetAct the nationwide
@
and managed care's financial crisis • Callable thereafter 100 par
reduction in biomedical scientists prompted a regents'
Call
reimbursement to decision to close the
teaching hospitals and allied health medical school.And Jerry Rogers, 2ndVP Investments
has placed financial we'll survive this. or
strains on our We'll continue to Rick Cundey, 2ndVP Investments
institution. professionals. devise ways to com- 706-724-2601 • 1-800-241-2401
After careful bat these financial
review, I recom- Today, were admitting problems.We have
mended the early- received a one-time Robinson-Humphrey
retirement plan to SI2.9 million dollar A Subsidiary of Salomon Smith Barney
the Board of the highest-caliber grant from the state
Regents because I to help offset the OneTenth Street
believe that ofthe immediate budget Augusta, GA 30901
students in the
options available for deficit.
downsizing the This grant was TheCD isnon-callableforthefirsttwoyears,
workforce, this has institution s history. one in a number that and thencan becalledeven'sixmonthsthere-
the least negative » was awarded to afterbythe issuingbank.Thefinal stated
effect on our MCG public hospitals maturityis08/19/14, Minimum deposit
SI,000, Subjecttochangeandavailability.
family.The Internal throughout the state Althoughweare not requiredtodoso,we
Revenue Service is that had not been endeavortoprovideasecondarymarketso
considering the plan, fully reimbursed for that theprincipalamountinvested. (APYasof
and we should have a what they had spent 08/19/14).
decision early next year. on indigent care. "APYinterestcannot remain ondeposit in the
sameCD; Interestwillbepaidsemi-annually.
What are the drawbacks ofoffering In addition, in the upcoming "FDICinsurancecoversamaximum amount
early retirement to address a budget supplemental budget process, the Board of5100,000perdepositor, perinstitution
shortfall? Surely the loss ofa tremen- ofRegents has proposed a S5 million (includingprincipal and interestcombined) in
dous amount ofinstitutional memory item to help offset the hospital's fiscal each insurablecapacity.
and intellectual talent will be felt for a 2000 shortfall. SalomanSmithBarneyisaservicemark
time.And those that remain at the So let's not become paralyzed by ofSalomanSmithBarneyInc.
institution will have to do the same this issue, one that is actively being 1999 Smith BarneyInc. MemberSIPC
amount ofwork with fewer colleagues addressed,when we have so many good
AMemberofCingrou
to assist them. But I contend that these things to celebrate.
VOLUME 28, NUMBER 2 / WINTER 2000 7
—
a
Augusta Preparatory AQUINAS
Day School
HIGH
A
Community of Learners
p
Ek
s.
m 4
h
1
(Preserving our (Past...Securing our future...
SRA'S only Catholic High School"
• Safe, nurturingenvironment with beautiful, newfacilities Spiritually and
• 100% College attendance • Outstandingfaculty academically prepared.
• 25%oftheclassof2000receivedNationalMeritrecognition FinancialAid&Scholarshipsavailable
• Oneofeightschools inGeorgiaselectedasaCumLaiideschool
Aquinas High School
3* 2 years - Grade 12 1920 HighlandAvenue
Augusta, GA 30904
Accepting Applications for the 2000-2001 school year
[phone]• Fax:[phone]
706.863.1906 apds.com Emailaddress:[email protected]
WebPage:www.gabn.net/aquinas
APDSpracticesanon-discriminatoryadmissionspolicy.
Since MCG's inception in 1828, made significant and historic contribu- The regents' fiscal 2001 budget
we've educated more than 25,000 tions to the body ofscience. proposal includes $4 million for a bio-
MCG
physicians, dentists, nurses, biomedical researchers have conducted medical sciences collaboration between
scientists and allied health professionals. research that led to breakthroughs such the University ofGeorgia and MCG.
Today, we're admitting the highest- as fertility pills, birth control pills and By combining the expertise of faculty at
caliber students in the institution's beta-blocking drugs.This year, our both institutions, Georgia can become
history.And our students are being sponsored awards surpassed $28 million more competitive for federal support.
taught by outstanding faculty.You are in direct and indirect costs. Our sickle This collaboration is the first phase in
a talented, motivated group. cell program is world renowned. creating a statewide Biomedical Services
Since 1988, the institution has And in the biomedical sciences, Network, which draws on and leverages
invested more than $300 million on researchers in our Institute ofMolecular university system resources for recog-
new construction and major renovation: Medicine and Genetics recently nizing, treating, curing and preventing
theAmbulatory-Specialized Care identified the mechanism that enables a human disease.
Center, the children's hospital, our fetus to avoid rejection by the mother's A change.A different approach.
multidisciplinary research building, the immune system.This finding may lead Retooling for the 21st century.
—
Sports Medicine Center, to name a few. to new treatments to combat infectious The Georgia Research Alliance
A $35 million nursing and allied health diseases and better immunosuppressive strategic partnership ofGeorgia's
education building is on the state of therapy for transplant patients.The research universities,busi—ness communi-
Georgia's capital priority list.We're also Vascular Biology Center is gaining ty and state government recently ear-
building a 42,000-square-foot wellness increased understanding ofthe many marked funding for completion ofthe
center for students and faculty. functions ofnitrous oxide, including its second phase ofour research building in
Foun—dation assets have topped $100 role in relaxing blood vessels.These its proposed budget.And with our new
million a tenfold increase since 1988. biomedical research strengths are vice president for research in place to
And,since 1990,we've established over the foundation ofan exciting new oversee these research developments,
20 endowed chairs, representing each of initiative designed to link the great things are in store for us. One of
our five schools. expertise and resources ofuniversity Dr. Kluger's initiatives is to improve
As a research university,we have system institutions. MCG's technology transfer program
8 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIATODAY