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http://www.cc.nih.gov/.
CC director honors staff with awards
CC Director Dr. John Gallin praised CC employees for their many contributions
this year during the annual address and awards ceremony on Nov. 13.
The event, which was held in Masur Auditorium, began with a moment of silence
to remember CC employees that have died this year. They included Dr. John Doppman,
Dr. John Decker, Michael Pometto, Jr., and Bene Svitavsky.
Dr. Gallin applauded CC employees for their resiliency, during what he called
the
"trying" times of the 1980s and '90s. He noted that several factors had
affected staff here, such as low patient enrollment, budget cuts, and the impact
of managed care. Since last year, the CC has experienced a surge in inquiries
and referrals, and has even increased new patient enrollment by 164 percent.
"As a result of the increase in patients, more departments are seeing more patients,"
said Dr. Gallin.
"This could easily negatively affect our staff." But it seems
quite the opposite has happened. Researchers and staff from numerous departments
have been recognized nationally for their hard work, and their unsurpassed professionalism
and expertise have been exemplified in the successes of the institute.
Dr. Gallin highlighted numerous accomplishments, including an excellent rating
by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which
conducted a survey of our facility on Nov. 1-3.
"We received terrific grades,"
said Dr. Gallin.
"Our staff should be commended for their outstanding work preparing
for this important visit."
In addition, Dr. Gallin discussed several CC initiatives, including the Imaging
Sciences Program, Hospitality Services, the Cybercafe, the Family Lodge, and
the Patient Advisory Group.
"I am very optimistic and excited about what has
happened at the CC this past year," said Dr. Gallin.
"I want to sincerely thank
everyone for their contributions. Next year is going to be even more exciting."
In the category of administration, awards went to:
- Dr. Jacques Bolle, Nursing Department, for excellence in management and
patient care provided during the Nursing Department leadership transition.
- Patricia Coffey, Medical Record Department, for outstanding efforts in
design and implementation of three new software systems for medical records
documentation.
- Sydney Jones, Office of Purchasing and Contracts, for successfully transitioning
the Office of Purchasing and Contracts into the CC.
- Nyna Konishi, Materials Management Department, for excellence in administrative
support provided to the MMD.
- Kai Lakeman, Medical Record Department, for outstanding research data management
for the Office of Research on Women's Health.
- Carolea Logun, Critical Care Medicine Department, for excellence in administration
and leadership in managing a complex research laboratory.
- Pat Piringer, Office of the Director, in recognition of exemplary support
as Special Assistant to the Director.
- Dr. Margaret Rick, Department of Laboratory Medicine, for innovative and
thoughtful management during the leadership transition in the Hematology Service.
- Dr. Edward Staab, National Cancer Institute, for excellence in management
during the leadership transition in the Imaging Sciences Program.
- James Vucich, Diagnostic Radiology Department, for an invaluable contribution
during the implementation of PAC/RIS and the successful purchase of the PET
cyclotron.
Jesse Ferguson Customer Service awards went to:
- Osmond Adams, Housekeeping and Fabric Care Department, for initiating and
improving customer service in Housekeeping.
- Patricia Brooks, DTM, in recognition of a career dedicated to compassionate
service in Transfusion Medicine.
- Joseph Martin, Office of Human Resources Management, for ongoing exemplary
service in Human Resources Management.
Patient Care awards went to:
- Denise Ford, Nutrition Department, for outstanding leadership in improving
patient care.
- Suzanne Sheets, Nursing Department, in recognition of outstanding unit leadership
and exemplary patient care in a complex research arena.
- Transplant Education Group awards, for the preparation of quality educational
materials for Clinical Center patients, went to Nursing Department staff members:
Susan Colletti, Adeira Greene, Sonya Duke, and Helen Mayberry.
- Chemotherapy Group awards for outstanding efforts to ensure safe and timely
preparation of chemotherapy, went to Pharmacy Department staff members: Joseph
Lanata, Hazel Mann, Maxine Mickens, Roger Warner, Jane Chang, Charise Kasser,
Michael Kolf, Gail Ulanow, Christine Yoon, Simon Eng, Jaewon Hong, Stacey
Henning.
In the category of science, an award went to:
- Dr. Peng Yuan, Pharmacy Department, for development of ocular sustained
release systems.
In the category of strategic initiatives, awards went to:
- Dottie Cirelli, Office of Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison, for the
creation and ongoing strategic management of the Office of Patient Recruitment
and Public Liaison.
- Toni Simonis, Department of Transfusion Medicine, for developing one of
the nation's finest tissue-typing laboratories in support of clinical research
at NIH.
Teaching/Training awards went to:
- Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, Department of Clinical Bioethics, for establishing
a nationally recognized training program in Clinical Bioethics.
- Dr. Frederick Ognibene, Critical Care Medicine Department, for advancing
collaborative pediatric patient care and physician training.
Keystone awards went to:
- Priscilla Boykin, Nursing Department, for longstanding leadership and dedication
to patient-care issues.
- Pauline Fratantoni, Department of Transfusion Medicine, for extraordinary
contributions to patient care, information management, and electronic communication.
Framed certificates, in recognition of exemplary service as co-chair of
the Clinical Center Women Scientists Group, went to:
- Dr. Margaret Rick, Department of Laboratory Medicine.
- Dr. Barbara Sonies, Rehabilitation Medicine Department.
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Astute
clinician lecture to be held Dec. 13
"The Patients Who Taught
Me and Led to My Discoveries in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia" is the
title of the Third Astute Clinician Lecture, which will be held on Wednesday,
Dec. 13, at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium. The speaker is Dr. Maria I. New (left),
professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics, and chief of the Division
of Pediatric Endocrinology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College,
Cornell University.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
(CAH) is a family of inherited steroid production disorders. A mild form occurs
in one in 100 live births and results in excess male hormone production. The
severe form, which occurs in one in 14,000 live births, causes girls to be born
with ambiguous genitalia, and can result in severe salt and hormone imbalances
in boys and girls. Dr.
New has pioneered major advances in the diagnosis and treatment of CAH, including
the implementation of CAH newborn screening programs worldwide. She and her
associates determined that the conditions result from the lack of essential
enzymes of the adrenal gland. Through DNA analysis, they discovered specific
mutations in the genes producing these enzymes and developed a DNA test to diagnose
the most common forms of the disease prenatally. They then found that giving
the hormone dexamethasone to a pregnant mother at risk can prevent ambiguous
genitalia and a newborn salt-wasting crisis.
The adrenal gland is
located near the kidneys and controls metabolism and sex hormone production.
Dr. New has also discovered
new forms of high blood pressure and explained their genetic basis.
Dr. New obtained a BA
from Cornell and an MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
She completed an internship in Medicine at Bellevue Hospital and a residency
in pediatrics at the New York Hospital. She fulfilled two NIH fellowships and
was Research Pediatrician to the diabetic study group of the comprehensive care
teaching program at Cornell Medical Center.
She has received the
Robert H. Williams Distinguished Leadership Award in Endocrinology and the Rhone-Poulenc
Rorer Clinical Investigator Lecture Award. Dr. New was elected to the National
Academy of Sciences in 1996 and was president of the Endocrine Society in 1992.
She has authored more than 500 articles in scientific publications.
The Astute Clinician
Lecture was established through a gift from Haruko and Robert W. Miller, MD.
It honors a U.S. scientist who has observed an unusual clinical occurrence,
and by investigating it, has opened an important new avenue of research.
The Astute Clinician
Lecture is an NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series event.
It is hosted by the CC. For information and accommodations, call Hilda Madine
at 4-5595.
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National
award named for CC patient
The annual
national Bankshot basketball tournament presented a "courage and good sportsmanship"
award for the first time, in August. This award--the Arielle Anacker award--is
named for a Clinical Center pediatric patient. Rabbi Reeve Brenner, the NIH
Jewish chaplain, serves as the national commissioner of Bankshot basketball;
knowing this connection helps explain how the award came about.
"Arielle,
at only 11-years-old, is a frequent Clinical Center patient," said Rabbi
Brenner. "She is a terrific kid who sets a wonderful example of courage,
fortitude, and optimism." He also describes the young Florida resident
as having admirable strength of character and good cheer. Bankshot, as Sports
Illustrated said in 1991, is "a game that mixes basketball, billiards,
miniature golf, and fine art." Dr. Brenner invented the sport about 20
years ago so a wheelchair-bound cousin could join her family in a recreational
activity. A Bankshot course features regular basketballs and hoops but uniquely
shaped backboards for "banking shots" at up to 18 different stations.
Local examples
of Bankshot courts can be found at the Rockville Municipal Swim Center and at
the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, also in Rockville. [See the
website http://www.bankshot.com/ for
more information about this nonaggressive, inclusionary, and--to date--not-for-profit
sport.] Some 50 wheelchair participants joined at least a hundred other players
in the twelfth annual Bankshot national tournament in Gloucester County, New
Jersey, on August 12. Participants ranged from great-grandparents to children,
with one player coming from as far away as Korea.
The first
winner of the Arielle Anacker award was a young Bethesda resident, Akinyi Shapiro.
She received this award "in recognition of exemplary conduct on and off
the Bankshot court." --by Linda Silversmith
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Clinical teacher award
presented
Dr. Crystal
Mackall (center), a principal investigator with NCI's Pediatric Oncology
Branch, was recently awarded the Clinical Teacher Award. The award, which
has been presented annually since 1985, recognizes excellence in clinical
training involving the direct care of patients by any senior clinical
investigator at NIH. Clinical associates nominate individuals who, in
their judgement, have contributed significantly to the professional development
of clinical trainees. The final selection is made by a panel of NIH fellows.
Dr. Grace Clarke, NEI, and CC Director Dr. John Gallin presented the award
at the Nov. 8 Grand Rounds.
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It
all comes back to you
During this
year's CFC campaign diagnostic radiology's keyworkers Eileen Conley and
Wanda White designed CFC posters for their department where they divided
each charity into categories that appeal to each employee's interests.
Not only a creative way to educate new CC employees on the CFC, but also
a means to remind other employees to contribute. Erin Dominick, assistant
CFC coordinator, encourages all CC staff to browse the radiology department
hallway to view the posters and maybe even find a charity. Pictured left
to right are Wanda White, diagnostic radiology; Erin Dominick, assistant
coordinator, CFC; and Eileen Conley, diagnostic radiology.
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Medical
mission reaches out
"We
would wait until the last day of our mission and then squeeze the patients
who might need this treatment into the bus with us."
--Dr. John Hurley
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As you excitedly tear the
wrapping off your gifts this holiday season, consider for a moment those who
don't quite have the same luxuries; those whose concerns are more than just
what colors this season's trendy new sweaters come in, but who instead worry
about one of life's basicsÑmedical care. It's just those concerns that led Dr.
John Hurley, head of the CC pediatric outpatient clinic, to visit the Dominican
Republic late last summer, bringing medical care to children in some of the
most remote areas of the region.
For the second year, Dr.
Hurley has been a part of a medical mission to Guayabal, a small village nestled
in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. A region plagued with poverty and
associated problems, Guayabal has for the past 10 years benefited from visits
from a medical team consisting of physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists,
and interpreters from across the country.
"The purpose of this
medical mission was to reach out to remote areas of the Dominican Republic and
offer them some of the basic health care we take for granted in the U.S.,"
said Dr. Hurley. "Our role was to offer medical and dental services to
those with little healthcare and even less knowledge of preventive medicine."
And offer they did. Collectively
the medical team of about 80 health professionals treated more than 300 patients
a day, during their week-long visit.
Patients received basic
medical care, and although the staff did not have access to diagnostic equipment
such as an x-ray machine, they were able to set up a basic laboratory for urinalyses,
blood counts, and blood sugar testing. Individuals young and old were seen for
numerous illnesses, many of which are the common problems related to poverty,
such as malnutrition and unsafe drinking water. According to Dr. Hurley, some
of the medical problems that the children exhibited resulted from inadequate
dental hygiene. "Many suffer from horrible tooth decay due to lack of fluoride
in their water supply, as well as their tendency to suck on sweets, such as
sugar cane," he said. "But that's not only a problem when they are
children. As they grow older and have children of their own, it remains a problem."
Due to lack of resources available for purchasing formulas, successful breastfeeding
is essential for infant survival," said Dr. Hurley.
However, inadequate oral
hygiene in adults leads to chronic mouth infections, and ultimately to a decline
in the nursing mother's ability to produce sufficient breast milk. "I saw
one infant last year who was literally starving to death due to his mother's
multiple tooth abscesses,"said Dr. Hurley. "Fortunately the dentist
was able to extract all her teeth, a horrible ordeal for such a relatively young
person, but that cleared her infection and she was able to nurse her baby.
It wasn't because she was
poor that her baby was dying; it was because of her inability to take care of
her teeth."
The medical team also saw
patients with unusual infections of the skin, and sometimes even the bone. As
children run and play, they often fall and get scrapes and cuts. According to
Dr. Hurley, most of the time these cuts heal on their own, but when they don't,
it leads to infections under the skin that can spread throughout the body, and
even into the bones. "Typically antibiotics by mouth clear these infections
very well," he said. "But when it gets into their bones, these children
need to be in the hospital to receive antibiotics by vein. We would wait until
the last day of our mission and then squeeze the patients who might need this
treatment into the bus with us. There is a children's hospital in Santo Domingo,
but it is a 4-hour bus ride away, and there weren't any ambulances we could
call."
About a quarter of those
who visited the region, including Dr. Hurley and other NIH physicians, are members
of St. Raphael's Church in Rockville. The rest were members of churches in Florida
and Arizona. "This was primarily a medical mission, not a religious mission,"
said Dr. Hurley. "We were going there not to convert people, but everyone
on the mission had a pretty firm belief that this is God's work, and that's
what motivated us. St Raphael's has a "sister" parish in Guayabal,
and the mission is one way of us reaching out." If you are interested in
donating any over-the-counter medications or would like to participate in the
August 2001 mission, please contact Dr. Hurley at jhurley@mail.cc.nih.gov, or
call 4-7850. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, lab techs, interpreters and "go-fers"
are welcome to call. --by LaTonya Kittles
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A
Day in the Life of a Pint of Blood . . . A CC News Pictorial
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Here in the Clinical
Center, as around the world, a pint of blood is worth its weight in gold.
Everyday, CC patients receive blood transfusions for life-saving surgeries,
as well as for the treatment of various illnesses, including leukemia,
organ transplants, and others. Journey with us through the day in the
life of a pint of blood. As you'll see, the ease of the process alone
can make it well worth helping to save a life.
--story
by Dina Dariotis
-- photos by Bonnie Flock
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Step 1: Recruiting
donors
DTM staff inventory
the CC blood supply daily to determine if there are shortages. If the
staff find that the blood bank is low on a particular blood type, they
contact donors who have the needed blood type. "O-type blood, which
is found in only 38 percent of the population, is currently in high demand,
and there is a low supply in the blood bank," said Brenda Phillips,
DTM donor resources coordinator. "So we are constantly looking for
people who have this type, as well as others." When blood donors
arrive at the DTM, they complete a short application and go to a screening
booth, where they answer health history questions and receive a "mini-physical,"
which includes a check of blood pressure and heart rate. Once they are
cleared and complete this process, they are taken to the donation area.
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Step
2: Blood donation
The actual act of donating
blood is relatively quick and painless. The entire process takes approximately
10 to 15 minutes to complete. Donors sit in comfortable lounge chairs
as a nurse extracts one pint of blood by placing a needle into the donor's
arm. After the donation, DTM gives donors snacks and drinks to help replenish
fluids lost during blood donation.
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Step 3: Blood separation
and analysis
Once the blood is collected,
a technician pours samples into tiny test tubes. Lab technicians use the
samples to test the blood for several factors, including blood type, cholesterol,
and infectious diseases.Technicians place the remaining blood into a centrifuge
machine, which separates the blood into three major components: red blood
cells, plasma, and platelets.
The extracted blood
components are "quarantined" in a refrigeration unit while all
of the necessary blood tests are conducted. If the blood test results
are acceptable, the pint is cataloged and stored in a large, silver refrigerator
known as the "blood bank." The healthy blood can remain in the
bank for up to 42 days. DTM staff place great emphasis on record-keeping
and tracking to ensure that all blood donations can be traced to the correct
donors and recipients. It takes 48 to 72 hours for donated blood to be
ready to be transfused into a CC patient.
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Step 4: Crossmatching
When a doctor requests
blood from DTM, another test known as a "crossmatch" is conducted
to determine if a specific donor's blood is compatible with the patient
who needs the transfusion. If possible, DTM staff make every effort to
provide blood recipients with blood from one donor, rather than from multiple
donors.
Step 5: Blood transfusion
to the patient
Once all of the appropriate
tests are conducted, the blood is delivered to the patient-care unit.
There, a health-care provider transfuses the blood into the patient.
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Donating blood at
the CC
Blood transfusions
save the lives of patients at the CC and at hospitals throughout the world.
Without an adequate supply of donated blood, many patients would not survive.
As is the case nationwide, the potential for a blood shortage at the CC
in the coming year is significant. The DTM is preparing for this by seeking
more volunteers to donate blood.
The NIH Blood Bank,
which is located in the CC, is open: Tuesday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. In order to attract more donors, DTM aims to make blood donation
as convenient as possible by providing free parking adjacent to the DTM.
For more information call 6-1048.
On the web:
http://www.cc.nih.gov/dtm
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Holiday
events
The recreation therapy section invites CC staff and patients to participate
in various holiday activities, including: Dec. 7: A holiday concert featuring
The Washington Chorus, 7 p.m., 14th floor assembly hall. Dec. 11: A trip to
the National Christmas Tree, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 13: Children's holiday around the
world party, 6 p.m., 14th floor assembly hall. Dec. 14: The NIH Chamber Singers,
featuring songs of the season, 7:30 p.m., 14th floor assembly hall. Dec. 18:
Santa's visits, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 19: Holiday concert featuring the Augmented 8,
7 p.m., 14th floor assembly hall. Dec. 24: Christmas Eve caroling, 6:30 p.m.,
nursing units. For more information, call 6-2278.
No more receipts
The annual receipt drives
to benefit the NIH School has new rulesno more receipts needed. To help
the NIH School earn free educational equipment, shoppers at Safeway and Giant
Foods need only register for a club card and give the school code: Giant #2983,
and Safeway #0623. Then registered shoppers will automatically earn credit for
the school every time they use their club cards. The NIH School can even earn
double credit when customers purchase selected products which are clearly designated
at the stores. Both the Safeway Club Card for Education Program, and the Giant
A+ Bonus Bucks Program run until the end of March 2001. For more information
call the NIH School at 6-2077, or e-mail: hmays@mail.cc.nih.gov.
http://www.giantfood.com/bonuscard_aplus.htm
Clinical research training
Applications for the 2001-2002 NIH-Duke Training Program in Clinical Research
are now available in Room B1L403. Designed primarily for clinical fellows and
other health professionals training for careers in clinical research, the program
offers formal courses in research design, statistical analysis, health economics,
research ethics, and research management. Courses for this program are offered
at the CC by means of videoconferencing from Duke or onsite by adjunct faculty.
Students completing the required coursework are awarded a Master of Health Sciences
in Clinical Research from Duke University School of Medicine. Prospective participants
should consult with their institute or center regarding the official training
nomination procedure. Applications must be received by March 1, 2001.
Open season
The Thrift Savings Plan open season runs through Jan. 31, 2001. FERS employees
hired before July 1, 2000, as well as CSRS employees, have an opportunity to
make an initial election, or change their current election. For more information,
contact human resources at 6-6219.
Foil the Flu
OMS is now offering flu vaccinations to NIH employees. As usual, on-campus
opportunities for immunization will be done based on the first letter of the
employee's last name. Staff are reminded to bring their NIH ID cards. For more
information, call OMS at 6-4411. Hours to receive vaccinations are from 7:30
a.m. to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 4 p.m. on the dates listed:
1st letter,
last name |
|
Date
|
N, O, P,
Q |
Dec.
1
|
R, S, T,
U, V |
Dec.
4
|
W, X, Y,
Z |
Dec.
5
|
A, B, C,
D, E, F |
Dec.
6
|
G, H, I,
J, K |
Dec.
7
|
L, M, N,
O, P, Q |
Dec.
8
|
Open - any
letter |
Dec.
15
|
Open - any
letter |
Dec.
18
|
Open - any
letter |
Dec.
19
|
Any
letter, appointment only, beginning Dec. 20.
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Clinical
Center News, 6100 Executive Blvd., Suite 3C01, MSC 7511, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7511. Tel: 301-496-2563. Fax: 301-402-2984.
Published monthly for CC employees by the Office of Clinical Center Communications,
Colleen Henrichsen, chief. News, article ideas, calendar events, letters,
and photographs are welcome. Deadline for submissions is the second Monday
of each month. |

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