Employee Creations Craft Fair
New BIDMC Grant for Quality Improvement Projects
Summer Program on Clinical Effectiveness
Alpha Offering Special Holiday Deals
Parent Connection Supports New Parents
Heart-y Congratulations to BIDMC for 2002 American Heart Walk
Patient's Dance Benefits BIDMC
South Cove Celebrates 30 Years
Brighten the Holidays for Families in Need
Uncovering a Mummy's Past
Halloween Happenings
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
BIDMC has Great Showing in BAA 2002 Half Marathon
BIDMC Celebrates Infection Control Week
Annual Longwood Medical Area/Mission Hill and Fenway Thanksgiving Food Drive - Nov. 25 to Dec. 6
Staff Appointments
Nursing Symposium
CareGroup Ranks #1 in IT
Libby Building Sold
Keith Lockhart Tours NICU
Applications Available for Clinical Investigator Training Program
Scholars in Clinical Science Program, Harvard Medical School
MAFCU's Fall Auto Sale November 7 - 14
Countway Library offers classes on topics ranging from MEDLINE to Web of Knowledge

Employee Creations Craft Fair




Seventeen talented BIDMC employees displayed and sold items at the Employee Creations craft fair held Nov. 21 in the Ullian Dining Area (see photos, above). Their handiwork included photography, jewelry, seasonal decorations, soaps and woodwork. The event raised $548 to benefit Friends of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an organization that helps support BIDMC through its volunteering and fundraising efforts.

New BIDMC Grant for Quality Improvement Projects - Application Deadline Jan. 15, 2003

The Department of Health Care Quality is pleased to announce the creation of a new grant mechanism designed to sponsor small quality improvement projects at BIDMC. Named the Rabb Cahners Goldberg Award and made possible by the Sidney and Esther Rabb Charitable Foundation and the Sidney R. Rabb Charitable Trust, two awards of up to $5,000 each will be given annually to sponsor projects that advance our mission of excellence in patient care. Funds can be used to support individuals or teams, and will be made available to both physicians and hospital employees. Applications must be submitted by Jan. 15; awards will be announced in mid-February and will support activity throughout the calendar year. Inquiries or requests for applications: Department of Health Care Quality at (63)2-0380

Summer Program in Clinical Effectiveness - Application Deadline Feb. 1, 2003

The Program in Clinical Effectiveness, July 1 to Aug. 15, 2003, is a Joint Program of Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. It is designed for clinicians seeking the quantitative and analytic skills needed for clinical research or who are interested in health care administration.

The Program begins with an intensive seven-week, 15-credit program of summer-long core courses in Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Participants also select two half-summer courses from offerings in Decision Analysis, Current Issues in Health Policy, Medical Informatics, Health Care Ethics, Quality Improvement in Health Care, Development of Questionnaires to Measure the Outcomes of Health Care, Implementing Prevention, and Survey of Methods and Applications in Health Services Research. Students with previous experience may enroll in second-level courses in Analytic Issues of Clinical Epidemiology, Principles of Clinical Trials and Survival Methods in Clinical Research.

Students are limited to 15 credits for a single summer but can take additional courses in a second summer. Qualified students may apply to a degree-granting program at the Harvard School of Public Health, before or after completion of the summer program. Accepted students can apply their summer credits to either a Master of Science degree or a Master of Public Health degree.

Information and application: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/clineff or Barbara C. Rosen at 617-732-5648 or brosen@partners.org.


Alpha Offering Special Holiday Deals - Dec. 2 to 20

Alpha Credit Union is celebrating the holidays with lower rates, a Holiday Loan special and free gifts.

All loan rates at Alpha Credit Union have been reduced by 1.00%. Personal loans are now as low as 8.00% APR (for Alpha members with checking accounts AND direct deposit of net pay).

Alpha's Annual Holiday Loan special runs from Dec. 2 to 20. Borrow $500, $1,000 or $1,500 for six months at 6.60% APR.

All members are invited to visit the Credit Union office for free calendars and a holiday gift. Drop by the Alpha Credit Union on the west campus (Farr Building) or call for details at (63)2-8164. Also visit Alpha's Web site on the BIDMC portal.


Program Offers Support for New Parents

The Parent Connection at BIDMC invites employees to take advantage of its many programs, lectures and volunteer opportunities. The Parent Connection is our OB/Gyn Department's postpartum support service, the only hospital-based program of its kind in Boston. The program's free services include:

• New Parents Groups: Parents can meet each other, discuss the joys and challenges of parenthood and get answers to questions. Moms and dads are both welcome!
  
  Schedule of New Parents Groups:
  
  Lexington: Wednesday mornings at the Beth Israel Deaconess/Children's Hospital Center in Lexington. Registration: (66)7-BABY(2229).
  
  Dedham: Thursday afternoons, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., at the Dedham Health and Athletic Complex.
  Registration: Drop in.
  
  
• A free monthly lecture series runs from September through June. Upcoming in December: "The Core of Male Character: What Parents Need to Know," presented by Eli Newburger, M.D., founder of the Child Protection Team and the Family Development Program at Children's Hospital, Boston. All lectures are held at Jewish Family and Children's Service in Newton Center.
  
  
• Parent-to-Parent Mentor Program: Volunteers in this program provide weekly phone calls to new parents through the first 12 weeks postpartum. Volunteers are experienced moms with good listening skills who are able to convey a sense of warmth, encouragement and reassurance to new parents. Training and ongoing supervision are provided.
  
  Information about volunteering, joining a New Parents group, free lectures or other Parent Connection programs: (66)7-BABY(2229) or Christine Sweeney at csweeney@bidmc.harvard.edu.
  

Heart-y Congratulations to BIDMC for 2002 American Heart Walk

Congratulations to BIDMC for the great showing at this year's Boston Heart Walk! The 2002 Boston Heart Walk generated $675,000 to benefit the American Heart Association. BIDMC staffers raised $56,109! (This total may increase when all donations are processed.) BIDMC sprinted to the top of the fund-raising list to become the #3 team in Boston, following Philips Medical Systems and Fidelity, and we were the TOP hospital walk team. We also supported the American Heart Association's mission by sponsoring the walk.

Thanks to all of our walkers! Special thanks to our walk captains Deb Schoenthaler of BIDPO and Joseph Kannam, M.D. of cardiology, to our 34 team captains (among the great team names: "The Central Artery"), to Sodhexo for donating food, and to BIDMC Commuter Services for donating parking spots.

And now...the BIDMC winners for fund-raising! Top Walker and Team Captain on the BIDMC team was Rick Sternberg, a former BIDMC heart patient. Rick also was top walker in Boston. Among the BIDMC staff, these top honors belonged to President and CEO Paul Levy. He graciously granted the BIDMC prizes, however, to our other top earners: Michele Strachan of Human Resources won the Top Walker Prize (season-opener Celtics Tickets), and the team led by BIDPO's Doug Costa won lunch with Paul Levy.

Way to go! Mark your calendars for next year's walk:
Sat., Sept. 20, 2003.

Patient's Dance Benefits BIDMC

BIDMC physicians and nurses recently attended "Cheryl's Fall Dance," a benefit event in honor of BIDMC patient Cheryl Gagnon. Fourteen months ago Gagnon was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare bone marrow disease that affects about 2,000 people in the U.S. each year. Gagnon spent the next three months as an inpatient at BIDMC and the following eight months going back and forth between the medical center and rehabilitation facilities for treatments, blood transfusions and antibiotics. She finally went home last spring. Cheryl wanted to find a way to help others like her. She started out simply by collecting donations in a small bucket. From there, her ambitions grew and culminated in the dance event whose proceeds will support BIDMC. Cheryl is, for many, a lesson in bravery and compassion!

South Cove Celebrates 30 Years

South Cove Community Health Center celebrated its 30th anniversary at its annual black tie Jade Gala celebration at China Pearl Restaurant in Boston. Paul Levy was the Honorary Co-Chair at the event, while WCVB-TV NewsCenter 5’s Janet Wu was the Master of Ceremonies. Department of Public Health Commissioner Howard Koh was a guest speaker. The event was attended by over 400 guests and raised funds for the health center, which is the largest provider of health care to Greater Boston’s Asian community.

Brighten the Holidays for Families in Need

BIDMC's Community Caring gift-giving program helps needy children and families enjoy the holidays by providing them with presents and grocery store gift certificates. Providers and outreach workers from BIDMC's affiliated community health centers identify families in need, and work with them to develop a gift "wish list". Last year, BIDMC employees and Board members provided more than 600 gifts to children and their families. This is an excellent group activity for departments and is much appreciated by our patients. This year you can once again purchase "wish-list" gifts of up to $25 per family member to share the holiday spirit with our health center patients. Information: Wendy Clayton at (66)7-0598 or wclayton@caregroup.harvard.edu.
All gifts must be delivered to the Community Benefits Office in FD 231 by December 13 so they can be delivered to the families.

Uncovering a Mummy's Past



Vassilios D. Raptopoulos, M.D., Dawn Weeks, RT (R, CT), advanced imaging senior technologist, and other members of the BIDMC radiology department were part of a team that greeted a 2,000-year-old patient on Sept. 26! The Egyptian mummy that arrived at BIDMC via ambulance is part of the Museum of Science's upcoming exhibit, "The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt," opening Nov. 20. BIDMC's radiology team performed computed tomography (CT) scans on the mummy that will be featured as part of the museum's exhibit. The scans will help to determine the mummy's cause of death, "reconstruct" what the mummy looked like and create a virtual autopsy for the exhibit.
If you have the Windows Media Player, speakers and a sound card, a streaming video of the mummy's visit is available online (we just couldn't keep it "under wraps" any longer!)

This video -- produced by BIDMC Media Services -- includes actual scans of the mummy.

Halloween Happenings



BIDMC's Radiation Oncology staff got into the Halloween spirit on Oct. 31, delighting patients with their ghoulishly great costumes!

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Many are not aware that lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death for men and women in the United States. "Lung cancer kills more people than cancers of the breast, prostate, colon, and pancreas combined and will claim nearly 155,000 lives this year," said Phillip M. Boiselle, M.D., director of thoracic imaging and principal investigator of the National Lung Screening Trial at BIDMC. "Death rates for lung cancer, unlike many other cancers, have not declined in recent years."

Cigarette smoking is by far the most important risk factor in the development of lung cancer, and smoking cessation is the only proven method to reduce the risk of this disease. Thurs., Nov. 21 is National Smoke-Out Day. On this day, nurses and volunteers at BIDMC will be providing information on smoking cessation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at three sites: outside of the Ullian Dining Area (east campus), and in the lobbies of the Shapiro Clinical Center and West Campus Clinical Center.

Although there are currently no recommended screening tests for lung cancer detection, chest radiography and spiral computerized tomography (CT) are both being studied in the National Lung Screening Trial to determine if they can reduce deaths from lung cancer by detecting it before symptoms develop. BIDMC is part of this trial, which is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Both present and former smokers can participate in the trial. "Our hope is that this study will lead to saving lives," said Mary Pollock, R.N., research associate for the NLST at BIDMC. To find out more about the NLST study at BIDMC, please call (97)5-6578 or visit the following Web site: http://radiology.bidmc.harvard.edu/nlst/.

BIDMC has Great Showing in BAA 2002 Half Marathon

Seth McClennen, M.D., internal medicine, placed fourth in the second annual Boston Athletic Association (BAA) Half Marathon event held Oct. 13. Many other BIDMC staff members (some are listed below) were among the 3,055 runners who finished this year's race. Organized by the BAA in conjunction with presenting sponsor New England Baptist Hospital, the 13.1-mile course showcased Boston's Emerald Necklace park system in the fall, and this year, included a quarter-mile run inside the perimeter of Fenway Park. A portion of race entry fees was donated to the Emerald Necklace Conservancy for maintenance and preservation. Congratulations to all BIDMC staff who joined and finished the race!
BIDMC staff members who ran in the 2002 BAA Half Marathon and whose names do not appear below can contact the editor of BIDMCtoday at (66)7-7307 or vgoldste@caregroup.harvard.edu to have their names added to this list and be congratulated!

Runners from BIDMC:
Suzanne Bertisch, M.D., internal medicine
Alex Carbo, M.D., internal medicine
Jeff Carter, M.D. medicine house staff (54th place at 1:25:21!)
Michael Johnstone, M.D., cardiology
Joseph Kannam, M.D., cardiology
Diane Krause, M.D., internal medicine
Kevin Martin, M.D., medicine house staff
Seth McClennen, M.D., internal medicine (4th place at 1:12:03!)
Jennifer Potter, M.D. internal medicine
Jason Ryan, M.D., medicine house staff
Dan Sullivan, M.D., internal medicine (102nd place at 1:29:56!)
Carrie Tibbles, M.D., emergency medicine

BIDMC Celebrates Infection Control Week

Kenneth Sands, M.D., M.P.H., vice president of health care quality, demonstrates the new waterless hand cleaner, Cal Stat.

During the week of Oct. 21, the BIDMC Infection Control Unit helped staff celebrate International Infection Control Week. Infection control is an effort shared by all staff at the medical center, and one that begins on the individual level with hand hygiene. Over 400 hospital staff and visitors stopped by the booths at each cafeteria entrance to sample Cal Stat, BIDMC's waterless hand cleaner that is in place inside and outside each patient room. Alcohol-based handrubs like Cal Stat have been shown to reduce the numbers of organisms on the hands of healthcare workers more effectively than a hand-wash with soap and water. The Infection Control team encourages you to use Cal Stat before and after every contact with a patient or the care environment. Look for Cal Stat in the inpatient areas and, soon, in the clinics. Please call (66)7-2249 for samples or more information.

Annual Longwood Medical Area/Mission Hill and Fenway Thanksgiving Food Drive - Nov. 25 to Dec. 6

Please help the BIDMC Office of Community Relations provide food to our neighbors in Mission Hill and the Fenway who are in need, by bringing food to boxes in the following locations: the Ullian Dining Area (east campus); West Campus Cafeteria; 109 Brookline Avenue; and the Renaissance Building. Suggested donations include canned soups, meats and tuna, peanut butter and boxed goods. No bottled items please. All food collected will be sent to the ABCD Parker Hill/Fenway Food Pantry. Information: Jane Matlaw at (66)7-7320.


Staff Appointments

Scott R. Johnson, M.D., will join the division of transplantation effective Dec. 1 and will be named an instructor of surgery at Harvard Medical School (HMS). He currently heads the transplant program at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Johnson has a strong interest and expertise in liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery. An accomplished laparoscopic surgeon, he will initiate the laparoscopic donor nephrectomy program at BIDMC. He also will be involved in the kidney, dialysis access and pancreas transplant programs. Referrals: (63)2-9700

Charles S. Day, M.D., has joined the department of orthopedic surgery and has been named instructor of surgery at HMS. A specialist in upper extremity trauma and reconstruction, Day completed a fellowship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis. He brings experience in advanced hand surgery techniques, and a background in basic science research on orthopedic tissue healing. Day will implement innovative treatment options for congenital, traumatic, reconstructive and degenerative hand pathologies. His interests include the pathogenesis of carpometacarpal joint, or base-of-the-thumb, arthritis, and post-operative pain management. Referrals: (66)7-5589

Nursing Symposium



BIDMC welcomed internationally recognized health care expert Tim Porter-O’Grady, Ed.D., Ph.D., FAAN, (above) as keynote speaker at the all-day nursing symposium Sept. 26. In an interview that day on WBUR-FM, Porter-O’Grady said that BIDMC’s leaders “are committed to making change in the way they deliver health care and the way in which they manage it, and the way in which they support nurses.”


CareGroup Ranks #1 in IT

CareGroup Information Systems was ranked the number #1 hospital information technology organization in America in the most recent InformationWeek 500 listing. It also was ranked 16th in the nation across all industries. See www.informationweek.com/907/rank.htm.


Libby Building Sold



BIDMC has sold the Libby Building, 300 Brookline Avenue, to Emmanuel College for use as a dormitory. BIDMC President and CEO Paul Levy said of the $14.75 million transaction, “We continue to assess our real estate and space needs and we are delighted to be able to help a neighbor with similar goals.” Above: Levy hands the Libby Building keys to Emmanuel President, Sister Janet Eisner, SND.


Keith Lockhart Tours NICU



Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart toured BIDMC’s Klarman Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Oct. 8 on behalf of the March of Dimes, which honored him at a recent dinner. The organization is a long-time supporter of the nation’s NICUs. Joining Lockhart in the NICU were Gail Huff of WCVB-TV (Channel 5) and DeWayne Pursley, M.D., chief of neonatology at BIDMC.


Applications Available for
Clinical Investigator Training Program

Applications are currently available for the two-year Clinical Investigator Training Program fellowship, which begins on July 1, 2003. The program is a cooperative effort among BIDMC, the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, and Pfizer, Inc. The fellowship's goal is to train physicians from a variety of clinical disciplines in techniques and processes used in patient-oriented research. Fellows may pursue a Master of Medical Science from Harvard Medical School (HMS) in conjunction with the Program.

Program elements include a mentor-supervised research project involving human subjects or samples, a wide range of resources available from BIDMC and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, and a required weekly seminar.

Entrance requirements include board eligibility in specialty or subspecialty, and a specific faculty mentor and research project. The program offers a stipend and tuition fees for the Master's program. The deadline for application submission is Jan. 3, 2003.

For further information and applications contact:
Linda F. Bard, MT, M.Ed
Tel: (66)7-4816, Fax: (66)7-4829
lbard@caregroup.harvard.edu

Scholars in Clinical Science Program,
Harvard Medical School

The Scholars in Clinical Science Program (SCSP) is a post-graduate training program at HMS designed for individuals interested in pursuing careers in patient-oriented research. Graduates of the two-year program receive a Master of Medical Sciences degree from HMS.

The program includes a structured didactic curriculum, a longitudinal seminar series, and a mentored clinical research project. Funded by a Clinical Research Curriculum Award from the National Institutes of Health and by donations from industry, the program covers tuition costs and associated fees for most full-time trainees.

Candidates must have an M.D. or D.M.D. degree and have completed their clinical training; individuals with a Ph.D. in a clinical discipline also may be eligible. Applicants should be enrolled in a Harvard fellowship program. Applications for the 2003-04 academic year, which begins in July, are being accepted as of November 1, 2002. All applications and supporting documentation must be received or postmarked by January 15, 2003; applications received after this date will not be considered. Exceptional applicants may be granted early admission to the program if they apply before the deadline.
Information: http://www.hms.harvard.edu/gradprograms/scsp or (617) 432-1386 or sophia_reaud@hms.harvard.edu

MAFCU's Fall Auto Sale November 7 - 14

Take advantage of the Medical Area Federal Credit Union's (MAFCU) Fall Auto Sale and and drive away with fantastic savings on any make or model from any dealer. Rates are reduced to 4.99% APR (for 36 months) and 5.99% APR (for 48-60 months), with a special offer of 4.49% APR (for 36 months) and 5.49% APR (for 48 to 60 months) if you have a checking account AND direct deposit at MAFCU. Call MAFCU's Loan Line to get pre-approved: 617-732-4185 or 800-556-2328 (press option 2). Or, click www.medareafcu.org and use their rate calculator to see why it's better to take the dealer rebate and finance with MAFCU, and then apply online.

Countway Library offers classes on topics ranging from MEDLINE to Web of Knowledge

To see a class schedule for next month, go to http://www.countway.harvard.edu and click on "Class Calendar" At the library class calendar dialog box, choose Reference Classes and hit "Go." You may click on any class to see the content description
and reach the instructor.

Class Registration: (617) 432-2134 or countway_reference@hms.harvard.edu