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Steven Fischer
BIDMC today Home
Around BIDMC
Staff
Appointment
Remembering Dennis
"Thank You"
BIDMC/Red Sox Heart Walk Team!
Good
Things Come in Small Packages
Saying "Thanks"
to Our "Talk Turkey Days" Volunteers
Fair
Highlights Employee Crafts
BIDMC's
Jolly Holiday Event
Clinical
Investigator Training Program Fellowship: Jan 7 Deadline
Summer
Program in Clinical Effectiveness, July 5 - Aug. 19, 2005
Rabkin
Fellowship in Medical Education
Awards
Ceremony Honors BIDMC, Paul Zoll
Rio
on the Charles Gala Benefits BID-Needham
Lighting
the Night to Cure Blood Cancers
Staff
Appointment
Valerie
L. Staradub, M.D., has joined BIDMC’s division of general
surgery. Staradub specializes in the surgical care of benign and malignant
breast disease, with a special focus on young women with breast cancer.
She is widely published on surgical and other factors that influence outcomes
in the detection and treatment of breast malignancies. Prior to joining
BIDMC, Staradub was assistant professor of surgery at Northwestern University
Medical School, Chicago. Previously, she had completed fellowship training
in breast surgery at Northwestern’s renowned Lynn Sage Comprehensive
Breast Center. Referrals: (66)7-1053
Remembering
Dennis
New
England Deaconess Hospital was like a second home to Dennis
Serra (right). A long-time housekeeper aide
at the hospital, Serra also received much of his care for chronic kidney
disease at the medical center. When Serra passed away last summer, his
family established the Dennis Serra Patient Care Fund at BIDMC. The $6,000
fund will provide financial support to dialysis/transplant patients who
need assistance with medical expenses. “Dennis was so happy when
he worked at the hospital where he made lots of friends,” recalls
his sister, Carolyn. “My family is grateful to have the opportunity
to keep Dennis’ memory alive by establishing this fund to help other
patients with similar medical needs,” adds Dennis’ brother,
Frank. BIDMC Transplant Coordinator Louise Riemer,
R.N., M.S., A.N.P., who cared for Serra for more than 20 years,
will administer the fund. “Dennis really had two families,”
she notes, “his wonderful family at home, and all of us here at BIDMC
who were very fond of him.”
Back row: Kristen Pimentel, practice
assistant, transplantation, and Frank
Serra. Front row: Carolyn Serra and
Louise Riemer.
“Thank
You” BIDMC/
Red Sox Heart Walk Team!
Congratulations to the captains and walkers of the BIDMC/Red Sox 2004
Boston Heart Walk Team, who raised more than $87,000 to support the research
and education efforts of the American Heart Association. Linda
Sternberg, top fundraiser of the Boston Walk, led BIDMC’s
most successful team by raising more than $38,000 in honor of her late
husband, Rick.
Good
Things Come in Small Packages
Eight
years ago, Lorrie Levine, L.I.C.S.W., social
work (right) was speaking with a co-worker about holiday toy drives for
children. “I began to wonder why there are never any gifts for adolescent
girls,” she recalls. Then she had an idea. Lorrie’s husband
traveled frequently on business, and she had a huge bag at home filled
with hotel toiletries. Why not create gift bags out of the supplies her
husband had accrued in his travels and give them to women, young and old,
as a holiday gift?
That year, Lorrie created 15 bags that were distributed to BIDMC patients.
After the holidays, a woman returned to say “thanks” because
the gift bag was the only present she received that year. “I knew
then that the gift bag program was something that needed to continue,”
Lorrie says.
Each year, the number of bags has increased, with Lorrie putting together
55 bags in 2003. BIDMC volunteers distribute bags to needy patients at
Healthcare Associates and outpatient clinics. Over the past two years,
Lorrie’s colleagues in the Medical/Surgical Social Work Group have
contributed hotel toiletries from their travels as well. Lorrie believes
this program will continue to expand. “I hope to inspire others involved
with charity work to create their own gift bag program,” she says.
Saying
"Thanks" to Our
"Talk Turkey Days" Volunteers
The ethics support service and
social work department would like to extend our appreciation to the following
volunteers who distributed Massachusetts Health Care Proxies and New England
Organ Bank donor pamphlets during "Talk Turkey" Days last month:
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Katy Amory |
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Barbara Levine |
We
distributed approximately 700 Massachusetts Health Care Proxies and almost
300 New England Organ Bank donor pamphlets and discussion sheets. Many
staff commented that they had filled out a Massachusetts Health Care Proxy
previously as a direct result of past "Talk Turkey" distribution
efforts. Additionally, there were requests to send out forms to those
who were unable to stop by.
We extend our thanks to all
of the volunteers who made this event possible. Your effort will improve
the care of many patients and provide comfort to families and loved ones.
We appreciate your support and dedication.
Fair
Highlights Employee Crafts
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The third annual Employee Creations
Craft Fair, held Dec. 2, was a huge success! Nineteen BIDMC employees
showcased their talents in the Ullian Dining Area, displaying such crafts
as jewelry, homemade dog biscuits, photography, holiday decorations, pottery
and much more. Employee crafters also contributed sample items for a raffle
drawing held Dec. 3. Raffle proceeds totaled almost $500 to help support
the Heart and Soul Programs at BIDMC: geriatrics, social work, palliative
care, and our community health centers.
BIDMC's
Jolly Holiday Event
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BIDMC staff mingled amid tables
laden with sugary treats, fruit, vegetables, cheese, eggnog, and a snowflake
ice sculpture during the annual Holiday Appreciation Event held Dec. 9.
Partiers enjoyed the music of BIDMC's Inspirational Singers, the Harry
Fix Trio and Stephanie and Friends. New this year: Handouts by the Employee
Involvement Committee, explaining the origins and rituals of several holidays
practiced during this season. Later that night, not a creature was stirring
at the medical center…except for some BIDMC nurse managers and other
volunteers, who delivered delicious treats to the units and staffed tables
in the Ullian Dining Area and the West Clinical Center lobby so that night
staff could have their own holiday celebration.
Clinical Investigator Training Program Fellowship: Applications Due Jan. 7
Drs. Anthony Hollenberg and Robert Rubin announce the availability of applications for the two-year Clinical Investigator Training Program (CITP) fellowship, which will begin on July 1, 2005. The application deadline is Jan. 7.
The elements of the Clinical Investigator Training Program include a commitment by the fellow to devote 80 percent of his/her time to the fellowship, including a specific mentor-supervised research project involving human subjects or human samples, 2.5 hours/week of didactic sessions, and a wide range of other educational opportunities available from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Entrance requirements include board eligibility in specialty or subspecialty (completion of clinical component of subspecialty training) and a specific faculty mentor and research project.
The program is presented by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, in collaboration with Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co.
A detailed description of the program is available on the Internet at http://research.bidmc.harvard.edu/GCRC/CITP.asp
Please contact Linda Bard at (66)7-4816 with any questions about the program or the fellowship application process.
2005
Summer Program in Clinical Effectiveness – July 5-Aug. 19, 2005
The Program in Clinical Effectiveness, a Joint Program of Harvard Medical
School, Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham & Women's Hospital
and Massachusetts General Hospital, 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, Linear and Longitudinal
Regression, Survey of Methods and Applications in Health Services Research,
Implementing Prevention, and Using Large Databases for 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.
The application deadline
for the 2005 Program in Clinical Effectiveness is Feb. 1. Information
and application: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/clineff
or Barbara C. Rosen at 617-732-5648 or at brosen@partners.org.
Rabkin
Fellowship in Medical Education
The Rabkin Fellowship in Medical Education is pleased to announce a Request
for Applications (RFA) for one-year fellowships in medical education for
the period of July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. The Rabkin Fellowship
in Medical Education was established in 1998 to provide faculty with the
opportunity to develop the expertise and skills needed to launch or advance
academic careers in medical education and/or academic administration.
The Rabkin Fellowship is open to faculty based at all Harvard-affiliated
clinical institutions. The goals of the fellowship are: to assist faculty
in the development and further enhancement of their skills as clinician
educators; to provide faculty with the opportunity to conduct scholarly
research in an area of interest and importance within medical education;
to support the fellows as educational leaders and change agents within
the academic medical center; and to create a community of clinician-educators
who continually strive to improve clinical teaching and enrich the field
of medical education overall. The deadline for receipt of applications
is Fri., Feb. 4, 2005, at 5 p.m.
Application materials may be
downloaded from the Shapiro Institute for Education and Research Web site
at http://bidmc.harvard.edu/rabkinfellowship
Inquiries may be directed to Lori Newman,
program manager of the Rabkin Fellowship, at (66)7-4742 or via e-mail
at lnewman@bidmc.harvard.edu
Awards
Ceremony Honors BIDMC, Paul Zoll
On
Nov. 16, the Boston History Collaborative presented a History Making Award
to BIDMC and, specifically, to the late Paul Zoll,
M.D., a Beth Israel Hospital physician whose pioneering work led
to the development of the implanted pacemaker, portable defibrillators
and other lifesaving devices. Formed four years ago, the historical society
chooses from among numerous applicants in bestowing its coveted awards.
Zoll’s daughter, Mary Zoll,
was on hand at the ceremony to receive the award on behalf
of her father.
Above: BIDMC President and CEO Paul Levy with
Mary Zoll (far right).
Lighting
the Night to Cure Blood Cancers
Members of BIDMC's Bone Marrow Transplant Team participated in the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night® Walk which recently took place
on the Boston Common. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's nationwide
evening walk raises awareness of blood cancers and funds for cures. Participants
carry illuminated balloons to celebrate and commemorate lives touched
by cancer. Funds raised support the Society's mission: to cure leukemia,
lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life
of patients and their families. Thank you to team captains Nancy
Giallombardo, RNP, and Kathryn Russo, RNP,
for coordinating the team's efforts — and congratulations
to the all members of the team who raised a total of $3,750 for the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society.
Left:
BIDMC team walkers Carol Delaney, R.N.; Therese Desilva,
tech leader, Stem Cell Laboratory; Annie Whatmough,
nurse manager, transfusion/ pheresis unit; and Robin
Joyce, M.D.