In the News

Doug Hanto, M.D, PhD., chief of transplant surgery, discussed the ethical questions surrounding brokered transplants in the Denver Post and The Boston Globe, saying that the internet-based organ donor Web site will "undermine trust in the whole system."

Hester Hill Schnipper, L.I.C.S.W., hematology/oncology, was interviewed on the "Exceptional Women" program by WMJX-FM 106.7, about her work and personal experience with breast cancer.

Nancy O'Hare, cardiology, spoke to WCVB-TV (Channel 5) about the American Heart Association's new guidelines regarding losing weight and cutting calories. "About 20 years ago, we just said lose weight, exercise, stop smoking, and give that message to every single patient that walked in the door," said O'Hare. "What we've learned is that people are at different stages of change and for different behaviors."

Anthony Hollenberg, M.D., endocrinology, advised on thyroid cancer, and the ramifications surgery can have for someone like Supreme Court Chief Justice Rehnquist, in an article published in The Boston Globe.

J. Jacques Carter, M.D., general medicine, talked about the consequences for seniors due to the flu shot shortage in an interview with the Boston Herald. "I am sympathetic to the folks in the Department of Public Health," said Carter, "but it's a tough pill for all of us to swallow."

Josef E. Fischer, M.D., chairman of surgery, commented in the Wall Street Journal about the push by some doctors to cut back on first-year residents' hours. Fischer disagrees with those promoting the cutback, urging that "80 hours a week is too short a time for surgery residents to provide excellent care or provide continuity of care."

Michael Biber, M.D., neurology, was quoted in The Boston Globe about people who rise before dawn to run their normal everyday errands. Biber talked about circadian rhythms, and how they relate to waking and sleeping patterns established at birth.

Nezam Afdhal, M.D., clinical chief of the Liver Center, discussed new drug therapies for Hepatitis C in the Boston Herald and on Webmd.com. Afdhal recently conducted a trial of the drug therapies NM283 and Ribavirin, which had positive results for sufferers of the chronic liver disease.

Daniel Sands, M.D., general medicine, and Tom Delbanco, M.D., general medicine, were interviewed for a story in The Boston Globe about doctors returning test results to patients in a timely manner. Sands discussed the use of BIDMC's PatientSite, while Delbanco talked about the anxiety a patient goes through awaiting their results.

Alice Domar, PhD., ob/gyn, was quoted in an issue of Better Homes and Gardens regarding the stress that mothers who work full time often feel. "Mothers are supposed to be selfless," said Domar. "They have been trained to feel guilty about taking time for themselves."

Charles Gerbrands, radiology, and Amy Massey, human resources, were quoted in a piece in The Boston Globe regarding the rise in radiology tech candidates for positions at the hospital. Many applicants are coming from different lines of work when they apply for the RT vacancies. "They are making this change, not necessarily for the money but because it's something they are genuinely interested in," said Massey.

Stephen A. Cannistra, M.D., director of gynecologic medical oncology, talked to Science Daily, United Press International, Reuters and Tulsa World about new microarray technology that can aid clinicians in the prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer. "Through this process, genes that are present in the tumor cell bind to their counterpart sequences on the glass slide, thereby permitting their identification with the aid of computer analysis," said Cannistra.

Alvaro Pascual-Leone, M.D., behavioral neurology, spoke to the Associated Press about magnetic brain stimulation therapy. The procedure works to help the speech of stroke survivors. "We are opening up the possibility for the brain to establish and implement a new strategy to gain access to language."

Javed Sheikh, M.D., allergy and inflammation, advised on pet allergies and the development of hypoallergenic cats for a piece that aired on WHDH-TV (Channel 7). "The cats will still produce some of the protein," said Sheikh. "That may still be enough to cause problems for highly allergic people."

Henry Koon, M.D., hematology/oncology, commented on HealthDay.com regarding a study he conducted on the drug Gleevec, and the results it showed in AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. Kaposi's sarcoma are soft purple tumors that can appear on the skin, mucous membranes and internal organs.

Jeffrey Flier, M.D., chief academic officer, commented on a new drug being examined for its potential in controlling obesity in a story published in the New York Times. Flier joins other national recognized obesity researchers in urging caution about rimonabant, which blocks a protein that allows cannabis, the active ingredient in marijuana, to work. Rimonabant also blocks the body's own version of cannabis, endocannabinoids.

Sherry Evans, manager, west campus gift shop, commented in the Boston Herald on how Boston-area hospital gift shops are convenient as well as hidden jewels. "The staff use us because they're stressed and they run in for a gift for someone or for decorations for their home," said Evans.

Mark Aronson, M.D., general medicine, spoke to Reuters, the Baltimore Sun and Everything Jersey about the effects COX-2 inhibitors can have on the heart, urging other doctors to stop prescribing the class of drugs to patients at risk of heart disease until further study can be conducted.

Jeffrey Flier, M.D., chief academic officer and Joel Elmquist, M.D., PhD., endocrinology, were interviewed by Reuters, the Wichita Eagle, the Los Angeles Times and Webmd.com about a new study they conducted that shows sleep loss can lead to increased appetite. Flier and Elmquist noted that more sleep "may well become a part of a future approach to combating obesity."

John Halamka, M.D., chief medical information officer, discussed a new computer-based drug-ordering technology in The Boston Globe and Network World, emphasizing that cost should not be a factor when it comes to patient care.

David Campbell, M.D., vascular surgery, wrote a story that was featured in the American College of Surgeons Bulletin about his experience in leading a Vietnam medical education program. The story honored all those involved with the project from its infancy stage to current day.