In the News

Carol Warfield, MD, chief of anesthesia and critical care, discussed the potential problems related to overuse of over-the-counter pain medications in an interview with WCVB-TV's “Chronicle”. Warfield, who founded BIDMC's Arnold Pain Management Center, noted that over-the-counter remedies can serve a good purpose when used according to label instructions, but that the potential for problems increases as people age.

Joanne Ayoub, director of organizational development and staffing, and Donna Hallett, director of operations for radiology, talked to The Boston Globe's “Bostonworks” section about the growing demand for well-trained radiologic technologists.

Robert Brown, MD, nephrology, discussed the drug Renegal in an interview with The Boston Globe . Renegal is being studied to treat patients on long-term dialysis.

Neil Rofsky, MD, radiology, and William DeWolf, MD, urology, talked to New England Cable News (NECN) about the combined use of the latest in magnetic resonance imaging and computer software that enables them to identify and treat prostate cancer in a patient after repeated biopsies fail to find the cancer.

Harold Dvorak, MD, pathology, was profiled for an article in The Boston Globe. The story, which appeared in the Health/Science section, looked at his distinguished research career and his role in discovering VEGF, the vascular endothelial growth factor that plays a role in the angiogenesis process believed to be a factor in the growth of tumors.

Lowell Schnipper, MD, chief of hematology/oncology, and Judith Hirshfield-Bartek, RN, MS, OCN, surgery, wrote an opinion piece in the Jewish Advocate on the Massachusetts law preventing discrimination against people who inherit medical disorders, advocating that the state must not stray from this law.

Joseph Carrozza, MD, chief of interventional cardiology, talked to the Boston Herald about heart surgery for patients who have suffered a stroke. Carrozza specifically addressed the case of Tedy Bruschi, the Patriots linebacker who recently decided to sit out this season after suffering a stroke last fall.

Thomas Delbanco, MD, general medicine, was interviewed by The Boston Globe about a group he is involved with that is helping to devise a disclosure policy for Harvard teaching hospitals.

Richard Farrell, MD, gastroenterology, spoke to BBC News about how the postponement of cereal-based foods for infants can help avoid later stomach problems.

Lachlan Forrow, MD, director of ethics support services, discussed the debate over services for patients over a certain age, and who pays for these procedures, in an interview with The Boston Globe . Forrow also addressed getting a patient's consent before surgery in a separate interview with The Boston Globe.

Jerome Groopman, MD, experimental medicine, spoke to the Saturday Evening Post about his book, “The Anatomy of Hope,” which discusses the mind over matter effect that hope can have for people suffering from an illness.

John Halamka, MD, chief information officer, spoke to The Boston Globe, UPI, “Fox News”, Daily News Central, the Harvard Gazette , HealthDay.com, and National Public Radio's “Morning Edition” about a radio frequency ID chip implanted in his arm and its implications for medical record access. Halamka wrote about the experience in the New England Journal of Medicine and said the technology holds promise if privacy issues can be addressed.

Douglas Hanto, MD, PhD, chief of transplantation, was interviewed by “ABC News” regarding the ethical questions surrounding organ donation solicitation through advertisements and billboards. “Public appeals favor those individuals who have the ability, the financial wherewithal, the contacts to make the public appeal,” said Hanto.

Gregg Jacobs, PhD, neurology, talked to the Columbia Journalism Review about media coverage on the sleeping pill Lunesta, and how it was billed as being a “wonder drug.”

Barbara Kahn, MD, chief of endocrinology, discussed a new study she authored which found a molecular link between obesity and diabetes, in interviews with Reuters and the Dallas Morning News.

Lissa Kapust, LICSW, behavioral neurology, spoke to Time magazine about BIDMC's DriveWise program. DriveWise is a comprehensive evaluation of the driving performance of individuals who may have compromised driving skills due to impairments in motor, cognitive, perceptual and/or sensory skills.

Igor Koralnik, MD, neurology, discussed the possibility of the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri returning to the market in Forbes magazine.

Murray Mittleman, MD, cardiology, advised The Boston Globe on the benefits of black tea for the heart.

Jonathan Niloff, MD, division director of gynecologic oncology, talked to The Boston Globe about hysterectomies and a new study which found that “removing a woman's healthy ovaries can increase her risk of death from heart disease and hip fracture.”

Thomas Scammel, MD, neurology, discussed the drug Provigil in an interview with “ ABC News.” Provigil, approved by the FDA, is now being prescribed for “excessive sleepiness” and patients who work overnight. The drug helps people “feel more productive and less tired, and wears off after seven hours, allowing the user to quickly fall asleep.”

Robert Stickgold, PhD., psychiatry, was interviewed by Harvard Magazine regarding the importance of sleep and how it is becoming a “lost art.”

Eugene Vaninov, MD, cardiology, talked to The Boston Globe about the benefits of interpreter services. Vaninov, who is a native of Russia , said a majority of his practice is made up of Russian-born immigrants.

Dianne Anderson, RN, MS, senior vice president of clinical operations, was featured as one of the Boston Business Journal's “Champions of Health Care” for her dedication to the nursing profession.