In the News

Doug Hanto, MD, PhD, chief of transplantation services, discussed the ethics of obtaining organs over the Internet in an interview with ABC-TV’s “Nightline.” Hanto recently completed his term as chair of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons’ (ASTS) ethics committee. The ASTS has consistently opposed the buying, selling, or brokering of organs for transplantation in agreement with the National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA), which makes it illegal to exchange organs for “valuable consideration.”

Lois Silverman, chair of BIDMC’s board of directors, was interviewed by Steve Bailey of The Boston Globe on her life experiences, culminating in her election as first woman chair of the BIDMC board. Silverman was also cited in the Boston Herald and the Marblehead Reporter.

Paul Levy, chief executive officer, Michael Epstein, MD, chief operating officer and Kelly Orlando, director of ambulatory services, were all quoted in the Chelsea Record talking about Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare-Chelsea’s 10th anniversary.

Stephen Cannistra, MD, director of gynecologic oncology, talked to UPI about a study of which he was senior author which found a “newly identified gene expression profile which may help predict how patients with advanced ovarian cancer will respond to chemotherapy.”

Robert Stickgold, PhD, psychiatry, talked about the role that sleep plays in memory formation on National Public Radio's “Talk of the Nation.”

Ciaran Kelly, MD, gastroenterology, discussed the “superbug” clostridium difficile, an intestinal bacteria that can affect hospital patients, in an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Medha Munshi, MD, gerontology, spoke with the "A Touch of Grey" radio program on how diabetes impacts older people. The interview was broadcast to a national radio audience of older Americans in 50 states, including radio stations in New York City and Los Angeles.

Jeffrey Flier, MD, chief academic officer, talked to Science Magazine regarding the discovery of ciliary neurotrophic growth factor (CNTF), which is a compound that has “triggered significant slimming in mice and humans, and is caused by the growth of new neurons in the brain’s appetite-control center.” The compound is found to have a longer lasting effect on curbing overeating habits of normal dieters.

Gregory Wellenius, MD, cardiology, spoke with WebMD and CNN.com about a study he authored which showed a link between air pollution and the risk of stroke.

Sharon Brodie Wright, MD, infectious disease, talked about the warnings of the flu shot shortage in an interview with The Boston Globe. BIDMC’s new “Go Ahead and Ask” hand washing initiative, spearheaded by Wright, was also cited in this month’s Boston Globe.

Gregg Jacobs, PhD, neurology, talked to the Chicago Tribune about a new Web site he developed which serves as a “six-week behavioral therapy program” to help with insomnia.

Judy Kaufman, BIDMC patient and cancer survivor, spoke with both The Boston Globe and WBZ CBS Channel 4 about an auction she hosted to benefit BIDMC’s hematology/oncology department.

Stuart Schnitt, MD, director of surgical pathology, discussed the importance of biopsies in an interview with Newsday.

Douglas Pleskow, MD, gastroenterology, talked about a new device used to combat heartburn in The Boston Globe.

Joel Elmquist, MD, endocrinology, and Bradford Lowell, MD, endocrinology, spoke with UPI about a new study of which both were senior authors. The study looked at the “neuronal pathways in the brain that regulate either food intake or energy expenditure.”

Andrea Williams, cancer patient navigator, testified before a legislative committee about the importance of the cancer patient navigator program. “A patient can easily fall through the cracks, feel overwhelmed, or get lost,” said Williams, in testimony reported by the State House News Service.

Clifford Saper, MD, chief of neurology, discussed sleep-related issues in an interview with the Washington Post.

Nezam Afdhal, MD, director of the Liver Center, was interviewed by the Boston Herald about a new trial he is involved in for treatment of Hepatitis C.

John Halamka, MD, chief information officer, discussed medication safety and medication ID codes with GovernmentHealthID.com.