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October 11, 2013 MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA Vol. 32, No. 9

READ THE CATALYST ONLINE - http://www.musc.edu/catalyst

4 6Employees have choices Cancer-fighting garlicNew health insurance plan supportsMUSC workforce starting Jan. 1.

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5Researchers have discovered a compoundthat can shrink aggressive brain tumors.

Environmental Services Week

Meet Phill

FRD’s Michael Rusnak

Staff Report

This year’s annual Thomas A. Pitts MemorialLectureship in Medical Ethics, titled “Ethical and

Legal Issues in Pediatrics,” will be held Oct. 18 and 19.Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Oct. 18. All sessionswill be held in Room 125, MUSC Thurmond GazesResearch Building, 114 Doughty St.

Now in its 20th year, the lectureship has explored arange of bioethical issues including clinical-bioethical,legal-bioethical, social-bioethical and policy-bioethical.According to Robert Sade, M.D., Department ofSurgery, this annual conference on ethics has beenextraordinarily successful for the last 20 years.

“The topic this year, Ethical and Legal Issues inPediatrics, is proving to be extremely popular. Advancedregistration is highly advisable as we are already farahead of previous years’ registrations. The speakers arethe leaders in the field from all over the country,” hesaid.

The leaders, along with each topic addressed, include:

q Session I: Newborn ScreeningScreening of Newborns for Disorders with HighBenefit-Risk Ratios Should be Mandatory — MelissaWasserstein, M.D., Mount Sinani School of Medicine,New York; Parents Should Be Asked for Consent toNewborn Screening, Even for Disorders with HighBenefit–Risk Ratios — Norman Frost, M.D., Universityof Wisconsin.

q Session II: Vaccination RefusalRefusing the Refusers: When Parents RefuseVaccination for Their Children — Stan Block,M.D., Kentucky Pediatric and Adult Research Inc.;Pediatricians Should Accept Care of Children WhoseParents Refuse Vaccination — Douglas Diekema,M.D., University of Washington, Seattle, Wa.

q Session III: Infant Male CircumcisionNewborn Male Circumcision with Parental Consent,as Stated in the AAP Circumcision Policy Statement,

Pitts lecture to focus on ethical pediatric issues

is Both Legal and Ethical — Michael Brady, M.D.,Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio;Newborn Male Circumcision is Unethical and Shouldbe Illegal — J. Steven Svodoba, J.D., Attorneys for theRights of the Child, Berkeley, Ca.

q Session IV: Surgery for Trisomy 18 InfantsOpen Heart Repair Should Be Offered to Infantswith Trisomy 18 and VSD and Interrupted AorticArch — Minoo Kavarana, M.D., Pediatric CardiacSurgery, MUSC; Infants with Trisomy 18 and VSDand Interrupted Aortic Arch Should Not UndergoOpen Heart Surgery — Eric Graham, M.D., Division ofPediatric Cardiology, MUSC.

q Session V: Interactive Audience and FacultyDiscussion

Thomas Antley Pitts II, M.D.,(1893 – 1991) served as a member ofthe board of MUSC for 36 years andserved as its chairman for 25 of thoseyears. He left a bequest to endow aseries of lectures on medical ethics.The series has become known as theThomas Pitts Memorial Lectureship and has beenheld annually since 1993.

Thomas PiTTs

Moderator: Sade, professor of surgery. Seminar onPediatric Controversies — Audiences and Lecturers.

To register, visit academicdepartments.musc.edu/humanvalues/lectureship/CurrentPitts.

2 The CaTalysT, October 11, 2013

The Catalyst is published once a week.Paid adver tisements, which do notrepresent an endorsement by MUSCor the State of South Carolina, arehandled by Island Publications Inc. ,Moultrie News, 134 Columbus St. ,Charleston, S.C., 843-849-1778 or843-958-7490. E-mail: [email protected].

Editorial of ficeMUSC Office of Public Relations135 Cannon Street, Suite 403C,Charleston, SC 29425.843-792-4107Fax: 843-792-6723

Editor: Kim [email protected]

Catalyst staff:Cindy Abole, [email protected] Barker, [email protected]

The S.C. LowcountrySociety of Gastroenterology Nurses

and Associatespresents its

Annual Fall Conference 2013Oct. 18 - 20 at

Marriott Grand Dunes Resort8400 Costa Verde Drive

Myrtle Beach, SC, 29572Event registration for SGNA Members – $145, non-member – $165, GI Tech and Nursing

Students – $75 Contact R’celle Boyd at [email protected] or visit www.sclcsgna.org.

By allyson Bird

Office of Development & Alumni Affairs

B rice Sharpton’s teacher gave each of her 48 studentsa $100 bill and a special challenge at the end of the

school year: Double the money, and then donate thatprofit to the charity of your choice.

The 16-year-old First Baptist School student knewimmediately that he wanted to contribute to a fund thatsupports research for Parkinson’s disease. For almosthis entire life, Brice has watched the disorder steal moreand more from his father, Kip.

Kip Sharpton, now 47, was only 33 on the morningthat his wife noticed his hand shaking as she pouredhim coffee before church. Julie Sharpton, a nurse atMUSC, made her husband an appointment to see aspecialist.

With three young children and a career in sales, KipSharpton said, “I had expectations of what I wanted todo.” Instead, he missed a promotion and, because of hisspeech limitation, his company moved him out of salesmanagement and into auditing work.

Brice’s teacher gave the class its startup cash withinstructions to “find out more about themselves.” Bricebought hot dogs, buns and fixings and set up a standat the Harborview Road Piggly Wiggly near his family’shome. He, his younger sister and his parents explainedto shoppers the school project behind the sign, “PigOut for Parkinson’s.” Some people passed on hot dogsbut donated money anyway.

Brice's teacher, Robin Gramling, said she based theassignment on the Parable of the Talents from the Bookof Matthew, in which a master leaves his money with hisservants and then returns and asks for an accounting.The master rewards the servants who increased thevalue of the money that he entrusted to them.

Gramling’s students held gym days, crab sales andtalent shows with the money she gave them. They raisednearly $12,000, which they then gave to special-needs

athletics programs, medical research and books forpatients at MUSC Children’s Hospital.

“We’re all consumed with promoting ourselves,”Gramling said. “The idea is finding yourself throughservice, and finding that you’re satisfied. They had topresent what they’d done and what they’d discoveredfrom what they’d done. You could tell from the way

they spoke, from the smiles on their faces, that theywere happy to have done it.”

Brice donated the $280 he earned from the hotdog sale to MUSC’s Murray Center for Research onParkinson’s Disease and Other Related Disorders.Looking to his father, Brice remembered, “I wantedto find something that could help you. I wasn’t reallythinking about other people. I was mainly thinkingabout you.”

Christina Vaughan, M.D., assistant professor in theDepartment of Neurosciences, said the Murray Centerruns its own clinical trials and also participates innational studies. Because of donations such as Brice’s,specialists at the Murray Center soon will offer videoconferencing to remote patients who otherwise wouldnot have access.

“I am especially touched that Brice raised these fundson behalf of his father,” Vaughan said. “My father, too,has Parkinson’s disease, and I understand how muchthis disease can affect a family.”

The gift also inspired Brice’s father. In addition tothe hot dog sale, Brice and his sister, 13-year-old SarahGrace, also sold snacks to raise money for research.

“I’m proud of them,” Kip Sharpton said. “It’simpacted their lives as much, if not more than mine. Idon’t think they’re going to find a cure in my lifetime,but I want to drop back and say, what can I do to helpother people?”

He hopes to plan a tandem bicycle ride throughthe Blue Ridge Parkway with a friend, another mandiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in his early 30s. Ifthe two men can’t complete the ride on their own, KipSharpton hopes Brice and his older brother, 18-year-oldDavid, can help.

Kip Sharpton looks to Michael J. Fox as a role model,since the actor’s Parkinson’s foundation has raised $325million for research, plus immeasurable awareness. “Wecan’t all be Michael J. Fox,” he said. “But I want to dosomething.”

Gift in honor of father with Parkinson's disease

Brice Sharpton set up a hot dog stand anddonated his profit to Parkinson’s disease researchat MUSC’s Murray Center.

photo provided by Sharpton family

The CaTalysT, October 11, 2013 3

photos provided

EnvironmEnTal sErvicEs aPPrEciaTEs EmPloyEEs’ EfforTs

Top photo: Crothall Environmental Servicesemployee, Dwayne Mitchell, won a flat screen TV inthe Environmental Services Week celebration’s finaldrawing Sept. 6. Left photo: Ashley River Tower staffShawn Washington, from left, Karen Moore, YolandaFrayer, Margaret Scott and Brenda Pierce join thefestivities with ice cream, cupcakes and goodies.More than 350 staff work throughout the university,ART, Children’s Hospital, Hollings Cancer Centerand other locations.


By Mark lyles, M.d.

MUHA Chief Strategic Officer

Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, more than 18,000 MUSCemployees and their dependents will be offered a newinsurance plan that has enhanced preventive benefitsand lower overall out-of-pocket costs.

The MUSC Health Plan was established inpartnership by the South Carolina Public EmployeeBenefits Authority and MUSCleadership to improve the health andwellness of the MUSC workforce byencouraging patients and health careproviders to partner with one anotherin the delivery of effective, coordinatedmedical care.

During the Open Enrollment Period,employees and their dependentsenrolled in the Standard State HealthPlan (SHP) will automatically be enrolled in the MUSCHealth Plan, a plan that offers enhanced benefits.Members of the MUSC Health Plan who choose toreceive patient-centered care within the MUSC HealthPlan Network will get many types of preventive servicesat no cost and will have lower out-of-pocket expenses.

The MUSC Health Plan’s preventive care benefitsinclude blood pressure, cholesterol, depression andobesity screenings; tobacco cessation counseling;numerous vaccines; well-women visits and screening papsmears; and other preventive health services at no cost.

Also, for many MUSC outpatient doctor’s officevisits, MUSC Health Plan members will be requiredto pay a single copayment with no deductibles orcoinsurance. For information about the new benefitsoffered by the health plan, visit musc.edu/medcenter/MUSChealthplan/index.html.

Employees still have choicesEmployees covered by the MUSC Health Plan who

choose to receive care outside of the network (forexample, at another hospital or a non-MUSC ownedor affiliated doctor’s office), will continue to have theircurrent Standard SHP benefits: individual or familydeductibles must be met, copays must be paid, and co-insurance will apply.

Also, employees and dependents enrolled in theBlueChoice HMO or SHP Savings Plan may remain inthese plans or elect to join the MUSC Health Plan for2014.

All new employees who begin receiving healthbenefits at MUSC on or after Jan. 1, 2014, will becomemembers of the MUSC Health Plan.

Patient-Centered CareMUSC Health Plan members will receive care

through the Patient Centered Medical Home modelthat focuses on comprehensive, patient-centeredcare delivered by MUSC’s team of professionals andcoordinated by a MUSC primary care provider. AllMUSC primary care and specialty physicians andadvanced practice providers will be included in theMUSC Health Plan Network.

Additionally, to expand its ability to deliver primarycare services, the MUSC Health Plan Network will

partner with like-minded physiciansand practices that are committed todelivering quality, patient-centered care.

In November, a web-based tool will belaunched to enable MUSC employeesto select a clinic and a primary carephysician within the network who willcoordinate health care delivered tomembers of the MUSC Health Plan.

For information, contact your MUSCHuman Resources Office, MUHA — mcintranet.musc.edu/hr/or university — academicdepartments.musc.edu/hr/university/.

FrequenTly asked quesTions

What is the MUSC Health Plan?A new insurance plan created in partnership by

PEBA and MUSC to offer benefits and lower total coststo MUSC employees and dependents that choose toreceive care in the MUSC Health Plan Network.

Will employees pay more to be a member?No. Employee premiums for the MUSC Health Plan

(the amount withdrawn from employee paychecks)will not increase in 2014. And although other stateemployees will have their deductibles, copaymentsand coinsurance maximums increase by 20 percent inJanuary 2014, the MUSC Health Plan is designed tohave lower out-of-pocket costs for members who chooseto receive their care from a member of the MUSCHealth Plan Network.

Is my physician in the network?All MUSC primary care and specialty physicians and

advanced practice providers will be members of thenetwork.

What are the new benefits offered by the plan?There are three levels of benefits offered by the new

plan and employees may choose the option that is bestfor them and their dependents:q Choice One: MUSC Health Plan members who

receive care in the network will have lower total out-of-pocket costs and receive many preventative services atno cost.q Choice Two: Members who receive care outside

of the MUSC Health Plan Network but within theStandard SHP Network will continue to receiveStandard SHP benefits, the same benefits as otherpublic employees enrolled in this plan. Every generalhospital in South Carolina is included in the StandardSHP Network. Out-of-state hospitals that participate inthe nationwide Blue Cross and Blue Shield Networkwill also honor SC SHP benefits to MUSC Health Planmembers and their dependents, such as college studentsor dependents who live outside of the Charleston areaor in another state.q Choice Three: Members who receive care outside

of the Standard SHP Network will receive StandardSHP out of network benefits.

What is a Patient Centered Medical Home?A PCMH emphasizes care coordination and

communication. It serves to facilitate partnershipsbetween patients and health care teams to provide highvalue care in the most ideal settings. There are variousorganizations that provide standards on how PCMHsmay operate and are recognized. Practices that providepatient care in a PCMH model deliver superior patientcare centered on a patient’s individual health needs andfocus on health and wellness.

Do employees have to change their primary carephysician?

In order to receive the benefits and lower total out-of-pocket costs, members of the plan must be seen byphysicians or providers in the network. If members ofthe plan receive care from outside the network, thenStandard State Health Plan benefits apply.

What are the MUSC Health Plan benefits?Visit musc.edu/medcenter/MUSChealthplan/2014_

comparison_chart.pdf.

What preventive care will be offered at no cost?A list of preventive services that are billed at no cost

to members of the MUSC Health Plan will be provided.Visit musc.edu/medcenter/MUSChealthplan/Free_preventive_services.pdf.

Does MUSC have enough pediatric primary carephysicians in the network?

MUSC will partner with high value pediatricpractices in order to expand the network’s capacity todeliver coordinated care to pediatric patients.

Can employees enrolled in the Standard SHP switchto BlueChoice or the Savings Plan in October?

Only employees and dependents enrolled in theBlueChoice or SHP Savings Plan may remain in theseplans for 2014. Employees who are on the StandardSHP will be automatically enrolled in the plan.

NewMUSC Health Plan preserves choice, lowers costs


Meet Phill

Phill Botham, R.N.DepartmentSpecialty Nursing, Wound and OstomyNursesHow you are changing what’s possibleat MUSCWorking with a great team of nurses toprovide the best in wound and ostomy carefor our patients.How long at MUSCMore than 6 yearsUnique talentI worked as a professional photographer.Who in history would you like tomeet?Suzuki Roshi. He is the father of AmericanZen Buddhism.Favorite place in the worldMikonos Greece, Super Paradise beachA must-have in the freezerBen & Jerry’s Phish FoodMeal you love to cookBreakfast for a crowd of friendsDream vacationOrient Express from Paris to IstanbulPetsA schnauzer named Baker and a tabby catnamed Sophie


If you weren’t already a fan of garlic, here’s newscientific evidence of its cancer-fighting properties.

Researcher Arabinda Das, Ph.D., said it was excitingto land on the cover of the August issue of the Journalof Neuro-Oncology with the first direct evidence thatthe compound DATS, found in garlic, is effective inblocking pathways of the proliferation of cancer cellsand ultimately may help reduce tumor growth inpatients with glioblastoma, the most lethal brain tumor.

It’s a brain cancer that remains incurable despiteaggressive chemotherapy, radiation and surgicalinterventions. That the study found a 60 to 74 percentrate in the shrinkages of tumors has the team ofclinicians and researchers involved with this studycautiously thrilled.

Researcher Pierre Giglio, M.D., said it’s rare to getgood results in the clinic. There’s only one drug beingused – Avastin – that produces response rates, andthose generally are in the 30 to 40 percent range, hesaid.

“In the clinic, I declare victory when I don’t see anychange in the tumor. When you get a response thatcuts the tumor down by that sort of percentage, I can’tstress how exciting it would be if that would translateto a clinical truth. This paper showed the efficacy, andit was quite stunning,” he said, cautioning that it will

take time for the results to be translated for clinical use.“What works in the lab sometimes does not work in theclinic.”

Das said it has long been known that plant derivativeshave beneficial effects in many diseases. Plant

derivatives that are or will be studied include lemon,mushroom, green tea, turmeric, soybeans and ginger.“We have been working on several of these which areknown to have anti-tumorigenic properties, and garliccompound is one of the agents, among many, we havechosen to study,” he said.

Researchers tested the garlic-derived organo-sulfurcompound DATS in two ways. They applied it directlyto glioblastoma cells taken from tumors removedfrom patients, and they also placed these cells inimmunosuppressed mice using an orthotopic xenograftmodel, in which the tumor cells are implanted in thetumor site of origin, a technique advantageous for itsability to mimic local tumor growth and pathways ofmetastasis.

Giglio said it seems that glioblastoma cancer cellshave multiple pathways within them that allow them togrow, divide quickly, invade the brain and form bloodvessels for themselves. “In a nutshell, they have a lot ofstrategies that allow them to evade the body’s immunedefense systems, evade the treatments that we maygive, and most importantly, develop a resistant to thetreatments that we give.”

Das said the DATS compound seems to havea selective effect on the cancerous cells and notthe normal cells. Researchers want to explore allmechanisms by which the compound may be working

Garlic holds promise to combat deadly brain tumorBy dawn Brazell

Public Relations

See Garlic on page 7

photos by Sarah Pack, Public RelationsResearcher Dr. Arabinda Das studies cancercells in the laboratory. He and colleagueswere excited their work landed on the Augustcover of the Journal of Neuro-Oncology.


against cancer cells. The response rate suggests it worksin more than one pathway to block the cancer, he said.

“We demonstrated shrinkage of tumors in theseanimals and showed that DATS reduced division ofcells within the tumors and worked against multipleproteins and pathways that promote tumor growth,”Das said.

There are several research projects planned to furtherthis work. Das will be working with Giglio, and Amy-Lee Bredlau, M.D., director of the Pediatric BrainTumor Program and a pediatric neuro-oncologist, todevelop a highly-purified DATS gel capsule for a humansafety and tolerability phase I study. “We are hoping tobe able to do this in the next 12 months.”

The broad long-term objective is to use theinformation obtained from this study to develop atherapeutic strategy for the induction of apoptosisor cell death of glioblastoma and recommend thisnatural compound as a therapeutic strategy for trials inglioblastoma patients.

The study found the compound didn’t impair liverfunctioning. Das said most medications pass throughthe liver and are broken down in this organ. Manymedical agents carry warnings about possible liverinjury, and it is always encouraging to note that the liveris not affected by the garlic compound at the doses usedin the study.

Researchers caution that they are not recommendinggarlic consumption as a cure for glioblastoma orother cancers. “Our research shows promise butrecommendations for actual treatment of cancer withDATS would be premature.”

Should patients want to take advantage of anypotential anti-cancer benefits from garlic now, theyshould know to take certain precautions, he said. Forexample, it’s important to cut and peel a piece of freshgarlic and let it sit for 15 minutes before eating orcooking it. This time allows for the release of an enzyme(allinase) that produces the anti-cancer compounds.Consumers using this as a nutritional supplementalso should know that eating too much garlic maycause diarrhea, allergies and internal bleeding, so it isimportant to monitor garlic consumption.

Meanwhile, Das and colleagues will take the cluesfrom this study to further their work. Das said thesuccess of this study depended on a strong teamof collaborators of clinicians and researchers. Theteam included clinicians Giglio, Scott M. Lindhorst,M.D., and Bredlau; surgeons Sunil J. Patel, M.D., W.Alex Vandergrift, M.D., and Abhya K. Varma, M.D.;basic scientists Das and Naren L. Banik, Ph.D., andresearcher Swapan K. Ray, Ph.D., of the University ofSouth Carolina.

This collaboration of clinicians, surgeons and neuro-oncology researchers is opening up new opportunitiesfor discoveries. Das said in the future, researchers willbe able to take patient tumors and have them tested

GarliC Continued from Page Six

did you know?

A collaboration of clinicians, surgeons and neuro-oncology researchers is opening new doors todiscoveries. Pictured above (from left) are: Drs. Arabinda Das, Pierre Giglio, W. Alex Vandergrift,Abhya K. Varma, Naren Banik and Scott M. Lindhorst.

q Glioblastomas are generallyfound in the cerebral hemispheresof the brain, but can be foundanywhere in the brain or spinalcord.q Brain tumors are thesecond leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children (malesand females) under age 20(leukemia is the first).Source: American Brain Tumor Association

Graphic Illustration by Emma Vought

in their laboratory model to see the efficacy of certaindrugs. “We can personalize it based on the response ofthe tumor.”

Plans also are on the table to test the DATScompound in a larger animal model and down the roadin the formulation of a nasal application to be deliveredin a nanoparticle. Giglio said the hope is that thenanoparticles will prove small enough to pass throughthe blood-brain barrier allowing the compounds theycarry to leach out very slowly to the area of the braintumor. The first clinical trial will be with an oral

preparation of some type of gel capsule, followed laterby nanoparticle research depending on finding fundingfor these projects.

Given how difficult this glioblastoma can be to fight– it ranks in the top three cancers in how fast it may killpeople – this breakthrough is energizing to the teamcollaborating to find clues to how to stop it, Das said.

“We just want to be able to help these patients.”

Editor’s note: Story reprinted from MUSC’s News Center atwww.musc.edu/pr/newscenter.


Photo by Cindy AboleADEA’s Yvonne Knight, second from left, joinsdental students Alison Foster, from left, JessicaBaron and Katie Daniel following her Sept. 25presentation at the dental school.

By Cindy aBole

Public Relations

Dental student strives to impact change, advocacy

Third-year dental student Jessica Baron has alwaysbeen one who is passionate about making a difference.

The Charleston native has a commitment to gettinginvolved, understanding the processes in legislation andinfluencing public policy while advocating for dentalstudents and practitioners. Baron is an example of astudent advocate and leader in the dental educationcommunity who can talk the talk and walk the walk.

Baron got her opportunity during the summer of2012 after finishing her first year at MUSC’s JamesB. Edwards College of Dental Medicine. She wasselected to work as a summer legislative intern with theAdvocacy and Governmental Relations division of theAmerican Dental Education Association Policy Centerin Washington, D.C.

For six weeks, Baron gained valuable experiencevisiting Capitol Hill to attend hearings, pressconferences and debates relating to dental reformlegislation and access to oral health care to conductingresearch on policy issues for fluoridation and corporatedentistry.

At the end of her first year in dental school, Baronwanted to diversify her dental science studies andsought out ways where she could merge her passion forpolitics with dentistry. She had heard about the impactof student advocacy with ADEA, American StudentDental Association, and other organizations. Shecontacted former ADEA public policy and advocacyhead Jack Bresch and quickly realized that she wantedto work with the ADEA to understand public policyand their platforms relating to dental health issues,research and other current challenges.

“This experience was perfect for me because itcombined my passion for politics and public policyand helping people on a grass-roots level. In orderfor practitioners to practice dentistry on the higheststandards, there has to be good policies in place thatalso protect the patient. It’s one of my passions toincrease care and increase it well,” Baron said.

During that summer, Baron got the opportunity tocover specific ADEA issues from following Iowa SenatorChuck Grassley’s investigation of large corporate dentalpractices that engage in overtreatment of patients toreviewing access to dental care issues, student loanrelief, research funding and rural dentistry.

During Congress’ vote to pass the SequesterReplacement Reconciliation Act of 2012, Barontook part in a memo-writing campaign to Congressdiscouraging any further cuts to NIH and NIDCRresearch funding.

Baron’s advocacy work and experience was someaningful that she invited ADEA mentor Yvonne

Knight, J.D., to visit and speak to fellow dental studentsand faculty Sept. 25. Knight is the senior vice presidentfor Advocacy and Government Relations of the ADEACenter for Public Policy and Advocacy.

In Knight’s midday presentation, she definedadvocacy and its importance to students in impactingdental education and how it can affect other issuesrelating to dentistry and the profession. She alsospoke about the need to educate others on thedental perspective and shared tools and resources tohelp student advocates find a role to support dentaleducation and best practices in the delivery of oralhealth care.

“Through advocacy you can have an impact on dentaleducation,” Knight told the audience. “Unless youmake your point of view or position heard, you are notparticipating in the process. Students need to weighin on the issues. To use a Washington expression, ‘Ifyou’re not at the table, you are on the menu.’”

Knight challenged students to become agents ofchange within dental education and in the profession.

She urged students and dental faculty to speak outon issues, communicate with members of Congressand State Legislature through mail campaigns anduse of social media. She also invited students toattend Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill or participate instatewide efforts with Dental Lobby Day, both usuallyheld in April.

“Now more than ever, the stakes are higher as thereare constraints on the federal budget with cutbacksand a need to account for every dollar. It’s importantthat people interface with policy makers at these levelsso that they realize that people really do care and canbenefit from these programs,” Knight said.

For Baron, her interests in engagement, publicpolicy and processes blossomed as an undergraduatestudent of public policy at Duke University. She fondlyremembered one class assignment where studentswere tasked to pick a failed piece of legislation andreorganize, restrategize and reintroduce it to Congressto pass for voting.

“We have to assume a responsibility in educatingour legislators,” Baron said. In South Carolina, dentalstudents work closely with dental faculty and the S.C.Dental Association in participating in Dental LobbyDay at the S.C. State House. “I see myself as an oralhealth ambassador and it’s my goal to educate andimpress the importance of good practices for theprofession. Without sound politics, you cannot havesuccessful dentistry.”

“This experience was perfectfor me because it combined mypassion for politics and publicpolicy and helping people on agrassroots level.”

Jessica Baron

Jessica Baron, athird-year dentalstudent in the JamesB. Edwards Collegeof Dental Medicine,was recently nameda Pankey Scholar,which allowedher to attend itsannual meeting,Sept. 19 through22 in Orlando. While there, she learned aboutcomprehensive dentistry to maximize patient oralhealth.The Pankey Institute is a nonprofit educational

organization that is dedicated to assisting dentalprofessionals continues in mastering technicalskills and behavioral skills through dentaleducation programs. More than 21,000 dentistsand dental laboratory technicians and specialistshave attended its courses.

Baron aTTEnds PankEy insTiTuTE


By dawn Brazell

Public Relations

MUSC experts featured in NPR radio broadcasts

Though aging poses challenges in staying fit, thegreater concern is not facing the challenge, said

MUSC orthopaedist Shane Woolf.It’s a point Woolf, M.D., interim chief of sports

medicine in the Department of Orthopaedics atMUSC, makes in an upcoming NPR “Your Day”broadcast, where he sets the bar high – for good reason.

“Within reason, age is not a specific limiting factor,”Woolf said during taping. “George Foreman was achampion boxer in his mid 40s. Mariano Rivera isalmost 44 years old and a major league baseball pitcher.Competitive runners have been known to finish 5K andmarathon races into their 90s. It’s really all about goodhabits, consistency, managing health issues, knowingyour limitations and keeping it enjoyable.”

Whether exploring senior fitness or childhoodimmunizations, the “Your Day” program on NationalPublic Radio is featuring MUSC experts in segmentshosted by Bobbi Conner, known for her formernationwide, syndicated public radio program, “TheParent’s Journal.” The interviews air twice a monthevery other Monday on the radio program, which isbroadcast from noon to 1 p.m.

Woolf’s segment will be broadcast Dec. 9 and willcover the topic: “Keeping Fit and Preventing SportsInjuries for Adults.” Woolf explores in his segment howto stay active and avoid injuries and which activitiesmight be better for older adults. Physical activity,especially weight-bearing activities, are wonderful formaintaining and increasing bone mass, he said. Weightlifting within reasonable limits is effective as well aslight impact activity, such as walking, jogging, tennisand aerobics.

Woolf also explores nutrition, and how properhydration and supplements of calcium, vitamin D andphosphorous are important to strength and recoveryand play a role in maintaining blood pressure, heartand kidney function and bone health. “Appropriateadjustment of blood pressure and diabetes medicinesmight be necessary as fitness progresses,” he said.

The following are other upcoming MUSC segments.10/14/13 — Philip Saul, M.D.: “Common Pediatric

Heart Problems and Treatments”Saul is a professor of pediatrics, specializing in

pediatric cardiology. He also is the division directorfor pediatric cardiology at MUSC Children’s Hospitaland director of the Children’s Heart Program of SouthCarolina. His clinical specialty is management ofarrhythmias in children.

10/28/13 — Vanessa Hinson, M.D., Ph.D.:“Parkinson’s Disease (Treatment and ResearchUpdate)”

Hinson is an associate professor of neurology and thedirector of the Movement Disorders Program at MUSC.Hinson also is the chief of neurology services at theRalph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston.

11/11/13 Carolyn Jenkins, DrPH: “Managing Diabetes& Preventing Complications”

Jenkins, is a professor in the College of Nursing andis the principal investigator for REACH – a coalitionthat aims to prevent and control diabetes.

11/25/13 Julie Kanter, M.D.: “Sickle Cell DiseaseTreatment & Research”

Kanter is director of Sickle Cell Disease Research andassistant professor of hematology/oncology.

The S.C. Public Radio stations broadcasting the YourDay segments are: WRJA-FM/88.1 Sumter, WNSC-FM/88.9 Rock Hill, WLJK-FM/89.1 Aiken, WJWJ-FM/89.9 Beaufort, WHMC-FM/90.1, Conway, WSCI-FM/89.3 Charleston, WEPR-FM/90.1 Greenville andWLTR-FM/91.3 Columbia.

For the full list of archived broadcasts, visitacademicdepartments.musc.edu/podcast/archives/index.html.

Editor’s note: Story reprinted from MUSC’s News Center atwww.musc.edu/pr/newscenter.

photos by Dawn Brazell, Public RelationsRadio host Bobbi Conner (right) interviews Dr. Shane Woolf as part of a radio series withMSUC experts broadcast on NPR. Below, they prepare for the interview. For the full list ofarchived broadcasts, visit academicdepartments.musc.edu/podcast/archives/index.html.


F lu season is just around the corner and MUSCEmployee Health is preparing to fight this illness

among employees.Five to 20 percent of Americans contract influenza

yearly, and on average around 200,000 of them arehospitalized with the illness orcomplications related to thedisease. With an estimated 36,000deaths annually from influenza,and its complications, it is thenation’s eighth leading cause ofdeath.

The Centers for Disease Controland Prevention and the AdvisoryCommittee on ImmunizationPractices recommend that allhealth care workers get an annualflu vaccine. By getting vaccinatedthemselves, health care workerscan protect their health, theirfamily’s health and the health of their patients.

Flu vaccine is available for all MUSC employees andstudents. This year the compulsory influenza policyhas been updated to eliminate personal choice as areason for declination and eliminate mask wearing fornon-recipients. Religious reasons and medical reasons(history of paralyzing illness or allergy to eggs for thoseage 50 and older, a non-egg-based vaccine is availablefor those 49 and younger) are the only valid reasonsfor declination. Those who refuse the vaccine for otherreasons are at risk of termination of employment ortermination of volunteer or academic relationships.

This policy applies to the following: MUSC medicalcenter employees, trainees, students and visitingstudents, volunteers, contract staff, medical staff,temporary workers, medical residents, and volunteers.This applies whether paid or unpaid staff.

For fast and convenient service, employees areencouraged to receive the flu vaccine at one of thecampuswide satellites hosted by Employee HealthServices and Infection Control. Bring your MUSCID badge and your MUSC ID number (located in

My Records). Students may obtain the vaccine fromStudent Health Services, however agency and othernon-MUSC paid employees are not eligible. Forthe fastest service, bring a completed Flu VaccineConsent Form (available at mcintranet.musc.edu/ehs/Seasonal_Influenza_Vaccine_Consent_201314_Blank_ID_Required.pdf). Forms will also be available at theadministration site.

Flu shots during Wellness Wednesdays:Oct. 16: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., first floor, Ashley RiverTower; Oct. 30, Nov. 6, Nov. 20 and Dec. 4: 11 a.m. –1 p.m., university hospital.

Additional locations for employees: 4 – 7 a.m., AshleyRiver Tower and 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., EnvironmentalHealth Services.

Employee Wellness Eventsq MUSC Employee Fitness Series Class: Strength andConditioning, from 4:15 to 4:45 p.m., Wednesday, Oct.16 at the MUSC Fitness Park (behind Drug Discoveryon the grass) weather permitting.

Take 30 minutes to tone and strengthen lean musclesalong with a cardiovascular workout. This free class willbe led by fitness expert Katie Blaylock from the MUSCHuman Performance Lab. Free day-pass to MUSCWellness Center for all participants. Email [email protected] to register.

q The Hollings Cancer Center mobile van will beperforming digital mammograms for MUSC employeeson Oct. 16.

For appointment scheduling, call 792-0878. The vanwill be parked behind the Clyburn Research Plaza.

q Worksite screening: The next worksite screeningwill be held on Oct. 17, HE628H, Clinical SciencesBuilding.

This screening, valued at about $350, is available toemployees with the State Health Plan for $15 (coveredspouses can also participate for $15). Employees andspouses without this insurance can participate for

$42. The screening includes: height, weight, bloodpressure and a blood draw for a blood chemistry profile,hemogram, and a blood lipid profile. Optional thyroidpanel is available for $10. Add this test by alerting thestaff at the screening.

To register, go to musc.edu/employeewellness andclick “Worksite Screening Appointment.”

q Farmers markets: Fresh fruits and vegetables areavailable from local farmers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,Tuesdays in the Harborview Office Tower lobby; from8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday at AshleyRiver Tower; and from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday atthe Horseshoe. Look for new vendors at the Horseshoe.

MUSC Urban Farmq Lunch & Learn: The next Lunch and Learn will beheld from noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 17 under theoak tree. The topic is planting fall and winter greens.

q Work & Learns: 4 to 5 p.m.,Thursday

q Work and Learn with child-friendly activities – Firstand third Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m., Oc. 19. Bring aplastic bag and take home some fresh produce in returnfor work efforts or help gather for donations on certaindays. No experience or prior knowledge necessary.Open to all MUSC employees and students and thegeneral community. Families welcome on Saturdays.

q Early Bird Maintenance, 7:30 to 8:30 am., Oct. 16.

Contact Johnson at [email protected] for moreinformation on the Office of Health Promotion atMUSC and Suzan Benenson Whelan at [email protected] for specific information about Employee Wellness.

Events, speakers, classes, or other ideas are welcome.Find us on Facebook. Like the Employee WellnessFacebook page and keep up with all the wellness eventsat MUSC. To receive the weekly newsletters, email arequest to [email protected] for Wellness ThisWeek or [email protected] for Friends of the Farm.

Mandatory flu vaccines offered to hospital staff

MUSC’s Foundation for ResearchDevelopment welcomed Michael

Rusnak as executive director Oct. 1.With a diverse background in

technology transfer, Rusnak has morethan 25 years of life science experience,most recently as director of NewVentures and Technology Developmentwithin the technology transfer officeat the University of Rochester Medical

Center in New York.In his six-year tenure at Rochester, he

led efforts in life science licensing anddirected the university’s TechnologyDevelopment Fund and award process.He established numerous collaborationsto foster commercialization, furtherinvestments and advance drug discovery,including agreements with the MoulderCenter for Drug Discovery Research atTemple University, the Medical ResearchCouncil in the United Kingdom, Califia

Bio Inc., and Johnson & Johnson.Previous to Rochester, Rusnak was

an entrepreneur-in-residence withBCM Technologies Inc., the venturesubsidiary of Baylor College of Medicine,where he was involved in starting andincubating more than five spinoffcompanies from the medical school. Heheld senior positions in biotechnologybusiness development with CerosPharmaceuticals, CombiChem andLexicon Genetics, among others, where

he was involved in more than $100million of partnering activity in theareas of drug discovery, combinatorialchemistry and genomics. Prior toLexicon he held various positions inmarketing, sales and project managementwith Baxter, Bayer, and Cetus.

Rusnak received his master’s degreein clinical science and lab managementfrom San Francisco State University andhas a bachelor’s degree in microbiologyfrom St. Bonaventure University.

Staff Report

MUSC names new head for Foundation for Research Development

Healthat workSusan Johnson


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The Office of thePresident is acceptingnominations for peopleto receive honorarydegrees from MUSC,to be awarded atCommencement in May.

In general, degreesgo to individuals in thefollowing categories:Contribution(s) to thenation; Contribution(s)to science; andContribution(s) to thestate or MUSC.

Consider submittingnominations of candidatesalong with supportingmaterials, in the abovementioned categories.

The nominationsshould be forwarded toMarcia Higaki, Office ofthe President, ColcockHall, 179 Ashley Ave.,MSC 001, [email protected], no later thanOct. 25. Nominationsof MUSC alumni aregenerally discouraged.

Nominations being accepted


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