After a long day seeing patients at the hospital, Dr. Ian Ross unwinds by letting his thoughts and feelings run wild across a page – releasing all the stress of the day into a safe space.

“It’s almost become a therapeutic process for me – it helps me to process how I feel about things,” said Ross, an internal medicine hospitalist with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Doing patient care 100% of the time can make you feel drained. Writing absolutely revitalizes me.”

Before medical school, Ross’s hobbies included music, sketching and acting – outlets for his creative energy that he really misses as a doctor. When he arrived at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center last summer, he heard about Penn State Health Physician Writers Group and was immediately intrigued.

Kimberly Myers, who holds a doctorate in literature and is a professor of humanities and medicine at Penn State College of Medicine, began the group as a way for doctors to pursue creative writing for publication in scholarly journals.

At twice-monthly meetings, Myers discusses the literary elements of different genres – anything from poetry to personal reflection essays – and then participants write an original work and send it to their colleagues for review before the group meets again for critiques. They revise their work and, at the end of five meetings, have a portfolio of pieces to submit for publication.

From left, Dr. Nitasa Sahu and Dr. Samer Muallem concentrate as Dr. Ajay Soni shares his original piece of writing.

More than two dozen doctors have participated in the groups and published more than 40 pieces collectively in impressive places such as Journal of the American Medicine Association, New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology and other general and specialty medical publications.

“It’s very gratifying to see these doctors, who have accomplished phenomenal things in the medical field, become excited about publishing creative work on their experiences with patients and their own inner lives,” Myers said. “They find a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment in a domain they never expected.”

Being part of the group allows doctors to tap into another dimension of their personality – the human side – that can benefit not only themselves but their patients, said Dr. Joseph Gascho, cardiologist at Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute, prolific poet and member of the first Physician Writers Group.

“We can sometimes be too clinical, too scientific, and part of that is self-preservation, but the humanities – learning to listen and take in – is so important and helps you to understand people,” he said. “There is so much more to medicine than science – the older I get, the more I realize that.”

Gascho, who has had some 50 poems and prose pieces published in medical journals and whose first book of original poetry came out in 2017, said poetry gets at the ambiguities of medicine and helps him process on paper the gray areas for which he never finds answers in the exam room.

“It’s a way that I wrestle with things,” he said. “I like the terseness of expression with poetry, the way you can distill down the essence of things to an ‘aha’ way of thinking.”

The New Jersey-based Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which champions the human connection in health care, collaborated with the Physician Writers Group to produce a webinar. Penn State College of Medicine is a member of the Gold Partners Council, a group of medical schools and health systems that are leaders of humanism in health care and actively support the Gold Foundation’s mission. “The Gold Foundation is interested in highlighting innovative, impressive examples of engagement in humanistic practices by members of the Gold Partners Council, and Gold staff identified the Penn State Physician Writers Group as a perfect example,” said Pia Pyne Miller, senior director of strategy and business development for the Gold Foundation.

The foundation plans to distribute the webinar through its website, social media and the Gold Partners Council network, making it a resource for other humanistic institutions.

In the webinar, Myers gives an overview of the group, and 13 physicians share their writing.

Ross, who joined the Physician Writers Group last year, wrote about something he knew well – the loss of his creative side as he concentrated on becoming a physician. The words came easily, but when it came time to share it, courage did not.

“It was deeply, deeply personal – and I didn’t know if it was any good either,” Ross said with a chuckle. “Kimberly was so supportive and gave me great feedback on ways to improve.” It was that piece Ross read for the webinar audience.

Doctors who have participated in Physician Writers Group cohorts, many of whom continue to share their works with Myers and each other, credit her for inspiring them and ultimately making them better doctors.

From left, Dr. Eileen Moser, Dr. Jose Stoute, Dr. Nitasa Sahu and Dr. Samer Muallem look on as Kimberly Myers, her back to the camera, begins a Physician Writers Group workshop.

Dr. Thomas Ma, chair of the College of Medicine’s Department of Medicine, believes in the therapeutic value of creativity so much that his department funds part of Myers’ time to facilitate the group.

“One of the top issues physicians face is burnout. It’s never been higher, with 60 percent of physicians nationwide exhibiting symptoms such as not wanting to go to work, depression, lack of engagement, substance abuse and ultimately leaving the profession early,” Ma said. Penn State Health’s internal research shows that its physicians align with these national trends. Ma’s goal is to cut the rate here by half, he said.

The Physician Writers Group allows reflective thinking, which has a positive impact on emotions and well-being, Ma said.

“I also think it helps them become more patient-centric and see a bigger picture that they may have forgotten because they are so wrapped up in day-to-day demands,” he said. “Any opportunity for me to help physicians use their creativity is a huge positive for our department, the college and the individual.”

See the Webinar

Watch the webinar here

The Joy of Medicine

This poem, by Dr. Joseph Gascho, was named Poem of the Year in 2014 by the Annals of Internal Medicine.

It’s about the man
who pilgrimages to Talladega every October
because you stented his widow maker
and the couple
celebrating their 60th
who asked everybody to stand up and clap
when you walked in to the VFW hall
and the time you were in the shower
and you thought about
what the wordy lady told you in the office
the day before
and you ordered the blood test
and prescribed the right pill
and all was well
and it would not have been

and looking back now
believe it or not
it’s answering the stat page
at the Little League game
in the bottom of the 5th
right before
Maggie hit the ball to right field
and slid into third with a triple
and leaving the warm bed
with the candles burning
to speed to the ED
to sew up the drunk’s aorta
and when you got home
she was sleeping

but most of all
it is about the long haul trucker
who runs to Reno
twice a week
who doesn’t know
he should be dead
but you do.

Dr. Ajay Soni, left, considers Kimberly Myers’ editing suggestions.

The following email was sent on Oct. 18 behalf of Charles Ulinfun, director of safety, and Lynette Chappell-Williams, chief diversity officer and associate dean for diversity and inclusion:

During the winter months, a number of cultural and religious observances take place. While these are opportunities for celebration, it is also a time to be mindful of safety and respectful of the diverse cultures that are represented by our patients, workforce and learners.

Safety Requirements

1. All decorations should be of non-combustible material.
2. Flammable decorations, such as baled or loose straw, dry corn stalks, natural trees or similar materials are prohibited.
3. Decorations and related objects in corridors/exits, corridor doors, on exit signs, or on any fire detection or protection device, such as smoke detectors, heat detectors, and sprinkler heads are prohibited. Vision panels (windows) in doors shall not be covered or otherwise obstruct the ability to clearly see what is on the opposite side of the door.
4. No decorations shall be hung from the ceiling.
5. Artificial trees should be selected carefully, as plastic and metallic trees can burn. If used, select the type clearly marked as made of slow-burning materials.
6. Aluminum trees should be lighted by indirect lighting since these trees may be a shock hazard if lighting strings are used.
7. Do not use extension cords to light trees.
8. Turn off all tress and other decorative lighting when leaving the area for the day.

Inclusive Guidelines

1. Recognize that not all patients, employees and learners participate in the same holiday observances, so for public or shared spaces, think of ways to be more inclusive.
2. When displaying holiday decorations, be sensitive to other observances besides Christmas that occur during the winter holiday season, such as Yule and Hanukkah.
3. Consider displaying religiously neutral decorations in public areas where others, particularly patients, may be impacted and when displaying trees or wreaths, consider using secular decorations, such as snowflakes.

Please refer to the Decorations Policy FP-14SPM for other requirements. If you should have questions about the safety information, please contact the Department of Safety at 717-531-7297. Questions about the inclusion information can be directed to the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at 717-531-1012.

Penn State Health will provide an opportunity for people to drop off their unwanted, unneeded or expired medication for safe disposal this Saturday, Oct. 26. The health system will host Prescription Drug Take Back events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the following locations:

• Academic Support Building, 90 Hope Dr., Hershey
• Penn State Medical Group — Nyes Road
• Penn State Health Medical Group — Palmyra

In addition to medication, needles and syringes will be accepted. No items will be accepted prior to 10 a.m. Twenty-four-hour drop-off boxes are also available at police stations.

The events are being held in partnership with the Derry Township, Lower Paxton Township and North Londonderry Township police departments. Similar events are taking place across the U.S. on Saturday, designated National Prescription Drug Take Back Day by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Holding onto expired medications can lead to a range of problems. For example, such medications can become ineffective as the chemical composition of drugs may change over time, making them less potent or possibly even harmful. Getting rid of the drugs eliminates the temptation to self-medicate using someone else’s prescriptions. Also, children who find the medications could accidentally harm themselves.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health will require practitioners to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled substances starting Thursday, Oct. 24.

Act 96 of 2018, passed into law on Oct. 24, 2018, eliminates paper prescriptions for all Schedule II through V drugs, which includes morphine, Adderall, Ritalin, oxycodone and many others. Exceptions include prescriptions for patients residing in nursing homes or residential health care facilities or technological failures that prevent e-prescriptions.

Officials hope the new requirement will not only be more efficient and improve the quality of patient care but also reduce fraud and help combat the opioid epidemic.

“I’m excited about this requirement primarily because it improves patient satisfaction,” said Dwayne Gallagher, manager of the pharmacy informatics team at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Patients and providers no longer have to coordinate patient pickup of a paper prescription, and in most cases, the prescription should be filled when the patient arrives at the pharmacy.”

Dr. Kristina Newport of the Palliative Care Center at Hershey Medical Center, agrees. “This makes a real difference in the lives of our patients ― particularly the ones with severe cancer-related pain who should not be wasting their time driving around picking up prescriptions.”

Other benefits include facilitating opioid stewardship, Gallagher said. “If I am writing a paper script for a sick patient, I’ll want to make sure they have enough medication. With e-prescriptions, I can prescribe smaller amounts knowing I can easily order more if necessary.”

Reducing the number of pills dispensed also reduces the risk of patient dependency and leftover medication falling into the wrong hands, Gallagher said.

“I sent my first controlled med script via the new e-prescribing protocol, and it was super easy,” said Dr. Sarah Nickolich at Penn State Health Medical Group ― Nyes Road Family Practice.

Find more information and resources on the ePrescribing page on the Infonet.

Penn State College of Medicine graduate students and postdoctoral scholars learned about career options in the biomedical sciences and public health through a series of educational and networking events in Hershey.

From left are Erika Dahl, Career Day co-chair; Michael True, facilitator and president of INTRUEITION; and Angela Snyder, Career Day co-chair, during the Graduate Education Etiquette Dinner on Oct. 18, 2019.

At the 10th biennial Graduate and Postdoctoral Career Day on Oct. 19, 94 students and postdocs explored a variety of career options. The Career Day co-chairs, PhD candidates Erika Dahl and Angela Snyder, organized the event with guidance from Career Services.

Forty-one panelists shared their career experiences in education, research, policy, communications, business and administration. Penn State alumni comprised nearly half of the panelists and represented the College of Medicine, University Park and Harrisburg.

College of Medicine employee and alumna Alicia Hoke participated as a panelist and discussed her work with Penn State PRO Wellness and the Staffing, Mentorship and Research Training (SMaRT) program.

The next Career Day is scheduled for October 2021. For details, contact Jessica Kirkwood at jlk296@psu.edu or 717-531-5467.

Learn more about other career-development programs for graduate students here.

Larry Mylin, Penn State College of Medicine alumnus and professor of biology at Messiah College, second from left, discusses his experiences during the teaching intensive panel at Career Day on Oct. 19. Joining him were, from left, alumna Shannon Nowotarski, Cary Leung, and alumna Melissa Carroll. Kelly Leon, PhD candidate, served as moderator.

Oct. 21, 2019, was International Pronouns Day, and Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine’s LGBTQ and Allies Affinity Resource Network Group supported the cause on Oct. 16 by staffing tables in the lobbies of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the Academic Support Building and Crystal A Drive for two hours at lunchtime.

A group from the LGBTQ and Allies group is seen with the International Pronouns Day informational table at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Group members staffing the tables shared “Ask Me About My Pronouns” buttons, as well as buttons listing pronouns such as He/Him, She/Her and They/Them. Staffers were able to hold more than 90 meaningful conversations about personal pronouns and provided handouts about why they important and how to respectfully ask for them, as well as links to resources such as The MyPronouns website and tips for including pronouns in email signatures.

One goal of the event was to educate people about gender-inclusive language overall. For instance, instead of walking into a room and saying “Hey, guys,” or showing appreciation by saying “Thank you, sir,” a phrase such as “Hello, everyone” or “Thanks very much; I appreciate it” can help avoid potential misgendering and exclusion of certain groups.

For details on the LGBTQ and Allies Affinity Resource Network Group, email lgbt@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

The Academic Support Building lobby was one of three places where LGBTQ and Allies affinity group members shared information for International Pronouns Day.

Bill Krenz and Joan Concilio shared information at the Crystal A building for International Pronouns Day.

Fad diets and exercise routines seem to come and go as often as the refrigerator calls out to people looking to lose a few pounds.

The latest method gaining traction in some circles is intermittent fasting. Rather than restricting how much food you eat or cutting out entire food groups, this way of eating limits consumption to certain days or times of day.

Dr. Christopher Sciamanna, an internal medicine physician at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said there are two methods of intermittent fasting.

The first is something like the 5-2 plan, where you eat normally for five days, but then consume only a quarter of your normal daily calories two days of the week.

“It’s the weekend warrior version of dieting,” he said. “You just eat a couple of avocados for the whole day and that’s it.”

Those he knows who have tried this method haven’t been able to sustain it.

“When people fast for long periods, the first two days are the hardest. Then, oddly, it gets easier,” he said. “With this method, you are always restarting those two hard days.”

Sciamanna said the 5-2 method could even be dangerous for those who take medication to lower their blood sugar: “If you think you’re going to skate by on 500 calories a day, you might be asking for trouble. You can get ill very fast.”

The other method is time-restricted feeding, where you consume all of your calories for the day within a 6-, 7- or 8-hour window rather than spread out over 12 or 14 hours.

Sciamanna said a study of time-restricted feeding done in past year looked very promising.

“It looked like for people with diabetes, it might help with insulin resistance,” he said. “Also, there is really good evidence that insulin is the signal to store calories as fat, so in theory, if your insulin level is lower over the course of the day, that might be enough to lose weight by itself.”

Although intermittent fasting may be the hot new thing, Sciamanna points out that most articles on the subject don’t point out how little evidence there is to endorse the practice.

“Until there is good science behind it, I don’t think these are smart,” he said. “If you are going to do something that hasn’t been studied much, you are your own guinea pig, and I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

He said the key is to find a way to eat fewer calories without being miserable so you can sustain long-term change.

He often recommends that his patients focus on eating foods that have fewer calories per ounce so they can consume about a pound of food at each meal without overdoing it on calories.

That will keep them satiated and provide enough energy. “You can’t possibly do this without optimizing fruits and vegetables in your diet,” he said. “You can hide vegetables in soups and sauces and you don’t even notice.”

Related Content:

• Chris Sciamanna: Designing Healthy Habits (YouTube channel)
• The Medical Minute: Small changes can make big progress in preventing childhood obesity
• The Medical Minute: Lifestyle determines success after surgical weight loss
• The Medical Minute: Obesity numbers headed in wrong direction

The Medical Minute is a weekly health news feature produced by Penn State Health. Articles feature the expertise of faculty, physicians and staff, and are designed to offer timely, relevant health information of interest to a broad audience.

Dr. John Repke retired as professor and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in 2017, and one of his final acts after 15 years of service was to establish an annual lectureship to continue to enhance education in the field. Thanks to Repke’s leadership gift, a matching contribution from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and gifts from other faculty, alumni and friends totaling more than $100,000, the John T. Repke, MD, FACOG Lectureship in Maternal Fetal Medicine will be presented for the first time this month.

The lectureship honors Repke’s years of service and particular expertise in high-risk pregnancy, preeclampsia and hypertension and medical complications of pregnancy. It will provide an annual forum for students, residents and faculty to learn from prominent physicians working and researching in these specialty areas and the general field of women’s health.

“We are thankful for Dr. Repke’s generosity and support, which will contribute significantly to our ability to provide outstanding care to our patients, enhance the learning experiences of our residents, students and faculty, and stimulate scholarly activities,” said Dr. Kevin Black, interim dean of Penn State College of Medicine. “Leadership support from emeritus faculty like Dr. Repke sets an inspiring example for others to follow and illustrates an ongoing commitment to nurturing our learners and influencing patient care.”

Dr. Errol Norwitz, Louis E. Phaneuf Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, will present the inaugural John T. Repke, MD, FACOG Lecture at 4 p.m. Oct. 30, 2019, in Lecture Room C at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey. The lecture is free and open to the public, with a light reception to follow. See details and add the event to your calendar here.

The gifts from Repke and others to establish the Repke Lecture will advance “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship.

To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.

To join in supporting the Repke Lecture, visit engage.pennstatehealth.org/Repke.

Penn State Health managers and employees just completed the 2019 Performance and Goals cycle. Now it’s time to look ahead to organizational and individual performance goals for 2020.

All managers and employees should have their goals entered into myHR via Pulse/Lawson no later than Saturday, Nov. 2.

All employees are required to have a minimum of one goal:

• Access: From Infonet, log into Pulse/Lawson, myHR and choose tab “Manage Goals.”
• Goals must appear on the ACTIVE tab in myHR
• Goals should meet the SMART model:
  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Relevant
  • Time-bound

To help you manage goals and performance throughout the year, managers should visit Compass for manager resources and online content on SMART goals. To access tools and resources for entering goals, setting SMART goals, managers and employees can visit mySolutions from the Infonet and search “Performance and Goals.”

 Questions? Visit mySolutions from the Infonet or call 717-531-8440.

With just one day of the United Way campaign to go, generous employees have donated $316,924, which is 83% percent of the final goal of $380,000.

United Way programs address the root causes of the community’s most pressing issues, improving conditions for people who want a better life but don’t know how to make it happen. More than 98 percent of the funds United Way of the Capital Region raises go directly to local services, including access to health care, employment and education, plus meeting basic needs of individuals and families, including food, shelter and clothing.

How to Donate

Penn State Health employees can access the United Way system and make a pledge or donation at inspired2give.org. College of Medicine employees were sent pledge materials, including the 2019 Green Pledge Cards, through interoffice mail.

Give and receive

Any Penn State Health or Penn State College of Medicine employee who contributes at least $182 ($7 per pay or $3.50 per week) to the Penn State Health United Way campaign will be eligible to win one of the following prizes:

• Preferred parking on the Hershey campus
• Hershey Medical Center suite at Giant Center events
• Hershey Bears Hockey tickets
• Hersheypark tickets for 2020 season
• York Revolution baseball tickets

Employees also will be eligible for United Way of the Capital Region’s raffle prizes:

• A new 2020 Kia Soul S donated by Turner Automotive. Approximate value: $22,000.
• $1,500 AAA Travel giveaway for a cruise or tour of your choice
• $1,500 in groceries from Giant Food Stores
• $1,000 Visa gift card from Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospitals

Weekly Quick Hits recaps announcements and events from The Daily Brief email. Check your email inbox for more.

Have an item to be featured in Quick Hits? Email news@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Bot Protection Available

Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s data collection and storage tool, REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture), now offers an option to protect against the malicious software known as bots from completing fraudulent surveys. When completing a survey, users will complete a Completely Automated Public Turing Test (CAPTCHA), which uses images or audio that require human interaction. Without this feature, bots can complete a large number of surveys automatically. To learn how to enable CAPTCHA, visit here. To learn more about REDCap, visit here.

Electronic Prescriptions Required

The Pennsylvania Department of Health will require practitioners to issue electronic prescriptions for controlled substances starting Thursday, Oct. 24. Act 96 of 2018 eliminates paper prescriptions for all Schedule II through V drugs, which includes morphine, Adderall, Ritalin, oxycodone and many others. Officials hope the new requirement will not only be more efficient and improve the quality of patient care but also reduce fraud and help combat the opioid epidemic. Read more.

Holiday Decoration Guidelines

As the holiday season approaches, Penn State Health employees are reminded to decorate their workspaces in ways that are both safe and respectful of the system’s diverse cultures. Charles Ulinfun, director of safety, and Lynette Chappell-Williams, chief diversity officer and associate dean for diversity and inclusion, offer suggestions on how to decorate safely and sensitively.

PEOPLE

Legro named to National Academy of Medicine

The National Academy of Medicine elected 100 new members on Oct. 21 — including Dr. Richard Legro, University Chair and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Penn State College of Medicine. Election to the National Academy of Medicine is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. Read more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

“Caring for Individuals with Disabilities”

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will host “Caring for Individuals with Disabilities,” an interactive session with Nancy Lokey of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation on best practices for providing care to people with disabilities. The event is Friday, Oct. 25, 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the College of Medicine, C4618. Zoom ID: 427832605. Register here. 

Prescription Drug Take-Back

Penn State Health will host three community Prescription Drug Take-Back events on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

• Academic Support Building, 90 Hope Dr., Hershey
• Penn State Medical Group — Nyes Road
• Penn State Health Medical Group — Palmyra

People may drop off their unwanted, unneeded or expired medication for safe disposal. Needles and syringes will be accepted. No items will be accepted prior to 10 a.m. Twenty-four-hour drop-off boxes are also available at police stations. Find out more. 

“Living with AFib”

Health care professionals from Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute will present “Living with AFib,” a discussion about atrial fibrillation symptoms, monitoring and the latest treatments, on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6 to 7:30 pm. at the University Fitness Center in Hershey. Register by calling 717-531-3907 or emailing your name(s), address, phone number and the number of people attending to rgage@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Community Mammogram Night

Penn State Health Breast Center will host a Community Mammogram Night Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 4:40 to 8 p.m. at 30 Hope Drive, Hershey. Women age 40 or older are invited to register at 1-800-243-1455.

Social Determinants Panel Discussion

Penn State Health will join Better Care America, the educational arm of the Association of Health Insurance Plans, and Highmark in hosting a panel discussion on the social determinants of health Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University Conference Center, Room 302 A. Speakers are Dr. Eugene Lengerich, Penn State, associate director, health disparities and engagement; Barbara Gray, Highmark Health senior vice president, social determinants of health; and Nora Carreras, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, special advisor to the secretary. Lunch is provided.

Repke Lecture

Dr. Errol Norwitz, the Louis E. Phaneuf Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, will present “A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Endometrium: The Answers to Life, the Universe, and Everything” on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 4 to 5 p.m. at Penn State College of Medicine Lecture Room C. The lecture is the Inaugural Dr. John T. Repke Lectureship in Maternal Fetal Medicine. Read more.

Plant-based Cooking Demonstration

Join Compass Sous Chef Marisa Katkocin and PRO Wellness Dietitian Kara Bowers for a cooking demonstration about plant-based eating. The event is Monday, Nov. 11 from noon to 12:30 p.m. at the College of Mediciine, C7619. Register here.

Biostatistics Lecture

Heather Stuckey-Peyrot, associate professor of medicine, public health sciences and humanities, will present “Qualitative Analysis” at the next Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design Research Methods Seminar Series. This seminar will be on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 4 to 5 p.m. at H4504 (Clinical Research Center) at Penn State College of Medicine. It will also be streamed to 116 Henderson, University Park and stream online. Register here by 5 p.m. on Nov. 11.

Nineteen nurses from Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State Children’s Hospital were recognized for outstanding patient care and professional achievements at the 11th annual Fall Nursing Awards Luncheon on Oct. 23.

The recipients will use the awards, which ranged from $500 to $4,000, to further their academic education, attend a professional nursing conference, pursue innovation or achieve community-based goals. A total of $32,000 was distributed.

“We’re pleased to have this opportunity to recognize our colleagues as they continue their pursuit of nursing excellence,” said Judy Himes, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Hershey Medical Center. “We’re proud of what they have achieved and wish them continued success.”

The monetary awards are funded by hospital donors and established nursing endowments. Two of the awards were established in memory of previous patients. Multiple donors attended the Nursing Awards event.

The following nurses were recognized:

Jay C. Graff Oncology Nursing Excellence Award

• Rebecca Stoltzfus, Penn State Cancer Institute, Inpatient Unit

Jeanne Donlevy Arnold Nursing Award

• Judy Dillon, Penn State Health Community Relations

Elizabeth Powers Carlino Nursing Excellence Scholarship Award

• Brittany Harmon, Surgery Specialties
• Julie Tomko, 3 Pediatric Acute Care
• Mihyun Jang, Operating Room
• Leah Holmberg, Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit
• Iramis Castro, Perianesthesia
• Natalie DeSantis, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Samantha Tew, Heart and Vascular Institute Critical Care Unit
• Amanda Barr, Pediatric Acute Care
• Christine Burfete, Nursing Education and Professional Development
• Jill Arnold, NICU

Lois Weninger Forney Nursing Excellence Award

• Erin Sarsfield, Penn State Cancer Institute
• Allison Groff, Pediatric Acute Care

Ian and Eileen Zagon Award for Excellence In Nursing

• Lynnette Jones, Emergency Department Observation Unit

Lipson Nursing Innovation Award

• Miriam Yattasaye, Operating Room

Jim George, director of community relations, sent the following email on Thursday to Penn State Health employees:

As some of you may know, Judy Dillon, director of community health at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, plans to retire after 22 years of service.

Judy has been the face of our community health and outreach initiatives since the Department of Community Health was created seven years ago. Her many accomplishments include leading our Community Health Needs Assessments, starting a drive-through flu shot program in underserved communities and assisting the Lebanon School District with student health assessments.

Ashley Visco, manager of case management with Penn State Health Medical Group, will replace Dillon as community health director. Ashley will join the Community Relations Team on Oct. 28 to begin the transition. Larry Rower, manager of diabetes education, will be covering Ashley’s former role on an Interim basis.

We’re confident Ashley will continue to grow our community health initiatives as our health system expands its reach in the region, and we look forward to working with her.

Ashley received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Her experience in healthcare spans multiple systems, inpatient, outpatient, state insurance companies and military treatment facilities.

She joined Penn State Health in August 2014 as the ambulatory social worker for family and community medicine and internal medicine. In that role, she helped prove the concept of adding social work to the patient-centered medical home.

In 2016, Ashley was promoted to manager of outpatient case management, where she increased the team size from six full-time nurses and social workers to 24 registered nurses, licensed practice nurses, social workers and ancillary staff. This team provides outpatient case management to more than 60 ambulatory practice sites.

Among Ashley’s many achievements is helping to create an Emergency Food Insecurity Program. Ashley worked with the community health director of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and the Salvation Army to launch the educational and resource-based program and Emergency Food Box initiative. The program anticipates assisting 1,000 families this year.

Ashley also boosted Transitional Care Management revenue more than 200 percent by improving processes and workflows. Additionally, she instituted an organization-wide Health Literacy Program and screening process to improve communication between health care professionals and patients.

We’re planning a retirement celebration for Judy and will let you know the details. Please join me in wishing Judy a happy retirement and welcoming Ashley to the team.

Sincerely,

Jim George,

Director of Community Relations

Erin Davidowicz, a fourth-year medical student at Penn State College of Medicine, was one of eight students selected nationwide to participate in the American Psychiatric Association’s Medical Student Elective in HIV Psychiatry.

The program, which included a three-day training intensive in Washington, D.C., with pioneers in the field of HIV psychiatry, gave Davidowicz firsthand experience in understanding the unique challenges faced by patients with certain conditions.

During her undergraduate studies, she studied global health and how social stigma and economic status dictate health outcomes in patient populations – a passion that extended into her medical school years.

“I’ve always been interested in how marginalization contributes to a patient’s experience of disease,” Davidowicz said. “My research and community advocacy has focused on underserved communities, including women of color and the LGBTQ population.”

Davidowicz traveled to San Francisco, where she was able to work with these populations under the guidance of a mentor. She gained new insight into patient care by participating in important conversations with patients.

“My most transformative experience was learning to communicate with patients who may have complex histories,” Davidowicz said. “I sometimes discovered their biggest challenge was not the one that may have been immediately evident. Working with them has helped me to understand how critical it is to put the health of patients into context.”

Davidowicz hopes to continue her education in a psychiatry residency program and help underserved populations through research and education.

“There’s not a lot of research in the field of HIV psychiatry,” Davidowicz said. “There is a lot of progress to be made. It was inspiring to see it happen in front of my eyes during this elective program.”

Medical students can find more information about the elective on the American Psychiatric Association website.

Each year, more than five million central venous catheters (CVCs) are placed in a large vein in the neck, chest or groin to provide patients with fluids, blood or medications. The thin, flexible tubes empty their contents into or close to the heart, providing almost immediate treatment. Of these five million patients, close to 1.7 million experience some sort of complication related to the catheter insertion — one in every three patients.

A Penn State-led, multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research team aims to develop an innovative robotic training system to reduce the number of complications associated with CVC placement. 

Through a five-year, $2,233,411 grant recently awarded by the National Institute of Health’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, principal investigators Jason Moore, PhD, MS, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Scarlett Miller, PhD, associate professor of engineering design and industrial engineering, will lead a team of engineers, medical professionals and graduate students to build upon their previous dynamic haptic CVC work supported by the NIH.

Co-investigators include the project’s lead medical doctor, David Han, MD, MSc, professor of surgery and radiology at Penn State College of Medicine; Elizabeth “Lisa” Sinz, MD, MEd, associate dean for clinical simulation at Penn State College of Medicine and professor of anesthesiology, critical care medicine and neurosurgery; and Philip Ng, medical director of the Procedure Center and Vascular Access Services at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.

The new project will use the team’s innovative concept of dynamic haptic robotic training (DHRT), where a programmable robot is used to apply force to a surgical resident’s hand to replicate the feeling of inserting a needle into a patient’s body, to develop and implement an entire CVC procedural training system.

Learn more about the project in this Penn State News story.

The Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa., welcomes Aleksandra Zgierska, MD, PHD, DFASAM, as its new vice chair for research.

Aleksandra Zgierska, MD, PHD, DFASAM, is joining Penn State College of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine as vice chair for research. Dr. Zgierska is a family medicine and addiction medicine physician whose work blends primary and specialty addiction care with education and research centered on reducing opioid-related harms.

She pursued her interest during a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded fellowship program in clinical research and completed a pilot study, which enabled her to compete successfully in 2009 for a NIH-funded K23 Career Development Award. Since that time, her research has focused on developing, testing and implementing innovative therapies to address two substantial public health challenges – addiction and opioid-treated chronic non-cancer pain. These therapies include the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation and ways to reduce opioid-related harms by improving opioid prescribing practices and increasing patient access to addiction care.

She has grown her research program as principal investigator or project director for studies funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the U.S. Department of Justice and the Pfizer Corporation and focused on improving outcomes in those affected by addiction or opioid-treated pain. She has participated as co-investigator or consultant on 10 other funded grants, collaborating across disciplines with colleagues at University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Medicine and Public Health, School of Nursing and departments of psychology and industrial engineering, and with colleagues from other institutions.

Since the beginning of 2012, these efforts have resulted in nine first-authored and 15 collaborative publications published in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Zgierska is attending the North American Primary Care Research Group Annual Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where one of her trainees will present a poster Nov. 19 on “Relief for Back Pain: A Qualitative Study of What Helps People with Opioid-Treated Chronic Low Back Pain.”

David Rabago, MD, is joining Penn State College of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine as vice chair for faculty development. Dr. Rabago is a family medicine physician whose work blends clincal care, teaching and research.

Dr. Rabago is a family medicine physician who, after graduating medical school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pursued a one-year post-graduate research year in epidemiological research at UW’s Department of Population Health.

During his residency, he continued to pursue both clinical medicine and clinical research, completing a randomized controlled trial of nasal irrigation for sinusitis.

Dr. Rabago maintains a full-spectrum continuity and teaching practice, and his research now focuses on assessing prolotherapy for chronic musculoskeletal pain and on nasal saline irrigation for upper respiratory conditions.

Dr. Rabago is leading an oral presentation Nov. 17 at the North American Primary Care Research Group Annual Conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on “Pilot Study of Platelet Rich Plasma Injections for Knee OA: Feasibility, Self-Reported and Objectively Assessed Outcomes (Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology).”

He is also the lead author of a poster to be presented the same day on “Improvement in Discharge Efficiency through Pharmacist/Resident Co-location and Discharge Meetings.”

Get help with selecting the benefits plan that’s right for you and your family at the Penn State Health Wellness Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Penn State College of Medicine, C362.

Penn State Health’s annual benefits open enrollment period is Oct. 23 through Nov. 6. Not making any changes to your plan this year? Attend the Wellness Fair to learn about all the great wellness resources available to you and your family.

Wellness Fair Highlights

• Talk with vendors: Highmark, Allstate, Nationwide, Bright Horizons, Employee Health, Merrill Lynch and PRO Wellness.
• Ask questions of Penn State Health benefits specialists about selecting a plan.
• Register to attend a terrarium relaxation session. Employees must register in advance. Learn more at mySolutions or refer to the 2020 Open Enrollment Newsletter for more information (newsletter also posted on mySolutions).
• Attend Resiliency through Art workshop.
• Get a free chair massage.
• Enter a raffle for prizes like a Fitbit Versa smartwatch, Fitbit Charge 3 fitness tracker, Hidrate Spark smart water bottles and tickets to the Penn State vs. Rutgers football game.

Penn State Health St. Joseph Wellness Fair

St. Joseph employees can attend their Wellness Fair Thursday, Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the hospital’s Franciscan A&B Rooms.

Can’t make a Wellness Fair?

The Penn State Health online Virtual Benefits Fair is available 24/7 to all Penn State Health employees and their families. Visit via your personal computer, tablet or mobile phone. Visit vendors online, explore all the benefits and wellness resources available and access how-to videos and recorded town hall presentations – all online. The Virtual Benefits Fair includes a live chat feature that allows you to ask questions and chat with a representative from Allstate and Highmark in real time.

Visit mySolutions to learn more or call 717-531-8440 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Penn State College of Medicine and Penn State Health wrapped up its 2019 United Way campaign on Oct. 25. The final fundraising total will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 14. The winners of the Penn State Health and United Way incentive prizes will be announced on Jan. 2. The United Way parking spaces will be available to winners beginning Feb. 1, 2020.

“I would like to personally thank everyone who made a pledge or donation, as well as those who volunteered their time or attended fundraising events,” said Penn State Health CEO Steve Masssini. “I’m proud of the team spirit and individual generosity of our employees and faculty who answered the call of service to our community.”

The funds will be used to help central Pennsylvania families access better health care, education, jobs and basic needs.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

~ Poet Maya Angelou

From chaplain and guest services to patient transport and trauma surgery, more than 100 Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center employees were recognized for outstanding service to patients at the fifth annual Lion Care and Cubby Care Awards ceremony on Oct. 23. The Patient- and Family-Centered Care Advisory Councils sponsored the event at the Hershey Lodge.

Friendly, personable, approachable and compassionate are just a few of the adjectives patients used to describe this year’s recipients.

One nominee said this of her nurse: “She took the time to get to know me, not my diagnosis or my medical record number. To her I was a human being, and I mattered.”

An expectant couple shared the “worst 48 hours of our lives” when they learned their daughter’s heart had stopped beating. “My family and I were all blessed to have been admitted to a hospital with such compassionate and professional staff. It was clear the third floor as a whole had taken great care and planning in how to accommodate the passing of our daughter. Please never question what you do or how you touch families.”

The following individuals and groups were celebrated:

Individual awards

• Alan Adelman, Family and Community Medicine
• Vamsi Alli, Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Rosa Alonso-Cortes, Patient- and Family-Centered Care
• Natallia Andrews, 5 Acute Care
• Robert Atnip, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute
• Khislat Azizov, Medical Intensive Care
• Greg Baiocchi, Four Diamonds Social Work
• Erin Banonis, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute – Critical Care
• Amanda Barr, Pediatric Acute Care
• Heather Barrett, Surgical-Anesthesia Intensive Care
• Shayla Barton, Penn State Health Provider and Patient Access Services Revenue Cycle
• Michael Bell, Linen Services
• Rayven Bellamy, Neonatal Intensive Care
• Jessica Bevans, 5 Acute Care
• Misty Bowman, Patient- and Family-Centered Care
• Cindy Bowman, Patient Transport
• Carol Brown, Operating Room
• Cindy Buck, Guest Services
• Julie Carlson, 6 Acute Care
• Uma Chapagain, 6 Acute Care
• David Claxton, Hematology/Oncology
• Amanda Cooper, Trauma Surgery
• Pesa Coslow, 6 Acute Care
• Charles Darowish, General Pediatrics
• Danielle Daub, Housekeeping
• Taylor Dietrich, Pediatric Intermediate Care
• Susan Dillman, 5 Acute Care
• Jadia Ditzler, Penn State Cancer Institute Nurse Coordinators
• Jane Dutton, Chaplain Services
• Jennifer Endres, 5 Acute Care
• Heather Endy, Patient- and Family-Centered Care
• Alma Engle, Penn State Health Medical Group – Palmyra
• Jessica Ericson, Pediatric Infectious Disease
• Chris Ewing, Stroke Program
• Leroy Fallinger, Housekeeping
• Amanda Filiash, Medical Intermediate Care
• Carol Forsyth, Orthopaedics
• Stacie Freedman, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute Critical Care
• Robert Gallo, Orthopaedics
• Madelin Gamble, Patient- and Family-Centered Care
• Joanne Gassert, Shuttle Services
• Emma Giberson, Pediatric Intermediate Care
• Lisa Ginder, Surgical-Anesthesia Intensive Care
• Kelby Good, Surgical-Anesthesia Intensive Care
• Beth Graham, 6 Acute Care
• Corrie Gregorich, Medical/Surgical Float Personnel/Clinical Staffing Office
• Jill Hall, Medical/Surgical Float Personnel/Clinical Staffing Office
• Nicolette Hartman, Neonatal Intensive Care
• Stephen Henderson, General Internal Medicine
• Allison Henning, Pediatric Residents
• Rebekah Hershey, Pediatric Acute Care
• Anne Hetrick, Patient Transport
• Drew Heying, Child Life
• Catherine Ives, Perianesthesia
• Nora Jens, Pediatric Intermediate Care
• Teresa Kalinay, Outpatient Physical Therapy
• Kaitlin Karavage, 6 Acute Care
• Gurpreet (Ninu) Kaur, 5 Acute Care
• Angela Kelle, Penn State Children’s Heart Group
• Cindy Keller, Neonatal Intensive Care
• Debra Klein, 6 Acute Care
• Stephanie Knaub, 6 Acute Care
• Samantha Koch, 6 Acute Care
• Alisa Manari, Patient Relations
• Katie Manley, Adult Emergency Department
• Kyle Mashburn, 5 Acute Care
• Paul Mast, Adult Emergency Department
• John Maulfair, Penn State Health Medical Group Hospitalist Medicine
• Shamica McIntyre, 5 Acute Care
• Jaime Messing, 5 Acute Care
• Sarah Miller, Child Life
• Cody Moore, Radiology Nursing
• Josh Musser, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute Critical Care
• Conrad Myler, Anesthesiology
• Whitney Navagato, Surgical-Anesthesia Intensive Care
• John Neely, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
• Megan Patrick, Patient- and Family-Centered Care
• Deb Paulley, 4th Floor Surgery
• Mackenzie Reffert, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute Critical Care
• Kristen Renninger, Pediatric Acute Care
• Gladys Rivera, Penn State Health Medical Group – Palmyra
• Elias Rizk, Neurosurgery
• Andrew Sanabria, Medical Intensive Care
• Brian Saunders, Surgery Oncology
• Rachel Scheid, 6 Acute Care
• Leann Seibert, 6 Acute Care
• Lakshmi Shankar, Neurology – Stroke
• Nina Siciliano, Adult Emergency Department
• Michelle Simpson, 6 Acute Care
• Wendy Simpson, 6 Acute Care.
• Cheri Smith, Pulmonary Medicine
• Lauren Smith, 5 Acute Care
• Jeanette St. Clair, Outpatient Physical Therapy
• Brenda Steininger, Medical Intermediate Care
• Stephen Supernavage, Medical/Surgical Float Personnel/Clinical Staffing Office
• Gary Thomas, Neurology
• Abigail Thrush, Pediatric Acute Care
• Cary Windle, Patient- and Family-Centered Care
• Samantha Witte, Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Heidi Wolf, Pediatric Hospitalist

Group awards

• Niraj Gusani, Surgery Oncology
• Baldeep Wirk, Hematology/Oncology

• Hayley Burnheimer, Pediatric Acute Care
• Mariah Swisher, Pediatric Acute Care

• Jennifer Perry, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute Critical Care
• Jacqueline Stolo, Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute Critical Care

• Darby Catalano, Medical Intermediate Care
• Amanda Filiash, Medical Intermediate Care
• Jeff Fine, Medical Intermediate Care
• Chelsea Stoner, Medical Intermediate Care

• Alan Bardach, Adult Emergency Department
• Heather Beiler, Neurointerventional Radiology
• David Ermak, Neurology ― Stroke
• Ravindra GoPaul, Emergency Medicine
• Jessica Lane, Neurosurgery Residents
• Joseph Malone, Neurology Residents
• Jessica Mann, Emergency Medicine
• Caroline McLaughlin, Surgery Residents
• Varun Padmanaban, Neurosurgery Residents
• Neel Patel, Neurosurgery Residents
• Jessica Vesek, Neurointerventional Radiology
• Mayur Vora, Neuroscience Critical Care

• David Ermak, Neurology-Stroke
• Silvia Gosik, Adult Emergency Department
• Justin Heinrich, Nursing Education Staff
• Susan Howes, Chaplain Services
• Frank Jareczek, Neurosurgery Residents
• Krishan Keck, Adult Emergency Department
• Justin Lowe, Neurology
• Caroline McLaughlin, Surgery Residents
• Varun Padmanaban, Neurosurgery Residents
• Lesli Shade, Heart and Vascular Institute, Vascular Radiology
• Jessica Smith, Adult Emergency Department
• Keaton Truitt, Heart and Vascular Institute, Vascular Radiology
• Milissa Treibley, Heart and Vascular Institute, Vascular Radiology
• Trisha Wolpert, Neuroscience Critical Care
• Jordan Schooler, Emergency Medicine

• Mark Iantosca, Neurosurgery
• Thomas Samson, Plastic Surgery

• Jessica Buffenmeyer, 6 Acute Care
• Julie Carlson, 6 Acute Care
• Ryan Munyon, Penn State Health Medical Group Hospitalist Medicine
• Colleen Rafferty, Penn State Health Medical Group Hospitalist Medicine
• Sarah Zerphy, 6 Acute Care

• Bethany Espenshade, Pediatric Acute Care
• Nathaniel Maddalena, Pediatric Acute Care
• Sandra Mercuri, Pediatric Acute Care
• Kristin Norman, Pediatric Acute Care
• Cathleen Adams, Neurology
• Amy Leasure, Perianesthesia
• Sarah Lewis, Emergency Medicine
• Justin Lowe, Neurology
• Timothy Deimling, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
• Heidi Watts, Obstetrics/Gynecology

• Julie Carlson, 6 Acute Care
• Kaitlin Karavage, 6 Acute Care
• Elizabeth Seigendall, 6 Acute Care

• Joan Boyd, Penn State Cancer Institute – Inpatient
• Heather Brown, Penn State Cancer Institute – Inpatient

 Team awards

• 5 Acute Care Nurses
• 6 Acute Care
• Adult Emergency Department
• Neonatal Intensive Care Physicians
• Women’s Health

Read all of the patient stories.