MUSC Catalyst

September 21, 2012 MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA Vol. 31, No. 6

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

62 Gold Star HoSpitalHouSekeepinG Week Celebrated

The S.C. Hospital Association honoredMUSC for becoming a tobacco-free campus.

4

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5Hospital employees were recognized duringEnvironmental Services Week, Sept. 10 – 14.

Currents

Meet Grace

New Student Affairs dean

Hyundai gives MUSC helping hand$250,000 Hope On Wheels grant tosupport children’s cancer research

MUSC received a $250,000Hope Grant Sept. 6 to supportresearch focused on the treatment ofneuroblastoma, becoming one of 41recipients of Hope On Wheels’ 2012Hyundai Hope Grants.

The grant was presented at a signatureHandprint Ceremony in the Children’sHospital atrium. This ceremony capturesthe colorful handprints of young cancerpatients and places them on a white2012 Hyundai Tucson, the officialvehicle of the program. Every HandprintCeremony celebrates the lives of childrenfaced with cancer and commemoratestheir brave battles with cancer.

Chase Towne, 4, enjoys making ahandprint.

Dr. Mehrdad Rahmaniyan holds a check that will go to fund his researchin the treatment of neuroblastoma, a cancer that forms in nerve tissue andoften begins in early childhood.

See Hand on page 8

2 THe CaTalysT, September 21, 2012

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] Brazell, [email protected]

The MUSC Urban Farm is recruitingfarm hands to volunteer and receivetraining to assist with the farm.

The farm is designed to be a livingclassroom where students, faculty, staffand the community come together toexplore the connection between foodand health through hands-on learningabout the many varieties of vegetables,fruit, and herbs grown in SouthCarolina. Volunteers are the key tosustaining a successful project.

What is a farm hand?Farm hands are volunteers who

participate in MUSC Urban Farmactivities on a more regular basis andhave received additional training.Once trained, farm hands can assistin any of the following ways: hostingscheduled groups at the farm, relayingweather information to meteorologistTom Crawford at WCIV-TV News 4(from the MUSC Urban Farm WeatherStation), representing the farm atcommunity events, contributing to farmplanning/farm management as well asday-to-day activities on the farm such asmaintenance, watering and weeding. Thelevel of commitment expected from ourfarm hands is flexible and based on thevolunteer’s schedule and area of interest.

Why become a farm hand?Farm hands are an important

component of the team and ensure thelong-term success of the MUSC UrbanFarm project.

In addition learning about urban,organic gardening, participants will havethe opportunity to meet like-mindedpeople and enjoy the benefits of anactive, healthy hobby.

How to become a farm hand?Visit http://academicdepartments.

musc.edu/urbanfarm/involve/volunteer.html, fill out the volunteerform and sign up for the next trainingsession, scheduled 5 – 6:30 p.m., Oct.3. Registration is required for trainingsessions at the Urban Farm. [email protected].

Employee Wellness eventsq Zumba at Harborview Office Tower:Join licensed Zumba instructor FeleciaCurry for a weekly Wednesday nightZumba class held from 5 - 6 p.m., Room910, Harborview Office Tower. Theworkout accommodates any fitness level.Space is limited. Email [email protected] call 822-6136 to register.

q Worksite screening: The next worksitescreening, valued at about $350, will beheld on Sept. 27, Room 109, ColbertEducation Center & Library Building.The screening is available to employeeswith the State Health Plan for $15(covered spouses can also participate for$15). Employees and spouses withoutthis insurance can participate for $42.The screening includes height, weight,blood pressure and a blood draw for ablood chemistry profile, hemogram, anda blood lipid profile. To register, go towww.musc.edu/employeewellness andclick Worksite Screening.

q Farmers market: Fresh fruits andvegetables are available from localfarmers from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Sept.24. Due to the Heartwalk Hustle, themarket has been moved to Sept. 24.

Contact Susan Johnson, Ph.D.,at [email protected] for moreinformation on the Office of HealthPromotion at MUSC and SuzanBenenson Whelan at [email protected] specific information about EmployeeWellness. Events, classes or any otherideas are welcome.

MUSC recognized hospitalenvironmental service workers andcelebrated National Health CareEnvironmental Services (EVS) andHousekeeping Week, Sept. 10 – 14.

Part of the festivities featuredrecognition of the EVS 2012 Employeeof the Year winner, Kim Hemmingway,6West/Trauma Step-down Unit.Throughout the celebration, employeeswere treated to meals, trivia challengeand daily prize drawings for gas cards,gift and restaurant certificates.

There are more than 400 EVSemployees who work within themedical center and university, who are

dedicated members of their respectivestaffs. Hospital EVS employees work inoutpatient clinics, inpatient units andmultiple emergency rooms.

During the celebration, Children’sHospital 7A nurse manager JenniferWright praised employee Erica Epps.“We have a great working relationshipand are able to communicate when andwhere patient discharges and admissionare scheduled so everyone’s efficientand supportive.” Wright also recognizedEpps for working with patients and theirfamilies. “Erica embraces our missionand it enhances the culture of our unit.She loves making a difference every day.”

EVS workers applaudedin weeklong celebration

Kim Hemmingway accepts the award by Dick Smith, EnvironmentalServices general manager.

EmployEE WEllnEss

The MUSC Urban Farm needsvolunteers to maintain the garden.

THe CaTalysT, September 21, 2012 3

By Renee dudley

The Post and Courier

Local researchers have released newfindings on the rates of traumatic braininjury among people in South Carolina’sprisons in hopes that better treatmenteventually will be available to them.

The $2 million study, funded bythe Centers for Disease Control andPrevention, found that nearly two-thirdsof the men surveyed and nearly three-fourths of the women reported havinghad traumatic brain injury, generallyoccurring early in life. Researchers,coordinated by MUSC, interviewedmore than 600 adults who have beenin the state prison system. Their resultsrecently were published in the Journal ofHead Trauma Rehabilitation.

The study’s local authors — ElisabethPickelsimer and Pamela Ferguson, anMUSC epidemiologist and researchdirector, respectively — said they hopethe findings will “reduce the revolvingdoor of prison re-entry and increasethe offenders’ potential for a successfulreturn back into their communities.”

A spokesman for the S.C. Departmentof Corrections said the system’sphysicians were unavailable to commenton the study last week.

The authors believe identifying andtreating South Carolina prisoners withhistories of traumatic brain injury couldreduce the rate of recidivism in thatpopulation. That rate, however, was notyet available for comparison with theoverall rate of recidivism.

Traumatic brain injury can result in anarray of mental health issues, includingsubstance abuse and post-traumatic stressdisorder.

Given the prevalence of the condition,prisons have become “mental healthfacilities without appropriate funding formental health treatment,” Pickelsimersaid.

Proper treatment could help preventbehavior problems among prisoners andcould improve their level of productivityand success after being released.

Beyond improved treatment, theauthors suggest new training for prisonstaff on handling inmates with historiesof traumatic brain injury.

“Without a clear understanding ofhow (traumatic brain injury) may impacta person, prison officials may be misledto believe that the offender is deliberatelydefiant,” according to the study.Editor’s note: This article ran in the Sept.11 issue of The Post and Courier and isreprinted with permission.

MUSC researchers Pamela Ferguson, from left, Abby Teklehalmanot,Monica Cornelius and Elisabeth Pickelsimer are studying traumatic braininjuries among South Carolina’s prisoners.

photo by Wade Spees, The Post and Courier

Mental health in prisons


CurrEnts sEpt. 18

Smith

Recently the University Healthsystem Consortium(UHC) awarded MUSC its Rising Star honor forsignificant improvements and exemplary performance inpatient safety, mortality, clinical effectiveness, and equityof care as defined by UHC’s Quality and AccountabilityStudy. Other academic medical centers who received theRising Star award include Duke, Shands Hospital atthe University of Florida and Cleveland Clinic. UHCPresident Irene Thompson stated “this Rising Starachievement is especially notable because other academicmedical centers also are working in earnest to improvepatient safety and quality, thus it has become quite difficult to stand outamong more than 100 peer organizations.”

Congratulations to the Quality and Patient Safety leadership team, staff andto everyone involved throughout the MUSC clinical enterprise. The Rising Starhonor is a huge win for MUSC.

Also, for another great win, the Heart & Vascular Services’ VentricularAssist Devices (VAD) program was recently surveyed by the Joint Commissionand received a 100 percent pass rate. The surveyor was very complimentaryof everyone she came into contact with and praised the overall hospitalcommitment to the program.

On another matter, at the Sept. 18 management communications meeting,Lois Kerr, Accreditation Manager, emphasized that we will have anunannounced comprehensive Joint Commission survey soon. The survey teamwill be on campus for a full week and is expected to arrive the week beginningeither Oct. 1, 15 or 29, but is not bound by these dates. Everyone should befamiliar with relevant National Patient Safety Goals and the methods we use tofulfill the goals (see http://mcintranet.musc.edu/cceps/PatientSafety/).

Thank you.W. Stuart SmithVice President for Clinical Operationsand Executive Director, MUSC Medical Center

To Medical Center Employees:

People–Fostering employee prideand loyalty

Hospital administrationresident Hailey Jamesreminded managers ofthe Sept. 27 MUSC HeartWalk Hustle from 11a.m. to 2 p.m., Sept. 27 in the MUSChorseshoe and ART atrium. Featuredare a silent auction, massage therapy,food, games and craft vendors. The 2012Lowcountry Heart Walk will be heldSept. 29 in Liberty Square. Activitiesbegin at 8 a.m. followed by the walk at 9a.m.

Employee of the Month — Augustq Mary Fischer, Office of EnterpriseBusiness Intelligence, was praisedfor her hard work and assistance inhelping an MHA student create a newsoftware program supporting a children’soutpatient clinic. (Janna Cone)q Bill Rentz, physical therapytechnician, Therapeutic & ProfessionalSupport Services, was recognized for hisquick thinking and help rescuing severalpatients from a flooded car during anunexpected flash flood situation onAshley Avenue. (Erica Rouvalis)

HR updateMark Stimpson, MUHA HR benefits

manager, presented the followinginformation:q MUHA policy changes effectiveimmediately: managers of employeeswishing to be rehired after retiringmust gain the approval of the hiringcurtailment committee before accedingto employees’ requestsq The 0.5 percent pay increase formedical center employees effective in theSept. 19 paycheck is a one-time increaseand is not related to an employee’sperformance rating(s)q SuccessFactors – 2013 planning formsare due Sept. 30q 2012 Annual Benefits Fair is plannedfrom 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sept. 28,outside the Colbert Education Center &Library Building

Open Enrollment for State Insurance BenefitsThe enrollment period runs

throughout October; changes made in

October are effective Jan. 1.During October, Employees may:

change medical plans if already enrolledin one; add or drop vision insurance;add or increase employee life insuranceby $50,000 (without answering medicalquestions); reduce/cancel employee,spousal and kids life insurance coverage;and enroll or re-enroll in a medicalspending account (requires annual re-enrollment) or a dependent day careaccount.

During October, employees may not:Add or drop dental or medical insuranceplans; add or drop dependents to orfrom medical or dental coverage; increasespousal life insurance (without answeringmedical questions); or increase employeelife insurance or than $50,000 (withoutanswering medical questions).

Key changes effective Jan. 1, 2013:Maximum contribution to a medicalspending account reduces from $5,000to $2,500; Cigna HMO medical planno longer offered; both employer andemployee premiums on both statehealth plans will increase by 4.6 percent;premiums for BlueChoice HMO planincrease by 16 percent to 28 percentdepending on level of coverage; dentalplus premiums increase by 1.1 percent;employee and spousal life insurancepremiums increase by 10 percent to 18percent, depending on age category;employees paying premiums directly toa Tricare Supplement plan provider mayelect to do this via payroll deduction ona pre-tax basis through the MoneyPlusprogram; small adjustments to co-pays(both up and down) for benefits offeredthrough BlueChoice HMO medical plan;and small adjustments to fees chargedfor flexible spending accounts (medicalspending, dependent day care, HSA).

A comprehensive review of allchanges and instructions on makingonline changes will be sent via emailto all benefits eligible medical centeremployees by the end of September.For information, contact Stimpson [email protected] or 792-9320.

Quality – Providingquality patient care in asafe environment

Lois Kerr, accreditationmanager, reviewed details See CuRRenTs on page 9

in the hospital’s preparation of theupcoming Joint Commission survey.Kerr reminded managers of somepotential survey visit dates in October.She reviewed 10 basic reminders forstaff to prepare for the survey — knowand implement all 2012 NationalPatient Safety Goals; keep corridors andexits clear; complete Safety Wednesdayactivities; conduct daily chart reviews inareas; review plans of care, assessmentscompleted in a timely fashion,nutritional and functional screens,advance directives, confirm Med Rec andrestraint documentation; review painassessment and reassessment; maintainan 18-inch clearing from ceiling; verifythat HR folders are complete (verified,

current license, current evidence--certifications, evaluations, currentcompetency and change of position),review time out policy and stay focused.

Hazardous materials and fire safetyWayne Brannan, University Rick

Management director, reviewed theinstitution’s policy with a current,written chemical inventory list andits availability. He spoke about a newMUSC Chemical Inventory List form(available via the University RiskManagement website) and emphasizedhow staff members should know how toaccess Material Safety Data Sheets on allmaterials in their work area. At eyewash


mEEt GraCE

Grace BadgettDepartmentMUSC Health East Cooper, UrologyHow long at MUSC14 yearsWhat do you like most about the EastCooper facilityEverything is in one building and the easeof parking. I also am excited to see thefacility continue to grow and offer moreservices.Best thing about living in CharlestonMy children, Melissa and Jeremy, are here.Dream vacationA real vacation with my grandchildren,either in the mountains or at DisneyWorld.Meal you love to cookAll the holiday meals

Nickname in high schoolGracieLast book read“Fifty Shades of Grey”

What music is in your CD playerCountry


MUSC celebrates its six-monthanniversary of becoming a tobacco-freecampus in earning a Gold Star awardfrom the South Carolina HospitalAssociation.

The award marks the culmination ofhard efforts to transform the campusinto a tobacco-free environmentrepresentative of MUSC’s mission tomaintain a healthy environment thatpromotes wellness and good healthhabits within all MUSC facilities.

Susan Johnson, Ph.D., director of theOffice of Health Promotion, said it’san important milestone for MUSC inwhat has been a long journey, includinglegislative advocacy efforts. A statelaw was signed into effect June 5 thatgives authority to the governing bodiesof public colleges and universities inSouth Carolina to legally declare andenforce tobacco-free campuses to includeoutdoor spaces.

“MUSC has now met all the criteriaand has officially been designated asa Gold Star Hospital for creating atobacco-free environment and providingcomprehensive cessation supportresources. We are honored to receivethis award and are looking forwardto celebrating our success with ouramazing colleagues from the SouthCarolina Hospital Association and N.C.Prevention Partners in the near future.”

Jen Wright, manager of WorkingWell with the association, praisedMUSC for its efforts, noting that it’sthe first institution of higher educationin the state to do so. She said theaccomplishment proves MUSC’s clearleadership and its commitment tothe health of its employees and thecommunity it serves.

“You are setting a high bar for therest of South Carolina hospitals tomeet while making a positive impact onpopulation health,” she said in a letterciting MUSC’s award. “We will lookto you once again to help lead the wayin efforts to increase the number oftobacco-free higher education campusesacross our state. Thank you for your

immense efforts in changing legislationto make sure this vision is possible. Wewill count on you to continue to shareyour stories of success as a model forother hospitals and businesses in thestate and across the country.”

The other major milestone is thesuccess of MUSC’s Pitch the Packcessation program. More than 60employees participated in the programthat was rolled out to coincide withthe new policy. The cessation programprovided classes, counseling and a free,one-month medication supply to allparticipating employees and students.

Kelly Crowley, PharmD, manager ofAmbulatory Pharmacy Services, said thedepartment was happy to participate inthe tobacco-free campus campaign.

“There were many MUSC employeeswho were able to take advantage ofthe coupons and low priced itemsavailable from our pharmacies to assistthem in their decision to quit smoking.Although the coupons are no longeravailable, many of the low pricedsmoking cessation products are stillavailable for those making the decisionto quit.”

Stewart Mixon, chief operations officerfor the university, said he’s been thrilledto see how well the transition washandled and how cooperative employeeshave been in accepting the change. Thechange is part of a long process thatstarted with resolutions passed by theStudent Government Association andMUSC’s faculty senate. MUSC becamea tobacco-free campus March 1. On apersonal level, many employees used thechange as a catalyst to take advantage ofthe free smoking cessation program, saidMixon.

“We’ve been successful in helpingpeople transform their lives. That’s beenexciting to see.”

Challenges remain, particularlyin respecting MUSC’s neighboringbusinesses and residences. Mixon saidthe tobacco-free initiative takes thecooperation of all employees to besuccessful.

“While we have experienced muchsuccess in the transition, we have notedthat some smokers have sought areas tosmoke that can affect others, especiallyour visitors and patients as they comeand go into our facilities. In that this isa cooperative effort, we would ask thosewho choose to smoke around the campusto find public areas that are not highlyvisible, that do not intrude on businessesor create corridors where non-smokersmust walk through second-hand smoketo get to their destinations.”

MUSC and Roper Hospital officialshave met with city officials to discuss thepossibility of the city creating a tobacco-free zone around medical facilities in theCity of Charleston. In the meantime,Johnson said the goal is to remindemployees who smoke in public areasaround the hospital to be courteous toneighbors and visitors.

“We ask that employees smokingin these areas be mindful that theyare wearing hospital badges and are asymbol of MUSC in that respect. It’simportant to be courteous and disposeof butts responsibly. We appreciate thecooperation in continuing to make this

Tobacco-free campus receives ‘gold star’litter FaCtSq Cigarette butts are the

most littered item in theworld with trillions litteredeach year. An estimated2 million are littered inCharleston annually.q Cigarette litter

represents more than 20percent of all litter collectedin community cleanupinitiatives within the U.S.q Cigarette filters are

not cotton. They arecellulose acetate (akaplastic) and they stay in theenvironment for a minimumof five years and in somecases they never degrade.q Cigarette butts are

harmful to children, petsand the environment.Research shows that thebutts are toxic, including aSan Diego State Universitystudy showing that onebutt has enough poisons tokill half the minnows in aliter of water – a standardlaboratory test for toxins –in 96 hours.q Cleaning up cigarette

litter in Charleston costsnearly $100,000 a year.Information from Keep CharlestonBeautiful and San Diego StateUniversity

Officials ask employees to be courteous in public spaces

Dr. Kelly Crowley holds upone of the bags full of free giftsthat employees received whosigned up for the Pitch the Packcampaign. It was part of therollout of MUSC’s tobacco-freecampus.

a positive change for MUSC and for thecity.”

To share comments or suggestionsabout MUSC’s tobacco-free campuspolicy, contact Johnson at [email protected] or call 792-1245.

Visit the website at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/tobaccofree/.

The Catalyst, September 21, 2012 7

College of Medicine’s associate dean for studentaffairs John R. Freedy, M.D., Ph.D., loves many aspectsof his job from getting to know students to helpingthem achieve their career goals.

But already he’s dealing with a paradox.Freedy hopes to prepare students as they emerge as

physicians who are not only skilled and proficient in theprocedural approach to medicine, but who are humane,compassionate and dedicated to a patient-centeredapproach to health care.

Achieving this balance is a responsibility that Freedy,his team and other colleagues are committed to improveas part of the medical education experience.

Freedy’s proud of the fact that this year's incomingmedicine class had more than 3,500 applicants, 468of them interviewed and 168 students selected. Ofthat number, 79 students are women, 89 men and31 students are underrepresented minorities. Theundergraduate GPA average was 3.7 and average MCATscore was 30.

In 2011 and 2012, MUSC was named among thetop 10 most popular medical schools by U.S. News &World Report. The medical school remains a nationalmodel for diversity in education and clinical care. In2008, MUSC won the Association of American MedicalColleges’ Institutional Leadership in Diversity Awardfor establishing pipeline programs that support diversityin medicine. The college seems on track in meeting itsgoal of becoming a top 25 academic medical center by2015.

“I look forward to getting to know and working withour students. It’s important that they know our staffworks for them, and we are advocates for each of themto do well at MUSC,” said Freedy, who graduated fromMUSC in 2002.

At the Aug. 19 White Coat Ceremony, Freedyaddressed the Class of 2016 medical students. Hecalled on students to embrace the role of a physicianas a lifelong service to humanity, the profession and tofellow physicians. He promoted the value of the doctor-patient relationship and challenged students to findtheir inner “mensch” and develop personal qualitiessuch as integrity and honor that can distinguish them asa good person and physician.

He shared a quote from a personal hero, AlbertSchweitzer, M.D., a Swiss-born theologian, philosopher,physician, musician and medical missionary, aboutseeking one’s destiny through service. “I don’t knowwhat your destiny will be, but one thing I know; theonly ones among you who will be really happy are thosewho have sought and found how to serve.”

Currently, Freedy leads the Group on StudentAffairs to provide support, advisement and counselingto medical students. Staff members are committed tohelping students achieve success through academic and

Medicine’s Dr. John Freedy is joined by his daughter, Madison, (from left) wife, Melba, son,Matthew and mom, Dr. Lucy R. Freedy, at the college’s Aug. 19 White Coat Ceremony.

New student affairs dean guides future doctor’s goalsBy Cindy aBole

Public Relations

personal counseling and career advising. They also workwith students to find solutions to resolve issues andconcerns and can provide referrals to campus resourcesincluding the Center of Academic Excellence, StudentHealth Services, Counseling and Psychological Services,Financial Aid Services and other support programs.

Deborah Deas, M.D., senior associate dean formedical education, realized the changing needs ofmedical students and wanted to expand services thatsupport them. Deas and senior leadership in the collegeare responsive to student feedback and responses usedin student satisfaction surveys, questionnaires andongoing assessments.

“Dr. Freedy brings skills as a psychologist, familyphysician and educator that are a great match inmanaging both professional and personal issues relating

to our students. Even if things are not problematic,Freedy and his team’s expertise and dedication promoteeach student’s personal well-being in a positive way.”

Freedy came to his new role in March. He is anassociate professor and clinical educator in theDepartment of Family Medicine where he directs thebehavioral science curriculum for residents at theTrident/MUSC Family Medicine Residency Program.His research and clinical interests include traumaticstress, PTSD and the relationship between mentalhealth and chronic disease.

Being involved in leadership and academic medicinewas no accident for Freedy. His choice to work inacademic medicine follows a family tradition of servicein medicine and to humanity.

Freedy hails from a family of physicians. Father,Robert, was a general practitioner and mother, Lucy,who was among four females in a class of 88 studentswho graduated from Duke University’s School ofMedicine in 1957, became an accomplished radiologistand academician at The Ohio State University. Anotherbrother and brother-in-law also are physicians. Together,they’ve provided more than 160 years in medicalpractice.

After earning his undergraduate degree in psychologyfrom the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,

See sTudenTs on page 10

“It’s important that the studentsknow our staff works for them,and we are advocates for them todo well at MUSC.”

Dr. John Freedy


According to John Krafcik, presidentand chief executive officer of HyundaiMotor America, “At Hyundai, our goalis for a child to never again have to hearthe words ‘you have cancer.’ Throughthe support of our dealers, hospitalpartners, and online community, thisgoal is attainable as we join together fora cure. We congratulate and commendeach institution for their importantlife-changing work, and thank oursupporters for their continued efforts.”

To improve the odds in the fightfor a cure, Hope On Wheels raised itsHyundai Hope Grant award amountthis year from $100,000 to $250,000.In all, $10.25 million will be awarded ingrants during the month of Septemberin honor of National Childhood CancerAwareness Month. The monthlongprogram marks Hope On Wheels’ largestresearch grant donation period to date.It will bring the total amount that thenonprofit has committed to childhoodcancer to $57 million since it first beganin 1998.

Jacqueline Kraveka, D.O., directorof MUSC’s pediatric oncology researchlab, said she’s pleased to be a part of theHope On Wheels campaign. In its thirdannual September campaign, Hope OnWheels opened its competitive grantprogram to all Children’s OncologyGroup institutions. Every proposalreceived was reviewed by Hope OnWheels’ Medical Advisory Committee,comprised of leading pediatriconcologists from around the country.

“We are honored that Dr. MehrdadRahmaniyan is a recipient of HopeGrant,” said Kraveka. “I commend

Hyundai Motor America for itscommitment to pediatric cancerresearch. Our laboratory focuses inneuroblastoma, one of the deadliestchildhood cancers. This grant willsupport research on targeting a novellipid biomarker to improve survival ratesfor high risk neuroblastoma patients.”

For additional information onHyundai Hope On Wheels and itsefforts during National ChildhoodCancer Awareness Month, visitHyundaiHopeonWheels.org.

Hand Continued from Page One

Dr. Rita Ryan, fifth from right, applauds Hyundai Motor America for donating $250,000 toward research atMUSC Children’s Hospital. With Ryan are: (from left) Rick Hendrick, Sam Brnovich, Dr. Mehrdad Rahmaniyan,Dr. Jacqueline Kraveka and the Towne family, Christine and Chuck with children Olivia, Chase and Faith.

Children’s Hospital patientFallyn Hendrix, 5, makes ahand print which will then beplaced on a Hyundai Tucson.Every Handprint Ceremonycelebrates the lives of thechildren faced with cancerand commemorates theirbrave battles with cancer. Formore information on MUSC’sChildren’s Hospital, visithttp:// www.musckids.com/.


The Drug Enforcement Agencyscheduled its fifth National PrescriptionDrug Take-Back Day for Sept. 29.

As the number of prescriptionsdispensed yearly continues to rise, sodoes the amount of unused and expiredmedications, including controlledsubstances. These excess medicationscan lead to misuse or abuse, potentiallyresulting in overdose or death.

While the agency establishes auniform system for collecting unuseddrugs, they will continue to host periodictake-back days. In the first four Take-Back Days, sites across the United Statescollected 1.5 million pounds or 747tons of unwanted medications. One ofthe missions of the agency is to enforcethe controlled substances laws andregulations of the United States andbring to the criminal and civil justicesystem those organizations involved inthe distribution of controlled substancesappearing in or destined for illicit trafficin the U.S.

These Prescription Drug Take-BackDays were created in an effort to decreasethe misuse or abuse of prescription drugsby reducing the amount of expired orunused medications available to thegeneral public. This service is free andcompletely anonymous, with a “noquestions asked” policy. Consumers caneither blackout personal information on

By JessiCa MiCHaud

S.C. College of Pharmacy, MUSC

prescription bottles or empty the bottlesinto the provided containers. Tablets,capsules, and other solid dosage formswill be accepted (no liquids).

Two sites currently are hosting theTake-Back Day in September, theCharleston County Sheriff’s Office,located at 3505 Pinehaven Drive inNorth Charleston, and Joint BaseCharleston (which requires access to thebase).

More information on the collectionsites can be found at http://www.justice.gov/dea/index.shtml.

Agency to accept unused,expired drugs Sept. 29

CuRRenTs Continued from Page Four

stations a weekly flush log shouldbe maintained by staff. Brannanalso reviewed the hospital’s five-stepfire plan. He reminded managers toreview fire extinguisher locations andmaintain an 18-inch ceiling sprinklerclearance from stored materials.

Due to the increase of hand washingstations throughout the hospital, thereis limited storage of alcohol-basedhand rub. Each smoke compartmentmay store a maximum aggregate of 10gallons (37.8 liters) of ABHR productin dispensers (maximum of five gallonsor 18.9 liters) in storage.

Brannan also spoke about plansfor the Great Southeast Shake Out, aone minute drill scheduled to occurat 10:18 a.m., Oct. 18 as part ofCharleston’s earthquake preparation.More than 400,000 participants in theSoutheast will participate. Visit http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/vpfa/operations/Risk%20Management/muscgreatsoutheastshakeout.htm.

Service – Serving the publicwith compassion, respect andexcellence

Leah Ramos, R.N., 9E nurse

manager and a member of the medicalcenter’s Adult Inpatient SatisfactionTeam. The group focused on improvingthe hospital’s Hospital ConsumerAssessment of Healthcare Providersand Systems (HCAHPS), a nationalstandardized survey tool used tomeasure patient satisfaction. The effortfocuses on hardwiring actions withbedside reporting, hourly rounding,thank you cards and creation ofunit Magnet brochures. Other unitsare moving forward in educatingpatients and families about inpatientbed transfers via a brochure (MICUand NSICU), which describes theprocess. Other activities include thereinforcement of MUSC Excellencepractices, AIDET and patient andstaff rounding by leaders. Althoughthe hospital, as a whole, has notmet set organizational goals, there isevidence that HCAHPS scores areon the rise. Other improvementscame in hourly rounding, bedsidereporting and validation. Some unitsare implementing quiet hours (9 East,9West, NSICU and MICU) using toolslike the Yakker Tracker.

AnnouncementThe next meeting is Oct. 2.

MUSC’s Waring Historical Libraryand Humanities Committee will hostthe exhibit, “Literature of Prescription:Charlotte Perkins Gilman and ‘TheYellow Wallpaper’” through Oct. 6 in theColbert Education Center & Library.

In conjunction with the exhibit, adiscussion about postpartum depressionfrom clinical, literary, and personal

perspectives will begin at noon, Sept. 27,Room 109, Colbert Education Center& Library. The closing lecture will beheld from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Oct. 4 in theBasic Science Building. The lecture willbe delivered by Jane Thrailkill, Ph.D.,University of North Carolina at ChapelHill, associate professor in English andComparative Literature.

Exhibit features medical gender inequalities of 19th century


Freedy completed his master’s and doctorate in clinicalpsychology at Kent State University in 1990. He wenton to earn his medical degree from MUSC in 2002 andserved a three-year residency with the Trident/MUSCFamily Medicine Residency Program at Trident MedicalCenter.

He completed several fellowships, including aNational Institute of Mental Health sponsored researchfellowship in 1990, and a National Institute forProgram Director Development Fundamentals withthe Association of Family Practice Residency Directorsin 2008, among other educational leadership trainingexperiences at MUSC. His leadership in graduatemedical education included several department andadministrative positions, including program director forthe Trident/MUSC Family Medicine Transitional YearResidency and Institutional Review Board Chair for

the Trident Regional Medical Center.For now, Freedy is focused on finding ways for his

team to be more connected with medical students.“I believe that all people have great potential. My

aim is for our Student Affairs team to develop strongand meaningful relationships with each of our medicalstudents and to use these relationships to support ourstudents in reaching their natural potential.”

sTudenTs Continued from Page Seven

John R. Freedy, M.D., Ph.D., associate dean; MyraHaney Singleton, assistant dean; Chris Pelic, M.D.,associate dean for Student Career Planning andAdvising; Marta Rivell, Student Activities andStudent Affairs manager; and Alva Blair and ArticeSmith, administrative support

Group on Student aFFairS

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MUSC Catalyst

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Transcript of MUSC Catalyst