All posts by medical

Internal Medicine

Irene Chernova is the 2023 Dostanic Award Recipient – Yale School of Medicine

Irene Chernova, MD, PhD, instructor of medicine (nephrology) has been selected as the recipient of the 2023 Iva Dostanic, MD, PhD, Physician-Scientist Trainee Award.

The Dostanic Award is presented to a physician-scientist who exemplifies the qualities of the late Iva Dostanic, MD, PhD, a trainee who left a mark on the department.

Chernova is the thirteenth awardee, and was co-nominated by Joseph Craft, MD, Paul B. Beeson Professor of Medicine (Rheumatology) and professor of immunobiology and Stefan Somlo, MD, C. N. H. Long Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) and professor of genetics; chief, Section of Nephrology.

She came to Yale for residency training in 2015, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania MD/PhD program. Chernova completed residency training and fellowship in the ABIM Physician-Scientist Research Pathway and joined the faculty in 2022. Her current research is focused on lupus nephritis and autoimmune inflammation of the kidney.

The kidney is a very unique, hostile microenvironment. Ive been seeking to understand how immune cells that hurt the kidney are able to survive, where they have no business being under healthy circumstances, and the implications this has for therapy for patients, said Chernova.

Chernova developed a new line of research in the Craft Laboratory, exploring the role of ions and Na+-K+-ATPase on B cell survival. She demonstrated that this ion pump is required for B cell survival during renal ionic stress, with lupus B cells resistant to such Na+ induced death. Their resistance promotes intrinsic kidney damage and subsequent progression of nephritis. This novel physiological finding also explained for the first time why B cell depletion, in addition to its effect on autoantibody reduction, is therapeutically successful in lupus nephritis, said Craft.

I feel humbled to be recognized by those I admire tremendously at my own institution, and to meet the criteria of the award and all that Iva embodied.

After giving birth to her first child in mid-April, Chernova is set to give the Dostanic Award Lecture at Medical Grand Rounds in June, several months into maternity leave. I cant think of a better reason to come in during my leave, exclaimed Chernova.

She first told her husband and a few friends about being selected for the Dostanic award. Next thing she knew, her husband started an email with family and friends with the subject line, Pregnant and killing it! and the congratulations began pouring in.

As an only child of an immigrant family, Dostanics story resonates with Chernova. Chernova draws parallels with her own upbringing, having moved to the U.S. at the age of 10. And like Dostanic, Chernova was also recruited to the ABIM Physician-Scientist Research Pathway.

To Chernova, the award means more than winning a national one. I feel humbled to be recognized by those I admire tremendously at my own institution, and to meet the criteria of the award and all that Iva embodied.

The history of the award dates back to 2011 when Iva Dostanic, MD, PhD, was recruited to the ABIM Physician-Scientist Research Pathway in the Department of Internal Medicine.

Iva was extremely productive as an outstanding graduate student, earning her PhD in molecular genetics, biochemistry, and microbiology at the University of Cincinnati. She was first author of five papers in the field of cardiovascular physiology that were very novel at the time. She could have immediately taken a faculty position in a basic science department, but she wanted to be a physician, as well as a scientist. So she decided to attend medical school at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, said Peter Aronson, MD, C.N.H Long Professor of Medicine (nephrology), who was involved in her recruitment.

Iva was a candidate who epitomized the best of being a physician and scientist.

Aronson was the program director of the Physician-Scientist Research Pathway from 2006-2011, and during the interview process Dostanic made an impression as an extraordinarily outstanding candidate. In addition to her research accomplishments as a graduate student, Iva excelled in her clinical studies in medical school, receiving the student award for excellence in the art and practice of medicine. Iva was a candidate who epitomized the best of being a physician and scientist, Aronson added.

The day before graduating medical school, Dostanic received devastating newsshe had ovarian cancer.

When Dostanic came to New Haven a month later after major surgery and initiation of chemotherapy, leadership knew that the workload of residency training would be far too physically demanding. Dostanic delayed her training due to her health and instead began a research fellowship in the Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine in the lab of Patty Lee, MD.

While undergoing chemotherapy, Dostanic continued to work in Lees lab.

Iva researched how lung cells respond to hypoxia and started to identify what the hypoxia-related signal transduction mechanisms were in lung vascular cells, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel therapies for pulmonary hypertension a deadly disease with no cures, said Lee.

As Dostanics health declined, she was hospitalized at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH). Faculty visited with Dostanic and her parents, and she radiated positivity even during the most challenging times of her illness.

Jack Elias, MD, the Department of Internal Medicine chair at the time, knew that something had to be done for Dostanic. Many thoughts ran through his head on how to honor her.

I sat up at night thinking and an idea came to me that we should have an award for the physician-scientist trainee. When I mentioned this, it resonated with everyone and we went ahead and created it. And Iva was the first recipient, said Elias, Dean Emeritus and Warren Alpert Foundation Professor of Translational Science, Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Professor of Medicine at Brown University.

In December 2011, Dostanic lost her battle to cancer at the age of 35. Before passing, Dostanic received what became known as the inaugural Iva Dostanic, MD, PhD, Physician-Scientist Trainee Award in a ceremony held in her hospital room at YNHH.

She was my role modeldespite all the challenges she faced in the final years of her life, she emanated strength, an unstoppable passion for science, and joyful spirit.

The following June, Patty Lee described Dostanics research in the first Dostanic Award Lecture that Lee presented on behalf of Dostanic.

She was my role modeldespite all the challenges she faced in the final years of her life, she emanated strength, an unstoppable passion for science, and joyful spirit, said Lee, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Science was easy for Dostanica way of life. Not only did she excel in it, she loved it. Dragana Dostanic, Ivas mother, likened the lab to her kingdom. She would tell us about the feeling of taking the elevator to the lab. You cannot imagine that feeling, shed say. Science and medicine was a world worth exploring. She found it endlessly intriguing as she loved solving puzzles. It was her joy, her love, and it wasnt hard for her to devote long hours to her research.

Dostanic is described as someone who would brighten any room and a full human being by Mark Siegel, MD, director of Department of Internal Medicines Traditional Residency Training Program.

Beyond her accomplishments, Dostanics parents detail how kind and humble she was. Although she would not describe herself that way, and she was not one to talk about her achievements. Iva was uniqueshe found beauty in everything and good in everyone. Every moment was a time for celebration, even from an early age.

Iva was uniqueshe found beauty in everything and good in everyone. Every moment was a time for celebration, even from an early age.

Each morning, Dostanic woke at 5 a.m and read scientific articles followed by going for a run. She loved restaurants, playing tennis and skiing, and also fashion. Dostanic was well dressed, put together and oftentimes sparked questions from others about where she was headed. Her response? Nowhere!

She spoke several languages and excelled at most things, but one thing she was not great at was singing. Dostanics parents recall laughing about how she could not carry a tune. That didnt stop her from singing though. When at the Cleveland Clinic she would enter the lab while belting out the national anthem, as she loved to make others laugh.

Iva had a great sense of humor. She took her work seriously, but not herself seriously, Dragana explained. A friend to all, Dostanic would uplift whoever she was around. Dragana describes how her daughter found beauty in each of her friends and that each person was a special gift to her.

And like most physician-scientists and scientists, Dostanic was concerned about funding. She was aware that her research depended on funding and always looked ahead to find new ideas for grants.

In 2015, Dostanics parentsDragana and Predrag Dostanicpledged their estate to Yale School of Medicine (YSM) to endow the Iva Dostanic, MD, PhD, Physician-Scientist Fund to support physician-scientist career development in her memory.

I think that she would fully approve that we support research and science. We strongly believe that she would want us to do what is important. The pain of losing her stays with us. You cannot beat the pain, you just learn how to live with it.

For them, it is a way to continue their daughters legacy.

Predrag explained, I think that she would fully approve that we support research and science. We strongly believe that she would want us to do what is important. The pain of losing her stays with us. You cannot beat the pain, you just learn how to live with it.

Sometimes I think she lived her life as if she was aware it would not be long. She was a fast burning star, Dragana shared.

Since over a dozen individuals have been selected for the honor, Dostanic and her story continue to have an impact.

The award in Ivas name has provided a small measure of consolation for all of us at Yale who knew her to find meaning in the devastating loss of this exceptional young woman, said Aronson.

Each December, the department announces a solicitation for nominations with a deadline for submission at the end of January or beginning of February. A physician-scientist is selected by a committee shortly thereafter, and the recipient receives the award and presents the award lecture on a research topic of their choice at Medical Grand Rounds (MGR) in June. The awardee is also recognized at a dinner the preceding evening.

Prior to the pandemic, the Dostanics would visit New Haven for the awardees MGR each June. This June will be the first year the Dostanics are joining in person since 2019. I see Iva in each and every one of the recipients. I see this spark, this intelligence, this enthusiasm, I see her. I see her and I'm so happy to see that, said Dragana.

Winning the award was a really nice opportunity to meet the Dostanic family, as they believe in the physician-scientist training modality.

Aspiring physician-scientists should know that being a physician-scientist is truly a labor of love. There are many, many challenges inherent to this career decision, said Daniel Jane-wit MD/PhD.

Iva Dostanic was such a talented and dedicated physician scientist that to be recognized with her award was very humbling and an honor. Out of the awards I've received, this one is the most meaningful to me because when I've had challenges in my career, I think of the challenges that Iva had and how her resilience and hard work never stopped her from accomplishing her goals. She was a true role model for early career investigators. She was certainly a role model to me.

Discipline determines destiny, not desire. To achieve your goals, you have to put your head down and do the work to forge your future rather than waiting for people to give you what you desire without actually putting in the work, said Jose Herazo-Maya, MD.

"Iva left an incredible legacy at YSM, as well as in my own section, and I was (and still am) deeply honored to have received an award in her name. It is an incredible honor to be recognized by one's own institution and colleagues, and this award was even more meaningful in light of Iva's legacy. The award gave me the chance to get to know Iva's wonderful parents, who I still look forward to seeing at the reception every year. The award also afforded me the opportunity to present at MGR, even though I had only joined the faculty the year prior, which was a wonderful opportunity to share my research with the department, said Lauren Ferrante, MD, MHS.

I wish I had the privilege of knowing Iva. I only learned about her inspiring life when I received this award. She was a young woman who had a genuine passion for science, for the scientific process. She loved the pursuit of scientific discovery and kept going despite the obstacles life threw her way. I was humbled and honored when I received the award. The award plaque is proudly displayed on my bookshelf in my office at work. Even though its been five years since I took this position at UT Southwestern, I have still yet to hang any of my other awards or diplomas in my office, or pictures for that matter. So the Dostanic Award plaque is a primary source of inspiration and constant reminder of Ivas spirit and perseverance.

Becoming an independent investigator and learning how to build and run a laboratory has been challenging, but also rewarding. Any time Im stressed about something or dealing with a challenge that at the time seems insurmountable, her memory gives me pause and the motivation to press on. I hope to honor Ivas memory by being a role model for future scientists by empowering young trainees and instilling a passion for science, said Sarah Huen, MD, PhD.

I never met Iva, but from what I learned about her, she was extremely driven, talented, focused, and a tremendous force for good. So, it means a lot to me to be associated with such a person. When I got the award, I had a chance to spend some time with her parentsgetting to know them, learning about Ivas life, and presenting my work at MGR. I think its motivated methinking about the many things she accomplished, and her tireless approach and work ethicit definitely helps me to push on when I face challenges, said Stephen Baldassarri, MD, MHS.

This award has been an incredible honor. Iva was the consummate physician-scientist, and her passion for research has continued to inspire me over the years. I feel privileged to be associated with her and the qualities she embraced, and thank Dragana and Predrag Dostanic for their generous contribution to the development of physician-scientists at Yale.

I would encourage trainees to find joy in their work, to persevere, and to embrace their individual journey through academic medicine, said Rupak Datta, MD/PhD, MPH.

Receiving this award in Iva Dostanics memory has meant so much to me. I am incredibly grateful, and it is truly one of my proudest achievements as a physician-scientist. This award has had a significant impact on my career development. The opportunity to present at MGR allowed me to share my work with a broad audience across the Department of Internal Medicine. It has also facilitated my ability to apply for career development awards. The values that Iva Dostanic embodied as a physician-scientist and her excitement, focus, and dedication inspire me. They are a reminder of why I do what I do daily, the love for science and passion for caring for and improving the lives of my patients.

Ivas story is so moving and inspirational. I am amazed by the impact that she has had on so many, including myself. It was such an honor to receive the award in her memory. I hope to pay tribute to her through my dedication to pursue translational research that can one day impact patient care. I also hope to always approach my research and patient care with the passion and joy that Iva Dostanic exemplified.

I would encourage other aspiring physician-scientists to surround themselves with strong mentors early in their careers. For me, this has included a multidisciplinary team of scientific advisors as well as mentors who have really supported me and guided me in my career development. The path of a physician scientist can be challenging at times, with various transitions, and having a good support system can make all the difference, said Ana Luisa Perdigoto, MD, PhD.

Iva was a force of nature; she persevered even when everything seemed to be falling apart. Her spirit of perseverance despite the odds is what I admire most. This award was not only an honor that helped me feel supported by the department, but also helped crystallize my thoughts regarding the potential of my work so that I can further hone my ideas and research direction. In the beginning of my career, it is easy to get excited about many different ideas, but the MGR was helpful in focusing my ideas and getting feedback so that I can identify areas where there may be more excitement that I could then capitalize upon. This award gave me encouragement to continue persevering in the pursuit of my research question.

Mentorship teams are key to navigating the ups and downs of an academic research career. We all stand on the shoulders of giants, who can show us the right directions to look, said Dennis Shung, MD, MHS, PhD.

As an intern at Yale, I remember sitting in the grand rounds where the Dostanic award was presented and being so inspired by Ivas story. Through residency and fellowship, I often thought of Ivas passion and her legacy. It was such an honor to have received this award and be recognized by ones own mentors and institution. This award has inspired me to promote the physician-scientist career and help junior trainees navigate this exciting, yet uncertain path, said Benjamin Goldman-Israelow, MD/PhD.

2012Iva Dostanic, MD, PhD, Pulmonary, Emerging Roles for Innate Immunity in Lung and Endothelium (presented by Patty Lee, MD)

2013Isaac Hall, MD, MS, Nephrology, Donor Kidney Quality and Acute Kidney Injury with Transplantation

2014Daniel Jane-wit, MD/PhD, Cardiology, "Translational Approaches for Studying Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy"

2015Jose Herazo-Maya, MD, Pulmonary, Predicting Outcome in IPF: The Dawn of Genomic Biomarkers

2016Lauren Ferrante, MD, MHS, Pulmonary, Improving Post-ICU Outcomes: A Call to Action

2017Sarah Huen, MD, PhD, Nephrology, Acute Kidney Injury: Not All That is Inflammatory is Pathologic"

2018Stephen Baldassarri, MD, MHS, Pulmonary, Electronic Cigarettes: The End of Smoking or a Deadly New Addiction?

2019Shelli Farhadian, MD, PhD, Infectious Diseases, Neuroinflammation During Chronic HIV Infection

2020Rupak Datta, MD/PhD, MPH, Infectious Diseases, Antibiotic Stewardship to Promote Palliative Care in Older Adults Near the End of Life

2021Ana Luisa Perdigoto, MD, PhD, Endocrinology, Clinical and Preclinical Insights into the Mechanisms of Checkpoint Inhibitor-induced Diabetes

2022Benjamin Goldman-Israelow, MD/PhD, Infectious Diseases, Prime and Spike: A Novel Vaccination Strategy for Inducing Mucosal SARS-CoV-2 Immunity

2022Dennis Shung, MD, MHS, PhD, Digestive Diseases, Human+AI in Medicine

The Department of Internal Medicine at Yale is among the nation's premier departments, bringing together an elite cadre of clinicians, investigators, educators, and staff in one of the world's top medical schools. To learn more, visit Internal Medicine.

See the rest here:

Irene Chernova is the 2023 Dostanic Award Recipient - Yale School of Medicine

Internal Medicine

Alzheimer’s treatment Leqembi could cost Medicare up to $5 billion per year, study estimates – CNBC

The Alzheimer's drug Leqembi is seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on Jan. 20, 2023.

Eisai | Reuters

The new Alzheimer's antibody treatment Leqembi could cost Medicare up to $5 billion per year, according to research published in a leading medical journal this week.

Medicare would spend about $2 billion per year if around 85,700 patients test positive for the disease and are treated with the Eisai and Biogen product Leqembi, according to the research published Thursday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The program for seniors would spend $5 billion if around 216,500 patients become eligible for the breakthrough treatment, according to the study.

The authors said the estimated costs to Medicare are conservative and that spending on Leqembi might increase more than anticipated depending on demand and other factors.

The researchers who conducted the JAMA study included physicians and public health and policy experts. They are affiliated with the University of California Los Angeles, the Rand Corporation, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, among other institutions.

Eisai and Biogen have priced the twice-monthly antibody infusions at $26,500 per year.

There are also additional annual costs estimated at $7,300 per patient associated with neurologist visits, MRI tests and PET scans, administration of infusions, and monitoring for and treatment of potential side effects, according to the researchers.

The study assumed Medicare would cover 80% of the costs, with patients left to pay the remaining 20% in full or in part depending on whether they have supplemental insurance.

Patients could face an annual bill of about $6,600 per year depending on the state they live in and whether they have supplemental insurance, according to the study. Some lower-income people who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid would pay nothing out of pocket.

Read CNBC's latest global health coverage:

The Alzheimer's Association, which lobbies on behalf of patients living with the disease, estimates Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia will cost the U.S. $345 billion this year. Those costs could rise to $1 trillion by 2050, according to the association.

"That's the case without treatment. Prevention and treatment is the only path toward reducing this cost over time," Robert Egge, the association's head of public policy, said in a statement.

"But it's not cost that should determine if people have access to life improving care it's about the impact on people," Egge said. "Treatments taken in the early stages of Alzheimer's could mean a better quality of life."

Leqembi had a positive effect on patients with early Alzheimer's disease in clinical trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine in January.

The expensive treatment is not available to the overwhelming majority of patients right now because Medicare has severely restricted coverage of the antibody.

Medicare has promised to provide broader coverage of Leqembi if the FDA grants full approval of the treatment in July. Leqembi received expedited approval from the Food and Drug Administration in January.

The Alzheimer's Association, members of Congress and state attorneys general are pushing for Medicare to drop its restrictions and fully cover Leqembi.

The antibody treatment, which targets brain plaque associated with the disease, slowed cognitive decline by 27% in Eisai's clinical trial.

There are currently no other drugs on the market that have demonstrated this level of efficacy at slowing Alzheimer's disease. Eli Lilly's donanemab demonstrated promising clinical trial results earlier this month. The company plans to apply for full FDA approval this quarter.

Leqembi and donanemab both carry serious risks of brain swelling and bleeding.

View post:

Alzheimer's treatment Leqembi could cost Medicare up to $5 billion per year, study estimates - CNBC

Internal Medicine

Capital Area Health Consortium Honors UConn Health Nurse … – University of Connecticut

The Capital Area Health Consortium, the group of Connecticut hospitals that employs medical residents and fellows in UConn-sponsored programs, announces honors for one fellow, one resident, and one nurse.

The consortium presented its Community Service Awards to Dr. Jasmin Hundal, an internal medicine fellow, and Dr. Joselyn Miller, an emergency medicine resident, and its T. Stewart Hamilton, MD, Fellowship Scholarship to Elizabeth Haskell, a quality assurance specialist.

Hundal is a graduate of UConns internal medicine residency and is the first to be accepted into the internal medicine fellowship program.

Dr. Hundal embodies the leadership our community expects from physicians, according to her nomination, submitted by Dr. Robert Nardino and Dr. Jacyln Cox, who lead the internal medicine residency program. She serves as a role model for young physicians and medical students. She goes above and beyond to bring together residents and students from different backgrounds to share a common cause of serving our community at a time when it is needed more than ever.

Her nominators say Hundal has demonstrated leadership in health equity throughout her residency and fellowship, citing examples including educating peers about disparities in medicine, organizing a Grand Rounds on responding to patient bias, and leading efforts to assist the homeless and those struggling with poverty or hunger.

Receiving this award is an honor that deeply resonates with my commitment to our community, both inside our hospital and out in the wider world, Hundal says. This recognition underscores the importance of our work in the health equity track, which Ive been privileged to steer. I express my profound gratitude to my mentors: Drs. [Kirsten] Ek, [Christopher] Steele, [Robert] Nardino, [Steven] Angus, and [Eric] Mortensen. Their guidance and support from the onset have been fundamental to my growth and achievements. This award not only validates our collective efforts but also renews my dedication to advancing health equity, making a meaningful difference in the lives we touch.

Miller is credited with sharing her perspective as a Black female physician and mentoring the next generation of residents.

She has visited local magnet schools to help provide guidance to underrepresented students starting their journey towards becoming medical professionals, Dr. Shawn London and Dr. Cynthia Price, who lead the emergency medicine residency program, write in their nomination. She is a kindhearted and thoughtful individual who has, in addition to her volunteer efforts in the greater Hartford area and in the medical student realm, dedicated a large amount of additional effort as co-chair of the UConn Resident and Fellows Forum in the 2022-23 academic year,

Her examples of community service include organizing an event for residents and fellows to create toys and blankets for the Animal Foundation, volunteering as a medical support physician at the Connecticut SWAT Challenge, and volunteering on the panel for the America Medical Womens Association to help female students strategize their career goals.

Haskell is applying the scholarship to her study in UConns Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, which she started in the fall. Shes been a UConn Health nurse for the last seven years, during which time shes worked in the emergency department, intensive care unit, and cardiac catheterization lab before moving into her quality assurance role, which focuses on sepsis prevention.

Liz maintains a strong clinicians perspective, demonstrated by her ongoing review of evidenced based practice related to sepsis, as well as her continual study of sepsis related core measures, writes her nominator, Michelle DeLayo, director of critical care, advanced practice staff, and patient quality and safety. The SEP1 core measure is challenging and complex, but Liz collaborates closely with our core measure quality assurance nurse to audit patients in the institution in real-time to improve compliance with the metrics. Liz has developed a process to identify and follow patients that present with potential and actual sepsis and works directly with the care teams from admission to discharge to ensure the patients are provided optimal care.

DeLayo also credits Haskell with being among the first to volunteer to assist with the surge of patients during the COVID pandemic, offering to take additional shifts, and providing critical care education to those who were helping in the ICU.

I am honored to be a recipient of the T. Stuart Hamilton, MD, Fellowship Scholarship, Haskell says. It means a lot to me to be supported as I pursue an advanced degree and overcome the barriers of being a working mother and first-generation college graduate. I hope to inspire others to do the same.

The six-hospital Capital Area Health Consortium administers the salary and benefits to all the residency and fellowship programs the UConn School of Medicine sponsors. It also provides educational seminars to residents and fellows to help them plan life after residency.

The member hospitals include UConn John Dempsey Hospital, Connecticut Childrens, Hartford Hospital, the Hospital of Central Connecticut, the Hospital for Special Care, and Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center.

Go here to see the original:

Capital Area Health Consortium Honors UConn Health Nurse ... - University of Connecticut

Internal Medicine

Sanders, HBCU medical schools in Atlanta to talk health care diversity – The Atlanta Journal Constitution

The HBCU medical school leaders suggested enhancing infrastructure, supporting clinical research opportunities for HBCUs, investing in mental and behavioral health practitioners and funding additional residency and fellowships opportunities for aspiring doctors, as ways to increase the number of Black doctors in the health care workforce.

Were going to do our best to grow the health care workforce, Sanders said. Were putting special focus on the need for more Black doctors, nurses, psychologists, dentists.

The roundtable was the first field event that Sanders has held as HELP Committee chairman, a role that he assumed in January.

Later during the program, current Morehouse medical students spoke about the challenges they have faced as Black medical students. One of challenges discussed was amount of debt that comes with pursuing a career as a doctor.

The greatest barrier to entry for burgeoning Black physicians is the immense and seemingly insurmountable financial risk weighted to shackle all those who pass through the gates of medical education, Dr. Samuel Cook, an internal medicine resident physician at Morehouse School of Medicine, said.

According to leaders, HBCU medical schools do not have the same financial resources and endowments of other medical schools.

Our mission to train culturally competent providers willing and eager to serve their community comes at a cost, Montgomery Rice said.

Both leaders and students advocated for loan forgiveness for doctors committed to serving in underserved communities. They also emphasized the need for pipeline programs for the medical field and other science, technology, engineering and math fields for youth in communities of color.

I am very pleased that Senator Sanders and the HELP Committee are appreciating the need to step outside of Washington D.C. and actually hear the community, Montgomery Rice said. Im equally happy that we were able to share with them some solutions.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Report for America are partnering to add more journalists to cover topics important to our community. Please help us fund this important work at ajc.com/give

More here:

Sanders, HBCU medical schools in Atlanta to talk health care diversity - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Internal Medicine

Liu Wins ASCI Emerging-Generation Award < Internal Medicine – Yale School of Medicine

Elise Liu, MD, PhD, associate research scientist in medicine (immunology) and instructor in medicine (rheumatology), was selected for an American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) 2023 Emerging-Generation Award. One of 25 recipients to receive the honor, Liu was recognized at the AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting on April 22.

The award offers post-MD, pre-faculty appointment physician-scientists access to the Joint Meeting and two years of programming, with the intent of providing peer support and inspiration to help recipients stay on the path to becoming physician-scientist faculty.

It's wonderful to be recognized at this early stage in my career, Liu said. And its wonderful to have the opportunity to connect with a cohort of awardees who are in the same boatwere all trying to obtain funding and advance our careers.

Lius research focuses on the mechanisms of food allergy. She became interested in the subject when her first child, age one at the time, broke out with hives and vomited after eating peanuts. Liu was a student at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) at the time. It was scary for a parent, as you can imagine, she said.

Its wonderful to have the opportunity to connect with a cohort of awardees who are in the same boatwere all trying to obtain funding and advance our careers.

The incident led Liu to meet with allergists and learn all she could. I was surprisedand maybe disappointedto find out that we dont know much about why allergies develop and that there are limited options for treatment, she said.

After earning her MD, Liu joined the lab of Stephanie Eisenbarth, MD, PhD, associate professor adjunct, to study immunology research in food allergy, as part of the Investigative Medicine Program, which provides individualized research training for physicians that leads to a PhD degree. Under the mentorship of Eisenbarth, Liu examined the role of the antibody immunoglobulin A (IgA) in food allergy, collaborating with researchers across the country to gather patient samples.

While Liu found that IgA does not play a protective role against food allergy, she continues to examine the antibodys role in oral immunotherapy, in which small amounts of an allergen are fed to patients to build their tolerance of the food. Ultimately, Liu hopes to start her own research program.

The ASCI Emerging-Generation Award definitely motivates me to go after the goal of becoming an independent physician-scientist, she said.

The Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology is dedicated to providing care for patients with rheumatic, allergic, and immunologic disorders; educating future generations of thought leaders in the field; and conducting research into fundamental questions of autoimmunity and immunology. To learn more about their work, visit Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology.

Visit link:

Liu Wins ASCI Emerging-Generation Award < Internal Medicine - Yale School of Medicine

Internal Medicine

The COVID ’emergency’ is over. Should I relax precautions or still … – NPR

A poster in Kolkata, India, from peak pandemic days sends a message to mask up. Now that the official COVID-19 global emergency is no longer in effect, some folks are thrilled to stop masking but others wonder if it's a good idea to keep up certain precautions. NurPhoto via Getty Images hide caption

Last Friday, the World Health Organization ended the Public Health Emergency of International Concern that it announced three years ago when the virus that causes COVID-19 became a global threat. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended its public health emergency, effective May 11.

The FAQ series published in the Goats and Soda blog was a cornerstone of NPR pandemic coverage, touching on everything from transmission via pets (possible but unlikely) to whether a glass of wine after a vaccine is advisable (seems ok). As the world enters a new phase of the pandemic, we talked to public health gurus about how to move forward since the disease appears to be here to stay even as the emergency is lifted. Dear readers, if you have questions about this new phase of the pandemic, write us at goatsandsoda@npr.org and put "FAQ" in the subject line. Please include your name and location. We'll be answering a sampling of questions in a follow-up FAQ.

So remind me, what was the purpose of the emergency state?

Thomas Bollyky, senior fellow for global health, economics and development at the Council on Foreign Relations, says that a public health emergency is "really designed to spur international cooperation around a public health event that is serious, sudden, unexpected and requires immediate attention."

And what makes this an appropriate time to end the emergency state?

Last week when the World Health Organization ended its 3-plus year Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the emergency committee advising the WHO's Director General said it was time to do so because of "the decreasing trend in COVID-19 deaths, the decline in COVID-19 related hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions, and the high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2 [the virus that causes COVID-19]."

In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the U.S. Public Health Emergency was ending because "as a nation, we now find ourselves at a different point in the pandemic with more tools and resources than ever before to better protect ourselves and our communities."

Did those agencies do a good job explaining themselves?

Well, the quotes from the CDC and WHO are clear.

But Bollyky says articulating the targets and goals for the ending the pandemic all along such as how low the case and death counts would need to be to lift mask mandates or school closures would have helped the public understand why the agencies felt that May 2023 was the right time to conclude the public health emergency. "If the public can't see progress, it will be harder to convince them next time that these emergency measures are necessary," says Bollyky.

And how big of a threat is COVID now?

The announcement that the emergency is over doesn't mean the virus been vanquished, says Dr. Wafa El-Sadr, director of the Global Health Initiative at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. It's still infecting thousands and killing thousands each week.

Then again, so are diseases like malaria and cholera.

And just as we take those diseases seriously, we should take COVID-19 seriously, say the experts.

"HIV doesn't have a public health emergency declaration, tetanus doesn't have a public health emergency declaration, and yet people stay up to date with vaccinations and treatments," says Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, "People don't need a public health emergency to take something seriously."

Nonetheless, the reassuring message from CDC and WHO is that you're less likely to catch COVID-19 because case counts have dropped due to vigilance and treatments.

"WHO now sees COVID-19 as a threat in our regular repertoire of things-trying-to-kill-us," says epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina. a health policy epidemiologist with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in Dallas, who writes the blog Your Local Epidemiologist. And the truth is that the world now has better tools and treatments for COVID than for some age-old diseases: from the readily available self-tests to vaccines and boosters to the paxlovid pill to lessen severity for higher-risk patients.

So is it ok to just blithely dismiss a case of COVID?

Even if you're an individual with no health risks and you catch the virus, there are things to worry about: just plain feeling awful is possible even if you're not high-risk. You might have to miss work. You run a risk of long COVID. And then there's the possibility you could transmit the virus to others at risk of severe COVID and death from the virus.

And what if you test positive and have risks: say, you're older, immunocompromised or have underlying health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, a compromised immune system or diabetes. Don't just figure you can beat it on your own. Reach out to your doctor right away, says Dr. Aaron Glatt, chair of medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, N.Y. "There are effective treatments available for high-risk infected individuals that are underutilized. You may be a candidate, which could reduce your possibility of progressing to severe disease."

For example, there's the COVID antiviral drug paxlovid which has been proven to help. A review of federal data in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the risk of long-term health problems, hospitalization and death after a COVID-19 infection diminishes among those who take the medication within five days after testing positive. That's according to an analysis of federal health data by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care system.

So then ... is it wise to keep maybe some precautions?

Many physicians interviewed for this story tell us they still take precautions they think warranted. "Professionally, I still wear a mask for most patient care in the clinic and the hospital," says Dr. Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, chief epidemiology officer at the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in Dallas.

"In my personal life," he adds, "I still have A Purell dispenser in my car and carry a small bottle when I travel. I wear a mask in the airport and until the plane takes off since I'm less exposed in my own seat and [because of] the plane's ventilation system and then put it on again and wear it until I get to my hotel room. And yes, I still have tests at home and travel with a pair of them."

And while many many people are glad to doff masks forever and plunge back into the madding crowds in transportation hubs, concert arena and sports venues, others are understandably ... nervous.

If you don't have underlying conditions that put you at risk and feel uncertain about how to proceed, have an honest converation with your doctor or health-care provider, suggests Dr. Preeti Malani, a professor of medicine in the Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Michigan. Ask how to gauge your personal risk.

Malani does believe that too much worry is not good for you: Fear of COVID or severe anxiety out of proportion to risk can lead to depression and other mental health concerns, says Malani.

So she's a champion of being realistic rather than fatalistic.

"We have the tools to mitigate and manage risk so that we can do all the things that are important to us," says Malani. She notes that people should keep in mind that masks work well especially when they are worn, if needed, and you are fully vaccinated. And it may be reassuring to have a plan for testing and treatment if needed.

So the idea is, to mask or not to mask ... it's up to me?

You are the keeper of your own health and the best authority on your own risk factor.

It is worth noting that even though masks were often deemed ineffective in the U.S. in the early days of the pandemic, global evidence shows that N-95s and KN-95s worn properly do reduce your risk of contracting COVID (not to mention the flu and other respiratory ailments). And the U.S. did eventually embrace masks.

You may still need to mask up in certain places, like health-care faciliites although rules are changing, with many hospitals and doctors offices ending the requirement for staff and patients. But that doesn't mean you have to take yours off. And if you're concerned you can ask maskless staff that interact with you to put one on. (And if you see a carelessly worn mask, you can muster up your best public-health voice and remark a mask should go above the nose.)

And ... keep getting those boosters, right? Or maybe not so necessary if it's not an emergency?

The rapid development of effective COVID vaccines around the world has been a medical marvel. There will be periodic new boosters available. But don't necessarily expect to be prodded on your cellphone one NPR reporter just got a message that his vaccine reminders will cease.

So with the emergency state over, you may have to pay attention to your own vaccine schedule rather than hearing calls from the government to go get your booster.

And public health specialists note that you shouldn't just focus on COVID when it comes to vaccines. "Learn about and stay up to date on all vaccines," says Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. The first-ever vaccine for adults to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is expected to be available by September in the U.S.. Then there are easonal flu shots and likely a new COVID booster. "Adults will want to talk to their doctors this fall about all the vaccines they need," he says.

Are there any surprising lessons from this emergency?

Loneliness sucks more than you can imagine. Yeah, well maybe that's not a big surprise but the pandemic reinforced the toll that a lack of social contacts can take on mental health.

Dr. Malani is the lead researcher on a January 2023 survey of more than 2,500 people ages 50 to 80 conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation and supported by AARP and Michigan Medicine. The survey found that one in three people between the ages of 50 and 80 say they sometimes or often experience loneliness.

That's down from about half of older adults in June 2020, when remaining at home was advocated in order to help prevent contracting COVID-19. But it's still noteworthy, says Malani: "If anything, the pandemic has shown us just how important social interaction is for overall mental and physical health and how much more attention we need to pay to this from a clinical, policy and personal perspective."

She says that even for people at risk of severe disease from COVID-19 there are precautions to take to help avoid isolation including online conversations, meeting outdoors where risk of transmission is lower, continued masking and especially talking to your doctor to get a clear sense of your risk of severe disease.

"Some people who were treated for cancer years ago continue to worry that they are at high risk," says Malani. "A talk with your doctor can help you determine risk and precautions to help you engage with people and activities you enjoy." On a personal note, she says she masks when caring for patients but otherwise generally does not mask in meetings or even while traveling these days. "I pay attention to how I feel and am careful about not exposing anyone if I have any symptoms at all, even if mild," she says.

And when should I test for COVID in this post-emergency era?

Consider testing if you have been exposed to someone with the virus or have symptoms that could be COVID-19, especially if you fall into a high risk group, say the doctors we interviewed. And hang onto those masks. You'll want one if someone in your home tests positive so you can protect yourself and protect others if you test positive.

So can you sum it all up for me?

The end of the national emergency around COVID-19 means that there will be certain bureaucratic changes in the way COVID is handled, says Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at George Washington University. For example, she says, there will be less collection and posting of COVID data and fewer requirements for local public health departments to check in with the CDC.

But we're going to be living with COVID-19 for ... a while. Wen, who gave birth to her second child during the pandemic, says "it has become clear that this coronavirus will be with us for the foreseeable future and is an infectious disease that must be prevented, treated, and managed, like other serious conditions. The focus should shift from population-wide measures to safeguarding the most vulnerable and investing in better vaccines and treatments to help those at highest risk from severe outcomes due to COVID-19."

Editor's note: To all the medical professionals who have kindly shared their time and insights to answer questions for the coronavirus FAQ series even as many of them put themselves at risk of infection while caring for patients we offer our heartfelt gratitude.

Read this article:

The COVID 'emergency' is over. Should I relax precautions or still ... - NPR

Internal Medicine

Heavy drinking poses even greater risk for one in three Americans – Keck Medicine of USC

LOS ANGELES Two people regularly have a few alcoholic drinks daily. One develops liver disease. The other doesnt.

What explains the different outcomes?

The answer may lie in a condition known as metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that together raise the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other serious health problems. This syndrome, characterized by symptoms such as abdominal fat, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar, affects more than one in three Americans.

A new study from Keck Medicine of USC published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that heavy alcohol use may be dramatically more damaging to the liver for people with metabolic syndrome.

Our research suggests that metabolic syndrome and alcohol interact in such a way that they multiply the effect of alcohol on the liver, more than doubling the risk of advanced liver disease among heavy drinkers, said Brian P. Lee, MD, MAS, a hepatologist and liver transplant specialist with Keck Medicine who is the lead author on the study. Drinking is harmful to the liver, but especially so for this segment of the population.

In the study, heavy alcohol use was defined as two drinks (a total of 12 fluid ounces) a day for women and three drinks (a total of 18 fluid ounces) per day for men.

Lee and his colleagues were motivated to research a connection between advanced liver disease, alcohol use and metabolic syndrome after noticing that between 2009-2018, deaths from alcohol-associated liver disease surged in the United States by more than 30% while alcohol use, including heavy drinking, remained stable or declined.

During the last 20 years, the number of Americans with metabolic syndrome increased significantly. Previous research has shown that metabolic syndrome can cause liver abnormalities.

We therefore hypothesized that metabolic syndrome could be an important contributor to this unexplained surge in advanced liver disease, said Lee.

For the study, Lee and his fellow researchers used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which assesses the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States, pulling together samples representing the U.S. population 20 years or older between 1999 and 2018.

While the data revealed a slight increase in advanced liver disease with heavy alcohol use without metabolic syndrome, the greatest increase in advanced liver disease was found in those with combined heavy alcohol use and metabolic syndrome.

Lee believes that the increased risk of liver damage from drinking is a result of an increase in the amount of fat in the liver. A healthy liver contains less than five percent fat; any more than that can lead to inflammation and cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer and liver failure.

Both metabolic syndrome and drinking increase liver fat, and we think that the combination of the two accelerates the accumulation of fat in the liver and fuels inflammation, resulting in a greater chance of liver disease, said Lee.

He hopes the study will encourage physicians who screen and diagnose patients with metabolic syndrome to also ask about alcohol use and look for liver disease.

Our study indicates that these conditions may often coexist, and it is in patients best interest to address both issues, he said. Its also important for people with metabolic syndrome to realize they may be at an increased likelihood of advanced liver disease, and to monitor their drinking accordingly, he added.

The other authors of the study are Jennifer Dodge, MPH, assistant professor of research medicine and population and public health sciences with the Keck School of Medicine of USC; Wendy Mack, PhD, professor of population and public health sciences with the Keck School of Medicine; Adam Leventhal, PhD, professor of population and public health sciences with the Keck School of Medicine and director of the USC Institute for Addiction Science and Norah Terrault, MD, MPH, a Keck Medicine gastroenterologist and division chief of gastroenterology and liver diseases with the Keck School of Medicine.

Excerpt from:

Heavy drinking poses even greater risk for one in three Americans - Keck Medicine of USC

Internal Medicine

QC Kinetix (Summerville) Offers a Variety of Regenerative Medicine Therapies in Summerville, SC – Yahoo Finance

Summerville, SC - (NewMediaWire) - May 12, 2023 - QC Kinetix (Summerville) offers treatment interventions for chronic pain, hair loss, and musculoskeletal conditions. The biologic therapies log into the body's self-healing mechanisms to hasten recovery. When patients first arrive for a zero-obligation consultation, they are ushered into a modern treatment facility to discuss their condition and the ways regenerative treatment can help them. The medical providers at the QC Kinetix (Summerville) pain control clinic have extensive experience working with patients taken aback by shoulder pain, hip pain, wrist pain, joint pain, lower back pain, and pain due to arthritis, among other conditions.

The well-researched and clinically tested treatments administered at QC Kinetix (Summerville) are a product of medical providers who understand pain in all its facets. Their hair restoration treatment is designed to help with hair growth and is only available in a few clinics. The providers at the clinic are conversant with the top-level- care concept when providing regenerative medicine therapies. Once the patient's condition is examined and determined, the medical providers will develop a customized treatment plan that meets the patient's medical needs. The selected therapies aim to achieve the set treatment goals, which include easing pain once and for all.

The team of providers at QC Kinetix (Summerville) includes Michael Garzone, FACP, FHM, DO; Alexandra White, PA-C; and Marc Difronzo, PA-C, MMS. Garzone studied Internal Medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and has extensive experience in palliative care, hospitalist medicine, critical care medicine, and geriatrics. Long Island native Marc Difronzo holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and has served in the military as a Special Operations for 16 years. He has also had six deployments with South Carolina Army National Guard. Board-certified physician White has interests in movement and exercise and regenerative medicine.

The QC Kinetix (Summerville) pain control clinic has become a center of interest for patients seeking natural hair regrowth treatments. The hair loss treatment Summerville is ideal for clients frustrated with hair loss. During the consultation, the team will explain to the patient the different treatments and explore the most plausible strategies to regain hair follicles. The clinic's tailored hair loss treatment Summerville regimen is multifaceted and several before and after images of patients undergoing treatments have been published on the website to give patients a sneak peek of the protocol's restorative ability. The results of the treatment intervention will vary from one patient to the other depending on the underlying condition.

A tear or strain in the ankle can cause stinging pain in the area where the subtalar, talocrural, and inferior tibiofibular join together to facilitate motion. Before treatment, QC Kinetix (Summerville) doctors will look out for symptoms like bruising, swelling, and skin discoloration and perform physical examinations. Once the diagnosis is issued, the medical providers will administer regenerative therapies to neutralize pain and inflammation. A patient who has been reeling from ankle pain said, "I've been with these great people for about 2 years now and when I started I was having pain from my ankles to my hips and when I say it helps it really does it's so amazing how these injections gave me so much relief."

QC Kinetix (Summerville) medical providers have put their in-depth experience to practice by providing cost-effective regenerative therapies. The team can be contacted at (843) 303-9825. They operate from an advanced treatment facility located at 1565 Rose Dr Unit B, Summerville, SC, 29483. Additional resources are provided for medics and investors looking to invest in the QC Kinetic franchise.

Media Contact:

Company Name: QC Kinetix (Summerville)

Contact Person: Marc Difronzo

Phone: (843) 303-9825

Address: 1565 Rose Dr Unit B

City: Summerville

State: SC

Postal Code: 29483

Country: USA

Website: https://qckinetix.com/charleston/summerville-sc/

Here is the original post:

QC Kinetix (Summerville) Offers a Variety of Regenerative Medicine Therapies in Summerville, SC - Yahoo Finance

Internal Medicine

People on the Move: May 12 – Delaware Business Times

People on the Move is a rundown of recent hirings, promotions, appointments and other notable movements by professionals in the state. If youre interested in submitting an entry, please contact news@delawarebusinesstimes.com.

U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) was named to the National Advisory Board for President Joe Bidens re-election campaign. The National Advisory Board is a select group of national Democratic leaders who will serve as the primary surrogates for the Democratic National Committee and Biden-Harris campaign in 2023 and 2024.

U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware)

Im excited to join President Bidens national advisory board to stand beside my good friend Joe throughout his re-election campaign. Since they took office, President Biden and Vice President Harris have been fighting for everyday Americans and to protect our freedoms,Senator Tom Carper said in a statement. President Biden ran for the presidency in 2020 because he believed that we were in a battle for the soul of this nation and we still are. I encourage all Delawareans to join me in supporting the Biden-Harris campaign so we can all come together to help Joe and Kamala finish the job.

The stakes of this election couldnt be higher, President Joe Biden said. Our freedom and democracy are on the line. Im grateful to this group of diverse and dynamic leaders who will help us win the battle for the soul of America and finish the job for the American people.

Gawthrop Greenwood partner Carl W. Heckert has been elected secretary of the Delaware State Bar Associations Family Law Section during the esteemed organizations 100th anniversary year.

Heckert, who has more than 25 years of experiencepracticing family law in Delaware, has been a member of the Delaware State Bar Association since 1992 and will serve for the 2023-2024 section year.

Carl Heckert | PHOTO COURTESY OF GAWTHROP

Heckert is a member of theFamily Law Departmentin Gawthrop Greenwood, PCs Greater Wilmington office in Greenville, litigating and mediating divorce. In 2019, he became a Certified Family Law Mediator in Delaware following the states inaugural certification program by the Family Court of the State of Delaware as well as the Delaware State Bar Association. A certified Delaware family law mediator is a neutral third party who is charged with preserving confidentiality while helping couples resolve issues more creatively and amicably than they can in court, including custody, visitation, child support, property division and alimony.

Heckert also draws on his more than 30 years of real estate experience to settle real estate disputes during divorce proceedings. In January, he presented a seminar on the topic for Delaware family law judges and practitioners of theMelson-Arsht Inns of Court. He has also led Continuing Legal Education courses in family law matters including custody, protection from abuse and representing an unwilling minor as a guardian-ad-litem. Heckert received his law degree fromWidener University School of Lawand holds a Bachelor of Science degree from theUniversity of Delaware.

Wilmington Trust announced the addition ofSuzanne Lane as the senior relationship executive.

Lane will focus on asset managers and financial institution relationships for the loan market solutions team, employing innovative solutions to help meet individual clients goals. Throughout her 25-year career in corporate trust and banking, she has taken numerous leadership positions on multiple finance and asset management teams.

Lane is a passionate advocate about empowering women in the financial services industry and has served as a mentor for many women as they start or build their careers. Prior to joining Wilmington Trust, Lane was a relationship lead for U.S. Banks Global Platinum Corporate Trust clientele.Previously, she was Chief of Staff for Relationship Management in the Shareowner Services division of BNY Mellon. She also has held roles at KPMG, AIB, and State Street Bank.

Lane has managed large client service teams both domestically and in Europe. She holds a bachelors degree in business administration from Northeastern University, and has earned the CPA, CFA and CAIA designations.

Allen Friedland, M.D., MACP, FAAP, has been recognized with the Dema C. Daley Founders Award for his national impact as an educator, innovator and leader in internal medicine.

Allen Friedland | PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIANACARE

Given by the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, the award honors internal medicine doctors who have greatly influenced undergraduate and graduate medical education and the development of training programs in internal medicine.

Dr. Friedland has been a tireless advocate and innovator for internal medicine, medicine-pediatrics, and residency education over two decades, said Vinay Maheshwari, M.D., MHCDS, Hugh R. Sharp Jr., Chair of Medicine and physician executive of the Medical Group at ChristianaCare. He is a mentor to countless physicians across the country and beloved by those who have had the privilege of working alongside him. What is most evident about Dr. Friedland is how much he cares about those he has taught locally and nationally all of them will forever be a part of his family. This award is a testament to a lifetime career dedicated to graduate medical education.

Friedland is ChristianaCares section chief of Medicine-Pediatrics (Med-Peds) and has served as the director of ChristianaCares combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency program for 25 years. He also teaches medical students at ChristianaCare, which is a branch campus of Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

His accomplishments include:

Amanda Hewes, MS, education program manager at ChristianaCares Gene Editing Institute, has been named one of the 2023 Outstanding Delaware Women in STEM by Million Women Mentors, an international movement dedicated to encouraging girls and women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Amanda Hewes | PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTIANACARE

Hewes selection spotlights her dedication to engaging young people in the science of gene editing by introducing the Gene Editing Institutes CRISPR in a BoxTM educational toolkit into classrooms across Delaware and her commitment to bridging disparities in STEM education.

Im overjoyed to be honored among so many amazing women in this state, Hewes said. Its humbling to be considered and to stand alongside them. All of these women foster and lead dynamic communities of young women that inspire me every day. I hope that I can do the same by making young women in this state feel empowered through the work that I do.

Hewes joined ChristianaCares Gene Editing Institute in 2017 with a focus on expanding its CRISPR gene editing system in a cell-free environment. She was first author in a publication in Nature that established the highly innovative gene editing on a chip protocol that allowed CRISPR to edit DNA outside of the cell for the first time. This methodology enables researchers to take fragments of DNA extracted from human cells, place them in a test tube and precisely engineer multiple changes to the genetic code.

This gene editing system eventually led to the creation of the CRISPR in a Box toolkit. This innovative educational resource provides a way for students to learn about this exciting frontier of science through a hands-on exercise in which they use CRISPR gene editing to disrupt a synthetic gene within a plasmid. The simplicity of this experiment allowed for the reaction to be developed into a remarkable teaching tool that can be brought into most school laboratories containing basic laboratory equipment.

Once CRISPR in a Box was developed, Hewes recognized the potential it could have for high school and college students. She took on a new role as education program manager and expanded the Gene Editing 360 platform, which is the Gene Editing Institutes suite of educational tools for engaging students and the public.

Hewes was honored alongside 10 other women by Gov. John Carney, Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long and others at the Delaware State House with the signing of a proclamation to declare March 24, 2023, as Delaware Women and Girls in STEM Day.

After 35 years of wearing Service Unlimited, Inc. (SUI) green, Safety Coordinator David Parag announced his retirement closing out a remarkable career serving the company and the people of New Castle, Delaware, and the surrounding areas.

Originally hired in the mid-1970s as an HVAC mechanic, Parag has served our customers in many different roles over three different terms. In his second term with the SUI family, Parag served as an electrician for our sister company, Electric Unlimited, Inc. (EUI), and ultimately led the company. Parag again returned to SUI as the Director of Construction Quality. He eventually added safety responsibilities to that role. Parag most recently was Safety Coordinator because of his passion for doing things the safest way rather than the fastest or easiest way.

Parag holds a Master License in both HVAC and Electrical. He has conducted countless training sessions, delivered tons of how-to documents, and mentored dozens of team members including Vice President Brian Martinenza. Parag will always be known around SUI for his oversized brain and his oversized heart because he knows virtually everything, and cares deeply about the people in his life. He enjoys being a catalyst for personal development and professional growth.

View post:

People on the Move: May 12 - Delaware Business Times

Internal Medicine

Is It Safe to Take Allergy Medications Every Day? – Verywell Health

Key Takeaways

Warming temperatures have increased pollen concentration and prolonged allergy seasons. If you have hay fever or eye allergies from pollen exposure, you might be taking daily over-the-counter antihistamines for symptom relief.

But is it safe to be taking allergy medications every day? We asked allergy experts for their advice.

For people with year-round symptoms, taking allergy medications every day may be necessary and it's safe, according to Yul D. Ejnes, MD, MACP, a board-certified internal medicine specialist and chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

However, Ejnes warns against the long-term use of antihistamines with decongestantswhich are usually labeled with a D" after the brand namesuch as Benadryl-D or Claritin-D. The decongestants might not be suitable for people with high blood pressure, overactive thyroid, and heart problems in the long run.

Purvi Parikh, MD, a board-certified allergist and clinical assistant professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said that medications with decongestants can actually make allergies worse over time. This is a condition known as rebound congestion, where nasal congestion becomes more severe once the medication wears off. People can also develop an addiction to decongestants, she added.

The main safety concern with antihistamines is drowsiness or sedation, as it might disrupt daily tasks such as driving, cooking, or anything that requires focus and sharp attention.

Enjes said newer antihistamines such as Claritin (loratadine), Zyrtec (cetirizine), and Allegra (fexofenadine) aren't sedative and shouldn't pose any problems.

Some studies published in 2015 linked long-term antihistamine use to an increased risk of dementia, but this isn't really a concern with the newer class of drugs, according to Anil Nanda, MD, a board-certified allergist-immunologist.

The first-generation antihistamines were anticholinergics, which can block the action of a neurotransmitterthat's responsible for involuntary muscle movements, digestion, and urination. Nanda said the 2015 studies examined the impact of these older antihistamines and the participants were mostly older patients who might have been already at risk of dementia.

However, many anticholinergics, including Benadryl, have sedative properties that can cause confusion and increase the risk of falls in older adults.

For those exposed to allergens every day, like pets or pollen, Nandas said its best to start with changes to your environment. For example, you could keep your windows closed during pollen seasons. Or, if you have a pet allergy, you can avoid sleeping with your pets or try to bathe them more often.

However, as a previous pet owner himself, Nandas said he understands how some of these changes may not be possible. Treatments like immunotherapyan "allergy shot"or allergen desensitization can help reduce or eliminate allergy symptoms over time by building tolerance in your immune system.

Nasal steroid sprays are also recommended by many allergy experts. Steroids often get a bad rap, but the steroids in nasal sprays are anti-inflammatory and they're much safer than steroid injections or pills, Nandas explained.

Allergy medicines are not a one size fits all, Nandas said. When trying to find the right treatment for your symptoms, visit an allergist or immunologist for the best recommendation tailored to your lifestyle and needs.

It's generally safe to take the newer generation of antihistamines daily if you have year-round allergy symptoms. But make sure to avoid anything that has a "D" in its brand name, which stands for decongestants. Long-term use of decongestants will worsen your allergy symptoms.

Go here to see the original:

Is It Safe to Take Allergy Medications Every Day? - Verywell Health