Newsletter  - Summer 2007

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Welcome to the Department of Surgery Newsletter. We hope you find this information helpful.

From Where l Sit............
Richard L. Gamelli, MD, FACS

On the evening of Friday, June 15^th, the Department held the annual welcome and farewell dinner for the Surgical Residency and Fellowship programs.  New to this celebration was the recognition of the first Juan Angelats Service Award recipient.  In the tradition of the altruistic nature of Dr. Juan Angelats, and to acknowledge his lifelong service, last fall the Department established the Juan Angelats Service Award.  His medical missions to Peru have been the focus of a number of our departmental newsletter articles.  These missions, which bring healthcare to the underserved in Peru have not been just a one-time event,  but have been a lifetime of service and giving by Dr. Angelats.  This year’s awardee is a person that truly emulates the qualities that distinguish Juan from all others.  The 2007 recipient of the Juan Angelats Service Award is a Chicago native and is a 1980 graduate of Loyola Stritch School of Medicine.  He also completed his residency in general surgery in 1986 and his fellowship in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 1988, both here in our department at Loyola.  Our recipient is the very epitome of what this award stands for.  His selfless and unyielding service to his fellow man has been demonstrated time and time again.  He is an equal opportunity humanitarian.  His service is wide and varied as is his good will.  His efforts have reached as far as Ethiopia, Uganda, Ecuador and Rome and as near as Oak Brook, Illinois.  He has been part of a missionary team, a medical team as well as playing chaperone to a troop of girl scouts in Rome as well as in New York City.  It has become his family’s tradition to share their Christmas with the poverty-stricken, sick, homeless, and ex-offenders of the Chicago-land area.  Our goal in establishing this award was to promote and recognize selfless giving of time and energy to the world community and hope it would serve as an impetus to inspire future acts of good will.   In the words of the Nobel peace prize winner – Albert Schweitzer “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” 

If example serves to influence others, then the example that Dr. David B. Calandra has set is one to be held up as a model for all others to aspire to.  His nomination by Gary Lipinski, MD, Regional VP for Medical Staff Services and Chief Medical Officer, Adventist Midwest Health was a powerful accounting of Dave’s great works.  That Dr. Lipinski was David’s nominee is all the more a Loyola thing as Gary himself is a Loyola Medical School graduate and had worked with Juan while at Loyola.  Initially it was Gary who was going to accept the award on Dave’s behalf as he is currently undergoing induction treatment for a bone marrow transplant at the MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas.  However, since Dave’s initial induction has gone well, he was allowed a pass to go home and was able to be present with us to address our group and accept the award.  

Dr. Calandra’s comments challenged each one of us to reflect upon what is truly important in the world and our lives.  Quoting from Albert Pike – “What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”  I believe this best reflects Dr. Calandra’s message and is one that we will all carry forward with us and be a guiding principle in our future actions.   

A week after he received the award, we spoke with Dr. Calandra in Texas, where he returned to continue his treatment at the MD Anderson Hospital in Houston.  Here are his thoughts on receiving the award:  

“It meant a lot to be at the dinner to receive the award because I spent 17 years at Loyola and still have many great friends there. It’s remarkable to receive this award. Hopefully, it’ll bring others to recognize the need for service. When you do mission work, it gives more back to you because of the relationships you build with the people you’re helping.” 

“There is nothing more powerful than helping someone in need. I think it is what God calls us to do. The key in my life has been to recognize God’s call and say yes.”  

“Most rewarding,” he said, “is passing on his love of service to his children.” 

The Department of Surgery sends its heartfelt congratulations and prayers to Dr. Calandra.

Feature Articles
 

2007 Resident Service Project Award 

Dr. Brewster joined the general surgery residency program in July 2001 after receiving his MD from St. Louis University School of Medicine in May of that same year.  He earned the Masters of Arts in Bioethics and Health Policy from Loyola University Medical Center in December 2005.    To add to his impressive CV, Luke was awarded his doctorate in Cell Biology, Neurobiology, & Anatomy also from Loyola, in December 2006.    This current award is one in a long and continually growing list of accomplishments this young surgeon has earned.    He recently completed a three year research fellowship in the Burn & Shock Trauma Institute of Loyola Medicine.   He was elected by his peers in December 2006  to represent them in hospital-wide Graduate Medical Education issues.   Luke also developed an education module to teach residents how to deliver bad news to patients and their families.    

Once again, congratulations to Dr. Brewster.   His resident project has the potential to have far-reaching effects on the young minds it touches.    Perhaps in the future this project will have come full-circle and  the Department of Surgery can grant this same award to a graduate of Luke’s program.   

Visiting Professor Commends Loyola’s Strength In Pancreatic Surgery

When William H. Nealon, M.D., professor of surgery and radiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, lectured recently as the Puestow-Freeark Visiting Professor, he acknowledged the rich tradition and history of pancreatic surgery within the Department of Surgery of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

During his visit to the Loyola University Medical Center campus in early May, Dr. Nealon made a point of having his photo taken with the commemorative bust of Charles B. Puestow, M.D., for whom the visiting professorship is named. Dr. Puestow, known worldwide as the creator of the Puestow procedure to treat chronic pancreatitis, was a surgeon and researcher at Edward Hines Jr. Veteran Affairs Hospital and Loyola University Medical Center from 1945 until the early 1970s. The visiting professorship also recognizes Robert J. Freeark, M.D., former chair of the Stritch Department of Surgery from 1975-1995 and renowned surgeon who died in 2006.  

While Dr. Nealon still believes in the Puestow procedure’s benefits, other surgeons, especially those outside North America, are instead advocating removal of the pancreas or other alternative approaches. “I have written many articles about the Puestow procedure and in some ways I am considered one of its remaining defenders in North America,” said Dr. Nealon, who is director of the hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery service at the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston. “It was exciting to come to the place where the Puestow procedure was created.”  

A further connection to Loyola was made during his May 9 Puestow-Freeark Visiting Professor grand rounds lecture, entitled, “Management of Peri-Pancreatic Fluid Collections: Evolution of Concepts.” The surgeon discussed how he developed his theory on the treatment of acute and chronic pancreatitis that focuses on the abnormalities of the pancreatic duct. Some of the first articles he wrote on this topic in the late 1980s were based on publications by Dr. Freeark and Gerard Aranha, M.D., Loyola’s Division of Surgical Oncology , an expert in  pancreatic cancer. 

Through years of research, hundreds of patient studies and numerous publications, Dr. Nealon showed that the behavior of fluid collection is determined by the pancreatic duct, which is where the fluid containing these digestive enzymes resides before leaking in the pancreas. The leaking of these enzymes can cause extensive damage in the pancreatic tissue. 

In the past, the way clinicians managed acute and chronic pancreatitis was to focus on how the fluid collection looked in the pancreas, he explained. “Through my research, I showed that if you treat the abnormalities of the pancreatic duct, then you can solve the problems with the fluid collection, because the problem is with the pancreatic duct,” Dr. Nealon said.  

“I organized the lecture to review how my thoughts evolved during my career, especially for medical students and residents,” explained the surgeon, who has won numerous teaching awards.  “In the first article I wrote in 1989, I started with the observation about the pancreatic duct. Then in the 1990s, I accumulated the ductal anatomy of hundreds and hundreds of patients.” 

His next step was to create a system for categorizing the ductal changes. “Then I began to correlate the changes with acute and chronic pancreatitis,” noted Dr. Nealon. His work to classify all the ductal changes in acute and chronic pancreatitis was published in a textbook this year as an illustration entitled, “The Nealon Classification of Ductal Changes.” 

However, as with any new idea, change comes slowly. “This concept is very slowly gaining ground. I read once that if you have a new idea and publish once or twice, your idea is almost certain to be forgotten,” Dr. Nealon said. “What I’ve done with many recent papers is to re-prove the fact that the duct is a dominant player in the behavior of fluid collection, and today there is far more recognition of this fact. 

“But there are still many clinicians who think that if you focus on fluid collection, you don’t have to consider anything else,” Dr. Nealon said. Along with surgeons, interventional radiologists and gastroenterologists also may treat patients with pancreatitis and each specialist may take a different approach. 

“I believe my data shows very strongly that if you choose the wrong modality, the patient will do poorly,” stressed Dr. Nealon. “I’m slowly getting more people to use the duct as the way to treat the fluid collection and by choosing the duct as your guide, you can choose the correct modality for treatment.”

Schaumburg Benevolent Firefighters Association

Hits a Home Run For The Loyola Burn Unit 

Each year the Schaumburg Benevolent Firefighters Association holds a Softball Tournament to benefit the Loyola Burn Unit.  Firefighters from twenty local fire departments gather to compete in a 16-inch softball tournament to determine a champion team.   However, the team that really comes out the winner is the Loyola Burn Team. 

This charitable fund-raiser began in 1993.    The Loyola Burn Center has been the recipient of the contributions raised for the past eight years.  This generous group of firefighters works throughout the year to make this event a success.   The end result of their efforts has led to donations in excess of $200,000 to our Burn Center.  These funds have been used in the past for everything from the purchase of cardiac chairs and blanket warmers to the publication of a burn manual printed in both Spanish and English to assist patients and their families through the burn recovery process. 

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, August 18^th at Olympia Fields in Schaumburg located at the corner of Martingale and Schaumburg Roads.  Please feel free to come out and view this fun and exciting event.  Local fire departments will begin the competition at 9:00 am.  All are invited to come and enjoy the free barbeque luncheon offered from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.   The food is being donated and prepared by the generous folks from Weber Grill.  A silent auction of donated prizes is held throughout the day.  The highlight for the Burn Team is the annual softball competition between the Loyola Burn Unit and Alexian Brother’s Hospital.  They will begin play at 3:00 pm.    Anyone interested in joining the Loyola Burn Team should contact Laura Incaprero in the Burn Unit at (708) 216-3988. 

If you are unable to attend this day of fun, we hope you will purchase a raffle ticket and take a chance at winning a $1,000 Grand Prize as well as other prizes from one of the many local vendors who have donated to this wonderful fundraiser.   Tickets are $5.00 each and can be purchased through Karen Pyrz at (708) 327-2679 or through the Burn Unit at (708) 216-3988.  All our encouraged to help the Schaumburg Firefighters in their efforts to hit another home run for the Loyola Burn Team!
 

Resident Annual Welcome/Farewell Dinner 

On Friday, June 15, the Department of Surgery hosted its annual Welcome/Farewell dinner for incoming and outgoing residents.   This year’s event was held in the Morton Arboretum’s Ginkgo room, situated among majestic trees, cool running waterfalls and a symphony of cicadas.  

The evening’s program  began with a welcome by Dr. Raymond Joehl, and introductions of faculty and staff were made by Dr. Richard Gamelli.     The night was filled with numerous awards and presentations.  The Robert J. Freeark, MD Trauma Resident Award was presented to Kevin McGill, MD.    The Jack R. Pickleman, MD Resident Teaching Award was presented to Sewit Amde, MD.    Intern of the Year Award went to Christine Gresik, MD.   Faculty Teaching Awards were presented to;  Dr. John Santaniello -Voted Attending Physician of the Year by Interns; Dr. Vinod Winston -Voted Attending Physician of the Year by Chiefs; Dr. Katharine Yao-Medical Student Teaching Award.     

This year saw the conferral of two newly established awards.     Dr. Luke Brewster was successful in competing for The Resident Project Service Award.    The Juan Angelats, MD Service Award was bestowed upon Dr. David Calandra.    

The evening ended on a light and humorous note with  “ faculty roasts”   by senior residents, and “senior resident roasts”  by interns.    
 

Senior Technical Support Analyst Recognized for 21 Years with The Department of Surgery 

On Friday, June 15^th the Department of Surgery threw a “surprise” luncheon to commemorate Pam Ignarski’s twenty-one years of service.   To say Pam was shocked would be an under-statement.   Her husband, Stan, children, Jonathan; Anna; and William as well as her mother, Gerry were in attendance.    They joined the numerous current and former faculty and staff in the celebration.    

To the testament of Pam’s effect on those that she has worked with these past 21 years, a continuous video was shown which included quotes and pictures from all those that have had the pleasure of working with Pam.  More to the point, all those that she has given technical and not-so technical assistance.   Pam could probably write a book on some of the 911 calls she has fielded that turned out to be as simple as the “user” not having a cord connected.    I think everyone of us at one point has asked for assistance and then had to sheepishly say, “oops.”    She always takes those types of happenings in her stride and just keeps smiling.    

Director of Administration, Tim O’Hern, expands on this, “Pam has been an important part of the Department of Surgery for many years. No one would argue how important Pam is when they have a computer problem. However, what most people do not know is how much work Pam does at the Departmental level.   Her job has been one that is continually evolving.  Many years ago that might have been helping an individual with slides or the forever continuing computer problem. Today it is that same computer problem, but also web design, servers and electronic newsletters. Throughout all of this change Pam has been our go-to person and she has done all of it with a quiet smile.” 

Pam joined the department in 1986, fresh out of college.   Back in those days, she was sans husband and kids.    To put this in perspective, gasoline was at a national average of .87 cents per gallon, a first-class stamp cost .22 cents, a gallon of milk averaged $2.00 and Ronald Reagan was president.    Times have changed, however, the one constant through the years, is the supporting nature Pam is famous for.     

Congratulations Pam!   Here’s to another 21 years…

Clinical Spotlight

Surgeon Advances Laparoscopy Surgery

In his dual roles as program director of Loyola’s general surgery residency program and chief of surgery at Edward Hines Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital, Raymond J. Joehl, M.D., F.A.C.S., needs to think big. But as a general surgeon specializing in laparoscopic and gastrointestinal surgery, this Loyola professor of surgery works through tiny holes. 

Joehl has been at the forefront of laparoscopic GI surgery since its inception in 1990. From laparoscopic cholecystectomy, he has advanced to performing laparoscopic repair of inguinal hernias, laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication for severe reflux disease and hiatal hernia, and laparoscopic splenectomy. Even colon malignancies can now be removed with small incisions, he said. 

Richard L .Gamelli, M.D., F.A.C.S., The Robert J. Freeark Professor and chairman,
Department of Surgery, likened Joehl’s surgical skills to Michael Jordan’s talent as a basketball player. “Ray is a great surgeon,” Gamelli said. “He has unique and distinct skills in laparoscopic surgery, particularly in the management of reflux esophagitis.” 

Laparoscopic surgery, Joehl said, appealed to him because of its technical challenges and its benefits to the patient. “Recovery is so much faster and far less morbid,” he said. 

Teaching residents 

Joehl joined Loyola and its affiliate, Hines, in 2003, after closure of Chicago’s Lakeside VA Hospital, where he was chief of the surgical service. Hines VA Hospital is one of the largest VA health care facilities in the country, with every surgical service except transplant and obstetrics. One third of Loyola’s chief residency in general surgery is spent at Hines, where nearly 5,500 surgical procedures are performed each year, according to Joehl. With all teaching services at the VA, surgery residents get maximal benefit, he said.  

“Trainees get to see a different patient population than they would at Loyola,” Joehl said. 

When Joehl did his general surgery residency at Pennsylvania State University’s Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in the 1970s, junior residents worked with a preceptor surgeon in the operating room. Now medical schools are moving toward helping junior residents learn surgical skills through the use of simulation in a skills lab—before they ever operate on a patient. Loyola surgical residents, for instance, will soon master simulated exercises, including suturing on rubber tubing inside a box, before they can assist at an operation. 

“Studies have shown that you can jump-start the learning curve for novice surgical residents and have them begin assisting in surgery with greater technical skill and confidence,” Joehl said. “My challenge is to develop more of these simulated exercises and make sure they work.” 

What Joehl is doing must be working, because he has won numerous teaching awards, both at his previous institution and most recently the 2005 Attending Physician of the Year Award presented by Loyola surgical residents. 

Joshua Eberhardt, MD, a recently graduated Loyola general surgery resident, said Joehl is always willing to discuss aspects of patient management with residents, and he values their input. “Dr. Joehl places the educational process first and foremost when making decisions,” Eberhardt said. “He is a masterful technician.… He embodies the art and science of surgery.” 

Family man 

Joehl and his wife Julia, a special education teacher, have six grown children. Interestingly, his personal and professional lives came together because of two of his offspring. In 1997, he performed his first laparoscopic donor nephrectomy for a live-donor kidney transplant. Years later, two of the surgeons he helped train to do the procedure performed the live-donor kidney transplants for his children, Hillarie and Sarah, who donated kidneys to Jake and Claudia, respectively. The Joehls also have two other children, Sam and Hannah, both adopted. 

Those who know Ray Joehl appreciate his personable nature. Said Dr. Gamelli, “Ray is a gentleman, who is respectful of others and a true professional.”

Announcements

Faculty Changes Within The Department

Farewell

Barry Newman, MD, FACS, FAAP, FACCP has resigned from his position as chief of pediatric surgery with the Loyola University Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital after 11 years of service to the Department of Surgery and Pediatrics.  Dr. Newman and his wife Jane will relocate to Portland, Oregon where he has accepted a position as medical director of Providence Medical Group.   There will be a farewell luncheon for Dr. Newman on Friday, August 3^rd at noon in the Department of Surgery conference room, located on the third floor of the EMS Building.  All are welcome to stop by and wish Dr. Newman the best with his new position. 

Masakatsu Goto, MD, PhD left the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute and the Department of Surgery on June 30, 2007.  Dr. Goto began working at Loyola University Chicago in the Department of Pediatrics in 1982.  He joined the Department of Surgery as a research associate with the late Dr. Mohammed Sayeed in 2001 before becoming a research associate professor in 2002.  The Burn and Shock Trauma Institute had a farewell party for Dr. Goto on June 6, 2007.  Dr. Gamelli presented an engraved pen, business card holder and clock to Dr. Goto.    He was a great asset to the Department and will be greatly missed.   

Welcome 

Krishna Mannava, MD was appointed assistant professor within the Division of Vascular Surgery on July 1^st.  Dr. Mannava completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Akron in 1996.  He graduated from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in 2000.  Dr. Mannava went on to complete his residency at Case Western Reserve University Hospital Health Systems in Cleveland in 2005.  It was there that he was presented with the Chief Resident Teaching Award.  Most recently, Dr. Mannava graduated from a Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans.  We look forward to having him as part of our vascular team. 

Loretto Glynn, MD rejoined our faculty on July 9^th  as an associate professor within the Department of Surgery with a joint appointment in the Department of Pediatrics.  Dr. Glynn has also been named the associate director for Surgical Services of the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital.  Dr. Glynn received her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Loyola University and her medical degree in 1989 from Rush Medical College.  She completed her residency at the University of Illinois Chicago where she also completed a fellowship in pediatric critical care.  Dr. Glynn also completed a fellowship in general surgery at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City in June 1999. 

Dr. Glynn served at Loyola as an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery and Pediatrics and director of Pediatric Trauma from 1999 until 2003.   Since September 2003, she has been at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and serving as the medical director of the ECMO Program at the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital.  We are pleased to welcome her back! 

New Appointments 

Thomas Esposito MD, MPH, FACS, was appointed chief of the Division of Trauma, Burns and Critical Care.   The position was previously held by Frederick Luchette, MD, FACS.   Dr. Luchette has decided to step back a bit and concentrate on general surgery.   

Margo Shoup, MD, has assumed the title of chief, Section of Surgical Oncology previously held by Gerard Aranha, MD, FRCS(C), FACS.   In addition, she will continue her responsibilities as chief of the Section of GI Surgical Oncology. 

Level I Trauma Center Designation

The Loyola University Medical Center has been verified by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level I Trauma Center, the only ACS verified trauma center in the State of Illinois.    The verification is valid for a three year duration.    

This additional accolade supplements the state of Illinois designation as a Level I Trauma Center, delivering the highest standards of care to injured patients.

Resident Corner
 

The Other Side of the Table 
By:  Christine Gresik, M.D.

My last article focused on the progress I have made as an intern and the changes I have gone through as this year has progressed.  I wrote of the wisdom I have gained and of my experience that has been superb in both quality and quantity.  Little did I know that the majority of my learning would actually take place during these last 6 weeks of my internship.  This learning wasn’t as the result of a profound experience in the operating room, a long night on call, or as the result of reading another chapter in my Sabiston text, rather it was when I stepped onto the other side of the operating table and became a patient myself. 

Approximately 6 months ago, my family began the search to find the most compatible kidney donor for my oldest sister suffering with renal failure, I am now proud to acknowledge that I was blessed to have been chosen as her donor.  Not only was I able to contribute to her healing, but I now know that my experience has made me a more empathetic and caring physician.  I sure will never look at many things the same way again and this article provides me an outlet to help many of my colleagues see through this looking glass as well. 

Surgery is stressful.  We as residents may get nervous that we will forget the name of a terminal artery or hold our tissue forceps incorrectly in front of our attending, but we must not forget who bears the most stress of all…our patient.  What I have learned most through this experience is that if we do a good job as physicians and communicate clearly to our patients, their hospital stay and surgery may not be all that stressful after all. 

 Despite my fund of medical knowledge and exposure to medical technology on a daily basis, the hospital is still a scary place.  We don’t have time to spend at our patient’s bedside to explain everything as it happens for them, but we can take the time to listen to our patient’s when they explain how an experience was for them and answer questions when necessary.  There are many things that we can do to make the hospital a much more comfortable environment. Some pearls I learned…Be frugal with lab draws, they hurt and patients are often never even told these results.  If a patient wears corrective lenses the recovery room can be a frightening place in its blurry wonder, do your best to make the environment comfortable. Post op vomiting hurts, incisions do not like increased intra-abdominal pressure, be generous with anti-emetics.  And finally getting up out of bed for the first time is a huge accomplishment, let your patient’s know how proud you are of them, it is a feeling unlike any other.  I could clearly go on and on about the minuscule details of my hospitalization but won’t bore with details.  The bottom line is that you obviously do not need to have surgery to be a good surgeon; you just have to think like a patient sometimes.   

Keep this in mind the next time you are rounding…we only physically spend ~5 minutes in our patients rooms each day, but they spend 1440! The next time you breeze through their room so quickly, stop and think about what the experience has been like for them, I promise that they will teach you a lot more than any textbook out there.  Maybe there really is a reason we spend 80 hours here every week after all!

Department of Surgery Educators Attend “Creating a Simulation Center” Conference at Mayo Clinic 

Dr. Raymond Joehl, Dr. Sharfi Sarker and Ms. Kim Echert represented the Department of Surgery at a recent conference held at Mayo Clinic entitled “From the Ground Up: Simulation Center Building Blocks.”  The objective was to learn some of the “do’s and don’ts” about setting up a Simulation Center as we proceed in our plans to enhance simulation training for our Surgery trainees.  

A diverse group attended this one-day seminar held at the Mayo Multidisciplinary Simulation Center (MMSC), a $6 million center that opened within the last 20 months.  Participants at this seminar ranged from medical and nursing educators, administrators, architects, to representatives from private industry, and came from as far way as Japan.    

The MMSC occupies 10,000 square feet and is located at the periphery of the Mayo Clinic campus, with the intent of serving many programs.  The mission of the staff was formulated to meet the needs of their customers.  Contrary to what might be expected, their customers are not the individual trainees, but rather the educational programs sponsoring the diverse educational exercises held there.  As the name implies, the MMSC is intended for use by many specialties and several types of learners – nurses, residents, students, and allied health staff.  Each educational exercise is customized to meet the needs of the respective program.   

The Center is comprised of six standardized patient rooms with adjoining observation/debrief rooms, a large conference room, a room dedicated to task trainers, four simulation rooms depicting an OR, ER, ICU and endovascular suite, a control room with each simulation room, a master control room, and a reception and administrative area.  Three teaching modalities are used:  mannequin, task trainer, and standardized patients.   The design of the MMSC was based largely upon those elements used in a theatrical setting, and flexibility was a primary concern.  As such, they are able to simulate a mass casualty scenario utilizing up to 18 different stations, including the loading dock.  The Center even features a private entrance and area for standardized patients’ use designed to avoid chance encounters with trainees.  Additional emphasis was placed upon providing the necessary private setting to review and debrief the learner after each simulation.  

The one-day seminar covered topics as comprehensive as staffing, budgeting, developing a business plan, scheduling, A/V considerations, and equipment evaluation and purchasing.  Borrowing from the expertise shared at this seminar, Dr. Joehl and Ms. Echert are collaborating with various faculty and residents to develop appropriate curricula and investigate equipment purchases to increase simulation training for Loyola surgical trainees.   

Resident Appointments Announced 

Dr. Joehl is pleased to announce the appointments of the following individuals to assist him in leading the General Surgery residency program this next academic year.   

Melissa Hulvat, M.D. will serve as Chief Administrative Resident and Shawn Obi, D.O. will serve as Chief Education Resident.  

Both are exemplary residents in our program and we look forward to their contributions this next year. 

Loyola Dominates Chicago Committee on Trauma Resident Paper Competition  

Loyola’s Department of Surgery Residency Program demonstrated its academic prowess at this year’s American College of Surgeons Chicago Committee on Trauma (CCOT) annual resident paper competition.  David Schneider took 1^st place in the basic science category for his paper, entitled “Natural Killer (NKT) cells regulate the inflammatory phase of cutaneous wound healing” and Michael Mosier won in the clinical category, with his paper, “Microbial contamination in burn patient’s undergoing urgent intubation as part of their early airway management”. Each will receive a five hundred dollar cash award for their achievement.   

The CCOT resident paper competition is held annually and solicits scientific papers in the two categories from residents and fellows in the greater Chicago area.  The papers are then scored by a panel of faculty judges from Chicago trauma centers.  Four, two from each category, are selected for presentation.  The judges then make a final decision after presentation.  Of the nine contestants submitting papers this year, four were from Loyola.  In addition to Mosier and Schneider, Kurt Melstrom presented his paper on “Oxy R gene expression of pseudomonas aeruginosa  regulates the differentiation of inflammatory macrophagics following sepsis” and was awarded second place in the basic science category.  Ahmad Khaldi from the Loyola Neurosurgery residency program also submitted his paper, “Role of CT angiography in the evaluation of vascular injury following gunshot wound to the neck in a stable patient: Case report and review of the literature”.   

The competition was held June 13^th at Francesca’s on Taylor.  Loyola faculty who served as judges were, Dr. Lawrence Reed and Dr. Carol Schermer.  Dr. Thomas Esposito, Vice Chair of the CCOT, coordinated the event.   

Dr. Schneider and Dr. Mosier will move on in the competition to present their papers at the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma regional competition to be held in Chicago during November.  The first place winners from all regional competitions will present their work in March at the Committee on Trauma national meeting in Las Vegas. The winners of the national competition will have the opportunity to have their work published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Alcohol Screening And Brief Intervention In Trauma Centers

On April 20^th, the Alcohol Research Program of the Burn & Shock Trauma Institute sponsored a conference entitled “Alcohol Screening And Brief Intervention In Trauma Centers.”   The conference, which drew over fifty participants from the great lakes region, was co-sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administraion (NHTSA).  The purpose of the conference was to give an overview of alcohol use problems and their relation to injury.   The program also described the concept of screening and brief intervention.   It presented examples of how it works to reduce risky drinking behavior when administered to patients at trauma centers after they’ve been injured.   Drs. Gamelli and Kovacs welcomed the attendees and Drs. Esposito and Schermer along with other regional experts on the topic gave presentations.  The event was coordinated by Katrina Hubbard, RN, the institute’s injury prevention specialist.  For more information on alcohol screening and brief intervention , go to the American College of Surgeons website at:  www.facs.org/trauma/injmenu.html  then click on COT  Quick Guide.

Calcium Imaging Microscope System 

In the 1990’s, the late Dr. Mohammed Sayeed purchased a Calcium Imaging Microscope System for his research.  Unfortunately, the equipment has not worked properly for many years due to missing parts.  We are happy to announce that the equipment is now back up and running again.  Several upgrades have been purchased to restore this state-of-the-art machinery.  The following paragraphs describe how the new system works: 

In cell physiology, a secondary messenger system (also known as a second messenger system) is a method of cell signaling where the signaling molecule does not enter the cell, but rather utilizes a cascade of events that transduces the signal into a cellular change. The binding of a signaling molecule (ligand) to a receptor changes the receptor and causes it to expose a binding site for a "G-protein". The resultant signal from the ligand binding to a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) facilitates the opening of calcium channels and allows these ions to rapidly enter the cell. This influx of calcium is a fundamental cellular signal transduction mechanism and central to many important physiological functions found in all cell types of the body including muscle contraction, neuronal activity and leukocyte motility.

Calcium imaging is designed to show the calcium status of a tissue. This is made difficult by calcium’s chemical properties Fura-2 is a ratiometric fluorescent dye which binds to free intracellular calcium ions and is used in calcium imaging. GPCR activation in cells produces a calcium influx so cells pre-loaded with Fura-2 will exhibit a profound change in fluorescent signal following ligand activation of a GPCR. This energy change can be detected by fluorosecent signal detection unit attached to a camera. An image is created which can be analyzed according to intensity, ultimately reflecting the Ca status within a cell of interest. 

Dr. Fletcher White currently occupies the laboratory in the Burn & Shock Trauma Institute where this piece of equipment resides.  Dr. White and members of his laboratory are currently utilizing this equipment for his research.  For additional information, please contact Dr. White at (708) 216-6872.

Resident Research Information Day 

The Department of Surgery and The Burn & Shock Trauma Institute (BSTI) held a “Resident Research Information Day” on April 11, 2007. The goal was to provide information about the research opportunities and research expertise available to our residents who are considering research training following the first two years of surgical training. All categorical surgical residents in their intern year attended the research information day.  

Dr. Richard Gamelli, chairman of the Department of Surgery and director of BSTI, opened the proceedings with an introductory talk, which highlighted how research accomplishments would set a resident apart and pave the way for a career in academic surgery. He further emphasized that research training during residency would enhance the chances of securing a fellowship in any chosen field of surgery in a prestigious fellowship program. 

Dr. Ravi Shankar, associate director of the NIH Trauma Research Training Program and Dr. Elizabeth Kovacs who is the director for Research at the BSTI emphasized the breadth of research opportunities available to residents and discussed the mechanisms of funding for the training. They pointed out that aside from clinically relevant basic science projects the program also offered the opportunity to engage in translational and clinical research projects. Residents are encouraged to obtain either a Masters degree in Clinical Research or Medical Bioethics or a PhD degree through Loyola University’s graduate program.  

The residents then had the opportunity to talk to the surgical residents who are currently in their research training. During a luncheon they gained a better perspective of the importance of productive research training and the merits of obtaining an additional degree. After the luncheon, the residents met with each faculty member individually to learn about the faculty’s research programs and initiatives to begin to think of the most suitable program for them.  

The day ended with a tour of the research laboratories and core facilities of BSTI to get an idea of the supportive research environment that would be a part of their experience during the research years.

Summer Student Research Program 

Each year faculty members of the Department of Surgery and the Burn and Shock Trauma Institute participate in Loyola’s “Summer Student Research Program.” This program allows medical, undergraduate, and high school students to work for an eight to ten week period under the supervision of a faculty member.  These students are paid a generous stipend for their participation in laboratory and medical research.  

This year we are pleased to have twelve students participating in the program.  The following list the faculty member and the student/s under their supervision: 

Dr. John Callaci:

Sara Fenton - undergraduate student at St. Louis University
Matthew Rachwalski - recent graduate from the University of Illinois
Patrick Strotman - undergraduate student at Brown University
Denise Sulo - recent graduate from the University of Illinois

Dr. Douglas Faunce:

Megan Mietelski - medical student at Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM)

Dr. Howard Greisler:

Justin Griffin - medical student at SSOM  

Dr. Elizabeth Kovacs:

Lilliana Franco - recent graduate from Morton East High School
Emily Jacobs - undergraduate student at the University of Wisconsin
Judith Landeros  - recent graduate from Morton East High
Kelly Laurenti - undergraduate student at St. Louis University

Dr. Carol Schermer:

Daniel Tapia - medical student at SSOM

Dr. Katharine Yao:

Rachael Davis - medical student at SSOM  

Publications/Presentations/Awards

Publications

Bhatti, A.F., Leon, L.R., Labropoulos, N., Rubinas, T.L., Rodriguez, H., Kalman, P.G., Schneck, M., Psalms, S.B. and Biller, J.: Free-Floating Thrombus Of The Carotid Artery: Literature Review And Case Reports.  Journal of Vascular Surgery 2007: 45: pp 199-205. 

Brewster, L.P., Risucci, D.A., Joehl, R.J., Temeck, B.K., Littooy, F.N., Blair, P. and  Sachdeva, A.K.:  Comparison of Resident Self-Assessments With Trained Faculty And Standardized Patient Assessments of Clinical And Technical Skills In A Structured Educational Module. (submitted) J Surg Education.

Cohen, M.J., Carroll, C., He, L.K., Muthu, K., Gamelli, R.L., Jones, S.B. and Shankar, R.:  Severity Of Burn Injury And Sepsis Determines The Cytokine Responses Of Bone Marrow Progenitor-Derived Macrophages. J Trauma. 2007 Apr;62(4):858-67. 

Crandall, M., Luchette, F.A., Esposito, T.J., West, M., Shapiro, M. and Bulger, E.:  Attempted Suicide And The Elderly Trauma Patient: Risk Factors And Outcomes.  J Trauma, Infection, Crit Care Burns. 2007;62:1021-28. 

Emmanuele, M.A., Emmanuele, N.V., Gamelli, R.L., Kovacs, E.J. and Lapaglia, N.:  Effects Of Insulin On Hepatic Inflammation Induced By Ethanol And Burn Injury In A Murine Mocel Of Critical Illness. J Burn Care Res. 2007 May-June; 28(3):490-499. 

Gamelli, R.L.:  Organization of faculty practice and resident training in acute care surgery in an academic medical center.  Surgery.2007 March 141(3): 302-303.

Itani, K.M.F., Denwood, R., Schifftner, T., Joehl, R.J., Wright, C., Henderson, W. and  DePalma, R.: Causes of High Mortality In Colorectal Surgery. A Review of The Episode of Care In VA Hospitals. (submitted) Am J Surg.

Klein, M.B., Hayden, D., Elson, C., Nathens, A.B., Gamelli, R.L., Gibran, N.S., Herndon, D.N., Arnoldo, B., Silver, G.M., Schoenfeld, D. and Tompkins, R.G.:  The Association Between Fluid Administration and Outcome Following Major Burn Injury:  A Multicenter Study.  Annals of Surgery. 2007 Apr;245(4):622-628.  

Levitt, M.R., Benedict, W.J., Barton, K., Melian, E., Gamelli, R.L., Vandevender, D., Rosseau, G. and Prabhu, V.C.: Management Of Scalp Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis And Cranial Ostemyelitis With Serratus Anterior Myocutaneous Pedicle Flap:  A Case Report. J Burn Care Res. 2007 May-June; 28(3):524-529. 

Muthu, K., Iyer, S., He, L.K., Szilagyi, A., Gamelli, R.L., Shankar, R. and Jones, S.B.:  Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cells And Progenitors Express Adrenergic Receptors.  J Neuroimmunol. 2007 May;186(1-2);27-36. 

Reed, M., Lyons, J., Luchette, F.A., Neu, J. and Howington, J.: A Prospective, Randomized Trial Of Underwater Seal For Spontaneous And Iatrogenic Pneumothorax.  J Am Coll Surg. 2007;204:84-90. 

Silver, G.M., Klein, M.B., Herndon, D.N., Gamelli, R.L., Gibran, N.S., Alstein, L., McDonald-Smith, G.P., Tompkins, R.G. and  Hunt, J.L.: The Inflammation And The Host Response To Trauma, Collaborative Research Program:  Standard Operating Procedures For The Clinical Management Of Patients Enrolled In A Prospective Study Of Inflammation And The Host Response To Thermal Injury.  J Burn Care Res. 2007 Mar-Apr; 28(2):222-30. 

Book Chapters 

Gosain, A. and Luchette, F.A.:  Shock.  Interface of Neurology and Internal Medicine. Biller, J. (Eds). 2007,. Chapter 127, pages 767-73. 

Gosain, A. and Luchette, F.A.:  Fluid and Electrolyte Disorders.  Interface of Neurology and Internal Medicine. Biller, J. (Eds). 2007,Chapter 131, pages 791-96.  

Gosain, A., Santaniello, J.M. and Luchette, F.A. : Cardiovascular failure.  Trauma. Feliciano, D.V., Mattox, K.M., and Moore, E.E. (Eds). 2007. 

Jones, S.B., Muthu, K., Shankar, R. and Gamelli, R.L.:  Significance Of The Adrenal And Sympathetic Response To Burn Injury.  Total Burn Care: Herndon, D.N.  Saunders Elsevier 2007. 

Luchette, F.A., Poulakidas, S.J. and Esposito, T.J. : The Open Abdomen: Management From Initial Laparotomy To Definitive Closure.  Emergency Surgery: Principles and Practice. Britt, L.D., Trunkey, D.D., Organ, C. Jr., and  Feliciano, D.V. (Eds.). 2007. 

Pruitt, B.A. and Gamelli, R.L.: Burns.  Acute Care Surgery:  Principles and Practice. Britt, L.D., Trunkey, D.D., and Feliciano DV. Springer  2007. 

Smith, J.W., Gamelli, R.L.and Shankar, R.:  Hematologic, Hematopoietic And Acute Phase Responses.  Total Burn Care: Herndon, D.N.  Saunders Elsevier 2007. 

Presentations 

Gamelli, R.L.:  April 2007, delivered a presentation on “Airway Management and Inhalation Injury” at the Current Concepts in Critical Care seminar sponsored by the Illinois Hospital Association and the Workforce Development Group at Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Heights.

Joehl, R.J.:  Surgical Education Week- Association for Surgical Education & Association of Program Directors in Surgery, Washington DC, April 10-14, 2007.  “Comparison of Resident Self-Assessments With Trained Faculty And Standardized Patient Assessments of Clinical And Technical Skills In A Structured Educational Module.” (presented by Dr. Luke Brewster).

Joehl, R.J.:  Association of VA Surgeons, Little Rock, AR. May 12, 2007. “Causes of High Mortality In Colorectal Surgery. A Review of The Episode Of Care In VA Hospitals.” (presented by Dr K Itani).

Kalman, P.G.:  North American Winter Vascular Symposium (6th Annual), Snowmass, Colorado, Feb 15, 2007 - Feb 17, 2007.  Symposium Chairman and Moderator of Case Presentations. 

Kalman, P.G.:  Pennsylvania Hospital Vascular Symposium (15th Annual), Philadelphia, PA, Mar 2, 2007 - Mar 3, 2007.  Endovascular intervention is a guaranteed strategy to get return customers with lower extremity occlusive disease: Surgery is almost always the best initial treatment for lower extremity occlusive disease. 

Kalman, P.G.:  Pennsylvania Hospital Vascular Symposium (15th Annual), Philadelphia, PA, Mar 2, 2007 - Mar 3, 2007.  Mesenteric artery disease: Should open surgery ever be the first intervention for patent but stenotic arteries? 

Kalman, P.G.:  Congress of the European Chapter of the International Union of Angiology (17th), Lefkosia, Cyprus, Apr 26, 2007.  Endovascular intervention for mesenteric occlusive disease. 

Kalman, P.G.:  Congress of the European Chapter of the International Union of Angiology (17th), Lefkosia, Cyprus, Apr 27, 2007.  Chairman, Session on Advances in Peripheral Arterial Disease. 

Kalman, P.G.:  Congress of the European Chapter of the International Union of Angiology (17th), Lefkosia, Cyprus, Apr 27, 2007.  How far can we go with endovascular approaches to aortoiliac occlusive disease? 

Kalman, P.G.:  Congress of the European Chapter of the International Union of Angiology (17th), Lefkosia, Cyprus, Apr 27, 2007.  Intervention on carotid aneurysms: open vs. endovascular. 

Luchette, F.A. : In Search Of The Optimal Endpoints Of Resuscitation. 14^th Annual Trauma Symposium. University Place Conference Center and Hotel, Indianapolis, IN. November 3-4, 2006. 

Luchette, F.A. : C-Spine Clearance In The ICU: Collar In The Trashcan.  Harvard Medical School Critical Care and Trauma Symposium. Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA.  November 6, 2006. 

Luchette, F.A. : The Best Trauma Surgeon Debate.  Harvard Medical School Critical Care and Trauma Symposium. Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, Boston, MA.  November 6-7, 2006. 

Luchette, F.A. : Current Fluid Resuscitation Strategies.  Advocate Annual Trauma Symposium. Hyatt Regency Hotel, Lisle, IL, December 2-3, 2006. 

Luchette, F.A. : Co-Director, Leadership Development Program, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma Annual Meeting, January 16, 2007, Sanibel Harbor Resort and Spa, Fort Myers, FA. 

Luchette, F.A. : Negotiation Skills: Achieving The “Win-Win”.  Leadership Development Program, Eastern Association For The Surgery Of Trauma Annual Meeting, January 16, 2007, Sanibel Harbor Resort and Spa, Fort Myers, FA. 

Luchette, F.A. : Thoracic Trauma: The More Things Change, The More Things Stay The Same.  Fifth Trauma And Disaster Management Symposium, Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY, May 19, 2007. 

Luchette, F.A. : Abdominal Trauma, Putting Humpty Dumpty Back Together Again.  Loyola University Medical Center Nursing CME, Maywood, IL, May 31, 2007. 

 Abstracts 

Endorf, F., Esposito, T.J., Reed, R.L. II, Luchette, F.A. and Gamelli, R.L.: Broken Bones And Orthopedist Groans:  Can An Acute Care Surgeon Fix Both?  Proceedings of the 20^th annual meeting of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Fort Meyers, FL, January 2007. 

Reed, R.L.II, Eschempati, S., Luchette, F.A., Esposito, T.J., Fildes, J., Barie, P. and Gamelli, R.L.:  Medicare’s ‘Global’ Terrorism : Where Is The Pay For Performance ?  Proceedings of the 20^th annual meeting of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, Fort Meyers, FL, January 2007. 

Awards & Honors

 Brems, J.J.:   Peer-Selected to be included in the “Best Doctors in America 2007-2008” database. 

Esposito, T.J.:  Appointed Division Chief, Trauma, Critical Care and Burns 

Esposito, T.J.:  Appointed to the Board of Directors of the Safe America Foundation.  The foundation seeks to address the rising tide of injuries and fatalities in the young.   It is a national leader in coalition building with industry. 

Esposito, T.J.:  Grant Reviewer for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Emergency Medical Services for Children Programs. 

Gamelli, R.L.: Appointed as a Member of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Trauma Study Section, Center for Scientific Review by the National Institutes of Health. 

Luchette, F.A.:  Elected to Board of Managers of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. 

 Meetings

 Esposito, T.J.:  Invited speaker – St. Alexian Brothers Medical Center Trauma Conference , the topic;   “ Injury:  Accident Or Disease.  Implications For The Health Care Provider.  May 12, 2007,  Schaumburg. 

Esposito, T.J.:  Invited speaker – American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.   Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery,  Point Counterpoint conference in Atlantic City, June 4-6, 2007.  Topics;  Trauma during pregnancy & Implication of EMTALA for Trauma Centers.

Joehl, R.J.:  Moderator of Program, Metro Chicago Chapter American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL, March 10, 2007. Topics: “EMRs Are Here. Resistance Is Futile; You Will Be Assimilated. And Why It Is Not So Bad” And “Live Demo of The VA EMR (CPRS)”, (presented by Robert O’Hara, MD).

Joehl, R.J.:  Invited Discussant, “Laparoscopic Liver Surgery For Everyone: Hybrid Method,” Central Surgical Association, Chicago, IL, March 8-9, 2007 (presented by Dr. A Kofron).

Joehl, R.J.:  Invited Discussant, “Return of Esophageal Function After Treatment For Achalasia As Determined By Impedance-Manometry,” Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Wash, DC, May 23, 2007 (presented by Dr. R Tatum).

Alumni News

Former Surgery Resident, Fellow Credits Loyola For Successful Career - And Marriage

Now part of a thriving private practice, Gregory Zenni, M.D., F.A.C.S., acknowledges that Loyola University Medical Center is where he learned much of his craft during his general surgery residency and subsequent fellowship in peripheral vascular surgery during the 1990s. But the medical center is where he met his wife, Suzanne, who at the time led the operating room nursing team for plastic surgery and burn patients. 

A weekend skiing trip attended by residents and nurses gave the couple an opportunity to get to know each other outside the medical center. Now living in Cincinnati, Ohio, they married in 1991 and have two children, Thomas, 14 years old, and 9-year-old Brian.  

A native of Cincinnati, Dr. Zenni was a general surgery resident at Loyola from 1986-1991, followed by a peripheral vascular surgery fellowship there from 1991-1993.  

In 1992, he won the Keeley Traveling Fellowship, which is awarded by the Department of Surgery to give residents and fellows in their senior year of training an opportunity to expand their surgical horizons outside the Loyola community. Through the Keeley Fellowship, Dr. Zenni visited St. Mary’s Hospital of the Imperial College School of Medicine in London, England.  There he gained more knowledge about venous diseases by learning from one of the world’s leading experts, Andrew Nicolaides, M.D., who has since retired. He also traveled to the University of Washington in Seattle to learn more about the latest techniques in vascular ultrasound. “This experience was very beneficial and broadened my perspective,” Dr. Zenni said. 

For the past eight years, Dr. Zenni has been in private practice, specializing in peripheral vascular surgery. He is proud that his practice, “Cardiac, Vascular and Thoracic Surgeons” in Norwood, a Cincinnati suburb, was the first to specialize in vascular surgery in the area. “At the time, the feeling was that a private practice couldn’t only offer vascular surgery, but also needed to perform general surgery to be successful,” said Dr. Zenni, who earned his medical degree from St. Louis University in Missouri. “Now others have followed our lead.” 

His practice focuses on arterial conditions such as aortic aneurysms, carotid narrowing and leg blockages, as well as venous diseases such as varicose veins using a particular treatment approach called VeinSolutions. A registered vascular technologist, he is joined by two other peripheral vascular surgeons, along with 13 cardiovascular surgeons in the practice.  

“I am proud of the quality of our patient care and good outcomes, which is the result of my training at Loyola,” said Dr. Zenni. 

“Loyola’s program was resident-driven, where residents were intimately involved in what was going on from admitting, to diagnosis and surgery, to post-surgery,” Dr. Zenni recalled. “There was a nice balance between resident and attending physician interaction. The philosophy was fairly liberal, not suffocating. Residents did what they thought was right but, the attendings kept close tabs on us, too. 

“During my fellowship, my mentor was Bill Baker, the head of vascular surgery at Loyola who has since retired,” he said. Technically excellent, Dr. Baker had the “ability to let you feel as if you were running the show, but he could also come down like a hammer on you,” explained Dr. Zenni. “I had a great relationship with him. Like a father and son.” 

He also remembered the “great camaraderie” during his time at Loyola. His wedding party in July of 1991 was filled with surgical residents and staff from the operating room. The residents worked hard and then “hung out together,” Dr. Zenni added. “I really did enjoy it.”

Staff Corner

The Department of Surgery has many multi-talented and diverse support staff.    We thought it would be interesting to highlight some of their stories each quarter.   The following three selections demonstrate our point.       

Kathy Palumbo - Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 

Volunteerism is a team effort, not an individual accomplishment.  However, when asked by my Department’s billing manager to write a few paragraphs on my volunteer activities for Staff Corner, I accepted. 

Before I understood what it meant to be a volunteer, I was raising my hand in grade school to clean the chalkboard erasers, to become a crossing guard, to act as a reading skills tutor to lower level students, and then begging my mother to be a Brownie and later on a Girl Scout.  My experiences in Junior Achievement, Phi Theta Kappa and training for both a 3-day 60-mile and a dusk-to-dawn 26-mile walking marathon to raise funds for cancer awareness and suicide prevention have all contributed to the development of my volunteer spirit that began in Kindergarten and continued on to four decades later with my participation in Habitat for Humanity and Global Volunteers. 

I am actively involved with the St. Augustine Habitat for Humanity ministry group in Coral Gables, Florida.  In 2003 while a student at the University of Miami I became involved with St. A’s HFH group that meets monthly on the last Saturday.  One of our project sites is located in a notoriously dangerous area of northwest Miami and is the former site of the Scott-Carver public housing projects of Liberty City.  The community was first developed for Miami’s low-income African American population in the 1920’s and a remnant of the wall that once separated the black and white communities still stands.  Habitat broke ground on this project in July of 2006 and expects to complete all 52 houses during its third phase 10^th Annual Blitz Build in January 2008.  Thousands of volunteers will participate in projects such as interior framing, roofing, hanging drywall, painting and tiling during this 12 day accelerated construction event.  Anyone interested in participating in this event can visit their website at www.miamihabitat.org

 Jill McHugh – Division of Peripheral Vascular Surgery 

Medical Mission to Peru 

Every day, we are given opportunities to work together and make changes in our world for the good of others.  In May of 2004 I had an opportunity to do just that, when I had the privilege of volunteering on a Medical Mission trip to Cusco Peru. The mission trip was coordinated by the Peruvian American Medical Society and Homewood Rotary Club and takes place every two years.  On this medical mission, Loyola and other area hospital physicians, surgeons, nurses, language translators, and professionals with a wide range of medical expertise, as well as many other volunteers, worked together to provide much needed medical care to hundreds of people that arrive daily at the Hospital Antonio Loreno in Cusco Peru.  

I would encourage anyone with an interest in medical mission volunteer work, particularly within another culture, to do this sometime, and experience the joy in working together with others as they share their time and talents in a way that improves the health and well being of others. My fondest memories of the medical mission were that of the sincerity of the work that was put forth by all the volunteers and the gratitude expressed on the faces of so many of the patients that were cared for during our time there.  

Hurricane Disaster Relief  

Following the winds of Hurricane Katrina and Rita in the fall of 2005, I traveled to locations in the Gulf Coast that had suffered devastation as a result of these two hurricanes as well as destruction caused by several tornadoes that spawned off of Hurricane Rita, and left an entire community destroyed. 

During my time there, I listened to stories from families who had lost their home, their belongings, and even landmarks to identify where they once lived. My work on sites in Pointe aux Chenes and Cameron Louisiana consisted of repairing or covering roofs with tarps on homes and trailers that were waiting to be newly shingled, tearing out water damaged walls, and repairing and rebuilding new homes.  More recently, I volunteered in San Jose California with a group of volunteers assembling hurricane-resistant panels for a new home that once completed, will be disassembled and shipped to Houma, Louisiana to be reassembled and placed on reinforced concrete blocks several feet off the ground.  Electrical, plumbing and roofing will be completed once the panels have been reassembled on site in Houma and the home will then be ready for the family waiting to move in.  

Once again, I experienced the joy of working with others with a common goal in using their time and gifts to help those in need.  

Irene Zaura – Division of General Surgery 

How did I get involved in skiing?  In my early 20s I was looking for a place to meet people, do a little bit of traveling, and enjoy various functions with a fun group of men and women who basically enjoy the same type of venue.  My girlfriend and I decided to go to our first “SKI SHOW” and came upon the Hustlers Ski Club booth.  We joined and the rest is history.  I met my husband in the club, I am a club officer and on the trip committee.  In the early 1990s I became interested in scuba diving. I am a Master certified diver.  Belonging to clubs offers me a chance to travel that is both economical and provides companionship. 

Between skiing and scuba diving, my love of traveling has taken me all over the world.  Also I have friends, who don’t do either of the two above; I am forced to take vacations such as Ireland, China, England, and Scotland.  A couple of years ago I received a book (1,000 places to see before you die), and I am well on my way trying to accomplish seeing at least half of the places in the book.    To-date,  I have visited the following locations: 35 out of 50 United States of America; Tahiti; Papua, New Guinea; France; England; Scotland; Ireland; Italy; Germany; Czech; Republic; Bulgaria; Bahamas; Dominican Republic; Canada; Mexico; El Salvador; China; Japan; Australia; Indonesia.

The Last Word
 

Newsletter Readership and Newsletter PDF Files 

Please feel free to forward the email you receive each quarter announcing the newsletter’s publication to anyone you think may want to receive our newsletter.      

Additionally, we have added the capability to print a PDF version of the electronic newsletters.    This gives you the option of sharing a hard-copy of both current and past editions of our newsletters with your colleagues.

Printable Version