MUSC Catalyst 6-21-2013

June 21, 2013 MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA Vol. 31, No. 43

6

4Hurricane

SeaSon

A study,publishedby MUSC

researchers, looksat the signaling in

the brain thatcauses relapse.

5

10

7

The Ashley-Rutledge parking

garage may beutilized as an

emergency petcare center during

a storm.

Meet Kathryn

Strategic plan

Applause

Inside

THe caTalySTonline

http://www.musc.edu/

catalyst

cigareTTeaddicTion

C hildren interested in sciencespent part of their summer

looking at tissue slices, hair cellsand bugs under microscopes,touching a human brain used forresearch and performing their ownexperiments.

They’re participants in the 16thyear of Kids’ College at TridentTechnical College, which offers104 summer camps ranging fromtopics on culinary arts, video-gamedesign and mobile applicationprogramming to SAT prep help,forensics knowledge and 21stcentury life skills.

Three of the camps are taughtby fifth-year MUSC studentNatasha New, who is pursuing aPh.D. in biomedical sciences witha concentration in neuroscience.She taught Biology Brainiacs,June 10 – 14, and will lead theBiomedical Imaging Technologyand Neuropalooza camps in Julyand August.

“Seeing kids get excited aboutscience is really awesome to me,”New said. “High-school-aged kidsdon’t really get too excited aboutschool. I know I didn’t when I wasthat age. So to see them voluntarilycome to a camp about somethingthey’re interested in and wanting tolearn about it is really cool.”

In Biology Brainiacs, Newpresented a human brain to thecampers, ages 8 to 11, and wentover the body systems.

“When my mom told me we weregoing to look at brains, that mademe want to do the camp,” said IanSalters, a 9-year-old Porter-GaudSchool student. He and 10 othercampers took a just-for-fun memory

By Ashley BArker

Public Relations

See Brain on page 10

Left, fifth-year MUSC student Natasha Newshowed the students at Trident TechnicalCollege’s Kids’ College a human brain that isused for research. Above, students who at-tended the Biology Brainiacs camp, June 10-14,were allowed to touch human brains and aspinal cord on the final day.

Biology Brainiac campers, ages 8 to 11, examined brains and a spinal cord supplied by MUSC.

Brainiacs: Camps offered all summer

2 The CATAlysT, June 21, 2013

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

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

Editor: Kim [email protected]

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

EmployEE WEllnEss

Employee Wellness eventsq Farmers markets: Fresh fruits andvegetables are available from localfarmers on Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30p.m. at the Horseshoe.q Blood drives: Donors are neededfrom 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., June 21at Ashley River Tower’s first-floorauditorium and June 26 at theHorseshoe. Schedule your donationonline at redcrossblood.org (sponsorcode: MUSC). All presenting donorswill receive a free cup of frozen yogurtcourtesy of Sweet CeCe’s Charleston and

The EmployeeWellness programpromotes the healthand wellness of theMUSC community.The following areevents and classesoffered through theprogram.

For information,contact SusanJohnson, Ph.D., [email protected],or Suzan BenensonWhelan, at [email protected]. Events,speakers, classes, or any other ideas arewelcome. Be sure to like the EmployeeWellness page on Facebook to keep upwith events.

be entered into a drawing for $25 for thecafeteria courtesy of Sodexo.q MUSC Healthy Challenge Tuesdayswith the RiverDogs: Tuesday nightgames will now be geared towardliving and promoting a healthy lifestylefeaturing sponsorships with the MUSCWellness Center, Healthy CharlestonChallenge and MUSC Urban Farm.Healthy concession options are availablethroughout the season and feature theveggie taco, which is made from cropsgrown on the MUSC Urban Farm.Special discounted tickets to all Tuesdaygames throughout the season areavailable at http://cr1.glitnirticketing.com/crticket/web/gpcaptcha.php. Whenprompted, enter the group password:“healthy.” Tickets must be purchased bynoon the day of the game. Gates open at6 p.m., and the game time is 7:05 p.m.

MUSC Urban Farmq Early-bird maintenance: Get your daystarted with a little tender loving care forthe farm from 7:30 until 8:30 a.m., June26.q Work and Learn with child-friendlyactivities: From 9 until 11 a.m., July 6,bring a plastic bag and take home somefresh produce in return for work effortson the farm or help gather for donationson certain days. Wear closed-toe shoes.

Exposing skin to sunlight may helpreduce blood pressure, cut the risk

of heart attack and stroke, and evenprolong life, according to a small studyout of the University of Edinburgh.

Researchers studied the blood pressureof 24 volunteers who sat beneath tanninglamps for two sessions of 20 minuteseach. In one session, the volunteers wereexposed to both ultraviolet rays and theheat of the lamps. In the other, the UVrays were blocked so that only the heat ofthe lamps affected the skin.

The results showed that blood pressuredropped significantly for one hourfollowing exposure to UV rays but notafter the heat-only sessions. UV lightexposure may lead to the production ofnitric oxide, a compound that lowersblood pressure, the researchers said.While vitamin D has been thought ofas the primary health benefit of the sun,

the researchers found volunteers' vitaminD levels were not affected during bothtest sessions.

The researchers concluded that sinceheart disease and stroke kill 80 timesmore people than skin cancer in theU.K., where the study took place, theblood pressure benefits from sunlightoutweigh the risks for skin cancer.

Critics point to the lack of sustainedblood pressure reduction andrecommend following evidence-basedmethods such as those suggested by theAmerican Heart Association: Takingprescription medications to lower bloodpressure, eating a healthy diet, reducingsalt intake, avoiding obesity, not smokingand limiting alcohol use. There is also amore skin-friendly way to reduce thosenumbers: eating foods that are rich inpolyphenol, such as dark chocolate andtea.

Study: Sunlight tiedto lower blood pressure

Women’s Club accepting nominations for scholarshipsThe Medical University Women’s

Club is accepting applications forscholarship recipients. All full-timeMUSC students in their second orsubsequent years from any of thesix colleges are eligible. Previousapplicants may also apply.

Applications may be downloadedfrom http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/womensclub/scholarship.

htm. The deadline for submissionis 4 p.m., Aug. 27. Applicationsmay be submitted via email [email protected] ordropped off at the Volunteer ServicesOffice, 101 North Tower (behindadmissions desk).

For information on thescholarships, email Tiffany Talacs [email protected].

Healthat workSusan Johnson

Class of 2015 dental students recite the Dentist’s Pledge afterreceiving their white coats. The coats mark their transition fromclassroom studies to clinical care.

STudenTS vow To TreaT wiTH compaSSion

The CATAlysT, June 21, 2013 3

MUSC Hero: Nurturing leader goes extra mileBy Cindy ABole

Public Relations

See Leader on page 9

There’s something to be said of a person whoconsistently embraces and honors others with the samelevel of care, respect and compassion as with all livingcreatures.

Showing kindness to animals and an empathy forpeople is a connection that is especially natural forHealth Information Services director Sue Pletcher, R.N.

For 18 years, Pletcher’s coworkers and employeesexperienced that first hand, initially as she served as anurse manager in critical care and emergency servicesand later as a leader and manager in Patient AccessServices, now Health Information Services.

On June 12, Pletcher retired from MUSC with morethan 30-plus years in critical care nursing and healthinformation services management. Looking ahead, sheplans to devote more of her time supporting the lovedones in her life — her pets, family and people in needwithin her community.

A Pennsylvania native, Pletcher received hernursing degree from Harrisburg Polyclinic HospitalSchool of Nursing. Later she earned bachelor’s andmaster’s degrees in business management and publicadministration from Penn State University before

working as a critical care manager and medicaltransport services manager at the Penn State Milton S.Hershey Medical Center. She moved to Charleston in

1995.In MUSC’s hospital circles, she’s known as an

employee’s manager – leading by example, recognizingstaff members for their talents and experiences, andencouraging her employees in various goals.

Clinical Documentation Integrity & Abstractionmanager Phyllis J. “PJ” Floyd, R.N., has worked withPletcher for the past year after relocating from Florida.Floyd came to admire her director’s leadership style,work ethic, mentorship and sense of humor.

“Leadership is definitely one of Sue’s strengths,”said Floyd. “She has the ability to see the strengths andtalents in others and find a way to project those talentsso that they strengthen the entire team.”

Maureen McDaniel, former Health InformationalServices manager who now works part-time in thedepartment, has worked side by side with Pletcher,witnessing and participating in much of the changes intheir health information services area and subsequenttransition from paper files to electronic medical records.

“Sue’s a natural leader and loves guiding staff andbuilding teams through so much change. She genuinelycares for her staff and managers,” she said.

Lisa P. Montgomery, vice president for finance andadministration, can’t praise Pletcher enough for her

Sue Pletcher, who retired June 12, managedMUSC’s first emergency pet care center.


For 2013, scientists have warned that the Atlantichurricane season may have between seven and 11

named storms. With the season in its first month,employees wanting to utilize an emergency pet carecenter on campus need to make preparations.

An emergency pet care center is offered to MUSCemployees who are on Team A during a weatheremergency. Team A employees are required to stay atthe hospital during a weather emergency and maintainthe specific functions of their department.

Avid animal lover Sue Pletcher, R.N, the director ofHealth Information Services, said that the idea of anemergency pet care center on campus resulted fromfulfilling an unknown need.

“I was working as a nurse and director of CriticalCare Services at the time, and there were tropical stormwarnings and hurricane warnings. Then, we wentthrough our usual preparation procedures for a weatheremergency and got a call from Paul Moss, the head ofhospital security, who told me there was a dog in theICU, in the surgical intensive unit,” said Pletcher. Atraveling nurse had brought her family’s dog to thehospital to ensure its safety during the rough weather.

After this unexpected call, Pletcher started thinkingabout the hassle it took to ensure her pets’ safety andhow difficult it must be to find a safe place for pets ifthe owner is at work and prohibited to leave during thestorm. The next year, Pletcher pitched the idea of a petcare center to the administration and gained support.After the idea was approved by her department headand the chief executive officer, Pletcher found spaceaway from the hospital to finally launch the emergencypet care center.

EPCC will be located on the second floor of theAshley-Rutledge parking garage in the event of anemergency, and employees will be able to drop off theirpets. Due to limited space, there is a maximum of threepets per employee allowed in the center. EPCC can onlyhandle 60 cats and dogs; therefore, reservations will beon a first-come, first-served basis with a $10 fee per pet.

EPCC will only accept cats and dogs with updatedvaccinations. These include:

Dogs: Rabies; DHLPPC/C and ITT (Bordetella):must be given five days prior to boarding the animal tobe effective.

Cats: Rabies; FVRCP and Feline LeukemiaAnimals are not allowed in the hospital work area

or any private offices located throughout the hospitalor university buildings. If the pet care center is full,animals will have to be transported to other locationsoff campus.

Pet owners will have to provide a two-week supply

of any medications the pet mayneed as well as a crate labeledwith the owner’s and pet’s name,a telephone number and theveterinarian’s name. Also, animalsshould have a collar with anidentification tag, leash, bowls,water and a three-day supply offood.

If a pet isn’t accustomed tobeing around other animals,consider bringing a blanketto cover the crate or speak toa veterinarian about possiblesedation.

Retiring after 18 years of serviceon June 12, Pletcher has handedover the EPCC leash to ClinicalDocumentation Integrity &Abstraction manager Phyllis J. “PJ”Floyd, R.N.

For more information aboutEPCC, visit http://tinyurl.com/mjrorho or contact Floyd [email protected].

Emergency pet care offered during hurricane seasonBy MoniCA FABunAn

Public Relations

To utilize the emergency pet care center on campus, employees must bring a three-day supply offood for their pet and provide proof that vaccinations are up to date.

PJ Floyd, left, and Sue Pletcher tour the emergency pet care center,located on the second floor of the Ashley-Rutledge parking garage.While at the center, volunteers supervise the animals and allowthem play time outside of their crates.


mEET KATHryn

Kathryn RobertsDepartmentMUSC Physicians Corporate, OperationsHow you are changing what’s possibleat MUSCI am a part of the outreach ambulatoryoperations team, which is motivated andcommitted to creating the best experiencefor our patients, providers and staff.How long at MUSCIn July, it will be a year. I attended graduateschool at MUSC to obtain my Master ofHealth Administration from 2010-2012.The best thing about living inCharlestonI am fortunate to get to live with myolder sister. She enjoys what I love aboutCharleston: The food, beach and shopping!Meal you love to cookTaco Tuesday. It consists of taco salad withfresh ingredients paired with homemadeguacamole, chips and salsa.Favorite summer activitySitting and chatting on the dock withmy family in Pawleys Island in the lateafternoon or early evening.Favorite quote“Keep your nose to the grindstone, keep awell-organized notebook and don’t take anywooden nickels.” My dad would say this tomy siblings and me every morning beforeschool.


Smokers who’ve tried to kick the habit and failed,take heart.

A recent study published in the Proceedings of theNational Academy of Sciences by MUSC researcherscasts light on the brain biology of nicotine relapse thatcan fundamentally shift how cigarette addiction istreated, said Peter Kalivas, Ph.D., professor and co-chairin the Department of Neurosciences.

The two-year study evolved as researchers in his labshifted their focus to look at addiction as a compulsive,relapsing disorder, studying what’s happening in thesignaling in the brain that causes relapse, he said.

An addiction researcher, Kalivas said the fieldtraditionally has relied on replacement therapies to treatdrug dependent patients, such as giving methodonefor heroin and varenicline (trademarked Chantix) forsmoking cessation.

“That’s the state of the art right now in thetreatment of addiction. The experiments in this reportpoint out new avenues to treat the impaired ability to

regulate a maladaptive habit,drug use in the case of smoking.If these avenues become a focusof pharmaceutical development,it’s a very different focus thanwe’ve had to date. We may bedealing with the pathology that

is mediating this behavior regardless of whether themaladaptive behavior is associated with drugs, eating orgambling. It’s potentially a whole new way of looking atdrug development for treating addiction.”

Kalivas and Cassandra Gipson, Ph.D., lead author onthe study, said they were surprised by the study’s results.Researchers in Kalivas’ lab study the neuroplasticityunderlying the development of addiction to drugs ofabuse. They had hoped that the signaling pathologiesfound in the brain in previous cocaine and heroinstudies might also play out for nicotine, but they didn’texpect the findings to be so close.

The idea behind the study was this: People knowaddictive drug use leads to negative consequences,ranging from difficulty coping with family and jobissues to serious health problems, yet many still cannotcontrol their habitual, drug-seeking behavior, he said.There’s a disconnect in the regulation of brain circuitsbetween the decision-making frontal cortex and thenucleus accumbens, the portal by which the frontalcortex can regulate habit circuitry. Gipson said theydecided to measure signaling between these areaswhile nicotine- addicted animals were in the process ofrelapsing.

“While the animal is relapsing, we can measure

things like an increase in glutamate, which is aneurotransmitter,” Gipson said. “By presenting thenicotine-addicted rat with cues that it associates withnicotine delivery, we induced a release of glutamatethat causes relapse and a rapid, transient change in thestructure and function of accumbens neurons that iscorrelated with the intensity of relapse.”

Kalivas said the study shows an expansion in thereceptive area in the brain during this relapse periodwith it becoming much more sensitive to the glutamate.The researchers went on to show that when theyused a compound to block glutamate receptors, or a

compound to prevent the large release of glutamate,the rats were no longer motivated to seek nicotine,even when given the sound and light cues that signalednicotine availability.

“In this study, we were able to prevent this increasedsensitivity of the nucleus accumbens by pretreating theanimal with a drug, and it blocked the whole thing,”Kalivas said. “The animal didn’t relapse and show thisbig expansion in synaptic strength.”

The team now is working with Kevin Gray, M.D.,an MUSC colleague in psychiatry on a pilot clinicaltrial to test one of these compounds, N-acetylcysteine,in cigarette smokers. Gipson said they will useN-acetylcysteine in combination with varenicline totreat smoking relapse, hoping for an additive effect thatwill prove to be a more effective way to stop smoking.

Gipson said she loves how rapidly their work is beingtranslated to potentially help patients. “It’s exciting tohave a finding like this. You cross your fingers, and yougraph it, and you hope. Everyone knows someone whosmokes. It’s a difficult habit to kick, and the relapserates are ridiculously high. It’s a huge personal andsocietal health care problem that may be diminished ifour ideas are correct,” she said.

Kalivas said varenicline acts to suppress nicotine

Lab uncovering clues to relapse, addiction

http://youtu.be/cUnUm3Eh9wQ

WATCh

relATed Videos

By dAWn BrAzell

Public Relations

Above is an electrophysiology ‘rig’ used tostudy brain tissue.

Above, Dr. Peter Kalivas (left) with research associates Dr. Cassandra Gipson, lead author on thestudy, and Dr. Yoni Kupchik.

See Addiction on page 9


By 2015, MUSC Health strives to beamong top-25 academic medical centers

Integration: Continue to build upon the strength of the health system to better servethe MUSC Health communityBrand Awareness: Enhance MUSC’s name regionally and nationallyAccess: Improve and simplify patient access to the MUSC Health communityGrowth: Expand services in South CarolinaPartnerships: Partner with health care providers across the state to ensure thatpatients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right timeInfrastructure: Building the infrastructure (human and financial) to advance scienceand discovery toward evidence-based practice, innovative solutions and the educationof future leadersInformation Technology: Connect in “real time” with patients, referring physiciansand hospitals through advancing MUSC’s information technology capabilities

7 Driving StrategiesMUSC Health Goals

As MUSC pursues its health strategic intent to be among the top-25 academicmedical centers for reputation, quality, service, efficiency and financial performanceby 2015, it is critical for all employees to understand how their efforts align with theplan.

Therefore, the Clinical Leadership Council, along with representatives fromthe College of Medicine, medical center and MUSC Physicians, has developedenterprise goals for fiscal year 2014. These goals will provide stronger integrationand collaboration throughout MUSC Health. Like the plan, these goals are laser-focused on continuing to deliver the best in comprehensive and innovative care toMUSC patients. Below are the fiscal year 2014 goals.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit the MUSC HealthStrategic Plan website at http://www.muschealth.com/strategic-plan.


Heart doctor’s extra effort saves patient’s eyeBy Allyson Bird

Office of Development and Alumni Affairs

A t 97 years old, Jeff Lewis still mows his own lawnand spends his weekends cutting wood.

When he goes to see his cardiologist at MUSC, Lewislikes to tell Michael Gold, M.D., about his motorcycle.

Lewis outlived his pacemaker, and Gold installeda new one in May 2012 without any complications.But the retired steel mill worker from Conway faced abigger problem.

He had developed basal cell carcinoma, a slow-growing form of skin cancer, in his right eye a yearearlier. In the months leading up to his heart surgery,the cancer began to grow so aggressively that Lewis’eyelid permanently closed, and the growth began tobleed.

Lewis and his wife, Frances, went to see hisophthalmologists and received upsetting news: Thedoctors wanted to remove the eye. “I cannot tell youhow stressful that was,” she said. “If you’re 97 years old,you don’t want to hear that.”

The couple discussed prosthetics and eye patches,and they scheduled Lewis’ pacemaker surgery inthe meantime. Gold visited with Frances while herhusband recovered from the procedure, and she toldhim about the eye surgery planned for a few days later.

Gold offered to help the couple get a secondopinion. Within a matter of minutes, a nurse hadarranged for Lewis to see an MUSC ophthalmologist.The ophthalmologist told Lewis he wanted to tryradiation therapy before any surgery and referred himto Carolina Regional Cancer Center in Myrtle Beach.

Lewis’ eye opened after the first round of radiation,but doctors worried that the cancer pushing againstLewis’ optic nerve could cost him his vision as thetreatment continued.

Lewis and his wife again discussed the possibilities.They made a list of priorities: First, save Lewis’ life.Second, save his eye. Then, if possible, save his vision.

After eight rounds of radiation, doctors called Lewisa miracle. He can see perfectly.

Lewis and his wife traced their success story back tothe phone call from Gold.

“Here’s a heart doctor who took a look,” she said.“He took that little minute to walk back through thatdoor, and he saved Lewis’ eye.”

Jeff Lewis, a 97-year-old retired steel mill work-er from Conway, enjoys working in his yard.

Gold said he looks forward to his annual visit fromLewis. Gold worried about how eye surgery wouldchange Lewis’ life and wondered if it could be avoided.

“Sometimes you have to go the extra step,” Goldsaid. “Imagine if this is your father, grandfather orgreat-grandfather. We needed to allow him to continueleading his remarkable life as a 97-year-old.”

Jeff and Frances Lewis recently donated to MUSC’sCardiology Education Fund in Gold’s honor. He alsoincluded a note.

“You are a great heart doctor,” he wrote. “But yousaved my eye!”

make a donaTionEmployees and staff may make a donation to theCardiology Education Fund by visiting http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/development.Click on “Online donation,” scroll down to“Other” and type in Cardiology Education Fund.

Dr. Michael Gold

“Sometimes you have to gothe extra step. Imagine if this isyour father, grandfather or great-grandfather.”


leAder Continued from Page Three

AddiCTion Continued from Page Six

cravings, whereas the compoundin their study targets the morefundamental neural circuitry thathis team thinks underlies the basicpathology of the addiction.

“By fixing the neuropathologyas well as suppressing craving, thecombination of drugs might help turnthe key and be a useful combinationin treating cigarette addiction andpossibly other addictions, as well.”

Pushing the lab’s research beyondillegal drugs into the realm of otheraddictive substances, such as nicotine,serves as an economic incentive topharmaceutical companies potentiallyattracted by the larger population thatcould be served by drug developmentin this area, Kalivas said.

“Pharmaceutical companies areinterested in finding drugs to treatnicotine and alcohol addictions, andobesity as well, since there can be acompulsive component to why somepeople gain weight,” he said, citingresearch in his lab exploring if thereare similar disorders in brain signaling

in obesity-prone animals, as has beenfound after cocaine, heroin andnicotine use.

“It worked for nicotine to oursurprise, so we’re betting that theobese-prone animals will show similarcue-induced changes in corticalregulation of habit circuitry, whereasthe obese-resistant animals will not.”

At any rate, it gets Kalivas one stepcloser to his dream as a scientist andresearcher.

“I’d love it if our research generatedeffective drugs for treating addiction.That would be the ultimate. If we cantarget the maladaptive brain physiologyunderlying addiction, it’s just a matterof time before pharmaceutical agentsare developed that can help lessen oreven reverse the effects.”

Links to the abstract paper“Reinstatement of nicotine seeking ismediated by glutamatergic plasticity”and the PNAS first look blog at thebrain biology of nicotine can be foundon MUSC’s News Center at http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/pr/newscenter/2013/kalivas.html.

I t wasn’t very long into my dieteticinternship before I realized that not

all of our patients’ nutrition problemscan be solved by dietetic intervention.Often patients face healthproblems that cannot befixed within the confines ofa hospital.

The foods, supplementsor medications thathealth care professionalsrecommend aren’talways easy to come byor affordable. One insix Americans will facefood insecurity, accordingto Feeding America, a non-profitorganization dedicated to fightinghunger. Eighteen percent of SouthCarolinians fall into that category. Thepercentage is even higher for childrenin South Carolina, which rises to 28percent.

One problem health care practitionersface is that it’s not always easy to identifythe patients who face such problems.Many of those who are food insecurelack the access to an adequate diet.

Food insecure diets may be comprisedof cheap high-calorie, high-fat meals orsnacks found at gas stations or fast-food restaurants. Transportation to the

grocery store or farmers’market can be a luxury.

While discussing a renaldiet with a patient recently,I was quick to label him inmy mind as non-compliantwhen he rattled off allof the foods that he ateregularly. After a bit morequestioning, he explainedthat he is sometimes leftwith whatever he can get

from the food bank. Some of my typicalrecommendations were not feasiblein his case. He may have been non-compliant, but it wasn’t always by choice.

It’s difficult to pause and rememberthat not all of our patients are on a levelplaying field, especially with the weightof deadlines and agendas. Some healthproblems can’t always be remedied in ahospital, but we can be more useful andeffective if we take some extra time to getthe whole picture.

Quality patient careisn't one size fits all

NutritionmattersMelissa MacherDietetic Intern

leadership and dedication.“Sue’s what I would calla ‘nurturing leader’ asshe genuinely cares abouther staff and goes theextra mile for them tocelebrate their birthdays,holidays and other specialoccasions.”

An animal lover (sheowns both dogs andcats), Pletcher was theoriginal “pet keeper” asshe was known aroundthe medical center. In1999, she organized andestablished a volunteer-run emergency pet carecenter to support workingemployees with petsduring severe weather.

Pletcher cares equallyabout the quality of careshown to patients andtheir families

When Patient FinancialServices manager CherylMcWilliams joined hermother in WashingtonD.C. for PresidentBarack Obama’s firstinauguration in January2009, McWilliams fellwhile crossing the streetand was severely injured.She worried that shewould have to remainin Maryland for anindefinite time as partof her recovery. A friendshared McWilliams’news with Pletcher, who

coordinated her medicalcare and return back toCharleston.

“Sue’s advocacy on mybehalf was amazing. Ihope she never loses thedesire to help those inneed. She’s such a blessingto me and others,” saidMcWilliams.

Editor’s note: At MUSC,heroes abound. They exist inthe form of caregivers, faculty,students and staff. MUSCHeroes is a feature that offersemployees and students achance to recognize MUSC’severyday heroes. Send ane-mail about your MUSChero to [email protected].


BrAin Continued from Page One

test, discussed the differences betweenhuman and gorilla brains, and learnedabout the body’s fight or flight responseduring a stressful event.

“For the younger kids, I just want toget them interested in science. It’s kindof a mini-anatomy class,” New said.

Biomedical Imaging Technology andNeuropalooza are more advanced campsdesigned for youth between 12 and 16years old.

New, who earned a bachelor’sdegree in physics from the Collegeof Charleston in 2008, designed theBiomedical Imaging Technology camp

for children who are interested in thephysics behind the different imagingtechniques.

The new course will be offered twice– July 8-12 at Trident’s Mount Pleasantcampus and July 15-19 at Trident’smain campus in North Charleston.New will teach the basics of wave optics,nanotechnology, nuclear chemistry andlight spectroscopy in order to explainhow a microscope works, how a camerabends light and how a person can usemagnets to create a picture.

“It’s geared towards the science behindall of the pretty pictures that we see in

the newspaper,” New said.In Neuropalooza, campers will learn

about Alzheimer’s and other braindiseases, how exercise is good for thebrain and the influence of drugs on thebrain.

Students who have an interestin psychology, human behavior orneurobiology are encouraged to attendthis camp, which will be held July 29through Aug. 2 at the main campus.

For more information about theKids’ College summer camps at TridentTechnical College, visit www.tridenttech.edu/ce.htm. To register, call 574-6152.

Dawn Salem, 6W; Sally Key, 6W; Catherine Watson,6W; Georona Gadsden, Emergency Department; Dar-ian Epps, 6W; Brandon Gates, 6W; Lisa Bates, 6W;Dorothy Weiss, 6W; Joseph Jenrette, Radiation On-cology; Megann Helton-Rieter, Residents OB/GYN;Edward Kosnik, Pediatric Neurosurgery; Lisa Cordes,HCC Retail Pharmacy; Philip Egloff, HCC Retail Phar-macy; Karen Shanshala, Meduflex; Norah Scott, Thera-peutic Services; Roberta Lockwood, Women’s Services;Julie Hanover, Case Management; Shatora Williams,GI Clinic; Chris Harmon, 5E; Karen Goff, Volunteer& Guest Services; Lawanda Anderson, Revenue Cy-cle; Betty Chandler, 6W; Shevella Brisco, 6W; EstelleAsby, PAS; Jennie Asaro, Meduflex; Sandra Barnett,Emergency Department; Anna Hinzman, 6E; HeatherCriddle, Women & Infant Services; Jaime Maskill, Me-duflex; Mary Shaw, Public Health Sciences; KennethFord, Engineering & Facilities; Jessica Edwards, Peri-Anesthesia Unit; Virginia Wright, Radiology; TerikaGreen, 8E; Shelkecia Lessington, 8E; Marvena Hughes,Environmental Services; Leigh Anne Irwin, 6E; ChrisEarly, Children’s Services; Kara Bradley, Meduflex;Tammy Miller, Radiology; Leondra Green-Marshall,Call Center; Saurabh Chhabra, Hematology/Oncol-ogy; Marilyn Peterson, PAS; Cynthia Brown, 6E; JosiahBrown, Radiology; Dawn Salem, 6W; Anita Deveaux,Medical Records; Cecilia Gillens, 6E; Dedra Bennett,Family Medicine Lab; Woody Atkinson, RespiratoryTherapy; Mary Scarborough, Respiratory Therapy; Mar-tha Gomez, Pediatrics; Chris Chambers, Residents OralSurgery; Jeanette Parker, Therapeutic & ProfessionalSupport Services; Shania Broughton, 2JRU; Shawn El-lis, Facilities; Jazzy Gilmore, Facilities; Elysa Nessenzia,2 JRU; Ashleigh Millen, 10W; Susan Johnson, 6E; Ryan

UniversityDonald Barnes, Transportation; Lester Dempsey, Engi-neering & Facilities; Michelle Drake, College of DentalMedicine/Pediatric Dentistry; Monica Eberhardt, Col-lege of Dental Medicine/Pediatric Dentistry; MarkethaGreen, Ophthalmology; and Allison Shokes, College ofPharmacy/Drug Discovery.

The following employees received recognition throughthe Applause Program for going the extra mile:

Medical Center

ApplAusE progrAmKellogg, Residents Neurosurgery; Charity Hollar, Epi-lepsy Center; Monica Rivers, Dietetic Services; ClarissaDwight, Dietetic Services; Sharon Dupree-Capers, Rev-enue Cycle Operations; Ericka Gray, Revenue Cycle Op-erations; Barry Green, Radiology; Ebony Lampkin, Me-duflex Team; Tolanda Henderson, 8W; Kayla Heyward,Meduflex Team; Diana Williams, Dietetic Services; Sky-lar Sharper, 8E; Kristine Richards, 8E; April Martinez,Newborn Special Care Nursery; Tom Martin, Volunteer& Guest Services; Juanita Butler, 7B; Kelly Pelletier,5W; Bree Scales, Meduflex Team; Brooke Kiser, 7W;Patty Brakefield, Meduflex Team; Melvena Nelson, En-vironmental Services; Jeanne Harrison, PACU; Alber-tha Williams, MedSurg Registration; Vanessa Stewart,Volunteer & Guest Services; Daniel Williams, PatientTransportation; Romica Stephens, Laboratory Services;Kate Miccichi, Revenue Cycle; Ashley Hamilton, Lab-oratory Services; Sandy Olsen, OR; Lisa Klasek, 8E;Avita Wade, 8E; Tiffany Fishburne, 8E; Carol John-son, Meduflex; Ana Rosa Virella, Women’s Services;Margarette Simmons, Environmental Services; MelissaHulsey, DDSL; Monica Mallory, Med/Surg ICU; FayeParker, Volunteer & Guest Services; Megan Artz, 4E;Cherita McNeil, HCC Clinics; Charlene Pruitt, Radi-ology; Gail Simmons, Environmental Services; MelissaJustice, HCC Clinics; Shonta Smith, HCC Clinics; Em-ily Pond, Children’s Services; Jeanne Bonadonna, Ther-apeutic & Professional Support Services; Karen Drozd,Women & Infant Services; and Courtenay Barfield,NNICU.

Porter-Gaud School student IanSalters, 9, holds a spinal cord.


Misc. Services Rental Properties

B & V Covers Ulphostery,slipcovers, curtains, cush-ions, alterations, etc. FREEESTIMATE Vicky/Martha814-1727 or [email protected]

W.Ashley 3BR/1.5BA housew/ screened porch, bigdeck. Avail 8/1, $1150/mo843-513-3749


SAVE THE DATESAVE THE DATE

Tuesday, August 20, 2013 • 4:30 pmDrug Discovery Auditorium • DD110

FACULTYCONVOCATION

KEYNOTE ADDRESS:ROBERT M. SADE, M.D.

THe maralynne d. miTcHam inaugural lecTureSHip10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday, July 19

MUSC IOP AuditoriumSpeaker: Michael Iwama, Ph.D., OT (c)

Professor and Chair, Department of Occupational TherapyGeorgia Regents University

Topic: “East & West: Cross-Cultural Implications on the Construction ofTheory and Knowledge in Occupational Therapy”

Dr. Iwama is an internationally known champion for culturally relevantoccupational therapy. He created the conceptual Kawa Model, now taughtin occupational therapy education and adopted in clinical settings. TheMitcham Fund was established in 2005 to create, in perpetuity, an annuallectureship program for the division. For information, call 792-2239.

Documents

MUSC Catalyst 6-21-2013