Produced by the Office of Communications // May 21, 2009
Francisco named chair of PM&R
Dr. Gerard Francisco
Following a national search, Dean Giuseppe Colasurdo has announced Dr. Gerard Francisco as chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, effective June 1, 2009.
“Dr. Francisco has demonstrated incredible talent during the past several months as interim chair and has shown his strong commitment to advance the already accomplished academic and clinical programs at TIRR,” Dean Colasurdo said. “This appointment comes with the strong support of Juanita Romans and Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center and Carl Josehart and TIRR.”
Francisco said he is looking forward to contributing to the growth of the Medical School and being an active partner in strengthening the relationship between UT and Memorial Hermann. His appointment is a dual role that includes being chief medical officer at TIRR-MH.
“My plans include expanding the clinical programs at TIRR, Memorial Hermann, and LBJ, and leading a department where each and every faculty will be a champion for quality — efficient and effective — and safe patient care,” he said.
Having joined the department in 1997, Francisco served as vice chair since 2006 and as the interim chair since Dr. William Donovan’s retirement last August. Francisco is the program director for the residency program in PM&R and the fellowship in Brain Injury and Stroke Rehabilitation.
“My goals also will focus on further strengthening our training programs so that we may be a national leader in innovative educational methods,” he said. “By recruiting researchers and collaborating with other clinical and basic science investigators within the Texas Medical Center, we will promote sustainable growth in research in neurorehabilitation and physical medicine.”
Francisco is only the second chair to lead the department.
“I am grateful to Dr. William H. Donovan for his past leadership as chair,” Dean Colasurdo added. “Dr. Francisco will build upon the accomplishments of Dr. Donovan by further developing our PM&R programs at Memorial Hermann – Texas Medical Center and the Harris County Hospital District.”
Dean Colasurdo also expressed his thanks to Dr. John Reveille and the other members of the search committee.
— D. Brown
New program aims to help save young athletes from sudden death
Adrian, William, Jocelyn and Kailynn — all athletic teenagers from the Greater Houston area and all victims of sudden cardiac arrest.
Adrian and William survived. Jocelyn and Kailynn, both just 13, did not.
“In each of these cases, the problem that caused the sudden cardiac arrest could have been detected with more in-depth screening than typical athlete physicals,” said Dr. John Higgins, assistant professor of medicine.
Less than one in 10 U.S. student-athletes who suffer sudden cardiac arrest survives, according to a 2008 study in the HeartRhythm Journal. Sudden cardiac arrest is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. It usually causes death if it is not treated within minutes.
Higgins, a cardiologist and exercise physiologist, is now the principal investigator of a study and pilot program launched by the Medical School and the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System to prevent tragedies like the deaths of Jocelyn and Kailynn. It’s called HEARTS™, which stands for Houston Early Age Risk Testing and Screening Study. The sponsors of the program include the Houston Division of the American Heart Association and the Houston Rockets.
HEARTS™ is a free, four-step program that includes a self-administered questionnaire, cardiovascular physical exam, 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG), and echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound) of sixth-grade students to detect potential heart problems. The process takes about 15 minutes.
“It’s around sixth grade that kids become more active and often get into sports on a more serious level,” said Higgins, director of exercise physiology at the Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Clinic. “Once they get into the really competitive sports, the heart will be under a lot of stress. And kids are so young that many wouldn’t think to check them for underlying heart problems.”
The first phase, HEARTS™ over Houston, began this month with screenings at Key Middle School in the Houston Independent School District (HISD).
“We hope to have about 75-100 kids screened and initial data compiled by the first week of June,” said John Holste, HEARTS project manager. “We’ve already had significant findings, unfortunately, and we will have an important story to tell with the data collected.”
This fall, a Medical School team will travel to more HISD schools with all of the necessary scanning equipment. Approximately 1,500 students will be screened during the first phase. If a problem is observed during the exam, Higgins said the student will be referred to pediatric cardiologist Dr. Gurur Biliciler-Denktas, assistant professor of pediatrics, for further testing and management at UT Physicians’ pediatric cardiology clinic.
Hypertropic cardiomyopathy — an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle — is the leading condition that causes sudden cardiac arrest among young people.
“No child will be turned away for lack of insurance or money. This program is not just about detecting a possible problem. The program also includes treatment,” Higgins said. “The goal is to get to these kids early, especially before they begin high-intensity sports. The program is not exclusive to athletes. We will be screening all sixth-grade students.”
Hannah Padilla, 12, can speak to the importance of early screening. She is active in about a half-dozen sports, including volleyball, track, cheerleading, and tennis.
“She just keeps going and going,” said her mother, Connie Padilla. “The only time she’s still is when she’s at the computer doing that MySpace thing. She’s always been active.”
Last fall, Hannah’s parents decided to have their daughter screened at the Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute - Texas Medical Center.
During an ultrasound of Hannah’s heart, Higgins explained everything he was seeing on the monitor.
“We are looking at the size of the heart to see if it’s dilated,” Higgins explained. “We want to make sure that it’s not too thick. So far it’s looking good.”
Next, he viewed the aorta, looking for signs of weakening or enlargement. Either condition may indicate Marfan syndrome, a disease where the muscle tissue weakens so much that the artery enlarges and can rupture, causing serious heart problems and even death. Hannah showed no signs of the condition.
Higgins signed a slip clearing her to participate in sports since the screening didn’t indicate any major problems associated with sudden cardiac arrest.
But it did reveal something else.
“Overall, things look good,” Higgins explained. “However, Hannah does have a very, very tiny hole in her heart, almost microscopic, and it’s just below the aortic valve.”
Higgins explained that the condition, known as a ventricular septal defect (VSD), is a common congenital heart defect present in about one in every 200 children. In many cases, as the child’s heart grows, it disappears. To ease their fears, he suggested that they consult with a pediatric cardiologist.
Connie Padilla was a little shaken by the news.
“I think what Dr. Higgins is doing is great,” Connie Padilla said. “A lot of teens who are into sports need this. I’m glad that he cleared her to participate in sports; although to find out about this hole is a little strange. But we wouldn’t have found out about it if we hadn’t done the screening.”
Higgins’ study will include compiling all of the data obtained during the pilot program to improve the screening process. His goal is to one day expand the program beyond Houston.
“We want to save lives and catch underlying heart disease early,” Higgins said. “We don’t want any more new names in the headlines.”
— Melissa McDonald, Office of Institutional Advancement, Division of Public Affairs
Cardiology names externship participants
The Division of Cardiology has selected Barcleigh Sandvall, Kayley Clemings, Jenny Weon, and Laura Iglesias to participate this summer in The Mary Ann Lunsford Cardiology Student Externship. These talented undergraduate students were selected from a vast applicant pool based on their G.P.A., their interest in pursuing a medical career, and their commitment to public service.
The Mary Ann Lunsford Student Externship is sponsored by the Division of Cardiology and the Medical School. It provides an in-depth exposure to all aspects of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular disease. The externship is a six-week program, and a $1,000 stipend is provided to each student.
Sandvall and Clemings will participate in the first term of the program, May 18 - June 26. Sandvall is a neuroscience major at Baylor University, and Clemings is a mathematics major at The University of Texas at Austin.
Weon and Iglesias will participate in the second term of the program, July 6 - Aug. 14. Weon is a business/supply chain management major at The University of Texas at Austin, and Iglesias is a biology major at The University of Texas – Pan America.
UCSC positions available
The University Classified Staff Council (UCSC) needs motivated, hard working people to join as full members. The group is recruiting employees to join the UCSC to fill vacancies in General Administration, HCPC, IMM, Medical School, and SHIS.
To become a UCSC representative or to nominate someone else, please visit the Web site to complete the form and return to Norma Martinez through interoffice mail (Mail Code: LBJ-30S) or e-mail the completed form to Norma Martinez. by June 12. Please note that the UCSC bylaws require that each member must be a full-time classified employee who has fulfilled the obligations of his/her probationary employment period.
2008-09 Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awardees
May is designated as teaching excellence month for the Medical School. Below are this year’s recipients of the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards.
Anesthesiology
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery
Dermatology
Diagnostic & Interventional Imaging
Emergency Medicine
Family & Community Medicine
Integrative Biology/Pharmacology
Internal Medicine
Microbiology/Molecular Genetics |
Neurobiology/Anatomy
Neurology
Ob/Gyn & Reproductive Sciences
Ophthalmology/Visual Science
Orthopaedic Surgery
Otorhinolaryngology-Head/Neck Surgery
Pathology/Laboratory Medicine
Pediatrics
Pediatric Surgery
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Psychiatry/Behavioral Sciences
Surgery |
Time out for meditation
Dr. Marianne Marcus, John P. McGovern Distinguished Professor and director of the Center for Substance Abuse Education, Prevention and Research, stretches her arms to prepare for meditative chanting. Dr. Alejandro Chaoul leads a class on Buddhist meditation every Monday during the month of May.
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Events to Know
May 21
Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Seminar Series: Dr. Masaya Fujita (University of Houston) presents “Systems analysis of Bacillus subtilis sporulation initiation network.”
4 p.m., MSB 3.301.
May 26
Department of Internal Medicine Grand Rounds: Dr. Devin Eckhoff (University of Alabama) presents “Islet Transplantation: The Promise and the Pitfalls.”
Noon – 1 p.m., MSB 2.103.
May 28
Department of Surgery Grand Rounds: Dr. Lillian Kao, associate professor of surgery, presents “Tight Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Patients — Is the Debate Over?”
7:00 – 8:00 a.m., MSB 3.001.
Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences: Dr. Naoto Ueno (M. D. Anderson) presents “Role of Allogeneic Transplantation in Solid Tumors.”
Noon - 1 p.m., UTPB, Suite 1100. Lunch will be provided for the first 20 attendees. Please take advantage of the train or bus, as we are unable to reimburse parking. Contact Linda Gilbert.
June 4
Department of Surgery Grand Rounds: Dr. Frank Moody, professor of surgery, presents “Pathogenesis and Treatment of Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis.”
7:00 – 8:00 a.m., MSB 3.001.
June 10
Art Wall deadline for submission for fall exhibit.
The Henry W. Withers Lectureship in Family Medicine: Dr. Russell Robertson (Northwestern University and chairman of the Council of Graduate Medical Education) presents “Crosscurrents in Physician Workforce Debates: Implications for Family Medicine.”
4:00 – 5:00 p.m., MSB 2.135.
June 11
Department of Surgery Grand Rounds: Dr. Glenn Geelhoed (George Washington University) presents “Surgery and Healing in the Developing World.”
7:00 – 8:00 a.m., MSB 3.001.
There is still time to RSVP to the 14th Annual University Classified Staff Workshop.
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., IMM auditorium. Register here.
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Submit event items or news tips for Scoop by noon on Thursday preceding the week of publication in which you would like your event or news to appear (seven days in advance).
To submit content for Scoop, send an e-mail to Scoop@uth.tmc.edu.
Giuseppe N. Colasurdo, M.D.
Dean
Darla Brown
Director of Communications
Carlos Gonzalez
Web Developer II
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