171 Ashley Ave.
Charleston, SC 29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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January 2006
This edition:
Letter From Our Chair
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L. Lyndon Key, MD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Pediatrics |
Dear Faculty:
The year has flown past. The Charles P. Darby Children's Research Institute opened with a wonderful tribute to children
and Dr. Darby's vision for a full-service children's hospital complex. Investigators from across the campus and from
around the country have moved into the building - bringing an increase in funded research for children from $10 million
up to $24 million. The research has spawned three major clinical trials:
- Improved preservation of kidneys for transplantation.
- Neuroprotection of infants with low birth weights.
- Neuroprotection of infants with intrauterine infections.
[read more]
Feature Story
Pediatric Rheumatology Program Expands
By: Mary Sue Lawrence, Trio Solutions Inc.
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| Richard Silver, MD |
As the primary provider of care for kids in South Carolina who have arthritis and other rheumatologic diseases,
the pediatric rheumatology program at MUSC is focused on offering optimal care to the state's children.
That determination gains fierce momentum next fall when the program welcomes a new pediatric rheumatologist, Dr. Natasha Ruth.
"It's been a goal of mind for a while to recruit a dedicated pediatric rheumatologist," says Richard Silver, MD,
director of rheumatology and immunology in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Silver holds a dual appointment in medicine
and pediatrics and oversees the pediatric rheumatology program. Prior to joining MUSC in 1981, he worked in London with
Dr. Barbara Ansell, a leading expert on juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
[read more]
Exciting MUSC Pediatric Residency in the New Year
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| Dr. Yaw Appiagyei-Dankah |
The year 2005 was one of major developments in the MUSC Pediatric Residency Program. In the spring, Colleen O. Thomas from the Department
of Anesthesiology was recruited to join our program as Coordinator following Ms. Blevins departure. Pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Yaw
Appiagyei-Dankah assumed the position of Assistant Program Director when Dr. Panzarino moved back to Florida. Several rotations were
modified to further improve educational opportunities and in accordance with new Pediatric Residency Review Committee guidelines
(effective January 2006). The Department introduced a hospitalist system to increase faculty teaching time, improve continuity of care,
and enhance the amount and quality of teaching by faculty members.
[read more]
Message From Our Medical Director
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J. Philip Saul, MD
Medical Director
Director, Pediatric Cardiology |
It may be surprising to many that rheumatic diseases affect children as well as adults, but in fact these conditions are some
of the most common causes of joint disorders in children. We are indeed fortunate at the Children's Hospital to have the
expertise of Dr. Rick Silver, Chief of the Rheumatology Division, in caring for these disorders. Although his training was
initially in adult rheumatology, Dr. Silver has specialized in the rheumatologic diseases of childhood and is beloved by both
his young patients and their parents.
Fortunately as well, there has been tremendous progress in both our understanding of these diseases and the available treatments,
such that few children suffer the long-term arthritic consequences that were once so common. Today, most children with rheumatic
diseases are managed primarily as outpatients, with inpatient admissions typically limited to the time of presentation or severe
"flare-ups". However, when hospital admission is necessary, our staff and facilities are always prepared.
Update From Our Administrator
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John Sanders, MHA
Administrator
MUSC Children's Hospital |
A Year to Grow On
As we start an exciting 2006 in the Children's Hospital, it is worth remembering some of the changes we saw in 2005. In previous
years, the percentage of admissions from the Children's Emergency Department averaged approximately 12 percent. That number has
risen to an average of 30 percent, with the Emergency Department continuing to attract parents seeking specialized pediatric care
for their children. With the implementation of the Quick Care Program, our overall wait times in the ED have become a benchmark for
other systems. The excellent care and wonderful service in the department has catapulted the Children's ED to the 96th percentile for
patient satisfaction.
We also opened the Medically Fragile Program and have quickly achieved our goal of enrolling 25 children in the first year. This program,
along with the two others in the state, has been recognized as an innovator on the National Association of Children's Hospitals' web site.
We expect it to be a national leader in the care of medically complex children.
[read more]
Children's Research Institute News
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Bernard L. Maria, MD, MBA
Executive Director
Darby Children's
Research Inst. |
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Inderjit Singh, PhD
Scientific Director
Darby Children's
Research Inst. |
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Dr. Tomlinson
Professor of Microbiology
& Immunology |
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Dr. Gilkeson
Professor of Rheumatology
& Immunology |
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In this first 2006 issue of Kids Connection, we feature truly outstanding clinical and research programs in childhood rheumatic
diseases. The Childhood Rheumatic Diseases Center (CRDC) is involved in research into childhood rheumatic diseases from the bench
to observational studies to clinical trials. Clinical trials ongoing in the CRDC are outlined in the feature article on the program
led by Dr. Richard Silver. There are two other active clinical studies in childhood lupus. The first is investigating low birth
weight as a risk factor for developing lupus or in developing significant comorbid diseases like high blood pressure and renal
failure. Prior studies indicate that low birth weight has profound effects on later risk of developing hypertension, renal
insufficiency and heart disease. There is also growing evidence that low birth weight has a lifelong effect on the immune system.
We are investigating the birth weights of individuals with lupus in our cohort compared to controls, and assessing if low birth
weight is a risk factor for lupus or developing a comorbid disease.
[read more]
Mental Health Resource News Brief
Screening and Intervention for Substance Abuse and Dependence
Substance abuse/dependence is a devastating problem that affects millions of Americans every day. It places a huge burden on
society as well as the individual as it is one of the nations' number one health problems contributing to serious and costly
health problems, family violence, mistreatment of children and less productive work place and involvement of the criminal justice
system. Unfortunately much of this use begins while a teen is still living at home.
[read more]
SPR and APS Member Announcement
Congratulations! We are pleased to announce that Dr. Isabel Virella-Lowell was recently elected to membership of the Society for
Pediatric Research (SPR) and that Drs. Tom Hulsey and Paul Darden were elected to membership of the oldest American medical society,
the American Pediatric Society (APS). Membership of SPR is limited to individuals who have been productive and independent in the
conduct of hypothesis-driven research. Membership of APS is limited to those individuals who have distinguished themselves in leadership,
teaching, research and contributions at a national and international level.
Below is the current list of MUSC faculty members who belong to SPR and/or APS:
Members of SPR (Active and Senior)* (N=11):
Andrew Atz (A)
Doe Eicher (A)
Tom Hulsey (S)
Lakshmi Katikaneni (S)
Janice Key (S)
Bernie Maria (A)
Tim McQuinn (S)
Bill Pittard (S)
Phil Saul (A)
Girish Shirali (A)
Inderjit Singh (S)
Isabel Virella-Lowell (A)
Carol Wagner (A)
* Individuals seeking Active membership must be less than 50 years of age at the time of application. Prospective members who
are between 50 and 65 years of age at the time of application, and who otherwise meet the criteria for Active membership as determined
by Council, will be admitted directly to Senior membership status.
Active Members of APS (N=2):
Paul Darden
Lyndon Key
Tom Hulsey
Bernie Maria
A special thanks to the following individuals for their efforts in putting together Kids Connection each month.
Managing Editor: Bernard L. Maria, MD, MBA
Publisher: Jennifer Cherock (Trio Solutions Inc.) and Jessica Munday (Trio Solutions Inc.)
Web design: Brian Dadin (Trio Solutions Inc.)
Contributing Writers:
Peter Kalivas,
Lyndon Key,
Michelle Macias,
Bernard Maria,
John Sanders,
Philip Saul,
Richard Silver,
Inderjit Singh,
Eve Spratt,
Steve Tomlinson
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