1. health and fitness
2. disease
3. cancer

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2014
ALBANY MED
TODAY
Barbara Smith, RN, left, and Administrative
Coordinator Theresa Weinman
KNOWN FOR OUR EXPERTISE.
CHOSEN FOR OUR CARE.
What You Can Do About
Breast Cancer / pg. 4
Collaboration Delivers Powerful Impact
for Diabetes Research and Treatment
Albany Med, long known as a leader in diabetes
care and research, got a powerful partner in April
when The Endocrine Group became the Albany
Med Division of Community Endocrinology.
For 18 years, Matthew Leinung, MD, has chaired
Albany Med’s Division of Endocrinology. Under
his leadership, the flagship division has conducted
breakthrough research on the hormone leptin and
the use of insulin pumps to treat patients with
Type 2 diabetes, as well as numerous other research
studies and a number of clinical trials.
In one clinical study now underway, Vibhavasu
Sharma, MD, is investigating the effects of
ultra-long-acting insulin. “Our hope is that this
treatment could mean fewer injections for patients
and could lower their risk for hypoglycemia,” Dr.
Sharma said.
At the same time, Robert Busch, MD, director of
the Community Endocrinology Research Unit, and
his team are conducting 20 separate clinical trials
at their offices on Washington Avenue. They have
become recognized in the research community for
the quality of their research and their ability to
recruit and retain research patients.
“Joining forces with Albany Med will greatly
enhance our understanding of diabetes and help us
find new solutions for people who suffer from it,”
Dr. Busch said.
Dr. Vibhavasu Sharma
Clinical Research Coordinator Spencer
Phelps (left) and Dr. Robert Busch
Diabetes, which afflicts nearly 30 million people
in the United States, is associated with serious
complications including heart disease and
stroke, blindness and lower-limb amputation,
among others.
One current project Dr. Busch’s team is managing
is a large international study of diabetic kidney
disease where two-thirds of the American
subjects being studied are patients at Albany
Med’s Division of Community Endocrinology.
Dr. Busch says his team’s “concierge-level approach”
to developing relationships with research patients
has been beneficial for everyone. “Our patients have
cell phone numbers for me and my clinical research
coordinator, and they know they can call us at any
time. In turn, they become partners with us in our
research and are as committed as we are to finding
answers,” he said.
Dr. Busch looks forward to further collaborating
with Albany Med’s endocrinologists,
nephrologists, cardiologists and internists to help
gain a better understanding of diabetes and how
it impacts the kidneys, heart and general health
of a patient.
So does Dr. Leinung. “I’m excited about The
Endocrine Group joining Albany Med,” he said.
“The possibilities for collaboration as we move
forward will help further our understanding of
how to provide meaningful care to all the people
with diabetes in our community and beyond.”
Appreciation Day
The 2014 Employee Appreciation Picnic
and BBQ on Sept. 18 featured stunning
sunshine, a huge spread of food, games
and entertainment, and a few unexpected
gate-crashers. The mysterious presence
of honeybees on the athletic fields
of the Albany College of Pharmacy,
however, did not stop Albany Med’s
exceptional workforce from enjoying
the afternoon. The theme of this year’s
picnic, “History Always in the Making,”
celebrated Albany Medical College’s
175th anniversary and the tremendous
contributions of Albany Med’s
superlative employees. Albany Medical
Center again extends its gratitude for the
hard work and dedication its workforce
brings to the job every day.
Revolutionary Prostate Procedure Now
Performed – and Taught – at Albany Med
There are only a small number of places in the
world where a new, highly effective prostate
cancer detection procedure is being performed
and taught to residents and students—and one
of them is Albany Med.
Traditional prostate biopsies rely solely on
ultrasound technology, which is not always
accurate, said urologist Badar Mian, MD, since
prostate cancer is most often not visible on
ultrasound images.
But with new technology, Dr. Mian said,
prostate cancer detection procedures can now
be performed with unprecedented precision.
Dr. Mian, an associate professor of Surgery
who specializes in urologic oncology, is one of a
small group of surgeons around the globe who
is offering patients the new UroNav biopsy.
This highly targeted procedure creates a 3-D
rendering of the patient’s prostate in real time
by fusing detailed MRI images with
ultrasound images. A needle biopsy is
then performed under the guidance of
a very precise GPS-like tracker.
Dr. Badar Mian (left)
and Dr. Sevann Helo
“The UroNav procedure is the most
significant technological advance in
the field of prostate cancer in decades,”
Dr. Mian said. “It’s poised to become the new
standard for detection of prostate cancer, which is
the most common cancer in men.”
Sevann Helo, MD, who is working with Dr.
Mian as part of her rotation in the Division of
Urological Surgery, said, “It’s great to be at a place
that is on the leading-edge and where I can learn
about technological advances that are beneficial
to patients and a tremendous asset for surgeons.”
The UroNav technology offers patients more
precise targeting of cancer, fewer needle samples,
fewer repeat biopsies and improved detection of
Albany Med
All-Star
potentially lethal cancers, while reducing the odds
of detecting slow-moving, low-risk cancers.
“The biggest controversy associated with PSA
testing and standard biopsy has been the
overdetection of low-risk, indolent cancers while
missing many high-risk cancers,” Dr. Mian said.
Both of these issues are addressed by the UroNav
technology. “In addition to helping us detect
the exact location of cancers, we are now better
able to differentiate those patients with prostate
cancer who require immediate treatment from
those patients who can be safely monitored
without needing any treatment,” Dr. Mian said.
“Sometimes less is more.”
Brain Mapping Abroad
Stephen Batza
Patient Care Associate,
Neurosciences
Stephen Batza, who has worked at
Albany Med since 2010, has been
recognized by co-workers and patients
for his professionalism, compassion and
tendency to go the extra mile for the
people around him.
Drs. Gerwin Schalk and Anthony Ritaccio, ’84, were in Pozzilli,
Italy, last month to observe brain mapping in a neurosurgical patient
using methods and software systems developed at Albany Med and
the Wadsworth Center. The international collaboration is part of an
academic partnership with Neuromed, an Italian hospital for complex
neurological and neurosurgical care. A multimillion-dollar grant from
the European Union is supporting work to create a research lab in
southern Italy modeled after the brain-computer interface (BCI) lab
at Albany Med/Wadsworth that may help those who are paralyzed
or disabled communicate through computers and prosthetic devices
using only their thoughts. While there, Drs. Schalk and Ritaccio
also hosted a two-day neurotechnology conference in an ancient
monastery in Naples.
“No matter how busy he is,” one of his coworkers noted, “Stephen is always the first
to lend a hand. He’s been known to gather
books, movies, magazines—anything that
could help make a patient’s stay more comfortable. And he often does this on
his own time.”
“We had one patient on the floor who liked to write letters,” another co-worker
said, “but he never had any stamps. It was Stephen who went out and got the
stamps, then made sure the man’s letters got to a mailbox each day. This may not
sound like a big deal, but it made an enormous impact on the patient. Whenever
he needed help, he always
called out Stephen’s name.”
HOW TO GIVE:
Albany Med names an
“Excellence in Customer
Service All-Star” monthly from
among employees, volunteers
and vendors who continuously
demonstrate and exceed
expectations for service.
ALBANY MED IS MY LIFELINE ...
To learn more about being part of Albany Med’s Lifeline
campaign and Albany Med’s role as a vital regional
resource—a place known for its expertise and chosen
for its care—go to www.amc.edu/give, email
[email protected] or call (518) 262-3322.
From left: Dr. Gerwin Schalk, Dr. Anthony Ritaccio, ’84, and Neuromed
epilepsy specialists Drs. Giancarlo Di Gennaro and Alfredo D’Aniello.
2 | AL B A NY ME D TOD AY | OCT O BER 2014
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
$1.5 Million NIH Grant Funds Research
on Infections and Immunity
Katherine MacNamara, PhD, assistant professor
in the Center for Immunology and Microbial
Disease, has received a $1.5 million, five-year grant
from the National Institutes of Health, National
Institute of General Medical Sciences.
of the answer lies in understanding why,
on a very basic level, some people respond
better than others in clearing disease.”
Dr. MacNamara is attempting to understand
more about the role of stem cell function in the
body’s defense against a variety of infectious
diseases. Her goal is to answer the questions:
What makes a great immune response against an
infection, and how can we harness that to develop
new treatments?
Specifically, she is studying the function of
stem cells that reside in the bone marrow
known as hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
HSCs maintain blood production, including
cells of the immune system, throughout life.
In response to infection, Dr. MacNamara
said, HSCs “turn on” to replenish depleted
blood cells and may go out of the bone
marrow to aid in the immune response.
“Infectious disease is a national priority because
it represents a major cause of death in the United
States and around the world. We are always
looking for new ways to treat the flu and strep
infections while trying to stay on top of emerging
pathogens like tick-borne diseases, which are
common in this area,” said Dr. MacNamara. “Part
Dr. MacNamara and her team are examining the
changes that occur in the hematopoietic system in
a mouse model of ehrlichiosis, an emerging tickborne illness that causes symptoms in mice and
humans including anemia and thrombocytopenia
(low blood platelet count). She has found an
important role for interferon gamma, a molecule
Assistant Professor Katherine MacNamara
that is produced during infections, in modulating
HSC function. Mice deficient in interferon gamma
are not able to control this infection.
She said the possibility of manipulating interferon
gamma during an acute infection has tremendous
potential for the development of new therapies for
infectious diseases down the road.
Hats Off to 25 Years of Service!
Dedicated. Loyal. Passionate. These are just a few of the words that describe the
56 new members inducted into Albany Med’s 25-Year Club on Sept. 9. Employees
who have worked for Albany Medical Center for 25 continuous years or a cumulative
sum of 25 years are eligible to be inducted into this prestigious circle. This year’s
inductees were honored at a special reception at the Albany Marriott and included
John Robinson, Jr., who was recognized for 25 years of voluntary service as a member
of Albany Med’s Board of Directors. Congratulations to all! The 2014 inductees are:
Patient Care Associate Janet Williams
of the Vascular Radiology Department
Vol. 9, No. 10
October 2014
Albany Med Today
is published monthly
by the Department of
Policy, Planning and
Communications at Albany
Medical Center. Comments
and story suggestions can be
directed to Public Relations
at (518) 262-3421 or
albanymedcommunications@
mail.amc.edu.
Michele Alford-Zappala
Elizabeth Higgins, MD
Chris N. Rayot
John R. Bergin, PA
Lisa Ann Hubert
Kimberly A. Rees
Kay E. Boettcher
Glenda Isaac
Karen Adams Rifenburgh
Frederick G. Bowman
Julie A. Kerwood
Victor Graham Bruce, PA
Janis C. Koshgarian, RN
Anthony L. Ritaccio, MD,
’84
Yvette Bruton
Dale E. Kruse
Elizabeth Cahill, RN
Desiree F. Laz, NP
Carla S. Chamberlain
Judith M. Logan-Edmonds
David J. Conti, MD
Linda Lowden, DNP, RN
Janet M. D’Angelo, RN
Cindi J. Madej
Cheryl Ann DeSimone, MD
Katherine D. Marra
Susan I. Drobner, RN
Carla McCarthy, RN
Karen M. Dylong
Dawn D. McGeary
Jeanne M. Eacker
Rick L. McLaughlin, PA
Sandra B. Fahrenkopf, RN
Lois Oliver
Marian A. Fields
Steven A. Paul
Alan W. Furbeck
Bernadette R. Pedlow
Michelle Gilboy
Patrick C. Pulver, RN
Andrea M. Hanlon, RN
Rosalia A. Quinn, RN
John B. Robinson, Jr.
Cynthia A. Rulffes
Kari A. Rutnik
Michael Sandison, MD
Kimberly A. Schumaker
Leslie Stegner, RN
Denise C. Thoma, RPh
Martha A. Turek, RN
Catherine S. Vaughan, RN
Stephen A. Vena, PA
Wendy Vienneau
Roberta J. Wallace
Lisa A. Welter, RN
Janet Williams
ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER OFFICERS
JAMES J. BARBA, JD
President and Chief
Executive Officer
GEORGE T. HICKMAN
Executive Vice President
and Chief Information Officer
KIM FINE
Executive Vice President
and Chief Strategy Officer
GARY J. KOCHEM
Executive Vice President
and Chief Operating Officer
STEVEN M. FRISCH, MD
Executive Vice President of
IDS and Hospital Systems
General Director
VINCENT VERDILE, MD
Dean and Executive
Vice President for
Health Affairs
WILLIAM C. HASSELBARTH
Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer
KENNETH COLLOTON
Senior Vice President,
Center for Innovation
JOHN DEPAOLA
Executive Associate Dean and
Chief Operating Officer,
Albany Medical College
LOUIS FILHOUR, RN
Senior Vice President for
Clinical Quality
CATHERINE HALAKAN
Senior Vice President for
Human Resources
LEE R. HESSBERG
Senior Vice President and
General Counsel
NOEL HOGAN
Senior Vice President and
Chief Compliance Officer
KEVIN M. LEYDEN
Senior Vice President for
Business Development and
Strategic Partnerships
DENNIS P. MCKENNA, MD
Senior Vice President for
Medical Affairs and
Medical Director
BERNADETTE PEDLOW
Senior Vice President for Hospital
Business Services and Hospital
Chief Operating Officer
MARY ELLEN PLASS, RN
Senior Vice President and
Chief Nursing Officer
HENRY POHL, MD
Vice Dean for
Academic Administration
FERDINAND VENDITTI, MD
Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs
A LBA N Y ME D T O D AY | O C T O B E R 2014 | 3
Albany Medical Center Foundation
43 New Scotland Avenue (Mail Code 119)
Albany, New York 12208
(518) 262-3322 Fax (518) 262-4769
Email: [email protected]
www.amc.edu
Change Service Requested
C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S … AT A L B A N Y M E D
Team Albany Med at the 2013 “Making
Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk.
Albany Med Making Big Strides in
Community Breast Cancer Walk
Albany Med is once again working to recruit
the largest team ever to join our community in
“Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” the
American Cancer Society’s annual three-mile
walk, which will be held this year on Sunday,
Oct. 19, in Washington Park.
Team Albany Med co-captains Barbara Smith,
RN, certified breast health nurse navigator at
Albany Med’s Breast Care Center, and Theresa
Weinman, administrative coordinator at Albany
Medical College’s Department of Family and
Community Medicine, are aiming to underscore
the importance of breast cancer screening and
to raise funds for research.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer (other
than skin cancer) diagnosed in women in the
United States, and the second leading cause of
cancer deaths among women.
Smith and Weinman’s prior efforts led to a call
from the American Cancer Society, congratulating
them on assembling the second-largest team at
the 2013 walk. This year, they hope to do that
one better.
These Albany Med employees have walked the
walk—and that applies on a deeper level, too.
In 2013, Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer
after recently completing a special project as a
4 | AL B A NY ME D TOD AY | S EP T EM BER 2014
research coordinator, helping to bring 3D digital
mammography to the Capital Region.
Albany Med’s Breast Care Center was one of the first
places in the country to adopt the technology, known
as breast tomosynthesis, which allows radiologists to
have a more detailed image of breast tissue.
Smith credits the procedure and the care she
received at Albany Med with sparing her the need
for chemotherapy treatments. “My cancer was
caught early enough, thanks to the tomosynthesis.
I only needed a lumpectomy and radiation.
Now I’m cancer-free.”
Weinman has also been treated at the Breast Care
Center. “Thankfully, my results have remained
benign,” she said, “but I’m grateful to Albany Med
for the comforting care offered at a very scary time.
“I love being a part of the Making Strides Walk,” she
said, “because it brings all of us together—physicians,
nurses, staff, medical students, friends, family and our
local community. The day is a lot of fun, but also a
powerful reminder that we are all in this together.”
To be part of Team Albany Med in the “Making
Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk, go to
makingstrides.acsevents.org (enter Team Albany
Med in the “Find a Team” search bar) or contact
Barbara Smith ([email protected]) or
Theresa Weinman ([email protected]).
WWW.AM C.EDU
Options After Mastectomy
Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, or BRA
Day, falls on Oct. 15 this year. The initiative,
designed to promote education, awareness
and access regarding post-mastectomy breast
reconstruction, was launched three years ago.
A key player in getting it off the ground was
Albany Med plastic surgeon Malcolm Roth,
MD, then president of the American Society
of Plastic Surgeons.
This year, Dr. Roth and his fellow plastic
surgeons at Albany Med—along with
physicians and staff from Albany Med’s Breast
Care Center and its Department of Surgery
—will be participating in the “Making
Strides” walk.
In addition to supporting the women in our
community with breast cancer, Dr. Roth and
his colleagues want to raise awareness about
the many reconstructive options available to
women after a mastectomy.
Albany Med offers more types of
reconstruction procedures than any other
facility in the region, including saline
and silicone breast implants, free flap
reconstruction and nipple/areola tattooing
and reconstruction.
“There are so many options now,” Dr. Roth
said. “We want patients to be fully informed
so they, along with their physicians, can make
the best choice for their health and wellbeing.” For more information, please visit
www.amc.edu/reconstruction.