TODAY news - July 24, 2003

Thursday, July 24, 2003 TODAY

Loma Linda University Medical Center news

LLUMC medical staff members honored for years of service

Many medical staff members were recognized for their years of service during the annual LLUMC medical staff meeting on June 11, 2003. While not all were present to receive their awards, 24 doctors were honored, representing a total of 625 years of service.

Another highlight during the dinner was the passing of the gavel. Stanley Brauer, MD, medical staff president from July 2002 to June 2003, passed the gavel to the new president James M. Pappas, MD, assistant professor, School of Medicine.

Honored for 40 years of service is Roy V. Jutzy, MD (middle), receiving an award plaque and clock from B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS (right), president/CEO, LLUAHSC, and Stanley Brauer, MD, medical staff president.

40 years of service

Roy Valens Jutzy, MD

35 years of service

Brian Stanley Bull, MD
W. James Nethery, DDS

30 years of service

Stanley Charles Condon, MD
Gary Kent Frykman, MD
Lester Laverne Mohr, MD
Barbara Orr, MD
Robert Jacob Wagner, MD

25 years of service

Martin Wayne Allard, MD
Philip John Boyne, DMD
James Riley Dexter, MD
Philip Michael Gold, MD
Kenneth G. Gordon, MD
Sukh Sambat Raj Mehta, MD
Patrick Mathias Moloney, MD
Elmar Peter Sakala, MD
Russell O. Seheult, DDS
Steven Charles Stewart, MD
Robert Russell Torrey Jr., MD

20 years of service

Jane Marxmiller Bork, MD
Gary Ernest Fraser, MD
Jerry Donald Hoyle, PhD
Christopher Mallory Jobe, MD
Josep G. Llaurado, MD
Norman Harold Peckham, MD

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Heart transplant recipient heals in time for her high school prom

Leilah Dowsari recovered sufficiently enough from her heart transplant on May 11 to still attend her high school prom at Grove High School in Redlands.

Leilah Dowsari knows what it's like to have plans change suddenly. She recently planned to take a Hawaiian vacation. However, the development of coronary artery disease changed that quickly. But this bright-eyed 17-year-old wasn't about to miss her high school prom. With the help of a loving family, a caring medical team, and the ultimate Mother's Day gift, she got her wish.

Ms. Dowsari is no stranger to heart transplantation. Born with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome, she was transplanted for the first time when she was only 17-days old in 1986. She was the second baby to receive an infant-to-infant heart transplant from Leonard Bailey, MD, who pioneered the procedure at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Her first transplant lasted nearly 13 years before things went wrong. At 14, Ms. Dowsari learned that she had developed coronary artery disease. Her coronary arteries narrowed and prevented an adequate blood supply to reach her heart muscle.

Once again, she was placed on the transplant list. She received her second transplant on August 9, 2000. This heart did not sit as well and Ms. Dowsari experienced some severe rejection episodes. Eventually, the heart settled down somewhat, but it remained unpredictable.

Ms. Dowsari was referred to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, which has enriched the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work since 1980. Her original wish was to take a vacation in Hawaii this year. This was spoiled when she discovered she had developed coronary artery disease again. This prevented her from taking the trip to Hawaii. So instead the Make-A-Wish Foundation sent her on a shopping spree in April, when she bought her prom dress.

Unfortunately her condition deteriorated and Ms. Dowsari found herself on the heart transplant list for the third time.

Janette Whittaker-Allen, a good friend of the family and a transplant coordinator at LLUMC, made a personal visit on May 11, Mother's Day. The transplant team at LLUMC had just received word that a heart was available for Ms. Dowsari. They were trying to call her but kept getting no answer. So Ms. Whittaker-Allen went to the Dowsari's house around 7:30 a.m. to see if anyone was even there.

Thankfully, Ms. Dowsari was there, sound asleep, but not for long. She and her mother, Yvette, got their things together and went to LLUMC. By 11:30 a.m. the next day, Leilah had a new heart.

The only thing she noticed differently about this transplant was that she was more alert after the procedure. Her mom remembers Leilah being ready to talk shortly after surgery.

Leilah was released almost two weeks later and was able to attend her high school prom.

"I didn't get to do much but sit around," she says. Even though she just watched, Leilah says she enjoyed it.

"It's been almost two months since I've got the third heart and I feel great," smiles Leilah. "And I'm hoping it will last."

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Patient care inspires $5,000 grant for proton research

Suzette Rice and Kevin Neifert present a $5,000 check to David Colwell, CFRE (center), director of development for Loma Linda University Medical Center, on behalf of the Employees Community Fund of Boeing. The money will be used for research to develop proton therapy to treat breast cancer.

When members of the Employees Community Fund of Boeing, California, were asked to nominate organizations to receive grants in recognition of the quality service they provide, Suzette Rice immediately thought of Loma Linda University Medical Center. Her husband, John, received proton therapy at Loma Linda in 1997 when he was diagnosed with a tumor in the sinuses, the orbit of the eye, and the brain.

Suzette recalls the care he received. "I don't have anything but praise for Loma Linda. They basically saved his life. We've gotten nothing but great service. Compared to care he had received at other places, it was like night and day."

Suzette's nomination resulted in a $5,000 grant for research to develop proton therapy to treat breast cancer. David Colwell, CFRE, director of development for Loma Linda University Medical Center, accepted the grant at a ceremony in May.

"We are grateful for the Employees Community Fund of Boeing, California, for its ongoing commitment to community organizations and programs–and for allowing their employees to nominate worthwhile charities that have made a difference in their lives, as we did with John and Suzette Rice."

The Employees Community Fund of Boeing, California, selects grant recipients annually based on their contributions to the community. The Medical Center received its first grant from the organization in 1991.

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CISM seminar features founding president of the Critical Incident Stress Management Association of Texas

Vaughn Donaldson, presenter for the two-day seminar, used humor to share ways to manage stress in crisis situations.

On June 25 and 26, nurses and chaplains from all over Southern California gathered in the Wong Kerlee International Conference Center to learn more about dealing with the human side in disaster response. The seminar they all came to hear, Critical Incident Stress Management, held their attention for two days as presenter Vaughn Donaldson, a former firefighter and EMT, now aircraft rescue firefighting district chief in Midland, Texas, covered stress reactions in crisis situations and how critical incident stress management can successfully intervene in such times.

The program, designed to present the core elements of a comprehensive and multicomponent crisis intervention curriculum, prepares participants to understand a variety of crisis intervention services including pre- and post-incident crisis education, small group defusing, demobilization after large scale traumatic events, and the group intervention known as critical incident stress debriefing.

Mr. Donaldson used humor during the two-day presentation as he described crisis intervention as psychological first aid.

"Crisis intervention represents a unique form of psychological intervention and requires unique training," said Mr. Vaughn in his presentation. He explained the four main causes of stress, those driven by biogenic, psychosocial, environmental, and personality factors.

By the end of the seminar, Mr Vaughn gave a clear view on several keys to managing stress from critical incidents, any event with a stressful impact sufficient enough to overwhelm the usually effective coping skills of either an individual or group.

Participants gained the ability to identify the role peer support plays in crisis intervention; demonstrate crisis communication techniques; explain various types of reactions to stress and appropriate interventions; co-lead a crisis intervention group; describe terms and concepts relevant to crisis intervention; and identify common causes of traumatic stress in the work setting.

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President of Taiwan Adventist Hospital thanks Medical Center for donations

Editor's note: The administration of Loma Linda University Medical Center received the following letter from Su Chu-Hui, MD, president of Taiwan Adventist Hospital in Taipai.

Dear Sirs,

One of the greatest joys of being Seventh-day Adventist is that of belonging to a worldwide family. On behalf of all of us here at the Taiwan Adventist Hospital, please accept our sincere appreciation that we have recently received donations of surgical gowns or masks from our brethren institutes during SARS [Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome] disturbances.

There have been many challenges facing us in the last months, but as we unite together, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to finish the work the Lord has given us, He has given us the daily wisdom and courage that we need to witness for Him.

This donation has been allocated in full to our medical staff. It is always encouraging to receive such generous support and to know of your interest in the work that we attempt to bring quality health services.

We are excited that WHO [World Health Organization] has released Taiwan from the SARS nightmare on July 5, 2003. Praise to the Lord.

It is our prayer that the Lord will bless you abundantly in your work for Him.

Sincerely,

Su Chu-Hui, MD

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LLUMC employee expresses thanks in letter to Dr. Behrens

Editor's note: The following letter was received by B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, president, Loma Linda University Medical Center. It is reprinted with permission from Connie Haglund, pre-admission testing service for LLUMC.

Dear Dr. Behrens,

Last night was the employee recognition banquet for the Medical Center and Behavioral Medicine Center. I wanted to thank you and the other administrators for all the efforts made to provide us with a special evening. When I received my invitation, I was surprised to realize I have worked at LLUMC for 25 years. I attended another recognition banquet probably 15 years ago and as I watched the people receiving their awards for 20, 25, and 30 plus years of service, I had no vision for what it would mean to work somewhere for that length of time. I certainly did not expect to ever be one of those people.

As I sat at a table with several of my coworkers, I felt such a spirit of community in the room. Everywhere I looked, there were people I had worked with through the years of folks that have become my friends through social events, church, etc. It truly had the feel of family.

What amazed me the most was the emotions I experienced. Totally unexpected was the awe I felt as I looked into the faces of my coworkers and recognized the depth of commitment and dedication to the delivery of quality, Christian health care that I have seen in their practice. Some days, I face frustrations that cause me to doubt the value of what I have committed my life to, and so I lose perspective on the collective efforts of all those also committed to serving others in each of our various capacities. I am wise enough to recognize that we have trouble spots, but we have a larger body of excellence of which I needed to be reminded.

Having the opportunity to sit in a large room with so many others whose skills are developed and delivered with love and competence gave me a renewed feeling of pride in our team. I am humbled as I consider the contribution I make, yet honored and grateful to have the opportunity to make that contribution, no matter how small it is. I thought of the excellent care some in that very room have given me during my times of medical need. It is often the little things that linger in the memory the longest.

Among those who joined me on the stage for the picture celebrating 25 years of service were people I would and have gladly entrusted my life to. I have spent hours alongside many of them working together to figure out the best care possible for our patents. As we have worked together we have learned to trust each other and to know that even when it is tough, we are not a faint-hearted group.

The personal struggles of all of us through the years, crossing the spectrum of life's difficulties, have given us opportunity to learn how to empathize and how to reach out to others in need. We touch their hearts as well as their bodies. Without a place committed to Christ and the healing power He chooses to display through our efforts, we would never experience the depth of satisfaction that comes from knowing we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves.

I thank God for the opportunity of being a part of that purpose and process. I could easily take the recognition banquet for granted and go on my way, but I want to acknowledge the meaning it has had, and to communicate the renewed energy I feel for pursuing a higher standard of excellence in heart, mind, soul, and body.

Thank you for being sensitive to our needs and seeking to meet them whenever possible.

Your partner in service,

Connie Haglund

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Thursday, July 24, 2003 TODAY