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August 24, 2009
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IN
THIS ISSUE
In My Opinion:
A Medical Utopia
Stabenow Talks Health Care Reform At WSU
Henry Ford Doctor To Lead Physician Group
Father, Daughter To Attend Medical School
Together
Dr. Ayers Voted 'Family Friendly'
Henry Ford Hospital Recieves Accreditation
For Bone Marrow Transplants
Dr. Frank To Address British Ophthalmologists
Reader Survey 2009
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In
My Opinion: A Medical Utopia
By
ALLAN DOBZYNIAK, MD
There probably are fifteen million or maybe even twenty million truly
uninsured Americans. This leaves the remainder of the population
with some form of coverage. This large majority are generally satisfied
with their insurance. Certainly any system can be improved, and this
is generally recognized. A multiplicity of solutions could be considered
that do not require a radical change in the world’s best health care.
Reform would be a superior guiding principle.
Modern
societies likely do have an obligation to the truly needy.
The citizens of the United States, probably more than
most other countries, have characteristically shown this
through their generosity. It is incongruous that there
need be a huge compromise of personal freedom for government
health care to meet the needs of the truly less fortunate.
The benefits of such a plan have not been demonstrated
in any of the proposed bills, but the abridgement of
our personal freedoms has been abundantly clear.
It
will not be possible to change the opinion of physicians
and others advocating a single payer system of health
care. They are convinced their motives are incontrovertible
and quite simply beyond debate. The march toward their
perceived utopianism should never be impeded by those
of us who dare to dissent.
I
suggest that those who zealously defend a single-payer,
socialized health care system set up this wonder of wonders
and participate in it exclusively. But leave the rest
of us, both physicians , patients and statesmen, alone
to interact respectfully, without mandates, in
free markets where rewards for health care value, innovation,
and progress can occur with preservation of freedom of
choice.
I
want no part of their utopian vision; they can have it
all.
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Stabenow
Talks Health Care Reform At WSU
US
Sen. Debbie Stabenow brought a message of health care reform
necessity to an audience of doctors, educators and students
at the Wayne State University School of Medicine this Aug.
18.
Stabenow,
speaking to administrators, department chairs, doctors
and students in the new Margherio Family Conference Center,
stressed the need for change in health care insurance coverage
and access to basic health care.
“I
can’t imagine that in the greatest country in the world
that people don’t have access to the health care they need,” she
told an audience that included deans from a number of WSU
colleges.
A
member of the Senate Subcommittee on Health Care, Stabenow
said that while health care premiums have increased 200
percent in the last eight years and insurance company profits
have climbed 428 percent, fewer Americans continue to be
covered by a health care plan. Daily, she said, 14,000
Americans lose their health insurance. Each day 5,000 homes
are foreclosed upon because of a family medical crisis,
and 62 percent of personal bankruptcies are the result
of a medical issue not covered or only partially covered
by health insurance, she said.
“I
am after lower costs and access to coverage, whether you
have a job or not,” said Stabenow, who said health care
reform that stresses and incentivizes prevention and access
to primary care will demonstrate tremendous savings over
the long run. Noting that medical school students, facing
a weighty college debt load upon graduation, often enter
a more lucrative medical specialty, Stabenow said she favors
language that encourages doctors to practice primary care. “We
intend to incentivize payments for primary care,” she said.
As
for allegations that the reform proposal contained provisions
for so-called “death panels” for the elderly, Stabenow
said those claims are a result of exaggerated interpretations
of initial provisions to reimburse physicians for discussions
about living wills. “We are not going to kill grandmas,” she
said. “My mother is 83 years old and I have no intention
to do that.”
Valerie
Parisi, MD, MPH, MBA, interim dean of the School of Medicine,
said the setting for Stabenow’s address was fitting. “We
just had a new class of students begin their medical education
last week, and we tell those students that they must be
committed to advocacy in our society,” she said. “Wayne
State University really represents a large slice of the
health care professionals across the state. We are a very
important set of stakeholders in the health care debate.”
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Henry
Ford Doctor To Lead Physician Group
Frank
McGeorge, MD, Emergency Department physician at Henry Ford
Hospital, was appointed president of the Michigan College
of Emergency Physicians.
In
his role, Dr. McGeorge will serve as the official representative
of the Michigan College, which is what?. He will
chair its Board of Directors and Executive Committee to
help determine policy and agenda for college activities
in Michigan.
While
previously serving as secretary of the college's Executive
Board, he chaired the Education committee and served on
the Public Relations committee.
In
addition to his role at the Michigan College, Dr. McGeorge
serves as a trustee advisory council member of the Red
Cross as well as a member of the board of directors for
HAVEN, Oakland County's domestic violence advocacy organization.
He is also on the editorial board and a reviewer of a number
of medical publications, and can be seen on WDIV Local
4 News as the Good Health reporter.
Dr.
McGeorge received his medical degree from Northwestern
University, graduating with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. He
completed his post-graduate training at Henry Ford including
both an Emergency Medicine residency and as a research
fellow.
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Father,
Daughter To Attend Medical School Together
The
Wayne State University School of Medicine has two students
with a very special relationship. Ted Hunter (Class of
2010) and his daughter, Kara (Class of 2013) are using
their time at Wayne State not only to grow as future doctors,
but as family members as well.
Growing
up, Ted spent most of his time in South America and Jamaica,
serving as a missionary with his parents. Like his parents,
Ted would first pursue a career in ministry by serving
as a minister of religion in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
for several years. He completed his undergraduate studies
at Northern Caribbean University (formerly West Indies
College) in Jamaica, where he received a bachelor's degree
in theology.
He
came to Michigan in 1990, and earned two master's degrees
from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, one in regligion
and another in counseling psychology. After experiencing
firsthand the needs of local people as a counselor, Ted
decided to return to school and become a psychiatrist.
“My
strong desire to improve the well-being of others was instilled
in me at an early age by my multicultural parents, who
worked as missionaries in South America and Jamaica,” he
said. “In addition, these experiences fostered my ability
to navigate cultural differences and interact with sensitivity
with people from various backgrounds.”
Ted
had helped many people while serving as counselor, but
he felt there was more he could do. “Although my training
prior to medical school provided me with the tools to address
the psychological and social factors involved in psychopathology,
I lacked the training and expertise necessary to address
biological contributions. For this reason I returned to
school to pursue a medical degree.”
Ted
chose Wayne State University because of its exceptional
training and facilities, affordability, patient diversity,
commitment to the local community and the opportunity to
be close to his family.
Like
her Father, Kara Hunter also possessed an affinity for
helping others. However, unlike her father, Kara grew up
locally in Michigan. The first-year medical student completed
her undergraduate work at Oakwood University in Huntsville,
Ala.
Kara
chose to attend WSU for its excellent educational program,
extensive valuable clinical experience and the opportunity
to be back in Michigan.
“I
am also a little biased toward Michigan schools,” she said. “I
grew up in Michigan and I have many fond memories of those
years.”
While
her father pursues a degree in psychiatry, Kara wants to
practice internal medicine in Michigan. “It is important
to be able to provide the population of Michigan with an
adequate amount of primary care physicians so that the
health needs may be more adequately met,” she said.
Although
Ted is nearing the end of his time as a medical student
and Kara is just beginning hers, they are using this unique
opportunity to grow closer.
“The
shared experiences provide opportunities to communicate
at an even greater level than before,” Ted said. “We already
have a great relationship, but there is something special
about having shared experiences facilitated by attending
the same school at the same time. Being able to talk about
our joys and sorrows, successes and failures, and dreams
for the future within a familiar context I think is significant.”
Ted
provides Kara with an extra resource of educational materials
and a source of encouragement.
“Going
to school with him will be good because he will motivate
me not only to focus and concentrate on my studies, he
will also be there whenever I need someone to talk to about
any issue that I may be going through,” she explained.
Upon
graduating, Ted plans to become a child and adolescent
psychiatrist. In addition to his work as a psychiatrist,
he would like to advocate for mental health parity and
reduce some of the stigma associated with mental illnesses.
He also plans to volunteer abroad and at local clinics
to help uninsured families.
Kara
plans to be an internist in Michigan. She would also like
to work with Doctors Without Borders and provide help for
people regardless of their location or economic status.
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Dr.
Ayers Voted Family Friendly
Detroit
area parents have voted, and their favorite family-friendly
pediatrician is Eric Ayers, MD, an assistant professor
of Internal Medicine/Pediatrics and associate program director
of Internal Medicine/Pediatrics with the Wayne State University
School of Medicine.
Dr.
Ayers, a 1989 graduate of the School of Medicine, was the
blue ribbon winner of the Parents’ Pick Awards 2009 program
conducted by ParentsConnect, the online parenting Web site
of television broadcaster Nickelodeon.
“I
had no idea that I was even nominated,” said Dr. Ayers,
section chief and program director of Med-Peds for the
Department of Internal Medicine. “I was notified by a nurse
from Children’s Hospital of Michigan and thought that she
was pulling my leg.”
To
vote, parents had to visit the ParentsConnect website between
May 5 and July 15. Parents could vote for their favorite “family-friendly” businesses
in categories such as ice cream shop, pizza shop, museum,
shoe store and book store. Votes were tallied for individual
cities, and Dr. Ayers collected the most votes in the category
of pediatrician for the Detroit region.
“The
nursing, clerical and records staff are happy that our
hard work and dedication are paying off,” Dr. Ayers said. “The
notification is a reward in itself in that my patients
and their parents took the time out to nominate me. I am
honored and humbled at being recognized with such an honor.
I am surrounded by outstanding and dedicated colleagues
who are outstanding physicians. I realize each day that
I am blessed with a gift and attempt to use it each and
every day to deliver excellent care, potent advice and
mentor the pediatric patients that I serve. As my patients
and parents know, I tell it like it is with no side-stepping
or sugar-coating, for there may not be any tomorrows.”
Featuring
the motto, “We’re not perfect, we’re parents,” ParentsConnect
is an Internet portal that offers an array of information
on raising children and activities for families. The site
was developed by the company that produces programming
for Noggin, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon and Nick@Nite.
“This
vote is a wonderful testament to how highly the parents
of children in the region regard Dr. Ayers,” said Valerie
Parisi, MD, MPH, MBA, interim dean of the School of Medicine. “His
commitment to the health of children, health care access
for all children, and the caring way in which he interacts
with children and their families make him a natural to
win this honor.”
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Henry
Ford Hospital Receives Accreditation For Bone Marrow
Transplants
Henry
Ford Hospital's Bone Marrow Transplant program has been
reaccredited from the Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular
Therapy (FACT) for demonstrating an exceptional level of
patient care and medical and laboratory practices.
FACT
accredited programs ensure that all aspects of bone marrow
transplantation meet certain quality standards for patient
care, cell collection, processing and storage, and administration.
Henry
Ford, one of three Michigan hospitals accredited by FACT,
performs bone marrow transplantation for patients with
lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute and chronic leukemia,
and testicular cancer, as well as myelodysplastic syndrome
and aplastic anemia. They perform auto allo related and
allo unrelated stem cell transplants including Cord Blood
Transplantation. Henry Ford also is one of only two
multi-organ transplant centers in Michigan, performing
heart, lung, liver, and kidney-pancreas transplants.
Henry
Ford's program was the first in Michigan to use peripheral
blood stem cell transplantation in which stem cells are
obtained from peripheral blood rather than surgically removed
from the bone marrow. Today, peripheral blood stem cell
retrieval has become the preferred harvest method, although
in rare situations stem cells must still be procured from
bone marrow.
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Dr.
Frank To Address British Ophthalmologists
Robert
N. Frank, MD, professor of Ophthalmology and Anatomy/Cell
Biology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine
and the Kresge Eye Institute, has been invited to give
the Optic UK Lecture at the 2010 Congress of the prestigious
Royal College of Ophthalmologists in England.
“It's
always an honor for anyone from the United States to be
invited to speak before a distinguished group ‘across the
pond,’” Dr. Frank said. “I'm especially honored because
this is apparently the second of these named lectures before
the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the first of which
was given by a very distinguished colleague and good friend,
Alfred Sommer, MD, the former dean of the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public Health.”
The
lecture is scheduled for May 27, 2010. The annual lecture,
said Heidi Booth-Adams, head of the college’s Scientific
Department, was established via a donation from Optic UK,
which represents the ophthalmic industry in the United
Kingdom. The aim of the lecture, she said, is to “bring
eminent overseas speakers to the college congress to enhance
the program.”
While
he has not yet determined the topic of his lecture, Dr.
Frank said he may speak on the “mystery of macular edema.”
The
research of Dr. Frank, who is the Robert S. Jampel professor
of Ophthalmology for the School of Medicine, includes animal
models of retinal and choroidal vessel disease, retinal
and choroidal new blood vessel formation, diabetic retinopathy
and age-related macular degeneration. The Yale University
School of Medicine graduate specializes in diseases of
the retina.
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