The new department will be home to USF’s growing biomedical engineering program TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 4, 2017) — The University of South Florida College of Engineering and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine have established the Department of Medical Engineering, a unique transdisciplinary concept that will combine the related aspects of engineering and medicine while providing access to real-world health care environments for education and research.
The faculty will consist of both physicians and engineers specializing in chemical and mechanical engineering, biomedicine and nanotechnology with initial concentrations in a broad range of biomedical engineering areas such as nanotechnology for drug delivery, orthopedics, and cardiology, neurology and cancer.
“The new program will focus on how best to help patients and improve medical care,” said Robert H. Bishop, dean of the USF College of Engineering. “We are creating an environment where intellectual collisions can readily occur between engineering professors, medical doctors, researchers, and students leading to innovative solutions that save lives and improve the quality of health care. In addition, occupations in biomedical engineering are typically high paying and are showing above average growth in the United States.”
Robert H. Bishop, PhD (left), dean of the USF College of Engineering, and Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.
While most biomedical engineering programs are based only within engineering, medical engineering at USF will offer a unique concept that pairs engineers with doctors and medical residents in a clinical setting. Graduate students will spend time at Tampa General Hospital meeting with surgeons and going into the operating room as observers. In addition to completing a thesis, graduate students will be encouraged to obtain a patent and publish an article in a peer-reviewed journal.
“This medical engineering department will enhance opportunities for doctors and engineers to learn from one another in real-world clinical environments,” said Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “It will facilitate joint work on applied research, including drug discovery and delivery and the development of medical devices and imaging to solve health care problems and improve patient care.”
The success of the USF biomedical engineering (BME) graduate program, which has grown more than 50 percent over the last five years and is currently the largest BME graduate program in Florida, is expected to lead to the launch of a bachelor’s degree program in biomedical engineering at USF in the near future.
Robert Frisina, director of the biomedical engineering program, will serve as interim chair of the Department of Medical Engineering. An advisory group of National Academy members is being formed to help attract world class faculty to the new program.
About USF The University of South Florida is a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. USF is a Top 25 research university among public institutions nationwide in total research expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation. Serving over 48,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
About USF Health USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs, and the USF Physicians Group.USF Health is an integral part of the University of South Florida, a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.
News release by Janet Gillis, Communications and Marketing Officer, USF College of Engineering
Media contact: Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
abaier@health.usf.edu, or (813) 974-3303
We are quickly approaching one of USF Health’s most loved events: The BANDaids for BRIDGE Talent Show. This year’s lineup features singing, dancing, poetry, comedy and musical acts. Competition will be fierce as performers do their best to earn the winning title.
This annual stage production offers the opportunity to not only help raise much-needed funds for an amazing cause but to also enjoy the incredible talents of our colleagues and coworkers. All proceeds and donations will go to the BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic, USF Health’s free student-run health clinic for the University community.
Our USF Health BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic truly shines all year long by providing quality care to a patient population that might not otherwise seek medical attention. The BANDaids for BRIDGE Talent Show is one way we can all help support this important program.
Tampa, FLA (Jan. 17, 2017) — The University of South Florida has launched a neurosciences initiative to integrate the latest treatment and research for a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders.
With the state-of-the-art USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute as its centerpiece and driving force, the new neuroscience initiative is being spearheaded by Dr. Harry van Loveren, vice dean of clinical affairs for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and chair of the Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair. Dr. van Loveren has a proven track record of highly effective administrative and clinical leadership skills, having served as interim dean of the USF medical school and developed one of its most successful departments. He is widely respected regionally and nationally as a top neurosurgeon and researcher with expertise in skull base surgery as well as microneurosurgical techniques.
Harry van Loveren, MD
The multidisciplinary initiative will bring together medical, surgical and research specialists from USF Health’s departments of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry – all dedicated to advancing treatment and prevention of brain, spinal cord and other nervous system disorders.
“The primary goal of this larger neurosciences initiative is to foster and coalesce interdisciplinary research collaboration among USF Health scientists looking at the brain in unique ways to accelerate new discoveries for a broad range of neurological conditions – including Alzheimer’s and related dementias, Parkinson’s, ataxias, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and stroke – leading to improved treatment and prevention for the patients we serve,” said Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.
“Dr. van Loveren has the expertise and commitment to build a preeminent, strong neurosciences model that will provide an even greater infrastructure for moving neurological discoveries from bench to bedside,” Dr. Lockwood said.
By consolidating disease-specific areas of care for a wide spectrum of neurological conditions, the initiative is expected to strengthen collaborative, complementary research across USF neuroscience disciplines and allow patients to better access the care they need.
“We will build upon the success of the Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute in becoming a vital treatment and research center for Floridians affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders,” Dr. van Loveren said.
“The neurosciences initiative will unify and coordinate all resources at the university for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders so we can expand our neurosciences footprint and serve even more patients and their families. We envision USF Health becoming a national destination for all things related to brain disorders and brain health.
The endeavor will also help position USF to take advantage of new federal funding opportunities such as the National Institutes of Health’s BRAIN Initiative, a pioneering project aimed at revolutionizing the understanding of the brain and accelerating the development and application of new technologies for brain disorders.
-USF Health- USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs, and the USF Physicians Group. USF Health is an integral part of the University of South Florida, a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu
Media contact:
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
(813) 974-3303 or abaier@health.usf.edu
Dr. Liller was among the public health researchers from 42 schools and programs of public health, spanning 22 states and 17 gun violence prevention and advocacy organizations, who convened this November in Boston for the “Public Health and Firearm Epidemic: A National Consultation.” An action agenda to encourage gun safety resulting from that national meeting was published online yesterday in the American Journal of Public Health. The AJPH editorial is titled “Academic Public Health and the Firearm Crisis: An Agenda for Action.”
Karen Liller, PhD
Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, dean of the Boston University School of Public Health, arranged for the November consultation after the presidential election results to discuss what top priorities of the newly elected administration should be to address the firearm epidemic and how public health professionals can help spur those priorities.
“The firearm-related injury and death rates in the United States need to be immediately addressed through comprehensive and collaborative partnerships involving many sectors, such as academia, funding agencies, industry, local and state government, injury prevention programs, law enforcement, gun owners, and more,” said Dr. Liller, a child and adolescent public health professor specializing in unintentional injury prevention.
“In the state of Florida, I hope to move this agenda forward by working with the state and local injury prevention groups and programs. We need to especially reach out to foundations as possible advocates and funding sources for our research and outreach efforts.”
In 1996 Congress added budget language to an omnibus bill stating that “none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] may be used to advocate or promote gun control.” This same language was later added to appropriation bills of the National Institutes of Health.
According to Liller, this has made funding dollars for firearms research scarce, despite the growing rate of gun-related deaths.
“The firearm issue continues to be a very serious injury issue,” she said. “We have more than 36,000 firearm deaths every year, and they are the leading cause of death for homicide and a very high percentage of deaths from suicide.”
Research published by the American Medical Association in January, indicates firearms research is far behind where it should be, Dr. Liller said.
“A recent research letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Stark and Shah (2017) found that compared with other leading causes of death, firearm violence had less funding and fewer publications than what was predicted based on the mortality rate. In fact, predicted funding should be $1.4 billion, yet only $22 million was observed. Predicted number of publications was nearly 39,000, yet only 1,738 were observed.”
Dr. Liller said national consultations, such as the one organized by Dr. Galea, are key to overcoming the research gap.
“Saying that there are no federal dollars so we can’t do anything does not move us forward. We need to have meetings like this to come up with strategies such as working with private foundations, industry, and gun owners for solutions.” Dr. Liller said. “The idea that we want to take away guns is not true. We want to make firearms safer, and we want a safer environment.”
“I’m excited, because the strategies were ones that we haven’t seen before in many publications. They deal with the role of academia taking a very important stance, working collaboratively with advocacy groups and other organizations,” she said. “We need to not only have one national consultation with academic public health programs, we need to have several, and Dr. Galea’s meeting was an excellent start.”
-USF College of Public Health-
Established in 1984 as the first college of public health in the State of Florida, the USF College of Public Health is a recognized leader in community health, online education, maternal and child health, social marketing, and global infectious disease research. The college offers multiple online and on-campus concentrations that lead to MHA, MPH, MSPH, DrPH, and PhD degrees, as well several dual degrees, graduate certificates, and special programs. To learn more about the college and its 1,800 students who commit to passionately solve problems and create conditions that allow every person the universal right to health and well-being, visit www.publichealth.usf.edu.
-USF Health- USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs, and the USF Physicians Group. USF Health is an integral part of the University of South Florida, a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu
Kirstin Ha’s emotional poem about her mother migrating to America after the Vietnam War won the hearts of judges and more than 200 guests at the Annual BANDaids for BRIDGE Talent Show on Jan. 19 at the T. Pepin Hospitality Centre.
“My mother is my inspiration,” said Ha, a first-year medical student at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, after winning the talent show competition. “My mother sacrificed to give me a better life. And that’s what the BRIDGE Clinic is all about –giving up to give back to others.”
Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, poses for a photo with the winner of the competition, Kristal Ha, and student event organizers.
The competition was strong, but Ha, who wrote the poem specifically for the BANDaids Talent Show, took the top spot. Runners up included USF Health’s acapella group “Say Ahhh! Capella” for singing Hallelujah, and Katrina Watcher and Jameson Kuang for performing “Astonishing” from Little Women.
Now, in its sixth year, the special event hosted by USF Health students, featured 10 acts including singing, dancing, poetry, comedy and musical acts – all to raise funds and awareness for the USF Health BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic. The event also included a silent auction, drawings and other fun activities.
Students behind the USF Health BANDaids for BRIDGE Talent Show.
“This event gives USF Health students the opportunity to showcase their hidden talents,” said Megan Melody, third-year medical student and student director for this year’s BANDaids for BRIDGE Talent Show. “As health students, we spend endless time in the classroom, in the library or in clinics, so this event allows us to have fun for a great cause.”
The BRIDGE Healthcare Clinic, founded in 2007 by four medical students, is a free student-directed clinic that helps serve uninsured patients in the university community area. Since then, the BRIDGE Clinic has transferred its clinical space to the Morsani Center for Advanced Healthcare on the USF main campus and expanded to a nearby Florida Hospital Tampa site, offering additional nights each month to help meet the demand for access to quality health care.
“It’s amazing how far the clinic has come,” said Sam Crane, MD, co-founder of BRIDGE Clinic, who also attended the event. “We started raising funds by selling hot dogs in front of Walmart. Because of students’ commitment and hard work, BRIDGE is now bigger than any of us. It’s taken on a life of its own.”
Dr. Sam Crane, Co-Founder of BRIDGE Clinic
During his appearance at the event, Dr. Crane announced the BRIDGE Founders Award, created by founding members, Dr. Crane, Dr. Waldo Guerrero, Dr. Omar Hammad and Dr. Shelby Kent. The award will recognize two students every year, who help dedicate their time and talent to the BRIDGE Clinic to help those in need.
“BANDaids for BRIDGE gets bigger and better every year,” said Bryan Bognar, MD, vice dean of the Office of Educational Affairs for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “This event represents the best of USF Health and the best of BRIDGE Clinic– coming together among all interprofessional health disciplines for a great cause.”
The event was a great success due, in part, to official talent show emcees, Melody and Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. They brought a lot of energy and laughs throughout the show.
Dr. Lockwood and USF medical student Megan Melody emceeing the event
The judges didn’t disappoint either. They included Dr. Bognar, Rahul Mehra, MD, alum of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Psychiatry residency program and Chief Medical Officer of MehraVista Health; Rami Komrokji, MD, associate professor of oncologic sciences and clinical director of malignant hematology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine; and Joanne Strobbe, MsEd, senior associate vice president for administration, finance and technology, chief financial officer for USF Health, and vice dean for administration, finance and technology for USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
Pharmacy student, Bionqua Lynch, sings Rise Up in tribute to BRIDGE Clinic
Student, Sarah Silva, sings Shadow Feet
Student, Radhika Mehrotra, performs Marathi Indian Dance
Full talent line up: Lay Low – Max Needham Fireside – Maria Ngo Don’t Wait – Bionqua Lynch, Shantel Houston & Raul Soto Astonishing – Katrina Watcher accompanied by Jameson Kuang Marathi Indian Dance – Radhika Mehrotra Dancing with the Professors – James Harrison & Dr. Marzenna Wiranowska The Voice from Above – Tara Zimmerman Hallelujah – Say Ahh! Capella Original Poetry – Kristal Ha Shadow Feet – Sarah Silva Solo guitar – Shane Leighton (during cocktail hour) Rise Up – Bionqua Lynch (BRIDGE tribute)
Sponsors for the event included: TJ Couch Family Foundation, Florida Hospital, Jay Carlson Photography, Carol Prokap and PRP Wine International, Joanne Strobbe and Tom MacQuarrie, Dr. Frederick Slone and Sheree Slone, Dr. Lynnette Menezes and Dr. Marian Menezes, Lokesh Coomar, Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, USF Athletics Department, The Oxford Exchange, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurants, Tampa Improv Comedy Theater and Restaurant, Yeungling Brewery, The Straz Center for Performing Arts, Tampa Museum of Science and Industry, The Florida Aquarium, Simple Graces Jewelry, Coppertail Brewing Company, Florida Orange Grove and Winery, JC Newman Cigars, and 3 Daughters Brewing.
Story by Vjollca Hysenlika Photos by Vjollca Hysenlika and Sandra Roa
The founding director of the USF Health Heart Institute has a passion for innovation, translational medicine and entrepreneurship.
Samuel A. Wickline, MD, has parlayed his expertise in harnessing nanotechnology for molecular imaging and targeted treatments into an impressive $1-million portfolio of National Institutes of Health awards, multiple patents and four start-up biotechnology companies.
“We’ve developed nanostructures that can carry drugs or exist as therapeutic agents themselves against various types of inflammatory diseases, including, cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and even infectious diseases like HIV,” said Dr. Wickline, who arrived at USF Health last month from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
The USF Health Heart Institute’s new leader Dr. Samuel Wickline arrives with an impressive NIH portfolio and strong track record of entrepreneurial research.
Dr. Samuel Wickline talks about his vision for the USF Health Heart Institute.
At Washington University, Dr. Wickline, a cardiologist, most recently was J. Russell Hornsby Professor in Biomedical Sciences and a professor of medicine with additional appointments in biomedical engineering, physics, and cell biology and physiology.
“I like the challenge of building things,” he said.
In St. Louis, he built a 29-year career as an accomplished physician-scientist keenly interested in translating basic science discoveries into practical applications to benefit patients. He served as chief of cardiology at Jewish Hospital, developed one of the first cardiac MRI training and research programs in the country, helped establish Washington University’s first graduate program in biomedical engineering, and led a university consortium that works with academic and industry partners to develop medical applications for nanotechnology.
At USF, there will be no shortage of challenging opportunities to build.
Building the USF Health Heart Institute
A major part of Dr. Wickline’s new job is helping to design, build and equip the Heart Institute. Most importantly, he will staff the state-of-the-art facility with a critical interdisciplinary mix of top biomedical scientists (including immunologists, molecular biologists, cell physiologists and genomics experts), who investigate the root causes of heart and vascular disease with the aim of finding new ways to detect, treat and prevent them. The Heart Institute will be co-located with new Morsani College of Medicine in downtown Tampa; construction on the combined facility is expected to begin later this year.
“I have been impressed by the energy and commitment here at the University of South Florida to invest substantial resources in a heart institute,” Dr. Wickline said. “I believe we have a lot to offer in terms of bench-to-bedside research that could solve some of the major cardiovascular problems” like atherosclerosis or heart failure.
“We want to put together a program that supplies the appropriate core facilities to attract the best and brightest researchers to this cardiovascular institute.”
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide, so exploring potential new treatment options is critical. One of the Heart Institute’s driving themes will be advancing concepts and findings that prove promising in the laboratory into projects commercialized for clinical use, Dr. Wickline said.
“Our goal is to make a difference in the lives of patients,” he said. “Innovation is not just about having a new idea, it’s about having a useful idea.”
Dr. Wickline also serves as associate dean for cardiovascular research and a professor of cardiovascular sciences at the Morsani College of Medicine. He holds the Tampa General Endowed Chair for Cardiovascular Research created last year with a gift from USF’s primary teaching hospital.
With Washington University colleague Hua Pan, PhD, a biomedical engineer and expert in molecular biology, Dr. Wickline is re-building his group at USF. Dr. Pan was recently recruited to USF as an assistant professor of medicine to continue her collaborations with Dr. Wickline.
An example of Dr. Wickline’s group using nanotechnology to help combat atherosclerosis.
Dr. Wickline’s lab focuses on building nanoparticles to deliver drugs or other therapeutic agents to specific cell types, or targets.
Designing nanoparticles to “kill the messenger”
Dr. Wickline’s lab focuses on building nanoparticles – shaped like spheres or plates, but 10 to 50 times smaller than a red blood cell – to deliver drugs or other therapeutic agents through the bloodstream to specific cell types, or targets. These tiny carrier systems can effectively deliver a sizeable dosage directly to a targeted tissue, yet only require small amounts of the treatment in the circulation to reduce the risk of harmful side effects.
Some types of nanoparticles can carry image-enhancing agents that allow researchers to quantify where the illuminated particles travel, serving as beacons to specific molecules of interest, and enabling one to determine whether a therapeutic agent has penetrated its targeted site, Dr. Wickline said.
Dr. Wickline also is known for designing nanoparticles derived from a component of bee venom called melittin. While bee venom itself is toxic, Dr. Wickline’s laboratory has detoxified the molecule and modified its structure to produce a formula that allows the nanoparticles to carry small interfering (siRNA), also known as “silencing RNA,” or other types of synthetic DNA or RNA strand.
Among other functions, siRNA can be used to inhibit the genes that lead to the production of toxic proteins. Many in the nanotechnology research and development community are working to make siRNA treatment feasible as what Dr. Wickline calls “a message killer,” but the challenges have been daunting.
“The big challenge in the field of siRNA, and many companies have failed at this, is how to get the nanostructure to the cells so that the siRNA can do what it’s supposed – hit its target and kill the messenger — without being destroyed along the way, or having harmful side effects,” Dr. Wickline said. “We figured out how to engineer into a simple peptide all of the complex functionality that allows that to happen.”
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Dr. Wickline comments on how being a physician adds perspective to the science he conducts.
Different targets, same delivery vehicle
In a recent series of experiments in mice, Dr. Wickline and colleagues have shown that silencing RNA messages delivered by nanoparticle to a specific type of immune cell known as a macrophage – a “big eater” of fat – actually shrinks plaques that accumulate inside the walls of the arteries during atherosclerosis, one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease. The build-up of atherosclerotic plaques with fat-laden macrophages narrows, weakens and hardens arteries, eventually reducing the amount of oxygen-rich blood delivered to vital organs.
This type of plaque-inhibiting nanotherapy could be useful in aggressive forms of atherosclerosis where patients have intractable chest pain or after an acute heart attack or stroke to prevent a secondary cardiac event, Dr. Wickline said.
In another study, Washington University School of Medicine researchers investigated the potential of the siRNA nanoparticle designed by co-investigators Dr. Pan and Dr. Wickline in treating the inflammation that may lead to osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that is a major cause of disability in the aging population. The nanoparticles — injected directly into injured joints in mice to suppress the activity of the molecule NF-κB — reduced local inflammation immediately following injury and reduced the destruction of cartilage. The findings were reported September 2016 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Previously, Dr. Wickline said, the Washington University group had shown that nanoparticles delivered through the bloodstream inhibited inflammation in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis. And, another laboratory at the University of Kentucky is studying whether locally injected siRNA nanoparticles can quell the bacterial inflammation that can lead to a serious gum disease known as periodontitis. Other collaborating labs are using these nanoparticles in pancreatic, colon, and ovarian cancers with good effects.
“The specific targets in these cases may be different, but the nice thing about this kind of delivery system for RNA interference is that the delivery agent itself, the nanostructures, are the same,” Dr. Wickline said. “All we have to do is change out a little bit of the genetic material that targets the messages and we’re set up to go after another disease. So it’s completely modular and nontoxic.”
The St. Louis-based biotechnology company Trasir Therapeutics is developing these peptide-based nanocarriers for silencing RNA to treat diseases with multiple mechanisms of inflammation. Dr. Wickline co-founded the company in 2014 and continues to serve as its chief scientific officer.
Dr. Wicklne: “Innovation is not just about having a new idea, it’s about having a useful idea.”
Inhibiting chronic inflammation without getting rid of beneficial immune responses.
In essence, Dr. Wickline said, he is interested in suppressing chronic inflammation, without disrupting the beneficial functions of surveillance by which the immune system recognizes and destroys invading pathogens or potential cancer cells.
“If you can inhibit the ongoing inflammation associated with (inappropriate) immune system response, you inhibit the positive feedback cycle of more inflammation, more plaques, more damage and more danger,” he said. “If you can cool off inflammation by using a message killer that says (to macrophages) ‘don’t come here, don’t eat fat, don’t make a blood clot’ – that’s what we think could be a game changer.”
Another NIH grant has funded collaborative work to develop an image-based nanoparticle that detects where in a compromised blood vessel too much blood clotting (hypercoagulation) occurs, and delivers potent anti-clotting agent only to that site. Formation of abnormal blood clots can trigger a heart attack when a clot blocks an artery that leads to heart muscle, or a stroke when a clot obstructs an artery supplying blood to the brain.
Because this site-specific nanotherapy targets only areas of active clotting, it may provide a safer, more effective approach against cardiac conditions like atrial fibrillation and acute heart attack than existing anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin and newer blood thinners like Xarelto® (rivaroxoban) or Eliquis® (apixiban), all which work systemically and come with raised risk for serious bleeding, Dr. Wickline said.
In a study published last year in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Dr. Wickline and colleagues found that nanoparticles delivering a potent inhibitor of thrombin, a coagulant protein in blood that plays a role in inflammation, not only reduced clotting risk but also rapidly healed blood vessel endothelial barriers damaged during plaque growth.
The preclinical work showed the experimental treatment “is actually an anti-atherosclerotic drug as well as an anti-clotting drug, so there are many potential applications,” Dr. Wickline said.
Dr. Wickline received his MD degree from the University of Hawaii School of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine, followed by clinical and research fellowships in cardiology at Barnes Hospital and Washington University, where he joined the medical school faculty in 1987.
He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed papers and holds numerous U.S. patents. Dr. Wickline is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, and a 2014 recipient of the Washington University Chancellor’s Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Hisfirst scientific experiment was conducted at age 21, before entering medical school, when he worked in a research laboratory in Hawaii run by a cardiovascular surgeon interested in techniques to best support the heart during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Dr. Wickline figured out why one particular way of perfusing blood through the heart pump machine could dangerously compromise oxygenated blood flow to the brain. The results were published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. One of Dr. Wickline’s first studies in medical school, published in the prestigious journal Circulation, described a method for determining the size of a heart attack by recording electrical signals, called vector cardiograms.
He grew up in St. Petersburg, Fla., and did some trick water skiing as a teen. “I learned how to ski backwards.” After being “landlocked” in Missouri for 37 years following medical school in Hawaii, he said he’s glad for the opportunity to get back to get back to the beach and water sports.
Chronic stress and burnout are prevalent among more than half of health care professionals, including medical students. That is why The International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) is now featuring a series of web seminars Jan. 5, Creating a Culture of Well-being at an Academic Health Center.
“We are trying to be more aware and increasingly proactive in identifying students who potentially display signs of burnout.” said Bryan Bognar, MD, vice dean for Educational Affairs at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM). “This seminar series is an opportunity for us to pause and reflect on these important topics that are of significant concern to all medical educators.”
Burnout is defined as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low personal accomplishment leading to decreased effectiveness at work. Some key identifiers of burnout include excessive workload, an inefficient work environment and inability to maintain a health work-life balance.
A 2015 study by the American Medical Association and the Mayo Clinic concluded that burnout rates significantly rose in 2014 compared to 2011. Dr. Colin West, professor of medicine, medical education and biostatistics at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, called the burnout rate a “public health crisis” during a Jan. 5 web seminar. Statistics show that more than 500,000 medical professionals, across all disciplines, showed signs of burnout. Additionally, more than 40,000 cases were reported among medical students.
“Burnout is cyclical. To me, the only way to prevent burnout in medical school is to say ‘it’s okay for me to step away to do something I love that’s not related to medical school’,” said Vinodh Chandra, third-year medical student at MCOM. “This is an issue I’ve had to deal with personally. In my experience, it’s not just one single stressor at one point in time. It’s multiple demands and chronic demands that turn into perceived stressors that, over time, will wear someone out emotionally.”
One step MCOM has taken to prevent burnout is conducting the Collegia Olympics. Student groups will participate in a six-week competition designed to build healthy habits and promote healthy lifestyles. Groups have the opportunity to earn points by:
Attending group fitness classes.
Completing a resistance workout.
Drinking eight cups of water per day.
Walking 10,000 steps per day.
Sleeping a minimum of seven hours
Completing a physical exam or body composition exam.
Other services provided include an MCOM learning skills specialist, an aid for those experiencing academic challenges and who is readily available for students to talk to, and the USF Health Wellness Program.
“To be a good medical student and ultimately a good physician, building healthy habits and promoting healthy lifestyles are a must to prevent burnout and recover from burnout. However, identifying burnout is up to the students,” said Chandra. “Students need to be equipped with the knowledge and awareness to be able to identify burnout. The college does a tremendous job of providing resources to the students in order to address burnout.”
The IASME web seminars will continue every Thursday at noon until Feb. 2. The remaining sessions include incorporating mind-body medicine by Adi Haramati, PhD, and cultivating resilience by Michael Krasner, MD. Register for the seminars at http://bit.ly/IAMSE2017.
Story and photo by: Freddie Coleman, USF Health Office of Communications.
For some students, choosing a major can be a difficult decision. However, an event hosted by USF Health from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the USF Marshall Student Center, could help make their decision a lot easier.
A USF Health student poses with USF mascot Rocky D. Bull at the 2016 USF Health Shared Student Services symposium.
“The health care symposium showcases our nationally ranked academic programs to perspective students,” said Joe Ford, assistant vice president for USF Health Shared Student Services. “This also highlights USF Health and our mission of making life better for patients and the community through top-quality education, research and clinical practice.”
Guest speaker Donna Petersen, ScD, CPH, senior associate vice president of USF Health, dean of the USF College of Public Health and interim dean of the USF College of Nursing, will discuss career opportunities in health care and how USF adapts its programs to align with the ever-changing health care field.
Advisors from all USF Health colleges will be there to answer questions about different programs offered at the Morsani College of Medicine, College of Public Health, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, and School of Biomedical Sciences.
The event, which includes a photo booth, breakfast and lunch, will be free to students.
TAMPA, Fla. (Jan. 31, 2017) — The University of South Florida today unveiled preliminary renderings of the future home of its USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute in downtown Tampa.
The renderings offer an early look at USF’s newest state-of-the-art facility, which will combine under one roof a medical school to teach the next generation of physicians and a cardiovascular research institute to pioneer new discoveries for heart health. The $152.6-million building features angles and facets offering unique viewpoints from within and ample windows to allow reflective light into work and learning spaces. Skanska/HOK is the design/build team constructing the new USF facility.
“These early renderings are another powerful sign of how significant the University of South Florida’s growing presence in downtown Tampa is today,” said USF System President Judy Genshaft. “Co-locating our medical school and heart institute in the vibrant urban area of Tampa will attract more top-tier students and cardiovascular researchers, and energize our intent to bring more biotechnology, biomedical and pharmaceutical firms to this region. We are excited about seeing the construction of this fantastic facility over the next two years, as well as its lasting impact on the Tampa Bay economy.”
The USF Health building will be a key anchor in a $3-billion real estate development by Strategic Property Partners, the joint venture between Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment, LLC. The group is developing 53 acres in downtown Tampa into a multi-use, urban waterfront district that will promote a walkable, sustainable, healthy environment for downtown Tampa residents, workers, students and visitors.
“The University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute will be an anchor for SPP’s project and for the larger downtown community. The school’s impact will extend beyond its physical presence and be felt throughout the urban core, bringing energy to the area with its students, researchers, and professors,” said Vinik. “I am delighted that USF is one step closer to seeing this project come to fruition.”
Located at the corner of South Meridian Avenue and Channelside Drive, the new USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and the USF Health Heart Institute will accommodate an estimated 2,275 faculty, staff and students when it opens in late 2019. The building will include learning and conference spaces, an auditorium, laboratories, faculty offices and a clinical research and care unit.
Among its many advantages, the new location puts the medical school closer to its primary teaching hospital Tampa General and the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation, a competitive advantage for teaching tomorrow’s physicians, said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.
“News of the move to downtown is already having an impact on student and faculty recruitment,” Dr. Lockwood said. “In fact, since the announcement of our move, the number of applications to our medical school has increased 170 percent, or by nearly 2,500 students per year, the caliber of students applying is increasing as well, and we’ve recruited 12 of the 31 NIH-funded cardiovascular scientists who will conduct leading interdisciplinary biomedical research at the Heart Institute.”
Construction of the USF downtown facility is expected to begin August 2017, with building completion expected by late 2019. The medical school and heart institute will be built with a combination of state and private funding.
-USF-
The University of South Florida System is a high-impact, global research system dedicated to student success. The USF System includes three institutions: USF; USF St. Petersburg; and USF Sarasota-Manatee. The institutions are separately accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. All institutions have distinct missions and their own detailed strategic plans. Serving over 48,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.6 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Media contact:
Anne DeLotto Baier, USF Health Communications
abaier@health.usf.edu, or (813) 974-3303
Carleton H. Baker, PhD, founding chair of the Department of Physiology at University of South Florida’s medical school, died Jan. 28 in North Augusta, SC. He was 86.
Dr. Baker was among the first faculty members and chairs recruited by Donn Smith, MD, the first permanent dean of the then USF College of Medicine.
“Carl’s own research interests involving the cardiovascular system and microcirculation started a line of inquiry at USF that continues with the present generation of scientists in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology (formerly the Department of Physiology),” said Bruce Lindsey, PhD, who was recruited by Dr. Baker nearly 40 years ago, advanced to department chair and now serves as distinguished professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine.
In particular, Dr. Baker investigated adrenal gland influence in problems relating to mechanisms regulating the transfer of fluids in an out of the circulation. He evaluated techniques for determining how blood volume and its regulation changes under experimental conditions.
Carl, as some of his earlier colleagues knew him, was known for being a straight shooter with high standards for his faculty, Dr. Lindsey said. He was also known for his hospitality in opening his home to new professors.
“Carl was very supportive during my early career as a new assistant professor. He would regularly walk around the department to see how things were going and was always willing to give advice and guidance,” Dr. Lindsey said. “Dr. Baker and his wife Sara were gracious hosts and invited members of the department to their home on occasion. Mrs. Baker made the most wonderful pies.”
Before USF, Dr. Baker was a professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of Louisville from 1967 to 1971 and an assistant, associate, and professor of physiology at the Medical College of Georgia from 1955 to 1967. Both academic institutions had passed their centennial years.
The thrill of building a new department appealed to him, so when USF’s medical dean Dr. Donn Smith called about the opportunity here, Dr. Baker and his family were soon Florida bound. He joined the USF College of Medicine faculty in 1971 as a professor of physiology and biophysics, research scientist, deputy dean, chairman of physiology and biophysics, and professor of surgery.
In the USF College of Medicine 25th Anniversary book “Sparkling with Promise,” Dr. Baker was quoted as saying: “I vividly remember the day I got here. I had a moving van full of books, equipment and my household stuff. They backed it up to the door over at the Science Center, and all of a sudden, Donn (Smith) comes along and says ‘you can’t unload that here.’ I said, ‘why not.’ He said, ‘because we don’t have anywhere to put it!’”
Finally, Dr. Baker ended up in the biology laboratory, with only a thin wall separating the space between anatomy and physiology. “You could smell cadavers all over the place,” he recalled.
Dr. Baker edited a book titled Microcirculatory Technology and authored more than 200 research papers, abstracts and presentations and was a member of numerous university committees.
As a result of his dedication over the years, he earned the title USF Professor Emeritus, a USF Distinguished Scientist Award 1981, Dean’s Citation 1991, and Founder Award 1992. He was awarded numerous research grants through the National Institutes of Health, Burroughs Wellcome and Co. Inc., The Florida Heart Association (where he served on the Board of Directors in 1972 and 1973), the Hillsborough County Heart Association (where he served as a committee member from 1971 to 1978), the American Heart Association, and Syntex Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Baker was a fellow and section chair of the American Physiological Society, a charter member, committee member and symposium chair of The Shock Society. He was a member of various organizations including Sigma XI, the Microcirculatory Society, and the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.
Dr. Baker grew up in Oriskany, NY. He attended Syracuse University (Utica College), where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1952. He then completed a master’s degree in biology in 1954 and a PhD in biology (physiology) in 1955 from Princeton University.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sara; his daughters Beth and Janet; and cousin David.
USF Health is once again hosting the Tampa DogFest Walk ‘n Roll™ to benefit the Canine Companions for Independence program.
The year’s event is Feb. 12 and continues the annual effort to help raise funds and awareness for service dogs and canine companions who act as people’s eyes, hands, legs and more. The USF Health event will include a walk, silent auction, vendors, police and sheriff K-9 units, dog agility demonstration, a kids’ activity zone, a DJ with music and, of course, visiting service dogs and future service dogs (puppies!).
Canine companions and service dogs are necessities for many people who are disabled and they help with daily living – from navigating to retrieving items to coping with PTSD to sensing that blood sugar levels are dropping. These unique animals are trained to help children, adults and veterans live more independently, said Karen Burdash, associate dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and a longtime proponent for rescuing and training therapy dogs.
“There are challenges people with disabilities face every day and canine companion assistance dogs can be the difference for those with limitations, helping them re-engage with society and achieve the range of needs found in daily living,” Burdash said.
“These dogs are highly trained to assist children and adults with disabilities, including veterans with physical disabilities. I’ve been told by someone who was matched to a service dog ‘I wouldn’t have a life if it wasn’t for this dog!’ ”
Canine Companions for Independence provides highly trained assistance dogs to children and adults with disabilities, including veterans with physical disabilities. There is no charge to the recipient for the dog but training and on-going follow-up services end up costing about $50,000 per dog. Following months-long intensive training, a dog is matched with a recipient, who has also undergone evaluation. Then, when a match is made, both dog and recipient have ongoing training together.
The USF Health DogFest 2017 Walk ‘n Roll is aiming to raise at least that $50,000 to help with a local match, Burdash said.
There are several ways to help, most of which start at the Canine Companions website. Donations can be made directly, or you can start your own team and begin collecting sponsorships and donations. You can also provide items and services that can be included in the gift baskets that will be auctioned off for funds.
You can also donate at the event, which is where you can meet some of the many folks benefiting from these service dogs, as well as those who help raise and train canine companions.
The key thing, Burdash said, is to come out to the event and support the effort.
“Bring your own pet on a leash if you want, bring the kids, and join the fun,” she said. “Come on out and help us raise funds to bring a dog to someone in need. It will be a great day for a worthy organization.”
The University of South Florida continues to make Zika a research focus. That’s evident through various research projects currently in the works.
To bolster those efforts, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) recently awarded USF three grants totaling $2.45 million to conduct Zika-related research to help stop the spread of the mosquito-borne virus within Florida and beyond.
USF’s award was part of $25 million in FDOH Zika research funding announced Feb. 1 by Gov. Rich Scott to help expedite development of a vaccine to prevent Zika infection, understand and mitigate long-term impacts of the virus on children and adults and develop innovative, cost-effective Zika testing methods. USF was among the top three universities in the state to receive the most funding.
Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.
“While Zika is not as prevalent in the winter months, we cannot let our guard down. The threat remains real in Florida and across the country,” said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “These new grants are very appreciated and much needed in advancing our efforts to develop vaccines and treatments and to provide better screening tests during pregnancy to protect babies from potentially devastating Zika-related birth defects.”
FDOH oversaw the grant review, which awarded applicants through a competitive process based on recommendations by the Biomedical Research Advisory Council.
The Zika virus is an infectious disease that spreads from the Aedes species mosquito. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the dangerous mosquito typically lays eggs near standing water, and the virus can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus, and through sex, blood transfusions, and laboratory health care exposure. Currently, no vaccine exists to fight Zika.
As of Feb. 1, the CDC reported 4,973 travel-associated and locally-transmitted Zika cases in the United States, with 1,069 of those in the state of Florida alone.
The three state grants awarded to USF are described below:
Studying how Zika infects the fetus
Dr. Lockwood, an obstetrician specializing in high-risk pregnancies, and a group of fellow researchers in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, were among those to receive a share of the multimillion dollar award. He and co-principal investigator Ozlem Guzeloglu-Kayisli, PhD, assistant professor, were awarded $1.14 million to study cellular and molecular mediators of Zika virus replication and investigate how Zika gets through the placental wall, which usually acts as a barrier to keep the developing fetus safe from viruses.
Ozlem Guzeloglu-Kayisli, PhD, assistant professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
“This project will examine various tissues and strains of the Zika virus to study the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease, and understand how it’s transmitted from the pregnant woman to the fetus,” Dr. Guzeloglu-Kayisli said. “Our goal is to help prevent viral transmission – and to ultimately protect pregnant women and their babies.”
Facilitating Clinical Trials for a Zika Vaccine
Thomas Casale, MD, a professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, received $1.11 million to establish an integrated Zika clinical research trial network in Florida. He will work with a team of faculty from the Morsani College of Medicine’s Division of Allergy and Immunology, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, Department of Molecular Medicine and from the USF College of Public Health to design and study new diagnostics and treatments for Zika and other emerging infectious diseases.
Thomas Casale, MD, professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
“This grant will allow us to bring an integrated team of experts from USF Health and the local community with a diverse level of expertise on Zika to study new diagnostics, new therapies, and develop a platform that educates students and the public about this dangerous virus,” Dr. Casale said. “We hope that this collaboration will help address this public health threat, which is clearly important not only for our state, but the entire nation and the world.”
Identifying Natural Products to Combat Zika
A third grant went to USF immunologist Michael Teng, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Teng received $200,000 to study rapid identification of natural products with antiviral activity against Zika. He will collaborate with Bill Baker, PhD, professor in the USF Department of Chemistry.
Michael Teng, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
“We will leverage our existing expertise in virus research to study an important emerging human pathogen, which effects the health of Floridians,” Dr. Teng said. “This also gives us an opportunity to establish an interdisciplinary collaboration with Dr. Baker to identify potential lead antiviral compounds, derived from fungal species isolated from Florida mangroves.”
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to American Heart Association (AHA), more than 6 million adults currently live with heart disease.
The number of people living with heart disease is only expected to rise. AHA data shows that, by 2030, more than 8 million people could be diagnosed with heart disease.
The numbers are alarming. But, taking basic daily steps may help prevent or reduce heart disease and heart attack.
USF Health medical experts on cardiovascular disease weigh in – providing ten things people can do to keep their heart healthy. They suggest to:
Exercise daily
Vishal Parikh, MD, fellow of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, says moderate exercise for at least 30 minutes a day can lower the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Quit smoking
Smoking increases the risk of heart disease and heart attack, says Amy Alman, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the USF College of Public Health. “So, say no to smoking,” says Dr. Alman.
Maintain a healthy diet
“A bad diet can put a strain to your heart,” says Ponrathi Athilingam, PhD, assistant professor of cardiology at USF College of Nursing. She suggests considering healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, lean meats, and nuts to help lower the risk of heart disease. She also recommends eating foods with low trans-fat, saturated fat or sodium.
Manage stress
Dr. Parikh says that stress adds strain to the heart. Constant stress causes behaviors that increase heart disease risks including smoking, excessive alcohol, physical inactivity and lack of sleep. So, he says, “It’s important for people to identify triggers and practice relaxing techniques such as meditation. Something just as simple as laughing may help combat stress.
Advanced genomic monitoring/testing
Kevin Sneed, PharmD, dean of the USF College of Pharmacy, said advanced genomic testing and monitoring, which provides an assessment of cardiovascular genes, helps detect any genetic abnormalities early. “This type of technology would provide awareness, and, most of all, give information for a more targeted intervention to prevent future complications,” says Dr. Sneed.
Maintain a balanced weight
Excessive weight gain increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, weight gain leads to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. “To keep the body in check, remain physically active and, above all, consume whole foods rather than processed foods,” says Mary Soliman, PharmD, assistant professor at USF College of Pharmacy.
Get regular exams
USF Health cardiovascular experts suggest that having regular heart screenings is important – checking the heart rate, blood pressure, body fat and blood sugar. They believe regular screenings keep people informed, which ultimately help prevent heart disease.
Know family history
Knowing about the family history is important. Having a relative or family member suffering from heart disease, greatly increases one’s risk. “If you have a family history of heart disease or a personal history of heart health risk factors (smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol), you may just need to be more diligent in monitoring your heart health,” says Gregory M. Gutierrez, PhD, assistant professor at the USF Health School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Keeping an overall healthy lifestyle is the secret to a healthy heart. USF Health experts all agree that lifestyle is key to lowering the risk of heart disease. Exercising, eating healthy, avoiding smoking and second hand-smoking and managing stress, lead to better heart health.
What women need to do
Heart disease causes, symptoms and outcomes may be different in women than in men, says Theresa Beckie, PhD, professor and cardiovascular health researcher at USF College of Nursing and Department of Cardiovascular Sciences in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. “Women represent a particularly high-risk phenotype. So, women, especially young women, need to pursue aggressive measures to reduce risks with daily physical activity, a healthy dietary pattern, and stress management,” says Dr. Beckie.
USF Health’s cardiovascular team of faculty, researchers, doctors, nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists and public health professionals continue to develop top-quality research, education and state-of-the-art clinical care to make life better for patients suffering with heart disease. To learn more, click here.
The WELL has expanded! The centralized services that support USF Health students on the main USF campus in north Tampa has opened a suite of offices at USF’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) in downtown Tampa.
USF Health students tour the new Student Resource Center suite at CAMLS.
Called the Student Resource Center, the suite offers an inviting space for students to gather while at CAMLS, including individual and small-group study space, a social lounge, a serenity room, a lactation room and access to printers, lockers and a small kitchen. In addition, staff offering support services will rotate their time as needed at the CAMLS space, including a nursing recruiter, advisors, financial aid personnel and student wellness representatives, said Joseph M. Ford, JD, assistant vice president, USF Health Shared Student Services.
“As our USF Health students spend more time at CAMLS, it’s important that there are spaces and services readily available to those students,” Ford said. “In designing this suite, we strived to create the kind of spaces our USF Health students might need while in downtown Tampa.”
Designs for the remodeled space were based on feedback from USF Health students already using sections of CAMLS for their learning, including the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia program (CRNA), Ford said.
Dr. Charles Lockwood joined the students at the grand opening.
A grand-opening event was held Feb. 8 for USF Health students, including those from the Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Pharmacy, and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences. Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, also toured the space.
From left, Dr. Charles Lockwood, Dr. Bryan Bognar, and Joe Ford.
Story by Sarah Worth, photos by Freddie Coleman, USF Health Office of Communications
USF Health Research Day 2017 is only a few days away.
Students and faculty from all USF Health colleges, programs and disciplines are gearing up to showcase their scientific research for peers, judges and the USF community from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24, at the USF Marshall Student Center.
The 27th annual event features well-known microbial ecologist Jack A. Gilbert, PhD, professor of surgery in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago.
Dr. Gilbert, an expert in human microbiome research, will discuss Invisible Influence: The Microbiome and Human Health, focusing on microorganisms in natural, urban environments and their relations to human ecosystems. Dr. Gilbert said he is looking forward to speaking to future USF scientists and health professionals about revolutionary collaborative research, applying next generation sequencing technologies to learn more about the microbial interactions we share with our environment.
“Medicine, the way we treat patients and the way we understand how the body works, is undergoing through a small but important revolution,” Dr. Gilbert said. “We’re starting to understand that the body is an ecosystem of interconnected processes similar to a rainforest or a backyard. In these natural spaces, plants, animals, insects and bacteria all interact together. The body is no different. So, we’re starting to treat people as a community of organisms and find ways to fine-tune that ecosystem to help them maintain good health.”
Jack A. Gilbert, PhD, an expert in human microbiome research, will be the keynote speaker at USF Health Research Day.
To view a video about Dr. Gilbert’s work, clickhere.
During the event, more than 10 students will give oral presentations in the USF Marshall Student Center’s Oval Theatre, and more than 340 students, faculty and staff will display research posters in the USF Marshall Student Center’s Ballroom.
Following the presentations, USF Health will host an awards ceremony where judges will announce several winners, followed by an ice cream social for everyone in attendance.
The day-long event, led by Phillip J. Marty, PhD, associate vice president for USF Health Research, brings together researchers from across all USF Health colleges, programs and disciplines, as well as guest researchers from USF programs studying the science of health.
This is one of the biggest USF research events of the year. So, stop by to look at the work of some of the brightest researchers from USF Health.
Students from across the university attended the latest Diversity Lectures Series titled Reflection at the Intersection of Race and Medicine. The University of South Florida’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity and the Morsani College of Medicine’s Office of Diversity and Enrichment hosted Dallas trauma surgeon Brian H. Williams, MD, FACS, a 2001 graduate of the Morsani College of Medicine and associate professor of surgery at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, who spoke here Feb. 15 about race relations and how they have impacted his life.
Dr. Williams addressed two groups, both primarily medical professionals and USF Health students. He cited emotional examples throughout his life of how race relations have shaped the person he’s become starting from his childhood, through his adult life, and his most recent experience in the wake of the July 7, 2016 Dallas police shooting.
Brian H. Williams, MD, FACS, a 2001 graduate of the Morsani College of Medicine and associate professor of surgery at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, addresses a group students at the WELL.
“The shooting has been a rather transformative event in my life. I felt like the one thing that was not being discussed was social implications of what led us to a point where it was normal for black men to be dying and for it to be normal to turn around and shoot police officers,” said Dr. Williams, who was the trauma surgeon at Parkland Memorial Hospital where seven of the 12 wounded Dallas police officers were treated. “The main point I want the students to take away from my experience is that you cannot remain silent. Without good people speaking up to take a stance, they will continue to occur unabated.”
Dr. Williams never expected the events of what happened that evening would intersect with his personal and professional life. The chaos in the trauma center forced security to implement a code yellow, locking down the hospital. Dr. Williams and his team operated on three of the five officers who didn’t survive. He said his memories of cries from the families still haunt him. The events of that night, the chaos in the trauma center and his own race-related experiences drove him to tears that evening.
Dr. Williams poses for a photo with College of Public Health student Raaven Goffe.
His professionalism and dedication to patient care are why he and his team worked feverishly on the wounded police officer. They did not think about the race or occupation of the victims as they did all they could to save them. “In times of medical crisis, none of that matters,” he said.
Dr. Williams never planned to make the remarks he made during the July 11 nationally-televised press conference, but he felt that no one was talking about the “elephant in the room,” as he described it. He spoke candidly about how he felt about police brutality, racism, escalating violence, and talked about his own experiences with racism. He described the remarks he made as a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.
He ended his session addressing the groups about what their role is in society and how people view medical professionals.
“As health care professionals, you all have power you may not realize. People revere you for what you do. Your words and actions can transform humanity. You can make a difference in medical school, at this university and in society,” he said to a group of primarily medical professionals and USF Health students. “There’s a price you pay for being silent and there’s a price for speaking up. My silence ended July 11. When will yours end?”
Raaven Goffe, who attended both of Dr. Williams’ presentations, appreciated how candidly he spoke about his experiences and how they changed his life. She described him as a brave man who had the courage to speak up.
“I was awe struck by how he was able to put together a coherent response that was able to get people to pay attention to an issue,” said the second-year College of Public Health student. “He would have my vote if he were a politician. As a medical doctor, he has my trust as a practitioner. He fights for his patients just like he fights for his community.”
In what was likely the largest USF Health Research Day on record, nearly 360 presenters filled the Ballroom at the Marshall Student Center with their poster presentations, offering a wonderful overview of the range and quality of research taking place at USF Health.
A record crowd of presenters for USF Health Research Day.
This year’s event, held Feb. 24, featured the work of students, residents, fellows and post-doctoral researchers from across USF Health.
Now in its 27th year, USF Health Research Day has grown in participation and increased the size of the venue, making this year’s event an especially bittersweet moment for Phillip Marty, PhD, associate vice president, USF Health, who has been with USF since 1990 and led the coordination of USF Health Research Day for 15 years — he will be retiring later this year.
“I’m going to miss this, it’s always been fun to be a part of this,” Dr. Marty said. “I’d like to think Research Day has contributed a little bit to the growth of the research programs here, going from a university that was down the ranks a bit to a major research organization in the country.”
Dr. Phillip Marty
USF Health Research Day is a day-long event showcasing science within and across disciplines from across all USF Health colleges, schools and programs, as well as guest researchers from USF programs studying the science of health.
Setting up poster presentations.
This year the morning started with the keynote speaker: the Roy H. Behnke Distinguished Lectureship featured Jack A. Gilbert, PhD, professor of surgery in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago and Group Leader for Microbial Ecology at the Argonne National Laboratory. His lecture was titled “Invisible Influence: The Microbiome and Human Health.”
Dr. Gilbert works with experts in environmental sciences, chemical engineering, marine ecosystems, health and medicine, and other disciplines to try to understand how the complex population of bacteria and other microorganisms we share with the rest of the world, collectively known as the microbiome, shapes our environments and our health. Among the researchers his University of Chicago team collaborates with is USF Health nurse scientist Maureen Groer, PhD, who is studying pre-term babies and their microbiome, neurodevelopment and school readiness.
Keynote speaker Jack Gilbert, PhD, spoke about a hot topic — the microbiome and human health.
Science is still in the early stages of this revolutionary research, including working to unravel exactly how the immune system responds to microbial governance, and finding the proper balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria. But, studies in mice have already shown that altering gut bacteria can change behavior, Dr. Gilbert said, and imbalances in gut bacteria have been found in many diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, , diabetes and obesity. Nearly 400 clinical trials now involve the human microbiome in some component, including studies of how microbes respond to drugs, lifestyle and other factors, he added.
“What are the good bacteria? How much or how little is needed to have protective effect? How do we get them in the body and activate them to have a defined impact,” Dr. Gilbert said are just some of many questions to be answered. “There is good evidence that some probiotics work, but we don’t know why.”
The topic was chosen because the microbiome has such potential in interest and activities, Dr. Marty said.
“We thought this topic would appeal to just about any researcher,” he said. “If anyone is looking for a research career or a topic for research, that’s a hot area right now, and such an important area for the future, especially in regards to precision medicine as we look at how we can treat disease. We really have to find out what’s going on at that (microbial) level.”
Katherine Stanford, a PhD student in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, explains her work to Dr. Stephen Liggett, associate vice president for research at USF Health.
Attendees hustled from the lecture in the Marshall Center Oval Theatre into the Ballroom to begin reviewing the hundreds of posters tacked onto rows and rows of bulletin boards, including interdisciplinary projects marked with yellow ribbons. Judges also made the rounds, evaluating each presentation and asking lead researchers questions about their work or to further explain their methods, results and conclusions. As always, for those who are new researchers, USF Health Research Day is a key event in acting as a practice run for future national research meetings.
Following lunch, the crowd returned to the Oval Theatre to hear from the select few who were invited to present their work orally. This year 11 students presented their work at the 8th Annual Joseph Krzanowski, PhD, USF Health Invited Oral Presentations Session. They were: Aurelie Joly-Amado, PhD; April L Darling; Samia VO Dutra; Mark Howell; Shannon Kelly; Fahad Mukhtar; Danny T Nguyen; Emily Palumbo; Prit K Patel, BS; Ellen J Schafer, PhD, MPH, MCHES; Sarah L Todd, MD; and Lan Xu.
At the conclusion of the talk, the much-anticipated awards were presented. Winners for the USF Health Research Day 2017 were:
Best MCOM Graduate Student Poster Presentations: Doctoral Student Poster Presentation: Allergy and Immunology: Viviana Sampayo-Escobar Doctoral Student Poster Presentation: Cancer Biology: Emily Palumbo Doctoral Student Poster Presentation: Cardiovascular and Clinical Science Research: Jin Wei (Basic Science) and Roberto Aponte (Clinical Science)
Masters Student Poster Presentation: Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Disease: Geeta Iyer Doctoral Student Poster Presentation: Molecular and Cellular Biology: Shpetim Karandrea
Best MCOM Medical Student Presentations: Med I Student Poster Presentation: Elliot Neal Med II Student Poster Presentation: Interdisciplinary Research: Nima Hosseinian Med II Student Poster Presentation: Clinical Science Research: Danny Nguyen Med II Student Poster Presentations: Education Research: Dana Ciullo Med II Student Poster Presentation: Global Health Research: Nupur Godbole Med II Student Poster Presentation: Public Health Research: Nicole Le Med II Student Poster Presentation: Case Studies and Chart Reviews: Annie Hendryx Med II Student Poster Presentation: Chart Reviews: Gilbert Murimwa Med II Student Poster Presentation: Chart Reviews: Sean Sileno Med II Student Poster Presentation: Chart Reviews: Kyle Kilinski Med II Poster Presentation: Chart Reviews: Yeshuwa Mayers Med III Student Poster Presentation, Interdisciplinary Case Studies: Manjari Pedapudi Med III Poster Presentation: Chart Reviews: LesleAnn Hayward Med III Student Poster Presentation, Empirical Studies: Jourdan Cooney Med IV Student Poster Presentation Case Studies: Mayssan Muftah Med IV Poster Presentation: Chart Reviews: Samuel B. Reynolds Med IV Poster Presentation: Chart Reviews: Jewel Brown
Best MCOM Medical Resident Poster Presentations: MCOM Resident Poster Presentations: Case Studies: Emily McClung MCOM Resident Poster Presentation: Case Studies: Norberto Mancera MCOM Residents Presentation: Case Studies: Bhumika Patel MCOM Fellow Poster Presentation: Chart Reviews: Matthew Perez
Best College of Nursing Poster Presentation: CON Graduate Student Poster Presentation: Samia Dutra
Best College of Pharmacy Poster Presentations: Graduate Student Poster Presentation: Zainuddin Quadri Postdoctoral Poster Presentation: Malathi Narayan
Best College of Public Health Poster Presentations: Graduate Student: Yingwei Yang Graduate Student: Caitlin Wolfe Graduate Student: Korede Adegoke Graduate Student: Stacey Griner Graduate Student: Kyle Watterson Graduate Student: Omotola O Balogun Graduate Student: Abimbola Michael-Asalu
Best Undergraduate Student Poster Presentations: Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases: Sanjay Mahendrasah Neurosciences: Anisha Kesarwani Neurosciences: Amirthaa Suntharalingam Clinical Sciences: Alejandra Mallorga Interdisciplinary Research: Achintya A. Patel College of Pharmacy: Interdisciplinary and Public Health Research: Phillip Pham
Top Awards USF Health Vice President’s Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Oral Presentation: Mark Howell MCOM Outstanding Postdoctoral Scholar Poster Presentation: Lisa Kirouac MCOM Outstanding Fellow Trainee Poster Presentation: Chinedu Nwabuobi MCOM Outstanding Resident Trainee Poster Presentation: Harrison Cobb Outstanding Global Pediatric Behavioral Health Poster Presentation: Yingwei Yang Outstanding Innovations in Medicine Poster Presentation: Muhammad Jaffer Watson Clinic Award to a Fourth-Year Medical Student: Ali Antar Dr. Christopher P. Phelps Memorial Fund Annual MCOM Neuroscience Graduate Student Travel Award: Jeremy Baker
Winner Mark Howell with Dr. Phillip Marty.
Keynote speaker Dr. Jack Gilbert.
Story by Sarah A. Worth, USF Health Communications Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications
Video coming soon.
One of the studies found that African-Americans are more likely to have nonischemic heart disease than white patients, which points to the need for a risk-stratification system based on patients’ personal demographics.
Dr. Vishal Parikh.
Physicians often rely on a specific indicator of heart function to determine whether patients will receive implantable defibrillators — but the decision should hardly be so black and white.
Doctors should also take into account demographic information, namely race, for better insight into the causes of the patient’s heart condition and the likelihood he or she will benefit from a defibrillator.
That is the premise of “Differences Among African-Americans and White Patients Undergoing Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation for Primary Prevention,” one of eight USF Health presentations accepted to the American College of Cardiology’s 66th Annual Scientific Session & Expo, which will take place in mid-March.
“As doctors, we’re taught to first do no harm,” said Vishal Parikh, MD, a USF Health Cardiovascular Sciences fellow and lead author of the paper.
“Part of doing no harm is not doing a procedure if it’s not necessary. That means taking the extra steps to see if a patient would truly benefit from a procedure, which is what this study is all about.”
Dr. Parikh and his co-authors, including internal medicine residents Kerolos Fahmi, MD, and Mrugesh Thakkar, MD, as well as USF Health Cardiovascular Sciences faculty members Sanders Chae, MD, lead senior author, Michael Fradley, MD, and Bengt Herweg, MD, conducted a retrospective chart review of 493 patients who received implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) between 2011 and 2016. An ICD is a small device placed in the chest that uses electrical shocks to help the heart maintain a healthy rhythm.
The researchers examined the demographic characteristics of the patients included in the sample, as well as their diagnoses with either ischemic or nonischemic heart disease. Ischemic is the result of blocked arteries. In nonischemic heart disease, there are no blockages; the heart becomes damaged through a variety of other causes, such as high blood pressure, infections, diabetes, drug reactions or genetics.
Dr. Parikh and team found that African-American patients in their sample were more likely to have nonischemic heart disease than white patients, 81.7 percent compared to 43.8 percent. African-Americans were also more likely to be morbidly obese and have high blood pressure and diabetes, and were less likely to have a history of heart bypass surgery, heart attacks and strokes.
Whether caused by ischemic or nonischemic disease, physicians use a patient’s ejection fraction — a measure of how much blood the heart is pumping — to determine whether he or she should receive an implantable defibrillator.
“In a normal heart, the ejection fraction is 55 percent or higher. Patients who have an ejection fraction of 35 or below are likely to get the device. It’s a fairly arbitrary cutoff,” Dr. Parikh said.
Prior studies, including most recently, “Defibrillator Implantation in Patients with Nonischemic Systolic Heart Failure,” published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2016, have shown that implantable defibrillators do not decrease overall death in nonischemic heart disease.
Acknowledging that more research is needed, Dr. Parikh said the USF-authored paper points to the need for a risk-stratification system based on patients’ individual characteristics as well as data points such as ejection fraction.
“We are in an era of algorithmic medicine. We need to do further research to see if we can better individualize treatment and management of patients such as African-Americans. We may save them from an unnecessary procedure by running different tests or scans and focusing more on controlling the underlying causes of their heart disease more effectively,” Dr. Parikh said.
With eight presentations, USF Health will make its largest showing at the ACC Scientific Session & Expo since Arthur Labovitz, MD, became Cardiovascular Sciences chair in 2012.
“Selection of presentations at the ACC is a prestigious, peer-reviewed process and represents the newest and important developments in the field of cardiovascular diseases,” Labovitz said. “A showing of this magnitude at an important national meeting demonstrates the growth and prominence of USF Health in the detection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, all of which impact the ability to support our mission of elevating the level of cardiovascular care in the Tampa Bay region.”
The complete list of USF presentations accepted to the ACC’s 66th Annual Scientific Session & Expo, listed here with their presenters and senior abstract authors, includes:
“An Incidentally Detected Right Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm,” Vamsi Gaddipati, MD, a USF Health Cardiovascular Sciences fellow, Aarti Patel, MD
“Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) Imaging to Detect and Monitor Left Ventricular Function After Direct Cardiac Radiation,” Rongras Damrongwatanasuk, MD, a USF Health Cardiovascular Sciences fellow, Michael Fradley, MD
“Everyone Should Be Able to Do an Echo Where and When It Is Needed,” Arthur Labovitz, MD
“Clinical Characteristics and Changes of Valvuloarterial Impedence Severity in Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis,” Allan Chen, MD, Aarti Patel, MD, Fadi Matar, MD, Christiano Caldeira, MD, John Sullebarger, MD, Robert Hooker, MD, Arthur Labovitz, MD
“Differences Among African Americans and White Patients Undergoing Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation for Primary Prevention,” Vishal Parikh, MD, a USF Health Cardiovascular Sciences Fellow, Sanders Chae, MD, Michael Fradley, MD, and Bengt Herweg, MD
“Successful Treatment of Checkpoint Inhibitor Induced Myocarditis and Cardiomyopathy with Steroids, Beta-Blockers and ACE Inhibitors,” Rongras Damrongwatanasuk, MD, a USF Health Cardiovascular Sciences fellow, Michael Fradley, MD
“Patients Leaving Against Medical Advice: Can We Prevent Unnecessary Testing and Reduce Costs in the Evaluation of Acute Ischemic Heart Disease,” Michael Berlowitz, MD, Sanders Chae, MD
“Cardiovascular Toxicities Associated with Adoptive Cell Therapy and Interleukin-2 Infusion for Advanced Stage Melanoma,” Michael Fradley, MD
There were tears of joy from 65-year-old Jeanette Ebaugh, who recently received the 500th lung transplant from Tampa General Hospital (TGH).
Ebaugh celebrated the successful procedure, alongside her husband and the team of health professionals who saved her life, during a press conference March 8 at TGH.
“I have my life back,” Ebaugh said. “This is the best I’ve felt in more than three years. Now I can breathe on my own without the help of oxygen. I feel very lucky.”
USF Health pulmonologist Dr. Kapil Patel, assistant professor of medicine and director of Lung Transplantation and Interstitial Lung Disease at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, with Jeanette Ebaugh, who received the 500th lung transplant at Tampa General Hospital.
The team that prepared Ebaugh for the lung transplant, provided surgical and post-surgical care and continues to carefully monitor her progress is led by Kapilkumar N. Patel, MD, assistant professor and director of the Lung Transplantation and Interstitial Lung Disease, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, and Christiano Caldeira, MD, associate professor and division chief of Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
Tampa General is the 26th hospital in the nation to perform 500 or more lung transplants.
Dr. Patel and Dr. Caldeira were at the press event to share the TGH’s milestone and the success of the Lung Transplant Program – now the 26th hospital in the nation to perform 500 or more lung transplants.
“We started the transplant program at TGH in 2002,” said Dr. Patel, the USF Health pulmonologist who is medical director for the lung transplant program at TGH. “Since then, we’ve completed 35 to 40 transplants every year. Lung transplants are the longest and some of the most complex surgeries, but we’ve been able to complete them successfully.”
Ebaugh, from Port St. Lucie, Florida, was diagnosed five years ago with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung disease, at another hospital, and was told she had five years to live. But, in 2015, doctors at TGH gave her hope and placed her into the TGH’s lung transplant program waiting list for a single lung transplant. After 22 months, TGH found Ebaugh’s organ donor match. Her surgery took six hours.
“Thank you to the donor and their family,” said Ebaugh, as she got emotional. “Without their generosity I would not be here. Thank you to my doctors and the wonderful staff at TGH. Thank you for giving me a new life.”
TGH partnered with LifeLink Foundation to find the organ donor. The non-profit organization is a locally federally designated agency that handles the recovery of organs for transplantation in 15 counties in west Florida.
“Ebaugh is one of the success stories,” said Betsy Edward, senior public affairs coordinator for LifeLink Foundation. “But we still have 120,000 patients on the national organ transplant waiting list hoping for their own successful outcomes. We want to reiterate that without the generosity of another family’s organ donor, Ebaugh would not be here today. So, I encourage others to help make a similar donation to save lives.”
From left: Dr. Christiano Caldeira, associate professor and chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, Dr. Patel and patient Jeanette Ebaugh answer media questions at the press conference.
Dr. Caldeira, who performed the lung transplant on Ebaugh, said TGH has reached this milestone because of an effective interprofessional collaboration between various health professionals and organizations. “It takes a lot of people to make this a success, and we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this accomplishment without the excellent coordination of the surgical team, TGH’s lung transplant program, Dr. Patel, LifeLink and others,” he said.
TGH has one of the busiest transplant centers in the country, performing transplants in adult lung, heart, kidney, pancreas, liver and pediatric kidney.
“I wouldn’t have come here if the recipe wasn’t right for success,” Dr. Patel said. who was recruited from Stanford University Medical Center. “The program has such a strong foundation, and it will only get better from here.”
Dr. Thomas Rutherford is the new director of Gynecologic Oncology at USF Health. He sees patients at the Tampa General Hospital Cancer Center.
Dr. Rutherford came to USF from Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN), where he was network physician director of cancer services since 2015. Prior to that he was professor and division director of gynecologic oncology and director of the gynecologic oncology fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn.
Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, went on several yearly medical mission trips to Jamaica with Dr. Rutherford when both worked at Yale, with their surgical team completing more than 60 major procedures a week on patients who often traveled long distances to receive care.
“Tom is the finest gynecological surgeon I’ve ever operated with,” Dr. Lockwood said. “With his leadership and outstanding national reputation, USF Health will build a world-class gynecologic oncology service and innovative research program.”
Building a new model of cancer care delivery
“We are excited to have Dr. Rutherford join us to help grow our gynecologic oncology team and the services we offer,” said Jerome Yankowitz, MD, professor and chair of the USF Health Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “His consummate surgical skills and compassionate approach to providing the latest evidence-based care will be a great addition to patients in the Tampa Bay community and Florida.”
At WCHN, Dr. Rutherford expanded cancer services at the network’s hospitals and helped create a new model of cancer care delivery that built upon the strengths of existing programs to enhance accessible, integrated and high-quality care provided to patients and their families. Under his guidance, surgical subspecialists and patient volume increased, with the number of gynecologic oncology cases growing to more than 700 a year.
Dr Rutherford came to USF from Western Connecticut Health Network, where as physician director of cancer services he helped grow surgical subspecialists and patient volume while focusing on providing the highest standard of care.
Dr. Rutherford describes his philosophy of total cancer care as encompassing prevention, high-risk genetic screening, education and research, individualized treatment, survivorship and end-of-life care. “Anytime you take care of cancer patients, you take care of the entire family,” he said.
Over the next two years, he will work toward building a community outreach program, whereby the top USF-TGH team developed for gynecological cancer surgery would work closely with referring community obstetricians and gynecologists in the Tampa Bay area to provide treatment closer to home for patients, when appropriate. Patients requiring routine surgeries could be operated on in their community hospitals by the USF-TGH gynecologists and remain there for post-surgical care, he explained, while more complex cases requiring multispecialty teams for advanced patient support would be sent to Tampa General.
Such an outreach model makes sense in a health care system moving to provide optimal outcomes at reduced cost, Dr. Rutherford said.
“We can operate on a patient with a typical endometrial (uterine) cancer at almost any facility, so it benefits that patient to stay closer to their home and the referring doctor with whom they’ve developed a rapport. They really do not need the same intensity of gyn-oncology services as, say, an ovarian cancer patient requires after surgery,” he said. “It saves the system money, it keeps the family together, and the patient gets the proper care in their hometown.”
Progress identifying younger women at high genetic risk
Dr. Rutherford will also play a leadership role in advancing the research of the USF gynecologic oncology division, including basic science, translational and clinical research.
His own research has focused on isolating and characterizing the stem cell associated with ovarian cancer, the leading cause of gynecologic cancer deaths in the United States. The stem cell cannot be eliminated by standard chemotherapy, so Dr. Rutherford and others continue to explore novel therapies to destroy or control it.
Ovarian cancer is known as the “silent killer,” because it is not usually diagnosed until its advanced stages when the prognosis is poor. For women diagnosed when disease is confined to the ovary, survival rates are much higher.
Dr. Rutherford consults with Brenda Diaz, RN, an infusion nurse at the TGH Cancer Center.
While early detection remains difficult, Dr. Rutherford said, progress has been made in identifying younger women at high genetic risk for ovarian cancer and studying whether prophylactic surgery may prevent ovarian cancer as they age.
“Through knowing a patient’s genetics and family history, we can identify women at high risk who may benefit, in the long run, by removal of their fallopian tubes, or possibly their tubes and ovaries, so they do not develop the disease” later in life, he said.
Patients with the best outcomes tend to be those whose ovarian cancer has not spread to lymph nodes outside the abdominal cavity and for whom all tumors are removed during surgery, Dr. Rutherford said. Such patients, may be candidates for hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, or HIPEC, a highly concentrated, heated chemotherapy treatment delivered directly to the abdomen following surgical removal of all visible tumors; the operating room procedure requires a highly skilled multidisciplinary surgical, medical and nursing team. Heating the chemotherapy solution and circulating it in the abdomen for about 90 minutes produces an inflammatory response that may help destroy any remaining cancer cells, said Dr. Rutherford, who implemented HIPEC to treat peritoneal cancers at WCHN.
“Our goal at the time of surgery is to get the patient to a state of no residual cancer – no visible sign of disease,” Dr. Rutherford said. “The problem with that is we realize there may still be microscopic traces of the disease we cannot see.”
Exploring new, more targeted therapies for ovarian cancer
That is why Dr. Rutherford and other researchers are exploring nanotechnology as a more targeted approach to seek and destroy difficult-to-treat ovarian cancer. Using a mouse model, Dr. Rutherford has been working with a research group to test whether an innovative “nanosphere” delivery system can bind strongly to integrins, molecules produced on the surface of blood vessels that feed tumors, and then attach to that nanocarrier a site-specific drug or other therapy to kill the ovarian cancer cells not eliminated by surgery and resistant to chemotherapy.
As he did during his tenure at Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Rutherford will play a key leadership role in advancing gynecologic oncology research at USF Health, particularly for ovarian cancer.
“We have a host of studies looking at applying nanosphere technology to either identify these malignancies as microscopic disease, or perhaps enhance the effectiveness of some of our existing radiological techniques,” Dr. Rutherford said.
A board-certified gynecological oncologist, Dr. Rutherford has authored more than 100 scientific journal articles on the prevention, early detection and treatment of ovarian, cervical and other gynecological cancers. He has led several clinical trials investigating new treatment options for patients with recurring ovarian epithelial, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers resistant to chemotherapy.
He earned both his PhD degree in molecular biology and MD degree from the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo. He completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Camden, NJ, a Galloway Fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City, and a gynecologic oncology fellowship at Yale University Medical School.
Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications
