Largest First-year Class of Medical Students at Jefferson Will Be in Sea of White Coats as They Take First Step Toward Becoming Physicians
(Published 8-1-2005) Starting this year, the class size at Jefferson Medical College has been increased to 255 students to address an impending national shortage of physicians and other health professionals

Customized Gene Chip Provides Rapid Detection of Genetic Changes in Children’s Cancer
(Published 8-1-2005) Genetics researchers have developed a customized gene chip to rapidly scan tumor samples for specific DNA changes that offer clues to prognosis in cases of neuroblastoma, a common form of children’s cancer. Rather than covering the entire genome, the microarray focuses on suspect regions of chromosomes for signs of deleted genetic material known to play a role in the cancer.

Three Specialists from Jefferson’s Acute Stroke Center Are First to Receive Newly Created Certification in Vascular Neurology
(Published 8-5-2005) Three stroke specialists with the Acute Stroke Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are among the first neurologists in the nation to receive a newly created certification in vascular neurology or stroke.

"Big Walk for Little Feet" will Benefit Newborns at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
(Published 8-5-2005) The term taking “baby steps" will, once again, take on new meaning in September as Thomas Jefferson University Hospital sponsors the fifth annual Big Walk for Little Feet. The three-mile family fun walk raises funds for Jefferson Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit for babies born prematurely or with other difficulties as well as the hospital’s labor and delivery and postpartum units for healthy babies.

Jefferson Virologist Wins Prestigious Polish National Award
(Published 8-5-2005) Renowned Thomas Jefferson University virologist Hilary Koprowski, M.D., has always given to his native Poland. In the 1960s, in the face of a polio outbreak, roughly 9 million doses of the live polio vaccine he created halted an epidemic in the country.

Obstetrician Colleen M. Horan, M.D., Joins Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
(Published 8-16-2005) Dr. Horan will have an academic appointment at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University and will see patients at the department’s Center City office at 834 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Jefferson Speech Therapist Has No Need to Swallow Her Pride When It Comes to Helping Patients
(Published 8-17-2005) Addy Schultz has been a champion for swallowing disorders (dysphagia) to be included in the field of speech therapy since she began working in 1967. Originally, the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) was hesitant to include swallowing as a part of speech therapy. Addy believes that speech therapists are best able to help those with swallowing problems because specific knowledge of the body is needed for both speech and swallowing therapies.

Jefferson physicians use a miniature “drill” to help patients who suffer from hardening of the leg arteries
(Published 8-17-2005) At the Jefferson Heart Institute, a new FDA-approved device is giving hope to patients like Seymour Saslow to help their peripheral artery disease. The leg pain, or sometimes numbness that people experience, results from a plaque buildup along the artery walls, which causes interruption in blood flow in a person’s leg. Physicians at Jefferson use a miniature drill to “shave” the plaque from the artery walls. Almost immediately, the circulation in the artery is back to normal, says Craig Frankil, D.O., director of Peripheral Vascular Intervention at the Jefferson Heart Institute.

Jefferson Study to Evaluate Impact of Carbohydrates for People with Type 2 Diabetes
(Published 8-18-2005) Physicians and nutritionists at the Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital are conducting a study to learn if a diet low in carbohydrates is an effective approach to improving blood sugar levels and glycemic control for people who have type 2 diabetes.

Jefferson Surgeons to Perform Immediate Breast Reconstruction Surgery Live on Internet
(Published 8-18-2005) Jefferson surgeons who specialize in treating breast cancer will perform immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, in a webcast from Jefferson University Hospital. The webcast can be viewed at www.jeffersonhospital.org/webcast.

Jefferson Researchers Find Potential Biomarker for Heart Failure
(Published 8-19-2005) Signs of heart failure may be in the blood. Cardiac researchers at Jefferson Medical College have found an enzyme in the blood that could be a potential marker for heart failure.

MDS Specialist Emmanuel Besa, M.D., Brings Expertise, New Clinical Trials to the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson
(Published 8-24-2005) With medical oncologist Emmanuel Besa, M.D.’s arrival at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Jefferson is now home to a new Center of Excellence in the research, diagnosis and treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a designation given by the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation.