Lose Weight, Be Nicer, Help Others ... Is making New Year's resolutions really good for you?
(Published 12-30-2004, The Jewish Exponent) Dimitri Markov, M.D., attending psychiatrist and instructor of psychiatry and
human behavior at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, discusses the annual ritual of making New Year's
resolutions and the pressure of keeping the resolutions. "People have been making New Year's resolutions for thousands of
years," he notes. "And even though resolutions are made by many people--perhaps 30 percent to 40 percent--the majority of
resolutions are really not meant to be kept, because the goals set are unreasonable and unattainable, and because people simply
feel obligated to participate in the ritual." Dr. Markov adds.
Science Makes Strides Toward Alzheimer's Cure
(Published 12-24-2004, ABCnews.com) Dr. Sam Gandy, director of the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson
University, discusses the advances in diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease that the next five to ten years are likely
to bring. The ability to view, monitor and measure amyloid probably marks the beginning of a new chapter in Alzheimer's research,
according to Dr.
Gandy.
"Combined with advances in medications to rid the brain of amyloid plaques, this could very well result in a major breakthrough
in our understanding of and successful treatment of Alzheimer's," Gandy noted.
Media Coverage:
ABC News
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Forbes>
healthday
Schooled in country medicine
(Published 12-27-2004, CNN.com) The Physician Shortage Area Program (PSAP) was set up in 1974 by Jefferson Medical College
of Thomas Jefferson University to train doctors for rural areas. The program has become a model for other medical schools.
Family physician Howard K. Rabinowitz, M.D., professor of Family Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University,
director of the PSAP program, discusses the program and its graduates. "Most of them are well-established with their families
and their lives in these communities," he said.
Media Coverage:
CNN
LA Times
USA Today
Forbes
ABC News
Washington Post
Miami Times
Baltimore Sun
New York Times
Philadelphia Inquirer
10 to watch
(Published 01-03-2005, Philadelphia Inquirer) In an article about people who are working to solve medical challenges in 2005,
Steven Farber, Ph.D., assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson
University is featured for his research observing zebrafish. Dr. Farber uses the zebrafish to study genetics, stem cells,
digestion and medicines as well as to introduce children to the wonders of science. "We're really using the fish as a model
to understand human disease," he said.
Media Coverage:
Philadelphia Inquirer
TimesLeader.com
Prostate Cancer Treatment Often Depends on Man's Age
(Aired 12-29-2004, NBC 10) In connection with Jerry Orbach's battle with prostate cancer, Dr. Leonard Gomella, chair of Urology
at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, discusses treatments for prostate cancer. If caught early enough,
prostate cancer has a good chance of being beaten. "There is no one right treatment for men -- it depends upon their beliefs
about side effects," noted Dr. Gomella.
NBC 10
WNBC
NBC 5
Woman's program helps those battling cancer
(Published 12-30-2004, Courier-Post) Cherry Hill, N.J., resident Lora Rhodes, coordinator of the Advocacy and Survival program
at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center, is profiled in the weekly column Women on the Run. She discusses her work with the buddy
program, a program that matches cancer patients with survivors, that she helped create. "We looked for where there was a void
and how we could meet those needs. We really wanted to put together a program for them," said Rhodes. "It's really a privilege
to do this work," she adds.
T.O.'s Ankle Surgery
Dr. Steven Raikin, chief of foot and ankle surgery at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, discusses
with print and broadcast media the prognosis for Philadelphia Eagles' Terrell Owens, after the football player's successful
surgery this week to treat an ankle injury:
- OR for T.O.
"The professional sacrifices for goal of magic moment that one success that they can carry with them forever. That's not good
medicine. It may be good media, it may be good for them financially but it is not good medicine," said Dr. Raikin.
- T.O.'s Surgery a Success
"I think it's very doubtful (he could play in the Super Bowl). I think it would be very limited capacity," said Dr. Raikin.
Doc: Owens' conditioning will help healing process
(12-21-04, Associated Press) Dr. Steven Raikin, chief of foot and ankle surgery at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital, discusses the prognosis for Philadelphia Eagles' Terrell Owens recovering from an ankle injury. "His
physical prowess and the fact he's at the top of his physical game is very advantageous to healing," said Dr. Raikin. "On
the other hand, he's a big guy. Even though he might heal quicker than people who are less healthy, the demands (he puts on
his body) are so much higher." Also published at:
The Herald
Bradenton Herald
Duluth News Tribune
Macon
Mercury News
MyrthleBeachOnline.com
Injury typically takes months to heal
(12-21-04, The Philadelphia Inquirer) Dr. Steven Raikin, chief of foot and ankle surgery at the Rothman Institute at Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital, also says a comeback this season "does not look good" for Terrell Owens because recovery usually
takes three months.
Seasonal highs and lows
(Published 12-13-2004, Philadelphia Inquirer) During the holidays, the emotional system is activated more than during the
rest of the year. Researchers are studying how this might damage health. Stress can make the immune system less efficient
and slow healing. "Everyone thinks they know that when they are highly stressed, they are more likely to get a cold," commented
Roger Pomerantz, M.D., professor of medicine, biochemistry and molecular pharmacology and director of the Division of Infectious
Diseases and Environmental Medicine at Jefferson Medical College. "That is probably true," he said. Dr. Pomerantz also pointed
out that studies of people who lived to be 100 found one common personality trait: they were easygoing people who handled
stress well.
Technology Lets Doctors Treat Tough Tumors
(Published 12-07-2004, Atlanta (Ga.) Journal-Constitution) A new kind of radiation technology allows doctors to treat brain
and spinal tumors that cannot be treated with conventional surgery, and Jefferson is the only hospital in the Philadelphia
area that offers it. "Shaped beam surgery is a major advance in treating both benign and malignant tumors in the brain and
spinal cord regions," said Dr. David Andrews, M.D., professor of neurosurgery at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson
University and director, Division of Neuro-oncologic Neurosurgery and Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital. "Shape beam surgery gives us infinite flexibility to deal with lesions from the top of the head to the bottom of
the spine. There's no other technology out there that can do this," added Dr. Andrews.
Also appeared in:
Decking the Halls Can Be Dangerous
(12-10-04, Knight Ridder News Service) Dr. Ralph Riviello, an emergency medicine physician at Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital, comments on new study that indicates that more than 5,800 Americans injure themselves in falls while decorating
their homes every holiday season, according to a report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
"I've treated people who've broken wrists or broken legs falling off of various heights while stringing up holiday lights,
decorating Christmas trees, that sort of thing," Dr. Riviello said.
Get-Well Network
(12-9-04, ch. 3) The GetWellNetwork, a comprehensive entertainment, Internet, education and communications service, geared
to make a hospital patient’s stay more pleasant and offered exclusively in the Philadelphia area to patients at Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital, was featured on KYW’s Eyewitness News. Jessica Tursi, a Jefferson University Hospital patient suffering
from asthma complications, uses the service to do her holiday shopping. In addition, she is e-mailing friends and relatives.
Their response: “They’re saying how am I getting e-mail from you; you’re in the hospital!”
Blowing A Gasket
(12-06-2004, TIME) Bonita Falkner, M.D., professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson
University, discussed the problem of high blood pressure in the cover story of Time magazine. 65 million Americans suffer
from high blood pressure, and an increasing number of children are diagnosed with it. "More than 25% of children with high
blood pressure may already have some cardiac thickening," she noted.
Cancer Chronicles | A lonely struggle
You're in your 20s and find out you have cancer. It's a different ball game than for older adults or even children.
(12-6-04,The Philadelphia Inquirer) Navigating the New Normal, a new cancer support group for young adults, developed by the
Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson, with a grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and Andrew Rose, one of the patients
participating in the program are profiled.Jefferson oncology social worker, Mary Grace Bontempo, who works with Rose and other young adult cancer patients, and who
was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue at age 24, talks about having cancer at such a young age.."I was thrown for a loop," she said. "As I went along with my own experience I kind of felt lonely at times, not aware of
too many young people with cancer, let alone head and neck cancer."
"Law and Order" Actor Jerry Orbach Battling Common Men's Cancer
(12-2-04,Ch. 10) Dr. Leonard Gomella, chair of Urology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, discusses
actor Jerry Orbach's current battle with prostate cancer. He said he believes the actor's
prognosis is a good one."The good news here is that the treatments for cancer have gotten so good that his long-term prognosis, although we don't
know the details of his case, is probably pretty good," said Dr. Gomella. "There is no one right treatment for men -- it depends
upon their beliefs about side effects."
