On Tuesday, May 7, nurses greeted hospital staff at the entrance doors with a small gift of chocolates to thank them for supporting nurses throughout the year.

On Wednesday, May 8, the nurses were treated to a catered buffet-style breakfast and lunch. During lunch several presentations were given. The topics focused on innovation and technology in the future to align with the American Nurses Association theme of “Delivering Quality and Innovation in Patient Care.” At 1:30 p.m. the Nurse of the Year award was announced by Diane Johnson RN, MBA, CNO. This year’s winner was Kristin Prentice, RN, from Radiology.

Sinai Nurse of the Year, Kris Prentice (with flowers), and the Radiology Staff

Kristin is a positive role model and an inspiration to her peers, co-workers, patients and family. She has devoted her life to her nursing career for over twenty five years, and she has found a home as an imaging nurse in Sinai’s Radiology department. She is also an active member of the Association for Radiologic & Imaging Nursing, participates on various hospital committees and also chairs the Interventional Radiology Outcomes and Practice and Round Table Research Team.

Finally, on Friday, May 10 the nurses were treated to an ice cream, coffee, and tea social in the Greenspring Cafe from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Overall, it was a great week of celebration for the nurses at Sinai!

Take a look at pictures from the event:

Congratulations to Kristin, and thank you to all of the amazing nurses who take care of our patients!

-Written by Tanya Jones BSN, MS, RN-C, Manager of Patient Care Services, Ortho/Trauma and Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore

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What LifeBridge Health media sources were we featured in this week? Click the links below to find out!

LifeBridge Health

May 10 – Baltimore Jewish Times – Akiva Shmidman, P.T. at the RIAO, wrote a column about lower back pain and tips to stop it.

Sinai Hospital

May 2013 – Clinical Research – Paul Gurbel, M.D., authored an article on triple antibiotic therapy with Prasugrel in the stented patient.

May 2013- Physician’s Weekly - Mark Katlic, M.D., authored a piece on geriatric surgery.

May 5 – Carroll County Times – David Golden, M.D., head of Sinai’s allergy division, was quoted in an article about springtime allergies hitting hard.

May 12 – Baltimore Sun – A brief about Karen Engstrom, M.D.‘s appointment to chief of OB/GYN appeared. (A brief also appeared in the Daily Record.)

May 12 – MDJonline.com – Christina Li, M.D., was quoted in a story about New Jersey Governor Christie who recently underwent lab band weight loss surgery. She spoke about the pros and cons of this procedure and the best candidates for bariatric surgery.(The story also appeared on WJZ.com)

May 14 – archello.com – A story appeared about the hospital’s atrium with a focus on the design, particularly the mesh framing the windows.

June 2013 – Annals of Surgery – Mark Katlic, M.D., authored an article on geriatric surgery (Holy Grail of Geriatric Surgery PDF)

Northwest Hospital

May 15 – Community Times – The DOVE Program‘s National Crime Victims’ Service Award and details about the program were mentioned in the Social Circle column.

Upcoming

LifeBridge Health

Summer 2013 – PracticeLink magazine – The Multiplier App from the Rubin Institute will be featured in the magazine’s Tech Section.

Northwest Hospital

June 6 – Tech 3 Business Opportunities Summit - Brian White, president, was interviewed on camera about Northwest’s use of technology for a video that will be shown at the Tech 3 Business Opportunities Summit sponsored by the Baltimore County Department of Economic Development. The video will be put on YouTube after the summit.

To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

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“Join me on race day! I’ll be barking against IBD!” – Eddie Bear, Co-Captain

While many suffer in silence, Take Steps brings together this community in a fun and energetic atmosphere, encouraging them to make noise and be heard. This year, we will walk as team “Sinai Pediatric” and would like you to join us. In showing your support for Crohn’s and Colitis and walking with us (employees can earn 25 Wellness Points!)

Your donation will help support local patient programs, as well as important research projects. This cause is very important to us and I appreciate your help as we fight for a cure! We still have a ways to go to reach our $1,000 goal! In addition to donating, you can join us at the event as a member of our team.

The Baltimore Take Steps walk is June 8 at West Shore Park with festivities starting at 4:30 p.m. and the walk at 6:00 p.m. Leashed pets are welcome and there will be a pet costume contest! Your kids can come, too, but they do not need to be leashed.

Check out our team page here.

- Written by Brittany Brauch, RN, BSN,Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

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LifeBridge Health helps patients from all walks of life benefit from quality care. That’s why it rallied to help pass the Maryland TBI Trust Bill (SB 632); this bill establishes a trust that would support certain kinds of post-acute neurological testing and case management services for traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. The bill was signed into law by Governor Martin O’Malley on May 16.

“The trust is for Marylanders with brain injuries who have exhausted insurance and social programs available to them,” explains Bryan Pugh, executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Maryland. The trust, which will be established through the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, will help un- and underinsured TBI patients who meet a specific set of criteria.

LifeBridge Health was the biggest and most active health care system involved with passing the bill. The organization worked with other groups, such as the Brain Injury Association, the Maryland TBI Advisory Board and the Maryland Disability Law Center, to lobby lawmakers. These efforts ranged from identifying legislators who would be advocates for the bill, bringing survivors to speak in Annapolis and letting constituents know who their representatives were and how to contact them.

“It was a priority for LifeBridge Health this legislative session because of the survivors we work with every day,” says Mark Huslage, director of brain injury programs at LifeBridge Health. 

The expanded access to case management is especially important, he adds, since some TBI patients may have issues with memory loss, and would have great difficulty navigating the roadmap of their treatment without the extra guidance.  “People who come through our doors are our patients for life,” he says. “We want to make sure there is a safety net in our community.”

- Laura Bogart

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I have been treatable for six years now; I have been blessed with an extended family and many friends during this time. Throughout these years, I am also proud to have volunteered and do whatever I could to help make this event the success that it has been. I am most happy to wave my banner for my years of survival. Proud is an understatement. The special feelings I get from beginning to end are unspeakable.

The coordinators, nurses, doctors and all the supporting staff and volunteers are awesome, and over the years that I have been a patient they have anxiously awaited to prepare this special day for us. This special day includes:

• A beautifully decorated venue
• Guest speakers
• Music
• Deliciously catered finger foods and desserts
• An array of information
• Tables and displays that featured beadmaking, t-shirt making, pillow cases making and many other crafts to enhance your creative side

I have grown and learned so much with this disease. I trust and believe in God. He’s the “Head Doctor.”We’ve got to go through to get through, to maintain that positive attitude about life and never give up!

Come out and celebrate yourself and give thanks at the annual Survivors’ Day event which honors patients.We are the survivors and our medical caretakers are proud to care for us.

This year Survivors’ Day will be featuring a “Jazz Brunch” celebrated on Sunday, June 2, 2013 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The brunch will include an omelet, waffle and blintz stations. Save this date and time. It will be lots of fun and tasty.

I look forward to meeting you!

- Written by Marie Felder-Lane

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LifeBridge Health centers Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Sinai Hospital and Northwest Hospital received awards for 2013. Levindale received a Partner for Change, with Distinction Award; and Sinai and Northwest hospitals received Partner for Change Awards for their programs to eliminate mercury, reduce waste and increase recycling. Levindale earned a “with Distinction” designation because it met all of the qualifications for the Partner for Change Award while also demonstrating significant progress in other target areas.

LifeBridge Health’s commitment to fostering a systemwide culture of sustainability has continued in 2013 with programs such as cafeteria food waste composting; use of eco-friendly cleaning products; additions of plastic, paper and battery recycling bins in all staff offices; and adoption of LED lights throughout the hallways.“We are very pleased to be recognized once again by Practice Greenhealth with these awards,” said Peter Arn, vice president of Enterprise Development and Support Services for LifeBridge Health. “Through our Freedom to Be Green initiative, we continue to make significant strides in making LifeBridge Health a system that sets the highest standards for environmental commitment and responsibility. We would like to thank our employees for their contributions and ideas.”

Most recently, LifeBridge Health added a plug-in Toyota Prius to its transportation fleet, a move that will reduce both emissions and fuel costs. LifeBridge Health has made electric car charging stations available to its employees and the community at large. There is a station in the parking lot at the Northwest Hospital Professional Center; there are also two charging stations at Sinai Hospital. Construction is underway for a charging station at Levindale.

To learn more about LifeBridge Health’s new Prius and charging stations, watch this video.

Learn more about green initiatives at LifeBridge Health here.

-Noel Lloyd

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Dr. Dawn Leonard

Dawn J. Leonard, M.D., fellowship-trained breast surgeon and medical director of the Herman & Walter Samuelson Breast Care Center at Northwest Hospital, has been named to the Daily Record’s annual list of Top 100 Women of Maryland. Leonard was honored the evening of Monday, May 6, at a ceremony at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

As a board-certified surgeon and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Leonard counsels patients with breast cancer, educating them about their treatment and breast reconstruction options. During her career, she has seen major changes to breast cancer research, detection, treatment and prevention. Leonard has remained at the forefront of standards of care for breast cancer and has proven to be a valuable – and many times life-saving – resource for her patients. She describes her care philosophy as a combination of trusting instincts, following guidelines and drawing upon past experience.

Notably, Leonard has led the Samuelson Breast Care Center team in taking a revolutionary approach to treating breast cancer. Through leading the center’s multidisciplinary clinics and conferences, she brings in resources when they are needed for patients, including genetic counseling, radiologists and oncologists. She connects patients to these resources and leads the team in working together instead of in isolated silos. This approach helps cancer patients benefit from the collective knowledge of a team of experts from multiple medical disciplines.

In addition to treating breast cancer patients, Leonard works closely with patients who have a high risk of developing breast cancer to make sure they receive the right preventive care.

Under Leonard’s leadership over the past few years, the Samuelson Breast Care Center has become accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) and been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

- Holly Hosler

To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

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What LifeBridge Health media sources were we featured in this week? Click the links below to find out!

LifeBridge Health

May 3 – Baltimore Jewish Times – A book signing event hosted by LifeBridge Health featuring Danielle Rollins was mentioned along with a picture.

May 6 – bizmonthly.com – A brief appeared about the Governor’s trip to Israel and about LifeBridge’s Memorandum of Understanding with The Trendlines Group of Israel to establish the Maryland Israel Medical Device Commercialization Initiative. (A story also appeared in the Prince George’s Post)

May 7 – Baltimore Jewish Times – An article authored by Physical Therapist Akiva Shmidman on low back pain was featured.

May 9 – Baltimore Sun – A story appeared about the variation in treatment costs at area hospitals for the same procedures. Sinai and Northwest were featured in a listing, which showed costs for 4-different procedures.(A link was also provided to a database of costs for hospitals in Baltimore City).

Sinai Hospital

April 25 – Baltimore Jewish Times – Beth Neilson, the emergency preparedness coordinator, was quoted in an article about Sinai’s readiness to respond to an attack like the one at the Boston Marathon.

April 26 – Baltimore Jewish Times – A photo contest is going on to name Sinai Radiology employees from a picture in the late 1970’s.

Currently – hghdosage.com– Asha Thomas, M.D.’s Sinai Physician Partners video is posted on this website.

Currently – hghdosage.com – Sally Pinkstaff, M.D.’s Sinai Physician Partners video is posted on this website.

May 2013 – Mom.me – Stephen Contag, M.D., maternal-fetal specialist, was quoted in this online article about premature birth. 

May 3 – The Daily Record – The selection of Ali Tabrizchi, D.O. as one of America’s Most Compassionate Doctors via PatientsChoice.org was included in the print edition of the Movers & Shakers column.

May 7 – TheBostonGlobe.com – Dr. Christina Li was quoted in a story about New Jersey Governor Christie who recently underwent lab band weight loss surgery. She spoke about the pros and cons of this procedure and the best candidates for bariatric surgery. (The story also appeared on YahooNews.com, Charleston Daily Mail, Tribune-Review, TimesOnline.com, Honolulu Star, Sioux City Journal, The News Courier, Vancouver Sun and 34 other sources)

May 8 – WJZ-TV – Dr. Christina Li and lap band patient, Laura Pearl, were included in a health watch story about the benefits of bariatric surgery and concerns for all patients to keep in mind.

May 9 – WBAL-TV and WBFF-TV – Stations covered the food truck rally, which benefitted the Brain & Spine Institute and the Brain Injury Association.

Levindale

April 29 – ehow.com – Levindale’s volunteer coordinator, Janine Boulad, was quoted in a slide show on this website about how volunteering as a great activity for people over 50.

May 6 – Patch.com – Pikesville – An item and a photo about Levindale’s new Game Face Award winner were posted. The award recognizes EVS workers who go above to make sure their areas are clean for residents and patients.

Upcoming Media

LifeBridge Health

TBD – Health Care Call Center Today – Jill Bloom and call center Manager Jennifer Lahti were interviewed about the Community Physicians campaign and how the call center managed the volume generated by the campaign.

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One of her great achievements was the introduction of trained nurses into Britain and Ireland’s workhouses, ensuring that some of the nations’ most vulnerable citizens received quality health care. Some historians today think this innovation was a guiding light behind the establishment of the Britain’s National Health Service 40 years after her death in 1910.

She is best known as “the Lady with the Lamp” who, day and night, ministered to wounded soldiers in the Crimean War. A popular newspaper of the time gave us the most popular—and poignant—image of Florence Nightingale. “…as her slender form glides quietly along each corridor, every poor fellow’s face softens with gratitude at the sight of her…she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds.” Her experiences during wartime made her an advocate for the sanitary design of hospitals, a development that continues to save lives around the world.

Her name is attached to the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, one of the largest schools within King’s College, London. This school, founded on July 9, 1860, was originally located at St. Thomas’ Hospital; back then, it was called the Nightingale Training School. A year earlier, she’d published Notes on Nursing, a textbook on nursing practice that popularized the profession.

From the mortar and bricks of the hospital to the hearts and minds of the nurses inside its walls, Florence Nightingale has remained an agent of change in the medical community, and beyond.

-Laura Bogart

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The NICU reunion provided an opportunity for parents to reunite with each other. Many parents supported each other through the most challenging of times. It was fun to see several of the NICU graduates squeal with delight when they recognized each other from daycare. The NICU graduates and their siblings proudly wore their NICU superhero t-shirts as they participated in games, coloring and face painting. It was evident they were enjoying themselves by the cake covered smiles!

Brylee takes in the NICU reunion festivities with her parents.

During the reunion a slide show of photos was displayed of the babies in the NICU and of them presently. It was exciting to see children recognize themselves and for the parents to show them how tiny they once were. Viewing the photo display and speaking with parents of NICU graduates was therapeutic for our current NICU parents and gave them hope about their present experiences.

NICU health care providers received numerous compliments of appreciation and thanks!  Parents requested to see nurses and physicians by name to thank them and compliment them on the care their child received. Many parents expressed how well the NICU team prepared them for the transition to home. The parents also reported that Sinai’s NICU has an outstanding reputation in the Baltimore community. When speaking with parents of babies in other community hospital NICUs, they felt their experiences at Sinai signaled the highest quality of care. The parents gave the NICU staff constructive feedback and thoughtful suggestions to ensure future families also have the best of experiences.

Sleepy James and his dad visit with resident Eric Ly, M.D.

Traditionally, Sinai’s NICU reunion has been held every two years, and this reunion was the first in three years. However, thanks to parent interest and the overwhelming success of this event, another NICU reunion is in the works for spring of 2014.  The NICU graduates of the previous several years and every graduate who attended the event this year will be invited.

The optimism inspired by the reunion will live well beyond the actual event. The NICU plans to make a “Wall of Hope” of the reunion photos and a slide show that other parents can view while their own babies are in the NICU.

- Written by Melissa Lynch Wisniewski, RNC, B.S.N., clinical leader in the NICU

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Jessica Black

My shift began at 11:00 a.m. I was contacted before my shift to bring an overnight bag because I would be required to stay overnight in the hospital until the Code Yellow was cleared. The previous night shift were assigned a sleeping arrangement all throughout the hospital and were to return to the ER at 7:00 p.m. The hospital was fully stocked with supplies and staff, and meal passes were provided. Sinai ER-7 was ready to take on the day!

Initially it was like any other day in the ER but around 1:00 p.m. the storm came in full throttle. The lights began to flicker for about two hours until the hospital completely lost power and the generators were activated. Many hospital staff were advised to not come to work at this point due to the severe weather and many patients were strongly cautioned on their commute. Eventually the Maryland Transportation Administration had suspended all transportation until the State of Emergency was cleared.

We received numerous traumas, including a man who fell off of his ladder trying to repair his leaky roof, MVCs, cardiac arrests and respiratory arrests. Ventilated patients who were living at home or in rehabilitation centers and had lost power were bagged and rushed to Sinai to restore adequate oxygenation. At one point we had seven ambulances come into our ambo bay at once, which was beginning to flood. Maintenance staff members guarded the bay in order to efficiently remove the water to prevent any accidents or injuries from EMS and patients entering or exiting the ER.

At about midnight I was finally relieved from my shift and assigned to a room in the ER with another nurse. Many of the rooms in the hospital had signs on them saying, “Occupied, please do not disturb” in order to ensure the staff members received eight full hours of sleep. Unfortunately, I was awoken many times in the night from trauma alarms, ambulance arrivals, code calls and other overhead notifications. At 7:30 a.m. I woke up to an overhead alarm starting that the Code Yellow had been cleared.

It’s not easy working during a natural disaster, especially in an area that doesn’t have much experience with them. Although it was a scary time, it was also an exciting experience as a new nurse because I was able to bond with a lot of the ER staff which really promoted teamwork and helped us provide the best care to our patients!

Download the original article from the University of Delaware Newsletter.

-Written by Jessica Black, RN, BSN, ER-7 at Sinai Hospital

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It’s an evening filled with inexpensive comfort and gourmet food on-the-go. There will also be tables so you can eat your favorite fare with friends while listening to music from the band, Greasy Hands.

In connection with this event, we will be raffling two items: A GrrChe Food Truck 2-hour catered event for up to 50 people (within 25 miles) and a signed Raven’s football. All proceeds will benefit the Brain Injury Association of Baltimore. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance here, and they will be sold at the event this Thursday, May 9.

Here are some pictures from last year’s successful event:

Here are the details:

Baltimore Food Truck Gathering
Thursday, May 9, 2013
5 p.m.–9 p.m.
Sinai Hospital campus
K-Lot at the Mirowski Medical Office Building
5051 Greenspring Avenue

Proceeds will benefit the Brain Injury Programs at LifeBridge Health and the Brain Injury Association of Maryland.

For more information visit our Community Calendar. See you and your family there!

-Helene King

To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

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To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

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There are many reasons why nursing is important. Nurses educate patients about their illnesses and injuries, they help with rehabilitation and they provide emotional, physical and mental support. Nurses are also involved in medical research that has the opportunity to cure life-threatening illnesses and diseases.

National Nurses Week is a seven day annual celebration that begins on May 6, which is National Nurses Day, and ends on May 12, the birthday of modern nursing founder Florence Nightingale. It was designed to educate the public about the importance of nursing and to appreciate all that nurses do.

To thank our nurses for all that they do, LifeBridge Health facilities will give them a chance to chow down, relax and be recognized.

Northwest Hospital will have a special breakfast and award ceremony. They’ll also offer educational opportunities, with mini-lectures, information about certification and resources from local colleges and universities. On Friday, May 10,  President Hall will be hoppin’ with an ice cream social.

Levindale honors its nurses with its own ice cream social, a picnic for day staff, a luau for evening staff and a sunrise breakfast for the night shift. There will also be contests and giveaways and guest speakers (oh my!). It isn’t all just fun and games: Nurses can benefit from educational workshops and lectures.

Click the link to see a full list of Levindale Nurses Week Events

Courtland Gardens will also have an ice cream social, a pot luck and mix/match day, a lunch brunch and more. Units will  be decorated with an “I Care” theme and trivia games will be played.

Click the link to see a full list of Courtland Gardens Nurses Week Events

Sinai Hospital is starting things off with the most important meal of the day. Breakfast (and lunch!) is on the house in Zamoiski Auditorium. There will also be an award ceremony. Things close out with a social in Greenspring Cafe.

To learn more, visit Nursing at Sinai.

- Laura Bogart, Trish Broome & Helene King

To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

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What LifeBridge Health media sources were we featured in this week? Click the links below to find out!

LifeBridge Health

April 26 – North Baltimore Patch – LifeBridge Health’s being given Practice Greenhealth Awards was mentioned. (It was also mentioned on Bioportfolio.com and news-medical.net)

April 28 – WBAL-TV – Kevin Crutchfield, M.D., appeared on the WBAL TV Hill program to discuss the impact of concussions. 

May 3 – abcnews.go.com – Kevin Crutchfield, M.D., is quoted in a story about surgery for severe headaches that linger

Sinai Hospital

April 2013 – Cerner Women’s Health Newsletter – Sinai Hospital is the featured client in this newsletter.

April 29 – Patch.com (North Baltimore) – The press release about the Institute for Maternal-Fetal Medicine becoming accredited in fetal echocardiography from the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine appeared. Pedro Arrabal, M.D., director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, was quoted. (The release was also published on CityBizList.com and ScrubsReport.com and a brief ran on MDPhysicianMag.com)

April 28 – The Daily Times – Sinai was mentioned in an article about medical marijuana. The story included part of a statement released by Sinai. (Stories related to the signing of the bill appeared on stamfordadvocate.com, newstimes.com, greenwichtimes.com and wsbradio.com)

May 1 – MinorityNurse.com – Deborah Mello, Nurse Recruitment and Retention Consultant at Sinai, is featured in an article about advice for nurses switching specialities.

Northwest Hospital

April 26 – lifescript.com – Brian Bohner, M.D., was featured in a story about snoring remedies for your spouse.

April 29 – bizjournals.com – Northwest Hospital’s DOVE Program was listed as a FY 2014 United Way grantee.

May 1 – Community Times – A brief about the DOVE Program’s National Crime Victims’ Service Award appeared along with a photo of program manager Audrey Bergin receiving the award from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and other officials.

May 2 – wellsphere.com - A LifeBridge Health blog post written by Victoria Proctor, M.A., RN, about Day of Dance was republished.

Levindale

May 2013 – The Consultant Pharmacist – Karen Wassel, one of Levindale’s pharmacists, Beth Whiteford, CRNP and Sharone Taylor, LPN are featured on the cover of this month’s journal. (See attachment below)

May 2013 – Where What When – An article about Levindale’s intergenerational programs is featured in this magazine.

Press Releases

April 29 – “Sinai’s Institute for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Receives Accreditation for Fetal Heart Imaging Test”

May 1 -”The LifeBridge Health Alvin & Lois Lapidus Cancer Institute Announces the new Comprehensive Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Center at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore”

Upcoming Media

Sinai

May 10 – Baltimore Jewish Times – Akiva Shmidman, P.T. at the RIAO wrote a column about lower back pain and tips to stop it.

Levindale

TBD – Baltimore Jewish Times – John Ottena, CTRS, manager of Therapeutic Recreation at the Specialty Hospital at Levindale was interviewed about the importance of familiar activities for people suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.

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About one of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and will face decisions like Blume’s at some point in her life. Dawn Leonard, M.D., breast surgeon and medical director of the Herman & Walter Samuelson Breast Care Center at Northwest Hospital, is intimately acquainted with the process. She helps patients understand their treatment options, sometimes for hours at a time. While most breast cancer patients follow their treatment team’s recommendations, sometimes there isn’t a clear indication what option is best and the patient has to make a personal decision.

“When all treatment choices are equal, I typically advise my patients about the differences in recurrent risk associated with each option,” says Leonard. In other words, if a patient could be treated successfully with lumpectomy but she’s worried about facing a breast cancer diagnosis down the road, she may want to have a mastectomy. “If the thought of keeping the breast fills them with dread and anxiety that no amount of clear breast imaging or physical examination will help alleviate, then breast conservation is not for them. Quality of life is the key, and we want patients to undergo treatment plans that allow them to regain their trust in their health and return to healthy and happy states.”

Leonard also lets patients know that their bodies will be different after treatment and that their post-treatment breast will likely not look identical to their pre-treatment breast even after reconstruction. She doesn’t want there to be any surprises, so she’s not afraid to be honest with patients.

Of the treatment planning meetings with patients themselves, Leonard says they are more positive and uplifting than one might expect.

“These are not morgue sessions filled with long, sad faces, hand wringing and wailing. There may be some tears, but we try to emphasize that our goal is for cure: for complete eradication of the disease to the best of our abilities. Our goal for our patients is for long term disease-free survival – and we want to leave patients and their families with hope, not dread.”

We are thankful that author Blume has successfully overcome breast cancer and wish her all the best.

Have you ever faced a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment decision? What are some of the factors you considered when deciding what kind of treatment you would receive?

-Holly Hosler

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Diana Naanaa

It has been awhile since you have heard from me. Sorry! Life officially stepped in the way. Don’t get me wrong, life did not get in the way of my weight loss, I will not allow that to happen. I have officially lost 103 pounds! The weight loss has definitely slowed down but as long as that number continues to decrease I am happy!

I am the sole reason that my weight loss has not been greater. I hit a plateau and felt a little discouraged. All of that changed as I saw more and more bariatric patients coming in, losing weight and maintaining it. What was so different about my life and situation that created that plateau? It was EXERCISE! I have been exercising, but really needed to increase the intensity and duration.

Exercise has always been a chore for me. I have never liked it and I am not sure I ever will. I have learned to APPRECIATE the affects it has on my body. Brisk walking and slogging (slow jog) like my friend Bettina calls it, has made a tremendous impact on my life. I have noticed that on days I go for a slog I feel energized and actually proud of myself. My overall well-being and attitude are more positive.

Slogging - Lets talk about it. I have always wanted to jog. I would watch people jogging all the time and wish it were me. With the osteoarthritis in my right knee, there was NO way these legs and knees were going to allow me to do anything like that. So, guess what I did? I registered to run a 5K race with my friend and co-blogger, Bettina. It makes total sense right? I haven’t run since I was a kid, never ran a race and have osteoarthritis in my knee. It would be silly for me NOT to take this task head on. The race is called the Color Run and will be run on May 11th in downtown Baltimore. Bettina has named our group the “P-Nut Gallery.”

I am experiencing emotions that are foreign to me. I am scared, nervous and have great anticipation for the unknown. My goal is to finish the race, not come in last and live to tell the story on the other end. Bettina and I are going to take a beginning and ending photo at the race. I have the normal anxieties. Because this is my first race, am I going to run too slowly and hold the team back? Have I prepared enough physically for this rigorous challenge?

Melissa, the bariatric dietician, directed me to a website called “Couch to 5K”. This site prepares people like me (former couch potato) into a 5K runner. I am not certain in one month if I will be able to run the entire race, rather I think the opposite. One thing I do know is that I will run part of the race. Just as Rome was not built in a day, neither is a runner with bad knees!

I am very pleased with this most recent photo. I physically feel good and then I looked at this photo and thought, WOW, I look pretty good too! I would not be where I am today without the help and encouragement of the Sinai bariatric team. Day in and out I have constant support. Most of all I would like to thank my husband and two sons. In my eyes, the sun and moon rise because of them. Their constant love and “you got this Mom” attitude carry me through each and every day.

The next time you hear from me, I will be next to my friend Bettina with my “I DID THIS” smile and attitude!

Follow Diana on her weight loss journey here.

-Written by Diana Naanaa, LPN, Division of Bariatrics, Sinai Hospital

To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

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Albert Aboulafia, M.D.

The center is led by Albert Aboulafia, M.D., FACS, M.B.A., a fellowship-trained orthopedic oncologist. With more than 25 years of experience, Aboulafia is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in the clinical and research aspects of the care and treatment of adult and pediatric patients with benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. “I’m very excited to see the center come together with a dedicated team specialized in optimizing outcomes for both adults and children with potentially limb- and life-threatening conditions.”

Two innovative programs define the center: the Adult Sarcoma Program and Pediatric Sarcoma Program. The Adult Sarcoma Program treats patients with rare sarcoma tumors using a full range of state-of-the-art therapies and the most recent surgical treatments as well as novel chemotherapy and biologic agents through clinical trials endorsed by the National Cancer Institute.

In collaboration with the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai, the unique Pediatric Sarcoma Program provides highly specialized care for children and adolescents diagnosed with sarcoma tumors, which represent 15 percent of childhood cancers. This is one of the only community-based hospital programs in the United States with a team composed of a pediatric fellowship-trained orthopedic oncologist, pediatric medical oncologists and radiation oncologists supported by a pediatric intensive care unit to effectively treat malignant tumors in children.

Aboulafia specializes in limb-sparing surgery for pediatric patients utilizing bone grafts and transplantation, as well as expandable or “growing” prostheses. Sinai Hospital is one of the few health care facilities in the United States able to treat pediatric patients with the CyberKnife technology.

For more information about the Comprehensive Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Center, visit http://www.lifebridgehealth.org/BoneandSoftTissue.

-Betsy Haley

To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

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Northwest Hospital president Brian White welcomes the attendees.

The evening was packed with fun, excitement, heart health information and lots of dancing. Brian White, Northwest Hospital president, welcomed everyone to our beautiful campus and introduced me, health coach and Day of Dance emcee.

Then the party got started! The Heartbeat Dancers of Northwest and I energized the crowd, and then I introduced our Day of Dance featured performer: Ubaka Hill. Ubaka is an international djembe drum artist who creatively weaves percussion, poetry and song to inspire a positive, energetic atmosphere for diverse audiences to sing and dance with her. She really got the crowd going. Soon afterward, Georgia Boy Dance and Circle of Friends featuring Cedric Teamer, Sean Climer and Wendy Chetney wowed the crowd. These professional dancers showed us how the pros do it – with style, grace and ease.

The music kept coming and the dancing continued both inside Northwest Hospital and in our huge tent located just outside the main hospital. Donna Wise & the Union Crew Line Dancers of Randallstown showed us all how to line dance. Various fun, dance-inspired fitness demonstrations were offered, including Jazzercise with Rene Loeb of Columbia, Zumba with Maisha McCoy of Randallstown, Yoga with Tammie Zeilinger from LifeBridge Health and Fitness, and Northwest Hospital’s own Mary Maslow, a cardiac rehabilitation fitness specialist who showed us the “Basic 6” exercises to live by. I was struck by the beautiful sight, watching so many women dancing, smiling and tapping their feet to the music and knowing that the event was encouraging them to use dance and movement to improve their heart health.

Though we were all having a blast, there was also some serious health education was mixed in. Cardiologist Jonathan Rogers, M.D., and I spoke throughout the evening specifically about heart health.  Dr. Rogers spoke about the different signs and symptoms of a heart attack that women have compared to men, and the importance of knowing and paying attention to these unique signs. I shared that when it comes to your heart, lifestyle choices, stress, food and exercise all matter.

Thankfully, the food at the event (it was quite a spread!) was delicious and heart healthy.

One of the highlights for me was performing with the Heartbeat Dancers of Northwest. This group of fabulous female Northwest Hospital employees learned the “Know Your Signs [of a Heart Attack]” dance and performed it several times throughout the evening. Our performances were a huge hit, and now, many women are going around town singing, “Pain in your neck, chest, arms or jaw / shortness of breath, please tell us more” as hip hop music plays in their minds! These ladies will never forget the signs of a heart attack.

A special passport that served as a raffle entry encouraged the participants to visit health information booths addressing heart health, fitness, stroke awareness, sleep health, diabetes, nutrition, weight loss surgery, breast care and more. After completing the passport and receiving a raffle ticket, attendees were encouraged to put their ticket in the bowl for the corresponding prize they wanted to win most. Awarded raffle gifts for the heart included a 5k training program donated by Fleet Feet in Pikesville; a signature facial from Tamera Monroe; a lovely basket of high quality dark chocolates for the mouth and skin from Cindy Wolfe, RN; red accessories from the Northwest Hospital gift shop; three-month and a one-year memberships to LifeBridge Health and Fitness; and a Spirit of Women goodie bag filled with amazing gifts and a $50 gift card.

I wanted the women to learn about heart health, to see our beautiful hospital, have a wonderful time and know that Northwest Hospital is here and cares about the health and well-being of the women in its community. I say the evening was a great success and our mission was accomplished!

- Written by Victoria Proctor, M.A., RN, a health coach who oversees Spirit of Women at Northwest Hospital. She is a Master’s prepared exercise physiologist, registered nurse and certified holistic health counselor. Victoria loves advocating for women, encouraging them to live healthy, energized and passionate lives.

To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

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I am writing this blog post about my dad, Ferdinand LeSane, Jr.  I didn’t know that my dad had kidney failure until early 2011 when I had to rush him to the ER.  That’s when I found out about his illness.  His kidneys were 95% damaged and he quickly started dialysis treatment.  He had to go to JHH Bayview for his dialysis treatment at least four days a week.

My dad was a noble type of guy, and he never wanted my brother and I to know about his illness.  He always wanted to maintain a strong, “I can do it myself” mentality.

Sadly, I lost my dad on December 21, 2011 to kidney failure.  He’s the reason why I am participating in this walk to help early awareness.

Please join me and others this year to help fight kidney damage and make kidney transplants available for others. Sign up for the LifeBridge Health team here.

- Written by Towanda L. Jones, Medical Secretary, Women’s Wellness Center, Northwest Hospital

To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

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