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Falling for guilt-freecomfort fareNew medical schoolreinventing doctors

[PLUS+]

BACKING UP HOPE WITH

HEART HELPFamily man’s search for relief

leads to expert care.

WHEN IS A HEADACHE JUST A HEADACHE?This common problem could be simple or serious. Knowing when to call the doctor is key.

BE A HEALTH PIONEER – JOIN IN ON MEDICAL RESEARCHParticipation helps others, leaves legacy.

In These Pages V O L U M E 5 • I S S U E 2

Departments:

3 Trends: Top 10 tips and info for health through good sleep

10 Health Shorts and Second Opinion

11 Innovations: New medical school reinventing doctors

e-mail your thoughts about this newsletter to House.Call@beaumont.edu

BRINGING BEAUMONT EXPERTISE INTO YOUR HOME FALL 2011

HouseCaLL

H O U S E C A L L [ P A G E 2 ] F A L L 2 0 1 1

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A new program for area sixth-graders aims to have them grabbing an apple to snack on instead of slipping change into a vending machine for a bag of chips.

Beaumont’s Community Health Education & Outreach department partnered with the University of Michigan and piloted Project Healthy Schools this year at Royal Oak Middle School. Plans are in place to expand to Tyrone Elementary School in Harper Woods and the three middle schools in Grosse Pointe. The goal is to get students on track with healthy habits to reduce their risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

The 12-week program encourages preteens to add more fresh produce, exercise and better beverages to their lives and subtract fast, fatty food and mindless “screen” time. Classes compete to see which can accumulate the most points for adopting healthy habits. Winners get a smoothie party. Project staff also works with food service employees to make positive changes in cafeterias.

Beaumont’s website and publications are always improving to make finding health information easier than ever. Here are just a few ways:

• The homepage, www.beaumont.edu, now features handy buttons for one-click access to information about our Centers of Excellence and for details and registration for our popular classes.

• Want to learn about popular health issues featured in our online webinars or check out future topics and register to ask questions of your own? Type www.beaumont.edu/ask-the-doctor-webinars into your browser.

• You may also notice QR codes – black and white square “barcodes” – in printed material. Smartphones can “read” these codes through the use of a downloadable QR reading app to provide you with quick access to a website, video or similar media. Scan the code at right to see a Beaumont patient speak about her experience at the Center for Reflux and Esophageal Cancer Prevention.

• Beaumont’s new mobile website lets iPhone, Android and BlackBerry users find Beaumont doctors and facilities easily. Visit Beaumont’s homepage on your mobile device, add it to your bookmarks, then save it to your home screen or bookmark folder.

Features:

4 When is a headache just a headache? This common problem could be simple or serious. Knowing when to call the doctor is key.

5 Be a health pioneer – join in on medical research Participation helps others, leaves legacy.

6 Falling for guilt-free comfort fare It’s possible to serve up delicious food that’s right for entertaining, low in calories and comforting.

8 Backing up hope with heart help Family man’s search for relief leads to expert care.

If you’re one of 5 million Americans who seek emergency care each year for chest pain, you may increase your chance of recovery versus disability or death simply by going to an accredited chest pain center.

All three Beaumont hospitals are accredited by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, meaning they have evidence-based procedures for efficient and effective evaluation and treatment that are coordinated among EMS and the health system’s heart and emergency

specialists. Beaumont researchers proved that CT is best to diagnose chest pain in the Emergency

Center and performed studies that proved emergency angioplasty is the most effective

heart attack treatment. Signs of a heart attack include: chest

pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back; discomfort

in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach; shortness of breath; and cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

All three Beaumont hospitals accredited for chest pain

Health information now easier to find

Taking a healthy lifestyle to school

e-mail your thoughts about this newsletter to House.Call@beaumont.edu

[ TRENDS ]

START THEM OFF RIGHT. From birth to age six, infants and children need a minimum of 10 hours of sleep. Newborns don’t have a sleep schedule at first. For older babies and children, establish a routine of listening to quiet music or reading a book 20 to 30 minutes before bedtime, followed by a diaper change or, for older kids, going to the bathroom and brushing their teeth.

SLEEP FOR A HEALTHY WEIGHT.Too little sleep can lead to an overabundance of the hormone that tells your body it’s hungry and to a lack of another hormone that telegraphs your body when it’s full. Experts such as Wendy Miller, M.D., medical director of Beaumont’s Weight Control Center, recommend 7.5 hours of healthy sleep each night to help keep these hormones – and your weight – in check.

PRACTICE GOOD SLEEP HYGIENE.Gary Trock, M.D., co-director of Sleep Evaluation Services at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, recommends the following: maintain a regular bedtime; keep your bedroom cool; wind down about 30 minutes before bed; no caffeine after 2 p.m.; and avoid large meals and exercise two to three hours before bedtime.

USE A NATURAL SOLUTION.Naturopathic medicine has a number of natural tools for dealing with sleep problems, says Jen Green, N.D., Integrative Medicine. Its natural remedies can help with problems related to high adrenaline, treated with theanine and GABA; high cortisol, relieved with the herbs magnolia and rhodiola; and low serotonin, helped with amino acid therary or homeopathics.

CONSIDER SLEEP FOR DIABETES. Studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep are at higher risk of having problems processing glucose and/or being insulin resistant, both symptoms of diabetes. Obstructive sleep apnea is common in people with diabetes. So, don’t be surprised if your diabetes doctor sends you for sleep apnea testing; conversely, your doctor might check for diabetes if you have obstructive sleep apnea.

HELP YOUR HEART.Sleep apnea may be harmful to your heart. That’s because apnea, which occurs when breathing stops during sleep, limits oxygen in the bloodstream. This can lead to high blood pressure and heart rhythm irregularities, says cardiologist Steven Ajluni, M.D. In fact, more than 60 percent of people with atrial fibrillation, or those who may need a permanent pacemaker, also have sleep apnea.

PRACTICE RELAXING.If stress and a fast-paced life are getting between you and a good night’s sleep, you might want to try certain therapies or practices that are known to help unwind the most wound up individuals. Even occasional practice of yoga, massage and guided imagery can help you slow down and help you get in touch with your inner Rip Van Winkle, says Gail Evo, director of Integrative Medicine.

WORK OFF THAT EXTRA ENERGY.Work out early in the day. Using excess energy before bedtime can lead to a higher level of alertness. To compensate, start your day earlier with exercise and wind down with a warm bath to offset any sore muscles the next day.

GO UNDER THE NEEDLE.Acupuncture can release substances in the brain involved with sleep and relaxation. “By using acupuncture to reduce anxiety, stress, chronic pain and other symptoms associated with insomnia, patients can experience relaxation and sleep,” says Brenda Donaldson, M.D., medical director of Acupuncture Services in Integrative Medicine.

GET HELP FROM SLEEP EXPERTS. If you still can’t find relief, you may have a sleep disorder. Talk to your doctor to see if a sleep study may help with any of the following: excessive snoring, sleep apnea, daytime sleepiness, insomnia, narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome. Waking during the night or being excessively sleepy during the day may also signal a problem. “We can assess many different factors during a sleep study,” says Dr. Trock. Beaumont offers help for children and adults through its Sleep Evaluation Services in Berkley and Macomb Township. For more information, go to www.beaumont.edu/sleep.

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10 tips and info for health through good sleepA common misconception is that sleep problems are primarily a social issue or an inconvenience, rather than a medical condition that can affect your health and well-being. Here are tips to help you get enough ZZZZZs.

H O U S E C A L L [ P A G E 3 ] W W W . B E A U M O N T . E D U

ike sleep problems, headaches are often viewed as a minor annoyance not important enough for a visit to the doctor. But just as sleep is an important indicator of health (see related story, page 3), so are headaches. Knowing when to swallow two aspirin and when to schedule a doctor visit can be tricky,

though.“It’s the most common question I hear as

a doctor,” says Chaim Colen, M.D., director of the Epilepsy program at Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe. “When is a

headache more than something to treat at home?” These symptoms should be your guide for when to

seek medical care, says Dr. Colen:

• It’s the “worst headache of your life” and is different than headaches you’ve had before.

• It starts suddenly – like a thunderclap – or is worse with movement.

• There is nausea and vomiting, a fever, stiff neck or seizures.

• The pain comes after a blow to the head.• It’s accompanied by changes in vision, speech or

behavior or by numbness or weakness.• It’s getting worse and/or is disabling.

Neurologist Esther Young, D.O., director of the stroke program at Beaumont Hospital, Troy, says it’s not easy to differentiate between a tension or migraine headache. Both may result from muscle tension due to stress. Either way, it’s important to start treatment as soon as possible because the onset of a headache sets off a cascade of events that makes it harder to relieve as time goes on.

Over-the-counter pain relievers with aspirin or a

non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug usually do the trick. It may help to include massage and relaxation and to apply heat or cold to the back of the neck, Dr. Young says.

For children, the same remedies may help as headaches are not often troublesome. “Headaches are actually pretty common in children,” says Dr. Young. Usually, they’re associated with vision problems and may be touched off in a child straining to see the whiteboard in school. It may be best to schedule an eye appointment to see if poor vision is the cause.

Adults who have a headache more often than once a week may want to take preventive prescription medications that can include those approved for high blood pressure, depression and seizures, as well as non-narcotic pain relievers. Nerve blocks may help in extreme cases.

For those who want to reduce their risk of getting a headache, Dr. Young recommends regular exercise, sleep and meals. For those with food or beverage triggers, she advises staying away from those items.

h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 4 ] F a l l 2 0 1 1

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When is a headache just a headache?

This common problem could be simple or serious. Knowing when to call the doctor is key.

Three kinds of headaches• Primary: including tension, migraine and

cluster varieties

• Secondary: due to underlying causes such as bleeding in the brain, tumors, meningitis or encephalitis

• nerve and facial Pain: usually caused by inflammation of the nerves

ictal headaches, a very rare form associated

with seizures, are often misdiagnosed. Patients assessed by a neurologist and thought to have intractable ictal or post-ictal headaches may be referred to the epilepsy Monitoring unit at Beaumont hospital, Grosse Pointe for 24-hour assessment.

any of the medicines, devices and treatments improving your health or saving lives today came about because of medical research.

Patients at Beaumont were part of research that led to vitamin eye drops for macular degeneration; angioplasty as the best first-line treatment for heart attacks; and surgery being judged as good as stents for blocked neck arteries.

Today, women with early-stage breast cancer are part of national research at Beaumont to see if radiation administered in a shorter time frame is just as effective as weeks of treatment.

“None of this research would have been possible without the generosity and cooperation of the people who volunteered to take part,” says Graham Long, M.D., a vascular surgeon who is also medical director of the Surgical Clinical Trials Office at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.

There are definite advantages to taking part in research, says Dr. Long. Patient participants are more involved in their health care and can get closer scrutiny from medical professionals, in addition to having access to the latest medicines and treatments before they’re widely available.

“There’s also an element of helping others or leaving a legacy,” says radiation oncologist John Robertson, M.D., principal investigator of Beaumont Health System’s Community Clinical Oncology Program, or CCOP. Beaumont was designated as a CCOP nine years ago to

give people in the community more access to participating in national cancer research without having to travel to large medical centers.

Beaumont’s Cancer Clinical Trials Office has enrolled more than 6,000 people in more than 250 research studies to date. About 80 cancer clinical trials are currently enrolling participants at Beaumont. And earlier this year, Beaumont hired health educator Toni Griggs Price in part to increase enrollment among minorities in cancer clinical trials. Minority research participation overall has lagged in the United States for a number of reasons. Because of this, results may not be as useful to promote their good health.

Other research at Beaumont involves studying substances, devices and implants. For example, the Orthopedic Surgery department has a machine that can simulate wear on artificial

hips or other implants. This research may lead to improvements that make hip implants last

longer.Clinical trials are easy to locate as most medical institutions offer them,

and several search sites offer information about the studies.

While patients can refer themselves to trials, it is always

important to discuss clinical research participation with your doctor first.

Be a health pioneer – join in on medical research

h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 5 ] W W W . B e a u M o N T . e D u

MParticipation helps others, leaves legacy.

themselves to trials, it is always important to discuss clinical research participation with your doctor first.

find clinical trials at www.clinicaltrials.gov

or at www.centerwatch.com.

Beaumont’s Research Institute was established in 1966 and has more

than 900 active research studies, with more than 430 investigators in 35 departments and with an annual

budget of $28.7 million. Funders include the government – including the

National Institutes of health and the Department of Defense –

foundations, individuals and commercial sources.

[ FOOD ]

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter1 cup chopped onion1½ Tbsp. finely chopped fresh gingerpinch cinnamonpinch crushed red pepper flakes1 24-ounce jar (3 cups) unsweetened applesauce1 30-ounce can (3-3/4 cups) 100 percent pure pumpkin6 cups low-sodium chicken broth¼ cup maple syrup2 cups fat-free half-and-half salt to taste

H O U S E C A L L [ P A G E 6 ] F A L L 2 0 1 1

With the winter holidays, entertaining and cold weather-related cravings for comfort food, it’s so easy to gain weight now through January. But it’s possible to

serve up delicious food that’s right for entertaining, low in calories and comforting at the same time, says registered dietitian Silvia Veri of Beaumont’s Weight Control Center. The following recipes add extra flavor with herbs and flavored vinegar, use

fresh fruits and vegetables available now at the store or farmer’s market and include local Michigan products like dried cherries, shallots, onions and maple syrup.

Falling for guilt-free

comfort fare

Preparation:• In large saucepan, over medium heat, melt butter and sauté onion until soft.• Add ginger, cinnamon and pepper flakes. Sauté a few minutes longer.• Add applesauce, pumpkin, broth and maple syrup.• Stir to combine and simmer five minutes to combine flavors. Stir in half-and-

half and heat through.

Harvest pumpkin bisque

Nutritional informationYields 12 servings117 calories3 g total fat 20 g total carbohydrate 3 g protein336 mg sodium

H O U S E C A L L [ P A G E 7 ] W W W . B E A U M O N T . E D U

Preparation:• Season pork medallions with ¼ tsp. salt and pepper.• Heat 2 tsp. oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook

meat until there is just a slight blush in the center, about three minutes per side. Transfer meat to a plate and tent with foil.

• Add shallots and remaining oil to pan and sauté until they begin to soften, about one minute.

• Add chicken broth, balsamic vinegar, cherries and remaining ¼ tsp. salt and cook until the liquid is reduced by half, about four minutes.

• Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over pork medallions and serve.

Pork medallions with cherry sauce1¼ pounds pork tenderloin, sliced into ½-inch thick medallionsor 1¼ pounds boneless pork loin chops½ tsp. salt, divided¼ tsp. pepper3 tsp. olive oil, divided2 Tbsp. chopped shallots¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar¼ cup dried tart cherries

Nutritional informationYields four servings240 calories8 g total fat 8 g total carbohydrate31 g protein480 mg sodium

1 pkg. (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, cooked, well drained½ cup reduced fat mozzarella cheese¼ cup light cream cheese1 Tbsp. grated parmesan cheese1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion½ tsp. minced garlic (or 1 small garlic clove, minced)6 slices deli-style turkey breast, cut in quarters

Preparation:• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.• Mix all ingredients except turkey until well blended.• Place 1/4 turkey slice in each of 24 miniature muffin pan cups. Fill each

with 1½ tsp. of spinach mixture.• Bake 15 minutes or until heated through. Serve warm.

Nutritional informationYields six servings90 calories 3.5 g total fat 4 g total carbohydrate 11 mg protein350 mg sodium

Mini Florentine cups

4 baking apples (e.g., Granny Smith)½ cup apple cider4 tsp. natural peanut butter (or butter for those with peanut allergies)4 tsp. brown sugar8 caramels, cut in half1 tsp. cinnamon2 cinnamon sticks

Peanut butter-caramel apple slow cooker dessert

Preparation:• Peel top quarter of

apples, core and place in slow cooker.

• Pour apple cider over apples and drop cinnamon sticks into bottom of cooker. Place 1 tsp. peanut butter (or butter), then 4 caramel halves, then 1 tsp. brown sugar in center of each apple. Sprinkle all with cinnamon.

• Cover and cook on high for 1 ½ - 2 hours. • Serve warm. Spoon cinnamon-cider sauce over

apples, if desired.

Nutritional informationYields four servings190 calories4 g total fat39 g total carbohydrate2 g protein65 mg sodium

Family man’s search for relief leads to expert care.

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Backing up hope with heart help

en Wright is at the point in life when most people expect to be able to relax a bit and reap some of the rewards for their hard work. His wife, Laura, may be able to join him in retirement in a few years. Their kids are grown, and grandchildren are a possibility. And there are deer to hunt on this retired master carpenter’s 20-acre spread in Clio, a city about 10 miles north of Flint.

That’s why Ben, 63, says he would do anything for the Beaumont Health System heart specialist who gave him a second chance at life after other doctors told him there was nothing they could do to help him.

Ben sits at his dining room table recounting the journey that led him to Simon Dixon, M.D., chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, a process that Laura calls “a long row to hoe.”

The couple traces the start of Ben’s heart problems and his frustrating efforts to get help to a Saturday in 2004 when, at age 56, he was out with Laura and friends for a steak dinner in nearby Birch Run. He had chest pain that the Wrights attributed to heartburn from his ulcer. “We thought it was just a stomach problem,” says Laura, a nurse.

She took Ben to the hospital that night. A cardiologist who did a heart catheterization said Ben needed open-heart surgery. The heart surgeon performed a double bypass, but Ben still didn’t feel better. He soldiered on, though, and soon had the pain again. This time it started when he was using a chainsaw to cut down a tree.

Doctors did a second bypass within four months of the first surgery. Ben felt better for a while, but his problem returned. Confounding the issue is that Ben’s symptoms can easily be mistaken for heartburn (see sidebar on next page).

B

Ben Wright holds a photo from daughter Heather’s wedding. Simon Dixon, M.D., is at far right.

h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 9 ] W W W . B e a u M o N T . e D u

Heartburn or a heart problem?heartburn and a heart attack can have very

similar symptoms, says simon Dixon, M.D., chief

of cardiovascular Medicine at Beaumont hospital,

Royal oak. Pain from either can start in the

center of the chest, radiate to either arm and

be accompanied by nausea. “Because it can be

very difficult to differentiate between heart and

stomach pain, it’s a good idea to have any chest

pain evaluated by a physician,” Dr. Dixon says.

For patients who have cardiac pain ruled out,

Beaumont also offers multidisciplinary care for acid

reflux at the center for Reflux and esophageal

cancer Prevention.

Call 888-99-REFLUX (888-997-3358) for more

information or to make an appointment.

Heartburn or a heart problem?heartburn and a heart attack can have very

similar symptoms, says simon Dixon, M.D., chief

of cardiovascular Medicine at Beaumont hospital,

Royal oak. Pain from either can start in the

center of the chest, radiate to either arm and

be accompanied by nausea. “Because it can be

very difficult to differentiate between heart and

stomach pain, it’s a good idea to have any chest

To see a video of Ben discussing his journey to health, scan this code or go to

heart.beaumont.edu/coronary-artery-disease-clinic

“This was just tearing my family apart,” he recalls. “It takes your life away, cuts you off at the knees and destroys you mentally.”

His hope returned when doctors at a world-renowned hospital in Ohio said they could treat him. But even in his twilight haze during a heart catheterization there, Ben knew something was wrong when the doctor stopped the procedure early. There was nothing they could do, the doctor said, and sent him home with no hope.

“I was so ticked off at the system, I told Laura ‘I’m going home tonight’,” Ben says. “I just knew I was a dead man.”

Back home, Ben’s family doctor in Flint said something that would make all the difference: “Go to Beaumont.” It wasn’t an easy sell, though. “I didn’t trust anyone anymore,” Ben says.

Initially, Ben saw William O’Neill, M.D., former chief of Cardiovascular Medicine, who cleared out a vessel and inserted a stent. When Dr. O’Neill left Beaumont, he introduced the Wrights to his successor, Dr. Dixon. “Dr. Dixon and I had a rapport immediately,” Ben says. “He never took away my hope. He told me, ‘At Beaumont, we can always do something for you.’

“That’s what people need, for doctors to be human first.”

Ben ultimately underwent a series of complex angioplasty procedures.

“When I came out of the heart cath lab, my family was all standing there because they were so devastated by this,” recalls Ben. “I just gave them the thumbs up. They all laughed. They said, ‘Okay, we’re happy now.’”

Now that Ben’s feeling better, he’s enjoying deer hunting and other hobbies, and helping care for a sister with Alzheimer’s. The Wright home showcases their strong love of family and their artistic talents. Historic family photos adorn the walls, with a prominent spot reserved for Laura’s great-grandfather, Robert “Wild Bob” Burman, holder of the land speed record in

the United States for eight years in the early 1900s. Sprinkled among ancestral photos are works by the two Wright children, Heather, 31, a graphic designer; and Ben III, 34, an auto worker who is studying culinary arts. Laura’s needlework marks the entrance to the kitchen. Ben made many of the frames for these pieces in his home woodshop.

Among the framed photos in the Wright’s dining room is one of Heather, Ben and Dr. Dixon, taken at Heather’s wedding in 2008. “I did get to walk my daughter down the aisle when she got married, and I am looking forward to being a grandfather,” Ben says. “None of that would I have been able to have done if I had listened to the other two hospitals.”

Ben and Laura Wright share an affectionate moment in their Clio home.

The Wright home showcases their strong love of family.

Hear from our patients through video

h o u s e c a l l [ P A G E 10 ] F a l l 2 0 1 1

HealthShortsSecond OpinionQ: What are “patient- centered medical homes” and is one right for me?

A: a patient-centered medical home, or PcMh, emphasizes wellness. It creates a partnership between a patient and his primary care doctor – pediatrician, internist or family medicine specialist – and often the patient’s family.

The doctor and his staff include patients in decision-making and provide education, especially helpful for patients with self-management of chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

It offers increased access through follow up with you after a visit to see how you’re doing or remind you to schedule tests or a next appointment, and 24-hour access to the practice, possibly avoiding a trip to the emergency room.

The doctor helps patients get care from specialists and other providers and ensures they work together to address all the patient’s needs. The doctor’s office uses:• patientregistriestotrack

efficiency and quality• electronichealthrecords,

including e-prescribing• bettercommunication

among primary care doctors, specialists and hospitalsso what does this mean

to you? Well, this closer management of your care should help keep you healthier, prevent unnecessary use of services and reduce costs. That’s why insurers pay more to doctors who meet patient-centered medical home requirements set by insurers, quality and government agencies.

Beaumont’s Family Medicine centers in sterling heights and st. clair shores – and 261 doctors in 88 Beaumont primary care practices – are Blue cross Blue shield patient-centered medical homes.

Paul Misch,

M.D., is medical

director of

Primary &

Ambulatory Care

for Beaumont

Health System.

Call toll-free

1-800-633-7377

to find a Beaumont doctor.

Tweaking treatmentsSmall improvements can make a big difference

hen your car starts to stutter and cough, your mechanic’s first comment isn’t “let’s do a complete overhaul.” These days, a mechanic can hook the car up to a

sophisticated computer, diagnose the issue with pinpoint accuracy in seconds and fix just what was wrong, making for a more efficient and effective process.

The story is similar when working on the human body. Physicians can now tweak a time-tested solution, personalizing the surgery for each patient, which

results in shorter recoveries and better results in some procedures. For example, some people who have heart catheterizations at Beaumont can request to have the

catheter inserted near their wrist so they can put on a special “bracelet” that keeps any bleeding in check, get up and go home. When the catheter is inserted near the groin, patients have to lie flat for up to six hours due to risk of bleeding. “We know that patients recuperate faster in the comfort of their own home, and this change lets them leave the hospital much faster as long as they’re medically stable,” says George Hanzel, M.D., medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.

Recovery from hip replacement is easier and faster, too, now that orthopedic surgeon James Verner, M.D., can make the necessary incision on the front of the body – and not have to cut through any muscles. Before, Dr. Verner had to cut through muscles at the back of the hip, then sew them back together. “Compared to my previous patients who had the muscle-cutting procedure, the patients who had a front approach are healing more quickly and have much less pain during recovery,” says Dr. Verner. “This modification is a huge benefit for hip replacement patients no matter their age or activity level.”

And Richard Arden, M.D., chief of otolaryngology at Beaumont Hospital, Troy, employs a newer use for the daVinci surgical robot when surgically appropriate for hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and throat. Without the robot, when Dr. Arden removes cancer at the base of tongue, he has to break the jawbone and make incisions through the mouth. Patients need to be fed through a tube, hospitalized a week or more and then have difficulty swallowing for several months or longer. “It speeds recovery, enhances outcomes with no cosmetic deformities and eliminates the need for breathing or feeding tubes,” says Dr. Arden.

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[ innovations ]

Future M.D.s to be healthy role models, receive mentorship of Beaumont doctors.

TFirst year medical students at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine recite the Declaration of Geneva, which declares a physician’s dedication to the humanitarian goals of medicine.

he Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Michigan’s first new M.D.-granting medical school in 47 years, welcomed its charter class of 50 students on Aug. 8.

More than 3,200 students applied for the positions in the first class; among those accepted are 15 students from eight other states. Many were attracted by the school’s innovative approach to education that combines basic science instruction with patient interaction across all four years. This school’s curriculum also highlights promotion and maintenance of health.

“Our focus is on educating the type of physician that you would want to care for you and your family – one who is a master of the science of health care delivery – achieving the best patient outcomes at the highest value – but also kind, compassionate, culturally aware and an effective communicator,” says Dean Robert Folberg, M.D.

Student wellness, mentoring and community outreach are also key at the school. All students are paired with a Beaumont physician mentor to guide and look after them and to teach them to be healthy role models for patients.

Students will also participate in four-year capstone projects addressing issues of scientific or social impact in health education, research or community service. These projects will help them find a specialty that matches their talents and interests, while helping them grow roots within the community.

The medical school is one of just a few in the country where students will complete all clinical training within one integrated health system, offering them experiences through Beaumont’s tertiary care and community hospitals, community-based medical centers and practices, nursing homes, home care and hospice. More than 1,400 Beaumont doctors have School of Medicine faculty appointments.

New Medical SchoolReinventing Doctors

Visit www.oakland.edu/medicine for more information.

Do you have a Beaumont doctor? www.beaumont.edu

We never forget that you place in our hands the most precious thing of all…

the life of someone you love.