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Fall 2014 Volume 01, Number 04
A publication for the alumni and friends of
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
P.16
DNA Sequence
Of Events
Genomics expert goes to the heart of genetic medicine
P.12 P.20
A new Northwestern From the Military
Lake Forest Hospital to Medicine
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE TO:
Northwestern Medicine 02 Northwestern Medicine Leadership Message
Northwestern University Call or e-mail us at 312.503.1246 or FALL 2014 Magazine Remarkable progress over last three years
Feinberg School of Medicine medcommunications@northwestern.edu VOLUME 01, NUMBER 04
Office of Communications © 2014 Northwestern University. Campus News
420 E. Superior Street Northwestern Medicine® is a federally 03 Les Turner ALS Foundation Makes $10M Gift to Feinberg
Rubloff 12th floor registered trademark of Northwestern
04 Research Briefs
Chicago, IL 60611 Memorial HealthCare and is used by
Northwestern University. Northwestern Medicine Magazine is 06 Founders’ Day 2014
published quarterly for alumni and friends 08 Faculty Awards and Honors
of Northwestern University Feinberg 10 Media Highlights
School of Medicine, Northwestern
12 Features
Memorial HealthCare, and the McGaw
Medical Center of Northwestern University. Ward Rounds (Alumni) News
26 Alumni President’s Message
Material in Northwestern Medicine Magazine may
not be reproduced without prior consent and 27 Remembering Drs. Bergan and Elias
proper credit. 28 Progress Notes – Recognizing Military Veterans
36 Bob Cromer, ’52 MD, WWII veteran and rural family medicine physician
38 Sudip Bose, ’99 MD, battlefield doctor launched non-profit for veterans
40 In Memoriam and Upcoming Events
S E N I O R E XE C U T I V E
DIREC TOR OF
Eric G. Neilson, MD,
Lewis Landsberg Dean DNA SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
C O M M U N I C AT I O N S
Alan Krensky, MD, Vice
Tom Garritano
Dean for Development Genomics expert goes to the heart of genetic medicine
C O M M U N I C AT I O N S and Alumni Relations
DIREC TOR /EDITOR Robert M. Rosa, MD,
Michele M. Weber Vice Dean for
E D I T O R I A L A S S I S TA N T
Regulatory Affairs
Anita Chase and Chief Compliance
Officer
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ML Farrell, Senior
Andrea Arntsen-Harris Associate Director,
Anita Chase Alumni Relations
Nora Dunne Tom Garritano, Senior
Ed Finkel Executive Director of
Bob Kronemyer Communications
Kris Lathan Michele M. Weber,
Martha O’Connell Magazine Editor
Jody Oesterreicher
A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N
Marla Paul
Sarah Plumridge David Winchester, ‘63
Cheryl SooHoo MD, President
Bruce Scharschmidt, ’70
EDITORIAL BOARD MD, President-elect P.16
F. Douglas Carr, ’78 MD INSIDE FRONT COVER
Carla Hightower, ’87 MD, PHOTOGR APHY
’91 GME Sarah Plumridge
Jennifer Hobbs, ’07 PhD
Kerry Humes, ’90 MD ADDITIONAL SISTER TO FROM THE MILITARY
PHOTOGR APHY
James Kelly, ’83 MD
June Macchiaverna, PT
Sarah Plumridge: THE NORTH TO MEDICINE
pp. 3, 26
’75
Bruce Powell: p. 2 A new Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Profiles of Students/Trainees Who Have Served
Thomas Pitts, ’76 MD
Paloma Toledo, ’03 MD/ DESIGN Hospital will raise the bar by bringing
MPH Firebelly Design academic medicine to Chicago’s suburbs
STUDENTS FROM THE COOPER SOCIETY CELEBRATE THEIR VICTORY AFTER
THE ANNUAL SOCIETY OLYMPICS IN SEPTEMBER. READ ABOUT THE EVENT P.12 P.20
ON PAGE 26.
fb.me/feinbergschoolofmedicine
ONLINE EXTRAS: Additional Content Online Image Slideshow Video
twitter.com/nufeinbergmed
flickr.com/feinbergschoolofmedicine
FALL 2014 1
Northwestern Medicine Leadership Campus News
» A number of eminent scholars, educators,
and clinicians have advanced from within
scientists worldwide, according to data
compiled from Thomson Reuters. Of the
Lefkofsky Family
or joined Feinberg to lead departments, 28 faculty on that list, six had primary Foundation Supports
centers, institutes, clinical divisions, or
administrative units.
appointments at Feinberg.
Innovative Studies
» Numerous faculty members took on in Cancer
» The rollout of the redesigned MD national leadership positions or received
curriculum began with the Class of national and international awards, The Lefkofsky Family Foundation recently
2016. The goal is to make the curricu- bringing Feinberg to the external world pledged to create the Liz and Eric Lefkofsky
lum more integrated and relevant to of academic medicine. Innovation Research Awards at the Robert
today’s learners across the four-year H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of
experience while adding a degree of » We launched an ambitious new Institute Northwestern University. These awards
flexibility to address individual needs. for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM), will help to support promising investiga-
a collaboration of ten centers that link tors, providing them with the resources
Given the complex and troublesome world of » The now completed migration of our scientists across Northwestern, and protected time needed to push the
modern medical schools, the Feinberg School adult clinical practices, a major clinical integrating traditional medical disci- (LEFT TO RIGHT) DIMITRI KRAINC, MD, CHAIR OF NEUROLOGY, HARVEY GAFFEN, PRESIDENT EMERITUS envelope, as they develop a research track
of Medicine can be thankful for our superb arm of the medical school, to NMHC will plines with public health. We have OF THE LES TURNER ALS FOUNDATION BOARD, WENDY ABRAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LES TURNER record that will lead to National Institutes
clinical partners, university support, and a allow us to operate more strategically. also launched a new Developmental ALS FOUNDATION, KEN M. CRANE, PARTNER AT PERKINS COIE LLP, AND KEN HOFFMAN, PRESIDENT OF of Health (NIH) funding for their basic,
strong faculty dedicated to our key missions Therapeutics Institute within the Lurie THE LES TURNER ALS FOUNDATION BOARD. translational and clinical cancer studies.
of education, research, and clinical care. Comprehensive Cancer Center, re- “The lack of early-stage funding is a
Together, we have elevated the stature launched the Asher Center for the Study prevalent and difficult obstacle for
of the medical school by recruiting out-
standing clinical and research faculty,
$820
MILLION
and Treatment of Depressive Disorders
in psychiatry, the Osher Center for
Les Turner ALS Davee Department of Neurology at
Northwestern Medicine and the Aaron
promising treatments,” says Liz Lefkofsky.
“Researchers at the Lurie Cancer Center
developing important new centers of Integrative Medicine, a new Center for Foundation Commits Montgomery Ward Professor at Feinberg. are doing revolutionary work to eradicate
excellence, implementing a new medical
school curriculum, and migrating our adult
$0 $1.75 B Rare Diseases and a Center for Sleep
and Circadian Medicine in neurology, a
$10 Million for The Foundation, a partner with North-
western for 35 years, has provided support
clinical practice to Northwestern Memorial Center for Aging and Molecular Senes- New Center that has led to significant advances from
HealthCare (NMHC). Our new national NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE CAMPAIGN PROGRESS cence in medicine, and a Center for the Feinberg laboratories of Teepu Sid-
brand, Northwestern Medicine, is evolving Pharmacogenomics in pharmacology. The Les Turner ALS Foundation has made dique, MD, the Les Turner ALS Foundation/
quickly and successfully as the health a $10 million commitment to create the Les Herbert C. Wenske Foundation Professor,
system continues to expand its outreach. » The medical campus continues to grow With all this progress thus far—and with Turner ALS Research and Patient Center and P. Hande Ozdinler, PhD, assistant
Over the last three years we have with the opening of NMH’s new out- sustained focus, commitment, and passion— at Northwestern Medicine to accelerate professor of neurology.
witnessed many achievements, from patient care pavilion in October, the I am confident in our continued quality research and advance treatment for Dr. Siddique’s lab has made several
breakthrough science to discoveries that final acquisition of Cadence Health on improvement as an academic medical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also important discoveries in the field, including
advance new therapy, leadership contribu- Sept. 1, and the groundbreaking for center. I am grateful for the thoughtful known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS is a the identification of genetic causes of ALS.
tions to the larger world of medicine, and the new Northwestern Lake Forest work by faculty, staff and health system fatal neurodegenerative disease that often His work provides potential targets for drug a cruel disease that has affected everyone
the extraordinary ways we are evolving Hospital in August. employees each and every day in support strikes people in the prime of their lives. therapy. Ozdinler’s lab for the first time in some way. With these grants, we will
patient care. of our mission. The Center will bring together the Les isolated the motor neurons in the brain’s ensure more potentially life-saving ideas
With the close of the 2014 academic » We have nearly completed a three-year, Turner ALS Research Laboratories, the Les cortex that die in ALS and gave them get the development and investment they
year, I had an opportunity to reflect on $55-million renovation of 100,000 sq. With warm regards, Turner/Lois Insolia ALS Center, the ALS fluorescent tags so that they can be critically need.”
the remarkable progress we’ve made over ft. of wet lab research space and have tissue bank and other ALS research, clinical tracked and studied. The Lefkofsky Family Foundation was
these last few years, and I wanted to share leased 70,000 sq. ft. for dry laboratories. and education activities at Northwestern. “Northwestern scientists have made established in 2006 by Liz and Eric
some of the highlights: Eric G. Neilson, MD “The advantage of having all the important advances in ALS research, and Lefkofsky, and serves to advance high-
» The school has substantially revamped Vice President for Medical Affairs and Lewis research and clinical activities joined as the foundation’s generosity in the creation impact programs, initiatives, and research
» 407 new faculty joined Feinberg as the resources for clinicians to conduct Landsberg Dean, Northwestern University part of the Center is to enhance collabora- of the new Les Turner ALS Research and that enhance the quality of human life in
Clinician-Educators or Investigators clinical trials. Feinberg School of Medicine tions between researchers and clinicians Patient Center will help generate even our community. One of its missions is to
– half of this group are women, and and, therefore, facilitate the development more significant discoveries related to this propel innovative medical research, which
overall there are now 85 faculty from » Northwestern University ranks 14th on of new therapies for ALS,” says Dimitri yet incurable disease,” says Northwestern aligns directly with Northwestern Medi-
under-represented minority groups. a recent list of the most highly cited Krainc, MD, chair of the Ken and Ruth University President Morton Schapiro. cine’s vision to transform health care.
2 NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 3
CAMPUS NEWS
Research Briefs
Air Pollution Shown to Increase
Lung Inflammation and Blood Clots
Exposure to high levels of air pollution has been linked with
increased risk for heart attacks and stroke, according to a paper
published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Scott Budinger, MD, associate professor in Medicine-Pulmonary
and Cell and Molecular Biology, in collaboration with Gokhan Mutlu,
Electric Current to Brain May Help Accelerating Diabetic Wound Healing MD, chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Chicago,
showed that exposure to air pollution causes an elevation in the understand some of the unexpected side effects of commonly
Treat Memory Disorders levels of the stress hormone adrenaline. used beta-agonists such as albuterol, formoterol and salmeterol.
The scientists used mouse models to demonstrate how increased “Our findings are reassuring for patients with heart disease who
Stimulating a particular region in the brain via non-invasive delivery Depleting an enzyme called GM3 synthase with gene therapy adrenaline activates beta-2 adrenergic receptors on immune cells cannot avoid exposure to air pollution,” says Dr. Mutlu. “Our results
of electrical current using magnetic pulses, called Transcranial may help diabetics heal wounds faster, according to recent research and promotes lung inflammation and a tendency to form blood clots. suggest that beta blockers, commonly used to treat heart disease,
Magnetic Stimulation, improves memory, reports a new Northwestern by Northwestern Medicine scientists published in the Journal of Similar to the effects of adrenaline, inhalers called beta-2 agonists might protect against the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes
Medicine study published August 29 in Science. Investigative Dermatology. that are used for conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive associated with air pollution exposure.”
The discovery opens a new field of possibilities for treating Nearly 21 million people in the United States have Type 2 pulmonary disease further worsen these effects.
memory impairments caused by conditions such as stroke, early- diabetes. About 15 percent of them experience chronic wounds “Our findings show that stress can make existing lung inflam- The study was funded by NIH grants ES015024, ES013995, HL071643, the
stage Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, cardiac arrest that heal poorly, especially in the feet. mation worse and increase the tendency to form clots,” says Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute Center
and the memory problems that occur in healthy aging. The approach “There are many factors that influence this poor wound healing, Dr. Budinger. He further explains that physicians still do not for Translational Innovation Pilot Award and the Veterans Administration.
also has potential for treating mental disorders such as schizophrenia. among them poor functioning of the nerves and blood vessels
“We show for the first time that you can specifically change that supply the skin, poor sugar control, and resistance to the
memory functions of the brain in adults without surgery or drugs, effects of insulin and other growth factors, which are important
which have not proven effective,” says senior author Joel Voss, PhD, for how skin cells move and grow,” says Amy Paller, MD, ’81, ’83 group in the U.S., Hispanic females and males experienced death
assistant professor of Medical Social Sciences at the Feinberg GME, Walter J. Hamlin Professor of Dermatology and chair of the rates nine and five times greater, respectively.
School of Medicine. “This noninvasive stimulation improves the Department of Dermatology. “Early violent death is a health disparity,” says lead author
ability to learn new things.” The Paller lab found that mice engineered to be deficient in Linda Teplin,’75 PhD, the Owen L. Coon Professor of Psychiatry
The study also is the first to show that TMS improves memory GM3 synthase resist becoming diabetic on a high-fat diet and and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine.
long after treatment and is the first to demonstrate that remem- have no trouble with wound healing, despite becoming obese. “Youth who get detained are disproportionately poor and racial
bering events requires a collection of many brain regions to work GM3 synthase is a key enzyme in making GM3, a molecule impor- and ethnic minorities. We need to reduce the likelihood that
in concert with the hippocampus. The electrical stimulation helps tant in the function of growth factors. youth will become delinquent. And, if they are arrested and
the brain regions operate in closer synchrony. “The skin cells that lacked GM3 synthase grew faster, moved detained, we need interventions to reduce violence. Otherwise,
The hippocampus is too deep in the brain for the magnetic fields more quickly in wounds and showed greater responses to insulin perpetrators often become victims.”
to penetrate, so the Voss lab identified a region one centimeter and insulin-like growth factor-1,” says Dr. Paller, who is also The study used newly available data from the Northwestern
from the skull’s surface with high connectivity to the hippocampus. a member of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center Juvenile Project, a longitudinal study of 1,829 youth who were
He wanted to see if he could stimulate the hippocampus. of Northwestern University. detained at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention
“I was astonished to see that it worked so specifically,” Voss says.
“This opens up a whole new area for treatment studies where
When they fed the cells high concentrations of sugar to mimic
poorly controlled diabetes, they found that the cells missing
First Large-Scale Study to Look at Center in Chicago between 1995 and 1998. The authors used
official death records up to 16 years after the initial interviews
we will try to see if we can improve function in people who really GM3 synthase actually grew and moved even more quickly to Death Rates in Delinquent Youth were conducted.
need it,” says Voss. “For a person with brain damage or a memory heal the wound.
disorder, those networks are disrupted so even a small change This direct effect suggests the possibility of topical treatment Delinquency in youth predicts a significantly higher rate of violent The study was supported in part by National Institute on Drug Abuse grants
could translate into gains in their function.” to decrease GM3 synthase levels at the wound site, a focus of death in adulthood—especially from firearms—and females are R01DA019380, R01DA022953 and R01DA028763, and National Institute of
ongoing research. among the most vulnerable, reports a new Northwestern Medicine Mental Health grants R01MH54197 and R01MH59463, all of the NIH; 1999-JE-
The research was supported by grants P50-MH094263 from the National Institute study published June 16 in the journal Pediatrics. FX-1001, 2005-JL-FX-0288 and 2008-JF-FX-0068 from the Office of Juvenile
of Mental Health and F32-NS083340 from the National Institute of Neurological This work was supported by NIH grants R01AR44619 and R21AR062898 and Delinquent females died violently at nearly five times the rate Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Disorders and Stroke of the NIH. the Astellas Research Endowment and used Core resources provided by the of those in the general population, while delinquent males died at Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
NIH-funded Northwestern University Skin Disease Research Center. three times’ general population rates. Now the largest minority the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
4 NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 5
CAMPUS NEWS
Incoming Medical Students Don
their White Coats at Founders’ Day
WRITTEN BY: Sarah Plumridge
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Randy Belice
See the Founders’ Day slideshow
online at magazine.nm.org.
Meet the Class of 2018
Alexandra Williams picked up her crisp, The Class of 2018 comprises 163 MD
white coat and listened to advice from candidates selected from a pool of 7,727
second-year student Ryan Sacotte on applicants. Members of the class have
August 15 as they headed to Founders’ a collective total of 79 undergraduate
Day, a ceremony that serves as the official majors ranging from biomedical engineer-
start of the academic year. ing, chemistry, economics, mathematics, LEFT: HAPPY STUDENTS POSED FOR PHOTOS BEFORE AND AFTER THE FOUNDERS’ DAY EVENT. RIGHT:
“It is a special honor to receive my white philosophy and public health. DOUGLAS VAUGHAN, MD, CHAIR OF MEDICINE, GAVE THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS.
coat and the responsibilities that come
with it,” Williams said. “Having a second-
year medical student as a guide and role
85 78 79 66 21 35 9 86 %
model is nice as it connects us early-on
to the program, and it’s someone I can
ask a quick question of, someone who
has been there before.” women men majors institutions spoken languages U.S. States foreign engaged in
During the convocation, Williams including Chinese, represented countries undergraduate
was presented with her white coat by THE 163 MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2018 RECITE THE DECLARATION OF GENEVA FOR THE FIRST TIME. Hindi and Spanish research
Sacotte alongside the other 162 members
of the incoming Class of 2018. The event
marks the culmination of the Introduction
to the Profession Module, a week of will lead them into careers of life-long of you as colleagues,” said Dr. Vaughan, assistant professor in medicine-hospital medicine, Boye Ogunseitan, Austin Culver, president of the Feinberg Student Senate and
activities to orient students to campus, responsibility,” he continued. “Feinberg, also chair of medicine. “It also represents MD, assistant professor in medicine-hospital medicine, and Angira third-year medical student, presented the Student Senate Service
give an overview of the curriculum and as it always has, will prepare you well the honor and sanctity in our profession. Patel, MD/PhD, assistant professor in pediatrics-cardiology and Awards to members of the Class of 2017 who were selected by
provide hands-on learning opportunities. for whatever path you choose to follow.” The white coat does not provide you with medical education-medical humanities and bioethics, members their peers in recognition of their community service and leader-
Kicking off the 156th Founders’ Day, Following Dr. Neilson’s remarks, the skills, the experience or judgment that of the Class of 2017 bestowed white coats upon the first-year ship at the local, national and international levels during their
Eric G. Neilson, MD, vice president for medical University Provost Daniel I. Linzer, PhD, will come with being a physician; that will medical students. first year at Feinberg. Award recipients were second-year medical
affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean, welcomed congratulated students and encouraged take time and work.” Marking entry to the profession, the incoming class recited students Jakita Baldwin, Rachel Chang, Timothy Janetos, Molly
students, faculty members and guests. them to take advantage of all North- He concluded, “The next four years the Declaration of Geneva, the modern-day equivalent of the Lohman and William Webber.
“You have opened a new portal to your western has to offer during the course should be one of the most exciting and Hippocratic Oath, repeating after Dr. Wayne, that the health of Following the convocation, members of the Feinberg community
life work that focuses on medicine and of their education. challenging times of your life. Make the their “patient will be their first consideration” and to maintain by and invited guests attended the Nathan Smith Davis Founders’
science very few are privileged to enter. “It is a tough life to get to medical school most of it—learn everything you can and all means in their power “the honor and the noble traditions of Day reception. Sponsored by the Medical Alumni Association, the
There are a myriad of exciting times ahead and it gets tougher,” Linzer said. “I salute more. The world of science and medicine the medical profession.” reception honors one of the founders of the medical school, who
for you, not the least of which is working you for your dedication, your commitment has never been as exciting. I wish you the Excited to receive her white coat and say the oath, Ayelet also served as its first dean.
in a medical center teeming with world- to work hard and to care for people.” most satisfying and successful journey.” Cohen, a first-year medical student, said, “Reciting the oath with “After today’s ceremony I feel like I am part of the profession,”
class hospitals,” said Dr. Neilson. Keynote speaker, Douglas Vaughan, MD, Led by Diane Wayne, MD, vice dean for distinguished faculty members—and knowing the rich history said Emmanuel Ogele, a first-year medical student. “To me, the
“Founders’ Day is the traditional start the Irving S. Cutter Professor of Medicine, education, faculty mentors Aaron Gilbert, MD, behind the declaration—was my favorite part of the day, especially day was symbolic of community. As the mentors and second-year
of our new academic year; it is also a new addressed the students. assistant professor in physical medicine knowing that they are the values I will embody not only for the students gave us our white coats, it reminded me that we are all
beginning for our students on a path that “The white coat represents our acceptance and rehabilitation, Jessica Montalvo, MD, next four years, but for the rest of my career as a physician.” working together as a team against disease.”
6 NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 7
CAMPUS NEWS
Faculty Awards and Honors but I find the emotional disability for upper American Board of Internal Medicine’s Italian. Merck KGaA, Germany,awards
limb amputations to probably be the bigger (ABIM) Board of Directors. The Board prizes for literature that “combines
problem that we spend a lot of time on in oversees the organization’s strategic scientific importance of research with
the clinic,” says Dr. Kuiken. direction and supports efforts to make a literary writing style.”
Northwestern University ranks 14th for cardiology and Magerstadt Professor in Jennifer Chan, MD, Maintenance of Certification (MOC) and Dr. Gonzalez-Crussi retired in Sept.
most highly cited researchers worldwide in Cardiology and medical social sciences, MPH, assistant the Certification credential relevant and 2001 from his post as head of laboratories
a list compiled using data from Thomson has been honored with the AHA’s 2014 professor of valuable to participating internists and at Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago.
Reuters. The researchers wrote the Gold Heart Award, and Neil J. Stone, ’68 MD, emergency medi- the broader healthcare community. His career contributions have been both
greatest number of articles and reviews ’74 ’75 GME, (below) Robert Bonow MD cine, received the medical and literary. In the medical field,
that ranked among the top one percent Professor in Cardiology, received the associa- Global Emergency James P. Chandler, he has written more than 200 articles
most cited for their subject field and year tion’s 2014 Physician of the Year Award. Medicine Academy MD, Northwestern published in peer-reviewed journals of his
of publication. The data came from papers (GEMA) Humanitar- Brain Tumor specialty; he has served as editor-in-chief
published in science and social sciences ian Service Award. GEMA’s mission is to Institute co-director, of the journal Pediatric Pathology; and has
journals from 2002 through 2012. improve the global delivery of emergency Lavin/Fates Profes- authored two books on the pathology of
care through research, education and Brigid Dolan, MD, and Bernice Ruo, MD, sor of Neurological specific types of pediatric tumors. In the
The Feinberg scientists included in the mentorship. both assistant professors in medicine- Surgery and surgical literary field, he has written 16 books, most
list are: general internal medicine and geriatrics, director of neuro- in the essay genre. Translations of his work
David Cella, PhD, received this year’s Augusta Webster oncology at Northwestern Memorial exist in seven languages. Dr. Gonzalez-
» Eileen Bigio, MD, Paul E. Steiner professor and chair Faculty Fellowship in Educational Hospital, was honored with the 2014 Ivan Crussi has been the recipient of numerous
Research Professor of Pathology of the Department Research and Innovation. The fellow- S. Ciric, MD, Distinguished Educator Award awards, including a fellowship from
» Robert Bonow, MD, Max and Lilly of Medical Social ship provides funding and mentorship from the Department of Neurological the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation
Goldberg Distinguished Professor of Sciences, and to support the career development of Surgery. The award was established in (2000-2001).
Cardiology director of the junior faculty members researching 2013 to recognize faculty members who
» Philip Greenland, MD, Harry W. Dingman Center for Patient- medical education. have demonstrated a commitment to Melina R. Kibbe, MD,
Professor of Cardiology Centered Outcomes A committee from the Educational excellence in teaching. ’03 GME, has been
» Stephen Hanauer, MD, Clifford Joseph The Gold Heart Award, the AHA’s - Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Research and Innovations program at the named editor in
Barborka Professor in Medicine-Gastro- highest honor, recognizes volunteers was awarded the Health Assessment Lab/ Center for Education in Medicine selected Lingqun Hu, MD, chief of the journal
enterology and Hepatology who have given continued distinguished Medical Outcomes Trust John Ware and projects that address current issues (right) and Christine JAMA Surgery,
» Donald Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScM, chair of service. Dr. Yancy has held numerous Alvin Tarlov Career Achievement Prize in and/or challenges in health professions Park, MD, both effective Jan. 1,
the Department of Preventive Medicine appointments with the AHA, including past Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures for education, and that could serve as a pilot associate professors 2015. Dr. Kibbe is
and senior associate dean for Clinical president, spokesman and authoring lifetime career achievement. for future research. in anesthesiology, the Edward G. Elcock
and Translational Research clinical guidelines. He has found it most Dr. Dolan will describe how milestones— and Rukhsana Mirza, Professor of Surgical Research in Surgery-
» Clyde Yancy, MD, chief of the Division of meaningful to champion the association’s Todd A. Kuiken, ’90 specific measurable outcomes that MD, assistant pro- Vascular Surgery at the Feinberg School
Cardiology and Magerstadt Professor cause: to define cardiovascular disease MD/PhD, ’91 ’95 GME, demonstrate trainee skill attainment—are fessor of ophthal- of Medicine.
(CVD) disparities and to deploy new professor in physical being tracked and how they can be aligned mology and Medical Student Education “This is an incredible honor for me,”
models to achieve health equity. medicine and across both levels and multiple disciplines. program director, were welcomed to says Dr. Kibbe. “I hope to provide a vehicle
Dr. Stone, recipient of the Physician rehabilitation, Dr. Ruo aims to improve the assessment the Feinberg Academy of Medical Educa- through which surgeons can remain
of the Year Award, has volunteered for McCormick School of of internal medicine residents. She plans tors (FAME) in May. FAME, which plays a up-to-date on current standards of care.
more than 30 years on various AHA Engineering and to optimize the evaluation form to be more critical role in the recognition and support However, I also hope to provide surgeons
committees. He is a past chair of the surgery, as well as user-friendly and to develop an evaluator of outstanding education contributors, with novel data and innovative concepts
Nutrition Committee (1993-1996). As associate dean for Hospital Academic training to assess resident performance acknowledges these doctors as exceptional and approaches that challenge current
part of the Expert Panel on Population Affairs at the Rehabilitation Institute of more accurately and thoroughly. scholars, leaders and mentors. paradigms, forcing us to think more broadly
and Prevention Science, he participated Chicago, gave the capstone speech at about how we treat patients with surgical
in the writing groups that published the Northwestern’s Medical Scientist Training Marianne Green, MD, Frank Gonzalez- disease and to develop better and safer
2002 AHA guidelines for primary preven- Program 50th anniversary celebration. Dr. associate professor Crussi, MD, professor ways to care for our patients.”
tion of cardiovascular disease and stroke, Kuiken talked about his journey as an in general internal emeritus in pathology, Dr. Kibbe joined Feinberg as a full-time
the 2004 guidelines for cardiovascular MSTP student at Feinberg and his research medicine, associate received the literary faculty member in 2003, after completing
CLYDE YANCY, MD disease prevention in women and the career in prosthetics. dean for Medical prize “Premio a fellowship in vascular surgery at North-
AHA/ADA statement on prevention of CVD He also spoke about his process for Education and Letterario Merck” for western Memorial Hospital. She is the
The American Heart Association (AHA) in diabetes. In 2009, he chaired a commit- developing a technique using nerve trans- Competency his book, “Carrying vice chair of research in the Department
presented two national awards to North- tee commissioned by the National Heart fers to improve myoelectric control of Achievement, and the Heart. Exploring of Surgery and a member of the Robert H.
western Medicine physician-scientists: Lung and Blood Institute to update prosthetics, called targeted reinnervation. director of the Honors Program in Medical the Worlds Within Us,” Kaplan Publishing, Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of
Clyde Yancy, MD, chief of medicine- cholesterol guidelines. “Having arm loss is a terrible disability, Education (HPME), was appointed to the 2009, which was recently translated into Northwestern University.
8 NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 9
CAMPUS NEWS
Media Spotlight in pregnancy can be missed because symptoms like trouble
sleeping and moodiness also occur in pregnant women
4 BREAST CANCER DRUG HAS A SURPRISING
NEW APPLICATION
The author of an accompanying journal editorial, Donald
Lloyd-Jones, MD, ScM, senior associate dean for clinical and
who are not depressed. And doctors have historically been TIME – JULY 15, 2014 translational research, chair of the Department of Preventive
taught in medical school that “women don’t get depressed Tamoxifen, used for breast cancer treatments, blocks the Medicine, and director of the Northwestern University Clinical
during pregnancy because they are happy,” says Katherine effects of the female hormone estrogen on the breast, and Translational Sciences Institute (NUCATS) at the Feinberg
1 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS IMPORTANT PLAYERS L. Wisner, MD, director of the Asher Center for the Study inhibiting uncontrollable breast tissue growth. Now, Seema School, added that “people taking niacin need to have a
IN TEAM-BASED HEALTHCARE and Treatment of Depressive Disorders and a professor of Khan, MD, professor of breast surgery at the Feinberg School conversation with their doctor sooner rather than later to see
CHICAGO TRIBUNE – JUNE 13, 2014 psychiatry and obstetrics at the Feinberg School of Medicine. of Medicine, reports in Clinical Cancer Research that putting whether it is appropriate to continue taking it and whether
Physician assistants function much like doctors, taking patient In a 2013 study, Dr. Wisner and colleagues found that 14 the drug in a gel and applying it directly to the breast tissue, there are reasonable alternatives.”
histories, performing physical exams, ordering and interpreting percent of 10,000 women had depression four to six weeks where it needs to work, may have merit.
laboratory and diagnostic tests, prescribing medications and after giving birth, but that for a third of them it actually At the end of the small study, the women in both groups 6 ATHLETES SHOULD FEAR THE HEAT MORE THAN
making referrals—all under the supervision of a medical doctor. started during pregnancy. showed similar decreases in tumor-related proteins, but blood THE HEART ATTACK
“PA life offers a lot of flexibility,” says Kristine Healy, MPH, levels of tamoxifen were five times lower among the women NPR – JULY 29, 2014
PA-C, associate director of the Physician Assistant Program and 3 A MISSPENT YOUTH DOESN’T DOOM YOU using the gel than those taking the oral pill. That, says Dr. Heatstroke is a more common killer among runners than
an assistant professor of medical education at the Northwestern TO HEART DISEASE Khan, suggests that the drug’s major side effects, which occur cardiac conditions, according to a recent study. It is a big
University Feinberg School of Medicine. “I’m a family medicine NPR – JULY 1, 2014 in the blood and other reproductive organs, may be largely problem, says George Chiampas, DO, assistant professor
PA, however, my national certification and state licensure People who drop bad habits in their late 30s and 40s can avoided by using a gel. in emergency medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine
permit me to work within the scope of practice of the specialty reduce their risk of developing coronary artery disease, and medical director of the Chicago Marathon, which made
of my supervising physician. ...The model is very adaptable.” according to a recent study published in the journal Circulation. 5 NIACIN DOESN’T REDUCE HEART PROBLEMS, some changes after the 2007 race was halted amid high
“And by the same token, if you get to adulthood with a healthy MAY CREATE SOME temperatures that sickened hundreds. Now runners see
2 ‘THINKING OF WAYS TO HARM HER’ – NEW FINDINGS lifestyle, that doesn’t mean you’re home free,” says Bonnie U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT – JULY 16, 2014 colored flags along the route to indicate whether the condi-
ON TIME AND RANGE OF MATERNAL MENTAL ILLNESS Spring, PhD, director of the Center for Behavior and Health, Niacin, a commonly used cholesterol treatment, doesn’t tions, including weather, are good, less than ideal, potentially
THE NEW YORK TIMES – JUNE 15, 2014 professor of preventive medicine at the Feinberg School of reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with dangerous or so bad that the race has been stopped. And
A fast-growing body of research is changing the very defi- Medicine and the lead author of the study. Those who pick up hardened arteries. What’s more, the drug appears to have medical personnel near the finish line are trained to talk
nition of maternal mental illness, showing that it is more unhealthy behaviors in middle age up their risk of developing dangerous side effects, including a potential increased risk with runners to see if their mental status has been affected—
common and varied than previously thought. Depression heart disease, the study found. of death, according to new research. a sign of heat illness.
1 2 3 4 5 6
JUNE JULY
Northwestern As of September 1, the formal agreements that integrated
Cadence Health with Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NMHC)
network encompassing more than 60 sites of care across metro
Chicago and the north and western suburbs, approximately 1,600
Memorial HealthCare, took effect. This step signifies the expansion of NMHC’s North- inpatient beds, 19,500 employees, and a combined medical staff
Cadence Health western Medicine®-branded health system to four Illinois hospitals,
including Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Northwestern
with 4,000 physicians.
Harrison remains president and CEO of the expanded NMHC
Finalize Plans Lake Forest Hospital in Lake Forest, Central DuPage Hospital in health system, and Mike Vivoda, Cadence Health’s president and
to Integrate Winfield, and Delnor Hospital in Geneva.
“We are honored to welcome Cadence Health into the North-
CEO will be NMHC regional president, Western Region. Additional
Cadence executive leadership who will transition to NMHC include
western Medicine family,” says Dean M. Harrison, NMHC president Cadence CFO and Executive Vice President John Orsini, named
and CEO. “Cadence is an ideal health system to combine with as NMHC CFO and senior vice president, and Liz Rosenberg, executive
their vision, mission and values are very similar to ours. Together, vice president of Strategy and Administration, named NMHC senior
we will continue to deliver the Northwestern Medicine brand vice president, Strategy.
promise, which is to provide trusted, quality care that is accessible “Our union is great for patients because it positions us to
where patients live and work, safe and accountable, and centered continue to provide unrivaled quality care within our communities,”
on world-class medicine.” says Vivoda. “As one integrated health system, not only can we
On July 14, the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review continue to fulfill the health needs of our region, we can leverage
Board unanimously approved NMHC’s application to combine health our collective strength as Northwestern Medicine to build stronger,
systems. The integration creates an expanded health delivery healthier communities.”
10 NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 11
Martha O’Connell
A new Northwestern Medicine WRITTEN BY:
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Laura Brown
Lake Forest Hospital will raise the ILLUSTRATION BY: Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
bar by bringing academic medicine
to Chicago’s suburbs
SISTER TO
THE NORTH
WORKING TOGETHER, STEPHEN FALK, PRESIDENT OF THE NORTHWESTERN
MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, PATRICK MCCARTHY, MD, CHIEF OF THE DIVISION OF
CARDIAC SURGERY, TOM MCAFEE, NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE LAKE FOREST
HOSPITAL PRESIDENT, AND ANDREW PARSA, MD, PHD, CHAIR OF NEUROLOGICAL
SURGERY, ARE HELPING TO MAKE THE NEW LAKE FOREST HOSPITAL A REALITY.
Martin Davidson, 72, came into the cardiac surgery, presented this case at a national thoracic conven- NMLFH President Thomas McAfee, FACHE, knows all too well
Emergency Department at Northwestern tion—bringing the mission of an academic medical center full circle. that many patients living outside the city will not come to down-
Medicine Lake Forest Hospital (NMLFH) Lake Forest Hospital’s place within Northwestern Medicine is town Chicago for treatment simply because of the distance. The
with a complex myocardial infarction and growing stronger as a new hospital for the 21st century takes shape. new hospital solves that problem by bringing a new state-of-the-
received an angioplasty. Afterwards, he It is almost unheard of to have the extraordinary expertise of art Northwestern center to them.
was brought to Northwestern Memorial an academic medical center in a community of 20,000 people, but A major goal for the new hospital is to enable clinicians to
Hospital for a difficult procedure to repair that is what occurred in 2010 when Northwestern Memorial seamlessly manage patients at both locations and provide
his ruptured mitral valve. Today, Mr. HealthCare (NMHC) acquired Lake Forest Hospital, located 30 miles highly sophisticated care. To make that possible, much of the
Davidson is doing well and his surgeon, north of Chicago. The hospital has long been a top-ranked institu- new medical equipment, patient room layouts, communication
Chris Malaisrie, MD, associate professor in tion within the larger Lake County area. systems, patient safety features—and even the overall
12 NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 13
FEATURE: SISTER TO THE NORTH
aesthetics—at Lake Forest will replicate five interconnected pavilions set against an professor and chair of the Department of NOT YOUR USUAL RESIDENCY Stephen Falk, president of Northwestern
Northwestern Memorial. expansive reflecting pool and waterfall. Emergency Medicine, and Christopher Feinberg prefers residents start by working in a large, busy Memorial Foundation, notes that funds
“We will have the best of both worlds—a Outside, the 160-acre property is Beach, MD, assistant professor and vice $378M hospital. Lake Forest will be the right fit for some residents and raised thus far have already surpassed
new Northwestern Medicine hospital in designed to fit sensitively into the land- chair of emergency medicine. Emergency NEW HOSPITAL students after the hospital increases patient volumes. expectations. “Many of these generous
Lake County and we are incorporating scape of Lake County, with hiking and care has been a longtime concern in Lake “When you are in medical school or residency, you learn a lot donations have come from a new generation
everything we learned from Northwestern biking trails, meadows and bioswales. County, and leadership of both physicians about taking care of patients in different settings. Having a clinic of donors—people with strong Lake County
Memorial into this facility,” McAfee says. After the hospital opens, additional brings the same high-quality emergency 483.5K in Lake Forest will bring in more patients that residents would not ties who have never supported Northwest-
property on the site will be considered for care to Lake County as patients receive at ordinarily see,” Dr. Parsa says. ern Medicine before but do so now because
N U M B E R S
SQ. FT. FACILITY
OLD HOSPITAL REBORN health and wellness, education and research Northwestern Memorial. Currently, the Feinberg School of Medicine’s physician assis- they feel a new hospital is critical for the
Opened in 1899, the community hospital functions of the academic health system. Ian Cohen, MD, assistant professor of tant students rotate through Lake Forest Hospital. The McGaw well-being of local residents,” he says.
underwent several expansions that have cardiology who also leads the Bluhm 160 Family Medicine Residency program, under the direction of Two prominent leaders at Northwest-
served residents well but do not meet SETTING UP HOUSE Cardiovascular Institute at Lake Forest ACRE GROUNDS Deborah Clements, MD, chair of family medicine, will bring some ern’s Chicago and Lake Forest hospitals are
today’s standards. Scheduled to open in Northwestern Medicine is already laying Hospital, continues to increase referral of the first residents to the hospital in 2015 for a unique program heading the campaign: James Stirling, Life
2017, the new $378 million hospital will the groundwork to fully integrate staff at networks among primary care doctors and that will bolster the number of these underrepresented physicians Trustee for Northwestern Memorial Hospital,
be more cohesive, and accommodate both hospitals, focusing on cardiology, specialists by demonstrating Northwest- 114 and focus partly on serving economically disadvantaged patients and Debbie Saran, Northwestern Memorial
T H E
advanced procedures, efficient workflow neurosurgery and neurology, orthopaedics, ern’s superior care. His counterpart, Patrick PRIVATE IN- in Lake County. Foundation Trustee and former Women’s
and increased demand for outpatient care. oncology and women’s health—and that Sugrue, MD, assistant professor of neuro- PATIENT BEDS McCarthy explains that residents and students based at Board president at Lake Forest Hospital.
Key features in the 483,500-sq.-ft. starts at the top. logical surgery, does the same as head of Northwestern Memorial will be able to review additional complex All donors will be recognized either
facility include 114 private inpatient beds, At 3 a.m., Andrew Parsa, MD, PhD, chair of neurosurgery at Lake Forest, in conjunction cases referred from Lake Forest. Conversely, someone interested through naming opportunities or on a
72 outpatient care bays, eight operating the Department of Neurological Surgery and with Dr. Parsa. 72 in routine cardiac practice can experience that in Lake Forest. recognition wall that will be viewed by
rooms, flexible space for outpatient the Michael J. Marchese Professor, gets a call With their past lives at the Cleveland OUTPATIENT Telemedicine also presents extra learning opportunities. thousands of people for years to come.
procedures and common areas. It will and drives to Lake Forest Hospital. Patrick Clinic and the University of California San CARE BEDS The new hospital exemplifies the trend for systemized care, Contributions to the Lake Forest campaign
feature abundant natural light, soaring McCarthy, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiac Francisco, McAfee, McCarthy and Parsa are meaning that difficult, complex treatments happen in the flagship will also be honored as part of We Will, the
ceilings, extensive use of wood building Surgery and the Heller-Sacks Professor of experienced at setting up multiple sites and medical center and the system’s outlying hospitals take patients university-wide fundraising campaign to help
materials and architectural styling Cardiothoracic Surgery, will do the same and communication interfaces. They note that who require less complicated therapies. Northwestern accomplish its strategic goals.
characteristic of the university. is also a Lake Forest Hospital trustee. patient satisfaction scores, outcomes, “I think residents will get more exposure to how medicine is
Built to serve patients far into the Other physicians and coordinators rotate mortality rates and other quality measure- going to be practiced in the future by understanding how care QUALITY WILL RULE
future, Lake Forest Hospital will make between the Chicago and Lake Forest ments will apply uniformly at both hospitals. works at both of our hospitals,” McCarthy says. Continuing the expansion of Northwestern
it possible to incorporate new medical campuses, in addition to satellite clinic sites “Right now, we track 730-plus quality Medicine’s brand into Chicago’s western
technologies as they emerge. Structured in in nearby Grayslake and Glenview. These measures of cardiovascular care on the MAKING IT REAL suburbs, NMHC recently finalized the
a spoke pattern, the new facility will include specialists include, emergency medicine downtown campus. These measurements Charitable giving ensures that the new hospital will provide merger with Cadence Health, bringing
physicians, overseen by James Adams, MD, have served us very well in making us the exceptional health care for many generations. Northwestern’s Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield and
No. 1 program in Illinois and 13th in the immediate goal is to raise $75 million over the next three years Delnor Hospital in Geneva into the fold.
country,” Dr. McCarthy says. to open the new hospital. Another $75 million will be raised over With its world-class medicine and
ten years to support future growth. research, Northwestern Medicine provides
an unparalleled level of care in the
suburban market. Some patients who
need highly complex treatment may have
to go to Northwestern Memorial, but the
dramatic changes soon to come at the
three suburban hospitals will make it
possible for many people to start and
finish their care close to home.
With savvy consumers in the Lake
County market, patients scrutinize physi-
cians, hospitals and post-operative care
before making their decisions. Second
opinions are common.
“We know that the vast majority of care
can be done at Lake Forest. Our patient
PATRICK SUGRUE, MD, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (LEFT), WILL HEAD UP
volumes will increase and stay that way
NEUROSURGERY AT LAKE FOREST HOSPITAL, IN CONJUNCTION WITH
because quality care always prevails,”
ANDREW PARSA, MD, PHD, CHAIR OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY.
McAfee says.
14 NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 15
Cheryl SooHoo
Genomics expert goes to the heart WRITTEN BY:
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Bruce Powell
of genetic medicine
DNA
SEQUENCE
OF EVENTS
Exploring the human genome makes good gene hunters of variations and link this information to clinical outcomes so that
researchers. DNA trackers search for clues among the needle-in- we may more effectively care for our patients.”
the-haystack framework of the 25,000 genes in the human body Dr. McNally fully understands the rewards of applying labora-
to better understand and treat genetically caused diseases. Their tory research to clinical care. Formerly at the University of Chicago,
perseverance, coupled with ongoing technological advances, has she founded the Institute for Cardiovascular Research as well
yielded quite a few “needles” in recent years. The use of genetic as launched a Cardiovascular Genetics Clinic. One of a few of its
information to inform patient care, from cancer to neurological kind in the nation, the clinic focused on diagnosing and treating
disorders, has personalized medicine for individual patients like patients with inherited forms of heart disease. At Northwestern
never before. But more is still to come. Much more, according to Medicine, she will direct a clinical cardiac genetics program through
Elizabeth M. McNally, MD, PhD, new director of Northwestern the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. A new offering for Northwestern
University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Center for Genetic Medicine. in the area of genomics and cardiovascular medicine, the program
An internationally renowned expert on the genetics of heart will take advantage of genetic counseling and testing to identify
disease and muscular dystrophy, this experienced gene hunter individuals at risk for hereditary heart disease and to plan approp-
or “huntress” foresees an entirely new era for genetic medicine. riate treatment from devices to drugs.
“A revolution in DNA sequencing is dramatically driving down While her expertise will further advance Northwestern
DR. MCNALLY AND HER GROUP STUDY THE GENETICS OF
costs and transforming how we practice medicine,” says the Medicine’s influence in genetic medicine, McNally envisions more.
INHERITED MUSCLE AND HEART DISEASE (MUSCLE FIBERS
recently named Elizabeth J. Ward Chair of Genetic Medicine, who In her latest leadership role, she hopes to strengthen inter-insti-
OUTLINED IN GREEN). USING GENETIC METHODS, THEY
arrived at Feinberg in September. “The center is poised to take tutional collaborations across the city to establish Chicago as
MAPPED A GENE THAT CONTROLS TGFβ SIGNALING (RED), AS
genetic medicine to the next level. Now more than ever, we have a “mecca for genetics.” It may sound like a pipe dream but so was
A MAJOR MODIFIER OF MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.
the opportunity to expand our understanding of genetic the physician-scientist’s goal to go after genetic modifiers some
16 NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 17FEATURE: DNA SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
the MD/PhD program at Albert Einstein “I love what has been established at Northwest-
25K
in 1990. She even worked under the mentor- ern,” she says. “The extensive research resources like
ship of Dr. Leinwand, who served as her the NUgene Project [one of the nation’s first DNA
dissertation advisor. McNally jokes, “I was banking studies] and clinical services such as genetic
the summer student who never went away!” counseling are not only fantastic but also necessary
An internship and residency training components of getting us to where we want to go in
in internal medicine, however, took McNally genes in the the future.”
to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. human body
There she also completed a fellowship AFFORDABLE GENOMES
in cardiovascular medicine in 1996 before When McNally began hunting genes decades ago
13
going on to a research fellowship in gen- she relied on Southern blotting, a molecular biology
etics at Boston Children’s Hospital. She technique used to isolate and examine a single DNA
then joined the faculty at the University fragment from an individual. “We would get just one
of Chicago, where her husband, Stephen nucleotide at a time to study—one out of three billion
Kron, MD, PhD, is currently professor base pairs in a human genome,” she explains. “Today
of molecular genetics and cell biology. years passed with whole genome sequencing technology, we can
Twenty-eight years ago the Oak Park, before the Human look at all three billion bases in many different indi-
Ill., couple met at the Marine Biological Genome Project was vidual genomes and begin to search for both common
Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass., where declared successful and rare genetic variations that link to disease in
LISA CASTILLO IS A CERTIFIED GENETIC COUNSELOR WHO WORKS CLOSELY WITH DR. MCNALLY, STAFFING McNally spent two summers as a teaching populations of people.”
THE CARDIOVASCULAR GENETICS CLINIC, WHERE GENETIC TESTING IS USED TO PINPOINT THE CAUSE OF assistant. Coincidentally, it was also at
3
INHERITED DISEASES LIKE CARDIOMYOPATHY, MARFAN SYNDROME AND INHERITED ARRHYTHMIAS. this seaside haven for scientists that
15 years ago when genetic medicine advancement were tightly tied.” McNally
A revolution in DNA sequencing
was still in its infancy. Today, she counts attended Barnard College, Columbia is dramatically driving down
among her most significant scientific University, in New York, where she earned
accomplishments the identification of bachelor’s degrees in biology and philosophy billion bases
costs and transforming how
two gene modifiers that could change the in 1983. While at college, she dated a guy can be viewed we practice medicine.
destructive nature of muscular dystrophy: whose mother happened to be preeminent with today’s
TGF-ß binding protein involved in prevent- scientist Ora M. Rosen, MD. (The late Dr. whole genome
ing muscle weakness and a newly identified Rosen and colleagues at Memorial Sloan- sequencing In 2003, the Human Genome Project completed the
modifier known as annexin A6 that sheds Kettering were the first to clone the gene technology sequence of the first human genome. The international
light on muscle cell injury and repair. for the human insulin receptor in the mid- effort cost upwards of $3 billion and took 13 years
McNally and colleagues are currently ’80s.) “I was interested in research and to be declared a success. Last year, the average price
$1K
working on a novel therapeutic agent that medicine but wasn’t quite sure of my tag for whole genome sequencing was $10,000. In MUSCLE WITH MUTATIONS IN DYSFERLIN AND
modulates TGF-ß activity to reduce tissue direction,” recalls McNally. “Ora took me January, biotech company Illumina introduced a new THE RELATED PROTEIN MYOFERLIN DEVELOP FAT
damage and fibrosis and could be poten- under her wing and encouraged me to work machine that can sequence an entire human genome ACCUMULATION WITHIN MUSCLE (RED).
tially applicable to a variety of diseases, in a lab while I was still an undergraduate.” for $1,000 in about 24 hours. This exciting develop-
including myocardial injury, radiation- Dr. Rosen connected McNally with ment will extend whole genome sequencing to many The growing field of personalized
induced injury and vascular disease. researcher Leslie Leinwand, PhD, a faculty SHOWN IS SUPER-RESOLUTION IMAGING OF A the cost of sequencing more patients, providing richer and more robust medicine relies on the ability to tap into
member at Albert Einstein College of SINGLE MUSCLE FIBER AFTER INJURY. A MUTATION an entire human genetic data that will dramatically change health care. DNA codes. Dr. McNally has both hunted
MATERNAL INSTINCTS Medicine. A summer stint in Leinwand’s IN ANNEXIN A6 (GREEN) INHIBITS MUSCLE REPAIR genome using new “Lower cost sequencing technology will allow us to and gathered revealing biological data for
The second oldest of five siblings, Dr. lab allowed the budding young investiga- AFTER INJURY BY SLOWING ANNEXIN A6’S ABILITY technology better classify diseases. That’s already been happening many years in her quest to improve care for
McNally credits two moms—her own and tor to not only clone her first bit of DNA, TO RESEAL THE INJURY SITE (RED). in the cancer field, cardiology and neurosciences,” her heart patients and generations of their
that of a boyfriend—for serving as key the myosin gene, but also find her research explains Dr. McNally. “In cardiology, we tend to lump families. “In our clinic, we’ve already been
24
role models who helped shape her career. calling. A major motor protein found in heart McNally first made the acquaintance of conditions into broad categories—the group of heart doing personalized medicine to deliver more
“My mother raised us all, while at the and skeletal muscles, myosin mutations Rex Chisholm, PhD, vice dean for Scientific failure, the group of cardiomyopathy. What we are precise therapies, minimize side effects and
same time earning her college degree in interfere with muscle contraction that can Affairs and Graduate Education, and the learning is that there are many different diseases improve outcomes,” she says. “Cardiovascu-
Spanish, English and education,” shares the lead to disorders such as cardiomyopathy Adam and Richard T. Lind Professor of within these groups, and many times there is a strong lar genetics has grown at an amazing rate
Chicago native, who spent her teen years (weakness of the heart muscle) and Medical Genetics at Feinberg. In 2000 genetic influence. If we can understand the effect of and demonstrated the importance of using
in Platteville, Wis. “In my family, there was muscular dystrophy. McNally has focused he founded Northwestern’s Center for hours to sequence an specific gene mutations on disease progression, we will genetic information in the practice of good
definitely a push for education from my on both of these areas of investigation Genetic Medicine—the very one McNally entire human genome have a better sense of when to intervene with medical medicine in cardiology and across other
mother because she knew education and throughout and ever since completing looks forward to building upon. using new technology and surgical treatments for each and every patient.” areas of medicine as well.”
18 NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE MAGAZINE FALL 2014 19You can also read
