NEWS

Baystate Researchers Excel in NIH/NHLBI ARDS Network Study

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's ARDS Network Data and Safety Monitoring Board has recognized the Baystate Medical Center Clinical Center for superior performance and enrollment, as well as for good business practices. Baystate's Quality of Service was rated “Outstanding” and it was also one of the top patient recruiters among the 12 clinical centers, which include Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic and Duke University.

The ARDS Network was established in 1994 to efficiently test promising agents, devices or management strategies to improve the care of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)—a severe, often fatal, inflammatory disease of the lung characterized by the sudden onset of pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. The ARDS network includes 42 hospitals organized into 12 clinical sites and a coordinating center.

Baystate's ARDS Network research group includes:

Investigators

• Jay Steingrub, MD—Principal Investigator

• Mark Tidswell, MD—Co-Principal Investigator

• Thomas Higgins, MD—Sub-Investigator

• William McGee, MD—Sub-Investigator

• Patrick Mailloux, MD—Sub-Investigator

• Paul Jodka, MD—Sub-Investigator

Research Staff

• Lori-Ann Kozikowski, RN, BSN— Lead Coordinator

• Lesley DeSouza—Research Coordinator II

• Jay Luszcz, MS—Research Coordinator I

• Scott Ouelette—Research Assistant

• Catherine Leavitt— Administrative Assistant

Their research is also supported by the bedside nurses in the ICU; Gerald Korona RPh, Clinical Research Pharmacist; and Annie McNeill, Grants Analyst in Sponsored Programs Administration.

Baystate's research group will be formally recognized at the Steering Committee meeting in Chicago, Illinois in February 2009.  

American Geriatrics Society Newsletter Lauds Successful Recruitment Strategies of Baystate's Geriatrics Faculty

Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Hasn't Had Unfilled Slot Since Its 1999 Launch

In its 4th quarter 2008 newsletter, AGS profiles Serena Chao MD, Associate Program Director of Boston University Medical College's geriatric fellowship program. Dr. Chao did her internal medicine residency at Baystate Medical Center and credits her mentor, Dr. Maura Brennan, with guiding her into geriatrics saying, "I began to see that there were many opportunities in the field of geriatrics."

Dr. Brennan, Associate Program Director of Baystate's Geriatric Medicine Fellowship and co-chair of the AGS Recruitment Subcommittee, says that ongoing exposure to geriatrics through the internal medicine residency's geriatrics track, their faculty's "aggressive and personal style of mentoring," and encouragement and support for residents to attend the AGS annual meeting are the most critical aspects of their recruiting efforts.

Read the entire American Geriatrics Society Newsletter article online.

Eric Granowitz, MD and Glenn Markenson, MD Will Replace Retiring Institutional Review Boards Chair Jessica Young, JD, CIP

Transition Will Occur From January - March 2009

Glenn Markenson, MD, Chief of the Maternal Fetal Medicine Division and a current IRB member, will become the Chair of IRB #2 (Red) effective January 1, 2009.

Ms. Young will continue as Chair of IRB #1 (Blue) until March 1, 2009 when Eric Granowitz, MD, who is currently Vice Chair, will assume the role of Chair. Dr. Granowitz, of the Infectious Disease Division, has been a member of the IRB since 1996. 

Ms. Young, who has been a member of the IRB for the past 10 years and Chair since 2004, will be relocating to North Carolina to be closer to her family.

Drs. Markenson and Granowitz can be reached for IRB-related issues via the IRB Office at 4-4356.