Dr. Bernard Kosto from the Hartford Medical Society presents Nia Harris with its inaugural award. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)
The Hartford Medical Society presented its inaugural award at the Medical and Dental Student Research Day 2018. Members of the Society from all over the world voted on the abstracts from eligible candidates with the last vote being cast from Zanzibar to select Nia Harris as the winner. Her project was “Filling the Therapeutic Void: Creating Guidelines for Developmental Trauma Disorder (DTD) through Film.” HMS members judged her project as the kind of research that helps doctors serving their communities, which is the purpose of the HMS award – to help advance community medicine.
Eighty-nine exceptional UConn Health employees were honored at the spring PAWS ceremony in Keller Auditorium Thursday. The employees were recognized for exhibiting the following qualities: being Part of a team, an Awesome attitude, a Wonderful Work Ethic, and Superior Service. In addition to the individual awards, two TEAM awards were also highlighted. Prior to recognizing each of the honorees, UConn Health CEO and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs, Dr. Andy Agwunobi welcomed and thanked them for their commitment and dedication which is deeply rooted in the overall success of our organization.
A patient requested that Brenda Ortiz, a clinical office assistant in our General Medicine clinic, be recognized for her outstanding service. (Kristin Wallace/UConn Health photo)
Among those recognized was an unsung hero Brenda Ortiz, a clinical office assistant in our General Medicine clinic. A patient, who has been coming to UConn Health for years, requested that Brenda be recognized for her outstanding service. The patient stated that Brenda always treats him like family. Every time he comes to UConn Health, Brenda offers him a big smile and greets him by name. He went on to say that he has seen her interact with other patients in the same manner, consistently. He is sure that she must have a bad day from time to time but it never affects her relationship with her patients. Brenda’s supervisor also noted that Brenda recently has started encouraging other employees to lead healthy lives by walking and exercising with them during lunch using our gym. Every day, Brenda focuses on making someone’s life better.
Genetics researcher Stormy Chamberlain giving the keynote talk during the JSHS event held March 24, 2018. (Photo by Brittany Knight)
By Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. candidate Brittany Knight and JSHS event organizer
For the second year in a row, UConn Health hosted the statewide competition of the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS). This year around 200 students, teachers, and parents representing 40 schools took part in the all-day conference. It’s designed to provide high schools students with a forum to share ideas about how to solve real world problems with STEM education. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics which are all essential to the future of our technology-driven world.
In preparation for the competition, students submitted research proposals several months in advance that recognized a significant problem pertaining to human affairs. About 80 proposals were then rated by a panel of professionals in STEM science to be presented as oral or poster presentations. Needless to say, the scientific merit and rigor that went into these projects exceeded expectations and it was challenging to decide which projects were to be a part of the competition.
The symposium included a keynote presentation by Stormy Chamberlain, an associate professor in genetics and associate director of the Genetics and Developmental Biology Graduate Program at UConn Health. Her talk focused on her research using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with Angelman syndrome, Prader-willi syndrome, and 15q duplication syndrome.
Following the keynote, students were divided into groups to present or attend the poster and oral presentations. Students were also given the opportunity to attend a career panel session with young professionals in social work, nursing, pharmaceutical science, medical science, research, public health, and dentistry. Students asked the panel questions pertaining to career motivations, challenges with career decisions, college or high school course preparation, internships, college planning, loans, etc.
Another option for students was touring some of our research labs, including the virtual anatomy lab, to participate in hands-on activities and learn about the exciting research being done here. Graduate students in the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program, including Matthew Sticco (Neuroscience), Nicholas Wasko (Immunology), Rajamani Selvam (Neuroscience), and Shubham Khetan (Genetics) led the tours. They each created a short module that consisted of hands-on activities as well as career advice for students interested in pursuing a career in research.
At the end of the event, top presentations were announced. The effort and scientific merit that went into this year’s projects was nothing short of amazing. It’s important to note that last year’s first place national winner was one of Connecticut’s JSHS winners last March.
JSHS is nationally organized by the Academy of Applied Sciences with sponsorship from the U.S. Army, Naval, and Air Force. Connecticut’s program would not have been made possible without the dedication of Connecticut Area Health Education Center Network (AHEC) and the staff at UConn Health. We wish the best of luck to the five Connecticut representatives at the national competition in May.
As we near the end of heart disease and stroke awareness month, Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. candidate Brittany Knight offers some insights into the exciting developments in stroke research at UConn Health. She met with Rajkumar Verma, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Pat and Jim Calhoun Cardiology Center to discuss a recent conference he attended and his research studying potential therapeutic targets for protecting the brain following stroke.
To understand the exciting new discoveries in stroke research, we first need to know what stroke is and what happens to the body following stroke. Stroke is an incidental disease that affects the entire body (systemic disorder) when blood supply is prevented from reaching the brain. Lack of blood supply decreases the amount of oxygen and nutrients required to keep brain cells healthy and functioning properly. Other areas of the body beyond the brain are also affected by stroke, for instance pneumonia and urinary tract infections are the most common complications following stroke. Recently, the effect of stroke on gut microbiota axis has drawn serious attention. The microbes that inhabit your gastrointestinal system can transport toxic substances and exacerbate the inflammatory response following stroke. When a stroke occurs or if you see someone having a stroke you may notice some odd things that occur as a result of this blood/oxygen loss. These symptoms are important to know and are easily remembered by memorizing the acronym F.A.S.T. – Facial drooping; Arm weakness; Speech difficulties; and Time. If you notice any of these symptoms in another person or yourself – call 911!
Rajkumar Verma Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience, in his research lab. (Brittany Knight/UConn Health)
Within the first 5 minutes of discontinued blood supply, brain cells start to die. This rapid cell death results in inflammation and increases the risk of additional brain damage in surrounding regions. Damage increases progressively in the absence of reestablished blood flow or drug treatment. Currently, tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) and thrombectomy, the removal of a blood clot, are the only FDA-approved available treatment for stroke. TPA treatment works by breaking down blood clots and is beneficial if administered within a narrow 4-5 hours following a stroke, similar to thrombectomy. This time frame emphasizes the importance of T in the F.A.S.T. acronym. However, sometimes individuals that have a stroke do not seek immediate medical attention and wait until the following day to see their physician or go to the emergency room. This unfortunately can result in more brain damage and impede the recovery process.
However, exciting new developments in the field of stroke research show new promise for individuals who do not receive immediate treatment. This January, Dr. Verma attended the world’s largest conference for cerebrovascular disease: the 2018 International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles. More than 4,500 individuals in the field of stroke and some 1,500 presentations were given on the pathophysiology and potential treatments for cerebrovascular diseases, including stroke. Attendees consisted of researchers, clinicians, nurses, and therapists as well as other professionals from around the world. During the International Stroke Conference, it was revealed that the time that thrombectomy is beneficial is now extended to 16-24 hours following a stroke in an eligible patient. Time is still important, but this means surgical intervention can be administered later thus, more people can receive medical attention.
In the clinic, doctors seek to reach several goals: increase the amount of oxygen and nutrients to the brain to preserve tissue that may become damaged during the inflammatory process as well as rehabilitate patients post-stroke to improve and maintain both physical and mental health. The conference also discussed that starting rehabilitation more than 2 months and even as late as 6 months following a stroke can still provide benefit to the recovery process. In other words, if you or someone you know suffered from a stroke in the last 6 months and has not been physically active, the benefits of starting physical therapy are still warranted.
The National Institute of Health funds a variety of research aimed at providing more effective therapies for stroke. One method thought to help decrease the amount of damage that occurs following stroke, during the inflammatory process, is by decreasing core body temperature. Researchers have shown that during hibernation, reptiles (as well as other animals) can decrease their core body temperature which slows cellular metabolism. Essentially, this method slows down the speed of reactions inside the body to protect the brain from additional damage post-stroke.
Similarly, Dr. Verma is interested in finding a candidate target that can be pharmacologically inhibited following stroke to decrease brain damage. Excessive ATP release, which occurs during mass cell death or when oxygen is cut off from part of the brain, can increase the activity of brain cells and the release of inflammatory mediators causing further damage. He has found a candidate, called P2X purinoceptor 4 (P2X4). P2X4 binds ATP which is released by stressed or dying cells and leads to the inflammatory process. This vicious cycle of cell death and inflammation can cause significant detriments to physical and mental function if untreated. By targeting P2X4, Dr. Verma hopes to disrupt this pathway and potentially improve outcomes following stroke.
Professor Brenton R. Graveley, Ph.D., is the new chair of the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences in the UConn School of Medicine. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health Photo)
I am pleased to announce that Professor Brenton R. Graveley, Ph.D., has accepted the position of chair of the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, in the School of Medicine. Brent will begin in his new leadership position effective February 2, 2018.
Since the inception of his School of Medicine faculty appointment in 1999, Brent has enjoyed a distinguished career. He is the current associate director of the Institute for Systems Genomics, director of the UConn Stem Cell Institute, and John and Donna Krenicki Professor in Genomics and Personalized Healthcare. He has attained national and international recognition for his work on RNA biology, a notable example of which is his accomplishment in developing a comprehensive map of functional human protein-RNA interactions. Among a number of other scientific achievements, Brent has authored over 100 research articles, 16 of which have appeared in Cell, Science or Nature. As a further recognition, he is also a member of the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research. This has enabled Brent to have a keen insight into and steer the genomic funding priorities of the NIH. Brent has been funded by multiple NIH R01, R21, U54, U41 and R35 grants, representing both individual and large multi-investigator, multidisciplinary consortium projects. In fact, he has just received a large project grant from NIH titled, “A Comprehensive Functional Map of Human Protein-RNA Interactions” with a total cost of about $10M.
I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to the entire search committee for its excellent work during the search and selection process. Led by its chair Dr. George Kuchel, the committee included Drs. Stormy Chamberlain, Rachel O’Neill, Travis Hinson, Kimberly Dodge, Christopher Heinen and Andrew Winokur.
Please join me in extending an enthusiastic welcome to Brent as he assumes his new role in the School of Medicine.
It’s been a little over a year since Brian White joined UConn Health as its chief counsel. We thought it was an opportune time to ask the head of our legal team some questions about the new General Counsel’s Office and its potential benefits for employees and the institution as a whole.
First of all, please describe your role here and how the UConn Health legal team has changed over the past year or so?
General Counsel’s Office at UConn Health has just turned 1-year-old. I was brought in to formally start the office that was previously supported by the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). The office is now fully staffed and positioned to provide in-house legal expertise on a proactive basis. Much of the funding for the office is coming from the offset reduction in utilization of outside counsel.
What are your office’s prime responsibilities?
The office is responsible for the coordination and management of all legal issues affecting UConn Health. The office advises the UConn Health Board of Directors along with UConn Health senior leadership and administrative units regarding a wide range of issues, including transaction matters, regulatory compliance, employment law, intellectual property, faculty, staff and student conduct, and governance issues. The office also works with the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office on litigation and other matters.
Team members of the Office of General Counsel at UConn Health. From left, Judy Wilcox, Steve Gagne, Deb Kaufman, Brian White, Berri Gerjuoy, Jeff Blumenthal, Lori Gizzi, Scott Simpson, Danielle Ives, Lynn Wittenbrink, Alyssa Cunningham.(Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)
How are you connected (or not) to the AG’s office?
We work intimately with the AGO on multiple matters, but mostly on those matters that involve litigation against the health system. We value our close relationship and are grateful to have an embedded AAG, Lynn Wittenbrink, located in our office.
How does this new legal team “configuration” benefit UConn Health as a whole?
The shift from exclusively relying on outside attorneys to having an established in-house legal counsel is one that takes time to fully appreciate, but is significant in its benefits. For UConn Health, it means having advisors at your fingertip that are not charging you hourly to provide counsel. Additionally, embedding in-house attorneys in planning and operations allows the organization to think and react proactively to potential legal and regulatory matters as it moves forward with implementing its strategic initiatives. Leaders and frontline staff now have immediate access to prompt, reliable, and effective legal services.
You’ve been here almost a year now, what have you found to be the most challenging issue you’ve faced so far?
The most challenging issue that I’ve faced in this first year is shifting the culture around the proper use of legal services. Upon my arrival, the health system tended to use legal services only after something went wrong – which is expected when only using costly outside counsel. As we have taken on these issues over the past year, we have begun shifting the culture to engage our office early on rather than waiting for the issues to arise. This proactive approach not only limits the legal and financial risk to the institution before any action is taken, but it also gives assurance to leadership in the decisions that they make.
How can the UConn Health community access your expertise?
Our offices are located on the ground floor in the Academic Building. Our main number is x1114. Reached 24/7 through the hospital operator.
Even though it’s “spring” semester, we have to suffer through a lot of long, cold, wintry weeks before we spot that first crocus peeking through the ground. Brittany Knight, one of our Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. students, surveyed some of her fellow grad students to learn what they do to survive the semester.
With long days approaching in the lab, Elise Pitmon, from the Department of Immunology, gets creative with her cuisine. She was happy to share recipes for overnight oats and chicken and avocado burritos. Striving for control over your eating habits helps keep your wallet and tummy full while also saving some time to relieve stress by exercising or meditating.
Cary Hardy, from the Center on Aging, shared a podcast by the Savvy Psychologist that suggests pairing resolutions, such as spending time meditating, to your normal routine, such as brushing your teeth, to ensure they become integrated into your daily habits. This way you can maintain a similar morning schedule while also improving stress and starting your day with positive thinking.
A student in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry shared they want to relieve stress and improve their daily routine by drinking tea, meditating, and reading scientific articles.
And Brittany reminds us to strive to keep your goals one day at a time — today, tomorrow, and the next day. The new year is a time to refresh your life, learn new skills, and improve routines for a healthier and happier you.
Ambulatory care services at UConn Health got into the holiday spirit Tuesday with an “Ugliest Sweater” contest. View the photo gallery to see a sampling of the contestants from across campus – along with the winner.
You may have noticed that our medical assistants are sporting new lab coats. The change has been in the works for more than a year after several MAs made the request during the “Under the Umbrella” discussions with VP of Ambulatory Services Anne Horbatuck. Now the medical assistants across campus and at all off-site locations have changed from blue to gray lab coats. Not only that, they now have more options – a scrub jacket long or short-sleeved and/or a scrub top. “It sounds like a simple issue but for many it was their top one, so we’re pleased we could accommodate their wishes,” says Horbatuck.
Many Americans, even the most experienced health insurance “shoppers,” struggle choosing and using health insurance plans.
A 2017 study by the Health Disparities Institute of UConn Health showed that many patients across Connecticut don’t understand their complex, jargon-filled private health insurance plans nor use their plan benefits correctly. As a result, consumers often pay more for premiums and spend more out-of-pocket than they would if they only had simpler, more consumer-friendly choices and better decision-making tools.
On Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 8:30 a.m.-12:00 noon the Health Disparities Institute will host a Health Insurance Simplification Seminar at UConn Health’s Cell and Genomics Building at 400 Farmington Ave in Farmington, CT.
The event is gathering together the health insurance field’s top behavioral economists including George Loewenstein, Ph.D. and Saurabh Bhargava, Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for Behavioral Decision Research. They will share their latest groundbreaking research about the consequences of health insurance complexity and evidence-based prescriptions for health insurance reform.
The seminar will address questions such as:
How and why simplify health insurance plans and their language?
Why so many people, whether low income or the sickest, choose health plans that are economically disadvantageous to them?
Are there ways consumers could predictably make “smarter” health insurance choices?
Even though it’s “spring” semester, we have to suffer through a lot of long, cold, wintry weeks before we spot that first crocus peeking through the ground. Brittany Knight, one of our Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. students, surveyed some of her fellow grad students to learn what they do to survive the semester.
Many Americans, even the most experienced health insurance “shoppers,” struggle choosing and using health insurance plans.