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Celebrating Milestones after Cancer

Exciting Advances in Neuroscience

Jefferson Health: Here, There andEverywhere Near You

And Much More…

in April 2003, Beth Dougherty, of Horsham, was finalizing wedding

plans with her fiancé, Jim. The dental assistant had previously had

laser and other procedures to address abnormal PAP tests, and 

thought that was all behind her.

Then she got the news. “There I was, getting ready to be married, and 

I was diagnosed with cervical cancer,” she says. “I had been looking 

forward to the future with my husband and having children one day.”

Beth’s gynecologist referred her to Mark S. Shahin, MD, chief of 

Abington Hospital’s Hanjani Institute for Gynecologic Oncology. 

Dr. Shahin explains, “Beth had a very unusual type of cervical cancer

called adenoid basal carcinoma. Fortunately, this cluster of microscopic

cancer cells tends to grow very slowly.” 

The physicians at the Hanjani Institute are gynecologic surgeons 

with special training in surgical and medical oncology. They are 

board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as in 

gynecologic oncology. 

Their expertise is complemented by the belief that gynecologic 

cancer affects the total woman, and treatment must include careful 

and compassionate attention to emotional needs. For Beth, it was 

especially important that she pursue options that might allow her to

have children. 

Dr. Shahin continues, “After the initial excision of cancerous cells, we 

decided to do a ‘cone biopsy’ to determine if there was leftover disease.

This procedure removes just a portion of the cervix, and we found no

evidence of further spread. Our goal was to preserve Beth’s uterus.”

Beth was placed on medical surveillance, with frequent checkups

to ensure that no new lesions had developed. In August 2003, 

Dr. Shahin performed a procedure to break apart natural scar 

tissue that had developed over time. The procedure worked. Beth and

her husband were able to conceive in 2004.

Because of the cancer excision, she had a shorter cervix. Dr. Shahin

worked with Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist Marc F. Rosenn, MD 

to perform an “abdominal cerclage.” Cerclage involves placing a strong

cervical stitch to help the cervix remain closed during pregnancy,

thereby decreasing the risk of miscarriage. 

Beth was on bed rest for a good part of her pregnancy, but delivered 

her son at almost full term at Abington Hospital. “You just can’t 

imagine the joy,” she recalls fondly. 

Dr. Shahin continued to monitor Beth’s gynecological health. “In women

beyond childbearing years, we would have performed a hysterectomy,

but Beth and her husband hoped to have one more child,” he said.

with all of Beth’s cervical issues,

getting pregnant again was a 

long shot. Dr. Shahin says, 

“By this time, she had developed cervical

stenosis, or a narrowing of the cervix. 

“We were able to go in and dilate the 

cervix and determine that no new 

cancer was present. Once the cervix 

was dilated, she was able to conceive 

a second time.” 

Beth adds, “Dr. Shahin is just wonderful.

He cares so much. Because of his skills

and his willingness to help women like me, 

I was able to add to my family. After all I went 

through, I have it all. We are the proud parents 

of a son, age 11, and a daughter, age six.”

for oNE fAMilY of four,

DREAMS DO COME TRuE.  

For more information about cancer care at Abington – Jefferson Health,

visit Jefferson.edu/AbingtonCancer.

In the summer of 2014, Shannon Hayes, 

a nurse at Abington Hospital, was in the

best shape of her life. After losing her

mother to lung cancer in 2013, Shannon, 45,

had given herself a complete health makeover,

which included changing her diet and joining 

a cardio boxing gym. She’d also scheduled

checkups with her primary care physician, 

gynecologist, dentist, eye doctor and 

dermatologist. There was just one thing she

kept putting off: A mammogram.

In August, she went to the Mary T. Sachs Breast

Center and checked it off her to-do list. She

mentioned a few nagging concerns to the

technician, including an odd firmness around

her right breast and some pain she’d felt while

working out. “I thought I was probably just 

developing muscle,” she says.

Shannon was asked to return for a follow-

up mammogram and ultrasound. “I was 

concerned,” she says. “But I knew many

women who’d been called back, and 

everything turned out fine for them.”

After the tests, however, when she was 

ushered into a consultation room, she knew

things were not fine. She was referred to 

Breast Surgeon James T. Moore, MD, who 

recommended biopsies of three areas.

The biopsies, performed by Radiologist

Lynn Lucas-Fehm, MD, a week later, revealed

invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common

type of breast cancer.

“The diagnosis was unbelievable to me,” 

Shannon says. But as she struggled to absorb 

the news, she realized that an entire team 

was ready to support her through the 

coming ordeal.

A Coordinated Plan

Dr. Moore met with Shannon and her

husband to discuss surgical options.

Shannon elected to have a bilateral

mastectomy with reconstruction, even though

there was no cancer in her left breast. “I didn’t

want to think about ever going through this

again,” she says. She also met with Plastic 

Surgeon Brian R. Buinewicz, MD, who 

explained her options. Reconstruction would

be a two-part process. He would place tissue

expanders at the time of the mastectomy and

replace them with permanent implants a few

months later.

As a mother of three daughters, Shannon 

worried that her diagnosis might indicate an

increased breast cancer risk for them. She 

was tested for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene

mutations with Abington’s genetic counseling

and testing service. “When the results came

back negative, it was the first bright spot I’d

had since the diagnosis,” she says.

The second bright spot came after her 

mastectomy in September, when she learned

that the cancer hadn’t spread to her lymph

nodes. “That was the first question I asked

when I woke up from anesthesia,” she says.

Knowing that she was most likely in the clear

made her recovery a bit easier.’’

Targeted Treatment

In October, she met with Oncologist Mark L.

Sundermeyer, MD, to discuss her ongoing

treatment plan. Because of her relatively

young age and her unaffected lymph nodes,

Dr. Sundermeyer recommended the Oncotype

DX test, a genomic analysis that would help

determine her risk of recurrence and her 

likelihood of benefiting from chemotherapy.

“The Oncotype DX test analyzes a group of

genes in the tumor and assigns a Recurrence

Score of between 0 and 100,” Dr. Sundermeyer

explains. “A score of less than 18 means that

the cancer has a low risk of coming back. It

also means that the benefit of chemotherapy

would not outweigh the side effects and might

even be detrimental.

“In the past, we probably would have 

considered chemotherapy for any breast 

cancer patient,” he adds. “But the Oncotype 

DX test is one of the tools we’re using to 

customize treatment based on the biology 

of the tumor.”

The results were Shannon’s third bright spot:

Her Recurrence Score of 12 meant she could

forego chemotherapy and that her only 

follow-up would be Tamoxifen, a once-a-

day pill that would reduce her chance of 

recurrence. She will continue to follow up 

with Dr. Sundermeyer and will likely be on 

Tamoxifen for at least five years.

Healthy Again

In January 2015 – exactly a year after she

first resolved to get healthy – Shannon 

had her reconstruction surgery with 

Dr. Buinewicz. After that, she worked her way

back into fighting shape. “I’d been exercising

on my own throughout my treatment, but in

April I finally went back to the gym,” she says.

“That was a big step. By June, I was back to

doing military-style pushups.”

Today, she’s also back at work at Abington,

where she’s been a nurse for 20 years. “My 

patients are part of my family,” she says. 

“I loved all my doctors and nurses, and I’m 

very happy to be part of the Abington – 

Jefferson Health team.”

CANCEr CArE

a future anD a family-

HANJANi iNsTiTuTE for GYNEColoGiC oNColoGY

HElPs HorsHAM WoMAN rEAlizE HEr drEAMs

Shannon Hayes

Beth Dougherty with Olivia and Jack

THEir ExPErTisE is CoMPlEMENTEd bY THE bEliEf THAT

gynecologic cancer affects the total woman, ANd TrEATMENT MusT iNCludE CArEful ANd

CoMPAssioNATE ATTENTioN To EMoTioNAl NEEds.

2 3

In its 2016-17 survey, U.S. News &World Report has ranked

Abington Hospital – Jefferson Healthamong the region’s highest

performing hospitals for colon cancer surgery.

JEffErsoN HEAlTH loCATioNs

4 5

Abington, Aria and Jefferson are bringing greater reach to

Jefferson’s transformative model of delivering more value

to patients by providing the right care, at the right place

and the right time. Visit Jefferson.edu for more details,

including services, hours, and phone numbers.

hospitals Abington Hospital – Jefferson Health

1200 Old York Road, Abington

Abington – Lansdale Hospital – Jefferson Health100 Medical Campus Drive, Lansdale

Aria – Bucks County Hospital380 North Oxford Valley Road, Langhorne

Aria – Frankford Hospital4900 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia

Aria – Torresdale Hospital10800 Knights Road, Philadelphia

Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience900 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Methodist Hospital2301 South Broad Street, Philadelphia

Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital3300 Tillman Drive, Bensalem

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia

urgent care centersAbington – Urgent Care – Feasterville

1045 Bustleton Pike, Feasterville

Abington – Urgent Care – Flourtown1820 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown

OPENING DECEMBER 2016 | Abington – Urgent Care – Willow Grove2607 Easton Road, Willow Grove

Aria – Urgent Care – Bensalem2966 Street Road, Bensalem

OPENING FALL 2016 | Aria – Urgent Care – Northern Liberties800 Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia

Aria – Urgent Care – Philadelphia2451 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia

Jefferson Urgent Care – Rittenhouse2021 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

Jefferson Urgent Care – Smylie Times2607 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia

Jefferson Urgent Care – Washington Square700 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Physical therapyAbington – Lansdale Hospital Pearlstine Pavilion, Suite 120, 100 Medical Campus Drive, Lansdale

Abington Health Center – Blue Bell721 Arbor Way, Blue Bell

Abington Health Center – Warminster225 Newtown Road, Warminster

Abington Health Center – Willow GroveWillowood Building, Suite 150, 2510 Maryland Road, Willow Grove

Abington – Jefferson Health Physical Therapy1380 Easton Road, Warrington

Aria – Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness 131 Lincoln Highway, Fairless Hill

Aria – Frankford Hospital Wakeling Medical Building, 5000 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia

Aria – Torresdale Hospital 10800 Knights Road, 2nd floor, Philadelphia

JeffFIT – Center City25 South 9th Street, Philadelphia

JeffFIT – South PhiladelphiaMethodist Hospital, 2301 South Broad Street3rd Floor, Philadelphia

JeffFIT – Navy Yard4050 South 26th Street, Suite 140, Philadelphia

Rehabilitation Services at Artman – The Becoming Center 250 North Bethlehem Pike, Ambler

Abington Health Center – Blue Bell721 Arbor Way, Blue Bell

Abington Health Center – Lower Gwynedd605 N Bethlehem Pike, Lower Gwynedd

Abington Health Center – Montgomeryville1010 Horsham Road, North Wales

Abington Health Center – Warminster225 Newtown Road, Warminster

Abington Health Center – Willow Grove2701 Blair Mill Road, Willow Grove

Aria Health Center – The Annex2451 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia

Aria Health Center – The Professional CourtBustleton Avenue and Verree Road, Philadelphia

Aria – Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness131 Lincoln Highway, Fairless Hills

Jefferson Health – Bala Cynwyd225 East City Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Jefferson Health – Bala Cynwyd401 East City Line Avenue, Bala Cynwyd

Jefferson Health – Burlington811 Sunset Road, Burlington, NJ

Jefferson Health – Navy Yard3 Crescent Drive, Philadelphia

Jefferson Health – Smylie Times2607 Rhawn Street, Suite 403, Philadelphia

Jefferson Health – Turnersville188 Fries Mill Road, Turnersville, NJ

Jefferson Health – Voorhees443 Laurel Oak Road, Voorhees, NJ

Jefferson Health – Washington Square700 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Abington Hospital*

Abington – Lansdale Hospital*

Abington Health Center – Blue Bell*

Abington Health Center – Warminster*

Abington Health Center – Willow Grove*

Aria – Bucks County Hospital*380 North Oxford Valley Road, Langhorne

Aria – Frankford Hospital*4900 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia

Aria – Torresdale Hospital*10800 Knights Road, Philadelphia

Aria Health Center – The Professional Court*Bustleton Avenue and Verree Road, Philadelphia

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (Main Building) 132 South 10th Street, Philadelphia

Thomas Jefferson University Hospital(Gibbon Building) 111 South 11th Street, Philadelphia

Jefferson Health – Medical Office Building*1100 Walnut Street, Philadelphia 3rd Floor - Mammography Screening4th Floor - Diagnostic Mammography

Jefferson Health – Women’s Diagnostic Center*2301 South Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia

Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience900 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Jefferson Radiology Services909 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Methodist Hospital2301 South Broad Street, Philadelphia

*Mammography available

Jefferson health in your communityfor more information about all our locations and services, including physician directories, please visit or call us at:

JeFFerson HeALtH Jefferson.edu | 1-800-JEff-NoW (1-800-533-3669)

Abington – JeFFerson HeALtH Jefferson.edu/Abington | 215-481-MEdi (6334)

AriA – JeFFerson HeALtH Ariahealth.org | 1-877-808-AriA (2742)

radiologic imaging and mammogram locations

Abington Health Center – Blue Bell721 Arbor Way, Blue Bell

Abington Health Center – Lower Gwynedd 605 North Bethlehem Pike, Lower Gwynedd, PA

Abington Health Center – Montgomeryville1010 Horsham Road, Suite 110A, North Wales

Abington Health Center – Warminster225 Newtown Road, Warminster

Abington Health Center – Willow GroveNorthwood Building, 2729 Blair Mill Road, Suite A, Willow Grove

Abington – Jefferson Health Laboratory Services – Rockledge408A Huntingdon Pike, Rockledge

Abington – Jefferson Health Laboratory Services – Warrington1380 Easton Road, Warrington

Abington Urgent Care – Feasterville1045 Bustleton Pike, Feasterville

Abington Urgent Care – Flourtown1820 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown

Aria – Bucks County Hospital380 North Oxford Valley Road, Langhorne

Aria – Frankford Hospital4900 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia

Aria – Torresdale Hospital10800 Knights Road, Philadelphia

Jefferson Outpatient Lab833 Chestnut Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia

Methodist Hospital2301 South Broad Street, 1st Floor, Philadelphia

laboratory testing locationsAbington – Jefferson Health Laboratory Services – Chalfont1500 Horizon Drive, Suite 120, Chalfont

Abington HospitalWidener Building, ground floor, 1200 Old York Road, Abington

Abington – Lansdale Hospital – Lansdale100 Medical Campus Drive Lansdale

Abington – Jefferson Health Laboratory Services – AbingtonLevy Medical Plaza, 1235 Old York Road, Suite G13, Abington (across from Abington Hospital)

Abington – Jefferson Health Laboratory Services – JenkintownRydal Square, 500 Old York Road, Suite 103, Jenkintown

In its 2016-17 survey, U.S.News & World Report has nationally ranked Jefferson among the nation’s Best Hospitalsin 11 adult specialties. Jefferson has also been regionally ranked third in Pennsylvania, second in the Philadelphiametro area, and high performing for seven adult procedures and conditions. Also in its 2016-17 survey, U.S.News& World Report has nationally ranked Abington Hospital – Jefferson Health among the nation’s Best Hospitals inone specialty. Abington has also been regionally ranked fourth in the Philadelphia metro area, and as a high performing hospital for seven procedures and conditions. For more information, visit Jefferson.edu/Abington.

outpatient health centers

TYl: What has changed with the recent

merger of Jefferson and Abington?

dr. barrer: You and your loved ones continue

to have access to experienced medical experts,

who are backed by the most extensive and

advanced neurological resources available.

Our physicians, clinicians and researchers –

specializing in brain and spine disorders –

have joined forces in an unprecedented

collaboration to further advance everything

we do best in neuroscience. For our patients

and their families, that teamwork gives rise

to unparalleled know-how and a highly

personalized treatment plan, close to home.

TYl: How are Jefferson and Abington

collaborating to provide services in

our region?

dr. rosenwasser: I’ve known Steve Barrer for

quite a long time – almost my entire career –

and I’ve always had a great deal of respect for

him and the Abington program. The creation

of the Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for

Neuroscience is synergistic with our

colleagues at Abington. While patients from

the Philadelphia suburbs can continue to

receive the advanced neuroscience care they

have come to expect from Abington, if needed,

they now benefit from seamless access to the

additional high level resources at Jefferson.

dr. barrer: Jefferson and Abington

neurological specialists – neurosurgeons,

neurologists, interventional neurologists,

neurovascular and endovascular surgeons,

neuro-oncologists, neuroscience researchers,

interventional radiologists, psychiatrists, and

physiatrists – all work together to provide the

most comprehensive care in the region.

The diagnosis of a brain or spine disorder may bring uncertainty, confusion and worry to your

world. Whether your neurological condition is relatively mild or complex, Abington and Jefferson

offer the highest level of care throughout the delaware Valley.

Abington and Jefferson experts at the Vickie and Jack farber institute for Neuroscience are working

to expand our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to prevent, treat and cure

such disorders as Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Als), brain tumor, epilepsy,

migraines, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal disorders, stroke and more.

TYl: both Jefferson and Abington are

designated as comprehensive stroke

centers. What does that mean?

dr. barrer: The Jefferson Comprehensive

Stroke Center and Abington Hospital’s

Diamond Stroke Center have each earned

advanced certification as Comprehensive

Stroke Centers from The Joint Commission

and American Heart Association/American

Stroke Association – a distinction currently

received by only seven Pennsylvania hospitals.

This certification positions them among the

most advanced centers in the United States

for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment

and research of stroke. And Abington –

Lansdale Hospital has been certified as a

primary stroke center.

TYl: What is being planned for the

expansion of neuro-oncology services at

Abington’s Asplundh Cancer Pavilion?

dr. barrer: The new, 82,000-square-foot

Asplundh Cancer Pavilion, scheduled to

open in 2018 on the campus of Abington

Health Center – Willow Grove, will feature

comprehensive, leading-edge facilities across

the full spectrum of outpatient cancer care.

At one convenient location, multidisciplinary

teams of vastly experienced professionals –

surgical specialists, oncologists, genetic

counselors, complementary medicine

providers, supportive care staff – will

collaborate to develop a personalized plan

for each patient.

Advanced technology at the Asplundh Cancer

Pavilion will include chemotherapy and

radiation therapy, featuring two new linear

accelerators for radiation oncology and Varian

EdgeTM stereotactic technology (similar to the

Cyber Knife but faster and more flexible).

Patients will also have access to strong clinical

research programs at Abington, as well as

access to the latest therapies and phase 1, 2

and 3 clinical trials through Jefferson’s Sidney

Kimmel Cancer Center, a National Cancer

Institute-Designated Cancer Center.

TYl: How does the eminent research

conducted at Jefferson benefit

Abington patients?

dr. barrer: Basic, translational, and clinical

research is designed to understand

fundamental mechanisms of the normal

and diseased brain. Our specialists translate

that understanding into treatments for

neurodegenerative and other disorders. In

addition, Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience

partners with the National Institutes of Health

and leading pharmaceutical innovators to

develop advanced interventions and drug

treatments for acute and chronic neurologic

conditions. Patients at Abington Hospital

access these same clinical trials, benefiting

from top-tier care, close to home.

bETTEr ANd sTroNGEr ToGETHEr

From the nation’s first brain surgery to 

sophisticated telemedicine systems for

real-time, emergency neuro consultation

with experts, Jefferson and Abington are 

advancing the boundaries of discovery and

treatment. Now, at our Vickie and Jack Farber

Institute for Neuroscience, at both Abington

and Jefferson, we are collaborating as never

before. More brainpower. More breakthroughs.

NEurosCiENCEs

6 7

ouTsTANdiNG TrEATMENT for All NEuroloGiCAl CoNdiTioNs ANd disEAsEs

Jefferson Health and Abington – Jefferson

Health are renowned for unwavering 

dedication to the ongoing research, 

education, and treatment of a myriad of 

neurological diseases and conditions including:

� Als� Alzheimer’s disease� balance and dizziness� brain injury� brain Tumors� Concussion and Head injuries� Epilepsy and seizures � Headache� Movement disorders

(including Parkinson’s disease)� Multiple sclerosis� sleep disorders� spine disease including degenerative disc

disease, deformity, tumors, trauma, infection

and congenital disorders� stroke

Robert H. Rosenwasser, MD and Steven J. Barrer, MD

J e F F e r s o n + A b i n g t o n : P IONE E R S   AT   TH E   FOR E F RONT  O F N Eu RO SC I E NC E

Steven J. Barrer, MD, director, Abington

Neurosciences, a division of the Vickie and

Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience and

Robert H. Rosenwasser, MD, Jewell L.

Osterholm, MD, professor and chair of

the Department of Neurological Surgery

at Thomas Jefferson University and

president, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute

for Neuroscience at Jefferson, outline

what the collaboration of the two programs

means for our community.

For more information, visit Jefferson.edu/AbingtonBrain or Jefferson.edu. If you are looking

for a neurosurgeon, neurologist, or other specialist, call 215-481-MEDI (6334).

For more information about the new Asplundh Cancer Pavilion or to learn how you can

support the project, please visit abingtonhealth.org/campaign.

Asplundh Cancer Pavilion

uring the first few weeks after his 

twin sons were born, on the days 

he couldn’t be at their side, Jason Baker, MD

would grab his mobile phone or log onto his

computer in New York and watch his infants at

Abington Hospital, 90 miles away. For Jason,

and husband Jim Augustine, Abington’s new

NICVIEW Web Camera System provided 

peace of mind and an opportunity to bond 

and feel connected as a family during an 

unexpectedly long separation at the start of

their babies’ lives.

In spring 2016, Eddie and Joey Augustine-

Baker were born 10 weeks prematurely at

Abington Hospital, close to their gestational

carrier’s home. Eddie and Joey spent five 

and one-half weeks in the Special Care 

Nursery (SCN), Abington’s level III neonatal 

intensive care unit. There, specialty trained

physicians and nurses provided the 24-hour,

personalized, loving care the preemies needed

to grow and feed so they could go home.

NiCViEW: feeling close to your baby

when you can’t be together

alancing their professional and 

personal responsibilities, along with 

the stress of the prolonged 

hospitalization of their newborns far 

from home, was challenging for Jason and

Jim. To their delight, just three days after Eddie

and Joey were born, Abington’s SCN launched

its live NICVIEW Web Camera System. From

that moment, they could see their infants any

time, via a secure, online portal.

The SCN’s web camera system is placed at

bedsides to allow authorized parents, families

and friends to view a live video stream from

their mobile devices or personal computers.

The stream can only be accessed by 

authorized users with passwords issued by 

the SCN. The system does not store 

recordings or images of the transmission. 

“One of us was with the boys every day, but if

either of us couldn’t be at the hospital, the

technology made a non-ideal situation much 

more tolerable,” said Jason. “In fact, it brought

joy to our entire family, because we were 

able to share the password with relatives

across the country.”

The SCN staff works closely with parents to

position the cameras and to help them master

the log-in process. “Our family had excellent

care,” said Jason. “As a same-sex, surrogate

couple, we were never treated differently than

any other parents and felt absolutely welcome

at Abington.” 

ddie and Joey went home in June.

Jim reports that the twins are 

thriving and there are no signs of 

complications. “They’re awesome,” 

he said, “and they are even letting us sleep for 

a few hours at a time!” Although they 

appreciated the NICVIEW technology, Jason

and Jim are cherishing the moments they can

sit and rock their babies to sleep in their arms

in their own home. 

But she doesn’t attribute her success to 

the surgery alone. Rather, it’s the consistent

support of Abington Hospital – Jefferson

Health’s Institute for Metabolic and Bariatric

Surgery (IMBS) that has kept her on track for 

all these years.

Peggy started learning about weight loss 

surgery in 2005. “I’d been heavy all my life, 

and I had a lot of medical issues, including Type

2 diabetes and pulmonary hypertension,” she

says. Encouraged by her pulmonologist,

Richard Snyder, MD, she attended a weight 

loss surgery seminar at Abington Hospital

and subsequently met with Bariatric 

Surgeon Fernando Bonanni, Jr., MD, director 

of the IMBS.

“Dr. Bonanni was so professional, and he 

took the time to answer all of my questions,”

she says. Most importantly, he helped her 

understand that the surgery was anything 

but a quick fix, and that she’d have to commit

to a complete lifestyle change before and 

after the procedure.

“The most successful patients are those who

understand that obesity has multiple causes,

and surgery is just one part of the solution,” 

Dr. Bonanni says. “Patients need to take on the

responsibility for maintaining their weight loss,

but they don’t do it alone. At Abington, we’ve

built a community, including physicians, nurses,

nutritionists, and fellow patients, who support

patients for the rest of their lives.”

Peggy prepared for her surgery for more

than a year by attending classes and 

support groups at Abington Hospital.

She also changed her diet and 

exercised. “I worked out even when I

had to take an oxygen tank to the

gym,” she says. By the time she had 

her procedure in November 2008, 

she was fully committed, educated and

ready for her life to change.

And change it did. Today, eight years after 

her surgery, Peggy has dropped from her 

pre-surgery weight of 305 pounds to 178. 

The other changes to her health are just as 

dramatic: She no longer has Type 2 diabetes,

her pulmonary hypertension and acid reflux

symptoms have disappeared, and she takes

very few medications. 

But the changes haven’t come without 

sustained effort on Peggy’s part. She maintains

a strict diet and exercises several times a week,

taking water aerobics classes and walking

everywhere. “I never stop moving, and I feel 

like I have energy to spare,” she says.

A key part of her success is her regular 

attendance at monthly IMBS support group

meetings. “It helps keep me focused,” she says.

It also gives her a chance to encourage 

others, especially people considering weight

loss surgery.

“I know people are fearful about having 

surgery,” she says. “So I tell them, come to the

support groups, and bring your family. Learn

everything you can. Give yourself a chance to

overcome your fears and change your life.”

To sign up for a free information session

about bariatric surgical options, visit

Jefferson.edu/AbingtonBariatrics or

call 215-481-2204.

bArATriCsMATErNiTY

8 9

YEARS AFTER WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY, SUPPORT NEVER STOPS

Parents Watch Over Their Twin Infants in Abington’s NICu

“i NEVEr sToP MoViNG,

ANd i fEEl likE i HAVE

energyTo sPArE”

n i C V i e W W e b C A m e r A s y s t e m L i V e s t r e A m s H o s p i tA L i z e d n e W b o r n s

Peggy Palmer

Jason Baker, MD, and Jim Augustine with Joey and Eddie Augustine-Baker

iN NoVEMbEr 2008, WHEN sHE WAs 60 YEArs old,

PEGGY PAlMEr of WilloW GroVE HAd GAsTriC bYPAss

surGErY. TodAY, sHE is 130 PouNds liGHTEr ANd MuCH

HEAlTHiEr ANd HAPPiEr.

sHE No loNGEr HAs TYPE 2 diAbETEs, HEr PulMoNArY

HYPErTENsioN ANd ACid rEflux sYMPToMs HAVE

disAPPEArEd, ANd sHE TAkEs VErY fEW MEdiCATioNs.

A generous gift from Kevin and Caitlin Johnson,

along with grandparents John and Sue Johnson,

in honor of Brayden and Parker, NICU graduates,

made the purchase of the cameras possible.

A textbook rescue

Aaryn Drinkwater, his BodySTEP instructor, who 

also happens to be a certified registered nurse 

practitioner at Abington Pulmonary and Critical Care

Associates at Abington Hospital, saw him collapse.

“He didn’t fall — he just lowered himself to the floor in

slow motion,” she recalls. Aaryn and Katie rushed to his

side and immediately realized that he had no pulse. 

What followed was a textbook case of how to revive

someone in sudden cardiac arrest. Aaryn and Katie 

immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),

compressing Dennis’s chest and breathing air into his

lungs to keep oxygenated blood flowing throughout his

body. Other class members called 911, alerted the YMCA’s

aquatics director, who had the most knowledge of rescue

techniques, and brought the facility’s automated external

defibrillator (AED). Aaryn then used the AED to apply two

shocks. The first one had no effect, but after the second,

Dennis’s heart started beating on its own. By the time

paramedics arrived, within 15 minutes of his collapse, 

he was conscious and responsive.

“I had no idea what had just happened,” Dennis recalls. 

In the ambulance on his way to Abington Hospital, 

he was shocked to discover that his heart had stopped

with no warning at all. 

the Cause of the Collapse

The problem lay in Dennis’s abnormal aortic heart

valve, located between the left ventricle (the heart’s

main pumping chamber) and the aorta (the largest

artery in the body). The aortic valve normally has

three flaps, or leaflets, that open and close to regulate

blood flow, but Dennis was born with a bicuspid aortic

valve with only two leaflets, a condition estimated to

occur in 0.5% to 2% of the u.S. population. Over time, 

normal blood flow through the heart can cause these

leaflets to stiffen and the valve to narrow. This can cause

symptoms, such as chest pain or fatigue, but in Dennis’s

case, the valve failed suddenly, temporarily cutting off

blood flow and causing his heart to stop beating.

“Dennis’s good health may have actually worked against

him, because he compensated well and had no symptoms

even though his valve was very narrow,” says Abington

Cardiothoracic Surgeon Mauricio Garrido, MD, who took

charge of Dennis’s care and immediately made him feel 

at ease. 

“I knew I’d have to have this surgery someday, and I’d

been scared to face it,” Dennis says. “But Dr. Garrido was

very calm and reassuring. And the entire staff at Abington

was so caring and answered every question I had.”

Dr. Garrido gave Dennis the choice of receiving a 

mechanical artificial valve or an animal tissue valve. Each

has its advantages and disadvantages: Mechanical valves

may last a lifetime, but recipients must take blood 

thinners to protect against clots that may form on the 

surface of the valve. Tissue valves don’t require the use 

of medication but aren’t as durable and may need to be

replaced in 20 years or less. Dennis chose a tissue valve

because he wanted to avoid taking medication. Also, 

according to Dr. Garrido, operative techniques currently 

in development may make a replacement procedure less

invasive than it is today. 

Dr. Garrido replaced the valve during a nearly three-hour

procedure that involved making an incision through the

breastbone and placing Dennis on a heart-lung machine

while he cut away the old valve and replaced it with the

new one. After a four-day hospital stay Dennis went home

and continued his slow but steady recovery. 

better than before

February was a rough month, but by the second week

of March, I was feeling better,” he says. A home care

nurse came by to check on him, and when he had a

question, Dr. Garrido’s staff was a phone call away. 

He slowly started exercising again, easing into walking on

the treadmill. In early April, he went back to work, and later

that month, he was back in Aaryn’s class at the YMCA.

Today, he’s made a full recovery and then some. “I never

realized how much my heart had been slowing me down,” 

Dennis says. “Today my stamina is actually better than it’s

ever been. Sometimes I used to hang back in BodySTEP —

now I’m at the front of the class, going as hard as I can.”

Abington and Jefferson’s cardiac services team is

working together to care for patients wherever they

live in the Delaware Valley. For more information,

visit Jefferson.edu/AbingtonHeart.

HEArT ANd VAsCulAr

10 11

Dennis and Katie Murphy

dennis murphy, 55, thought his heart would warn him.

Fifteen years ago, a routine physical exam revealed that he’d been

born with an abnormal cardiac valve, and he’d been getting regular 

echocardiograms ever since. His cardiologist, Scott Shapiro, MD, 

at Abington Hospital – Jefferson Health, had urged him to 

immediately report any symptoms — shortness of breath, fainting, 

or chest pain — as these could be signs that the valve would need to 

be replaced.

but dennis never felt anything less than healthy. As a Cheltenham Township foreman, he was frequently on the move 

at work, and he exercised vigorously several times a week. On a cold 

January evening in 2016, he and his wife, Katie, a nurse, went to the 

Hatboro YMCA for one of his favorite workouts, a BodySTEP class that 

incorporates high-intensity cardio and resistance training. “I felt great 

that night,” he recalls. “Then, a few minutes into class, I bent over to 

pick up a weight, and suddenly I got extremely dizzy.” And then he 

felt nothing at all.

F ro m s ym p t o m L e s s t o

normal tricuspid aortic valve bicuspid aortic valve

“

In its 2016-17 survey, U.S. News & World Report

has ranked Abington Hospital – Jefferson Health

among the region’s highperforming hospitals for:

•Abdominal AorticAneurysm Repair

•Heart Bypass Surgery

•Heart Failure

sPiNE surGErY

Ronald and his wife, Carolyn, consulted Guy Lee, MD, a Rothman

Institute orthopedic surgeon and spine specialist at Abington

Hospital – Jefferson Health. Dr. Lee diagnosed spinal stenosis, 

a narrowing of the open spaces in the spine that results in increased

pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots. Spinal stenosis is a common

condition that can be caused by osteoarthritis or

gradual degeneration of the spine vertebrae due

to aging. But Dr. Lee detected another issue in

Ronald’s MRI: A fracture that was just beginning

to heal but in the meantime was causing 

excruciating pain and weakness.

Ronald elected to try conservative treatment 

first with an epidural steroid injection in his 

lower back. unfortunately, it didn’t work. Soon

after the injection, he awoke one weekend in so

much pain that he was unable to walk. A few

days later, Ronald and Carolyn saw Dr. Lee at

Abington Hospital. 

In fall 2015, Lynne could barely move without severe neck pain that

radiated down her arm into her fingertips. She had spent years in a

job that required her to tilt her neck to one side, holding a phone 

receiver in place while performing other tasks. Although she used a

shoulder rest to alleviate strain, over time, Lynne developed arthritis,

which eventually led to compression on the nerves in her cervical spine.

“OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, I TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET RELIEF

FROM THE PAIN,”

said Lynne. “I worked with my doctor to try self-care, physical therapy,

medication and steroid injections. Nothing worked anymore.” Lynne

woke up most nights, crying in pain. She could no longer lift her 

grandchildren or her dog. “My doctor ordered a nerve test when I told

her I could hear my shoulder crunching.” After tests revealed nerve 

damage, Lynne’s doctor referred her to Abington Neurosurgeon 

Michael Yoon, MD, who is specialty trained in a new technique. 

Just when she thought she had exhausted 

her options for treatment, Lynne learned 

she was a candidate for a new, minimally 

invasive cervical fusion surgery neurosurgeons 

are performing now at Abington – Jefferson

Health. Lynne was among the first patients at

Abington Hospital to undergo the procedure 

using a new cervical spine technology. 

Previously immobilized by pain, after 

undergoing surgery, Lynne is now pain free.

“I was skeptical about surgery,” said Lynne, “but felt like I had exhausted

all my options and the pain and burning were so severe.” Dr. Yoon 

ordered an MRI, which showed multiple levels of severe degenerative

changes – including a pinched nerve – that affected four vertebrae in

Lynne’s cervical spine. After consideration, Lynne decided to undergo

the minimally invasive fusion technique. 

The technology relieves pressure on the patient’s spinal nerve by 

opening the joint between vertebrae and stabilizing the area with two 

titanium implants and graft material so the nerve is no longer pinched.

The implants facilitate healing and fusion of the joints, providing a more

stable spinal column.

PREVIOUSLY IMMOBILIZED BY PAIN, AFTER UNDERGOING SURGERY,

LYNNE IS NOW PAIN FREE

unlike some other cervical fusion procedures, this technology

does not require the neurosurgeon to remove any bone 

or tissue from the body, does not require extensive muscle 

stripping to expose bone openly, or the placement of rods or screws,”

said Dr. Yoon. The surgical incisions are small, so the patient 

experiences less pain and recovers more quickly with minimal scarring.

Lynne spent just one night in the hospital and was discharged home

with no need for physical therapy. She returned to work full time

just three months after her surgery and remains pain free with no 

restrictions. “Best of all, I can pick up and hold my grandkids, again,” 

she said. 

For information about neurosurgical and orthopaedic surgery options

for spine, call 215-481-MEDI or visit Jefferson.edu/AbingtonBone.

New Cervical Fusion Technique Transforms Churchville Woman’s Life

Lynne Ridgway with Rudy

Ronald Maurer

LAmineCtomy is A LoW-risk proCedure And tHe best option For pAtients Like ronALd,

WHo Are in so muCH pAin tHAt tHey’re unAbLe to WALk

Lynne ridgway, 58, spends 12 to 15 hours most days juggling. A full-time police dispatcher and 911 operator, she simultaneously

answers phone calls, dispatches police officers, fills out paperwork and works on the computer. Lynne never imagined this routine,

along with the aging process, would contribute to a degenerative, painful and disabling cervical (neck) spine disease.

The new facet system is a minimally invasiveapproach to cervical spinal decompression

SURGERY BRINGS RELIEF

ronALd mAurer, 76, HAd neVer FeLt AnytHing quite Like

tHe bACk pAin tHAt gripped Him in ApriL 2016.

“it WAs Like someone WAs stAbbing my tHigHs And

LoWer bACk,” tHe WArminster resident reCALLs.

FROM SEVERE BACK PAIN

“Dr. Lee took one look at me, sitting in a wheelchair, and

said, ‘We’ve got to get you into surgery’,” Ronald recalls.

The next day, Dr. Lee performed a laminectomy, removing

the back part of the affected vertebrae, as well as inflamed

cartilage and ligaments, to create more room within the

spinal canal and relieve pressure on the nerves. He also

fused two of Ronald’s vertebrae to help heal the fracture 

and stabilize his spine.

“Laminectomy is a low-risk procedure and the best option

for patients like Ronald, who are in so much pain that

they’re unable to walk,” Dr. Lee says.

Over the next few months, Ronald

gradually recovered, moving

from the hospital, where he

stayed for four days, to an 

inpatient rehabilitation

facility. (Patients 

who have simple

laminectomies are

often discharged 

the next day.)

About a week after his surgery, he came home and started 

receiving in-home physical therapy. After about six weeks,

he graduated from using a walker to walking with a cane 

and from taking prescription painkillers to an over-the-

counter pain medication.

His pain level has improved tremendously. “I used to struggle

to get out of bed, and now I’m walking for a half-hour every

day and doing chores around the house,” he says. 

“i’m Looking ForWArd to getting

bACk to gArdening, WoodWorking,

And eVen moWing tHe LAWn.”

Ronald’s prognosis is excellent,” Dr. Lee says. 

“With time and rehabilitation, he should be able 

to make close to a full recovery.”

“Dr. Lee was very honest with me and told me that this

wasn’t going to be easy, but already I’d say that my pain is 

80 percent better,” Ronald says. “I give him all the credit –

he’s a great doctor.”

SPINAL STENOSIS A side view shows a damaged intervertebral disc with a lossof disc height and narrowedlumbar vertebrae (top) and a normal disc (bottom)

12 13

spine surgeons At Abington – JeFFerson HeALtH

neurosurgeonsNEUROSURGICAL ASSOCIATES OF ABINGTONSteven J. Barrer, MDJonas J. Gopez, MDDouglas W. Laske, MDMichael S. Yoon, MD

ortHopediC surgeonsROTHMAN INSTITUTEMichael J. Gratch, MDVictor W. Hsu, MDGuy A. Lee, MD

For more inFormAtion,

call 215-481-BONE or visit Jefferson.edu/AbingtonBone.

sPiNE surGErY

TJuH and Abington Hospitalrecognized as leaders in lGbTHealthcare Equality

Thomas Jefferson university Hospital

and Abington Hospital were two of 

a select group of 496 healthcare

facilities nationwide to be named Leaders in

LGBT Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights

Campaign Foundation. Facilities awarded 

this title meet all four criteria – patient and 

employee non-discrimination policies that

specifically mention sexual orientation and

gender identity, a guarantee of equal visitation

for same-sex partners and parents, 

employment non-discrimination, and LGBT

health education for key staff members.

“Many LGBT patients report receiving poor

treatment or experiencing bias in healthcare

settings,” added Sabrina Harris, senior director, 

Diversity and Inclusion. “This designation 

acknowledges that TJuH and Abington 

Hospital are inclusive environments where ALL

patients are treated with dignity and respect.”

For more information about the Healthcare

Equality Index 2016, visit www.hrc.org/hei.

Abington Cancer Center receives National Award

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of

the American College of Surgeons

(ACS) has granted an Outstanding

Achievement Award to The Rosenfeld 

Cancer Center at Abington Hospital, one of 

27 programs nationwide and one of only 

two in Pennsylvania to earn this award two

consecutive times. Abington Hospital has

achieved this award in 2012 and 2015. Award

criteria were based on accreditation surveys

conducted during the second half of 2015.

The award recognizes cancer treatment

programs that strive for excellence in providing

quality care to cancer patients. A facility 

receives this award following an on-site 

evaluation by a physician surveyor during which

the facility demonstrates a Commendation

level of compliance with seven standards that

represent the full scope of the cancer program

and receives a compliance rating for the 

remaining 26 standards.

Visit Jefferson.edu/AbingtonCancer for

more information.

Helping Patients Get liver Evaluations faster at Jefferson

Timing is critical for many liver 

transplant patients who could have 

to endure three to four months of

evaluation and testing before qualifying to be

placed on a donor waitlist. 

New methods to improve access and 

increase efficiency have helped expedite the

evaluation timeline, drastically transforming the

patient experience and making it possible to

receive a transplant sooner. What used to take

three to four months to compile and process

can now be done in one week.

Since the first liver transplant in the

Delaware Valley was performed at Jefferson in

1984, Jefferson’s surgeons have performed

over 1,000 liver transplants. Patients now have

the shortest wait time to liver transplant in the

area as well as patient and graft survival rates

that continue to surpass national and 

regional benchmarks. 

To learn more, visit Jefferson.edu/

LiverTransplant or call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.

New surgery Chair

Orlando C. kirton, Md, has been 

appointed surgeon-in-chief and

chair of the Department of Surgery

at Abington Hospital – Jefferson Health. 

Dr. Kirton is a trauma surgeon with 

qualifications in surgical critical care.

His career has focused on the care of

patients who have experienced 

physical traumatic injury from car 

accidents, assaults and falls resulting in

internal injuries, fractures, cuts, shocks

and burns.

“Dr. Kirton brings an incredible

wealth of skill and knowledge to his new role

at the helm of Abington’s Department of 

Surgery,” said John J. Kelly, MD, EVP, chief

clinical officer, Jefferson and chief of staff,

Abington – Jefferson Health. “We are thrilled

to have him here and excited about what the

future will hold for our surgical program.”

For more information, visit

Jefferson.edu/AbingtonPhysicians.

New Chief, section of Thoracic surgery

Walter J. scott, Md, has been 

appointed chief, Section of 

Thoracic Surgery at Abington –

Jefferson Health. Dr. Scott has dedicated his

surgical career to developing minimally 

invasive surgical treatments for lung

cancer. His expertise includes 

treatment of esophageal and thoracic

cancers. He specializes in lung cancer

staging with PET scanning, minimally

invasive surgery and robotic surgery.

He was named one of Philadelphia’s

Top Doctors in Thoracic Surgery by 

Philadelphia Magazine in 2016. Dr. Scott joins

Abington from Fox Chase Cancer Center.

For more information, call 215-481-6070 or

visit Jefferson.edu/AbingtonPhysicians.

AbiNGToN – lANsdAlE HosPiTAl

14 15

A r o u n d A b i n g t o n – J e F F e r s o n H e A Lt H

Abington – lansdale Hospital is a vital part

of the North Penn Community.

since joining Abington Hospital in 2008, then

merging with Jefferson Health in 2015, we have

expanded our services in many areas and

upgraded our facility.

Everyone at Abington – lansdale Hospital is proud

to care for our community. Visit us at

Jefferson.edu/AbingtonLansdalefor more information.

MORE GOOD NEWS F r o m A b i n g t o n – L A n s d A L e H o s p i t A L

A d m i s s i o n s

e m e r g e n C y V i s i t s

s u r g e r i e s

23,897 27,561F y 1 0 F y 1 6

3,537 4,958F y 1 0 F y 1 6

5,708 7,179F y 1 0 F y 1 6

•

•

•

Abington Health foundationpartners with generous donors and leaders

in our community to ensure that Abington –

Jefferson Health remains a premier provider 

of advanced and compassionate care right

here, close to home. We recently launched

our Reimagine Cancer Care Campaign to

build the new Asplundh Cancer Pavilion on

our Willow Grove campus. 

To learn more about this exciting project

that will transform the way cancer care

is delivered at Abington, please visit

abingtonhealth.org/campaign, or call

215-481-GIFT for more information.

AbiNGToN HosPiTAl – JEffErsoN HEAlTH

Nationally ranked for Ear, Nose and ThroatHigh performing in 7 procedures/conditions

Heart bypass surgery | Hip replacement | knee replacement | Chronic obstructive Pulmonary diseaseCongestive Heart failure | Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm repair | Colon Cancer surgery

215-481-medi (6334) | Jefferson.edu/Abington

FALL 2016

Published by the Public Relations and Marketing Department at Abington – Jefferson Health.

To contact us:publicrelations@abingtonhealth.org

or 215-481-2300.

1200 Old York Road | Abington, PA 19001

Jefferson.edu/Abington

NON PROFIT ORGu.S. POSTAGE

p A i dSOuTHEASTERN, PAPERMIT #8099

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