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Feature Story . 2

Aerospace Medicine:Training Physicians to Safeguard HumanHealth in Space

Education ................................................................................6

Selectives: Enriching Student Experiences

Research................................................................................. 8

New Cell Line Holds Promisefor Allergy Sufferers

Service .................................................................................. 10

Volunteers Meet a Community Need

Community .............................................................................. 12

Graduate Medical Education: Change, Complexity, and Unity

Profiles .................................................................................. 14

Advancement ............................................................................. 16

Of Primary Interest ..................................................................... 18

New Faces .............................................................................. 20

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Aerospace Medicine: Training Physicians to

Safeguard Human Health in Spaceby Mark Willis

A view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis connected to Russia’sMir space station (above); Gaylen Johnson, M.D., NASAflight surgeon and WSU aersopace medicine graduate (’93)(right).

During her record-settingjourney aboard theRussian space station Mir ,

NASA astronaut Shannon Lucidgained a unique perspective onEarth’s changing seasons. Whenher space mission began in March1996, she saw frozen lakes andendless snow across the planet’sfar north. Before she left earth-orbit 188 days later, lakes thawed,snow melted, and once-barrenexpanses of the planet’s surfaceturned to verdant green.

Gaylen Johnson, M.D. (’93),had a more limited, but no lessunique, perspective. The NASAflight surgeon spent the durationof Shannon Lucid’s mission at theKorolev Flight Control Centernear Moscow. He and NASAoperations leader Bill Gerstenmierstaffed the Korolev communica-tion console that provided a directvoice link with the astronautorbiting 240 miles above the earth.They maintained Shannon Lucid’slifeline to the world below.

“They were my only contactwith the ground, and they did anabsolutely super job of keepingme steered in the right direction,”Lucid told an interviewer forAviation Week and SpaceTechnology. “The three of us werelike the Three Musketeers.”

Dr. Gaylen Johnson wastrained in aerospace medicine atWright State University School ofMedicine. Wright State operatesthe world’s only civilian residencyprogram in this specialty, whichcovers all aspects of medicinerelated to air and space travel.

Since 1978 Wright State’sAerospace Medicine Program hasprovided NASA with a steadysupply of flight surgeons likeGaylen Johnson, and it has alsotrained the medical leadership fornascent space programs in a dozenother nations.

“They were my only contact

with the ground, and they

did an absolutely super job

of keeping me steered in the

right direction.”

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A Flight Surgeon’s

Duties

NASA flight surgeons aretrained to perform multiple dutiesin support of a space mission,according to Stanley Mohler,M.D., director of Wright State’sAerospace Medicine Program.“Flight surgeons serve as primarycare physicians for the astronautsand their families on the ground.They develop close workingrelationships with the astronauts,”Dr. Mohler explains.

When an astronaut crew isselected for a space mission, aNASA flight surgeon isdesignated as crew surgeon for themission. The crew surgeoncertifies astronauts for flightreadiness and trains them in thehealth and safety aspects of themission. An integral member ofNASA’s Mission Control team,the crew surgeon participates inall aspects of the mission’splanning and preparation,including flight simulations.

“NASA flight surgeonsdevelop an intimate knowledge ofthe mission’s crew and its payloadof scientific experiments,” Dr.Mohler says. “In orbit, the spaceshuttle becomes a very specializedworkplace, and not only becauseof the microgravity environment.The experiments sometimesinclude hazardous materials.Flight surgeons and astronautsneed a thorough knowledge ofaccident prevention and treatmentprocedures.”

With its emphasis onpreventive medicine in the workenvironment, aerospace medicineis closely related to the specialtyof occupational medicine. Bothspecialties are certified by theAmerican Board of PreventiveMedicine.

At launch time, the crewsurgeon is deployed in a mobilemedical unit at Kennedy SpaceCenter in Florida, prepared tohandle an emergency on thelaunch pad. Returning to JohnsonSpace Center in Houston after lift-off, the crew surgeon and twodeputy crew surgeons support themission around the clock onrotating shifts. During long hoursat the surgeon console in MissionControl, they pay close attentionto all communication with theastronauts. If the mission goes asplanned, the crew surgeons don’thave much to do. But they’reprepared to respond immediatelyif something doesn’t go right.

NASA policy requires aprivate medical conferencebetween crew and crew surgeonbefore unscheduled EVA’s (extra-vehicular activities, or spacewalks) or early landings areundertaken. Private medicalconferences are scheduled

routinely every day of a shuttlemission just in case there are issuesto discuss. Most minor medicalproblems are handled by astronautstrained as crew medical officers.

At mission’s end, the crewsurgeon travels to NASA’s landingsite in Florida or California toconduct a medical examinationimmediately after the astronautsreturn to earth. The crew surgeoncontinues to perform medicalevaluations after the mission iscompleted to monitor the long-term effects of life in orbit.

“Thorough planning andpreparation make the mission.Most of the work takes placebefore the spacecraft ever leavesthe ground. As a result, the flightsurgeon’s job appears prettyroutine — and that’s the way alllike it,” Dr. Mohler says.“Throughout the mission, the flightsurgeon is an advocate for theastronauts, for their safety andhealth.”

Stanley Mohler, M.D., director of the Division of AerospaceMedicine and professor of community health (left);

Cosmonaut Vladimar Dezhurov, Mir 18 missioncommander, gets his blood pressure taken by Dr. Michael

Barratt (’91), flight surgeon and Wright State aerospacemedicine graduate.

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International

Collaboration

During Shannon Lucid’s3,000-orbit mission aboard Mir ,Dr. Gaylen Johnson’s dutiesfollowed standard NASAprocedures for a flight surgeon —with one significant exception.Most of his work, totalling morethan nine months, took place inRussia.

“It was pretty different fromHouston,” he says. “At first therewas all the snow, and I noticed thedifferent military uniformseverywhere. This type ofcollaboration with the Russianspace program would have beenunthinkable at the height of theCold War.”

Shannon Lucid’s training inRussia began a year before shewas launched into space. Inaddition to Russian languagelessons, she had to learn theoperational systems of the Mirand Soyuz spacecraft. And Dr.Johnson needed to understand thedetails of Russian aerospacemedicine procedures.

During the mission, Lucidhad regularly scheduledcommunication sessions twice aday with her NASA support teamin Russia. The NASA operationsleader took one call; Dr. Johnsonhandled the other. Instead ofmedical consultation, however,much of the talk focused on thescientific research Lucidconducted aboard Mir .

“From an American point

of view, we gained a lot

of valuable information

“We also learned a lot aboutthe psychological support ofastronauts living in space,” headds. “Maintaining a sense ofcontinuity with life on theground, especially regular andreliable contact with families, isvery important.”

When Shannon Lucid’sreturn space shuttle landed atKennedy Space Center, GaylenJohnson was there for a check-upon the medical effects of herspace odyssey. “It was reallygood to see her,” he says. “Shelooked great, and she walked offthe shuttle without a hitch. I haveno doubt that she could fly inspace again if she wanted to.”

Dave Ward, M.D. (’92), oversees Mir 18 crewmember Strekalov practicing anemergency medical procedure during training at Johnson Space Center.

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Eran Schenker, M.D., Wright State UniversityAerospace Medicine principal investigator of space

shuttle Columbia experiment.

International Effort Launches Wright State

Experiment

A life sciences experiment designed by a Wright State physicianwas carried into orbit last November aboard the space shuttleColumbia (mission STS-80). Eran Schenker, M.D., an Israeligraduate student participating in Wright State’s Aerospace MedicineProgram, devised the experiment to determine if mice embryo cellscan develop normally in microgravity conditions in space. Theexperimental payload contained 2-cell and 8-cell mice embryos thatcontinued to grow in culture media throughout the space flight. AfterColumbia landed on December 7, the experimental embryos werecompared with similar ones grown at the same time on earth.

“Final results should give us a better understanding of some basicprinciples of early embryo development and may provide insight intothe possibilities of human reproduction in space,” Dr. Schenker says.

Dr. Schenker devised the experiment with a Canadian colleaguewhom he met last August at the International Space University inAustria. Their experiment won a research competition sponsored byITA, Inc., a U.S. research firm that paid for the experiment’s payloadslot and space hardware. The experiment was readied for launch inless than three months with timely support from the Israel SpaceAgency and the Canada Space Agency.

“Today we recognize

how we have to work

together if we’re going

to continue to progress,

to live and work and

learn in space.”

Dr. Johnson’s experience inRussia attests to the growingemphasis on internationalcollaboration in spaceexploration and research,according to Dr. Mohler. “In thebeginning the ‘space race’ meantinternational competition,” hesays. “Today we recognize howwe have to work together if we’regoing to continue to progress, tolive and work and learn inspace.”

As international spacemissions grow longer and moreambitious in the next century,Wright State has a uniqueperspective, too, on the future ofhuman life and health in space.

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Selectives: Enriching Student Experiencesby Mary Lou Graham

I think the wide variety of experiences I had during this selective provided the

energy to return to school withrenewed vigor.” Kelly Allen’senthusiastic critique of theselectives program offered atWright State University School ofMedicine says it all.

A unique and integral featureof the curriculum, the selectivesprogram provides severalopportunities during the first twoyears for students to supplementthe required curriculum withselectives. These selectives, ormini-courses, consist of severaltwo-week-long, in-deptheducational experiences. As analternative to the two-weekimmersion encounters, studentsmay participate in longer in-depthexperiences for six or eight weeksin the summer.

The faculty have compiled acatalog of more than 50 selectivesfor the students to choose from,including basic science researchopportunities, early exposure toclinical medicine, andopportunities to expandknowledge of the health caredelivery system. Although most

students choose selectives offeredby our faculty, students can designan experience that fits a particularinterest locally or nationally.

Three second-year studentsrecount the excitement andstimulation these supplementalcourses foster in theirundergraduate education.

Michael J. Smolak spent thesummer between his first andsecond years in a Cleveland ClinicFoundation Medical StudentSummer Fellowship Program,which provides medical studentswith a top-notch educational andresearch experience. Michaelrelated, “The purpose of thissummer fellowship is to enableparticipants to become acquaintedwith the Cleveland ClinicFoundation, to perform first-rate

research, to establish professionalcontacts, and to further theirmedical training.” Michaelcompleted a study, “Use ofClinical Features to PredictResponse to Oral Sumatriptan inMigraine,” and presented hisfindings in a poster presentation atthe Second Annual StudentResearch Day program.

On a more personal level,Mike recognized, “Although theprimary purpose of this fellowshipwas to conduct a clinical study,other learning experiences wereprovided. I have become familiarwith patient medical charts, drugnames and uses, and haveincreased my medical vocabulary.I also gained insight as to whichfield of practice may be mostsuitable for my personality. . .shifting my interest toward theprimary care field with anincreased interest in clinicalresearch.”

Kara Levri participated in aselective directed by William A.Spohn, M.D., associate clinicalprofessor of pediatrics, and sharesher experience. “Upon completionof my first year of medical school,I found myself in the best of both

“I think the wide variety of

experiences I had during this

selective provided the energy to

return to school with renewed

vigor.”

— Kelly Allen, Year II Medical Student

“I also gained insight as to which

field of practice may be most

suitable for my personality . . .

shifting my interest toward the

primary care field with an

increased interest in clinical

research.”

— Michael Smolak, Year II Medical Student

“

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worlds for a budding physician —fulfilling a selective at a fun-filled, activity-packed camp foryoung patients with cystic fibrosis(CF).

“The first part of the selectiveconsisted of a ‘crash course’ incystic fibrosis at Children’sMedical Center in Dayton. Thedays proved dynamic as weinteracted with the many membersof the CF team — social workers,dietitians, physicians, nurses,respiratory therapists, andpharmacists. Cystic fibrosis is anexocrine gland disorder due to agenetic defect that disrupts thedigestive function of the pancreas,respiratory function of the lungs,and all other exocrine glands ofthe body.

“A fellow student and Isimulated CF patients, performingrespiratory therapy procedures oneach other and tasting all thenutritive supplements (some moreenjoyable than others). Inaddition, we reviewed thepharmaceutical regimen for thesepatients and observed the work ofthe pulmonologists. At thecompletion of our hospitalrendezvous, we felt confident inour clinical knowledge of thedisease and competent to expandthat knowledge in the best waypossible — to live it!

“Five young rompers, agingfrom six to eight, became myfamily for the next five days. Fullof energy and imagination, wehiked ‘The Hilly 500,’ hunted forfossils, swam until our skin was‘pruny,’ slid down into the

mudpit, participated in thetraditional CF camp water balloonfight and even the 6:00 A.M. polarbear swim. In between the manyescapades, I helped the CF teammonitor the girls’ dietary intake,ensure they took their enzymeswith every meal, drank plenty ofwater, wore lots of sunscreen,gave meds and nebulizertreatments, and percussed theirchests to unclog their damagedlittle lungs.”

In addition to gaining a greatdeal of insight into understandingand coping with chronic disease inchildren, Kara learned to value themultidisciplinary team approachin providing health care topatients.

Kelly Allen took advantage ofthe summer program to addressher interests in working with themedically underserved. In herstudent-initiated selective, Kellydesigned a program to “assess theprotocols in treatment of asthmaat the Family Care Health Centersin St. Louis, MO.” Her projectwas a part of the National HealthService Corps Health PromotionDisease Prevention Project thatdelivers primary care to

“I found myself in the best of

both worlds for a budding

physician — fulfilling a selective

at a fun-filled, activity-packed

camp for young patients with

cystic fibrosis.”

— Kara Levri, Year II Medical Student

traditionally underservedcommunities.

Kelly profiled her experiencevery eloquently. “I think I gainedmuch more from this project thaninsight on asthma alone. First, Ilearned what it means to serve amedically underservedcommunity. The patients forwhom I worked all had verylimited health care options. Thismade the delivery of their careincredibly difficult, but incrediblyrewarding when it is achieved.Second, I realized the opportunitythat a family practice specialtyholds for my future. Before thisselective, I was sure that familypractice was not in my future.Afterwards, I see the opportunityfor me to have a career that variesin its daily duties as well as thepotential it has for my family life.Finally, I was recharged about thepractice of medicine. After myfirst year in school I wasexhausted.” Now, Kelly says, sheis excited about continuing.

Excitement, insight, and newperspectives are the embodimentof the philosphy of theselectives program and thereasons for its success.

Education

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New Cell Line Holds Promise for

Allergy Sufferersby Michelle Whitley Turner

I f you swell, sneeze, and wheeze thanks to allergies, there is hope in the work of

two faculty researchers at theDayton Veterans Affairs MedicalCenter (VAMC). Cassandra C.Paul, Ph.D., associate professor ofmedicine and a research healthscientist, and Michael Baumann,M.D., professor of medicine andassociate chief of staff forresearch and development, haveestablished a continuous cell line

that acts like a rare, delicate typeof white blood cell called aneosinophil, the cell responsible formany of the symptoms of allergicreactions.

Dr. Paul explains, “Basically,cell lines are clones so that after along enough time, they are verywell defined and you can proceedunder the assumption that everydaughter of the cell line is thesame.” Cell lines originate frommalignant cells, which may grow

essentially forever in culture; thefinite life spans of normal cellslimit their use.

Drs. Baumann and Paul havedone what researchers havestruggled to do for decades. Whileother blood cell lines have beenestablished, Drs. Paul’s andBaumann’s new cell line, AML14.3D10, is the only one in theworld that demonstrates most ofthe characteristics of normaleosinophils. Before AML14.3D10, scientists had tolaboriously purify a few short-lived eosinphils from liters ofblood to acquire enough of thecells to study. Acting as a “standin” for eosinophils, the new cellline grows easily to huge numbersin a common medium and “justkeeps going and going.”

Dr. Baumann observes thatthe development of this cell linewas “largely luck, being in theright place at the right time andDr. Paul’s skill in tissue culture.”Although they established the cellline more than three years ago, Dr.Baumann notes, “Once it becameapparent what we had, it took twoyears of hard work to prove thatthis cell line does whateosinophils are supposed to do.”

Because eosinophils mediateallergic reactions, new allergytreatments might focus ondeactivating these troublemakers.When the pharmaceutical industryand academic scientists learnedabout the cell line after a fewpublications, presentations, and alot of word of mouth, theresearchers were besieged with

Drs. Michael Baumann and Cassandra Paul atwork in their laboratory.

“Basically, cell lines are clones so that . . . you can

proceed under the assumption that every daughter of the

cell line is the same.”

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requests. In keeping with theacademic code of conduct to shareinformation, Drs. Baumann andPaul donated the cell line toacademic scientists although thatmeant relinquishing sole access tothe line and perhaps competingwith other scientists on researchon AML 14.3D10.

The pharmaceuticalcompanies’ requests poseddifferent problems. As Dr.Baumann says, “We’re scientists,not salesmen.” Once the VA gavethem ownership of the cell line,they could have sold it topharmaceutical companies andkept the profits. However, conflictof interest would have preventedDrs. Paul and Baumann fromcontinuing their work at theVAMC, and they chose to transferownership of the cell line toWright State. The doctors arecurrently distributing the cell linethrough Wright State, allowingacademic scientists to use the lineat no cost and licensing the line toindustry. License fees from thecell line, minus universityexpenses, support their research.

Drs. Paul and Baumanncontinue to use their cell line intheir research studies. As ahematologist, Dr. Baumann isinterested in the process of lineagecommitment — what makes a cellbecome what it does, especially“what makes a baby white bloodcell decide to grow up andbecome an eosinophil,” and whatregulates the expression of lineage-specific genes during thisprocess. Since the cell line

“Once it became apparent what we had, it took two

years of hard work to prove that this cell line does what

eosinophils are supposed to do.”

Drs. Baumann and Paul examininga flask of the cell line.

originated from leukemia cells, italso holds promise fordetermining some causes ofleukemia. Dr. Paul’s interest inthe cell line is more thanacademic; as an allergy sufferer,she finds extra motivation in herwork. Dr. Paul believes that AML14.3D10 “will be a valuable toolin allergy research” and hopes thatindustry will find more effectivetreatments to relieve her allergysymptoms and those of others.

A proposal for a majornational symposium devoted justto this cell line is beingconsidered; if approved, industryresearchers and academicscientists will come together toshare their knowledge aboutWright State’s cell line, AML14.3D10. As a result of thistechnology transfer, allergysufferers and leukemiapatients may be the biggestbeneficiaries of all.

Research

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Volunteers Meet a Community Needby Mark Willis

The waiting room wasalready full on a recentwinter evening when

Wright State medical studentArdis Martin, Year II, began totake patient histories. If any morepeople came in for the freemedical care provided by ReachOut of Montgomery County, theymight have to be turned away.

Martin knew that most of thepeople waiting to see the doctorfaced a common problem forworking poor people. They hadjobs but no health insurance, andthey didn’t make enough moneyto pay for health care. After sixmonths of service as a Reach Outvolunteer, she also knew thatmany of them had no where elseto turn and no one else to talk toabout their problems.

“You have to let them talk,

but you also have to get therelevant information,” Martinsays. “It helps you hone yourclinical history taking skills.”

Martin and 20 of her WrightState classmates volunteerregularly at Reach Out clinics.The experience gives them anopportunity to use knowledge andskills learned in medical school“where it’s needed the most.” Sheadds, “It gives you a goodperspective about what you’restudying for, about why you wantto be a doctor.”

Reach Out of MontgomeryCounty is a nonprofit organizationthat provides free health care tounderserved people in the Daytonarea. It is a collaboration betweenthe Montgomery County MedicalSociety, the Combined HealthDistrict of Montgomery County,

Wright State University School ofMedicine, and numerouscommunity groups andorganizations. Reach Out waslaunched in 1994 with a grantfrom the Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation. The grant supportedthe development of ademonstration model forproviding free health care usingvolunteer physicians and otherhealth care professionals.

Reach Out operates eveningclinics once a week at the EastDayton Health Center and theCharles R. Drew Health Center inWest Dayton. In its first 20months of clinical services(completed November 1, 1996),Reach Out provided free medicalcare for 1,048 patient visits.Reach Out volunteers include 65local physicians, 40 nurses, 3social workers, and 66 othersupport volunteers.

To make the most effectiveuse of volunteer efforts, ReachOut recently conducted a detailedstudy of Montgomery County’sunderserved population and thebarriers that limit their access tohealth care. The Reach Out studyis the first of its kind to surveyworking poor people at thecommunity level. Conducted byReach Out and the Center forUrban and Public Affairs (CUPA)at Wright State University, thestudy used a door-to-door surveyof 413 working-age adults andtheir families.

The study found that 27percent of the poor inMontgomery County, about

Ardis Martin, Year II, takes a patient history duringReach Out’s clinical hours.

“It gives you a good perspective about what you’re

studying for, about why you want to be a doctor.”

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“The success of the Reach Out

program attests to the concern and

outstanding goodwill of the volunteers

in our community.”

Syed Ahmed, M.D., and Robbie Stone, R.N., Reach Out’sproject coordinator, go over patient files (left); Dr. Ahmed

and Ms. Stone with a few volunteer staff, includingcommunity health advocates, social worker, nurse

practitioner, and medical students (right).

26,250 people, work full-time.More than half (51.3 percent) ofthe county’s poor families includea worker, and 41 percent include afull-time worker. About 20,600adults of working age inMontgomery County are poor anddo not have health insurance,according to the study. Theworking poor are more likely tobe without health insurance (44percent) than the nonworking poor(18 percent). Less than 15 percentof poor families with employer-sponsored health insurance havecoverage for every familymember.

The Reach Out studyidentified six types of barriers thatlimit health care access for poorpeople in Montgomery County.Over 80 percent of the poor faceat least one of these barriers, and

59 percent face more than onebarrier.• Inability to pay. 63 percent had

difficulty paying for medicalcare, even with insurance; 44percent (36 percent of thosewith health insurance) avoidedgetting needed medical carebecause they were worriedabout the cost.

• Lack of information. 90percent did not have anyknowledge of special medicalservices with reduced or waivedcosts for the poor.

• Child care. 38 percent of poorparents said lack of child carewas a barrier to obtaining healthcare.

• Time off work. 31 percent ofthe working poor had difficultytaking time off work to getmedical care.

• Transportation. 31 percent saidthat lack of transportation was abarrier to obtaining health care.

• Negative past experiences. 19percent said negative pastexperiences in the health caresystem discouraged them fromseeking needed medical care.

“Overcoming the barriers thatlimit access to health care is not assimple as having a job, healthinsurance, or free medical care,”says Syed Ahmed, M.D., ReachOut project director and assistantprofessor of family medicine atWright State. “This study shows usspecific problems in MontgomeryCounty so we can begin to look forsolutions that will work here. Thesuccess of the Reach Out programattests to the concern andoutstanding goodwill of thevolunteers in our community.”

Service

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Graduate Medical Education:

Change, Complexity, and Unityby Deborah Vetter

Emma Wilson, recuperatingin the hospital aftersuffering a heart attack,

suddenly experiences severe chestpain. Within minutes, a residentphysician is at her bedside.Residents of Wright StateUniversity School of Medicine(WSUSOM) programs in Daytonhave historically provided around-the-clock, on-site medical coveragefor patients like Emma Wilson.

After 6:00 P.M., many patientsin Dayton hospitals are seen byresident physicians. Residents,under the supervision of facultyphysicians, also care for specialpatient groups such as theuninsured, underinsured, andMedicaid patients. “Residentphysicians contribute significantlyto the health care of the Daytoncommunity,” states Joseph Krella,president of the Greater DaytonArea Hospital Association.

In Dayton, residents are trainedthrough graduate medicaleducation programs sponsored byWSUSOM and its affiliatehospitals. Graduate medicaleducation is the physician’straining after medical school tobecome certified in a practicespecialty.

WSUSOM and its affiliatehospitals are collaborating topreserve the quality of Dayton’sgraduate medical education andhealth care system. Building on ahistory of trust, WSUSOM andseven local teaching hospitals —Children’s Medical Center,Franciscan Medical Center, GoodSamaritan Hospital and Health

Center, Kettering Medical Center,Miami Valley Hospital, VeteransAffairs Medical Center, andWright-Patterson Medical Center— formed the Dayton AreaGraduate Medical EducationConsortium (DAGMEC).DAGMEC, a trailblazer, is theonly allopathic graduate medicaleducation consortium in Ohio andone of fewer than 40 in the nation.

To respond to proposedchanges in the nation’s health caresystem, DAGMEC has establishedmultidisciplinary working groupswith approximately 150 volunteersrepresenting residency programs,medical staffs, hospitaladministrations, and thecommunity. These groups areinvestigating ways to position itsmembers for changes in healthcare and medical education, toaddress the complex challenges ofgraduate medical education, and tocreate a spirit of unity.

Position for Change

Recent changes in the healthcare system are directly affectinggraduate medical education. Forexample, graduate medicaleducation is being conducted morefrequently in ambulatory settingsrather than in-patient settings.

Medical technology, too, ischanging medicine. Newtechnology provides residents withvaluable learning tools as well as aresource for practicing medicine.“To prepare outstandingphysicians for the 21st centurythey must be trained by creative

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DAGMEC Goals

• Establish and maintain thehighest standards formedical education andrelated research;

• Promote cooperation andcollaboration among theDAGMEC members andtheir programs;

• Assure a firm financial basefor managing graduatemedical education activities;

• Anticipate legislativeinitiatives affecting graduatemedical education,appropriately revisingDAGMEC’s strategic planto ensure that graduatemedical education continuesto grow and remains viable.

faculty in appropriate medicalenvironments using currentinnovations in medical andeducational technology,” saysHoward Part, M.D., associate deanfor faculty and clinical affairs.

Address Complexity

In Dayton, local residencyprograms are administered byindividual institutions withdifferent roles and training sitesfor residents. Residents train inhospitals, offices of privatepractice, clinics, and communityhealth care centers; therefore,coordinating residency programsinvolves negotiating contractsbetween institutions and trackingeach resident’s location andactivities. For a resident to becomecertified, residency programadministrators must coordinate anddocument the instruction,supervision, and evaluation ofeach resident. DAGMEC isplanning an information system totrack residents’ clinical activity,skill evaluation, and communityinvolvement. Carefuldocumentation will maximizeresources available from externalsources that fund graduateeducation, allowing DAGMEC tocreate model training programsthat better fit the new health careenvironment.

Create a Spirit of Unity

Through DAGMEC,individual institutions willimprove communication between

and among its members bysharing resources, personnel, andprograms. In the past, individualmembers of the consortium haverecruited their residentsindependently. DAGMEC hasbegun efforts to create andmanage a common system tosupport recruiting residents. Byunifying efforts, the focusbecomes the enhancement ofrecruitment and retention ofresidents.

“DAGMEC’s efforts

will strengthen Dayton’s

health care delivery

system.”

One of DAGMEC’s majorcontributions is buildingrelationships. “By bringing thestrengths of many institutionstogether to form a system that issynergistic, the consortium willposition Dayton to competenationally to attract the best andbrightest medical students to aninnovative educational milieu,”says Al Painter, Psy.D., chair ofDAGMEC’s OperationsCommittee responsible for theongoing management of theconsortium. “DAGMEC’s effortswill strengthen Dayton’s healthcare delivery system,” explainsDr. Painter. “BecauseDAGMEC’s partners arecommitted to improving thequality of graduate medicaleducation and patient care, thereal winners are the patients.”

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRSMedical Center

Community

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Did you receive a call froma medical student askingfor a gift to the School of

Medicine? Student volunteerscalled hundreds of alumni duringthe school’s annual phonathonheld the week of February 3. Thephonathon is only a part of theoverall Annual Alumni Appealprogram chaired for the first timethis year by an alumnus of theSchool of Medicine — Dr. JamesAugustine, M.D. (’83).

A great supporter of theSchool of Medicine, Dr.Augustine enjoys talking to otheralumni about the school’s currentand future programs. “I chose toattend Wright State’s medicalschool because of the community-based training,” says Dr.Augustine. “Wright Stateproduces high-quality clinicalphysicians. Learning in acommunity-based setting allowsstudents to understand multipleapproaches to clinical problems. Istrongly believe there continues to

be a real need for the type ofphysician produced at WrightState.” He has remained involvedwith the school over the years, notonly through his association as analumnus, but as an associateclinical professor.

Dr. Augustine chairs MiamiValley Hospital’s Department ofEmergency Medicine and isassociate director of the hospital’sEmergency and Trauma Center.As a medical student, Dr.Augustine planned to specialize inpediatrics, but during his thirdyear, a gentleman knocked at hisdoor recruiting volunteer firefighters. Because of his interest incommunity service, he decided togive it a try. “After six months Ibecame hooked on emergencymedicine and became a certifiedfire fighter and emergencymedical technician,” explains Dr.Augustine. He completed hisresidency in Wright State’semergency medicine program andcontinues to serve as a volunteerfire fighter and consultant toseveral area rescue units.

Realizing the high burnoutrate of emergency medicinephysicians, Dr. Augustine helpedfound Premier Health CareServices and now serves as thecompany’s CEO. Premier is amultispecialty physician practicegroup established originally tostaff the emergency department atUpper Valley Medical Center.Since its conception, Premier hasgrown to a staff of nearly 150

James Augustine, M.D.

health care professionals andoffers physicians a variety ofexperiences. Premier placesphysicians in settings that includeurgent care and corporateoccupational services. Dr.Augustine describes Premier as amultiprofessional group of peopletrying to design a health caresystem that is patient friendly,efficient, and cost effective. Hebelieves that with the changes inthe health care field and managedcare, physicians must work moreclosely to deliver services undercapitated arrangements.

A love of emergencymedicine is a family affair in theAugustine household. As a nurseon CareFlight for 10 years, hiswife Linda understands thestresses of the job. Both parentsinvolve their children, Jill, Josh,and Jenna, in their professionallives, but they also find time for afamily game of street hockey.

According to Dr. Augustine, agood physician should showcompassion, solve medicalproblems, reduce pain, and helpthe whole person. “My veryfavorite thing is deliveringmedical care that exceeds thepatient’s expectations,” explainsDr. Augustine. “I love being adoctor and feel lucky that I canmake a difference in people’slives.”

— Cynthia Butler

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Jan Austin, M.A.

H ow interesting it is to watch a promising student employee

progress from a part-timetemporary position to a key role ina major department within theSchool of Medicine. It isespecially exciting if theemployee has adapted to each newchallenge with the efficiency of aseasoned professional.

That’s just what happened toJan Austin, director of theDepartment of Surgery. She beganher tenure with Wright StateUniversity as a student employeein the History Department in theCollege of Liberal Arts in 1978.After graduation in 1981, Ms.Austin began working parttime inthe School of Medicine, halftimein the office of the businessmanager, and halftime in the wordprocessing center. In 1982 sheaccepted the position of studentcurriculum coordinator in theDepartment of Surgery. Later, asadministrative assistant, Ms.Austin watched the Department ofSurgery grow from three full-timefaculty to its current size of eightfull-time faculty and 193volunteer faculty.

Development of the facultyhas always been a priority withinthe department, and coordinationof the effort has been part of Ms.Austin’s role since the beginning.Currently, she manages two orthree annual continuing medicaleducation programs for thedepartment, including a major

annual course held eachSeptember at Sinclair CommunityCollege. The major course of1996, Endocrine Surgery,attracted 150 Wright State Schoolof Medicine faculty and cliniciansfrom area hospitals. She is alreadyhard at work planning a course onbreast surgery, which is scheduledfor the fall of 1997.

Ms. Austin managesdepartmental resources thatinclude School of Medicine,hospital, and state funds, as wellas department personnel, and isproud of her involvement in adepartment that has gainednational recognition as a leader insurgical education.

She notes that several facultyhave mentored her andencouraged her to stretch to do herbest: “Dr. Margaret Dunn hasbeen a colleague, a friend, amentor who is always willing tolisten to my concerns andencourage my efforts.” Ms. Austincredits Dr. James Peoples,professor and chair of theDepartment of Surgery, withproviding the leadership andsupport that has resulted in hersuccess in the department, andmore specifically, with theattainment of her personaleducational objectives.

Ms. Austin, who received theWright State UniversityPresident’s Award for Excellencein Human Relations in 1992 andthe Department of Surgery’sChairman’s Award in 1995, has

not been a passive bystander inthe development of theDepartment of Surgery nor in herpersonal development. AlthoughJan insists that “I work to live; Idon’t live to work,” her pride andexcitement about working in theDepartment of Surgery is evident.In addition to working full time inthe department, she has earned amaster’s degree in managementfrom Antioch University andrelishes her role as wife to John,and mother to 10-year-old Jessica.

Dr. Peoples describes Ms.Austin as “possessing the rareability to completely alter courseas currents dictate. Thisadaptability, connected as it is toher innate skills, intelligence, andknowledge, has produced aflexible, responsive, proactiveorganization.”

— Jacqueline McMillan

Profiles

16

WSU School of Medicinescholarship students met andpersonally thanked donors whocreated their awards at the ThelmaFordham Pruett RecognitionCeremony. On September 29,more than 140 people attended theceremony that highlighted theachievements of 1996 scholarshiprecipients and announced newlyestablished funds to benefitmedical education at Wright StateUniversity.

Formerly called the DonorRecognition Reception, the eventwas renamed to honor Mrs.Pruett’s long-term support for the

School of Medicine. Herinvestments helped establish theFordham Health Science Library,the Pruett Rare Book Room, and athird of the donor-basedscholarships for medical students.

Dean Kim Goldenberg, M.D.,lauded the generosity of alumni,friends, faculty, and corporations.Their support created a recordyear in giving to the WSU Schoolof Medicine, exceeding $1.1million. Also successful wasWright State’s 1996 CampusScholarship Campaign, which hada record-setting year of $125,000in gifts and pledges. Almost half

of this total was designated formedical scholarships.

The dean announced theestablishment of the following newfunds:• The Cruikshank Family

Scholarship — $100,000commitment over 10 years

• The Alonzo McWilliamsDonnell Jr. AerospaceMedicine Scholarship —$25,000 gift

• The Glaser Family ResearchFund — $10,000 pledge

• The Watson Parker MemorialScholarship — $15,000 in gifts

• The Samuel Pitner MemorialScholarship — $10,000 gift

• The David G. Place MemorialScholarship — $10,000 in gifts

• The E. W. Kettering FamilyScholarships — $1 million gift.

The program’s climax was thepublic introduction of Jennifer D.Byrd, Dana M. Caylor, FrancineM. Oelrich, and Miguel A. Parilo,the first recipients of the E. W.Kettering Family Scholarships.These four students were selectedto receive $25,000 scholarships andhave agreed to serve the Daytoncommunity, with an emphasis onelderly patient care, for two yearsafter their residency training.

The first E. W. Kettering FamilyScholarship recipients, Jennifer D. Byrd, Dana M. Caylor, Francine M. Oelrich, and Miguel A. Parilo.

School of Medicine’s 1996 scholarship recipients at theThelma Fordham Pruett Recognition Ceremony.

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Brian Esselstein, M.D. (’86), with Rita and Glen Place,David’s parents

David G. Place

Scholarship

The highlight of the annualReunion Weekend October 25–27was the David G. Place, M.D.,Memorial Scholarshippersentation. During the dinnerprogram, Brian Esselstein, M.D.,vice president of the class of1986, announced theestablishment of the PlaceMemorial Scholarship.Contributions from Dr. Place’sfamily and classmatessuccessfully funded thescholarship in excess of the$10,000 goal needed to endow thescholarship. Third- and fourth-year students who demonstrateexcellent leadership abilities andhigh academic standards will beeligible to receive the PlaceMemorial Scholarship.

Glen and Rita Place, David’sparents, and other familymembers attended the reunion tohonor him and to celebrate hislife. Dr. Place received the 1986Dean’s Award and served aspresident of the class of 1986. Heworked as an emergency roomphysician at Doctors Hospital inColumbus and served part time atLima Memorial Hospital.

School of Medicine graduatesfrom the classes of 1981, 1986,and 1991 attended ReunionWeekend. Activities began Fridayevening when the three groupsgathered for individual classparties. A Saturday morningcontinuing medical educationprogram featured Robert P. Turk,M.D., professor of surgery at

Wright State, who spoke about thehistory of medicine, and RobertKalb, M.D., a Toledo-areaorthopedic surgeon, who discussedthe evaluation and treatment ofknee injuries. Saturday eveningthe alumni gathered for dinner anddancing.

The School of Medicine

Theatre Reception

In appreciation for theirgenerosity, the WSU School ofMedicine invited its friends to areception and viewing of the WSUTheatre Department’s productionof 1913: The Great Dayton Flood.Walter Piekutowski, donor to thebiochemistry department and aflood survivor, was among the 60people who attended the receptionand viewed the displays of floodmemorabilia. Another attendeeand donor, Mrs. Mary Mason, aretired school teacher, wrote hermaster’s thesis in 1944 on theDayton flood.

Alumni Advisory Board

A new Alumni AdvisoryBoard will help align School ofMedicine alumni activities andprogramming to alumni interests.The first quarterly meeting washeld in June, and the annualmeetings of alumni boardmembers will be during ReunionWeekends. Board members areasked to attend at least one of threemeetings during the year, and anyalumnus can be a member.

As a result of the recentelection of officers, members ofthe executive committee are:President Gary LeRoy, M.D. (’88);Vice President Sean Convery,M.D. (’81); Secretary CherylRobinson, M.D. (’82); TreasurerChrist Ticoras, M.D. (’91). TheAdvisory Board will providevaluable insight to the Office ofAdvancement in shaping alumniprograms. For more information,please e-mail advancement@med.wright.edu or call (937) 775-2972.

Advancement

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Dean Kim Goldenberg, M.D., accepts the Director’sRecognition Award from Steven Cohen, M.D.,DVAMC director.

Dean Kim Goldenberg Receives Recognition

Award

The Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center (DVAMC)presented Dean Kim Goldenberg, M.D., with the Director’sRecognition Award at the annual Veterans Affairs and School ofMedicine Mixer on November 20, 1996. This award is “intendedto honor people in the community who have demonstrated theircommitment and support to the mission of the DVAMC and itsveteran patients.” The award certificate lists Dr. Goldenberg’saccomplishments that support the teaching, patient care, andresearch missions of the DVAMC. The plaque, given by StevenCohen, M.D., director of the DVAMC, reads, in part, “Inrecognition of your many years of tireless support of, andfriendship to, the DVAMC . . . Our patients, students, and staffhave been enriched by your efforts.”

“This award from our community partner, the DVAMC, is anhonor to receive,” says Dr. Goldenberg. “It would not have beenpossible without a great team of people to work with at the

DVAMC and the School of Medicine.”

New Leadership at the DVAMC

Steven Cohen, M.D., associate professor of medicine, was recently named directorof Dayton’s Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center by Laura Miller, networkdirector of Veterans Health Care System of Ohio and confirmed by Jesse Brown,Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dr. Cohen has been a faculty member since 1985 and served as chief of staff at theDayton VA Medical center since 1991. Multiple roles are the norm for Dr. Cohen, andhe is widely recognized for his teaching, patient care, research, and administrativecapabilities.

Department of Surgery Writes Reviews for National Magazine

Wright State’s School of Medicine Department of Surgery was featured in the May 1996 issue of CurrentSurgery, the official journal of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Each month, Current Surgeryfeatures reviews in general surgery and surgical subspecialties from a different academic institution in theUnited States or abroad.

Each reviewer selected a surgical topic and reviewed three or four original papers on the subject. Reviewersthen wrote a brief editorial commentary regarding each abstract and a summary discussing their surgicalphilosophy on the topic. Also included in the issue was an introduction of the department and a photo and shortbiography of James B. Peoples, M.D., professor and chair. The project was coordinated by Daniel P. McKellar,M.D., associate clinical professor.

Steven Cohen, M.D.

19

New Pharmacology Chair

Mariana Morris, Ph.D., has been appointed chair of the Department of Pharmacologyand Toxicology. She comes to the position from the Bowman Gray School of Medicineat Wake Forest University where she was professor of physiology and pharmacology andassociate in the hypertension center. Dr. Morris received her Ph.D. degree in physiologyfrom the University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas, completed post doctoraltraining at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and has been a facultymember at Bowman Gray since 1976.

Dr. Morris has extensive teaching experience with graduate students as well asdirecting undergraduate research for minority students and leadership developmentprograms for women faculty. Her internationally recognized research is centered on theneuroendocrine basis of hypertension. Dr. Morris has over 90 publications, continuousgrant support since 1977, and served on NIH study sections on cardiovascular and neurological sciences. Shealso received the prestigious Established Investigator Award of the American Heart Association and has servedon the editorial board of prominent journals in her field.

Alumnus Becomes National Leader

Gary Onady, M.D., Ph.D. (’87), programdirector of Wright State’s Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program (MED/PEDS),has provided national leadership as president ofthis specialty’s professional organization, theMedicine-Pediatric Program DirectorsAssociation. He also is an elected member ofthe AMA Section on Graduate MedicalEducation and represents the specialty on thePrimary Care Organizations Consortium(PCOC). While serving on PCOC, Dr. Onadyhas been responsible for drafting Medicareexemptions covering ambulatory care academicpractice settings.

MED/PEDS, established 30 years ago, wasthe topic of Dr. Onady’s plenary speech at thenational meeting of the Association of PediatricProgram Directors, and was published in the recentNovember issue of Academic Medicine. Dr. Onadynotes that the specialty has grown from nine internship positions in four programs to 445 internships in 101programs in 1995. Wright State’s program was established in 1980 and uses the university’s Frederick A. WhiteCenter as an ambulatory training site. Tertiary care training sites for adults are Miami Valley Hospital andVeterans Affairs Medical Center; for children, Children’s Medical Center and Wright-Patterson Air Force BaseMedical Center. Ninety percent of WSU MED/PEDS graduates remain in primary care with 40 percent of thesegraduates choosing collaborative practice careers with family physicians.

Mariana Morris, Ph.D.

Of Primary Interest

Dr. Onady’s second career interest is in jazz performance as afleugel horn player shown here with the Rosewood Quartet, backedup by Jerry Kay, M.D., (chair and professor of psychiatry) on drums,

20

Samuel A. Adebonojo, M.D.

Chief of Surgery, Dayton VA HospitalProfessor, SurgeryM.D.: School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaResidency: Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr, PA (general surgery); Hahnemann MedicalCenter, Philadelphia (thoracic surgery)

David M. Burkhart, M.D.

Assistant Professor and Associate Residency Director, Family MedicineM.D.: Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineResidency: University of Rochester-Highland Hospital, Rochester, NY (family

medicine)

Lisa N. Gelles, M.D.

Assistant Professor, DermatologyM.D.: Case Western Reserve University School of MedicineResidency: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (dermatology and pediatrics)

Holli K. Neiman, M.D.

Assistant Professor and Associate Residency Director, Family MedicineM.D.: Wright State University School of Medicine

Residency: St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Dayton (family practice)

Alvin H. Niemer, M.D.

Assistant Professor, DermatologyM.D.: University of LouisvilleResidency: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (dermatology)

Elsira M. Pina, D.O.

Assistant Professor, Internal MedicineD.O.: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicineResidency: Case Western Reserve University (internal medicine)Fellowship: University of Cincinnati Medical Center and VA Medical Center (pulmonary-critical care)

William H. Wiist, D.H.Sc., M.P.H.

Associate Professor, Community HealthExecutive Director of the Injury Prevention Center of the Greater Dayton AreaD.H.Sc., M.P.H.: Loma Linda University School of Public Health, CA

New Faces