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UR Aging Institute Hosts First Aging INSPIRED! Event
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
The University of Rochester Aging Institute (URAI) held its first event to celebrate the intersection of aging and the arts. These gatherings are designed to educate the community on the work being done at the URAI that aims to empower older adults in achieving healthful longevity. The inaugural event took place on October 9 at Hatch Hall at the Eastman School of Music, “A Celebration of Aging and the Arts.”
The afternoon was a collaboration between URAI, the Eastman School of Music, and Eastman Performing Arts Medicine. Guests were entertained with music from the Eastman Community Music School Jazz Performance Workshop, a group of older adult musicians. Carol Podgorski, PhD, MPH, MS, from the department of Psychiatry, and Caroline Nestro, PCNS, PhD, MS, from the School of Nursing, moderated a panel discussion titled “Music as We Age – The Path to Vital Living.” Panelists included Reverend Lawrence Hargrave, Michael Rotondo, MD, chief executive officer of UR Medical Faculty Group, Ray Pettis, a lifelong musician sharing his personal experience, and his wife Susan Woolston Pettis.
One highlight of the event was a virtual interview with Ron Carter, currently 86 years old, a Grammy award-winning, internationally renowned artist, who is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. He is well known for being one of the most influential bassists in jazz. Jeff Campbell, professor of Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media, conducted the interview in Hatch Hall, while Mr. Carter appeared on video from his home in New York City to discuss how music has impacted his life.
The URAI will make future plans to sponsor additional Aging INSPIRED! events focused on visual, literary, and performing arts. “We will explore how aging influences artistic expression and how the arts impact the aging process,” said Annie Medina-Walpole, MD, director of the URAI. “We aim to engage the University and Greater Rochester communities in activities designed to explore sources of vital living and inspiration as people age. Ultimately, we want to optimize the experience and enrich the lives of older people in our communities.”
Planning Committee members include Annie Medina-Walpole, MD, director of the URAI and division chief of Geriatrics & Aging, Yeates Conwell, MD, professor of Psychiatry, Carol Podgorski, PhD, MPH, MS, professor of Psychiatry, Gaelen McCormick, director of Eastman Performing Arts Medicine, Caroline Nestro, PhD, MS, RN, assistant professor of Clinical Nursing, Mackenzie Spencer, marketing strategist, and Kara Horvath, administrator of the division of Geriatrics & Aging.
A few days after the event, professors Conwell and Podgorski, along with Elinor Freer, associate professor of Piano and Chamber Music, and community members Ray and Susan Pettis, were special guests on WXXI’s Connections. The episode “How can the arts impact our lives as we age?” dives into both the Pettis’ personal experience, and the research of the URAI and Eastman School of Music on how learning an instrument can have a positive impact on people living with dementia or memory loss.
Enjoy this behind the scenes look at the event and learn all about the URAI and Aging INSPIRED!
Vivek Kaul Launches Podcast with ACG: “Brains & Guts”
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
The new podcast from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) launched in October during the annual ACG meeting in Vancouver. Vivek Kaul, MD, professor of Medicine, is the co-founder and inaugural host of the first episode. Kaul is a Fellow of the ACG, and the founder and immediate past Chair of the ACG Innovation & Technology Committee. He served in this role from 2018-2023.
The podcast, Brains & Guts, will be broadcast on a monthly basis and will aim to dive deep into all aspects of innovation, discussing how new entrepreneurs can take an “idea to commercialization.” The first episode, “Why Innovate in GI?” introduced the key concepts related to the significance of innovation in medicine and the typical challenges and opportunities that new entrepreneurs will encounter on their journey.
It also emphasized the importance of bridging the knowledge gap in this realm, especially for young and upcoming colleagues who may not have received formal education or training in this regard. Furthermore, the podcast highlighted the potential for individuals, industry colleagues, national societies, as well as funding agencies to collaborate and partner to further the mission of innovation.
In future episodes, the podcast will host well-known, established innovators and entrepreneurs in Gastroenterology who will share their wisdom and experience, as well as describe the “recipe” for how they can bring new ideas and concepts to reality for the care of patients.
This podcast was launched through the ACG Innovation & Technology Committee and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Be sure to bookmark the Brains & Guts homepage to keep an ear out for future episodes.
Palliative Care Division Receives 7th Joint Commission Advanced Certification
Monday, November 27, 2023
URMC was the first academic medical center in the country to earn Joint Commission advanced certification in Palliative Care 14 years ago. The division, now under the leadership of interim chief Erin Denney-Koelsch, MD, is proud to receive its seventh biennial re-certification, maintaining a reputation for excellence. An assistant Quality Officer from the Joint Commission said via email, “I commend your program’s collaboration and innovative problem-solving in working towards the three Evidence of Standards Compliance that will be incorporated into your program’s delivery of care.”
In addition, the URMC Palliative Care Program was recognized by the Medical Center Board of Directors Quality of Care Committee and Strong Memorial Hospital Quality Committee for the extraordinary services the team provides to the Rochester community.
“The URMC Palliative Care team has earned two remarkable honors this month,” said Denney-Koelsch. “With patients and families at the center of our work, our team takes the passion from bedside care into our performance improvement efforts, to the administrative, research and education, and community engagements initiatives. And through that, we bring that work back to the bedside through impeccable, dignified care for those with serious illness. It is such an honor to serve such a remarkable group of compassionate people. Our whole team deserves to be proud.”
Kaul and Division of Gastroenterology Receive Donation from Pancreatic Cancer Association of Western NY
Thursday, November 9, 2023
The Pancreatic Cancer Association of Western York (PCAWNY) is a very active and well-known patient advocacy and support group based out of Rochester, New York. For more than a decade, this organization has served as a beacon of support, awareness, education, and advocacy for patients and families dealing with the scourge of pancreatic cancer. The group has been very active in terms of fundraising to support various pancreas cancer activities and have also hosted a very popular and well attended annual walk in town every November for this very important cause.
The PCAWNY and the University of Rochester Medical Center have had a very close and collaborative relationship throughout this time, focused on patient care, education, research and advancement of the field in general. In the past the group has supported clinical and translational research in pancreatic cancer at Wilmot Cancer Institute, and has worked very hard to support URMC’s clinical trial efforts in this disease.
Providers from the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology are a key part of the outstanding multidisciplinary team that leads pancreatic cancer research and care at URMC, and for the Upstate NY region. Vivek Kaul, MD, has collaborated closely with the PCAWNY, almost since its inception, across multiple clinical and patient education/awareness missions. In late October, the PCAWNY presented a generous donation of $30,000 to the Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology to help support various missions related to pancreas care at our center.
PCAWNY board members Ms. Mary Pettinaro, Ms. Lynn Platt and Ms. Mary Ellen Smith presented the check to the division on behalf of the organization on Oct 26, 2023. Kaul and division chief Mark Levstik MD, express their sincere thanks and gratitude to PCAWNY for this generous gift, and will continue to partner with them to help care for our patients and advance the field.
Infectious Disease Division Dominates the Stage at ID Week in Boston
Thursday, November 9, 2023
ID Week is a cornerstone event of the year, bringing together the Infectious Diseases Society of America with many other influential societies dedicated to the fields of ID, microbiology, and global health. Drawing an international crowd, experts convene to share insights on cutting-edge technology and progress in clinical care. The conference often brings up emerging infectious diseases and current public health challenges, making it a crucial event for the global health care community.
URMC had a substantial impact at the conference through a strong presence of moderators, speakers, and poster presentations. Division Chief, Paul Bohjanen, MD, PhD, attended the conference to support the faculty, residents, and fellows who presented. “I am proud of the great impact that the ID Division at URMC has on the field of infectious diseases, as evidenced by our numerous important presentations this year at ID Week."
Presentations
by author in alphabetical order
Angela Branche, MD – Associate Professor
- Moderator: Putting RSV Burden Under a Microscope: Trends, Advances, and Impact on Lives
- Moderator: New Developments in Vaccines
- Speaker: Translating Breakthroughs in RSV Vaccine Science into Care for Older Adults
- Speaker: Epidemiology of RSV and Prevention Measures
- Speaker: RSV in Adult Populations: Gains and Gaps in Our Understanding of Disease Burden
- Speaker: The Role of the Infectious Disease Specialist in Supporting Community Vaccination
David Dobrzynski, MD – Assistant Professor
- Moderator: Mentoring, Coaching and Sponsoring: Enhancing Critical Supports for Career Success
Ghinwa Dumyati, MD – Professor
- Poster: Characteristics of Patients with Initial Clostridioides difficile Infection (CDI) That Are Associated with Increased Risk of Multiple CDI Recurrences
- Poster: Trends in Incidence of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) In Seven US sites, 2016─2020
- Poster: Characteristics of Community-Associated Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Enterobacterales Infections in Monroe County, NY, 2020-2021
- Poster: Characteristics of nursing homes with higher rates of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections
- Poster: Sociodemographic and Occupational Characteristics Associated with Delayed and Low COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Healthcare Personnel: Monroe County, NY
- Poster: Healthcare-associated invasive Staphylococcus aureus among adults with prior COVID-19-associated hospitalization, 2020
- Poster: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia 30-Day Mortality During 2020 Compared to 2016-2019: Assessing the Impact of COVID-19
- Poster: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex infections and SARS-CoV-2 positivity in 9 U.S. sites, 2020-2022
Ted Louie, MD – Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
- Workshop Speaker: Pus, Slough and Drainage: Oh My! Hands-On Introduction to Wound Care for the ID Clinician
- Poster: Orthopedic Provider Adherence to American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) Guidelines for Dental Prophylaxis in Total Joint Replacement
- Louie and Sonal Munsiff, MD are both co-authors
Sonal Munsiff, MD – Associate Professor
- Moderator: Updates in Bacteremia
- Poster: Evaluating the effect of respiratory isolation for TB on patient- and public health-important outcomes- a systematic review
Kelly Russo, MD – Internal Medicine Resident
- Poster Presenter: Evaluating Resistance Patterns of LVAD-related Pseudomonas Infections
Alexandra Yamschikov, MD – Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
- Poster Presenter: High Rate of Adverse Events in Patients Receiving Oral Antimicrobials Under a COpAT Monitoring Protocol