tHE BRIdgE

the
4
Bridge
2007
Winter
2007
NCIRE News Briefs
November 20
November 14
November 12
September 12
NCIRE receives $4 million in continuing funding for the Neuroscience Center of Excellence, a
research partnership between the
Department of Defense, the San
Francisco VA Medical Center, and
NCIRE. The Center’s work conducts
cutting-edge research in neuroimaging of trauma and other neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative
diseases. The Center has received
over $20 million in DoD funds
since 2003.
A study of more than 30,000
patients showed that Latinos
were likely to live almost fifty
percent longer than whites
after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
disease, while African Americans
were likely to survive 15 percent
longer. Lead author Kala M.
Mehta, DSc, a geriatrics researcher at SFVAMC and assistant
professor of geriatrics at UCSF,
said, “If we begin to understand
why this difference exists, we
can begin to understand how
to better care for patients of
all races and ethnicities with
Alzheimer’s.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited
SFVAMC on Veterans Day. The
Speaker stopped at the Center
for the Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases for a research
briefing, then met and spoke
with patients at the SFVAMC
Nursing Home Care Unit. “We
have a moral responsibility to
support scientific research,” remarked Speaker Pelosi during
the briefing.
A study getting under way aims
to identify the best ways to
encourage veterans of Iraq and
Afghanistan to seek treatment for
their combat-related problems.
“This initiative is part of a
national effort by the VA to help
returning veterans readjust to life
after war,” said principal investigator Karen Seal, MD, MPH, a
staff physician at SFVAMC and an
assistant professor of medicine at
UCSF.
NCIRE – the Veterans
Health Research Institute
4150 Clement Street, 151NC
San Francisco, CA 94121
www.ncire.org
NCIRE – the Veterans Health Research Institute
t he
B ri d g E
Bridging Research and Veterans Health Care
“Above & Beyond” Host
Cheryl Jennings Honors Veterans
C
heryl Jennings, ABC News anchor
and “Above & Beyond” host knows
intimately the challenges faced
every day by men and women in
uniform. “My heart is with military veterans
and their families because of my late father’s
service in the US Army,” she says. “He served
in Vietnam and Korea, and retired at the San
Francisco Presidio’s Sixth Army headquarters
as a lieutenant colonel.”
Born at Fort Benning, Georgia, Cheryl spent
her childhood at a series of Army posts at
home and abroad, attending a total of 12
schools before graduating from Washington
High School in San Francisco. “We traveled all
over the world because of my father’s job,” she
recalls. “It wasn’t easy for my mother or for
the seven children in our family.”
erful
this wond
r
fo
d
n
a
h
contribute
“Being on
way I could
e
n
o
our
s
a
w
t
even
work on
le
b
a
lu
a
v
to NCIRE’s lf.”
eha
veterans’ b
Jennings
— Cheryl
Bridging Research and Veterans Health Care
The Bridge is published twice yearly by NCIRE - the Veterans Health Research
Institute. We welcome your input. Please send comments to [email protected].
Volume 1 • Winter 2007
She began her broadcasting career fresh
out of college, working 50 hours a week
as a radio station volunteer. Today, she
is an Emmy Award-winning television
news anchor and investigative
journalist. Her career highlights
include reporting on the night of the
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and a
recent series on land-mine removal
filed direct from Afghanistan under
sometimes perilous conditions.
Her empathy for the men and women
currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
is acute. “One of my brothers served in the
Navy and was in Vietnam, and I had many
friends who served in the Marines in Vietnam
during the height of the war.” In particular,
she is aware of the potential for suffering
caused by the physical and psychological
consequences of combat service: “I saw
firsthand the effects of war injuries, lost
limbs, addiction to prescription drugs, and
post-traumatic stress disorder.”
For that reason, says Cheryl, she was
delighted to host the “Above & Beyond”
gala. “NCIRE researchers are at the leading
edge of diagnosis and treatment for PTSD,
traumatic brain injury, and other war
injuries,” she notes. “Being on hand for
this wonderful event was one way I could
contribute to NCIRE’s valuable work on our
veterans’ behalf.”
Cheryl is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which
she joined in honor of her parents. “It’s
imperative that the men and women
who serve our country so bravely get the
treatment they need and deserve,” she
declares. “It’s our duty to honor them and
their courage with the very best care and
support.”
NCIRE - the Veterans Health Research Institute
NCIRE is a self-funded private nonprofit research institute, established to administer health research at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. NCIRE is
the largest of the 85 nonprofit research institutes associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs nationwide.
the
2
Bridge
Designs by students of The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
and California College of the Arts are displayed in a Wearable Art Fashion Show
Winter
2007
ng, truly
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3
NCIRE - ­the Veterans
Health Research Institute
the Bridge
Winter
2007
Thank You from NCIRE
All of us are called upon to sacrifice at some time in our
lives, but the men and women in uniform currently serving in
Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as elsewhere around the globe,
sacrifice something every day on our behalf — including, on
occasion, their health and even their lives. The least we can
do is give something back.
NCIRE Executive Director Robert E. Obana with NCIRE Awardee
Major Ted Wong (USMC Reserve), Major General J. Michael Myatt (USMC Ret.),
emcee for the gala Cheryl Jennings, ABC7, and Nick Swisher of the Oakland A’s,
who accepted an award for Barry Zito and Strikeouts for Troops
“Above & Beyond” Gala
Kicks Off NCIRE Fundraising Drive
A
crowd of over 350 applauded innovative fashions and high-flying performers, bid for luxurious auction items,
and honored distinguished awardees
at “Above & Beyond,” the first annual fundraiser in support of NCIRE – the Veterans Health
Research Institute. The gala event made its splash
on October 11, 2007 at the San Francisco Design
Center Galleria.
As master of ceremonies, ABC7 anchor Cheryl
Jennings got the evening off to a quick start and
kept it moving with brisk grace. Ms. Jennings
recalled growing up in a military family and
acknowledged the “vitally important work”
being conducted by NCIRE researchers (see
Cheryl Jennings profile, page 1).
A wearable art fashion show of designs
by students from the Fashion Institute
of Design & Merchandising and California
College of the Arts featured fresh interpretations of laboratory coats, scrubs, and
hospital garb. The show was introduced by
Ken Jenkins, who plays Dr. Bob Kelso on the
NBC television show “Scrubs”, and “Scrubs”
Veterans health research is our mission, our goal, and our
focus. On behalf of the NCIRE community — principal investigators, laboratory staff, support personnel, and all those
who facilitate this effort — thank you for your generous
support.
costumer Celeste LaChance, who consulted
with the students on their designs. In a short
but moving video, the entire “Scrubs” cast paid
tribute to NCIRE and its mission of supporting
veterans health research.
Attendees had the chance to express their own
appreciation for NCIRE by bidding in a live
auction. Lucky winners took home a variety
of luxurious and unusual items including a
signed John Mayer guitar, a private dinner
party prepared by an award-winning chef, and
a walk-on part in “Scrubs.”
Here at NCIRE, we are acutely aware of the need to address
the health concerns of our veterans and service men and
women, both now and in the future. I would like to express
my deepest appreciation to those of you who joined us at
“Above & Beyond,” and those of you who have supported
us in other ways as well. Together, we can help improve the
treatment and diagnosis of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and
other grievous effects of battle and its aftermath, as well as
cancer, heart disease, and other health conditions affecting
older veterans and the general public.
Honorary Event Chairs Ms. Frances Petrocelli and Dr. Charles B. Wilson with
Barbara George and California Supreme Court Chief Justice, the Honorable Ronald M. George
Robert E. Obana
Executive Director
NCIRE – the Veterans Health Research Institute
G
iants pitcher Barry Zito and Major Ted Wong (USMC Reserve),
each received a 2007 NCIRE Award for Outstanding Public
Service. Mr. Zito, whose award was accepted by Nick Swisher
of the Oakland A’s, was recognized for his role in founding
Strikeouts for Troops, a nonprofit organization that raises money for the
benefit of wounded troops and their families. Major Wong, Headquarters
Company Commander of the 23rd Marine Regiment in San Bruno, California,
was honored for his military service, tireless advocacy on behalf of the
troops he commands, and long record of community service. The award was
presented by Major General J. Michael Myatt (USMC Ret.), president of the
Marines Memorial Association. General Myatt hailed Major Wong as a “real
soldier” and thanked him on behalf of all veterans.
Lynn Pulliam, MS, PhD, Director of Research at the San Francisco VA Medical
Center and Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine at the University
of California, San Francisco, was presented with the 2007 NCIRE Award
for Veterans Health Research and Leadership. Dr. Pulliam thanked the
community of 250 research scientists at SFVAMC for their hard work.
“Scrubs” cast member Ken Jenkins (Dr. Bob Kelso), Above & Beyond Gala
Producer Ann Fox and emcee for the gala Cheryl Jennings, ABC7
Award-winning Gregangelo & Velocity perfrom a stage and aerial spectacle
The evening ended on a musically and visually stunning note with a performance by Gregangelo and Velocity, who thrilled the crowd with a colorful
stage and aerial spectacle. Cheryl Jennings thanked the departing crowd
and invited everyone back for the second annual “Above & Beyond.”
Lynn Pulliam, MS, PhD, recipient of the 2007 NCIRE Award for Veterans Health
Research and Leadership with Sheila Cullen, SFVA Medical Center Director
the
4
Bridge
2007
Winter
2007
NCIRE News Briefs
November 20
November 14
November 12
September 12
NCIRE receives $4 million in continuing funding for the Neuroscience Center of Excellence, a
research partnership between the
Department of Defense, the San
Francisco VA Medical Center, and
NCIRE. The Center’s work conducts
cutting-edge research in neuroimaging of trauma and other neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative
diseases. The Center has received
over $20 million in DoD funds
since 2003.
A study of more than 30,000
patients showed that Latinos
were likely to live almost fifty
percent longer than whites
after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
disease, while African Americans
were likely to survive 15 percent
longer. Lead author Kala M.
Mehta, DSc, a geriatrics researcher at SFVAMC and assistant
professor of geriatrics at UCSF,
said, “If we begin to understand
why this difference exists, we
can begin to understand how
to better care for patients of
all races and ethnicities with
Alzheimer’s.”
Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited
SFVAMC on Veterans Day. The
Speaker stopped at the Center
for the Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases for a research
briefing, then met and spoke
with patients at the SFVAMC
Nursing Home Care Unit. “We
have a moral responsibility to
support scientific research,” remarked Speaker Pelosi during
the briefing.
A study getting under way aims
to identify the best ways to
encourage veterans of Iraq and
Afghanistan to seek treatment for
their combat-related problems.
“This initiative is part of a
national effort by the VA to help
returning veterans readjust to life
after war,” said principal investigator Karen Seal, MD, MPH, a
staff physician at SFVAMC and an
assistant professor of medicine at
UCSF.
NCIRE – the Veterans
Health Research Institute
4150 Clement Street, 151NC
San Francisco, CA 94121
www.ncire.org
NCIRE – the Veterans Health Research Institute
t he
B ri d g E
Bridging Research and Veterans Health Care
“Above & Beyond” Host
Cheryl Jennings Honors Veterans
C
heryl Jennings, ABC News anchor
and “Above & Beyond” host knows
intimately the challenges faced
every day by men and women in
uniform. “My heart is with military veterans
and their families because of my late father’s
service in the US Army,” she says. “He served
in Vietnam and Korea, and retired at the San
Francisco Presidio’s Sixth Army headquarters
as a lieutenant colonel.”
Born at Fort Benning, Georgia, Cheryl spent
her childhood at a series of Army posts at
home and abroad, attending a total of 12
schools before graduating from Washington
High School in San Francisco. “We traveled all
over the world because of my father’s job,” she
recalls. “It wasn’t easy for my mother or for
the seven children in our family.”
erful
this wond
r
fo
d
n
a
h
contribute
“Being on
way I could
e
n
o
our
s
a
w
t
even
work on
le
b
a
lu
a
v
to NCIRE’s lf.”
eha
veterans’ b
Jennings
— Cheryl
Bridging Research and Veterans Health Care
The Bridge is published twice yearly by NCIRE - the Veterans Health Research
Institute. We welcome your input. Please send comments to [email protected].
Volume 1 • Winter 2007
She began her broadcasting career fresh
out of college, working 50 hours a week
as a radio station volunteer. Today, she
is an Emmy Award-winning television
news anchor and investigative
journalist. Her career highlights
include reporting on the night of the
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and a
recent series on land-mine removal
filed direct from Afghanistan under
sometimes perilous conditions.
Her empathy for the men and women
currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan
is acute. “One of my brothers served in the
Navy and was in Vietnam, and I had many
friends who served in the Marines in Vietnam
during the height of the war.” In particular,
she is aware of the potential for suffering
caused by the physical and psychological
consequences of combat service: “I saw
firsthand the effects of war injuries, lost
limbs, addiction to prescription drugs, and
post-traumatic stress disorder.”
For that reason, says Cheryl, she was
delighted to host the “Above & Beyond”
gala. “NCIRE researchers are at the leading
edge of diagnosis and treatment for PTSD,
traumatic brain injury, and other war
injuries,” she notes. “Being on hand for
this wonderful event was one way I could
contribute to NCIRE’s valuable work on our
veterans’ behalf.”
Cheryl is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which
she joined in honor of her parents. “It’s
imperative that the men and women
who serve our country so bravely get the
treatment they need and deserve,” she
declares. “It’s our duty to honor them and
their courage with the very best care and
support.”
NCIRE - the Veterans Health Research Institute
NCIRE is a self-funded private nonprofit research institute, established to administer health research at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. NCIRE is
the largest of the 85 nonprofit research institutes associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs nationwide.