Fall 2008 - School of Medicine

Volume XII, Number 1
Fall 2008
Who Is Dr. Z?
By Roberto Cervantes
B
medical school.”
ack in New York
She applied to Creighton, Loyola, Marquette and
Born in Brooklyn, New York, she and her
Women’s Medical College in New York. Creighton was
family moved to Long Island where she
the first to request an interview and the
graduated from high school.
first to respond with a letter of
She spent a few years working for a
acceptance.
She later received
major advertising agency and insurance
acceptances from the other schools but
agency and then was called to enter the
she was already committed to
Daughters of Wisdom Convent. About
Creighton.
a year and half later, she made her vows
and entered college. After graduation,
she taught high school for four years at
Life at Creighton
Our Lady of Wisdom. “The girls would
She stayed in Kiewitt Hall, room
call me SAK,” she recalls. Back then
933, and was one of only five women in
they never used their own names so her
her class of eighty-five. From day one,
name was Sister Anne Katherine Mary
she was determined to be a surgeon. It
(S.A.K.). Initially, she admits to being
was unheard of for women to attend
a stickler on dress code but quickly
medical college but to become a surgeon
learned to enjoy her students and the
was another story. A noted surgeon
experience of teaching. She loved
once told her, “Women don’t belong in
teaching but wanted to do more.
surgery… they don’t have the emotional
As a child, she had learned about
stability or stamina.” Taken back, she
Cecile Marie Zielinski, M.D.
hospitals through her younger sister
simply
replied, “Thank you very much,
a.k.a. “Dr. Z” Acting Dean
who had polio and scoliosis. She spent
but
I
want
to be a surgeon, and I will be
Creighton School of Medicine
many weekends visiting and supporting
a surgeon.” She went on to become one
her sister as she endured a total of seven spinal
in the first generation of trained transplant surgeons and
transfusions at the Orthopedic Hospital of New York. It
started the transplant program here at Creighton.
was this childhood experience that sparked her interest in
medicine.
Who Will Hire Me?
After four years of teaching high school, she was
As we all know, communication is critical. Early in
asked by the Assistant to the Mother General, “What can
her surgical career she began having three one-hour
the community do for you?” She replied, “I want to go to
sessions with family members before each transplant.
2
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Michael Kavan, Ph.D.
Editors in Chief:
Patrick Allison
Maryal Concepcion
This Issue’s Writers:
Dr. Michael Kavan, Ph.D.
Marcia Cusic
Michele Millard
Linda Pappas
Jim Hougas
Eric Peeples
Patrick Allison
Jim Ramig
Roberto Cervantes
Roving Reporters:
Brendan Thelen
Maryam Gbadamosi
Alyssa Ratzlaff
She says, “People only hear certain things when you discuss disease with them,
and then they turn you off. They may only hear that they are getting off of
dialysis, but they don’t hear about the risk of infection, higher rate of cancer, or
side affects of the drugs.” It was during one of these sessions that Dr. Z learned
one of the biggest lessons about communication.
A forty-five year-old patient with diabetes once asked, “Will I lose my
Medicare, my disability, if I get a transplant?” She quickly responded, “Yes, you
will. Will you please share with me why you don’t want this transplant?”
Immediately, she began to think that this person just doesn’t want to lose his
benefits. Instead the gentleman replied, “I’m forty five years old. I’m a diabetic.
Who’s going to hire me, and where am I going to get my healthcare?” Patients
who receive transplants sometimes trade one thing for another, and she learned
that it is always critical to listen to your patients.
Do What is Good for the Whole
As Acting Dean of the School of Medicine, she plans to continue her
stabilizing efforts and doing what is necessary for the good of the whole. She is
known as an honest person who says what she thinks and has plenty of
experience serving in this type of role. One of her greatest joys was having the
opportunity to speak at our White Coat ceremony where she emphasized the
importance of honesty. Everyone will get the opportunity to have lunch with her
as she continues to reach out to students.
It was a pleasure interviewing Dr. Z and sharing with all of you only a
snapshot of who she is. It is easy to understand her commitment when she says,
“I am here for the students.”
■
Thank you for reading the Wellness Chronicle!
This student-edited news magazine serves the Creighton University School of Medicine by providing a medium for
students, faculty, and staff
to report on recent events in the school,
to provide education on select topics,
to share announcements of personal happenings,
and
to express thoughts and beliefs in an unrestrained manner.
We, the editors, thank you for reading and invite you to contribute to a future issue!
-Patrick Allison and Maryal Concepcion
Namrita Gogia
Who would you rather date from
The Office, Ryan or Darryl?
Got to go with Darryl;
he is a stud.
Open toe or thongs…sandals?
One of the hardest decisions a
girl can make. It depends.
Is Doctor Naushad(Hem/Onc prof)
your sister?
I believe she is my long lost relative.
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
Fellowship and Guidance
By Michele Millard
The Vital Signs Mentoring Program
T
he beginning of the new school
year saw the launch of the new
Vital Signs Mentoring
Program. “Mentoring” seems
to be a recent buzzword, perhaps because
the importance of meaningful mentoring
relationships is increasingly seen as a
critical component in medical education
and professional development. There is
very little time in the middle of juggling
academic demands to stop and ask some
important questions, like:
•
•
•
•
•
Why have I been called to medicine?
How can I be successful
academically while still having a
life?
How do I handle the stress of
medical school?
What does it mean to be a medical
professional?
In what areas of medicine might I
find the most passion and joy?
Medical students who have mentoring
relationships tend to be more pleased
with their medical education, make
smoother transitions, broaden their
perspectives about the profession and
their interests, and experience more
academic success. We asked students
what they wanted, and they indicated
they would like to have more interaction
with older students, more interaction with
faculty and clinicians, and more
information about life in medicine in
general. Consequently, we saw a need to
increase the opportunities for all of our
students to experience the benefits of
having a mentor as well as pull in various
components of the program like the
Buddy program, mentoring, and advising
into one system.
Thus, Vital Signs came into being: a
structured, yet flexible mentoring
program with multiple layers that
includes all students with opportunities to
mentor as well as to be mentored. Phase
I rolled out in August with M2/M1
Buddies placed within small mentoring
groups with M3/M4 Peer Mentors and a
Faculty mentor. The first event was a
reception with Dr. Kevin Takakuwa, coeditor and co-author of What I Learned in
Medical School who shared his atypical
journey through medical school. These
groups will meet for a second time in
October/November and then twice in the
spring semester. Phase II is currently
being rolled out where M3 students will
meet twice with a mentor chosen from a
list of nearly forty clinicians in various
specialty areas. M4 students will have
the opportunity to meet with them if
desired on their way out the door!
Can this program mandate meaningful
mentoring relationships? Absolutely not!
It can, however, provide multiple
opportunities for students to connect with
older students, faculty and clinicians
from the first day they step on campus
through their fourth-year transition into
residency. It is up to the individual to
take advantage of this opportunity to
learn and grow through these
relationships.
■
3
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
4
By Eric Peeples
FALL 2008
The Election
I
realize that most of us are currently in our own
little worlds, where anatomy, hematology, rotations,
and straightening out your slice (for first through
fourth years, respectively) take ultimate priority, so
this edition of “The Peeples Guide” has been specially
designed to bring you news of the outside world. I don’t
know if any of you have heard, but apparently the country
is holding a big event in a month or so, where they’ll
coordinate a massive survey of everyone in the country
(although only about two-thirds of them will care enough
to participate) to figure out who the most popular person
in the U.S. is (sort of like the prom king, except not as
pretty), and then the powers-that-be will take the guy with
the second-most votes and offer him the position of ruler
of the free world. I guess it’s kind of a big deal. So, in
true Peeples Guide style, I will be providing a
walkthrough of this year’s election that will likely neither
improve your knowledge of the candidates nor hopefully
influence your voting decision in November (because we
all know that the last person who should be influencing
young minds is… well, good ol’ G.W., but I may be in
the top ten with him).
First of all, I’m not going to do what you all think I’m
going to do… and flip out on the Republicans. This
article is not meant to be a partisan diatribe, so I will do
my best to alienate both sides of the political spectrum
equally. In this spirit, I’ll get started with a basic rundown of the political parties for those of you who aren’t
sure which one you fit in best.
•
•
•
As we all know, democrats are typically long-haired
hippies that wear Birkenstocks, play Frisbee, and pay
$8 a pound for glorified tree bark at Whole Foods.
You can find these people on college campuses
everywhere. You’ll know them by their hacky sacks,
guitars, and “legalize marijuana” t-shirts.
Republicans, of course, are more the gun-toting,
moonshine-brewing, camo-wearing country folk who
have a beer hat to match each of their monster-truckwatching outfits. When they’re not drinking Schlitz,
watching Fox news, and shooting things, you can
usually find them in large numbers at NRA meetings
and picketing outside of shady, unmarked buildings.
Independents are harder to put a finger on. The only
unifying feature is that they all loved voting for
American Idol so much that they can’t help but go out
and punch some chads. Luckily, they are usually
intelligent enough to know that since they spent the
last four years numbing their minds with reality TV,
they are not adequately equipped to make a vote that
might actually have an effect on the election.
Now that you know which side of the fence you sit on,
let’s go through the election process. We’ll start from the
beginning:
1. Well, our local electoral adventure began back in
January with the Iowa Democratic caucus. For those of
you who have never been to one of these events, it is
basically an elementary school dance, where you go
and stand on the side of the room that makes you feel
most comfortable. The main difference is that the
dances are split up by gender, whereas the caucuses are
split up by… well, maybe this year’s wasn’t that
different.
2. The rest of the primaries gave us an exciting neck-and
-neck race on both sides of the party line. For the
Democrats, we watched the thrilling race between
Hillary and Barack, while the Republicans had a similar
contest between McCain and the Grim Reaper. After
about the third week of the primaries, the only thing
that McCain had to worry about was surviving until the
convention.
3. During the conventions, the democrats showed us
that, if Obama
gets elected,
we will have
the
most
annoying first
children ever.
And
the
Republicans
showed us that
even a simple
hockey mom
“That’s nice, sweetie, but will you
with little-toplease stop interrupting Daddy when
no
political
e x p e r i e n c e , he’s trying to address THE ENTIRE
COUNTRY?! Thanks pumpkin.”
dysfunctional
(Continued on page 5)
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
(Continued from page 4) Peeples Guide
morals, and a
promiscuous
teenage daughter
could grow up to
be
just
an
arrhythmia away
from being the
leader of the free
world.
4. Now that the
conventions are
over, it’s time for
the world’s oldest
political tradition:
mud-slinging (if
my Roman history
serves me, I think
Romulus’s mother with lipstick.
that Romulus’s
political opponent chiseled a statue comparing Romulus
to the famous Helen of Troy). Not learning from
history, just like his Roman predecessor, McCain once
again insulted a well-famed hussy. Paris sadly didn’t
realize, though, that by comparing her political prowess
to that of Obama, McCain was actually announcing her
as his running mate.
After her negative
response, however,
he chose to settle for
his second choice.
Obama tried playing
the age card in one
of his most recent
political
ads,
comparing McCain
to a Rubik’s cube
and a disco ball.
5
This ad also backfired on the young Democrat, since
although those are both things that are old, they are also
things that are awesome. Foiled again…
5. This all leads up to the day of the election when
anything can happen, from hanging chads and Florida’s
destruction of our future to Chicago’s clever use of
names from tombstones to give each voter a little extra
say in their election. Nowadays the elections are able
to avoid the hassle of chads and identity issues by using
computers, which have the added ability to tell who
you’re going to vote for before you even enter the
booth.
In all seriousness, though, whatever your political or
personal beliefs may be, this November is your chance to
have a say in what happens in our country and the world
for the next four years, so make sure that you are
registered and get out and vote. As they used to say in
Chicago, vote early and vote often.
■
There’s a failing economy to mend
And an elongated conflict to end
Barack and McCain
Are both such a pain
For neither to healthcare will tend.
- MPA
Christopher Welle
What do you miss about
being an undergraduate?
Going to football games.
What has been your favorite
prop from class?
I like the rope prop
by Dr. Brauer.
How do you deal with the
smell from Anatomy?
I try not to eat with my hands.
6
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
Standing in the Light at the End of the Tunnel:
A Look Back into the Darkness
By Jim Hougas
I
f you were to ask any
senior medical student
how things are right now,
most of us would tell you
that we are having the most fun
that we have had in our academic careers. I guarantee
that life has not always been this wonderful. How did we
get to the green pasture known as fourth year, and what
should you know about the road ahead? I always felt like
I never knew what medical school held for me; at most, I
knew what was happening next month. Being a “big
picture” kind of person, I found this lack of information a
little frustrating. To help you out of this exasperation, I
have an outline of your 160,000 “well spent” tuition
dollars.
•
•
M1: In my opinion, first year is one of the toughest
because there are lots of obstacles to overcome all at
once: how to, where to, and how much to study;
cutting up human beings; and learning the layout of a
new city. The change of pace from undergrad was
something that I was unprepared for. Before I knew
it, I was a couple of weeks behind in MCB and
failing.
I got my act together and survived.
Something to keep in mind, first year (and school as a
whole) is not impossible, and we were all chosen for
medical school because the admissions committee
believed that we were cut
out for this and would
make good physicians
when we are done. So
even on days when you
don’t believe in yourself,
remember that someone
else (who isn’t your
mom) thinks you have
what it takes.
M2: Things speed up a
little, but you are old pros
at studying and taking
tests. The material is
considered more difficult
but it also is directly
patient-applicable and
therefore
more
interesting. Courses are
three to five weeks long
starting with Infectious
•
•
Disease, Heme/Onc, Cardio, and Respiratory first
semester followed by Renal, Endo/Repro, GI,
Musculo/Skeletal/Integument, and Multi-System
Processes second semester. You should not be
studying for Step I at this point in the year. The M3s
will come and talk to you about Step I studying when
the time is appropriate (spring time). If you work
hard in classes now, you will be well prepared to
study for and take Step I.
M3: Third year is like stepping out of the black and
white of Kansas into the color that is the Land of Oz.
It is everything you hoped for when you were
working your
tail off the past
two years. You
are
seeing
p a t i e n t s ,
catching babies,
putting your
hands in live
people,
and
listening to the
delusions of the
schizophrenic.
You have your
minor semester
consisting of Pediatrics, Psych, and OB/Gyn and your
major semester with Internal Medicine, Surgery, and
Outpatient Medicine. Study hard, but when you have
free time, make sure you do something fun. You will
need to hold on to those fun memories when you are
really busy during Surgery and Medicine. There will
be some very sad stories, and people will die; talking
to other students, residents, faculty, hospital
chaplains, and loved ones can really help you deal
with those tough days.
M4: You get to pick your classes for the first time in
three years! A computerized lottery is done in the
spring of third year for classes but you can change
them later. You should get a decent amount of the
classes you are hoping for. You are required to take a
critical care selective, another critical care selective
or primary care sub-internship, and a surgery
selective. You need to take another twenty-four
weeks of (almost) whatever you want. You then have
another eight weeks to do with as you need, including
studying for and taking Step II CS & CK and
interviewing for residency. Military Match Day is in
December and Civilian Match Day is in March.
That’s it in a nutshell. Looking back, I can honestly
say that I have had a wonderful experience. There were
(Continued on page 11)
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
By Patrick Allison
“...So that’s when I decided to keep my mouth shut.”
Chris rocked back with laughter, as Mike drained his
beer.
“And probably for the best.” He angled his glass
towards the bartender, “Hey, can I get another?”
Still chuckling, Chris interjected, “Man, that’s nuts; I
can’t believe… the surgeon really said that?”
“Yup.”
“Whew!” He leaned back, his knees digging into the
wood in front of him to keep him from tipping over.
“Anal beads? Huh, huh… It doesn't even make sense.”
“Na, but it was pretty funny.” The glass, now refilled,
returned to its owner who calmly sipped his obligatory
first pull. “You know, that’s something I’ve been
struggling with.”
“What anal beads?”
“Ha! Well, yeah, aside from that…”
They both shook their heads, chuckling.
Mike swallowed, looked away from his friend.
“Na, the whole sexual harassment thing.”
Chris squinted, his nose wrinkling slightly, waiting for
a punch line.
“No, it’s just… last year, it really occurred to me how
differently other people can take things. I was always just
having fun. I always thought I was being flattering, but I
guess some girls don’t take it that way.”
“That’s because your game sucks.”
“Geez.” Mike paused, stared into his beer. “Well... tell
me about it. Since I’ve gotten back, I’ve probably been
rejected four or five times.”
“And you’re ugly too.”
“Your girlfriend doesn’t seem to think so.”
“Oooo….”
Their waxing smiles finally exploded, and they
7
laughed again.
“Still, it was kind of weird to hear it in an OR.”
“Yeah… I bet.”
“I mean she was flirting with him the whole time, and
she didn't stop afterward. Man,” Mike raised his beer to
his lips, stopped short. “The things you talk about when
you’re cuttin’ somebody up.” Gulp. Then he licked his
lips and set the pint down.
“Yeah, it doesn’t apply in the real world, all that
garbage,” Chris shook his head. “Like the way everybody
talks about the trauma that came in last night, how he was
shot three times in the back and once in the wrist or
whatever. Then they’ll talk about the pain in the ass on
fifty-two with all her whining and discuss her case.
Doesn’t matter where they are either.” He took a sip.
“HIPAA’s bulls***. Nobody gives a damn.”
Mike nodded. “There’s a lot of that.” He looked away
again. The bar was empty, but for the help and a couple
old guys who never moved. “What about privacy?”
“What, do you want to be alone with your beer?”
“Geez.”
“No really, I understand… you’re a lonely guy; I
could…”
“Come on, I’m talking about patient privacy. You
know like keepin’ ‘em covered and stuff.
Chris gave in, nodded comprehension.
“They always talk about that in IPE and crap, and then
it’s right out the window. People making fun of them
when they’re out. Even stupid crap like calling them fat.”
“Well most of them are.”
“Yeah, I know, but… just saying stuff that you
wouldn’t say if they were awake; know what I mean?”
“Yeah,” Chris looked at his glass. “I gotcha.”
Mike put his beer down.
“It’s all a load of crap, all that stuff they harp on.” His
hand flipped up in dismissal. He looked at Chris, whose
head was bobbing up and down in agreement. “Then
again… I guess they’re still good ideals.”
“Yeah, like you’d know anything about that.”
Mike shook his head, sniffed. “Right...”
■
Scott Schubert
What was the best study break
you took the weekend before
the first MCB test?
I went climbing at the UNO
climbing gym.
Any requests for the music
Dr. Nichols plays before lectures?
No. Anything else
wouldn’t be Nichols.
Which professor would you
spend a night on the town with?
Dr. Yee, for sure.
8
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
CONCEPT TOPOGRAPHY?
By Linda Pappas
Academic Success Counselor
O
ne of the toughest sells to students that I have
as an Academic Success professional is the
idea of the concept map.
You might know them as bubble diagrams,
flowcharts, mind maps, webbing sheets, etc. There is
even a book SuccessTypes for Medical Students by John
W. Pelley, PhD (also the author of the board review book
Rapid Review Biochemistry) in which he promotes the
idea of bubble diagramming using the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator information to explain why it works for
students. USMLE Step I review books such as MedMaps
for Pathophysiology by Yasmeen Agosti and Pamela
Duke, MD also provide concept maps of classic disease
processes and mechanisms.
Often the first time a student looks at one of these
diagrams the reaction is one of “I can’t follow that”.
Integrative learning is a valuable skill in medical school
and this study tool can assist in developing that skill. The
process works best when a student first figures out what
an existing map is demonstrating, and then makes one of
their own, and lastly explains it to someone else. Dr.
Pelley explains that Sensing types benefit by developing
visual connections between related terms and concepts.
This activity of looking for the concepts and determining
the best way to connect it all develops the Sensing
student’s Intuitive skills. Intuitive types also benefit by
the concept mapping. It gives them a place to attach
those often overlooked details which then helps them to
memorize those details, thereby developing their Sensing
skills.
There are several steps to developing a concept map.
The first is to have an overview map with a main
topic. Topics can then be divided a number of different
ways: categories, components, steps, cause and effects, or
characteristics. Using colors helps your visual memory
do an even better job of recall. If you think you might be
interested let Michele or I know. We would be glad to
provide assistance.
I have included two types of maps: one for the M1s
and another for the M2s. Spend a minute looking at
them. If you think you might be interested let Michele or
I know. We would be glad to provide assistance!
■
Tori Taylor
What do you miss about
being an undergraduate?
I don’t miss it.
How do you deal with the
smell from Anatomy ?
I use lemon juice and water.
What has been your favorite
prop from class?
The dryer hose.
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
9
The Stratified Squamous
Epithelium flowchart is for
those in the M1 year. This
image was taken from
Success Types for Medical
Students by John W. Pelley,
Ph.D with Bernell K.
Dalley , Ph.D. 1997, Texas
Tech University Extended
Studies.
The coagulation cascade,
seen here (a chart all too
familiar to the M2s) is an
example from MedMaps for
Pathophysiology by
Yasmeen Agosti
and
Pamela Duke, M.D. 2008
Lippencott Williams.
■
Any requests
for the music Dr. Nichols plays before
Peg by Steely Dan, because it
What was the best study break you took has a killer guitar solo and a
the weekend before the first MCB test?
really smooth groove.
Derrick Brown
Sunday night my roommates and I
played different 80s TV theme songs
and tried to guess what they were.
Which professor would you spend
a night on the town with?
Dr. Nichols. It would
be great to talk music.
10 WELLNESS CHRONICLE
Tales
from
Longitudinal Clinic
By Jim Ramig
Editor’s Note: What follows are a couple of entries from Jim Ramig’s
Clinic Journal, a required component of the M2 Applied Clinical Skills
Course. With this, Mr. Ramig provides an excellent example of an easy
way to contribute to the Wellness Chronicle: submit required work that
you’re proud of. Thanks for the great idea, Jim!
carpet were as unsuccessful as my attempt to use a Jedi
mind trick on my attending.
T
oday was my second longitudinal clinic
experience. I still don’t feel like a doctor. Next
week I will be interviewing patients for the first
time, and I don’t feel like I have earned their
trust. Today, a man came into the clinic for a checkup on
his depression medication. Here was a normal, midthirties gentleman whose wife was leaving him and taking
their two children, and there wasn’t a damn thing he felt
he could do about it. He wasn’t angry, just sad and
helpless. He started crying. He had silent sobs of mixed
emotions and grief bubbling out of every sentence. He
was completely helpless.
I felt like a voyeur, inappropriately peeking at this
vulnerable man’s fragmented reality. I wanted to crawl
inside my white coat and let this man have his grief and
his privacy. I felt he deserved that much. Any attempt at
empathy would be an insult to the depth of this man’s
misery. At the end of the interview, he apologized to
me. I still don’t understand why. The patient said he was
sorry we couldn’t meet under better circumstances. Bitter
irony struck as I reflected upon his words. Nobody wants
to appear helpless, grief stricken, and desperate,
especially to a stranger. Unfortunately, this circumstance
will be the context in which I will meet the majority of
my patients. I was sorry, too.
T
oday is my third day at longitudinal clinic. I
still don’t feel like a doctor. Only today, I fear
that my patients are going to share in my lack
of confidence as I interview them for the first
time. After a few Strep throats, and one sprained wrist I
was gaining confidence in my skills and my ability to
report the relevant findings back to my attending. My
next patient was in for her two-month check-up after
starting depression medication. “Hi. My name is
Jim. I’m an inexperienced medical student who is half
your age. Please share with me some of the darkest
moments in your life.” My confidence was placed
squarely between currently unavailable and utterly nonexistent. Unfortunately, my attempts to melt into the
Me to my attending while waving my hand: “You don’t
need to interview this patient.”
My attending: “Of course I don’t you smart ass, because
you are doing it for me.”
As I snapped back into reality, I realized my attending
was waiting for me to go into the room.
The patient turned out to be a recently unemployed,
middle-aged, single, obese woman who looked about as
uncomfortable as I was about the situation. For a
millisecond I considered pointing out the white elephant
in the room by acknowledging our shared uneasiness
about the interview. Instead, I went with the tried and
true, “How can I help you today?” I let her explain as
little or as much as she wanted about her
circumstances. She told me everything. I heard about her
job-search difficulties, her feelings of worthlessness, her
suicidal tendencies, even her feeling of guilt for not being
able to properly feed her dog. In moments like this I feel
like the white coat has the same effect as four shots of
hard liquor. People open up. They will tell you anything
and everything. I still can’t figure out why. Maybe it’s
the confidentiality. Maybe they think that the more they
tell us, the more we can help them. Maybe they just want
to talk. I was hoping for the latter of the three
expectations, because I didn’t have much to offer in terms
of concrete solutions for any of her problems. We
discussed her renewed interests in reading books
especially the J.K. Rowling Harry Potter series.
As the interview drew to a close, we could both sense
the tough questions coming, and our uneasiness returned
(Continued on page 13)
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
A Message
from Marcia
By Marcia Cusic
CUSOM Chaplain
H
ave you ever considered how you as a
medical doctor might use your knowledge
and skills to be a sign of God? The following
is from the Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)
Chapter 38:1-15.
Hold physicians in honor, for they are essential to you,
and God it was who established their profession.
From God, doctors have their wisdom. And the king
provides for their sustenance.
Knowledge makes doctors distinguished, and gives them
access to those in authority.
God makes the earth yield healing herbs, which the
prudent man or woman should not neglect;
Was not the water sweetened by a twig that men and
women might learn his power?
He endows men and women with the knowledge to glory
in his mighty works,
Though doctors ease pain and the druggist prepares
medicines;
Thus God’s creative work continues without cease in its
efficacy on the surface of the earth.
My son and daughter, when you are ill, delay not but pray
to God, who will heal you;
Flee wickedness; let your hands be just, cleanse your
heart of every sin;
Offer your sweet-smelling oblation and petition a rich
offering according to your means.
Then give doctors their place lest they leave; for you need
them too.
There are times that give doctors an advantage, and they
too beseech God that their diagnosis may be correct
and their treatment brings about a cure.
He who is a sinner toward his Maker will also be defiant
toward the doctor.
As medical doctors you can have a profound influence
on society. You can live out the mission of Jesus by
promoting good health and providing care for the ill and
by “being present” to your patients and their families. As
a medical doctor you will have a role in influencing and
educating society about healthcare delivery, working to
eliminate injustice and discrimination in the medical
FALL 2008
11
world, and continually humanizing the healing process.
As medical doctors, called to your profession, you are
given vast amounts of resources to use in your healing
mission.
Might I
suggest you take a
moment to consider how
your own spirituality
and faith-tradition will
come into play as you
minister to the sick, the
burdened, the old and
the young, people of
influence and people
who feel powerless. I
encourage you to
consider asking God to
join you on your medical
journey and to consider
a medical practice in
partnership with the
ministry of Jesus.
Here are some upcoming events to guide you:
Friday, October 10 - 6:15 PM Lower Saint John’s. Health
Science Student Retreat. Spirituality and personal
balance. Various healthcare professionals will speak on
this topic. The retreat will begin with Tai Chi and
includes dinner. No cost.
Saturday, October 18 - 10:00 AM Saint John’s. The
White Mass, celebrating the health professions and the
Feast Day of St Luke, Patron Saint of Physicians.
Friday, October 31 - 12:00-1:00 PM Criss III room 452.
Father Kevin Fitzgerald, SJ from Georgetown. Bio Ethics
Stem Cell Research Presentation.
■
(Continued from page 6) Tunnel
definitely days that really sucked but it was all worth it.
So keep on pluggin’ on, you will make it to the Promised
Land.
Just two things that I think are important to think about
to keep it all in perspective. One of your goals should be,
when you are done with medical education you will want
the people who love you to still be able to recognize the
person that you are, so please take some time on a semiregular basis to do the things that defined you before
medicine. Second, do you know what they call the guy
that graduates last in his medical school class? They call
him “Doctor”. You don’t need to be perfect to get that
prized MD, but if you sacrificed everything to be first in
your class you may not be a great physician.
So good luck to the classes of 2012, 2011, 2010, and
my own beloved class of 2009. I hope to see you on the
wards or around school.
■
12 WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
By Dr. Michael G. Kavan, Ph.D.,
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Eating Disorders
Guys, you should read this too
E
ating disorders are typically marked by the
presence of severe disturbances in eating
behavior, including behavior such as an
extreme reduction of food intake or extreme
overeating, or feelings of extreme distress or concern
about body weight or shape. This may begin somewhat
innocuously, but often spirals out of control and may
involve biological, behavioral, and social underpinnings.
regardless of the type, often have coexisting mood,
anxiety, impulse-control, or substance-use disorders. Put
another way, women and girls are much more likely than
males to develop an eating disorder. Men and boys
account for an estimated 5 to 15 percent of patients with
anorexia or bulimia and an estimated 35 percent of those
with binge-eating disorder. One of the few studies I have
seen on medical students examined female medical
students in the UK and noted that 19 percent had some
type of eating disorder.
Types of Eating Disorders
The essential features of Anorexia Nervosa are that a
Prevalence of Eating Disorders
There are two major types
person refuses to maintain a
of eating disorders: Anorexia
minimally normal body weight,
Nervosa (AN) and Bulimia
is intensely afraid of gaining
Nervosa (BN). A third category
weight, and exhibits a significant
is Eating Disorders Not
disturbance in the perception of
Otherwise Specified (EDNOS)
the shape or size of his or her
and includes those eating
body.
In
addition,
disorders that do not meet the
postmenarcheal females with
full criteria for the other eating
this disorder are amenorrheic.
disorders or involve BingeBulimia Nervosa is
Eating Disorder. A recent
characterized by binge eating
NIMH study found that Bingeand inappropriate compensatory
Eating Disorder is more
methods to prevent weight gain.
prevalent than both Anorexia
The self-evaluation of
Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa.
individuals with BN is also
The study, published in the
excessively influenced by body
February 1, 2007 issue of
shape and weight. Binge eating
Biological Psychiatry, was
and the inappropriate
based on data gleaned from the
compensatory behaviors must
NIMH-funded National
occur, on average, at least twice
Comorbidity
Survey
a week for three months.
Replication (NCS-R). The A vital component common to AN and BN is that the C o m p e n s a t o r y b e h a v i o r s
study found that 0.9 percent of
typically entail self-induced
patient “exhibits a significant disturbance in the
women and 0.3 percent of men perception of the shape or size of his or her body.” vomiting or the misuse of
reported having anorexia at
laxatives, diuretics, or enemas,
some time in their lives, and 1.5 percent of women and
as well as non-purging types including fasting or
0.5 percent of men reported having bulimia. In contrast,
excessive exercise.
3.5 percent of women and 2 percent of men reported
Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified—
having Binge-Eating Disorder at some point in their lives.
specifically, Binge-Eating Disorder—involve recurrent
The study also found that people with eating disorders,
(Continued on page 13)
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
(Continued from page 12) Eating Disorders
episodes of binge eating associated with subjective and
behavioral indicators of impaired control over, and
significant distress about, the binge eating. However,
there is the absence of the regular use of inappropriate
compensatory behaviors as one sees in BN.
Treatment and Management
Anorexia Nervosa - The treatment of Anorexia
Nervosa typically involves three components: 1) restoring
the person to a healthy weight, 2) treating the
psychological issues related to AN, and 3) reducing or
eliminating behaviors or thoughts that lead to disordered
eating, and preventing relapse.
Some research suggests that the use of medications,
such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood
stabilizers, may be modestly effective in treating patients
with Anorexia Nervosa by helping with mood and
anxiety, but they may not be effective in preventing
relapse. No studies have shown them to be effective in
restoring healthy weight. Individual, group, and family
psychotherapy have shown to be beneficial. Typically a
combined approach that involves both medical treatment
and supportive psychotherapy may have the most
promise.
Bulimia Nervosa - Treatment or management of
Bulimia Nervosa often entails nutritional counseling and
psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavior therapy
(CBT). In addition, medication such as the selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may also be used
since they also may positively impact patients who are
also experiencing depression and/or anxiety. Medication
also appears to help
reduce binge-eating
and
purging
behavior, reduce
the chance of
relapse,
and
improve
eating
attitudes. CBT that
is individual or
group-based and
has been tailored to
treat bulimia has
also been shown to
be effective in
changing binging Psychotherapy has been shown to
and
p u r g i n g be beneficial in the treatment of
eating disorders.
behavior and eating
attitudes.
Binge-Eating Disorder - Treatment is similar to those
used to treat bulimia. Fluoxetine and other antidepressants
may reduce binge-eating episodes and help alleviate
depression in some patients. Patients with binge-eating
FALL 2008
13
disorder also may be prescribed appetite suppressants.
Psychotherapy in an individual or group environment,
especially CBT, is also used to treat the underlying
psychological issues associated with binge-eating.
If you believe you or a peer may have an eating
disorder, please seek help or encourage that person to get
help immediately since some problems may be life
threatening. A first step may include talking with our
psychologists at the Health and Counseling Center. These
services are free and confidential. The phone number is
280-2733.
■
Resources
National Institute of Mental Health Eating Disorders
Information:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/eatingdisorders/summary.shtml
National Eating Disorders Association:
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
(Continued from page 10) Longitudinal Clinic
with a vengeance. After the white elephant kicked me in
the face a couple of times with pauses of awkward silence
as my superficial questions ran dry, I finally managed to
ask her if she was still having suicidal tendencies. I
almost danced on the table when her answer was no. The
instinctual response of a medical scientist would be to
evaluate what circumstances changed her outlook. I
nearly blurted out, “Why not?” Fortunately, I had the
presence of mind to rethink the phrasing, and instead I
asked her to share with me the positive elements of her
life that kept her going from day to day. With the suicide
question out of the way, the rest of the interview went
smoothly, and I reported back to my attending.
I still don’t feel like a doctor, but I feel a little less like
an incompetent student. Maybe that is all a doctor is,
relatively speaking: the one person who doesn’t feel
completely helpless when another person has a problem.■
14 WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
Diamond Rings
and Babies!
Marty Kinsey married M3
Genevieve Flock on June 21. The
ceremony was held at St. Mary’s
College, CA where they met, and
the reception took place on a San
Francisco Bay Cruise.
Amanda Smith, M3, married Joseph
Hinkle on June 28, 2008. The
ceremony took place in their
hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.
Erin Cockson (M2) and Marco
Bravo got engaged May 31 at Park
Monceau in Paris. They will marry
December 27, 2008 in Omaha.
On August 27 at 2:27
PM, Joseph James Miller was
born at Bergen-Mercy Hospital
to Leanna and Jacob Miller
(M1). He weighed 6 lbs. 11.9
oz. and was 19.5 inches long.
David Nash (M2)
and Sara Holman
were married
this summer in
Minnesota.
Julianne Chalupa (M3) and Brett
Hesterberg of Denver, Co got
engaged this past June in Vail,
CO. The wedding will be in Grants
Pass, OR in June, 2010.
WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
15
M3 Kaitlyn
(Wright) and
Nicholas
Weidenbach
married June 7,
2008 in Merrimack,
New Hampshire.
Erica Currier (M3)
married Kyle Argall on
June 14, 2008 in Fargo,
ND. They honeymooned
on Turks and Caicos.
Erica Reinig (M2) & Matt
Steele got engaged this past
summer. The wedding will be
Sept. 26 in Erica’s hometown
of Portsmouth, IA.
Patty Schwartz (M2) &
Robert Terp married in
St. John's Church at
Creighton on May 24.
The couple
honeymooned in South
Lake Tahoe, CA.
Naomi Carmen
Ward was born
March 19, 2008
(6lbs. 15oz. 21
inches) to Christi
Ward, M4, and
Dusty Ward, MD,
Class of 2007.
On September 6,
M3 Mandy Kreis
married Ben
Buskevicius. The
wedding took
place in Papillion,
Nebraska.
16 WELLNESS CHRONICLE
FALL 2008
Fall Events Calendar
Oct. 7
Oct. 8
Oct. 10
Oct. 11
Oct. 15
Oct. 15, 17, 19
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
Oct. 20
Oct. 21
Oct. 22
Oct. 24
Oct. 25
Oct. 28
Oct. 29
Oct. 31
Nov. 1
Nov. 2
Nov. 3
Nov. 4
Nov. 5
Nov. 6
Nov. 7
Nov. 8
Nov. 12
Nov. 16
Nov. 17
Nov. 20
Nov. 21
Nov. 22
Nov. 23
Nov. 26
Nov. 30
Creighton vs. UNL Volleyball
Creighton vs. Memphis Men's Soccer
Tegan & Sara
Jim Gaffigan
Rascal Flatts
Creighton vs. Evansville Men's Soccer
Mary J. Blige
The Pirates of Penzance
Creighton vs. Evansville Volleyball
Creighton vs. Southern Illinois Volleyball
Against Me!
Creighton vs. North Dakota Women's Soccer
k.d. lang
Toadies
Ron White
Yonder Mountain String Band
Creighton vs. Evansville Women's Soccer
Cirque de la Symphonie
The Academy Is...
Electric Six w/ Local H
Steve Miller Band
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Tracy Morgan
Augustana
Creighton vs. Drake Men's Soccer
Monchy y Alexandra
Ludo
Creighton vs. UNO Women's Basketball
Neil Young
Metallica with Down and The Sword
Jack's Mannequin
Creighton vs. Indiana State Volleyball
Creighton vs. Central Missouri Women's Basketball
Creighton vs. Illinois State Volleyball
New Kids On the Block
Ingrid Michaelson
Creighton vs. New Mexico Men’s Basketball
Celine Dion
Creighton vs. UNL Women's Basketball
Creighton vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff Men’s Basketball
Secondhand Serenade
Creighton vs. Northern Iowa Volleyball
Creighton vs. Bradley Volleyball
Creighton vs. Oral Roberts Men’s Basketball
Creighton vs. Iowa State Women's Basketball
Nine Inch Nails
Creighton vs. Denver Women's Basketball
Qwest Center
Creighton Stadium
Sokol Auditorium
Omaha Music Hall
Qwest Center
Creighton Stadium
Qwest Center
Orpheum Theater
Civic Auditorium Arena
Civic Auditorium Arena
Slowdown
Creighton Stadium
Holland Performing Arts Center
Sokol Underground
Orpheum Theater
Sokol Auditorium
Creighton Stadium
Orpheum Theater
Sokol Auditorium
The Waiting Room
Civic Auditorium Arena
Mid-America Center
Omaha Music Hall
The Waiting Room
Creighton Stadium
Mid-America Center
Sokol Underground
Civic Auditorium Arena
Qwest Center
Qwest Center
Sokol Underground
Civic Auditorium Arena
Civic Auditorium Arena
Civic Auditorium Arena
Qwest Center
Slowdown
Qwest Center
Qwest Center
Omaha Civic Auditorium
Qwest Center
Sokol Auditorium
Omaha Civic Auditorium
Omaha Civic Auditorium
Qwest Center
Omaha Civic Auditorium
Mid-America Center
Omaha Civic Auditorium