Spotlight

THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDOCollege of MedicinespotlightandLifeSciences 2016

Contents 3 Letter from the Dean Facts & Figures 4 Education 7 Research 15 Clinical Care 21 Faculty Notes 25i i C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E A N D L I F E S C I E N C E S S P O T L I G H T // utoledo.edu/med

Fulfilling our Mission The Spotlight presented before you is a snapshot of fiscal year 2015. I hope it provides great insight into the wonderful work going on each and every day at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. Inside, you will find a glimpse of how we are fulfilling our three mission pillars of education, research and clinical care. Among the highlights of 2015, we initiated a new partnership with ProMedica that will provide additional and expanded opportunities for the College of Medicine. This will include expanded research and learning opportunities for our faculty and students, as well as capital investment to improve the College of Medicine facilities.With new resources, we, along with our partners at ProMedica, have plans to markedly enhance our communityin several key areas: transforming ProMedica Toledo Hospital and Toledo Children’s Hospital into an academicmedical center, doubling biomedical research funding by 2020, and developing and recruiting leadership to lead ourorganization into the future.Philanthropy plays a vital role to ensure the continued advancement of medical science and our mission to improvethe human condition. In 2015, a strong performance in fundraising for the College of Medicine raised $6.5 million. Thisreport will highlight that success with the story of the new Medical Research Society, which awarded its first $50,000grant to a faculty member leading promising research. Our donors have also helped to ensure the dream of a medicaleducation is within reach for many of our new and continuing students by providing scholarship opportunities.The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons awarded The University of Toledo Medical Center’s(UTMC) Eleanor N. Dana Cancer Center an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2015. U.S. News and World Reportnamed UTMC Best Hospital and Most Connected Hospital in 2015, and the American Stroke Association recognizedUTMC with Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus Award for our diligence in following protocols in response to patientspresenting with stroke. The Heart Association also recognized the hospital with a Heart Failure Silver Plus QualityAchievement Award.As we look into 2016, there are several major initiatives that we’ll continue to pursue, including the ProMedica affiliationand improving communication throughout the College and University at large. This report is an example of ourstrategic plan to improve that communication.In closing, I would like to thank the faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, supporters and trustees who havecontributed to the remarkable achievements and successes in fiscal year 2015 and I’m looking forward to even moresuccess in the future.Christopher J. Cooper, MDExecutive Vice President for Clinical AffairsDean of the College of Medicine and Life SciencesTHE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 1

Facts & Figures HISTORY “I am proud to be a part of an In the 1960s, a critical shortage of doctors developed in the United States organization that is so caring due to the limited number of medical schools that existed to train them. In and willing to meet the needs response to this shortage, the Toledo State College of Medicine — later and requests of its students.” renamed Medical College of Ohio and, after that, Medical University of Ohio— was founded in 1964 as a freestanding, state-supported institution that — Jordan Burlen, fourth-year med eventually blossomed into an academic health sciences center. student, Hometown: Erie, MI One of 14 state universities in Ohio, The University of Toledo was established 506 702 in 1872 and became a member of the state university system in 1967. UT and MEDICAL the Medical University of Ohio merged in July 2006 to form an institution with GRADUATE STUDENTS a breadth of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs matched by STUDENTS fewer than 20 universities across the nation and with the third-largest public university operating budget in the state. 17 MISSION MD-PHD STUDENTS The mission of The University of Toledo College of Medicine is to improve the human condition. We do this by providing a world-class education for the next generation of physicians and scientists, by creating new knowledge that is translated into cutting edge clinical practice, and by providing the highest level of professionalism and compassion as we deliver university quality health care.STUDENTS 30.7The College enrolled 702 medical students and 506 graduate students in theSpring 2016 semester with 17 dual degree MD-PhD students. Average MCATMEDICAL STUDENTS: RECENT CLASS PROFILE 3.66The 177 medical students most recently admitted to the College represent 57different universities or colleges, including 19 institutions in Ohio. All students Average GPAhold Bachelor’s degrees, with 41 holding a Master’s and five with PhDdegrees. There are 101 men and 76 women. 101 76The entering class of 2015 was filtered from 4,216 applications. The average Male Femaletotal GPA of this class is 3.66. The average MCAT score was 30.7, which placesthis class in the top quartile of all applicants nationally, according to the AAMC. 131 24 White 106 35Asian 7 4 13Black/AA 1HispanicAdditional students from Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Indiana,Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas. 1Middle Eastern 21No Response2 C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E A N D L I F E S C I E N C E S S P O T L I G H T // utoledo.edu/med

DIVERSITY “UT gave me the opportunityThe College of Medicine and Life Sciences is a community of diverse, life-long to get conversant withlearners who embrace the value of diversity. We seek to create and sustain an different cultures andenvironment in which all members remain aware of and strive to achieve their celebrate diversity.”best potential when relating to patients, learners and colleagues from diverseracial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. — Sumit Bhattacharya, biomedical sciences PhDThe Office of Diversity is very active in the admissions process and sits on the program, Hometown: Kolkata,College of Medicine Medical School Admissions Committee. West Bengal, IndiaThe University of Toledo’s chapter of the Student National Medical Association(SNMA) is an organization for medical students, which focuses on the needs 15 5and concerns of current students that have historically been underrepresentedin medicine and come from underserved communities. The members of CLINICAL BASIC SCIENCEthis organization strive to ensure that medical education has emphasis onincreasing future physicians that are culturally competent and sensitive to the DEPARTMENTSneeds of diverse populations. RESEARCH SUPPORT FY15 RESEARCH DATA FOR THE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND LIFE SCIENCESFY15 TOTAL EXPENSES 19,325,234.84 Staff 265 Volunteer 1,424 FEDERAL 16,065,116.23 293ClinicalSTATE 246,447.16 Basic 67Science OTHER 3,013,671.42 78 51 FACULTY# of principal investigators # of new awards for FY15 196 239# of active awards # of grant proposals submitted and pending for FY15 THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 3

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EducationThe University of Toledo College of Medicineand Life Sciences is teaching and trainingfuture physicians and world-class researcherswho will lead the way to a new model of healthcare. Facing an aging population and anincreased need for health care providers, thiswork is even more relevant.By fostering new partnerships for academicexcellence and expanded opportunities forclinical training and residency placement,UT is on a long-term mission to recruit top-performing students, educate them to bethe best doctors, advanced practitionersand research scientists, and retain them innorthwest Ohio as they build their careers.THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 5

Academic Affiliation presents opportunityIn May 2015, The University of “Thanks to UT’s and ProMedica’s Dr. James Kleshinski, senior associateToledo College of Medicine and Life affiliation, not only will we retain far dean for clinical affiliations in theSciences announced a partnership greater numbers of the health care University of Toledo College ofwith Toledo-based health system providers we educate, but I have Medicine and Life SciencesProMedica. The partnership no doubt that students, residentsestablishes a 50-year affiliation and clinical faculty will be drawn Holly Bristoll, MBA, chief integrationbetween the College and the health to northwest Ohio and what we officer for academic affiliations forsystem that enriches the quality of are creating together,” said Dr. ProMedicamedical education and expands Christopher Cooper, executive viceclinical training capacity in Toledo. president for clinical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine andBeginning in the 2016-2017 academic Life Sciences.year, the transition of UT residents toProMedica facilities for their training The partnership is governed by anwill begin. ProMedica will assist the Academic Affiliation Operating GroupCollege with teaching and research (AAOG) with equal representationas well as provide a $250 million from each institution and chaired bycapital investment in new College Dr. Christopher Cooper. Dr. Jamesfacilities. ProMedica Toledo and Kleshinski, UT senior associate deanToledo Children’s Hospitals will be for clinical affiliations, and Hollydeveloped as a flagship academic Bristoll, chief integration officer formedical center. The larger facility will academic affiliations for ProMedicaoffer more opportunities for specialty will guide and advise the AAOG andtraining and education. constituencies of both organizations towards the goals of the academic affiliation agreement. “UTCOM gives its students ample opportunities to serve the surrounding community. Through this service, students are less isolated to a campus and are more connected and part of the larger community of Toledo.” — Karyssa Schrouder, first-year med student, Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI Randy Oostra, FACHE, chief executive officer of ProMedica, and Sharon L, Gaber, PhD, president of The University of Toledo, sign the affiliation agreement.66 C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E A N D L I F E S C I E N C E S S P O T L I G H T // utoledo.edu/med

THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND LIFE SCIENCES/PROMEDICA ACADEMIC AFFILIATION The academic affiliation between the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences and ProMedica will: • Build a strong academic medical center focused on academic excellence and research • Offer a broader range of educational and training opportunities for future physicians and medical professionals • Attract and retain a greater percentage of physicians and other medical specialists • Increase clinical training capacity that will be comparable to other major academic centers • Create new jobs and drive community revitalization, economic and business development opportunities • Enhance research and innovation opportunitiesStudents training to be doctors, nurses and physiciansassistants worked together to save the human simulatorsuffering complications resulting from a heroin overdose. THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 7

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Lloyd A. Jacobs Interprofessional Opened April 22, 2014Immersive Simulation Center 65,000 sq. ft.The University of Toledo’s Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Centerreflects today’s reality of medicine. Students in differing specialties are FY 2015 CENTER USAGElearning the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork and collaboration. 19,145 Total LearnersThe three-story, 65,000-square-foot facility is the first in the nation to 3,513 were Medical Studentsincorporate three integrated simulation centers: a progressive anatomy andsurgical skills center, an advanced clinical simulation center, and a virtualimmersive reality center.“Our graduates leave UT better equipped for their careers due to the amplified 40,000+ experience they receive from the Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center,” said Dr. Christopher Cooper, executive vice president for clinical learners since opening affairs and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. “They are more confident in their abilities, which leads to higher patient confidence and safety.” 6 In its first year of operation, the Center has been the source of training Patient simulation rooms for approximately 2,000 learners per month, including those from the colleges of medicine and nursing as well as paramedics from local fire 3 Floors: Virtual Immersive Reality and rescue departments and military units. The Center’s technology can also be applied in nonmedical fields including the arts, humanities, natural Advanced Clinical Simulation Center sciences and engineering. Progressive Anatomy & Surgical In March 2015, UT named the Center in honor of former president Dr. Lloyd Skills Center A. Jacobs. A vascular surgeon, Jacobs served as UT’s president from 2006 to 2014 and oversaw the merger between the Medical College of Ohio (MCO) 13 Surgical Bays and UT. He served as the sixth president of MCO before the merger. ACS Accredited LEED CERTIFIED“I’m proud of the knowledgeable,experienced and compassionatephysicians that are producedat UT with the many resourcesprovided through the SimulationCenter, incredible professors,and opportunities given on theHealth Science Campus.” — Moriah Muscaro, first-year med student, Hometown: Commerce Township, MI THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 9

UT Match Day Each year, fourth-year medical students at The University of Toledo wait anxiously to reveal their future as part of National Match Day — the day when medical students are informed of where the National Residency Matching Program has placed them to complete their medical residency. “The residency matching program is highly competitive,” said Dr. Ronald McGinnis, senior associate dean of student affairs in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. “Our students perform very well against their peers on the USMLE step exams, which are key to the residency match. As a result of their strong academic and clinical performance, they earn top-choice placements in residency programs across the country where they will pursue their medical specialty.” In 2015, 166 fourth-year medical students matched to residencies in 29 states. Of the students matched, 64 were placed at hospitals in Ohio, 19 in Michigan and 15 remained in the Toledo region. The University of Toledo College of Medicine also received 10,641 applications for core residency programs. “These and all of our graduates exemplify The University of Toledo’s mission,” said Dr. Christopher Cooper, executive vice president for clinical affairs and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. “They are poised to improve the human condition through compassionate care, new treatment methods and community service. They are ready to become leaders and agents of change.” WHITE COAT CEREMONY As the UT College Medicine and Life Sciences welcomes each new class of first-year medical students, the white coat ceremony is an important initiation to the professional education and training upon which they are embarking. During new student orientation, each student is presented with a white coat from the faculty of the College at a ceremony hosted by the dean of the College. “The ceremony represents the transition from the role of a student to that of a member of the medical profession,” said Dr. Ronald McGinnis, senior associate dean of student affairs in the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. In 2015, the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences received 4,216 applications and accepted a class of 177 new medical students. The class placed in the top quartile of all applicants to medical schools nationally.1 0 C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E A N D L I F E S C I E N C E S S P O T L I G H T // utoledo.edu/med

MD/PhD student receives top honorsCommitted, intelligent FUNDS CREATEDand extremely busy arejust a few of the qualities In Fiscal Year 2015, The University ofprofessors used to Toledo Foundation established severaldescribe Adam Blatt. new endowed scholarships to support new and continuing College of MedicineThe MD/PhD dual degree and Life Sciences students.student is the recipient of • Eric B. Stein, MD Memorial Scholarship Fund, 7/8/14two prestigious honors: • Medical Research Society Endowedthe Dr. Freimer Excellence Fund, 7/11/14in Microbiology and Adam Blatt in the lab. Photo by Adaeze Izuogu. • College of Medicine Grant Holding Fund,Immunology Award and 8/7/14the Dr. Freimer MD/PhD Scholarship. • Patricia J. Metting, PhD Scholarship Fund, 10/23/14The awards are named for Dr. Earl Freimer, a co-founder of the originalMedical College of Ohio and founding chair of the Department of Microbiology. • Helen Brown & Jessie NiedermeyerThe awards are presented to students with the highest marks in the infection College of Medicine Scholarship Fund,and immunity block of the medical curriculum, and to support MD/PhD 11/21/14students conducting research in the medical microbiology and immunologytrack, respectively. • Frances M. Weirich Gangrene Research Fund, 11/21/14Blatt has completed two years of medical school and is spending his thirdyear researching in the lab, focusing on identifying targets for therapeutic • Dr. Charles M. Balch Medical Studenttreatments to prevent increased thrombosis and inflammation. His Award, 12/22/14dissertation work is co-funded by the National Institutes of Health R01 grantand an American Heart Association Pre-Doctoral Fellowship. • Medical College of Ohio Alumni Endowed Chair in Surgery, 2/26/15Dr. Viviana Ferreria, associate professor of medical microbiology andimmunology, is Blatt’s PhD advisor. He also works in Ferreira’s lab on his • Sunderji Prize in Maternal and Fetaldissertation project. Medicine Fund, 2/27/15Supporting the Mission: • Sunderji Lecture Fund in Maternal and Fetal Medicine, 2/27/15Scholarships support a legacy ofacademic excellence • Office of Global Health Medical Mission Fund, 5/6/15 Community and alumni support for UT’s College of Medicine and Life Sciences make it possible for students to pursue their dream of a medical • College of Medicine General Scholarship, education. In 2015, the College awarded 97 scholarships totaling $1,070,192 to 6/17/15 85 students either entering or continuing their education at UT. • Brain Disease and Injury Fund, 6/23/15“Medical school indebtedness is one of the greatest barriers to pursuing a medical education and a career as a physician,” said Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences. “This is why we work so diligently and consistently to grow our scholarship program.”Throughout the year, the University hosts several events with proceeds benefiting the scholarship program. Many UT alumni and supporters have also established named scholarship funds to continue the legacy of academic excellence they have appreciated at the University. THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 11

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ResearchFor centuries, through the process ofinvestigation and discovery, researchers havecontributed to the advancement of society.Better health, longer lives, greater prosperity.The University of Toledo College of Medicineand Life Sciences continues to encouragescientific investigation among its faculty andlearners by supporting promising new researchand identifying new sources of seed funding.It’s through this level of discovery that ourresearchers are helping to ease pain, buildmemories and safeguard the next generationof scientists.THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 13

UT neurologist finds source of migraines for those with childhood trauma“I am proud to be at UT Dr. Gretchen Tietjen has for 25 neglect, emotional, physical orbecause of the diversity years studied correlations between sexual abuse, exposure to domesticof students and staff migraine headaches and stroke. As violence, parental substance abuse,and the amount of chair of the department of neurology mental illness, criminal behavior orinterprofessional and director of The University of parental separation or divorce) mayopportunities that are Toledo Medical Center Headache lead to long-term abnormalities ofavailable.” Treatment and Research Program, blood vessels that, in turn, increase a Dr. Tietjen continues to search not patient’s risk for migraines and stroke. — J. Chika Morah, only for the cause of migraines, third-year med student, Hometown: she’s looking also for a personalized Identifying biomarkers indicative treatment for people who suffer them. of endothelial dysfunction can Xenia, OH help physicians more accurately In a recent study, Dr. Tietjen and determine if a patient is at risk for her team examined the connection stroke and suggest daily medication of biomarkers for endothelial therapies to prevent the condition. dysfunction (a condition in which Dr. Tietjen notes that the research blood vessels can become also supports the value of cognitive inflamed and elevated proteins behavioral therapies that can alter cause coagulation), migraines and how some individuals respond to childhood adversity. The study is the stressors, particularly stressors first of its kind to investigate a link tied to headaches, in lessening between the three. inflammation and endothelial dysfunction and preventing the Dr. Tietjen says early results indicate occurrence of headaches and that adverse childhood experiences vascular diseases like stroke. (such as emotional and physical Tietjen14 C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E A N D L I F E S C I E N C E S S P O T L I G H T // utoledo.edu/med

UT researcher develops experimentalcompound that could help Alzheimer’s patientsDr. Kenneth Hensley, associate Dr. Hensley also hopesprofessor of pathology, is using acompound that he developed and that by understanding howpatented known as LKE, or XN-001,to explore the possible medical the natural and syntheticbenefits for Alzheimer’s patients.The experimental therapeutic drug molecule works, researchersmimics a natural chemical found inthe body that he believes protects will gain insight intothe brain and its neurons. the biological base forLKE treatment reduces neuraldamage and accelerates recovery Alzheimer’s disease in orderin a mouse model of diffuse axonalinjury, which is a common type of to develop improved drugsbrain injury in motor vehicle accidents,combat injuries and football players. that can safely and cost-The compound works by binding toa protein called CRMP2 that helps effectively slow the disease.stabilize connections that neuronsuse to communicate with one another. He has partnered withIn traumatic brain injury, theseconnections are damaged; however Dr. Marni Harris-White, a HensleyLKE helps nerve cells repair the researcher atCRMP2. the Veterans Administration Because LKE is still in pre-clinical trials, it will be some time before of Greater Los Angeles Healthcare there will be the possibility of testing on humans. Dr. Hensley continues Center and the University of to work to develop treatment that is generally accessible to those California at Los Angeles. Dr. suffering from brain injury and memory loss, which he believes Harris-White began testing LKE on can be done by developing small molecules that are safe and can be genetically altered mice to determine manufactured at a low cost. its effects on Alzheimer’s disease, and the results have been promising. The drug seemed to improve all of the pathology associated with the disease and slow the loss of memory.Emergency physician and colleagueswork to identify concussion indicatorsDr. Kris Brickman, chair of Hensley, associate professor of conduct can help not only determine aemergency medicine at The pathology, the multi-disciplinary team more scientific concussion diagnosis,University of Toledo College of is examining the salivary biomarkers of but also what drugs and dosages willMedicine, is leading research to save the players. They began by collecting best treat the injury.young minds. The team doctor for a saliva samples from players at thelocal parochial school football team, beginning of the season and freezing In the short term, the professorsthe doctor is working with a team them. As players sustain a concussive hope to better diagnose and treatof UT faculty to more scientifically injury, a second saliva sample is taken concussions in order to mitigatediagnose and treat concussions. and compared to the control sample. damage to the brain. In the long term, they hope their research will lead toTogether with Dr. Daniel Gaudin, The researchers have determined that a device that could serve as a fieldassistant professor of surgery, Dr. certain proteins consistently appear test, allowing trainers and coaches toDavid Giovannucci, professor of damaged in post-injury samples. determine if a player needs medicalneuroscience, and Dr. Kenneth The biomarker tests the researchers attention or is cleared to play. THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 15

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Supporting the Mission:The University of Toledo Medical Research SocietyThe University of Toledo Collegeof Medicine and Life Scienceshas set a goal to double researchfunding by 2020. But amid fundingreductions from traditional researchfunding sources, it is difficult forjunior faculty members to secureseed funding for new clinicalinvestigations. The University isworking to promote and aid theseyoung investigators by establishinga permanent endowed source ofgrant funds for biomedical projects.The University of Toledo Medical The UT Medical Research Society is a community-university partnership to fund biomedicalResearch Society supports research ongoing in the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences.biomedical research through acommunity-university partnership “The Medical Research Society Cancer Biology for her research toby funding grants for promising UT is a direct reflection of our develop a drug to fight ovarian cancer.faculty. The society was started community’s commitment to the The research examines a drug thatby Marianne Ballas, a member research efforts of our faculty,” said blocks tumor cells from binding soof the UT College of Medicine Dr. Christopher Cooper, dean of tightly together, and, when combinedAdvisory Council, chair of Women the College of Medicine and Life with existing ovarian cancer treatment& Philanthropy at UT, and owner of Sciences. “Biomedical research is drugs, more easily penetrates theBallas Buick GMC in Toledo. critically important for the College tumor to kill it. of Medicine and the societyDR. KATHRYN EISENMANN acknowledges the importance of In addition to advancing newWAS AWARDED THE UT funded research and the critical treatments for chronic diseases andMEDICAL RESEARCH need for support for early career conditions, the seed money providedSOCIET Y’S FIRST GR ANT. investigators who are transitioning by the Medical Research Society to scientific independence.” helps researchers to advance theirThe $50,000 award will support her project. Once they are able to proveresearch into new ovarian cancer In its first year, the society has gained the ingenuity of the investigation andtreatments. 20 members, including Dr. Cooper support it with substantive data, the and his wife, who have pledged research is more likely to attract grant $25,000 commitments. Additionally, funding from other sources, enabling University of Toledo Physicians have the investigator to more fully develop agreed to match up to $1 million. the research. This strong early commitment made The society meets throughout the year it possible for the society to award its to discuss research that is on-going first grant for $50,000 to Dr. Katheryn at the University and review the rising Eisenmann, assistant professor in projects eligible for funding. the Department of Biochemistry and THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 17

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Clinical CareSharing expert knowledge with students andfostering discovery and development of newtreatments for chronic health conditions arekey aspects of medical education. But whydo we do it? For our patients. Our physicians,researchers and learners keep our patients atthe heart of every lecture, every lab and everyclinical experience. Expert, patient-centeredcare is the product of their ongoing researchand learning, and they are sharing this withpatients from across the country and aroundthe globe.THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 19

Patient-Centered care ona global stageDr. Kris Brickman, professor andchair of the Emergency MedicineDepartment and director of the UTOffice of Global Health, led two of hissenior emergency residents, BrandonStransky and Scott Hackman, toNepal less than two weeks after a7.8-magnitude earthquake shook thecountry. They were in Nepal whenaftershocks rippled throughout therecovering nation.The UT physicians teamed up with Dr. Kris Brickman examined a woman in Nepal. He and two UT residents went to thethe Special Commission on Relief & country following the first earthquake to provide medical assistance.Education of the Filipino Associationof Toledo, known as SCORES. The Honduras. By joining with Toledo- patients had questions about hearthealth care team in Nepal also based Cedar Creek church, which pain and palpitations, but the clinicincluded two orthopaedic surgeons, a founded the clinic in La Ceiba, generally lacks specialty care andgeneral surgeon, an anesthesiologist, UT physicians, faculty, staff and provides only the most basic medicala pharmacist, nurses and several students are providing care to treatment for routine illnesses andother relief workers. the city of nearly 250,000. The injuries.This is one of several medical missions community would otherwise have noDr. Brickman has made in addition to local access to health care. “The nearest hospital with arelief work in Haiti and the Philippines. cardiologist is two and half hoursUT physicians and the UT College “I like the idea of us integrating with away,” Dr. Khouri said. “Hardly anyoneof Medicine and Life Sciences are a local community,” Dr. Brickman has health insurance and it wouldalso working to build a sustainable said. “By sending medical teams to cost a month’s salary for any type ofmedical mission in La Ceiba, this community every few months, heart treatment. These people were we provide better continuity and so appreciative of the help and careDr. Samer Khouri was the first-ever cardiologist to treat education for the local medical staff, that we brought to their city.”patients in La Ceiba during a 2015 trip to Honduras. including specialty care, more than a once-a-year mission.” “It’s the right thing to do,” Brickman said of UT’s medical mission and Dr. Samer Khouri, professor and disaster relief work. “As emergency director of non-invasive cardiology in physicians, we need to be engaged the UT College of Medicine and Life or lead these efforts to respond when Sciences, was the first cardiologist the infrastructure of a country is to treat patients in La Ceiba. He was overwhelmed in trying to manage a joined by Dr. Eddie Kakish, Dr. Jean- crisis like this.” Paul Amegee and registered nurse Julia Benfield, on the mission trip in UT students also make regular May 2015, during which time they mission trips to Central America treated about 80 patients a day. as part of the UT chapter of Global Medical Brigades, the largest Residents flocked to the clinic where student-led undergraduate medical UT’s team had set up. Many of the mission trip organization in the world.2 0 C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E A N D L I F E S C I E N C E S S P O T L I G H T // utoledo.edu/med

Comprehensive health care inan aging communityWhen it comes to mental health, “Senior Behavioral Health is a and is designed to track changes incaring for seniors can be very specialized program that is symptoms and behaviors.different than caring for children, able to provide appropriate andadolescents or young adults. individualized care for older adults,” “Our goal is to give the patient the bestSeniors metabolize medicine said Ryan Domschot, community quality of life with the least amount ofdifferently. They can have difficulties education manager for Senior medication,” Domschot said.expressing feelings, become Behavioral Health.combative or aggressive, and may Opened in 2014, UTMC’s Behavioralexperience thoughts and feelings that Geropsychology facilities are Health Center has 18 beds andare unusual for them. different from long-term care or accepts patients 24 hours-a-day. assisted living. They are meant to be The program provides patientsThe University of Toledo Medical short term to help patients readjust. with individualized occupational,Center now offers a senior-based Providers test all aspects of the physical and other therapies frominpatient medical program to monitor patient’s condition and examine an integrated team that includesthe health of adult patients 55 years prior and current health issues, nursing staff, recreational therapistsand older who are experiencing medications and lifestyle choices. and family therapists.emotional or behavioral health issues. The UT program is outcomes-based The center also offers free mental health educational programs in the community.Cardio-Oncology clinic addressesspecialized needs In 2015, The University of Toledo “We want to minimize cardiotoxicity Dr. Jodi Tinkel Medical Center established a cardio- for those undergoing cancer oncology clinic focusing on the heart treatments as well as decrease any using echocardiography with strain health of cancer survivors. long-lasting cardiovascular problems imaging, which detects toxicity at an after treatment,” said Dr. Jodi Tinkel, earlier stage than routine echo.” Located in the Eleanor N. Dana associate professor, assistant chief Cancer Center, the weekly clinic medical officer and medical director Tinkel also consults with patients who assists patients in continuing their of ambulatory care at UTMC. are already suffering from cardiac chemotherapy and radiation care problems because of previous while minimizing the potential for a Tinkel, a cardiologist who is running chemotherapy treatments. Medications negative impact on their heart. the clinic, said cardiotoxicity could can be used to reduce the risk or help cause the heart muscle to weaken with existing cardiac problems.“UT is deeply invested in and not circulate blood as efficiently.the community, striving to It is a concern for some patients THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDOserve it as best as possible being treated for breast cancer,through service and for example. Fortunately, not alleducation.” chemotherapies cause cardiotoxicity. — Justin Julian, first-year med “Oncologists could consider referring student, Hometown: Green, OH a patient to us if they think someone is at risk or has developed cardiac symptoms suggestive of toxicity,” Tinkel said. “We can image the heart 21

Supporting the Mission: Grateful Patients MARISSA GIBBONS AL MUNDT Each August, The University of Toledo Marissa Gibbons was diagnosed with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Medical Center and the Mundt family in high school. Living in a small town, her access to medical care was limited host the annual “From the Heart” to community hospitals without specialists familiar with her condition. celebrity wait event, held at Loma As Marissa began her college search, her parents were simultaneously Linda, an area Mexican restaurant. concerned with finding a physician that could address her health needs and “It is an event we have been doing for improve her quality of life while she was away from home. Their hunt culminated five years. It has been very popular at The University of Toledo with UT Physician Dr. Blair Grubb. from the first year on and we haveThe Gibbons family was gratified to find that a world-class physician and been very successful,” said Al Mundt, expert on POTS was at the very school Marissa was considering to pursue her whose family owns Loma Linda. undergraduate degree in business. Mundt had a heart transplant in 1998“We went through some trial and error, tried a couple different methods,” at the former Medical College of Ohio. Gibbons said of the early years of her treatment with Dr. Grubb. “Now I’m in “My heart was giving out; it was my senior year at UT and I barely recognize the symptoms anymore.” working only 12 percent,” he said. “I Gibbons describes Dr. Grubb, a distinguished university professor in the have had this new heart for 17 years Department of Medicine and director of the Clinical Electrophysiology and it has been going very well.” Program, as a doctor who takes time with patients and remembers them. Established in 2008, the endowment“Every time I’ve gone back, he remembers everything about me and checks in supports new and innovative on how things are going at school and different things like that,” Gibbons said. programs such as the Left Ventricle“He’s very personable.” Assist Device and other advanced Marissa’s mother, Angela Gibbons, shared her thanks as well. cardiovascular care at The University“It is truly amazing what a difference Dr. Grubb and Beverly Karabin, the of Toledo Medical Center. cardiovascular nurse practitioner, have made in Marissa’s life. You would never All the tips raised by the celebrity know the struggles this girl has dealt with,” she said. “We will be forever grateful waiters go toward the fund. Each for the help of the UTMC staff. POTS robbed her high school years, but Dr. Grubb year, the event raises approximately and Bev helped make her college years so much better.” $30,000-$40,000 and draws UT“Our five-year journey to find the talented and caring staff at UTMC was physicians, faculty and staff as worthwhile,” Angela said. “The proper diagnosis and treatment plan have celebrity waiters. made a life-changing difference.” Dr. Cooper at the 2015 celebrity wait night.2 2 C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E A N D L I F E S C I E N C E S S P O T L I G H T // utoledo.edu/med

Faculty NotesThe following is a snapshot of the many exciting activities in which our facultyparticipate. In addition to their day-to-day responsibilities, our award-winningdoctors share their knowledge and research by making hundreds of presentationsin regional, national and international meetings. Faculty serve on scientific societiesand organizations, National Institutes of Health (NIH) study sections and journaleditorial boards.ANESTHESIOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND • Randall Ruch, PhD, Cynthia CANCER BIOLOGY Smas, DSc, and Kam Yeung,• Two members of our department, PhD, each received $20,000 Dr. Kimberly Jenkins and • Ivana de la Serna, PhD, gave pilot research grants from Dr. Gregory Filatoff, have an invited presentation at the the deArce-Koch Memorial become American Board of meeting of the XXII International Endowment Fund. Anesthesiology junior oral Pan American Society for board examiners. Pigment Cell Research in • Cynthia Smas, DSc, was Singapore. elected to serve as an Associate• Two members of our department Editor for the American Journal have assumed leadership • Lijun Liu, PhD, gave an invited of Physiology, Endocrinology roles within the Ohio Society presentation at the American and Metabolism. She also of Anesthesiology: Dr. Daniel Society for Biochemistry served on the editorial board Grum as vice-president who and Molecular Biology of the journal, Adipocyte. will succeed to president next 14th International ATPase year and Dr. Jason Stroud Conference in The Netherlands. • Kandace Williams, PhD, as an alternate delegate served on the editorial boards to the American Society of • William Maltese, PhD, was for the journals Mutation Anesthesiology representing a visiting professor at the Research and Journal Ohio. University of Barcelona in of Carcinogenesis and Spain. Mutagenesis.• Dr. Joseph Atallah, Chef, Division of Pain Medicine, • Dr. Maltese, with Jean “I was surprised at the served as a speaker at the Overmeyer, PhD, Paul willingness of the faculty North America Neuromodulation Erhardt, PhD, and Chris and staff to go above and Society annual meeting in Trabbic received two U.S. beyond their call of duty to December 2014. (Interaction Patents for “Materials and teach us.” between implantable cardiac methods useful to induce devices and spinal cord vacuolization and cell death” — Tina Sulkowski, Physician Assistant, stimulator devices). in cancer cells. Class of 2016 (PA-S2),• Dr. James Hofmann was a • Maurice Manning, PhD DSc, Hometown: Valley City, OH featured speaker at the Society served as a member of the of Cardiovascular Anesthesia FASEB board of directors, annual meeting on the topic of representing the American Ethics and Organ Donation. Peptide Society at meetings with elected representatives in Washington, D.C. THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 23

GRADUATE MEDICAL • Isabel Novella, PhD, gave • Randall Worth, PhD,EDUCATION multiple presentations at the was an invited speaker at American Society for Virology’s Nationwide Children’s Research• Dr. James Kleshinski, 34th Annual Meeting in July Institute’s Center for Microbial Associate Dean for GME and 2015 in London, Canada. Pathogenesis in Columbus in DIO, presented at the 2014 April 2015 and the Midwest Generalists in Medical Education • Dr. Kevin Pan, was an invited Microbial Pathogenesis Meeting Annual Conference in Chicago speaker at the International in Chicago in September 2014. for a panel session entitled: Shock-Sepsis Forum in Bridges Across the Education Guangzhou, China, in April 2015, • Since 2006, Dorothea Sawicki, Continuum: Preparing Medical and an invited presenter for PhD, has been secretary and Students for Their Next Stage of Frontiers in Immune Modulation treasurer for the American Training. in Singapore in June/July 2015. Society for Virology, which has its national headquarters at TheMICROBIOLOGY/ • Stanislaw Stepkowski, DVM, University of Toledo.IMMUNOLOGY PhD, was an invited speaker for the Philippine Transplantation NEUROLOGY• Faculty and students made Society, Polish Transplantation 46 presentations in total Society and Dalhousie • Dr. Lawrence Elmer received in regional, national, and University in Halifax, the Leonard Tow Humanism in international meetings. Nova Scotia, Canada. Medicine Award.• Viviana Ferreira, DVM, PhD, • Dr. Stepkowski and R. Travis • Dr. Gretchen Tietjen was presented at XXV International Taylor, PhD, presented at the elected to Council of Association Complement Workshop in Rio World Transplant Congress/ of University Professors of de Janeiro in September 2014. American Transplant Congress Neurology (AUPN). Dr. Ferreira also presented in San Francisco in July 2014. at the 2nd International NEUROSCIENCES Symposium on Frontiers in • Akira Takashima, MD, PhD, Cardiovascular Research in was an invited speaker at • NIH Study Section Member Huatulco-Oaxaca, Mexico, in the 44th Annual Meeting of Assignments: Bryan Yamamoto, November 2014. the Japanese Society for PhD, Marthe Howard, PhD, Dermatoallergology and Jeremy Laukka, PhD and• Jason Huntley, PhD, and Jyl Contact Dermatitis in Sendai, Joseph Margiotta, PhD. Matson, PhD, presented at the Japan, in November 2014. Gordon Research Conference • Bryan Yamamoto, PhD was in July 2014 in New Hampshire. • R. Travis Taylor, PhD, Plenary Keynote Speaker at Dr. Huntley also presented presented at the American 3rd International Conference at the American Society for Society for Virology’s 33rd and Exhibition on Addiction Microbiology Biodefense and Annual Meeting in June 2014 in Research and Therapy in Emerging Diseases Research Fort Collins, Colorado. Chicago in August 2014. Meeting in February 2015 in His topic was “Peripheral Washington, D.C. Dr. Matson • R. Mark Wooten, PhD, and Central Mechanisms also presented with Robert presented at the 96th Annual of Methamphetamine Blumenthal, PhD, at Great Meeting of The American Neurotoxicity: Connecting Lakes Bioinformatics Consortium Association of Immunologists the Dots.” Yamamoto also Annual Meeting in May 2015 in in New Orleans in May 2015. lectured on “Peripheral West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Wooten also presented and Central Mechanisms of at the 115th General Meeting Methamphetamine-Induce Brain of the American Society for Injury” to the Department of Microbiology in New Orleans a Pharmacology and Toxicology few weeks later. at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis in June 2015.2 4 C O L L E G E O F M E D I C I N E A N D L I F E S C I E N C E S S P O T L I G H T ///uutotoleleddoo.e.edduu/m/meedd

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON SCORES IN 100TH PERCENTILE ON BOARD RECERTIFICATION When Dr. Nabil Ebraheim, “It is an honor and a privilege to have such a Orthopaedic chair and surgeon gifted physician in our community, let alone at The University of Toledo on our staff at UTMC,” said Dan Barbee, vice Medical Center, received his president of clinical services at UTMC. “Even test results from the American better is the fact that as a faculty member and Board of Orthopedics in 2015, orthopaedic residency director, our students and it almost didn’t register. He had residents are being trained by one of the finest scored in the 100th percentile. surgeons in the country.” “When I looked at it, I couldn’t Ebraheim said he studied for the exam, but believe it,” Ebraheim said. attributes the achievement to his 30 years in “I never expected that. the field. He graduated from the Cairo University The exam was really hard.” School of Medicine in Egypt and completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the Downstate Board certification is a Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York. voluntary process, but many doctors get re-certified every 10 years because it demonstrates expertise He came to Toledo in 1985 and serves as in a particular specialty. professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, director of the Orthopaedic In 2004, Ebraheim scored in the 99th percentile. It was his goal to get in Surgery Residency Program and chief of the 100th percentile of the about 1,100 physicians who took the test. orthopaedic trauma.“It has always been a goal, but I never thought I could get in the 100th “As you get older, the tendency is you are less percentile,” he said. current and less up-to-date,” Ebraheim said, “but I try to be the opposite but I try to be the opposite.”• Dr. Carlos Baptista, presented Mechanisms of Autonomic • Dr. Sudhir Jain received the Plastination Technique Neuron Development” to the the 2015 American Society Course at the 26th Brazilian Department of Neurosciences of Hypertension, Young Congress of Anatomy in Curitiba, at Case Western Reserve Investigator Travel Award in Brazil, in November 2014. University in Cleveland in ASH Annual Scientific Meeting January 2015. in New York May 14-19, 2015.• Nicolas Chiaia, PhD, Marthe Howard, PhD, Jeremy Laukka, • The International Plastination • Bina Joe, PhD, has been named PhD, Joseph Margiotta, PhD, Society workshop was organized the 2014 Lewis K. Dahl Memorial Richard Mooney, PhD, Ruili by Dr. Carlos Baptista and was Lecturer by The American Heart Xie, PhD and Bryan Yamamoto, attended by scientists from 16 Association’s Council on High PhD, served as extramural grant institutions from 5 countries. Blood Pressure Research. reviewers for national foundation and government agencies. PHYSIOLOGY AND • Brahma Raju Mopidevi, PhD, PHARMACOLOGY received the Kidney Council• Marthe Howard, PhD, lectured New Investigator Award 2014. on “Molecular mechanisms of • Terry Hinds, PhD, received neural crest development” to the 2014 President of the Ohio UROLOGY the Department of Biochemistry Physiological Society Award, and Physiology at Dartmouth the 2014 NIH LRP Award for • Dr. Michael Rees’ efforts College in Hanover, New Health Disparities Research in paired donation led to the Hampshire, in 2014. Howard and the 2014 NIH KO1 Career world’s first ever “reverse also lectured on “Molecular Development Award. transplant tourism” paired kidney exchange. THE UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO 25

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