Dartmouth Medicine Summer 2002
Dear Reporter, Editor, or News Director:
Inside the Summer 2002 issue of Dartmouth Medicine (to request a printed copy, call 603-653-0772 or e-mail dartmed@Dartmouth.edu), read about:
An effort to export epilepsy surgery to developing countries: Dartmouth neurologist Peter Williamson hopes to help countries with emerging economies all around the world develop the capability to perform epilepsy surgery--a procedure that cures the disease in cases when it's appropriate. He's already off to a good start with a successful pilot project in Uruguay. See page 3.
Mental health on the Maine line: The state of Maine recently signed a partnership agreement with Dartmouth Medical School's Department of Psychiatry, which will now oversee the delivery of care at the state-run Augusta Mental Health Institute. It's the psychiatry department's third partnership with a state facility. See page 8.
A real fish story: It may not be high fashion, but anesthesiology resident Ann Bartlett really does wear an Orvis fishing vest while she's on duty in the hospital, even in the OR. Why? The answer comes down to one word: pockets. See page 9.
Technology for battlefield medics: A multidisciplinary research team, including engineers and doctors, is working to develop computerized technology that will help medics monitor their troops during battle--and that might someday find application in hospital settings. See page 10.
What psychiatrists can learn from the movies: A recent psychiatry grand rounds presentation at Dartmouth focused on what lessons about mental illness can be gleaned from its depiction in film. Even psychiatric patients can be helped with scenes from the silver screen, said the presenter. See page 11.
A housekeeper who dispenses kind words as well as clean sheets: Marilyn Wessel's official job is to change the sheets and clean the rooms in the residents' on-call quarters at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. But she's also made it her business to care for the psyches of the institution's hard-working doctors-in-training, almost like an old-time housemother. See page 13.
Aftermath of an outbreak: A pinkeye epidemic that took place last winter on the Dartmouth campus is now history, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still investigating its whys and wherefores. The CDC's effort has been aided greatly by several Internet-based surveys that Dartmouth officials conducted. See page 13.
A potential cancer-killing gene: A Dartmouth Medical School pharmacology laboratory recently identified a gene in certain leukemia cells as a promising anticancer target. An unusual aspect of the discovery is that it focuses attention on the cells' protein degradation pathway. See page 26.
If you'd like to pursue any of these stories, you can contact:
- Hali Wickner, communications director for Dartmouth Medical School, at 603/650-1520.
- Deborah Kimbell, media relations manager for DHMC, at 603/653-1913.
Or feel free to give me a call; my direct line is 603/653-0770.
Dana Cook Grossman
Editor