eNewsletter - News and Notes
Seventh Annual Colon Cancer Prevention 5K Run and Fun Walk
Penn State Hershey Colon and Rectal Surgery invites you, your family, and your friends to participate in the Seventh Annual Colon Cancer Prevention 5K Run and Fun Walk on Saturday, June 1, 8:30 a.m., at Carousel Pavilion on City Island, Harrisburg. Prize money, awards, and refreshments will be available for participants following the race. Funds raised will support colorectal cancer prevention, testing, and counseling at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Register here.
2013 Best Doctors list
For 2013, 179 Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center physicians, including many medical, surgical and radiation oncologists were selected for inclusion on the Best Doctors In America List, more than any other health care organization in the central Pennsylvania region. Best Doctors is a nationally recognized list that contains names and professional profiles of physicians chosen through an exhaustive peer-review survey in which thousands of physicians are asked to name the best clinical practitioners in their specialties. Only five percent of the doctors in America earn a spot on the list.
For a complete listing of Medical Center providers named to the 2013 Best Doctors list, go to pennstatehershey.org/bestdoctors.
Joanne McCrea, R.N., C.R.N.I., wins March DAISY award
Caption: L to R: Sherri Luchs, chief administrative officer, Medical Groups; Joanne McCrea, R.N., C.R.N.I; and Sherry Kwater, M.S.M., B.S.N., chief nursing officer
Joanne McCrea, R.N., C.R.N.I., a registered nurse in the Cancer Institute's outpatient services, was recognized by Chief Nursing Officer Sherry Kwater as the March DAISY Award winner. McCrea was nominated by a co-worker for the award. Phrases used to describe McCrea were, "You know when you step onto the unit if Joanne is working that day. Her laughter fills the infusion room and brightens the day. If she is on vacation, that patients are asking for her. Joanne establishes a special bond with her patients and their families. She sits and talks with them and remembers each one's name and profession. She helped a patient set up their iPad and showed her how to use it."
"Joanne makes sure her patients are well-educated by talking with them and printing out their education materials. She collaborated with the healthcare team to make sure the patient has everything they need to get through each treatment such as anti-nausea medications, correct appointments, etc. Joanne has excellent clinical skills and her peers look to her for her expertise and wisdom. She is an asset to the nursing profession and Hershey."
McCrea was presented with a certificate, DAISY Award pin, and a hand-carved Shona sculpture entitled "A Healer's Touch." McCrea and her unit also enjoyed Cinnabon® cinnamon rolls. Cinnabon is a corporate sponsor of the award through the DAISY Foundation. Her coworkers also presented her with a creative Daisy cupcake display and special posters.
The DAISY award is an award recognizing nurses for delivering skillful, compassionate care. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The award was created in memory of Patrick Barnes who died at the age of 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The DAISY Foundation was established by Patrick's family to keep his spirit alive. The primary mission of the DAISY Foundation is to express profound gratitude to nurses for the work they do for patients and their families every day.
McCrea has been an employee for twenty years, including sixteen years as a staff nurse in the infusion room of the Cancer Institute.
Breast Cancer Caregiver Leah Cream Named 2013 Healthcare Hero
Congratulations to Leah Cream, M.D., who was awarded a 2013 Healthcare Hero honor as part of Central Penn Parent's sixth annual Healthcare Heroes awards program that recognizes excellence, promotes innovation and honors the efforts of individuals and organizations making significant positive impacts on the quality of health care in Central Pennsylvania.
Cream won in the category of Breast Cancer Caregiver of the Year for providing support both physically and mentally to patients battling breast cancer.
Cream was recognized at a breakfast celebration on April 5 at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey. She will be featured in a supplement to the May 2013 issue of Central Penn Parent magazine.
El-Deiry elected President of Interurban Clinical Club, Boston
Wafik S. El-Deiry, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.P., Rose Dunlap Professor and Chief, Hematology/Oncology Division, Associate Director for Translational Research, Cancer Institute, Program Leader, Experimental Therapeutics, Cancer Institute was recently elected to serve a one-year term as president of Boston's Interurban Clinical Club.
New Hematologist/Oncologist joins Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute in State College
Hassan Sheikh, M.D., joined the Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute team in State College in March 2013. Sheikh earned his medical degree at Aga Khan University Medical College in Pakistan. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and a fellowship in geriatric medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, N.Y. In 2012, he completed another fellowship in hematology/oncology at Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute in Hershey. Sheikh joined our team after working at PinnacleHealth/Fox Chase Regional Cancer Center. Sheikh's clinical interests include geriatric oncology and solid tumors. In his free time, Sheikh enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his wife and two kids.
Free Wig and Look Good…Feel Better Programs Available to Cancer Institute Patients
Caption: L to R: Connie Blauch, Damaris Perez, Amanda Sanders
Nurse coordinators Connie Blauch and Amanda Sanders, and patient navigator Damaris Perez strive to bring the best care possible to patients. After learning more about the Wig Program and Look Good…Feel Better—both of which are offered free to patients courtesy of the American Cancer Society—they worked to bring both programs to Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute for the convenience of patients undergoing treatment for cancer.
"Connie, Amanda and Damaris are highly motivated and took the initiative to collaborate with the American Cancer Society to bring these programs to the Cancer Institute," said Clinical Head Nurse Rebecca Gingrich. "They are a great representation of our team's dedication to providing top notch patient care and the Cancer Institute's vision of providing more supportive services to our patients."
The Free Wig Room is located in Infusion Therapy (first floor) to help patients undergoing cancer treatments and experiencing hair loss. Those who may be looking for a wig can visit the private Wig Room where a licensed cosmetologist provides personal assistance in wig selection, fitting, styling, and wearing at no charge. All fittings are by appointment only.
"Patients are able to be fitted for a wig during their scheduled chemo treatment at the Cancer Institute," said Sanders, who hopes to bring as many patient-oriented programs as possible to the Cancer Institute.
Blauch, Sanders and Perez were also instrumental in starting the Look Good…Feel Better® program last summer. A free, national public service program, Look Good…Feel Better helps female cancer patients improve their appearance and self-image by teaching them hands-on beauty techniques to manage the appearance of side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Each program is two hours; registration is required.
"Until now, patients had to go to the Breast Center or to a community oncologist office to experience the Look Good…Feel Better program," noted Sanders. "It's such a great program; our patients should have easy access to it."
Click here for more information about the Wig Room, including how to schedule an appointment. Click here for the Look Good…Feel Better program schedule.
Bermudian Springs High School Senior Memorializes Uncle with Charity Motorcycle Ride
Caption: Ceara Laughman presents Thomas Loughran, Jr., M.D., with the proceeds from her charity motorcycle ride in honor of her uncle.
Frank Moser, a loving uncle, son and brother passed away from esophageal cancer in June 2011, six short months after his initial diagnosis. The impact of Frank's courageous battle with cancer led his niece, Ceara Laughman, to focus the efforts of her high school senior project on memorializing Frank and raising money to support esophageal cancer research.
A senior at Bermudian Springs High School, Ceara was shocked to learn that esophageal cancer has less than a five percent survival rate. So, when planning began for her senior project in her junior year of high school, she knew immediately she wanted to help other families impacted by the disease.
She initially began plans for a walk to raise money for esophageal cancer research; however, quickly decided to switch her focus to a motorcycle ride to honor the fact that her uncle was an avid motorcyclist.
Together with the help of her family and support from local businesses, Ceara organized a 70-mile ride on Saturday, June 23, 2012. The ride began at Battlefield Harley Davidson in Gettysburg and extended through the southcentral PA countryside to Laurel Lake at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in southern Cumberland County, before returning to Gettysburg.
Fourteen riders participated in the event and Ceara rode with her father on the lead bike. In total, Ceara's efforts raised more than $400 for esophageal cancer research and she recently presented the proceeds to Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute Director Thomas Loughran, Jr., M.D.
Nurse Coordinators Featured in Oncology Times
After diagnosis, each cancer patient treated at Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute is assigned a nurse coordinator—a registered nurse who manages that patient's care, working under the direction of a physician and with the entire cancer care team. Nurse coordinators Linda Farling, C.R.N.P., O.C.N. and Rebecca Gingrich, R.N., M.S., O.C.N., discuss how and why the system works in their article "Beyond the Bedside: Nurses as Patient Navigators" in the March 25 Oncology Times. Click here to read the article.
CIS Training Center has new location
Effective March 13, the CIS Education Center (Room H5101–fifth floor-hospital) was permanently relocated to TG200 on the ground floor of the Cancer Institute. Anyone with a current reservation in H5101 will be relocated to TG200. Badge access and room layout will remain the same; the only change at this time is the location. To find TG200, take the rotunda elevator to the ground floor and follow signs to the Cancer Institute/IT Education Center. TG200 is on the left side of the hallway.
Finding Hope with Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute
Check out our latest issue of Finding Hope which features articles about the emotional side of cancer, thyroid cancer, thoracic/lung cancer care, ways to shield oneself from skin cancer, and clinical trials.