BWH News

Kenneth Baughman, MD, director of Advanced Heart Disease, 63

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

p>BWH mourns the loss of Kenneth Baughman, MD, a loving husband, father and grandfather, inspiring leader, compassionate clinician and beloved colleague. He passed away Nov. 16 in a tragic accident in Florida, where he was attending the American Hear

Always Ready for Every Patient

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Staff at the Thoracic Surgery Ambulatory Center are always ready for every patient. That’s what the BWH Readiness Team found last week after visiting the center as part of the hospital’s preparation for the unannounced Joint Commission accreditation

H. Richard Nesson Fellowship Recipients Named

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hospitalists Cheryl Clark, MD, SD, and LeRoi Hicks, MD, MPH, are this year’s 2009 H. Richard Nesson Fellowship recipients.

BWH Celebrates Rad Techs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Radiology Department celebrated the essential role more than 400 licensed technologists play

Making the Thornton and Naumes House at 48 Francis Street a Home

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The nine families staying at the Thornton and Naumes House at 48 Francis St. will receive dinners complete with turkey and all the fixings, including pie and cider, on Thanksgiving Day.

Wreath Sale Benefits Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Handmade holiday wreaths on sale in the Cabot Atrium Dec. 3 will benefit Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center patients and their families.

Send a Message of Thanks to a Colleague

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Is there someone at BWH who always makes you smile? Someone who goes out of their way to help colleagues? Someone you know you can count on—when it counts?

Honoring Veterans

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Miguel Pachebat, center, along with Thomas Chafe, RN, left, and Andrew Sants, all veterans who work in the Emergency Department

Bulletin Bullets

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bulletin Bullets

Current Cigarette Smokers at Increased Risk of Seizures

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cigarettes increase risk of seizures, while moderate caffeine or alcohol use was found to have no association with seizures.

Specific Genetic Mutations Do Not Affect Lung Function Response to Asthma Treatment

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Therapy's effects on airway hyperresponsiveness, not lung function, was affected by genetic mutation.

Six Minutes Can Make a Difference for Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Laura Cruwys’ last hope of receiving a lung transplant rested on her ability to walk continuously for six minutes on a flat surface.

“Walking for that period of time doesn’t seem like much, but for patients who are awaiting a lung transplant,

Improving Quality of Life for Pulmonary Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Patients are raving about the BWH Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services provided at Faulkner Hospital. There, medical director Hilary Goldberg, MD, respiratory therapist Priscilla Perruzzi, RRT, clinical supervisor of Pulmonary Rehab, and senior exercise

BWHers’ Generosity Helps United Way Campaign Reach All-Time High

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The 2009 BWH United Way Campaign reached new heights this year with more than 1,000 donors contributing more than $155,000—record highs for both the number of donors and the total raised for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley.

Safety Reporting System Faster than Ever

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This month, a new format for the BWH Safety Reporting System (rL Solutions) will be rolled out, making submissions faster and more streamlined than before. The quick submission reporting format reduces the number of fields required to report an event

Run the Boston Marathon with Team Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Boston Marathon training season is just around the corner, and BWH is recruiting runners to join the extraordinary Team Brigham. Each member of the team commits to running the marathon and raising a minimum of $3,500 to support the hospital’s communi

Beat Lung Cancer Balloon-a-Thon

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Employees, patients and friends and family are invited to the first annual balloon-a-thon to beat lung cancer in women.

Bulletin Bullets

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bulletin Bullets

Blood Vessels in Prostate Tumor May Indicate Aggressiveness of Cancer

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers have found that the characteristics of the blood vessels within prostate tumor cells may indicate the aggressiveness of the cancer.

SSJP Receives Innovator Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH’s Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP) received another accolade as it kicked off its tenth year of opening the path to careers in health care, science and medicine to high school students.

Braverman Awarded for Social Work Excellence

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

“We can never give up on our patients,” said Braverman, who received this year’s Martha Byron Burke Award for Social Work Excellence for her compassion and consistent leadership.

Banner Year for Organ Donation, Transplantation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As BWH concluded the fiscal year this fall, the hospital marked what has been an extremely important year for organ donation and transplantation.

Creating First-Class Emergency Departments Around the Globe

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Most of the Emergency Department directors from around the world who attended a BWH-led course last month are facing an uphill battle.

Nguyen Named Human Resources Director of Operations

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Trieu Nguyen was promoted to director of BWH Human Resources Operations last month. As director, Nguyen will utilize his research, analytical and problem solving skills as he takes the lead on the day-to-day operations of employee records, PeopleSoft

Silencing the Wheezing Roar of Asthma

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Partners Asthma Center recently celebrated two decades of commitment to the best possible medical care, cutting-edge research and asthma education for patients and care providers.

Annual Halloween Bash Serves Up Goodies

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Brigham and Womens Ambulatory Care Center staff at 850 Boylston St. celebrated in style last week with apple cider, cookies and plenty of candy during its annual Halloween Bash.

Service of Remembrance Gives Parents Hope, Comfort

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

he usually buzzing Cabot Atrium became a place of silence and reflection last week as more than 130 parents, children, relatives and BWH staff came together during the seventh annual Service of Remembrance, which supports families who have experience

Online Videos Show Patients How to Get to BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Traveling to the hospital might be a little confusing for first-time patients and visitors. To make their trip as simple as possible, BWH now offers videos that provide a preview of Francis Street and the entrances at 15, 45 and 75 Francis St. and t

Bulletin Bullets

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bulletin Bullets

RESEARCH BRIEF: Novel Therapeutic Protein Identified for the Prevention of Fibrosis

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is the first to identify a therapeutic protein with potential to prevent fibrosis.

BWH Researchers Receive Boost Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Anemia Treatment of Patients with Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease is No More Effective Than Placebo and Carries Risks

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers found no significant differences in deaths, heart attacks, heart failure, or need for dialysis compared to placebo. However, researchers found an increased risk of stroke among those assigned to darbepoetin alfa compared to placebo.

Team Goes Above and Beyond to Care for Young Heart

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After undergoing coronary bypass surgery earlier this month, Cassidy Brown was eager to regain her strength quickly for one immediate reason: trick-or-treating on Halloween.

Honoring Survivors

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As a primary care provider, Liliana Rosselli-Risal, MD, knows all too well the cycle of domestic violence. She also knows of the important role care providers and Passageway advocates play in removing the stigma surrounding domestic violence and help

Soto Named Director of Central Transport Services

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Luis Soto was named director of Central Transport and Patient Equipment Services last month.

Open Enrollment for Benefits Nov. 2-22

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Open enrollment is the only time of year when employees can make changes to their benefits, unless they have a qualified change of status event. This year’s open enrollment period is Monday, Nov. 2, through Sunday, Nov. 22. Changes will take effect i

Cooking Demonstration Videos Online

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Move over, Food Network. BWHPikeNotes.org boasts the latest cooking demonstration videos from Kathy McManus, RD, director of Nutrition, and John Buckley, lead chef for Food Services.

BWH Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mishel Burgos and Mazie Anckle, RN, this month were honored with the second annual Hispanic Heritage Award established by Patient Care Services and the Department of Nursing to celebrate the contributions of staff from Hispanic and Latino backgrounds

IN Party Raises $1 Million for Community Health

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

At the second annual IN Party last month, the whimsical red and blue boxes that served as centerpieces emphasized the reasons more than 400 people came to the Intercontinental Hotel to celebrate BWH’s community health programs. Thanks to the generous

Bulletin Bullets

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bulletin Bullets

Yolanda Donates Hundreds of Wigs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bridal shop owner Yolanda Cellucci generously donated several hundred wigs to the Friends Place boutique, a part of Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center. The wedding icon, known for helping thousands of brides, delivered the wigs herself las

Pain thresholds linked to inflammation and sleep problems

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that inflammation is associated with heightened pain sensitivity at joint sites, whereas increased sleep problems are associated with heightened pain sensitivity at both joint and non-joint sites.

Fish Oil Component Shows Potential to Treat a Variety of Inflammatory Diseases

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers discover why fish oils produce anti-inflammatory effects, which could have major clinical implications for the treatment of a number of diseases related to inflammation.

RESEARCH BRIEF: Researchers Identify Structure Aiding in Prostate Cancer Metastasis in Bone

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Specific structures on the surface of prostate cancer cells trigger prostate cancer cell adhesion inside blood vessel walls in bone tissue, greatly increasing the prospect of prostate cancer cells metastasizing to bone.

New Process for Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation Discovered

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH have discovered a novel means of controlling stem cell differentiation into desired cell types.

Better Retention in Care is a Cost-Effective Way to Improve Outcomes in HIV Disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The effectiveness of treating HIV with antiretroviral therapy is undermined by the large number of individuals who initiate treatment but do not continue regular clinic visits.

Racial and sex disparities in survival losses due to HIV in the United States

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The benefits in survival for treating HIV with antiretroviral therapy appear to differ by both gender and ethnicity.

BWH Names Next President: Nabel, NHLBI Director

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Elizabeth G. Nabel, MD, the director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), was named the next president of Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner hospitals. A board certified cardiologist who completed her internship, residency and fellowsh

Simulation Education

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When a 14,000-square-foot simulation center opens at the SRM University Teaching Hospital in Chennai, India, next year, a piece of its success will be traced back thousands of miles to BWH.

Changes in the Center for Clinical Excellence

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tejal Gandhi, MD, will be leaving her role as executive director of Quality and Safety at BWH to become the director of Patient Safety for the Partners network in January. Gandhi, who created the BWH patient safety team in 2000, will continue her cli

BWH and DFCI Honor Physician Assistants

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly 200 physician assistants, physicians, hospital leaders and colleagues gathered at the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center to celebrate National Physician Assistant Week?—?a time to recognize the dedication, leadership and commitment of all BWH and D

Study Relaxation at the Heart Wellness Classroom

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Take a deep breath in through your nose. Exhale slowly through your mouth, and envision all the stress leaving your body as you do so.

Ice Cream Social Jump Starts United Way Campaign

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of employees enjoyed a sweet start to BWH’s United Way campaign during the kick-off ice cream social earlier this week.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Announces New President

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Elizabeth G. Nabel, MD, the Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, has been named the next president. Dr. Nabel will assume her position January 1, succeeding Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA.

Student Success Jobs Program Receives National Afterschool Innovator Award from MetLife Foundation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

MetLife Foundation and the Afterschool Alliance today honored the Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Student Success Jobs Program (SSJP) with an Afterschool Innovator Award.

Quality Care Continues to Soar with MedFlight

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When staff in the BWH Emergency Department receive word of an impending arrival via Boston MedFlight, they know that the patient likely will be critically ill, but also that he or she has received outstanding care in the capable hands of top-notch fl

BWH Kicks Off United Way Campaign

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a simulation exercise hosted by the United Way, BWH staff learned first hand about the current struggles of families living on the brink of poverty. David McCready, executive administrator of the Department of Medicine, played a disabled father of

Bringing World-Class Cancer Care to the South Shore

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hospital leadership and patients cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in clinical affiliation with South Shore Hospital in Weymouth this month.

Gandhi Honored for Patient Safety Research

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For her groundbreaking work in ambulatory patient safety, Tejal Gandhi, MD, MPH, executive director of Quality and Safety at BWH, was honored with the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for Research from the National Quality Forum and

Claudet Williams, Lead Linens Aide

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Claudet Williams is constantly on the move. Yet she always has time to share a smile with other hospital staff or say hello to patients as she dashes from one unit to another, making sure linen carts are properly stocked.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Think pink. In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, BWH is holding several events to encourage employees to get screened, learn to reduce their risk for breast cancer and employ laughter as the best medicine. Special thanks to the hundred

Pedaling for a Lupus Cure

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jean-Marc Dykes presents a $12,000 donation to the Lupus Center’s co-directors, Bonnie Bermas, MD, and Karen Costenbader, MD, MPH, after bicycling throughout the country to raise funds for lupus research. Dykes, who rode 4,011 miles over 58 days, was

Obituary: Sharon Flynn, 62, Transplant Surgery

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH mourns the loss of Sharon Kay Flynn, RN, a post-transplant nurse coordinator for kidney transplant patients, who passed away Aug. 13. She was 62.

Women’s Health Fall Program at Patriot Place

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Free Screening and Health Lectures Sponsored by Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center in Foxborough.

RESEARCH BRIEF: Blood Biomarkers May Predict Risk of Future Cognitive Deterioration

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers measured the level of amyloid ß peptides in the blood of Nurses’ Health Study participants and found that higher plasma Aß 40:42 ratios in late midlife was significantly associated with greater decline in cognitive function later in life.

CVS Caremark Undertakes Multi-Year Study to Improve Patient Medication Adherence

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH to work with CVS Caremark, which is sponsoring research to investigate patient adherence to prescription drug therapies and identify ways to increase adherence.

Risks of Complications by Attending Physicians Following Overnight Procedure is Significantly Reduced if Given an Opportunity to Sleep Six or More Hrs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New research finds that procedures performed the day after attending physicians worked overnight were not more likely to have an increased risk for complications if the physician had an opportunity to sleep for six or more hours.

Minimally Invasive vs. Open Radical Prostatectomy

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers find the minimally invasive approach results in a higher rate of genitourinary complications, incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

Enduring Impact Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ron Kikinis, MD

Alma Dea Morani Renaissance Woman Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Carol C. Nadelson, MD

BWH Adds to State of the Art Imaging Suite

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New system at BWH is the first in the world to allow the capabilities of both MRI and x-ray angiography in a single suite.

eMAR Comes Online in Oncology Units

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As part of the hospital's goal to provide a safe environment for patient care, BWH’s electronic medication administration record, or eMAR, is rolling out on Oncology patient care units this fall.

Acute Care Documentation Project Reaches Milestone

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

During last month’s Acute Care Documentation retreat in Waltham, BWH’s Christine Perino, RRT, was excited at the scenario unfolding before her. Volunteers from BWH and MGH were acting out a skit following a fictional patient through her plan of care,

Celebrating Surgical Technologists

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

OR staff celebrated the talents and dedication of surgical technologists with a breakfast in their honor as part of National Surgical Technologist Week.

Gayle Nylander, BSN, RN, Connors Center-7

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH mourns the loss of Gayle Nylander, BSN, RN, a nurse who had worked in oncology units at BWH since 1994. She passed away Aug. 20 at age 39 after a courageous battle against colon cancer.

BWH Increases Parking Spaces for Patients and Visitors

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On Oct. 5, BWH takes over full operation of the Servicenter Garage on Francis Street. The self-park spaces for patients and visitors that currently exist in the 45 Francis St. garage also will move to the Servicenter Garage.

BWH Celebrates National Midwifery Week

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kathleen O’Hara spent many hours in labor waiting for her first child to be born last October. But she didn’t wait alone. Every step of the way, BWH midwives provided words of encouragement, answered questions and delivered Olivia Joy, a healthy eigh

An Inside Look at the Importance of Being Out

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH/FH this year formed an affinity group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) staff to advocate for increased sensitivity to unique health and personal issues that LGBT patients face in different care settings, as well as to make the wo

Lisa S. Krivickas, MD, Department of Neurology

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH mourns the loss of Lisa S. Krivickas, MD, a physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the Department of Neurology, who died Sept. 22, of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

ARRA New Faculty in Sleep Medicine Grant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Frank Scheer, PhD

BWH Names Woodmansee Director, Clinical Neuroendocrine Program

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Woodmansee joins the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension and the Department of Neurosurgery

BWH Welcomes New Residents

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Each summer, BWH welcomes a distinguished and diverse group of new residents to its training programs. This year, two of those residents, Cheri Blauwet, MD, and Georg Gerber, MD, PhD, share their unique experiences, backgrounds and talents with BWH B

Mary Fay Enrichment Award Celebrates a Decade of Success

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Over the last decade, the Mary Fay Enrichment Award has given clinical nurses the opportunity to explore ways to enhance patient care and advance nursing practice at BWH.

Chaplaincy Celebrates Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Rabbi Katy Z. Allen, staff chaplain, demonstrates blowing of the shofar, an instrument that is a well-known symbol of Rosh HaShanah, for patients and staff. To mark the Jewish High Holidays, Chaplaincy Services offered apples, honey and prayer bookle

Championship Mission Accomplished

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After making it to the finals but coming away empty handed two years in a row, BWH this summer won its first championship in the Mission Hill Softball League in September. The BWH team, comprised of current and former staff from throughout the hospit

Youth Summit Produces Fresh Ideas

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A group of youth and youth workers in Jamaica Plain came together in August to talk about health equity and everything that affects it.

BWHers Take a Stand Against Heart Disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWHers showed their commitment to fighting heart disease as they walked among thousands along the Charles River Esplanade to raise money for cardiovascular research, advocacy and education during the 2009 American Heart Association’s annual Heart Wal

Video: Giving Birth to Hope

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Learning that his son Darren suffered from life-threatening leukemia was the darkest moment of Keith Kennedy’s life. The Kennedys received hope in the form of a cord blood donation that would save Darren’s life. Today, thousands of lives can be saved

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Researchers Receive NIH Awards to Encourage High-Risk Research and Innovation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Two of the 115 awards supported by the NIH Common Fund’s Roadmap for Medical Research are awarded to three BWH researchers.

Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation New Investigator Award in Alzheimer’s Disea

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Gad A. Marshall, MD

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Receives National Recognition for Exemplary Outcomes from the American College of Surgeons

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program recognizes BWH as one of 25 to have achieved exemplary outcomes for surgical patient care.

Breast Cancer Risk in Blind Women

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) have found that totally blind women have more than a 50 percent reduction in breast cancer compared to visually impaired women and that this same group of totally blind women have an earlier menarche.

Employee Flu Vaccine Program Begins Sept. 26

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH strongly recommends that all employees receive vaccinations for both seasonal flu and the novel H1N1 virus. In addition, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has specific requirements for all employees concerning the seasonal flu shot.

Employee Slogan Contest

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We asked for it, and you delivered. In response to an employee flu vaccine slogan contest, BWHers from throughout the hospital sent in nearly 170 smart, creative and witty slogans to inspire employees to receive their seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines t

BWHers Help Find Answers to Paranormal Activity

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ellen Campbell, Sharon Koogler and Terri Jamros are not afraid of the dark. In fact, when they’re not working at BWH, they spend much of their time in the dark searching for the paranormal.

Celebrating Team Spirit in Foxborough

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Rain didn’t dampen the spirit of hundreds of staff and their families who turned out to enjoy a great day of fun, food and celebration during the Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center Friends and Family Day at Patriot Place last month.

BWH Burn Team Stepping into Action

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Burn Team once again is taking advocacy for burn victims and their families beyond the walls of BWH as it prepares for the fourth annual walkathon to benefit the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors next month.

Red Sox Raffle Winners

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Brian J. and Donna Dee of Jamaica Plain were the winners of the annual Friends of BWH Red Sox vs. Yankees tickets raffle. The raffle raised $6,000 to benefit BWH, thanks to the generosity of Herbert P. Phillips, P.C., of Phillips, Gerstein, Holber &

Passageway Improves Health and Legal Outcomes

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For victims of domestic violence, it can be emotionally difficult to follow through and pursue legal outcomes that could increase their safety.

New and Improved Quality Pages on Brighamandwomens.org

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Brigham and Women’s Hospital is committed to providing patients with the safest, highest-quality, most-satisfying care possible. In an effort help patients better understand health care data and patient care issues that are important to them, the Cen

ED’s Edna Rivera Celebrates 80th Birthday

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For nearly 40 years in the Emergency Room, Unit Assistant Edna Rivera has made people smile and laugh with her quick wit and friendly personality. Last month, ED staff made her smile by surprising her with a birthday party to celebrate her 80th birth

Comprehensive cardiac CT scan may give clearer picture of significant heart disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers demonstrate the use of cardiac CT to detect both coronary artery stenosis and resulting myocardial ischemia in a single visit.

Lifetime Maternal Interpersonal Trauma May Increase Occurrence of Asthma and Allergies in Children

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For the children of Mothers who experienced physical or sexual abuse before pregnancy, a higher likelihood of developing asthma and allergies.

Treatment with Insulin or Metformin Does Not Reduce Inflammatory Biomarkers for Some Patients With Diabetes

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH found that in patients with recent onset type-2 diabetes, insulin and metformin did not reduce inflammatory biomarkers.

2009 CIMIT Young Clinician Research Awards

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Riviello, MD, MPH

New Procedure Offers Hope to Ventilator-Dependent Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A car accident three years ago rendered 20-year-old Jessica Whitson paralyzed from the neck down and dependent on a ventilator to breathe.

PACU Opens New and Improved Unit

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When caring for a patient at the newly opened PACU last month, Sue Vargas, RN, was able to reach into a supply cart and find all of the essential materials for patient care. She also had access to a ceiling lift above the bed to help her reposition h

Sobers Named Director of Recruitment

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In some ways, Beverley Sobers has been preparing to lead Recruitment in Human Resources since she began her career at BWH in 1977 as a unit coordinator at the Robert Breck Brigham Hospital. From there, she accepted a time planner position, in which s

Vercauteren Named Director of Workforce Development

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Geoff Vercauteren, who has served for three years as the career coach in Workforce Development, was appointed director of the department in August.

Students Graduate from Youth Summer Program

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Rather than sleeping late this summer, Michael Allen, a sophomore at the John D. O’Bryant High School, spent the past seven weeks in the Division of Sleep Medicine shadowing doctors, organizing documents and visiting the Sleep Health Center.

BWHer Reaches Blood Donation Milestone

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the past 23 years, Jim Gosnell, BSN, RN, has donated a total of 100 units of blood at the BWH Blood Donor Center. That’s enough blood to help more than 500 infants.

The New England Journal of Medicine and Brigham & Women’s Hospital Offer Interactive Medical Cases

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Unique online learning tool called Interactive Medical Cases enhances clinical learning in an innovative virtual format.

Implementation of a Rapid HIV Testing Program in an Emergency Department

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers share lessons learned from the experience of implementing an HIV testing program in a busy academic teaching hospital

Office Visits for Skin Infections Remain Unchanged Since Emergence of Community-Associated MRSA

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers find that skin infection visits to physicians’ offices have not become more common since the discovery of community-associated MRSA.

Proton Pump Inhibitors Do Not Interfere with Benefit of Antiplatelet Drugs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers found that proton pump inhibitors do not interfere with the clinical benefit of the anticlotting drugs clopidogrel or prasugrel in patients after an acute coronary syndrome.

Anticoagulant Shows Promise for Patients with Acute Coronary Symptoms

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Phase II clinical trial of drug designed to block the formation of blood clots shows potential to reduce the risk of death, a second heart attack, or other coronary complications.

Hormonal Therapy for Prostate Cancer Increases Risk of Death

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers have now identified the specific underlying health conditions that increase the risk of death in men treated with hormonal therapy for prostate cancer.

Plans for Mass. Mental Health Site Detailed

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Plans are in store for a brand new facility to replace the current Massachusetts Mental Health Center site on Fenwood Road, in addition to a clinical and research building for BWH and a major affordable housing complex for the Roxbury Tenants of Harv

Ambulatory Patient Satisfaction Improving Ahead of Schedule

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Patient satisfaction throughout ambulatory practices of Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals has increased each quarter since the hospital began using Press Ganey to measure satisfaction in Ambulatory Services in 2007. Some 4,474 patients who visit

STARS Program Exposes Future Students to Research

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For the past eight weeks, the Summer Training in Academic Research and Scholarship (STARS) Program has given Richard Rodriguez, a senior at UCLA, the opportunity to shadow researchers and learn about what it takes to work in and run a research labora

Profiles of Excellence Meaghan Muir, Associate Librarian

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Meaghan Muir is the first person to tell you she doesn’t always have the answers, but as the BWH Medical Library associate librarian, she is good at knowing where to find them.

Emergency Drill Tests BWH Response

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In an emergency preparedness drill held earlier this month, more than two dozen BWHers made plans to accommodate about 200 virtual patients with a fictional form of lassa fever—an airborne virus—who presented to BWH over four days.

Happiness Committee Brings Smiles to Researchers

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

During the past year, the Channing Happiness Committee has brought smiles and fun activities to the research team at BWH’s Channing Laboratory.

Course Offers a World of Ideas for International Physicians

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

“After here, things will never be the same again.” That’s how strongly Dr. Tieho Nichola Lesia, or “Dr. Nico,” of Lesotho, Africa, felt about a new program that brought him and two other physicians from Partners In Health (PIH) sites to BWH this sum

Senator Visits BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, at left, met with Summer Youth Program students, including Karina Pedroza, right, working in the Operating Room/Clinical Support Services Department. The senator heard first-hand from the teens how the program gives th

BWH Awarded Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Grant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH received an $8 million research grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s African Health Initiative to strengthen and study community-based, integrated primary health care systems in rural Rwanda. In partnership with Harvard University an

BWH Welcomes 2009 Deland Fellows

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One month into their fellowships, Sarah Gardent, MBA, and Trina Lorch, MBA, already are grateful for the immense learning opportunities available to BWH Deland Fellows.

Annual Arthritis Walk Set for Sept. 13

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH Arthritis Center staff, family and friends are once again stepping up for the Arthritis Foundation Walk in Boston Sept. 13.

Biological Bypass

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers identify a coronary vascular progenitor cell capable of growing new coronary arteries

Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneurial Postdoctoral Fellowship Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Praveen Kumar Vemula, PhD

Process Improvements Continue to Make a Difference

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Earlier this year, through intense process improvements, an interdisciplinary group from Hem/Onc on Tower 6C came together for four days to brainstorm ways to improve their work area.

Dancing to the Street Beat

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cynthia Hargrove came to this year’s Street Beat to watch the person she cheered for during season six of American Idol: Melinda Doolittle.

New Video Online: The Gift of Life

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH is known for a rich tradition of excellence in organ transplantation, beginning with the world’s first transplant—a kidney from one twin to another—in 1954 at BWH.

Step up for Boston Heart Walk Sept. 12

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Already, 28 teams of BWHers have signed up to raise funds and walk in the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Walk on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade.

BWH Physicians Perform at Partners Night at the Pops

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The spirit of friendly competition fueled the 12th annual Partners Night at the Pops in June, as physicians from throughout Partners performed a humorous version of “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better” with the Boston Pops Orchestra at Symphony Hal

Mahler, Pomahac Named Health Care Champions

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Two BWH leaders were named as 2009 Health Care Champions by the Boston Business Journal, which annually selects “the best and the brightest in the Bay State’s world-class health industry.” This year, the newspaper recognized Miriam Mahler, CNM, MPH,

BWH Awarded Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Grant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation’s African Health Initiative has awarded an eight million dollar research grant to BWH's program to strengthen and study community-based, integrated primary health care systems in rural Rwanda.

Early warning: Key Alzheimer's brain changes observed in unimpaired older humans

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New research has uncovered an early disruption in the process of memory formation in older humans who exhibit some early brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) but show little or no memory impairment.

Banking on Cord Blood

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Cord Blood Donation Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), sponsored jointly with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) opened in May 2009 and is the first cord blood collection program in Boston.

Common allergy drug reduces obesity and diabetes in mice

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

By stabilizing mast cells, the allergy drugs examined reduced type 2 diabetes and obesity in mice

BWH Receives AHA Award For Improving Community Health Through Effective Collaborative Projects

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The 2009 AHA NOVA Award went to BWH and four other hospitals for their collaborative efforts toward improving community health.

Health Imaging & IT's Top 25 Connected List

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH IS and Partners IS

BWH Named to Top Connected List Six Years Straight

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH this month was named to Health Imaging & IT magazine’s “Top 25 Connected Healthcare Facilities” list for the sixth straight year. BWH is the only hospital in the country to have made this prestigious list six years in a row and the only hospital

Partners Among 100 Most Wired for 11 Years Running

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For the 11th straight year, Partners HealthCare System ranked among the 100 most wired hospitals by Hospitals and Health Networks (H&HN), a publication of the American Hospital Association. The list is based on the Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking

America’s Best Hospitals: Top Ten Again

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For the 17th consecutive year, BWH secured its place on U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals, ranking tenth.

Profiles of Excellence: Don Bienfang, MD

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When Don Bienfang, MD, walked into the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital for the first time in 1960 as a medical student, he could not have envisioned what was in store for the next five decades.

Krasinski Named Director of Occupational Health Services

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Joanna Krasinski, MSN, ANP-BC, COHN-S, who helped develop the Occupational Health program at Faulkner Hospital, last month joined BWH as director of Occupational Health Services.

Bell Center Offers Mammography to Employees

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When the Lee Bell Breast Imaging Center opened its doors Saturday, June 27, for its first Employee Screening Mammography Day, 23 women took advantage of the special weekend appointments.

Shooting for a Sickle Cell Disease Cure

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Celtics courtside reporter Willie Maye and former Celtics point guard and local legend Dana Barros were among the many who turned out for a charity basketball tournament this month to raise awareness about Sickle Cell Disease and raise money toward f

Korean Hospital Executives Visit BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In June, executives from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) in South Korea visited BWH to tour the Cardiovascular, Neurology and Cancer services and to meet with expert BWH and DF/BWCC staff.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices May Reduce Lifetime Risk of Heart Failure

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Lifetime risk of heart failure can be reduced in men who follow a combination of healthy lifestyle choices.

Combination of Healthy Lifestyle Choices Can Help Lower Incidence of Hypertension in Women

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Women who simultaneously address six modifiable risk factors can drastically reduce their risk of developing hypertension.

BWH Ranked in Top Ten of Nation’s Hospitals by U.S. News and World Report

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

2009 marks the 17th consecutive year that Brigham and Women's Hospital has appeared on the Honor Roll.

Melatonin Delivered through Skin Patch Successful in Improving Sleep Maintenance

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To maintain sleep, transdermal melatonin may have advantages over oral melatonin

Men Undergoing Brachytherapy Alone for Aggressive Prostate Cancer May be Under-Treated

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH have found that a single treatment method of seed therapy alone in men with with high-risk prostate cancer is associated with higher death rates when compared to a combination of treatments.

Women who drink moderately may have lower risk of cardiovascular disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Women who drink moderately may have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death from CVD in part because of how alcohol affects the body’s processing of fats and sugar in the blood.

Street Beat

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Street Beat Thursday, July 23, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Nursing Department Honors PCAs, ESAs, MAs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Patient Care Assistant Victoria Arthur is known around the Hematology/Oncology Unit on Tower 6D for her contagious laughter that makes patients smile, excellent patient care skills that she shares with fellow PCAs and for eye-catching, brightly color

Partners HealthCare Ranks Among Top IT U.S. Employers

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For the fifth year straight, Partners HealthCare was named to Computerworld magazine’s 100 Best Places to Work in IT. Partners ranked 65th nationally and third in New England on the list of workplaces that “combine choice benefits with hot technologi

Partners Goes to Bat for Anti-Poverty Agency

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A team of health professionals from BWH, MGH, Newton-Wellesley and Spaulding stepped up to the plate for the annual Field of Dreams softball game at Fenway Park to support Boston’s oldest anti-poverty agency, Action for Boston Community Development (

7News Partners HealthCare Health & Fitness Expo Draws 70,000 Participants

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWHers played an instrumental role in making last month’s third annual 7News Partners HealthCare Health & Fitness Expo a success by volunteering their time and service to the nearly 70,000 people that attended the event.

50 Graduate from the Student Success Jobs Program

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just three years ago, Melissa Rocha was homeless living in a shelter with her mom and younger brother. This spring, the 17 year old graduated from Health Careers Academy as class valedictorian and was one of 10 students in the country accepted to the

Hopeful Future for Iraqi Mother

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In Baghdad, Iraq, three children anxiously awaited the arrival of their mother this week, excited that she would return home healthy for the first time in years after a life-saving heart procedure at BWH.

New Director of the Division of Global Health Equity

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Watson began as director of the Division of Global Health Equity in the Department of Medicine June 15.

New Administrator of Orthopedics and Arthritis

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jonathan Beauchesne, MPH, last month was named administrator of the Department of Orthopedics and Arthritis.

Chadwick Named Passageway Director

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Marta “Mardi” P. Chadwick, JD, last month joined the Center for Community Health and Health Equity as director of Passageway, BWH’s domestic violence intervention program.

BWH, RTH BBQ Celebrates Summer

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

More than 200 people enjoyed music, great weather and fantastic food during last week’s annual barbeque for the Roxbury Tenants of Harvard and BWH. At left, one family gets ready for hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, corn on the cob, and much more.

NICU Bids Farewell to Fat

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a “Biggest Loser” inspired competition, 54 NICU nurses collectively shed a whopping 475 pounds and gained healthier eating and exercise habits.

Protein Often Used in Spinal Fusion Surgery Associated With Higher Rate of Cervical Spine Complications, Greater Hospital Charges

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Bone-morphogenetic protein used in spinal fusion is found to be associated with a higher rate of complications in certain types of fusions.

Hypoglycemia During Hospitalization Linked to Higher Mortality Risk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hospitalized Diabetics who develop hypoglycemia have longer stays and higher risk of death

BWH Participates in Bike Week

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

During this year’s Bike Week in May, 112 BWHers registered, marking the first time any institution in the Longwood Medical Area has had more than 100 people register.

One-Stop Shopping for Child Care Resources

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Are you looking for child care? The Office for Women’s Careers’ online resource lists some child care options available to BWH faculty and employees.

City’s First Public Cord Blood Donation Program Opens

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For five years, Deborah Yolin Raley, PA-C, has been caring for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening blood diseases in need of stem cell transplants at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

New Radiation Therapy System Transforms Tumor Treatment

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A radiation therapy system that improves doctors’ ability to treat the tumor, the whole tumor, and nothing but the tumor is revolutionizing the treatment of certain cancers at Dana-Farber and BWH.

Brookside Physician Honored as CHC Physician of the Year

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This month, Gottlieb received the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers’ Physician of the Year Award at a banquet June 5 in honor of her dedication and commitment to caring for each of her patients with compassion and respect.

Pedaling for a Diabetes Cure

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tom Lindberg, 49, knows what it’s like to worry constantly about blood sugar levels. Insulin-dependent since childhood, he had Type 1 diabetes and needed to stick his finger three or four times a day—sometimes more—to check his blood sugar levels.

Nurse Publishes “I Can Choose” for Children

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

She wrote and published “I Can Choose,” a children’s book dedicated to the topic. In the 26-page book for ages 5 to 9, Higgins highlights some common instances in a child’s life where choice is involved, providing both the good and bad choices and co

Cooking for the Heart

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Food Services’ lead cook John Buckley demonstrated how easy it is to prepare toasted quinoa pilaf, a healthy grain choice, at last week’s cooking demo. The event kicked off the bimonthly Heart Healthy Cooking Demonstration series, hosted by the depar

Hospitals Join Disability Community to Launch Initiative to Improve Access and Care for People with Disabilities

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In collaboration with Boston’s disability community and the Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL), BWH and MGH have begun a comprehensive and landmark effort to improve access and care for people with disabilities.

Largest study of Vitamin D and Omega-3s set to begin soon at Brigham and Women's Hospital

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers will collect data from 20,000 men and women throughout the U.S. on the effects of these supplements on the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease and the potential to reduce health disparities.

Total knee replacement is very cost-effective in the US Medicare-aged population

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

High-volume health centers confer greater value per dollar spent compared to low-volume centers.

Balanced Scorecard Gets Upgrade

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Balanced Scorecard (BSC), the online data management system that allows BW/F leaders and staff easy access to reports on quality and performance measures, got a new look and feel and several new features this week.

BWH Honors Years of Service, Dedication

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As Charles Stuppard, patient escort, walked down the red carpet at last week’s Service Awards, he drew thundering applause from his colleagues. That’s because in his 40 years at BWH, Stuppard has met hundreds—if not thousands—of employees and patient

Pew Latin American Fellowship

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kelly Grace Magalhães

John Mislow, Neurosurgery Resident, 39

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

John M. K. Mislow, MD, PhD, a highly-regarded fifth-year resident and rising star in Neurosurgery remembered as a skilled surgeon, superb scientist and willing teacher, died June 11, 2009, in a mountain climbing accident in Alaska. He was 39.

Brigham and Women’s Develops Clinical Affiliation with Mass. Eye and Ear

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new clinical affiliation with Mass. Eye and Ear to provide general ophthalmology and subspecialty ophthalmology consultation services for BWH inpatients, trauma patients and patients in the Emergency Department begins July 1.

Ask Me If I Washed My Hands

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As part of a hand hygiene campaign, staff in the Connors Center now are sporting new pins designed to empower patients to ask their care providers a crucial question: Did you wash your hands?

BWH Helps Community Members Get Back on Healthy Track

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Division of Cardiology has been busy this spring spreading the message of cardiac health and wellness and hosting free screenings in the community.

First BWH School at Work Class Graduates

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, the six students enrolled in BWH’s first School at Work (SAW) class celebrated their graduation—an event sure to be followed by each one’s college graduation in a few years.

Using math to take the lag out of jet lag

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the University of Michigan have developed a software program that prescribes a regimen for avoiding jet lag using timed light exposure.

Eicosanoid Research Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

K. Frank Austen, MD

Celebrating Compassion

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Inspiring stories and examples of compassionate care emanated from the Bornstein Amphitheater last week as this year’s Thomson Leadership, Long-Term and Scholarship award recipients were honored.

BWH Earns Top Scores on HEI Survey

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly 25 BWHers turned out for the first BWH/Faulkner LGBT Staff Affinity Group meeting last month.

Health and Wellness Fair Draws a Crowd

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of BWHers are on the right track to a healthier life after last week’s Employee Health and Wellness Fair showed how simple and important it is to stay healthy.

Etai Belinky, Community Career Liaison

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A Madison Park High School junior sat nervously awaiting her first ever job interview, one that could pave the way for her to participate in BWH’s Summer Youth Program.

Technology Delivers

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Even though she was in Colombia, Alejandra Ramirez’s mother did not miss one second of the action as her granddaughter, Kamilah, was born at BWH last week.

BRI Spring Research Excellence Awards

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Last month, 50 junior researchers gathered in Cabot Atrium to present their most recent research while vying for one of five Research Excellence Awards that provide $1,000 to cover research related expenses. Funded by a philanthropic gift from the Pa

Acute Care Documentation Project Advances

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Taking another step closer to a fully implemented electronic medical record, more than 150 clinicians came together this week to develop and standardize the content that makes up current paper flowsheets, assessments and notes, including admission, p

Human Frontier Science Program International Postdoctoral Fellowship

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Weian Zhao, PhD

An Estimated 4 Percent of Older U.S. Men Have Dry Eye Disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dry eye disease is common among American men older than 50 and increases with age, high blood pressure, benign prostate disease and the use of antidepressants, according to researchers at BWH.

NIH Pathway to Independence Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Vishal S. Vaidya, PhD

Successful Mission for Team Heart

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Outside a little coffee shop in the center of Kigali, Rwanda, Team Heart members found the greatest testament to the mission they pour their hearts into: Jean Paul, a young man who last year received a life-saving aortic valve replacement, healthy an

Hopeful Homecoming

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Life and death—that’s the difference between the circumstances that brought Egidia Rugwizangoga, BSN, RN, back to Rwanda this April on a medical mission and those that caused her departure ten years ago in the wake of genocide.

NICU Strollers Raise $22K for March of Dimes

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The NICU Strollers entered this year’s Boston March of Dimes Walk with two goals: match or surpass last year’s fund-raising total and recruit more members. Mission accomplished.

Oncology Remembrance Service Draws More than a Hundred Family Members

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When the DF/BWCC Oncology service offered its first remembrance service in May, more than a hundred family members of cancer patients who passed away turned out—so many that the service had to be moved from Carrie Hall to the Bornstein Amphitheater.

Pathology Hosts Third annual Research Celebration

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Department of Pathology hosted its third annual research celebration last month honoring young investigators with an event that featured some 60 poster presentations of clinical, translational and basic science research projects conducted by juni

Fraai Receives Challenge Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Michael Fraai, MS, CCE, director of Biomedical Engineering, received the 2009 Challenge Award from the American College of Clinical Engineering last month. Fraai was honored for his achievements in medical technology and clinical engineering. At BWH,

Healthy Recipe of the Month: Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip made with Homemade Salsa

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip made with Homemade Salsa

Team Vlad Raises Funds to Fight Cancer

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A master of the art, science and humanity of medicine, anesthesiologist Vlad Formanek, MD, has been a valuable mentor and teacher of residents and fellows just starting out in their careers, as well as a reassuring presence for patients in his care f

Biomedical Engineering Launches Simulation Training

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Standing before a telemetry monitor experiencing interference, Biomedical Engineering Technician Roberto Medina needed to determine whether a device or clinical problem was to blame for preventing the machine from showing a clear picture of a patient

Healthy, Older Men Live Longer With Aggressive Prostate Cancer Treatment

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), have found that older men, who are otherwise healthy, benefit from aggressive treatment for unfavorable-risk prostate cancer.

Elderly Who Feel Unsafe Are at Higher Risk for Mobility Disability

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Perceived neightborhood safety was found to affect the likelihood of elderly adults developing a mobility disability.

Bohan Honored with Thomson Long-Term Achievement Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

J. Stephen Bohan, the executive vice chair of Emergency Medicine, next month will be honored for his dedicated service, kindness and leadership with the Thomson Compassionate Long-Term Achievement Award.

BWH Responds to H1N1 (Swine) Influenza

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When news of a potential H1N1 (Swine) Influenza pandemic broke, BWH already was prepared to respond, thanks to ongoing emergency preparedness efforts by a coordinated group of staff from across the hospital and Partners HealthCare.

Scholarship Projects Foster Compassion

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For ten weeks, musicians from the New England Conservatory played once a week on CWN-7, providing gynecologic cancer patients and their families with relaxing music and solace.

BW/F Surgeons Cutting Down on Cuts

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Advances in technology are bringing BWH surgeons closer to what they consider the “holy grail” of the field – scar-less surgery.

Medicine and the Muse

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Cabot Atrium last week echoed with the sounds of flute, viola, bassoon, cello and piano music, as talented physicians shared their artsy side with Department of Medicine colleagues and guests at the annual Medicine and the Muse celebration.

Hopeful Future for Face Transplant Recipient

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jim Maki looks forward to walking down the street without fear of the harsh reactions he received after the accident that disfigured his face several years ago.

Healthcare Leader Dr. Gary Gottlieb Keynotes Commencement

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dr. Gary L. Gottlieb, President of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, will be the keynote speaker at Bunker Hill Community College’s 35th commencement exercises, on Saturday, May 30.

Public Health Leadership in Medicine Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Paula Johnson, MD, MPH

Edward Bromfield, MD, Chief of Epilepsy and Sleep Neurology

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH mourns the loss of Edward Bromfield, MD, a superb clinical neurologist, a gifted mentor and teacher, and a clinical research collaborator whose passion for improving the lives of epilepsy patients permeated the Department of Neurology and inspire

Redesigned PikeNotes Coming Next Week

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new and improved BWH intranet—BWHPikeNotes.org—is slated for release next week with significantly improved navigation and search functionality and a completely new look. The home page, which records thousands of hits daily, features several news st

Mahler Named Thomson Leadership Award Recipient

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

For three years in the Peace Corps, Miriam Mahler, CNM, MPH, worked as a registered nurse in a community health center in Bogota, Colombia, delivering babies, learning Spanish and beginning a career that has enabled her to help thousands of women and

Clues to How Blood Forms in Life’s Earliest Stages

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston showed that shear stress increases the expression of master regulators of blood formation.

Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals Highlighted in Healthcare Equality Index 2009

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BW/F’s Leadership in Equal Treatment of LGBT Patients Highlighted in Human Rights Campaign Foundation & Gay & Lesbian Medical Association’s Index.

Gleason Score of 3+4 is not equal to 4+3 in Lethal Prostate Cancer

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH have shown that Gleason score is a strong predictor of prostate cancer mortality and that mortality rates differ among patients with a Gleason score of seven depending on whether Gleason pattern four is primary or secondary.

BWH Celebrates Essence of Nursing

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Most days, Sharon Levine, BSN, RN, wears a heart-shaped charm with an angel carved into it on a chain around her neck. It came in the mail about seven years ago with a note from the son of one of her patients who had passed away in the Cardiac Critic

BWH Celebrates Clerical Support Week

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH last month celebrated Clerical Support Week to thank the more than 2,000 clerical support staff who help to make this one of the top hospitals in the country. During this week, all clerical support staff received a travel mug and a $5 meal coupon

Emergency Physicians Bring Ultrasound Education Overseas

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH made international headlines recently as two physicians performed training in two German hospitals.

May is Better Hearing Month

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the country, affecting more than 36 million Americans. At BWH, four audiologists and one extern in the Division of Otolaryngology identify and treat hearing problems. They are able to perform he

Eye on the Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Clinical specialist Joanne Bosch, PT,CHT, measures wrist extension with a goniometer as part of a routine hand examination for range of motion limitations. Hand therapy services are now offered at Brigham and Women’s Ambulatory Care Center at 850 Boy

Cooking for Katrina Relief

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When BWH sleep research technologist Karen Stevenson first thought about volunteering for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in New Orleans, she had no idea that would involve cooking dinner for 40 students for an entire week.

Operation Walk Gets Patients Back on their Feet

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One man hadn’t walked in five years. Two patients were bed-ridden for more than a year because of debilitating joint disease. The day after surgery was performed by Operation Walk Boston, all three patients—and 37 more—got out of bed and took t

BWH Celebrates Medical Laboratory Professionals Week

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Pathology Department celebrated National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week last week with an array of events to honor the department’s nearly 500 employees.

Profiles of Excellence: Lynda Danzig, LMT, Massage Therapist

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After receiving her first massage nearly 20 years ago, Lynda Danzig, LMT, was hooked.

BWH Neurology Staff Help Organize Mission to Ecuador

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of people traveled hours to Tena, Ecuador, by bus, taxi and even canoe to see neurologists and other specialists from the U.S. at a clinic in the small town near the Amazon jungle as part of an epilepsy medical mission earlier this month.

Take Our Children to Work Day

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Finding out what goes on before and after each surgical case was the focus of Kofi Yankey, 11, when he attended last week’s Take Our Children to Work Day with his mother, Beatrice Firempong, a senior medical technologist.

Gene Therapy Shows Potential in Treating Diabetic Polyneuropathy

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Intramuscular injections of VEGF gene show promise for improving neuropathic symptoms in individuals with diabetic polyneuropathy.

Electronic System Demonstrates Potential to Reduce the Risk of Adverse Drug Events

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The use of an electronic application and a revision to the medication reconciliation process can significantly decrease the number of potentially harmful medication discrepancies.

Smokers Get Help with the Use of Electronic Health Record

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have found that by enhancing the electronic health record, physicians were more likely to document a patient’s smoking habit and that access to cessation counseling was improved.

Congratulations Team Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Over the course of the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon on Monday, Team Brigham runner Noah Rodriguez, MD, hit a few tough stretches, but thinking about the cause he was supporting gave him the energy to push through.

Healthy Recipe of the Month: Roasted Beets with Apples

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Healthy Recipe of the Month:

She Runs Team Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It’s no easy feat. Every year, Suzanne Leidel, director of Special Events for BWH Development, steps into her Team Brigham “den mother” role, paving the way for more than 130 runners to complete the Boston Marathon and raise a minimum of $3,000 each

BWH Performs First Percutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH Performs First Percutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement

Inaugural Thomas Lee Award Presented

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Michael Lambert, MD, received the first annual Thomas H. Lee, MD Award for Excellence in Primary Care. This new award, presented April 3, recognizes Lambert, a primary care physician at Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, for providing exceptional

BWH Donates Electronic Fetal Monitors

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Expecting mothers now can access non-stress testing as part of their pre-natal care at six neighboring community health centers, thanks to BWH’s donation of electronic fetal monitors.

Gottlieb Roast Raises $500K for Health Center

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Gottlieb Roast Raises $500K for Health Center

A More Direct Delivery of Cancer Drugs to Tumors

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH engineer nanoparticles for targetted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs.

BWH Completes New England’s First Partial Face Transplant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In 2006, Bohdan Pomahac, MD, medical director of the Burn Center, began developing a protocol so BWH could perform a partial face transplant for patients with the severest facial injuries. Last Thursday, a multidisciplinary team of more than 35 staff

Team Brigham Runners Take Their Mark for Marathon

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Team Brigham’s 136 runners are in the final stretch of fund-raising and training for the 113th Boston Marathon. After fueling up on carbohydrates at Sunday night’s pasta dinner at BWH, the team will take its mark at the starting line Monday, April 20

Harvard Catalyst Funds 62 Research Groups

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Harvard Catalyst Pilot Funding program has awarded one-year grants of $50,000 to 62 collaborative groups from Harvard schools and academic health care centers. Nine of the grants were awarded to groups with principal investigators from BWH, while

HBO Documentary Stars BWH Physicians

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly 400 people packed The Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at HMS last week for a sneak peek of the upcoming HBO documentary film, “The Alzheimer’s Project,” featuring Dennis Selkoe, MD, co-director of BWH’s Center for Neurologic Diseases, and R

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Supports National Healthcare Decisions Day

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH is participating in an effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day.

BWH Surgeons Perform Facial Transplant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) plastic surgery team, led by Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, performed a partial face transplant April 9, 2009, the second such procedure to be performed in the U.S.

Improving Visits for Patients with Disabilities

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Making every patient’s visit as comfortable as possible begins with a phone call. When confirming upcoming appointments, Neurology clinic staff always say to patients, “We ask everyone this question: Do you have any special needs for this appointment

Council Works to Create Awareness of Disabilities

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With the population aging, more patients are coming through the doors of BWH with physical or cognitive disabilities. “We need to recognize this and go above and beyond to make this the hospital of choice for these patients,” said Janet Barnes, execu

DF/BWCC Partners with Community

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center (DF/BWCC) is bringing fresh momentum to a community outreach program to increase colorectal cancer screening rates among racial and ethnic minority groups in the Boston area.

Team Brigham Runners Get Motivated

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Motivation, dedication and energy are must-have attributes to train for and run the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon. Team Brigham runners also must have a commitment to raise $3,000 on behalf of community programs at BWH. This week, three of the team’s 136

NICU Strollers Prepare for Another Successful Walk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Over the last three years, the NICU Strollers have raised more than $50,000 for March of Dimes, an organization dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature births and infant mortality.

En Route to Rwanda

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In Kigali, Rwanda, 15 patients are preparing for life-changing heart surgery as Team Heart begins its second mission to the African country.

April is Occupational Therapy Month

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a high school job shadow program, Laura Garren, OTR/L, watched an occupational therapist help athletes get back on the playing field after an injury, and she fell in love with the job.

Go Green Contest a Success

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Prompted for ways the hospital could reduce its environmental impact, curb its waste stream and save money, BWH employees responded with nearly 700 ideas during last month’s “Go Green” contest.

Robert Katzman Clinical Research Training Fellowship

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Joshua Shulman, MD, PhD

Music to their Ears

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Billy Pacheco was half asleep in his room on Tower 5A when the sound of harp music roused him last week. He got out of bed and grabbed his harmonica.

Nine Million Pages Scanned

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks to BWH’s initiative to scan medical records and make them available online, Emergency Department staff are just a few clicks away from the records they need to perform their jobs quickly and efficiently.

Canada’s Health Minister Tours STRATUS

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

During her recent visit to Boston, Canada’s Minister of Health experienced one method of training health care providers receive for placing a central line, performing a bronchoscopy and surgical knot-tying.

BWH Honored for Electronic Medical Record Sophistication

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH ranks among the top hospitals in the country for its implementation of electronic medical records, according to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics, a subsidiary of HIMSS which is a not-for-profit organizat

Stop by the “Green” Display in Shapiro

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center is a “green” building, the first of its kind constructed in a hospital in New England

Music to their Ears

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Billy Pacheco was half asleep in his room on Tower 5A when the sound of harp music roused him last week. He got out of bed and grabbed his harmonica.

Sharf Exhibit Offers a Glance at 30 Years in Fashion

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As Danielle Phillips waited for her father to register for a hospital visit, the art on the walls of the Sharf Admitting Center transported her mind to a time when illustrator drawings advertised the latest fashions in newspapers and magazines.

10 Years of Tumor Ablation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

William Hass, 70, was diagnosed with a type of kidney cancer that meant doctors in Florida would have to remove one of his kidneys, leaving him to face a long road to recovery and a lesser quality of life.

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Analytics

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Institutional Award

Exposure to Traffic Pollution Linked to Increased Risk of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers using data from the Nurses' Health Study found that women living nearer to major roadways had an increased risk of developing RA.

Lowering Levels of Both Cholesterol and Inflammation with Statin Therapy Significantly Improves Cardiovascular Outcomes

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New Data Presented at the American College of Cardiology's 58th Annual Scientific Session Demonstrating the Potential Benefits of Statin Therapy

New Data From JUPITER Trial Finds Statin Therapy Reduces Risk of Dangerous Blood Clots

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Participants in the landmark JUPITER trial who were taking a daily statin, cut the risk of blood clots in the veins overall by more than 40 percent.

Hundreds Attend Career Development Event

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The theme for HR’s Career Development Event was “Learn, Grow and Bloom at BWH,” and the hundreds of employees who turned out at the Cabot Atrium last week found the resources to help them do just that.

A Match Made at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Between his first and second year at Harvard Medical School, Alex Herrera spent a summer in a Zambian village helping implement a safe water practice course and improve agricultural and irrigation systems.

Off and Running

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Physician Assistant Noelia Kvaternik always helps patients in the Emergency Department, and this spring, she is going a step—thousands of steps, actually—beyond to help them with nonclinical needs, as well.

BWH Opens TB Clinic

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH opened a new state-sponsored TB Clinic—the first clinic of its kind in the Longwood Medical Area—on March 24, coinciding with World TB Day.

Gecko Adhesives Named Among 20 Biotech Breakthroughs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH researcher Jeff Karp, PhD, and his gecko adhesive technology are in good company on Popular Mechanics’ list of its “Top 20 Biotech Breakthroughs that Will Change Medicine.”

Tara Regan, PA-C

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just 20 minutes into her shift, Tara Regan knows she has a long, but rewarding day ahead of her.

Eye on the Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Eye on the Brigham

Harvard Catalyst Pilot Funding Program

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH Investigators

New Needle Device Offers Potential Solution for Complicated Percutaneous Access

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Referencing an oil drill model, researchers from BWH created a needle that automatically stops when passing into cavity or tissue of lower density.

Inpatient Satisfaction Remains at All Time High

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH inpatient satisfaction has hit the 96th percentile—the highest the hospital has achieved ever on its overall score for the Press Ganey Inpatient Satisfaction Survey—for the second straight quarter.

Operation Walk Kicks Off

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the Dominican Republic, 47 people with severe hip and knee joint disease are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Operation Walk Boston, a group of 50 clinicians led by BWH Chief of Orthopedic Surgery Thomas Thornhill, MD.

Hybrid OR Opens

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Without ever leaving the operating room, a Vascular Surgery team used ultrasound, CT and fluoroscopy technologies during a stent graft surgery to treat a patient’s abdominal aortic aneurysm earlier this month.

Birthday Gifts Donated to NICU

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Mackenzie Price Bowers didn’t get any presents on her first birthday.

BWHers Fight Against Kidney Disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Renal Division has big plans in store this spring to raise awareness of kidney disease, including a walk on May 17.

Bierer Receives Faculty Diversity Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Barbara Bierer, MD, senior vice president for Research, last week was honored for her contribution toward making the Harvard medical community more diverse and inclusive.

BWH Awarded for Diversity

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH was named to the DiversityInc 25 Noteworthy Companies in a list unveiled March 12 in New York City.

Analysis of Public Reporting of Risk and Mortality in Interventional Coronary Care Finds Certain Public Health Hazards

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH find that current guidelines for reporting outcomes may dissuade doctors from caring for sickest patients.

Defibrillators may have little benefit for older heart failure patients with comorbidities

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) found that older people with comorbidities and those with multiple hospital admissions related to heart failure are unlikely to receive a meaningful survival benefit from implanted defibrillators.

NIH to Increase Research Funding

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of BWH researchers packed the Bornstein Amphitheater to capacity during a special Biomedical Research Institute (BRI) town hall meeting last Friday for an up to the minute briefing on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, or t

Bill Brett’s Boston at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Karen Ritchie Kelley of Pharmacy was rushing down the Pike last Friday when a photograph of the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel made her pause. “It brought back so many memories for me,” she said. “I grew up in Boston, and every Saturday, my mother woul

Help BWH Go Green: Your Ideas Wanted

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Do you have an environmentally-friendly, cost-savings, waste-reduction idea? The Product Utilization Review Committee would like to hear from you.

Honoring OR Assistants

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Before and after every surgery case, Operating Room Assistant Jose Fernandes can be spotted cleaning the Operating Room or transporting patients to and from surgery. In between cases, he often asks, “What else can I do to help?”

BWH Celebrates Social Work Month

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Galen Henderson, MD, director of Critical Care and Emergency Neurology, knows social workers play a vital role in the relationship between a patient and his or her family.

Surgeons Reflect on Training and Education

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Oncology Surgeon Robert Osteen, MD, remembers the day he walked into the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital as a surgical resident and was no longer responsible for EKGs, drawing blood or mixing IV fluids, as he had been at the previous facility where he s

Sullivan Encourages Young Physicians to Make Their Own History

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Louis W. Sullivan, MD, the former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, visited BWH last week to discuss continual work to eliminate health care disparities in the U.S. and share his life experiences, from standing just a fe

Eye on the Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH operators, including Amanda Letteney, left, and Maxine Bradley, answered more than 1.4 million calls to the BWH main number between February 2008 and January 2009.

25 Years of Heart Transplants

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A lot has changed in the 24 years since Daniel Maldonado of Andover had his first heart transplant at BWH. For starters, doctors now are able to test patients for the gene that can cause the type of cardiomyopathy that Maldonado and many members of

Team Effort Led to Success of JUPITER

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Second of two parts. Last week, Bulletin examined decades of research that led to the JUPITER Trial.

HIP Awards Funding for Three Innovative Projects

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A year ago, the hand-off process on Tower 16AB called for nurses to spend nearly an hour listening to tape-recorded reports that often were hard to hear or lengthy.

Ordway Family Gives Thanks, Kicks Off Foundation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly a year ago, Boston sports radio talk show host Glenn Ordway and his wife, Sarah, sat in the NICU waiting room uncertain about the future of their newborn daughter, Mia.

Brigham and Women's Hospital Receives National Recognition for Surgical Outcomes

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program has recognized BWH as a hospital that has achieved exemplary outcomes for surgical patient care.

Potential Cause of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risks of Shift Work Uncovered

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers find a link between circadian misalignment and an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic consequences.

Gottlieb Accepts Top Post at Partners

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Named President and CEO of Partners HealthCare Effective Jan. 1, 2010

Serendipity and Collaboration Shaped BWH Inflammation Story

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

First of two parts; Next week, BWH Bulletin examines the work behind the landmark JUPITER trial.

Kachalia Named Medical Director of Quality and Safety

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Allen Kachalia, MD, JD, in January was promoted to medical director of Quality and Safety for BWH. In this position, he will work to create and implement a hospital-wide strategy for reducing preventable complications and mortality. He will also con

BWH ESOL Classes Awarded by Mayor

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH was among 11 recipients of the first City of Boston/English Works Campaign Certificate of Recognition this month for its English for Speakers of Other Languages classes, taught in partnership with Jewish Vocational Services.

BWHers Meet Student Pen Pals

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cole, a second grader at Mission Grammar School, has been busy informing his BWH pen pal of his favorite things: gold and red for colors, science for school subject and wolves in the animal category.

Profiles of Excellence

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Julie Doherty opened an exam room door last week to find her cancer patient perched on a tiny couch with a plastic lap desk over her short legs, busily gluing colorful felt hearts to a piece of white paper.

Patients’ Names Painted on Yawkey Center for Cancer Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As pediatric patients looked out the window of Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic last Thursday, they saw their names being spray-painted onto beams forming the shell of the Yawkey Center for Cancer Care, the state-of-the-art outpatient care and clinic

Guidelines for More Conservative Prescribing Practices

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A Commentary suggests a list of 25 guiding principles to help prescribers improve their effectiveness.

The PhenoGenetic Project Receives a Grant from the BWH BRI

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Philip De Jager, MD, PhD, and James Lederer, PhD

Vitamin B and Folic Acid May Reduce Risk of Age-Related Vision Loss

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

New research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital finds that taking a combination of vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid appears to decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration in women.

Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Barbara Bierer, MD

Rosuvastatin Dramatically Reduces Common Stroke Among Apparently Healthy Men and Women with Low Cholesterol but Elevated C-Reactive Protein Levels

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the landmark JUPITER trial of 17,802 patients, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) report that rosuvastatin reduces by nearly 50 percent the risk of stroke among individuals who had low levels of cholesterol.

Public Reporting of Pneumonia Antibiotic Timing Has Not Resulted in Adverse Effects

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In 2004, the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) began publicly reporting hospitals’ performance on 10 quality measures. Now, researchers at BWH, have studied the nationwide effects of one of the measures on patient care for the first time.

Balancing Act

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jo Shapiro, MD, FACS, chief of Otolaryngology, and Ursula Kaiser, MD, chief of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, manage demanding careers that encompass patient care, research and teaching, while raising children with husbands who also are p

Celebrating Care Closer to Home

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The culmination of years of planning, dedication and teamwork came Monday evening as hospital leadership and staff from Brigham and Women’s and Mass General, the Kraft family, civic leaders and friends gathered to cut a ceremonial ribbon marking the

BWHers Go Red for Women’s Heart Health

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

More than 200 people picked up information and viewed healthy food demonstrations outside the Cafeteria on Feb. 6, National Wear Red Day.

BWHers See Groundhog Day Shadows

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Even before Groundhog Day, staff from the OR, STRATUS, Nursing, Pharmacy, Radiology and more were seeing shadows—job shadows, that is.

Palm Beach Event Showcases Research

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

During a “60 Minutes” themed event in Palm Beach, BWH leaders shined a spotlight on the groundbreaking research conducted at BWH’s Biomedical Research Institute (BRI).

Celebrating a Legacy

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life was never easy, but he always fought hard.

Black Achievers Award Recipients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This year, two BWH employees were honored with the Greater Boston YMCA Black Achiever Awards for their professional achievements and commitment to community service. Egidia Rugwizangoga, BSN, RN, a nurse on Tower 4, and Mark Johnson, MD, PhD, a neur

Damon, Farmer Advocate for Change Haiti Can Believe In

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When actor and activist Matt Damon arrived in Haiti 12 days after a fourth hurricane struck the island last fall, people were still trapped on their rooftops, starving to death and in desperate need of medical care.

Schade Leads Call for Federal Spending on Health IT

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

National health care information technology organizations tapped BWH Chief Information Officer Sue Schade to represent health IT users last week in Washington, D.C., as Congress debated an $800 billion economic stimulus package.

New Display in 75 Francis St. Lobby

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It was the best second day of February ever, according to one Tobin Elementary School student who visited BWH on Monday as part of a field trip to view the new lobby display at 75 Francis St.

U.S. Surgeon General Visits BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This year alone, more than 100,000 Americans will die of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) complications, a number too high for a preventable illness, according to Acting U.S. Surgeon General Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, MD, M

Eye (and Ear) on the Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Chaplaincy volunteer Claire Pauley, 80, center, offers Communion to patient Joseph Linskey, left, and his family while making her weekly Tuesday rounds in the Shapiro Center.

Australia-Harvard Fellowship

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Steven Lockley, PhD

Higher Altitudes May Mean Longer Lifetime for Dialysis Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The elevation at which a dialysis patient with end-stage renal disease resides may influence their lifespan.

Profiles of Excellence: Alex Murcia, Second Cook

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Alex Murcia has a good memory. His job requires it. As he works behind the counter of the BWH Cafeteria Grill, the second cook often is required to remember up to eight food orders on the grill for hungry patrons.

O'Naturals Opens in Shapiro Center

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With walls made from post-harvest sunflower seed husks and a heart-healthy menu, O’Naturals is a natural fit inside the LEED-certified Shapiro Cardiovascular Center, where the restaurant opened on the ground level last month.

Eye on the Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This week's Eye on the Brigham features a Reiki share session offered by the Department of Integrative Care.

Lung Transplant Program Expands

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

She didn’t know it at the time, but 37-year-old Jennifer Jehle was in such desperate need of a lung transplant that she was given just one week to live.

Celebrating the Security and Parking Team

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Since BWH Security and Parking provides 24/7 coverage, not all of the department’s 271 members are able to attend the annual awards celebration and dinner in January.

Genetic Variant Linked to Development of Uterine Fibroids in White Women

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Genetic variant previously linked to decreased stature in white women is found to also indicate predisposition for the development of uterine fibroids.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Earns Recognition as an AASM Comprehensive Academic Sleep Program of Distinction

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH is the second hospital in the country to be recognized as having a Comprehensive Academic Sleep Program of Distinction by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

MRI Fleet Returns to Full Capacity Following Modernization

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH recently completed a major modernization of its MRI fleet throughout the hospital. After months of construction and installation of new MRI systems, all imaging facilities are now online and operating at full capacity.

Students Get a Lesson in Lizard Research

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

During the past few months, an after school enrichment class from Wellington Elementary School in Belmont followed the research of BWH’s Jeff Karp, PhD, on developing gecko-inspired biomedical adhesives.

Q&A with the President

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

To kick off the New Year, BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, sat down with BWH Bulletin to reflect on 2008 and look to the year ahead. He enthusiastically recounted several contributions of individuals, dozens of accomplishments by BWH teams and m

BWH Responds to Tragedy

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH community responded last Friday to a tragic accident in the neighborhood involving a Boston fire truck, offering support both at the scene and in the Emergency Department.

A Decade of Success for PCWD

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Ten years ago, Krista Buiting Cole walked into the pre-employment program classroom nervous and uncertain about her future. At age 40, with few job skills and more than a decade removed from a classroom, she was terrified.

The Gift Shop that Keeps on Giving

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As the Friends of BWH Gift Shop closed its doors in December, Friends President Kathleen Monbouquette decided that the unsold merchandise should be given to those in need.

Video Online: Mesothelioma House

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Last year, BWH renovated a house across the street, through the generosity of the Thornton & Naumes Law Firm, for mesothelioma and hematology/oncology patients and their families who come from a distance to receive care at BWH.

BWH Celebrates Pharmacy Week

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH Pharmacy Department staff enjoyed a week of food, pampering and recognition during the annual celebration of Pharmacy Week Dec. 15 to 19.

BWH Security Ranks Among Nation’s Elite

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Security team ranks seventh among the nation’s top security departments for health care organizations in 2008, according to Security Magazine, a national trade publication.

Small, Independent Primary Care Practices Not Ready for the Patient-Centered Medical Home

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH found that small, independent primary care practices may find it challenging to qualify as a Patient-Centered Medical Home.

Morton Named BRI Director

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Cynthia Morton, PhD, recently began her two-year term as director of the BWH Biomedical Research Institute (BRI), which has made great strides in bringing researchers together since it formed in 2005.

Rapid Response System Rollout Underway

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BWH rolled out Rapid Response System (RRS) programs on several non-ICU inpatient units in October, November and December, and plans are in place to extend RRS coverage to all non-ICU inpatient units by March.

Cheers to Good Health in 2009

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Whether or not your New Year’s resolution involved developing healthier habits, heed these nine tips from the BWH Division of Preventive Medicine’s chief, JoAnn Manson, MD, DrPH, and Channing Laboratory’s Meir Stampfer, MD, DrPH, to start 2009 off st

Nurses Part of Historic Climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Two BWH nurses are reaching new heights in 2009. Susan Gabriel, RN, of Shapiro 6, and Ellen Clemence, RN, nurse manager of Tower 10BA, are joining Gabriel’s twin sister Sarah Doherty and her partner Kerith Perreur-Lloyd to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

BWHers Share Success Stories During AMMP Event

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The second annual AMMP Networking Event drew BWHers from across the hospital together to share career advancement tips and success stories

Starfish Winners Honored

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Francesca Gomes has a keen eye for detail. Not only does she make sure her assignments on Tower 5A Oncology are met, the unit associate often goes the extra mile to make a fresh pot of coffee available for patients and their relatives. When families

What’s in Store at Shop on the Pike

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Michelle Rheaume of Development made it a point to hit Shop on the Pike on its opening day last month. “It’s fabulous,” she said. “It’s well-lit and inviting, and I plan to do lots of my holiday shopping here."

Vitamins C and E and Beta-Carotene Do Not Reduce Cancer Risk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital show that supplemental vitamins C, E and beta-carotene also fail to provide protection against cancer for middle aged women.

Common Genetic Variants Linked to Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events for Patients Taking Widely-Used Antiplatelet Medication Clopidogrel

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from BWH found that approximately one third of the population has variations in a specific gene that renders them unable to metabolize properly clopidogrel, one of the most commonly prescribed anti-platelet medications.

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Grant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Richard T. Lee, MD

Celebrating Partners in Excellence Recipients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

More than 200 employees worked together to transform the way BWH serves meals to inpatients, leading the way to the highest patient satisfaction scores for meals to date.

Quantum Leap - From the Atom to "Real World Objects"

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Imagine a computer chip so fast, it is capable of doing calculations it would take current computers a billion years to replicate. Imagine the ability to kill a cancer tumor by taking some of its cells and destroying them outside the body.

Robotic Radical Hysterectomy Results in Shorter Hospital Stays

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers found that robotic radical hysterectomy results in lower blood loss and shorter length of stay compared to ORH. The findings are available online and published in the December print issue of Gynecologic Oncology.

Inpatient Satisfaction Scores Highest Ever

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the most recent quarter, July through September, BWH received its highest marks ever on the overall Press Ganey survey score. The hospital’s overall mean score came in at 86.3, or 1.2 points higher than the previous quarter.

Reunion in Rwanda

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When Erneste Simpunga stepped off the airplane at Kigali Airport last month, the 18-year-old was much healthier—with a regular heart rate and an additional 20 pounds of muscle—than when he left his native Rwanda in July.

BWH Earns Silver Award for Economic Development

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH was recognized by the Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development (MAED) with a silver award for community involvement and job creation, stemming from its $360 million investment in the new Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center.

BWH-BRI Cancer Research Center Poster Session

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The BRI Cancer Research Center hosted its annual cancer research competition on Oct. 13, drawing posters from 55 BWH cancer researchers. The event showcased some of the most innovative and novel cancer research done at the BWH.

In the Spirit of the Season

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Many departments and groups across BWH are collecting money, food, clothing, toys and other items for those in need this season. With overwhelming generosity, they open their hearts and wallets in an outpouring of support.

Eye on the Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This week's Eye on the Brigham features the Tower is reflected on an ornament adorning a holiday tree near the Shapiro bridge as visitors, patients and employees cross the bridge into the Shapiro Center.

Obituary: Garry Ragbir, Materials Management

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The obituary for Garry Ragbir, a member of the Materials Management team

BWH Gets the Gold

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH recently received the American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Gold Performance Achievement Award for excellence in stroke care.

Neither Vitamin C nor E Associated With Reduced Risk of Prostate Cancer or Other Cancers

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the Physicians' Health Study II, researchers at BWH found that supplementation with vitamin E or C did not reduce risk of cancer.

DOCTOR’S USE OF E-PRESCRIBING SYSTEMS WITH INSURERS’ FORMULARY DATA CAN IMPROVE DRUG COST SAVINGS

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH found that electronic prescribing systems that use insurers' formularies can save $845,000 per 100,000 patients per year, and possibly more.

Honoring Physicians

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In his 55 years at BWH, S. James Adelstein, MD, PhD, of Radiology, has held two endowed professorships, served as the founding chief of Nuclear Medicine and become a wonderful role model, advisor and friend to generations of radiologists.

Karsh Portraits Dedicated

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

‘Healers of Our Age” portraits, the unique collection of 20 medical and scientific luminaries by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh, presented to BWH by long-time patrons Yousuf and Estrellita Karsh, has returned to its familiar place on the Nesson

Colson Receives Kennedy Award for Innovation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Yolonda Colson, MD, PhD, surgeon and director of the Women’s Lung Cancer Center, received the annual Edward M. Kennedy Award for Healthcare Innovation for her work developing lymphatic nanotechnology to limit the spread and recurrence of cancer.

Students Learn About Bike Safety

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Center for Community Health and Health Equity and the BWH Burn and Trauma Center teamed up last month and held a bike safety awareness seminar for high school students in BWH’s Student Success Jobs Program.

Profiles of Excellence: Dimity Zepf

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In her 11 years at BWH, Dimity Zepf never has had direct patient contact. Yet, her work as a technologist at the Center for Advanced Molecular Diagnostics Lab in the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center is crucial to physicians, nurses and others caring fo

BWHers Quit Smoking and Fight Lung Disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of employees and visitors turned out for last month’s annual Great American Smoke-Out, led by the Smoking Cessation Program and assisted by Wellness Works.

Analysis of Generic and Brand-Name Cardiovascular Drugs Finds No Evidence of Brand-Name Superiority

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from BWH found that brand-name cardiovascular drugs are not clinically superior to their generic counterparts.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital receives American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Gold Performance Achievement Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH recently received the American Stroke Association’s Get With The GuidelinesSM–Stroke (GWTG–¬Stroke) Gold Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes BWH’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care.

Exposure to Diesel Exhaust at Work Linked to COPD and Increased Risk of Death

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from BWH find that individuals who were regularly exposed to diesel exhaust at work may have had an increased risk of dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Study of Diabetes Treatment Gives Elderly Diabetics Something New to Consider

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from BWH found that there was a higher occurrence of death and a greater risk of congestive heart failure in elderly patients taking rosiglitazone, compared to pioglitazone.

The Eye on the Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Eye on the Brigham

Holiday Wreath Sale to Benefit Cancer Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Holiday wreaths on sale in the Cabot Atrium Dec. 4 and 5 will bring cheer to more than those who hang them on their doors and windows. All the proceeds from these handmade balsam wreaths benefit patients and families in the Dana-Farber/Brigham and W

Recollections: The Building of BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When Chief Medical Officer Andy Whittemore, MD, joined BWH in 1976 as a vascular surgery fellow, one of the biggest perks was the ample parking available.

ORs to be Re-Numbered on Dec. 6 and 7

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The L1 Operating Room suite will be re-numbered during the weekend of Dec. 6 and 7. This is necessary to resequence the OR numbers following the addition of the Shapiro operating rooms.

Disparities Symposium Inspires Change

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The 250 people who attended last month’s Disparities in Surgical Care Symposium came from all over the world, united by a passion to eliminate disparities in surgical care.

Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Next Week

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Richard Monopoli and his 16-month-old daughter, Vivian, will be joined by crowds of people honoring friends and family affected by lung cancer at a candlelight vigil and lighting ceremony that will illuminate the Prudential Tower on Thursday, Nov. 2

BWH Celebrates National Radiologic Technology Week

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After nearly two years of clinical training at BWH, Daniel Young last week joined his colleagues in celebrating National Radiologic Technology Week for the first time as a registered technologist, rather than a student.

BWH Pays Tribute to Veterans

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The national anthem and the official hymns of the five branches of armed forces echoed throughout the Peter Bent Brigham Rotunda on Tuesday as BWHers gathered for the annual Veterans Day celebration.

Service of Remembrance Brings Parents Back Annually

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

More than 100 parents, children, relatives and BWH staff came together last month for the fifth annual Service of Remembrance to support families who have experienced perinatal loss.

Research Breakthrough at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In the landmark JUPITER trial of 17, 802 patients, researchers found that the medication rosuvastatin reduced by 50 percent the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death among men and women who had low levels of cholesterol but were stil

AMMP Awards Scholarships

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Indiana Burgo has dreamed of attending college since she came to the United States from Cape Verde in the 1970s. But as the oldest of four children and a daughter of parents who couldn’t read or write English, she put her future on hold and helped p

Hope Lodge Opens to Cancer Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The American Cancer Society last month opened the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge Center in Boston, which annually will provide temporary housing to hundreds of cancer outpatients and family members who must travel far from home to Boston for medical treatme

The American Heart Association Awards Grants to 11 BWH Researchers

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH Researchers

New Risk Assessment Tool Using CRP and Family History More Accurately Predicts Cardiovascular Risk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have devised a Web-based formula that uses information on C-reactive protein and family history to more accurately predict risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death among men.

No Cardiovascular Protection from Vitamin E or C

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) finds that neither vitamin E nor vitamin C supplements protect against cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older men.

BWHers United in Generosity

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH raised more than $140,000 in support of those in need through last month’s United Way campaign, making this year’s the most successful campaign to date.

Honoring Survivors

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWHers from across the hospital came together last week at an inspiring service to honor survivors of domestic violence and to speak out against it.

BPG Treats Big Brother Big Sister to Halloween Party

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mummy wrapping contests, face painting and eating donuts on a string topped the festivities at the Brigham and Women’s Physicians Group Halloween party for nearly 30 kids from the Big Brother Big Sister Metrowest Program last month.

850 Halloween Bash

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The annual pumpkin decorating contest was the main event at this year’s annual Halloween Bash at 850 Boylston St., where employees enjoyed music, candy, lunch, cake and hot apple cider.

SavePower! Initiative Expands

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For the past several months, Power Management has been active on computer monitors at many sites, with 27,000 monitors going into standby mode when they are inactive for 30 minutes or more. Since June, SavePower! includes both monitors and computers

Layla Guled, Interpreter Services

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Layla Guled didn’t set out to become an interpreter when she arrived in the United States from Somalia in 1995. A visit to a hospital, however, changed that.

Symposium Honors Advances in Cardiology, Braunwald

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Department of Medicine and Cardiology alumni flocked to BWH last month for the first-ever symposium to celebrate the Eugene Braunwald Endowment for the Advancement of Cardiovascular Discovery and Care.

Eye on the Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Editor’s Note: Eye on the Brigham is a new photo feature showcasing the people and places that make the Brigham such a special place.

Self-assembling Nano-fiber Gel Delivers High Concentrations of Clinically Approved Drugs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New self-assembling hydrogel drug delivery system is biocompatible, efficient at drug release, and easy to tailor.

Therapeutic Potential of Stem Cells Augmented By Simple Chemical Procedure

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital have shown that a simple chemical modification to the cell surface may enable doctors to target cells to specific tissues in the body.

Students Create Cheerful Tiles for BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

No vultures. Absolutely nothing with teeth. Maybe a butterfly.

BWH Celebrates National Respiratory Care Week

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Kendra Woo become a respiratory therapist because she wanted to be on the front lines of patient care. As one of the nearly 80 respiratory therapists at BWH, Woo provides care for the most critically ill patients in the NICU.

Staff Readiness Fair

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of employees turned out for last week’s Staff Readiness Fair at the Cabot Atrium in an effort to be continually ready and for a chance to win an array of raffle prizes and giveaways.

Healthy Recipe of the Month: Spicy Homemade Hummus and Veggie Wrap

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Healthy Recipe of the Month: Spicy Homemade Hummus and Veggie Wrap

Candidates’ Health Plans Detailed

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Presidential politics took center stage this week as hundreds of BWHers attended the Center for Bioethics Rounds, “Health Care in the Next Administration: An Analysis of the Barack Obama and John McCain Proposals.”

Connors Center Educates Parents about Shaken Baby Syndrome

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

All babies cry. That’s the message that Connors Center staff are relaying to new parents as part of an initiative to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome, which results from violent shaking of an infant or small child.

Open Enrollment for Benefits Nov. 3 – 23

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Open enrollment is the only time of year when employees can make changes to their benefits, unless they have a qualified change of status event. This year’s open enrollment period is Monday, Nov. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 23. Changes will take effect

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Research and Education Foundation Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, MPH and William W. Churchill, MS, RPh

Kucherlapati Elected to Institute of Medicine

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Raju S. Kucherlapati, PhD, scientific director of Harvard Partners Center for Genetics and Genomics at BWH, last month was one of 65 new members elected to the Institute of Medicine—one of the highest honors awarded in the fields of health and medic

Kelly Named Director of OR/CSS

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Maureen Kelly last month was promoted to director of Operating Room Clinical Support Services (OR/CSS). In her new role, Kelly will oversee the OR/CSS department, which includes Central Processing, OR Materials Management, Cardiac Perfusion, Neuromo

Grateful Parent Pedals for Preemies

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Last month, grateful NICU parents and their friends biked 100 miles around the South Shore to raise more than $82,000 for the BWH NICU and the Children’s Hospital NICU.

A Joint Success at Arthritis Walk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Joint Patrol joined with Team Barry for last month’s Boston Arthritis Walk. At 76 participants strong, the group was both the largest team and the top fund-raiser, bringing in more than $7,000 in support of care and education for patients wi

Loan Forgiveness Helps Employees Pursue Dreams

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For Analesa Baraka, RN, the best thing about coming to work is knowing that she is going to make a difference in someone’s life.

United Way Campaign Kicks Off

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In difficult economic times, programs that help families and organizations pay for basic necessities like food and oil are more important than ever. The United Way of Massachusetts Bay has placed a renewed effort on basic needs, in addition to progr

Asp Named Vice President and Chief Development Officer</

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On the heels of leading one of the country’s most successful fundraising programs, James Asp joined Brigham and Women’s Hospital last week as vice president and chief development officer.

Keenan Named Director of Community Programs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Michelle Keenan last month joined BWH’s Center for Community Health and Health Equity as the director of Community Programs. In this role, she works to strengthen BWH’s relationship with the community.

Staff Readiness Fair Set for Oct. 22

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Did you know that if you lose your BWH-issued Blackberry or laptop, your first call should be to the Help Desk to report it? If you discover a fire, you must pull the alarm closest to it to activate important emergency procedures.

CWN-7 Baby Boom

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

While Connors Center 7 isn’t a postpartum or labor floor, babies are booming on the unit. Seven CWN-7 nurses and a unit coordinator have delivered their own babies in the last eight months.

Course Seeks to End Disparities in Surgical Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Clinicians, policy makers, advocates and others from all over the world will gather at month’s end in Boston with one goal: to eliminate surgical disparities.

BWH Employee Flu Clinics 2008

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH Employee Flu Clinics 2008

Maniar Named Director of Health Equity Programs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Neil Maniar, PhD, MPH, last month joined the BWH Center for Community Health and Health Equity as the director of Health Equity Programs.

No Link Between Caffeine Consumption and Overall Breast Cancer Risk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH researchers show that caffeine consumption is not associated with overall risk of breast cancer.

Nation's Top Healthcare Organizations Announce Strategies to Prevent Deadly Healthcare-Associated Infections

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Leading healthcare organizations publish practical science-based strategies to help prevent the six most important healthcare-associated infections.

Prostate Cancer Mortality is Higher for Overweight Men with High Insulin Secretion Prior to Diagnosis

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Ecess bodyweight and high plasma concentrations of C-peptide in men who are subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer are reliable indicators that they are more likely to die from their disease than those with lower levels.

Enriching the Practice of Nursing

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

During the last nine years, funding from the Mary Fay Enrichment Award has given nurses the opportunity to explore innovative solutions to complex patient care problems and implement them at BWH. Nurses already have studied a variety of issues and i

BWH Brings School to Work

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The thought of a college math class makes Alba Garcia anxious. But the medical assistant and women’s health counselor at Brookside Community Health Center is overcoming her fear in a new program offered at BWH.

Heart Documentary Brings Home the Gold

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Peter Libby, MD, conceived, obtained funding for and served as senior medical advisor for “The Mysterious Human Heart,” a three-part documentary that earned executive producer David Grubin an Emmy Award for Outstanding Science, Technology and Nature

Devine Honored for Social Work Excellence

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Elaine Devine, MSW, LICSW, ensures communication among multidisciplinary staff caring for burn and trauma patients when they’re vulnerable and frightened.

Obesity Surgery: No Incision Required

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite trying nearly every non-fad diet on the market, Christine Baker, 36, has been struggling with her weight since her early 20s.

DF/BWCC Kidney Cancer Clinic Opens

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Edwin Palasek was sanding the hardwood floors of his Weymouth home when he began to experience pain in his sides.

Cohn Library Opens in Shapiro Center

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

First editions of William Withering’s 1799 book, “An account of the Foxglove and some of its Medical Uses,” and “Surgery of the Heart” by Peter Bent Brigham Hospital Chief Surgeon Elliot Carr Cutler now are available to medical students and history

New Research Finds Drug-Eluting Stents Are More Effective for Heart Attack Patients Than Bare-Metal Stents

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers followed 7000-plus patients, two years in longest, largest stent cohort to date.

Six New Genetic Indicators for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New genetic indicators for rheumatoid arthritis uncovered, providing an avenue for researchers to better understand the disease and pursue new treatment.

New Woburn Shuttle Available Oct. 6

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

To help employees who park in Longwood Medical Area lots save money on gas and avoid the hassle of rush hour traffic, MASCO will begin offering a new coach bus from Woburn next month.

Physicians Volunteer with Indian Health Service

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite looking out for cases of Hanta Pulmonary Syndrome, Bubonic Plague and rattlesnake bites, Christian Arbelaez, MD, MPH, was most startled by the number of injuries related to alcohol that Navajo patients presented with at an Indian Health Serv

BWHers Put their Hearts into Walk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Clad in bright red T-shirts, nearly 200 BWHers, friends and family turned out on Saturday morning to support the fight against heart disease.

New Directors Named in Center for Clinical Excellence

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Three key managers have been promoted to directors within the BW/F Center for Clinical Excellence.

BWH Neurosurgeon Named to National Neurology Advisory Council

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The National Insitute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke appointed appointed Dr. Robert M. Friedlander, vice chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at BWH, to the National Advisory Neurological Disorders and and Stroke Council.

Douyon Cover Inspires 3-Day Walkers

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As more than 2,000 women and men walked 60 miles in support of breast cancer patients and survivors, BWH’s Maisha Douyon Cover was charged with inspiring them after the first day of their three-day journey.

Burn Team Set to Walk for Survivors

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Almost 30 years ago, George Pessotti suffered third degree burns over 90 percent of his body after a gas explosion in his home.

Cycle for Life

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Richard Gates joined hands with his wife Barbara as they pedaled from Brigham Circle down Francis Street, the final leg of a nearly 800-mile bicycle ride that began in his native Ohio. Gates, who received a heart transplant at BWH in 2004, finished

Growth Spurt for Backup Child Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It’s 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, and the children at the BWH Backup Child Care Center already are brimming with excitement for the afternoon activity: chocolate fondue with fruit and graham crackers.

Burn Trauma Presents on Bike Safety for Kids

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Nine students heard first-hand accounts from trauma and brain surgeons about protecting their heads in a presentation last month encouraging them to wear bike helmets. Students from the BWH Science Works program learned from trauma surgeon Selwyn Ro

Summer Youth Program a Success

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Not many summer jobs give students an inside look at removing stitches, running an angiogram or recording a patient’s vital signs, but Onyemaechi Onyekwu saw it all in the Department of Neurosurgery, where she worked as part of BWH Human Resources’

Three Students Win SJPHC Scholarship

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Three longtime patients at the Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center last month received the Martin Leber Scholarship Award to pursue higher education.

BWH Researchers Identify New Genetic Pathway for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard’s School of Public Health and Medical School, and colleagues in Europe have found a new genetic pathway for the development of both of the major forms of inflammatory bowel disease.

Health Care Fraud Cases in the U.S. Resulted in $9.3 Billion in Damages in the Last Decade

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Health care fraud is widely thought to be pervasive, and now, for the first time, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have chronicled the characteristics and financial impact of recent health care fraud cases.

Common Over-the-counter Drug Could Pose Serious Risk for Some

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have found that daily ibuprofen use may increase cardiovascular risk for arthritis patients.

Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Is Treatable

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Rates of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis are growing rapidly throughout the world, and curtailing the disease is a major WHO priority. Now, researchers from BWH have shown successful treatment outcomes for patients with XDR-TB in Russia.

STRATUS Expansion Brings New Opportunities

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

First-year Surgery resident Emily Keung, MD, hasn’t placed a central line or performed a bronchoscopy yet, but she is prepared to do so, thanks to extensive training at the STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation.

With New Heart Comes New Hope

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The news David Baugher has been waiting nine months to hear finally came at 5:30 p.m. on July 21, just as he put the cover on his plate after dinner.

Put Your Heart into this Walk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Put Your Heart into this Walk

Andrea Soler: Bridging Mind and Body in Health

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As director of Mental Health Services and the MindBody Center at Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center, Andrea Soler helps patients improve their mental and physical well-being through yoga, mindfulness, stress reduction and psychotherapy.

Marfan Conference Draws 400 Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Sixteen geneticists, cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons from across the country teamed up with local experts from BWH and Children’s Hospital last month at BWH in support of patients with Marfan syndrome. The disease, a hereditary condition,

New Research Highlights How and When Errors in Inpatient Medication Reconciliation Occur

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Study findings suggest how to better prevent harmful medication record discrepancies

Rare Cancer Research Grant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Jonathan Fletcher, MD

BWH Research Shows Level of Cognitive Impairment Immediately Following Waking Up Depends On Phase Of Biological Clock

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Implications of circadian rhythm in sleep inertia for on-call professionals

Rapid oral HIV screening tests: In low prevalence settings, reactive tests need confirmation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have found that one of the most commonly used rapid HIV tests, when conducted on oral fluid in a low prevalence emergency department population, may lead to a high rate of false positive results.

BWH Joint Patrol Steps up for Arthritis Foundation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Sept. 21 Arthritis Foundation Walk in Boston has special meaning for the 19 members of the BWH Joint Patrol. They are walking in memory of Jean Jackson, MD, and Peter Barry, MD, two BWH rheumatologists who passed away this year.

BWHers Named Health Care Champions

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Four BWH physicians were named 2008 Health Care Champions by the Boston Business Journal.

Street Beat Spirit Shines Through

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Last week’s Street Beat was cut short due to the rain, but everyone who attended early had a blast, choosing from dozens of food and craft vendors and soaking colleagues in a dunk tank.

Lemkin Foundation Walk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Marcia Lemkin Foundation holds its sixth annual 5K Road Race and Walk on Sunday, Aug. 24, to benefit research and education in the Women’s Lung Surgery Program at BWH.

Laws Completes 5,000th Pituitary Procedure at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Edward R. Laws, MD, who joined the Department of Neurosurgery this spring as the director of the Neuro-Endocrine/Pituitary Center, in July completed his 5,000th transsphenoidal operation for pituitary disease. Laws and his team removed a benign tumo

Older People May Need Less Sleep

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have shown that when older people are asked to stay in bed during 16 hours of darkness, they sleep only about 7.5 hours compared to the 9 hours that younger people sleep when in the same situation.

Genetic Mechanisms linked to Parkinson’s Disease Uncovered

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A new genetic finding from a group of researchers showed that the build up of a certain protein is responsible for controlling the production of the gene, alpha-synuclein, which is a cause of PD.

On the Move

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Pamela and Cecil Kane, who come from a small town in Maine four hours from Boston, have called Tower 8 their home since February, save a few weeks at home in Madison.

Surgery Gets Underway on Shapiro L1

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Maria Reyes of Roxbury has been a patient of BWH since 1975 when she visited the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. This month, she became the first patient to undergo surgery in the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center.

Patient and Family House Opens on Francis Street

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For more than two decades, the first floor at 48 Francis St. has been the home away from home for hundreds of hematology oncology patients and their families traveling long distances to receive care at BWH.

High-End Instrumentation Grant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Claude Lechene, MD

BWH Ranked in Top Ten of Nation’s Hospitals by U.S. News and World Report

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH has again earned high marks on the U.S. News & World Report annual Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals, ranking eighth among the 19 hospitals on the list. This ranking is two spots higher than 2007’s number 10 ranking.

Shapiro Center Welcomes First Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Watkins Cardiovascular Clinic welcomed the first patients into the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center on June 30. The two-floor, outpatient practice was the first to open in the building and saw 174 patients on opening day.

PCAs Honored for Dedication and Compassion

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Colleagues of lead patient care assistant Kim Mauricio, of 7AB, and PCA Johan Gonzales, of the PACU, say that when the two are working, everything on their respective units runs smoothly. Mauricio and Gonzales were honored as the recipients of the L

It’s Great to Be Eight

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH climbed ahead to claim the eighth spot on the U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals, jumping two spots from number 10 last year. This is the 16th consecutive year that BWH has earned a place on the list.

Silbersweig Begins as Chair of Psychiatry

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

David A. Silbersweig, MD, a pioneer in functional neuroimaging and an accomplished researcher and educator in both psychiatry and neurology, began July 1 as the chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitals and as c

Biomedical Engineering Connects the Campus

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH is home to one of the world’s largest telemetry and monitoring installations in the world now that the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center is connected to the rest of the main campus. Thanks to Biomedical Engineering, data is shared a

Valets Drive Success at 850 Boylston

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

John Pereira’s smiling face is the first thing patients see when they turn off Route 9 and pull into the parking lot at Brigham and Women’s Ambulatory Care Center at Chestnut Hill.

Celebrating 10 Years of Hospitalist Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Hospitalist Service this month celebrated its 10 year anniversary, marking a decade of tremendous growth and expansion.

BWH Research Finds Formal Art Observation Training Improves Medical Students’ Visual Literacy and Diagnostic Skills

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers designed a pre-clinical course for Harvard Medical School students to enhance their diagnostic abilities and improve their visual acumen through close observation and guided discussion of fine art and artistic concepts.

BWH/Faulkner Names New Chair of Department of Psychiatry

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

David Silbersweig, MD, has been named chair of the Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner Department of Psychiatry effective July 1, 2008.

BWH Researchers Find That Routine Cardiac Catheterization May Benefit Some – but not all - Women With Heart Disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

New research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) finds that women who are diagnosed with a heart attack stand to benefit as much as men from routine cardiac catheterization.

BWH Researchers Isolate a Toxic Key to Alzheimer's Disease in Human Brains

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Scientists have long questioned whether the abundant amounts of amyloid plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's actually caused the neurological disease or were a by-product of its progress.

DF/BWCC and South Shore Hospital Reach Milestone

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and South Shore Hospital this month celebrated a milestone in the construction of the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in clinical affiliation with South Shore Hospital in South Weymouth.

Attacking Asthma

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly 20 million Americans are diagnosed with asthma every year, and that number continues to climb with the highest rates in inner cities, like Dorchester and Roxbury. In May, National Asthma Awareness Month, employees from BWH and the Partners As

Perfusionist Perfectionist

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

During cardiac surgery cases, the function of the patient’s heart and lungs rests on the capable shoulders of Perfusionist Amy Patel, CCP.

Celebrating Advancement

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Laura McPhilemy, a unit coordinator and patient care assistant in the PACU and Day Surgery, struggled with the cost of tuition during her last few semesters in nursing school.

Insulin Resistance Linked to Peripheral Artery Disease

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have shown for the first time that a strong association exists between insulin resistance and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a risk factor for heart attacks and stroke.

Operation Walk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The day after a total knee replacement, 50-year-old Isabela didn’t just get out of bed and walk. She did steps for the Marenga by her bed and continued to progress so much that she was dancing through the halls of the Plaza de la Salud Hospital in t

Meals Get Highest Scores Ever in Press Ganey

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Thanks in part to speedy, customized room service meal options in more areas of the hospital, BWH received its highest meal scores ever on the Press Ganey inpatient satisfaction quarterly survey report, topping an upward trend during the past four q

BWHers Step Up for Kidney Walk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

More than 100 BWHers turned out to raise awareness of kidney disease at this year’s National Kidney Foundation Walk in Boston. The BWH team raised more than $15,000 to help the National Kidney Foundation in its efforts to prevent kidney disease and

Honoring Research Excellence

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Nine BWH investigators received Research Excellence Awards from the BWH Biomedical Research Institute (BRI) last month.

Low Melatonin Associated with Increased Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have shown in a new study that low melatonin levels are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.

A Little Change Goes a Long Way

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In a Pathology conference room, a group of managers and front-line staff are surrounded by large sheets of paper taped to all four walls. Each sheet of paper is peppered with post-its detailing improvement ideas, goals and action plans.

Global Health Equity Residents Celebrate Graduation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

At the bedside of a 7-year-old girl dying of kidney failure in rural Rwanda, Amy Sievers, MD, MPH, faced a dilemma: the government had agreed to pay for the girl’s transplant, but there was no funding available to cover pre and post-operative care.

BWH Celebrates Osher Clinical Center Dedication

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Dozens of integrative and complementary care research and clinical pioneers and some of their most generous supporters gathered at Brigham and Women’s Ambulatory Care Center at Chestnut Hill in May to celebrate the dedication of BWH’s Osher Clinical

MedFlight: The Height of Excellent Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When the call came in last Friday—a motor vehicle crash outside Boston—the MedFlight crew sprang into action. Pilot Lynda Colarossi, and flight nurse-paramedics Michael Pepin, EMT-P, and Bill Cyr, RN/EMT-P, grabbed their helmets and headed for one o

BWH, HHI Help Congo Battle Sexual Violence Epidemic

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH physicians are part of a Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) effort to research and bring improved medical care and awareness to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR), a nation battling widespread sexual violence against women for the last de

Physicians Share Moments of Pregnancy in New Book

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It took nine months to develop, but husband and wife Peter Doubilet, MD, PhD, and Carol Benson, MD, in March published their new book on pregnancy. “Your Developing Baby: Conception to Birth” features ultrasound images from every stage of a baby’s d

Sports Injury Conference Draws 300 at Fenway

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

More than 300 clinicians, researchers, athletic trainers and other professionals gathered at the State Street Pavilion at Fenway Park this month for the fifth annual Sports Related Conference on Concussion and Spine Injury. It was hosted by the BWH

Couple Climb the Highest Peaks

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As climber Badia Bonilla neared the top of Makalu in the Himalayas, she started to hallucinate and thought the rocks she passed were other climbers. Soon after, feelings of hunger and pain disappeared, and she suffered a “live death,” or an unawaren

Kids Get Hands-On Hospital Experience

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

During last month’s Take Our Children to Work Day, children who visited Plastic Surgery suited up in scrubs and masks and removed stitches from chicken wings, among other activities.

Shapiro Center Named One of City’s Greenest

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center was named as one of “Boston’s Greenest” buildings by the Mayor’s Office and the American Institute of Architects.

7 NBC/CW56 and Partners HealthCare Health and Fitness Expo

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

7 NBC/CW56 and Partners HealthCare present the second annual Boston Health and Fitness Expo at the Hynes Convention Center June 21 and 22. This free event is designed to improve the health of the Boston-area community. Last year, an overwhelming 70,

High School Students Get Up-Close Look at Trauma

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Nine students from six towns last month got a first hand look at what it takes to work as a trauma clinician at BWH. The Education Collaborative (TEC), an organization made up of towns west of Boston that aims to help high school students gain real

Audeh Aims for Educational Excellence in Mission Hill

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

At any given time, Pamela Audeh can be found reading to a pre-kindergarten class at Mission Grammar School, overseeing a science project at the Tobin Middle School or working with 150 BWH volunteers who help ensure students have a good experience.

NICU Strollers March for Babies

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH NICU Strollers team raised more than $19,000 for the March of Dimes during the organization’s March for Babies walk last month.

Utilization and Outcomes for Minimally Invasive Prostate Cancer Treatment

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH researchers assessed surgical utilization and complications, lengths of hospital stay and cancer outcomes in over 2,700 men who underwent prostate cancer surgery and found that MIRP usage almost tripled between 2003 and 2005.

Nurse Volunteers for Mission in Kenya

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tess Panizales, MSN, RN, and her daughter, Christia, were among the first non-Kenyan citizens to volunteer on a three-day medical mission to help Kenyans displaced from their homes during post-election violence that erupted in the African country in

Panizales First Recipient of New Nursing Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In recognition of her dedication to improving care for the neediest patients, Tess Panizales, MSN, RN, quality program manager for the Center for Surgery and Public Health, was the first recipient of the Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Award in the

Celebrating The Essence of Nursing at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When Beth Baldwin, BSN, RN, was caring for a stage IV lung cancer patient on Tower 14AB, he told her his primary concern: to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary at home with his family.

Remembrance Service Held for Families of Organ, Tissue Donors

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A 38-year-old heart transplant recipient, with his 8-year-old son by his side, told families of organ and tissue donors at BWH what the gift of organ donation meant to him and his family.

Hundreds Toured Shapiro Center

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Approximately 500 BWHers last week crossed the bridge and saw first-hand the expansive East Lobby of the Shapiro Center, the beautiful artwork on the walls throughout the second floor and how closely the Shapiro Family Center mirrors the Bretholtz C

Kessler Library Aims to Please the Palate

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Nicole Henretty of BWH Nutrition showed patients, families and employees how to be cool as a cucumber with an easy-to-prepare recipe for cucumber dip last month during the debut of a new program. The “Pleasing the Palate” series features monthly dem

Psychiatry Researcher Receives NARSAD Young Investigator Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Zora Kikinis, PhD

Asthma Study team seeks participants from Partners’ network

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Asthma Research Center has received a $2 million Genetics Enters Medicine grant from Partners to study the influence of one’s genetic profile on response to asthma therapies.

A Time to Celebrate

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro watched from Palm Beach, Fla., via live video as Ashley Herman cut the ceremonial red ribbon Wednesday evening to dedicate the cardiovascular center named in honor of her great-grandparents.

Governor Impressed with BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick toured the Tower and Shapiro Cardiovascular Center this week with hospital leaders and came away impressed with BWH’s commitment to delivering quality care and its continued support of the community.

Top Notch Images in a Heart Beat

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Shapiro Cardiovascular Center will be home to Toshiba’s AquilionONE, which, at 320 slices, is the most powerful computed tomography scanner in its class. Since the scanner was temporarily installed in Nuclear Medicine on L1 in November, a group

Shapiro Center Opens New Doors to Patient Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

After four years of planning and construction, the grand opening of the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center and the transformation of care that it promises are upon BWH, with celebrations for employees, donors and members of the community

Advances in Pathology

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center opens, Pathology at BWH will be second to none in using information from patients’ genes to better diagnose disease and give care providers the information they need to prescribe the best treatment.

Meet the Teams

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Hundreds of BWHers have made essential contributions to planning for and opening the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center. “Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this center a reality,” said Kate Walsh, chief operating officer of BWH. “Without

TV System Facilitates Entertainment, Education

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Inpatients soon will have more entertainment options and information about BWH at their fingertips, thanks to a new television system being rolled out across the hospital this spring.

BWH Researchers Find Gene Determinants of C-Reactive Protein

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH have found that variation in several genes that are associated with metabolic and inflammatory regulation – in diseases such as diabetes and heart disease – also have significant effects on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

BWH Cytogeneticist to Receive Korean “Nobel Prize”

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

At 38, Charles Lee, PhD, will be the youngest recipient of the 2008 Ho-Am Prize in Medicine when the BWH clinical cytogeneticist receives the “Nobel Prize” of Korea in Seoul on June 3.

IT Departments Coming Together for Cancer Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Information Technology departments at BWH, DFCI and South Shore Hospital are collaborating to share and integrate patient information securely across institutional information systems in support of the new Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer

Gottlieb Saluted for Workforce Development Vision

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action (JALSA) honored BWH President Gary Gottlieb last week for his continued commitment to access to health care and workforce development on behalf of the community. JALSA presented Gottlieb with its Disting

Kidney Walk Set for May 18

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH is stepping up for this year’s National Kidney Foundation Walk at Franklin Park Zoo on May 18. BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, chairs this year’s walk, and Mayor Thomas Menino is the honorary chair.

Just for the Record

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Whether she’s recording new births or original songs, Jen de la Osa never takes a day off. When de la Osa isn’t working as a birth registrar on Connors Center 9, the singer and vocalist for Boston-based band Aloud is touring or promoting her latest

April is National Donate Life Month

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

During the last year and a half, 50 tissue donors and 22 organ donors at BWH have made possible life-saving transplants for more than 50 patients at BWH and other transplant centers throughout New England and the U.S.

Teaming Up for the First Time

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Mandeep Saund, MD, of the Department of Surgery, has wanted to run a marathon since the fourth grade, when he completed an assignment on Phidippides who ran the first ever marathon.

BWH Cytogeneticist to Receive Korean “Nobel Prize”

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

At 38, Charles Lee, PhD, will be the youngest recipient of the Ho-Am Prize in Medicine when the Brigham and Women’s Hospital clinical cytogeneticist receives the “Nobel Prize” of Korea in Seoul on June 3.

BWH Makes the Safety Grade

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH this week received a HealthGrades’ 2008 Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety as one of the top 249 hospitals in the country.

The Art of Shapiro ‘Ping’

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Each week through the opening of the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center, BWH Bulletin features a work of art from the center’s collection. More than 20 contemporary pieces will be permanently displayed throughout the building to promote healing, conversa

Families Unite on Team Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Team Brigham brings together colleagues, friends and family. Fathers, sons and siblings are uniting and rising to the challenge of running the 112th Boston Marathon while raising $3,000 each for BWH community health programs.

Mending Hearts in Rwanda

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

KIGALI, Rwanda—Celestin Gasamaza never dreamed having the life-saving heart surgery he needed was possible. Yet last week, the 25-year-old student became Team Heart’s first surgical patient as he underwent atrial septal defect repair.

BWH Heart Research Grows

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

As BWH opens new doors to cardiovascular care at the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center, one team of BWHers is researching new ways to regenerate parts of the heart that have shut down due to heart failure.

Improving Patient Safety with Bar-codes

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have shown that using bar-code technology to augment the counting of surgical sponges during an operative procedure increases the detection rate of miscounted and/or misplaced sponges.

Designer drug successfully treats chronic blood cancer in mice

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have successfully treated a chronic blood cancer in mice using a novel designer drug to attack a mutant protein that triggers malignant blood cell growth.

The Art of Healing at the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

There’s an art to the Shapiro Cardiovascular Center.

90 Marathons Back to Boston

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When Cullene Murphy lines up at the start line to a marathon, she focuses on one thing: the finish line. Murphy, a nurse in Hematology-Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has crossed marathon finish lines almost 90 times.

Paths Vary Among Matches

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Jennifer Lewey’s childhood aspirations to become a physician and help people throughout the world took shape in East Boston. Her hopes and dreams were refined at Boston Latin School, Brandeis University and Harvard Medical School, and partially real

BWH Bests State, National Scores in Patient Satisfaction

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH physicians, nurses and other care providers recently received high marks compared to state and national averages on the new, federally-supported Hospital Compare Web site at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

Family Thanks the Brigham for Decades of Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Evelyn Smith DeMille is no stranger to BWH. In 1981, her son, Jonathan was the first baby born in the new Tower maternity ward, and her second child, Abigail, was born during the Tower’s fifth anniversary celebration.

NICU Strollers Get Set to Walk for Babies

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The NICU Strollers are rolling this month to raise money for the March of Dimes at the annual March for Babies on April 27. The BWH team has grown in the number of walkers and fund-raising totals in its first two years, and this year, the Strollers

Researchers Answer Troublesome Question of Why Some Genetic Association Studies Have Failed Replication Attempts

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A team of researchers from Harvard School of Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and elsewhere have described a possible reason why some studies have been unable to replicate associations between genes and traits.

BWH Researchers First to Observe Fetal Cells in the Blood of Mothers Years after Donor Egg Pregnancies

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For the first time, researchers have observed that fetal cells remain in the blood of mothers who had pregnancies with donor eggs for years after delivery, without being destroyed by her immune system.

Lack of Patient-Provider Discussion Contributes to Disparities in Use of Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute concluded that lack of patient-provider discussion may contribute to socioeconomic, age and race-related inconsistencies in the use of breast reconstruction after mastectomy.

Goldszer Receives First Thomson Lifetime Achievement Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Robert C. Goldszer, MD, MBA, first came to BWH and HMS in January 1979 as a research and clinical fellow in Renal Medicine. His next 30 years at BWH were marked by his commitment to safe and quality care and his leadership in shepherding quality imp

BWH Endoscopy Institute Named Center of Excellence

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH’s Endoscopy Institute was one of 14 endoscopy centers from the across the globe and one of only two from the United States named as a founding member of the OMED Centers of Excellence. MGH’s Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Unit was also named to this

FH Briefcase Races Raise $75K

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The 16th annual TJX Briefcase Race took Loon Mountain by storm last month as 175 skiers donned team-themed costumes and schussed their way downhill, raising $75,000 for the Faulkner Hospital Breast Center. WCVB’s Mike Lynch hosted this year’s event,

Marathoners Get Set to Run for Team Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Kathryn Andrews, RN, a staff nurse in the Thoracic ICU on 11C, promised her late father she’d be his legs when he was sick and could not walk. She is fulfilling her promise by running the Boston Marathon on April 21 as a member of Team Brigham.

The Heart of Social Work

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

How do you get on public transportation with a ventricular assist device (VAD)? What do you do if someone is staring at you because the VAD makes a ticking sound?

BWH Names Director of Integrated Interventional Cardiovascular Program

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, has been named the new director of the Integrated Interventional Cardiovascular Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and the VA Boston Healthcare System (VA) effective July 1, 2008.

Renal Fellow Receives Young Investigator Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Johannes Schlondorff, MD PhD, Renal Division

BWH Advances Nuclear Imaging with LMA Partners

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH celebrated the grand opening of the Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Laboratories with researchers and scientists from across the Longwood Medical Area this month with a mini symposium.

March is MS Awareness Month

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

You’d never know that Susan Strachan battles chronic fatigue and blindness in one eye as a result of multiple sclerosis, or MS. The 44-year-old Weston resident is constantly on the go, running the nonprofit organization she founded to raise money fo

Profiles of Excellence: Cindy Jodoin

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When a pipe burst in the Tower and flooded several patient floors, the leadership of Cindy Jodoin, MHA, BSN, RN, kept the team on Tower 4C and 6C involved, informed and at ease.

NICU Team Focuses on Infant Skin Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH’s tiniest patients need special attention, and their thin skin is no exception. In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), premature infants are getting better skin care thanks to Corinne Cyr Pryor, BA, RNC, IBCLC.

Healthy Recipe of the Month: Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

High in fiber and low in saturated fat, this dish is a colorful and tasty meal for the whole family.

Simple Non-Lab Methods as Good as Lab Tests at Predicting Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In a new study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), researchers show that methods using non-laboratory-based risk factors predict cardiovascular events as accurately as more costly laboratory-based tests.

Study Reveals Tumors’ Unique ‘Fingerprints’

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A new study led by BWH researchers promises to change the way cancer is treated and understood. This study marks the first time that researchers have used new technology to identify the unique genetic mutations of a cancerous tumor for an individual

Physical Therapy Expands Services to Cancer Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The six to 12 weeks that patients undergoing bone marrow transplants must spend in their hospital rooms can seem endless.

The Search For A Kidney Stem Cell

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH examined cells in the kidney to determine which cells are responsible for generating repair.

Deep Sleep Plays Role in Visual Learning

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have now shown that the processes that regulate deep sleep may affect visual learning.

Researchers Create Gecko-Inspired Bandages

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

You’d never find a lizard in the Operating Room, but geckos were the inspiration for researchers who created a new bandage to join sutures and staples as a basic OR tool for patching up surgical wounds and internal injuries.

Facial Transplant Pioneer Visits BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A BWH surgery team this week had the opportunity to meet and discuss facial transplants with one of the physicians who performed the world’s first partial face transplant.

Holland Receives First Ujima Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Department of Nursing honored Sondra Holland, RN, of CWN 7, with its first BWH Nursing Ujima Award in recognition of her more than 36 years of delivering compassionate, culturally sensitive care to gynecologic oncology patients.

Helping Teens Form Healthy Relationships

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Liz Spurrell, MSW, a Passageway domestic violence advocate, dedicates two days a week to meeting with adolescents who come to BWH Obstetrics for prenatal or gynecologic care. She talks with them about violence, healthy relationships and available se

Recycling Efforts Stretched To New Limits

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Marikim Wolter Bunnell, MD, knows firsthand the dire needs of struggling hospitals throughout Latin America.

Lilly, Partners In Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital Team Up to Fight MDR-TB in Former Soviet Republics

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Eli Lilly and Company and Partners In Health announced a series of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis trainings by Brigham and Women's Hospital experts for individuals treating drug-resistant patients in 10 former Soviet Republics.

BWH Researchers Identify Mutated Genes Unique to Mesothelioma Tumors

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), for the first time, using new DNA sequencing technology, can identify the unique genetic mutations of a cancerous tumor of an individual patient.

Heart attack prescription drug strategy may save lives and reduce healthcare costs

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Full prescription coverage of heart drugs could help heart attack survivors live longer, better lives and lower the nation’s healthcare costs, according to a new analysis reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Team From MIT and BWH Creates Gecko-Inspired Bandage

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers have created a waterproof adhesive bandage inspired by gecko lizards that may soon join sutures and staples as a basic operating room tool for patching up surgical wounds or internal injuries.

TIMI Trials Revolutionize Cardiac Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For the past 24 years, the BWH-based TIMI trials have been revolutionizing the care of cardiac patients. Since TIMI began in 1984, mortality from heart attacks has dropped almost in half, and the TIMI Study Group isn’t slowing down.

Rogers Receives Thomson Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In high school, math teacher Mrs. Olive Walcott told Selwyn Rogers he had “the gift of understanding.”

BW/F Awarded for Stroke Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Faulkner Hospital received the American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award for commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care.

A Student and a Teacher

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Whether precepting nursing students, educating heart surgery patients or customizing patient and family education materials, Susan Gabriel, BSN, CCRN, CSC, embraces teaching as a central part of her role as a nurse.

Tower Waiting Rooms Upgraded

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

According to the Rev. Wilfred Brimley, the new furniture in the Tower family waiting areas is very comfortable.

BWH Study Identifies Modifiable Factors Associated With Long Life

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A healthy lifestyle during the early elderly years—including weight management, exercising regularly and not smoking—may be associated with a greater probability of living to age 90 in men.

Celebrating the Dream of MLK

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Juan Williams stood before a packed Bornstein Amphitheater last week and challenged the audience to look at history through a point of contrast and to ask what we can do now.

BWH Research Featured in Journal Edition Dedicated to Women’s Unique Hypertension Issues

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Women face unique risks for developing hypertension and special challenges in keeping their high blood pressure under control, according to new research published in a special themed issue of Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Gene Expression in Meningiomas May Vary by Hormone Receptor Status

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH have found preliminary evidence that the expression of a number of genes appears to be associated with the presence of hormone receptors, specifically receptors for progesterone.

Specific Nanoparticle Design Required for Drug Delivery

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers led by Omid Farokhzad at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and Robert Langer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have demonstrated the precision required to engineer a nanoparticle that is effective in targeted drug delivery.

BWH Home to Toshiba’s 320-Slice CT

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Months before it will find a permanent home in the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center, BWH installed Toshiba’s AquilionONE, which, at 320 slices, is the most powerful computed tomography scanner in its class. On Nov. 7, BWH radiologists p

BWH Expands to Foxborough

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The scoreboard at Gillette Stadium this past month captured national attention as it displayed winning scores for the New England Patriots. On Jan. 16, just before the AFC championship game, the scoreboard held special significance for BWH with a wel

IS Makes it Easy to be Green

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A new energy-saving initiative led by Partners IS will reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing more than 2,000 cars from the road each year.

BWH-Led Tuberculosis Research Project Receives $14 Million NIH Grant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH, HSPH, HMS and Partners In Health (PIH) have received a grant of $14 million over five years from the National Institutes of Health to study multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis.

Hormone Therapy in Addition to Radiation Increases Curability of Prostate Cancer

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers find that a man's overall health profile , particularly cardiovascular health, should be evaluated and addressed prior to initiating androgen suppression therapy for prostate cancer.

Emergency Department Visits for Skin Infections Increasing Dramatically

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH, reports in the February issue of Annals of Emergency Medicine that emergency department visits for skin infections have increased since a new strain of staph was discovered.

Going for the jugular in melanoma

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

For the first time, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Boston have found a strategy that selectively targets cancer stem cells for destruction, successfully halting one of the deadliest cancers – melanoma – in mice.

By modifying a stem cell’s surface, researchers can steer cells where needed

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Now it appears that even stem cells can come with GPS. In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital harmlessly modified the surface of human mesenchymal stem cells, which directed the cells through the bloodstream into bone.

BWH Aims to Improve Ambulatory Patient Service

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

When Stella Coronel books a patient appointment in Thoracic Surgery, she knows she has the support of Doreen Howard at the Patient Service Center (PSC) in Medford. Howard is one of 64 PSC representatives who support ambulatory clinics by verifying r

Researchers Examine Gender-Specific Causes of Depression

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Women are almost twice as likely as men to suffer from major depression, a mental illness that can lead to death and accompany chronic medical illnesses. BWH researchers are beginning groundbreaking work to understand what causes differences between

BWH and SSH: All in the Family

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH and South Shore Hospital share a clinical affiliation in certain services and programs, but the connection doesn’t end there. The hospitals also are linked by brothers Luis Hernandez and Antonio Cartegena, who work as valets at BWH and SSH in We

BWH, DFCI, SSH Bring Cancer Care to Southeastern Mass.

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BWH and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are working with South Shore Hospital to open an outpatient cancer center in South Weymouth, that will usher in a new level of cancer care for people in the region. The center is expected to welcome is first pati

Researchers Propose New License For Drugs and Vaccines

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at BWH propose a new type of license, which they call a “Generic Open (GO) License,” that can lower prices for developing nations by promoting competition while preserving incentives to innovate.

Eyes Are Used For More Than Vision

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Separate from rods and cones, a novel system in the eye is used to manage sleep/wake cycle and detect an awareness of light

Researchers Find an Increase in Prostate Specific Antigen Testing Among Younger Men, Black Men and the Insured

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers affiliated with Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that many physicians are ordering prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing at an increasing rate despite any clear evidence of the test’s benefit.

Honoring Physicians and Scientists

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, thanked the service award honorees for their continued commitment to the hospital’s mission of clinical care, education and research.

AMMP Awards Nine Scholarships

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Nine motivated BW/F and DF/BWCC employees have reason to celebrate. They received Association of Multicultural Members of Partners (AMMP) scholarships last week to help them fulfill their educational and career goals.

Legends in Transplant Surgery Meet at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH’s Department of Surgery last week brought together two transplant surgery pioneers: Joseph Murray, MD, who received the Nobel Prize for leading the world’s first successful organ transplant operation in 1954 at BWH, and Thomas E. Starzl, MD, PhD

Honoring Physicians and Scientists

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA, thanked the service award honorees for their continued commitment to the hospital’s mission of clinical care, education and research.

Selective Attention Most Impaired During First Night Shift Worked

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers find that the first night shift after multiple day shifts is the most vulnerable time for lapses in attention and ’fast and sloppy’ target searches.

Room Service Caters to Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Maria Fernandez, a patient of the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center, put in her lunch order for fresh fruit, salad and yogurt on Tuesday around noon. In less than 30 minutes, Pierre Adelson of Food Services delivered it to her bedside on

Brigham and Women’s Study Finds Eating a Flavonoid-Rich Diet Helps Women Decrease Risk of Ovarian Cancer

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

New research out of the Channing Laboratory at BWH reports that frequent consumption of foods containing the flavonoid kaempferol, including non-herbal tea and broccoli, was associated with a reduced risk of ovarian cancer.

Automated Tool Helps Physicians Communicate Test Results

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have found that patients who received their test results from physicians using an automated management system were more satisfied than patients whose physicians did not use the system.

BWH Researchers Find Long-Term Beta Carotene Use Reduces Dementia Risk in Men

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers affiliated with the Channing Laboratory at BWH report evidence that men who take beta carotene supplements for 15 years or longer may have less cognitive decline and better verbal memory than those who do not.

Nurse Rescues

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Every day, BWHers do all they can to save lives and care for patients at the hospital. Recently, nurses Moira McCarthy-Egan and Susan Toto instinctively relied on their invaluable clinical skills and compassion to rescue two people in need beyond the

BWH Awarded for Organ Donation

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH has had its best year for organ donation yet, with a record number of 14 organ donors able to give 49 organs, and 27 tissue donors, each of whom help as many as 200 patients.

New Anti-Platelet Drug Provides Superior Protection Across Full Range of Acute Coronary Syndromes Than Current Standard of Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH-based TIMI Study Group has found the new anti-platelet drug prasugrel to be superior to clopidogrel in more rapidly and consistently preventing serious events among study participants undergoing coronary stent procedures.

Study Explains How Exercise Lowers Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Samia Mora, MD, and colleagues report in the November 6, 2007 issue of Circulation how a women's risk of cardiovascular disease events decreased with higher levels of physical activity.

Whole-Grain Cereal Decreases Heart Failure Risk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH researchers observed a 28 percent decrease in the risk of developing heart failure in people who ate whole-grain breakfast cereal seven or more times per week compared to those who ate refined cereal.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Ranked in Top 5 Nationally, Third Year in a Row For Quality and Accountability by UHC

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For the third year in a row Brigham and Women’s Hospital has been nationally recognized as a top-ranked leader in demonstrating excellence in delivering high quality care by the University HealthSystem Consortium '07 Quality and Accountability Study.

Brigham and Women’s and National Jewish Awarded $37 Million for Largest Study to Date to Identify Genes that Influence the Development of COPD

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver have been awarded a $37 million grant from the NHLBI to lead the most comprehensive study of COPD ever undertake.

Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer Associated with Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Death

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have found that androgen deprivation therapy may increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, particularly in men who undergo surgery for prostate cancer.

NICU Parent Pedals for Preemies

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Bill Reilly had special “Willpower” last Saturday as he biked 100 miles around the South Shore to raise money for BWH’s NICU.

Inclusion of Additional Component to Prostate Cancer Score Improves Test Accuracy

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have found that if a third, small area of highly aggressive cancer is seen on biopsy, it is associated with a worse prognosis for men with otherwise moderately aggressive disease.

Dottin Strives for a Pleasant Ride

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Christopher Dottin is responsible for knowing where patients are going, but he also makes it a point to know where they are coming from. Dottin, an escort in Central Transport Services, realizes when silence is comforting and when chatter is welcome

BWH Named Again to Leapfrog Top Hospitals

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH’s commitment to safety and quality secured the hospital a spot on the 2007 Leapfrog Top Hospital’s list for the third year in a row.

BWHers Walk the Heart Walk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

More than a hundred BWHers, friends and patients turned out for last Saturday’s Boston Heart Walk, despite the rain showers and gloomy weather.

A Limitless Future for the DF/BWCC

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center celebrated 10 years of accomplishments and successes this week, as BWH and DFCI leaders, staff and patients came together in a packed Jimmy Fund Auditorium on Wednesday.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital Named Top Hospital by Leapfrog

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Brigham and Women’s Hospital has been named a 2007 Leapfrog Top Hospital for making significant strides in quality and patient safety.

A Decade of Excellence in Cancer Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When Patti Smith-Allen, BSN, RN, tells people she’s a nurse in an Oncology unit, a silence often follows. “Some people think it’s a sad or difficult place to work,” she said.

A Community of Support for VAD Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

It takes a village to care for a VAD patient, and Tower 8AB’s Joan Dorr, BSN, RN, and Cynthia Scherer, BSN, RN, last month prepared the town of Waltham to do just that.

Mission Park Garage Lightens Up

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Engineers Wally Gleeson and Rawlins Roopcharan were instrumental to the lighting upgrade.

Harpist Creates Harmony at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When Nancy Kleiman wheeled her harp up to the Thoracic Care Unit and began to play, a young man with Down syndrome peeked out of his room and then retreated.

Kidney Donor, Recipient Pay it Forward

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When MIT alum Doug Newman sent an e-mail to his Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers titled “Does anyone have a spare kidney?” he wasn’t kidding.

BWH to Perform Partial Face Transplants

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A BWH surgical team is ready perform partial facial transplants in selected previous transplant patients, making BWH just the second hospital in the country able to perform this procedure which will boost patients’ confidence and help them live norma

850 Boylston St. Raises the Roof

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Party-goers last week topped 850 Boylston St. with food, prizes and massages at the second annual Summer Rooftop Party.

Diabetes Significantly Increases the Risk of Death

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly 65 percent of individuals with diabetes die from cardiovascular disease in the United States, yet the independent effect of diabetes on mortality following acute coronary syndromes is not clear.

Vitamin C and Other Antioxidant Vitamins Provide No Protection From Cardiovascular Events

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In the first large-scale randomized trial of vitamin C on cardiovascular events, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) have found that there is no evidence of benefit or risk from vitamins C, E or beta-carotene on cardiovascular events

Synchronization to a Non-24-Hour Day Reveals Flexibility within the Human Biological Clock

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital successfully entrained individuals to a light/dark cycle that correctly aligned their biological clock to the 24.65-hour day of the planet Mars and to a 23.5-hour day.

Brigham Named Among the Nation's Top Performance Improvement Leaders by Thomson Healthcare

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH was named one of the nation's top performance improvement leader hospitals by Thomson Healthcare, the leading provider of decision support solutions that help organizations across the healthcare industry improve clinical and business performance.

Quin Named Nurse Manager of 8CD

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew Quin, BSN, RN, in June was named nurse manager of Tower 8CD. Quin, who most recently was BWH’s cardiovascular access manager, has served in multiple clinical and leadership positions since joining the hospital nine years ago.

Aylward Named Nurse Manager of 14CD

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Pat Aylward, MSN, BSN, RN, in June was named nurse manager of Tower 14CD. In this role, she works with 54 nurses, 13 patient care assistants and seven unit coordinators to ensure 14CD’s patients and their families receive the best medical intermedi

When Patient, Family Differ at End of Life

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Nurses are compelling story tellers. Public story telling among nurses helps them make ethical distinctions in clinical practice visible and creates opportunities for discussion and for learning. Even the story teller learns from telling the story.

Ambulatory OB Welcomes Health Center Nurses

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A face-to-face meeting last month among BWH Ambulatory Obstetrics Practices nurses and nurses at eight affiliated community health centers really delivered.

Donation after Cardiac Death Changes OR Culture

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Susan Driscoll, RN, was a member of the team that conducted BWH’s first lung transplant in 1990, and since then, she has participated in many organ transplant surgeries.

Heartfelt Thanks to CCU Nurses

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When Keith Orr was admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) after a massive heart attack in February, he had no idea he’d wind up on the front page of The New York Times.

Nurses Play Integral Role in Tower 8AB Rounds

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When looking at ways to improve patient care, the first thing Tower 8 leadership did was survey staff nurses to get their input.

Residents Thank Nurse Mentors

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When a young patient in the MICU was dying, Jackie Feeney, BSN, RN, comforted both the patient’s family and the medical resident caring for the patient.

Precourt Appointed Cardiovascular Access Manager

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Justin Precourt, BSN, RN, former staff nurse in the Coronary Care Unit, in June was named cardiovascular access manager at BWH.

State of Nursing at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

Risk Genes for MS Uncovered

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A large-scale genomic study lead by BWH has uncovered new genetic variations associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), findings that suggest a possible link between MS and other autoimmune diseases.

HR Aims to Increase Employee Retention

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

More than half of new employees said they hope to work at BWH for five years or longer. That’s according to surveys HR introduced in the spring to gain feedback about the applicant and new employee orientation experiences at BWH.

A Triumphant Military Career

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When Marie Field’s father Col. Pate swore her into the Air Force U.S. Reserves 29 years ago, it was one of the proudest days of her life.

Step up for the Heart Walk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Lace up your sneakers for this year’s American Heart Association Boston Heart Walk, Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade.

BWH Welcomes New Deland Fellows

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Asha Masurekar and Sherman Zemler Wu, BWH’s newest Deland Fellows, joined the hospital this month, bringing with them a diverse range of experiences and a shared passion to learn from BWH leadership and staff.

Bennett Named OMC Director

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Jabbar R. Bennett, PhD, this month joined BWH as the administrative director of the Office for Minority Careers (OMC) in the BWH Center for Faculty Development and Diversity.

Making a Difference in Mexico

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Paul Nuccio’s vacation in Mexico earlier this month isn’t what you’d expect.

Text4Deaf Bridges Deaf, Hearing Communities

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Kerry Thompson responds to each message on her Sidekick with the swift key strokes of a text-messaging pro.

BWH and Partners Help Make Camp Harbor View a Reality

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new summer day camp on Boston Harbor’s Long Island serves 600 kids from Boston with a fully equipped infirmary, thanks to BWH and Partners HealthCare Community Benefit Programs.

Teens Tell Their Peers to C.H.I.L.L.

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Karina Rosario, a 16-year-old peer health educator, wants to help curb excessive weight gain in young people. This year, she worked with 11 other teens to produce a guide to help make that happen.

BWH Advances on U.S. News & World Report Top Hospitals List

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH claimed the 10th spot on the U.S. News & World Report's Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals, moving up from number 11 last year. This is the 15th consecutive year BWH has earned a spot on the list.

NICU Blood Donor Celebrates 10 Gallons

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In December 1941, David Coyle began a lasting tradition of donating his O negative blood. Last month, the 81-year-old hit his 10-gallon mark at BWH, and all that blood has gone to premature babies in the NICU.

Trauma Care Superior at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

After an extensive review, BWH last month was re-verified as a Level 1 Trauma Center for Adults and lauded as a provider of “superior trauma care” by the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Trauma.

Financial Counselors Available to Help Patients Find Right Health Plan

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH has trained all of its financial counselors to help patients navigate through the complicated health insurance options available to them under the new Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act, which went into effect this month.

Dutch Delegation Visits BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH showcased its top-notch quality and safety initiatives to health care executives from the Netherlands, a country striving to revamp its health care system and improve its overall level of quality of care.

BWHers Go To Bat for ABCD

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Partners HealthCare and BWH salute the all stars who went to bat last month for Boston’s oldest anti-poverty agency, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD).

BWH Idol Hopefuls Showcase Their Talent

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

About 30 musically-talented BWHers sang their hearts out before a panel of judges earlier this week, hopeful of becoming the first ever BWH Idol.

BWH Advances on U.S. News & World Report Top Hospitals List

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH claimed the 10th spot on the U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals, moving up from number 11 last year.

Canadian, British and American scientists launch major new genome partnership to catalogue all common copy number variations

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

An international team will use state-of-the-art, high-density microarrays and new computer algorithms to improve the detection of variants in the human genome which are implicated in various diseases.

Names and Faces

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Names and Faces

BRI Awards Research Excellence Grants

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Freeman Suber, MD, explains his poster, “Innate Response to Self-Antigen Significantly Exacerbates Burn Wound Depth,” to Lorenzo Benatuil, PhD, at the BRI Research Excellence Awards.

Physicians, Scientists Join in Fund-raising Effort

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH has embarked on an ambitious capital campaign to raise a minimum of $500 million from private donors over six years, and hospital leaders and the Development Office are turning to physicians and scientists to help.

Osher Center to Open in July

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH will offer patients access to a full array of complementary and integrative care when it opens the Osher Center for Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies at 850 Boylston St. in July.

Patients Gather for Rheumatoid Arthritis Discussion

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

More than 120 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their families came to BWH in June for a mini-workshop on treatments and therapies as part of the hospital’s Patient-Centered Outcomes Project (PACO).

Inpatient Records Scanning Approaching 1.5 Million

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In less than six months, staff in Health Information Services have scanned 1,476,343 sheets of paper from more than 20,000 inpatient medical records, and clinicians can view every one of these documents with a few mouse clicks.

7 News/Partners HealthCare Health and Fitness Expo

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A whopping 70,000 people turned out for the first-ever 7 News/ Partners HealthCare Health and Fitness Expo last weekend.

47 Graduate from SSJP

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Since her sophomore year at Boston Latin Academy, Badewa Gladys Fashote has interned in BWH’s Microbiology Lab through the Student Success Jobs Program

New Award Recognizes Exceptional Kindness and Generosity

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Division of Preventive Medicine gathered with family and friends last week to recognize Eileen Bowes and Geneva McNair, the first recipients of a special honor: the Malcolm C. Taylor Award for Exceptional Kindness and Generosity.

Cheers to Our Neighbors!

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH Chief Operating Officer Kate Walsh and the Roberto Clemente 21 Dancers and Baton Twirlers were among nearly 200 people enjoying Tuesday night’s BWH and Roxbury Tenants of Harvard (RTH) barbeque.

Stroke Team Saves Lives

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

At a moment’s notice, Kristin Lewis, BSN, RN, is ready to respond to a page for the Acute Stroke Intervention Team, report to a Tower patient care area and administer a life-saving dose of medication to a patient having a stroke

Osher Center to Open in July

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH will offer patients access to a full array of complementary and integrative care when it opens the Osher Center for Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies at 850 Boylston St. next month.

Starfish Winners Honored for Compassion

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Paul Savage, staff member at the Patient Access Services Desk, was behind the desk at 75 Francis St. when an elderly patient entered the lobby and began to slip.

Estrogen Therapy and Coronary Artery Calcification

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new study from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) has evaluated, for the first time in a randomized trial, the relationship between estrogen therapy and coronary artery calcium in young postmenopausal women.

Advancing at BWH

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Workforce Initiative hosted the first celebration luncheon June 1 for staff and managers who are taking part in BWH’s Patient Care Assistant training program and the educational financial assistance program.

BWH Opens Softball Season on a Mission

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH softball team has its eye on the winning the Mission Hill Softball League championship this summer.

Students Meet Pen Pals

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Cheyanne, a Mission Grammar School second grader, has been filling in Radiology’s Betty Emmanuel on all the details of her life over the past few months.

Physicians Perform at the Pops

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

What had Neil Bhattacharyya, MD, dressed as Superman, Mari Kim Bunnell, MD, donning blue and white gingham as Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz,” and Faulkner’s Norman Sadowsky, MD, sporting a handlebar mustache as Koerner from “The Perils of Pauline”?

Physician Volume Not Associated with Better Outcome for Diabetes

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Alexander Turchin, MD, MS, and colleagues found that the volume of patients cared for by an individual physician, or physician volume, is not linked to improved outcome for outpatients with diabetes.

Inaugural Class of Global Health Equity Residency Graduates

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Nancy Lange, MD, MPH, and David Walton, MD, MPH, spent their residency learning firsthand about issues in global health by caring for patients and seeing different public health infrastructures in some of the poorest parts of the world.

Hormone Therapy for Prostate Cancer Increases Fatal Heart Attacks

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Androgen suppression therapy (AST) is an increasingly popular treatment method for men, especially in older men, who have been newly diagnosed or have recurrent prostate cancer.

Celebrating the Gift of Experience

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Last month, 16 men with hemophilia gathered with their families and care providers to celebrate the completion of the oral history project “The Gift of Experience” and the publishing of a book by the same name that emerged from the project.

ASL Team Improves Services to Deaf Community

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Marcia Gardiner-Sturgeon set her sights on a career in American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting when she saw a man interpreting for his wife at a church service.

First Meningioma Awareness Day a Success

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

More than 140 patients last month attended the first ever Meningioma Awareness Day at BWH to hear about the latest research, diagnosis, treatment and coping strategies.

Day Appointed Chief of Neurosurgery

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Arthur Day, MD, last week was named chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery. Day, who previously was vice chairman of the department, begins as chief July 1.

Mary Lou Powers, BSN, RN

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When it comes to her patients, no detail is too small to escape Mary Lou Powers.

Costello Honored with Essence of Nursing Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When Margaret Costello, MSN, MHA, RN, was a nursing student at Salve Regina College, her first patient had a debilitating neurological disease that left her unable to walk or care for herself.

James Roche, MEd, BSN, RN, NIC

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Whether Jim Roche is caring for ICU patients throughout the Tower, orienting Float Pool NLNs or mentoring tomorrow's Pastoral Care providers, one thing is certain: his trademark enthusiasm and compassion are making an impact on everyone around him.

Joan Dorr, BSN, RN

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Joan Dorr's expert patient care skills are matched by her superb teaching skills.

Karen Green, BS, RN, IBCLC

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Karen Green's compassion and genuine love for nursing inspire her colleagues, newly-licensed nurses and patients' families.

Sibling Relationships and Adult Depression

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Although children spend a large amount of their time with their brothers and sisters, most research on the connection between childhood relationships and later depression focuses on children's relationships with their parents.

Folate May Protect Thinner Individuals Against Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Eva Schernhammer, MD, DrPH, and colleagues at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) evaluated whether nutrients such as folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 helped reduce peoples’ risk for developing pancreatic cancer.

Thanks, Neighbor

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH last week presented Mission Hill Main Streets with $15,000 to help improve facades of businesses and support streetscape improvements and networking and marketing opportunities for small businesses.

BWH Implements New AED Settings

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 25 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH Emergency Response Committee is working with Biomedical Engineering and clinical staff to update all automatic external defibrillators (AEDs and Zoll M Series AED functions) throughout the hospital.

Passageway: Ensuring Safety for 10 Years

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

“Passageway has helped my mommy and me. We live a peaceful life now.”

BWH Nurse Recognition

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

When a young patient in the MICU was dying, Jackie Feeney, RN, took the time to comfort not only the patient’s family, but also the medical resident caring for the patient. “It was really hard for me,” said Anne Liu, MD. “I appreciated her helping me

BWH Pain Management Center Honored

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH was one of six national recipients of the first Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management awards May 3.

Love Thy Neighbor, Brigham and Women's Hospital Donates $15,000 to Mission Hill Main Streets

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Wed, 16 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

President Gary Gottlieb presents Mission Hill Main Streets with a check for $15,000 on behalf of Brigham and Women's Hospital to help renovate the area and foster commercial growth in Mission Hill.

BWH Sleep Research Finds Light Pulses Can Adjust the Brain’s Clock for a Longer Day, Sufficient for Adaptation to the 24.65 Hour Day Found on Mars

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 15 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers have found that by giving individuals two 45 minute exposures to bright light pulses in the evening they could entrain (synchronize) a persons circadian system to function properly in days longer than the usual 24 hour light/dark cycle.

Costello Receives Essence of Nursing Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

National Nurses Recognition Week

NICU Strolling for the Dough

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The BWH NICU Strollers last month raised more than $20,000 for the March of Dimes through its annual Walk America event, doubling the team’s fund-raising total from the year before.

McClain Named Executive Director of Center for Community Health and Health Equity

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Wanda McClain, administrative director of the Office of the President, last month was promoted to executive director of the Center for Community Health and Health Equity, which was formerly the Office for Women, Family and Community Programs.

Researchers Discuss Women’s Health

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH researchers from across several disciplines met to discuss the next “big science” questions in women’s health and gender biology research last month at the BWH Biomedical Research Institute (BRI) Connors Center for Women’s Health and Gender Biol

BWH Awarded for Paving the Way

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 11 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In recognition of its landmark electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) and significant contributions to patient safety, Brigham and Women’s Hospital was named one of two recipients of the 2007 Bedside Point of Care Way Pavers Award.

Brigham and Women's Hospital Investigators Named CIMIT Award Winners

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 08 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

CIMIT, a non-profit organization that provides support to early-stage medical device researchers, has chosen 13 research teams from Brigham and Women's Hospital recipients as part of its $5 million science awards program for 2008.

Kids Learn From the Best: Their Parents

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Seventh-grader Mary Sellitto hopes to be a pediatrician or a nurse someday. For the last few years, she has learned more about health care careers by spending Take Our Children to Work Day at BWH with her mom Gina, staff coordinator in Nursing Servi

LMR Gains Federal Seal of Approval

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Partners HealthCare’s Longitudinal Medical Record (LMR) last week gained the federal seal of approval as an effective and secure ambulatory electronic health record product. The LMR is the ambulatory electronic medical record system used at BWH and

Bell Center for Breast Imaging Complete

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The American Cancer Society last month announced that women at high risk for breast cancer—those with a strong family history of the disease or with a genetic mutation that predisposes them to breast cancer—should supplement regular mammography with

BWHers Making a Difference

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWHers are always going above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference, whether it's at BWH or an initiative beyond the hospital walls. This week, BWH Bulletin salutes two such heroes. Ogochukwu Okpala, MD, MPH, is a resident who established

BWH Benefits Among Best in Health Care

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 04 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWHers have access to some of the best benefits in the health care industry. According to a recent survey conducted by international HR consultants Towers Perrin, BWH’s benefits rank among the top 20 percent in the health services industry.

BWH Receives Bedside Point of Care Way Pavers Award

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In recognition for its landmark electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) and significant contributions to patient safety, Brigham and Women's Hospital was named as one of two recipients of the 2007 Bedside Point of Care Way Pavers Award.

Shapiro Brings Improvements to L2, Tower

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The construction of the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center and its planned opening in spring 2008 is presenting the hospital with the unique opportunity to reconfigure much of the patient Tower, as well as the hospital's lower levels tha

BWH Radiology Named to Industry 'Cream of Crop' List

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A national radiology and imaging monthly magazine in April ranked BWH's Radiology Department as the fourth best hospital imaging department in the country.

Low-Dose Aspirin Does Not Protect Women Against Cognitive Decline, BWH Study Finds

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital observed no benefit of low-dose aspirin in slowing cognitive decline in generally healthy women aged 65 years or more who are enrolled in the Women's Health Study.

The Greatest Gift

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Transplant surgeries would not be possible without the generosity and courage of families who choose to donate their loved ones’ organs.

BWH Performs First Pancreatic Transplant

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

For the first time in 41 years, John McDermott, 56, doesn’t need daily insulin injections for his Type 1 diabetes.

High School Girls Learn about Health Careers

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

High school girls learned about maintaining their own health and pursuing health careers at last week’s “Teen Voices: A Day at the Brigham.”

Sign up for a BWH RSS Feed

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Keeping up with the latest BWH news just got easier. Now you can sign up for an RSS feed to regularly receive up-to-date information on the hospital.

Congrats, Team Brigham

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Amy Prince knows how Heartbreak Hill got its moniker.

NICU Strollers Step Up for March of Dimes

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Following last year’s performance as the top fund-raising hospital team in the Boston March of Dimes Walk America, the BWH NICU Strollers are readying for a second strong showing.

Students Get Psyched about Science

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Tobin School fourth-grader Tiarra had no idea that she would be digging for bones from an owl’s digestive rejects last Wednesday.

Study Shows that Learning Requires a Period of “Off-Line” Processing

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new study demonstrates that relational memory is dependent on taking a break from studies and learning, and even more important, getting a good night’s sleep.

Engineering’s Bright Idea Saves Energy

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

BWH Engineers have been working since late 2005 to save energy while keeping hospital buildings bright. The lighting retrofit project is in the finishing stages at 221 Longwood Ave. and is well underway at the main campus.

Brigham and Women's Hospital to Lead Phase III Clinical Trial for New Class of Medication for Patients with Atherosclerosis

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Brigham and Women's Hospital announced today that it will lead a large-scale global phase III clinical trial for a new class of anti-platelet heart medication for patients who have had a heart attack, stroke or existing peripheral arterial disease.

Reducing Dietary Salt Lowers Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in a follow-up trial, found that reducing sodium intake among men and women lowered subsequent risk of cardiovascular disease by 25 percent more than 10 years after the trial ended.

Shapiro Plans Include Tower Improvements

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Running in the Family

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A penchant for races runs in the Gaziano family. Michael Gaziano, MD, chief of the Division of Aging, has always been a sprinter, while Tom Gaziano, MD, a BWH cardiologist, opts for long distance.

BWH Builds Nuclear Medicine Facility

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

In nine months, BWH will be home to one of about 15 cyclotrons in the nation. This state-of-the-art machine will be housed in the new Cyclotron-Advanced Nuclear Medicine facility just off the Nesson Pike at the Thorn Research Building.

Inaugural Award Honors Collaborative Team Science in the Interest of Cancer Research

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Highlighting the collaborative nature of the American Association for Cancer Research, the inaugural Team Science Award will be presented to a team of researchers from the Univ. of Michigan and Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Spreading Easter Cheer

Brigham and Women's Hospital — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Debbra Sargeant has a handle on Easter baskets. Last weekend, the Dialysis patient care assistant made 20 of them for students at the Lucy Stone and Oliver Wendell Holmes elementary schools in Dorchester.

BWH Advances Imaging Now