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Lifelines is Stony Brook Medicine's employee newsletter. Content is organized based on the Hospital's strategic priorities, known as the five pillars: quality and safety, service, people, growth and sustainability.

From left, Kenneth Kaushansky MD, Senior Vice President, Health Sciences, and Dean, Stony Brook University School of Medicine; Kenneth P. LaValle, New York State Senator (R-Port Jefferson); Samuel L. Stanley Jr., MD, President, Stony Brook University; Margaret M. McGovern, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, and Physician-in-Chief, Stony Brook Children's; Matthew Campo, Executive Director, Ronald McDonald House of Long Island; Kara Hahn, Suffolk County Legislator (D-Setauket); and L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, Hospital Chief Executive Officer

Ronald McDonald Family Room Opens at Stony Brook Children's Hospital

To provide extra support to families of hospitalized children, Stony Brook Children's Hospital has partnered with the Ronald McDonald House^� of Long Island to open a Ronald McDonald Family Room^TM on the 11th floor of the hospital.

"Few things are tougher than having a child in the hospital," said Margaret M. McGovern, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, and Physician-in-Chief, Stony Brook Children's. "By partnering with the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, we can bring support, comfort and respite to parents and siblings during this stressful time, especially for those who have to travel back and forth to the hospital to be close to their child."

The space includes living, kitchen and dining areas, private showers and lockers, laundry facilities, transportation services, meal program, computer access, storage space and complimentary beverage service for families. It is staffed by volunteers and workers from the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, with services provided at no cost to families of children being cared for at the hospital.

Quality and Safety

The hospital's Palliative Care Service received The Joint Commission's advanced certification in palliative care following a thorough review in June. The certification recognizes hospitals with inpatient programs that demonstrate exceptional patient- and family-centered care and optimize the quality of life for patients with a serious illness. Led by Lynn Hallarman, MD, the Palliative Care Service helps patients and their families cope with the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of a serious illness, and provides a supportive environment to help patients live as fully as possible during and after receiving medical treatment.

Service

Help Support the Stony Brook Cares/SEFA United Way Campaign

You can direct your contribution to help our Long Island neighbors or to people in need around the country or world by choosing from more than 500 charities. This year's campaign runs from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.

Consider giving to one of the campus beneficiaries:

• Stony Brook Child Care Services, SEFA Charity Number: 65-00290
• Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, SEFA Charity Number: 65-00051
• Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary, SEFA Charity Number: 65-00319
• The Charles Thide Foundation Inc., SEFA Charity Number: 65-00063
• Literacy Suffolk (Literacy Volunteers of America Inc.), SEFA Charity Number: 65-00168

To donate, visit the Stony Brook Cares website. You can make your donation online or download a form and send it to Jessica Kunis, Office of the VP for Administration, Interoffice Zip 1002. For more information, call (631) 632-6340.

Front row from left, representatives from the Walk for Beauty: Anna Kerekes, Judy Shivak, Gloria Rocchio (co-chair), Patricia DiLucca, Lenore Paprocki and Linda Bily (co-chair); back row from left, Michael Hayman, PhD, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Lynette Leepack, Yusuf Hannun, MD, Director, Stony Brook University Cancer Center, Kara Hahn, Suffolk County Legislator (D-Setauket) and Clinton Weaver, Stony Brook Medicine

Walk for Beauty Raises $25,000 for Cancer Research

Committee members from the Walk for Beauty recently presented a check for $25,000 representing proceeds from the 2012 walk to benefit cancer research at Stony Brook University Cancer Center. The funds will support the research of Michael Hayman, PhD, Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, who gave an overview of his work to develop a drug that more selectively targets cancer cells. Over the past 19 years, the Walk for Beauty committee has raised more than $1 million for cancer research and patient support at Stony Brook.

The 20th annual Walk for Beauty will take place on Sunday, Oct. 20, at Stony Brook Village Center. The walk includes 4K and 6K options, with the 6K walk route encompassing Avalon Park and Preserve. Check-in starts at 8:30 am and the walk begins at 9:30 am. The cost is $20 if paid by Oct. 6, and $25 thereafter. All proceeds go to benefit research and patients at Stony Brook Cancer Center. Register online or call (631) 444-4000.

"Songs for Kids" Tour Stops at Stony Brook Children's

Patients at Stony Brook Children's Hospital became the stars when they joined professional musicians Sanjay Kothari (left) and Josh Rifkind (right) from the Songs for Kids Tour. Part of a national tour to enrich the lives of children suffering from illness and hardship, the visit to Stony Brook Children's brought smiles to patients and their families alike.

Organized by Child Life Specialists, the visit included Kothari and Rifkind, both playing acoustic guitar, who engaged patients at their bedside and played songs by patient request. They encouraged them to be part of the music by singing along and/or playing a tambourine or maraca.

Mary Briney (center) with L. Reuven Pasternak, MD (left), Hospital Chief Executive Officer, and Margaret Duffy, MS, RN, NEA-BC, Interim Chief Nursing Officer

Hospital Volunteers Recognized for Exceptional Service at Annual Luncheon

Stony Brook University Hospital has named Mary Briney as Volunteer of the Year and Elizabeth O'Grady as Junior Volunteer of the Year for 2013 in recognition of their dedicated volunteer service to the hospital.

O'Grady and Briney were among those honored at the hospital's annual Volunteer Recognition luncheon, where volunteers received awards for reaching service milestones ranging from 100 to 14,500 hours of service.

Elizabeth O'Grady (center) with L. Reuven Pasternak, MD (left), Hospital Chief Executive Officer, and Margaret Duffy, MS, RN, NEA-BC, Interim Chief Nursing Officer

Briney began her volunteer service in 2011 and has donated nearly 500 hours to patients at Stony Brook University Cancer Center. O'Grady, 18, began volunteering at the hospital in 2012 and has donated more than 200 hours of service to patients at Stony Brook Children's Hospital. The daughter of Jerome and Marian O'Grady, she is a rising senior at Ward Melville High School.

Welcome to the New Hospital Auxiliary Board of Officers

Front row from left, Lynn Autz, Caroline Gassner-Levine, Patricia Macarchuk, Panayiota Doering and Loraine Sommer; back row from left, Karen Villanueva-Walsh, Janet Hovnanian, Uta Dee, Barbara Delfyett, Linda Shamash, Gloria Snyder and Elena Middleton.

The Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary elected its officers for 2013-14, with Karen Villanueva-Walsh elected as President. The Auxiliary's Executive Board members were installed at the 32nd annual Auxiliary Installation and Volunteer Recognition Luncheon. Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer for Stony Brook University Hospital and a member of the Auxiliary's Corporate Board of Directors, administered the oath of office to the following Executive Board members:

• Karen Villanueva-Walsh, President
• Gloria Snyder, 1st Vice President
• Loraine Sommer, 2nd Vice President
• Barbara Delfyett, Recording Secretary
• Patricia Macarchuk, Treasurer
• Elena Middleton, Corresponding Secretary

The Stony Brook University Hospital Auxiliary is a volunteer organization made up of a diverse group of men and women committed to raising money for hospital projects for which other sources of money are not readily available. Since its formation in 1981, the Auxiliary has raised more than $6 million for hospital projects, services and equipment.

People

Walk on Wednesdays Returns for the Fall

Our employee weekly walking program, Walk on Wednesdays, resumes for the fall on Sept. 4, noon, at various locations throughout the campus, including the hospital lobby, Tech Park (31 Research Way) and Long Island State Veterans Home. Walks are held, rain or shine, each Wednesday. For information about walking routes and to sign up, visit the Healthier U website.

From left, Margaret Duffy, Interim Chief Nursing Officer; Carol Gomes, Chief Operating Officer; William Lawson, MD, Co-Director, Stony Brook University Heart Institute; Harold Fernandez, MD, Co-Director, Heart Institute; Judie and Lenny Ackerman; Samuel L. Stanley Jr., MD, President, Stony Brook University; Rachel Wong, MD, internist; James R. Taylor Jr., MD, Co-Director, Heart Institute; L. Reuven Pasternak, MD, Hospital Chief Executive Officer; and David Brown, MD, cardiologist

Heart Institute Staff Honored at "Thank You" Event

In July, East Hampton residents Lenny and Judie Ackerman hosted a cocktail party for 200 friends, colleagues and community members at their home to honor Stony Brook University Heart Institute staff who cared for Judie last year when she faced life-threatening heart complications. Additionally, the Ackermans presented a major gift to Stony Brook Medicine that will support the fellowship program in cardiology.

"This experience made me realize the important role Stony Brook Medicine plays for the residents of Eastern Long Island," Ackerman said. "Stony Brook is the sole tertiary care center in Suffolk County and offers many advanced services to the region, such as cardiac care, cancer care, neurosurgery and perinatal care."

Stony Brook Ranks Eighth Among Online Graduate Nursing Programs

U.S. News & World Report recently came out with its list of Best Online Graduate Nursing Programs for 2013, placing Stony Brook University School of Nursing in the top ten as number eight. Selection criteria included faculty credentials, academic support services, technologies offered to students, graduation rates and admissions selectivity.

"We are very honored that our online nursing programs are among the best in the nation," said Lee Anne Xippolitos, PhD, RN, Dean, School of Nursing. "This ranking is important because it affirms our commitment to be a national leader in nursing education through the delivery of innovative student-centered curricula."

In 1994, the School of Nursing developed one of the nation's first distance-learning programs in nurse midwifery. The nursing distance education roster has since expanded to include clinical specialties in adult health, child health, neonatal health, mental health and women's health. The School also offers an online Post-Master's Advanced Certificate Program, a Master of Science in Nursing Education Program, and plans to introduce a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership Program in January 2014.

Program in Public Health joins Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health

Stony Brook Medicine's Program in Public Health, Long Island's only accredited Public Health Program, has signed on as a founding member of the newly formed Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH).

ASPPH connects public health schools and programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Officially launched on Aug. 1, ASPPH is the successor to the Association of Schools of Public Health, which represented the 50 CEPH-accredited public health schools and eight associate members.

Growth

Mark Talamini, MD

Mark Talamini, MD, Named Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery

Mark Talamini, MD, has been appointed Professor and Chair, Department of Surgery, effective Oct. 1. He comes to Stony Brook Medicine from University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine where he was the M.J. Orloff Family Endowed Chair in Surgery and Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery. Dr. Talamini will also take the helm as the Founding Director of the Stony Brook Medical Innovation Institute, where he will be charged with developing and testing new techniques and devices to solve challenges in surgical and procedurally based medical, pediatric and radiological specialties.

Dr. Talamini specializes in gastrointestinal surgery, with an emphasis on the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Considered a pioneer in minimally invasive abdominal surgery, he is recognized as one of the leading authorities on laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery in the United States.

Sustainability

Michael Poon, MD

Stony Brook-Led Study Shows Coronary CT Angiography Useful for Triaging Patients with Chest Pain

A study of two sets of 894 matched Emergency Department patients with chest pain revealed that the use of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) led to fewer hospital admissions and shorter ED stays. According to lead researcher Michael Poon, MD, the findings provide evidence that CCTA offers an alternative means of improving the triage of patients with chest pain. The paper, "Associations Between Routine Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography and Reduced Unnecessary Hospital Admissions, Length of Stay, Recidivism Rates, and Invasive Coronary Angiography in the Emergency Department Triage of Chest Pain," is published online in the Aug. 6 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

"We found that CCTA is favorable to triaging patients with chest pain and greatly reduces healthcare resource utilization, which in turn saves significant costs, time and unnecessary hospital admissions by ruling out a coronary blockage or imminent danger of a cardiac event," said Dr. Poon, Professor of Radiology, Medicine, and Emergency Medicine; Director, Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging; and Director, Dalio Center of Cardiovascular Wellness and Preventive Research at Stony Brook.

Study results also indicated that patients with standard evaluation were seven times more likely to have invasive coronary angiography without revascularization than patients evaluated with CCTA. Additionally, the likelihood of returning to the ED within 30 days for recurrent chest pain in patients with standard evaluation was five times greater.