Neurosciences Newsletter: NeuroNews! - Academicdepartments Musc

Inside This
Issue:
A Message From
Our Chairs…….……..…..1
Welcome New
Employees………..……..2
Goodbye and
Good Luck……...…...….2
What’s
Happening?!.........2 - 4
Congratulations!..5 - 6
Employee of
The Quarter!................6
NeuroNews
A Message From Our Chairs:
The Survival of Excellence in a Sea of Change
We don’t have to tell anybody that the
financial contraction facing our department, the
state and nation requires change. Change
comes in many forms and should only be made
if it promotes both survival and excellence.
The world we live in is changing and we have
to adapt. This axiom of evolution cannot be avoided, and we all need to
attend closely to our activities and take responsibility for shaping our tomorrow.
As your departmental leaders, we have the privilege of your trust
in guiding departmental excellence, and we are asking for your help.
There is not a department at MUSC more psychologically prepared than
ours to face the financial challenges that continue to emerge. With your
help, over the last 5 years, we created a new department where research
and clinical activities have an equal voice in guiding our future. This is a
new paradigm for MUSC and we have all had to be inventive and adaptable
to new and changing circumstances in order to realize this vision. As
was outlined in our last letter, through all of our extraordinary effort and
patience, we have achieved undeniable success across the board in education,
patient care and research.
Unfortunately, success is not a vaccine against change. In fact, success is
sustained by change. So, we come to you again, and ask you to help us
through another period of robust change. This time the engine for change
is coming less from within, and more from outside forces. Accordingly,
we must internalize these outside forces as our own, and embrace the
changes necessary not just to survive, but to excel. Thus, we cannot act
simply from a Darwinian sense of ‘survival of the fittest’, but our decisions
must embody a more complex vision incorporating quality and distinction.
This is a group effort, and we need to hear your insights, and ask
for your patience and hard work in helping fashion a future marked by
achievement beyond expectation.

NeuroNews
Welcome New Employees!!!
Our new additions to
Research:
Post Doc:
Noushin Abadi
Research Specialist I:
Ashley Gantt
Research Specialist II:
Thressa Smith
Student Employee:
Savannah Bandurraga
Lab Specialist:
Greg Hogate
Goodbye and Good Luck!!!
Neurosurgery Staff
Dr. Byron Bailey—We are saddened to bid farewell to Dr. Byron Bailey, M.D. Dr.
Bailey has been on staff with Neurosurgery at MUSC since the completion of his
residency in 1990. He has been a superb mentor for many residents in Neurosurgery and
maintained an unwavering standard in the OR. We wish him the best in all of his future
endeavors.
Treva Simpson, Administrative Coordinator—Treva worked for Neurosurgery for 11
years and prior to working for Dr. Patel, she worked for the former Chairman, Dr.
Stephen Haines. We thank Treva for all her hard work and commitment. She will be
missed!
Pediatric Neurology Staff
Jennifer Teeters, NP— worked in Pediatric Neurology under Dr. Kinsman.
Research Staff
Warchal Faison -- Geriatric Fellow
Mohammad Khan -- Postdoc
Roberto Melendez -- Research Assistant Professor
What’s Happening?!
They Got Married!!!
Congratulations to Lourdes Nogueira, a
Lab Specialist for Dr. Lavin. She married
William Rowland on October 24 th , 2008.
Administrative Assistant:
Ashlee Brown
Our new additions to
Neurosurgery:
-Catherine Kelso, PA— working with Dr. Ellegala
-Sarah Gay, APRN—working in the NSICU
Our new additions to Neurology:
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
Elizabeth Hamilton, NP-C
Julie DesMarteau, PA
Stroke Program Coordinator
Elizabeth Grannel, RN
It’s A Girl!!!
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Congratulations to Prakasam
Annammalai, our Research Assistant
Professor, and his wife Kalaivani on
the birth of their daughter! She was
born on October 29, 2008.

The Neurosciences Holiday Party of 2008!!!
It is safe to say that those of us who missed this year’s Holiday Party
missed out! After a brief scare of almost having to cancel this year’s
Holiday Party due to MUSC’s financial crunch, Dr. Patel managed to
find a way to throw a low budget yet amazingly rockin’ Holiday Party!
With the help of monetary donations from our physicians and holiday
dessert donations from our administrative staff, employee morale and
Holiday spirit were definitely lifted on December 7, 2008! This year’s
party was held in the Carraige House at Magnolia Plantation, where
delicious pastas, soups, dips and desserts were served alongside the
oyster roast on the back patio. In between enjoying the delicious food
and company, most of us spent our time on the dance floor, thanks to
the tunes provided by the band, ’The Fabulous Kays.’ Our amazingly
resilient department took this challenge as an opportunity to remind us
of what can be accomplished when we all band together!
*Special Thanks: To Amanda Reasoner for planning and organizing
this year’s Holiday Party!
Dr. Glazier’s
Daughter
Rachel Beard &
Tyler Cross
Amanda Reasoner & Dr. Kinsman
Dr. Sunil Patel &
daughter of
Christa Lizzi, RN
Christa Lizzi, RN,
daughter Haley, & Todd
The Party Train!
Dr. Kinsman & wife, Barb
Chair, Chief, & Future Neuro-
surgeon!
Dr. Brody Henkel &Family
Lynnette Hair-Frances & Son
Star of the
Party!!!
Dr. Welzig & Family
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Dr. Abou-Fayssal &
Sons
Andrea & Wylie
Clarkson

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NeuroNews
2008 Foster Children’s
Holiday Drive!!!
This past holiday season, the Department
of Neurosciences participated in the 2008
Annual Foster Children’s Holiday Drive.
The entire Department was asked to
participate and we received enough
donations to sponsor a total of six foster
children. In addition to donations from
within the department, we also received a
donation from an outside James Island
family!
We were given a “wish list” of eight items
for each child and each received most
everything requested, in addition to three
outfits of clothing per child. We would
like to thank Treva Simpson, who coordinated
the effort for Neurology and Neurosurgery
and Stephanie Willingham, who
coordinated the effort in Physiology.
Special thanks to those of you who
contributed donations and to those who
helped with the shopping and the
wrapping of the items. This was such a
big, but rewarding project that it will
likely become a yearly tradition!
*Note: To the right is a thank you note to
our department from a very grateful
foster parent. What a great reminder to
us all of what the Holiday season is all
about!!!
(Above) Marcene
McCurdy
Charleston Area Foster Children
Charleston County Department of Social Services
3346 Rivers Avenue
Charleston, SC 29405
December 30, 2008
Dear Treva and our Wonderful Friends in
Neurosurgery,
I would like to personally thank you and your coworkers
for sponsoring foster children this Christmas.
As a foster parent I can tell you that these special
children are so happy and grateful for everything. I
am sure that on Christmas morning the children who
received your gifts were thrilled with the generous
and thoughtful presents from “Santa.”
During the holidays it is easy to get caught up in the
festivities, so it is kind of you to remember to help
others, especially these children who have been
through so much already. I know this year has been
difficult financially for most people, and to have you
and your coworkers take into consideration the needs
of others is so renewing to the Christmas Spirit.
Thank you again for all your hard work in providing
these children with a Merry Christmas and may you
have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Sincerely,
Marian “Mellie” Klinger
Foster Parent
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Emily Nelson
(Left) Amanda Reasoner
& Monique Jenkins

Congratulations!!!
National Research Corporation Award –11 Years & Counting!
For eleven years in a row, MUSC has been the recipient of the National Research
Corporation’s (NRC) 2008 Consumer Choice Award. Each year, NRC identifies
hospitals that health care consumers have chosen as facilities that possess the highest
quality and image within 180 markets around the United States. The annual survey is
focused on the Tri-county area and was submitted to consumers via the Internet in April.
The survey evaluated several categories. MUSC led the market in:
best overall quality, best image and reputation, most preferred for all health needs,
best doctors, best nurses, highest patient safety, best community health programs, latest health technology and
equipment, widest range of health services, best accommodations/amenities, and hospital web site used most
often.
In clinical areas, MUSC also obtained the highest score in cancer treatment, heart care, bariatric surgery,
pediatric services, Women’s GYN, neurology, mental health, orthopedic treatment/surgery, hospital emergency
room, imaging services and outpatient/same day surgery.
Grant Awards Received!!!
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*John England, M.D. - MUSC Neurology residency, Class of 1984:
After his residency in neurology at MUSC, Dr. England completed a fellowship in neuromuscular disease at
the University of Pennsylvania.
*We would like to congratulate him on being appointed Chair in the Department of Neurology at LSU
Health Sciences Center, New Orleans in July 2008.
*Daniel Truong, M.D. - MUSC Neurology residency Class of 1985:
Dr. Truong completed fellowships in movement disorders at the Neurological Institute, Columbia University
in 1987 and at National Hospital for Neurological Disease (Queen's Square), London in 1988.
Dr. Truong is currently director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Institute in Long Beach,
CA.
*Dr. Truong is also the editor of the soon to be published book:
( LP Lisak, DD Truong, W Carroll, R Bhidayasiri (Eds.) International Neurology: A Clinical Approach,
Oxford, UK, Blackwell Publishing, Ltd., 2009)
*The book is expected to be published in March 2009.
P.I. Award Count Sponsor Submission Type Total Award
Warachal Faison 1 Elan Pharmaceuticals Supplement
Non-Competing Continua-
$124,164.00
Mark Kindy 1 VAMC
tion
Non-Competing Continua-
$125,000.00
Ronald See 1 NIH/NIDA
NIH/NINDS -- University of
tion $752,941.00
Gary Aston-Jones 1 Texas New $160,600.00
NIH/NIMH -- Princeton Univer- Non-Competing Continua-
Gary Aston-Jones 1 sitytion
$432,701.00

Grant Awards Continued...
P.I. Award Count Sponsor Submission Type Total Award
NIH/NINDS -- University of Non-Competing Continua-
Mark Kindy 1 Central Florida
tion $54,000.00
NIH/NINDS -- John Hopkins Non-Competing Continua-
Byron Bailey 1 University
NIH/NIGMS -- Childrens Hospition
$109,255.00
James Cook 1 tal Research Fund Competing Continuation $70,080.00
NIH/NIDA -- University of Non-Competing Continua-
Peter Kalivas 1 Pennsylvania
tion $95,522.00
NIH/NINDS --University of Cin- Non-Competing Continua-
Nikolaos Papamitsakis 1 cinnati
American Academy of Neuroltion
$324,706.00
Tanya Turan 1 ogy
SC Dept of Disabilities and
Transfer $89,290.00
Byron Bailey 1 Special Needs
SC Dept of Disabilities and
New $2,500.00
Bonnie Muntz-Pope 1 Special Needs New $2,500.00
Employee of the Quarter is….
Yolanda Elbert!!!
We congratulate Yolanda and thank her for setting such an outstanding example of
MUSC Excellence! She will receive $200 in recognition of her exceptional skills in
problem solving and customer service.
Here is the nomination for Yolanda Elbert, entered by a grateful Dr. Stickler:
Yolanda has done a tremendous job assisting in the creation and management of templates for
the neuromuscular service. She is always quick to assist when problems occur and has
helped accommodate patient and physician requests for sooner or changes in appointments. I
have had many patients comment on how helpful she has been. Yolanda always demonstrates
the greatest level of respect for the needs of our patients and is the ultimate team
player.
*Reminder: Now is the time to nominate your co-workers for the next Employee of the Quarter!!!
The last day to nominate will be April 8, 2009. http://neurosciences.musc.edu/demo/
If you have information you would like to include in our next newsletter, please
contact Rachel Beard at beardr@musc.edu. Please send your requests for inclusion
NO LATER THAN Friday, April 3, 2008.
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