Destinations

Destinations
A publication from MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
SUMMER 2016 MedStarUnionMemorial.org/Destinations
Back in Action
After Spine
Surgery
CLOSING THE GAP
AS HEART PATIENTS
RECOVER
A TEAM APPROACH
TO BREAST CARE

contents
Departments
3 Who Needs a Primary Care
Physician? You Do.
9 News from MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital
12 For a Healthier You
14 News from Around MedStar Health
Features
4 Spine Surgery Gets Kelly
Back on Her Feet
6 Closing the Gap Between
Hospital and Home for People
with Heart Failure
10 Multi-Disciplinary Approach to
Breast Cancer Makes the Patient
Part of the Team
On the cover: Kelly went from being unable to move without
pain to striding with a smile after spine surgery.
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, located in northeast Baltimore City,
is a regional specialty and teaching hospital. It is known nationally for
The Curtis National Hand Center, MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute,
MedStar Orthopaedics, and the development of the first hospital-based
sports medicine program in the nation. Make MedStar Union Memorial
your destination for world-class health care.
Destinations is published by the Marketing and Communications Department of
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital. The information provided in this publication is
intended to educate readers about subjects pertinent to their health and is not a
substitute for consultation with a personal physician. For more information, call
855-546-2105. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2016.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
MedStar Health remains
committed to providing our
neighbors with options to seek
the most convenient medical
care possible, as we continue to
experience changes in how
health care is delivered.
One of those options is
providing various locations for
care throughout the communities
we serve. Recently, MedStar opened the Bel Air
Medical Campus, a 100,000-square-foot, state-of-theart
medical center offering quality, comprehensive
care in one convenient location. This “one-stop
shop” gives our patients access to many of the
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital and MedStar
Good Samaritan Hospital physicians they have come
to know and trust for services such as cancer care,
cardiology, diabetes care, gastroenterology, imaging
and laboratory services, orthopaedics, primary and
preventive care, rehabilitation, sports medicine,
vascular surgery, women’s health, and urgent care.
A similar campus opened in Federal Hill last year.
Another option is to seek medical care at specific
sites for specific conditions. MedStar Good
Samaritan’s Center for Successful Aging recently
opened a new, innovative suite that is a model for
providing geriatric care. Now, seniors can see multiple
providers in one convenient location for chronic and
complex conditions—with the goal of helping them
stay independent for as long as possible. And, for
our congestive heart failure patients, we are working
together to provide inpatient care at MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital while providing outpatient followup
care at MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.
By providing our communities with coordinated
care in convenient locations, we are advancing our
vision to be the trusted leader in caring for people
and advancing health.
In good health.
Bradley S. Chambers
President, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
President, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital
Senior Vice President, MedStar Health
Find us on Twitter: @MedStarUMH
2 Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016

WHO NEEDS A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN?
YOU DO.
Waiel Samara, MD, an internal
medicine specialist at MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital, answers some common
questions about why it’s important to build
a relationship with a primary care physician
(PCP)—even if you’re in good health.
Q: Who should have a primary care physician?
Dr. Samara: Everyone needs a Primary Care Physician.
Your PCP will monitor and coordinate your health care
as you get older. He or she will also refer you to the
proper specialist when you need one. It’s important
to establish a relationship of trust with a physician you
know, early on. This will allow you
to take care of any health need
you may encounter in a timely
fashion.
Waiel Samara, MD
Q: Why is an annual checkup
important?
Dr. Samara: A checkup is all about
prevention and early detection. It
also gives you a chance to discuss
health concerns and ask your
doctor any questions you may have.
Q: What kinds of screenings and tests are part
of an annual visit?
Dr. Samara: Your doctor will obtain a complete
medical history, including social and family history.
He will check your vital signs (temperature, pulse,
rate of breathing, and blood pressure) and perform a
thorough physical exam. A series of labs and imaging
studies customized to your health, gender and age
may be ordered, including a lipid profile to check
your cholesterol levels, blood glucose to check for
diabetes, and PSA level in males to check for prostate
cancer, among others. These labs help detect any
abnormalities that may indicate a health problem.
Your doctor will advise you if you need screening
tests such as a mammogram and colonoscopy. Your
immunization status will be updated and necessary
vaccines will be administered.
It’s important to follow up and discuss all results with
your doctor a few days after your visit.
Finally, staying healthy is a team effort, so stay
informed and proactive regarding your health.
NEED A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN?
WE CAN HELP!
To find a MedStar Union Memorial
Hospital PCP, call 855-546-2105 or visit
MedStarUnionMemorial.org and click
“Find a Doctor” in the center of the page.
Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016 3

SPINE SURGERY
BACK
Last summer, 34-year-old
Kelly King woke up with
what she thought was a
crick in her neck. “My neck
felt stiff and sore,” she remembers.
“I figured it would get better if I
put a heating pad on it, but the
pain got worse. Then it started
radiating down my arm and back.”
Eventually, the pain was serious
enough that she went to a local
emergency room, where the doctor
gave her some pain medication
and sent her home.
AWARD WINNING CARE
The Joint Commission awarded the first Gold Seal
of Approval for Excellence in Spine Surgery in Maryland
to MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.
As the months
passed, King’s
pain continued
to worsen
and she lost
feeling in her
left leg and
started to limp.
“I couldn’t
Paul Asdourian, MD imagine what
was causing
the problem,” she says. “It was so
bad, my mother thought maybe
I had a small stroke.” She made an
appointment with her primary care
physician, who ordered an MRI.
The test showed that she had
a very large herniated disc in
her neck. From there, King was
referred to Paul Asdourian, MD,
a MD, fellowship-trained
a orthopaedic spine surgeon
What Kelly King thought was a stiff
neck was actually the first symptom of
a serious problem with her spine.
4 Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016

GETS KELLY
ON HER FEET
at MedStar Union Memorial
Hospital and regional director
of the MedStar Spine Program.
“Dr. Asdourian was very surprised
that I was still able to walk, drive
and work 40 hours a week as a
security guard,” she explains.
Because of the size of the
herniated disc, and the fact that
it was compressing King’s spinal
cord and could cause permanent
damage if it was not removed,
Dr. Asdourian told her she needed
surgery. In collaboration with
Zeena Dorai, MD, FACS, chief of
Neurosurgery at MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital and MedStar
Good Samaritan Hospital, he
performed a cervical discectomy
and fusion to remove the damaged
disc, relieving the pressure on the
spinal cord and stabilizing it.
“Traditionally, neurosurgery and
orthopaedics operate on separate
tracks,” Dr. Asdourian explains. “At
MedStar Union Memorial, there’s
always been a good, collaborative
relationship
between these
specialties,
which has been
enhanced by
the addition
of Dr. Dorai to
the staff. For
complex spine
problems like
Zeena Dorai, MD Ms. King’s, it’s
Working as a team, MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital's orthopaedics
and neurosurgery experts restored
the health of Kelly's spine.
better to have four expert hands
during surgery rather than just two.”
Adds Dr. Dorai, “We recognize each
other’s strengths and work more
quickly as a team, which lowers the
complication rate and improves
outcomes for our patients.”
“I instantly felt better.”
When King woke up in the recovery
room after her surgery, the nurse
was rubbing her left leg. “My first
thought was, ‘I can feel my leg!’”
she says. “I instantly felt better.
When I got out of bed and I felt my
feet on the floor I was so excited!
I hopped up and started moving!”
King is looking forward to being
able to do all the things she enjoys
with no pain or limp. “Dr. Asdourian
and Dr. Dorai treated me like
family,” she adds. “They took
great care of me and welcomed
my family, who came with me to
the hospital. Dr. Dorai knew I was
scared because there was a chance
that I wouldn’t get the feeling back
in my leg, and she did everything
she could to ease my worries. She
said, ‘You don’t worry. Let us worry.
You’re in good hands.’ And she
couldn’t have been more right!”
BACK OR
NECK PAIN?
COUNT ON
MEDSTAR
ORTHOPAEDICS
The MedStar Orthopaedics
team includes orthopaedic
spine surgeons, neurosurgeons,
physiatrists, neuroradiologists,
physical therapists, and
occupational therapists
who provide:
• Physical therapy and
rehabilitation
• Pain management
• Injections, radiofrequency
ablation and electrothermal
therapy
• Surgery, including microscopic
and minimally invasive spine
surgery approaches
To make an appointment
with a specialist from MedStar
Orthopaedics, call 877-34-ORTHO
(877-346-7846).
Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016 5

CLOSING THE GAP
Thomas Houck is not a
man who likes to sit still.
The 70-year-old southwest
Baltimore native has had
four successful careers in very
different fields over the years.
After 20 years running printing
presses for galleries, including
the Smithsonian and Corcoran, he
decided to become a mechanic
and opened a commercial washer
and dryer business, serving clients
across the Delmarva region,
including the Baltimore Ravens and
Orioles. He sold that business to
build and run a seafood restaurant.
As he got closer to retirement
age, he sold the restaurant
and bought a laundromat,
which he manages today.
Even an aortic valve replacement
and double bypass surgery in 2000
didn’t slow him down significantly,
but last year, he collapsed at
home after suffering a heart attack
and was transported to a local
emergency room. After he was
stabilized, Houck was transferred to
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital,
where George Ruiz, MD, FACC,
chief of Cardiology, diagnosed him
with congestive heart failure, which
left his heart too weak to pump
effectively. After treatment in the
Jessica Sobul, director of
Rehabilitation and Occupational
Therapy at FutureCare, helped
Thomas Houck rebuild his
strength and independence.
6 Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016

BETWEEN HOSPITAL AND HOME FOR
PEOPLE WITH HEART FAILURE
hospital, his condition improved,
but he was not yet healthy enough
to go home.
“This is a fairly common situation
with patients who have heart
failure,” explains Dr. Ruiz. “They’ve
improved enough that they don’t
need inpatient hospital care, but
they need more care than they
would get through outpatient
visits to their cardiologist. There’s
a gap between the hospital and
outpatient care patients receive
once they are discharged.”
At the MedStar Heart & Vascular
Institute at MedStar Union Memorial,
Jeffrey Quartner, MD, FACC, the
previous chief of Cardiology,
started thinking beyond the hospital
walls to find a solution that would
meet the needs of these patients.
“We looked for the best platform
to meet those needs and found
it by working with two sub-acute
care partner facilities, FutureCare
Homewood and FutureCare at
MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital.
Additional services are available
through the outpatient heart failure
clinic at MedStar Good Samaritan’s
Good Health Center.”
More time to recover
The care, support and rehabilitation
that patients receive at these
partner facilities gives them
more time to recover and helps
them build the strength they
need to eventually return home
and live independently. It fills
the gap between inpatient and
outpatient care and lowers the risk
of readmission. Dr. Ruiz and
Meet George Ruiz, MD, FACC
George Ruiz, MD
Dr. Ruiz is the chief of
Cardiology at MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital and MedStar
Good Samaritan Hospital. Boardcertified
in advanced heart failure
and cardiovascular disease, he
specializes in adult cardiology,
pulmonary hypertension,
adult congenital heart disease,
right heart failure, advanced
mechanical support, and
congestive heart failure.
After joining MedStar Health in 2005 as an attending
physician, Dr. Ruiz worked with the Division of
Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology at MedStar Washington
Hospital Center. There, he became a founding
member of the Special Moms/Special Babies program,
the first regional service to care for pregnant women
with heart disease. Before joining MedStar Union
Memorial as chief, he was associate director of
Advanced Heart Failure at MedStar Washington
Hospital Center and director of the hospital’s
pulmonary hypertension program.
A graduate of Brown University, Dr. Ruiz received
his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College
of Medicine in New York City. He did his postgraduate
training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston
where he was chief medical resident, a fellow in
cardiology and one of the first to be jointly-trained
at Boston Children’s Hospital in the emerging
subspecialty of adult congenital heart disease.
Dr. Ruiz also recently received his MBA from Johns
Hopkins Carey Business School and served two years
as a White House fellow, during which time he was
a special assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
working on health-related matters.
Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016 7

Thanks to MedStar
Union Memorial
Hospital's extended
circle of care, Thomas
is more independent
and happy to be
back at home.
UNDERSTANDING
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
Congestive heart failure occurs
when the heart becomes weak or
stiff and cannot pump blood as
well as it should. A range of heart
problems, including coronary
artery disease, heart attack, heart
valve problems, inflammation
of the heart muscle, congenital
heart defects, arrhythmia, and
uncontrolled high blood pressure
can cause damage to the heart,
leading to heart failure.
The symptoms of heart failure
can progress gradually or start
suddenly and can include:
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue and weakness
• Swelling in legs, ankles and feet
or abdomen
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Chronic cough or wheezing
• Sudden weight gain from
retaining fluid
• A more frequent need to
urinate at night
There are steps you can take
to lower your risk of heart failure,
such as:
• Not smoking
• Controlling chronic health
problems like high blood
pressure and diabetes
• Getting regular aerobic
exercise
• Maintaining a healthy weight
Dr. Quartner make regular rounds
at the facilities to provide ongoing
care and close follow-up.
“In the old model of care, people
with heart failure had to stay in
the hospital longer,” adds Dr. Ruiz.
“There wasn’t the same focus on
rehabilitation our new approach
can provide. Now they have this
intermediate step in their recovery
that provides continuity of care and
an ongoing relationship with their
cardiologist, so any problems can
be spotted and addressed more
quickly than they would if we were
only seeing the patient every few
weeks in the office. Our partnership
with FutureCare and the Good
Health Center at MedStar Good
Samaritan is an example of one
more way we’re trying to see things
from our patients’ perspective. Our
patients living with heart failure
have people who depend on them,
so it’s important that they are able
to be independent and manage
their heart disease effectively.
Our goal is to provide a complete
circle of care so they can get better
sooner and get back to being with
family and friends, doing what
they enjoy.”
“I feel like I have the heart
of a young man.”
When he was discharged from the
hospital, Houck was far from ready
to return home. Dr. Ruiz arranged
for him to be transferred to
FutureCare’s Homewood facility for
additional care and rehabilitation.
“When I first got there, I needed a
wheelchair to get around because I
got tired so quickly. One of the first
things you do in rehab is walk down
the hall using a walker with one
of the physical therapists,” Houck
explains. “At the end of the hall,
you can sit down in a wheelchair
and rest until you’re ready to walk
back. Now, I can walk down and
back with just a little rest. I can work
out on the exercise equipment to
build up my strength and balance.
I feel like I have the heart of a young
man! A miracle was performed!”
To make an appointment with
a specialist at MedStar Heart &
Vascular Institute at MedStar
Union Memorial Hospital, call
877-74-HEART (877-744-3278).
8 Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016

MEDSTAR UNION
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
PARTNERS WITH
THE Y OF CENTRAL
MARYLAND
Helping our neighbors lead healthier lives is
at the heart of what we do. To provide you
with access to programs and resources in our
community, we recently established a partnership with
the Y of Central Maryland. Through this partnership
we’ll bring you educational seminars, free health
screenings and events to help you lower your risk
of developing health problems and practice healthy
habits like exercising, eating right and quitting
smoking, just to name a few.
“We are very proud to team up with the Y of Central
Maryland,” says MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
President Bradley S. Chambers. “By sharing resources,
we can drive quality healthcare and work to prevent
health problems. We’re looking forward to joining
together for several exciting initiatives.”
Maybe you
haven’t heard
about the
MedStar Institute for
Innovation (MI2), but
it’s possible you have
benefitted from one
of the projects it has
supported. MI2’s goal
is to spark and support innovation throughout the
MedStar organization, helping the hospitals and
their staff deliver the highest quality, safest care,
and spurring patients to lead healthier lives.
Those innovations can take many forms. At MedStar
Union Memorial Hospital, one recent project involved
using technology to help heart failure patients avoid
readmission. Through a Verizon Foundation grant,
Kathryn Walker, PharmD, senior clinical director for
Palliative Medicine at MedStar Health, and David
Brennan, MI2’s director of Telehealth Initiatives,
received 75 Android tablets and two years of
INNOVATING FOR BETTER HEALTH
connectivity. Patients used secure messaging and
videoconferencing on the tablets to stay in touch
with their care teams from home. The pilot was a
success—helping to reduce readmission rates, prevent
medication safety events and foster a greater sense of
engagement and participation for palliative medicine
patients. The program is currently being expanded
to other MedStar hospitals.
Another MI2 project at MedStar Union Memorial will
eventually help people with hand tendon injuries. Sam
Fuller, MD, a fellow at the Curtis National Hand Center,
has invented a unique device that allows surgeons to
reattach tendons without sutures. The benefit of this
new approach is that patients can move their fingers
during recovery, which helps them regain better range
of motion. Steve Kinsey, MI2’s director of MedStar
Inventor Services, is helping Dr. Fuller develop the
prototype and patent the device.
To learn more about what’s happening at MI2,
visit MI2.MedStarHealth.org.
Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016 9

MULTI-
DISCIPLINARY
APPROACH TO
BREAST CANCER
MAKES THE
PATIENT PART
OF THE TEAM
Kathleen Graf says MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital's team approach
made her more involved in making
decisions about her treatment.
Mary (Kathleen) Graf
had her annual
mammogram in
April and the results
were normal. But a few months
later at her yearly checkup, her
gynecologist noticed a very small
lump in her breast. “It was tiny,”
the 69-year-old Towson resident
remembers. “I could barely feel it
even when my doctor put my
finger directly on it.”
Although her gynecologist didn’t
think there was anything to worry
about, especially since Graf had
a normal mammogram just a few
months before, she sent her for
a 3-D mammogram, which did
show a suspicious area. Her doctor
referred her to Maen Farha, MD,
FACS, breast surgeon and medical
director of the Breast Center at
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital,
for a needle biopsy. The biopsy
and pathology confirmed that
Graf had estrogen receptor
positive (ER+) breast cancer, and
Dr. Farha told her she would
need surgery.
“I felt more involved
in the process.”
Breast cancer patients receive
care from a number of different
specialists, including a surgeon, a
radiation oncologist and a medical
10 Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016

oncologist. Typically, a patient
has a separate consultation with
each doctor. That approach takes
time and gives the patient three
opinions about treatment, which
can be confusing. The approach
at MedStar Union Memorial is
intentionally different, for
that reason.
“Studies have found that
70 percent of the information
patients receive is forgotten if the
appointments are spread out,”
explains Dr. Farha. “At MedStar
Union Memorial, we bring all
three physicians, the pathologist,
radiologist, and when appropriate,
our staff social worker, genetic
counselor, and patient navigator,
together to discuss the case. Then
we all meet with the patient as a
team to discuss treatment options
and answer any questions. This
multi-disciplinary approach is more
efficient for the patient, helps us
develop a better treatment plan,
improves communication between
physicians, and makes the patient
an integral part of the team and
decision-making process.”
Adds Graf, “In one visit, I talked
with and heard from all the
physicians. If there were differences
of opinion, they spoke openly
in front of me. With that open
communication, I felt more
involved in the process and
understood my options.”
A single dose rather than
six weeks of daily radiation
One of those options was to
take part in a phase IV study of
intraoperative radiation therapy
(IORT) being conducted at
MedStar Union Memorial. Dr. Farha
performed a
lumpectomy to
remove Graf’s
tumor and
placed the IORT
device in the
lumpectomy
cavity. Paul
Fowler, MD,
chief, Radiation
Oncology, then
delivered lowerdose
radiation
directly to
that area.
“There are many
patient benefits
to IORT,” says
Dr. Farha. “The
treatment is
Kathleen is feeling
strong and enjoys walks
with her husband
Chuck at Hopewell
Cancer Support.
performed
once during
surgery,
whereas
external
radiation
requires six
weeks of daily
treatment. It
also prevents
Maen Farha, MD
radiation of
other healthy tissue in the breast,
chest wall and lungs.”
As part of the study, Graf will be
followed closely, a big plus in
her book. “It makes me feel more
confident knowing that I’ll get
regular follow-up as part of the
study. If there is a problem, it’s
more likely to be caught sooner.”
Another resource Graf values is the
binder the team put together that
contains all the information about
her surgery and radiation, the
medication she’s taking to lower
the risk of the cancer returning,
contact information for every
member of the team, and resources
like MedStar Union Memorial’s
Journey to Wellness program.
“It’s my second bible,” she says.
“Everything is right at my fingertips.
Throughout the whole process,
everyone on the team and the
staff at the hospital have been
wonderful. People were always
happy to answer my questions
and calm my fears. I feel good
now and I’m back to walking
and hiking with my husband.”
To schedule an appointment
with a specialist at MedStar Union
Memorial’s Breast Cancer Center,
call 877-715-HOPE (4673).
Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016 11

For a
Healthier You
Community Events and Class Schedules
At MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, we care about the health and wellness of our community. One of the ways we try to keep you
healthy and active is by offering special classes, events and screenings. Join us and learn how you can stay healthy for life.
EXERCISE
Chair Exercise
An exercise program
consisting of aerobics,
strength training and
flexibility done while
sitting in a chair.
Every Friday, 10 to 11a.m.
St. Mary’s Roland
View Towers
3939 Roland Ave.,
Baltimore
Fitness for 50s
A one-hour, low-impact
aerobics and strength
training exercise class.
Every Tuesday,
11 a.m. to Noon
Hampden Family Center
1104 West 36th St.,
Baltimore
HAND CARE
Musician’s Clinic
The Musician’s Clinic
at The Curtis National
Hand Center is open to
professional, amateur and
recreational performing
artists. Over 85 percent of
musicians will experience
some kind of performancerelated
musculoskeletal
problem during their
lifetime. Don’t let it stop you
from doing what you love.
Clinics are held Tuesdays,
June 28, July 26
and Aug. 23, 5 to 6 p.m.
Bring your instrument.
Call 410-235-5405 for
an appointment.
Congenital Hand Clinic
The Curtis National Hand
Center offers a free clinic
each month for children
and adults with congenital
hand and arm differences.
Congenital differences
are issues that are present
at birth such as problems
with the formation of
the entire arm or hand,
failure of parts of the
hand to separate, extra
fingers or thumb, or other
developmental issues.
Clinics will be held
on Thursdays starting
in September.
5 to 6 p.m.
Call 410-235-5405 for
an appointment.
CANCER CARE
Colon Cancer Screening
Colon cancer is highly
treatable when diagnosed
early. Starting at age 50,
ask your primary care
physician if you should
have a screening. If you
are 50 or older, under 50
with symptoms or family
history of colon cancer,
live in Baltimore City or
Anne Arundel County, and
have a limited income,
you may qualify for a free
colonoscopy. Having
insurance may not affect
eligibility.
Call 410-350-8216
to see if you qualify.
Breast and Cervical
Cancer Screening
Free mammograms, breast
exams and pap tests
are available for women
age 50 and older who
live in Baltimore City or
County, are uninsured
or underinsured, and
meet certain income
requirements. Early
detection saves lives.
Call 410-350-2066
to see if you qualify.
Genetic Counseling
MedStar Health has
a genetic counselor
available to guide you
and your family, as well as
answer any questions you
may have. Please ask your
primary care doctor if this
is appropriate for you.
To schedule an
appointment with
the counselor, call
443-777-7656.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Arm-in-Arm
A support group open to
breast cancer survivors and
those newly diagnosed.
Light refreshments served.
Fourth Tuesday of
each month
4:30 to 6 p.m.
Johnston Meeting Room
Suite 114
Call 410-554-6505
for more information,
or simply walk in.
One-on-One
Oncology social worker
Jessica Fox, LCSW-C, helps
guide patients and families
through all aspects of
cancer care.
For an appointment,
call 410-554-6587.
DIABETES
Diabetes Education
and Support
Services include: education
in glucose monitoring,
medication/insulin
instruction, nutrition/meal
planning, weight loss,
exercise, foot care, acute
and chronic complications,
preventive care, coping
skills, strategies to manage
diabetes, medical nutrition
therapy, and wellness
for all ages, for many
conditions including
high cholesterol and
kidney disease. Patients
do not have to see an
endocrinologist for
education or nutrition.
Call 410-554-4511
to register.
Covered by most
insurance companies.
12 Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016

Type 2 Diabetes
Support Group
Learn how to live
successfully with Type 2
diabetes using practical
tips, shared ideas
and discussions with
others facing similar
circumstances.
Wednesday, Aug. 10
Noon to 1 p.m.
33rd Street Professional
Building, Room 511
RSVP at 855-546-2105.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Cardiac Rehabilitation
If you’ve had a heartrelated
illness or
procedure, you can
lower your risk of
future heart problems
if you make changes to
improve your health.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
is a clinically based,
outpatient exercise and
risk-factor management
program that addresses
both the physical and
mental aspects of recovery.
We provide medical
supervision including EKG
monitoring. Physician
referral required.
Mondays, Tuesdays and
Thursdays, 8 to 9:30 a.m.,
9:30 to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to
12:30 p.m., 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Call 410-554-2167 for
more information
or to register.
Medicare covers
80 percent of this service.
Life Balance/Weight
Management Program
This 16-week program
is designed to help you
make real lifestyle changes,
such as eating healthier,
starting a daily exercise
routine, losing weight, and
improving problem-solving
and coping skills. The
information for this series
comes from the “National
Diabetes Prevention
Program” and aims to
reverse pre-diabetes.
Tuesdays,
June 21 to Oct. 4
1 to 2 p.m.
Keswick Multi-Care Center
700 W. 40th Street,
Baltimore
Medical Fitness
Professionally trained staff
will provide a supervised
exercise program to
reduce risk factors
based on your health,
fitness level, goals, and
desires. You will receive
education and strategies,
a personal fitness report
and consultation. Physician
referral required.
Mondays, 1 to 3 p.m.;
Wednesdays and Fridays,
8 to 11:30 a.m., 1 to 3 p.m.
33rd Street Professional
Building, Second Floor
Call 410-554-2167
for more information
or to register.
Fee: $30 (includes
a $3 parking pass)
Stop Smoking Today
This four-week course is
taught by an experienced
certified tobacco treatment
specialist with a proven
approach to smoking
cessation.
Call 877-715-HOPE
(4673) for more
information and class
schedules.
Don’t Wait! Schedule
Your Mammogram Today
Digital mammography
appointments five days
a week, with same-day
appointments available.
Call 410-554-2728
for an appointment.
To register, visit MedStarUnionMemorial.org/Destinations or call 855-546-2105.
All classes are free unless noted otherwise.
Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016 13

News from Around MedStar Health
CANCER
Knowing Your ABCDEs Can Help You Catch
Melanoma Early
CHECKING YOUR SKIN FROM
head to toe each month can help
you spot changes that could be
symptoms of skin cancer. When
looking for signs of melanoma—
the most serious type of skin
cancer—it helps to know your
ABCDEs.
Here’s what you should check for:
• Asymmetrical shape: Check
for moles where the shape or
appearance of one half doesn’t
match the other.
• Border irregularity: Moles
affected by melanoma have
irregular borders that are ragged,
notched or uneven.
• Color: Non-cancerous moles are
usually a single shade of brown
or tan. Moles with more than one
color or an uneven distribution
of color could be melanoma.
• Diameter: In melanoma, moles
are usually one-quarter inch
or larger in diameter.
• Evolution: Be on the lookout for
changes in the size, shape or
color of any moles. Moles that
bleed, itch, become tender or
crust over are suspect.
“If you discover any of these
changes, see your doctor or a
dermatologist right away,” says
Vinay Gupta, MD,
surgical oncologist
at MedStar Union
Memorial Hospital.
“In addition to
standard sun
Vinay Gupta, MD
protection,
bi-yearly skin exams
with your doctor will help find new
and changing moles. Finding and
treating melanoma at its earliest
stage offers the best opportunity
for a cure.”
Call 877-715-HOPE (4673) for
more information or assistance
with making an appointment.
HEART
Clinical Trial Gives More Patients Access
to Minimally Invasive Valve Replacement
USUALLY, WHEN YOU NEED
aortic valve replacement due
to aortic stenosis, you undergo
open-heart surgery. But, for people
who are too ill or weak for openheart
surgery, a minimally invasive
procedure called transcatheter
aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has
been available for several years.
In TAVR, a very small catheter is
inserted into the femoral artery.
The physician then positions the
new heart valve, which is mounted
on a stent, into the location of the
damaged valve. Once the stent
that contains the new heart valve
is expanded, it pushes the old
valve out of the way and the new
one starts working immediately,
restoring normal blood flow to
the body.
Now, through a clinical trial at
MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
at MedStar Union Memorial
Hospital, lower-risk, healthier
patients have an opportunity to
undergo TAVR. MedStar Union
Memorial is one of a select
few hospitals in the Baltimore
metropolitan region participating
in this trial, which is being
conducted at 80 centers around
the world.
“There are many benefits to TAVR,
including a much quicker recovery
John Chung-Yee
Wang, MD
and no need for
major open-heart
surgery,” explains
John Chung-Yee
Wang, MD, chief
of the Cardiac
Catheterization
Laboratory at
MedStar Union
Memorial and scientific director for
MedStar Baltimore Cardiovascular
Research. “For this trial, there is
no upper or lower age limit to
participate.”
To see if you may be a candidate
for the trial, contact Judith
Raqueno, TAVR coordinator,
at 443-278-9170, ext. 1.
14 Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016

ORTHOPAEDICS
You Don’t Have to Be an Athlete to Benefit
From Sports Medicine
JUST BECAUSE
you’ve never
run a marathon or
made a touchdown
doesn’t mean
you don’t need a
Richard G. Levine, MD
sports medicine
specialist. If you
have a problem with your muscles,
ligaments, joints, or tendons, a
physician who's fellowship-trained
in sports medicine can evaluate
your condition and suggest
treatment, from physical therapy
to surgical repairs.
These physicians treat patients
of all ages and activity levels and
care for injuries of your:
• Shoulder
• Knee
• Ankle
• Foot
• Hand and wrist
• Elbow
• Back
• Hip
“It doesn’t matter how your injury
happened or if you’re an athlete or
not,” says Richard G. Levine, MD,
director of clinical services, Sports
Medicine, and an expert sports
medicine and arthroscopy-trained
surgeon who performs shoulder
and knee surgery at MedStar
Union Memorial Hospital. “We
take care of people who’ve been
hurt at work or in a car accident,
people who have joint pain from an
injury or arthritis, as well as people
who've been injured playing a
sport for fun or competitively. Our
interdisciplinary team offers the
latest treatment options, including
minimally invasive surgical repairs,
so that you can get back to the
activities you want to do.”
To make an appointment,
please call 877-34-ORTHO
(877-346-7846).
We Now Offer Voucher-Free Wi-Fi
Access for Patients and Visitors
While on any MedStar hospital campus,
simply select “MedStarGuest” under
your Wi-Fi settings to get started.
Destinations MEDSTAR UNION MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Summer 2016 15

201 E. University Pkwy., Baltimore, MD 21218
MedStarUnionMemorial.org/Destinations
855-546-2105
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Baltimore, MD
Permit No.
6011
More
Extraordinary Care.
Extraordinarily Close.
The MedStar Health
Bel Air Medical Campus is
NOW OPEN
MedStar Health Bel Air Medical Campus
12 MedStar Blvd. • 410-877-8088 PHONE
MedStarHealth.org/HarfordCare