Barrow magazine Volume 24, Issue 2, 2012

A m

agazine for the friend

s of Barrow Neurological Institute of St. Joseph

’s Hospital and

Medical Center •

Vol. 24, Iss. 2, 2012

A place of hopePatients come from far and wide for Barrow’s expertise

Dementia with dignityHuger Mercy Living Center offers patients a real home

barrow

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Barrow Neurological Institute’s golden anniversary year is coming to a close, and we would liketo take this opportunity to thank you for helping us celebrate this important milestone. It hasbeen a great year, filled with many opportunities to look back at our achievements over the past50 years.We’ve also spent time this year looking toward the future, and we believe the future of BarrowNeurological Institute is brighter than ever. With a strong clinical and research staff, dedicatedsupport staff and generous benefactors like you, our potential for advancing the science of brain andspine medicine is truly unlimited.This issue of Barrow is filled with examples of our past accomplishments and our future directions.You’ll read some amazing patient stories and learn about the many unique ways in which friends ofBarrow are supporting our mission. Our scientists are making great strides, and we are proud to tellyou about new services made possible by our benefactors, such as the Ashlyn Dyer Aquatic Centerand the Lou and Evelyn Grubb Children’s Center for Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. Barrow Neurological Institute is one of the gems of our community, and we extend our deepestgratitude to you for helping make it so.

Sincerely,

Robert F. Spetzler, MD Kathy X. KramerDirector, Barrow Neurological Institute President and CEO, Barrow Neurological

Foundation

P.S. It’s not too late to make a gift in honor of Barrow’s 50th anniversary. You can give onlineat Barrow50.org or SupportBarrow.org or by calling our office at 602-406-3041, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. A postage-paid giving envelope is included in this magazine for your convenience.

Opening thoughts

On our cover: Melissa Bischoff flew from the Chicago area to Phoenix for the expertise available atBarrow Neurological Institute. Her story begins on page 5. (Photo by Jori Root/Birch Blue Photography.)

b

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A place of hope:Patients come from far and widefor Barrow’s special expertise

Bret Michaels: Rock star gives back to hospital that “helped to save my life”

Dementia with dignity: Huger Mercy Living Center gives patients a real home

Healing waters:Ashlyn Dyer Aquatic Center opens

One size does not fit all:Donors use special talents to say thanks

Dignity Health Arizona

TheMedicalMemory.com:Patients go online to review doctor visits

EyeWriter: Student’s award-winning devicehelps ALS patients communicate

His biggest hurdle:Athlete recovers from stroke one step at a time

Barrow Beyond:Young philanthropists launch new giving group

Research update

Benefactor briefs

News

Annuities: Why it’s hard to stop after just one

A m

agazine for the friend

s of Barrow Neurological Institute of St. Joseph

’s Hospital and

Medical Center •

Vol. 24, Issue 2, 2012

barrow Contents

Editor: Catherine [email protected]

Art director/designer: Justin Detwiler

Contributing writers: Lindsey Burke,Melissa Morrison, Sarah Padilla,Andrew Wachtel

Printer: Panoramic Press

Photography: Brad Armstrong; Jeff Noble; Jori Root/Birch BluePhotography

Robert F. Spetzler, MD, DirectorBarrow Neurological Institute®

Kathy X. Kramer, President and CEOBarrow Neurological Foundation

How to Reach Us | Barrow is published twice a year. We welcome your com-ments, suggestions and requests to be added to or deleted from our mailing list. Call602-406-1041, email [email protected] or mail to Barrow, Officeof Philanthropy, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix,AZ, 85013. Please include your name, address, email address and phone number inall correspondence. Visit us online at SupportBarrow.org.

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■ For a patient, it is one of the mostfeared scenarios in medicine. Your doc-tors know what is wrong with you, andthey tell you it is serious, even life threat-ening. They also tell you that there isnothing they can do to help.As part of the celebration of Barrow’s

50th Anniversary, Barrow has beenchronicling the stories of dozens ofpatients who have been profoundlytouched by the doctors and clinical staffof the institute.Many of the patients interviewed

as part of the 50 Years, 50 Faces projectfound themselves confronting the situation described above.

Cristin Van Driel and MelissaBischoff are two of those patients.

Cristin Van DrielCristin Van Driel, formerly a com-

petitive cyclist, was on a training ride in2000 when she was hit by a car travel-ing between 45 and 55 mph. She wasthrown nearly 50 feet, landing on herback and fracturing multiple vertebrae.Her doctors initially thought she

would be paralyzed, but she began toregain feeling in her legs the day afterthe accident.However, her road to recovery

would prove anything but smooth.

Van Driel went on to endure one anda half years of major physical therapy.For a decade after the accident, she suf-fered from constant, debilitating painand profound neurological deficits. Hercondition deteriorated until she hadvery limited use of her left leg.“I lived on pain killers and had phys-

ical therapy three to four days per weekduring that time,” Van Driel said. “Someof the best neurosurgeons in Milwau-kee and Chicago said I was lucky to bewalking, but that any surgery to repairthe damage to my spine would be sointricate that complications wouldalmost surely follow.”

Barrow Magazine A Place of Hope4

A place of hopePatients come from far and wide for Barrow’s special expertise

by Andrew Wachtel

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A Place of Hope Barrow Magazine 5

Enter Randall Porter, MD, and Bar-row Neurological Institute.Van Driel, who lived in Phoenix

from 2004 through 2006, had been incontact with Scott Kreiner, MD, ofAhwatukee Sport and Spine, and herecommended she travel from Wis-consin to the Valley to seek a consulta-tion with Dr. Porter.“I trusted him right away,” Van Driel

says of her first encounter with Dr.Porter. “He said that he would do every-thing he could to get me back to livingthe life I love to live. He was the first neu-rosurgeon to give me any sense of hope.”Van Driel’s hopes were set on the

road to realization with her first surgeryat Barrow in January 2010. Dr. Porterused screws, rods and plates to stabilizeand rebuild her spine. She has sincehad two additional surgeries to releasenerve roots and alleviate pressure on thesurrounding structures.Her results have been spectacular.

Van Driel has resumed her competi-tive running career and recently qual-ified for the Boston Marathon. Shehopes to qualify for the U.S. OlympicMarathon Team and compete in the2016 Olympic Games.Van Driel has also started a charity

called Running for a Reason to raisemoney for neuroscience research andtreatment at Barrow.“For me, it is a way that I can give

back to Barrow, because they have pret-ty much given me back the life that Iwant to live.”

Melissa BischoffLike Cristin Van Driel, Melissa

Bischoff endured a long illness beforefinding her way to Barrow.However, Bischoff ’s illness had an

added element of mystery that madecoping with it all the more difficult.Bischoff was experiencing neck pain

and stiffness that gradually worsenedover the course of one and a half years.“I was having trouble sleeping, my

neck was in pain, sometimes I would geta lightheaded feeling, and sometimes Iwould see stars,” said Bischoff. “Even-tually the pain was so significant that Icouldn’t even grab a gallon of milk with-out doubling over in pain.”The increasing severity of her symp-

toms led her to get an MRI. When herdoctor told her to see a neurosurgeon,she knew her condition was serious.

Bischoff was diagnosed with anependymoma tumor that ran down thecenter of her spinal cord from the levelof her second cervical vertebra to herfirst thoracic vertebra.The size and location of the tumor

had her local physicians baffled.“They couldn’t believe that I was

walking, even breathing,” Bischoff said.They also couldn’t operate.Bischoff, who hails from the Chica-

go area, was told that because the tumorwas growing from the middle of herspinal cord, surgery was too risky andcould leave her paralyzed, or worse.However, Bischoff was given hope

in the form of Barrow NeurologicalInstitute and neurosurgeon Robert F.Spetzler, MD.“My neurosurgeon in Illinois, Dr.

Douglas Johnson, told me that if he

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Barrow Magazine A Place of Hope6

could put me on a plane right then andthere, he would send me to Dr. Spetzlerin Phoenix.” she said.After talking to Dr. Spetzler by

phone and getting opinions from sev-eral other surgeons in her area, Bischoffmade the decision to travel to Phoenixto be treated at Barrow.“From the get-go, Dr. Spetzler gave

me the best prognosis, offered me themost hope and had the most experi-ence,” said Bischoff. “That set me atease.”Just the same, she was overwhelmed

with relief when she was able to moveher fingers and toes after the opera-tion.“I started bawling and cried for two

hours,” she said.

Aftert two weeks of inpatient reha-bilitation at Barrow, Bischoff was readyto fly home and continue therapy. Shehas since regained all of her motor skillsand full range of motion in her neck.“Dr. Spetzler and his team hold a

special place in my heart,” says Bischoff.“Their healing hands saved my lifewhen few others would take my case.Barrow gave me the courage to take ona fatal diagnosis and a complex sur-gery. They gave me confidence to pushthrough a tough rehabilitation. I amblessed and grateful for my ‘new nor-mal.’ I wasn't expecting that.” ■

50 Years, 50 FacesAs part of Barrow’s 50thanniversary celebration in2012, we talked to 50 patientsand doctors whose lives havebeen touched by Barrow. Tohear Melissa, Cristin anddozens of others tell theirBarrow story, visitBarrow50.org.

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Bret Michaels Barrow Magazine 7

■ In early October, Bret Michaels—rock star, reality star,spokesperson, businessman, philanthropist and formerpatient at Barrow Neurological Institute—officially openedthe Bret Michael’s Hospitality and Music Room on the fifthfloor of the Barrow Neuroscience Tower.The room, which had been under construction for near-

ly a year, is located near patient rooms and features relaxationareas for patients and families. It is decorated with a musictheme and features many of Bret’s personal music memorabiliaas well as never-before-seen inspirational photographs fromhis life and work.“I’m thrilled to be able to give something back to the hos-

pital that helped to save my life, and to Barrow patients andtheir families,” said Michaels. “As someone who has spent hisfair share of time in hospitals over the past few years, I know

how necessary it is for both patients and their loved ones tohave a fun, welcoming place to recharge, and I designedthis music and hospitality room to be that place.”In 2010, Michaels was rushed to Barrow with a sub-

arachnoid hemorrhage, a type of stroke that causes bleed-ing in the fluid-filled spaces around the base of the brain.Barrow Neurological Foundation offers a special thanks

to the following generous benefactors who contributed to theBret Michaels Hospitality and Music Room: Airpark Signs,AWE Corporate Interiors, Bizarre Wood Products, Blue-media, Cannon & Wendt Electric Company, D&L Com-munications, DD & F Shad Bruce, Andrea Mosley, KathleenNorton, Oest Metalworks, Pete King Construction, SandraSeward, Knoell & Quidort Architects, Shaw Industries, Inc.,Spectra Contracting, the Studio, and Joseph Zavislak. ■

Bret MichaelsRock star gives back to hospital ‘that helped to save my life’

Bret Michaels opened the BretMichaels Hospitality and MusicRoom on Oct. 9 with the helpof his neurosurgeon, JosephZabramski, MD, and St.Joseph’s President and CEOPatty White.

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Barrow Magazine Huger Mercy Living Center8

■ Tucked away on an inconspicuous street in a quiet northcentral Phoenix neighborhood lies an equally inconspicu-ous building—at least from the outside. But once you walkthrough the gates onto the tranquil campus of Huger MercyLiving Center, you know you’re someplace special.Operated by St. Joseph’s Hospital, Huger is an assisted-

living facility for people with dementia. The grassy five-acre campus near the I-17 freeway was established nearly 20years ago due in part to the generosity of the late Dr. Ray-mond Huger, a St. Joseph’s psychiatrist whose wife hadAlzheimer’s disease. He envisioned a facility where resi-dents could remain active, while being treated with dignityand respect.

The details of careToday, that vision is a reality for the 48 residents who call

Huger home; many will live their final days here.Every detail at Huger is carefully crafted to accommo-

date the special needs of those with dementia, a progressiveloss of brain function that can be caused by a multitude ofdiseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. There are four identical cottages on campus, each hous-

ing 12 residents grouped together based on their activity andfunctional level. The residents receive 24-hour care from a staff of 30

certified nurse assistants and a full-time licensed practicalnurse. Medical Director Robert Garcia, MD, and GeriatricNurse Practitioner Marianne McCarthy, PhD, GNP, overseethe medical care. The campus also features a full-time chef.Huger adheres to a social, activity-based model, in which

residents are encouraged to interact through a variety ofactivities. On any given day, you’ll find residents involved inanything from music and art to pet therapy. There are themeweeks and monthly outings, as well as holiday dinners andcommunity celebrations, like the annual Fall Festival withstudents from nearby Orangewood Elementary School. This socialization not only helps with cognition, it also

wards off the isolation that is common with dementia as onebecomes less familiar with his or her surroundings. Theactivities are also beneficial to family members, who areencouraged to spend time on campus. “Everything we do is family-oriented,” says Lisa O’Toole,

Huger manager. “The more involved the family is, the bet-

ter their chances of catching a glimpse of who their loved oneonce was. Sometimes, there’s just a glimmer, and you neverknow when that glimmer is going to come again.”

One big familyLeslie Siegel and her brother spent the summer of 2009

searching for the perfect home for their mother. They lookedat more than 70 facilities—Huger was their last stop. Hermother had always been a giver, Siegel says, and she couldtell right away that Huger embodied that spirit of giving.“The feeling you get when you walk on campus is a cli-

mate of acceptance, love and caring for everyone—from thefamily members to the mailman,” says Siegel.Sandy Brophy’s mother and mother-in-law both lived at

Huger; for a brief period, the women were residents at thesame time. And while Brophy was always impressed by thecare the women received, she was even more impressedwith how that care extended to the family.“The care, not only for the residents but for the entire fam-

ily, is unbelievable,” says Brophy. “There is great respect not

Dementiawith dignityHuger Mercy Living Center offers patients a real home

by Sarah McGrain Padilla

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only for the residents and families, but also for the caregiversand staff. Huger is a true community in every sense of theword.”This isn’t a coincidence, says O’Toole. Earlier this year,

Huger’s staff training program was recognized as a BestPractice by the Arizona Alzheimer’s Task Force, and employ-ee turnover rates are well below the industry average. Recentfamily satisfaction scores were in the 96th percentile.

A growing needBack in the day, Siegel’s mother was a singer. Today, the

family delights in watching her come to life at Huger eventssuch as Jazz in the Park.Other families have watched in awe as their loved ones

developed new skills, like painting. “The activity-basedmodel allows our residents to explore things they haven’t tried

before, which is important because you never know what isgoing to appear as the disease progresses,” says O’Toole.The only challenge is a lack of dedicated space for host-

ing such activities. While Huger has a beautiful chapel forselect events, there is not a central area where residents cangather for classes and other events. St. Joseph’s is exploringthe addition of an activity center on the Huger campus. Regardless, Huger’s staff will continue to carry out the

wishes of their founder, making a difficult journey more dig-nified for all involved. “The journey is interesting, and it has many twists and

turns,” says Siegel. “But you cherish the moments because younever know when you’ll have one again.” ■

Huger Mercy LIving Center Barrow Magazine 9

Help Huger serve people with dementia

The Huger Mercy LivingCenter provides a warm andcaring home for people withdementia. Learn how you cansupport the center’s missionby calling BarrowNeurological Foundation at602-406-3041. Our office isopen Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. -5 p.m. You can contribute toHuger Mercy Living Centeronline at SupportBarrow.org.Be sure to select “other” inthe designation field and thentype in Huger Mercy LivingCenter in the box thatappears.

Photos: Opposite page, Maima Davis, certified nurse assistant, gives resident Miyuki Pullenza a hug.This page,clockwise from top, Leslie Seigel and her mother decorate a pumpkin during the Fall Festival at Huger; residents,staff and Orangewood Elementary School students decorate pumpkins; Lisa O’Toole, manager of Huger.

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Barrow Magazine Ashlyn Dyer Aquatic Center10

■ Mac Pieper, 33, knows what it’s liketo endure pain. An Army combat engi-neer who served three tours in Iraq,Pieper has experienced brain injuryand several battlefield wounds. But itwas an accident after Pieper left theArmy that truly changed his life. On June 27, Pieper was riding his

scooter when a driver t-boned him,backed up and drove off with the scoot-er still attached to the Camaro’s frontend. Pieper was thrown off but did notlose consciousness.“Honestly, I think it was his military

training that kept him from passingout,” says Krista Simpson, 33, Pieper’sgirlfriend.

Pieper was airlifted to Barrow Neu-rological Institute where he was treat-ed for brain injuries; multiple facialfractures including a shattered frontallobe, occipital bone and orbit; a brokentibia and fibula; and a spinal-cord injurythat required vertebrae C5 and C6 tobe fused together. His extensive sur-geries required outpatient therapy,including weekly sessions in the just-opened Ashlyn Dyer Aquatic Center atSt. Joseph’s Hospital.

A state-of-the-art poolThe state-of-the-art pool was made

possible by the support of Barrow Neu-rological Foundation benefactors whogave generously to the project. Marshaand Bruce Dyer led the fundraisingeffort and provided the lead gift in

by Lindsey Burke

HealingWatersNew pool offers aquatictherapy for patients, meaning for AshlynDyer’s family and friends

Patient Mac Pieper with therapistMichelle Evers, SPT.

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Ashlyn Dyer Aquatic Center Barrow Magazine 11

memory of their daughter, Ashlyn, who passedaway from a traumatic brain injury in 2006. Thepool was dedicated on Oct. 25, the day afterwhat would have been Ashlyn’s 34th birthday. “After Ashlyn passed away, we wanted to

give back to the Phoenix community that hadgiven us so much support,” says Marsha Dyer.“The first time we went to the site, we sat inthe car and just stared at it and thought, ‘Thisis really happening. Something really good iscoming out of something bad.’ Knowing thatthis pool will help thousands of patients healjust means the world to us.”

Benefits of aquatic therapyThe aquatic therapy program rounds out

Barrow’s comprehensive rehabilitation pro-gram and provides patients with a valuableaddition to traditional land-based therapies.The center is a licensed hospital-based out-patient clinic that has the ability to servepatients from a wide variety of areas rangingfrom neurological rehabilitation to obstetrics,says the center’s director, L.A. Campbell, PT,DPT, MBA. “Aquatic therapy is great for all kinds of

patients. For example, orthopedic patientswith restricted weight-bearing activity can getinto the water up to their chest, and their bodyweight is just 25 percent of its original weight,”she says. “In the water, patients can return tonormalized activity to build strength and workon resistance training.”For neurorehab patients, aquatic therapy

offers even more benefits, Campbell says. “Thewater offers a different sensory environment,and the setting can contribute to motor plan-ning and improve the vestibular system. Thepool also can make patients feel safe andremove the monotony of standard therapy.”

Back on his feetFor Pieper, who still uses crutches to get

around, aquatic therapy means he can work onrebuilding muscles in his leg, stabilizing hisspine and improving his brain function. “I just can’t express how amazing Barrow

doctors and therapists are,” Pieper says. “With-out them, I wouldn’t be alive.” ■

The big splash!

The completion of the new AshlynDyer Aquatic Center wascelebrated on Oct. 25. More than100 benefactors and hospital staffgathered to see the facilityfirsthand and christen it withbeach balls. Barrow NeurologicalFoundation would like to extend aspecial thanks to major donorsMarsha and Bruce Dyer, theEmerald Foundation and theMarley Foundation. A videoabout the pool dedication and alist of donors are available atSupportBarrow.org under“Events & Campaigns.”

Third photo from the top: Marshaand Bruce Dyer.

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Barrow Magazine Rhonda Brown12

Through the eyes of a poetRhonda Brown describes her journey at Barrow

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Rhonda Brown Barrow Magazine 13

■ In November 2006, Rhonda Brownsuffered a single major seizure thatwas the tipoff she had a meningioma.The tumor was in a bad location,wrapped around her brain stem, andchallenging to treat.Barrow neurosurgeon Peter Naka-

ji, MD, performed two surgeries inearly 2007 to remove as much of thetumor as possible, and then Brownunderwent CyberKnife treatment toeradicate any remaining tumor.The year before her health crisis

began, the retired Mesa woman hadbegun writing poetry. “I think aboutsomething, and it’s likely to emerge asa poem,” she says. “That’s how Iprocess things.”Soon she was using her poetry to

deal with the medical tests and pro-cedures she underwent as part of hertreatment. “As I was going throughMRIs, I was thinking what wordswould describe this noise,” Brownsays.When Brown gave Dr. Nakaji a

poem at one appointment, he respond-ed, “I’ll expect a poem at every visit.” Despite a few lingering issues,

including a right eye that is partlyparalyzed and a brain that processesa little more slowly, Brown is gratefulfor a recovery that’s better than shecould have imagined early on. Thanksto surgery and radiosurgery; physical,speech, and occupational therapy; andthe support of her family and friends,she has much to write about. ■

MeningiomaSilent invader—Secret weaver—Casting sticky threads about the heartof who I am,Seeking to thieve me from me,To rob me of my self.But you could not. I walk more slowly,See a twisted face in the mirror—But I am still hereIn this distorted packagingI still have thought and words.You lose.

- 2008

After IllnessHealth takes me by surpriseI forget my caneDrink and swallow without thoughtSavor moments when body andmind

Seem more aliveHealth takes me by surpriseSenses returnLight shines a bit more clearlyI notice the feel of breeze on skinThe dancing of leaf shadow on pavement

Health takes me by surpriseI breathe the scent of jasmineTaste chocolate more keenlyMy heart is light with well-beingHealth takes me by surprise

- 2009

TransitionsSometimes I miss the face I used tohave—

The one without a crooked smile,With eyes that saw the world singlyWithout a shadowy double Hanging in each viewSometimes I miss the life I used tohave—

The one not bounded by bus schedule and route,

With car keys jingling in my ownpocket

For easy choiceOf where to go and whenBut the heart I used to haveIs richer now, tried and stretched,Takes less for granted,Gives thanks for smaller things—Releasing what used to beInto the strong goodness of today.

- 2012

MRIHead gently confinedI slide into the metal cocoonand wait for the mélange of soundthat announces the waves I cannotsee

mapping the interior of my brainTapsKnocksBlasts of hornJackhammer burstsChanging pitchesEight more tapsEight blastsThen silenceClanks More knockstelling the storyof what’s residing in my skullI am in awethat this machine can plumbthis awesome handiworkof gray matter

- 2011

Rhonda Brown and herneurosurgeon Peter Nakaji, MD

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Barrow Magazine Barrow donors turn to creative fundraising 14

One size does not fit allGrateful patients, family members think creativelywhen thanking Barrow for excellent care

by Christina Vanoverbeke

■ While most grateful patients and families simply write acheck when they want to give back to Barrow NeurologicalInstitute, some deploy their own special talents in making agift to the institute. Here are two examples of creative givingto Barrow Neurological Foundation.

Lexy GreenwellIn the spring of 2012, Lexy Greenwell was feeling like a

normal 19-year-old student at Grinnell College.A talented musician, Greenwell saw a bright future in front

of her. She was in the process of auditioning for a music-themedshow on ABC and was about to record vocals for a major recordlabel when one day, seemingly out of the blue, she started expe-riencing double vision.She went to a local emergency department where doctors

first believed she might be suffering from a cancerous tumor.But upon further examination, doctors found that Greenwellhad a hemorrhage in her brainstem caused by a cavernousmalformation, an abnormal cluster of blood vessels embed-ded in normal brain tissue.Despite this disturbing diagnosis, she attempted to con-

tinue with life as usual. However, after another hemorrhage,time was of the essence, so she and her family decided to visitBarrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix for treatment. Theyhad learned about the work of Robert Spetzler, MD, fromanother patient and through the Angioma Alliance, a sup-port group for patients like Greenwell.After her examination, Lexy was scheduled for surgery

almost immediately due to the severity of her situation—and

it was just in time because a week before her procedure, sheexperienced yet another hemorrhage.“I was in a wheelchair and couldn't walk without falling

over due to dizziness and balance issues. The right side of myface was paralyzed, the left side of my body became weak, Ihad numbness throughout my body, and both eyes would-n't move much at all. I was virtually immobile,” she recalled.“I was scared I wouldn't survive much longer.”The surgery was a success, and Greenwell felt the results

immediately. Following the procedure, she spent time in theDeborah and Bruce Downey Neuro Rehabilitation Center atBarrow, receiving care from physical, occupational and speechtherapists, before going home to Denver to continue her careas an outpatient.“If it weren’t for the amazing people at Barrow, I would

not be here,” Greenwell said. “It is such a place of healing, andthere is an unparalleled community of support for each andevery patient.“They have given me my life back, Words cannot express

my gratitude, appreciation and admiration for everyone at Bar-row and the miracles they work every day.”Music plays a significant role in Lexy’s recovery. Playing

guitar targets her motor deficits, playing drums improves hercoordination, and singing, rapping and beatboxing strength-en her facial muscles, which were paralyzed after her secondhemorrhage.While she continues to recover, she wants to share her heal-

ing music with the world, and she does that through herYouTube channel, LexyBeatMusic. You can check it out at

You can help Lexy Greenwell

raise money for Barrow by

purchasing her song

“The Fighter” on iTunes.

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Barrow donors turn to creative fundraising Barrow Magazine 15

youtube.com/user/LexyBeatMusic.She recorded and produced a cover song and video of the

Gym Class Heroes’ song, "The Fighter," with her brother andvocalist Greg Kimble, which you now can purchase on iTunes.Greenwell is donating the proceeds of those sales to Barrowto help care for patients like her.“This song is my thanks to all of the amazing people at

Barrow for their incredible care,” she said.

Chelsea MuellerThis past June, Chelsea Mueller faced a kind of “first” that

wasn’t one she was looking forward to. It was the first Father’sDay she would be spending without her dad, who had diedthe previous year of a pituitary carcinoma.“I wasn’t sure what to do with myself,” she recalls. “My hus-

band had to work, and I thought to myself that my dadwouldn’t want me moping about. I thought I should do some-thing good and productive with the day.”That’s when Books Fighting Cancer was born.Mueller lives in Dallas where she is a writer, working by

day for a high-end gift retailer and by night as an author andblog writer, both in the genre of young adult urban fantasy.She has friends in the business and is always receiving booksto review and other swag. VampireBookClub.net, the blog shehelps run, has over 15,000 subscribers, and many of them areactive on other social media. Her idea was to get her friends to donate unique items for

an online auction to be held on her blog over Father’s Day week-end. The proceeds would be donated to Barrow Neurologi-cal Foundation to help support brain cancer research, par-ticularly the most aggressive and uncommon types, like theone that took her father’s life. The response was immediate—and big.Authors donated a variety of items ranging from book col-

lections and signatures to more unique prizes. One prizeinvolved the author writing the winner into her next story as

a character. At the end of the day, Mueller had dozens of auc-tion items, and over the next week she had a wonderfulresponse in bids from readers, authors, friends and family.Some people made outright donations for no prize, and sev-eral offered matching bids as an additional means of support.“This was definitely the biggest fundraising effort I have

ever made,” she says. “It was the first time I’ve pulled thingstogether to leverage my connections. It was not a small under-taking, but it was enjoyable. And, selfishly, it kept me busyand made me feel useful.” Her father, John Ide, was treated at Barrow. He had three

tumors removed from his brain, underwent radiation andchemotherapy, but the cancer eventually spread to his lym-phatic system. Mueller says that even though her father’s disease was

aggressively unstoppable, the Barrow team never ceased try-ing different approaches and checking in to make sure he wascomfortable.“I was so impressed with Barrow and with how hard

everyone worked to find things they could do to help withhis care,” she says. She thought her auction idea was alsoappropriate because her father became an avid reader afterhis first round of brain surgeries.Mueller raised more than $4,000 for Barrow through her

auction and says while she’s not sure that she’ll do somethingexactly like it again, she is interested in looking for ways tocontinue her support. She says helping with a cause that is closeto your heart makes sense to everyone involved from the per-son with the idea to each donor who contributes.“It wouldn’t have been as successful if it wasn’t personal,”

she says, “People understand that this had a purpose. Soeven if they didn’t know my dad, there’s still a connection foreveryone.” ■

Chelsea and herfather, John Ide.

Learn about the Barrow Brain TumorResearch Center at SupportBBTRC.org.

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■ Last year, I transitioned from my posi-tion as president and CEO of St. Joseph’sHospital and Medical Center into a newrole—CEO of Dignity Health Arizona.

Dignity Health is a large net-work of non-profit healthcareproviders located mainly in Ari-zona, California and Nevada. There are three Dignity Health

hospitals in Arizona: ChandlerRegional Medical Center, MercyGilbert Medical Center and St.Joseph’s Hospital, which includesBarrow Neurological Institute. Our hospitals are supported by

three non-profit foundations:Barrow Neurological Foundation,St. Joseph’s Foundation and Dignity Health Foundation East Valley, which raises funds for the twoEast Valley hospitals. Diane Abraham recently tran-

sitioned from her role as presidentand CEO of Dignity Health Foun-dation East Valley into a new serv-ice area role. As vice president ofphilanthropy for Dignity HealthArizona, Diane will lead strategic

development and collaboration for ourfoundations. Our goal is to leverage ourresources, increase our effectiveness andposition our foundations for the future. In today’s difficult healthcare envi-

ronment, philanthropy is increasingly vitalto hospitals such as ours. Your supportenables us to continue investing in thebuildings, technology, medical education,research, clinical services and outreachthat have made our hospitals leaders inArizona. Without benefactor funds, manyprograms and services at our hospitalswould simply not be possible. On behalf of all of us at Dignity Health

Arizona, thank you for your contributionsto healthcare in our community. We lookforward to partnering with you in thefuture! ■

Barrow Magazine Dignity Health Arizona16

Dignity Health ArizonaImproving the health of our community

by Linda Hunt

Dignity Health Arizona

Medical CentersBarrow Neurological Institute, TheBarrow.org

Chandler Regional Medical CenterChandlerRegional.org

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center, MercyGilbert.org

St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center StJosephs-Phx.org

FoundationsBarrow Neurological FoundationSupportBarrow.org, 602-406-3041

Dignity Health Foundation East ValleySupportCHWEastValley.org, 480-728-3921

St. Joseph’s FoundationSupportStJosephs.org, 602-406-3041

Linda Hunt

Diane Abrahamhas beennamed vicepresident ofphilanthropy forDignity HealthArizona.

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■ I arrived at Barrow Neurological Insti-tute slightly intimidated by the immensereputation of its surgeons, whose namesI have read since starting in neuro-surgery; it is impossible to discuss a vas-cular or spinal neurosurgery case with-out mentioning a grading system oroperation invented by a Barrow surgeon. My first few days confirmed my

preconception that the standard of sur-gical technique shown by the seniorresidents and attending surgeons was ofan extremely high standard and per-formed in an environment in which itseemed that every conceivable piece ofhardware was immediately available.Very quickly, however, I noticed

that the atmosphere was far from intim-idating and that these internationallyrenowned and extremely busy surgeonswould willingly give their time to teachand answer questions and that I waswelcomed wherever I went. For me, this fellowship occurred at

a particularly appropriate time, as I willbe taking up a job as a consultant neu-rosurgeon when I return home andhope to use the lessons I learn, not justfor my own practice, but also in train-ing and developing the registrars whowill pass through our department overthe coming years.One of my goals during this fel-

lowship was to understand how a suc-cessful neurosurgical unit is created,and I made a point of scheduling visitswith administrators and spending timewith people throughout the clinicalorganization. I found that a willingnessto give me time extended to everyoneI met and was partnered with an open-ness and sharing of information thatwas ingrained in everyone.

Despite a clinical workload thatincludes patient referrals from aroundthe world, Barrow’s director, RobertSpetzler, MD, still teaches residents andobservers each day (alternating withNicholas Theodore, MD), and contin-ues publishing landmark papers, super-vising residents’ research publicationsand presentations, and playing a lead-ing roll in fundraising for Barrow. He is joined in this by the other

attending neurosurgeons, who havecreated an environment where highstandards of knowledge and skill areexpected and achieved by an almostruthless pursuit of training and improvement, in an open and friendlyenvironment. These standards and thephysical environment that supportsthem are not chance occurrences, buthave been achieved by large amounts ofhard work, over many years.There are many operative tips and

pieces of clinical knowledge that I have

gained during this fellowship but byfar the most important thing that I willtake back to the UK is the sense of how

a neurosurgical unit should feel to thosetraining in it and the fact that thisapproach to all activities within a unitcan only come from the top and can bedeveloped by example. The hard workneeded to achieve that in my owndepartment is now up to me. ■

Marjorie Newsome Fellowship Barrow Magazine 17

NewsomeFellowWhat I learned during mythree weeks at BarrowNeurological Institute

by Edward McKintosh, MD

Edward McKintosh, MD, was awarded the Marjorie NewsomeFellowship for his performance on the exam for fellowship of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons in Surgical Neurology in 2009. The travelingfellowship is funded through a bequest made in the will of MarjorieNewsome, whose epilepsy was treated at Barrow NeurologicalInstitute. Traveling neurosurgical fellows from the United Kingdom arefunded through Barrow Foundation UK. Visit BarrowFoundation.org.ukto learn more.

“I found that a willingnessto give me time extendedto everyone I met andwas partnered with anopenness and sharing ofinformation...”

Edward McKintosh, MD

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■ Four years ago, neurosurgeon Randall Porter, MD, decid-ed to start videotaping his appointments with patients.He found that some patients—rattled by the news that they

needed major surgery or suffering memory problems due tomedication or old age—were not absorbing all the informa-tion they needed. “When they’re hit with a serious diagnosis like a brain

tumor and you have an hour-long conversation about treat-ment, later they’ll say, ‘I don’t remember anything,’” Dr.Porter says. Other patients, fortified by intensive Internet research, came

armed with extensive lists of questions and received a cor-responding avalanche of answers. Still others went home tofamily members who wanted to know exactly what the doc-tor told them.By taping and uploading the office

visit to a secure website, Dr. Porter gavepatients and those they share informa-tion with the ability to watch theencounter as many times as they want-ed. The result was TheMedicalMemo-ry.com, a process Dr. Porter is patent-ing.

“It has improved patients’ under-standing of their diagnosis, it’s improvedpatient recall, and it’s relieved their anx-iety,” Dr. Porter says. Studies have shown that patients

only retain about half of the information given to them at med-ical appointments. Of that, only half is recalled correctly.More than 1,000 patients have opted to use the service since

Dr. Porter’s office uploaded the first video in January 2011.The website keeps track of how often patients view their vis-its. One accessed his information 39 times.But most patients are like Carolyn Holloway, who referred

to her tape several times, once with a friend. Holloway, 71,had two vertebrae in her neck fused in February 2012 to relieveneck and shoulder pain brought on by degenerative diskdisease. “I thought it was really great, his idea to video the visit so

you could review it again and hear the things he had to say,because you have so many things going on in your mind,” saysHolloway, who lives in Awhatukee. “You just can’t remem-ber everything they tell you.”For example, upon subsequent viewings, Holloway paid

closer attention to the possibility of replacing the degener-ating disc in her neck with an artificial one, rather than witha graft fashioned from bone from her hip. She had already

experienced the latter procedure during a lumbar surgery sheunderwent 13 years ago in the Midwest and did not want toendure it again. (Ultimately, Holloway underwent the tradi-tional fusion, but with allograft—cadaver—bone.) Dr. Porter has several small cameras set up on tripods in

his office. If he uses real or computerized models as part ofhis discussion, he makes sure to film them, as well.“I think you’re more thorough when you know you’re on

camera,” he says.Patients who opt for the videotaped visit pay a nominal

fee (about $20). The office uploads the video to a securewebsite, then emails the patient their user name and password.(A sample video can be viewed on the site.)“They can watch it online as many times as they want,”

Dr. Porter says. “They can share theiraccount information with anyone theywant. They can watch it from all over theworld. They can also share it with otherdoctors.”The idea of recording patient visits

is so obvious that it is surprising no onethought of it earlier. In fact, the U.S.Patent Office initially rejected The Med-ical Memory application for that very rea-son, Dr. Porter says. Doctors’ fear ofinformation being used against themand strict federal medical privacy lawsknown as HIPAA, were other obstacles.

“We solved this by making The Medical Memory a sep-arate entity that is working on behalf of the patient,” says PeterN. Steinmetz, MD, PhD, president of The Medical Memory(TMM). “The patient acknowledges in an agreement that thevideo is being transferred to TMM by the doctor at theirrequest and is not part of medical treatment or a prescrip-tion of any kind.”Dr. Porter partnered with Dr. Steinmetz, who is director

of Barrow’s neuroengineering program, to finesse the tech-nical and logistical demands of the website. Because the tape is not part of the patient’s official med-

ical record, Dr. Porter notes, it should make it more attrac-tive to other physicians. He and Dr. Steinmetz plan to expandthe service to other Barrow offices and then make it avail-able to physicians nationwide.

“We’ve all had patients you explain everything to, and post-op, they’re like, ‘Now can you explain to me what you did?’”Dr. Porter says. “With The Medical Memory, they feel likethey understand what’s going on.” ■

Barrow Magazine TheMedicalMemory.com18

TheMedicalMemory.comPatients go online to review doctor appointments

by Melissa Frederick Morrison

“It has improved

patients’ understanding

of their diagnosis, it’s

improved patient recall,

and it’s relieved

their anxiety.” Randall Porter, MD

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TheMedicalMemory.com Barrow Magazine 19

Randall Porter, MD, meets with patient DonnaD. Weston and her husband, Kent, of Mesa.Donna signed up for The Medical Memory, asystem that gives patients online access totapes of their appointments with Dr. Porter, aBarrow neurosurgeon.

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■ A chance encounter between a Bar-row physician and a high school robot-ics coach led to a Valley student creat-ing an award-winning device to helpindividuals with amyotrophic lateralsclerosis (ALS) communicate.In May, Ben Mattinson, then a sen-

ior at Phoenix Country Day School,received the FIRST Future InnovatorAward for the EyeWriterB 2.1, an eye-tracking system that allows patientswith ALS to use eye movements to con-trol a computer. FIRST (For Inspira-tion and Recognition of Science andTechnology) is an international organ-ization that promotes participation inscience and technology.

High tech, low costThe project was inspired by Alan

Pitt, MD, a Barrow neuroradiologistwhose mother became a quadriplegicafter a horse-riding accident. Whileresearching adaptive equipment, Dr. Pittcame across the original EyeWriter, adevice designed to help a famous graf-fiti artist with ALS draw again.“I saw a video for the EyeWriter and

wanted to take it to the next level,” saysDr. Pitt. “I knew that there were highschool robotics competitions, so I won-dered if they could compete to build andmodify inexpensive, technology-richdevices to help the disabled.”By chance, Dr. Pitt connected with

Rob Mattinson, Ben’s father and a coachfor the FIRST Robotics Team at PhoenixCountry Day School. Ben was intriguedby the idea. “I’ve always had a thing for apply-

ing technology to helping people and Ithought that this was a good way to dothat while also learning more aboutcomputer science,” Ben said.Building on the existing device, Ben

built a prototype of EyeWriterB 2.1 andmet with Suraj Muley, MD, director of

Barrow’s neuromuscular program, forfeedback and to learn more about ALS. ALS is a neuromuscular disease that

leads to loss of function in the arms andlegs, and often to a loss of speech, leav-ing patients with little means of com-munication. However, most people withALS retain the ability to move their eyes. “Ben's device would allow patients

with ALS to communicate with theirfamilies and caregivers through eyemovements when they have no othermeans to do so. It would certainlyimprove quality of life in patients withadvanced ALS,” says Dr. Muley. The EyeWriterB 2.1 allows users to

control most aspects of the computerwith their eyes. It uses a camera and LEDlights to calculate where on the screenthe user is looking. The user can “type”on a virtual on-screen keyboard byholding their eye over a particular keyto select it. The device includes wordprediction software, similar to that usedon smart phones, to speed up typing. Barrow physicians believe it has

potential to help patients with otherdiseases and disorders. Dr. Pitt hopesthat Ben will be an example for otherstudent-led patient-care innovations.

A work in progressWhile Ben is currently a busy fresh-

man at the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology, he continues to improve thedevice based on feedback from Barrowphysicians and patients. “It’s still a workin progress,” he says. Ultimately, his goal is to create a

lower-cost product that is accessible tomore people, especially in developingcountries. “There are commerciallyavailable devices that do this, but theyare expensive, costing thousands of dol-lars,” says Ben. “My goal is to developa comparable product at a tenth of thecost.” ■

Barrow Magazine EyeWriter20

EyeWriterStudent’s award-winning device helps ALS patients

by Sarah McGrain Padilla

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His Biggest Hurdle Barrow Magazine 21

■ Gordon Bugg knows what kind of drive is required to pushhis body beyond its limits. He competed in the 1988 and 1992Olympic trials for track and field. He set ASU’s yet-unbro-ken record for the 400-meter hurdles in 1988: 49.30 seconds(less than 2 seconds more than the gold medalist clocked atthe 2012 London Olympics).It’s mental conditioning that has held him in good stead

since he suffered a stroke last year that left half his body par-alyzed. A week after his right side went numb while he waslogging onto his work computer, he was released from St.Joseph’s Hospital to its rehabilitation center.“In track, it’s one hurdle at a time,” says Bugg, 46. “In rehab,

it’s the same way—you have to walk before you can run.”Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and the num-

ber-one cause of disability in the United States. Recovery canbe arduous and emotionally challenging because hard workand grinding repetition are required for even small gains.Similar to an athletic regimen, stroke patients undergo

hours of daily training, often for seemingly miniscule gains. “We try to focus on small changes, such as the ability to

move a finger or do a task for one repetition and then tworepetitions,” says Christina Kwasnica, MD, medical directorof the Deborah and Bruce Downey Neuro Rehabilitation Cen-ter. “We often use the analogy of a marathon rather than asprint.” Most gains are made in the first year after a stroke, but,

Dr. Kwasnica says, improvements can come years later.

When he was stricken, the mental athlete in Bugg kickedin immediately.Just as Bugg would visualize his races before he ran them,

he visualized his recovery. First it was seeing himself walk-ing. Then it was walking without a walker. Then it was walk-ing without any assistance whatsoever.“When they released me, I was able to walk without a cane,”

he says.Bugg, a Phoenix father of two, continues to receive ther-

apy to recover function in his right arm. Drills can be mentally exhausting, such as constraint

therapy—”where they restrain the strong arm and force theuse of the weak arm,” Dr. Kwasnica says. “It is a very frus-trating therapy that can reap significant benefits.”Overcoming frustration is part of athletic training, Bugg

says.“I can’t tell you day to day or week to week, but I can tell

you month to month,” he says of his progress. “You have tokeep on working every day to get minimum gains, but theyare gains. Just like you train every day to get a little better toperform better in your meet.”He still doesn’t have full use of his arm, but he is able to

pick a piece of paper off the floor. “My main goal right nowis I want to be able to throw a baseball with my son,” Buggsays. ■

His Biggest HurdleAthlete recovers from a stroke one step at a time

by Melissa Frederick Morrison

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Barrow Magazine Barrow Beyond22

Barrow BeyondYoung philanthropists celebrate launch of new giving group

■ Founding members of BarrowBeyond enjoyed an evening receptionwith Robert Spetzler, MD, Nader Sanai,MD, and other Barrow physicians andresearchers on Oct. 29 in the SonntagAcademic Pavilion. Drs. Spetzler andSanai told the group about the BarrowBrain Tumor Research Center, andSandy and Richard Perkins shared thestory of their son Sam, who died of abrain tumor in 2011.Barrow Beyond is a newly formed

organization for young philanthropistsinterested in supporting Barrow Neurological Institute. Since the groupwas launched earlier this year, membershave raised more than $40,000 for theBarrow Brain Tumor Research Center,which is a legacy project of Dr. Spetzlerand which is directed by Dr. Sanai. Barrow Beyond members make a

minimum $1,000 gift to Barrow Neu-rological Foundation each year. In thefuture, members will be able to directtheir annual contribution toward sev-eral Barrow projects. Members willhave opportunities to view surgeries,participate in educational salons andattend private dinners with physicians.For information about Barrow

Beyond, contact Kathleen Norton by call-ing 602-406-1039 or by emailing [email protected]. ■

Top photo: Shannon Mishkin, Robert F. Spetzler, MD, and NaderSanai, MD; bottom photo: Aviva Gorny, Yaniv Masjedi, NaderSanai, MD, and Paul Pollack .

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Barrow Beyond Barrow Magazine 23

Above: Sandy and RichardPerkins; Right: EricTermansen and CarolClemmensen.

Above: Kris Wolfswinkel, GeorgeannMunich, Micheline Etkin and SophiaYang, MD. Below: Sandy Perkins andRachael Sirianni, PhD.

Below: Shown with Kathleen Norton (at the podium) arethe five women who organized Barrow Beyond—BrookeZilveti, Lisa Geyser, Debbie Shafron, Sharon Miller-Pollack and Shannon Mishkin.

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Barrow Magazine Research Update24

The Barrow-ASU Center for Pre-clinical Imaging opened at St. Joseph’sHospital in 2009 with little fanfare. Today, Valley scientists are singing

its praises—and winning grants andawards because of the facility, whichfeatures a powerful 7 Tesla magneticresonance imaging (MRI) unit andPhD-trained staff who are experts inresearch imaging.“Our center is designed to be a core

center for the Valley, a resource thatresearchers throughout metropolitanPhoenix can use,” says Greg Turner,PhD, program manager of the center. Scientists from Barrow Neurologi-

cal Institute, the Translational GenomicsResearch Institute, Arizona State Uni-versity (ASU), Midwestern Universityand other organizations use the centerfor research into a variety of diseases,including Alzheimer’s, multiple sclero-sis, cancer and spinal cord injury. Dr.Turner hopes that list will grow.One of those scientists is Kevin Ben-

nett, PhD, assistant professor in theSchool of Biological and Health Sys-tems Engineering at ASU. The Nation-al Institutes of Health recently award-ed Dr. Bennett $400,000 to conductresearch into more effective ways ofdetecting the onset of kidney diseasethrough the use of MRI technology. Key to that award, says Dr. Bennett,

was the Center for Preclinical Imag-ing. Dr. Bennett says that the centerfactored heavily into his decision tojoin ASU in the first place and that itstechnology and staff have helped himwin multiple grants for research in areasranging from diabetes to cancer.Another fan of the center is Ryan

McLemore, PhD, an orthopedic scien-tist at ASU. In October, Dr. McLemoreand four of his colleagues at ASUreceived the Jeannette Wilkins Award

for their research into antibiotic-loadedbone cement used in treating infec-tions after joint replacement surgery. The team of researchers used the

7T MRI to study how antibiotics dis-burse after implantation and how thetechnique could be improved.“We could not have done this

research without the Center for Pre-clinical Imaging,” says Dr. McLemore. The center is a partnership between

ASU and Barrow, and part of Barrow’sKeller Center for Imaging Innovation.The center’s 7T Bruker BioSpec® pre-clinical MRI is the only preclinical MRItechnology in the Phoenix area. The 7T MRI has a much higher

strength than the typical 3T MRI usedin patient scanning. “With the higherfield magnets, you get higher signaland less noise—sharper images in lesstime than MRIs with lower fields. The7T allows us to look at structures thatare just one-hundredths of an inch insize,” says Dr. Turner.Researchers use the super scanner

to study the mechanisms behind dis-eases and to investigate treatmentsbefore they go into patient clinical tri-als (hence the name “Pre-Clinical”).The 7T MRI speeds up research andproduces more reliable findings. Thecenter’s staff helps researchers designtheir studies and analyze their data. The Barrow-ASU Center for Pre-

clinical Imaging is good for Arizona,says Dr. Turner. “Combining the resources of dif-

ferent biomedical research institutionsmakes everyone stronger. Applicationsto NIH are stronger when you haveaccess to a resource like the 7T,” he says.Dr. McLemore, for one, is in com-

plete agreement. “The center has real-ly opened up a lot of opportunities herethat didn’t exist before,” he says.

Research Update

Above: Greg Turner, PhD, with the7T MRI in the Barrow-ASU Centerfor Pre-Clinical Imaging.

Barrow-ASU Pre-Clinical Imaging Center provesto be an important resource for Arizona

by Catherine Menor

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Barrow and Philipspartner on faster MRIThe Keller Center of Imaging Innova-tion at Barrow is partnering with PhilipsHealthcare on an initiative to makemagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)two to four times faster than it is today.Jim Pipe, PhD, the director of the cen-ter and an MRI researcher who per-fected PROPELLER, is leading the proj-ect.MRI units used in healthcare today

employ the Cartesian method of datacollection. The Barrow-Philips project

is looking at an alternative method ofdata collection called spiral MRI.According to Dr. Pipe, spiral MRI hasthe potential to be faster and more effi-cient if problems with image claritycan be solved.“If we can overcome these issues, we

can come closer to realizing MRI’s fullpotential,” says Dr. Pipe. “We couldhave a full exam in 10-15 minutes,which would have a huge impact onheathcare costs without affecting qual-ity at all.”

Tumor researchersmake breakthroughIn what could be a breakthrough inthe treatment of deadly brain tumors,a team of researchers from BarrowNeurological Institute and ArizonaState University has discovered that theimmune system reacts differently todifferent types of brain tissue, shed-ding light on why cancerous braintumors are so difficult to treat.The large, two-part study, led by

Barrow research fellow SergiyKushchayev, MD, under the guidanceof Mark Preul, MD, was published inthe Sept. 14 issue of Cancer Manage-ment and Research. The study exploresthe effects of immunotherapy on malig-nant gliomas, cancerous brain tumorsthat typically have a poor prognosis.The researchers discovered that

immune cells of the brain and bloodexhibit massive rearrangements wheninteracting with a malignant gliomaunder treatment. Essentially, the studydemonstrates that the complex immunesystem reacts differently in differentbrain tissues and different regions of thebrain, including tumors. “This means that effective treat-

ment in one area of the brain may notbe effective in another area,” says Dr.Preul. “In fact, it could even cause otherregions of the tumor to become worse.” Other members of the research team

included Adrienne Scheck, PhD, Fu-Dong Shi, PhD, and Jenny Eschbach-er, PhD, of Barrow; and Ken Hoober,PhD, and Laura Eggink, PhD, of ASU.The three-year study was primarilyfunded by the Arizona BiomedicalResearch Commission.

Research Update Barrow Magazine 25

Jim Pipe, PhD

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Center named forGrubbs is dedicatedThe Lou and Evelyn Grubb Children’sCenter for Neuropsychological Reha-bilitation was dedicated at a luncheonon June 1 in the Sonntag AcademicPavilion. A gift from Evelyn Grubb and her

late husband, Lou, allowed the Centerto expand its facility, increasing thenumber of rooms from seven to 15.Thanks to the Grubbs’ gift, the centerwill be able to expand its services tochildren with brain injuries and dis-orders.The Lou and Evelyn Grubb Chil-

dren’s Center for NeuropsychologicalRehabilitation offers a wide range ofservices to children who have suffereda brain injury or disorder. Treatmentsavailable at the center include initial andongoing neuropsychological assess-ment, cognitive rehabilitation, academic tutoring, psychotherapy,behavior modification and friendshiptraining. George Prigatano, PhD, is thedirector of the center.Dr. Prigatano participated in Lou

Grubb’s rehabilitation after he suffereda ruptured aneurysm in 1986.

Barrow Magazine Benefactor Briefs26

Benefactor Briefs

Top photo: George Prigatano, PhD,Tracy Christ, Wil Christ, JohnGrubb, Evelyn Grubb, Dan Grubb,Kathy Grubb, Colton Grubb andKelsey Grubb; bottom photo:Robert Spetzler, MD, and Mrs.Grubb.

Barrow Grand Ball to be held Jan. 19Plans are underway for the 2013 Bar-row Grand Ball, presented by theWomen’s Board of Barrow Neurolog-ical Foundation. The ball will be heldJan. 19 at the Arizona Biltmore. Co-chairmen are Robyn DeBell and CindyWatts. The black-tie dinner and danceis one of Arizona’s premier charityevents.The Women’s Board has raised

more than $42 million for research atBarrow Neurological Institute throughthe Ball, including $1.9 million in 2012.

Arizona Cardinals gives $45,000 to Barrow The Arizona Cardinals has given $45,000 to Barrow Neurological Founda-

tion, including $15,000 for the BRAINS Clinic, $15,000 for Lou Grubb FriendsFore Golf and $15,000 for unrestricted use. The BRAINS funds will go towardthe development of the Barrow Concussion Network, a virtual professional net-work of concussion experts providing standardized concussion management andeducation to all Arizona high school athletes. Within the Barrow Concussion Network, professionals will be able to access

Barrow Brainbook for concussion education, the Brainbook Registry for concussionresearch, and ImPACT baseline testing. “We are collaborating with AT Still's ath-letic training program, as the athletic trainers around the state will play a key rolein the sideline assessment of the student athletes,” says Javier Cárdenas, MD, direc-tor of the BRAINS Clinic.

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Lou Grubb tourney set for April 25-26The 40th annual Lou Grubb FriendsFore Golf dinner and tournament willbe held Thursday and Friday, April 25and 26. Proceeds from the event ben-efit Barrow Neurological Institute andSt. Joseph’s Hospital.The two-day event begins with a

cocktail party, auction and dinner onThursday evening at Scottsdale PlazaResort. An 18-hole tournament willbe played the next day at McCormickRanch Golf Club. Players will enjoyhosted beverages all day, warm-upactivities, and a dinner and awards cer-emony right after the tournament. The Lou Grubb Friends Fore Golf

event was Lou’s way of thanking Bar-row and St. Joseph’s for the care hereceived in 1986 after suffering a rup-tured aneurysm during a golf game.Lou passed away earlier this year.Visit SupportBarrow.org for more

information. To learn about sponsor-ship opportunities, please contactMelissa Doyle at 602-406-1035 [email protected].

Benefactor Briefs Barrow Magazine 27

Benefactors receive AFP awardsEvelyn and Lou Grubb and the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation were recog-nized for their contributions to St. Joseph’s Foundation and Barrow Neurologi-cal Foundation at the annual Philanthropy Leadership Awards, sponsored by theGreater Arizona Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals onNov. 8. The Grubbs and CFN received 2012 Spirit of Philanthropy Awards.When Lou Grubb passed away earlier this year, he left a long legacy of giv-

ing. He and his wife, Evelyn, had raised more than $5 million for Barrow Neu-rological Institute and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in gratitude forLou’s care after a brain aneurysm in 1986. The annual Lou Grubb Friends ForeGolf tournament will keep alive their spirit of giving.Since 1997, Celebrity Fight Night (CFN) has raised more than $80 million

dollars for charity, with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow its pri-mary beneficiary. CFN proceeds have enabled researchers and clinicians toprovide thousands of patients with the help and hope needed to fight this insid-ious disease.

Beer for Brains puts on RAREaffairRAREaffair 2012 brought together greatbeer, food and entertainment for a greatcause—brain tumor research.Sponsored by the Beer for Brains

Foundation, RAREaffair was held Nov.10 at the Arizona Science Center. Theevent featured rare craft beers, fine wineand the signature dishes of more thana dozen local chefs. Proceeds benefit theBarrow Brain Tumor Research Center. The Beer for Brains Foundation is

a non-profit organization dedicated toraising money for brain tumor research.The foundation was established by LouisDolgoff, whose wife, Laurie, receivedcare for a brain tumor at Barrow Neu-rological Institute.“She was not only my love but my

best friend,” says Dolgoff. “I promisedher I would raise money every year for

brain cancer research. If I can do that,then I’ll feel like I’ve accomplishedsomething.”

Louis Dolgoff, the founder of theBeer for Brains Foundation.

Fiesta Bowl awards$25,000 to Barrow for Junior BrainbookFiesta Bowls Charities, the charitablearm of the Fiesta Bowl, has awarded$25,000 to Barrow Neurological Insti-tute to develop Junior Brainbook, anonline concussion-prevention programaimed at children aged 5-14. The e-learning tool is modeled after

Brainbook, which was introduced toschools throughout Arizona in 2011.Brainbook educates high school studentathletes about signs, symptoms andprevention of concussion.In the last 17 months, Fiesta Bowl

Charities has awarded more than $2.2million in grants to organizations acrossthe state.

Muhammad Ali and Sean Curry,Celebrity Fight Night Foundation

Lou and Evelyn Grubb

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■ More than 340 people filled PhoenixTheatre for “Magic and the Brain,” afundraiser held Sept. 17 in honor ofBarrow’s 50th anniversary. The eventcelebrated the wonder of the humanbrain. The unusual program featured Las

Vegas headliner Mac King and theworld’s Elder Statesman of Magic, theAmazing Randi. Barrow vision scien-tists Stephen Macknik, PhD, and SusanaMartinez-Conde, PhD, were on handto explain how magicians trick us andwhat that reveals about the brain.

Barrow neurosurgeon Peter Naka-ji, MD, gave opening remarks, and Val-ley journalist Tara Hitchcock servedas emcee. Hitchcock told her own Bar-row story about her stepson, DylanFrancis, who received care at Barrow. Drs. Macknik and Martinez-Conde

are Harvard-trained visual neuroscienceresearchers who have spent much oftheir careers exploring the link betweenwhat we see and what we comprehend.“We are excited about how our

research could lead to medical advancesthat help patients with cognitivedecline,” says Dr. Martinez-Conde. ■

Barrow Magazine Magic and the Brain28

Magicand theBrain

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Two join foundationsTwo fundraising professionals havejoined the Foundation staff:

Keith C. Kerber, development offi-cer, first tried his hand at fundraising

when he delivered Mother’s Daysinging telegrams as part of afundraiser for UCLA, where hewas a student. Later, during the-ological studies at Princeton The-ological Seminary, he convincedBiblical scholars to donate dinnersand fly fishing trips to a charity

auction. During his six years as a Pres-byterian minister, Kerber raised fundsby flipping pancakes for Fat Tuesdaysuppers. The father of three turned hisaptitude for fundraising into a careerwhen he joined Thunderbird Schoolof Global Management as manager ofannual giving. Kerber serves on thelocal board of the Association ofFundraising Professionals. He can bereached at 602-406-1030 and [email protected].

Alan Knobloch, director of majorgifts and planned giving, has worked for

more than 25 years with non-profits, including Phoenix Chil-dren’s Hospital Foundation, Val-ley of the Sun United Way, SanDiego Junior Golf Foundationand the American Cancer Soci-ety. Knobloch was a partner withThe Balsar Group, an organiza-

tional development and fundraisingconsulting firm. He earned CertifiedFund Raising Executive status from theAssociation of Fundraising Profes-sionals and a diploma from the Nation-al Planned Giving Institute at the Col-lege of William and Mary. Knobloch ispast president of the Greater ArizonaPlanned Giving Roundtable in Phoenixand currently serves on its board. TheArizona State University graduate isactive in the Central Arizona EstatePlanning Council. Contact him by call-ing 602-406-1025 or by [email protected].

Scientist leads meetingJames G. Pipe, PhD, was the programdirector for the 2012 Annual Meetingand Exhibition of the InternationalSociety forMagne t i cResonancein Medicine.I S M R M is a world-wide multi-disciplinarysociety ded-icated to the development and appli-cation of all aspects of magnetic reso-nance to medicine and related fields.More than 5,000 clinicians and scien-tists from over 50 countries attended themeeting, which was held in Melbourne,Australia.

Tumor operation done first at BarrowNeurosurgeon Kris Smith, MD, andradiation oncologist David Brachman,MD, performed the world’s firstCesium-131 brachytherapy seed suturedmesh implant in June. The operationinvolved a female patient suffering froma recurrent meningioma, a type of braintumor. The sutured mesh was placedover the resected tumor at the time ofsurgery to provide immediate radia-tion therapy to the entire tumor bed andmargins with an aim of preventingtumor reccurrence. IsoRay Inc. is thedeveloper of Cesium-131.

Raffle returns in 2013 The St. Joseph’s Health & Wealth Raf-fle will celebrate its 10th anniversarynext year with bigger and better prizes.Sinceit started in 2003, St. Joseph’s

Health & Wealth Raffle has becomeone of the largest fundraisers in Arizona.To date, more than $52 million hasbeen raised, helping keep the hospitalat the leading edge of medicine.

Vision researchers winTobi Eye Track AwardBarrow’s Susana Martinez-Conde, PhD,and Stephen Macknik, PhD, and CaseWestern University’s John Leigh, PhD,received the 2011 Tobi Eye Track Awardfor their research into fixational eyemovements in patients with progressivesuranuclear palsy. Their study was pub-lished last year in the Journal of Neu-roscience. Dr. Martinez-Conde deliveredthe keynote address for the annual Eye-TrackBehavior conference held in Bel-gium this fall.

Researcher promotedRobert Bowser, PhD, has been nameddirector of Neurology Research anddirector of the Neurode-generative Disorders Cen-ter at Barrow NeurologicalInstitute. The promotionrecognizes Dr. Bowser’sleadership capabilities andinternational stature. Dr. Bowser graduated

from Carnegie Mellon University,obtained a PhD in Cell Biology at YaleUniversity and did postdoctoral train-ing at Albert Einstein College of Med-icine. He was on the faculty of the Uni-versity of Pittsburgh before joiningBarrow in 2011. At Barrow he hasserved as Director of the Barrow Amy-otrophic Lateral Sclerosis ResearchCenter, funded in part by Mary Louand Ira Fulton. Dr. Bowser is co-founder of Knopp

Neurosciences, Inc. and founder of IronHorse Diagnostics, Inc., developers ofALS drug therapies or diagnostic indi-cators. He has played important rolesin the Northeast Amyotrophic LateralSclerosis Consortium and other organ-izations devoted to research into neu-rodegenerative disorders. In his new role, he will oversee lab-

oratory research programs currentlycentered in the Division of Neurology.

News Barrow Magazine 29

News

Jim and Teri Pipe

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Barrow Magazine Planned Giving30

One, two, three annuitiesWhy it’s hard to stop after just one

by Alan KnoblochDirector, Major Gifts and Planned GivingBarrow Neurological Foundation, St. Joseph’s Foundation

■ Why do some people with a Barrow Neurological Foundation charitable giftannuity obtain another one . . . and another? There are at least three reasons:

1. Satisfaction. Most donors ease into their first gift annuity with Barrow Neu-rological Foundation with a degree of concern. After all, this is a new arrange-ment for them and they wonder how well it will work. Will the paymentamount be as promised? Will the checks arrive on time?It doesn't take long for any uneasiness to vanish. Donors discover they are hav-ing a positive experience. They learn they can count on Barrow NeurologicalFoundation to follow through. And this satisfaction draws them back foranother annuity.

2. Connection. Having a life-income agreement with Barrow NeurologicalFoundation involves an interdependence not experienced with normal annu-al giving. For one thing, the person is not only giving financial support, butreceiving it. This enhanced sense of partnership encourages the feeling that“we are in this together.” Additional annuities deepen this connection even fur-ther.

3. Better rates.Gift annuity rates are determined by the annuitant's age. The olderyou are, the better rates you receive. For example, our current rates for a single-life gift annuity involving a 70-year-old person is 5.1 percent. The rateincreases to 5.8 percent for a 75-year-old. At age 80, it is 6.8 percent, and at 85, it is 7.8 percent. A 90-year-old (and older) will receive 9.0 percent. So formany annuitants, it makes sense to obtain additional annuities as they growolder.

Gift annuities offer other advantages in addition to those mentioned above.To obtain further information, please call me at (602) 406-1025 or [email protected]. I will be glad to provide an illustration toshow how a gift annuity can benefit you. ■

“Donors discover theyare having a positiveexperience. Theylearn they can counton Barrow...”

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Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 685Phoenix, AZ

Dignity HealthBarrow Neurological Foundation350 W. Thomas Rd.Phoenix, AZ 85013-4496

www.SupportBarrow.org

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Barrow Neurological Foundation respects yourprivacy. If you would prefer not to receive futureissues of Barrow Magazine, please let us know bycalling 602-406-3041 or emailing us [email protected] provide your name and address exactlyas it appears on the address panel of thismagazine.

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miracle toursJanuary 9 Outsmarting Brain Tumors

Discover how the Barrow Brain Tumor Research Center is workingto find a cure.

February 14 Stopping the CycleLearn how St. Joseph’s is helping to keep women and babies safe and healthy.

March 14 Code AmazingGet a behind-the-scenes look at St. Joseph’s ER and Trauma Center, and visit the helipad.

Each tour runs from 9 am until 11:30 am atSt. Joseph’s Hospital, with an optionalcomplimentary lunch afterward. Make yourreservation by calling 602-406-1038 today.

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Barrow magazine Volume 24, Issue 2, 2012

Documents

Transcript of Barrow magazine Volume 24, Issue 2, 2012