CONNECTING THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD WITH A GLOBAL …€¦ · JOHNS HOPKINS CONNECTING THE LEADERS...

LEADER

REDEFINING WHAT’S POSSIBLE: (FROM

LEFT) ELIZABETH MARION JAFFEE,

M.D., JUDY HUANG, M.D., AND AHMET

ALEXANDER BASCHAT, M.D., P. 6

REDEFINING WHAT’S POSSIBLE: (FROM

LEFT) ELIZABETH MARION JAFFEE,

M.D., JUDY HUANG, M.D., AND AHMET

ALEXANDER BASCHAT, M.D., P. 6

JOHNS HOPKINSCONNECTING THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD WITH A GLOBAL LEADER IN MEDICINE

What You Need to Know

CANCER-FIGHTING VACCINES

6 STROKE WARNING SIGNS

THE HEART- WEIGHT

CONNECTION

My StoryMARCELO RECH’S

JOURNEY FOR THE RIGHT

DIAGNOSIS, P. 11

Traveling for Medical Care

OUR STEP-BY-STEP

GUIDE

Transforming Health Care How our medical experts innovate to change lives

inside

2insights Johns Hopkins experts share health discoveries, including a personalized approach to IBS relief, healing hearts with less risk and recovery time, and the dementia risk factor that you can control.

11destination: peace of mindFaced with the possibility of cancer, Marcelo Rech traveled from Brazil to Baltimore for medical expertise. Discover how he found an even greater gift.

13care and conciergeGet to know how our services go way beyond what you might expect for patients traveling to Johns Hopkins from outside the United States.

cover story

6meet the future of medicine nowMeet leaders in their medical fields who are bringing fresh hope to fighting cancer, healing babies before birth, revolutionizing reconstructive surgery and more.

welcoMe

oover a century ago, Mr. Johns Hopkins, a Baltimore merchant, made a promise to provide the finest research, teaching and patient care available. Today, we are as passionate as ever about continuing to search for better answers, better treatments, better discoveries for tomorrow. That’s what it takes to be a leader.

we’d love to share with you a glimpse of that passion and promise and how it comes alive worldwide through Johns Hopkins Medicine International. Inside this first issue of Leader, you’ll meet: our leading medical experts—and their

inspirations for forging new frontiers in health patients from around the world who have found

the care they needed at Johns Hopkins your dedicated concierge team, who makes

Johns Hopkins feel as close to home as possible Our hope: You feel connected to Johns Hopkins

across the miles because we envision a world where health has no boundaries.

All our best for your health,

PAMelA PAUlk PReSIDenT JoHnS HoPkInS MeDIcIne InTeRnATIonAl

we’re here for you, wherever you are!

Have questions? Ready to schedule an appointment? Connect with us at +1-410-220-6438 (7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday) or hopkinsmedicine.org/international

STAy connecTeDHealtH libraryhopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary

Newshopkinsmedicine.org/news

social Mediahopkinsmedicine.org/social_media

webiNarshopkinsmedicine.org/healthseminars

Newslettershopkinsmedicine.org/international/news_publications

cliNical trials trials.johnshopkins.eduFOr YOur HealTH: all information in this publication is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for

specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new health regimen.

COver: Photographed by Gregg Delman; Hair and makeup by Patti Nelson/T.H.e artist agency.

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JOHNS HOPKINS

INSIGHTS

UNIQUE APPROACHTO EASING JOINT PAIN Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers are on the cutting edge of joint pain. “We’re looking for ways to mimic natural functions,” says Jennifer Elisseeff, Ph.D., professor at the Wilmer Eye Institute and in The Johns Hopkins University departments of biomedical engineering and materials science and engineering. A new finding could make a difference for people living with arthritis.

PROBLEM: Hyaluronic acid, or HA, in joints’ synovial fluid naturally lubricates tissues and reduces inflammation. It can be injected into joints, but without a way to retain the lubricant, the body’s natural cleaning processes soon wash it away.

POTENTIAL SOLUTION: Using a chemical known as HA-binding peptides, or HABpep, and a synthetic molecule called polyethylene glycol, HA can be bound to natural and artificial cartilage surfaces. Early testing shows that HA stays in the joint significantly longer with HABpep and polyethylene glycol than with HA alone.

FUTURE: “Further research may lead to a clinical trial within the next few years,” Elisseeff says. “The goal: a simple injection that could treat disease such as post-traumatic arthritis and provide improved tissue structure to the joints.”

STAY UP TO DATE WITH HEALTH DISCOVERIES AT HOPKINSMEDICINE.ORG/NEWS

JOHNS HOPKINS LEADER 2

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certification as a comprehensive stroke center means that johns hopkins can offer specialized care for patients with even the most challenging strokes at a state-of-the-

art inpatient hospital and the stroke prevention and Recovery Center.

tension headache or stroke? here's an important clue.

6 stroke WArning signs Recognizing a stroke early can save your life or the life of a loved one. Every year, 15 million people worldwide suffer a stroke. But one in five study participants couldn’t name even one stroke warning sign, according to a recent report published by the American heart Association.

“it’s important to recognize symptoms because treatments are time dependent,” says Victor Urrutia, M.D., F.A.h.A., an associate professor of neurology and director of the Comprehensive stroke Center a t The johns hopkins hospital. “A clot-busting medicine

speech difficulties. slurred or garbled words or inability to understand speech, or appearing confused when someone is speaking. loss of vision.

Blurred or double vision along with loss of part of the visual field; usually occurs suddenly. lack of balance.

A sudden onset of not being able to walk, falling or feeling dizzy.

headache. severe and sudden onset without warning; often described as the worst headache of your life.

Worldwide, strokes … Claim 6 million lives each year—one every 10 seconds. Are the second-leading cause of death of those older than 60. Are the second-leading cause of disability, leaving 5 million permanently disabled.

DiD yoU know?

can be given four and a half hours from onset, and another treatment, which can pull clots out through a catheter, can be administered within six hours of the start of symptoms of stroke.”

if you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms suddenly, seek treatment immediately. weakness. Loss of

strength in the face, arms or legs—particularly on one side of the body. A crooked smile can reveal weakness in face muscles. numbness. A loss

of sensation, or feeling tingly—usually on one side of the body.

DementiA risk FActor YoU cAn controlData from more than 15,000 adults over 25 years points to the power of taking charge of high blood pressure early.By maintaining healthy blood pressure, you decrease the risk of heart disease. But Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers have found another compelling reason to keep blood pressure in check: Hypertension in midlife increases the risk of cognitive decline later in life.

In fact, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the cognitive decline, says Rebecca Gottesman, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of neurology and epidemiology and director of research at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Gottesman, who leads ongoing research about the relationship between high blood pressure and cognitive decline, believes hypertension may lead to silent strokes. While such strokes don’t cause clinical symptoms, they can cause lesions and damage to small arteries in the brain. This damage may trigger cognitive problems, such as diminished attention and planning ability.

to helP ward oFF cognitive decline connected

to high blood PreSSure: track blood pressure.

Begin by at least age 40, earlier if you have a family history of hypertension. exercise regularly.

To lower blood pressure, aim for 40 minutes of aerobic exercise three to four times a week. decrease sodium.

packed food, canned soups and salad dressings have surprising amounts of sodium.

consider multiple meds. Don’t expect one medication to solve hypertension. Research has shown that many people need multiple medications to successfully manage high blood pressure. reduce risks. smoking,

uncontrolled diabetes and high cholesterol may also contribute to cognitive decline, in addition to high blood pressure.

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FIND YOUR ROADTO IBS RELIEFJohns Hopkins offers the latest, personalized treatments for a common—and stubborn—condition.

learn more effective ways to deal with the emotional toll IBS takes. “You have a nervous system in the wall of the gut that responds to what is going on in your brain,” Lee explains. “These techniques target that.”

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE AND ACUPUNCTURE Both complement traditional treatments to help relieve pain and stress associated with IBS. They can help with insomnia and fibromyalgia, which many with IBS also have. They have even been shown to enhance the body’s natural restorative functions.

DIET CHANGES IBS patients with bloating can benefit from what’s known as a low-FODMAP diet (a group of short-chain

For adults with irritable bowel syndrome, an upset stomach isn’t an occasional part of life, it’s an excruciating constant. Symptoms—which include bloating, gas, diarrhea and/or constipation—interfere with daily life, work and family commitments, not to mention social interactions. It’s no wonder that those with IBS have higher risks for anxiety and depression.

“IBS is frustrating and may be debilitating for patients—and it can be a challenging condition to treat because each person’s case is so unique,” says Linda Lee, M.D., director of Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine & Digestive Center. Fortunately, there are exciting new treatment options.

RIFAXIMIN The FDA approved this antibiotic in 2015 for IBSpatients whose primary symptom is diarrhea. It reduces or alters bacteria in the gut. “It works only in the GI tract and not the entire body, so it’s well tolerated. However, it doesn’t help everyone with IBS,” Lee says.

THERAPY Both cognitive behavior therapy and the relaxation teachings of mind-body therapy (such as meditation and guided visualization) help IBS patients regain a sense of control and

30%

30Percentage of IBS patients

who travel to Johns Hopkins from outside Maryland and the U.S.

LEARN MORE about the Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine & Digestive Center by watching our video at hopkinsmedicine.org/integrative_medicine_digestive_center

FROM DIET TO MIND-BODY TECHNIQUES,

EXPERTS CAN INTEGRATE WHAT

WORKS FOR YOU.

NO ONE THING IS GOING TO WORK FOR EVERY PATIENT, BUT I’M EXCITED THAT WE HAVE MORE WAYS THAN EVER TO HELP IMPROVE LIVES.—LINDA LEE, M.D.

carbohydrates called fermentable oligo-di-monosaccharides and polyols). The list is long but includes apples, lentils, wheat and milk—foods that contain certain carbs that are difficult to absorb and hamper digestion. Generally, patients try eliminating (and then reintroducing) foods one at a time over several weeks to land on a customized “safe foods” list.

PROBIOTICSBifidobacterium infantis has been shown to ease bloating and gas in some IBS patients.

ANTIDEPRESSANTS Certain low-dose antidepressants that target the nerves in the wall of the gut may provide relief, particularly to those whose predominant symptom is diarrhea.


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Could extra pounds alone—not linked risk factors such as diabetes—put your heart at risk?

the heArt-Weight connection

While many overweight people don’t show signs of health trouble such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or pre-diabetes, Johns Hopkins Medicine research shows that extra pounds can still lead to heart disease.

troponin T, which is released by injured heart muscle cells. Increases of this enzyme corresponded to body mass index; the higher the levels of troponin T, the greater the BMI.

For Ndumele, that formula is a stark warning: The higher the weight, the higher the potential for heart injury.

“Those with severe obesity and elevated troponin T were at a greater than ninefold higher risk of developing future heart failure over a 10-year period than those

“Studies suggest that obesity has a direct, toxic effect on the heart muscle,” says Chiadi Ndumele, M.D., M.H.S., the Robert E. Meyerhoff assistant professor of medicine, Division of Cardiology at

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Controlling risk factors linked to obesity may not be enough.”

Ndumele’s research found that obese people had elevated blood levels of a heart enzyme called

who were at a normal weight with undetectable troponin T,” Ndumele says. “The link between excess weight and heart injury was not explained by risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Fat cells may be secreting hormones and causing inflammation that damages the heart.”

Ndumele is continuing research into the heart-weight link. For now, he warns, “If you have a higher weight for a longer period of time, you’re at greater risk of heart injury and future heart failure.”

3 keys to heart healthAs one of the world’s leading researchers into the connection between obesity and heart disease, Chiadi Ndumele shares these paths to a healthier heart.

1 control weight early. Weight gain from as early as 25 years old has an association with future heart injury and heart failure.

2 stay active. Those who are obese but exercise 40 minutes three or four times a week appear to have a lower likelihood of heart disease than those who do not exercise.

3 know your risk. Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease. But even without these conditions present, those who are obese can suffer heart injury and heart failure.

love your heart by controlling your weight.

new hope for healing hearts

Kaushik Mandal, M.D., a cardiac surgeon in the Johns Hopkins Medicine Division of Cardiac

Surgery, has extensive experience with minimally invasive cardiac surgery, mitral valve repair, aortic surgery and surgical management of heart failure. Mandal is also an assistant professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Q+A

is open-heart surgerythe only option?not anymore. There have been tremendous advances in stent technology, for instance. other procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement are a boon for patients who are older and have other chronic conditions and may not be fit for conventional heart surgery.

how minimal is minimallyinvasive heart surgery?we don’t need to split the breastbone. For some surgery types, the incision is only 1∕5 to 2 centimeters. patients receive the same quality of surgery without the prolonged recovery time. postoperative pain is also reduced.

we have more options than ever that we can tailor to each patient to improve quality of life.

how are these advanceschanging lives?Minimally invasive surgeries offer faster recovery and alternatives for those who may be out of other options. For example, with a small incision, while the heart is still beating, we can clip the left atrial appendage to reduce the stroke risk for those with arrhythmia. Typical recovery time is just two days. similarly, robotic-assisted valve procedures allow patients to avoid a sternotomy, which fully opens the chest, and recover in weeks instead of months. And our minimally invasive mini-maze procedure can offer treatment for those with ventricular tachycardia who may not have other options.

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Meet five leaders who are redefining the landscape of medical expectation and the boundaries of illness. Though their fields of expertise vary, they share a common goal: to continually develop and test medical strategies in order to expand our knowledge of human health and help people live long, high-quality lives.

meet

of medicinenow

futurethe

johns hopkins leader 6

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We’ve learned that a fetus is not just a small baby. A fetus has unique properties and can heal himself sometimes when you give him certain help.”

“We bring the possibilities of medicine to the womb,” says Baschat of his center—a state-of-the-art facility that includes fetal imaging, cardiac scanning, genetic testing, in-depth counseling and much more.

Some of the most innovative procedures performed at the center utilize the fetoscope—a small telescope used to view a fetus in medically necessary conditions. “Fetoscopy was initially used to just look at the baby. Then we began to do much more with it,” says Baschat.

Johns Hopkins Medicine has one of the few centers in the United States that can do fetoscopic surgery for diaphragmatic hernia, a condition whereby an ill-formed diaphragm puts lung development at risk. Though the condition usually means a survival rate of less than 25 percent, placing a balloon in a fetus’s trachea via fetoscopy may more than double chance of survival.

Fetoscopy is also used to facilitate laser surgeries for

PRENATALahmet alexander Baschat, m.d. Director, Center for Fetal Therapy

Professor of gynecology and obstetrics

sPEciALTy Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, fetoscopy, twin-to-twin transfusion syndromeLEAdiNg-EdgE woRk Laparoscopic surgery in fetuses

fetuses with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. “We now see 84 percent

twin survival for both babies, in a disease where both used to die,” says Baschat.

But Baschat stresses that the center isn’t just about surgery; it’s about fetal therapy—with a focus on the well-being of and respect for a fetus. “Through our work with fetoscopy, we’ve learned

that a fetus is not just a small baby. A fetus has unique properties and can heal himself sometimes when you give him certain help,” says Baschat. “If you patch a spina bifida and protect it from amniotic fluid, for example, the fetus can heal that defect better than we can surgically.”

Though fetoscopy for spina bifida is still in trials, Baschat believes it will be clinically available within the next three to five years.

84Percent survival for both babies when fetoscopy

is used with laser surgery for twin-

to-twin transfusion syndrome.

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Created by the world’s leading cardiologists, this guide shares

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NEURosciENcEsjudy huang, m.d. Director of cerebrovascular neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Co-director, Johns Hopkins Multidisciplinary Adult Cranioplasty Center

Professor of neurosurgerysPEciALTy Cerebrovascular diseases, cranioplasty, neurosurgery LEAdiNg-EdgE woRk A superior approach to cranial reconstruction

there are many reasons a person may need reconstruction of the skull (cranioplasty); some involve reparation after an urgent situation (such as a traumatic brain injury or stroke), others after a procedure (such as surgery for a brain tumor). Unfortunately, about 50 percent of all surgeries involving a cranial procedure or neurosurgery can

“i Was a medical resident when my uncle was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at 51,” says Jaffee. “I knew it was a death sentence.”

Jaffee, who has since dedicated herself to outsmarting pancreatic cancer, led the development of a revolutionary vaccine. In a lab, she

oNcoLogyelizabeth marion jaffee, m.d. Deputy director, The Sidney kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Dana and Albert “Cubby” Broccoli professor of oncology

sPEciALTy Medical oncology, pancreatic cancerLEAdiNg-EdgE woRk A vaccine that reprograms cancer cells to respond to treatment

and her team were able to genetically modify cancer cells to express a particular protein. After irradiating them to prevent growth, they were injected under the skin of patients with pancreatic cancer. As predicted, the protein activated a seek-and-destroy mission for other cells with that protein. “Within a week we saw lymphocytes activated against the cancer,” says Jaffee.

The vaccine has been effective with pancreatic cancer that has spread to

other sites in the body too. “When we combine the vaccine with immune-modulating agents, we see regressions on the CAT scans of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer,” she says.

The protocol involves returning to Johns Hopkins every six months for the vaccine—a 30-minute outpatient procedure. “People come from all over the world, get their vaccine, then go home,” she says. “Patients have gone 15 years without recurrence and have died of old age in their 90s instead of pancreatic cancer.”

results of a final clinical trial should be available sometime in 2016. Johns Hopkins researchers are also now testing a preventive vaccine.

Leading Research + Patient Care = Excellence patients come from all over the world to see Johns hopkins physicians, many of whom are leaders in their respective fields. learn more about some of our areas of excellence at hopkinsmedicine.org/international/excellence

goIng THe eXTrA MILe



gAsTRoENTERoLogymaria oliva-hemker, m.d. Director, division of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition

Stermer family professor of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease

sPEciALTy Pediatric gastrointestinal diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis)LEAdiNg-EdgE woRk Fecal transplants for children

result in a deformed skull, often with a hollow visible at the temple.

In response, Huang, working with Johns Hopkins plastic surgeon Chad gordon, M.D., has developed a new surgical technique and formed the Johns Hopkins Multidisciplinary Adult Cranioplasty Center, or MACC. “In the past, you’d have to find either a neurosurgeon to take over someone’s work or a plastic surgeon comfortable with reconstruction. We provide the best

“For a child Who gets severe or recurrent gut infections from C. difficile, a fecal transplant can significantly improve quality of life,” says oliva-Hemker, who works in one of the few centers in the United States performing fecal transplants on children.

Traditional treatment with antibiotics can exacerbate the condition, as antibiotics don’t discriminate between good and bad bacteria, killing bacteria that might control C. difficile. The infections often recur; 20 percent to 30 percent of people who have one infection will get another, and 40 percent to

of neurosurgery and plastic surgery with a technique that respects and protects the brain,” says Huang.

First, Huang and the MACC team utilize a thin-slice CAT scan to create a custom implant. “We are careful to consider the contour of the head and the soft tissue and muscle,” she says. The cosmetic advantage is clear, but good skull reconstruction will also maximize neurological recovery. A key step in her custom approach: The bone is placed between the

layers of the scalp rather than between the scalp and brain, thereby protecting the brain’s prior healing and preventing additional injury.

“It doesn’t matter what people have had done before or the status of the soft tissue. We can step in and reconstruct the skull,” Huang says. “We’re focused on making this procedure accessible for patients around the world.” To that end, she and gordon teach other physicians what they developed in the MACC.

We provide the best of neurosurgery and plastic surgery with a technique that respects and protects the brain ... [and can be] accessible for patients around the world.”


imagine you’re home When your arm begins to ache and your chest begins to burn. You google the symptoms looking for antacid recommendations and

cARdioLogyseth shay martin, m.d. Associate director of the Lipid Clinic, Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease

Assistant professor of medicine

sPEciALTy Preventive cardiology, risk factor modificationLEAdiNg-EdgE woRk Mobile technologies for health solutions

60 percent of those who’ve had one recurrence will have multiple.

enter the concept of a fecal transplant: transfer healthy communities of gut bacteria from a donor into an unhealthy gut environment. At Johns Hopkins the transplant is done via colonoscopy to both evaluate the lining of the colon and make the procedure as patient-friendly as possible. Cure rates after one transplant are greater than 85 percent to 90 percent, better than with any antibiotic.

“The idea that you can cure a child with C. difficile with a single transplant appeals to people all over the world. You can move on with life,” oliva-Hemker says. She and her team are studying what happens to the microbiota to see why the procedure works and whether it can be used for other conditions. “While the field is still in its infancy, our knowledge is increasing exponentially,” she says.

learn it could be a heart attack, then rush to the hospital, where doctors diagnose a heart attack in progress. This true story of a saved life illustrates google’s influence and potential to help people live healthier lives, and why Johns Hopkins is partnering with the tech powerhouse to make google’s search engine even more sensitive.

Martin is facilitating google’s first randomized clinical trial, testing how online searches correlate with and impact diagnoses. The hope is that users of mobile technologies might one day find even more reliable health information online to facilitate conversations with their doctors and arrive at the right diagnosis faster.

“google is addressing the full realm of possible diagnoses, but it’s very relevant for people with cardiac-related symptoms, especially women who tend to have atypical heart attack symptoms,” said Martin, who sees the study as a first step. “Ultimately, I’d like to move to intervention-type studies, integrating google’s tech with pedometers, and finding ways to track diet to help people modify behaviors.”

Another initiative Martin is pioneering involves the American Heart Association, which has provided grant funding for research on the real-time relationship between smoking urges and physical activity.

“These sorts of developments can be highly influential worldwide, in terms of preventing disease as well as aiding diagnosis,” says Martin. “This is just the start of an exciting time for mobile health research that I believe is one of the greatest opportunities of our generation and will truly transform health care.”

Mobile health research is one of the greatest opportunities ... [to] truly transform health care.”



DESTINATION

PEACEOFMIND

MARCELO RECH TRAVELED TO JOHNS HOPKINS FOR MEDICAL EXPERTISE—AND FOUND AN EVEN GREATER GIFT.

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to Baltimore. Boyd accompanied Rech and his wife throughout three days of examinations. She answered questions, managed scheduling and translated. They enjoyed “precision at every step” and a “five-star hotel” experience, Rech says. Meanwhile, his Johns Hopkins physicians kept in constant contact with his physicians in Brazil.

Relief came at the end of the visit: The tumor was benign. Yet Rech’s peace of mind also stemmed from the confidence he had in the diagnosis and his comfort with his care. “I came home knowing I had the best tests and analysis for my condition,” he says.

HOPE FOR THE FUTUREThe experience changed him.“When we really contemplate the idea that life will have an end, we turn more reflective about how remarkable every day can be,” says Rech, 55. He now spends more time with his wife and two children, ages 15 and 18, and is more conscious of being the example he strives to be as an executive, husband and father.

“I think being remembered as a good citizen and good father is the best legacy,” says Rech.

I was faced with the possibility of having cancer. I needed assurance in the diagnosis.

LOOKING FOR ANSWERSRech’s physician, LuisAntonio Nasi, M.D., medical superintendent of the Hospital Moinhos de Vento, brought up Johns Hopkins Medicine. “They have a well-respected pancreatic cancer center, see many patients and conduct research,” says Rech. “With a possible early stage pancreatic cancer, you have one shot. I needed the best.”

LEADING-EDGE CARERech is a seasoned traveler, but having never traveled for medical reasons before, he turned to the concierge services of Johns HopkinsMedicine International. Knowing that his flights, hotel, transportation and appointments were in good hands, he and his wife could focus on working with the medical team—and preparing for whatever news they might receive.

His Johns Hopkins team moved quickly and compassionately. Within a week, Isabel Boyd, an international care coordinator, was welcoming the Rechs

HOW FAR WOULD YOU

GO FOR YOUR HEALTH?Meet more people who have traveled

to Johns Hopkins from around the

world at hopkinsmedicine.org/leader

Marcelo Rech is not a

worrier. As a newspaper

reporter for Zero Hora in

Brazil, Rech had covered

the Gulf War and the

Balkan crisis. But when a

fifth doctor couldn’t say

whether the nodule on his

pancreas was malignant,

he was worried. Even with

advanced testing, the tumor’s

8-millimeter size made

diagnosis difficult. “I was

faced with the possibility

of having cancer,” says the

father of two, who now

oversees the news division of

Brazil’s RBS Group. “I needed

assurance in the diagnosis.”


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johns hopkins medicine international

1Before

your visit from your first inquiry,

you’ll be paired with a caring, knowledgeable international medical concierge who speaks your preferred language.

A medical expert will review your health records and work with your home doctor.

your concierge will schedule specialist appointments, provide estimates and verify insurance coverage, assist with and confirm all travel arrangements, and put together a detailed itinerary.

2During

your visit A carefully selected care

coordinator who speaks your language will escort you to medical appointments and make Johns Hopkins feel as close to home as possible.

your medical concierge will help with any dining and entertainment requests.

our around-the-clock patient services team is prepared to handle any urgent needs.

international newspapers and internet access keep you in touch.

3 After

your visit your care coordinator and

medical concierge will ensure you have all necessary medical records and prescriptions, as well as any follow-up instructions from the doctors.

you’ll receive a consolidated final bill, with a financial counselor available to support you and answer any questions.

Learn more about the services we offer at hopkinsmedicine.org/international

care andyour pArtner for your Journey to HeAltH get to know our personalized services for patients traveling to Johns Hopkins Medicine from outside the united states.

We make travel abroad for medical care as comfortable as possible.

Our patient services team is dedicated to providing you with a personalized, stress-free experience with the highest quality health care. We’re with you through every step of your visit to Johns Hopkins, so you can simply focus on your health.

JUST ASK Can you bill my insurance directly? Johns Hopkins has contracts with many global insurance companies. Not on our list? Your financial counselor can gather records to help obtain reimbursement.

Our international team is ready with answers at +1-410-220-6438.

tAke your first steprequest an appointment for you or a loved one at +1-410-220-6438* or hopkinsmedicine.org/ international/appointments. Within one day, a medical concierge will contact you and guide you through next steps.

*7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday

my care coordinator, eZZat mostafa, did not leave my side. treatment is not just taking medicine, it’s people truly caring for you. i found that at johns hopkins.—Bader ekram alheBshi, Saudi Arabia, who received care for tracheomalacia, multiple sclerosis and asthma

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STRAIGHT TO YOUGet additional news and health information from Johns Hopkins sent directly to your home or email in-box. To sign up, visit hopkinsmedicine.org/leader

ST. PETERSBURG, FL

DEDICATED TO YOUMEET SENIOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONCIERGEDIVA NUNEZ-TALAVERA.

In 2011, Diva Nunez-Talavera brought her desire to help others together with her international business savvy when she joined the Johns Hopkins Medicine International Medical Concierge Team. At the time, the group of 16 was charged with one primary goal: “Find a way to help international patients with everything!” Today, Nunez-Talavera is joined with more than 100 care experts from 30 countries. Q. You work with patients who come from all corners of the globe. Is there any one thing that they all share? A. No—and that’s what I enjoy most about what I do. Every patient I work with has a unique story, a unique health problem, and it’s my job to listen to their stories

I WAS A BIT SCARED TRAVELING TO RECEIVE HEALTH CARE, BUT MY CARE COORDINATOR, YILI SUNG, MADE SURE ALL OF MY CONCERNS WEREADDRESSED. I WOULDN’TPICK ANY OTHER HOSPITAL.—SANDRA PHILLIPS, patient from Bermuda

GET SUPPORT THAT EXCEEDS YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

MEET OURLEADING-EDGENETWORK

6 academic and community hospitals, 4 suburban health care and surgery centers, and 39 outpatient sites in the greater Baltimore–Washington, D.C., area

Comprehensive pediatric services at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida

Medical oncology services in Singapore (hopkinsmedicine.org/singapore; +65 6880 2236)

and make this journey they’re about to take a therapeutic one.Q. How do you make that happen?A. I’m here to remove any anxiety about traveling for medical care. I do that by talking to their doctors on their behalf (if that’s what they want) or assisting with whatever they need. I’m there to make sure those needs are met. By the time patients are ready to return home I feel like I know them so well. Q. What’s the best part of your job?A. The patients. Most people who come to Johns Hopkins from outside of the United States are here because they couldn’t receive

the health care that they need where they live.

It’s very rewarding to know that we’re helping people. I also like the fact that what we do isn’t

easy—complexity is what we do at Johns Hopkins!

It sounds clichéd, but nothing surprises us here. No patient presents a health problem that’s too big for us to take on. We just take it and run with it.

THE NUMBER OF LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY OUR MEDICAL CONCIERGE TEAM.130Your medical concierge is also well-versed in the traditions and values that are an important part of your culture.

CONCIERGE

BALTIMORE, MD

WASHINGTON, D.C.

SINGAPORE


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DJOHNS HOPKINS

INNOVATIONJohns Hopkins earned

its reputation by radically

transforming medical education

and the practice of medicine.

HOPEThe work our medical experts

do today pushes boundaries and

lays the groundwork for what

might just eradicate particular

conditions in the future.

HUMANCONNECTION

As medicine becomes more complex

and treatment possibilities more

abundant, we’re committed to the

human-to-human approach, treating

patients with respect and dignity.

COLLABORATIONThe professionals who call

Johns Hopkins home collaborate

not only with each other, but with a

vast network of leading health care

resources to give patients a better

chance for successful treatment.

AT JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE, FOUR PRINCIPLES INSPIRE EVERYTHING WE DO.

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CONNECTING THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD WITH A GLOBAL …€¦ · JOHNS HOPKINS CONNECTING THE LEADERS...

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