HealthySTART€¦ · Through this journey from challenge to victory, I am re-minded that our lives...

HealthySTARTVol.XVVI • WINTER • FREE

YOU HAVE THE POWER

INSIDE JERRELL LOVETT

Medical College of Wisconsin studentsays passion for medicine inspired byhis grandmother’s health struggles!

SURVIVOR STORIES!Researchers seek to reducehealth disparities in Milwaukeeby gathering the stories of

cancer survivors!

Milwaukee Health Department warns against

VAPING!THISISSUE

GGoodd,, ‘‘ VViillllaaggee,,’’aanndd FFaammiillyy!!Local minister DDEEBBOORRAAHHTTHHOOMMAASSreflects onHH ee rr TT WWOO VV II CC TTOO RR II EE SSoverBB RR EE AA SSTT CC AA NN CC EE RR !!

HealthyStart/WINTER/

ife hasbeenknown topresent

many challenges tothe unsuspecting re-cipient. Challengesunleashed poten-tially could catapultus to a state of dev-astation or provideus with a victoryshout or new oppor-tunities.I am all too familiar with

this phenomenon from per-sonal experience. I was diagnosed with breast

cancer in 2006. This hap-pened to be a very busy timein my life. I was employedas a full-time instructor for acommunity college, servingas ordained clergy for aunique ministry, wife andmother and seminary student. I had no time to grapple

with this devastating chal-lenge that could potentiallybe fatal. I was too busy liv-

ing, and now afraid of theoutcome. Once the numbness sub-

sided I was able to preparefor surgery and a year ofchemotherapy. It was God, village/family,

and friends that carried methrough the rough places. It was a heavy load filled

with some degree of depres-sion and despair. During this time one scrip-

ture ministered to me when Ifound no words to even pray:“If you have raced with menon foot and they have wornyou out, how can you com-pete with horses? If youstumble in safe country, howwill you manage in the thick-ets by the Jordan?” (Jeremiah12:5, NIV) I knew that God was saying

He still had work for me todo and there could be nomore complaining or doubt,He would bring me throughthis. And He did!I recovered, returned to my

work and my ministry. Godhad sustained me. My healthscare was over. Or, so I thought. Last September, I learned

my cancer had returned.Again, I was devastated. Since the first challenge I

lost a sister to colon cancer,my mother to ovarian cancerand my eldest brother hadknocked on death’s door, butthe power of prayer and theWill of God restored him. Al-though my faith had grownand I survived the previouschallenge, this second boutwith cancer took me to yet adarker place. I was depletedboth emotionally and spiritu-ally. Naturally, I asked why.

Why me? Why now?I could only assume the an-

swer. Maybe God was chal-lenging me as He did Job. Ormaybe, He was preparing mefor a new role.With total and unquestion-

ing faith in he Lord, I ap-proached this new hurdle justas I did the first, putting mylife in God’s hands.Soon, I underwent a seven-

hour surgery for a mastec-tomy and reconstruction. As one of the ministers of

the House of Grace KingdomMinistry, I am well versedwith scripture and its inter-pretation. Being familiar with the

Prophets of old, I found my-self likened to the ProphetJeremiah. At many times inhis life he felt perplexed re-garding some of God’s deci-sions over his life. I could notfathom preaching anothersermon. I was in despair!

Ultimately, God allowedme to look in retrospect atmany of the sermons I haddelivered to our ministrypartners that provided themwith encouragement andhope. I felt in my heart God

wanted me to “preach theWord of God. Be prepared,whether the time is favorableor not. Patiently correct, re-buke, and encourage yourpeople with good teaching.”(2Timothy 4:2, NIV) I felt the prayers that were

being spoken and I was re-newed spiritually and physi-cally.Through this journey from

challenge to victory, I am re-minded that our lives are pre-destined by God. Therecurrence of cancer provideda greater awareness of thepresence of God in my life. The scripture that bore wit-

ness to this is: “For I knowthe plans I have for you,” de-clares the Lord, “plans toprosper you and not to harmyou, plans to give you hopeand a future.” (Jeremiah29:11, NIV)As we did a few years ear-

lier when my brother was ondeath’s door and the doctorshad given up hope, my fam-ily and friends called uponour Lord to intervene. Weprayed in harmony, and I feltthose prayers renewed mespiritually and physically. As a result of God’s plan to

prosper me, I am currentlyworking with a great team ofprofessionals at the MedicalCollege of Wisconsin to as-sist in the development ofcurriculum and its implemen-tation as an attempt to elimi-nate cancer disparities andgain the trust of AfricanAmericans and others. Prior to this work I had

been chosen to participate ina cancer research project re-lated to clinical trials andbridging the gap of mistrust.In both cases, I feel I was

better prepared to provide in-sight because of my personaltravails. Moreover, I’ve come to un-

derstand that God chose meto be an ambassador to bringhealth awareness to my peo-ple. God always has a planfor us, especially when weunderstand that we have beenchallenged by His divinehand. God has taught me through

the challenging times: “Andwe know that all things worktogether for the good of thosewho love him, who havebeen called according to hispurpose.” (Romans 8:28,NIV)

MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY JOURNAL3612 N. Martin Luther King Drive

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GGoodd,, ““VViillllaaggee,,””aanndd FFaammiillyy!!

COVER STORY

By Rev. Deborah Thomas

LL

Reverend Deborah Thomas


Why do somecancers comeback? Sometimes, atreatment can effec-tively eliminatecancer cells to un-detectable levels,but, if the treatmentstops, cancer mayreturn. This is the case of

chronic myeloidleukemia treated withdrugs known as tyrosinekinase inhibitors. These drugs have dra-

matically improved clinicaloutcomes and generatedunprecedented rates ofcomplete responses andlong term survival. Toachieve these results, pa-tients have to take the drugfor the rest of their lives. “Clinical trials testing the

effect of discontinuing thedrug have shown that at

least half of the patientsachieve treatment-free re-mission, but in the otherhalf the cancer returns,”said Dr. Daniel Lacorazza,associate professor ofpathology & immunologyat Baylor College of Medi-cine and principal investi-gator in the ExperimentalImmunology & Hematol-ogy Laboratory at TexasChildren’s Hospital. “We think that relapse

occurs because tyrosine ki-nase inhibitors affect mostchronic myeloid leukemiacells, but not leukemiastem cells. It’s like remov-ing the tree, but leaving theroots that can sprout newshoots.” Leukemia stem cells are

an elusive, small cell popu-lation that initiates and sus-tains leukemia. Stem cellscan regenerate via a poorlyunderstood mechanism ofself-renewal and enter apath of development thatgives rise to new leukemia

cells. Lacorazza and his col-

leagues think that clues totreatment-free remissionmight be found in this littleknown, self-renewal mech-anism.“The results of the drug

discontinuation trials sug-gest that a cure may not bepossible with tyrosine ki-nase inhibitors alone. Wethink that new break-throughs in chronicmyeloid leukemia therapymay emerge from the iden-tification of novel mecha-nisms of leukemia stemcell self-renewal and thedevelopment of drugs thatspecifically target thesemechanisms,” said Laco-razza, who also is memberof the Dan L Duncan Com-prehensive Cancer Centerat Baylor.Patient consensus sup-

ports the search for noveltreatments for leukemiastem cells that would elim-inate the leukemia withouthaving to take the drug for

life and managing side ef-fects. Treatment-free remis-

sions would also reducethe emotional and financialburdens in a growing pop-ulation of chronic myeloidleukemia patients in life-long therapy. Unraveling clues of

leukemia stem cell self-renewalLacorazza and his col-

leagues wanted to improvetheir understanding of howleukemia stem cells renewthemselves. Their goal wasto identify a step in theprocess that could be ma-nipulated to lead to theelimination of leukemiastem cells and the preven-tion of relapses.“In my laboratory, we

have been working withmouse models to study theleukemia stem cell popula-tion in chronic myeloidleukemia. Specifically, wehave investigated the roleKLF4 plays on leukemiastem cell self-renewal,”

Lacorazza said.KLF4, or Krüppel-like

factor 4, is a transcriptionfactor known to be essen-tial in the self-renewal ofother cell types, such asembryonic stem cells, andalso in other types of can-cer.“We found that removing

the KLF4 gene fromleukemia stem cells in ourmouse model resulted inunstable stem cells thatwere spontaneously lostand consequently the miceremained free ofleukemia,” Lacorazza said.“We also conducted molec-ular studies to explore themechanism behind this re-sult. A major change in theabsence of KLF4 was anincrease in the productionof kinase DYRK2, an en-zyme involved in proteinstability, cell cycle controland apoptosis (pro-grammed cell death).”The findings suggested

that KLF4 promotes dis-

Learning tostopCANCERat itsROOTS

“Patient consensus supports the search fornovel treatments for leukemia stem cells that

would eliminate the leukemia without having totake the drug for life and managing side effects.Treatment-free remissions would also reduce the

emotional and financial burdens in a growingpopulation of chronic myeloid leukemia patients

in lifelong therapy.”

(continued on page 10)

HealthyStart/WINTER/Of the more than1.1 million peopleliving with HIV inthe U.S., an esti-mated one in six donot know that theyare infected andonly one in four hastheir virus undercontrol with treat-ment. According to the Wis-

consin AIDS/HIV Pro-gram’s 2014 AnnualReview, at of the end of2014, 6,899 persons re-ported with HIV or AIDSwere presumed to be aliveand living in Wisconsin. There were 226 new cases of HIV

infection diagnosed in Wisconsin in2014. The Centers for Disease Control

and Prvention (CDC) encourageseveryone to know their status. For-tunately, Milwaukee Health Serv-ices (MHSI) understands theimportance of testing for HIV andHepatitis C. MHSI’s Early Inter-vention Program (EIP) is taskedwith the responsibility of makingsure the community is tested and

educated.The EIP recently offered

free HIV and Hepatitis Ctesting at their two mainlocations: MLK HeritageHealth Center 2555 N. Dr.Martin Luther KingDrive, and the IsaacCoggs Heritage HealthCenter, 8200 W. SilverSpring Drive.“The primary objective

of the event was to pro-vide access to health careservices, community re-sources, and educationthat will empower and en-rich the lives of the com-munity we serve, saidCrystal Collins, RN, pro-gram coordinator of theEIP at MHSI. Collins

said the event will hopefully impact theawareness of HIV. Milwaukee County accounted for 58% of

new HIV cases in 2014 and 49% of all peo-ple living with HIV reside in MilwaukeeCounty. HIV infection disproportionately affects

racial/ethnic minorities. In 2014, 67% of newdiagnoses were among racial / ethnic minori-ties, despite minorities making up just 17%of Wisconsin’s population. It is estimatedthat 1,125 Wisconsin residents are not awareof their HIV infection.

Milwaukee Health ServicesEARLY INTERVENTIONPROGRAM works toreduce and better manageHIV and Hepititis C casesin the community!

“The primary

objective of the

event was to

provide access to

health care serv-

ices, community

resources, and

education that

will empower

and enrich the

lives of the

community we

serve...”

—Crystal Collins, RN,

program coordinator of

the EIP at MHSI.

MHSI’s Early Intervention Program staff (left toright): Crystal, Mark, and Tina.—Photo courtesyof Milwaukee Health Services


Health care coverage and services could belimited, and federal money could be cappedStates would have broad author-

ity to limit Medicaid spending forcertain low-income residentsunder a block-grant type optionthe Trump administration un-veiled Thursday.The “Healthy Adult Opportu-

nity” program would give statesthe ability to either get an annuallump-sum amount of money fromthe federal government to coverMedicaid costs or a fixed amountof money per month for each per-son it covers. This could lead to loss of serv-

ices or coverage if the funding isinadequate to meet program needsin those states. Under the plan,states would be allowed to changebenefits, copays and premiums,and make other changes to theMedicaid program without federaloversight. States could only usethis plan for adults under age 65.Medicaid is a $600 billion fed-

eral-state program that coversmore than 72 million low-incomepeople. Currently, it pays for medical

care that beneficiaries need andcovers long-term care, includingnursing home stays and home andcommunity-based care, for mil-lions of older Americans and peo-ple with disabilities.States would have to apply for a

federal waiver to participate in

this new program, but health careadvocates worry that it will leadto fewer people getting coverageand fundamentally change thesafety net program.A number of advocacy groups,

including AARP, criticized the an-nouncement, and some suggestedthat states that apply to participatein the new program will likelyface court challenges."Letting states cap funding in

the Medicaid program could putat risk the health coverage for mil-lions of vulnerable Americans,”said AARP Senior Vice Presidentfor Government Affairs BillSweeney. “Capping the program's

funding structure and limitingbenefits and services could leavemillions without the coverage andcare they need,” he added."Block grants could transform

Medicaid from a safety net pro-gram designed to meet basichealth needs for low-incomeAmericans to a program withfunding limits that drive care ra-tioning for the most vulnerable,”Howard Burris, president of theAmerican Society of Clinical On-cology, said in a statement.Heart disease is the No. 1 killer

for all Americans, and stroke isalso a leading cause of death. Asfrightening as those statistics are

the risks of getting those diseasesare even higher for African-Amer-icans.The good news is, African-

Americans can improve their oddsof preventing and beating thesediseases by understanding therisks and taking simple steps toaddress them.“Get checked, then work with

your medical professional on yourspecific risk factors and the thingsthat you need to do to take care ofyour personal health,” said Win-ston Gandy, M.D., a cardiologistand chief medical marketing offi-cer with the Piedmont Heart Insti-tute in Atlanta and a volunteer

with the American Heart Associa-tion.High blood pressure, obesity

and diabetes are the most com-mon conditions that increase therisk of heart disease and stroke.Here’s how they affect African-Americans and some tips to loweryour risk.High Blood PressureThe prevalence of high blood

pressure in African-Americans isthe highest in the world. Alsoknown as hypertension, highblood pressure increases your riskof heart disease and stroke, and itcan cause permanent damage tothe heart before you even noticeany symptoms, that's why it isoften referred to as the "silentkiller." Not only is HBP more se-vere in blacks than whites, but italso develops earlier in life.Research suggests African-

Americans may carry a gene thatmakes them more salt sensitive,increasing the risk of high bloodpressure. Your healthcare providercan help you find the right med-ication, and lifestyle changes canalso have a big impact.“You can’t do anything about

your family history, but you cancontrol your blood pressure,” Dr.Gandy said.If you know your blood pres-

sure is high, keeping track ofchanges is important. Check it

By Dena Bunis, courtesy of AARP


The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) announcedrecently it has received gifts exceeding $2 million fromleaders, employees, corporate and community partnersof Baird and community leaders in memory of G. Fred-erick Kasten, Jr., former Baird President, CEO and

Chairman, whopassed in De-cember of 2019from Parkin-son’s disease.These gifts estab-lish the G. Freder-ick Kasten, Jr.Endowed Chair inParkinson’s Disease Re-search.Parkinson’s disease is a debilitating neurological con-

dition that affects nearly one million people in theUnited States, with approximately 60,000 new patientsdiagnosed each year. More than 15,000 people are livingwith Parkinson’s in Wisconsin alone.The endowed chair honoring Kasten’s legacy will help

recruit a beacon physician-scientist to MCW and accel-erate research advances in the fight against Parkinson’s,as well as strengthen Parkinson’s disease clinical pro-grams so MCW physicians can provide the latest med-ical treatments to more Wisconsin patients.

Endowed faculty chairs are the gold standard for re-cruiting world-class basic and clinical research facultyand is one of the highest honors an academic institutioncan bestow.“This generous gift will serve as a powerful tool to

offer hope for individuals with this complex neurologi-cal condition,” said John R. Raymond, Sr., M.D., presi-dent and chief executive officer of MCW. “We arehumbled and thankful for the opportunity to sustain andgrow our Parkinson’s Disease clinical care and re-search.”“Fred Kasten embodied the strong firm culture estab-

lished by Robert Baird and others who followed, includ-ing a deep commitment to community service and givingback,” said Baird president & CEO Steve Booth. “TheG. Frederick Kasten, Jr. Endowed Chair in Parkinson’sDisease Research is a fitting tribute to Fred and hislegacy of caring for others. We’re pleased to partner withfriends of Fred and Susie Kasten and MCW to make it areality.”The Parkinson’s program at Froedtert & the Medical

College of Wisconsin currently treats more than 2,500unique patients per year with comprehensive services in-cluding movement disorder clinical expertise, state-of-the-art treatment technology, and innovative researchinvestigating the root causes of and next era of treatmentfor Parkinson’s.An influential community leader, Kasten dedicated his

time, talent and resources to institutions and organiza-tions throughout the Milwaukee area including servingas a member of MCW’s Board of Trustees from 1996–2008. In addition, he was honored with the Warren P.

Knowles Humanitarian Award in 2004. The award hon-ors an individual or organization with a commitment tohealth-related issues and whose work reflects a dedica-tion to public service and education.The gift will contribute to MCW’s Hope to Health

fundraising campaign, a philanthropic initiative aimed atbuilding healthy and thriving communities. Priorities ofthe campaign include accelerating research and advanc-ing patient care, driving health and vitality with ourcommunity, transforming healthcare education, and lead-ing the way in cancer research and care.

Medical College ofWisconsin ReceivesGifts Exceeding $2Mfrom Baird and Community LeadersEndowed Chair Established in Honorof Former MCW Trustee, Former BairdChairman, President & CEO G.Frederick Kasten, Jr., to AccelerateParkinson’s Disease Research

Frederick Kasten, Jr.


Jerrell Lovett, 22, a first-yearPhD student at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), always had an unquenchable thirstfor knowledge.“I just love learning and experiencing new

things,” Lovett says.As a youth, he nurtured his curiosity by participating in

Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Sponsor-A-Scholar Programat the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, and theUpward Bound Program at Marquette University as ahigh schooler, among other extracurricular activities.“Anything to keep busy and out of trouble,” says

Lovett, who grew up on Milwaukee’s north side nearWashington Park with his three siblings, mother and step-father.It was also as a youth that he became drawn to the field

of medicine, as he watched his grandmother struggle withher health.

“I was about 12 or 13 years old when I started seeingthe path that she was going down; she suffered fromlupus, high blood pressure and diabetes,” Lovett recalls.Watching his grandmother deal with her physical chal-

lenges pushed him to want to learn ways to stay healthyas well as better understand the diseases she sufferedfrom.Investigating these issues, Lovett became aware that

cardiovascular diseases disproportionately impact AfricanAmericans.“African Americans are more likely to suffer from heart

attacks or strokes, and there are many reasons for thosedisparities,” he says.A lack of access to healthy and unprocessed foods and

poor exercise and diet are some of the main culprits, heexplains. He wants to work to change those odds throughresearch, which is one of the reasons he chose to attendMCW.“The Medical College of Wisconsin has a very integra-

tive approach in attacking different diseases,” Lovettsays. “Multiple systems in the body have a huge impacton each other.”He first became acquainted with MCW while attending

Marquette University and participating in the Ronald E.McNair Scholars Program. His mentor at Marquette, theesteemed researcher Robert Fitts, PhD, and Lovettworked on a collaborative project with researchers atMCW. Together they examined hypoplastic left heart syn-drome.“We were looking at reasons for the underdevelopment

in the left side of the heart,” Lovett says.In some cases, he explains, infants who suffer from hy-

poplastic left heart syndrome die within their first fewweeks unless they have a surgery that reroutes some ofthe heart mechanisms to the right side. But those whohave the surgery can still end up dying of heart failure ata young age because their right side becomes over-worked.The group’s research examined a myosin muscle pro-

tein and stem cells of patients in hopes of better under-standing the development and progression of the disease,Lovett says.It’s the type of research Lovett, who spent years volun-

teering and providing mentorship at the Ronald McDon-ald House, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, MartinLuther King Jr. Elementary School and other places,hopes to conduct in other diseases as he moves along inhis career.Of particular importance to him is being able to help

improve outcomes for minority groups living in inner cityneighborhoods such as the one he grew up in.“I’m very interested in tackling these issues to see how

we can accumulate enough research and resources to helpdecrease these diseases in communities of color,” Lovettsays.Based on his body of experience, Lovett, who loves

camping, hiking and painting, is well on his way. And hebelieves he is in the right place to make a difference.“I love the way researchers at the Medical College of

Wisconsin look at how multiple systems impact eachother and the work they’re doing to understand heart dis-ease, diabetes and other heart diseases,” he says – dis-eases that impacted his grandmother and that he hopes tohelp others avoid.“My grandmother played a huge factor in me being

passionate about improving health outcomes; I want tomake a difference in the world,” Lovett says.

““II WWAANNTT TTOO MMAAKKEEAA DDIIFFFFEERREENNCCEE IINNTTHHEE WWOORRLLDD.. .. ..””First year Medical College of Wisconsin student JERRELL LOVETTsays passion for medicine inspired byhis grandmother’s health struggles


Local partnerships and national action needed toaddress alarming rise ofsexually transmitted diseasein the Black community WASHINGTON, DC— The Na-

tional Association of County andCity Health Officials (NACCHO),representing the nation’s nearly3,000 local governmental health de-partments, is deeply concerned aboutthe racial disparities demonstrated bythe newly released statistics on sexu-ally transmitted diseases (STDs)from the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC).The 2018 STD Surveillance Report

highlights that rates of syphilis,chlamydia, and gonorrhea have surgedfor the fifth year. The disparity in STDinfection rates for African-Americanscompared to other populations remainshigh. According to the study:• Primary and Secondary Syphilis -

In 2018, the disparity between Primary& Secondary syphilis rates for blacksand whites was 4.7 times greater forblack females compared to white fe-males and 4.8 times greater for Blackmales compared to white males.

• Gonorrhea - In 2018, gonorrhearates are significant and concerning inall populations, but there is a clear dis-parity between blacks and whites withblack males rate 8.5 times that of whitemales and black females rate at 6.9times that of white females. • Chlamydia - The rate of reported

chlamydia cases among black femaleswas five times the rate among white fe-males (1,411.1 and 281.7 cases per100,000 population, respectively). Therate of reported chlamydia cases amongblack males was 6.8 times the rateamong white males (952.3 and 140.4cases per 100,000 population, respec-tively).According to NACCHO’s Board Vice

President, Sandra Elizabeth Ford, MD,MBA, “Data highlighting the overrep-resentation of sexually transmitted dis-

eases in the African American popula-tion is disappointing, but not shocking.”Dr. Ford, a graduate of Howard Univer-sity’s School of Medicine continued,“More emphasis must be placed onthose issues that present barriers to pre-vention and care of not only STDs butother chronic diseases, such as povertyand lack of insurance, as well as racism.Until we take a hard look at these fac-tors, we will continue to see the broadinequities in diseases prevalence thatwe are currently observing.”“At NACCHO, our mission is to im-

prove the health of communities bystrengthening and advocating for localhealth departments and supporting ourminority communities to eliminate thelong-standing gaps in care,” said NAC-CHO Chief of Programs and Services,Oscar Alleyne, DrPH, MPH. “Reducinghealth disparities in our minority com-munities is a prime directive of all localhealth departments. Local health departments work hard

every day to reduce STD rates and im-prove health outcomes in their commu-nities by testing for, treating, andultimately, preventing STDs. This includes strong prevention and

treatment messaging, as well as the es-sential work of disease interventionspecialists who are on the frontlines ofefforts to disrupt the spread of STDsand prevent outbreaks.

But as NACCHO’s research hasshown, they need more support—cur-rent resources are not enough, and localhealth departments and their partnersneed more to address these rapidly ris-ing STD rates.” NACCHO has worked closely with

the CDC to support its local health de-partment members in actively workingto mitigate rising STD rates, includingby supporting localities to set-up STIExpress Clinics, developing tools tosupport the utilization of CDC’s forth-coming Recommendations for Provid-ing Quality STD Clinical Services,identifying and evaluating models forconnecting STI clinic patients to sub-stance use disorder treatment and otherbehavioral health services, as well as anew project to look at innovative con-genital syphilis interventions. In addition, local health departments

across the country are actively usingevidence-based strategies to increaseidentification of STDs; assuring appro-priate clinical services for STD clientsand their sexual partners; conductinghealth education and promotion; usingsurveillance data to inform program-matic efforts and focus on populationsdisproportionately impacted by STDs;and educating the public, providers, andkey stakeholders on effective policy ap-proaches.

African American Syphilis Rates Four Times Higher Than Whites According to New CDC Study

Dr. Ford


The city of Milwaukee Health Department is an active supporter of Healthy Start Magazine. For information on

health department programs and health notices, visit our website www.milwaukee.gov/health

“Vaping is risky business”By Courtney GeigerE-cigarettes and vapes are battery-operated devicesto inhale aerosol, which typically contains nicotine,flavorings, and other chemicals.

The nicotine in e-liquids is readily absorbed fromthe lungs into the bloodstream when a person vapes. Nicotine is highly addictive and has a wide range ofside effects. The vape vapor contains known carcinogens andtoxic chemicals, as well as potentially toxic metalnanoparticles from the device itself. Additionally, e-liquids have been found to containhigh levels of nickel, chromium and may also containlow levels of cadmium, a toxic metal found in ciga-rette smoke that can cause breathing problems anddisease. Contrary to popular belief, e-cigarettes are not ap-proved by the FDA as a smoking cessation device. The Milwaukee Health Department encourages thecommunity to resist the urge to try vaping, or to use itas a smoking cessation tool. For more information on vaping, including relevantresearch articles, please visitwww.Milwaukee.gov/health or visit the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov forcredible information.

Protect yourselfand your familyfrom illnessBy Lindsey Page The City of Milwaukee Health Department’s (MHD) Communi-

cable Disease and Immunization Programs have been tracking in-fluenza activity in Milwaukee and encouraging individuals to getthe flu vaccine. Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness causedby influenza viruses that can cause mild to severe illness. From September 1, 2019 through February 10th, 2020 there have

been 330 influenza-associated hospitalizations in the City of Mil-waukee. Flu activity has not yet peaked in Milwaukee and will likely con-

tinue for several more weeks. It is not too late to get your flu vac-cine and the MHD is offering FREE flu vaccines to all individualsages 6 months and older during walk-in immunization clinic hourswhile supplies last.The MHD has also been monitoring the novel coronavirus out-

break (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a new virus that causes respira-tory illness in people and can spread from person to person. Thevirus was first detected during an investigation into an outbreak inWuhan, China. The MHD is prepared to respond to COVID-19 ifcases were to be detected here. For the general American public,including Milwaukee residents, the immediate health risk fromCOVID-19 is considered low at this time. The MHD recommendsthe following preventative measures to prevent the spread of ill-nesses such as influenza and COVID-19:• Wash your hands often with soap and water• Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth whenyou cough or sneeze. If you do not have a tissue,cough or sneeze into your sleeve.• Stay home from work or school if you are feelingsick

City of Milwaukee Walk-in Immunization Hours and Locations


A Compassionate Medical Home for Your Entire Family

Dr. Adedapo Okusanya, known to many as Dr. O., Dr. Ok,or Dr. Ade, formerly of Omni Family Medical Clinic is wel-coming new patients at his northside family clinic!

At Providence Family Medical clinic, we offer a brand-newmodel for family practice which includes professional serv-ices, short wait times, fast and easy access to providersand a relaxed welcoming environment.

With an emphasis on personalized, compassionate care,the clinic offers the very best in family-centered healthcare.

www.P rov idenceFami l yMed i ca lC l i n i c . com

ProvidenceFamily MedicalClinicDr. Adedapo F. Okusanya, M.D.Board certified in Family Medicine2500 W. Silver Spring Dr.Glendale WI 53209(414) 800-7171

Dr. Okusanya will be accepting new and previous patients once open.

VISIT US ONLINE FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Cancer health disparities byrace is a top public health priority.Breast cancer, in particular, ex-hibits significant disparities andcontributes a large proportion ofillness and death from cancer. Research from the Medical

College of Wisconsin (MCW)has shown that African Americanwomen are much more likelythan white women to die of breastcancer.Aside from the usual suspects

of lifestyle, diet and stress, somefactors that contribute to thesestark disparities include biologi-cal differences, poverty, educa-tion, health insurance status,late-stage diagnosis, healthcarequality and patient-doctor trust,research has shown. To learn more about the causes

of these disparities with the ulti-mate goal of eliminating them,MCW cancer researchers are con-

ducting an interview-based studyof breast cancer survivors, called“Breast Cancer, Race and Place.”Study participants will share

their stories with the researchteam to help determine areas ofimprovement and solutions forthe future. Participants are encouraged to

share about the people, placesand experiences important tothem as breast cancer survivors. This study is led by Dr. Kirsten

Beyer, Associate Professor in theInstitute for Health and Equity atMCW, and Dr. Staci Young, As-sociate Professor and Director ofthe Center for Healthy Commu-nities & Research in the Depart-ment of Family & CommunityMedicine at MCW. The study is funded by the Na-

tional Cancer Institute. “We have learned so much

from the women who have partic-

ipated in our study; their collec-tive stories have enriched our un-derstanding of the experiences ofcancer survivors,” Dr. Beyer said. “We look forward to using this

new knowledge to help overcomebarriers and identify new oppor-tunities to reduce cancer dispari-ties in Milwaukee and beyond.” The research is designed to

identify and reduce populationcancer risks and disparities withthe goal of improving health out-comes. The interdisciplinary team of

researchers includes those in thefields of medical geography, epi-demiology, community health,primary care, health justice, ho-listic healing, urban planning, nu-tritional science and sociology. “Each woman’s story is unique

and powerful, and each womanhas something new and importantto share,” Dr. Young said. “All of these stories, when

brought together, shed light onpotential opportunities to im-prove lives after cancer diagno-sis.”The study is more than just re-

search. By sharing their stories,participants have the opportunity

to affect real change in their com-munities.Community Journal associate

publisher Mikel Holt, who serveson the Community AdvisoryBoard of the project, said, “Thestudy team includes a communityadvisory board that I’m proud tobe a part of, and we are ready totake what we learn back out intoour communities to make change.“Both my mother and sister

died of cancer in the last fewyears, so this is a personal chal-lenge to me.”MCW is the only academic

cancer research center in the areaserving a diverse, large, under-served population, including pa-tients who experience significantdisparities in breast cancer inci-dents and outcomes. MCW is focused on research-

ing the root causes of health dis-parities in local communities andadvancing the best ideas to fosterhealth equity throughout Milwau-kee. The research team fosters part-

nerships with local communityhealth entities who are dedicatedto serve the most vulnerable pop-ulations, including those withbreast cancer. To be eligible to participate in

the study, an individual musthave been diagnosed with breastcancer, with at least three monthssince the last treatment ofchemotherapy, radiation or sur-gery; currently live in Milwau-kee, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine,Walworth, Washington orWaukesha county; and identify asa black/African American, His-panic/Latina or non-Hispanicwhite woman.Interviews are conducted at a

library of the participant’s choice,and participants are compensatedwith a gift card valued at $50. Individuals interested in learn-

ing more about study participa-tion can contact Carolina Cuevasat 414-955-4150 [email protected].

Researchers seek to reduce health disparities in Milwaukee by gatheringbreast cancer survivors’ stories

Can youcatch acold frombeingcold?

The temperature outside may bedropping rapidly but that doesn’tmean venturing outdoors willcause you to catch a cold. Isabel Valdez, a physician assis-

tant and instructor of general inter-nal medicine at Baylor College ofMedicine, said a virus like thecommon cold spreads throughwhat we breathe in – not becauseof the weather. “Because it’s cold outside a lot

of people tend to stay indoors inclose proximity with other people,and we can breathe in any germsthat they might have; these germsare airborne and easily get into oursinuses and lungs when webreathe them in,” Valdez said. While the weather changing

does not necessarily make yousick, Valdez adds it can worsenmedical conditions people alreadyhave. People who suffer from chronic

breathing conditions like asthmaor COPD are more at risk for get-ting sick, she said. These patientscan lessen their risks of gettingsick by taking their medications asrecommended by their doctors.Some other weather-related

myths about catching the commoncold that are also not true, accord-ing to Valdez:• Going outside with wet hair.• Going outside barefoot.• Forgetting to cover your neck

when the temperature drops.PreventionThe best way to prevent catch-

ing a cold whether you are insideor outdoors is through proper hy-giene and rest: • Wash your hands frequently,

especially after you cough or blowyour nose.• Use a tissue to blow your nose

or cover a cough. Make sure totoss the tissue after one use – donot keep reusing it.• Cover your mouth with your

elbow or hand when you cough.• Get plenty of sleep to help pre-

vent and treat the virus. Studieshave shown that getting an ade-quate amount of sleep lessens yourchances of getting sick, Valdezsaid. Treatments


African Americans have the highest diagno-sis and mortality rates for many cancers incomparison with all other racial groups. Ac-cording to the National Cancer Institute,Black Wisconsin residents get cancer at a22.2%higher rate than White residents.

Dr. Adedapo Okusanya

Chinemelum Sonia Chris-Ukah PA-C


ease progression in this mouse model byrepressing the production of the DYRK2enzyme. The results also suggested that it was

possible that doing the opposite, elevatingthe production of DYRK2 enzyme, wouldreduce or inhibit leukemia stem cell sur-vival and self-renewal.Looking to translate these results to the

clinic, the researchers searched for a pos-sible pharmacological means to enhancethe stability of the DYRK2 enzyme.Searching the literature revealed a poten-tial way to achieve this goal. They foundthat vitamin K3 inhibits SIAH2, an en-zyme that is implicated in the degradationof DYRK2.“We hypothesized that if we inhibited

SIAH2 with vitamin K3, we would pre-vent or reduce the degradation ofDYRK2, and therefore likely increase thelevels of DYRK2, which would trigger in-hibition of survival and self-renewal ofleukemia stem cells,” Lacorazza said.

The researchers tested this strategy inchronic myeloid leukemia cell lines, intheir mouse model and in patient samplesin the lab. The results were encouraging.They saw that treatment with vitamin K3increased DYRK2 and inhibited the ex-pansion of the leukemia stem cells.Looking for the right drug“Vitamin K3 may be toxic to humans.

Although in our view vitamin K3 is notgoing to be the drug to treat leukemiastem cells, it has proved the concept thatstabilizing DYRK2 enzyme could helpeliminate the leukemic stem cell popula-tion,” Lacorazza said.Lacorazza and his colleagues are cur-

rently searching for drugs that could elim-inate leukemia stem cells safely inpatients.“We envision that targeting the bulk of

leukemia with tyrosine kinase inhibitorsplus a new drug that targets the stem cellsmight be a future strategy for patients toreach drug-free remission,” Lacorazzasaid.

Learning to stop CANCER at its ROOTS(continued from page 3)

regularly, and notify your doctor of changes in case treatment needs tobe adjusted, Dr. Gandy said. Even if you don’t have high blood pres-sure, he recommends checking it every two years.“The No. 1 thing you can do is check your blood pressure regularly,”

he said.ObesityAfrican-Americans are disproportionately affected by obesity.

Among non-Hispanic blacks age 20 and older, 63 percent of men and77 percent of women are overweight or obese.If you’re carrying extra weight, Dr. Gandy suggests focusing on the

quality of your diet throughout the day, not just during mealtime.“You can add hundreds of calories to your diet just on snacking,” he

said. Choosing wise snacks can be part of a healthy diet.Dr. Gandy knows all too well how challenging it can be to lose

weight. After years of prescribing diet changes for his patients, he de-cided it was time to follow his own advice by walking at least 30 min-utes a day and eliminating sugary drinks and desserts. The hard workpaid off. Dr. Gandy lost 25 pounds in six months and feels much better.He also suggests limiting red meat in favor of lean meats such as

chicken or fish, and watching portions on carbohydrate-heavy foods,such as pasta and rice. Look for whole grain options instead.“Make vegetables the main part of the meal and fill up with those

rather than other foods,” he said.Dr. Gandy cautioned that even things that are healthy can pack in

calories.“If you’re thirsty, drink water, not juice,” Dr. Gandy said.DiabetesAfrican-Americans are more likely to have diabetes than non-His-

panic whites.Diabetes is treatable and preventable, but many people don’t recog-

nize early warning signs. Or, they avoid seeking treatment out of fearof complications.Dr. Gandy said many people associate the disease with older relatives

who were diagnosed too late or had poorly-controlled diabetes and suf-fered preventable complications such as blindness, amputations, orrenal failure.For diabetes and other heart disease risks, regular exercise also plays

a key role – both in strengthening the cardiovascular system and burn-ing extra calories.Aim for at least 30 minutes of walking a day, Dr. Gandy said.“That’s enough to get the heart rate up,” he said. “There’s no need to

Health care coverageand services could belimited, capped(continued from page 5)

Can you catch a coldfrom being cold?If you happen to get sick there are a few over-the-counter and at-home

remedies Valdez recommends:• Drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated by drinking water or eating

soup and broth. Avoid fluids that can dehydrate you such as caffeinatedsoda drinks, coffee or alcohol.• Use over-the-counter Zinc lozenges or syrup to help reduce the

length of a virus or cold as soon as you start having symptoms• Drink hot herbal tea or gargle salt water to ease a sore throat.• Make sure to rest by avoiding strenuous exercise or activities so

your energy goes into fighting the illness.When to see a doctor: • A high fever that lasts more than one or two days.• A cough that lasts more than two weeks.• A sore throat that makes it difficult to swallow or eat.

(continued from page 9)

Don’t letbinge-worthyshows become a pain in the neckIf binge-watching nominated

movies and television shows is apart of your plans during awardsseason, keep in mind that sitting orlying down for long periods canimpact your posture and lead tochronic pain.

A noted physical therapist offerstips to help your posture and preventpain.One of the biggest consequences of

having bad posture is chronic lowerback or neck pain, making it difficultto sleep, sit at the computer for an ex-tended period of time and even reador move your head while driving, ac-cording to Melanie McNeal, a physi-cal therapist and manager of

orthopedic and sports therapy at Bay-lor. She offers the following tips:• Start with good posture when first

sitting down – choose a chair or couchthat provides good support for boththe upper and lower back, not one thatallows slouching.• If lying down, place a pillow

under the knees for optimal lower-back positioning.• Take at least one break each hour

to stand or walk – sitting is the worstposition for the spine.• Get up between episodes and walk

around. Since streaming services donot have commercials, try to refrainfrom using the “skip intro” button anduse that time to walk or exercise.• Exercise the upper back by pinch-

ing your shoulder blades back to-gether and holding for 10 seconds,which opens the chest and alleviatesthe poor slumped posture position.Common signs that your posture is

negatively impacting you includeneck pain and stiffness, pain betweenthe shoulder blades, difficulty liftingyour arms overhead and difficultylooking back or up at the ceiling.There are two tests to check the sta-

tus of your posture, McNeal said:1. Try to stand with your back

against a wall and touch your heels,

buttocks, shoulder blades and head tothe wall. The key is to touch the backof your head to the wall lookingstraight ahead rather than having tolook up to get your head against thewall.2. Lie on your back on a flat surface

without using a pillow and see if youcan get your head flat against the sur-face without having to tilt your headback.Exercises to improve neck posture

focus on stretching the muscles in theupper part of the neck, stretching outthe pecs and strengthening the mus-cles between your shoulder blades aswell as the deep neck flexor muscles.A good rule of thumb is that whendriving, put your head back againstthe headrest and when eating or work-ing on a computer, sit all the way backin the chair.

Study Aims to ImproveFood Access for AfricanAmericans with Type 2 Diabetes in MilwaukeeOne quarter of people with diabetes in the U.S.

report food insecurity – an inability to or limitationin accessing nutritionally adequate food – andAfrican Americans overall are three times morelikely than whites to be food insecure. In manycases, this poor access to nutrition among Type 2diabetics leads to worse control over their chronicillness and more difficulty following a healthy dietcompared to non-food insecure diabetics.Two new studies led by scientists at the Medical

College of Wisconsin (MCW) will focus specifi-cally on food insecurity among African Americanswith Type 2 diabetes in central-city Milwaukee.While diabetes affects nearly 10 percent of the

U.S. population, African Americans suffer at ahigher rate – nearly 60 percent – than white Ameri-cans. African Americans are also three times morelikely to be food insecure and four times morelikely to experience complications of diabetes, suchas amputations and end-stage renal disease.With a more-than-$3.2 million, five-year grant

from the National Institutes of Health Institute onMinority Health and Disparities, Leonard Egede,MD, MS, professor of medicine and chief of theDivision of General Internal Medicine, and Re-bekah Walker, PhD, assistant professor of medicine

at MCW, will test the separate and combined effi-cacy of monthly food vouchers for farmer’s mar-kets and monthly mailed food stock boxes layeredupon diabetes education for low income, food inse-cure African Americans with Type 2 diabetes. Dr. Walker will also lead a second study to refine

and test an intervention to improve glycemic con-trol, dietary intake, self-care and quality of life infood insecure African Americans with Type 2 dia-betes. The intervention will involve weekly cultur-ally relevant food supplementation boxes mailed tothe participants and culturally tailored telephone-delivered diabetes education and skills training.This study is funded by a four-year, nearly$600,000 grant from the American Diabetes Asso-ciation.Several other studies have tested strategies to ad-

dress food insecurity through food supplementa-tion, including vouchers to cover the cost of food,coupons for farmer’s markets and pre-packagedfood shipments to participants’ homes. However,results of these studies are still unclear in terms ofif food supplementation alone is effective in indi-viduals with diabetes.Another aspect still unclear is how best to under-

stand and address the unique barriers faced byAfrican Americans, who are often more likely toface the compounded impact of low socioeconomicstatus, food insecurity and diagnosis of diabetes. Dr. Egede and Dr. Walker’s studies will seek to

fill in these gaps in the research as well as study thecost effectiveness of these strategies.


The City of Milwaukee Health Depart-ment has partnered with the City’sBoard of Health to establish a compre-hensive Lead-Safe Advisory Commit-tee. The goal of the Lead-Safe Advisory Committee is todevelop and structure cross-sector relationships andsynchronize communications and messaging relatedto childhood lead poisoning prevention.

Childhood lead poisoning disproportionally impacts certainneighborhoods of Milwaukee, highlighting an issue of health in-equity. Reducing and eliminating lead exposure in these childrenrequires a multi-faceted, community approach that will be cre-ated through the Lead-Safe Advisory Committee.

The City of Mil-waukee’s Board ofHealth plans to en-gage diverse com-munity partnersand stakeholders(healthcare sys-tems, community-based clinics,government agen-cies, neighborhoodorganizations, aca-demic partners,

etc.) to identify current lead prevention efforts and evaluate alleducational materials, resources, and communication in Milwau-kee.

The resultingcommunity-basedinitiative will workto target efforts to-wards the geo-graphical areas inthe city that are im-pacted the most bylead poisoning. TheLead-Safe Advisory Com-

mittee has beensupported through

funding from The National Association of County and CityHealth Officials (NACCHO). Dr. Jeanette Kowalik, commissioner of Health, states that the

Lead-Safe Advisory Committee’s efforts will continue to im-prove the health and well-being of our residents. “I’m pleased that our newly established Board of Health has

made lead poisoning prevention their first priority, said Kowalik. “The development of a community- driven Lead Advisory

Committee, facilitated by the Board of Health, will serve to rec-ommend the plan to eradicate lead from the City of Milwaukeeby a year goal (to be determined). “This lead eradication plan will address all sources of lead poi-

soning. We need a plan to drive funding and programmatic in-vestments for lead poisoning just as we have plans for infantmortality, teen pregnancy, and violence prevention,” she contin-ued. “Volunteer committee members will come from a number of

public- private sectors. We urge those that are committed toeradicating lead in our community to volunteer.”If you or your organization is interested in participating in the

Lead-Safe Advisory Committee, please complete the applicationthat can be found on the City of Milwaukee’s Website athttps://city.milwaukee.gov/leadsafe

City’s Board ofHealth seekingmembers for lead-safe advisorycommittee

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