SUMMER 08
EMPOWERING
EXCELLENCE
> The Vision Campaign
The power of us all
THIS ISSUE
Innovative treatment for
prostate cancer
Heart attack protocol saves lives
Pediatric services are
growing strong
Neuroscience Institute holds
future promise
New
beginnings,
a shared
vision
NANCY L. BIRDWELL
Chief Development Officer
PETER BRUMLEVE
Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer
HOLLY HALLEN
Associate Executive Director, Division of
Strategy, Marketing and Communications
KERRI WHITE
Associate Director, Development Marketing
and Web Communications
PATRICIA BRENNAN
Senior Editor
BARBARA WRAY
Editor
GARY L. HANSEN
Photography
W
elcome to the first edition of Catalyst, our newly designed Scott & White
magazine. The name reflects the passion we feel about our work, our
patients and where we’re headed in the future. A catalyst is something that
produces a reaction to ignite a response. We hope to do just that with our readers.
Our goal is to inspire you to become more involved in healthcare, by giving you
relevant and interesting information to deepen your understanding about your own
and your family’s health. We also want you to become more familiar with the exciting
things happening at Scott & White.
We’re turning a page at Scott & White, with a fundraising campaign that is the most
ambitious in our history and will have more impact than ever before. Phase II of the
Vision Campaign is an extraordinary milestone. It is a call for involvement—from
donors, friends, patients, volunteers, employees, physicians and anyone who has ever
experienced the exceptional and compassionate care at Scott & White. We’re grateful
to touch so many lives and have big plans to do even more in the future.
In this issue, you’ll learn more about what those plans are, including our new
campaign, and the impressive clinical and academic programs under way and those
that will emerge.
Scott & White is moving toward becoming, “The most Trusted and the most Valued
name in American Healthcare.” That Vision is shared by many who believe that we
can transform this great healthcare organization to one of excellence on the national
stage. We continue our focus on meeting the healthcare needs of Central Texans and
all our patients, by empowering families with the tools and resources they need to
live healthy, productive lives. That’s been true since our beginning.
We can all be catalysts in our own lives. We invite you to think about how you can
make a difference and hope you enjoy your first issue of our magazine.
ALFRED B. KNIGHT, MD
President and CEO, Scott & White Healthcare
KORZENOWSKI DESIGN
Design
MARIA MCGIVNEY ARRELLAGA
LINDA C. CHANDLER
SUE DURIO
MELISSA GASKILL
LAURA TUMA
BARBARA WRAY
Contributing Writers
TEXAS MONTHLY CUSTOM PUBLISHING
Editorial and Production Management
Scott & White Catalyst is published four times
each year for friends of Scott & White by Scott
& White Memorial Hospital, Scott, Sherwood and
Brindley Foundation, a 501(c)3, not-for-profit
Texas organization affiliated with Scott & White
Clinic, Scott & White Health Plan and The Texas
A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
For appointment information, call 800-792-3710
or visit our web site, sw.org. Correspondence
and inquiries should be addressed to: Kerri
White, Associate Director, Development
Marketing & Web Communications, Scott &
White Catalyst, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple,
TX 76508.
SUPPORT SCOTT & WHITE
For information about how you can make a gift to
Scott & White, please contact the Scott & White
Office of Development.
800-293-4483 | 254-724-2768
[email protected]
OUR VISION
Scott & White will be the most Trusted and the
most Valued name in American Healthcare.
OUR MISSION
To provide the most personalized, comprehensive
and highest quality healthcare enhanced by
medical education and research.
©2008 Scott & White. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any
means of the entire contents or any portion of this publication
without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
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Catalyst Summer 08
Scott & White
Memorial Hospital
Scott, Sherwood & Brindley
Foundation Board of Trustees
Drayton McLane, Jr., Chairman
Andrejs Avots-Avotins, MD
Louis S. Casey, Jr.
Glen R. Couchman, MD
Nancy W. Dickey, MD
J. Paul Dieckert, MD
Wayne Fisher
Morris E. Foster
Donald R. Grobowsky
Bill Hamilton, MD
Alfred B. Knight, MD
Wade L. Knight, MD
Howard W. Kruse
Ross McKnight
Michael L. Middleton, MD
Jim H. Mills
L. Gill Naul, MD
Lyndon L. Olson, Jr.
William L. Rayburn, MD
Glen E. Roney
W. Roy Smythe, MD
Madhava (Reddy) Beeram, MD,
ex-officio
Contents
ON THE COVER
04 Vision Campaign / Phase II
A pivotal time for growth in
Scott & White’s history
12 Time is of the essence
Quick response protocol saves lives
of heart attack patients
14 Faster recovery, less pain
Innovative robotic technology makes world
of difference to prostate cancer patients
18 A collaborative mindset
A new specialty center unites clinical and
academic expertise in the neurosciences
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18
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20 Tiny patients, big dreams
Pediatric care is growing fast with new
talent and services
FEATURES
08 Highlights fom the Inaugural
Visionaries’ Ball
A gala event to celebrate our success
and future dreams
11
Celebrating 80 years
An eight decade legacy of educating
generations of new physicians
24 Home run!
Groundbreaking surgery for rare bone disease
gets Robert Trevino back in the game
27 Controlling high blood pressure
Scott & White scientists engage in
FDA-sponsored clinical trial to control a
healthcare epidemic
28 May I help you?
Reducing patient wait time with technology
SPECIAL ITEMS
29 Board member spotlight
Drayton McLane, Jr., Chairman, The
McLane Group, LP; Chairman, Board
of Trustees, Scott & White Healthcare;
Owner, The Houston Astros
30 Breathing space
A restorative and healing environment for
patients and families
31 Million dollar pledge for Lake of
> ABOUT THE COVER
The hummingbird image serves as an inspiration
for Phase II of the Vision Campaign; it embodies
a spirit of empowerment and achievement.
the Hills Regional Medical Center
Summer 08 Catalyst
3
Clinical, Academic and
Community Leadership
> Ranked among the Thomson
Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® for
five consecutive years (a top 15
major teaching hospital)
> The principal teaching campus
of Texas A&M Health Science
Center College of Medicine
> More than 350 medical residents
and fellows and 400 nursing
students are trained annually
> A breadth and depth of
healthcare specialty services
unsurpassed in Central Texas
> National Institutes of Health
funding for research initiatives
has increased over the past
eight years from just under
$1 million to almost $12 million
(cumulative)
> $88.2 million annual community
benefits, including charity
care, education and research
> One of the country’s largest
multispecialty group practices,
and the largest in Texas
> Patients come to Scott & White
from all over the world
Alfred B. Knight, MD, president and CEO, Scott & White Healthcare
and Nancy L. Birdwell, chief development officer, Scott & White Healthcare
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Catalyst Summer 08
EMPOWERING
EXCELLENCE
Phase II of the Vision Campaign
There’s a new era taking shape in Central Texas, a renewed vigor that requires
an unprecedented response. The area’s explosive population growth and
increased healthcare needs will be met by a plan for growth at Scott & White
that elevates its national profile and characterizes the most dynamic period in
our history. It will catapult Scott & White toward its Vision of becoming, “The
most Trusted and the most Valued name in American Healthcare.”
C
entral Texas is fast becoming a
destination for people across the
country, young and old. For
those who seek a quality of life that’s
affordable, like young people starting
careers, or retiring Baby Boomers who
seek the core values and lifestyle here, our
land is brimming with possibilities as
expansive as this great state. Temple is one
of the state’s fastest growing communities.
The I-35 corridor that links Austin to
Dallas is bursting with opportunity, a
strong economy and abundant jobs — it’s
already a hub for scientists, educators,
artists and technology professionals.
The vibrant tableau of Texas promises to
get even richer, as undeveloped areas are
revitalized as well, to enhance the lives of
citizens while attracting new ones. Scott &
White as a healthcare leader must grow,
and transform a great healthcare system to
one of true excellence and national stature.
“We see tremendous demand for services
going forward,” says Alfred B. Knight,
MD, president and CEO, Scott &
White Healthcare. “We are in the midst of
a transformation, and our vision for the
future is extraordinary.”
Filling the Gap to
Meet Healthcare Needs
Healthcare services represent a sizable
portion of our domestic and local economies.
With a dramatic increase nationwide
in chronic, preventable diseases like
diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease
and others, it follows that Texas, one of
the fastest growing states in the country,
is experiencing this phenomena more
acutely. An aging population requiring
increased healthcare services comprises a
significant segment of the population,
both here and nationally.
Advances in medicine and technology
have made great strides in improving
outcomes and quality of life for all kinds
of patients. That trend will continue.
Scott & White must be ready to embrace
those advances, and introduce new ones to
benefit all patients.
It is imperative that Scott & White, as a
healthcare leader in Texas, anticipate and
respond to the region’s needs with the
Summer 08 Catalyst
5
> Empowering Excellence: Phase II of the Vision Campaign
continued
The Surgical Sciences Building
necessary resources and expertise to deliver
the very best medical care available
anywhere. This includes offering
exceptional care with compassion;
recruiting internationally and nationally
renowned clinicians and scientists; training
future medical leaders to help fill a
shortage of medical caregivers in the state;
and applying discoveries at the research
bench and the bedside. We must fill the
gap between the resources available to us
now and what could be to benefit the
people of Texas and beyond.
Each of us is empowered to play a vital
role in this exciting time. The role of
philanthropy has never been more critical
in helping to acquire medical technology,
recruit and train physicians, revitalize and
build facilities and more. We must ensure
the continued healthcare leadership of
Scott & White and its evolution as a
nationwide leader that embodies
healthcare excellence.
“Excellence today means setting incredibly
high standards and practicing medicine
6
Catalyst Summer 08
better than anyone else,” says Drayton
McLane, Jr., Scott & White Healthcare
board chairman. “That’s how I view Scott
& White today, and I get excited about
what it can become. Philanthropy
empowers, and makes the difference.”
Building on Phase I
Campaign Success
The successful completion of Phase I of
the Vision Campaign in 2007 is due to
the generosity of individual donors,
corporations, foundations and others who
helped secure $50 million to enhance new
facilities and grow programs and services
at Scott & White. These include the new
636-bed specialty care and teaching
“Philanthropy is the
cornerstone, giving
us the ability to build
the best healthcare
in the United States.”
— Ross McKnight
Vision Campaign Co-Chair
Board of Trustees Member
hospital in Temple, with the new Heart
and Vascular Institute; the Glenda Tanner
Vasicek Cancer Treatment Center; the
Cancer Research Institute and the 50-bed
Continuing Care Hospital. The campaign
also helped bring to life the new
University Medical Center campus in
Round Rock, a hospital and clinic serving
Travis and Williamson Counties.
New facilities and expanded services have
not only increased demand for expertise
from people in Central Texas, but also
means Scott & White clinicians are busier
than ever! Scott & White projects to log
almost 1.7 million patient visits per year.
However, current facilities’ capacity and
caregiver schedules are stretched beyond
demand for Scott & White expertise,
particularly in surgery and orthopedics
services. The population in Austin alone is
expected to double in the future. And
medically underserved areas and growing
communities need access to leading
hospitals and clinics. Scott & White must
meet existing and emerging healthcare
needs through recruiting physicians,
The Vision Campaign
Phase II Priorities
The Bone and Joint Institute
building new facilities and bringing Scott
& White care closer to home for people in
underserved areas.
A Soaring View of the Future
In response, Scott & White has launched
Phase II of the Vision Campaign, with a
$50 million goal to help achieve Phase II
priorities (see sidebar) and reach our
Vision of becoming, “The most Trusted
and the most Valued name in American
Healthcare.” A campaign kickoff event in
June, the Inaugural Visionaries’ Ball,
celebrated the achievements reached in
Phase I and introduced priorities
identified in Phase II.
An image of a hummingbird serves as
inspiration for Phase II of the Vision
Campaign. Its continuous movement
represents warmth, optimism and comfort.
The hummingbird embodies a spirit
of empowerment and achievement. It’s
soaring, yet organic and native to Texas.
“Empowering Excellence” is a theme that
describes how each of us is empowered to
help transform our own lives by ensuring
the best possible healthcare resources are
available to us. We can make a difference
by becoming involved in the campaign,
and making a long-term investment in our
families’ health and all our futures. Tell
your friends and neighbors about Scott &
White’s plans, and the real difference our
goals will make to the future of all
Texans—and indeed to all Americans.
We invite you to be part of this
extraordinary time that emerged from a
vision set forth a century ago by Arthur C.
Scott, Sr., MD and Raleigh R. White, Jr.,
MD. They were catalysts who brought
compassionate, multispecialty healthcare
to the deserving population in a railroad
town called Temple. As a great healthcare
leader today, Scott & White aspires to do
even more. With your help, we can.
For more information or to make a
donation, please contact the Scott &
White Office of Development at 800-2934483. Or visit development.sw.org. ■
> SURGICAL SCIENCES
BUILDING
Its completion in 2012 on the
Temple campus will nearly
double current capacity to
meet patient demand, and
house advanced technology
with minimally invasive
capabilities. The Surgical
Sciences Building will
support active recruitment
of internationally and
nationally renowned
surgeons and basic and
translational researchers.
> BONE AND JOINT INSTITUTE
Opening in 2012, the new
Institute will centralize
all orthopedic services,
including diagnostics,
surgical and rehabilitative
services in a spacious and
beautiful environment for
children and adults.
> LAKE OF THE HILLS
REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
A new hospital and specialty
care clinic will break ground
in the next couple years to
serve fast-growing Highland
Lakes and Hill Country areas.
Summer 08 Catalyst
7
“The best is yet to come.”
— Drayton McLane, Jr., Chairman, Board of Trustees, Scott & White Healthcare
Visionaries’ Ball 2008 Highlights
A classical Greek Revival mansion and spacious grounds provided the perfect setting
to bridge past success with future promise. The Scott & White Inaugural Visionaries’
Ball was held June 21 at the estate of Charlotte and Morris Foster in Salado, Texas.
M
ore than 765 donors and friends
gathered together in the warmth
of a shared Vision: that Scott &
White truly is poised to become, “The most
Trusted and the most Valued name in
American Healthcare.”
The Visionaries’ Ball celebrated the
completion of Phase I of the Vision
Campaign and launched Phase II. Its
success is something we can all be part of,
and is vital in ensuring that Scott & White
is equipped to continue offering the best
care available in Central Texas and beyond.
The evening raised $450,000 to benefit one
of the pediatric operating suites in the new
Surgical Sciences Building.
During his remarks, Scott & White
Healthcare President and CEO Alfred
B. Knight, MD, mentioned how the
collaborative spirit among physicians and
staff drew him to Scott & White two
decades ago and remains a vital presence
today. Honorary Committee Member of
the Vision Campaign and Texas Governor
Rick Perry spoke passionately about the
irreplaceable role Scott & White has
played in Central Texas, and the
remarkable progress we’ve made over the
years. He believes that Scott & White is
the place for researchers to find cures,
clinicians to practice innovative techniques
and patients to be healed.
8
Catalyst Summer 08
Scott & White Healthcare Board of Trustees
Chairman, Drayton McLane, Jr. also shared
his thoughts about Scott and White and
introduced a very special guest, young
patient Raylee Pannell, whose arm was
severely injured in an accident. Due to the
expertise of surgeons from multiple specialties, and an array of caregivers, Raylee’s
arm is now completely healed. Other
dignitaries, including Congressman John
Carter and State Representative Dianne
White Delisi, attended the event as well.
Sponsors were treated to a pre-party inside
the Fosters’ home, where they enjoyed the
music of the Lucky Strikes. Guests entered
the grounds under an arched trellis, where
they were greeted by a trio of fiddlers and
ushered into the beautiful patio for
cocktails. They also mingled in the tent,
which displayed dozens of auction items
ranging from unique crystal objet d’art to
private transport to a Houston Astros game
via McLane Group’s Learjet.
Culinary and bidding appetites were met
with a gourmet meal, silent auction and
spirited live auction. Raylee Pannell melted
people’s hearts as she proudly showed them
one of the most desirable auction items —
a Labrador puppy! The Grammy™ award–
winning western swing band Ray Benson
and Asleep at the Wheel invited guests to
kick up their heels and dance under the stars.
“Tonight we celebrate past success and
future dreams,” says Dr. Knight. “What we
do together tonight, and in the next few
years, might be so big that it inspires the
next generation.”
Thanks to all who attended the event.
Special thanks go to the Visionaries’
Ball Committee and event and auction
sponsors, especially the following, who
served as Visionary Level sponsors:
• Elizabeth & Drayton McLane, Jr.,
Amy & Drayton McLane III and
Amy & Denton McLane
• Mill Creek Inn & Golf Club, Stagecoach
Inn and Charlotte & Morris Foster
• Rita K. & Glen E. Roney
• Scott & White Auxiliary and Sunshine
Gift Shop
“The realization of our Phase II priorities
will benefit the people of Texas and
beyond,” said Chief Development Officer
Nancy Birdwell. “Scott & White is very
blessed to have supporters who are true to
our shared Vision, to become the most
Trusted and the most Valued name in
American Healthcare.”
For more information on Phase II of the
Vision Campaign please contact the Office
of Development at 254-724-2768. Or visit
us at development.sw.org. ■
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“I hope that all of you here will
consider for a moment the difference
Scott & White has made in your life,
your families’ lives and with your
friends and neighbors. Then think of
the role you might play in continuing
that legacy for the next generation.”
5
— Texas Governor Rick Perry
6
7
8
1: Jim Ellison and Ellen Ellison
2: Shirley Gaines, Mary Steele, Mildred Brown,
Dean Steele, MD and A.K. Brown, MD
9
5: Robert (Bob) Myers, MD, Katherine Myers,
Jack Myers, MD and Shannon Myers
6: Table settings at the Visionaries’ Ball
3: Drayton McLane, Jr. shares thoughts about
Scott & White with guests at the Visionaries’ Ball
7: David Kessler, Anna T. Kessler, Christina Trammell,
Lisa Marie Tranum and Tony Trammell
4: Raylee Pannell showcases the black Lab puppy
donated to the live auction
8: Steve Wells poses with Barkley, the black Labrador
retriever he purchased in the live auction
10
9: Nan Knight; Alfred B. Knight, MD, president and
CEO; Nancy Birdwell, chief development officer;
and Morris E. Foster, Scott & White Healthcare
Board of Trustees
10: Ray Benson performs with Asleep at the Wheel
Summer 08 Catalyst
9
> Visionaries’ Ball
Thanks
TO OUR VISIONARIES’ BALL DONORS
continued
OUR SPONSORS
VISIONARIES | $25,000
Elizabeth & Drayton McLane, Jr., Amy
& Drayton McLane III and Amy &
Denton McLane
Mill Creek Inn & Golf Club,
Stagecoach Inn and Charlotte &
Morris Foster
Rita K. & Glen E. Roney
Scott & White Auxiliary and Sunshine
Gift Shop
LUMINARIES | $10,000
Caplan Miller Events
Heidi & Glen Couchman, MD
Al & Nan Knight
Marquee Event Group
Billie & Ross McKnight
Page Southerland Page
1
3
5
1: Bobbie Jo Alexander, Howard Kruse, Jud Alexander
and Verlin Kruse at the Pre-Party for Sponsors
2: Glen Cosper greets Omer Bishop and his
daughter, Linda Freeman, upon arrival
3: Karen Scott of Detailed Catering and her husband
Todd pose for a picture with Governor Rick Perry
and the black Labrador retriever puppy they
donated for the live auction
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Catalyst Summer 08
2
4
6
4: Bill Boyce, Cynthia Watson, Rob Watson, MD,
Merle Mueller, Wanda Mueller, Tom Burdett, Carlie
Burdett, Betty Jukes and Harry Jukes
5: Shelley Smith, Tom McMasters, Kirk Michaux and
Julie Michaux
6: Wanda Wesson, Don Wesson, MD, Kerri Beckham
and David Beckham
BENEFACTORS | $5,000
Gail & Andrejs Avots-Avotins, MD
Kim & James Fikes
Patsy & Wayne Fisher
Johnson Brothers Ford, Ltd
Kiella Group
Precious Memories
Mr. & Mrs. Philip Scanio
Scott & White Health Plan
Smith Pump Co., Inc.
Tranum Buick, Pontiac, GMC Trucks
and Volkswagen
Sally & Dan Volney and Unique
Pharmaceuticals, Ltd
Wilsonart International, Inc./Illinois
Tool Works
TABLE SPONSORS | $2,500
Balfour Beatty Construction, LLC
Nancy Birdwell
Moni & Tim Bittenbinder
Carlie & Tom Burdett
Burt-Watts Industries, Inc.
Jeanie & Tommy Carter in honor of
Nancy Birdwell
Carter & Burgess, Inc.
Charlynn & Louis Casey
The DiGaetano Family
Don Ringler Chevrolet-Toyota
First State Bank Central Texas
Gidden Distributing, Inc.
Verlin & Howard Kruse
McLane Co. Inc.
Ann & Bill Messer
Metroplex Health System
Julie & Kirk Michaux and Shelley
Smith & Tom McMasters
Lavon & Jim Mills
Billy Pipes & David Stanford in
celebration of Morris Foster’s
return to Salado
Debbie & Neale Potts
Louis B. Seube, Jr., Realtor/Rodney
Dunn Co, Inc.
Pam & Joe Shepperd
Temple Bottling Co.
Texas A&M Health Science Center
Toyota of Killeen
Toyota of Killeen
Luann & Jonathan Van Dusen
Judy & Steve Wells
WhiteCo Construction Services
PATRONS | $1,000
Arborite
Belltec Industries, Inc.
Sharon & Reddy Beeram
Judge & Mrs. Jimmy Carroll
Drs. Cheryl & Glen Cipriani
Charles E. Cline
Compass Bank
Vicki & Jon Conard
Dr. & Mrs. Gregory Dehmer
Dr. & Mrs. Paul Dieckert
Garlyn Shelton
Caren & Bill Hamilton
Hamilton Healthcare System
Marsha & Neil Haney
Jeff Hunter Toyota
Dr. Darla Lowe & Dr. Mike Middleton
Manhattan Construction Company
Frances J. Meadows
Dr. & Mrs. Gary Morton
Tammie & L. Gill Naul
Jeana D. O’Brien, MD
Kay & Lyndon Olson, Jr.
Dr. & Mrs. Delma P. Posey
Jules B. Puschett, MD
Dr. & Mrs. Mark Rahm
Paula & Bill Rayburn
Lagreta Reed & Billy Smith
Dr. Jim & Mrs. Charli Rohack
Carol & Randy Sepulvado
W. Roy Smythe, MD
Teresa & Scott Spears
Kathleen & Bill Sutton
Drs. Kim & Jim Van Cura
Sonia & Sam Wilson
OUR AUCTION DONORS
Charles Allen
American Bank of Texas NA
Austin Symphony
Vivian & Dudley Baker
Baylor Athletics
Nancy Birdwell
Carlisle Collection, NY by Melissa
Bohannon
Cheeves Bros. Steak House
Kirk A. Clark and Charles Clark
Chevrolet | Clark Knapp Honda
Classics on Main
Heidi Couchman
Coyote Glass Design
Cultural Activities Center
Detailed Catering and Karen Scott
Driskill Hotel
Holly Dunn
First Salado, A Horizon Bank
Fletchers Books
Morris Foster
Fountain of Beauty
Four Seasons Hotel Austin
Gregory’s
GymX & Terri Kisely
Horseshoe Bay Resort Marriott
Inn on the Creek
Institute for the Humanities
Troy Kelley and White Star Farms
Korzenowski Design
Lake Austin Spa Resort
Longhorn Sports Network
George Luck
Melinda & Chuck Lucko
Magnolias of Salado
Main Street Place
Mary Bellaire Salon & Day Spa
McLane Co. Inc.
McLane Group
Mill Creek Inn & Golf Club
Old Soles Boot Co.
Papagayo at Sofi’s
Paperdoodles
Precious Memories
Prellop Fine Art Gallery
Kay & Bob Pryor
The Range at Barton House
John Rosanky
Round Rock Express
Ryno Glass
Scott & White
Scott & White Auxiliary and Sunshine
Gift Shop
Sherri’s The Rosebud
SOFI’S/ING’S
Solana Ranch Co. and Julie & Kirk
Michaux
Spike Box Ranch and Ann & Bill
Messer
Sue Steakley and Photographics
Unlimited
Sweet Nut Things
Christina & Tony Trammell
Tranum Buick, Pontiac, GMC Trucks,
and Volkswagen
Diane Wallin
Ronnie Wells and Wells Gallery
White Ranch Outfitters
Wildflower Country Club & Golf
Course
Wilsonart International, Inc.
Andrea & Matthew Wright
Zannie’s Hair Salon
Celebrating 80 years
Scott & White has a rich
history—and an exciting
future—in preparing and
guiding new physicians.
T
raining the next generation of
physicians is a long-standing
tradition at Scott & White, with
roots in an apprentice-style system as
early as 1910. In 1928, the American
Medical Association accredited the
residency programs at Scott & White,
making it one of the earliest organizations
in Texas to receive this recognition for
its postgraduate training. “Our educational
mission makes us unique,” says Gene
Terry, MD, director, Graduate Medical
Education (GME), Scott & White
Healthcare; and professor of Internal
Medicine and Surgery, Texas A&M Health
Science Center College of Medicine.
“We’re proud of our history and dedication
to our residency program, as well as its
enormous growth.”
With the support of its primary teaching
partner, the Central Texas Veterans
Healthcare System, Scott & White has
maintained accredited residencies and
fellowships for the past 80 years. In 1977,
an affiliation with Texas A&M Health
Science Center College of Medicine further
strengthened this academic mission.
Family Medicine residents, Omar Villanueva, MD (left) and Somjira Namarsa, MD (right) with
John L. Manning, MD, program director, Family Medicine Residency
In the mid-1950s, Scott & White had 22
residents and a budget of $77,000. Today,
it has 365 residents and fellows and a
budget of $15.5 million. As Scott &
White continues to expand its depth of
specialty care, it also will need to create
fellowships and residencies in these highly
skilled areas.
“As we recruit internationally known
doctors with well developed research
programs, select fellows and residents
will enjoy the extraordinary learning
opportunity of working alongside some of
these highly skilled medical specialists,”
Dr. Terry says.
Financial support for the GME program
comes from the federal government,
through Scott & White institutional
dollars and philanthropy. “The developing
residency and fellowship programs at Scott
& White are exceptional,” Dr. Terry says.
“Because they are so specialized, they create
distinct opportunities for individuals to
nurture tomorrow’s doctors, especially
those who are working on revolutionary
medical advancements.” ■
Summer 08 Catalyst
11
Time is of the essence
Rapid heart attack protocol saves lives.
0:20
0:10
0:30
0:40
0:50
common
saying
among
cardiologists is “time is heart
muscle,” says John P. Erwin III,
MD, cardiologist, Division of Cardiology,
Scott & White Healthcare; and associate
professor of Cardiology, Texas A&M
Health Science Center College of
Medicine. “During a heart attack, damage
to the heart muscle can occur in 15 to 20
minutes. If we get to patients quickly, we
can save heart muscle, and that translates
into better survival.” The motivation to
care for patients as quickly as possible was
the impetus behind Scott & White’s heart
attack treatment protocol. Not only is it
working, but patients throughout the
region are benefitting, because Scott &
White is educating outlying hospitals
about it too.
A
The program has been so successful that of
239 comparable hospitals nationwide,
Scott & White has consistently ranked
among the top 10 in the American College
of Cardiology registry of patient outcomes
on heart attacks. While this achievement
also reflects the high overall commitment
to patient care, much of this is
accomplished because of the heart attack
treatment protocol.
Opening up the blocked arteries that cause
myocardial infarctions, or heart attacks, is
12
Catalyst Summer 08
1:00
1:10
1:20
1:30
1:40
1:50
of utmost importance. Speed is most
critical when there is a completely blocked
artery, which cardiologists refer to as an
ST-elevation myocardial infarction, or
STEMI. Studies have shown that opening
these patients’ arteries within 90 minutes
significantly improves survival. In 2004
Scott & White launched an initiative
to expedite treatment for these patients,
ultimately establishing a protocol for
getting STEMI patients to the
catheterization lab for invasive treatment
as quickly as possible.
Quickened Response
In the past, Dr. Erwin says, when someone
came to an emergency room with
symptoms that pointed to a heart attack, an
ER physician typically performed an EKG
and then called a cardiologist to review the
results. If the diagnosis was a heart attack,
then the cath lab was called in. Each of
those steps took time, Dr. Erwin says.
“Because all our Emergency Department
physicians are board certified in emergency
medicine, we have the expertise to
determine if they’re dealing with a
STEMI,” Dr. Erwin says. “If so, they call
a hotline that pages the entire cath team.
That has cut out a lot of steps, and cut
in half the time required to get a patient
to the lab.”
2:00
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2:20
2:30
2:40
Scott & White then took the protocol to
hospitals in surrounding communities, 14
of them within a 45-mile radius so far,
giving their emergency departments access
to the hotline as well. The team worked
with each hospital to determine the best
approach for treatment, which drugs
to administer and how best to transport
the patient to Scott & White. The
collaboration involved education, including
a checklist for procedures to follow while
calling the hotline. Not only is the process
quicker, Dr. Erwin says, but the patients are
getting consistent and proper care before
arriving at Scott & White.
Improved Results
In addition to speed, Scott & White offers
STEMI patients the advantage of
experience. “We do a high volume of these
procedures with acute patients,” Dr.
Erwin says. “Volume directly corresponds
to outcomes. A hospital that does just a
few a year simply won’t be as well oiled or
have the same degree of expertise.” That
expertise translates into meaningful results
for the patient. “What we are seeing is
that, despite the fact we are taking care of
older and sicker populations, our results
are significantly better,” Dr. Erwin says.
The accomplishment didn’t happen
without the occasional false alarm, but the
2:50
3:00
3:10
3:20
3:30
3:40
3:50
4:00
4:10
4:20
4:30
4:50
5:10
A few of the team members who work to get STEMI patients to the catheterization lab as soon as
possible. Listed from left to right: John B. Owens, cardiovascular technician; Robert D. Greenberg,
MD, FACEP, vice-chair, Department of Emergency Medicine; John P. Erwin III, MD, cardiologist,
Division of Cardiology, Scott & White Healthcare; Gregory J. Dehmer, MD, director, Division of
Cardiology; Marsha Fowler, RN, procedural nurse; Jerry Caldwell, RN, MSN, LP, procedural nurse,
STEMI program coordinator
5:20
5:30
6:40
6:50
7:00
7:10
7:20
What are the
warning signs of
a heart attack?
The most common symptoms
of a heart attack may include:
> Indigestion, nausea or
vomiting
team prefers those to delays in care. “Where
we see the biggest delay is still from the time
symptoms develop until the time patients
seek treatment,” Dr. Erwin says, “and that
is a big factor in how well patients do.”
What’s Your Plan?
Dr. Erwin also encourages individuals at
risk for heart disease, or who are being
treated for it, to ask what protocol their
local hospital follows when someone comes
in with a heart attack. “We know that
protocol-driven approaches are going to
work better. If you ask what the plan of care
is and there isn’t one, that might spur your
doctor to look into it.
“This is a real team effort that starts with
EMS (Emergency Medical Services) in the
field that recognizes the patient with a
STEMI and the need for rapid triage and
transport to a facility for treatment. In
Copperas Cove, for example, a paramedic
evaluates an EKG on the scene and
initiates the process. Instead of taking
heart attack patients to the closest hospital
that may not have a cath lab, the patient is
transported, usually via helicopter, directly
to Scott & White’s cath lab.”
“We have had patients in our lab in
less than an hour from onset of pain,”
Dr. Erwin says. “Getting ambulances
involved will reduce the time it takes to
get the patient to where this procedure
can be done. This ultimately benefits
the patient.” ■
> Pressure or discomfort in
the chest that lasts more
than a few minutes
> Pain that spreads to the
shoulders, neck, arms
or jaw
> Sweating, cool, clammy
or pale skin
> Shortness of breath
> Dizziness or fainting
> Unexplained weakness
or fatigue
> Rapid or irregular pulse
If you or someone you know
exhibits any of the above
warning signs, act immediately!
Call 911, or your local
emergency number.
Summer 08 Catalyst
13
Division of Urology physicians Kristofer R. Wagner, MD,
director of Robotic Surgery, and Patrick S. Lowry, MD,
section head, Laparoscopy and Endourology,
demonstrate the da Vinci® Surgical System. It uses
robotic technology to translate surgeons' hand
movements into precise maneuvers using small
14
Catalyst Summer 08
instruments inserted through five tiny "dot" incisions
instead of one large incision. This revolutionary
technology also provides the surgeon with a magnified
“inside the body" view using a 3D video console to
display the telescopic image.
Faster recovery,
less pain
Prostate surgery is less invasive with innovative
robotic technology.
P
rostate cancer is the second most
prevalent cancer in men after
skin cancer and the second
leading cause of cancer death after lung
cancer. Considering that one in six
American men will be diagnosed with
prostate cancer during his lifetime, men of
Central Texas and their families need to
know about treatment solutions that not
only cure the disease, but also provide for
the quickest possible return to normal
daily functions. Scott & White is helping
patients do that through such medical
innovations as robotic prostate surgery.
trained director at the helm, Kristofer R.
Wagner, MD, director of Robotic Surgery,
Scott & White Healthcare; and assistant
professor of Surgery, Texas A&M Health
Science Center College of Medicine.
“When I found out I had prostate cancer,
my wife and I immediately started
researching my options for treatment and
surgery,” says Donald Tillman, who lives in
Temple and recently retired from military
duty. The couple looked to Scott & White,
a leader in robotic surgery with a highly
“Everything Dr. Wagner said would
happen, did,” says Mr. Tillman, who
affirms that his return to normal daily life
was quick. “Thanks to Scott & White, and
Dr. Wagner, I’m doing what I love again.
I’m watching my son play football for the
Chicago Bears, spending time with my
“We found out about the new robotics
and laparoscopy and were eager to take
advantage of the benefits of the quicker
recovery and less pain,” Mr. Tillman says.
“A friend of mine had undergone the
procedure and highly recommended Dr.
Wagner.” Mr. Tillman had his surgery
within three weeks of meeting him.
Summer 08 Catalyst
15
> Faster recovery, less pain
continued
Endourology, Laparoscopy and Robotic
Surgery, Dr. Wagner returned to Scott
& White in 2007 and joined forces
with Lowry to offer the laparoscopic
robotic procedure.
“We are part of a well-trained team
offering a continuum of care,” Dr. Lowry
says. “It spans patient preparation and the
actual procedure to hospital care, at-home
recovery and rehabilitation for return
to normal daily activities as quickly
as possible.”
Robotic Procedure Eases
Recovery Experience
Patrick S. Lowry, MD, section head, Laparoscopy and Endourology, Scott & White Healthcare and
Kristofer R. Wagner, MD, director of Robotic Surgery, Scott & White Healthcare work as a team to
perform minimally invasive prostate surgery.
beautiful wife, Renee, and enjoying our
family and our new life, together.”
Technology and Training
Enhance Patient Care
As part of its mission to offer the best
medical advancements and to better serve
patients such as Mr. Tillman, who face
prostate surgery, in 2005 Scott & White
purchased the daVinci® robotic surgery
equipment, manufactured by Intuitive
Surgical, Inc.
“Training the clinical team on the robotic
technology was helped by the fact that one
of the operating rooms at the main
16
Catalyst Summer 08
hospital campus in Temple was designated
for the procedure,” says Patrick S. Lowry,
MD, section head, Laparoscopy and
Endourology, Scott & White Healthcare;
and assistant professor of Surgery, Texas
A&M Health Science Center of Medicine.
“It became very exciting in part because
our team is able to use the technology in
a familiar environment. The Division
of Urology also appreciates having strong
support from Scott & White leadership,
who facilitated the financing of the
new technology.”
Following a yearlong fellowship at George
Washington University Hospital in
One concern patients have when they
consider robotic laparoscopy is that their
surgery will be performed by a robot.
“That’s not the case,” Dr. Wagner says.
“The robotic instruments we use cannot
move without our command. All actions
are initiated by the surgeons, who are
alongside the patient every step of the way.
The beauty of this technology is that the
robotic functionality is so much more
precise than human movement. This helps
spare the nerves needed for restoring
normal functionality.”
Removing the prostate is complicated,
considering that it is about the size of a
walnut and, surrounded by nerves, is
located deep inside the pelvis in between
and connected to other organs, including
the urethra and bladder. While the two
methods—traditional and robot-assisted
laparoscopic—have virtually the same rate
of success in controlling cancer, the big
differences are in how the procedures
are performed.
Prostate cancer clinical trials
Radical prostatectomy, or removal of
the prostate gland, traditionally has been
performed by making a 6- to 10-inch
incision in the lower abdomen to remove
the cancerous gland. Robotic laparoscopy
enables the removal of the prostate
through five small incisions, each five to
12 millimeters in the lower abdomen.
This results in less blood loss during
the procedure, less pain and a shorter
recovery time.
“Dr. Lowry and I assist one another,” Dr.
Wagner says. “One of us sits at the console
looking at the images from the camera and
commanding the robotic instruments,
while the other is at the patient’s side
overseeing that all is going as it should.”
The Future Holds Promise
The collaborative environment at Scott &
White encourages working across all
medical and surgical specialty areas to
introduce innovative technology and
procedures to benefit all patients.
Scott & White’s investment and success
with robotic laparoscopy is also being used
for areas outside the Division of Urology.
“Any type of surgical procedure that requires
precise maneuvers in a narrow space is
a candidate for robotic laparoscopy,”
Dr. Wagner says. “Besides prostatectomies,
we have used the technology for bladder
and kidney surgeries. We also have
been working with our colleagues in the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
to explore best uses of the technology for
necessary hysterectomies and other female
pelvic surgeries.” ■
Dr. Wagner cites Scott & White’s various research projects, including
multicenter clinical trials, Federal Drug Administration studies,
pharmaceutical company investigations and regional cancer studies
by the Southwest Oncology Group. “We have a Phase I FDA clinical
trial that is testing a new injected prostatic biotoxin for cancer control.
Also, there is a pharmaceutical trial with a drug called Denosumab for
metastatic prostate cancer and a new surgical technique being tested
for reconstruction of the bladder and urethra,” he says.
Prostate cancer
and early detection
Scott & White’s
recommendations for prostate
cancer screening are
consistent with those of the
American Cancer Society.
All males 50 years and older
should be screened once a
year as part of their annual
well-check. African American
males and males with a father
or brother who has had
prostate cancer should be
screened annually starting
at age 40.
FREE
Prostate screenings
at Scott & White
September is Prostate Cancer
Awareness Month. Scott &
White will offer free Prostate
Specific Antigen screenings
(blood tests) at the Scott &
White Cancer Center in
Temple. This test is offered
to men who do not have
health insurance.
Glenda Tanner Vasicek
Cancer Treatment Center
opens this summer
Consolidating care in one
location, the Scott & White
Glenda Tanner Vasicek Cancer
Center opens this summer with
the completion of the first
phase of construction. Made
possible by more than $12
million raised through
donations, the Center is 45,000
square feet of space designed
to give cancer patients and
their families more ease and
comfort during treatments.
At Scott & White, approximately
2,000 new cases of cancer are
diagnosed each year with more
than 16,000 patients undergoing some form of cancer
treatment annually. In addition
to philanthropic funds, Scott &
White received an outpouring of
support from almost 2,000
individuals, corporations and
foundations to fund the
Center’s construction. Phase II
is scheduled to be completed
in the first quarter of 2009.
For more information call
254-724-1053
Summer 08 Catalyst
17
A collaborative mindset
The unique Neuroscience Institute will provide
an unsurpassed level of care where experts can
exchange ideas, study and treat neurological disorders.
“We are not just part
of the cutting edge.
We are contributing
to the data that
constitutes the
cutting edge.”
— Robert J. Buchanan, MD
18
Catalyst Summer 08
I
magine a day when doctors can
tell patients that a diagnosis of
Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease
can be cured, or a debilitating spinal cord
injury can be completely rehabilitated
thanks to groundbreaking research.
neuropsychology, neurology and neurosurgery are able to consult with one
another on challenging cases, share ideas
with research scientists, and ultimately,
bring unparalleled care to patients,” says
Dr. Buchanan.
A unique approach to care in neurological
disorders and injury may make that day a
reality and is what differentiates Scott &
White’s new Neuroscience Institute from
all others. The Neuroscience Institute is
assembling a world-class team of physicians
and scientists to provide an unsurpassed
level of care, with specialists from different
medical disciplines working alongside each
other, pushing the boundaries of what is
already known in medicine and sharing
new ideas. With the acquisition of leadingedge technology, patients and families
struggling with devastating neurological
disorders and injury may finally get the
good news they long to hear.
Comprehensive centers like the one Dr.
Buchanan is developing at Scott & White
are needed throughout the country, he
says. Also, despite departments in Dallas
and Houston, no other facility in Texas—
and perhaps in the nation—offers the
collaborative expertise that will be found
at Scott & White. The Neuroscience
Institute continues to hire top experienced
administrators as well as notable physician
scientists from across the United States.
Partnership: The Research
Bench and the Bedside
“Too often there is little interaction
between physicians challenged to treat
such patients and research scientists
working in labs to learn more about how
the brain and spinal cord function, and
what causes neurological disorders,” says
Robert J. Buchanan, MD, chairman of the
Department of Neurosurgery, director of
the Neuroscience Institute at Scott &
White Healthcare; assistant professor of
Surgery, Texas A&M Health Science
Center College of Medicine; and the
Helen Vosburg McCrillus Plummer and
Robert Edward Lee Plummer, Jr.
Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery.
“Our approach includes comprehensive
clinics where doctors with expertise
in different subspecialties of psychiatry,
“All our doctors have clinics and highly
specialized labs where they train physicians,
research fellows and graduate students,”
says Dr. Buchanan. “We are not just part of
the cutting edge. We are contributing to the
data that constitutes the cutting edge.”
Extensive Education
and Expertise
Scott & White recruited Dr. Buchanan to
head the Neuroscience Institute because
his own background represents an unusual
combination of research and clinical
and surgical expertise. He is among a
handful of physicians in the United States
who are trained in both psychiatry
and neurosurgery. His special interests
include stereotactic radiosurgery, epilepsy,
movement disorders, pain and psychiatric
disease. He has served on the faculties of
the University of California at San Diego
and the University of Texas Health Science
Center in San Antonio.
The Neuroscience Institute aims to unify
the clinical and research models to better
serve patients with any number of
conditions related to the brain and spinal
cord. These include trauma, epilepsy,
tumors, dementia, hydrocephalus, pain,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, movement
disorders, major depression, headache,
hearing and balance issues and spine injury
and degeneration.
The Institute combines the expertise of
the Department of Orthopedics and
Department of Neurosurgery in the Scott &
White Spine Center, a leader in minimally
invasive approaches to treating patients,
utilizing computer assistance and MRI
guidance. “This is a unique partnership
allowing crossover of both skills, allowing
experts to work side by side and share lab
space for spinal cord research,” he says.
“We’re truly joining forces for excellence.”
Likewise, with the construction of the
Scott & White Surgical Sciences Building,
the Bone and Joint Institute and a
Neuroscience Institute, patients will have
access to the best resources available.
Dr. Buchanan believes specialty centers are
the trend in better medical treatment, and
patients with difficult brain and spinal
issues will need to go to comprehensive,
academic medical centers because the
latest and best solutions will not be
available at local hospitals. Primary care
physicians and specialists are able to refer
patients to the Neuroscience Institute at
Scott & White.
Whether patients come from Texas or
anywhere in the United States, what Dr.
Buchanan hopes to achieve in the new
Neuroscience Institute is a center of
care equipped with unmatched medical
talent and technology that offers hope to
improve lives. ■
Summer 08 Catalyst
19
Tiny patients, big dreams
New faces, new spaces
and new technology
mean better care for
more children.
20
Catalyst Summer 08
A
nyone who has tried to keep up
with an energetic toddler knows
this task is daunting. They’re
constantly on the move, and their curiosity
and energy knows no bounds! And at the
end of a long and busy day, bright-eyed
youngsters get a new burst of enthusiasm
and set off on new adventures. A similar
lively scenario is happening with Scott &
White’s children’s services. The opening of
The Children’s Hospital at Scott & White
in early 2007 has been the catalyst for
tremendous growth. Everywhere you look
are new faces, new spaces, new technology
and new equipment. Like a toddler,
pediatric services are growing bigger and
stronger every day.
With about one in three children suffering
from a chronic disease and one in four
sustaining an injury that requires medical
attention, Scott & White will meet the
tremendous need for expertise in
pediatrics. We’re committed to being the
most trusted provider of advanced medical
care for Central Texas families. That’s a big
job, and it doesn’t leave much time for rest.
New Faces, New Specialties
Scott & White’s developing pediatric
services, strong leadership and renowned
reputation are drawing a high caliber of
professionals, including these physicians:
John Pliska, MD, a boardcertified pediatric cardiologist,
recently joined the staff as
vice chair for Inpatient
Pediatric Services. Dr. Pliska
treats children with heart
conditions ranging from mild disorders
to complex congenital problems. He
also is recruiting new physicians and
developing new services to provide a more
comprehensive range of care that will
allow more children than ever before to be
cared for at Scott & White.
“Before I came, pediatric cardiologists
visited Scott & White only two days a
week, and that was not enough,” he says.
“Even now I have to refer patients to other
providers because we need additional staff
and services to meet growing patient
demands. Over the next few years, we will
be building a pediatric cardiology team to
provide those services on-site.”
Ronald Hogg, MD is a boardcertified pediatric nephrologist with an international
reputation as a researcher and
physician. Hogg is Scott
& White’s first pediatric
nephrologist (kidney specialist) and treats
children with conditions such as urinary
tract infections, hypertension and nocturnal
enuresis (bedwetting).
Arlynn Mulne, MD is board
certified in pediatric hematology
and oncology, and treats
patients with a variety of
cancers and blood disorders.
She also serves as chief of
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Drs. Hogg and Mulne are assistant
professors of Pediatrics, Texas A&M Health
Science Center College of Medicine.
Scott & White will soon welcome a
pediatric neurosurgeon and specialists in
neonatology and intensive care treatment
for hospitalized children. Specialists in areas
such as cardiothoracic surgery, craniofacial
surgery and orthopedics are next on the list.
These specialties work together to provide
more comprehensive services.
New Spaces for Kids
Who Need Care
The dedicated pediatric space opened with
78 beds for young patients but has quickly
outgrown its space.
“In only one year, we had grown to the
point where we had to decline some patient
referrals because we didn’t have enough beds
and staff,” says Brian Blaylock, associate
executive director of The Children’s
Hospital at Scott & White. “In February,
we opened 10 medical/surgical beds in the
main hospital to create the very first
dedicated surgical unit for children.”
“To support our growth, it’s vital that we
develop the facilities to serve those infants and
their families right here. Philanthropy is
instrumental in our doing that.”
— Brian Blaylock, Associate Executive Director
of The Children’s Hospital at Scott & White
Summer 08 Catalyst
21
> Tiny patients, big dreams
continued
Because Scott & White serves an area with
a growing population, an increased birth
rate will also mean an increase in congenital
disease and birth defects. “In the past, we
have had to transfer those patients to other
hospitals. To support our growth, it’s vital
that we develop the facilities to serve those
infants and their families right here.
Philanthropy is instrumental in our doing
that,” says Mr. Blaylock.
The most extensive additions are planned
to serve the sickest children and their
families. Both the Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU) and the Pediatric Intensive
Care Unit (PICU) have added new beds.
The NICU added eight beds in November
and plans for another 12 beds. Considering
the rapid population growth in Scott &
White’s service area, even that may not be
enough. The PICU recently expanded to
12 beds to better care for the growing
number of seriously ill children.
Another exciting development is on the
horizon. Dedicated pediatric operating
suites will be included in Scott & White’s
new Surgical Sciences Building, a key
fundraising priority in Phase II of the
Vision Campaign. Now in the planning
stage, each operating room will feature
specific equipment and will be designed
The Cool-Cap system was designed to prevent or reduce brain damage in newborns with oxygen
problems during birth. It works by keeping the head cool while the body is maintained at a slightly
below-normal temperature.
specifically for the needs of young patients.
Because of the additional planning and
equipment required, the operating rooms
cost about $3 million each.
New Ways to Save Young Lives
Caring for children in the best ways
possible means acquiring technologies
that help Scott & White’s pediatric
experts ensure the best possible outcome
for each patient. Scott & White is the
only facility in the area to offer two
Caring for children in the best ways possible
means acquiring technologies that help Scott
& White’s pediatric experts ensure the best
possible outcome for each patient.
22
Catalyst Summer 08
advanced treatments that can significantly
improve the outlook for babies born
with serious medical problems.
The Cool-Cap, which arrived at Scott &
White in April, is designed to minimize
brain damage in infants who experience
some form of asphyxiation, such as having
the umbilical cord wrapped around the
neck during delivery. Lack of oxygen causes
brain damage that can result in cerebral
palsy, mental retardation or even death.
About two of every 1,000 full-term babies
experience these complications. The CoolCap lowers the temperature of the brain to
92 degrees and saves up to 90 percent of
the cells that otherwise might be damaged.
To be effective, the Cool-Cap must be used
within six hours after birth and be left in
place for exactly 72 hours. What’s more,
Scott & White is a member of the Children’s Miracle Network.
the technology can be made available to
babies around Texas, thanks to an
advanced incubator used to transport
medically fragile newborns aboard Scott &
White’s air ambulance. The incubator,
called an isolette, and the Cool-Cap were
both made possible by contributions to
Scott & White by McLane Company,
Inc., and the Scott & White Auxiliary.
“We have the Cool-Cap technology and
the transport isolette because of our
wonderful donors,” says Lesli Cearley,
director of Development, The Children's
Hospital at Scott & White. “We are deeply
grateful for their generous financial
support, which is making a significant
difference in our NICU and ultimately the
lives of children.”
A Pediatric Miracle
Amy Haas, RN has firsthand experience being a patient here. At
birth Amy was diagnosed with laryngostenosis, a severe restriction
in her larynx that made it difficult to breathe normally. After 30
operations, at age 11, Amy was one of the first patients at Scott &
White to live with a tracheotomy, an artificial airway implanted by
Tibor Ruff, MD, a retired Scott & White otolaryngologist.
Amy’s experience had a profound effect on her. She remembers how
child life and clinical staff helped her during her long battle. They
ultimately helped shape her life. Now married, Amy is a neonatal
nurse at Scott & White.
Additionally, Scott & White is acquiring
technology to care for the sickest
newborns. Called ECMO, for “extra
corporeal membrane oxygenation,” the
equipment is a heart-lung machine for
babies whose heart and/or lungs do not
function properly. The equipment can be
used for up to two weeks to give the
infant’s organs time to develop or heal.
Lifesaving equipment like the Cool-Cap,
the isolette and ECMO, as well as new
medical facilities and additional specialists,
are just a few of the exciting things
happening this year. But the greatest stories
will be those experienced in the lives—and
futures—of the children and families who
are helped by the advanced medical services
and professional care made possible by
Scott & White’s generous supporters. ■
Amy Haas, RN, neonatal nurse, holds a new patient.
Summer 08 Catalyst
23
Home run!
Pioneering care puts
this patient back in the
game of life.
R
obert Trevino knows better than
most about pitching strikes,
fielding balls and running the
bases. For more than a decade, the Taylor
resident spent his free time directing Pony
League teams and coaching young baseball
players on the game’s finer points. But
when he came to Scott & White last
summer barely able to breathe, he had no
idea that the options for treating his
deteriorating condition could result in
only one of two outcomes, either a grand
slam home run—or a strike out.
Thanks to his bravery and a skilled team of
medical professionals, Mr. Trevino hit a
life-saving home run.
On the Sidelines
For his entire life, Mr. Trevino had battled
an uncommon bone disease, polyostotic
fibrous dysplasia, in which bony masses
grow throughout the body. Over the years
he had multiple surgeries to remove the
masses, including having an eye removed.
Despite the debilitation, he carried on a
fairly normal, active lifestyle. But over
time, a bony mass growing inward into his
left chest wall was making it increasingly
difficult for him to breathe.
24
Catalyst Summer 08
Though only 40 years old, a non-smoker
and otherwise healthy, he depended on an
oxygen tank and could only go short
distances without a wheelchair.
eventual death from this condition,” says
Dr. Smythe. “He would eventually
suffocate slowly from these bony masses
pressing on his lungs.”
“When Robert came into our clinic, he
was profoundly short of breath. He was to
the level that he just couldn’t compensate
anymore,” says Scott Reznik, MD, a
cardiothoracic surgeon at Scott & White
Healthcare; and assistant professor of
Surgery, Texas A&M Health Science
Center College of Medicine.
But even with surgery, not only was there
no guarantee his lung capacity would be
restored, there was the risk that he could
die from the surgery.
Few Options, High Risks
“When we looked at his X-rays, we could
see that he was being suffocated from the
inside by these fibrous masses that were on
both sides of his ribs,” Dr. Reznik recalls.
The bony mass was growing into his chest
wall, obliterating the left lung. In
addition, it had pushed the heart from its
normal position in the left chest into the
right chest, severely restricting the right
lung’s capacity as well.
As is typical in the complex cases that Scott
& White cardiothoracic surgeons manage,
Dr. Reznik sought the collaboration of W.
Roy Smythe, MD, chairman of Scott &
White’s Department of Surgery; professor
of Surgery, Texas A&M Health Science
Center College of Medicine; and The Glen
E. and Rita K. Roney Endowed Chair in
Surgery. “What Robert was facing was
Stepping Up to the Plate
When the surgeons first told Mr. Trevino
his options, he did not want to undergo yet
another surgery. “It’s pretty unusual in
elective surgery that we have to tell a
patient, ‘If the surgery goes very well,
we can give you an absolute new lease
on life. But if it doesn’t go well, then the
operation will likely end your life,’” says Dr.
Smythe. “That obviously was another level
of consideration for Robert. He now was
faced with the decision to step up to the
plate, and we’ll either hit a home run or
strike out very badly—nothing in between.”
A second meeting with the doctors
convinced Mr. Trevino to have the surgery.
“The doctors knew how serious this was
and were honest with me,” he says. “Dr.
Smythe calmed me down and made me
feel more comfortable.”
Multidisciplinary Team Effort
Though well known in the medical texts,
polyostotic fibrous dysplasia is rare. “It is
Lance Morales (left) and Johnathan Holman (right) with patient and coach, Robert Trevino (center)
very unusual to have a case this severe,”
Dr. Reznik says. “We found only one
other case like this in the medical
literature, where a patient required
multiple operations and experienced this
level of involvement with lung function
totally compromised.”
It took more than eight hours for the two
cardiothoracic surgeons—and a skilled
multispecialty team—to remove the ninepound mass. In its place was a flattened
piece of lung no more than three
millimeters thick. “Normally at this
point in an operation where you have
removed something from someone’s chest,
the hard part is over,” says Dr. Smythe.
“But in this operation, the hard part
was still ahead.” As the anesthesiologist
pumped air into the pancaked lung, the
surgery team anxiously watched. “If it
didn’t expand, then the operation would
have pretty much been for naught,” Dr.
Reznik says.
Over the next 10 minutes, the flattened
left lung completely expanded. “Those
few minutes were one of the biggest
wins that I’ve experienced in general
thoracic surgeries,” he says. “It was a great
Summer 08 Catalyst
25
> Home run!
continued
feeling knowing we helped somebody
immediately.”
With the mass gone, the heart moved
naturally to its normal position. “He
regained all his left lung function, and
probably 50 percent of his right lung
function that had been lost by having the
heart being displaced there,” says Dr.
Smythe. “We had hit a home run.”
Life after a Home Run
Three weeks following surgery, Mr.
Trevino left the hospital—without the
need for an oxygen tank. In the
subsequent months, his chest X-rays
continued to improve, as well as his
quality of life. “He no longer needs a
wheelchair or oxygen, and is more mobile
than he has been in years,” Dr. Smythe
says. “The bony tumor that was
compressing his lung was threatening his
life, like a sword of Damocles hanging
over his head. Any minor lung infection
could have killed him. That sword has
been removed.”
Angelita Trevino marvels at her son’s
transformation. “The doctors and technology now are a lot different than when
he was first diagnosed,” she says. “Back
then, they really didn’t know what the
disease was or how to treat it.”
The Scott & White specialists are grateful
as well. “We are very fortunate here at
Scott & White to have a team of surgeons
who practice in this area and have a great
deal of experience with abnormal,
extensive and unusual surgical problems in
the chest,” says Dr. Smythe. “Philanthropy
supports the programs that allow me to
hire the surgeons who can do procedures
like this. The best trained and the most
talented want to work where the facilities
are excellent, the equipment and
technology are cutting edge and the
research is something they too can
participate in.
“This institution grew out of the work of
two pioneering Texas surgeons, who in
their own day were pushing the frontier to
improve patient care,” says Dr. Smythe.
“We like to think that we carry that spirit
into this century as well.” ■
> Know More About Polyostotic Fibrous Dysplasia
What is polyostotic fibrous dysplasia?
Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is an uncommon bone disease characterized by areas of abnormal
growth or lesions that can affect any bone in the body. The majority (about 70%) of people
with FD have only one bone site involved, a condition called monostotic FD. When FD is in
more than one bone it is called polyostotic FD.
What is the treatment?
There is no known cure, but there are treatments, including surgery, for the various symptoms
associated with FD.
Who is at risk?
FD occurs in males and females and in people of all races and from all parts of the world. It is
caused by a defective gene in the cells that form bone. The defect is neither inherited from the
person’s parents, nor passed on to the person’s children.
Resources:
Fibrous Dysplasia Foundation | www.fibrousdysplasia.org
Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch of the National Institute of
Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health | http://csdb.nidr.nih.gov/frame_clinical_bkg.htm
26
Catalyst Summer 08
Controlling high blood pressure
A new revolutionary
device could have the
potential to help millions.
S
cott & White is pursuing
groundbreaking therapy for
people seeking to protect their
future by controlling their high blood
pressure. To help them, Scott & White
has been selected by the Food and Drug
Administration to be one of the few
centers in the nation to participate in the
clinical trial of the Rheos® Baroreflex
Hypertension Therapy™ System. One of
two Scott & White vascular surgeons
serving as study investigators, Robert
Feldtman, MD, FACS, Division of
Vascular Surgery, Scott & White
Healthcare; and associate professor of
Surgery, Texas A&M Health Science
Center College of Medicine, says, “This is
very exciting technology. This is equal to
the breakthrough in the 1950s when the
first heart pacemakers were implanted.”
The Impact of
High Blood Pressure
The Rheos device has the potential to help
the roughly 20 million Americans who
have high blood pressure that cannot be
controlled with medication. This could be
the “tip of the iceberg” since one in three
American adults have high blood pressure
and don’t know it. While millions more
successfully maintain a healthy blood
pressure with treatment, they often suffer
from side effects that keep them from
living their life the way they want. The
Rheos device may help them, too.
High blood pressure can damage
small blood vessels, making them less
effective in supplying the body’s vital
organs with oxygen and nutrients. When
left uncontrolled, high blood pressure
increases the risk for heart disease, stroke
and other serious health problems. Yet high
blood pressure is difficult to control
because many patients fail to reach target
levels despite treatment, according to the
American Heart Association, American
Society of Hypertension and the Preventive
Cardiovascular Nurses’ Association.
Participation in the Study
Fewer than 100 of the devices have
been implanted so far, 10 of them at
Scott & White, one of 26 facilities
conducting the study. The palmsized, battery-operated generator
is surgically implanted under the
skin near the collarbone, with
electric leads wrapped around
the carotid artery on each side
of the neck. The body
already has its own
BRAIN
Impulses going
to the brain
CAROTID
ARTERY
Brain sends
signals to
organs that
regulate blood
pressure
HEART
Rheos®
device
KIDNEYS
Summer 08 Catalyst
27
> Controlling high blood pressure continued
sensors there, called baroreceptors, which
measure and report blood pressure to the
brain, which then uses this information to
lower blood pressure by sending signals to
the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. The
Rheos device taps into this natural blood
pressure regulation system. Dr. Feldtman
explains that recovery from the procedure
takes about three hours, and patients
usually go home in two days.
Karla Coco, RN, clinical research
coordinator for the Division of Vascular
Surgery at Scott & White Healthcare,
screens potential study participants.
“You must be on at least one diuretic
and two blood pressure medicines and
have a systolic reading greater than
160 and a diastolic greater than 80
consistently for the past 90 days,” she
says. Physicians can refer patients to the
study, or individuals can call Ms. Coco
at 866-447-8533. Patients with chronic
atrial fibrillation, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease or previous significant
neck surgeries are not eligible. More
information on the trial is available at
www.rheosstudy.com.
For the millions of people who have made
lifestyle changes and taken blood pressure
medicine without improvement, the Rheos
device study potentially holds the key to a
longer, healthier life. And, in great part, it is
because of thoughtful philanthropic
support that Scott & White can conduct
such potentially life-altering research. The
yearlong trial is intended to evaluate the
safety and effectiveness of the Rheos device,
helping researchers determine whether
further study is needed or if it can be put
into wider use. ■
May I help you?
Reducing patient wait time with technology.
B
efore the Scott & White
Regional Clinic in Killeen
installed a computer kiosk in
late 2007, patients often were lined up to
the door, waiting to check in. “Wait times
have dropped in half,” says Michael Dean,
director of the Regional Clinic in Killeen.
“On an average day, about 50 to 75 people
check in at the kiosk, sometimes as many as
100. That’s out of about 350,” Mr. Dean
says. With no available space behind the
check-in desk for an additional person, the
kiosk provides a creative solution to the
28
Catalyst Summer 08
needs for speedier check-in and reduced
staff workload. It offers other advantages,
too. “Some patients appreciate the
confidentiality of not having to talk to
anyone when they’re checking in,” he says.
Use of the touch screen kiosk is optional;
patients may check in at the desk, as
always. Accessible in English, Spanish and
German, and eventually in Korean, the
kiosk enables patients to sign in and make
a payment. If a patient requires assistance,
a lobby ambassador is available.
“Patient acceptance has been positive for
the most part. We’ve had a few little issues,
but the ambassador helps with that,”
says Mr. Dean.
The Waco, Belton and Northside locations
have kiosks that are up and running now,
too. And because installation of the first
unit has gone well, the Killeen Clinic is
currently experimenting with the addition
of a second unit. ■
Board Member Spotlight
Drayton McLane, Jr.
When did you first become interested
in philanthropy?
Chairman, The McLane Group, LP
Owner, The Houston Astros
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Scott & White Healthcare
Scott & White Donor
Why do you devote your time and
resources to Scott & White?
to them or their family. Then they can see
the results of their contribution over time.
I believe in the quality and sincerity of the
people, and I support their passion for
delivering high-quality healthcare. I know
Scott & White runs on a very sound
business philosophy, and its practice of
medicine is unparalleled in the Southwest.
It is by far the most robust, first-rate
healthcare system around and it delivers
healthcare in an incredibly positive way that
changes people’s lives for the better. Scott &
White is financially strong and has a
dynamic future—it’s fun and exciting to be
a part of that.
If healthcare institutions are really going to
be on the leading edge, providing
individuals with absolutely the best care
available, they need to have the resources to
move quickly. At Scott & White, the
potential is unlimited, and I believe the best
is yet to come. It’s going to take vision and
leadership, and it’s going to take people
who really want to make a difference at
Scott & White. I’ve lived in Central Texas
all my life, and I know the people here will
do whatever it takes to help Scott & White
live up to, even exceed, its potential. ■
Healthcare used to be pretty straightforward, but with advances in technology
and increasing costs, it has become a very
complicated business. My board service
encompasses a wide variety of projects,
and I enjoy the challenge.
How can people get involved?
While growing up, I had the opportunity to
observe my father giving back to the
community. After I went into business with
him in Cameron, he told me I had a moral
responsibility as a business leader to make
the community better. He explained that
it’s good for the local economy, friends, and
neighbors. It’s also personally very
rewarding. It’s just the right thing to do.
Everyone can have an impact. They can
become a Scott & White employee,
volunteer their time or share their
resources. People might wish to consider a
sustaining gift, an investment program of a
comfortable amount that they make over a
period of five years, and then designate to
an area of healthcare that means something
“Scott & White runs on
a very sound business
philosophy, and its
practice of medicine is
unparalleled in the
Southwest.”
— Drayton McLane, Jr.
Summer 08 Catalyst
29
Breathing Space
Creating a garden to heal patients, family and staff.
C
arlie Burdett was recuperating
from a kidney transplant five
years ago. To a lesser extent, so
was her husband, Tom, who donated one of
his kidneys to his beloved wife. They both
spent a lot of time recuperating indoors.
“When we could, we’d walk a little,” she
says. “There was a beautiful magnolia tree
at the center of the complex. We’d walk to
that tree and inhale the sweet aroma; it gave
us energy to walk back. It’s so wonderful to
be around something green and growing.”
Inspired by the healing powers of their
respite under the magnolia tree, the
Burdetts knew what they wanted to do for
Scott & White University Medical Campus
in Round Rock. Both were quick to sign on
as campaign co-chairs to help create a
Healing Garden for the new facility.
“We want something beautiful for people
to look out to, even if they don’t get to step
outside,” says Mrs. Burdett. “The Healing
Garden will include plenty of trees for
shade and Texas-friendly plants that grow
well in our climate. We’re also planning a
water wall where people can find some
solace,” she says.
Rendering of proposed
Healing Garden
30
Catalyst Summer 08
The Burdetts have a special affection for
Scott & White, and look for every
opportunity to offer their generous
support. About 20 years ago, Mrs. Burdett
was misdiagnosed at another hospital and
only after acting on Tom’s suggestion that
they try Scott & White, was her condition
correctly diagnosed and treated. “They
saved me,” she says.
“Scott & White has an atmosphere of really
wanting to help people. I felt it when I first
came here and ever since, every doctor has
been earnest about trying to find out what
I needed.”
The Healing Garden will cost $600,000
and will be funded solely by philanthropic
donations. “Our real goal is $750,000,” she
says. “That will allow money for
maintenance too, so we can keep things
looking nice.” Scott & White employees
and members of the community are invited
to participate in the campaign. Sponsorship
opportunities are not limited to, but
include, garden pavers and flower beds and
collectively will help to create a place where
patients and their families can rest in
beautiful surroundings and recapture
their strength.
To learn more, call Pat Byrum, director of
Development for Scott & White University
Medical Campus at 512-468-3589. ■
Bob Sewell, co-chair, Campaign Steering
Committee; Alfred B. Knight, MD,
president & CEO, Scott & White; Nancy
Birdwell, chief development officer,
Scott & White; Jim Jones, co-chair,
Campaign Steering Committee; Wayne
Hurd, Campaign Steering Committee;
and his wife, Eileen Hurd
Lake of the Hills Regional Medical Center
Sets Sail with $1 Million Pledge
A
Donor Appreciation Dinner
Cruise hosted by Scott & White
set sail from the Horseshoe Bay
Resort Yacht Club on Wednesday, April
23, 2008. The occasion: Celebrating
100% financial participation from the
volunteer committee and the cumulative
pledge of more than $1 million to enhance
marquee medical services and programs at
the new Scott & White Lake of the Hills
Regional Medical Center in Marble Falls.
This significant financial commitment
was made by the 17 members of the Lake
of the Hills Regional Medical Center
Capital Campaign Steering Committee
(listed below), a generous group of donors
from the community dedicated to
supporting Scott & White’s commitment
to providing care where it’s needed.
The new Lake of the Hills Regional
Medical Center will now bring state-ofthe-art care to the Hill Country, with
a non-profit, full-service, acute care
hospital. Construction of the new medical
facilities is projected to begin once water
and utilities reach the site.
To find out more about this historic
construction project and how you can
help, or to schedule a new hospital
presentation for a civic group/
organization, contact Stacy Page, director
of Development, Lake of the Hills
Regional Medical Center, Scott & White
Healthcare. Call 830-598-1204 or email
her at [email protected]. ■
Scott & White Executives and Board of Trustees wish to thank the following members of the
Capital Campaign Steering Committee for their unselfish dedication and generosity.
Jim Jones,
Campaign Co-Chair
Bob Sewell,
Campaign Co-Chair
Jean Anderson
Wayne Anderson
Larry Denney
Lou Henson
Wayne Hurd
Mike Jenkins
John Kemper
David Mitchell
Ron Mitchell
Randy Pipkin
Stevie Pipkin
Features of the new Scott
& White Lake of the Hills
Regional Medical Center:
> Premier services, particularly
in the areas of cardiology,
oncology, orthopedics,
radiology and women’s and
children’s care
> A 40-acre campus, including
the hospital and medical
office buildings
> 80 to 120 private rooms
> A fully digital healthcare
environment
> An open-staff physician policy
> Convenient, accessible
location at the intersection of
Hwy 281 and Hwy 71
John Racz
Morrison Smith
Steve Smith
Marion Weyrauch
Summer 08 Catalyst
31
> A catalyst produces a chemical reaction and ignites a response.
Catalyst, the new magazine published by the Scott & White
Office of Development, seeks to be a catalyst for people to
become more involved—in their own health and in the health
status of their communities. Our goal is to inform and empower
you to make healthcare decisions to benefit you and your family.
Each issue will highlight the people at Scott & White who are making
a real difference. Catalysts are physicians who assemble treatment
plans to better patients’ lives. They’re donors who share our mission
of advancing healthcare for individuals near and far. They’re scientists
unraveling the nature of disease, volunteers who bring smiles to
patients young and old, and board members who believe in the
profound difference that Scott & White makes in the Central Texas
region. These people and many more are making great things happen!
We hope you enjoy reading Catalyst, and invite you to send us
feedback at [email protected].
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