March 25, 2019
In its earliest and most curable stages liver cancer has no symptoms, making awareness and screening crucial for saving lives. "In many cases, liver cancer can be caught early, and for high-risk individuals, close monitoring by their doctor is necessary," says Milan Kinkhabwala, MD, Chief, Transplantation, and Director, Abdominal Transplantation, Montefiore. Any liver disease or damage to liver cells elevates a person’s risk, including fatty liver disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cirrhosis (severe scarring of the liver), and hepatitis B and C. High-risk individuals should have biannual or yearly screenings, which include an ultrasound exam, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test, and an abdominal CT scan or MRI. Symptoms of advanced cancer include jaundice, abdominal pain and swelling, and bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.
“IN MANY CASES, LIVER CANCER CAN BE CAUGHT EARLY, AND FOR HIGHRISK INDIVIDUALS, CLOSE MONITORING BY THEIR DOCTOR IS NECESSARY.” — Milan Kinkhabwala, MD
The incidence of liver cancer has tripled in the United States since 1980, with 42,000 people diagnosed in 2018. Caught early, in stages 1 and 2, liver cancer can be curable. At more advanced stages, it is incurable, though treatment may prolong life.
Treatment at Montefiore involves a multidisciplinary team to create an individualized plan of surgical and/or nonsurgical treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy to eliminate cancer cells and reduce their recurrence.
To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/lohud-liver-cancer-screening
In a historic decision, the State of New York has granted an absolute charter to Albert Einstein College of Medicine, bestowing independent degree-granting authority beginning with this year's commencement.
Montefiore's history with the College has its roots in an early 1950s meeting between Dr. Albert Einstein and his friend and colleague Dr. Harry Zimmerman, then Chair of Neuropathology at Montefiore. They came to an understanding about the need for a new medical school dedicated to the highest standards of science and teaching, grounded in an enduring commitment to social justice and inclusion in an era when medical schools restricted admission based on religion, race or gender. The two institutions have been closely aligned ever since, expanding their core missions of scientific research, innovation, teaching and service to our communities.
"Einstein is entering a new era," says Steven M. Safyer, MD, President and CEO, Montefiore Medicine and graduate of Einstein. "This announcement paves the way for Einstein and Montefiore to build upon and expand their joint efforts, while pursuing novel approaches to science and medicine that benefit humanity."
Find more details at https://bit.ly/degree-granting-institution
Families and associates celebrated the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Programs during a special event on March 21 in the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) lobby. The team was on hand to help the children enjoy art projects, a drum circle, face painting, the Teddy Bear clinic, special games and much more. Event sponsors included CHAM’s Phoebe H. Stein Child Life Program, CDM Group Creative Arts Therapy Program and the Nathaniel Rand Playroom Program. These programs are an integral part of specialty services offered at CHAM, providing help for children to successfully cope with illness, injury and treatment in a hospital setting. Additional sponsors included Artworks Foundation, EnCourage Kids Foundation and My Friend Ragdolls.
To learn more, visit www.cham.org/child-life-program.
March 24–30, 2019, marks the 30th annual observance of Health Information Professionals Week.
Health Information Management (HIM), an allied health profession, leads efforts to ensure the availability, accuracy, integrity and security of all data related to patient healthcare encounters, thus achieving better clinical and business decisions that enhance healthcare quality. Montefiore is proud to participate in Health Information Professionals Week and celebrate our professionals who play a vital role in the healthcare industry.
Eat your vegetables with colorful and tasty recipes that will get smiles, not frowns, from the family! Fresh ingredients make all the difference when cooking vegetables, and you’ll find them at a local farmers market or green grocer. “Our recipes make it easy to boost your daily intake of fresh foods, and they are quick to prepare and can be a light and healthy vegetarian meal or a great side dish,” says Sandra Arévalo, RDN, Director of Nutrition Services and Community Outreach at Montefiore’s Community Pediatrics Program.
The recipe featured is from a cookbook titled Microwave Chef and requires nothing more than a microwave and a few healthy ingredients. The book is a collaboration of Montefiore and the Children’s Health Fund as part of their shared commitment to create a healthy community. Find another great veggie recipe—Glazed Carrots and Apples—and more at https://bit.ly/lohud-healthy-veggie-recipes
Makes 4–6 servings
Gary J. Kennedy, MD
Liise-anne Pirofski, MD
Gary J. Kennedy, MD, Vice Chair, Education, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; and Director, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Montefiore, and Liise-anne Pirofski, MD, Professor, Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology; Selma and Dr. Jacques Mitrani Chair, Biomedical Research; and Chief, Infectious Diseases, Montefiore and Einstein, were honored on March 5 at UJA Federation’s annual Montefiore Einstein Reception Dinner for its Healthcare Division. Dr. Kennedy was recognized for his dedication to advancing medicine and improving lives around the world, and Dr. Pirofski was recognized for her professional accomplishments, including her more than 140 peer-reviewed articles and the development of novel programs to deliver state-of-the-art care to patients at Montefiore.
Men and women who are HIV+ are needed for a research study being conducted at Montefiore Medical Center. You will be compensated $100 for the screening visit. The study website is www.anchorstudy.org.
You may be eligible to participate in this study if you:
Call Natalie Frey at 929-263-3911 or email nfrey@montefiore.org to learn more.
Join Associate Wellness Nutrition Hot Topics, where Montefiore registered dietitians will engage in a lightning-round discussion about nutrition trends, such as drinking celery juice, and hot-topic kitchen items, such as the air fryer. The dietitians will share their professional opinions on what trends should be tried and which should be trashed. Open to all associates.
Wednesday, March 27 | 1:15 – 2:15 PM
Moses Campus, TLC Room 4 and Zoom
Visit the events section of the intranet to register for the Zoom Webinar.
