November 6, 2017
Mother Nicole McDonald reads to twins Jadon and Anias prior to surgery.
One year ago, conjoined twins Jadon and Anias McDonald were separated in a complex surgical procedure at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) that gained the attention of people around the world. Joined at the head, the boys shared a delicate web of connections that required multiple surgeries, and some new technologies, to address. After their release from the Pediatric Critical Care Unit at CHAM, they moved to Blythedale Children’s Hospital, where they received rehabilitation services.
From left: Jadon and Anias McDonald, with big brother Aza.
Finally thriving at home, the twins continue to defy the odds. Jadon is crawling, eating a variety of foods and playing with his older brother’s toys. Anias is gaining core strength and his breathing and sleeping have improved.
"I am delighted and impressed by the boys' tremendous progress," says James T. Goodrich, MD, PhD, DSci (Hon.), Director, Pediatric Neurosurgery, CHAM, and Professor, Clinical Neurological Surgery, Pediatrics, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Einstein. Oren Tepper, MD, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon; Director, Craniofacial Surgery Program; and Director, Aesthetic Surgery, Montefiore, and Assistant Professor, Plastic Surgery, Einstein, led the reconstructive portion of the boys’ care.
"WE ALWAYS HAD FAITH THAT THE BOYS WOULD GET TO WHERE THEY ARE TODAY." —Nicole McDonald, the twins’ mother
The twins' progress has been a blessing for their family. "We always had faith that the boys would get to where they are today," says their mother, Nicole McDonald. "We are so happy and blessed to all be at home together and see the boys achieve new milestones every day."
Judy Aschner, MD, Physician-in-Chief, CHAM, addresses attendees at the 37th Annual Pediatric Staff, Alumni and Network Physician Day.
Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) hosted its 37th Annual Pediatric Staff, Alumni and Network Physician Day on November 1. The event provides an opportunity for alumni to reconnect and staff to learn about current topics in pediatrics. Providers from Montefiore Medical Group and network hospitals joined the event for the first time, along with referring providers in the area. "Our effort to engage the network is in keeping with the theme of optimizing collaboration," says Peter Belamarich, MD, Vice Chairman, Affiliate and Network Relations, Montefiore. Judy Aschner, MD, Physician-in-Chief, CHAM, presented the State of the Department of Pediatrics address to a packed room, which detailed the Department's achievements, new hires and her vision going forward. Attendees were also given tours of CHAM, and participated in a networking lunch with CHAM specialists.
Montefiore will observe American Diabetes Month in November with a range of activities and events. The theme this year, Are You Too Sweet?, shines a spotlight on excessive sugar consumption. An increasing number of adults and teens are becoming prediabetic as a result of eating and drinking too much sugar. The NYC Department of Health has launched its own campaign, The Sour Side of Sweet, to focus on the damage "empty calories" can do, and to remind people to avoid consuming sugary drinks and giving them to children.
Montefiore's Diabetes Month program includes healthy eating demonstrations, interactive diabetes prevention workshops, educational talks, exercise classes and demos, relaxation stations and wellness fairs. As a leading provider of diabetes care, Montefiore is passionate about teaching members of the communities we serve how to manage and prevent this chronic condition.
Events are free of charge and open to the community, unless designated for associates only. For more information, visit www.montefiore.org/diabetesmonth and download the event calendar.
Montefiore volunteers from a broad cross-section of clinical and non-clinical areas arrive at JFK airport after their two-week medical mission to Puerto Rico.
No strangers to disaster relief efforts, Montefiore volunteers departed for Puerto Rico on October 12, spending two weeks helping those affected by Hurricane Maria. Fourteen Montefiore associates were joined by 65 other New York healthcare workers, drawn from six health systems and organized by the Greater New York Health Association. Volunteers represented a broad range of clinical and non-clinical roles with the skills to treat patients and run operations. Clinic operations ran smoothly, with careful supervision of generators and air conditioners. The volunteers spent most of their time in Fajardo, where the medical team treated roughly 1,200 patients during their stay. Montefiore Safety Manager Andrew Von Deesten oversaw clinic operations, remarking that the most memorable part was interacting with local residents and volunteers. "People were so appreciative that we were there and helping," he says.
You’ll be receiving an email from MIT System Notification during the next two months with instructions for resetting your login/email password. Please watch for this email and follow the instructions to update your password.
The updated policy will require you to create a new, complex password that contains at least three of these criteria: upper case, lower case, number and symbol. For example: Swisscheese4! Your password needs to be at least 8 characters in length, and you will need to create a new password every 90 days.
Jonathan Krystal, MD
Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon
Orthopaedic Surgery
Katharine McNeill, MD
Attending Physician
Neurology
Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care
The 7th Annual Nursing Research Symposium was held October 6 on the Moses Campus, showcasing innovative clinical research, evidence-based practices and quality improvement initiatives by Montefiore nurses. The event provides opportunities to share their findings with peers and nursing leadership. "We hope that we can inspire other nurses in our organization and in the metropolitan area to embrace the desire for knowledge and to improve the science of nursing and the care that we provide," says Mary Ellen Lindros, EdD, RN, Director, Professional Practice, Montefiore. Among the highlights was a qualitative study on the lived experience of relationship transition in significant others caring for a partner with younger-onset dementia, conducted and presented by Diane Peyser, PhD, RN, NEABC, Nursing Project Director, Magnet, Montefiore. Keynote speaker Peter Buerhaus, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAANP(H), a noted nurse researcher and healthcare economist and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Workforce Studies, College of Nursing, at Montana State University, offered a promising outlook for the nursing profession in his talk "The Future of Nursing: Projections for the Nursing Workforce."
Montefiore's Nursing Research Symposium Committee Leaders with keynote speaker Peter Buerhaus, PhD, RN, FAAN, FAANP(H), and Maureen Scanlan, MSN, RN-BC, Vice President, Nursing and Patient Care Services, at Montefiore’s 7th Annual Nursing Research Symposium.
If so, find out how you can get involved in a behavioral treatment research study today.
Eligible participants will receive:
Participants will be compensated. Research will be conducted at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
To learn more, call 718-862-1817 or email cnl@einstein.yu.edu.
Patients and their families are invited to join the Turner Syndrome Foundation Workshop, to receive educational information and resources, as well as the opportunity for social interaction for girls with Turner syndrome and their parents. Turner syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting about one in 2,000 females. These girls experience various medical and non-medical issues that impact their daily lives and functioning.
Friday, November 17 | 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Grand Hall, Moses Campus
Register at tsfusa.org by November 10; for more information, contact Susan Wesoly at 718-920-4090 or Laura Fasciano at 732-847-3385.
Conscious breathing is a powerful tool that has been used by many traditions over centuries. Participants will engage in various techniques to help them feel calmer and more balanced. Led by Peter Selwyn, MD.
Two Thursdays in TLC 1:
November 2 | 5:00 – 6:00 PM and November 9 | 5:15 – 6:15 PM
