Members in the News

Dr. Marwan Abouljoud, director of Henry Ford Hospital’s Transplant Institute and iCons in Medicine Member, recently served as the lead author on a study examining the Donor Risk Index on liver transplant recipients. Hepatitis C was shown to continue to be a major contributor to poor graft survival in transplant patients. The Donor Risk Index assesses donor characteristics impacting liver transplant outcomes.

Dr. Dale Alverson, president of the American Telemedicine Association and iCons in Medicine Advisory Board and Volunteer Member, recently participated in a discussion on the future of telemedicine. According to Dr. Alverson, “We are in an amazing time in America for the transformation of our health care system.” Newly developed health information technology can help to ensure the delivery of quality care worldwide, particularly in rural or underserved areas.

Dr. Osama Hamdy, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard University and iCons in Medicine Volunteer Member, is also the Medical Director of the obesity clinical program at Joslin Diabetes Center. The “Why WAIT?” program at Joslin is designed to help patients with diabetes improve their health while reducing medications. Patients who have taken part in the program previously lost an average of nearly 25 pounds.

Dr. Gevorg Yaghjyan, vice dean of postgraduate education and CME at Heratsi Yerevan State Medical University and iCons in Medicine Requestor, discussed a consultation initiative recently established in Armenia. Using a high-speed connection and centrally controlled communications database, healthcare providers in Armenia will connect with Armenian-American specialists who have expressed an interest in participating in the program.

Dr. Dale Alverson, medical director at the Center for Telehealth and Cybermedicine research at the University of Mexico and iCons in Medicine Advisory Board and Volunteer Member, recently discussed telemedicine in the home. According to Dr. Alverson, telemedicine devices used in the home can help to improve outcomes for elderly patients and others who may require home care.

Dr. Ron Merrell, Professor of Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University and iCons in Medicine Advisory Board and Volunteer Member, was keynote speaker at the International Conference on Smart Home Technology (ICOST) 2010 in Seoul, South Korea. This eighth annual conference emphasized the potential for telemedicine in the home.

Dr. Rouba Ali-Fehmi, Associate Professor of Pathology at Wayne State University School of Medicine and iCons in Medicine Volunteer Member in the National Arab American Medical Association (NAAMA) Chapter, spoke recently at NAAMA’s 24th International Medical Convention. Dr. Ali-Fehmi addressed ovarian serous borderline tumors and ovarian mucinous borderline tumors.

Dr. Joseph Kvedar, director of the Center for Connected Health and iCons in Medicine Advisory Board Member and Volunteer Member, recently discussed using text messaging to deliver healthcare information to patients. Though older patients are less likely to use smartphones, according to Dr. Kvedar, they may have a greater need for medical information. Nearly any phone can be used with SMS programs to deliver important health information to patients.

Dr. Osama Hamdy, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard University and iCons in Medicine Volunteer Member, recently commented on diabetes and weight. “I was able to avoid diabetes,” said Dr. Hamdy, who also organizes a course on diabetes management for doctors, “and I want to show others that it can be done.” According to Dr. Hamdy, prevention and weight loss are key factors in limiting the progression of diabetes.

Dr. Rifat Latifi, Professor of Surgery, founder of the International Virtual e-Hospital Foundation, and iCons in Medicine Advisory Board Member and Volunteer, will be leading a new telemedicine program. iCons in Medicine Advisory Board Members Dr. Ronald Merrell, Charles Doarn, and Dr. Ronald Weinstein will also participate in the Integrated Telemedicine and e-Health Program, through which a National Telemedicine Center and five Regional Telemedicine Centers will be established in Albania.

Dr. George Zureikat, iCons in Medicine Volunteer Member and Mid Michigan Sleep Center and Hurley Medical Center pediatrician recently discussed the importance of children sleeping alone. Newborns sharing a bed with their parents are at risk of suffocation or being harmed by an adult rolling over on top of them. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Department offers additional “safe sleeping” suggestions for infants.

Jonathan Linkous, President of the American Telemedicine Association and iCons in Medicine Member, recently wrote on the popularity of M-health. While mobile healthcare is currently popular, Mr. Linkous explains that M-health is just one element in the healthcare sector. According to Linkhous, "Developing a way to use a mobile device to measure blood glucose and send the data to another location may be interesting but is not nearly enough."

Dr. Joseph Kvedar, director of the Center for Connected Health and iCons in Medicine Advisory Board Member and Volunteer Member, recently discussed mobile health applications. According to Dr. Kvedar, these apps offer healthcare providers access to a wider and more varied base of information. In addition, they can help consumers to be more accountable for their own health.

Dr. Nassir Ghaemi, director of the Mood Disorders and Psychopharmacology programs at Tufts Medical Center and iCons in Medicine Volunteer Member, recently wrote on the mood-altering effects of chocolate. According to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, people who were not depressed consumed on average 5.4 one-ounce servings of chocolate per month. Those reporting major depression consumed approximately twice that, or 11.8 servings.

Dr. Elmir Cickusic, chief executive at the University Clinical Center (UKC) in Tuzla and iCons in Medicine Volunteer and Medical Director of the UKC Chapter, recently discussed the rebuilding of the facility. With help from doctors and nurses from around the world, the UKC was able to provide care to patients during the post-war crisis. While many left, some clinicians stayed and helped to rebuild the nation’s medical system.