Dear Faculty, Staff, Residents and Students:

Twenty years ago, I was finishing a meeting in my office at Bellevue Hospital in lower Manhattan when a nurse told me that “a small plane had hit one of the World Trade Towers.”  I went to a nearby patient family lounge where the staff were intently watching a TV showing smoke coming from the first Tower. It was clear to me from the extensive damage visible that this was not caused by a small plane, this as I watched a second jet hit the adjacent Tower. So began a horrific day that would take the lives of two of my patients’ husbands, a friend and America’s sense of invulnerability.

The horrifying images of September 11 have now been deeply seared into our collective memory. And although Americans under 20 cannot remember a time when our nation was not at war, most of us will never forget how we felt that day in 2001.  We each seem to have our own stories of when we learned our nation was attacked and how the proceeding events left a lasting impact on ourselves, our families, our friends, and our nation. I am still haunted by the pictures of hundreds of missing people taped to the gate outside of Bellevue. We will also not forget how for a brief time, our country came together in an incredible display of unity, grief, patriotism, and strength to honor those who lost their lives and to demonstrate our resolve to the entire world.

September 11, 2001, was followed by long and costly wars, and perhaps all of us had moments when we pondered if and when America’s incredible investment of treasure, blood and tears would end.  Twenty years is a long time to wonder if your nation is doing the right thing, and it may be many decades more before we can fully comprehend how America has changed, and whether for the better or worse or both.  But until then, there are a few things in which we can take comfort: we can remember a clear blue-sky day in September when our nation rediscovered heroes, sacrifice, and the price of freedom. We can take comfort in the notion that we have since helped thousands of people escape oppressive regimes and gain access to freedom, education, and opportunity. We can note with pride that by rebuilding the World Trade Center, repairing the Pentagon, and fortifying our points of vulnerability, we have shown the world that terrorism never really achieves anything beyond the misery it creates in the moment.

But we have also learned a great many difficult lessons that must never be forgotten. We have learned that even great powers like America can be humbled, and that our nation’s military must never be what defines us but must always be at the ready to protect the ideals that distinguish us.  And perhaps most importantly, we’ve learned that democracy and liberty are very fragile gifts that must be vigilantly guarded and permanently nurtured.  It takes more than slogans and weapons to build an enduring democracy, but it takes no more than these to destroy one if people lack civility toward each other, mistrust their institutions, and fail to develop a common higher moral purpose.

While the chaotic retreat from Afghanistan and discord at home over implementation of basic public health measures have caused a few of us to despair, I remain optimistic about our future. America has always had to struggle to attain the heights of its promise.  But in the decisive hours, when the world has need for great feats and great heroes, we can be justifiably proud that our nation has always come together and risen to the ready. Twenty years after 9/11, I believe this still rings true and that the best of America is yet to come.

Sincerely,

Charly

Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM
Senior Vice President, USF Health
Dean, Morsani College of Medicine

By Charles J. Lockwood, MD
Senior Vice President for USF Health
Dean of the Morsani College of Medicine

As we mark the 75^th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, I can’t help but think that there are fewer and fewer of the greatest generation with us to celebrate their remarkable achievement.  My father was one of those young men who selflessly contributed to our victory. He grew up on the shores of Lake Erie, the son of a Great Lakes’ merchant marine captain. He spent summers working on his father’s ships. When my grandfather moved to Miami to take a job as a “banana boat” freighter captain, my father finished high school at Miami Edison where he played basketball despite being only 5’ 6”.  He spent the next year as a helmsman on a Steinbrenner car carrier – the Phillip Minch on the Great Lakes. His description of a particularly fierce November gale on Lake Superior still sends shivers down my spine. A forward hatch had given way and the ship was taking on water and he had to crawl on the pitching deck with another sailor to secure it.  He described being hit broadside by a giant wave that knocked the wind out of him and almost washed him overboard. He somehow held on, revived, secured the hatch with the help of the older sailor, and made it back to the bridge.

Charles William Lockwood

The following fall he enrolled at the University of Miami.  On December 8^th, 1941 he tried to enlist in the Navy but was rejected because he was underweight.   Not deterred, he shamelessly used his father’s “pull” to get a commission in the Coast Guard.  Based on his college time and experience on large ships coupled with the Nation’s desperate need for seagoing officers, he was commissioned an ensign in the Coast Guard and was immediately sent to sea on the Spruce, a converted buoy tender that soon served as a convoy escort vessel in the Atlantic and, later the Caribbean. The ship’s Captain, Mr. Larsen, and her Executive officer, Mr. Conrad, were old merchant marine hands and friends of my grandfather and they patiently mentored my father, perfecting his celestial navigation and ship handling skills and teaching him proper naval etiquette.  My father recalled one night when two German torpedoes raced just a head of his ship as he took evasive action. He called the Captain to the bridge who calmly called in the contact and winked at my father telling him they were probably just really fast “dolphins”.

After gaining experience my father was given command of a Coast Guard subchaser and attacked a U-boat off the coast of South America with depth charges.  The attack produced an oil slick, was listed as a possible “kill” and resulted in a promotion and transfer to the Coast Guard Academy’s underwater warfare school.  Following this training he was reassigned to the USS Campbell, a large cutter that was the flagship of the Coast Guard in WWII.  When he reached Pearl Harbor after a long flight, he went to the US Navy Officer’s Club and saw a table labeled “Charles Lockwood.”  He was duly impressed that his arrival had been noticed and sat down. Within seconds two burly shore patrol sailors hoisted him out of his seat and told him that the table was reserved for “the other Charles Lockwood,” a Vice Admiral and commander of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force (COMSUBPAC)!

When I asked him if he was ever frightened during the war – he said just once. Following the battle of Okinawa, the island was hit by a horrific typhon requiring the entire invasion fleet to go to sea. He was the officer of the deck at the height of the storm which had 150 knot winds generating 100-foot waves, He watched as several large ships foundered unable to offer aid.  When his long watch was over, he headed to the officers’ mess, strapped himself in a chair and ate a vat of ice cream.

My dad stayed on in Japan as part of the occupation forces through 1946.  He then returned to Florida, married my mother, and was reassigned to finish his schooling under the GI bill at the University of Florida, graduating with honors in Engineering. He did well enough to be offered a job at Stone & Webster, a white shoe engineering firm in Boston, where he helped design hydroelectric plants on the Columbia River in Washington state.  In an era when the term “hero” is often assigned for just showing up to work, my father and countless others of his greatest generation actually earned the title. Thanks Dad.

USF Health faculty and administrators filled the neurocognitive testing room in the USF Health Concussion Center in Carrollwood as part of an informal celebration opening the new facility. Held Dec. 5, the gathering included many from USF Health who helped make the facility a reality.

“The timing for this couldn’t be better,” said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, senior vice president of USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.

“This Center is an important part of what USF has to offer and is a wonderful example of what we need to do in USF Health to take care of an entire population. Thank you all – I couldn’t be more thrilled about this.”

USF Health Concussion Center ribbon cutting

The new Concussion Center offers health care providers across the Tampa Bay area a facility dedicated to treating patients of all ages who have head injuries and symptoms of concussion. The Center includes specially trained primary care physicians who will effectively and safely manage concussion injuries, as well as offer access to an extensive network of USF Health experts in sports medicine, neuropsychology, neurology, psychiatry, neuro-ophthalmology, neurosurgery, and physical therapy.

“Concussion is very real and there was no place in the community where patients and parents and children could go and be treated in a meaningful way,” said Roy Sanders, MD, professor and chair of the Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine Department in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

“Our hope is that people will come to realize this is a community asset, not only for taking care of their children, but also for research, which will make a difference going forward in care and change the way we manage care in the future. We hope this will be a stand-alone clinic that will get local, regional, statewide and, ultimately, national and international recognition. That’s our goal, and I know I have the right team to do it.”

From left: Dr. Roy Sanders, Dr. Charles Lockwood and Dr. Gianluca Del Rossi at the Concussion Center opening.

***

Haley Pigott knew something was wrong when frequent headaches prevented her from participating in daily activities, school work, and soccer.

And she knew exactly what caused them. The senior student at the University of Tampa experienced soccer-related injuries this past summer that resulted in three different hits to her head.

So when she approached her trainer, Alejandro Arenas, he knew immediately she should see the team of concussion experts from USF Health Care at the newly opened USF Health Concussion Center in Carrollwood.

“The USF team was able to run the right tests to evaluate the full impact of my injury,” Pigott said.

The clinicians determined there was a problem with her vestibule-ocular reflex (VOR allows our eyes to move contrary to how our head may be moving, stabilizing the line of sight).  Physical therapy was scheduled, and a plan was created that slowly got her back to normal activity, school work and physical activity.

“I would walk 15 to 20 minutes, bike, or run, at a time and try to hit a target heart rate, then build up to the next level, all without getting headaches. There was a range I aimed for, pushing myself but not too much so that I ended up with a headache. I had to find that window. I am now symptom free and can work out,” Pigott said.

“I’m very thankful for all of their help. No way for our training staff to figure I had vestibule-ocular reflex. I had to find a specialist to help me figure out what it was. I’m impressed by what they have at the Concussion Center. I knew I was getting great care. This is a great facility to have and to use, a great resource.”

***

Opened since summer, the new Concussion Center is an important advancement for the community, said Gianluca Del Rossi, PhD, ATC, executive director of the USF Health Concussion Center.

“Today represents a culmination of collective effort to open a one-stop shop that specializes in evaluation and management of concussion and serves as a hub for research,” Dr. Del Rossi said at the event.

Dr. Byron Moran takes questions from local media a the opening event.

“Much attention has been given to concussion in sports in the last few years, and there is a greater awareness among the general public. But in truth, the problem with concussion goes far beyond the sports world. We’re seeing it in all walks of life. Patients with head injuries of any type are welcome and will receive the individualized and comprehensive care that’s required to effectively manage concussions. That’s what sets us apart.”

The USF Health Concussion Center is located at 10330 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Suite 220, Tampa, FL 33618.

-Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications and Marketing

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E4s-PLUZ-U

The USF Health Physician Assistant (PA) Program officially started May 8 when 30 students – the inaugural class – gathered in a lecture hall to begin their classes.

The excitement was palpable – faculty and administrators eagerly welcomed each student who arrived at the first-day orientation and students were all smiles as they came in and greeted each other.

The day many had been waiting for and working toward had finally arrived.

“We are more than excited for you all to be here,” said Todd Wills, MD, assistant dean and founding director of USF Health’s PA Program, in his welcoming remarks to the new class. “We have no doubt you’re going to succeed – you’re in a fantastic place where the facilities and faculty are top-notch.”

Dr. Todd Wills welcomes the charter class to the PA Program.

The USF Health PA Program was established to help meet the growing demand for health care providers, especially those in primary care. The program earned provisional accreditation in fall 2016, opening the application process and assuring applicants of a quality program.

The 30 students in the charter class include 21 women and 9 men. They were chosen from more than 1,500 applicants (50 to 1 ratio, or 2 percent). Of the 30 new students 23 are from Florida and seven from out of state.

Being part of a charter class is uncommon, said Bryan A. Bognar, MD, MPH, FACP, vice dean for Educational Affairs for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, at the start of the orientation.

“There is only one charter class,” Dr. Bognar said to the new students. “USF Health has seen phenomenal growth and you, sitting here today, are part of our continued growth.”

Dr. Bryan Bognar kicks off the first day for the USF Health PA Program.

In assuring them of the work ahead in the program, he added “This PA program is unparalleled.”

This first group includes many who saw the quality of USF Health’s program and were eager to be in the inaugural group. That includes first-year student Kelly Powell. Originally from Mississippi, Powel spent the past year in New York City as a medical assistant for a dermatology practice. She said she was confident when applying to the USF Health PA program because of its affiliation with the Morsani College of Medicine, the experience of its faculty, and the facilities that would be part of her training.

“Being part of the first class could be intimidating – they expect a lot out of you – but the big benefit is that they are flexible and want feedback for how to improve the program,” Powell said.

Also in the first class is Jensen Jozil, who saw the impact a PA can have on patient care when his mother needed emergency care at a hospital.

“I was really impressed,” said Jozil, a graduate of USF’s biomedical sciences program. “The PA was managing the entire case with professionalism and was a good source of knowledge for my mom’s condition. That’s when I really knew I wanted to be a PA.”

PA students spend a few minutes meeting each other before first-day orientation.

That kind of impact is just what program administrators were aiming for, said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, senior vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.

“Physician assistants are on the frontline of patient care,” Dr. Lockwood said. “They work more closely with physicians than probably anyone else. They are trained to provide outstanding care for patients, to be able to assist physicians in operating rooms, as well as to provide primary care.”

The demand for PAs is huge, Dr. Lockwood added, and the statistics bear him out. The U.S. Department of Labor projects physician assistant jobs to grow 30 percent by 2024. Upon earning their certification, 63 percent of PAs accepted a clinical position and 75 percent of those received multiple job offers, according to a 2014 report by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

“There is a significant shortage of physicians, an extraordinary shortage of nurses, so the demand for physician assistants is enormous,” Dr. Lockwood said. “There are lot of programs that are being developed. There are very few, however, that are so well-grounded in academic practice as ours. And we think we’ll be able to provide our PA students with tools that will set them apart from other PA programs and lead to more exciting and interesting careers.”

Dr. Gretchen Koehler (center) welcomes the first-year PA students.

A PA program can offer a straightforward path to the profession, said Gretchen Koehler, PhD, associate vice president for USF Health and senior associate dean for Academics and Institutional Effectiveness for the Morsani College of Medicine.

“We are so pleased to be able to offer students another degree program, particularly one that is a two-year curriculum culminating with a terminal master’s degree, the highest degree awarded in the field,” Dr. Koehler said.

“The students in this program will be supported by the extensive USF Health network of faculty and providers. They will also participate in our intentionally designed team training sessions that bring all USF Health learners together. This model of learning capitalizes on the students’ shared interest in health and health care and allows them to more fully develop their unique areas of expertise.”

That interprofessional approach to learning is what attracted many of the charter students, along with USF Health’s training facilities, Dr. Wills said.

“Faculty and staff at USF Health set out to build a PA program that leveraged all of the strengths that already exist at USF Health and to deliver a dynamic curriculum to our first group of students,” Dr. Wills said.

“Among the strengths that exist here is a focus on interprofessional education. Unlike other PA programs, at USF Health students get to be in close proximity with nursing, public health, medical, and pharmacy students – exactly who they will collaborate with in the health care careers of the future. One thing we’ve noticed as health care has evolved is that no one practices in a silo anymore. Teamwork is especially important. So, from Day One, we are teaching our PA students how to be part of that team, to contribute to it with all of their expertise.”

USF Health PA Larry Collins gives new PA students a tour of the simulation lab.

Working in teams is the reality in today’s health care workplace, said Larry Collins, MPAS, PA-C, ATC, assistant professor of orthopaedics and sports medicine at USF Health and a faculty member for the USF Health PA Program.

“We work with physicians in a team setting along with nurse practitioners, pharmacists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other health care providers to make sure that our families have the best health care they can get in our communities,” Collins said.

He also sees a PA career as being incredibly flexible.

“We’re trained as generalists, recertify as generalists every 10 years, and in doing so we have the opportunity to change our areas of specialty,” Collins said. “I have several colleagues and classmates from PA school who have switched to positions throughout their careers. They’re in a role they love, say the ER, but feel they need something different and they go work in a family practice setting, or maybe a dermatology setting.”

The new PA students in orientation on their first day at USF Health.

Back in the classroom, at the PA Program orientation, 30 people are sitting together as one inaugural class. Dr. Bognar notes the significance of the moment and reminds them to depend on each other.

“You are going to be a close-knit family,” Dr. Bognar said. “You’re going to pick one another up when you’re down, and you’re going to be together to celebrate your high points.”

The fact that the USF Health PA Program is new is not a problem for these inaugural students.

“It doesn’t feel like a new program – there’s no mad scramble,” Jozil said. “The admissions process has been very smooth.”

“Even in the interview, you could feel the excitement they have for the program,” said first-year PA student Ivana Karaban.

“It’s amazing and I’m really excited to be here,” Karaban said. “It feels incredible to be making history.”

The charter class for the USF Health PA Program.

Story by Sarah Worth, photos by Freddie Coleman, video by Sandra C. Roa, USF Health Communications

USF Health continues to make life better for the community in and around the University and is prepared for a creative, innovative and productive 2017. Check out some of the highlights of 2016.

 January

A Night Filled With Talent And Red-Carpet Flair, All To Help BRIDGE Clinic [Video]

USF Health’s best friends and supporters filled the Pepin Hospitality Centre Jan. 8 for the 5th Annual BANDaids for BRIDGE Talent Show. The evening entertained all with nine acts, […]

Expanding Call Center Improves Patient Experience At USF Health

The USF Physicians Group took multiple steps toward improving the patient experience. One of the primary focuses is on bolstering its Call Center with more staff, technology […]

February

New On-Site Patient Labs Mean Convenience And Faster Results For USF Health Patients

In its continued effort to make the best use of patients’ time during their visits, the USF Physicians Group opened Patient Labs in the Morsani Center for […]

USF Health, Moffitt Cancer Center Mark First Year Of Cardio-Oncology Program

Abby Jones was diagnosed with breast, kidney and lung cancers at Moffitt Cancer Center two years ago – all at age 29. “Who knew I would have to […]

Science Rules The Day At USF Health Research Day 2016 [Multimedia]

A wide range of science filled the Ballroom at the USF Marshall Student Center, showcasing the groundbreaking work of rising research stars taking part in the annual USF Health […]

Tampa General Hospital Gives $3.5 Million For Heart Institute, Neurosciences At USF Health

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 29, 2016) – The University of South Florida announced that it has received a $3.5 million gift from Tampa General Hospital for the USF […]

March

Rhea Chiles Tribute Celebrates USF Center’s Legacy, Looks To Its Future [Videos]

Public health scholars and community leaders gather to highlight 20 years of the Chiles Center’s statewide contributions to the health of mothers, children and families. […]

Morsani College Of Medicine And Its Departments Advance In The 2015 Blue Ridge Reports

USF Pediatrics is ranked #1 in the nation for NIH funding. USF Ob/Gyn is #10. The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine colleges and several of its departments […]

USF Health Morsani College Of Medicine Moves Up In Latest U.S. News Rankings

Push for excellence in research and education led to a 16 position rise since last year… The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine has upped its game in the […]

USF Nursing tops Florida state universities in NIH ranking [VIDEO]

The USF College of Nursing was ranked No. 1 in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among all Florida state universities and No. 24 in the United States, based on a new Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research report. […]

Pirates Invade USF Match Day 2016, Deliver Good News To USF Medical Students Heading To Residencies [Video] 

Gasparilla’s Ye Mystic Krewe pirates and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor cheered on senior medical students as they learned where they will conduct their medical residencies. […]

April

USF Pharmacy Students Celebrate A Successful Match For Seniors Heading To Residency Programs

Senior USF pharmacy students were surrounded by classmates as they celebrated their Match Day April 8. The special gathering was a culmination of the several weeks needed to […]

USF Physical Therapy Launches $1.3M FEMA Back Injury Prevention Study With Tampa Bay Firefighters [Video]

The 13-month trial assessing targeted exercises to reduce the risk of low back injury begins with Tampa Fire Rescue and will expand to fire departments in St. Petersburg […]

USF Health Team Wins State-Wide Sapphire Award For The Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative

The Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative (FPQC), which is based in the Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, is part of the USF College of Public Health, […]

USF Pharmacy Students, Faculty Inducted Into Newest Chapter Of National Honor Society

The USF College of Pharmacy continued with firsts as the young school was officially accepted as a chapter of the international Rho Chi Honor Society, and 43 of […]

May

USF Health Commencement Celebrates Educational Milestones [Video]

Between the entry of the university’s mace and turning their cap tassels to the left, 532 doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s students walked across the stage of the Sun […]

Jeffrey Krischer Ranked #1 NIH-Funded Principal Investigator In The World

The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is home to the world’s top NIH-funded principal investigator. Jeffrey Krischer, PhD, Distinguished University Health Professor and director of the Health […]

Region’s Leading Medical Groups Partner To Form Clinically Integrated Health Care Network

Tampa, FL (May 24, 2016) –  Tampa Bay Health Alliance, LLC, (TBHA) today announced its formation as a new partnership of five leading medical groups, creating a clinically […]

June

Sister Cities Agreement Unites Partners In Innovation

USF Health is playing a key role in helping advance a new Sister Cities agreement between Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and the Mayor of Lanzhou, China, Yuan Zhanting. […]

Summer Internships Give USF Student Athletes A Glimpse Into Pharmacy

As USF student athletes commit much of their summer to conditioning training, four students added internships based in the USF College of Pharmacy to their summer schedules. […]

Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute Ready To Take Clinical Trials On The Road [Video]

The USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute unveiled its mobile Memory Research Suite on June 28 – a groundbreaking traveling “clinic” designed to bring the latest clinical drug trials […]

July

USF Health Welcomes New Resident Physicians

A heartfelt welcome, some good advice for navigating USF Graduate Medical Education program, and a glimpse of the hard realities found in today’s health care system were part of […]

August

Nursing creates chronic pain training program for health care professionals

The USF College of Nursing became one of the first nursing schools in the country to offer health professionals a top-quality graduate certificate in advanced pain management. […]

USF Health Academic Partners Among Top Hospitals Nationally Ranked By U.S. News

At Tampa General Hospital, USF faculty physicians play leadership roles in the six medical specialties that made the Top 50 list.  U.S. News & World Report (U.S. News) […]

Largest And Most Competitive: Incoming Medical Class Makes History For USF Health Morsani College Of Medicine [Video]

Filing into the historical Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa, 183 new University of South Florida medical students smiled at family and friends as they walked on to fill the […]

USF Health Experts Lead International Public Health Conversation On Zika Virus Threat [Video]

Florida became ground zero for the Zika virus – home of the first non-travel related cases of the mosquito-borne virus […]

The USF Health WELL Grand Opening Celebration

The new community space at the USF Health WELL opened for business, offering a new dining facility, The Table at Four Corners, among other beneficial additions […]

USF Health Convocation Offers Opportunity To Continue Vision For Making Life Better [Video]

Familiar faces from across USF Health gathered in the Oval Theater of the Marshall Student Center Aug. 30 to hear more about the impact each of us could […]

September

USF College Of Public Health’s Online Masters Program Ranked #2 In The Country

The USF College of Public Health is once again ranking high among U.S. programs. The College’s Master of Public Health degree program was recently ranked #2 in the […]

October

Bristol-Myers Squibb Makes Largest Single Scholarship Gift To USF College Of Pharmacy

Tampa, FL (Oct. 6, 2016) – Global biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb has made the largest single scholarship gift yet to the USF College of Pharmacy, funding two years […]

USF Health Physician Assistant Program Earns Provisional Accreditation, Can Begin Accepting Applications

USF Health’s Physician Assistant program has been granted provisional accreditation by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The designation allows the PA program, […]

Crowds Gather Under The Trees At USF Health Annual Barbecue

The smell of sweet barbecue was in the air, as it attracted hundreds of students, faculty and staff to the annual USF Health gathering near Lake Behnke. Dr. […]

Florida’s First Master’s Degree Program In Genetic Counseling Earns Accreditation

Tampa, FL (Oct. 25, 2016) – The University of South Florida College of Public Health is the first in Florida to offer a graduate degree in genetic counseling. […]

Patient-Centered Care Earns Five USF Health Departments Medical Home Designations

Five USF Health clinical departments have been named Patient-Centered Medical Home sites by the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA), a selection that demonstrates their focus on patient-doctor […]

November

USF Diabetes Center Celebrates 5 Years Of Helping Patients and Families [Video]

Friends and supporters gathered Nov. 14 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the opening of a new facility for the USF Diabetes Center on the fifth floor of the […]

The USF Health Panama Program: 10 Years Of Building Global Partnerships To Improve Health, Education And Quality Of Life [Video]

On Thursday Oct. 13, USF Health celebrated 10 years of presence at the City of Knowledge, Panama. The event aimed to emphasize the common vision shared by USF […]

USF Health Faculty Members Named 2016 Fellows Of American Association For The Advancement Of Science

Three of five leading University of South Florida researchers named to the new class of Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science are from USF […]

USF Health BRIDGE Clinic Named Philanthropic Service Organization Of The Year

The Suncoast Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) recently recognized the USF Health BRIDGE Clinic as its 2016 Philanthropic Service Organization of the Year. The award […]

December

USF Medical Students Take To The Streets To Serve Patients Where They Live [Video]

The group visits the homeless where they live – on the streets.  They go without white coats, carrying backpacks stocked with over-the-counter medications, first aid supplies, hygiene products and socks. […]

Physician-scientist Dr. Sam Wickline Arrives To Lead USF Health Heart Institute

Tampa, FL (Dec. 20, 2016) — Samuel A. Wickline, MD, has joined the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine to lead a state-of-the-art heart institute that will integrate biomedical research with advanced clinical care to […]

Multimedia by Eric Younghans, Sandra C. Roa, Ryan Noone and Katy Hennig.

Stories contributed by Sarah Worth, Anne DeLotto Baier, Vjollca “V” Hysenlika,
Davina Gould, and Gladys Bennett.

Pain is personal, but many times the root cause of pain can be treated through physical therapy.

October is National Physical Therapy Month and this year’s campaign focuses on using physical therapy as a safe alternative to prescription opioids for pain management.

National statics show that opioid addiction is at an all-time high and typically include painkillers like Vicodin, OxyContin, Opana, and methodone, and combination drugs like Percocet.

Therapists at the USF Physical Therapy Center target treatment to alleviate pain.

While opioid use may be appropriate for intense post-surgical or cancer-related pain, the risks of opioid use outweigh the benefits when it comes to common musculoskeletal injuries, especially in the case of chronic musculoskeletal pain, said Kenneth Taylor, PT, DPT, assistant professor in the USF Health School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences.

“Chronic pain drives many to turn to opioids for relief,” said Dr. Taylor, who is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy. “The brain is a powerful thing and many times we think pain means continued injury. But pain is not always a good indicator of the true health status of tissue, and pain killers only mask pain, not address the real issue causing that pain.”

Physical Therapists are the movement specialists of the world, he said, and they are trained to target treatment, help alleviate pain and, as a result, help prevent opioid addiction. At the USF Health School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, students are given the tools to target physical therapy and to recognize opioid addiction.

Dr. Kenneth Taylor

“We train our graduates to have a better understanding of pain, to educate their own patients not to fear pain, and to offer them the best approaches for getting their patients moving again,” Dr. Taylor said. “Pain while in physical therapy doesn’t mean damage – hurt does not equal harm.”

The key, Dr. Taylor said, is to talk with your health care provider about your pain, your options for pain management, and the related risks for taking opioids.

Statistics:

According to the CDC, in 2012 health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain medication, enough for every American adult to have their own bottle of pills

According to the CDC, every day, over 1,000 people are treated in emergency departments for misusing prescription opioids.

According to the CDC, as many as 1 in 4 people who receive prescription opioids long-term for noncancer pain in primary care settings struggles with addiction.

Opportunities for enhanced collaboration were revealed as leaders from USF Health and the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital gathered for a panel discussion and symposium May 23 —  a prelude to the annual Haley VA Research Day held May 24.

A panel of leaders from USF Health and James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital met to discuss ways to strengthen research collaborations between the two institutions. The panel and symposium preceded the hospital’s annual VA Research Day on March 24.

Senior leaders from USF Health and the Haley VA  Hospital each shared their current research collaborations, as well as ideas for future endeavors. Representing USF Health were Charles Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine; Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing; Donna Petersen, ScD, dean of the College of Public Health; and Kevin Sneed, PharmD, dean of the College of Pharmacy.  Representing the Haley VA were Joe Battle, director of  the hospital and its clinics; Robert Campbell, JD, MPH, PhD, acting associate chief of staff; Gail Powell-Cope, PhD, ARNP, co-director of the Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (CINDRR); and Edward Cutolo, Jr., MD, chief of staff.

The news that seemed to generate the most buzz was the availability of data from the VA – big data. The Veterans Administration is capturing information for U.S. veterans, likely the largest compilation of population data that touches all 50 states and is being gathered across time.

Dr. Robert Campbell, acting associate chief of staff at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, says the hospital has about 200 ongoing research projects at any given time.

“My story today is big data, health informatics, and predictive analytics,” said Dr. Campbell, whose research emphasizes identifying patient and system-level risk factors associated with fall-related injuries and other adverse events.  “I’ve been here for 16 years and I fell in love with the big data the first day I arrived and realized they were compiling it at the (Houston) Texas VA. Over the decades, they’ve made it more and more transparent and readily available for researchers to use.”

Dr. Campbell said the challenge making all that data meaningful is doing a better job training researchers and clinicians in health informatics.

“Things as simple as appreciating the strengths and weaknesses of diagnosis and procedure coding and how they’re used in the real world, primarily for administrative purposes and secondarily for clinical research,” he said.

Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, said it makes sense for USF’s academic health center to strengthen its partnership with Haley VA, one of the busiest VA hospitals in the country, including jointly recruiting top researchers.

He shared a recent experience that underscored his point when he met with clinicians and “for the first time they saw what we meant by big data rather than hearing about it,” he said.

“It’s one thing to say we have millions and millions of records, encounters and discharges and they’re coded in the following way, but to see how the VA has systemically attempted to organize that information was a revelation. That only comes from taking the time to bring your collaborators over and show them the data and ask them what they’re interested in. There are a lot of strengths, but the weaknesses are that predictive analytics will require a clearer understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of those coding systems. It’s a work in progress and a dialogue that continues with our USF colleagues.”

Among the symposium presenters was Dr. Frank Kozel, a staff psychiatrist and associate investigator in the Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (CINDRR) at James A. Haley Veterans’s Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry at USF Health. He spoke about a randomized trial using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to augment combat processing therapy in combat veterans with PTSD.

USF Health’s Dr. Lockwood emphasized that students and residents exposed to faculty and staff conducting research are exposed the rigors of scientific inquiry and more likely to question the validity of approaches to  diagnosis and treatment and probe for evidence.

“On a broad scale, research improves health by demanding evidence-based care,” he said. “At the individual level, it can make you a better nurse, doctor, pharmacist, public health practitioner, physical therapist — a better health care provider — by challenging assumptions.”

Dr. Lockwood said it makes sense for USF’s academic health center to strengthen its partnership with Haley VA, one of the busiest VA hospitals in the country, including jointly recruiting top basic science, translational and clinical researchers.

“Given the VA’s access to an enormous amount of data, extraordinary comparative effectiveness research and clinical trials, its interest in neuroscience, which we are so committed to on our side of the campus, as well as common interests in rehabilitation, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, we’d be foolish not to work together,” he said.  “We have an obligation, in particular, to take the very best care of our veterans.”

Dr. Denise Cooper is a professor of molecular medicine at the Morsani College of Medicine whose research is supported in part by the VA. She spoke about the use of exosomes from human adipose-derived stem cells in wound healing.

The other panelists also addressed the many advantages of more collaboration among researchers from both the VA and USF Health. And threading the narrative for these ideas – such as building a common foundation that includes representatives who meet regularly to share information and ideas – was panel moderator Shyam Mohapatra, PhD, MBA, Distinguished Health Professor at USF and research career scientist at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital.

“I’m delighted that both our organizations have come together today,” said Dr. Mohapatra, “Our goal is to start a dialogue between the VA and USF that leads to something more meaningful, offering more collaboration of education, clinical care and research.”

Participating in the VA Research Day’s poster presentations were, from left: Nikita Patel, PhD, and Subhra Mohapatra, PhD, both associate professors of molecular medicine; Beth Grimmig, a PhD student in integrated biomedical sciences at MCOM (Dr. Bickford’s graduate student); Paula Bickford, PhD, professor of neurosciences at the USF Health Center for Excellence in Aging and Brain Repair and VA senior research career scientist; and Shyam Mohapatra, PhD, Distinguished Health Professor at USF and VA research career scientist.

Following the panel discussion, several researchers affiliated with both USF (medicine, public health, biomedical engineering) and the VA, presented highlights of their research.  Their symposium topics ranged from applying human adipose-derived stem cell exosomes in wound healing, to ways the growth factor GCSF promotes brain repair following traumatic brain injury, to trends in data mining and knowledge discovery.

The next day, March 24, more than 50 poster presentations were on display in the hospital’s auditorium for VA Research Day.

Dr. Jamie Morano, (left) an infectious diseases physician at Morsani College of Medicine and James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, explains her team’s research poster.

Among the presenters was Jamie Morano, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, and a physician at the Haley VA Hospital.  Dr. Morano’s study tapped into a powerful VA data tool to analyze the outcomes of hepatitis C virus treatment among Tampa Bay veterans with hepatitis C and HIV.

“We have residents and fellows who cross train at the VA and Morsani College of Medicine,” Dr. Morano said, “so it’s a great opportunity to build upon collaborative research that benefits both institutions.”

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Anne DeLotto Baier contributed to this article.
Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications and Marketing

Glenn Currier, MD, professor and chair of the USF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, was presented with a formal commendation and plaque April 28 when the Tampa City Council acknowledged the Department for its efforts in addressing issues surrounding mental illness, from community education to treatment.

City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione, who initiated the resolution, presented Dr. Currier with the commendation and addressed the council on the success of the USF Department.

Councilwoman Lisa Montelione with Dr. Glenn Currier at the April 28 meeting of the Tampa City Council.

Formal wording for the Tampa City Council commendation is as follows:

Tampa City Council commends the faculty, staff, and students with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine for engaging the community about the realities of living with a mental illness.  As mental illness is largely misunderstood in our society, the need for trained mental and behavioral health experts to educate the community is great.  Tampa City Council applauds the University of South Florida, one of the area’s largest and most prestigious institutions, for committing their academic resources towards addressing this issue.      

Tampa City Council proudly recognizes the department’s efforts to reduce the stigma associated with mental through conducting informational lectures, expert discussion panels, and film screenings. This will serve to enlighten many in the university system and our community to the seldom seen realities of living with a mental illness. Your inaugural community engagement initiative will serve as a launching pad for changing how we think about and care for the mentally ill. 

Dr. Glenn Currier.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) classified as an effective therapy for PTSD and depression from SAMHSA program

Tampa, FL (Nov. 24 2015) – Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), a brief and safe treatment for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studied at University of South Florida College of Nursing, has been officially recognized as an effective therapy for veterans, service members and civilians by the National Registry of Evidence Based Programs and Practices (NREPP).

Diego F. Hernandez, PsyD, (left) a licensed clinical psychologist, demonstrates Accelerated Resolution Therapy, ART for short, with veteran Brian Anderson at University of South Florida College of Nursing.

NREPP, which is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), found ART to be an effective psychotherapy for PTSD, depression, stress, and personal resilience. ART was also classified as a promising therapy for symptoms of phobia, panic, anxiety, sleep and wake disorders, disruptive and antisocial behaviors, general functioning and well-being. See details here.

“The completed studies have shown ART to be a brief, safe and effective therapy for individuals suffering with PTSD and depression – including those who previously tried other therapies provided by the U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,” said Kevin Kip, PhD, distinguished USF Health professor and executive director for the College of Nursing’s research center. “So, this recognition from NREPP is a great step toward making ART a first-line or potentially preferred treatment approach for PTSD across civilian and military settings.”

The USF College of Nursing, under Dr. Kip’s leadership, has been exclusively studying ART since 2010. This therapy, founded by licensed therapist and USF ART clinician, Laney Rosenzwieg, LMFT, is part of the college’s Restore Lives – an initiative designed to develop research and education programs that meet the needs of veterans, service members and their families. So far, USF Nursing has completed three ART studies, and more publications are in the works.

In its independent review, NREPP looked at all ART publications and clinicians’ training materials. Key to the review were results from the second ART study, which enrolled and treated 57 service members and veterans. In that randomized controlled trial, ART was shown to substantially reduce symptoms of PTSD in two-thirds of participants in less than four treatment sessions. Details on this study can be viewed here.

Kevin Kip, PhD, executive director of the USF College of Nursing Research Center, has led the college’s studies investigating the effectiveness of ART since 2010.

PTSD is a major public health challenge among veterans, service members and civilians in the United States. According to the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, more than eight million Americans suffer from PTSD, depression or other related symptoms every year. PTSD symptoms can be debilitating, and treatment is extremely costly.

As a result, USF Nursing’s ART clinical team, including Rosenzwieg and Diego Hernandez, PsyD, assistant professor and ART clinical director, have conducted clinical training with military clinicians, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists and social workers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and other military bases in Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort. Belvoir, Virginia, and Fort Hood, Texas.

“I’m really proud of this research team including Dr. Hernandez, Rosenzwieg, Sue Girling, senior research coordinator, Trudy Wittenberg, research compliance administrator, and the large cadre of highly skilled ART clinicians,” Dr. Kip said. “Through our collective efforts, we can make major strides in fundamentally changing the way psychotherapy is practiced.”

For more information on ART click here.

–USF Health-

USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Biomedical Sciences and the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences; and the USF Physician’s Group. The University of South Florida is a global research university ranked 50th in the nation by the National Science Foundation for both federal and total research expenditures among all U.S. universities. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.

Media contact:
Vjollca “V” Hysenlika, USF College of Nursing Communications
(813)974-2017, or vhysenli@health.usf.edu

This week, faculty, staff and students are hosting, attending, and celebrating events that highlight and honor today’s vets. Take a look below at some of the highlights of events from across the week. Further down are some of the many ways USF Health is working to make life better for veterans.

Coverage of some of the veteran-related events from USF Health

More than 70 units with 1,600 volunteers participated in the Veterans Day Parade at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. Here are a couple of photos, but click here and click here to visit the VA’s Flickr photo books.

Haley VA Parade

Haley VA Parade

The USF College of Public Health’s OSHA Training Institute is offering courses in Wesley Chapel this week. The course on Nov. 10 is titled “Noise Hazards in the Construction Industry” and will be from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The course on Nov. 12 is titled “Managing Excavation Hazards” and will be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Click here to learn more.

OTI Course Instructor Kevin Yarborough teaches a group attending the Evacuation and Emergency Planning class that was offered at the USF OSHA Training Institute Education Center in Wesley Chapel, FL on Nov. 9. Courses continue today and Thursday.

DogFest was a great success. The DogFest Walk ‘n Roll Tampa surpassed its goal and raised more than $36,400 toward an effort to provide a canine companion to a local veteran. The USF Health event was Sunday, Nov. 8, and several dozen supporters attended, including several four-legged ones. Volunteers for the day included USF Health’s Medicine in the Armed Forces student group.

USF Health turned out to help raise awareness and more than $36,400 in  funds for canine companions.

Points of pride on USF Health’s commitment to veterans

Programs across USF Health are focused on veterans. Here is a sampling of some of them:

School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences:

• USF prosthetic research with wounded warriors may also benefit civilian amputees
• USF awarded $1.3 million to expand research to prevent back injury in firefighters
• USF School of Physical Therapy Awarded $1.59 M From DOD For Musculoskeletal Research

Josh Sparling is silhouetted after completing the obstacle course at the Walter C. Heinrich Practical Training Site. Sparling and 13 other wounded warriors participated in a USF School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences research study funded by the U.S. Department of Defense. The project evaluated how well different types of prosthetic feet work for the rigorous and agile maneuvers soldiers must perform on the battlefield – from running and jumping to dodging, crawling and climbing. The study will ultimately benefit civilian amputees with physically challenging occupations, such as firefighters and police officers, or anyone with physically-demanding recreational pursuits, said USF associate professor Dr. Jason Highsmith, principal investigator for the double-blind randomized trial, who works out of James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital as deputy chief of the Research & Surveillance Division, Extremity Trauma and Amputation Center of Excellence.

College of Public Health:

• Last July, USF’s undergraduate public health was ranked No. 1 in College Factual’s “Top10 Veteran-Friendly Public Health Schools” list
• USF provides undergraduates with a 360 degree exposure in public health

College of Nursing:

• College Factual names USF number one in top 10 ranking of veteran-friendly nursing schools
• Offers V-CARE, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing sequence created for service members and veterans who have completed training as Army or Air Force medics and as Navy corpsman,
• USF College of Nursing leads research on a novel technique to alleviate veterans’ symptoms of combat-related and military sexual trauma

The USF College of Nursing leads research on a novel technique to alleviate veterans’ symptoms of combat-related and military sexual trauma. That treatment – called Accelerated Resolution Therapy, or ART – has been under study at the USF College of Nursing for more than four years, showing remarkable results among initial participants, namely military veterans and civilians with symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

USF Health-wide:

• Many of USF’s Tillman Scholars are USF Health students, including one of the most recent awardees from the College of Pharmacy John Pasciak.
• Stetson University and USF Health form first-of-a-kind partnership to help veterans connection
• The Military Times just ranked USF the #2 Best For Vets university in the country, a ranking likely boosted by the College of Public Health’s #1 ranking and the College of Nursing’s #1 ranking as Veteran Friendly that came in June. In addition to those stellar rankings, support for our veterans can be seen across USF Health, from research endeavors to education to advocacy. Click here for the full article in the magazine.