CINN’s Dr. Gail Rosseau to deliver keynote lecture at Duke University

Duke’s Sanford School Hosts Lectures on Global Finance, Health Care

Weekend celebration includes keynote lectures by two public policy leaders

Thursday, September 24, 2009

DURHAM, N.C. — Richard Fisher, CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, and neurosurgeon Gail Rosseau, chief of surgery at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago, will deliver keynote lectures during a weekend celebration of Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.                                          
                                                                                        
 Prominent journalists Cokie Roberts of NPR and John Harwood of CNBC will engage the lecturers in conversation. Both events are free and open to the public.

The talks are part of a series of events marking the Sanford School of Public Policy’s inaugural year. The former institute became Duke’s 10th school on July 1.

“A year ago, the nation was staring straight into the jaws of economic ruin,” Fisher said in a recent address. “The Federal Reserve stepped into the breach and did what central bankers are called to do: We assumed the role of lender of last resort … instituting unconventional measures to keep the financial lungs of the global economy from collapsing.”

“Policy experts have a very valuable role to play, and their counsel must be in partnership with the people in the trenches putting policy into action,” said Rosseau, who regularly witnesses the consequences of flaws in the current U.S. health care policies through her practice.

 

CHICAGO INSTITUTE OF NEUROSURGERY AND NEURORESEARCH TO JOIN NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SYSTEM

CINN will continue as Chicago’s leader in providing subspecialized neurosurgical
and neuromedical care

CHICAGO, IL, August 19, 2009 – It was announced today that the physicians of the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch Medical Group (CINN) will be joining NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) headquartered in Evanston, IL. The CINN physicians, including neurosurgeons, physiatrists, neurologists and neurointerventionalist, who have earned this group international recognition, will continue to provide the Chicagoland market with advanced neurosurgical and neuromedical care.

Through its 23-year history, CINN has been widely regarded as one of the region’s leading providers of medical care for patients suffering from brain and spine disorders. CINN physicians are highly experienced in providing innovative treatments for patients with brain tumors, have pioneered innovative surgical spine solutions such as artificial discs, and have championed new treatments for stroke and abnormalities of the blood vessels in the brain.

Recognizing the importance of a robust and stable strategic partner as national health care reform takes shape, CINN chose NorthShore due to its commitment to advancing neurosurgical patient care through investment in new technologies and programs, their excellence in synergistic specialties such as orthopedics, oncology and neurology, as well as the system’s strong network of primary care physicians.

“We look forward to bringing our innovative multidisciplinary patient care model to the NorthShore system,” said Dr. Leonard J. Cerullo, founder and medical director of CINN, “Our goal will remain to provide patients with the most technologically advanced, yet compassionate, care available.”

A hallmark of CINN’s patient care philosophy is the availability of world-class neurosurgical care in close proximity to a patient’s family, friends and support structure, whenever possible. As such, CINN’s commitment to its operations in Elmhurst, Vernon Hills, Harvey, Tinley Park, Skokie, Oak Lawn and downtown Chicago will remain. CINN’s outpatient services and administrative headquarters at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago will move to NorthShore’s Glenbrook and Skokie Hospitals.

The agreement is conditioned on obtaining appropriate government approvals, and is expected to close by the end of the year. Medical services at the Neurologic & Orthopedic Hospital of Chicago will continue until that time.

CINN patients with questions about their appointments can email CINN at info@cinn.org or call 773-250-0400.

The Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch Medical Group is one of the nation’s leading groups of physicians dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of people with brain and spine disorders. Founded in 1987, CINN is one of the Midwest’s largest teams of neurosurgeons, physiatrists and neurologists known for their pioneering treatments in minimally invasive techniques. Through a network of seven locations throughout Chicagoland, CINN is a market leader in treating patients with brain tumors and spine disorders.

NorthShore University HealthSystem, based in Evanston, IL, is an academic health system affiliated with University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. Its integrated delivery system includes Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park, and Skokie Hospitals as well as the NorthShore Medical Group, Research Institute and Foundation.
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Ahead of the Game — a Free Concussion Pocket Reference Tool

Your athletes are on top of their game, so why not be on top of yours when it comes to detecting a concussion?

A concussion is a serious brain injury, affecting the normal functions of the brain like concentration, memory and coordination—that’s why the best way to identify a concussion is to familiarize yourself with your athlete’s normal behavior and cognitive abilities before a concussion occurs. You know your athlete best, and in the event of a head injury, such insight will be invaluable to the recovery process.

You should also know that the signs and symptoms of a concussion don’t always present immediately after the point of impact. In fact, your athlete might not display signs of a concussion until hours—or even days—after the injury occurs. Your careful attention to changes in your athlete’s overall behavior will ultimately determine whether or not he or she regains optimal physical and mental health.

We’ve created a tool that’s small enough to fit in your wallet but big enough to take you through some steps to follow if you suspect a concussion in one of your athletes. If a concussion has occurred, remember that proper management is critical to preventing permanent brain injury, or even death in some cases. Treatment involves rest, rest and more rest of both the mind and the body. Questions? Contact your athletic trainer or CINN at 773-250-0500.

Hopefully, you’ll have a safe season and won’t have to use this card, but if you do, use it confidently and know you’ll be AHEAD OF THE GAME.

Wishing you a safe and successful season,

The concussion experts at CINN and the IATA.

click here to view a PDF of the Concussion Pocket Reference Tool

Dr. Gail Rosseau, CINN Neurosurgeon Still in Running for US Surgeon General

Colleagues,

As reported in MedScape Today … There is no shortage of interested candidates for the country’s top public-health job, say officials. The search for the next US surgeon general is back on after CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta announced late last week that he will no longer be pursuing the role. Among those mentioned in MedScape article are:

Acting Surgeon General Dr. Steven Galson.

Gail Rosseau, MD, from the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch, in Illinois, was on a short list for the job late last year. Dr. Rosseau is director of cranial base surgery and is 1 of 300 female neurosurgeons nationwide. She has declined to comment at this time.

Arthur Kellermann, MD, professor and founding chair of the department of emergency medicine at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia.

Irwin Redlener, MD, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, was named in the New York Times as another potential candidate.

Also expressing interest in the position is George Lundberg, MD, a former editor at Medscape and a previous editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association. “If done right, this can be the most important public-health job in the world,” Dr. Lundberg said.

Teacher thankful for doctors who helped save her life

BY DONNA VICKROY Staff Writer

Something was definitely wrong.

Dawn Marchese was getting dizzy for no reason. Sometimes if she laughed a lot while goofing with her brothers and sisters, she’d get a massive headache.

Sometimes, she’d get nauseated.

“For months, I went to different doctors who couldn’t find anything,” said the Southwest Side elementary school teacher. Finally, the then-18-year-old’s mother took her to see a neurologist.

Marchese had completed just one quarter of community college at the College of DuPage when CAT scans revealed something suspicious.

“That doctor told my mother I needed to go to a specialist,” she said.

A life-saving decision

As her mother flipped through the pages of insurance-friendly specialists, the name Len Cerullo jumped out at her. Cerullo is founder of the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch.

“My mom thought she’d read something somewhere about him being a great doctor,” Marchese said.

Whether it was mother’s intuition or some greater force at work, the decision to call Cerullo, Marchese believes, saved her life.

Marchese’s mom explained her daughter’s symptoms to Cerullo over the phone.

Then Cerullo said something that both frightened and surprised Marchese’s mother: He told her he wanted to see her daughter’s scans that day.

It was a Sunday.

Accustomed to seeing patients on weekends and holidays, Cerullo invited Marchese’s parents to his house that afternoon.

Marchese was hospitalized later that day. Within the week she underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor.

“She had a very serious condition that required immediate care,” Cerullo said.

How was he able to see what other doctors had missed?

“Two things,” he said. “Ask the right questions, and listen to the answers.

“Unfortunately, a lot of doctors spend too little time listening,” Cerullo said.

And even fewer take the time to see patients on their days off.

“You wonder why I see patients at my home? It is because of stories like this. I know I can make a difference, but patients need access to me for that to happen.”

Giving thanks

Last month, having been given the clear on her annual MRI, Marchese, now 34, wrote a letter thanking both Cerullo and surgeon Edward Mkrdichian for saving her life. She enclosed a copy of the certificate she received after earning her Master of Arts degree from Chicago State University in August.

Marchese, who teaches gym, music and art at Dawes Elementary School on Chicago’s Southwest Side, said she went from barely being able to walk or speak following the surgery through radiation treatments and therapy to fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher.

“This degree has let me put the past behind me,” she said.

Today, she is grateful for her doctors’ talents, for their persistence and for their willingness to really listen when others wouldn’t.

In her letter, she writes, “Thank you for choosing to be neurosurgeons.”

Oddly enough, that profession was not even on Cerullo’s radar when he entered college.

“I thought I wanted to be an English teacher. Then I thought maybe I’d be a psychiatrist,” he said. “I didn’t want to go to be a doctor.

“But I guess you gotta go where your gut tells you to go,” he said.

Marchese said during her most recent visit to Mkrdichian, she promised to send him a copy of her diploma.

When it finally arrived in October, she decided to add the letter of gratitude.

“I felt like I should thank my doctors because they probably don’t get thanked a lot,” she said.

Cerulla said he has received a surprising number of letters throughout the years.

“I’ve had the privilege of taking care of many patients. A percentage do badly, and that takes a big chunk out of you. But the ones who do well inspire us to continue on,” he said.

As for Marchese, she says she is thankful for every day.

“Things that go wrong don’t mean as much,” she said.

Sure, the hair that fell out during radiation grew back much thinner. And she worries that the treatment may affect her ability to have children someday.

But she takes heart in the positives life has afforded her, namely the professional title of teacher.

Kennedy brain surgery hailed as ’successful’

The Washington Times, June 3, 2008 — by Amy Fagan

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy underwent successful surgery Monday at Duke UniversityMedical Center for a cancerous brain tumor in what was “just the first step” of his treatment plan, his surgeon said.

“I am pleased to report that Senator Kennedy’s surgery was successful and accomplished our goals,” Dr. Allan Friedman, chief neurosurgeon at Duke University Hospital said after performing the 3 1/2 hour procedure early Monday.

“Senator Kennedy was awake during the resection and should therefore experience no permanent neurological effects from the surgery,” Dr. Friedman said.

After the surgery, Mr. Kennedy, 76, told his wife, Vicki, “I feel like a million bucks,” and joked “I think I’ll do that again tomorrow,” an aide to the senator said.

The senator from Massachusetts was diagnosed last month with a malignant glioma on the left side of the brain. In a statement earlier Monday, he said he would undergo surgery at Duke, recuperate there for one week and then begin radiation and chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“I look forward to returning to the United States Senate and to doing everything I can to help elect Barack Obama as our next president,” said Mr. Kennedy, a Democrat who has served in the Senate since 1962.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), a surgeon’s goal in an operation such as Mr. Kennedy’s is to remove as much of the tumor as possible without damaging surrounding brain tissue. Dr. Friedman didn’t specify how much of the tumor he was able to remove in Mr. Kennedy’s case.

Doctors at Duke University Medical Center report Monday’s surgery on Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was successful and he should have “no permanent neurological effects.”

Surgeons sometimes opt to keep the patient awake during the procedure and track their language function before deciding which portions of the tumor are safe to cut, said Dr. Gail L. Rosseau, a neurosurgeon at the Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch and a spokeswoman for AANS. It’s a way to test the tumor’s perimeters, she said.

Dr. Rosseau said surgeons wouldn’t be able to remove all of Mr. Kennedy’s tumor because malignant gliomas have roots. That’s why radiation and chemotherapy are used afterward.

Mr. Kennedy’s tumor is on the left side of his brain, so it has the potential to impair speech and mobility on his right side, she said, noting that after surgery patients may display speech or mobility weakness that disappears as they recover. “If he is weak on his right side [in the hours following surgery] it doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll remain weak on that side,” Dr. Rosseau said.

Researchers at Duke have spent the past few years investigating a cutting-edge vaccine that could potentially double the survival time for patients who have Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Mr. Kennedy’s doctors have only said that his tumor is a malignant glioma. The most deadly type of malignant glioma is a GBM, which is categorized as a stage 4, Dr. Rosseau said.

The latest results of the vaccine trial, conducted by Duke and MD Anderson Cancer Center, were presented Monday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting.

The vaccine targets a specific protein found in about half of GBM tumors. It enhances the body’s immune response to the protein and kills tumor cells that contain it, said Gary Archer, a Duke researcher on the team who holds a doctorate in neurosurgery. The vaccine, administered in the groin, is given to patients who already had surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

So far, the vaccine has helped 23 patients survive, tumor-free, for a median of 16 months, more than double the typical six-month period. On average, patients who got the vaccine lived 33 months, compared to the average 14-month survival of GBM patients.

The trial has expanded to 20 sites and more patients nationwide and is now being run by a private company, Mr. Archer said.

If this vaccine continues to succeed, “it will be huge,” he said. “We’re really excited.”

Standard treatment for malignant brain tumors is surgery, followed by radiation and a chemotherapy drug called temozolomide, Mr. Archer and other specialists said.

Several other chemotherapy drugs and new ways of administering them are being investigated, according the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA).

For instance, sometimes after brain tumor surgery, doctors will opt to pack the wound inside the brain with dime-sized wafers filled with a chemotherapy agent called carmustine, which slowly dissolves and treats remaining tumor cells, according to ABTA.

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 13,070 people in the United States will die of malignant tumors of the brain or spinal cord this year.

Listen to what Dr. Cerullo had to say about Kennedy’s brain surgery