DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND SOCIAL MEDICINE
MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER
ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
DFSM Monthly E- Newsletter - Vol 1.4, May 2005
We hope that you are enjoying our monthly newsletter. Remember the deadline for submissions is the
20th of each month! We look forward to hearing from you!
Editors-at-Large:
Mark Polisar, MD
Tami Rivera
Peter Selwyn, MD, MPH
Becky Williams, MD, MPHE
PUBLICATIONS
Cunningham CO, Sohler NL, McCoy K, Heller D, Selwyn PA. Health care access and utilization patterns in
unstably housed HIV-infected individuals in New York City. AIDS Patient Care STDS. In press.
Cunningham CO, Drucker E, Meissner P, McCoy K, Selwyn PA. The perceived need for buprenorphine
treatment at a primary care clinic in the South Bronx: A market survey. The Journal of Addictive
Disorders and Their Treatment. In press.
Arnsten JH, Grossman P, Townsend JM. A scholarship-gene rating project for clinician educators. Medical
Education 2005; 39:505-533.
SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
April 30-May 4
38th STFM Annual Spring Conference
New Orleans Marriott Hotel, New Orleans, LA
http://www.stfm.org/AnnualConf/AN05/index.htm
May 10
The Educational Scholarship Group will meet 5:30 - 7:30 at Jerome ave. Contact Janet Townsend or
Alice Fornari for more information.
May 11
9:30am - 1pm
Location: Lincoln Hospital Auditorium (East 149 St. at Morris Avenue)
DVANBRONX DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTION NETWORK Presents DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MEDIA: A
conference on Communication and Accountability. KEY NOTE: Marjory D. Fields, former Supervising
Judge, Bronx Family Court Challenging Male Violence in the Family through Public Education. Panel
Discussion of advocates and journalists including Beth Ann Holzay, Director, Bronx DA Crime Victims
Assistance, Ted Bunch, Director, Safe Horizon DV Accountability Program, Comillo Pombo, General
Manager/ News Director, News12-The Bronx, Media - DV and Youth: How they are influenced; Media DV and Race: How to address bias in coverage of DV stories; Media - DV and Awareness: How to educate
journalists; Media - DV and the Advocates: How to best Communicate; Reporters’ Perspectives Truman
High School RAPP Peer Educators: Teens, DV and Media. For more information or to RSVP please contact
(718) 367-0605 ext. 201.
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May 13-14
Centering Pregnancy: An instructional workshop for health care professionals will be sponsored by DFSM.
Contact Aisha Mays for further information.
May 17
5:30-6:30pm
Writers's Group meeting will be held at 3544 Jerome Ave, 2nd Floor in Dr. Peter Selwyn's office. For more
information, contact Dr. Selwyn at (718) 920-8434 or at pselwyn@montefiore.org.
Tentatively scheduled for May 25 & 26
Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) at Lincoln Hospital. If interested in attending please contact
Dr. Williams at (917) 506-0120.
May 26
3:30-5:30
Faculty Development session for community preceptors from at AECOM. Topic: "You Never Told Me
That": The need for quality student feedback. If interested in participating contact Alice Fornari, EdD at
718-430-2797 or afornari@aecom.yu.edu
5:30-7:30
Community Education Development will be holding an Embracing the Community Night at AECOM. If
interested contact Gladys Valdivieso at(718) 920-6396 or gvaldivi@montefiore.org
May 26
"The Summit of Adolescent Health Providers at Montefiore Medical Center". The purpose is to convene
multidisciplinary leaders (physicians, nurse practitioners, administrators, and mental health providers)
who provide adolescent primary care within the Montefiore Medical Center community, in order to
enhance and improve adolescent preventive services. Contact Dr. Chang at 718-920-2180 or
jchang@montefiore.org if you have any further questions.
June 10-17
National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse, 2005 Summer Research Training Institute. The Office
for Drug & Social Policy Research (ODSPR) is currently accepting applications for this 8 day Institute,
funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse at the University of
Houston. The purpose of the training institute is to promote interest and professional commitment to
Hispanic drug abuse research and to foster mentoring relationships between fellows and leading Hispanic
drug abuse researchers. For further information contact Evelio Salinas Escamilla, Coordinator, National
Hispanic Science Network, Summer Research Training Institute at (713) 743-8345.
June 25
DFMCH graduation. More information to follow.
PERSONAL HAPPENINGS
People in the News.....
HHS Secretary's Visit
Sandra Barnaby RN, Nurse at Williamsbridge, met with HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt during a visit to
Montefiore on March 31. Secretary Leavitt came to Montefiore to explore ways in which the institution is
using information technology to improve patient care. Sandra described the Anticoagulation Management
program that she runs at Williamsbridge. Sandra uses a Palm database to case manage all patients on
Coumadin at Williamsbridge. She uses CIS to follow patients and communicate with their physicians
regarding INR results and medication changes. Secretary Leavitt was said to be very impressed with the
program and Sandra's sparkling personality!
Association of Medicine and Psychiatry (AMP) Resident of the Year Award
Dr. Charles Schwartz will present the Martin Fenton Resident of the Year Award to two outstanding
residents in Medicine/Psychiatry and Fam Medicine/Psychiatry dual-training programs in the US, at the
annual AMP meeting in New Orleans on May 11, which is being held in conjunction with the Society of
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General Internal Medicine meeting, May 12-15. Captain Christopher Warner is chief resident in the
National Capital Consortium Family Medicine and Psychiatry Residency Program at Walter Reed Army
Medical Center in Washington, DC. Jeffrey Fetter is chief resident at the Dartmouth Internal MedicinePsychiatry Residency Program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.
Dr. Schwartz, one of the founding members and past president of the Association of Medicine and
Psychiatry, has overseen the Fenton Resident of the Year Award since its inception in 1998.
Drs. Hal Strelnick, Janet Townsend, Rose Guilbe and Nadine Katz, AECOM Assistant Dean for Faculty
Development, participated in HRSA's recent Minority Faculty Development Leadership Summit: A National
Call for Action in Washington, DC on March 29 and 30. Janet Townsend delivered a plenary address on
the Historical Context for Minority Faculty Development. The summit involved faculty from various health
care disciplines and included presentation and strategic discussion of a Model of Minority Faculty
Development, which HRSA plans to advance nationally.
MISCELLANEOUS
NYC RING's Convocation
NYC RING, our departmental primary based research network celebrated its 2nd birthday at Gino's Cafe
on April 14th. The practice-based research network was created by the DFSM to meet the challenges of
urban primary care through innovative (and relevant) research and practice improvement projects. NYC
RING made large strides in it second year, developing ambitious grant submissions in colorectal cancer,
childhood obesity, and women's health. Likewise, a number of ongoing projects have made sound
progress despite the obstacles of conducting research in hectic clinical environments. This year's event
showcased these accomplishments for an audience of 40 clinicians, investigators and administrators from
the 5 healthcare systems that comprise NYC RING. Fueled by Bronx-worthy Italian cuisine, this group
primed itself for the task of integrating research and clinical care to improve patients' outcomes. Thank
you to everyone who helped make this a successful event, and come again next year! For more
information about NYC RING, contact Eduardo LaCalle at (718) 430-2749 or Diane McKee, MD at (718)
430-2750.
RPSM Spring Retreat
The Annual Family Medicine Resident and Faculty Spring Retreat was held on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at
the College of Mount St. Vincent. Participants learned about the Chronic Care Model and CQI and New
Innovations Software Program Capabilities. Faculty learned new and revised rotations, including Surgery,
Peds ER/OPD, CCU, and Family Centered Maternity Care.
Einstein Community Health Fair
Medical students from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine organized a health fair aimed at serving the
underserved Bronx population through health screenings and education. The event was supervised by
medical faculty from Montefiore/Einstein’s Department of Family and Social Medicine and the Residency
Program in Social Medicine. The screenings, health education, and insurance information were meant to
empower participants to take control of their health. It was held locally at St. Ann’s Church on Sunday,
April 17, 2005 from 10a-3p with screenings that included diabetes, blood pressure (BP), body mass index
(BMI) and vision.
The ultimate success of the event laid in the tireless efforts of the first and second year medical students
on the health fair committee, who worked diligently to compile important health education materials and
reflected on ways to effectively offer screenings to a population in the Bronx. The committee members
included first year students Arlene Bravo, Conair Guilliames, Wauldron Afflick, Puneet Ghayal, Avinash
Singavarapu, Issa Toure, Magalie Bruneus, Elgida Radoncipi, Carrie Wong, Ted Lefer, Amy Tun, Derek
Sun, Natasha Trentacoste, and Kevan Akrami, and second year students Laura Korin, Sahana D’Silva, and
Shayna Davis. The fair location and physician recruitment was coordinated by the department’s director
of community outreach, Gladys Valdivieso.
Drs. Darwin Deen, Victoria Gorski, Francesco Leanza, and Manuel Esteban played an integral role in
overseeing the event and ensuring that participants’ health concerns were allayed. Dr. Alice Fornari and
Professor Natalie Sucre provided help in nutrition counseling and Spanish translating assistance,
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respectively. Drs. Ingrid Nelson and Charles Nordin from Jacobi Medical Center arranged for
phlebotomists to draw blood in order to screen for levels of glucose, hemoglobin A1c and lipids.
There were many experiences throughout the day that highlighted the need for the health fair. In
particular, one fulfilling encounter was with a participant who had lacked access to healthcare for two
years, which prevented him from adhering to his anti-hypertensive medication. After immigrating to New
York from the Dominican Republic, the participant had been without healthcare or access to medication.
Upon this discovery at the fair, Dr. Deen and students informed the participant of his healthcare options
in the Bronx and ways in which he can make healthy lifestyle changes to better manage his hypertension
and improve his overall well-being.
The fair had thirty-nine medical student volunteers that performed screenings for BP, BMI, and vision in
addition to health education. The health education topics ranged from Women’s Health, Immunizations
and Depression to Smoking Cessation, Heart Health, and Diet/Nutrition. Additional topics included
Environmental Health and Healthcare Options in the Bronx. Healthy snacks and drinks were provided for
participants. A total of 139 fair participants turned in registration forms, with 79 choosing to have their
blood worked up. Those who opted for the blood work will be contacted soon by Dr. Nordin’s team with
their blood results and where they can go for follow-up care, either by phone and/or mail.
This fair was sponsored by Einstein’s chapters of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA),
Student National Medical Association (SNMA), and Boricua Health Organization (BLHO) and would not
have been possible without the support of Drs. Albert Kuperman and James David, whose advice and
financial support made this event a success. (see attached photos)
Smoking Cessation
To promote smoking cessation in areas with persistently high smoking rates throughout the City, the New
York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and Health and Hospitals Corporation
(HHC) are making nicotine patches available free of charge. For more information, contact Karen Davis
at 718-466-9178 or kdavis@health.nyc.gov
CLASSIFIED ADS
Faculty Position: Social Pediatrics Track Director
As we begin the search for a new director for the Social Pediatrics Track, all suggestions and nominations
of qualified candidates will be gratefully accepted. Please send all inquiries or suggestions in confidence
to Peter Selwyn, MD, MPH, Department of Family and Social Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 3544
Jerome Ave, Bronx, NY, 10467, or via e-mail at pselwyn@montefiore.org. Dr. Selwyn can be reached at
(718) 920-8434.
MONTHLY SCHEDULE REMINDERS
All Faculty Administrative meetings for 2005
1:30 to 3:00 p.m., 3544 Jerome Ave, 3rd Floor Conference Room:
May 10--(changed from 5/3 due to STFM)
Presenter: Matt Anderson, MD
Topic: Social Medicine Curriculum
July 5
Presenter: Jonathan Swartz, MD
Topic: Clinical
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September 6
Presenter: Jonathan Swartz, MD
Topic: Education
November 1
Presenter: Hal Strelnick, MD
Topic: Community Medicine
December 6
Presenter: Peter Selwyn, MD
Topic: Departmental Review and Strategic Planning
Social Medicine Rounds
Convener: Matt Anderson, MD
4:30 - 6:00 p.m., 3544 Jerome Ave, 3rd Floor Conference Room:
May 3
Speaker: Nils Hemming, MD
Topic: Tsunami Relief
May 17
Speaker: Gerald Paccione, MD
Topic: Resident Research Presentations
DFSM Grand Rounds
8:00 - 9:15 a.m., Moses II Conference Room:
May 27
Speaker: Ruth Stein, MD
Topic: Children's Health/The Nation's Wealth
Palliative Care Grand Rounds:
This event is open to the public.
8:00 - 9:00 a.m., Tishman A Conference Room, North 2 MMC:
May 11
Speaker: Larry Lerner, MD, FACP
Topic: An Analysis of Prolonged Hospitalization at Montefiore
May 25
Speaker: Jay Yasen, MD
Topic: Stroke Update
If you wish to receive a copy of a previously released electronic newsletter, please contact Tami Rivera at
(718) 920-8434 or at the e-mail listed below.
Please send email submissions for upcoming newsletters, by the 20th of each month, to:
Becky Williams
Mark Polisar
Tami Rivera
Peter Selwyn
rewillia@montefiore.org
mpolisar@montefiore.org
tariver@montefiore.org
pselwyn@montefiore.org
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