DMS in the News
December 2004
National/International Media
The Wall Street Journal - December 23, 2004
Scientists Say Aleve's Dangers May Be Overblown
Elliott Fisher, director of health policy research at the Center for Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, N.H., said he was troubled by the possibility that science wasn't behind the decision to halt the study and publicize the findings. "I have not seen their numbers, but I would be disappointed if there were not careful thought given to the statistical significance of the differences that were found," he said.
The Los Angeles Times - December 21, 2004
Exercise Program Specially Fit to Needs of Mentally Ill People In Shape uses physical fitness, plus weight management and behavior modification, to help improve lives and life spans
The unusual, community-based effort targets a population that has been largely overlooked by a physical fitness boom that caters to an array of groups -- from older people to babies to the physically disabled -- but typically not to people with mental illness. Experts view In Shape as a model to improve the lives and life spans of millions of people with mental illness. "It is absolutely groundbreaking," said Dr. Stephen Bartels, a psychiatrist at Dartmouth Medical School. "This is a very important project." [This article also appeared in The Orlando Sentinel, Concord Monitor and Baltimore Sun.]
The Wall Street Journal - December 20, 2004
Burden of Proof At 32, a Decision: Is Cancer Small Enough to Ignore?
The number of people living five years or more after being diagnosed with cancer continues to rise and now is an estimated 10 million. New drugs can hold some tumors in check, making cancer more like a manageable chronic illness, such as diabetes. But if nearly everyone has traces of the disease, then "what is meant by having 'cancer'?" asks H. Gilbert Welch, a professor at Dartmouth Medical School who has researched issues surrounding early detection.
The New York Times - December 19, 2004
Medicine Fueled by Marketing Intensified Trouble for Pain Pills
By last year, more than a dozen studies of Vioxx and Celebrex were under way with people at high risk for cancers of the lung, breast, skin, prostate, colon, mouth, bladder, or esophagus. And they were being studied along with standard treatments in patients who already had cancer. "It looked very nice," said Dr. John A. Baron, a professor of medicine at Dartmouth who has consulted for Merck. But it has been cancer research that has yielded strong clinical evidence that Vioxx and Celebrex can cause heart attacks.
The New Yorker - December 13, 2004
Mammography, air power, and the limits of looking
Gilbert Welch, a medical-outcomes expert at Dartmouth, has pointed out that, given current breast-cancer mortality rates, nine out of every thousand sixty-year-old women will die of breast cancer in the next ten years.
The Washington Post - December 1, 2004
Siphoning off the medical personnel
Elliott Fisher of Dartmouth Medical School has demonstrated that regions of the United States with a high concentration of medics spend extra on health care without becoming healthier: This country actually has too many health workers. Meanwhile, in Africa, a single nurse can be responsible for 50 patients. [This article also appears in Fort Worth Star Tribune (Texas).]
Boston Globe - December 1, 2004
Dartmouth ends foundation with $1.6 million grant
The money from the Foundation for the Treatment of Children with AIDS will go to the DARDAR project, a collaboration between Dartmouth Medical School and the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences in Dar Es Salaam. [This article also appears in the Associated Press, Union Leader and the Rutland Herald (Vermont).]
Other Media
Associated Press - December 31, 2004
Tsunami Dartmouth
A Dartmouth Medical School professor is headed to devastated coastal Asia to help care for tsunami victims. Dr. Dean Seibert leaves Sunday for Indonesia as part of a medical team that will assess medical needs and provide medical care. Part of his team's responsibility will be to help coordinate the work of non-governmental organizations working under the World Health Organization.
The Caledonian-Record [Vermont] - December 31, 2004
Rebuilding Railroad Street Takes Contractor Back To His Roots
Dr. Anthony DiScipio was the head surgeon and Laferriere remembers seeing 20 people setting up equipment as they wheeled him into the operating room. "He worked a long, hard day to save my life," Laferriere said of DiScipio. "And I appreciate it." He spent two weeks at DHMC and went back to work a week after being discharged from the hospital.
The Union Leader - December 31, 2004
Dartmouth professor heads to Sumatra with relief effort
Dr. Dean Seibert, professor emeritus at Dartmouth Medical School, will leave Sunday for Southeast Asia as part of a medical team that will assess medical needs and provide medical care. Seibert, of Norwich, Vt., yesterday said he was going to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. He is one of six members of the team being sent to the heavily damaged Aceh Province by Northwest Medical Teams International, a nonprofit organization based in Oregon.
WCAX - December 31, 2004
Dartmouth prof headed to disaster area to help with medical care
A Dartmouth Medical School professor from Vermont is headed to devastated coastal Asia to help care for tsunami victims. Doctor Dean Seibert leaves Sunday for Indonesia as part of a medical team that will assess medical needs and provide medical care.
WNNE-TV - December 31, 2004
Dartmouth Medical School Professor To Leave For Indonesia
A Dartmouth Medical School professor is heading to Indonesia to help the survivors of the devastating tsunamis. This will be the fourth disaster relief medical mission for Dr. Dean Seibert. He's already been to Liberia to help in refugee camps, to Albania after the Kosovo crisis, and to the Mosquito Coast after Hurricane Mitch.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - December 29, 2004
U.S. Health Care - A Sick System: Medication nation
For a study published earlier this year in the journal Health Affairs, Dartmouth Medical School researchers asked patients to rate the effectiveness of the arthritis drug Vioxx -- first, after having seen a commercial for the drug, then after having reviewed objective information about its benefits. After having seen only the commercial, 65 percent of patients rated Vioxx as very effective at treating arthritis symptoms. Fewer than 10 percent rated the drug as ineffective. After having read the objective information, just about 25 percent rated Vioxx as very effective; more than 20 percent rated it as ineffective.
U.S. Newswire - December 29, 2004
Famous Athlete, Reggie White, Dies From Complications of Untreated Sleep Apnea
"Mr. White's premature and sad death is a sad reminder of the toll that is taken by this prevalent condition," said Michael J. Sateia, M.D., president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and medical director of the sleep center at Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center. "However, this disorder is readily treatable."
The News Journal [Delaware] - December 22, 2004
Focusing on breast cancer in Newark
"I think it's the next big thing in mammography," said Monte Clinton, administrative director of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., where a prototype of the tomosynthesis machine is being tested.
Business Wire - December 21, 2004
The Epilepsy Project and Epilepsy Foundation Fund The STAR Research Program Focused on Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms of Epilepsy
The program is managed by NDRI as well as a steering committee which includes the president of CURE and leading neurologists and neurosurgeons from such institutions as Yale University School of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Valley News - December 21, 2004
Getting a Shot Against the Flu Restrictions Eased; 1,800 Get Vaccine in Hanover
Although getting the flu vaccine out wasn't an emergency, it was urgent, said Dr. Robert Gougelet, medical director of emergency response at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and program director of the medical response system for northern New England, part of a national network of such groups run by the federal Department of Homeland Security. "People need to have (the flu vaccine) on board to be protected," said Gougelet, who is also an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Dartmouth Medical School.
Charleston Gazette [West Virginia] - December 19, 2004
Dartmouth academician named to Massey board
Massey Energy named John C. Baldwin, associate provost of Dartmouth University in Hanover, N.H., to its board of directors Nov. 15. Baldwin, a medical doctor, was dean of Dartmouth's Medical School from 1998 to 2002. His resume, published on the Dartmouth University Web site, reveals that Baldwin was a major fund-raiser for the university, successfully soliciting gifts and research grants. Baldwin also was instrumental in launching several pharmaceutical and medical-device companies, including Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Novacor, according to his resume.
The Spokesman-Review [Washington] - December 19, 2004
Joint Enterprise
Medicare pays for most hip replacements, which cost from $18,000 to $20,000, so regional variation is a public policy issue, said Dr. James Weinstein, chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Dartmouth Medical School. "Joint replacement is one of the most effective procedures done in medicine," Weinstein said. "But just because it's really good, should it be overutilized? Or utilized at the rate that it should be?"
Valley News - December 18, 2004
Scientific Advances Underline Hazard of Moral Certainty
People from the Judeo-Christian tradtiton presumably accept the commandment "Thou shalt not kill," but their views differ greatly on abortion, capital punishment, killing during war and euthanasia. We all must answer these basic questions for ourselves, but we have no right to attempt to answer these questions for others... Paul D. Manganiello, M.D., is division director of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
Big News Network [Australia] - December 16, 2004
Web Site Examines Movie Smoking
The Lung Association said the counter is based on multiple research studies, including one from Dartmouth College that concluded tobacco use in movies triples the odds that young audience members will try smoking.
Connecticut Valley Spectator - December 16, 2004
Dermatologist honored by American Cancer Society
June K. Robinson, MD, Section Chief of Dermatology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), recently received the American Cancer Society's St. George Medal - the highest honor awarded by the Society for volunteers who have distinguished themselves through their achievements in the fight against cancer.
Valley News - December 15, 2004
Sen. Gregg Deserves Our Gratitude
Medical schools, medical students and teaching hospitals across the country are grateful to Sen. Gregg for his leadership in putting patients and health care first and for taking a bold step to protect a truly egalitarian, fair and effective system that guarantees the best young medical minds access to training at the best hospitals across the nation. Stephen P. Spielberg, M.D. Dean, Dartmouth Medical School Vice President for Health Affairs Dartmouth College.
St. Petersburg Times [Florida] - December 13, 2004
Charting health's 'oops' factor
"Meetings get a lot of coverage now," said Dr. Lisa Schwartz, associate professor at Dartmouth Medical School. "Some of the meetings are more focused on generating press coverage than on peer review." [This article also appears in The Sun Herald (Mississippi).]
Connecticut Valley Spectator - December 9, 2004
Medical school gets grant to fight AIDS in Africa
A national foundation with a mission of supporting programs for children with AIDS made its final grant on Wednesday - World AIDS Day - with the distribution of $2.0 million to the section of Infectious Disease and International Health at Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
Connecticut Valley Spectator - December 9, 2004
Three DHMC physicians named to Gold Humanism Honor Society
On November 6th, Drs. Joseph O'Donnell, Paul Manganiello and Bill Boyle were inducted into the national society, which recognizes "exemplary service to others, integrity, clinical excellence, and compassionate and respectful relationships with patients, families, and colleagues."
New Hampshire Public Radio - December 6, 2004
Iraq and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Approximately one in five combat troops returning from Iraq suffers from post-traumatic stress, major depression and other mental problems. We'll talk with Dr. Matthew Friedman, the head of The National Center for Post-Traumatic Disorder about the alarming figures and their implications.
Valley News - December 4, 2004
Bosom Buddies' Performance Will Tell 8 Women's Breast Cancer Stories
More than once she broke into tears while at work in the student affairs office at Dartmouth Medical School. Next week, McGovern will bring those long-hidden emotions not only into the open, but onto the stage. She and seven of her newest and probably closest friends are the cast of Bosom Buddies, in which the eight breast cancer survivors will present the results of a three month writing/theater workshop organized by a young, energetic director and including best-selling author Jodi Picoult of Hanover as writing coach.
New Hampshire Public Radio - December 3, 2004
Alcohol Abuse: What Doctors Can Do
But there's another reason many doctors don't screen. Dr. David Nierenburg, Associate Dean of Medical Education at Dartmouth Medical School, says most doctors have been trained to treat existing disease. Nierenburg says changing doctor's attitudes about the importance of screening for substance abuse can be difficult, when the leading causes of death are heart disease, cancer and stroke.
Fosters Daily Democrat - December 2, 2004
Dartmouth Ends AIDS Foundation With $1.6 Million Grant
Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center have been awarded $1.6 million to fund an AIDS children's clinic in Tanzania.
New Hampshire Public Radio - December 2, 2004
Comparing Addiction Treatment and Support
Morning Edition Host Lisa Peakes talks with Dr. Mark McGovern about the difference between addiction treatment programs and support groups. Dr. McGovern is an associate professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical School.
Valley News - December 2, 2004
Dartmouth Grant to Help African Children With HIV
Dartmouth Medical School has received $1.6 million to open a clinic in Tanzania that will treat children infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
New Hampshire Public Radio - December 1, 2004
AIDS and HIV in New England
It's World AIDS Day and while the focus on the disease is increasingly international, US rates of infection are on the rise. We'll look at AIDS services, treatments, prevention, and the reality of living with HIV in our region. Our guests are.... Betsy Eccles, Infectious Disease Clinical Nurse specialist with the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.