VOLUME 1 ISSUE 2 DEC/JAN 2008

The BicyclingMayor

Living for Tomorrow

Cancer Survivors’ ProgramProvides Support for Healingand Moving Forward.

A health and lifestyle publication from Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

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inside this issuea message from Dr. Leo Selker

Leo Selker, Ph.D.

President

ENH Research Institute

Welcome to our current issue of Connections, a

bimonthly publication bringing you the latest in

medical technology, research and personal care from

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH). Each issue

of Connections will feature a story about innovative

research and how it has a direct, positive impact on

patient care at our Hospitals.

For more than a decade the ENH Research Institute

has been instrumental in shaping and supporting

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare’s mission “to

preserve and improve human life.” ENH continues to

build a national and international reputation in the

areas of research with the greatest potential to

directly benefit our patients, their families and

their communities.

Today, as ranked by funding from the National

Institutes of Health (NIH), ENH is the Number 1

independent research hospital in Illinois and the

Number 10 comprehensive independent research

hospital in the nation. For both achievements,

it is clear that we are standing on the shoulders

of our physician-scientists.

This issue of Connections spotlights just one of our

more than 460 physician-scientists—Joe Bass, M.D.,

Ph.D., of the ENH Department of Endocrinology and

Metabolic Diseases—and his ground-breaking work

on how high-fat diets disrupt the body clocks in

mammals. Dr. Bass’s study focused on whether food

alone can change the clock and found out that indeed it

can. Overeating alters the core mechanism of the body

clock in mammals, throwing off the timing of internal

signals like appetite control.This study has implications

for human diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

Research aims to limit suffering and improve ENH

patients’ options. Research also establishes our

physicians as opinion leaders on patient care by

placing them at the podium for local, regional,

national and international gatherings. Research

is how physicians validate clinical care and how

they persuade one another to change care for the

better. In short, research provides our patients

with the latest therapies, procedures, drugs and

devices. It’s no wonder the nation’s top clinicians

have a documented affinity for research-intensive

environments like ENH!

As we say thanks for the many benefits of the year

behind us and express excitement as we ring-in the

new calendar year, let us give voice to our debt of

gratitude to the many physicians whose love of

research has placed them among the very best

clinicians in the nation. You will learn more about

their unrelenting determination to improve patient

care in this and in subsequent issues of Connections.

In the meantime, we at ENH hope that you, your

families and your communities have a warm and

meaningful holiday season and a great new year!

Regards,

Leopold G. Selker, Ph.D.

President

ENH Research Institute

A Message From Dr. Leo SelkerPresident of the ENH Research Institute

2 | HappeningsParkinson’s Disease StudyInnovation in Patient SafetyElectronic Medical RecordsLeapfrog Top Hospital List

6 | The Bicycling MayorSpinal condition nearly puts the brakes on bicycling mayor.

10 | Living for TomorrowENH community cancer survivors’ programprovides support for healing and movingforward in their lives.

12 | Around ENH

Medical GroupQuality care is more convenient with ENH Medical Group.

Research InstituteStudies show high-fat dietdisrupts the body clock.

FoundationA generous legacy recognizes theimportance of family ties.

15 | Ask the DoctorPhysician suggests antidotes to fight the winter blahs.

17 | Community CalendarA list of events at and around ENH.

6The Bicycling Mayor

Spinal condition nearly puts the brakes on bicycling mayor.

Living for TomorrowENH community cancer survivors’ programprovides support for healing and movingforward in their lives.

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insidecover

©2007–08 Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

CONNECTIONS

is a publication of the Office

of Corporate

Communications,

1301 Central St.,

Evanston, Ill. 60201;

(847) 570-3141;

PublicRelations@enh.org

Editor:Sara S. Patterson

Managing Editor:Maura Giles

Photographer:Jonathan Hillenbrand

Connections EditorialAdvisory Board:Tim Callahan,

Administrator,

ENH Research Institute

Lindsey Cox,

Vice President,

Hospital and Clinics,

Highland Park Hospital

Gabrielle Cummings,

Vice President,

Hospital and Clinics,

Glenbrook Hospital

Amy Ferguson,

Senior Director,

Public Relations, ENH

J. P. Gallagher,

Senior Vice President,

Hospital and Clinics,

Evanston Hospital

Brendan Gately,

Associate Creative Director,

Euro RSCG Life LM&P

Barbara Hailey,

Director, Communications,

ENH Foundation

Mary Keegan,

Vice President,

Nursing, ENH

Jennifer Mitchell,

Director,

Public Relations, ENH

Kristen Murphy,

Assistant Vice President,

Surgery and Orthopedics,

ENH Medical Group

Rikki Ragland,

Director,

Public Relations, ENH

Russell G. Robertson,

M.D., Chairman,

Family Medicine,

Glenbrook Hospital

Mark Schroeder,

Director,

Community Relations, ENH

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Helping to Stem the Tide of Parkinson’sDisease

Normally active, Carol Cafmeyer, a 64-year-old Crystal Lake resident, began

having difficulty walking and sometimes lost her balance. She needed to find out

what was wrong.

In January 2007, Cafmeyer sought a diagnosis from neurologist Michael Rezak,

M.D., Ph.D., at ENH’s Glenbrook Hospital and discovered that she was in the early

stages of Parkinson’s disease—a disorder that affects nerve cells, or neurons, in

a part of the brain that controls muscle movement. In Parkinson’s, neurons that

make a chemical called dopamine die or do not work properly.

“Once I began taking the

medication for Parkinson’s

disease, I got everything

back that I had lost,”

Cafmeyer said. “I feel

very fortunate to have

Dr. Rezak as my doctor.”

But she wants to find a

treatment that will slow

down the progression of her Parkinson’s disease. In August 2007, Cafmeyer

enrolled in a clinical trial using the muscle builder creatine to determine if the

substance may slow the effects of Parkinson’s disease. “I asked questions, and I

thought there are relatively few risks, and the benefits far outweighed them in my

case,” Cafmeyer said.

Evanston Northwestern HealthcareAwarded for Innovation in Patient Safety

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH) has received 2007’s

John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award for its

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Reduction Program. This award is sponsored by the National

Quality Forum (NQF) and The Joint Commission, which sets

hospital standards and accreditation requirements. The

award is in recognition of ENH’s national leadership in

attacking this serious threat to healthcare safety.

MRSA kills more people annually than AIDS. The importance of ENH’s MRSA

Reduction Program is particularly relevant due to recent outbreaks of the deadly

bacteria in schools nationwide. According to a study published in the Journal of

the American Medical Association, MRSA, a virulent strain of bacteria resistant to

many antibiotics, seems to be killing more individuals each year than AIDS,

emphysema or homicide. The journal’s study estimated that 19,000 people died

from MRSA during 2005.

ENH—one of the first hospital systems in the country to begin a universal

MRSA surveillance program. The MRSA Reduction Program began in 2005,

well before any recommendations from state lawmakers. It requires a quick

and painless nasal swabbing of all inpatients during the admission process to

detect colonization of MRSA.

A new molecular diagnostic technique called a real-time PCR is used to quickly

assess MRSA infection. This allows hospital staff to promptly identify and isolate

infected patients.

“The goal of the program was always to reduce ENH patients’ risk of MRSA

infection at all three ENH hospitals, and all of our benchmarks were achieved by

the end of the program’s first year,” said Lance Peterson, M.D., FIDSA, FASCP,

epidemiologist and a founder of the MRSA Reduction Program at ENH. “Everyone

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare is one of 52 sites for this new clinical trial,

being held in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health. This trial is a

research study designed to answer specific questions about new therapies of

known treatments. Clinical trials, also known as medical research, are generally

used to determine whether new drugs are both safe and effective.

This clinical trial is investigating the possibility that creatine, a nitrogenous organic

acid found in the muscle tissue of vertebrates mainly in the form of phosphocreatine

and which supplies energy for muscle contraction, may slow the effects of

Parkinson’s disease. It is believed to be “neuroprotective,” thereby protecting the

brain from the loss of the dopamine that helps drive proper brain function.

Globally, it is estimated 6.3 million people have Parkinson’s disease, including 1 to 1.5

million Americans. One in 10 people with Parkinson’s are diagnosed before age 50.

Recruitment is ongoing for this study. If you or someone you know is interested in

this study or others regarding Parkinson’s disease, please call (847) 657-5738.

To see Dr. Rezak or one of our team of neurologists, please call (847) 657-5738.

here has put a great deal of effort into this initiative to benefit our patients, and it

is truly gratifying that ENH as a whole has been recognized by this very prestigious

national award.”

The ENH MRSA Reduction Program is easily reproduced and cost-effective.

The ENH program’s approach was judged by the NQF to be easy to reproduce and

cost-effective for any organization. It was further judged to have the potential to

decrease MRSA mortality rates, lower costs associated with treating it, and

improve the quality and safety of patient care.

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare’s MRSA Reduction Program Team, which

will soon publish its findings in a peer reviewed journal, is offering an outreach

program to local long-term care facilities and schools. It is also consulting

with various hospitals across the country on how to start similar MRSA

surveillance programs.

The Patient Safety Awards Program, launched in 2002 by NQF and The Joint

Commission, is named for John M. Eisenberg, M.D., MBA, former administrator of

the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Dr. Eisenberg was one of

the founding leaders of the NQF and sat on its board of directors.

A patient with Parkinson’s disease, Carol Cafmeyer, consults with Dr. Rezak.

Dr. Peterson performs a nasal swab on Donna Hacek to test for MRSA.

Dr. Rezak is a movement disorders

specialist and the Medical Director

of the APDA Young-Onset

Information Center and Director of

the Movement Disorders Functional

Neurosurgery Program at Evanston

Northwestern Healthcare’s (ENH)

Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview.

Michael Rezak,M.D.,Ph.D.

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The most complete and current assessment of hospital quality and safety

available. The Leapfrog survey includes data on hospitals’ progress toward

implementing practices in four categories:

1. Computerized Physician Order Entry

2. ICU Physician Staffing

3. Evidence-Based Hospital Referral (EBHR)

4. Leapfrog Safe Practices Score

Fewer hospitals made this year’s list because Leapfrog added new stricter

measures to the 2007 survey, namely:

¡ Providing information about bariatric and aortic valve surgery;

¡ Gauging surgeons’ experience in rating these and the other high-risk

surgeries that are part of Evidence-Based Hospital Referral; and

¡ Reporting on hospitals’ level of transparency as measured by participation

in other public quality reporting efforts.

The complete 2007 list and a detailed explanation of the Top Hospitals

methodology, as well as the differences between the 2006 and 2007 lists can

be found online at www.leapfroggroup.org.

Evanston Hospital Honored as aNational Leader in Patient Safety

For the second year in a row, Evanston

Northwestern Healthcare’s (ENH)

Evanston Hospital has been

named a 2007 top national

hospital by the “Leapfrog Top

Hospitals List.” Evanston

Hospital is the only hospital in

Illinois recognized by Leapfrog as a

national leader in patient safety.

Evanston Hospital is one of only 41 U.S. hospitals that have received this honor

in 2007, which is based on results from the Leapfrog Hospital Quality and

Safety Survey. This survey uses a rating system that provides up-to-the-

minute assessments of the quality and safety of hospitals across America.

A particular emphasis is placed on hospitals’ awareness, accountability, ability

and action plan to meet the service excellence standards of quality healthcare

for each of its patients.

“We are very honored to once again have received this national recognition,” said

ENH President and CEO Mark R. Neaman. “We have been leading and even

exceeding Leapfrog safety standards since the inception of the survey.”

ENH Earns Award for Electronic MedicalRecords; Patients Gain Safety, ImprovedHealthcare

In a study of more than 4,000 U.S. hospitals, the Healthcare Information and

Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has named Evanston Northwestern

Healthcare (ENH) as one of the top six healthcare provider organizations in the

country for successful implementation of a fully automated electronic

medical records (EMR) system.

“All our physicians and staff involved are pleased to be recognized for the effort

given over the years to our clinical system development,” said Tom Smith, ENH

Chief Information Officer. “Those involved have all supported this task as essential

to our ability to deliver high-quality care for our patients.”

ENH’s integrated patient record system provides a single, unified source of clinical

information that shifts the focus from an institution to its patients. Patients’ records

follow them from the doctor’s office to the lab to the pharmacy to the hospital,

including the emergency room.

For example, turnaround time for obtaining test results has improved significantly.

Getting results back from mammograms now takes a day compared to more

than a week.

On the pharmacy side, errors from illegible handwriting are eliminated, nurses

receive alerts reminding them to administer medications, and patients can obtain

medications, such as first doses of antibiotics, 50 percent faster.

“Overall, electronic medical records have improved ENH patients’ quality of care

and made medication use safer,” said Stan Kent, Evanston Hospital Assistant Vice

President, Hospitals and Clinics.

The 35,000 ENH patients participating in ENHconnect, which is a patient portal

connected to the patient database, have found more convenient and efficient ways

to stay in touch with their physicians and manage their medical care. Through

online access, ENHconnect members have the ability to receive test results, review

health records, ask medical questions, schedule appointments, pay hospital and

physician bills and renew prescriptions.

“ENHconnect allows me to go online and

schedule appointments and ask simple

questions about my medications with my

primary care physician Dr. David Lerner. I

can easily access my medical history and list

of medications. In fact, before I travel, I print

out these records and put the copy in my

briefcase. Recently on a trip to Florida, I had

to go to the hospital, and it made it so much

easier. I am a diabetic, so it’s especially

important to have this information available.”

—Gus Palumbo, 68-year-old patient

at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

and President of Falson Supply

Company, Franklin Park, Ill.

We are very honored to once again have

received this national recognition,” said

ENH President and CEO Mark R. Neaman.

We have been leading and even exceeding

Leapfrog safety standards since the

inception of the survey.”

“

“

“ENHconnect is an incredible tool and logical

platform for communicating better with my

patients,” said Thomas Ficho, M.D., Ph.D.,

Senior Attending Physician in General Medicine,

in Glenview. “I use it to keep 95 percent of my

patients on top of their medical results. For

example, patients can see improvement in their

lipid charts over time, as well as read my notes.”

THEBICYCLINGMAYOR

THEBICYCLINGMAYOR

An avid cyclist, Gerald“Jerry” Turry, Mayor ofthe Village of Lincolnwood,Ill., has ridden hisbike to work every day,rain or shine, for thelast 20 years.

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“I had some symptoms I was getting concerned

about,” said Turry. “Spinal stenosis runs in my family,

and when I started to feel numbness in my hands, I

knew I had better seek an evaluation.”

Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the lumbar (lower

back) or cervical (neck) spinal canal, which causes

compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots and

may lead to pain, decreased sensation, coordination

problems, or even paralysis. Most often seen in

people over age 50, spinal stenosis affects men and

women equally, and is most often caused by arthritis

of the spine. The most common symptoms are pain,

numbness, tingling and weakness, according to

Gene Khavkin, M.D., the Director of Evanston

Northwestern Healthcare’s (ENH) Neurosurgical

Spine Program.

“I told my primary care physician, Dr. Cara Culmer,

about my symptoms,”Turry said.“She knows I’m normally

not a complainer, so she sent me to get an MRI.”

Ivan Ciric, M.D., ENH’s Senior Neurosurgery

Attending, advised Turry that his symptoms might be

indicative of something serious. Through a team

approach, Dr. Ciric consulted with Dr. Khavkin, who

joined ENH after completing his spine fellowship at

Johns Hopkins University Hospital.

“When people hear ‘neurosurgeon,’ they probably

first think ‘brain surgeon,’” said Dr. Khavkin. “But,

actually, neurosurgeons spend at least 60 to 70

percent of their extensive training dealing with spine

care. The focus of my own practice is the diagnosis

and treatment of spine problems.

“I first look into the most conservative treatment

options, but there are times when surgical action is

necessary,” he added. “If surgery is required, I

employ minimally invasive techniques when

possible. This approach means less risk to the

patient, better post-surgical pain control, and a

shorter recovery.

“At ENH, we help the primary care physicians find the

right solutions for their patients, and we are very

selective in choosing the most appropriate procedure

for each patient. We never forget that our patients

trust us with their lives.”

“I felt comfortable with Dr. Khavkin right away,” said

Turry. “He looked at my X-ray, and said, ‘We’ll fix it.

We will go in through the back of your neck, and

you’ll be up in no time.’ He was confident he could

relieve the pressure and strengthen my spine

surgically. My wife, Nancy, who’s been my advocate

for 40 years, said, ‘Let’s do it!’ And I agreed.”

Turry underwent a posterior cervical decompression

and fusion. Going through the back of his neck, Dr.

Khavkin repaired Turry’s spinal stenosis. The

procedure, designed to relieve pressure on the spinal

cord and nerves, provides pain relief and minimizes

the danger of catastrophic injury happening as a

result of an impact.

“If I had fallen off my bicycle prior to the surgery, I

could have become quadriplegic and never ridden

again,” Turry said.

“After the surgery, I got out of the hospital in two days

and stayed home for the rest of week,” reported

Turry. “I didn’t have to wear a collar, and I was only a

little stiff. I went back to work, and after two weeks,

I started weight lifting.”

About two months later,Turry was back on his bicycle

and ready to ride in his 16th consecutive RAGBRAI®,

The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across

Iowa.

“In addition to Dr. Khavkin, I would like to thank my

primary care physician, Dr. Cara Culmer; my

endocrinologist, Dr. Lisa Purdy; and my nephrologist,

Dr. Louisa Ho. They attended to every detail at ENH.

In fact, they took such great care of me that I recently

rode my bike across the entire state of Iowa! Now

that’s what good healthcare’s all about.”

ÚHe has logged thousands of miles on hisbicycle, riding in events across the country. But when he was diagnosed with a conditioncalled spinal stenosis, he feared that his days of cycling might soon be over.

Dr. Khavkin and Lincolnwood Mayor Gerald “Jerry” Turry look at X-rays before Turry’s surgery and discuss

where the narrowing occurred, indicating stenosis.

“In fact, [ENH] tooksuch great care ofme that I recentlyrode my bike acrossthe state of Iowa!Now that’s whatgood healthcare is all about.”

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A dynamic creative director at an advertising agency,

Arlene Wanetick was 51 years old when she was

diagnosed with breast cancer. “Initially I didn’t really

know what I would need,” she said. “It’s not part of

your consumer set to know. I just had to go on

instinct, gut and faith.”

Wanetick counts several doctors and nurses

at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare (ENH) among

her blessings in her personal breast cancer journey.

She acknowledges their compassion, consideration

and connections. From the start, Wanetick

considered herself lucky since her cancer was

detected early, and she had great confidence in the

care she was receiving.

As the team at ENH helped her navigate through

surgery and radiation, Wanetick wanted as much

information as she could get, taking notes at every

physician visit and reading everything on the topic that

came her way, including articles about survivorship.

“When I first read something about a survivorship

program, my reaction was ‘this is so smart, so

progressive,’” Wanetick said. When she learned the

Living in the Future (LIFE) program was under way at

ENH, she was thrilled.

“I remember thinking I am so glad I am with this

Wanetick said of Martz. “The program is a great

resource, providing confidence and peace of mind.”

“Working with Carole Martz, and going through

the data gave me insight into the things that I should

be paying attention to,” said Linda Sizemore, Ph.D.,

a breast cancer survivor and LIFE supporter. “Talking

with her and developing that vocabulary helped me

with tools I need to develop relationships with my

physicians.”

Following their initial visits, LIFE patients are

encouraged to attend the program’s Thrivership

institution,” Wanetick said. “Knowing this program

existed made me feel like I was going to get better

care. It gave me such confidence in this forward-

thinking institution. I just thought ‘they’re on top of it.’”

The ENH LIFE program begins with a personal

risk-assessment visit with clinical coordinator Carole

Martz, RN, M.S., who reviews the survivor’s cancer

history and treatment, and covers medical surveillance

guidelines and healthy lifestyle recommendations.

Patients are encouraged to ask any and all questions

throughout their participation in LIFE.

“She is so passionate, knowledgeable and caring,

and she gave me lots of useful, tangible information,”

seminars (free and open to the public), including “Eat

to Beat Malignancy and Walk Away from Cancer” and

“Self Esteem and Sexual Intimacy After Cancer”

facilitated by the LIFE expert medical team.

Dr. Sizemore, who is a clinical psychologist and one of

the presenters of the Sexual Intimacy Thrivership

seminar, knows firsthand the importance of these

educational seminars and the value of the group setting.

She was surprised at her own initial feelings

following a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.

“I had a talk with myself, and I said for women

everywhere I have to work this out…the more you

share it, the easier it becomes.”

The Thrivership seminars, like the comprehensive,

individual prescriptions for survivorship, are part of

empowering patients to move forward and continue

healing.

“We are providing survivors with education as a form

of support,” said Carol A. Rosenberg, M.D., who

directs the cancer survivorship program at ENH.

“There is a window of opportunity, the right ‘teaching

moment’ following treatment when patients are

amenable to hearing about the kind of strategies they

can use to modify their risks.”

ENH community cancer survivors’ program provides support for healing and moving forward.

Living for TOMORROW

From left, Linda Sizemore, Ph.D.; Carol A. Rosenberg, M.D.; and Arlene Wanetick

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around ENH

Our body’s 24-hour internal clock, or “circadian”

clock (Latin for “about a day”), regulates the time we

go to sleep, wake up and become hungry. The clock

properly aligns our biological functions with our

environment. It works in the brain as well as lung,

liver, heart and skeletal muscles, governing functions

like rest and activity, fluid balance, body temperature

and oxygen consumption.

Now, scientific findings close an important loop in

the relationship between the body clock and

metabolism.

Two years ago Joe Bass, M.D., Ph.D., Evanston

Northwestern Healthcare Senior Attending Physician

of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases and

Assistant Professor at Northwestern University’s

Feinberg School of Medicine, reported that a faulty or

misaligned body clock can wreak havoc on the body

and its metabolism, increasing the propensity for

obesity and diabetes. Since then, Bass’ research

focused on what common influences could upset the

operation of this internal timing device?

“Our study was simple—to determine if food itself

can alter the clock,” said Bass. “The answer is yes,

alterations in feeding affect timing.” The study has

shown that overeating alters the core mechanism of

the body clock in animals, throwing off the timing of

internal signals like appetite control.

“It is important to understand what happens when

diet changes,” said Bass. “Our findings have

implications for human disease. These basic

advances in science can be applied to the studies of

common disorders like obesity and diabetes.”

Bass and his team studied mice with the same

genetic backgrounds. After feeding them a regular

diet for two weeks, they were split into two groups—

one kept on a regular diet and the other a high-fat

diet. After two weeks, those on the high-fat diet

showed a spontaneous shift in their normal pattern

of activity/eating and resting/sleeping. Animals on a

high-fat diet gained weight and suddenly exhibited a

disruption in their circadian clocks. The animals on a

regular diet did not demonstrate this behavior.

“It’s not just that the animals are eating more at

regular meals,” said Bass. “What’s happened

is that they actually shift their eating habits,

so that all excess food intake occurs during

their normal rest period. All of the excess

calories are consumed when the

animal should be resting. For a

human, that would be like raiding

the refrigerator in the middle of the night

and binging on junk food.”

The entire study was conducted in darkness so that

the behavior of the animals simply reflected their

internal clock; a normal animal has a very fixed daily

period of just less than 24 hours. For animals on a

high-fat diet, after only two weeks, the animals’

behavior changed. Also, their daily period of

sleep/wake was lengthened significantly. This

suggests, explained Bass, that the central

mechanism in the brain that controls the timing

of the cycle of activity and rest is affected by a high-

fat diet.

The study is published in the Nov. 7 issue of the

scientific journal, Cell Metabolism.

High-Fat Diet Disrupts Body ClockStudies show increased propensity for obesity and diabetes.

around ENH

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At times, it seems as though our lives are becoming

more demanding and our schedules more hectic every

day. That’s why ENH Medical Group physicians have

extended their services to offer evening and weekend

hours, plus same-day appointments and early morning

walk-ins. Now, you can see a physician when it’s

convenient for you.

“We provide patients with access to high-quality care

when they need it most,” said John Revis, M.D., Senior

Attending Physician of Internal Medicine. “We know

that life doesn’t always follow a schedule. Our patients

can now see a physician when their needs arise.”

Morning, evening and weekend hours. With some

70 office locations and over 500 primary and

specialty care physicians, many of the primary care

offices open as early as 7:30 a.m., while others

continue to see patients as late as 8 p.m. And several

primary care locations within ENH Medical Group

offer weekend hours, so patients can count on having

their medical needs attended to on Saturdays.

Select offices even offer the convenience of Sunday

hours for primary care patients, including pediatrics.

Even if your regular physician isn’t available, you’ll

still be able to see a trusted ENH Medical Group

physician who has access to your electronic medical

records (see story on page 4) and who is ready to

care for you.

You’ve got connections. When

you visit an ENH Medical Group

office, you’re connected to

hundreds of physicians in

virtually every clinical specialty,

and they are connected to you.

ENH Medical Group primary care

and specialty physicians have

access to your electronic

medical records, which enables

them to work as a team. As a

result, their efforts are centered

on your care. And your team of specialists are all

medical leaders on faculty at Northwestern

University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Many of

them also participate in clinical research and all are

committed to excellence in patient care and

advancements in preventing and curing disease.

As an ENH Medical Group patient, you can take an

active role in your care by connecting to us through

your home computer. Through ENHconnect.org,

you can schedule appointments, send secure

messages to your doctor, renew prescriptions,

receive test results, pay medical bills and view

your medical records.

For more information about ENH Medical Group, call

(847) 733-5707 or visit www.enh.org/enhmg.

Quality Care More Convenient With Improved Access to ENHMedical Group Physicians

New Office Openings• Gurnee

15 Tower Court

Gurnee, IL 60031

(847) 599-8899

Coming soon:

• Highland Park

777 Park Avenue West

Highland Park, IL 60035

(847) 926-6500

• Mundelein

1162 Maple Avenue

Mundelein, IL 60060

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ask the doctoraround ENH

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During this season of brief daylight and freezing

snow, we can feel our energy drain away along with

our desire to remain physically active. Throw in the

prospect of holiday weight gain and the strain that

can come from family get-togethers, and we have

a recipe for the winter blahs. While spring will

inevitably arrive, here are some practical strategies

that can make winter tolerable—and even fun!

Mood problems

Winter can be difficult for those struggling with

depression. If you feel depressed or feel an emotional

heaviness coming on in spite of taking anti-

depressant medication, you may want to talk to your

doctor about possibly increasing your dose. The

same holds true for those suffering from seasonal

affective disorder (SAD), a mood disorder that can

come on when the days get shorter.

Chasing the blahs away

Let’s face it, physical exercise is one of your best bets

to fight the winter blahs. It is known to elevate mood

and can increase energy levels. In fact, 30 minutes

of early morning activity can increase one’s energy

levels and brighten the outlook for the whole day

ahead. Evening workouts

are also fine—but not too

close to bedtime, when

you may want to feel a

little less energy to help

you fall asleep.

Don’t overdo it. Work

within the limits of your

present level of fitness. If

you’re not certain how

much is too much, start by walking briskly for a short

time, and gradually advance the time and intensity of

your workout. But walking isn’t the only way to

decrease the winter blahs. Consider adding weight

training, swimming or team sports at levels of

exertion that are within your capacity. If you want

more guidance, visit your doctor for advice.

Don’t feed the blahs

It can be difficult to manage one’s eating in the

winter, when people naturally gravitate toward

comfort food. And food just seems to taste better in

the winter, not to mention the fact that people often

feel they deserve to sit down to a huge meal after

fighting the bleak weather. And then, there are the

holiday feasts we all look forward to in the fall and

winter seasons.

Try grazing, not gorging. Make a conscious

before-eating decision to reduce portion size. Set

your fork down between bites. Take sips of water to

increase your sense of fullness. But if you do allow

yourself to occasionally overdo it with seasonal

delicacies or comfort food, don’t beat yourself up

about it. Instead, lighten your food intake for the next

few days to compensate.

Fighting the Winter BlahsBy Russell G. Robertson, M.D., Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

When Dee Murdough’s lifelong friend, Susan

Heiberger, died from breast cancer in October 1998,

Murdough harnessed the power of philanthropy to help

women proactively address their families’ genetic risks

for cancer. Upon her own death, Murdough continued

this legacy by making a bequest of $500,000 for

genetics research at the Evanston Northwestern

Healthcare (ENH) Center for Medical Genetics.

Working with the ENH Foundation before her death,

Murdough along with Heiberger’s husband Bob

established the Susan Heiberger Memorial Fund with

the goal of supporting a program for women with

breast cancer. The result was the creation of

MyGenerations, an individualized family health

history computer program developed by the Center

for Medical Genetics.

MyGenerations allows users to

document their family history of

cancer, print a family tree and

receive an individualized cancer

risk assessment.The risk assess-

ment can be accessed online at

www.enh.org/mygenerations; at

kiosks at Evanston, Glenbrook

and Highland Park

Hospitals; and at the

mammography suite at

1000 Central Street in

Evanston.

More than 2,000 people have used MyGenerations

since it was launched in 2004. MyGenerations

encourages users to reach out to their family

members, as well as their physicians, to discuss their

family health history. That connection particularly

appealed to Murdough.

“Human connections were very important to Dee,”

said Wendy Rubinstein, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the

Center for Medical Genetics. “She understood that

talking about family history is important not only

because it brings relatives closer together, but it

increases the understanding of each family member’s

health risks and enables them to do something

positive about it.”

A Generous Legacy Recognizes the Importance of Family Ties

Dee Murdough’s philanthropic generosity was the catalyst

that helped Evanston Northwestern Healthcare establish

MyGenerations, an interactive computer program that has helped

thousands of people document their family health history.

continued on page 16

continued on page 16

To create your own

family health history

assessment, visit

www.enh.org/mygenerations.

Dee Murdough

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community calendar

JanuaryWhat Every Parent Should Know AboutTeenage Alcohol and Drug Use

Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, 7–8 p.m.

Highland Park Hospital

This is a free discussion on the trends, behaviors and

indicators of abuse and dependency issues in

adolescents. For more information please call Tracy

Sommerfeldt at (847) 570-2198.

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group

Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008, 2–3:30 p.m.

Glenbrook Hospital

This support group provides education and support

for patients with Parkinson’s disease and their

significant others. For more information call Sue

Silvio at (847) 657-5689.

Overeaters Anonymous Support Group

Every Sunday, 10–11 a.m.

Highland Park Hospital, Meeting Room 1B

The Overeaters Anonymous Support Group provides

support for individuals concerned with such eating

disorders as bulimia and binge eating. The group is

based on a 12-step model. Please call (847) 480-3718

for more information and meeting room confirmation.

ALANON Meeting

Every Wednesday, 8–9 p.m.

Highland Park Hospital, Meeting Room 2

This group provides support for family and friends of

alcoholics and addicts and is based on the 12-step

model for Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The last

Wednesday of the month is a combined open meeting

with AA. Call (847) 480-3718 for information and

meeting room confirmation.

Looking for a UniqueHoliday Gift?

A charitable contribution to Evanston Northwestern

Healthcare is a distinctive way to honor a special

person or celebrate the holidays. All gifts are tax

deductible as allowed by law, and the recipient

receives notification that a gift was made in his or her

honor. For more information, contact Sarah Sullivan,

Director of Development, Annual Fund, ENH

Foundation at (224) 364-7230, or make a gift

securely online at www.enh.org/foundation.

FebruaryPrenatal Decisions Support Group

Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2008, 7:30–9:30 p.m.

Evanston Hospital, Rooms G952 and G956

The Prenatal Decisions Support Group is designed

for parents who have made the very difficult

decision to end a pregnancy because of genetic or

chromosomal abnormalities. For more information

call (847) 570-2882. RSVP required.

Save the Date!

ENH Presents Annual Women’s Heart Event,

Harvest a Healthy Heart: Nutrition for the Heart

and Garden”

Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008

9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Chicago Botanic Garden

The keynote speaker will be weight loss and nutrition

expert, Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS, author of The

150 Healthiest Foods on

Earth: The Surprising

Truth About What to Eat.

Evanston Northwestern

Healthcare’s very own

physician-chef, Michael

Rakotz, M.D., will conduct a

cooking demonstration. Breakout sessions will

include: Ask the Pharmacist, Ask the Cardiologist,

Ask the PCP, and tai chi and yoga instruction.

Register by calling (847) 570-5020.

Evanston Northwestern Healthcare is pleased to offer you classes and events. The following is a list of some of those offerings. To register for classes and

events, or to view more, log on to www.enh.org/calendar. You can also call (847) 570-5020.

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Family gatherings: wonderful or woeful?

Those annual get-togethers that occur in the fall and

winter can be great fun. But they can also take their

toll. Planning ahead and strategizing based on past

behaviors can help alleviate some of the toxic fallout.

Following is a checklist that, if adhered to, can make

your holiday gatherings enjoyable rather than painful.

¡ Topics of conversation that are known to be

radioactive should be avoided at all costs, even

when someone is baiting you.

¡ Don’t use this time of year to dredge up others’

past indiscretions; politely rebuff those who may

try the same with you.

¡ Make an effort to respond kindly to all, even those

who may not deserve it.

¡ Set a clear arrival and departure time, and stick

to your schedule with an established exit strategy.

¡ Remember, holiday gatherings afford you a

great opportunity to model behaviors for

your children and to set a tone for them that will

make gatherings pleasantly memorable for you

and them.

The alcohol factor. While a drink or two can be a

wonderful accompaniment to time with loved ones,

emphasis should be on the “one or two.” Moderation

and safety is paramount at gatherings of family and

friends. Always serve alcohol with food that has an

absorptive capacity to slow down the rate of transfer

into the blood stream. Bread, crackers and pretzels,

for example, work just fine.

Remember, in general, women have lower thresholds

for intoxication than men, so servings should be

adjusted accordingly.Alcoholic beverages consumed

in amounts that exceed one’s tolerance can have two

negative effects—the risk of driving in an impaired

state and the worsening of depression. Remember

also that even seemingly innocuous alcoholic

beverages are unhealthy to children and can be the

beginning of a lifelong drinking problem.

Above all, embrace the season, and enjoy the warmth

of the fire and the quiet evenings together that can

make this time of year one to treasure rather than

merely tolerate.

Dr. Russell G. Robertson is Chairman of ENH Family

Medicine and has a practice in Glenview. He has

written regularly on topical issues related to health

and families for many years, and currently writes a

column, “The Doctor Is In,” for Pioneer Press

Newspapers.

MyGenerations can help individuals determine if they

have a hereditary tendency toward a particular

disease. The program was first designed to address

family risk for breast and ovarian cancer but has

been expanded to include a wide variety of cancers,

including colon, thyroid, pancreatic and prostate.

MyGenerations can tell users if they might benefit

from a genetic consultation. Then, through one-on-

one guidance, Dr. Rubinstein and the Center’s

genetic counselors can offer genetic testing and

develop a personalized prevention plan for

individuals and their relatives to combat these risks.

“Sometimes you don’t realize you’re at risk until you

see the pattern in front of you,” said Suzanne O’Neill,

M.S., Ph.D., the clinical researcher and genetic

counselor who created MyGenerations. “Through

Dee’s vision and generosity, we help people see

those patterns and take action. Knowing your own

risk is important to you and can also help you lead

your whole family toward preventive measures.”

As major biomedical advances have enabled us to

identify the genes that transmit susceptibility to such

hereditary illnesses as cancer, heart disease and

mental illness, the Center for Medical Genetics has

become a leader in discovering disease-related gene

mutations and conducting life-sustaining research.

Growth and expansion of quality research initiatives

is made possible through the generosity of individual

donors such as Dee Murdough.

For more information on how your charitable gift can

make a difference for patients at Evanston Northwestern

Healthcare, visit www.enh.org/foundation or call the

ENH Foundation at (224) 364-7200.

MyGenerations, continued

Winter Blahs, continued

“

e give our hearts to our family and friends. Well,

at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, sometimes

our doctors hold someone’s heart in their hands—

literally. And we believe that those people should have the

same passion for, and commitment to, caring for patients

as your family does for you. That’s why we connect our

patients to the clinical research done at the ENH

Research Institute, ranked 10th nationally in NIH funding

among multi-specialty independent research hospitals.

You see, we’ve learned over the 100 years we’ve been

doing this that better connections mean better care.

And that’s why we’re here.

a

www.enh.org

Evanston Hospital Glenbrook Hospital Highland Park Hospital

©2007 Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

1301 Central Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60201