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NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW

New Medical Office Building and Garage Slated for Spring 2005 Opening

Construction of GBMC’s third on-campus Medical Office Building (MOB) is on schedule to open in April 2005. With immediate access to a 1,070-space, six-level garage, the six-floor structure will be linked to the Emergency Department garage and the main hospital via an enclosed conditioned corridor. In addition to physician practices, there are plans for the building to include a Comprehensive Weight Loss Center, an ENT Center of Excellence as well as imaging, pharmacy and laboratory services. Those interested in leasing space should contact Curtis Campbell at 410-532-1534 or Jim Burtscher at 410-532-1513 at Wallace H. Campbell, Inc.

GBMC Cancer Center Team Raises Over $3,000 for “Relay for Life” Event

Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate cancer survivorship and to raise funds for cancer research and patient programs for the American Cancer Society. In total, the North Baltimore County event raised $90,000, exceeding the targeted goal by $10,000. The GBMC Cancer Center’s team, captained by Lauren Titus, raised over $3,000 and won the team spirit award for the second consecutive year.The following Cancer Center employees were on the team: Lauren Titus, Captain; Yolonda Nelson, Krista Waltemeyer, Julie Everett, Charity Morrison, Jen Diveley, Susan O’Toole and Jean Hurtt. Susan O’ Toole,RN,MS,MPH,OCN, spoke as a cancer survivor at the June event held at Oregon Ridge.

Dance Center Director Presents Findings at Annual Head and Neck Cancer Conference

At the 6th International Conference on Head and Neck Cancer held in Washington, DC, GBMC’s director of the Milton J. Dance, Jr. Head and Neck Rehabilitation Center, John R. Saunders, MD, presented the recent GBMC experience titled "Community Hospital Experience with Chemoradiation Therapy for Cancer of the Oropharynx.” The objectives of the research were to determine if a coordinated approach to patients with advanced Stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma - of the oropharynx - using a treatment protocol of concurrent chemotherapy and hyperfractionated radiation therapy, will result in a satisfactory patient outcome.  Dr. Saunders summarizes the findings as follows: “While, historically, long-term survival for this group is about 50%, our results show an overall survival of 87.5% at 24 months. Additionally, patients with significant neck disease (N2 or N3) should undergo a neck dissection following combined treatment, since at least 25% will have lymph node metastasis. Since this is a very toxic regimen, careful patient selection and a coordinated rehabilitation effort are vital to good outcomes.”

New Surgical Services Facility Opened at GBMC

GBMC recently opened a state-of-the-art surgical services unit featuring Maryland’s first operating room suites with fully-integrated high-definition technology. The new surgical space features totally renovated and expanded areas including four new operating suites, a new surgical services support area, a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). The four new suites are outfitted with advanced technology, including booms, lights, scopes and voice activated cameras. As a result, surgery will be easier, faster and more efficient, with reduced time in the operating room. Surgeons, anesthesiologists and other clinicians will be able to work more precisely with improved control, while patients will have less tissue damage and therefore less pain. The SICU is characterized by its wide-open spaces and a design which incorporates room for a nurse’s workstation between each two patient rooms. This allows nurses to visually monitor patients at all times, an outstanding enhancement for improved patient care.

GBMC Oncologist Published in the New England Journal of Medicine

Lauren Schnaper, MD, a nationally recognized specialist in benign and malignant disease of the breast, and practicing breast surgeon, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on September 2, 2004. As a co-author of the article entitled: “Lumpectomy plus Tamoxifen with or without Irradiation in Women 70 years of age or older with Early Breast Cancer,” Dr. Schnaper helped clarify whether radiation treatment, in conjunction with other treatments, yielded any survival benefit for this population. It was found that “lumpectomy followed by Tamoxifen, without radiation, was a realistic choice,” according to Dr. Schnaper and that “radiation treatment didn’t yield any significant differences in survival rates, although there was a slight difference in breast recurrence.” However, Dr. Schnaper is quick to caution, “The appropriate course of treatment for breast cancer should always be decided by a patient and her physician on a case-by-case basis.”

GBMC Urologist Daniel Dietrick, MD,
Honored as National Leader

Urologist Daniel Dietrick, MD, is a physician to watch, so says the American Urological Association (AUA), which named Dr. Dietrick as one of the nation’s leading urologists at its annual meeting in San Francisco, California. The first-time award is designed to honor young physicians within 15 years of completing residency. “With this program, the AUA identifies younger members of the organization who have demonstrated strong leadership skills through organized medicine or community involvement,” says Dr. Dietrick. The award was given to two physicians in each region of the United States – one in academics and one in private practice. With his award comes a year-long responsibility to travel throughout the United States and participate in educational sessions, roundtables and leadership training seminars. Dr. Dietrick earned his MD from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Stanford University. After serving as clinical faculty at Stanford and in private practice, he joined GBMC’s staff in 1994. Dr. Dietrick has served as physician liaison on the Cancer Committee for more than five years, and is actively involved in the GBMC Prostate Cancer Screening program.

How You Can Help…

Generous supporters have helped GBMC’s Cancer Center become the largest community cancer program in central Maryland. Support from patients celebrating recovery, and memorial gifts for loved ones, are recognized on “named” plaques in patient treatment areas and the “Tribute Wall” at the entrance to the Cancer Center.  For more information, contact the GBMC Foundation at 443-849-2773.