New Center for Restorative Joint Surgery

Allows Patients to Recover in Comfort

By Mark Soroka, Staff Writer

Patients who undergo joint replacement surgery can now
optimize their post-op recovery process at AGH’s Center for
Restorative Joint Surgery — a new 20-bed unit offering in-
novative services with a hotel-like ambiance. Located on the
10th floor of Snyder Pavilion at AGH, the Center for Restora-
tive Joint Surgery is designed to better promote healing for
patients who need knee, hip, shoulder, elbow or ankle re-
placements.
“It is my belief that we have one of the most outstanding
joint replacement programs in the country,” said Patrick
DeMeo, M.D., chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Sur-
gery. “Our physicians are recognized as national leaders in
this field and this center will compliment their skills. It will
also standardize treatment protocols that will allow us to
achieve consistently superior outcomes, maximize patient
safety, as well as provide a new standard of comfort for pa-
tients and their families.”
According to Dr. DeMeo, The Center for Restorative Joint
Surgery is furnished to provide patients and family mem-
bers with the utmost in convenience and (continued on page 2)

We s t P e n n A l l e g h e n y H e a l t h S y s t e m
Allegheny General Hospital • Allegheny General Hospital — Suburban Campus • Alle-Kiski Medical Center • Canonsburg General Hospital
Forbes Hospice • The Western Pennsylvania Hospital • The Western Pennsylvania Hospital — Forbes Regional Campus
2

(continued from page 1)

comfort. Each patient’s

room is private and includes
a 26 inch flat panel televi-
sion, wireless Internet access,
couches for family members
and a state-of-the-art nurse
call system.
“We believe the hospital
experience is an integral part
of the patient’s recovery. The
center will provide a soothing
atmosphere for patients and
will be designed to ease their
stress,” said Dr. DeMeo.
The Center for Restorative
Joint Surgery is also de-
signed to better safeguard the
health of its patients during
their stay in the hospital.
Non-touch machinery and
glass surfaces help to mini-
mize the risk of infections for Staff are excited about the opening of the new unit. Left to right: William Post, PA; Nicholas
patients recovering from joint Sotereanos, M.D.; Rob Wallace R.N.; Janet Whitehead, housekeeping; and Robert Koballa, nursing
replacement surgery. manager.
Nicholas Sotereanos,
M.D., director, Division of Adult Reconstruction and Joint faster recovery, less bleeding, decreased post-operative pain
Replacement, pointed out that joint replacement surgery can and reduced scarring.”
be highly effective for patients who do not get relief from
Added Dr. DeMeo, “We are excited about the creation of
standard medical treatment options.
the Center for Restorative Joint Surgery. It will be recognized
“Our orthopaedic surgeons use advanced surgical tech- as state-of-the-art throughout western Pennsylvania and will
niques to eliminate pain and restore motion to a joint and allow us at AGH to provide the highest quality of care to our
other soft tissue structures that control the joint,” said Dr. patients.”
Sotereanos. “Some patients are good candidates for tradi-
For more information about the Center for Restorative
tional surgical procedures. For other patients, we employ the
Joint Surgery, call 1-877-660-6777.
latest minimally invasive techniques — which can result in

August 2008 Internet: www.wpahs.org Intranet: home.wpahs.org

Table of Contents
AGH Named One of Nation’s Top Healthcare Leaders3
AHA and ASA Recognize AGH for Quality..................4
AGH Ophthalmologist at Air Force Theater Hospital..5
AGH Employee Takes Gold at U.S. Transplant Games6
ASRI Hosts Science Workshop for Area Educators ......7
Pharmacist by Day, Football Player by Night ................8
AGH Clinics to Encourage Sports Participation...........9
New to You Shoppe Volunteers Recognized10Dr. J.
Cohen Speaks at NCI..........................................................11
Massage Therapist Available to AGH Employees ....11
AGH Vascular Surgeons Achieve First ..........................12
Laughter is the Best Medicine ..........................................13
Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer............................13
Employee Calendar Contest ............................................14
We Promote A Healthy System ..................................15
Auxiliary News ..............................................................16
In The Media at AGH and AGH — SC........................17
North Side News ....................................................18-19
WPAHS Wearhouse — It’s Everywhere......................19
Service Excellence at AGH and AGH — SC ............20
Our People......................................................................21
News and Events at AGH ...........................................22
News and Events at Suburban Campus ....................23
Benefits News ..........................................................24-25
WPAHS Intranet ....................................................................25
Welcome New Employees ..........................................26
Calendar of Events........................................................27

The Latest Word is a monthly publication for and about employees,
medical staff and volunteers at Allegheny General Hospital and Al-
legheny General Hospital — Suburban Campus. Please send your
comments or ideas for articles to Debbie Crawford, Communica-
tions, 17th Floor, South Tower. Phone: 412-359-8606, fax: 412-
359-8610 or e-mail: dcrawfo2@wpahs.org.
Editorial staff:
Tom Chakurda — Vice President of Communications and Marketing
Cathy Deverts — Director of Publications
Debbie Crawford — Editor and Staff Writer
Dan Laurent, Heather Holtschlag, Dana Peterman and Mark Soroka — Staff Writers
Keith Little, Monika Thimons and Joan Zaczyk — Graphic Designers
Kristin Petersen, Donna Spillane and Doug Whitman — Photographers
 3

Allegheny General Hospital Named One of Nation’s

Top Healthcare Performance Improvement Leaders
By Dan Laurent, Staff Writer
Allegheny General
Hospital has been rec-
ognized in a national re-
port as one of the
country’s top 100 per-
formance improvement
leaders in health care.
Commissioned by
Thomson Reuters, the
study examined the per-
formance of nearly
3,000 U.S. hospitals in a
variety of clinical and
operational areas, iden-
tifying the 100 hospitals
that improved the most
from 2002 to 2006.
AGH is one of
just 14 major
teaching hospitals
lauded in the re-
port and the only
such hospital in
Pennsylvania to
make the exclu-
sive ranking.
Some elite com- Using data gleaned from the
pany joining AGH Medicare Provider Analysis and
on the list include Review (MEDPAR) and the
Duke University Medicare Cost Report, the
Hospital, Beth Is- Thomson Reuters study judges
rael Deaconess hospitals on a set of measures
Medical Center in key operational areas such
and Vanderbilt as patient outcomes, patient
University Medical safety and performance in na-
Center. tional treatment standards.

“These Performance Improvement Leaders are bellwethers
for the progress the entire hospital industry has pursued
since the Institute of Medicine published its landmark study,
“Crossing the Quality Chasm,” in 2001,” said Jean
Chenoweth, senior vice president for performance improve-
ment and 100 Top Hospitals programs at Thomson Reuters.
“They are an important group to watch because they
demonstrate a variety of ways that real improvement can be
achieved in many key areas across the hospital organization
simultaneously over an extended time frame.”
Among its findings, the report showed that the 100 Top
Hospitals had fewer patient deaths and adverse safety events
than expected and reduced the average length of stay by
nearly a day, despite greater severity of illness.
“This award is truly reflective of an institution dedicated to
providing the best in patient care and indicative of the skill
and dedication of our physicians, nurses and allied health
professionals,” said Connie Cibrone, AGH president and
chief executive officer.
4
American Heart and Stroke Associations Recognize
AGH for Quality of Patient Care
By Dan Laurent, Staff Writer
The American Heart Association (AHA) and American
Stroke Association (ASA) have recognized Allegheny Gen-
eral Hospital for its exceptional performance in the treatment
of patients who suffer from stroke and coronary artery dis-
ease. AGH joins a group of U.S. hospitals lauded by the as-
sociations in the July 21 “America’s Best Hospitals” issue of
U.S. News and World Report magazine.
AGH is the only hospital in the Pittsburgh region to have
earned a gold sustained performance award in stroke care
and a silver annual performance award in coronary artery
disease treatment as part of the AHA/ASA’s Get With The
GuidelinesSM program.
Get With The GuidelinesSM is a national, quality-improve-
ment initiative designed to ensure that hospitals consistently
care for cardiac and stroke patients following the most up-
to-date guidelines and recommendations. The program cur-
rently establishes hospital treatment protocols in three
modules or specialties; coronary artery disease, heart failure
and stroke.
Hospitals are lauded if 85 percent or more of their cardiac
or stroke patients are treated and discharged according to
AHA/ASA recommendations.
Cardiovascular disease is far and away the number one
cause of death among both men and women in the United
States. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the coun-
try and the foremost cause of severe, long-term
disability.
“Our program makes is easier for hospitals to provide ap-
propriate, evidence-based patient care that improves quality
of life among patients treated for stroke and heart disease
and reduces the number of deaths associated with these dis-
eases,” said Gregg C Fonarow, M.D., national chairman, Get
With The GuidelinesSM steering committee and director, Ah-
manson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center.
As one of just seven hospitals in the state to achieve the
ASA’s gold level Get With The GuidelinesSM recognition for
the treatment of stroke, AGH continues a string of recent ac-
colades and growing distinction for its stroke program, said
Ashis Tayal, M.D., a stroke neurologist and director of the
hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center.
The ASA gold sustained performance award acknowl-
edges hospitals that have met the association’s stroke care
guidelines for two or more consecutive years.
AGH is one of just two hospitals in the Pittsburgh region
certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commis-
sion and is also designated as a Stroke Center of Excellence.
More than 900 stroke patients are admitted to the hospital
each year.
“Stroke can be a devastating injury that causes perma-
nent, long-term disability,” said Dr. Tayal. “As with the Joint
Commission’s designation, the ASA Get With The
GuidelinesSM program underscores that patients clearly bene-
fit from being treated at medical centers that are uniquely
trained, equipped and committed to treat this disease. Get
With The GuidelinesSM is a standard that all hospitals should
aspire to attain.”
AGH has a long history of innovation in the treatment of
stroke patients, Dr. Tayal said. The program was founded in
1988 by Jon Brillman, M.D., chairman of AGH’s Depart-
ment of Neurology.
In 2007, the hospital opened western Pennsylvania’s first
comprehensive inpatient stroke unit, centralizing and coordi-
nating the care of stroke patients by the hospital’s multi-dis-
ciplinary stroke team. Though still the only facility of its type
in the region, such units are now a Class I Recommendation
for stroke care by the AHA and ASA.
“Each year, AGH admits more than 5,500 patients for the
treatment of coronary artery disease and other heart ail-
ments,” said Srinivas Murali, M.D., medical director of the
AGH Gerald McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute and director
of AGH’s Division of Cardiovascular Medicine.
One of the nation’s most advanced and comprehensive
programs for the diagnosis and treatment of complex heart
and vascular diseases, the AGH McGinnis Institute surrounds
patients with state-of-the-art technology and the complete
spectrum of cardiovascular medical and surgical expertise.
“We are extremely proud to be recognized by the nation’s
leading cardiovascular scientific organization for the excep-
tional quality of care that we provide to our patients,” Dr.
Murali said.
Disease-specific centers within the McGinnis Institute af-
ford convenient access to nationally recognized specialists in
heart failure, heart transplantation, heart valve disease, elec-
trophysiology, cardiovascular imaging, interventional cardi-
ology, pulmonary hypertension, vascular surgery, wound
healing and lymphedema.
“Implementing the Get With The GuidelinesSM program
was a natural extension of our existing quality improvement
efforts and commitment to affording patients the highest
level of cardiovascular care. The program further enhances
our hospital’s capabilities for treating coronary artery dis-
ease and improving the outcomes of our patients,” said
Michael Hagerty, M.D., an AGH interventional cardiologist
and director of the hospital’s cardiology quality initiative.

AGH Ophthalmologist at Air Force Theater Hospital
Gives Patients New Outlook
By Staff Sgt. Mareshah Haynes, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs, Contributing Writer
Eye doctors deployed to
the Air Force Theater Hos-
pital in Iraq see more than
twice as many eye traumas
than they encounter at their
home stations. Among their
patients are Iraqis and
American service members
who have suffered injuries
threatening their eyesight.
Ophthalmologists can’t
always save their patients’
sight, but they work hard to
give patients a new outlook.
They use their skills to re-
construct patients’ eye
Col. Randall Beatty, M.D.
sockets and prepare them
for prosthetic eyes, said
Col. Randall Beatty, M.D., Allegheny General Hospital De-
partment of Ophthalmology, and an ophthalmologist as-
signed to the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Operations
Squadron in Iraq.
“The worst cases occur when both eyes have been de-
stroyed, and these people who are blinded have to deal with
living in this culture,” said Dr. Beatty, a reservist who was de-
ployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, from Wilford Hall Medical
Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. “This is a harder
life. They don’t have the social services that we have back
home.”
Injuries frequently result from improvised explosive device
blasts and gunshot wounds to the face. According to the Mili-
tary Combat Eye Protection Program, eye injuries account
for more than 10 percent of combat-related injuries, more
than half of which are the results of IED blasts. The MCEPP
was initiated and funded by the Program Executive Office-
Soldier at Fort Belvoir, Va., with the objective of making eye
armor universal during field operations.
“A lot of these [injuries] are preventable by the eye protec-
tion that our troops wear,” Dr. Beatty said. “Iraqis don’t have
the goggles and things that we have. We see many more eye
injuries in the Iraqi army, Iraqi security forces and civilian
population that we’re not seeing in the American [service
members].”
Eye doctors working in Iraq primarily treat traumas to the
eyelid, eye socket and eyeball, Dr. Beatty said.
“Most ophthalmologists back home perform cataract sur-
gery or refraction surgery to correct nearsightedness or far-
sightedness. Here we’re dealing with traumas taking out eyes
and [eye] reconstruction,” Dr. Beatty said.
5
At the home station, ophthalmologists typically see
penetrating trauma with one point of entry, which
makes it easier to save the eye. However, in Iraq, eye
injuries usually involve several foreign bodies such as
rocks, shrapnel and concrete, said Maj. Robert Lyons,
M.D., an ophthalmologist deployed to the 332nd
EMDOS from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
Because injuries in the combat zone are so severe,
doctors can’t always save patients’ eyes. Instead, the
doctors perform enucleations, wherein they remove
the eye altogether and prepare the patient’s eye
socket for a prosthetic.
“We do the surgery to create a pocket that is safe
and smooth — like the inside of your lip — to hold the
artificial eye so that it will move,” Dr. Beatty said. “We
attach the eye muscles to the implant so they have
movement when the artificial eye is in place.”
Doctors typically use a ball implant for patients, but many
of the patients at the Air Force Theater Hospital have com-
promised immune systems from other injuries, and patients’
bodies are more likely to reject the implant. The doctors had
to develop an alternative surgical method.
“We take about a quarter-sized piece of skin from their ab-
domen — it’s called a dermal fat graft — and we rub off the
top layer of skin. Then we put that fat and dermis into the
eye socket and attach the eye muscle to it and that will serve
as the implant,” Dr. Beatty said. “That way it has more sur-
face to hold the prosthesis and there’s no risk of it being ex-
truded or exposed like the hard ball [implant].”
The enucleation procedure takes a few hours, and patients
have to wait six to eight weeks for the swelling to subside be-
fore they can be fitted with a color prosthesis. Afterward,
they see an ocularist, who fashions artificial eyes from the
same materials used to make hard contact lenses and
teaches patients how to care for their prosthetics.
In the meantime, Dr. Beatty said the doctors at the Air
Force Theater Hospital fit enucleation patients with conform-
ers, devices similar to the artificial eyes they will receive later
in their treatment. The conformer is like a large clear hard
contact lens that fits over the entire eye.
The prosthetic eyes give patients a renewed sense of self
confidence, Dr. Beatty said.
“If we can give an Iraqi patient an artificial eye, it looks just
like a real eye,” he added. “A real artificial eye costs $3,500
in the United States, but we are able to give them something
that works well enough, and it doesn’t cost these Iraqis a
thing.”
The eye may be free, but its value to a patient — a new
outlook on life — is priceless.
6

AGH Employee Takes Gold at U.S. Transplant Games

By Tim Donovan and Debbie Crawford, Staff Writers
A kidney transplant did livers, and they’re all out here competing – it’s really awe-
not stop Gary Stark, an some.”
employee in the Allegheny
The Games not only give participants opportunities to
General Hospital Commu-
meet other transplant recipients from around the country, but
nications and Marketing
also allow them to share their transplant story, improve their
Department, from going for
health and fitness and support the thousands of other patients
the gold at the 16th annual
who are still waiting for their second chance at life.
National Kidney Founda-
tion U.S. Transplant “I enjoyed having the chance to play along with people
Games. who have shared some of the same things as I have,” Mr.
Stark said. “It’s hard to believe that some of these people are
After being diagnosed
out here after what they’ve been through, but they keep on
with polycystic kidney dis-
fighting.”
ease and being placed on Gary Stark
the transplant waiting list in The Transplant Games also focus on organ donation and
2006, Mr. Stark received a kidney transplant at Allegheny the families whose loved ones donated their organs to give
General Hospital on May 15, 2007. He celebrated his first others a second chance at life. Many organ recipients reunite
year anniversary with a new kidney by winning a gold medal with the donor’s families at the Games.
in the team golf competition at the Games.
“Living donors and deceased donors are highly regarded as
The 2008 Games — held July 11-16 in Pittsburgh — the real heroes of the Games,” said Mr. Stark.
celebrated the success of organ transplantation among recent
For Mr. Stark, he still awaits the opportunity to meet with
transplant recipients and those who have lived with their
the family of the individual who donated his kidney to him,
transplanted organs for decades.
but it’s something he hopes to do in the near future.
Mr. Stark found out about the Transplant Games earlier this
“I didn’t know if I was quite ready to face the challenge of
year and was thrilled to be able to participate so soon after his
meeting the donor’s family,” Mr. Stark said. “Now, I’m going
transplant. He never thought a medal was quite in the cards.
to write a letter soon.”
“I just didn’t want to embarrass myself, I was really nerv-
“I’m just very grateful that someone I didn’t even know
ous when the competition began,” he said. “I shot a 96 on
gave me a chance to live,” he added.
Monday in the individual competition and just hoped that I
scored well enough to play in the team round on Tuesday.”
He did and was paired with another player from the Pitts- Now is Your Chance to Donate Life
burgh area. They were then matched against a pair from Cali-
In addition to showcasing the success of transplanta-
fornia.
tion, the U.S. Transplant Games call attention to the crit-
“I didn’t think we had a chance when we came in, but ical need for more organ donors in the U.S. The statistics
when they figured in our handicaps and totaled up the scores, from the National Kidney Foundation are staggering:
we came out on top,” Mr. Stark said. “I just enjoyed being
• Nearly 100,000 people are currently on the waiting list
part of an event that shows the world that transplants work
in the United States.
and that they can lead to a happy, normal life.”
• One tissue donor can help improve the lives of more
Organ transplant recipients not only can return to normal, than 50 people.
productive lives after surgery, but quite a few also can go on
• An average of 18 people die each day from the lack of
to compete in rigorous athletic events.
available organs for transplant.
More than 1,300 participants from all 50 states and five • Every 12 minutes another person is added to the na-
foreign countries competed in a dozen sporting events at the tional transplant waiting list.
2008 Games including: golf, tennis, swimming, track and
• More than 2 million Americans die each year, but only
field, three-on-three basketball, 5K road race, bowling, volley-
15,000 die under circumstances that make them med-
ball, badminton, racquetball, cycling and table tennis. Gold,
ically eligible to donate organs. Of the estimated
silver and bronze medals were awarded to the top finishers in
15,000 medically eligible to donate organs, only about
each of seven age categories to balance the competition.
6,000 patients actually become donors.
“I think, aside from the competition itself, the best part is
You can help by signing up for this lifesaving cause.
getting to meet people from all over with incredible stories
For more information on becoming an organ donor, visit
about their transplant experiences,” Mr. Stark said. “Some
www.donatelife.net.
have had multiple transplants, involving hearts, kidneys, and
 7

ASRI Hosts Science Workshop for Area Educators

By Dana Peterman, Staff Writer
For the third consecu-
tive year, the Center for
Genomic Sciences in
the Allegheny–Singer
Research Institute
(ASRI) hosted a work-
shop for high school bi-
ology teachers in the
Pittsburgh region.
The workshop, enti-
tled “Microbial Commu-
nities and Human
Communities: Close En-
counters,” focused on
topics regarding infec-
tious diseases, including
how people get infec-
tions, immunity, antibi-
otic resistance and
specific infections that
are problems today,
such as Methicillin Re-
sistant Staphylococcus
Aureus (MRSA), Strep-
tococcus Pneumoniae Biology teachers from around the Pittsburgh region participated in lab demonstrations at a workshop
and Hemophilus Influen- hosted by ASRI this past June. The third annual workshop was held to increase educators’ enthusi-
zae. asm for biology so that they may be better able to engage their students.
Sponsored through a
grant from the U.S. Department of Education Institute for By emphasizing the relevance of biological science and
Educational Sciences, the yearly workshop informs teachers how it relates to each of their lives, ASRI hopes to reach chil-
and their students about an array of biology-based, med- dren by increasing their educators’ excitement for the topic.
ically relevant topics, then measures what they have learned.
“We want to let educators know that what we’re doing
These measurements are meant to be used to determine
here at ASRI affects them on a day-to-day basis,” said Dr.
how to improve American students’ achievements in science
Hall-Stoodley, who organized the workshop along with
across the country.
Michelle Zuckerman-Parker, Ed.D., assistant professor, Cen-
The workshop takes a deeper look at the educators them- ter for Genomic Sciences, ASRI.
selves. Studies have shown that many American educators
This year, 45 educators participated in the workshop,
have difficulty engaging their students due to several rea-
which was held June 23 - 27. Some teachers had attended
sons, including the fact that many are not trained specifically
previous workshops, while others were new faces to the pro-
to teach a science, and those who are trained might be lack-
gram.
ing experience. Another factor that is taken into considera-
tion is that all sciences, especially in a field such as biology, “It seems like people were interested in the subject matter
change quite quickly. Without continuing education and up- of this year’s workshop,” said Dr. Hall-Stoodley.
dates, staying abreast of today’s most significant advance-
This fall, ASRI will apply for another grant to continue the
ments in science is quite difficult.
program next year with a workshop on Bioinformatics. ASRI
“This is a good way to update the educators’ knowledge of hopes to increase attendance to reach more students in the
biology to see if it actually helps to engage the students,” Pittsburgh area.
said Luanne Hall-Stoodley, Ph.D., assistant professor, Center
for Genomic Sciences, ASRI.
8
A Helping Hand: Pharmacist by Day,
Football Player by Night
By Evan Magliocca, Editorial Intern
Sarah Young is an
accomplished phar-
macist. She is profes-
sional, cares for her
patients and is well
respected at Al-
legheny General Hos-
pital. But unlike most
of her co-workers,
after she leaves the
hospital, Ms. Young
changes out of her
scrubs, dawns a hel-
met and pads and
takes the field. Ms.
Young is not only a
member of the AGH
Pharmacy Depart- Sarah Young
ment, but she is also
a member of the Pittsburgh Passion, part of the Independent
Women’s Football League (IWFL).
The Pittsburgh Passion was created in 2002 and has been
a top competitor ever since their conception — thanks, in
part, to Ms. Young and her teammates on the offensive line.
Ms. Young — who currently resides in West View — grew
up far from the football field. She was raised overseas and
her childhood memories range from Germany to Japan.
Both of her parents were teachers, and they resided on Air
Force bases in both countries. Ms. Young did not live on
American soil until she moved to Pittsburgh to attend
Duquesne University. Understandably, it was hard for her to
adapt to a new culture and social life — one which she could
call her own but had never experienced before.
After some time at Duquesne, Passion members began to
eye Ms. Young as a new recruit. Recruiters perceived her ath-
letic ability and strength as key characteristics to impact the
offensive line. Soon after, she was approached by team
members and her intrigue got the best of her; she decided to
try out for the team. With no previous football experience,
Ms. Young won a spot by sheer determination and physical
ability, and thus her reputable career with the Passion began.
“It sounded like an interesting and fun experience, so I
went for it and it paid off,” said Ms. Young, who earned a
doctorate in Pharmacy and specializes in critical care. “The
people you meet through the organization become your
friends and family.”
After joining the team, Ms. Young quickly realized it was a
great decision. Although having a day job and an activity as
arduous as football in your spare time can be challenging,
Ms. Young believes the bruises and associated pain are well
worth the experience. The team won the championship last
year and came close this year, losing a heartbreaking game,
8-7 to Chicago in the semi-finals. (They were undefeated
prior to their loss) And if success is not enough, Ms. Young
also feels that the release from pushing and shoving on the
field is a good form of stress relief for everyday life.
But, for Ms. Young, it isn’t all about the stress relief, or the
common bond, or even being on one of the best teams in the
league. It is also about life lessons. Anyone who has played a
sport at a competitive level knows that when the team is
under pressure, the best and worst of people emerge. Thus
in a tight situation, a teammate has to learn how to deal with
people.
“Sometimes people lose their cool, and you have to calm
down, then calm them down, and then go out and win the
game,” said Ms. Young.
Responding to people under pressure is a hard task in any
situation, but Ms. Young has excelled at it. This attitude also
benefits her in her position at AGH. Rarely does her work in-
volve only one person. Consequently, Ms. Young and her
team in the pharmacy – much like her team on the field –
must learn how to adapt and finish projects under an often
stressful environment. She believes that her experiences on
the team are invaluable for her.
“When working at AGH, I often use many experiences
from football such as cooperation and leadership,” said Ms.
Young, who will begin her fifth season with the Passion in
January 2009.
Ms. Young is prospering both in the AGH Pharmacy and
on the field. The future holds more experiences, successes
and life lessons for Ms. Young and the Passion.
The Passion and the league have a growing following. The
women of the Passion are heavily involved in the community,
and fan support is reaching a high in the Pittsburgh area. For
the Passion, playing football is a love of the game. The play-
ers do not get paid — proving their sacrifice for their team —
and the fans know it. For the Passion, it is not about million
dollar contracts; there are no arguments over paychecks.
The women of the Passion just want to play football.

AGH Clinics to Encourage Sports Participation
Among Children With Asthma
By Heather Holtschlag, Staff Writer
In an effort to encourage children with asthma to be more
active in sports participation, Allegheny General Hospital re-
cently announced that it will hold a number of free asthma
sports clinics in 2008 and 2009 in conjunction with various
community partners. Each camp provides a recipe for
asthma control and the development of sporting skills, and
boosts confidence in the child’s ability to endure a workout in
the presence of physicians.
The first of these programs, “Bat for your good health”
was a baseball clinic for children with asthma, ages 8-14.
The event took place Saturday, July 12, at the Greentree
SportsPlex.
The asthma baseball camp offered participants asthma
screenings and educational sessions conducted by David
Skoner, M.D., director of the AGH Division of Allergy,
Asthma and Immunology, and Deborah Gentile, M.D., direc-
tor of the Division’s research program. At the camp, healthy
living was encouraged and health screenings were con-
ducted for parents.
All participants must have asthma, and a parent or
guardian was required to accompany the child throughout
the duration of the clinic. In addition to the baseball clinic,
parents had the option of enrolling their child in three other
sports camps that will take place throughout the year. Two in
the fall will focus on basketball, and one in the winter will
focus on soccer.
According to Dr. Skoner, many parents of children with
asthma assume it is unsafe for them to participate in sports
or the child simply opts out of sports participation even with-
out the knowledge of parents.
“The vast majority of kids with asthma can safely take
part in sports, but as many as 20 percent do not because of
misconceptions about the risks,” Dr. Skoner said. “As a re-
sult, many children with asthma are not getting the exercise
they need. This clinic is designed to make sure parents and
children know how to handle this disease in a manner that
does not restrict healthy living.”
“Asthma should not have to keep your child out of the
game,” Dr. Skoner added. “The right treatment can usually
prevent asthma attacks in any sport, but if a child’s disease
is particularly severe, he or she still has the option of other
activities, such as swimming or other sports that are less
likely to trigger asthma symptoms.”
Dr. Skoner said that for many people — both adults and
children — the best defense against exercise-related asthma
is an inhaler filled with a quick-acting medication such as al-
buterol or pirbuterol. Dr. Skoner recommends taking one to
9
two puffs 15 minutes before exercising to prevent exercise-
induced asthma symptoms. If the attacks continue, addi-
tional preventative inhaled medications may be prescribed.
As with other ailments, it is always important for the doctor
to make sure that the symptoms occurring during exercise
are stemming from asthma and not some other condition.
A few simple changes in a child’s exercise routine can
also help prevent attacks. Parents can encourage warming
up by walking, stretching, and briefly running in place before
exercising. When the game is over, a little more walking
and stretching can help keep airways from tightening up. If
possible, children should avoid exercising in places where
they will be exposed to extra irritants, such as dust, pollen,
animal dander, or air pollutants. And if exercising in the cold,
a scarf or a mask around the mouth and nose area can be a
big help.
“Above all, parents should encourage their child to stay
active. Regular exercise is good for any kid, asthma or no
asthma,” Dr. Skoner said. “And once a child controls his
asthma on the baseball field, basketball court or the soccer
field, he or she will gain the confidence to better control the
disease the rest of his or her life.”
Shoot For Your Good Health
Sign Up Now for Asthma Basketball Camp
Join the AGH Division of Allergy, Asthma and Im-
munology for a fun day of basketball and asthma educa-
tion.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
St. Bede School, 6920 Edgerton Ave.,
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Events include:
• Comprehensive basketball instruction
• General health screenings and asthma education
• Prizes and giveaways
The camp is free for children with asthma between the
ages of 8-14 and includes lunch. Sign up today because
space is limited. Each child must have an adult chaper-
one and adults will receive a free general health screen-
ing.
For more information, contact Niki Banner at 412-
359-6126.
10

New to You Shoppe Volunteers

Recognized at Celebratory Luncheon
By Dana Peterman, Staff Writer
The New to You Shoppe opened in 1961 during a com-
munity sidewalk sale. It was intended to be open for just one
day, but the Allegheny General Hospital — Suburban Cam-
pus Auxiliary (then known as the Suburban General Hospital
Auxiliary) kept it in business for 47 years.
Members of the auxiliary kept the store open by volunteer-
ing countless hours of their time to organize the consignment
goods that would be sold to the citizens of Bellevue. Sadly,
on June 28, 2008, the store closed its doors and the ladies
said goodbye to the shop where they spent so much of their
time over the years.
To recognize these women, AGH — SC hosted a luncheon
to celebrate the achievements of the New to You Shoppe and
the dedication of the auxiliary members who volunteered at
the store.
Thirty-six of the women who volunteered at the shop
gathered at Suburban Campus to commemorate the occa-
sion. Old photos and newspaper clippings were passed
around the room while the ladies enjoyed a buffet lunch.
After the lunch, and once the memories began resurfacing,
the storytelling began.
The ladies recalled some of their most memorable cus-
tomers. They remembered individuals who would try to steal
items like Elvis statues or telephones, and one woman in
particular who came in to switch the shoes she had been
wearing for a new pair without anybody noticing.
One auxiliary member told the story of the wonderful
treasures you could find in the store. She had purchased a
Pirates jacket a short while ago and wore it to a game, only
to discover it was a vintage 1964 jacket — a piece of Ameri-
can sports history. She had purchased the jacket for two dol-
lars. Another member was walking to the New to You
Shoppe to buy her daughter some clothes when she learned
that John F. Kennedy had been shot.
At the end of the meal, each former New to You Shoppe
volunteer received an engraved picture frame and a photo-
graph of the group that had been taken just before lunch
began.

Members of the Allegheny General Hospital — Suburban Campus Auxiliary who volunteered at the New to You Shoppe were
recognized with a luncheon on July 21. Each attendee received this photo with an engraved picture frame to commemorate their
dedication to the store.
 11

AGH Physician Invited Speaker at National Cancer

Institute Meeting - Clinical Prostate Cancer
Jeffrey Cohen, M.D., director, Division of Urology at Al-
legheny General Hospital and president of Triangle Urologi-
cal Group, recently attended an invitation only meeting of
the National Cancer Institute to discuss Issues in Clinical
Prostate Cancer. He spoke along with John Maier, PhD, M.D.,
vice president of Biomedical Research for ChemImage.
Drs. Cohen and Maier have been recognized for their ex-
pertise in oncology and imaging and were able to provide a
valuable contribution to identifying new opportunities for in-
corporating imaging modalities into strategies for treatment
and management of prostate cancer.
Dr. Cohen spoke on the use of Raman Molecular Imaging
(RMI) as a potential method, which can provide additional in-
formation to pathologists and oncologists about the patho-
physiology of a particular tissue. Specifically, Dr. Cohen
presented a summary of recent work using Raman Molecular
Imaging in the setting of prostate cancer, which was per-
formed in collaboration with researchers from The Mayo
Clinic. This information can potentially influence clinical
management because it relates eventual clinical outcomes to
objective measurements, which can be made on a biopsy
specimen.
Dr. Cohen sits on the ChemImage Board of Directors and
plays a significant role in the direction of the company’s bio-
medical research. Dr. Cohen is best known in the urology
community for his significant contributions in bringing
cryosurgery to the operating room. Continuing in his effort to
offer prostate cancer patients better treatments in the clinic,
Dr. Cohen has long been a supporter of Molecular Imaging
research.
“The work presented to the NCI is an aspect of the Digital
Pathology Initiative ChemImage has aimed at improving the
quality and quantity of information that can be used to make
clinical decisions,” said Dr. Maier.

Massage Therapist Available to AGH

Employees and Visitors
Tony DiJohn, massage therapist,
will be available to Allegheny Gen-
eral Hospital employees and visi-
tors up to three afternoons per
week to perform chair and hand
massages.
Customers can enjoy a nine-
minute chair massage for $6 and a
hand massage for $2 extra. Mr. Di-
John will be available from 1:30
p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in one of the
cafeteria conference rooms. Days
of operation will vary each week.
Look for signs posted outside the
cafeteria to direct you to the proper
location and times.
Mr. DiJohn will schedule appoint-
ments as early as one day in ad-
vance and as late as
11 a.m. on the day of your desired
appointment. Please call 412-953-
0649 for scheduling or stop in the
cafeteria on your preferred day
of service.
12

AGH Vascular Surgeons First to Use New

FDA-Approved Abdominal Stent Graft to Treat
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
By Dan Laurent, Staff Writer
Vascular surgeons at Allegheny General dovascular graft is inserted
Hospital have become the first in western through a small incision on
Pennsylvania to use a new, recently FDA-ap- the other side of the groin.
proved abdominal stent graft to repair ab- This graft connects the first
dominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The Talent graft to the arteries that go
Abdominal Stent Graft System is an alterna- to the other leg.
tive to conventional, more invasive open sur-
“The Talent Abdominal
gery in patients with this life-threatening
System benefits patients
condition.
by preventing further
“An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a dan- growth and rupture of the
gerous bulge or weakening of the body’s main aneurysm and has distinct
artery that can be fatal if a rupture occurs,” advantages over standard
said Satish Muluk, M.D., director, AGH Divi- open surgery,” Dr. Muluk
sion of Vascular Surgery. “Early detection noted.
through a painless ultrasound screening and
Endovascular repair has
treatment with a minimally invasive technique
been shown to be an effec-
called endovascular repair have shown a sig-
tive treatment for patients
nificant improvement in the survival rate of
with AAA, with fewer post-
patients of all ages.”
Satish Muluk, M.D. operative complications
According to Dr. Muluk, the Talent Abdomi- and shorter recovery times
nal Stent Graft System, which is made of a than open surgery. Results
fabric tube supported by metal framework, makes en- of a study published in the January 31, 2008 issue of the
dovascular repair accessible to an additional 25 percent New England Journal of Medicine revealed that perioper-
of AAA patients because it has larger diameter grafts ative mortality was significantly lower following this mini-
while still maintaining a small profile. These features mally invasive technique than after open repair.
allow endovascular treatment of patients that might oth-
Although AAAs typically have no symptoms until they
erwise require open surgical repair.
rupture, they can be detected through an ultrasound pro-
Endovascular aneurysm repair consists of compress- cedure, which is now offered at no cost to new Medicare
ing an endovascular graft into the end of a long, thin, beneficiaries. The most common cause of AAAs is arte-
tube-like device called a delivery catheter, Dr. Muluk ex- riosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, though other
plained. The delivery catheter is inserted into femoral ar- risk factors include cigarette smoking, diabetes, high
tery in the groin through a small incision and carefully blood pressure and high cholesterol.
guided within the artery into the abdomen to bridge the
Nearly 1.2 million people in the United States have ab-
site of the aneurysm in the aorta.
dominal aortic aneurysms, which are responsible for
The endovascular graft is then released in the aorta nearly 15,000 deaths each year. Ruptured AAAs are cur-
where it self-expands to the diameter of the aorta to seal rently the 10th leading cause of death among men over
off the aneurysm and reline the artery wall. The graft age 55, and fewer than 20 percent of people survive a
goes from the aorta to the arteries that supply blood to rupture.
one leg. Another delivery catheter containing an en-
 13

Laughter is the Best Medicine

Free Program for Cancer Survivors Features Performance
by Comedian Mack Dryden
Patients coping with cancer are invited to hear about “The
Healing Journey” of Mack Dryden, a successful comedian
and television writer and two-time cancer survivor.
“The Healing Journey” is an inspirational morning of sem-
inars and discussion designed to help cancer patients and
their families and friends live life to the fullest.
Mack Dryden, an actor, writer and comedian who has per-
formed on The Tonight Show with both Johnny Carson and
Jay Leno and served as a staff writer for Politically Incorrect
with Bill Maher, will provide the keynote address. “The Heal-
ing Journey” will also feature presentations on music and art
therapy.
The program will be held at the Four Points by the Shera-
ton Pittsburgh North Hotel in Cranberry on Saturday, Octo-
ber 18. Free for patients coping with cancer and one guest,
the event begins with continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and
concludes with lunch at 1:30 p.m.
“The Healing Journey” is sponsored by West Penn Al-
legheny Oncology Network, provider of community-based
medical oncology and hematology services for West Penn
Allegheny Health System. Seating is limited, so please reg-
ister early for this free program by calling 412-770-1818 or
e-mailing healingjourney@wpaon.org.

Break the Silence on Ovarian Cancer

WPAHS Sponsors Pittsburgh Awareness Walk
West Penn Allegheny one example of WPAHS’ commitment to
Health System (WPAHS) providing superior cancer care for
is proud to serve as a women. Our board-certified physicians
major sponsor of the Na- offer a variety of leading-edge surgical
tional Ovarian Cancer procedures for the management of gyne-
Coalition (NOCC) Pitts- cologic malignancies, including cervical
burgh Chapter’s eighth an- and ovarian cancer.
nual ovarian cancer
Register for the walk today and join
awareness walk.
your co-workers for a great morning of
The Walk to Break the fun activities that benefit the NOCC’s
Silence on Ovarian Cancer mission of raising awareness and pro-
will be held Sunday, Sep- moting education about ovarian cancer.
tember 14 at North Park
Online registration is available through September 7 by
Boat House and will feature both one- and five-mile walking
searching “Pittsburgh Break the Silence” at www.active.com.
routes. Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the walk kicking
Printable registration forms are available at www.ovari-
off at 10 a.m.
anpgh.org and participants may register in person on walk
WPAHS and Humana are co-sponsoring a special Sur- day.
vivor’s Tent at the event. Support of the NOCC Walk is just
14
Attention, shutterbugs!
Entries now being accepted for 2009 Employee Calendar
By Debbie Crawford, Staff Writer
It’s time once again to look through your photo albums
and pick out a great shot or two for the AGH employee
calendar photo judging.
Your photo may be one of 13 chosen for this year’s
calendar.
Deadline to submit photos for judging is August 25 to
September 26. Photos must be 8” x 10” color prints. Hori-
zontal photos are recommended. If your color print is a digi-
tal picture, it must be formatted to a minimum of 12” x 9”
@300 dpi. We will not accept any CD entries or e-mail en-
tries, and no memory cards or sticks will be converted.
If your photo is selected for the calendar, you will be con-
tacted by the Human Resources Department. You will need
to provide an original negative or a formatted CD, and it will
be returned to you after publication.
Entry forms are available in the Human Resources De-
partment at Allegheny General Hospital and Allegheny Gen-
eral Hospital — Suburban Campus. Please forward your
entries to Traci Bayer, AGH Human Resources, or Carol
Polito, AGH — SC Human Resources.
For more information, contact Traci Bayer at 412-359-
8086, or Carol Polito at 412-734-6010.
Contest Rules:
• Although each employee can submit up to three entries,
only one entry per person will be selected for the calendar.
• Entries may be submitted Monday, August 25 through Fri-
day, September 26. Entries will not be accepted after that
date.
• A completed entry form must accompany each entry.
• If people can be identified in the picture, you must send a
signed release form with the entry (available in Human
Resources).
• A panel of judges will select the 13 winners from the eligi-
ble entries, which will be numbered so entries remain
anonymous until the judges have made their decisions.
• Winners must be willing to provide the original negative or
CD for publication. It will be returned after printing.
• Professional photographers may not submit entries.
• Professional photographs will not be accepted.

Healthy Lifestyle: Elements of Living Well
It takes more than “an apple a day” to live well in today’s
hectic world. A healthy lifestyle requires that the body, the
mind and the spirit work together. If one part is sick or
stressed, the other parts suffer, often without our knowing it.
Below are some of the things to consider when trying to
bring your life back into balance.
Control Stress
A moderate amount of stress can be good for you. It
keeps you alert and engaged in the world. But too much
stress can be overwhelming, can cloud thinking and can in-
terfere with relaxation. Taking time for yourself regularly can
help you approach situations with more control and get
more enjoyment out of life.
Eat Right
Eat sensible amounts of nutritious food. Eating right can
help you feel your best and control your weight. Too much
of any one kind of food or beverage can take your body out
of balance. Too much caffeine can make you tense or
sleepless. Too much alcohol can cloud your thinking. A bal-
anced diet and moderating your caffeine and alcohol intake
can do wonders to help you feel fit.
Exercise Regularly
Participate regularly in some enjoyable physical activity.
Although there are different types of exercise to achieve dif-
ferent goals (such as aerobic exercise for heart health), you
don’t have to take up running or power walking to reap the
benefits of some physical activity. A day spent gardening or
an evening with friends at the bowling alley can provide
other benefits if you find the activities relaxing.
15
Rest Your Mind and Spirit
Don’t forget that your mind and spirit need a balanced
diet and exercise as much as your physical body does. If
you find yourself constantly worrying about a problem, talk
about it with a friend or trusted adviser. Going for a walk,
reading a book or enjoying a hobby can also help you relax
mentally. All work and no play not only makes Jack a dull
boy but also a stressed one.
Get Variety in Life
Variety is essential in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If
you’re in a rut, overstressed, not eating well or not getting
any exercise, vary your routine. Regularly implement just
one small change in your routine and it can make a world of
difference.
Be Good to Yourself
When you feel your best, others around you also get that
good feeling from you. When you are tired and haven’t been
taking proper care of yourself, others, including your loved
ones, can tell. You’ll have less patience, your energy level
will be low, and your enthusiasm will be less. You’ll have a
tendency to have a shorter attention span, and you may
even be – though you’ll probably deny it – a little cranky. To
bring balance back into your life, start with a healthy
lifestyle: exercise, eat right, and rest.
Source: EAP Solutions Center (www.eapsolutions.com)
16

Heritage Hall Renovations Underway

Allegheny General Hospital is pleased to announce that
renovations to Heritage Hall, located on the first floor of the
Snyder Pavilion, are currently underway. Renovations began
the week of August 11, 2008, with a completion and ex-
pected grand opening in late September.
The renovations — which are funded in part by the AGH
Auxiliary — will include a makeover of all of the interior fin-
ishes including ceiling, lighting and new modern display
cases. In addition, all of the current plaques located along
Heritage Hall will be re-mounted in order to showcase and
reflect the value of each of them.
While construction is taking place, directional signage will
be placed throughout the area to suggest alternate routes
around the construction site. In addition, a graphic represen-
tation will be placed around the area depicting the goals of
the renovations to Heritage Hall.
Should you have any questions regarding this informa-
tion, please feel free to contact Douglas Durbin, senior proj-
ect manager, AGH Design and Construction Department, at
412-359-4227.
Thank you in advance for your patience and continued
support.

Auxiliary Summer Golf Classic

The annual Auxiliary Summer Golf Classic was
held Monday, July 28, at LongueVue Club in Verona,
Pa. This year’s event raised nearly $37,000. All pro-
ceeds benefited the Graduate Medical Education fund
for resident education. Allegheny General offers more
than 25 residency programs and has continued to
provide an environment conducive to learning and
medical excellence. The fund will provide assistance
to educational programs to further the training of fu-
ture physicians.

Golfers enjoyed a day of sunshine on the greens. Pictured

left to right: Tom Helke, director, Food & Nutrition Serv-
ices, Robert Keenan, M.D., director, Division of Thoracic
Surgery, West Penn Allegheny Health System; Mathew
Van Deusen, M.D., Thoracic Surgeon, Department of Tho-
racic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Allegheny General
Hospital, and Charles Rakaczky, director, the Gerald
McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute, ASPN Cardiology &
CT Surgery Services.

Eugene Scioscia, M.D., Department of OB/GYN, was fea-
tured in a Washington Post story about AGH’s robotic sur-
gery program.
Ed Snell, M.D., and Craig Castor, Division of Sports Medi-
cine, were interviewed by KDKA-AM and KDKA-TV regard-
ing AGH’s Great Race running clinic.
AGH’s Auxiliary Ball was featured in Whirl Magazine.
Moira Davenport, M.D., Division of Sports Medicine, was
interviewed for a feature in AARP Magazine regarding dieting
and exercise. Dr. Davenport was also interviewed by KDKA-
TV and WNPA-TV regarding exercise recommendations for
seniors.
Christopher Post, M.D., Center for Genomic Sciences,
was featured in stories by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and
Pittsburgh Professional Magazine regarding the AGH biotech-
nology workforce initiative.
Anthony Mannarino, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry,
was interviewed by KDKA-TV regarding outpatient psychi-
atric care.
Matt Quigley, M.D., was interviewed by the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette and Scripps Howard News Service regarding the
controversy over the cancer risks of cell phone use.
Stephen Sandroni, M.D., Division of Nephrology, was in-
terviewed by KDKA-AM regarding kidney stones.
Russell Carter, M.D., Department of Anesthesiology, was
featured in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about alternative service.
approaches to chronic pain management.
Prapti Kanani, M.D., Division of Cardiology, was featured
in stories by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Scripps Howard gesting one in 10 people suffer silent strokes.
News Service regarding the challenge of childhood obesity.
Dr. Kanani was also interviewed by KDKA-TV and KDKA-
AM regarding new guidelines on cholesterol drugs for chil-
dren.
Ronald Thomas, M.D., Department of OB/GYN, was in-
terviewed by KDKA-AM regarding the risks of obesity in
pregnancy.
Deborah Gentile, M.D., Division of Asthma, Allergy and
Immunology, was featured on WPXI-TV regarding a study ex-
ploring bacterial links to asthma.
Andrew Sahud, M.D., Division of Infectious Disease, was
interviewed by KDKA-TV and WNPA-TV regarding concerns
over measles outbreaks in the U.S.
Scott Vargo, M.D., Division of Internal Medicine, was in-
terviewed by KDKA-TV and WNPA-TV regarding the impor-
tance of adult vaccinations.
Marc Itskowitz, M.D., Division of Internal Medicine, was
17
featured on KDKA-TV and WNPA-TV regarding common
causes of fatigue. Dr. Itskowitz was also interviewed by
KDKA-AM regarding a study about ways to avoid sickness
in the workplace.
Jack Wilberger, M.D., Department of Neurosurgery, was
interviewed by WTAE-TV regarding the controversy over
health risks associated with cell phone use.
Randall Beatty, M.D., Department of Ophthalmology, was
featured in an Air Force News article about doctors making a
difference in Iraq.
Jan Silverman, M.D., Department of Pathology, was inter-
viewed by KDKA-TV and WNPA-TV regarding a new diag-
nostic test developed at AGH that may eliminate some
breast cancer surgery. Thomas Julian, M.D., Division of Sur-
gical Oncology, was interviewed by the Pittsburgh Tribune-
Review on the same subject.
David Dean, M.D., Department of Thoracic and Cardio-
vascular Surgery, was featured in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
article about a young heart transplant recipient’s participa-
tion in the national transplantation Olympic games.
Donald Whiting, M.D., Department of Neurosurgery, and
Nancy Kennedy, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, were fea-
tured in a WTAE-TV story about living with chronic back
pain.
David Murphy, LifeFlight, was profiled in a Pittsburgh Trib-
une-Review “On the Job” feature about AGH’s aeromedical
Ashis Tayal, M.D., Department of Neurology, was inter-
viewed by KDKA-TV and WNPA-TV regarding research sug-
Srinivas Murali, M.D., Division of Cardiology, was inter-
viewed by KDKA-TV and WNPA-TV regarding AGH’s study
of an implantable device that controls high blood pressure.
Tony Farah, M.D., was interviewed by KDKA-AM about
risk factors for heart attack.
Lois Klinar, Dietary, was interviewed by KDKA-TV regard-
ing cancer risks associated with grilling meat.
Jerome Granato, M.D., Division of Cardiology, and AGH’s
nursing staff in the CCU were featured on WQED-TV regard-
ing the unit’s successful infection control program.
Patrick DeMeo, M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Sur-
gery, was profiled in the Staten Island Advance newspaper
for his career accomplishments.
David Skoner, M.D., Division of Asthma, Allergy and Im-
munology, was featured in a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story
about AGH’s athletic camps for children with asthma.
18
What’s Happening In Central North Side
By Stephani Greenleaf, Contributing Writer
Editor’s Note: Since 1989, the Northside Leadership Con-
ference and Allegheny General Hospital have worked to-
gether to identify and achieve many goals that affect positive
change for Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhoods through
the AGH Northside Partnership Agreement. Both AGH and
the member communities of the Northside Leadership Con-
ference re-sign this far-reaching agreement every two years
to demonstrate their commitment and dedication to focused
initiatives designed to improve the quality of life on the
North Side. One of these initiatives is to spotlight North Side
neighborhoods and provide information about the communi-
ties in which we work. Following is a feature on the central
North Side neighborhood that is to the west of AGH and is
home to the Mexican War Streets and the Federal North office
complex.
For years, the residents of the Central North Side have
held their hopes for a bright future close to heart. Now the
fulfillment of these expectations is highly anticipated. The
catalyst for this excitement centers on the inception of
construction projects along the Federal Street and North Av-
enue axis.
This spring, ground was broken on the brand new Al-
legheny Regional Branch of the Carnegie Library on Federal
Street, where a gas station once sat across the street from
AGH’s Federal North office complex.
Further up Federal Street, construction began in early Au-
gust on the $15 million, 60-home, mixed-income develop-
ment called Federal Hill. Developed by the Central Northside
Neighborhood Council and S & A Homes, the three-story
town homes will range in size from 1,430 to more than
2,350 square feet with 1.5 to 3.5 baths. All homes will have
two off-street parking spaces as well as back yards. Prices
range from $130,000 to $230,000s for eligible purchasers
with household incomes below 80 percent of the median in-
come; special deferred payment loans from the URA can
lower the acquisition cost to under $80,000. In just over two
months of pre-construction sales, buyers have purchased
nearly half the 23 phase-one homes that have been put up
for sale. Not only will Federal Hill bring new residents to the
community, but it will also vastly improve the streetscape
with trees in center traffic medians along the upper half of
Federal Street.
In addition to the projects on Federal Street proper, a proj-
ect along Parkhurst Street — which connects AGH and Fed-
eral Street — has just been completed. A renovated
streetscape, sidewalk improvements, installation of new
lights, and the construction of three new town homes have
transformed this once blighted street. Nearby at the corner
of Sandusky and North Avenue, the Aeberlie Building has
received a complete restoration of its handsome façade.
More exciting development is being planned. With the en-
tire Garden Theater block under ownership of the Urban Re-
development Authority, the Central Northside Neighborhood
Council is initiating a participatory master planning process
that will culminate in the selection of a developer in 2009.
Over the next 12 months, the CNNC is facilitating a neigh-
borhood vision and strategic master plan for the entire Cen-
tral North Side neighborhood.
Yet community improvements are not concentrated only
in bricks and mortar. Led by some of central North Side’s
residents, an urban garden now exists on Brighton Road. In
addition to founding this garden, the residents have lever-
aged their local agricultural connections to provide the
neighborhood with a local farmer’s market held every Satur-
day mid-afternoon until twilight at the corner of Jacksonia
and Buena Vista streets.
Central North Siders are also busy gardening at the Olde
Allegheny Gardens, which is a lush oasis of flowers and veg-
etables in the 1300 block from Arch Street in the east to
Veto Street and Sherman Avenue in the west.
Central North Side is a neighborhood rich in art and
artists. The neighborhood plays host to many art venues
such as the Mattress Factory’s installation art to new gal-
leries/workshops including the moxieDaDa gallery in the
firehouse on the corner of Arch and Jacksonia or, across the
street, Randy Gilson’s complex of buildings, gardens and art
known as Randyland.
On the youth-enrichment front, the central North Side
Neighborhood Council has hired four high-school aged
youth to learn how to use open-source computer software to
analyze neighborhood data and produce maps of the com-
munity. Further, a local resident has initiated a youth men-
toring program, where local youth are paired with
neighborhood volunteers. Youth receive homework assis-
tance, opportunities to go on field trips, and a role model to
look up to. Adults receive an opportunity to impact a life.
As you can tell, there is a lot happening in Central North
Side, and as hope continues to beat in the hearts of resi-
dents, good things will continue to happen in the neighbor-
hood. So stay posted, or better yet, get involved — not just
for a brighter present, but also for a brighter future!
 19

Free Homebuyer Workshop on September 6

By Randy Lheureau, Contributing Writer
A homebuyer workshop can be a great step in your jour-
ney toward home ownership. Whether you’re just starting the
process or you’ve been at it for some time, understanding the
basics of buying a home will help you make the best decision
for you and your family.
Here at AGH, full-time employees can participate in the
Workforce Home Benefit. The first step for most people in the
program is a homebuyer workshop. During the workshop, an
experienced staff member of NeighborWorks Western Penn-
sylvania (formerly known as Neighborhood Housing Serv-
ices) will take you through a series of exercises to help you
understand your needs and capabilities.
Guest speakers address topics such as working with
lenders and realtors to give you a good start on how to best
prepare yourself for the purchase. Other topics in the work-
shop include credit, budgeting, identifying your interests and
needs, insurance and home inspections.
The workshops are fun, interactive and a great opportunity
to get answers for your questions. You’ll get contact names
and phone numbers of professionals to call any time; as an
employee of AGH or Allegheny General Hospital – Suburban
Campus, you get access to people who know what they’re
talking about and want to help.
The homebuyer workshops are free. Spouses and signifi-
cant others are welcome to attend. Completing the workshop
opens the door to the many other services that Workforce
Home Benefit has to offer, such as credit counseling, mort-
gage loan assistance and so much more.
Best of all, no one will try to sell you anything. You go
through the program at your own pace and, in the process,
have access to the best information possible.
Join us for the next homebuyer workshop at AGH on:
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Cafeteria Rooms 1 – 4
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lunch will be provided
(We will try to accommodate any special requests)
To register for the workshop, or for more information on
purchasing a home, call Randy Lheureau at the Northside
Leadership Conference at 412-330-2551 or email at
randy@pittsburghnorthside.com.
Workforce Home Benefit is an Initiative of the AGH North-
side Partnership and made possible by Freddie Mac. Work-
force Home Benefit is home ownership…one step
at a time.

WPAHS Wearhouse – It’s Everywhere!

WPAHS Wearhouse — the online “company store” for West Penn Allegheny Health System, Allegheny General Hospital
and Allegheny General Hospital — Suburban Campus — is open for business.
West Penn Allegheny Health System is pleased to present the latest in corporate branded apparel. Items available in-
clude fleece jackets, T-shirts, hats, golf shirts, denim shirts and more — all at very affordable prices. Now is your
chance to have the hottest fashion trend to hit the hospital halls.
The ordering process is fast and easy. Access the WPAHS Wearhouse by logging on to these
sites and clicking on the WPAHS Wearhouse Icon:
WPAHS Intranet Site (at work): home.wpahs.org or
WPAHS Internet Site (at home): www.wpahs.org
Whether at work or at play, WPAHS Wearhouse merchandise looks great everywhere you go.
Don’t be left out — log on and start shopping today!
20
I would like to thank Debbie Ziegler at the Suburban
Campus for making the time before my son’s surgery
very relaxing and fun for him. He was scared and nerv-
ous about it, but after a few minutes with Debbie, his
fear seemed to fade away. He spent all that time waiting
for his surgery with laughter and a smile. Thank you,
Debbie, for being such a compassionate and caring per-
son.
— Patient’s mother
When my brother was brought to the AGH Emergency
Room, Dr. Washington took great care in diagnosing
and treating him. His work was very professional, but
what was even more impressive was that he was com-
passionate. His advice was given in a way we could all
clearly understand and we greatly appreciate all of his
care.
— Patient’s sibling
The nurses at Suburban were all very friendly and con-
siderate to me, especially one night when I was having
a lot of back pain and it kept getting worse. I couldn’t
tolerate the pain, but didn’t want to bother the nurses.
A young female employee came in to check on me and,
once she saw that I was in pain and crying, went to get
my nurse. Everybody was very understanding and I
can’t thank them enough.
— Patient
Dr. Hennon at Allegheny General was very kind and
took wonderful care of me. So did my nurse, Carla. I
thank both of them for their excellent work. They really
made me feel as though they cared about me, some-
thing I haven’t seen in an ER in a long time. I just
wanted to say thank you and God bless you both.
— Patient
Every person I encountered at Suburban was very
skilled and efficient, as well as pleasant and attentive.
Considering the pain I was in, they made me as com-
fortable as possible. A few did stand out from the rest,
so I want to thank Wende, Wendy, Andy, Vicki, Ce-
celia and Cindy.
— Patient
My sister and I were visiting Pittsburgh for the first time
when she had a gallbladder attack and had to be taken
to the Allegheny General Emergency Room. We were al-
ready frightened, but what made it worse was being so
far from home. Amy in the ER was a miracle. She
calmed us both down and ensured that all of our needs
were met. She even gave me detailed driving directions
to a 24-hour pharmacy to pick up my sister’s prescrip-
tions. Her care and compassion were outstanding. We
hope you and your staff appreciate her as much as we
do!
— Patient’s sister
 21

Allegheny General Suburban Campus

George Parris Kathy Tetzlaw

Title: Supervisor Title: Patient Access Representative
Department: Tissue Typing Department: Outpatient Registration/
Residence: Ross Township Admitting Department
Family Members: Wife, Karen; daughter, Maria; two Residence: Brighton Heights
cats, Chloe and Lizzie Family members: Husband, Dave; children,
Length of time at AGH: 19 years Christopher and Katie; grand
Favorite AGH memory: Meeting my wife while playing in puppy, Luna
the AGH softball league 16 years Length of time at SC: 24 years
ago. Favorite AGH — SC
How your co-workers memory: The Service Awards Banquet on
would describe you: Easy going, funny, dedicated the partyliner
Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings (Trilogy) How your co-workers
Dream vacation: A Hawaiian golf trip would describe you: Friendly, helpful and efficient
Favorite restaurant: Outback Steakhouse Favorite movie: Splendor in the Grass
Favorite musician: Yanni/New Age Dream vacation: Myrtle Beach, SC
Hobbies: Golf Favorite restaurant: Armstrong’s
Your personal goal: To obtain a private pilot’s license Favorite musician: The Beatles
When I need Hobbies: Reading and listening to music
to get away: Work outdoors or in the garage Your personal goal: To stay healthy
People might be When I need to get away: Go to dinner with family and
surprised to know: I play piano by ear friends
People might be
If you would like to submit the name of a co-worker to be featured in surprised to know: I am very involved in my
“Our People,” please contact Debbie Crawford at 412-359-8606. church’s activities
If you would like to submit the name of a co-worker to be featured in “Our Peo-
ple” for AGH — Suburban Campus, please contact Debbie Crawford at
412-359-8606.
22
In Memoriam
Sharon Stephany
Mailroom Associate
19 years of service at Allegheny General Hospital
Free Employee Yoga Sessions
Come and experience Kripalu Yoga. A gentle, relaxing ex-
perience for persons of all physical fitness levels; no prior
yoga experience required. Sessions will be held on Fridays
in the Cancer Center Classrooms 2 and 3. There will be two
sessions: 12 to 1 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m.
Bring a yoga mat or beach towel and wear comfortable
clothing; it is best not to eat for one to two hours prior to a
yoga session.
Brought to you by the AGH Integrated Medicine Program
to improve the health of your mind, body and spirit.
Seeking donations of magazines
and puzzle books for patients!
The Volunteer Office is seeking donations of new or
gently used magazines and also new Sudoku, word finds
and puzzle books for our patients. All donations may be
dropped off at the Volunteer Office, First Floor, South
Tower. For more information, please contact us at exten-
sion 3067. Thanks for your support!
Employee Discounts Offered
Through Allegheny General’s affiliation with the Pittsburgh
Employees Activities Association (PEAA), we can offer em-
ployee discounts to the events/attractions listed below:
• Mellon Arena – upcoming events discounts
• Riverset Credit Union – opening to PEAA members
• Sprint – discounts from 5 to 25 percent
• PEAA Night at PNC Park – discount tickets
• Pittsburgh CLO – discount ticket prices
• Children’s Museum – discount ticket admissions
• Brinks Home Security – free basic package installation
• Vector Security – special offer – free installation
• Del’s Bar & Ristorante DelPizzo – 20 percent off total
food bill
• Italian Specialty and Gourmet Catering – 10 percent off to
all PEAA members
• Whitesmiles – Pittsburgh’s Premier Teeth Whitening Center
– complete teeth whitening package for only $129 + tax
Located at AGH? Visit the Human Resources Department
on the 12th floor and pick up a CURRENT DISCOUNTS
brochure from the rack.
Located at Suburban Campus? Call your Human Re-
sources Department at 412-734-6010 to obtain a CUR-
RENT DISCOUNTS brochure.
If you aren’t located at AGH or Suburban, then please
email ptitus@wpahs.org with your name (include spelling),
department, phone number and work location. A brochure
will be sent to you via interoffice mail. If you are at an offsite
location where interoffice mail is not possible, please leave
your office mailing address or fax number.
Bereavement Education and
Support Group
The Allegheny General Hospital Social Work Department
continues to host its Bereavement Education and Support
Group. Meetings are held the second Tuesday of each
month and include a combination of guest speakers and
open discussions facilitated by AGH social workers and out-
side speakers. The next meeting will be held September 9
from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Cafeteria rooms 1 and 2 at Allegheny
General Hospital.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact
Stephanie Walker-Moore at 412-359-4765.
 23

Healthy Living Guest Lecture Series Gift Corner Lobby Sale

This educational lecture series is held the second Wednes- The Gift Corner is pleased to announce the debut of Soap
day morning of each month at Allegheny General Hospital – Sisters merchandise, on sale in the main lobby on Septem-
Suburban Campus. Continental breakfast is available at 9 ber 9, 2008 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The selection features
a.m. and the lectures begin at 9:30 a.m. handmade vegetable glycerin soaps and a large selection of
soy bean candles. Cash, check, credit and debit cards will
The series is also held each month at the Lutheran Serv-
be accepted.
ices Society, 440 Lincoln Avenue, from 2 to 3 p.m. Light re-
freshments are served.
These programs are free, and all interested adults are wel-
The Coffee Nook
come. Free parking is available, and registration is required. Stop by for a specialty drink at the Coffee Nook. Located
To register, please call Physician Access at 1-877-284- in the Gift Corner in the lobby, the Coffee Nook offers fine
2000. brewed coffee, espresso, cappuccino and the “Flavor of the
Day.” Open Monday - Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Topic: Safety in the Home
Speaker: Kathy Ferri, COTA/L, Department of Health Pro-
motions, AGH — SC Needed: Gently Used Book Donations
Location: AGH — SC, Conference Room 1, 7th floor Allegheny General Hospital — Suburban Campus is now
Registration deadline: September 3, 2008 accepting donations of gently used, paperback books and
magazines for distribution to patients. Donations may be de-
Friday, September 12, 2008 livered to the AGH — SC Gift Corner during regular business
Topic: Arthritis hours: Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
Speaker: Brett Smith, M.D., Department of Orthopaedic Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Surgery, AGH
Location: Lutheran Services Society Prime Time Senior Cen- August Employee Discounts (see
ter, 440 Lincoln Avenue, upper level
Registration deadline: September 5, 2008
News & Events for AGH)
Monday, October 6, 2008
Topic: Safety in the Home
Speaker: Kathy Ferri, COTA/L, Department of Health Pro-
motions, AGH — SC
Location: Lutheran Services Society Prime Time Senior Cen-
ter, 440 Lincoln Avenue, upper level
Registration deadline: September 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Topic: New Advances in the Treatment of Breast Cancer
Speaker: Thomas Lheureau, M.D., Department of Surgery,
AGH and AGH — SC
Location: AGH-SC, Conference Room 1, 7th floor
Registration deadline: October 1, 2008
 24
BEN Tip: Life Events Permit Benefit
Changes
Check with the Employee Benefits Service Center if you
think any of these Life Events listed below apply to you. You
may be able to change your Health and Welfare Benefits
mid-year:
• Marriage or divorce
• New dependent (birth, adoption, legal guardianship, cus-
tody)
• Loss of dependent (child loses full-time student status,
graduates, or becomes age 25, custody change, and
death)
• Gain or loss of coverage through your spouse
• Employment status change
• Dependent care costs or provider change, or
• Domestic partner change.
Status Change – Steps to Take
Complete a “Change in Status Event Form.” Forms can
be obtained from:
• Employee Benefits Web site at home.wpahs.org/
benefits 2008 WPAHS Employee Benefits Program CD,
WPAHS Benefits Service Center, or Human Resources De-
partment
• Attach the required documentation to support your Change
in Status
• Submit the form and documentation to the Benefits Service
Center
Mail must be postmarked and faxes dated as follows:
• Submit the form by the 30-day deadline to be eligible to
change your benefits effective with the event date
• Forms received between 31 and 60 days will be effective
the first of the month following receipt of your form
Status Change: Other Items to Consider
Do you need to:
• Change your coverage levels for medical, dental or vision
insurance?
• Increase or decrease life or disability insurance?
• Add or delete your spouse, domestic partner, or depend-
ents from coverage?
• Review coordination of benefits between your plans and
your spouse’s plans?
• Change life insurance and retirement plan beneficiary in-
formation?
• Update your name with your manager?
• Update your address or home phone number in PRISM?
BEN FAQ: Can my child, who is enrolled
as a full-time college student, be added to
my benefits?
Yes, as long as your unmarried son or daughter, age 19 to
25, is a full-time student at an accredited school and is de-
pendent on you for support, he or she can be included in
your health-care coverage.
Remember, a dependent child re-entering school is eligi-
ble for benefits on the first day of the month after valid Stu-
dent Certification forms are submitted to the Benefits
Service Center.
Important Action Steps to re-enroll a full-time student on
your benefits
Mail or fax these documents together to the Benefit Serv-
ice Center:
• Change in status request form
• Full-time student certification form
• School’s registrar letter stating child is a full-time student.
You may be able to print out the Registrar information di-
rectly from the school’s Web site or from the Student Clear-
inghouse Web site at www.studentclearinghouse.org
BEN Reminder: Watch for Student Certification Requests
The insurance carriers administer the student certification
process for full-time students between the ages of 19 to 25.
Please follow the instructions specified by your insurance
carrier to complete the process. An unmarried, dependent
child between the ages of 19 and 25 must be a full-time stu-
dent in an accredited school, college, or university and must
be dependent upon you for support in order to continue to
be covered.
Coverage for a dependent who is age 19 to 25 will termi-
nate on the earliest date below:
• End of the month your dependent is no longer a full-time
student or graduates, or
• On your dependent’s 25th birthday
If your dependent has a student status change, please
contact the Employee Benefits Service Center at 1-800-
474-1236 to remove the dependent from coverage. A
COBRA notice will be sent to your son or daughter to con-
tinue coverage at his or her expense, after coverage termi-
nates under your plan.
 25

BEN Checklist: Back to School Reminders
Schedule routine physical and dental exams and immu-
nizations now.
• Consult your child’s primary care physician and your
school’s requirements
ID cards for College Students
• Provide your student with medical and prescription drug ID
cards
• Review the Home Host and Emergency Care provisions
with your student
Visit your insurance companies’ Web sites for Back to
School topics.
• Healthy Kids Programs
• Preventive Health and Immunization Guidelines
• Family Fitness Ideas
• Wellness Programs and Member Discounts
• Link to other Health Education sites
FSA information available online 24/7
Go to www.wageworks.com to manage your
HCRA/DCRA account:
• Access your account activity and balance
• Check status of claims and payments
• Verify eligible and ineligible expenses
• Calculate your FSA savings
• Download claim forms
• Order an additional HCRA debit card
• Request Pay My Provider payments
If you have a question on your account or do not have In-
ternet access, call WageWorks at 877-924-3967 to speak
with a Customer Service representative from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Make Your Raise Work Toward Your Retire-
ment
It’s salary increase time for many employees. Why not
consider putting some of that additional cash into your Re-
tirement Savings Plan (403b) account? Increasing your
403(b) deduction, even by as little as 1 percent every year,
can amount to a substantial nest egg over time.
It’s easy to do! Complete a salary reduction agreement.
This form is available:
• In your local HR department
• Through Prism or on the Web at
http://home.wpahs.org/benefits/forms.htm
• By contacting Employee Benefits at 1-800-474-1236
Return the completed salary reduction agreement to:
West Penn Allegheny Health System
Employee Benefits
Two Allegheny Center, 10th Floor Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(Sorry, we need an original signature and cannot accept
faxes)
Employee Benefits Service Center
Phone number: 1-800-474-1236, Option 1
FAX number: 412-330-5760
E-mail: benefits@wpahs.org
Mailing Address: Two Allegheny Center, Tenth Floor, Pitts-
burgh, PA 15212
PRISM
WPAHS Intranet Site (at work): home.wpahs.org/prism
WPAHS Internet Site (at home): www.wpahs.org/prism

WPAHS Intranet Provides Instant Access to Important Information

Want to review an article from a past issue of The Latest Word? Have questions about benefits? All of this information
and more is available on West Penn Allegheny Health System’s intranet.
The WPAHS intranet may be accessed from any networked WPAHS personal computer
that is equipped with a Web browser, such as Microsoft Explorer™ and Netscape Navigator™.
Simply type home.wpahs.org into your browser. Each intranet site article contains links to
other relevant articles, which can be accessed at the touch of a button.
Once an intranet page is displayed on your screen, you can use the menu found on the left
side of the page to quickly navigate between major intranet resources. You can also click on
Look for this button on the any underlined link on a page to quickly navigate to another page.
WPAHS intranet home page. Check out the WPAHS intranet today for the latest information about your workplace!
26
Allegheny General Hospital would like to welcome the following new employees who were recently hired. AGH takes great
pride in having such a talented and diverse group of staff who share the hospital’s commitment to excellence.
Kerry Allen – Per Diem Pool
Erin Allen – Phlebotomy
Jermaine Anderson – Food & Nutrition
Services
Linda Backhaus – Medical Records
Jamie Beachum – 5A
Christopher Bedford – MICU
Holly Bernardi – Intensive Care Nursery
Tiffany Bollinger – EVS
Steven Bova – Human Motion Rehab
Tracy Bowers – 5A
Celeste Bowra – 5A
Tom Burk – ED
Justin Butela – 8A
Talia Chandler – Phlebotomy
Diana Chulack – 8A
Nicole Cirrincione – Trauma
Shelly Conroy – 5A
Stephanie Defelice – 10C
Beth Ann Deless – 10C
Natalie Delo – MICU
Michael Dixon – EVS
Tom Dunn – Adult Psychiatry
Tiffany Eberhardt – Colorectal Surgery
Melissa Fabiann – Food & Nutrition
Services
Lisa Fabila – 8C
Rebecca Freudenberg – 5C
Megan Gaydosik – 6A Kristen Mullett – MICU
Sharon Geibel – 7A Shamma Oduor – Neuro/Med Surg
Christie Gilmore – Wound Healing Cen- Sarah Peeples – Radiology
ter Michael Pope – Sterile Processing
Janice Glidewell – Transplant Susan Powell-Rowe – Trauma
Amanda Grady – Genomic Science Maria Quiroz – Chem/Hema
Aburee Guiffre – Psych Administration Alisa Ralph – Business Center
Wayne Haber – Dietary Stephanie Renner – 5C
Jennifer Hines – 8A Jerica Russell – EVS
Katie Hinzman – 8C Hannah Schofield-Lise – Psychiatric
Shane Howard – Business Center Stacy Shelter – MICU
Robert Hulsman – 6C Alexis Sotereanos – Orthopaedics
Chavon Humbert – 6A Lauren Surdick – 6C
James Johnson – IS Brian Swinton – Hemo/Peri Dial
Kelsey Kocjancic – CCU Lori Tivo – Food & Nutrition Services
Diana Krannacker – Customer Service Tyler Toy – Trauma
Nathan Kraus – MICU Quyen Tran – Trauma Center
Kaitlan Kunkel – Food & Nutrition Serv- Emily Vaughn – Psychiatric
ices Tamera Vukas – NICU
Debra Kuzma – ED Diana Wilhelm – Pulmonary
Andrew Lacenere – Genomic Science Sharon Young – 6C
Matthew Langford – Anatomic Pathol-
ogy
Christina Laycox – Allegheny Neurology New Employees at AGH —Sub-
Stephanie Lucas – MICU urban Campus
Shelly Lyons – 10C Amber Calloway – EVS
Gary Marree – MICU Valerie Reha – ICU
Dan Moore – EVS

Grand Rounds, Medical Seminars and Visiting Professor-
ships
Allegheny General Hospital
September 5-6, 2008
Minimally Invasive Fracture Fixation, Magovern Conference Center,
Allegheny General Hospital.
September 13, 2008
First Aid in the Child Care Environment, 8:30 to 11:30 am, Magov-
ern Conference Center, Allegheny General Hospital.
September 17-19, 2008
Advances in Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Pituitary and Skull-
base Surgery, Magovern Conference Center, Allegheny General
Hospital.
September 19, 2008
LifeFlight Conference: Why Did We Fly that Patient?, Magovern
Conference Center, Allegheny General Hospital.
September 19-21, 2008
Third Annual Nemacolin Asthma Conference — A Comprehensive
Clinical and Research Review, Day 1: 4:30 to 7:15 p.m., Day 2: 7 a.m.
to 2 p.m., Day 3: 7:30 a.m. to Noon, Nemacolin Woodlands Confer-
ence Center, Farmington, Pa.
September 26, 2008
2008 Innovations in Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension, 7
a.m. to 4 p.m., Sheraton Station Square Hotel, Pittsburgh.
October 10-12, 2008
Microscopic and Endoscopic Approaches for the Skullbase,
Magovern Conference Center, Allegheny General Hospital.
October 30, 2008
Chronic Wound Conference 2008 — Elect the Best Options: Cast
Your Vote for Wound Care Success, Magovern Conference Center,
Allegheny General Hospital
Community Health Education Programs
Allegheny General Hospital
To register for the classes below, call 1-877-284-2000.
September 4
Birthing With an Epidural, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Allegheny General Hospital.
Attend this class to find out important information about epidurals,
labor and birth. Topics include: how to tell true from false labor, when
to come to the hospital, IVs, monitors, inductions, forceps, vacuums,
C-sections, the benefits and risks of an epidural, and all about the
baby. Speaker: Lynn Mossburg, I.C.C.E., C.D., C.H.P. Fee: $50 per
couple. 50 percent WPAHS employee discount available.
September 9
Your Teen: What You’re Afraid They’re Doing When You’re Not Look-
ing, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Northland Library, McCandless. It’s the best of
times and the worst of times. Get the straight story about sexual activ-
27
ity in teens and new advances in STD treatment. Speaker: Rita Ray-
mond, C.R.N.P. Fee: None, but must pre-register.
September 9
The Happiest Baby on the Block, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Allegheny General
Hospital. New parents and parents-to-be will learn step-by-step how to
help babies sleep longer and how to soothe even the fussiest babies in
minutes. Fee: $45 per couple (includes parent kit: choice of VHS or
DVD and a soothing sounds CD–a $40 value) Speaker: Maryann Clay-
ton, R.N.
September 16, 23 and 30
Newborn Care Class, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Allegheny General Hospi-
tal. Parents can prepare to care for a newborn in the first month
after birth. Topics include newborn appearance and characteristics,
bathing, dressing, diapering, bottle and breast feeding, safety, im-
munizations and when to call the pediatrician. Each class includes
a discussion with one of our pediatricians. Speaker: Caron Boyer,
C.R.N.P. Fee: $50. 50 percent discount for WPAHS employees.
September 17
Diabetes Basics, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Mt. Lebanon Library. Learn the
difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, how diabetes is di-
agnosed and the latest treatments available. Speaker: Donna Gisle-
son, C.R.N.P., Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Health. Fee:
None, but preregistration is necessary.
Allegheny General Hospital — Suburban Campus
To register for the classes below, call 412-734-6910.
September 2
Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., AGH-SC Second Floor
Conference Room.
September 6
Overeaters Anonymous, 9 to 10 a.m., AGH-SC Second Floor Con-
ference Room.
September 9
Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., AGH-SC Second Floor
Conference Room.
September 13
Overeaters Anonymous, 9 to 10 a.m., AGH-SC Second Floor Con-
ference Room.
September 16
Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., AGH-SC Second Floor
Conference Room.
September 20
Overeaters Anonymous, 9 to 10 a.m., AGH-SC Second Floor Con-
ference Room.