NEWSLETTER Summer 2021
Welcome Message from the Council Co-Chairs
Welcome to the summer edition of the Hadassah Physicians Council newsletter. We hope everyone is well and enjoying the summer months. This summer is definitely better compared to last summer. As we begin to return to “normal” life, we need to remain vigilant as the COVID-19 pandemic is not just yet a thing of the past. Israel is starting to see a resurgence of COVID-19 infections due to the Delta variant. However, encouraging vaccinations and wearing masks should help to combat the increase in cases.
In April 2021, Hadassah Hospital was able to close its one remaining COVID-19 Outbreak Unit. There were still some COVID-19 patients and they were treated in the COVID-19 ICU. At the peak of the pandemic, Hadassah had six COVID-19 Outbreak Units and two COVID-19 ICUs. It was amazing how the hospital was able to mobilize its resources and set up the units so quickly and ultimately treated more than 4,500 COVID-19 patients.
Enjoy reading the newsletter to see what the Physicians Council has been doing this past year and our upcoming plans and programs. If you have any ideas or suggestions for programs, please contact us.
Have an enjoyable summer!
Laura Brandspiegel and Stacey Keen
Co-Chairs, Hadassah National Physicians Council
Meet a Member:
Alison Kaye
My name is Alison Kaye and I am a physician in Kansas City. I live in Overland Park, Kansas, where I work as a pediatric plastic surgeon at the Children’s Hospital.
I received my medical school and residency training in Philadelphia, where I also met my husband, Adam, who is an adult trauma surgeon and Hadassah Associate. Together we live a pretty crazy existence, juggling work, family and volunteer interests. My work days are spent caring for children with birth differences, injuries and other problems of the skin and soft tissues. I am very involved in clinical research, investigating issues related to congenital orofacial clefting and other plastic surgery topics. It is a rewarding career that involves caring for children and their families from birth to young adulthood.
At home, my husband and I share the joys and challenges of raising six strong-willed and independent children of our own. Two of our children have been blessed to be born with Down syndrome, a condition that has taught us all so much about patience, special abilities and unconditional love for all humans.
My journey with Hadassah only began a few years ago, when the Hadassah Greater Kansas City chapter honored our local physicians. At that event, the idea emerged to help create the second local Hadassah Physician’s council in the US. I worked (with my husband’s help) to make this idea a reality. As a group, our physicians have worked on several educational outreach programs to benefit our community and Hadassah nationally. I also participate in the national Hadassah Physician’s Council, where I am regularly inspired by a number of incredibly dedicated and talented physicians. Although my time contributing to Hadassah has been relatively short, I hope to continue to learn and grow with Hadassah.
Our council offers a very hearty congratulations to Dr. Kaye, who was named a Shining Star at Children’s Mercy! Out of 700 providers, she was ranked #1 for the past year! From the official announcement: “Alison Kaye, MD, is the February 2021 winner of the Shining Star award, presented monthly to the top-rated provider over the last 12 months. During that period, Dr. Kaye received 100 survey responses for a provider rating of 4.92/5 Stars.” We are lucky to have such a wonderful and caring top physician in our midst.
Webinar Recap:
COVID-19 Vaccine Update: All the Facts, Answers and Info You Need to Know
On February 28, 2021, the Physicians Council hosted a timely webinar about COVID-19 vaccines. The webinar was presented by Dr. Limor Rubin, a physician in the Internal Medicine and COVID-19 Department at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. She gave an update on COVID-19 at Hadassah Hospital at that time. At the peak of the pandemic, there were COVID-19 patients in six departments in the hospital, but by February 2021, the numbers had declined and there were three departments with patients.
Dr. Rubin described how the coronavirus causes disease and how the different vaccines work against the virus. She explained how development of vaccines usually takes years, but the development of the COVID-19 vaccines only took ten months. The vaccines completed all phases, but there was overlap of the phases in order to speed up the process. She reviewed the different kinds of vaccine available and explained that there are hundreds in preclinical or clinical development. She thoroughly compared the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and briefly reviewed the Astra Zeneca and J&J vaccines. She discussed side effects of the vaccines, the vaccine trials and limitations in the vaccine trials, stating that unfortunately there is no long-term data.
Dr. Rubin emphasized the need for data from pediatric trials in order to be able to vaccinate children. For the time being, more than 75% of the population needs to be vaccinated in order to protect children and immunocompromised people. She mentioned that Pfizer was starting to study third doses or yearly dose of the vaccine, as well as making changes to the vaccines to cover variants and mutations.
At the time of the webinar, Israel was the leading country in vaccinations with more than 50% of people vaccinated.
Hadassah On Call Podcast:
Strokes: Risk Factors, Treatments and COVID-19 Long-haulers
The Hadassah On Call: New Frontiers in Medicine podcast gives a behind-the-headlines look into Hadassah Medical Organization doctors and specialists, patients and nurses. The latest episode "Strokes: Risk Factors, Treatments and COVID-19 Long-haulers" has Dr. Ronen Leker, the director of the Stroke Unit and the Peritz and Chantel Scheinberg Cerebrovascular Disease Research Laboratory at HMO, talk about the connection between COVID-19 and strokes. Listen here and to previous episodes on the podcast page of Hadassah.org.
Fundraiser Update: In Memory of Dr. Nancy Dintefass
We’re over halfway there! In memory of Dr. Nancy Dintenfass, the Hadassah and Physicians Council member who passed away in 2018, the Physicians Council and her family are raising funds for the new Round Building. In addition to the caring, warm person we remember, Nancy was a devoted member of Hadassah with a love for Israel. Our goal is to raise $36,000 for a fully equipped double patient room in the Hematology Oncology Department in the Round Building. Please join us in creating this legacy. The link to the Hadassah special page about Nancy including the donation code is available online here.
Save the Dates: Upcoming Webinars
August 3, 2021, 8 pm ET: How to Talk to Your Doctor: Hormones, Fertility and Intimacy. Some people naturally experience some hesitation or discomfort when raising deeply intimate issues with their health care providers. In this informative webinar presented by the Engagement Division Program Department and open to all members, participants will hear examples of questions that women want to ask, learn tactics for listening to one's body and how to foster open communication with a medical team. There will be optional small-group discussions after. This is open to everyone, so pass this information on to interested patients, collegues, friends, famiily members and fellow Hadassah members. Registration is open here.
October 4, 2021, 8 pm ET: A Conversation with Dr. Suzanne Koven, author of Letter to a Young Female Physician: Notes from a Medical Life. Presented by the Hadassah Physicians Council and open to all Hadassah members. It will feature Dr. Suzanne Koven in conversation with Lisa Hostein, Executive Editor of Hadassah Magazine. Dr. Koven is a primary care internal medicine physician and Writer in Residence at Massachusetts General Hospital. An assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Koven’s essays and articles have appeared in medical journals as well as numerous publications such as The Boston Globe. In her recent book Dr. Koven recounts the arc of her life and career, balancing the roles of a doctor, mother, and daughter. This will be a fascinating and inspiring discussion. Look for registration details in upcoming Hadassah@home emails.
Hadassah Hospital News Stories
One recent story (6/22/2021) worth noting:
Hadassah Scientists Say Optimism Leads to Longevity After 85
Optimism is associated with health benefits and improved survival among adults older than age 65. But what about individuals older than 85? In an article in the February 20 issue of The Journals of Gerontology, Hadassah Medical Organization researchers from its Department of Geriatric Rehabilitation and the Center for Palliative Care report their finding that optimism is associated with greater longevity for adults older than 85 and even those older than 90.
In their Jerusalem Longitudinal Study (1990–2020), the researchers assessed five-year mortality among a representative community sample of individuals born in 1920 and 1921. They measured the cohort’s overall optimism at both age 85 and age 90 using a validated seven-item score from the Scale of Subjective Wellbeing for Older Persons. The four questions concerning positive future expectations (Op-Future) and three questions concerning positive experiences (Op-Happy) were also analyzed separately.
The researchers adjusted for gender, financial difficulty, marital status, educational status, dependence in performing activities of daily living, physical activity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cognitive impairment and depression. Whether adjusted or unadjusted in terms of these circumstances, the researchers report, “All measures of optimism were significantly associated with improved five-year survival from age 85 to 90 and from 90 to 95.” In addition, they note, men were ”significantly more optimistic than females.”
The authors conclude, ”These findings support the hypothesis that being optimistic continues to confer a survival benefit irrespective of advancing age.”
Other recent stories of note:
Hadassah Treats Blinking Red Light in Teen's Wrist
Hadassah Cardiologist Involves Family Physicians In Cardiac Care
Hadassah Discovers Rare Lethal Tumor on Nine-Year-Old's Spine
Liver Disease Is Linked to Weaker Response in COVID-19 Vaccine
Save the Date: Next Year in IsraelNovember 2022
The Physicians Council trip to Israel is planned for the week preceding the 100th Hadassah National Convention. Convention dates are November 14 - 17, 2022, and details of the Physicians Council trip are in the works. Come for the trip, stay for Convention, and prepare to be inspired. Details to come. Next year in Jerusalem!
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