Spring 2010

Download the full pdf of Issue 7

Features

Protecting Memory

The goal of preventive medicine is to stop an illness before it starts or to discover and treat a disease before it becomes serious. Now Washington University physicians at Barnes-Jewish Hospital are applying the principles of preventive medicine to their research into Alzheimer’s disease. As collaborators within Washington University’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), the researchers are developing ways of identifying patients at risk for the disease years before dementia symptoms begin.

'MVP' Care for Aspiring All-Stars

Sam Pirtle is itching to get back to wrestling. Faced with the exciting possibility of sports scholarships, the 16-year-old honors student at Roxanna High School in Illinois was on track to be recruited for college wrestling teams when he injured himself last fall. Sam was reluctant to undergo surgery because he might miss the spring state wrestling tournament, where most teens are noticed for scholarships. He came to the Washington University sports medicine specialists at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to explore other options.

News

• FDA Approves VAD Used at Barnes-Jewish for Permanent Use 

• First Missouri Hospital to Receive Beacon Award

• New Grant Supports Research in Gynecologic Cancer 

• Personalized Vascular Care

• Nearly Scarless Minimally Invasive Surgeries

Also in this Issue

• Breakthroughs: A look at three of the latest technological advances being used at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, including incisionless surgery for reflux disease, MRI-guided laser therapy for brain tumors, and tissue tracking software developed at Barnes-Jewish for the operating room.

• Side by Side - Grand Slam Orthopedics: Former Cardinals' pitcher Cliff Politte ruptured his distal biceps tendon while teaching area high school students. Thanks to Washington University orthopedic surgeon Matthew Smith, MD, he will be back throwing balls soon.

• At a Glance - World-Class Emergency Care: Within two weeks of the massive earthquake that hit Haiti, Barnes-Jewish emergency residents made their way to Petit Goave, an area of 170,000 people in the mountains west of Port-au-Prince.