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Minnesota Medical FoundationWorking to improve the quality of life for people everywhere by supporting research, education, and care at the University of Minnesota

Women’s Health

Spring 2009
Hospitals work to change the norm and eliminate preventable birth injuries through a new safety initiative
Preventable birth injuries are rare. At the University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC), they happen just 0.3 percent of the time, or to about four babies out of 2,700 deliveries each year. “But even if you only have 0.3 percent, that’s still four babies a year.” says Becky Gams
Making the connection
Department experts examine the role of genetics in ovarian cancer. As physician-scientists in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health continue to search for better ways to treat ovarian cancer, they’re working to capitalize on what’s already known about the disease to head it off.
Funding from Sparboe endowed chair allows ovarian cancer research to flourish
University of Minnesota cancer biologist Sundaram Ramakrishnan, Ph.D., are working on a way to stop ovarian cancer from spreading. They’ve been investigating the role of protein and how they interact with ovarian tumor cells. The team recently has found a way to inhibit the growth of blood vessels and keep tumors from growing larger.
‘Not your average doctor’
Woman finds comfort in a physician who’s willing to consider alternative solutions to health problems. Karen Studders knows her way around a doctor’s office. A cancer survivor who struggled for years with fibroids, heavy bleeding, and anemia, Studders has seen a few physicians in her day.
Putting ovarian cancer into remission
For women already diagnosed with ovarian cancer, University of Minnesota researchers are finding better ways to help control their disease.
Connections with patients inspire faculty member to improve care
Carrie Terrell, M.D., considers herself a bit of a late bloomer. The director of the department’s Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology and new chief-of-staff-elect for the entire University of Minnesota Medical Center medical staff, Terrell also was one of the department’s “Top Doc” by St.Paul Magazine.
Family history matters: know yours
The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health is promoting a checklist to help patients and their physicians identify “red flags” in their family history that might warrant genetic testing.
On my mind
This fall our Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health will mark a major milestone: We’ll be celebrating 40 years of sharing our latest research findings at our Autumn Seminar.
Fall 2008
An altruistic attitude
Health-care professionals and patients partner up to advance medical knowledge. The most important contributors to health research are the patients who participate in research studies. They are not only learning about and accessing leading-edge treatments, says Linda Carson, M.D., “these women are contributing to scientific knowledge,” she says.
Did you know?
Benefactors gave a recordshattering $122.2 million to healthfocused research, education, and service through the Minnesota Medical Foundation in fiscal year 2008. The previous record was $78.3 million in fiscal year 2005.
For one faculty member, maternal-fetal medicine is about more than specialized care
On the whole, Daniel Landers, M.D., has a rewarding job. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist, or perinatologist, Landers sees many patients go from heartbreaking loss to healing and joy. “Most people who have a bad outcome with a pregnancy are able to have a good outcome in the future.”
Minnesota ‘transplants’ sing University’s praises
When Thomas Carrier, M.D., joined an obstetrics and gynecology practice in Minnesota in 1966, he and his wife, Anne, were a little apprehensive about how they would adjust to life away from their families. They are proud to have raised their three daughters in the dynamic Twin Cities community.
On My Mind
As you’ll learn in this issue of Women’s Health, our faculty members are deeply involved in clinical research.We are trying to learn whether natural killer cells can effectively treat ovarian cancer and whether complementary and alternative therapies can improve a patient’s quality of life.
Questions to ask before enrolling
If you’re thinking about enrolling in a clinical research study, coming up with a list of questions to ask your physician may seem like an overwhelming task. Here are a few questions to get you started.
Sisters-in-law share a bond through grief and joy— and gratitude toward their doctor
Their names were Joseph and Isabella. They’re the babies that sisters-in-law Lisa Eastlack and Jennie Eastlack lost halfway through their pregnancies— the babies whose healthy younger siblings, the women believe, are here because of maternalfetal medicine specialist Daniel Landers, M.D.
Spring 2008
Argenta’s passion for helping women with gynecologic cancers inspires research
On his first day of medical school at Duke University, he had to fill out a questionnaire about his professional interests. “I said the only things of question were ob-gyn and oncology. Here I am 15 years later as a gynecologic oncologist,” says Argenta, an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health.
Did you know?
In fiscal year 2007, nearly one-third of all health-related gifts to the University of Minnesota through the Minnesota Medical Foundation were designated for research.
On My Mind
One of the privileges of being a physician at an academic institution is working with the next generation of obstetricians and gynecologists. As you’ll learn in this issue of Women’s Health, our Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health runs a residency program that trains future doctors for women.
Perfecting techniques, learning professionalism
From the University’s research hospitals to urban county hospitals to suburban private settings, new physicians in the residency program work in a variety of environments. The diversity in training sites—residents have rotations at six different hospitals.
Supporting resident research
To honor their parents, Leslie Turner, Fritz Corrigan, and Nancy Woodrow have endowed a fund for resident research. The three siblings have seen how the state has benefited from the U of M’s many areas of expertise. With their gifts to the Fritz and Mary Corrigan Resident Research Fund.
University gets federal grant to help young faculty members focused on women’s health advance their research
Since the 1950s, the Pap test has dramatically reduced rates of cervical cancer in the United States. But many American women—and millions more throughout the world—don’t have Pap test screenings. In fact, in many developing countries, cervical cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related death for women.
‘If you’re given a gift’
Emphasizing the positive is a credo with McGahee. Diagnosed in May 2005 with advanced ovarian cancer, she had surgery that month and then again two years later, when the cancer returned. “Dr. Argenta said, ‘Part of it is your outlook on life.’ I just haven’t gotten depressed.
Fall 2007
Her ‘best chance’
“I said, ‘I want to go to the best hospital to have this done. I’ll go anywhere; I’ll travel out of the state. I want the best chance possible: I have three children at home,” 38-year-old Paulus says. “And he suggested Dr. Judson. “Eight months later, Paulus and her husband have no doubts that she found the right physician.
In Mary’s memory
Family supports research into earlier detection of ovarian cancer After Mary Wiser was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she sat in the office of a prominent male doctor and asked a pointed question. “She asked, ‘If men had ovaries, do you think we’d know more about ovarian cancer?’”
More than medicine: A family member’s experience with cancer influenced the direction of Judson’s career
When she was a medical student, Patricia Judson, M.D., was leaning toward a career in perinatal genetics and maternal-fetal medicine. Then in 1992—the year she graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School—her father was diagnosed with lung cancer.
On My Mind
Every day my colleagues and I work to keep women of all ages healthy. As faculty members in the University’s Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health, we are approaching these issues from three angles. We care for women with a range of health concerns.
Opportunity knocks for IRA holders
For a limited time, special income tax incentives make charitable giving more appealing than ever for donors who are 701/2 or older. These donors now can make charitable contributions from their individual retirement accounts (IRAs) without adverse tax implications.
Promoting health through the lifespan
From adolescence to menopause, women of all ages turn to University physicians for expert care. When one of her young cancer patients wants to have a baby, Rahel Ghebre, M.D., will send her to colleague Kirk Ramin, M.D., who specializes in high-risk pregnancy.
Fall 2006
Alumni Spotlight: Penny Wheeler, M.D.
While working as a full-time clinician at Women’s Health Consultants‚ an independent practice affiliated with Abbott Northwestern Hospital‚ she was chair of the hospital’s obstetrics and gynecology department. She then became medical staff president for Abbott and later chaired the quality committee while serving on the Allina Hospital.
Award-winning DVD offers education, support for ovarian cancer patients
Melissa Geller, M.D., was a second-year fellow at the University of Minnesota when she first fully grasped the need for quality patient education materials for women with ovarian cancer. “There is so much unknown at the time of diagnosis‚ so much fear and anxiety that accompanies it.”
Technology enhances department’s efforts in education and care
The Department of Obstetrics‚ Gynecology‚ and Women’s Health has honed in on technology to improve the way it cares for patients and educates students and residents. As a part of the University’s Academic Health Center‚ the department and its faculty members have benefited from colleagues in bioengineering and information technology.
Finding the link between miscarriage rates and X-inactivation
What’s the connection between miscarriage and inactivation of the X chromosome? That’s what Tracy Prosen‚ M.D.‚ assistant professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine‚ hopes to find out. Women have two X chromosomes in every cell‚ but as female embryos develop in utero.
On My Mind
Under the guidance of professor June LaValleur‚ M.D.‚ we have begun to develop a set of virtual patient scenarios to teach our residents and students about some common women’s health issues they’ll face in their real-life patient interactions. There is also website project that will provide health information to women in Minnesota and beyond.
Robot-assisted surgery: One patient’s success story
When 77-year-old Nancy Lindberg was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2005‚ she took the news in relative stride. Her disease was at a low level—stage 1—and she felt she was blessed with “good genes and a good‚ strong body.” When surgical oncologist Peter Argenta‚ M.D.‚ suggested that she would be a good candidate for minimally invasive surgery.
Teaching by example
Recently Barbara learned how a charitable gift annuity from the Minnesota Medical Foundation. As a part of their estate plan‚ Barbara and her husband had invested in several certificates of deposit to provide a safe and fixed income and quick liquidity‚ should they need it.
FDA approves vaccine to protect against HPV, cervical cancer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this summer approved a vaccine to protect women against cervical cancer. The vaccine prevents infection by four strains of the human papillomavirus‚ a sexually transmitted infection that is the most common cause of cervical cancer.
Spring 2006
Clinical trial changes protocol for advanced ovarian cancer treatment
For women with advanced ovarian cancer, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) now encourages post-surgery treatment with anticancer drugs via two methods. These combined methods, which deliver drugs into a vein and directly into the abdomen, extend overall survival by about a year.
Department receives $200,000 grant for new women’s health program
The department received a $200,000 grant from the University of Minnesota Physicians (UMP) Interdisciplinary Program Development Committee to fund a comprehensive planning effort. This includes hiring a consultant to formalize the concept for the new program, develop a business plan, and identify outcomes measures progress toward goals.
Fulbright scholar from Czech Republic brings research project to Minnesota
Novakova, an obstetrician/gynecologist from 3rd Faculty of Medicine of Charles University in Prague, received funding to come to Minnesota under the Proshek-Fulbright Scholarship. The scholarship was established by the estate of Gabriela Proshek to honor her late husband, Charles E. Proshek, M.D.
New edition of infertility counseling textbook caters to international audiences
In Japan, counselors used the book to develop a 90-hour certification course in infertility issues. Worldwide, the book became the “go-to” guide for reproductive medicine experts, physicians, genetic counselors, and mental health professionals who wanted to learn more about the psychological issues.
On My Mind
This year has been a big one so far for the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health. In addition to participating in several studies that have brought about advances in treatments for ovarian cancer, we have received a very generous gift from our friend Jean McGough.
Record-setting gift
The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women’s Health recently received the largest private donation in its history. Jean McGough and her husband, Tom, pledged $2 million to establish the Jean McGough and Eleanor Forliti Endowed Chair in Women’s Health in memory of Jean’s mother.
Reproductive Medicine Center ranks high among nation’s infertility programs
Chelsea Korsh knows the value of the statistics, but she and her husband, Michael, have lived the RMC’s successes. Chelsea was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1997, one year before she was married. When she was unable to conceive “the natural way,” she consulted the RMC’s Theodore Nagel, M.D.
Thalidomide shows promise for treating ovarian cancer
A drug long blamed for causing birth defects is now showing promise as a safe and effective treatment for women with recurrent ovarian cancer. A study led by gynecologic oncology researcher Levi Downs Jr., M.D., compared the effectiveness and safety of the drug thalidomide used in combination with a chemotherapy often used to treat ovarian cancer.