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April 2023
Residency & Education
Karin Goodfriend, MD, Residency Program Director, Assistant Professor
Recruitment: It has been a busy year for the residency program. We just completed another successful recruitment season. We matched 6 great candidates. I want to thank everyone for their support during this process. It was a team effort!
Didactics: The residents just completed the new Anatomy curriculum. The course integrated gross anatomy with physical and ultrasound examination skills. It has been well received and exciting to watch our residents advancing their evaluation skills. Thank you to everyone who worked on this including: Dr. Nick Ketchum, Dr. Tom Kotsonis, Dr. Mark England, Dr. Charlotte Ball, Dr. Heather Curtiss, Dr. Pete Connelly and Dr. Teresa Patitucci.
Resident Wins to Share:
I would like to introduce our new chief residents for the 2023-2024 academic year. They are both amazing and I look forward to working with them.
Trenton VandeWater, MD
Eric Bobel, MD
Congratulation to our residents who have been elected to national leadership positions:
Ragav Sharma, DO (PGY2) has been elected to serve as the Social Media & Digital Outreach Representative for the AAP’s Resident and Fellow Council
Daniel Jin, DO (PGY3) was elected President of the American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AOCPMR) Student Council for 2023-2024
Congratulations to our residents participating in the AAP’s Rehabilitation Medicine Scientist Training Program (RMSTP)!
Colton Sauer, MD (PGY3)
Hans Anderson, MD (PGY2)
Dr. Sharma Receives AAP Resident Media Role
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Ragav Sharma has recently been elected for the AAP Resident Social Media Leadership Position. His duties include the following:
- Managing the RFC social media platforms and giving residents a voice to the AAP's Instagram account
- Promoting RFC and AAP in-training member activities
- Developing strategies to expand RFC social media presence and engagement with in-training physiatrists
- Overseeing the RFC's Social Media Subcommittee
- Member of the AAP's Global Academic Physiatry Subcommittee
This is a national position aimed at giving a voice to residents and expanding the outreach to residents in promoting AAP programs for in-training physicians leveraging social media. Dr. Sharma will oversee a sub-committee and work closely with other council members in promoting their committee activities and efforts. If you see Dr. Sharma be sure to congratulate him on his new role!
Brain Injury Awareness Month Recapped
"Congratulations to Dr. Sayyad and many thanks to all involved in the Brain Injury Process Improvement Team for continuing to improve the lives and outcomes for all of our brain injured patients!"
"Dr. Sayyad was recently awarded by the Brain Injury Association on March 18th. “The Brain Injury Association of Illinois is pleased to announce that Dr. Anjum Sayyad is the 2023 recipient of the James Brady Award. This award is given to the person or institution who has made significant contributions to improving the lives of persons with brain injury. The BIA of Illinois is very proud to honor Dr. Sayyad today with this well-deserved recognition…We recognize her passion to do all she can to see that persons living with disabilities such as brain injury, live the most fulfilling life possible. Dr. Sayyad models the values and mission of the Brain Injury Association of Illinois and it is with great pleasure that we honor her with the 2023 James Brady Award."
"As Brain Injury Awareness Month comes to a close, I just wanted to recap some of the events our team was able to accomplish to raise awareness for this population. Dr. Sayyad completed a presentation to staff at Bluemound IPR on De-escalation techniques and worked with the med student team to create buttons and held a table at the HUB the first week in March thanking providers for their specialized care."
Workplace post was created to educate staff on the patient education resources we have available. Also, A table was set up at lunch to continue to educate staff on resources and allow staff to familiarize themselves with what is available."
- Jenna Haberkorn, MS CCC-SLP- Neuroscience Institute Program Coordinator – Brain Injury, Concussion, Headache and Neuromuscular Programs
Welcome Simon Orozco, PhD
The Research Team is pleased to announce that Simon Orozco, PhD, joined the department mid March as a Clinical Research Coordinator to support the growing industry sponsored clinical trials. Simon comes to MCW fresh off completing his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Prior to that, he also completed a Master of Science from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry from Harvard College. He lives in Brookfield with his wife, their 3 daughters, and their 2 dogs, following a recent move from Baltimore. In his spare time, Simon enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with his family, and exercise.
Introducing the Medical College of Wisconsin Department of PM&R PGY2 Class of 2024
"I am excited to share our Match results! Thank you everyone for your help/support during this process!!"
- Dr. Karin Goodfriend
Saint Patrick's Day Photos
Department Administrative Assistant Sr., Rhiannon's daughter Penelope celebrates Saint Patrick's Day in her green outfit along with a festive shamrock scarf.
Department Mascot's Outfit for the Month of April
For the month of April, our department mascot "Randy the Rhino" is tending to his tulips and wearing his favorite yellow slicker to prepare for a forecasted rain shower later in the day. He is taking it easy since he just had his cast removed from a previous sprain.
The answer to this riddle below will be provided in next month's newsletter. The riddle is courtesy of Alan Young, Clinical Research Coordinator:
"It can’t be touched and can’t be felt. It can’t be seen, or heard, or smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, and any empty holes it fills. It comes early and follows after, it is at the end of life, and kills laughter. What is it?"
Answer to last month's riddle: "a joke"
Monthly Wellness Feature: How Your Microbiome is Connected to Your Health
Did you know your body is home to trillions of tiny organisms called microbes? No worries -- those “bugs” are supposed to be there! Together, they make up your microbiome. It is all over your body but mainly in your gut. Your microbiome is connected to your health in ways you might not expect. Researchers are studying how it might improve health from head to toe.
Your Skin
Your microbiome helps keep your skin healthy. An imbalanced microbiome can lead to skin problems like acne and eczema.
Your Weight
Your microbiome may change as you gain and lose weight. Studies have found that overweight people tend to have more of the types of microbes that harvest energy from food and help the body store fat. This can set the stage for weight gain and it may be related to eating too much fat, sugar, and carbs with little fiber. But other researchers say it is too early to know the exact links between the microbiome and the scale.
Brain Health
Your gut and your brain talk back and forth to each other, connecting through millions of nerve cells. Scientists have linked certain changes in the gut microbiome to stress, depression, and anxiety. It may also be tied to Alzheimer’s disease. One study found people with Alzheimer’s have less diverse microbiomes. This may lead to inflammation and a rise in proteins related to Alzheimer’s disease. But that is not yet certain.
Autoimmune Diseases
With these conditions, your immune system attacks certain parts of your body. Examples include fibromyalgia, lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes. They tend to run in families, and some researchers think that they may be passed down through the microbiome.
Allergies and Asthma
The microbes in your gut and lungs may lead to allergies and asthma. These conditions cause your immune system to attack harmless substances, such as dust. In fact, the microbiome may be one reason allergies and asthma are on the rise. Over the past 30 years, rates have tripled. Some experts think that microbiome changes from antibiotic use and a shift in diet may be part of the reason for that.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
These are a group of conditions that cause your intestines to become inflamed. They include Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The way your gut microbes affect the cells that line your intestines may play a role in these diseases. Certain types of bacteria may irritate the intestines. Some people with Crohn’s disease have a gene glitch that lets gut bacteria enter the intestines’ walls. This can trigger inflammation.
A New Area of Medicine
Scientists are looking for ways to improve the microbiome to help people avoid certain diseases or respond to treatments better. But some medicines can harm it. One round of antibiotics can change your microbiome for up to a year. (Antibiotics don’t just kill the bacteria that make you sick. They also kill your helpful gut bacteria.) And a study of more than 1,000 drugs showed that one in four affected bacteria growth. These included blood pressure, cancer, and diabetes medications.
How to Help Your Microbiome
Simple daily habits make a difference. What you eat can change the microbes that live in your body. High-fiber foods (such as veggies, whole grains, and fruit) feed the helpful bacteria in your colon. They also discourage the growth of some harmful ones. Probiotic foods, such as yogurt and pickled vegetables, also deliver helpful bacteria to your gut. Getting enough sleep, easing stress, and exercising may also improve your microbiome.
Should You Take Probiotics?
Each year, Americans spend more than a billion dollars on probiotic supplements. Do they work? The jury is still out. Not all probiotics are the same, and everyone has different microbiomes. A supplement that is helpful for someone may not have an effect on another person. Talk to your doctor. Probiotics are usually safe for healthy people. But those with health conditions may need to steer clear.
April is Autism Awareness Month!
April 2nd is designated as Autism Awareness Day! This internationally recognized day focuses on raising acceptance and promoting human rights of people with autism. First established by the UN in 2008, each year focuses on a new topic; for 2022, the focus was "Inclusive quality education for all," while this year's theme is “Transforming the narrative: Contributions at home, at work, in the arts and in policymaking”. Consider wearing blue on April 2nd to show your support for these members of our community!
To learn more about autism and find ways to help, consider visiting one of the websites below:
Other April Celebrations:
- Passover (April 5-13)
- Easter (April 9)
- National Day of Silence for LGBTQIA+ (April 14th)
- Yom Hashoah (April 18th)
- End of Ramadan/Eid Al Fitr (April 21-22)
- Earth Day (April 22)
- Administrative Professionals Day (April 26)
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