IU GERIATRICS electronic news for July 2004

The IU Geriatrics Program and the IU Center for Aging Research congratulate Steven R.Counsell, MD, and Christopher M. Callahan, MD, in their July 2004 promotions by the Trustees of Indiana University to the rank of Professor of Medicine in the School of Medicine. Steve is the Mary Elizabeth Mitchell Professor in Geriatrics. Chris is the Cornelius and Yvonne Pettinga Professor in Aging Research.

The Indiana University Geriatrics Program welcomes new geriatric fellows Padma Chimata, MD, and Leo Solito, MD. Dr. Chimata is the first geriatrics fellow to train in dual programs-geriatrics and rheumatology. Her geriatric interests include pain in the elderly and delirium. Dr. Solito has been in private practice for 8 years, the last 5 in a local geriatric practice. His goals are to become a geriatrician and board certified in palliative care and ultimately gain the skills to become a leader in geriatric care in a hospital or community.

"Everything can be done if you set your goals clearly at the beginning of the year." That's the advice second year geriatrics fellow, Alejandro (Alex) Arizmendi, MD, offers to the new fellows. Alex is conducting a research project to determine risk factors for hospitalizations and nursing home admissions in the elderly receiving home care and has clinical duties in the House Calls Program and a continuity clinic at the VA and conducts geriatric consults in the IU Center for Senior Health.

GRANTS

Congratulations to Susan J. Bennett, DNS, RN, who has received funding for an R01, "Cognitive Deficits in Chronic Heart Failure." The aims of this cross-sectional study are to determine the types, frequency, and severity of cognitive deficits among 300 patients with chronic HF and evaluate the most likely etiology of those deficits and the contribution of other factors that may be associated with cognitive deficits in this patient group. These data will provide a foundation for the development of interventions to reduce or manage cognitive deficits in order to improve health-related quality of life. The research is funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research for the years 2004-2008. Dr. Bennett is a professor in the Department of Adult Health, IU School of Nursing, and is an affiliated scientist with IUCAR. Co-investigators with ties to IUCAR are Chris Callahan, MD, and Usha Subramanian, MD, MS.

PUBLICATIONS

Hendrie HC, Hall KS, Ogunniyi A, Gao S. Alzheimer's disease, genes, and environment: the value of international studies. Can J Psychiatry. 2004 Feb;49(2):92-9.

McHorney CA, Rust J, Golombok S, Davis S, Bouchard C, Brown C, et al. Profile of female sexual function: a patient-based, international, psychometric instrument for the assessment of hypoactive sexual desire in oophorectomized women. Menopause. 2004;11(4):474-483.

Westmoreland GR, Smith P, Counsell SR, Buttar A, Litzelman DK. Indiana University School of Medicine. Acad Med. 2004 Jul;79(7 Suppl):S57-60.

Tierney WM, Brunt M, Kesterson J, Zhou XH, L'Italien G, Lapuerta P. Quantifying risk of adverse clinical events with one set of vital signs among primary care patients with hypertension. Ann Fam Med. 2004 May-Jun;2(3):209-17.

Farlow MR. NMDA receptor antagonists. A new therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease. Geriatrics. 2004 Jun;59(6):22-7.

Maze LM, Bakas T. Factors associated with hospital arrival time for stroke patients. J Neurosci Nurs. 2004 Jun;36(3):136-41, 155.

PRESENTATIONS

Teresa Damush, PhD, presented the poster, "Increasing Exercise and HRQOL Among Older Women Surviving Breast Cancer" at the Cancer Survivorship: Pathways to Health after Treatment Conference, in Washington, DC, June 17-18, 2004. The biennial conference focused on presenting innovative research findings and networking with multidisciplinary experts who are committed to the advancement of survivorship research.

Colleen McHorney, PhD, presented "Reflections on tensions between scientific canons and proprietary interests in item banking and computerized adaptive testing (CAT)," at the June 24, 2004 Current State and Future Applications of Item Response Theory, Item Banks, and Computer-Adaptive Testing conference held in Bethesda, MD. The meeting was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the Drug Information Association.

Tim Stump, MA, presented a poster, "Using Item Response Theory to Develop an Efficient and Informative Short Form of the CES-D," at the Advances in Health Outcomes Measurement conference in Bethesda in June. Tim is a biostatistician working with IUCAR and the Regenstrief Institute, Inc.

Colleen McHorney made three poster presentations at " Stating the Art: Advancing Outcomes Research Methodology and Clinical Applications" held in Boston, MA, June 27-29, 2004. This International Society for Quality of Life Research symposium brought together people involved in health related quality of life to hear about the latest advances in the field of outcomes research as they pertain to patient-reported outcomes.

Amna Buttar, MD, MS, co-presented a symposium, "Teaching Medical Students About Inpatient Interdisciplinary Teams Like Acute Care for Elders," at the Association of American Medical Colleges 2004 Medical Education Conference, Enhancing Geriatric Education in Medical Schools on June 5, 2004 in St. Louis, Missouri.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Michael Weiner, MD, MPH, has been appointed to the Performance Measures Subcommittee of the American College of Physicians.

Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, has completed a statewide outreach program with the Indiana affiliate of the Assisted Living Federation of America. The program was designed to enhance dementia care in assisted living facilities and was implemented in daylong sessions in four regional areas of Indiana. Congratulations to Malaz on the very positive feedback he received from the participants!

Mike Weiner was invited to and participated in an ad hoc study section of the California Breast Cancer Research Program.

Greg Gramelspacher, MD, authored the feature, "Physician Facing Death: A Palliative Care Physician's Perspective," in the inaugural April 2004 issue of the electronic newsletter of the Indiana Chapter of the American College of Physicians.

Wanzhu Tu, PhD, has been named a deputy editor for the Journal of General Internal Medicine. He will provide biostatistical support to the journal.

New Journal of General Internal Medicine co-editor, William M. Tierney, MD., described "the challenge and exhilaration we feel coaching a new team of deputy editors" in a July 2004 JGIM editorial, "Stepping Up to the Plate."

Frederick Unverzagt, PhD, has been elected a fellow of the National Academy of Neuropsychology. Academy fellows are professional members in good standing of at least 5 years who have contributed significantly to the science and/or profession of neuropsychology. The academy is a professional society that includes clinicians, scientist-practitioners, and researchers interested in neuropsychology.

The Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 11 Geriatrics and Extended Care Service Line has asked Steve Counsell, MD to participate in the Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Veterans Work Group. The regional work group is investigating the use of medications of high risk for adverse side effects in older patients and developing a process for system-wide improvements in VA provider prescribing.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Kevin Terrell, DO, will present, "Computer-Assisted Decision Support to Increase the Safety of Prescribing to Older Adults in the Emergency Department," at Aging Research Work in Progress September 7, 8:30-9:30am, in the Regenstrief Institute 6th floor boardroom.