UPIA News Archives

October 5, 2007
A conference on "Late-Life Depression, Delirium, Dementia, and Bereavement: Integration of Research, Teaching, and Clinical Care" (MA50) is scheduled to take place on October 5, 2007 at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh. This meeting will address: advances of the clinical evaluation, differential diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, and psychosocial interventions for late-life depression, dementia, and bereavement. All of these disorders are associated with decreased quality of life, disability, and premature death both from suicide and physical illness. Click here for conference brochure

Pittsburgh, May 18, 2007
PITT’S CENTER FOR HEALTHY AGING OFFERS FREE HEALTH CLASSES FOR OLDER ADULTS
The Center for Healthy Aging (CHA) of the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) will present free health classes focused on “The 10 Keys to Healthy Aging.”

The classes, for adults age 50 and older, will begin on the dates noted below at the following locations:

• CCAC Bethel Park Center, 5852 Keystone Dr., will hold classes beginning June 5, from 9 to 11 a.m., every Tuesday for four weeks
• CCAC North Hills Campus, 8701 Perry Highway, will hold classes beginning June 8 from 9 to 11 a.m., every Friday for four weeks
• CCAC Boyce Campus, 595 Beattie Rd., Monroeville, will hold classes beginning June 4, from 9 to 11 a.m., every Monday for four weeks
• UPMC McKeesport Hospital Kelly Building, 600 Hospital Way, McKeesport, will hold classes beginning June 4, from 1 to 3 p.m., every Monday for four weeks

All courses are free for those who register, and those interested in attending should sign up in advance to receive a health screening. For more information about the CHA and its programs, or to register for classes, please call (412) 383-1312 or visit the Web site at www.healthyaging.pitt.edu or click here.

Pittsburgh, May 7
UPMC TO HOST STROKE AWARENESS EVENTS AND SCREENINGS
May is National Stroke Awareness Month, intended to educate the nation and spread awareness about stroke prevention, symptom recognition and recovery. In observation of National Stroke Awareness Month, several UPMC hospitals are offering educational events and stroke screenings throughout the region. According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and the No. 1 cause of adult disability. Fortunately, 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. Stroke screening tests are designed to detect conditions that increase the risk of stroke. Screenings are often administered to people without present symptoms, but who may be vulnerable to certain diseases or conditions. For questions about the following public events, please call (412) 647-8080. For more information about stroke, visit http://www.upmc.com/services/strokeinstitute/.

Pittsburgh, April 30, 2007
Henderson-State-of-the Art Lecture to be given by University of Pittsburgh Professor Joseph Hanlon on the topic
“Medication-Related Adverse Patient Events in Older Adults: A Fait Accompli or Public Health Crisis?”

The American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting (Conference) is May 2-6, 2007 in Seattle, WA. We are proud that our UPMC/Pitt faculty/clinicians are delivering more than 50 presentations at the conference, including the eight major presentations shown below. In addition, they are chaired important special interest group and society meetings also shown below. We are very proud that our Internal Medicine Chief Resident Stacey Shaffer is representing us in the Geriatrics Jeopardy quiz show to be held on Saturday evening. It gives us great pleasure to draw your attention to the invited presentation of our own Joe Hanlon (see below). This is a great honor for Joe and the department. Medication usage and patient safety are key areas of research interest to our faculty and one of our emerging strengths as a department.

Joseph T. Hanlon, PharmD, MS, professor of pharmacy and geriatric medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and Research Health Scientist at the Pittsburgh VA CHERP and GRECC has been invited to present the prestigious Henderson State-of-the-Art Lecture on Thursday, May 3, 2007 from 9:30a.m.-10:30a.m. The title of his presentation is Medication-Related Adverse Patient Events in Older Adults: A Fait Accompli or Public Health Crisis?

Abstract:  Joseph T. Hanlon, PharmD, MS, Professor of Pharmacy and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, a leading Research Health Scientist (Pittsburgh VA CHERP and GRECC) on the pharmacoepidemiology and health services interventions designed to improve drug therapy for older adults, is the 2007 recipient of the Edward Henderson Award. Dr. Hanlon’s State-of-the- Art Lecture will focus on how often the three major types of medication related adverse patient events (adverse drug reactions, adverse drug withdrawal events and therapeutic failure) occur in older adults. He will review some successful and promising future approaches needed to reduce this public health crisis in older adults. Learning objectives: (1) list the types of medication related problems; (2) discuss the epidemiology of medication related adverse patient events; (3) critique previous research designed to reduce medication related adverse patient events; and (4) describe future approaches that may reduce medication related adverse patient events.

A pdf version of the handout for Joe’s talk is here. A pdf version of the slides from Joe’s talk is available here.

Additional major presentations by UPIA faculty

To view abstracts of the other 40 plus presentations being given by UPIA faculty and students that are not included in the list shown above, click here. Many of the presentations listed in this document are products of work done by our Claude B. Pepper Center for Older Americans. Under the leadership of Dr. Studenski, our center focuses on balance disorders in the older adults. For additional information about the Pittsburgh Pepper Center, see our website at http://www.pepper.pitt.edu/

BRINGING "PATIENT SAFETY CULTURE" FRONT AND CENTER IN LONG-TERM CARE
PITTSBURGH, April 9 –Nursing homes and hospitals care for vulnerable older adults. Keeping these patients safe requires vigilance, communication, and ongoing cooperation among staff members who are supported by management and administration. We hear about scandalous patient safety breakdowns in the national news, but how are our healthcare facilities really doing? Dr. Steven Handler, assistant professor in the University of Pittsburgh division of geriatric medicine, has conducted research on this topic in several Pennsylvania nursing homes and recently shared his findings at the AMDA Foundation Research Network Conference in Hollywood, FL. According to Dr. Handler, all health care settings should establish comprehensive patient safety programs operated by trained personnel within a culture of safety. To view an article published in AMDA’s Caring for the Ages March 2007 issue about Dr. Handler and Patient Safety Culture, click here.

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH MEDICAL CENTER TO OFFER FREE HEAD AND NECK CANCER SCREENINGS
PITTSBURGH, April 6 – The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) will host free head and neck cancer screenings from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday, April 20, at the Eye and Ear Institute, third floor, 203 Lothrop St., Oakland. The event will coincide with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week (April 11-17) sponsored by the Yul Brynner Head and Neck Cancer Foundation.

In 2007, more than 65,000 people will be diagnosed with oral, head or neck cancers and more than 12,500 will die. Oral, head and neck cancer refers to a variety of cancers that develop in the head and neck regions, such as the oral cavity, throat, paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, larynx, thyroid and salivary glands, skin of the face and neck; and lymph nodes in the neck.

“More than 85 percent of head and neck cancers are related to tobacco use, making this one of the most preventable diseases of our time,” said Stephen Lai, M.D., head and neck surgeon and assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology at UPMC. “To see so many people suffering needlessly is heartbreaking. As physicians, we need to educate the public about head and neck cancer and encourage people to get regular checkups and to eliminate high-risk habits like smoking.” The screenings are open to the public. No pre-registration is required. For more information, please call (412) 647-2100.

LINKS BETWEEN PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT, PERIODONTAL DISEASE UNCOVERED BY UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH RESEARCHERS
PITTSBURGH, March 29 – Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has become a valuable weapon in the fight against prostate cancer. As enhanced screening tools detect the cancer in its earliest stages, an increasing number of men who are otherwise healthy are receiving the therapy. However, the growing prevalence of ADT may be cause for concern. In this month’s issue of the Journal of Urology, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine report that prostate cancer patients receiving ADT are three times as likely to show signs of periodontal, or gum disease, as patients who do not receive the therapy. To view the entire article, click here.

February 8, 2007
UPIA Announces Program for Upcoming Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine Conference
The University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging and Division of Geriatric Medicine and their organizational collaborators proudly present the 15th Annual Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine on March 22-24, 2007 at the Omni William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, PA. Course directors are Victor M. Rudin, MD, Judith S. Black, MD, MHA, and Neil M. Resnick, MD. The burgeoning number of older adults challenges healthcare providers to make cost-effective medical decisions while still providing high quality care. Thus, this year’s conference has been uniquely designed by a consortium of primary care providers and geriatricians from academics, clinical practice, and third party payers. It will address not only a broad spectrum of geriatric conditions but will also provide information on new rules and regulations governing long-term care (LTC) in nursing homes. For additional information and a registration form, click here.

January 2, 2007
Spring 2007 Epidemiology Seminar Series,
"Hot Topics in Epidemiology" Schedule Announced
The University of Pittsburgh Center for Healthy Aging announces its Spring 2007 Epidemiology Seminar Series. The weekly series begins January 4, 2007 and continues through April 19, 2007. All sessions are held on Thursdays from 12 noon - 1:25 p.m. in the Graduate School of Public Health, 115 Crabtree Hall, 130 DeSoto Street in Oakland. Sessions are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required. To view a complete schedule of topics and speakers, click here.

November 29, 2006
UPMC CENTER FOR SPORTS MEDICINE ADDS ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON WHO FOCUSES ON RECREATIONAL AND ELITE ATHLETES OVER AGE 40
--Dr. Vonda Wright is among few females in field of orthopaedic surgery
Recognizing the growing number of people in their 40s, boomer and senior years who are remaining physically active as well as the different health care needs this trend presents, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has added an orthopaedic surgeon with a unique area of expertise to its Center for Sports Medicine staff. Vonda Wright, M.D., specializes in sports medicine and the aging recreational and elite athlete. One of few females in the field of orthopaedic surgery, Dr. Wright sees patients in the clinic at the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine, and performs surgery at UPMC Shadyside and UPMC South Side. She is assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.  Dr. Wright was the research coordinator for the 2005 Summer National Senior Games – The Senior Olympics, which were held in Pittsburgh and supported by UPMC. Since 2003, she has been evaluating health research data related to Senior Olympians, with the hypothesis that athletes over age 40 who maintain high levels of functional capacity and quality of life throughout their life spans may be the best model of healthy aging, free from the variable of disuse. Such research findings may assist physicians in caring for seniors more effectively. To view the full article, click here.

November 20, 2006
Individualized Intervention for Dementia Caregivers Cuts Through Racial, Ethnic Barriers to Ease Burden
An intervention designed to address the many ways caring for a relative with dementia can take its toll, and that can be tailored to meet individual needs can significantly ease the burden, improve quality of life and reduce the likelihood of clinical depression in the caregiver, according to a University of Pittsburgh-coordinated study. To view the full article, click here.

November 17, 2006
Back in Action: Structured Exercise Helps Elderly Regain Physical Function and Avoid Major Disability
Regular structured exercise may allow previously sedentary elderly people to attain significant improvements in their physical functioning and reduce the likelihood they will become disabled in the future... To view the full article, click here.

November 15, 2006
Leading Authority on Alzheimer's Disease to Present Latest Clinical Advances at Community Lecture
Steven T. DeKosky, M.D., professor and chair of the department of neurology and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of Pittsburgh, will offer the latest information on Alzheimer’s disease at a community lecture at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Ave., Shadyside.
To view the full article, click here.

October 26, 2006
UPMC Senior Living Teams with Family Hospice and Palliative Care to Offer Help with End-of-Life Decisions
UPMC Senior Living has teamed up with Family Hospice and Palliative Care to help those embarking on their end-of-life journeys make better, informed decisions. The new Circle of Life program recently introduced in the UPMC Senior Living skilled nursing facilities combines traditional care along with specialized expertise of the Family Hospice and Palliative Care staff to provide a compassionate, comforting end-of-life transition for residents and loved ones.
To view the full article, click here.

October 23, 2006
Computer-Based "Games" Enhance Mental Function in Patients with Alzheimer's
Computer-based tasks aimed at increasing mental activity and enhancing mental function can improve cognition in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, serving as an effective addition to medications commonly used to treat the disease. Researchers found that the internet-accessible computer activities were even more successful than classic exercises of mental stimulation commonly used with dementia patients. To view the full article, click here.

September 27, 2006
Pitt Forms New Center to Accelerate Global Research and Outreach Efforts on Healthy Aging
Striving to apply recent scientific advances in understanding the determinants of healthy aging, the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) has announced the formation of a new Center for Aging and Population Health (CAPH), which will be led by Anne B. Newman, M.D., M.P.H., professor of epidemiology and medicine, GSPH. Internationally renowned for her work in the epidemiology of aging, longevity and disability, Dr. Newman has established that the potential for healthy aging far exceeds previous expectations… To view the full news release, click here.

August 10, 2006
New Research Examines Genetics of Successful Aging
Scientists have identified genes related to reaching age 90 with preserved cognition, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. The study, which was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh is among the first to identify genetic links to cognitive longevity. To view the full news release, click here.

July 28, 2006
University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging, UPMC Provide Geriatric Sensitivity Training
The University of Pittsburgh Institute On Aging in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is offering “Ageless Wisdom: A Sensitivity Training Program.” The educational program, originally targeted to all areas of UPMC on geriatric sensitivity through various workshops, also will be available to the general public. Current UPMC programs focus on encouraging a senior-friendly physician’s office, while others focus on hands-on exercises geared toward showing UPMC staff skills or tips to use when working with elderly patients. An additional aspect of this program is to train UPMC employees to be caregivers both in their personal and professional lives…. To view the full article and photographs, click here.

June 29, 2006
Delirium Prevention Program at UPMC Helps Patients, Results in Quality Improvement and Bottom Line Savings, Study Shows
A coordinated program focused on preventing delirium in elderly hospital patients leads to marked improvements in their health outcomes, according to results from a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) study published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study, led by Fred Rubin, M.D., professor of geriatric medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and chief of medicine at UPMC Shadyside, tracked more than 700 elderly patients admitted to one nursing unit over a 3.5 year period as part of an ongoing quality improvement initiative. To view the full article, click here.

June 2006
Sports Medicine Experts Offer Tips for Senior Golfers
According to the U.S. National Golf Foundation, senior golfers (over 50 years old) account for about 25 percent of the total golfer population.

Explaining some of the benefits as well as possible health issues associated with playing golf, sports medicine experts at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) provide some useful tips for senior golfers on how to make the game more enjoyable and lower the injury risks associated with the game of golf….

Click here to view full article

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