September 2008

New Staff Hires and Promotions: September 29, 2008

Armando Mendoza, RT (MR), recently joined our Department as a radiology assistant in the Radiological Sciences Laboratory (RSL) where he reports to Anne Sawyer, BS, RT (R)(MR), FSMRT. Originally from the Philippines, Mr. Mendoza received his bachelor's degree in business administration in 1989 and left San Jose, California, for Indiana in 1991. While out of state, he worked initially as a travelling radiologic technologist; then, as a travelling MRI technologist; and next, as the imaging director at Terre Haute Regional Hospital. Prior to coming to Stanford in 2008, he was an MRI application specialist. When he is not at work, Mr. Mendoza enjoys playing golf, volleyball, and basketball as well as spending time with his nieces and nephews (please see the photo on the left).

Awards and Honors: September 29, 2008

Scott W. Atlas, MD, professor and chief of neuroradiology and senior fellow at both the Hoover Institution and Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies, has been selected as a 2008 Homecoming Comeback Guest by his alma mater, the University of Illinois. Dr. Atlas adds his name to a distinguished Illinois alumni list, which includes Governor Jon Corzine; former GE CEO Jack Welch; Netscape Founder Marc Andreesen; and Nobel Prize Winner Jack Kilby. The Homecoming tradition began at the University of Illinois in 1910, and Dr. Atlas will ride as a marshal in the Homecoming Parade and will be honored at the 50-yard line during the Homecoming Football Game at half time.

Dr. Atlas has authored more than 100 scientific publications in leading journals, and he is the editor of the foremost textbook within his field, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain and Spine. Recognized throughout the world as a leader in educational and clinical research, Dr. Atlas serves on the Nominating Committee for the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology. He is also an adviser to major industry leaders in medical technology, and he has a special interest in healthcare public policy.

For Dr. Atlas' prior blog entry, please access Awards and Honors: March-April 2007.

Dr. Basu Completes the 2008 J.T. Rutherford Government Relations Fellowship

(From left to right: Congressional Representative Bono, Dr. Basu, and Congressional Representative Mack)

This past summer, Chief Resident Pat Auveek Basu, MD, MBA, spent one week meeting with congressional members (please see a few of their photos below) as well as representatives of federal regulatory agencies in Washington D.C. as a Fellow in the J.T. Rutherford Government Relations Fellowship from the American College of Radiology (ACR). This fellowship exposed him to state and federal legislative and regulatory processes that directly affect the future of radiology. Dr. Basu described his fellowship as "a unique educational experience, an enriching professional opportunity, and a very productive endeavor." He summarized his experience as follows:

"Despite interning in Congress and working on a senate campaign, this was the deepest I have been immersed in the politics of the nation's Capitol. I met with lobbyists about issues we face in our practice; briefed an investment firm on my economic outlook for the industry; and attended seminars on policy and legal matters in radiology. However, the highlight was meeting with close to a dozen congressional representatives and senators to discuss matters pertaining to healthcare policy and economics. The discussion revolved around the recent passing of H.R. 6331, which prevented a drastic cut to physician salaries, mandated accreditation for performing CT and MRI scans, and defined appropriateness criteria for medical imaging. We also had detailed discussions on health reform and the importance of radiology in modern medicine. Recently, I arranged for Congresswoman Anna Eshoo to visit the Department of Radiology this fall.

My interactions with U.S. congressional representatives reminded me how critical it is to maintain and support government relations as our legislators can make broad sweeping changes with only a limited amount of information because they are dealing with such a broad range of issues. In many of my interactions with Congress and the Senate, I felt that I was providing new information to them. For example, several were not familiar with the fact that radiologists do NOT self refer and, thus, have little power over imaging growth. In addition, I educated them on the fact that radiologists have replaced many archaic diagnostic and therapeutic exams, which has led to cost savings and better health outcomes.

I believe that political advocacy is paramount for all radiologists and, that in the future, their patients' health may depend on such vigilance."

For prior blog entries regarding Dr. Basu's awards and honors, please access the following postings: Awards and Honors II: July 15, 2008; Awards and Honors: February 2007; Awards and Honors: August 13, 2007; and "Our New Chief Residents for 2008-2009."

(Dr. Basu and Congressional Representative Bean)

(Dr. Basu and Congressional Representative Davis)

(Dr. Basu and Congressional Representative Jackson)

(Dr. Basu and Congressional Representative Sullivan)

Celebrating 5 Years of Service at Stanford: David Russel, MS

David Russel, MS, facilities manager, has completed five years of service at Stanford. Although born in Manhattan, New York, Mr. Russel grew up mainly in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois, but also lived in New Rochelle, New York, and San Francisco, California, before settling on the Peninsula. He earned his BA in the biological sciences from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and his MS in the biological sciences from Stanford, completing all of his classes at the Hopkins Marine Station. In addition to earning his degrees in science, Mr. Russel's work background includes six years at the University of California, San Francisco, and a position with Dr. Herb Boyer (before Genentech was founded), where he started as a lab technician but as time went on his duties expanded to include facilities management, operations, planning, and design.

Outside of work, Mr. Russel enjoys travelling. He once bought a "Round-the-World" stand-by ticket from Pan Am for $999.00 as part of their promotion entitled "Around the World in 80 Days for under $1,000." During this trip, he spent 77 days on the road visiting Guam, Palau, Pelelieu, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand (mainly Bangkok and Chengmai), Istanbul, and Israel (including the Sinai Peninsula), doing a great deal of scuba diving and underwater photography. On other trips, he has traveled to many western European countries, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

However, Mr. Russel's main hobby is old cars. He is an active member of the Arcane Auto Society, and he currently owns three vintage Citroens (please see the first picture below). He does the maintenance (and most repairs) himself, and he drives his cars frequently, participating in local parades, fairs, and car shows. At least one day each week, you will see him driving one of these cars to work.

(From left to right: 1956 Traction Avant; 1986 2CV; and 1965 station wagon)

(1956 Traction Avant)

Did You Know?

Stanford Radiologists are developing computer models to improve the understanding of cancer activity.

Celebrating 10 Years of Service at Stanford: Irina Worthey, MA

Irina Worthey, MA, residency program coordinator, is celebrating 10 years at Stanford University. She grew up in Moscow, Russia, where she attended the Moscow Academy of Architecture and earned her MA in architecture, history of architecture, and history of arts. After to moving to the United States around 1988, Irina worked in the Slavic Department at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining our Department, she worked at Stanford Libraries and the Hoover Institution. Her hobbies include graphics, illustrations (please see a few of these--"flu," "happiness," and "headache"--posted below), and creative writing. This spring, a book of her short stories will be published in Russia.

New 64-Slice Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner Installed at Stanford Hospital

(Front row: Carol Estades, AA; Colleen Kawakami, RN; James Soriano, RT; Amy Wu, RT) (Back row: Brooke Jeffrey, MD; Dominik Fleischmann, MD; Erica Durand, RT; Monglan Duong, RT; Michele Thomas, RT, CT Supervisor; Dottie Scharff, RN; Claudia Cooper, RT, Clinical Director; Audrey Strain, RT)

By Julie Ruiz, PhD
(Images courtesy of Mark Riesenberger)

With the recent installation of a 64-slice CT scanner, the Hospital is performing state-of-the-art CT coronary studies for the first time in its history on inpatients and patients admitted to the emergency room with chest pain. Because of its improved detector technology and rotation speed, this new CT scanner produces a greater number of higher resolution images with shorter acquisition times and with a reduction in radiation exposure in smaller patients through individualized protocols.

Prior to the installation of the 64-slice scanner in the Hospital, coronary CT studies were performed at Blake Wilbur Clinic on an outpatient 64-channel system, but the Hospital is now performing state-of-the-art CT coronary angios on its inpatients and patients from the emergency room. With most "elective" outpatient CT scans still being completed at Blake Wilbur and more recently on the 64-channel CT scanner and dual-source CT scanner at Stanford Medicine Imaging Center (Palo Alto), the Hospital has greatly improved the availability of scanner slots for its inpatients and emergency room patients. Due to the striking improvements in image quality, number, and acquisition times provided by the new scanner, the Hospital can also better triage and manage emergency room patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes.

Cardiac imaging is just one area of patient care that the 64-slice CT scanner has dramatically improved. According to technologists Monglan Duong, RT, and James Soriana, RT, faster scan times mean a decrease in breath hold times for patients and an increase in the number and quality of images. For example, a typical chest scan on a 16-slice CT scanner takes 10 to 12 seconds compared to the new 64-slice scanner, which can finish a chest scan in 2 to 4 seconds. For gated-CT angio-chest-abdomen-pelvis studies on our new CT machine, patients can be scanned in 20 seconds, cutting breath hold times in half. While a 16-slice CT scanner generates around 300 to 400 images at 1.25 mm thickness for a routine chest-abdomen-pelvis scan, the 64-slice CT scanner can create 1,500 to 1,700 images at 0.625 mm thickness in less time. The faster scan speed also allows less contrast medium to be used in some cardiovascular applications.

All these improvements translate into an exciting environment for CT technologists and their supervisor, Michele Thomas, RT. Monglan Duong, RT, and James Soriana, RT, commented that the new 64-slice CT scanner has greatly increased the patient volume compared to the 8-slice and 16-slice CT scanners they currently have, and they succinctly described their reaction to the new technology: "We love it!" Since July, the Hospital has scanned more than 950 patients on the new scanner.

Paradoxically, the shorter scan times have made the planning of CT studies more challenging, requiring a greater attention to detail in order to customize a specific CT examination to an individual patient's body size, heart rate, and clinical question. Specific protocols and careful study planning are needed to take advantage of the powerful technology, which acquires data in just a few seconds when launched. The post processing of images from the 64-slice scanner is also more demanding. To extract the most useful data, the CT technologists and 3D lab must do complex reformations of the data sets. All of our technologists are highly experienced and motivated to perform this sophisticated planning and post processing, so that they can generate the best clinical images for our patients.

For prior Scan Times articles on the 3D lab and the Hospital CT team, please access http://radiology.stanford.edu/blog/archives/2007/04/3d_laboratory_c_1.html and http://radiology.stanford.edu/blog/archives/2008/03/stanford_hospit.html.