Teamwork.
It means people acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause. This word is often used when talking about athletes working together on a sports team, but is also the perfect word to describe the combined efforts of two of Sanford’s newest physicians. Together they are saving lives and giving hope to cancer patients.
Physician Team
John Lee, MD, FACS joined Sanford Clinic Ear, Nose & Throat in July 2008 and Chad Spanos, MD became a part of the clinic in January 2009. Both men are surgeons and well-known head and neck cancer specialists. They join only a handful of medical providers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa to offer patients the option to have their tumor removed and the removal site reconstructed all in one surgery. They are the only team in South Dakota to offer this procedure.
While Dr. Lee is removing a patient’s tumor, Dr. Spanos is taking tissue, muscle and micro-vessels from the patient’s body that he will then use to reconstruct where the tumor once was located. Traditionally, the tumor is taken out and that area is allowed to scar in or is closed with surrounding tissue. This traditional method affects not only how the patient looks but also how well they can swallow or speak. But with the innovative teamwork between Dr. Lee and Dr. Spanos, a patient is able to have a better quality of life sooner.
“Because there is no wait time between surgeries, recovery time is typically faster, and the patient can return to normal daily activities more quickly,” said Dr. Lee. “This also means they can begin to feel good about their physical appearance sooner.”
Teamwork Continues Outside of Operating Room
“To get the best survival rate and the best life possible for a patient, we believe this team approach is 100 percent necessary,” added Dr. Spanos. “This includes not only Dr. Lee and me, but all medical providers who are caring for a head and neck cancer patient.”
A patient’s surgeons, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, speech pathologist and dentist meet once a week to review how the patient is doing.
“Each patient’s case is unique,” said Dr. Lee. “This weekly meeting gives the medical providers the opportunity to make sure we are all up to date on the patient’s progress and treatment options.”
Dr. Spanos added, “The team approach means our patients have a better chance of winning the fight against cancer. And that’s why we’re all working together – for our patients.”
Head and Neck Cancer Warning Signs
You don’t hear about people having head and neck cancer very often. But 70 to 80 people will be stricken with the disease in South Dakota this year. It is more prevalent in older people and those that abuse tobacco and/or alcohol. Fortunately head and neck cancers produce some early warning signs.
They include:
- Sore throat that just won’t go away
- Mass or lump in your neck
- Non-healing ulcer in your mouth
- Change in your voice
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Sanford Women’s Health Plaza Provides
Breadth of Services in One Location
A woman’s healthcare needs are often put on the back burner as she juggles her schedule and that of her family. Sanford Women’s Health Plaza understands the busy lifestyles of women today and offers many services at one location to better serve patients. Here is one woman’s story.
Dawn Croatt, a patient from Beresford, SD, recently experienced the unique combination of women’s healthcare providers and testing available under one roof at Sanford Women’s Health Plaza. Croatt visited Lisa Ellis, MD for a physical at Sanford Women’s Health Plaza. Upon approval, Dr. Ellis reviewed Croatt’s chart, finding she had not had her mammogram. Just down the hall from Croatt’s exam room, the mammogram team had had an opening a few minutes later.
“I was glad they could see me for my mammogram that morning, in the same location. Because they could accommodate me, I didn’t have to make an extra trip to Sioux Falls” Croatt said.
After scheduling her mammogram, Dr. Ellis continued by taking Croatt’s family history. During their discussion, Croatt mentioned a family member had suffered from heart problems in the past, and she recently felt like her heart was fluttering. Because cardiologist Maria Stys, MD was seeing patients at the Plaza that day, Dr. Ellis proceeded to schedule Croatt for additional testing only minutes after her mammogram.
“It was so convenient that Dr. Ellis was able to schedule all of my tests right away, right there at Sanford Women’s Health Plaza. More importantly, I did not have to wait a few weeks for the results because they were able to tell me right away I was in good health,” Croatt said.
The team philosophy at Sanford Women’s Health Plaza focuses on access, convenience and state-of-the-art technological services. Sanford Women’s Health Plaza is home to:
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Physician Spotlight
Photo courtesy of Harold’s Photo
Family:
wife, Karen; children, Maren, Peter, Kristen
Medical School:
Medical School: University of Minnesota:
Residency: Hennepin County Medical Center
Hometown:
Madison, SD
Sanford Birthday:
August 1986
Restaurant:
Foley’s and Spezia
Favorite Recent Movie:
Dark Knight
Favorite Movie Ever:
Shawshank Redemption
Favorite Food:
Fish, especially salmon. It’s good for your heart!
Hobbies:
Golf, hunt and fish
Biggest Surprise to Your Patients:
I took second place in a dance contest in Mexico!
Sanford Clinic Vascular Associates
What do you enjoy most about your job?
We enjoy taking care of major life-threatening problems like abdominal aortic aneurysms or blocked carotid arteries. Some of my greatest gratification however, comes from treating women with painful varicose veins or providing relief for patients with severe hyperhydrosis, which is a disabling condition in which patients suffer from excessive sweating of the hands. We try to treat all of these conditions with the most minimally invasive treatment option. There isn’t a day I don’t look forward to going to work.
You also get to work near your hometown of Madison, SD.
To give back to the area that’s responsible for who I am as person is a total joy. We really do practice what we preach in terms of giving back. We do a great deal of outreach in the surrounding area. That’s critically important to many of the patients I see who are elderly and would like to limit the amount of driving in Sioux Falls.
Right now, Sanford Clinic Vascular Associates runs about ten cutting-edge clinical trials.
We are very unique in terms of looking forward and getting cutting edge procedures that could benefit people in this region. This way, we can hopefully offer the most minimally invasive way to treat abdominal aneurysms, blocked carotid and leg arteries or varicose veins.
Tell us something that would surprise your patients.
I just returned from a marvelous trip to Israel. I think that’s something people would not know about me. They would wonder, “Why would he do that, did he feel safe?” It was just a wonderful time.
You also got surprised by a family fishing trip to Canada.
We were fishing for the elusive muskie. I threw a lure out into some lily pads, and a huge fish grabbed the lure and went under water. I handed the pole to my dad who battled it for around 15 minutes before he landed this 45-inch muskie. We got a great photo of my dad with the fish before we released it.
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Chad Spanos, MD
Head & Neck Cancer
Sanford Clinic Ear, Nose & Throat
(605) 328-8200 |
Madhu Potla, MD
Family Medicine
Sanford Clinic Canby
(507) 223-7277 ext.363 |
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Fevers can be frightening for parents. Dr. Hoekman has some advice.
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Yogurt is More than Just a Delicious Snack...
It has great health benefits and is one of the most versatile foods available.
Eating yogurt is a great way to stay healthy. It’s a rich source of protein, containing around 10 to 14 grams of protein per 8 ounces, which amounts to 15-20% of the daily protein requirement for most men. It’s an excellent source of calcium; an 8-ounce serving of most yogurts provides 30 percent of the adult RDA for calcium, and only has about 150 calories per cup.
Yogurt Cultures Boost the Immune System
Healthy microorganisms reside in the colon and these bacteria contribute to your wellbeing. One strain of these healthy microbes, lacto bacteria, is present in live-active cultured yogurt. It digests the milk sugar in dairy products, lessening problems with lactose intolerance. Lacto bacteria also help with the absorption of valuable nutrients; these microscopic bugs even produce B vitamins and vitamin K. The cultures in yogurt help boost the immune system by fostering a healthy colon, lowering the chance of colon diseases and preventing stomach infections. A few studies have even shown that the live-active cultures in yogurt may also lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
But there are so many brands available, how do you know which to buy?
The best nutritional value is plain yogurt, which has only two ingredients: live cultures and milk (whole milk, low-fat, or skim-the lower fat varieties are better if you’re trying to lower your cholesterol or lose weight). More ingredients means more calories and less yogurt nutrition. Avoid highly-sweetened containers of yogurt and yogurts that are pasteurized after the healthy organisms were added, which can lessen the health benefits of the yogurt. Pasteurization deactivates the lactase and kills the live cultures, negating two great health benefits of yogurt.
Not a Big Yogurt Fan? Substitute it!
If you are not a fan of yogurt because of the texture or flavor, try these tips to slide yogurt into your everyday diet:
- Replace mayonnaise and salad dressings with plain yogurt.
- Replace ice cream and milkshake with frozen yogurt and mixed fruit yogurt smoothie.
- Substitute yogurt for sour-cream in dips.
- Try using yogurt cheese instead of cream cheese.
- Use to marinate meat and poultry.
You’re only as strong as your gut, so start getting healthy and fight the germs from the inside out.
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Sanford Children’s Physician Recognized at International Conference
Sanford Children’s neonatologist Dennis C. Stevens, MD was once again recognized internationally for his extensive and industry-leading research with the Boekelheide Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sanford Children’s Hospital. Dr. Stevens presented his “Environmental Research Program” at the 22nd Annual Gravens Conference on the Physical and Developmental Environment of the High Risk Infant in Clearwater, FL in January. This represents the third consecutive year in which Dr. Stevens has presented abstracts from his research studying the impact of the state-of-the-art design of the Boekelheide NICU.
“Alterations in physical design and care practices in hundreds of NICUs worldwide have been the result of this internationally known conference, and we are honored Dr. Stevens and his research continue to shape NICU practices around the globe,” stated H. Eugene Hoyme, MD, Chief Pediatric Officer, Sanford USD Medical Center.
A sampling of the areas of impact in the research study at Sanford Children’s Hospital, including the difference in noise levels for babies in the NICU and their effect on development, parent satisfaction and staffing patterns, were the focus of the abstracts presented by Dr. Stevens.
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Sanford Research/USD Awarded $878,686 ADA Grant for Diabetes Research
Qiangrong Liang, MD/PhD with Sanford Research/USD More than 65 percent of people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Sanford Research/USD will use an ADA Career Development Award to help understand why this occurs, which could ultimately save lives. The $878,686 grant over five years will be used to explore the connection between diabetes and susceptibility to heart disease in patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Qiangrong Liang, MD/PhD and a team of researchers at Sanford Research/USD Cardiovascular Research Center will use the grant to expand the research capacity by recruiting staff and purchasing equipment and supplies.
“It is a great honor to be chosen as the recipient of this highly competitive grant,” Dr. Liang said. “It is my hope that research results from this project will help ADA in its mission to find a cure and improve the lives of people with diabetes.”
The ADA Career Development Awards are designed to assist outstanding Assistant Professor level faculty investigators in conducting diabetes-related research. Sanford Research/USD is one of the very few institutions awarded this grant for 2009.
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National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance at Sanford Announces Environmental Chamber Testing
The National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance at Sanford has expanded its services and completed setup of its environmental chamber and testing facilities. Under the direction of Michael F. Bergeron, PhD, FACSM, the Institute offers professional services for athletes and other active individuals. This includes detailed physiological evaluations in a controlled, 336-square-foot environmental chamber with the capability to regulate temperature and humidity levels for testing athletes exercising in various environmental conditions.
“One of the biggest challenges facing athletes is attempting to train or perform safely and effectively, especially in the heat. Our team will conduct novel research on athletic health and safety and work with sport and sports medicine governing bodies to promote new guidelines and policy, as well as help individuals implement strategies to reduce their own injury risk and improve performance with specific and practical knowledge to use while training, practicing and playing,” said Dr. Bergeron.
Additional services are now offered with the help of the expanded expert team, Jason C. Dorman, MS, CSCS and Lisa M. Esposito MS, RD, LN. These services include fitness testing, sport nutrition consults and assessments on the athletic field, as well as presentations and seminars for teams and organizations.
Learn more about the National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance or call (605) 328-4750.
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Sanford Health Unveils Additional Plans for Research Park
Sanford Health recently unveiled additional plans for the new Sanford Research Park. This includes announcing an agreement with nationally known developer Ryan Companies US, Inc. Ryan Companies’ division from Des Moines, IA will partner with Sanford Health and Sioux Falls commercial real estate firm, Hegg Companies, to develop, design and market the Sanford Research Park.
Located at the southern entrance to Sioux Falls near the intersection of Interstate 29 and Interstate 229, the 185-acre Sanford Research Park will be home to all of Sanford Research/USD. Design of the first building is well underway with construction of the approximately 100,000-square-foot facility expected to begin spring 2009. This first phase of the Sanford Research Park is expected to be completed in 2011.
“Sanford has enlisted two organizations with great experience and reputation to aid us in developing our state-of-the-art Research Park,” stated Dave Link, Sanford Health Executive Vice President. “In addition to assisting us in recruiting businesses to the development, these two companies will also provide guidance in how to successfully plan, grow and market the Research Park from a real estate perspective. “
Ryan Companies has experience in building research and healthcare projects similar to buildings located within the Sanford Research Park. These types of buildings are very specific in design and construction.
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Sanford Luverne Board Member to Lead AHA Committee
Steve Perkins Sanford Luverne Advisory Board Chair, Steven Perkins, will chair the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) Committee on Governance, which is a specialty committee of the AHA Board of Trustees. The committee is responsible for leading effective involvement of the nation’s hospital trustees in grassroots advocacy, providing input into AHA’s policy development, enhancing communication and providing advice on AHA’s trustee initiatives. Perkins is chair of the Sanford Hospital Luverne Community Advisory Board and previously served as chair and director of the Luverne Community Hospital Board.
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Sanford Clinic Downtown Healthcare: New Name, Expanded Services
Sanford Clinic Downtown Women’s Healthcare has updated its name to reflect the strengthening of its services in the community. The clinic is increasing its scope of service by creating a more teen-friendly environment where patients can gain awareness, have testing and receive education. The clinic has changed its name to Sanford Clinic Downtown Healthcare in order to align with this service idea for both men and women. “We hope by lifting up our services and creating a more teen-friendly environment, we can increase awareness to young individuals throughout the community,” said Laurie Kruse, Clinic Director.
For more information, call (605) 334-5099.
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Brookings Healthcare Leader Joins Sanford Health Network
Vern Carda Vern Carda has joined the Sanford Health Network executive team as Vice President. Carda has nearly 15 years in healthcare leadership roles. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer for the Brookings Health System in Brookings, SD. Carda will help the Sanford Health Network executive team lead Sanford’s 22 regional hospitals, as well as its regional nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Specifically, he will have responsibilities at several hospitals and long term care facilities in South Dakota and Iowa. Carda replaces Mick Penticoff who recently retired.
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Winter Clothing Collection
Thank you to the Sanford clinics and departments that participated in the Winter Clothing Collection. More than 1,000 winter clothing items were donated to area organizations including the Center of Hope in Sioux Falls, Hands of Hope in Watertown and the Love, Inc. store in Canton. They will distribute the clothing to those in need.
Congratulations to the Sanford Home Medical Equipment, VNA and Hospice group for collecting the most items – 221!
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New Names for Canton-Inwood Hospital and Canton Clinic
Canton-Inwood Memorial Hospital is now Sanford Hospital Canton-Inwood. On December 31, 2008, the sale of Canton-Inwood Memorial Hospital to Sanford Health became final. Since 1991, Sanford and Canton-Inwood have maintained a close partnership, and the hospital’s new name reflects the strengthening of the enhanced partnership. Sanford Clinic Canton Family Physicians has also changed its name to Sanford Clinic Canton.
Learn more about Sanford Hospital Canton-Inwood >>
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Sanford Clinic Physician Receives Young Physician of the Year Award
Allison Wierda Suttle, MD with Sanford Clinic Women’s Health recently received the Young Physician of the Year Award from the South Dakota State Medical Association.
Dr. Wierda Suttle was nominated by Dan Heinemann, MD. He recognized Dr. Wierda Suttle for her dedicated response after the passing of Sanford Clinic Women’s Health’s beloved Bob George, MD. Included in the nomination were quotes from many of her patients who called her “a blessing,” an “extraordinary person and doctor” and “everything I needed during my delivery.”
Learn more about Allison Wierda Suttle, MD >>
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Inside Sanford is a monthly publication that connects employees with events and announcements concerning Sanford Health employees or facilities within the system.
Please send any information you’d like to have considered for submission in Inside Sanford to: insidesanford@sanfordhealth.org.
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