UW Medicine

After her own experience with a stroke in 2016, Sarah Turnbaugh is now a Nurse Navigator that helps to give patients resources, encouragement and empathy as they transition from hospital care back to home life. As a registered nurse at Harborview Medical Center, she realized that the worst headache of her life turned out to be a sign that she had suffered a stroke. With care, she recovered, and today she works with patients at UW Medicine’s Comprehensive Stroke Center. Her story is proof that the challenges of recovery can be conquered.

Please join us in congratulating Heidi van Rooyen, an internationally recognized executive leader, social scientist and clinical psychologist, who has been named the next chair of the @[ University of Washington Department of Global Health](urn:li:organization:18760960). “Personally and professionally, I have been driven by a need to understand and address how inequities in gender, race, sexual orientation and place, both individually and collectively, impact health outcomes,” van Rooyen says. “As the new chair at the Department of Global Health, I am excited to deepen this work and to collectively consider how we, as a department, can reduce global health disparities and advance health equity. Central to this vision is a two-pronged focus on decolonization — working within our own organization and collaborating with others in the global health system to shift existing paradigms. I accepted this role largely because, during my visits to Seattle, I sensed a strong appetite and readiness to undertake this work.”

The Seattle Times recently covered the opening of the new Center for Behavioral Health and Learning at the UW Medical Center - Northwest campus. “It really has been designed to take care of patients well from the very beginning,” said Dr. Anna Ratzliff, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington - School of Medicine and an attending physician at the hospital. “There’s been a lot of attention on trying to really make this a place that can help people who are often not able to access high-quality care.” The new facility's contemporary design, calming color palette, advanced safety features and integrated model of care are emblematic of a new era in mental health treatment. Learn more here.

Each year during Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, employees share their cultural pride and experiences. This month, we asked some of our ANHPI colleagues what their heritage and cultures mean to them. Roni Wadhwani (She / Her), ARNP, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Harborview Medical Center: "I entered the field of endocrinology, after several years in primary care, with a focus on diabetes and gender-affirming care. Diabetes is prevalent in my family of origin and disproportionally impacts ANHPI communities. The highlight of my work is getting to discuss lifestyle choices through the lens of mutual love of food and appreciation for cultural food traditions. For those patients with food insecurity, our clinic is also a place where they can come for tea and nutritious snacks. I am grateful that the phase of the pandemic that limited the sharing of food has ended, and that we may gather again in this way with all of our different communities." Manami Honda (She / Her), DNP, ARNP, Post-Acute Care Services, Harborview Medical Center: "My upbringing in the countryside of Japan holds immense significance to me. Growing up in rural Japan influenced my values of community, reverence for nature and heritage, and a strong work ethic. These values, deeply embedded in Japanese culture, continue to shape my approach not only to healthcare but also to life in general." Seo-Eun Choi (She / Her), PhD, MS, Research Scientist, Center for Psychometric Analyses in Aging and Neurodegeneration, University of Washington - School of Medicine: "It’s hard to explain what being Korean means to me in English because there aren’t always the right words to describe what I want to say. There’s 열정 (yeol-jeong), which could be translated as ardor or passion—it’s a feeling of determination and tenacity, the drive behind achieving the improbable and the constant pull upwards to the next breakthrough. There’s 흥 (heung), which means joy, passion or energy — but it’s also listening to upbeat music on a sunny road trip or excitedly talking about a favorite TV show with your friends. Then there’s 해학 (hae-hak), which goes deeper than entertainment or sarcasm to find not just the good in a bad situation, but also elegance in humor that can become a defense and comfort for victims." We are proud to celebrate the diverse cultures and vast achievements of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander peoples, cultures and communities. (Note: responses have been edited for length.)

We are just one day away from watching students graduating in 2024, in the 75th class receive their degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the University of Washington. The Physician’s Oath & Hooding Ceremony acknowledges the achievements of our medical students. Through the administration of the Hippocratic Oath or Physician’s Oath, the ceremony reminds the students of the high standards of performance and behavior to which each aspires and with which each is challenged as they enter upon professional careers as physicians. You can watch the live stream here: https://lnkd.in/dwY9JyhC

We're highlighting the diverse voices of our Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander colleagues for ANHPI Month and we asked them what their heritage and cultures mean to them. Sheila Lukito (She / Her), PharmD, CPPS, Medication Safety Officer, Valley Medical Center: "My ethnicity is Chinese Indonesian, which is an ethnic minority in Indonesia. My parents decided to come to the U.S. when I was in elementary school to make sure my sister and I had equal opportunities to succeed. I remember the first time I set foot in the University of Washington campus as a little girl; I was in awe of its beauty and the diversity of the students walking around campus. Later, as a UW student, I learned to be proud of who you are no matter where you come from, to speak up with empathy, to never give up, and to pass down the knowledge to the next generation." Grace Kwak (She / Her), Program Coordinator, Radiology, University of Washington - School of Medicine: "One thing that I have experienced through my Korean heritage is the family-oriented values that have provided a foundation of who I am today. My family, especially living in a foreign land, have emphasized values such as protecting the family, establishing close family ties, and working hard. One example of this would be the Korea Thanksgiving Day also known as Chuseok. The entire family would gather, work hard in preparation for a feast, and celebrate hard. My favorite memory was when I would sneak a songpyeon (a type of rice cake) without my mother noticing while doing chores assigned to me to prepare for the holiday." Chris Mirabueno (He / Him), Program Operations Manager, Supply Chain – Medical Stores, UW Medical Center – Montlake: "My family is Filipino and Filipinos define “family” on a very broad scale, not limited to blood relatives. Besides our own extended families, we grow up regarding our parents’ friends as aunts and uncles, their children as cousins. There seems to be running joke between Filipinos: When we meet for the first time, very often someone says something like, “We’re probably cousins one way or another.” Foundationally, it helps perpetuate the deep sense of community felt in that there is a sense of obligation to look out for each other, make sure everyone is safe and well." Keep an eye out for our posts tomorrow highlighting three more UW Medicine employees! (Note: responses were lightly edited for length.)

In recognition and celebration of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (ANHPI), we asked some of our ANHPI colleagues what their heritage and cultures mean to them. Ashley Allman (She / Her), RN, BSN, CCRN / Surgical ICU, UW Medical Center – Montlake: "Throughout my life I’ve had great mentors to inspire my career path. I’ve always been drawn to the concept of healing and I knew I wanted to be a nurse from a young age. I’m grateful to now engage with people from all walks of life and serve my community. I also love the sense of camaraderie on our small but fast-paced unit as we care for critically ill patients. I am Native Hawaiian, Filipino, Portuguese, born and raised in Maui, Hawai’i. My upbringing was immersed in Hawaiian values and traditions. What keeps me grounded and feeling connected to my roots is appreciating the deep sense of ‘ohana (family), aloha (love) and kūleana (responsibility and privilege) between people, the land and each other. The idea of mālama ‘āina/aloha ‘āina exists in Hawai’i, and it means that by taking care of and respecting the land, it will in turn take care of you." Jin Xu (She / Her), Finance Supervisor, Radiation Oncology, University of Washington - School of Medicine: "I used to work for the United Nations Beijing Office as a program and finance assistant, which was a rewarding and inspiring experience. I had a summer internship at United Nations Development Program in New York, which instilled my ultimate career goal in the public sector. I worked for the Public Health Department in Oregon and then joined the UW School of Medicine. My current position in the Radiation Oncology Department provides me with ample opportunities in various aspects of financial management. As a Chinese American, a big part of what I was taught growing up was the importance of caring for your family and serving the community. That’s why I enjoy volunteering at my kids’ schools and in my neighborhood, and why I think outreach is important." James Li (He / Him), ARNP, UW Medicine Primary Care at Federal Way: "I was a former social worker and wanted to be more involved with people’s care. Training to be a nurse practitioner allows me to be able to do more for people. I’m from Taiwan and grew up in Texas. My Taiwanese culture is an important part of my identity and I strive to represent its inviting and friendly nature. We love sharing food to get to know each other and I think it’s a great way to get to know Taiwan. Taiwan has been such a forefront in innovation, and you might have even experienced some yourself like boba tea, Din Tai Fung, pineapple cakes or cat cafes!" Keep an eye out for more quotes from our ANHPI colleagues later this week! Note: some responses have been lightly edited for length.

A study at the University of Washington - School of Medicine of an electrical-stimulation device has shown great promise for patients with loss of function and other side effects of spinal cord injury. The international clinical trial used a device that provides electrical current to the spinal cord through electrodes on the skin. The patches are designed to numb the contact point to allow for five times more current to be delivered compared to standard treatments. A research team led by Chet Moritz, professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, found that 72% of participants significantly improved strength and function by using the treatment for two months. The participants in the initial studies also kept those gains after discontinuing use of the electrical-impulse device. “We used to essentially give up significant recovery after about a year post-injury,” Moritz said. “The chances of recovering were in the single-digit percentages, 2% to 8%. The fact that we're seeing 72% of people recover, all more than a year after their injury — and even 10, 15, up to 35 years after their injury — is extremely exciting.”

Please join us on May 24th for our Community Conversations webinar on Zoom to learn about cardiovascular risks in BIPOC communities.

We’re at the 2024 IARS & SOCCA Annual Meeting all weekend! Stop by our booth for swag and information about joining our team! International Anesthesia Research Society SOCIETY OF CRITICAL CARE ANESTHESIOLOGISTS