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January 2018

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2 froedtert.com | JANUARY 2018

FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO

A Warm Welcome

Recently, residents of three communities have welcomed Froedtert &the Medical College of Wisconsin health network’s grateful care team members with remarkable warmth. In October, nearly 500 individuals attended the open house of the Froedtert & MCW Mequon Health Center. In November, residents of Milwaukee showed their support for our new McKinley Health Center, adjacent to the Milwaukee Bucks’ training facility in the heart of the city. This January, we open our doors to neighbors in Oak Creek at our new Drexel Town Square Health Center.

It is our privilege to care for you and your family, whether in one of our new or long-standing health centers, in our hospitals or increasingly through the convenience of the internet and your workplace.

This privilege comes with great responsibility to you. We know what matters to you is how quickly you can get an appointment, how little you wait, how easily you can access your medical record and care team, and how convenient and caring your experience is with us. We know you expect and deserve to leave our doors healthier than you entered.

We don’t take this responsibility lightly. Our teams are hard at work to improve your experience, uphold the highest quality standards and deliver care in new and better ways. One example of this work includes PatientWisdom, an online platform where you can share with your care team insights on what really matters to you as a person. Because of our academic-community connection, we know through firsthand research that patient-centered focus like this can improve quality, health, satisfaction, disparities and costs. Another example is our 24-Hour Cancer Clinic, specifically designed for the urgent needs of patients with cancer treatment-related complications. It’s the best option when nausea, fever and pain strike at midnight. What patients with cancer want is to go back to the people who know them and who manage their overall treatment plan.

What matters to us is you. I wish you a healthy and happy new year.

CATHY JACOBSONPresident and CEOFroedtert Health

January 2018

This magazine is available online at froedtert.com

EDITOR Kristine Sobczak

The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin regional health network is a partnership between Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin supporting a shared mission of patient care, innovation, medical research and education. Our health network operates eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center at Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, an internationally recognized training and research center engaged in thousands of clinical trials and studies. The Froedtert & MCW health network includes five hospitals, more than 1,600 physicians and nearly 40 health centers and clinics. For more information, visit froedtert.com.

CONTACT US

Find a doctor and make an appointment: 1-800-DOCTORS (1-800-362-8677)

Patient appointments, information and community education class registration: 414-805-3666 or 800-272-3666

Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network: 414-805-0505 or 866-680-0505; froedtert.com/cancer

CONNECT WITH US

Find us on Facebook or Twitter @Froedtert. Visit froedtert.com for the latest news. Subscribe to our e-newsletter based on your preferred health topics at froedtert.com/e-news.

MYCHART

Schedule, cancel or view appointments, view test results, request a medication renewal, or message your health care team securely on your computer, tablet or smartphone through MyChart. Enroll anytime at mychartlink.com/MyChart or at your physician’s office.

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE

This tri-annual publication is mailed to addresses based on ZIP code and other factors. To unsubscribe, visit froedtert.com/mail-remove.

LEGAL NOTICE/DISCLAIMER

All research and clinical material in this magazine is for information only. This publication does not provide medical advice and does not substitute for your health care provider’s own clinical judgment. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read in this publication. Please consult your own physician regarding your symptoms or medical conditions. The procedures or treatments mentioned in this publication may or may not be considered covered benefits by your insurance. Contact your insurance representative as part of your decision-making process before having any medical procedure.

Froedtert Health complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.

Attention: If you speak another language, assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call: 414-805-3000 (TTY: 1-800-947-3529)

Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene asu disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al: 414-805-3000 (TTY: 1-800-947-3529)

Hmoob (Hmong): LUS CEEV: Yog tias koj hais lus Hmoob, cov kev pab txog lus, muaj kev pab dawb rau koj. Hu rau: 414-805-3000 (TTY: 1-800-947-3529)

Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. To obtain permission, call 414-777-7046.

ContentsNX Level Sports Performance Training Available at Mequon Health Center

Achieving your personal best takes passion and commitment — and sometimes a solid assist from those in the know.

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network has partnered with NX Level to provide athletes of every level the opportunity to step up their game. A recognized leader in sports performance, NX Level offers programming for high school, collegiate and adult amateur and professional athletes.

NX Level programs at Froedtert & MCW Mequon Health Center are designed to help teams, groups and individuals improve speed, flexibility, strength, endurance, nutrition, body composition and body awareness.

“NX Level adapts scientifically proven training methods to improve overall athletic performance,” said Tom Engel, executive director of Froedtert & MCW musculoskeletal programs. “This philosophy helps athletes increase their knowledge of their bodies, maximize their potential and ensure active regeneration and recovery.”

“NX Level creates comprehensive, individualized programs that are specific to each client’s needs,” said Brad Arnett, NX Level director.

Located at 11430 N. Port Washington Road in Mequon, the 15,000-square-foot training facility includes a large synthetic turf field and sandpit, as well as cardio workout, stretching and weightlifting areas. It is available for rent to schools and community teams. ■

For more information, visit froedtert.com/nxlevel or call 262-518-5001.

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JANUARY 2018 | froedtert.com 3

WAYFINDING APP

New App Makes Froedtert Hospital Campus Easier to Navigate

For step-by-step directions that guide patients and visitors to and around the Froedtert & the

Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital campus, a free app called “Froedtert &

MCW Finder” is available for download on Apple® and Android™ phones. It provides

directions to clinic locations, food, parking and shopping.

Wi-Fi access is available via CORP-Guest. To access the Wi-Fi network, simply review and

accept the Acceptable Use Policy and enable your Bluetooth® technology. ■

Rare and complex surgery restores lung power

Michael Kwiatkowski was fully prepared to travel from home in Black Creek, north of Appleton, across the country for a rare and complicated pulmonary surgery performed at select medical centers in the nation. It turned out he only had to come to Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital for an exceptional surgery that would renew breath and restore energy.

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Mike, 62, needed surgery because he had high blood pressure. Not the kind that affects about one in three American adults but one much more uncommon — pulmonary hypertension.

The condition develops over time, and Mike’s began in 1999. “I was walking on a golf course and started getting short of breath,” he said. Mike wondered why

that could be since he had never smoked, and, in his 30s, he did triathlons and biked 2,500 miles annually.

X-rays and a CT scan revealed blood clots in both of Mike’s lungs, and his blood tested positive for the prothrombin gene mutation, an

inherited predisposition for blood clots.“I thought I would be on blood thinners the rest of my life,”

he said. “Until three years ago, I had no change whatsoever, and then all of a sudden I started experiencing atrial fibrillation.” Mike walked to work every day, about a mile uphill, as Black Creek’s utility manager, and the exertion would cause atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm. “I would have to stop two to three times,” he said.

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In early 2017, Mike was referred to Froedtert Hospital.

“When I first met Mike, there was a suspicion that he had pulmonary hypertension,” said David Ishizawar, MD, a Froedtert & MCW heart failure cardiologist and member of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program. “His blood clots were likely the cause. The body takes the fresh clot and replaces it with a cellular matrix. It will grow and harden. The large clot obstructs the cavity of the blood vessel, hindering blood flow and causing pulmonary hypertension.”

The condition strains the right side of the heart as it works harder and harder to pump blood through the restricted vessels in the lungs. “The heart muscles become thick and start to dilate,

increasing the risk of arrhythmia, or atrial fibrillation,” Dr. Ishizawar said.

Dr. Ishizawar prescribed medication to help improve Mike’s heart function, but surgery was the definitive treatment. Mike opted for surgery performed by a team led by cardiothoracic surgeons Lyle Joyce, MD, PhD, and David Joyce, MD, who joined the Froedtert & MCW health network in May. Our Pulmonary Hypertension Program provides patients

the full scope of treatment options, including the rare and complex surgery Mike needed — pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.

“They made me feel comfortable and confident that everything would be OK,” Mike said.

The surgery Dr. Lyle Joyce and Dr. David Joyce performed entailed opening Mike’s chest, putting him on full cardio-pulmonary bypass and cooling his body to around 64 degrees Fahrenheit to protect his brain.

“We make two incisions, one in the left and one in the right pulmonary artery, then follow them out and peel the layer of clot

from the vessel wall,” Dr. Lyle Joyce said.The surgeons followed a carefully

orchestrated sequence of stopping blood circulation, operating, restarting circulation again to minimize the risk of stroke and neurological damage, and repeating. “We have about 20-25 minutes at a time without blood circulating and have to work quickly within that period,” Dr. David Joyce said. “It may take 45 minutes to do each side.”

The surgery is a painstaking, intricate process. “We peel the clot off one millimeter at a time until it is removed completely,” Dr. David Joyce said. He likened it to pulling a hand out of a glove without inverting any of the fingers. In total, Mike’s surgery took about six hours. “We were pleased to remove

it completely, which is exactly what we would wish for in terms of the result,” Dr. David Joyce said.

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For Mike, the surgery has been a breath of fresh air. “I haven’t felt this good for as long as I can remember, maybe 25 years,” he said. All of his symptoms are gone, and he returned to work in late July. “I’m not out of breath whatsoever and I can climb flights of stairs, where before I had to stop and catch my breath.”

Dr. David Joyce believes there are more patients like Mike who could benefit. “Pulmonary hypertension is probably far more prevalent than any of us imagines, and the surgery really is curative in many cases.”

Just months after the surgery, Mike was quite enthusiastic about the outcome. “I’m not recovering,” he said. “I think I’ve recovered.” ■

The Froedtert & MCW Pulmonary Hypertension Program

is accredited by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association

and offers a wide variety of treatment options for patients,

including lung transplant. For more information, visit

froedtert.com/pulmonary-hypertension or call

414-805-3666.

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Your Partners in

Sickness and HealthFive benefits of having a Primary Care Provider

PRIMARY CARE

Choosing a primary care provider (PCP) is a smart way to safeguard your health, according to Mark Lodes, MD, vice presidentand chief medical officer of Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Community Physicians. Dr. Lodes offered five top benefits of having a PCP, with tips to help you choose the right one.

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Benefit 3: PCPs excel at non-emergency illnesses.Ordinary illnesses such as sinus infections generally do not warrant an emergency room trip. And besides, your PCP can provide more personalized care. “The primary care provider knows you, your health history and what medications you are on,” Dr. Lodes said. “As a result they are more likely to put you on the right treatment.”

Benefit 1: PCPs spot illnesses before they escalate. They conduct regular screenings designed to catch diseases early on and can advise you on treatments or habits to keep them under control.

Benefit 2: PCPs coordinate your care. If you experience a new symptom, your PCP will examine you, maybe conduct a few tests in the office, and if necessary, send you to a specialist. “Your primary care provider helps you navigate the system and knows who you should go to next,” Dr. Lodes said.

Benefit 4: PCPs can help manage chronic diseases. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma, you need frequent monitoring to stay healthy. Your PCP’s office is a convenient place to do that.

Benefit 5: PCPs give good advice. “If you’re faced with an illness that has multiple options for treatment, your primary care provider can act as a trusted advisor and help you make an informed decision about which way to go,” Dr. Lodes said. “It’s best to hold these key conversations with someone who knows you well.”

To choose the right primary care provider, Dr. Lodes offered these hints:

Look Close to Home or Work. Dr. Lodes recommended finding a physician at a facility that is easy to reach. “Patients see primary careproviders on average three to four times a year, so a convenient location is important,” he said. The Froedtert & MCW health network has more than 30 different clinical facilities in southeast Wisconsin, including the new Mequon Health Center, McKinley Health Center in downtown Milwaukee and Drexel Town Square Health Center in Oak Creek.

Review PCP Profiles. Visit froedtert.com to view online profiles of PCPs, which highlight a provider’s treatment philosophy and areasof expertise. Many profiles include video interviews, which can give patients a sense for a provider’s communication style. “The beautiful part about a big health system is that we have an eclectic and diverse group of providers,” Dr. Lodes said. “We are well-positioned to offer a provider who is right for any one individual.” ■

Call 1-800-DOCTORS or visit froedtert.com/primarycare to learn more about primary care providers and to find a location convenient for you.


Froedtert Hospital Among Nation’s Highest Quality Academic Medical Centers

Three health network hospitals rank among top performers

For the third consecutive year, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital ranks among the nation’s top performing academic medical centers, according to an annual study by Vizient, a national network of academic medical centers and hospitals. Ninety-five percent of academic medical centers submit quality data to Vizient.

In addition, Froedtert & MCW St. Joseph’s Hospital was ranked second and Froedtert & MCW Community Memorial Hospital was ranked ninth out of 161 participating community hospitals in the study.*

“The Vizient study is our ‘true north’ because it evaluates all care rather than just a certain subset of patients or conditions,” said Cathy Jacobson, president and chief executive officer of Froedtert Health. “It stringently compares us to peer organizations in areas that truly make a difference in improving health care quality.”

The 12 top-performing academic medical centers that earned Vizient’s 2017 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award are:

U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2017-2018 ranked Froedtert & MCW Ear, Nose and Throat; Nephrology; Pulmonology and Gynecology departments on its “Best Hospitals” list. To be nationally ranked in a specialty, a hospital must excel in caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients. ■

* Kenosha Medical Center and St. Catherine’s Medical Center were not part of the Froedtert & MCW health network when the 2017 survey was completed.

1. Mayo Clinic — Rochester

2. NYU Langone Health

3. Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin — Froedtert Hospital (Rising from #4 in 2016)

4. Rush University Medical Center

5. Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

6. University of Utah Health

7. UC Health University of Colorado Hospital

8. Lehigh Valley Health Network

9. University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

10. The University of Kansas Hospital

11. Nebraska Medicine

12. Oregon Health & Science University Hospital

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“ Every person involved in my treatment made me feel I was in the right place getting the right care.”

KATHY MOHAR

In August 2016, Kathy Mohar had a routine mammogram that revealed something unexpected — a mass deep in her left armpit. Then 46 years old, the Germantown woman had a follow-up biopsy at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Community Memorial Hospital. She soon received a phone call revealing that the mass was cancer. “Once you’ve been told those three words, ‘You have cancer,’ something shifts,” Kathy said. “You’re not who you were 60 seconds earlier.” In the emotional blur of that day, she remembers finding comfort in talking with oncology nurse Lisa Korevec, RN, OCN, at the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Care Center at Community Memorial Hospital, who helped answer her questions and arrange her first appointments. Two days later she met with hematologist/

oncologist Abdel Alqwasmi, MD, who explained that Kathy had a rare type of lymph node cancer known as nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL). Dr. Alqwasmi carefully outlined treatment options. “He was really kind, gentle and informative — exactly what I needed,” Kathy said.

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Her husband, Steven, attended the appointment with her, as well as their youngest son, Nathan, then age 16. Their oldest son, Jacob, was away at college. Kathy loved that Nathan was drawn into the conversation and encouraged to ask questions. This is typical at the Cancer Care Center. “It’s always better to get everybody around the patient involved,” Dr. Alqwasmi said. “I encourage patients to have as many people as

they would like present for the discussion.” Kathy had a bone marrow biopsy and positron emission tomography (PET) scan to determine if the cancer had spread to other areas of her body. It hadn’t, which meant she had early-stage cancer with several treatment options. Dr. Alqwasmi worked with radiation oncologist Malika Siker, MD, to determine the best evidence-based treatment. Based on Kathy’s cancer type, they recommended six cycles of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, followed by radiation therapy. Each of Kathy’s chemotherapy infusions took three to six hours, so her husband and son would join her at the infusion center,

playing cards or watching movies together. Kathy came to see the nurses and other staff at the Cancer Care Center as family also. Not only were they skilled at making her comfortable and helping her cope with the side effects of chemotherapy, but they also shared Kathy’s sense of humor and laughed together often, which helped her maintain her positive outlook. Kathy, who works as executive director for Spina Bifida Wisconsin, said she didn’t consider other hospitals for her cancer treatment. She said she knew she would get the expertise she needed through the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network, and Community Memorial Hospital has been important to her family. “Our kids were born there, and my mom once had a 28-day stay, so we were familiar with the hospital and the quality of care,” she said. “It didn’t really occur to us to go anywhere else.”

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As the months passed, it became clear that the chemotherapy was working. Through physical exams and a PET scan in November 2016, Dr. Alqwasmi verified that Kathy’s tumor was shrinking. She completed her last chemotherapy treatment in December, followed by another PET scan in January 2017, which showed the tumor was gone. “Because chemotherapy was so successful, a relatively smaller dose of radiation therapy was needed to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back,” Dr. Siker said. Kathy received radiation therapy daily, Monday through Friday, for three weeks, and she tolerated it well. She continues to have regular follow-up appointments with Dr. Siker and Dr. Alqwasmi. Near the end of her treatment, Kathy began receiving massages at Froedtert & MCW Small Stones Wellness Center at Community Memorial Hospital, which offers a range of support services for people with cancer and their families. The cancer treatments made her more sedentary and more prone to lower back and hip pain, and she also experienced nerve pain as a side effect of chemotherapy. “The massages provided relief,” she said. “It was a way of taking care of myself.” Once her treatment was complete, Kathy spent hours writing thank-you notes to many of the people involved in her treatment. She is deeply appreciative of the lab staff who joined her in doing jumping jacks to get her blood flowing, oncologists who took her phone calls in the middle of the night, receptionists who remembered her name and nurses who coached her through the treatment side effects. “Every person involved in my treatment made me feel like I was in the right place getting the right care,” she said. ■

To learn more about the comprehensive, compassionate

care provided within the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Network,

visit froedtert.com/cancer or call 414-805-0505 or

866-680-0505.

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CLINICAL TRIALS

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Clinical trials are vital to the development of new techniquesand treatment in medical care. By participating in such research, the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Clinical Cancer Center at Froedtert Hospital has established itself as a key player in advancing the scientific understanding of cancer.

“What sets us apart as an academic medical center is the ability to have a host of clinical trials available to patients,” said radiation oncologist Beth Erickson, MD. One trial, an international study of cervical cancer treatment known as Outback, gives half the participants an additional round of chemotherapy after they have received the standard treatment of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It is exploring whether the additional chemotherapy improves survival.

“Anything we can do to prevent cancer recurrence is of immense value,” said gynecologic oncologist William Bradley, MD, the study’s lead investigator at the Clinical Cancer Center. “This trial could change the standard of care for this disease, from one in which chemotherapy is given with radiation therapy only, to one where additional chemotherapy is given after radiation therapy for about three months.”

Stacey Hand is one of eight area patients who participated in the trial. A resident of Kiel who works as a benefits analyst, Stacey was 32 when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2013. An outgoing woman who teaches yoga to cancer survivors in Sheboygan, Stacey admits it wasn’t an easy decision to participate in the clinical trial. When the opportunity arose, she had not yet completed her initial

treatment and the thought of possibly receiving more chemotherapy was overwhelming.

“I realized I could be put in the group that did not get the additional treatment, but if I was in the group that did, it could not only save my life, but could potentially save others,” she said. Ultimately, Stacey did receive the additional chemotherapy.

Stacey’s husband, Eric, helped her through the challenges of chemotherapy, including hair loss, achiness and fatigue, and accompanied her to all her chemotherapy sessions, making the long commute easier.

“It was a big decision to do the clinical trial, but I believe I was supposed to get the extra treatment because I needed it,” Stacey said. “I believe it made a difference.”

Today, Stacey is doing well. “All of her follow-up imaging studies have been very reassuring,” Dr. Erickson said.

“I feel lucky and blessed to have made this progress,” Stacey said.�■

The Outback trial is still in progress but no longer

accruing patients. To view a list of available clinical trials,

visit froedtert.com/clinicaltrials.

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CLINICAL RESEARCH

National Institutes of Health Enlists Medical College of Wisconsin

in Precision Medicine Initiative

The Medical College of Wisconsin is one of three state institutions that have been collectively awarded $5.3 million by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance research into precision medicine. MCW will collaborate with Marshfield Clinic Research Institute and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in the NIH’s All of Us Research Program.

The initiative will gather health data and blood and urine samples from one million people nationwide to help researchers determine the best way to treat or prevent illness.

“Precision medicine takes into account individual lifestyle, environment and biology, so providers can give medical care that is targeted to individual patient needs rather than averages,” said Jeffrey Whittle, MD, MPH,

internal medicine physician, professor of general internal medicine and principal investigator at MCW for the project. The grant will fund community outreach and recruiting.

“We want to enroll a diverse population of roughly 33,000 people,” Dr. Whittle said. The institutions will partner with BloodCenter of Wisconsin and Federally Qualified Health Centers to register a broad range of individuals.

“All of Us has the potential for being the only resource of its kind in the world,” said Amit Gode, MD, MPH, administrative director, MCW Clinical Trials Office. Researchers studying a disease will be able to search across the country for patients, learn what they have in common and match a treatment.

“By including data we didn’t have before, as well as genomic data, this enhances the possibility that we can make care more precise,” Dr. Whittle said. ■

To learn more, visit joinallofus.org.

To view a searchable list of clinical trials, visit froedtert.com/research.

Clinical research at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital — eastern Wisconsin’s only

academic medical center — opens the door to personalized treatment options with the extensive expertise, resources

and innovation only academic medicine can offer. Having a top-performing, nationally ranked academic medical center

in our community means you will always have access to the highest level of care.

The Power of Academic Medicine

Help Wanted: Volunteers to Advance Medical Research

You do not have to be a physician or scientist to contribute to medical research. Just be yourself because research studies need volunteers — people of all kinds. In an effort to recruit more volunteers, the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network has joined a national registry, ResearchMatch.org.

“About 80 percent of all trials are delayed by the recruitment process,” said Amit Gode, MD, MPH, administrative director, MCW Clinical Trials Office. “It is a national problem.”

The Froedtert & MCW health network aims to register 1,000 people of all ages, both healthy individuals as well as those with medical conditions. Volunteers create a secure account and provide health information.

“If there’s a match between a trial and a patient, an e-mail would be sent to ask if they would like to be considered for participation, and only then would the researcher get the person’s contact information,” Dr. Gode said.

“Participating in research performs a civic good,” he said. “Research is by, for and of the people. It starts and ends with people. If we can develop a new cancer or diabetes drug, it changes lives.” ■

More information is available at researchmatch.org.

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Jake Edmonds doesn’t recall anything about the 35-foot fall he took when the scaffolding he was standing on in St. Louis collapsed in February 2015.

“There was no time to think about it,” said the 27-year-old resident of Eagle. “All of a sudden, I was lying there on the ground, wondering what had happened. I didn’t even know what I had injured because my whole body hurt so badly.”

But Jake will never forget his nearly two-year journey to recovery from a shattered left knee — and the team at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital that walked with him every step of the way.

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The fall occurred as Jake was working on a railroad bridge repair project. His left leg took the brunt of the impact. The result was devastating: a nearly total knee dislocation, a broken kneecap and a torn patellar tendon. He also tore all four major knee ligaments.

“There wasn’t much of anything left,” said Carole Vetter, MD, a Froedtert & MCW orthopaedic surgeon and team

physician for the Milwaukee Bucks. “It’s the kind of injury you would typically associate with a car or motorcycle crash or a pedestrian hit by a car. On a scale of one to 10, it was a 10.”

Jake had undergone surgery in St. Louis to repair the patellar tendon. An external fixator, a framework of metal rods fastened to his tibia and femur with long pins, was used to stabilize the knee. When he returned to Wisconsin, he was referred to Dr. Vetter.

In March, Dr. Vetter repaired two ligaments. About three months later, she removed scar tissue in what is called manipulation surgery, allowing Jake more range of motion for physical therapy. “The body aggressively heals itself and sometimes things heal together that shouldn’t,” she said.

A bright spot during his recovery, Jake also got married that July. “I peg-legged up the aisle,” he said.

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In January 2016, Dr. Vetter repaired the remaining torn ligament — the anterior cruciate ligament, known as the ACL. The fourth torn ligament healed on its own. At that point, Jake was already well into extensive physical therapy sessions with Mark Lydecker, MPT, a physical therapist at the Froedtert & MCW Sports Medicine Center. Jake said the therapy was both physically and mentally demanding.

“At the start, I was in a bad place mentally,” he said, noting that he had played soccer and basketball regularly and was training to run

his first marathon when the accident occurred. He also worked as a firefighter/emergency medical technician for the city of Hartford. “I went from being very active to sitting on a couch all day,” he said.

Lydecker’s first goal was to win Jake’s confidence. “He had to understand that his knee wasn’t held together by Scotch tape,” Lydecker said. “I told him he had an elite surgeon and would receive

the best possible care to get him back to his normal self. The initial goal was to gain trust — in the surgeon, in me and in the knee.”

After the first ligament surgery, Jake could bend his knee only 20 degrees. Lydecker said Jake initially received electric muscle stimulation to regain strength and “re-educate” his leg muscles. By April, he was allowed to use crutches and bear some weight on the knee. In May, he graduated to light exercises and used parallel bars to

improve his walking gait. By June, he could bend his knee 60 degrees.“That wasn’t where we’d hoped to be, so he had the manipulation

surgery,” Lydecker said. “After that, he really started moving forward.”

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Jake completed physical therapy in December 2016, and Lydecker said Jake’s work ethic was a critical factor in his recovery. “Our job is to facilitate an environment where patients can succeed,” he said. “But patients must have the right level of motivation and determination. Jake had the right stuff.”

Today, Jake walks normally. He has also embraced Lydecker’s suggestion to start bike riding instead of running. “Though I think I could run to catch a bus if I had to,” he said. He’s still limited athletically and doubts he will play soccer and basketball again, but he said he leads a normal life, which did not seem possible two years ago.

Jake praised his team’s approach to care, pointing out that Dr. Vetter’s office is next to the physical therapy room. Sometimes he would meet with Dr. Vetter and then go directly to physical therapy. “I loved it,” he said. “It was so convenient.

“Dr. Vetter is the best. I wouldn’t be here without her. I owe her and Mark so much. I feel like I got the best surgeon and the best

physical therapist to get the best possible outcome for me.” ■

Our orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists use advanced technology and the latest diagnostic and treatment options to provide expert, specialized care. To find a provider near you, call 1-800-DOCTORS or visit froedtert.com/ortho.

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14

Minimally Invasive Option

Valve Replacementfor

HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT

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At 74, Diane Witzel was still heading down to the barn every day, tending to the horses, goats, chickens and donkey she and her husband, Jim, keep on their 10-acre spread in Jackson. Back in March, rotator cuff surgery put a crimp in that routine. Still, Diane’s surgery had gone well and she was sticking faithfully to her physical therapy program. But at her last session, she wasn’t herself. “I really felt exhausted, so we took it easy,” Diane said. A few days later she was so short of breath that she asked Jim to call an ambulance.

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Diane was taken to Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin St. Joseph’s Hospital where an ultrasound and echocardiogram revealed a narrowing of the aortic valve that reduces blood flow through the body. Left untreated, aortic valve narrowing

can cause weakening of the heart muscle and lead to more serious heart conditions.

“I told her the valve needed to be replaced and that we had two options — traditional open heart surgery or a minimally invasive procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement or TAVR,” said cardiologist Aimee Welsh, MD.

With the TAVR procedure, a new valve is delivered via a small plastic tube, generally through the femoral artery. TAVR is recommended for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are not ideal candidates for open heart surgery. A hallmark of care

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World-Class Heart Valve Surgery Available Locally

The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Valve Disease Program provides patients with the most advanced options to repair or replace faulty heart valves. This includes robotic-assisted mitral valve surgery, a minimally invasive option for patients.

Goya Raikar, MD, who joined our cardiac surgery team in January 2018, leads this innovative program at Froedtert & MCW Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls. This unique approach to mitral valve repair is found only at select hospitals across the county.

“Dr. Raikar brings unparalleled expertise in robotic mitral valve repair that will benefit patients across the region,” said Paul Pearson, MD, PhD, chief of cardiac surgery at Froedtert & MCW Froedtert Hospital. “He enhances our already robust team of cardiothoracic surgeons who deliver the latest, most advanced options in cardiac surgery.” Q

Learn more about our cardiac surgery team at froedtert.com/heart-vascular.

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“ Froedtert Hospital is unique in that most of the time we don’t even administer general anesthesia (for TAVR). Most patients leave the hospital within 24 hours following the TAVR procedure.” PAUL PEARSON, MD, PhD

within the Froedtert & MCW health network, a multidisciplinary team determines a coordinated, comprehensive and personalized treatment plan for each patient.

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Diane had bypass surgery a number of years ago, and was, quite naturally, concerned about another cardiac intervention of any sort. “I wasn’t ready to jump in either direction, but because I was getting short of breath walking from one room to the next, I knew I needed to have my heart repaired,” she said.

“I always like to sit down with patients and discuss their options, not only from a medical standpoint but to understand the patient’s point of view and address their concerns and fears,” Dr. Welsh said. After an initial review of the options, Dr. Welsh suggested Diane meet with cardiothoracic surgeon Paul Pearson, MD, PhD, at Froedtert & MCW Froedtert Hospital. Diane ultimately opted for TAVR.

“I participated in a number of clinical trials that demonstrated TAVR valves were safe and better than heart surgery in certain patients,” Dr. Pearson said. He, along with interventional cardiologist Peter Mason, MD, MPH, RPVI, lead the active TAVR Program at Froedtert Hospital.

“TAVR originally was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011 for inoperable and high-risk patients, but in 2016, it was approved for intermediate-risk patients because the outcomes for TAVR

compared to surgery have been favorable,” Dr. Mason said. Having seen this success firsthand in the hundreds of TAVR procedures they have performed, Dr. Pearson and Dr. Mason are pleased it is now an option for a broader spectrum of patients.

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With TAVR, the new valve is advanced into position using X-ray and ultrasound guidance. Once in position, the valve is deployed by inflating a balloon that expands the valve frame and pushes aside the diseased valve leaflets. The new valve sits inside the patient’s diseased valve.

“Froedtert Hospital is unique in that most of the time we don’t even administer general anesthesia (for TAVR),” Dr. Pearson said. “We just numb the skin where we are going to access the artery in the leg. It takes about 90 minutes from the time patients enter the operating room until the procedure is complete. And most of that is preparation like hooking up monitors and equipment and other preparatory steps. Given the avoidance of general anesthesia, most patients leave the hospital within 24 hours following the TAVR procedure. When patients go home, they can resume their normal activities without needing rehabilitation.”

Looking back at her experience, Diane said she was pleased with the process and the outcome. “Dr. Pearson and Dr. Mason never rushed me, and I had a lot of questions,” she said. “The procedure was everything they said it would be. I felt marvelous immediately after. Within 10 days I was back out in the barn feeding the animals.” ■

The Froedtert & MCW TAVR Program brings together a multidisciplinary heart team to deliver the best possible care. Call 414-805-3666 or visit froedtert.com/tavr for more information.

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On the


MULTIPLE SCLEROSISMultiple sclerosis (MS) may hinder John Haupt’s ability to walk, but it doesn’t dampen his enthusiasm for living — or significantly impair the avid handcycler’s mobility, for that matter. “I could use a cane or crutches, but I finally chose to use a wheelchair in 2007,” said John, 61, who was diagnosed with MS in 1972 when he was 16 years old. “I experienced some setbacks in the 1990s and gradually lost more and more of my ability to walk. “When you use a cane or crutches, there’s only so much you can do before you need to sit down and rest,” he said. “I can get a lot more done if I use a wheelchair.”

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Getting things done is John’s mantra. The Wauwatosa resident is a member of the Milwaukee County Commission for Persons with Disabilities; serves as the handcycling director for the Tour of America’s Dairyland, also known as TOAD; and is a prolific fundraiser for the Wisconsin chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, having raised more than $60,000 through Challenge Walk MS and the TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour.

During summer, John concentrates on handcycling — 20 to 25 miles a pop, four to six times a week — and competes in bike races. The rest of the year, he works out several times a week, doing stationary bike rides, arm and leg strength training and walking with walking poles. John leads a full life, with a healthy assist from staff at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Froedtert Hospital.

“When you think about it, what good would it do to feel sorry for myself ?” he said. “I’ve been dealing with this for 45 years. Once you start making the most of it, you find it’s a much better life than doing nothing. I don’t think what I do is all that special, it’s just sensible.”

MS doesn’t hold back handcyclist and advocate

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John’s journey began at age 15 with vision problems and numbness in his extremities. After weeks of tests and speculation about his condition, the MS diagnosis came in.

“I felt an odd sense of relief,” John said. “The doctors had been talking about much worse stuff, including brain surgery, so I was relieved. But I also felt some trepidation about what life would be like going forward.”

In simplest terms, MS is an autoimmune disease caused by inflamed cells that attack myelin, a fatty protein that covers and protects nerves. As a result, the brain loses its ability to send nerve signals. The disease primarily affects women ages 20 to 45. Symptoms and the resulting disabilities vary; John said it took 23 years for a permanent disability to emerge. He said that sometimes debilitating relapses occur, which can be either temporary or permanent.

There is no cure for MS, which researchers believe is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. But MS is not fatal, although it can shorten lifespan if left untreated, according to neurologist Staley Brod, MD. He periodically sees John at Froedtert Hospital, which has a Multiple Sclerosis Program recognized by the MS Society as a certified comprehensive care center.

“During the last 25 years, we’ve gone from zero medicines to about 15 that can control the disease,” Dr. Brod said. “These drugs modify the course of the disease by slowing it down.”

To slow the disease’s progression, John takes a drug called TYSABRI®. To control muscle spasms, he also takes baclofen, which is delivered continuously in small doses to his spinal cord via a pump implanted under the skin on his abdomen. “Taking the drug orally produces side effects that would greatly impact his ability to be active,” said advanced practice nurse practitioner Mary Elizabeth Nelson. “It’s a miraculous drug and a life-changing treatment.”

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While question marks surround the disease, one thing is certain — physical activity is paramount to good quality of life. “Being active increases strength, balance and coordination and helps maintain the ability to move, with or without ambulatory aids,” Dr. Brod said. “It benefits you physically and psychologically and makes life more enjoyable.”

John applauds the care at Froedtert Hospital. He appreciates the hospital’s multidisciplinary approach, especially since MS triggers many medical issues that require attention from different medical specialties, including urology, gastroenterology and physical therapy. “I always come away impressed,” he said. “Froedtert Hospital makes it very simple to access all the care I need.”

Looking ahead, John is eager to do longer and more competitive handcycling events and continue his MS advocacy work. “My calendar is very full now, and that’s great,” he said.

John also said he could not maintain his active lifestyle without his wife, Cheryl. “She provides a home and all the things I need so I can do these things that other people wish they could do but can’t because they work 40 to 60 hours a week,” he said. “I’ve found a very good life here, and I feel lucky every day.” ■

To learn more, visit froedtert.com/multiple-sclerosis

or call 414-805-3666 to make an appointment.

“ Froedtert Hospital makes it very

simple to access all the care I need.”

JOHN HAUPT

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TRANSPLANT

In November 2017, the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Transplant Program celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since its inception, the program has provided a second chance at life to more than 5,000 people through organ transplant.

The program began in July 1967 with the arrival of transplant pioneer H. Myron Kauffman, MD, to Milwaukee County General Hospital. He went on to complete over 900 kidney transplants during his career. His groundbreaking work set the stage for the Froedtert & MCW Transplant Center, recognized as a regional leader in organ transplant care.

Today, under the leadership of transplant surgeon, professor of surgery and Solid Organ Transplant Program director Johnny Hong, MD, the Transplant Center delivers nationally recognized care for patients needing heart, kidney, liver, lung and pancreas transplants.

“The work done by my predecessors set the groundwork for what has become a world-renowned transplant center,” Dr. Hong said. “The field of organ transplantation continues to be at the

forefront of medicine as our team of physicians, researchers and staff continually work together to develop new therapies and deliver comprehensive, leading-edge transplant care.” ■

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Transplant Program Celebrates 50 Years of Giving Life

Years ofTransplant

1967-2017 Transplant Numbers

More than:

150 heart 130 lung830 liver* 300 pancreas**

*(living and deceased donors) **(includes combined kidney/pancreas)

4,250 kidney*

The Froedtert & MCW Transplant Program is nationally recognized for excellent outcomes. Learn more at froedtert.com/transplant.

July 1967Dr. Kauffman starts the

Kidney Transplant Program

November 1967 Program’s first kidney

transplant performed,

led by Dr. Kauffman

February 1968 Program’s first living

donor kidney transplant

September 2015 Transplant Intensive

Care Unit opens

October 2015 Center for Advanced Care

(new Transplant Clinic) opens

September 1977 Groundbreaking

takes place for

Froedtert Hospital

June 1991 Program’s first

lung transplant

April 2004 First incompatible

blood type kidney

transplant in Wisconsin

September 1983 First liver transplant

in Wisconsin

March 1999 First minimally

invasive living

donor kidney

removal in

Wisconsin May 2013 First in-situ split

liver transplant in

Wisconsin performed

August 1987 Program’s first

pancreas transplant

after kidney transplant

February 1985 Program’s first

heart transplant

TRANSPLANT MILESTONES


Froedtert Hospital Foundation donors help fund ALS Clinic

The level of care, compassion and education taking place in the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Clinic at Froedtert & MCW Froedtert Hospital has earned the clinic designation as a Center of Excellence by the ALS Association. Management of ALS, the neurological disorder commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is critical for patients looking to maximize their remaining years. The clinic is staffed by Paul Barkhaus, MD, neurologist and ALS Program director, and Dominic Fee, MD, neurologist and associate program director, along with a multidisciplinary team. Froedtert Hospital Foundation donors have joined the ALS Association in supporting the ALS Clinic to provide services to these patients. The ALS Program focuses on optimal use of the patient’s abilities, proactive care that anticipates problems in this progressive disease, and counseling of patients and families. Patients also have access to specialty care such as pulmonary medicine, nutrition counseling, gastrostomy tube placement/management, rehabilitation, and physical and occupational therapy. Some patients are co-managed with hospice groups. ■

To support programs at Froedtert Hospital, call 414-955-4501 or visit froedterthospitalfoundation.org.

Scholz quietly leaves a legacy

Many go through life wanting to make a difference while they are still around to see it. Others choose to make a difference through a planned gift after they have passed away, as part of their legacy. Mark Scholz not only did both, but he did it quietly and without any desire to be recognized. Mark was an original planning committee member for the Impact a Life fundraiser held annually to benefit the Froedtert & MCW Kraemer Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital campus. In 2017, this important

event celebrated its 10th year, but Mark passed away unexpectedly prior to the event. Over the years Mark secured countless silent auction items, one-of-a-kind live auction experiences and sponsorships. His commitment

and ability to simply make things happen were true examples of the type of man he was. The relationships he had throughout the community and his dedication to helping others speaks to his strength and character. Mark unselfishly gave of his time to make life better for those dealing with cancer, even while he dealt with his own

health issues. Mark’s legacy will continue to live on through a planned gift of $30,000 to the Kraemer Cancer Center. Mark gave without any expectation of reward. His selflessness and dedication are wonderful examples of the impact one person can have. ■

For more information about making a planned gift, contact St. Joseph’s Community Foundation at 262-836-7828

or visit stjosephscommunityfoundation.org.

Van Winkles recognized with Philanthropy Excellence Award

Community Memorial Foundation is pleased to honor Greg Van Winkle, MD, and his wife, Mariann, with the 2017 Philanthropy Excellence Award for their exceptional generosity in improving the quality of life in Menomonee Falls and beyond. Since coming to Wisconsin in 1985, the Van Winkles have built, supported and championed healthier communities. They have done mission work in Peru and at the Apache Indian Reservation in northern New Mexico; volunteered at their church and at their three, now adult, children’s schools; contributed to the free Community Outreach Health Clinic; and supported the many fundraising events for Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Community Memorial Hospital. The foundation appreciates the Van Winkles’ continuous support of Community Memorial Foundation’s annual Spring Splendor gala, especially when they chaired the Spring Splendor 2013 Grand Slam. The successful fundraiser benefited the Emergency Department and Trauma Center at Community Memorial Hospital. The Van Winkles’ leadership with Spring Splendor and the foundation’s capital campaign was essential to reaching our goal of $3 million for the Emergency Department expansion. ■

Learn how you can support exceptional patient care at Community Memorial Hospital by contacting Community

Memorial Foundation at 262-257-3760 or visiting communitymemorialfoundation.org.

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Supporting Health Care in Your Community

Froedtert Health, Inc. 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53226-3596

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPEWAUKEE, WI

PERMIT NO. 1488

What Is PossibleA connection to academic medicineacross your community.

With new health centers in Mequon, the heart of downtown Milwaukee and Oak Creek, a connection to the highest standard of medical care is even more convenient. Extended hours, health care for the whole family and on-site services are available right in your neighborhood. Whether you need primary or specialty care, our connection to academic medicine means you will receive care that is at the forefront of innovation. And now, you will be able to find it much closer to home or work.

The Froedtert & MCW health network includes nearly 45 health centers and hospital locations.* Visit froedtert.com or

call 1-800-DOCTORS to schedule an appointment and learn more.

* Not all services offered at each location.

Academic medicine, closer than ever

• Primary Care• Urgent Care• Ambulatory Surgery Center• Cancer Center• Cardiology and Diagnostics• Dermatology• Ortho Now — walk-in care for orthopaedic

and sports-related injuries• Endocrinology

• Gastroenterology• General Surgery• Hand Surgery• Imaging and 3D Mammography• Laboratory• Neurology• NX Level — sports performance training• Obstetrics and Gynecology

• Ophthalmology• Orthopaedics/Sports Medicine• Pain Management• Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies• Plastic Surgery• Podiatry• SpineCare• Urology

Hello, Neighbor.

primary care lymphoma orthopaedics · your medical record and care team, and how convenient and...

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