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M MGH HOTLINE 12.21.12 A PUBLICATION FOR EMPLOYEES AND STAFF OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL ❄❄ MGH STAFF GATHERED together to celebrate the season with musical medleys and plates of tasty goodies during this year’s annual Holiday Receptions, hosted by President Peter L. Slavin, MD. The parties were held Dec. 17 for day- and night-shift employees at the main campus and Dec. 18 for staff at the Charlestown Navy Yard. n ThisisthefirstChristmasthatI haveagrandchild,sowewillbe startingalotofnewtraditions withthebaby,DeclanThomas,who wasborninSeptember.Weareso luckyandsoblessed.” AnnMarieBrooks,oftheMGH BiomedicalEngineeringDepartment, onherspecialholidayplans Celebrating the season Amostunusualpatient MGHERS WITH A VIEWofthehelipadmaybe surprisedonChristmasEveiftheycatchaglimpse ofanextremelyunusualpatientwithanextremely unusualmodeoftransportation–aboardamagical sleighpulledbyeighttinyreindeer.Thankfullythe jollyoldmanwillbefeeling100percentbetterthan whenhewaswheeledintotheMGHEmergency Departmentearlierthismonthwithalaundrylist ofmedicalproblems. TheMGHhasmanybelovedhistoricaltreasures– butperhapsnonesoenjoyedandembraced duringeachDecemberastheannualadmissionof (Continued on page 4) Untilnow,beingplump nevermadehimagrump. Howeverconsideringhisplight, thepatientbegantothink inanewlight. Whenaskedabouthis frozenskull, thequestionwasmet withalull. Regardinghisscaldedfeet, hesaidhe’ddiscussthemif wegavehimatreat. –EntryfromtheSantaFiles RIVETING RECORD: Andrew Warshaw, MD

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Page 1: 12.21.12 MGHHOTLINE · Dec. 18 for staff at the Charlestown Navy Yard. n ... Submit news tips and story ... from lifting a heavy sack, jelly-belly, too pooped to pop, reindeer scratch

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MGH staff GatHered together to celebrate the season with musical medleys and plates of tasty goodies during this year’s annual Holiday Receptions, hosted by President Peter L. Slavin, MD. The parties were held Dec. 17 for day- and night-shift employees at the main campus and Dec. 18 for staff at the Charlestown Navy Yard. n

“�This�is�the�first�Christmas�that�I�have�a�grandchild,�so�we�will�be�starting�a�lot�of�new�traditions�with�the�baby,�Declan�Thomas,�who�was�born�in�September.�We�are�so�lucky�and�so�blessed.”�

���–��Ann�Marie�Brooks,�of�the�MGH�Biomedical�Engineering�Department,�on�her�special�holiday�plans

Celebrating the season

A�most�unusual�patientMGHers witH a view�of�the�helipad�may�be�surprised�on�Christmas�Eve�if�they�catch�a�glimpse�of�an�extremely�unusual�patient�with�an�extremely�unusual�mode�of�transportation�–�aboard�a�magical�sleigh�pulled�by�eight�tiny�reindeer.�Thankfully�the�jolly�old�man�will�be�feeling�100�percent�better�than�when�he�was�wheeled�into�the�MGH�Emergency�Department�earlier�this�month�with�a�laundry�list�of�medical�problems.�

The�MGH�has�many�beloved�historical�treasures�–��but�perhaps�none�so�enjoyed�and�embraced�during�each�December�as�the�annual�admission�of�(Continued on page 4)

Until�now,�being�plumpnever�made�him�a�grump.�However�considering�his�plight,�the�patient�began�to�think�����in�a�new�light.�When�asked�about�his�����frozen�skull,�the�question�was�met�����with�a�lull.�Regarding�his�scalded�feet,�he�said�he’d�discuss�them�if�����we�gave�him�a�treat.�

–�Entry�from�the�Santa�FilesRiveting RecoRd:Andrew Warshaw, MD

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Harmonious�hallway�‘tis tHe season to�be�jolly�and�MGHers�provided�plenty�of�holiday�cheer�Dec.�13�during�the�annual�MGH�Chaplaincy�Songfest.�Dressed�in�festive�attire,�staff�and�volunteers�gathered�in�the�White�Lobby�to�sing�a�wide�range��of�seasonal�songs.�

12.14.12

Happy�Chanukahon tHe fourtH niGHt of�Chanukah,�Dec.�11,�25�people�gathered�in�the�Thier�Conference�Room�for�a�traditional�ceremony,�blessings�and�food�at�the�MGH’s�first�community�Chanukah�celebration.�

“This�celebration�has�two�overlapping�purposes,”�said�Rabbi�Ben�Lanckton,�of�the�MGH�Chaplaincy.�“One�is�to�give�the�Jewish�community�here�at�the�MGH�a�place�to�celebrate�publicly�one�of�our�happiest�holidays�of�the�year.�The�other�is�to�provide�members�of�the�MGH�community�who�are�not�Jewish�a�chance�to�celebrate�with�us,�learn�about�some�of�our�customs�and�traditions,�and�enjoy�some�good�food.”

Lanckton�lit�the�menorah�with�help�from�members�of�the�MGH�Jewish�community,�including�Lauren�Sterling,�below,�administrative�manager�for�Vascular�Surgery,�who�said�she�was�honored�to�have�been�part�of�the�event.�“It�felt�very�good�to�be�celebrating�the�holiday�with�a�community�in�which�I�spend�so�much�time,”�she�said.�“It�also�meant�a�lot�that�there�were�people�who�didn’t�know�what�Chanukah�was�and�came�to�learn�more�about�it.”

Sterling�said�she�and�other�employees�who�helped�plan�the�event�hope�to�make�it�an�annual�occasion�at�the�MGH.�

“It�felt�very�special�to�be�recognized�by�the�hospital�in�this�way,”�she�said.

“�That’s�Santa!�That’s�Santa!�Momma,��that�girl’s�dressed�like�a�penguin!”�

��–�Jarel�Barrows,�4�

Santa,�elves�and�penguins�too!�for tHe last seven years,�the�Department�of�Orthopædic�Surgery�Oncology�Service�has�arranged�a�special�holiday�visit�from�Santa,�Mrs.�Claus�and�their�penguin�friends�to�pediatric�patients�within�the�Division�of�Pediatric�Hematology-Oncology�on�Yawkey�8B,�the�inpatient�units�on�Ellison�17�and�18,�and�the�Pediatric�Intensive�Care�Unit.�On�Dec.�17,�surgeon�Kevin�Raskin,�MD,�along�with�patient�services�coordinator�Paula�Francois,�and�Orthopædic�trauma�administrative�assistants�Aimee�Lydon�and�Christie�Hilgendorf,�delivered�more�than�50�gift�bags�and�cards�donated�by�staff�from�Orthopædics,�Imaging,�Nutrition�and�Food�Services,�Buildings�and�Grounds,�and�the�MGH�Gift�Shop.���n

���“�I�think�it’s�great�for�the�kids��and�the�parents.”��–��Robin�Drew�with�her�1-month-old�son�Cameron

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MGHHOTLINEHoliday�home�run“�I�got�a�DS!�Wanna�see?”�–��Brock�Collins,�9,�while�showing�off�his�“Cars�2”�video�game�skills�

tHe Boston red sox�Holiday�Caravan�brought�pitcher�Chris�Carpenter,�below�left,�outfielder�Ryan�Kalish,�center,�and�team�mascot�Wally�the�Green�Monster�to�MassGeneral�Hospital�for�Children�on�Dec.�10.�The�group�visited�Ellison�17,�Ellison�18,�and�the�Pediatric�Intensive�Care�Unit�to�visit�with�pediatric�patients,�pose�for�photographs,�sign�autographs�and�distribute�souvenir�Wally�dolls.�

Mickey Mouse made a special surprise visit to MassGeneral Hospital for Children’s inpatient floors Dec. 12. Mickey signed autographs, posed for pictures and helped children design crowns, tiaras and mouse ears. He also donated 100 tickets to patients and their families to enjoy the “Disney On Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic” show.

Making�memories�with�Mickey“�I�think�it�was�an�awesome�idea�to�have�Mickey�come�because�the�kids�were�extremely�excited.�It�definitely�brought�smiles�to�not�only�the�patients’�faces�but�to�their�families,�as�well�as�the�staff�on�the�floor.”

��–��Lauren�Mastromarino,�patient�care�associate�on�Ellison�18

Boston Bruins Hall of faMer ray Bourque, far right, and fellow alumni Jay Miller, far left, and Bob Sweeney distributed boxes of toys and team memorabilia on Dec. 19 at MassGeneral Hospital for Children’s pediatric inpatient units as part of the annual Bruins Holiday Toy Delivery. Bourque started the tradition while he was the team’s captain, and since that time the team has donated toys to pediatric departments at six Boston-area hospitals. The Bruins raised $22,500 from the Boston Bruins Foundation, Delaware North Companies and Garden Neighborhood Charities to purchase the toys. 

“�The�audience�is�there�visiting�a�friend�or�family�member�–�or�they�have�an�appointment�themselves –�and�it’s�probably�the�last�place�they�want�to�be.�I�like�to�know�my�participation�and�dressing�up�so�festively�allows�them�to stop,�smile�and�feel�good�if�even�for just�a�moment.”�

��–��Chastity�McMullon,�admitting�assistant,��MGH�Emergency�Services

“�It�was�really�nice�to�have�them�come�in.�It’s�a�nice�silver�lining�to�being�stuck�in�the�hospital.”�

��–�Erica�Talamo,�19

Bruins�score�with�annual�toy�delivery

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MGHHOTLINE12.14.12

editorEmily�Lemiska�617-724-2753

assistant editorColleen�Marshall

617-726-0275

�email �[email protected]

mail Public�Affairs�Office��

50�Staniford�Street,�Suite�830�Boston,�MA�02114

MGH Hotline�is�published�weekly�by�the�MGH�Public�Affairs�Office.�

Photos�by�MGH�Photography��unless�otherwise�noted.

MGH Hotline�is�printed�on�recycled�paper.�

Find�MGH Hotline�on�the�web�at�www.massgeneral.org/news/hotline or�

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Submit news tips and story ideas to MGH Hotline

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announcements available onlineTo�read�this�week’s�“What’s�Happening”�items,�visit�http://intranet.massgeneral.org.

The�gift�of�givingsanta and His elves�visited�several�MassGeneral�Hospital�for�Children�patients�Dec.�20,�bringing�gifts�courtesy�of�the�MGH�Blood�Donor�Center.�During�the�month�of�December,�all�blood�donors�were�invited�to�fill�out�a�gift�tag�that�was�attached�to�cuddly�stuffed�animals�or�toys�and�delivered�to��the�pediatric�patients.�

— An unusual patient(Continued from page 1)

Santa�Claus�as�a�patient.�It’s�a�tradition�that�dates�back�to�the�early�1950s,�when�a�surgical�resident�first�decided�to�log�a�humorous�account�of�Santa’s�ailments.�The�ritual�continued�in�the�ensuing�years�–�resulting�in�a�medical�record�that�now�stands�four�feet�tall.�“You�can�open�to�almost�any�page�and�have�fun�reading�it,”�said�Andrew�L.�Warshaw,�MD,�MGH�surgeon-in-chief�emeritus.�Warshaw�detailed�Santa’s�humorous�history�during�a�special�“The�Santa�Files”�presentation�on�Dec.�17�at�the�Paul�S.��Russell,�MD�Museum�of�Medical�History�and�Innovation.�

Old�Saint�Nick’s�illnesses�and�complaints�have�included�a�bleeding�heart,�a�hernia�from�lifting�a�heavy�sack,�jelly-belly,�too�pooped�to�pop,�reindeer�scratch�disease�and�Noël�syndrome�–�a�pathological�aversion�to�the�12th�letter�of�the�alphabet.�The�causes�of�his�ailments�are�amusing,�but�the�real�humor�is�seen�in�the�way�the�resulting�diagnosis�and�treatment�options�are�recorded.�Staff�each�year�take�great�care�to�document�their�responses�in�clever�ways�–�using�poetry,�puns�and�witty�descriptions,�as�well�as�comical�drawings�and�illustrations.�Warshaw�said�the�documents�also�are�used�in�a�more�serious�manner,�as�training�tools�for�educational�discussion�during�Surgical�Grand�Rounds.�

“This�is�a�treasure�we�have�to�preserve,”�Warshaw�said.�“And�that�is�why�we�are�donating�the�records�to�the�museum�to�be�a�part�of�its�permanent�collection.�These�records�are�great�fun�and�a�wonderful�ongoing�tradition�at�the�MGH.”

Toys,�toys,�toystHis year’s annual�Toys�for�Tots�toy�drive�competition�was�organized�by�Department�of�Anesthesia,�Critical�Care�and�Pain�Medicine�residents�Luke�Janik,�MD,�and�Agnes�Lesicka,�MD;�Internal�Medicine��resident�Kelly�Lauter,�MD,�PhD;�and�Pediatrics�resident�Chanley�C.�Dudley,�MD.�Each�year�the�three�departments�have�a�friendly�competition�to�see�who�can�bring�in�the�most�toys�–�but�ultimately�their�goal�is�to�ensure�that�children�in�Boston�awake�on�Christmas�morning�to�find�a�special�surprise.��n�

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“�The�Toys�for�Tots�collection�is�a�really�simple�yet�meaningful�thing�that�we�can�do�to�help�local�Boston�children�who�otherwise�wouldn’t�get�a�holiday�present�this�year.”

��–�Luke�Janik,�MD,�Anesthesia�resident

Shopping SpRee:From left, Anesthesia residents Mark Meyer, Yvonne Lai, Lesicka and Janik

nominations for the one hundredNominations�are�now�being�accepted�for�the�MGH�Cancer�Center’s�the one hundred,�an�annual�fundraiser�that�honors�100�individuals�and�groups�leading�the�way�in�the�fight�against�cancer.�Nominees�do�not�have�to�be�MGH�employees.�To�nominate�someone,�visit�www.theonehundred.org.�The�deadline�to�submit�a�nomination�is�Dec.�31.�For�more�information,�e-mail [email protected].

“��It�was�sweet�and�generous.�It�lifts�your�spirits.”��–�Troy�Morse,�14