Client News: Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare collaborating with Louisville Science Center on program to boost interest in medical careers

Project provides live view of heart surgery

SOURCE: Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare
Press Release

LOUISVILLE (June 16, 2010) – Middle and high school students visiting the Louisville Science Center will view live heart surgeries and interact with surgical teams as part of a project that seeks to boost interest in medical careers and promote healthy lifestyles among young people. The Greater Louisville Medical Society and Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare are collaborating with the Louisville Science Center to establish the educational program called Pulse of Surgery.

GLMS and donors to the Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation have each pledged $100,000 to the program, slated to launch this winter. The funding is for technology outfitting, development of curriculum and program materials, supplies, marketing, evaluation and Science Center staff. In the first year, a minimum of 12 surgeries are expected to be broadcast live from Jewish Hospital, to students from Kentucky and southern Indiana at the Science Center.

Pulse of Surgery is modeled on successful collaborations in Chicago and other major cities. Joanna Haas, executive director of the Louisville Science Center, said the program is designed to “increase science literacy among middle and high school students. By engaging them in doing science – witnessing a surgery in real time and interacting with the medical staff – we hope to increase their interest in pursuing future science careers. These students are our future doctors, medical researchers and innovators – and the Louisville Science Center is committed to impacting students across the state, energizing them by connecting them with scientists in the field.” The program includes supplementary visuals and pre- and post-activities for the classroom.

Kimberly A. Alumbaugh, M.D., president of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, said the program will offer physicians the opportunity to recruit new minds to the medical profession. “Physicians will be taking students into the operating room and showing them the team concept of medicine as well as the terrible effects of smoking and obesity,” Dr. Alumbaugh said.

“We are extremely excited about this partnership with the Science Center and GLMS. Thanks to their support and that of our Foundation donors, we are able to make this a reality,” said Marty Bonick, president/CEO, Jewish Hospital Medical Campus and senior vice president, JHSMH. “Dr. Mark Slaughter is truly the brains behind this project, bringing the idea to us. His interest in children’s education, and providing the right knowledge to inspire them, is what will make this project a success.”

Renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mark Slaughter will be the lead surgeon performing heart surgery “live” from the operating room, engaging young minds in thought provoking conversations. “Pulse of Surgery is a great opportunity for JHSMH, the Science Center and Louisville. Not only will the program give middle and high school kids an opportunity to talk live with our OR team and discover possible career paths in the health care field, but it gives them an opportunity to see firsthand the results of how lifestyle choices and heredityimpact the human heart,” said Slaughter. Dr. Slaughter is the Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Louisville and Director of the Heart Transplant and Mechanical Assist Device program at Jewish Hospital, and Associate Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Innovation Institute.

ABOUT JEWISH HOSPITAL & ST. MARY’S HEALTHCARE (www.jhsmh.org)
Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare (JHSMH) is a regional health network that includes more than 70 health care facilities and 1,900 patient beds in Kentucky and southern Indiana. JHSMH provides a complete array of health care services including hospitals, outpatient care, occupational health, psychiatric care and rehab medicine. JHSMH also provides innovative home health care and specialty programs promoting the highest quality of life to families in Kentucky and southern Indiana and has been nationally ranked in the top 25 percent of Medicare-certified agency providers. JHSMH has nearly 7,850 team members and employs a network of physician practices that provide both primary and specialty medical care.

ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE SCIENCE CENTER (www.LouisvilleScience.org)
The Louisville Science Center is a nonprofit educational institution that encourages people of all ages to enjoy science, mathematics and technology in a stimulating and engaging environment that is educational as well as entertaining. Designated the “State Science Center of Kentucky” by the 2002 Kentucky General Assembly, the Louisville Science Center features interactive exhibits and engaging programs for children, families and adults. The Louisville Science Center is committed to growing a scientifically literate community that investigates, questions, and challenges.

ABOUT THE GREATER LOUISVILLE MEDICAL SOCIETY (www.glms.org)
The Greater Louisville Medical Society is a professional association of physicians practicing in the greater Louisville area. Recognized as one of the most active regional medical societies in the country, GLMS unites over 3,800 physicians and medical students to promote the science, art, and profession of medicine, protect the integrity of the physician-patient relationship, and advocate for the health and well-being of the community.

View press release on JHSMH website here.
© 2010 Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare