Dartmouth Health

"My doctors told me I would have had less than five years to live if the cancer went undetected." - Peter Lennon, fire marshal for the Manchester, NH Fire Department Cancer screenings can save lives. But what if your worst fear comes true? Dartmouth Cancer Center hematology oncologist and section chief of Medical Oncology, Linda Vahdat, MD, and Dartmouth Health Population Health Officer Sally Kraft, MD, MPH, share their advice on this topic.

A new study indicates that among patients diagnosed with COVID-19, those who used marijuana had a higher risk of hospitalization and intensive care unit admission. Researchers found a greater chance of COVID-19-related complications among marijuana users than abstainers, even after accounting for cigarette smoking, vaccination status, two or more co-existing diseases, and other risk factors. As Luke Archibald, MD, section chief of our Addiction Treatment Program, told United Press International, marijuana users with other risk factors, such as current or prior cigarette smoking, lack of vaccination and advanced age, may be particularly at risk for COVID-19-related complications, noting that compounds in the cannabis plant play "an important role in our immune response in ways that are not yet fully understood." https://bit.ly/3VMYR0z

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center is in the middle of a major expansion to its emergency department. The 12,000-square-foot addition includes five crisis beds dedicated to those experiencing a mental health emergency. In each new room is a CoWin media wall, which allows patients to play music and games, draw and look at soothing images with the touch of a finger. ED staff told WCAX-TV's Adam Sullivan that these mirror-sized tablets give patients in crisis something else to focus on. “They seem to cool, they seem to relax. They focus on this and they are much more approachable,” said Brenda Mattison, LNA. “It gives them that sense of, 'I’m in control of this.'” https://bit.ly/4bvkZCG

The Fourth of July is all about friends, family, food, fun, freedom—and fireworks! 🎆🎇 While enjoying the night sky lit up, it's important to remember that fireworks, while beautiful, are still explosives and extremely dangerous. Emergency departments nationwide see a spike in firework- and sparkler-related injuries this time of year, particularly to the eyes. "It’s not worth the risk to you or your child’s eye health to skip the necessary precautions when near sparklers, firecrackers and fireworks, so we encourage parents to talk to their kids about fireworks safety before the holiday," say Dartmouth Health Children's pediatric ophthalmologists Erin Salcone, MD, and Janine Eagle, MD. See their tips for enjoying fireworks safely this Independence Day. 🇺🇸 https://bit.ly/3W63kwI

Congratulations! 🎉 The 2024 Community Impact Social Justice Awards, hosted by our Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Employee Resource Group, recognized three individuals in the community who have made a significant impact on social issues. In the Employee category, Alisha Robinson recognized 2024 award recipient Abigail Berge-Clogston, MSHROD, program coordinator for the Dartmouth Health Office of DEIB, and the co-organizer of the Embody+ Employee Resource Group. In the Youth category, Anthony Fosu recognized 2024 award recipient Kwabena Asare, vice president, Minority Association of Pre-Health Students at Dartmouth College. Realizing the need for greater representation in medicine, Kwabena empowers minority students at Dartmouth to pursue their pre-health goals, as well as provides opportunities for them to bolster their success at Dartmouth and beyond. In the Community category, Kile Adumene recognized 2024 award recipient Joe Major, who has worked annually with the town of Hartford, VT on the Juneteenth planning committee, and has served as a guest lecturer for the town of Windsor, VT during Black History Month.

The Center for Rural Health Care Delivery Science at Dartmouth Health team recently returned from an insightful National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence (NISBRE). We were well represented with Dr. Mark Creager as the Co-Chair of Rural Health and Health Disparities session, Dr. Emily Zeitler presented a Flash Talk at that Rural Health and Health Disparities session, and Dr. Timothy Burdick presented at the poster session: “Adding geocoded social determinants of health to the EHR and enterprise data warehouse” Shehreen Zakir and Cassandra Brugger rounded out our team in attendance. We look forward to incorporating the new learnings from this symposium into our work here at Dartmouth Health.

Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) recently recognized nine providers as Top Providers based on Press Ganey rankings. “We are immensely proud of our providers for achieving such high marks in patient satisfaction,” said Winfield Brown, interim president and CEO of MAHHC. “Their commitment to delivering exceptional care and ensuring patients are seen, heard and comforted, during what is often a difficult time, is what Mt. Ascutney is known for.” Read more about the recognized providers: https://lnkd.in/eWH8H6Tg

Planning some outdoor adventures this weekend? Learn why rest and ice can hinder the healing process of an orthopaedic injury, such as a twisted ankle or a pulled hamstring. Save this advice from our experts at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Clinics and New London Hospital for the next time you or your family wonder how best to heal common injuries.

The month of June, like every month, should be a time to deepen our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. Today we highlight the reflections of one of our Employee Resource Group leaders, and share some photos from the Lebanon Opera House Pride Picnic in Lebanon, NH, and Manchester Pride in Manchester, NH, community events recently attended. "Although I find ways to celebrate and honor Pride every year, this year has been one of the first years I've been deeply rooted in community efforts for Pride. It's been incredible meeting so many individuals who are either allies or also identify as LGBTQIA2S+ and are devoted to creating safe spaces in every corner of the communities we live and work within. These authentic connections and experiences allow me to feel even more validated and recognized in my identify as a queer individual. I also attribute building authentic connections through being a part of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Dartmouth Health, where allies and LGBTQIA2S+ employees' bond over shared experiences and support one another. Our ERG is attending multiple Prides this year, with Claremont, White River Junction, and Keene next, and acts as a resource hub for anyone from any organization who needs to know where to find specific LGBTQIA2S+ support in our communities. When times feel rockiest, it's important that we all continue to express care and allyship for one another, even beyond Pride month. This can look like showing up to LGBTQIA2S+ inclusive events, displaying pronouns or stickers, distributing inclusive resources, following legislation, and more. Through these efforts, we can continue building safe spaces for those that need it the most." - Hanna Brooks (She / Her / Hers) We hope that you'll stop by and say hi at one of the upcoming community-based Pride events our GSA ERG will be attending: 🏳️🌈 June 29 - Claremont Pride in Claremont, NH 🏳️🌈 July 27 - White River Junction Pride in White River Junction, VT 🏳️🌈 September 15 - Keene Pride in Keene, NH Learn more about the variety of Employee Resource Groups available in our health system and Dartmouth Health Office of DEIB at https://lnkd.in/eQipgMdT Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital Dartmouth Health Children's Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Clinics Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center New London Hospital Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire (VNH)

Nearly 150 medical physicists from around the country landed in Hanover, New Hampshire last week for the annual American Association of Physicists in Medicine “Summer School” national conference. This year’s theme was “Workflow Optimization in Radiation Oncology: From Theory to Clinical Implementation.” This year’s Summer School was co-led by Program Director Colleen J. Fox, PhD, DABR, clinical physicist in Dartmouth Cancer Center’s Department of Radiation Oncology, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. “I am so proud of the impressive faculty we were able to assemble from across Dartmouth, along with physicists and physicians from around the US and Canada. Several Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth graduate students are also participating,” says Fox, who also co-edited the monograph for this year’s conference. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eRkdMqur