• A Program Director's Guide to Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion in Radiology Residency Recruitment

      DeBenedectis, Carolynn M.; Heitkamp, Darel E.; England, Eric; Gaviola, Glenn C.; Hirsch, Joshua A.; Ho, Christopher P.; Jay, Ann K.; Kagetsu, Nolan; Kalia, Vivek; Milburn, James; et al. (2019-08-28)
      Diversity and inclusion are vital elements to the success of any group. Indeed, evidence from the business world indicates that a group's overall talent level is a function of its collective cognitive diversity. The ability to effectively problem solve, innovate, and adapt to change all depend to a large degree on the biases and life experiences of an organization's constituent members. As other industries have come to embrace this principle, their recruitment strategies have included placing a premium on employees who can think differently from one another. The benefits of diversity and inclusion have been touted in the medical literature and on social media sites in recent years. The radiology Twitter community often discusses the nuances of diversity and how it benefits all stakeholders in a radiology department. In essence, a diverse group allows for collaboration among colleagues with dissimilar experiences and perspectives, increasing the odds for discovery of new concepts and innovation (Fig 1) (1). Patients may stand to benefit the most, as diversity among practicing physicians is believed to be a key component of improving access and reducing disparities to health care in the United States (2,3).
    • FTD/ALS-associated poly(GR) protein impairs the Notch pathway and is recruited by poly(GA) into cytoplasmic inclusions

      Yang, Dejun; Abdallah, Abbas; Li, Zhaodong; Lu, Yubing; Almeida, Sandra; Gao, Fen-Biao (2015-10-01)
      C9ORF72 repeat expansion is the most common genetic mutation in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Abnormal dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) generated from repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation of repeat-containing RNAs are thought to be pathogenic; however, the mechanisms are unknown. Here we report that (GR)80 and (PR)80 are toxic in neuronal and non-neuronal cells in Drosophila. In contrast to reported shorter poly(GR) forms, (GR)80 is mostly localized throughout the cytosol without detectable accumulation in the nucleolus, accompanied by suppression of Notch signaling and cell loss in the wing. Some Notch target genes are also downregulated in brains and iPSC-derived cortical neurons of C9ORF72 patients. Increased Notch expression largely suppressed (GR)80-induced cell loss in the wing. When co-expressed in Drosophila, HeLa cells, or human neurons, (GA)80 recruited (GR)80 into cytoplasmic inclusions, partially decreasing the toxicity of (GR)80 and restoring Notch signaling in Drosophila. Thus, different DPRs have opposing roles in cell loss and we identify the Notch pathway as one of the receptor signaling pathways that might be compromised in C9ORF72 FTD/ALS.
    • Pediatric Refugee Health Care Delivery in the Community Setting: An Educational Workshop for Multidisciplinary Family-Centered Care During Resettlement

      Nehal, Umbereen S.; Kanahara, Satoko; Tanabe, Mihoko; Hayner, Grace; Nelson, Brett D. (2020-11-03)
      Introduction: With 70.8 million people displaced worldwide, there is an increasing need for medical professionals to provide medical care to refugees. Insufficient training on refugee health poses a barrier to effective care delivery. Methods: This workshop addressed common challenges in providing family-centered pediatric refugee care in community settings as well as barriers related to policy changes. Presentations covered prearrival experiences, medical screening, and trauma-based care. In small groups, participants discussed cases that featured medical, behavioral health, social, and cultural factors impacting the provision of family-centered pediatric care that was culturally respectful and included shared decision-making. After the breakout session, each small group informed the larger group of topics discussed. Facilitators identified themes and reinforced key learning points. At the workshop's conclusion, participants were guided to create their own personalized action plan. Results: This workshop was presented at two international conferences to more than 47 participants, including clinicians, nurse practitioners, pediatric residents, and medical students. Evaluations were completed by 34 individuals. Participants' overall comfort level with taking care of refugee patients increased from 3.3 to 4.0 (on a 5-point scale, p = .24) during the 3-hour version of the workshop and from 3.8 to 4.0 (p = .43) in the 1-hour version of the workshop. Mean overall ratings of the 3- and 1-hour workshop versions on conference-administered evaluations were 4.8 and 4.2, respectively, on a 5-point scale. Discussions: This workshop was well received and equipped participants with knowledge, tools, and strategies regarding pediatric refugee health in a community setting.