Who’s News- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
Who’s News- BWH Bulletin - For and about the People of Brigham and Women's Hospital
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February 2, 2001
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In This Issue:
T’ai Chi classes
BWH Becomes a “Buddy”
BWH Docs are Top Boston-area Picks
JCAHO Visit Results in Accreditation
Who’s News
After-School Internships at BWH
Winter BWH Magazine available now!
African-American History Month
Parenting Workshop
Call for Scholar Nominations Special Insert
Nancy Masaschi
A BWH employee since 1998, Nancy Masaschi was recently named as the Director of Value Analysis, a newly created position reporting to COO Matt Van Vranken. Formerly a senior associate in Quality Management, Masaschi now acts as a liaison to the University Health System Consortium and works to streamline supplies and processes to make BWH more efficient. Through in-depth analysis, Masaschi hopes to identify opportunities for cost savings related to improved product, service and process standardization. “A lot of people think that we are just trying to cut cost, but the idea is to become more efficient and improve quality in the process,” Masaschi said. “Our goal is to increase operating efficiency while maximizing cost effectiveness.”
Frank Sacks, MD
“Low salt diet improves heart health” In a study published in the January 4, 2001 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine and presented to the American Society of Hypertension, Sacks found that low salt intake benefits people with and without hypertension. The DASH diet and the typical U.S. diet, with variable sodium levels were assigned to 412 participants, 40 percent of which was diagnosed with hypertension. When compared, the DASH diet is more beneficial than the typical diet, but is most effective when combined with a low sodium diet containing less than 1.5 grams per day. The combination of a DASH diet and a low sodium diet lowers blood pressure more than either diet alone.
Kathrine M. Rexrode, MD, MpH
“Fish reduces strokes in women” In a study published in the January 17, 2001 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Rexrode and other Nurses Health Study researchers found that eating more fish may reduce the risk of stroke in women. Two to four servings of fish per week can reduce women’s risk of thrombotic stroke up to 48 percent. Previous studies found no relationship between the intake of fish and strokes, but this was the first large-scale study to examine fish and omega-3 acid against the subcategories of strokes. No association was found between fish and hemorrhagic stroke, a rare and more fatal type of stroke.
Alison E. Field, ScD
“Dieting teens look to parents and media” In a study published in the January 2001 issue of Pediatrics, Field found that parents and media, not peers, influence weight concerns in adolescence. Nine percent of girls studied and four percent of boys admitted to being highly concerned with weight; two percent of girls and one percent of boys are constantly dieting. Boys and girls who look for same-sex role models in the media were more likely to be concerned with weight. Girls who think thinness is important to their fathers and see their mothers constantly dieting are more likely to become constant dieters themselves. The study found no significant relationship between peer pressure and body image anxieties.
Frank B. Hu, MD, PhD
“Walking reduces heart attacks in diabetic women” In a study published in the January 16, 2001 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, Hu and other Nurses Health Study researchers found that regular exercise could reduce the risk of heart attacks in diabetic women. While moderate to vigorous exercise has been proven to benefit health in the general population, this is the first study to target diabetic women, who are at high risk for heart attack and stroke. Four hours of exercise per week, including walking, can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by 40 percent.