NIH mourns death of compassionate clinician, innovative thinker

Dr. John Leo Doppman, 72, chief of the CC Diagnostic Radiology Department for 26 years, died of cancer on Aug. 21 at the Clinical Center. A diagnostic and interventional radiologist here for 36 years, Dr. Doppman retired in April.

Dr. Doppman developed, refined, and performed numerous semi-surgical radiologic procedures. He was a pioneer in angiography, a technique that uses injections of radio-opaque dye to visualize blood vessels and tumors. He researched vascular malformations of the spinal cord and developed ways to visualize and treat them. His research culminated in the publication of the first text on this subject in 1969. Later, he concentrated on endocrinology research and developed techniques for locating ectopic or elusive glandular tumors. Many of these techniques are now standard practice in medical centers worldwide.

"John was a pillar of the NIH clinical research community," said Dr. John Gallin, Clinical Center director. "He was a respected clinician, prolific writer, dedicated teacher and generous friend. He will be missed."

Dr. Doppman received an MD from Yale and interned at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Mass., served in the Navy from 1954 to 1957 and completed a residency in radiology at the Hospital of St. Raphael, New Haven, Conn. He was a Fullbright Fellow in radiology research at the Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital, London, and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm.

He joined the NIH Clinical Center in 1964 as deputy chief of the Diagnostic Radiology Department. From 1970-1972 he was a radiology professor at the University of California, San Diego. He returned to NIH where he was chief of the Clinical Center Diagnostic Radiology Department from 1972-1996. Under his direction the department acquired among the first CT and MRI scanners in the country.

"He was a keen, compassionate clinician, an enthusiastic teacher, and an innovative thinker," said Dr. Andrew Dwyer, CC radiologist. "He was a strong, positive influence on the clinical, educational and research environment of the Clinical Center."

On Aug. 2, Dr. Doppman was awarded scientist emeritus status. Among his many honors were the Gold Medal from the Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology (1997); Gold Medal from the American Roentgen Ray Society (1998); the Copeland Award from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (1992); and the Public Health Service Distinguished Service Medal (1982), the highest award granted by PHS. He also received several NIH awards including the Distinguished Clinical Teacher Award (1997); the Clinical Center Director's Award (1997); and the NIH Director's Award (1999).

He was an honorary member of the radiological societies of England, Ireland, Germany, and Hungary, as well as of the American Society of Endocrine Surgeons. He authored 38 textbook chapters and 516 articles in scientific journals.

Survivors include his wife, Anne-Marie; a daughter, Corinna, a son, Christopher; and a granddaughter, Nicole.

Resource fair focuses on real choices for real people

WHEN: Thursday, October 5 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. WHERE: Building 10 Visitor Information Center (lower level exhibit area) Linda Breen Pierce, author of "Choosing Simplicity: Real People Finding Peace & Fulfillment in a Complex World," will speak at noon in Lipsett Amphitheater. For further information, please call the Work and Family Life Center at 5-1619. On the web: http://wflc.od.nih.gov

If you're looking for an easier way to balance the demands of work, home, and your personal needs, look to the NIH Quality of Work Life Committee. They'll sponsor a resource fair
--Real People, Real Choices: Quality of Work Life at NIH--Oct. 5 at the Clinical Center.

NIH is dedicated to quality of work life, and a wide variety of resources are available to help you navigate the complexities of modern life, planners note. The fair will provide an opportunity to learn more about employee services here. Twenty-six NIH offices and organizations, including the CC QWL Council, will be on hand showcasing programs that help enhance quality of life. At the fair you will be able to stop by and talk to representatives from services here than may help address your concerns and questions. For instance, you can:

• learn all about the CC QWL Council
• find out more about NIH's family friendly workplace policies
• talk to on-campus child care centers about programs and availabilit
• find out about child care and elder care resource and referral services
• hear about health and wellness at NIH
• find out about programs that make the campus safe
• get information about R&W;'s new concierge service
• find out about the wealth of training and development programs here
• learn about alternative dispute resolution
• get in touch with the resources you need find a work-life balance

Medicine for the Public begins Sept. 19

The Medicine for the Public lecture series begins Sept. 19. The lectures are held at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in the Clinical Center's Masur Auditorium.

The schedule: Sept. 19, New Directions for Organ and Tissue Transplantation, Dr. Allan Kirk, NIDDK. Sept. 26, Adolescents and AIDS: Millennium Milestones, Dr. Lauren Wood, NCI. Oct. 3, Dangerous Liaisons: Drugs and Herbal Products, Dr. Stephen Piscitelli and Dr. Aaron Burstein, CC. Oct. 10, Stroke: Rapid Diagnosis, New Treatments, Dr. Alison Baird, NINDS. Oct. 17, Women's Health Research for the 21st Century, Dr. Vivian Pinn, Office of Research on Women's Health. Oct. 24, Prostate Cancer, Dr. Marston Linehan and Dr. William Dahut, NCI.

On the web: http://www. cc.nih.gov/ccc/mfp/series.html

Vaccine supply to foil the flu now uncertain

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) recent announcement that distribution of this year's influenza vaccine may be substantially delayed--and amounts delivered smaller than usual--could affect flu immunization practices at the Clinical Center. Typically, the CC provides "Foil the Flu" vaccinations beginning in mid-October, but at press time, the delivery date and number of doses that the CC will receive had not yet been established. The Occupational Medical Service and the Hospital Epidemiology Service will publicize information on this year's influenza vaccine program as soon as more specifics are available. As always, CC patients and the staff caring for them will be the first to receive immunizations. In the United States, flu season peaks between late December and early March. Mid-October vaccination is the best way to minimize serious adverse outcomes from influenza virus infection.

On the web: http://www.cdc.gov/nip and http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4903a1.htm

	Life-long love of sports brings CC rabbi to stage of baseball documentary You might have the chance to see someone on the movie screen that you know and work with every day. "The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg," a documentary detailing the major league baseball player's life, features an appearance by CC Jewish chaplain Rabbi Reeve Brenner. Dr. Brenner, who joined NIH part-time this past January, says that three factors converged to lead to his screen debut. First, he grew up in New York City, also home to Hank Greenberg, who Dr. Brenner regards as the all-time greatest Jewish player in the major league. Second, he is a life-long sports enthusiast, and last as a religious leader and teacher, he likes to think and write about ethical issues. It was Dr. Brenners handling of delicate issues, such as race and religion, that captured the attention of the film's writer-producer, Aviva Kempner. In his article, "Black Jack and Big Yid Greenberg," which first appeared almost 20 years ago in the Jewish Spectator newspaper, Dr. Brenner focused on the crossing paths of the two baseball giants, referred to by nicknames used by young Bronx baseball fans. Greenberg was nearing the end of his major league career. Jackie Robinson was just starting his career as the first black baseball player to reach the major leagues. Greenberg, who had experienced much anti-Semitism in a decade as a public figure, was the first on his team to befriend and encourage Robinson, similarly a target of racial prejudice. "Having written books, short stories, and sermons on just this issue, it was logical for me to do the article that led to my being chosen for the film," said Dr. Brenner. "I welcomed the opportunity to talk about an exemplary man, and in particular on the very special Greenberg-Robinson meeting." --by Linda Silversmith
Excerpt from Dr. Brenner's article "Black Jack and Big Yid Greenberg" published in the Jewish Spectator: "But that first game and that first circumstance which brought Hank and Jackie togetherÑat a crucial point in the beginning of the post-Holocaust, post-World War era of awakening to the havoc wrought by hatred and evilÑwitnessed a meeting of giants engaged in the reaffirmation of decency among all the peoples and races of humanity."

List of Spanish-language education materials grows

Patients come to the Clinical Center from all over the world. And for years, interpreters and bilingual staff have helped bridge the gap between patients who do not speak English and caregivers that do. Now, patient education materials will offer both patients and their caregivers more common ground for communicating.

The CC patient education publication website houses a growing library of documents in Spanish. Titles include: Giving a Subcutaneous Injection; Managing Your Hickman Catheter; Managing Your PICC/SICC Catheter; Infection Control at the Clinical Center: Information for Patients and Visitors; Hello: I'm Your Primary Nurse; Preparing for Outpatient Surgery; Preparing for Transfusion Therapy; Partners in Research--Volunteer Patients and the NIH Clinical Center; Working Together to Relieve Your Pain; and the Living with Cancer Chemotherapy series.

The website also has a bilingual document, "Spanish Phrases for Health Professionals," and a Spanish-language version of the patient handbook. For more information on patient education materials, contact Wendy Schubert at 6-2563 (e-mail wschubert@nih.gov). For assistance with language interpreting services, contact Andrea Rander, director of volunteers, at 6-1807 (e-mail arander@nih.gov).

Neuroscience nurse internship graduates Six registered nurses recently completed the CC Nursing Department's Neuroscience Nurse Internship Program, a six-month clinical internship program designed to prepare new nursing employees to provide care for patients with neurological disorders or cancer. Shown front row are graduates, all RNs, (left to right) Sandra Brown, Dana Menkin, Jenifer Tennant Dwyer, Ruby Lerner, Justina Ezejiofor, and Judith Resick. In back is the Neuroscience Leadership Team: (left to right) Dr. Jacques Bolle, R.N., CC; Dr. Audrey Penn, M.D., NINDS; Anita Marban, R.N., CC; Beth Price, R.N., CC; and Dr. Mark Hallett, NINDS.

NIH police fundraiser benefits FOCC The NIH Police's recent "Police Week" iincluded a fundraising barbecue to benefit the Friends of the Clinical Center. More than 1500 people attended the gathering, which was held in front of Bldg. 1 and featured traditional cookout delectables prepared by NIH Police staff. On hand for the presentation of the donation were (left to right) Kip Fenton, FOCC administrative assistant; O.W. Jim Sweat, director of the Division of Public Safety; NIH Police Captain Lawrence Brown, Deputy Chief Robert Fuller, and Police Chief Alvin Hinton; and Maria Stagnitto, FOCC president.

News briefs

Orientation Fair for NIH Trainees
Bring your questions to the Orientation Fair for NIH Trainees set for Sept. 19 at the Clinical Center. Sponsored by the NIH Office of Education, the event will be outside the Visitor Information Center 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Slated to be on hand are representatives from the NIH Library, the Office of Animal Care and Use, the NIH Credit Union, the Work and Family Life Center, and the R&W.; For details, call 6-2427.

Women's health seminar topic
FAES will sponsor a new course, "Work, Women, and Health," beginning Thursday, Sept. 21, at 5:30 p.m. This weekly seminar will cover women's health research. Topics will include a presentation on the role of stress in disease, a discussion of the structural biases that women face in the workplace, and an open discussion with class participants. To register, call 6-7976. On the web: http://www.faes.org

Interpreters needed
CC patients not fluent in English may have a hard time finding their way through visits here. Volunteer interpreters often make things easier by stepping in and helping with language translations. CC volunteer services is currently recruiting individuals who are fluent in Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Farsi. For more information, call 6-1807.

DTM presents annual symposium
The CC Department of Transfusion Medicine, will host its Nineteenth Annual Symposium, "Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion," on Sept. 14 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Masur Auditorium. On the web: http://www.cc.nih.gov/dtm

Heart disease study opens
A study of Heart Disease Risk Factors in African Americans seeks participants to study the relationship between obesity and heart disease risk factors in healthy, nondiabetic African-American men and pre-menopausal women. Participants can be of any weight, from normal to obese, and between the ages of 18 and 50. It will involve four outpatient visits to the Clinical Center, in which participants will have body fat analyses; an electrocardiogram; blood tests, including cholesterol profiles; and oral and intravenous glucose tolerance tests. All participants will be compensated. For more information, call 2-7119.

Volunteers sought
CC researchers seek adults with sickle cell anemia to help find ways to understand and treat the disease. Compensation will be provided. Call 1-800-411-1222, or 5-2345, for more information.

Resource offered
You've just received an important e-mail with a file to use in your upcoming presentation. Unfortunately, your computer can't open the document. Don't fret, the CC Information Technology Center can help. Located in Room 1C282, the center is equipped with color scanning and printing devices, slide makers, computers, and other helpful equipment. For more information, call 2-6301.

NIH to share the health Oct. 21
The public is invited to NIH 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the third annual community health forum, sponsored by the NIH Office of Community Liaison. The event features free health-related information, exhibits by NIH institutes, lectures, health screenings, and demonstrations. For more information, call 301-650-8660.