Volume 6, No. 10, October 2008
From Your Colleagues
Jean Howe, CCC, Ob/Gyn
“Many Voices into One Song”
Planning continues for the First International Meeting on Indigenous Women’s
Health; Third International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health, to be held in
March 2009 in Albuquerque. For those of us working in the field of women’s
health care and serving primarily American Indian and Alaska Native women, this
represents the next in a series of biennial meetings and follows on the heels
of the highly successful August 2007 Albuquerque conference. This meeting is
happening a mere 18 months after that conference because we were given the opportunity
to partner with both our Canadian colleagues working in the fields of First Nations,
Inuit, and Métis women’s health care and with our Pediatric colleagues
from both countries. Many wonderful speakers, panel discussions, and breakout
sessions are planned addressing issues from across the spectrum of indigenous
women’s health and child health in both countries. Each site will also
be given the opportunity to present their projects and successes in a poster
session planned for the first evening of the conference. Please do join us for
this exciting event!
Albuquerque, NM
Women’s Health March 4-6, 2009
Children’s Health March 6-8, 2009
(The 6th is an overlap day with both groups participating!)
Robert McSwain, IHS Director
Susan V. Karol, MD, named IHS Chief Medical Officer
I am pleased to announce that Susan V. Karol, M.D., a member of the Tuscarora
Indian Nation, is appointed as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Indian
Health Service (IHS), effective September 19. Dr. Karol served from 1988-1990
as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Public Health Service while holding
the position of Chief of Surgery and Anesthesia at the Shiprock Indian Hospital,
Shiprock, New Mexico.
Dr. Karol comes to the IHS from the Essex Surgical Associates, PC, in Beverly, Massachusetts, where she has worked since 2004. From 1991 to 2003, she worked at Beverly Surgical Associates, Inc. From 1991 to the present, Dr. Karol also has served as the Medical Director of The Hunt Breast Center, Hunt Hospital, Danvers, Massachusetts, and as an active staff member of the Beverly Hospital. From 1996 to the present, she has served as Chief of Surgery at the Beverly Hospital. Her other appointments include serving as an assistant Professor of Surgery at Tufts Medical School from 1994 to the present; Trustee of the Northeast Health Systems, Inc., Beverly Hospital; and as Assistant Medical Director of Specialty Care of the New England Community Medical Group.
Dr. Karol graduated Dartmouth College with an A.B. in biology and received her M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her post doctoral training includes work as Clinical Fellow in Surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital; Chief Resident and General Surgery Residency, University of Massachusetts Medical Center Coordinated Surgical Program; General Surgery Resident, St. Mary’s Hospital and Medical Center; and Categorical Surgical Resident, University of Massachusetts Medical Center Coordinated Surgical Program.
As the IHS CMO, Dr. Karol will provide medical advice and guidance to the Office of the Director and staff on American Indian and Alaska Native health care policies and issues. She will serve as the primary liaison and advocate for IHS field clinical programs and community-based health professionals. Dr. Karol will also provide national and international health care leadership and representation for the agency. In addition, she will ensure that patient care and medical standards and concerns are represented in the decision-making process of the agency.
Questions? Contact Susan V. Karol, MD
Sheila Warren, Headquarters
Joint Commission Resources is Challenging YOUR HOSPITAL to Increase Health
Care Worker Vaccination against the Flu
Did you know that the current national average of health care workers who get
vaccinated against the flu is only 42 percent? We cannot continue to vaccinate
only a small percentage of caregivers against the flu when we know that according
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in recent years, flu
infections have been documented in hospitals and healthcare workers have been
frequently implicated as the source of these infections.
In the name of patient safety, JCR is issuing a challenge to all hospitals to do a better job of vaccinating their doctors, nurses and ancillary workers against the flu. Hospitals that achieve a vaccination rate of 43 percent or more will be recognized for their dedication to helping keep their employees healthy and helping to protect their patients.
The Flu Vaccination Challenge begins September 1, 2008 and continues through the flu season to May 2009. Please take two minutes to register your hospital, note your current rate of vaccination, your goal and challenges.
Resources include a one page handout of 7 Myths and Realities about the Flu.
www.FluVaccinationChallenge.com
Abstract Of The Month ‹ Previous | Next › Hot Topics
OB/GYN
Jean Howe, MD, MPH is the Obstetrics and Gynecology Chief Clinical Consultant (OB/GYN C.C.C.). Dr. Howe is very interested in establishing a dialogue and/or networking with anyone involved in women's health or maternal child health, especially as it applies to American Indian and Alaska Native women and also indigenous peoples around the world. Please don't hesitate to contact her by e-mail (jean.howe@ihs.gov) or phone at (928) 674-7422.
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