Barrow Magazine, Volume 20, Issue 1, 2008

A magazine for the friends of Barrow Neurological Institute of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center • Volume 20, Issue 1, 2008

WORLD-CLASSNEUROSURGERYMeet four patientswho’ve foundhealing at Barrow

BARROW BALLAnnual black-tieevent raisesrecord $3.5 million

We can help you.” These are powerful words, words that inspire all of us atBarrowNeurological Institute to work a little harder, dig a little deeper, think alittle more creatively. Simply put, we strive to be able to say “We can help you”

to people facing the most difficult and seemingly hopeless medical crises.These four words inspire hundreds of research projects at Barrow each year. They

are at the heart of the medical training we provide. They drive our decisions toacquire new technologies and launch new services. And I suspect that they are thereason so many people choose to give to our institute.This issue of Barrow examines our commitment to providing world-class neuro-

surgery right here in Arizona. You’ll learn about the factors that contribute to ourability to tackle particularly difficult cases, and you’ll meet four Arizona residents to whom we wereable to say, “We can help you.”Also in this issue are several articles showcasing the contributions of benefactors to our institute.

Read about the Barrow Women’s Board, the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation, the Steele Foundation,Diane and Bruce Halle, SSBTR, and the Davis family, and you’ll agree that Barrow NeurologicalInstitute is blessed with many, many generous benefactors.Finally, I would like to congratulate Drs. Joan and William Shapiro, who received a Lifetime

Achievement Award from the Society for Neuro-Oncology; and Julie Wrigley, who was namedPhilanthropist of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.And to all of you who give so generously to Barrow, I would like to express my deepest apprecia-

tion. Thank you for supporting our work.

Sincerely,

Robert F. Spetzler, MDDirector, Barrow Neurological Institute

Opening thoughts

V O L U M E 2 0 , I S S U E 1 , 2 0 0 8

Catherine MenorEditor/[email protected]

Justin DetwilerArt director/designer

Panoramic Press

Sally Clasen, Melissa Morrison,Sarah PadillaContributing writers

Jackie Mercandetti. Jeff NobleD Squared Productions, Murphy/ScullyPhotography

Robert F. Spetzler, MDDirectorBarrow Neurological Institute®

Mary Jane Crist, CFRECEO, Barrow Neurological Foundation

Contents

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• H o w t o R e a c h U s •Barrow is published twice a year. We welcome your comments, suggestions and requests to be added to or deleted from ourmailing list. Call602-406-1041 or send mail to Barrow, Office of Philanthropy, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, 350 W. Thomas Rd., Phoenix,AZ, 85013. Please include your name, address and telephone number in all correspondence. Visit us online at www.StJosephs-Phx.com.

4: World-class neurosurgery Barrow surgeons cite10 reasons for their ability to tackle the most difficult cases.

7: Why we do what we do. Meet Amanda, Tyler, Reneeand Wendell, four patients who benefited from Barrow’sexpertise in neurosurgery.

16: Barrow Grand Ball. Annual dinner and dance raisea record $3.5 million for Barrow.

18: Two exceptional gifts made to Barrow Ball—from the Steele Foundation, and Diane and Bruce Halle.

19: Celebrity Fight Night XIV. A sizzling line-up, greatvolunteers and generous donors make 2008 fundraiserunforgettable.

22: Out of Africa Barrow Neurosurgery residentexperiences bush medicine during two-month mission.

24: Why we give Family chooses Barrow for annual gift.

25: Philanthropist of the Year Julie Wrigley receivesrecognition for contributions to medical, educational andenvironmental non-profits.

26: Lifetime Achievement Award Couple receivesprestigious recognition from Society for Neuro-Oncology.

28: Making waves in radiology New Keller Center forImaging and Innovation partners with GE Healthcare andASU to improve diagnostic care for patients.

31: Benefactor Briefs

32: What’s happening around Barrow

34: The charitable annuity A secure investment forunstable financial times.

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W O R L D - C L A S S N E U R O S U R G E R Y

world-class neurosurgeryAmultitude of factors—including you—makes it possible

by Catherine Menor

Above, Nicole Andre was 13 when sheunderwent life-changing surgery for ahypothalamic hamartoma at BarrowNeurological Institute. Right, Barrow’sNeurosurgery Research Laboratory workswith biomedical companies to developnew surgery tools, such as this devicethat uses plasma energy to cut intobrain tissue without generating heat.

For Denise Andre, an agonizing 13-year journey to find medical help for herdaughter, Nicole, finally ended in January 2007 at Barrow NeurologicalInstitute—2,400 miles away from their home in Manalapan, New Jersey. At

Barrow, neurosurgeon Dr. Hal Rekate removed a hypothalamic hamartoma fromthe teen’s brain, ending years of uncontrollable seizures.“Wewere fortunate enough to find our ‘special doctor’ at BarrowNeurological

Institute inPhoenix,”wroteDenise in a letter to parents at the schoolwhere sheworksas a special education teacher. “He is the one and only neurosurgeon in the U.S. totake an interest in this rare condition that falls under the umbrella of ‘orphan dis-eases’ (labeled as such due to the lack of researchmoney they receive). His interestand expertise, combined with advances in medical technology made this surgerypossible for Nicole. Only a few short years ago, her tumor was considered inoper-able (and still is by most).”The letter was written to ask parents for their support of a school walkathon in

January to raise funds for Barrow’s research into hypothalamic hamartomas. “Allof the children in the school participated, from preschool to fifth graders,” Denisesaid.Nicole’s story is not unusual. Patients come fromall across the country—indeed,

from around the world—for care that, in some cases, is available only at Barrow.Some patients find Barrow after consulting specialist after specialist and hearingrepeatedly that their condition is inoperable or that surgerywould be too risky.Oth-ers are referred by neurologists and neurosurgeonswho recognize Barrow’s expert-ise in complex and challenging brain and spine conditions.What enables Barrow neurosurgeons to handle the most difficult brain and

spine cases? Ask doctors throughout theinstitute, and they will give you variousanswers. including the following Top 10Reasons for Barrow’s Success:1. Dedication to advancing medical sci-

ence and patient care. Barrow focusesits efforts on continually improvingpatient care and advancing our knowl-edgeof the brain and spine. For instance,the Hypothalamic Hamartoma Center,now in its fifth year, continues to con-duct research aimed at developing bet-ter treatments andexpandingourunder-standing of epilepsy. Research at theCenter has led to new endoscopicapproaches for removing these devas-tating tumors.

2. A team of specialists and subspecialists. The medical team at Barrow—neu-rologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists, neu-ropathologists, and other brain and spine specialists—collaborate closely in car-


B A R R O W 5

ing for patients. In addition, many subspecializein particular areas of neuroscience. For instance,neurosurgeons at Barrow subspecialize in suchareas as cerebrovascular disease, spine disorders,endoscopic procedures, traumatic brain injury,neuroendocrinology and radiosurgery. By spe-cializing innarrowareas of neurosurgery, these sur-geons may see and treat more patients with aparticular disorder in one year than a generalneurosurgeon would handle in a decade.

3. Thebest andbrightest residents and fellows.Bar-row’s reputation and world-class training pro-grams attract the most talented and energeticneurosurgery residents and fellows. These youngmen andwomen keep everyone on their toes andkeep new ideas flowing throughout the institute,say attending physicians at Barrow.

4. Research to improve the tools of neurosurgery.In theNeurosurgery Research Lab, scientists andsurgeonswork closelywith biomedical companiesto test and enhance new surgery tools, such asadvancedmicroscopes, image guidance systems,and cerebrovascular stents. Researchers in theBiomechanical Lab have developed new tech-nology for spine surgery, such as computer soft-ware that generates a three-dimensionalmodel ofan injured spine for use in surgery planning.

5. Investments in break-through technology. Bar-row continually acquires new technology thatcan improve patient care. The CyberKnife andGammaKnife at Barrow, for instance, are the onlyones in Arizona. An intraoperative MRI in theNeurosurgery Department is the first of its kindin the country, enabling surgeons to check imagesof a patient’s brain before finishing a surgery.

6. C o n t i n u i n geducation. Bar-rowhosts sever-al internationalconferences eachyear, edits a pro-fessional journal,Barrow Quarter-ly, that is dis-tributed world-wide, and offerstraining in newsurgical tech-niques. TheTelePresenceTeleconference Systemallows observers at Barrowand even in distant locations to watch live sur-geries. The goal of all these activities is to shareadvances in neurosurgerywith neuroscience spe-cialists around the world.

7. Neurosurgery research to improve surgicalapproaches and techniques. Surgeons andresearchers at Barrow continually seek to improvesurgical outcomes for patients bydeveloping newroutes into the brain and new techniques for cor-recting spine and brain disorders.

8. 21st Century medical education. Training forNeurosurgery residents is becoming more expe-riential at Barrow, thanks to investments in com-puter animation, teleconferencing and anatomi-cal studies. Just as pilots-in-training use flightsimulation to learn their skills, Neurosurgery res-idents at Barrow prepare for surgery through avariety of simulation activities.

Left, neurosurgical resi-dents and fellows canwatch live surgeriesfrom a conference roomacross campus fromthe NeurosurgeryDepartment, thanks tothe TelePresenceTeleconference System.The new system is oneof the ways in whichBarrow is improvingmedical education.Below are Dr. NeilCrawford and AndyBaek in a spineresearch lab.

9. The most technologically advanced neuro-science facility in theworld.The BarrowNeu-roscience Tower, which opened in 2006, offersphysicians, patients, families and staff a com-fortable, efficient and healing environment.Technologically, it may be unsurpassed any-where in theworld. TheNeurosurgeryDepart-ment features spacious surgery suites equippedwith the latest image guidance systems andsurgical microscopes, the world’s first intraop-erative 3 teslaMRI scanner, and a “super cool”surgery suite that can be chilled to 55 degreesin just three minutes.

10. Benefactors of Barrow Neurological Founda-tion. Benefactors’ gifts touch every area of Bar-row, making possible the pioneering research,medical education and clinical innovation thatenable the institute to successfully treat themostcomplex and difficult neurological disorders.

“Every component ofBarrow contributes to oursuccess,” says Dr. Spetzler.“But theunderpinnings of itall are the gifts from ourgenerous donors. Withouttheir support, none of thiswould be possible.”

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Above, the BarrowNeuroscience Toweroffers unparalleledfacilities for patients,families, physiciansand staff. Left,Endovascular neurosur-geons Dr. FelipeAlbuquerque and Dr.Cameron McDougallwere the second sur-geons in the country touse the first FDA-approved stent for usein the brain. Below,Barrow offers the onlyCyberKnife in theSouthwest.

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Why we do what we doOn the following pages, you will meet four Valley residentswho faced a medical crisis. Each found help and healingat Barrow. Your support of Barrow Neurological Institute—its medical education, research, technology and clinical

programs—makes these stories and many others possible.It is impossible to track the impact of an individual gift toBarrow because every contribution supports a specific

activitity while also contributing to the whole.Please accept our continued gratitude for

the difference you make.

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Amanda AndersonNeurosurgeons use procedures developed at Barrow

to save Queen Creek child’s life

Amanda Anderson seemed to be on the mend,and her parents, Dave and Shanna, were confi-dent that the 18-month-old Queen Creek girl

would be well enough to wear her new pink kittycostume for Halloween 2007.Amandawas inher fourthday at anEastValleyhos-

pital, where she was receiving care for a case of sus-pected viral meningitis. “Doctors told us that if shedidn’t have any high fevers andwas stable, we couldgo home the next day,” says Shanna.But that night, Amanda had a terrible seizure, a

seizure that Shanna believes saved her daughter’s life.When Shannascreamed forhelp, the hospi-tal staff tried toreassure her thatAmanda hadprobably justbeen shivering.“Thiswas some-thing serious,”Shanna toldthem. “It was aseizure.”The next

morning,Aman-da’s doctor ordered a CT scan and discovered thecause of her symptoms. The child had severe bleed-ing and swelling in her brain.Worried that child abusemight be the cause, the hospital alerted Child Protec-tive Services and transferred Amanda to St. Joseph’sHospital and Medical Center.And that’s when the Andersons’ fortunes took a

definite turn for the better.

Finally, a diagnosisWithin a few hours of Amanda’s arrival at St.

Joseph’s, the BarrowNeurological Institute team hadfound the cause of the bleeding—an aneurysmbehindAmanda’s eyes. “Thedoctors explained that shewouldneed surgery as soon as possible to stop the bleeding,”Shanna says. “Thiswas not caused by an accident, andwewere told she likely had the aneurysm frombirth.”

Dr. Robert Spetzler, director of Barrow, explains,“The aneurysm involved very small blood vesselsdeep in her brain, a very unusual condition in a childso young. The aneurysmhad ruptured, causing a life-and-death situation.”Fortunately, a surgery scheduled for the nextmorn-

inghadbeen cancelled, andDr. Sptetzlerwouldbe ableto operate onAmanda.“All through the night, she couldn’t communicate

at all,” Shanna says of the agonizing hours before theOct. 26 surgery. “She couldn’t look you in the eye,and shewasmaking these really strangemovements.I don’t think she would have lasted much longer.”

Navigating safely to the aneurysmTo safely reach the aneurysm, the Barrow team

used a route into the brain that had been researchedand developed by surgeons, fellows and scientists atthe institute. It is called the modified orbital zygo-matic approach and involves removing a small pieceof bone at the top of the eye and then going under thebrain instead of retracting the brain.Dr. Joseph Zabramski is one of the neurosurgeons

who developed the modified OZ approach. He saysitwas critical to the success ofAmanda’s operation. “Inyoung children, the skull is small and there’s notmuchextra room around the brain. Retracting the brain canput pressure on it and damage it. With the modifiedOZ approach, the Barrow team was able to reach theaneurysm without retractingAmanda’s brain.”Once he reached the aneurysm, Dr. Spetzler

removed it, leaving a hole in the artery where theaneurysm had arisen. He then did a very unusualbypass to repair the opening in the artery.Maneuveringa tiny nearby vessel over the opening, Dr. Spetzlersecured the vessel in place with microscopic suturesto prevent future bleeding.Dr. Spetzler credits the Barrow team’s ability to

successfully perform the unique operation to the neu-rosurgical research conducted at Barrow. “Throughresearch, we were able to develop the modified OZapproach and conduct anatomical studies that demon-strated the feasibility of the bypass,” he says.During the long hours ofAmanda’s surgery, Dave

and Shanna received regular updates from the Barrow

“All through the night,she couldn’t communicate

at all. She couldn’t lookyou in the eye, and shewas making these reallystrange movements. I

don’t think she would havelasted much longer.”

Shanna Anderson

by Catherine Menor

B A R R O W 9

staff. Finally, an anesthesiologist came out to tell thecouple that the surgery was over.The child recoveredbeautifully, hermother says, sur-

prising even her doctors.Aweek after surgery,Aman-dawent home andwithin twoweeks, shewas attend-ing churchwith her parents, visiting her grandparentsandgoing to the zoo. Today, the long scar that runs fromthe top of her headdown to her right ear is hardly vis-ible beneath her blond ringlets.“Amanda has been truly blessed and healed by

some very skilled people and has been in the handsof our Father in heaven,” Shanna says. “Itwas not hertime to go, and for that we are very thankful.” �

Neurosurgical research conducted at Barrow—andsupported by the Barrow Women’s Board, otherbenefactors and the Health & Wealth Raffle—enabled surgeons to successfully eliminate ananeurysm that ruptured when Amanda Andersonwas just 18 months old.

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Tyler ButtonBarrow surgeons use latest techniques to remove

tumor from young teacher’s spineby Melissa Morrison

Tyler Button is back in his classroomafter a spine-tumor scare. History teacher Tyler Button was playing basketball with some of

his high school students when an overzealous opponent hit himfrom behind. When Button’s neck was still aching a few days

later, he went to the emergency room for a muscle relaxant.Turnsout, hehada tumor the sizeof a racquetball imbedded inhis spine.“They said they were surprised my spine was able to hold my head

up,” Button says. “It was eatingmy spine away. I should have been par-alyzed or dead.”


B A R R O W 11

Several hours of surgery, a bout of high-tech radi-ation, and a year later, Button, who is 25 and engagedto be married, is tumor-free.Had he not discovered the mass in time, his neu-

rosurgeon says, it would have further eroded thebones of his cervical vertebrae to thepointwhere a sim-ilar accident would likely have rendered Buttonquadraplegic, or worse.“I hate towax philosophic, but if this tiny incident

hadn’t happened, dramatic thingswould have,” saysButton,who teaches at the Peoria campus of theAustinCenter for Exceptional Students, whose student bodyis learning disabled and emotionally handicapped.“It kind ofmakes you question the idea of fate and

whether this was meant to happen.”

‘High-priced real estate’The tumor was located in the junction where the

spinal cordmeets the brain stemand is fed by twover-tebral arteries, which were tangled in the tumor. “Wewere working in a very small area with a lot of high-priced real estate,” says neurosurgeon Dr. NicholasTheodore.Removing the tumor took the latest in neurosurgical

techniques.Button lay face down, so the surgeons—Dr.

Theodore andhis partnerDr.WilliamL.White—couldreach around the spinal cord to access the tumor.“The approach thatweusedwasgoing frombehind

to take this tumor out in a fairly radicalway,” saysDr.Theodore,who is director of trauma service at BarrowNeurological Institute. “A lot of people probablywouldn’t have done it two years ago. Our surgerytechniques are on the cutting edge, especially in diffi-cult cases like Tyler’s.”During the operation, the surgeons referred to a real-

time CT scan to guide them. Such navigational tech-niques have long been used for brain surgery, butonly recently have they been perfected for the spine.After the surgeons removed the tumor, alongwith

parts of Button’s spine, they replaced themissing bonewith a piece from the youngman’s hip, fusing togeth-er three of his cervical vertebrae.

Radiation via robotic armThe surgery was followed by radiation treatment

using a CyberKnife, which directs a convergence ofmore than 100 beams of radiation on a tightly focusedspot, thus sparing most healthy tissue. The machineallowed neurosurgeonDr. Randall Porter to programit to deliver its potent radiation via robotic arm to But-ton’s lesion. As a result, the patient suffered few sideeffects.“It looks like a giant projector and a giant arm

thing similar to the armof a space shuttle,” Button says.“It’s so accurate, it’s able to miss nerves and arteries.“I thought it was going to be cool till I actually

went through it.”Buttonhad towear ameshmask—”verymedieval”

—that was fixed in place, immobilizing him for eachhour-plus session of the weeklong treatment.Drs. Theodore,White andPorter’s combined effort

is a prime example of the teamapproachBarrow takestoward tumor cases. “Just taking the tumor out is notenough,”Dr. Theodore says. “Even if the patient does-n’t need radiation, theydoneed close follow-up tomakesure the tumor doesn’t recur.”As for Button, he andhis longtimegirlfriend,Melis-

sa Austin, made it official over the holidays. Theyplan to marry next spring.He has reminders from the experience in his class-

room. He’s hung the CyberKnife face mask on thewall there. And the student who was responsible forthe fateful neck injury frequently stops in.“He comes by all the time saying he saved my

life,” Button says. “He honestly did save my life, butI don’t let his head get too big.” �

“They said they were surprised my spine was ableto hold my head up. It [the tumor] was eating myspine away. I should have been paralyzed or dead.”Tyler Button

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Renee DeSalvoWoman placed in hospice gets second chance at Barrow

The news was bad—especially coming just daysbefore Christmas 2006. Renee DeSalvo was notexpected to live more than 24 hours.Cindy and Steve Crandall, DeSalvo’s sister and

brother-in-law,were in shock.DeSalvohad seemedper-fectly healthy until that Wednesday when she’d suf-fered a severe pain in her right eye and passed out atwork.Doctors at the hospitalwhere shewas taken toldthe family that an arteriovenous malformation—anabnormal tangle of blood vessels on the left side of herbrain—had ruptured, causing amassive hemorrhageand leaving the 53-year-old woman paralyzed andblind on her right side.“They said that if they operated, she’d probably be

a vegetable and need a feeding tube,” recalls Steve.The doctors recommended hospice, and, knowing

DeSalvo’s independent streak, the family reluctantlyagreed. DeSalvo received last rites and was trans-ferred to a nearby hospice. ItwasWednesday evening.

Second thoughtsAs DeSalvo lay in her hospice bed, still uncon-

scious, her family gathered to say their goodbyes.DeSalvo’s long-time friends “TheCrazyEights” caughta red-eye from Chicago to be with her one last time.But late that night, DeSalvo suddenly reached over

to one of her two grown sons, and said, “Why areyou crying?”Thenext day, shewasmovingher affected right side

some, and she seemed to recognize people. That’swhen Steve decided the family needed a second opin-ion. Steve, who was well acquainted with Barrow,drove DeSalvo’s scans to St. Joseph’s late Thursdaynight in hopes that he could get Dr. Robert Spetzler,director of Barrow, to take a look at them.“I said a little prayer, wrote a letter, taped it on the

outside of the films, and told a lady in the ER that Dr.Spetzler was going to operate on Renee tomorrowand needed films on his desk first thing in the morn-ing,” says Steve.Early the next morning, Steve called Barrow and

reachedadoctor. Tenminutes later, he hadananswer—Dr. Spetzler would do the operation that day.Thingshappened rapidly after that.DeSalvo arrived

at Barrowby ambulance, and the Barrow teamquick-ly obtained newCT scans. Then,Dr. Spetzlermetwith

the family tomap out his treatment plan, and the fam-ily agreed to surgery.A team of neurosurgeons, led by Dr. Spetzler,

removed the blood clot and theAVM fromDeSalvo’sleft temporal lobe. At 6:30 Friday evening, the familyreceived the news they’d been praying for—thesurgery had been successful.

“There are nowords to explain how this feels,” saysCindy. “It’s that big of a miracle.”

Long road backDeSalvo spent a rocky week in ICU, a few days in

a regular patient room, and nearly three weeks in theDeborah and Bruce Downey Neuro RehabilitationCenter. There, she learned how to sit in a chair, walkwith a walker and feed herself. She also worked onimproving her memory and ability to communicate.DeSalvo left the hospital in late January and continuedoutpatient rehabilitation until December 2007.Today,DeSalvo,whohas nomemoryof her hospital

stay, lives independently. She reads and does puzzlesdaily to improve her cognitive skills, attends BrainTumor Support Group meetings at Barrow, and vol-unteers at a school and hospital near her home.Although she still has language and thinkingdeficits

and peripheral vision loss, DeSalvo is grateful for thesecond chance she’s been given. And her attitude ismuchbetter now than itwasbefore her ordeal, she says.“Life is so beautiful. Every day is a good day.”DeSalvo hopes someday to work as a volunteer at

Barrow, helping other patients achieve amore positiveoutlook after surgery.In February,DeSalvo flewback toChicago for a 40th

school reunion. She couldn’t wait to see all her oldfriends. �

by Catherine Menor

“Life is so beautiful.Every day is a good day.”Renee DeSalvo

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Renee DeSalvo is enjoying life againafter a frightening encounter with anarteriovenous malformation.


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Wendell Brown is unimpressed by the fact thathe was the first patient at Barrow to partici-pate in a new spine surgery. What is more

important to Brown, a sales executive from Laveen,is that the pain in his neck is finally gone.In July 2007, Brownwas liftingbarbells overhis head

when he felt a twinge on the left side of his neck andshoulder. “I assumed I pulled a muscle, so I stoppedworking out. I waited a couple of days, but the paindid not stop. It was an excruciating, sharp pain inmyneck, arm, through the upper back anddownmy leg.”Brown first went to an urgent care facility, where

he was prescribed pain medications, and then fol-lowedupwith his general doctor,who ordered x-raysand more pain meds. When the x-rays didn’treveal anything significant, Brown had anMRIdone. In themeantime, he did physical therapyto alleviate the symptoms but continued to haveproblems.Two months after the injury occurred, MRI

results revealed thatBrownhaddamaged the cer-vical disc between his fifth and sixth vertebrae,which was pressing on his nerves. Brown’s primaryphysician then referred him to Barrow neurosurgeonDr. Nicholas Bambakidis, who suggested that Brownundergo a new technique in which an artificial cervi-cal disc is used to replace the damaged one.

Novel techniqueBrowndecided to take his doctor’s advice, and six

months after injuring his neck, became the first Bar-rowpatient to have the Prestige artificial cervical disc,a product ofMedtronic, inserted into his neck. It is thefirst artificial cervical disc to receive FDAapproval.Themost common treatment for cervical degener-

ative disease is an anterior cervical discetomy andfusion to relieve compressionon the spinal cordornerveroots.Whilemore than 200,000 fusion surgeries are per-formed each year, the surgery has some limitations,according to Dr. Bambakidis, who does two to threefusion surgeries a week.“With fusion surgery, the goal is to remove the disc

causing pressure on the nerves and replace it withnothing, or replace it with a piece of bone and metalplate to create the fusion. Theproblem is that it ‘freezes’the joint, and since the diseased disc isn’t replaced

with something that physiologically resembles theoriginal, the person’s mobility is decreased.”

Benefits of artificial disc surgeryThe goal of artificial cervical disc surgery is to

remove the diseased disc, restore normal height,decrease neckpain and associated armpain andweak-ness, and preserve motion in the affected area.Surgeons insert the artificial cervical disc, a stain-

less steel devicewith a ball-in-trough design, throughthe front of the neck in a procedure that takes aboutan hour to perform.“In clinical studies in theUnited States andEurope,

patients who’ve had artificial disc surgery return towork quicker, have less pain and generally seem to dobetter than those who have traditional fusion sur-gery,” Dr. Bambakidis says. He says an added benefitof the artificial cervical disc is that itmay decrease therisk of arthritis above and below the area affectedbecause it allows patients to maintain better motion.While those who have had prior fusion surgery to

the affected area are not candidates for artificial cer-vical disc surgery, it shows particular promise forthosewith degenerative disease and injury to one cer-vical disc. “All patients with degenerative cervicaldisease canbe considered for artificial disc surgery, but,in particular, younger people limited to one level of dis-ease are the best candidates,” Dr. Bambakidis says.Brown stayedonenight in thehospital after surgery.

He immediately felt better and has no pain or dis-comfort. He is participating in physical therapy and“working his way back” to his regular exercise regi-men.“As far as I’m concerned, I have no limitations,”

Brown says of his post-surgery condition. “I’m thor-oughly pleased with the implant.” �

“Patients who’ve had artificial discsurgery... seem to do better than thosewho have traditional fusion surgery.”Nicholas Bambakidis, MD

Wendell BrownSales executive is first at Barrow to receive

FDA-approved artificial cervical disc for neck painby Sally J. Clasen

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2 0 0 8 B A R R O W G R A N D B A L L

The Women’s Board of Barrow NeurologicalInstitute celebrated 43 years of fundraisingJanuary 19 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and

Spa. The 2008 Barrow Grand Ball was the culmina-tion of a year of planning. The intimate black-tieevent was chaired by Karen Hobbs and RuthLavinia.“We thank all themembers of theWomen’s Board,

the Barrow Neurological Foundation, and our fam-ily and friends for the support we have received thisyear,” said co-chairs Lavinia and Hobbs in a releaseto themedia. “We are so very grateful to thewonderfuland generous benefactors who have helped to makethis evening so successful and are honored to havehad the opportunity to co-chair the 2008 BarrowGrand Ball. Finally, we would like to extend a very

special thank-you to Julie Ann Wrigley for under-writing this year’s Ball.”Diana Balich, chairman of the Women’s Board,

announced to the 350-plus guests that the Ball hadraised $3.5 million, including a $1-million gift fromthe Steele Foundation that completed a multi-yearcommitment.“Proceeds from the Ball go directly to research

teams to create the miracles that you so often readabout,” said Balich. “The cutting-edge research andtechnological advances that have come as a result ofpatron generosity continue to benefit the communi-ty, state and patients nationwide.”TheGrand Ballroomwas beautifully decorated by

WilliamMcArdle ofAvant-Garde.Musicwas providedby Affinity. �

2008 barrow grand ballAnnual dinner and dance raise a record $3.5 million

B A R R O W 17


TToopp: Drs. Joan and William Shapiro, Dr.Cameron McDougall, Dr. and Mrs.Volker Sonntag; and Dr. and Mrs. RobertSpetzler. SSeeccoonndd rrooww:: far left, Nancyand Lee Hanley; middle, KathleenNorton, Patti Boyd Gentry and JulieWrigley; right, Sandy and MacMagruder. BBoo ttttoomm: Doris Norton, LindaHunt and John Norton.OOppppoossii ttee ppaaggee :: Ball chairs KarenHobbs and Ruth Lavinia with Women’sBoard Chairman Diana Balich.

B A R R O W18


Two exceptional gifts made to Barrow Grand Ball

The Steele FoundationThe Steele Foundation made a $1-million gift to the

Barrow Ball, completing the $2-million endowment ofa chair in neurosurgical education. The endowed chairwill be named in honor of Dr. Robert Spetzler, direc-tor of Barrow, “whose leadership in research, clinical

care and surgery hasestablished Barrow asa world-renownedcenter,” says Mari-anne CracchioloMago, President ofThe Steele Founda-tion. Endowed chairs

enable nationally rec-ognized physiciansand scientists to pur-sue research and runlaboratories, ensuringongoing scientific con-tributions within a

specialty area. Only a portion of the interest generat-ed by the endowment goes to the chair each year; therest remains untouched so that the endowment can continue to grow and support the chair.Already, funds from the chair have enabled several

neurosurgeons from other countries to completeresearch fellowships at Barrow. Currently, Dr. PakritJittapiromsak of Thailand holds the fellowship and isconducting anatomical research at Barrow.The Steele Foundation is a private foundation ded-

icated to the support of education, the arts, scientificresearch and organizations focused on the growth ofchildren and fam-ilies to achievesuccess across thestate of Arizona.Endowed byHorace and EthelSteele in 1985, itnow donatesapproximately $5million each yearto various com-munity causes.The Steele

Foundation hasflourished underthe leadership ofChairman and

CEO Daniel Cracchiolo. For 30 years, Cracchiolo rep-resented Horace Steele as his attorney. Cracchiolo,along with some of Steele’s close friends, presented himwith the idea of establishing a charitable foundation.After Horace and Ethel Steele passed away, Cracchi-olo began building the foundation’s assets and hasgrown the corpus of the fund three fold. To date TheSteele Foundation has awarded more than $50 millionin grants within the state of Arizona. Leadership of The Steele Foundation now includes

Cracchiolo’s daughter, Marianne Cracchiolo Mago,who left her position with Warner Brothers Televisionin Los Angeles to serve as President. She brings newideas and new energy to the forefront.

Diane and Bruce HalleDiane and Bruce Halle made a $350,000 gift to the

Barrow Ball for neuro-oncology research. The gift willsupport a Barrow research laboratory at the Transla-tional Genomics Research Institute in downtownPhoenix. Interactive brain-tumor investigators in the Diane

and Bruce Halle Neuro-Oncology Research Laboratoryare studying brain-tumor biology in order to developimproved diagnostic and therapeutic products forclinical use. The laboratory provides an academic envi-ronment for: (1) research pathology, neuro-radiology,radiation oncology and tissue bank support; (2) a clin-ical trials team dedicated to developing and imple-menting novel therapeutic strategies; (3) academicneurosurgeons with a focus on brain-tumor researchand an interest in clinical trial development; and (4)informatics, statistics and network support.Barrow researchers in the lab study the molecular

mechanisms underlying brain-tumor progression andresistance to radiation chemotherapy. They are work-ing to establish relationships among clinical imaging,spectroscopy, pathology, molecular genetics, and clin-ical outcomes in astrocytic tumors. Their goal is todevelop an international center for brain-tumorresearch, diagnosis and therapy that improves clinicalcare for patients with brain tumors. �

Pam Grant and and Dan Cracchiolo

Dr. Pakrit Jittapiromsak of Thailand holds theHorace B. Steele Fellowship this year.

B A R R O W 19

C E L E B R I T Y F I G H T N I G H T

Celebrity Fight Night XIV sizzled and dazzled for more than sixhours the night of April 5 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort& Spa in Phoenix. This spectacular event, which featured a recep-

tion, dinner, silent and live auctions, and performances by some oftoday’s brightest stars, netted about $5 million for the Muhammad AliParkinson Center (MAPC) at Barrow and other charities.What made the event so successful and so unforgettable? The pho-

tos on this page and the following spread tell the story:1. The Champ. Once again, Muhammad Ali and his wife, Lonnie,

presided over Celebrity Fight Night, and for many of the stars, shar-ing a stage with the Champ was reward enough for their efforts. “He’sthe ultimate non-quitter,” said singer Collin Raye, who has been afan of Ali since childhood. “This is a guy who has lived his life theway he wanted to, and when he was stricken with Parkinson’s disease, he continued to live life on his terms.”

celebrity fight night XIVA sizzling line-up, great volunteers and generous donors

make this year’s fundraiser unforgettable

B A R R O W20

2. The sparkling room. The recently expanded andrenovated ballroom held 1,300 guests.

3. The tribute. Kevin Costner delivered a moving trib-ute to Muhammad Ali, perfectly capturing the placeAli holds in America’s heart.

4. The entertainment. An amazing line-up of starpower entertained throughout the evening, includ-ing Faith Hill, Collin Raye, John Mellencamp,Dionne Warwick, Kevin Costner and his ModernWest band, American Idolwinner Jordin Sparks andcomedian Sinbad, all under the direction of DavidFoster.

5. The auctions. The silent auction was dramaticallydisplayed, thanks to the efforts of Barrow Neu-

rological Foundation volunteers. The live auctionof lavish prize packages raised a record amount.

6. The awards. The Muhammad Ali Awards went toKevin Costner, Achievement; Clive Davis, Entrepre-neur; Reba McEntire, Humanitarian; and LaDainianTomlinson, Sports Achievement.

7. The local donors. In addition to the amazing celebri-ty packages, the live auction featured several giftsdonated by local businesses. David Kimmerle, theowner of Sanderson Ford, contributed a rare Mus-tang designed by the legendary Ford engineer JackRoush (pictured above in a white shirt with Kimmerle). Kimmerle gave to the event because hisfamily has been touched by Parkinson’s disease.


B A R R O W 21

Bourgets Motorcycles donated three custom-designed, Ali-themed motorcycles in honor of an employee who is a patient at the Muhammad AliParkinson Center.

8. The guests. Among the guests were Barrow VIPsDr. and Mrs. Robert Spetzler and Dr. Abe Lieber-man, the new MAPC director, shown in front ofa silent auction display.

9. The volunteers. More than 60 volunteers spentmonths preparing for Celebrity Fight Night. Deb-bie Castaldo, director of Philanthropic Innova-tion at Barrow Neurological Foundation (in redwith Mike Ingram), led these volunteer effortsand helped generate donations to the event. Vol-

unteer Margaret Ann Coles got a hug from Ali’sdaughter, Rasheda, during the event.

10. Celebrity Fight Night Foundation. The power-house behind this dynamic event is the Celebri-ty Fight Night Foundation. Dr. Robert Spetzler,director of Barrow, and Mary Jane Crist, CEO ofBarrow Neurological Foundation, extend a heart-felt thank-you to founder Jimmy Walker and hiswife, Nancy, and to Sean Currie and the staff ofCelebrity Fight Night Foundation for their con-tinued support of the Muhammad Ali Parkin-son Center. �


B A R R O W22

M E D I C A L M I S S I O N

Asixth-year neurosurgery resident at Barrow, Dr.Elisa Beres has learned from the best of the bestand operated in one of the most advanced facil-

ities in the world. But no amount of training couldhave prepared her for her recent trip to Africa, wherea medical mission also doubled as a crash course in

MacGyver-style neu-rosurgery. In mid-July, Dr.

Beres traveled toTanzania and Kenyawith the PhysicianTraining Partnership,a branch of Progres-sive Health World-wide, whose mission

is to cultivate independent medical professionals inthe developing world. The first resident to travelwith the group, Dr. Beres fulfilled a desire she’d hadsince medical school. “I feel like I’ve been given a gift to use my hands

and my abilities to help people,” she says. “I think it’simportant to give back.”

A world apart From the moment the group landed at Kiliman-

jaro International Airport, Dr. Beres’s experience wasdrastically different from anything she has known inthe states. The team, which consisted of three neurosurgeons,

a neurologist, a physician’s assistant, and a handfulof medical students, was stationed at Haydom Luther-an Hospital in the small town of Haydom, more thaneight hours—by mostly dirt roads—from the airport.A 450-bed facility, the hospital’s average census runscloser to 600. Once word spread that a neuro team had arrived,

the corridors filled with patients, many of whomhad arrived via the handlebars of a bicycle. It didn’ttake long for Dr. Beres and her peers to discover themany challenges of practicing medicine in a devel-oping country. Like most parts of Africa, physicians are scarce in

Tanzania. In fact, the only MDs at Haydom Luther-an are those who come through on mission work. Oth-

erwise, patients are treated by assistant medical offi-cers whose education is the equivalent of a high-school degree and some advanced technical training.

Healthcare obstacles A mission hospital founded by the Norwegian

government and the Lutheran church, HaydomLutheran houses one of the country’s six CT scanners—and not much else. Aside from an x-ray machineand a rudimentary lab, there is minimal equipmentor medications. Electricity is sporadic and the waterisn’t drinkable. Due to poor sterilization, infection isrampant. Partially because of a lack of adequate diag-nostic equipment, patients are usually given one oftwo diagnoses—malaria or tuberculosis.“It was very frustrating to figure out how to best

treat patients with the resources available,” says Dr.Beres. “So many times we would want to do other pro-cedures, like checking sodium levels or intracranialpressure, but we didn’t have the resources.”Instead, they improvised. The hospital doesn’t

have an electric drill, so the team performed cran-iotomies with a hand drill and a wire saw. To get morelight, they attached flashlights and camping headlightsto their heads. While doing a mother/child outreachclinic, they weighed babies with a weight tossed overa tree branch and a sling. In addition to the lack of resources, the team also

encountered cultural differences and language bar-riers. They saw patients who had been receivingtreatment from the local witch doctor and whoseconditions had deteriorated beyond surgical treatment.And even if they were able to find someone to trans-late one of dozens of tribal languages, crucial infor-mation was still often lost in translation.

Medical self-sufficiencyOne of the more obvious obstacles to healthcare

in Africa is financial hardship. While care providedby the PTP group was free, paying for healthcare inother situations often becomes a burden. For exam-ple, a head scan at Haydom Lutheran costs 30,000 Tan-zanian schillings—the equivalent of roughly $30 dol-lars. Brain surgery costs the equivalent of $50. Theseprices are unheard of in the American healthcare sys-

out of africaBarrow Neurosurgery resident experiences bush medicine during two-month mission

by Sarah Padilla

“What we really want todo is to leave behind alegacy and help thesecountries become moreself-sufficient.”

Elisa Beres, MD

B A R R O W 23

M E D I C A L M I S S I O N

tem, but a $50 expense could force a Tanzanian family to sell offeverything they own, including their livestock.“Deciding whether or not to pay for a procedure often

becomes an ethical dilemma for the family,” says Dr. Beres. During her two-month stay, Dr. Beres participated in 29 sur-

geries, implanting shunts, removing tumors and more. But forevery patient the team helped save, there was another theycouldn’t help for one reason or another. Often, she says, it wasa matter of deciding to do surgery or to send a patient home todie. “It’s easy to go down and help people temporarily, but at the

same time, a mission isn’t the answer,” says Dr. Beres. “Whatwe really want to do is to leave behind a legacy and help thesecountries become more self-sufficient.” That’s why the group also dedicated time to educating hos-

pital workers on basic skills such as reading CT scans and per-forming neuro work-ups. They visited government officials toadvocate for the development of training, recruitment andretention programs. In East Africa especially, potential physi-cians have to leave the region for adequate training—and veryfew return to practice in their homeland.In fact, there are only three neurosurgeons in the entire coun-

try of Tanzania, and all are located in the coastal city of Dar esSalaam. The World Healthcare Organization recommends aratio of one neurosurgeon to every 100,000 people. The ratio inNorth America is about one to 81,000; in Africa, it’s one to1,352,000. Such staggering statistics make it easy to see why Dr. Beres

doesn’t feel that her short stay made a dent in the dire situation.However, the dozens of patients who received potentially life-saving surgeries would probably tell a different story. �

(For more information about the Physician Training Program, visitwww.ptpafrica.org.)

The conditions at the hospital where Dr. Elisa Beres spent sixweeks last year are nothing like the facilities at Barrow whereshe is in her sixth year of Neurosurgery residency.

B A R R O W24

W H Y W E G I V E

why we giveFamily chooses Barrow for annual gift

by Catherine Menor

The answer to the annual Davis family question—Who should we give to this Christmas?—was a no-brainer this year. Everyone agreed that the only

possible recipient was BarrowNeurological Institute. Just six months earlier, 29-

year-old Christina Davis hadreceived care at Barrow for asubarachnoid hemorrhage,bleeding in the brain that canlead to severe disability or evendeath. The medical crisis—thefirst faced by Christina, her sevenbrothers and sisters, mother andfather—left the Valley clan shak-en but grateful.“To be just minutes away

from Barrow,” Christina says. “Thank God we live soclose to that amazing hospital and have Dr. Spetzler.He’s the greatest!”Christina’s medical emergency began with a

headache that got progressively worse. When Christi-na got lost driving to a friend’s home and then beganvomiting and lying in a fetal position, her friendscalled 911. By the time paramedics arrived, Christinawas confused and having trouble answering questions.

Doctors at the hospital where Christina was takenat first thought she was drunk. But a CT revealedbleeding in her brain, and she was transferred to Bar-row.There, the neurosurgery team put Christina into a

medically induced coma and drained the hemor-rhaged blood from her brain. They found no cause forthe hemorrhage during her 21-day hospital stay.“When the cause is not evident on the angiogram,

you fall into an incredibly favorable group,” Dr. Spet-zler told the family. “If nothing shows up on follow-upscans, there is an incredibly small chance of recurrence.It could be that a tiny vessel bled, then shut off and isnow as healthy as the rest of the vascular system.”Christina’s parents, Paul and Shirley Davis, found-

ed Davis Enterprises, a real estate development andmanagement company. Two of the couple’s children—Nick Davis and Jenifer Lunt—now manage the com-pany, with the entire family as partners.The family has been making an annual gift to a char-

ity for many years. “We’ve received the gift of success,and we should return it,” says Paul.The Davis family has other ties to St. Joseph’s—Paul

played in a high school band that performed at a 1951groundbreaking for the hospital, and Shirley was a reg-istered nurse at St. Joseph’s in the 1960s. �

The Davis family: sitting, Paul Davis, Shirley Davis, and Theresa and Lauren Mansour; standing,Mary Ann Collins, JoAnn Bouchard, Nick Davis, Christina Davis, Mark Davis, Jenifer Lunt, andPeter Davis.

B A R R O W 25

P H I L A N T H R O P I S T O F T H E Y E A R

Julie Ann Wrigley was named the 2007 Outstand-ing Philanthropist by the Greater Arizona Chap-ter of the Association of Fundraising Profession-

als at the group’s November awards dinner. Wrigleywas honored for her long-time advocacy and supportof health, educational and environmental non-prof-it organizations.Wrigley has contributed significant financial sup-

port, leadership and talent to a wide range of non-prof-its, including Barrow Neurological Institute. Shebecame a passionate supporter of Barrow after under-going a successful acoustic-neuroma surgery per-formed by Dr. Robert Spetzler. When the hospital began plans to construct the new

Barrow Neuroscience Tower, Wrigley agreed to co-chairthe Pushing Boundaries Capital Campaign, whichraised about $30 million for construction of the towerand other campus improvements. Her lead gift of$2.5 million encouraged other friends of Barrow to con-tribute to the campaign. The west wing of the toweris named the Wrigley Pavilion in her honor. Other organizations that have received Wrigley’s

support include the Kidney Foundation, Northwest-ern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Arizona State Uni-versity, the University of Southern California, Child-help, and the Peregrine Fund. At ASU, she establishedthe International Institute for Sustainability to deal withthe global and regional ecological, economic and soci-etal issues involved in creating a truly sustainablequality of life. In addition to her contribution of leadership and

financial support to the Pushing Boundaries CapitalCampaign, Wrigley has supported several other proj-ects at Barrow, including a vascular database estab-lished by Dr. Peter Nakaji to track the histories and out-comes of patients referred to Barrow for treatment ofrare vascular ailments. Most recently, she underwrotethe 2008 Barrow Grand Ball, presented by the BarrowWomen’s Board in January.“Julie’s many gifts have not simply helped Bar-

row—they have challenged and moved our organi-zation to a higher level of service,” says Mary Jane Crist,CEO of Barrow Neurological Foundation. “We areextremely grateful for her generous contributions tothe hospital.” �

philanthropist of the yearJulie Wrigley receives recognition for her contributions

to medical, educational, environmental non-profits

B A R R O W26

L I F E T I M E A C H I E V E M E N T A W A R D

lifetime achievement awardCouple receives prestigious award from Society for Neuro-Oncology

William Shapiro, MD, and Joan Rankin Shapiro, PhD,probably understand better than most couplesthat the key to solving problems is good com-

munication: in marriage and in medicine. As a clinicianand researcher, he has asked the questions, and as ahuman geneticist, she has searched for the answers. Thatsense of inquiry and collaboration between the Shapiroshas led to remarkable discoveries in the field of neuro-oncol-ogy and left a lasting impression at Barrow NeurologicalInstitute and St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. While the Shapiros have received numerous profes-

sional awards and honors in recognition of their contri-butions, they were recently honored jointly for their effortsin brain-tumor research. In November 2007, the couplereceived a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Socie-

ty for Neuro-Oncology (SNO), the second such awardgiven by the organization. The award recognizes pio-neers in neuro-oncology clinical care and/or translationalor basic research who have contributed significantly to theunderstanding and management of brain tumors, thetraining of the next generation of neuro-oncology inves-tigators, and the care of patients afflicted with the disease. “I’ve never put myself in the position of thinking that

what I do is so earth-shattering. Bill is the person that needsto be honored,” says Joan. “He fights hard for the sick andthe dying. That is why I have always worked in the lab.I would cry if I had to deal with patients.” Bill sees the recognition as successful group achieve-

ment. “We’ve both impacted the experimental field andpatient community.”

by Sally J. Clasen

Drs. Joan and WilliamShapiro are establishingan endowed chair—the

William R. and JoanRankin Shapiro Chair in

Neuro-OncologyResearch—to ensureongoing brain tumorresearch at Barrow.

B A R R O W 27

L I F E T I M E A C H I E V E M E N T A W A R D

The Shapiros came to Barrow in 1989 from Memori-al Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York.At the time, Bill became the chair of the Division of Neu-rology, and Joan assumed the position of director ofNeuro-Oncology Research.

Years of brain-tumor researchBill started his career as a National Cancer Institute

researcher, developing a brain tumor model that was usedto screen chemotherapy agents for brain tumors and thatled to the first approved chemotherapy treatment. He alsowas instrumental in creating the Brain Tumor StudyGroup, an international group of physicians devoted todeveloping brain-tumor treatments. At MSKCC, Billdeveloped the first neuro-oncology program in the coun-try, conducted research, and ran a clinical program forpatients with primary and metastatic brain tumors. In Phoenix, he has continued to care for patients, par-

ticipate in clinical trials and conduct ground-breakingbrain-tumor research, including being the lead participantin the National Cancer Institute-sponsored study of theepidemiology of brain tumors. He is currently participatingin six new clinical trials, consulting with pharmaceuticalcompanies to develop new cancer drugs and working ona study to learn why brain tumors cause seizures. Joan spent the first part of her career investigating

inherited genetic abnormalities before turning to brain-tumor research in 1979. She was the first to report that braintumors are heterogeneous (multiple tumor cell typeswithin a single tumor) and to describe how those differ-ent cells react to cancer treatment. Joan determined that such tumors could evolve dif-

ferently. Thus, two patients with the same histopathologicaldiagnosis could have tumors different in their cellularmake-up and would respond differently to therapy. As an investigator, Joan has received more than $14 mil-

lion in government and private peer-reviewed grants, andis part of an elite group of scientists who have receivedfunding for more than 20 years on a single grant appli-cation. She retired from the lab in 2000 and then servedas vice president of Research and Development untilAugust 2007.

Building a world-renowned brain-tumor research centerAs scientists, the Shapiros have collaborated for more

than 20 years and have been instrumental in building aworld-renowned brain-tumor research center at Barrow.The two embrace the longevity of their working rela-tionship and honor each other’s contributions as health-care pioneers. “We’re naturally recognized as a team and that is a good

thing. We have always been supportive of each other,” Joan

says. Bill adds, “We offer the medical and scientific com-munity a unique set of experiences. We have her research,my research and our independent pursuits.”Despite investing countless hours studying brain

tumors and finding effective treatments for the disease,it is not easy for either Shapiro to walk away—or say noto hospital executives who value the couple’s leadership,knowledge and influence. Both have resigned and thenstepped back into new and previously held positionsduring the last two decades at St. Joseph’s. Currently, Billis in a familiar role as the interim chair of Neurology, andJoan is the vice president of Clinical Research, a positionshe accepted in January 2008. They also remain devoted to fostering the next gen-

eration of scientists and clinicians in neuro-oncologythrough education and mentoring. In 1989, Joan developedthe Scientific Enrichment Program for Students, whichenables promising high school, college and medical stu-dents to work in Barrow’s Neuro-Oncology Lab. She alsostill regularly visits K-12 students through her Kids BrainsMatter Too program, which she created in 1999. “I enjoy getting students excited about the questions,”

she says. “It’s a payback system. I’ve had some wonder-ful mentors.”

The Shapiros’ lasting legacy:An endowed chair in researchIn addition to his active clinical and lab work, Bill, who

holds the Marley Chair in Neuro-Oncology, has built aneuro-oncology fellowship program and is training afourth neuro-oncologist at Barrow. As a legacy to their service and dedication to ongoing

brain-tumor research, the couple decided in December 2007to establish an endowed chair for neuro-oncology researchthrough Barrow Neurological Foundation. “This repre-sents our desire to give back and will allow Barrow to hirethe best and the brightest scientist they can find to carryon research in brain tumors,” Bill says of their philanthropicgift. “We want Barrow to continue to succeed and torecruit good people.”Brain-tumor research has been a “24/7” lifestyle,

according to Joan, but the Shapiros, who have four chil-dren and four grandchildren, find time to sail in Arizonaand California. It is one activity that doesn’t lend itself toscientific discussions. “We’re too busy dealing with the ele-ments and trying to stay alive,” Joan says. The Shapiros are already collaborating on post-retire-

ment plans, working together in their entrepreneurialventure JRS Research Consultants, a firm that focuses ondeveloping research infrastructure and labs. “Neither ofus,” says Joan, “will just walk away from this easily.” �

B A R R O W28

K E L L E R C E N T E R F O R I M A G I N G A N D I N N O V A T I O N

In terms of its size, the 5,000-square-foot Keller Center for Imaging andInnovation at St. Joseph’s and Barrow is on the small side. But in termsof impact, the center is, quite literally, making waves throughout the field

of radiology.Dedicated to developing new medical technology and innovations for

improved diagnostic care, the $5.2-million imaging research facility islocated on the ground floor of St. Joseph’s. It is named in honor of Dr. PaulKeller, a Barrow scientist who passed away in 1998. Dr. Keller left hislegacy in the hands of senior staff scientist Dr. Jim Pipe, who has helpedoversee the development of the center since gaining support from hospi-tal’s management several years ago. Today, Dr. Pipe works from one of 10 new offices dedicated to faculty

—including Barrow imaging scientists, engineering faculty from ArizonaState University, engineers from GE Healthcare, and a full-time researchtechnologist. Across the hall, a 1,000-square-foot room has space for an addi-tional 25 students and staff members. The workspaces are equipped withhigh-tech computers for data processing and visualization.

making waves in radiology New Keller Center for Imaging and Innovation is partnering with GE Healthcare and ASU to improve diagnostic care for patients

by Sarah Padilla

Above, Dr. Jim Pipe, director of the Keller Centerfor Imaging and Innovation. Right, Dr. DonglaiHuo, staff scientist.

B A R R O W 29


“It’s nice to be in a field where you have a veryreal sense that you’re helping the world.” “

Jim Pipe, PhD

3T MRI dedicated to researchThe crown jewel of the Keller Center arrived in

December 2007 via a semi truck and a crane—a 3-Teslamultinuclear MRI scanner. A first for the Valley, themultinuclear scanner differs from traditional scannersin that it can generate images of the nuclei of a varietyof atoms, such as sodium. “We’re going to focus on sodium imaging because

sodium can reveal a lot about the health of a tissue, suchas whether it’s been affected by stroke or possiblywhether a tumor is malignant or benign,” says Dr. Pipe.

While St. Joseph’s has seven additional clinical MRIscanners on campus, this is the only one dedicated toimaging research.The scanner is located at the end of a hallway whose

walls are lined with white boards covered in complexequations and formulas. Cryptic to most, these formu-las could hold the key to substantial improvements inpatient care.In fact, Dr. Pipe has already led the charge on at

least one innovation that is now being used to produceclearer MRIs in hospitals nationwide. His PROPELLER

(Periodically Rotated Overlapping ParallEL Lines withEnhanced Reconstruction) technology measures howmuch a patient moves during a scan and then eliminatesthat motion to produce sharper and more accurateimages. Such technology is especially useful in patientswho move around a lot, such as trauma patients orpeople with Parkinson’s disease.Dr. Pipe worked with GE Healthcare to make the

product a reality, and several years ago the companyincorporated PROPELLER into all of its scanners. Now,scanners from both Siemens Medical Solutions andPhilips Medical Systems also include the technology.This initial collaboration between Barrow and GE

turned out to be the beginning of a unique relationship.Today, two GE engineers are physically housed at theKeller Center, making Barrow the first non-GE locationin the world to have GE product engineers perma-nently located on campus. “Once we had created PROPELLER, it took four

years to put it into development,” says Dr. Pipe. “Ourhope was that if we had people onsite, we could makethat process faster.”

Local and national collaborationDr. Pipe is equally hopeful about collaborating with

other researchers, both locally and nationwide. In fact,the Center’s multinuclear scanner is available for otherorganizations to use in their research projects. Eventu-ally, Dr. Pipe would like to see the Keller Center becomeone of the Valley’s core facilities in terms of imagingresearch—with everyone working together.“Imaging is still pretty new, so there’s a good sense

of collaboration. I hope that we can all continue to worktogether instead of building walls between us.”In addition to GE, the hospital also has a medical

imaging partnership with ASU. As ASU launches amedical imaging program at the university, ASU engi-neering faculty members and students work at theKeller Center. Currently, six students, mostly PhD can-didates, work on a number of projects. Projects underway include research into measur-

ing the amount of flow in blood vessels, which couldhelp physicians better predict the formation of athero-

sclerosis. Some are working on creating better imagesfor functional MRI research, which helps map differentparts of the brain and their functions. Researchers are also working to apply the PRO-

PELLER technology, currently only applicable to headscans, to other parts of the body. And as the hospitalincreases its heart and lung services, Dr. Pipe says it opensup a new field of possibilities.Regardless of the field, Dr. Pipe and his team have

a huge advantage given their location at St. Joseph’s,where the connection between research and clinicalapplication is more tangible than at other imagingresearch centers. “There are only a handful of facilities with the aca-

demic, clinical and industry side as tightly integratedas we are,” he says.For example, a staff neuroradiologist might approach

the team with a type of scan that needs improvements.Some improvements—which are often a matter of cre-ating new or tweaking existing software—can make theirway into the clinical realm relatively quickly and seam-lessly.For Dr. Pipe, the relevance of his work is encourag-

ing. “I was drawn to radiology because we’re alwayslearning new things and there’s a lot to explore,” he says.“Also, it’s nice to be in a field where you have a veryreal sense that you’re helping the world.” �

B A R R O W30


Top, Dr. Jim Pipe meets weekly with the 10 Neuroradiology fellows currently training at Barrow. Bottom, Eric Aboussouan,medical imaging programmer, and Alan Thompson, softwareengineer for GE Healthcare, discuss imaging research projectscurrently underway at the Keller Center for Imaging andInnovation.

B A R R O W 31

B E N E F A C T O R B R I E F S

Benefactor briefsSSBTR gives Barrow $55,500for brain-tumor researchIn April, Students Supporting Brain Tumor Research(SSBTR) presented a total of $215,000 to Barrow Neu-rological Institute, the Brain Tumor Society, PhoenixChildren’s Hospital and the Translational GenomicsResearch Institute. Barrow received $55,500. Most of thefunds were raised at the seventh annual SSBTR Walk-A-Thon, held in February.SSBTR funding currently supports a one-year fel-

lowship in the Neuro-Oncology Laboratory at Barrow.Julia Mackey, a 2007 Northern Arizona University grad-uate who earned a bachelor ofscience in chemistry with a minorin biology, is the first recipient ofthe SSBTR fellowship. The fel-lowship provides Mackey a$24,000 stipend plus benefits towork under the supervision oflab director Dr. Adrienne Scheck. SSBTR was founded in 2002,

shortly after three students in theParadise Valley School Districtdied of brain tumors. Studentsfrom elementary schools, highschools and universities acrossthe state participate in the annu-al fundraiser, which has raisedmore than $868,000 for brain-tumor research.

B A R R O W32

N E W S

what’s happening around barrow

Shop and give at Bashas’ If you are a Bashas’ Shopper, you can link your Bashas’Thank You Card to raise funds for St. Joseph’s Hospi-tal and/or Barrow Neurological Institute. Simply present the charity identification number(s)

to the cashier the next time you shop at Bashas’. Thecashier will punch it in, and the number(s) will be print-ed on your receipt as confirmation. Every time youshop at Bashas’, a portion of your total purchase willbe donated to the non-profit group(s) linked to yourThank You Card. If you link more than one non-profitgroup to your card, the donation will be shared. The ID numbers for St. Joseph’s and Barrow are:

� Barrow Neurological Foundation - 24835; � St. Joseph’s Foundation - 24834.Link your card today, and support Barrow and St.

Joseph’s through your everyday purchases.

CHW awards $323,000 to 15 Arizona non-profits Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), the parent organizationof St. Joseph’s and Barrow, has awarded $323,886 to localorganizations as part of CHW’s annual CommunityGrants Program. This program gives grants to non-prof-its that support specific healthcare initiatives and workto improve the health and quality of life in underservedcommunities.

This year, CHW gave grants to 15 Arizona organi-zations that address injury prevention and behavioraland/or mental-health issues. Selected organizationsare Arizona Firearm Safety Coalition, AZ Lost Boys, Cen-tral Arizona Shelter Services, Childhelp, Desert Moun-tain, Inc., Fresh Start Women’s Center, Girl Scouts –Arizona Cactus Pine Council, Homeward Bound, Jew-ish Family Children’s Services, La Frontera Center, Inc.,Osborn Educational Foundation, Southwest HumanDevelopment, St. Elizabeth’s Health Center, Teen Life-line and UMOM New Day Center.

Barrow sponsors disabled sports expoBarrow, the Arizona ParalympicAcademy and Arizona State Uni-versity (ASU) sponsored the 10thannual Arizona Disabled SportsExpo Oct. 26-27 at the Student Recre-ation Complex at ASU.The event featured sports instruc-

tion and demonstrations, includingquad rugby, wheelchair basketball,adaptive golf, soccer, kayaking andscuba. “The event is a great way to give

people with disabilities the resourcesthey need to become active,” says JoCrawford, recreation therapist at St.Joseph’s. “This is one of the onlyevents offered in Arizona wheresomeone with a disability can learnabout sports and recreation.”

Rock climbing and kayaking were two ofthe sports featured at the 10th AnnualArizona Disabled Sports Expo.

B A R R O W 33

N E W S

Day on the Lake set for May 30-31The 12th Annual Day on the Lake will be held from 8:30 a.m.until 2:30 p.m. on Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, at BartlettLake Marina. Participants will be able to learn about and par-ticipate in water skiing, jet skiing, fishing, kayaking and boatriding. Day on the Lake gives people with

neurological impairments an oppor-tunity to experience water recre-ation. With the help of Barrowand a specialized team from Cal-ifornia, participants are able totry their hand at water sports ina safe and encouraging environ-ment. “Everyone has the right to play

and live life to its fullest,” says NatalieConnolly, certified therapeutic recreationspecialist at Barrow. “Day on the Lake provides the neu-rologically disabled an opportunity to become more active.” Registration is limited to 40 water skiers per day. Registra-

tion forms are available at www.TheBarrow.com. For moreinformation, call the Barrow Recreation Therapy Departmentat 602-406-3606.

Dr. Abe Lieberman returns to Barrow to direct MAPC

Dr. Abraham Lieberman is the new medicaldirector of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Cen-ter at Barrow. Dr. Lieberman was previouslythe National Medical Director of the Nation-al Parkinson Foundation. He has been diag-nosing and treating patients with Parkinson’sdisease for more than 40 years, including aprevious stent at MAPC.

Dr. Lieberman received his medical degree from New YorkUniversity School of Medicine. He completed a Neurology res-idency at Bellevue Hospital in New York and a Pharmacologyfellowship at NYU. He is board certified in Neurology andPsychiatry, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Neu-rology and the American Neurological Association. He was aProfessor of Neurology at New York University and at the Uni-versity of Miami Medical School.Dr. Lieberman is the principal or co-principal investigator

of more than 200 studies into Parkinson’s disease, including manydrug studies and research into psychosocial issues that can berelated to PD. He has authored or co-authored more than 200articles published in major journals, and published severalbooks on PD, including Shaking Up Parkinson Disease and 100Questions and Answers about Parkinson Disease.

2008 Education Daydraws full houseMore than 150 people attended 2008 Edu-cation Day, presented Feb. 14 by the BarrowWomen’s Board.The theme of the morning event was

“Caring for the Health of Our Community.”Speakers included Dr. Robert Spetzler, direc-tor of Barrow; Daryl Weil, a former Barrowpatient; Dr. Nicholas Theodore, a Barrowneurosurgeon and researcher; and Dr. AbeLieberman, the director of the MuhammadAli Parkinson Center.Glenna Shapiro was the chairman of

Education Day. Other committee memberswere Ann Denk, Shan Francis, Nancy Gaint-ner, Nancy Hanley, Julie Hopper, BonnieMartin, Marilyn Parke, Carol Robertson,Judy Schubert and Nancy Walker.

Members of the Barrow Women’s Board organizedand hosted 2008 Education Day.

Education Day drewa full house. Below,Dr. NicholasTheodore, one ofthe presenters, withShan Francis.

B A R R O W34

P L A N N E D G I V I N G

Charitable annuityA secure investment for uncertain financial times

by Kathy Kramervice president, Leadership Gifts

This educational illustration is not professional tax or legal advice. Consult a tax advisor about your specific situation.

The charitable gift annuity isa combination of a gift tocharity and an annuity. For

senior persons, annuity rates maybe 8%, 9% or even higher. Since

part of the annuity payment is tax-free return of prin-cipal, the gift annuity may provide the annuitants withsubstantial income. The combination of partially tax-free income and the initial charitable deduction makesthis agreement quite attractive. And, after all paymentshave been made for the lives of the two annuitants, afavorite charity will benefit from the charitable gift. A gift annuity is a contract between the charity

and the individual. The individual transfers proper-ty to the charity, and the charity promises to pay a givenamount at the end of each selected payment period toone annuitant for life or two annuitants for both lives.Part of the payment is interest earned and is taxableas ordinary income. Part of each payment is return ofprincipal and is tax free. However, if an annuitantsurvives past his or her life expectancy, all later annu-ity payments will be ordinary income.Is a charitable annuity right for you? For more

information about this and other planned giving vehi-cles, call Barrow Neurological Foundation, 602-406-3041.Or drop me an email at [email protected].

1. Gift property to charity.Donor receives contract forannuity payments. Incomededuction of $2,782 may save$901.

2. Annuity of $600 for twolives. Tax-free amount$365.40. Estimated two-livespayout of $12,660. Effectivepayout rate 8.6%

3. Property passes to charitywith no probate fees. Thereare also no estate taxes ifmarried.

Property$10,000 Principal

$10,000 Charity$10,000

(approximate value)Two Lives

Charitable Gift AnnuityJohn Smith, 73, and Jane Smith, 69

6% Annuity

SPRING 2008

FOR MAKING THE SPRING 2008 HEALTH & WEALTH RAFFLE ANOTHER SUCCESS!

FOR MAKING THE SPRING 2008 THANK YOU, ARIZONA

YOUR SUPPORT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

SJF_844 StJoMagAd.indd 1 4/10/08 3:31:17 PM

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 685Phoenix, AZ

CHW ArizonaBarrow Neurological Foundation350 W. Thomas Rd.Phoenix, AZ 85013-4496

www.stjosephs-phx.org

Address Service Requested

Barrow Neurological Foundation respects yourprivacy. If you would prefer not to receive futureissues of Barrow Magazine, please let us know bycalling 602-406-3041 or emailing us at [email protected]. Please provide yourname and address exactly as it appears onthe address panel of this magazine.

Barrow Magazine, Volume 20, Issue 1, 2008

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