TODAY - June 27, 2012

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42

Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Volume 25, Number 8

Religion study completes 2nd wave ofAdventist Health Study data collection

LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY | LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER | LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL | LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY BEHAVIORAL MEDICINECENTER | LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER – EAST CAMPUS | LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH CARE | LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY HEART & SURGICAL HOSPITALFACULTY MEDICAL GROUP OF LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE | FACULTY PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS OF LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

COMMENCEMENTS CONTINUE

Bomb threat draws the FBI and local lawenforcement agencies to LLUMC

Scenes from 2012 LLU graduations 8

Brad Budde, MPT, retired offensive lineman for the National Football League’sKansas City Chiefs, gave a commencement address titled “Success to Signifi-cance” to physical therapy graduates of the School of Allied Health Professions,followed by graduation ceremonies for the rest of the school’s programs. Mr.Budde, an alumnus of Loma Linda University in 1994, is president of BuddePhysical Therapy, Inc., and founder of GameDay Management Systems, Inc.Outside of work, he and his wife, Nicolette, are dedicated to serving abused andneglected children through Camp Opportunity and the Division of FamilyServices in Kansas City, Missouri.

Clinton A. Valley, EdD, MA, MBA, pres-ident of the University of the SouthernCaribbean (formerly Caribbean UnionCollege) in Trinidad, presented thetopic, “One More River to Cross,” forgraduates of Loma Linda UniversitySchool of Science and Technology andLLU School of Religion.

Gina S. Brown, PhD, MSA, associateprofessor of nursing, LLU School ofNursing, spoke on the topic “TrueNursing Outcomes” during thatschool’s commencement ceremony.

Martin A. Philbert, PhD, dean andprofessor of toxicology, department ofenvironmental health sciences, Schoolof Public Health, University ofMichigan, titled his address “WithMurderous Intent” as he spoke to LLUSchool of Public Health graduates andtheir guests.

Loma Linda University concludes 2012commencement season on June 10By Larry Kidder

Graduates from five Loma Linda Univer-sity schools were recognized by faculty,

family, friends, and administrators for theirscholastic accomplishments during fivecommencement programs taking place onJune 10, 2012.

With the conclusion of the season, Loma LindaUniversity graduated 1,402 students, including486 with doctoral degrees, 508 with master’sdegrees, 283 with bachelor’s degrees, 83 withassociate’s degrees, 43 with certificates, and 32with first professional certificates.

The university continued its international tradi-tion, with graduates representing 79 countries.Within the U.S., graduates hailed from 45states, as well as Puerto Rico.

A full day of commencement ceremonies beganat 8:00 a.m. at LLU Drayson Center with theSchool of Science and Technology (renamedthe School of Behavioral Health as of summer2012) and the School of Religion.

Two graduates received their master of artsdegree in clinical ministry through the School ofReligion. In the School of Science and Tech-nology, one individual received a BS in geology;48 individuals their MSW degrees; 62 wereawarded MS degrees in the areas of biology,

child life, counseling, criminal justice, geology,gerontology, marital and family therapy (MFT),and natural sciences—including 10 who werepart of the off-campus MFT program at Cana-dian University College; and one with an MA infamily studies.

Receiving the doctor of marital and familytherapy were four individuals; eight received thedoctor of psychology degree; and 12 wereawarded their PhD—one in family studies, fivein marital and family therapy, five inpsychology, and one in social policy and socialresearch.

The LLU School of Nursing commencementceremony followed at 10:30 a.m. Receiving theBS in nursing were 120 graduates; earning theirMS degrees in nursing were 21 individuals.

The LLU School of Allied Health Professionsdivided its commencement ceremonies into two,with the physical therapy program beginning at1:00 p.m. Those awarded the AS physical ther-apist assistant degree totaled 46; master of phys-ical therapy graduates numbered 37; doctor ofphysical therapy (DPT) graduates were 70strong; post-professional DPT graduatesincluded 13; and doctor of science graduatestotaled three.

The second School of Allied Health Profes-sions ceremony began at 3:30 p.m., with 41

receiving certificates in the areas of cardiac elec-trophysiology technology, coding specialist,health information administration, diagnosticcardiac sonography, diagnostic medical sonog-raphy, medical dosimetry, and nuclear medi-cine; associate in science graduates totaled 35 inthe areas of cardiac electrophysiology tech-nology and medical radiography; and 112 bach-elor’s degree graduates in health careadministration, emergency medical care, respi-ratory care, clinical laboratory science, cytotech-nology, communication sciences and disorders,health information administration, nutritionand dietetics, radiation and radiation sciences.

Graduating with master of occupational therapydegrees were 40 individuals; 26 received theirmaster of physician assistant degrees; and 35graduated with their MS degrees in healthprofessions education, communication sciencesand disorders, nutrition and dietetics, radiationsciences, and radiologist assistant.

Two individuals graduated with the doctor ofoccupational therapy degree, and three withPhD degrees.

Graduation speakers on June 10 included thefollowing: Clinton A. Valley, EdD, MA, MBA,president of the University of SouthernCaribbean (formerly Caribbean Union College),located in Maracas Valley, Trinidad, whoseaddress was titled “One More River to Cross”(SST/SR); Gina S. Brown, PhD, MSA, asso-ciate professor of nursing, LLU School ofNursing, who talked about “True NursingOutcomes” (SN); Brad Budde, MPT, presidentof Budde Physical Therapy, Inc., and founder ofGameDay Management Systems, Inc., whoaddressed the topic “Success to Significance”(SAHP); and Martin A. Philbert, PhD, deanand professor of toxicology, department of envi-ronmental health sciences, School of PublicHealth, University of Michigan, who titled hisaddress “With Murderous Intent” (SPH).

During the two commencement weekends, anumber of individuals were honored—both atthe individual school level and university wide.

For a complete list of honorees, see the June 8,2012, edition of Today. See page 4 of this issuefor additional graduation photos.

TODAY 2 Wednesday, June 27, 2012

By Barry Manembu

Researchers with the Adventist Religionand Health Study, a sub-study of the

Adventist Health Study-2, have been makingsignificant strides in their quest to find whatspecific aspects of religion relate to better orworse health.

With the completion of the second wave of datacollection in January, members of the researchteam can now begin the process of integratingboth sets of data, which will enable them toproduce stronger scientific results.

“This will allow us to answer several importantquestions,” explains Jerry Lee, PhD, principalinvestigator, “such as ’Do people who are experi-encing high stress in 2006 have more illness in2011 but less so if they were more religious?’”

The sub-study began in 2006 when 10,988Seventh-day Adventists from the AdventistHealth Study-2 cohort filled out a question-naire about religious beliefs and practices,stressful life experiences, lifestyle (e.g., exerciseand diet), psychological characteristics, andsocial life. A smaller group who live in SouthernCalifornia gave blood and urine samples at aclinic and underwent physical performancetesting (e.g., grip strength) and memory testing.Researchers were also able to measure theirblood pressure, body weight, body fat, pluswaist and hip circumference.

In 2010-2011, 6,512 participants responded toa second questionnaire to see how theirresponses had changed; in 2011-2012 many ofthe original clinic members returned to thesecond clinic. During this period, 327 of thereligion and health study participants attendedstudy-specific clinics held at Loma LindaUniversity East Campus and Los AngelesAdventist Academy.

Religion and Health Study markscompletion of 2nd wave of data collection

ADVENTIST HEALTH STUDY

Jerry Lee, PhD, principal investigatorfor the Adventist Religion and HealthStudy, reflects on his recent datacollection while in his office.

Partaking in a health research project requirescommitment. Participants have to do manythings, including fasting the night before,coming to the clinic, performing the memorytest, and giving samples of urine, saliva, andblood. Yet, to the relief of the clinical team, thestudy members were found to be willing andgenerous with their time.

“All of us—seven staff, including four graduatestudents—were amazed by their commitment,incredible kindness, and compassion,” says co-investigator Kelly Morton, PhD, speaking ofstudy participants. “I don’t think you could everfind a group of people who are more willing andeager to participate in this type of research. Itwas a hassle and a lot of work, but they werevery committed.

“The most striking part is that some of themhave probably been loyal participants since thefirst Adventist Health Study in 1974. Justimagine how many questionnaires they havefilled out, or how many clinics they haveattended since then.”

Dr. Lee, echoing the same grateful sentiment,says, “The participants may not realize it, butthey have made enormous contributionsalready. We just want them to know how muchwe appreciate their help in completing the ques-tionnaires and coming to the clinics. About 27members unable to attend a second clinic due toincreased frailty even welcomed us into theirhomes as we sought to find complete data.”

A longitudinal or prospective study such as thisone typically means long-term outcomes. Thatis because researchers need to follow certainaspects of the health experience of studymembers over several years. Nonetheless, theAdventist Religion and Health Study has beenbeneficial since its inception, and a number ofscientific papers have already been published.

The study has also been beneficial for universitystudents. For instance, some doctoral candi-dates have been using the data set for theirdissertations. Others received hands-on field-work experience, especially during the secondclinical period that lasted for three months.

“One young man, who had served as a Marinein Iraq, even got accepted into Loma LindaUniversity’s School of Dentistry,” says Dr.Morton. “He needed a job to help financeschool, we hired him, and both parties were gladhe was part of the team.”

Doctoral students from other institutions, suchas those at the University of Texas, Austin;Bowling Green State University; and JohnsHopkins University have also been involvedwith the Adventist Religion and Health Study.

“This suggests that our data set not only hasgreat value and unique attributes, but also willcontinue to provide important insights,”concludes Dr. Lee.

Adventist Health Study-2—the parentstudy—is one of the largest health studies everdesigned. It has national importance andinternational significance. It is a cohort studyof 96,000 Seventh-day Adventists in theUnited States and Canada who enrolledbetween 2002 and 2007. Adventists, due inpart to their unique and varied dietary habits,have a lower risk than other Americans forheart disease, several cancers, and probablyhigh blood pressure, arthritis, and diabetes.This, along with their wide variety of dietaryhabits, provides a special opportunity forcareful research to answer a host of scientificquestions about how diet (and other healthhabits) may change the risk of suffering frommany chronic diseases.

Two previous studies on Adventist healthinvolving 24,000 and 34,000 California Adven-tists have been directed from Loma LindaUniversity during the past 40 years. These havebeen among the first to raise scientific awarenessof the close relationship between diet andhealth. This groundbreaking work has broughtvisibility to the lifestyle recommended bySeventh-day Adventists from both the scientificand lay communities. Adventist Health Study-2 is conducted by researchers at Loma LindaUniversity School of Public Health.

Visit <www.adventisthealthstudy.org> formore information.

Study proves useful in themes beyond religion

G iven the wealth of information collectedfrom the Adventist Religion and Health

Study members, opportunities also exist forresearch that go beyond the religion theme.There have been at least three scientific paperspublished on the following topics: trauma andfibromyalgia; perceived pain and fibromyalgia;and how both vegetarian diet and exercise maycounteract health disparities between blacks-blacks and whites. Research by Michael Paalani,DrPH, a former doctoral student, addressesthis last theme.

He says, “Chronic health problems are oftenassociated with increased inflammation. Ithought it would be interesting to see if therewere differences in inflammation levels amongblack and white Adventists, and whether anydifferences may be due to socioeconomic status,lifestyle, or other behavioral factors. I discoveredthat blacksblacks overall, blacks showed higher

levels of inflammation than whites, but that avegetarian diet and increased exercise may offsetthese disparities.”

Some fruitful research has also been conductedwithin the central scope of religion. HumaShah, DrPH, assistant professor in the depart-ment of health promotion and education inLoma Linda University’s School of PublicHealth, is preparing two research papers aftercompleting her dissertation on religious copingand job satisfaction. She is appreciative of therobustness of the data.

“At first I didn’t realize the depth and scope ofthis,” Dr. Shaw says. “But as I began workingwith the dataset and finding out the history ofthis cohort, I was very impressed with thedifferent lifestyle, mental, physical, and spiritualconstructs in the questionnaire and some of thepreliminary outcomes.”

What we have found so far …

Some of the latest results of Adventist Reli-gion and Health Study follow:

• Adventists divorced in the last five years aremore depressed than non-divorced Adven-tists. However, the difference is much smallerfor Adventists who use positive religiouscoping (i.e., seek spiritual support from God,or try to see how God might use a stressfulevent to help one grow).

• Childhood poverty predicts both greater self-rated religiousness in adult life and the use ofreligion to help one cope.

• Negative social interactions seemed to increasedepressive feelings but less so where there isgreater religiousness. In addition, negativeemotionality (such as depressed feelings)predicts worse self-rated physical health. Soreligiousness does have a positive indirecteffect on perceived physical health through itsaction in lowering negative emotionality.

• Childhood poverty is associated with growingup in a chaotic, abusive and/or neglectfulfamily, but much more so in whites thanblacks.

• Couples who are religiously alike report moremarital satisfaction.

• Refraining from secular activities on Sabbathis associated with better mental and physicalquality of life. These associations are partiallyexplained by a better diet, more exercise, andreligious social support among the more tradi-tional Sabbath-keepers.

OLYMPIC HOPEFULS AT DRAYSON

Martin Gregoire (top center), swim coach with the Redlands Swim Team, hasbeen working with a group of seven swimmers at LLU Drayson Center for sometime now. Among his group are three Olympic hopefuls, with one already quali-fying for the team from Ukraine. His group includes (from lower left) Joey Hale(Olympic hopeful; Redlands), Brad Terwilliger (Redlands), Clint Johnson(Yucaipa), Nolan Brown (Redlands), Yulduz Kuchkarova (Olympic hopeful;Uzbekistan), and Maxime Jacomelli (France). Not pictured is Valeriy Dymo fromUkraine, who already qualified for his country’s Olympic team with a silvermedal at the European Swimming Championships. By Larry Kidder

Olympic hopefuls train at Drayson pool

TODAY3Wednesday, June 27, 2012

By Heather Reifsnyder

Food is better when it comes straight off thebush, posited Chef Cory Gheen, instructor

of nutrition and dietetics, during a May 9presentation to students about centering mealsaround what is fresh from one’s own garden. Hedemonstrated how to get started in ediblegardening with pictures from his own backyard.

“People around the world are starting to catchon to the fresh vegetable movement,” said ChefGheen. “All of us can participate in a tiny bit ofwhat more restaurants are increasingly doing—serving the freshest local food possible.”

Mr. Gheen trained at the Culinary Institute ofAmerica from 1998 to 2000, just when thismovement was beginning. Since then, he hasworked in restaurants across the country thatserve fresh food sourced locally—resulting in

LLU resident chef talks edible gardening

A section of the Gheen family garden reveals there is plenty of fresh food tochoose from at their home.

Chef Cory Gheen spent an early May afternoon discussing the fun and benefit ofgrowing one’s own produce with students from the Schools of Allied HealthProfessions and Public Health.

GROWING FRESH PRODUCE

menus that are less standardized and routine.One of these restaurants, The French Laundryin the Napa Valley, routinely sits near the top ofbest restaurant lists for the country and world.

When cooking is based on what is ready forharvest that day or week, meals become morecreative to best use the current fresh ingredients,Mr. Gheen believes. And depending on whatone plants, there are more fruits and vegetablesto choose from than the staples carried by localgrocery stores—which are commercially dictatedby what can be mass grown and shipped.

And then there’s nutritional quality, color, andtaste. Mr. Gheen encouraged students to startwith growing their own tomatoes in order to seethe flavor distinction.

“There’s a night-and-day difference betweentomatoes from a grocery store and tomatoes

right off the bush in mid-summer,” heexplained.

Everyone can have a small edible garden,whether in a backyard, a porch, or just awindow, said Chef Gheen. He began his ownfirst garden while he still lived in an apartment.

Today, he and his wife, Krystal, have devoted alarge portion of their backyard to growing fruitsand vegetables. He explained how they startedfrom scratch, building the planting beds them-selves. They grow everything from strawberriesand Swiss chard to rhubarb and dill.

The moral of the story was not to angle for aninvitation to the Gheen home for dinner, but tomotivate students to start their own gardenswith whatever space they can find.

When Mr. Gheen arrived to teach at LomaLinda University in 2008, he realized there wasno way to demonstrate the importance of

gardens to nutrition and dietetics students.

With only one tiny, overgrown planteroutside the teaching kitchen to work with,Mr. Gheen got to work turning it into an herbgarden—allowing some students to see, forthe first time, what an herb looks like before itgets dried in a jar.

Since then, the Schools of Public Health andAllied Health Professions have gottentogether to establish Nichol Hall Sprouts, agarden project behind the building these twoschools share. The space allows studentgardeners, many of whom are studying nutri-tion, to learn how to grow and cook their ownproduce. The students behind Sprouts orga-nized the presentation.

“I love planting the gardening seed in students’minds,” says Mr. Gheen, “and watching it growinto a realization that they, too, can grow foodin whatever space they have.”

By Steve Vodhanel, PhD

In a bold move into a new area for LomaLinda University, administrators, faculty,

and staff opened the School of Pharmacy inApril 2002. The first students arrived oncampus in September of that same year.

Now, 10 years later, the School of Pharmacyhas thrived, both as a school and through its

School of Pharmacy celebrates 10th anniversary

MILESTONES

Billy Hughes, PhD (left), dean of theLLU School of Pharmacy, shares amoment with the first dean of theschool, W. Barton Rippon, PhD.

growing graduate population.

The School of Pharmacy was granted fullaccreditation in 2008 by the AccreditationCouncil for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) tooffer the doctor of pharmacy degree. ACPE isthe sole accreditation agency recognized by theU.S. Department of Education to accreditprofessional degree programs in pharmacy. Thecurriculum has been developed in accordance

with the standards and guidelines of ACPE.

In celebration of the 10th anniversary on April12, administrators, faculty, staff, students, andalumni celebrated with a dinner event held inthe Chen Fong Conference Center located inthe Centennial Complex building.

Attendees and speakers included Richard Hart,MD, DrPH, president of Loma Linda Univer-sity, and B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, LLU presi-dent emerita, discussing the formative processof addressing the need for a new school of phar-macy. Billy Hughes, PhD, dean of the School ofPharmacy, addressed the success of the school

during the first 10 years, while the first dean,W. Barton Rippon, PhD, spoke about thehistorical challenges and opportunities ofstarting the new school of pharmacy.

In the chart below left are facts regarding theLLU School of Pharmacy.

LLU School of Pharmacy • Ten Year Details

TODAY 4 Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Photo 1: Maria Magdalena Cantureceives her diploma for an MA inclinical ministry from Jon Paulien,PhD, dean of the School of Religion.She also graduated with a master’sdegree in marital and family therapy.

Photo 2: Graduates from the School ofBehavioral Health (previously theSchool of Science and Technology)gather for a group photo outside ofLLU Drayson Center.

Photo 3: Nursing graduate MichelleBallou (center) receives a congratula-tory hug from Loma Linda UniversityAdventist Health Sciences Centerpresident Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH,upon receiving the Dean’s Award.

Photo 4: Three generations of Schoolof Nursing graduates celebrate withtheir family. Evelyn Shearer (frontright), graduated in 1941; herdaughter, LoRita Larsen (front left),graduated in 1972; and her grand-daughter, Lydia Larsen (front middle),graduated this year.

Photo 5: There is nothing better than adaughter’s pride, as School of AlliedHealth Professions graduate StephenOwusu-Ababio can attest.

Photo 6: School of Allied HealthProfessions graduate Anny Ha sharesthe song “That’s What Friends areFor” with her classmates and guests.

Photo 7: Kathryn Reinsma (center),recipient of the LLU President’sAward, listens as the citation is read.With her are LLUAHSC president Dr.Hart (left) and Tricia Penniecook, MD,MPH (right), dean of the LLU School ofPublic Health.

Photo 8: School of Public Health grad-uate Mayada Aljehani clutches herprized possession—a diploma—andflashes a smile for the camera as shereturns to her seat.

For a commencement season wrapup, see the lead story, “Loma LindaUniversity concludes 2012 commence-ment season on June 10.”

Scenes from 2012LLU graduations

RESEARCH MOVES FORWARD

LEARNING THROUGH SERVICE

TODAY5Wednesday, June 27, 2012

By Heather Reifsnyder

The School of Allied Health Professions’first community outreach day on April 22

transformed the campuses of the nonprofit,affordable health clinics of Social ActionCommunity Health System in San Bernardino.Sixty-five volunteers from allied health—students, alumni, faculty, and staff—polishedoff a number of improvement projects that willnow make it possible for the Social ActionCommunity Health System to accomplish newconstruction projects on time.

“We’re so happy,” says maintenance directorIrvin Briggs. “God blessed us with what theyaccomplished. I haven’t ever seen that manyvolunteers here. They were supposed to stop at

Physical therapy alumna Denese Kaufeldt Montano’s partin Operation: Service was washing windows. The groupwashed all windows of the 47,000-square-foot mainbuilding at SAC Norton Clinic.

Volunteer team transforms low-costhealth clinics in San Bernardino

noon, but they just went ahead and stayed untilthe jobs were completed.”

The health system comprises three clinics inSan Bernardino—Frazee, Arrowhead, and theflagship Norton clinic. At each, the allied healthvolunteers made a remarkable difference, Mr.Briggs says.

In fact, for the first time in the four years Mr.Briggs has been maintenance director—withonly one other person to help him—all projectsare caught up. This leaves him free to work onnew construction projects including a confer-ence room, improvements to the obstetricswing, and a call center. “We’re going to be ableto accomplish all those projects within our time-frame, on schedule,” he says.

CEO Nancy Young adds, “It was such a gift tous. We’re expanding and we have a lot ofgrowth happening. We’re moving departmentsaround right now, and I don’t know when wewould have been able to do it otherwise.”

One of the volunteers was Dwight Salkey, phys-ical therapy class of 1987. In town from Floridafor homecoming weekend, he replaced brokenparking curb stops, removed old blinds, pickedup trash on the grounds, and assembled newoffice chairs for the computer training center.

“I feel very strongly about community outreachand missions. I felt impressed to do somethingto help those who are serving our community,”says Mr. Salkey. “I saw so much accomplishedin just a short time because of everyone thatparticipated. It felt great to be involved andespecially to see all the students taking time outof their hectic schedules.”

One of these, allied health student Julie Turner,

Allied health student Julie Turner takes on some big weedsand wins.

was also inspired by all the pending projects thegroup completed so quickly.

“What a bliss to be God’s hands and feet inaction,” she says.

This was the first school-wide communityservice day, says Danelle Herra, MBA, alumniaffairs officer for the School of Allied HealthProfessions. She organized the day in conjunc-tion with Homecoming Weekend.

Noting how the volunteers went above whatthey were asked, she says, “It really showed thatthey cared. They weren’t just there to get servicelearning credit or other personal gain.”

Because of all the tasks volunteers completed,Mr. Briggs says, “We’re finally at a point wherewe can manage everything. Every day I used tothink ‘We’re so far behind.’”

Not anymore. At the main 47,000-square-footbuilding on the Norton campus, the group:

• Installed parking curb stops• Painted waiting rooms and hallways for both

the dental and behavioral health programs• Put up new blinds in the main waiting area• Power washed the building’s exterior• Cleaned all the windows• Painted the interior walls of a new conference

room under construction• Planted a tree and added bark groundcover to

landscaping• Picked up trash around the campus.

Additionally, smaller teams branched off tothe smaller Frazee and Arrowhead locations.At the former, they washed the windows,restocked the pantry, and cleaned the interior.At Arrowhead, another team power washedthe building’s exterior.

“I was so impressed with their gracious spiritand the respect that they showed for what wedo here,” says Ms. Young. “Their dean, CraigJackson, has inspired in them an amazing heartfor service.

She adds, “He stayed the entire day with his wife,and they worked side by side with the students.”

Financial analysts Jessica Portillo (left)and Elaine Moya welcome guests tothe financial management section ofthe research affairs office.

Research affairs welcomes campus tonew home with open houseBy Lorraine Sarmiento

More than 200 people attended the LLUoffice of research affairs open house on

June 6 at its new location in suite 201 of theUniversity Arts Building (the former location ofhuman resources and payroll). Guests learnedmore about services the staff provides.

The Monopoly-themed event drew attendeesincluding administration, faculty, staff,research coordinators, post-docs, andstudents. Everyone in attendance was offereda gift of appreciation.

Games encouraged guests to meet the staff andlearn what they do, and those who participatedwere eligible for prizes including an iPad 2.

Refreshments were served, which includedboardwalk seaside fare such as popcorn, pret-zels, veggie corndogs, ice cream and saltwater

taffy, along with sandwiches and fruit.

“The event really made a big statement aboutthe centrality of research on our campus,” saysguest Patricia Jones, PhD, nursing professorand director of the office of global nursing. “Itrepresents a giant step forward from what thecampus has had up to now.”

The research affairs office is composed of fivespecialized sections. Each section has its owndistinctive function, ready to serve the institu-tion’s research community:

• The research protection programs(formerly sponsored research) sectionprovides ethical and regulatory guidance toresearchers on the conduct of human andanimal research. The staff also providesadministrative support of the institutionalreview committees, which are tasked withprotecting the welfare of research subjects.

• Financial management is responsible formanaging sponsored project funds andassuring the institution’s compliance with theregulations of government and private fundingagencies. The staff also manage grants andcontracts, including contract negotiations andmodifications, research accounts, award main-tenance, and financial reports.

• Technology transfer provides informationand support to faculty about inventions,patents, copyright, licenses, and startupcompanies. In addition, the staff advisesfaculty on the creation of startup companies,institutional relations with startup companies,and licensing patents.

• Research integrity provides faculty with guid-ance and education on compliance issues. Thestaff also assists researchers withexport/import control issues, export licensingrequirements, and registration at the <clinicaltrials.gov> website.

• And finally, research administration overseesthe operations of all elements of the researchaffairs office and manages any researchconflicts of interest. The staff also providesassistance in seeking funding opportunities,grant preparation and submission, and coordi-

nating efforts to establish and maintainresearch-related electronic systems and theresearch affairs website.

The Clinical Trial Center, a separate office,manages all aspects of initiating clinical studies,including feasibility, billing, and contracts.

To learn more about the office of researchaffairs, call (909) 558-8544.

TODAY 6 Wednesday, June 27, 2012

security for LLUAHSC, was off campus whenthe incident broke.

“I was attending a training session at theLLUAHSC 101 building when I got the call,”Ms. Douma says. “I came right over, and bythe time I arrived, our officers had alreadycordoned off the area to keep people out of thedanger area.”

Officers from several police, fire, and news agen-cies soon began rolling into the area. Jim Pinder,JD, MBA, director of academic affairs for theLLU School of Pharmacy, was startled to seeofficers approaching with guns drawn.

“As I left West Hall, I noticed several policecars pulling up in front of the emergencydepartment,” Dr. Pinder recalls.  “An audible‘clack’ could be heard as officers loaded andchambered rounds in their shotguns. I movedaway quickly.”

When Dr. Pinder returned in 15 minutes, clus-ters of evacuated employees from the LLUMedical Center, Chan Shun Pavilion, LomaLinda University Church, and other nearbybuildings were thronging the sidewalks, and theSan Bernardino County Sheriff’s Departmentbomb squad truck was setting up shop in themiddle of the street. “It was then that I knewthe situation had worsened,” he says.

Moments later, explosives and terrorismexperts from the Federal Bureau of Investiga-tion arrived. The FBI was conducting trainingexercises with the San Bernardino CountySheriff’s Department Bomb Squad, and theproximity to the date of the anniversary ofOsama bin Laden’s death aroused the suspi-cion of reprisal.

According to Suzy Douma, the SanBernardino Police Department and CaliforniaHighway Patrol also sent officers to assist.One observer said there were so many ambu-lances, fire trucks, squad cars, and helicopterson site that Campus Street resembled a scenefrom a disaster movie.

“We have a great partnership with the Sheriff’sDepartment,” Ms. Douma shares. “Their heli-

copter was circling overhead and aiding in evac-uating people.”

It wasn’t alone. Several Southern Californiatelevision stations sent crews into the skies overLoma Linda to cover the story and massivetraffic snarl on the ground.

The first arriving chief officer, Battalion ChiefDana De Antonio, established an incidentcommand post where evacuation plans, isola-tion distances, and incident objectives could beestablished.

Jeff Bender, fire chief for the City of LomaLinda, says fire officials and personnel fromthe cities of Colton, Loma Linda, Redlands,and San Bernardino brought emergency vehi-cles and equipment to the scene. ChiefBender’s role was to serve as a liaison betweenthe incident command post and medical centeradministration.

“Fire and law enforcement resources alsosecured a secondary remote location as well asthe route of travel that could be used had thearson/bomb technicians elected to move thesubject,” Chief Bender points out. “It was ulti-mately determined that it would be safer forLLUMC medical personnel and Sheriff’sDepartment arson/bomb technicians to moveforward with removing the device on site. Aconcrete-shielded loading dock area wasselected and secured as site to conduct theprocedure. Fire resources were deployed andstaged in tactical locations in order to effectivelyreact to and control any unexpected outcome ofthe device removal procedure.”

To convert the loading dock into animpromptu surgical theater, the staff assem-bled the required equipment—an oxygentank, airway apparatus, suture kits, lightingequipment, and surgical instruments—anddisinfected the space.

With the threat of a deadly explosion hangingover his head, surgeon Andre Nguyen, MD,scrubbed in for the operation. After donning abomb vest and joking with county and FBI offi-cials that their vests were thicker than his, Dr.Nguyen steeled his nerves and began the opera-tion to remove the device.

Bomb threat draws the FBI and local law enforcement agencies to LLUMC …

In this image captured by a security camera outside the front entrance to theemergency department of Loma Linda University Medical Center, physiciansand other health professionals confer with University Hospital administratorDanny Fontoura, MBA, and law enforcement officials on the best place to stagethe patient. Moments later, the patient was removed from the emergencydepartment after an X-ray confirmed the presence of a metal canister with anassortment of wires inside him.

An unidentified arson and bomb expert from the Federal Bureau of Investigationprepares to enter the danger area during the May 3 bomb threat incident atLoma Linda University Medical Center. Officer Dorothy Cain from the LomaLinda University Adventist Health Sciences Center security department standsby to offer assistance if needed and prevent unauthorized personnel from inter-fering with the agent’s work. The FBI was in the Inland Empire for training exer-cises with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department bomb squad whenthe incident occurred.

Bomb squad trucks don’t pull up in front of Loma Linda University MedicalCenter every day, but this one did on Thursday, May 3, after a patient told anurse in the emergency department that he was carrying a bomb inside hisbody. Emergency department officials became very concerned after an X-rayordered by Charlene Kiang, MD, confirmed the presence of a metal canister withan assortment of wires. Shortly after this photograph was taken, the truck wasrelocated to the emergency entrance on Campus Street.

Once county and FBI arson and explosivesexperts determined that the object was nothingmore than a metal canister with assorted wiresstuffed inside, possibly harvested from a cellphone charger, Dr. Nguyen and all the membersof the staff felt an enormous sense of relief.

“At approximately 11:45 a.m.,” recalls SteveHertel, “the incident was declared over, threeand a half hours after it started.”

While the incident involved innumerable man-hours and considerable expense, several positiveoutcomes resulted from the situation.

“I don’t have any criticism of our department atall,” Dr. Clem says. “We have a disaster planand our plan was followed exactly. I think therewere external glitches in communication, butthey did not originate in our department. Thiswas an opportunity for us to respond to all theissues that arose, and the institution isresponding to them very well. I was impressedwith the fact that nobody panicked.”   

Ms. Douma is also pleased at the overallresponse to the crisis.

“Our department’s initial response was very,very good,” she says. “They immediatelycordoned off the area and set up boundaries tokeep people out of the danger area. Whensomething like this happens, we estimate howfar we think an explosion might reach and thenadd a hundred or 500 feet to it. We had a teamworking on it and they all did their job.

“Our guys in communications are also verygood,” Ms. Douma continues. “They didn’tget too excited or emotional; they just stayedcalm and did their jobs the way they weretrained. I am also very impressed with ouremergency department personnel, includingthe surgeon who went out in a bomb jacket towhere the bomb squad had set up their emer-gency headquarters.”

However, there was one area of concern, whichMs. Douma intends to address.

“The thing we found most difficult,” shenotes, “was that we couldn’t control some ofthe employees. There were employees on theroof of a nearby building whom we asked to

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TODAY7Wednesday, June 27, 2012

leave, but didn’t. Even after the Sheriff’sDepartment asked them to go, they stillwouldn’t. Had this been an actual bomb, itmight have blown up two or three stories ofthe building, including all those people whowouldn’t get off the roof.”

Danny Fontoura, MBA, senior vice presidentand administrator of University Hospital,says there’s a lot to be thankful for at the endof the day. “We are extremely grateful to God

A number of prominent Loma Linda University School of Medicine researchscientists were forced out of their laboratories and onto the sidewalks during theThursday, May 3, bomb scare at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Officialsordered the evacuation of nearby buildings after a patient claimed to have anexplosive device inside his body. Pictured are (From left) Gordon G. Power, MD,professor of physiology and internal medicine; Wolff M. Kirsch, MD (in the hat),director of the Neurosurgery Center for Research Training and Education;Lawrence D. Longo, MD (in the bow tie), director of the Center for PerinatalBiology; Sean M. Wilson, PhD, assistant professor of physiology and pharma-cology; Lubo Zhang, PhD (hands on hips), professor of pharmacology and pedi-atrics; and Steven M. Yellon, PhD, professor of physiology and pediatrics. Theother individuals are unidentified.

for His protection and guidance, to the bravemembers of the local and federal law enforce-ment community for responding with expertise,manpower, and equipment in our time of need,and to our extraordinary staff who handled thesituation with composure and professionalism,”Mr. Fontoura observes. “Considering whatmight have happened, this was truly a remark-able outcome.”

The patient was taken into custody and chargedwith making a false bomb threat.

Bomb threat draws the FBI and local law enforcement agencies to LLUMC …

Continued from previous page

By Heather Reifsnyder

Professors Eric Johnson, DSc, and EverettLohman III, DSc, spent the 2011–12

academic year in school themselves. In additionto their physical therapy faculty duties, the twomen participated in the Harvard Macy Instituteat Harvard University. The program promotesimprovement in health science educationthrough classes on the Harvard campus as wellas online learning.

Dr. Lohman’s track focuses on improving assess-ment of student learning to further a communityof scholarship. Dr. Johnson’s program is gearedtoward personal professional development forhealth educators; it is centered around fivethemes: learning and teaching, curriculum, eval-uation, leadership, and information technology.

“The program is intensive but well worth it,”Dr. Johnson says.

To make it through the application process,both professors had to submit current projectsthey felt could be enhanced through theirparticipation in the Harvard Macy program.

Physical therapy faculty step up their skills Harvard style

(From left) Drs. Everett Lohman and Eric Johnson

One of Dr. Johnson’s main projects for theinstitute focused around cooperative learningstrategies and techniques in which studentsbecome actively involved in the classroom expe-rience rather than passively listening.

For example, fishbowl exercises involve profes-sors demonstrating techniques to students, whothen break into small groups to practice. Onerandom group then demonstrates for the class,inviting critique. Further group practice ensuresall students can integrate the critiques, at whichpoint another group demonstrates theimproved technique.

Other examples of cooperative learning strate-gies include problem-based learning, team-based learning, small and large groupdiscussions, case method teaching, and reflec-tion papers.

Dr. Johnson pilot tested such strategies in hisclasses this year and contrasted students’ courseevaluations to previous years in which he usedmore traditional teaching styles. He recentlypresented a poster on his preliminary findings atHarvard University and plans to submit the

FACULTY EXCELLENCEwork for publication in a physical therapyeducation journal.

“Students compared this style to more tradi-tional methods and they enjoyed the opportu-nity of being more actively engaged in thelearning process,” he says. “They felt that deeperlearning occurred.”

Dr. Lohman chose the assessment track in theHarvard Macy program because he is also chairof LLU’s educational effectiveness committee,as well as assistant dean for graduate academicaffairs in the School of Allied Health Profes-sions. For his project, he evaluated how assess-ment can best be used in the university’s newestinternational program—the rehabilitation tech-nician certificate in Haiti. It began in June.

During the Harvard Macy program, Dr.Lohman found strength in the fellow membersof his small group.

“I now have an amazing support network thatranges from a chief learning officer in Qatar, aphysician from Portland, Oregon, who overseesapproximately 60,000 health care workers’ inter-disciplinary learning and collaboration, and otherindividuals from Australia to Denmark,” he says.

Dr. Lohman and the group devised assessmentstrategies each individual could take back to hisor her home institution. One of these—startingassessment at applicant interviews rather thanafter coursework has begun—Dr. Lohman hasalready implemented in admitting students tothe Haiti program.

“We wanted our students to be compassionate

Christian health care providers who have ahigh level of integrity, dependability, and ethicscombined with excellent clinical skills,”explains Dr. Lohman. “I believe that if weadmit students who are in alignment with ourvision and our values (the heart and soul), thenwe can provide them the best education topositively impact the mind.”

Using this process, Dr. Lohman and the otherprogram leaders chose 16 students who are thefirst cohort in Haiti.

“We hope that, from this first cohort, manyof our future instructors and community-based rehabilitation leaders in Haiti willemerge,” he says.

CELEBRITY

World champion boxer Kaliesha West answers a question from the audience atthe April 26 meeting of the Rotary Club of Redlands while her father, formerprofessional boxer-turned-boxing-trainer Juan West, looks on.

Ms. West took her nickname, “Wild Wild” West, from her dad, who talked abouthis shock and surprise when his daughter—not his son—announced an interestin following in his footsteps professionally.

During business hours, she works as an information host at Loma Linda Univer-sity Medical Center. In September 2010, Ms. West won the World Boxing Orga-nization’s female bantam weight top honors, which she retains currently.“Learning to be a fighter has many benefits,” Ms. West explained during herpresentation to Redlands Rotary Club members, “not only inside the ring, butoutside as well.” She continued, “Teaching a woman to fight gives her a senseof self-confidence that no one can take from her.” She added, “Confidenceallows a woman to realize that she doesn’t need to be taken advantage ofwithout standing up for herself.” Ms. West is the only world champion of anysport to hail from the Inland Empire. By James Ponder

LLUMC information host doubles asworld champion boxer

TODAY 8 Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Volume 25, No. 8 | Wednesday, June 27, 2012

CORRESPONDENTS

Doug Hackleman, [email protected]

James [email protected]

Heather Reifsnyder, [email protected]

TODAY is a nonprofit news publication of Loma Linda University, operated under the auspices of the General Conference ofSeventh-day Adventists.

Internal campus-based advertising accepted for publication in TODAY is intended to be a service to the students, staff,employees, and faculty of all Loma Linda University entities. No outside advertising is included in this publication. The manage-ment, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to refuse, without explanation, any advertisement. The acceptance of advertising inthis publication does not represent an endorsement or guarantee of any kind by Loma Linda University, Loma Linda UniversityMedical Center, or Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center.

Questions about content, campus-related advertising, and circulation should be directed to TODAY, Burden Hall, Loma LindaUniversity, Loma Linda, California 92350. Phone (909) 558-7000. © 2012. All rights reserved.

www.llu.edu | www.facebook.com/lomalindauniversity

Stephen Vodhanel, [email protected]

Nancy Yuen, [email protected]

Editor · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Dustin R. Jones, [email protected]

Managing editor/layout · · · · · · · Larry Kidder, [email protected]

DISASTER AVERTED

Have a story that’s noteworthy? Send it to [email protected]

By James Ponder

On May 3, a patient in the emergencydepartment at Loma Linda University

Medical Center made a claim so outrageous thatthe FBI and other law enforcement agenciesconverged on the campus shortly after thethreat was reported at approximately 8:30 a.m.

“The patient was brought by ambulance,”explains Kathleen Clem, MD, chair of emer-gency medicine. “His initial complaint was chestpain, but he later told the nurse he had anexplosive device inside his body that had beenforcibly inserted by aliens.”

Although she was in Beaumont teaching a class,Dr. Clem took charge of her department’sresponse to the crisis over the phone. “I was inthe loop,” she says, “very much aware of whatwas going on, and directing things remotely. Iwas in direct communication with the staff thewhole time.”

The people Dr. Clem consulted—TammiThomas, MD, vice chair of emergency medi-cine; Lance Brown, MD, division chief foremergency pediatric medicine; Dustin Smith,MD, director of the emergency medicine resi-dency; Charlene Kiang, MD, the physician

Bomb threat draws the FBI and local lawenforcement agencies to LLUMC

assigned to the case; and Connie Cunningham,director of emergency services—informed herof each new development.

When an X-ray Dr. Kiang had orderedconfirmed that there was a metal canister withan assortment of wires inside the patient, thestaff flew into action.

“As soon as Dr. Kiang identified that there wasa foreign body inside the patient,” Dr. Clemreports, “all the appropriate phone calls, bothinside and outside the department, were madevery rapidly. Once bomb authorities identifiedthe object in the radiograph as a threat, thepatient was carefully and rapidly removed fromthe emergency department to a safe area wherehe could be monitored and cared for, and wherethe object could be removed without endan-gering the safety of the other patients.”

Meanwhile, the patient insisted it was a bomb.

While a medical team escorted the patient tothe parking lot on a stretcher, other staffersinitiated a host of precautions to protectpatients, visitors, and staff.

Once apprised of the situation, the medicalcenter’s communications center flew into action

notifying security, administration, and otherdepartments.

“We were notified of the situation threeminutes after it was first reported to the inci-dent commander,” reports Steve Hertel, execu-tive director of parking and transportation.“Our units were on the scene within threeminutes of when we were notified.”

With Lt. Robert Schultz and other officersfrom the Loma Linda University AdventistHealth Sciences Center (LLUAHSC) securitydepartment, Mr. Hertel and his team shutdown the emergency department parking lotand diverted all traffic away. Within minutes,other areas were closed including CampusStreet between Barton Road and ProspectStreet, the south fire road around the LLUMedical Center, and the administrative andphysician parking lots. In addition, shuttleservice to the west side halted, and pedestrianswere re-routed to avoid the area.

A few days later, Rosemary Pang, MBA, patientcare supervisor, led Dr. Clem back to the placein the emergency department parking lot wherethe patient was initially staged once the X-rayrevealed the presence of the foreign object.“Here it is,” she says.

“Yes,” Dr. Clem adds, “but I understand he wasonly here a short time before being transferredover there. Is that right?” She points to a loca-tion 50 or 60 feet away where the patient wassequestered behind several automobiles tofurther shield the emergency departmentshould the alleged bomb actually detonate.

“That’s correct,” Ms. Pang affirms. “Theystopped here to stage the appropriate place toput the patient while they determined wherethey could safely perform the operation toremove the foreign object from his body.”

Like Dr. Clem, Suzy Douma, MPA, director of

To say that law enforcement and fire department personnel turned out in forcefor the May 3 bomb scare at Loma Linda University Medical Center would be anunderstatement. Campus Street was quickly transformed into a staging area forthe Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Depart-ment and its bomb squad, San Bernardino Police Department, and CaliforniaHighway Patrol. In addition, firefighters and officials from the Colton, LomaLinda, Redlands, and San Bernardino fire departments lent their expertise to thehandling of the crisis.

Please turn to page 6

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION

LLUBMC employee named BehavioralHealth Community Advocate of the Year

Lead clinical therapist Daniel Tapanes, who works at the LLU Behavioral Medi-cine Center, was named Behavioral Health Community Advocate of the Year bythe San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health.

By Larry Kidder

Daniel Tapanes, a marriage and family ther-apist working at the LLU Behavioral

Medicine Center, recently learned that he hadbeen named Behavioral Health CommunityAdvocate of the Year by the San BernardinoCounty Department of Behavioral Health.

Mr. Tapanes was honored during the awardceremony, “Evening with the Stars,” held onThursday, May 24, 2012.

A lead clinical therapist for the LLU BehavioralMedicine Center’s youth outpatient program,Mr. Tapanes developed a program—Mastering

Each New Direction, or MEND—to workwith medically complex children and their fami-lies. He collaborates closely with Loma LindaUniversity Children’s Hospital specialty teamsto both identify and treat such children, as wellas their family support systems.

“No one achieves an honor such as this withindividual effort alone,” says Mr. Tapanes, refer-ring to the support of his BMC team.

Lauren Ball, administrative director of socialand outpatient services, LLUBMC, comments,“Daniel has focused on a population that is sovulnerable and in need.” She adds, “I see hisheart go out to his young patients.”