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First Pediatric Physician Residents Accepted Into New Program
The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Renown Health are pleased to announce members of the first resident class of the new UNR Med Pediatric Residency Program. The four new Pediatric Residents will be working at Renown Children’s Hospital and in Renown outpatient pediatric clinics starting on July 1, 2023. The following four residents have matched. Megan Dinges Megan spent her childhood in Omaha, attending college at the University of Nebraska and medical school at the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Iowa. Megan is a passionate patient advocate with clinical care experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant and ICU tech prior to medical school. She has been a leader amongst peers and volunteered in a homeless shelter working with children. Megan is a first-generation college graduate. Jason Lundy, DO Dr. Lundy was raised in California, attending UC Santa Barbara for undergraduate school, and completing graduate school at San Diego State University with a Chemistry degree. He completed his medical training at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine and is currently doing a preliminary intern year in surgery in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jason realized that his true love is Pediatrics after having two small children of his own. Krista Luntsford, DO Dr. Luntsford graduated from the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine with her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) in 2022 and is currently completing a transitional year in surgery in New Jersey. Notably, she was awarded the Gold Humanism Award, served in student government, and led the Pediatrics Club in medical school. Originally from Washington state, she is excited to return to the west coast. Erin Whepley Erin grew up in Kansas, attended the University of Puget Sound for undergraduate school and will be graduating with her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Kansas School of Medicine this spring. Erin is resilient and inspiring and has always known that she wants to serve others through pediatrics. These four newly trained physicians will be the inaugural members and first class of the new three-year Pediatrics Residency Program with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) that announced last September. The residency will help shape future pediatric practices – and fill a state and nation-wide physician specialist shortage. Over a three-year period, four physicians will be selected each year for a total complement of twelve residents over a three-year period. “This new residency is an opportunity to train the next generation of pediatricians who will want to continue providing care in northern Nevada,” said Kristina Deeter, M.D., MBA, FAAP, UNR Med Chair of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief at Renown Children’s Hospital. “Our community continues to grow. This new Pediatric residency-training program allows Nevada to have a supply of outstanding, compassionate physicians, now and into the future. With our exceptional team of existing pediatricians, pediatric specialists, medical teams and support staff, we are committed to providing a comprehensive and rewarding educational experience for our trainees.” “Creating a Pediatric Residency Program for our community has been a dream more than five years in the making,” says Dr. Deeter, “Formerly, UNR Med students interested in becoming pediatricians had to leave the state to complete their residency training elsewhere. This program creates a pipeline of much needed pediatricians for our state-especially under-served and rural areas – to serve vulnerable children and families of Nevada with high quality, affordable care.” The vision to grow pediatric services into a full-fledged Children’s Hospital with a robust Department of Pediatrics as academic partner in Reno began in 2014. Today, 100,000 area children now have access to more than 60 pediatricians, including those specializing in adolescent medicine; anesthesia; cardiology; craniofacial surgery; dentistry; ear, nose and throat conditions; emergency medicine; endocrinology; gastroenterology; general pediatrics; hospitalist medicine; intensive care; neonatology; neurology; oncology; ophthalmology; orthopedics; psychiatry; psychology; pulmonology; surgery; urology and other subspecialties previously lacking in the community, as well as a pediatric emergency room, pediatric ICU and contemporary healthcare services at Renown Children’s Hospital. Prior to 2016, about 30% of all pediatric patients had to leave northern Nevada to receive the specialty care they needed. Now, Renown estimates that 97% of all pediatric patients and their families can receive both general and specialty pediatric care locally. The next nearest children’s hospital in the state is 7 hours or 438 miles away in Las Vegas. Paul Hauptman, MD, Dean of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, and Chief Academic Officer for Renown, explains, “Residencies are specialty training programs for doctors after they graduate from medical school. Before becoming licensed physicians, medical school graduates train for three or more years learning from more experienced ‘attending’ physicians.” He adds, “Our new pediatric residency program is a tremendous step forward for the UNR Med and Renown Health affiliation- and for our entire community. It advances a mutual commitment to recruit and retain skilled and compassionate physicians and health care professionals, improves access to health care, and invests in clinical research that improves the health of this generation and the next. Within the UNR Med-Renown affiliation, we created an integrated Graduate Medical Education Consortium Council (GME-CC) to provide strategic oversight and growth of residency programs within the affiliation. In this agreement, UNR Med is the sponsoring institution for accreditation and Renown Health (and the VA) is the clinical training partner. This is a great addition to our existing residencies at UNR Med, which include family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and provides our students with a great training opportunity in pediatrics.” Nevada’s shortage; ranks 45th for physicians and 47th in the U.S. for pediatricians. Nevada faces a severe physician workforce shortage, ranking 45th in the nation for active physicians per 100,000 people. The physician workforce shortage is especially critical for pediatricians, with Nevada ranking 47th in the country with fewer than 10 pediatricians for every 100,000 people. The northern Nevada community is growing rapidly and Washoe County faces additional pediatrician shortages as local physicians approach retirement. “It truly is a dream come true. Dr. Deeter and I are indebted to the comprehensive team that has built the structure, recruited faculty to support the training program and successfully recruited a Program Director, Dr. Caroline Barangan, and Associate Program Director, Dr. Shilpi Garg, a 2012 UNR Med alumna (’12), and Pediatric Residency Coordinator, Jorge Pulido-Rubio. Their hard work and time spent has ensured a successful match.” says Lawrence Duncan, M.S., VP and Administrator for Renown Women & Children’s Hospital. “Residency programs in pediatrics recruit and train students completing medical school and seeking residency training to become a pediatrician,” says Caroline Barangan, MD, Pediatric Residency Program Director, Renown Health and UNR Med. “Workforce research consistently shows that students who complete a residency tend to stay and practice in the communities where they completed their residency training program. For those who complete medical school and residency in the same place, over 75% stay to practice in that community.” “This new community-based program will provide residents with a strong foundation in primary care pediatrics as well as broad, in-depth exposure to all pediatric subspecialties. This will create graduates equally well prepared for careers in general pediatric practice, service to the state’s rural and underserved communities or in academics," adds David Carlson, MD, UNR Med Associate Dean, Graduate Medical Education; Designated Institutional Officer. “Through the program, pediatric residents will spend their 36-month residency focused on children’s care and complete a primary care-focused clinical training program with rotations that allow them to learn while caring for children in both inpatient and outpatient settings with supervising pediatricians and pediatric specialists at Renown Children’s Hospital.” “The Pediatrics Residency Program is a wonderful opportunity to continue a tradition of academic excellence alongside Renown Health’s record of clinical excellence,” said Brian Sandoval, President, University of Nevada, Reno. “This is one more way our affiliation, signed in 2021 to establish the first fully integrated health system in Nevada, is helping to expand clinical training and clinical research programs as well as improve access to clinical care for all Nevadans.” “We are proud to partner with UNR Med to bring this new residency program to our community,” says Brian Erling, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Renown Health, “Attracting and retaining talent is a key component of our drive for excellence and our mutual goal of improving the health of our community. We are fortunate to have the strong infrastructure necessary to create this program and a team of highly-skilled physicians who can train the next generation of pediatricians.” For the 2023 residency application cycle, UNR Medicine participated in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and encourages applicants to visit the UNR Med GME website for more information. About the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), Nevada’s first public medical school, is a community-based, research-intensive medical school with a statewide vision for a healthy Nevada. Since 1969, UNR Med has trained more than 3,900 students, residents and fellows. UNR Med continues to improve the health and well-being of all Nevadans and their communities through excellence in student education, postgraduate training and clinical care, research with local, national and global impact and a culture of diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit med.unr.edu. About Renown Health Renown Health is Nevada’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,200 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently hiring exceptional members to join our team. For more information, visit renown.org.
Read More About First Pediatric Physician Residents Accepted Into New Program
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Kristina Deeter, MD, MBA, FAAP Appointed Chair of Pediatrics (UNR Med) and Physician-in-Chief, Renown Children’s Hospital
Kristina Deeter, MD, MBA, FAAP has been promoted from Vice Chair of Pediatrics to Chair of Pediatrics, University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Physician-in-Chief, Renown Children’s Hospital, effective July 15, 2022. Dr. Deeter follows Dr. Max Coppes who recently stepped down to lead Renown’s Pennington Cancer Institute on a full-time basis. Dr. Coppes will continue to serve as Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at UNR Med. In her new role, Dr. Deeter will be responsible for leading a growing team of over 40 pediatric physician specialists and 15 general pediatric providers at Renown Children’s Hospital who provide over 30,000 patient and family visits annually for families across northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northern California. Larry Duncan, MS, Vice President of Pediatrics and Surgery & Administrator of Renown Children's & Women’s Services will serve as dyad partner with Dr. Deeter. “Together, Dr. Deeter and Larry Duncan will be responsible for the strategic direction, operations, fiscal management and recruitment of professionals to Renown Children’s,” said Sy Johnson, MBA, president and chief of staff for Renown Health. “As one of Renown’s ‘Destination Health’ service lines, Dr. Deeter and Larry will continue to support an integrated leadership model that puts the youngest patients- and their families- at the center of all that we do.” As Physician-in-Chief for Renown Children’s Hospital, Dr. Deeter will serve as a senior clinical leader with oversight for the healthcare system’s pediatric medical and surgical services, academic advancement, research and teaching programs. “Dr. Deeter is an energetic, collaborative physician, researcher and mentor who cares deeply about improving the health and well-being of children everywhere,” said Thomas Graf, MD, CEO of Renown Health. “This is an exceptionally exciting time to shape the future of pediatrics in this community, and we are so excited that she is embarking on this new role. I know her talent, energy and inspiring leadership will further elevate our mission of outstanding care, exceptional training, innovative research and impactful advocacy in children’s health.” Dr. Kris Deeter is a highly accomplished physician leader with over twenty years of experience in children’s hospitals and outpatient settings, including federal, academic and private practices. Locally, Dr. Deeter has served as Vice Chair of Pediatrics for Renown Children’s while also leading the ICU teams of Pediatrix National Medical Group as their Specialty Medical Officer since August 2021. For the past six years, she has been the Medical Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Pediatric Hospitalist teams for Renown and Pediatrix. Since 2017, Dr. Deeter has served as an Educator for REMSA and other Northern Nevada counties, providing pediatric education for Care Flight teams, paramedics and fire departments. Dr. Deeter also recently completed her MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno. “The School of Medicine is delighted to appoint Dr. Deeter as the new Chair of Pediatrics at UNR Med and Physician-in-Chief, Renown Children’s Hospital, says, Melissa Piasecki, MD, UNR Med Acting Dean. “She brings extensive experience in medical education, a positive leadership style and unwavering commitment to the community. We look forward to the ongoing development of medical education and research opportunities in pediatrics.” Dr. Deeter has a passion for service. Coming from an underserved background, her education started in a Head Start preschool. Years later, she received a full-ride scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley where she double-majored in biology and psychology. Dr. Deeter found her true calling in pediatrics while at medical school at New York Medical College. There, she developed an interest in pediatric HIV and infectious diseases while volunteering to help during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Her medical training was primarily funded through a government scholarship that allowed her to start her career as a pediatrician caring for underserved children with the National Health Service Corps. After residency, she and her military husband followed orders and educational opportunities and moved around the country. She worked in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in San Antonio with predominantly Spanish-speaking patients and led one of the first academic pediatric hospitalist programs at the University of Texas. Early on, Dr. Deeter developed a passion for medical education developing a new curriculum for students and transitioning residents to new work hour rules. After a move with the military to Ft Benning, Georgia and a busy private practice, she was recruited to Seattle Children’s/University of Washington School of Medicine for ICU fellowship training. There, she joined a large DKA study group and launched her own research into sedation andcomfort practices for critically ill children, publishing in top journals in pediatrics. She later transitioned to clinical practice in a large CICU/PICU in South Florida where she continued her academic collaborations with Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Deeter volunteers her time locally and internationally, including many visits to help improve the only PICU in Haiti after the earthquake there in 2012. She was a board member for a women and children’s hospital in Bangladesh while also supporting local children’s organizations like Head Start. She has served in leadership positions throughout her career, both in academic and private settings, including terms as vice president of the Broward County (FL) medical society, legislative positions with the TMA and FMA, and chairing the hospital’s peer review committee. The Deeter family moved to Reno in 2016 for an opportunity to move closer to family and for what she calls her “dream job” as a leader at Renown Children’s Hospital. “Dr. Deeter is a highly competent and passionate care giver, dedicated teacher, and fierce advocate for the health and well-being of children and their families,” said Max J. Coppes MD, former Chair of Pediatrics (UNR Med) and Physician-in-Chief, Renown Children’s Hospital. “We are fortunate to have her step up to this new role. Her extensive experience will springboard our Children’s Hospital, our membership in Children’s Oncology Group, and if approved in September 2022, a new 3-year accredited pediatric residency program in Reno. She is an inspiration to all, and will help encourage UNR Med students who choose pediatric specialties to excel as pediatricians and eventually practice in northern Nevada, our rural communities and our state.” Dr. Deeter is a member of the Society of Critical Care Medicine: Pediatric section; American Academy of Pediatrics, Nevada Chapter; AAP Section Membership: Critical Care; Pediatric Trauma Society; Pediatric Sedation Society and the American Medical Association. She is a frequent contributor to national and local media on topics regarding pediatrics and child health. The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), Nevada’s first public medical school, is a community-based, research-intensive medical school with a statewide vision for a healthy Nevada. Since 1969, UNR Med has trained more than 3,900 students, residents and fellows. UNR Med continues to improve the health and well-being of all Nevadans and their communities through excellence in student education, postgraduate training and clinical care, research with local, national and global impact and a culture of diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit med.unr.edu. Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoeand northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.
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Approval of New Pediatric Physician Residency Program Helps Improve Care for Children and Families in Nevada
The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Renown Health are pleased to announce the accreditation of a new three-year Pediatrics Residency Program with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The inaugural cohort of pediatric residents will start next summer, in July of 2023. The new residency will help shape future pediatric practices – and fill a state and nation-wide physician specialist shortage. Over a three-year period, four newly trained physicians will be selected each year for a total complement of twelve residents. “Creating a Pediatric Residency Program for our community has been a dream more than five years in the making,” says Max Coppes, MD, PhD, MBA, former Nell J. Redfield Chair of Pediatrics at the UNR Med and pediatrician-in-chief at Renown Children’s Hospital. “Currently, UNR Med students interested in becoming pediatricians must leave the area to complete their residency training elsewhere. The William N. Pennington Foundation has paved the way for this program, which will create a pipeline of much-needed pediatricians for our state, especially in under-served and rural areas – to serve vulnerable children and families of Nevada with high-quality, affordable care.” The vision to grow pediatric services into a full-fledged children’s hospital with a robust academic department of pediatrics in Reno began in 2014 when Renown Health and UNR Med agreed to recruit an academic pediatrician who would serve both as Chair of Pediatrics at UNR Med and as Pediatrician-in-Chief of Renown Children’s Hospital. The Nell J. Redfield Foundation donated $1.5M towards this initiative and expressed the hope to see a pediatric residency program established for the community. After the recruitment of Dr. Max Coppes for this role in 2016, The William N. Pennington Foundation recognized the need for enhanced care and expertise for pediatrics and donated $7.5 million to Renown Children’s Hospital to establish the William N. Pennington Fund for Advanced Pediatric Care. Through these gifts, 100,000 area children now have access to more than 15 specialized pediatricians, including those specializing in oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology, emergency medicine, urology and other subspecialties previously lacking in the community, as well as a pediatric emergency room, pediatric ICU and contemporary healthcare services at Renown Children’s Hospital. Prior to 2016, about 30%of all pediatric patients had to leave northern Nevada to receive the specialty care they needed. Now, thanks to donor support, Renown estimates that 97% of all pediatric patients and their families can receive both general and specialty pediatric care locally. The next nearest children’s hospital in the state is 7 hours or 438 miles away in Las Vegas. Melissa Piasecki, MD, Acting Dean of UNR Med and Chief Academic Officer for Renown, explains, “Residencies are specialty training programs for doctors after they graduate from medical school. Before becoming licensed physicians, medical school graduates train for three or more years learning from more experienced attending physicians.” She adds, “This new residency is a tremendous step forward for the UNR Med and Renown Health affiliation – and for our entire community. This pediatric residency program advances a mutual commitment to recruit and retain skilled and compassionate physicians and healthcare professionals, improve access to healthcare and invest in clinical research that improves the health of this generation and the next. Within the UNR Med andRenown affiliation, we created an integrated Graduate Medical Education Consortium Council (GME-CC) to provide strategic oversight and growth of residency programs within the affiliation. In this agreement, UNR Med is the sponsoring institution for accreditation and Renown Health and the VA are the clinical training partners. The process moved so smoothly; within six months of the affiliation, the GME-CC voted to support a new pediatric residency. This is a great addition to our existing residencies at UNR Med, which include family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and provides our students with a great training opportunity in pediatrics.” Nevada faces a severe physician workforce shortage, ranking 45th in the nation for active physicians per 100,000 people. The physician workforce shortage is especially critical for pediatricians, with Nevada ranking 47th in the country with fewer than 10 pediatricians for every 100,000 people. The northern Nevada community is growing rapidly and Washoe County faces additional pediatrician shortages as local physicians approach retirement. “This new residency is an opportunity to train the next generation of pediatricians who will want to continue providing care in northern Nevada,” said Kristina Deeter, MD, MBA, FAAP, Interim UNR Med Chair of Pediatrics and Physician-in-Chief at Renown Children’s Hospital. “Our community continues to grow. This new pediatric residency-training program will allow Nevada to have a supply of outstanding, compassionate physicians, now and into the future. With our exceptional team of existing pediatricians, pediatric specialists, medical teams and support staff, we are committed to providing a comprehensive and rewarding educational experience for our trainees.” “It truly is a dream come true. We are indebted to the comprehensive team that has built the structure, recruited faculty to support the training program and successfully recruited a Program Director, Dr. Caroline Barangan, and Associate Program Director, Dr. Shilpi Garg, a 2012 UNR Med alumna,” says Lawrence Duncan, MS, VP and Administrator for Renown Women & Children’s Hospital. “Between now and summer 2023, we will add the foundational pieces needed to ensure the success of the program including recruiting a Chief Resident, ongoing faculty development and ensuring that all components are in place for recruiting, teaching, supervising and mentoring residents.” “One of the main obstacles for increasing the number of physicians to care for our growing community is the relative lack of pediatric residency programs in the state and the absence of a program in northern Nevada. Residency programs in pediatrics recruit and train students completing medical school and seeking residency training to become a pediatrician,” says Caroline Barangan, MD, Pediatric Residency Program Director, Renown Health and UNR Med. “Workforce research consistently shows that students who complete a residency tend to stay and practice in the communities where they completed their residency training program. For those who complete medical school and residency in the same place, over 75% stay to practice in that community.” “In August, recognizing the need to grow the state’s physician workforce in high-needs specialties, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak and the Office of Science, Innovation and Technology announced the funding of five graduate medical education residency and fellowship programs, including $870,433 for the UNR Med Pediatrics Residency Program,” said Christine Bosse, Chief Government Affairs Officer for Renown Health. “Nevada produces more undergraduate medical students than it has available residencies and fellowships. Additionally, Nevada lacks fellowships in some specialties that are of interest to students. As a result, many highly educated students must leave the state for further training at a time when they are beginning real-world application of their advanced education. We appreciate that the GME Grant funding will assist the state and our community, in attracting, educating and retaining more doctors for Nevada.” “This new community-based program will provide residents with a strong foundation in primary care pediatrics as well as broad, in-depth exposure to all pediatric subspecialties. This will create graduates equally well prepared for careers in general pediatric practice, service to the state’s rural and underserved communities or in academics," adds David Carlson, MD, UNR Med Associate Dean, Graduate Medical Education, Designated Institutional Officer. “Through the program, pediatric residents will spend their 36-month residency focused on children’s care and complete a primary care-focused clinical training program with rotations that allow them to learn while caring for children in both inpatient and outpatient settings with supervising pediatricians and pediatric specialists at Renown Children’s Hospital.” “The Pediatrics Residency Program is a wonderful opportunity to continue a tradition of academic excellence alongside Renown Health’s record of clinical excellence,” said Brian Sandoval, President, University of Nevada, Reno. “This is one more way our affiliation, signed in 2021 to establish the first fully integrated health system in Nevada, is helping to expand clinical training and clinical research programs as well as improve access to clinical care for all Nevadans.” “We are proud to partner with UNR Med to bring this new residency program to our community,” says Thomas Graf, MD, interim Chief Executive Officer, Renown Health, “Attracting and retaining talent is a key component of our drive for excellence as a care leader and our mutual goal of improving the health of our community. We are fortunate to have the strong infrastructure necessary to create this program and a team of highly-skilled physicians who can train the next generation of pediatricians.” For the 2023 residency application cycle, UNR Med will participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and encourages applicants to visit the UNR Med GME website for more information. About UNR Med The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), Nevada’s first public medical school, is a community-based, research-intensive medical school with a statewide vision for a healthy Nevada. Since 1969, UNR Med has trained more than 3,900 students, residents and fellows. UNR Med continues to improve the health and well-being of all Nevadans and their communities through excellence in student education, postgraduate training and clinical care, research with local, national and global impact and a culture of diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit med.unr.edu. About Renown Health Renown Health is Nevada’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 6,500 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown is currently enrolling participants in a community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.
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Celebrating Renown Health's Nursing Excellence Conference
Renown Health recently wrapped up the twentieth annual Nursing Excellence and Excellence in Critical Care Conferences, the conference theme was the Courageous Calling and over 400 nurses from specialty fields across the region attended to learn, reflect, build relationships and obtain continuing education units (CEUs). Celebrating The Courageous Calling During the first day of the Nursing Excellence Conference, local and national leaders presented topics including redefining resilience, documentation liability, transgender healthcare and caring for the homeless population. Among the list of impressive speakers were Chief Nurse Executive at Renown Health, Melodie Osborn, and Nora McInerny, writer and host of the "Terrible Thanks for Asking" podcast. On day two,speakers focused on the critical care specialties within nursing, including intensive care, emergency room, pediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care. Topics covered included post-COVID-19 pulmonology with Dr. Graham, traumatic brain injuries with Dr. Demers, COVID-19 reflections with Anicia Beckwith, a discussion about "Mis C” with Dr. Healy, innovations in imaging with Dr. Rangaswamy and cardiology with Dr. Danaf. Thank you to our sponsors and raffle donors for making this event possible: Erik Olson and Larry Duncan, Jana Elliott, Melodie Osborn, Becky Haase, Lori Tuntland, Dr. Akbar, Dr. Lous, Mel Morris, Grand Sierra Resort, Renown Health Gift Shops, Renown Health Directors of Nursing, Renown Health Marketing & Communications Department, Renown Health Dermatology, Laser, & Skin Care and Renown Health Foundation. Learn more about finding purpose in the health of our community when working at Renown Health here.
Read More About Celebrating Renown Health's Nursing Excellence Conference
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Keeping Research Close to Northern Nevada
Clinical research provides agency for our patients navigating a scary diagnosis, and the field has never been stronger in northern Nevada. This strength is thanks in part to the Affiliate Clinical Research Office (ACRO) formed by the 2021 affiliation between Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Since its creation, the ACRO team has been busy ensuring that community members have access to the latest care options and exceptional experiences as participants in both research and their healthcare. Here are just a few things that set this office apart from the rest. 1. A focus on engagement In 2022, the ARCO team focused on promoting a research culture with patients, clinicians, residents and students by intentionally engaging with healthcare providers, department administrators, internal research team members and leadership. They educated the community with learning materials that emphasized the importance of doing research. This team also worked with front-line staff to raise awareness and excitement about the clinical research options available for Renown Health patients. 2. Meaningful partnerships The most impactful partnership to date is between Renown Health and UNR Med. By identifying opportunities and leveraging resources across institutions, we have maximized our impact and built a solid and sustainable foundation. This gives the people of northern Nevada greater access to new interventions or novel treatments. This team is also investing in the community and national partnerships to provide training opportunities for our research staff and learning opportunities for our medical students. 3. Novel treatments across many disease areas Our research study offerings must reflect the healthcare needs of our community and the expertise of practicing clinicians. The department has over 80 active studies in neurology, pulmonology, oncology, cardiology, pediatrics and disease prevention. The ARCRO team strives to expand care opportunities to allow our community members to stay close to home when seeking care. This year, they will continue exploring our community's unmet healthcare needs by bringing new treatment options to the greater Reno area.
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Renown Health and University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Announce Intent to Affiliate
Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) announced today their intent to develop plans for a proposed long-term partnership designed to enhance Nevada’s medical education system, expand clinical research capacity in northern Nevada and create a world-class healthcare network. The collaboration between Nevada’s oldest medical school and one of its largest non-profit healthcare organizations is well underway, with the organizations executing a Letter of Intent. The final agreement with details of the arrangement is slated to be signed by the end of the year. “Over the last 50 years, Renown Health has been an important UNR Med partner. We share a common vision, and recognize how expanding our collaboration will benefit the community through increased access to care and expanded clinical training and research programs. We know we can do more together than we would be able to do separately," said UNR Med Dean and Vice President, Health Sciences, Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D., professor, family and community medicine. "As healthcare professionals, we are forever changed by the events of the last six months. This new affiliation acknowledges our changing educational and healthcare environment, and advances our state-wide vision of A Healthy Nevada." Like many healthcare systems and medical schools across the nation, Renown Health and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine have worked together for decades to advance a mutual commitment to improving the health of the community. Over the last five decades, UNR Med has educated more than 3,900 physicians with over 30 percent practicing in Nevada, increasing access to care for residents across the state. Equally rooted in the community, Renown’s long legacy of service started in 1862 as a county hospital, Washoe Medical Center. Now, Renown Health serves the community by providing care through hospitals, outpatient medical offices, institutes and an insurance plan, Hometown Health. Expanding on their long history of collaboration, both Renown Health and UNR Med have new strategic plans based on recruiting top-tier physicians and healthcare professionals, improving access to and developing new models of innovative care, and investing in clinical research. As pillars of healthcare in northern Nevada, both provide key services for underserved populations, and collaborate to educate, train and employ the next generation of doctors and healthcare professionals to support the health of local and rural communities, the state and the nation. “This new agreement builds on the close collaboration we have had for many years with UNR Med leadership,” says Anthony D. Slonim, MD, DrPH, FACHE, President and CEO, Renown Health; who also serves as professor of clinical medicine and pediatrics at University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine. “We have collaborated in research, medical education, grant funding for public health, clinical trials and integrated clinical practices to improve access and affordability of care. We both serve communities with significant health needs and socioeconomic challenges that have worsened through this pandemic. We recognize that this new level of affiliation will drive innovation and research that improves the health of our community, and together, we can be more effective in creating a healthier Nevada.” University of Nevada, Reno President Marc A. Johnson, PhD, said, “Physicians, clinicians and clinical researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Renown have worked together to care for patients during the COVID-19 crisis, from the bedside, to the research labs, and to the medical offices. That is a powerful example of the partnership between the two organizations as we have faced a historic pandemic. This new agreement reinforces what has already been a strong and impactful partnership. It promises to extend the healthcare mission of our School of Medicine and Renown for a community benefit that will be felt far beyond the next generation.” James DeVolld, board chair of Renown said, “During such a difficult time for our community, we are thrilled to bring two great organizations together, and present the community with such a precious gift. We have an urgent imperative to transform the delivery and financing of healthcare. Health systems and medical schools across the country are collaborating in innovative new ways, finding new efficiencies and better solutions by sharing clinical experience, intellectual resources, grants and community support.” Max J. Coppes, MD, PhD, Professor and Nell J. Redfield Chair of Pediatrics at UNR Med and Physician-in-Chief at Renown Children’s Hospital, added, “We are thrilled to have the support of so many elected officials, UNR Med students, alumni, donors, and community members to advance a mutual commitment to ensuring that people in northern Nevada can get top medical care right here at home. The envisioned integration will result in better access to state-of-the-art patient care, enhance and expand our ability to teach the next generation of healthcare providers, and actively engage in medical research, bringing new clinical research trials to our area.” Dr. Coppes noted the partnership’s previous success in 2014 when Renown Health and UNR Med collaborated in launching a transformation of Renown Children’s Hospital, the region’s only children’s hospital dedicated to full pediatric services. Dean Schwenk will present the Letter of Intent to the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents on Friday, September 11. With NSHE regent approval, the affiliation will enter a period of review and due diligence within the organizations and with the relevant regulatory and oversight bodies. Until then, it will be business as usual within the two organizations. The process is estimated to continue through the end of the year. “Together, we can bring a higher level of world-class care providers, leading-edge care and new delivery approaches to meet the needs of people in our community,” said Sy Johnson, MBA, and Chief of Staff for Renown Health. “This is what we call Destination Health, enabling patients and families, including both local patients and those traveling long distances, to receive the most comprehensive medical care, right here at home.” The planned integration resembles other partnerships such as Washington University—Barnes Jewish Health System, Yale New Haven Health System, Penn Medicine, and RWJ-Barnabas-Rutgers. These partnerships expand medical education training opportunities for students and residents, retain more physician graduates in the community, recruit prominent physicians and researchers and build a more robust healthcare workforce. About Renown Health Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally owned and governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Renown’s institute model addresses social determinants of health and includes: Child Health, Behavioral Health & Addiction, Healthy Aging and Health Innovation. Clinical institutes include: Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®. For more information, visit renown.org. About University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Nevada’s first public medical school, is a community-based, research-intensive medical school with a statewide vision for a healthy Nevada. Since 1969, UNR Med has trained more than 3,900 students, residents and fellows. UNR Med continues to improve the health and well-being of all Nevadans and their communities through excellence in student education, postgraduate training and clinical care, research with local, national and global impact and a culture of diversity and inclusion. For more information, visit med.unr.edu. UNR Med Public Relations Media Contact M: 775-846-8445 E: jardito@med.unr.edu
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New Renown Health Scholarship Supports UNR Med Students - The Next Generation of Physicians and Health Care Professionals
Clinical affiliation to create more access to care for Nevadans. View the original press release by the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. Nevada continues to face a physician shortage ranking No. 45 in the United States for active physicians per 100,000 population and No. 48 for primary care physicians per 100,000 population according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 2019 Nevada Physician Workforce Profile. A new clinical affiliation between the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and Renown Health addresses the provider gap and increases access to care by developing new and innovative ways to train and retain the next generation of Nevada's health care professionals. A cornerstone of the affiliation is the Renown Health Scholarship, which was established by Renown to support UNR Med medical students and physician assistant students in their pursuit of a career in health care. The goal of the scholarship is to award $350,000 annually based on need and merit. In 2021-2022, the scholarship will be awarded to 20 first-year and third-year medical students, each receiving $15,000 for a total of $300,000; and five second-year physician assistant studies program students, each receiving $10,000 for a total of $50,000. "Students are at the core of what we do as a School of Medicine, and this incredibly generous scholarship is the best way possible for Renown Health to celebrate our partnership and support our students," says Melissa Piasecki, acting dean of UNR Med, a role that includes Chief Academic Officer at Renown Health. "We thank Renown Health for this gift that will benefit so many of UNR Med students on their journeys to becoming great doctors and physician assistants. "We are extremely proud to establish the Renown Health Scholarship with UNR Med providing annual support to students pursuing careers in health care," says Anthony D. Slonim, MD, DrPH, President & CEO, Renown Health." As Nevada's first integrated health care system, UNR Med and Renown are advancing health and health care through world-class medical education, clinical research and patient care for our community, our state and our nation, and supporting this first class of scholarship recipients is an important step in ensuring quality access to care for northern Nevada and the state in the future." The inaugural group of scholarship recipients epitomize Renown Health's and UNR Med's combined vision of A Healthy Nevada and mission of improving the health and well-being of the communities they serve. The students chosen for this scholarship further represent UNR Med's commitments to excellence and to a culture of diversity and inclusion in support of their goals of becoming physicians and physician assistants. "This scholarship will contribute greatly to my becoming a physician that can later serve those from lower socioeconomic statuses. I am humbled and honored by the fact that Renown believes that my hard work and determination are worth rewarding, I know it will alleviate some of the mental stress that finances play in my life, and I hope to make these funds count through hard work and dedication to my studies," says Eunice Aiyuk, first-year medical student at UNR Med, who was born in Yaounde, Cameroon, in West Africa, and has lived in Reno since she was three years old. Aiyuk graduated from McQueen High School and from the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor of science degree in neuroscience in 2018. Sergio Trejo, Jr., MPH, is a third-year medical student who grew up in Las Vegas and served as a Spanish interpreter at a community health center prior to earning his Master of Public Health degree from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2019, which instilled in him his desire to pursue a career as a primary care physician in pediatrics. "I'm interested in a career in pediatrics since I can combine my knowledge of medicine and public health to not only influence the health of children, but also the entire family, as they are ones that ultimately dictate their child's health outcomes," Trejo says. "This scholarship means the ability to fund my dream of helping alleviate health disparities in underserved communities, especially those who endure language barriers. It will help reduce the stress of funding resources that will help me be successful in my clerkships and beyond." As a second-year Physician Assistant Studies Program student at UNR Med, Benjamin "Benjie" Portillo-Dominguez's path to becoming a physician assistant started at a young age when he attended his parents' doctors' appointments so that he could interpret. He recalls his family's excitement when a health care provider could speak Spanish. "It made a world of difference because it maximized communication and helped them receive the care they needed. This helped develop in me a strong desire to pursue a career in health care, says Portillo-Dominguez, who graduated from the University with a bachelor of science degree in community health sciences in 2018. "In less than a year I will become a Physician Assistant. This has been a long-time goal of mine, but as a first-generation college graduate, this has been the dream of my parents since I was born." "Receiving this scholarship benefits me in my training because it allows me more time to focus on my studies and opens up opportunities to learn from experienced providers. Becoming the best provider I can be, allows me to strengthen this community that I was born and raised in. Having this unique perspective and being in this program allows me to be a solution to the lack of primary care providers in this area, especially with those who speak Spanish." The UNR Med student recipients of the 2021 Renown Health Scholarship were based on merit and need. They include: first-year medical students Eunice Aiyuk, Dakota Johnson, Aisha Masud, Isabella Rodriguez and Raquel Wescott; third-year medical students Davison Beenfeldt, Sara Bertram, Kaileigh Bingham, Curtis Duncan, Brooke Gantman, Alex Harper, Erin Kelley, Regina Kurapova, Ngantu Le, Otto Maurer, Keanu McMurray, Eric Nguyen, Hao To, Sean Torres and Sergio Trejo; and second-year physician assistant studies program students Ali-Marie Lostra, Margaret (Meg) Patterson, Benjamin (Benjie) Portillo-Dominguez, Preston Reugebrink and Ryan Swanson. The UNR Med/Renown Health affiliation is between a 159-year old health care provider, the state's original land grant university and the state's oldest medical school. Over the last five decades, UNR Med has educated more than 4,000 physicians with over 30% percent practicing in Nevada, increasing access to care for Nevadans across the state. Equally rooted in the community, Renown's long legacy of service started in 1862 as a county hospital, Washoe Medical Center. Now, Renown Health, a charitable, not-for-profit organization, serves the community by providing care through hospitals, outpatient medical offices, institutes and a health insurance plan, Hometown Health. Media Contact: Julie Ardito, APR Senior Director, Advancement and Engagement Email: news@med.unr.edu Office: 775-784-6006 About The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, Nevada's first public medical school, is a community-based, research-intensive medical school with a statewide vision for a healthy Nevada. Established in 1969, UNR Med is improving the health and well-being of all Nevadans and their communities through excellence in student education, postgraduate training and clinical care, research with local, national and global impact and a culture of diversity and inclusion.
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Clinical Research: Advancing Healthcare in Northern Nevada One Study at a Time
Did you know that the Renown Research Office has partnered with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine Clinical Research Office to form the Integrated Clinical Research Office? This means we are able to provide more clinical research opportunities and expertise to our northern Nevada community than ever before. Over the past two years, we have significantly expanded our clinical trial offerings from 35 to 101 studies to meet the healthcare needs of our community members and keep care options local. Currently, we offer clinical research as a care opportunity in areas such as cardiology, pulmonology, endocrinology, oncology, pediatrics, neurology and immunizations. What is Clinical Research? Clinical research is simply medical research that involves human volunteers (participants). Research studies have to be reviewed and approved by ethics committees to ensure that the questions researchers want to answer are appropriate and that research participants are protected throughout the study. Often when we talk about clinical research, we are referring to a clinical trial. Clinical trials are a type of clinical research study that places research participants into groups to study the safety and effectiveness of new medications and devices on a specific health outcome. Clinical trials follow rigorous standards and must pass four phases of testing, where each phase works progressively to understand the correct dosing and effects in larger and more diverse groups of people. Why is Clinical Research Important? Did you know that all medications, diagnostic tests and medical devices prescribed and used today by physicians and health practitioners were once tested in clinical trials? Clinical research advances medical care by helping us understand how to prevent disease and to provide new and better treatments for a wide range of health conditions. At Renown Health, we know the importance of offering the latest opportunities in healthcare, especially when standard of care options have been exhausted. What Are Some Considerations for Participating in Clinical Research? Research volunteers are often drawn to participating in studies because they are interested in accessing the latest health care treatments and/or they want to contribute to scientific discovery. If you are interested in becoming a research volunteer, you should first make sure you fully understand what the study and researcher is asking you to do and consider whether you are comfortable with the study activities and commitments to time and travel such as for required study appointments. Remember, participating in a research study is completely voluntary. That means you choose whether to participate, and you can choose to stop participating in a research study at any time, for any reason. Where Can I Find More Information About Clinical Research? There are many resources you can access if you have questions or want to learn more about clinical research. Your healthcare provider can assist you in your healthcare journey by discussing care options and exploring if participating in a clinical trial may be right for you. The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health recently launched their Clinical Trials Info for Nevadans webpage which provides information on finding clinical trials in Nevada, understanding the importance of diversity in clinical trials, and linked resources to learn more about clinical trials. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Human Research Protections provides informational videos, questions to ask researchers prior to participating and information on regulations in place to protect research participants. Finally, at the Renown Research Office, we are always here to support your clinical research journey and can be reached at Renown-CRD@renown.org or 775-982-3646. At Renown Health, our goal is to make it easy for patients to access clinical research as a care opportunity where patients can access a variety of standard care treatment options for their health condition or choose to participate in a clinical trial. For more information about clinical trial opportunities available to you or to ask any questions, contact the Renown Research Office at Renown-CRD@renown.org or 775-982-3646.
Read More About Clinical Research: Advancing Healthcare in Northern Nevada One Study at a Time
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Department Spotlight Clinical Research
May 20 is National Clinical Trials Day. Celebrate with us by recognizing the Clinical Research team at Renown Health! The root of every medication, treatment and procedure in healthcare can be traced back to research. From the beginning of the history of medicine, research has always played a crucial role in improving the lives of patients around the world, leaving a permanent mark on how we expand our medical capabilities to this day. Renown Health’s Clinical Research team, in partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med), are leading that effort in our very own community. As our in-house leaders of clinical trials, this team is dedicated to advancing the science of medicine to help further our bottom line of making a genuine difference in the health and well-being of the patients they serve. Trial by (Medical) Jury Every day looks different for the Clinical Research team, especially when it comes to interacting with patients, providers and “sponsors,” which are the organizations providing the treatment for the study. One fact always remains true: communication and collaboration are key, especially among the team who act as the face of this process. Meet Lisa English (pictured above on the far right in a blue shirt), a Lead Clinical Research Coordinator at Renown who serves as the study "project manager." One aspect of Lisa’s day-to-day is seeing patients through their clinical trials from start to finish. It all begins with the setup. “Before we can launch a study, there is a lot of back-and-forth dialogue between everyone involved to ensure the best fit,” said Lisa. “Sponsors will come to us with novel treatments, such as medications or devices, and the inclusion criteria that patients need to meet in order to qualify for the study. We then immediately jump into working with the providers, looking closely at the science and comparing the treatments to what is on the market already.” From there, Lisa coordinates conversations between the providers, sponsors and study teams to gauge everyone’s capacity based on the length of the study, ensuring everyone involved has the time to dedicate to the process. Next, the providers identify patients that meet the criteria for the study, and together, the team decides where the patient visits will happen and discusses any potential barriers that may affect patient retention. The budget is clearly defined at this stage, set up to make sure no patient is ever billed for medical costs incurred as a result of the study. Often, research participants are seen within the specialty clinics throughout the health system, while other times the Clinical Research Coordinators see patients at the recently centralized Clinical Research Office at Renown Regional Medical Center. This location provides an essential public-facing space for the community to learn more about clinical trials and demonstrates the breadth of resources available at Renown to sponsors to strengthen external partnerships and research funding opportunities. Once the study officially begins, team members like Lisa will set patients up for a “screening/qualifying visit.” During this appointment, she makes sure patients get scheduled for their lab work, imaging scans and anything else the provider may need to make an executive decision on whether or not the patient is a good candidate for the study. “I build it all in Epic,” said Lisa. “The study information, directions, requirements and next steps are all loaded in Epic for easy tracking. We are also required to input any notes in the sponsor’s electronic data capture website. All the information I track is inputted without protected health information (PHI), so every patient is completely anonymous.” After the patient officially qualifies, the study goes full steam ahead. Team members like Lisa and the providers receive continual updates from sponsors on the status of the study. “Throughout the entire process, I make sure patients get scheduled for everything that meets the requirements for the study,” said Lisa. “I meet with patients one-on-one to discuss their needs and concerns and ask questions about the study, organize their appointments and charts and deal with any issues or pivots that may arise. It’s very important that every patient fully understands what is going to happen with their care.” The Clinical Research department strives to serve as a care partner to patients, providers and clinics they work with. The majority of our Clinical Research Coordinators are trained phlebotomists and medical assistants, performing their own assessments such as lab draws and electrocardiograms (ECGs) to streamline the research visit process and reduce resource constraints on the clinics and health system. Lisa typically sees a couple of patients per week, depending on the study and where patients are in the cycle. Depending on the complexity of the trial, patients may see the research team only one time or several times over many years. Typically, clinical trial patients are seen in clinic every 2-4 weeks. There are many tasks required before, during and after a research visit to ensure everything runs smoothly, so Clinical Research Coordinators dedicate an average of 5-11 hours of work per patient, per visit. Regardless of patient load, each employee in the Clinical Research department – as well as participating teams across Renown and UNR Med – always step in to help each other out. According to Lisa, the environment is immensely supportive. “We have a program here at Renown to train employees who have never done clinical trials,” said Lisa. “We love seeing people get more engaged with the important work we do, and every department has been great at collaborating with us. Everyone brings a different perspective.” At the end of the study, Lisa gathers all the information and collects notes into a zip drive or paper binder for archiving. The sponsor lets the Clinical Research team, providers and patients know whether they are on the trial drug or on the placebo. The teams use the data gathered during the study to publish a report or present at conferences, promoting the critical research done to better the lives of patients in our community, and potentially, the world. “I appreciate the time everyone gives us to make sure our research is successful,” said Lisa. “It feels great to work together to make a difference, improve healthcare quality and save lives.” Behind-the-Scenes, Yet on the Frontlines The impact of research studies transcends hospital walls, and this can all be attributed to the dedication of our Clinical Research department. The constant collaboration between this team, lab science, medical assistants and providers, cardiology technologists, sonographers, finance teams and our partners at UNR Med is crucial to safeguarding the success of the studies. Devoted to keeping research close to home, Renown and UNR Med teamed up to form the Clinical Research Office (CRO) in 2021. With the strength of northern Nevada's largest not-for-profit health system and Nevada’s first medical school, this team is dedicated to giving our community access to the latest care innovations. “At UNR Med, we are working with students, residents and academic faculty; on the Renown side, we are working with clinicians and community participants,” said Amber Emerson, Manager for Community Outreach and Research Engagement for UNR Med. “Everything we do is data-driven,” added Kristen Gurnea, Manager of Clinical Research for Renown. “Our main goal is to optimize our impact and provide a community benefit for our patients. The scope of our roles in the Clinical Research office is very diverse.” To help meet the growing need locally for healthcare and cutting-edge treatment solutions, the CRO has continued to grow, expanding its research capabilities and helping bring new medications, medical devices and more to patients across northern Nevada and northeastern California. “Once upon a time, our team had only six members; today we have grown to a team of 25,” added Diana Torres, Research Resource Analyst for Renown. “We used to be considered one department, including Medical Education, and we have since branched off into our own cost center. We branched off even further and created a separate Genetics department that runs the Healthy Nevada Project. Throughout this process, the Clinical Research department was always the main point of the umbrella.” “We participate in hospital-wide outreach and marketing, and we feel this has really helped us get the word out about our department,” added Raul Arellano, Research Resource Analyst for Renown. “In fact, we doubled our clinical trial portfolio from last year.” The CRO currently operates over 100 clinical trials locally in cardiology, endocrinology, infectious disease, neurology, pediatric and adult oncology, pediatric sub-specialties and pulmonology. Behind the curtains of in-person research, the CRO is home to several experts who help turn our research studies into a reality, from budgeting and billing to barrier-breaking and building relationships. “I help with barriers patients and Clinical Research Coordinators are facing, building connections and relationships inside and outside of our health system,” said Kristen Gurnea. “I enjoy handling all the supporting pieces that are required for studies to happen.” “My role changes every day,” added Jenna Berger, Administrative Assistant for the CRO at Renown. “Some days, I’ll be helping coordinate patient stipends and going through document management to ensure we have all necessary signatures. Other days, I will be planning events – like Clinical Trials Week – for our department and creating marketing materials and fliers.” “Our day-to-day involves going over anything related to research financials,” added Diana Torres. “We handle sponsor billings, process efficiency and collecting revenue for research contracts, and we collaborate closely with our Finance department and Revenue Integrity in order to accomplish this. It’s important for us to make sure all billing on both the sponsor and patient side is taken care of, especially because patients should never receive a bill for medical services they receive for the trial. A year and a half ago, we started doing budget negotiations for research contracts,” said Diana Torres. “We are proud to help clinical teams with any training they may need on these negotiations as well as billing reviews and allocations.” Seeing patients progress during a study and transform before their eyes inspires the CRO team to continue doing what they do every day. “I’ve been here for many years, first working on the floor as an oncology nurse and transitioning to oncology research in 2005,” said Anna Winchell, Cancer Protocol Nurse for Renown. “I love getting to know the patients and seeing them progress into a healthy lifestyle.” Medical students and residents at UNR Med also play a significant role in the research process, advancing medicine by exploring causes and novel treatments for a wide range of conditions, including HIV, muscular dystrophy, gastrointestinal disorders, infectious diseases and more. Medical research at UNR Med is headed by committed research coordinators, community outreach managers, grants managers, pharmacists and physicians. “I oversee scientific review and help the physicians that come to us for those resources,” said Amil Trujillo-King, Medical Research Coordinator at UNR Med. “I guide medical students in their research protocols and help with different projects to improve research activities for both students and medical residents.” It takes a village to make clinical research happen. Because of that, the ACRO cannot thank the following teams enough for moving mountains for the future of medicine: Renown Health and UNR Med leadership for demonstrating the integrated health system’s commitment to expanding access to clinical research in our community within both the Renown / UNR Med affiliation and Renown active strategic plans. Renown Pharmacy especially Research Clinical Pharmacist Tim Morton, who supports all clinical trial medication dispensing and patient education across all clinical trials at Renown. Accounts Payable for having a huge impact on patient and employee reimbursement. Renown Medical Group for their participating providers, especially in oncology, cardiology, pulmonology, pediatrics, endocrinology and neurology, who are involved in research year after year. Marketing and Communications for helping with printed materials and raising awareness for clinical research at Renown and UNR Med. An Affiliation to Last Through the Ages A collective, shared vision of exploring community health – that is the impetus behind the affiliation between Renown and UNR Med. By leveraging resources across both institutions, the CRO has maximized their impact, giving the people of northern Nevada greater access to new interventions and treatments and promoting an impassioned culture with patients, providers, residents and medical students. “Community-based research always sat well with me,” said Amber Emerson. “As Renown and UNR Med, we have this unique opportunity to shape clinical research here in northern Nevada. We always make sure we present research in a meaningful way that speaks to the work we produce and demonstrates the opportunities we offer. After all, participating in clinical research doesn’t mean our patients are ‘guinea pigs’ – quite the opposite! They are partners in their health care, and we support them through providing access to novel treatments.” “Research is my passion, and my career has spanned broadly from grants administration to study coordination,” added Valerie Smith, Clinical Research Center Administrative Manager at UNR Med. “I am excited to be at the forefront of research frontiers in northern Nevada.” Through robust engagement and collaboration with healthcare providers, department administrators, internal research team members and leadership, the strength of this affiliation is unmeasurable. The CRO’s ultimate goal is to have clinical trials be the standard of care for every condition that Renown and UNR Med treats. Clinical research participation is all about patient autonomy, shared decision-making between patients and their providers and advancing medicine to save lives. From their beginnings as a small group of passionate researchers to their present reality as a leader in the research space in northern Nevada, their efforts do not go unnoticed. “The success of our department is inspiring,” said Amil Trujillo-King. “Renown and UNR Med supports the wellbeing of all employees and contributes directly to the growth of the department.” “When I first joined Renown in Patient Access, I didn’t realize that we had a research department; with a strong healthcare background in my family, I knew I wanted to grow in my career, and our expanding Clinical Research office was that next step,” said Raul Arellano. “With our affiliation with UNR Med, it’s especially inspiring to be able to apply what I learned as a Patient Access Representative to help further outcomes for our patients through managing our finances.” Through their unwavering commitment to research excellence and patient-centered care, the CRO will continue to pave the way for groundbreaking medical discoveries and improved outcomes for patients for years to come. “Fundamentally, we’re working to build a culture of research in our community because we believe it is the right thing to do. Our community deserves to have access to clinical trials and novel care close to home with a dedicated team to support them every step of the way,” closes Kristen Gurnea.