News from Lifespan

Bradley Hospital launches Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Summer Program

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents, has launched a first-of-its-kind summer program for children and adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Summer Program offers intensive, focused treatment for children 10 to 18 years old who have not responded to traditional outpatient treatment or who lack specialized OCD services where they live.

The program, the only overnight two-week OCD summer program in the country, offers three sessions at Bradley Hospital’s campus in East Providence, R.I. During his or her two-week stay, the treatment team will help each child alleviate OCD symptoms, while still participating in summer fun and activities.

“Childhood and adolescence are typically times of imagination, exploration and possibility; however, OCD can distort a young person’s sense of self and dreams for the future,” said Abbe Garcia, Ph.D., clinical co-director of the Intensive Program for OCD at Bradley Hospital. “This program offers children the boost they need to regain enthusiasm for new experiences and promote further involvement in school, social and family activities.”

The hospital-based program is led by clinicians who have extensive experience treating children and adolescents with OCD, including expertise in the use of exposure and response prevention (ERP). This approach strengthens a child’s ability to manage anxiety by gradually facing fears and reducing the repetitive rituals of OCD.

During the OCD Summer Program, children and teens will participate in ERP exercises that will take place in the context of summer fun activities, including sports, swimming and art projects. Daytrips to the beach, the zoo and other locations across Rhode Island will provide real-world settings for therapy and opportunities to practice new skills in the community.

In addition to ERP exercises, youth in the summer program will also participate in individual sessions with psychologists, daily meetings with a psychiatrist, daily group sessions and other individualized therapies to tailor treatment to each child’s specific needs. Program staff will stay in contact with parents before, during and after their children’s participation in the program, as well as help with referrals to clinicians and local care providers in each family’s community.

The OCD Summer Program’s sessions are offered in July and August. For more information about the Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Summer Program, please visit http://www.bradleyhospital.org/oth/Page.asp?PageID=OTHG60239.

Bradley Hospital Opens Intensive Program for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Bradley Hospital, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents, recently launched a new program aimed at helping children with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a disorder that affects one in 200 children nationwide.

The Intensive Program for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, the first of its kind on the East Coast, uses a milieu-based model to treat kids who experience a significant disruption to their daily lives due to OCD and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders.

The evidence-based program helps children, from five to 18 years old, alleviate symptoms, such as extreme anxiety, unreasonable thoughts and fears, and repetitive behaviors or rituals, all while improving daily functioning. The program also helps kids stay involved in school and family activities.

“For children and teens with severe OCD, the disruption to their daily lives can be profound,” said Jennifer Freeman, PhD, clinical co-director of the Intensive Program for OCD. “This program can be an effective care option for youth who have not responded to traditional outpatient treatment or who lack specialized OCD services where they live.”

In addition to Freeman, the program is led by a team of child behavioral experts, including medical director Brady Case, MD, and clinical co-director Abbe Garcia, PhD. Freeman and Garcia also co-direct the Pediatric Anxiety Research Clinic at the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center.

Patients are treated utilizing a specific form of cognitive behavioral therapy called exposure and response prevention (EX/RP), which has been found to be the most effective form of treatment for OCD. This therapy strengthens a child’s ability to manage anxiety by helping him or her gradually face fears and ultimately reduce the repetitive rituals of OCD.

Patients in the program receive treatment after school for daily three-hour sessions at Bradley Hospital, as well as twice weekly EX/RP sessions at their home, school and other community settings. The integration of community- and hospital-based treatment helps to avoid academic and social disruption, and help children and teens return to family life as quickly as possible.

“Every day challenges for children and teens with severe OCD can include school avoidance, withdrawal from family and friends, loss of interest in activities and problems eating, sleeping or bathing,” said Freeman. “Being able to offer an intensive intervention that will help these kids go back to ‘just being kids’ as soon as possible is invaluable.”

The Intensive Program for OCD creates individualized, age-appropriate treatment plans for each patient, including individual therapy, and family, group and milieu therapy. Parents and family members contribute to this plan, starting with the patient’s evaluation and throughout treatment. Clinical staff also work closely with the school system to develop reintegration plans for a successful return to school.

Find out more about the Intensive Program for OCD online or call 401-432-1516.

Lifespan and Gateway Healthcare Affiliation Receives State Approval

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Partnership will strengthen coordination of care and enhance access for behavioral health patients

Join Us TUESDAY 5/14 for a Live Chat on Twitter on Kids’ Nutrition and Healthy Eating

Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Maria Santini, RD, LDN, senior pediatric dietitian will be live on Twitter sharing tips for parents on making healthy food choices for kids, and answering questions about kids nutrition and dietary needs and more. Join us by following #HasbroDocChat at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14 for our next monthly chat! Follow Hasbro Children's Hospital on Twitter: @HasbroChildrens

Three Lifespan Nurses Honored by Rhode Island State Nurses Association

Wed, 8 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Sylvia Weber, Marc Kalapos and Nancy Robin recognized for nursing excellence; Nurses Week is May 6-12, 2013

Lifespan Opens Retail Pharmacy at Rhode Island Hospital

Wed, 8 May 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Patients can fill prescriptions before they leave the hospital; reduce readmissions

Join Us TODAY for a Live Chat on Twitter to Keep Kids Safe

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Dina Morrissey, MD, MPH will be live on Twitter sharing tips to keep your children safe this spring and prevent injuries from bicycles, skateboards, open windows, ball fields and more. Join us by following #HasbroDocChat at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9 for our first monthly chat!

Follow Hasbro Children's Hospital on Twitter: @HasbroChildrens

Bradley Hospital Experts Launch New Conference Series for Professional Training and Education

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Bradley Hospital's clinical expertise, internationally renowned research, and academic affiliation with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University make the hospital a unique resource in all areas of behavioral health care. The newly launched Bradley Conference series is designed to provide a wide range of learning experiences to provide the training that behavioral health care professionals need to stay at the forefront of their fields.

The clinical staff from Bradley Hospital will lead an ongoing series of conference sessions to provide education for psychologists, social workers, physicians, nurses, certified counselors, speech/language and occupational therapists, teachers, milieu therapists, and other professionals. Topics cover different behavioral health populations and treatment modalities and are intended to provide practical, state-of-the-art information.

Who/What:	Bradley Hospital will host two conferences this spring as part of its six-part 2013 “Child Psychotherapy Master Clinician Series.” Expert speakers will lead sessions designed to provide training and continuing education for psychologists, social workers, physicians, nurses, certified counselors, speech/language and occupational therapists, teachers, milieu therapists, and other professionals.
When:	Thursday, April 4, 2013 “Using Motivational Interviewing with Adolescents” Speaker: Nadine R. Mastroleo, PhD This session introduces the use of Motivational Interviewing (MI) by mental health clinicians working with a wide range of client concerns, with special attention on the use of MI with adolescents who use alcohol or other drugs. Nadine R. Mastroleo, PhD, Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and assistant professor (research) at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, will lead the conference. Thursday, May 2, 2013 “Advanced Tools for Treating Children in a Family Context” Speakers: Michelle Rickerby, MD and Thomas Roesler, MD This presentation focuses on understanding symptoms in a family context and learning how to interview children and their families to further that understanding and intervene systemically. The conference will be led by Michelle Rickerby, MD, from the department of psychiatry at Rhode Island Hospital and clinical associate professor at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University; and Thomas Roesler, MD, from the department of psychiatry at Rhode Island Hospital and associate professor at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Where:	Squantum Club 947 Veterans Memorial Parkway Riverside, R.I.
Other:	The cost of each program is $99. Registration deadlines are April 1 and April 29, respectively. Beverages and light snacks are provided at both conferences, and continuing education credits are available. For more information or to register, call the Lifespan Health Connection at 401-444-4800 or 1-800-927-1230, or visit http://www.bradleyconference.org.

Lifespan Takes Major Step to Transform Health Care Delivery

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:00:00 EDT

Selects Epic Systems technology platform for its patient-centric approach

Injury Prevention Center at Hasbro Children’s Hospital Accepting Teen Entries for 2013 “Safety is NO Accident” Contest”

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST

WHO/WHAT:

The Injury Prevention Center at Hasbro Children’s Hospital has officially kicked off its 2013 Safety is NO Accident contest and invites all high school students from Rhode Island and Bristol County Massachusetts to participate by submitting a poster, video or essay promoting safe behavior and raising awareness of the risk of accidental injury.

Accidental injury is the leading cause of death among people under 45 years of age. Most unintentional injuries are avoidable and preventable. The goal of the contest is to raise awareness of this important issue among high school students and the community at large. Entries should send a safety message on how to recognize, avoid and communicate about safety hazards where teens live, where they work, and when they are on the road.

Students can work alone or in groups of up to four to create an original 30-second video, poster, or 500-word essay that sends a critical safety message to their peers and the community. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners in each category by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts in a ceremony at the Rhode Island State house. The winning poster will be displayed on a billboard for one month courtesy of Lamar advertising, and the winning video will be shown at a Paw Sox game.

The contest is sponsored by the Injury Prevention Center at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, The Rhode Island Public Health Association, The Rhode Island Department of Health, AAA of Southern New England, the Rhode Island Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (RICOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

WHEN:

All entries must be received by March 4, 2013.

OTHER:

The contest is open to all students currently enrolled in a public or private high school in the state of Rhode Island or Bristol County Massachusetts. All entrants must be sponsored by a mentor who is at least 18 years old and must be either a teacher, parent, legal guardian or workplace supervisor.

Visit www.ipc.rhodeislandhospital.org for more information, previous winning entries, rules and entry forms. Questions may be emailed to SafetyisNoAccidentcontest@gmail.com or connect on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/safetyisnoaccident.

Tantrums, Meltdowns and Kids Acting Out: What to do?

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST

Almost every parent, teacher, babysitter and caregiver has been in this situation: A child is agitated and acting out, often loudly. But, according to behavioral experts at Bradley Hospital, what many adults assume is simply a spoiled child who is acting out to get his way, may really be a good kid, who is struggling to communicate in that moment. With patience and a few targeted tactics, parents may be able to better understand their children’s triggers, successfully de-escalate the situation, and reduce the likelihood that it will occur again in the future.

“The first, and most important thing, to keep in mind is that when a child throws himself on the floor screaming, he may be trying to tell us something that he does not have words for or he is attempting to get his needs met. It’s our job as the adults to try and figure out what the unmet need is,” says Margaret Paccione-Dyszlewski, PhD, director of the Department of Behavioral Education at Bradley Hospital

Walter Heisler, BS, a behavioral education development specialist from Bradley Hospital adds, “Kids act out because it’s a form of communication that works for them. Often, they don’t want to do the wrong thing, but they just don’t know the right thing to do.”

Paccione-Dyszlewski and Heisler say that all behavior usually happens for one of three reasons:

The child wants something
The child is trying to avoid something
The child is trying to meet a sensory need, such as avoiding a noise or being touched.

“The key to managing many difficult child behaviors is to limit the number of emergency interventions and to maximize the number of proactive interventions,” says Heisler. “In other words, try to intervene at the earliest signs of agitation, before things escalate into a full-blown meltdown .” Often, the first sign of a looming issue is a change or increase in a child’s normal behavior.

So, what happens if a child has escalated and is already in the middle of a meltdown?

“We have all either seen or have been that parent at the grocery store with the screaming, crying child, and it can be maddening - a real helpless feeling” says Paccione-Dyszlewski. “The good news is that there are many strategies parents and caregivers can try to help agitated children de-escalate and become calmer.”

Paccione-Dyszlewski and Heisler offer the following strategies for parents:

Decrease stimulation. Lower the volume on the television or stereo, dim bright lights, minimize commotion/distractions. If possible, ask the child’s siblings and friends to leave the immediate area for a few minutes. Try to dial down the excitement and stimulation.
Validate feelings. Acknowledge that the situation is upsetting to your child. Displaying empathy and understanding reinforces to him that you are there to help.
Encourage verbalization/offer help. Ask the child to talk to you about what is upsetting him so that you can better understand how you can help him. If this conversation cannot happen in the moment, try to set a time for it to happen at a later, calmer time.
Reinforce the positive. Focus on the positive things that your child might be doing, such as making eye contact or using words to express his anger. Even if your child is yelling or using foul language, now is not the best time to address it.
Redirect, exchange, prompt. Tell your child what you want him to do, not what you want him to stop doing. For example, “Please talk to me using an inside voice.” versus “Stop yelling!” You may want to lower your voice to a whisper as you redirect.
Switch-off. If they are available, ask the child if he thinks that he will calm down more easily if another care giver tries to help and you step away for a while. The goal here is to step the difficult behaviors down one notch. Once the crisis is settling, you can return and have a more productive conversation at a later time.
Withhold attention/wait. When all else fails, wait it out. Monitor the child from as far away as safely possible. Let him know that you will be happy to talk with him as soon as he calms down and then make it appear as if you have other things to do.
Don’t rush the process- If you act as if you have all day, the situation is more likely to be better in a few minutes. If you act as if you only have a few minutes, it may just take all day.

“The reaction of the caregiver, both verbally and with body language, can be one of the most important factors in de-escalation,” says Heisler. “For most interventions to be successful, the adult must remain calm, even though the child is not. We can’t control everything that children say and do, but what we do have control over is our own reactions.”

Rather than engaging in a no win power struggle with the child, Heisler recommends staying calm and looking for opportunities to praise appropriate behavior. “If the child sees you as a ‘threat,’ they will likely become more agitated or scared,” says Heisler. As soon as the child begins to calm down, it is usually best to return him back to the normal structure of his routine as soon as it is safe to do so.

Paccione-Dyszlewski offers some final words of encouragement for parents and caregivers. “Remember that de-escalation is a gradual process of trying one small intervention after another, gauging the child’s reaction and then figuring out what to try next. Unlike the zero to 60 mph manner in which the behavior went out of control, we can’t expect to flip a switch and completely end a tantrum. As difficult as it may be, try to stay out of the emotions of the moment and think of the de-escalation process as a chess game. You can do it!” she says.

Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital Experts Offer Tips To Avoid Scalding Injuries During National Burn Awareness Week

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 00:00:00 EST

Each year approximately 600,000 people are treated for burn injuries in emergency departments nationwide. A large proportion of these injuries are related to scalding, or burns caused by heated fluids, and most of those with scalds– 75 percent of cases – are children. With the start of National Burn Awareness Week on February 3, experts from Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children’s Hospital are offering reminders and prevention tips to parents and caregivers on the dangers of scald injuries.

This is especially important when you consider that an average of two-thirds of all burns admitted at Hasbro Children’s Hospital were related to scalding injuries, according to data from the Rhode Island Hospital Trauma Registry. This matches up with what happens nationally.

“Because of the proportions of a child’s body, they often have burns over a much larger percentage of their body surface,” said Dina Morrissey, MD, program coordinator for the Injury Prevention Center at Hasbro Children’s Hospital “This means that children can be burned far more extensively.”

But the risk is not only to small children, warned David Harrington, MD, director of the Rhode Island Burn Center at Rhode Island Hospital. “We most often think of babies and toddlers when talking about injuries at bathtime or knocking over hot liquids in the kitchen, but the danger is also present for elderly dependents.”

Harrington continued, “Both young children and the elderly have thinner skin compared to the average adult, and therefore can burn more quickly and at a lower temperature.”

Harrington and Morrissey offer the following safety tips to help prevent unintentional injuries from scalding:

In the kitchen:

Always keep pot handles turned inward and use the back burners if possible.
Encourage the use of oven mitts and potholders to handle hot items.
Use pan lids to prevent hot liquid spatter and spills on the stove. Use appropriate protective equipment, such as an oven mitt, when removing hot pan lids.
Be careful when heating liquids or steaming food (popcorn/frozen vegetables) in the microwave.
Microwaves often heat unevenly, so be sure to stir liquids thoroughly after heating.
Always supervise young children in the kitchen.
Never hold a hot beverage while holding a child or caring for a dependent adult.
Never leave a hot beverage or plate of food unattended or close to edge of a counter or table when a young child is present.
Avoid the use of tablecloths and placemats. Young children may pull on them, causing a spill of hot liquid.
Do not use a microwave to heat baby formula.
Do not allow young children to use a microwave.

At bathtime:

Make sure your hot water heater is set no higher than 120 degrees F.
Always check the water temperature before putting a child or dependent adult in the tub.
Check the temperature of tub or sink water by placing your hand in the water for a full 10 seconds.
Consider purchasing a bath tub thermometer that will alert you if the water is too hot for a child or dependent adult.
Never leave a child or dependent adult unattended in the bathtub. Not even for a second.

Lifespan Honors Researcher With 2012 Bruce M. Selya Award for Excellence in Research

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST

Lifespan has recognized Jennifer Friedman, MD, PhD, a researcher at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, with the 2012 Bruce M. Selya Award for Excellence in Research. The award is presented annually by Judge Bruce M. Selya from the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

^{The Honorable Bruce M. Selya presents
Jennifer Friedman, MD, PhD, with the 2012 Award
for Excellence in Research.}

Friedman, a pediatrician, is also director of clinical studies for the Center for International Health Research at Rhode Island Hospital, where investigators use both laboratory and field studies to solve urgent global health issues. Since co-founding the center in 2005, Friedman has led population-based studies in Brazil, western Kenya and the Philippines. Some of those include designing and implementing a study of how worm infections increase the risk for anemia, malnutrition, and cognitive impairment among children.

Friedman’s research is run collaboratively with the work of Jonathan Kurtis, MD, PhD, director of the center, and the 2011 recipient of the Selya Award. Peggy McGill, director of research administration for Lifespan, noted, “Dr. Friedman and last year’s awardee, Dr. Kurtis, are a very successful research team. Dr. Kurtis, a pathologist, studies diseases to understand how a vaccine may be made to eradicate the illness, while Dr. Friedman studies the effect of the disease on the maternal health of worldwide populations. Somehow, Dr. Friedman finds time to carry out this global research, mentor residents and students, and give of her time as a pediatrician. She is quite remarkable.”

As a postdoctoral Fulbright fellow in western Kenya, Friedman led a study of the impact of insecticide-treated bed nets on malnutrition and body composition in school-age children. She also helped design and implement a study that evaluated the impact of bed nets on malaria among pregnant women and children younger than five years old.

Friedman’s most recent project is an innovative global health and development research project that will investigate the role of fetal inflammation in response to parasitic diseases as a cause of low birth weight. This work will form a basis for further studies to identify bio-markers for fetal inflammation in expectant mothers, which will help identify pregnancies at risk. Doctors may then be able to either correct issues in at-risk babies while they are still in-utero, or be better prepared to treat them after birth.

Robert Klein, MD, pediatrician-in-chief of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, spoke highly of Friedman in his letter nominating her for the award. “Dr. Friedman is a highly productive and successful clinician and researcher whose innovative work is focused on understanding the prevalence and effects of malaria and parasitic infections during pregnancy and childhood,” said Klein. “She is currently leading one of the largest clinical trials at Lifespan, which can have tremendous public health impact as, if proven effective, 40 million pregnant women worldwide with parasitic infections will be targeted for life-saving treatments.”

The Lifespan Board of Directors instituted this award in 1999 as a means to honor its first Lifespan Board chairman, the Honorable Bruce M. Selya. Judge Selya served as chairman of the board from 1994 through 1999, and remains a member of the board today. This award is meant to recognize Judge Selya’s “steadfast commitment to academic medicine and his keen insight concerning the importance of academic programs to quality health care at Lifespan.” It provides recognition of research excellence at the level of the independent investigator and serves to enhance the visibility and role of research within the Lifespan community. The award recipient is noted as a “rising star” in the research community.

Each year’s award winner is designated as a keynote speaker for the following year’s research celebration and Friedman will join her predecessors to become a member of the Selya Research Award Committee for a 3-year term.

Can You “Train” Yourself to Have More Willpower?

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST

Universal Video Player (size=medium, align=right, vidPageID=VID000433, background=none, descriptionsEnabled=true, moreVideos=true, captionsEnabled=false, autoStart=false, downloadable=false)You can train your body, your mind … and your willpower? That’s according to a new study by researchers at The Miriam Hospital’s Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, who say that with a little practice, it may be possible to strengthen and improve your self-control – and lose more weight.

The Miriam research team found that individuals with more willpower – or self-control – lost more weight, were more physically active, consumed fewer calories from fat and had better attendance at weight loss group meetings. The same was true for participants who experienced an increase in self-control during a six-month behavioral weight loss treatment program. Results of the study are published online by the journal Obesity Research and Clinical Practice in advance of print publication.

Tricia M. Leahey, PhD

While the findings may seem obvious, lead author Tricia M. Leahey, Ph.D., of The Miriam Hospital’s Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, explains there have been surprisingly few studies focusing on the impact of self-control on weight loss.

“Of course it makes sense that if you have more ‘willpower’ you’ll do better in a weight loss program; however, this phenomena is surprisingly understudied,” she says. “Our study is the first to examine whether practicing acts of self-control during weight loss is linked to an increase in self-control and better weight loss outcomes, although other research has demonstrated this effect in the area of smoking cessation.”

Leahey added that the current study suggests self-control, or willpower, is like “building a muscle.”

“The more you ‘exercise’ it by eating a low fat diet, working out even when you don’t feel like it, and going to group meetings when you’d rather stay home, the more you’ll increase and strengthen your self-control ‘muscle’ and quite possibly lose more weight and improve your health,” adds Leahey.

Leahey led two preliminary studies to examine the role of self-control in a behavioral weight loss treatment program. The first study involved 40 individuals participating in a six-month behavioral weight loss intervention. The intervention included weekly sessions led by dietitians, exercise physiologists and/or behavioral psychologists, as well as private weigh-ins. All participants were given a reduced calorie, low-fat diet; a physical activity prescription aimed at increasing their activity minutes; and instruction in behavior change strategies, such as relapse prevention.

At the end of the session, researchers tested participants’ global self-control with a handgrip task, a commonly used tool that measures how long participants can hold onto and squeeze a handgrip. During the task, participants experience “aversive stimuli,” such as cramping, pain and discomfort, and have to override the desire to end the uncomfortable task in order to achieve their goal, which was to squeeze the grip at a certain intensity level for as long as possible.

The second study extended the findings of the first by examining whether changes in self-control were associated with treatment adherence and weight loss outcomes. Twenty-three participants enrolled in a six-month behavioral weight loss program similar to that in the first study, and completed the same objective measure of self-control – this time at both pre- and post-treatment.

Researchers found that participants in both studies who achieved a 10 percent weight loss – which can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses linked to obesity – had greater self-control compared to those who did not achieve such a weight loss.

Also, individuals in the second study who demonstrated increases in self-control from pre- to post-treatment achieved a significantly higher weight loss, attended more group meetings, engaged in more minutes of physical activity and ate a healthier diet.

“Our findings suggest that self-control is potentially malleable and the practice of inhibiting impulses may help people lose weight, eat healthier and increase their physical activity,” she says. “Future weight loss treatments may consider targeting self-control, or willpower, as a way to enhance outcomes.”

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Rena R. Wing, Ph.D., director of the Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center at The Miriam Hospital, and a professor of psychiatry/human behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, was senior author. Xiaomeng Xu, Ph.D., and Jessica L. Unick, Ph.D., also from The Miriam Hospital and Alpert Medical School, were co-authors.

The principal affiliation of Tricia M. Leahey, Ph.D., is The Miriam Hospital (a member hospital of the Lifespan health system in Rhode Island) and direct financial and infrastructure support for this project was received through the Lifespan Office of Research Administration. Dr. Leahey is also an assistant professor of psychiatry/human behavior (research) at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Editor’s note: This paper, “A Preliminary investigation of the role of self-control in behavioral weight loss treatment,” was published online ahead of print in Obesity Research and Clinical Practice on January 21, 2013.

Hasbro Children’s Hospital Doctor Receives Distinguished Service Award from Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Wed, 2 Jan 2013 00:00:00 EST

Penelope Dennehy, MD, director of pediatric infectious diseases at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), the world's largest organization of professionals dedicated to the treatment, control and eradication of infectious diseases affecting children.The PIDS Distinguished Service Award recognizes a Society member who has made an outstanding contribution to the specialty of pediatric infectious diseases and to the Society.

“The impact of Dr. Dennehy’s tireless efforts in preventing childhood illness can be seen most evidently in her actions during the H1N1 flu outbreak. Rhode Island had the highest overall H1N1 vaccination rate in the country, as well as leading the nation in vaccinating children six months through 17 years of age,” said Robert Klein, MD, pediatrician-in-chief at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “She is beyond deserving of such an award, and we are proud to have her on our team here at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.”

Dennehy received her medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine and is board certified in pediatric infectious diseases. She completed her pediatric residency at Rhode Island Hospital and pursued fellowship training in infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital Medical Center–Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. Dennehy is past president of PIDS and has been involved in the society for more than 20 years.

Dennehy has had extensive experience collaborating and directing many clinical research studies. She founded and directed the clinical virology laboratory at Rhode Island Hospital, where she began her work on rotavirus. Dennehy’s primary areas of research include the study of viral gastroenteritis and viral respiratory diseases. She has been involved in a number of clinical trials of vaccines against rotavirus, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus. She has also studied the epidemiology and prevention of rotavirus infections; clinical diagnostic testing for rotavirus; and the epidemiology and etiology of viral gastroenteritis in hospitalized children. She is currently a member of the National Institutes of Health’s Collaborative Antiviral Study Group.

Dennehy has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, written book chapters, and presented many lectures at national and international venues. She is a reviewer for many publications, such as Clinical Infectious Diseases, The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal and Journal of Infectious Diseases. Dennehy also served as a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics RedBook Committee from 2003- 2009. In addition to her contributions to the scientific literature, Dennehy has received numerous accolades for her superior teaching skills including five Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.