SUMC in the News (11/15/07)

Press releases

Homeless in wealthy area can get a meal, but may not get medical care, Stanford survey shows
Homeless people in Palo Alto are twice as likely to not get medical care when they need it as homeless people in other parts of the country, according to a new survey of the homeless in the mid-Peninsula area.

Print media coverage

Los Angeles Times, 11/15/07
Monkey embryos cloned for stem cells, scientists say
Scientists from Oregon Health & Science University are reporting having used cloned monkey embryos to make embryonic stem cells. The research was led by James Byrne, who is now a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford's Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Renee Reijo Pera, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of human embryonic stem cell research and education for the institute, is quoted in this article, which also appears in the Seattle Times. Reijo Pera is also quoted in an article prepared by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Washington Times, 11/15/07
Religion a medical force
In a small, nationwide survey, 85 percent of doctors described themselves as spiritual and 93 percent said they were raised in a religious tradition. The survey included 74 pediatric oncologists from Stanford and other institutions.

Palo Alto Online News, 11/14/07
Bioterrorism drill creates a 'race with death'
This article discusses yesterday's statewide disaster simulation; Stanford is referenced. The purpose of the exercise was to test how well agencies and the public would communicate with one another in a disaster.

Albany Times-Union (Albany, N.Y.), 11/14/07
Doctors are human, too...
This blog entry discusses how physicians who practice good health habits are more likely to counsel patients to do likewise. An article from the Fall issue of Stanford Medicine magazine is referenced.

WashingtonPost.com, 11/13/07
2-year-old conjoined twins separated
This Associated Press piece discusses the conjoined twins' surgery. Gary Hartman, clinical professor of pediatric surgery, is quoted in this story, which also appears in the Burlingame Daily News and San Mateo Daily News.

Broadcast media coverage

All Things Considered (NPR), 11/14/07
Irving Weissman, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor for Clinical Investigation and director of the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, was interviewed during this segment on the first cloning of a primate embryo.

Today Show (NBC), 11/15/07
This segment discussed Marfan syndrome - a rare genetic disorder that leads to serious, often fatal heart problems if not treated. In July, the School of Medicine hosted the National Marfan Foundation's annual conference, which was mentioned here.

KGO-AM, 11/14/07
During this segment, Lars Osterberg, clinical assistant professor of medicine, discussed his study on medical care for the homeless population in the Palo Alto area. Osterberg was also interviewed on KCBS-AM.

KCBS-AM, 11/14/07
Doctors at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital have successfully separated 2-year-old twin girls from Costa Rica who were conjoined at the chest and abdomen.

KCBS-AM, 11/13/07
During this segment, David Spiegel discussed the high rate of suicides among returning Iraq war veterans. Spiegel is the Jack, Lulu and Sam Willson Professor in Medicine.