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INDIANAPOLIS – The St. Francis Lung Cancer Center of Exellence is pleased to offer interventional pulmonology services and capabilities as part of its comprehensive care for lung patients.
Interventional pulmonology is a specialized field of medicine that deals with respiratory diseases such as lung cancer. This branch of medicine uses highly specialized equipment for procedures in which patients are under conscious sedation and local anesthesia.
Among the procedures and technology used to treat patients:
Endobronchial ultrasound for biopsies of lymph nodes and certain lung lesions
Rigid bronchoscopy to diagnose and treat benign and malignant endobronchial lesions while maintaining excellent control of airways Laser and cryotherapy to manage endobronchial lesions Specialized catheterization to help patients with certain malignant excess fluids surrounding the lung
The Lung Cancer Center also welcomes Dr. Ghazwan Acash, M.D. to the physician team. Board-certified in internal, pulmonary and critical care medicine, Acash recently completed an interventional pulmonology fellowship at Lahey Clinic in Massachusetts.
Acash earned his medical degree at Damascus University School of Medicine and completed residencies at Northwestern University (St. Joseph Hospital-Chicago) and the Asthma and Allergy Clinic, Elgin, Ill. He later served as deputy chief of medicine for the residency program at Al-Hada Armed Forces Hospital in Saudi Arabia.
He is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians and the American College of Physicians.
To learn more about the St. Francis Lung Cancer Center of Excellence go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/Cancer/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=226.
BEECH GROVE, Ind. – Under a sun-splashed sky, a hushed crowd of St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers employees gathered around the flagpole near the hospital’s main entrance and watched Old Glory hoisted into the gentle morning breeze.
They were the there to commemorate the tragic events that unfolded eight years ago on Sept. 11 in New York City, the Pentagon and a remote Pennsylvania field. In the wake of the terrorist attacks, nearly 3,000 Americans lay dead.
“I don’t think there is a person here today who does not remember where he or she was that morning,” said Sister Marlene Shapley, vice president of mission services. “We were changed that day. This flag reminds of us of the price our nation pays for defending freedom.”
Indeed, the flag does have special meaning for St. Francis. It most recently flew over Camp Liberty and the Indianapolis-based 55th Medical Company in Iraq. Last month, a member of that unit, Army Staff Sgt. Andrea Cowden, presented the national colors to the hospital while home on leave from her tour of duty as gesture of thanks.
She is the daughter of St. Francis registered dietitian Kathleen Cowden, who along with Senior Promise Director Jim Poole, organized the collection of more than 200 DVD movies for the Army unit.
The flag will also be raised at St. Francis hospitals in Indianapolis and Mooresville at a later date.
After being led in prayer by Chaplain Jim Wetzel, the employees sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Many held their hands over the hearts; some saluted. A few wiped away tears.
As the flag was raised to the top, a distant airliner sketched a white contrail against the sky. And a few moments later, the colors were lowered to half staff in remembrance.
INDIANAPOLIS – Claudet C. Smith, M.D., a member of St. Francis Medical Group, has joined Beech Grove Internal Medicine.
She comes to St. Francis from Primary Care of Northern Ohio-Community Health Partners. She also was volunteer clinical assistant professor for Sandusky Medical University of Ohio and a clinical assistant professor of internal medicine at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Previously, she was in private practice and affiliated with a hospital-managed practice. Smith also was medical director of Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, Ohio.
Smith earned her medical degree at The Ohio State University and completed residency training at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center, where she also served as a chief resident of internal medicine.
Board-certified in internal medicine, Smith is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Lake Erie Women Physicians Association and Sandusky Black Business Women’s Association.
Beech Grove Internal Medicine is located at 2030 Churchman Ave. near St. Francis Hospital-Beech Grove. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 317-781-2100.
INDIANAPOLIS – The All American Horse Classic (AAHC) show will hit the trail Sept. 8-12 at the Pepsi Coliseum, and the proceeds from one evening’s event will benefit the St. Francis Breast Services Program.
Sept. 10 has been designated Pink Ribbon Benefit night and proceeds will assist the St. Francis program and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
“This event recognizes some very special women – breast cancer survivors,” said Heidi Dunniway, M.D., a St. Francis affiliated otolaryngologist who is an active horse show exhibitor.
The AAHCshow, which offers free admission, features a variety of American saddlebred horses and ponies. A children’s festival is slated for 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.
For more information about Pink Ribbon Benefit night or the show, contact Dr. Heidi Dunniway at 317-882-4288, or visit www.allamericanhorseclassic.com.
NDIANAPOLIS – Music from the Indiana University Singing Hoosiers and auctions will signal a continued bid for a new facility benefiting end- of-life patients and their families served by St. Francis Hospice.
Moonlight Serenade gets under way 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, at Jonathan Byrd’s Banquet and Conference Center, 100 Byrd Way, Greenwood. The event features the IU Singing Hoosiers, a 115-member chorale ensemble who, in the past, have appeared with entertainers such as Bob Hope, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington, and Indiana songwriter and performer Hoagy Carmichael.
Their performance will be preceded by a silent auction, free hors d’ oeuvres, and a live auction hosted by Christy’s of Indiana.
Proceeds from Moonlight Serenade go to the Bridge Campaign initiative, which seeks to construct an inpatient Hospice House facility near St. Francis Hospital-Indianapolis on the city’s south side.
The St. Francis Healthcare Foundation is spearheading the Bridge Campaign to build a freestanding 16-suite facility with room for expansion to 32 suites. It also will include gathering and dining areas, landscaping and a chapel. It is estimated that Hospice House will serve more than 800 patients per year.
St. Francis medical professionals will provide 24 hours a day, seven days a week state-of-the-art pain and symptom management including emotional and spiritual support.
For more information about Moonlight Serenade, contact Glenda Dennison at 317-859-2874.
INDIANAPOLIS – The St. Francis Lung Cancer Center of Exellence is pleased to offer interventional pulmonology services and capabilities as part of its comprehensive care for lung patients.
