Family docs’ stories forge basis for St. Francis physician’s writing project

Work-in-progress earns author national recognition, fellowship

INDIANAPOLIS – American medicine in the 20^th century was rapidly evolving and doctors faced myriad challenges providing the best possible care to their patients. Equally important, these physicians were forging principles which today set the standard for family medicine.

That is the basis of a writing project Richard Feldman, M.D., has been working on for nearly six years. Feldman, director of medical education and residency training for Franciscan St. Francis Health, has been chronicling the experiences of Hoosier family doctors of the mid-20^th century.

Family Practice Stories celebrates that time in America that many consider the golden age of generalism in medicine,” Feldman said. “It is a book about a time gone by, a time when professionalism, the art of medicine, and the art of healing were at a zenith. These doctors were general practitioners of that ‘Greatest Generation’ who possessed the character, core values, and principles from which our contemporary specialty of family medicine was modeled after and grew.”

Feldman’s work also has garnered national attention. He recently was named the winner of the 2011 Center for the History of Family Medicine Fellowship from the American Academy of Family Physicians. The fellowship grant he received will enable him to conduct more research for the book, which he expects to complete this fall.

Feldman said he plans to submit the book for publication and also make it available to members of the Indiana Academy of Family Physicians and students attending or visiting the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Family Practice Stories is divided into three sections. The first is an introduction that recounts the history and development of family medicine and details the traditions, principles, and values of family medicine.

The second section is a collection of perspectives; some told in the words of individuals who interviewed these older family physicians; most are the perspectives of the doctors themselves concerning medicine and their careers.

The last section contains a far-ranging collection of stories told by older Hoosier family physicians who practiced during this era. These stories are specific episodes from their careers – ranging from the humorous and sad, to the touching and ironic.

Feldman comes by his passion for family medicine originally through his father, the late Max Feldman, M.D., who was a family doctor in the South Bend, Ind., for nearly four decades.

No stranger to historical writing, Feldman published Home Before the Raven Calls (Emmis Books, 2003), sleuthing the history of a Native American totem pole that once stood near his Indianapolis home back to its original location in Alaska. A reproduction of the original totem pole is now on display in the atrium at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art.

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Long-time colon and rectal care practice joins St. Francis Medical Group

INDIANAPOLIS – Kendrick Regional Center for Colon and Rectal Care has joined St. Francis Medical Group. It will now be known as the Kendrick Colon and Rectal Center.

The acquisition, effective June 1, 2011, harnesses the talents of six surgeons with premier educational backgrounds and over 60 years of cumulative clinical experience. These physicians and their supporting clinical staff are renowned for their emphasis on screening and diagnostic colonoscopy and management of benign and malignant conditions of the colon, rectum and anus.

Kendrick Colon and Rectal Center has a commitment to education and research. It has the only accredited colorectal surgery residency training program in the State of Indiana and its physicians are investigators in several clinical trials in areas covering colon cancer, rectal cancer, and anastomotic healing. The group also has a commitment to innovation as shown by its advances in robotic surgery and single incision laparoscopic surgery.

The practice will continue to operate at its three St. Francis locations in Indianapolis, Mooresville and Beech Grove. The physicians also practice at other area hospitals.

The physicians are all board-certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery and the American Board of Surgery.

Olaf B. Johansen, M.D., is an honors graduate of the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine. He went on to complete a general surgery residency at Harvard Massachusetts General Hospital and a colon and rectal fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Florida. Johansen joined Kendrick in1992 and is primarily located at Franciscan St. Francis Health – Mooresville.

R. Barry Melbert, M.D., received his medical degree from IUSM He completed general surgery residency training at Methodist Hospital and a fellowship in surgery at Northwest Colon and Rectal Clinic in Seattle. He established a practice at Kendrick in 1999 and sees patients at all three St. Francis Health hospitals.

Frederick R. Lane, M.D., earned his medical degree at IUSM and completed general surgery residency training at Blodgett Hospital, Grand Rapids, Mich. He later completed a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Ferguson Clinic in Michigan. He joined Kendrick in 2003 and is primarily located at Indianapolis and Beech Grove campuses.

Bridget M. Sanders, M.D., received her undergraduate degrees in nursing from Marian University and biology from Purdue University; she earned a master’s degree in physiology at IU. Sanders received her medical degree from IUSM, where she completed also completed a general surgery residency. She later finished a fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida and joined Kendrick in 2005. She sees patients primarily at Indianapolis and Beech Grove campuses.

Dipen Maun, M.D., is an honors graduate of Northwestern University Medical School. He completed a residency in general surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City and a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Florida. He joined Kendrick in 2007 and works at all three St. Francis locations.

Ben Tsai, M.D., received his medical degree from The Ohio State University. He completed his general surgery residency training at IUSM, where he spent two years as a research fellow. He also received specialty training in colon and rectal surgery at the University of Minnesota He joined Kendrick in 2009 and sees patients at all three St. Francis Health hospitals.

To learn more about Kendrick Colon and Rectal Center, its physicians and services, visit its website at www.kendrickcenter.com.

Led by President Isaac J. Myers II, St. Francis Medical Group is a multidisciplinary group of more than 150 physicians practicing throughout central Indiana. These physicians offer a variety of primary care and specialty care services and all practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

To learn more about St. Francis Medical Group, go to www.stfrancisdoctors.org.

St. Francis Health nurses recognized for extraordinary patient care

INDIANAPOLIS – Nurses bring many qualities when providing care to their patients and families. When medicine no longer works sometimes all it takes is a boost of encouragement.

Or a simple hug.

Becky Simon and Molly Britt are the latest recipients of the hospital’s DAISY Awards, presented to registered nurses by Franciscan St. Francis Health.

Simon, who works at the hospital’s Beech Grove campus, was nominated by the family of a post-operative patient who was experiencing much discomfort and discouraged by his slow rate of recovery. “Becky not only provided continuous care for my son, but gave him great counsel, hope and spiritual comfort throughout his care.”

Britt works in the emergency department at Mooresville. On a recent shift, she noticed an elderly man who was overwhelmed after learning his son had just died. Taking all of this in, Britt approached the man and asked if “he” needed a hug. “He nodded and Molly engulfed him in a compassionate hug,” wrote a co-worker who nominated her for the award. “You could tell by the look on his face he appreciated her caring attitude at an emotional time.”

The DAISY Award was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at 33 an auto-immune disease. His family was so impressed by the clinical skills, caring and compassion of the nurses who cared for him that they created this national award to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere. For more information, go to www.daisyfoundation.org.

To learn more about nursing careers and programs at St. Francis, go to www.stfrancishospitals.org/nursing.

Pulmonologist establishes new practice with St. Francis Medical Group

INDIANAPOLIS – Charles E. Kinsella, M.D., has joined St. Francis Medical Group and established a practice with the newly formed Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists.

Kinsella, an Indianapolis resident, most recently was associated with Southside Pulmonary and Sleep Consultants in Greenwood. Previously, he was affiliated with the Center for Respiratory Medicine in Beech Grove.

Board-certified in pulmonary, critical care, internal and sleep medicine, is medical director of several Franciscan St. Francis Health offices, including the Sleep Disorders Center, MEDS Safety Team, Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Asthma Center, and the Pulmonary Function Laboratory. He has held various clinical and advisory positions during his long affiliation with St. Francis.

A clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Kinsella is the former medical director of the pulmonary function and arterial blood gas laboratories and bronchoscopy suite at Indiana University Hospital.

Kinsella is a Fellow with the American College of Chest Physicians and is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Thoracic Society and Indiana State Medical Society. He has been a journal contributor and reviewer for the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Pulmonary & Sleep Specialists is located at 1040 Greenwood Springs Blvd., Greenwood.

Led by President Isaac J. Myers II, St. Francis Medical Group is a multidisciplinary group of more than 150 physicians practicing throughout central Indiana. These physicians offer a variety of primary care and specialty care services and all practice at Franciscan St. Francis Health.

To learn more about St. Francis Medical Group, go to www.stfrancisdoctors.org.