KU School of Medicine Testing New Drug to Treat Inherited Form of Kidney Disease

Researchers at the University of Kansas School of Medicine are taking part in a multi-site clinical trial testing a new drug to treat a serious type of chronic kidney disease (CKD) caused by an inherited damaged gene. Healthy kidneys remove waste and excess fluid from the blood. These waste products then exit the body via urine.  When CKD impairs this process, proteins can escape from the blood into the urine, a condition known as proteinuria, and waste builds up in the body. People with CKD may develop high blood pressure, heart problems, nerve damage and other issues. Ultimately, the disease leads to kidney failure, and patients need dialysis or a transplant to live. A new investigational drug compound called inaxaplin, which is produced by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, is being tested in this clinical trial to see if it can inhibit the function of this harmful protein and slow or stop the progression of the disease. The clinical trial, known as AMPLITUDE, aims to test the effectiveness, at different dosages, of inaxaplin in people who are 18 to 60 years of age and have APOL1-mediated CKD. Kelly Liang, M.D., associate professor of nephrology and hypertension, is the principal investigator for the clinical trial site.

New England Journal of Medicine Study Shows Large-Core Strokes Can Be Treated With Vacuum to Retrieve Clot

A study from the KU School of Medicine had led researchers to believe that suctioning out blood clots after a stroke is possible and even preferable to the current strategy of using medication. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented to the International Stroke Conference, found that blood clots once thought to be too large to be removed via surgery can actually be mechanically extracted with positive results. The study looked at patients with an already large area of the brain that was stroked out, due to a large vessel occlusion, which is a major artery blocked in the brain. Those major blockages lead to large portions of the brain not receiving blood flow, which in turn can lead to a loss of motor function or even death. In the international study, known as SELECT2, physicians removed clots in the brain by using either a stent or aspiration catheter. Through a small incision in the clinical trial participant’s leg, a small tube snakes through the body until it reaches the brain. The clot is then suctioned from the artery in a process called a thrombectomy. The study results found that thrombectomies led to better results than the medication-only treatment. Of the trial participants who received thrombectomies, 37% could walk independently 90 days after their stroke, compared to 18% of participants in the medicine-only group.

Rural Health Care Teen Outreach Programs Booming Across Kansas

Kansas high school students have been showing more interest in health careers, according to representatives from the University of Kansas Area Health Education Center (AHEC). AHEC is an outreach effort of KU Medical Center and has regional offices in Hays, Pittsburg and Kansas City, Kansas. One of AHEC’s primary purposes is to increase students’ interest in health care. That is because of current and expected future shortages in careers such as nursing and family medicine, especially in rural areas. For example, the Kansas Hospital Association reported 6-7% vacancy rates for nurses and nurse assistants in Kansas hospitals for 2017, but the vacancy rates jumped to 20-22% in 2021. Tina Goosz, continuing education coordinator for AHEC, said 90 teams from Kansas high schools competed in 2022’s Night at the Lab, nearly double the number of teams that participated in pre-pandemic contests. In Night at the Lab, students compete regionally by sharing a short oral presentation and a creative visual display on a health care topic. Another AHEC program for high school students is Women in Health Care, a three-day program administered from AHEC’s Pittsburg office. In Women in Health Care, junior and senior female high school students get the opportunity to interact with students and faculty from KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Goosz said AHEC previously received 30 or 40 applications a year from interested young women. The most recent event attracted 76 applications for the 14 available spots.

NIH Grant Helps KU Medical Center Provide Obesity and Metabolism Research Training 

University of Kansas Medical Center was awarded a prestigious grant by the National Institutes of Health to provide training focused on obesity and metabolism for pre-doctoral graduate students. Known as a T32 training grant, the five-year, $1.3 million award is another facet of the medical center’s growing research efforts to combat obesity and obesity-related diseases and condition. More than 40% of American adults and 20% of children and adolescents have obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those statistics are on the rise nationally and in Kansas. In 2019, Kansas became one of the 19 states with an obesity rate of at least 35% for adults. The grant is supporting three students its first year. Two come from a basic science background while the third is a clinical researcher. Basic science students are given clinical mentors, while the clinical researcher has been provided an additional basic science mentor. In addition, the students have an advisory committee with basic, clinical and translational science expertise. All trainees will participate in seminars and take classes on obesity and biostatistics.

New Dean of the KU School of Medicine-Salina Takes the Helm

Tyler Hughes, M.D., was named the new dean of the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Salina campus in January 2023. Hughes succeeds Robert Moser, M.D., who had been dean since 2019. Before being named dean, Hughes served as director of medical education at KU School of Medicine-Salina, where he has also taught as a faculty member since 2016. Originally a Texan, Hughes served as a rural surgeon in McPherson, Kansas, where he relocated with his wife in 1995 after years of being a general surgeon in Dallas. As dean in Salina, he hopes to continue to share his passions, both for surgery and for practicing in rural communities. Hughes has held numerous leadership positions in the American College of Surgeons over the years, and he is a sought-after mentor, professor and scholar. He fills his free time with a variety of activities, from reading to race car driving. In 2012, he was named Rural Healthcare Practitioner of the Year by the National Rural Health Association, an honor that has resonated with him deeply as he has been active in national efforts to promote rural health care.

KU School of Nursing Initiates Conversations with Nursing Stakeholders in Kansas to Discuss Dire Nursing Shortage 

The University of Kansas School of Nursing convened an in-person meeting in March 2023 with stakeholders from across Kansas to launch a statewide conversation about the dire nursing shortage and related crises. It was the first (and the largest) of what’s planned to be numerous conversations and a collaborative effort with multiple organizations to address a critical and growing problem. Sally L. Maliski, Ph.D., FAAN, dean of the KU School of Nursing, said the problem is on track to get worse as the pandemic’s negative effect on nurses, combined with the number of baby boomers retiring, means that the entire profession is facing challenges at all levels like never before. Attendees comprised representatives of numerous Kansas institutions of higher education, including Emporia State University, Pittsburg State University, Washburn University and Wichita State University. Also present were representatives from state and local agencies concerned with nursing and workforce issues, including the Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas State Board of Nursing and the Kansas Board of Regents. Conversations will continue, with recommendations including discussion of a statewide center to gather and centralize efforts to address the issue from many angles.

KU Medical Center Hosts Brain Bee to Promote Knowledge in the Neurosciences

KU Medical Center served as the host of the 2023 Kansas City Regional Brain Bee, a local contest sponsored by the Kansas City chapter of the Society for Neuroscience (SfNKC) to get high school students interested in learning about the human brain. Winners of local Brain Bees across the country progress to the national competition, the USA Brain Bee Championship, which were held this year at the University of California, Irvine. Participants gathered on the KU Medical Center in February to be quizzed all about the human brain. Students answered a series of questions related to neuroscience.  Ben Parrack, a senior at Blue Valley High School, was named the winner. As the winner of the competition in Kansas City, Parrack received a $300 prize and received tutoring and study materials from the SfNKC and competed in the 2023 USA Brain Bee in California in April. In the fall of 2023, he will attend the University of Alabama, where he plans to major in molecular biology and prepare for medical school.

Text-Messaging Program Provides Free Support for Caregivers of People with Dementia

Thanks to efforts by KU Alzheimer’s Disease and Research Center and the JUNTOS Center for Advancing Latino Health at University of Kansas Medical Center, some Alzheimer’s caregivers in the Kansas City, Missouri, area now have the opportunity to receive free support via a new text-messaging program known as CareTEXT. Through automated text messages delivered daily for six months, CareTEXT provides users with tips and information on dementia, behavioral symptoms, end-of-life issues, self-care, social support and other topics to help them care for the person with dementia as well as themselves. They also can engage in live chats with a coach who can help them work through problems directly. Funded by a grant from the Mid-America Regional Council, CareTEXT is avail-able at no cost to caregivers of people with dementia who live in Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri. A version in Spanish, CuidaTEXT, is also available. In addition to receiving daily automated messages, caregivers also can text a keyword and receive a text message response automatically (users receive a booklet about the program that contains a list of these keywords). If someone texts the word “stress,” for example, they might receive a text message linking to a video about mindful meditation. Users can also text questions to the program’s bilingual coach.

Robert Moser Receives National Recognition for Lifetime Contributions to Rural Health

Robert Moser, M.D., the executive director of the Kansas Center for Rural Health, has been awarded the Louis Gorin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Health Care by the National Rural Health Association. The award is presented annually in memory of Louis Gorin, a federal employee who helped lead the design and authorization of health initiatives for rural America for 25 years. Award recipients are selected based on their creativity, unselfishness, compassion and cooperative attitude in seeking ways to make lasting contributions to rural health care. A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Moser was a rural primary care physician in Tribune, Kansas, for 22 years. He was often the only provider in the county. In 2019, Moser became dean of KU School of Medicine-Salina, where he served until January 2023. In 2023, Moser became executive director of the Kansas Center for Rural Health.

KU Medical Center Faculty Member Receives University Scholarship Achievement Award

Sandra Billinger, Ph.D., PT, FAHA, professor of neurology at University of Kansas Medical Center, was one of four KU faculty members to receive a University Scholarship Achievement Award in 2023. The award recognizes outstanding scholarly or research contributions, with one award given each year in each of four categories: arts and humanities; medicine and clinical sciences; science, technology and mathematics; and social science and professional programs. Billinger is an internationally recognized pioneer and research leader in post-stroke clinical exercise testing and prescription. Her work has changed clinical practice paradigms at KU Medical Center and internationally, including substantial work in Singapore. Billinger was recognized by the World Stroke Organization as one of 30 women globally who are leaders in stroke research and care. She is the only American physical therapist invited as a writing group member for the Canadian guidelines for post-stroke exercise, written in 2011 and updated in 2019.

KU School of Medicine Among the Nation's Best in Latest U.S. News & World Report Rankings

The University of Kansas School of Medicine is among the best in the nation in producing well-trained physicians in areas where the need is greatest, according to rankings by U.S. News & World Report. With campuses in Kansas City, Salina and Wichita, KU School of Medicine ranked fifth among all public medical schools in the country in the percentage of graduates practicing in rural areas and ninth among public institutions in the percentage of graduates practicing in primary care. Among all medical schools (both public and private), KU School of Medicine was No. 11 in producing graduates practicing in rural areas and No. 22 in graduates practicing in primary care. Physician shortages in rural areas are a dire problem in Kansas and nationally.  Shortages of primary care physicians are another serious issue in the state and across the country, with the demand for primary care physicians expected to grow as doctors retire and the aging population requires more care. The school also ranked 11th among public schools, and 16th for all schools, in the percentage of graduates who practice medicine in areas with a shortage of health care professionals. Additionally, KU School of Medicine placed in the top 50 among public schools of medicine in the two main areas ranked — primary care (education) and research. The school ranked 14th in the country in primary care for both public and private schools combined. In April, U.S. News and World Report released its Best Graduate School rankings, and the health care management and public health programs at KU School of Medicine both placed in the top 50 for public institutions.

Two KU School of Health Professions Administrators Chosen for Leadership Program

Two administrators from the University of Kansas School of Health Professions have been chosen for a prestigious leadership program offered by the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP). The ASAHP selected Jacob Sosnoff, Ph.D., associate dean for research for the KU School of Health Professions, and LesLee Taylor, Ph.D., vice chair of the Department of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science and Athletic Training for the KU School of Health Professions, as part of its 2023 Leadership Development Program. The program is designed for future deans and health education leaders who want insight into academic leadership. Sosnoff and Taylor, along with 19 other administrators from across the country, will study management, budgeting, conflict resolution and other important leadership skills. The 2023 program is implemented in two phases: Part I was in April 2023 in Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Florida, focusing on leadership styles and budgeting. Part II will take place Oct. 17-19, also in Ft. Lauderdale Beach, immediately prior to the 2023 ASAHP annual conference. Between the programs in April and October, participants can collaborate on team projects that will be based on timely events affecting higher education. Participants also will have the opportunity to pursue issues of interest while also developing personal leadership skills.

KU Wichita Pediatrics Residency Program Awarded a $2.5M Grant to Focus on Mental Health and Substance Abuse in Kansas

The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita pediatric residency program was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to innovate and improve the way the school trains pediatricians to address mental health issues. Kari Harris, M.D., associate professor, KU Wichita Pediatrics, said with the shortage of pediatric mental health experts in Kansas and the increased number of youths struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental illness, primary care physicians and clinicians are being called upon more often to diagnose and treat mental health conditions in their young patients. The new training initiative, called Addressing Youth Mental and Behavioral Health Illness, hopes to train pediatric primary care residents to screen, identify, diagnose, treat and prevent mental illness in youth and young adults. While delivering training, the program will also improve primary care education in trauma-informed care, substance use disorders and the effects of violence. KU School of Medicine-Wichita faculty and preceptors, as well as advanced practitioners, who work alongside residents will also benefit from the program through educational opportunities and resources.

Jaystart Clinic Expands to Better Serve the Community

The JaySTART Clinic at KU Medical Center is expanding to provide more learning opportunities for students and to serve more community members who need physical therapy and occupational therapy. To students in the KU School of Health Professions, the JaySTART (an acronym for Student Teaching and Rehabilitation Training) Clinic provides an opportunity to practice what they are learning in the classroom. For community members, the JaySTART Clinic is a source for the therapy they need but may be unable to receive anywhere else. From 2018 to 2020, the JaySTART Clinic met once a week in the Kirmayer Fitness Center on the Kansas City, Kansas, campus. In 2020, faculty interested in continuing JaySTART appointments through the pandemic worked with the medical center’s information technology department to quickly switch JaySTART to telehealth visits. When the JaySTART Clinic began taking in-person appointments again in 2022, the telehealth visits remained an option not just because of their convenience for community members but also because of the expanded role of telehealth now plays in health care. Because of telehealth, JaySTART can accommodate therapy appointments for another six people a week and add a 10% increase to their 50-60 unique patients each month.

KU Medical Center Launches the Center for African American Health

The University of Kansas Medical Center in June launched the Center for African American Health, which will focus on improving the health outcomes of Black, African American and other marginalized people and populations through service, education, research and policy. The center is a community-led effort spearheaded by the Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at KU Medical Center. The center will work to build coalitions within the community and identify and address structural barriers, such as policies and environmental conditions. The idea for the Center for African American Health emerged from discussions led by the DEI team with a group of like-minded community partners and health leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those conversations included discussions of racism as a public health issue and the interpersonal and structural impacts on Black and African American Kansans. The first tasks for the new center include hiring center leadership, completing marketing efforts and continuing to build coalitions in the community.