The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has awarded an Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist $5.9 million to study new ways to control bleeding like that which occurs in aneurysms.
OMRF researcher Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., received a seven-year grant to pursue novel research into blood vessel function and factors that lead to uncontrolled bleeding.
“Seven years is like paradise to a scientist. It allows us to address questions and take our research in new directions we couldn’t have before,” said Griffin, who joined OMRF from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008. “This will give us the opportunity to dig in on basic science questions that could lead to new drugs and therapies for devastating conditions.”
The grant was awarded under a new federal granting program known as the R35, which was established to promote scientific productivity and innovation by providing sustained support and increased flexibility in research. NHLBI program officer Yunling Gao, Ph.D., said the R35 award is designed to provide long-term support to outstanding investigators like Griffin who are conducting research that breaks new ground or extends ongoing studies that are making significant contributions to the field.
“Dr. Griffin has been supported by the NHLBI’s programs over the past decade, and she has emerged as an expert in the field on protease-mediated regulation of vascular stability,” said Gao. “We look forward to her new breakthroughs and achievements for years to come.”
Griffin’s work is focused on proteases—proteins that chew up other proteins. At OMRF, she studies the role proteases play in a healthy setting and also the damage they can cause in blood vessel development when they go awry. When blood vessel integrity is compromised, they become weaker and can rupture, which can be fatal.
By knowing what vessels are susceptible and under what conditions, they can identify disease links that may be predictable and lead to the development of therapeutic interventions.
“The competition for these grants is fierce, and you must have an incredible track record to be considered for one of them,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “The NHLBI is betting on Dr. Griffin, and she is an outstanding choice for this award. I have no doubt she will reward them with her incredible work.”
The grant, No. R35 HL144605, is from the NHLBI, a part of the National Institutes of Health.

South Oklahoma City Man Volunteers to Give Back for Blessings Received

National Volunteer Week was celebrated April 7-13

In his retirement, Fred Selensky enjoys his membership in the Oklahoma City Fiat Car Club and has built many friendships with other car enthusiasts over the years. But his weekly volunteer role has also brought new friendships into his life.
“When I retired, I was looking for a way to give back for the blessings I’ve received,” Selensky said.
So, he signed up to be a volunteer driver for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Central Oklahoma (RSVP) Provide-A-Ride program, which provides low-income seniors transportation to doctor’s appointments. Last year, 66 RSVP Provide-A-Ride volunteers drove more than 400 clients to 6,065 medical appointments.
“It’s fulfilling a need in the clients I take because they don’t drive and don’t have to pay for a taxi to medical appointments,” he said. “It’s really fulfilling for me, too, and I enjoy doing something people appreciate. It’s not a chore”
April is National Volunteer Month, a month dedicated to honoring volunteers and encouraging volunteerism. Selensky is one of more than 900,000 Oklahomans who gave of their time last year, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. Research shows that adults who volunteer are more likely to experience health benefits—longer life span and better mental health.
If you are interested in volunteering with RSVP as a Provide-A-Ride driver or with one of the many RSVP nonprofit partners, call 405.605-3110 or visit www.rsvpokc.org.

by Bobby Anderson
Staff Writer

A new healthcare delivery concept partnering Integris and Emerus Holdings, Inc. is popping up all over the metro.
And the move is creating more options for local nurses.
As part of its expansion initiative, Integris, the state’s largest nonprofit health care system, entered into a joint venture partnership with Emerus, the nation’s first and largest operator of micro-hospitals, to build and manage four new community hospitals.
“Oklahomans have told us they want quicker, more convenient medical care without compromising quality or safety,” said Timothy Pehrson, president and chief executive officer at Integris. “These community hospitals allow us to do just that, bring high-quality care closer to home for many of the residents we serve.”
In February, Integris Community Hospital at Council Crossing, 9417 N. Council Road., opened followed by Integris Moore Community Hospital at 1401 SW 34th St. at the end of the month.
In March, Integris Del City Community Hospital, 4801 SE 15th St, began accepting patients.
Later in May, the Integris OKC West Community Hospital at 300 S. Rockwell Ave., will open.
Emerus Holdings Inc., is the nation’s first and largest operator of these small-format facilities and promises the new sites will bring a transformative concept of health care to Central Oklahoma.
Emerus Chief Executive Officer Craig Goguen said the company is honored to partner with INTEGRIS, an award-winning, highly respected health system brand, as it expands its footprint throughout central Oklahoma.
“Our transformative concept of health care allows great health systems like Integris to expand its reach into the community to provide a variety of patient services that are fast, convenient and economical,” Goguen said.
Christopher McAuliffe, BSN, MBA, RN, CAPA is the Emerus market chief nursing officer and says the new concept will bring options for both consumers and health care workers.
“In addition to serving areas considered underserved in their healthcare needs, the small-scale, fully licensed inpatient hospital is open 24 hours, seven days a week,” McAuliffe said. “It is conveniently located in communities where patients live, work and play, providing them with quick and easy access when they have emergency medical needs. If the patient requires additional specialty services, working with our partner, INTEGRIS Health, we can quickly access appropriate services and make transfers, as needed.”
McAuliffe said the concept is using the same electronic medical record system used by Integris.
The small-scale inpatient hospital provides many efficiencies resulting from its smaller footprint. Parking is ample and accessible, compared to the large hospital setting.
“There are several resources, from a clinical standpoint, that improve quality of care,” McAuliffe said. “We have a CT/X-ray room dedicated specifically to our patients. We do not do any outpatient diagnostics, leaving the RT to focus only on those patients who come through the ED or an ordered inpatient test.
“We also have staff cross-trained to do many different roles. All clinical staff, RT, ED Tech and Nursing staff are thoroughly trained in our lab. This allows us to quickly complete a lab order, from start to finish, without having to wait on the tube system or on another department in a remote location to complete.”
McAuliffe stressed that the hospitals will operate through a teamwork concept that has Emerus numerous awards including the Guardian of Excellence Award for Superior Patient Experience from 2013 to 2017.
These new community hospitals will serve a variety of patient needs including emergency medical care, inpatient care and other comprehensive health services. While the ancillary services vary, each community hospital has a set of core services including the emergency department, pharmacy, lab and imaging.
The rest of the services depend on the needs of the community, but common examples include primary care, dietary services, women’s services and low-acuity outpatient surgeries. The community hospitals offer:
* Health system integration — allowing for care coordination, consultation and seamless transition across the care continuum
* Fully licensed as a hospital and subject to all hospital conditions of participation and regulatory requirements
*Emergency-trained physicians and outpatient ambulatory clinical services on site — ensuring patients receive the highest quality care, when they need it
* Inpatient bed capacity — allowing patients to stay closer to home when lower level admissions/recoveries are needed
* All patients accepted without regard to insurance or ability to pay, including Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare
* Community-based hospitals open 24 hours a day, seven days a week – offering ease of access to our patients
“The joint venture with Integris greatly benefits patients,” McAuliffe said. “In the metro, several of the Integris facilities have been experiencing large volumes of patients, resulting in some challenges. Our 32 additional inpatient beds allow Integris the opportunity to have additional clinical resources.
“The 32 additional ED beds help reduce the strain on the often overcrowded Emergency Rooms Integris frequently experiences.”

Today the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Oklahoma City announced ResearcHERS: Women Fighting Cancer, a new initiative engaging women of influence to raise funds directly supporting women-led cancer research. The program spotlights the life experiences and discoveries of women in research and aims to inspire the next generation of girls to pursue their dreams of a career in science.
“One in three Americans will battle cancer in their lifetime, and we need the best and brightest minds engaged in reduce the cancer burden in our communities,” said Jeff Fehlis, Executive Vice President of the American Cancer Society. “Recognizing the unique challenges we face, women have expressed a strong interest in supporting scientifically sound women-led cancer research.”
ResearcHERS of Oklahoma City is chaired by Cynthia Black of Oklahoma City. Black, along with her husband Chris, are the owners of RK Black, a printing business that has been in their family for six decades. She will be supported by an elite group of Ambassadors committed to raise funds, serve as role models, and build awareness of the contributions of women in the fight against cancer.
“One brilliant idea or concept can save countless lives,” said Black. “Cancer doesn’t discriminate, and the next big discovery may come from a scientist funded by the ResearcHERS initiative.”
ACS is the nation’s largest, non-governmental provider of cancer research funding, with more than $4.8 billion invested since 1946.
“Our goal is to raise $50,000 during May, and I am thrilled to be carrying the torch for this inaugural ResearcHERS campaign,” Black said.

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn t4z@aol.com

Here are more options for your travel comfort tour as we continue our Palm Springs tasting which began in last months issue. Restaurants abound in Greater Palm Springs. I say Greater Palm Springs as that includes the adjacent towns of Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Desert Hot Springs, and Rancho Mirage. Each city has its own upscale resorts and dining options too numerous to mention here.
Concentrating on Palm Springs proper we find, Spencer’s, https://www.spencersrestaurant.com, next to the racket club, also with welcomed valet parking, which offers an excellent and cozy patio dining beneath an ancient spreading ficus tree. Very very popular and busy in a friendly way, but when I ordered my Martini with “ice on the pond”, meaning so cold and diligently shaken that tiny ice floats on the top, I got my beverage but with ice on the side in a glass, which I found amusing. It was so busy the waiter must have misheard my instructions. The well-dressed luncheon clientele were also enjoying the exquisite tomato basil bisque with the a little too dry honey brine pork chops, and delicious corn cake. Eaves dropping on neighboring tables juicy conversations can be intriguing. Spencer’s has a strict dining scheduled and reservations are mandatory, even for lunch.
For a touch of French dining, Le Vallauris, www.levallauris.com, on West Tahquitz Canyon Way, is your choice. Tucked up near a canyon cliff, Le Vallauris with its fresh roses distributed throughout the dining areas, the chalk board type menus, and the congenial and efficient wait staff lets you know you are in a special place. With upscale elegance, dining inside or preferred out, was the perfect bon voyage for me as I was flying out that afternoon. I saved the best for last. The many items on the luncheon menu all were tempting, but with my theme of comfort food I had the Eggs Benedict with prosciutto. I like a super lemony Hollandaise but did not need to ask for more of it on the side, as it was generously served. When I think of this dish in the future, it will always be compared to mine at Le Vallauris. Owner Omar, who travels the world was kind enough to join me for a brief conversation and pose for a photo as he was explaining the chalkboard menu to other eager patrons. In keeping with seasonal best gourmet dishes, Le Vallauris offers frequent email updates to the menu, to remind you of their expertise in freshness and an initiation to return,
Of course reservations are needed in Palm Springs whether for dining or of course for overnight lodgings. I had no reservation at the poolside/patio at the Riviera Resort (psriviera.com) but had a delight lunch lounging around the pool like I was a guest. I think the accommodations there would be perfect for a mid-range budget.
On the upscale side of Palm Springs is the new downtown Kimpton Rowen. (rowanpalmsprings.com) The posh high-rise roof top restaurant, Four Saints, is a touch of elegance from the liquor bottles floating above the bar and the see and be seen dining area which is topped off only by the adjacent roof top pool and specialty bar. You need not order a full meal as an $18 appetizer and beverage can satisfy your palate. An eccentric Palm Springs sight was a well-behaved dog rolled into the dining room in a black baby stroller. I asked my entertaining waiter about this and he said,”You can see anything in Palm Springs.”
If you are an adventurous male, the all male clothing optional accommodation at INNdulge, https://inndulge.com/, in the Warm Springs neighborhood will be a most comfortable experience, with morning Continental breakfast, evening cocktail time, congenial guests and heated pool and hot tub. The staff is most helpful in offering suggestions for your Greater Palm Springs experience. The bars clustered on E Arenas Road is a hit and miss pleasure.
Comfort can easily be discovered in Greater Palms Springs with prepared planning. Due to a recent flash flood the aerial tramway was closed, but is recommended. With a car it can be entertaining just driving around with no real destination in mind. You might find you self at the Palm Springs original sight or the botanical gardens or an unexpected stop at an art gallery or antique shop. Having visited there several times over the years, I had an idea of what would suit my comfort level, and in retrospect I accomplished another happy destination experience.
While the personnel is over whelmed at the CVB they can be contacted at www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com Their hard copy visitor’s guide, more like a magazine, is more helpful than their online edition. In it you will find shopping suggestions for each greater Palm Springs city. They will send you one but you must request such several weeks in advance of your browsing.

SHAWNEE, OK – Two of the many incredible facts about the Monarch Butterfly is that they are important and beautiful. Join the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and several conservation partners for the FREE pollinator workshop and lunch on May 29 in Shawnee. This workshop is titled, “Monarch Butterfly, Importance of Pollinators” and it is certainly one in which you will want to bring a friend.
At this workshop, Michael Sams of NRCS will talk about NRCS Monarch and Pollinator Conservation Efforts in Oklahoma.
Tonee Wolf of the Choctaw Nation will provide a Choctaw Nation Pollinator Project update. Also, the Chickasaw Nation Pollinator Initiatives will be covered.
Plus, Jane Breckinridge will share about projects of the Euchee Butterfly Farms.
NRCS partners for the workshop include, the Oklahoma Tribal Conservation Advisory Council (OTCAC), other USDA agencies and conservation groups. The Seminole, Shawnee and Konawa Conservation Districts are the district partners for the workshop.
Our conservation program discussions will be led by Farm Service Agency, National Agriculture Statistics Service, NRCS, and the Oklahoma Conservation Commission and others.
The workshop will be held on May 29th and will start at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) South Reunion Hall, located at 1702 Gordon Cooper Dr., in Shawnee, 74801. The South Reunion Hall is located behind the CPN Putt Putt and on the south side of Firelake grocery store.
Attendees are encouraged to pre-register by May 23rd by calling Marie Youngblood, (405) 273-2076, ext. 3 or emailing Jane Breckinridge, jbreckinridget@hotmail.com or contacting Dr. Carol Crouch carol.crouch@usda.gov , (405) 742-1203. The workshop is open to the public.
Questions?
Email nrcsinfo@ok.usda.gov.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
If reasonable accommodation is needed please notify when you RSVP to Dr. Carol Crouch at 405-742-1203 or carol.couch@usda.gov.
Who: Open to the Public
When: 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 29 – RSVP DUE May 23rd
Where: Citizen Potawatomi Nation (CPN) South Reunion Hall, located at 1702 Gordon Cooper Dr., in Shawnee, 74801. The South Reunion Hall is located behind the CPN Putt Putt and on the south side of Firelake grocery store.

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in adults in the U.S., affecting more than 54 million people with more than 100 distinct types of the disease.
To make matters worse, there are no approved treatments for the most common form of arthritis—osteoarthritis. It stems from the loss of cartilage between bones and joints and will affect more than half of all Americans over the age of 65.
Understandably, this has led to much concern about the future of arthritis treatment.
“We all want to live long enough that we eventually have some wear-and-tear form of arthritis,” said Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Vice President of Clinical Affairs Judith James, M.D., Ph.D. “But we don’t want any disability or limitations from it that tend to occur as we age. What we need is a disease-modifying drug.”
James, a rheumatologist and internationally recognized expert on arthritis, said that advancements in treating other forms of arthritis offer hope for similar developments in osteoarthritis.
“In the past decade, we have seen big changes in treatment for several types of arthritis, including the introduction of drugs and interventions for less-common forms like rheumatoid arthritis,” said James.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic illness mainly characterized by inflammation in the lining of the joints, and it affects more than 1.3 million adults in the U.S. James currently serves as principal investigator on a clinical trial called StopRA, a prevention study for the disease.
“We are testing people who are at high risk of developing RA. Our goal is to get them on treatments that may help prevent the disease from ever occurring,” she said. If you are interested in participating or finding out more about the study, please call 405-271-7745 or email jackie-keyser@omrf.org.
The National Institutes of Health invests more than $500 million annually toward understanding and treating various forms of arthritis. Some of that work is happening at OMRF, including research by scientist Tim Griffin, Ph.D., who studies the effects of obesity on the development of osteoarthritis.
“Much of what we initially learned about osteoarthritis came from studying end-stage diseased tissues when people had their joints replaced,” said Griffin.
However, technological advances in imaging and biomarkers have allowed scientists to study earlier stages of disease. Griffin says that this has given new hope for a cure.
“We now think of early-stage OA as resulting from a family of different conditions, such as obesity, trauma, or aging,” he said. “Treatments that target the specific cause of osteoarthritis at the early stages may delay or even prevent disease.”
Multiple studies have shown that a diet avoiding inflammatory foods like saturated fats and refined carbohydrates can help protect you. Griffin’s lab recently found that diets high in saturated fats increased the risk of joint inflammation in mice—even before cartilage loss began.
“We are working on this disease in earnest and continue to understand more and more about it,” said James. “I am increasingly hopeful that we will see a treatment for osteoarthritis in our lifetime.”
But while we await the first osteoarthritis drug, what can we do in the meantime?
“‘Move as much as you can,” said James. “The more you sit, the stiffer and more painful your joints become. Other keys are to maintain a reasonable body weight and participate in joint-safe exercises like swimming or using an elliptical machine.”

SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital and the City of El Reno have reached an agreement for SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital to begin leasing a portion of the facility formerly known as Mercy Hospital El Reno. A definitive agreement was finalized on April 2.
Under the terms of the lease agreement, effective May 1, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital began operating the emergency department of El Reno hospital as a department of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital. SSM Health St. Anthony will maintain a full service, 24/7 emergency department in order to serve the needs of the residents of El Reno and surrounding communities. In support of the emergency department, SSM Health St. Anthony will also offer outpatient services including laboratory services and diagnostic imaging to provide convenience for patients. Although acute inpatient services will not be provided, the freestanding emergency department will ensure seamless protocols for immediate transfer of any patients needing a higher level of care.
Services will continue to be provided at the current address on Parkview Drive while the City of El Reno constructs a new $9 million facility patterned after SSM Health St. Anthony Healthplex locations with a campus featuring a freestanding emergency department, and diagnostic services. The City of El Reno will be the owner of the new freestanding emergency department facility. In addition, SSM Health will construct an adjacent building to house urgent care, primary care physicians and specialty physicians to round out the new medical campus.
In mid-May, SSM Health Medical Group will also provide urgent care and primary care services at 2315 Parkview Drive. Providers in this location will include Robert DiCintio, PA-C, Alex Rasmussen, PA-C, and Alina Quy, APRN-CNP.
“SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital is pleased to have been selected by the City of El Reno to be the community’s health care partner. We look forward to expanding our ministry into El Reno and keeping important health care services within the community,” stated Joe Hodges, President, SSM Health – Oklahoma.
“We have worked closely with SSM Health St. Anthony to develop a long-term approach to provide health care services for our residents,” stated Mayor Matt White. “Our partnership with SSM Health St. Anthony will ensure continuity of health care in our community.”
Miller Architects was engaged by both the City of El Reno and SSM Health for the design of the new health facility campus, and Waldrop Construction will serve as the construction manager. Miller and Waldrop have worked together on many successful projects for SSM Health.
For more information about our providers and urgent care service, please call 405-231-8866.

Dear Savvy Senior,

What types of discounts are available to baby boomers, at what age do they kick in, and what’s the best way to go about finding them? Almost 50

Dear Almost,
One of the great perks of growing older in America is the many discounts that are available to boomers and seniors.
There are literally thousands of discounts on a wide variety of products and services including restaurants, grocery stores, travel and lodging, entertainment, retail and apparel, health and beauty, automotive services and much more. These discounts – typically ranging between 5 and 25 percent off – can add up to save you hundreds of dollars each year.
So, if you don’t mind admitting your age, here are some tips and tools to help you find the discounts you may be eligible for.
Always Ask
The first thing to know is that most businesses don’t advertise them, but many give senior discounts just for the asking, so don’t be shy.
You also need to know that while some discounts are available as soon as you turn 50, many others may not kick in until you turn 55, 60, 62 or 65.
Search Online
Because senior discounts frequently change and can vary depending on where you live and the time of the year, the Internet is the easiest way to help you locate them.
To do a search, start by visiting SeniorDiscounts.com, which lists thousands of discounts that you can search for by city and state, and by the category you’re interested in, for free.
You can also look for discounts at TheSeniorList.com, which provides a large list of national and regional business chains that offer them, or you can Google them individually. Just go to Google.com and type in the business or organization you’re curious about, followed by “senior discount” or “senior discount tickets.”
If you use a smartphone, another tool is the Sciddy app (see Sciddy.com) that lets you search for senior discounts and can send you alerts when you’re at an establishment that offers them.
Join a Club
Another good avenue to senior discounts is through membership organizations like AARP, which offers its 50 and older members a wide variety of discounts through affiliate businesses (see AARPdiscounts.com).
If, however, you’re not the AARP type, there are other alternative organizations you can join that also provide discounts such as The Seniors Coalition or the American Seniors Association. Or, for federal workers, there’s the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.
Types of Discounts
Here’s an abbreviated rundown of some of the different types of discounts you can expect to find.
Restaurants: Senior discounts are common at restaurants and fast food establishments – like Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Subway, Wendy’s, Applebee’s and Golden Corral – ranging from free/discounted drinks, to discounts off your total order.
Retailers: Many thrift stores like Goodwill, and certain retailers like Banana Republic, Kohl’s, Michaels and Ross stores offer a break to seniors on certain days of the week.
Supermarkets: Many locally owned grocery stores offer senior discount programs, as do some chains like Albertsons, Kroger, Publix and Fry’s Supermarkets, which offer some discounts on certain days of the week but they vary by location.
Travel: Southwest Airlines provide the best senior fares in the U.S. to passengers 65 and older, while Amtrak offers a 15 percent discount and Greyhound offers 5 percent off to travelers over 62. Most car rental companies provide discounts to customers who belong to organizations like AARP. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Carnival cruise lines offer discount rates to cruisers 55 and over. And, most hotels offer senior discounts, usually ranging from 10 to 30 percent.
Entertainment: Most movie theaters, museums, golf courses, ski slopes and other public entertainment venues provide reduced admission to seniors over 60 or 65. And the National Park Service offers a lifetime pass for those 62 and up for $10 (see nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm).
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.