THE GREG FELDMAN
BALANCE IN LIFE PROGRAM
(RESIDENT WELLNESS)

Greg Feldman was born in Chicago. From an early age, he was academically gifted and also became a first rate musician. After high school in Chicago, he attended Harvard College, graduating with honors and then Harvard Medical School. Greg was our first choice in the Match and began his internship at Stanford in July 2005. While at Stanford, Greg excelled in many ways, but had a special commitment to education and mentoring. Indeed for many medical students and junior residents, Greg came to represent an iconic figure in Stanford Surgical Education. Were these accomplishments not enough, he also had interests in international health best epitomized by taking 2 weeks of vacation during chief residency to work at a missionary hospital in Rwanda. Greg Feldman made all of us at Stanford better for having known him. He won every award and honor that a surgical resident is eligible to receive. His untimely death after completing his residency at Stanford and just 4 months into his vascular surgery fellowship at another medical center is a tragedy.

Balance in Life is a program that encompasses physical as well as psychological well-being. It also addresses issues like team building, belonging, and mentoring. The goal of Balance in Life is to give residents the coping skills they will be able to use throughout their career in surgery. Throughout his life until the very end, Greg exemplified this balance and fostered it in others.  For this reason the program was established in his honor.

To make a gift to the Balance in Life Program by credit card, click the red "Make a gift now!" button below.

For donations by check, please send to: Stephanie Edelman, Department of Surgery, Stanford Medical Center, 300 Pasteur Dr.,
Rm M-121, Stanford, CA 94305-2200.
Phone (650) 725-6493, sedelman@stanford.edu

A message from Thomas Krummel, MD, Emile F. Holman Professor and Department Chair

Length: 2:02 mins

THE ASIAN LIVER CENTER AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY

The Asian Liver Center (ALC) began at Stanford University 15 years ago with Dr. Samuel So’s vision of community outreach, building public-private partnerships, performing advocacy, and conducting research.  It has grown from Dr. So and one assistant, to a staff of 20, including coordinators, interns, and researchers.  However, their mission remains the same: the ALC works at both the national and international levels to fight against the spread of Hepatitis B and C, and the prevalence of liver cancer. 

“This has been a largely neglected, but preventable problem,” said Dr. So. 

Using a multi-pronged approach, the ALC works with physicians and nurses, high school and college students, local communities, and government officials and agencies in the United States and abroad, to spread their message. 

One of their local projects includes building a partnership to form city-wide Hep B Free projects in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara, and inspiring others to replicate the project nationwide, in cities like Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Hawaii, and Las Vegas.  Groups such as Cisco Systems, General Electric, IBM, Stanford University, and the National Business Group on Health partner with the Asian Liver Center to screen, educate, and protect their employees from hepatitis B and liver cancer.

The Hep B Moms project empowers mothers to help eliminate mother to child transmission of hepatitis B through education and vaccination.  Last year, the Asian Liver Center partnered with Tea Collection, a designer children's clothing company, to sponsor a photo contest to raise awareness about hepatitis B. 

The ALC has engaged high school and college leaders across the nation to take action against hepatitis B and liver cancer. Over the past year, the Jade Ribbon Youth Council recruited well known figures to join the Jade Ribbon Campaign, including former acting Lieutenant Governor Mona Pasquil, chef Martin Yan of "Yan Can Cook," and actor Jackie Chan.  In early November, Team HBV Collegiate Chapters, including Stanford, Harvard, and UPenn, convened for the 2nd Annual Team HBV Collegiate Chapters Conference in Palo Alto to discuss innovative ideas and best practices to raise awareness.

Nationally, the ALC conducts extensive research to support legislation.  Recently, the Institute of Medicine came out with a report on hepatitis and liver cancer co-authored by Dr. So, which has motivated the Department of Health and Human Services to develop an action plan.  With the support of Dr. So and the ALC, the 2012 federal budget has money set aside to fund this plan.

On the international front, July 28th is World Hepatitis Day, and Dr. So, as special advisor for the Western Pacific Region, has been busy working with the World Health Organization to prepare for the event. It is important to note that this is one of only seven diseases that has a “day”  recognized by the WHO, emphasizing the importance of awareness in fighting Hepatitis.

The ALC has been working with the Chinese government for many years to improve vaccination rates for newborn and young children.  The next step is to educate health care workers working to reduce transmission and learn about prevention and control.  To do this, the Asian Liver Center has developed an online training course.  Next year, the Chinese government will roll out this 3-module training course, and will track the effectiveness based on regions without this training. With the opening of the Stanford Center at Peking University in 2012, the ALC will have a hub through which they can push forward their efforts.

“We want to incentivize governments to look into their policies and identify gaps,” said Dr. So.

The core of the problem, he said, is education.  So the ALC’s international community outreach efforts are primarily in advocacy and the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate health educational brochures, banners and public service announcements.  They also provide some seed funding when international agencies introduce a new program.  “We want to help build a sustainable program, incorporated into the health system so when we leave, the program continues on.”

For more information on the Asian Liver Center, please visit their website: http://liver.stanford.edu/.