LOS ANGELES -- Emphasizing patient convenience and integrated clinical, surgical and research components, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is launching a unique and comprehensive pituitary center. What makes this center unique is that, for the first time, it integrates under one roof Cedars-Sinai's world-renowned pituitary disease treatment and research programs with some of the most advanced and innovative types of skull base surgery available today. In addition to clinical, surgical and research components, the new Cedars-Sinai Pituitary Center will also provide in-house pathology and imaging services, thereby enhancing patient convenience and making medical charts and records immediately accessible to all members of the multi-disciplinary treatment team. Physicians who wish to refer their patients to the Pituitary Center for evaluation or treatment can also utilize the services there, with the patient being referred back to his or her own physician for all ongoing medical care.
Under the co-direction of Shlomo Melmed, M.D., and Hrayr K. Shahinian, M.D., the 3,000-sq. ft. center will open in early August. A world-renowned endocrinologist and researcher, Dr. Melmed, also serves as director of the Cedars-Sinai Research Institute and senior vice president of the Medical Center's Academic Affairs. Widely considered one of the preeminent experts on the pituitary, he has authored or co-authored hundreds of articles on that topic, is editor-in-chief of "Pituitary Journal," and wrote the major classic text, The Pituitary.
Like Dr. Melmed, Dr. Shahinian brings with him a wealth of experience and a reputation for being on the leading edge of medicine today. One of the country's premier skull base surgeons, he is one of only a handful of physicians in the United States to use a fully endoscopic procedure in removing pituitary tumors. In addition to his responsibilities as the Pituitary Center's co-director, he will continue to serve as director of the Cedars-Sinai Skull Base Institute, and medical director of the division of Skull Base Surgery.
The third member of the team, Vivien Bonert, M.D., will serve as clinical coordinator, overseeing and coordinating all aspects of pituitary research. In this role, she will be responsible for recruitment of patients, coordinating patient care, and serving as the liaison with the various pharmaceutical companies involved in research projects. In addition, she will manage the large, computerized database of clinical patients, assessing those that are appropriate for participation in state of the art clinical trials and research projects. These are aimed at bringing the latest technologies to benefit patients with pituitary disorders.
In designing the Pituitary Center, Dr. Melmed and Dr. Shahinian decided on a novel approach that would focus on the disease as a whole rather than on the individual specialties required to treat it. This visionary concept has resulted in a multi-disciplinary center structured around the patient. "It's truly patient friendly and focused toward caring for people with pituitary disorders," said Dr. Shahinian.
"This is an innovative idea," said Dr. Bonert. "It is one of the first - if not the first - center in the United States where endocrinologists and surgeons work side by side in an integrated fashion, focusing together on all aspects of diagnosing, treating and researching pituitary disorders - from initial triage through surgical intervention and post-op follow-up."
ENHANCED MULTI-DISCIPLINARY INTERACTION
While enhanced patient convenience is certainly an advantage offered by the
Pituitary Center, it is by no means the only one. The very fact that the
endocrinologist and surgeon -- plus all of the other disciplines involved --
will be under one roof means that communication and interaction will be
streamlined as everyone has immediate access to combined medical charts and
records. "The endocrinologist doesn't have to call the surgeon's office to get
the results of an MRI, and the surgeon doesn't have to call the endocrinologist
to get the most recent hormonal profile. It's all right there," said Dr.
Shahinian.
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH
Because Cedars-Sinai is one of the nation's premier facilities when it comes to
pituitary disease research and treatment, the Pituitary Center offers the most
advanced treatment options -- such as novel therapies for pituitary tumors,
growth hormone replacement for adults, pituitary function testing, and more. In
addition, because Cedars-Sinai oversees more pituitary disease clinical trials
than almost any other facility in the country, patients will have unparalleled
access to these research protocols.
"We currently have three large NIH grants in pituitary disease and research, as well as an NIH training grant, and literally hundreds of patients enrolled in clinical trials," said Dr. Melmed.
In fact, Cedars-Sinai enjoys a reputation for operating one of the country's largest and most highly respected pituitary programs, and Pituitary Center patients who meet research criteria will be able to participate in appropriate protocols. "With this new multi-disciplinary approach, it will be faster and easier to identify appropriate candidates for the various trials and enroll them in the specific research protocol that is best suited to treat them successfully," said Dr. Melmed.
SURGICAL MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOMES
On the surgical side, Pituitary Center patients will have access to leading edge
skull base surgery techniques and technology. For example, Dr. Shahinian is one
of only a handful of surgeons in the country to use a fully endoscopic technique
in removing pituitary tumors. This minimally invasive and highly successful
procedure utilizes a tiny endoscope -- 2.8mm wide and 20cm long -- with angled
tips to provide a panoramic view of the brain. Because the point of entry is
through a nostril, there is no scarring, the brain is undisturbed and both the
time required for the actual surgical procedure, as well as the overall recovery
time are dramatically reduced. In fact, most patients go home the day after
surgery and can resume normal activities within a few days.
In addition to Dr. Melmed, Dr. Shahinian and Dr. Bonert, the Pituitary Center will be staffed by 21 clinical and research fellows and scientists, as well as seven clinical and research nurses.
"We set out with two goals," said Dr. Shahinian. "First, we wanted to create a center that is patient-friendly and easy to access. Second, we believed that by effectively integrating two highly respected programs - neuroendocrinology and skull base surgery - both of which already enjoy superior outcomes, we could have one comprehensive program that is greater than the sum of its parts. We believe that will be the case with the Cedars-Sinai Pituitary Center."
For media information and to arrange an interview, please call 1-800-396-1002 or e-mail sandy@vancommunmications.com.