By Allison Sit
A dermatology resident helped a passenger give birth during a transcontinental flight. Stephen Ansah-Addo, MD, a PGY-2 dermatology resident at the University of Michigan, answered the call for help when a woman went into labor midway through an 11-hour flight from Ghana to the U.S. Dr. Ansah-Addo, along with two nurses, helped the mother deliver a healthy baby boy, according to a news release. After delivery, Dr. Ansah-Addo clamped and cut the umbilical cord. Mother and baby rested in first class for the remainder of the flight.
“It was a surreal experience, I couldn’t believe it myself,” Dr. Ansah-Addo said. “At the end of the day, I went into medicine to help others, and there couldn’t have been a better example than this. Glad I was able to help and that both mother and baby are doing well.”
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) released the results of its Pandemic Impact Survey, which sought details on a variety of challenges dermatologists have faced during the past two years. More than half of respondents reported staffing cuts during the pandemic, according to a news release. Group practices and solo practices were the most impacted by employee reductions. Yet respondents also reported challenges in rehiring employees. Stabilized staffing continues to be a challenge for 85% of those surveyed. The survey showed an overall 187% increase in telehealth appointments with responders, and digital patient communication also increased as respondents reported relying more on emails and social media to communicate with patients, as well as offering virtual education options.
“It’s important to learn from the past to shape our response and decisions for the future,” said ASDS President Sue Ellen Cox, MD. “This survey reveals the significant challenges our membership experienced, but even more so, highlights our ability to overcome obstacles, innovate to provide the best patient care and advance the future of our specialty.”
The National Foundation for Cancer Research has named Karen Burke, MD, to its board of directors, according to a news release. Dr. Burke is a dermatologist and research scientist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. In addition to her medical degree, Dr. Burke has a PhD in biophysics from Cornell University and completed postdoctoral fellowships at Cornell University Medical College and Rockefeller University.
“It is an honor to join the board,” Dr. Burke said. “Coming together with such innovative minds, I am hopeful for the future of cancer research.”
Founded in 1973, the National Foundation for Cancer Research fights cancer by funding high-risk, high-impact and potentially high-reward discoveries in labs and transforming them into life-saving treatments for cancer patients.
