Moving Forward

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1/13/2011

A Thankful Farewell

Post written by Dr. Serena Hung

This is my final blog. I think a lot of my patients have already received letters or have heard from some other sources that I will be leaving the Medical College of Wisconsin. I have been at the MCW for five and a half years. It has been an eventful and fun 5.5 years.

Dr. Hung with Sherrell Bertoni, RN

I have learned a lot throughout this time. I came to MCW straight out of movement disorders fellowship training. It was my dream job at the time with the promise of ample patient contact, good research support and intelligent residents to teach. From the patient contact point of view, I have been thoroughly satisfied and thoroughly humbled. My patients taught me so much. They taught me the real meaning of living strong and making the most out of bad situations. Some of my patients became my personal idols (you know who you are), demonstrating to me how to be a good person and inspiring me to be the best I can be. Because of them, I believe I became a better physician, and perhaps a better person (I sure hope so).

I have done some interesting research. I have worked on various projects on Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and essential tremor. I have collaborated with amazing researchers here at MCW and around the country.

The third part of my job was to teach. I have taught some very motivated residents and a fellow with whom I am proud to be colleagues. I have also taught some medical students in various capacities. It was fun and rewarding for me to see them grow and find their own paths. It has been especially rewarding to see Dr. Katie Spangler complete her residency, then her fellowship and blossom into a wonderful movement disorders neurologist, making our program even stronger.

One of the things that I am most proud of was to be part of a team of people who truly want to improve patients’ lives. The Parkinson and Movement Disorders Program took shape during the first couple years after I arrived. Vicki Conte has been instrumental in getting everyone together and motivating all of us to grow. We have been able to do a fair amount of community education in the form of the annual PD symposium and other community education lectures. We have participated in various education programs to better equip ourselves to help our patients.

Dr. Hung's Wedding

Okay – the proudest thing I have done in these five years was landing a husband. Haha!!!!! Dan is a native Wisconsinite. He introduced me to some of the native Wisconsin activities/pastime such as beer and brats. I have taken up mountain biking and kayaking because of him. I have learned how to ride a motorcycle/scooter and have ridden on some of the most amazing country roads in Wisconsin. He also asked me to learn how to sail and I did, even though I had to take medication to suppress my motion sickness every time I sailed. We have family in SE Wisconsin and we will be coming back every now and then.

Dr. Hung Biking

The reason why I am leaving is that I think it is time for me to try something new. As I have alluded to before, I have always liked research. I like the process of research. I like what research can bring. Without research, we wouldn’t understand more about diseases and drugs wouldn’t be developed to help more patients. At this time, I would like to devote more time to research. I will be working as a researcher at Biogen Idec in Boston. Biogen Idec is a mid-size biotech company that is fully dedicated to biologics for neurologic diseases. My main duties will be conducting clinical trials to bring biologics to patients. I’ll be travelling to far-flung places (okay, Europe mainly) to conduct clinical trials. What’s more, my office will be right next to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) which means I’ll be among my own kind (nerds) again! (I majored in chemical engineering during my undergraduate years)

As I have been saying during the past few weeks, I hate goodbyes. They make me sad. Especially since there are many people I am going to miss. I will miss my patients. I will miss my friends, many of whom happen to be my colleagues. I will miss my family in Wisconsin.

I am confident that the Parkinson and Movement Disorders program will continue to thrive and I look forward to coming back in the fall for the Moving Forward bike ride/run/walk event.

The following is feedback received for this blog:

To Dr. Hung, Jim says many thanks for the tlc which was above and beyond the call of duty. I know your caring and intuition has made my life easier. We new you would be moving on and wish you much happiness, an old American proverb. The Herns

All I can say is wow we wanted you to know that you will be truly missed. You will always be remembered as the first great person that helped with my condition. I spent the last 2 or 3 Thanksgiving Eve's getting botox shots LOL it was turning out to be the kick off to my Holidays. I wish you luck with your adventures in your professional and personal life. I hope I get to read some article about a big medical break through and your name is on top. I really want to thank you for everything over the past few years. You have stuck with me and helped in so many ways. As I start to look for a Dr. I can only hope they have a attitude that can match yours. You have made a difference in my and my families life.
Thank You,
Jerome
Amy, and Xaiver Hansen

Thank You again Dr Hung,
Jerome

Posted 4:29 PM

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Blog post by Dr. Karen Blindauer

We started our blog more than years ago and now are taking a break. We feel honored to have appeared so often on the front page of the Froedtert website. We’ve been able to share information on the illnesses that we treat, but, more importantly, we’ve shared stories about the people who have these illnesses. We’ve talked about patients who dance, sing, create poetry and prose. We’ve shared ways that people are “living well” despite chronic conditions. We have been inspired.

The Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders Program at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin remains strong, comprehensive, interdisciplinary and continuously growing. We have three fellowship-trained movement disorder neurologists with over 40 years of experience among us. We have nationally renowned experts right here in Milwaukee. Our program offers the most up-to-date care in Parkinson’s disease (PD) including the state-of-the-art Deep Brain Stimulation surgery for PD and other movement disorders. Our nurses and therapists specialize in the treatment of PD and all have had the latest training.

Our Outreach Coordinator connects with all possible sources of information and referral for our patients regarding any psycho/social needs. She facilitates six local support groups and the Living Well with Chronic Conditions Program that we have spoken of so often.

The annual Wisconsin State Huntington Disease Conference meets on Saturday, April 21, at the Country Springs Conference Center in Pewaukee. Our annual Symposium for People with Parkinson’s and Their Families will take place on Saturday, September 15, also at the Country Springs Conference Center. Our annual Moving Forward: Ride/Walk for Parkinson’s event will again be held beside the Glacial Drumlin Trail in Dousman on Sunday, October 7.

We continue to teach medical students, residents and fellows, so the next generation of experts can carry on our legacy. We remain involved in research in Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders, from the basic sciences to the latest clinical trials. We continue to participate in community lectures to educate our patients about their conditions and treatment options. We remain committed to providing the most comprehensive, state of the art, compassionate, and expert care for our movement disorders patients. We’re just going to take a break from blogging.

Vicki Conte, the Community Outreach Coordinator in the Neurosciences Center is going to begin a blog that will cover topics throughout the neurosciences from ALS, dementia, epilepsy, spine care and stroke. You’ll learn about the roles that our neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuro-psychologists, and physical medicine and rehab staff play. And importantly you’ll hear about the struggles and victories of patients who are cared for here. Tune in to "The Nerve Center" on a regular basis at www.froedtert.com/nervecenter.

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