HJBR Jul/Aug 2022

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  JUL / AUG 2022 41 For weekly eNews updates and to read the journal online, visit HealthcareJournalBR.com that would have been impossible before now. It’s a very exciting time to be in cancer research, and we’re excited to be part of this international team of researchers,” said Brown, assistant professor and director of Pennington Biomedical’s Cancer Metabolism Program. The Cancer Cachexia Action Network (CAN- CAN) team unites clinicians, advocates, and sci- entists with expertise in cancer, metabolism, neu- roendocrine function, immunology, and more, across 14 institutions in the U.S. and the U.K., aim- ing to build the world’s first virtual institute with a mission to solve cancer cachexia. The team is led by Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey’s Eileen White, Weill Cornell Medicine’s Marcus DaSilva Goncalves and Cold Spring Harbor Lab- oratory’s Tobias Janowitz. Although cachexia is a major clinical problem, it is poorly understood and there are no effective therapies for people who experience it. The team plans to build a deep understanding of what causes cachexia and develop novel treatments to intervene – which could transform people’s quality of life and ulti- mately survival. The CANCAN team is one of four new teams to receive Cancer Grand Challenges funding. The diverse, global teams will divide a total of $100 million to take on some of the toughest chal- lenges in cancer research. “Finding answers to the big questions in sci- ence requires the kind of innovative approach that Cancer Grand Challenges exemplifies. We are excited about the discoveries this cut- ting-edge research will produce, such as how inflammation affects appetite. The findings are expected to have important implications for treat- ing cancer and the disease of obesity, which has been linked to more than a dozen deadly can- cers,” said John Kirwan, PhD, professor and exec- utive director of Pennington Biomedical. BRG-Mid City Receives NFL Crucial Catch Grant for High-Risk Breast Clinic The High-Risk Breast Clinic at Baton Rouge General-Mid City was recently awarded a grant from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Football League’s (NFL) Crucial Catch Project. The $20,000 grant will support the clinic, which opened last August and provides specialized care to women at risk for develop- ing breast disease and who are underinsured or uninsured. The NFL and ACS teamed up to offer a new opportunity for healthcare systems to collaborate with local ACS staff to promote and deliver can- cer screenings safely and equitably. Established in 2009, the NFL’s Crucial Catch has raised $23 million for ACS with the mission to fight cancer through early detection and reducing the risk of cancer. From screenings and prevention to surgical intervention, the clinic focuses on patients with risk factors for breast disease. FranUReceives National Endorsement for Undergraduate Nursing Programs Colleges of Distinction advocates for schools whose undergraduate experiences are grounded in a philosophy of well-rounded, individualized engagement. Among these institutions, Francis- can Missionaries of Our Lady University is recog- nized for graduating students into the workforce with solid, well-developed critical thinking skills as well as the ability to adapt in an ever-chang- ing society. Already honored as a College of Distinction for its high-impact approach to education, FranU has received specialized recognition in nursing. “We complete a thorough review of the pro- grams in question before giving the awards,” said Tyson Schritter, chief operating officer for Colleges of Distinction. “We’re looking for such qualities as accreditation, hands-on experiences, high-mastery rates, integration liberal arts, and successful outcomes for students. It’s wonderful to see how FranU really exemplifies these quali- ties within the field.” To earn the recognition, FranU demonstrated the following markers of quality: • Stability: The School of Nursing has been active for at least 10 years with consistent enrollment as well as stability in the num- ber of degrees awarded annually. • Excellence: The program’s faculty have earned awards and peer recognition for their experience and research. • Accreditation: FranU’s School of Nurs- ing is nationally accredited by ACEN: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and CCNE: Commission on Colle- giate Nursing Education. • Practical Experience: Students in the School of Nursing are required to complete prac- tical, hands-on experiences, including resi- dency and clinical work. • High Mastery Rates: A high percentage of the students regularly pass such standard- ized exams as NCLEX. • Dedicated Advising and Counseling: The School of Nursing supports students with high-quality academic advising, major-spe- cific advising, and career advising specific to Nursing students. • Liberal Arts Exposure: The program is sup- plemented by a general education curricu- lum that is multidisciplinary and based in the liberal arts. Such studies help ensure that students develop their problem solv- ing, critical and out-of-the-box thinking, practical leadership skills and understand a variety of worldviews and perspectives — all crucial factors that set nurses apart as the most compassionate and competent caretakers. • High-Impact Practices: Students in the School of Nursing enhance their undergrad- uate studies with such High-Impact Prac- tices as Common Intellectual Experiences, Undergraduate Research, Diversity and Global Learning, First-Year Experiences/ Seminars, Writing-Intensive Courses, Col- laborative Assignments and Projects, Ser- vice/Community-Based Learning, Living- Learning Communities, Internships and Capstone Courses and Projects. • Industry Connections: Students enrolled in the School of Nursing have numerous opportunities to build professional connec- tions in their field through job placement, internships, co-op opportunities, advisory councils, and networking activities. Schritter said, “The accredited nursing program at FranU has enabled its students to take calcu- lated action even in high-pressure situations. With four full years at FranU, these students are chal- lenged to remain curious and compassionate throughout their rigorous practice.” n