Researchers from the Dartmouth Medical School and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center published their findings about lumbar fusion in the Nov. 1 edition of Spine, an international journal for the study of the spine. Within the article, the authors raise concerns about the recent rise of such procedures in the United States. According to the study, lumbar fusion rates have increased more than 250 percent over the past decade, with lumbar fusion now accounting for almost 50 percent of all back surgery performed in the U.S. However, the authors of the study say that there is no way of knowing if the increase is warranted, as there is no scientific or clinical evidence proving that lumbar fusion is effective. The rate of surgery varies regionally, with some areas performing surgeries at a rate of 20 times greater than other areas. These discrepancies can be attributed to "lack of scientific evidence, financial incentives and disincentives to surgical intervention, and difference in clinical training and professional opinion," Weinstein said.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company announced the appointment of John W. Chandler Tu'86 as senior vice president and chief marketing officer of the U.S. Insurance Group on Thursday. The U.S. Insurance Group governs the distribution, marketing, product management, finance, compliance and operations for all of MassMutual's insurance products sold in the U.S. These products include life insurance, annuities, disability income and long term care. Chandler joined MassMutual from his position as chief marketing officer at The Hanover Insurance Group, though he has also held senior marketing positions at companies including Hasbro, Inc., Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts and Cadbury Schweppes Pic. MassMutual and its affiliates have more than 13 million clients and over $395 billion in assets under management at year-end 2005.
Doctor Carolyn Kerrigan, a professor of surgery at Dartmouth Medical School and the plastic surgery section chief and residency program director of Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, was named president of the Plastic Surgery Education Foundation on October 10th. Kerrigan will serve as president for one year. The PSEF is the education, research and international service arm of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the world's largest plastic surgery association. "Our aim [this year] will be to focus on the quality of patient care and the safety of surgery," Kerringan said in U.S. Newswire. Kerrigan has chaired numerous ASPS and PSEF committees in the past and is an active member of a variety of other American and Canadian Plastic Surgeon organizations.
