UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL AND RUTGERS NEW JERSEY MEDICAL SCHOOL HOLD FIRST-EVER SPRING FLING EVENT FOR LARYNGECTOMY PATIENTS

NEWARK, N.J. – On Wednesday, March 23, University Hospital and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School hosted its Spring Fling event with several laryngectomy patients who have successfully had treatment, surgery, or rehab through both institutions. The event had food, games, raffles, and a musical performance by the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School Jazz ensemble.  Attendees were encouraged to bring their families to network with others who have undergone some of the same treatments.

“These events are very special to us,” said Dr. Dylan Roden, MD MPH, Assistant Professor in the Department of  Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS). “It provides a platform for patients to interact with those who have overcome some of the same challenges and gives medical experts the chance to connect with their patients.”

The project is supported through a grant obtained by Dr. Roden and his colleague Dr. Evelyne Kalyoussef, Associate Professor at Rutgers NJMS and provided by the New Jersey Health Foundation.  Dr. Roden and Dr Kalyoussef have worked together to create a Laryngectomy Support Network for these cancer patients who can feel vulnerable or depressed during their treatment and rehabilitation.

Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to share their stories and reflect on their experiences. Three patients, Randy Fischer, John Fago, and Murphy McNeal, shared their incredible recovery stories among the many attendees. All were diagnosed with Larynx cancer and underwent a laryngectomy surgery (removal of the voice box) and a procedure called Tracheoesophageal Puncture (TEP). TEP is a common way to restore speech after surgical removal of the larynx, but it is not suitable for everyone. This procedure is a controlled opening between the trachea and esophagus utilizing a small prosthesis with a one way valve.

While these patients had different pathways to their initial cancer diagnosis, all three have been able to successfully overcome their cancer diagnosis, Randy Fischer had cancer of the larynx and received radiation treatment which was not successful . He then underwent a laryngectomy and is cancer free,  after getting the TEP procedure, he recovered his voice. Murphy McNeal had surgery immediately after discovering a large tumor, and was able to speak again even without a larynx. Today, these patients have been able to live healthy lives and their ability to speak has been restored.

About University Hospital

University Hospital is part of one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers and is the Level 1 Trauma Center for Northern New Jersey. Located at University Heights in Newark, University Hospital is a principal teaching hospital of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and a regional resource for advanced services across many medical specialties. For more information about University Hospital, please visit www.uhnj.org.

About Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Founded in 1954, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is the oldest school of medicine in the

state. Today it is part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and graduates approximately 170 physicians a year. In addition to providing the MD degree, the school offers MD/PhD, MD/MPH and MD/MBA degrees through collaborations with other institutions of higher education. Dedicated to excellence in education, research, clinical care and community outreach, the medical school comprises 20 academic departments and works with several healthcare partners, including its principal teaching hospital, University Hospital. Its faculty consists of numerous world-renowned scientists and many of the region’s “top doctors.” Home to the nation’s oldest student-run clinic, New Jersey Medical School hosts more than 50 centers and institutes, including the Public Health Research Institute Center, the Global Tuberculosis Institute and the Neurological Institute of New Jersey. For more information please

visit: njms.rutgers.edu.