UW Medicine

Today, Airlift Northwest joined American Medical Response and Life Flight Network on the Harborview Medical Center helipad to honor 36 U.S. fallen first responders. The multi-state procession of this year’s temporary National EMS Memorial, known as the Tree of Life, began here in Seattle for the first time, and its last stop is Arlington, VA. The ceremonial drive will take place over the course of several days leading into the Weekend of Honor. We honor those who have died in the line-of-duty and recognize the sacrifices being made by our nations’ EMS providers.

If streetlights and headlights around you are surrounded by halos or starbursts, it could be a sign of a common condition called astigmatism. More than 30% of people in the U.S. will develop the condition at some point in their lives. “Astigmatism occurs when the surface of your cornea is shaped kind of like a football — one slope is steeper than the other, as opposed to a basketball where everything slopes the same. The steeper slope focuses the light at a different place than the flatter slope, so the person is not quite able to see clearly. It’s blurry," explains Dr. Brian Chou, a neuro-ophthalmologist and an assistant professor in the University of Washington - School of Medicine's Department of Ophthalmology. If you're experiencing blurred vision, schedule an eye exam. Your optometrist or ophthalmologist will perform a refraction test and check for astigmatism. There are several possible treatments ranging from glasses to laser surgery.

Happy 4th of July! You can thank the healthcare workers working today by leaving the fireworks to the professionals and NOT ending up in the emergency room (but we’ll be here if you need us.) 🎆 🇺🇸

“Ophthalmologists just hate the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve because those are our busiest weeks every year. We get a very substantial number of fireworks injuries, and we see that a lot of them are young kids or younger people. And some of these people lose vision from one eye or both," says Dr. Shu Feng, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Washington - School of Medicine. Feng and research colleagues tracked 230 patients who had presented with eye injury in the two weeks surrounding Independence Day over an eight-year span (2016-22). The findings indicated that the odds of a fireworks-related injury were two times higher among residents of areas where fireworks were legal than among residents of areas with restrictions. “That's why eye protection is super important when handling fireworks. And maybe just leaving it to experts is the best idea," says Feng.

Every year around the Fourth of July, Harborview Medical Center, the region’s only Level I trauma and burn center, treats about 55 patients for fireworks-related injuries. The hospital's Emergency Department will be staffed to care for the influx of injuries expected this week. “We see a lot of fireworks-related injuries,” said Dr. Stephen Morris in emergency medicine at UW Medicine in Seattle. “The most devastating injuries that we see are those to the hands and eyes.” “Fireworks and alcohol certainly don’t mix,” he added. “That’s a big portion of the injuries we see related to people who are intoxicated and just don’t have the wherewithal to use them properly." Morris encourages people to attend a public fireworks display run by professionals to celebrate Independence Day.

Today marks our first day with a new name! ☀🎉🐾💜 We changed our name from Hall Health Center to HUSKY HEALTH CENTER to reflect our goal of being here for the Husky student community. The name change has been in the works for a long time, but seeing it on the home page of the The Daily UW in an article by Morgan Bortnick really made it feel real! Thank you Ava Mallari, MBA, MHA and Joel Schwartzkopf, DPAS, MBA, FACHE for speaking to this exciting update! 📰(Article: https://lnkd.in/g2788sZF) The name Husky Health Center highlights our role in the Division of Student Life and our association with UW Medicine. Our building will remain the "David C. Hall Building," in celebration of the Olympian, coach, WWI veteran, and physician for whom the original clinic was named. As a primary health resource for University of Washington Seattle students, you can rest assured that students will receive the same quality care and resources at Husky Health Center that they’ve grown to love at Hall Health Center. Questions about insurance? Services? Getting started? We look forward to answering them! Call 206-685-1011 or email uwhhc@uw.edu to get started today. #huskyhealthcenter

This is what the first day of residency looks like for Dr. Sharon Feng as she observes our rising third-year resident, Dr. Rahilla Tarfa under the operating microscope for otologic surgery! Welcome to the team, Doctor! 🔬👩🔬 🔁 uwotolaryngology on Instagram

UW Medicine representatives from across the organization are joining together today to march in the Seattle Pride Parade. Be sure to wave and cheer us on as we pass by – look for the wave of purple!

Two research papers in Nature Magazine describe work on a wiring diagram for the nerve and muscle actions that propel fruit flies into the air and guide their flight. John C. Tuthill, associate professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of Washington - School of Medicine, and Wei-Chung Allen Lee, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston are the senior scientists jointly supervising the research. Although a fruit fly seems like a simple creature, the circuitry that controls its movements contains an unexpected level of complexity. A fly’s motor neurons are few, yet it can perform remarkable aerial and terrestrial feats. The studies provide detailed information on how the nerve coordination for a fly’s legs differs from that directing its wings. The leg and the wing in fruit flies each have a distinct evolution and biomechanics. The scientists found that some muscle fibers in adult flies are controlled by several motor neurons. These multiple innervations might offer more flexibility and explain why an insects’ limbs can operate with precision despite having so few motor neurons.

Dr. Krabak will be heading to the Olympics, for his fourth time, alongside colleague Dr. Monique Burton, who is making her third trip to be team physicians for Team USA's track and field and swimming teams. "This is part of what sports medicine is at the highest level. I feel like the experience I've had in taking care of athletes and being at the games before sets me at a little at ease, just knowing that I just need to go and do my job," Dr. Krabak told KING 5 Media Group.