Another Benefit of a Diet Including Fish

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     A new study released supports the idea that fish, especially those rich in omega 3 fatty acids are beneficial for the brain and brain functions. Experts have long speculated that omega 3 fatty acids may reduce the inflammation of the brain and play a role in brain development and nerve cell regeneration and have other brain-boosting effects. This new study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, however, takes this hypothesis one step further by surmising that consuming non-fried (baked or broiled) fish can battle against the brain shrinkage and cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s.
     To arrive at this conclusion, researchers tracked 260 adults with normal cognitive function for a time of ten years. They used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure brain volume and memory function of each of the 260 participants both at the beginning and end of the analysis. Based on responses from a questionnaire, 163 of the participants consumed fish on a weekly basis, with the majority of the 163 eating fish one to four times each week.
     The findings showed subjects who consumed more fish had better memory function and larger brain areas, including the posterior cingulated cortex and the orbital frontal cortex, as well as the hippocampus even when considering other factors such as education, age, gender and physical activity. These results are especially important because the hippocampus is known to shrink in individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
     Furthermore, it seems as though people with larger brain volume saw risk for Alzheimer’s decrease by fivefold within five years after the brain scans in this study took place. Not a fish lover?—No problem as the benefit was seen among those who only consumed fish as little as one to four times a week!
     According to the president of the Campaign to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease by 2020, the study results do lend support to the idea that there is a “possible beneficial effect of diet rich in fish ingredients, ” however, as promising as the results may be, it is important to remember these finding don’t definitively prove that eating fish will prevent Alzheimer’s.

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Get to Know Fidelis Partners and Medestar!

Lori Vickers

Career:
     • Lori began her career in physician recruiting in 2006 as an associate to our CEO, Arthur. She worked directly with him for 18 months before venturing out on her own to handle her own account load. When Arthur, Michael and Vince founded Fidelis Partners, Lori made the transition with them, and is now a Senior Search Consultant.
     • Throughout her years in the industry, Lori has formed close relationships and friendships with the clients and hospitals she serves, and her favorite part of her job is being able to satisfy her client’s recruitment goals and bringing physicians to their communities.
     • Because of the strong bonds she has formed with her clients, Lori has received the “Recruiter of the Quarter” award here at Fidelis Partners.
     • Lori uses her many personal and professional strengths daily to serve her clients and physicians. She is a big picture person and operates from a place of longevity and long term growth allowing her to truly consult both client and candidate throughout the recruitment process. She is positive, understanding, and expects the very best from those around her. This attitude not only helps her clients and physicians, but also her peers at Fidelis Partners.

Personal Information:

Background information:
  
     • Lori was born in American Samoa; however, she grew up in the San Diego area after moving to California at age 5.
     • Lori graduated from UCLA with a major in English and a minor in Education. Growing up, Lori always thought she would be a teacher! Now she uses her background and love of teaching to volunteer at college fairs where she works with high school students to help get them to college by reading their scholarship essays.

In Her Free Time:
  
     • In her free time, Lori enjoys spending time with her husband and one year old son, Ryan.
     • Lori has a strong interest in politics, and enjoys traveling and reading in her free time.

Interesting Things You Probably Didn’t Know:
  

     • After Lori graduated from college, she drove her Ford Ranger pick-up truck across the country to Washington, D.C. where she worked for the U.S. House of Representatives for four years. Washington, D.C. is still her favorite city because of how fast paced it is and because of the people who live and work there. She enjoys how the city is jam packed with some of the most determined and motivated people who are out to conquer the world.
     • Lori has Security Clearance from the U.S. Department of Defense from when she worked on Capitol Hill in 2002.
     • Lori’s first language was Samoan, but when she moved to the U.S. she only spoke English in her household, so she no longer remembers how to speak Samoan.
     • Lori’s favorite quote is by Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”

Contact Lori For:
     - Permanent placement opportunities.
Connect with Lori:
     - LinkedIn profile
     - Apply to jobs
     - Email Lori

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Get to Know Fidelis Partners and Medestar!

Chris Cross

Career:
     • As a Senior Search Consultant here at Fidelis, Chris places physicians of all specialties in permanent positions across the country. His favorite part of his role is the thrill of finding a great fit between a client and candidate and the satisfaction he receives from helping both clients and candidates find a better professional and personal situation.
     • Throughout his more than six years in the industry, Chris has received multiple “Recruiter of the Month” awards for his hard work and dedication to clients and candidates alike.
     • Chris’s greatest professional strengths are that he is organized and process driven. His organizational skills allow him to stay focused on minute details, making sure nothing slips through the cracks, while his process driven outlook enables him to keep the big picture in mind as he works through each individual situation with clients and candidates. Both characteristics give him the ability to consult with both clients and candidates to match each physician with the perfect facility.

Personal:
Background Information
     • Chris grew up in Otis, Colorado. Don’t know where that is? Find the place where Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado meet, go 40 miles west of that point and you will find Otis.
     • He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences with an emphasis in molecular genetics from Colorado State University.

In His Free Time:
     • Chris enjoys spending time with his family including his wife, Farrel, and two daughters, Kerstin and Kyler.
     • He also enjoys reading, working in the yard, and doing other home improvement projects.

Interesting Things You Probably Didn’t Know:
     • Chris sang in the University Chorus while he attended Colorado State University.

Contact Chris For:
     - Permanent Placement Opportunities
Connect with Chris
     - Linked In
     - Apply to Jobs
     - Email Chris

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Magic Johnson: 20 Years After HIV Diagnosis

     It was twenty years and one day ago when Magic Johnson shocked the world with his retirement from basketball. Even more shocking than his retirement was the reason behind it-Magic was and is HIV positive. In the twenty years since his public announcement, Magic has used his celebrity and fame to raise awareness of and funds for HIV and AIDS research. Throughout the twenty years after announcing to the world his shocking medical diagnosis, Magic Johnson has forever altered attitudes about the virus and its effects.

     Each year, more than 40,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with HIV and more than 16,500 people in the U.S. die from AIDS annually. Those numbers, however, are nothing compared to the 2.6 million people worldwide diagnosed with HIV and the 1.8 million people who die from AIDS annually.
     Today, Magic is a 52-year old specimen of health according to his doctor, and is comfortably managing his HIV with a daily regimen of drugs and exercise. He was once required to take upwards of 15 pills several times a day, but now that number is significantly smaller.
     Magic commemorated the twentieth anniversary of his announcement at the Staples Center in Los Angeles Monday with several politicians, celebrities, and AIDS researchers. The celebration included a luncheon and an astounding one million dollar gift to the Magic Johnson Foundation which will be used to continue its mission for worldwide HIV awareness and testing.

     Magic feels he is in a way both helpful and hurtful to the HIV/AIDS cause. He often reflects on this point, saying he is “good because [he's] doing well, and [he] can go out and try and raise the awareness level, get people to go get tested ... but on the flip side of that, people see that [he's] doing well, so they've kind of relaxed on HIV and AIDS. People think that now if they get the virus, they'll do well, but a couple million will die this year." Magic is using this milestone as a call to renew dedication to the cause. Magic as well as HIV/AIDS researchers want to continually remind the public that while a diagnosis of HIV is no longer the “death sentence” it once was, we still do not have a cure. For this reason, it is important for the public to continue to get tested and is why Magic will continue to raise awareness and continue doing all he can for research.

     Magic is very happy with his life and the decisions he has made since being diagnosed twenty years ago. The only thing that could make Magic happier in his situation is if “the numbers in the black and brown communities would go down,” reminding us that in the U.S. a majority of the 60,000 new cases annually come from the minority communities. Magic believes “we must change the mindset, and we must do a better job educating those who live in urban America about this disease."
     Magic Johnson ends this remarkable event by reminding us “the best doctors and medicine in the world can't save you if you don't do what you're supposed to do," advice to remember in every medical situation.

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The Importance of Board Certification

A Note from Medestar’s Vice President:

     The importance of Board Certification has increased 10 fold over the past 10 years I have spent in the locum industry. In 2001, approximately 1 out of every 10 facilities in need of additional physician coverage required Board Certification. Currently, however, 9 out of 10 facilities require Board Certification. Physicians who are not Board Certified have a much more difficult time finding a position, and I believe there are 2 main reasons for this:

     1. Hospitals and practices want to provide the best care to their patients and having a Board Certified physician shows that the physicians have met a minimum competency requirement and reflects well on the hospital since they have sought out the best providers. The same cannot be said for a physician who is non-certified. Board certification assures the public that board certified physicians have successfully completed the educational, training, and experience requirements of the specialty, including an examination designed to assess the competencies required to provide quality services in that specialty. This process serves to address the competency of the physician, not just knowledge. Board Certification further legitimatizes the overall image of the physician as well as the practice they represent.
     2. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun to offer additional incentives to physicians that are board certified such as an additional .5 percent incentive payment.

     So, if you are a physician debating whether or not to become board certified, our advice is yes, take the test and become board certified. You will open the door to many more professional options concerning where you can practice. You will also give your patients a sense of security knowing you have taken the extra step to make sure you have the knowledge and experience to treat them fully and accurately.

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Get to Know Fidelis Partners and Medestar!

Alex Montoya

Career:
    
     • Alex is a recruiter here at Medestar where he continually builds and maintains his relationships with various medical professionals while always striving to place them in mutually beneficial professional situations.
     • He most enjoys the competitive aspect of being a physician recruiter. He enjoys achieving the goals he sets for himself as well as competing with his fellow teammates to always improve as he attempts to be the best he can be. He enjoys the competition because it keeps him on his toes and continues to challenge him every day.
     • Alex’s two greatest professional strengths are his competitive nature as well as his extreme motivation which have led to Alex being recognized as the Top Sales Associate for 6 consecutive months in a previous position.

Personal:

Background Information:
     • Alex grew up in Dallas, Texas before attending Texas State University.
     • He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies with a minor in mass communications.

 In His Free Time:
      • In his free time, Alex enjoys being active. His favorite activities are playing basketball, biking, and going to the gym.
     • He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Interesting Things You Probably Didn’t Know:
     • Alex was born in Lima, Peru.
     • He is bilingual—fluent in both conversational and written English and Spanish!

Contact Alex For:
     - Locum Tenen opportunities nationwide.
Connect with Alex:
     - Linked In
     - Apply to Jobs
     - Email Alex

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