The Core Goals of IPSAC Vietnam

A pediatric surgeon who functions as a professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Illinois, Dr. Mark Holterman is a graduate of Yale and the University of Virginia, where he earned his MD. Further to his professional pursuits, Dr. Mark Holterman supports the International Pediatric Surgical Alliance for the Children of Vietnam (IPSAC-VN), a philanthropic organization that assists Vietnamese pediatricians in the provision of care to the children of Vietnam.

IPSAC-VN has two core goals, including providing educational opportunities to Vietnamese pediatricians, through training events, interactive sessions, and lectures. Additionally, the organization supports a number of training initiatives created by medical schools and hospitals in Vietnam.

Its second goal is to improve the quality of patient care via the provision of suitable equipment for Vietnamese pediatricians. IPSAC-VN also works closely with medical professionals in Vietnam to identify children who may have difficulty in accessing surgical treatment and assists in the creation of mechanisms that ensure such children attain access to proper care.

The Hannah Sunshine Foundation - Tucker Beau's Story

University of Illinois College of Medicine Professor Mark Holterman, MD, teaches surgical and pediatric classes. In addition to his work in teaching, Dr. Mark Holterman actively explores cellular therapies. He is also one of the early leaders of the Hannah Sunshine Foundation, which supports pediatric patients like Tucker Beau. 

Tucker Beau was diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis at a very young age. In this type of chronic arthritis the immune system targets healthy tissues, resulting in inflammation. In addition to joint pain, children living with this condition often experience prolonged fevers and issues with internal organs. 

When Tucker Beau was very young, his illness prevented him from eating properly. As time went by, it kept him from doing the active things other children do, like ride a bicycle. Tucker Beau relied on his heroes, Batman and fellow patient Sarah, for support. 

Tucker Beau's parents sought out stem cell treatments through Celltex Therapeutics, hoping to try all possible avenues to find help for their son. Tucker Beau became the first child to receive treatment for the disease that relied on the patient's own stem cells. Today, he is able to ride his bike, play lacrosse, and go to school.

Hannah Warren Receives New Trachea Constructed of Stem Cells

Dr. Mark J. Holterman serves as a professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Illinois in Peoria. A member of the executive board of the Alliance for the Advancement of Cellular Therapies, Mark. J. Holterman, M.D., has a keen interest in the field of regenerative medicine. In 2013, he played a key role in a ground-breaking trachea transplant made of the patient’s own cells and bioengineered scaffolding.

Born with a rare condition called tracheal agenisis, Hannah Warren did not have the ability to breathe, swallow, eat, or drink on her own. On April 9, 2013, 32-month-old Hannah received an artificial windpipe constructed from her own stem cells and a synthetic scaffold. She was the first child who received a tissue-engineered, stem cell-based artificial trachea. The nine-hour surgery, completed by an international team of medical professionals at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois, was successful.

Transplants using organs constructed of a patient’s own stem cells eliminate the risk of rejection by a patient’s immune system as well as a lifelong dependency on immunosuppressive drugs.

Unfortunately, Hannah Warren passed away several months after her surgery from unrelated medical conditions revealed after the tracheal transplant.

The Hannah Sunshine Foundation - Sarah's Story

Professor Mark J. Holterman, MD, teaches classes in surgery and pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Alongside his academic duties, Dr. Mark J. Holterman is a pioneer in the field of cellular and regenerative therapies. He assisted in the creation of both the Alliance for the Advancement of Cellular Therapeutics and the Hannah Sunshine Foundation.

The Hannah Sunshine Foundation was inspired by three young people whose lives were changed by cellular and regenerative therapies. One of them, Sarah Hughes, was diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and dysautonomia at the age of 11 months. Ms. Hughes' autoimmune condition left her unable to gain weight, eat normally, stand for prolonged periods, or engage in many of the activities that young people typically get to enjoy.

At the age of 22, Ms. Hughes underwent regenerative therapy using her own adult stem cells. The biotechnology company Celltex Therapeutics collected a small sample of her fat, which was used to harvest stem cells. After reintroducing the stem cells to her body through an intravenous infusion, Ms. Hughes experienced significant improvements almost immediately. Today, she can not only eat without the help of a feeding tube, but also walk, swim, and ride horses.

Study Names Obesity Itself as Actual Cause of MLL Overgrowths

Mark J. Holterman, MD, serves as a professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. In addition to teaching classes in the fields of pediatrics and surgery, Dr. Mark J. Holterman maintains standing as a fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons reveals that abnormal lower extremity growths in morbidly obese individuals are the result of a condition called obesity-induced lymphedema (OIL), which is a disease directly caused by morbid obesity.

In the pilot study, researchers sought to find the connection between obesity and lower extremity overgrowths, as little information was previously known on the subject. The typical procedure has been surgical removal of these growths. Researchers found, however, that losing weight through natural means (diet, exercise) or in more difficult cases via bariatric surgery are now the preferred treatment of these growths rather than surgical removal.

The overgrowth condition is called massive localized lymphedema (MLL), and this study is the first to actually link the condition directly to OIL. The recommendation for patients with MLL growths is that they receive weight loss counseling, preferably non-surgical in nature, before surgical treatments are considered.

IPSAC Vietnam Scholarship Program Supports Physicians in Vietnam

 

Mark J. Holterman, MD, serves as a professor of surgery and pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, where he is a member of the surgery department’s division of pediatric surgery. Outside his work with the university’s surgery department, Dr. Mark J. Holterman supports the International Pediatric Specialists Alliance for the Children of Vietnam (IPSAC-VN), which advances the quality of health care in Vietnam through the IPSAC Vietnam Scholarship Program.

Granting awards of $2,500 to eligible Vietnam-based medical persons, the scholarship program focuses on granting access to a tailored education to nurses, allied medical personnel, and licensed and in-training physicians. The scholarship enables recipients to attend a US-based medical institution approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and covers educational expenses associated with clinical practices or translational research training for up to two months. Funds may also go toward travel and room and board.

Eligible applicants must possess a firm grasp of the English language and provide a letter of recommendation from their home institution that highlights the applicant’s dedication to quality health care. Award recipients will receive a certificate from the IPSAC-VN and the host medical institution upon completing the program, and must then return to their original institution in Vietnam. Certificates do not grant license to practice in the US, nor may they apply toward application for a US residency or fellowship program.

Medical Fields - Regenerative Medicine

 

A surgeon and researcher, Dr. Mark J. Holterman pursued original medical research funded through the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute. When not performing research, Dr. Mark J. Holterman teaches up-and-coming MDs as professor of surgery and pediatrics with the University of Illinois at Peoria College of Medicine.

Regenerative medicine seeks to address the underlying causes of illnesses by actually repairing damaged organs or replacing those that cannot be salvaged. Physicians who practice regenerative medicine may, for instance, use techniques to encourage slow-healing organs like the heart to heal faster or more effectively. They may also replace entire organs through transplantation procedures or help the body re-grow damaged tissues through cell-based treatments.

If advances in regenerative treatments continue, the future could hold medical wonders that can improve quality of life and longevity. Regenerative care could one day allow doctors to create functioning pancreases that could then be placed inside patients with diabetes, allowing them to produce insulin as normal. Similar breakthroughs may permit people with spinal injuries to walk unaided.