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SUMMER 2021 HOT NEWS FROM INSIDE OMRF

The MS Center marks a decade at OMRF!

The Total Package

OMRF’s MS Center celebrates 10 years of comprehensive care

For years, Gabriel Pardo dreamed of creating problems, tremors, paralysis, painful spasms,
a comprehensive center that could address imbalance and cognitive changes. The disease
multiple sclerosis from all angles. A decade ago is difficult to diagnose and treat, and the cause
this spring, OMRF made that dream a reality. is unknown.

Since the OMRF Multiple Sclerosis Center OMRF is a one-stop-shop for people living
of Excellence opened in 2011, says Gabriel, with MS. Neurology. Ophthalmology. Physical
his team has revolutionized care for disease in therapy. General wellness education. And, of
Oklahoma and the region. course, access to clinical trials. (The center
currently counts 27 of them.)
In MS, immune cells attack the protective
covering of nerves in the brain, causing vision With more than 550 patient visits each

From left – Glenna Bonner, Berlinda Thompson, Donna Prickett , Cecilie Fjeldstad-Pardo,
Toni Snow, Janice Woodson, Tracey Nail, Chelsea Berkley, Tony Sharp, Gabriel Pardo,
Bobbette Miller, Jennifer Smith, Micki Drake, Kellie Kraus-Flores, Julie Traylor

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OMRF’s research on MS. A decade’s worth

“When we combine all that of clinical data and samples are now the
we do at the MS Center, foundation of the work of labs across OMRF.

it’s the epitome of the motto: It’s that loop — from the clinic to the lab and
‘That more may live longer, back — that is transforming care for people
with MS.

healthier lives.’” “We are developing the science that is
going to more broadly impact the community

and world at large by better understanding

month, the clinic’s 20-person team is busy. this disease, developing better treatments and

But patients would never know it. Unlike in getting patients access to these therapies,”

traditional clinical settings, says Gabriel, “Care says Gabriel. “And that is something we can all

providers can spend as much time as needed be proud of.”

with patients.”

With longer, more thorough visits —

appointments are at least three times Add It Up
the average visit a patient would receive
elsewhere — research can flourish. Patients
learn about clinical trials that might be a
good fit for them and about the latest in MS

research and treatment.

OMRF accountant Chrissy Brady says 7,000+ Patient visits per year
she sees that firsthand.

“You’re never treated as a number,” 92 Clinical trials at the center since 2011
says Chrissy, who has been a patient at

the center since it first opened its doors. 60 Minutes spent with each
“It sounds simple, but it’s really a huge
deal to have the time and full attention new patient, minimum
of your doctor when you’re struggling
4 FDA-approved MS therapies that
with such a difficult disease.”
Chrissy says the ongoing education underwent trials at the center

she receives helps flip a switch, taking 3 States outside of Oklahoma patients

patients from fear of their disease to come from (Arkansas, Kansas and Texas)
empowerment. “It’s like being part of the
solution through research.” 1 Comprehensive MS Center

“I really think this is what sets us apart,” in Oklahoma

says Chelsea Berkley, a neurologist who

joined the MS Center in 2019. “I have a

passion for patient education, communication,

and care, and OMRF embraces that. We

cannot cure their disease, but they leave

knowing there is a plan to control it.”

And the close relationships Chelsea has

with patients like Chrissy and the more than

3,000 others in the center’s care have ignited

3

Remembering
Dr. Stephen M. Prescott

When Dr. Prescott passed away in May after a four-year journey with
cancer, remembrances poured in from across OMRF.

I suspect I’m not even fully aware Dr. Prescott was Dr. Prescott was
of how much I have learned from instrumental in one of those
Dr. Prescott, but the most important enabling me to rare people who
lesson I learned is that if you lead with take the next pushed us to
kindness and respect, people will step in my dream bigger both
follow. scientific career, as people and as
and for that I an institution.
Lisa Day will always be
Government Affairs grateful. He was Jenny Lee
personable, wise, Public Affairs
Dr. Prescott was a spectacular leader generous and
who elevated our institute and inspired an outstanding I know that I am
our science, and he will be greatly example of how to a better scientist
missed by the scientific community. not only endure, and person for
but to excel, in the having known Steve
Jasim Ahamed face of difficult Prescott these
Cardiovascular Biology challenges. short 15 years.

Dave Forsthoefel Pat Gaffney
Genes & Human
Genes & Human Disease Disease

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You can leave a tribute that will be
shared with Dr. Prescott’s family at
prescott.omrf.org.

t
Dr. Prescott’s
leadership style
was not only
inspiring, but
transparent and
inclusive and
made us all
feel valued as
members of the
OMRF family.
Padmaja Mehta
D’souza
Aging &

Metabolism

Dr. Prescott OMRF will not be the same without Dr. Prescott
made me feel Dr. Prescott, and I will miss him. Last handled his
I really mattered March, when my father was in the illness with
when he voiced hospital after a triple bypass surgery, openness, grace
empathy, I reached out to Dr. Prescott because and dignity,
concern, love I was so worried about my dad’s ‘ICU reminding us
and compassion delirium’ and about possibly giving him that being
during the terrible Covid. He called me personally and gave human isn’t just
time of George me reassurance during an extremely a thing we don’t
Floyd’s murder. scary time. have a choice
about, but also
Vicki Gabriel Beth Benefield a thing we need
not try to hide.
MS Center Human Resources
Joan Merrill
Dr. Prescott brought class, intelligence, creativity and
relatability to OMRF and made it such a fun and vibrant place Arthritis & Clinical
to work. I so admired Steve’s way with words and with people;
he made us all feel special. Immunology

Courtney Griffin

Cardiovascular Biology

5

Thank You, Testing Team!

Miles Smith, Carla Guthridge, Joel Guthridge, Marci Beel and Caleb Martin

When it comes to other duties as assigned, member of the team was cross-trained in the
process. If someone was off or unavailable,
Marci Beel, Carla Guthridge, Caleb Marlin another took the task on seamlessly.

and Miles Smith never imagined their to- “We were all just so happy to be able to do
this,” says Carla. “We saw the impact to all of
do lists would include analyzing colleagues’ the employees.”

saliva samples in a global pandemic. But when “Scientists get into
biomedical research because
OMRF launched its Covid testing program
they want to help people.
for onsite employees last fall, the Arthritis & It’s kind of our jam.”

Clinical Immunology quartet did just that. For Accounting’s Stephanie Mode, the
testing program offered comfort. She was
For most of us, the screening process onsite at least three days a week in the
fall and began testing as soon as OMRF
masterminded by Joel Guthridge ended implemented the program. “I was very
grateful. I felt safe coming to work, and I
each week when we deposited our spit with felt protected not only for myself but for my
family,” says Stephanie.
a member of HR. But from there, those tiny
When weekly testing ended in May, about
plastic tubes became work for the Covid 10,000 samples had passed through the
hands of the testing team.
testing team. Not that they minded.
“The testing team didn’t back down on their
Kit-ness “Scientists regular responsibilities, but they stepped up in
Coordinator get into a huge way for the OMRF community,” says
biomedical (the HR) Courtney Stevens Greenwood. We
research can’t thank them enough.”

Kelie Watson because they

assembled want to help

thousands of people,” says

testing kits from Caleb. “It’s kind

October to May. It of our jam.”

wasn’t bicep curls From start to

or bench presses, finish, running

but the mission was the more than 350

same: “My job is to help samples each

OMRF employees get and week took

stay healthy,” says Kelie. nearly six hours,

“That didn’t change.” says Carla. Each

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Fre-done It All
Fredonna Carthen keeps the Rheumatology Research Center
of Excellence running smoothly

You’d be hard-pressed to find a

job in the Rheumatology Research

Center of Excellence that Fredonna

Carthen hasn’t done.

“Everything other than write

prescriptions and diagnose,” jokes

Fredonna, who’s been with the

center for almost 24 years and

now serves as its clinical trial

project administrator.

Since beginning as a

receptionist, Fredonna has

managed offices, coordinated

clinical trials, trained staff,

collected and run lab

samples, and served as a

liaison between patients and

providers. “I’m a helper by

nature. That’s just how I’m of making a difference in
people’s lives. She’s especially
designed and built, to support “I love OMRF. proud that she and the center
and help,” she says. played a part in testing what
would become the first FDA-
With her seen-and-done-it-all The cohesiveness, approved drug for lupus. “For
perspective, Fredonna serves the community, me, it’s exciting to know that
as a calming presence in the the diversity, I was part of the clinical trial
sometimes-hectic center. from Phase 1 all the way to
Phase 3,” says Fredonna.
“She’s always that person and the mission
willing to help out with of really helping Although she finds it difficult
anything,” says Cristina when patients face hard
times, Fredonna cherishes
Arriens, a physician in the and making the opportunity to make a
center. “When I think about a difference difference in their lives.
Fredonna, I think about the in the lives of
glue that holds this whole “The process of healing,
that’s what we do here,” she
clinical operation together.” our patients is says. “We’re healers.”
No matter the task, says phenomenal.”

Fredonna, everything centers

around the shared goal

7

UThneite2d02W1ay Photo Finish
sCtaamrtpsaisgonon!
Poker Walk + Life at OMRF
The United Way of Central Oklahoma
provides financial assistance and support Haley and Wyatt Landrith Holly Smith
for more than 100 programs at 56 partner
agencies in Oklahoma, including OMRF. Since Agustin Carbajal and Jordan Fuqua Bruce Clark

becoming a partner Kelie Watson, Charmaine Moya and Nataliya Smith
agency in 1959, United
Way has donated more Make it a date!
than $6 million to
June 23 Polish Student Symposium
OMRF. Last year, the July 5 OMRF Designated Holiday
organization donated July 9 Employee and Affiliate
$98,000 to fund Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic
research July 30 Summer Scholars Seminar
in the Genes & Human
Disease Research Program.
You can support the United Way Employee
Campaign through payroll deduction, a one-
time gift or by participating in our raffle. And
when you participate, you’re not just helping
OMRF — you’re making a difference for dozens
of organizations improving the well-being of
people in Central Oklahoma.

Key Campaign Dates

June: All departments are invited to create a
gift basket for the raffle. Deliver your basket to
the Development office no later than June 30!

July: Pledge cards will arrive in your mailbox on
July 1, and we’ll kick off the raffle online. Turn
in your pledge forms by July 30 to get a promo
code worth 10 raffle entries!

August: The raffle ends on Aug. 13, and all
pledge forms are due by Aug. 20. Join us for
a wrap-up party from 3:30-5 p.m. on Thursday,
Aug. 19, in Everest Pavilion. We’ll announce
raffle winners + enjoy music and refreshments!