Quick hits: Just how dirty is that restaurant menu?

Lawrence Bonchek, M.D.

LG Health physician writes letter to New York Times

A letter to the editor by LG Health retired surgeon Lawrence Bonchek, M.D., appeared in the Oct. 21 New York Times. Dr. Bonchek is Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Lancaster General Hospital.

In response to a recent article by a physician who eats food that drops on the floor, Dr. Bonchek pointed out that restaurant menus are another potential source of bacterial contamination that most people don’t consider dirty. He advises using hand sanitizer after ordering.

Patients vote, physician wins pumpkin-carving contest

Halloween is extra-special at LG Health Physicians Family Medicine Abbeyville.

“Our employees carve pumpkins, and the patients get to vote for their favorite,” Abbeyville’s Bill Bakken, M.D., said. “The winner gets bragging rights for the entire year.”

Abbeyville has hosted a pumpkin-carving contest for nearly 20 years. This year’s entries included a gumball machine, fairy house and snowman.

Practice staff dressed in costumes with a Wizard of Oz theme, including Managing Physician Denise Cope, M.D., as the Wicked Witch of the East.

“Our patients truly enjoy their Halloween office visit,” said Dr. Bakken, who carved this year’s winning pumpkin, a green monster.

Staff members at Family Medicine Abbeyville dressed in Halloween costumes with a Wizard of Oz theme. They include: Jessica Galante (Toto), Tara McCoua (Scarecrow), Jodi Davis (Lollipop Kid/Munchkin), Joanne Mueller (Mayor of Munchkin Land), Greta Perez (Glinda the Good Witch), Sharon Albright (Lion), Amy Haegele (Dorothy), Lauren McMullen (Tinman), Nicole Weber (Auntie Em), Denise Cope, M.D. (Wicked Witch of the East), Kathy King (Wicked Witch of the West) and Christina Pallatos (Lollipop Kid).


Pumpkin contest entries included a snowman by Linda Risberg, a gumball machine by Jessica Galante, a monster by Bill Bakken, M.D., and a fairy house by Lindsay Houser.

Drs. Kempsell, Oyer and Shen interviewed by local media

Medical Director of Oncology Randy Oyer, M.D., wrote a Sunday LNP op-ed about how LG Health and Penn Medicine are working together to decrease the frequency of breast cancer seen locally, detect breast cancers as early as possible and make treatments as successful as possible.

Michelle Shen, M.D., breast cancer program director with LG Health Physicians Surgical Group, was interviewed for an LNP article on living with metastatic breast cancer.

Ashley Kempsell, M.D., of LG Health Physicians Family Medicine Lincoln, addressed the misconception that people can get the influenza virus from the flu shot in an LNP article.


Randy Oyer, M.D.	Michelle Shen, M.D.	Ashley Kempsell, M.D.

Obituaries: Drs. Robert Steinman, Edward Lancaster Jr. and Henry Huffnagle

Robert C. Steinman, M.D., died Oct. 3, at age 94.

Dr. Steinman, the first full-time physiatrist in Lancaster County, developed the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at Lancaster General Hospital, where he worked until 1983. He entered private practice until 1995, when he joined Lancaster Neuroscience and Spine Associates, retiring in 2001.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, Nov. 6. Click here for details and to read Dr. Steinman’s full obituary.

Edward Lee Lancaster Jr., M.D., died Sept. 27, at age 92. Dr. Lancaster practiced orthopedic surgery locally for more than 40 years. He was a member of the LGH Medical & Dental Staff from 1958 to 1997.

Click here to read Dr. Lancaster’s full obituary.

Henry William Huffnagle, M.D., died Oct. 7, at age 83. Dr. Huffnagle, a urologist, was a member of the LGH Medical & Dental Staff from 1964 to 1999.

Click here to read Dr. Huffnagle’s full obituary.