Message from the CEO

Emory's Woodruff Health Sciences Center is truly blessed to have faculty, staff, students, supporters, and a community who believe in our mission. Together, these friends of our center have helped us surpass the goals of our seven-year, $1.6 billion fundraising campaign by an impressive margin, and we are grateful to everyone who made the campaign so successful. In the current economic environment, investment from our community of supporters is more important than ever and will help ensure our continued progress in research, education, and patient care.

In this issue of Emory Health, you'll read about many of the programs that your support is making possible. For example, researchers from Emory, the Marcus Autism Center, and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta are making headway in the science of autism, enabling experts to diagnose the disorder much earlier—in fact, as early as 18 months of age. Earlier diagnosis means earlier application of interventions that can improve outcomes for children.

You'll read about a new book by two of our faculty that takes a predictive health approach to empower patients to take control of their own health. The predictive health approach, practiced in the Emory/Georgia Tech Center for Health Discovery and Well-being, refocuses energy on maintaining health rather than treating disease.

And you'll read the moving story of how a team of Emory caregivers helped my long-time friend and colleague Rhonda Mullen find the courage to let her beloved mother go.

These and all the other inspirational stories in this issue of Emory Health are made possible by the talent, intellect, creativity, curiosity, collaboration, and compassion demonstrated every day by every member of the WHSC community—including our supporters and volunteers. All of us, working together, create these amazing stories of help and hope that make our mission such a wise investment.

Wright Caughman MD

Please share your feedback at evphafeedback@emory.edu.

Send letters to the editor to rhonda.mullen@emory.edu.

Features

The Earlier the Better

The average age of autism at diagnosis is 4.5 years, older for low income and minority families. Emory researchers want to change that timeline, and now they have the science and partners to do it.

The Game of Life

Hypertension? Take seven steps back. A healthy diet? Move 12 steps forward. The predictive health approach turns the focus from treating disease to nurturing health.

Pictures of Health

Campaign Emory has raised $1.17 billion for a healthier future for Georgia.

Letting Mom Go

A daughter says good-bye.

Emory CSI

Briefs