The launch of our updated website, www.med.miami.edu, also has made available new opportunities to obtain the most up-to-date information directly from the leader of the Miller School and UHealth.

A state-of the-art hospice unit was just inaugurated at University of Miami Hospital, providing increased access to quality end-of-life care for patients throughout the South Florida community.

The 10-bed VITAS Innovative Hospice and Palliative Care Uunit, established by VITAS Innovative Hospice Care and celebrated April 13 at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, will serve patients who are unable or choose not to receive hospice services at home.

Stephen Roper, Ph.D., professor of physiology and biophysics at the Miller School, received the 2010 Max Mozell Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Chemical Senses from the Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS) during the organization's annual meeting in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida, on April 21.

The award recognizes the accomplishments of a senior scientist working in the chemical senses with a research record of excellence and contributions that have had a major impact on research in the field. Dr. Roper is internationally known for his research on how the body's taste buds work. He was instrumental in establishing detailed physiological properties of mammalian taste bud cells and collaborated with Nirupa Chaudhari, Ph.D., professor of physiology and biophysics, when she cloned and identified molecular receptors for "umami" taste, which is now firmly established as a fifth taste, after sweet, sour, salty and bitter.

Onelia Lage, M.D., associate professor of clinical pediatrics and director of adolescent medical education and community health, was inducted into the Miami Dade College Alumni Hall of Fame during a gala dinner and ceremony on April 22 in Miami.

Dr. Lage joined 28 other alumni in receiving this special recognition which celebrates the career achievements of renowned former students at one of the nation's largest institutions of higher education.

More than 60 faculty, staff and students joined Dean Pascal J. Goldschmidt, M.D., who discussed health care reform and community-linked research, and Isaac Prilleltensky, Ph.D., dean of  the School of Education, April 19 at the University of Miami BankUnited Center for a Collaborative Research Exchange Forum (CREF) on opportunities and challenges in community-linked research.

For more information or to make a purchase, please visit http://it.med.miami.edu/x312.xml or call 305-243-1189.