e-Update
October 22, 2002
Weekly News Briefs
e-Update is distributed
weekly to keep faculty and staff at the University of Miami School of Medicine
up-to-date on news at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center.
To submit news for publication, e-mail items to update@med.miami.edu.
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ANNIVERSARY ALBUM
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Learn fun facts about the School of Medicine’s history every two weeks,
as e-Update presents the latest in a special series commemorating our 50th anniversary.
Celebrating its official opening at the School of Medicine in 1978, the Center
for Research in Medical Education was dedicated as a unique facility for the
application of advanced technology to educate medical students, physicians,
physician assistants, nurses, paramedics, and firefighters. The center’s
Medical Training and Simulation Laboratory boasts a high-technology auditorium,
self-learning laboratory, and standardized patient training area. Trainees prepare
for real-life situations in the center’s fire rescue vehicle, a car used
for training in extrication of trauma victims, a hazardous materials decontamination
shower, and a mock emergency department. More than 6,000 trainees cycle through
the center’s Division of Emergency Medical Skills training each year,
gaining expertise in basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, and
pediatric advanced life support.
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
--Benefits Open
Enrollment Begins this Week; Representatives on Campus Oct 24 – 25
--February Symposium Celebrates Anniversary of Medical School and DNA Discovery
--Grant Applications Now Accepted for Research on Tobacco-Related Diseases
--2002/03 University Holiday Schedules Available at Human Resources Web Site
--Bi-weekly Paydays Shifted to Account for University Holiday Closings
--Upcoming Calendar Events
MAKE CHANGES TO YOUR PARTICIPATION
IN BENEFITS PLANS AT 2003 OPEN ENROLLMENT
Open Enrollment for the 2003 calendar year began Monday, October 21, and runs
through Friday, November 8. Again this year, changes during Open Enrollment
must be completed on-line through “Your Benefits Link” at http://www.benefits.miami.edu.
You will need a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access the service.
If you do not have a PIN, or forgot it, have your most recent paycheck handy
and log on using the Net Pay figure. Benefits representatives will be on-hand
to answer your questions and provide updated information at the 2003 Open Enrollment
Benefits Fair, October 24 and 25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Jackson Memorial
Hospital cafeteria.
UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY SCHEDULES POSTED
FOR 2002 AND 2003 CALENDAR YEARS
The Office of Human Resources has posted the 2003 holiday administrative schedule
for the University and the School of Medicine. You can view these on-line at
http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,4074-1;8818-3,00.html.
For the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, refer to the 2002 schedule
by visiting http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,4074-1;9765-3,00.html.
BI-WEEKLY PAY SCHEDULE ALTERED TO
ACCOMMODATE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
Employees who are paid on a bi-weekly basis should note the following changes
to the pay schedule, with regards to the 2002 Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays:
Paychecks will be distributed on Wednesday, November 27, to account for the
Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 28. Likewise, payday will fall on
Monday, December 23, to account for the Christmas Day holiday. Paydays for employees
paid on a monthly basis will continue to occur on the last working day of each
month. Visit the Pay Schedule home page at http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,4074-1;13158-2,00.html
for further details.
BIOTECHNOLOGY SYMPOSIUM TO FEATURE
DOUBLE HELIX DISCOVERER JAMES D. WATSON
Don’t miss your opportunity to hear Dr. James D. Watson discuss his monumental
1953 discovery with Dr. Francis Crick, identifying the double helix structure
of DNA, an accomplishment that garnered the Nobel Prize for the two researchers.
Watson’s address will be the opening event at the 2003 Miami Nature Biotechnology
Winter Symposium, to be held February 2 – 5 at the Radisson Deauville
Resort Hotel in Miami Beach. The symposium’s theme will be "50 Years
On: From the Double Helix to Molecular Medicine.” Present your research
at the conference with a poster submission; the deadline to submit materials
is November 8. Registration fees for UM faculty and staff members are covered
by tuition remission (include your Social Security number along with your registration).
Graduate student registration waivers are available from the Office of Graduate
Studies. For further details or to register, visit http://www.med.miami.edu/mnbws
or contact Sandy Black, executive director, at sblack@miami.edu.
GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR BIOMEDICAL
RESEARCH ON TOBACCO-RELATED DISEASES
The Executive Office of Research Leadership announces the availability of grant
funds through the Florida Biomedical Research Program. Research grants funded
through this program must address the prevention, diagnosis, and/or treatment
of tobacco-related diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke,
and pulmonary disease. Beginning July 1, 2003, funding will support New Investigator
Research (NIR) Projects and Small-business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs.
To obtain application criteria, visit http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Disease_ctr/epi/biomed/index.html.
Proposals are due November 13 and will be processed by each campus' Research
Administration Office. If you have any additional questions, contact Catherine
Hughes of the Florida Biomedical Research Program at Catherine_Hughes@doh.state.fl.us
or Tony Izquierdo in the Executive Office of Research Leadership at 305-243-5792
or tizquierdo@med.miami.edu.
QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPLIANCE?
TWO UM HELPLINES CAN ASSIST YOU
Research integrity concerns? Report concerns regarding research integrity and
adherence to federal or University regulations directly to the Office of the
Vice Provost for Research at 305-243-6415, or you can call the University's
toll-free, anonymous compliance hotline at 866-YOURCALL. Medicare and billing
concerns? Address questions to Third Party Reimbursement/Office of Compliance
at 305-243-HELP or 877-415-HELP. For information about this helpline or training
programs offered by the compliance office, contact Gemma Romillo at 305-243-5842.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
IRB TRAINING AND ISSUES
ADDRESSED AT WEEKLY SEMINARS
A program of weekly small-group seminars on topics that pertain to the Institutional
Review Board and research continues October 22, with "IRB: Responsibilities
of the PI, Part I," presented by Roberto Dominguez, M.D., chair of Medical
Sciences Subcommittee “B,” noon to 1 p.m., at the Mailman Center,
Room 3023. Future seminars in this series continue through November. The
schedule can be viewed at http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,15190-1;15332-3,00.html.
For more information or to register, call Katherine Morales at 305-243-2311
or e-mail kmorales@med.miami.edu.
RSVP is required. You also can register on-line when you visit http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,15190-1;16137-3,00.html.
PEDIATRICS AND ETHICS PROGRAMS
PRESENT LECTURE ON BULLIES AND VIOLENCE
Learn how to recognize the signs of power and aggression that can lead to bullying
and find out more about initiatives that look to curb violence in the community
at a presentation from the Department of Pediatrics and the UM Ethics Programs.
Debra J. Pepler, Ph.D., director of the LaMarsh Centre for Research on Violence
and Conflict Resolution at York University in Toronto, will visit the medical
campus on October 22 to discuss “Bullying and Violence Prevention: Challenges
and Strategies.” The lecture will begin at noon. Note that the location
has been moved to the Mailman Center, eighth floor auditorium. Lunch will be
provided following the lecture. RSVP to Raquel Morales at 305-243-6123 if you
would like to attend.
RENOWNED SCIENTIST VISITS MIAMI
PROJECT FOR VISITING LECTURE SERIES
The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis presents the first installment in the Gail
F. Beach Memorial 2002-2003 Visiting Lectureship Series, entitled “Methylprednisolone
for Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Taking Down a Standard of Care.” R. John
Hurlbert, M.D., chief of spine surgery at the University of Calgary in Alberta,
Canada, will be the featured speaker on October 23, noon, at the Lois Pope LIFE
Center’s seventh floor auditorium. Hurlbert has conducted multiple prospective
clinical trials in spinal surgery. His landmark article in the July 2000 issue
of the Journal of Neurosurgery was one of the driving forces behind the development
of guidelines for the use of steroids in spinal cord injury. For more information,
call 305-243-7108 or click on http://www.miamiproject.miami.edu/vls2003.pdf.
OPHTHALMOLOGY LECTURE TO ADDRESS
RETINAL IMPLANTS FOR ARTIFICIAL VISION
Look to the future of eye care as the Department of Ophthalmology presents “Frontiers
in Vision Science,” on October 24, 5:30 p.m., in the Retter Auditorium
at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Raymond Iezzi, M.D., assistant director of the
Ligon Research Center of Vision at Wayne State University, will discuss “Epi-Retinal
Implants for Artificial Vision.” Refreshments will be offered before the
lecture, beginning at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Maria Perez at 305-326-6046
or mperez@med.miami.edu.
ANNUAL ETHICS CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON
IRB REVIEW, HUMAN SUBJECTS, AND MORE
Register now for “Extreme Ethics,” scheduled for October 24 –
26 at the Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel in Miami. This NIH-supported research
ethics conference, now in its third year, has two tracks. One emphasizes “Foundations:
Elements of High Quality IRB Review,” while the second addresses exceptionally
difficult challenges in research on human subjects and in public health. Topics
will include genetics, HIPAA, biostatistics, and bioinformatics. A conference
brochure and program are available on-line at http://www.miami.edu/ethics.
For more information, call the UM Ethics Programs at 305-243-5723.
ANNUAL INTER-AMERICAN COURSE IN
CLINICAL OPHTHALMOLOGY HELD THIS MONTH
The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute presents the XXIV Inter-American Course in Clinical
Ophthalmology on October 27 – 30 at the Hotel Intercontinental, 100 Chopin
Plaza, in Miami. This advanced educational conference will be presented in simultaneous
English to Spanish translation. No AMA CME credits will be provided. To register,
call 305-326-6110. For more information, visit http://www.bpei.med.miami.edu.
WOMEN’S CANCER ISSUES AND MORE
ADDRESSED AT ASK THE EXPERTS WORKSHOP
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Courtelis Center for Psychosocial
Oncology presents a one-day workshop on “Breast and Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
and Treatment Issues: A Partial Focus on Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy”
on October 29, in Sylvester Conference Room 1301. School of Medicine experts
will address a broad range of topics, including psychosocial issues of women
with cancer, genetic research, early detection, treatment advances, and more.
Six contact hours will be provided for nurses, LCSW, LMHC, and LMFT. The cost
to attend is $10, and pre-registration is required. Breakfast and lunch will
be provided. For more information or to register, contact Fariba Ostovary at
305-243-4274 or fostovar@med.miami.edu.
MEET WITH TIAA-CREF REPRESENTATIVES
TO ANSWER YOUR FINANCIAL QUESTIONS
A representative from TIAA-CREF will be at the Professional Development and
Training Office, Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155, on October 30 to conduct
individual financial counseling sessions. To schedule an appointment, call 877-267-4510
or visit http://www.tiaa-cref.org/moc.
GHOSTS AND GHOULS AWAIT YOU IN THE
NIGHTMARE FOREST THIS HALLOWEEN
Do you dare to enter the Nightmare Forest? The Physician Referral Office invites
only the bravest souls to its annual haunted house. Admission is $1, and proceeds
benefit the United Way. Enter at your own risk on Halloween, October 31, from
9 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Physician Referral Office is located
in the Park Plaza West breezeway, next to the credit union. For more information
call 305-243-6093.
ONCOLOGY WORKSHOP TO ADDRESS
GYNECOLOGIC MALIGNANCIES
The HIM/Oncology Data Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital presents “FCRA
Oncology Workshop on GYN Malignancies,” November 1, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
in the Diagnostic Treatment Center, Room 252. AHIMA, NCRA, nursing, and radiology
continuing education (CE) credits for 4.5 hours have been granted. You must
RSVP by October 25 to reserve your space. Contact Lizette Acosta at 305-585-6618,
extension 2, or lacosta2@um-jmh.org.
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE OSTEOPOROSIS
SCREENING WITH WELLNESS DEPARTMENT
How strong are your bones? Find out if you’re at risk for osteoporosis
at a free screening offered by the Department of Wellness and Recreation. Those
at risk for osteoporosis include women over age 45, women who have had a hysterectomy,
those taking steroids for the treatment of asthma or arthritis, those over age
40 who routinely smoke or drink several caffeine or alcoholic beverages daily,
and others. The screenings will be held on November 6, at the Wellness Center,
Dominion Tower, Suite 1101; November 7 in Sylvester Conference Room 1301; and
November 8, at the Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155. Faculty, staff, and dependents
are welcome. Appointments must be made in advance. Call 305-243-3209 to schedule
your screening.
UM/SYLVESTER EGOZI LECTURE OFFERS
PRESENTATION ON HEPATIC CHEMOEMBOLIZATION
The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center presents the third annual Egozi Memorial
Lecture on November 8, noon to 1 p.m., in Sylvester Conference Room 1301. This
event honors the late Miami businessman David Egozi, and serves to provide information
on new therapies, particularly radiolabelled octreotide. Distinguished guest
lecturer Timothy W.I. Clark, M.D., assistant professor of radiology and surgery
at the University of Pennsylvania, will discuss "Hepatic Chemoembolization."
All faculty and staff are invited to attend. For additional information, contact
Abby Walker at 305-243-1046 or abby@miami.edu.
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