e-Update
June
11, 2001
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.
THIS WEEK'S NEWS
--You Are Invited to Breakfast Meet and Greet with President Shalala
--DRI Director Dr. Camillo Ricordi Honored for Islet Cell Isolation
Invention
--UM Wins 18 of 39 State Grants for Research on Tobacco-Related Diseases
--Select Legislators Key in Restoring State Funding to Med School Programs
--Cynthia Ferchack at DRI Named Humanitarian Physician Assistant of
the Year
--Purchase U.S. Treasury I Bonds through University Payroll Deduction
--Reminder: Medical Purchasing Closed from Noon to 1 p.m. Each Day
--Upcoming Calendar Events
WELCOME PRESIDENT SHALALA
AT UPCOMING BREAKFAST GATHERING
Join the School
of Medicine in welcoming President Donna Shalala at an informal gathering
on Tuesday, June 26, 8 to 10 a.m. The event will be held at the Schoninger
Research Quadrangle, and also will debut that new complex to medical
campus faculty and staff. Light breakfast will be available, and all
faculty and staff are invited to attend this exciting event, which will
feature a street fair atmosphere with clowns, music, and more. To give
everyone an opportunity to attend, it is suggested that each office
coordinate a rotation of employees in half-hour segments. There will
be no speeches or formal presentations, so no half-hour segment is preferential
to another. Please join in this special event.
On June 4, Shalala
spent her first day as president visiting with students and leaders
on the Coral Gables campus, medical campus, and Rosenstiel School campus.
To read the Miami Herald article on President Shalala's whirlwind tour,
visit http://www.miami.com/herald/content/news/local/dade/digdocs/010947.htm.
DR. RICORDI HONORED FOR
INVENTION THAT ALLOWS ISOLATION OF ISLET CELLS
Camillo Ricordi,
M.D., scientific director and chief academic officer of the Diabetes
Research Institute, was awarded the Nessim Habif World Prize in Surgery
from the University of Geneva. Dr. Ricordi was honored for his invention,
the "Ricordi Chamber," which enables surgeons to separate and harvest
insulin-producing cells for transplantation from the pancreas, eliminating
the need to transplant the entire organ into diabetic patients. The
Ricordi Chamber is used by surgeons worldwide and has contributed significantly
to international diabetes research efforts.
STATE AWARDS 18 GRANTS
TO UM FOR STUDY OF TOBACCO RELATED DISEASES
The Florida Biomedical
Research Program announced the award of 18 grants from the Department
of Health to UM investigators for research projects addressing the prevention,
diagnosis, and/or treatment of tobacco-related diseases, such as cancer,
cardiovascular disease, stroke, and pulmonary disease. The funding is
provided by the state's tobacco settlement and, of $7 million made available
for each year of the sponsored projects, the University of Miami will
receive nearly half--$3.4 million, totaling $7.9 million over all years.
New Investigator awards will be given over three years, while Investigator-Initiated
awards are for two years of research. Almost 200 investigators competed
for the 39 grants. To read about some of the projects at the School
of Medicine that these awards will fund, visit the Miami Herald at http://www.miami.com/herald/content/news/local/dade/digdocs/097800.htm.
STATE FUNDING SECURED FOR
SEVERAL MEDICAL PROGRAMS, THANKS TO LEGISLATORS
Several state legislators
were instrumental in securing funding in the state's budget for School
of Medicine programs. All funding for the medical school was restored,
thanks to Representatives Carlos Lacasa, Chair of the House Appropriations
Committee, and Ralph Arza, the sole Miami-Dade County member of the
House Education Appropriations Committee. Representative Lacasa also
was responsible for restoring funds for the biomedical Ph.D. program.
Senators Mario Diaz-Balart and Rudy Garcia were instrumental in acquiring
funds for cancer research at UM/Sylvester. Funds for the Medical Training
and Simulation Laboratory were secured by Representative Marco Rubio.
Research funds for brain and spinal cord research programs were doubled
at the state level, thanks to Senators Alex Villalobos, Garcia, Diaz-Balart,
and Representative Arza. Senator Garcia, along with Representative Gaston
Cantens, worked for the full restoration of funds to regional diabetes
programs. Senator Ron Silver was pivotal in restoring funds for training
at the Mailman Center, as well as for the research efforts in islet-cell
transplantation at the Diabetes Research Institute. Finally, Representative
Rene Garcia and Senator Debby Sanderson secured funding for the pediatric
liver transplant program.
ACADEMY OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
NAMES CYNTHIA FERCHACK HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR
Cynthia Ferchack,
physician assistant and coordinator of the post-transplant diabetes
program at the Diabetes Research Institute, recently received the 2001
International Humanitarian Physician Assistant of the Year Award from
the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Ferchack was recognized
for her commitment to human rights and providing accessible and quality
health care. Since 1988, she has worked as a volunteer in Nepal, practicing
emergency medicine and developing educational programs, and lived in
the country from 1995 to 1999 to further that work. Ferchack still travels
to Nepal for three weeks each year, at her own expense, to continue
her service there.
UNIVERSITY OFFERS I BOND'S
THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTION
There are many attractive
features of the I Bond and they are now available through payroll deduction.
I Bonds are based on a straight forward idea. They are sold at face
value and grow with inflation-protected earnings for up to 30 years.
I Bonds are U.S. treasury securities and are backed by the full faith
and credit of the United States Government. These bonds usually increase
in value every month, and interest is compounded semiannually. I Bonds
also are liquid and can be turned into cash after just six months. To
purchase I Bonds on a continuing basis through payroll deduction, contact
Lucy Warner at 305-284-3527.
MEDICAL PURCHASING ANNOUNCES
DAILY LUNCHTIME CLOSING, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1
The Medical Purchasing
Department would like to remind faculty and staff that their offices
will close for lunch daily from noon to 1 p.m., beginning June 1. If
you have any questions or need to contact Medical Purchasing, call 305-243-3666.
QUESTIONS ABOUT
MEDICARE BILLING?
CONTACT THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Address questions
regarding Medicare billing and compliance to Third Party Reimbursement/Office
of Compliance at 305-243-HELP or 1-877-415-HELP. For more information
about the help line or training programs offered by the compliance office,
contact Gemma Romillo at 305-243-5842.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
JOIN UM CREW TEAM FOR FITNESS AND FUN AT ROWING CAMP THIS SUMMER
Looking for a summer
activity that's a challenge and a workout? How about the Adult Learn
to Row Camp, offered by the University of Miami rowing staff. The camp
runs for three weeks and will teach you rowing basics, as well as offer
you the chance to become part of a team, work out in a beautiful setting,
and improve your fitness level. Two sessions are offered, the first
running June 11 - 29, and the second July 9 - 27, at the Shane Watersports
Center, 6500 Indian Creek Drive, Miami Beach. Classes will be held Monday
through Thursday in the morning or evening, and each camp will end with
a celebratory day of races and a potluck dinner. Classes will include
beginner/novice, intermediate, and advanced levels, so don't worry if
you're new to the sport! Each camp costs $200, but UM employees receive
a 20 percent discount. Call 305-861-1295 or e-mail joconnor@miami.edu
to register.
ATTEND SEMINAR ON INTRODUCTION
TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Learn why there
is a process to help improvement, how this process relates to your job,
what the different approaches are, what causes some improvement efforts
to fail, and where you can get improvement help. The seminar will be
held on June 12, 9 to 11 a.m., Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155. For
more information or to register, call Professional Development at 305-243-3090,
or visit http://www.miami.edu/development-training.
YOU ARE INVITED TO A SEMINAR
ON REACHING YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS
Whether your goal
is to save for a home, a child's education, or even your retirement,
TIAA-CREF will provide you with the investment strategies to consider
and the types of products that will work best to help meet your financial
goals. The seminar will be held on June 14, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., Dominion
Parking Garage, Suite 155. For more information, call 305-243-3090 or
visit http://www.miami.edu/development-training.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO
DISCUSS YOUR RETIREMENT SAVINGS OPTIONS
Retirement consultant
Aimee Hugdahl, of Lincoln Financial Group, will be on the medical campus
June 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to offer financial advice on the University's
sponsored 403(b) retirement plan and saving for your future. She will
be holding one-on-one sessions at the Professional Development and Training
Office, Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155. To schedule a personal appointment,
call 954-524-2443 or toll-free at 866-524-2443.
HUMAN TEST SUBJECTS ARE
THE TOPIC OF WEEKLY SEMINARS
A program of weekly
small-group seminars on topics that pertain to human subjects will be
held on June 19- July 31, noon to 1 p.m., at the Mailman Center for
Child Development, room 2023. The upcoming seminars include "Investigational
New Drug Applications," presented by Maria Arnold on June 19; "Conflicts
of Interest," presented by Kenneth Goodman, Ph.D. on June 26; "Coercion,"
presented by Jay Sosenko, M.D., on July 3; "Genetics," presented by
Kenneth Goodman, Ph.D., on July 10; "Confidentiality," presented by
Lora Fleming, M.D., Ph.D., on July 17; "Adverse Event Reporting," presented
by Stephen Richman, M.D., on July 24; and "Emergency Research," presented
by Michael Novo, Esq., on July 31. For more information or to register,
call Theresa Daniels at 305-243-2311. Seating is limited, so RSVP early
to reserve your space.
LEARN TO FIND TIME FOR
THE TRULY IMPORTANT THINGS IN YOUR LIFE
Do you lack enough
hours in your day to get everything done? Are you constantly trying
to make, buy, or borrow more time than you're allotted? If so, learn
how to set priorities based upon values, identify and eliminate time
wasters, and practice simple organizational techniques that work. The
seminar will be held on June 20, noon to 1 p.m., Dominion Parking Garage,
suite 155. Pre-registration is required, and lunch will be provided.
For more information or to register, call 305-243-3090 or visit http://www.miami.edu/development-training.
KOUBEK CENTER OFFERS MEDICAL
BILLING CLASSES
Classes for Intro
to Medical Billing, Medical Coding I, Medical Coding II, Medical Billing
Communications, and Billing Compliance are offered at the Koubek Center,
beginning June 21. Classes will be held every Thursday from 7 p.m. to
10 p.m. The cost for all courses is $425. Tuition remission is available
if the courses are considered job- related. For more information, call
305-284-6001.
ATTEND PEDIATRIC LIVER
AND INTESTINAL TRANSPLANTATION SEMINAR
This six-hour program
is designed to update pediatric gastroenterologists, pediatricians,
and nurse coordinators on current trends and issues in liver and gastrointestinal
transplantation. The program will be held on June 23, 7:30 a.m. to 3
p.m., at the Double Tree Hotel, 2649 South Bayshore Drive. Featured
lectures include "Where Do Organs Come From," "Infectious Disease in
Transplant Recipients," and "The Yellow Baby Syndrome.", among others.
The School of Medicine designates this continuing medical education
activity for a maximum of six credit hours in category 1 credit towards
the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Registration fee is $60. For
more information, call Pauline Bethel at 305-355-5191 or e-mail pbethel@med.miami.edu.
DISCOVER THE FOUNTAIN OF
YOUTH AT OB/GYN'S MENOPAUSE SUPPORT SERIES
The Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology brings you the Menopause Support Series, a
two-day interactive seminar that will provide information on physical
and emotional aspects of menopause, along with education on the various
therapeutic options available. The course is geared toward middle-aged
women who are beginning to deal with the stresses of menopause. R. Wayne
Whitted, M.D., assistant professor, and Paul Pietro, M.D., assistant
professor, along with Vicki Colburn, R.N., all of the Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, will conduct the program on June 27 and 29,
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, at Jackson's Diagnostic Treatment Center,
room 250. The cost is $25 and seating is limited, so RSVP today. To
reserve your space, call 305-585-5611.
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