e-Update
May 29, 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
--Medical Faculty Members Among Women Honored by Miami Metro
Magazine
--Join the University's Excess Life Insurance Plan for Additional Insurance
Coverage
--Report Service Repairs Done on Equipment Covered by Asset Management
by May 31
--Graduate Tuition Remission Available to UM Employees, Spouses, and
Dependents
--Weight Watchers at the Medical Center Begins Next Tuesday, June 5
--UM/Jackson Employees Stay at the DoubleTree for Reduced Rates through
December
--Upcoming Calendar Events
MAGAZINE NAMES SELECT MEDICAL
FACULTY AS MOST INFLUENTIAL FEMALES OF 2001
Miami Metro
magazine recognized seven School of Medicine faculty members, as well
as incoming University president Donna Shalala, as among "101 Women
to Watch: Miami-Dade's Most Influential Females of 2001" in its latest
issue. Shalala was honored in the Community Service category. The Health
Care and Science group in the list included Mary Bartlett Bunge, Ph.D.,
professor and senior researcher at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis;
Margaret Fischl, M.D., professor and director of the AIDS Clinical Research
Unit; Diana Lopez, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Microbiology
and Immunology; Deborah Mash, Ph.D., professor in the Department of
Neurology and director of the UM Brain Endowment Bank; Barbara Mason,
Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
and director of the Alcohol Disorders Research Unit; Penny Tenzer, M.D.,
assistant professor and vice-chair of the Department of Family Medicine
& Community Health; and Gwen Wurm, M.D., professor and medical director
of the Community Based Pediatrics Program. To read more about these
inspiring women and their work at the medical center, pick up the May
issue of Miami Metro.
SERVICE REPAIRS ON ASSET
MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT MUST BE REPORTED BY MAY 31
Due to the closing
of the fiscal year, any service repairs performed on equipment covered
by the University Asset Management Program must be reported to Medical
Purchasing immediately. This will ensure that the proper charges are
posted to the correct year. Service work orders received by Purchasing
after 1 p.m. on May 31 are not guaranteed to be charged to the current
year. Forward all service repair work orders to UM Medical Purchasing
Department, Institute Annex Building (R-31), or fax to 305-325-3063.
If you have any questions, call Jessica or Tracey at 305-243-6419.
ENROLL IN EXCESS LIFE INSURANCE
PLAN AND INCREASE YOUR COVERAGE
You have the opportunity
to increase your life insurance coverage through the University of Miami
Volunteer Excess Life Insurance Plan. This plan offers you the advantages
of group rates and the convenience of payroll deductions. Your selected
coverage will be in addition to the standard University protection.
This plan also allows for unlimited insurance coverage for your spouse
and dependents. However, you must first be enrolled in this plan before
a spouse and/or dependents enroll. To apply for Voluntary Excess Life
coverage, you can submit a completed enrollment form to Benefits Administration
at any time during the year. After 90 days of employment, a statement
of good health must accompany the enrollment form for each person requesting
coverage. To obtain an enrollment form or for further information, contact
Madelaine Roque at 305-284-2973 or mroque@miami.edu.
BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION
EXPLAINS GRADUATE TUITION REMISSION BENEFIT
Employees and eligible
dependents are awarded tuition remission for graduate courses. All graduate
tuition remission used by spouses and dependents is taxable to the employee.
Graduate tuition remission used by an employee is taxable, unless it
is determined to be directly related to current employment at the University.
In this case, you must fill out a Determination of Tax Status form for
each course taken. Benefits Administration will review the form and
determine if the course is directly work-related. Tuition remission
that is not directly related to employment at UM must be taxed in the
same calendar year that each course was taken, and taxes will be withheld
from the employee's paycheck in equal installments for the remainder
of the calendar year, covering federal income and Social Security taxes.
You can notify Benefits Administration in writing regarding the amount
of graduate courses an employee, spouse, or dependent will enroll in,
in order to allocate taxes over a longer period. If there are additions
or deletions to the initial courses you reported, please notify Benefits
Administration to make adjustments. For a Determination of Tax Status
form or more details, call Sheri Lee at 305-284-2728 or e-mail sheri.lee@miami.edu.
TRIM YOUR WAISTLINE AND
EAT HEALTHY WITH WEIGHT WATCHERS
Summer is here,
so what better time than now to join Weight Watchers? The next session
begins June 5 and continues each Tuesday in ACC West room 128, noon
to 1 p.m. The eleven-week program costs $113 for new members. If you
have any questions or would like to participate, call Frances Kaniewski
at 305-243-1052.
DOUBLETREE GRAND
HOTEL OFFERS SPECIAL RATES
The DoubleTree Grand
Miami is pleased to offer a special rate through December to employees
of the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, and Sylvester
Comprehensive Cancer Center. The rate is $89 plus tax. For reservations,
call 1-800-858-3920, and ask for the special Jackson Memorial/UM rate.
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!
UNITED WAY SPONSORS SEMINAR ON BUDGETING AND DEBT MANAGEMENT
Interest rates are
so high these days, can you afford them? Learn how to decrease and consolidate
your debt as well as many other ways to save money for the future by
attending this seminar sponsored by the United Way. The seminar will
take place on May 31, 8:30 to 10 a.m., Dominion Parking Garage, Suite
155. For more information, call 305-243-3090 or visit http://www.miami.edu/development-training.
ATTEND MEETING ON ATRIAL
FIBRILLATION: AN OLD CLINICAL PROBLEM WITH NEW THERAPIES
You are invited
to attend an interactive dinner meeting on May 31, 3:00 to 8:15 p.m.,
at the Biltmore Hotel Conference Center of the Americas. This educational
activity is designed for the cardiologist, internist, or primary care
practitioner who cares for patients with atrial arrhythmias. The School
of Medicine designates this course for a maximum of 4.0 hours in Category
1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. To register,
or for more information, contact the Division of Continuing Medical
Education at 305-243-6716 or visit http://cme.med.miami.edu.
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS VISITS
CAMPUS TO ANSWER YOUR FINANCIAL QUESTIONS
Jason Friday, a
representative from Fidelity Investments, will be conducting individual
financial counseling sessions on June 6 and 7, at the Dominion Parking
Garage, Suite 155. He will be available to address your financial questions
and also discuss retirement planning issues. Space is limited, so call
1-800-642-7131 to schedule an appointment.
THE DR. JOHN T. MACDONALD
CENTER FOR MEDICAL GENETICS HOSTS VISITING LECTURER
Louis J. Elsas,
II, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics and Biochemistry and Director of the
Division Medical Genetics at Emory University, will speak on "Galactosemia:
A Paradigm for Investigating Common Complex Diseases," June 7, 3 to
4 p.m., at the Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth floor Auditorium.
For more information, call 305-243-3985.
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.
GO "BEYOND THE BARRIERS"
TO DISCUSS BREAST CANCER DETECTION IN OLDER WOMEN
A live video conference
addressing early detection of breast cancer in older women will be broadcast
June 26, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The event will be held at the VA Research
Education Building, room 207, and is sponsored by the Virginia Geriatric
Education Center, the Virginia Health Quality Center, and the Cancer
Information Service. The cost for attendance is $5 if you register by
June 1, and $15 afterward. There also will be minimal fees for continuing
education credit. For registration information, call 888-794-0904 or
visit http://views.vcu.edu/sahp/gerontology/vgec/breastcancer.
ORDER TICKETS NOW FOR MARLINS
VERSUS YANKEES; PROCEEDS GO TO UM/JACKSON CLINIC
The UM/Jackson Cleft
Lip and Palate Clinic is going to the ballgame on July 13, 7:05 p.m.
Reserve your space now to see the Florida Marlins play the New York
Yankees and save $7 per ticket. All proceeds from ticket sales benefit
the UM/Jackson Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic. Orders must be received
by July 3. To order your tickets, contact Maria at 305-243-3248 or Teresa
at 305-585-5285.
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