e-Update
January 13,
2004
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
--Faculty Town Meeting
--Blood Drive This Week
--Pain Management Lecture
--Landon Awards Lecture
--Free Mental Health Program
--Poster Session in Psychiatry
--Medical Education Grand Rounds
--Freshman Pinning Ceremony Next Week
--Spinal Cord Lecture
--Weight Loss Program Begins
--Smoking Cessation Program
--Self Defense Courses Coming
--‘Canes Basketball News
--Upcoming Calendar Events
FACULTY TOWN MEETING
Dean John G. Clarkson, M.D., has scheduled a special Medical Faculty Town Meeting
for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21. Provost Luis Glaser, Senior Vice President
David Lieberman, and Vice President and Treasurer Diane Cook will discuss
staff retirement funding issues. Budget issues for 2005 will be discussed
by Dr. Clarkson; John Deeley, vice president for administration, operations
and planning; Tom Fitzpatrick, associate vice president for financial affairs;
Minor Anderson, managing director of UMMG; and Jorge Guerra, M.D., chairman
of the UMMG governing board. The meeting will be held in the Retter Auditorium
on the second floor of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. All faculty
members are encouraged to attend.
BLOOD DRIVE ON MEDICAL CAMPUS
South Florida Blood Banks will be on campus this week hoping to offset a critical
blood shortage. Please give the gift of life tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
in the UM/Sylvester conference room 1301, in the walkway outside the Retter
Auditorium on the second floor of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, or in the
RMSB second-floor student lounge. You can also donate Thursday from 9 a.m.
to 4 p.m. in the RMSB student lounge. Everyone who donates gets a free t-shirt.
PAIN MANAGEMENT SPEAKER SERIES
The University of Miami Pain Center has pain conferences from noon to 1 p.m.
every Monday and Thursday. Topics include basic science, anatomy, pharmacology,
narcotic use, and state-of-the-art techniques for pain management such as
nucleoplasty and spinal cord stimulators. Andrew Boulton, M.D., will speak
this Thursday on diabetic neuropathy. All conferences will be in Jackson
Memorial Hospital, central 310 on the third floor. Lunch is usually provided.
For more information please call 305-585-6283.
CANCER RESEARCH AWARDS LECTURE
Join us for the Second Annual Landon-AACR Awards Lecture, honoring achievement
in cancer research. This year’s recipients are Dennis J. Slamon, M.D.,
Ph.D., chief, Division of Hematology-Oncology and director of the Clinical/Translational
Program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, honored for translational
research, and Charles J. Sherr, M.D., Ph.D., Herrick Foundation Chair, Department
of Tumor Cell Biology, investigator at Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and
faculty member, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, honored for
basic research. Both recipients will speak at the awards lecture this Friday
from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., in the Lois Pope LIFE Center seventh-floor auditorium.
For more information please call 305-243-2287 or e-mail ksalce@med.miami.edu.
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM
Are you feeling anxious or depressed or exhibiting troubling behaviors? The
Department of Psychiatry's Division of Complementary & Integrative Medicine
and University of Miami Behavioral Health are sponsoring group sessions to
address individual issues. The group, called Transitions, will meet every
Monday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. for 10 weeks in Dominion Tower Room 412, and will
be facilitated by Janet Konefal, Ph.D., M.P.H., C.A. Sessions are free to
all University employees. Dr. Konefal will be incorporating the newest technology
of change, Meta-Energetics, which has been dubbed the 'future of psychotherapy.'
Please e-mail ejowaisas@med.miami.edu or
call 305-243-4751 to secure your space in the group. Sessions begin February
2.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH POSTER SESSION
All faculty and staff are invited to the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences annual research poster session this Friday at the Highland Park
Gymnasium, on the first floor of the Highland Park Pavilion at NW 17th Street
and NW 8th Avenue, immediately east of the Mental Health Hospital Center.
The poster session is open from noon to 2 p.m. Refreshments will be available.
MEDICAL EDUCATION GRAND ROUNDS AND WORKSHOP
George Bordage, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director of graduate studies for
the Master’s of Health Profession Education, Department of Medical
Education, College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, will present “Learning
from and Sharing our Diagnostic Errors” this Friday at noon, RMSB fifth-floor
auditorium. The grand rounds and workshop will focus on identifying types
of diagnostic errors, how to avoid them, and methods of exposing errors without
blame. Lunch will be served. For more information please contact the Department
of Medical Education at 305-243-7482.
FRESHMAN PINNING CEREMONY
Join the School of Medicine student body, Department of Medical Education and
the Office of Medical Development and Alumni Affairs in passing the torch
to the newest generation of future physicians at the fourth annual Freshman
Pinning Ceremony. This tradition was created by a group of students to establish
a link between classes at the School of Medicine. This year’s event
will be held this Friday at 2 p.m. in the Schoninger Research Quadrangle.
All students, faculty, and alumni are invited to participate. For more information,
contact Rachel Dawkins at RachelLDawkins@aol.com.
VISITING LECTURESHIP SERIES
The Gail F. Beach Memorial 2003-04 Visiting Lectureship Series hosts Craig
C. Garner, Ph.D., of Stanford University, presenting "Dynamic Assembly
of Nascent Synapses." Dr. Garner will speak in the Lois Pope LIFE
Center seventh-floor auditorium tomorrow at noon. For more information
please call 305-243-7108. A complete listing of upcoming lectures may
be found at http://www.miamiproject.miami.edu/vls%20poster%202003-04.pdf
NEW WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM
We’re ready to move ahead with the new weight loss program called “FitExpress,” which
is uniquely designed to help you achieve your fitness goals. The program will
offer supervised exercise, nutritional counseling, lifestyle coaching, health
assessments, personalized fitness plans and incentives. Anyone interested must
attend one of two information sessions, either tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. in the
Sieron Building, which is across NW 10th Avenue from the Dominion Tower, second
floor, rooms A and B, or this Thursday at 5:15 p.m. in the Diabetes Research
Institute first-floor conference room 1000. E-mail zcalvert@miami.edu to
reserve a seat.
SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAM BEGINS
Are you tired of letting cigarettes control your life? Take back control. Another
round of the UM BeSmokeFree program will begin in the final weeks of January
and is open to faculty, staff and dependents, students, and those not affiliated
with the university. The program offers multiple innovative techniques designed
to complement the basic support group/classroom sessions, including pharmacological
treatments like the nicotine patch, gum, inhaler, lozenge, and Zyban (free
to UM health insurance plan members), a 12-week supervised exercise program
emphasizing cardiovascular fitness (75% reimbursement for UM health insurance
plan members), acupuncture and hypnotherapy (100% reimbursement for UM health
insurance plan members), individualized treatment plans, and free quit kits
filled with healthy alternatives to cigarettes. BeSmokeFree includes seven
group sessions over a six-week program. The cost is $84 for each participant,
and all UM health care plan members will receive a $12 voucher for each classroom
session they attend which can result in full reimbursement upon completion
of the program. For more information call 305-243-3209, or e-mail jpinto@miami.edu.
SELF-DEFENSE PROGRAMS
Statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice indicate that more than half
of all women will be the victims of violence at some point in their life.
You are your best defense. Learn how to defend yourself before you need to
with two self-defense programs available to students, employees, and their
loved ones. S.A.F.E. (Self-defense Awareness and Familiarization Exchange)
is a two-hour program that uses simple strategies to help participants reduce
their risk and avoid dangerous situations. R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense)
is a 12-hour program that couples risk reduction with physical defense techniques
and takes advantage of the natural strengths of women while identifying attackers’ weaknesses.
The S.A.F.E. program is Thursday, January 22, from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m. in
the UM/Sylvester conference room 1301. The fee is $5 and the deadline to
register is January 19. R.A.D. classes are from 6 to 9 p.m. on February 17,
19, 24, and 26 in the Professional Development and Training office, Dominion
Parking Garage, Suite 105. The R.A.D. program costs $20 and the registration
deadline is February 13. For more information call 305-243-3209, or e-mail jpinto@miami.edu.
HURRICANES HOOPS ACTION
The week of January 25th is Hurricane Hoops Employee Appreciation Week! All
full-time employees can purchase $1 tickets to the women’s basketball
game Wednesday, January 28, against Notre Dame and the men’s basketball
game Saturday, January 31, against Georgetown. Each UM employee (with valid
ID) will receive one ticket free and can purchase up to five additional tickets
for $1 each. Employees will also receive food and merchandise discounts at
these games. Any employee who gets all 12 tickets (two free and 10 purchased)
will also get a free t-shirt while supplies last. Tickets are available between
11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the medical campus today, Thursday, and January 20,
22, 27 and 29, next to Au Bon Pain.
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!
FINANCIAL ADVISORS VISIT CAMPUS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS
Representatives from Lincoln Life, Fidelity Investments and TIAA-CREF will
visit the medical campus in the coming weeks to conduct individual financial
counseling sessions. Fidelity will hold appointments on January 22, and TIAA-CREF
will be on hand January 21 and 23. Lincoln Life will be available February
9 and 10. All meetings will be held at the Human Resources Benefits Office,
901 NW 17th St., Suite D. To schedule an appointment with Fidelity, call 800-642-7131.
For a session with TIAA-CREF, call 877-267-4510 or visit http://www.tiaa-cref.org/moc.
For an appointment with Lincoln Life call 866-524-2443 or e-mail ahugdahl@lnc.com.
HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH SEMINAR
The Human Subjects Research Seminar for January will feature Dr. Roberto Dominguez
presenting "The Therapeutic Misconception," January 27 at
the Mailman Center, room 3023, from noon to 1 p.m. Advance registration
is required as room capacity is limited. Please e-mail MAbraham@med.miami.edu to
reserve your space.
RECENT PRACTICAL ADVANCES IN PATHOLOGY COURSE
The Department of Pathology will hold its 29th Annual Review and Recent Practical
Advances in Pathology course at the Fontainebleau Hilton next week, from
8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. This popular annual conference
is attended by many pathologists from the United States and abroad. Topics
include the pathology of breast, placenta, mediastinum, female and male genital
tracts, as well as discussions on hematopathology, cytopathology and dermatopathology.
Courses are conducted by renowned guest speakers and University of Miami
faculty. For more information or registration, please contact Linda Hung
at 305-585-6103, or e-mail lhung@med.miami.edu.
SPINAL CORD INJURY CONFERENCE
The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine in conjunction with the South Florida
Spinal Cord Injury Model System, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Jackson
Memorial Medical Center and the Miami VA Medical Center will present the
Third Annual Spinal Cord Injury Conference at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis,
seventh-floor auditorium, Lois Pope LIFE Center on Tuesday, January 20. Consumers,
students and health care providers are invited to the conference, which runs
from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Topics will include an update on progress training
the spinal cord, translational research, new findings related to exercise
and SCI, treating complications of spinal cord injury, recent research highlights,
ongoing clinical trials and more. Registration is free and the conference
is open to the public. For more information please call 305-585-1339.
NEUROLOGICAL UPDATE 2004
The Division of Continuing Medical Education presents this annual update to
provide clinicians with the latest developments in the diagnosis and management
of neurological disorders, January 28 to 31 at the Roney Palace Resort and
Spa in Miami Beach. To learn more, please call 305-243-6716 or e-mail umcme@med.miami.edu.
NEUROSCIENCE CENTER SEMINAR SERIES
The first lecture in this annual series, which is sponsored by the Neuroscience
Center, the School of Medicine and the Office of the Provost, will be “Understanding
a Small Neuronal Network: Imaging, Physiological, and Computational
Approaches,” and will be presented by Ronald L. Calabrese, Ph.D., of Emory
University January 30 at 4 p.m. in the Lois Pope LIFE Center seventh-floor
auditorium. A small reception will follow. For more information
call 305-243-6793.
FACULTY SENATE HONORS LAW PROFESSOR
Marc A. Fajer, professor of law, has been selected as the recipient of the
Faculty Senate’s 2004 Outstanding Teacher Award. All faculty members
are invited to attend a ceremony honoring Professor Fajer on Friday, January
30 at 3 p.m. in the Storer Auditorium, School of Business Administration.
For more information contact the Faculty Senate Office at 305-284-3721 or
e-mail facsen@miami.edu.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY WINTER SYMPOSIUM
You can register now for the Miami Nature Biotechnology Winter Symposium, "The
Cell Cycle, Chromosomes and Cancer,” January 31 through February 4, at
the Radisson Deauville Hotel, Miami Beach. Tuition remission is available for
full-time eligible UM staff, and graduate student registration waivers are
still available. To register, e-mail lcastro@med.miami.edu or sblack@miami.edu.
For more information visit http://www.med.miami.edu/mnbws.
UM/SYLVESTER DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
Madhav Dhodapkar, M.D., Head of the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunology
and assistant professor at The Rockefeller University in New York, will present “Tumor-Immune
Interactions: Patients with Monoclonal Gammopathies,” in the UM/Sylvester
conference room 1301 on February 13 from noon to 1 p.m. This didactic lecture
series provides a forum for outstanding clinical and translational researchers
to interact with UM/Sylvester faculty. The focus of the series is to bring
basic science and clinical researchers together to discuss recent advances
in the understanding and treatment of human cancer. Lunch will be served. For
more information please call 305-243-2287 or e-mail ksalce@med.miami.edu.
REVASCULARIZATION SUMMIT
Registration is open for the Miami International Revascularization Summit,
February 6 to 8 at the Wyndham Miami Beach Resort, 4833 Collins Avenue. Physicians
can earn up to 17 continuing education credits on topics such as current
advances in coronary interventions, assessing peripheral vascular interventions,
understanding the future directions of cardiovascular surgical procedures,
off-pump surgery, robotics, and more. Learn more at http://www.cvc.med.miami.edu/MIRS.asp.
For more information or to register, please call 305-243-5613 or e-mail oreyes@med.miami.edu.
TEACHING CONFERENCE ON HEART & STROKE
Register now for the 36th Annual Teaching Conference in Clinical Cardiology
and Neurology, February 13 to 15 at the Hyatt Regency Miami. The conference
is a primary care update presented by the Center for Research in Medical
Education focusing on needs in managed care, especially bedside skills training.
UM physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses can register for
a reduced fee of $100 ($150 for UM physicians), and CME credit and nurse
contact hours are awarded. Tuition remission is available on a first-come
first-served basis. The conference features a variety of University of Miami
faculty led by Michael S. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., David Lee Gordon, M.D., S.
Barry Issenberg, M.D., Joseph A. Scott, M.D., and Joan Baker, R.N., M.S.N.,
C.C.R.N., C.N.R.N. Also presenting are visiting professors from the Mayo
Clinic-Jacksonville and Emory University School of Medicine. To register
or for more information call 305-243-6491 or visit http://www.crme.med.miami.edu/meded_conf.html.
|
