e-Update
March 19, 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
--Faculty Are Encouraged to Attend General Meeting with UM Leaders this
Tuesday
--Dr. Robert Schwartz Travels to Washington on Behalf of Family Medicine
Societies
--Medical Purchasing Requests Your Opinion on Equipment Maintenance
Proposals
--Speak Your Mind on Medical Curriculum Reform at Open Meeting Next
Week
--Miami Herald Details Curriculum Changes Set for this Fall at
the School of Medicine
--Upcoming Calendar Events
GENERAL FACULTY MEETING THIS TUESDAY TO INCLUDE ANNUAL POLL ON VOTING RIGHTS
A reminder that there will be a General Faculty meeting this Tuesday,
March 20, at 5 p.m., in Bascom Palmer's Retter Auditorium. Edward T.
Foote II, president; Luis Glaser, provost; and David Lieberman, senior
vice president for business and finance, will attend and provide an
update on the state of the University. Each year, tenured faculty must
vote on extending voting rights to faculty on Clinical Educator and
Research tracks. This vote will take place at Tuesday's meeting.
HOUSE COMMITTEE TO HEAR
FROM DR. ROBERT SCHWARTZ ON PRIMARY CARE FUNDING APPROPRIATIONS
Robert Schwartz, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Family
Medicine & Community Health, will represent the Society of Teachers
of Family Medicine and other national Family Medicine societies in the
nation's capital this week when he addresses the House Committee on
Appropriations. He will ask for a reinstatement of $158 million in funding
for Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry as well as family medicine training,
an initiative crucial to reducing the number of health professional
shortage areas in the country. To support his request, Dr. Schwartz
will outline the success of family medicine training programs that have
been supported by Congress, in addition to detailing future priorities
for the initiative. These include close attention to health care access,
filling the needs of an expanding geriatric population, and incorporating
genetics into the practice of primary care.
YOUR INPUT IS WANTED
FOR UNIVERSITY'S NEW ASSET MANAGED MAINTENANCE CONTRACT
The University's Asset Managed Maintenance Program contract, which coordinates
equipment maintenance, will soon expire. Your input is needed as Medical
Purchasing searches for a new program with enhanced service coverage.
Marconi Technology Management (MTM) will present its proposal to the
University community on March 28, and Medical Purchasing will solicit
your evaluation of MTM's offered services at the end of the presentation.
You will be asked to judge how MTM will meet not only the needs of your
department, but of the University as a whole. The event begins at 2
p.m. in Bascom Palmer's Retter Auditorium. RSVP to Medical Purchasing
by March 23 to reserve your space by calling 305-243-5876 or you can
e-mail your reservation to alopez@med.miami.edu.
ATTEND OPEN MEETING ON
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE'S NEW CURRICULUM NEXT WEEK
The implementation of the School of Medicine's new integrated curriculum
for August 2001 is on schedule, and efforts that began in 1996 with
the school council's task force on medical education are coming to fruition.
As a medical school striving for excellence, it is imperative that the
school moves forward with the modernization of its curriculum, promoting
integration, using active adult learning methodologies, and introducing
new content and skills required of physicians in the 21st century. The
new curriculum will be introduced to this fall's entering class of first-year
students, while students currently enrolled will continue to progress
through the existing curriculum. In order to provide updated information
and include interested faculty in this process, there will be monthly
open meetings where information and dialog will be shared. The steering
committee, module leaders, dean, and associate deans in medical education
will attend these meetings to hear from faculty and answer questions.
The open meetings will be held in the RMSB 5th floor auditorium at 5
p.m., with the first meeting to be held next Wednesday, March 28. Mark
your calendar for subsequent meetings on April 25, May 30, June 27,
and July 18. Your participation in these meetings and in all other aspects
of this exciting and important initiative is strongly encouraged.
MEDICAL EDUCATION REFORM
IS FOCUS OF MIAMI HERALD ARTICLE
Mark O'Connell, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education, discusses
changes in the works for medical curriculum in a recent Miami Herald
article. "Will It Build a Better Doctor?" details the School of Medicine's
plans for curriculum reform, including a switch from large lecture courses
to small group studies and introducing students to a doctor's office
setting earlier in their training. The new curriculum will be instituted
when this fall's first-year medical students begin classes. To read
the full story, visit http://www.newslibrary.com/deliverffdoc.asp?SMH=531717.
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!
SEMINAR TO ADDRESS NEW GUIDELINES FOR TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS
The Department of Clinical Immunology and the South Florida AIDS Network
will host a seminar on new guidelines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS
on March 19, noon to 1:30 p.m. The seminar will be an update from the
Eighth Annual Retrovirus and Opportunistic Infection Conference in Chicago.
Rafael Campo, M.D., associate professor in the Division of Infectious
Diseases, will speak. The seminar will be held at Jackson's Diagnostic
Treatment Center, Room 259. To register, call Raul Medina at 305-585-5256.
EFFECTIVE PARENTING COURSES
OFFERED AT THE MEDICAL CAMPUS
The Early Childhood Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (S.T.E.P.)
courses have begun on the medical campus. The class meets on Tuesdays
from noon to 1 p.m. at the Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155. For more
information, call Vivian Perez-Gonzalez at 305-243-7676.
SNEAK PREVIEW OF UM/SYLVESTER'S
NEW PET IMAGING SYSTEM
UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center invites you to a special sneak
preview of the new dedicated PET Imaging System, March 22, noon, Sylvester
Conference Room 1301. George N. Sfakianakis, M.D., chairman of nuclear
medicine, will conduct a brief presentation on new applications in PET
imaging followed by a demonstration of the system by the chief technologist.
You are invited to explore the technological and clinical benefits of
PET and compare it with other imaging modalities. RSVP is requested
by March 19. Please call 305-243-4302 to reserve your space.
EMPLOYEE SUPPORT SOLUTONS
OFFERS SEMINAR ON COLLEGE FUNDING
Today's tuition costs will grow significantly by the time your child
is ready to attend college. Employee Support Solutions will offer a
seminar to help you learn about the latest tax-deferred savings plans
and other benefits that are available. The seminar will be held March
22, 9 to 10 a.m., Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155. For more information,
call Professional Development at 305-243-3090.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
OFFERS SEMINAR ON COMPASSION FATIGUE
"The Cost
of Caring," a three session seminar hosted by your Employee Assistance
Program will begin March 22, 2 to 4 p.m., Dominion Parking Garage, Suite
155. The goals of the seminar are to recognize compassion fatigue in
oneself and in others, as well as learning strategies to avoid compassion
fatigue and enhance satisfaction on the job. Nurses and licensed master's
level mental health providers can earn six continuing education hours.
For more information, call Vivian Perez-Gonzalez at 305-243-7676.
YOU'RE INVITED TO THE
FIFTH ANNUAL MIAMI ALS GOLF CLASSIC
The Fifth Annual Miami ALS Golf Classic, benefiting the University of
Miami School of Medicine's ALS Research Foundation, will be held on
March 24, 11:00 a.m., at the Doral Golf Resort. The ALS Research Foundation
is dedicated to increasing public awareness about ALS, while raising
funds to promote the development of new treatments and further research
to find a cure. For more information, call Florida Team Golf at 305-255-3500.
JOIN TEAM JACKSON AND
WALK TO CURE DIABETES
Do you feel like getting more exercise and doing something good for
someone else? Join Team Jackson on a 5K walk to cure diabetes, March
25 at Miami Metro Zoo. All team members will receive a t-shirt, prizes,
entertainment, and a day at the zoo. For more information, call 305-585-7213.
MAKE TIME FOR SLEEP DURING
NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK
Most people need about eight hours of sleep each night. But Americans
usually get less than seven. The result is a sleep-deprived nation.
Are you being affected by too little sleep? For your health, safety,
productivity, and just to feel good, recognize that excessive sleepiness
means you need to take action by getting more sleep and making lifestyle
changes. To learn how to "Make Time for Sleep," visit one of the display
tables March 26-March 30. A table will be at Bascom Palmer's main lobby
March 26, the UMHC front lobby entrance March 27, and Park Plaza West,
the JMH Breezeway, and Sylvester's front lobby March 28-30, respectively.
Displays will be up at 10 a.m. each morning except Friday, when you
can visit the display beginning at 7:30 a.m. For more information, call
David Gregory, VA Sleep Center, at 305-324-3371.
REMINDER: FACULTY SENATE
MEETING NEXT WEEK
There will be a Faculty Senate Meeting March 28 at 3:15 p.m., in the
Faculty Club on the Coral Gables campus. For more information visit
http://www.miami.edu.FacultySenate.
UNITED WAY OFFERS SEMINAR
ON LONG -TERM CARE
Did you know that the average cost of South Florida nursing home care
is around $45,000 a year? The United Way will host a seminar on March
29, 8:30 to 10 a.m., Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155. The seminar
will focus on how a long-term care policy can prevent unexpected obstacles
in your retirement years and how to deal with your parents when it comes
to long-term care planning for them. Breakfast will be provided. For
more information, call Professional Development at 305-243-3090.
DIVISION OF CONTINUING
MEDICAL EDUCATION OFFERS PROGRAM ON HEPATOBILIARY DISEASE
"Hepatobiliary Disease in Clinical Practice: Update XIV," a program
sponsored by the Division of Continuing Medical Education, will take
place March 29-31 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. For more information,
call Syria Milligan at 305-243-6716.
COMPUTER TRAINING FOR
PHYSICIANS OFFERED BY THE DIVISION OF CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION
The Division of Continuing Medical Education will offer the program
"Computer Training for Physicians," on March 31, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. at the NGJ Systems Institute, 6303 Blue Lagoon Drive, Suite 350.
This course will include Introduction to Computers Using Microsoft Windows
2000, Using the Internet in Your Medical Practice, and Introduction
to Microsoft Powerpoint. For more information, call Rebecca Frometa
at 305-243-6716.
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