e-Update
July 31, 2000
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 HEADLINES
--Dr. Onelia Lage Elected to Lead Greater Miami Pediatric Society
--Chairman of Pediatrics to Serve on State Committee Studying Childhood Stress
--UM/Sylvester Participates in Collaborative Effort to Offer Breast Cancer Support
--UM Offers Minority Students Insight into Medical Careers and MCAT Preparation
--Cancer Information and Education Provided through Service Housed at UM/Sylvester
--Upcoming Calendar Events
MIAMI PEDIATRIC SOCIETY ELECTS UM ADOLESCENT SPECIALIST DR. ONELIA LAGE AS PRESIDENT
Onelia Lage, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, was recently elected president of the Greater Miami Pediatric Society for the 2000-2001 term. In the position, Dr. Lage plans to work toward eliminating racial/ethnic disparities in child and adolescent health by 2010, improve childhood immunization rates, reduce infant mortality/morbidity, and decrease HIV infection rates among young African-Americans and Hispanics.
STATE SELECTS DR. R. RODNEY HOWELL AS MEMBER OF COMMISSION TO STUDY CHILD DEVELOPMENT
The 2000 Florida Legislature recently enacted the Study on Children with Developmental Delays Act to address the role traumatic stress plays in the healthy development of Florida's infants and children. The Legislature established a study commission to address issues hindering development, and selected R. Rodney Howell, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics to serve as one of 16 commission members. The group will study children's exposure to multiple stresses, such as child abuse and family violence, mental and emotional disorders, and developmental delays or disabilities, and search for methods of successful intervention. Recent clinical and social research suggests a window of opportunity for such intervention.
UM/SYLVESTER TEAMS WITH PSYCHOLOGY AND LOCAL WOMEN'S GROUP TO OFFER BREAST CANCER SUPPORT
The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center has collaborated with the UM Department of Psychology and "Sistah Talk," an African-American, Haitian, and Caribbean women's coalition, to offer stress management and relaxation training support groups for women of color recently diagnosed with breast cancer. These support and training groups are components of the University of Miami Breast Cancer Coping and Recovery Project and the Center for Psycho-Oncology Research, recently created and funded by a $10.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and patients who have completed treatment within the past year are invited to participate. For more information, call the UM Coping and Recovery office at 305-284-2220 or visit http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2593-1;3000-2;4343-3,00.html.
MEDICAL SCHOOL TEAMS WITH COUNTY TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY STUDENTS
If it seems as though medical students are looking even younger than usual,
it's because the School of Medicine has partnered with Miami-Dade County Public
Schools to give a taste of the medical school experience to minority high school
students with aspirations of careers in health care. Three summer workshops
bring together children of disadvantaged and underserved backgrounds in an environment
that will foster career goals. These summer residential programs include the
"High School Careers in Medicine Workshop: Pre-College Health Science Outreach
Program," the "Pre-College Health Science Outreach Project" and
the "Minority Students Health Careers Motivation Program." The School
of Medicine also has partnered with the Dade County Area Health Education Center
to provide minority college students with MCAT test preparation in the "Medical
College Admission Test Preparation Program." To find out more information
on these programs, contact Astrid Mack, Ph.D., research associate professor
and associate director of the Sickle Cell Center in the Department of Medicine,
at amack@med.miami.edu.
UM/SYLVESTER HOSTS CANCER INFORMATION SERVICE FOR EDUCATION AND REFERRALS
The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center houses a branch of the Cancer Information Service (CIS), a national resource for information and education about cancer. Established in 1976 by the National Cancer Institute, the CIS serves the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Information specialists speak both English and Spanish and can also provide referrals to cancer-related services. In addition to telephone service, the CIS works with local organizations to educate the public through its Partnership Program and conducts research to encourage healthy behavior. The CIS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can be reached at 1-800-4-CANCER.
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!
AIDS RESEARCH FUNDRAISER SEEKS VOLUNTEERS AND PARTICIPANTS
Volunteers are needed for Walgreens Ride 2001, a bicycle ride to raise money
for AIDS research. The ride, which travels from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale,
will be held early next year. For information on participating, attend an informal
lunch at the AIDS Clinical Research Unit, August 16, at noon. General support
volunteers, riders, medical staff, and others are needed. To RSVP, contact Kate
Moeller at 305-243-3852 or e-mail kmoeller@med.miami.edu.
DEADLINE APPROACHES FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER'S GAP-FUND PROGRAM
The Office of Technology Transfer reminds faculty that the September 30 application
deadline for the Gap-Fund Program is rapidly approaching. This award supports
early-stage research with commercial potential. Three grants of $20,000 each
will be awarded, and one must come from either the Coral Gables or Rosenstiel
campuses. All Invention Disclosures submitted between December 1, 1998, and
September 30, 2000, are eligible. Interested parties must submit an Invention
Disclosure (unless they have already done so) together with a "Gap-Fund
Award Program Application" to the Office of Technology Transfer, Dominion
Tower, Suite 906 (M-811). Invention Disclosure forms are confidential in
nature and cannot be sent through the Internet. To obtain an Invention Disclosure
form, visit http://www.med.miami.edu/technology_transfer/invention_disclosure.html.
For a Gap-Fund application form, e-mail Silvia Arguelles at sarguell@miami.edu
or visit Technology Transfer on-line at http://www.med.miami.edu/technology_transfer.
Call 305-243-5689 with any questions.
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