e-Update
March 12, 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
--Pediatric MDA Patients and International Artist Honor Dr. R. Rodney Howell
--Miami Herald Details Dr. Karl Goodkin's Study on Grief Counseling and
AIDS
--Flight with US Air Carrier Required when Traveling Supported by Federal Funds
--UnitedHealthcare Joins UM/Sylvester in Providing Free Colorectal Cancer Screenings
--Upcoming Calendar Events
MDA PATIENTS AT MAILMAN
CENTER JOIN MURAL ARTIST TO HONOR DR. HOWELL
"Miami's Marine Life," a special mural, was unveiled at the Mailman
Center, March 9, to honor R. Rodney Howell, MD, professor and chairman of the
Department of Pediatrics, for his commitment and support of the Muscular Dystrophy
Association (MDA). International artist Daniel Bottero created the twelve- by
nine-foot mural, with more than a little help from children treated at the Mailman
Center's MDA pediatrics clinic. The MDA is a voluntary health agency that aims
to defeat neuromuscular diseases through research, comprehensive services, and
education. To view the mural, visit the Mailman Center lobby.
UM BEREAVEMENT STUDY
MARKS FIRST TIME BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION DECREASES VIRAL LOAD IN AIDS PATIENTS
Grief counseling not only helped them cope but, more importantly, reduced the
viral load of gay men with AIDS when they received therapy after losing a loved
one to the disease, according to a study by Karl Goodkin, MD, Ph.D., professor
in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Research has long shown
that the immune system is impaired by depression. Dr. Goodkin and colleagues
hope this research will bring an interdisciplinary spin to AIDS treatment by
adding counseling to effective drug cocktails. As Alberto Avendano, MD, director
of HIV/AIDS services in the Department of Family Medicine & Community Health,
says in a recent Miami Herald article, "It's
just not enough to give people pills." To read the full article, visit
http://www.newslibrary.com/deliverffdoc.asp?SMH=02709.
REMINDER: FEDERALLY-FUNDED
TRAVEL REQUIRES USE OF US AIR CARRIERS
The Sponsored Programs Expenditure Compliance Office reminds all principal investigators
that the Fly American Act requires the use of US air carriers for all federally-funded
travel. US air carriers must be used from the points of origin to destination.
If no US carrier services the destination, such service must be used to the
farthest interchange point. These rules apply even if the US air carrier fare
is more expensive or the route more circuitous. If it is necessary to travel
on a non-U.S. Air carrier, the servicing travel agency must document it in writing
before "ghost card" advances or after-the-fact travel expense reports
are processed. Code sharing is not allowed unless the ticket is issued by a
US airline. There are limited exceptions to these rules. Consult the Sponsored
Expenditure Compliance Office at 305-243-3825 before tickets are purchased.
UM/SYLVESTER OFFERS "FAST
TRACK" SCREENINGS FOR COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in the United States. In
recognition of National Colorectal Awareness Month, UM/Sylvester has collaborated
with UnitedHealthcare to make you aware of the highly preventable nature of
colorectal cancer, and will provide a "Fast Track" screening program
for UM employees age 50 or older already on the UnitedHealthcare plan. No consultation
or waiting is necessary. Remember, these tests are your best insurance for detecting
colorectal cancer when it may be easily cured by prompt treatment. If you have
any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 305-243-9110.
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!
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS
HELPS PLAN YOUR RETIREMENT INCOME
Fidelity Investments invites you to attend "Planning Your Retirement Income,"
March 15, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155. This presentation
will provide information on distribution options, building a financial plan,
tax considerations and estate planning for pre-retirees who are less than five
years from retirement. For more information or to register, call 305-243-3090
or visit http://www.miami.edu/development-training.
BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW
FOR THE DADE COUNTY YOUTH FAIR
The 2001 Dade County Youth Fair will run from March 15 - April 1 and advance
purchase tickets are now available in Jackson Telecommunications, Central 1;
the Office of Public Relations, Alamo, second floor; and Jackson Human Resources,
PPL-306. The price for the 36-coupon sheet is $11 ($18 at the fair). The Pay-One-Price
ticket, good only Monday through Friday, costs $13 ($15 at the fair). Admission
tickets also are available at $6 per adult and $4 per child.
DR. CAMILLO RICORDI IS
FEATURED LECTURER AT DIABETES HEALTH-EXPO
More than 300 exhibitors with products and services to help people with diabetes
and leading experts in the field will gather for the Diabetes Health-Expo, March
16 ñ 18, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Special classes on exercise,
cooking, stress-management, creating a healthy lifestyle, and free health screenings
will be offered. For more information call 877-633-EXPO, or visit http://www.diabeteswellness.org
YOU'RE INVITED TO UNIVERSITY'S
ANNUAL FAMILY DAY PICNIC
You are invited to the University of Miami Annual Family Day Picnic to be held
March 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the central green near the University Center
on the Coral Gables campus. The picnic will include music, games, contests,
tournaments, food, and drinks for University employees and their families. You
can obtain tickets from March 8 - 16 for each person in your family who will
be attending. Tickets are available in the Human Resources Office on campus,
Park Plaza East, Suite L. Volunteers are needed to assist in the soda trailers,
and those who help for at least two hours will be given a commemorative T-shirt
For more information, contact Cynthia Holcomb at 305-243-6393.
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, MD, 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.
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.
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