e-Update
July
16, 2001
Weekly News Briefse-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 School Leaders Keeping Close Eye on City's Parking Surcharge
Issue
--Join School of Medicine Leaders at Meeting to Discuss Changes in Curriculum
--UMCare Sites Have Space Available for Investigators to Conduct Clinical Trails
--Success Rate for Visceral Transplants Is Up, Says Miami Herald in Recent
Article
--Benefits Administration Posts Life Insurance Summary Annual Report
On-Line
--Flexible Spending Account Forms Are Available at Benefits Administration
Web Site
--Take Advantage of Graduate Tuition Remission for You and Your Dependents
--Upcoming Calendar Events
CITY
OF MIAMI PARKING SURCHARGE ISSUE IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED The
School of Medicine is closely monitoring the parking surcharge issue that was
widely reported in the media last week. On Wednesday, the Third District Court
of Appeals struck down the 20 percent parking surcharge the City of Miami currently
levies on parking. The city has indicated it will appeal the decision to the Florida
Supreme Court. More information will be distributed to faculty and staff once
a final decision has been reached. NEW
MEDICAL CURRICULUM ADDRESSED AT OPEN MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY The
implementation of the School of Medicine's new integrated curriculum for August
2001 is on schedule. 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. The next, and final, open faculty
meeting will be held on July 18 in the RMSB 5th floor auditorium at 5 p.m. Your
participation in this meeting and in all other aspects of this important initiative
is strongly encouraged. LOOKING
FOR SPACE TO CONDUCT CLINICAL TRIALS? TRY UMCARE SATELLITE OFFICES Attention
clinical investigators: The UMCare satellite offices at Weston, Coral Gables,
Kendall, and Miami Beach have available exam rooms for physicians conducting clinical
trials. If you are interested in using space at UM's primary care sites around
the South Florida community for study participant evaluations or treatment, page
Joanne Tarporelli at 305-750-2889. DRS.
TZAKIS, KATO FEATURED IN HERALD ARTICLE ON INTESTINAL TRANSPLANTATION A
Miami Herald article last week detailed specific strides made by UM/Jackson
transplant surgeons in recent years. Before 1990, says Andreas Tzakis, M.D., professor
and co-director of the transplant program, intestinal transplants were not possible.
And even then, only half the patients receiving new intestines or other visceral
organs survived. Today, the success rate has climbed to nearly 70 percent. The
article also profiles two pediatric patients at UM/Jackson, both of whom are recovering
well after visceral organ transplants. Tomoaki Kato, M.D., assistant professor
in the Department of Surgery, also contributed to the article. To read the full
story, visit the Miami Herald on-line at http://www.miami.com/herald/content/features/health/digdocs/017108.htm.
VIEW SUMMARY
ANNUAL REPORT FOR EXCESS LIFE INSURANCE AT BENEFITS WEB SITE The
Summary Annual Report for the University of Miami Voluntary Excess Life Insurance
Plan for the period beginning January 1, 2000, and ending December 31, 2000, is
now complete. To review the report, visit http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2340-1;8346-5,00.html.
GO ON-LINE TO
DOWNLOAD YEAR 2001 FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT FORMS You
can access Flexible Spending Medical and Dependent Care Accounts forms on-line
for download at http://www.miami.edu/benefits/pdf/flexformspage.html.
You also can go to the Benefits Administration home page at http://www.miami.edu/benefits;
then click on the "Forms" link at the left. For questions on 2001 Flexible Spending
Accounts claims, call CoreSource at 800-327-5462, extension 7494. 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.
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!
PATIENT COMMUNICATION IS TOPIC OF LECTURE FOR HEALTHCARE
WORKERS Brush
up your communication skills at "Communicating with Your Patient," presented by
UM/Sylvester, July 17, 8 to 9 a.m., Sylvester Conference Room 1301. One contact
hour is provided for this lecture. You must register for this event, so call 305-243-9192
to reserve your space. Breakfast will be provided. LEARN
TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL FINANCIAL PLAN FOR INCOME AFTER RETIREMENT TIAA-CREF
presents a seminar on issues you should consider as retirement approaches. At
"Managing Your Retirement Income," participants will discuss the threats to income
after retirement and strategies to manage these threats. Experts will provide
you with the many retirement income options that are available through TIAA-CREF.
The session will be held July 17, 9 to 10 a.m., at the Dominion Parking Garage,
suite 155. To register, call the Office of Professional Development at 305-243-3090
or visit http://www.miami.edu/professional-development.
HUMAN TEST SUBJECTS
ARE TOPIC OF WEEKLY SEMINARS A
program of weekly small-group seminars on topics that pertain to human subjects
will continue through July 31, noon to 1 p.m., at the Mailman Center for Child
Development, room 2023. Upcoming seminars include "Confidentiality," presented
by Lora Fleming, M.D., Ph.D., on July 17; "Adverse Event Reporting," presented
by Stephen Richman, M.D., on July 24; and "Emergency Research," presented by Michael
Novo, Esq., on July 31. For more information or to register, call Theresa Daniels
at 305-243-2311. Seating is limited, so RSVP early to reserve your space. DISCOVER
SUCCESSFUL SELF-EXPRESSION AT WELLNESS DEPARTMENT JOURNALING CLASS Do
you keep a personal journal or are you planning to start one? Whether you are
recording joyful, exciting, sad, or unexpected events in your life, journaling
can help lead to personal growth. The Department of Wellness and Recreation presents
"Creative Journaling Exercises" to help you on the path to successful self-expression.
This course will present a mix of instruction, sample journal entries, and writing
prompts to help turn your journal into a reflection of the things that are important
in your life. Classes begin July 17, noon to 1 p.m., at the Dominion Parking Garage,
suite 155, and lunch will be provided. Subsequent sessions will follow, and you
can attend one or all of the classes at your discretion. To register, call 305-243-3090.
JOIN BEST-SELLING
AUTHOR DR. BRIAN WEISS TO DISCUSS SPIRITUALITY AND MEDICINE The
Behavioral Science Program of the Department of Family Medicine & Community Health
invites you to a special Grand Rounds with Brian Weiss, M.D., best-selling author
of Many Lives, Many Masters. Dr. Weiss will address "Spirituality & Medicine:
Practical Considerations," on July 18, 8 to 9 a.m., in Jackson's Diagnostic Treatment
Center, room 259. Seating is limited, so arrive early. For more information, call
Heidi Stanley, Ph.D., clinical assistant professor and director of the Behavioral
Science Program, at 305-243-2872. FIDELITY
INVESTMENTS VISITS MEDICAL CAMPUS FOR ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS A
representative from Fidelity Investments will be at the Professional Development
and Training Office, Dominion Parking Garage, suite 155, to conduct individual
financial counseling sessions on July 19. To schedule an appointment, call 800-642-7131.
GUIDELINES FOR
STAYING CLEAR OF FINANCIAL MISFORTUNE PROVIDED AT TIAA-CREF SEMINAR Learn
how to protect yourself and your family from financial misfortune at "Protecting
Income and Assets," presented by TIAA-CREF. Are you protected if you become disabled?
Is your family protected if you were to die prematurely? After retirement, what
does long-term care insurance provide that Medicare doesn't. Get the answers to
these questions and more at this course, July 24, 9 to 10 a.m., Dominion Tower,
suite 155. To register, call the Office of Professional Development at 305-243-3090.
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