e-Update
March 1, 2005
Weekly News Briefs
e-Update is distributed
weekly to keep faculty and staff at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller 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
--Join in the events of Alumni Weekend
--University is Looking for Feedback
--Check out the Medical Center Speakers Toastmasters Club
--Memo Outlines Changes to New Employee Orientation
--Appointment, Promotion And Tenure Workshop
--Upcoming Calendar Events
--Human Subjects Research Opportunities
ALUMNI WEEKEND 2005
School of Medicine alumni are invited to share in three days of fun, camaraderie, learning and reminiscing during Alumni Weekend 2005, which begins Friday. The weekend’s events promise to engage both the mind and the heart, including faculty-led continuing medical education sessions, alumni achievements, and a variety of social engagements that will provide an opportunity to reconnect with former classmates and meet renowned faculty and current medical students. For details and to register, visit the Medical Alumni Association Web site at www.miami.edu/medical-alumni.
GAIL F. BEACH MEMORIAL 2004-2005 VISITING LECTURESHIP SERIES
Jeffrey D. Macklis, M.D., director of the Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School Center for Nervous System Repair, co-director of the Regeneration and Repair Program at the Harvard Center for Neurodegeneration and Repair, and program head in neuroscience at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, will present "Cellular Repair of Complex Cortical Circuitry by Neural Precursors and Induction of Neurogenesis," tomorrow (Wednesday), at noon in the Lois Pope LIFE Center seventh-floor auditorium. For more information, call 305-243-7108 or go to http://www.miamiproject.med.miami.edu/x381.xml.
DR. MARY BARTLETT BUNGE TO RECEIVE LOIS POPE LIFE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AWARD
Mary Bartlett Bunge, Ph.D., a pioneer in spinal cord injury research, is the recipient of this year’s Lois Pope LIFE International Research Award. She will hold a scientific presentation discussing novel combination strategies to repair the injured spinal cord on Tuesday, March 8 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Lois Pope LIFE Center seventh floor auditorium.
UM/SYLVESTER DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
Gabriel Hortobágyi, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, will present “Clinical Applications of Gene Expression Profiling in Breast Cancer,” as part of the UM/Sylvester Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture will be from noon to 1 p.m. Friday in UM/Sylvester conference room 1301. Lunch will be served. For more information, please call Diane Dames at 305-243-2287, or e-mail DDames@med.miami.edu.
CHILD CAR SEAT INSTALLATION CHECK
Did you know that most child car seats are not installed correctly? To ensure that your child car seat is installed correctly a certified child passenger safety technician will be available on the following Wednesdays: March 9 and 23; April 6 and 20; May 4, 11 and 25, and June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 in front of the Mailman Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The service is available to everyone who transports children under the age of 12 in their vehicle. For more information, e-mail gstepanian@um-jmh.org, or call 305-243-3928 to set up an appointment. Priority will be given to those with appointments.
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CANCER SERIES
Eli Avisar, M.D., assistant professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, will discuss “An Overview of Stomach and Esophageal Cancers and Surgical Options” on Wednesday, March 9, from noon to 1 p.m. at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, 1192 East Newport Center Drive, Suite 100. A light lunch will be served. Please call 1-800-545-2292 to register. Seating is limited.
IRON ARROW FINDS A HOME ON THE MEDICAL CAMPUS
Join Dean Clarkson and Dean Emeritus Fogel at the Schoninger Quadrangle on Wednesday, March 9 to welcome the medical campus’s new Iron Arrow ceremonial circle. The Iron Arrow Society will hold a ceremony to mark the occasion at 2 p.m. Please contact 305-243-3453 for more information.
UNIVERSITY IS LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK
The University is embarking on a faculty and staff satisfaction survey. Hearing from faculty and staff helps inform University leadership about the work environment and areas that employees believe should be addressed. All faculty and staff are encouraged to participate and your responses will be anonymous. You will receive notices on accessing the Web-based survey this week, and the responses will be due by Friday, March 11. A summary of the results will be shared with all faculty and staff.
NEW CONCEPTS IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY CONFERENCE
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology will be presenting a conference on New Concepts in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Alexander Hotel in Miami Beach Wednesday through Saturday. This program is designed to provide a comprehensive update of problems encountered in obstetrics and gynecology and its subspecialties. New information will be presented that can be used in daily gynecological practice, and participants will also be able to determine when more advanced technologies are necessary. Participants are encouraged to bring clinical problems for discussion. For more information, please contact pmundy@med.miami.edu, or call 305-585-5131. You can also register on-line at http://www.ob-gyn.med.miami.edu/events.asp.
MARCH MEDITATION CLASSES
The Department of Wellness and Recreation will be offering free meditation classes on Friday, March 11, 18 and 25; April 1 and 22, and May 13, 20 and 27, from 1 to 1:40 p.m. in the Dominion Tower 10th Floor Conference Room. For more information, please call 305-243-3209.
MEDICAL CENTER SPEAKERS TOASTMASTERS CLUB
Toastmasters International is an organization made up of many clubs, which provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment for members to develop communication and leadership skills. If you are interested in building or enhancing these skills, visit the Medical Center Speakers Toastmasters Club, which meets on Tuesdays, from noon to 1 p.m., in the Alamo, first floor. For more information, contact Siddy Coakley at 305-585-7500 or Carthy Thomas, 305-243-4071.
MEMO OUTLINES CHANGES TO NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION
Phase II of the redesign for New Employee Orientation will begin Monday, March 14. There have been many changes to both the format and content. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., vice president for human resources, and Paul Hudgins, associate vice president for human resources at the Miller School of Medicine, have developed a memorandum outlining the new procedures and requirements. Visit http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,4074-1;35220-3,00.html to read this memo.
APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION AND TENURE WORKSHOP
Faculty and others interested in the School of Medicine’s appointment, promotion and tenure process are invited to attend a workshop on “Policies and Procedures for Promotion and Tenure,” Thursday, March 10 at 4 p.m. in the Mailman Center eighth-floor auditorium. Dean Clarkson, Faculty Senate Chair Mary Coombs, leaders of the Miller School of Medicine Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee, and others will lead the discussion. This will be an opportunity to learn about the faculty promotion and tenure process and to interact with individuals involved in these decisions. This workshop is essential to faculty who will seek promotion and/or tenure in the next few years and to senior faculty who must vote upon these actions and provide advice to their colleagues. It will also be helpful to staff involved with administrative responsibilities in these matters. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Coker at Ecoker@med.miami.edu, or call 305-243-6551.
KRONOS GOES LIVE
On March 11, the pilot groups at University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital / Bascom Palmer Eye Institute will “go live” on Workforce Central. Schedules, enrollment, biometric clock installation, testing and training have been completed for phase one implementation. The phased in approach will allow for just-in-time training and an opportunity to maximize system capabilities. The upgrade will provide employees and managers with self-service options as well as real time information. Full implementation is expected to be completed at both hospitals by May 31. If you would like more information regarding the hospital Kronos upgrade and implementation, please contact Kelly Insignares at kinsignares@med.miami.edu.
BASCOM PALMER CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS
“Risk Management 2005”will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at the Retter Auditorium in Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. The fee to attend is $125 for MDs, $50 for nurses, technicians and administrators. “New Horizons in Ophthalmology” will take place in The Little Nell Hotel, Aspen, Colorado, March 31 through April 2. The registration fee is $595. For more information on these or other Bascom Palmer courses, please contact the Continuing Medical Education office at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, 900 NW 17th St., or by calling 305-326-6110, fax 305-326-6518, or e-mail bpeicme@med.miami.edu. Visit the Bascom Palmer Web site at www.bascompalmer.org.
HIPAA SECURITY AWARENESS UPDATE: SAFE WEB BROWSING
As use of the Web becomes more commonplace, Web designers face increasing pressure to create Web Sites that are more visually appealing than their competitors. They often add “active content” (active X controls, scripting, java applets and cookies) to increase their site’s functionality or enhance its appearance. Active content uses scripts that execute computer programs within your Web browser. These programs produce features including splash Web pages, splash ads, and drop-down menus. While most active content is used for legitimate purposes, hackers have been able to manipulate it for malicious purposes:
Active content may be used to install malware on your computer, which can spread rapidly to other machines on a network.
Active content may install cookies and/or spyware on your computer, which can harvest personal information on behalf of third parties.
Active content may also be used to install pop-up ads, which can frustrate anyone’s Web browsing experience as well as negatively affect your computer’s performance.
While there is no 100%-secure method of browsing the Web, there are ways to minimize your computer’s exposure to harmful active content. Always try to use the latest version of your browser. Check for security patches from your browser vendor on a regular basis. Adjust the privacy and security settings of your Web browser to block or limit sites with active content. This may, however, limit some functionality or “break” some features of the sites you visit. Be aware that little known Web Sites are more likely to have malicious content than the genuine sites of well-known companies. For further information on active content, visit: http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST04-012.html. For assistance with adjusting your browser settings and applying security patches, contact your system administrator.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
“Now, Discover Your Strengths” Seminar
Unfortunately, most of us have little sense of our personal strengths, much less the ability to build our lives around them. However, when people become aware of and tap into these strengths, they can achieve powerful results. Based on the popular book, “Now, Discover Your Strengths,” this seminar will show people how to develop their unique talents and strengths -- and those of the people they influence. Participants will learn to discover their talents and build them into strengths, to bring out the unique strengths in the important people in their lives, and to manage their work and relationships based on those insights. The course will be held in the UM/Sylvester conference room 1301 tomorrow (Wednesday), from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
Discussion Group for UM Parents of Young Children
S.T.E.P. (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) is a discussion group that offers parents of young children a realistic and practical approach to meeting the challenges of raising kids today. As a participant, you will learn how to understand your child’s behavior, how to listen to your child, how to talk to your child, and how to use discipline that makes sense. The meetings will take place once a week for eight weeks at lunchtime (noon to 1 p.m.) in the Diabetes Research Institute, room 6012. The groups will meet every Tuesday on the medical campus on the following dates: March 22 and 29; April 5, 12, 19, and 26, and May 3 and 10. You may register on-line at http://netlearning.miami.edu. Please be sure to register for all eight sessions.
Are Your Children Safe? What Every Parent Should Know
Children are the most vulnerable segment of the population, and the most victimized. Child sexual exploitation is one of the most unrecognized and underreported crimes in our society. Statistics indicate that 1 in 5 females and 1 in 10 males is sexually exploited, yet only 35% of incidents are reported to authorities. Child abduction is another form of child exploitation. Usually, in a one-year period, 800,000 children are missing, abducted, run away or are kicked out of their homes. Because children are inherently vulnerable, keeping children safe is a fundamental responsibility of parents. This seminar, presented on Thursday, March 31, from noon to 1 p.m. in room 155 of the Dominion Parking Garage, will provide parents the tools they need to reduce their children’s risk of being abducted and sexually exploited.
To enroll in any of these courses, go to http://netlearning.miami.edu. If you have any questions about the online registration system, please call 305-243-3090. For questions about content, call the EAP at 305- 284-6604. Supervisors are encouraged to post this notice for employees who do not have electronic access.
NO IDRs NEEDED FOR IT TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Hourly fees ($60/hour) for computer technical services were waived as of July 1, 2004. Medical Information Technology no longer requires interdepartmental requisition forms for IT technical support services to the medical campus. To initiate a request for technical support, please call our customer support desk at 305-243-5999, or submit an e-mail to help@med.miami.edu.
TIAA-CREF VISITS THE MEDICAL CAMPUS
A representative from TIAA-CREF will be on the medical campus on March 9 and 11; April 5 and 6; May 11, and June 8 in the Human Resources Benefits Office, 901 NW 17th St., suite D, to conduct individual counseling sessions. To schedule an appointment, go to http://www.tiaa-cref.org/moc, or call toll-free 1-800-842-2003 ext. 3522.
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT MANAGEMENT TRAINING SERIES
The Performance Improvement Management (PIM) training series is a highly interactive series of four half-days and one two-hour follow up session. It is open to all managers and front line supervisors. The goal of the series is to set expectations for leaders at the University and to develop the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage your employees’ performance. Sessions are open and available currently through June. To register, go to http://netlearning.miami.edu/ and follow the instructions to enroll in the session. Space is limited, so register early!
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. Billing concerns? Address questions to the Office of Billing Compliance at 305-243-HELP or 877-415-HELP. For information regarding training programs offered by the Office of Billing Compliance, contact Gemma Romillo or Nancy Rivero at 305-243-5842.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
HEPATOBILIARY DISEASE IN CLINICAL PRACTICE
Sponsored by the School of Medicine and the Center for Liver Diseases/Division of Hepatology, this March 10-12 conference will present an update of knowledge in the diagnosis and management of liver and biliary disease. This course is directed toward internists, alimentary tract surgeons and other physicians, residents, nurses and allied health professionals who deal with these complex patients and issues. It offers a maximum of 12 category 1 credits toward the AMA PRA. For more information, please contact the Division of Continuing Medical Education at 305-243-6716, or e-mail umcme@med.miami.edu.
FINANCIAL ADVICE FROM LINCOLN FINANCIAL GROUP
A representative from Lincoln Financial Group will be at the medical campus to conduct individual financial counseling March 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Human Resources Benefits Office, 901 NW 17th St., suite D. To schedule an appointment, contact Aimee Hugdahl toll-free at 866-524-2443, or via e-mail at ahughdahl@lnc.com, or contact Theresa Yong at 866-772-4163, e-mail at tmyong@lnc.com.
MAGEC ADVANCES IN GERIATRICS XIV CONFERENCE
The Miami Area Geriatric Education Center will be hosting the Advances in Geriatrics XIV-- Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: Early Detection and Interventions-- conference on March 23-24 at the West Palm Beach Marriott. Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible disorder of the brain, which affects the overall mental and physical functioning of those who have it. It is the most commonly diagnosed cause of cognitive decline among people over age 65, affecting an estimated 4.5 million people, their families, the health care system, and society as a whole. This educational conference will focus on the options for early intervention and proactive treatment currently available to health professionals dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in those affected with dementias. This course has been approved for tuition remission of a limited number of UM employees. Registration information is available at 305-243-6270, or on the Web at www.miami.edu/magec.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, FLORIDA DIVISION
2005 SUMMER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
American Cancer Society, Florida Division, is inviting applications
from qualified medical or undergraduate students, who are residents of Florida or attend a degree-granting Florida institution full-time, to work in a UM/ Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center laboratory from June 1 to August 31, 2005. Eligible applicants must have completed their sophomore year of college by June 1. Awardees cannot be otherwise employed by the University of Miami during this summer fellowship, and students must identify a sponsor and work on a cancer-related project in the research laboratory of a UM/Sylvester investigator. For more information and an application, please contact Kathy Salce at ksalce@med.miami.edu, phone: 305-243-2287. Applications are due by April 1. A total of six fellowships are available at $2,500 each for the three-month period.
MEDICAL FACULTY ASSOCIATION’S 51st ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
The Medical Faculty Association will hold its 51st annual fundraiser to benefit the students of the Miller School of Medicine on Friday, April 1. We will celebrate our fellowship and support our mission with a "Dinner at the Ritz" in Coconut Grove. If you would like to receive an invitation, please contact Kristin Podack at 305-285-1477 (kpodack@hotmail.com) or Linda Fitzpatrick at 305-774-9207 (lindafitz46@hotmail.com).
HUMAN SUBJECT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Dr. Jorge Armenteros, in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, is taking part in an international clinical research program to investigate the efficacy and safety of risperidone in adolescents with schizophrenia. Risperidone has already proven effective and relatively well tolerated for treating adults with schizophrenia, but there are very few studies of risperidone or other atypical antipsychotics in adolescents. Patients must be between 13 and 17 years of age, otherwise physically healthy, and diagnosed with schizophrenia. For further information about the trial, please contact Dr. Jorge Armenteros at 305-355-7106, or Marisabel Davalos, M.S.Ed,, at 305-355-7273.
The Department of Psychology, Behavioral Medicine Research Center, is recruiting
participants for several studies investigating the impact of psychological factors
such as stress on quality of life and disease progression in several older adult
(> 50 yrs. old) populations. The studies are actively recruiting men and women recently
diagnosed with head and neck cancer, HIV-positive men, and men treated for advanced
prostate cancer. For more information about these studies, please call Dr. Frank Penedo
at 305-575-7122.
The Center for Family Studies, Healthy Families Program, is recruiting HIV-positive women over the age of 18 with a recent history of substance abuse treatment. Women who participate in the study should also be willing to have at least one family member participate in their treatment. The Healthy Families program is a family therapy based intervention for HIV-positive women addressing issues such as HIV risk behavior, drug abuse relapse and HIV medication adherence. Participants will be assigned to either the family therapy based intervention or a women's HIV education group, which will take place over four months. Participants will be interviewed at baseline and then at two month intervals over the course of the 12-month study. Interested women should contact the Healthy Families Program office at 305-243-8149, or via e-mail at ralvarez4@med.miami.edu.
Sara Czaja, Ph.D., is leading a study of spinal cord injury in an aging
population focusing on helping improve the quality of life of the patients
and their caregivers. As Americans live longer, more people are aging with
spinal cord injuries than ever before, presenting new challenges. This
NIH-funded study will examine the value of a home-based program that combines
psychological and social intervention, using technology to help patients
who have difficulty with mobility. For more information about the study,
please call 305-355-9200.
The HPV vaccine has been developed with the goal of decreasing HPV infection
and the persistence of HPV risk types responsible for cervical cancer. We are
looking for healthy women between the ages of 15 to 25 who have not had prior
abnormal pap smears, are not pregnant, are willing to receive the study vaccine,
and are able to commit to a four- year follow up period. For more information,
call Iliana Rivas at 305-243-5832.
The SPARE Study (Soy Phytoestrogens As Replacement Estrogen) is currently
recruiting women between 45-58 years of age to study the role of soy phytoestrogens
given in tablet form to prevent bone loss. Participants will be given a
physical exam at study entry, an annual mammogram and bone density test,
and will be asked to come for 10 study visits over a period of two years
for blood tests and to complete questionnaires about diet, exercise, and
well-being. Interested women should contact the SPARE Study Office at 305-243-4330
or via e-mail at aherrin@med.miami.edu.
The UM Skin Research Group directed by Brian Berman, M.D., Ph.D., professor of dermatology and internal medicine, is conducting several research studies on keloids and chronic idiopathic urticaria. If you are interested in participating please contact us at 305-243-5519 or visit our website at www.skininvestigation.com.
Researchers at the MRI Center need healthy subjects for a magnetic resonance imaging study. For more information please visit
http://midas.med.miami.edu/Research/MRStudies.htm.
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