e-Update
February 15, 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
--February’s Human Subjects Research Seminar
--Join President Shalala at the Humane Society’s Walk for the Animals
--Dean’s Patient Safety Colloquium Series
--Abstracts Sought for "Critical Issues in e-Health Research" Conference
--Women's Basketball Dedicates Final Home Game to Beating Breast Cancer
--South Florida Model Spinal Cord Injury System Informational Tour
--Upcoming Calendar Events
--Human Subjects Research Opportunities
FEBRUARY’S HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH SEMINAR
This month’s Human Subjects Research Seminar will feature Richard Steinbook, M.D., discussing “Protection of Human Subjects in Psychiatric Research.” The seminar will be held on Tuesday, February 22, from noon to 1 p.m., at the Mailman Center, room 3023. Advance registration is required as room capacity is limited. Please e-mail MAbraham@med.miami.edu to reserve your space.
JOIN PRESIDENT SHALALA AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY’S WALK FOR THE ANIMALS
President Shalala will serve as grand marshal of the Humane Society of Greater Miami's annual Walk for the Animals on Saturday, February 26 at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. Shalala and her rescued dog, Sweetie, will lead an expected crowd of more than 1,500 people and their dogs for a one-mile walk around the park to raise funds for the Society's pets, programs, and services. If you would like to join President Shalala, bring your dog (or walk alone) for the check-in, which begins at 8:30 a.m. (the walk starts at 10 a.m.) Registrants are requested to raise a minimum of $50 to participate in the walk. Interested? Please contact Brad Wohler at 305-243-5527 or brad_wohler-torres@miami.edu by Friday, February 18. Walking 'Canes participants, remember to wear your pedometer.
DEAN’S PATIENT SAFETY COLLOQUIUM SERIES
Christopher Cassirer, ScD, MPH, will discuss “Linking Respectful, Healthy, Abuse-free Workplace Culture to Employee Satisfaction, Patient Care, Service, Patient Safety and Performance,” as part of the Dean’s Patient Safety Colloquium Series. Cassirer, associate professor, The George Washington University, is an internationally recognized teacher, researcher and consultant with expertise in the fields of malpractice, risk/quality management, program evaluation, patient safety, development of executive management training and leadership programs. His past research has focused on examining the impact of alternative methods of financing medical malpractice risk on hospital risk and quality management programs, on strategic affiliations between religious and non-religious healthcare provider organizations, and, most recently, on the prevalence of abusive behavior in the medical workplace as a barrier to creating high-reliability organizations and a culture of patient safety. The lecture will be held on Thursday, February 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Mailman Center eighth floor auditorium. Please contact Shirley Brown at 305- 585-8364 or sbrown7@med.miami.edu for more information and to register for the colloquium. Advance registration is required since lunch will be provided.
ABSTRACTS SOUGHT FOR THE 1ST ANNUAL "CRITICAL ISSUES IN E-HEALTH RESEARCH” CONFERENCE
The 1st annual "Critical Issues in eHealth Research" Conference, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Health e-Technologies Initiative (a national program office of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), will be held June 9-10 in Bethesda, Maryland. Abstracts are being sought for the conference, which will convene scientists from government, academia, survey research and the private sector, practitioners from the private and public sectors, and students to discuss the state-of-the-science of eHealth research. Topics include, but are not limited to, design, methodology, ethics and evaluation of eHealth research from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. All submissions will be peer-reviewed and may be accepted for either an oral presentation or a poster presentation. New researchers and junior faculty are encouraged to submit abstracts. Abstracts are also welcome in the area of eHealth and minority health experiences. All abstracts must be submitted electronically no later than midnight on March 1. Submit abstracts online at: http://www.scgcorp.com/ehealthconf2005/abstracts.asp. Additional information about the conference can be found at: http://www.scgcorp.com/ehealthconf2005/index.asp, and http://virgo.cit.nih.gov:4080/roller/page/bglassmanblog. For more information, contact Dr. Audie A. Atienza at: atienzaa@mail.nih.gov; phone 301-402-8426.
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CANCER SERIES
Lynn G. Feun, M.D., co-leader, Melanoma and Related Skin Cancers Site Disease Group and professor at the Miller School of Medicine, will present “Melanoma – Diagnosis and Treatment,” on Friday, February 18, from noon to 1 p.m., 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.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DEDICATES FINAL HOME GAME TO BEATING BREAST CANCER
The women's basketball team takes on the University of Maryland at 7 p.m. Thursday at the UM Convocation Center. For every game ticket sold, a dollar donation will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Miami/Ft. Lauderdale affiliate. Breast cancer survivors will be honored at halftime, and it will be senior night for UM starters Yalonda McCormick and Fallon Phanord. The Komen foundation is a strong supporter of the University (the Center for Cancer Prevention and Genetics receives a Komen grant), so come out and give them your support for this great event. Tickets are only $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors. For ticket information, please call 305-284-CANES or visit www.hurricanesports.com (when ordering tickets online, use the promotion code "KOMEN").
SOUTH FLORIDA MODEL SPINAL CORD INJURY SYSTEM INFORMATIONAL TOUR
The South Florida Model Spinal Cord Injury System will present an informational tour for participants to learn more about the Spinal Cord Injury Out-Patient Clinic at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine on Tuesday, February 22. Tour participants will also meet investigators at the Miami VA SCI Center of Excellence, attend a formal presentation on the latest research at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, and learn more about community outreach programs for individuals with spinal cord injuries. The tour will meet at the Jackson Memorial Hospital Rehabilitation Center lobby at 1 p.m. For reservations, please contact Mayra M. Miró, Psy.D., at 305-585-1339, or e-mail mmiro@med.miami.edu.
DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE – ROVING SYMPOSIUM
A Roving Symposium, sponsored by the South Florida Model Spinal Cord Injury System, will be held on Wednesday, February 23, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the JMH Rehabilitation Center third floor auditorium. Spinal cord injury specialist Dr. José P. Alvaréz will discuss different aspects of prevention and treatment of medical complications in a presentation titled “Spinal Cord Injury Medical Care Update.” For more information, please contact Mayra M. Miró, Psy.D., at 305-585-1339, or at mmiro@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 sessions on February 22 and 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.
HIPAA SECURITY AWARENESS UPDATE: PASSWORDS…REVISITED
Passwords are the most vulnerable entry-point to our information technology resources. Misuse of passwords, including negligence on the part of authorized system users, can provide hackers with a golden opportunity to compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems. Always keep your password a secret. Do not share your password with anyone; neither with supervisors nor assistants. Memorize your password and avoid writing it down. Please note that the University of Miami has a password policy that prohibits the sharing of your password (See http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,21542-1;11423-3,00.html); you may be held responsible for any actions taken using your username and password.
The Office of HIPAA Privacy and Security recommends the following best practices for passwords:
- Change your password often, for example, every 90 days. Make changing your password a recurring calendar item so you won’t forget.
- Upon receipt of a “default” password, change your password immediately. Default passwords that have not been changed are one of the most common ways of compromising an account and/or system.
- Use hard-to-guess passwords: mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers and other characters, or misspelled words, for example, HarDt0Gue$$.
- Use a minimum of six characters. The more characters you use for your password the more difficult it is to guess.
If you suspect your password has been compromised, please change it immediately. Notify your System Administrator immediately of any suspected compromise but do not divulge your password.
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 8i n 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.
JANUARY FACULTY SENATE NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ON-LINE
The Faculty Senate newsletter contains information of general interest to the faculty as well as a summary of the Senate meeting of January 26. It is now is available on the Faculty Senate website at: www.miami.edu. Click on the Newsletters link, and then click on the meeting date. The next Faculty Senate meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 23, at 3:30 p.m. in the seminar room on the Rosenstiel campus. Visit the Faculty Senate Web site for more information.
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: 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.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR EYE EXAM THIS YEAR
Effective January 1, all University employees and dependents covered under Humana through the University are eligible for one eye exam annually from a participating Bascom Palmer Eye Care Network optometrist. The employee or covered dependent is responsible for a $30 co-payment for the exam. No referral is needed. A directory of participating optometrists can be found at www.miami.edu/benefits/pdf/Optometrists.pdf.
THIRD MIAMI INTERNATIONAL REVASCULARIZATION SUMMIT
The Third Miami International Revascularization Summit will be held Friday, February 25, through Sunday, February 27, at Wyndham Miami Beach Resort, 4833 Collins Ave. This course includes real patient cases and is designed to provide interactive education on the advances in percutaneous, peripheral and surgical interventions, cardiac imaging and prevention. It offers a maximum of 19.5 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.
FRAUDULENT E-MAILS REQUESTING PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THE RISE
Medical center e-mail users have seen an increase in fraudulent e-mails known as “phishing attacks,” which use fake e-mails and falsified Web sites to scam recipients into divulging personal and financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords and Social Security numbers. To read more on “phishing attacks” and how to avoid similar scams, please visit the following website: http://www.antiphishing.org. If you need more information, please contact Medical Information Technology at 305-243-5999.
NAVIGATING INFOED SPIN PLUS
Looking for funding opportunities? Searching for a collaborator? Learn to navigate InfoEd SPIN Plus to locate funding opportunities or to find potential collaborators during a session on Monday, February 28, at the Lois Pope LIFE Center seventh-floor auditorium, from 3 to 4 p.m. Learn about SPIN (Sponsored Program Information Network), a funding database designed to provide up-to-date information on federal, non-federal and international funding opportunities; Global Expertise Network for Industry, University and Scholars (GENIUS), an extensive database listing potential collaborators from over 600 institutions; and SMARTS (SPIN Matching and Research Transmittal Service), an electronic matching and funding opportunity notification system. To register, log on to NetLearning using your UM ID # (C-Number) at https://netlearning.miami.edu. Search for the class by changing the dates at the top to show classes offered in February. Scroll to locate the February 28th class and click on Enroll located on the left. For more information about this workshop, please e-mail Maria Valero-Martinez at mvalero@med.miami.edu.
DISTINGUISHED FACULTY SCHOLAR AWARD
Dr. Joseph M. Prospero, professor, Division of Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and director, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, has been named the 2005 Faculty Senate Distinguished Faculty Scholar Awardee. This award recognizes his lifetime of distinguished accomplishment in research, which has focused on the observation of aerosols and their role in atmospheric and ecological processes. All faculty are invited to attend a lecture by Professor Prospero entitled "Dust Blowing in the Global Wind: The Impact on Weather, Climate, the Oceans, Microorganisms, and You," as well as the award ceremony and reception on Wednesday, March 2, at 4 p.m. in the Storer Auditorium, School of Business Administration.
PICK UP YOUR MOMENTUM DVD
Limited quantities of the Momentum campaign DVD are available through the Office of Medical Communications. The DVD tells the exciting story of the School of Medicine’s campaign objectives through the words of our physicians, research scientists, students, and grateful patients. Contact Mark N. Levine, director of capital campaign communications, at 305-243-2557 for your copy.
CHARITY SHOPPING EVENT TO BENEFIT INJURY FREE COALITION FOR KIDS
Back-In-Style.com will host a shopping event to raise money for the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Miami’s Injury Free Mobile on Wednesday, February 23, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Back-In-Style.com showroom, 1801 South Bayshore Drive, Coconut Grove. The van is a simulated "house on wheels" designed to teach parents and caregivers how to keep kids safe in the home, in water and on wheels. A significant portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Miami, a non-profit organization dedicated to child injury prevention outreach. Back-In-Style.com is a Miami-based vintage and designer clothing e-business featuring women’s and men’s vintage clothing from top designers as well as contemporary fashions. For more information, visit www.back-in-style.com, or contact Sheffield MacIntyre at 305-519-4955.
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!
EAP SEMINAR ON BRINGING OUT STRENGTHS
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 on Wednesday, March 2, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. To enroll, 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.
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 March 2 through 5. 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.
ALUMNI WEEKEND 2005
School of Medicine alumni are invited to share in three days of fun, camaraderie, learning and reminiscing during Alumni Weekend 2005, March 4-6. 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 medical students. For details and to register, visit the Medical Alumni Association Web site at www.miami.edu/medical-alumni.
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 describing her award-winning research on March 8 from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Lois Pope LIFE Center seventh floor auditorium.
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.
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
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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