e-Update
July
2, 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
--School of Medicine Creates Executive Office of Research Leadership
--Breakfast Gathering for President Shalala a Rousing Success; Photos
On-Line
--UM Announces Interdisciplinary Initiative in Neuroscience Research
and Education
--Children's Summer Accidents and Injury Can Be Prevented, Says Miami
Herald
--Traveling Abroad? Get Vaccinations from the Office of Environmental
Health
--Go On-Line to Find Preparation Info for Hurricanes and Other Emergencies
--Hurricane Athletics Offers National Baseball Championship Memorabilia
on Web
--Upcoming Calendar Events
RESEARCH LEADERSHIP OFFICE
CREATED TO STEP UP SCIENTIFIC STUDIES AT MEDICAL SCHOOL
With the ultimate
goal of breaking into the top 20 medical schools in terms of funding
from the National Institutes of Health, the School of Medicine has created
the Executive Office of Research Leadership. This new post will lead
the effort to improve the quality and quantity of scientific research
at the School of Medicine, and will lend support to current researchers,
while creating an environment to attract highly skilled and gifted new
faculty. Clyde McCoy, Ph.D., professor and chairman of the Department
of Epidemiology and Public Health, will serve as director of the Executive
Office of Research Leadership. Camillo Ricordi, M.D., professor and
scientific director of the Diabetes Research Institute, will lead the
office's efforts in clinical research, and James Potter, Ph.D., will
head up initiatives in basic science research. Norman Altman, V.M.D.,
will continue to serve as vice provost for research. For more information,
visit http://www.med.miami.edu/medical-pr/news/view.asp?id=32.
WELCOME BREAKFAST FOR PRESIDENT
SHALALA PRESENTED SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT ITS BEST
The School of Medicine
welcomed President Donna E. Shalala with open arms last Tuesday morning
at the Schoninger Research Quadrangle. Her first introduction to the
medical school and its employees was a great success. Approximately
2,000 faculty and staff turned out to shake the president's hand and
offer words of encouragement. Many thanks go out to all who attended.
To see photographs highlighting the event, visit President Shalala's
photo gallery on-line at http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2472-1;8491-3,00.html.
UM'S NEW NEUROSCIENCE INITIATIVE
WILL INCORPORATE MANY DISCIPLINES
Almost $2 million
has been earmarked for a new program in the neurosciences involving
departments within the School of Medicine, as well as the Departments
of Biology and Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. This
new enterprise, funded by the University's Innovative Educational and
Research Initiative, is part of an effort to achieve excellence in an
area already known for its strength. Some of the major goals of the
program are to bring together faculty and students from many departments
and disciplines who are interested in various aspects of the neurosciences,
and to bridge the gap between molecular/cellular neuroscience, psychology,
biology, and the social sciences. The initiative will draw from and
build on current research and patient care at the School of Medicine
related to Parkinson's Disease, vision loss, ALS, and spinal cord injury
studies. To learn more, click here http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2593-1;3000-2;8518-3,00.html.
MIAMI HERALD AND
DR. PATRICIA CANTWELL OFFER SUMMER SAFETY TIPS FOR PARENTS
Summer is the riskiest
season for children, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, because
nearly half of all injury-related childhood deaths happen at this time.
Causes of accidental death can include drowning, bicycle accidents,
and falls. A recent Miami Herald article details the dangers
of children's summertime activities, as well as measures parents can
take to keep kids safe. Patricia Cantwell, M.D., associate professor
and director of pediatric critical care medicine in the Department of
Pediatrics, contributed to the article, and listed some other summer
hazards, like dehydration, sunburn, playground equipment, and bug bites.
Constant supervision of children and training in life-saving procedures
are just some of the steps parents can take to prevent summer injuries
and accidents. To read the full Miami Herald article, visit http://www.miami.com/herald/content/features/health/digdocs/090244.htm.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND
SAFETY OFFERS TB SCREENINGS AND HEPATITIS VACCINES
The Employee Health
Office announces new hours for tuberculosis (TB) screenings. Effective
immediately, TB screenings will be administered on Mondays and Tuesdays,
10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Dominion Tower, suite 405. Readings of the screenings
will be held on Wednesdays and Thursdays, also 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No
appointments are necessary for this free screening. Hepatitis A and
B vaccines are offered Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
at the same location. An appointment is required to receive these vaccines,
and the fee for the service can be paid with an Interdepartmental Requisition
Form. Employees traveling out of the country can receive both the Hepatitis
A and B vaccines, and should remember that it is sometimes necessary
to begin vaccine injections months before travel. To learn more about
vaccination requirements for different countries, visit the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention on-line at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
For questions on vaccines offered at the School of Medicine, call Sandra
Chen-Louis at 305-243-3400.
STAY IN THE KNOW WITH MEDICAL
CAMPUS HURRICANE INFORMATION ON THE WEB
You can now view
hurricane preparedness information for the medical campus on the World
Wide Web. For details on creating an office plan, numbers you need to
know in an emergency, and checklists for the home and office, visit
http://www.miami.edu/storm/medical.
'CANES BASEBALL NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE AT UM ATHLETICS WEB SITE
Purchase officially
licensed merchandise of the national champion Hurricanes baseball team
on-line at http://hurricanesports.fansonly.com/store.
Items include t-shirts, hats, pins, and more. You also can place bids
on-line for College World Series collectible items signed by the players
and coaches.
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!
SIGN YOUR DAUGHTERS UP FOR SUMMER BASKETBALL CAMP THIS WEEK
Join UM head coach
Ferne Labati for the 2001 Girls Basketball Camp, July 2 ñ 5, at the
Knight Sports Complex on the University's Coral Gables campus. This
individual camp will feature a full day of basketball activity. Each
camp will be divided by age and ability, with the groups complemented
by matching instruction and competition. For more information on how
to sign your daughter up for Ferne Labati's 2001 Girls Individual Basketball
Camp or any other Girls Basketball Camp at UM please call 305-284-5802.
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 "Coercion," presented by Jay Sosenko,
M.D., on July 3; "Genetics," presented by Kenneth Goodman, Ph.D., on
July 10; "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.
MAYOR PENELAS AND UM/JACKSON
LEAD MIAMI IN CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH CHALLENGE
Mayor Alex Penelas
will lead Miami in a five-city health challenge to promote awareness
of cardiovascular health through free screenings. Miami residents are
encouraged to participate in cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure
and body mass index screenings, July 11 ñ 13, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pfizer,
Inc will provide a state-of-the-art mobile screening unit and certified
medical technicians to administer free screenings at the parking area
of the Dadeland Mall, in front of Burdines. Other participating cities
in the initiative are New York, Philadelphia, Columbus, and Washington
D.C. Each will be rated to see which provides the most screenings and
which is the "healthiest." Staff from UM/Jackson, the event's only hospital
sponsor, will be on hand to answer questions, provide referral information,
and represent the medical center's dedication to providing quality cardiovascular
health awareness and services.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE AND
DONATE AT SCHOOL OF MEDICINE BLOOD DRIVE
Help save a life
by donating blood at the School of Medicine's July blood drive. Donation
stations will be set up July 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the Rosenstiel
building, second floor student lounge; outside the Retter Auditorium
in Bascom Palmer; the UM/Sylvester courtyard; and the Mailman Center
courtyard.
|
