e-Update
September 5, 2000
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
--Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Grants $12.5 Million to School of Medicine
--Gail Haldeman Appointed to Governor's Task Force on Women's Health
--Symposium at VA to Address Dying from Family and Physician Perspectives
--Register to Vote On-Line and Link to Government Sites from New UM Web Page
--Join the Sexual Assault Response Team and Volunteer Your Time and Compassion
--Upcoming Calendar Events
MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GRANTS WILL FUND MEDICAL GENETICS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMS
On August 29, the Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, a philanthropic organization
in Coral Gables, announced a $12.5 grant to the School of Medicine. Half of
the gift, $6.25 million, will create the Dr. John T. Macdonald Center for Medical
Genetics, one of the first comprehensive genetics initiatives at an American
university since the completion of the Human Genome Project's first draft. The
second half of the grant will fund a signature program in public school health
that is expected to set the standard as a national model for public school health
programs. Articles in the Miami Herald and
Sun-Sentinel chronicled the historic
donation. To read them, visit http://www.herald.com/content/wed/docs/073593.htm
and http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/daily/detail/0,1136,33500000000109879,00.html.
Look for more information about the grants in the upcoming issue of Medical
Center Update.
GAIL HALDEMEN OF INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH CHOSEN FOR GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE
Gail Haldeman, M.P.H., assistant director of research and program development for the School of Medicine's Institute for Women's Health, was appointed to the Women and Heart Disease Task Force by Florida Governor Jeb Bush. The group will identify needs in public awareness, education, research, and coordination regarding women and heart disease. From this analysis, the team will prepare recommendations to increase research efforts that study why women suffer more severe first heart attacks than men and die from heart attacks more often than men.
PBS PRESENTS SPECIAL ON END-OF-LIFE CARE; VA TOWN MEETING TO DISCUSS RELATED ISSUES
Tune in to PBS, Channel 2, at 9 p.m., September 10-13, for a special four-part series, "On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying," addressing the issues associated with dying and end-of-life care from the perspectives of families and physicians. As a followup to the series, on the morning after the final installment, a special symposium will be held, September 14, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., at the Miami Veterans Medical Center second floor auditorium. A panel including School of Medicine faculty will discuss the program and its real-life implications.
UNIVERSITY JOINS NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN
UM is participating in the National Campus Voter Registration Project aimed
at reversing national voter apathy. The goal is to give every member of the
University community the opportunity to register to vote in the 2000 election.
Voter registration forms have been distributed on all campuses, including the
medical center. To find out where to pick up your form, register to vote on-line,
or request an absentee ballot, visit UM's new voter registration website at
http://www.miami.edu/voter-registration.
The site also provides useful links to local, state, and national election resources.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SART -SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM
SART, the 24-hour sexual assault hotline for University of Miami students, is seeking volunteers to join the team. Warm, empathetic, and mature faculty, staff, and graduate students are needed to serve as advocates for victims of sexual assault. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, call the Student Counseling Center at 305-284-5511.
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!
SUPERVISORS: REGISTER NOW FOR REQUIRED TRAINING COURSE
If you are a manager or supervisor at the University of Miami, you are required to attend training on federal laws and regulations governing supervisory responsibilities. The Office of Professional Development and Training offers such a program, which also develops or reinforces skills in handling difficult employees, completing performance appraisals, and applying disciplinary procedures. The program, entitled "Fundamentals of Supervision," consists of three modules: Employment Policies and Procedures, September 7, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Progressive Discipline, September 12, 8:30 a.m. to noon; and Performance Appraisals, September 14, 8:30 a.m. to noon. All sessions will be held at the Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155. This program is required for all supervisors. Employees who are not supervisors need their supervisor's approval to participate. To register, call 305-243-3090.
UPCOMING SEMINAR TO ADDRESS BLOOD TRANSFUSION ISSUES AND TRENDS
The UM/Jackson Center for Bloodless Medicine and Surgery presents "Controversies in Medical, Legal & Ethical Issues Avoiding Blood Transfusions on September 8 at the Wyndham Grand Bay Hotel in Coconut Grove. Experts from across the country will address related issues and continuing education credits are available. The half-day seminar is free to Jackson Memorial Hospital staff and UM faculty and staff. For more information, call 305-585-7269.
PARENTING CLASSES FROM EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE BEGIN NEXT WEEK
The Employee Assistance Program presents "Systematic Training for Effective
Parenting," an eight-session course in parenting skills. Classes will be held
from noon to 1 p.m. at the Office of Professional Development and Training,
Dominion Parking Garage, Suite 155, beginning September 12 and continuing for
the next seven consecutive Tuesdays. For more information call 305-284-6604,
visit http://www.miami.edu/eap,or keep
an eye out for an upcoming notice in your mailbox.
PARTICIPATE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND GAIN LEADERSHIP SKILLS
Do you have what it takes to be a leader? If you are a research professional (AO6), administrative professional (AO1), or faculty member, have worked at the University for at least one year, and received an above-average rating on performance appraisals, you are eligible to enter the Leadership Skills Development Program offered by the Office of Professional Development and Training. Six sessions on consecutive Fridays, beginning October 6, will help you understand the team concept, strategic planning, and ethics, among other topics. Call 305-243-3090 for a registration form. The deadline to register is September 15.
CAREGIVERS SEMINAR WILL ADDRESS RELATED STRESS AND FATIGUE
"The Cost of Caring: Compassion Fatigue" is a six-hour course presented by
the Employee Assistance Program and addresses the prevention of secondary stress
or compassion fatigue for caregivers. The seminar is designed to be introspective
and interactive and participants are offered an opportunity to review their
current experiences. The purpose of the course is to help develop resiliency
and prevention skills to move toward a more intentional and less reactive professional
and personal life. The course starts on September 15, 9 - 11 a.m., at the Dominion
Parking Garage, Suite 155, and continues on September 22 and 27. Six continuing
education credits are available for nurses and licensed masters level mental
health professionals who complete the course. For more information or to register,
call 305-243-7676, or visit http://www.miami.edu/eap.
FINANCIAL ADVISOR VISITS MEDICAL CAMPUS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
A representative from TIAA-CREF will be at the Professional Development and Training Office, 155 Dominion Parking Garage, to conduct individual financial counseling sessions on September 15. To schedule an appointment, call 800-842-2003, extension 3522. |