On Wednesday, the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine opened its first “concierge” medical practice in Key Biscayne. The practice was started in partnership with Boca Raton-based MDVIP, one of the largest networks of concierge practices.

H&R Block will be providing on-site tax returns at the Miller School of Medicine and Jackson Memorial Hospital from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning this Friday and continuing on Monday, February 6, Thursday, February 9, Tuesday, February 14 and Friday, February 17 in front of the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, as well as today (Tuesday) through Friday of this week and Monday through Friday, February 6 through 17, April 3 through 7, and April 10 through 15 in the Alamo Courtyard. Applications will also be available for Florida KidCare Health Insurance, an umbrella health insurance program for children birth through 18. For more information on the tax return service, please call Kathleen Blenke at 305-899-0961, or visit www.hrblock.com. For information about Florida KidCare Health Insurance, please call Ebenezer Boakye at 305-358-8800.

Medical Information Technology is conducting a survey about training needs on the medical campus and would like your opinion. You can access the survey visiting http://it.med.miami.edu and clicking the "take our survey" link. 

The Faculty Senate represents the faculty in university governance. They solicit interested faculty to indicate their willingness to take part in this governance. In accordance with the election and voting procedures outlined in the faculty manual, each voting member of the university faculty who is willing to serve on the Faculty Senate or on his/her school council should indicate this to the secretary of the Senate each academic year.

This course was created to provide an overview of sponsored programs to individuals new to research administration. With the increased number of awards and the complexity of government regulations, we must expand the knowledge of these regulations to everyone involved in sponsored programs administration. This 90-minute online course reviews the institutional and federal policies for submitting and managing sponsored programs. After reviewing the course material, participants take a brief test. This course is a prerequisite for staff interested in attending the Special Seminar Series. Log onto NetLearning at http://netlearning.miami.edu to enroll.

Participants may pick up Walking Canes packets today (Tuesday) between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., tomorrow (Wednesday) between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., or Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the main entrance to the Lois Pope LIFE Center. Please make sure to bring your health history questionnaire, which can be accessed at http://www.miami.edu/wellness/WalkingCanes/PARQ.pdf, the waiver form, which can be accessed at http://www.miami.edu/wellness/WalkingCanes/Registration.pdf and the $10 registration fee, payable by cash or check. This fee will be reimbursed to each individual who records all 12 pedometer checks. When you pick up your packet, you will be given your user ID to access the online login system. For more information, please visit www.miami.edu/walkingcanes or e-mail medwellness@med.miami.edu.

S.T.E.P. (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) Teen is an eight-week, midday discussion group conducted by the Employee Assistance Program. This course offers parents a realistic and practical approach to meeting the challenges of raising adolescents today. It helps parents learn effective and enjoyable ways to communicate with their teens and to achieve the goal of raising responsible children. Classes begin tomorrow (Wednesday) and will also be held on February 8, 15 and 22, and March 1, 10, 15 and 22, in Dominion Parking Garage, room 155, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. You may register online at http://netlearning.miami.edu (be sure to register for all eight sessions). If you have any questions on using the online registration system, call 305-284-5110 or 305-243-3090. For questions about content, call 305-284-6604.

The Miami Lite program helps participants with weight loss, nutrition, controlling portion sizes, weight management techniques and guidelines for exercise. It is open to the public and is offered every Thursday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Diabetes Research Institute, first-floor Education Center. The cost is $20 per class or $150 for ten sessions. If you would like more information, please contact Anna M. Fraker at aperez4@med.miami.edu or call 305-243-3455.

The University of Miami’s Families First Network, funded by the Children’s Trust, is offering free parenting groups for parents of newborns and children through age 5. Parents will discuss ways to manage behavior, build stronger families and help their children grow and develop. Parents will receive free items related to the topics discussed and lunch will be served. Classes will be held at the Debbie School. For more information or to register, call 305-243-8425 or e-mail mastacio@med.miami.edu.

To ensure that your child car seat is installed correctly, a certified child passenger safety technician will be available on 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. The Injury Free Coalition for Kids is a division of Holtz Children's Hospital/ Miller School of Medicine.

A representative from Lincoln Financial Group will be at the medical campus on February 14 and March 21 to conduct individual counseling sessions. To schedule an appointment, contact Theresa Yong at 305-245-7332 or tmyong@lnc.com.

A representative from Fidelity Investments will be on the medical campus to conduct individual counseling sessions from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday), and also on March 1 and 29, April 27, May 24, June 28 and July 26. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-642-7131.

A representative from TIAA-CREF will be at the medical campus February 22 and 23, March 27 and 28, April 25 and 26, May 23 and 24, and June 27 and 29 to conduct individual counseling sessions. To schedule an appointment, visit http://www.tiaa-cref.com/moc, or call Daphne Georges-Kong at 1-866-842-3357.

All counseling sessions from these organizations will take place in the Human Resources Benefits Office, 901 N.W. 17th St., suite D.

• University Compliance (anonymous hotline): 866-YOURCALL
• Billing (anonymous hotline): 305-243-HELP or 877-415-HELP
• Research Integrity and Compliance: 305-243-6415
• Financial Improprieties: 305-284-2605
• Privacy Office/HIPAA: 305-243-5000 or 1-866-366-HUSH
• University Ombudsperson: 305-284-4922

Any University of Miami employee reporting or deciding whether to report activity that may be in violation of a law, rule, or regulation is protected against retaliation by the Whistleblower Protection Statement. For more information, visit the Office of Compliance site.

• Please note that submissions are due no later than 5 p.m. Thursday for publication on Tuesday.
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Michael Sheets, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin Medical School, will present “Regulated mRNA Translation and the Control of Cell Fate in Xenopus Embryos” today (Tuesday) at noon in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, fourth-floor auditorium.

Zhibin Chen, Ph.D., research fellow at Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, will present “Molecular Controls of Autoimmune Diseases: The Masters” on Tuesday, February 7, at 1 p.m. in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, room 3109.

Hongbo Chi, Ph.D., associate research scientist at Yale University School of Medicine, will present “Function and Regulation of Map Kinase Signaling in Immune Responses” on Tuesday, February 14, at noon in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, room 3109.

This seminar is designed to help attendees understand their credit report and credit score. Participants will learn how to dispute incorrect information and improve their credit score. It takes place today (Tuesday) from noon to 2 p.m. in Dominion Parking Garage, room 155. To personalize this experience, each participant is asked to complete an authorization form to enable Consumer Credit Counseling Service to obtain his or her credit report and score, which will be reviewed during the seminar. Visit www.miami.edu/eap/seminars and scroll down to “Understanding Your Credit Report” to download the authorization form. Complete and fax the signed authorization to Bonita Cales at 305-284-5097 by the deadline indicated. Reports will be destroyed for those individuals who request a credit report but are unable to attend the seminar. To register, visit http://netlearning.miami.edu. If you have any questions about the online registration system, call 305-284-5110 or 305-243-3090.

Kelly Insignares will present “Update on HSRO and Changes with IRB” today (Tuesday) from noon to 1 p.m. in the Mailman Center, eighth-floor auditorium. Advance registration is required as room capacity is limited. Log on to Net Learning at https://netlearning.miami.edu to register. For more information e-mail Maira Abraham at Mabraham@med.miami.edu.

The South Florida Spinal Cord Injury Model System presents “Introduction to Assistive Technology” with guest speaker Johanna Lindsay from the Florida Alliance for Assistive Technology. This presentation will take place today (Tuesday) from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Center on Aging/Mental Health Building, room 3208A. Consumers, family members, healthcare professionals and students are all invited. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP before January 30 with Mayra M. Miró, Psy.D., at 305-585-1339 or mmiro@med.miami.edu.

Don W. Cleveland, Ph.D., professor of medicine, neuroscience and cellular & molecular medicine, University of California, San Diego, will present "From Charcot to Lou Gehrig:  Mechanisms of Motor Neuron Disease” tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon in the Lois Pope LIFE Center, seventh-floor auditorium. For more information, call 305-243-7108 or visit http://www.themiamiproject.org/images/GFB%20Announcement.pdf.

“Data Collections II” will be held on Thursday in UM/Sylvester, room 1301. Displays and give-aways take place from 11:30 a.m. to noon. The lecture is presented by Ollie Anum, Pharm.D., from noon to 1 p.m., and is worth one contact hour for nursing and pharmacy. Lunch will be served. This lecture is a part of the “Things to Know About Research” lecture series presented by UM/Sylvester’s Pharmacy Department, and is sponsored by Roche, Abraxis and MGI. Please reserve your space with Joannys Cortinas at 305-243-9192.

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute will host “Angiogenesis 2006” on Friday and Saturday at the Mandarin Oriental. Registration is $300. For more information, please contact the Continuing Medical Education office at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at 305-326-6110, by fax at 305-326-6518 or by e-mail at bpeicme@med.miami.edu.

“Quarterly Departmental HR Meeting for HR Liaisons” will take place on Friday at 10 a.m. in the Mailman Center, eighth-floor auditorium. The primary agenda item is the new evaluation and merit process.

Scripps Florida will sponsor the annual Miami Nature Biotechnology Winter Symposium, along with the University of Miami and Nature Publishing Group. The 2006 Symposium, “Angiogenesis in Cancer and Vascular Disease,” takes place in the Wyndham Miami Beach Resort from Saturday through Wednesday, February 8.  Full-time employees of the University of Miami can register using tuition remission. Send an e-mail to sblack@miami.edu with your UM ID# and full UM address if you wish to register. Graduate students can register in the same way and receive a registration waiver.

The Department of Pathology will conduct its 31st Annual Review and Recent Practical Advances in Pathology course at the Fontainebleau Resort February 6-10. This popular annual conference is attended by many pathologists from the United States and abroad. Courses will be conducted by renowned guest speakers and University of Miami faculty. For information and assistance, please contact Linda Hung at 305-585-6103, by fax at 305-243-5929, or by e-mail at lhung@med.miami.edu. To view the brochure and registration form, and for a complete listing of conference topics, please visit http://pathology.med.miami.edu.

Robert Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of dermatology, will present “ABCDs of Skin Cancer” on Monday, February 6, from noon to 1 p.m. at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, 1192 East Newport Center Drive, suite 100. It is free and open to the public. A light lunch will be served. Dr. Kirsner will also provide free skin cancer screenings from 9:30 a.m. to noon, and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Screenings are by appointment only. Please call 1-800-545-2292 for an appointment or to register for the seminar. For additional information, contact Joanne Leahy at 954-571-0107 or jleahy@med.miami.edu.

The following presentations all take place in UM/Sylvester conference room 1301. They are free and open to the public. A light lunch will be served. Please call 305-243-1000 or 800-545-2292 to reserve your space.

Aaron H. Wolfson, M.D., professor and vice chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, will present “DNA Study of Cervix Cancer” on Monday, February 6, from noon to 1 p.m.

Hugo F. Fernandez, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine and director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, will present “Blood Cancers and Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation: Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma” on Monday, February 13, from noon to 1 p.m.

Maggie Kane, Infection Control Specialist, will present “Ways to Avoid Infection” on Thursday, February 16, from 2 to 3 p.m.

The Fourth Miami International Revascularization Summit will be held February 9 to 12 at The Alexander Hotel, 5225 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach. This course includes patient cases and is designed to provide interactive education on the advances in percutaneous, peripheral and surgical interventions, cardiac imaging and prevention. Continuing medical education credits for physicians and nurses will be offered. For more information please contact the Division of Continuing Medical Education at 305-243-6716, or e-mail umcme@med.miami.edu

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute invites you to the “Battle on the Beach IV,” the fourth annual mid-winter symposium featuring discussion of current diagnostic tools and newer strategies for the clinical practice of glaucoma. These will include glaucoma surgical techniques, normal tension glaucoma, angle closure glaucoma, controversies in glaucoma and pediatric glaucoma. For more information, please contact Karen Davila at 305-326-6110, or kdavila@med.miami.edu.

This two-part personal development seminar, offered by the EAP, includes a computer-based learning prerequisite. All University faculty, staff and administrators are welcome to attend. At the end of this seminar, participants will be able to demonstrate active listening skills, including labeling speaker's emotions, using voice tone to convey meaning, paraphrasing, recognizing the difference between empathetic and sympathetic statements, understanding the value and use of pauses, and prompting with open-ended questions. The workshop will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, February 10, in room 155 of the Dominion Parking Garage. If you do not have access to the Internet, please contact the EAP to obtain the pre-work materials. For more information about content, contact Mary Remon at the EAP at 305-284-6604. To register, visit http://netlearning.miami.edu. For questions about registration, call the Professional Development and Training Office at 305-243-3090. Š

On February 10, David Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., Harold L. Moses Chair in Cancer Research, Ingram Professor of Cancer Research and director of Specialized Program of Research Excellence in Lung Cancer, Vanderbilt University Cancer Center, will present “Molecular Signatures of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer,” as part of the UM/Sylvester Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture begins at noon in UM/Sylvester, room 1301. Lunch will be served. For more information, please call Diane Dames at 305-243-2287, or e-mail DDames@med.miami.edu.

Join the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Miami on Tuesday, February 14, for the inauguration of the Injury Free Mobile. The kick-off event will take place at Alamo Park, 1611 N.W. 12th Avenue, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Participants will be entered into a raffle to win a free car seat. For more information, call 305-243-8838 or e-mail ldeus@um-jmh.org. The Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Miami is a division of Holtz Children's Hospital at Jackson Health Systems in partnership with the Department of Pediatrics.

The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine will present “Remembered Wellness and Rehabilitation” on Friday, February 17, from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Jackson Rehabilitation Center Building, third-floor auditorium. The speaker is Irene M. Estores, M.D. For further details, please contact Coretha Davis at 305-585-1431.

The Office of Graduate Studies is pleased to announce an opportunity for pre-doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows to develop grant writing skills. Stephen Russell, Ph.D., co-founder of the Grant Writers' Seminars and Workshops, will conduct a half-day workshop entitled “Write Winning Grants,” on Thursday, February 23, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, fifth-floor auditorium. The emphasis of this workshop will be on research proposals in the biomedical sciences as they pertain to NIH funding. Topics will include:
 
•         How to Develop an Irresistible, Fundable Idea
•         Fundamentals and Principals of Successful Grant Writing
•         The Review Process and Its Psychology
•         Before You Begin To Write
•         Tips on Writing for Reviewers
•         Specific Aims: The Master Plan for Your Application
•         Practical Exercise Evaluating Model Specific Aims Sections for Strengths and Weaknesses

Presentations

Joseph Neary, Ph.D.,   research professor, Department of Pathology, recently participated in the Novartis Foundation Symposium entitled “Purinergic Signalling in Neuron-Glia Interactions” in London. Dr. Neary’s presentation was entitled “P2 Receptor Signaling, Astrocyte Proliferation, and Cell-Cell Interactions.” He was selected as one of 25 scientists worldwide to participate in this prestigious series of symposia, which has been in existence for 50 years, covering a broad range of topics at the forefront of scientific research.

The Women’s Cancer League and Partners  recently visited the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center where they met with and presented a check for $60,000 to renowned physician-scientist Joyce Slingerland, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., director, Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute at UM/Sylvester.

The AIDS Clinical Research Unit, directed by Margaret Fischl, M.D., is recruiting participants for the following studies:

• An investigational smallpox vaccine in patients with HIV and without HIV. The vaccine uses a modified vaccinia virus, which is not as strong as the smallpox virus and cannot grow well enough in human cells to cause disease. Participants must be 18 to 34 years of age, have never received smallpox vaccinations, and have no history of heart or skin problems. HIV patients must be taking antiretroviral therapy and have a viral load of less than 50,000 and a CD4 cell count greater than 200. Up to $275 provided and free HIV testing is done.

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