“I was sitting in my supervisor’s office when the call came in," says Gamboa, a senior staff associate in the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. "My first reaction was total disbelief, and I started to hang up."

The call was no ruse, though.

Saturday, on the sun-splashed infield of Dolphin Stadium, Gamboa joined Miller School Dean Pascal Goldschmidt in throwing out first pitches in front of 42,817 fans. (Joe Natoli, senior vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer, Nicole Berman of Auxiliary Services, and Juan Rosado of Facilities Administration at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science also threw out first pitches).

It was all part of the opening-game ceremonies for UM Family Night with the Florida Marlins. Gamboa had purchased her tickets for the game on the first day of ticket distribution on the Miller School campus back in July.

“I was excited and nervous at the same time," says Gamboa, who got tips on throwing from a neighborhood teenager who plays Little League baseball.

Gamboa attended the game with her son, Freddie, 7, and daughter, Brianna, 12, as well as ten other relatives. They joined thousands of other UM employees who took part in pregame festivities that included prize giveaways, face painting, photos with Billy the Marlin and Sebastian the Ibis, and autograph sessions with Marlins players. A fireworks display and concert by rock band Blues Traveler capped off the evening.

Said Gamboa, "I’m already looking forward to next year."

This upgrade now enables Bascom Palmer to provide the same superior image quality and protocols currently used at Applebaum Diagnostic Imaging Center.

The Total Imaging Matrix coil provides unique opportunities to integrate the latest technology to obtain the following:  Higher image resolution, 3-D image capability, CINE (CSF Flow Studies), multiple coils and studies without patient repositioning, unprecedented accuracy and speed and feet first imaging for most studies, reducing patient anxiety and claustrophobia.

Advanced applications now include:  Musculoskeletal imaging, kinematic studies, isotropic 3-D imaging, neurological imaging, spectroscopy, CINE (CSF Flow), diffusion tensor imaging, myelography, cardiovascular imaging, morphology, function and flow and perfusion.

Please feel free to contact us at any time regarding clinical application questions.
Digital General Radiology is also provided at the Bascom Palmer Radiology Department.

For scheduling information, please contact us at 305-326-6144.

Organ Systems and Diagnosis will be offered the following Saturdays: September 8, September 15, September 29, October 6, October 13, October 20, October 27, November 3, November 10, November 17, December 1, December 8 and December 15. This course will be taught by Li-ping Chang, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac., along with Fu Di, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac., an assistant voluntary professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Miller School.

Scalp Acupuncture will be held Saturday, January 5 and Saturday, January 12. The instructor for this course will be Fu Di, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac., assistant voluntary professor of  psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

Electro-Acupuncture will be offered Saturday, January 26, and Saturday, February 2, and will be taught by Li-ping Chang, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac.

Advanced Auricular Acupuncture will be held two Saturdays, February 9 and 16. This course will be taught by the Auricular Certification Institute.

Fertility and Acupuncture will be held Saturday, February 23, and Saturday March 1. The course will be instructed by Li-ping Chang, M.D. (PRC), L.Ac.

Meta-Energetics will be offered Saturday, March 8, with Janet Konefal, Ph.D., M.P.H., L.Ac., assistant dean for complementary and integrative medicine.

To view the UM Benefits@Work Newsletter please visit https://www6.miami.edu/benefits/pdf/August2007Newsletter.pdf.

UM employees will receive a 15 percent discount on course tuition for these classes. To take a free online placement test, please visit www.edmiami.com/alc. For more information, course details, and to register, please e-mail alc.cstudies@miami.edu or call 305-284-4727.

They will also meet with employees at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science tomorrow, Tuesday, September 25, Wednesday, November 14, and Wednesday, December 12, in the RSMAS Library.

To schedule an appointment, please contact Theresa Yong at 305-245-7332 or via e-mail at Theresa.Yong@LFG.com. Appointments will be scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the medical and Coral Gables campuses and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Rosenstiel campus.

The workshop will be held Monday, October 8, Friday, October 19, and Wednesday, October 24, from 9 a.m to noon in the Calder Memorial Library, third-floor classroom.

Space is limited, so please register online at http://ulearn.miami.edu/.  If you have any questions please contact Sofia Aymerich by e-mail at saymerich@med.miami.edu.

This workshop will be held on the Coral Gables campus on Tuesday, September 18, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the MacArthur Engineering Building, room 201A.

For more information, call 305-243-6491 or e-mail gcrmence@med.miami.edu.

This seminar will be presented by Nahum Sonenberg, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry at the McGill Cancer Centre in Montreal and external examiner for Ph.D. candidate Rachel Jane Elsby.

For more information please contact Karen T. Del Rio at 305-243-5682 or by e-mail at kdelrio@med.miami.edu.

The lecture will take place from noon to 1 p.m., in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, third-floor auditorium. A light lunch will be served.

For more information, please e-mail mpieiga@med.miami.edu or visit www.jayweisscenter.org.

This grand rounds will also be webcast live at noon at www.jayweisscenter.org. The archived webcast will be available shortly after the lecture.

To register, please visit http://ULearn.miami.edu. For help with registration, please call the Professional Development and Training Office at 305-243-3090.

This seminar will also be held on the Coral Gables campus on Thursday, August 23, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Max Orovitz Building, room 139.

For further details, please contact Coretha Davis at 305-585-1431.

"Team Building" is a highly-interactive, 3-hour training session that will be held this Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. To register, please visit http://ulearn.miami.edu.

There are prerequisites for the course.  Please contact the PDTO at 305-243-3090 for more information.

Lunch will be served at noon followed by the lecture.

Please join us for this seminar in the Rosenstiel Medical Science Building, fourth-floor auditorium this Friday from 3 to 4 p.m.

For more information, please contact Miriam Calejo at 305 243-6484.

This lecture will take place on Tuesday, August 28, from noon to 1 p.m. at UM/Sylvester at Deerfield Beach, suite 100. A light lunch will be served. You must RSVP by calling 1-800-545-2292 to attend this free presentation.

For more information please call Carthy Thomas, manager of community relations, at 305-243-4071.

For more information, contact Sally Philips at the EAP at 305-284-6604.  To register for the CBL and then the seminar, visit http://ULearn.miami.edu.  For questions about registration, call the Professional Development and Training Office at 305-243-3090.

The course will be held on the Coral Gables campus on Thursday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Max Orovitz Building, room 139.

Registration is required through Ulearn at http://ulearn.miami.edu/.

For questions, please contact saymerich@med.miami.edu.

Lunch will be served. To register, please call 305-243-5092 or send an e-mail to saymerich@med.miami.edu.

Margaret Pericak-Vance, Ph.D., professor and director of the Miami Institute for Human Genomics, has invited Dr. Haines to present: "Making Progress in Complex Genetic Disease: Multiple Sclerosis and Macular Degeneration."

Please RSVP to mdetullio@med.miami.edu. Breakfast will be served.

The first session will be held Wednesday, September 12, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium. A second session will be held at the same time and location on Wednesday, September 26. 

Please register online at http://ulearn.miami.edu/. If you have any questions please contact Sofia Aymerich by e-mail at saymerich@med.miami.edu.

This lecture will take place on Tuesday, September 18, at the Bank United Center, Hurricane 100 room, from noon to 1 p.m.

Lunch will be served.  Please RSVP to spurcell@med.miami.edu or call 305-355-9081.

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is seeking patients with COPD for phase III protocol that will determine whether a once-a-day dose of an investigational medication , bronchodilator, will effectively improve your breathing for 24 hours. You will be paid for your time and effort. For more information please call 305-243-2568 or e-mail Eliana Mendes at emendes@med.miami.edu.

 Robert M. Jackson, M.D., from the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, is seeking idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients for an ongoing Phase II clinical trial of vasodilator therapy (sildenafil). The objectives will be to assess possible therapeutic benefits of a vasodilator, sildenafil, on exercise tolerance and dyspnea in IPF patients and to observe changes in post-exercise markers of oxidant stress. The investigators seek patients with mild to moderate IPF and who have been diagnosed clinically. The study is open to at least ten additional patients. For more information, please contact Robert M. Jackson, M.D. or IPF program coordinator Carol Ramos at 305-575-3548 or by e-mail at rjackson2@med.miami.edu. This trial is funded by the Veterans Administration Research Service and is open to non-veterans of both genders. More information can be found at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00359736?order=2.

 The Department of Psychology and the Division of Biobehavioral Oncology, Prevention, Epidemiology and Control of the Sylvester Cancer Center are conducting an NIH-funded intervention study to examine the effects of stress management on health and quality of life in women recently diagnosed with breast cancer (stages 0-III). Participants must have recently had surgery for breast cancer, have not yet begun chemotherapy or radiation treatment, and have fluency in English. Eligible women will participate in weekly group sessions over a period of five weeks and be compensated for completing three assessments (questionnaire packet, saliva collection, and blood draw). If you are interested in participating or would like further information about this study, please contact the study coordinator, Janny Rodriguez, at 305-284-2220 or jannyr@miami.edu.

 The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is recruiting patients for the following clinical studies:

• Cervical Dysplasia

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is testing experimental medications and therapies for the treatment of cervical dysplasia, a pre-cancerous condition that can lead to cancer if left untreated. Current treatments are surgical or invasive. This study is testing an investigational gene therapy to see if it safely and effectively treats HPV medicated cervical lesions as a result of dysplasia. If you are between 18 and 25 and have had an abnormal PAP test, you may be able to take part in this research study. Qualified participants will receive all study-related care and study therapy. To find out more, call Iliana Rivas at (305) 243-5832 or I.rivas@miami.edu.

• Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Do you experience heavy menstrual bleeding on two to five days of your regular menstrual period? Does heavy menstrual bleeding keep you from your normal social and work activities? If you answered yes to these questions, you may qualify for a research study of an investigational drug for heavy menstrual bleeding. This investigational drug is not a hormone. You must be a generally healthy woman between ages 18 and 49, have regular menstrual cycles with heavy bleeding, and not have any other bleeding disorder.

Qualified participants will receive the study drug and study-related procedures including physical exams, electrocardiograms, eye exams and laboratory tests at no cost. They will also receive compensation for time and travel. For more information, please contact Marisol Sloane at 305-243-1616.

Jay Skyler, M.D., and Jennifer Marks, M.D., from the Diabetes Research Institute, are currently recruiting patients 18 years of age and older with type 1 diabetes mellitus for participation in research studies to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of inhaled insulin. Patients must be taking multiple insulin injections daily, be non-smokers and in good health. Those who are interested should contact Rogelio Suarez at 305-243-6573 or rsuarez2@med.miami.edu.

Robert Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D., vice chairman of the Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, is looking for people with foot ulcers as a complication of diabetes or venous insufficiency. Please contact Carol Kittles at 305-243-8485 for additional information on these studies.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is conducting a federally funded HIV behavioral intervention research study for women and their partners, the New Opportunities for Women 2 (NOW 2) Project. The project will address topics related to safer sex, sexual risk reduction, STDs and communication skills. The NOW 2 Project is currently recruiting English-speaking couples, in which one or both individuals must be HIV positive. Participants must be 18 years or older, willing to be tested for STDs, and answer personal questions in a confidential interview. Women and men who participate may each receive compensation of up to $360 for an entire year of participation (this includes attendance at all interviews, examinations and sessions). If interested, please contact Arnetta Phillips or Jackie Gomez, at 305-243-2103, or (aphillips@yahoo.com / jgomez4@med.miami.edu).

Patients with cirrhosis of the liver as a result of hepatitis B 
This is a phase III b protocol comparing entecavir vs. adefovir in chronic hepatitis B subjects with evidence of hepatic decompensation. Subjects must have cirrhosis because of hepatitis B infection, never been treated for hepatitis B or treated with lamivudine (epivir) only, and do not have HIV, hepatitis C or D. For further information please call: 305)-243-6939, or e-mail the study coordinator, Connie Higgins at chiggins@med.miami.edu.

Do you or someone you know experience pain related to spinal cord injury? Eva Widerström-Noga, Ph.D., and her colleagues are conducting research into the nature and treatment of pain associated with spinal cord injury. Studies are enrolling now.  Eligible participants will be 18 to 70 years of age and at least two years post-injury.  If you are interested in enrolling, please call The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at 305-243-8132 for information.

The Department of Psychology is recruiting participants for the following studies:

• A schizophrenia family study 
Have you or one of your relatives been diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder? Are you in regular contact with this person? If so, you and your family may be eligible to participate in a free family-focused treatment research study. During the treatment, clinicians will provide factual information about schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. In addition, techniques to assist the family in coping with mental illness will be presented. Treatment is available in English and Spanish. If interested, please contact the Schizophrenia Family Project at 305-284-5455.

• A family factors and autism study
The aim of this project is to better understand families’ emotional reactions to autism spectrum disorders. We seek the participation of adults with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s and one of his or her parents. Participation will involve one hour-long telephone call. If you would like to help with this study or if you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Wasserman at 305-284-2307.

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.

The Department of Psychology and the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control is conducting a quality of life research intervention with advanced prostate cancer patients. Participants should have Stage III or IV prostate cancer and have recently or currently been treated with hormone therapy. Eligible participants will take part in a ten-week cognitive behavioral stress and affect management program or a health promotions program. Three psychosocial/medical assessments are also required. If you are interested in this study or would like more information, please contact Frank Penedo, Ph.D., at 305-243-3329, or fpenedo@miami.edu.

Daniel Santisteban, Ph.D., of the Center for Family Studies in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, is currently conducting a research program that would provide adolescents and/or their family treatment for free. Participants must be 14 to 17 years old, have a parent or legal guardian willing to participate, meet DSM criteria for both substance abuse disorder and borderline personality disorder, and be willing to participate in four separate, paid evaluations. If interested, please contact Maite Mena, Psy.D., at 305-243-3658, or mmena@med.miami.edu for details. 

Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine is seeking patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) for phase III protocol that will assess the impact of pirfenidone on IPF. Subjects must be between 40 and 80, and have a confirmed diagnosis of IPF within 48 months of randomization. For more information please call 305-243-3728, or e-mail Emmanuelle Simonet at esimonet@med.miami.edu.

The Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement is conducting research with family caregivers of dementia patients who speak English and are 50 years of age or older. If you are not a caregiver but are interested in participating, you may be able to help as well. Participants will receive basic training on how to use the Internet and will be asked to look for information about care-giving and dementia. If you are interested in being a part of this research study, please call 305-355-9200. You will be paid for your time and effort.

Jennifer B. Marks, M.D., is currently recruiting patients ages 18 through 40 with type 1 diabetes mellitus with a recent diagnosis for participation in a research study to test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational medication. Patients must be taking multiple insulin injections daily and in good health. Those who are interested should contact Rogelio Suarez at 305-243-6573 or rsuarez2@med.miami.edu.

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

• An investigational polyclonal caprine IgG, HRG214, for HIV patients not responding to antiretroviral therapy. HRG214 contains antibodies that targets HIV infected CD4 cells and specific regions on HIV. Laboratory/animal studies suggest these antibodies are capable of killing or disabling HIV and preventing further infection.  Participants must have HIV RNA < 5000 copies/ml and CD4 cells < 200 cells/cmm. The study will evaluate 3 increasing dose of HRG214 in part I and compare HRG214 to optimized antiretroviral therapy in part II. HFG214 is given IV over about 30 minutes three times a week for up to 26 weeks. $100 provided each completed week of HRG214 treatment and $25 each completed week of observation

 • A phase II study of investigation use of recombination human keratinocyte growth factor (rHuKGF, palifermin) for patients with incomplete immune recovery on HAART.  rHuKGF may enhance thymus production of lymphocytes and increase CD4 cell counts. Participants must be 18 years and older, receiving antiretroviral therapy for at least 6 months with HIV RNA <200 and CD4 cell count <200 cells.  The study will evaluate 3 doses (20, 40 60 mcg/kg) of rHuKGF compared to placebo.  rHuKGF given IV bolus daily for 3 days. Follow up study visits at weeks 1,2,4,8, 12 and 24 with thymus CT scans at entry and week 12.

 • A phase II of an investigational glycosylated recombinant human IL-7 (CYT017, a cytokine that aids T-cell development and improves T-cell survival). Participants must be 18 years of age, receiving HAART for at least 12 months and have an HIV-1 RNA level < 1,000 copies/ml and CD4 cell count of 101– 400 cells/ccm. The study will evaluate three increasing doses (10, 20, 30 Fg/kg) of IL-7 given by SQ injection once a week for 3 weeks. Up to $275 in food certificates provided.

For more information on studies conducted by the AIDS Clinical Research Unit, contact Juan at 305-243-3838 or Leslie at L.Thompson@miami.edu.

The SPARE Study (Soy Phytoestrogens As Replacement Estrogen) is currently recruiting women 45 to 60 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.

Bruce Rubin, M.D., is currently performing a study on trigeminal neuralgia (TN) treatment with subcutaneous injections of BOTOX® to evaluate the effectiveness of treating facial pain associated with TN. Patients must have a diagnosis of TN for more than three months and be at least 18 years of age.
 
Dr. Rubin is also seeking patients for a research study on the treatment of tightness/spasticity in the wrist, fingers, and elbow caused by a stroke while evaluating the effect of BOTOX® on pulmonary functioning. Patients must be 18 years of age, have had a stroke six months ago or longer, have a pulmonary/breathing problem and cannot have used BOTOX® or any other botulinum toxin previously for any condition. Please contact Amy L. Kaye, ARNP, at 305-243-6223 for additional information on either of these studies.