Please plan to attend one of these important information sessions where a benefits administration representative will walk you through your 2008 options regarding medical, dental, flexible spending, short-term disability and other benefits. You’ll also hear more about UMatter, the new umbrella under which all UM benefits fall.

Miller School information sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the following times and locations:

7 to 8:30 a.m. -- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Retter Auditorium

Noon to 1:30 p.m. -- Medical Wellness Center, classroom C

4 to 5:30 p.m. -- Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium

There will also be a benefits fair in the Wellness Center on Thursday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Friday, Oct. 19, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It is essential that you review all the new options and consider which ones will provide the best benefits for you and your family. For 2008, we are moving from five to four plans--two HMOs, a PPO, and a CoverageFirst plan. The HMOs do not require a referral from the primary care physician to see a specialist, a change we will test in the coming year. Copays have replaced coinsurance in the HMO2 plan and wellness programs have been enhanced. Discounts are available in all plans when you use a UM provider.

In addition to health and wellness programs, the University has added a new retirement planning and investment advice program called LTSave. LTSave is an enhanced retirement planning service that offers unbiased investment advice from professional investment advisors. The University pays the full cost for assessment of your current savings and chances of reaching retirement goals, specific investment fund recommendations for existing and future retirement contributions, and ongoing access to the LTSave system and support. For more information about this new UMatter retirement benefit, please consider attending one of the LTSave information sessions on the Miller School campus.

Thursday, Oct. 11

9 to 10 a.m. -- Medical Wellness Center, classroom C
Noon to 1 p.m. -- Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium
4 to 5 p.m. -- Mailman Center for Child Development, eighth-floor auditorium

Friday, Oct. 12

9 to 10 a.m. -- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Retter Auditorium
Noon to 1 p.m. -- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Retter Auditorium
4 to 5 p.m. -- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Retter Auditorium

For more information, please visit the LTSave Resource Center online at www.miami.edu/myUM, or call 877-587-2832.

For details on UMatter and more health care and benefits information, please visit www.miami.edu/benefits.

Pictured are, from left, Susan Sutton with Dr. Schiff, Mary Sutton and Glenn Sutton

Session dates and times are Monday, Oct. 8, from 10 to 11 a.m.; Monday, Oct. 15, from  2 to 3 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 22, from 10 to 11 a.m.; and Monday, Oct. 29, from 2 to 3 p.m.

For additional information, please call Fredricka Williams at 305-243-3090.

Do not use decorative sprays or hang decorative materials on any fire protection equipment, near exits, emergency lights, or in walkways. Also, do not burn candles, incense sticks or other such material.

For more information, please contact Christine Daley at 305-243-8443 or c.daley@miami.edu.

The following five training modules are now available for physicians and billing staff: 

Critical Care Services: Coding, Billing & Documentation Guidelines
Evaluation and Management: Coding, Billing & Documentation Guidelines-Module I
Evaluation and Management: Coding, Billing & Documentation Guidelines-ModuleII
Medicare Rule for Teaching Physicians: Billing & Documentation Guidelines
Major Surgery Global Fee and Minor Surgery Rules: Coding, Billing & Documentation Guidelines

Residents, fellows, or any non-UM employee will need to use the direct links below for access.

http://pdto.miami.edu/external/compliance/CriticalCareServicesWeb/index.html
http://pdto.miami.edu/external/compliance/EMServices_Module1Web/index.html
http://pdto.miami.edu/external/compliance/EMServices_Module2Web/index.html
http://pdto.miami.edu/external/compliance/MajorSurgeryGlobalFeeWeb/index.html
http://pdto.miami.edu/external/compliance/MedicareRuleWeb/index.html

For questions, please contact the Office of Billing Compliance at 305-243-5842.

Don't miss the last Employee Day at the historic Orange Bowl. For more information, please call 305-284-CANE or visit Hurricanesports.com.

For more information, please contact Sheila Findlay at 305-495-8273 or sfindlay@med.miami.edu.

UM/Sylvester would also like feedback from users. Please send your experience with the Shared Resources Web site and additional resources you would like to see made available to avinard@med.miami.edu.

Screenings will take place at the Mammography Imaging Department, on the first floor of UM/Sylvester, suite 1038. To schedule your free screening, please call 305-243-8820.

Medical school employees will be scheduled on Monday, Oct. 8, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Coral Gables employees will be scheduled today from 1 to 4 p.m. 

Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science employees will be scheduled on Monday, Oct. 22, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Those traveling from the Coral Gables or Rosenstiel School campuses will be reimbursed for transportation expenses. 

Workshops will be held Monday, Oct. 8, Friday, Oct. 19, and Wednesday, Oct. 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 computer lab training course is offered to provide practical instruction for NIH electronic submission of proposals through Grants.gov. Maria Valero-Martinez, manager of Sponsored Programs Education, will walk participants through the process and provide tips for avoiding common errors. The emphasis will be on finding and using the correct application package, following grant application instructions and understanding the procedures for the internal routing of the proposal.

Space is limited. To register, please visit http://ulearn.miami.edu/. For help with registration, please e-mail saymerich@med.miami.edu.

This presentation is designated for one American Medical Association category one credit for all qualified participants. Additional presentations will be held Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 6 to 7 p.m, and on Monday, Oct. 22, from noon to 1 p.m.

For more information, please contact Sharonda Boone at 305-243-1507.

The course will be presented by Eugene Fu, M.D., assistant professor of clinical anesthesiology at the Miller School, who will respond to questions raised by the audience after the lecture.

This course will be of interest to neurologists, primary care physicians, internists, general and specialized surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Registration is complimentary for those listed above and includes lunch. This course is designated for a maximum of one American Medical Association category one credit. To download a brochure or register online, visit the Division of Continuing Medical Education at www.cme.med.miami.edu, or call the Division at 305-243-6716, for more information.

If you would like to meet with the speaker, please contact Sylka M. Pérez at 305-243-6265 or sperez6@med.miami.edu.

Please RSVP by Oct. 5 to YTabraue@med.miami.edu.

For more information, please contact Dee Dee Wise at 305-243-3662 or Loida Cooper at 305-243-4227. If you are a meeting planner for your department, call to find out about a special time for you to meet with the catering vendors prior to the opening of the event.

For more information, please contact the Office of Community Relations, 305-243-3453 or communityrelations@med.miami.edu.

Reservations can be made by contacting Debra Evans at DEvans@um-jmh.org or Araceli Lorenzo at ALorenzo@um-jmh.org or by calling 305-585-6038.

Breakfast and lunch will be served.  This meeting is free and open to the general public as well as all medical center staff.

The session will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 23, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., in the Dominion Parking Garage, Professional Development and Training Office, suite 155. You must complete the corresponding online computer based learning modules prior to enrolling in the course. To register for the session, visit http://ulearn.miami.edu. For more information, call 305-243-3090.

A light lunch will be served. Reservations are required and can be made by calling  800-545-2292. For more information, please contact Carthy Thomas at cthomas2@med.miami.edu.

 Carlos Hernandez-Cassis, M.D., from the Diabetes Research Institute, is currently recruiting patients 18 years of age and older with type II diabetes mellitus for participation in a research study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of inhaled insulin. Patients must be taking multiple oral medication daily for more than 2 months and be non-smokers. Those who are interested should contact George Mejia-Galvis at 305-243-6573 or Gmejia2@med.miami.edu.

The Department of Psychology and the UM/SCCC Division of Biobehavioral Oncology and Cancer Epidemiology are conducting an NCI-funded quality of life research study with patients recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Participants are eligible if they have been diagnosed with prostate cancer within 3 months and have not begun treatment. All participants will be followed for two years and will undergo psychosocial and medical assessments. Participants will be reimbursed up to $250 for their time and effort. If you or someone you know may be interested in more information about this study, please contact Natalie Escobio at 305-243-3329 or nescobio@med.miami.edu.  

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 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 at the Sylvester Comprehensive 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. 

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.

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.