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News Capsules 01/07/09
Jan. 7, 2009
NEWS CAPSULES is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center. Please send submissions to Nick Hanson at hans2853@umn.edu.
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Like most of you, I welcomed this new year with a sense of relief. So much of what we read and heard last year fell into the category of bad news involving the economy and its impact on all of us.
Unfortunately, the beginning of this year brings with it more questions than answers. We’re in a period of ambiguity on a number of fronts. We still only have one U.S. senator for Minnesota. We await the inauguration of a new president – and look forward to hearing his list of priorities for the nation. We await another list of priorities from Minnesota’s governor, who will announce his budget in just a few weeks. It’s clear that although none of those priorities will come with public funds to support them, I need to tell you that I remain hopeful that the year does, indeed, hold promise. Why?
In addition to being a “glass half full” sort of person, I had a unique opportunity early this week. I attended the governor’s Government Reform Summit where I listened to thoughtful leaders from health plans, health systems, poverty organizations, and employer groups discuss ways to rebuild health care that works for our families and communities. It was a wide ranging discussion that brought a diverse set of perspectives to the table – and a shared understanding that we’re entering a period of change, transformation, transition – call it what you will – as none of us has experienced before. We have the opportunity, or perhaps more accurately, the responsibility, to rethink or re-imagine a better way of improving health and delivering care in Minnesota. And for the University’s health sciences schools, that is a challenge we’re perfectly suited to assist.
– Frank B. Cerra, M.D.
Sr. Vice President for Health Sciences
Retired Medical School professor & founder of prostate cancer grading system dies
Donald F. Gleason, M.D., Ph.D., died Sunday, Dec. 28 in Edina. He was 88. Gleason, who retired from the Medical School in 1986, was a central figure in developing the widely used system for rating prostate cancer tumors, known as the Gleason grading system. To read more about Gleason, visit:http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/
releases/gleason123108/home.html
AHC receives grant renewal for Minnesota Area Health Education Center
The Academic Health Center was awarded nearly $3.4 million in federal funding to expand the Minnesota Area Health Education Center (MN AHEC) from four to six regions to better address health professional workforce shortages. To read more, visit:
http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/AHECgrant121708/home.html
Cancer researchers discover link between infant leukemia and form of brain cancer
Researchers at the Masonic Cancer Center have discovered that a gene involved in the often fatal infant leukemia is also associated with an aggressive form of brain cancer, called glioblastoma. This discovery provides evidence that cancers may be interlinked. To read more about the research, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news
/releases/cancerlink121508/home.html
SON and SPH awarded $300,000 to study link between nursing and patient care
With the support of a $300,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, researchers at the School of Nursing, School Public Health, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at Minneapolis and Palo Alto, Calif., are teaming up to study better ways to care for heart failure patients. The grant is part of the foundation’s Interdisciplinary Nursing Quality Research Initiative, which aims to generate, disseminate, and translate research to understand how nurses contribute to, and improve the quality of patient care. To read more about the grant, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/
rwjgrant010509/home.html
UPDATES —
U federal relations report suggests not all bad heading into legislative session
The December 2008 report suggests that while national and state economies appear bleak, not all is grim and gloom. The University is advocating for higher education to be part of a federal infrastructure package now in the works and for improved budgets for research accounts, which may fare better despite the current economic climate. For more information, visit Federal Relations.
“Batman” to receive Hero Animal Hall of Fame award
Batman, the shepherd mix dog who had surgery and experimental treatment for a brain tumor, was selected by the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) to receive the Hero Animal Hall of Fame award on Feb. 7. MVMA gives this award to animals that have saved or preserved human life. Masonic Cancer Center members Liz Pluhar, D.V.M., Ph.D., and John Ohlfest, Ph.D., are leading the research and treatment of Batman and other dogs to find better ways of treating brain tumors in animals and people. This research endeavor is a collaboration of the Masonic Cancer Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, and Medical School.
Members of UPlan medical program can earn cash through assessment
Members of the UPlan medical program may take a preventive health screening to pinpoint individual health risks and earn a $65 wellness reward for completing the online wellness assessment. Members may earn another $65 reward (up to $130 per person) for working with a health coach, enrolling in a walking program, or completing an online health program in 2009. Walk-in health screenings are offered regularly through the end of April at various locations on the Twin Cities campus. For more information, visit Wellness Program.
Pharmaceutical care experiential clinic patients needed
Appointments are now being accepted for the Pharmaceutical Care Experiential Clinic on the Twin Cities campus. This experience helps pharmacy students learn how to deliver medication therapy management services – a new health benefit covered by some insurers and government programs. An advanced standing pharmacy student conducts a comprehensive assessment of all of a patient’s medication-related needs in the presence of experienced faculty. There is no charge for assistance, although voluntary contributions are accepted. For more information and to set up an appointment, call Brian Isetts at (612) 625-7929.
U faculty encouraged to attend legislative briefing
Learn how to drive home the statewide value of the U during the legislative session that will address Minnesota's $4.8 billion budget deficit. The event is Jan. 28, 5:30-8 p.m. at the McNamara Alumni Center. Registration deadline is Jan. 22. For more information, visit Legislative Briefing or call (612) 626-1417.
Mini Medical School Spring 2009, “New Frontiers in Medicine”
This bi-annual five-class endeavor will feature health topics spanning new frontiers in medicine. The series runs from 6-8:30 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 23 through March 23. Cost is $75 (includes binder and printouts of PowerPoint presentations), or $60 (paper-less, with ability to download presentations). To register online, visit www.ahc.umn.edu/minimed. For questions, e-mail minimed@umn.edu.
Center for Bioethics accepting applications for new master’s program
The Center for Bioethics new interdisciplinary master’s degree program is now accepting applications for its first class, enrolling fall 2009. The core of the 30-credit degree program will be made up of bioethics courses offered by Center for Bioethics faculty. Courses are open to graduate and professional students throughout the University, and the center will continue to offer the graduate minor in bioethics. For more information, contact Margie O’Neill at (612) 626-4817, or bthxed@umn.edu. Visit the Web site at: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/bioethics/education/gradprogram.html.
Consortium calling for proposals
The Consortium on Law and Values in Health, Environment & the Life Sciences is issuing a call for proposals addressing the societal implications of problems in health, environment, and the life sciences. Awards are available for graduate/professional students, faculty, and consortium/joint degree program members. Proposals are due in March 2009. See www.lifesci.consortium.umn.edu/rfps/ for further information, deadlines, and application instructions. For more information call: (612) 626-5624 or e-mail boyle032@umn.edu.
CSH to host seminars on healthy eating and living
Brenda Langton, senior fellow at the Center for Spirituality & Healing – owner of the restaurants Café Brenda and Spoonriver and founder of the Mill City Farmers Market –will share her philosophy for healthy eating/healthy living from 6-9 p.m., on Feb. 3, 5, and 10 at 1300 West 47th Street, Minnetonka. For tickets, see healthy eating or call (612) 624-9459.
SOD clinics seeking child, adult patients
School of Dentistry patient clinics are open to the public and immediate appointments for children and adults are available. Patients receive a diagnosis and professional care from student dentists and hygienists, dental residents, and faculty members. The full range of general and specialty dental services are available at reduced fees. For an appointment or more information, call (612) 624-8400 or go to www.dentistry.umn.edu.
“It’s Global” PSA Contest to award up to $500
Feel strongly about pollution, clean water, climate change, second-hand smoke, or another global public health topic? Create a public service announcement that is 30 seconds or less and enter the 2009 “It’s Global” Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest sponsored by the School of Public Health. Novice and seasoned filmmakers are encouraged to participate. The deadline to enter is March 6. Select entries will be showcased and winners of cash prizes up to $500 will be announced on April 6 during National Public Health Week. Learn more at www.sph.umn.edu/psa
Harvard Street Forum to present, “Mixed Reality”
The one-woman play by Julia Anderson Mann will debut at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 30 at the Grace University Lutheran Church on Harvard Street. For more information about the Luther College student/faculty collaborative theatre-dance project, call (612) 331-8125, or visit www.graceattheu.org.
Jan. 9
7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.
Minnesota Public Health Association forum series
"Food and Public Health: A Sampler."
“Food Paradoxes in the Land of Plenty”
Location: Minnesota Department of Health Snelling Office Park – Mississippi Room
Jan. 16
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Minnesota TIGER Summit: Springing into Action
Location: Off Campus - Earle Brown Heritage Center
Jan. 29
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Deinard Memorial Lecture on Law & Medicine
The Emergent Logic of Health Law
Prof. M. Gregg Bloche, M.D., J.D., Georgetown University and Brookings Institute
Location: Coffman Memorial Union - Theater
More events like these can be found on the AHC calendar, http://www.ahc.umn.edu/calendar. You can submit an item to the AHC calendar by going to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/submitevent.
Area Health Education Center
The MN AHEC recently was awarded $3.4 million in federal funding to continue its work developing the health professional workforce in Minnesota. During the 1970s, however, an earlier version of the AHEC program sought to understand the issues related to the supply and demand of the health care workforce in the state. Read more about it by visiting: http://blog.lib.umn.
edu/moore144/ahcarchives/2009/01/area_health_education_center.html.
AHC News Capsules is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center. Please send submissions to Nick Hanson at hans2853@umn.edu.
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