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News Capsules 09/10/08
September 10, 2008
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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Two major issues are front and center this week. The first involves faculty relationships with industry, and how the public understands their effect. And the second involves a major presentation for the Board of Regents tomorrow regarding our relationship with Fairview.
First things first – several media stories over the past several days and months are raising questions about how our faculty do, or should, interact with industry. I want to state clearly that our faculty need to have relationships with business and industry. In fact, private business and the corporate community, must play a significant role in our future as a public research University. We are not large-scale manufacturers, or large scale book or journal publishers, nor do we own our medical center. That means we must have relationships with drug and device manufacturers, publishers, and a region full of hospitals to ensure that what we discover here can be delivered in the marketplace. And our intellectual property has a value that needs to be captured to re-invest in our future.
So we must provide an environment where faculty creativity occurs, and we must have public-private relationships in the development of new health technology to ensure our knowledge makes it to the market.
However – and this is critical - we must ensure that the public retains its confidence in us, and never believes that a private business could ever come between our providers and their dedication to our patients. I look forward to receiving the Medical School’s recommendations on relationships with industry for review so that any new policies developed inform practice in all our schools.
Among our critical relationships is that with our primary clinical partners, Fairview Health Services. Tomorrow there will be a joint work session with the University’s Board of Regents involving Fairview CEO Mark Eustis, UMPhysicians CEO Roby Thompson, and me discussing our work towards convergence. The public meeting takes place on the 6th floor of McNamara Alumni Center at 3:30 p.m.
Finally, welcome to the 2008-09 School Year from this office. Again, we’re off and running before the students have all their books.
– Frank B. Cerra, M.D.
Sr. Vice President for Health Sciences
Study finds higher cancer rates among American Indians
The first large-scale national study of cancer rates among American Indians and Alaska Natives shows that American Indians living in Minnesota and the surrounding Northern Plains have a 39 percent higher rate of colorectal cancer than non-Hispanic whites. Related studies indicate that American Indians in this region also have a 197 percent higher rate of liver cancer, 135 percent higher rate of stomach cancer, and 148 percent higher rate of gallbladder cancer than non-Hispanic whites. To read more about the Masonic Cancer Center lead study, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/cancer082008/index.htm
SPH research: minors, intoxicated fans served alcohol at pro sporting events
In a novel study looking at the propensity of illegal alcohol sales at sports stadiums, School of Public Health researchers reported that nearly one in five people posing as underage drinkers, and three out of four seemingly intoxicated “fans,” were able to buy alcohol at professional sporting events. They also found that location mattered: Sales were more likely if the attempt took place in the stadium stands rather than at a concession booth. To read more about the study, visit: http://www.sph.umn.edu/about/news/releases/alcohol082008.html
Former dean of Medical School honored with Alumni Service Award
Former Medical School Dean (1972-1984) Neal Gault, received the University of Minnesota Alumni Service Award during a recent ceremony officiated by Medical School Dean Deborah Powell and another former Medical School dean, Al Michael. Gault, who has been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, was honored for his many contributions to the Medical School. To read more about Gault and the award, visit:
http://www.med.umn.edu/med/snapshots/home.html
Karen Hsiao Ashe, M.D., Ph.D., (Medical School), has been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health’s EUREKA program, which go to investigators who are testing novel and unconventional hypotheses or are working to overcome major methodological or technical challenges. This is the first time these grants have been awarded. To read more about the grant, visit: http://www.ahc.umnedu/news/releases/
alzheimersgrant090308/home.html
Richard Bianco (Medical School) has been selected as a United States delegate to the International Standards Organization's (ISO) meeting Sept. 8-12 in Berlin, Germany. Bianco serves as an expert member on the Vascular Graft and Cardiac Valve Committee. He is co-chair of the vascular group.
Veterinary Medicine student Aric Frantz, Ph.D., received a $5,000 Ballard Award for Companion Animals from the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) for his research examining the use of stem cell therapy to repair a dog's heart after a heart attack.
Deborah Swackhamer, M.S., Ph.D., (School of Public Health), was appointed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty to the Green Jobs Task Force. The task force was created by the 2008 Legislature to develop a statewide action plan to optimize the growth of the green economy.
Scott Dehm, Ph.D., (Medical School and Masonic Cancer Center), has received a Young Investigator Award for 2008 from the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Dehm was one of 19 researchers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom selected to receive this award. He will use his share of the award, totaling $225,000, to continue his research on how to block the progression of recurrent prostate cancer is resistant to conventional treatments. To read more about the award, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/dehm082708/home.html
SPH names new head of Division of Health Policy and Management
School of Public Health Dean John Finnegan has named Ira Moscovice, M.S., Ph.D., as the new head of the Division of Health Policy and Management. Moscovice was also named the school's newest Mayo Professor of Public Health. Moscovice will serve as a member of the SPH Executive Team composed of division heads and associate and assistant deans.
Memorial service scheduled to honor Carole Bland
A memorial service for Carole Bland, a faculty member of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and an expert on mentoring who recently passed away, is slated for Monday, Oct. 6, at the McNamara Alumni Center. There will be a light lunch at 12:30 p.m. with time to view pictures and a video. The service will commence at 1:30 p.m. For those who are unable to attend, but would like to contribute to the Carole J. Bland Fund for Faculty Development, contact the Minnesota Medical Foundation (P.O. Box 64001, Saint Paul, MN 55164-0001 or (612) 625-1440).
Medical School, NARSAD partner to present “Healthily Minds Across America”
Healthy Minds Across America: A national day of free public forums on the progress and promise of mental health research is scheduled for 1-4 p.m., Sept. 14 in Moos Health Science Tower, Room 2-650. The National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression hosted event will include topics such as the current techniques for studying serious mental illness using brain imaging, the next steps in applying imaging to brain illness, and new issues and discoveries in genetic research – with presenters Kelvin O. Lim, M.D., Apostolos P. Georgopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., Irving I. Gottesman, Ph.D., Hon. FRCPsych, and moderator: Charles Schulz, M.D. This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited and reservations are recommended. To RSVP, e-mail healthyminds@narsad.org or call (800) 829-0091. Learn more at www.narsad.org.
Faculty to be honored at Inventor Recognition Ceremony
Four College of Veterinary Medicine faculty members and a post-doctoral fellow will be honored at McNamara Alumni Center on Sept. 17, when the University of Minnesota will recognize the creative and commercial achievements of its students, staff, and faculty at the 2008 University of Minnesota Inventor Recognition Event. Those honored will include:
- David Halvorson, D.V.M., who had a patent issued and license signed;
- James Mickelson, M.S., Ph.D., Stephanie Valberg, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Molly McCue, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., post-doctoral fellow, who had a patent
- issued and license signed;
- Kakambi Nagaraja, M.V.Sc, Ph.D., who had a patent issued and license signed; and,
- Lingling Li, Ph.D., who had a patent issued.
Privacy and Security Office absorbs AHC’s visitor and observer program
The Privacy and Security Office has assumed responsibility for the oversight and management of Academic Health Center’s visitor and observer program. All faculty and staff who wish to sponsor a visitor or have questions about the visitor/observer process should contact John Jensen at (612) 626-3885 or at jense100@umn.edu.
New business model for the Office of Clinical Research debuts
The Office of Clinical Research, which includes the General Clinical Research Center, the Research Services Organization, and the Biostatics, Design, and Analysis Center, will operate under a new project-based, fee-for-service business model that supports growth and investment in clinical and translational research at the University of Minnesota. As a result of changes in National Institutes of Health strategy, the current financial model is no longer sustainable. The restructured model is designed to meet current and future demands and to embrace the opportunities presented by the NIH CTSA initiative. To learn more about how the model works visit: www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/services. For further information or questions, contact Debra Dykhuis at dykhu001@umn.edu or call (612) 625-4171.
Duluth Campus receives grant to expand telemental health services
The Center for Rural Mental Health Studies on the Medical School Duluth Campus, has been awarded a $142,000 contract from the State of Minnesota to build a pilot program to demonstrate the effectiveness of telemental health consultations with home-bound elderly patients. The goal of the project is to use technology to bring medical and mental health care services into the homes of elderly patients who often experience difficulty accessing health care due to travel distances and isolation from living in rural areas.
MERET added to CDC Web site
Minnesota Emergency Readiness Education and Training, an interdisciplinary project with School of Nursing and School of Public Health, has been added to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. To see the Web page, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Emergencies/Pregnancy-Infants.html. To read more about MERET, visit: http://cpheo.sph.umn.edu/cpheo/meret/about/home.html
AHC to hold campus-wide blood drive
The AHC will host a campus-wide blood drive from 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the McNamara Alumni Center. Schedule an appointment in advance at http://www.givebloodgivelife.org, search by zip code 55455, and click on the upper right corner link that says “Donate Blood Now.” Donors must be at least 17, weigh at least 110 pounds, and present a photo ID at check-in. If you have traveled outside the United States in the past year or have other questions about eligibility to donate, call the American Red Cross nurse at (651) 291-3885 before scheduling. For other information call Jenny Meslow, meslo001@umn.edu or call (800) 448-3543.
“Hot Topics in Health” – Mini Medical School Fall 2008
Topics for this five-week series will include: pandemic flu; food and water safety; battlefield medicine; the science of stem cells; forensic pathology; ethical situations in natural disasters; and, clinical trials. The program runs Mondays, 6-8:30 p.m., Oct. 13-Nov. 10 in the Coffman Union Theatre. For more information, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/outreach/minimed.
SOD offering high quality cosmetic dentistry for reduced fees
The School of Dentistry is offering high quality cosmetic dentistry during upcoming weekends for a greatly reduced price. The service is open to any interested patient. Weekends for this program will be:
- November 14-16, 2008
- January 9-11, 2009
- February 13-15, 2009
- April 3-5, 2009
For more information, e-mail Kris Frischmon at frisc052@umn.edu. Be sure to include a name and daytime phone number in the e-mail.
Autism expert to host reading and book signing
Travis Thompson, University of Minnesota professor and recognized expert in the study of autism will discuss his book, “Straight Talk on Autism,” at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11 in the University of Minnesota Bookstore in Coffman Memorial Union. Thompson will sign copies of his book following the discussion. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, or to order a signed copy visit: www.bookstore.umn.edu/genref/authors.html. For more information contact: Kari Erpenbach at (612) 625-6564, or e-mail kari@umn.edu.
“International Symposium for Therapeutic Ultrasound”
This symposium is scheduled for Sept. 11-13 in the Hilton Minneapolis Hotel. This major forum of clinicians, scientists, and engineer will present the latest research in therapeutic ultrasound through technical sessions, special sessions, and poster sessions. View the program and invited speakers at www.istu2008.org.
Powell Center accepting applications for women’s health scholar
The Deborah E. Powell Center for Women’s Health is accepting applications for the Powell Center Women’s Health Scholar. The Women’s Health Scholar will be trained in the Powell Center’s Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health K-12 program funded by the National Institute of Health. Application deadline is Oct. 15, 2008. The recipient will be announced in December 2008. For more information, call (612) 626-1125, or e-mail wmhealth@umn.edu.
Sept. 17
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Center for Drug Design Seminar Series
"The Promise and Practice of Molecular Imaging in Drug Discovery"
Bradley D. Smith, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
Location: Moos Tower - 2-620
Sept. 18-19
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Continuing Medical Education - 9th Annual Psychiatry Review
Pleasure and Motivation: Addiction, Impulsivity and Compulsivity
Jon Grant, J.D., M.D., M.P.H; University of Minnesota
Location: Off Campus - Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Sept. 22
9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
5th Annual Women's Health Research Conference
Location: McNamara Alumni Center
Oct. 14
2-5 p.m.
Health Careers Fair 2008: Explore Academic Pathways to a Health Career
Location: Coffman Memorial Union - Great Room
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.
Upcoming roadwork
Work on Oak Street between 4th and 6th Streets S.E. and Beacon Street between Oak and Ontario has started and is scheduled to be completed by Nov. 1, 2008.
Stadium update
The second year of stadium construction is underway. Most of the steel stadium structure is now in place and the seating bowl and exterior masonry work are well underway. The stadium will be fully enclosed by fall 2008 when major interior finishing will begin. The TCF Bank Stadium is slated for substantial completion in July 2009 and will open for the first Gopher football game of the season on September 12, 2009. For more information contact Brian Swanson at (612) 625-6665 or bswanson@umn.edu Read more on the stadium Web site at http://www1.umn.edu/stadium/index.php
Follow construction of Children’s Hospital via live video
Below is a link to a new construction site with details, maps, photos, and a live Web camera showing progress as the new facility for University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Fairview is erected. During the course of construction the site will be updated with new information: http://www.uofmchildrenshospital.org/construction/index.asp
Now that's ‘brutal’
Moos Tower, Weaver-Densford Hall, and the Phillips-Wangensteen buildings represent the Brutalism style in modern architecture. Follow this link to learn more about their design and history: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/moore144/ahcarchives/2008/08/brutal.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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