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News Capsules 12/17/08
Dec. 17, 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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This is an intense period of uncertainty, with the economy making news beyond anything imagined in decades. Here at the University, we’re engaged in important institutional planning to respond to a number of potential financial scenarios that could play out in the next year or two.
Within the health sciences, we’re well positioned to weather this era – we have spent much effort and energy to focus our work on areas of strategic strength. And I have great confidence in our administrative and faculty leadership to remain disciplined in our approach to the future. Always remember that the work we do matters significantly to the state of Minnesota. We educate and prepare the next generation of health professionals who care for Minnesota families and communities. It is our discoveries that deliver on the promise of better health for all. And it is our faculty, staff, and students who fuel the economic vitality of our health industries that are so core to the economy of Minnesota.
The nights are long at this time of year, but remember – Sunday marks the winter solstice, and that means the days will begin to lengthen next week. So, in the spirit of lengthening light, I wish all of you a peaceful and meaningful holiday season with your friends and families.
– Frank B. Cerra, M.D.
Sr. Vice President for Health Sciences
Medical School receives $40 million for type 1 diabetes research
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation has pledged $40 million for diabetes research to the University of Minnesota. The gift, to be paid over five years, will capitalize on the University's strength in diabetes research and aims to shorten the timeline for translating it into a cure for people with type 1 diabetes. The gift is the second largest in the history of the University and the second largest by an individual or family foundation to diabetes research in the United States. The University will rename its Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation the Schulze Diabetes Institute. Read more about the historic donation at: http://www.mmf.umn.edu/
news/diabetes.cfm
Former Medical School Dean N.L. “Neal” Gault Dies
N. L. (Neal) Gault Jr., M.D., former dean and alumnus of the Medical School, died of pancreatic cancer last week at his St. Paul home. He was 88. Dean of the Medical School from 1972 to 1984, Gault was known for his commitment to students, especially for helping them deal with the financial pressures of medical school. Encouraging international collaboration is another of Gault’s legacies. In the wake of the Korean War, Gault and his family lived in Seoul, where he helped to rebuild the medical education system at Seoul National University. Additionally, he helped establish the world’s first endowed chair in sexual health at the University and served on the leadership advisory council for the Program in Human Sexuality. To read his obituary in its entirety visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/
releases/gault121208/home.html. To view a slideshow of Gault and to read a feature about his life, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/gault/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, glioblastoma. This discovery provides evidence that cancers may be interlinked. To read more about the discovery, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/
releases/cancerlink121508/home.html
National Academies report calls for reforms in health care services for adolescents
School of Nursing faculty participated in an Institute of Medicine report released this week, calling for reform in delivery of health services to adolescents and expansion of training for health providers who work with adolescents. To read more about the report, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/
releases/adolescenthealth121108/home.html
Older patients fare as well as younger ones after BMT
Age alone should not determine whether a patient receives a blood and marrow stem cell transplantation for treatment of acute leukemia and diseases that can lead to blood cancer, according to a large-scale study from the Medical School and Masonic Cancer Center. Researchers found that patients older than 65 fared as well from a transplant as patients in their 40s and 50s. To read more about the research, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/
releases/bmt120809/home.html
James McCarthy, Ph.D. (Masonic Cancer Center and Medical School), has been awarded a $2.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. He will use the grant to lead a laboratory research team that will work to identify new tumor targets that can be used to stop the growth and spread of prostate cancer in patients diagnosed with the disease.
Rod Carter, Pharm.D. (College of Pharmacy), has been selected as president-elect of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). The AACP is a national organization comprised of 112 accredited colleges and schools of pharmacy that represents the interests of pharmacy education and educators. He will officially become president-elect at the AACP annual meeting in July 2009. Read more at: http://www.pharmacy.umn.edu/
news/carter/index.htm.
Bob Kane, M.D. (School of Public Health), received the 2008 British Geriatric Society’s Medal for the Relief of Suffering amongst the Aged. The award is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the welfare of the elderly..
Toben Nelson, Sc.D. (School of Public Health), publications have been ranked the fifth most highly cited scientific studies in the past decade on the topic of underage and college student drinking according to Essential Science Indicators, a division of Thomson Reuters. Click here to read more.
Cerra slated to deliver annual State of the AHC address
Senior Vice President for Health Sciences Frank Cerra, M.D., will present his annual State of the Academic Health Center address from 3-4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15 in Mayo Auditorium. The address will be preceded by the AHC Faculty Assembly from 2-2:45 p.m. and broadcast to the St. Paul, Duluth, and Rochester campuses.
SPH researcher, teacher, James H. Rothenberger passes away
Rothenberger taught public health to thousands of undergraduate and graduate students since he came to the University in 1969. He was recognized by the University when he received the title “Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Instructor of Public Health,” one of the highest honors the University bestows on its educators. He was also recognized as an expert nationally in HIV/AIDS prevention, school and college health, death and dying education and counseling, alcohol and drug abuse prevention, and community health. Details on a memorial service for early 2009 are forthcoming.
AHC Web site updated
The Academic Health Center Web site – representing the six health science schools and colleges at the University – has received a facelift. The site has been upgraded with a new, easy-to-use interface that cycles through stories and news items occurring in the AHC. To check out the new site now featuring research updates, health science stories, videos, columns, and a podcast, visit: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ .
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.
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 (BTHX) courses offered by Center for Bioethics faculty. The program will feature classroom study, intensive thesis research, and strong faculty mentoring. BTHX courses are also 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.
Mono study expands inclusion criteria
Researchers from the Academic Health Center and Boynton Health Service are studying the antiviral drug valomaciclovir to see if it will help people diagnosed with mononucleosis recover more quickly. The study was recently expanded to include participants 15-years-old or older who have had symptoms for less than two weeks. Enrolled study participants will be compensated at each clinic visit with a gift card. For more information, call (612) 625-1462.
Miss a Learning 2.0 Lunch and Learn? Not a problem
Miss any of the previous Learning 2.0 Lunch and Learn sessions: “Why Use myU,” “iTunesU,” “Series Gaming,” and “My Library from Everywhere?” No worries. They’re all available to view online at: https://www.myu.umn.edu/
metadot/index.pl?iid=1857217&op=show.
“The Amethyst Initiative Debate: Rethinking the Drinking Age”
The Office for Student Affairs will host a free online seminar where the pros and cons of changing the legal drinking age will be debated by John McCardell and higher education risk-management expert Brett Sokolow, and other panelists. Following the seminar there will be a 30-minute panel discussion. The discussion is scheduled from 12-1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12, in Coffman Union. Click here to learn more about the seminar.
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.
Vietnamese conversation group seeks members
The purpose of this group is to provide a friendly forum to practice and build professional language skills in Vietnamese as preparation to work with Vietnamese individuals and families in healthcare and educational settings. Graduate and undergraduate students in fields such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, social work, psychology, special education, and medicine are welcome. The first organizational meeting will be the last week of January, 2009. To participate, contact Giang Pham at: tangx098@umn.edu.
Jan. 8
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
8-Hour Emergency Response Refresher
Location: On Campus - University Office Plaza
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, MD, JD, 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.
AHC Oral History Project
The AHC History Project is announcing the arrival of Dominique Tobbell who will serve as the oral historian for the AHC and assistant professor in the History of Medicine Program. To learn more about the oral history project and Tobbell, visit: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/moore144/
ahcarchives/2008/12/oral_history_project.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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