AHC News Capsules 03/07/07

March 7 , 2007

NEWS CAPSULES is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center. Please send submissions to Jennifer La Forgia, lafor016@umn.edu.

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At this week’s Board of Regents meeting, I look forward to sharing the story of the importance of clinical sciences to our mission. We live and breathe this idea every day, but our colleagues across the University also need to understand that here we must do what it is we teach. For faculty in dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and public health, we need to work with and see patients and communities so that our students can learn the professions alongside us. Of course, to be successful, this clinical work requires partnerships. Throughout Minnesota, we have more than 1,700 clinic and hospital partners. Our primary teaching hospital, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, is operated in partnership with Fairview and it’s that partnership we’ll focus on for the Regents.

These meetings are open to the public, so feel free to listen to the discussion Thursday (March 8) at 1:30 p.m. in the Regents’ offices.

– Frank B. Cerra

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE —

The Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority continues to make headway at the Capitol. In recent weeks, both houses considered and heard testimony on this legislation that would authorize $310 million over 10 years to support the construction of new biomedical research facilities at the U. After substantial debate and amendment in the Senate’s State and Local Government Operation and Oversight Committee, the bill moved into the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. In the House, the Facilities Authority bill is in the Finance Committee, and is expected to have its next hearing in the House Capital Investment Committee.

HEADLINES —

New Cancer Center director named. Distinguished University of Minnesota breast cancer expert Douglas Yee has accepted the position of Cancer Center director. He will assume his duties March 12. Yee earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago and trained at the University of North Carolina and the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda. Prior to coming to the U in 1999, Yee held faculty positions at Georgetown University Medical Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Founding director John Kersey will continue his research as the holder of the Children’s Cancer Research Fund Land Grant Chair in Pediatric Oncology.

Gwen Wagstrom Halaas (Medical School) accepts the helm of the AHC’s new Center for Interprofessional Education. Barbara Brandt, assistant vice president for education, said, “Dr. Halaas has significant, broad and deep experience as a family physician, as a health-care system administrator, and as an innovative educator.” Halaas is an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, and, since 2004, has directed the Rural Physician Associate Program (RPAP) at the Medical School. In this new position, Halaas will guide the center as it provides structure and systems to formalize interprofessional education in the AHC, a priority that emerged from 2005-06 AHC faculty task forces that were part of the Transforming the U process. She will continue to direct RPAP as she assumes the new directorship.

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The AHC’s Ruth Lindquist (School of Nursing), John W. Day (Medical School), and Thomas W. Molitor (College of Veterinary Medicine) are among this year’s recipients of the Award for Outstanding Contributions to Postbaccalaureate, Graduate, and Professional Education. Recipients exemplify the U’s commitment to quality education and will be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers.

Daniel R. Bond (Microbiology & BioTechnology Institute), an AHC expert in how bacteria transfer electrons to metals, has been named a 2007-09 McKnight Land-Grant Professor. As one of 11 University recipients, he receives a research grant for two years, summer support, and a research leave in the second year.

Debra K. Olson (School of Public Health) was named a fellow in the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN).

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UPDATES —

Plan ahead for computer access interruptions this Sunday, March 11. Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins this Sunday, but also on this day, the Central OIT department will shut down all servers from 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to install facility updates. This may affect most AHC servers and services including all AHC Web sites. Don’t let the server shutdowns set you back as you “spring forward.”

The AHC’s Office of Education announces the second annual Best Practices Institute: Excellence in Health Professions Education to be held May 17–18 on the U’s Minneapolis campus. The institute will provide faculty opportunities for skill-building in small group workshops, plenary sessions, lunch-hour panel discussions with deans from the six AHC schools and colleges, a student panel, and a show-and-tell poster and technology session. The four main education themes will be:
1. Teaching and Learning Strategies
2. Evaluation and Assessment
3. The Learning and Technology Platform
4. Community-based Learning
Visit http://www.BPinstitute.umn.edu to view a detailed schedule and to register.

Invite the neighbors! University of Minnesota Physicians’ will hold a grand opening for the new Smiley’s Clinic and is inviting Phillips and Seward residents. This April 11 celebration will run from 3:30–7:30 p.m. to commemorate the clinic’s new building at 2020 E. 28 th St. in Minneapolis.

The AHC’s Health Sciences Orchestra will play Mozart and Bach during its first concert of the season this Friday (March 9) at noon, at the Grace University Lutheran Church, 324 Harvard Street S.E. (corner of Harvard and Delaware). A contribution at the door would be appreciated.

Bio-Medical Library announces Spring Break (March 12-16) hours and March classes.
Hours during spring break:
Sunday, March 11 (noon to 8 p.m.)
Monday, March 12 – Thursday, March 15 (7a.m –8 p.m.)
Friday, March 16 (closed)
Saturday, March 17 – (resume regular hours see http://www.lib.umn.edu/site/fetch_hours.phtml?LibID=5&term=
To view classes offered by the Bio-Medical Library go to http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/workshops. For further services and information, contact the library at 612-626-3260 or medref@umn.edu.

LECTURES —

“Nicotine Addiction and Stress Response” will be presented by Michael Kotlyar (College of Pharmacy) at the Clinical Research Conference on Monday, March 19, 8–9 a.m., in 2-101 Nils Hasselmo Hall. Michael Kotlyar, Pharm.D., is an associate professor.

“From Leviathan to Peer Review: Social Science and IRBs” by J. Michael Oakes (School of Public Health) will be the inaugural presentation in the new series University Forum on Research and Professional Ethics sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR). This first lecture will be Wednesday, March 21, 4–5:30 in Walter Mondale Hall, room 25. For more information, go to http://www.research.umn.edu/events/research_ethics.html. This event qualifies as continuing education for investigators.

OPPORTUNITIES —

The AHC Translational Research Grant Program will fund three new grants with up to $200,000 over two to three years. Awards will go to new projects with no outside funding and preference will go to projects that create new collaborations. The goal is to move concepts developed at the University from basic research to clinical testing. The deadline for applications is May 18. Awards will be announced in July. For program and application details, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/research/funding/translational/home.html

“Taking Charge of Your Health” is the theme of the spring Mini Medical School to run Monday evenings April 9–May 7 from 6–8:30 p.m. in the newly renovated Mayo Auditorium. The series, organized in collaboration with the Center for Spirituality & Healing, will cover: diet and nutrition; relationships and family; stress mastery; and life purpose. The cost is $75. To learn more and register go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/minimed. If you have questions, email minimed@umn.edu

March 28 is Support the U Day at the State Capitol. Advocate for the U’s requests at the State Capitol, including proposals to establish the Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority (go to http://www1.umn.edu/groots/background/index.php and click on the PDF for more info), to promote the U’s goals to become a top three public research university, and to recruit and retain top faculty. Students are encouraged to participate by joining a rally and, if they choose, by meeting with their legislators. Buses will run from the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses. For details and to register, go to http://www.supporttheU.umn.edu. If you need help presenting the U’s case, go to http://www1.umn.edu/groots/pdf/LegislativeAgenda07.pdf. For more, contact Emily Johnston, Grassroots coordinator, at john5091@umn.edu or 612-625-8739.

Learn how to write a winning grant . Designed for AHC faculty and research staff involved in clinical and translational research, this popular day-long workshop called “Write Winning Grants” offers detailed guidance on all aspects of grant writing and focuses on the National Institutes of Health. The workshop will be Thursday, April 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Metrodome ( West Bank) campus. The registration fee is $35. To register, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/writewinninggrants/home.html

Scientific Writing Development Series is a four-part program being offered by Office of Clinical Research for AHC faculty and staff. The Friday sessions from noon to 1 p.m. will be:
April 13 -- Tackling the Writing Process
April 20 -- Anatomy of a Manuscript
April 27 -- Writing Effective Introductions and Abstracts
May 4 -- Responding to Reviewer Comments
Locations include 1-450G Moos Tower (Twin Cities) and via polycomm in Duluth at 146 Med and 389 Pharmacy. Registration is required at https://intranet.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/writing/registration.html

Students: See what the sun can do to your face. The Save Your Skin program will take students’ pictures and age-progress them to show what overexposure to the sun could do to the skin by age 55. Students receive a $25 STA travel voucher and free sun screen products. The program is Wednesday, March 7, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. in Coffman Union and Thursday, March 8, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m., in the St. Paul Student Center. For more details, go to http://www.bhs.umn.edu/saveyourskin/index.htm

American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grants are available to support assistant professors who have no independent national funding and are engaged in cancer-related research including genetic mechanisms of cancer, molecular mechanism of cancer progression and metastasis, development of novel cancer therapeutic models and translational research, cancer immunology, and immunotherapy. Funding up to $30,000. The deadline is April 16. For more information, contact micek003@umn.edu or 612-626-1926.

Toast to the benefit of the U’s Department of Pediatrics. The University Pediatric Foundation will host its twelfth WineFest–A Toast to Children’s Health on May 11 and 12 at the historic Depot in Minneapolis. Proceeds will go to help scientists and physicians to generate new knowledge and translate it into cures and treatments at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview. For details and tickets, go to http://www.thewinefest.com or call 612-626-5720.

AHC News Capsules is a biweekly newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the Academic Health Center.  Please send submissions to Jennifer La Forgia at lafor016@umn.edu.