News Capsules 05/03/06

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

This week, the Legislature appears locked in debate about a number of capital investment questions that affect the University’s bonding request.  We’d like to urge faculty and staff to call their legislators with a simple message: “The University needs your support for our bonding request to make certain our buildings can support the work we do to improve the quality of life for all Minnesotans.”  Also, the Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing on the Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority for Thursday, so calls of support to these committee members would be particularly helpful now. For names and phone numbers of Senate Finance Committee members go to http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1007

NEWS

Robert Maisel has been named interim head of the Medical School’s Department of Otolaryngology, following the April 8 death of George Adams. Maisel is a head-and-neck cancer surgeon and a faculty member in the department. He is also head of the Hennepin County Medical Center Otolaryngology Department. “I am very pleased that Doctor Maisel has agreed to assume these important duties on behalf of our Medical School,” said Dean Deborah Powell, Medical School. Jay Krachmer, head of the Medical School’s Department of Ophthalmology, will lead the search for a new head of Otolaryngology.

Karl Self stepped down as executive director of the Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC). For 16 years--the last six as executive director--Self served Phillips neighborhood residents and others throughout South Minneapolis, helping ensure access to comprehensive health care services. During his tenure, CUHCC became a federally designated clinic and expanded its range of services and care to reach a greater number of underserved individuals. “Karl’s accomplishments are many and great,” said board chair Brenda Johnson. Self will pursue a role in academic dentistry with the University’s School of Dentistry. For more, go to http://www.ahc.umn.edu/news/releases/cuhcc042606.

Minnesota Masonic Charities has committed to supporting the Masonic Cancer Center Fund’s $10 million Partners for Life capital campaign with a dollar-for-dollar matching gift of up to $5 million. This campaign is intended to expand, enhance, and secure the University’s expertise in cancer care and research. Proceeds will be used to support a Masonic oncology pavilion and establish an endowment to ensure continued annual support of research, education, and patient care at the University. For more, go to http://www.mmf.umn.edu/news/story.cfm?id=455.

The Medical School is one of five schools selected to receive the APGO/Ford Foundation Women’s Health Care Competencies Award from the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The award will help the Medical School develop new medical education models to advance the field of women’s health care. Thirty-five medical schools applied for the awards.

Minnesota’s First Lady Mary Pawlenty spoke about her awareness campaign, “Heart Health Initiative,” at the April 6 The Heart of a Woman event at McNamara Alumni Center. About 150 physicians, nurses, and community members attended. Also speaking were the Medical School’s Anne L. Taylor, Elizabeth Seaquist, and Nancy Raymond.

Eighty-five nurses from the Twin Cities and Wisconsin attended the “Women’s Health Nursing Conference: A Focus on Excellence” on April 6. Topics included cardiovascular disease prevention for women, bioethics of genetics and cancer, essential oils in oncology nursing, and the basics of clinical trials.

The new Mayo beverage and snack bar will open Monday, May 8.  Located on the 3rd floor of the Mayo Building by the Delaware Street entrance, the beverage and snack bar is sponsored by the University Medical Auxiliary in partnership with University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, and the Academic Health Center.  Days and hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Service includes regular and decaf gourmet coffees (no espresso drinks), hot teas, juices, milk, water, sodas, sandwiches, chips, gum, and candies. Stop by the first week for opening specials.

PEOPLE

Jenny M. Meslow, Academic Health Center, and Theodore R. Thompson, Medical School, have been named as two of the 2006 recipients of the President’s Award for Outstanding Service. The annual award recognizes faculty and staff who have provided exceptional service to the University, its schools, colleges, departments, and service units.

Laura Duckett, School of Nursing, received the A. Marilyn Sime Faculty Research Fellowship for 2006-2008. Under this fellowship, Duckett will have a part-time appointment within the Center for Spirituality and Healing, enabling her to advance her research career in complementary therapies and healing practices.

Perry Logan, School of Public Health doctoral student in environmental health sciences, received this year’s Kusnetz Award, given by the American Industrial Hygiene Association to a certified hygienist who exhibits the highest standards of health and safety protection for employees.

Marguerite Pappaioanou, School of Public Health, epidemiology, has won the Carl F. Meyer Gold Cane Award from the American Veterinary Epidemiological Society.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The University now offers a graduate-level certificate in complementary therapies and healing practices with an emphasis in health coaching through the Center for Spirituality and Healing. The four-semester certificate program is available to anyone enrolled in a graduate health-care program and to health professionals. For more information, go to http://www.csh.umn.edu/csh/Education_Programs/programs/Health_Coaching_Program.html.

The Science Museum of Minnesota, which has a relationship with the University, is seeking volunteers to be guest presenters in the Body Worlds exhibition beginning in June. Volunteers will be asked to sign up for two or more four-hour shifts between June 1 and Sept. 4. A mandatory training will be held for volunteers on May 22, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Science Museum. For more information, contact Joe Imholte at jimholte@smm.org.

N.K. Ganguly, director general of the New Delhi-based Indian Council of Medical Research, will deliver this year’s Gaylord Anderson Lecture on May 4, 4 to 5 p.m., in Mayo Memorial Auditorium. Ganguly is one of India’s leading medical authorities and has a distinguished career serving many of India’s medical and educational institutions. For more, go to http://www.sph.umn.edu/news/events/gaylordlecture.html.

Nursing Grand Rounds: “Evidence-based Practice: A Cautionary Tale” is May 8, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., in Coffman Union’s Mississippi Room. The speaker is Diana Mason, editor-in-chief, American Journal of Nursing. This lecture is free, but registration is requested; tucke127@umn.edu.

Palliative Care Grand Rounds: “Is it true there is nothing more we can do?” is May 9, 7:30-8:30 a.m., in Moos Tower 2-530. The speakers are Kate Cummings, director of Fairview Hospice and TLC Palliative Home Care Program, and Steve Sims, supervisor, Bereavement Services, Fairview Home Care and Hospice. The event is sponsored by the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.

The 2006 Summer Public Health Institute runs May 22 through June 9. Professionals have a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a chosen field of study--for a single course or the entire three weeks. For more information, go to  http://www.sph.umn.edu/publichealthplanet/events/institute or call 625-4515.

The myU portal now offers customized views for Academic Health Center faculty, staff and students to support efforts to teach, learn, and communicate. For more information about the myU portal and its uses go to https://www.myu.umn.edu/metadot/index.pl?iid=613433&isa=Category.

The Bio-Medical Library is offering a class on RefWorks on Thursday, May 11, from 2-3 p.m. This Web-based tool is for organizing references and creating bibliographies. Register online at http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/workshops/refworks3 or by calling 626-3260 or writing to medref@umn.edu.  

The Bio-Medical Library provides an up-to-date resource guide on avian influenza that includes news and updates from local, national, and world resources and information for health professionals and for the public. Included are Webcasts, podcasts, and audio interviews. You can view the guide online at http://www.biomed.lib.umn.edu/guides/avianbirdflu.

The Health Sciences Libraries is offering a trial of Exam Master Online, a newly updated USMLE and board preparation/review tool that provides access to thousands of basic and clinical sciences questions. The Health Sciences Libraries is requesting feedback on this product for possible addition to its electronic resources. To access Exam Master, go to http://www.exammaster2.com/wdsentry/umn.htm. Comments can be referred to Katherine Chew at chewx002@umn.edu.