News and information (appointments, searches, events, awards, etc.) pertaining to the School of Medicine are featured in SOM e-NEWS in abstract form and are linked to the web for more detailed information. SOM e-NEWS is currently published bimonthly. If you have information you would like published in this newsletter, please contact Denise Gonzalez, in our office via email (djgonzal@utmb.edu) or by fax (29598). Please let us know your ideas and suggestions for this communication format. You may send your comments via email to Linda Phillips (lphillip@utmb.edu).

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1. UPCOMING EVENTS

· CHANGE IN DATE FOR NEW FACULTY RECEPTION

The New Faculty Reception scheduled for Monday, September 17 conflicts with the start of Rosh Hashanah. Therefore the Reception has been rescheduled TO Monday, September 24, 2001, 5:00-7:00 PM, Levin Hall Dining Room.

· VISIT OF PAGE S. MORAHAN, PH.D.

Dr. Page S. Morahan, Director of the National Center of Leadership in Academic Medicine and Co-Director of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program for Women, MCP Hahnemann University, will visit our campus on September 21, 2001, as a consultant regarding mentoring programs and faculty development. She will be conducting the following two workshops, each limited to fifty participants:

1-3 PM

Audience: Faculty, especially junior faculty

Topic: Strategic Career Planning for Faculty I: How to Hit the Road Running and Stay the Course

•Basic steps of career self-management

•How to develop scholarship out of your everyday work

•How to be your own best mentor

•Next steps in your career

3-5 PM

Audience: Faculty, especially senior faculty

Topic: Strategic Career Planning for Faculty II: Reflect, Refocus, and Renew your Academic Career

•Basic steps of career self-management

•Normal cycles in jobs, careers and life

•How to make job/career transitions

•Next steps in your career

There is space availability for the 1-3 PM workshop. Faculty who are interested in attending this workshop may call the Office of the Dean of Medicine, ext. 23967, to be placed on the list.

· FACULTY OF MEDICINE MEETING

Tuesday, October 2, 2001, 4:30 PM, Clinical Sciences Auditorium

· FOUNDERS DAY WEEKEND

Friday and Saturday, October 26-27, 2001

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2. GUCKIAN NAMED ACTING EXECUTIVE VICE CHANCELLOR

GuckianActingEVC8-27-01.htm

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3. DR. MCGOVERN DONATES $5 MILLION TO UTMB FOR OSLER SCHOLARS

At last week's White Coat Ceremony, President Stobo announced a historic gift to UTMB by Houston physician-philanthropist, Dr. John P. McGovern. This gift will provide endowments for five William Osler Scholars--practicing physicians on the School of Medicine faculty who will be selected based on their history of giving highly competent, humane, compassionate care and serving as outstanding teachers and role models for these qualities. Each Osler Scholar will hold the honor for five years, and together, will comprise the new John P. McGovern, M.D., Academy of Oslerian Medicine. Dr. McGovern is a lifelong scholar of Sir William Osler who was a proponent of the integration of scientific and humanistic principles in the practice and teaching of medicine. Dr. McGovern has been a proponent of the Oslerian ideals and a longtime supporter of UTMB. The five Osler Scholars for the 2002-2007 term will be announced at the UTMB Founders Day Weekend, October 26-27.

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4. DRS. NELSON AVERY AND JEFF DAVIS ELECTED TO ABPM

Dr. Nelson Avery, Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine & Community Health, has been elected to the Medical Toxicology Board. The appointment will come through the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) whose mission is to encourage the study, enhance the standards of practice, and advance the cause of preventive medicine. In addition, Dr. Jeff Davis, Director, Preventive, Occupational & Environmental Medicine (POEM), was elected for another term as Chair of the ABPM for 2001-2002.

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5. DR. JEFF DAVIS ASSIGNED TO NASA FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE MEDICINE PROGRAM

On July 1^st, Dr. Jeff Davis began a 60% assignment at NASA as the Deputy Associate Administrator for Crew Health and Safety through an Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) agreement. In this role, he will report to the Associate Administrator for Space Flight at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. Dr. Davis will be responsible for developing a comprehensive space medicine program for current and future space missions through program development, advocacy, policy and budget. He will work closely with the Space and Life Sciences directorate at the Johnson Space Center.

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6. APPOINTMENTS TO ENDOWED PROFESSORSHIPS

The following faculty were appointed to endowed professorships: James R. Halpert, Ph.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, was appointed to The Chauncey Leake Distinguished Professorship in Pharmacology, effective September 1, 2001; C. Glen Mayhall, M.D., Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine & Community Health, was appointed as the initial holder of the Class of 1973 Distinguished Professorship in the School of Medicine, effective March 2001; Johnny W. Peterson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, was appointed as holder of The Samuel Baron Distinguished Professorship in Microbiology, effective May, 1, 2001; and Ronald W. Deskin, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, was appointed as holder of the Paul E. Suehs, M.D., Professorship in Otolaryngology, effective March 1, 2001.

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7. NEW CONFOCAL CORE IS ESTABLISHED

The Department of Microbiology & Immunology will soon have a new core facility featuring a state-of-the-art laser scanning confocal microscope, as the result of the Shared Instrumentation Grant from the NIH to UTMB. This new facility will be called the Infectious Diseases Optical Imaging Core (IDOIC). Dr. Thomas Albrecht, who is PI on the grant and who will be Director of the new Confocal Core, is working to set up the unit to have it operational by January 2002 in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology as a shared facility available to all campus researchers. Dr. Elena Frolova, who joined the faculty in July, will supervise the Core.

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8. DR. VINCENT HILSER NOMINATED FOR HACKERMAN AWARD

Our institutional Selection Committee for the first Norman Hackerman Award in Chemical Research has nominated Vincent J. Hilser, Ph.D. for this prestigious award. Dr. Hilser is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Biological Chemistry & Genetics. The award, given by the Welch Foundation, will be bestowed on a scientist 40 years or younger, conducting research in Texas. Dr. Hilser satisfies these requirements as well as that of a distinguished research career even at his early age. His work focuses on identifying the underlying chemical basis for biological function. His unique contributions will affect the field for many years in the future.

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9. PEW SCHOLARS PROGRAM IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES FOR 2002

UTMB has been invited to submit one nomination for The Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences which is sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The award is intended to support young investigators who demonstrate outstanding promise in basic and clinical sciences relevant to the advancement of human health. Each Scholar will receive $60,000 in support each year for four years. Members of the Selection Committee to review nominations are as follows:

Abbey Berenson, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology

Roberto Garofalo, M.D., Pediatrics

Rita Patterson, Ph.D., Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation

Robert Shope, M.D., Pathology (Chair)

Giulio Taglialatela, Ph.D., Marine Biomedical Institute

If you would like to nominate an individual, please submit their name to the Office of the Dean of Medicine, ATTN: Linda G. Phillips, M.D., Route 0133, or email at lphillip@utmb.edu by September 15^th to allow time for committee deliberations and completion of the nomination packet prior to the November 1^st external deadline.

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10. STEMMLER MEDICAL EDUCATION RESEARCH FUND 2001-2002

The goal of the Edward J. Stemmler Medical Education Research Fund's annual call for proposals is to provide support for research and development of innovative methods which will enhance the evaluation of those preparing to, or continuing to, practice medicine. The application deadline for the 2001-2002 funding cycle is November 12, 2001. Grant awards will be announced at the NBME Annual Meeting in March 2002. For further details, please visit the following web site: www.nbme.org/research/stemmler.htm

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11. SCHOOL OF MEDICINE COMMITTEE ELECTION RESULTS

Below are the updated results of the recent election of faculty to committees within the School of Medicine. Shown are the names of those elected and the terms of their service on the committee. Also shown are the newly appointed members of the Curriculum Committee and their term of service.

ACADEMIC PLANNING & POLICY COMMITTEE (July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2004)

Dr. William R. Fleischmann, Jr. - Microbiology & Immunology

Dr. Randall J. Urban - Internal Medicine

ADMISSIONS COMMITTEE (July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2004)

Dr. Elie D. Al-Chaer – Internal Medicine

Dr. Michael C. Boyars – Internal Medicine

Dr. Anita C. Mercado – Internal Medicine

Dr. Jeffrey Rabek – HBC & G

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

Elected Members:

Dr. Judith F. Aronson - Pathology
07/01/01 - 06/30/05

Dr. Simon A. Lewis - Physiology & Biophysics
07/01/01 - 06/30/05

Appointed Members:

Dr. Thomas J. Collins - Anatomy & Neurosciences
07/01/01 - 06/30/03

Dr. Thomas D. Kimbrough - Surgery
07/01/01 - 06/30/03

Dr. Mukaila Raji - Internal Medicine
07/01/01 - 06/30/04

(completing term vacated by Dr. John Carlson)

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - FOM (July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2002)

Dr. Richard E. Coggeshall - Anatomy & Neurosciences

Dr. B. Mark Evers - Surgery

Faculty Performance Evaluation Committee (July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2004)

Dr. B. Mark Evers - Surgery

Dr. Randall M. Goldblum - Pediatrics

Dr. James S. Goodwin - Internal Medicine

Dr. Alexander Kurosky - Human Biological Chemistry & Genetics

Dr. Mary Treinen Moslen - Pathology

Dr. Philip T. Palade - Physiology & Biophysics

GRADING & PROMOTION COMMITTEE 1 (July 1, 2001 - August 31, 2002)

Dr. Thomas J. Collins – Gross Anatomy and Radiology

Dr. Gregory K. Asimakis, Jr. – Molecules, Cells and Tissues

Dr. William R. Fleischmann, Jr. – Pathiobiology

Dr. James E. Blankenship – Neuroscience/Human Behavior

Dr. Robert E. Beach – Practice of Medicine I

Dr. Mark D. Holden – Practice of Medicine II

Dr. William R. Pearl – Cardiovascular/Pulmonary

Dr. Edward R. Smith – Endocrinology/Reproduction

Dr. Edmund W. Czerwinski – Renal

Dr. Norma H. Rubin – Gastroenterology

Dr. S. David Hudnall – Musculoskeletal/Heme

Dr. James A. Hokanson – Great Syndromes

Dr. Douglas S. DeWitt – Interactive Learning Track

Dr. Richard M. Carroll – Interactive Learning Track

ex officio

Dr. Michael A. Ainsworth

Dr. Lauree Thomas

Dr. Andrew F. Payer

Dr. Steven A. Lieberman

Vicki L. Brewer

NOMINATING COMMITTEE (July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2003)

Dr. Miles W. Cloyd - Microbiology & Immunology

Dr. Charles E. Holzer, III - Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Alice Speer - Internal Medicine

STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2003)

Dr. Elsa N. Bello-Reuss - Internal Medicine

Dr. Karen H. Calhoun - Otolaryngology

Dr. Dorian H. Coppenhaver - Microbiology & Immunology

Dr. Dr. Hal K. Hawkins - Pathology

Dr. Gilbert R. Hillman - Pharmacology & Toxicology

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12. SCHOLARS IN EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Office of Educational Development continues to accept faculty nominations to the upcoming Scholars in Education Program. Should you wish to nominate faculty from your school that may benefit from this eighteen month program in academic and professional development. Kindly direct your inquiries and nominations to: Jack R. Scott, Ed.D.,Office of Educational Development, Route 0664, ext. 22791, email jrscott@utmb.edu

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13. NEW FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

The Dean of Medicine welcomes the following new School of Medicine faculty who have been appointed during the month of July: Adnan Afzal, M.B.B.S., Internal Medicine; Liliane Borquaye, M.D., Anesthesiology; Nigel Bourne, Ph.D., Pediatrics; Donald Bouyer, Ph.D., Pathology; Mathjis Brentjens, M.D., Internal Medicine; Michael Callaway, M.S., Family Medicine; Yanna Cao, M.D., Surgery; Antonio Chamoun, M.D., Internal Medicine; John Champion, M.D., Internal Medicine; Lori Cindrick, M.D., Surgery; Helen Fisler-Parker, M.S.N., Obstetrics & Gynecology; Alfredo Gei, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology; Lisa Gould, M.D., Ph.D., Surgery; Gregg Hallbauer, D.O., Family Medicine; Frederick Huang, M.D., Pediatrics; Neera Kansal, M.D., Surgery; Rohit Kashyap, M.D., Family Medicine; Sunghoon Kim, M.D., Surgery; Raj Kumar, Ph.D., Human Biological Chemistry & Genetics; Join Luh, M.D., Surgery; Pitchaiah Mandava, M.D., Ph.D., Neurology; Carlos Meza, M.D., Internal Medicine; Gregg Milligan, Ph.D., Pediatrics; Mustak Momin, M.D., Pediatrics; Thomas Nishino, Ph.D., Radiology; Aileen Oandasan, M.D., Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences; Sharon Petronella, Ph.D., Pediatrics; Daniel Polanco, M.D., Internal Medicine; Mohammad Rahman, M.D., Ph.D., Internal Medicine; Mohammad Saeed, M.D., Internal Medicine; Belinda Schwertner, M.D., Obstetrics & Gynecology; Michael Trahan, M.D., Surgery; Adam Wacher, M.D., Anesthesiology; Kimberly Yeung-Yue, M.D.; and Amr Zidan, M.D., Anesthesiology.

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14. SEARCHES

Chair, Department of Internal Medicine: Two candidates from Johns Hopkins came in for second visits in July. One candidate from Emory University has been invited for a second visit in September.

Chair, Department of Neurology: Six candidates have come in for first visits and the search committee is in the process of inviting several of these candidates for a second visit.

Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Practice: The School of Medicine is searching for a physician to serve as permanent Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Practice. Dr. Donald Prough is currently serving in this capacity on an interim basis. The individual who accepts this appointment will be responsible for assisting the Dean of Medicine in the entire scope of management of the Faculty Practice of the School of Medicine, and would serve also as Physician Chief Executive of the MSRDP. The individual selected for this position must be licensed to practice medicine within the State of Texas and be appointed as a fully active faculty member of a clinical department of the School of Medicine. Strong preference will be given to internal candidates. Nominations, or an expression of interest in this position, with an accompanying CV, should be sent by September 15^th to: Linda G. Phillips, M.D., Chair, Search Committee for the Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Practice, Office of the Dean of Medicine, Route 0133.

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15. MAJOR GRANTS AND AWARDS

· Ballinger, Scott. Internal Medicine. Mitochondrial Integrity and Function in Atherogenesis. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, $223,500/11 mos.

· Bungo, Michael. Internal Medicine-Cardiology. Cardiac Atrophy and Diastolic Dysfunction During and After Long Duration Spaceflight: Functional Consequences for Orthostatic Intolerance, Exercise Capacity, and Risk of Cardiac Arrhythmias. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, $72,220/9 mos.

· Das, Margaret. Ob/Gyn. Dr Adhesins in E. Coli Renal vs. Bladder Tropism. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Fellowship, $110,964/3 yrs.

· Hilser, Vincent. HBC&G. Native State Conformational Ensemble of the SEM5 SH3 Domain. National institute of General Medical Sciences, $1,160,640/5 yrs.

· Matalon, Reuben. Pediatrics. Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Deficiency: Response to BH4. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, $149,000/2 yrs.

· Vinetz, Joseph M. Pathology. Molecular Targets of Blocking Malaria Transmission. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, $480,745/5 yrs.

· Weaver, Scott, Pathology. Ecology and Genetics of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. $1,297,371/4 yrs.

· Willis, William D. MBI. Synaptic Connections of Spinal Cord Neurons. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. $1,314,000/4 yrs.

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We want your news!

Submit your information for SOM e-NEWS:

· Via email to djgonzal@utmb.edu

· On the phone to ext. 23967

· Via fax at 29598

SOM e-NEWS is an initiative of the Office of the Dean of Medicine, to improve communication with faculty and staff in the school. The editor of the newsletter is Dr. Linda Phillips. An archive of the newsletter is available on the SOM web site:

http://www.som.utmb.edu/e-NEWS/eNEWS-TOC.htm. Thank you for your interest and time.

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