SOM e-NEWS April '01

In an effort to enhance recognition of achievements and communication with the School of Medicine faculty and staff, the Office of the Dean of Medicine is pleased to announce the launch of its first email newsletter, SOM e-NEWS. News and information (appointments, searches, events, awards, etc.) pertaining to the School of Medicine will be featured in SOM e-NEWS in abstract form and will be linked to the web for more detailed information. SOM e-NEWS will be published on at least a monthly basis. 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 new communication format. You may send your comments via email to Linda Phillips (lphillip@utmb.edu).

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1. UPCOMING EVENTS

SCHOOL OF MEDICINE COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES:

Friday, May 25, 2001

--AOA Lecture (Dr. Daniel Foster from UT Southwestern) & Presentation of ASDA Awards, 1:00 PM, Ashbel Smith Building-Amphitheater

--Reception immediately following AOA Lecture & Presentation of ASDA Awards, Ashbel Smith Building-Foyer, 2^nd Floor

--Alumni Association Reception for ASDA Award Recipients, 5:00 PM, Rosenberg House

--AOA Banquet and Presentation of The John P. McGovern Award M.D. in Oslerian Medicine, 6:00 PM, Hotel Galvez, Garden Room

--Alumni Association Dessert Party, 8:30 PM, Location TBA

Saturday, May 26, 2001, Moody Gardens Convention Center

--Student Rehearsal, 7:00 AM,

--Faculty Assemble, 9:00 AM, North Lobby

--Commencement (Speaker: Dr. Catherine DeAngelis, Editor, JAMA) 10:00 AM

--Dean's Reception, 12:00 Noon, Floral Ballroom

� DEPARTMENTAL REVIEWS

--HBC&G: May 6-9, 2001

--Anatomy: May 20-23, 2001

--Pathology: June 3-6, 2001

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2. MATCH RESULTS

Match Day for Medical School Graduates was held on March 22^nd. You may view their match results on the following web site, http://webb.utmb.edu/som_staffair/senior_match_2001/default.htm. NRMP results can be found at the following web site,
http://www.som.utmb.edu/e-NEWS/matchresults_TOC.htm

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3. LCME LIMITED SITE VISIT

The limited Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) site visit on February 11-14, 2001 was successful. We are awaiting the formal response of the LCME.

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4. SMALL GROUP FACILITATOR RECRUITMENT AND REVIEW OF YEARS 3 & 4 OF THE CURRICULUM

Small group facilitator recruitment for the 2001-2002 academic year is beginning. Previously, the total number of facilitator slots required were apportioned to the clinical and basic science departments based upon total faculty FTEs. The new plan will look at institutionally funded faculty FTEs as a basis for allocating facilitator slots to departments and will give credit to faculty for their lecture hours, lab teaching time and for the tremendous amount of effort put into the educational program by the course directors.

To begin a comprehensive review of all third and fourth year courses, several task forces, under the direction of the Curriculum Committee, will be constituted from members of the School of Medicine. Each task force will address a theme that runs longitudinally through years three and four of the curriculum. Questions to be addressed are: 1) what should the curriculum accomplish, 2) how can this best be achieved, and 3) how can we best measure our achievements. Broad representation is important. Faculty who are able to serve on these task forces should contact Penney Bryant in the Dean of Medicine Office via email, pbryant@utmb.edu by April 20^th.

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5. PRESIDENTIAL FACULTY DEVELOPMENT LEAVES

Applications have been submitted for Presidential Faculty Development Leaves (deadline was April 1^st). This is an important new program designed to further the academic career of the faculty member and enhance the abilities of the faculty member to contribute to the diverse missions of the University. Faculty who are selected will receive support for their salary and benefits for a 6 month, on or off-campus faculty development leave. Applications will be reviewed by a special committee on Faculty Development Leaves. Faculty members selected to receive a Presidential Faculty Development Leave will be notified by mid April. Details about the program are available at http://www2.utmb.edu/president/faculty_leaves/.

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6. THE JOHN P. MCGOVERN, M.D. AWARD IN OSLERIAN MEDICINE

Nominations have been submitted for the first John P. McGovern, M.D. Award in Oslerian Medicine (deadline was March 31^st) to be presented at the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Banquet on May 25, 2001. Dr. McGovern, a Houston physician and philanthropist, 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. Applicants must be physicians with a past or present association with UTMB who exemplify a commitment to humane medical practice and teaching. The Selection Committee will be meeting in mid to late April to review applications. Further details can be found at web site, http://www.som.utmb.edu/mcgovern_award.htm.

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7. THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AWARDS

The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) is seeking applicants for

several awards. The listing of awards can be found at our web site, http://www.som.utmb.edu/Research_Funding_Opportunities.htm). The purpose of these awards is to encourage involvement and development of young scientists in the field of neuropsychopharmacology by networking with the members at the ACNP annual meeting in December 2001. Further information about each award can be found at the ACNP web site, www.acnp.org or by calling (615) 322-2075.

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8. UTMB CELEBRATES THE "SCHOLARS IN EDUCATION" SYMPOSIUM

An eighteen-month faculty development program entitled �Scholars in Education� concluded on March 13^th with a symposium during which each of the graduates presented his/her educational projects to faculty colleagues. This marked the third cohort of UTMB faculty who completed this program designed to enhance knowledge, skills, and attitudes relevant to teaching and learning in the health professions. The Office of Educational Development (OED) organizes the program to meet the needs of faculty. The Symposium allowed a group of talented faculty mentors to present an educational activity of their own design. Steven Lieberman, MD (Associate Dean for Educational Affairs), also a former Scholar, introduced the Symposium. Program graduates (1999-2001): Henry Cavazos, J.D. (Healthcare Administration), Edward R. Smith, PhD (Obstetrics & Gynecology), Jose Loera, MD (Internal Medicine), Bernard M. Karnath, MD (Internal Medicine), Anna K. Westmoreland, MD (Internal Medicine), Kevin H. McKinney, MD (Internal Medicine), Anita C. Mercado, MD (Internal Medicine), S. Lynn Knox, MD (Anesthesiology), Rita M. Patterson, PhD (Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation), G. A. Shakeel Ansari, PhD (HBC&G), and Sabri Kemahli, MD (OED). These Scholars are positioned to have a positive influence on the educational programs at UTMB. The next program begins in September, 2001. For more information contact: Dr. Jack R. Scott (OED; 2-2791).

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9. VISIT OF EMMA J. STOKES, PH.D.

Dr. Stokes, Senior Organization Development Consultant, Johns Hopkins University, was here for a visit from April 3-6, 2001. She met with women leadership and men faculty to provide consultation regarding career development for women in academic medicine.

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10. DR. PREMKUMAR CHRISTADOSS AWARDED FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP

Dr. Premkumar Christadoss, Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, was recently awarded The J. William Fulbright Scholarship. The Fulbright award is for research and lecturing at the Pasteur Institute in Athens, Greece. The title of his research project is "Acetylcholine receptor B cell epitope mapping" and his lecturing will be on immunogenetics and autoimmunity.

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11. NEW FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

The Dean of Medicine welcomes the following new School of Medicine faculty who have been appointed during the month of March: Lenore Combs, M.P.H., Obstetrics & Gynecology; Patricia Danysh, B.S.N., Obstetrics & Gynecology; Randy Ernst, M.D., Radiology; Roxie Garrett, M.S.N., Obstetrics & Gynecology; Ivan Kessel, M.B.Ch.B., Radiation Oncology; and Joseph Rubin, M.D., Anesthesiology.

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12. HOMECOMING

More than 600 alumni and friends returned to Galveston on March 29-31 for Homecoming 2001. Events commenced with the Alumni Association reception on Thursday. Laurie Garrett, a Pulitzer Prize winning Newsday science writer, made a presentation to the campus community on Friday morning about the decline in fundamental public health infrastructure around the world. Her talk was based on research she has done for her most recent book, Betrayal of Trust. Dr. C. J. Peters, Director of the Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) Laboratory, spoke to the alumni about BSL4 laboratories and their role in the modern world. At noon on Friday the university honored those who had graduated 50 or more years ago at the annual VIP Luncheon where more than 250 attended. The day ended with the Deans� Reception at Open Gates. Saturday�s activity reached a crescendo when Dr. Townsend�s team won the annual alumni/student/staff golf tournament. While that was going on, Old Red was open to visitors and Dr. Burns, Dr. Tschirch and Dr. Payer passed on UTMB oral history and urban myths to alumni that morning. Most alumni completed their Homecoming activity with reunion dinners on Saturday. As always, it was great to have so many UTMB graduates return to renew their connection with the school.

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13. SEARCHES

Chair, Department of Internal Medicine: The Search Committee has invited four candidates to visit the campus. Nominations are still being accepted.

Chair, Department of Neurology: The Search Committee met with the faculty and residents in the Department of Neurology. Ads have been placed in several journals and letters have been sent out requesting nominations.

Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs: The Search Committee has placed ads in several journals. They are reviewing applications.

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14. MAJOR GRANTS AND AWARDS

� Crowe, Shelia. Internal Medicine. Oxidative Damage to Gastric Epithelial Cells by H pylori. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 5 yrs.

� Ernst, Peter. Pediatrics. Pathobiology of Gastrointestinal Disease in Mice. National Center for Research Resources, $474,800/5 yrs.

� Godley, Bernard. Ophthalmology. Reactive Oxygen Induced DNA Damage in Retinal Cells, National Eye Institute, $1,131,896/4 yrs.

� Hill, Alice. Nursing School. Research Supplement for Underrepresented Minorities (Graduate Student) Nursing Interventions Used in Feeding Preterm Infants. National Institute of Nursing Research Supplement, $23,073/1 yr.

� Kurosky, Alexander. HBC&G. UTMB Mass Spectrometry/Proteomics Facility, National Cancer Institute, $1,308,385/5 yrs.

� Liu, Danxia, Neurology. Oxidation of Macromolecules in Spinal Cord Injury, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, $588,341/3 yrs.

� Thompson, E. Brad. HBC&G. Structure/Fuunction Studies of the Glucocorticoid Receptor, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, $983,400/4 yrs.

� Watson, Cheryl. HBC&G. Signal Transduction Pathways in Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation-signals Initiated via a Plasma Membrane Receptor for Estrogen Receptor, Department of the Army, $446,999/3 yrs.

� Zwischenberger, Joseph B. Surgery. Surgical Studies of Severe Respiratory Failure, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, $1,625,000/5 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 Denise Gonzalez. An archive of the newsletter is available on the SOM web site: http://www.som.utmb.edu/eNEWS-TOC.htm. Thank you for your interest and time.

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