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, M.D. (lphillip@utmb.edu).

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1. UPCOMING EVENTS

· BSL4 LAB DEDICATION

Monday, November 17, 2003, 10:00 AM, Levin Hall Main Auditorium.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn will be the keynote speaker at the Nov. 17 dedication of UTMB’s new Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) laboratory. The campus community is invited to attend. Events include a Special Scientific Symposium in honor of Robert E. Shope, M.D., and will feature internationally known experts in infectious diseases. The Symposium will be held from 1-5 PM in the Levin Hall North Auditorium and is open to the campus.

More information…

· APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION & TENURE WORKSHOP

The Office of the Dean of Medicine will again offer the Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure (APT) Workshop to be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2003, 5PM-7PM, in the Caduceus Room. Faculty and administrators are invited to attend. The purpose of this workshop is to clarify the APT process.

Guest Speakers:

--Stanley M. Lemon, M.D., Dean of Medicine, and Linda G. Phillips, M.D., Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Welcome and Introduction: The Goals of the Workshop

--Harvey Bunce, III, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean for Administration

Discuss the nature of the different appointments, especially what the different tracks and titles mean

--Mr. Chris Johnsen, Attorney, Legal Affairs

Discuss the contract between the university and the faculty member, with particular attention to Regents’ Rules and State Laws; discuss the post-tenure review process

--Linda G. Phillips, M.D., Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

Discuss the departmental activity which precedes the SOM committee evaluation, including initiation of the process

--Abbey Berenson, M.D., Co-Chair, School of Medicine APT Committee

Discuss the SOM committee process, evaluation and actions the committee might take

-- Ms. Deborah (Reynolds) Guerrero, Coordinator II, Special Programs, Office of the Dean of Medicine

Discuss assembly of the packet: what it contains, who provides what and when

--Q&A

Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Ms. Eartha Dotson by email, edotson@utmb.edu <mailto:edotson@utmb.edu>, or call 22671.

· RESEARCH RETREAT

--November 20, 2003 (all day) and November 21, 2003 (half day) at the Hotel Galvez, Galveston. Click here for more information

· CHANGE IN DATE FOR DECEMBER FACULTY OF MEDICINE MEETING

The December Faculty of Medicine Meeting initially scheduled on Tuesday, December 2, 2003, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, December 9, 2003, 4:30 PM, Levin Hall North Auditorium. New faculty who have been appointed between 10/01/03-11/30/03 will be introduced at the Faculty of Medicine Meeting and honored at a holiday reception sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Medicine and Faculty Group Practice immediately following the meeting.

· CV WORKSHOP

The Office of the Dean of Medicine will host another CV workshop on Wednesday, December 17, 2003 from 5-7 PM, Caduceus Room, 6^th floor of the Administration Building. The purpose of the workshop is to review the CV format with a primary focus on "building the CV." The CV format is available online at: http://www.som.utmb.edu/Curriculum_Vitae.htm. Faculty and staff are invited to attend the workshop; please RSVP to Ms. Eartha Dotson by email, edotson@utmb.edu <mailto:edotson@utmb.edu>, or call extension 22671. Refreshments will be served.

· DEPARTMENTAL REVIEWS

--Pharmacology & Toxicology: January 11-14, 2004

--Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences: January 25-28, 2004

--Physiology & Biophysics: March 7-10, 2004

--Obstetrics & Gynecology: April 18-21, 2004

--Preventive Medicine & Community Health: May 16-19, 2004

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2. DR. DEBORAH PAYNE TO PARTICPATE IN THE CDC’S WORKGROUP ON MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTIC GENETIC TESTING

Deborah “Debs” Payne, Ph.D., CLS(MB), CLDir(NCA), Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Director of the Division of Molecular Diagnostics, has been invited to participate in the Center for Disease Control’s workgroup on molecular diagnostic genetic testing. The goals of this committee are: 1) to survey the genetic testing laboratory community and identify the most urgently needed QC materials – today and within 5 years; 2) to develop a set of criteria for preparing a priority listing of high volume and low volume QC materials; 3) to distribute the priority listing to potential funding organizations and the research community; and 4) to evaluate the identified needs and make recommendations regarding potential approaches to meet these needs. Dr. Payne is one of two persons from academia on this committee; the other member is affiliated with the Mayo Clinic, with the other five members being affiliated with reference laboratories. See more about Dr. Payne’s research interests

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3. DRS. OLIVERA NESIC AND KAREN SMITH, CO-PIs ON RESEARCH PROJECT FOR DANA PROGRAM

The School of Medicine has submitted its nomination of a translational research project led by Olivera Nesic, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Human Biological Chemistry & Genetics, and Karen E. Smith, Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, for the 2004 Dana Program in Brain and Immuno-imaging. The program seeks to advance the application of imaging research to improve understanding of the brain, the immune system, and of their interactions in health and disease. Drs. Nesic and Smith are Co-Principal Investigators on the research project entitled, “Magnetic resonance imaging to determine inflammation-induced blood brain barrier dysfunction in children born at very low birth weight and in a rat model of perinatal ischemia.” The Dana Program will support funding for two tracks: conventional brain systems imaging (of brain tissues) and emerging cellular/molecular imaging technologies, either alone or in combination with conventional systems imaging techniques, of brain cells, or immune cells, or of their interactions. Each medical school may submit one application for each track.

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4. ARTICLE BY DRS. ANNE HUDSON JONES AND RONALD A. CARSON FEATURED IN ACADEMIC MEDICINE

The October issue of Academic Medicine included an article by Anne Hudson Jones, Ph.D. and Ronald A. Carson, Ph.D. on the history of the Institute for the Medical Humanities at UTMB.

See the abstract. Requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Hudson Jones, ahjones@utmb.edu.

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5. UTMB researchers make headlines with study that questions cause of FDR’s paralytic illness

A study by UTMB researchers suggesting that Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome, rather than polio, has made news across the country. The study, led by Dr. Armond S. Goldman, was published November 1 in the Journal of Medical Biography, and subsequent stories ran in the New York Times, USA Today, and other newspapers around the country. Dan Rather closed his Oct. 31 "CBS Evening News" broadcast with the story.

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6. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TRAINING LABORATORY NOW HAS A WEB SITE

Please visit the Molecular Biology Training Laboratory web site for information on courses offered to help UTMB researchers acquire widely used laboratory techniques.

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7. APPLICANTS TO U.S. MEDICAL SCHOOLS INCREASE: WOMEN THE MAJORITY FOR THE FIRST TIME

The Association of American Medical Colleges issued the following press release regarding the increase in medical school applicants for the 2003-2004 school year. Some of the highlights include:

Women made up the majority of medical school applicants for the first time ever

Black women applicants increased by almost ten percent to 1,904

The number of Black applicants overall rose almost five percent to 2,736, but the number of Blacks who entered medical school declined by six percent to 1,056

Hispanic applicants increased by less than two percent to 2,483, while the number who entered medical school declined by almost four percent to 1,089.

See Press Release

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8. NIH LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAMS FOR 2004

The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) can repay up to $35,000 a year of qualified educational debt for health professionals pursuing careers in clinical, pediatric, contraception and infertility or health disparities research. All applications for 2004 awards must be submitted online by December 31, 2003. LRPs also provide coverage for federal and state tax liabilities. For additional information and to apply online, please visit: www.lrp.nih.gov.

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9. REQUEST FOR NOMINATIONS - AAMC 2004 HERBERT W. NICKENS, M.D., FACULTY FELLOWSHIP

The Association of American Medical Colleges is requesting nominations for the 2004 Herbert W. Nickens, M.D., Faculty Fellowship Award-A Program to Assist Medical Schools Achieve Their Diversity Objectives and Eliminate Health-Care Disparities. A medical school may nominate one (1) current faculty member for this award. A candidate must:

· be a United States citizen or permanent resident;

· hold the rank of assistant professor in a medical school department;

· have held the assistant professor position for no more than three (3) years; and

· hold either a M.D. or Ph.D.

The recipient receives a $15,000 grant to support his or her academic and professional activities. The award recognizes an outstanding junior faculty member who has demonstrated leadership in addressing inequities in medical education and health care; demonstrated efforts in addressing educational, societal, and health-care needs of minorities; and is committed to a career in academic medicine. If you are, or know of someone who might be interested in applying for this program, please send the following information to Linda G. Phillips, M.D., Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Office of the Dean of Medicine, Route 0133: a personal statement from the applicant that does not exceed five (5) double-spaced pages discussing his or her motivations and objectives for a career in academic medicine, research interests, and specific details on how the fellowship funds will be used, a current copy of the applicant's CV, and a letter of support from the applicant's Chair or Division Chief. Please submit this information by February 20, 2004 to allow time for review of materials prior to the April 4, 2004 external deadline. For detailed information, please visit http://www.aamc.org/about/awards/nickensfellowships.htm.

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10. Presidential Faculty Development Leaves - Applications Now Being Accepted

Applications are now being accepted for the 2004 Presidential Faculty Development Leaves Program. The purpose of this program is to further the academic careers of faculty members and enhance their abilities to contribute to the diverse missions of the university. Faculty who are selected will receive support for their salary and benefits for a six month, on or off-campus faculty development leave. Leaves can begin on July 1, 2004, and must be completed within the subsequent 18 months. To be eligible, a faculty member must be full-time, tenure-track with rank of associate professor or above, must have six years cumulative service as a member of the UTMB faculty, and must not have received a Presidential Faculty Development Leave in the preceding six years.

The application packet must contain the original, plus 9 additional copies, each of which consists of:

A detailed (< 5 pages) plan for leave, indicating location and nature of on/off-campus faculty development activities to be pursued, how these will benefit the faculty member in the advancement of his/her academic career, and his/her future contributions to the missions of UTMB.
Information concerning the availability of additional non-budgeted resources (fellowships, grant support, etc.) available to support the proposed period of on/off-campus faculty development leave, and the total duration of the leave requested.
A letter of endorsement from the Departmental Chair (or School of Nursing Associate Dean), and evidence of Dean's approval.
A letter from the on/off-campus host supporting the proposed faculty development activities.
A statement describing how the award will enhance the recipient’s ability to contribute to the diverse missions of UTMB.
A copy of the faculty member’s CV.

Please send the application packet to the Office of the President, campus mail route 0129, by February 1, 2004.

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Dr. Linda Phillips at extension 24778 or by email at lphillip@utmb.edu.

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11. SEARCH UPDATE

The School of Medicine is conducting the following searches:

Chair, Anatomy & Neurosciences: The Dean is continuing discussions with the leading candidate.

Chair, Human Biological Chemistry & Genetics: A search committee has been formed; Dr. Kathryn Cunningham, Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, will chair the committee.

Chair, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences: The Dean is continuing to meet with candidates recommended by the search committee.

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12. FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

--CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – THE UNCF•Merck Postdoctoral Science Research Fellowships:

Ten awards will be made in 2004. Each award of up to $70,000 consists of: a fellowship stipend up to $55,000 and department grant up to $15,000. To be considered, applicants must be: African American (Black); a Ph.D. or equivalent degree recipient in a life or physical science; appointed as a new or continuing postdoctoral fellow during the 2004 calendar year at an academic or non-academic research institution (private industrial laboratories are excluded); and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Deadline for applications is December 15, 2003. For application packets, submit a request by mail, fax (703) 205-3574, the Web or email: uncfmerck@uncf.org. Detailed information may be found: www.uncf.org/merck.

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--CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – 2004 SABIN GOLD MEDAL:

The Sabin Gold Medal has been awarded annually to a vaccinologist who has made extraordinary contributions to humanity. Nominations should be submitted no later than January 1, 2004. Detailed information may be found: www.sabin.org.

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--CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – ALBERT AND MARY LASKER FOUNDATION:

Nominations are being accepted for the 2004 Albert Lasker Medical Research Awards. The Awards will be offered in three categories: Basic Medical Research, Clinical Medical Research, and Special Achievement in Medical Science. The major purpose of these Awards is to recognize and honor individuals who have made significant contributions in basic or clinical research in diseases that are the main cause of death and disability. The Award winners may reside in any country of the world. Nominations should be received by the Foundation no later than February 2, 2004. Detailed information may be found: http://www.laskerfoundation.org.

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LINKS

APPLEs Column for Busy Educators

Budget Bulletin Home Page

Construction Updates

Core Committee for the Advancement of Women Faculty & Administrators

Diversity Council Web Site

eYellow Sheet

Faculty Resources Web Site

Faculty Senate Web Site

Funding Opportunities

Mission Statement and Core Values

National Biocontainment Laboratory

Research Funding Library Calendar

School of Medicine Home Page

School of Medicine Weather Plan

2003 State Employee Charitable Campaign

Today’s Daily Announcements

UTMB Home Page

UTMB Policies & Procedures

UTMB Weather Plan

Click here to suggest a link

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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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