January 25, 2008

Welcome to the University of Michigan Medical School E-News, your source for quick and current news from the medical school community.

Attend Dean Woolliscroft's office hours program
Since beginning the "office hours" program, Dean Woolliscroft has met informally with many faculty, staff and students who have provided him with valuable comments and suggestions on how to enhance our efforts and make a great school even better. Below are the days, times and locations for office hours in the coming month. Faculty, staff and students are invited to stop by with their creative ideas and innovative solutions:

• Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 9:30 a.m. in 3813 Med. Sci. II
• Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 1 p.m. in 2131 Taubman Center (Surgery chair's conference room)
• Monday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. in 2738 Cardiovascular Center
  

Jan. 31: Cheng-Yang Chang Professorship in Pediatric Urology ceremony
James O. Woolliscroft, M.D., dean of the Medical School, cordially invites you to the inauguration of the Cheng-Yang Chang Professorship in Pediatric Urology and the installation of John M. Park, M.D., as the first Chang Professor, at 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, in Ford Amphitheatre. For more information, e-mail Flora Ferrara or call 734-998-6605.

Jan. 31: The Art of Close Looking: Critical Observation in Gallery and Clinic
The U-M Department of Urology invites the University community and general public to attend this Grand Rounds lecture by Professor James Steward, director U-M Museum of Art, at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, in Ford Auditorium.

His lecture combines two seemingly different fields, art and medicine, to offer insight on "close looking." This lecture marks the inauguration of the Art & Medicine lecture series in honor of the Chang family, who link Chinese art and Michigan urology. For more info contact Steffanie Fineman 734-615-9843 or ssamuels@umich.

The U-M Medical School designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM.

Jan 28 : Health Informatics Grand Rounds presents Martha E. Pollack, Ph.D.
From 4 - 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, Martha E. Pollack, Ph.D., professor and dean, U-M School of Information, will present, "Intelligent Assistive Technology: The Present and the Future."

Pollack’s talk will focus on assistive technology for people with cognitive impairment. She will review state-of-the-art, and discuss future, design challenges and opportunities. Recent advances in wireless sensor networks and artificial intelligence inference strategies have made it possible to envision a wide range of technologies that can improve the lives of people with physical, cognitive and/or psycho-social impairments. An important theme will be that the usefulness and effectiveness of these systems depend on being adaptive to the highly individualized and changing needs of their users.

For more information, visit the Web site. This presentation will take place in at the Biomedical Science Research Building. For directions, visit http://uuis.umich.edu/cic/buildingproject/index.cfm?BuildingID=509.

Jan. 29 and Jan. 30: Building-Wide Fire Drills in CVC
Three building-wide Code F Drills (fire drills) will be conducted in the Cardiovascular Center on the following dates:

• Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 6 a.m.,
• Wednesday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 5 p.m.

Drills will be initiated by public address system announcements and audible fire alarms. A fire drill observation team will randomly select a number of units to critique and score. All departments and units within CVC are expected to respond using their Fire Instruction Cards and by completing an online critique form. Learn more online. Contact Safety Management Services with questions 734-764-4427.

Check out the new Quality Improvement Web site
Quality Improvement is proud to announce the launch of our new and improved Web site. The new site integrates the Corporate Quality Improvement, Michigan Quality System, and Accreditation and Regulatory Readiness programs into one great resource. The new site boasts user friendly navigation, enhanced tools and resources, and a new multi-media library.

Genetics and Genomics Pilot Feasibility Program Announcement
Deadline: Monday, Feb. 18
Co-sponsored by the Endowment for the Basic Sciences and the Center for Genetics in Health and Medicine. Awards are for one year and will not exceed $50,000. The purpose of this Pilot Feasibility Program is to encourage proposals that foster new collaborations on campus between members of the U-M faculty from distinct disciplines to focus their combined research strengths on cutting-edge questions in genetics and genomics. In addition, we seek to provide supporting funds for new research projects that utilize high throughput genetic analysis tools including DNA Sequencing, a newly acquired Illumina Bead Station 500GX, an Illumina 1G Genome Analyzer (formerly Solexa), a Roche 454-FLX Genome Sequencer and array scanning technology. For more information, visit the Web site.

Health Sciences Libraries winter workshops open for registration
The Health Sciences Libraries winter workshop series is open for registration. Additional sessions will be added as the winter progresses. Workshops are free and advance registration is encouraged. Visit our Web site at www.lib.umich.edu/hsl and use the Workshop link under Services. If you would like a customized session for you or your department, please e-mail medical.library@umich.edu.

Costco to host shopping night for all U-M staff
On Saturday, Feb. 2, Costco will host a shopping night at the Brighton Store at 6700 Whitmore Lake Rd. from 7 -9 p.m. All U-M staff may shop that evening without a membership card when they present their employee ID card at the door. All shoppers who sign up for a new membership will receive a free case of bottled water and certificate for a free rotisserie chicken. Additional coupons for savings throughout the store will also be available. Shoppers will also be entered in a free gift raffle. Purchases may be made by cash, debit, or American Express only. Call Carol or Mark at 810-220-8951 with questions.

New issue of Inside View is now online!
The latest edition of Inside View, the bi-monthly newsletter for all faculty and staff, is now online. Articles include a Bench to Bedside feature on Dr. Ted Lawrence and team's pioneering radiation treatment for pancreatic cancer, the Medical School's Family Centered Experience, a profile on Mott Nurse Anesthetist and violinist Fran Wakefield, a chance to win a prize by answering five Quizlettes by the end of February and much more. Read the new issue here.

Med School Safety Tips
Use these safety tips to keep the Medical School safe and secure for faculty, staff, students and visitors:

• Always wear your ID badge. It shows that you belong. Question anyone in a non-public area without an ID badge with a friendly "May I help you?" This puts people who don't belong on notice that we know they are present and provides an opportunity for those who really need help to ask for it. Remember, your ID badge allows access to our facilities. Please maintain possession of your card, never loan it to anyone and immediately report lost or stolen ID badges to the Department of Public Safety at 734-763-1131 or Facilities at 734-647-2788.
• Do not prop open perimeter doors or let anyone through them after hours. Authorized staff can let themselves in with their ID badge.  If an unauthorized person follows you into a Medical School building, call DPS immediately, at 734-763-1131.
• Report suspicious unidentified persons by calling DPS at 734-763-1131.
• Always call 911 in cases of emergency.  Be sure to get a complete description of the person and the last-known direction of travel.
• Report all suspicious activity, including suspicious e-mail, letters and packages received in University mail containing suspicious substances.   An officer will be sent to investigate by calling DPS at 734-763-1131.
• Keep purses, wallets and other valuables such as pagers, PDAs, iPods and ID badges secured. Carry them with you and always lock your office door, when unattended.
• Smoke only in designated areas. Do not smoke in stairwells, inside buildings or in a non-designated area such as courtyards. Smoking is prohibited on Health System property. For more information or a map of the smoke-free boundaries, call the Tobacco Consultation Service at 734-936-5988.
• Report all doors that are broken or won't lock/secure properly to Maintenance at 734-647-2059.  Maintenance calls are taken twenty four seven.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and what is going on in your work place. Be proactive and make good common sense decisions concerning your safety.
• Calling 911.  If possible, use a regular telephone to call 911 when on U-M property.  This will ensure that University Police are alerted and can promptly respond to your call for assistance.  When using a cell phone to call 911 while on UM property, your call will reach the Washtenaw County Dispatch Center and will habe to be routed to local authorities.

DPS offers crime-prevention training and non-violent crisis intervention/verbal de-escalation training. If you would like to schedule these services for your department, call 734-763-3434. Thanks for your continued support and assistance in keeping our facilities safe.

U-M Makes the News!
M-News Now is a Web page with timely information about members of the UMHS community who are in the news. See who is being interviewed or where their comments are being published at M-News Now!
Jan 23
--Hear Dr Eitzman on WWJ

Jan. 17
--Dr. Sandler in AP, NY Times

News Releases and Health Minute
For medical press releases and the details behind the headlines, visit www.med.umich.edu/news.

Next Week's Health Minute
Bring in the New Year with a new fitness routine

Medical School FAQs
Not sure where to get your questions pertaining to the U-M Medical School answered? The FAQ page links to a variety of resources on such things as information and support, educational programs, research and policy information. The site also lists some useful U-M resources.

Seminars, lectures, colloquia and events for next week