Joseph C. Kolars, M.D., to be U-M Medical School’s first Senior Associate Dean for Education and Global Initiatives Joseph C. Kolars, M.D., has been named the University of Michigan Medical School’s first Senior Associate Dean for Education and Global Initiatives, effective June 1, pending the approval of the U-M Board of Regents. He will serve as the Medical School’s lead for the oversight and expansion of both its educational mission and its global initiatives. Says Dean Woolliscroft, “In his new role, Dr. Kolars will lead our efforts to enhance the full spectrum of medical training, from undergraduate to continuing education, biomedical research education, and bring it together with global impact.”
Kolars is a gastroenterologist and currently holds several positions at the Mayo Clinic. He also works with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on education systems to transform health. Dr. Kolars will continue to work on these initiatives on behalf of the Gates Foundation after he arrives at Michigan. Our news release can be found in our online newsroom.
Join the conversation! The Strong Connection discussion board is now open! The time is now to engage in conversation about issues that matter to you most. Today marks the opening of the new online discussion board, The Strong Connection. It's an opportunity for you to share knowledge, gain insight into key business decisions in and around the Hospitals and Health Centers, and get to know your CEO, Doug Strong, better.
To join the conversation, you'll need to register for an account. Posting comments or questions on the board requires one-time registration using your unique name. Anonymous posts are not possible. Once you've registered, you can sign up to receive e-mail notification to help you follow conversations of interest to you or learn when a new topic is posted for discussion.
Can't make it to commencement? Medical School ceremony will stream live on Web site The University of Michigan Medical School will provide a live stream of its commencement exercises held at 5 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Hill Auditorium, 825 North University. Sanjay Gupta, M.D., chief CNN medical correspondent and one-time candidate for U.S. Surgeon General, will give the keynote address “Medicine & Media ... Surprising Similarities.”
Gupta is an alumnus of both the University of Michigan and its Medical School. Gupta earned his medical degree at U-M in 1993, and completed his neurosurgery residency in 2000 at the University of Michigan Health System. Gupta continues his work as a neurosurgeon in Atlanta while creating Emmy-winning stories for CNN. He has reported on the September 11 attacks in New York City, the war in Iraq, the tsunami in Sri Lanka, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and most recently, the evolving H1N1 flu conditions in Mexico City.
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Teresa A. Sullivan, Ph.D., will convene the commencement, and Medical School Dean James O. Woolliscroft, M.D., will preside over the ceremony. The live stream will be available on the Medical School Web site.
May 13: Installation of the Michael H. and Marcia S. Klein Professorship in Rheumatic Diseases James O. Woolliscroft, M.D., dean of the Medical School, cordially invites you to the Wednesday, May 13, inauguration of the Michael H. and Marcia S. Klein Professorship in Rheumatic Diseases and the installation of W. Joseph McCune, M.D., as the first Klein Professor. The ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. in the Biomedical Science Research Auditorium. For more information, e-mail Gina Jennings or call 734-998-7597.
May 20: Ninth annual James V. Neel Lecture Aravinda Chakravarti, Ph.D., an expert in computational biology and renowned geneticist, will present "Genetic Polymorphisms affecting Human Diseases" at the 9th annual James V. Neel Lecture, sponsored by the Department of Human Genetics at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, in the Biomedical Science Research Building Auditorium. A reception for Chakravarti and scientific poster session featuring local genetics research will follow the lecture. For more information, visit the Web site or call 734-763-0682.
May 20: Sixth annual Gilman and Barbour Lecture, Department of Neurology David M. Holtzman, M.D., Andrew B. and Gretchen P. Jones Professor and chairman, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, will present the sixth annual Department of Neurology Gilman and Barbour Lecture at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, in Towsley Center, Dow Auditorium. Holtzman's topic will be "Amyloid-ß Metabolism and Alzheimer's Disease: New Ups and Downs in an Ongoing Story." A reception will follow the lecture. For more information, call 734-615-5632.
May 14 - 15: 13th annual Nathan Shock Center Research Retreat Nathan Shock Center for the Biology of Aging: Annual Research Retreat will take place Thursday, May 14, and Friday, May 15, in the Biomedical Science Research Building. Internationally known biogerontologists will explore recent and pending discoveries likely to provide new directions for research in the biology of aging in the coming five to 10 years. Keynote lecturers include:
Adam Antebi, Ph.D., Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor School of Medicine
Andrzej Bartke, Ph.D., Southern Illinois School of Medicine
Matt Kaeberlein, Ph.D., University of Washington
Richard Loeser, M.D., Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Daniel Promislow, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Nicholas Schork, Ph.D., Scripps Research Institute
Morris White, Ph.D., Harvard University
To register for the workshop or for more information, e-mail Jane Heibel.
Biomedical Research Council bridging grant Application Deadline: Friday, May 15
The Medical School's Biomedical Research Council is accepting applications for a competitive grant program for basic science research. These grants provide support to bridge federally funded basic science research grants with a strong likelihood to continue federal funding pending resubmission. Up to $40,000 is available from BMRC per grant for up to one year. Matching funds from the PI's department are required. Eligibility is limited to full-time, on-campus instructional and research faculty with primary appointments in the Medical School. Grants to be bridged must reside in the Medical School. Complete details are on the Web . For more information, call 734-615-8802 or e-mail BMRCsubmit@umichedu.
U-M Medical Education research recognized by peers Two UMMS research studies were honored by medical educators across the Midwest and Central states for their rigor and quality. The Central Group on Educational Affairs of the American Association of Medical Colleges recognized:
“Improving Safety at the Ground Level” – This innovative program educates residents about patient safety through formal curricula and experiential learning. Residents participate in teams that attempt to solve important patient safety issues across UMHS, in addition to attending seminars and conferences. The program is already having an impact on the way patient care is delivered in select Internal Medicine domains. Rajesh Mangrulkar, M.D., associate professor of Internal Medicine and Medical Education, accepted the award on behalf of a team that includes colleagues from the Departments of Internal Medicine, Medical Education, Pediatrics, and the Office of Clinical Affairs.
"Collaborative Grants Program" – This research project demonstrated the value provided by small grants designed to encourage medical research. The study compared activity of investigators who received these grants to those who did not. Results revealed the grants, though small in size, led to improved researcher productivity, subsequent grant funding, and enhanced collaborations across medical schools. Larry Gruppen, Ph.D., Josiah Macy, Jr. professor of medical education and chair, Department of Medical Education, was honored as Best Established Investigator.
MHealthy offers online screenings for National Mental Health Month
May is National Mental Health Month and, in support, MHealthy is offering confidential online screenings on its Understanding U Web site. Screenings are available for depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol misuse, eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since programs exist to help us recognize and cope with how life's stressors and events may be affecting our mental and emotional well-being, screenings for mental health and for heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure should be a routine part of health care.
To take an online mental health screening, visit www.mhealthy.umich.edu/understandingu. If assistance is needed after your screening, UMHS employees may contact EAP at 734-763-5409 or e-mail eap@umich.edu. Campus employees may contact U-M Faculty and Staff Assistance Program at 734-936-8660 or e-mail fasap@umich.edu.
The James T. Neubacher Award call for nominations
Each October, during Investing in Ability Week, the James T. Neubacher Award is presented to a faculty or staff member, student, or alumna or alumnus for significant achievements in
Promoting acceptance and awareness of people with disabilities
Advocating for the civil rights of people with disabilities
Removing barriers to full participation in programs and services for people with disabilities
Established by the University of Michigan's Council for Disability Concerns in October 1990, the Award is a memorial to Jim Neubacher, an alumnus of the University. Jim was also a columnist for The Detroit Free Press and an advocate for equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities. The Award includes a stipend provided by the Office of the President. The deadline for nomination submission is Thursday, June 11. For more information, visit the Web site or call Anna Ercoli Schnitzer at 734-936-1402.
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!
May 6 --Dr. Brown quoted in MSNBC
May 5 --Dr. Marcus quoted in Los Angeles Times --Dr. Lord quoted in Time for autism research
--Eric Hipple quoted in Detroit News
--Dr. Pennathur quoted in The Scientist
May 4 --Dr. Matthew Davis NPR Morning Edition
May 1 --Dr. Markel on NPR's Science Friday
News
Releases and Health Minute
For medical press releases and the details behind the
headlines, visit www.med.umich.edu/news
Medical School FAQs
You can find answers to many of your questions pertaining to the U-M Medical School in one place. The FAQ page links to a variety of resources including 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
Monday,
May 11, 2009 Noon. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Science Seminar Series. Benedict R. Lucchesi, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Pharmacology, U-M, will present "Alfimeprase - A Fibrinolytic Metalloproteinase for Thrombolysis," in the Cardiovascular Center Danto Auditorium.
Tuesday,
May 12, 2009 Noon. Department of Medical Education Grand Rounds. Robert Mankoff, cartoon editor of The New Yorker, will present "How to Use Humor Effectively in a Presentation," Cardiovascular Center Danto Auditorium.
Noon. The Department of Biological Chemistry Seminar Series. Ursular Jakob, associate professor, The University of Michigan,
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, will present "The Yin and Yang of Oxidative Protein Unfolding," in Med. Sci. I room 6311.
Wednesday,
May 13, 2009
Noon.
Cell and Developmental Biology's Seminar Series. John Hammer, Ph.D., head, section of Molecular Cell Biology, Laboratory of Cell Biology- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH- Bethesda, MD, will present "Myosin V Function in Vivo: from Melanosomes to Memory," in the Biomedical Science Research Building seminar room A, B and C.
Thursday,
May 14, 2009 12:10
p.m. Gifts of Art. Motown and rock classics by Daniel Goree and Donald "Bopper" Clark, UH Main Lobby, floor .
4
p.m. Pathology Research Seminar Series. Peter C. Lucas, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, will present "GPCR-dependent NF-kB signaling in vascular, metabolic, and neoplastic disease," in Med. Sci. I room 4234.
Friday,
May 15, 2009 Noon. Internal Medicine Grand Rounds and Research Symposium. Judy H. Cho, M.D. will be the keynote speaker for the 17th Annual Internal Medicine Research Symposium. Cho, director of Yale's Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, will present "Genetics and Immunopathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, " in Ford Auditorium. As part of the Research Symposium, a lunch and poster session will take place at 1 p.m. in the Towsley Center Lobby followed by resident oral research presentations in the Towsley Center Lobby and Sheldon Auditorium.
Joseph C. Kolars, M.D., has been named the University of Michigan Medical School’s first Senior Associate Dean for Education and Global Initiatives, effective June 1, pending the approval of the U-M Board of Regents. He will serve as the Medical School’s lead for the oversight and expansion of both its educational mission and its global initiatives. Says Dean Woolliscroft, “In his new role, Dr. Kolars will lead our efforts to enhance the full spectrum of medical training, from undergraduate to continuing education, biomedical research education, and bring it together with global impact.”
The time is now to engage in conversation about issues that matter to you most. Today marks the opening of the new online discussion board, The Strong Connection. It's an opportunity for you to share knowledge, gain insight into key business decisions in and around the Hospitals and Health Centers, and get to know your CEO, Doug Strong, better. 
The University of Michigan Medical School will provide a live stream of its commencement exercises held at 5 p.m. Friday, May 8, at Hill Auditorium, 825 North University. Sanjay Gupta, M.D., chief CNN medical correspondent and one-time candidate for U.S. Surgeon General, will give the keynote address “Medicine & Media ... Surprising Similarities.”
Aravinda Chakravarti, Ph.D., an expert in computational biology and renowned geneticist, will present "Genetic Polymorphisms affecting Human Diseases" at the 9th annual James V. Neel Lecture, sponsored by the Department of Human Genetics at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, in the Biomedical Science Research Building Auditorium. A reception for Chakravarti and scientific poster session featuring local genetics research will follow the lecture. For more information, visit the 