december 2009
Dean's Comments
As 2009 is winding down, the School of Medicine is looking forward to the new Simulation Center on the Shadow Lane campus in Las Vegas officially opening on December 2 with a formal ceremony. This grand opening occurs after we have had three months worth of experience with this state-of-the-art training facility.
The simulation techniques have come a long way since the clumsy mannequins of my medical school days. The new center confronts the student with complex clinical situations in which each intervention generates a computer-generated realistic response from the patient model.
But beyond the technical advances, more important is the underlying concept of integrated teaching that allows students from the University of Nevada School of Medicine, our residents, and nursing students from UNLV, Nevada State College and the College of Southern Nevada to practice and learn side-by-side and in the same shared environment.
Next spring, we will break ground in Reno for the new Pennington Health Science Building, another tangible endorsement of the integrated training concept, in this case involving the University of Nevada School of Medicine and other components of the Division of Health Sciences, especially the Orvis School of Nursing.
And in the summer of 2010, we expect to move into the new Center for Molecular Medicine, the first new lab space added to our growing basic science departments since inception of the School of Medicine. The center will also house a new geriatrics education service and research facility of the Sanford Center for Aging.
All of these exciting developments would not happen without some exceptional, dedicated people who move our mission forward. These include, among many others, the President of the University of Nevada, Reno Dr. Milt Glick, Vice President for Health Sciences Dr. John McDonald, Development Officer Dr. Stefanie Scoppettone, and our senior scientist Dr. Thomas Kozel, as well as the Pennington Foundation.
And I want to specially mention that James Kenyon, Ph.D., professor of physiology, just at this moment received news for a full new funding award on our INBRE grant (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) at $2.5 million per year in direct costs plus approximately $1.5 million per year in indirect costs, supporting research, led by our basic sciences, but involving other partners in the Nevada System of Higher Education.
So, while we are rounding many a cliff on our shared journey through an economically difficult sea, I believe I can make a credible case that we have plenty to be proud of. For that, I thank, whole-heartedly, the faculty and staff of our School and University, as well as the community partners who keep coming through for us.
Ole J.Thienhaus, M.D., MBA
Dean,
University of Nevada School of Medicine
Medical Education
Final call for Bierkamper abstracts
All medical and graduate students are invited to submit abstracts for the 27th Annual Bierkamper Student Research Convocation by the December 4 deadline for presentation at the Jan. 19, 2010 convocation.
Priority for abstract acceptance will be given to original unpublished basic and/or clinical research that includes development of a hypothesis, a methodical approach, collection of result and discussion.
Students to present at American Federation for Medical Research meeting
Two medical students who received the Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Research Scholarship Grant, Charles (CJ) Calvo and Rebecca Michael received notice that their abstract "The Impact of Metformin on Vitamin B12 Levels in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes" was accepted for oral presentation at the American Federation for Medical Research meeting in Carmel, Calif. to be held January 27-30, 2010.
Both students mentor under Ray Plodkowski, M.D., associate professor of internal medicine.
Biosciences graduate program retreat a success
The UNR molecular biosciences graduate program retreat held this fall at the Joe Crowley Student involved graduate students from biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, cellular and molecular pharmacology and physiology presenting their research.
Out of the 24 oral presentations given, Leonie Durnin, a second-year graduate student in cellular and molecular pharmacology and physiology and Amanda Marusich a first-year student in cell and molecular biology were selected for their presentations. Of 45 poster presentations, Christine Jeanblanc from cell and molecular biology and Michael Wiwchar from cellular and molecular pharmacology and physiology were honored.
“The awards are not required to be given to each of the three programs the students come from,” said Violeta Mutafova, Ph.D., professor of physiology and cell biology and Durnin’s mentor. “So the value of the award is greater.” Each award is in the amount of $500.
“The event was a great success”, says Normand Leblanc, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and co-organizer for the retreat. “There wasn't a bad presentation; all the students worked very hard and did a great job.”
Other presentations were also given by each of the sponsors of this event including the office of the UNR Provost Marc Johnson, Jim Kenyon as the ambassador to the Nevada INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence), Kelly S. Colletti from Charles River Laboratories and Laura Briggs from Sierra Sciences.
Special thanks to David Shintani, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, and David Aucoin from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology for a great job in planning, organizing and implementing the first biosciences graduate retreat.
Faculty
Stumpf attends executive development seminar
Paul Stumpf, M.D., professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology attended the 2009 Executive Development Seminar for Associate Deans and Department Chairs jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and Harvard Medical School, Department of Continuing Education.
This seminar was designed to enhance organizational, financial, educational and interpersonal skills for leaders in academic medicine.
He also has an article entitled “Patient safety in women’s health care: why has our progress been so slow?” accepted for publication in the journal Proceedings of the Western Pharmacology Society. This is his seventh published article addressing the topic of patient safety in women’s health care.
Faculty address medical conferences in Thailand
University of Nevada School of Medicine physician faculty are in Thailand this month to continue their collaboration with several medical institutions in that country.
Miriam Bar-on, M.D., associate dean for graduate medical education and Melissa Piasecki, M.D., associate dean for faculty affairs and development, spoke at the Sixth Thai Medical Education Conference at Phramongkutklao Hospital.
Pisespong Patamasucon, M.D., professor for pediatric infectious disease, spoke on the H1N1 swine flu pandemic at the annual meeting of the Phramongkutklao College of Medicine.
Caroline Barangan, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, spoke on teenage medical issues, and Beverly Neyland, M.D., professor of pediatrics, discussed childhood obesity and anticipatory guidance for pediatric care, at Thammasat University.
Patamasucon and Richard Lampe, M.D., chair and professor of pediatrics at Texas Tech University, discussed pediatric infectious diseases at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health.
University of Nevada School of Medicine faculty also met with the dean of Chiangmai Medical School to advance collaboration between the two institutions.
Kuhls helping plan two trauma-related events
Deborah Kuhls, M.D., associate professor of surgery, is helping plan two upcoming events. First, the Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness Course which will be held on December 4 at the Emerald Room, Delta Point Building in Las Vegas.
This all-day course emphasizes an all-hazards approach, demonstrating that many principles apply to disasters of all kinds, regardless of specific mechanism. Surgical problems and the role of surgeons in disasters are emphasized even with nonsurgical forms of injury.
The second event, the American College of Surgeons Region IX Resident Paper Competition, will be held December 5 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the same location. Residents and fellows from California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii have been invited to present their trauma-related research topics.
Both events are co-sponsored by the University Medical Center trauma center and the Nevada State Committee on Trauma.
Tsuda to host "Top Gun Laparoscopic Skills Shoot-Out"
Shawn Tsuda, M.D., vice chief of bariatric surgery at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, and James "Butch" Rosser, M.D., chief of minimally invasive surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, are hosting the "Top Gun Laparoscopic Skills Shoot-out."
The contest on Monday, Nov. 30 at the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas is open to surgery faculty, physician residents and medical students of the School of Medicine.
Rosser originated the event at Yale Laparoscopy Center. It was designed to offer physician residents a chance to demonstrate their laparoscopic skill development while promoting friendly competition. The program has been featured in Scientific American and the CBS Morning Show.
For information, call 702-671-5150.
School Notes
University Health System hospitalist earns Renown Health award
Brad Graves, M.D., a University Health System hospitalist practicing at Renown Health in Reno, recently received the excellence in teaching award for his work in support of the School of Medicine residency program.
“This award is recognition that the residency program is a valuable asset to the hospital,” said Catherine Goring, M.D., chair of the internal medicine department in Reno. “It is a credit to the whole team of teaching physicians in the department.”
Graves, an alumnus from the Class of 1984, completed his internal medicine residency with the School of Medicine in Las Vegas and returned to Reno in 1987 to teach students and residents.
Health literacy training series continues on December 10
The Nevada Geriatric Education Center’s upcoming Health Literacy Faculty Training Series "Communicating with the Elderly, Health Literacy, and Aging" will be presented in Las Vegas and various rural sites in Nevada via interactive video on Thursday, December 10 from noon to 1 p.m.
The program is free and 1.0 CEUs for nurses, physicians, long term care administrators, marriage/family therapists, and speech pathologists will be available. The program has been submitted to the State of Nevada Board of Examiners for social workers for 1.0 hours of continuing education.
The presenter will be Laurie Moore, MSG, LASW, program director of the Senior Mental Health Outreach Program of the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health.
For additional information, please contact Allan Froman via email or call (702)257-5594 or visit the calendar to download a registration form.
Winter wilderness medicine workshop is February 19-21
The Sixth Annual School of Medicine Winter Wilderness Medicine EME Conference will be hosted at Lost Trail Lodge in the Donner Lake backcountry from Friday, Feb. 19 through Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010.
Ten hours of CME/CEU will be devoted to practical topics in winter wilderness medicine with hands-on experiences. Attendance is limited and participants must be able to snowshoe or ski approximately four miles of mostly level terrain to the location site. Cost is $700 or $600 for allied health/nursing and $500 for non-medical guests.
Contact David Fiore, M.D. via email or (775)784-6180 to register.
Women in Health Sciences events on December 7, 8
The School of Medicine is hosting a half-day seminar with presentations and workshops on Monday, Dec. 7 in the Pennington Medical Education Building, Room 12, on the UNR campus and again on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas at the dental school auditorium on the Shadow Lane campus.
Both events will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Guest speaker will be Elizabeth Travis, Ph.D., of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center speaking on “Achieving Work-Life Balance.” Box lunch will be provided.
These Women in Health Sciences events are co-hosted by the Division of Health Sciences, the Orvis School of Nursing and the UNLV Schools of Dental Medicine and Nursing.
Please sign-up with the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development by calling (775)784-6777 or via email.
Support HSAHEC through Whole Foods donation program
Support the High Sierra Area Health Education Center by participating with your reusable bag donations through Reno-area Whole Foods markets now through Jan. 17, 2010.
High Sierra Area Health Education Center has been chosen as one of the featured non-profit organizations for Whole Foods’ Nickels for Non-Profits campaign. Whole Foods customers in the Reno area are invited to donate the nickel(s) they save by using a reusable bag at the checkout counter to HSAHEC.
Donations will be collected through January 17 and given to HSAHEC.
State job openings at the School of Medicine
Visit the University of Nevada, Reno Web site for a current list of state jobs at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
In This Edition
Medical Education
Final call for Bierkamper abstracts
Students to present at American Federation for Medical Research meeting
Biosciences graduate program retreat a success
Faculty
Stumpf attends executive development seminar
Faculty address medical conferences in Thailand
Kuhls helping plan two trauma-related events
Top Gun Laparoscopic Skills Shoot-Out
School Notes
University Health System hospitalist earns Renown Health award
Health literacy training series continues on December 10
Winter wilderness medicine workshop is February 19-21
Women in Health Sciences events on December 7, 8
Support HSAHEC through Whole Foods donation program
Archive 2009
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Inside Nevada Medicine is a service of the Office of Health Science Communications, University of Nevada School of Medicine and is published monthly. Faculty, staff, residents and students are encouraged to submit items of school-wide interest to Editor Anne McMillin for publication. Deadline is the 20th of the month prior to publication. Copyright 2009 University of Nevada School of Medicine.