march 2010
Dean's Comments
A lot is happening in the world of academic medicine in Nevada. We are participants in planning for a new relationship between the School of Medicine and University Medical Center (UMC) of Southern Nevada.
This new relationship is being discussed by a work group chaired by former Chancellor Jim Rogers. It looks at ways of integrating the missions of UMC and the Health Sciences System of the Nevada System of Higher Education. From the school’s perspective, the hope is that we end up with greater opportunities to develop residency and fellowship training in medical and surgical subspecialties.
In that context, it is worth noting that all our Las Vegas-based residency training programs are now in good standing, i.e. accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The last one to get there was our obstetrics-gynecology program in January, and lots of thanks have gone to the graduate medical education leadership at departmental and school levels for this accomplishment.
Our recruitment of new medical students continues with a reassuringly large number of highly-qualified applicants turning to us.
As everyone in Nevada knows, our state is still stuck in a severe recession. The shortfall of expected tax revenue will undoubtedly affect higher education and we prepare to work anticipated further cuts in state support into our School of Medicine budget.
The one area we will maintain and strengthen, regardless of fiscal constraints, is the curriculum for our medical students. Once again, our commitment to our core mission of training physicians for Nevada and the nation will not be compromised. The President of the University of Nevada, Milton Glick and Provost Marc Johnson have endorsed this commitment to protecting our core mission, and I owe them gratitude for their forceful endorsement of this stance.
While we worry about budget cuts affecting higher education, let us not forget that many fellow citizens in all parts of Nevada are suffering much worse than we are due to the economic downturn. For the many Nevadans who have no access to health care services, our Student Outreach Clinic in Reno has been a godsend for many years.
I am delighted to report that, through a collaborative effort with the Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (led by Dr. Florence Jameson), there is now a similar clinic operating in Las Vegas as well. For anyone who practices medicine in this state, the option of being able to refer indigent patients to these clinics is a critically important enrichment of our local clinical resources. To know that these sites also contribute to the skills and the professional maturation of our students makes them into a cherished blessing.
Ole J. Thienhaus, M.D., MBA
Dean,
University of Nevada School of Medicine
Medical Education
Match Day is March 18
Fifty-four members of the Class of 2010 will learn where they will receive their residency training on Thursday, March 18 at 9 a.m. when students in both Reno and Las Vegas learn the results from the National Resident Matching Program. Celebrations will be held in Reno in the Pennington foyer and in Las Vegas in the 2040 building, 6th floor, rooms E and F. Faculty and staff are invited to attend to help wish them the best for the next step in their medical education.
Students to attend AAMC meeting
Tenille Smith, Class of 2012, and Alex Stevens, Class of 2013, both School of Medicine representatives to the Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) of the American Association of Medical Colleges, will attend the National Group on Student Affairs and OSR meeting next month in Austin, Texas.
Woodward named recipient of AMA leadership award
Patrick A. Woodward, Class of 2011, has been named one of 20 nationwide recipients of the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation’s 2010 Leadership Award. This award provides medical students, residents, fellows and early career physicians from around the country with special training to develop their skills as future leaders in organized medicine and community affairs.
Woodward is being honored at the AMA’s annual Excellence in Medicine Awards ceremony on March 1 in Washington D.C. Recipients of the award are recognized for demonstrating outstanding non-clinical leadership skills in advocacy, community service and education.
He recently completed a year as the government relations advocacy fellow with the American Medical Association. A graduate of Georgetown University, he has written legislation on behalf of medical students, health care policy for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and lobbied Congress for issues in science, technology, engineering and math education.
Music, like health care, is also an essential part of his life. He plays violin professionally with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and played with the Reno Chamber Orchestra and the Nevada Opera. He is planning to complete a family medicine residency, and he hopes to focus on the unique connection between health care policy and direct patient care.
Faculty
Maehara named assistant dean of admissions
Ken Maehara, M.D., associate professor of pathology, has been named assistant dean of admissions for his long-standing role as the chair of the medical school’s admissions committee.
Barber presents lectures on wound healing
Annabel Barber, M.D., professor and chief of endocrine and gastrointestinal surgery, participated as a speaker for the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition in a scientific program for health care professionals Feb. 8 through 12 in Las Vegas. Read more
School Notes
Save the dates for senior golf tournament, talent show
Golfers, mark your calendars for the Annual School of Medicine Senior Golf Tournament on May 12 at Lakeridge Golf Course in Reno. The day begins at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start and will include the usual amenities like great food, good company and terrific golfing on a beautiful course.
Sign-up by March 18 for $80 per person to cover 18 holes of golf, cart, use of driving range, prizes, breakfast and lunch. Cost is $90 after March 18 and $30 for first-, second- and third-year medical students. Following tradition, the graduating Class of 2010 plays for free.
Make checks payable to “Board of Regents” and send to Brandi Taylor, Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, Pennington Medical Education Building, M/S 357, Reno, NV 89557 by April 23.
The school’s annual talent show is planned for April 9 at 6 p.m. in the Manville Auditorium. Contact Veronica Janhunen, Class of 2012, to sign up to showcase your creative talent.
School of Medicine offers free radiation cancer screening clinic
The University of Nevada School of Medicine will offer a free cancer screening clinic in Reno on March 20 for individuals exposed to radioactive materials as a result of nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site from 1951-1962.
The cancer screening clinic will be held at University Health System's Family Medicine Center, located on the University of Nevada, Reno campus just north of Mackay Stadium off of North Virginia Street.
To be eligible for screening, individuals must have direct ties to above-ground nuclear testing as a resident of a downwind county or as a test site/uranium mining operation employee. Read more
Residents hear from women who are overcoming ovarian cancer
The University of Nevada School of Medicine is working with the Ovarian Cancer Alliance of Nevada so that obstetrics and gynecology residents training at the medical school can listen to women's firsthand accounts on their experiences with ovarian cancer. Read more
Gerontology conference in Reno this month
The 2010 annual conference of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education will be held March 4 through 7 at the Peppermill Hotel in Reno.
This event is the premier national forum for discussing ideas and issues in gerontology and geriatric education and is open to educators, clinicians, administrators, researchers, students and anyone interested in the aging field. Registration is now open.
Spring issue of Synapse now available online
The spring 2010 issue of the School of Medicine’s Synapse magazine, featuring stories on the grand opening of the Clinical Simulation Center, pediatric genetics, the new pathology chair, surgery research laboratories and the Center for Bone Health, is currently available online.
Hard copies of this issue will be mailed within the first two weeks of March, distributed to clinical spaces and available from Anne McMillin or Edgar Antonio Nunez in the communications 0ffice in Reno and Las Vegas, respectively.
Committee to Aid Abused Women thanks school for donation
The Committee to Aid Abused Women thanks School of Medicine faculty, staff and students who donated a total of $804.81 during the holiday adopt-a-family program to help victims of domestic violence through the holidays.
Advanced obstetrics training class offered in Las Vegas this April
Registration is now open for the University of Nevada School of Medicine’s Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics provider training course in Las Vegas on April 13 and 14. An instructor’s course will follow on April 15.
This two-day certified training program is designed to help prevent and manage emergencies in obstetrical care and delivery and is open to health care practitioners across the state. Read more
Submissions being accepted for The Stethoscope
The School of Medicine's annual journal of literature and art, The Stethoscope, is now accepting submissions for publication this spring. Original and creative work from students, faculty, and friends of both the School of medicine and the Division of Health Sciences are highly encouraged.
This includes (but is not limited to) short stories, poems, essays, drawings, photography, jokes, and quotes, and the subject matter does not need to be medically related - we want to see it all!
Share your artistic talent and add an entry to your resume. Prizes will be awarded for the best entries in each category.
The deadline for submissions is April 9. Submissions and questions may be emailed to Michael Tanner, Jamie Cicani or Alia Moore.
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
Students to attend AAMC meeting
Woodward named recipient of AMA leadership award
Faculty
Maehara named assistant dean of admissions
Barber presents lectures on wound healing
School Notes
Save the dates for senior golf tournament, talent show
School of Medicine offers free radiation cancer screening clinic
Residents hear from women who are overcoming ovarian cancer
Gerontology conference in Reno this month
Spring issue of Synapse now available online
Committee to Aid Abused Women thanks school for donation
Advanced obstetrics training class offered in Las Vegas this April
Submissions being accepted for The Stethoscope
Archive 2010
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 2010 University of Nevada School of Medicine.