News on the Go #640, March 4, 2008

News on the Go is a service of the Office of Institutional Advancement, providing timely news and information to faculty, staff, fellows, residents and students on the go. Deadline: 10 a.m. Thursday before Tuesday publication. Submit all events and deadlines to the Web Calendar. Submit other items for consideration using the News on the Go submission form.

Topics at a glance: The Leader Update ... Daylight Saving Coming ... UTP Weight Clinic ... Texas a Top Biotech Region ... New Life Member for Development Board ... State Capitol Staff Visit ... McGovern Award Lecture ... Printing and Media Services ... HOOP Updates ... Digital Discovery ... Positive Deviance Workshop ... Dress for Success Campaign ... WorkLife Tip of the Week

The Leader Update

Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 9

Don’t forget to turn your clock one hour ahead before you go to sleep Saturday night, March 8. If you forget, you’ll likely be late to at least some of your Sunday activities.

New Weight Management Clinic

UT Physicians has opened a new Weight Management Clinic, UT Professional Building, Suite 600. The clinic is committed to helping patients lose weight gradually and safely to improve health and quality of life. An incentive program is available for employees and students of UT, UT Physicians, and UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The six-month program consists of a medical assessment by a board-certified physician, nutritional counseling with a registered dietician, physical activity counseling with a fitness professional and medical supervision by the physician. The program approach is:

  • Personalized — One-on-one counseling to meet patients' needs
  • Comprehensive — Emphasis on healthy changes in nutrition and physical activity and treatment with medication or surgery referral when appropriate
  • Scientifically-based — Principles and strategies based on best available scientific evidence
  • Supervised by physicians — Board certified physicians supervise all aspects of care.

For information and appointments, call UT Weight Management, 832-325-7699, or visit www.UTweight.com

Texas in Top 5 of Biotech Regions

Texas has been named for the first time as one of the Top 5 regions in the world for biotechnology economic development efforts in the annual rankings compiled by the newsletter FierceBiotech (http://www.fiercebiotech.com/), a Washington D.C. based, electronic monitor that provides daily Biotechnology news and articles to industry subscribers.

The primary reason cited for Texas' rise in the rankings is ratification of the state's $3 billion in funding for cancer research by Texas voters last fall. The bond initiative will allow the Texas legislature to authorize up to $3 billion in bonds over 10 years on behalf of a newly formed Cancer Research and Prevention Institute.

"We believe that this honor is recognition of the progress that has been made over the last 5 years in the growth of a thriving life science industry in Houston," said BioHouston President and CEO Jacqueline Northcut. The Houston region now has over 140 life science companies, double the number that existed here in 2003. The UT Health Science Center is a member of BioHouston.

The articles from FierceBiotech can be found at:

http://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-reports/top-five-regions-targeting-biotech-companies-2008-0 http://www.fiercebiotech.com/special-reports/texas-top-five-regions-targeting-biotech-companies

New Life Member for Development Board

James T. Willerson, M.D., president of the UT Health Science Center at Houston, named Virgil Waggoner a Life Member of the health science center’s Development Board at its February meeting. Waggoner, a long-time friend of the university and of Dr. Willerson, received a Longhorn statue in recognition of his tenure, exemplary leadership and significant individual contributions to the university while serving on the board. A faithful member of the board’s Membership Committee, Waggoner is known for his ability to boost the morale and spirits of everyone around him. He is the ninth Life Member to join the development board in the 35-year history of the institution.

Texas State Capitol Staff Tour

Texas State Capitol staff will visit the UT Health Science Center at Houston campus, Thursday, March 6, for a full day’s worth of activities, including meetings and tours with health science center leadership. The visitors are staff in the offices of the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, as well as various members of the Texas House and Texas Senate.

McGovern Award Lecture

Ray Hill, 2008 award recipient and creator/host/producer of Ray Hill’s The Prison Show broadcast weekly on Houston Pacifica Radio station KPFT, 90.1., will present “When Public Health Issues Escape Prison,” noon-1:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 11, School of Public Health Auditorium. The First John P. McGovern Award Lecture Series for Community Contributions and Activism in Health Promotion lecture is sponsored by the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research. Parking is available in TMC Garage 2. Lunch will be provided for the first 100 attendees. Contact: Peggy Tate, 713-500-9609.

Printing Services Has New Name, Web Site

UT Health Science Center at Houston Printing Services, a division of Auxiliary Enterprises, unveils along with its new name — Printing and Media Services, a new Web site and adds a new marketing representative, Jamie Coons. The Web site is designed to help clients access the department’s complete array of services: printing, mailing, print and web design, quick copy, photography and video production. The site also features a virtual video tour of the facility. To place an order or speak with a customer service representative, call 713-500-4888 or visit http://ae.uth.tmc.edu/ and click on the Printing and Media Services link.

HOOP updates

The Sexual Assault – Students Policy (No.6.14, http://legal.uth.tmc.edu/hoop/06/06_14.html) has been edited for readability and updated with correct phone numbers. Contact: Office of Academic Affairs, 713-500-3062. To report sexual assault, contact UTPD — on-campus dial 911; or call 713-792-2890.

Two new Postdoctoral/Research Fellows policies have been added to the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP). Questions regarding these policies should be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs, 713-500-3062 or to Human Resources.

Digital Discovery 2008

Digital Discovery 2008: Issues in Scholarly Communication, a conference jointly organized by the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center (HAM-TMC) Library, and Fondren Library, Rice University, invites proposals for the conference poster session to be held on Thursday, March 27, at The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston. Submit your poster proposal, including title and a 250 word abstract, via email to: dkolah@rice.edu

Poster session proposals should focus on a scholarly communication issue, such as open access, Web2.0 publishing innovations, integrating data archives into publishing, or institutional repositories. Poster sessions may document a current practice or forecast an innovation in scholarly communications. The deadline for poster session submissions is Monday, March 10. We will notify applicants by Monday, March 17.

The conference speakers include Charles Bailey, publisher of Digital Scholarship and Richard Baraniuk, founder of Connexions, as well as speakers on bibliometrics and the effect of Web2.0 on publishing. Please see the Digital Discovery website for more information on the conference.

Positive Deviance Workshop

“From the Inside Out: Uncovering Solutions to Intractable Problems through Positive Deviance,” 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 5, School of Public Health Auditorium, sponsored by The University of Texas Prevention Research Center, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities, Memorial Hermann Clinical Innovation and Research Institute, The John P. McGovern Lecture Series. With Jerry Sternin (Director, Positive Deviance Initiative) and Curt Lindberg (President, Plexus Institute). Lunch provided for the first 50 attendees.

Dress for Success

Each spring, the Committee on the Status of Women hosts a week-long suit drive, this year, March 31-April 4, in support of Dress for Success, an organization which provides one new or gently worn business suit to deserving women entering the workforce. Contacts: Donna Price, 713-500-3135; Allegra Johnson, 713-500-2042. For more information regarding appropriate donations, visit www.uth.tmc.edu/csw/dress4success.html.

WorkLife Tip of the Week

Vacation on your mind? Whether you are thinking about a spring getaway or trying to organize that summer family reunion, we have the tools and resources you need to plan the perfect trip.

Make sure you register for our webinar “Plan Your Dream Vacation on a Budget” offered at noon and 3:30 p.m. (Central Time), Tuesday, March 18. Going on a dream vacation may seem out of reach, but you can do it — even on a budget. Plan for your dream vacation without breaking the bank. You can register via the WorkLife Web site (password UTH), on the right navigation bar under “Events” section. if you have questions, please call 713-500-3327 or visit http://www.uthouston.edu/worklife/ to see how WorkLife can help you.