News on the Go #689, February 24, 2009

Topics at a glance: President’s Town Hall ... Rec Sports ... Darwin2009 Houston ... Library Updates ... School of Public Health Events ... Rodeo Tickets ... Healthy Kids, Healthy Houston ... IT SecuritySense ... Pathology Diagnostic Laboratory Newsletter ... Dress for Success ... CCTS K12 Program ... Guiding Light Career Fair ... CCTS Lecture Series ... Fort Bend County Transit ... Brain Awareness Week Public Forum ... Tax Information Workshop ... Community on Patrol Meetings ... Save the Date: CSW Annual Awards Ceremony ... CPR Training/Certification ... UT House Medics ... Stamp Increase ... UT System Wellness Programs & Services ... Dental Services ... Getting Around ... HOOP Updates

President’s Town Hall

Plan to attend the first of the university-wide meetings in the President’s Town Hall Meeting Series, noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, at the auditorium of the UT Medical School (MSB 3.001). Dr. Larry Kaiser will present important issues and address your toughest questions. Beverages and dessert will be served. For more information, contact Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu.

Rec Sports

Softball League

Men's and Co-Rec Softball League now forming! Registration is open until Tuesday, Feb. 24. A captain's meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25 to go over rules and mock schedule. Every team must have one representative present. The cost to participate is $150 for UTHSC-H students, $175 for Recreation Center members and all other UT/TMC-affiliated teams. Games will be played on Monday and Tuesday evenings 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., starting Monday, March 16. For more information, visit Rec Sports.

Basketball Tournament

Men's and Women's 5-on-5 basketball tournament scheduled to begin 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 25. A captain's meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 18. Every team must have one representative attend to receive rules and mock schedule. Cost is $75 for UTHSC-H students and current recreation center members, $100 for all other UT/TMC-affiliated teams. All games are officiated. For more information, visit Rec Sports.

Darwin2009 Houston

Darwin2009 Houston honors the bicentennial anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species, with a year-long celebration of Darwin’s life and contributions to science. The goal of Darwin2009 Houston is to engage a broad audience in recognizing the importance of the science of evolution, supporting science education and recognizing how science affects life.

Darwin2009 Houston runs through Monday, Nov. 30 and includes various events:

• 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 24 – Francisco Ayala, Ph.D., presents “Darwin’s Gift to Science and Religion” at the Houston Museum of Natural Science
• Noon, Thursday, Feb. 26 – David Lipman, M.D., presents “The Flu Virus Believes in Evolution” at the Houston Public Library

For a complete list of events and more details, visit Darwin2009 Houston.

HAM-TMC Library Updates

HAM-TMC Library Classes

• Excel 2007 Basic – 10 a.m. – noon, Thursday, Feb. 26
• PubMed – noon – 1 p.m., Saturday, March 14
• Caring for the Mind: Providing Reference Services for Mental Health Information – 8:30 – 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 18
• PubMed – 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 24
• Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) – 4 – 5 p.m. , Wednesday, March 25

All classes are free and offered in the library classroom. Visit the HAM-TMC Library online to view the complete class schedule and register.

School of Public Health Events

The University of Texas School of Public Health Career and Alumni Services offers the following upcoming events:

• Steps to a successful career in Public Health: noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 26, SPH 102A
• Intern and Career Opportunities: noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, March 5, SPH 102A
• Creating a Resume: noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, March 19, SPH 102A
• Career Fair: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, Texas Southern University/ Health and PE Building

For more information, contact Pantheia.Evans@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-9024.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Tickets

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo(tm) is here. Spice up your chance to attend rodeo-related-only events. The UT Health Science Center employees and students may purchase tickets for:

• World Championship Bar-B-Que Contest – Thursday, Feb. 26 – Saturday, Feb. 28
• Houston Livestock Show – Tuesday, March 3 – Sunday, March 22
• Carnival Packs – Good for rides and games.

This offer for discounted tickets ends Friday, Feb. 27. For more information and ordering instructions, visit Rodeo Tickets.

Healthy Kids, Healthy Houston

Nancy Correa, MPH, Community Engagement Specialist, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS), The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, and director, CAN DO Houston Initiative, will participate in a panel discussion at the 9th Annual Community Collaborations Luncheon and Forum "Healthy Kids, Healthy Houston" 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, at the Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane, Houston, TX 77027.

"Healthy Kids, Healthy Houston" is presented by the Community Collaborations Council, whose mission is to inspire and educate the Greater Houston community about issues that impact the lives of children and families.

Luncheon and forum tickets are $25 and may be purchased at The Junior League of Houston, Inc. Space is limited; advance registration is requested by Friday, Feb. 27. For more information about the luncheon and forum, contact Kathleen Brickley at 713-871-6679, diversity@juniorleaguehouston.org.

IT SecuritySense

“8 Tips to Keep Your Computer Virus-Free" is the focus of the February 2009 issue of the SecuritySense newsletter, available at SecuritySense online.

Pathology Diagnostic Laboratory Newsletter

The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine has an online monthly newsletter. To view the February 2009 edition, visit Pathology Diagnostic Laboratory Newsletter.

Dress for Success

The Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) is sponsoring a Dress for Success Accessory Drive Monday, March 2 – Friday, March 6.

Dress for Success is a non-profit organization that assists low-income women to make tailored transitions into the workforce by providing more than 45,000 interview suits and accessories to women in more than 73 cities each year. Please look through your closets in the next few weeks for accessories that will complete their look. Black handbags, scarves and new neutral hosiery are requested. No other clothing items, please.

For UTHSC representatives, additional information and drop-off locations, visit CSW Dress for Success or contact Llonda.Collins@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-2487.

CCTS K12 Program

The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) is now accepting applications for the K12 training program. Funding is available for fellows, instructors and assistant professors. Applications are due no later than 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 3. The purpose of the program is to support the training and career development of young medical and health professionals conducting clinical or translational research.

Eligible applicants include medical fellows, medical or clinical instructors or assistant professors (with M.D., D.O., D.D.S. or D.S.N.), and health professional instructors or assistant professors (with a Ph.D., D.PH. or PharmD) with a strong interest in clinical or translational research. All applicants must be engaged in or preparing to conduct clinical or translational research and be able to complete the entire funding period at UTHSC-H or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Each applicant's department chair must confirm that the applicant will have up to 75 percent protected time as defined by UTHSC-H and the NIH, if accepted into the K12 program. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

For more information on the K12 program, visit CCTS K12 Program. Potential applicants with questions may contact Jon Tyson, M.D., MPH, at Jon.E.Tyson@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-5651 or Claudette.Ocampo@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-5637.

Guiding Light Career Fair

The UT School of Nursing (SON) Alumni Association is sponsoring "Guiding Light", a career fair for graduating seniors 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 3 in the SON lobby.

The career fair will include:

• Panel discussion
• One-on-one mentoring with alumni
• Networking and career advice

For more information, visit the UT School of Nursing.

CCTS Lecture Series

The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences presents the following lecture series, noon – 1 p.m. throughout March in the University Professional Building, 11th floor. The March schedule includes:

• Thursday, March 5 – “What Can CCTS Biomedical Informatics Do For Investigators?” presented by Elmer Bernstam, MD, MSE, associate professor of Health Information Sciences and Internal Medicine at UT School of Health Information Sciences
• Thursday, March 5 – “Data Mining with IB2B”, presented by Phillip Reeder, manager, System Analyst Services, UT School of Health Information Sciences
• Thursday, March 19 – “Genomic Studies in the Autoimmune Diseases in Scleroderma” presented by Frank Arnett, MD, clinical professor, Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, UT Medical School
• Thursday, March 26 – “What Can the MRI Core Do For You?” presented by Ponnada Narayana, PhD, professor of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging and director of MR Research, UT Medical School

Lunch will be provided for the first 20 attendees. For more information, contact Linda.N.Gilbert@uth.tmc.edu.

Fort Bend County Transit

As of Monday, Feb. 16, Fort Bend County and Texas Medical Center agreed to implement a reduced commuter service schedule for the Fort Bend Express to the Texas Medical Center. To view the new schedule, visit Fort Bend Express to Texas Medical Center. Effective at close of business on Friday, March 6, the commuter service will cease.

Fort Bend County residents can still access park and ride services into the Texas Medical Center by boarding the TREK Express Greenway at either University of Houston Sugar Land or the First Colony Mall AMC Theatre parking lots. Riders can then transfer to Houston Metro’s service at the West Belfort Park and Ride location.

Ticket holders for the Fort Bend Express may seek a refund for unused tickets from the Texas Medical Center through Friday, May 8. No tickets will be refunded after that date. To request a refund, contact the Customer Relations Department of the Texas Medical Center at 713-791-6161.

Brain Awareness Week Public Forum

The Neuroscience Research Center (NRC) invites you to the 14th Annual Brain Awareness Week Public Forum, 10:30 a.m. – noon, Saturday, March 7, in the Medical School Building, Room 3.001.

This year’s forum, “Stroke and Vascular Disease", features a panel discussion moderated by James Grotta, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology. The panel includes Drs. Andrew Barreto, Nicole Gonzales, Dong Kim and Sharon Ostwald.

This is an exceptional opportunity to learn more about this topic in a casual, lively and pleasant setting. Audience questions are welcome and admission is free and open to the public. (Registration, however, is requested.) For more information, visit the Neuroscience Research Center.

Tax Information Workshop

The Office of International Affairs is hosting a Tax Information Workshop, 3 – 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 10, at the School of Public Health Auditorium, Room E-101.

International students and scholars who received any payment for services in the United States during the 2008 calendar year must prepare a US income tax form and submit it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by midnight, Wednesday, April 15, 2009. This is required even if all or part of your US earnings are exempt from tax under a tax treaty with your country. International visitors holding J-1 or F-1 visa status should fill out and submit an IRS Form 8843 even if you received no payment while in the United States.

For more information, visit the Office of International Affairs' Events page.

Community on Patrol Meetings

The UT Police Community on Patrol meetings are scheduled for March and April. The meetings are open to all personnel and include updates on crime trends, crime statistics and community concerns. The topic of workplace violence will be discussed.

Listed below are the March meeting dates, times and locations:

• 1:30 p.m., Monday, March 16 – Pawnee Street Warehouse (WPS 2.1168)
• 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 18 – Fayez S. Sarofim Research Building (IMM 109 - 110)
• 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 24 – TMC Nabisco (TMC 1.2042)

For UTPD news and information, visit UTPD News. For additional information, contact the UT Police Crime Prevention component at 713-563-7794.

Save the Date: CSW Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception

Please join the UT Health Science Center at Houston in honoring the 2009 winners of the Distinguished Professional Woman Award and the President’s Award for Mentoring Women for Faculty, A&P and Classified Staff. This year, the Committee on the Status of Women Awards reception will be held 5 – 7 p.m., Thursday, March 19, at the Institute for Molecular Medicine (IMM). This year's Distinguished Professional Woman Award goes to Cheryl Perry, Ph.D., regional dean of the UT School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus and the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living. Announcement of the other awardees will follow in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit the Committee on the Status of Women.

CPR Training/ Certification

The University of Texas School of Nursing at Houston Alumni Association is sponsoring CPR training and certification for all healthcare professionals and students, 1 – 4 p.m., Fridays, March 20 and April 10, at SON, room 370. Registration costs $50; only cash or checks are accepted for payment. For more information or registration, e-mail alumni@uth.tmc.edu.

UT House Medics Spring Home Repair Program

UT House Medics is looking for volunteers to participate in the Spring Home Repair Program. There's something for volunteers of all ages to do. Don’t like to work with your hands? Not a problem! We need volunteers to visit with the homeowners, help us work safely, coordinate various tasks and teach our young ones how to paint and beautify a garden.

UT House Medics welcomes girl scouts, boy scouts, church groups, volleyball teams and children needing volunteer hours for high school and college. Volunteers are provided with a light breakfast, lunch, a commemorative t-shirt and a heart filled with joy at the end of each work day. The home owners feel very blessed by our generous gift of time.

Work days (volunteers can work one or both days):

• Saturday, April 18
• Saturday, April 25

Each home requires a team leader and 50-60 volunteers. No experience necessary. Potential team leaders should contact Krysti Suarez, Krysti.Suarez@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-2241, or Dennie Clemons, Wanda.D.Clemons@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-2235, to sign up. To submit a sign-up form online, see photos of previous workers in action or get more information, visit UT House Medics.

Stamp Increase

On May 11, the price for a 1-ounce First Class Mail stamp will increase from 42 cents to 44 cents. The prices for Standard Mail, Periodicals Services and Extra Services will also change. The new prices are available at the U.S. Postal Service.

Customers can use their Forever Stamps – regardless of when purchased – to mail 1-ounce letters after the price change, without the need for additional postage. Purchase the Forever Stamp now for 42 cents. On May 11, the price of the Forever Stamp will increase to 44 cents.

NEW! UT System Wellness Programs & Services

All UT Select insured employees should have received a flyer in the mail announcing the new UT System “Living Well” Program that offers new benefits you can access from your computer at home, work or your Web-based mobile device. Some of the new features include:

• Online Personal Health Manager – tools & information to help you lose weight, eat better, get fit, quit smoking or better manage your stress.
• 2nd Annual UT System Physical Activity Challenge Program – encouraging you to exercise 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks.
• 100% free preventive colonoscopy coverage.
• 24/7 Nurseline.

For additional one-on-one assistance, call and make an appointment with Wellness Coach Sam Hester, cWC, CPT, LWMC, at 713-500-3327. It’s confidential and free. Visit UT Counseling and Wellness Services for more information on the wellness services provided.

Dental Services

The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston is currently seeking individuals in need of crowns and bridges to serve as patients for our dental students. All students are closely supervised by fully licensed professors at the Dental Branch. Typical fees are about one-third of the cost normally found in the traditional private practice office.

The only difference is that the procedures performed in an educational setting are not done as swiftly as those in a private dental office. If you are interested in obtaining dental service at a reduced cost, please contact Dental.Crowns@uth.tmc.edu.

Getting Around

The Getting Around section of the intranet provides all the information you’ll need to get around the Texas Medical Center.

• Traffic Alerts – UT Shuttle notices, TMC area road closures, construction notices and METRO notices.
• Commuter Options – Discover transportation options serving your area.
• Submit a Vanpool – Post or view vanpool openings.

For more information about mobility, visit the Mobility Program. For more information about parking and shuttle services, visit the Auxiliary Enterprises Parking/ Shuttle Services.

HOOP Updates

Several policies in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP) have been changed: the Faculty Review policy was revised to indicate the policy only applies to paid faculty. The Probationary Period - Classified Employees policy has been edited for readability.

Please check out HOOP What's New? for specifics on new policy changes or the HOOP 2009 What’s New Archive for all 2009 policy changes. For general HOOP information, visit HOOP.