News on the Go #690, March 3, 2009

Topics at a glance: Dress for Success ... Save the Date: Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) Annual Awards ... Writing Competition: “Writing Science for the Public” and Science Writing Lunch Seminar ... Rec Sports ... Darwin2009 Houston ... Judges needed for Science of Engineering Fair of Houston ... Library Updates ... School of Public Health Events ... CCTS K12 Program ... CCTS Lecture Series ... Guiding Light Career Fair ... United to Serve needs volunteers ... Fort Bend County Transit ... Brain Awareness Week Public Forum ... Tax Information Workshop ... Community on Patrol Meetings ... CPR Training/Certification ... UT House Medics ... Stamp increase ... Clinical Nurse Coordinator Newsletter ... Employee Benefits Reminders ... UT System Wellness Programs & Services ... Dental Services ... Getting Around ... HOOP Updates ... FMLA changes ... WorkLife Wellness Tip of the Week

Dress for Success

The Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) is sponsoring a Dress for Success Accessory Drive now through 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.

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

Save the Date: Committee on the Status of Women (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 CSW Awards reception will be held Thursday, March 19, 5-7 p.m. 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. The President’s Award for Mentoring Women for Faculty goes to Robert E. Roberts, Ph.D., professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the School of Public Health. Richard D. Bebermeyer, D.D.S., M.B.A., chair and professor of Restorative Dentistry at the Dental Branch will receive the President’s Award for Mentoring Women in A&P. Lieutenant John K. Wayner, UT Police Department, will receive the President’s Award for Mentoring Women in Classified Staff.

Writing Competition: “Writing Science for the Public” and Science Writing Lunch Seminar

How often have you tried to explain your work to a friend from home, a relative, someone you met at a party or a wealthy uncle with a rich foundation that gives large grants to graduate students? Or, to someone who might be able to fund your research? To publish it? To recommend you for a job? Being able to explain what you do – and why it matters – briefly and in non-specialist language is a vital skill as you move forward in your profession.

GSBS invites all Health Science Center Ph.D. students in GSBS (includes students working in labs at M.D. Anderson and the IBT), School of Heath Information Sciences, School of Nursing, and School of Public Health who were admitted to candidacy no later than January 1, 2009, to enter a writing competition to see who the top science communicators – and future winners of grants, speaking invitations, and philanthropic dollars – are.

How to enter:

• Write a summary of your doctoral research 500 words or fewer in length as if you were a reporter for a newspaper or news magazine. (Please feel free to discuss ideas with others, but the article you submit should be your own work prepared without editorial assistance.)

• Select a category for your entry: Fundamental Basic Research or Clinical and Translational Research
• Send in your submission electronically by April 6, 2009 to Joy.Lademora@uth.tmc.edu and indicate “Writing Science for the Public” in the subject line. Along with your submission, include an abstract of your work written for a scientific publication or grant. Include your name, e-mail address, telephone number, school, date admitted to candidacy and the name of your advisor.

A panel of six judges who are senior science writers will select winners in both categories. Awards include: First prize - $1,000, Second prize - $500, Third prize - $250.

Remember that both public and private support for research depends on people’s understanding of science. You have a key role to play in speaking for your profession and your field.

Science Writing Brown Bag Seminar

If you would like some help with your science writing submission, or with your writing in general, you are invited to attend a “Communicating Science to the Public” workshop at GSBS 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m., Wednesday, March 11 in Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building, Room S3. 8371. Lunch will be provided to the first 50 participants.

Rec Sports

Basketball Tournament

Men's and Women's 5-on-5 basketball tournament is 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:

• Thursday, March 5, 2 p.m. – Rev. George Coyne, Lecture: "A Continuing Exploration of the Fertility of the Universe." Attendance is free.
• Thursday, March 5, 6:30 p.m. – Kevin Schafer, National Geographic Photographer, Lecture: “Visual Advocacy: Photography as a Tool for Conservation.” Tickets for this lecture are available online at the Houston Zoo.

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

Judges needed for Science of Engineering Fair of Houston

Approximately 800 judges are needed for the 50th Annual Science Engineering Fair of Houston. The UT Medical School at Houston Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology would like to have as many judges from the UT Health Science Center at Houston as possible. Judges must be available 8:30 a.m. to noon & 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, March 13, at the Brown Convention Center (Hall E) in downtown Houston. If you would like to join us in assisting some of the brightest and most creative young people from sixteen area counties, please contact Ted.D.Pate@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-4519. For information on the science fair, visit www.sefhouston.org.

Professionals with expertise in animal science, behavioral and social sciences, environmental science, biochemistry and microbiology, chemistry, medicine and health are needed.

HAM-TMC Library Updates

HAM-TMC Library Classes

• 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. Click here 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:

• 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.

CCTS K12 Program deadline is today

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., today. 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.

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.

Guiding Light Career Fair is today

The UT School of Nursing (SON) Alumni Association is sponsoring "Guiding Light", a career fair for graduating seniors 4 p.m., today 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.

United to Serve needs volunteers

United To Serve is a state-wide outreach initiative in which UT System students and employees engage and mobilize thousands of volunteers in the 15 communities that we impact.

On March 14, 2009, the UT Health Science Center at Houston is partnering with the Children’s Museum of Houston for the debut of their new, three-level building addition that will offer seven state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits.

Volunteers receive free parking, a t-shirt and a meal. UT employees, students and their friends and families, ages 14 and up are invited to join.

Volunteer Sign-Up Instructions:

You must include the following information:

• Name
• Group (UT System)
• Shift you wish to work (12 p.m. - 4p.m., or 4 p.m.- 8 p.m.)
• T-shirt size

Visit the Children's Museum of Houston to sign up before March 10. For more information, contact Charles.kennedy@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-5166.

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 Bellfort 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.

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.

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.

Clinical Nurse Coordinator Newsletter

The Winter 2009 Clinical Nurse Coordinator Newsletter is now available. To subscribe, contact Kimberly.Wilson@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-7911.

Employee Benefits reminders

With the springtime rapidly approaching, the Employee Benefits Office offers some helpful reminders regarding your benefits.

There is a 31-day deadline for submitting change of status information during the year. Examples of status changes are the birth of a child, marriage, divorce, loss of employment, etc. You have 31 days from the date of the event to contact the Benefits Office and submit the necessary forms.

You may change your life insurance beneficiary at any time during the year. Review your beneficiary designation to ensure the individual selected is who you want it to be and contains up to date contact information. You can access the forms online in the Insurance Forms section of the Office of Benefits Web site.

You should also review the address on file for you to ensure insurance vendors (such as Blue Cross) have an accurate way to send you important information regarding your coverage. If your health provider has trouble locating your coverage, please confirm that they are using the correct ID. Your ID number is the LAST 8 digits in the sequence. The ID does NOT INCLUDE the letters UTSO.

Questions? Contact benefits@uthouston.edu or 713-500-3935.

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 Handling Legal Processes Policy has been revised to reflect current processes and to incorporate requirements under the Texas Tort Claims Act. For questions regarding this policy, contact Legal Affairs. The Identification Badges Policy has been revised to reflect current procedures and requirements for identification badges. For information regarding this policy, contact Auxiliary Enterprises. The Employee Grievances Policy has been revised to reflect current processes and has been edited for readability. For questions regarding this policy, contact the Human Resources - Employee Relations Department.

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.

FMLA changes

Benefits under the Family and Medical Leave Act changed in January 2009. There are new qualifying circumstances related to military service that employees and supervisors should learn. Information has been posted on the Human Resources Web site and HOOP Policy 2.40C Family and Medical Leave has been revised to reflect the changes. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Norris, 713-500-3141, or Karla Crabtree, 713-500-3135.

WorkLife Wellness Tip of the Week

Did you know that the annual cost of overweight and obesity in the U.S. is estimated at $122.9 billion? This is comparable to the economic costs of cigarette smoking.

But unlike quitting smoking altogether – even a little weight loss can yield tangible health benefits such as:

• Weight loss of five to 10 percent of total body weight can raise HDL cholesterol
• For every two pounds lost, LDL levels are reduced by one percent
• Weight loss of 10 to 15 pounds is likely to slow the development of, and halt the symptoms associated with, knee osteoarthritis

If you're interested in making progress toward your weight goals, call and make an appointment with Wellness Coach Sam Hester, cWC, CPT, LWMC, at 713-500-3327. It's confidential and free. For more information on the wellness services provided, visit UT Counseling and WorkLife Services.