News on the Go #693, March 24, 2009

Topics at a glance: Darwin2009 Houston ... Library Updates ... Community on Patrol Meetings ... CCTS Lecture Series ... March for Babies Team Captain Workshop ... Conversation with Guy Clifton, M.D. ... Clinical Research Budgeting/Billing Training ... Houston Aortic Symposium ... UCSC Scholarship Deadline – Extended ... School of Public Health Events ... Walter M. Kirkendall, M.D., Endowed Lecture Series ... "Strokes Against Stroke" Golf Tournament ... Writing Competition: “Writing Science for the Public” ... Vista: End-of-life Issues Play ... Annual John P. McGovern Award Lecture Series ... Rec Sports ... Michael & Susan Dell Lectureship in Child Health ... UT House Medics ... 12th Annual Sprint for Life Run/Walk ... Stamp Increase ... Free and Open Source Software in Healthcare ... Discount Houston Dynamo Tickets ... American Reinvestment & Recovery Act ... Employee Benefits Reminders ... Dental Services

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, March 24 – Jill Pruetz, Ph.D., National Geographic, Lecture: “Redefining Chimpanzees: How Savanna Chimpanzees Inform Our Understanding of Human Evolution”
• 4 – 5:30 p.m., Thursday, April 2 – Paul Turner, Ph.D., Yale University, Lecture: “The Evolutionary Ecology of Viruses”
• Noon – 1 p.m., Friday, April 17 – John H. Wilson, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine, lecture: Michael Crichton's “Next”: A Book Review and Discussion

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

HAM-TMC Library Updates

HAM-TMC Library Classes

• 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.

Community on Patrol Meetings

The UT Police Community on Patrol (COP) 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:

• 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 24 – TMC Nabisco (TMC 1.2042)
• 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 1 – Cancer Prevention Building (Rooms 3-4)

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

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 26 – “What Can the MRI Core Do For You?” presented by Ponnada Narayana, Ph.D., 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.

March for Babies Team Captain Workshop

March for Babies is the walk that saves babies. As the March of Dimes’ biggest fundraiser, March for Babies supports research and programs to help prevent or treat premature birth, birth defects and other threats to babies’ health. The UT Health Science Center annually helps with this major fundraiser.

Interested team captains, walkers and volunteers are invited to attend a team captains’ meeting at noon, Wednesday, March 25, in the University Center Tower, Conference Room 1505C. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP with Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3209.

INTERESTED WALKERS: The March for Babies starts at 9 a.m., Sunday, April 26, at the University of Houston Robertson Stadium. Get your shoes on and help us walk to save babies.

Conversation with Guy Clifton, M.D.

All are invited to attend “A Conversation on Healthcare Reform with Guy Clifton,” 10 a.m., Thursday, March 26, in Medical School Building Room 2.135. Clifton, a former chair of neurosurgery at the UT Medical School, will discuss his recent book, “Flatlined: Resuscitating American Medicine.” Copies of Clifton’s book are available at the UT Bookstore.

Clinical Research Budgeting/Billing Training

The goals of the Clinical Research Budgeting and Billing Compliance Program are to simplify and clarify the clinical research billing processes, ensure full cost recovery of clinical research studies, and reduce the risks of inappropriately billing patients and/or third parties. The Clinical Research Budgeting/Billing Training course is 10 a.m. – noon, Thursday, March 26, at the UT Professional Building, 11th Floor, Conference Room 1100.11. Attendees must pre-register at Budgeting/Billing Training.

Houston Aortic Symposium

The Houston Aortic Symposium is Thursday, March 26 – Saturday, March 28, at the Westin Oaks Hotel. This symposium is designed for cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, family practice physicians, internists, nurse practitioners, perfusionists, physician assistants, vascular surgeons, and other healthcare professionals involved in the care and treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease.

Hazim J. Safi, M.D., professor, director and chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, UT Medical School, and David D. McPherson, M.D., chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, UT Medical School, will serve as course directors. Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to understand and:

• Identify patho physiologic processes of patients with aortic disease
• Identify the methodologies for accurate and timely assessment of patients with aortic conditions
• Discuss the current state-of-the-art treatment options for aortic conditions ultimately improving outcomes for patients
• Evaluate surgical options of aortic root replacement
• Compare and contrast the treatment of aneurysms involving the ascending arch and thoracoabdominal portions of the aorta
• Understand the guidelines and history regarding aortic disease, dissection and management

For more information or to register for the symposium, visit Houston Aortic Symposium.

UCSC Scholarship Deadline - Extended

Any son or daughter of a classified employee of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston who will be graduating from high school this year should apply for a college scholarship funded by the University Classified Staff Council (UCSC).

Please submit a completed application by Friday, March 27. All UCSC scholarship recipients will be chosen from submitted scholarship applications only. Please see the UCSC Scholarship website for requirements and more information. The scholarship application is available at UCSC Scholarship Program for Children of Classified Employees Application.

Send applications to: Sandra Hernandez, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 7000 Fannin St., UCT 902, Houston, Texas 77030.

School of Public Health Events

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

• Career Fair: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesday, March 31, Texas Southern University/Health and PE Building
• Building and using a professional network: noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, April 2, SPH 102A
• Interviewing Techniques: noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, April 16, SPH 102A

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

Walter M. Kirkendall, M.D., Endowed Lecture Series

Joel Moake, M.D., professor and associate director, J.W. Cox Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering at Rice University, will present the Walter M. Kirkendall, M.D., Endowed Lecture Series "Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Long Journey from Bedside to Bench,” noon, Tuesday, March 31, in the Medical School Building, room 2.103.

For more information, contact Lynn.A.Medeiros@uth.tmc.edu.

"Strokes Against Stroke" Golf Tournament

The Department of Neurology Stroke Program is hosting its first "Strokes Against Stroke" Golf Tournament at Wildcat Golf Club, Friday, April 3. Faculty and staff receive discounted greens fees of $80 per person to play. Registration begins at 11 a.m. and shotgun start is at noon. All proceeds from the day's tournament benefit the UT Stroke Research Program.

Please contact Christy.Ankrom@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-7047 to register.

Writing Competition: “Writing Science for the Public”

How often have you tried to explain your work to a friend, 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.

Vista: End-of-life Issues Play

The John P. McGovern, M.D., Center for Health, Humanities and the Human Spirit presents “Vista,” an end-of-life issues play. Vista will be performed 5 – 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 1, at the Medical School Building, room MSB 3.001. The play will be performed by Artist-in-Residence Megan Cole and UT Medical Students. This end-of-life issues play is an intimate, insightful drama that examines, with humor and warmth, an ordinary family's struggle with end-of-life issues. For more information, please contact Jimmie.L.Pope@uth.tmc.edu.

Annual John P. McGovern Award Lecture Series

The Annual John P. McGovern Award Lecture Series for Community Contributions and Activism in Health Promotion, sponsored by the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 14, in the UT School of Public Health RAS Auditorium.

The 2009 award recipient, Meryl Cohen, M.Ed., LCSW, vice president of Education and Counseling, Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas, will present "Promoting Adolescent Sexual Health". Cohen has devoted herself to improving adolescent sexual health and preventing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. She serves as a member of The University of Texas Prevention Research Center Community Advisory Group. Parking will be available in TMC Garage 2. Lunch will be provided for the first 100 attendees. ITV connection will be available to regional campuses.

For additional information, please contact Peggy.Tate@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-9609.

Rec Sports

Sand Volleyball League

The sand volleyball league is now forming! The four-on-four co-ed league will begin on Wednesday, April 15. Games are played on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6, 6:45 and 7:30p.m. The league will last four weeks and then go into playoffs. Registration deadline for the Sand Volleyball league is April 7. For more information, visit Rec Sports.

Summer Sports Camp

Summer Sports Camp registration opens April 1. The camp is open to boys and girls ages 7-12. Camp hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., with early drop off available. Session dates are: June 15 - 19, June 22 - 26, July 6 - 10, and July 13 - 17. Space is limited to the first 40 campers. For more information, visit Summer Sports Camp.

Michael & Susan Dell Lectureship in Child Health

The third Annual Michael & Susan Dell Lectureship in Child Health is scheduled for 1:30 – 3 p.m., Thursday, April 16, at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center at 1900 University Avenue in Austin. The 2009 recipient, Shiriki Kumanyika, PhD, MPH, professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, will present "Childhood obesity: Which children are at highest risk, and why?" Kumanyika has a unique interdisciplinary background that integrates epidemiology, nutrition, aging, prevention, minority health and women's health issues. This lectureship is sponsored by the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living and The University of Texas School of Public Health Austin Regional Campus. For additional information, contact Tiffni.Menendez@uth.tmc.edu at 512-482-6178.

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 homeowners 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.

12th Annual Sprint for Life Run/Walk

On Saturday, May 9, UT M. D. Anderson's Gynecologic Oncology Department will host the 12th annual Sprint for Life 5K Run and Walk and Sprint for Sprouts Kids' Run, an event dedicated to raising funds for ovarian cancer research and building awareness about the risk factors and symptoms of the disease. This year's event will be hosted on the campus of M. D. Anderson and will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by the Sprint for Sprouts Kids' Run at 9 a.m.

Online registration is available through May 6 with registration prices of:

• $25 for the 5K Non-Competitive Run/Walk (time will not be recorded);
• $28 for the 5K Competitive Run (price includes disposable timing tag); and
• $15 for Sprint for Sprouts, 12 years and younger (time will not be recorded).

For those who cannot attend, you can still show your support by selecting "Sprinting in Spirit" when you register online. A "Spirit" packet which includes a Sprint t-shirt, pin, shoelaces and race number will be mailed to you at a cost of $50. Register online in the "Sprinting in Spirit" category by April 24, to receive your Spirit packet by mail.

Other ways to get involved:

• Build a group with your friends, family and co-workers
• Start a Pledge Page
• Volunteer on race day

For further information, call 713-792-2765 or visit Sprint for Life.

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.

Free and Open Source Software in Healthcare

The Health Quality and Interoperability Laboratory for Training (HealthQuilt) is a community resource funded to pilot a Health Information Exchange (HIE) for the Greater Houston Area. HealthQuilt is sponsoring a conference on Free and Open Source Software in Healthcare beginning 9 a.m., July 31.

The conference will include presentations by:

• WorldVistA (EHR)
• Misys (Interoperability)
• OpenMRS (EHR)
• ClearHealth (EHR)
• OpenClinica (Clinical Research)
• Mirth - WebReach (HL7 router!)
• OpenVistA -Medsphere (EHR)
• Sun Microsystems

For more information about the conference or registration, visit FOSS in healthcare. Visit HealthQuilt for more information on this project.

Discount Houston Dynamo Tickets

As a special offer, all employees, students, staff and friends of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston can now purchase discount tickets to watch the 2009 Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium.

Visit Houston Dynamo Tickets and enter password uthsc. New users will be required to create an account before purchasing tickets. For more information, contact Cedric Mills at cmills@houstondynamo.com.

American Reinvestment & Recovery Act Web Site

As many of you know, there are tremendous extramural funding opportunities arising out of the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA). To assist in relaying time-sensitive grant information, the Office of Research has launched a Web site devoted to ARRA funding announcements and other pertinent information. The Office of Research staff is working closely with the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) to ensure that our research community has up-to-date information at its fingertips.

Please visit the site at American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. Bookmark this site for easy access to RFAs and other announcements, which will be made available as soon as they come online.

For more information or if you have any questions, contact the Office of Research or Johnna.K.Kincaid@uth.tmc.edu.

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.

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 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.