News on the Go #694, March 31, 2009

Topics at a glance: Summer Schedule of Classes ... Walter M. Kirkendall, M.D., Endowed Lecture Series ... Rec Sports ... Vista: End-of-life Issues Play ... Community on Patrol Meetings ... March of Dimes Fundraisers ... Darwin2009 Houston ... Library Updates ... CCTS Lecture Series ... School of Public Health Events ... James H. Steele, 17th Annual Lecture ... "Strokes Against Stroke" Golf Tournament ... Dress for Success: Super Sort Saturday ... Writing Competition: “Writing Science for the Public” ... METRO Park & Ride: Pasadena Town Square Mall ... Clinical Research Budgeting/ Billing Training ... Annual John P. McGovern Award Lecture Series ... Michael & Susan Dell Lectureship in Child Health ... UT House Medics ... March for Babies ... Health & Safety Conference on Nanotechnology ... Spring Musculoskeletal Orthopaedic Update Course ... Lone Star Stampede & Children’s Fun Run ... 12th Annual Sprint for Life Run/Walk ... Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring ... Discount Houston Dynamo Tickets ... American Reinvestment & Recovery Act ... Dental Services ... WorkLife Wellness Tip of the Week

Summer Schedule of Classes

The Summer 2009 Schedule of Classes is currently available at Registrar’s Office.

• Registration begins April 13 for Dental Hygiene (DHYG), Dental Postgraduates (DBPG), Nursing (NURS), Medical Clinical Research (CLRS), Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), Health Information Sciences (SHIS) and Public Health (SPH) students.
• Open registration is April 18 – May 22. Payment is due May 22.
• Late registration for GSBS, CLRS, NURS, SHIS and SPH students is May 26 – May 29. ($15 late fee).
• Late Registration DBPG is July 1-2, 6-7. ($15 late fee).

For more information, visit the Registrar’s Office.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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., Wednesday, April 1 – Cancer Prevention Building (Rooms 3-4)
• Noon, Thursday, April 2 – Dental Branch (Room 207)
• 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 7 - Proton Therapy Center (PTC 1.1124)

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

March of Dimes Fundraisers

Hot Dog Cookout

The Office of Institutional Advancement is sponsoring a Hot Dog Cookout to benefit the March of Dimes on 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Thursday, April 2, at the Institute of Molecular Medicine. To participate in the Hot Dog Cookout, purchase a $5 meal ticket. Each meal ticket is good for two hot dogs, chips, drink and a cookie.

During the cookout, you can also purchase a “Blue Jeans for Babies” button for $5. You will be given a certificate and button to show your supervisor, which will allow you to wear jeans on April 9, with the approval of your supervisor. Or for any donation amount you can purchase a March of Dimes support card to be displayed at University Center Tower.

For more information on how to purchase tickets, check out the flyers that are posted throughout the UT Health Science Center buildings or contact Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3209.

Bake Sale

Team UT invites you to enjoy delicious desserts at its bake sale during the hot dog cookout! Come out and support the March of Dimes’s March for Babies from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Thursday, April 2, at the Institute of Molecular Medicine. Choose from brownies, cupcakes, cookies and more! All proceeds go to the March for Babies and helps Team UT reach its goal.
For more information, contact Barbie.Ross@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3040.

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:

• 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

• Excel 2007 Basic – 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Thursday, April 2
• Excel 2007 Basic – 10 a.m. – noon, Thursday, April 9
• Excel 2007 Intermediate – 10 a.m. – noon, Wednesday, April 15

All classes are free and offered in the library classroom. Click here to view the complete class schedule and register.

CCTS Lecture Series

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

• April 2 – “Lost in Translation: Highlights from the Decision Making in T1 Translational Research Workshop” presented by Jerrie Refuerzo, M.D., assistant professor, OB/GYN, UT Medical School
• April 9– No Lecture Scheduled
• April 16 – “Therapeutic Potential of Lung Progenitor Cells Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells” presented by Rick Wetsel, Ph.D., professor of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine
• April 23 – “Aseptic Meningoenecphalitis Syndrome in Adults” presented by Rodrigo Hasbun, M.D., MPH, associate professor, Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, UT Medical School
• April 30 – “CCTS Biobank Opportunities” presented by Lorraine Frazier, Ph.D., professor, Nursing Systems, UT School of Nursing

Lunch will be provided for the first 20 attendees. Please take advantage of the train or bus, CCTS will be unable to reimburse parking. For more information, contact Linda.N.Gilbert@uth.tmc.edu.

School of Public Health Events

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

• Building and using a professional network: noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, April 2, SPH 102A
• Business Etiquette: noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, April 16, SPH 102A (Please RSVP to Pantheia.Evans@uth.tmc.edu by Thursday, April 2.)

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

James H. Steele, 17th Annual Lecture

Palmer Beasley, M.D., MS, Ashbel Smith Professor of Epidemiology, The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, will present the James H. Steele D.V.M. Lecture titled "HBV Vaccine is the First Human Cancer Vaccine - Were HEPADNA Viruses the First Zoonosis?” The lecture is scheduled for 4 p.m., Thursday, April 2, in the School of Public Health Auditorium.

"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.

Dress for Success: Super Sort Saturday

Congratulations from the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW)! Thanks to all of you who participated in this year’s Annual Dress for Success Drive for Accessories at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for your efforts and hard work. We donated nearly an SUV full of collected accessory items (purses, scarves, hosiery items, etc.) and raised close to $200 in monetary donations for Dress for Success Houston (DFSH).

Now, Dress for Success is looking for volunteers to help with Super Sort Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saturday, April 4, at 2200 Central Parkway, Houston, TX, 77092.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Dress for Success at amanda@dfshouston.org, 713-957-3779. If you are interested in learning more about Dress for Success, visit Dress for Success Houston.

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.

METRO Park & Ride: Pasadena Town Square Mall

The METRO Park & Ride from Pasadena Town Square Mall begins April 6. This joint venture between Harris County and METRO will extend select trips of the 244 Monroe to Pasadena, operating four trips in the morning and five trips in the afternoon rush hours with stops at the Monroe Park & Ride lot. Visit Ride METRO to obtain a schedule.

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 inappropriate billing of patients and/or third parties. Clinical research investigators, research nurses, coordinators, clinical research administrative and support staff are invited to attend a training class 10 a.m. – noon, April 9.

This training class will cover:

• Budget development
• Utilization of clinical research budget worksheet template
• Identification of all clinical trials costs
• Determination and designation of standard of care costs vs. sponsor-paid costs
• UT research billing account set up
• Billing study/sponsor for UT research professional fees and services
• Identification and documentation of research subject and services to department
• Identification and documentation of research professional fees generated from hospital services
• Process of linking research charges to research study account
• Reconciliation of research charges

All classes will be held at the UT Medical School Building in Room B.620. All participants must pre-register online at Budgeting/Billing Training.

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.

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, Ph.D., 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.

March for Babies

The UT Health Science Center is supporting the March for Babies Sunday, April 26. Team UT has joined with Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital to be a co-sponsor of the walk this year and is pleased to support such an organization that is affecting healthy change for women and their babies.

You can help the March of Dimes fight prematurity by participating in the March for Babies. The March for Babies walk is 9 a.m., April 26, at the University of Houston Robertson Stadium. Team UT walkers will be served a light breakfast and then a barbeque lunch after the walk.

Visit the UT March for Babies site for more information. If you want to participate, contact Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3209.

Health & Safety Conference on Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is permeating all types of industries at every level. It can be found in cosmetics, sunscreens, commercial food freshness products, information technology and medicine, not to mention the applications used in fire, water and scratch resistance. Questions continue to arise: What do we know? What don't we know? How should we measure this or that? What level of protection is adequate?

The Southwest Center for Occupational & Environmental Health, along with the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals and local host AIHA Texas Hill Country Section, presents the Health & Safety Conference on Nanotechnology, Sunday, April 26 - Tuesday, April 28, in Austin, TX. The conference will address a variety of topics that will provide practical, applicable information from governmental agencies and the industry to help professionals determine how to manage the health and safety aspects of this dynamic and growing field.

For more information, visit the UT School of Public Health or contact Vickie.L.Mason@uth.tmc.edu.

Spring Musculoskeletal Orthopaedic Update Course

The University of Texas Medical School at Houston Department of Orthopaedic Surgery presents the Spring Musculoskeletal Update Course for Primary Care Physicians and Allied Healthcare Professionals, May 1 - 2, in the Memorial Hermann Conference Room, located on the ground floor of the Hermann Pavilion Building.

This program will feature faculty from the UT Medical School, renowned for their specialties in orthopaedics, research, rheumatology, peri-operative management, general medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. They will update the healthcare community on the advancements and treatment options available in specialized areas of orthopaedics. A total of 11 continuing medical education credits will be available for the target audience of primary care physicians, rheumatologists, endocrinologists, gynecologists and obstetricians, internal medicine physicians, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses and other allied health professionals at the low cost of $60 for physicians, $30 for nurses, physical therapists and allied health professionals and $0 for students and residents.

For more information or registration, visit UT CME or UT Physicians Orthopedic.

Lone Star Stampede & Children’s Fun Run

The Lone Star Stampede 10K, 5K & Children’s Run, 7:55 a.m., Saturday, May 2, beginning at the School of Nursing at 6901 Bertner, is a fun family event, co-sponsored by the Texas Exes Houston Chapter and the UT Health Science Center at Houston. The run helps provide scholarships for deserving Houston-area high school students attending UT system schools.

For more information or to register, visit Texas Exes – Houston Chapter and click on Lone Star Stampede or contact Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3209.

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.

Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring

The Dan L. Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Clinic at the Children’s Learning Institute presents Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring. The Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring program is June 1 – 25 (session 1) or July 6 – 30 (session 2).

This summer program provides:

• Evidence-based Reading and Math programs for Grades 1-4
• Individualized instructional plans based on assessments
• Low tutor-to-student ratios (1:1 or 1:2)
• Specific feedback provided

A single session is 2 hours a day, 9 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 3 sp.m., Monday – Thursday, and costs $950. The cost for both sessions is $1800. For more information, visit Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring.

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.

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.

WorkLife Wellness Tip of the Week

Stress – it happens to all of us. What is stress? Stress is our body’s internal physiological reaction to perceived threats! With the current state of the economy, we all probably feel more stressed and there might be even more on the way. We know that even a little bit of daily exercise can help to improve the effects of daily stress.

If you don’t think you have time to take care of yourself, you will be surprised with what you can do. 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.