Issue #701, May 19, 2009

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: Flu Updates ... President’s Town Hall ... Summer Schedule of Classes ... Tribute to a Pacesetter ... Auxiliary Enterprises Updates ... EOHS Research Seminar Series ... Medical Humanities Banquet ... Internal Medicine Grand Rounds ... HAM-TMC Library Classes ... CCTS Lecture Series ... HSC Standing Committees ... UCSC Updates ... Pathology Diagnostic Laboratory Newsletter ... Withholding Tax Reduction ... Shuttle Service Update ... Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring ... Disparities in Health in America Workshop ... IT SecuritySense ... UTPD News ... Procurement Services HUB Vendor ... Discount Houston Dynamo Tickets ... WorkLife Wellness Tip of the Week ... HOOP Updates

Flu Updates

The UT Emergency Team continues to monitor the H1N1 outbreak with guidance from associated health departments and the CDC. We will keep you informed of updates and changes as we receive them through the UT Flu Center located on the official UT intranet.

Check the site regularly for:

  • Latest updates from the CDC, City of Houston, WHO
  • Latest advisories for the UT community
  • Answers to your questions
  • How our experts in public health, infectious disease and safety are responding for UT and community preparedness
  • Clinical resources: specific updates and information for health workers at our UT clinics
  • Employee resources
  • Audio/video resources for community education
  • Business continuity information
  • Employee health and disease prevention
  • Busted rumors

You can access the UT Flu Center by visiting the campus-wide intranet and following the links. To access the campus-wide intranet, navigate to http://inside.uthouston.edu. To access this resource while off campus or at a remote location, log into the UT Virtual Private Network (VPN). To log into the UT VPN, visit http://govpn.uth.tmc.edu and enter your UT userID and password. Once connected to the UT VPN, navigate to http://inside.uthouston.edu

For employee and clinical information to be posted to this site, contact Karen. K. Kaplan@uth.tmc.edu or Kelly.Neely@uth.tmc.edu.

Send comments, suggestions and questions to news@uth.tmc.edu or call 713-500-3087.

President’s Town Hall

Plan to attend the second of the university-wide meetings in the President’s Town Hall Meeting Series, noon – 1 p.m., Thursday, May 21, in the auditorium of the Institute of Molecular Medicine. Larry R. Kaiser, M.D., 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.

Summer Schedule of Classes

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

  • Open registration is through Friday, May 22. Payment is due May 22.
  • Late registration for GSBS, CLRS, NURS, SHIS and SPH students is Tuesday, 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.

Tribute to a Pacesetter

Faculty, staff and students are invited to join in a celebration of the 25th anniversary of School of Nursing Dean Patricia Starck, “Tribute to a Pacesetter in Nursing Education,” May 28 – 29.

Events honoring Dean Starck’s achievements as an academic leader, her devotion to nursing and her commitment to The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston will include a symposium featuring Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., executive vice chancellor for Health Affairs of The University of Texas System and a luncheon at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel.

The tribute to Dean Starck is hosted by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston President Larry R. Kaiser, M.D.; School of Nursing Advisory Council Chair George R. Farris; and UT Development Board Chairman Emerita Margaret A. Barnett, who is chairing the luncheon. You are invited to attend as many of the events as you are able. For more information and registration, visit Dean Patricia L. Starck 25th Anniversary Symposium and Luncheon.

Auxiliary Enterprises Updates

Summer Membership Special

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Recreation Center is offering the Annual Summer Membership Special of 15 percent off a three-month membership when you join now through May 31. For more information, call 713-500-8420 or visit the Recreation Center.

Summer Swim Lessons

Registration is open for summer swim lessons at the Recreation Center. Afternoon and evening classes are available. Cost is $50 per child per session. Private and semi-private lessons are available as well.

For more information, call 713-500-8420 or visit the Recreation Center .

Summer Sports Camp

Limited spots are still available for the 2009 Summer Sports Camp at the Recreation Center. Camp is open to boys and girls ages 7-12. Campers will engage in various team sports, games and take weekly field trips. Camp dates are June 15-19, June 22-26, July 6-10 and July 13-17. Camp is limited to the first 40 children registered. For more information, call 713-500-8420 or visit the Recreation Center.

EOHS Research Seminar Series

The Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences presents “Immigration and Occupation Health, A Growing Global Health Disparity,” by Marc Schenker, M.D., MPH, professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California at Davis, noon – 1 p.m., Friday, May 22, at the School of Public Health, room 102B.

Immigration is an enormous global phenomenon that will increase in magnitude in the coming years. There is ample evidence that immigrants suffer higher rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries and illnesses. It is time for occupational and public health professionals to seriously address the issue of workplace illness and injury among immigrants. For additional information, contact Michelle.R.Carter@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-9471.

Medical Humanities Banquet – Save the Date

Medical Humanities Certificate Program (MHCP) Advisory Committee members are invited to attend the MHCP Banquet honoring graduating seniors. The banquet, sponsored by The John P McGovern, M.D., Center for Health, Humanities and the Human Spirit, will take place on Tuesday, May 26, at a time and location soon to be determined. Those interested in attending should save the date. For more information contact Jimmie.L.Pope@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-5080.

Internal Medicine Grand Rounds

The University of Texas Medical School at Houston presents the Department of Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, noon – 1 p.m., Tuesdays throughout May, in MSB 2.103. The schedule includes:

  • May 19 – “Cardiorenal Syndrome: New Therapeutic Approaches When Standard Therapy No Longer Works” presented by Amber Podoll, M.D., assistant professor, Renal Division, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Medical School at Houston.
  • May 26 – “Islet Transplantation: The Promise & the Pitfalls” presented by Devin Eckhoff, M.D., professor of surgery, Division of Transplantation Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham.

All lectures are accredited for CME credit unless otherwise noted. For more information, contact Cindy.Collins@uth.tmc.edu.

HAM-TMC Library Classes

The HAM-TMC Library offers these upcoming classes:

  • PubMed – 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., today, May 19
  • PowerPoint 2007 Basic – 2 – 4 p.m., May 29

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 May, in the University Professional Building, 11th floor:

  • May 21 – No lecture
  • May 28 – “Role of Allogeneic Transplantation in Solid Tumors” presented by Naoto Ueno, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, Breast Medical Oncology, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

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.

HSC Standing Committees

Students, faculty and staff members interested in serving on one of the health science center’s standing committees during the 2009 – 2010 year, may place their names into consideration by the Nominating Committee.

The Nominating Committee will meet in mid-June and recommend to Larry R. Kaiser, M.D., individuals to serve on the various Standing Committees. For a full list of standing committees, responsibilities and membership guidelines, visit UTHSC-H Standing Committees.

Each candidate should send a letter and a resume to Robert Jenkins, registrar, at UCT 2250 or email stand-comm@uthouston.edu by May 29.

UCSC Updates

UCSC Newsletter

Learn about upcoming training and development classes and the annual workshop, get access to the recruitment form and more. Check out the summer 2009 UCSC Newsletter, now available online.

Annual UCSC Workshop

The 14th Annual University Classified Staff Workshop presented by the University Classified Staff Council (UCSC) — “You Be in Charge: Health Matters" — will take place 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., June 11, at the IMM Auditorium.

Online registration remains open for the annual UCSC Workshop which is exclusively for university classified staff. You must have your supervisor’s permission to attend. For more information, e-mail Senaida.B.Chapa@uth.tmc.edu or visit UCSC online to register.

UCSC Recruitment

The UCSC is recruiting motivated, hard-working people to join as full members. The 2009 - 2010 Council Positions will fill vacancies in General Administration, HCPC, IMM, Medical School and SHIS. If you would like to be a UCSC representative or nominate someone else, please visit UCSC to complete the form and return to Norma Martinez through interoffice mail (Mail Code: LBJ-30S) or email the completed form to Norma.A.Alonso@uth.tmc.edu by June 12.

Please note that the UCSC bylaws require that each member must be a full-time classified employee who has fulfilled the obligations of his/her probationary employment period.

Pathology Diagnostic Laboratory Newsletter

The medical school’s May Edition A and Edition B of the Pathology Diagnostic Laboratory Newsletter are now available online. Learn more about Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection, and the work of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (MDL). For more information, contact Biju.M.Philip@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-5404.

Withholding Tax Reduction

The “Making Work Pay” tax changes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act were implemented at the health science center in April 2009. Some employees may have noticed a slight increase in their take-home pay due to a reduction in the amount of federal income tax withholding.

Please visit the IRS Web site for information regarding how the implementation of the “Making Work Pay” tax changes could potentially affect you when filing your 2009 Federal Income Tax return.

Please consult your tax advisor with questions specific to your tax situation.

Shuttle Service Update

Summer Schedule

Effective June 1, UT's Shuttle Service will begin running its "Summer Schedule." The Summer Schedule has fewer busses operating, but it is a set schedule. This route will be in effect until mid-August.

To view the new schedule, visit Summer Shuttle Schedule.

Please contact shuttle@uth.tmc.edu with any questions or concerns.

Shuttle Services Twitter

UT Shuttle Services is using Twitter to give quick updates on happenings with our service. This will mostly be used at times when we have delays due to road construction/closures, accidents or breakdowns. To follow UT Shuttle Services, visit UTHSCShuttle. We suggest you setup “SMS Updates” so you can receive messages on your cell phone.

Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring

The Dan L. Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Clinic at the Children’s Learning Institute presents Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring 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

A single session is 2 hours a day, 9 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 3 p.m., Monday – Thursday, and costs $950. The cost for both sessions is $1800. Registration deadline is Monday, May 25 for session 1 and June 22 for session 2. For more information, visit Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring.

7th Annual Disparities in Health in America Workshop

The 7th Annual Health Disparities Summer Workshop is June 20 – 26, at the UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Clark Clinic Building, Hickey Auditorium, R11.1400.

The goal of the workshop is to provide a comprehensive approach to the issue of health disparities and to provide attendees with a broad base of knowledge so that they may address health disparities with a bio-psychosocial approach. This program should be of interest to physicians, nurses, social workers, health educators and other healthcare professionals, as well as active members of the community and community organizations. This conference should be of value to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as pre- and postdoctoral fellows.

For more information, visit Disparities in Health in America or contact cyclark@mdanderson.org.

IT SecuritySense

“Bottom 10! The Worst Passwords of All Time" is the focus of the May 2009 issue of the SecuritySense newsletter, available at SecuritySense online.

UTPD News

News and announcements from The University of Texas Police Department can be found on the Workplace page of the intranet. This section includes safety tips, security reports and crime alerts.

Procurement Services HUB Vendor

Each month, the Procurement Services HUB program will profile a new HUB vendor. This month’s featured HUB vendor is A1 Shredding. For more information, contact Nina.Lahasky@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-4862.

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.

WorkLife Wellness Tip of the Week

Workstation Ergonomics Consultation: How Are You Sitting? Call us and find out! Our wellness coach will come to your office or workstation and assess your ‘work flow’ area, including desk, computer, keyboard, chair and office surroundings. He will provide individualized suggestions based upon your own unique circumstances that can minimize back/shoulder pain, decrease eye strain, and improve concentration and overall productivity. This consultation generally takes about 15 minutes per employee.

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.

HOOP Updates

Several policies in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP) have been revised, combined, and deleted. 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 online.