Issue #703, June 2, 2009

Topics at a glance: New Access for Campus-wide Intranet ... Live Chat Session ... Clinical Trials Audio Conference ... Summer Schedule of Classes ... Auxiliary Enterprises Updates ... EOHS Research Seminar Series ... UT Physicians Open House ... Internal Medicine Grand Rounds ... HAM-TMC Library Classes ... CCTS Lecture Series ... UCSC Updates ... Public Health Research Videoconference ... Secure Flight Program ... Research Studies: Dermatology ... Traffic alerts ... TMC Shuttle Routes ... UTPD News ... Discount Houston Dynamo Tickets ... WorkLife Wellness Tip of the Week ... HOOP Updates

New Access for Campus-wide Intranet

The Administrative Technology and UT Web Communications teams have joined together to bring an easier way to reach the Inside UT Houston campus-wide intranet from off-campus or a remote location. From the university's home page, click on the toolbar link, Inside UT Houston and login to the campus-wide intranet with your UT userID and password. It’s that easy. This site is your source for the latest campus news, events, university-wide forms and applications.

While on campus, you can access wireless internet on your laptop or handheld device by joining the network, UTHSC. Learn how to configure your laptop computer.

For more information, contact Jennifer.Canup@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3296.

Live Chat Session

Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute - Texas Medical Center and UT Medical School at Houston have teamed up to present a live chat at 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 3. The event, titled “Recognizing Symptoms of a Heart Attack” will feature expert Ali Denktas, M.D., Cardiology, Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute-Texas Medical Center, assistant professor, Division of Cardiology - The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Learn more about taking steps to protect your heart–and the hearts of your family members and friends during this free online live chat. Visit Memorial Hermann’s Ask the Expert at the start of the live chat, or now to sign up for a reminder.

Clinical Trials Audio Conference

The Clinical Trials Resource Center will offer a free audio conference from 1 – 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, June 3, in the UT Professional Building, Room 1100.55 for 1.5 Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) credits. Clinical trials expert Mark Barnes will provide proven guidance on effective and accurate budgeting for clinical trials. To register, contact Kimberly.Wilson@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-7911.

Summer Schedule of Classes

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

• Late registration DBPG is July 1-2, 6-7. ($15 late fee).

For more information, visit the Registrar’s Office.

Auxiliary Enterprises Updates

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 “The National Children’s Study: Studying Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors for Child Health,” with Claudia Kozinetz, Ph.D., MPH, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, noon – 1 p.m., Friday, June 5, at the School of Public Health, room 102B. Free lunch will be provided for the first 50 attendees.

The National Children’s Study (NCS) is a longitudinal cohort study designed to examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of 100,000 children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21. The study design of the NCS will be discussed as will the opportunities of adjunct research from epigenetic epidemiology to issues related to the built environment.

For additional information, contact Michelle.R.Carter@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-9471.

UT Physicians Open House

The UT Physicians’ Bellaire location will celebrate its latest addition, the UT Cardiovascular Imaging and Arrhythmia Diagnostic Center, with an open house from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., June 17, at 6700 West Loop South, Suite 540, Bellaire, Texas. The university community is invited to join in for food, gifts, door prizes and great fun! Door prize drawings will take place throughout the event. For more information, call 713-486-5175.

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 June, in MSB 2.103. The schedule includes:

• June 2 – “Venous Thromboembolism” presented by Alan Cohen, M.D., Department of Radiology, UT Medical School at Houston, and Miguel Escobar, M.D., Division of Hematology, UT Medical School at Houston.
• June 9 – “Orthopedics: Management from a Rheumatologist’s Perspective” presented by John Reveille, M.D., Division Chair – Rheumatology Department of Internal Medicine, UT Medical School at Houston.
• June 16 – No Grand Rounds
• June 23 – “Autoimmune Peripheral Neuropathies” presented by Kazim Sheikh, M.D., professor of neurology, UT Medical School at Houston.
• June 30 – “Evidence–based Clinical Practice for Localized Prostate Cancer” presented by Steven Canfield, M.D., assistant professor of surgery, Department of Urology, UT Medical School at Houston.

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:

• Excel 2007 Basic – 9:30 a.m. – noon, Tuesday, June 9
• Excel 2007 Basic – 9:30 a.m. – noon, June 10
• PubMed – 4 – 5 p.m., June 11

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

• June 4 – “Balancing Regulations, Resources and Best Practices for Clinical Investigators: Clinical Trials Resource Center” presented by Madelene Ottosen, RN, assistant director, Clinical Trials Resource Center.
• June 11 – “Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in an Internet Weight Loss Community: A Randomized Control Trial” presented by Kevin Hwang, M.D., MPH, assistant professor, Internal Medicine, UT Medical School at Houston.
• June 18 – “Too Much of a Good Thing: Adaptation and Maladaptation of the Heart in Obesity” presented by Heinrich Taegtmeyer, M.D., Ph.D., professor, Internal Medicine – Cardiology, UT Medical School at Houston.
• June 25 - “Gastrointestinal Shedding of Human Influenza Virus in Hospitalized Children” presented by Susan Wootton, M.D., assistant professor, Pediatrics – Infectious Diseases, UT Medical School at Houston.

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.

UCSC Updates

UCSC Brown Bag Session

The UCSC Staff Development Committee invites you to a Brown Bag Session titled, "Payroll Process Update" from noon – 1 p.m., June 16, at the Medical School Room 3.001. Rhonda Walton, director of Payroll and Benefits for UTHSC-H will be the featured speaker. Ms. Walton will provide a summary of the Payroll Process Update as well as answer questions. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Rodney.J.Ball@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-5435.

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 auditorium of the Sarofim Research Building (IMM).

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.

Public Health Research Videoconference

The 15th Annual Summer Public Health Research Videoconference on Minority Health is 12:30 – 3 p.m., Tuesday, June 9, at the School of Public Health E-101 auditorium.

“Breaking the Cycle: Investigating the Intersection of Educational Inequities and Health Disparities” will broadcast live from the University of North Carolina School of Social Work. Speakers include Reginald Weaver, Lillian Sparks, Dina Castro, Nicholas Freudenberg and moderator Howard Lee. Visit the Minority Health Project to view the live broadcast on your computer.

For more information, contact Nancy.M.Crider@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-9399.

Secure Flight Program

As required by the Transportation Security Administration Secure Flight program, Corporate Travel Planners will begin asking for the following information to update a traveler’s profile: (1) Name as it appears on the state or government issued identification documents such as a driver’s license, passport or other State ID card that will be used at airport security checkpoints (the ID name will match ticket/boarding pass); (2) Date of birth (date, month, year are required); and (3) Redress number if applicable. A redress number is an ID given to an individual by the Department of Homeland Security/TSA if the individual, in error, currently appears on a government watch list and has previously reported and resolved this issue with the TSA.

Secure Flight was developed by the Department of Homeland Security in response to the 9/11 Commission Report pertaining to the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Commission recommended a uniform security watch list program to enhance safety for domestic and international commercial air travel. Under the direction of the TSA, when fully implemented, Secure Flight will require that travelers provide specific information to the airline in advance of flight – this information will be matched against federal security watch and no-fly lists. Travelers are encouraged to read the information and guidance provided on the TSA website.

For more information, contact Maria.E.Hillman@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-4975.

Research Studies: Dermatology

Mild Acne

Male and female volunteers, 9 – 11 years of age are needed to take part in a research study of a topical skin treatment for mild acne. There is no cost involved and evaluations will be made by a dermatologist. Volunteers will be asked to come in for up to seven visits over a 12 week period. Study medication will be provided. There are some risks associated with this study.

Psoriasis

Male and female volunteers, 12 – 17 years of age are needed to take part in a research study of a topical skin treatment for a form of psoriasis. There is no cost involved and volunteers will be compensated for time and travel. Evaluations will be made by a dermatologist through study-related physical exams and lab tests. Risks and benefits will be discussed prior to enrollment in the study and investigational study medicine will be provided. Volunteers will be asked to come in for up to six visits over a nine week period.

Eczema

Male and female volunteers, ages 3 months – 12 years are needed to take part in a research study of a topical skin treatment for a form of eczema. There is no cost involved and volunteers will be compensated for time and travel. Evaluations will be made by a dermatologist through study-related physical exams. Minimal risks are involved in this study and study medication will be provided. Volunteers will be asked to come in for up to four visits over a 42-day period.

To volunteer or for more information, contact Maria.D.Lopez@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-8266.

Traffic alerts

Texas-Sterling Construction will close the northbound lane of E. Cullen Street at the intersection of Ross Sterling Avenue and John Freeman Boulevard through 5:30 p.m., Thursday, June 4, due to construction in the intersection. All northbound traffic on E. Cullen will be directed to turn west towards Fannin Street. Southbound traffic on E. Cullen Street will not be affected. All other access and driveways will remain open. The contractor will provide all traffic control during the closure.

TMC Shuttle Routes

The following changes have been made to the Texas Medical Center shuttle routes:

• 326 TMC Campus Circulator has been discontinued
• 322 TMC Red Shuttle’s afternoon frequency has changed
• 87 Sunnyside/Plaza del Oro/TMC no longer operates along Braeswood, W.C. Harvin or portions of Old Spanish Trail

For complete schedules, call 713-635-4000.

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 crime alerts, safety tips and security reports.

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

Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 70 percent of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer are primarily attributed to lifestyle-related behaviors? And, only about 1 in 20 adults *engage in five of the top 10 health behaviors such as regular exercise, healthful fat intake, five servings of vegetables daily, moderate drinking and not smoking.

Are you having trouble eating all your veggies? Has your ‘getty-up-and-go’ gone? If so, 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.

*Source: Berrigan et al, 2003. Patterns of health behavior in U.S. adults, Prev. Med; 36(5): 615-23.

HOOP Updates

Several policies in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP) have been revised and updated, including the University Governance Policy. 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.