Issue #705, June 16, 2009

Topics at a glance: UT Physicians Open House ... CSW: Summerize Me ... Internal Medicine Grand Rounds ... HAM-TMC Library Classes ... CCTS Lecture Series ... Summer Research Program Seminar Series ... Disparities in Health in America Workshop ... Auxiliary Enterprises Updates ... Healthcare Hurricane Preparedness Workshop ... Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring ... SWCOEH Research Projects ... Research Studies ... New Access for Campus-wide Intranet ... TMC Shuttle Routes ... TMC Parking System Conversion Update ... Traffic alerts ... IT SecuritySense ... UTPD News ... Discount Houston Dynamo Tickets ... WorkLife Wellness Tip of the Week ... Procurement Services HUB Vendor ... HOOP Updates

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., Wednesday, June 17, at 6700 West Loop South, Suite 540. 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.

CSW: Summerize Me

The Committee on the Status of Women, UT Counseling & WorkLife Services and the Office of the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs will present, “UT Women: Jumpstart your Summer Health!” from noon – 1 p.m., Tuesday, June 23, at the School of Public Health, Room 102. This workshop will feature tips, tools and motivation for a healthy summer. The first 50 attendees will receive a free resistance band.

For more information, contact Pannu.Hariyadarshi@uth.tmc.edu, 713 500-6137.

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 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 Updates

New Library Hours

Beginning July 1, the HAM-TMC Library will reduce their operational hours to the following schedule:

• Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m.
• Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sunday, 1 – 8 p.m.

Classes

The HAM-TMC Library offers these upcoming classes:

• Excel 2007 Intermediate – 10 a.m. – noon, June 17
• PowerPoint 2007 Basic – 2 – 4 p.m., June 18
• PubMed – 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., June 23
• NIH Public Access Policy – noon – 1:30 p.m., June 24
• RefWorks – 3 – 5 p.m., June 24

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 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.

Summer Research Program Seminar Series

The University of Texas Medical School at Houston presents the weekly 2009 Summer Research Program Seminar Series, noon - 1:15 p.m., in MSB 2.006. The series is open to all health science center faculty, staff and students, as well as the Texas Medical Center community. The schedule includes:

• June 16 – “The Blood Brain, Blood Spinal Cord, Barriers, & CNS Trauma” presented by Raymond Grill, Ph.D.,  assistant professor, Integrative Biology and Pharmacology, UT Medical School at Houston.  
• June 25 – “Nanotechnology for Medicine” presented by Mauro Ferrari, Ph.D., professor and director, Center for NanoMedicine, the Institute of Molecular Medicine.

For more information, contact Linda.Guardiola@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-5334.

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.

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.

Healthcare Hurricane Preparedness Workshop

Texas Medical Center and the City of Houston Office of Emergency Management are pleased to present the 4th Annual Healthcare Hurricane Preparedness Workshop from 1 – 3:30 p.m., Monday, June 22, in MSB Room 3.001. The workshop will feature several experts presenting the most up-to-date information on hurricane forecasts and new scales for severity levels; flu and hurricane combined considerations; new transportation/evacuation procedures and guidelines; the Catastrophic Medical Operations Center (CMOC); and other timely updates. Parking is available for a $10 fee at Texas Medical Center Garage #4.

To attend this workshop, contact Melina Scarborough, mscarborough@texasmedicalcenter.org, 713-791-8805.

Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring

The Dan L. Duncan Children’s Neurodevelopmental Clinic at the Children’s Learning Institute presents Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring July 6 – 30.
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 two hours a day, 9 – 11 a.m. or 1 – 3 p.m., Monday – Thursday, and costs $950. The cost for both sessions is $1,800. Registration deadline is Tuesday, June 22. For more information, visit Duncan Clinic Summer Tutoring.

SWCOEH Research Projects

Graduate students, other junior investigators in occupational health and safety and established investigators with new interests in osccupational health and safety are invited annually to submit applications for short-term research projects through the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (SWCOEH). Support for these projects is available through a supplemental Research Training award from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to the SWCOEH. The awardees will present their results at the last EOHS Seminar of this academic year, noon – 4 p.m., Friday, June 19, in RAS 102B.

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

Research Studies

Dermatology

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.

Brown Rice

Male and female volunteers, ages 20 – 65 years are needed to take part in a research study looking at the effects of pre-germinated brown rice versus white rice on the effects of characteristics known as Metabolic Syndrome. Subjects must have type 2 diabetes, impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance, and two of the following: high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels and high cholesterol. Must be a non-smoker, have a body mass index above 30 and a baseline waist circumference of 102 cm or more for males and 88 cm or more for females. Must not be on insulin. Subject will be compensated.

To find out if you qualify or for more information, contact Carol.Wolin@uth.tmc.edu, 713-892-5500.

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 user ID 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.

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.

TMC Parking System Conversion Update

TMC is continuing their parking equipment conversion. Over the next several weeks and months, those of you who park in a TMC lot or garage will receive a new access card. Some of you have already received your new card. Your access card will arrive via interoffice mail. Please see the list below for conversion dates. 

Please remember to keep your old parking card during the transition of the entire campus as it will be needed when parking on campus at nights and on weekends.  This has been one of biggest issues the conversion process has faced. 

If your parking area is scheduled for conversion within the next week and you have not received your new parking card, please contact parking@uth.tmc.edu or call the Texas Medical Center at 713-747-7275.

If you have any questions regarding this schedule change or the conversion process, contact Eve Grubb at 713-791-6149.

Traffic alerts

Bertner Avenue

Bertner Avenue will be closed to traffic between Holcombe Boulevard and Moursund Street, in front of The Methodist Hospital Research Institute from 7 p.m., June 26 – 4 p.m., June 28. Access to all hospitals, parking areas and buildings will remain open. All of Bertner Avenue traffic will be detoured to M. D. Anderson Boulevard and Moursund Street. Access to Garage 15 will be accessible from the intersection of Bertner and Moursund Street only. In addition, access to all driveways will remain open. Police officers will help with traffic flow.

E. Cullen Street

Texas-Sterling Construction will close the southbound lane of E. Cullen Street between Ross Sterling Avenue and John Freeman Boulevard until 5:30 p.m., June 22, due to construction in the intersection. During this time, traffic will be open to southbound traffic only.  All northbound traffic on E. Cullen Street will be directed to turn west on John Freeman Boulevard toward Fannin Street.  All accesses and driveways on E. Cullen Street will remain open. The contractor will provide all traffic control during the closure.

For more information, contact Texas Medical Center Security, 713-795-0000.

IT SecuritySense

"FAQ: Demystifying Social Networks" is the focus of the June 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 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

Contemplation to action
For many of us we know we should engage in healthier activities, but we seem to drift in and out of the willingness to do this. We go through different stages from putting it off, thinking about doing it and then finally taking some positive action.

Even if you are at the stage of just thinking about getting fit and healthier, sometimes it can be motivational to go and just gather information. 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.

Procurement Services HUB Vendor

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

HOOP Updates

Several policies in the Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOOP) have been revised and updated. 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.