Issue #706, June 23, 2009

Topics at a glance: PeopleSoft 9.0 ... Distinctions Summer 2009 ... CSW: Summerize Me! ... March for Babies Results ... Internal Medicine Grand Rounds ... Free Screenings ... HAM-TMC Library Classes ... CCTS Lecture Series ... Summer Research Program ... Research Studies ... TMC Parking System Conversion Update ... Auxiliary Enterprises Updates ... Traffic alerts ... IT SecuritySense ... UTPD News ... Procurement Services HUB Vendor ... HOOP Updates

PeopleSoft 9.0 Employee Self Service

Employee Self Service will go live on July 1. This will be the first opportunity for employees to view their pay information online. Please note – if you participate in direct deposit, you will receive your last printed pay statements on July 16. After July 16, direct deposit statements for employees will only be available online. The information can be printed whenever it is necessary.

Employee Self Service allows employees with an active UTHSC user ID and password to view and update personal information such as home address, W-4, direct deposit, and more. It is accessible from any computer that has Internet access.

Information about this great new tool will be provided with the July 1 paychecks. Online training will be offered at https://mytrc.uth.tmc.edu/ and an FAQ will be available.

Be watching for more details!

Distinctions Summer 2009 Issue Now Online

The new online-only issue of Distinctions is now available. The Summer 2009 edition includes in-depth coverage of the President's Scholars Awards and news of a recent $1.5M grant from the Cullen Foundation to SHIS. Also included are the regular features Kudos and Media Spotlight. Read more in the Summer 2009 Distinctions.

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., today, June 23, at the School of Public Health, Room 102. This seminar will give participants practical information on how to exercise without having to join a gym and ways to eat better and reduce stress while still enjoying a busy lifestyle. Participants will also find helpful tips to get the most exercise out of the busy day. The first 50 attendees will be provided lunch and a free resistance band.

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

March for Babies Results

The results are in! Thanks to university support from 310 UT Houston students, employees and family members, we raised $31,000 at this April's March for Dimes "March for Babies." President Larry R. Kaiser, M.D., said of the success, "We exceeded both our participation and fundraising goals from last year's walk, which only goes to show the care and commitment of this institution. Many thanks to all of you who took part in this meaningful event to keep babies healthy."

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 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 Vera.S.Jones@uth.tmc.edu.

Free Screenings

UT Physicians is hosting free varicose vein screenings with physician specialists to raise awareness for venous disease, risk factors and available treatment options. If you experience leg discomfort, swelling and varicose veins, schedule a free screening from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25, in the UT Professional Building, 6410 Fannin, Suite 600. Walk-ins are welcome.

To schedule an appointment for a screening, call 832-325-7214.

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:

• 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 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 25 – “Nanotechnology for Medicine” presented by Mauro Ferrari, Ph.D., professor and director, Center for NanoMedicine, the Institute of Molecular Medicine.
• July 2 – “Emerging Infectious Disease – is the U.S. now a developing country?” presented by Herbert L. DuPont, M.D., director, Center for Infectious Disease, UT School of Public Health at Houston.
• July 9 – “Obesity, Diabetes and Heart Failure” presented by Heinrich Taegtmeyer, M.D., D.Phil, professor and co-director, Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, UT Medical School at Houston.
• July 16 – “Stem Cells in Biomedicine: from bench to bed” presented by Yong-Jian Geng, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, Division of Cardiology, Internal Medicine, UT Medical School at Houston.
• July 23 – “Stroke Research” presented by James Grotta, M.D., professor and chair, Department of Neurology, director, Stroke Program Memorial Hermann Hospital.

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

Research Studies

Brown Rice and Metabolic Syndrome

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 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 or 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Holcombe Boulevard

All westbound lanes of Holcombe Boulevard from Bertner Avenue to Fannin Street will be closed through 6 p.m., Sunday, June 28. Holcombe westbound traffic will detour at Bertner, to Pressler, to Fannin and back to Holcombe Boulevard. Access to all buildings and driveways will remain open during the road closure. Police officers will be on duty to direct traffic and help pedestrians.

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.

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.