Issue #714, August 18, 2009

Topics at a glance: Holocaust Survivor to Speak ... Online Auction in Progress ... IT SecuritySense ... American Heart Walk ... Fun Fest 2009: Rodeo Carnival ... Committee on the Status of Women Series ... Fall 2009 Schedule of Classes ... Students' Insurance Coverage ... CHAMP Workshop ... Bulletproofing Your Excel Spreadsheet ... Family & Community Medicine Grand Rounds ... Volunteer for Clinical Trials ... AT&T Employee Discount Offer ... Printing Services & Quick Copy ... HOOP: Political Activities at Work ... HAM-TMC Library Classes ... Getting Around ... TMC Parking System Conversion Update ... Procurement Services HUB Vendor

Holocaust Survivor to Speak

Walter Kase, Holocaust survivor, will speak at 6 p.m., Aug. 18, at the HAM-TMC library, 1133 John Freeman Blvd. Kase spends much of his time speaking to high school students, college students, businesses and organizations about the harrowing experiences suffered under Nazi tyranny. During his experiences he endured forced labor camps and five concentration camps. When he was liberated at age 15, he weighed 65 pounds and learned that most of his family had been exterminated. Seating is limited. To RSVP, contact Caroline.Schuster@exch.library.tmc.edu.

This program is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race, available through Aug. 24. The exhibition contains reproductions of historical photographs, films and testimony from Holocaust survivors. It is a self-guided tour that takes approximately 20-30 minutes to see.

For more information, contact 713-799-7169.

Online Auction in Progress

Capital Assets Management continues to auction surplus online through Thursday, Aug. 20. Visit the online auction to bid on items. Click on ‘Online Auctions in Progress’ and use the drop down box to choose The University of Texas- HSC. Special surplus items also are available. The warehouse will be open Wednesday, Aug. 19 for preview of auction items. Auction pickup will be 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 4 p.m., Aug. 25 & 26.

For more information, visit Capital Assets Management.

IT SecuritySense

The August 2009 SecuritySense newsletter is now available at SecuritySense online.

Stories include:

• Be Careful What you Share on Social Networking Sites
• Six Tips for Safer Online Banking
• How to Avoid the Latest Twitter Scams
• How to Keep Yourself and Your Data Safe While Traveling

SecuritySense, an online resource for the university, is created each month by Information Technology to discuss recent IT security issues and focus on user awareness.

Step Up to American Heart Walk

President Larry R. Kaiser asks us to save the date for The American Heart Walk, 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston. Join the American Heart Walk and become a team captain, walker or volunteer.

If you’re interested in becoming a team captain, plan to attend the team captain’s lunch meeting, noon to 1 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19, at University Center Tower (UCT), room 1236. You’ll pick up your team captain packet and learn what is required. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP by 1 p.m., today, Aug.18, to Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3209.

Fun Fest 2009: Rodeo Carnival

Mark your calendar for Fun Fest – the major fall event for the entire health science center community – from 2 – 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23, at Texas Medical Center – Grant Fay Park. The committee members have been working all year to bring you fun and excitement to show the university’s appreciation for all you do.

This year’s rodeo carnival theme will feature music, dancing, free food, giveaways and our popular Chili Cook-Off and Hot Salsa Contest (all faculty, staff, students, individual departments and “interdisciplinary” teams are eligible to compete.) Be sure to dust off your boots and shape your cowboy hat to enter the ‘Western Wear Competition’. Visit Fun Fest 2009 to learn more.

To volunteer for Fun Fest, contact Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3209.

Committee on the Status of Women Success Series

The Committee on the Status of Women at UTHSC-H presents a brown bag series titled, “Career Strategies for Women at UTHSC-H: Success Showcase Series.” Attendees will enjoy candid conversations with some of the most successful women on campus and learn how they negotiated the twists and turns in their career paths. Hear their stories and bring your questions.

The first scheduled speaker is Claire Brunson, director of Management Services, Office of Administration at the UT Medical School. She will share her story that began 30 years ago as a staff assistant in the Department of Pediatrics at UT Medical School. Noon – 1 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25, in MSB 2.104B.

For more information, contact Hariyadars.Pannu@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-6728.

Fall 2009 Schedule of Classes

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

• Open registration is through Aug. 28. Payment is due Aug. 28.
• Open registration for DBPG is through Aug. 21. Payment is due Aug. 28.
• Late registration for GSBS, CLRS, NURS, SHIS and SPH students is Aug. 31 – Sept. 4. ($15 late fee.)
• Late registration for DBPG is Aug. 24 – 28. ($15 late fee.)

For more information, visit the Registrar’s Office.

Students' Insurance Coverage

Students who would like to waive their university health insurance coverage because they already are covered under another policy must submit their request by the following deadlines:

• 1st and 2nd year medical students – Sept. 1 ($1,100 fee)
• Dental students and dental hygiene students – Sept. 1 ($1,100 /$392 fee)
• Dental postgrads – Sept. 10 ( $401 fee)
• MDA students – Sept. 10 ($398 fee)
• Academic students – Sept. 16 ($395 fee)

Please review your bill closely on UTLINK. To make changes, fill out your Student Health Insurance Confirmation form. Do not complete this form if you are purchasing United Health Insurance as assessed on your student fee bill.

For more information, contact student-insurance@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-8400.

CHAMP Workshop – Geriatric Medicine

The Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Program will be offering a free two-day workshop, 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m., Sept. 10 in MSB B.605, continued from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Sept. 11 in MSB 3.001. The workshop, titled, “Care of the Hospitalized Aging Medical Patient” (CHAMP) was designed by the University of Chicago to teach non-geriatric faculty how to incorporate geriatric teaching at the bedside with students, residents and other learners in the hospital setting. Earn free CME credit.

Topics will include: Delirium, Depression and Dementia; Medications and the Elderly Patient; Goals of Care; Falls; End-of-Life Issues; Symptoms and Pain Management, and others.

To register, contact Rhonda.Bailes@uth.tmc.edu with your name, hospital affiliation, work address, phone and fax numbers, email address and clinical specialty.

Bulletproofing Your Excel Spreadsheet

The Office of Research/Clinical Trials Resource Center will presen a webinar titled, “Spreadsheet Validation: Tools and Techniques to Meet FDA Requirements,” from 10 – 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25, in MSB B605. David Harrison, a principal consultant with ABB Engineering Services, will conduct a crash course in bulletproofing your Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Discover best practices and options for validating spreadsheets and learn exactly what the FDA looks for and why, including examples of noncompliance and regulatory concerns.

Pre-registration is required to attend as space is limited. Contact Kimberly.Wilson@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-7911 to request registration.

Family & Community Medicine Grand Rounds

The UT Medical School presents the Family & Community Medicine Grand Rounds, 1 – 2 p.m., Wednesdays throughout August, in MSB 2.135. The schedule includes:

• Aug. 19 – “Biliary Tract Disease,” presented by John Potts, M.D., professor, director, Department of Surgery, UT Medical School at Houston.

For more information, contact Carolyn.Love@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-7604.

Volunteer for Clinical Trials

Most of the medical breakthroughs and advancements that we enjoy today began as clinical studies with volunteer subjects. Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research.

As someone affiliated with the university, you can play an additional important role by taking part in a clinical trial. Search through the research trials currently accepting subjects and help make a difference.

For more information, contact the Office of Research Support Committees, 713-500-7943.

AT&T Employee Discount Offer

AT&T is now offering all UT Health Science Center employees a 20 percent discount off wireless monthly rates for existing or new customers. Unfortunately, students are not eligible unless employed by the university in some capacity. The Foundation Account Number (FAN) is 02551866.

For more information, visit the AT&T personalized UTHSC-H Web site or contact your AT&T sales representative, Erica Benedict, eb7082@att.com.

Printing Services & Quick Copy

The final date for submitting printing service requests to UT Printing Services for fiscal year 2009 funds will be Aug. 20. The final date for submitting quick copy requests for 2009 funds will be Aug. 24.

For more information, contact Printing & Media Services, 713-500-4888.

HOOP: Political Activities at Work

It is important for faculty and staff to remember that, as a state employee, you may not use state time or property, such as computers or the email system, for political purposes. All employees have the right to participate in political activities, but because the university receives state support, we must be very clear that those individual rights don't spill over into the workplace.

In general, employees may participate in political activities, but not during work time nor by using state resources. Telephone calls and emails may not be used to campaign for or support a campaign for political purposes. The rights, responsibilities and the duties of health science center employees regarding political activities are spelled out in HOOP 2.57, Political Activities.

For general HOOP information, visit HOOP online. For more information, contact the Office of Institutional Compliance at 713-500-3294.

HAM-TMC Library Classes

The HAM-TMC Library offers these upcoming classes:

• PubMed – 3 – 4 p.m., Aug. 20
• Finding Electronic Resources – 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Aug. 21
• PowerPoint 2007 Basic – 2 – 4 p.m., Aug. 28

All classes are free and offered in the library classroom. View the complete class schedule and register.

Getting Around

The Getting Around section of the intranet provides all the information you’ll need to get around the Texas Medical Center.

• Traffic Alerts – UT Shuttle notices, TMC area road closures, construction notices and METRO notices.
• Commuter Options – Discover transportation options serving your area.
• Submit a Vanpool – Post or view vanpool openings.

For more information about parking and shuttle services, visit the Auxiliary Enterprises Parking/ Shuttle Services.

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 the 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 or the conversion process, contact Eve Grubb at 713-791-6149.

Procurement Services HUB Vendor

Each month, the Procurement Services HUB program will profile a new Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program vendor. This month’s featured HUB vendor is Scimetrics. For more information, contact Nina.Lahasky@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-4862.