Issue #721, October 6, 2009

Topics at a glance: Fun Fest’s ‘Most Wanted’ ... TMC Parking Validation Ticket Refunds ... SECC Kickoff Events ... New Library Fees ... Seasonal Flu Shots for Students ... Seasonal Flu Shots for Employees ... Distinguished Research Ethics Lecture ... Public Health Grand Rounds ... Upcoming University Community Events ... H1N1 Informative Session at SON ... IT Training Classes ... Peer Review Keynote Address ... Student Exchange ... UTDB Social Media ... Family & Community Medicine Grand Rounds ... CCTS Lecture Series ... Darwin 2009 Houston ... CPR Training ... METRO Shuttle Update ... HAM-TMC Library Classes ... Traffic Alerts

Fun Fest’s ‘Most Wanted’

You are WANTED at this year’s annual Fun Fest event!. This celebration for health science center faculty, staff and students will be held from 2 – 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23 at Grant Fay Park (adjacent to both the School of Nursing and School of Public Health) and will feature a country carnival theme. Be sure to enter the western wear competition and get ready for games, the salsa contest, the chili cook-off and tons of prizes.

See Fun Fest’s Most Wanted and try to figure out which health science center faculty, staff and students are featured on this year’s posters. Who knows, it may be you! The answers will be revealed at the event.

For more information or to volunteer for Fun Fest, contact Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3209.

TMC Parking Validation Ticket Refunds

For those UT Departments who currently validate or previously validated parking at TMC garages or lots, TMC will be collecting old, “parking ticket” style TMC parking validations. TMC will collect your validations and will mail UT a refund check. The funds will be disbursed to appropriate departments by general accounting once the check is received. Now that TMC has upgraded its system and currently uses the plastic tokens/coins, ticket validations no longer work. Your department must remit your validations or TMC will not issue you a refund.

Bring the validations you would like to turn in to one of the locations below:

• SON Lobby – 9 – 11 a.m., Oct. 8
• UCT Lobby – 9 – 11 a.m., Oct. 22
• DB Room 139 – 9 – 11 a.m., Nov. 5

For more information, contact John Hargraves, JHargraves@texasmedicalcenter.org or parking@uth.tmc.edu.

SECC Kickoff Events

The State Employee Charitable Campaign (SECC) kick-off will take place throughout October. Along with food and fun, these events will provide the opportunity to learn more about the charities in the SECC.

• HCPC - ice cream social for employees and contract staff only - 2 – 4 p.m., Oct. 6
• MSB Leather Lounge – cookies and door prizes – 1 – 2 p.m., Oct. 8
• DB Room B81 – cake and punch – noon – 1 p.m., Oct. 8
• SON Lobby – door prizes, cake, punch and popcorn at the SON & SPH joint kickoff – 2 – 3:30 p.m., Oct. 12
• IMM Atrium – door prizes and light refreshments at the IMM & UCT joint kickoff – 1 – 2:30 p.m., Oct. 8

New Library Fees

The HAM-TMC Library has made changes to its fee schedule. Cardholder and non-cardholder fees for photocopies, searches, room rentals, scanning and faxing are available on the workplace tab on the university’s intranet.

For more information, contact the HAM-TMC Library, 713-795-4200.

Seasonal Flu Shots for Students

This is a reminder to all students that you are encouraged to get the seasonal influenza vaccine to protect yourself and your patients. Flu shots will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you currently interact with patients, you are in a priority group for receiving the vaccine and are strongly encouraged to do so. UT Student Health Services will administer the seasonal flu vaccine according to the following schedule:

• 9 - 11 a.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
• 2 - 4 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
• 2 - 4 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays

The cost of the vaccine will be covered by your insurance and student fees. No appointment is necessary. UT Student Health Services is located in The UT Professional Building, Suite 510.

For more information, contact UT Student Health Services, 713-500-5171.

Seasonal Flu Shots for Employees

UT Employee Health will administer the seasonal flu shot for a $25 fee (cash or check only) according to the following schedule:

• Dental Branch B25 – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Oct. 15
• MSB B.645 – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Oct. 20
• SON Lobby – 1 – 3 p.m., Oct. 20
• SPH 10th floor lobby – 9 – 11 a.m., Oct. 22
• OCB Rio Grande Room 2.200 – 9 – 11 a.m., Oct. 27

This vaccine will not protect against H1N1. For more information, contact Cindy.A.Crosson@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-3254.

Distinguished Research Ethics Lecture

The Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects will host its 5th series of Distinguished Research Ethics Lectures from noon – 1 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 7, in MSB 2.006. Laura R. Brosch, R.N., Ph.D. Col., U.S. Army Nurse Corps (Ret.) director, Office of Research Protections, U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Command, Ft. Detrick, Maryland, will present, "Successful Civilian Partnerships in Military Medical Research: Key Ethical/Regulatory Considerations." This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Paula.L.Knudson@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-6708.

Public Health Grand Rounds

The school of public health will present a live interactive Web cast event from 10 – 11 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13, in SPH E-527. Raouf R. Arafat, M.D., MPH, assistant director, The City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS), will present, “H1N1: The public health response in Houston.” To register as a training site for this activity or view the live Web cast at your individual computer, visit Texas Association of Local Health Officials.

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

Upcoming University Community Events

• The 17th Annual Scholarship Golf Classic
  Attention golfers! Learn more about the 17th Annual Scholarship Golf Classic – held this year at 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 19, at Palmers Golf Course in The Woodlands. This year's celebrity chair is country singer, Clay Walker.
• The American Heart Walk
  Save the date for the American Heart Walk, 8:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston.

For more information about university community events, contact Rose.M.Betancourt-Trevino@uth.tmc.edu , 713-500-3209.

H1N1 Informative Session at SON

The March of Dimes will present, “H1N1 Informative Session,” a free seminar from 9 – 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, at the School of Nursing Lummis Room 330. Learn more about implementing CDC recommendations, special considerations/ treatment for pregnant women, infants and children, risk reduction and prevention strategies. Michele Curtis, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor, UT Medical School at Houston/Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital; and Anna C. Dragsbaek, J.D., M.P.H., executive director, the Immunization Partnership of Houston, will present.

Space is limited. RSVP to jlundgren@marchofdimes.com.

IT Training Classes

IT Training will offer classes for new MS Office 2007 users in University Center Tower (UCT) 1160:

• What’s New in Office 2007 – 2 – 4 p.m., Oct. 22
• MS Word 2007 for the Non-Experienced User – 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Oct. 28
• What’s New in Office 2007 – 9 – 11 a.m., Nov. 20

To enroll, visit the Training Resource Center (TRC) and login using your UID login and password. Classes are open to UTHSC-H employees as well as contract employees with approval from and prior arrangement by their department.

For more information, contact Jacqueline.Plaza@uth.tmc.edu, 713-486-4830.

Peer Review Keynote Address

Antonio Scarpa from the Centers for Scientific Review at the National Institutes of Health will deliver the keynote address, "Challenges and Opportunities Facing Peer Review: A vision for ensuring its strategic national value" at 3:50 p.m., today, Oct. 6, in the Sarofim Research Building of The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases. All faculty/researchers, students and postdoctoral fellows from the health science center are invited to attend. Visit The Office of Research Affairs to register.

For more information, contact Kimberly.J.Campbell@uth.tmc.edu, 713-500-5605.

Student Exchange - A Semester in Brazil

Any University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston student with an interest in global health pertaining to Brazil in particular is invited to spend a semester (4 - 5 months) abroad in Brazil. The U.S.-Brazil Higher Education Consortia Program Fellowship will send students to Sao Paulo, Recife or both. To participate, you must be a UTHSC-H student in good academic standing, registered during the semester of travel and have permission from your current academic advisor. Students will receive a stipend for travel and language instruction. The chosen students will be exposed to student life in another country and broaden their horizons in global health issues and the role informatics can play in possible solutions.

To participate, email your CV, current courses and statement of interest to M.Sriram.Iyengar@uth.tmc.edu.

UTDB Social Media

The dental branch now can be found on popular social media Web sites:

• Become a UTDB Facebook fan
• Follow UTDB on Twitter
• Watch UTDB on YouTube
• Listen to UTDB on iTunesU

Become a Facebook fan of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and find other schools and hospitals under ‘Favorite Pages’ on the left side of the page.

Family & Community Medicine Grand Rounds

The UT Medical School presents the Family & Community Medicine Grand Rounds, 1 – 2 p.m., Wednesdays throughout October, in MSB 2.135. This month’s theme is neurology and includes:

• Oct. 7 – “Cutaneous Manifestations of Internal Disease,” presented by Stephen Tyring, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., clinical professor, Department of Dermatology, UT Medical School at Houston.
• Oct. 14 – “After Revascularization: Which test is needed and when,” presented by Grant Fowler, M.D., professor and vice chair, Department of Family Medicine, UT Medical School at Houston.
• Oct. 21 – “Rash-Differential Diagnosis and Treatment,” presented by Ron Rapini, M.D., professor and chair, Department of Dermatology, UT Medical School at Houston.

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

CCTS Lecture Series

The Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences presents the following lecture series, noon – 1 p.m., Thursdays throughout October, in the University Professional Building, 11th floor:

• Oct. 15 – “Essential Elements of the Clinical Research Protocol,” presented by Ruby Benjamin-Garner, Ph.D., protocol coordinator, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, Clinical Research Unit.

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.

Darwin 2009 Houston

Darwin 2009 Houston will present, “Surviving: The Great Debate,” from 6 – 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Health Museum (1515 Hermann Drive.) This event will feature a panel discussion on the evidence for evolution and the debate centering the theory. This event is free for museum members and $5 for nonmember. Visit the Health Museum to register.

View Darwin 2009 Houston for more information.

CPR Training

The School of Nursing Alumni Association will present CPR training for beginners and Recertification CPR and AED training for adult, child and infant, along with the Heimlich Maneuver (choking). Upcoming classes will take place in SON Room 370 from 1 – 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16, and Friday, Nov. 13. A $50 registration fee is required, payable by cash or check only.

To register or for more information, contact alumni@uth.tmc.edu.

METRO Shuttle Update

Beginning Monday, Oct. 12, the METRO Red Shuttle servicing TMC’s Smith Lands parking lot will increase the number of buses available during peak afternoon hours by running buses every 15 minutes from 3 – 6 p.m. This increase in service is due to feedback regarding long waits and shortage of space on the buses during this time. METRO Rail service is also available to Smith Lands parkers.

If you have questions or concerns, contact TMC’s Customer Service Help Line, 713-791-6161.

HAM-TMC Library Classes

The HAM-TMC Library offers these upcoming classes:

• Finding Electronic Resources - 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Oct. 7
• Excel 2007 – Intermediate – 2 – 4 p.m., Oct. 14
• PowerPoint 2007 – Basic – 10 a.m. – noon, Oct. 15

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

Traffic Alerts

Highway 288 Southbound MacGregor Exit Ramp

The Highway 288 southbound MacGregor exit ramp will be closed for exit widening through 11 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15. Please use the Southmore and Blodgett exit ramp and travel on the Highway 288 southbound frontage road to North MacGregor. The TxDOT Contractor will install detour signs. Highway 288 northbound exit to MacGregor will remain open.