med ed
A newsletter for faculty, staff, and students of the University of Minnesota Medical School

No. 395, August 2006

Editor: Kathleen Watson, M.D., drwatson@umn.edu

Editorial Assistant: Allison Campbell Jensen, aac@umn.edu

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In this issue

NEWS: MED 2010 and more

STUDENTS

FACULTY

EVENTS

 

 

NEWS

 

MED 2010 progress report: Portfolio project

 

In medical education, one size does not fit all: one approach does not suit all students. Individualized approaches to learning are key to MED 2010, learner-centered education for patient-centered care, and one tool is the e-portfolio initiative headed by James Nixon, M.D., and Bradley Benson, M.D. Medical students in Nixon's clerkship rotations already develop their own personal learning plans. The plan for an M.D./Ph.D. student returning to seeing patients after a few years in the lab, Nixon notes, would be much different than for a person who had previously been a nurse, because they have different skills and experiences. Benson, who directs Med-Peds residents, says a portfolio, combined with mentoring, will help educate reflective physicians who will continually strive to improve the quality of care they provide. Nixon and Benson expect the e-portfolio to be ready for the entering class in fall 2007.

 

MED 2010 leadership meeting July 18

 

On July 18, about 20 work group leaders from both campuses and affiliates gathered for an early morning meeting that featured small group discussions on the question of how to know when MED 2010 is successful. In answer to the question of what success will look like, the groups' responses and included:

Success will be:

      • When students want to know what they need to know
      • Faculty and students have a common view of what students need to learn
      • Context of learning = context of practice
      • Patient care outcomes can be demonstrated

For more information, a listing of MED 2010 work groups and their leaders, or to submit questions, go online to http://www.med.umn.edu/med2010/home.html. Med 2010, learner-centered education for patient-centered care, was launched because: Students learn differently today than in the past and technology and educational theory continue to advance swiftly. Health care delivery has changed greatly and it continues to evolve. Our medical students deserve the most flexible and up-to-date education possible as they become life-long learners for their medical careers.

 

Association of American Indian Physicians conference

 

The Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH) at the Medical School hosts the Pre-Admissions Workshop at the 35th Annual Meeting & National Health Conference of the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP). The meeting and conference takes place August 3-8 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Riverfront in St. Paul. President of AAIP is Joy Dorscher, M.D., director of CAIMH and an alum. The president-elect, Susan Sloane, M.D., also is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dean Deborah Powell, M.D., will welcome 32 pre-medical students to the two-day Pre-Admissions Workshop, which prepares students for application to medical schools. At the workshop by staff and faculty from the Medical School and outside experts in Native American health and education will cover the following: health disparities in Native American communities, financial aid and scholarships, MCAT preparation, interview presentations, mock interviews, and panels of physicians and medical student students. 

 

New Director of Admissions named

 

Paul T. White, J.D., is our new Director of Admissions for the Medical School. "Paul White is a dynamic and thoughtful leader," says Dean Powell. White has more than 20 years of experience in admissions, most recently at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. As head of admissions, he will be an important member of the MED 2010 team. White arrives later this month; please join me in welcoming him.

 

Update from the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic

 

In response to a high demand for effective and culturally appropriate health care, students at the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic (PNC) are implementing a curriculum to train future health care professionals to provide quality care for the underserved. Last spring, volunteers took part in a Lean Management class to initiate process improvement measures at the PNC. Following their "learn, do, teach" philosophy, these students will train their colleagues this fall in process improvement and cultural resource training via a collaboration with the Powderhorn-Phillips Cultural Wellness Center. The PNC is an interdisciplinary, student-run, nonprofit community clinic and a satellite site of the Community-University Health Care Center. It is dedicated to providing comprehensive, accessible, and culturally appropriate health care to persons who are underinsured and unstably housed in the Phillips neighborhood. To volunteer, please contact Melanie Lo (loxxx054@umn.edu).

 

Top teachers, students celebrated

 

Patrick C.J. Ward, M.D. was named Basic Science Teacher of the Year by the first-year class on the Duluth campus; Kent Froberg, M.D., received the same honor from the second-year class. Also honored at this year's farewell banquet were Clinical Teachers of the Year Jeff Adams, M.D., and, from the community, Geoffrey Witrak, M.D. Several students also received awards from the Minnesota Medical Foundation; for the news story, see http://www.mmf.umn.edu/news/index.cfm; for the full listing of 2006 award winners, go to http://www.mmf.umn.edu/services/index.cfm and click on Honors and Awards.

 

 

STUDENTS

 

New medical students become oriented

 

The Amazing Race, financial aid information, and an overview of curriculum will help orient the entering class of medical students on the Twin Cities campus Aug. 7-9, while the Duluth campus's official new student orientation takes place Aug. 29. In addition, 50 out of 56 new students entering medical school at the Duluth campus this fall already participated in a pre-orientation event in June, which included introductions and opportunities to get to know each other and members of the second-year class.

 

Kudos to Forum Kamdar

 

Third-year student Forum Kamdar recently received the National American Heart Association Student Scholarship in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke. She also received a Moller AHA scholarship and a MMF grant to study techniques for cardiac preservation. Congratulations and best wishes to Kamdar.

 

International clinical research training program

 

The Association of American Medical Colleges is seeking applicants for an international clinical research training fellowship for graduate level health professions students. The program is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Fogarty International Center, in partnership with the Ellison Medical Foundation. The AAMC and the Association of Schools of Public Health manage the program, which is beginning its fourth year. This one-year program provides students with mentored research training at top-ranked, NIH-funded research centers in a diverse group of countries. Applications are due Dec. 8. For more information, go to http://www.aamc.org/overseasfellowship

 

Report from Quito: students' summer projects

 

Kate Graham, Brett Frodl, and James Klaas are second-year medical students who experienced medicine in Ecuador this summer. Klaas writes: "We have each been assigned to a clinic or hospital here in Quito. Brett works in the emergency room at Eugenio Espejo, the largest public hospital that serves the poor of Quito. I work at a centro medico, which is smaller and slightly more costly than a public hospital. I spend each morning assisting a generalist, and in the afternoon I volunteer in the emergency room. We both talk to patients, assist the doctors with procedures, help the nurses, and do whatever else we can or needs to be done. Kate, on the other hand, works in a family medicine clinic located in a poor suburb of Quito. The clinic is subsidized by the salud de publica, or department of health. She examines sick children and assists the one doctor that works there. We work each day, Monday thru Friday. Brett and I sometimes work weekends in our respective emergency rooms, but Kate does not as her clinic is closed. Outside of medicine, the three of us took a trip this last weekend to a town called Banos. While we were there the volcano erupted, and many people had to be evacuated... We were quite the celebrities when we got back as all of our host families wanted to hear about the eruption."

 

Students help Women's Transitional Housing

 

Eight first-year medical students at the Medical School, Duluth campus, took part in the United Way Day of Caring June 27. The students gathered household goods and delivered them to Women's Transitional Housing in Duluth, which houses families moving out of violence.  The work at the house also has been a focus of research by Barbara Elliott, Ph.D. Her research focuses on social justice issues in health care settings and she has investigated how interventions in health system response can increase access to care for those being victimized.

 

Quail again joins medical mission to Guatemala

 

During the summer between his first and second years, medical student Jacob Quail spent part of July in rural Guatemala -- his third medical mission trip there. He worked in a hospital's post-op service. He was part of a group of about 60 health-care professionals from San Antonio, including surgeons, ENTS, anesthesiologists, primary care doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, scrub techs, and nurses.

 

Calling all students: For future issues, we'd love to hear your news about volunteer efforts, research work, or medical experiences in new environments. Send an e-mail to Allison Campbell Jensen, aac@umn.edu.

 

 

FACULTY

 

Theodore Thompson recognized

 

Theodore Thompson, M.D., director of clinical education, recently received the President's Award for Outstanding Service. A colleague wrote that, in his many roles and long career (Thompson joined the faculty in 1969), "Ted has been recognized and valued as a leader that serves tirelessly in his commitment to collaboration and quality." His accomplishments in education, rural health care delivery, and developing the Newborn Intensive Care Unit also were noted. Thompson joins others from the Medical School who have been previously honored with this award: James Boulger, Ph.D.; Neal Gault, M.D.; David Hamilton, Ph.D.; Roby C. Thompson, Jr., M.D.; Gregory Vercellotti, M.D.; Martin Dworkin, Ph.D.; Robert Fisch, M.D.; and Patricia Ferrieri, M.D.

 

Gary Davis: Rural Health Hero

 

Gary Davis, Ph.D., L.P., University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus, was named Rural Health Hero on July 18 at the Minnesota Rural Health Conference held in Duluth. Each year, the Conference honors an outstanding individual or team in the field of rural health. Davis received the award for his leadership in serving rural communities with mental health consults via virtual telemedicine. Accepting the award at the conference, Davis remarked: "To me, the real world heroes are the rural doctors I work with who are out there working without the support that cities offer. This is probably the most gratifying work I've done in my career." Davies is the associate director of the Center for Rural Mental Health Studies at the Medical school.

 

 

EVENTS

 

First Adams lectureship and memorial golf tournament

 

On Aug. 7, the first annual lectureship honoring the late George L. Adams, M.D., will be held 4 to 8 p.m. at the Campus Club in Coffman Memorial Union. Invited guests are Henry Hoffman, M.D., professor of Otolaryngology from the University of Iowa, who will speak on Tracheotomy and Other Tracheal Surgery, and Jonas Johnson, M.D., professor and chair of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh, who will speak on The Changing Paradigm in the Care of Laryngeal Cancer. The event begins with resident presentations at 4 p.m., and dinner at 5 p.m., with guest speakers to follow. Donations for the lectureship are appreciated. Please respond to Joan Petersen at 612-625-2410. The first annual George L. Adams Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Tuesday, August 8, at Oak Glen Golf Course in Stillwater. Golf begins at 1 p.m. and is followed by dinner and a silent auction. To register, call Joan Petersen at 612-625-2410. Checks can be made payable to Minnesota Medical Foundation - George Adams Fund, and sent to the attention of Joan Petersen at MMC 396.

 

Author Tracy Kidder to visit Oct. 10 & 11

 

The Medical School is co-sponsoring a Creative Writing Program event, "Good Societies," featuring Tracy Kidder, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 10, at Cowles Auditorium. Kidder is the author of Mountains Beyond Mountains, about the work of Paul Farmer, M.D., Ph.D., to help poor people in underdeveloped areas be treated for HIV/AIDS and drug-resistant tuberculosis. (For more information on Farmer's work, go to www.pih.org, the Partners in Health Web site.) Watch also for the announcement of Kidder appearing at a medical education event Oct. 11.