No. 399, December 2006
Editor: Kathleen Watson, M.D., drwatson@umn.edu
Editorial Assistant: Allison Campbell Jensen, aac@umn.edu
In this issue:
NEWS: MED 2010 and more
STUDENTS: Research grants -- deadlines approaching
FACULTY
EVENTS
CULINARY INSPIRATION
NEWS
MED 2010 focus of State of the Medical School address, Nov. 9
In her State of the Medical School talk Nov. 9, Dean Deborah Powell, M.D., focused on our MED 2010 medical-education transformation. She analyzed the drivers of change, including concerns about health-care quality, rising medical student debt, and educating for practice and competency. She outlined the direction we are heading, moving away from educating a medical student, a resident or a fellow, and moving toward educating a doctor---a surgeon, an ophthalmologist, or a family medicine physician. She also discussed how we will get there, by defining competencies for our Medical School and deciding how to evaluate them. The dean's PowerPoint presentation is available as a PDF document from the front page of the MED 2010 Web site (www.med.umn.edu/med2010).
Pipeline program director hired: Meet Jo Peterson
"Really bright kids are limiting themselves too quickly," says Jo Peterson, Ph.D., who arrived at the Medical School in November to head the pipeline program to reach high school, community college, and university students from Minnesota's rural communities as well as minority and immigrant communities. She notes that children of immigrants, particularly, want to contribute as soon as possible to their families' well-being. She learned a great deal about students of color in her previous position as a dean at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, where she found her true joy in moving underprivileged young people to think about college earlier. The pipeline program is the brainchild of two medical students, Gareth Forde and Matthew Fitzgerald, with the goal of creating a more diverse health-care workforce in Minnesota. The pipeline program is a collaboration between our Medical School, the Mayo Medical School, and the Minnesota Medical Association. Peterson can be reached at jopete@umn.edu.
Survey says: Highly satisfied with residency help
A survey of our 2006 graduates found that 81 percent felt well prepared and knew what they needed to do to apply for residency. Among the 164 students, 159 students found their chosen specialty department to be helpful or very helpful to them with the residency application process. Other resources that most students found helpful include: faculty and residents in the chosen specialty (97 percent and 94 percent respectively); their advisor (87 percent); the dean's letter interview (90 percent); and the Residency Handbook (86 percent).
STUDENTS
Talk about the future with the Senior VP for Health Sciences, Dec. 4
Students are invited to join Senior Vice President Frank Cerra, M.D., for his "Pursuing the Future with Vision and Drive" presentation, designed specifically for AHC students. An opportunity for discussion follows at the meeting, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Monday, Dec. 4, in 1-450 Moos Tower. See "Events and More" for information about Cerra's visit with Medical School faculty and staff, Dec. 20, 7:30 a.m.
Jan. 10 & 11: Deadlines for Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellowships
Funding for second- or third-year students interested in research is available through two programs from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In the past five years, our Medical School has had five students accepted for these highly competitive programs. The HHMI Research Scholars Program (www.hhmi.org/cloister/rsp) targets research-motivated second- or third-year students who would want to spend a year with an investigator at the National Institutes of Health. The deadline for application is Jan. 10, 2007. The HHMI Research Medical Fellowships (www.hhmi.org/medfellowships/viewbook) also targets research-motivated second- or third-year students who would consider spending a full year with a faculty member at the University of Minnesota, another academic institution in the United States, or possibly abroad. The deadline for application is January 11, 2007. Please contact Charles F. Moldow, M.D., at 626-3287 for help with applications or further information about the programs.
AOA Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowships: Deadline Jan. 15
In past years, our medical students have been awarded Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowships. These national fellowships provide $4,000 to the student and $500 for the mentor's lab. Deadline to submit is Jan. 15, 2007. For information on awards or past awardees, go to the AOA local chapter home page (www.meded.umn.edu/students/aoa/student_awards.shtml); to apply, contact AOA Chapter Councilor James House, M.D., at 651-636-0372 or house001@umn.edu.
IMER Travel Awards deadline Dec. 31
Applications for the Gault, Karolinksa Institute, Jacobson, Seoul National University, Kersey, and Spink Research Travel Awards are available at www.med.umn.edu/imer. For more information, contact Shannon Benson, 612-625-7933.
Rural Pre-Med Summit, Nov. 4
The Medical School-Duluth campus hosted 89 students interested in medicine during the all-day Rural Pre-Med Summit Saturday, Nov. 4. Of those attending, 21 came from the University of Minnesota campuses, 11 from MNSCU colleges, 33 from Minnesota private colleges, and 8 from Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Presentations and breakout groups included: OB/delivery; medical imaging; histology; heart sounds; pathology; MCAT entry exams; writing personal statements; interviewing for medical school; and, applying for financial aid. Paul T. White, J.D., admissions director in the Twin Cities, and Lillian Repesh, Ph.D., associate dean for student affairs and admissions in Duluth, presented information about the two campuses.
Flexible M.D. snapshot: Stephanie Smith
It is not every day that a person gets to conduct qualitative research in Cape Town, South Africa, nor is it very common for that same person to wake up four months later, and travel to work at a public clinic in Quito, Ecuador. Thanks to the Medical School's Flexible M.D. Program, this scenario became a reality for Stephanie Smith, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Minnesota. "The flexible M.D. Program has given me the opportunity to push boundaries and has helped me create my own version of enhancing human well-being," says Smith, who spent nine months overseas. Although much of her trip was devoted to researching human rights and working with patients, Smith had time to travel and even found herself on a safari. "My experiences abroad have helped me extend my imagination across national and cultural boundaries to increase my capacity for empathy, and to bring justice to the bedside," explains Smith, who aspires to a career combining medicine, ethics, and human rights.
November shadowing experiences for Duluth campus students
During November, 53 students from the Medical School-Duluth campus spent three days working with physicians in family practice in rural and small communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The shadowing experiences, during which they follow doctors on their rounds of patients in clinics, hospitals, and emergency rooms, grounds students in experientially based insights and understandings impossible to master solely through classroom study.
Mentoring Connections: On the move
More than 100 medical students and mentors attended the 2006 Connections kick-off breakfast Nov. 3. Greg Filice, M.D., and his mentee Adrienne Schwartz spoke about their great experience in the program. Her mentorship with Filice led to a research project last summer. This year, 119 physicians have been matched with 121 students in both the first- and second-year classes. Since its inception in 1998, this program has matched over 1,070 pairs. The Connections program is a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota Medical School, the University of Minnesota Medical Alumni Society, and the Hennepin and Ramsey Medical Societies. Kudos to all who participate in this worthwhile program.
Alfred F. Michael Medical Student Students Research Colloquium, March 12, 2007
The sixth annual Medical Student Research Day takes place Monday, March 12, 2007. Students enrolled in Medical School are invited to submit an abstract of their work. All abstracts submitted will be displayed in poster form on the afternoon of March 12. It will be the responsibility of the student and his or her faculty mentor to prepare the posters; poster display boards and easels will be provided. The student presenters, faculty and guests are invited to attend a reception in the afternoon, followed by a lecture honoring the student research experience by Robert Darnell, M.D., Ph.D. Darnell studies degenerative brain disorders that are provoked by an immune response to certain cancers. For more information, contact the Medical School Dean's Office at 612-626-3287 or rsrchday@umn.edu.
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
Information on nominating faculty for teaching awards
Information sessions for those involved in compiling nomination dossiers for the Morse-Alumni Undergraduate, Graduate/Professional, and Tate Advising awards are offered by the Office of the Provost. Topics include dossier format, including the use of new templates the provost's office will provide beginning this year, and tips for compiling a strong dossier. Dec. 5, 10-11 a.m., 101 Walter Library (UMTC); Dec. 7, 10-11 a.m., 106 SCC (UMC), 173 Kirby (UMD), and 7 HFA (UMM). RSVP to Robin Matross Helms at 612-626-5598, rmhelms@umn.edu, by Dec. 1.
Minnesota Medical Foundation teaching awards presented Nov. 9
Several members of the Medical School faculty and residents received teaching awards from Dean Powell prior to the State of the Medical School speech Nov. 9. Faculty receiving Distinguished Teaching Awards included Peter Southern, Ph.D. (Year 1); Gregory Vercellotti, M.D. (Year 2); Rocco Ricciardi, M.D. (Year 3); and, Mark R. Bixby, M.D. (Year 4). Residents receiving Distinguished Teaching Awards included Paul S. Vietzen, M.D. (Year 3); Tobias S. Kohler, M.D. (Year 4); and Rafael Santana-Davila, M.D., (Year 4).
Faculty development courses
This spring, two workshops in the "Help! There's a Medical Student in My Office" series will be offered: "Is My Student's Life Off-balance? How to Recognize and Assist a Student in Trouble," on Jan. 18, 2007, and on April 26, 2007, "Practical Feedback and Assessment." In February, a four-part short course on effective, student-centered teaching titled "Educational Skills Program" will be offered. The Best Practices Institute: Teaching in the Health Professions, May 17-18, will feature workshops and presentations on key teaching skills and technology-enhanced teaching by education leaders from the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center schools and colleges, as well as national speakers. In addition to plenary sessions, the two-day program will provide opportunities for skill-building in small groups and sharing of ideas among faculty who teach in the health professions. For more details, click on Faculty/Medical Educator workshops in the bottom right-hand corner on the Medical Education website: http://www.meded.umn.edu/.
EVENTS AND MORE
Senior VP for Health Sciences visits the Medical School, Dec. 20
Medical School faculty and staff are invited to hear Senior Vice President Frank Cerra, M.D., speak on "Pursuing the Future with Vision and Drive." Following the presentation, discussion will be encouraged at the meeting, Dec. 20, 7:30-9:00 a.m., Moos 1-450G and, in Duluth, Room 165 SMed.
Dean's Report available in print and online formats
MED 2010, education in global health, the contribution of imaging to understanding of mental illness, Medical School researchers' contribution to advances in genetics, and continued leadership in transplantation are among the topics in the 2006 Medical School Dean's Report. It's available online as a PDF, from a link on the home page (www.med.umn.edu). In addition, printed copies are available from Allison Campbell Jensen, aac@umn.edu.
CULINARY INSPIRATION
Molasses Cookies Moldow
Makes about 42 two-inch cookies; from the new Joy of Cooking.
This recipe came to JOY from our publisher. These cookies are one of her favorites, and the recipe is from her sister-in-law, Gay Moldow [wife of Charles Moldow, M.D.].
Beat in a large bowl until light and fluffy:
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) margarine or unsalted butter
1 cup sugar or packed brown sugar
Beat in until well blended:
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
1 teaspoon baking soda
The dough will be soft. Refrigerate until firm enough to handle, about 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls, roll in:
Sugar
and place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. Bake 1 sheet at a time, until firm, about 8 minutes. Let stand briefly. Then remove to a rack to cool.