No. 402, March 2007
Editor: Kathleen Watson, M.D., drwatson@umn.edu
Editorial Assistant: Allison Campbell Jensen, aac@umn.edu
In this issue:
NEWS: Research colloquium March 12
STUDENTS
FACULTY
EVENTS: Support the U at the Capitol March 28, MMF awards
LITERARY INSPIRATION
NEWS
MED 2010: Activities and focus on competencies
On February 12, Duluth campus medical students, faculty, and staff packed a lecture hall to hear Kathleen Watson, M.D., and Linda Perkowski, Ph.D., lead a discussion about the evolution of MED 2010 and its impact on the Duluth campus.
At a MED 2010 retreat on e-portfolios Feb. 20, James Nixon, M.D., highlighted a few pertinent facts about the tool and its theoretical basis. Portfolios and outcomes-based education, he noted, are: 1) Neither solely for assessment nor solely for documentation of competency; 2) Methods of education; and 3) Are used to demonstrate learning, not to chronicle experiences. He also noted that continued professional development is based in outcomes not merely hours.
In addition, work continues as MED 2010 groups strive to define the competencies, the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of physicians and physicians in training. These are to be defined on three levels for: students entering medical school, those moving from pre-clinical to clinical learning experiences, and those receiving the M.D. degree.
Alfred F. Michael Medical Student Research Colloquium, March 12, 2007
Everyone in the Medical School is invited to the sixth annual Medical Student Research Day, Monday, March 12, 2007, in Mayo Auditorium. Student research abstracts will be displayed in poster form, 2:30-4:30 p.m. The student presenters, faculty, and guests are invited to attend a reception starting at 3:30 p.m., followed by a 4:30 p.m. 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.
GME process improvement presented
The Medical School's Graduate Medical Education office presents its "Formal Process Improvement for the Program Accreditation Cycle" at the 2007 educational conference sponsored by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education March 1-4. Lisa Wichman, Lori Payne, and Louis Ling, M.D., created a poster highlighting enhancements to current process and procedure in improving outcomes of accreditation cycles for our more than 60 ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship programs. The GME process, among other things, clarifies roles, reduces steps, and can be used for continuous review and improvement.
Course directors celebrated Feb. 9
Dean Deborah E. Powell, M.D., welcomed course directors to a celebration of their contributions to medical student education at a Campus Club breakfast on Feb. 9. Apples of knowledge, in polished brass, were given to all these educators attending to acknowledge their dedication. "They feel a responsibility to bring their experience and wisdom to students," says Kathleen Watson, M.D., associate dean for students and student learning, who also hosted the celebration. In addition, two course directors who are stepping down received special recognition: Elizabeth Braunlin, M.D., Ph.D., pediatrics, and Brad Benson, M.D., med-peds. Kudos to all for their hard work and well-deserved recognition.
Seeing red: Women's heart health highlighted
On Feb. 2, Minnesota's First Lady Mary Pawlenty joined the U of M's First Lady Susan Hagstrom and Dean Powell in speaking to hundreds of faculty, students, and staff for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women heart health rally. On the Duluth campus, the campaign was sponsored by Women in Medicine and the American Medical Student Association. "'Wear Red Day' is a chance for us to arm ourselves with knowledge about this devastating disease and to raise funds that will help the AHA advance its research and education efforts," said Mitzy Retzlaff, second-year medical student and president of the campus medical student organization.
Doctors on Call ends 25th season
The live Doctors on Call television program produced for the Duluth public by the Department of Family Medicine ended its 25th season February 22. The half-hour program appears weekly on Duluth's public television station from October till February; medical students screen the incoming calls. Each show receives at least 30 to 40 calls, some of which start coming in before the show airs. Each program is hosted by Ray Christensen, M.D., or Ruth Westra, D.O.
STUDENTS
Year-two students: Scheduling and Transition Day
Second-year students going into clinical clerkships, rotations, and courses will be able to access the scheduling system starting March 1-2, and then again March 5-9. Transition Day this year takes place April 2. It's required for year-two students before they enter the clinical arena.
New: Gold Humanism Honor Society retreat, March 14
For the first time, the Medical School's chapter of the
Gold Humanism Honor Society hosts an all-day retreat March 14. Renowned
educator Thomas Stillman, M.D., will be the keynote speaker. All fourth-year
students are invited to the retreat, which is titled "After the Match:
Transitioning to Residency as a Humanistic Physician." The retreat takes
place off campus and 24 committed faculty and resident facilitators will join
the retreat for small group exercises.
Match Day, March 15
Those bright futures of our next class of U of M physicians will become a bit clearer on March 15, Match Day. Students, their families, teachers, and Medical School leaders will gather about 10:30 a.m. in McNamara Center. The ceremonial opening of envelopes begins at 11 a.m. Good luck to all!
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
Deadline for Commencement regalia rentals: March 30
Planning to take part in the procession during our Medical School commencement May 4? You'll need the right robe -- and if you need to rent that academic regalia, the U of M Bookstores can help. Go to: www.bookstores.umn.edu/grad/facultyrental.html . All faculty rental orders for spring commencements must be placed with the bookstores by March 30, 2007.
Best Practices Institute: Excellence in the Health Professions, May 17-18, 2007
Educators who teach in the health professions may now register for this free two-day program. It will provide opportunities for skill-building in more than 20 small group workshops and also will feature plenary sessions, lunch-hour panel discussions with deans from the six AHC schools and colleges, a student panel, and a show-and-tell poster and technology session combined with a social hour. The institute will have four main education themes:
1. Teaching and Learning Strategies
2. Evaluation and Assessment
3. The Learning and Technology Platform
4. Community-based Learning
Visit www.BPinstitute.umn.edu to view a detailed schedule and to register.
Effective communication with American Indian patients
Research on establishing effective communication between American Indian patients and health-care providers was carried out and recently shared by Joy Dorscher, M.D., and Barbara Elliott, Ph.D. The abstract follows: "Disparities in health and health outcomes for American Indian patients are well documented. The burden from chronic and infectious disease has resulted in unimaginable morbidity and mortality. METHODOLOGY: The authors interviewed American Indian elders from two reservations and two urban communities to gain an understanding of the role of communication and miscommunication in these disparities. With the approval of tribal council(s), talking circles of elders were convened between July 2003 and March 2004. A total of 34 participants were questioned about communication, sickness, terminal illness, end of life issues and future issues in medicine. The responses were recorded and transcribed and subjected to analysis. RESULTS: The elders defined 'patient-centered care' for themselves. It includes (1) physicians are expected to be involved in the community; (2) their relationship with their physician is a person to person relationship; (3) this person to person relationship involves active participation on the part of both persons; and, (4) the family is important in participatory medical decision making." This research project was funded by the Minnesota Medical Foundation and the President Multicultural Faculty Award.
Support the U at the Capitol, March 28
On Support the U Day, March 28, advocate for the U's requests at the State Capitol, including proposals to improve the Medical School's ability to retain and recruit the best faculty, to establish the Minnesota Biomedical Sciences Research Facilities Authority (go to http://www1.umn.edu/groots/background/index.php and click on the PDF for more info), and to promote the U's goals to become a top three public research university. Students especially are encouraged to participate by joining a rally and, if they choose, by meeting with their legislators. Buses will run from the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses; go to www.supporttheU.umn.edu to register for the event. If you need help presenting the U's case, go to http://www1.umn.edu/groots/pdf/LegislativeAgenda07.pdf. The day begins with a noon rally in the Capitol Rotunda, followed by lunch in the Capitol's Great Hall and, for those who have made appointments, meetings with legislators. Need more information? Contact Emily Johnston, Grassroots coordinator, at john5091@umn.edu or 612-625-8739.
Minnesota Medical Foundation awards event April 19
Mark your calendars for an April 19 ceremony and reception honoring outstanding Medical School faculty and students, the 2006--2007 recipients of Minnesota Medical Foundation awards recognizing achievements in teaching, research, leadership, community service, and academics. The MMF event begins at 5:30 p.m., April 19, in Mayo Auditorium. For more information, contact Sue Clark at 612-626-0619 or s.clark@mmf.umn.edu.
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.
LITERARY INSPIRATION
By William Shakespeare
Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind
Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;
Thy tooth is not so keen,
Because thou art not seen,
Although thy breath be rude.
Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly:
Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly:
Then, heigh-ho, the holly! This life is most jolly.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky,
That does not bite so nigh As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp As friend remembered not.
Heigh-ho! Sing . . .