No. 409, October 2007
Editor: Kathleen Watson, M.D., drwatson@umn.edu
Editorial Assistant: Allison Campbell Jensen, aac@umn.edu
In this issue:
NEWS
STUDENTS
FACULTY
EVENTS and NOTICES
RECOMMENDED READING: from Medical School authors
NEWS
USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge results strong
Scores above average and, in topic areas, results generally above the national mean translate into a strong performance by our Medical School participants in the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge, 2006-2007. In addition, 99 percent of Minnesota students passed the test on the first attempt, compared with 95 percent nationally. Congratulations to our learners and their teachers.
Bixby named interim director for RPAP
In the 1980s, Mark Bixby, M.D., moved to Burnett County, Wis., to complete his Health Service Corps scholarship commitment of three years. He stayed 10. He and an older physician were the only two doctors in the county for a number of years -- and Bixby loved the relationship-based medicine they practiced there. Bixby recently was asked to serve as interim director for the Rural Physician Associate Program by Macaran Baird, M.D., M.S., head of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and a former RPAP student himself. Bixby said yes in part because he wants to offer students that experience of medicine and of the supportive culture of rural and small-town communities. "The students can put their people skills to work and see some rewards," Bixby says. The previous RPAP director was Gwen Halaas, M.D., M.B.A., who stepped down last month. "During Dr. Halaas's tenure, she helped increase student interest, created a Web-based curriculum and reestablished the academic notoriety of the program," says Baird. Bixby adds that the ship of RPAP is running smoothly; he won't mess with the direction, only tinker in the engine room until a new captain comes on board. RPAP is internationally recognized program that has recently cited by the Carnegie Foundation for its innovation and excellence. We extend thanks to Bixby for taking on this important role in a successful program that has been training physicians for rural Minnesota for more than 35 years.
Meet Director of Academic Technology Mark Kondrak
To ensure the delivery of technology-based learning tools grounded in best practices, the Medical School has created a new position, Director of Academic Technology. This position will be filled this month by Mark Kondrak, an information technology professional with 21 years of experience. He will provide strategic and operational direction for the Medical School Academic Technology Services Office, which provides technology solutions that enhance academic work. For the last five years, Kondrak has worked for the College of Liberal Arts and other university initiatives, fostering technological excellence and innovation. From 1995 to 2002, he had many well-known clients while operating his own consulting and development business. Please join me in welcoming Kondrak.
Duluth campus establishes research institute; al'Absi is head
Mustafa al'Absi, Ph.D., has been named the first director of the new Duluth Medical Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Medical School -- Duluth Campus. Announcing the appointment, senior associate dean Davis attributed his selection of al'Absi to his strong biological, behavioral, and clinical research skills and his prominence within the national scientific community. According to Davis, the concept of an institute will help leverage existing and future resources to create collaborative relationships among researchers from multiple biomedical and clinical disciplines at the university and at community health agencies. "We plan to develop groundbreaking programs in biomedical and health research as well as clinical research programs to translate research discoveries," he said.
Team training for emergency care: Medical and nursing students
He chokes; he goes into cardiac arrest; he responds to treatment. For several years, third- and fourth-year medical students have used SimMan, a lifelike computerized manikin, to practice emergency care. This fall, teams of medical and baccalaureate nursing students are doing the exercise together. Mary Ann McNeil, Department of Emergency Medicine administrative director, says the collaboration gives students a uniquely realistic opportunity to fine-tune both medical and communication skills. "To our knowledge this is the only place in the country that's doing multidisciplinary simulation with medical and nursing students," she says. "It's been very successful."
STUDENTS
Three Medical School students receive Judd fellowships for international work
Christy Boraas, Nels Johnson (physical therapy), and Anne O'Connor are three among the 20 master's and professional degree students to receive Judd Fellowships this year from the Office of International Programs. Of her time in Ecuador, Boraas says: "In a world where the gap between the 'haves' and the 'have nots' continues to widen, the health of a population depends on many forces. For the world's poor and disenfranchised -- 70 percent of whom are women -- reproductive health is only one of many unmet needs. This summer in July, I served with women's health physicians to provide basic health care for women in clinical settings as well through community outreach. Comparing and contrasting approaches to sexuality, contraception, and reproductive rights in Ecuador and Minnesota revealed differences but also many commonalities in the ways communities around the globe approach women's health. The experience served to reinforce my commitment to Obstetrics and Gynecology and highlighted the glaring need for dedicated women's health advocates for underserved communities worldwide." For his part, Johnson will complete a physical therapy clinical rotation at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago, American Samoa. Johnson's goals are to investigate the ramifications culture has on clinical practice, take an active role in equalizing the health disparities that occur in world health care, and challenge his ability to communicate medical interventions in a culturally challenging environment. O'Connor will intern with the National Health Service in Great Britain, shadowing various stakeholders in the system including doctors, patients, allied health professionals, medical students, and policy makers. After she returns to Minnesota, she will write a series of newspaper articles about the NHS and what Minnesotans might learn from this system when implementing health care reform in this state. Kudos to Boraas, Johnson, and O'Connor, who will be honored with the other Judd Fellows, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Oct. 10, in the Johnson room in McNamara Center.
Preparing for residency interviews
Opportunities to eavesdrop on a mock interview and to hear directly from residency program directors are available for year-four students 4:00-5:30 p.m., Oct. 2, in PWB 2-470. The panel of program directors includes William T. Browne, M.D., Medicine; John S. Andrews, M.D., Pediatrics; Virginia Lupo, M.D., OB/GYN; and, from Surgery, either Michael Maddaus, M.D., or Selwyn Vickers, M.D. Portraying a medical student during the mock interview will be Smiley's Clinic intern Carrie Link, M.D., who will be interviewed by Browne. The preparation will pay off once Dean's letters are released Nov. 1.
Student Council: Community service, communications, and more
Although hard at work through the summer, Student Council kicked off the school year with a September meeting. Currently, several initiatives are underway. Highlights include: community service projects, Web site services, course evaluations, improved communication, and more. Student Council is here to serve you as medical students, so please send us additional ideas or issues you would like us to address (sayl0039@umn.edu). We were excited to welcome new MS1 members to the Council at our annual retreat, which took place September 28.
Medical students invited to nutrition seminar, live or online
From "Why can't we stop eating" to "Dietary modulation of UDP-Glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) in humans: Effects of genetics," the Food Science and Nutrition Graduate Student Seminar this month covers a variety of topics that may interest medical students. Medical students are invited to attend 3:30-4:30 p.m., Tuesdays, in room 23, Food Science and Nutrition building, St. Paul campus, at the corner of Eckles and Commonwealth Avenues. Or they may connect online during the seminars or view Web casts afterwards. For a complete schedule and more information, go to: http://fscn.cfans.umn.edu/grad_students/fs_grad_students/seminar.html
Research opportunities: departmental contacts added
Medical students seeking research opportunities are encouraged to check out the listings on the Medical Education Web site. New to the page: A list of faculty contacts, by department, who will guide students to faculty members with specific interests.
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
Perkowski serves as president of medical education research society
Linda Perkowski, Ph.D., associate dean for Curriculum and Evaluation for the Medical School, was elected president of the Society of Directors of Research in Medical Education at the society's July 8-11 meeting in Park City, Utah. Perkowski, who has been an active member of the society for over a decade, will serve as president of SDRME for one year. The Society of Directors of Research in Medical Education is composed of directors of units responsible for educational research, evaluation, and program development. The organization promotes research in medical education, collaboration, and professional development and also seeks to influence national medical education research policy. SDRME includes 75 representatives from medical schools in the United States, Canada, and several other countries. Please join me in congratulating Perkowski.
Duluth campus establishes Women's Mentoring Program; Regal is head
Jean Regal, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has been named the first director of the Women's Mentoring Program at the University of Minnesota Medical School -- Duluth Campus. The program has been informally operating in the Medical School Duluth since 2000, when it was initiated by Regal, Barbara Elliott, Ph.D., and Lois Heller, Ph.D. In 2003, the program expanded to include women faculty in the College of Pharmacy. In addition, a collaborative arrangement with women faculty from the College of Science and Engineering at UMD is beginning in 2007. "It's nationally recognized that women are increasingly leaving academic medicine," explains Regal. "The goal of this program is to promote a supportive and positive environment for career development of women faculty and to take one small step to improve the climate for women." Gary Davis, Ph.D., senior associate dean for the Duluth campus says: "I hope that by formalizing the Women's Mentoring Program, the profile will be raised and that the University's and the Medical School's commitment to its women faculty expanded."
Pololi speaks at forum: "Creating Successful Mentoring Relationships," Nov. 2
Peer-mentoring expert Linda Pololi, M.B.B.S, is the keynote speaker at the AHC Faculty Forum, 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m., McNamara Center. Pololi, now resident scholar at Brandeis University Women's Studies Research Center, has held medical school faculty positions at Brown University, East Carolina University, and the Universities of Illinois and Massachusetts. As principal investigator and founding director for a U.S. Public Health Service-funded National Center of Leadership in Academic Medicine, she designed and implemented effective model mentoring programs for faculty to promote their advancement into leadership positions and to enhance gender equity in academic medicine. All faculty are invited; to register or for more information, see http://www.ahc.umn.edu/faculty/mentoring/ .
Medical Educator Development and Scholarship (MEDS)
Three workshops in the "Help! There's a Medical Student in My Office" series and three in the "Best Practices in Medical Teaching" series are provided this year, starting with Constructing Competencies: Why and How on Oct. 2, and Professionalism in Your Classroom and Clinic on Oct. 4. For more information, go to http://www.meded.umn.edu/meds/ . In addition, May 20-21, 2008 (all day Tuesday and Wednesday morning) have been confirmed for the third annual Best Practices Institute in Health Professions Education. These dates differ from tentative dates previously announced, so please check your calendar. Further details will follow. Various online resources for medical educators are available on the MEDS web site, including those listed by subject areas, such as: clinical teaching, evidence-based medicine, effective use of PowerPoint, giving effective feedback, learner portfolios, teaching and learning, and so on.
White Coat Ceremony: Oct. 6 in Duluth, Nov. 17 in Twin Cities
During the White Coat Ceremony, first-year students symbolically don the professionalism and responsibilities of becoming a physician. Families and friends are encouraged to attend the ceremony, which begins for the Duluth class of 58 at 2 p.m., Oct. 6, Weber Music Hall on the Duluth campus. The keynote speaker will be Lynne M. Lillie, M.D., president of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, and an honor drum song will be performed by Chuck Branch (year 2), John Vukelich (year 2), Jean Howell (year 3), Tom Salter (year 3), Erik Brodt, M.D., and Jason Deen, M.D. On the Twin Cities campus, the event takes place Nov. 17 in Northrop Auditorium.
Rural Pre-Med Summit, Oct. 20 on Duluth campus
The University of Minnesota Medical School -- Duluth Campus will host a Rural Pre-Med Summit, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 20. The program is designed to inform and encourage undergraduates between their sophomore and junior years to consider a career in medicine, as well as nontraditional students who plan to enter medical school. School faculty, rural physicians and current first- and second-year medical students will discuss the challenges and rewards of pursuing a career in medicine. Included in the day of activities are breakout groups that offer hands-on experience in birth and delivery, medical imaging, histology, heart sounds, and pathology. In addition, there will be presentations about the MCAT entry exams, writing personal statements, interviewing for medical school, and applying for financial aid. Paul T. White, J.D., assistant dean for admissions in the Twin Cities, and Lillian Repesh, Ph.D., associate dean for student affairs and admissions in Duluth, will present information about the two campuses.
Diabetes: Advancing our Med-Tech Edge, Oct. 29
A forum on current and future knowledge and advances in diabetes care and treatment, jointly hosted by the University and LifeScience Alley, takes place Oct. 29. For a specially reduced fee of $25, students, faculty, and staff can hear our U experts speak on xenotransplantation, stem cells, psychiatric aspects of the disease, ethical considerations and more. Information and online registration for the all-day forum can be found at: http://www.ahc.umn.edu/ocr/events/breakthroughseries/
Nov. 7 Phillips Neighborhood Clinic benefit: The Art of Caring
The Art of Caring benefit to support the Phillips Neighborhood Clinic will include art, hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, and the chance to bid on items at the silent auction. Advance tickets ($20; $10 for students) are available at www.phillips.neighborhoodclinic.com. The benefit takes place 5:30-8:30 p.m., Nov. 7, at Frederick R. Weisman Museum; tickets at the door are $25 or $15 for students. Phillips Neighborhood Clinic is a free clinic operated by more than 100 University of Minnesota students from the fields of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, and public health. The clinic, founded by John Song, M.D., M.P.H., M.A.T., in 2002 is now under the supervision of Brian Sick, M.D., with the operational support of the University of Minnesota Physicians. It has a two-fold mission: to provide diverse citizens of the Twin Cities free access to culturally sensitive, high-quality health care, while providing students the experience and skills to effectively and compassionately work in underserved communities. Currently, the clinic operates Monday evenings from 6-9 p.m., but the students hope to open for a second night each week. Up to 10 patients typically are seen per night, but as the clinic's presence in the community grows, so does the patient load. The clinic's expansion depends on support from health professionals and the community. There are a number of ways to help: Licensed health professionals can volunteer to precept at the clinic one night every two months; make a tax-deductible financial donation; or, attend the 2007 Art of Caring benefit 5:30-8:30p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Weisman Art Museum. Questions? Contact: raja0075@umn.edu .
Symposium on proteomics and nanomedicine, Nov. 12-14
Peter Agre, M.D., a Minnesota native who was a recipient of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, will give the keynote speech at "Frontiers in Proteomics and Nanomedicine," November 12-14, in Mayo Auditorium. This collaborative symposium, with faculty from the University of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, is open to all faculty and students. Please watch for more information regarding this event. Or, for required but free registration, go to www.cmecourses.umn.edu or call 612-626-7600.
New Dean's Report available in print and online formats
The new 2007 Dean's Report features the past and future of cardiovascular research and care at the Medical School, a fresh look at students taking advantage of the Flexible M.D., the promise offered by researchers watching brains at work, and extending the benefits of BMT to new patients. The latest report is 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.
Medical Bulletin available online
Keeping up with University of Minnesota Medical School news just got easier. Now you can sign up to receive the latest Medical Bulletin headlines--with links to all the current stories--via e-mail. It's simple to subscribe at www.mmf.umn.edu/mb/subscribe. You can always view the entire Medical Bulletin, as well as past issues, online at www.mmf.umn.edu/bulletin.
RECOMMENDED READING
Articles by our Medical School authors: Link, read, and submit
Since work-hours rules were established, residents spend more time teaching medical students than in the past, according to an article in the Journal of General Internal Medicine authored by James Nixon, M.D., Bradley Benson, M.D., Tyson Rogers, Brian Sick, M.D., and Wesley Miller, M.D. This is one publication from our Medical School on the MEDS Web site's page related to scholarship in medical education. On the Web site, educators may access guidelines for research and publishing in medical education, as well as Recent Publications by U of M Medical School Faculty and Students. Please help us feature your recent publications by submitting them to MEDS@umn.edu.
