| Alumni Newsletter | June 2007 |
Dean’s Newsletter – June 2007
William H. Riker University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching: Robert A. Bambara, PhD
A major mission at SMD is graduate education. While we have 400 medical students, we have 560 graduate students, of whom 440 are doctoral candidates in 14 different PhD programs. Indeed, graduate students are the heart and soul of our research--they do much of the technical work in our laboratories and clinical research settings; and more important, they are at the core of the intellectual exchange of ideas that generates novel science.
While we often celebrate the scientific achievements of our faculty, we don't celebrate their achievements as mentors to graduate students often enough. It is, therefore, truly wonderful to share with you our excitement for Bob Bambara, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, who was honored at the University's May 19 Commencement Exercises with the William H. Riker University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching. This is the first Riker award to go to a faculty member at the medical school. Read More.
Additional June installments of the Dean’s Newsletter provide information on Commencement 2007 including details on faculty and student speakers and a copy of the commencement keynote address.
Dean David S. Guzick, MD, PhD writes a newsletter to share his thoughts and insights about the School of Medicine and Dentistry. To read previous issues please click here. If you wish to receive an email copy of the newsletter as it is issued, please contact Kelly Nuccitelli in SMD Alumni Relations.
SMD Alumni Council
In this issue of Rochester Pulse we would like to introduce the Alumni Council of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. The Council is the governing body of the Alumni Association whose mission is “to serve the interests of the alumni, to support the School in its mission of education, research, patient care and community outreach and to promote collegiality amongst the alumni.”
Working closely with the Dean of the Medical School, the Council plays a key role in enhancing the relationships between alumni and medical and graduate students, promoting the prestige of the School and its alumni body, encouraging alumni giving, and supporting the continuing professional development of students, graduates, and faculty.
Previously a committee of the University-wide Alumni Group, today the Council membership consists of both MD and PhD graduates of the School drawn from a wide range of graduation years and geographic locations as well as a medical student, a graduate student, a resident and a post-doctoral fellow. They represent a variety of academic, research, management, mentoring and consultative skills. In addition to committee level conference calls, the full Council meets twice a year in Rochester to review programs, hear updates on the School and maintain contacts with students, faculty and administration. This and subsequent issues of Rochester Pulse will highlight some of the Council’s activities and accomplishments. Read More.
School of Medicine & Dentistry News
Commencement 2007
On Friday, May 18, 2007 the School of Medicine and Dentistry honored 83 graduating students. Student speaker Craig Benson and faculty speaker Dr. James Powers were chosen by the class to share words of reflection and celebration. Michael S. Gottlieb (MD ’73), recipient of The Charles Force Hutchison & Marjorie Smith Hutchison Medal – the highest honor given to an alumni, gave the keynote address.
Rochester Medical Student Chosen for Research Program
Elise Meoli, a School of Medicine and Dentistry student, has been named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute and National Institutes of Health Resident Scholar. Read more.
Biomedical Engineering and Optics Building Opens
On May 17, 2007 the Robert B. Goergen Hall for Biomedical Engineering and Optics, a five-story facility that pairs biomedical engineering and optics in an environment of teaching laboratories, high-tech demonstration areas, and gathering spaces for collaboration officially opened on the University of Rochester's River Campus.
"It is my hope that these laboratories, classrooms, and common spaces will continue to foster groundbreaking research, education, and collaboration across disciplines for many generations to come," says trustee and alumnus Robert B. Goergen (BA ’60). Read more.
SMD Alumni Weekend 2007
September 27-29, 2007
Alumni Weekend is right around the corner! By now you should have received your registration packet detailing exciting alumni activities. If you have not received Alumni Weekend registration materials please call 1-800-333-4428 or email alumni@admin.rochester.edu . ALL ALUMNI regardless of year of graduation are invited to participate in the festivities. Read more. For online registration click here.
SMD Alumni News & Information
50-Year Club Lunch Lecture
On June 8, 2007 the School of Medicine and Dentistry 50-Year Club sponsored a lunch lecture entitled Epidemics of the Aging. Presenter and Professor of Orthopaedics, Randy Rosier (MS ‘77, M ‘78, PhD ‘79), discussed new University of Rochester School of Medicine research on Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis.
Division of Vascular Surgery Annual Alumni Meeting
The Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, along with James A. DeWeese (MD ’49, RES ,56) hosted an alumni reception in Baltimore, MD on June 7, 2007. The Division is raising money for an Endowment in Jim’s honor that in perpetuity would support resident education in vascular surgery. View pictures.
First All- Alumni APA Reception
On Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007, The American Psychiatric Association hosted the First All-Alumni Reception at their Annual Meeting. The University of Rochester Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry welcomed psychiatric fellowship and post graduate degree alumni to the reception. Attendees hailed from all over country as well as a few from across the seas. The University plans to participate again in 2008 when the conference is hosted in Washington, DC. View pictures.
American Urological Association Annual Meeting
The Department of Urology hosted an Alumni Reception at the American Urological Association Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California. The event took place on Sunday May 20th. The reception was well attended with over 40 alumni, friends, and faculty. View pictures.
Alumni Growing Multicultural Awareness In Rochester Through Art
Following their training at URMC, Hoffman Moka Lantum, (MS '01, PhD '03) and Cheryl Kodjo (MPH '01, RES ‘01) became passionate advocates for diversity in the Greater Rochester community. They founded the Baobab Cultural Center that promotes awareness on African cultures through art, film and lectures. Since its creation, The Baobab has held a wide variety of multicultural and educationally rich events, such as a month-long exhibit titled "Jazzed Emotions Beyond Time and Space" featuring the works of Angela Rossi, an Italian guest artist who painted the world acclaimed Icons of Jazz series. For more information please visit: www.thebaobab.org
News From the Medical Center
Physician to Lead Nation's Largest Organization of Neurologists
Neurologist Robert Griggs (RES ’71) has been chosen to serve as the next president of the American Academy of Neurology, the nation's largest professional organization of neurologists. Griggs is the Edward A. and Alma Vollertsen Rykenboer Professor of Neurophysiology and chair of the Department of Neurology. Read more.
Puzas Leads National Effort to Improve Bone and Muscle Health
Donald and Mary Clark Professor of Orthopaedics, J. Edward Puzas (MS ‘74, PhD ‘77, recently took over the helm of an organization that is leading a decade-long effort to improve research, public awareness, and treatment of bone and joint disorders. Puzas will serve as president of the United States Bone and Joint Decade (USBJD) through 2009. Read more.
Center for Oral Biology Wins Major Training Grant Renewal
The School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Center for Oral Biology has been awarded $4 million to expand its renowned training program for oral biologists and dentist-scientists. New, cross-disciplinary training programs will focus on the basic mechanisms that underlie oral diseases to help students prepare for careers within academia, government and industry. Director of the Center for Oral Biology and professor of Pharmacology and Physiology, James E. Melvin, DDS (MS ’83, PHD ’87), comments, “A greater number of clinician-scientists who can effectively respond to the growing opportunities in dental, oral and craniofacial research must be generated for society to take advantage of the dramatic advances being made in the biomedical sciences.” Read more.
Cardiac, Stroke Programs Recognized by AHA
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association has awarded two Get With the Guidelines Annual Performance Achievement Awards to Strong Memorial Hospital for meeting high standards for coronary artery disease and stroke care. Strong Stroke Center Director Curtis Benesch, MD (MPH ’00), says, “We have a long and successful history of implementing a higher standard of stroke care at Strong and strive to further improve our comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients. We know that with a stroke, time lost is brain lost.” Read more.
Advances in Muscular Dystrophy Research
Neurologist Charles Thornton (FLW ’91) discussed recent advances in myotonic dystrophy research, the most common adult form of muscular dystrophy, on May 11 as part of a lecture series highlighting biological and biomedical research at the University. It was the latest installment of the “Second Friday Science Social” free lecture series geared mainly to faculty, staff and students at the University, though the general public is welcome as well. Read more.
Rochester Leads Nation in Reducing Inequality in Vaccination Rates
An innovative community partnership run by the Medical Center and the Monroe County Department of Public Health has essentially erased racial disparities in key immunization rates in Rochester. Since the program was implemented influenza and pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccinations for African-American seniors have increased by 75 percent making Rochester's rates among the highest in the country. Read more.
Rochester Spreads Knowledge of Cancer-Related Fatigue
In a special publication sent to thousands of oncologists nationwide this month, Medical Center scientists offer an in-depth look at cancer-related fatigue, with hope that a better understanding of the topic will prompt new research and treatment. Joseph Roscoe (MA ‘97 PhD ‘00), a co-author and research associate professor of Oncology at the University’s James P. Wilmot Cancer Center shares his experience that coping with this challenging side effect is critical to surviving cancer, especially since many people desire to work, raise children, run a household, or engage in recreation throughout their treatments. Read more.
Indocyanine Green (ICG) assists Surgery for Kidney Cancer
Kidney cancer will occur in 48,000 Americans this year. Considerable evidence supports removing the tumor without removing the entire kidney as the best treatment for incidentally found renal masses/cancers. Researchers in the Departments of Urology – Drs. Dragan Golijanin and Edward Messing, Gynecology – Ronald Wood (PhD ’75), and Pathology – Jay Reeder (MS ’92, PhD ’97) have found that injecting a safe fluorescent dye, ICG, results in outlining of kidney cancers and other kidney masses. When detected intraoperatively with the use of a special camera (SPYE Novadaq Technologies) the margins between the kidney cancer and normal kidney tissue can be easily identified, permitting the surgeon to take out tumors more precisely and optimizing the amount of kidney tissue preserved.
Liver Transplant Study Published
Transplant surgeons at URMC recently published an article on liver cancer survival in Liver Transplantation (13:807-813, 2007), reporting findings of their studies on the impact of hepatitis C versus other etiologies: “Survival Outcomes in Liver Transplantation for Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Comparing Impact of Hepatitis C Versus Other Etiology of Cirrhosis.” It is co-authored by Adel Bozorgzadeh, Mark Orloff, Peter Abt (RES ’01), Georgios Tsoulfas, Duraid Younan (RES ’03, FLW ’04), Randeep Kashyap, Ashok Jain, Parvez Mantry (RES ’02, RES ’03), Benedict Maliakkal, Alok Khorana (RES ’01) and Seymour Schwartz (RES ’57). Read more.
Online Community
Join the Online Community
Visit http://www.alumniconnections.com/URMC/ to connect to the online community. If you are not sure of your unique alumni ID, please contact us at alumni@admin.rochester.edu.
Membership is exclusive to alumni and free. Search for friends and make new connections with the University of Rochester Medical Center Alumni Network. The Online Community offers an online directory of all URMC School of Medicine & Dentistry and School of Nursingalumni where you can search by geographic location or specialty. Network with classmates, quickly update your information, and much more with the Alumni Online Community.
Do you know that you could have the same email address forever? With the use of the permanent email-forwarding feature available through the Online Community, you can have the same email address no matter what Internet Service Provider you use! To sign up for your free @alumni.urmc.rochester.edu address, register for the Online Community today! Register.
Class Notes
Submit Class Notes to Rochester Medicine Magazine
The University of Rochester wants to hear from you! Share new and exciting things happening in your life with fellow alumni. To submit a class note for publication in the Rochester Medicine magazine, email RochesterMedicineMagazine@urmc.rochester.edu.
Rochester Medicine Wants To Know Your Opinions
Your opinions about Rochester Medicine magazine are important for future issues! Please help us by taking a minute to answer a few questions about the magazine. To participate in this online survey click here.
News & Information About Other Divisions of URMC
What’s Happening at URMC
Learn more about the latest from the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, Highland Hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital, School of Nursing, and Visiting Nurse Service. Learn more.
Contacts at the URMC Alumni Office
Glen Smiley, Associate Vice President of Medical Center Development
Mary Ann Kiely, Acting Director of Development and Medical Alumni Relations
Leslie Chambers, Assistant Director of Medical Alumni Relations and Alumni Council Liaison
Kelly Nuccitelli, Assistant Director of Medical Alumni Relations and Class Agent Liaison
Paula Smith, Director of Student Services
Robert L. Brent
(MD ‘53, PhD ‘55)
Ronald Bruce
(MD ‘62)
Robert L. Caldwell
(MD ‘61, R ‘69)
Ex-officio
C. McCollister Evarts,
(MD ‘57, R ’64)
Mary Anna Friederich
(MD ‘57, R ‘62)
Kathleen Gensheimer
(MD ‘77)
Paul F. Griner
(MD ’59)
Dwight E. Heron
(MD ‘95)
Michael McKenna
(PhD ‘75)
Helene McMurray
(MS ‘00, PhD ‘04)
Robert F. Murray, Jr.
(MD ‘58)
Carol Cooperman Nadelson
(MD ‘61, R ‘62)
Lawrence F. Nazarian
(MD ‘64, R ‘66)
Robert A. Scala
(MS ‘56, PhD ‘58)
I. Donald Stuard
(MD ‘60)
Robert Sutherland
(PhD ‘66)
Constantine Farmakidis
(MD ’06) Resident Rep
Milissa U. Carter
MD Student Rep
Michelle Janelsins
PhD Student Rep
Alexander Pearson
MD/PhD Student Rep
Check out our calendar of events – we may be coming to your area!
July 27, 2007
Minneapolis Club
Minneapolis
September 26, 2007
Alumni Council Dinner
Rochester
September 27 – 29, 2007
SMD Alumni Weekend
Rochester
October 4 – 6, 2007
Meliora Weekend
Rochester
October 9, 2007
Surgery Alumni Reception
New Orleans
November 3, 2007
UREI Crystal Ball
Rochester
Rochester Pulse is a publication of the Office of Alumni Relations for the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.
www.urmc.rochester.edu
300 East River Road, PO Box 278996, Rochester, NY 14627-8996