Dean’s Newsletter
Welcome the Class of 2011: Orientation and White Coat Ceremony
- September 10, 2007
Each year, the first day of classes for our new medical students is preceded by a week of orientation. This begins on Monday with an introduction to the curriculum and a welcome picnic at my home, and culminates on Friday with the Robert and Lillian Brent White Coat Ceremony (see 9-6-06 Dean's Newsletter). In between are a variety of orientation activities. Important among these are a series of Professional Development group meetings, where students are led by faculty and more senior students in identifying different aspects of professionalism in the field of medicine. They also design and coordinate outdoor recreational activities with children living in Rochester, which serves as an introduction to the importance of community service--over 70 city children participated this year. The week's activities, which this year took place from August 13th-17th, also included orientation to the library, athletic facilities, infection control and other pertinent topics.
At this year's White Coat Ceremony, Jonathan Smith, who is beginning his final year of medical school, spoke in a whimsical yet eloquent fashion about the white coat and its "accessories." Then, Dr. Elizabeth McAnarney--a very wise and experienced clinician, educator and administrator, with roots as a developmental pediatrician--gave a powerful address about the meaning of the white coat in connection with one's developmental passages into the profession of medicine. Read More.
The Robert and Lillian Brent White Coat Ceremony
- September 6, 2007
Soon after I posted the last newsletter that contained the White Coat Ceremony speeches of Alexis Mott and Dr. Barbara Asselin, many of you wrote emails or stopped me in the hall. "Eloquent," "inspiring," "profoundly human," were some of your reactions, and (from two students) "awesome." I'm sure that all who read the words of our student and faculty speakers were similarly moved.
In that newsletter, I conveyed my belief that this year's White Coat Ceremony was special for two reasons. One reason was the power of the speakers' presentations. The other was the naming of the White Coat Ceremony, which is the subject of this week's newsletter. Read More.
School of Medicine & Dentistry Alumni Weekend 2007
Highlights and Pictures Coming Soon
The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry hosted Alumni Weekend 2007 on September 27-29, 2007. Alumni, family, and friends reconnected with classmates, faculty and staff through enlightening lectures, tours and dinners held on and off campus. Look for event highlights and pictures in the October issue of Rochester Pulse. Attention graduates of years ending in 3’s and 8’s – Save the Date for Alumni Weekend 2008 to be held September 25-27, 2008.
School of Medicine & Dentistry Alumni News & Information
Where Are They Now?
Fall is an ideal time for alumni to reconnect with each other and the School through various communications and alumni activities. Although classes celebrating reunions each year are asked to submit scrapbook forms, updating classmates on where they are and what they are currently doing; we receive requests throughout the year from alumni, asking for updated class directories and information on past School of Medicine and Dentistry acquaintances. You can stay connected with your classmates and help the Alumni Office by submitting updated contact information.
Got updates? Please log on to the Online Community at http://www.alumniconnections.com/URMC/ or email alumni@admin.rochester.edu with your updates and check out what your classmates are up to. We look forward to hearing from you!
American Urological Association Resident Alumni Reception
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The Northeastern Section American Urological Association Resident Alumni Reception was held at the Rochester Hyatt on September 7, 2007. Over 20 residents shared the evening with faculty and friends. View Pictures.
Miner Library Artwork Available
Do you may have fond memories of time spent in the University of Rochester’s historical Miner Library? Reminisce at home with a framed Miner Library picture. To request a Miner Library rendering, please email Kelly at knuccitelli@admin.rochester.edu. Pictures are available on a first come, first serve basis and can either be picked up at the Advancement & Alumni Center at 300 East River Road, Rochester, NY 14627 or shipped to your home ($15 postage and handling fee required). [framed image dimensions: 16.5” x 18.5”]
School of Medicine & Dentistry News
Turtlequill Journal of Literary Arts
Founded in the fall of 2006, Turtlequill is the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Journal of the Literary Arts. The journal provides an outlet through which students can express themselves through writing and, as importantly, provides a medium through which they can share these expressions with others in the community. Turtlequill is run, organized, and edited entirely by School of Medicine and Dentistry medical students. Turtlequill's publication is made possible through grants from the Division of Medical Humanities and the University of Rochester Interdisciplinary Cluster for Human Values in Healthcare.
Subscriptions are available for $10* for 1 year (Fall 2007/Spring 2008). Fall 2007 issues will be released on November 12, 2007 at 6:30 pm through a Public Literature Reading at the Rochester Academy of Medicine. Sample copies are available in the Miner Library, and the Office of Medical Humanities. To subscribe to Turtlequill, please email turtlequilljournal@gmail.com.
Publication consideration in this journal is open to all medical students, graduate students, residents, faculty, and staff of the University of Rochester Medical Center. Submissions may be emailed to turtlequilljournal@gmail.com.
Medical Student Presents at the World Deaf Congress
Following meeting the President of the World Federation for the Deaf, Markku Jokinen, when he came to Rochester last year, fourth year University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry student Vasanth Kainkaryam, was invited to submit an abstract to the World Deaf Congress. In July 2007 Vasanth gave a presentation entitled “Promoting Deaf Health in Medical Education: Designing a Curriculum,” at the World Deaf Congress in Madrid, Spain. In this presentation, he discussed the goals of the School of Medicine and Dentistry’s Deaf Health Pathway program. The Deaf Health Pathway is offered as part of the Enrichment Pathways Program in the Division of Medical Humanities to provide opportunities, additional courses and electives over the four years of medical school for those students with interests in the health, language, and culture of the Deaf community. The Pathway is a student-initiated and student-coordinated curriculum with faculty support and oversight through the Division of Medical Humanities. For more information, please visit http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/MedHum/deaf_health.cfm.
Check out our calendar of events – we may be coming to your area!
October 6, 2007*
Rochester vs. Merchant Marine Football and Tailgate Lunch Kings Point, NY
October 9, 2007
Surgery Alumni Reception
New Orleans, LA
October 13, 2007*
Rochester at the Races!
Elmont, NY
October 18 – 21, 2007*
Meliora Weekend
Rochester, NY
October 28, 2007
Plastic Surgery Alumni Reception
Baltimore, MD
November 3, 2007
UREI Crystal Ball
Rochester, NY
November 10, 2007*
Under the Big Top at the Big Apple Circus
New York, NY
November 29, 2007*
“Who's Minding the World: Health Problems in Leaders" – Dr. Robert Joynt
Boston, MA
November 29, 2007*
UR Holiday Reception
New York, NY
News From the University of Rochester Medical Center
National PBS documentary about the heart highlights University of Rochester cardiac specialists
“The Mysterious Human Heart,” a three-part PBS series featuring University of Rochester Medical Center cardiologists Arthur J. Moss, M.D., and James P. Daubert, M.D., will air in October across the country and locally on WXXI-TV 21.
The in-depth documentary developed by award-winning filmmaker David Grubin explains the heart: how it works, what can go wrong with it and how we treat it. The three-part project follows the compelling stories of patients whose hearts have led them to a brush with mortality. Through these encounters, the series explores the most common misconceptions about this unique organ and documents the latest scientific and medical revelations - discoveries that have transformed our understanding of the heart and provided new insights into the best ways to prevent and treat heart disease.
Moss, Daubert and several of their University of Rochester Medical Center patients are included in the portion of the documentary airing at 10 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15. Titled “The Spark of Life,” the hour focuses on the electrical system of the heart and how it functions to keep a heart beating - and what happens when the cardiac rhythm is interrupted. It features cardiac arrhythmia conditions such as Long QT Syndrome, a condition Moss has been studying for decades and for which he is the worldwide expert.
Also airing: At 9 p.m. Oct. 15, “The Endlessly Beating Heart” looks at the heart as a muscle. At 9 p.m. Oct. 22, “The Hungry Heart” considers the effects of atherosclerosis, blockages caused by plaque in the vessels.
Moss is a professor of Medicine/Cardiology Division and director of the Heart Research Follow-up Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is an internationally recognized expert on understanding rhythm disorders of the heart. Such arrhythmias cause many of the 330,000 sudden cardiac deaths each year in the United States. Daubert is an associate professor of Medicine/Cardiology Division and director of the Heart Rhythm Program and the Electrophysiology Labs at the Medical Center.
For more information: Karin Christensen at 585-275-1311 or Karin_Christensen@urmc.rochester.edu
University of Rochester Medical Center to Apply to State for Major Patient Care Expansion
The Medical Center is requesting permission to boost its licensed bed capacity by 123 beds, from 739 to 862 beds, adding a six-story tower adjacent to Strong Memorial Hospital. The 330,000-square-foot addition would house 56 beds for Golisano Children's Hospital, an additional 56 adult beds for Strong Memorial, two floors for imaging sciences (radiology) including a dedicated area for pediatric patients, plus an expanded pharmacy and other support space. Once the tower is complete, the 48,000 square-foot space currently occupied by the Golisano Children's Hospital would be converted to beds for up to 67 adults. Read More.
Wilmot Cancer Center Adds Gastrointestinal, Brain Cancer Experts
Three specialists in gastrointestinal and brain cancers recently joined the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center to meet the growing need in the Rochester and Upstate New York region. Supriya Gupta Mohile, M.D., was named assistant professor of Medicine in the Hematology/Oncology Unit. Nimish Mohile, M.D., was named senior instructor of Neurology and has a joint appointment with the Cancer Center. And Joohee Sul (MD `00) was named senior instructor of Neurology. Dr. Sul studied at Columbia University, earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed her internship and residency at Strong Memorial Hospital; and then went to Memorial Sloan Kettering for a fellowship in neuro-oncology. Both Mohile and Sul will be treating patients with primary brain tumors, central nervous system metastases and neurological complications of cancer. Read More.
Comments from Rochester Pediatrician Appear in a US News & World Report Story
The October issue of US News & World Report includes an article entitled “Breast-Feeding Doesn't Contribute to Cavities.” The articlehighlights a study about toddler tooth troubles being linked to poverty and maternal smoking. Researchers at the University of Rochester and New York University analyzed demographic details, dental health data and infant feeding information from 1,576 toddlers whose families participated in the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Pediatrician and breast-feeding advocate Ruth Lawrence (MD `49, RES `58), a co-author of the animal study, acknowledged that the results fueled the fire of those in opposition to night nursing. Letting a baby sleep with a bottle of anything other than plain water carries a greater risk of encouraging cavities than night nursing, said Lawrence, who says she would use the current study to reassure nursing mothers. Read More.
Online Community
Join the Online Community
Online Community membership is FREE and exclusive to alumni. 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. Register now.
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!
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 .
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 alumni@admin.rochester.edu.
University of Rochester Regional Events
Fall Regional Alumni Events
The University of Rochester Office of Alumni Relations is pleased to host many exciting events across the country. These events are a perfect way to connect with classmates and alumni living in your region and a great opportunity to get caught up on the interesting things taking place at the University. Family and friends of alumni are welcome at all events. For more information on these events or to register, please visit http://www.rochester.edu/alumni/regional/ or contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (585) 273.5888 or (800) 281.2055.
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.
Many fun and exciting events sponsored by divisions of URMC are constantly taking place in the Rochester area. The Wilmot Cancer Center will be sponsoring the following local events this October that all alumni, family and friends are invited to enjoy: Fickled Pink Live Radio Broadcast and Pizza Sale at Strong Memorial Hospital on Friday, October 12; Macy's Shop for a Cause – offering discount Macy’s coupons on Saturday, October 13; RE/MAX NY Balloon Manor: Elastic Park – featuring more than 60 balloon artists from around the world at the Medley Centre on Oct. 19-21, 25-28; “Keeping the Hope Alive” event featuring food and live entertainment by Everheart at the Calabria Restaurant on Sunday October 21; and a Scrap Booking Day-Long Workshop at the Willow Brook Christian Church on Saturday, October 27. For more information on these activities, please email jpwcc@admin.rochester.edu or call the Wilmot Cancer Center Development Office at 585- 242-8988.
SMD Alumni Office Contacts
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 Development/Alumni Council Liaison
Kelly Nuccitelli,Assistant Director of Development/Class Agent Liaison
Paula Smith, Director of Student Services
Rochester Pulse is a publication of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Alumni Relations Office. This month’s issue can be viewed online at http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/rochesterpulse/September2007.html
Visit the School of Medicine and Dentistry‘s web page at www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd .
300 East River Road, PO Box 278996, Rochester, NY 14627-8996