Dean's Newsletter

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Class Notes

Other Divisions of URMC

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Dean's Newsletter

Message for the holidays: The medical profession as a privilege
Virtually all of our positions at the medical center are stressful. For many, the holiday season itself adds its own special stress. My suggestion is this: give yourself the gift of reflection during this holiday season. Embrace this time as a gift. Reflect on the meaning of the season in the broader context of your personal and professional life.

For me, the gift of reflection has led me to think about the privilege of being a physician-perhaps a well-worn topic, but one that bears reconsideration. There is certainly much that is stressful in our day-to-day professional lives-I needn't repeat the litany related to inadequate clinical and research funding, increasingly oppressive regulatory oversight, loss of autonomy, etc-but fundamentally, the extraordinary privilege of being a physician remains, and deserves periodic reflection.

[Note: I am focusing this newsletter on the physician role. The next issue will be on the privilege of being a scientist and/or educator. See last paragraph]

What drives us to enter the medical profession? I think Nora Watson gets it right when she talks about the general inspiration for one's work. As quoted in Studs Terkel's book "Working," Watson says: "I think most of us are looking for a calling, not a job. Most of us…have jobs that are too small for our spirit."

Indeed, when we recite the Hippocratic Oath at the time our medical degrees are awarded, we acknowledge our calling, "I place myself into the service of humankind." It is interesting that when the Chicago radio commentator Studs Terkel wrote his classic oral history of working life in the 1970's, he did not write specifically about physicians. In response to a later inquiry about this, he said: "Physicians don't work for daily bread but for daily meaning." Certainly, the business of medicine may sometimes twist this fundamental work-for-meaning instinct. Fundamentally, however, the decision to enter the medical profession is a response to a calling, the need to live lives of daily meaning.

How do physicians respond to this calling? One expression is our commitment to engage in the demanding and extended education needed for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Our student speaker at this year's White Coat Ceremony, Alexis Motl (MD ‘07), expressed this as the privilege of learning the secrets of medical knowledge:

"I was grocery shopping recently, and I saw a woman, about 40 years old, pushing her cart down the aisle. Every few seconds her arms would fly out and move around without her control. She tried to hide it, to make it look like she was fixing her hair or reaching for something and then changing her mind. But I knew that it was most likely chorea – a dance-like movement sometimes associated with Huntington's disease. It was painful knowing this, like having a bad secret that no one else in the store, giving her sideward glances, knew, but it was also extraordinary.

"When I was a kid, I loved the idea of knowing a secret. I loved magic decoder rings, and Pig Latin, and invisible ink. And that's what medical school is like. You start to see all the clues coming together. You start to see things that others do not. And you realize that everything you've learned so far, everything you've forgotten, all that studying, it's all worth the trouble. Because it is a privilege."

Interestingly, at the same White Coat Ceremony, and quite independently, our faculty speaker, Barbara Asselin, MD, spoke of the same kind of secret, but more broadly: She asked the students to let her share advice from the wise old fox in the book, The Little Prince: "And now here is my secret, it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important. You become responsible forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose."

Dr. Asselin then asked the students to imagine the passage reworded with the words "white coat" replacing "rose." The reworded message is that the secrets of the white coat are invisible to the eye. "The white coat," Dr. Asselin continued, "is a symbol of the privilege of being a physician. Wearing your white coat will open the lives of your patients. They will share things with you and trust in you, solely because of that white coat."

Thus, besides medical knowledge and skill, which also entails a good measure of scientific inquisitiveness, the calling of medicine entails the privilege of caring for others. As Frances Peabody stated in an oft-cited speech to Harvard medical students in 1925: "The secret of the care of the patient is caring for the patient" (Oglesby P. The Caring Physician…, 1991). Caring for the patient frequently means being given their permission to invade their privacy, both physically and emotionally. Meeting a patient for the first time, we do physical exams and obtain medical histories which explore topics that would otherwise be considered highly intimate and confidential. We may subsequently do highly invasive surgical procedures-another rarefied privilege born of extraordinary trust. Yet these must be sequestered in our experience as clinical tasks, untinged by voyeurism or self-congratulation. We are called to help at critical junctures, at the beginning of life and at the end, and at key moments along the way.

So at this special time of year, give yourself the gift of reflection. Think about the privilege that you have been given to do your work.

“On Call” Finalists in National CBS A Cappella Competition
Many of you are aware of the musical talents of many of our medical students. But did you know that they have formed an a cappella group called “On Call” that was among five finalists in the CBS Early Show's a cappella singing competition?

“On Call” sings at a variety of medical center functions and also sings at nursing homes and the Golisano Children's Hospital during the holidays. A couple of months ago, one of the members of On Call, Mike Moravan, read about the CBS contest in an a cappella newsletter and the group decided that it would be a fun project. Unfortunately, they only allowed three to six group members, so they had to choose six members who had previous a cappella experience: Julie Allen, Elizabeth Crafts, Erika Levy, Michael Moravan, Erin Reeve and Jonathan Smith. They chose a song that they sang last year, "Life is a Highway," which Erika arranged, but to make it more interesting they changed the words to satirize life as a medical student (lyrics by Jon and Erika). The setting was a problem-based learning room with the singers in scrubs. To view their video, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiLtuzJuit4.

School of Medicine & Dentistry Alumni News & Information

Finding Love in the Anatomy Lab
Encounters with cadavers are the first rite of passage into the medical profession for many medical students. And with this comes tales of emotion, initiation, curiosity, and discomfort – but what about love? Did you meet your significant other in the anatomy lab? Reminisce and share your stories of meeting that special someone while navigating your way through the medical school. E-mail your medical school love stories to alumni@admin.rochester.edu and we may feature your story in the next issue of Rochester Pulse.

School of Medicine and Dentistry Alumni Awards Nominations
The Alumni Association of the School of Medicine and Dentistry bestows three awards each year, which are presented during the Alumni Weekend in the fall. The Distinguished Alumnus(a) Award recognizes achievement that has had an impact on a national and global scale by individuals whose lives and work exemplify the standards and objectives of the school. The Alumni Service Award recognizes outstanding support, commitment, and service which have furthered the interests of the school. The Gold Medal Award recognizes outstanding teaching by a faculty member of the medical school (nominations are recruited from the student body and administration for this award).

The Alumni Association encourages the submission of nominations. Further information about the awards and directions on how to submit a nomination can be found on the Alumni Association Web site: www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/alumniawards.cfm.

50 Year Club Holiday Lunch

On Friday, December 7, 2007 over 40 School of Medicine and Dentistry 50 Year Club alumni, Emeritus Faculty and guests celebrated the holiday season with a special lunch in the Evarts Lounge at Helen Wood Hall.  Attendees were entertained with holiday music from our medical student a cappella group, the “On Call” singers.

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 www.alumniconnections.com/URMC/ or e-mail alumni@admin.rochester.edu with your updates and check out what your classmates are up to. We look forward to hearing from you!

Journey with the School of Medicine & Dentistry to Spain
Discover the fashionable and modern city of Barcelona, the heart of Spain's culturally distinct and artistically rich Catalonia region. Walk Las Ramblas before touring the prominent art nouveau architectural sites of Antoni Gaudí, including the famous La Sagrada Familia basilica. In Spain's enchanting Pendes wine country, see the town of Montserrat and enjoy Cava, the Catalan sparkling wine, on a visit to a local vineyard. Then travel to the Basque country, with its unique language and culture, as you drive along the scenic route from Montserrat to seaside San Sebastian on the Bay of Biscay. Tour the city of Bilbao and explore its renowned Guggenheim Museum. Finally, experience the sites of Pamplona, famous for the running of the bulls.

While experiencing the exhilarating sites of Spain, seasoned traveler and University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry alumnus, Paul F. Griner (MD '59), will enhance your itinerary with insightful presentations on 21st Century Medicine, informative patient interactions, and Universal Health Insurance facts and fiction.

Combining the convenience and unbeatable value of group travel with the flexibility to venture and explore on your own or with a group of like-minded alumni and friends, this trip is sure to be an adventure to remember. For more information on the Alumni Campus Abroad trip to Spain on October 21-November 1, 2008, or to book reservations, please call the University of Rochester Office of Alumni Relations at (800) 333-0175 or (585) 273-5888.

School of Medicine & Dentistry News

UR Well Student Outreach Celebrates its Three-Year Anniversary
Since its inception, UR Well has offered virtually free healthcare to hundreds of Rochester's uninsured, while granting students the opportunity to hone their clinical skills. Every Tuesday evening, 12 eager medical students and an attending physician volunteer at the South Avenue facility to provide primary care to up to 10 patients from the community. The community response to the project has been very positive, and with an eye towards expansion, this year UR Well has added some new features to meet more of Rochester's healthcare needs.

UR Well has joined forces with the University of Rochester Eye Institute to create a monthly clinic at St. Joseph's Neighborhood Center that offers comprehensive eye exams and access to ophthalmologic referral services to anyone without medical insurance who fails to qualify for Medicaid. “The hope we have is that this clinic will be long-standing,” said Sara Bozorg, a fourth-year School of Medicine student who helped organize the new service. Another expansion of UR Well clinical services has been the recent addition of twice monthly neurology clinics that run alongside the primary care program. Students and patients alike are benefiting from the mentorship and commitment of Dr. Frederick Marshall (FLW '95), Associate Professor of Neurology at URMC, who oversees the provision of specialty care for needy patients while helping students improve their neurological exam skills.

Perhaps one of the more exciting developments with UR Well has been the recent focus being paid to one of the project's true target populations: Rochester's homeless. The Homeless Outreach division of UR Well was founded this year in an effort to accommodate the overwhelming number of students who wish to take part in the clinic's limited positions, as well as expose the next generation of healthcare providers to the unique problems affecting some of Rochester's less fortunate members. Future initiatives on the calendar for Homeless Outreach include modest items, like organizing educational programming for the homeless and administering flu shots and other immunizations, as well as more ambitious ones, like eventually creating satellite UR Well primary care clinics at some participating area shelters.

To learn more about UR Well and how you can help, please visit www.urwellstudentoutreach.org .

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.

One-year subscriptions are available for $10 (fall 2007/spring 2008). Sample copies are available in the Miner Library, and the Office of Medical Humanities. To subscribe to Turtlequill, please e-mail 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 e-mailed to turtlequilljournal@gmail.com.

News From the University of Rochester Medical Center

University of Rochester 2007 Research Retrospective
Click on the links in the following poem to read about 2007 UR Research initiatives.

Twas the night before Christmas, when across all the planet,
A wormhole was forming, so Santa could span it.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
With a route for St. Nick lit by solar flare.
The children were wheezing, though snug in their beds,
As visions of video games danc'd in their heads,
And Mama in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just cleared out our brains from a long winter's nap --
When out on the lawn, where it had been snowing,
Flashed a bright light – Santa's brain cells were glowing! Read entire poem.

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 e-mail address forever? With the use of the permanent e-mail forwarding feature available through the Online Community, you can have the same e-mail 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 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

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.

SMD Alumni Office Contacts

Glen Smiley, Associate Vice President of Medical Center Advancement
Mary Ann Kiely, Director of Advancement and Medical Alumni Relations
Carmen Aiezza, Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts
Leslie Chambers, Assistant Director of Advancement/Alumni Council Liaison
Kelly Nuccitelli, Assistant Director of Advancement/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
www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/rochesterpulse/December2007.html
Visit the School of Medicine and Dentistry's Web pages:
www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/
www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni
300 East River Road, Suite 208, PO Box 278996, Rochester, NY 14627-8996