Dean's Newsletter
Deans’ Report for 2007: Looking Back and a Look Forward
For many, 2007 was a very busy and—I think—productive year in the Dean’s office. See if you agree. Here is a snapshot of last year’s activities, as summarized by our Associate and Senior Associate Deans.
Undergraduate Medical Education—David Lambert, MD
Looking Back: In the School of Medicine and Dentistry, 2007 was an exciting year. The major event for the school was the site visit by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education survey team as the final piece to the school’s reaccreditation. The visit was extremely successful and, while the final report will not be received for a few months, the team was impressed with all aspects of our educational program and the collegial atmosphere here in Rochester. 2007 saw the largest number of students participate in the Academic Research Track’s research year out. Students in the 82nd University of Rochester School or Medicine and Dentistry (URSMD) class graduated in May of 2007 and are now interns in great programs across the country. Twenty percent of them remain here at the URMC for training. We welcomed the Class of 2011, whose talents, diversity and achievements were outlined in an earlier newsletter. Our students continue to provide community service through Saturday School, U.R. Well and many other programs. The class of 2010 did an all-class project working with Rochester city seniors and assisting them in completing college applications. Faculty development programs grew tremendously in the last calendar year as we continue to maintain the excellence in our teaching and in individual faculty growth.
Graduate Medical Education—Diane Hartmann (MD ’87, RES ’91)
Looking Back: With the addition of four new fellowship programs, Graduate Medical Education at the University of Rochester now encompasses 669 trainees in 75 Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education training programs (25 residencies, 50 fellowships) as well as seven dental residencies (54 trainees). The importance of these programs in providing the next generation of Rochester’s clinicians is supported by data from 2007 graduates indicating that 28.6 percent of fellows and 43.9 percent of residents remained in the area to practice.
Graduate Education—Paul LaCelle (MD ’59)
Looking Back: Among the many activities of the Office of Graduate Education, a few programs for which there were significant developments in the past year and/or for which there are significant plans for the year ahead include a PhD in Translational Biomedical Sciences, Certificate Program in Translational Biomedical Science for Biomedical Engineering PhD Students, PhD-MBA Program, Online services, and Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program.
Clinical Affairs (URMFG)—Kenneth DeHaven, MD
Looking Back: The commitment of University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group (URMFG) to embrace Quality Improvement for outpatient in addition to inpatient services. A Quality Improvement Committee was appointed, chaired by Tom McInerny, MD, to work in collaboration with the Strong Memorial Hospital Quality program to improve patient safety and quality in URMFG faculty practices.
Basic Research—Steve Dewhurst, PhD
Looking Back: National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant support to URSMD grew by 12 percent in Fiscal Year 2007 (FY07), rising from $134,809,734 for FY06 to $151,866,313 in FY07, and raising our ranking to #25 among U.S. medical schools. Counting grants and contracts, our total funding from NIH in FY07 was $159,362,995. This remarkable growth, in the face of a flat national NIH budget, reflects the scientific creativity, drive and resilience of our faculty. Opportunities for additional collaborative/multidisciplinary projects can be expected in the coming year and beyond as the new strategic plan is implemented, and begins to stimulate new initiatives and cross campus interactions.
Clinical Research—Randy Rosier (MS ’77, MD ’78, PHD ’79)
Looking Back: This past year has been quite notable for advances in clinical research on several fronts. Results of the most recent Research Resources Survey shows continued momentum in clinical research at URSMD. Tom Fogg, Senior Planner, was instrumental in creating a process that led to a complete assessment. As a percentage of total sponsored research funding at URSMD, clinical research accounted for 52 percent and basic research 48 percent. These figures compare to 49 percent and 51 percent from the 2005 survey. If we restrict the analysis to NIH funding, the percentages of clinical and basic research are 42 percent and 58 percent, respectively, which compares with 33 percent and 67 percent across NIH nationally. These data demonstrate the entire philosophy and infrastructure of our institution with its clinical and translational orientation. It is interesting to consider these results in light of the relative investments being made in basic and clinical research: Last year, URSMD spent $24 million and $3 million in support of faculty conducting basic and clinical research, respectively. Complete results of the Research Resource Inventory can be found at: www.urmc.rochester.edu/ctsi.
Academic Affairs—Richard Burton, MD (RES ’64)
Looking Back: We currently have 1,423 full-time faculty, 1,222 Part-time and Volunteer faculty, 115 Visiting and Adjunct Faculty, and 53 Departmental Fellows for a total number of 2813 current faculty. This year we had 286 new faculty appointments, and 138 terminations or retirements, for a net gain of 148 faculty.
To view “A Look Forward” perspectives and read this entire issue, please visit http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/about/newsletter.cfm.
School of Medicine & Dentistry Alumni Information
Save the Date for Alumni Weekend 2008
Alumni Weekend “Save the Date” postcards have been mailed. This year’s milestone reunions are for years ending in 3’s and 8’s – ALL ALUMNI, regardless of year of graduation, are invited to participate in the festivities. To view a tentative schedule of reunion activities visit www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/.
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).
Please submit nominations for the Distinguished Alumnus(a) Award and the Alumni Service Award by March 1, 2008. 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.
Regional SMD Alumni Events
The School of Medicine and Dentistry hosts regional events throughout the country. Check out the “Alumni Programs and Events 2008” listing each month in Rochester Pulse – we may be coming to your area soon!
If you live near or plan on visiting Chapel Hill, NC in February, please join us for dinner and discussion with Dean David S. Guzick, MD, PhD. The dinner will be held at the Carolina Inn on Thursday, February 28th at 6:30pm; hosted by Michael J. McKenna (PhD ’75) who currently serves as a University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry Alumni Council member and CEO of Merrion Pharmaceuticals, Plc. For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Karen at (585) 273-5954 or kburkin@admin.rochester.edu.
Update your Contact Information
We need your help! Alumni Weekend preparations are underway and reunion committee members are contacting classmates about attending reunion 2008. Please submit any updated contact information to the Alumni Office so we can provide your classmates with current contacts. We encourage all alumni to update contact information when appropriate, so that we can assist classmates with reconnecting on both reunion and non-reunion years. Have you moved lately or changed practices? Will your phone number or e-mail be changing in the future? Please help us keep you connected by providing updates about yourself and classmates.
Submit Class Notes for Rochester Medicine Magazine
The University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 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, e-mail alumni@admin.rochester.edu. Submissions can also be entered online by visiting: www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/signupForm.cfm.
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.
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.
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February 28, 2008 Regional Alumni Dinner Chapel Hill, NC April 28, 2008 September 25-27, 2008 October 21-November 1, 2008
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School of Medicine & Dentistry News
“Physicians Practice Putting Mind Over Matter”
A story in the American College of Physicians’ magazine, Internist, profiles a program directed by Michael Krasner (RES ’91), assistant professor of medicine at the School of Medicine and Dentistry, to help physicians bring the concept of “mindfulness” to their work with patients. “It’s about opening our eyes to what’s really going on so that we will have a very honest relationship, share our feelings and maybe, with acceptance as a starting point, change everything,” Krasner says. Read more.
- From the January ACP Internist, copyright © 2008 by the American College of Physicians.
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.
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 .
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.
University of Rochester Medical Center Updates
More than a year ago, the University of Rochester Medical Center renewed its commitment to achieve national prominence by developing a strategic plan that defines priorities, leverages opportunities, and fulfills the promise of its founders to create Medicine of the Highest Order.
Faculty, staff, and governance from throughout the Medical Center came together, participating in a planning process that has been mirrored at other schools and divisions throughout the University of Rochester. Leaders carefully assessed the environment to understand the Medical Center’s challenges and unprecedented opportunities.
The resulting URMC 2007-2012 Strategic Plan builds on the success of the Medical Center’s previous strategic plan by leveraging its powerful blend of robust science, disciplined teaching programs, and burgeoning clinical enterprise. This is a plan for using education, science and technology to create new knowledge that helps patients, advances the practice of medicine, and contributes to the economic vitality of our community.
The centerpiece of the plan is nine high priority clinical and research programs. These are signature programs in which – with strategic investments in people, technology, and facilities – the University of Rochester Medical Center can stake its national reputation for innovation and excellence. The chosen Integrated Disease Programs and Innovative Science Programs reflect not only disease prevalence, but areas in which the Medical Center has either built considerable expertise or areas we seek to strengthen to remain competitive.
In addition, the 2007-2012 Strategic Plan determines key investments in people, technology, and facilities in the years ahead. This includes the most ambitious investment in patient care and translational science facilities in the history of the Medical Center. Because capital dollars are always limited, careful choices have been made to reflect the full range of needs and the economic imperatives that face academic medicine. View the plan or download more information.
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.
University of Rochester Programs
Always Better Adult Continuing Education
Enroll in fun and exciting noncredit courses through the UR’s Always Better Adult Continuing Education program. Classes are held on River Campus in the evenings and weekends to accommodate your busy schedule.
Highlighted 2008 Spring Semester courses include:
- America in Red and Blue: The Transformation of Party Politics, 1948-2008
- Creative Writing Workshop
- History of the Book in the Western World
- America and the World: The City on the Hill from Across the Border
- The Godfather: Novel and Film
- Discovering the Wine of Europe
- The Money Maze: How to Navigate through the Financial Aid Process when Applying to College
To register or for more information, please call the Office of Special Programs at (585) 275 -2344 or visit http://www.rochester.edu/college/osp/apply/contStudies_courses.html . All alumni and their spouses are eligible to receive 20% off their tuition for most Always Better classes! Be sure to mention your University of Rochester alumni status to receive the UR Community discount. We encourage you to take advantage of this lifelong learning opportunity. Welcome back to campus!
School of Medicine & Dentistry 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/January2008.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