| Alumni Newsletter | July 2007 |
Dean’s Newsletter – July 2007
CTSA Faculty Awards: Novel Methodologies
I am often asked what it means when I say that the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) is an “infrastructure” grant. If there is no specific research aim for the grant, what exactly does it do? One important answer is that it supports training. In the March 20th newsletter, I summarized the K12 awards within the CTSA that support faculty career development and T32 awards that support medical and graduate student research. It is hoped that these individuals, who are now students or junior faculty, will become our future independent investigators.
Another benefit of the CTSA is that it supports exploratory research on novel methodologies, as well as more traditional pilot projects, in order to generate data to obtain larger grants. This is a 2-part newsletter in which these CTSA awards to faculty will be summarized—novel methodologies this week and pilots next week. Read More.
Technology and Commercialization Committee
A Message from Robert Sutherland (PhD ‘66), Chair of the Technology Commercialization Committee of the Medical Alumni Council:
It is my pleasure to inform you about a growing alumni service here at the University called Commercial Link. Created and launched by the Technology Commercialization Committee, Commercial Link is an alumni-based resource that provides expert, relevant, industry-related expertise to entrepreneurial University faculty venturing into commercialization of technologies. It also serves as a mechanism for alumni networking, facilitating alumni involvement in current University activities.
This month we are leading the effort to expand Commercial Link to the River Campus (http://www.rochester.edu/ott/ ) to tap into the alumni expertise in Engineering, Optics and Chemistry.
To date, Commercial Link has offered counsel on creating viable private ventures, licensure agreements, and sponsored research partnerships. The alumni body making up Commercial Link has also advised on the relevance of research plans to market needs or specific diseases, guided early-stage entrepreneurial efforts, assessed business plans and facilitated connections with potential investors. Other alumni experts from Commercial Link advise on FDA/regulatory issues and provide additional specific advice regarding government relations. With the expansion and growing interest in Commercial Link, I am hoping more alumni will join, lending their expertise to the vitally important technology commercialization process at the University of Rochester. Please go to http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/smd/alumni/commercialLink.cfm if you are interested in joining Commercial Link.
This is an exciting time for the University, and we hope you can join in spearheading the many commercialization efforts underway.
For more information on Commercial Link, please visit the Tech Transfer Offices and the Office of Corporate Alliances at http://www.urmc.edu/smd/research/gateway/index.cfm.
Recently appointed Vice-President of Commercialization for the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Dr. Sutherland is the immediate past President of Varian Biosynergy.
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
Images of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Photography Exhibit 
Eastman Dental Center resident, Stephen Cho (PDC ‘03), will be exhibiting his photographs taken in the operating room; providing the viewing public with a glimpse into a world that few may ever know. The images capture the atmosphere, drama, concentration, and teamwork that is so common in the operating theater. Dr. Cho’s exhibit will be on display in the Edward G. Miner Library from July 30 until August 31, 2007. For more information, please visit www.urmc.edu/hslt/miner/about/news/Stephen_Cho-Surgery.cfm
School of Medicine Alumnus Wins First Place in Online Photography Contest 
Walter Brooks (BA ‘78, MD ‘82) , currently practicing at Greece Dermatological Associates in Rochester, NY, recently won first place in the “Home Town Photo” contest sponsored by Shutterfly.com. This image was taken about one hour before sunrise while the Genesee River is still and the beauty of downtown Rochester and its new Frederick Douglass - Susan B. Anthony Memorial Bridge can be captured.
An Evening Out in Soccer Town USA
Join School of Medicine and Dentistry alumni and families on Sunday, August 12, 2007 at 6pm to watch the Rochester Raging Rhinos take on the Puerto Rico Islanders at PAETEC Park, Rochester’s new soccer-specific stadium. Tickets are $10 per person and include lower-level seating, a picnic style dinner and official Rhinos program. To reserve tickets, please contact Trina St. Louis at tstlouis@admin.rochester.edu by Friday, August 3rd. Hope to see you there!
News From the Medical Center
NIH Awards $1.5 Grant to Medical Center for Hematology Research Training
The Medical Center has been awarded a $1.46 million, five-year interdepartmental grant for training in hematology research. The goal of the program is to train physicians and scientists for active research careers in basic and clinical sciences in nonmalignant hematology, such as sickle cell anemia and hemophilia, and malignant hematology, such as leukemia and lymphoma.
News from the Division of Vascular Surgery
The Division of Vascular Surgery has gained accreditation, beginning July 2007, for the “3+3/Independent” accelerated fellowship training program, and matched an intern (our #1 choice) into this position.
Rochester Vascular Conference, an annual meeting devoted to medical students and residents interested in vascular surgery. This consists of a morning of didactic teaching as to the process of academia – how to get an idea, find a mentor, write and abstract, give a 10-minute talk, and so on – and an afternoon paper competition, at which the students and residents are judged according to style as well as content. The following day starts with the DeWeese Lectureship, at which a prominent national figure, chosen for his or her educational achievements, is invited to be with us (“What’s new in vascular surgery,” a CME program, follows). We sponsor 20 students and 20 residents yearly from anywhere in the world (based on competitive abstract submission). This year we had 120 attendees and feedback was extremely enthusiastic. http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/cpe/calendar/documents/SUR-VascBrochure-3.08.07.pdf
Rochester Surgeons Present Early Findings on Less Invasive Obesity Surgery
In June, physician researchers from the Department of Surgery presented promising early data at a plenary session of the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASBS) in San Diego. A small study of 30 obese patients enrolled at URMC as well as the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), is investigating the effectiveness of laparoscopic vagotomy for the treatment of obesity. Once found to reduce weight in patients who underwent the procedure to treat their ulcers, new technological innovations may make it viable for treatment of obesity. Thad Boss (BA ‘87, MD ‘91), is the Principal Investigator at URMC. Co-authors are Thadeus L. Trus, M.D. and Jeffrey H. Peters, M.D. The lead author for the study which was also published in the May-June edition of the ASBS journal Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, was Robert H. Lustig, M.D., at UCSF, along with Marco G. Patti, M.D. The work is based on an unrestricted grant from EndoVx Inc., a medical device company. For a more in-depth look at the study and its early findings, click here.
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.
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.
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
Check out our calendar of events – we may be coming to your area!
July 30 – August 31, 2007
Maxillofacial Photo Exhibit
Rochester
August 12, 2007
SMD Alumni Soccer Night
Rochester
September 26, 2007
Alumni Council Dinner
Rochester
September 27 – 29, 2007
SMD Alumni Weekend
Rochester
October 18 – 21, 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