Caduceus Newsletter: Fall 2003.16, Week of December 8

My students call them their term papers, but I CALL IT sheer drrrrrrrrivel! Obviously, they don't understand that brevity is the soul of wit!!

è 1. Not everyone can earn a Darwin award, but just about anybody can earn a "DUH" award…
è2. The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine (Rochester, Minnesota) offers a 10 week Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program.
è 3. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) offers a variety of fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students. (Thanks to Dr. Malinda Fitzgerald for sending me this.)
è 4. Statistics on the Midwestern University 2003-2004 Incoming Classes.
è 5. For some dental school admissions committees, it is SO important to demonstrate manual dexterity that they will hand you a piece of chalk or wax to sculpt during your interview!
è 6. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Graduate School would host its 3^rd annual Career Day for Basic Biomedical Sciences on Thursday and Friday, April 22-23, 2004.
è 7. Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC) will be offering a Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) for rising junior and senior science majors who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree.
è 8. Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Buffalo, NY) will offer its 52^nd Summer Research Participation in Science Program for High School and College Juniors.
è 9. The National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, will be hosting an exhibit entitled Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Women Physicians through 2 April 2005.
è 10. Interested in conducting research on malaria this summer? Join me in Uganda through MIRT!

è 1. Not everyone can earn a Darwin award, but just about anybody can earn a "DUH" award… 

As you know, the Darwin awards are given to those individuals who, according to Wendy Northcutt, its creator, improve our gene pool... by removing themselves from it. As you may surmise, these awards, presented at http://www.darwinawards.com , are generally bestowed posthumously. 

Nonetheless, we are all aware of certain people who do something that may not be so stupid as to remove themselves from the gene pool, but certainly merit SOME kind of recognition…

 FOR THAT REASON, WE PRESENT TO YOU:

 If you know of anyone or anything who merits a "DUH" award, please send information as to the identify of said person or thing, and the reason for bestowing this honor, to seisen@cbu.edu .

è 2. The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine (Rochester, Minnesota) offers a 10 week Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program. 

The SURF program is for college students who are currently sophomores and juniors and are seriously considering research careers. The interest in this program has risen dramatically over the past few years. In 2003, we received about 800 applications and filled 83 positions. Due to this high demand, we have implemented a Web-based, on-line application which can be found at www.mayo.edu/mgs/surf.html .

Some of the hallmarks of research and Ph.D. training at Mayo include:

• $4,000 stipend for 10 weeks
• Seminar and career advising designed specifically for college students
• Easy access to the most modern and sophisticated instrumentation and methodologies
• Close working relationships among over 150 independent research groups
• Cohesion of research focused on important biomedical problems

For more information about graduate studies and the summer program, go to www.mayo.edu/mgs , or contact Dr. L. James Maher, III, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, maher.james@mayo.edu .

è 3. The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) offers a variety of fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students. (Thanks to Dr. Malinda Fitzgerald for sending me this.)

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) is accepting applications for its fellowship programs in the microbiological sciences for undergraduate and graduate students.

ASM offers the following fellowships:

The Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URF) allows students to conduct research in the summer with an ASM member faculty mentor at their home institution and present the results at the ASM General Meeting the following year. The fellowship requires a joint application from both the student and faculty mentor. Application are available online at www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=4319 <http://www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=4319>. The deadline to apply for the fellowship is February 1, 2004

The Minority Undergraduate Research Fellowship (MURF) provides an opportunity for underrepresented minority students to participate in research projects at selected institutions through out the U.S. and gain experience presenting the results of their research at the ASM General Meeting the following year. Applications are available online at <http://www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=4322> . The deadline to apply for the fellowship is February 1, 2004

The Robert D. Watkins Minority Graduate Fellowship aims at increasing the number of underrepresented minorities completing doctoral degrees in the microbiological sciences. Applications are available online at www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=6278 <http://www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=6278>. The deadline to apply for the fellowship is May 1, 2004.

Please forward this information to faculty and students who would be interested in any of the opportunities outlined.

Thank you.

Mary Nyingi
Coordinator - Student Fellowship Programs
American Society for Microbiology
1752 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Tel: 202/942-9283
Fax: 202/942-9329

è 4. Statistics on the Midwestern University 2003-2004 Incoming Classes.

 Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class Size: 177
Average Age: 24
Female: 92
Male: 85
Top Home States: Illinois and Michigan

Chicago College of Pharmacy
Class Size 200
Average Age: 24
Female: 148
Male: 52
Top Home States: Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and California

Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Class Size: 144
Average Age: 26
Female: 63
Male: 81
Top Home States: Arizona, California, Colorado

College of Pharmacy - Glendale
Class Size: 130
Average Age: 27
Female: 72
Male: 58
Top Home States: Arizona, California, and Utah

College of Health Sciences: Downers Grove Campus
Physician Assistant Studies Program
Class Size: 84 (Includes master's and bachelor's)
Average age: 26.5
Female: 70
Male: 14
Top Home States: Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana

Physical Therapy Program
Class Size: 37
Average Age: 23
Female: 24
Male: 13
Top Home States: Illinois and Iowa

Occupational Therapy Program
Class Size: 14
Average Age: 25
Female: 12
Male: 2
Top Home State: Illinois

Biomedical Sciences Program
Class Size: 16
Average Age: 26
Female: 10
Male: 6
Top Home States: Illinois, California, and Wisconsin

Clinical Psychology Program
Class Size: 8
Average Age: 24
Female: 5
Male: 3
Top Home States: Illinois and Michigan

College of Health Sciences: Glendale Campus
Physician Assistant Studies Program
Class Size: 85 (master's and bachelor's)
Average Age: 29
Female: 60
Male: 25
Top Home States: Arizona, Utah, and California

Occupational Therapy Program
Class Size: 21
Average Age: 31
Female: 20
Male: 1
Top Home State: Arizona

Biomedical Sciences Program
Class Size: 35 (bachelor's)
Average Age: 27
Female: 22
Male: 13
Top Home States: Arizona and California

Cardiovascular Science Program
Class Size: 15
Average Age" 27
Female: 9
Male: 6
Top Home States: Colorado and Arizona

For more information, visit www.midwestern.edu .

è 5. For some dental school admissions committees, it is SO important to demonstrate manual dexterity that they will hand you a piece of chalk or wax to sculpt during your interview! 

 The following letter of inquiry was sent to the HLTHPROF listserv:

Here are some replies:

From: Paul R. Grimstad, Associate Professor and Director, Undergraduate Studies in Biological Sciences and Environmental Studies:
Within the past several years, I've had some of my predental advisees tell me that they were required to take, or that it was highly recommended that they take, an undergraduate course in ceramics. Either way, chalk or ceramics, demonstration of specific manual dexterity seems important for select schools.

From: Robby S Bowen, Louisiana State University
The Chalk Carving "test" is a part of the routine dental interview for all students interviewing in Louisiana. Our Predental Club students practice chalk carving at their meetings regularly. They sell the knives to students for the carving as fund raisers (not for weapons, hopefully!). I thought that LSU was the last dental school still using that procedure, but at least they clearly notify students that they will be asked to do this as a part of the interview process. It is the first thing they do when they arrive for the interview. All interviewees sit around a table and are given a set amount of time to do the carving. It is scored by the committee with a score ranging from 1-10. They swear by it as the best indicator of a student's manual dexterity, visualization, etc.

The design they are asked to duplicate at the Louisiana State University Dental School is available on our Predental Society website if anyone is interested. http://www.lsu.edu/student_organizations/predentalsociety/ Click on INFO and there is a link for the chalk carving dimensions.

From: Janet Snoyer, Assistant Director for Health Careers, Cornell University
This year a student brought to his (Cornell committee letter) interview a piece of blackboard chalk that he had sculpted into a precise model of one side of the lower jaw of an adult human. He made it with a pushpin.

From: Cecelia Fox, Occidental College, L.A., CA
In past years, some of my students have described being given a block of wax to carve at dental interviews.

Details are at website: www.dent.ucla.edu (go to Pages, then Predental Course).

(N.B.: Having met Ms. Fox at an NAAHP conference, when she speaks, YOU OUGHTA LISTEN!!)

è 6. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Graduate School would host its 3^rd annual Career Day for Basic Biomedical Sciences on Thursday and Friday, April 22-23, 2004.

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Graduate School would like to announce that the 3^rd annual Career Day for Basic Biomedical Sciences will be held April 22-23, 2004 (Thursday and Friday) as a part of the College of Medicine Student Research Week. This event is designed to inform undergraduate and graduate students about the variety of science career options available. A welcome dinner will be held on Thursday night, and on Friday morning, a variety of career options in science will be presented. In addition to academic research, opportunities in industrial and biotech research, patent law, biotechnology company sales, as well as science careers in government will be discussed. Speakers will discuss the job description, advantages, disadvantages, salaries, and opportunities for advancement within each career track. Time for questions and interactions with participants will be provided. A coffee break and lunch will be provided on Friday, and a tour of campus core research facilities and viewing of student research posters will be offered on Friday afternoon. Undergraduate faculty and students are invited to attend this event. A limited number of complementary hotel rooms for out-of-town attendees will be available for April 22. More details will be announced in the coming months. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 501-526-7396 or by email at kmsterba@uams.edu.

Thanks!

Kristen Sterba, Ph.D.
Coordinator and Recruiter for Graduate Studies
College of Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 W. Markham Slot 718
Little Rock, AR 72205-7199
phone (501)526-7396
kmsterba@uams.edu

è 7. Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC) will be offering a Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) for rising junior and senior science majors who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree.

Rising junior and senior science majors who are interested in pursuing a graduate degree in the biomedical sciences will be able to sample the exciting research opportunities at Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Bowman Gray Campus, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. During the eight-week experience, which runs from June 2 through July 30, 2004, students will be exposed to basic lab skills, techniques, and technology used in biomedical research, data collection, and documentation. In addition, students will obtain an inside preview of career opportunities in scientific research and graduate education.

Participants will receive:

• At least $1,600 monthly
• Free housing on the Reynolda Campus of Wake Forest University
• Transportation between Bowman Gray Campus and Reynolda Campus

Applications are available from the website www.wfu.edu/graduate (click on the SROP icon found in the right hand column.) Application materials must be received by Wednesday, February 11, 2004. Applicants shall be notified by March 10.

For additional information, contact:
Wake Forest University
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Biomedical Sciences
Bowman Gray Campus
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1001
Telephone: (336) 716-4303 or 1-800-GET-GRAD
e-mail: bggrad@wfubmc.edu

è 8. Roswell Park Cancer Institute (Buffalo, NY) will offer its 52^nd Summer Research Participation in Science Program for High School and College Juniors.

If scientific research and a Ph.D. degree are your career goals, come to Buffalo, New York, this summer and learn at the world's first comprehensive cancer center.

• Prepare for graduate and undergraduate studies in science.
• Experience the process of basic science research at a leading comprehensive cancer center.
• Conduct a research project in molecular-cellular biology, genetics, immunology, biophysics, biochemistry, pharmacology, or bioinformatics.
• Attend classes and seminars taught by faculty of internationally-known scientists.
• Present your research findings at a science conference and poster-session.
• Receive advisement for careers in science.

• National Science Foundation - REU Program Site
• National Cancer Institute - R-25 Training Grant

• To request an application, e-mail mary.wisnicki@roswellpark.org or call 1-800-ROSWELL (767-9355) ext. 8134.
• High school student applications must be received by February 15^th, 2004.
• College student applications must be received by February 1, 2004.

è 9. The National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, will be hosting an exhibit entitled Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America's Women Physicians through 2 April 2005.

From an article in the 28 November 2003 issue of Science:

This exhibit, curated by Helen S. More and Manon Parry, includes 300 compelling biographies of women physicians who, as the title of the exhibition indicates, have changed the face of medicine in the United States.

The website for the exhibit is www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine .

Featured individuals include:

• Tenley Albright: Having battled polio as a child, Albright at age 20 won a gold medal in figure skating at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy. She subsequently went on to graduate from harvard Medical School and to enjoy a career as a general surgeon. Her gold medal and skating boots are on display in the exhibition;
• Catherine DeAngelis: current editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
• Antonia Novello: the first woman and Hispanic to be appointed Surgeon General of the United States in 1990;
• Bernardine Healy: the first female director of the National Institutes of Health;
• Elizabeth Blackwell: Admitted to Geneva Medical College in New York as a "joke" in 1847, she defied an outraged all-male faculty to become the first woman to obtain an M.D. in the United States;
• May Edward Chinn: An accomplished musician who played piano for singer Paul Robeson in her spare time, she became the first African American woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, in 1926;
• Helen Taussig: She refused to be deterred by the loss of her hearing while in her twenties and went on to pioneer (with Alfred Blalock in 1944) life-saving surgery for repairing the defective heart septum of "blue babies";
• Virginia Apgar: In 1952, she developed the first standardized scoring system for assessing the health of newborn babies. Apgar, a talented violinist, made one of her musical instruments;
• Barbara Ross-Lee: sister of songstress Diana Ross, became the first African American woman to be appointed dean of an American medical school (Ohio University's College of Osteopathic Medicine.)

In her speech at the exhibition's October opening, Novello expressed her hope that "many young women will be motivated to become all they can be." To offer more people an opportunity to view the exhibition, it is scheduled to travel throughout the United States after its 18-month run in Bethesda. Productions are developing a pair of DVDs that will bring these stories of women physicians to a broader audience ( www.fnlm.org ).

è 10. Interested in conducting research on malaria this summer? Join me in Uganda through MIRT!

During the upcoming Winter Break, I will be joining Dr. Janet McCord on a site visit to a clinic in Kinshasa, Uganda, to set things up for a MIRT research program during the Summer 2004. Two projects which I have in mind are the following:

1. Comparison of antigen-antibody detection slides and stained slides for the positive diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum;
2. Detection of Plasmodium falciparum among mosquito vectors.

If you are interested in EITHER of those projects, please contact either Dr. Malinda Fitzgerald, Director of the CBU MIRT Program, at malinda@cbu.edu , or Dr. Janet McCord, jmccord@cbu.edu , and submit an application to MIRT.