http://www.cbu.edu/

Caduceus Newsletter:  Spring 2008.16, Week of April 21
(The final issue for Spring 2008!!)

Dr. Stan Eisen, Director
Preprofessional Health Programs
Christian Brothers University

650 East Parkway South
Memphis, TN  38104

Home page:
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/

 Proposed signage for the newly-renovated Assisi (formerly Science) Hall:

 


 

Caduceus Newsletter Archives:
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Caduceus.html 

 

Table of Contents:
1.  World peace through Godiva Chocolates:  The results.     
2.  Let’s just say, hypothetically of course, that you decide to visit the American University of Antigua College of Medicine 
3.  ==== AAMC STAT ====, News from the Association of American Medical Colleges, April 14, 2008 edition. 
4.  More proposed signage for the newly-renovated Assisi (formerly) Science Hall.  

 

5.  Marginalia:  How was your cereal this morning?

 

 

1.   World peace through Godiva Chocolates:  The results   

Let’s face it – there is a fine art to appreciating the appearance, fragrance, texture, sound and even the FLAVOR of Godiva Chocolate…and FURTHERMORE, you need a guide:

Introducting Marian Badger, Manager of both Memphis area Godiva Chocolatier locations, who has been our benefactor for the 5th Annual Godiva Chocolate Tasting Session:

Heather Perry, sampling the SOUND of white chocolate:

FINALLY, we (Simone Lampkin and Caroline Fly) get to enjoy the FLAVOR:

A woman without a man may be like a fish without a bicycle, but a woman without GODIVA CHOCOLATE would be an entirely different story.  (Shown here:  Leverda Mcgee)
 

Null hypothesis 1:  Equal number of females and males attended the event.

Results:


Null hypothesis 2:  Taste preferences of females and males are identical. 

Results:

 

2.  Let’s just say, hypothetically of course, that you decide to visit the American University of Antigua College of Medicine

Last week, Jay Wilson, Regional Director of Admissions for the American University of Antigua College stopped by for visit.  In his follow-up thank-you e-mail, he sent the following picture, indicating where you would stay, just in case you decide to visit the island on business:

 

 

(Sigh.)

 

For more information about the American University of Antigua College of Medicine, contact:

Norman "Jay" Wilson

Regional Director of Admissions - SE

American University of Antigua College of Medicine

www.auamed.org

jwilson@auamed.org

407-221-1144

 

 

 

3.  ==== AAMC STAT ====, News from the Association of American Medical Colleges, April 14, 2008 edition. 

 

  == AAMC testifies to Congress on VA physician recruitment and retention

  == Survey finds Americans uncomfortable with advance care planning

  == AAMC supports bill to prevent proposed changes in Medicaid regulations

  == 2009-2010 MSAR now available

  == Association seeks awards nominations

  == NCRR offers strategic plan for public comment

  == MedPAC recommends primary care payment raise, medical home pilot

  == IRS releases draft instructions for Form 990

  == On the move

 

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AAMC testifies to Congress on VA physician recruitment and retention

 

John A. McDonald, M.D., Ph.D., testified last week on behalf of the AAMC at a

Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs (VA) hearing, "Making the VA the

Workplace of Choice for Health Care Providers." Dr. McDonald is vice

president for health sciences and dean of the University of Nevada School of

Medicine and a member of the AAMC VA-Deans Liaison Committee. In his

testimony, he stressed the importance of the VA's academic affiliations,

graduate medical education, and research opportunities.

 

Jennifer L. Strauss, Ph.D., assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioral

sciences for Duke University Medical Center, testified on behalf of the

Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition and noted the

scarcity of adequate VA research facilities. The AAMC is a member of the FOVA

executive committee. 

 

Information: Go to

http://www.senate.gov/~svac/public/index.cfm?pageid=16&release_id=11581&view=

all

 

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Survey finds Americans uncomfortable with advance care planning

 

Dying is still a touchy subject for most people, according to the national,

electronic survey released on the eve of the first National Healthcare

Decisions Day (NHDD) on April 16. The survey included 2,300 respondents and

concluded that most people are "more likely to talk with their children about

drug use or sex than with a seriously ill parent about their end-of-life

wishes." The NHDD initiative started in Oct. 2007 with the goal of providing

Americans with the necessary tools and information to begin advance care

planning in order to ensure their final wishes are carried out. A number of

outreach activities and events will be hosted by participating community

organizations on Wednesday to stress how important it is to make health care

planning a priority. The initiative is headed by an executive committee and

is supported by 72 national organizations, including the AAMC, and 322 state

and local organizations. 

 

Information: Go to www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org 

 

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AAMC supports bill to prevent proposed changes in Medicaid regulations

 

On April 2, the AAMC sent a letter to Congress in support of "Protecting the

Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008," legislation proposed in the House of

Representatives that would extend a moratorium on drastic changes to Medicaid

regulations. Among the changes proposed last year by the Bush administration,

is the elimination of Medicaid funding for graduate medical education-of

chief concern to the AAMC and its members. The legislation to extend the

moratorium has been passed by a House subcommittee and will be voted on in

the House this week.

 

Information: Go to

http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/library/teachhosp/corres/2008/040208.pdf

 

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2009-2010 MSAR now available

 

The AAMC's 2009-2010 Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) guidebook,

the primary source of information on all U.S. and Canadian medical schools,

is now available. In addition to being the most up-to-date resource for

applying to medical school, this edition has information on the newly

accredited school in Puerto Rico, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, and

the three new schools with preliminary accreditation (University of Central

Florida College of Medicine, Florida International University College of

Medicine, and Paul L. Foster School of Medicine at El Paso) that will be

enrolling their first classes in 2009. The MSAR is the definitive source for

application procedures and deadlines, selection factors such as MCAT exam and

GPA data, medical school class profiles, costs and financial aid packages,

M.D./Ph.D. and other combined degree programs, and graduates' specialty

choices.

 

Information: Go to www.aamc.org/msar

 

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Association seeks awards nominations

 

The AAMC is seeking nominations for major awards honoring individuals and

programs making significant contributions to the academic medicine community.

Awards will be presented at the association's annual meeting (Oct. 31-Nov. 5)

in San Antonio and include:

 

* The Abraham Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education is

the highest honor that academic medicine presents for sustained contributions

to American medical education. The award is a medal and a cash prize of

$10,000. Deadline: May 2.

 

* The Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Awards

recognize the significant contributions to medical education made by gifted

teachers. Each awardee receives $10,000; the awardee's institution receives

$2,500; and the awardee's AOA chapter receives $1,000. Deadline: May 30.

 

* The Award for Distinguished Research in the Biomedical Sciences recognizes

exceptional research discoveries, and consists of a crystal award and $5,000.

Deadline: May 2.

 

* The David E. Rogers Award is granted to a medical school faculty member who

has made major contributions to improving the health and health care of the

American people. The recipient receives a $10,000 award and a crystal

presentation piece. Deadline: May 2.

 

* The Herbert W. Nickens Award is granted annually to an individual who has

made outstanding contributions to promoting justice in medical education and

health care. The recipient receives a $10,000 award and a crystal

presentation piece. Deadline: May 2.

 

* The Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service recognizes

longstanding, major institutional commitment to addressing community needs.

The winner receives an engraved crystal presentation piece. Deadline: May 2.

 

Information: Go to http://www.aamc.org/about/awards/start.htm or contact AAMC

Office of the President at 202.828.0472

 

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NCRR offers strategic plan for public comment

 

The National Institutes of Health's National Center for Research Resources

(NCRR) is seeking public comment on its draft strategic plan for 2009-2013.

The NCRR supports major programs for development of shared infrastructure and

vital national resources, including primate and other animal facilities,

instrumentation and biotechnology centers, research at minority institutions,

regional centers of excellence, and clinical research resources, including

the Clinical and Translational Science Awards. The NCRR also plans to develop

an implementation progress report in the coming weeks. Public comments are

due April 23.

 

Information: Go to http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/strategic_plan/

 

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MedPAC recommends primary care payment raise, medical home pilot

 

Last week, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommended an

increase in Medicare payments for primary care practitioners and the

implementation of a pilot program to establish "medical homes" for patients.

(The AAMC has recently adopted a position on the medical home model of care:

http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/2008/080325.htm.) The commission also

approved a series of recommendations to move toward bundling Medicare

payments for physician and hospital services. The recommendations and

comments will appear in MedPAC's annual report to Congress in June. MedPAC is

an independent agency that advises Congress on issues affecting the Medicare

program.

  

Information: Go to http://www.medpac.gov/meetings.cfm

 

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IRS releases draft instructions for Form 990

 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is seeking public comment on the draft

Form 990 tax return instructions, including draft instructions and worksheets

for the Schedule H form used by hospitals to report charity care and other

community benefits. Comments are due June 1.

 

Information: Go to http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=181089,00.html

 

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On the move

 

James E. Brick, M.D., has been appointed interim dean of the West Virginia

University School of Medicine. He is currently chair of the school's

department of medicine. Dr. Brink will replace John E. Prescott, M.D., who

has stepped down to pursue academic activities in the WVU department of

emergency medicine, including health policy research, teaching, and clinical

duties.

 

John P. Fogarty, M.D., has been named dean of the Florida State University

College of Medicine, effective Aug. 8. He is currently senior associate dean

for operations and associate dean for primary care at the University of

Vermont College of Medicine.

 

Dawn Gideon has been appointed president and chief executive officer of the

Western Pennsylvania Hospital and its Forbes Campus in Monroeville, part of

the West Penn Allegheny Health System. She is currently managing director and

interim management group practice leader for the Huron Consulting Group. Her

appointment is effective May 5.

 

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Academic Medicine Online

 

The AAMC, the Institute of Medicine, and other national organizations

recommend that all medical students receive training in population health,

but how is the academic medicine community responding to this challenge?

Academic Medicine's April theme issue on population health education examines

efforts to train physicians who are well equipped to address issues of public

health and prevention. In this issue you'll find a comprehensive look at

population health education-from the undergraduate university level through

medical school, graduate medical education, and beyond. Two of the articles

are free to non-subscribers: "Evidence-Based Public Health Education as

Preparation for Medical School" and "Education of a Physician: A CDC

Perspective."

www.academicmedicine.org 

 

 

4.  More proposed signage for the newly-renovated Assisi (formerly) Science Hall.  

 

5.  Marginalia:  How was your cereal this morning? 

Dr. Stan Eisen, Director
Preprofessional Health Programs
Biology Department
Christian Brothers University

650 East Parkway South
Memphis, TN 38104

E-mail: seisen@cbu.edu
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/
Caduceus Newsletter Archives: http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Caduceus.html