http://www.cbu.edu/
Caduceus Newsletter: Spring 2009.13, Week of April 6 Dr. Stan Eisen, Director Preprofessional Health Programs Christian Brothers University 650 East Parkway South Memphis, TN 38104 Home page: http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/ Caduceus Newsletter Archives: http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Caduceus.html	Don’t know which medical field to specialize in? Here’s a handy rubric!: (Thanks to Gina Moses, M.Ed., Associate Director of Application Services, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine for sending me this.)

Table of Contents:
1. ACS/BBB/PHP (American Chemical Society, Beta Beta Beta/Preprofessional Health Programs) Activities.
2. ==== AAMC STAT ====, News from the Association of American Medical Colleges, March 30, 2009 edition.
3. The Georgetown Summer Medical Institute (GSMI), a program of the Georgetown School of Medicine, will be offering medical school courses,
seminars and workshops for premedical (rising juniors and seniors), post-bacc, graduate and medical students this summer.
4. Facebook users wage condom campaign against Pope, from cnn.news, March 30, 2009.
5. Jefferson Medical College (Philadelphia, PA) is hosting an informational meeting on Friday, May 15, 2009, for pre-medical students who are interested in the rural Physician Shortage Area Program (PSAP).
6. A day in the life of a 2^nd year medical student at St. George’s University (Grenada). Thanks to Barbara Huntington, PHP Director at SDSU for sending me this.
7. The Research Associates (RA) Program (St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport CT) now has two positions available for Chief Research Associates.
8. The Southern California College of Optometry cordially invites you to attend our annual Spring Admissions Open House on Saturday, April 11^th, 2009. 
9. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis) offers an online Certificate in Clinical Research.

1. ACS/BBB/PHP (American Chemical Society, Beta Beta Beta/Preprofessional Health Programs) Activities.

• April (TBA) (BBB): Annual School of Sciences Charity Student vs. Facutly volleyball tournament, benefitting the Church Health Center.
• Tuesday, April 28 (BIOL 103): Annual Chocolate Tasting Session, Room J-10, 2 to 3:30 p.m.(!)

2. ==== AAMC STAT ====, News from the Association of American Medical Colleges, March 30, 2009 edition.

  == AAMC, health professions groups outline joint health care reform

principles

  == NIH announces new "Grand Opportunities" grants, other ARRA

opportunities

  == HHMI presents 50 faculty scientist awards

  == AARP report urges chronic care reform

  == Psychiatric association phases out industry influence at meetings

  == Women in Medicine committee calls for nominations, posters

  == On the move

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AAMC, health professions groups outline joint health care reform principles

The AAMC joined 14 other health professions groups in a statement on health

professions education in health reform. The statement, coordinated by the

Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions, outlines six

principles that should be included in congressional health care reform

efforts. Among the principles are increased access to high-quality,

cost-effective, and patient-centered care through existing or new public and

private health insurance options; an emphasis on prevention and wellness; and

a stable funding source to maintain and expand the educational infrastructure

for a well-educated and trained health professions workforce. 

Information: Go to

http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/library/workforce/corres/2009/032709.pdf

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NIH announces new "Grand Opportunities" grants, other ARRA opportunities

Last week, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a new $200

million program titled "Research and Research Infrastructure 'Grand

Opportunities'" (GO).  Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

(ARRA), the program will support large-scale research projects with specific

biomedical and bio-behavioral research endeavors.  Specifically, the funding

will go toward projects with "novel approaches in areas that address specific

knowledge gaps" like scientific opportunities, new technologies, data

generation, and research methods. Because funding will not be continued

beyond fiscal years 2009 and 2010, the research supported by the program will

be expected to have considerable short-term impact and a high likelihood of

enabling growth and investment in biomedical research and development, public

health, and health care delivery.  Only applications with budgets greater

than $500,000 in total costs per year, for a project period of two years,

will be considered.

Additionally, the NIH announced that $21 million of ARRA funding for

administrative supplements to existing grants over two years has been

allocated for educational opportunities in NIH-funded laboratories for

students and science educators. Investigators and institutions will be able

to apply for separate administrative supplements to support meaningful

research experiences for summer students and science educators.

Information: Go to grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-004.html,

or  grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-060.html

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HHMI presents 50 faculty scientist awards

Last week, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) announced the 50

recipients of their early-career awards.  The Early Career Scientist program

launched in 2008 and received more than 2,000 applications from faculty

working in all areas of basic biological and biomedical research.  Each

scientist will receive a six-year appointment to the HHMI, along with full

salary, benefits, and $1.5 million to explore his or her best research ideas.

The funding will benefit scientists from 33 institutions across the United

States, including several academic medical centers and schools.

Information: Go to www.hhmi.org/news/ecs20090326.html

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

AARP report urges chronic care reform

The AARP released a report last week titled "Chronic Care: A Call to Action

for Health Reform" that offers recommendations for improving care for 70

million chronically ill Americans.  According to the report, 21 percent of

chronically ill patients perceived a lack of communication between their

health care providers, and 20 percent of all respondents said their health

suffered as a result.  Recommendations included increasing the use of

information technology, expanding testing of care delivery models, and making

innovative changes to payment policy to encourage better performance and

outcomes.

Information: Go to

www.aarp.org/aarp/presscenter/pressrelease/articles/Chronic_Care_Report.html

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Psychiatric association phases out industry influence at meetings

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) board of trustees has voted to

phase out industry-supported symposia along with industry-supplied meals at

its annual meetings.  The decision was influenced, in part, by a current

trend in medicine to reduce potential conflicts of interest by refusing

pharmaceutical company gifts and sponsorships.  The APA board also decided to

eliminate meals provided during the symposia because they may have a "subtle

influence on doctors' prescribing habits."

Information: Go to

psych.org/MainMenu/Newsroom/NewsReleases/2009NewsReleases/APAPhasesOutISS.asp

x

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Women in Medicine committee calls for nominations, posters

The AAMC Women in Medicine (WIM) committee is soliciting nominations for the

annual Women in Medicine Leadership Award and the Women in Medicine Call for

Posters for its annual meeting.  The WIM Leadership Awards recognize

individual and organizational contributions to advancing women leaders in

academic medicine.  Any member of the academic medicine community may

nominate one individual and/or organization for the award. 

The 2009 theme for the Call for Women in Medicine Posters is "Celebrating

Women in Medicine and Science: Future Directions." The WIM coordinating

committee invites abstracts describing institutional programs or activities

that support the transition of women from trainees to faculty.  The deadline

for submissions for both the award and poster is May 21.

Information: Go to www.aamc.org/members/wim/award.htm  or

http://www.aamc.org/members/wim/callforposters.htm

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

On the move

President Obama announced the nomination of Yvette Roubideaux, M.D., M.P.H.,

an internist and a member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, to head the Indian

Health Service.  Roubideaux is currently an assistant professor in both the

college of public health and the college of medicine at the University of

Arizona.

Harvard physicist John P. Holdren, Ph.D., has been confirmed as director of

the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.  Prior to the

appointment, Holdren was the Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental

Policy and director of the Program on Science, Technology, and Public Policy

at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

President Obama announced the appointment of Margaret Hamburg, M.D., as

commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.  Most recently, Hamburg

worked at the Nuclear Threat Initiative as the founding vice president for

the Biological Program. Prior to that, she was the assistant secretary for

planning and evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

and served for six years as the commissioner of health for the city of New

York.

William F. Bina III, M.D., has been appointed dean of Mercer University

School of Medicine. Bina has served as interim dean of the school since July

2008. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Academic Medicine Online

The field of biomedical research is constantly changing, and academic

medicine must adapt to meet the needs of the current climate. The April issue

of Academic Medicine examines many related factors, including articles and

commentaries on clinical research, the future of psychiatry, and the training

of biomedical scientists.

www.academicmedicine.org

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3. The Georgetown Summer Medical Institute (GSMI), a program of the Georgetown School of Medicine, will be offering medical school courses,
seminars and workshops for premedical (rising juniors and seniors), post-bacc, graduate and medical students this summer.

The Georgetown Summer Medical Institute (GSMI), a program of the Georgetown School of Medicine, will be offering medical school courses,
seminars and workshops for premedical (rising juniors and seniors), post-bacc, graduate and medical students this summer. For undergraduate and post-bacc premedical students, this is a unique opportunity to experience the medical school environment, get to know medical school faculty, and get an in depth education in an actual medical school course. A flyer is attached to this email.

Our courses include:

- Gross Anatomy (with cadaveric dissection)
- Medical Biochemistry
- Medical Histology
- Human Physiology

Students may enroll for one of the above courses only. In addition,
students who want to learn more about the medical profession and the
application process are encouraged to enroll for two seminar series:

- Physician and Society Seminars
- Medical Admissions Workshops

This is the fifth year of this program. If you or your students have
questions, you may address them to me (myersa@georgetown.edu) or visit
our website:

http://gsmi.georgetown.edu

Thanks and best wishes,

Adam Myers

Adam Myers, Ph.D.
Director, GSMI, GUSOM
Associate Dean for Graduate Education, GUMC

                                   (__|  |__)

4. Facebook users wage condom campaign against Pope, from cnn.news, March 30, 2009.

• Story Highlights
• Facebook users plan to send condoms to Pope Benedict XVI
• Pope Benedict XVI recently said condoms are not the answer to stop HIV/AIDS
• Vatican has long opposed use of condoms, other forms of birth control

By Faith Karimi
CNN

(CNN) -- Critics took to the social networking site Facebook to voice their fury over Pope Benedict's remark that condoms do not prevent HIV.

Thousands have pledged to send the pontiff millions of condoms to protest the controversial comment he made to journalists as he flew to Cameroon last week.

"You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms," the pope told reporters. "On the contrary, it increases the problem."

Pope Benedict XVI has made it clear he intends to uphold the traditional Catholic teaching on artificial contraception. The Vatican has long opposed the use of condoms and other forms of birth control and encourages sexual abstinence to fight the spread of the disease.

About a dozen Facebook groups have sprung up, mostly from European countries, criticizing the pontiff.

"The clergy aren't supposed to have sex at all, but they are free to tell people how to conduct themselves? That's like a girl who wears no make-up as the CEO of CoverGirl," one member posted on the page, "Condoms for Pope Benedict XVI."

"It frightens me that a man who has devoted his life to moral guidance ... and is undeniably a learned, intelligent man can be at the same time so narrow-minded, bigoted and irresponsible," posted another person on a different page.

The online campaign added another voice to a deluge of criticism, which includes the governments of France, Germany and Belgium. Aid agencies and other health organizations have also chimed in.

The Lancet, a British medical journal, urged the pope Saturday to issue a retraction for the "outrageous and wildly inaccurate" statement to journalists aboard his plane.

"When any influential person, be it a religious or political leader, makes a false scientific statement that could be devastating to the health of millions of people, they should retract or correct the public record," The Lancet said in an editorial.

"Anything less from Pope Benedict would be an immense disservice to the public and health advocates, including many thousands of Catholics, who work tirelessly to try and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS worldwide."

Some in the Catholic Church have rallied to the pontiff's support.

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, head of the Italian Bishops Conference, told Times Online in Britain that Benedict was simply pointing out that condoms

"had not solved and could not solve the AIDS problem."

Despite the controversy, the pope's pilgrimage spurred excitement in Africa. An estimated 1 million people turned out to hear him preach a Mass in Angola on Sunday, the last major event of his trip. He spoke of the need for reconciliation in the country, which has endured a brutal civil war.

"Look to the future with hope, trust in God's promises and live in his truth. In this way you will build something that will stand and endure," he said.

All AboutPope Benedict XVI • Birth Control

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/03/28/pope.condom.attacks/index.html

5. Jefferson Medical College (Philadelphia, PA) is hosting an informational meeting on Friday, May 15, 2009, for pre-medical students who are interested in the rural Physician Shortage Area Program (PSAP).

Jefferson Medical College’s rural

Physician Shortage Area Program (PSAP)

Informational meeting on Friday, May 15, 2009

for

interested pre-medical students from rural areas or small towns

planning to practice in similar areas

Jefferson Medical College is hosting an informational meeting on Friday May 15, 2009 (10:00 AM – 2:00 PM) for pre-medical students who are interested in the rural Physician Shortage Area Program (PSAP). This program is specifically geared for those students (freshman through seniors):

1. who have grown up or lived in a small town or rural area (i.e. not urban and not suburban), and who are also
2. committed to practicing in a small town or rural area (not necessarily their home town).

Please share this information with your students – and encourage any students who fit the PSAP goals and want to learn more about the program to join us in May. Additional information about Jefferson’s PSAP can be found at: http://www.tju.edu/psap/

During this day, students will be provided with more specific information regarding the PSAP and the admissions process – and will have an opportunity to meet with faculty and students involved in the program. Lunch will be provided, and a campus tour will be offered after the meeting for those who are interested.

Interested students can sign up for the program, or obtain additional information, by contacting contact Carolyn Little, MEd, Education Coordinator, via email at Carolyn.Little@jefferson.edu (or by phone at 215-955-2362). (There is limited space, so please advise students to RSVP early.)

6. A day in the life of a 2^nd year medical student at St. George’s University (Grenada). Thanks to Barbara Huntington, PHP Director at SDSU for sending me this.

Thanks to Jeff for his "day in the life of"--I think he gives a thoughtful evaluation of some questions you might have about off-shore schools.
Barb

Jeff Orr--2^nd yr. medical student at St. George’s University

            When I boarded a plane to Grenada, I was pretty sure I was making a mistake. To gather support for his Cold War military invasion here, Reagan claimed the lives of U.S. medical students at SGU were in danger. So I anticipated being an unwelcome guest. And I thought the stigma of attending a non-U.S. med school would haunt me for the rest of my life.

            For all I know, the stigma part may be true. But I like it here enough that I honestly don’t care. As far as the quality of education, I feel like I’m receiving excellent training. And since we have to take the same board exams as students at U.S. schools, my guess is the stigma only really affects graduates whose performance is below par.

            Day to day feels like a 9-5 job, except it’s interesting and it consumes much of my free time and weekends. Our courses this term are Pathology, Microbiology, Communication & Physical Diagnosis and Medical Nutrition. The schedule is:

M-F (8- or 9-12)          lectures
M-W (12 – 3)              lunch, study
M-Th (3 – 5)                pathology small groups
Th (1-3)                       mock patient interviews
F (1-3)                         microbiology lab

            The mock interviews consist of doctors critiquing us as we take histories & physicals of paid actors from the community. The micro labs consist of us learning how to perform some routine diagnostic laboratory procedures for common microbes.

            Many of the lecturers this term have been guest lecturers who come here annually from various medical schools in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Most of them are great. Some are awful, in which case I just study on my own for the section. We are given lists of objectives we need to master for every lecture of every course. So those who are good independent learners tend to skip many of the lectures, all of which are posted online in case we need to watch them at another time.

            For pathology small groups (12/grp), we are given sets of gross and histological slides every week highlighting aspects of disease processes. We divide them among ourselves, research specific information about them, and present what we’ve found to the group, who then questions the presenter. Path groups are a good time to brush up on and integrate material from last year’s courses like Anatomy, Biochemistry, Histology, Physiology, Immunology and Neuroscience.

            Small groups are supervised by “clinical tutors” who correct misinformation and ask additional questions to the presenter. The clinical tutors are mostly young doctors from around the world, with experience in their home countries, who are trying to immigrate to the States. In order to practice in the States, they have to take U.S. board exams and apply for residencies in the U.S. In the meantime, they work at SGU so they can become familiar with the U.S. model of medical education prior to being granted entry into the U.S. Their presence at SGU is a nice feature because they are so accessible. One of them, from India, happens to live in my apartment building. So I ask him questions all the time. And since he just took his boards and scored very high, he likes to give me advice on how to study for them based on whatever we’re learning at the time.

            SGU has a somewhat traditional curriculum, wherein courses are divided into subjects and basic science years are distinct from clinical years. However, the courses integrate and build on each other well, and there are constant activities that require hands-on learning, group problem solving and presenting to a peer audience. Also, during the last few months of the second basic science year, students begin mini-rotations in the hospitals here. The clinical 3^rd and 4^th years are completed at various teaching hospitals in the U.S., most of which are in New York City.

            Basically everyday I just stick to the program the school gives me and learn what they tell me to learn for that day. Then I walk to the edge of campus where I can scope the surf break that’s by my apartment. If it looks okay, I go surfing until sunset. Then I review the day, pre-read and prepare my slides for the next day. On the weekends, I review the week and enjoy more time with my family.

            There are a lot of groups to be involved in. I’m in a nerdy “journal club” that listens to people present on recent medical journal articles they find interesting. Some students hang out at the beach with kids from the orphanages on Saturdays. Most students are involved in some kind of intramural sports. There are organized dodgeball and softball tournaments and things like that. A couple guys skate the basketball courts.

            Most of the student body is from the U.S. and Canada, and they have very mixed feelings about the school. Those who love it tend to be those who enjoy cross-cultural experiences. Those who can’t wait to get out of here tend to be those who really miss the fast-paced North American modus operandi. Basically if you don’t like reggae or the idea of going to a rum shack on jerk chicken night, you probably wouldn’t like it here.

            My wife was stoked on the idea of coming down here and sipping pina coladas on the beach while I went to med school (foreigners usually can’t get work visas). But she ended up getting pregnant right around the time we came here. So she didn’t have any pina coladas until our daughter was born. Fortunately, she made friends with a few other girls in similar situations. So they hang out a lot together and babysit for each other. She also goes to a yoga class on campus.

            I was worried about being able to manage med school on top of being married and a parent, but it’s not as difficult as I imagined. It just requires a spouse who wants you to be a doctor and a lot of discipline, which would be difficult to get through med school without anyway. In fact, there are some women in my class who either came here with young children or had them here. Honestly I’m not sure how they pull it off, but they do. If you doubt whether you’ll be able to handle med school because you’re not 22 and single, don’t let that stop you. You can become a lot more efficient than you ever thought you could be when you have no choice. Best of luck with your apps. Listen to Barb: don’t procrastinate.

7. The Research Associates (RA) Program (St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport CT) now has two positions available for Chief Research Associates.

The Research Associates (RA) Program has grown such in the past year that we now have two positions available for Chief Research Associates.  We are looking for graduating seniors or post-bacs who have solid gpas and test scores for whom a year of clinical research work will have a significant impact on their application to medical school.

Chief RAs

• work as the administrative assistants for the program
• are responsible for day-to-day supervison of the RAs serving in the emergency department as data collectors in our clinical research
• this includes significant patient contact in the emergency department
• have direct involvement in all aspects of the research from study initiation through publication
• this includes work to associate authorship on a clinical paper.
• participate in all research meetings
• this includes presenting our work to the Institutional Review Board and at regional and national meetings
• assist in recruiting new RAs and their orientation to the program
• this includes formal lecturing and direct bedside teaching

These are

• one-year commitments of approximately twenty (20) hours per week starting in mid-May and ending when medical school starts..
• unfunded, except for grants
• Chiefs will be a part of the grant-writing process, so they will "sing for their supper"
• in the past, Chiefs have routinely held other paying positions

So far, all of our Chiefs have matriculated to medical school, except one, who went on to a PhD program in clinical research.

Details on the website:  www.RAProgram.org. 

If you know someone who might fit the bill as one of our Chiefs, please have them contact me at this e-mail address.

By the way, we have received more applications for this summer's RA semester than in any other year.  There are still slots available, but it's "first come, first serve" until positions are filled.  Again, details at www.RAProgram.org.

--
All the best.

Keith Bradley, MD
Director, Research Associates Program
www.RAProgram.org
(203) 374-2906 (w)
(203) 767-6363 (c)

8. The Southern California College of Optometry cordially invites you to attend our annual Spring Admissions Open House on Saturday, April 11^th, 2009. 

The Southern California College of Optometry cordially invites you to attend our annual Spring Admissions Open House on Saturday, April 11^th, 2009. 

Advisors, prospective students and their families are welcome.  Learn more about the optometric profession.  Plans include speakers, campus tours and demonstrations.  SCCO interns speak and take audience questions.  Dr. Jane Ann Munroe, SCCO Alumnus and Director of Admissions will speak about the admissions process.

For event information:
http://www.scco.edu/admissions/documents/SpringAdmissionsOpenHouse2009.pdf

For visitor information and directions, please visit SCCO’s website at:
www.scco.edu
Click on Visitor Information in the pull down menu on the home page under College of Optometry

Please RSVP via email at admissions@scco.edu  or phone 714-449-7444

Hope to see you there!

Jane Ann Munroe, O. D.
Director of Admissions
Southern California College of Optometry
2575 Yorba Linda Blvd
Fullerton, Ca 92831
714-449-7446
Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=692646427
Facebook Group for Pre-Optometry Students:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4816879678
jmunroe@scco.edu
FAX 714-992-7878

9. The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis) offers an online Certificate in Clinical Research.

The online Certificate in Clinical Research Program at UT Health Science Center will consider applications submitted by May 2, 2009, from prospective

students who are interested in Fall 2009 admission to the program.  The 12-credit-hour, two-semester program, leading to an awarded certificate, is

designed primarily for junior faculty, fellows, other healthcare professionals and research-oriented individuals who are not in a degree

program, who seek initial training in the methods and skills to conduct clinical research, but whose schedules may not accommodate traditional,

classroom-based courses.  The Certificate in Clinical Research Program offers online, introductory graduate courses in epidemiology, biostatistics,

clinical research design, ethics, and other disciplines related to the effective, efficient conduct of clinical research.  More details and an

application form are available at http://www.utmem.edu/prevmed/pm/k30certificateprogram.html.

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