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Caduceus
Newsletter: Summer 2010.02, July
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Service projects can come
in all shapes and sizes, like knit hats for premature infants and cancer
patients, as in this photograph from Outlook, the quarterly journal of the
Washington University School of Medicine:
For more information,
please see Marginalia. |
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Table of
Contents: 1. From Medscape
Internal Medicine: Surgeon General Urges Exercise for Optimal Health, by
Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, Posted: 06/17/2010. |
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1. From Medscape Internal Medicine: Surgeon General Urges Exercise for Optimal Health, by Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, Posted: 06/17/2010. |
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You can see and hear a video clip of her delivering her speech at
The following commentary from US Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, is a collaboration between the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and Medscape. As Surgeon General, my priorities focus on wellness and prevention. Earlier this year, I released my paper, The Surgeon General's Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation [2010]. There is, perhaps, no more serious challenges to the nation's health and well-being than those posed by obesity and overweight. Since 1980, obesity rates have doubled in adults and more than tripled in children, and the problem is even worse among black, Hispanic, and Native American children. We see the sobering impact of these numbers in the high rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic illnesses, that are starting to affect our children more and more. A few months ago, a study from The University of North Carolina [at Chapel Hill] School of Medicine reported that obese children as young as age 3 show signs of an inflammatory response that has been linked to heart disease later in life. I was pleased to join the First Lady for the launch of her Let's Move! campaign to solve the problem of childhood obesity within 1 generation. Both my Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation and the First Lady's Let's Move! campaign take a comprehensive approach that engages families and communities, as well as the public and private sectors. My Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation is an attempt to change the national conversation from a negative one about obesity and illness to a positive conversation about being healthy and being fit. I want to encourage Americans to eat more nutritiously, exercise regularly, and maintain healthier lifestyles. That is why I am asking healthcare organizations across this country to join the Exercise is Medicine initiative. Exercise is Medicine is a multinational, multiorganizational initiative. It brings physical activity to the forefront of disease prevention and treatment, by making exercise a part of every patient's interaction with a health clinician. Exercise is Medicine strives to provide the essential connection between clinicians, fitness professionals, and the public, so that everyone can receive the guidance they need to stay healthy and active. All the partners in this initiative are dedicated to the idea that exercise is the new medicine. Partners are asked to continue to build, support, and advocate for physical activity as an essential element of global health and well-being by committing to action:
As health professionals, we should remember that patients are more likely to change their behavior if they have a meaningful reward -- something more than reaching a certain weight or dress size. The reward has to be something that each person can feel, enjoy, and celebrate. The reward is optimal health that allows people to embrace each day and live their lives to the fullest -- without disease, disability, or lost productivity. I hope you will join the Exercise is Medicine initiative. Together, America can become a Healthy and Fit Nation. |
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2. Received
this month. (On the bookshelf in
the BBB/PHP Lounge, unless otherwise noted.)
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3. ===AAMC
STAT===, e-newsletter from the Association of American Medical Colleges,
June 7, 2010 edition. |
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4. Inside
OME: The monthly e-journal from
the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic medicine on Osteopathic
Medical Education, June 2010 edition.
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If you are unable to view this e-mail clearly you may view it online at http://www.aacom.org/resources/ome/2010-06/Pages/default.aspx
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5. Some information
about the South Carolina College of Pharmacy (Charleston). |
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Dr. Eisen, Good afternoon! We appreciate your work as a pre-pharmacy advisor and want to provide you with any resources or information you need to help your students make the right choices about their education and career. If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us here at the South Carolina College of Pharmacy! You may find our pre-pharmacy advisor tool kit (www.sccp.sc.edu/students/prepharmacy/advisors.aspx) or FAQ (www.sccp.sc.edu/students/prepharmacy/faq.aspx) to be helpful. It is an exciting time to enter the profession of pharmacy. Our most recent graduates found career opportunities from South Carolina to Hawaii, working in a variety of areas like chain and independent retail stores, hospitals and other health-systems, the Federal government and many more. For more information about pharmacy, please view http://www.explorehealthcareers.org//en/Career.14.aspx ! The colleges of pharmacy at University of South Carolina (USC) and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) have more than 150 years’ experience educating pharmacists. With the 2005 integration of those colleges to create the South Carolina College of Pharmacy (SCCP), we were able to pool our resources and offer a state-wide approach to pharmacy education. You and your students might be interested in seeing some of the points of distinction the SCCP has to offer (www.sccp.sc.edu/students/prospective.aspx). The SCCP enrolls 190 students per year, 80 on the MUSC campus in Charleston and 110 on the USC campus in Columbia. For our incoming class of 190 students, the average grade-point-average (GPA) and pharmacy college admissions test (PCAT) (composite) were 3.5 and 70%, respectively. We require two on campus interviews, and the minimum GPA to apply is a 2.5. Key Application Information (follow links for more details): a) Complete a minimum our 66 hours of prerequisite requirements (www.sccp.sc.edu/students/admissions.aspx). To view frequently approved pharmacy pre-requisite courses from other institutions, please see http://www.musc.edu/es/application/fap.html b) Complete our online application (www.sccp.sc.edu/students/admissions.aspx) with three letters of recommendation; students can select a campus preference (Charleston or Columbia). c) Take the Pharmacy College admissions test (PCAT) (www.PCATweb.info), and (d) take part in an on-campus interview. Advising Tips: a) Our application process opens on July 1, 2010. The next PCAT tests are June 19, 2010, August 21, 2010, and October 16,2010 . The application process closes January 1, 2011. b) We do not participate in PharmCas so please proceed directly to our online application. Transcripts should be mailed to SCCP Admissions c/o Mrs. Sue Coates, 41 Bee Street, MSC 203, Charleston, SC 29425-2030. c) Students can earn extra points by 1) working in a pharmacy, 2) earning a four-year bachelor’s degree and/or 3) holding leadership positions on campus or in the community! Thank you for serving as an advisor to students on your campus who are interested in pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree! If you are not the pre-pharmacy advisor on your campus, please let us know. Also, please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns! Sincerely, Philip D. Hall, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, BCOP Interim Campus Dean & Professor South Carolina College of Pharmacy Medical University of South Carolina Campus Charleston, South Carolina Phone #: (843) 792-8450 Fax #: (843) 792-9081 |
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6. The Hofstra
University School of Medicine in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health
System announces the 133rd allopathic medical school in the
U.S. |
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From: Donna Narsavage Heald, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Science Education, Director of Pre-Health Professions Advising Fordham College at Rose Hill, Bronx, NY: The Hofstra University School of Medicine in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health System has received the necessary accreditations from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and New York State Department of Education, making it the 133rd allopathic medical school in the nation and the first new medical school in the New York metropolitan area in more than 35 years. The School is participating in the AMCAS application
service, including its letter program. For further details, please
visit the School’s website at http://www.medicine.hofstra.edu
. |
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7. ===AAMC
STAT===. e-newsletter from the Association of American Medical Colleges,
June 14, 2010 edition. |
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• Doctor shortage most likely to affect all specialties and regions A Los
Angeles Times article, “Agencies Warn of
Coming Doctor Shortages,” featured perspectives
from various health care organizations and government agencies on the physician
shortage. The AAMC’s Chief Advocacy Officer Atul Grover,
M.D., Ph.D., pointed out in the article that the U.S. population over age 65 will double by 2030 and increase demand for not only
preventive care but also for specialists who treat
patients for health conditions such as heart
disease and diabetes. The AAMC supports lifting the cap on Medicare-funded residency training positions to help meet the
health care needs of a growing, aging U.S. population. An article in the Washington Post, “Medical Schools Use
Outreach Programs to Make Student Bodies More Diverse,” highlighted
initiatives by AAMC-member institutions to increase diversity among medical
school classes. The AAMC’s Chief Diversity Officer Marc Nivet, Ed.D.,
noted the need for tactics to improve the pipeline for
incoming students. The AAMC’s “Roadmap to Diversity”
was also mentioned as a way to help schools make their student bodies more diverse. Local programs at Georgetown
University and George Washington University were
included for their efforts to encourage college and
high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented
minorities to enter the medical field. The
AAMC continues to develop and update resources related to the new health care reform law. Materials will be posted regularly: www.aamc.org/reform |
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8. Sources
of information for post-baccalaureate programs |
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The Postbac Interest Group of the National Association of
Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) wanted to share some information
with you that may help you as you advise students who want information about
postbac programs. Here is the link for a variety of articles we have
written and compiled to help advisors and students understand what postbac
study is all about. http://naahp.org/resources_postbacMain.htm We suggest you begin with the FAQs and the Glossary, and
then proceed to read through the articles that have been written and
published over the years in the Advisor. Here is the AAMC link for a
searchable database of postbac programs: |
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9. E-mail
Feasible Inexpensive Way to Screen for Depression in College Students, by
Caroline Casels, from Medscape Medical News.
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URL: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/722475?sssdmh=dm1.618992&src=nldne&uac=40240FX
Authors and DisclosuresJournalistCaroline CasselsCaroline Cassels is the news editor for Medscape Psychiatry. A medical and health journalist for 20 years, Caroline has written extensively for both physician and consumer audiences. She helped launch and was the editor of Health Digest, an award-winning Canadian consumer health publication. She was also national editor of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada's Web site before joining Medscape Neurology & Neurosurgery in 2005. She is the recipient of the 2008 American Academy of Neurology Journalism Fellowship Award. She can be contacted at CCassels@webmd.net .
From Medscape Medical NewsEmail Feasible, Inexpensive Way to Screen for Depression in College
Students
Presented here at the American Psychiatric Association 2010 Annual Meeting by first author Irene Shyu, BA, the investigators also found that providing students who screen positive for MDD with information about depression and potential treatment resources does not appear to increase help-seeking behavior.
"Our team does a lot of studies and clinical work in people with depression, and we have noticed in the past 10 years or so that college students are an underserved population," principal investigator Albert Yeung, ScD, MD, director of primary care research at the Depression Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told Medscape Psychiatry. Dr. Yeung added that the prevalence of depression among college students runs between 10% and 17%. In contrast, he said, the prevalence of clinical depression in the community is about 7%. Traditional depression screening in this population, which typically involves holding outreach clinics at local colleges and universities, is cumbersome and may be significantly hampered by selection bias. "Typically, we set up booths and give out questionnaires at colleges over 2 or 3 depression screening days and students come in and fill them out, but this process is cumbersome and I always suspected that the healthier students would be more likely to participate in screening because they are more extroverted and more likely to engage, whereas depressed individuals may be less likely to engage," said Dr. Yeung. The widespread use of the Internet, particularly among young people, prompted the investigators to look into whether email and an online survey might be a feasible and effective way of screening for depression in this population. Undergraduate and graduate students at 4 colleges were invited through email to complete a depression screening survey. Participating students were linked to an online questionnaire to answer demographic and treatment history questions and complete the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9). Those who scored 10 or above on the PHQ-9 were considered positive for MDD and were provided with links to online psychoeducation on depression and information on campus peer-to-peer treatment resources. In addition, they received a follow-up survey 8 weeks later to assess their treatment use. A total of 631 students consented to take the survey. Of these, 126 (21.7%) reported a history of depression and 9.4% were receiving treatment for depression that included therapy (40%), medication (30%), and both (30%). A total of 73 individuals (12.9%) had suicidal symptoms. A total of 82 students (14.5%) screened positive for MDD, and of these 38 (46.3%) completed the follow-up survey. Overall, only 8 subjects (21.1%) with MDD used the online resources — 7 used online psychoeducation resources and 1 used peer counseling groups. "On the one hand this is disappointing but not surprising to us. We have worked with a lot of students, primary care patients, and physicians, and we know that simply offering education is not enough, but that was not the main goal of the study," said Dr. Yeung. "We demonstrated that much of the paper and pencil, physical clinical interactions used to conduct clinical studies can gradually be replaced by Internet-based methods and that many colleges could easily do this in order to help detect mental health problems — including depression as well as drug and alcohol use — among students," he added. Although this could potentially improve recognition of mental health disorders in this population, said Dr. Yeung. There is still a significant issue around treatment resources, which, he said, are lacking in US college campuses.
Commenting on the findings, Victor Schwartz, MD, university dean of students at Yeshiva University and associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Yeshiva University's Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, said the study highlights the need for mental health screening in students. "Perhaps the main value of this study is to emphasize the problem of depression in this population and provide the impetus to do something about it," Dr. Schwartz told Medscape Psychiatry. He pointed out that there are currently 16 million college students in the United States and, as Dr. Yeung commented, that mental health resources for this population are scarce. "The college mental health system doesn't have the capacity to take care of 1.6 million depressed people — it is a major public health challenge, which is part of what the folks who are working in this area are trying to figure out," said Dr. Schwartz. "There is a need for people who are really trained in this area of college mental health. We need to create this group of subspecialists, and schools need to recognize that they need to provide the resources for this kind of care," he added. Dr. Yeung has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2010 Annual Meeting: Abstract
NR1-42. Presented May 24, 2010. Medscape Medical
News © 2010 Medscape, LLC |
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10. Marginalia: Got time on your hands? Want to do a service project? Here’s an idea from the Spring 2010 issue
of Outlook, the quarterly journal from the Washington University School of
Medicine. |
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I suppose you could adapt this for chemotherapy patients who have lost their hair:
HATS OFF!! A knitting club comprising 45 faculty and staff from Washington University Medical Center and the university’s Danforth Campus meets weekly to share their employment of the craft and to trade techniques. This spring, the group donated the knit hats shown here for premature babies at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and cancer patients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Plans are under way for a new project that will culminate in donation of another worthy cause in the fall. Below, some of the club’s members show off their colorful creations. (Ed. Note: Many thanks to members of the editorial staff of Outlook for granting permission to reprint the photo and the text.) |
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Dr. Stan Eisen,
650
E-mail: seisen@cbu.edu
http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/
Caduceus Newsletter Archives: http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/Caduceus.html