May SOM News

Regionalization Update

Plans continue to develop for the SOM's first regional campus in Eugene, a collaborative including the University of Oregon, PeaceHealth, and community physicians. The first OHSU medical student clerkships in Eugene will begin this summer. Following are some key points regarding SOM regionalization:

• The Eugene campus (or any future regional campus) is not a second medical school. Rather, it is a SOM satellite site.
• Medical school course work at the University of Oregon will be offered under OHSU School of Medicine's accredited status with the LCME. Curriculum and admissions program oversight will remain the responsibility of the School of Medicine.
• No resources will be diverted from the current program to support the regional program. In fact, the Marquam Hill program is being enhanced and medical student enrollment increased. No SOM courses are being outsourced.
• A first-year class will not be matriculated in Eugene unless state support is appropriated. The real cost associated with additional students cannot exceed the additional tuition revenue.
• For all students, the second year of the medical school curriculum will be offered only at the OHSU Marquam Hill campus.

SOM Hooding and Commencement

SOM Hooding and Commencement Ceremonies will be held on Friday, June 2, 2006, at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The Hooding Ceremony will be from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., with a reception following at the Performing Arts Center. Faculty should plan to arrive at 8:45 a.m. and enter through the Park Blocks door. Commencement will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Faculty should plan to arrive by 4:00 p.m.

Both events require regalia, which can be purchased at http:// click here.

SOM Health Policy Group Impacts OMA

According to Dr. Don Girard, Associate Dean for GME-CME, at this spring's Oregon Medical Association (OMA) House of Delegates meeting, "the medical students were the real stars." The twelve SOM students who attended the OMA meeting in Welches on April 29 –30 are members of the SOM's Health Policy Group (HPG), a medical student special interest group with approximately 60 members representing all four years of the medical school curriculum.

SOM students who attend OMA House of Delegates may vote as delegates, representing both Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland and the SOM student body. They also serve on OMA committees, including the Legislative and the Access committees. Patient access and the collapse of primary care were top priorities addressed at the recent OMA meeting. Laden with staggering debt load, contemporary students are opting for medical specialties rather than primary care. In a 2003 survey of more than 18,000 internal medicine residents, only 19% of PGY-1's plan on pursuing generalist careers.

Students spoke to the issues of conflict of interest regarding pharmaceutical companies' influence in MD prescribing, reimbursement rates for physicians coordinating chronic care, and ethical standards in disaster planning. SOM student Erin Schneider, an OMA student trustee and a leader of the Health Policy Group, noted that students have the opportunity to bring fresh ideas and strong ethical commitment to the House of Delegates: "Perhaps because we aren't yet dealing with the complicated realities of medical practice and the business of health care, we can be more idealistic and readily focus on the best interest of the patient."

Students from the HPG represented the SOM last spring in Salem and at many of the public Town Hall meetings and advocated to restore pending reductions in state allocation to the School. Their active involvement in health policy, legislative efforts, and the problems of physician workforce shortage and access to care make these students key players in the future of the medical profession.

N-95 Respirator Testing

To comply with OSHA standards, all OHSU health care providers who may need to care for a patient in a negative pressure room/airborne isolation must be fitted for the N-95 respirator (orange "TB mask"). If you missed the scheduled fittings during the last two weeks, please contact Tony Uliano, manager of Environmental Health & Safety, at 503 494-2582, to arrange a fitting. The fitting takes less than 10 minutes.

New Blog, RxforHealth, Launched

RxforHealth is an open, non-hierarchical discussion forum on health care reform. The goal of this blog is to catalyze a solutions-oriented dialogue among diverse thinkers around the state and to address the current situation of approximately 600,000 uninsured Oregonians and hundreds of thousands of others who are underinsured.

When posting on this blog, because of the restrictions under Oregon law on public employees and public employers as well as the requirements of OHSU policies, it is best to state, "these are my personal opinions and do not represent the opinion of OHSU."

Every author retains the copyright to his/her posts and represents only his/her views, unless explicitly stated otherwise. If you want to redistribute a post, please check with the author first to obtain permission.

OHSU is facilitating this blog as a service to the Oregon community. None of the posts or other commentary reflects the institutional views of OHSU even if posted by a person associated with the University. In addition to maintaining the cyber-architecture, OHSU will be involved in light content monitoring and editing. All on-topic comments are welcome and frankness is encouraged; however, personal attacks, off-topic commentary and profanity will be deleted. Please e-mail click here if you want to post a full-length column. To visit the blog, click here

2006 New Faculty Orientation

SOM Spring 2006 New Faculty Orientation, "An Introduction to Faculty Life at OHSU," will be held on Thursday, June 8, from 1:30 – 5:00 p.m. in UHS 8B60. This program provides very important information for new faculty, but is recommended for any faculty members who have not previously participated in the orientation program. The program includes an OHSU overview; resources for career development in education, service, and research; and strategies for academic advancement.

Advance registration is requested. Please contact Rodney Taylor at ext. 81457 or ( click here) to register for this important program.

OHSU Anniversaries in 2006

80 years since Doernbecher Memorial Hospital for Children was built on the Marquam Hill campus
80 years the University of Oregon established a five-year program leading to a degree in nursing
75 years since outpatient clinic building was constructed on Marquam Hill and outpatient services began
50 years since the Medical School hospital was built on Marquam Hill
50 years since the University of Oregon Dental School moved from Northeast Oregon Street to its present location on Marquam Hill
25 years since institution was renamed Oregon Health Sciences University
15 years since Casey Eye Institute opened on the hill
15 years since BICC construction was completed
15 years since School of Nursing building was completed
10 years since first OHSU primary care neighborhood clinic opened in SW Portland
5 years since the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute and NSI buildings opened on west campus
5 years since last name change to Oregon Health & Science University
5 years since merger with OGI

Music for the Heart

Join the fight against heart disease and enjoy an evening of world-class music on June 16, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. at the Portland Center for Performing Arts Newmark Theatre. "Music for the Heart," a benefit for the OHSU Heart Research Center, features Piano Duo Kutrowatz of Vienna and a spectacular evening of classical and jazz music played on the world's finest pianos, the exquisite Austrian-made Bosendorfer Imperials.

Tickets ($25, $40 and $60) are available at ticketmaster.com. For sponsorships, concert tickets and a trip-for-two to Vienna raffle, visit click here.

Mark Helfand Elected ACP Fellow

Mark Helfand, M.D., MPH, M.S., has been elected a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the society of internists and the second-largest physician group in the U.S. Dr. Helfand was elected upon the recommendation of peers and the review of ACP's Credentials Subcommittee.

Dr. Helfand is Staff Physician, Division of Hospital and Specialty Medicine, Department of Medicine, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Professor of Medicine/General Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, OHSU School of Medicine. He is Director of Oregon Evidence-based Medicine Practice Center and Principal Investigator, Scientific Resource Center for the AHRQ Effective Health Care Program. Dr. Helfand is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Helfand is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medical Decision Making.

A graduate from Stanford University, Dr. Helfand earned a medical degree and master's degree in public health from the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed his residency at Stanford University Medical School, where he also completed a health services research fellowship.

Charles Thomas Co-edits "Disparities in Cancer Care"

Charles R. Thomas, Jr., M.D., Professor & Chairman, Department of Radiation Medicine, co-edited a special series issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology click here devoted exclusively to "Disparities in Cancer Care."

This work highlights the issues that contribute to certain cancer disparities and proposed roadmaps for constructive change. The Journal of Clinical Oncology (several members of the OHSU Cancer Institute have or are currently serving on the editorial board) is the major clinical cancer journal in the world.

Allison Fryer Appointed PMCB Director

Allison Fryer, Ph.D., has been appointed Director of the Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (PMCB), effective July 1, 2006. Dr. Fryer, Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology, completed postdoctoral training at UCSF and the University of Maryland after earning her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of London. Before joining OHSU in 2003, she was Professor of Physiology at Johns Hopkins University, where she mentored Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows.

Since joining OHSU, Dr. Fryer has become a highly valued contributor to graduate education in the SOM and the PMCB in particular. In addition to serving on the PMCB Admissions Committee for several years, she has been the course director for CON667 (Organ Systems) and is currently mentor for two PMCB students. Dr. Fryer succeeds Dr. Gary Thomas, who served as PMCB Director over the last four years.

Dr. Keenan Receives Creighton's Alumni Merit Award

Edward Keenan, Ph.D., has received the 2006 Alumni Merit Award from Creighton University Graduate School. Dr. Keenan, Associate Dean for Medical Education and professor of physiology and pharmacology, and surgery, in the OHSU School of Medicine, received both his bachelor's and master's in biology from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Keenan went on to earn his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the West Virginia University School of Medicine. He joined the OHSU faculty in 1976.

The annual Creighton Alumni Merit Award is given to an outstanding alumnus who has provided distinguished service to the university or his/her community.

2006 SOM Graduate Program Awards

2005 Outstanding Journal Article of the Year
The "2005 Outstanding Journal Article of the Year" is awarded for an outstanding article authored or co-authored by an OHSU SOM graduate student and published in the prior calendar year. The 2006 awardee is Minsun Hong, who recently completed requirements for the Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Richard Brennan's laboratory. Her paper "Structure of an OhrR-ohrA operator complex reveals the DNA binding mechanism of the MarR family" was published in Molecular Cell in October 2005. Co-authors are Mayuree Fuangthong, John D. Helmann, and Richard G. Brennan.

Minsun received an award certificate and an honorarium check (sponsored by the SOM Alliance) at last week's Annual Student Research Forum.

2006 Alliance Award
The Alliance Award, a new graduate student award sponsored by the SOM Alliance, is given to an enrolled Ph.D. student in recognition of academic accomplishment and leadership qualities as well as current and potential contributions to the community and society. The Award includes a certificate and honorarium. The recipient is also the Dean's nominee for the University Club Fellowship, sponsored by the University Club of Portland.

The recipient of the 2006 Alliance Award is Helen Kamens, a Ph.D. student completing her fourth year in Behavioral Neuroscience. Her research focuses on genetic contributions to drug-related behaviors. Helen has already received several awards and honors, including an individual pre-doctoral fellowship from the NIH and an N. L. Tartar Research Fellowship from the Medical Research Foundation. She has published four papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has at least four more papers submitted or in preparation for publication.

New SOM Faculty

A warm welcome to the following faculty members who have joined the School of Medicine since April 1, 2006:

Alec R. Belman, M.D., Instructor, Emergency Medicine; Anish Bhardwaj, M.D., Professor, Neurology; Elyse Jameyson, M.A., Instructor, Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery; Francis Valiyaveetil, Ph.D., Physiology & Pharmacology; Jonathan Lindner, M.D., Adj Asst Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine; Robert Northern, M.S., Instructor, Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine; Marcus Stepaniak, M.S.N., Instructor, Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine; Cynthia Tai, M.D., Asst Professor, Nephrology & Hypertension; Anya Hill, M.S., PA-C, Liver & Pancreas Transplantation; Kathie Lasater, Ed.D., R.N., Asst Professor, Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine; Stephen Hoffelt, M.D., Asst Professor, Radiation Oncology; Joaquin Cigarroa, M.D., Adj Asst Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine; Dai-Trang Le, M.D., Asst Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine; Malini Rossington, M.S.N., Instructor, Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine; Izumi Harukuni, M.D., Asst Professor, Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine; Thomas Kern, Ph.D., Adj Asst Professor, Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine; Keith Birchard, M.D., Instructor, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation; Scott Chadderdon, M.D., Instructor, Cardiovascular Medicine; Neil Gross, M.D., Asst Professor, Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery; Teresa Kochanowski, M.S.N., Instructor, Hematology & Medical Oncology; Nancy Spencer, M.S.N., Instructor, Hematology & Medical Oncology; Anthony Gomez, PA-C, Instructor, Neurological Surgery; Rath Ben, M.S.W., Instructor, Psychiatry; Anh Bui, M.A., Instructor, Psychiatry; Ami Hsu, M.S.W., Instructor, Psychiatry; Loan Huynh, M.S.W., Instructor, Psychiatry; Khamone Keopraseuth, M.S.W., Instructor, Psychiatry; Paul Kurz, M.D., Instructor, Ophthalmology; Jeremy Nguyen, M.S.W., Instructor, Psychiatry; Kim Truong, M.S., Instructor, Psychiatry; Cindi Farnstrom, B.S., Instructor, Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery; Dana Zive, M.P.H., Research Senior Instructor, Emergency Medicine; Brian Wong, M.D., Adj Professor, Infectious Diseases; Laurence Sagasay, M.S.N., Instructor, Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine; Yuxin Mao, Ph.D., Research Asst Professor, Infectious Diseases; Claire Spiro, M.H.S., PA-C, Asst Professor, Physician Assistant Education; David Spiro, M.D., M.P.H., Asst Professor, Emergency Medicine; Laurie Armsby, M.D., Asst Professor, Pediatrics/Cardiology; Deborah Sands, M.S.N., Instructor, Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine; JoDee Anderson, M.D., Asst Professor, Pediatrics;Victoria Brownlow, M.S., Instructor, Cardiovascular Medicine; Stephen Chui, M.D., Asst Professor, Hematology & Medical Oncology; Andrea Willey, M.D., Instructor, Dermatology

Dr. Knight-Richardson Named Psychiatry's Vice Chair for Development

Norwood Knight-Richardson, M.A., M.B.A., M.D., has been appointed Vice Chair for Development in the OHSU Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Knight-Richardson completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Texas, Austin, and earned an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts/Harvard Universities and an M.B.A. in administration and general finance at the Harvard Business School. Subsequently, he worked in international banking as Vice President of the World Banking Division of Bank of America. He completed his medical training at the University of Texas, Houston, and completed residency in psychiatry at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he concentrated in Community Psychiatry.

Dr. Knight-Richardson joined the OHSU Department of Psychiatry faculty in May 2003. In addition, he serves as senior policy adviser to the university administration and participates in the development of special projects. He is on the Board of Trustees at the OHSU Foundation and sits on the Audit and Neuroscience committees. Within the department his responsibilities include Director of the Public Psychiatry Training Program, founder and Director of the Telepsychiatry Program, and founder and Director of the Neuropsychiatric Institute.

Dr. Knight-Richardson's community involvement and public service have included appointments to serve on the Citizen's Advisory Committee to the Texas Mental Health Board and as Vice Chairman of the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Substance Abuse and on the National Advisory Committee for Injury Prevention and Control for the Centers for Disease Control. In 2002, he was appointed by the White House to serve on the National Advisory Mental Health Council for the National Institute of Mental Health, at the National Institutes of Health. In 2002 he was appointed by President Bush to serve on the President's New Freedom Mental Health Commission. He also chaired the Acute Care and Cultural Competence Committees of the President's New Freedom Commission. Dr. Knight-Richardson has served on many Oregon State committees regarding mental health and is an advisor to the mental health and addictions division as well as a member of the Governing Board of the State Hospital. He was also recently appointed to the Board of Director of Oregon National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

New AYA Cancer Program

OHSU oncologist Brandon Hayes-Lattin, M.D., medical director of the OHSU Cancer Institute AYA oncology program and SOM assistant professor of hematology and medical oncology, has been awarded one of just two national AFLAC Young Investigator Awards in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. The honor includes a monetary award of $60,000 to support two years of dedicated training in AYA oncology.

AFLAC/CureSearch established the award to nurture physician skills in meeting the unique needs of cancer patients aged 15 to 40 and to promote the developing AYA discipline, which is focused on the medical and psychosocial issues facing people diagnosed with cancer during this transition-filled period of life.

Dr. Hayes-Lattin serves on the organizing committee of the LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance and is the first adult medical oncologist to be appointed co-chair of the Children's Oncology Group (COG) AYA clinical trials subcommittee. He also recently served as a co-chair of the National Cancer Institute's AYA Oncology Progress Review Group.