Honoring a Legal Eagle Almost 400 faculty members, alumni, friends, students, and colleagues gathered on May 8 at Coral Gables’ historic Biltmore hotel to honor University of Miami School of Law Dean Dennis O. Lynch, who recently stepped down from his post. Above, several members of the UM Law Alumni Association present Lynch with a portrait of himself that they commissioned for the occasion. The gala raised more than $200,000 toward an endowed scholarship in Lynch’s name. Lynch plans to rejoin the faculty after a yearlong sabbatical.

Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research donates largest gift ever
The 19,000-member Papanicolaou Corps for Cancer Research earlier this month announced its largest, record-breaking gift of $4.15 million to fund cancer research at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, surpassing last year’s donation by $1 million. “We are so pleased to be able to present this gift to UM/Sylvester, especially given the current economy,” said Barbara Pessel, president of the Pap Corps, an all-volunteer fundraising group with members across the tri-county area that has supported cancer research at the University of Miami for 56 years. 

Although the economy is slowing down, the Pap Corps membership’s energy and enthusiasm for supporting cancer research has not diminished. The group’s grassroots fundraising efforts are impacting millions – from the scientists and physicians whose work is fueled by their generosity to the South Floridians and others who benefit from the resulting cancer breakthroughs.

Pessel stepped down as president at the annual donor luncheon at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. During her two-year presidency, Pessel’s leadership helped guide the Pap Corps to increase and then reach its six-year, $14 million pledge ahead of schedule. The check not only set a record on its own, but far surpassed the Pap Corps’ original $14 million pledge, making the total six-year gift a generous $18.1 million.

To learn more, click here.

The Campaign Trail The contest for the Democratic presidential nomination came to Florida last Wednesday, when U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton addressed thousands of supporters at a rally held at the University of Miami’s BankUnited Center. Above: Clinton acknowledges the applause of some 3,000 people before speaking on issues such as universal health care, education, and the war in Iraq. Earlier in the day she made campaign stops in Sunrise and Boca Raton.

CSTARS to host valuable satellite image library 
The Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Remote Sensing (CSTARS), a major program of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, will house a library of data collected via spaceborne C-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar. The initiative, led by the Canadian Space Agency, in cooperation with CSTARS, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will provide approved scientists with free access to images that will help them to better understand the dynamics of hurricane and typhoon genesis, morphology, and movement.

“The generosity and dedication to science by the Canadian Space Agency is inspiring and will make a major contribution to the utilization of SAR imagery in hurricane and typhoon forecasting. The fact that SAR sees the ocean surface, even in extreme storm conditions, is a critical factor for understanding the dynamics and intensity of tropical storm systems,” says Hans C. Graber, co-director of CSTARS and chair of UM’s Division of Applied Marine Physics.

To learn more, click here.

Walking ’Canes Winners The top-ten winners of the Walking 'Canes 10k-a-Day program pause for a photograph with President Donna E. Shalala before a celebratory lunch at the Faculty Club recently. The annual employee program, supported by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation and coordinated by the Coral Gables Wellness Center, uses pedometers to help participants quantify their physical activity as they attempt to shape-up by recording 10,000 steps per day over 12 weeks. The winners checked-in and met their goal each week—and also lost a significant amount of weight—varying from 5 to 23 pounds. Pictured from left in the front row are Marlene Briceno, Phyllis Taylor, President Shalala, Maria-Lourdes Aldana, Sharyn Ladner, and Aruna Airan. From left in the second row are Robert Sanchez, Carolyn Margolin, Sharon Howard, Liz Meggs, and Dimitris Papamichail. To learn more about the program, click here.

Individuals calling from the Coral Gables, Rosenstiel, or Miller School campus should dial a "7" followed by the last four digits of the regular ten-digit phone number they are trying to reach at Bascom Palmer. This applies to all Bascom Palmer Eye Institute phone numbers, including Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital, the McKnight Building, and all satellite locations. If you are at a Bascom Palmer Eye Institute location, you will now need to dial five digits rather than four to reach another Bascom Palmer Eye Institute location.

Effective dates for each Bascom Palmer location:

• Palm Beach Gardens: June 6-8
• Plantation: June 13-15
• Naples: June 20-22
• Miami: Weekend of June 27-29.

Information Technology's Telecommunications Department believes these changes will lead to better service and provide more efficient communications for the University community. For questions or concerns, call 305-284-6565 (8-6565) or e-mail telecomhelpdesk@miami.edu.

Class is always in session at the Wellness Center
Take time this summer to do something fun and healthy! The Coral Gables Wellness Center is offering a variety of instructional classes that are open to everyone. You do NOT have to be a member to register. Course offerings include water exercise, Pilates, Tai Chi, belly dancing, swim lessons, and more. Register now by calling 305-284-5433 (LIFE) or going to the Wellness Suite located on the second floor of the Wellness Center.

Diversity and UM: Miami is one of just 12 Division I schools to receive an NCAA award. UM athletics recognized for diversity The UM Athletic Department has been selected as one of just 12 Division I schools to receive the 2008 Overall Excellence in Diversity Award from the NCAA and Texas A&M's Laboratory for Diversity in Sport. In addition to the overall award, schools are recognized in seven categories--Diversity Strategy, Gender Equity Compliance, African American Graduation: Female Student-Athletes, African American Graduation: Male Student-Athletes, Gender Diversity, Racial Diversity and Value, and Attitudinal Diversity. The overall award is based on scores in the seven individual categories.  Miami was also one of 11 schools earning recognition in the Racial Diversity category. For more information, visit www.hurricanesports.com.

Prepare for hurricane season at Storm Prep Expo 2008
With government experts predicting an above-average 2008 Atlantic hurricane season, now is the time to start preparing for a potential storm strike. The American Red Cross and Miami-Dade County are inviting South Floridians to get ready for hurricane season at Storm Prep Expo 2008, which takes place Saturday, May 31 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Miami Beach Convention Center, Hall C, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach.
 
Storm Prep Expo 2008 is aimed at raising hurricane preparedness and awareness. Attend the event and obtain your hurricane supplies, learn about available government services, and enter for a chance to win generators, carbon monoxide detectors, weather radios, and other prizes. Activities will include police and fire-rescue demonstrations and a Family Zone with bounce houses, free popcorn and hot dogs, face painting, and more. Max Mayfield, former National Hurricane Center director, the Florida Marlins Mermaids, and other special guests will appear. Admission is free. Hurricane season starts June 1.

New NIH Public Access Policy
The National Institutes of Health recently announced its new Public Access Policy regarding peer-reviewed publications. The new NIH Public Access Policy will ensure published NIH-funded research is accessible to the public, health care providers, educators, and scientists, and will help advance science and improve human health. The federal law basically requires that peer-reviewed, published articles resulting from NIH-funded research must be submitted to PubMed Central. In addition, effective as of May 25, authors must include PubMed Central ID numbers in NIH applications and reports when citing their articles covered by the policy. For more information, click here or visit the FAQs.

Deadline today: Register now for IWH training opportunity
The UM Institute for Women’s Health is offering a unique training opportunity for health care professionals that will be presented by Nan Van Den Bergh, associate professor at the School of Social Work at Florida International University. "Removing Barriers to Care" is designed to sensitize health care providers to the health care risks faced by women who partner with women, as well as the barriers they experience to receiving care. The training will be offered Monday, June 2 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in CRB, room 873 (note the room change from earlier notices). The free training was designed under the aegis of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on recommendations by the Institute of Medicine. This training will only provide CEUs for social workers, physical therapists, psychologists, and other mental health providers, but there is also a home study CEU-version of the training that is aimed at physicians, nurses, and social workers. Seating is extremely limited. To R.S.V.P., e-mail mcorrales2@med.miami.edu or call 305-243-2576 before the end of the day today, Tuesday, May 27. A light lunch will be served.

EyeMed Vision Care Plan free to all Humana Members
UM Humana members receive vision care discounts through EyeMed. EyeMed offers discounts on eye exams, frames, lenses, and contacts received from providers in the EyeMed network. The network includes optometrists, ophthalmologists, opticians, and LensCrafters stores at 28,000 locations. Find an EyeMed provider location online or call EyeMed at 1-866-392-6056.

To take advantage of this savings, simply present your Humana member ID card to an EyeMed provider at the time of service. Click here to learn more about EyeMed. You can also register with www.myhumana.com  and visit the Savings Center to print an individualized EyeMed discount card. Your savings are applied directly to your purchase.

Reminder to schedule your free annual physical
Your health should always be your first priority in life. If you are a member of the UM Humana medical plan, you get one free physical per calendar year via your UMatter preventive care benefits.  In 2007, 43 percent of UM Humana members took advantage of this benefit. Remember, it is important to get periodic evaluations to detect diseases and conditions early before they cause symptoms or major damage. Also, scheduling your annual physical allows you to build a relationship with your doctor so you can discuss your personal health habits and plan for prevention of chronic illnesses. If you have not already scheduled your free annual physical, contact your physician today.

If you have questions about any of your UMatter Benefits, visit www.miami.edu/benefits/ask and complete the online form.

Vets and breathing problems “At high concentrations and prolonged exposure, it makes its way into the lower lungs and causes inflammation.” Jeffrey Bernstein, medical director of the Florida Poison Information Center at UM/Jackson, on a debilitating disorder being experienced by many returning U.S. soldiers and the potential that the problem was based on exposure to a blazing sulfur mine fire near Mosul, Iraq, in 2003. U.S. News and World Report May 21 Beauty-speak “If the scalp gets tighter as we age, how is it then that our faces get wrinkles and sag? The logic isn't there.” Heather Claire Woolery-Lloyd, assistant professor of clinical dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the UM Cosmetic Center at the Miller School of Medicine, questioning the language and marketing behind spa treatments and their take-home counterparts that often ascribe curative powers with feel-good descriptions that are less than scientific. In this case, a treatment claims to cure a tightening scalp, which it asserts is a supposed side-effect of aging. Los Angeles Times May 18 The science of needle programs “Scientific research shows that in the context of a public health program, the exchange of needles reduces the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. Our community ought to follow the science.” Donna E. Shalala, University president, on sterile needle distribution programs. In Florida, it is illegal to distribute sterile needles and syringes to prevent the spread of disease. According to the Florida Department of Health, in Miami-Dade County 13 percent of the 37,000 people with HIV/AIDS contracted the virus while injecting narcotics. The Miami Herald May 22

Today, Tuesday, May 27 Human Subjects Education Protection Seminar. To maintain the public trust, the research enterprise must be conducted with the highest ethical standards. The complexity of interdisciplinary collaborative research, partnerships with industry in academic research programs, and financial incentives available to investigators can present formidable challenges to the research team and to the institution. Learn about responsible academic conduct with guest speaker Paul Braunschweiger, professor, director, and co-founder of the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative, who will present “Promoting Integrity in the Research Enterprise: A Shared Responsibility” at 12 p.m. in the Mailman Center for Child Development, room 3023. To register, visit Ulearn.miami.edu.  For more information, e-mail mvalero@med.miami.edu.

Today, Tuesday, May 27 The Division of Hospital Medicine Grand Rounds. Amir K. Jaffer, chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine at the Miller School, will present "Perioperative Cardiovascular Care for Non-Cardiac Surgery: An Update." It will outline the essential steps of cardiac risk assessment for non-cardiac surgery, review changes to the ACC-AHA algorithm, and discuss emerging data on perioperative beta-blockers and statins for non-cardiac surgery. The lecture occurs at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Central Building, second-floor auditorium at 12 p.m. For more information, e-mail hmichtalik2@med.miami.edu or visit www.cme.med.miami.edu.

Wednesday, May 28 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine Grand Rounds. Robert Gailey, associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, presents “Update on Military Amputation and Prosthetic Rehabilitation” from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. in the Lois Pope LIFE Center, seventh-floor Apex Center Main Conference Room. For more information, call 305-585-1431. The department offers 1 CME credit for attendance.

Wednesday, May 28 “Current Status of the Least Invasive Way to Treat Renal Tumors.” Raymond Leveillee, professor of clinical urology and director of the Neobladder and Bladder Cancer Center at UM/Sylvester, presents from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Deerfield Best Western Hotel, 1050 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach.

Wednesday, May 28 Seminar on Childhood Immunizations. J. Mark Saunders, assistant professor of pediatrics, presents a seminar on childhood immunizations and vaccines. A light meal will be provided. The free event occurs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at UM Pediatrics South, 8932 SW 97th Ave., Suite 10. For more information, call 305-270-3495.

Thursday, May 29 Project SHARE (Sharing HIV/AIDS Research Efforts) Seminar. The Developmental Center for AIDS Research and the Miami-Dade County Health Department, Office of HIV/AIDS present Steven Safren, director of behavioral medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor of psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Rusty Pelican, 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne. This event is free of charge and lunch will be served, but seating is limited. Attendees must R.S.V.P. by calling 305-243-6430 or e-mailing Tkuper@med.miami.edu.

Thursday, May 29 Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Poster Session. The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will host its annual research poster session and reception from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Medical Wellness Center, room B. Attendees will have the opportunity to review presenters’ research while enjoying a catered reception. The purpose of the poster session is to showcase the research activities of the department and to provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas. Miller School of Medicine leadership, faculty, community mental health professionals, medical students, and trainees with an interest in psychiatric and behavioral sciences research are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit this Web site or e-mail pvonfuchs@med.miami.edu.

Thursday, June 5 Special Seminar: “Mechanotransduction of Chronic Neural Injury Via Schwann Cells.” The Department of Neurosurgery and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis host Ranjan Gupta, professor of orthopaedic surgery, anatomy and neurobiology, and biomedical engineering at the University of California, Irvine. Gupta will present from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Lois Pope LIFE Center Apex Auditorium, seventh floor.  For more information, call 305-243-7108 or visit www.themiamiproject.org/x381.xml.

Thursday, June 5 Sponsored Programs Roundtable Series. Attend “InfoEd SPINPlus,” an interactive demo, and learn how to use SPIN and SMARTS to locate funding opportunities, from 12 to 1 p.m. at the Batchelor Building's Baxter Conference Room. To register, visit Ulearn. For more information, e-mail mvalero@med.miami.edu.

Friday, June 6 “Intrinsic Disorder and Allostery in an Ensemble.” The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology presents a seminar by Vincent J. Hilser, professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. The event will take place at 12 p.m. in the Gautier Building, room 118. To meet with the speaker, e-mail tharris@med.miami.edu.

Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 1 Screening: Up The Yangtze. In China, it is simply known as “The River.” But the Yangtze–and all of the life that surrounds it–is undergoing an astonishing transformation wrought by the largest hydroelectric project in history, the Three Gorges Dam. Canadian documentary filmmaker Yung Chang returns to the gorgeous, now-disappearing landscape of his grandfather’s youth to trace the surreal life of a farewell cruise that traverses the gargantuan waterway. Attend a screening at the Bill Cosford Cinema on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 4 and 6 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 4 p.m. General Admission is $8. UM faculty, staff, alumni, seniors, and non-UM students are admitted for $6. UM students are admitted for free. The cinema accepts cash only. For more information, call 305-284-4861 or visit com.miami.edu/cosford.

Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 Opera Screening: La Rondine. Attend a screening of Puccini's opera set in France during the Second Napoleanic Empire. The courtesan Magda de Civry, provided for by the banker Rambaldo, meets and falls in love with the young Ruggero Lastouc. This full-length opera from Teatro la Fenice is part of the opera series at Bill Cosford Cinema. Screenings occur Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit com.miami.edu/cosford. General admission is $20; seniors, students,alumni, and UM faculty and staff are admitted for $18.

Saturday, May 31 Freestyle Invasion Live. Enjoying its most popular success on radio stations throughout the U.S. in the ’80s and early-’90s, the pop music genre known as freestyle invades Miami once again. Attend a concert featuring many of the chart-toppers of the period, including Cynthia, Johnny O, Secret Society, Shannon, Safire, Giggles, Rockell, and djs Mickey Garcia and dj Laz, among others, beginning at 8 p.m. at the BankUnited Center. Tickets can be purchased at the BankUnited Center, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 305-358-5885, or online at Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are $61.75, $41.75, and $31.75.

Saturday, May 31 The Miami Civic Music Association and Orchestra Miami Present Angel Romero. The Miami Civic Music Association and Orchestra Miami present renowned guitarist Angel Romero. Orchestra Miami, under the direction of UM alumna Elaine Rinaldi, will present the North American premiere of David Chesky’s "Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra." The event occurs at 8 p.m. at Maurice Gusman Concert Hall. General admission $40. Call the Miami Civic Music Association at 305-271-8449 for tickets and more information.

Thursday, June 5 LoweDown Happy Hour. Enjoy a jazzy Thursday featuring a guided tour of the Beaux Arts Gallery with Denise Gerson, associate director of the Lowe Art Museum, and live jazz, light hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails. Admission is $10, but is free for Lowe members.