UCD Graduate School receives sizable donation
The UCD Graduate School recently received a $1.3 million gift from the
estate of Kitty Hirs to set up an endowment for the C. Werner and Kitty Hirs
Graduate School Enrichnment Fund.
This is the largest donation ever received by the HSC Graduate School. Additionally,
Kitty's husband, C. Werner Hirs, former Chair of the Department of Biochemistry,
directed $665,000 in retirement assets to support enrichment of graduate education
in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics.
The Graduate School awards are to be used for graduate students in the basic
biomedical sciences for any of the following three specific purposes: 1) Travel
awards to supplement support for PhD students to attend national meetings,
2) Travel awards to facilitate PhD students learning new techniques either
through a visit to an out-of state laboratory or by signing up for a hands-on
technique course, such as the MBL course, and 3) Merit scholarships to aid
in recruiting the “best and the brightest” PhD students into the
basic sciences at the HSC.
The travel awards can be made for up to $500 each. In accordance with Dr. Kitty
Hirs’ expressed wishes, the travel award for meeting attendance will
be divided into two parts: $400 to be applied to travel expenses (e.g., registration,
lodging, travel) and $100 directly to the student for personal expenses at
the meeting (e.g., making it possible for the student to attend extra-meeting
social events in which science is part of the conversation).
Up to 20 “meeting” awards will be made each academic year. The
travel awards for visiting another laboratory or attending a techniques course
are to be applied to only travel expenses (e.g., travel and lodging). Up to
10 “techniques” awards will be made each academic year.
The merit awards will be made to highly meritorious individuals whom graduate
programs are trying to recruit. These awards will provide a $4,000/year supplement
to the existing stipend offered to basic science graduate students. The awards
can be renewed for up to a total of four years if the recipient continues to
perform meritoriously. Up to three new awards will be made each year.
The recipients of the Hirs Awards will be chosen by a selection committee
composed of five graduate faculty members, chosen by the Dean of the HSC Graduate
School. Any faculty member with a regular graduate faculty appointment, who
is not a graduate program director or departmental chair, may serve on the
committee. Appointments will be for three years (with the exception of the
initial appointments which may be for 1-3 years to establish a rotation for
committee members). Committee members may be appointed for a second term at
the discretion of the dean.
For merit awards the selection committee will meet during the first week of
February to evaluate applicants proposed by program directors and again in
early June to pass on continuation merit awards. The committee will meet as
necessary to evaluate the research travel awards.
The first awards from the fund will be made in 2006.
Sue Hagedorn honored for Capstone
program at School of Nursing
Sue Hagedorn, RN, PhD, of the UCD School of Nursing, recently received
a Supportive Persons of The Arc (SPARC) Award, from the Jefferson
County chapter of The Arc. Hagedorn received the award for the achievements
of the Capstone program she founded at the School of Nursing. The award also
recognized the contributions of students enrolled in the Capstone class.
As part of the required curriculum, students in this program explore issues
of ethics, social inequity and justice in the classroom while simultaneously
performing community service work with local agencies. Over the last several
years, many students from this program have interned with The Arc, providing
support and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities. Interns
in this program have assisted with self-advocacy groups, advocated for medical
attention, and developed lasting relationships with many of the individuals
we serve.
Recently, an intern from the program, Tasha Mansfield, partnered with an Arc
consumer, Joan Jurann. In addition to many mentoring activities, Jurann taught
Mansfield to crochet, and the two recently presented a blanket made by Mansfield
to The Children ’s Hospital.
First ever Crnic Memorial Lecture features UCSF speaker
The first-ever Linda Crnic Memorial Lecture took place January 10, with
Professor Linda Fisher, PhD, from the University of California San Francisco
(UCSF).
Dr. Fisher’s talk, "Cytotrophoblasts: Masters of Mimicry” focused
on the role of these cells in the human placenta and what part they play in
childbirth. Dr. Fisher is a professor of oral biology, professor of pharmaceutical
chemisty, professor of anatomy and faculty director of the biomolecular resource
center at UCSF.
The lecture series celebrates the life and leadership of Professor Linda Crnic,
PhD, who was tragically killed in September of 2004 in a bicycling accident
in Oregon.
In 2001, Crnic became the director of the Colorado Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities Research Center, after serving as the associate director since
1993. She founded and built the resident’s Academic Track for many years
while establishing an international reputation for her research in Down’s
syndrome.
Her passion for collaborative programs associated with mental retardation and
developmental disabilities led to active involvement with the Coleman Institute
for Cognitive Disabilities for the CU System as well as investigators at DU
and CSU.
University of Colorado Hospital
Burn Unit receives re-verification
The University of Colorado Hospital’s Burn Unit recently was recognized
as one of the Rocky Mountain region’s top medical centers for treating
burn patients.
The American Burn Association and the American College of Surgeons Committee
on Trauma approved the unit’s re-verification status, and commended staff
and managers for their commitment to excellence and providing high-quality
care to adults who have suffered serious burns and other types of trauma that
require intensive medical attention.
“ This year’s successful re-verification would not have been possible
without the contributions of our team. Each team member plays a valuable role
that ensures our unit offers top-quality care to patients who experience devastating
burn injuries,” said Marty Slate, RN, BSN, nurse manager of the hospital’s
burn trauma intensive care unit.
The University of Colorado Hospital Burn Unit and others like it undergo voluntary,
peer-reviewed evaluations every three years. The hospital’s last review
was conducted in 2002. This year, evaluators noted that the burn unit had successfully
carried out several improvements in the care the team provides to patients.
Among other commendations, surveyors lauded hospital staff members for their
renewed commitment to research.
Surveyors recognized the efforts of Dr. Gordon Lindberg, director of the burn
unit, and his staff for educating health care workers around Colorado about
burn trauma treatments provided at University of Colorado Hospital. Also noted
was the burn unit’s effort to better define its role in treating patients
initially taken to the hospital’s emergency department.
According to the American Burn Association, burn unit reviews and the re-verification
process are aimed at creating national standards to optimize burn care in the
United States. The process also ensures the nation’s burn centers provide
a systematic approach to burn care with trained and capable personnel, adequate
facilities and ongoing self-assessment.
Eight awards garnered at the 2005 Colorado Healthcare
Communicators’ Gold Leaf event
The University of Colorado Denver and University
of Colorado Hospital received a total of eight awards from the 2005 Colorado
Healthcare Communicators’ Gold Leaf Awards Dinner in November,
winning more than any other health organization in Colorado. Together, UCD
and UCH won two Gold awards, three Silver awards and three Bronze awards.
One-hundred and fifty people attended the ceremony, hosted by CHC Gold Leaf
co-chairs Tonya Ewers of the UCD and Dana Berry of Centura Health.
Awards were presented in 17 categories, including Advertising, Collateral,
Media Relations, Crisis Communications and Writing.
UCD won the Silver award in the Collateral (A) Over $10,000 category for
the Vivat print publication while UCH won the Bronze award in the Collateral
(B) Under $10,000 category for The Clinician newsletter.
In Media Relations (A) Proactive, the UCD public relations team won the
Silver award for the “A Leader Departs” campaign, and the Bronze
award for the “Focusing on Research at UCD” proactive media
relations campaign.
UCH won the Bronze award in the Multimedia/Interactive Presentation category
for the online Physician Portal website while UCD’s Kenna Bruner won
the Gold award in the Writing category for “Jack Comstock: A Survivor’s
Story.”
Additionally, UCH won the Gold award in the category of Special Events
(A) Over $10,000 for “Celebrating Milestones in Liver Transplantation,” while
UCH, UCD and the University of Colorado Cancer Center together won the Silver
award in the category for “Celebrating Medical Research at the University
of Colorado Fitzsimons Campus” for the grand opening of RC1 and the Lance
Armstrong Tour of Hope event on Oct. 4, 2004.
Christine Ahearn appointed new manager
of Policy and Education
Christine Newton Ahearn, JD, was recently appointed as the new manager of Policy
and Education for the Office of Grants and Contracts – Health Sciences
Center campus.
Ahearn earned her law degree from the University of Denver College of Law,
and she holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Iowa. She comes
to OGC from University Physicians, Inc. (UPI), where she served as contract
administrator and supervisor. Prior to working at UPI, Christine served as
a research associate in the Office of University Counsel at UCD.
“ We’re pleased to have Christine as part of the Office of Grants
and Contracts,” said Pam Jones, PhD, director of the Office of Grants and
Contracts at the University of Colorado Denver. “She brings a wealth of knowledge
and experience with her.”
Ahearn will be responsible for ensuring sponsored project policies are operating
within applicable regulations and laws along with providing research administration
training programs for PIs and research staff.
Angela Wishon appointed assistant vice chancellor
for Regulatory Compliance
Angela Charboneau Wishon, JD, was recently appointed as assistant vice chancellor
for Regulatory Compliance at UCD.
In a continuing effort to create a state-of-the-art compliance program at UCD
this position has been created and will report directly to the chancellor.
Wishon will be in charge of coordinating the compliance programs on the UCD
campuses.The UCD COMIRB, Environmental Health and Safety, IACUC and HIPAA
programs will report directly to Wishon.
Wishon received her undergraduate degree from Washington University and her
law degree from the St. Louis University School of Law.
Wishon most recently served as the research compliance officer at the University
of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
Dr. Frederick Grover named president of
the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
 |
| Frederick Grover, MD |
As an undergraduate at Duke University, Frederick Grover, MD, spent his
lunch hours in an unusual way – watching surgeries being performed in
the medical center.
At its 42nd annual meeting, Jan. 31-Feb. 1, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
honored his dedication by naming Grover as their president.
“ I have long had an interest in transplant and cardiothoracic surgery,” said
Dr. Grover, professor and chair of the Department of Surgery at the UCD School
of Medicine. “I joined STS early on in my career, and see STS as working
to create opportunities for cardiothoracic surgeons by expanding the scope of
their practice, sponsoring educational courses for those in the field, and looking
for opportunities to diversify surgical procedures.”
Dr. Grover’s goals as STS president include facilitating job placement
for cardiothoracic surgery residents and recruiting medical students into cardiothoracic
training programs.
He plans to work proactively in health care policy, both at the Federal and
state level, and wants to develop educational campaigns on the value of coronary
bypass and other procedures. He also would like to work toward increasing funding
for cardiothoracic surgery research. In addition, establishing guidelines for
relationships with industry and expanded STS membership to include diversity
in age, gender and race, are among Dr. Grover ’s priorities.
Dr. Ron Gibbs is March of Dimes Volunteer of the
Year
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| Ron Gibbs, MD |
Dr. Ron Gibbs, chairman of the UCD Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
was recently named the March of Dimes 2005 Volunteer of the Year.
“ Our volunteer of the year could actually be our volunteer of a lifetime,” said
Board Chair Linda Powers.
“ Dr. Gibbs has dedicated his professional life to looking for ways to
give every baby a healthy start. He is both a physician and a scientist. He serves
in a number of March of Dimes roles, both nationally and locally, and It is a
privilege to have him serve as the medical chair of the Prematurity Campaign
in Colorado.
“ In that role, he has helped to make our health professional conferences
during Prematurity Awareness Month genuine successes. But you might also find
him out at MUDD Volleyball serving as a day-of volunteer along with his wife,
Jane (also a March of Dimes supporter).
“ He does it all, brilliantly."
Award winners were nominated and selected by fellow volunteers and March of
Dimes board and staff members.
Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is a national nonprofit organization dedicated
to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth
and infant mortality. Currently in Colorado, the March of Dimes funds nearly
$1.4 million in healthy-baby programs.
University of Colorado Hospital re-designated
a magnet facility
University of Colorado Hospital has been re-designated a magnet hospital for
excellence in nursing services by the American Nurse Credentialing Center.
The prestigious designation is a benchmark that attracts high-quality nursing
staff and enables consumers to identify hospitals with a proven level of nursing
care excellence.
The
ANCC, the nation’s largest nursing credentialing organization,
launched the Magnet Recognition Program™ in 1993 and confers the
status on only 3 percent of all U.S. hospitals. The organization requires
hospitals to re-apply for the status every four years and demonstrate
continued success at meeting specific nursing standards. To gain magnet
designation, a hospital must exhibit high job satisfaction and a low
turnover rate among registered nurses, excellent nurse-to-patient ratios,
and the highest patient care quality as assessed by its nursing staff.
This year, the ANCC bestowed magnet status on 186 hospitals nationwide, including
four in Colorado: University of Colorado Hospital, The Children’s Hospital
of Denver, Craig Hospital in Englewood, and Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins.
“ In the nursing world, magnet status is one of the highest achievements
a hospital can attain,” said Colleen Goode, RN, PhD, FAAN, University of
Colorado Hospital vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer.
“ This recognition is a significant acknowledgement of the caliber of nursing
staff our hospital has on board and how that professionalism translates into
premium patient care. It also speaks to the type of work environment we provide
for our nursing staff. Our nurses make us all proud and boost our reputation
as a first-rate hospital.”
According to the ANCC, magnet designation is widely accepted as the gold standard
of patient care. The program recognizes excellence and professionalism in nursing
management, philosophy and practices, adherence to standards for improving patient
care quality, and attention to cultural and ethnic diversity. Applicants undergo
an extensive evaluation, and members that attain magnet status must continue
to pass annual reviews as part of their four-year designation.
The program, which entails the collection of detailed data, site visits, personnel
interviews and evaluation by an ANCC committee, also provides a vehicle for
disseminating successful practices and strategies used by nurses around the
country.
“ This is an impressive and important designation. To reapply for and receive
the magnet status for an additional four years is confirmation of our hospital’s
resolve to deliver the highest level of nursing care,” said Joyce Cashman,
executive vice president of University of Colorado Hospital. “I commend
all personnel who strive to achieve such high standards for our hospital, our
patients and the entire Colorado community.”
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