July 3, 2003

 

AHSC PHOENIX LINK

A monthly e-mail newsletter from the UA Health Sciences Center Phoenix Campus for Phoenix Campus faculty, staff, students and friends

 

CHECK OUT the Phoenix Campus Web site at http://www.ahsc.arizona.edu/phoenix/, for programs offered at the AHSC Phoenix Campus.

 

IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE:

***********************************************************

1.      Dr. Jacqueline Chadwick one of three finalists for The Business Journal's 'Health Care Heroes' award

2.      Phoenix Campus receives $30,000 gift from Stardust Foundation

3.      Medical students gear up for clinical rotations at Valley hospitals

4.      Students applying to medical school now required to indicate clinical campus of choice

5.      AzMEC adds Nelba Chavez, Robert Olsen to governing board

6.      Dean candidate interviews completed, search committee reviewing for recommendation

7.      'What I Wish I'd Know When I Started Third Year' meeting slated for July 22

8.      Keven Siegert elected president of HeSCA

9.      Glendale Community College ACE Plus students to tour AHSC

10.    Minority Affairs hosting 'Exploring Health Careers Day'

11.    Students from Phoenix high schools to participate in 'Health Careers Summer Camp'

12.    Dr. Georgia Hall presented at international culture and aging conference

13.    The 30th Annual Arizona Rural Health Conference, "Preserving Arizona's Rural

Health Safety Net," scheduled for July 21-23 in Tucson.

14.    Inaugural Andrew W. Nichols lecture to focus on rural and border health, July 21

15.    The AHSC Phoenix Campus holding Worksite Wellness Screening

16.    UMC named Elite 'Magnet Hospital;' only AZ hospital with highest national nursing honor

17.    New faculty appointments and promotions

************************************************************

1.  DR. JACQUELINE CHADWICK ONE OF THREE FINALISTS FOR THE BUSINESS JOURNAL'S 'HEALTH CARE HEROES' AWARD

 

Congratulations to Jacqueline A. Chadwick, MD, associate vice president and vice dean, AHSC Phoenix Campus, for being one of three finalists in the category of Health Care Manager for the Health Care Heroes Awards.

The Business Journal and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona present these awards to outstanding “heroes” in the Valley.  The winner will be announced at a special awards breakfast Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix. 

Shonda Schilling, from SHADE, the Curt and Shonda Schilling Melanoma Foundation of America will be the special guest speaker at the breakfast.  The finalists will also be featured in the Health Care Heroes magazine to be published in The Business Journal Friday, Aug. 29.

Dr. Chadwick was nominated for the award by her staff at the AHSC Phoenix Campus.

--------------------

 

2.  PHOENIX CAMPUS RECEIVES $30,000 GIFT FROM STARDUST FOUNDATION

 

The Arizona Health Sciences Center Phoenix Campus recently received a donation for $30,000 from the Stardust Foundation to enhance computer services and server needs for the campus.

The Stardust Foundation supports many community organizations and its main commitment is to help the working poor.

--------------------

 

3.  MEDICAL STUDENTS GEAR UP FOR CLINICAL ROTATIONS AT VALLEY HOSPITALS

 

On July 3 from 9-3 p.m., during Medical Student Orientation Day, the Phoenix Campus of the UA Health Sciences Center will welcome 32 third-year medical students to clinical rotations.  The daylong event familiarizes the students with the Phoenix Campus and clinical phase of their medical training, which begins on July 7.   Forty-two fourth-year medical students also will begin their clinical electives on July 7.

-------------------

 

4. STUDENTS APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOL NOW REQUIRED TO INDICATE CLINICAL CAMPUS OF CHOICE

 

For the first time, beginning with the entering class in 2004, 70 students will be assigned to Tucson and 40 students to Phoenix.  Students applying to medical school will be required to fill out a Clinical Campus Preference Form indicating which campus they would like to be assigned for clinical rotations.   For more information, visit this page of the Phoenix Campus Web site www.ahsc.arizona.edu/phoenix/admissions.htm.

--------------------

 

5. AZMEC ADDS NELBA CHAVEZ, ROBERT OLSEN TO GOVERNING BOARD

 

The Arizona Medical Education Consortium (AzMEC) announced two new board members; public health advocate Nelba Chavez, PhD, and Yuma business executive Robert Olsen, FACHE, have joined AzMEC's governing board as its new community board members.

AzMEC is a statewide organization that oversees physician-resident training at all teaching hospitals throughout the state. 

Nelba Chavez served as the first administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHS) in the Clinton Administration and was the first Hispanic/Latina to head a public health agency in the 200 year history of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Dr. Chavez was appointed by Governor Janet Napolitano on January 27, 2003 as the Deputy Director of Programs for the Department of Economic Security.  In this position she is responsible for promoting the wellbeing and self-sufficiency of individuals and families through the delivery of integrated services.

Robert Olsen is president and chief executive officer of Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma Arizona.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors, Council on Government Relations and Service Corporation Board for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.  He also holds the fellow status with the American College of Healthcare Executives.

AzMEC's Governing Board includes CEO's and Directors of Medical Education from all teaching hospitals throughout the state and four community members.  Susan Goldwater Levine, executive director of Hospice of the Valley, and James Bruner, executive vice president for National Bank of Arizona, are current community board members.

--------------------

 

6. DEAN CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS COMPLETED, SEARCH COMMITTEE REVIEWING FOR RECOMMENDATION

 

Four candidates for the Dean of the UA College of Medicine recently completed extensive interviews in Tucson and Phoenix with students, faculty, staff and community members.  The Search Committee will be meeting in the next few weeks to make a recommendation to the President.

--------------------

 

7. 'WHAT I WISH I'D KNOW WHEN I STARTED THIRD YEAR' MEETING SLATED FOR JULY 22

 

“What I Wish I'd Know When I Started Third Year” is a panel discussion by fourth-year medical students presented to third-year students.  It is the first meeting in Phoenix for third-year students and will be held at the AHSC Phoenix Campus at 5 p.m. on Tues., July 22.  For more information contact Laurel Kechanin in Student Affairs at (602) 631-6556.

--------------------

 

8. KEVEN SIEGERT ELECTED PRESIDENT OF HESCA

 

Keven Siegert, Phoenix Campus media center director, will serve as president of the Health and Sciences Communications Association (HeSCA).  HeSCA is an international association of communications professionals committed to sharing knowledge and resources in the health sciences arena.  For more information, visit the Web site at www.hesca.org.

--------------------

 

9.  GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACE PLUS STUDENTS TO TOUR AHSC

 

Achieving College Education (ACE Plus) students from Glendale Community College will tour the Arizona Health Sciences Center Tucson Campus on Thurs., July 10.  The tour is hosted by the Phoenix and Tucson Offices of Minority Affairs.

--------------------

 

10.  MINORITY AFFAIRS HOSTING 'EXPLORING HEALTH CAREERS DAY'

 

The AHSC Phoenix Campus Office of Minority Affairs is hosting “Exploring Health Careers Day” on Tues., July 15 for the Arizona State University American Indian Science & Engineering Society Summer Bridge Program students.  The daylong event will be in Tucson at the AHSC where the students will participate in interactive health and science exploration activities. 

--------------------

 

11.  STUDENTS FROM PHOENIX HIGH SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN 'HEALTH CAREERS SUMMER CAMP'

 

The Maricopa Area Health and Education Center in collaboration with the Arizona Health Sciences Center Office of Minority Affairs is sponsoring seven students from Maryvale and Tempe High Schools to participate in the Arizona Area Health Education Center's (AzAHEC) Health Careers Summer Camp, from July 27 to Aug. 2 at Northern Arizona University Campus in Flagstaff. 

The camp is designed to provide high school freshman and sophomore participants with the skills to become the future leaders of their Health Careers Club at their respective high schools.  The four major components that make up the Health Careers Program are:  Peer-leadership training; Community health leadership; Academic student achievement; and Health careers exploration.

For more information on the AzAHEC Health Careers Summer Camp contact Jonathan Robles at (602) 631-6571 or roblesj@email.arizona.edu.

--------------------

 

12.  DR. GEORGIA HALL PRESENTED AT INTERNATIONAL CULTURE AND AGING CONFERENCE

 

Georgia Hall, PhD, MPH, was invited to present at the “Fourth International Symposium on Culture and Aging” in Tampere, Finland in May.  Dr. Hall presented a paper on “The Experience of Aging Among American Indians in Arizona.”  The conference was co-sponsored by the Tampere School of Public Health and the Finnish Society for Growth and Aging Research.

--------------------

 

13.  THE 30TH ANNUAL ARIZONA RURAL HEALTH CONFERENCE, "PRESERVING ARIZONA'S RURAL HEALTH SAFETY NET," SCHEDULED FOR JULY 21-23 IN TUCSON.

 

The conference will feature four tracks: Access to Care-Programs & Systems; Access to Care-Ensuring an Adequate Workforce; Collaborative Preparedness & Crisis Response; and Public Health Enemy #1-Obesity, Diabetes, & Heart Disease. Accreditation is available.

Visit http://www.rho.arizona.edu/rhconference.htm to download all the conference materials.

--------------------

 

14.  INAUGURAL ANDREW W. NICHOLS LECTURE TO FOCUS ON RURAL AND BORDER HEALTH, JULY 21

 

The Rural Health Office at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health invites the public to inaugurate the Andrew W. Nichols, MD, Rural and Border Health Policy Lecture Series, 9 a.m. to noon, Monday, July 21, Hilton El Conquistador Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Road, Tucson.
The no-cost event kicks off the 30th Annual Arizona Rural Health Conference. The lecture is a highly anticipated event that honors the late Dr. Nichols' work and life through the continuation of his efforts to improve rural and border health care. Distinguished speakers for the lecture are all friends and former colleagues of Dr. Nichols; Wayne Myers, MD, president of the National Rural Health Association, Eva Moya, LMSW, director of the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission, and Isabel Garcia, co-chair of Derechos Humanos.
For more information about the event go to www.rho.arizona.edu/rhconference.htm or contact Rebecca Ruiz, (520) 626-7946, ext. 254, or aruiz@rho.arizona.edu.
--------------------

 

15.  THE AHSC PHOENIX CAMPUS HOLDING WORKSITE WELLNESS SCREENING

 

The AHSC Phoenix Campus is inviting faculty and staff to attend an on-site Worksite Wellness Screening provided by UA Life & Work Connections.  The UA Life & Work Connections staff will be in Phoenix for the Worksite Wellness Screening on Thursday, July 31.  Appointments start at 9:45 a.m. and will be scheduled every 15 minutes thereafter, excluding the 45 minute lunch break at noon.  The last appointment is at 3:00 p.m.  Appointments fill up fast, so register now!

Included in the screening are the following:  Blood Pressure, Total Cholesterol/HDL, Body Composition, Cardiac Endurance, 3 Minute Step Test, Nutrition, Fitness and Resiliency Consultation, Follow-up Consultation and Testing.

The full screening including the Total Cholesterol/HDL testing is free to benefits eligible Phoenix faculty and staff (including Phoenix volunteer faculty).  At this time one cholesterol screening is done only every two years for employees unless they have been identified in a previous screening as needing a follow-up visit.

The screening takes 45 - 60 minutes.  In order to get the most out of your screening, UA Life & Work Connections recommends the following: Wear loose, comfortable clothing. Wear walking or other exercise type shoes. Drink lots of non-caffeine fluid the day before the screening and the day of the screening.  Please do not drink caffeine as it decreases the accuracy of the body composition testing. Avoid alcohol for 48 hours prior to the screening. Avoid exercising for 48 hours prior to the screening. This is not a fasting blood work so make sure to eat your breakfast and lunch. 

For questions or to register for your appointment on Thursday, July 31, call or e-mail Judy Apostolik at (602) 631-6557, apostolj@email.arizona.edu.  For more detailed information about the screening, please call UA Life & Work Connections at 621-2493. 

Most participants find that they are in better health than they realize!

--------------------

 

16.  UMC NAMED ELITE 'MAGNET HOSPITAL;' ONLY AZ HOSPITAL WITH HIGHEST NATIONAL NURSING HONOR

 

University Medical Center announced recently that it has received the American Nurses Association's highest honor for nursing excellence, making UMC the only hospital in Arizona to carry the elite “Magnet Hospital” designation.
UMC successfully completed the three-year-long Magnet Hospital designation process and joins a distinguished list of 74 Magnet hospitals nationwide, including Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Mayo-Rochester Hospital in Rochester, Minn., and the Cleveland Clinic. 
The Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Services designation is held by only 1 percent of all acute-care hospitals in this country. 
 Magnet hospitals today must meet stringent quantitative and qualitative standards that define the highest quality of nursing practice and patient care. Becoming a Magnet hospital means that the organization must meet more than 65 standards developed by the ANCC. The standards must be demonstrated in a very extensive written document and validated by a site visit.
The Magnet designation is a highly prized recruitment tool in this era of nursing shortages.

The Magnet recognition status is valid for a four-year period, at which time UMC must reapply.
Last year UMC adopted a 4:1 patient to nurse ratio, the best such ratio among Arizona acute-care hospitals. The move was designed to improve patient care and increase nurse satisfaction. Since the adoption of the 4:1 ratio, UMC's nurse vacancy rate has dropped to just 3 percent. 
--------------------

 

17.  NEW FACULTY APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS

 

The following individuals have been awarded a faculty appointment to the AHSC Phoenix Campus.

John F. Kerrigan, MD, assistant professor of clinical neurology

Lara E. Yoblonski, MD, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics

Richard M. Lee, MD, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology

 

--------------------

**********

You are currently subscribed to AHSC Phoenix Link.  TO UNSUBSCRIBE send an e-mail to listserv@listserv.arizona.edu typing the following words “SIGNOFF phoenix-link” in the body of the message - not the subject line.  Example: SIGNOFF phoenix-link.

 

If you are having problems reaching the Web site, or have questions about it, call the Phoenix Campus Office of Public Affairs at (602) 631-6555, or send an e-mail to jflatley@u.arizona.edu.