This Week@WesternU, April 4-8, 2011
Ellis Island Medal
Philip Pumerantz, PhD, founding president of Western University of Health Sciences, has been named a recipient of the 2011 Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) Foundation. Click here to read more.
WesternU’s Day at the Races
Nearly 200 WesternU alumni, students, faculty, staff, and their guests joined President Philip Pumerantz at Santa Anita Park on Saturday, April 2 for an exciting Day at the Races. Attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch buffet while meeting other members of the WesternU community. Many attendees quickly learned how to “play the ponies,” as they seemed to pick winner after winner throughout the afternoon. The track’s second race was named in honor of WesternU Alumni, and one lucky alumnus, Michael Roberts, DO ’09, joined the president in the Winners Circle to meet the winning horse (Dazzling Display), jockey (Martin Garcia) and trainer (Bob Baffert). Click here to view a slideshow.
Dr. Robert L. Austin Endowed Lectureship
The 2nd Dr. Robert L. Austin Endowed Lectureship in Pediatric Medicine and Pediatric Health Care Policy will feature pediatric and autism specialist Dr. Robert W. Sears. The public is invited to attend this free event on campus beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 5. Sears will be speaking on “Autism: Early Detection, Effective Multidisciplinary Treatment, and Possible Preventative Measures.” Click here to read more
or click here to download an invitation.
Health Fair
WesternU will hold a free Community Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at New Direction Community Church, 1100 E. Holt Ave., Pomona.
The fair will feature informational booths on the following topics: nutrition/exercise, asthma, cancer, poison prevention, pet care, heart information, emergency preparedness, mental health, free haircuts and prescription interaction advice. Bring all medications, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc. you are taking and get advice regarding possible interactions.
WesternU faculty and students will perform dental and vision screenings, structural exams (including treatment), foot exams, balance, strength and flexibility tests, blood sugar/diabetes and blood pressure screenings, body mass index calculations and more. The event also includes fun health activities for kids.
The health fair is sponsored by the WesternU Student Government Association and New Direction Community Church, Bishop Dr. Raymond E. Watts, Senior Pastor.
For more information call 909-469-5340 or e-mail SGA-Secretary@westernu.edu
An evening with WiRED International
You are invited to an evening with Dr. Gary Selnow, director of WiRED International, today, April 4. Learn about bringing vital medical information to remote regions of the world by linking grassroots communities to essential health information, discuss the application of distance learning technology in U.S. inner cities and forgotten rural communities, discover opportunities to contribute to education materials that target specific needs in all regions and share ideas with the global health community at WesternU.
A buffet dinner will be held in the Compatriots Hall, HSC, at 5 p.m., followed by Selnow’s presentation and discussion in Lecture Hall East, HSC, from 6 to 8 p.m.
The public is invited but should RSVP to jmosco@westernu.edu or (909) 469-5397.
Research Day
WesternU held its fourth Research Day on March 25, 2011, featuring guest speakers and poster presentations that highlighted the continuing growth of research on campus. Click here to read more.
Preview Day
Registration is open for the fifth WesternU Preview Day on Saturday, May 7, 2011, highlighting health education opportunities offered at WesternU. Click here to register for Preview Day.
Botanical Sources of Medicine
14th annual Southern California Medical Museum Open House, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2011. San Bernardino County Medical Society, 3993 Jurupa Ave., Riverside. Docent tours and light refreshments will be provided after the presentation. Visit the open house for a fascinating look into the world of plants and how they have played a major role in the practice of medicine. Seating is limited and admission to the museum and parking are free. Visit www.socalmedicalmuseum.org or call 951-787-7700 for more information.
From the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific:
Kudos on accomplishments
Dr. Lony Castro, Chair of the Department of Ob-Gyn, will be presenting findings from San Bernardino County’s Labor Induction Education Project at the medical staff meetings of several San Bernardino County area hospitals from April through June. Dr. Castro is chair of the scientific advisory council for this community-based project. This is a Title V supported Local Assistance for Maternal Health Project which has as its goal a reduction in pregnancy related morbidity and mortality in San Bernardino County by decreasing the rate of labor inductions performed for non medical reasons. During the month of April she will be presenting at the following locations: St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley on April 7, and Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville and Barstow Community Hospital on April 21.
WesternU is one of nine academic institutions nationally to be awarded the 2011 Visiting Professorship in Endocrine Pancreas Preservation from the Endocrine Society. With WesternU opening its Patient Care Center and establishing the Western Diabetes Institute, the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific’s Department of Internal Medicine used the honor to retain Dr. Adrian Vella, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., to visit during the 2011 fall semester as a visiting professor. Click here to read the full story.
Marek Malecki, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Genetics, Genomics, and Gene Therapy at COMP and Director of Biotechnology Program at GCBS was invited to the “X-Gen” – The 8th International Congress on the Next Generation Genomic Technologies, March 14-18 in San Diego. He presented the results of the work of the interdisciplinary group of his students from WesternU, SDSU, USF, and UW, whom he leads , while working on development of the next generation genomic sequencing technologies, which are applicable in the future personalized medical diagnosis.
Malecki M, Spears H, Stampe C, Eggers J, Malecki R. Sequencing of genomic DNA and quantitative PCR on clusters of CTC reveal their heterogeneous population consisting of cancerous, mesenchymal, and cancer stem cells.
Malecki M, Nochowicz M, Malecki B, Dodivenaka C, Nagel S. DNA libraries for single chain variable fragments generated through targeted amplification and sequencing.
From the College of Allied Health Professions:
Department of Physician Assistant Education News
Congratulations to Tina Boykin, MPH, MS, PA-C, PA faculty, who was appointed to the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Clinical Education Committee Subcommittee. Tina will be part of a team that will create a clinical coordinator’s handbook.
Congratulations to Stephanie Baron, MS, PA-C, PA faculty and Tina Boykin who both participated in a PAEA faculty workshop last week in Orlando, Fla. They both gained additional knowledge and skills contributing to their success as faculty members and clinical education coordinators.
The PA Class of 2012 has dedicated Fridays as a fun day. Each Friday, for the past two semesters, has been given a theme in which the class participates. This past Friday, it was “B” day. The students were asked to dress up or accessorize with items that begin with the letter B. Some students came to class with beach blankets, some had balloons in their hair, others with brown pants. Other Friday themes have included dressing in all white, all red, pajama day, hat day, western day, and rainbow day.
Department of Physical Therapy Education News
The DPT students raised more than $1,200 from their second annual 5K Run/Walk for the American Physical Therapy Association’s Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge. Nearly 70 people participated in the WesternU run/walk, which was held March 26 at Red Hill Park in Rancho Cucamonga. Associate Professor Sandy Stuckey, PT, MA, PhD, and Assistant Professor Laurie Layton, PT, MPT, CSCS, joined the 30 DPT students who were also present as runners/walkers. For the past 22 years, students at PT and PTA schools nationwide have made an impact on physical therapy research by supporting the Foundation for Physical Therapy through the Challenge. To date, students have raised more than $1.8 million to support the Foundation’s doctoral and research grants, and more than 80 schools across the country have pledged to participate in this year’s Challenge.
From the College of Optometry:
Live Injury-Free
April 4-10 has been designated National Public Health Week by the American Public Health Association (APHA). This year’s theme is “Safety is NO Accident: Live Injury-Free.” In support of this important awareness week, WesternU encourages all individuals, and particularly children, to wear proper eye protection when participating in sports. Click here to read more.
From the College of Podiatric Medicine:
Research Symposium
The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Division One Research Symposium was held at WesternU on Jan. 26. Congratulations to Assistant Professor Jarrod Shapiro, DPM, for being elected Treasurer for ACFAS, Division One.
Congratulations to the WesternU faculty and students who received national recognition for their oral and poster presentations:
Winners of the general oral and poster presentation include:
Second place for the General oral and poster presentations: Whitney Hunchak, DPM PGY 2, David Aungst, DPM, and College of Podiatric Medicine Assistant Dean Aksone Nouvong, DPM, FACFAS, “Effects of Orthotics on Pregnancy-Related Changes in Foot Morphology.”
Winners of the Student oral and poster presentations are:
First: Khuteja Fatima, Munira Rahman, DO ’13, and COMP Associate Professor Daniel Pearce, DO, “In-Hospital Mortality from Acute Myocardial Infarction: HIV Seropositive vs Seronegative Individuals.”
Second: Adam Beckler, Pamela Hong, CPM Instructor David Shofler, DPM, and DPM Assistant Professor Bora Rhim, DPM, “Foot Complication Following Acute Compartment Syndrom; A systematic Review.”
Third: Darren Leavitt, “Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and its Association with Pes Cavus.”
From CDHP:
Earthquake preparedness
Given the 9.0 earthquake in northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011, it is important to review the lessons documented from the Kobe (Great Hanshin Awaji) quake in January 1995 regarding integrating people with disabilities and other access and functional needs into emergency planning, response and recovery. Click here to view several publications and additional links on this topic by CDHP Associate Director June Isaacson Kailes: http://www.jik.com/d-pubs.html
