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This Week@WesternU, Dec. 12-16, 2011

by Rodney Tanaka

December 12, 2011

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From the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific:

Kudos on accomplishments

Dr. Vicki Wedel of COMP/CDM and Christopher Bell, University Recruiter, hosted Dr. Margie Dell’s Anatomy 2 undergraduates from Santa Monica College for a lecture on Medical Forensics and information session on WesternU’s opportunities in health professions. Dr. Wedel also traveled to SDSU for a “Lives of the Dead: What Bodies and Bones Reveal” lecture for the forensics undergraduates in Dr. Arion Mayes’ class.

Officials from Shijiazhuang Kidney Disease Hospital in China visited WesternU on Friday, Dec. 2 to learn more about osteopathic medicine and lay the groundwork for future collaboration. Click here to read the full story.

Vanessa Graff, MSMS ’12, and Matt Wedel, PhD, of COMP and CPM, presented talks at the 2nd International Workshop on Sauropod Dinosaur Biology and Gigantism at the University of Bonn, Germany, Dec. 9-11. Vanessa’s talk was titled, “Neck support in sauropods,” and Dr. Wedel’s talk was, “Sauropod pneumaticity: a report from the front lines.” As invited participants in the workshop, both received travel funds from the DFG (the German national science foundation), and the Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences provided additional support for Vanessa.

Marek Malecki, MD, PhD, was an invited speaker at the 3rd International Annual “Cancer Genome Sequencing Summit” Dec. 6-8, 2011 in Boston. He delivered the lecture “Single, selected chromosome DNA sequencing from the single, selected ovarian circulating tumor cells.”

He was also invited to serve on the panel of experts, which included scientists from the NIH, NCI, NHGRI, and biotechnology industry: “Future of Cancer Genome Sequencing” on Dec. 8.

From the College of Allied Health Professions:

Department of Physical Therapy Education News

Congratulations to Sheryl Low, PT, DPT ’05, DSc, PCS, for her recent election to the California Physical Therapy Association (CPTA) Chapter Board in the position of Director. As one of four Directors representing more than 6,000 physical therapist and physical therapist assistant members in the state, Dr. Low joins the nine-member Chapter Board which serves as the governing body in presiding over the CPTA.

Santa photos

The Master of Science in Health Sciences (MSHS) program offered $5 photos with Santa on Dec. 6 and will again offer them on Dec. 14 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. in HSC to help raise money for student programs.

Click here to view a slideshow from Dec. 6.

From the College of Pharmacy:

Kudos on accomplishments

Dr. Janice Hoffman was instrumental in WesternU receiving the Target Case Competition Grant for $4,000.

She was an invited panelist at the CPhA summit on “Preventing Hospital Readmissions through Safe and Reliable Care Transitions,” and presented on “The Role of Medications in Readmissions Perspectives: Identifying Breakdowns & Creating Breakthroughs for Safe Transitions,” along with co-panelists Tim Cutler, PharmD, CGP, UC Davis Medical Center, Marilyn Stebbins, PharmD, CHW/Mercy Medical Group and Anh-Vuong Ly, PharmD, Ralphs Grocery Co.

She co-authored two publications in the Fall Issue of the California Pharmacist along with our students: Stephanie Gleiberman (PharmD 2012 candidate) and Janice Hoffman. Mood Stabilizer and the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/PHDQ0411/index.php#/40

Janice Hoffman, Jae Choe (PharmD 2012 candidate) and Dan Osterweil. Ambulatory Clinic for the Elderly (Business Model). http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/PHDQ0411/index.php#/50

Dr. Cynthia Jackevicius has published her fourth article in the New England Journal of Medicine, this time regarding the impact of the recent generic approval of Lipitor (atorvastatin) on health care costs. This article was co-authored by Mindy Chou, PharmD ’11, who did her AE with Dr. Jackevicius. Generic Atorvastatin and Health Care Costs — EJM

Dr. Olivia Phung and other researchers found that drinking green tea daily or by taking it in capsule form may reduce LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, by 5.3 points and total cholesterol by 5.5 points. Click here to read the full story.

From the College of Podiatric Medicine:

Kudos on accomplishments

College of Podiatric Medicine Associate Professor Kathleen Satterfield, DPM, FACFAOM, MAPWCA, will become president of The American College of Foot & Ankle Orthopedics & Medicine (ACFAOM) on Jan. 1, 2012. Click here to read the full story.

On Dec. 4, the College of Podiatric Medicine distributed more than 600 pairs of donated shoes to the homeless of Pomona. CPM collected shoes for two months before the event from generous students and faculty of WesternU. Special thanks to all those who donated and volunteered. The event coordinator was Bryan Levay, DPM 2014.

From University Advancement:

Christmas Kudos

Jeff Keating, executive director of public affairs, his wife Jessica, and their children Halley and Matthew played the roles of Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves during the Downtown Pomona Miracle on Second Street Christmas Parade Saturday, Dec. 10. College of Pharmacy students and faculty provided health screenings and wellness information during the event.

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