This Week@WesternU, Jan. 7-11, 2013

Western Diabetes Institute shares expertise

The tragic death of Fremont Academy of Engineering and Design 11th grade student Nikita Rodriguez from undiagnosed diabetes in late November 2012 was not in vain. Those closest to her remember Nikita as a great student, exceptional leader and compassionate friend who provided a voice for victims of bullying.

She also inspired experts from Western Diabetes Institute (WDI), part of the Patient Care Center at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif., to share diabetes information with concerned parents, students, staff, and community members Dec. 19, 2012 in Fremont Academy’s cafeteria. Click here to read the full story.

From the College of Pharmacy:

Kudos on accomplishments

Congratulations to Dr. Arbi Nazarian on becoming Chair-Elect of the Biological Sciences Section of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). For the next three years Dr. Nazarian will be part of the leadership team coordinating AACP programming in the Biological Sciences for faculty from more than 120 schools and colleges of pharmacy nationwide. http://www.aacp.org/governance/Documents/winners12-13.pdf

Dr. Cynthia Jackevicius was co-author of a recent publication where they found that the impact of P4P was still uncertain based on a systematic review of literature: Houle SKD, McAlister FA, Jackevicius CA, Chuck AW, Tsuyuki RT. Does Performance-Based Remuneration for Individual Health Care Practitioners Affect Patient Care?: A Systematic Review. Ann Intern Med 2012;157:889-99. http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1485311

Professor Roger Klotz was co-author on two recent publications along with P4 students on rotation on the student’s perspective of a pharmacist role in a medical practice – an area of emerging interest with PCMH: Danielle Arredondo, PharmD candidate 2013, Bryn Henderson, R. Wayne Blackburn and Roger Klotz. An Advanced Pharmacy Practice Rotation in a Medical Group Practice: A Pharmacy Student’s Perspective. California DO Fall 2012.

Stephanie Lin, Roger Klotz, Wayne Blackburn and Bryn Henderson. Potential Severe Hypoglycemia associated with energy drinks in a diabetic patient: A case study. California DO Fall 2012.

From the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific:

Kudos on accomplishments

Dr. Brion Benninger, MD MSc, COMP-Northwest Professor/Vice Chair, Medical Anatomical Sciences, will join the editorial board as an advisory board member for Open Access Anatomy Journal. He will write a manuscript for publication of a special issue to be announced in early 2013.

From the College of Allied Health Professions:

Department of Physical Therapy Education News

Assistant Professor Janet Konecne, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, will be performing at the La Mirada Center for the Performing Arts Saturday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. The concert theme is “Golden Celebration” featuring works from Brahms, Strauss, and Copeland. During this 50th anniversary season of the La Mirada Symphony Association, concerts are free with donations at the door gratefully accepted. Dr. Konecne, an established expert in physical therapy for performing artists, plays principal bassoon with the La Mirada Symphony Orchestra. More information on this and future performances is available at www.lamiradasymphony.com.

From the College of Podiatric Medicine:

Click here for the latest College of Podiatric Medicine newsletter.

From University Advancement:

University Advancement is pleased to acknowledge and recognize a gift of $215,000 from Banfield Pet Hospital directed to the College of Veterinary Medicine. This annual gift is part of the overall 10-year pledge by Banfield that built the Banfield Veterinary Clinical Center building on campus and will total more than $6.5 million when completed. The students, College and University continue to be grateful for Banfield’s support of WesternU as we train the next generation of skilled, compassionate veterinarians.

Humanism endowment

Yolanda B. Suarez, DO ’99, was the originator of the Humanism Journal when she was a student at COMP. She recently made a gift that will create The Yolanda B. Suarez, DO, Class of 1999, Humanism in the Health Sciences Journal Endowment. This endowment will ensure its publication in perpetuity.

Humanism in the Health Sciences is an award-winning magazine managed and edited by WesternU students and faculty and is published annually and distributed free of charge to interested individuals and institutions worldwide. Each edition features essays, short stories, art, photography, poetry, case reports, literature reviews and letters created by WesternU students, alumni, faculty and staff. To view issues of Humanism in the Health Sciences magazine, please visit http://www.westernu.edu/communications-media.

Optometry gift

The American Optometric Foundation provided the College of Optometry a $1,000 gift toward scholarship support.

Alumni News

On Monday, Dec. 17, the WesternU Alumni Association hosted a pizza lunch for approximately 150 students in the DO 2014 Class. These students were back on campus from their clinical rotations, and the lunch gave them an opportunity to catch up with one another after several months apart.

New Alumni Connection

The December 2012 edition of WesternU’s alumni e-newsletter, The Alumni Connection, is now available. This edition features the latest news from WesternU, including the success of the annual “A Tribute to Caring” gala, the College of Podiatric Medicine receiving full accreditation, upcoming events and college-specific information. News for future editions can be e-mailed to Russel Heskin, director of Alumni Relations, at rheskin@westernu.edu.

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