Richard C. Wender, MD, Alumni Professor and Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, presented on Cancer Screening, and Caroline M. Apovian, MD, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Director, Center for Nutrition and Weight Management, and Director, Clinical Research of, Obesity Research Center of Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, presented on Risks and Benefits of Folic Acid Fortification.

Glendale, CA (PRWEB) April 17, 2013

The goals of this program are to improve cancer screening and to review the benefits and risks of folic acid (FA) fortification. After hearing and assimilating this program, the clinician will be better able to:

1. Implement screening protocols for cervical cancer.

2. Offer screening for prostate cancer using shared decision making.

3. Identify patients eligible for screening for lung cancer.

4. Summarize the role of folate in one-carbon, nucleic acid, and amino acid metabolism.

5. Advise patients on the risks and benefits of folic acid fortification.

The original programs were presented by Robert A. Wiebe, MD, Clinical Professor, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, and Lalit Bajaj, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Research Director, Section of Emergency Medicine, Childrens Hospital, Denver.

Audio-Digest Foundation, the largest independent publisher of Continuing Medical Education in the world, records over 10,000 hours of lectures every year in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, family practice, gastroenterology, general surgery, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, otolaryngology, pediatrics, psychology, and urology, by the leading medical researchers at the top laboratories, universities, and institutions.

Here is the original post:
Audio-Digest Foundation Announces the Release of Internal Medicine Volume 60, Issue 04: Cancer Screening/Folic Acid ...

Over $400 Million Raised to Date, Including Largest Gift in the College of Medicine's History

BRONX, N.Y., April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Addressing an enthusiastic gathering of more than 400 supporters, alumni and faculty, Allen M. Spiegel, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean of Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, tonight publicly announced the College of Medicine's largest fundraising efforta capital campaign to raise at least $500 million, known as "The Campaign to Transform Einstein."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130415/DC95237-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130415/DC95237-b)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120531/DC16559LOGO)

On what was promoted as a "historic" evening at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, Dr. Spiegel revealed that a bequest of more than $160 millionthe largest gift in the school's 60-year historyhad recently been received from a leading Einstein supporter. The college has raised more than $400 million in this campaign, and is poised to meet or exceed its goal. The funds raised are allowing the research-intensive medical school to experience remarkable growth, spearheaded by the leadership of Dr. Spiegel, who arrived at Einstein in 2006 following a distinguished 30-year career at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Of particular note was the recent bequest by longtime supporter Muriel Block, who died in 2010, having generously provided for Einstein through her estate. The gift, given in the name of Mrs. Block and her late husband, real estate executive Harold Block, will significantly advance the College of Medicine's goal of improving human health, and in recognition the school will name several significant entities for the Blocks, including:

(Learn more about how the gift from Harold and Muriel Block will be used and honored at Einstein.)

"I am grateful for the visionary leadership and support of Einstein's Board of Overseers, and for the remarkable generosity of Muriel Block and our other donors," said Dr. Spiegel. "They can all take pride in Einstein as a medical school that will excel in achieving its educational and research mission."

In addition to doubling the rate of fundraising during Dr. Spiegel's tenure, Einstein was awarded $160 million in NIH funding for 2012, a 61 percent increase over 20002003, when the NIH budget was doubling and the success rate for applications was twice what it is now. The 2012 funding allocation occurred at a time when the NIH budget was flat and securing grants incredibly difficult. Since 2006, the College of Medicine has added more than 140 faculty members, including key chairs and senior-level recruits from leading institutions. Einstein has also established institutes and centers in fields of national importance, including cardiovascular disease; cancer prevention and control; stem cell research and regenerative medicine; and clinical and translational research.

Continue reading here:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine Announces $500 Million Capital Campaign

ALBANY, N.Y., April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Three physician scientists whose landmark research helped transform the treatment of cancer are the recipients of the prestigious Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research, to be officially awarded May 17.

The $500,000 award, given to those who have altered the course of medical research, is one of the largest prizes in medicine and science in the United States.

This year, the prize will recognize groundbreaking research into the nature of cancer, which has led to the development of a new generation of cancer drugs, most notably Gleevec for chronic myeloid leukemia that, unlike chemotherapy, target specific genetic defects causing cancer.

The recipients are:

Prize award activities on May 17 will include a Grand Rounds lecture by Drs. Rowley and Druker followed by a press conference and luncheon in Albany, N.Y.

James J. Barba, president and chief executive officer of Albany Medical Center and chairman of the National Selection Committee, said, "These individuals exemplify the extraordinary impact that painstaking research can have on the lives of countless individuals. These visionary scientists have advanced our understanding of cancer, vastly improved our ability to treat this devastating disease and given hope to so many around the world. On behalf of cancer survivors everywhere, I thank Drs. Druker, Nowell, and Rowley for their contributions in our fight to eradicate cancer."

The Albany Medical Center Prize was established in 2000 by the late Morris "Marty" Silverman to honor scientists whose work has demonstrated significant outcomes that offer medical value of national or international importance. A $50 million gift commitment from the Marty and Dorothy Silverman Foundation provides for the prize to be awarded annually for 100 years.

Five Albany Prize recipients have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

Joseph R. Testa, Ph.D., co-director of the Cancer Biology Program at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, called the trio's work on chronic leukemia "one of the finest examples ever of translational research," the process of making basic scientific research useful for practical applications.

"Their collective achievements opened new fields of cancer research and have improved the lives of many," Testa said.

View original post here:
Cancer Treatment Pioneers to Share America's Most Distinguished Prize in Medicine

CHICAGO (AP) It has been six decades since doctors concluded that addiction was a disease that could be treated, but today the condition still dwells on the fringes of the medical community. Only 1 cent of every health care dollar in the United States goes toward addiction, and few alcoholics and drug addicts receive treatment. One huge barrier, according to many experts, has been a lack of health insurance.

But that barrier crumbles in less than a year. In a major break with the past, 3 million to 5 million people with drug and alcohol problems from homeless drug addicts to working moms who drink too much suddenly will become eligible for insurance coverage under the new health care overhaul.

The number of people seeking treatment could double over current levels, depending on how many states decide to expand their Medicaid programs and how many addicts choose to take advantage of the new opportunity, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data. The analysis compared federal data on the addiction rates in the 50 states, the capacity of treatment programs and the provisions of the new health law.

The surge in patients is expected to push a marginal part of the health care system out of church basements and into the mainstream of medical care. Already, the prospect of more paying patients has prompted private equity firms to increase their investments in addiction treatment companies, according to a market research firm. And families fighting the affliction are beginning to consider a new avenue for help.

"There is no illness currently being treated that will be more affected by the Affordable Care Act than addiction," said Tom McLellan, CEO of the nonprofit Treatment Research Institute and President Barack Obama's former deputy drug czar. "That's because we have a system of treatment that was built for a time when they didn't understand that addiction was an illness."

But those eager for a new chance at sobriety may be surprised by the reality behind the promise. The system for treating substance abuse now largely publicly funded and run by counselors with limited medical training is small and already full to overflowing in many places. In more than two-thirds of the states, treatment clinics are already at or approaching 100 percent capacity.

The new demand could swamp the system before even half of the newly insured show up at the door, causing waiting lists of months or longer, treatment agencies say. In recent years, many rehab centers have been shrinking rather than growing because of government budget cuts for patients who receive public support.

"Advocates just get so excited, but at some point, reality is going to hit and they'll find it's not all it was cracked up to be," said Josh Archambault of the Pioneer Institute, a nonpartisan public policy research center in Boston.

In the coming years, treatment programs and medical colleges will face pressure to ramp up to create a larger system.

But until then, addiction treatment may represent an extreme example of one of the Affordable Care Act's challenges: actually delivering the care that people are supposed to receive.

More here:
Health law could overwhelm addiction services

Newswise The Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing honored three alumni and two students at the Fourth Annual Alumni Awards Mass and Brunch on Sunday, April 14, 2013, at the Universitys Lake Shore Campus.

Donna Marie Wolowicki, CR, BSN 71, MSN 75, MBA, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the most prestigious acknowledgment of Loyola nursing alumni accomplishments. Verna Christian-Garcia, BSN 61, and Patricia Matuszek Drott, BSN 63, MS, were honored with the Spirit of Ignatius Award. This is given to graduates who best characterize Curas Personalis or Care of the Person. Matthew Hauman was given the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Student Award and Megan McMenamin received the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Student Award for their accomplishments as undergraduates.

These alumnae and students were honored for the significant contributions they have made to the school or the profession, said Vicki Keough, PhD, APRN-BC, ACNP, FAAN, dean and professor, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. They are role models for generations of nurses to come.

Donna Marie Wolowicki, CR, BSN 71, MSN 75, MBA Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Donna Marie Wolowicki was recognized for her leadership in health care. Sister Donna has always kept the patient at the focus of care, ensuring the delivery of quality health services. She began her career as an intensive care nurse at Resurrection Medical Center (RMC) in Chicago. She later became a clinical specialist and nurse educator at RMC, and served as a clinical assistant professor in medical surgical nursing for Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. Sister Donna also was executive vice president and CEO of RMC from 1989 to 2011. She has served on several boards and volunteered at numerous organizations. Sister Donna continues her leadership and service through participation in mock interviews for graduating student nurses from the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing.

Verna Christian-Garcia, BSN 61 Spirit of Ignatius Award WinnerVerna Christian-Garcia was recognized for her support of those who need help in meeting basic human needs as well as for her work with the issues of child abuse, HIV and AIDS and health care for the uninsured. From the beginning of her career with the Virgin Islands government, Christian-Garcia has been driven by Christian principles, a liberal arts curriculum and the cornerstone of the nursing profession: care, compassion, commitment, and competence. The sensibilities she developed as a public health nurse and administrator of a geriatric and special needs facility, combined with decades of progressive, successful management and administrative experiences, provided her with opportunities to make positive and lasting contributions to populations in need. Although retired since 1995, Christian-Garcia continues her commitment to community service through her involvement in several non-profit organizations.

Patricia Matuszek Drott, BSN 63, MS Spirit of Ignatius Award WinnerPatricia Matuszek Drott was honored for her service as a nurse to underserved groups for nearly 50 years. Drott worked for more than 16 years as a public health nurse. She also served as the nursing supervisor with the Cook County Department of Public Health and as a visiting nurse with the Evanston Visiting Nurse Association. Drott instilled a passion for public health nursing in her students when she taught for 18 years at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing, North Park University and the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. For the past 10 years, she has been the Catholic Charities HIV/AIDS Liaison to the Archdiocese of Chicagoa unique role in which she combines her experience in nursing practice and education. Drott is determined to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS, dispel its myths, and work to reduce the stigma and discrimination which still accompany the disease.

Go here to read the rest:
Loyola University Chicago Honors Nursing Alumni, Students

Your career can be heavily affected by which college or grad school you attend. Of course prestige matters, but so does the probability of your graduating, as does how much you're likely to grow in writing, critical thinking, etc. Those abet nearly any career. And if you're picking a career-prep program like law, medical or business school, the training's practicality is crucial.

But how do you find out those things? And how do you do it when you, like millions of applicants, only have until May 1 to make your decision? This should help:

What is the true graduation rate? Ever more, employers require a degree or two for most professional jobs. In picking a college or graduate school you want to know your chances of getting that sheepskin to wave in front of employers. Unfortunately, too many colleges are deceptive in how they report graduation rate: They may report only the percent that graduate in six years, not four. They may exclude subsets of students with a low graduation rate, like athletes, legacies and "special admits." They may report only the expected time to graduation. Just because they "expect" you to graduate in X years doesn't mean that most students do. And of course, reporting just the expected time conveniently omits the percentage of students who never graduate.

Your solution: If the normative graduation rate isn't posted on the institution's website, ask an admissions representative something like, "What percent of freshmen graduate in four years?"

Surprising fact: Nationwide, less than 37 percent of freshmen at so-called four-year colleges graduate in four years. Only 58.8 percent graduate in six years! Of course, the better a student you are, the more likely you are to graduate. So even better, ask, "For students with grades and test scores like mine, what percent graduate in X years?"

How satisfied are the students and alumni? Commercial guides and websites report from a small and/or unrepresentative sample of students on how they rate their college or graduate program, but most institutions have better data. Not only do they routinely ask about students' and alumni's satisfaction with their experience at the institution, but also how well the education prepared them for their career and how well-employed they are after graduation. Ask to see the results of the latest surveys. If an institution won't show them to you or says it doesn't conduct such surveys, that's instructive in itself.

If you're considering a professional training program, talk with employers. For example, if you're considering nursing programs, ask the human resources department of a respected health care provider located where you'd like to work about the training program(s) that has yielded the best employees.

If you graduate, how likely are you to get a job? Ask the admissions representative, "What percent of graduates with a major in X or in graduate program Y are professionally employed within one year of graduation?"

What do the experts say? Nearly all colleges undergo an accreditation process including a site visit by a team of experts. In addition, many graduate programs undergo separate accreditation reviews. Not only do you want to know if a college or program is accredited, it's valuable to ask to see the visiting team report and the length of accreditation term awarded. If the term is much shorter than 10 years, it's cause for concern. The report will explain why the college received a reduced term.

What is it really going to cost you? Many colleges and graduate programs make it difficult to find what it will actually cost to attend. For example, it may give you a generous financial aid package the first year and then pull the plug, knowing you're unlikely to transfer. So ask the institution's financial aid representative, "What's the likely full cost of attendance for the length of the program? And what happens if I take longer--will my cash financial aid be converted to a loan?"

Original post:
A Key Career Decision: Choosing a College or Graduate School

Many famous women have held the title of America's Sweetheart over the years. On May 7, 1938, the Lassos of Jefferson High School appeared on the cover of Life magazine and became America's team of sweethearts.

The 81-year-old dance team, one of the oldest in Texas, had nearly 200 members in its heyday. It performed at the 1939 World's Fair in New York, met Eleanor Roosevelt at the White House and appeared in a feature film, High School, starring Jane Withers.

I sent a postcard to my parents that I shook hands with the first lady and hadn't washed my hands since, said Dorothy Hughes, an alumna from 1941. That was pretty high cotton for a little gal from San Antonio.

When I think about it, it's still special, even at my age now.

For decades, the Lassos held on to their celebrity status, appearing in local ad campaigns and even performing for John Wayne when he was in the San Antonio area filming The Alamo.

He gave me a kiss on the cheek. Talk about not washing, said Marion Tolk Asher Hirsch, class of 1960, who also served as Lasso director from 1969 to 1972.

But times, values and the financial burden of being a Lasso changed, and by 2006 the team had dwindled to 10 members.

In response to that, a group of former Lassos created the Lasso Alumni Association, or LAA, in 2007.

The Lassos are built on tradition and are part of Jefferson's identity, said Nancy York, LAA president-elect. We were about to lose them and we were just heartbroken.

Sharing history

Read more:
Jefferson's Lassos dance team is tied to a proud school history

Dr. Gary M. Rull, associate professor of internal medicine at SIU School of Medicine, has been selected as Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the SIU Academy for Scholarship in Education.

The award is given annually to recognize an SIU faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional skill and commitment to teaching.

Dr. Rull is an innovator in education, Dr. Debra Klamen, associate dean for education and curriculum, said in a news release. He created a geriatrics curriculum designed around a simulated senior couple and standardized the teaching of history and physical exams across the curriculum.

Rull serves as director of the SIU Doctoring curriculum. He is a fellow in the American College of Physicians, a member of Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honorary Society, and was elected secretary of SIU School of Medicine Alumni Board of Gover-nors.

He has received awards, including the Laureate Award from the Illinois downstate region chapter of ACP and the Best Full-time Faculty Teacher of the Year Award given annually by SIU residents. He has had four medical education articles pub-lished.

Rull joined the SIU fac-ulty in 2001.

He completed his internal medicine residency at SIU (2001), followed by a year as chief resident for SIU. He earned his medical degree with honors at SIU (1998) and earned his bachelors degree summa cum laude at SIU Edwardsville (1992).

Rull accepted in and completed the Stanford Faculty Development Center for Medical Teachers clinical teaching training course, a highly acclaimed program for medical educators (2011).

He is board certified in internal medicine.

University Communications provided the information for this article.

Here is the original post:
SIU physician Rull named top teacher

HUNTINGTON -- Five third-year medical students and five residents, faculty members and alumni with the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine are being inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the nation's medical honorary.

The inductees were selected based on academic achievements and contributions to medicine.

"This is a significant honor for everyone," said Dr. Marie Veitia, associate dean of Student Affairs. "Scholastic achievement is one of the top criteria for nomination, but other areas, including leadership qualities, ethical standards, and service to school and community also figure prominently in the selection process."

The student inductees are Saqib R. Ahmed, Zubair A. Ansari, Joshua F. Hendrix, Sammy Hodroge and Kimberly N. Weaver.

The other inductees are Dr. Farouk H. Abadir, Department of Anesthesiology at Cabell Huntington Hospital; Dr. Whitney A. Boggs, Department of Family Medicine; Dr. Felix H. Cheung, Department of Orthopaedics; Dr. Gary D. Cremeans, class of 1996; and Dr. David D. Francke, Department of Internal Medicine.

The inductees will be honored at a banquet Thursday, April 18.

Go here to read the rest:
Med school recognizes honorary inductees