Dear colleague: 

Maureen Garrity, PhD, associate dean for student life and associate professor of medicine and physiology, has announced her intention to retire in early 2017. Maureen has made numerous outstanding contributions to our School and to national organizations since joining the faculty 34 years ago. Last August, at the White Coat Ceremony for new medical students, she was one of the recipients of the Faculty Professionalism Award, a well-earned honor that recognizes faculty members for academic and institutional citizenship by contributing to the teaching, service and administrative activities of their department and the School. For the past 26 years, Maureen has sequentially served the School as associate dean for admissions, associate dean for student affairs and currently as associate dean for student life. We are now commencing a national search for the position of Associate Dean for Student Life and have posted the job description. Applicants should send a letter of interest and a curriculum vitae to the chair of the search committee for this position, Shanta Zimmer, MD, associate dean for diversity and inclusion, at Shanta.Zimmer@ucdenver.edu. 

Ingrid Binswanger, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine, and Adam Gordon, MD, MPH, professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, have received the Substance Abuse journal’s 2016 award for Most Downloaded Manuscript. The article, “From risk reduction to implementation: Addressing the opioid epidemic and continued challenges to our field” also ranks as the journal’s sixth-most downloaded article ever. The award is to be presented at the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse meeting in Washington, D.C., later this week. 

UCHealth announced last week that Littleton Radiation and Medical Oncology has joined the hospital system and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Founded in 1987, Littleton Radiation and Medical Oncology offers external beam radiation, high-dose radiation and hyperthermia and it will add medical oncology and chemotherapy infusion services. The practice is now connected with University of Colorado Hospital and the CU Cancer Center. The practice’s radiation oncologists, David Schreiber, MD, and Douglas Tippin, MD, are joining the School of Medicine faculty. Faculty members Brian Kavanagh, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology, Chad Rusthoven, MD, Thomas Pugh, MD, and Mark Hancock, MD, will also see patients at the location. 

The University is conducting a confidential Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey to better understand the extent and effects of sexual misconduct in our community. Responses will guide efforts to improve prevention and response and help make our community a place where respect is expected. The online survey is available until Friday, Nov. 11. To find the survey, click on this link. Participants in the survey will have a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card; names and email addresses for the gift card will not be connected to your survey responses. I encourage you to participate in this survey to help ensure that all staff, faculty and affiliates are working in an environment free from discrimination and harassment. 

Students, faculty and staff have had the use of new first-class pianos at no-cost in the Fulginiti Pavilion for Bioethics and Humanities since its opening in 2012. This arrangement is provided through partnership with the non-profit Rockley Family Foundation. A large selection of grands, baby grands, digital player grands, vertical (upright) pianos, digital pianos, keyboards and orchestral strings will be available for purchase on Nov. 17-19. Most instruments are less than a year old, include a new factory warranty, are tuned, and ready to go. Delivery and special no-interest financing is available on site. Moreover, in most cases, a substantial portion of the purchase price is considered as a charitable contribution to the Rockley Family Foundation and may be tax deductible. For information and available appointment times call 303-724-7591. 

Have a good week, 

John J. Reilly, Jr., MD
Richard D. Krugman Endowed Chair
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and
Dean, School of Medicine