What's Going on Here?
March 24, 2014
I attended my 25th Match Day Friday morning. The first was in New York in 1968 when I opened an envelope that had a slip of paper with the words “University of Colorado Straight Pediatrics” on it. The next 24 were with the classes of 1991 through this year’s class of 2014, who opened their envelopes to find out where their next adventure would be. The annual brunch is always a wonderful event as our soon-to-be graduates get the news about where they will be residents. Most were happy. Some were accepting. Some were disappointed. But as I told the class of 2014 Friday morning, “Nothing in medicine – even this – is forever.” Best wishes to everyone in the class as they prepare for what will be the most intense learning year of their lives.
Two days before, on Wednesday, there was a very nice celebration for Mimi Glodé, MD, professor of pediatrics. After 36 years on the School’s faculty, Mimi is retiring this coming month. Most of her family and many of her friends and colleagues shared memories of her time here. Jim Todd, MD, professor of pediatrics and microbiology, put together a very funny animated film summarizing her career.
I left that event to meet with the Medical Student Council, which wanted an update on the search for my successor. The answer (in case some of you are also interested) was that I have heard there is now a search committee formed and a search firm picked. But because I am not involved, I really have no details other than those. I am going to suggest that the search committee get a web page so we can all know how things are progressing.
At the Executive Committee last Tuesday, Ronald Sokol, MD, director of the Colorado Clinical & Translational Institute, gave an overview of the new funding cycle for the next four-and-half years. The formula used by the National Institutes of Health cut funding to $51.6 million compared with $76 million received during the previous five-year cycle. Ron reported that the external review committee concluded that the CCTSI is an “unqualified success,” but he noted that the federal budget cuts will undoubtedly have an impact.
The American College of Physicians announced last week that Lawrence Feinberg, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine, will receive the Ralph O. Claypoole Sr. Memorial Award at a ceremony Thursday, April 10, during the group’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. The award is bestowed on an outstanding practitioner of internal medicine who has devoted his or her career to the care of patients. Congratulations Larry.
Huntington Potter, PhD, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Clinical Center, was the featured speaker at the annual CU Advocacy Day at the state capital on Monday, March 17. He explained that Alzheimer’s is a “tsunami which will sink us if we don’t solve the problem.” The School of Medicine is a source of pride for our state and it’s good that so many lawmakers were reminded of the great work being accomplished on this campus for our community.
Peter S. Jensen, MD, president and CEO of the REACH Institute, on Friday, April 4, will give the third annual Chancellor’s John J. Conger Lectureship and Visiting Professorship sponsored by the Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry. Peter’s presentation, “Applying Basic Science Methods to Assist Primary Care Clinicians to Improve Children’s Healthcare,” will be at 12:30 p.m. in the Mt. Oxford Auditorium at Children’s Hospital Colorado. CME credit is offered and lunch will be available. For more information, contact Bobbi Siegel.
There were a couple of terrific reports on Colorado Public Radio last week featuring School of Medicine faculty members. On Wednesday, Paula Riggs, MD, professor of psychiatry and director of the division of substance dependence, was featured in a terrific report about her work at Adams City High in Commerce City. Riggs has adapted a program, called Encompass, to get behavioral therapy to young people to develop positive and useful ways of thinking and to break dependence on marijuana. On Friday, CPR reported about a new clinical rotation designed to treat refugees and featured Jamal Moloo, MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Refugee Wellness Center in Aurora.
On Tuesday, March 25, there will be a reception, poetry reading and art exhibit from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to celebrate the release of “The Human Touch 2014,” a volume of poetry, prose and visual art from contributors with connections to the Anschutz Medical Campus. The event will be at the Fulginiti Pavilion for Bioethics and Humanities. Copies of “The Human Touch 2014” will be available at no charge.
And this coming Thursday, March 27, Louis W. Sullivan, MD, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will discuss his new memoir, “Breaking Ground: My Life in Medicine,” at 12:30 p.m. in the Gossard Forum in the Fulginiti Pavilion. This event should be an enlightening talk about Dr. Sullivan’s personal, professional and political history. He was founding dean of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta and served as HHS secretary under President George H.W. Bush. His book describes efforts to confront the nation’s AIDS crisis and previous efforts at health care reform.
Have a good week,
Richard D. Krugman, MD
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and
Dean, School of Medicine
"What’s Going On Here" is an email news bulletin from Richard Krugman, MD, Dean of the CU School of Medicine, that is distributed to inform University of Colorado School of Medicine faculty members about issues pertaining to the School’s mission of education, research, clinical care
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