Dear colleague: 

The Dean’s Office is hosting a retirement reception for Richard B. Johnston, Jr., MD, associate dean for research development and professor of pediatrics, at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the first floor atrium of Building 500 to honor his years of service to the School of Medicine. Dick has been an important member of the School of Medicine’s leadership team for the past 15 years and has had a storied career as an educator, researcher and administrator. From 1992 to 1998, he served as the medical director of the March of Dimes and he was instrumental in focusing national attention on the importance of women consuming folic acid prior to and during the early stages of pregnancy to reduce the occurrence of neural tube defects. The Vanderbilt Medicine magazine recently published an article, “A Scholar and a Gentleman,” that offers an excellent summary of Dick’s valuable contributions to medical science. 

Chancellor Don Elliman announced in mid-November that the University would be granting an additional holiday on Thursday, Dec. 31, to those on the Anschutz Medical Campus. The announcement stated that faculty and staff providing essential services that day will still be required to come to work on Dec. 31. You are essential whether you are providing inpatient services or staffing an outpatient clinic. If the clinic is scheduled to be open, you are expected to work. If you are required to work on Dec. 31 due to obligations in a clinic, you may choose an alternative day off during January, in coordination with your clinical supervisors.

Tess Jones, PhD, associate director of the University’s Center for Bioethics and Humanities and director of the Arts and Humanities in Healthcare Program, announced last week that the Center has been approved to launch a new Certificate in Health Humanities and Ethics. Designed for health professions students, graduate students, professionals, and community members, the certificate will offer an accessible, affordable and enriching study of humanities and ethics as applied to health and healthcare. It is a 15-credit-hour program with foundational courses in health humanities and ethics as well as targeted studies in content such as research and clinical ethics; history, literature and visual arts as they related to healthcare; health communication and rhetoric of medicine and health; and narrative medicine.

The Medical Student Council (MSC) is presenting the 2015 University of Colorado School of Medicine Winter Gala on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Denver Museum and Nature and Science. The event will include an opportunity to view the museum’s Gems Exhibit from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Most tickets for students are $25 and $30 for faculty and staff. Tickets are available from MSC class representatives.

We join with other members of the University of Colorado community in mourning the death last Friday of University of Colorado Colorado Springs Police Officer Garrett Swasey. He is survived by his wife, a 6-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son. A fund to support Garrett’s family has been established at https://www.youcaring.com/the-family-of-officer-swasey-rachel-swasey-and-children-477034.   

Have a good week, 

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