by MARK WIGGINS / KVUE News and photojournalist JOHN GUSKY

kvue.com

Posted on October 30, 2012 at 6:25 PM

Updated yesterday at 6:41 PM

AUSTIN -- Practicing with high-tech medical mannequins at the University of Texas School of Nursing, future health care professionals will soon choose a medical specialty, and by extension, a home.

"If you picked a specialty and they don't really have a center for that here in Austin, then that means you're more likely to move around," student Randall Luce told KVUE at a media event Tuesday morning.

"A lot of our students stay here. A lot of them go out across the state," said University of Texas President Bill Powers. "There is a critical shortage of doctors in the state and in some specialties we can build on in providing even better care and the safety net for underserved citizens."

Powers met with media Tuesday in part to dispel what he calls some of the biggest misconceptions regarding Central Health Prop 1 on the Travis County ballot. He says the idea the state's flagship university should have enough money to finance a new medical school by itself is just wrong.

"We are for affordable education, keeping tuition as low as possible. We are for keeping taxpayers' commitment as low as possible. On a per student per year basis, we are at the very bottom of funding," said Powers, who argues that the University of Texas's resources are stretched thin in comparison to flagship universities in other states. "In our comparison group, we are both a low tuition, low general revenue," explained Powers. "We include oil money in that calculation, and we're still at the bottom in that."

"UT's not the only one struggling for funds, and they need to realize that. The taxpayers are financially struggling as well," said Don Zimmerman with the Travis County Taxpayers Union, a political committee formed to fight the proposal.

Read this article:
Supporters, opponents tackle talking points before medical school vote

Updated10/30/2012 04:56 PM

Tuesday, UT President Bill Powers made his case for having one on campus.

"It would be very good for health care in Central Texas, training and very good for research in health care issues," Powers said.

Proposition 1 currently on the ballot asks taxpayers for 13 cents per $100 valuation on their property, or $260 on a $200,000 home.

UT will fund the actual school, while the $53 million per year coming from taxpayers would fund training for med students in our community's hospitals.

Powers says an Austin medical school will help keep specialists here, preventing people from having to go to other cities for care.

"Austin is the largest metropolitan area in the country without a major medical center," Powers said.

Powers says its as crucial to our well-being as transportation and housing.

Clarke Heidrick with the Austin Chamber of Commerce agrees. He says the medical school would be a tremendous long-term opportunity for the community, and would create 15,000 to 20,000 jobs.

"The University of Texas is the largest economic driver that our community has, businesses have spun out of it, Heidrick said. "Its a tremendous magnet for people who want to come here and do great things."

Read more here:
UT's Powers speaks out in favor of medical school

While still severely underrepresented, racial minorities are making healthy gains in medical school enrollments, according to recent study showing minorities closing the gap.

(RELATED AP STORY: Mexican Dreamer Opts to Pursue Med School in U.S.)

American Indians and Alaska Natives made the most gains this year after seeing a slight dip in 2011, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, a nonprofit that represents all 150 accredited medical schools in the U.S. and Canada.

Enrollment for this relatively small population increased by 11.9 percent to 430 aspiring doctors, from last years 379. American Indians and Alaska Natives account for only 0.9 percent of 2012 medical school students and 1.7 percent of the total U.S. population.

David Baines, a physician and member of the Tlingit and Tsimshian tribes, describes the culture shock of moving from his reservation in Alaska to the Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minn., the Native American Times reported. He credits student and professional organizations, such as the Association of Native American Medical Students, with helping him succeed.

Growing up in an isolated reservation in Alaska, going to medical school was a big shock, especially culturally, he recalls. I was very isolated as the first and only American Indian or Alaska Native student at Mayo Medical School.

The studys figures also shows blacks and Latinos applied to medical school at record-high numbers, 3,824 and 3,701, respectively.

Total enrollment, plus increase, by race and ethnicity (pdf) for 2012:

Overall, more than 45,000 people applied to medical school, a 3.1 percent increase from 2011. First-time applicants also went up by 3.4, signaling an even stronger interest in medicine, according to the nonprofit.

A physician shortage of about 90,000 is expected over the next decade, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Link:
Minority Enrollment in Medical Schools Rises

The claim sounds reasonable: An Austin medical school would alleviate a looming shortage of doctors.

It assumes there is a local physician shortage to cure and that a medical school would attract the kinds of doctors needed to remedy it. Those assumptions are among the most hotly disputed as balloting for a proposed property tax increase goes down to the wire.

Supporters cite a study predicting a shortage of 770 doctors in the area by 2016. They say a University of Texas medical school would add doctors and improve access to care for the entire community, not just the needy who would receive health care services from a medical school faculty, its students and doctors-in-training, or residents.

Opponents of the tax to support the medical school challenge those numbers. They say the study trumps up a doctor shortage by sweeping in 10 counties surrounding Travis some with serious physician deficits while Travis County has the third-highest number of doctors in the state.

People want to live in this area, and I dont think you need a medical school for people to practice here, said Dr. Jeffrey Hall, a local plastic surgeon.

Whos right?

The numbers

The often-cited physician workforce study was paid for by Seton, which would own and operate the teaching hospital for the medical school. It was conducted in November by the Chicago-based consulting firm Navigant and covered an 11-county region Travis, Williamson, Hays, Lee, Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Burnet, Blanco, Llano and Gonzales.

Its conclusion: The overall supply of doctors is relatively healthy but wont be for long. While there is an oversupply of certain specialists including obstetricians, cardiologists, and general, orthopedic and plastic surgeons there are shortages in primary care and various specialties: gastroenterology, rheumatology, infectious disease medicine, and pulmonary and critical care. Those shortages will worsen as doctors retire and the population grows and ages, the consultants said.

Basing their projections on the assumption that doctors retire at 65, the consultants said the region is short 49 primary care doctors, a deficit that will grow to 362 by 2016. The region would need 347 more surgeons and specialists by 2016, not counting shortages in pediatrics, psychiatry and other fields.

Read more:
Would a medical school provide more of the doctors Travis County needs most?

The Cedar City Office of Economic Development wants to establish a school of osteopathic medicine in that community.

It says it is beginning the groundwork to open the school in what it describes as a joint effort of community leaders, business leaders, educators, health professionals and interested residents and students.

The economic development office says it is consulting with Colorado-based Rocky Vista Universitys College of Osteopathic Medicine to help it establish a school. Rocky Vistas first class of physicians graduated in May 2012.

In the United States, there are two types of licensed physicians that practice medicine. Most physicians hold the M.D. or Doctor of Medicine degree. Osteopathic physicians hold the D.O. or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The medical training for an M.D. and D.O. is virtually indistinguishable. D.O. physicians are licensed to practice medicine in all 50 states, with a large percentage going into primary care.

Copyright 2012 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Continued here:
Cedar City pushing to establish osteopathic medical school

The University of Auckland's medical school says it is "reasonably sure" a fake medical student did not deal with hospital patients.

An investigation has been launched by the university to figure out how a student managed to pose as a medical student for two years.

The dean of the Medical and Health Sciences Faculty, John Fraser, said it was unclear whether the student got through the doors of Auckland Hospital.

"We understand that he assigned himself to a group, but whether he actually was there, on site, and engaged with the patients, we are reasonably sure that didn't occur," Professor Fraser told TVNZ.

The man also forged a student identification badge, which he was seen wearing.

The man, yet to be named, had even fooled his family into thinking he was training legitimately to be a doctor.

Starting out as a health science student and failing to get into medical school, he took part in second and third year medical studies and was involved in human cadaver dissection.

Prof Fraser said the man deceived everyone in the class and his fellow, legitimate, students were feeling betrayed and angry.

"We had a formal meeting with students yesterday, their reaction was not surprisingly hurt and upset and there was some degree of anger.

The university's medical programme head Warwick Bagg said the bogus student would be referred to the appropriate health services to help him.

Read more:
Fake med student forged ID - university

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oakland Gastroenterologist Taft Bhuket, MD, has been elected Alameda County Medical Center's (ACMC) Chief of Medical Staff for 2012-14. In this position, he is responsible for leading the medical staff, whose primary purpose is to oversee and improve issues related to the quality of patient care and safety at ACMC.

"It is my honor to serve as Chief of Staff for Alameda County Medical Center," said Dr. Bhuket. "These next few years will be an exciting and challenging time for both our medical center and for American healthcare in general. I look forward to collaborating with the medical staff and ACMC's leadership as we plan for and respond to this dynamic healthcare environment."

The newly-installed ACMC Medical Staff Officers for 2012-2014 include Lyn Berry, MD, immediate past Chief of Medical Staff; Joe Walker, MD, Vice Chief of Staff; and Michelle "Mickye" Adams, MD, Secretary/Treasurer. Members at large include Swapnil Shah, MD; Pat Twomey, MD; David English, MD; Arlen Ho, MD; Suzie Bruch, MD; and Jackie Bolds, MD.

Dr. Bhuket has practiced at ACMC since 2008, when he was named Chief of Gastroenterology and Director of the Endoscopy Unit. His professional interests are clinical education, systems improvements and operations, and expansion of access to care. Under his leadership, there has been a marked expansion and operational streamlining of GI services, including significant reductions in endoscopy wait times, the launch of the hepatitis C clinic, and the development of the ACMC Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. Dr. Bhuket is a two-time winner of the Department of Medicine's "Teacher of the Year" award and was selected into the prestigious California Healthcare Foundation Leadership Fellowship Program for 2011-13. His scholarly interests are colorectal cancer screening, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, and complications of liver disease.

Dr. Bhuket earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. He went on to complete both medical school and an internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. He subsequently completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Michigan Medical School where he served as Chief GI Fellow. Dr. Bhuket is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A high-resolution photo of Dr. Bhuket is available upon request.

Alameda County Medical Center is a nationally recognized public healthcare system with more than 2,800 employees, 500 physicians, and 475 accredited beds. ACMC provides comprehensive, high quality medical treatment and compassionate care to all residents of Alameda County. The integrated system of hospitals, clinics, and health services is staffed by healthcare professionals who are responsive to the diverse cultural needs of our community. ACMC fosters a learning environment with a wide range of educational programs and activities including medical research and education for students, interns and residents as well as continuing medical education for medical, nursing and other staff. ACMC operates six facilities: Highland Hospital in Oakland, John George Psychiatric Pavilion in San Leandro, Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro and three community-based wellness centers. The system provides a range of services from family and women's health to pediatrics, oncology and orthopedics.

More here:
Dr. Taft Bhuket Elected Alameda County Medical Center's Chief of Medical Staff

Auckland University's medical school is carefully reviewing its practices after a man pretended to be a medical student for two years.

The student failed to gain entry into the medical school in 2010 but has since attended classes and taken part in a number of school activities, including the study of human cadavers.

He was detected when a group assignment with his name on it was submitted which didn't match any name on the class list.

Professor John Fraser says the school has no evidence the students interacted with any patients, but they were still concerned he was able to pretend he was a student for two years.

"Obviously there are areas, particularly in the medical programme, where we do need to tighten up our procedures on entry and access," he told a media conference.

"This student went to some considerable length to hide the fact that he wasn't eligible, and although we are very, very concerned that he was able to get away with that, I would like to tell the public that our university operates on the highest possible standards."

Associate Professor Warwick Begg said the school's hospital partners had all been in touch trying to see if the fake student had any contact with patients.

"As far as we know we have not been able to find any evidence to date that he did interact with a patient."

Prof Fraser said the fake student's family weren't aware of his scam.

He said the fake student was in some distress, and they were concerned for his wellbeing.

Originally posted here:
Fake student prompts medical school review

Public release date: 16-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Fessenden james.fessenden@umassmed.edu 508-856-2000 University of Massachusetts Medical School

WORCESTER, MA The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) has named University of Massachusetts Medical School Professor of Medicine Ann Marshak-Rothstein, MD, one of two recipients of the first LRI Distinguished Innovator Awards. Created to provide outstanding scientists with support to conduct novel research into the fundamental causes of lupus, the $1 million Distinguished Innovator Award was established to address the current lack of treatments for lupus and aims to provide new directions toward a cure or prevention.

"Support from the LRI will enable us to extend our analysis of the cell components recognized by toll-like receptors in mice models to toll-like receptor activation in human cell populations, and allow us to identify those patients most likely to respond to therapies directed at blocking specific toll-like receptors," said Dr. Marshak-Rothstein.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic and often disabling autoimmune disease in which the human immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, health tissues. As a result, no two cases of lupus are alike. Symptoms may affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart, and lungs. Some people develop kidney problems, for example, while others suffer from premature heart disease, strokes or lung inflammation. There is no known cause or cure for lupus and no new treatments have been approved for the disease in 50 years, and the treatments currently available can often be toxic and more damaging than the disease itself. Estimates indicate that more than 1.5 million Americans have lupus.

Marshak-Rothstein's research group was the first to propose that toll-like receptors (TLR) a class of proteins that play a key role in the innate immune system could have a primary role in lupus by turning on the immune system to attack the body. Because TLR proteins are essential in fighting any infection, how the body loses control over their activity is a fundamental question in immunology. Finding the causes of lupus, the prototype for autoimmune disease research, could have broad implications across a wide range of illnesses affecting millions. Recent studies found that one TLR, TLR7, has a harmful role, while another, TLR9, has the opposite effect helping to protect against lupus.

Building on this work, Marshak-Rothstein is developing a highly innovative experimental approach to pinpoint which specific TLR is mainly to blame for causing lupus in humans. This experimental approach also promises to reveal new targets for therapies that could prevent or arrest lupus.

"Members of the toll-like receptor gene family have been clearly implicated in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases such as lupus," said Marshak-Rothstein. "These studies will further provide a high throughput system for testing TLR-based inhibitors and thereby identify appropriate TLR-based therapeutic targets."

The LRI received applications for the Distinguished Innovator Awards the first privately funded $1 million grants for lupus research from many of the world's most renowned scientists as well as rising young investigators with great promise for contributing their talent to uncovering the causes of lupus. Rigorous peer-review was conducted by a team of LRI's scientific advisors and 12 of the world's leading lupus experts.

"We were enormously impressed by the quality of the submissions," noted world-leading immunologist Dr. William Paul, LRI Scientific Advisory Board Chairman and National Academy of Sciences member. "With these Distinguished Innovator Awards and existing annual Novel Research Grants, the LRI continues to pursue a strategy of funding the most innovative and novel research that has had unprecedented success in driving new answers in a complex disease state. Their work over the past decade has provided the basis for this transformative research initiative to look for the fundamental causes of lupus that can drive to a cure and the means to prevent lupus."

Go here to read the rest:
Lupus Research Institute awards $1 million to University of Massachusetts Medical School faculty

Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 10:49am

The Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) at the University of Massachusetts Medical School's Worcester campus has earned LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the first building in the school's history to achieve such status.

The ACC opened in June 2010, and after a detailed review of the building's design, construction and operational data, the Green Building Certification Institute verified the LEED Silver certification on Sept. 20. Built by the Medical School in collaboration with its clinical partner the UMass Memorial Medical Center, the 253,000-square-foot ACC is home to a mix of patient-care, clinical research and educational activities.

"We are pleased to have earned this important certification for the new building," said Terence R. Flotte, MD, the Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor in Medicine, executive deputy chancellor, provost, dean of the School of Medicine and professor of pediatrics and microbiology & physiological systems at UMass Medical School. "It is only fitting that facilities like the Ambulatory Care Center, that are designed to improve human health are respectful of the health of our environment."

LEED stands for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" and is a third-party certification system created by the USGBC for "green building" construction and renovation projects. It's regarded as the premier certification program for sustainable construction in the country.

To meet the high standards required for LEED Silver certification, numerous sustainable features were integrated into the ACC. For example, the building's design and orientation helps prevent solar heat gain, thereby lowering the need for mechanical cooling. The building has a white roof to diminish the "heat island effect" and reflect rather than absorb heat; a tight exterior building envelope with tinted, reflective, and insulated glass; and an east-west building orientation to minimize the number of south-facing windows.

Water use in the ACC is approximately 30-percent less than a conventional building because of automatic low-flow/low-flush plumbing fixtures. Electricity consumption is reduced by sophisticated controls for heating, cooling and lighting. A special "commissioning agent" was brought in to oversee the design and installation of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems to insure they were the most efficient possible given the use of the building, and are functioning as expected.

Payette of Boston was the architect for the ACC; Consigli Construction of Milford was the construction manager and general contractor.

Read more:
UMass Medical School Building Earns LEED Silver

The dean of Auckland University's medical school says he's extremely concerned a person managed to pretend to be a medical student for two years.

The student failed to gain entry into the medical school in 2010 but had since allegedly attended classes and was able to deceive classmates and teachers by not submitting assessments or sitting tests.

He was detected when an assignment was submitted which didn't match any name on the class list, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences dean Professor John Fraser said.

The university was taking the incident seriously, Prof Fraser said.

"This type of behaviour is extremely unusual and this is the first such instance in the 43-year history of the medical school," he said.

"As well as undertaking reviews of the processes which allow enrolled students access to medical programmes, the University will assist in any investigations by any statutory agency."

Prof Fraser said the fake student hadn't been given any confidential or restricted training material and hadn't ever examined any patients or received confidential patient information.

However, the student was alleged to have dissected bodies donated for medical research, 3 News reported.

Prof Fraser said it was inappropriate to comment further given the fake student's actions "and the likelihood of a police investigation".

Read the rest here:
Fake student investigated by university

By Tom McRae

The University of Auckland medical school still can't rule out a man posing as a student didn't have direct contact with patients.

An investigation is underway and the man has been issued with a trespass notice after he went to great lengths to pose as a medical student for two years.

Watched closely by security, students today filed into their 8am lecture. Many are shocked at the deception by someone they thought was a fellow student.

[Theyre] not surprisingly very upset and hurt, and [there is] some degree of anger, says Medical and Health Sciences dean Professor John Fraser.

The imposter studied biomedical science in 2010 but failed to get into medical school. So for two years he faked it, continuing to attend classes.

He doesn't give a good explanation, says head of the universitys medical programme Dr Warwick Bagg. What we need to understand with this individual is he's in great distress. His family is in great distress and we're quite concerned for his wellbeing.

The man took part in dissecting dead bodies, and as a third-year student he was eligible to attend hospital site visits and interact with patients one-on-one.

Our investigations to date show that he has not had interaction with patients on the wards, says Dr Bagg.

But a student who wanted to remain anonymous says he did have access to confidential patient information while at the hospital. The class is also concerned he was able to carry out medical procedures on other students.

Read more here:
Trespass notice issued to fake medical student

Raising the stakes on a proposed property tax increase, the University of Texas has declared that its approval next month by Travis County voters is essential for establishing a medical school in Austin.

For us, this is a yes or no proposition, said Steven Leslie, UTs executive vice president and provost, in a memo to faculty and staff members that was obtained by the American-Statesman. Without a complete and reliable source of new funding, we will not be able to start a medical school.

Taxpayers in other Texas communities have helped finance medical schools and teaching hospitals through various means, but the proposal by Central Health, Travis Countys hospital district, differs in two important ways.

One, voters must first approve a 63 percent increase in their property taxes for health care, going from 7.89 cents to 12.9 cents per $100 of assessed value. No other medical school in Texas has hinged on raising local property taxes.

Two, a specific amount of the estimated $54 million a year in new tax revenue $35 million would be permanently earmarked for services provided to needy patients by the medical schools faculty and residents, who are physicians in training.

The tax is the final piece of a plan that has been under discussion for several years but that has not coalesced until recent months.

Building and operating the medical school for the first 12 years would cost $4.1 billion, according to UT-Austins cost estimates. The UT System Board of Regents has committed at least $25 million a year in endowment proceeds, plus $5 million a year for eight years to buy equipment. The nonprofit Seton Healthcare Family, which already spends $45 million to sponsor an academic education program, has tentatively committed $250 million to build a new teaching hospital to replace University Medical Center Brackenridge, which Central Health owns and Seton operates.

If Proposition 1 passes, the average Travis County homeowner would pay an extra $107.40 in 2014, for an average health care tax bill of $276.79. That prospect has aroused opposition from those who say UT should pay the full cost of its medical school.

Saying you have to pay a property tax for us to build a medical school is unprecedented in Texas history, said Don Zimmerman, campaign treasurer of the Travis County Taxpayers Union political action committee, which formed to fight the ballot proposition.

But proponents and others say it reflects changing financial and political realities.

Read this article:
Health tax increase a ‘yes or no’ vote on medical school, UT says

The number of students applying to study medicine at the country's universities plunged 14.2% for the 2011-2012 academic year from a year earlier, leading a trend of falling university enrollments, according to figures from the Higher Education Council.

Statistics released Wednesday said the number of people applying for places at the universities dropped 2.5% for the current year, while there was a 1.1% drop in the number who were accepted.

The drop in medical school applicants was so large that for the first time in years, the rate of acceptance was not the lowest among all areas of study. That honor went to architecture programs, where the rate of acceptance was 25%, versus 27.5% for medical school.

The higher rate of acceptance for medicine partly reflects the opening of a new medical school in Safed, the council said. But the major factor was that only 1,600 people applied for places, compared with 1,865 last year. Of those, 440 were admitted, down from 455 last year.

But Eran Leitersdorf, dean of the Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine and chairman of the medical faculty deans' forums, said the council's figures didn't reflect actual interest in medical studies. Medical programs used a weighted index of matriculation (bagrut ) and psychometric exam scores to consider applicants, and fewer potential applicants meet the standard to apply, he said.

Other academic programs also suffered declining demand. For social work, the number of applicants dropped 15.5% for the current academic year from 2010-2011. About 55% of all applicants to social worker programs at the universities were accepted, the council said.

Both declines, which were the sharpest among academic programs, appear to have been linked to labor disputes occurring at the time applicants were considering programs.

According to an analysis conducted by TheMarker, the number of students in bachelor's programs at academic colleges soared from 2008 to 2011, while university enrollments held steady and even declined at the biggest institutions.

The decline in university applications was nearly across the board, the exceptions being electrical and electronics engineering (which was unchanged ), and computer science (which rose 2% ). For those programs, the acceptance rate in bachelor's programs was 53% and 54%, respectively.

Applications for humanities programs were unchanged at 1,980, with three-quarters of all applicants getting accepted, the council said. Accounting programs saw applications drop 7% and economics programs fell by 3.3%. Psychology applications were off 2% from last year. Only one out of every 1.6 applicants gets into a psychology program and only one out of every 1.7 gets into accounting or economics.

Originally posted here:
Medical schools lead decline in applications to universities

The University of Auckland is investigating how a man who was denied a place at its medical school was able to attend classes.

The man is alleged to have dissected cadavers, donated for medical research, among other assignments.

A medical school spokesman said the man participated in the second and third year of the six-year medical course.

Over the two-year period he evaded lecturers by not putting his name to anything, he said. An anonymous person reportedly emailed 3News claiming the student was to work in a hospital environment as a third-year student.

That would allow him to work with patients and confidential information, the person said.

The university is believed to have issued a trespass notice against the man.

Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Professor John Fraser said, in a statement, the university was "extremely concerned to discover that a person who applied for entry into the medical programme in 2010 and was unsuccessful has since been attending classes".

"Because of the size of the medical class, and by not submitting assessments or sitting tests, the individual was able to deceive classmates and teachers.

"Ultimately the presence of this person was detected when an assignment was submitted that did not match any name on the class list.

"This individual is not a student and is not on any class list. This person has not been given any confidential or restricted training material, and has not, to our knowledge, ever been able to examine any patients or received confidential patient information."

See the rest here:
University investigates fake medical student

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - A groundbreaking ceremony occurred Friday morning for the new Western Michigan University medical school.

The school has been granted preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the national accrediting body for educational programs leading to the MD degree.

"This is an important step because we now have the go-ahead to recruit students for our first class to begin in August 2014," Dr. Hal B. Jenson, MD, MBA, told the ceremony's crowd.

The medical school is a collaboration involving WMU and Kalamazoo's two teaching hospitals -- Borgess Health and Bronson Healthcare. It has been in planning since 2008.

In December 2011, William U. Parfet, chairman and CEO of MPI Research in Mattawan, donated the 320,000 square-foot building to WMU to be used by the new medical school.

In March 2011, WMU received a gift of $100 million for the medical school from anonymous donors.

The seven-story building at 300 Portage St. in Kalamazoo is located at the heart of the new W.E. Upjohn Campus. A $68 million renovation and expansion project is scheduled to be completed by May 2014, with 30,000 more square feet to be added to the building.

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WMU School of Medicine building stat sheet (pdf)

WMU School of Medicine future floor plans (pdf)

More:
Ground broken for WMU medical school

By Jonnelle Marte

How a spoonful of bullying, plus a heaping pile of debt, helps turn students into doctors.

By the time most medical school students are assisting in hospitals shadowing the doctors they aspire to someday become many are well-accustomed to being pushed around, yelled at, or called derogatory names.Such incidents arent new, but with the med student population only growing (admissions are up 17% since 2002, with schools working to address a projected shortage of 90,000 doctors by 2020), cracking down on the problem has becoming a matter of increasing urgency. Especially in cases of more severe abuse: A survey conducted this year by the Association of American Medical Colleges, or AAMC, 33% of students said they were publicly humiliated at least once during medical school, 15% said they were the object of sexist remarks and 9% said they were required to run errands for doctors.

And a study released this year by the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA found that despite several efforts by the school to hold bullying awareness workshops for third-year students (who bear the brunt of the mistreatment, because thats when they begin working in hospitals with medical residents and doctors) and to warn residents and teachers about the consequences of such actions, the abuse has persisted, with more than half of students surveyed between 1996 and 2008 reporting some form of mistreatment. Part of the problem, says Joyce Fried, assistant dean at the school of medicine, is that even though the school takes steps, such as waiting until after grades are awarded before launching investigations, to prevent retaliation toward students who come forward, many are still afraid to do so.

What should you look for in picking a primary-care doctor? The industry expects some movement among patients and doctors due to full implementation of the federal health overhaul. Anna Mathews has details on Lunch Break. Photo: Getty Images.

For its part, the AAMC is trying to keep an eye out for abuse: When students finally graduate from medical school, the AAMC typically sends them a questionnaire, which it recently updated to ask more specific questions about bullying. Additionally, president Darrell Kirch posted a letter to the AAMC website in September expressing concern that exposure to bullying could negatively impact a doctors future interactions with patients.

Student advocates say they also worry that such treatment often squelches a students desire to enter the field or worse yet instills a sense of fear among young doctors that could prevent them from challenging colleagues when errors are made or from trying new approaches to improve care. Theyre overworked and treated unkindly by people who are supposed to be teaching them, says Diane Pinakiewicz, president of the National Patient Safety Foundation, adding that those doctors often go on to mistreat other students when they begin to teach. Were trying to break the cycle.

Link:
10 things medical schools won’t tell you

by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

ZAMBOANGA CITY Hundreds of residents of Tumalutap Island received medical assistance and school supplies last October 7, during a civic-action outreach program initiated by Task Force Zamboanga (TFZ).

The program was also done in collaboration with Department of Health IX, Zamboanga City government, national line agencies, non-government organizations, and the Joint Special Operation Task Force Philippines.

Colonel Buenaventura Pascual, Task Force Zamboanga chief, said in an activity report that the main objective of the activity is to uphold and promote humanitarian services in areas classified as economically unstable in terms of income generation and capability to pay medical services.

A total of 246 individuals benefitted from the medical checkup and consultation, 70 of whom also availed of the free tooth extraction.

The group also distributed 355 ball pens and pencils and 355 pieces of notebooks for the school children, 150 pairs of new slippers, 130 pieces of toys for the kids, and two bundles of assorted used clothing.

Pascual also turned over boxes of medicines to Brgy. Chairperson Carsoma A. Abunawas for distribution to the residents.

The activity is part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP), which seeks to forge partnership with the residents in maintaining peace and security and help spur development in their area.

Pascual, in a previous interview with PIA, said part of IPSPs strategies are community outreach missions, aid in looking for livelihood opportunities for those in depressed and conflict areas, and implement paradigm shift on the thinking of soldiers.

We are trying to inculcate in the minds of our soldiers that gone are the days when we are only visible during war. We are here also as partners of the communities by delivering basic services and help them look for livelihood opportunities to help them alleviate their living condition. We want our soldiers to also be sensitive to the needs of the communities, Pascual said.

Read this article:
Underprivileged residents receive medical attention, school supplies

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Three-year data from the Zilver PTX Randomized Controlled Trial of Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents for Femoropopliteal Disease from Cook Medical demonstrate 70.7 percent primary patency in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) at 36 months for patients treated with the paclitaxel-eluting stent. This compares to 49.1 percent patency for patients with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and provisional bare metal stent placement in the 479-patient study.

In addition, the paclitaxel coating was shown to reduce the restenosis rate by 53 percent in a head-to-head comparison of provisional paclitaxel-eluting versus bare metal stent placement.

Michael Dake, M.D., professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University Medical School and medical director of the Cath/Angio Laboratories at Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, presented the study findings yesterday at the Vascular InterVentional Advances (VIVA) 2012 conference in Las Vegas, Nev.

These data, from the largest clinical study ever conducted on peripheral stenting, clearly show a sustained drug effect for paclitaxel-eluting stents versus bare metal stents after three years, said Rob Lyles, vice president and global leader of Cook Medicals Peripheral Intervention clinical division. We are proud to have pioneered this important technology.

Zilver PTX is neither approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration nor available for sale in the United States. Dr. Dake, the global principal investigator for the Zilver PTX trial, is a paid consultant to Cook Medical regarding the research and development of medical devices.

About Cook Medical

A global pioneer in medical breakthroughs, Cook Medical is committed to creating effective solutions that benefit millions of patients worldwide. Today, we combine medical devices, drugs, biologic grafts and cell therapies across more than 16,000 products serving more than 40 medical specialties. Founded in 1963 by a visionary who put patient needs and ethical business practices first, Cook is a family-owned company that has created more than 10,000 jobs worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.cookmedical.com. Follow Cook Medical on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Cook Medical’s Zilver® PTX® Trial Shows Sustained Patency after Three Years

Alzheimer's expert Steven T. DeKosky will continue hospital work, research post-retirement By Audrey Waldrop | Oct 11

University Medical School Dean Steven T. DeKosky announced last week he will step down July 31 after five years at the helm of central Virginias primary medical facility. DeKosky, who has gained international attention for his work on Alzheimers disease, will continue to treat patients and conduct research as a faculty member.

An ex officio member of the Board of Visitors Medical Center Operating Board, DeKosky defended the Medical Schools ability to attract research funding at last months Board meeting. He explained to the Board that funding sources such as the National Institutes of Health had channeled resources into later-stage research as opposed to the kind of basic research the Medical School specializes in.

Roughly 56 percent of the Medical Schools operating budget comes from grants, contracts and recoveries from facilities and administrative costs. The remainder is divided between endowment payoffs, donations, tuition and state funds.

DeKoskys discussion of the Medical Schools financial viability followed University President Teresa Sullivans presentation of the then-recently released U.S. News & World Report college rankings in which the Universitys lowest scoring category, at 53, was financial resources. Medical Center Operating Board Committee Chair Edward Miller was not available to comment.

Sullivan praised DeKoskys accomplishments during his time as dean.

Steve oversaw significant growth in our medical student class and transformation of our curriculum, Sullivan said in a University press release. He maintained research funding during a time of significant decreases in funding nationally, and increased the clinical capacity and access.

DeKosky has expressed interest in opening the Medical School to more clinical research in line with the National Institutes of Healths funding priorities. I hope we continue to move forward as an academic medical center across our mission of education, research and clinical care over the next nine months and beyond, DeKosky said in a press release.

John Simon, the Universitys executive vice president and provost, is expected to appoint an interim dean from within the Medical School to succeed DeKosky at the end of July. He will lead an international search to select the next permanent dean.

Simon said in an email Thursday he and his team will look for someone with strong leadership and the ability to partner with the health system leadership and work with the various constituencies in the school to further implement the strategic plan.

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Medical School dean to retire next year