MedCenterToday.com has gathered the stories below to keep Academic Med Center professionals like you posted on what you need to know now.
News By Date:
Headlines
Dr. Markin Named interim UNMC Med Dean Rod Markin, M.D., Ph.D., has been named interim dean of the College of Medicine, effective July 1. The appointment, announced Monday by UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., is pending approval by the Univ of Nebraska Board of Regents during their April Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center, March 09, 2010
A Patient's Death Prompts a Doctor to Assess 'Do Not Resuscitate' Orders The emergency department is always noisy, but sudden screams from a staffer still get attention. The triage nurse is yelling, "Not breathing, had vitals at triage and just croaked," as she runs toward us pushing a wheelchair. Washington Post, March 09, 2010
$352M UConn Health Center Plan Unveiled Gov. M. Jodi Rellhas unveiled a $352-million plan for improvements at the Univ of Connecticut Health Center, including a new hospital tower and health care network. Hartford Courant, March 09, 2010
Feds Cite Mass. General for 'Serious' Deficiencies The federal Medicare program has cited Massachusetts General Hospital for serious problems found during a routine inspection last month, according to a letter sent to the hospital's president. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 08, 2010
Officials: Grady in Stable Condition Once-struggling hospital has cut debt, retooled operations in recovery Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 08, 2010
Mayo Ranked Highest Value by Postdocs Every year the magazine The Scientist conducts a reader response survey on the best places to work, including reactions on the best place to do a postdoctoral fellowship. Mayo Medical School and Clinics, March 08, 2010
Baylor Recieves $200M Anonymous Gift Baylor Univ. in Waco received what officials are calling its largest gift ever — an anonymous donation valued at about $200-million. The gift, which is an estate provision, will support medical research in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Wichita Business Journal, March 05, 2010
Economy Forces Some Med Schools to Shrink In the span of a week in September 2008, the "rubber band" that held together the Univ of Utah School of Medicine broke. First, the federal government cut $10-million in Medicaid funding to the university's hospital. USA-Today, March 05, 2010
Another Plus Month for Health-Care Jobs The government said this morning that the unemployment rate held at 9.7% in February for the second month in a row. The health-care sector added 12,000 jobs. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 05, 2010
Storm Brews Over Snow-Related Firings at DC Hospital Washington Hospital Center has fired eight more employees who didn’t show up for work during last month’s snowstorms that blanketed DC, the Washington Post reports. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 04, 2010
Lahey Chief Will Leave Top Job in January Lahey Clinic's president and chief executive said today he will step down in January after a decade leading the Burlington-based medical center. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 04, 2010
Western Michigan Faces a 'Hard Search' for Med School Dean In scouting for a founding dean to lead the formation of Western Michigan Univ’s planned medical school, the search committee isn’t focusing on when it needs to get the job done. Ann Arbor Business Review, March 04, 2010
Stanford Hospital CEO to Retire Martha Marsh, president & CEO of Stanford Hospital & Clinics, has quietly announced retirement effective Aug. 31.Marsh, who has held position since April 2002, announced news internally in mid-February, but med center apparently told no one in outside wor MSN-Money Central, March 03, 2010
Inside the DMC-SOM contract Wayne State’s School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center signed a new five-year contract Feb. 10, which will gives DMC sole sponsorship of 50 residency-training programs, according to the SOM. The South End, March 03, 2010
Daley Named EVP of UMass Memorial Med Center Dr. Jennifer Daley has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of UMass Memorial Medical Center and a faculty member of the Univ of Massachusetts Medical School. Worcester Telegram & Gazette, March 03, 2010
UCLA Physician Named Head of MCG A long-time leader in biomedical research and medical education on the West Coast will be heading east to become the next president of the Medical College of Georgia. Atlanta Business Chronicle, March 02, 2010
UTMB-Now Part of Texas Medical Center The presidents of the Univ. of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the Texas Medical Center will formally announce the medical branch’s full membership in the world’s largest medical complex this morning. Galveston County Daily News, March 02, 2010
UCSF Considers Layoffs to Pare its Budget “Layoffs are a possibility,” Desmond-Hellmann said in a recent statement on UC San Francisco’s web site, stressing that nearly 90 percent of the academic medical campus’ administrative and operational budget is consumed by salaries and benefits. South Florida Business Journal, March 01, 2010
Med School Dean to Retire Frank Cerra will retire from his position as dean of the Univ of Minnesota Medical School and senior vice president for health sciences of the Academic Health Center at the end of 2010. Minnesota Daily (UMinn Twin Cities), March 01, 2010
Push for More Physicians Sparks New Med Schools In the highly competitive medical-school admissions, rejection becomes a common theme even for qualified applicants. Univ of Iowa - The Daily Iowan, March 01, 2010
Rady Kin Sue to Block $21M Hospital Gift The $60-million donation to Rady Children’s Hospital that gave the San Diego facility its current name has become the target of two lawsuits by relatives of the donor in a battle over the family’s half-billion-dollar fortune. San Diego Union-Tribune, February 26, 2010
More Talk, No Deal at Health Summit After hundreds of hours of congressional debate, a summer of rowdy town hall meetings & Massachusetts election that upended all political calculations, President Obama & congressional leaders spent Thursday talking still about reforming U.S. health care s Wall Street Journal (Public access), February 26, 2010
Search Launched for Med Dean A seven-member search committee with communitywide representation has been formed to identify a founding dean for a proposed school of medicine in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan Univ, February 26, 2010
Mayo Clinic was Back in the Black in 2009 After barely breaking even in 2008, the Rochester clinic reports a $333-million operating margin. Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, February 25, 2010
Grady Critics Need Lesson in Finance Grady’s dialysis patients and their advocates are directing their ire at the wrong target in their fight to reinstate dialysis care. Instead of taking aim at the hospital and its administrators, they should be lobbying local governments and the Legislat Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 25, 2010
Dr. Perman Named President of U Maryland-Baltimore Clifford J. Kendall, chair of Univ System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents has announced appointment of Jay Perman as president of Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Perman is currently dean and vice president for clinical affairs at Univ of Kentucky Univ Of Maryland - Medical, February 24, 2010
Trends in the Work Hours of Physicians in the US The potential expansion of health insurance coverage and associated reform of the delivery system, combined with recent forecasts of physician shortages, have catapulted issues related to the adequacy of the physician workforce high up on the health polic Archives of Internal Medicine, February 24, 2010
Georgetown Med School Sees Rise in Application Rate The application rate for the Georgetown Univ School of Medicine increased by 7 percent this year, reflective of a national increase in applications to medical and other graduate programs. Georgetown Univ The Hoya, February 24, 2010
People and Profession
A Patient's Death Prompts a Doctor to Assess 'Do Not Resuscitate' Orders The emergency department is always noisy, but sudden screams from a staffer still get attention. The triage nurse is yelling, "Not breathing, had vitals at triage and just croaked," as she runs toward us pushing a wheelchair. Washington Post, March 09, 2010
Researcher Named Hem/Onc Chief at Hershey Cancer Institute Dr. Wafik S. El-Deiry has joined Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center as professor of medicine and chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Medicine at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine Carlisle Sentinel, March 09, 2010
Ng Back in Conn. to head West Haven VA campus The VA Connecticut Healthcare system's former director is returning as acting director of the system's West Haven campus. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 08, 2010
Blue Cross-Blue Shield Board Names Chairman The board of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts yesterday elected Paul Guzzi, the president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, as the health insurer’s nonexecutive chairman. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 08, 2010
HSC Doctor Earns Military, Pediatrics Award A professor at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine received the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Uniformed Services 2010 Outstanding Service Award on March 7. Daily Toreador, March 08, 2010
Honigberg Named URAC's Chief Med Officer URAC, the nation's leading health care accreditation and education organization, today Las Vegas Review-Journal, March 08, 2010
Another Plus Month for Health-Care Jobs The government said this morning that the unemployment rate held at 9.7% in February for the second month in a row. The health-care sector added 12,000 jobs. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 05, 2010
Renowned Oncologist and Cancer Researcher Joins Penn State Hershey Wafik S. El-Deiry has joined Penn State Hershey Medical Centeras professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Medicine at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine Penn State - Medical, March 05, 2010
FDA's Generic Drugs Chief Takes Another Post The director of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Generic Drugs is leaving his job for another post at the agency, the latest in a series of changes in FDA leadership. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 05, 2010
Dr. Sherwin Named New Chief of Endocrinology at Yale-New Haven Hospital Robert S. Sherwin, MD, an internationally renowned diabetes researcher, has been appointed chief of endocrinology in the department of internal medicine at YNHH and Yale School of Medicine. Yale Univ School of Medicine, March 05, 2010
Neurology Academy Honors Walters with Sleep Science Award Arthur Walters, M.D., professor of Neurology and associate director of Vanderbilt's Sleep Medicine Program, has been named to receive the American Academy of Neurology's Sleep Science Award, which recognizes an individual who has made significant contribu Vanderbilt Univ School of Medicine, March 05, 2010
Mundy Remembered for his Science, Enthusiasm Gregory R. Mundy, M.D., director of the Vanderbilt Center in Bone Biology, died Feb. 25 after an extended illness. Vanderbilt Univ School of Medicine, March 05, 2010
Edwards Named New Chair of Medical Humanities at FSU Janine C. Edwards, known for her research and publications concerning faculty development and the admissions process in medical education, will be the new chair of the College of Medicine’s Department of Medical Humanities and Social Sciences. FSU College of Medicine, March 05, 2010
Western Michigan Faces a 'Hard Search' for Med School Dean In scouting for a founding dean to lead the formation of Western Michigan Univ’s planned medical school, the search committee isn’t focusing on when it needs to get the job done. Ann Arbor Business Review, March 04, 2010
Oakes Named Director of Joint Replacement Program Daniel A. Oakes has been named director of the USC Joint Replacement Program and associate professor of clinical orthopaedics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Univ of Southern California (NAC - Front Desk), March 04, 2010
Physician-Hospital Links Grow Overhead, reimbursement fuel trend of doctors forgoing autonomy Indianapolis Star, March 04, 2010
MCW Names Chief oF Surgical Oncology T. Clark Gamblin M.D., M.S. has accepted the position of Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology. He will hold the Stuart D. Wilson Chair in Surgery. Dr. Gamblin will join the Medical College of Wisconsin on July 1, 2010. Medical College of Wisconsin, March 04, 2010
Daley Named EVP of UMass Memorial Med Center Dr. Jennifer Daley has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer of UMass Memorial Medical Center and a faculty member of the Univ of Massachusetts Medical School. Worcester Telegram & Gazette, March 03, 2010
Loehrer Appointed Director of Simon Cancer Center Cancer physician and researcher Patrick J. Loehrer Sr., M.D., has been named director of the Indiana Univ Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. Inside Indiana Business, March 03, 2010
Director of Va Tech Carilion Research Institute Named Michael J. Friedlander, the Wilhelmina Robertson Professor and chair of the Department of Neuroscience and the director of Neuroscience Initiatives at the Baylor College of Medicine, has been named founding executive director of the Virginia Tech Carilion Newswise, March 03, 2010
First Appointees Named for Med Center Board Gov. Bobby Jindal made his initial appointments Tuesday to a new governing board for the planned $1.2-billion state academic medical center in New Orleans. Baton Rouge Advocate, March 03, 2010
AZ Surgery Prof Given High Honors UA surgery professor Dr. David Armstrong will be recognized with the highest honor in the field of amputation prevention and wound healing by the American Diabetes Association. Arizona Daily Wildcat, March 03, 2010
Breaking the Physician-Patient Boundaries on Facebook? Facebook and other social networking websites are posing new ethical issues for doctor-patient relationships, according to researchers from Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital McLean Hospital, March 03, 2010
Akron Children's Surgery Chief Recognized for Distinguished Service The Employee Foundation Council at Akron Children’s Hospital presented David Andrews, MD, chairman of the department of Surgery at Akron Children’s Hospital, with its 2009 Distinguished Service Award. Akron Beacon Journal, March 02, 2010
Tobacco Panel Has Two With Pharmaceutical Ties The Food and Drug Administration on Monday named at least two scientists with ties to pharmaceutical companies that market stop-smoking medicine to a scientific panel that will help it regulate the tobacco industry. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 02, 2010
Medical-Device Regulator to Step Down The director of the Office of Device Evaluation, one of the highest-ranking positions at the Food and Drug Administration, is leaving this month to join the Washington lobbying office of Microsoft Corp., according to an email she sent Monday morning Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 01, 2010
Leonard Achieves New Certification in Congenital Cardiac Surgery Steve Leonard, MD, pediatric cardiac surgeon at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, is among the first in the country to achieve certification in the new subspecialty Congenital Cardiac Surgery designated by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Las Vegas Review-Journal, February 26, 2010
Vanderbilt Prize Winner Nurtures Role as Mentor Cradling a slender sculpture called “Mentor” in her arms, internationally known scientist Susan Taylor, Ph.D., shed a few tears as she received the fourth Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Science. Vanderbilt Univ School of Medicine, February 26, 2010
Sanger to Lead New Partnership Terence D. Sanger has been appointed to head the newly formed educational leadership committee of the Health Sciences and Technology (HST) initiative developed by the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Univ of Southern California (NAC - Front Desk), February 25, 2010
Iowa Surgeon Named as Master Educator Carol Scott-Conner, M.D., Ph.D., a surgical specialist with Univ of Iowa Health Care, will be honored for her skills in training the next generation of physicians. Univ of Iowa - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, February 25, 2010
Professors Granted Academic Designation Prior to the induction of these four doctors by the MUSC board of trustees in February, only 28 individuals had received this designation. The Catalyst Online - MUSC, February 25, 2010
Dr. Perman Named President of U Maryland-Baltimore Clifford J. Kendall, chair of Univ System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents has announced appointment of Jay Perman as president of Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Perman is currently dean and vice president for clinical affairs at Univ of Kentucky Univ Of Maryland - Medical, February 24, 2010
Trends in the Work Hours of Physicians in the US The potential expansion of health insurance coverage and associated reform of the delivery system, combined with recent forecasts of physician shortages, have catapulted issues related to the adequacy of the physician workforce high up on the health polic Archives of Internal Medicine, February 24, 2010
78 Scientists Elected to American Academy of Microbiology Fellows of the Academy are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. American Association for the Advancement of Science/EurekAlert, February 24, 2010
Dr. Rojiani Named Pathology Chair at MCG Dr. Amyn M. Rojiani, director of neuropathology and autopsy at Moffitt Cancer Center at the Univ of South Florida in Tampa, has been named chair of Dept of Pathology in Med College of Georgia School of Medicine. Media-Newswire, February 24, 2010
Gifts
Baylor Recieves $200M Anonymous Gift Baylor Univ. in Waco received what officials are calling its largest gift ever — an anonymous donation valued at about $200-million. The gift, which is an estate provision, will support medical research in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Wichita Business Journal, March 05, 2010
Duke Eye Center Gets $12M Donation LC Industries, the largest employer of visually impaired people in the country, has made a $12 million gift toward the creation of a new state-of-the-art Duke Eye Center Duke Univ School of Medicine, March 05, 2010
Burns & McDonnell Foundation Donates $1M to U Kansas Cancer Center The Burns & McDonnell Foundation has given $1-million to establish a high-risk prostate-cancer prevention program at The Univ of Kansas Hospital's Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Care Pavilion in Westwood MSN-Money Central, March 05, 2010
Teaching Hospitals and Administration
Dr. Markin Named interim UNMC Med Dean Rod Markin, M.D., Ph.D., has been named interim dean of the College of Medicine, effective July 1. The appointment, announced Monday by UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., is pending approval by the Univ of Nebraska Board of Regents during their April Univ. of Nebraska Medical Center, March 09, 2010
USC Eye Trauma Program Wins Federal Funding Restoring sight for combat troops who have suffered eye injuries in battle is one of the goals of a research program based at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, which will be supported by $800,000 in funding from the Department of Defense. Univ. of Southern California (NAC - Front Desk), March 09, 2010
UW Health Sciences Experiences Impact of Budget Cuts It was officially announced in December 2007 that the country had entered a recession. Ever since, health providers have been subjected to severe budgetary pressures, and the health sciences of the UW have seen the effects. The Daily of the Univ. of Washington, March 09, 2010
Officials: Grady in Stable Condition Once-struggling hospital has cut debt, retooled operations in recovery Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 08, 2010
Residency Program in the Works at Eisenhower Med Center Medical school students could start training at Eisenhower Medical Center later this year as the Rancho Mirage hospital prepares to launch a residency program for newly graduated doctors in 2012, officials said this week. Palm Springs Desert Sun, March 08, 2010
Academic Med Center Could Bring Drastic Change Leaders of Commonwealth Medical College say health care delivery in the region must become more integrated and comprehensive, and that can be accomplished with the creation of an academic medical center. Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice, March 08, 2010
Cincinnati's Drake Center Funds in Question As the Health Alliance breaks up, $16-million or more that rightfully belongs to the Drake Center may end up flowing to other organizations, Hamilton County Commission President Todd Portune said. South Florida Business Journal, March 08, 2010
New System Name for St. John Health System Don't call it the St. John Health System anymore. It is now the St. John Providence Health System. Crain's Detroit Business, March 08, 2010
Patient Data Stolen from WFUBMC Employee's Car A bag containing a document with the names and Social Security numbers of 554 patients of Wake Forest Univ Baptist Medical Center was stolen from an employee's locked car, medical center officials said today. Winston Salem Journal, March 05, 2010
Baylor Hires Firm to Assist in Meeting Operational, Financial Goals Baylor College of Medicine has hired FTI Consulting Inc. to assist in improving the college's operations and in developing a capital restructuring plan to address outstanding debt. Baylor College of Medicine, March 05, 2010
Report from the UCSF 2010 School of Medicine Leadership Retreat Traditionally, the annual School of Medicine Leadership Retreat has focused on a single, broad issue, such as education, space, faculty support or translational science. "Univ of California, San Francisco - School of Medicine", March 05, 2010
Harvard Med School's Family Van Short on Funds Harvard Medical School's mobile health clinic stops in six Boston locations and serves the neighborhood's low-income populations. Harvard Crimson, March 05, 2010
UMC, UPH to Combine Into Single Company Univ Medical Center Corp. and University Physicians Healthcare are planning to combine forces. Merging the two companies into one nonprofit parent company is part of a process that could be complete by midsummer. Tucson Arizona Daily Star, March 05, 2010
Storm Brews Over Snow-Related Firings at DC Hospital Washington Hospital Center has fired eight more employees who didn’t show up for work during last month’s snowstorms that blanketed DC, the Washington Post reports. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 04, 2010
Lahey Chief Will Leave Top Job in January Lahey Clinic's president and chief executive said today he will step down in January after a decade leading the Burlington-based medical center. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 04, 2010
UPMC Considers Approving Face Transplant Surgery About a month after performing its second double hand transplant, the Univ of Pittsburgh Medical Center is considering using the technology to perform face transplants. Univ of Pittsburgh, March 04, 2010
Maine Hospital Lays off 50, including 23 Nurses The Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor is laying off nearly 50 employees, including 23 nurses. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 04, 2010
Stanford Hospital CEO to Retire Martha Marsh, president & CEO of Stanford Hospital & Clinics, has quietly announced retirement effective Aug. 31.Marsh, who has held position since April 2002, announced news internally in mid-February, but med center apparently told no one in outside wor MSN-Money Central, March 03, 2010
Inside the DMC-SOM contract Wayne State’s School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center signed a new five-year contract Feb. 10, which will gives DMC sole sponsorship of 50 residency-training programs, according to the SOM. The South End, March 03, 2010
WFU Baptist Prepares for Pediatric Unit Wake Forest Univ Baptist Medical Center will begin construction of its new pediatric emergency department this month. MSN-Money Central, March 03, 2010
UCLA Physician Named Head of MCG A long-time leader in biomedical research and medical education on the West Coast will be heading east to become the next president of the Medical College of Georgia. Atlanta Business Chronicle, March 02, 2010
UTMB-Now Part of Texas Medical Center The presidents of the Univ. of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and the Texas Medical Center will formally announce the medical branch’s full membership in the world’s largest medical complex this morning. Galveston County Daily News, March 02, 2010
UC, Jewish Health System Inc. and Fort Hamilton Hospital Reach Accord This agreement is expected to facilitate the continued provision of high quality patient care by all the hospitals, and will enable them to move forward in their respective spheres of activity and community service. Univ of Cincinnati - College of Medicine, March 02, 2010
State Seeks Federal Money to Aid Hospitals The state appealed to the federal government yesterday to help Massachusetts hospitals that care for disproportionately high numbers of lower-income patients who receive state-sponsored health insurance. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 02, 2010
UWMC Patient Financial Info Compromised In early February, an employee of the National Collection Office (NCO) Financial Systems Inc., a debt-collection agency that UW Medicine contracts with, violated security and compromised at least 50 confirmed contacts, and as many as 80 more are being inv The Daily (Univ of Washington), March 02, 2010
UCSF Considers Layoffs to Pare its Budget “Layoffs are a possibility,” Desmond-Hellmann said in a recent statement on UC San Francisco’s web site, stressing that nearly 90 percent of the academic medical campus’ administrative and operational budget is consumed by salaries and benefits. South Florida Business Journal, March 01, 2010
Med School Dean to Retire Frank Cerra will retire from his position as dean of the Univ of Minnesota Medical School and senior vice president for health sciences of the Academic Health Center at the end of 2010. Minnesota Daily (UMinn Twin Cities), March 01, 2010
UMDNJ Seeks to Generate $100M Through New Revenue, Cost-Cutting Measures Concerned over the hemorrhaging of state and federal funding, officials at the Univ of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey are looking for additional ways to pay the bills — such as more services or even selling the naming rights to buildings. Newark Star-Ledger/NJ.com, March 01, 2010
Issues that Prompted Failed Hospital Merger Remain For 31 months, the proposal to merge the state’s biggest hospital systems, Lifespan and Care New England, has dominated discussions about the future of health care. Providence Journal, March 01, 2010
Mercy Completes Buy of Jewish Hospital After months of negotiating and navigating through controversy, Mercy Health Partners has completed its $180-million acquisition of Jewish Hospital in Kenwood. Cincinnati Business Courier, March 01, 2010
New Era Promised at Children's Hospital Oakland Acknowledging mistakes by previous administrators and promising to work on strengthening a much-frayed relationship with the community, the new leader of Children's Hospital Oakland introduced himself to North Oakland residents last week. Oakland Tribune & Inside Bay Area, February 26, 2010
State Hospital Advisory Board Left out of Loop A blistering federal critique of patient care at the Oregon State Hospital wasn't shared with a new hospital advisory board before it appeared this week in the press, prompting anger and complaints from members of the governor-appointed panel. Salem Statesman-Journal, February 26, 2010
Mayo Clinic was Back in the Black in 2009 After barely breaking even in 2008, the Rochester clinic reports a $333-million operating margin. Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, February 25, 2010
Grady Critics Need Lesson in Finance Grady’s dialysis patients and their advocates are directing their ire at the wrong target in their fight to reinstate dialysis care. Instead of taking aim at the hospital and its administrators, they should be lobbying local governments and the Legislat Atlanta Journal-Constitution, February 25, 2010
Christus is One of Americas Best Hospital Systems Christus Santa Rosa Health System has been named one of the 50 best hospitals in America, according to HealthGrades. MSN-Money Central, February 25, 2010
DMS Tapped to Run Vermont Facility Vermont Governor Jim Douglas endorsed a plan on Feb. 18 to open a psychiatric facility at the White River Junction Veteran’s Hospital operated by the Dartmouth Medical School. Dartmouth Online, February 25, 2010
Cuts Possible, New England Baptist Chief Warns The new chief executive of New England Baptist Hospital has launched a strategic review that could result in unspecified cutbacks, according to an e-mail sent to employees. Boston Globe and Boston.com, February 24, 2010
Jackson Health System to Cut 900 Jobs Jackson Health System executives announced plans to cut 900 positions and got blasted by a county commissioner for `gross incompetence.' Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel & SouthFlorida.com, February 24, 2010
UNC to Review Research Facility, Make Amends with Orange County University administrators are trying to regain the trust of rural Orange County after a series of treated wastewater leaks at a UNC facility raised questions and tempers. UNC Daily Tarheel, February 24, 2010
Building and Expansion
$352M UConn Health Center Plan Unveiled Gov. M. Jodi Rellhas unveiled a $352-million plan for improvements at the Univ of Connecticut Health Center, including a new hospital tower and health care network. Hartford Courant, March 09, 2010
Tulane Plans $10M Med School Building at the B.R. General The clinical use of radical human genome research will be one benefit that Tulane Univ School of Medicine will bring to the area through its recently inked partnership with Baton Rouge General. Baton Rouge Daily Report, March 09, 2010
Tulane Establishes First Med Campus Outside New Orleans Tulane University's 175-year-old medical school is setting up its first training campus outside the New Orleans area, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. WRNO-FM, March 04, 2010
Forsyth Gets $3M NIH Award for Cambridge Move The Forsyth Institute, an oral-health research institute affiliated with Harvard Univ, said it has received an award of $2.99-million from the National Institutes of Health to renovate laboratory, clinical research, and support space at its new facility i Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 01, 2010
Blazing a Trail for 21st Century Medicine New medical education facility designed with future of healthcare - and planet - in mind "Univ of California, Irvine", March 01, 2010
Hospital Breaks Ground on $175M Project Backed by a huge mural depicting what Midland Memorial Hospital will look like with its new patient tower, some 350 people gathered for the groundbreaking of the $175-million project Thursday. My West Texas.com, February 26, 2010
CMU Posts College of Medicine Groundbreaking The univ hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking Feb. 18 on a $24-million, 60,000-square-foot addition to the building designed to house the medical school it hopes to open. Bay City Times, February 26, 2010
WSU Plans $22M Research Hub Premier Health Partners will give $4.3M toward startup of a neurology department at the school. Dayton Daily News, February 25, 2010
Marshall Receives $4M Cancer Research Grant The Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has received a grant from Sen. Robert C. Byrd that will help equip a translational genomic center at the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center at Cabell Huntington Hospital. Marshall Univ Harless Hall, February 25, 2010
IU, Clarian Health Have a Grand Vision for Life-Sciences Campus Indiana Univ President Michael McRobbie announced a $1.1-bilfund-raising campaign Tuesday that will help pay for costs to merge and grow IUPUI's and Clarian Health's campuses, creating one of the largest life-sciences campuses in the world. Indianapolis Star, February 24, 2010
Research and Discovery
$10M Stimulus Grant to Fund Major Expansion of Research at Albany Med Government officials joined with leaders of Albany Medical Center today to announce one of the largest federal stimulus package grants awarded to a Capital Region institution to date. Albany Med Center, March 09, 2010
Autism Researchers Criticized for Shift Recent affiliation and leadership changes at an autism research and training program at the Univ of North Carolina have caused a stir among the program's supporters, including the son of the program's founder. Durham Herald Sun, March 09, 2010
Hopkins Medicine Wins $9.7M Grant Johns Hopkins Univ School of Medicine has won a $9.7-million grant to study ways of improving cardiovascular health among black patients. Baltimore Business Journal, March 09, 2010
Albany Med Receives Largest Grant, $10M Albany Medical Center will use $10-million in federal stimulus money and state matching funds to expand the research laboratories at its medical college. Washington Business Journal, March 08, 2010
FDA Lax on Conflicts of Interest THE FOOD and Drug Administration has done far too little to avoid conflicts of interest among those who serve on its scientific panels and advisory boards. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 08, 2010
Big Blue Backs Supercomputer Research at Rice, Med Center Rice University, International Business Machines Corp. and the Texas Medical Center are combining their collective brainpower in the name of biomedical research. South Florida Business Journal, March 08, 2010
FDA Finds Problems With Insulin Pumps All is not well in the land of insulin pumps — the devices that deliver insulin to mostly Type 1 diabetics — and the FDA wants to put a spotlight on the problem. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 04, 2010
Pfizer-Backed Experimental Drug for Alzheimer's Fails in Trial Bad news on the Alzheimer’s drug development front: Pfizer and Medivation announced negative results from a large late-stage trial of Dimebon, thought to be a promising treatment more potent than those currently on the market. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 04, 2010
UI Cancer Researchers Receive Oberley Seed Grants Four teams of researchers at Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa have received 2010 Oberley Seed Grant Program awards. Univ of Iowa - Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, March 04, 2010
UIC Researcher Heads $10M Grant to Tackle Alzheimer's Disease A researcher at the Univ. of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine has been awarded more than $9.8-million to head a five-year National Institute on Aging Program Project Grant. Univ of Illinois College of Medicine, March 03, 2010
Dr. Yupo Ma to Build Cancer Stem-Cell Program at Stony Brook Yupo Ma, M.D., Ph.D., a hematopathologist nationally recognized for his research in the diagnosis of leukemia and lymphoma, as well as the potential of using adult stem cells in treating hemophilia and other diseases, has joined Stony Brook Univ Medical C Stony Brook Medical Center, March 03, 2010
VCU Massey Cancer Center Receives NIH Grant The National Institutes of Health has awarded the Virginia Commonwealth Univ Massey Cancer Centera National Cancer Institute grant totaling nearly $3-mil to develop a standardized test to measure health literacy among cancer patients. VCU Massey Cancer Center, March 03, 2010
The Flu Season That Fizzled Hundreds of thousands of Americans usually stay home at some point during the winter battling fever, aches and pains — all the result of a normal flu season. But this flu season is clearly marching to a different drummer. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 02, 2010
Briefs: Texas Invests $4.5M in Cancer Research at UT Texas plans to invest $3-billion in cancer research over the next 10 years and six scientists at The Univ of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, recently rebranded as UTHealth, are among the first to receive grants. Houston Business Journal, March 02, 2010
DMS Group Discovers Proteins Role in Cancer A Dartmouth Medical School research team recently pinpointed the protein mechanism used by arsenic to activate the growth of bladder, lung and skin cancers, according DMS professor of community and family medicine Margaret Karagas, the leader of the study Dartmouth Online, March 02, 2010
With trials, Duke hopes to transfer research to patients Duke Univ is working to leverage its 800 physicians and thousands of patients to conduct early stage clinical trials, and is trying to do so in a way that could speed up the transfer of its medical research from labs to hospital beds. South Florida Business Journal, March 01, 2010
Med Clinical Trials Face Obstacles Scientific researchers in the Valley have high hopes for new therapies for patients with certain types of cancer. KPHO-TV CBS 5 Phoenix, February 26, 2010
NYU Langone Doctor Unzips Genes NYU Langone Medical Center's Dr. Harry Ostrer traveled to various colleges including Yeshiva Univ, Harvard Univ and Brandeis Univ earlier this month to provide genetic screening opportunities for students of Jewish descent. Washington Square News (NYU), February 25, 2010
FDA has Concerns with Bristol Transplant Drug The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday an organ transplant drug from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. improves kidney function, but also appears to carry potentially fatal side effects. Boston Globe and Boston.com, February 25, 2010
Buffalo Site is First in U.S. Approved for Trial of New Stroke Drug The Univ at Buffalo's Department of Neurology/Jacobs Neurological Institute is the first site in the U.S. approved to enroll patients in a clinical trial of the drug desmosteplase, a new treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Univ at Buffalo, February 24, 2010
Penn Oncologist Develops Melanoma Drug For the melanoma patients who signed on to try a drug known as PLX4032, the clinical trial was a last resort. Their bodies were riddled with tumors, leaving them almost certainly just months to live. New York Times, February 24, 2010
FDA Flags Risks for HIV Drugs The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it was reviewing clinical data that suggest the HIV drug Invirase, given in combination with another HIV drug, Norvir, could cause heart problems. Wall Street Journal (Public access), February 24, 2010
UC Davis Surgeons Perform Robot-Assisted Cardiac Bypass Robots can vacuum, assemble cars and explore outer space, and now they have successfully taken on a new life-saving task - lending a hand in heart surgery. California Aggie, February 24, 2010
Wake Forest Researcher Wins Science Communication Prize Dwayne W. Godwin, Ph.D., professor of neurobiology and anatomy at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, has won an international competition created by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Science magazine. Carolina Business Connection, February 24, 2010
Medical Training
Tuition Jump to be Met with Financial Aid Increase Next year’s tuition increases will be offset in large part by increases in financial aid, especially in the Alpert Medical School, according to a University press release following the Corporation meeting in February. Brown Daily Herald, March 09, 2010
Mayo Ranked Highest Value by Postdocs Every year the magazine The Scientist conducts a reader response survey on the best places to work, including reactions on the best place to do a postdoctoral fellowship. Mayo Medical School and Clinics, March 08, 2010
Students, Faculty of UF Medicine Inducted Into Good Deeds Society Two Univ of Florida College of Medicine faculty members, five medical residents and 25 medical students have been inducted into the Chapman Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Gainesville Sun, March 08, 2010
Economy Forces Some Med Schools to Shrink In the span of a week in September 2008, the "rubber band" that held together the Univ of Utah School of Medicine broke. First, the federal government cut $10-million in Medicaid funding to the university's hospital. USA-Today, March 05, 2010
BCM Receives Accreditation for Emergency Medicine Residency The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has granted accreditation for an Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicinewith the initial plan for all training to occur at the Harris County Hospital District's Ben Taub G Baylor College of Medicine, March 05, 2010
Med Student Explains Life on UTs Board of Regents Like any other fourth-year medical student, Karim Meijer grinds away for four weeks up to 12 hours a day in rotations ranging from internal medicine to surgery. In the fall, he enthusiastically watches his former Longhorn football team battle it out on th The Daily Texan, March 05, 2010
OSU Med Students Using Technology to Enhance Education, Research and Patient Care Since 2007 when OSU’s College of Medicine first began issuing Apple iPods to all incoming students, the use of technology typically directed at consumers has continued to advance the educational, research and patient care experiences of these doctors in TechColumbus, March 05, 2010
IPods Change How One Med School Teaches Future Docs Ohio State medical students now use portable media players like the Apple iPod Touch to remove breaks, pauses and other non-essential elements from recorded lectures, cutting their length by a half to a third. Health News Digest, March 04, 2010
U Cinc College of Medicine Set to Revamp Curriculum The College of Medicine has begun a comprehensive review, analysis and revision of the four-year medical school curriculum. Univ of Cincinnati - College of Medicine, March 04, 2010
Tulane Establishes First Med Campus Outside New Orleans Tulane University's 175-year-old medical school is setting up its first training campus outside the New Orleans area, at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. WRNO-FM, March 04, 2010
Mayo Med Students to Study Journalism at ASU Journalism students will be making room for medical students next fall as the Cronkite and Mayo Medical schools kick of a new dual degree program. ASU Web Devil, March 03, 2010
Faculty Changes Med School Grad Reqs The faculty voted on several changes to the Alpert Medical School at their March faculty meeting Tuesday, choosing to allow the 14 chairs of the clinical departments of the Med School to become eligible for clinical tenure. Brown Daily Herald, March 03, 2010
KU Med School Keeps Tight Admissions Standards Katie Fast received the best news of her life on Dec. 23, 2009. It was on this day that Fast, a graduate from Tabor College in Hillsboro, could finally relax. After applying three straight years to the Univ of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City, Kan Univ Daily Kansan, March 02, 2010
Doc Shortage Prompts Shifts in Med Education In a shivery-cold room inside a three-story building on the prairie, brand-new medical students dressed in white lab coats cut into cadavers. Denver Post, March 01, 2010
Push for More Physicians Sparks New Med Schools In the highly competitive medical-school admissions, rejection becomes a common theme even for qualified applicants. Univ of Iowa - The Daily Iowan, March 01, 2010
Georgetown Med School Sees Rise in Application Rate The application rate for the Georgetown Univ School of Medicine increased by 7 percent this year, reflective of a national increase in applications to medical and other graduate programs. Georgetown Univ The Hoya, February 24, 2010
A Med Student in Haiti My friend and classmate Thierry Pauyo had been taking his year "off", learning orthopedics from doctors at Partners in Health (PIH) and reconnecting with relatives in Haiti, when the earthquake struck. Boston Globe and Boston.com, February 24, 2010
New Affiliation for Training Family Doctors The Family Medicine Residency Program at East Jefferson General Hospital is now affiliated with Tulane University School of Medicine, an initiative that further extends Tulane's commitment to developing primary care physicians in Louisiana. Tulane Univ & Med School, February 24, 2010
New Med Schools Fill a Need Peter Allen applied to 30 medical schools after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh last year. Twenty-eight said no. Post-Bulletin, February 24, 2010
Squeezing More into a Day: OSU Med Students Leverage Technology Justin Harper, like other third-year medical students, will have attended more than 2,000 hours of classroom lectures upon graduation and dedicated more than two-thirds of his waking hours to medical school. James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, February 24, 2010
Medicare and Medicaid and Other Payors
Feds Cite Mass. General for 'Serious' Deficiencies The federal Medicare program has cited Massachusetts General Hospital for serious problems found during a routine inspection last month, according to a letter sent to the hospital's president. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 08, 2010
Amicas Agrees to be Acquired by Merge Healthcare Amicas Inc., a Boston-based maker of tools to manage medical images and information, has agreed to be acquired by Merge Healthcare Inc. in a transaction valued at $248 million, the two companies said in a press release. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 05, 2010
Congress Gets Breathing Room Before Medicare Payment Cuts It’s not a pretty process, but a deal seems to be shaping up to stave of the start of a 21% cut in Medicare fees paid to doctors. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 02, 2010
Specialty Drugs Force High Medicare Out-Of-Pocket Costs It’s not a pretty process, but a deal seems to be shaping up to stave of the start of a 21% cut in Medicare fees paid to doctors. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 02, 2010
Gridlock Triggers Medicare Fee Cuts Political gridlock in the Senate triggered a 21% cut in Medicare fees to doctors Monday, as the American Medical Association warned of a "meltdown" for seniors and the Obama administration scrambled to contain the damage. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 01, 2010
State Seeks $480M to Help Hospitals Serving Low-Income Patients The state appealed to the federal government today to help Massachusetts hospitals that care for disproportionately high numbers of patients who receive state-sponsored health insurance. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 01, 2010
Amicas to Reconsider Merge Healthcare Buyout Offer Amicas Inc., which provides health care information technology services, said today it will reconsider a $248-million buyout offer from Merge Healthcare Inc. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 01, 2010
Twitter Wars! Groups Duke it Out Over Health-Care Summit For now, unless and until it becomes law, at which point the litigation firestorm will almost assuredly break loose, there just aren’t that many legal angles to the health-care debate. It’s all preexisting conditions, insurance premium costs, and the Wall Street Journal (Public access), February 26, 2010
Mass. Sued Over Immigrant Health Care A state law that excludes more than 26,000 legal immigrants from health coverage is unconstitutional and should be struck down, according to an unusual class action lawsuit filed today by several of the affected immigrants. Boston Globe and Boston.com, February 25, 2010
Medicaid Numbers Still Climbing, with a Twist: Help from Hospitals The Medicaid rolls continue to swell in Ohio, but several area hospitals say that's not necessarily problematic for them — with some even helping fuel the trend. Crain's Cleveland Business, February 25, 2010
Conn. Hospital CEO: Overbilling was 'Honest' Error The chief executive of Johnson Memorial Hospital in Stafford says a coding error led to federal allegations of Medicare overbilling that the hospital recently settled for about $191,000. Boston Globe and Boston.com, February 24, 2010
Legal and Malpractice
Grassley: Scrap Current Health-Care Bills Lawmakers need to scrap progress made so far on health-care reform and start anew, Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, told those gathered on the UI medical campus on Tuesday. Univ. of Iowa - The Daily Iowan, March 09, 2010
Ex-Beth Israel Worker Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement A former employee of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center pleaded guilty in federal court today to embezzling more than $1-million by misappropriating checks made out to the hospital and obtaining fraudulent returns on hearing aids and other items. Boston Globe and Boston.com, March 04, 2010
Local Leaders Want State Intervention in LSU Hospital Firing Some local leaders want state politicians to address the 2006 firing of Dr. Cuthbert Simpkins, who was head of the trauma unit at LSU Hospital, with the governor and Louisiana State Univ Board. Shreveport Times, March 02, 2010
Rady Kin Sue to Block $21M Hospital Gift The $60-million donation to Rady Children’s Hospital that gave the San Diego facility its current name has become the target of two lawsuits by relatives of the donor in a battle over the family’s half-billion-dollar fortune. San Diego Union-Tribune, February 26, 2010
Obama Open to Curbing Med-Malpractice Suits President Barack Obama says he wants to change how the United States deals with medical malpractice lawsuits, although he says Republicans are overstating its effects on the health care system. Boston Globe and Boston.com, February 26, 2010
Brookline Couple Faces Medicaid Fraud Charges A Brookline couple were arraigned Wednesday in Brookline District Court for allegedly defrauding the Massachusetts Medicaid program MassHealth of $137,000. Boston Globe and Boston.com, February 25, 2010
Technology
UNC-based AHEC Program Awarded $13.6M to Help Docs Adopt HER The North Carolina Area Health Education Centers program (AHEC) has been awarded $13.6 million to help primary care health-care providers adopt electronic health records and other health information technology. Univ of North Carolina - Medical, March 03, 2010
Cutting the Risk from CT Scans A nationwide push is underway to lower radiation exposure from CT scans, amid growing concern about the risks of cancer linked to the high-powered imaging technology, as I write in the Informed Patient column today. Wall Street Journal (Public access), March 02, 2010
HHS awards $100M for Pediatric e-Health Records Pediatric electronic health records are getting a boost from the Health and Human Services Department. HHS is handing out $100 million in grants to states through 10 awards for innovations in children’s health data. Federal Computer Week (FCW), February 25, 2010
MedCenterConsultTM Business Chapters
