January 13, 1999   Vol. 21, No. 3

John Kepes, MD, receives prestigious Stewart Award
John Kepes, MD, professor emeritus of pathology at the School of Medicine, is the first neuropathologist in the nation to receive the Fred Waldorf Stewart Award. The award is given each year by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center's Department of Pathology for significant contributions to the understanding of human cancer.
The 1998 award was presented during the Nov. 13 alumni meeting. Dr. Kepes then gave a lecture, "Dr. Lindau's Cerebellar Hemangiomblastoma 72 Years Later."
A native of Budapest, Hungary, where he was chief of neuropathology at The National Institute of Neurosurgery, Dr. Kepes immigrated to the United States in 1956. After a fellowship in neuropathology at the Mayo Clinic, he joined the faculty of KU Medical Center.
During the ensuing 40 years, Dr. Kepes established an international reputation as a pathologist, and is widely admired for his experience in diagnosing diseases affecting the central nervous system. His research has formed the foundation for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for tumors of the brain, bone, connective tissue, nerve sheath and other areas.
Despite the significance of his work, Dr. Kepes waives the kudos. "I kept my eyes open," he said of his research over the past four decades. "When I saw something I had not previously seen, I took a picture of it. I was registering the facts of my diagnostic work. It's like Yogi Berra said, 'It's amazing how much you can observe just by looking.'"
Dr. Kepes has looked at many things. In doing so, he has written extensively on infections, degenerative diseases, stroke and cerebrovascular disorders, and diseases that destroy the lining of nerve cells. He has served on a number of medical and editorial boards, and won numerous teaching awards, including the KUMC Medical Student Assembly's Outstanding Educator Award (12 times), the Chancellor's Teaching Award and the Endowment Association's first Distinguished Teaching Professorship.

Keeping the dream alive...

KUMC observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
KU Medical Center will recognize the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Friday, Jan. 15, with a film presentation at 5 p.m. in Sudler Auditorium. The film, "King: Montgomery to Memphis," chronicles the civil rights leader's work, beginning with the bus boycott in Montgomery to the time of his assassination in Memphis.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Jan. 18, is a designated holiday for KU Medical Center and KU Hospital employees. If you have any questions regarding work schedules, contact your supervisor.

Peter Catches (Zintkala Oyate), a Lakota (Sioux) medicine man, describes the seven sacred rights of his clan to an appreciative crowd that packed Clendening Auditorium Jan. 6. The presentation was part of the ongoing Interfaith meetings at KU Medical Center. Photo by Leslie Champlin.

Securing a successful future
From the Executive Vice Chancellor...

As I looked at the calendar last week, I recognized that at the end of this month, I will be one-third of the way through my commitment to the Chancellor to be the EVC of the KU Medical Center. Rather than dwell on just 1998, I think we should review the last three years and anticipate the next seven.
At first I was surprised it takes so long to accomplish change. Yet when I see all of the change, I realize that we have done much in a rather short time. In fact, virtually all our accomplishments have positioned us to secure a successful future.
I won't dwell on any of these, but just mention some for perspective. KUPI was established three years ago, and we are now negotiating our new affiliation agreement. This was an absolutely critical step for us to take to have medical contracts for services. It offers great opportunities for further bonding and bridging among the clinical departments in the future. The many efforts to unify our medical school campuses have paid off well, and were recognized by the accreditation group. The hospital governance transition has been remarkably smooth.
The Kansas City campus is going through its own renaissance. More than $35 million of construction projects are underway. We can celebrate the opening of a new emergency drive, and groundbreaking ceremonies for our new Nursing Education and Center on Aging buildings. KU MedWest will open in about a month. The new burn unit and new pediatric ward are about to open. Wet paint signs are everywhere, and new equipment is arriving daily. So many people have done so much.
Our research programs reached an all-time high of nearly $50 million in funding. These programs are bringing new biomedical products and procedures to the public. We can be proud of our first-place position as the state and city's research institution.
So what's next? Now we need to pull together to accomplish several things. We must have a successful clinical enterprise. We must expand our research facilities so we can double our funded research. We need space for basic, outcomes and clinical research, as well as expanded animal care facilities.
We need to think and act as one university. We must improve our outreach programs. We will create a facilities master plan for the Kansas City campus. We will strengthen our relationships with the city governments, state agencies and our donors.
We can do all of this if we focus on the future instead of the past. We must use our energy to be creative. We want to stimulate innovation and an environment in which our people can be successful. Let's work together, always recognizing that together we are unbeatable. Let us realize that the people of Kansas recognize our excellence and want their children to come here for health care education, and that they are proudly committed to our institution. We cannot let them down. This can be our most positive and productive year. Let's get on with 1999.

Around KUMC...
What’s New

Sign up for 'Wheat State Whirlwind Tour'
KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway's third annual "Wheat State Whirlwind Tour" is set for May 24 to 28. The five-day, 1,500-mile tour is designed to give KU faculty members an "off the beaten path" look at the history, geography, culture, educational resources and other points of interest across Kansas. Faculty who wish to sign up should contact Erin Spiridigliozzi, 785-864-3661, or e-mail <erin@clasmain.clas.ukans.edu>. Applicants will be asked to list the factors motivating them to take the tour, and to describe how the tour could influence their teaching and research. More information will be forwarded to KU faculty members over the next few weeks.

Alzheimer's Disease support group meets Jan. 14
The Alzheimer's Disease Center offers a free caregiver's workshop on the second
Thursday of each month. The next workshop will be Jan. 14, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Cottonwood Room of Delp Cafeteria.

Cancer roundtable set for Jan. 19
The Kansas Cancer Institute will stage a research roundtable Tuesday, Jan. 19, at noon in Lied Auditorium. Wenhao Xu, PhD., interim director of the Transgenic Institutional Facility and research assistant professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, will present "Putting the Brake on Drive: Meiotic Cell Cycle Regulation and Germ Cell Tumorogenesis."

Jan. 19 seminar examines low vision
"When 20/40 Isn't Really 20/40: Low Vision in the Elderly" will be the topic of a Center on Aging research seminar Tuesday, Jan. 19, from 4 to 5 p.m. in Clendening Amphitheater. The seminar is presented by Joseph H. Maino, OD and chief of VICTORS low vision treatment center, Kansas City VA Medical Center.

Jan. 21 Integrative Medicine Seminar features author, book signing
Monthly Integrative Medicine Seminars resume this month with a lecture by David Simon, MD, medical director of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in La Jolla, Calif. Dr. Simon will speak about and sign copies of his new book, Return to Wholeness, which combines conventional and complementary therapies for cancer patients. The seminar will be Thursday, Jan. 21, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Sastun Center of Integrative Health Care, 5515 Foxridge Drive in Mission. Subsequent Integrative Medicine Seminars will be the third Thursday of each month on the KUMC campus. Comparison of companies in Board of Regents retirement plan available

Unclassified University employees
participating in the Board of Regents mandatory retirement plan may obtain a comparison of the four companies in the plan for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 1998. The comparison indicates fund performance, fees and other information for all four companies, Aetna, Lincoln National, Security Benefit and TIAA-CREF. To obtain a copy, call Janet Claas, ext. 5263, or e-mail <jclaas>.

Get tickets now for KUMC 'Big Blast' at the Blades
    If you think a night on the ice with the family sounds nice, get set for the 1999 KUMC "Big Blast" at the Blades.
    This special night at a Kansas City Blades home game is an annual event for KUMC employees and their families, and a great way to show support for both the Blades and the medical center. This year's game is Friday, Feb. 12, when the Blades take on the Utah Grizzlies at 7:35 p.m. in Kemper Arena. As an added bonus, Feb. 12 is also "Cap Night," which means the Blades will give away 5,000 adjustable baseball caps embroidered with the team logo.
    Tickets for the KUMC "Big Blast" are only $9 each, a savings of $5 over regular prices. Tickets will be sold outside the Main Cafeteria Jan. 13, 20 and 26, and Feb. 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Feb. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Best of all, there is no limit on ticket purchases, so pick up as many as you need for the whole family. All seats are close to the action and positioned for excellent viewing.

Research by Timothy Daaleman, DO,

explores relationship between medical and pastoral care End-of-life care and helping patients cope with chronic, often painful illness have become part and parcel of the physician's workload. In fact, physicians are often present when people must make life's hardest decisions and face its greatest challenges.
These factors prompt eight in 10 doctors to refer their patients to clergy, according to research by Timothy Daaleman, DO, assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at KU Medical Center.

Timothy Daaleman, DO. Photo by Dave Kalb. Reprinted with permission.

Dr. Daaleman's findings have been the focus of local and national news coverage since they were published in the Archives of Family Medicine. They also form the foundation of another article by Dr. Daaleman to be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Family Practice. The article will look at ways of measuring and defining spirituality within a research context. His research was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, where he is a Generalist Physician Faculty Scholar.
“Spirituality is not well-defined,” said Dr. Daaleman. “People define spirituality in different ways.”
His research found that more than 80 percent of physicians refer or recommend their patients to clergy and pastoral care services. More than 30 percent said they do so more than 10 times a year.
"This is a validation of patient-centered orientation of medicine today," said Dr. Daaleman. "It comes from two big movements in medicine: end-of-life care and alternative medicine, and demand in these areas is driven by patients."
Moreover, the nature of disease has shifted from acute to chronic, forcing people to deal with discomfort and, often times, growing disability, in their daily lives. Stress from financial, marital, emotional and psychological concerns also affect patients' health or recovery. Faced with these challenges, many people reap benefits from pastoral care support.
Dr. Daaleman's research also found that more than 75 percent of physicians refer patients to clergy for end-of-life care. Referrals for marital and family counseling were cited by nearly 73 percent of the physician respondents, and psychosocial issues such as depression or mood disorders were cited by nearly 39 percent. Substance abuse was a reason for referral 19 percent of the time.

KU staff work to fend off frozen pipes, energy loss

With temperatures in the single digits and wind chills well below zero, 1999's weather so far has been hard on people-and on pipes and heating systems at KUMC.
To prevent broken plumbing and air exchange units in the bone-chilling weather, Facilities Management staff are amending the campus energy conservation program. When forecasts call for temperatures below 20 degrees, for example, all heating systems remain operating 24 hours a day. During less inclement weather, heating systems in areas that have no nighttime use are turned off.
No one, however, wants to conserve energy at the expense of broken plumbing, flooded offices and damaged, expensive laboratory, computer or clinical equipment.
"Most often, pipes freeze because outside air infiltrates the unit itself," explained Don Rau, assistant to the Vice Chancellor. "Air handling units have hot water or steam or cold water in their coils. Regulations require that some areas, such as our labs and operating rooms, have 100 percent outside air circulated into them. So, we will have 20,000 cubic feet of 20-degree air going over those coils per minute."
If an air-heating unit malfunctions and shuts down, in a short amount of time the cold air can freeze-and break-the lower coils. Flooding develops when frozen pipes thaw and the system's water bursts from the break in massive amounts due to the pressure within the system.
Likewise, laboratory equipment that uses water for sterilizing or other procedures will freeze and break if windows are accidentally left open. Rau urged employees whose work places feel too warm to call Facilities Management, ext. 7928, and request a thermostat adjustment rather than open windows.
Employees can help prevent freezing, increase their own comfort and conserve energy by ensuring that windows are closed in their offices, labs, classrooms and adjacent hallways. They also can close storm windows, including those in stair wells and hallways, that may have remained open after December's warm weather. If employees aren't comfortable closing the windows themselves, they can contact Facilities Management.
Rau added that all dollars saved from energy conservation in one fiscal year helps fund lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs and replacements the following fiscal year. If current energy saving trends continue, KUMC will end FY99 saving 10 percent more energy than in FY98. Rau said all employees were contributing by turning off conference room lights, office lights and personal computers when not in use.

Classifieds

For Sale
Full-sized violin w/case and bow, recently replaced bridge and strings, $100. Call 383-2330 after 5 p.m.

Blue and white trick bike, front and back pegs, mag wheels, gently used, $75. Call 383-2339 after 5 p.m.

Kenmore dryer, avocado, $35 or free if you also pick up matching Kenmore washer in working condition with small leak somewhere. Call 338-1523 and leave message.

Three living room easy chairs: gold rocker and ottoman, gold Lazy-Boy type, green comfort chair, all in good condition, for sale together for $25. IBM Selectric typewriter w/various type balls and ribbons, no computer port, in good working order, $50. Upright white freezer, like new, not frost-free, $150. Freezer chest, opens from top, not frost-free, $50. Call 358-6319 after 7 p.m. any day of the week.

Magnavox Headstart 500 personal computer with CD ROM, monitor, mouse, keyboard and programs, about 10 years old, in great condition, $125 OBO. Call 524-5391.

486SX33, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB HD, modem, Quicken, Word, MS Publisher, Windows 3.1, w/letter-quality color DM printer, $325. U-shaped computer desk with hutch, $300. Great set up for student. Call 451-1461.

44 gal. pentagon aquarium, complete stand, hood, all acc., for fresh or salt, brand new, $200 OBO. Call 677-2570 eve.

Flat bed trailer, 16 ft., new floor, good tires, high sides, mesh gate for easy loading. Call 816-274-8126 or 816-836-5344.

Automotive
1988 Chrysler New Yorker, gray, leather int., 108K miles, runs good, good body, needs some work, $1900 OBO. Call 648-3350.

79 Oldsmobile, 97K miles, one owner, light blue ext. and int., runs good and body in good shape, $950. Call Pat, 690-5739 or e-mail <pdavies@kumc.edu>.

Wanted
Child care services needed: After-school care for two children, 3 and 5 years old, light housekeeping, meal preparation, must be a good driver and have own car. Salary negotiable. Call 597-8478 and leave message.

Housing
For Rent: 2BR townhouse, within one mile of KUMC, in excellent condition, $575/mo. Call 989-7876.

Study Subjects
Neuroleptic Study for People with Developmental Disabilities
Research participants needed for a medication trial. Participants should be between the ages of 6 and 65, who are diagnosed with mental retardation and who have behavior problems (including aggression and self-injury). Caregivers must be willing to complete questionnaires on a weekly basis and come in for a 30-minute appointment every other week. All evaluations, appointments, lab tests, and medication are free of charge. For families living outside the Kansas City area, $25 will be provided to cover travel and parking costs. For more information, contact Dr. Jennifer Zarcone at ext. 6473 or e-mail <JZarcone@dole.lsi.ukans.edu>.

Adults for Bronchitis Study
Adults aged 18 and older with a history of chronic bronchitis who are having worsening of their symptoms and require antibiotics are sought to participate in an antibiotic study. Free physician visits, free antibiotic and $25 per visit for four visits if you can participate. Call Marilyn, ext. 4022.

Topics Information
Topics is the employee publication of the University of Kansas Medical Center.
It is published weekly by the office of Public Relations and Marketing. The deadline for submitting news briefs for consideration is noon on the Wednesday before they are to appear. For longer articles or features, contact the editor in advance.
Send story ideas to Leslie Champlin, acting editor, G114 Hospital, or e-mail: lchampli@ kumc.edu or call ext. 1602

Topics ad policy
Send or bring your ad to Topics, G114 KU Hospital, or fax to ext. 1225, or e-mail: lchampli@kumc.edu by noon Wednesday of the week before it is to run.
Ads run free of charge for employees, students and volunteers. For-sale ads are limited to three items. All ads must include the advertiser’s name and work extension (or medical student box number) for verification.
Only home phone numbers --- no pager numbers or KUMC extensions --- will be published. No ads for commercial services or pets for sale will be accepted. Ads will not be taken by telephone. Only one phone number per ad.
Ads may be a held a week if space is limited.

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