Four KUMC Faculty to Receive Distinguished Teaching Awards

John G. Wood, Virginia Cassmeyer, Janet D. Pierce and Allen B. Rawitch.

Four KU Medical Center faculty members will receive Distinguished Teaching Awards May 17 during this year’s Commencement ceremonies. The four — John G. Wood, PhD; Allen B. Rawitch, PhD; Janet

D. Pierce, RN, DSN; and the late Virginia Cassmeyer, RN, PhD — will receive the Chancellor’s Award for Out- standing Classroom Teacher.

Dr. Wood joined the Department of Physiology two years ago, after teaching with the Department of Surgery since 1988. As assistant professor, he teaches medical physiology and the cardiovascular portion of the physiology module in the integrated graduate department. Dr. Wood completed his doctoral degree from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

“James Voogt is as responsible for my receiving this award as me,” said Wood of the chair of molecular and integrative physiology. “He listened to my first lecture and gave me a lot of positive advice on how to improve. He’s a great director. And the department puts a strong emphasis on teaching. The support from everyone here has been crucial.”

Dr. Rawitch earned his Bachelor of Science degree and his doctoral degree in biological chemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles. He came to KUMC from Kent State University, where he was an associate professor. Joining the KUMC faculty as associate professor in 1975, Dr.Rawitch has been course director and taught first-year medical biochemistry for 20 years. In 1982, he was named full professor. Dr. Rawitch served as vice chair of the biochemistry and molecular biology from 1980 to 1993. In addition to serving on numerous university and Medical Center committees, he is chair of the Education Council, which reviews curriculum for the School of Medicine.

Dr. Pierce joined the KU School of Nursing faculty as assistant professor in 1991. She teaches critical care, principles of nursing and supervises students in the nursing skills laboratory. Dr. Pierce received the Jayhawker RN Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Nursing Instructor in both 1992 and 1993. A 1981 nursing school graduate from the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Pierce completed her master of nursing and doctor of nursing science degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The late Dr. Cassmeyer was associate professor in the KU School of Nursing, where she taught advanced pathophysiology. She had been an assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University from 1976 to 1980. During her tenure at KU, Dr. Cassmeyer received the Jayhawker RN Teaching Award three times — in 1986, 1991 and 1994 — and the Chancellor’s Teaching Award in 1990. Dr. Cassmeyer earned her bachelor of nursing degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and her master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University. She received her doctoral degree in physiology from the KU School of Medicine. Dr. Cassmeyer died
Oct. 29, 1997.

Q&A

Benefits and outsourcing topped this week’s Q&A questions. Submit transition questions by e-mail to TOWNHALL or to Topics at
lchampli@kumc.edu. Employees also can drop questions into any employee suggestion box throughout the Medical Center. This weeks questions are:

Q: In one of the newsletters, it was stated “ALL employees will be offered a position.” Does this include unclassified staff or will some be laid off at the end of the current contract period?”

A: The legislation requires that anyone who is employed by the hospital at the time of transition (targeted for October 1) will be offered a job with the Authority. This includes regents, unclassified, unclassified healthcare and classified employees. The non-reappointment process for Fiscal Year ‘98 has already been completed and does not affect the offer of a position by the Hospital Authority.

Q: When is the anticipated month for employees to receive their offer letter?

A: The current target date for the transition is October 1, 1998.
The legislation requires that the positions be offered at least 45 days prior to the transition. To meet the target and comply with the legislation, offers would have to be made during the month of July.

Q: How will the benefits change?

A: A great deal of work is taking place regarding benefits but the work hasn’t been completed, except for legislation requirements. The Authority Board must vote on the benefits and compensation. The legislation requires that everyone transferring to the Authority receive at least the same rate of pay for a job similar to the one they performed, immediately prior to the transfer. It also ensures continuation in KPERS or the Regents’ retirement program, depending upon which the employee belonged to prior to the authority. Other benefit questions are being examined by the Transition Team dealing with Hospital Operations. This team is working to identify a benefit and compensation philosophy which will support the hospital in achieving necessary performance levels and be most beneficial to employees. Once the Transition Operations Team has identified the best overall benefits plan, they will present it to the Authority Board for approval. The goal is to have these decisions made before the offer letters are sent so that every employee has a clear understanding of pay and benefits.

Around KUMC ...
What’s New

Training Program for Supervisors Begins June 2 at KUMC
SuperTrax: Leadership in Action, KUMC’s leadership training program for managers and supervisors, will be offered at the Medical Center beginning June 2. The program is mandatory for all classified supervisors and must be completed before permanent status can be attained. Unclassified supervisors are strongly encouraged to attend. Persons interested in participating should enroll as soon as possible.
SuperTrax consists of 10 modules, each addressing a specific component of leadership. To enroll, complete the enrollment form attached to the class schedule that was sent to all departments and return it to Human Resources, 1044 Delp Pavilion/7113. You also can use the enrollment form on our PULSE location: http://www. kumc.edu/HR/training.html . Detailed information about each of the 10 modules also can be found at our Pulse location.
The deadline for enrollment is May 22, 1998. For more information, call Training and Develop-ment at ext. 7542.

National Hospital Week Celebration Continues
KU Medical Center leadership will greet employees as they enter KU Hospital Thursday as part of the ongoing celebration of this week’s National Hospital Week. Greeters will be near hospital entrances from 6:45 to 8:30 a.m. and from 2 to 4 p.m. to thank employees for their commitment to high quality patient care.
And mark your calendar for Friday, when an all-employee picnic gets under way at 11 a.m. between KU Hospital and Miller Building. Until 1 p.m., employees can enjoy grilled hot dogs, chips and a beverage with their colleagues. Everyone is invited.

Corporate Challenge Deadline Today
The deadline for Corporate Challenge registration is 10 p.m. today. Events with openings are track events, bike race, swimming events, tug-of-war, and triathlon/ duathlon. Everyone can join the team and make a difference. All participants receive a KUMC Corporate Challenge t-shirt. Call Jan Schmidt, ext. 7703.

Reception for Tom Doyle May 14
KUMC employees are invited to a reception for Tom Doyle, who has been director of Facilities Management for eight years. The reception will be 3 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in the Hixson Atrium.

Take Your Daughter to Work Day a Big Hit

More than 150 children of KU Medical Center employees learned more about their parents’ jobs April 23 during KU’s Take Your Daughters (and Sons) to Work Day.

The day let youngsters aged nine through 17 learn more about careers in 17 departments ranging from pharmacy to radiology to telecommunications. Alisa Lange, senior coordinator for diversity, said the departments and the 23 volunteer tour guides and four volunteer assistants made the day successful.

“The volunteers had fun and the kids really became attached to them,” said Lange. “KU Medical Center really has something to shine about.”

CMN — Fun with a Purpose.

KU Medical Center employees have kicked off their Children’s Miracle Network annual campaign this week by buying Miracle Balloons and volunteering for the annual television special. The campaign was launched in connection with National Hospital Week celebrations. Miracle Balloons are $1 each and are on sale in the main and Delp cafeterias.

“We also are offering ‘The Storybook Cook,’ as part of our fund-raising efforts,” said Danielle Wolfe, interim coordinator for community affairs. “This is a unique baking project that’s an educational, creative and fun activity parents and children can do together.”

The Storybook Cooks are $12 each, with all proceeds going to CMN.

The highlight of this year’s Children’s Miracle Network campaign will be the May 30 and 31 television special, which highlights KUMC’s medical, nursing, and allied health professionals and the children they have treated. During the special, volunteers staff telephone lines to take financial pledges from viewers wanting to support CMN.

You still have time to volunteer for the television special, either on-air or behind-the-scenes. Among positions currently available are phone volunteers and registration personnel. Please contact Danielle Wolfe at ext. 1298.

“This really is a fun weekend and a worthwhile event,” said Wolfe. “Last year, this program raised more than $497,000. All of that money stays in Kansas City to help our patients.”

KUMC and Children’s Mercy Hospital are partners in the region’s CMN network. All money raised through the campaign remains in Kansas City and is shared by the hospitals.

KUMC Alumni Honor Two

The University of Kansas Medical and Nurses Alumni Associations honor Dewey K. Ziegler, MD, professor emeritus of the University of Kansas Medical Center, and Eleanor Sullivan, RN, PhD, FAAN, professor and former dean of the KU School of Nursing for their contributions to the KU School of Medicine and the KU School of Nursing. They will be recognized at the KU Medical Center Alumni Association annual banquet May 8 and the KU Nurses Alumni Association annual banquet May 9 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Kansas City, Mo.

Ziegler will receive the association’s 1998 Honorary Alumnus Award and Sullivan will receive the association’s 1998 Honorary Nurse Alumnus Award.

In 1990, Ziegler became professor emeritus at KU Medical Center after a distinguished career in patient care, research and education. Ziegler came to KU Medical Center in 1958 as associate professor of neurology. He became full professor in 1964, section chief in 1966 and chair of the Department in 1974. He led a 1994 clinical trial into the effectiveness of using a nasal spray delivery of dihydroergotamine (DHE) for acute migrainesm which the Food and Drug Administration used to grant approval for marketing Migranol.

Sullivan, who also is president of Sigma Theta Tau International, expanded the School’s academic, diversity and economic base. Among her accomplishments as dean: establishment of the Kansas Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Program; advanced primary care nursing courses on the Internet; and the NURSING: THE HEART OF HEALTHCARE recognition program.

New Policies Help Patients

“In the next few weeks, three new procedures are being implemented, which continue the hospital’s goal of ongoing improvements for patient and family convenience and satisfaction,” said Jon Jackson, chief operating officer.

The hospital is strengthening its visiting hours policy and procedures, which will provide additional quiet time for our patients. Visitors to the Maternity unit will use a special pass card to gain entrance. After 9 p.m., entry to the hospital will be limited to the Emergency Department entrances. All other entrances will have pass card only entry.

Detailed information for employees, patients and families will be communicated a week before imple-mentation.

Classifieds

Automotive

For sale: 1993 Chrysler LeBaron LeSedan—4 door V6 3.0 liter-auto trans-front wheel dr-39,000 mi-air cond-power st-power windows and locks-tilt wh.-cruise-AM FM cass-power dr seat. Very clean,like new $8500.00 firm. 763-3183.
For Sale: 1995 Honda Accord EX. Leather, sunroof, alloy wheels, full power, new tires, like new. 35,000 miles. $15,000. Call Karen at 361-2138.

For Sale

For Sale: Sofa, Bassett, taupe with medium oak trim, good condition, $150, square coffee table, solid oak, $75, 795-8785 evenings.
For Sale: Kenmore freezer, less than one year old and excellent condition. Call 897-5319 for more information.
For Sale: Self-standing basketball goal, $35, twin bed & mattress, $25, girls White Mountain bicycle, barely used, $25. Call Beth at 334-5354.
For Sale: Family membership (non-tennis) at Woodside Tennis and Health Club, $50, save $10 off regular price. Call John after 7 p.m., 492-1723.
For Sale: Beautiful 1997 Century double-wide mobile home. Size 26x40. Three-bedroom, 11/2 baths, large utility room, vaulted ceilings, new appliances, 8x10 deck. Belton, Mo. $4,000 down to assume loan with 1-year credit through Green Tree Finance. Call 816-322-9501.
For Sale: Drop-leaf maple dining room table and six Windsor back chairs. $550. Call 532-3046.
For Sale: 1996 SeaDoo GTX. Includes Yachtclub trailer, life jackets three five-gallon gas cans, pulling rope and tube. Clean, hardly used. Must see. $5,300. Call 829-5463.
For Sale: Gorgeous 1997 double-wide Oakwood mobile home. Set up in park. Take over low payments. Must see! Owner must sacrifice. Call 856-6340.
For Sale: Imperial Crystal, candlewick pattern punch bowl, tray, 20 cups, dessert plates, $500. Call 438-5043.
For Sale: Antique pharmacy chest. 48 drawer, 36 x 54-inch, very unique, primitive, $75. Old metal bottles. Call 438-5043.

For Rent

For Rent: 2-bedroom, 1-bath duplex five minutes from KUMC. Quiet neighborhood. $385 per month. Call 789-7699.
For Rent: Very nice, two-bedroom house. Large living room and kitchen, garage, vicinity of 33rd and Parallel. $350 a month + $200 deposit. Call 342-0599.

Wanted

Wanted: Sets of nearly new men’s scrubs. Size large. Call 531-6183.
Wanted: Rider mower. 677-5045; leave message if no answer.

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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