23 DecEMBER 1999 • Volume 1 • Number 41

Dr. Norton Greenberger to become senior associate dean for education

After 27 1/2 years leading the KU School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, Norton Greenberger, MD, is stepping down—not to relax, but to focus on the profession he is most passionate about: medical education. Effective Jan. 1, 2000, Dr. Greenberger will become the senior associate dean for medical education.
“I have very strong beliefs that many medical students in the first and second years are not getting an optimal shake,” said Dr. Greenberger, who is department chair and Peter T. Bohan Professor of Medicine. “When I went to medical school it was a joy to go to class. We had a good understanding of basic science and we were exposed early on to a mixture of basic science and clinical applications. So, I am thrilled that I can, at this time in my life, focus my energies on further improving the medical curriculum.”
During a Dec. 15 recognition ceremony for Dr. Greenberger, School of Medicine Executive Dean Deborah Powell praised Dr. Greenberger’s contributions to both education and research, adding, “He has made this medical school what it is.” She also announced that the School of Medicine has begun raising funds to endow a new chair of medicine in Dr. Greenberger’s honor.

Friends and colleagues gathered in Hixon Atrium Dec. 15 to honor Dr. Greenberger, shown with his wife Joanie.

As senior associate dean for medical education, Dr. Greenberger plans to incorporate more clinical studies into students’ first two years by helping teachers orient their teaching toward the clinical experience. He also hopes to encourage more interactive sessions among students and faculty during the first two years.
Dr. Greenberger believes the new Academic Societies formed this past fall will go a long way toward achieving those goals. “As director of the Ralph Major, MD, Society, I am thoroughly enjoying the interaction with my group,” he said. “These students tell us they most want mentoring opportunities, more in-depth introduction to clinical medicine, advice on the impact of the socio-economic changes in medicine on their future careers, and fellowship—namely food and wine.
“I sense that these medical students want guidance. They need guidance. Their needs may change dramatically, but we must move beyond just giving them a lot of information without creating an environment for the application of that knowledge.”
Dr. Greenberger will continue his clinical practice in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology. Thomas DuBois, Jr., MD, has been named chair of the Department of Medicine and the new Peter T. Bohan professor.

Holiday party sets the stage for the season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

KU Med (hospital) and University employees kicked off the holiday season with food, fun and fellowship at the annual Holiday Party Dec. 15. The party of approximately 2,800 people over three sessions enjoyed a full complement of delicious food, photos with Santa and the opportunity to visit with co-workers.

This year’s event featured brief remarks by KUMC Executive Vice Chancellor Donald Hagen, MD, and KU Med President and CEO Irene Cumming, as well as entertainment by singers Elwanda Richardson, Health Careers, and Deb Beyer, RN, former KUPI nurse.
“We also delivered food trays to about 60 departments for those who couldn’t come to the party,” said Senior Coordinator Shelley Bratton, Alumni and Community Relations. “It was a big success. Despite the weather, everybody seemed to have a great time.”

Weight management center at KU MedWest

In a market flooded with diet pills, commercial weight-loss centers and health clubs, KU MedWest offers a refreshing alternative: a hospital-affiliated weight management center.
Shadrach Smith, MD, clinical assistant professor, Internal Medicine, and Sue Popkess-Vawter, RN, PhD, professor, School of Nursing, serve more than 400 patients at KU MedWest with their comprehensive weight loss approach.

Stacey Calhoun, left, and Dr. Sue Popkess-Vawter.

“Some people come because they
have conditions such as diabetes or hypertension,” said Dr. Smith, program director. “Others just want a consultation. We discuss strategies to help people become healthier, no matter where they are with their weight.”
Dr. Smith cites three barriers to successful weight-loss: metabolism, motivation and environment. He addresses all in his practice, with an emphasis on overcoming metabolic barriers. Dr. Popkess-Vawter helps patients develop healthier eating and exercise habits.
“I focus on lifestyle changes and the psychological factors that prevent people from making those changes,” she said.
In addition to one-on-one consultation, the practice offers “Body and Soul,” a weekly community wellness program. Dietitian Specialist Adrienne Moore Baxter, MS, RD, LD, and Exercise Specialist Stacey Calhoun, RD, LD, co-facilitate the program with Dr. Popkess-Vawter. For more information on the center, call ext. 1227.

Center on Aging team develops stroke assessment

Researchers at the Center on Aging have been instrumental in developing a new measure for assessing the physical effects of stroke. The procedure, published in the October 1999 issue of the journal Stroke, is currently being translated into 16 languages for worldwide use.
“While conducting an area stroke study, we discovered that none of the existing measures captured the full range of symptoms experienced by stroke patients,” said Pamela Duncan, PT, PhD, director of research at the Center on Aging. “Now that our measure is published, we hope it will become the new gold standard of assessment.”
Outcome measures have traditionally assessed the degree to which a person’s movement or speech is impaired following a stroke. Center on Aging researchers felt, however, that existing measures focused only on the ability to carry out basic life functions, not the ability to take care of oneself or return to community activities.

Front & Center

The Adopt-A-Child program co-sponsored by the Center on Aging and Project Eagle met its goal of signing up sponsors for 300 deserving children in Wyandotte County. Shown are a small sampling of the toys, clothes and other items donated to the children by KUMC employees.

KFKF Promotions Assistant Dave Horn delivered several barrels of toys to the KU Med Pediatric Pavilion Dec. 14. The toys were collected as admission to a benefit concert the radio station staged Dec. 11. All toys were donated to KU Med Pediatrics.

Larry Powley, left, was one of many employees at the Lawrence Honeywell plant who signed up for the prostate exam and PSA blood test provided by urologist Tomas Griebling, MD, Dec. 14. Urologist Roy Brandell, MD, visited the Olathe Honeywell facility Dec. 13 to offer the same exams. Sixty Honeywell employees were screened during the two days.

During a visit to pediatric patients Dec. 14, Scott Vermillion of the Kansas City Wizards talked shop with 16-year-old Heath Morrison of Topeka. Morrison is a member of his high school’s soccer team.

FOR SALE:
Ladies navy blue full-length wool/cashmere coat,
size 8, new, must see, original price $200, asking $75. Call 816-468-6313.
Black metal full-size futon frame & mattress, $75 OBO; full-size bed (mattress, box springs & frame), $75 OBO. Call 913-432-7155 after 5 p.m. or
leave message.
Hewlett Packard Deskjet 1200c color printer, Windows 98 compatible, $125; Healtech Electronic Muscle Stimulator, great for toning, rehab, workouts, all accessories, original price $225, will sell for $50. Call Craig Hamilton, 913-432-0310.
AUTOMOTIVE:
1992 Ford F-150 XLT, 97K mi., auto., short bed, bed liner, running boards, bulldog rails, ext. cab, auto. windows & locks, AM/FM cassette, alloy wheels, red int. and ext., new 6-ply tires, belt & hoses, good mech. & physical cond., $9,000 OBO. Call Mike,
816-391-7616 daytime.
1988 Honda Accord LXi, 79K, power windows & brakes, A/C, 5-spd., new tires, garaged, $4,990.
Call 913-362-9518 after 5 p.m.
HOUSING:
For Sale: Charming 2BD ranch in Johnson County,
15 min. drive to KUMC, convenient access to I-35, Alt. 69, Shawnee Mission Parkway and Metcalf Ave., walking distance to Shawnee Mission school district elementary school, LR w/FP & picture window, DR w/French doors & built-in china cab., full bsmt., garage, patio, new roof, brick front, vinyl siding, fenced yard, large rooms & lot, asking $93,950.
Call 913-631-2240.
For Sale: House, 15 min. drive to KUMC, Strawberry Hill, fixer-upper with great potential, can be 4BD house or 2-1BD apartments, remodeling process underway, new furnace/thermostat, C/A, plumbing, upstairs very livable while downstairs is being remodeled, $16,500. Call 913-621-2341.
WANTED:
1957-62 BMW Isetta, running or restorable. Call Marvin, 913-681-2907.

Check new directory listing for accuracy

Recently, a new online phone directory was established on Pulse. The information in this directory is also used by the KUMC switchboard’s directory. For this reason, it is vital that the data is accurate.
Employees are asked to search the Pulse directory for their records and ensure that the listing is correct, especially pager numbers. If the record contains incorrect data or if the record is missing, e-mail the correct information to Cheryl Pace, <cpace>.

Because of the holidays, there will be
no In The Center the week of Dec. 27.
In The Center will return Jan. 6, 2000.

coming
UP

Thursday, December 23:
• Book Fair, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Wyandotte Room, Main Cafeteria.Friday,
December 24:
• Christmas Eve Mass, 4:45 p.m., Spencer Chapel.
• Christmas Eve Communion Service, 6:30 –7 p.m., Spencer Chapel.
Saturday, December 25:
• Christmas Day Mass, 10 a.m., Spencer Chapel.
Monday, December 27:
• Alzheimer’s Disease Support Group, noon-1:30 p.m., Delp Cafeteria.
• Grief-Loss Support Group, 3-4 p.m., Radiation Oncology Conference Room.
Wednesday, December 29:
• Diabetes Self-Management Series, 9-11 a.m., 1107 KU Med.
• KUMC Interfaith, noon-1 p.m., 3401 Wescoe.
• Stroke Support Group, 2-3 p.m., Westwood City Hall, 47th and Rainbow.
Friday, December 31:
• New Year’s Eve Mass, 4:45 p.m., Spencer Chapel.
Monday, January 3:
• Prostate Cancer Screenings, KU Cancer Center, call ext. 1227 for appointment.
• Grief-Loss Support Group, 3-4 p.m., Radiation Oncology Conference Room.
Tuesday, January 4:
• Kansas Cancer Institute research round table, “Rational Anti-Cancer Drug Design Using a Neutral Network,” noon, Lied Auditorium.
Wednesday, January 5:
• Diabetes Self-Management Series, 9-11 a.m., 1107 KU Med.
• KUMC Interfaith, noon-1 p.m., 3401 Wescoe.

IN THE CENTER
Donald Hagen, MD - Executive Vice Chancellor KUMC
Irene Cumming - CEO and President KU Hospital
Ken Arnold - Editor

IN THE CENTER is the employee and student 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 is noon on the Thursday before they are to appear. Send story ideas to Ken Arnold, editor, G114 Hospital, or e-mail: <karnold> or call ext. 1298.

Ad Policy
Send or bring your ad to G114 KU Hospital, or fax to ext. 1225, or e-mail: <karnold> by noon Thursday 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 held a week of space is limited.

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