March 3, 1999    Vol. 21, No. 9

KU Urban Design students share vision of revitalized Rosedale

The Feb. 24 reception at KUMC featured more than 80 exhibits by 20 students of the KU School of Architecture and Urban Design. Photo by Ken Arnold.

Tree-lined boulevards and inter-community shuttle buses. Neighborhood development and revitalized business districts. Walking trails and riverfront parks.
These and other ideas are part of Rosedale in the 21st century, as envisioned by senior and graduate students from the KU School of Architecture and Urban Design.
The students' work, which was created as a class project, was unveiled at a reception Feb. 24 in Hixson Atrium called "Rosedale: A New Vision for a New Century." KU Medical Center served as host for the event.
Students in the program spent three months studying the economic, social, cultural and political forces which shape the Rosedale community, and worked closely with local residents, civic leaders and urban development organizations. As their final project, students created a Rosedale Strategic Development Plan for consideration by the community, which includes recommended changes and improvements in such areas as housing, transportation, parks and boulevards, community facilities, flood control and historic preservation.
In addition to honoring the students, the reception featured Glen LeRoy and Richard Wetzel, local architects and instructors for the class. Also attending were Executive Vice Chancellor Donald Hagen, who acted as host on behalf of KUMC, as well as Kansas City, Kan., Mayor and CEO Carol Marinovich, Rosedale Development Association Executive Director Wendy Wilson, and Rosedale residents and community leaders.

New look, more news
Goodbye Topics, hello ...?

Get ready, KUMC. Beginning next week, KU Medical Center will say goodbye to an old friend, Topics, and hello to a new one-an exciting, completely re-designed weekly publication.
The new publication marks a new era in employee communications at KUMC. Although Topics has served its purpose well over the years and is one of the most effective communication tools on the medical center campus, the new publication promises to be even better.
We learned through employee surveys and focus groups, for example, that readers would like more campus-wide news coverage, more photos, more employee recognition articles, and more current communications-not just recaps of information previously communicated through other means. The new publication will have all this and more, in order to better reflect the interests, activities and concerns of all segments of the diverse KUMC population-hospital employees, university employees, physicians, faculty, students and others.
To make the publication more engaging and "reader friendly," it will also feature an updated look, with improved graphics and innovative design elements. With its bold new look and extended coverage, we think it will be a great way for you to learn more about the people and programs that make KUMC all that it is.
The new employee publication makes its premiere next week, so don't miss the first issue. It promises to be chock full of timely news, interesting features, important "need-to-know" information-and maybe a few surprises.
We look forward to your reaction to the new weekly newsletter. Beginning next week, please forward your comments and suggestions to Ken Arnold, editor, ext. 1298, or e-mail your ideas to <karnold>.

Around KUMC...

Nominations sought for Kemper Fellowships
Nominations are now being accepted for the Kemper Fellowships, which honor KUMC faculty from Kansas City and Wichita who have demonstrated outstanding teaching and advising. Fellowships are $5,000 for one year. Nominees must be full-time faculty with a minimum of three years in a tenured or tenure-track position. Colleagues, students, departments or other recognized KUMC entities may submit nominations. Nominations should be sent to A.L. Chapman, PhD, Office of Academic Affairs, 5015 Wescoe. The deadline is Monday, March 29. For information on nomination procedures and format, call ext. 1258.

Faculty urged to submit summer textbook needs
Faculty teaching summer courses should submit their textbook requisitions to the KUMC Bookstore by Thursday, March 18. By meeting the requisition deadline, faculty can help the bookstore locate used books and save money for students. The bookstore also will buy back books from students during May to help cut student costs. Submitting requisitions by the deadline also allows the bookstore to seek out new editions of requested books, or identify books that are out of print.

Early-bird registration begins for Kirmayer programs
Keep your New Year's resolutions by taking advantage of the Kirmayer Fitness Center's aerobics, yoga I and II and tai chi classes. Early class registration is March 1-12. The early registration cost for aerobics is $21 for twice-weekly or $31 for thrice-weekly classes; the fee for yoga I and II or tai chi is $32. Classes are limited to Kirmayer members. Kirmayer is also offering the second session of the Weight Watchers "The At-Work Program," which is open to everyone. Kirmayer will hold two free, half-hour informational meetings on the program at 11:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., March 11, in the Auxiliary Room. The program begins March 18 and, for Kirmayer members, costs $89.50 for 10 weeks or $179 for 20 weeks. Non-members can participate for an additional $10 fee.


Casparian warns Prairie Village Council about skin cancer risk
Health and local politics mixed together recently when J. Michael Casparian, MD, assistant professor of medicine, urged the Prairie Village City Council to set aside pool improvement funds to install shade covers at the facility.
A KUMC dermatologist, Dr. Casparian told council members he's seen an increase in the number of people who have been over-exposed to the sun and have subsequently developed non-melanoma skin cancer.

Enna elected president of national pharmacology society
S.J. Enna, PhD, professor and chair of pharmacology, toxicology and therapeutics, has been elected president of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. As president, Dr. Enna will oversee the activities of the organization and be the spokesperson for the discipline. He will continue as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, to which he was appointed last year.

Summer Junior Volunteer Program applications
The Office of Volunteer Services is still accepting applications for its Summer Junior Volunteer Program, which will run June 7 through Aug. 13. All applications must be received by April 15. Applications are available in the Volunteer Office, G443 Hospital, off the main lobby. For questions, contact Marilyn Coup or Susan Mong at ext. 6560.

Order graduation announcements, attire at KUMC Bookstore March 10
Representatives from graduation announcement, ring, and cap and gown companies will display products and take orders and payments at the KUMC Bookstore Wednesday, March 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Faculty, staff and students participating in commencement ceremonies should place orders for master's and doctoral apparel. Bachelor degree attire will also be available beginning March 10.

University customer service training set for March 10
A customer service training seminar for university and KUPI employees called "You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression" will again be offered Wednesday, March 10. Two training sessions are available. Each session lasts two hours. University and KUPI employees can make reservations by contacting Deb Moore via e-mail at <dmoore2>. If you have any questions, call Moore at ext. 2500.

The Cat in the Hat, a.k.a. Deanne Kilian, RN, PNP, reads with 9-year-old Nikki Storms at the KU Children's Center. Kilian, nursing supervisor for the center, took on the role March 2 to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Seuss. March 2 was also Read Across America, in which adults were encouraged to read to someone young or old. In recognition of both days, KC Reads collected new and used childrens books at KUMC. Photo by Ken Arnold.

Coming Up

Thursday, March 4:
•    Manic Depressive/Depression Support Group, 7 p.m., Cottonwood Room, Delp Cafeteria.

Friday, March 5:
•    Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Grand Rounds, "Do Antisocial Alcoholics Really Have the Poorest Outcomes?" 10:30 a.m., Clendening Amphitheater.

Saturday, March 6:
•    Postgraduate Symposium on Psychiatry, "Youth and Violence," KUMC Department of Psychiatry and KU Continuing Education, 7:45 a.m.-3 p.m., Rieke Auditorium.

Monday, March 8:
•    Alzheimer's Disease Caregivers Information Workshop, 4:30-7:30 p.m., Cottonwood Room, Delp Cafeteria. Free.
•    National Stuttering Project Support Group, 7-9 p.m., Room 1018, Orr-Major.

Tuesday, March 9:
•    Cognitive Therapy Addiction Treatment Group, 1-2:30 p.m., Family Medicine Clinic.
•    "Searching MEDLINE using PubMed”,
    2-4 p.m., G018 Wahl Hall West.
•    Center on Aging Research Seminar, "Regulation of Neurokinin Receptor Expression during Nociception," 4-5 p.m., Clendening Amphitheater.
•    Burn Patient Family Support Group, 6-7 p.m., Burn Center Waiting Room.
•    Heart of America Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 7-9 p.m., Room 1015, Olathe Pavilion.

Wednesday, March 10:
•    Diabetes Self-Management Series, 9-11 a.m., Room 1107, KU Hospital.
•    Biological Science Lecture Series, "Making Decisions: The Brain's Link Between Perception and Action," lunch served at 11:45 a.m., lecture at noon, Rieke Auditorium.
•    Center on Aging Ethical Analysis Seminar, noon-1 p.m., Room G567, KU Hospital.
•    KUMC Interfaith meeting, noon-1 p.m., Room 3041, Wescoe.
•    Anxiety Support Group, 4 p.m., Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic. $10 fee. Call Edward Hunter, MD, at 588-1300 before attending your first meeting.
•    Hepatitis Support Group, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Prairie Room, Delp Cafeteria.

When a package purporting to contain anthrax was opened last week at the Midtown Planned Parenthood office, KU Medical Center was ready to care for any patients or staff potentially exposed to the virus. Within minutes of being notified, KU Emergency Department staff donned safety suits and built a safe area to provide treatment and to prevent others from exposure. The anthrax threat was later determined to be a hoax. Photo by Leslie Champlin.

KU Cancer Center unveils new programs, technologies

In keeping with its pioneering reputation, KU Cancer Center has unveiled new approaches to comprehensive cancer care.
The Cancer Center recently launched its Comprehensive Lung Cancer Program, which reduces the critical time from diagnosis to treatment for patients who have complicated lung cancers that have spread to other parts of the body. With the program, primary care physicians can quickly and directly refer patients with new lung masses and metastatic lung cancers to a multidisciplinary team of physicians and nurses. The team then provides one-stop specialty care by helping the patient decide how to best manage the condition and scheduling any tests. The patient does not need to have a diagnosis to see the team.
Also new at the Cancer Center is the application of high-dose brachytherapy (HDR) to the treatment of cervical and prostate tumors. HDR-which has been shown to be useful in treating tumors of the esophagus and lung-delivers targeted, high doses of radiation to tumors, thereby minimizing the dose to nearby, normal tissue. The Cancer Center is currently the only facility in the Kansas City area to use HDR for cervix and prostate tumors.
KU Cancer Center also now provides a method of quickly determining whether cancer patients are developing bone loss as a side effect of chemotherapy. Patients simply place a foot in a device called the PIXI bone densitometer, which measures the density of the heel bone.
"Until now, evaluating bone density using conventional x-ray systems did not reveal a potential problem until a patient had lost 25-30 percent of bone density," said Colleen Johnson, RNNP, Comprehensive Breast Center Manager. "Now, in just a few seconds, we can identify patients at risk at a much earlier stage."

Classifieds

For Sale
Bemis Waterwick humidifier (2-spd.) w/brand new filter, $15. Call 649-7491 after 6:30 p.m.

Must sell Florida vacation package for 2-4 adults or two adults & up to three kids. Includes many extras like free rental car w/unlimited mileage and bonus mini-vacation to Cancun or the Virgin Islands. $600 OBO. Call 438-9769.

Bedroom set: black lacquer king-size water bed w/lights on headboard, night stand, big dresser w/mirror, black lacquer ceiling fan, best offer. Call 350-7400 after 5 p.m.

Furby, pink and gray, very cute, brand new and in box, $50. Call 782-2791.

Moving sale: sofa, loveseat, dining table w/six chairs, 19" color TV, swirl TV stand, microwave, pots, pans, toys, much more. Call 262-4295.

Compaq computer, Pentium 166, 56 MB RAM, 2.8 GB hard drive, 8x CD-ROM, 56K modem, 14" monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse, Win95 and other software, $1,000. Call 587-8112.

Pentium II 400 with CPU fan, 100 MHz FSB, 128 MB PC 100 SDRAM, 440 BX chipset, 8.4 GB ultra DMA hard drive, 44x CD-ROM, speakers, 8 MB AGP video, sound blaster, AWE 64 sound card, 17" .28 mm monitor, 56K modem, keyboard, mouse, Win98, Quicken 98, MS Office Professional, new, must sell, will be available in two weeks, $1,350 firm. Call 299-8408.

Great starter computer. Pentium 90, 32 MB RAM, CD-ROM, 3.5 floppy, 14.4 fax modem, 14" VGA monitor, keyboard, mouse, Win95, $300 firm. Call 299-8396.

IBM Pentium Aptiva w/updated modem, CD player, children's software, $500. New Sony DVD player, holds up to five discs, $400. New Sony digital camera, almost brand new, $350. Call 649-2920.

Automotive
1988 Ford Mustang, hatchback, 4-cyl., 5-spd., 87K miles, new stereo, like new, must sacrifice at $1,800. Call 816-322-9501.

1995 Honda Civic DX, black, 2-dr., 5-spd., 32K miles, A/C, AM/FM stereo w/CD adapter, $10,200. Call 444-7229.

Housing
For sale: 3BR townhouse, 2.5 baths, basement, carport, enclosed courtyard, w/access to pool and clubhouse, 95th and Overland Parkway area, asking $96,850. Call 888-2543.
For rent: Luxury all equipped 2BR condo in Branson, Mo., close to shows, through March 5, $25/night. Call 246-0572.

Wanted: Housing close to KUMC from mid-May to Aug. 31, 1999, willing to share or sublet apartment, or rent room in house, non-smoking and no pets preferred. For opportunities available, contact <abenson@ascc.carroll.edu>.

Garage Sales
Two-family garage sale, March 6, 8 a.m.-noon, Bassett sofa, swivel rockers, bar stools, infant/children's clothing, toys, games, baby equipment and more, 69th and Nieman in Shawnee.

Studies and Clinical Trials
Infant cognition study
Infants 3 months to 3 years with and without Downs syndrome to participate in research study of early cognitive development and reaching. Session includes recording brainwaves (EEG) and behavior. Lasts about one hour. Contact Jennifer Hill Karrer, 5956.

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 for an antibiotic study. Free physician visits, free antibiotic and $25 per visit for four visits. Call Marilyn at 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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