Month: May 2015

UConn Med Students Cycling for 10th Coast to Coast for a Cure

Posted on May 27, 2015August 4, 2015 by Chris DeFrancesco

From left: Alex Tansey, Alex Blanchette, Carolyn Tusa, David Lam, Erin Gambos, and Thomas Presti make up 10th Coast to Coast for a Cure cycling team. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health Photo)

A cross-country bicycle tour to raise money for leukemia research that turned into an annual tradition for rising second-year students at the UConn School of Medicine is now in its 10th year.

Coast to Coast for a Cure started in 2006 with a summer dream to ride across the country and grew into a heartwarming dedication to help a cause. Then-first-year medical students Jeremiah Tracy and Benjamin Ristau teamed up with the Hartford nonprofit Lea’s Foundation for Leukemia Research. Their journey aimed to raise $50,000 for leukemia and lymphoma research in honor of Tracy’s mother, Elizabeth Herman Tracy, who was diagnosed with chronic lymphomacytic leukemia and later passed away from secondary illnesses caused by the treatments. Throughout the years, Coast to Coast for a Cure has raised more than $250,000.

This year, six UConn medical students are riding nearly 3,800 miles, starting in Seattle June 9 and ending on the shores of Connecticut, helping to raise another $50,000 as well as awareness.

Alex Blanchette	Erin Gombos	David Lam
Thomas Presti	Alex Tansey	Carolyn Tusa

Throughout the trip, the riders will post updates and photos on their blog, coast2coastforacure.wordpress.com.

Proceeds from the 10th annual Coast to Coast for a Cure will aid patients and their families as well as help support clinical trials for leukemia patients. Those wishing to make a pledge can do so at leasfoundation.org,

Lea’s Foundation for Leukemia Research was formed in 1998 to honor the memory of Lea Michele Economos, who lost her battle with leukemia at age 28 after an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant. Since the inception of Lea’s Foundation, millions of dollars have been raised to help others celebrate life and to raise money for those suffering from leukemia and other blood‐related disorders. Additionally, the Foundation seeks to increase public awareness of these cancers and to provide patients and their families with limited direct financial assistance.

In 2007, the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health dedicated the Lea’s Foundation Center for Hematologic Disorders, made possible by a $1.25 million pledge from Lea’s Foundation.

Jaime Trajcevski contributed to this story.

Cancer Survivors Day 2015

Posted on May 22, 2015April 30, 2018 by Carolyn Pennington

Former head coach for men’s basketball Donald (Dee) Rowe was the featured speaker at the 18th annual UConn Health Cancer Survivors Day held at Farmington Gardens on May 2. More than 170 attendees listened as Rowe described his inspiring cancer journey at UConn Health.

Nancy Baccaro, APRN and coordinator for the Survivorship Program, hosted the event which included a brunch for the survivors, their caregivers and families. Participants enjoyed outdoor games such as bocce, volleyball, and croquet. Indoor activities included yoga, chair massages, creating healing stones, and taking photo booth pictures.

As in years past, many departments throughout UConn Health donated gift baskets for the survivors.

Survivors Day is celebrated in hundreds of communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. According to the National Cancer Institute, there are 13.7 million cancer survivors in the U.S. today.

UConn Health June 2015 Programs, Events

Posted on May 22, 2015April 30, 2018 by Chris DeFrancesco

Here is a list of UConn Health programs scheduled for June and early July 2015. This information will be updated with any additions or other schedule changes. (updated 6/17)

IBS Nutrition Workshop
Monday, June 1, 8 to 9 a.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion
The UConn Health offers a nutrition class for those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. Learn more about the low FODMAP diet as a way to reduce IBS symptoms. This workshop generally meets on the first Monday of the month. Registration fee is $20. Call 860-679-7692 to register or for more information.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, June 4, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Science Building, 400 Farmington Ave.
Specialists with the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services lead an informational session about current treatments for infertility, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each program includes an in-depth explanation of the IVF process, discussion of some of the emotional issues surrounding IVF, and discussion of options for financial planning. Registration is required: 860-679-4580 or www.uconnfertility.com.

Bladder Cancer Support Group
Saturday, June 6, 2 to 3 p.m., UConn Health, Onyiuke Dining Room
Patients, family members and caregivers (not limited to UConn Health patients) are invited to join others whose lives have been touched by bladder cancer. This support group, established in partnership with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, usually meets on the first Saturday of the month and is the only group of its kind in New England. Call 860-679-4410 or email hackett@uchc.edu for more information.

Nutrition for a Healthy Heart
Thursday, June 11, 3 to 5 p.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion
The UConn Health’s Healthy Nutrition program invites you on a journey to a lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol and healthier weight. Registration fee is $30. Call 800-535-6232 to register or for more information.

(removed 6/3, incorrect date)
Bladder Cancer Support Group
Saturday, June 11, 2 to 3 p.m., UConn Health, Onyiuke Dining Room
Patients, family members and caregivers (not limited to UConn Health patients) are invited to join others whose lives have been touched by bladder cancer. This support group, established in partnership with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, usually meets on the first Saturday of the month and is the only group of its kind in New England. Call 860-679-4410 or email hackett@uchc.edu for more information.

Free Hospital Maternity Tours
Saturday, June 13, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., UConn Health, Main Lobby
A representative will guide you through labor and delivery, postpartum, and the nursery at John Dempsey Hospital. Children and grandparents are welcome. Call 800-535-6232 to register or for more information.

Celiac Disease Nutrition Class
Monday, June 15, 8 to 9 a.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion
A registered dietitian leads a discussion for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This program now is scheduled to meet the third Monday of the month. Fee is $20. Call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-7692 to register or for more information.

Free Cosmetology Services for Cancer Survivors
Monday, June 15, 1 to 3 p.m., UConn Health, Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center
“Look Good…Feel Better” is a free program to help improve the self-image and self-esteem of women experiencing appearance-related side effects from cancer treatment. During this hands-on workshop, a trained volunteer certified cosmetologist will offer self-help instruction and education on hairstyling and coping with hair loss, skin care, makeup and nail care. Wigs, turbans and scarves will also be discussed. Classes are offered monthly, generally on the third Tuesday, and are not limited to UConn Health patients. Registration is required: call 800-227-2345 with your name, program date, phone number, and skin color. Kits are available in Light, Medium, Dark and Extra Dark.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, June 18, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Science Building, 400 Farmington Ave.
Specialists with the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services lead an informational session about current treatments for infertility, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each program includes an in-depth explanation of the IVF process, discussion of some of the emotional issues surrounding IVF, and discussion of options for financial planning. Registration is required: 860-679-4580 or www.uconnfertility.com.

Infertility Peer Support Group
Thursday, June 18, 7 p.m., Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, 2 Batterson Park Road, Farmington.
The Greater Hartford chapter of RESOLVE, a national nonprofit resource for those facing the challenges of infertility, offers support, information and confidential, informal, peer-led discussions on the third Thursday of the month. To learn more or to check for weather-related cancellation, call 860-523-8337.

New Stroke Survivor Group
Wednesday, June 24, noon to 1 p.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion, 3rd floor
The UConn Health Stroke Center invites stroke survivors, families and caregivers to a monthly group meeting to discuss topics such as prevention, coping methods, support systems, rehabilitation tips, resources, and promoting independence. The Stroke Survivor Group plans to meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Call 860-679-4846 for more information.

Free Workshop: “Things to Consider Before Joining a Research Study”
Monday, June 29, 5 p.m., UConn Health, Onyiuke Dining Room
The UConn Health Human Subjects Protection Office offers an educational session about the rights and responsibilities of participants in research projects on the last Monday of the month. Registration is required: 860-679-8802 or cagganello@uchc.edu.

Nutrition for a Healthy Heart
Wednesday, July 1, 2 to 4 p.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion
The UConn Health’s Healthy Nutrition program invites you on a journey to a lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol and healthier weight. This workshop is offered on the first Wednesday of the month. Registration fee is $30. Call 800-535-6232 to register or for more information.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, July 2, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Science Building, 400 Farmington Ave.
Specialists with the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services lead an informational session about current treatments for infertility, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each program includes an in-depth explanation of the IVF process, discussion of some of the emotional issues surrounding IVF, and discussion of options for financial planning. Registration is required: 860-679-4580 or www.uconnfertility.com.

(contact number changed 6/17)
Bladder Cancer Support Group
Saturday, July 11, 2 to 3 p.m., UConn Health, Onyiuke Dining Room
Patients, family members and caregivers (not limited to UConn Health patients) are invited to join others whose lives have been touched by bladder cancer. This support group, established in partnership with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, is the only group of its kind in New England. Call 860-679-7820 for more information.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, July 16, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Science Building, 400 Farmington Ave.
Specialists with the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services lead an informational session about current treatments for infertility, specifically in vitro fertilization (IVF). Each program includes an in-depth explanation of the IVF process, discussion of some of the emotional issues surrounding IVF, and discussion of options for financial planning. Registration is required: 860-679-4580 or www.uconnfertility.com.

Infertility Peer Support Group
Thursday, July 16, 7 p.m., Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, 2 Batterson Park Road, Farmington.
The Greater Hartford chapter of RESOLVE, a national nonprofit resource for those facing the challenges of infertility, offers support, information and confidential, informal, peer-led discussions on the third Thursday of the month. To learn more or to check for weather-related cancellation, call 860-523-8337.

Directions to UConn Health are available at www.uchc.edu/directions/index.html.

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Allen Meckowski Honored as Husky Hero

Posted on May 22, 2015October 27, 2016 by Chris DeFrancesco

Dr. Andy Agwinobi presents Allen Meckowski with the Husky Hero Award. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)

Allen Meckowski, a clinical coordinator in the UConn Health Department of Dermatology, has been recognized as a Husky Hero.

Meckowski is one of 23 UConn Health employees or volunteers who received a Human Resources PAWS award, which stands for:

Part of a team,
Awesome attitude,
Wonderful work ethic, and
Superior service.

PAWS awards honor those who consistently perform above and beyond the expectations of their job. Four-time PAWS recipients earn the distinction of Husky Hero.

HR’s Pride in People subcommittee presented PAWS awards at a reception Thursday in the Onyiuke Dining Room:

Danielle Andrews, CMHC – Hartford – Medical
Ronald Arnone, Dermatology Clinic
Nancy Baccaro, Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center
Joan Blythe, Procedure Center Unit
Barbara Baron, Medicine 4
Barbara Bowman, Cardiology
Francis Couillard, Information Technology – Network Services
Charlene DeCampos, CMHC – MYI – Medical
Michael Deckers, Volunteer
Patricia Lane, UMG – Internal Medicine – Canton
Meghan Laughlan, Intensive Care Unit
Cindy Letavec, CMHC – Cheshire – Medical
Sean Macrae, CMHC – Osborn – Medical
Joan Montgomery, JDH – Organizational & Staff Development
Robert Ramonas, CMHC – Osborn – Medical
Jessica Reyes, Patient Access
Luann Satherlie, UMG – Administration
Jennifer St. Onge, Dermatology Clinic
Bryan Wasik, Dermatology Clinic
Robert Wilkie, Information Technology – Network Services
Heidi Whiteley, CMHC – MacDougal/Walker – Medical
Sohrab Zahedi, M.D, CMHC – Hartford – Mental Health

AMA Honor for UConn Medical Student

Posted on May 20, 2015April 30, 2018 by Chris DeFrancesco

Harrison Hayward, UConn School of Medicine Class of 2017, is a recipient of the American Medical Association Foundation Excellence in Medical Leadership Award. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)

The American Medical Association Foundation has presented one of its 2015 Excellence in Medicine Leadership Awards to Harrison Hayward, a second-year student at the UConn School of Medicine.

Hayward is one of 10 medical students in the United States to receive the honor, which recognizes “strong, nonclinical leadership skills in advocacy, community service, public health and/or education.”

“I am endlessly grateful to the AMA for extending me this award, and to my family, friends, and medical school for all the support they’ve given me along the way,” Hayward says. “It’s an enormous honor to receive this recognition. I look forward to learning what I can from it and developing the right connections in order to be an even better physician in the future.”

The AMA Foundation recognized Hayward for founding a recreational support group for persons with disabilities and their families in the greater Hartford community, and for establishing himself as local Special Olympics program leader.

The award also acknowledges Hayward’s work abroad last summer. He was part of the Himalayan Health Exchange, a group that provided medical care to villagers in remote southern Himalayan settlements.

“We dealt with all sorts of things: infectious diseases, dermatological conditions, dental work, orthopedics, etc.,” he says. “The expedition really solidified my passion for global health initiatives and has been a potent motivator for my work ever since.”

Hayward also is a board member of the UConn School of Medicine Outreach Clinic at the South Park Inn, which provides free primary care medical services to the transient residents of the South Park Inn Shelter in Hartford.

Hayward is pursuing a career in surgery, and aspires to couple that with his interests in global health and care for the mentally disabled to be come a physician, educator, and leader in global health policy.

This year’s recipients of the AMA Foundation Excellence in Medical Leadership Award also included two residents, two early-career physicians, and one fellow.

Urban Service Track Alumni Excellence Award

Posted on May 13, 2015 by Carolyn Pennington

During the Urban Service Track’s Academic Year Closing Ceremony at UConn Health, six alumni representing distinct health professions were presented with the first annual Urban Service Track Alumni Excellence Award.

The award is presented to graduates “who have made a difference in guiding future health professionals to value interdisciplinary teamwork and serve our neediest communities.”

Award winners include: Kara Anastasiou, APRN; Graham Garber, DMD; Tianna Hill, MSW; Shawnet Jones, MD; Kimberly Tschetter, PA-C; and Danielle Wojtaszek, PharmD.

The Urban Service Track, soon to enter its 10th year, is a program designed to specially educate, train and mentor next-generation health care professionals to work with our state and nation’s urban underserved populations. The Urban Service Track is sponsored by the Connecticut Area Health Education Center Network (CT AHEC) located within the University of Connecticut’s Center for Public Health and Health Policy.

CAM Student Award Winners

Posted on May 12, 2015October 27, 2016 by Carolyn Pennington

The Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling (CCAM) at UConn Health held its an annual award ceremony May 4 for winners of the 67th annual Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair.

CCAM members with students award winners from left, Michael Blinov, John Carson, Shangda Xu from Cheshire High School, Ann Cowan, Archeta Rajagopalan from Choate Rosemary Hall, Sofya Borinskaya, Leslie Loew, and Ion Moraru.

The fair, held at Quinnipiac University in March, is a statewide annual event that features 500 pre-selected scientific projects performed by middle and high school students independently or in research labs. The Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling established a CAM award for the best research in Cell Analysis and Modeling – integrating experimental and computational approaches to analysis of events within a cell.

Several CCAM members were judges at the CSF fair and selected two winners for the CAM award: Shangda Xu from Cheshire High School for the project on “Development of a Prescient Warning Model for Cholera Utilizing an Epdemiological Identification of Risk Factors,” and Archeta Rajagopalan from Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford for the project on “The Effect of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor on Retinoic Acid Differentiated SH-SY5Y Cells: A Model for Striatal-Enriched Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase in Parkinson’s Disease.”

The winners were invited to visit CCAM, presented with certificates and monetary awards, and were given a tour of our state-of-the art building, featuring microscopy and computational facilities. The CCAM Director Boehringer Ingelheim Chair in Cell Sciences Leslie Loew and CAM graduate Program Director Dr. John Carson talked about research opportunities at CCAM, and faculty members Ann Cowan, Michael Blinov, Ion Moraru and a graduate student Sofya Borinskaya led students on a tour through the facility.

Commencement for UConn Health Classes of 2015

Posted on May 11, 2015April 4, 2018 by Chris DeFrancesco

Members of the UConn School of Medicine Class of 2015 cheer during commencement exercises. (John Atashian for UConn Health) Click on the photo above to see the UConn Health commencement photo gallery. — Members of the UConn School of Medicine Class of 2015 cheer during commencement exercises. (John Atashian for UConn Health)

On a day when expressions of gratitude for mentors and loved ones are commonplace, those awaiting their degrees at UConn Health’s commencement were advised to be thankful for someone else.

The suggestion came from Abraham Aron, student commencement speaker for the UConn School of Medicine Class of 2015.

“Every great discovery, every piece of data, every figure and table in a textbook is compilation of the journey of patients that we have never met,” Aron told the crowd at the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts. “The basis of the knowledge that we leave here with today is thanks to their collective experiences and unfortunate suffering. Thanks to their sacrifice, all of us in this room have benefitted.”

Aron, who heads next to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston for a residency in internal medicine, left his 91 fellow graduating medical students and 44 graduates from the UConn School of Dental Medicine with this charge:

“We are the new generation of doctors. Every friend, every family member of a person suffering from an incurable disease now looks to us to find answers. Society has charged us with this sacred responsibility.”

In her commencement address as class speaker for the UConn Health Graduate School, Megan Miller urged the graduates to move forward with purpose and integrity.

“We leave here more prepared for whatever the future holds today than when we started this journey,” said Miller, who defended her thesis earlier this year and is doing postdoctoral work at Yale University.

Her Ph.D. is in biomedical science, with a concentration in neuroscience. Hers was one of 64 degrees conferred by the UConn Health Graduate School. Eight of them received a combined M.D./MPH degree.

Commencement speaker Anne Tanner, world-renowned scholar and researcher in dentistry and microbiology, also offered a forward-looking message:

Dr. Himank Gupa celebrates his graduation from the UConn School of Dental Medicine. (Chris DeFrancesco/UConn Health photo) “Follow your dream, even if it takes you through the rough patches,” Tanner said. “Whatever road you’ve taken here, it ain’t nothing compared to what’s ahead.”

Tanner, who has two oral bacteria named for her, is a senior member of the staff at the Forsyth Institute in Cambridge, Mass., and associate clinical professor of oral medicine, infection and immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. UConn conferred her with an honorary doctor of science.

The people who make up students’ support system still did get their due. Tanner also made a point of saying, “Thank your professors, thank your parents.”

And dental class speaker Christopher Gibson believes it was the people that made his education at UConn Health so special.

“We are tremendously fortunate to be in the position we’re in,” Gibson said. “It would not be possible without the love and support of family, friends, faculty and classmates. I truly hope that we all make a concerted effort to maintain those relationships that we have formed.”

Gibson is on his way to New York City for a pediatric dentistry residency at Columbia University.

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Delta Omega Inductions

Posted on May 8, 2015May 8, 2015 by Carolyn Pennington

The Beta Rho chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health at the University of Connecticut is pleased to announce this year’s inductees. Each year, Delta Omega elects new student, faculty, alumni and honorary members based on high academic standards and outstanding performance in scholarship, teaching, research and community service. Election of membership in Delta Omega is intended to not only recognize merit, but also to encourage and further excellence in and devotion to public health work.

Founded in 1924, Delta Omega is a national honor society existing to encourage research and scholarship among graduate students of public health and to recognize attainment and achievement in the field of public health. With over 80 active chapters worldwide, Delta Omega and its members are dedicated to ensuring the quality of the field of public health and to the protection and advancement of the health of all people.

This year’s Beta Rho inductees are:

Students
Anita Chandrasekaran, MD, MPH (Cand.)
Christopher Steele, MD, MPH (Cand.)
Ran Zhao, MD, MPH (Cand.)

Faculty
Stephen Schensul, PhD

Graduate Program in Public Health Alumni
Cyndi Billian Stern, MPH (2005)
Kathryn Johnson, MD, MPH (1990)
Jeffrey Shaw, MPH (2012)

Congratulations to these new members who were inducted on May 5th during the Graduate Program in Public Health Commencement Dinner.

OVPR Faculty Spotlight

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Carolyn Pennington

Announcement by the Office of the Vice President for Research:

Two UConn faculty members have developed research tools that the University recently licensed to EMD Millipore, a global Life Sciences tools and reagents supplier, announced the Office of the Vice President for Research.

Dr. Linda Shapiro, director of the Center for Vascular Biology and associate professor of cell biology at UConn Health, developed a monoclonal antibody that will be of value as a research reagent in the study of inflammation in response to injury. Her antibody, anti-Aminopeptidase N/CD13 Antibody, went through extensive in-house validation by EMD Millipore prior to antibody reagent going to market.

Dr. Angel L. de Blas, professor of physiology and neurobiology, developed two antibodies that have also been tested and launched as products by EMD Millipore. Dr. de Blas developed Anti-BIG2 Antibody, which can be used in Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and immunoprecipitation to study cellular trafficking of membrane proteins, and he also developed Anti-Septin 11 Antibody, which can be used in Western blotting and immunohistochemistry to study the organization of the cytoskeleton in various cell types and dendritic branching in neurons.

While research tools may not command the same acclaim as blockbuster drugs, they can enable groundbreaking discoveries. These types of research accomplishments make very important contributions to scientific breakthroughs.

The work of Drs. Shapiro and de Blas brings recognition to the University, and offers the potential to benefit researchers at universities, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies worldwide.