Author: Chris DeFrancesco

Pearson Named Editor-in-Chief of Nursing Scholarly Journal

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Geraldine Pearson starts as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Jan. 1, 2016. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health Center Photo)
Geraldine Pearson starts as editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Jan. 1, 2016. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health Center Photo)

UConn Health’s Geraldine Pearson will serve as editor-in-chief for the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA) starting next year.

JAPNA is a bi-monthly peer-reviewed publication with an international circulation of nearly 13,000.

“At an exciting time of growth and increased visibility for the journal, it was paramount to secure an editor who could build upon current momentum,” says APNA President Susie Adams. “With her prior experience as an editor as well as her clearly defined vision for developing JAPNA, the Board of Directors feel confident that Dr. Pearson will be successful as editor-in-chief of JAPNA in meeting readership interests across diverse settings and roles while retaining the quality and rigor of the journal.”

Pearson, associate professor of psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine, has been the editor of Perspectives in Psychiatric Nursing since 2008.

“My appointment as the editor-in-chief of JAPNA presents an exciting opportunity to work with an association journal that includes a membership from all ranges of psychiatric nurses involved in practice, education, administration, and research,” Pearson says. “I hope to craft a journal that meets a broad range of member needs while maintaining a professional, evidence-based focus.”

Pearson is an advanced practice registered nurse and has a doctorate in nursing research from the UConn School of Nursing. She serves as chair of the medical school’s admissions committee, as director of UConn Health’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic in West Hartford, and as director of the HomeCare Program for adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system.

“Dr. Pearson adds this achievement to several other accomplishments in her career,” says Dr. David Steffens, UConn Health psychiatry chair. “This is a recognition of her longstanding leadership in the field of academic nursing, and it speaks volumes about the important roles that nursing leaders play at UConn Health.”

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association focuses on the specialty practice of psychiatric-mental health nursing and wellness promotion, prevention of mental health problems, and the care and treatment of those with psychiatric disorders. Its journal publishes clinical and research articles intended to promote psychiatric nursing, shape health care policy for the delivery of mental health services, and improve mental health care for culturally diverse people, families, groups and communities.

National Presence for UConn M.D./Ph.D. Program

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M.D./Ph.D. student Alex Adami shares the American Physician Scientists Association’s Research Residency Program Database at the National M.D./Ph.D. Association Meeting in Keystone, Col. (Carol Pilbeam for UConn Health)
M.D./Ph.D. student Alex Adami shares the American Physician Scientists Association’s Research Residency Program Database at the National M.D./Ph.D. Association Meeting in Keystone, Col. (Carol Pilbeam for UConn Health)

UConn Health’s M.D./Ph.D. Program was well represented this summer at two national meetings to advance physician-scientist training, including a presentation to M.D./Ph.D. program directors and administrators by one of its students.

The National M.D./Ph.D. Association Meeting is for program directors, and students don’t often attend. But Alex Adami, a sixth-year M.D./Ph.D. candidate, was invited to this year’s conference to present the database project he spearheaded – one that quickly got the attention of M.D./Ph.D. programs throughout the country.

M.D./Ph.D. student Alex Adami in the lab (Chris DeFrancesco/UConn Health)
M.D./Ph.D. student Alex Adami in the lab (Chris DeFrancesco/UConn Health)

Adami has long held leadership roles in the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA), the national M.D./Ph.D. Student Association, and has overseen many initiatives within APSA, serving previously as its technology chair and currently as APSA’s president-elect.

One of his APSA initiatives was the development of a database of research-intensive residency programs, those with goals of training future physician-scientists, including graduates of M.D./Ph.D. programs.

“Many residency programs targeting physician-scientists exist, but there was no easy way for a physician-scientist trainee preparing to apply for residency to find them,” Adami says. “With this project, we aim to correct that. Residency is a critical period for physician-scientist trainees, one where many become discouraged and leave the career path. By connecting more trainees to programs designed for them, we hope to reduce those losses and increase the number of physician-scientists who go on to make important advances in understanding human health.”

In addition to his presentation, Adami joined a panel of M.D./Ph.D. program and residency program directors focusing on postgraduate physician-scientist training.

“I am so proud to see our students representing UConn, not just at the national level but on the same stage as directors of M.D./Ph.D. programs and other very senior physician-scientists,” says Dr. Carol Pilbeam, director of the UConn M.D./Ph.D. Program, who was also at the meeting. “It is a testament to Alex’s leadership and accomplishments and to the caliber of student that the UConn M.D./Ph.D. program attracts.”

Further accolades for UConn at the association meeting went to Tracy Dieli, admissions coordinator and M.D./Ph.D. program administrator. Dieli received a plaque from the National M.D./Ph.D. Association recognizing 10 years of dedicated service to the program.

M.D./Ph.D. student Jeremy Grenier in the lab (Chris DeFrancesco/UConn Health)
M.D./Ph.D. student Jeremy Grenier in the lab (Chris DeFrancesco/UConn Health)

As the directors and administrators were wrapping up in Denver, the 30th annual M.D./Ph.D. Student Conference was just beginning. Featuring presentations by internationally-prominent physician-scientists and networking opportunities between students from programs nationwide, the student conference is one of the premier gatherings of M.D./Ph.D. trainees. As part of its mission to train physician scientists, UConn’s M.D./Ph.D. program annually sponsors students to travel to the conference. This year’s representatives were Adami and fifth-year student Jeremy Grenier.

Several sessions of the conference are devoted to research presentations by current M.D./Ph.D. students. Grenier’s work in the Department of Immunology was featured during one of the poster sessions. His project examines the impact of viruses on stroke outcomes. Infection is a leading cause of mortality following stroke. Grenier is pursuing his thesis work in the laboratories of Drs. Kamal Khanna and Louise McCullough.

“I am continually amazed by the scientific achievements of our students,” says Dr. Suzanne Rose, UConn School of Medicine senior associate dean for education. “The accomplishments of students like Alex and Jeremy demonstrate our institution’s ability to foster mentorship, discovery, and excellence.”

Adami was selected to give an oral presentation on his project that explores the relationship between the host microbiota, the microorganisms that dwell on and inside of each of us, and the development of asthma.

“Asthma is becoming more and more common in every region of the world,” Adami says. “The increase in asthma has been linked to overuse of antibiotics, particularly in children, and my research supports this. Our hope is that by understanding how the microbiota interacts with our immune system, we can better treat infections in childhood without promoting the development of asthma later in life.”

Adami is pursuing his thesis work in the immunology laboratory of Dr. Roger Thrall.

Internships at UConn Health Promote Path to Independence

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Kirsten Saraceno is a Project SEARCH intern working in the linen area at UConn Health. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)
Kirsten Saraceno is a Project SEARCH intern working in the linen area at UConn Health. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)

Kirsten Saraceno has been working at UConn Health for the last few months, rotating through assignments in the linen area, materials management, and human resources.

She’s one of two summer interns taking part in a pilot program at UConn Health in partnership with Favarh’s transition program for disabled young adults called Project SEARCH.

“What I like best about being here is the people,” Sarcaeno says. “I’ve learned to master social skills. I think it’s changed me, made me better with interaction and being social.”

The idea is to help those with intellectual disabilities transition from school to into adult life by preparing them for independent employment. UConn Health is one of only a few Project SEARCH host sites in the state.

Favarh, based in Canton, is a chapter of the Arc, a worldwide organization that supports people with disabilities. Favarh has partnered with the Connecticut Departments of Developmental Services and Rehabilitative Services, and UConn Health Human Resources, to bring the program to UConn Health.

Francis Matos (right) is Kirsten Saraceno's mentor in the linen department. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)
Francis Matos (right) is Kirsten Saraceno’s mentor in the linen department. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)

“Our goal is to help individuals achieve their personal best,” says Sandy Finnimore, the Favarh site instructor at UConn Health. “Take Kirsten. She has grown so much. She’s made a lot of strides with communication and overcoming her shyness.”

Based on an international model developed at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital nearly 20 years ago, Project SEARCH is dedicated to building a workforce that includes people with disabilities. The interns gain marketable and transferable employment skills through worksite rotations and hands-on learning. The program teaches job-searching skills, assists with the application process, and provides job coaching. The ultimate goal for each intern is competitive employment.

“Project SEARCH interns are very reliable and bring their best efforts every day, and employees gain a better understanding of working with a diverse workforce that includes people with disabilities,” says UConn Health HR Director of Organization and Staff Development Cindy Couture. “It really brightens your day, seeing the determination and commitment of these students.”

The other UConn Health summer intern, Matt (who agreed to be identified by first name only), has spent time working in materials management, the mail room, and contract services.

“I like meeting new people, working with other people, and treating other people with respect,” he says. “I like the mail room the best. You get to see where all the mail is.”

Finnimore says supervisors had to remind Matt to take his breaks because he didn’t want to stop sorting mail.

“Matt is very shy, but he’s gained a lot of confidence from the program,” Finnimore says. “Our students do well with repetitive tasks, and even complex repetitive tasks. This program gives them a chance to thrive.”

A typical day starts at 8 a.m. with a classroom session in the Munson Road building to go over problem solving, teamwork, decision making, and other skills for independent living and working. They arrive at their worksites by 9:30 for hands-on learning of the core skills of entry-level jobs, with new skills introduced as they master basic tasks. They get a lunch break after about two hours, then return to work until 1:30, when they gather their belongings and return to Munson Road for an afternoon classroom session to reflect on the day, plan for the next, and practice communication skills.

“I’ve seen Kirsten and Matt grow so much during their Project SEARCH experience,” Couture says. “They’ve earned positive reviews from their coworkers and supervisors and have gained core skills needed for an entry-level position in the community.”

Finnimore checks in on them to observe and identify areas that may need coaching. Both she and Couture credit much of the pilot program’s success to the enthusiasm, interest and support of UConn Health host department managers and staff mentors.

“They’ve been very well received,” Finnimore says. “We’re hoping to be able to bring in more interns for the regular school year.”

The first full year of the program starts next month, with several weeks of classroom instruction and skills assessment before the students start their work assignments. Any UConn Health work areas that may be interested in hosting an intern in the fall can reach Couture at ccouture@uchc.edu or 860-679-2035.

As for Sarcaeno, she hopes eventually to work in human resources.

“I see myself in HR, because I think it fits all my skills,” she says. “It can be simple, yet challenging. I can blend in, yet stand out.”

 

UConn Health Welcomes New Providers

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Meet some of the new clinicians who recently have joined UConn Health.

Dr. Mario Perez
 Dr. Mario Perez, a graduate of the UConn School of Medicine Categorical Internal Medicine Residency Program, is back at UConn Health as a member of the clinical faculty. Perez is a pulmonologist who primarily sees patients in the intensive care unit. He completed a pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship at the Yale School of Medicine and concurrently earned his MPH at the Yale School of Public Health. His M.D. is from Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogatá, Colombia. Perez is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease, and critical care medicine. He speaks English and Spanish.

Dr. Ethan Bortniker
 Dr. Ethan Bortniker is a gastroenterologist seeing patients at the UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion and the Colorectal Cancer Prevention Center in Farmington. He recently completed a fellowship in gastroenterology and hepatology at the UConn School of Medicine and a residency in internal medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine, where he also earned his M.D. He is board certified in internal medicine and has clinical and research interest in colon cancer prevention and motility disorders. Bortniker holds the additional title of director of colorectal clinical research.

Dr. Ridhi Bansal
 Dr. Ridhi Bansal is a primary care physician seeing patients at UConn Health in Canton. She is board certified in internal medicine and her clinical interests include women’s health, geriatrics, preventive medicine and endocrinology. Bansal completed an internal medicine residency at Danbury Hospital (affiliated with the Yale School of Medicine) and is a graduate of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in India. She speaks English, Hindi and Punjabi.

Dr. Tilahun Gemtessa
 Dr. Tilahun Gemtessa is an infectious diseases physician who is working primarily with Correctional Managed Health. He also sees patients in the ID practice in the UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion. His areas of clinical interest include HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and international health. He is a graduate of the UConn School of Medicine Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, and did his residency training in internal medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx and Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C. His M.D. is from Jimma University in Ethiopia. Gemtessa is board certified in internal medicine.

Lindsay Osborne, APRN
 Lindsay Osborne is an APRN who sees patients in UConn Health’s family medicine practice in Plainville. She holds a master’s in nursing from the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford and a bachelor’s in nursing from Simmons College in Boston.

 (First photo by Peter Morenus, the rest by Janine Gelineau)

Late-summer Art Exhibits at UConn Health

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From "Garden Gems" by Edith Skiba LaMonica, at UConn Health July 30-Oct. 1
From “Garden Gems” by Edith Skiba LaMonica, at UConn Health July 30-Oct. 1

Three art exhibits are adorning the walls of UConn Health in the late summer.

The first, “Garden Gems” by Edith Skiba LaMonica, is already here, and runs through Oct. 1 in the exhibition cases in the hospital lobby and mezzanine (near the escalator).

LaMonica’s work has been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New Britain Museum of American Art Bulletin. She has lectured and taught studio art in New York and New Jersey, and is a member of the UConn Health Art Advisory Committee and the Canton Artist’s Guild. “Garden Gems” is a tribute to the influence of Monet, fusing impressionist color and light.

Two other exhibits go up Aug. 27 in the Celeste LeWitt Gallery (in the Food Court).

From "The Numinous World" by Tom Morganti
From “The Numinous World” by Tom Morganti, at UConn Health Aug. 27-Dec. 7, 2015

“The Numinous World” by Tom Morganti and “Of Water, Clouds and Light” by Carmine L. Angeloni will be here through Dec. 7.

Morganti is a practicing veterinarian in Avon and a self-taught artist who works primarily in acrylic and oil. His work explores the convergence of nature and religion and their interaction with the world.

Angeloni’s is a photography exhibit of landscapes and seascapes. He’s an amateur photographer who lives in Belchertown, Mass. Angeloni likes to capture images of nature in the Pioneer Valley, New England coast, and Long Island Sound.

The UConn Health Art Advisory Committee invites viewings from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

From "Of Water, Clouds and Light" by Carmine L. Angeloni
From “Of Water, Clouds and Light” by Carmine L. Angeloni, at UConn Health Aug. 27-Dec. 7

UConn Health’s collection of fine art serves to enhance the environment and promote the sense of a caring community for patients, visitors, staff and students. Art is selected, acquired and exhibited by the UConn Health Art Advisory Committee. To view a selection of the permanent collection visit: http://art.uchc.edu

White Coat Ceremonies Welcome UConn Medical and Dental Students

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  • 2015 UConn School of Dental Medicine White Coat Ceremony.

The Classes of 2019 from the UConn School of Medicine and UConn School of Dental Medicine have received their student white coats, the symbolic start to their academic careers at UConn Health.

Dr. MacNeil
Dr. MacNeil, dean of the UConn School of Dental Medicine, addresses the incoming dental class at the 2015 White Coat Ceremony. (Blagoje Filipovic/UConn Health Photo)

Joined by family members Friday, 98 medical and 42 dental students took part in the traditional White Coat Ceremonies that are the culmination of student orientation for the new classes.

“The white coat has become health care’s symbol of compassionate and scientific patient care,” says Dr. Michael Goupil, associate dean for students at the UConn School of Dental Medicine. “The White Coat Ceremony represents the faith and trust the faculty has for the entering students to carry out their responsibilities for the welfare of their patients.”

The students represent the 47th entering classes for both schools.

“I’m really excited about today,” says medical student Pooja Patel. “Everyone I’ve met is incredibly nice and helpful. I’m just excited to start classes and get to know everyone better.”

Pooja Patel
Incoming medical student, Pooja Patel, signs the UConn Medical School Honor Code after receiving her white coat on Friday, August 14, at the 2015 White Coat Ceremony. (Kristin Wallace/UConn Health Photo)

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which supports efforts to foster humanism in medicine, provides support for the UConn School of Medicine’s White Coat Ceremony.

“I feel honored, because I’m a first-generation college student,” says dental student Richard Jimenez. “This represents, so far, one of my greatest accomplishments. Ten years ago I would never have seen myself here today.”

Jimenez comes from the Pacific Northwest and had never been to the Northeast before coming to UConn to study dental medicine.

As is tradition, after receiving their white coats, the new dental students recited the Dentist’s Pledge, and the medical students recited the Hippocratic Oath.

Class of 2019 Dental School Profile

  • 42 students (55% women)
  • Average age: 24
  • 55% Connecticut residents, 21% other New England residents
  • 25 undergraduate school programs represented – 21% UConn, 7% other Connecticut schools
  • 17% are underrepresented minorities
  • 71% majored in science as undergraduates

Class of 2019 Medical School Profile

  • 98 students – includes seven M.D./Ph.D. candidates (56% women)
  • Average age: 23
  • 87% Connecticut residents
  • 45 undergraduate school programs represented – 35% UConn; 9% other Connecticut schools
  • 18% are underrepresented minorities
  • 88% majored in science and/or health-related topics as undergraduates

 

 

 

UConn Health September 2015 Programs, Events

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SEP-2015Here is a list of UConn Health programs scheduled for September and early October 2015. This information will be updated with any additions or other schedule changes. (Updated 9/9)

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Sciences 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, Sept. 5, 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 safo-agyeman@uchc.edu for more information.

Free Hospital Maternity Tours
Saturday, Sept. 5, 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.

Nutrition for a Healthy Heart
Thursday, Sept. 10, 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. Registration fee is $30. Call 800-535-6232 to register or for more information.

New 6-week “Ready to Lose” Weight Management Program Starts
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 5 to 6 p.m., UConn Health Outpatient Pavilion, 2nd floor east
The introductory session is followed by five weekly sessions through Tuesday, Oct. 20, that include a weigh-in, discussion of progress, and a timely nutrition topic such as eating out strategies, cooking light and right, emotional eating, exercise and activity, smart shopping, and summer holiday eating. Registration fee is $70, $50 for past participants. Call 800-535-6232 for more information.

Free Workshop: “Clean Eating and Whole Foods”
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m., UConn Health, Keller Auditorium
Physician assistant Bradley Biskup from UConn Health’s Lifestyle Medicine Program explains how whole foods are good for your health, why to avoid processed foods, and how to incorporate “clean eating” into your diet. Call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-7692 to register or for more information.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, Sept. 17, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Sciences 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, Sept. 17, 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.

Childbirth Preparation Class
Saturday, Sept. 19, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., UConn Health, Onyiuke Dining Room
This one-day class covers anatomy and physiology of pregnancy and labor, emotions of pregnancy, nutrition, fetal growth and development, comfort measures for labor, working with unexpected events in labor, cesarean delivery, and practice of relaxation and breathing techniques for labor. Class size is limited to eight couples. Remember to bring two pillows and wear comfortable clothing. Light snack is provided. Fee is $100. Call 800-535-6232 or 860-679-7692 to register or for more information.

(Added 9/9)
18th Annual South Park 5K Road Race and Fitness Walk
Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m., UConn Health
The students who help run the outreach clinics at the South Park Inn Shelter in Hartford invite the community to join them for their biggest annual fundraising effort. Registration fee is $15 in advance or $20 on race day. On-site registration starts at 8 a.m., race starts at 10 a.m., with music and refreshments provided. Free skin cancer screenings also will be available from 9 a.m. to noon. See http://bit.ly/15sp5k to register in advance or for more information.

Celiac Disease Nutrition Class
Monday, Sept. 21, 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, Sept. 21, 1 to 3 p.m., UConn Health, Outpatient Pavilion, 4th floor
“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 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.

Stroke Survivor Group
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 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.

(Added 8/26)
Free Hospital Maternity Tours
Saturday, Sept. 26, 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.

Free Workshop: “Things to Consider Before Joining a Research Study”
Monday, Sept. 28, 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.

Free Discovery Series: Recognizing a Cancer Symptom
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 7 to 9 p.m., UConn Health, Keller Auditorium
Dr. Peter Deckers, Dean Emeritus of the UConn School of Medicine and retired executive vice president for health affairs at UConn Health, is joined by a panel of cancer survivors, including former UConn men’s basketball coach Donald “Dee” Rowe, who will share their stories during a program designed to help you spot the first warning signs of cancer. Register online, for free, at http://discoveryseries.uchc.edu or call 800-535-6232.

Free IVF Information Session
Thursday, Oct. 1, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Sciences 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, Oct. 3, 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 safo-agyeman@uchc.edu for more information.

Nutrition for a Healthy Heart
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 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 usually 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, Oct. 15, 6 to 8:30 p.m., Cell and Genome Sciences 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.

 

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

CME Accreditation a First for UConn School of Medicine

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For the first time, the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education has awarded the UConn School of Medicine accreditation with commendation.

The distinction puts UConn’s medical school in a select group, as only 35 percent of American CME organizations have commendation status. It’s the ACCME’s highest level of accreditation.

“This reflects our state-of-the-art educational programming with educational and compliance rigor from our CME office,” says Dr. Suzi Rose, senior associate dean for education. “We are committed to excellence in education across the continuum of medical education and to fostering a culture of high quality educational offerings that promote lifelong learning, active learning and innovative educational pedagogies and programming.”

The ACCME oversees all continuing medical education for physicians and nurse practitioners for the entire country. There are an estimated 2,000 ACCME-accredited entities, academic and non-academic, that are credentialed by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education.

Dr. Leighton Huey, Christine McNally, Amy King and Barbara Caron led the UConn Health CME office in preparation for the ACCME’s site visit, including a review of all programs approved for granting accredited CME credit as part on an intensive self-study.

“The main issues involved in the review were having the Office of Community and Continuing Medical Education assure that each department or division or course where continuing medical education is involved based its educational offerings on the educational needs of its learners, and that the educational programs are free from commercial bias,” says Huey, professor of psychiatry and associate dean for community and continuing medical education.

The accreditation with commendation from the ACCME is good through July 2021.

CME accredit certificate
The UConn School of Medicine earns a six-year accreditation with commendation for the first time.

UConn Med Students Complete Milestone Cross-country Bike Trek

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The 2015 Coast to Coast for a Cure riders at the beach in Madison, Connecticut
The 2015 Coast to Coast for a Cure is complete upon arrival to the Connecticut shoreline in Madison. (Photos from coast2coastforacure.wordpress.com)

In what has become an annual tradition at the UConn School of Medicine, a few rising second-year students spend their last free summer bicycling across the country.

Every summer the group changes, but the mission stays the same. They ride to honor the dying wish of Lea Economos, who was only 28 when she lost her 10-year battle with leukemia.

The riders make their approach for their UConn Health homecoming. (Photo from coast2coastforacure.wordpress.com)
The riders make their approach for their UConn Health homecoming. (Photo from coast2coastforacure.wordpress.com)

Last week, when Erin Gombos, Carolyn Tusa, David Lam, Tom Presti and Alex Blanchette reached UConn Health after 3,700 miles over 53 days, then continued on to the shore in Madison, it marked the 10th successful completion of Coast to Coast for a Cure.

“Although we were the people doing the pedaling, there were so many people that made this trip possible,” Blanchette says. “We would like to thank everyone that we met on the trip, everyone that offered us food, gave us shelter, showed us kindness; everyone that listened to our story and everyone that shared their story with us.”

Economos’s family created Lea’s Foundation for Leukemia Research to carry out her wish – that others could be spared the hardship she faced. The 2015 Coast to Coast for a Cure, like the nine previous rides, raised money exclusively for Lea’s Foundation.

The Hartford nonprofit has been a philanthropic supporter of UConn Health, most notably with a $1.25 million pledge that led to the creation of the Lea’s Foundation Center for Hematologic Disorders within the Carolle and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health.

From foreground: Erin Gombos, Alex Blanchette, David Lam, Tom Presti and Carolyn Tusa enjoy a stop at Niagra Falls July 27. (Photo from coast2coastforacure.wordpress.com)
From foreground: Erin Gombos, Alex Blanchette, David Lam, Tom Presti and Carolyn Tusa enjoy a stop at Niagra Falls July 27. (Photo from coast2coastforacure.wordpress.com)

“America always seemed infinitely large,” Gombos says. “When the trip started, it was about taking things one day at a time and finding joy in small things. For example, I became breathless by some of the views. Seeking help from team members who were going through the same things as me also helped. As the trip went on, America became a finite and even more beautiful place. The trip left me even more impressed with our country.”

This year’s ride started in Seattle, unlike previous years, which started on the shore of San Francisco Bay, in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 2015 team followed a path that kept them in the northern states, through Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, past the Great Lakes into Michigan and into Canada for a few days. They re-entered the United States near Niagra Falls and continued through New York State and into Massachusetts before reaching Connecticut.

The riders provided a near-daily account of their trip on a blog, complete with photos: coast2coastforacure.wordpress.com.

“When we crossed the border into Connecticut, the welcome sign had a wonderful poster attached to it with a congratulations to our team,” Presti wrote in the blog on the second-to-last day. “This really made it real that we were finally home.”

From left: Erin Gombos, Alex Blanchette, David Lam, Tom Presti and Carolyn Tusa find a sign welcoming them to Conneticut July 31. (Photo from coast2coastforacure.wordpress.com)
From left: Erin Gombos, Alex Blanchette, David Lam, Tom Presti and Carolyn Tusa find a sign welcoming them to Conneticut July 31. (Photo from coast2coastforacure.wordpress.com)

An injury forced a sixth student, Alex Tansey, to withdraw a few days into the trip.

Also unlike previous years, the traditional last leg of the trip, from Farmington to the Connecticut coast, was completed the same day as the UConn Health homecoming, Saturday, Aug. 1.

“Lea’s Foundation would like to extend their congratulations to the five UConn medical students who completed the 2015 Coast to Coast bike ride,” says Jaime Trajcevski, a member of the foundation’s board of directors. “They raised over $30,000 and the foundation couldn’t be prouder of all their efforts! Job well done!”

Coast to Coast for a Cure has raised more than $275,000 for Lea’s Foundation since it started in 2006.

“I am so honored to have been able to participate in Coast to Coast and I hope to translate the lessons learned into my career as a future physician,” Gombos says. “Riding across the country had been a dream of mine. What a cool and unique experience!”

Even though the pedaling has stopped, it’s not too late to make a pledge. Those who wish to support the 2015 Coast to Coast for a Cure can do so through leasfoundation.org,

250 Graduate From UConn Health Summer Enrichment Programs

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Adobor Zakir
The Aetna Foundation, which provided an additional grant to expand the Health Disparities Clinical Summer Research Fellowship Program at UConn Health, makes it possible for undergraduates like Hamza Zakir (left) and Akorfa Adobor to get a head start on their pursuit of careers in health care. (Photo by Mukhtar Suleiman)

Nearly 250 students graduated from summer enrichment programs offered by the Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative (HPPI) at UConn Health last week.

The students, ranging in age from adolescent to young adult, took part in offerings designed to introduce them to, engage them in, and prepare them for the scholastic track needed to pursue careers in medicine, dentistry, research, nursing, pharmacy, and other health fields. The program seeks to create an educational pipeline for students from populations that historically are underrepresented in these disciplines.

“I learned that knowledge of both medicine and culture are intertwined in providing the best care, and that there is no substitute for empathy,” says Hamza Zakir, a UConn undergraduate who took part in the Health Disparities Clinical Summer Research Fellowship Program. “But most importantly, the program helped motivate me from within. It helped me really believe that I can make the difference. For that I can’t be more thankful.”

Hall
Alexxus Hall, a University of Saint Joseph junior, says the Health Disparities Clinical Summer Research Fellowship Program “has allowed me to meet so many great people and make so many different connections. I am very happy and pleased that I spent the summer participating in such a wonderful program that I know will benefit me in the future.” (Photo provided by Alexxus Hall)

Zakir worked with Akorfa Adobor, a junior at Quinnipiac University, this summer, producing the poster presentation “Engaging Patients in the On-Site Training and Assessment of MyCare Patient Portal: Internal Medicine.”

Adobor says her experience “exposed me to the realities of modern health care, as well as the complexity of medicine. The scientific part, although largely emphasized, is only part of the picture. A good physician must be a humanitarian and an excellent communicator. Medicine is an art form that I hope to someday practice.”

The Aetna Foundation, a longtime supporter of the Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) at UConn Health, recently awarded an additional $80,000 to expand the Health Disparities Clinical Summer Research Fellowship Program.

Another health disparities fellow, Rebecca Zapf-Pedraza, says shadowing physicians showed her income is no barrier to being able to deliver top-quality care to all patients.

“I learned ways in which physicians impact the lives of their patients outside of the office, such as prescribing vegetables and food coupons as well as making sure DCF is properly caring for the children it protects, and am now even more driven to pursue an M.D./Ph.D.,” says Zapf-Pedraza, who plans to graduate from Central Connecticut State University in December with a biology degree.

That was one of 10 summer enrichment programs that concluded Friday:

  • Great Explorations (27 middle school students)
  • Jumpstart 9 (36 incoming high school students)
  • Jumpstart 10 (31 rising high school sophomores)
  • Junior Doctors Academy (22 rising high school juniors)
  • Senior Doctors Academy (10 rising high school seniors)
  • High School Student Research Apprentice Program (10 high school students)
  • Bridge/Pre-college Academic Enrichment Program (28 incoming undergrads)
  • College Enrichment Program (2 undergraduates)
  • Medical/Dental Preparatory Programs (48 undergraduates)
  • Summer Research Fellowship Program (14 undergraduates)
  • Health Disparities Clinical Summer Research Fellowship Program (19 undergraduates)

The Summer Research Fellowship Program is what enabled Oluwatoyin Akinnusotu, a UConn undergraduate going into his senior year, to spend this summer working in the neuropeptide laboratory of professors Elizabeth Eipper and Richard Mains.

Akinnusotu
Oluwatoyin Akinnusoto describes the research he did as part of the Summer Research Fellowship Program. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)

“I was able to create a hypothesis, test it out with data, and see what my conclusion was,” Akinnusotu says. “I really liked the problem-solving aspect of the entire process in my research. And it’s helped me build my resume and my application. Research is a very important aspect of the medical school application. [This fellowship] also helped me form connections here at UConn Health.”

The first-generation American, son of Nigerian parents, aspires to be a neurosurgeon, and is considering UConn for medical school.

“This type of research exposure is so crucial to our mission,” says Dr. Marja Hurley, associate dean for Health Career Opportunity Programs and Aetna HPPI founding director. “We are grateful to the Aetna Foundation and all our funding sources for their continued support.”

Other funding sources include:

  • Connecticut Collegiate Awareness and Preparation Program, Office of Higher Education
  • Connecticut State Legislative Fund
  • The Hartford
  • William and Alice Mortensen Foundation
  • John and Valerie Rowe Health Professions Scholars Program
  • UConn Foundation, Friends of the Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs
  • UConn Health

Hurley says the Health Career Opportunity Programs have sent more than 400 participants to medical school, dental school, graduate school, or other health professional schools.

Monney
Frank Monney, a senior at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, shares his findings from the Summer Research Fellowship Program with Dr. Marja Hurley. “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, but I didn’t believe in myself enough to do that. But as soon as I came here I then decided I was going to do what really, really want to do, which is be a physician. This program gave me some amazing clinical exposure, and some amazing time in research,” Monney says. (Janine Gelineau/UConn Health)