The July 8 "You Make a Difference" picnic at the Health Science Center honored the faculty and staff members who give their time back to the community through volunteerism. Employees Ruben Alvarado, Dickie Day and Jo Ann Lieberman were among those singled out for their volunteer efforts.
Ruben Alvarado, general services, has been working with youth sports since 1988, coaching youngsters in a variety of activities, including football and basketball. Alvarado said he volunteers his time because he is able to "pass on the knowledge and experience" he has gained to the children.
"One of the greatest feelings I get is when one of the kids comes up to me and tells me how well he is are doing in the classroom and in sports," Alvarado said. "I like to think I am encouraging discipline and respect."Dickie Day, restorative dentistry, has volunteered her time to disaster victims for 16 years with the American Red Cross San Antonio Chapter. Day takes in victims at the local shelters, teaches disaster services courses, conducts training in first-aid and CPR and volunteers at first-aid stations during local events. She also has served as a disaster assessment coordinator and shelter manager.
Jo Ann Lieberman, pediatrics, devotes her time to children as a lifetime member of the Girl Scouts of America, training troop leaders and organizing program events. Lieberman has been an active member for 39 years, promoting the young women's organization by serving as a troop leader and camp counselor.
The annual picnic event also highlighted the contributions made each day by the many staff and faculty members at the Health Science Center with a thank-you lunch with tacos, pizza, fajitas and a visit from the San Antonio Spurs basketball team mascot, the Coyote.
The Health Science Center Special Events Council would like to thank the following people for their volunteer efforts during the July 8 "You Make a Difference" picnic. These volunteers helped with everything from cooking to decorating the courtyard. The Special Events Council also would like to thank the ARAMARK company for preparing some of the food for the picnic.
Thank you to the following staff members:
Marilyn Acre, Office of the Medical School Dean;
Linda Aguirre, Medicine;
Mary Jane Almanza, Dental
Outpatient Clinic;
Mayra A. Almeda, Accounting;
Ruben Alvarado, General Services;
Belinda Ayala,
Computing Resources;
Diana Balderas, Community Dentistry;
Jonna Belzung, Accounting;
Cheri Boubel,
Accounting;
Bob Brown, Accounting;
Kim Carey,
Teleconference Network of Texas;
Joyce Cawlfield,
Accounting;
Janet Cook, Teleconference Network of Texas;
Chris Craig, University Relations;
Jennifer
Phillips-Cude, Accounting;
Alma Degley, Dental
Outpatient Clinic;
Carolyn Doyon, Accounting;
Margaret
Drake, Institutional Management Support;
Jeff Dyer,
Computing Resources;
Rebecca Esquivel, Dental Outpatient
Clinic;
Pam Feagin, Medicine;
Heather Feldman,
Public Affairs;
Tony Ferrara, Vice President for
Administration and Business Affairs;
Ralph Flanigan, Student
Services;
Kimmy Frischmuth, Surgery;
Mike Galan,
Telecommunications and Networking;
Jesse Galindo, Student
Services;
Andrea Garcia, Computing Resources;
Elizabeth
Garza, Dental Outpatient Clinic;
Elizabeth Garza,
Accounting;
Hank Gath, Bookstore;
Gretchen Goff,
Pediatric Dentistry;
Michael Gomez, Research Imaging Center;
Noemi Gonzales, Dental Outpatient Clinic;
Vicky
Gonzalez, Accounting;
Dr. Deborah Greene, Vice President
for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning;
Dora Guerrero,
Accounting;
Carol Heston, University Relations;
Judy
Hopper, Accounting;
Keith Jarzombek, General Services;
Hilda Johnson, Psychiatry;
Celia Kells, Accounting;
Patti Lairsey, Obstetrics and Gynecology;
Sergio Leal, Research Imaging Center;
Eva Loh,
Pharmacology;
Brenda Lopez, Student Services;
Tammy
Lotas, Accounting;
Anna Martinez, Accounting;
Nanette McKinney, Accounting;
Oralia Mendez, Computing Resources;
Stephanie
Mendez, Surgery;
Christy Merritt, Student Services;
Yolanda Montes, Accounting;
Donna Moore, Student
Services;
Vina Nall, Dental Outpatient Clinic;
Joy
Nance, Telecommunications and Networking;
Stella Olveda,
Dental Outpatient Clinic;
Bruce Paper, Office of the Nursing
School Dean;
Kim Perez, Computing Resources;
Rosa
Ramirez, Student Services;
Danny Ramos, Student
Services;
Christy Reagan, Computing Resources;
Ed
Rebello, Telecommunications and Networking;
Virginia
Riojas, Accounting;
Angela Robinson, Biochemistry;
Bertha Rodriguez,Computing Resources;
Cindy
Rodriguez, Teleconference Network of Texas;
Rachel
Rodriguez, Dental Outpatient Clinic;
Barbara Rowe,
Research Imaging Center;
Julie Saenz, Instrumentation
Services;
Will Sansom, Public Affairs;
Lisa Serna,
Student Services;
Janice Smith, Office of the Graduate School
Dean;
Alice Soele, Telecommunications and Networking;
Chris Sosa, Research Imaging Center;
Jennie Spain,
Accounting;
Nilda Tamames, Public Affairs;
Bea Trevino, Dental Outpatient Clinic;
Anna
Uriegas, Biochemistry;
Carol Van Natta, University
Relations;
Bianca Vera, Dental Outpatient Clinic;
Sandra
Villarreal, Pathology;
Steve Wilkerson, Instrumentation
Services;
Stella Wise, Surgery;
Jerry York, Vice
President and Chief Information Officer;
Irma Young,
Teleconference Network of Texas;
Teresa Zepeda,
Accounting;
Amy Zingery, Surgery.
Marcia Youker Skott-Myher was a pre-med student in 1970, but put her plans on hold to become a physician when she and her husband found out she was expecting their first child.
During the years that followed, Skott-Myher raised three daughters and two stepchildren, received both a bachelor's and a master's degree, worked as a stockbroker, assisted abused women and the homeless and founded her own documentary film company. Only now, after watching her daughter, Summer Youker, and both her sons-in-law graduate from the Health Science Center Medical School, Skott-Myher is finally trying on her own white coat.
Last week at the Health Science Center's White Coat Ceremony, 200 incoming Medical School students shared the stage with Skott-Myher as they symbolically donned their new white coats to begin training as physicians.
It has been a long journey to the White Coat Ceremony for Skott-Myher. Convinced that a woman over 30 years old would not be accepted into medical school, she pursued other interests until a 1998 holiday with family members brought the idea back into focus.
"I was trying to decide what to get my Ph.D. in and where to apply," Skott-Myher said. "It was at that time that my family suggested that I consider medical school again. They said times had changed and that they now accepted non-traditional students."
Keeping up the family tradition of attending the Medical School at the Health Science Center, Skott-Myher plans to specialize in family practice when she has finished her training.
"There are no words to describe the elation I felt when I received my acceptance letter from the Health Science Center," Skott-Myher said. "Years of frustration melted away. The entire family had one big cry. I could not have made it without the love and support of my family."
"Palliative Medicine: New Advances in Pain and Symptom Management" will be offered this month by the Health Science Center's South Texas Geriatric Education Center (STGEC) and the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.
This conference on aging is set for 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 23, at the Omni San Antonio Hotel, 9821 Colonnade Blvd. The course is geared toward primary care physicians, oncologists, palliative and hospice care professionals, nurses and other associated health care professionals.
The keynote speaker, medical oncologist Dr. Robert Buckman of the Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre, will discuss "Breaking Bad News and Other Communication Skills."
Other course faculty will discuss patient rights and advance directives, cultural views, psychosocial issues of dying, and pain management in the terminally ill older patient.
Sponsors are the GRECC, the STGEC, the School of Nursing and the Medical School. To register or for information on cost and speaker times, call ext. 3370.
Health care providers, students and the general public are invited to a teleconference program on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This educational activity starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 21. Sites include the Health Science Center and locations in Uvalde and Eagle Pass.
Call ext. 7810 for more details or visit the World Wide Web site.
CFS is characterized by notable fatigue that does not improve with bed rest. Physical and mental activity can cause this condition to worsen.
Registration is free until two days before the conference. Sponsors are the Health Education and Training Centers Alliance of Texas (HETCAT), South Central Region; the
An admissions counselor from Wayland Baptist University will be on campus Friday, July 23, in the Employee Development and Training Office.
Wayland offers degree programs for working adults, who can earn more than 50 college credit hours in the program.
Classes run from Aug. 23 to Nov. 6, from 6:15 to 10:25 p.m.
The following courses are scheduled for the fall 1999 semester at the Health Science Center: Monday, Health Care Law; Tuesday, Administration and Organization of Health Care Facilities; and Wednesday, Theory & Practice of Supervision in Health Care.
Call the training office at ext. 2326 to set up an appointment with the admissions counselor.
Dr. Helen Cronenberger, director of the Health Science Center's Center for Distance Learning and Telehealth, announced the beginning of a monthly seminar series aimed at developing, encouraging and promoting distance learning activities.
The first of this series will be held July 21 at noon in room 444B. Additional sessions will be held on the third Wednesday of the month at noon.
Initially, sessions will showcase a particular distance learning method and will include a demonstration. Following the exhibition, presenters will describe available campus resources and contacts and highlight new developments.
The first session focuses on two-way interactive videoteleconferencing. Faculty presenters include Drs. Lawrence Harkless and Linda McManus. The program also will feature a discussion on the electronic bulletin board.
Faculty members who need information on the U. T. System's TeleCampus may contact Dr. Cronenberger at ext. 3636. For other information or inquiries, contact the main office at ext. 4041.
Impact, a newsletter produced by the Department of University Relations, received an APEX '99 Award of Excellence in the New Newsletters category. Sponsored by Communications Concepts, Inc., APEX '99 is the eleventh annual national awards program.
Impact is a small-format newsletter mailed every other month to an external audience consisting of business leaders, civic leaders, legislators, donors and prospective donors in the South Texas/Border Region. The newsletter is edited by Catherine Duncan.
MONDAY, JULY 19
7:00 a.m.
Orthopaedic Teaching Conf. "Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas" (MED: 309L call ext. 5125)
8:00 a.m.
Medical Housestaff Specialty Conf. "Emergency Series: Acute Renal Failure," Dr. Balakuntalam Kasinath (MED: 409L)
8:00 a.m.
Rehab Medicine Lecture Series "Principles of Amputation Surgery in the Lower & Upper Extremities," Drs. Rhondel McCann & Norman Gall (UH: Reeves Rehab Center 3rd-floor classroom)
TUESDAY, JULY 20
8:00 a.m.
Rehab Medicine Research Conf. "Latex Allergy in Adult Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Investigation," Drs. Eugenio Monasterio & Douglas Barber (UH: Reeves Rehab Center 3rd-floor classroom)
8:00 a.m.
Medical Housestaff Specialty Conf. "Emergency Series: Abdominal Pain," Dr. Stewart (MED: 409L)
Noon
TNT "Hematology: Mitogenic Signals & Cell Cycle Control," Martine Roussel, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis (call ext. 2700 for information)
1:30 p.m.
TNT "Contemporary Topics on Infectious Diseases: MRSA & GISA: An Ongoing Challenge," Dr. Margaret Price, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston (call ext. 2700 for information)
4:00 p.m.
Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Research Conf. "Autonomic Control of Body Fluid Composition: Implications for Heart Failure & Hypertension," Dr. Glenn Toney (MED: 444B)
4:00 p.m.
Seminars in Aging Research "Interactions of Diapause & Senescence in D. Melangaster," Dr. Marc Tatar, Brown University (LEC: 3.078V)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21
7:00 a.m.
Vascular Surgery Grand Rounds, Dr. Mellick Sykes (LEC: 2.042)
8:00 a.m.
Medical Grand Rounds "BMDIntent, Measurement & Interpretation," Dr. Jan Bruder (MED: 409L)
9:00 a.m.
Surgery Trauma M&M Conf., Dr. Ronald Stewart (MED: 309L)
10:00 a.m.
TNT "Respiratory Care: Managed Care in Respiratory Care," Eric Bakow (call ext. 2700 for information)
11:30 a.m.
TNT "Social Work: Assessing Spiritual/Religious Issues for Patients & Families," Rev. George Handzo, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York (call ext. 2700 for information)
1:00 p.m.
Training Office "Processing State & Local Vouchers" (call ext. 2320 for information)
1:30 p.m.
TNT "Nutrition Updates: Patient-Focused Care & Its Implication for Nutrition Practice," Mary Angela Miller, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio (call ext. 2700)
THURSDAY, JULY 22
7:30 a.m.
Thoracic Surgery Resident Teaching Conf. (UH: 5th-floor neonatal ICU classroom)
8:00 a.m.
Neurology Grand Rounds "Acute Stroke Treatment Overview," Dr. Diane Solomon, South Texas Veterans Health Care System (MED: 444B)
4:00 p.m.
Surgery Tumor Conference, Dr. Anatolio Cruz (MED: 209L)
4:30 p.m.
Citywide Thoracic Grand Rounds Conf. "Case Presentation," Dr. A. Joseph Atiya (MED: 309L)
FRIDAY, JULY 23
7:30 a.m.
Pediatric Grand Rounds "Cardiac Emergencies from Newborns to Adolescents," Dr. John Brownlee, Wilford Hall Medical Center (MED: 409L)
8:00 a.m.
Rehab Medicine Research Conf. "Design & Testing of Ergonomic Aide for Loading Canned Drink Machines," Drs. Norman Whisenant & Nicolas Walsh (UH: Reeves Rehab Center 3rd-floor classroom)
8:30 a.m.
Cardiovascular Research Conf. "Non-Adrenergic Mechanism of Vasoconstriction in the Cutaneous Circulation," Dan Stephens (LEC: 3.078V)
Noon
Medical Housestaff Specialty Conf. "Palliative Medicine," Dr. Robert Buckman (MED: 309L)
SATURDAY, JULY 24
9:00 a.m.
General Surgery Grand Rounds, Dr.
Wayne Schwesinger (MED: 409L)