HSC melatonin researcher awarded
third honorary doctorate

Drs. Dario Acuna-Castroviejo, from left, a professor at the University of Granada; Jose Serrano Rios, a professor at the University of Madrid; Russel Reiter; and Fernando Escabar, a professor at the University of Granada, pose following a presentation of honorary doctorates in Granada, Spain. Dr. Reiter received his third honorary doctorate of medicine during the event.

This is the third such honorary degree the renowned melatonin researcher has received during his more-than-35-year career. In 1990 Dr. Reiter was given an honorary doctorate of medicine from the Medical Academy of Lodz in Lodz, Poland. He received a second honorary doctorate in 1992 from the University of La Laguna in La Laguna, Spain.

Dr. Reiter is a world expert on the hormone melatonin and has devoted more than 30 years to researching the brain's pineal gland, which produces a majority of the body's melatonin. He also is investigating the connection between melatonin, an antioxidant that helps rid the body of harmful free radicals, and the aging process. He has authored 10 scientific books on melatonin and the pineal gland and has edited more than 40 others.

A graduate of Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Wake Forest, N.C., Dr. Reiter has been on staff at the Health Science Center since 1971. In 1998 he was the recipient of the inaugural Presidential Distinguished Scholar Award and has been recognized with several citations as an outstanding educator.

Among other honors, Dr. Reiter has been elected the president of several international societies and was awarded the Senior U.S. Distinguished Scientist Prize of the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung, from the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Lizoni Lincee Award from Italy. He also has been recognized with scientific accolades from universities and organizations in Hong Kong, Egypt, Poland, Spain, Finland and Japan, among many others.

Dr. Reiter traveled to Spain to receive his honorary doctorate during a special ceremony there several weeks ago.

"I certainly feel honored that they consider me qualified for these degrees," said Dr. Reiter. "I have been very fortunate because I have had the opportunity to train about 130 postdoctoral fellows from around the world."

November 1999 technology training schedule

Internet technology courses and OVID courses offered by the Briscoe Library are open to the public.

AH -- Allied Health classroom   AB -- Administration Building classroom

Applause

• Two students in the Dental School, Clint Herzog and Grant Hogan, have been elected to national leadership positions with the American Student Dental Association (ASDA). Herzog was elected president and Hogan was picked for the Region 6 Trustee position at the ASDA annual session in Colorado.

Barnett retires

HSC street safety video and CD-ROM
distributed to Texas schools

Both the "Safe Walking With Stanley" video and CD-ROM feature the character Stanley the Stegosaurus, who guides children through songs, movies and interactive games that teach and reinforce safety procedures for how and when children should cross the street.

The video and CD-ROM were recently distributed to every first-grade teacher in Texas. The video won a Bronze award at the Health Sciences Communication Association's annual media competition in June. For more information on the video and CD-ROM, contact the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program at 615-6993.

Computer graphics training offered Nov. 11

The course, presented by Nancy Place, medical illustrator, will focus on using computer graphic digital files for printing, slides and the Web. The class will include basic scanning tips, graphic file formats and the basic principles of using computer graphics.

The class is open to all Health Science Center faculty, staff and students. The cost is $25. To register, send an authorized service request with an account number to Place at the Division of Graphic Services, room 4.476T. Registration will be closed after Nov. 8. For more information, call ext. 2261.

Days of Clearing

Tex-MUG meeting set for Nov. 3

Mike Ciernia of Palm Computing Inc. and Dr. Maurice Rozek, cardiology, will present "Palm Pilot and the Macintosh."

Ciernia will demonstrate several new products, including the Palm IIIe, Palm Vx and the wireless Palm VII. Dr. Rozek and Ciernia also will show the practical uses of a handheld computer with an application developed specifically for the medical community.

All who are interested are welcome to attend.

Gifts for Children volunteers needed

The next organizational meeting will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 2, in room 4.419S. Subsequent meetings will be held at the same time and location Nov. 9 and Nov. 23.

For more information, contact Kim Johnson at ext. 2276.

Calendar for Nov. 1 - 7

Tuesday, November 2
6:30 a.m.
Podiatry Case Conf. (LEC: 2.010)
9:00 a.m.
Training Office "Postal Orientation" (call ext. 2320 to register)
Noon
Medicine Research Conf. "Stem Cell Cycling & Expansion," Dr. Ronald Hoffman, University of Illinois College of Medicine (MED: 209L)
4:00 p.m.
Molecular Medicine Seminar Series "Licensed to Replicate: Analysis of MCM Protein Function in Fission Yeast," Dr. Susan Forsburg, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies (IBT: 3.002)
4:00 p.m.
Cardiovascular Pathobiology Research Conf. "Psychosocial Factors & Disablement in an Aging, Biethnic Cohort: Direct & Interaction Effects," Dr. Helen Hazuda (LEC: 331.5B)

Wednesday, November 3
6:30 a.m.
Podiatry Grand Rounds "Diabetic Foot Infections," Dr. Michel (MED: 309L)
7:00 a.m.
Vascular Surgery Grand Rounds, Dr. Mellick Sykes (MED: 209L)
8:00 a.m.
Medical Grand Rounds "The Continuing Saga of Implanting Artificial Materials in Vessels," Dr. Julio Palmaz (MED: 409L)
8:30 a.m.
Training Office "Working Together" (call ext. 2320 to register)
9:00 a.m.
Surgery Trauma M&M Conf., Dr. Ronald Stewart (MED: 309L)
Noon
Pharmacology Seminar "Regulation of GABAA Receptors by Protein Kinase C Epsilon," Dr. Robert Messing, University of California at San Francisco (MED: 444B)
Noon
Cellular & Structural Biology Seminar Series, Dr. Stanley Korsmeyer, Harvard Medical School (MED: 209L)

Thursday, November 4
7:30 a.m.
Thoracic Surgery Resident Teaching Conf. (VA: 4th-floor CT Library A404)
7:30 a.m.
Obstetrics & Gynecology Grand Rounds "Ethical Dilemmas in Prenatal Diagnosis," Dr. Robert Huff (MED: 309L)
8:00 a.m.
Pain Management Grand Rounds "Celiac Plexus Block," Dr. Fernando Cantu (UH: Reeves Rehab Center 3rd-floor classroom)
Noon
Pulmonary, Thoracic & Oncology Conf. (MED: 309L)
3:30 p.m.
Distinguished Lecture Series "Programmed Cell Death in Development & Disease," Dr. Stanley Korsmeyer, Harvard Medical School (LEC: 3.104A)
4:00 p.m.
Surgery Tumor Conference, Dr. Anatolio Cruz (MED: 209L)

Friday, November 5
7:30 a.m.
Pediatric Grand Rounds "Vagal Nerve Stimulation Treatment for Epilepsy," Drs. Joel Rutman & Patricia Mancuso (MED: 409L)
8:30 a.m.
Continuing Dental Education "Removable Prosthodontics Esthetics, Functions & Phonetics Conforming to Natural Teeth," Dr. Joseph Massad (call ext. 3177 for information)
8:30 a.m.
Training Office "Supervisor Orientation" (call ext. 2320 to register)