Stuff that might interest you

KU School of Medicine-Wichita Office of Research hosted 21^st Annual Research Forum

The 21^st Annual Research Forum, "Disruptive Innovation at the Intersection of Education, Patient Care, and Research," was held on Thursday, April 18. The 196 attendees included students from Wichita Collegiate High School and Wichita State University, physicians from Wesley and Via Christi, and representatives from the Sedgwick County Health Department in addition to KU School of Medicine-Wichita faculty, residents, and medical students.

Plenary speeches and breakout sessions focused on the innovation in education and research in Wichita and how it impacts patient care and health in the region, particularly quality improvement and patient safety.

Guest speakers included Dr. Vanessa Diaz, Medical University of South Carolina, who spoke about personalized medicine in primary care, and Dr. Thomas Moore, Infectious Disease Consultants of Kansas, who presented information about clinical research and the FDA. Other topics included social media, writing manuscripts, adolescent research, and Geographic Information Systems given by experts from across the state.

Most of the presentations were transmitted live and a recording is available on the Office of Research website.

Each year, the KU School of Medicine-Wichita hosts the regional Research Forum for students, residents, and faculty, as well as for anyone interested in community health and medical research. The goal is to present, discuss, and facilitate collaboration of research projects. Research posters from medical students, residents, and faculty were on display throughout the school during the day. Awards were given for the best student and best resident posters. Visit the website to see which posters won.

Take the KC Car Free Challenge

Every May, Kansas City's BikeWalkKC holds an event called the Car Free Challenge. The goal of this challenge is to promote all the viable ways to commute to work and run errands that do not depend on your car. Every year, KU Medical Center forms a team to accept this challenge, which will run May 13-17.  We are looking for team members who commute to work via bicycle, bus or carpool. If you fit this description, please consider joining the team and register here. 

Then log your commuting or errand miles on the challenge website during the challenge week. The KC Car Free website will keep track of your mileage and you can follow your personal and team progress.  

If you have any questions, contact Bob Pisciotta at Dykes Library, 8-7311. 

Heart Walk: Walkers needed

KU Medical Center is joining forces with The University of Kansas Hospital to represent the KU spirit at this year's walk.  

Register at kcheartwalk.org. Select Register, click "I Agree," "Join a Team," scroll down to "The University of Kansas Hospital," and select a team captain. You may form your own team and serve as team captain as well. Remember to encourage coworkers, friends and family to join you and support your team.

To sign up to be a team captain, contact Angie Galindo from the American Heart Association at 913-652-1905 or angie.galindo@heart.org. Or you may contact Kim Cook in Hospital Marketing at 5-7832.

This year's walk is 9 a.m. Saturday, May 18, at Theis Park on the Country Club Plaza. All registered walkers will receive a team t-shirt and pancake breakfast at the event. There will be a one-mile and three-mile walk, along with kids activities, heart-healthy treats, heart health educational materials and fitness demonstrations. Every year, nearly 10,000 walkers participate in the Kansas City Heart Walk.