Last week, we celebrated and we mourned. It was the start of the new school year for students in Allied Health and Nursing, and we had a breakfast to welcome our new faculty members in the School of Medicine (SOM).
We also mourned the unexpected passing of one of our most respected faculty members at the SOM – Wichita campus, Doren Fredrickson, MD, PhD.
I considered him a "triple threat" in academic medicine because he was an outstanding clinician, a great educator, and a well-trained and respected researcher. In 1998, he was the first Wichita professor to receive a Kemper Award. Last year, he co-chaired the "Working for Kansas" task force as part of the Chancellor's "Initiative 2015: Shaping KU’s Future." His work on this task force will help direct our outreach efforts across the state over the next few years. Dr. Fredrickson, who was passionate about community service and outreach, will be remembered with great respect, and he will be missed by all of us.
So even though we mourn the death of an outstanding colleague, I think Doren would like us to stay focused on the celebration of this new school year and look toward the future.
I was very excited to surprise Won Choi, MPH, PhD, associate professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health (pictured), and Wanda Bonnel, RN, PhD, associate professor in the School of Nursing, with Kemper Awards on Wednesday. Michael Fields, executive director of the Kemper Foundation, joined me in presenting the fellowship award to Dr. Choi for teaching excellence.
Community
The Helen Gold 5k Run/Walk on Sept. 13 will benefit our Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center. Sign up here.
KUMC teams have already raised more than $15,000 for the ALS Walk on Saturday, Sept. 20. Keep up the good work, as we are halfway to our goal. Join a team or donate.
Christmas in October is Oct. 11 this year. There will be a table outside the Hospital cafeteria from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2 with information for those who would like to volunteer. If you are interested in being a house captain, please contact Paula Baum at 8-1017.
Kudos
Diana Guthrie, PhD, FAAN, professor emeritus, is one of the first four Fellows of the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Congratulations, Diane.
Dean Karen Miller recently announced that Helen Connors, RN, PhD, FAAN, will be the recipient of the E. Jean M. Hill Professorship in Nursing. Dr. Connors is associate dean for Integrated Technologies at the KU School of Nursing and is executive director of the KUMC Center for Healthcare Informatics. An investiture ceremony will be planned for this fall.
Hannah Maxfield, MD, and Paige Geiger, PhD, were accepted to attend the AAMC Early Career Women Professional Development Seminar. Congratulations, Drs. Maxfield and Geiger.
Education
Please join Chancellor Robert Hemenway at noon on Sept. 2 in the School of Nursing Auditorium for the annual convocation. In his remarks, he will provide a glimpse of the University's future.
You are invited to join me at noon on Sept. 19 in the School of Nursing Auditorium for the State of the School of Medicine address. It will be the concluding session of our annual educational retreat.
Heidi Chumley, MD, has been named the new senior associate dean for medical education for the School of Medicine. Read more.
Terry Tsue, MD, professor of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, will be the new associate dean for graduate medical education. Read more.
Research
Christophe Nicot, PhD, associate professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, will be the new director of the Center for Viral Oncology. The Center will focus on cancers that are caused by viruses, and will be key to the collaboration needed to obtain NCI status. Read more.
Steffani Webb, MBA, director of the Institute of Molecular and Outcomes Medicine, has accepted the position of assistant dean of research operations. Congratulations, Steffani.
Other Items of Interest
The 2008 University of Kansas Medical Center Gala will be held Oct. 4 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. The reservation deadline is Friday, Sept. 12. For more information, please contact Kelly Hutsell at 8-2695.
The Office of External Affairs is compiling a list of state legislative priorities to present to the Board of Regents for its consideration. Please submit any ideas or proposals to David Rowe, government affairs manager, at drowe@kumc.edu. Proposals are due Sept. 15.