This weekend, I attended my first meeting as a new member of the Board of Trustees for Audubon of Kansas. We met and toured a 230-acre site at the Chaplin Nature Center, which is just west of Arkansas City and not far from the Oklahoma border. As many of you know, my husband and I are avid bird watchers, and exploring different sites and habitats in Kansas is something we’ve enjoyed since moving here.
I particularly appreciate the opportunity to serve the Audubon Society because I think they are doing a remarkable job of preserving the natural heritage of our state and region. One of its important but controversial projects is the reintroduction of the endangered black-footed ferret into Kansas. This ferret was extirpated in Kansas in the 1950s. The farms where the ferrets have been reintroduced have active prairie dog towns. As you can guess, this creates some problems because the ferrets kill the dogs when they are on the same land. In the last few weeks, a survey showed ferrets had survived reintroduction, and several young ferret families have been observed. If you’d like to read more about this interesting project, check out the Hays Daily News and the Wichita Eagle.
As an avid birder, I'm pleased I can serve on this organization that helps the environment remain a safe place for birds. I hope all of you will take time to support organizations that not only interest you, but make this world a better place.
I had the opportunity to surprise Dr. April McVey, associate professor of neurology, with a 2008 Kemper Teaching Fellowship Award this afternoon. Dr. Richard Barohn, chair and professor of neurology, joined me in congratulating and thanking her for her outstanding efforts.
Education
Today, Dr. Fred Chang assumed his new role as interim dean of the KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Chang replaces Dr. S. Edwards Dismuke, who recently stepped down. Read more.
The Annual Faculty Retreat for the SOM will be held Sept. 19. I'm pleased to have Dr. Daniel Hunt, co-secretary to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and senior director for the accreditation services at the Association of American Medical Colleges, as our keynote speaker. I will also be presenting the State of the School of Medicine address at noon. Register for the retreat.
Dr. Barry Bloom, professor and Wichita neonatologist, will serve as interim chair for the Department of Pediatrics at the KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Dr. Robert Wittler, chair and professor, recently stepped down from the position. We thank Robert for his years of service as chair.
Other Items of Interest
The Kansas Health Policy Authority will host an Open Dialogue from 5 - 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18 in the Cancer Information Services Conference Room in the Support Services Building. Discussion will focus on the 2008 and 2009 legislative sessions.
As public employees, I think it's very important to be engaged in our democracy. If you need to update your voter registration record or register to vote, the League of Women Voters will be outside the Hospital cafeteria and in Murphy Lobby from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Sept. 24.
The 2008 University of Kansas Medical Center Gala will be held Oct. 4 at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center. The reservation deadline is tomorrow. For more information, please contact Kelly Hutsell at 8-2695.
Community
The Helen Gold 5K Run/Walk, which will take place on Saturday, will benefit our Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center. Sign up here.
KUMC teams have already raised more than $25,000 for the ALS Walk on Saturday, Sept. 20. Thanks for all you are doing, and I'm confident we will surpass our goal. Join a team or donate.
Christmas in October is Oct. 11 this year. If you are interested in volunteering to repair and renovate homes in the Rosedale neighborhood, please contact Paula Baum at 8-1017.
Research
The investment committee of the Kansas Bioscience Authority approved a three-year plan for giving $6.1 million for research in Wichita. Read more from the Lawrence Journal-World.
The Midwest Cancer Alliance Partners Advisory Board signed its charter on Tuesday. We are excited to have so many participants on board. Read more from the Lawrence Journal-World.
Kudos
Congratulations go to Dr. Karen Miller, senior vice chancellor and dean of the SON and SOAH, who will be presented with the Riland Medal for Public Service in Health Professions Education on Sept. 15 by the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and the School of Health Professions Behavioral and Life Sciences.