After graduation every year, the Wheat State Whirlwind Tour takes faculty and staff on a circle around Kansas. This year was the 11th trip, and as you can see from the picture this week, our Kansas City and Wichita campuses were represented among the 40 total faculty and staff from KU. I went on the trip in 2004, and for me, the fellowship with new friends, understanding where our students come from, and the needs of rural Kansas, were wonderful benefits.
Objectives of the trip are to discuss the history, geology, plants, and wildlife, as well as see and understand the variety of economic development throughout Kansas including farming, ranching, manufacturing, oil and gas drilling, and tourism.
What impressed me is the prairie spirit of struggle and reaching for success that Kansas was built on still continues. Each town is working on its individual strategies to keep its young people home or bring them back if they go away to school, while our challenge at KU is providing doctors, nurses and other health care professionals so that every rural Kansan can have a medical home.
I encourage all of you who are interested to sign up to be considered for the trip next spring. I’d also like to personally thank Margey Frederick, the retiring director of Special Events and Visitor Services, for all she has done to make these trips so great.
I enjoyed meeting up with KU Medical Center employees at Scott and Carol Ritchie's Highland Ranch in the Flint Hills on May 23 as part of the 2008 Wheat State Whirlwind Tour. I was a part of the tour in 2004 and thoroughly enjoyed seeing much of Kansas.
(Back Row L-R) Mugur Geana, Marilee McGinness, Deb Clements, Jessica Taveau, Russell Scheffer, Isaac Onyango, Allison Kabel, Donna Peck, Virginia Lewis. (Front Row L-R) Ann Manzardo, Erica Brown, Barbara Atkinson, Amy Gaier, Inna D'Empaire, Judy Hultquist.
Research
Nancy Berman, PhD, received a $20,000 award from the American Headache Society to research why migraines are more prevalent in women. Read more.
Congratulations to all who participated in the Resident and Fellow Research Day. Awards were given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the respective categories. See the list of winners.
Congratulations also to all of our students who presented their research findings at the Student Research Forum. See the list of winners by clicking on the Presentations tab on the site.
Kudos
Rigoberto Ramirez, a second-year medical student, received the American Medical Association Foundation Minority Scholars Award. The $10,000 award is one of just 10 given annually. Read more from the Kansas City Star.
Jie Chao, MS, was approved for a Predoctoral Fellowship by the American Heart Association. Congratulations, Jie.
Gerald Carlson, PhD, professor and chairman of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, now serves as president of the Association of Medical and Graduate Departments of Biochemistry. Congratulations, Dr. Carlson.
Other Items of Interest
Teresa Kelly, a cancer survivor living in Overland Park, talks about the importance of the Johnson County Education Research Triangle. Read her column in the Kansas City Star.
The latest 39th and Rainbow magazine - The Student Issue - is now available. For a copy, please contact Donna Peck at 8-5956. Read it online.
Education
David Martin, RN, MS, clinical assistant professor in the SON, received the Phyllis Keeney Lawrence Teaching award. Read more.
The Teaching and Learning Technologies Department and the SOAH were honored with the Angel Impact Award for Excellence. Angel Learning develops course management software. Congratulations. Read more.
Community
Thanks to everyone who participated in the American Heart Association Heart Walk last Saturday. As a reminder, people can still donate until June 27. Donate here.