Yesterday, I attended the investiture ceremony for Dr. Ed Ellerbeck as the Sosland Family Professor in Preventive Medicine. These endowed professorships are one of many ways we have to recognize our best faculty members. It was so enjoyable to celebrate his accomplishments, the junior faculty members he mentors so well, and the gift from the Sosland family.
Another way we celebrate our best faculty members, particularly our research faculty, is by naming them University Distinguished Professors (UDPs). We currently have six at KUMC: Marc Asher, Jared Grantham, Joan Hunt, Curtis Klaassen, Joseph Lutkenhaus and Michael Soares.
I am happy to announce that Chancellor Robert Hemenway has selected Dale Abrahamson, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, as a seventh UDP from KUMC. Dale has received numerous awards, including the Chancellor’s Club Award at KU and a MERIT Award from the NIH, an organization from which he continuously receives funding. He also holds a COBRE award, which allows him to recruit and mentor junior faculty.
Please join me in congratulating Drs. Ellerbeck and Abrahamson for their tremendous success and for all they do for KUMC.
Edward Ellerbeck, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and an associate professor in the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Internal Medicine, visited with Morton Sosland and Chancellor Robert Hemenway before the investiture ceremony on Wednesday afternoon.
Research
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners has voted to place a one-eighth cent sales tax on the November ballot to fund the Johnson County Education Research Triangle. The initiative would provide a new clinical trials facility for KUMC in northeast Johnson County. Learn more.
Dr. Joseph Tash's new findings on male contraception were published in the June issue of the Biology of Reproduction. Read the manuscripts here and here.
Kudos
Dr. Garold Minns, from our School of Medicine in Wichita, was recently elected the Kansas Governor of the American College of Physicians. Read more in the Oread.
Matt Fuoco, director of telecommunications and network services, will be serving a 2-year term on the national board of the Association for Information Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education. Congratulations, Matt.
Education
Megan Krause, a fourth-year medical student, was awarded a $15,000 scholarship from the Philanthropic Education Organization. Read more.
Congratulations to all the faculty members who recently received a promotion or tenure. See the full list.
Other Items of Interest
Hays Medical Center has recently joined the Midwest Cancer Alliance. Read more from the Wichita Eagle.
KUMC has recently negotiated a new facilities and administrative rate agreement with the federal government. The new rate increased to 50 percent for on-campus organized research. Read more.
The Heart of Healthcare award, which is coordinated by the School of Nursing, is now accepting nominations. The program recognizes outstanding registered nurses in Kansas and metropolitan Kansas City for their dedication to patient care, their communities and the nursing profession. Find out how to submit a nomination.
* Note:Due to the July 4th holiday, the next edition of Checking In will be July 17.
Community
I am pleased to serve as the corporate recruitment chair for the ALS Walk on Sept. 20, and Dr. Kirk Benson will be the KUMC honorary chair for the event. The University is a silver sponsor for the walk, so please consider joining us in the fight against ALS. Sign up for a team or donate.