Mini Medical/Dental School Under Way at UConn Health Center

Connecticut High School Students Will Get Diplomas Following 8-Week Program

FARMINGTON, CONN. – More than 80 juniors and seniors from high schools throughout Connecticut are taking part in this year’s High School Mini Medical/Dental School Program at the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Since March 4, the students have been meeting on Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m., each time hearing two one-hour presentations on varying health and science topics. Sixty-five students participate in person at the Health Center’s Low Learning Center; 21 others join remotely via webcast. The program runs through April 22, when the students will “graduate,” earning diplomas.

“The goal is to inform and excite students about cutting-edge basic science research that is being conducted by some of the outstanding professors at the Health Center,” says Dr. Marja Hurley, associate dean of the UConn School of Medicine and director of UConn’s Health Career Opportunities Programs. “These students also receive lectures from outstanding physicians and dentists who provide care to patients.”

More information about the Health Career Opportunities Programs at the UConn Health Center is available at www.hcop.uchc.edu.

Students from 18 Connecticut high schools are participating in the 2010 High School Mini Medical/Dental School Program:

• Avon High School
• Bloomfield High School
• Bristol Eastern High School
• Cheshire High School
• Danbury High School
• Farmington High School
• Glastonbury High School
• Bulkeley High School
• Hartford Area Seventh Day Adventist School
• Sport and Medical Sciences Academy
• University High School of Science and Engineering
• Mercy High School
• Simsbury High School
• Chase Collegiate School
• Crosby High School
• Conard High School
• Hall High School
• Windsor High School

Photos: http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/minimed1.jpg and http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/minimed2.jpg
Caption: Dr. Leighton Huey, professor of psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine, speaks to students attending the High School Mini Medical/Dental School Program at the UConn Health Center. The program runs through April 22, when more than 80 juniors and seniors from 18 Connecticut High Schools will earn diplomas.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about the UConn Health Center is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the Office of Communications home page at today.uchc.edu for archived news releases and other information.

A Diabetes Dialogue

Free Discovery Series April 13 at UConn Health Center

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Whether you are at risk with a family history of diabetes, newly diagnosed, or have been coping with diabetes for years, it’s always a good idea to become more informed. The more you know, the better equipped you will be to control your blood sugars and live a healthier life. The University of Connecticut Health Center’s Discovery Series will present a program on the topic of diabetes, Tuesday, April 13.

The program is free and starts at 7 p.m. in the UConn Health Center’s Keller Auditorium. To register, call 800-535-6232 or register online at http://discoveryseries.uchc.edu.

Experts from the UConn Health Center’s Diabetes Education Program will present information about risk factors and diabetes prevention strategies, the newest diabetes information and technologies, and how to manage your diabetes. The program will feature an “ask the experts” session.

Diabetes is a serious disease that strikes nearly 24 million children and adults in the United States. An additional 57 million, or one in five Americans, have pre-diabetes, which puts them at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.

To get to the UConn Health Center main entrance: Entering the campus from Route 4, at the first stop sign, continue straight. Bear left at the fork and continue up the hill. The main entrance is straight past the next stop sign. Visitor parking is available on the other side of the gate. Directions to the UConn Health Center are available at http://www.uchc.edu/directions/home.html.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about the UConn Health Center is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the Office of Communications home page at today.uchc.edu for archived news releases and other information.

Health Center Receives Nearly $8...

Health Center Receives Nearly $8 Million Federal Grant for Improvements to Research Core Facility

FARMINGTON, CONN. – The University of Connecticut Health Center has received a $7.9 million federal grant to renovate, modernize, and improve a research core facility that supports the projects of 136 scientists.

The grant from the National Center for Research Resources, part of the National Institutes of Health, will support a 15,480 square foot renovation in one of the original research buildings on the Farmington campus. The funding was awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

"This grant will move the UConn Health Center forward to achieve national and international prominence by sustaining and expanding our core facilities in support of our interdisciplinary and clinical and translational research initiatives," says Dr. Marc Lalande, principal investigator of the grant award and senior associate dean, research planning and coordination. "UConn is among a select group of academic medical centers to be awarded Recovery Act funds through the NIH’s facilities improvement grant program, which underscores the importance of and the need for the project."

The plan will significantly improve the overall operational efficiencies of the facility and correct problematic working conditions and ergonomic issues for the staff. It will also use sustainable "green" technologies to reduce water and energy consumption, thereby producing cost efficiencies over the long term.

The project is estimated to take a little more than two years and will immediately create new jobs. An estimated, 115 to130 construction and trades workers will be employed during the proposed renovations. In addition, throughout the design and construction period, 15 to 20 full and part-time architects, engineers, technical support staff and specialty consultants will work on the project. The NIH grant will fund 85 percent of the renovations; the remaining 15 percent, or approximately $1.3 million, will be financed by the Health Center.

"This stimulus grant is a win-win for Connecticut," says 5th District Congressman Christopher Murphy. "Not only will it make needed improvements to the UConn Health Center, it will also create jobs, from the engineers designing the upgrades to the men and women who will transform this facility."

Expanded funding for NIH research included in the stimulus legislation already has resulted in awards of more than $19 million for investigators at the Health Center. The grant announced today brings the total stimulus funding from NIH to approximately $27 million over several years.

A number of research programs will benefit from the improvement of the core facilities, including a group project researching the development of protective immunity against viral and bacterial pathogens and their products, which received more than $3.5 million in ARRA funds.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about the UConn Health Center is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the Office of Communications home page at today.uchc.edu for archived news releases and other information.

Match Day a Success for UConn Medical Students

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Match Day was a great success for students at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine as 97 percent secured residencies through the National Residency Match Program. The national average is 93 percent.

Primary care residency programs, mostly internal medicine and pediatrics, accounted for 35 percent of the students. Emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology and psychiatry were the top three programs for the remaining 65 percent of students. The majority of the class, 54 of the 75 students, will stay in the Northeast, with 16 remaining in Connecticut.

“Year after year, our students match to the most prestigious residencies in the country, and this year is no exception. We’re extremely proud of them,” says Dr. Anthony Ardolino, associate dean of medical student affairs.

Match Day is conducted annually at medical schools across the country to match students with residency programs and fill the available training positions at teaching hospitals around the country.

Photo: http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/matchday2010_1.jpg
Caption: Christopher Sala (left), of Stamford, a fourth-year student at the UConn School of Medicine, and Tobias Wasser, of New Milford, open their envelopes to find out which residency programs they’ll be attending. Sala will stay at the UConn Health Center in the emergency medicine program and Wasser will attend the psychiatry program at Yale University. Both are members of the Class of 2010 who received their residency appointments at the traditional Match Day ceremony March 18.

Photo: http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/matchday2010_3.jpg
Caption: Charlecinth Yennie (center), a fourth-year student at UConn School of Medicine, along with family members, is happy to learn she has been accepted into the family medicine residency program at the UConn Health Center and St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. Yennie, of Hartford, is one of 75 members of the Class of 2010 who received their residency appointments at the traditional Match Day ceremony March 18.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about the UConn Health Center is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the Office of Communications home page at today.uchc.edu for archived news releases and other information.

First "White Coat Gala" to Support Health Center

Dr. Lawrence Raisz, Bone Disease Expert, to Be Honored

FARMINGTON, CONN. – The University of Connecticut Health Center will hold its premiere "White Coat Gala" in April to support innovative researchers at the state’s academic medical center.

The gala, scheduled for Saturday, April 10, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Hartford Marriott, is the first Health Center-wide fundraising event in more than a decade. Proceeds will provide support for clinician-scientists at the Health Center. The event will also honor Dr. Lawrence G. Raisz, a longtime member of the Health Center community and one of the preeminent experts in the management of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease in the world.

The Health Center’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations is coordinating the gala. The Aetna Foundation and longtime university supporters Carole and Ray Neag have committed to become the title sponsors for the event, with The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. and Richard and Jane Lublin also committing as presenting sponsors.

The "White Coat" name will serve as the Health Center’s signature annual event for the future, with a new and different sub-theme each year based on the planned beneficiaries within the Health Center. The 2010 theme, "Celebrating Medicine—the Fabric of Life," will focus on research conducted at the University and the resulting benefits in our society.

"The support of our donors and friends will make all the difference as we move the Health Center toward its full potential," says Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, vice president for health affairs and medical school dean. "The white coat symbolizes our clinical care staff, the coats presented to our medical and dental students, and the tremendous cadre of biomedical researchers here. We look forward to using this annual event to celebrate the investment made by the state, University and public in the UConn Health Center."

For more information about attending the gala, or for sponsorship, please contact Dina Plapler, vice president for development, at 860-679-8077 or dplapler@foundation.uconn.edu.

Photo: http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/raisz.jpg
Caption: Dr. Lawrence Raisz, bone health expert at the New England Musculoskeletal Institute, will be honored at the UConn Health Center’s premiere "White Coat Gala" April 10 at the Hartford Marriott.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about the UConn Health Center is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the Office of Communications home page at today.uchc.edu for archived news releases and other information.

Take Stock, Be Sure to Lock Potential Health Hazards

National Poison Prevention Week Is March 14 through 20

FARMINGTON, CONN. – Everyone, especially parents, should keep track of anything that can be poisonous and keep it out of children’s reach. The reminder comes as part of National Poison Prevention Week, March 14 through 20.

"If you could do one thing to poison proof your home, lock up all medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter, and herbal and natural supplements," says Amy Hanoian-Fontana, community education specialist at the Connecticut Poison Control Center. "National Poison Prevention Week is a great reminder to take stock of the poisons you have in your home and do something about them to keep your family safe."

Poison control centers are the local authority on substances or medications that are potentially hazardous when exposed to, touched, ingested or inhaled, as well as stings and bites. The national toll-free number, 800-222-1222, works from anywhere in the U.S., with calls routed to the nearest poison control center. Connecticut’s is located at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Approximately 2 million poisonings are reported each year to the 60 poison control centers across the United States. The American Association of Poison Control Centers says approximately 90 percent of poisonings happen at home, more than half of poisoning exposures involve children under the age of 6, and the majority of fatal poisonings occur among adults, especially older adults.

Experts say because many poison exposures can be treated at home, those in doubt about whether to call the Poison Control Center hotline should err on the side of caution and make the call.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about the UConn Health Center is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the Office of Communications home page at today.uchc.edu for archived news releases and other information.

Springing Ahead a Reminder of the Importance of Sleep

Daylight Saving Time Starts Sunday; March Is National Sleep Awareness Month

FARMINGTON, CONN. – The switch to daylight saving time is a good time to think about the importance of sleep, say experts at the University of Connecticut Health Center’s Sleep Disorders Center.

"Sleep problems can manifest themselves in a number of different ways, and not always obvious ones," says Dr. Jennifer Kanaan. "And in no place might this be more evident than in the pediatric population."

Kanaan, who specializes in sleep disorders in women, children and teens, says studies are turning up data that some may find startling:

• Research suggests sleep-deprived adolescents are more likely to be suicidal.
• It’s not uncommon for sleep deprivation to be misdiagnosed as attention deficit-hyperactive disorder, or ADHD.
• Sleep deprivation makes children more prone to accidents, the leading cause of childhood injury.
• Data show a link between childhood obesity and pediatric sleep apnea, and apnea can affect school performance.

"Forty percent of parents report their kids have sleep problems," Kanaan says. "It’s enormously prevalent, but no one talks about it. Parents who are concerned about their kids’ school performance should evaluate how their kids are sleeping."

That’s because well-rested children show up for school ready to learn, their cognitive function more receptive to the day’s lessons. And it’s one very good reason to give serious thought to starting school later in the morning, says Dr. Daniel McNally, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center.

"As kids progress from elementary to middle to high school, their school start times become earlier," McNally says. "This is counter to their biological clocks. When they become adolescents and teenagers, they become vulnerable to sleep phase shift – simply put, their body clocks tell them to go to bed late and wake up late. Their need for sleep goes up with adolescence, not down. But, in reality, teenagers don't get the sleep they need. So really, high school should be starting the latest, not the earliest."

The Sleep Disorders Center is equipped to see patients as young as age 2. More information is available at http://health.uchc.edu/clinicalservices/sleep. To make an appointment, call 860-679-4090.

Photo: http://today.uchc.edu/images/news/jkanaan.jpg
Caption: Dr. Jennifer Kanaan, a sleep expert at the UConn Health Center, says sleep disorders often are related to other health problems and, in the case of children and teens, can lead to behavioral and school performance problems. The Health Center’s Sleep Disorders Center sees patients as young as 2 years old.

The University of Connecticut Health Center includes the schools of medicine and dental medicine, the UConn Medical Group, University Dentists, and John Dempsey Hospital. Founded in 1961, the Health Center pursues a mission of providing outstanding health care education in an environment of exemplary patient care, research and public service. More information about the UConn Health Center is available at www.uchc.edu.

Note: News professionals are invited to visit the Office of Communications home page at today.uchc.edu for archived news releases and other information.