Stadium Steps Challenge Supports Diabetes and Obesity Center

Join in the effort to help overcome diabetes and obesity one step at a time during the third annual Nippert Stadium Steps Challenge.

Participants will climb nearly 1,500 steps in the lower bowl of UC’s Nippert Stadium starting at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. All proceeds will support the Cincinnati Diabetes and Obesity Center.

Entry fee is $25; student/youth fee is $10. For those who cannot participate in the step climbing activity, group fitness stations will be located around the stadium, courtesy of UC’s Campus Recreation Center.

›› For more information and to register

Cancelas-Perez Named Hoxworth Deputy Director

Effective Oct. 1, Jose Cancelas-Perez, MD, PhD, assumed a newly created position of Hoxworth Blood Center deputy director. As deputy director, he will support the director, working closely with the associate director, at times when the director is either out of the country or away from the office.

Cancelas-Perez, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the research division at Hoxworth Blood Center, has been a member of Hoxworth Blood Center for nine years.

McGraw Named Chief of VA Pulmonary Section

Dennis McGraw, MD, associate professor of medicine, division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine, has been named the new chief of Cincinnati Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center Pulmonary Section.

He replaces Ralph Panos, MD, professor of medicine, division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine.

Abd-Elsayed Receives Research Awards

Alaa Abd-Elsayed, MD, MPH, a senior resident in the department of anesthesiology, took first-, second-, and third-place resident research awards at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Ohio Society of Anesthesiologists (OSA) held Sept. 14-16 in Columbus.

This is the fourth year in a row that Abd-Elsayed’s research abstracts have earned top honors. His 2012 abstracts were titled:

1. "Pre-induction Blood Pressure and Post-operative Outcomes in Elective Non-cardiac Surgery"
2. "Epidural Clonidine as a Sole Analgesic Agent During and After Abdominal Surgery."
3. "Pre-induction Isolated Systolic Hypertension and Post-operative Outcomes in Non-cardiac Surgery."

Charles H. Dater Foundation Donates to Med Mentors

UC Med Mentors has received a donation of $10,000 from the Charles H. Dater Foundation. With this donation, the Med Mentors organization will be able to fund its activities throughout the 2012-2013 academic year.

The newly elected board members have been planning several events for the upcoming year, including opportunities to visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Newport Aquarium and theatrical performances. In addition, the organization will continue to promote education, tutoring and healthy eating with its mentors and mentees.

UC Med Mentors was founded in 2001 as an opportunity for medical students to serve as mentors to students from the Cincinnati Public Schools system.

CCTST Grand Rounds on Preterm Birth and Infant Mortality Oct. 19

The impact of preterm birth on infant mortality is the topic of the next Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training (CCTST) Grand Rounds on Friday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in MSB Room 4051. Click here for the list of speakers.

Continuing educational credit is offered. Lunch is available to CCTST members who RSVP to elizabeth.heubi@uc.edu by Wednesday, Oct. 17.

To join the CCTST free of charge, go to cctst.uc.edu/about/membership.

Next Life of the Mind Lecture Oct. 30

Henry Nasrallah, MD, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience, will be one of three UC faculty lecturing on the theme of "security” at the next Life of the Mind lecture, held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, in the Russell C. Myers Alumni Center.

The lecture series features interdisciplinary conversations with UC faculty around a one-word theme followed by audience Q&A.

Richard Harknett, PhD, associate professor of political science, and Adrian Parr, PhD, associate professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies, will also speak as part of the lecture.

Save the Date: Infant Mortality Panel Nov. 2

Experts from across Greater Cincinnati will discuss the growing problem of infant mortality at a multidisciplinary Infant Mortality Panel held from noon to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, in Kresge Auditorium.

The panel, comprising of UC experts and government officials, is hosted by the College of Medicine’s OB-GYN Student Interest Group, Med Students for Choice, Pediatrics Interest Group, the American Medical Women's Association and Initiatives for Poverty and Justice in Health.

The program includes a lunch, a panel session and "office hours” with panelists.

For a current list of panelists, visit healthnews.uc.edu/events/?/21178/.

Upcoming Lectures and Seminars

• Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology Seminar Oct. 16: Stephen Keller, PhD, retired professor, UC Department of Biological Sciences, will present, "Biodynes, Hemorrhoids and Healing” at noon in MSB 2351.

• Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Grand Rounds Oct. 17: Doug Chepeha, MD, associate professor of otolaryngology at the University of Michigan, will present, "Goals, Principles and Approach to the Surgical Management of Maxillary Tumors,” at 7 a.m. in MSB E-351.

• Department of Surgery Heekin Family Lectureship Oct. 16-17: Xavier Rogiers, chairman of solid organ transplantation, Gent University, Belgium, will speak at the transplant grand rounds from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, in MSB 3351, and the surgical grand rounds from 7 to 8 a.m. Oct. 17 in the Surgical Amphitheater.

• Environmental Health Wednesday Seminar Series Oct. 17: Jane Henney, MD, professor of internal medicine and public health sciences, will discuss, "Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake in the United States,” at 10 a.m. in Kehoe Auditorium, Kettering Lab Complex.

• Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics Research Seminar Series Oct. 18: Vladislav Litosh, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry, will present, "Base Modified Nucleotides: From Genome Sequencing to Development of Nanocarrier Delivered Cancer Therapeutics,” from noon to 1 p.m. in Cincinnati Children’s S Building, Room S5.125.

• UC Wellness Women's Health Discussion Oct. 25: Cynthia Bean, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, will explore specific health issues affecting women from noon to 1 p.m. in University Hall Room 450. To register, call 513-556-6381 or email wellness@uc.edu.

• Neuroscience Seminar Series Oct. 25: Tamás Kozicz, MD, PhD, of the Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour at the Radboud University Nijmegen, will discuss, "Midbrain Ucn1 links stress and energy metabolisms” at 4 p.m. in MSB 4051.