I was truly honored to receive the 2010 Community Service Award from the Urban League of Greater Hartford. Giving back and making a difference in the community is very important to me and to my family. In the end, we’ve always found that service is a gift unto itself – leading to meaningful friendships and invaluable insights. I’m happy to share the following article from the Avon News about the award: Urban League of Greater Hartford honors UConn medical school dean, an Avon resident.
Author: Melanie L Burnat
A Critical Triumph for the UConn Health Center
I am delighted to announce that the state’s Office of Health Care Access (OHCA) today approved the Certificate of Need application that was filed jointly by the UConn Health Center and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in early November.
This is a significant step forward in our journey to add more medical-surgical beds to the UConn Health Center’s footprint and to continue to improve care for some of our most vulnerable patients.
In particular, the CON allows for the license transfer of UConn’s 40 NICU and Special Care beds to Connecticut Children’s and the addition of 10 more medical surgical beds to the UConn Health Center’s license. All totaled, this will allow the UConn Health Center to increase its number of adult medical-surgical beds by 50.
This is a key component of the renewal plans for John Dempsey Hospital, and it will go far to support the UConn Health Center’s long-term financial health. The regionalization of NICU services, as you may recall, is an important element of the new UConn Health Network.
Specifically for the NICU, today’s decision means that specialized neonatal care will continue to be offered on the UConn Health Center campus. The difference is that moving forward the unit will become part of Connecticut Children’s. Nurses and other staff in the unit at the UConn Health Center will remain UConn employees and Connecticut Children’s will lease space and contract for services.
With today’s decision, we will work toward a February 1, 2011, “go live” date with a celebration and ribbon cutting to follow shortly after.
To all who made today’s milestone a reality, particularly Governor M. Jodi Rell and the Connecticut General Assembly, I offer my deepest thanks. This is a wonderful addition to the holiday season!
Sincerely,
Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D.
Vice President for Health Affairs
Dean, UConn School of Medicine
Farmington Economic Development Commission
I recently had the pleasure of speaking before a crowd of about 100 business people affiliated with Town of Farmington’s Economic Development Commission. During a breakfast meeting at the UConn Health Center, I outlined the progress of the new UConn Health Network and the economic promise inherent in this exciting plan.
In addition, here are links to articles that recently appeared in Hartford Magazine about the UConn Health Network.
UConn School of Medicine Provides Care Across the Country
While most Americans recently reflected on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Bruce Gould rolled up his sleeves and reached out to the people of New Orleans.
Dr. Gould was asked to participate in a free health clinic held in New Orleans during Katrina’s anniversary. The clinic was sponsored by the National Association of Free Clinics which has organized free screenings across the country for people with little or no insurance. I had the privilege of joining Dr. Gould in February when a similar event was held in Hartford — and hundreds of people in our region sought help.
Accompanying him on the recent trip were third-year medical student James Wallace, and Dr. Juliet Appiah, a resident. For all three, it was an awe-inspiring experience. According to Dr. Gould, they saw patients with a wide range of medical issues from hypertension and heart disease to gall stones — all of whom were very appreciative of the care UConn provided.
Earlier this summer, Dr. Gould precepted the activities of second-year resident Marilyn Katz and fourth-year medical student Jessica Johnson who participated in a free clinic in Washington, D.C., which was also sponsored by the National Association of Free Clinics.
Please join me in commending Dr. Gould for his leadership, advocacy and compassion and for sharing his knowledge with our students, residents and fellows.
A Symbol of America’s Rich and Diverse Heritage
Today, as our nation celebrates Flag Day – the date marking the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the flag of the United States – I ask all of you to reflect for a moment on the flag and the journey it has taken through our American history. From its early days representing just 13 states until the present day, the flag has seen our nation through war and peace, times of challenge and times of prosperity. It flies at national landmarks and is proudly displayed at homes and businesses throughout the country – including our Health Center where the flag is prominently displayed in the Main Lobby.
The flag is a symbol that unites all Americans and celebrates our nation’s rich and diverse heritage. When I look at the Stars and Stripes, I am filled with pride and reminded that its threads were woven by many hands, over the course of many generations. Together, we can weave our own piece of history by creating a brighter and better future for our patients, students, colleagues and everyone who is part of the Health Center family.
Today, it is my honor to wish all of you a happy Flag Day.
Hartford Region Gains National Attention
The current issue of Forbes Magazine features information about the Hartford region and its potential to become a nationally-recognized healthcare destination. The Health Center was pleased to participate in interviews for this feature. With the recent passage of the UConn Health Network legislation, this information is very timely. I am linking the piece for your perusal.
View the article >
Stormy Chamberlain First Recipient of the Sackler Assistant Professor Support Endowment
In a continuing commitment to support the work of promising young investigators at the Health Center, I am delighted to announce that Stormy Chamberlain, Ph.D., is the first recipient of the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Assistant Professor Support Endowment.
Dr. Chamberlain is an integral part of the Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology and the UConn Stem Cell Institute. Working closely with Marc Lalande, Ph.D., the department chairman and the Health Center’s Senior Associate Dean, Research Planning and Coordination, she is pursuing the use of stem cells to model and study human imprinting disorders associated with inherited conditions such as Angelman syndrome.
The new endowment will support Dr. Chamberlain’s research and academic activities.
Raymond and Beverly Sackler are nationally and internationally prominent philanthropists who have generously supported the University and the Health Center through the years. In the area of stem cell research, they previously established the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Fund for Genetics and Molecular Medicine and provided significant grant funding that has supported the work of Health Center researchers Brenton Graveley, Ph.D., and Bruce Mayer, Ph.D., also of the Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology.
I am profoundly grateful to the Sacklers and extend best wishes to Dr. Chamberlain for her continued success.
Nightingale Awards
It was my honor to attend the recent Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing reception. The Nightingale Awards for Excellence is Connecticut’s largest statewide nursing recognition program which pays tribute to nurses from throughout the region who personify excellence in their profession. Personally, I was especially proud to represent the UConn Health Center and the 10 Nightingale winners from throughout the Health Center. It was also gratifying to spend time with the Health Center winners and to learn more about the challenges and rewards of their careers.
Every day – in areas including our life-saving cardiac catheterization lab; our scleroderma service, part of the New England Musculoskeletal Institute; Correctional Managed Care; the NICU and more – these nurses advocate for patients and families, mentor colleagues and students and embrace creative, quality-improvement initiatives. Their work improves the lives of our patients on many levels and in many ways, and at the same time, inspires their peers and other members of our medical teams.
As an orthopaedic surgeon, I fully appreciate the vital role nurses play in the well-being of our patients. I am very proud of the UConn Health Center award winners and all nurses who contribute to the health of our region. Congratulations!
Support Coast to Coast for a Cure 2010
It’s the time of year when people around the Health Center start talking about their summer plans — whether it will be a special research project, an anticipated vacation with the family or a combination thereof.
For four of our School of Medicine students, the plans are quite clear. They will be riding at least 80 miles per day, rain or shine, as they pedal across the country to raise funds for the Lea’s Foundation for Leukemia Research.
Their journey is ambitious and awe-inspiring on many levels. For Loreen Fournier, Arturo Montano, Alex Ocampo and Stacy White, Jr., this summer is actually their last “free” time while attending medical school. All four are just completing their first year. And while they are all athletic and blessed with youth, none of them have ever done a bike trip of this magnitude.
The 2010 riders have set a goal of raising $50,000 for the Lea’s Foundation. It is important to note that the Lea’s Foundation has a special connection to the Health Center. Through the years, the Foundation has generously supported researchers, clinicians and programs at the Health Center, including the work of Dr. Pramod Srivastava and the establishment of the Lea’s Foundation Center for Hematologic Disorders, which is now part of our Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Because of this close connection, I urge all of you to join me in supporting this year’s ride. Look for more information throughout the Health Center in the weeks ahead about how you can give.
While not all of us can actually join Loreen, Arturo, Alex and Stacy on their trip, we can certainly be with them in spirit – and lend them our support and appreciation.
Thank you!
Members of the Health Center Community Volunteer Their Time in Haiti
Last week, a group of 11 men and women from the UConn Health Center community left for a 16-day medical mission to the University Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They are volunteering their time and talent with the International Medical Corps, a global humanitarian organization. They have promised to send me photos from their mission and here are a few that I just received.
The UConn team includes specially trained physicians, nurses and nurse practitioners including:
- Michael Fishcher, M.D., Internal Medicine
- Lynn Kosowicz, M.D., Internal Medicine
- Susan Levine, M.D., Internal Medicine (community physician; clinical faculty)
- Mitch McGrath, R.N., General Medicine
- Mary Beth Barry, A.P.R.N., Cardiology/General Medicine
- Laura Glynn, R.N., General Medicine
- Dawn Smith, R.N., General Medicine
- Katherine Anderson, R.N., General Medicine
- Kathleen Curley, R.N., General Medicine
- Christy Meyer, R.N., Emergency Medicine/ICU
- Rachel Jones, R.N., General Medicine
Though it has now been two months since the devastating earthquake, Haiti is still in dire need of medical attention and care. The needs are complex and it will take many more months, if not years, to rebuild its medical infrastructure. I look forward to the safe return of our Health Center group and appreciate the sacrifice they are making.