Pulse

February 22, 1999 PULSE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER Kristen M. Ries UMA Selects Kristen Ries 1999 Doctor of the Year Kristen M. Ries, M.D., professor of internal medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, has been named Doctor of the Year for 1999 by the Utah Medical Association (UMA). A nationally recognized physician advocate in the treatment of AIDS and HIV-infected patients, Ries was selected by the UMA Board of Trustees from nominees presented by the UMA Alliance. She will be honored in a ceremony at the Utah State Capitol on National Doctors' Day March 30, when Gov. Mike Leavitt will sign a Doctors' Day proclamation and present Ries with an award. Ries joined the University of Utah faculty in 1994, following 11 years in private practice in Salt Lake and a long affiliation with Salt Lake Regional Medical Center. She has held clinical and adjunct appointments in the medical school and College of Health for nearly 20 years and has taught the AIDS course for the U of U Physician Assistant Program since 1989. Following her 1967 graduation from the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, Ries spent a number of years at The Medical College of Pennsylvania- as chief medical resident, an infectious disease fellow and on the faculty. From 1976- 1982 she was in private practice in Vermillin, South Dakota and served as chief of staff at Dakota Hospital. Ries has made scores of presentations to both aca-demic and lay audiences across the country and has been widely honored by both professional and community groups. Healthy Eating Class Focuses on Stress/ Diet Nutrition Care Services is sponsoring a healthy eating class this Thursday from 4- 5: 30 p. m. at the Sugarhouse Health Center, 1138 East Wilmington Avenue ( 2200 South). The class will focus on methods for relieving stress and improving mental acuity through diet. For more information, contact Joan Clark, xl- 5474. In Memoriam Jeffrey L. Fox, Ph. D., associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the College of Pharmacy, died Friday, Feb. 12. He was 51. The author or co- author of more than 87 research articles, Fox is known for his work in creating a wide range of computer software programs for solving prob-lems in the areas of non- linear regression analysis, solution equilibria, solubilitym kinetics and multi-component mass transport. He was co- author of a patent for a method of preventing tooth decay by laser beam irradiation and chemical treatment. The recipient of several research grants from the National Institutes of Health, Fox was associate editor of the Journal of Pharmaceutics Sciences, a regular consult-ant for the American Dental Association and the 1980 co- recipient of the American Pharmaceutical Association's Ebert Prize. He was the mentor for more than 20 Ph. D. graduate students. Fox received his bachelor's degree in pharmacy from Ohio Northern University in 1970 and his Ph. D. in chemistry from the University of Michigan in 1977. Before joining the University of Utah faculty in 1982, he served as a research assistant professor at the University of Michigan. He is survived by his wife and two children. Don't Miss Wellness Fair This Wednesday The importance of a well- rounded life for long- term health is the focus of a wellness fair to be held this Wednesday, from 10 a. m.- 2 p. m. in the Union building's ballroom. Sponsored by a variety of campus organizations, the fair will help participants evaluate their intellectual, emotional, physical, social and spiritual wellness. For more information, contact Jeff Souder, Office of Health Promotion, x5- 5295. Campus Events Planned for Women's Week As part of the University's observance of Women's Week, March 1- 7, a variety of lectures, panel discussions, exhibits and performances are planned. The theme for this year's observance is " Breaking Boundaries: ' Women's Work.'" For more information call xl- 7569. For a complete list of event times and locations, visit Pulse online at www. med. utah. edu/ pubaffairs. Ci PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Health Fair Emphasizes Employee Fitness More than 400 employees recently took advantage of a health fair held in the hospital cafeteria. The event was sponsored by the Edwin L. & Grace G. Madsen Preventive Cardiology program and featured various screenings, tests, fitness counseling and information about employee health services. For more information about employee health resources and classes offered through the program, call xl- 5533 or visit their website at www. med. utah. edu/ cardio. Workshops Will Explore Connection Between Storytelling and Health Care From Anton Chekhov and Louisa May Alcott to Richard Selzer and Perri Klass, health care has a rich tradition of storytelling physicians and nurses, according to Suzanne Poirier, Ph. D., visiting professor of literature and medicine. Following in this tradition, Poirier will conduct a series of workshops, beginning next month, using storytelling to help health professionals evaluate the people and events that have shaped their lives and careers. " Whether health care turns professionals into storytellers or storytellers are drawn to the health professions, all clinicians are immersed in the drama of their patients' lives and are changed forever by that intimacy," said Poirier. She says the workshops will use oral and written stories to evaluate topics such as: what makes health care challenging and rewarding; what patients teach clinicians beyond the pathology of a disease; and how experiences can shape health care providers' goals. The workshops are open to all health sciences faculty, staff and students. However, space is limited and acceptance is based on a first- come basis. The group will meet twice a month from March to June. For more information or to enroll, contact Poirier, at xl- 2521. This Thursday's Cowan Lecture to Feature Grief Counseling Pioneer Sandra L. Bertman, Ph. D., a pioneer in the psychol-ogy of death and dying and grief counseling, will deliver the 1999 Max P. Cowan Lecture in Humanistic Medi-cine this Thursday at 4 p. m., in the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics auditorium. Bertman's topic is " Last Rites/ Rights: Making Decisions and Finding Meaning." Bertman is professor of humanities in medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and found-ing director of its Program of Medical Humanities. She teaches at both the Massachusetts medical school and the Graduate School of Nursing. She focuses on the use of arts and humanities in grief counseling and in the training of health- care practitioners in both clinical and academic settings. She will make two other local appearances. This Thursday at 8 a. m., she will discuss " Beyond Biology: Old Paradoxes and New Paradigms" at Internal Medicine Grand Rounds at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center Learning Services, Building 9 Theater. On March 1, she will talk about " Ultimate Decisions: How Patients Make Choices and Find Meaning" in a session of the ethics course for fourth- year medical students. ' Project Mitch' to Aid Hurricane Survivors " Project Mitch" is heading to Nicaragua in March. The project is a small volunteer effort organized by U medical students to help counteract the health problems of Hurricane Mitch survivors. Harry Rosado- Santos, M. D., assistant professor of internal medicine; Jonathan Castillo and Heidi Griess, second- year medical students and Scott Terry, an under-graduate student at Westminster College, are collecting donated medications, supplies and equipment to deliver to Clinica Samaritano in rural Nicaragua. Cash donations also are welcome. " There is always a need for money to buy medications, and it goes far because medications cost 50 percent less in Nicaragua," said Castillo, who is a native of that country. Rosado- Santos will be the attending physician and direct the students in assisting volunteer doctors and nurses at the clinic March 8- 12. Clinica Samaritano's entire medical staff is comprised of volunteers who have provided free health care to the poor of the area for six years. According to Castillo, after the torrential rains of Hurricane Mitch, epidemics have occurred and extra medical care and supplies are needed. Nicaragua was chosen for the student humanitarian effort because it has not received as much aid as Honduras and San Salvador, which also were struck by the storm, he said. For more information, page Castillo at 339- 1992. Only 27 days left until Spring!