Back to the Books, Winter Or Not!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

VOLUME 31 / NUMBER 16

www.uicnews.uic.edu

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UIC

NEWS

For the community of the University of Illinois at Chicago

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” — John Dewey

Photos: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin

As the new semester begins, the student centers are busy with activities for Winter Welcome Week. Left: Kimberly Randall tells Bolaji Oke-Samuel about Primo Dance Troupe at the Student Organization Fair in the Ward Lounge; Krystal Fowlkes and Sara Wissmiller have lunch in Inner Circle; Abdul Aduib, Mahair Chamout and Ahmad Alomari share a table in the Pier Room. The rest of the week includes Thirsty Thursday, with free hot chocolate and mentalist Craig Karges in Student Center West, and a UIC Fashion Show open house through Friday, Student Center East. More info at www.uic.edu/depts/campusprograms

Back to the books, winter or not!

Freshman steps up, leads Flames
Osamah Hasan’s dream: better

Dee Alexander balances careers

Architecture grad Dan Meis, the

to Horizon League victory

health care for developing nations

on campus and onstage

man with the Tatlin’s Tower tattoo

More on page 6

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UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I JANUARY 16, 2013

Send proﬁle ideas to Gary Wisby, [email protected]

proﬁle

His ambition: bringing health care to people of developing nations

By Gary Wisby

Osamah Hasan’s ambition is to be a globe-trotting physician, bringing primary health care to people in developing nations.
So last summer’s trip to Botswana, in
Southern Africa, was made to order.
Hasan was awarded a $4,500 Gilman
Scholarship for study abroad. e Council on International Education provided $2,250, UIC paid $1,500 and his parents came up with the $2,500 airfare.
A senior in biological sciences, Hasan chose Botswana because “I wanted to analyze HIV in the context of a developing nation,” he said.
Aﬅer neighboring Swaziland, Botswana has the second highest HIV infection rate in the world.
“People were dying at an alarming rate,” Hasan said. “ey had to do something.”
Botswana is the first African country to supply free medical care, which it can afford because it has the world’s largest diamond reserve — most of it owned by the De Beers Group — and a thriving tourism industry.
Hasan spent seven weeks there, one of a group of 19 students from the U.S. that also included fellow UIC student Carline Joseph.
ey were in class six hours for three days a week, and in clinic for two eight-hour days at two sites: in Gaborone, the capital city with a population of 230,000 (10 percent of Botswana’s population), and in the village of Serowe.
One physician treats 40 to 60 patients a day at the urban clinic. A physician in the village sees 30 to 40 over two days of the week. Nurses and health educators assist.
“A language and culture practicum helped me engage with the community,” Hasan said.
Botswana residents, known as Batswana, speak Setswana, a language in which many words have two different meanings, depending on context.
“I was able to pick it up quickly,” Hasan said, partly because he stayed with a family in the village.
“at helped me gain proficiency, to the point I wasn’t shy to speak with patients,” he said.
Although most of the urban patients and about half of the rural ones know English, “when they enter the room and you’re speaking Setswana, it puts them at their ease,” he said. “I was using English too, and a lot of hand gestures.”
As for culture, he learned that every community is different.

Osamah Hasan, pictured with a village elder, studied HIV in Botswana last summer after receiving a Gilman Scholarship for study abroad. “My conviction [to be a physician] has never been stronger, because of this experience,” says Hasan, a senior in biological sciences.

ders that we Americans do.”
Middle East,” he said, including the health care system, the

culture and the language.
He already knows something of the region, having spent the first 10 years of his life in Saudi Arabia before moving with his family to Glen Ellyn.
He is a peer mentor at his dorm, the Student Residence and Courtyard, where he’s responsible for coming up with an educational program each month. He’s also a member of the Honors College.
As a Muslim, he makes visits to his family in Saudi Arabia that have included pilgrimages to Mecca. He prays five times a day, in his room or at prayer sessions in Student Center East.
Now, about his first name, Osamah: does it cause any comment?
Yes, especially at airports, where security is a priority. At Buffalo Niagara International Airport, which he passed through while visiting relatives in Canada, an airline employee asked Hasan, “Why don’t you change your name to Oscar?”
In their time off, the students visited cultural and heritage sites such as Manyana Rock, scene of thousand-year-old paintings by bushmen.
At shops and flea markets, they bought giﬅs for their families and Batswana home-stay families.

He started a blog — botswanapublichealth.blogspot — “to

encourage other students to go on study abroad,” he said.
Hasan, who is of Indian descent, met Batswana whose ancestors were slaves, brought from India to South Africa or neighboring Zimbabwe in the 1800s.
His experience in the African nation “helped me reﬂect on the nature of medicine and my desire to pursue a career in it,” he said.
“It gave me a deep insight into how Botswana turned its health care system around. My conviction [to be a physician] has never been stronger, because of this experience.”
Aﬅer he graduates next year, Hasan hopes to spend a year in Jordan as a Fulbright scholar before starting medical school.
“Each tribe has its own culture and customs,” Hasan said.
“Putting [Africans] in one category is one of the greatest blun-
“I’ve seen what Africa is like; now I want to learn about the

[email protected]

quotable

“For research to be optimally useful, it has to be available. If we keep it from other people, it’s questionable what the purpose of it is.”
“You might ask some questions about how strict people are. Is it neighborly, is it friendly?”
“When the police are respectful, people are more likely to cooperate and report crime. This will put a dent in the no-snitch culture.”

Steve Jones, professor of communication, on the movement
Evan McKenzie, associate professor of politi-
Dennis Rosenbaum, professor of criminology, on a UIC survey of residents’ attitudes toward Chicago police ofﬁcers,

Jan. 10 Chicago Sun-Times

toward Internet openness and the death of Aaron Swartz, one of its proponents, who faced federal prosecution for downloading millions of academic journal articles, Jan. 14 Chicago Tribune cal science, on how potential homebuyers can avoid conﬂicts with homeowners association governance and enforcement of rules, Jan. 12 Evansville, Ind., Courier-Press

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JANUARY 16, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu

UIC among top 20 schools for online bachelor’s degree

By Anne Brooks Ranallo

in 2009, and we started hearing from students who needed on online bachelor’s program. Ours includes the same courses, taught by the same faculty, as the campus program,” she said.
UIC ranks 18th in the nation among schools oﬀering an online bachelor’s degree, according to

new rankings in U.S. News & World Report.

e magazine compiled the 2013 rankings according to graduation rates, faculty credentials, indebtedness of new graduates and academic and career support services offered to students. It ranked 160 institutions and listed 65 others without rank.
UIC offers two bachelor’s degrees online, both in health-related fields: nursing and health information management.
e bachelor of science in health information management is an alternative to the campusbased degree program that began in 1965, said Karen Patena, director of health information management programs.
e bachelor of science in nursing is designed for licensed nurses. e program requires 30 semester-hours toward the credential of registered nurse.
“Online, we can expand as enrollment grows, and we’ve created an effective pipeline for nursing students who have graduated from community colleges throughout Illinois,” said Cordelia Maloney, executive director of UIC’s School of Continuing Studies.
“A significant portion of the faculty are tenured. e program delivers content in a variety of ways including collaborations and projects like videotaping a health assessment,” Maloney said. “And the students are well supported throughout, with online academic advising and substantial technical support.”
For more information on the online health information management program, visit www.

ahs.uic.edu/bhis/academics/him

“is is a hot, important ﬁeld, and students are changing,” Patena said.
“ey’re working, and many can’t be on campus every day,.”
Students learn to manage and use data and information systems for health care planning, provision, resource allocation and executive decision-making.
For more information on online nursing

studies, visit www.uic.edu/scs/nursing/bsn/ [email protected]

Management Association certiﬁcation exam for registered health information administrators.

Graduates may take the American Health Information

“We first offered an online post-baccalaureate certificate

Hospital sees increase in patients as inﬂuenza cases on rise

By Christy Levy

More hospitalizations from the influenza virus are being reported across the country, including at the University of Illinois Hospital.
“Consistent with reports from the Chicago Department of Public Health, the University of Illinois Hospital is seeing an increase of influenza cases in its emergency department, outpatient clinics and among patients who are admitted to the hospital,” said Maryann Gierloff, associate director of infection control.
“It’s not too late to get vaccinated and we are encouraging individuals over 6 months of age to get their flu shots.”
e hospital is enforcing temporary restrictions on visitors, asking those who have a cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose or muscle aches not to visit patients. If visitors with flu symptoms come to the hospital, they are asked to wear a mask.
As more cases of influenza are reported, it’s a good time to get a flu shot, says UIC epidemiologist Mark Dworkin.
“e bottom line is that the current vaccine does overlap with the majority of that is circulating presently, so it’s a good match,” said Dworkin, professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health.
irty-eight states — including Illinois — have reported moderate or high levels of influenza-like illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Compared to the last few years, this is earlier for us to ob-

Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin

serve the widespread activity that’s being reported,” Dworkin

Students who have insurance through the CampusCare plan can receive free ﬂu shots by appointment at the Family Medicine Center. Free ﬂu shots are available each fall on campus to UIC employees and retirees from the state’s Central Management Services agency.

said.
Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance providers are kin said.
Although the influenza strain has reached many people, it doesn’t appear to be a pandemic, said David Marder, director of the University Health Service.
“It’s more the usual flu outbreak right now and it’s not acting like a potential pandemic, which was the concern with H1N1 a few years ago,” he said.
Students and employees should do their best to keep the virus from spreading, Marder said.
“It’s always better to get the flu shot than not to get it,” he said. “If you end up getting sick, the flu shot will cover the strains of influenza that are known to cause the biggest complications.
“And if you’re sick, don’t come to campus.” ose who are sick should also practice preventative hygiene, such as covering their coughs and washing their hands regularly, Dworkin said. required to provide free flu shots every year. Students who have insurance through the CampusCare plan can receive free flu shots at the Family Medicine Center. For an appointment, call 312-996-2901.
Still, getting a yearly flu shot won’t guarantee complete protection from the influenza virus, Dworkin said.
“It doesn’t mean that people who have been vaccinated can’t get the flu — it means if they get the flu, they’re more likely to have a minor illness or avoid hospitalization,” Dwor-

[email protected]

4

Send campus news to Sonya Booth, [email protected]

campus news

Prices rise for CTA passes

An increase in the cost of CTA passes, eﬀective Jan. 14, means UIC employees who purchase monthly passes through transit beneﬁt deduction will see a change in their biweekly or monthly paychecks.

Year-long celebration for Dentistry’s centennial

By Bill Bike

e monthly fare for the Chicago Card
Plus, good for use on CTA buses and trains, increased from $86 to $100.
is week, the College of Dentistry begins a year-long celebration of a centennial milestone, marking the year it joined the University of Illinois.
For employees paid biweekly, the change appeared on their Jan. 2 paycheck. Employees paid monthly will see the change in their Feb. 15 check.
“It will be a year of honoring not only the college’s history, but the alumni, friends, students, faculty, staﬀ and corporate and organized dentistry partners who have embraced our commitment to excellence in dental education and who have been inspired by our vision to make our college a world leader over the past 100 years,” said dean Bruce Graham.
For more information, call 312-413-5800.

Take time to give blood

Blood donors must now have an appointment to give blood at campus drives.
ose who want to give blood should email donor coordinator Drew Ross at [email protected]. Walk-ins will be accepted only if there is an open slot.
UIC will host several drives for National
Blood Donor Month. Donors receive a hospital/UIC Flames sweatshirt.

• African American Academic Network

Blood Drive, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 22, Conference Rooms B and C, Student Services Building

• College of Pharmacy Blood Drive, 9

a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 24, B8 Pharmacy

• OCC/Phlebotomy Department Blood

Drive, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 29-31, Outpatient Care Clinic lobby
e centennial year celebration begins today with a pizza party before the UIC vs. Loyola men’s basketball game and ends Nov. 16 with a black-tie gala in the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom.
In the months between, there will be receptions, reunions, a golf outing, a riverboat trip and a continuing education cruise.
Other highlights include:

• Clinic and Research Day March 7,

with keynote speaker James E. Melvin, clinical director of the National Insti-
For more information on centennial events, e-mail [email protected], visit

dentistry.uic.edu/centennial, facebook.com/

UICDentCentennial or call 312-996-0485.

[email protected]

tute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

• a Dental Student Council Spring Formal • a conference,“Hundred Years of Research

Excellence: Celebrating our College’s Legacy,” June 16 to June 20.

• College of Medicine Blood Drive, 9

a.m-2 p.m. Feb. 7, ompson Room, Student

Center West.

Foreign national employees can now

receive 1042-S tax form electronically.
Request an online W-2 or
1042-S form through NESSIE at

https://nessie.uihr.uillinois.edu

e form is available through the
“compensation” tab.
e 40,000 employees who received their W-2 electronically last year do not need to sign up again this year.
Employees who do not receive the
W-2 electronically will be mailed a copy.
For more information, call 312-996-
7200.

Get your U-Pass

Blackboard upgrade

e UIC Blackboard Learn system has been upgraded to a new Blackboard-hosted environment.
Students can pick up their CTA U-Pass through next week in 1790 Student Services Building.
All full-time students are assessed a $109 nonrefundable CTA transportation fee during can now enroll in courses.

Free dental screenings

UIC dental students will give free screenings from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 26 at the College of Dentistry as they prepare for their licensing exam.
Patients must be at least 18 years old. No appointment required.
e site is up and running and students the fall semester for the pass, which is good for unlimited rides on CTA buses and trains during the academic sessions.
U-Passes can be picked up 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Friday and Jan. 22-25.
For more information, email idcenter@

uic.edu

e U-Pass program now includes paratransit services for eligible students.
To be eligible, students must present a certiﬁcation letter from the RTA to the UIC ID Center. Eligible students will receive PACE ADA One Ride Tickets for paratransit services.
For more information, call the ID Center at 312-413-5940 or the Disability Resource Center at 312-413-2183.
Download a beginning-of-the-semester checklist and read information about the new system and its features online at

http://bit.ly/10mC7ps

Additional screenings will be held Feb. 9 and 16.

Online tax information

Employees can sign up through today to receive their Form W-2 online.

Boost soccer skills

e Flames will host the eighth annual
UIC Soccer Summer Camp June 10 through July 29.
Soccer head coach Sean Phillips leads the camp, which offers five one-week sessions with three age-specific options.
“We are excited to continue to offer each camper, regardless of age or ability, the opportunity to maximize their potential and passion for the great game of soccer,” Phillips said.
e Little Stars camp is an introductory camp for children ages 4 and 5.
e half-day camp, for children 5 to 14, focuses on fundamental soccer skills and games. e full-day camp includes additional technical and tactical development skills.
e UIC Soccer Elite Training Campus is open to boys ages 12 to 18. Residential and commuter options are available.

Presenters wanted

Organizers of the annual Women’s Leadership Symposium, planned for June 6, are seeking volunteer presenters for two-hour workshops during the daylong event.
Presentations should take a broad view of leadership development, including career and workplace issues, work/life balance, self exploration and empowerment.
Submit proposals through Feb. 8 at wlrc@ uic.edu or by fax at 312-413-8393.
For more information and to register, visit

http://www.uicsoccercamp.com

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JANUARY 16, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu

Jazz vocalist balances career on campus, onstage

By Alex Rauch

Walk into the Oﬃce of Research Services, and the ﬁrst person to greet you might be internationally recognized jazz vocalist Deleatrice Alexander, better known as Dee.
Alexander has worked at UIC for about as long as she’s been singing jazz: 22 years.

“I make the best of both worlds and I am grateful for it.”

Known for her vocal style, which integrates the sounds of instruments and birds into her songs, her honors include a 2012 3Arts Award, Chicago Tribune Chicagoan of the Year and two Chicago Music Awards for Jazz Entertainer of the Year. She’s one of 25 Chicagoans selected for the Chicago Reader’s People Issue 2012.
Alexander has performed around the world and close to home, appearing at the Chicago Jazz Festival, Ravinia and Millennium Park (including a tribute to Nelson Mandala led by Orbert Davis, UIC clinical associate professor of jazz and education).
She’ll appear Jan. 28 at “e Dinner Party” at Chicago’s Mayne
Stage before traveling to Italy with her own group, Evolution En-

Photo: Alex Rauch

semble, for the release of a live album recorded there last year.

Jazz vocalist Dee Alexander, a staff member in the Ofﬁce of Research Services, performs Jan. 28 at Chicago’s Mayne Stage, then travels to Italy to release a live album with Evolution Ensemble. “I work all day and then I’ll go home, get ready and go do a gig,” she says.

How does she successfully combine her careers on campus and onstage?
“I work all day and then I’ll go home, get ready and go do a gig,” she says.
“What I want to do is a tribute to my mother. I want to call

it, ‘Songs my Mother Loved.’
“It’s going to be some of the songs I grew up on, that I listened to her singing.”

Hear Dee Alexander talk about her music, including her work with R. Kelly and the inﬂuence of Sun Ra, in a UIC News podcast interview online at http://news.uic.edu/uicnews

“Some people say, ‘You still have a job? Why are you working?’ “I make the best of both worlds and I am grateful for it.” Her next album will be a project close to her heart.

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The man with the Tatlin’s Tower tattoo

For two decades, Meis has created stadiums, arenas and ballparks that, aesthetically and functionally, are designed to look as if they’re on the move, much like the athletes and rock stars who perform in them.
Some of his venues actually do move — shrinking by thousands of seats to accommodate a concert, then expanding again to their full size to host a soccer game.
Meis completed his ﬁrst expandable stadium 12 years ago, aﬅer entering a 1994 design competition for the Saitama Super Arena in Japan where he prevailed over a host of betterknown architects.