Diving Down to Find Cure for Deadly Disease

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

VOLUME 31 / NUMBER 28 www.uicnews.uic.edu

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“Freshwater environments are a new frontier for drug-lead discovery.”

Brian Murphy, a faculty member in the College of Pharmacy and the Institute for Tuberculosis Research, goes far afield in his research. Murphy collects bacteria from water throughout the world in his search for new antibiotics to treat tuberculosis, a disease that killed more than 1.4 million in 2011 as it continues to develop new drug-resistant strains. Read more about research by Murphy and his colleagues on page 5. Diving down to find cure for deadly disease

Maria Carrasco is rapturous about UIC Theatre’s latest production an Congressman gets a closer look Softball out-hits Valpo in raptors optimistic classic at UIC-developed technology weekend series More on page 2 More on page 4 More on page 6 More on page 12 2 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I APRIL 17, 2013

profile Send profile ideas to Gary Wisby, [email protected] Maria Carrasco takes injured birds under her wing By Gary Wisby

Maria Carrasco’s work with owls and other raptors can be traced to the 210 million-gallon BP oil spill in 2010. Carrasco, a staff member in the Jane Ad- dams College of Social Work, volunteered to go to the Gulf of Mexico to help clean the birds coated by oil. After she was turned down because she wasn’t a licensed bird rehabilitator, she signed up for training at the Ojai Raptor Center in Ojai, Calif. Now she returns there regularly to volunteer. Her duties include assisting with medical examinations — taking a bird out of its cage and holding it while it’s treated. “You have to grab tight and never let go,” she said. “The birds make this hissing sound.” When a bird is too weak to eat, Carrasco puts a feeding tube down its throat. With an injured bird, she swabs down the wound or wraps the damaged part. She feeds frozen or live rats to the raptors. “The live rats are used for training for birds that are going back to the wild,” Carrasco said. “You put the rat in a box with the bird and see if it can catch it.” She also cleans cages and replenishes food and water. A bird that won’t make it in the wild must be euthanized. “That’s hard,” Carrasco said. She’s cared for barred owls, barn owls, falcons, red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks and great horned owls. Social work staff member Maria Carrasco, with a barred owl, volunteers with the Ojai Raptor Center in California. “It’s very fulfilling to be able Of the latter, she said, “They’re very powerful — their to nurse them back to health, and wonderful to release them back into the wild,” she says. “It’s the least I can do — that’s my contribution.” claws could probably crush your hand bone. I don’t try to pet them.” Of the red-shouldered hawks, she said, “I had the honor to structor evaluates that the student is meeting the competen- Until 2006, Carrasco was assistant to the associate dean, release one on my last day at Ojai. cies expected in his or her area of study.” then left to help with her mother’s health issues for a couple of “It’s very fulfilling to be able to nurse them back to health, Some of the field instructors are UIC grads. years before returning. and wonderful to release them back into the wild,” Carrasco “When they get placed, they contact us so they can set up She lives in Rogers Park with her husband, Mario Quesada, said. “It’s the least I can do — that’s my contribution.” the internship program and monitor students,” she said. office manager at the Center for Neighborhood Technology. In her office, she has photos of raptors on the wall behind She also organizes events such as workshops and an an- Carrasco enjoys hiking and birding. She has also volun- her computer. On top of a filing cabinet is a bowl filled with nual field instructors’ breakfast. teered at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln feathers she’s found on walks around campus, including ones Carrasco started out in what is now the Lakeview neigh- Park, replenishing food for birds in the butterfly exhibit — from Rosie, UIC’s resident peregrine falcon, and her mate. borhood, moving to Ecuador — where her diplomat father is nectar for honeycreepers, chopped fruits and greens for other Carrasco is assistant to the director for field instruction in from — when she was 2 or 3. songbirds, and a dry kibble for button quail. the Jane Addams College of Social Work. The family returned to Chicago when she was 9 or 10, She loves the birds she watches and cares for, and feels a She handles paperwork for master’s degree students doing moving from there to Baton Rouge, La. responsibility towards them. their internships. Her office has placed about 300 students She pursued secretarial work after high school and started “We are stewards of the earth,” she said. “It’s important for with 252 agencies. her studies at UIC when she was in her 30s. us to preserve and protect the birds. She also works with field instructors. After earning a bachelor’s degree she taught English as a “They’re so free. To see them soaring in the sky, the free- “They supervise the social work intern in the field, where second language at Truman College from 1998 to 2003, when dom of flight — they are just beautiful creatures.” theory and practice come together,” she said. “The field in- she joined UIC. [email protected]

quotable

“The Screen Actors Guild commissioned a study that “If the Internal Revenue Service had the capacity to “A lot of girls in my class, including me, are like, ‘Eh, shows only one-half of 1 percent of words spoken on catch those who knowingly or unknowingly evade the we don’t know if we want to be in big manufacturing television are by people with disabilities.” law, the burden on those who comply with the law plants where they make big engines and it’s noisy.’” could be lowered.” College of Engineering senior Nadya Fogarty, who in- Carrie Sandahl, associate professor of disability and hu- James Thompson, associate professor of public adminis- terned at a GE locomotive plant, in an article on the lack of man development, on the inaccurate portrayal in the media tration, on the need for stricter IRS enforcement of tax laws, women in manufacturing, April 15 Crain’s Chicago of the lives of people with disabilities, April 14 ABC 7 News April 14 USA Today Business

APRIL 17, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 3 Training health sciences students to work together

By Christy Levy

For each patient, there are many pieces to the puzzle. After being admitted to the hospital, patients interact with nurses, doctors and pharmacists. Meanwhile, their records are in the hands of staff members who work in health informatics. And specialists may be consulted. With so many people involved in the health care delivery system, communication is key, said Mary Keehn, clinical associate professor of occupational therapy. It’s crucial to educate the next generation of health care workers about the importance of collaboration, she said. “One of the biggest problems related to patient safety is the amount of errors made in medical care, and a lot of that comes down to communication,” said Keehn, associate dean for clinical affairs in the College of Applied Health Sciences. “Research shows that when health care professionals work together more successfully, it improves patient outcomes and reduces costs.” More than 800 UIC students — and 150 via satellite from the College of Medicine’s Rockford campus — gathered at the UIC Forum April 5 for Interprofessional Immersion Day. Health sciences students were assigned tables and collaborated with their peers to discuss three fictional patient scenarios. Students from 11 health sciences programs were divided so that a variety of disciplines were present at each Photo: Mark Mershon table — from physical therapy and medicine to nursing and UIC health sciences students talk through medical scenarios during Interprofessional Immersion Day April 5 at the UIC Forum. nutrition. A faculty member joined each table as a group facilitator, make this kind of collaboration happen in a real setting,” said Garwood took the opportunity to teach her peers about guiding students to share their perspectives on each scenario, Bell, project coordinator in the University Health Service. her profession. simulated onstage by the Graham Clinical Performance Cen- Bell’s group decided that regularly scheduled meetings “What we bring to the table is a bigger, holistic view of a ter. among members of a patient’s health care team would im- person,” she said. “We look at what motivates a person to do The event was sponsored by the Collaborative for Excel- prove communication. Using his expertise, Bell also suggested something and find ways to help people return to their best lence in Interprofessional Education, which includes faculty that health care workers review each other’s reports and charts life possible.” members from the health sciences colleges, library science through digitized medical records. Garwood’s group talked about improving collaboration and the Office of Diversity. “In the scenario, the patient didn’t feel heard and if the through more efficient electronic communication. But trying The group presented a pilot seminar to about 30 students clinicians utilized electronic medical records, it will reduce to patch the holes in patient care is a large undertaking, she last spring and expanded it this year to include more students frustration levels for patients,” he said. said. and greater collaboration, Keehn said. Katie Garwood, a graduate student in occupational thera- “We just barely touched the surface,” she said. “It’s a really Talking through the scenarios provided a variety of per- py, discovered that some health sciences students don’t really big challenge set before you. spectives, said Christopher Bell, a graduate student in health understand what occupational therapists do. “I appreciate that we had this day to think about how we informatics. “One of our roles is to advocate for our role in the health can be agents of change who want to stand up and say, ‘We “There’s usually not a lot of interprofessional communica- care team and how we contribute to a health care team,” she want to make health care better and we have to do it as a tion — there are barriers as to why this doesn’t happen now said. “We need to communicate with doctors and nurses to t e am .’” and we worked through the barriers to find the best way to show them what part of the puzzle we can help solve.” [email protected] Considering patients’ circumstances improves outcomes

By Sherri McGinnis González cago VA facilities. The doctors had all agreed to participate “If the patient has, for example, a chronic condition like in the study but were not told which patients were recording diabetes or hypertension that’s going out of control, we would Patients’ health outcomes improve when physicians indi- them. say that’s also a contextual issue and probably a sign that vidualize care and take their patients’ life circumstances into “Incognito audio recording provides accurate information something is going on in that patient’s life that needs to be ad- account, according to a new study by UIC and the U.S. De- about how doctors practice that you can’t obtain any other dressed,” Weiner said. partment of Veterans Affairs. way,” said Alan Schwartz, professor In the study, the researchers reviewed the patient’s medi- The study, the largest ever conducted, used real patients to and associate head of medical educa- cal record and evaluated the recordings to determine if a care collect data about their doctors’ behavior through concealed tion, co-author of the paper. plan was patient-centered by answering three questions: audio recorders. The researchers developed a cod- • Are there contextual red flags? “What our study really tells us is that the information ing method to score physicians • If so, did the physician recognize the red flags and that patients divulge during appointments about their life based on whether they individual- question the patient about contextual factors that could be situation is critical to address and take into account if we’re ized a patient’s care plan by taking addressed in a care plan, or did the patient volunteer such looking for optimal health care outcomes,” said Saul Weiner, into account key contextual factors, information? the study’s lead author, a professor of medicine, pediatrics such as financial hardship, transpor- • If so, did the physician address the contextual factors in and medical education at UIC and staff physician at the Jesse tation problems, competing respon- the recommended care plan? The patients were followed for up to nine months to evalu- Brown VA Medical Center. Saul Weiner sibilities, social support and other One of the study’s goals was to determine if patient- factors. ate their health care outcomes and determine if the original centered decision making — identifying clinically relevant Inattention to such issues leads to what are called “contex- red flag had been partially or fully resolved. information about a patient’s circumstances or behaviors — tual errors” in patient care. The study, which appears in the April 16 issue of Annals of affected health care outcomes. For example, if a patient missed a lot of appointments, that Internal Medicine, is funded by the U.S. Department of Veter- The study recruited 774 real patients who secretly audio would be a red flag — something the physician should ask ans Affairs. recorded their visits with 139 resident physicians at two Chi- about because it interferes with the patient’s care. [email protected] 4 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I APRIL 17, 2013

campus news Send campus news to Sonya Booth, [email protected]

Home away from home More guest suites will soon be available on campus for family members and friends Theatre closes season with optimistic classic of patients at UI Hospital and other nearby hospitals in the Medical District. By Anne Brooks Ranallo In 2011, UIC collaborated with the IMD Guest House Foundation to provide an in- The UIC Theatre will end its season expensive and convenient place for hospital with an uplifting classic: William Saroyan’s patients’ family members. This summer, the Pulitzer-winning “The Time of Your Life.” number of guest rooms available for patient Yasen Peyankov, head of theatre stud- families in the Single Student Residence will ies, will direct the play. As an ensemble expand to 30. member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Com- The suites include a bedroom, living room pany, he played Nick in Steppenwolf’s with sleeper sofa and kitchen area. They are 2002 production in Chicago, Seattle and fully furnished with flat-screen TVs, dishes, San Francisco, Saroyan’s hometown. cookware and linens. His role gave him a director’s perspec- Proceeds from an event Thursday support tive by allowing him to absorb all the the IMD Guest House Foundation. Tickets characters’ stories just as a real bar owner for “Cosmetics that Care,” 5 to 8 p.m. Thurs- might — “in the therapist’s role, without day at Bloomingdale’s on Michigan Avenue, being judgmental,” he says. are $35 for individuals ($40 on day of event) “The Time of Your Life” is set in De- or $60 per couple. Bloomingdale’s will donate pression-era San Francisco in a waterfront 10 percent of purchases made during the dive, Nick’s Pacific Street Saloon. event to the foundation. When the play premiered in 1939, it Photo: Benjamin Ponce Yasen Peyankov (center) directs Mikey Saubert (from left,) Quincey Krull and Trace Hamilton in the For more information, visit evoked optimism through the bar’s eccen- UIC Theatre production of “The Time of Your Life,” which opens Friday. www.imdguesthouse.org tric denizens: a beleaguered cop, striking longshoremen and a frustrated dancer Time for recess turned prostitute; several characters out of American spirit of pulling together as a group life, live … Seek goodness everywhere, Celebrate the end of spring semester next their time and place, like an Eastern phi- through hard times. In that sense, it’s a great and when it is found, bring it out of its week with fun and games at Recess. losopher and Kit Carson; and the central piece of ensemble theatre that we have the hiding place and let it be free and un- The festival, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Lec- character, the mysteriously wealthy Joe, talent to pull off really well.” ashamed.” ture Center Plaza, includes roller-skating, who indulges his whims and tries to put The set will express the bar-as-therapy The lines are not spoken in most pro- airbrush tattoos, food, giveaways, games and wayward lives back on track. idea, with a WPA-style mural and lighting ductions. more. Peyankov finds that student actors that shows the scene through Joe’s eyes. Out- “They will be in mine,” Peyankov says. The event is sponsored by Campus Pro- born about five decades after the Depres- side Nick’s, concrete, steel and the real look of “That’s kind of the play in a nutshell.” grams and Undergraduate Student Govern- sion connect with the characters on their the UIC Theatre represent the realm of a rag- Performance times are April 19, 20, 25, ment. own level, in part because America again ing labor strike. 26, and 27 at 7:30 p.m.; April 21 and 28 at Rain date is May 1. faces high unemployment, out-of-control “The contrast will be reflected in the 2 p.m.; and April 24 at noon. All perfor- capitalism and war. warm, earthy tones of the bar setting and the mances are in the UIC Theatre, 1044 W. Tackling challenges “It’s been amazing to hear it sound industrial-looking elements of our theater,” Harrison St. Larry R. Faulkner, president emeritus of so fresh, rolling so naturally out of their Peyankov says. “If the outside world is one of Tickets are $11 to $16 and may be pur- the University of Texas at Austin, will address mouths,” he says. “They’ve embraced the strife, the bar is one of peaceful coexistence chased at the box office or online at http:// challenges facing higher education at a lec- plight of the characters and they give and understanding.” bitly.com/11dFuLp. ture today. ultra-truthful performances. He points to a paragraph that begins the For information, call 312-996-2939. His talk, “Wise and Effective Academic “The play has an unmistakenly written form of the play: “In the time of your [email protected] Governance in an Age of Challenge,” begins at 4 p.m. in Student Center West’s Thompson Rooms. At the forum, activists, researchers and through the sponsorship of the Robert Wood as the organization and entering affiliate ID Faulkner has more than four decades of physicians will discuss cancer prevention and Johnson Foundation at www.tedmedlive.org, L61670. experience in higher education. He was Uni- treatment, as well as the importance of know- selection “Robert Wood Johnson Foundation” For more information, email [email protected] versity of Texas president from 1998 to 2006. ing family history and background. He was a member of the chemistry faculty The free event includes lunch; registra- at Harvard University, the University of Il- tion is required at https://illinois.edu/fb/ linois at Urbana-Champaign and the Univer- sec/5119900 or by calling 312-413-9137. sity of Texas. At UIUC, he was also a department head, Free TEDMED broadcast dean and provost. UIC audiences can watch a free simulcast The presentation is part of the third an- of TEDMed 2013, a multidisciplinary meeting nual lecture and event series presented by at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Chancellor Paula Allen-Meares. through April 21. For more information, call 312-413-3350. Gary Slutkin, professor of epidemiology and executive director of the CureViolence Black men and cancer prevention program (formerly CeaseFire), A town hall forum on the impact of cancer will speak in a session today from 4:30 to 6 on black men and their families will be held p.m. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Malcolm X Slutkin’s session will be streamed live in College Cultural Center, 1900 W. Van Buren the first floor auditorium of the School of St. Public Health and Psychiatric Institute, 1603 Cancer is the second-greatest cause of W. Taylor St. death for black men in the U.S. All the sessions can be viewed online APRIL 17, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 5 Key to TB cure could lie underwater

By Sam Hostettler Keys and Vietnam, as well as the freshwaters of the Great Lakes. The search for a cure for deadly infectious dis- From his collection, he and Franzblau have iden- eases has led Brian Murphy deep underwater. tified eight aquatic actinomyces strains that target Murphy, assistant professor of medicinal non-replicating tuberculosis. chemistry and pharmacognosy, is collecting ac- A promising new class of compounds with drug- tinomycete bacteria from water throughout the like potency that emerged from their screenings is world in a hunt for new antibiotics. the focus of the new grant, Murphy said. He and Scott Franzblau, director of UIC’s In- It was isolated from sediment collected 260 feet stitute for Tuberculosis Research, are lead inves- below the surface of Lake Michigan. tigators on a new, three-year, $1.1 million grant “Freshwater environments are a new frontier for from the Defense Department to find compounds drug-lead discovery,” Murphy said. “Actinomycetes to fight tuberculosis, a disease that killed more have the ability to produce molecules that have a than 1.4 million people worldwide in 2011. high potential for use as medicines, and very little is As a killer, tuberculosis — caused by a bacteri- known about these bacteria in such environments.” um that most often attacks the lungs — is second The UIC team will be the first to explore each of only to HIV among infectious agents, according the five Great Lakes for antibiotic-producing acti- to the World Health Organization. The bacteria nomycete bacteria. The researchers will evaluate the lie dormant in about one-third of the population, viability of freshwater systems as a source for drug- and 8 million new cases are reported annually. lead discovery. U.S. military personnel face a much higher “If we can understand the capacity for these bac- risk of tuberculosis than American civilians, due teria to produce new, small-molecule drug leads, it to their frequent deployment in developing coun- will help guide a global freshwater discovery effort,” tries where infection rates are higher, Murphy Murphy said. said. Some units are stationed in locations where Multi-drug and extensively drug-resistant strains the spread of tuberculosis is a major hazard. of tuberculosis, which are unaffected by first- and “Novel drug scaffolds that can reduce the second-line drug regimens, are the most serious spread of tuberculosis throughout the military threat, Franzblau said. and quickly address a tuberculosis epidemic are Franzblau said lengthy treatment is required to in serious need,” he said. eliminate slow-growing or non-replicating tuber- Murphy has so far collected a “library” of culosis. nearly 1,000 actinomycete strains, and 1,200 “Perhaps the most problematic aspect of tuber- samples of biochemicals they produce, from ma- culosis treatment is its duration,” Murphy said. UIC researcher Brian Murphy is collecting bacteria from water throughout the world to search rine waters off Massachusetts, Maine, the Florida [email protected] for new antibiotics for tuberculosis, a disease that killed 1.4 million in 2011. 6 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I APRIL 17, 2013

Putting psychology field experience into practice By Christy Levy

It was his experience outside the classroom that gave Marcus VanSickle the edge getting into graduate school. VanSickle, a 2011 UIC graduate, completed an applied psychology fieldwork course that let him put what he learned in the classroom into practice. “My internship gave me assessment and interviewing experience — two big clinical experiences that are very hard to get in an undergraduate program and were very well received in my graduate school interviews,” said VanSickle, a doctoral student in clinical psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. “My internship gave me a big-picture view of how everything I was learning in my courses applied in the real world.” UIC’s applied psychology program includes an intensive one-semester internship, called Fieldwork in Psychology. Students must select “My internship internships to apply for from a pool of gave me a big- 220 approved sites, picture view of how ranging from urban after-school programs everything I was to domestic violence shelters. learning in my “Students get right courses applied in into the thick of it Daisy Soto (top, left) is among several UIC applied psychology students who interned at Mujeres Latinas En Accion, then found a job there. and get their hands Kathryn Engel (top row, third from left) helps students find the best match for their one-semester internship. Other UIC alumnae who interned the real world.” dirty — they do a lot and now work at Mjueres Latinas En Accion include (top row, from left) Yurianna Reyes, Mayra Quiroa, Maria Leon, Martha Ramirez and Alma of everything because Vargas, and (bottom row, from left) Erika Aguirre, Estela Melgoza, Roxana Franco and Jennifer Hernandez. the sites are really welcoming of them,” said Kathryn Engel, director of internships in applied psychology and lecturer in psychology. “Our students are well-prepared and have strong foun- dren she serves, Students who complete the internship program have dational skills to bring into the community,” she said. “The Soto said. advanced to top graduate programs and found strong con- internships are fabulous and we give them a lot of training “I’ve been able nections for networking; some have been offered full-time and support along the way to land these internships.” to pick up signs if jobs, Engel said. Elizabeth Garcia’s experience in the field helped her find I see them feeling “Some have been hired before the course was even over,” the right career path. anxious or ner- she said. “Our students are functioning at a much higher During her internship at the Manuel Saura Center, which vous,” she said. “I’ll level, which is why our interns are so well-received out provides an alternative to juvenile detention, Garcia helped help them under- t h e re .” youths ages 10 to 17 learn coping mechanisms for anger stand what’s going Before they look for internships, applied psychology management. on and that they’re students must complete prerequisite courses that teach them “I didn’t know places like this existed. The kids really going to be safe.” the skills they’ll need, such as interviewing and assessment. picked up a lot and took away life lessons to help them in the VanSickle future,” said Garcia, who gradu- completed his ated in spring 2011. fieldwork with Garcia found her passion for UIC’s Institute for working with kids through the in- Disabilities and ternship and has sought out other Human Develop- opportunities to help out, such as ment. He conduct- Interning “really prepared me” for grad through a medical mission trip to ed interviews to school, says UIC alum Martin VanSickle. Costa Rica. analyze the impact “The internship taught me that of a state policy I want to help kids in any way that change that allows people with disabilities to hire family I can,” said Garcia, a doctor of members as personal service workers. physical therapy student at North- “It was a really great experience taking the time to learn western University. about the community and the history of the experience of Senior Daisy Soto interned people with disabilities,” he said. last semester at Mujeres Latinas “It allowed me to see the practical application of the re- En Accion, where she currently search process.” works part time and hopes to When he finishes his doctoral program, VanSickle will find full-time employment after complete at least seven years of service with the U.S. Navy. graduating in May. Her job duties He plans to become a clinician, serving members of the include supervising court-man- Navy and Marines. dated visits between families. “I was intrigued by the applied psychology program and “Every case is different so I that pushed me further and ultimately launched me into have to refrain from trying to graduate school,” he said. “It really prepared me for the ex- psychoanalyze each one of my perience.” clients,” she said. For more information on UIC’s applied psychology pro- UIC alumna Elizabeth Garcia’s internship experience led her to find other experience in psychology, Her coursework helps her gram, visit www.uic.edu/depts/psch/app/ including a medical mission trip to Costa Rica. “I want to help kids in any way that I can,” she says. better communicate with the chil- [email protected] APRIL 17, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 7

Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin U.S. Rep Mike Quigley (right) makes a visit to the lab of physics professor Siva Sivananthan (left). The lab’s work with a semiconductor material helped make possible the raid that took down Osama Bin Laden. Congressman takes closer look at UIC’s night vision technology

By Jeanne Galatzer-Levy dedicated to introducing high school students to science through hands-on learning. How would you hide from night vision? The group’s projects include a speaker series U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley wanted to know. and a do-it-yourself solar panel project kit Not interested in just touring the Mi- put together from scavenged broken solar crophysics Lab and congratulating physics cells. professor Siva Sivananthan on his lab’s ex- Quigley commended the team’s passion traordinary work, Quigley, congressman for and imagination. He also suggested they Illinois’ 5th District, wanted to understand form a “truth squad,” speaking out whenever the science. they encounter people in government or the The lab’s work with a semiconductor ma- media who misrepresent science. terial, mercury cadmium telluride or MCT, “We can’t let them get away with it,” he is at the heart of night vision technology said. and made the raid possible that took down Quigley’s lab tour concluded with a Osama Bin Laden on a moonless night. presentation from three students at Benito Since 1982, the Microphysics Lab has Juarez High School, where the microphysics built connections to government and indus- lab has an ongoing partnership and recently try as a center for basic and applied physics helped a student team with an entry for a research with an emphasis on materials and robot competition. devices for infrared sensing, imaging and, The students, Martha Martinez, Jose San- most recently, photovoltaic (solar power) chez and Michael Martinez, presented their cells. solar-powered robot and spoke about how Because, at its most fundamental, MCT working on the team had inspired them. All technology is about transforming light into three hope to pursue careers in science or electricity, Sivananthan is leading an effort health care. to make Illinois a leader in the development The answer to Quigley’s question? of solar power. Hiding from night vision technology Graduates of his lab are in high demand would take enormous effort, sophistication in both government and industry, but Siva- and expense. nanthan is interested in every level of educa- But even then, it would be impossible to tion. hide the wealth of information the technol- The lab sponsors INSPIRE, an organiza- ogy can reveal. tion of undergraduate and graduate students [email protected] 8 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I APRIL 17, 2013

calendar Send information about campus events to Christy Levy, [email protected]

APRIL 17 IN HISTORY HIGHLIGHT APRIL/MAY

Baseball milestone “Wise and Effective Academic Governance in an Age of Challenge” April 17, 1976: Philadel- S M T W T F S phia Phillies player Mike April 17 Schmidt hits four consecu- Larry R. Faulkner, 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 tive home runs against the president emeritus, Chicago Cubs, becoming University of Texas 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 the fourth player in Major at Austin. Part of the League Baseball history to Chancellor’s Lecture 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 hit four in a row. Series, cosponsored 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 During his 18-year by the Office of the career, Schmidt made 12 UIC Senate. 4-5 p.m. All-Star appearances and Thompson Rooms, was voted the National SCW League’s MVP three times. Larry R. Faulkner

Asian American Exhibits Urban Health Program Health Professions Conference For middle and high school students. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. CMW. Regis- Awareness Month ter at www.uic.edu/depts/uhealth Through April 20 April 17 April 25 “Departure” “H.E.R.O.E.S.” Exhibit features the work of master’s of fine arts students Ben “Work/Life Balance Seminar” Keddy, Alex Rauch, Macon Reed and Andrew Reinke. Artist Talent and variety show. 6-8:30 p.m. Illinois Room, SCE. Susan R. Johnson, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, Univer- talks, 5-7 p.m. April 17. Opening reception, 5-8 p.m. April 19. 312-413-9569 sity of Iowa. Sponsored by the UIC BIRCHW program. 10-11:30 Exhibit hours, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Fri., noon-6 p.m. Sat. Gal- a.m. Moss Auditorium, CMRB. [email protected] lery 400, ADH. 312-996-6114 April 19

“Are You Doctor Yet?” SPECIAL EVENTS Asian students showcase their musical and artistic talents in this “American Idol”-based show. 6-9 p.m. Latino Cultural Center, LC April 19-21, 24-28 B2. 312-413-9569 “The Time of Your Life” April 19, 24 UIC Theatre performance, directed by Yasen Peyankov. 7:30 p.m. April 19-20, 25-27; 2 p.m. April 21, 28; noon April 24. Tickets $11 “The Art of Expressing the Human Body” for students; $16 for others. 312-996-2939 Martial arts workshop. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 19, 12:30-7:30 p.m. April 24. SRF. Students, free; others, $65-$150; 312-413-9569 April 23

April 20 “Departure” at Gallery 400. “Tuesdays-at-One” Kia-Hui Tan, violin. 1 p.m. L060 EPASW Open mic and poetry workshop Through May 31 6-8 p.m. African-American Cultural Center, AH. 312-413-9569 April 30 “Commerce in Human Souls: The Legacy of the Flag Football Tournament Atlantic Slave Trade” “Tuesdays-at-One” Open mic and poetry workshop. 6-8 p.m. African-American Cul- Exhibit includes 18th and 19th century documents from the UIC Jazz Combos. 1 p.m. L060 EPASW tural Center, AH. 312-413-9569 UIC Library’s special collections including letters, government reports, diaries and slave ship drawings. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 24 Mon.-Tues. and Thurs.-Fri., and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wed. Third WORKSHOPS floor, Daley Library. 312-996-2742 “My Sassy Korea” April 18 Food, games, karaoke and information booths on Korean culture. 4-6 p.m. Cardinal Room, SCE. 312-413-9569 LECTURES/SEMINARS/ “NIH Public Access Policy: Meeting Granting Agency CONFERENCES Requirements” “In Memory of Jack: Asian American Greeks, Stigmas Online library workshop. Noon-1 p.m. Register at http://library. and Stereotypes” April 20 uic.edu Discussion commemorates the life of Jack Phoummarath, Univer- sity of Texas at Austin fraternity pledge. 4-5:30 p.m. 117 Taft Hall. UIC Retirement Planning Conference 312-413-9569 Presentations on financial planning, retirement benefits and more. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. SCE. Register at http://nessie.uihr.uillinois. edu/retirementseminar

For more UIC events, visit www.events.uic.edu APRIL 17, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 9

Want to contribute a story? student voice Email Christy Levy, [email protected] Plan ahead, create connections to find right career

By Joe Lopez

Students answer a lot of questions in their four years at UIC, but often the most challenging is: where do I go from here? Most students would love to have a job waiting for them but that is not the case for everyone. For the last 16 years, Jaime Velasquez has helped students navigate the job market. “You look at the news out there and you see people who say, ‘I graduated two years ago and I still can’t find a job,’” said Velasquez, associate director of the Office of Career Services. “My first question is, ‘What does your résumé look like? How do you market yourself?’” Students have many resources available to them to give them an edge in their job search, such as gaining experience through internships and networking.

A head start UIC alumnus Mike Fang believes interning as early as sophomore year not only helps students find a job, but it also helps them figure out their interests. Fang, a quantitative analyst for the asset management firm T. Rowe Price, didn’t find an internship before looking for a career. After graduating in 2001 with a degree in aerospace engineering, he ultimately learned that it was not a field he wanted to pursue. Photo: Alex Rauch “The difference between brilliant students and normal Undergrad Noah Curtis (left) talks to a human resources rep at the UIC Spring Diversity Career Fair, hosted by the Office of Career Services students is they try to get many different jobs in their four- in March. “Remember that you are looking for a career and not a job,” says Jaime Velasquez, associate director of career services. year college life,” Fang said. “They might do different types of jobs but they get real experience, they don’t really waste their t i m e .” “If you know the right people [and] get your foot in the tion, which can also be an effective tool for graduates. The It’s not uncommon for students to work in a field outside door ... it’s more about, ‘Can I work with this person? Can they association provides networking opportunities and offers their major, Velasquez said. work hard?” resources such as virtual career workshops. Visit http://www. “Companies hire all types of majors,” he said. “Students uiaa.org/uic/ for more information. should not limit themselves to jobs closely related to their Taking advantage of resources Current UIC students can take advantage of the Office of major. They need to apply anywhere that genuinely gathers One of Velasquez’s highest recommendations is seeking Career Services, which hosts résumé writing workshops, job their interest.” informational interviews, where students can learn about po- fairs and more. Stop by the center in 3050 Student Services tential career paths by talking to people in the field. Building or visit the website at www.uic.edu/depts/ocs/ Finding connections Most employers offer informational interviews — students Employers are impressed by a strong work ethic, Velasquez UIC alumnus Allen Patin received his chance for a career can set them up by calling the company’s human resources said. through a professor he met more than a year before graduat- department, Velasquez said. Students can ask about the work “Employers find UIC an attractive university because over ing in 2009. The instructor helped Patin get an interview at environment, industry and job requirements, and sometimes 70 percent of our students graduating will have had some Morgan Stanley, where he began as an intern and worked his shadow a professional. kind of work experience,” he said. “Our students are not afraid way up to a full-time job in wealth management. “Understand that it is an informational interview, not a job to go out into the workforce. Our students live in the real Having a rapport with his professor provided a solid net- interview,” Velasquez said. “So don’t ask for a job; however, at world while they are here.” working connection so he wasn’t just another faceless résumé. the end of an informational interview you can say, ‘Thank you After graduation, look at the bigger picture, he said. “Re- “If you are coming off the street and you’re a complete for the interview; this company seems really exciting to me. member that you are looking for a career and not a job.” stranger, all they have to go off of is your GPA and your ré- How can I learn about actual positions?’” [email protected] sumé initially,” said Patin, who graduated in 2009. Fang and Patin are members of the UIC’s Alumni Associa- • Joe Lopez is a senior in communication. Youth, technology boom inspire change, Egypt’s consul general says By Salwa Shameem 2000 and saw a rapid increase in usage by 2010. Phillip Maciaszek, a junior in psychology, found Aboul- “It has changed interaction and the way any citizen in the magd’s vision of youth creating change particularly When Egyptian Consul General Maged Refaat Aboul- world perceives his country — it certainly did for Egyptian inspiring. magd joined the foreign service in 1988, the world was com- youth,” he said. “His speech solidified my desire to join the world of foreign pletely different. Despite being an old country in terms of its traditions and affairs,” he said. “The dissemination of information and connectivity of history, Egypt is demographically young, Aboulmagd said. Maciaszek, who plans to join the Peace Corps after gradua- the communities in the world has dramatically changed,” Aboulmagd believes that young people played an indelible tion, hopes to transition into the foreign service after his Peace Aboulmagd said during an Allan Learner Foreign Affairs role during the disintegration of Hosni Mubarak’s regime dur- Corps commitment. Series talk March 14 in Student Center East. ing the Arab Spring movement. “The consul general’s emphasis on the importance of young Increased access to technology and the effects of global- “The young people of Egypt were never organized and they citizens in both Egypt and around the globe enriched all of us ization were central to Egyptian resistance during the recent were not able to reach the upper echelons of power, but for the and our role in the world today.” Arab Spring movement, Aboulmagd said. first time it was the youth who were able to bring Mubarak to [email protected] The Internet was introduced to Egyptian masses in early trial,” he said. • Salwa Shameem is a senior in political science. 10 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I APRIL 17, 2013 deaths

Hannelore Loevy, retired ment of anatomy from 1963 to 1965, the Col- professor of clinical lege of Pharmacy from 1968 to 1972 and the pediatric dentistry department of pediatric dentistry from 1972 Hannelore Loevy, 81, retired professor of until her retirement in 2006. clinical pediatric dentistry in the College of She was also on the faculty at the Univer- Dentistry, died March 24. sity of Sao Paolo, Loyola University Chicago During her long career she was a pediatric and Northwestern University. dentist, researcher, instructor, historian, edi- Loevy was involved in many campus and tor and author. college committees, including the UIC Senate. Born in Berlin, She was former president of the Chicago Germany, she and her Section of the American Association for family emigrated to Dental Research/International Association Sao Paolo, Brazil. She for Dental Research and its Craniofacial Biol- received her dental ogy group and former president of the Illinois degree from the Uni- Society of Pediatric Dentists. versity of Sao Paulo in Bruce Graham, dean of the College of 1952, then came to the Hannelore Loevy Dentistry, remembered her as “a loyal faculty U.S. to earn her mas- member … a wise and knowledgeable par- ter’s in pediatric dentistry from the College of liamentarian … and a nationally recognized Dentistry in 1959 and her Ph.D. in anatomy historian of the dental profession who has from the College of Medicine in 1961. preserved the history of women in our profes- She was a faculty member in the depart- sion for posterity.” police

UIC Police emergency: 312-355-5555 April 11: A man was arrested for crimi- Nonemergency: 312-996-2830 nal trespass at 4:58 a.m. in the Clinical Sci- ences Building. April 8-15 A man was arrested for retail theft at 10:22 p.m. at Marie Robinson Hall, closing a Crimes reported to UIC Police case from March 28. Theft: 5 A man was arrested for criminal trespass Assault: 1 at 5:03 a.m. in the Administrative Office Battery: 3 Building. Warrant: 1 April 12: A man was arrested for assault Criminal trespass: 3 at 1:43 p.m. in the College of Pharmacy. Disorderly conduct: 1 April 13: A man was arrested for theft at 1:29 p.m. in Student Center East. Arrests by UIC Police April 14: A man was arrested for crimi- April 9: A man was arrested on a warrant nal trespass at 8:58 a.m. in the UIC Forum. at 3:20 a.m. at 1030 S. Ashland Ave. A man was arrested for theft at 9:18 a.m. in For more information on police activ- Willowbrook, closing a case from Feb. 13. ity, visit the UIC Police crime map, www. April 10: Five men were arrested for bat- uic.edu/depts/police, and the Chicago Police tery at 12:28 a.m. at 1620 W. Harrison St. CLEAR Map, http://gis.chicagopolice.org Police seek suspect in off-campus armed robbery A UIC student was the victim of an off- The student was not injured. campus armed robbery at 9:50 a.m. April 10 The suspect was described as a black near 1600 W. Roosevelt Road. male, 20 to 25 years old, 5 feet 9 inches and An offender approached the student and 155 pounds. He wore dreadlocks and black threatened to shoot him but did not display a clothing. weapon. The suspect took the student’s back- Call UIC Police at 312-996-2830 with pack and fled east on Roosevelt Road. information. UIC NEWS

Published on Wednesdays during the academic year Assistant graphic designer (monthly during summer) by the Office of Megan Strand...... [email protected] Public Affairs of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Editorial associate 1320 University Hall (MC 288), 601 S. Morgan St., Alex Rauch...... [email protected] Chicago, IL 60607-7113. Editorial interns http://www.uicnews.uic.edu Matt O’Connor...... [email protected] Gina Russell...... [email protected] Editorial: ...... (312) 996-7758 Advertising coordinator Advertising:...... (312) 996-3456 Samella Wright...... [email protected] Fax:...... (312) 413-7607 Interim associate chancellor for public affairs Editor Bill Burton...... [email protected] Sonya Booth...... [email protected] Associate editor Photography Christy Levy...... [email protected] Roberta Dupuis-Devlin Assistant editor Joshua Clark Gary Wisby...... [email protected] UIC Photo Services...... [email protected] Visual communications and design Anna Dworzecka...... [email protected] APRIL 17, 2013 I UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu 11

Send news to Sonya Booth, people [email protected] Developing new cancer drugs Scientist awarded $450K grant for research

By Sam Hostettler receive a grant from the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund through its Liz Tilberis Schol- The mortality rate for ovarian cancer has ars Program, named for the former British not improved in more than 40 years. Maria fashion magazine editor who died of ovarian Barbolina is cancer in 1999. working to Barbolina will receive $150,000 annu- change that. ally for three years to fund her continuing “Metastatic research. ovarian cancer She is the second UIC researcher to be is currently awarded a Liz Tilberis grant since it began in incurable,” 2000. Joanna Burdette, assistant professor of says Barbolina, pharmacognosy, received the award in 2011. assistant pro- About 22,240 new cases of ovarian cancer fessor of phar- will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and macology. “One 15,500 women will die of the disease, ac- way to change cording to the American Cancer Society. A this situation woman’s lifetime risk of developing ovarian is to develop Maria Barbolina cancer is 1 in 17. Most cases develop after new approaches menopause. and drugs that either alone or in combina- Symptoms of ovarian cancer include bloat- tion with already existing ones are capable of ing, pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling of full- fighting the disease.” ness, or urinary tract complaints. Barbolina is one of six U.S. scientists to [email protected]

Undergrads put work on display

By Gina Russell “Presenting my research

Hundreds of undergrads presented their to other students, research and viewed work conducted by their graduate students and peers at other universities at the Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium faculty was a lot of fun.” April 6. Four UIC students were among 160 pre- with representatives from companies, and senters at the event, led by a board of students graduate and professional schools.” from UIC, University of Chicago, Northwest- Whay Cheng won the chemistry category ern, DePaul, Illinois Institute of Technology with her research on determining the origin and Loyola. of ovarian cancer by looking at the transform- Participants included undergraduates in ing growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) pathway in biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, eco- normal ovarian and tubal epithelial cells. nomics, humanities and engineering. “Presenting my research to other students, “It gives them the opportunity to present graduate students and faculty was a lot of their research and explore the work of other fun,” said Cheng, a senior in biochemistry. students from different schools,” said UIC “It was a great networking opportunity student Simbiat Olayiwola, a symposium and I would definitely recommend students board member. to participate next year.” “They have the opportunity to network [email protected]

Business students, faculty give back A fundraiser sponsored by Liautaud money through ticket sales, corporate dona- Graduate School of Business students raised tions and a raffle with more than $800 in $2,700 to support the Night Ministry, a Chi- prizes. cago nonprofit serving people facing poverty Liautaud students have partnered with the and homelessness. Night Ministry throughout the school year. More than 70 students, alumni, faculty Student groups prepared meals for residents and staff attended the March 8 social to raise of a temporary youth shelter. Other students funds and create awareness for the nonprofit. designed an information security system for The event, hosted by the MBA Associa- the organization as a pro-bono consulting tion at the Estate Ultra Bar in Chicago, raised project. 12 UIC NEWS I www.uicnews.uic.edu I APRIL 17, 2013

sports For more Flames sports, visit www.uicflames.com

Softball takes series win versus Valparaiso Prep standout joins By Robbin Cooley women’s soccer staff The softball team beat Valparaiso, 10-0, to begin a twin bill By Brett McWethy Sunday before falling, 3-1, in the series finale at VU Softball Field in Valparaiso, Ind. Juliana Zavala, a standout player during her prep UIC claimed the series, 2-1, over the Crusaders after win- days in Chicago, was named assistant coach of the wom- ning Saturday’s game, 6-1. en’s soccer team. “I am really happy with how our team is playing,” head The team will begin official competition in fall 2014. coach Michelle Venturella said. “Juliana is a great addition to UIC and our women’s “Devin [Miller] has been really sharp on the mound and soccer family,” head coach Brian Rigby said. “It was im- the offense has been hitting the ball well. We had several dif- portant for me to find a person who not only can teach, ferent kids come through at different times, which is a good and understands the game of soccer, but a person who is sign. We hit the ball well in the last game, but it was right at familiar with the city and surrounding areas of Chicago. fielders. Overall, it was a good weekend.” Juliana’s ability to recruit and attract local players to UIC UIC out-hit Valparaiso, 13-3, in the victory. Junior Natalie will be valuable to our program.” Hernandez and senior Kara Komp posted three hits each, and During the 2011 season, Zavala was a graduate as- juniors Jenna Marsalli and Jacki Fletcher earned two. sistant women’s soccer coach at Arkansas State in Jones- Senior Devin Miller pitched five innings, compiling six boro, Ark. She joined the UIC Athletic Department last strikeouts and allowing only three hits. fall as an account executive in the ticket operations unit. UIC put two runs on the board in the top of the third in- “I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with ning after Komp led off with a single. Senior Melissa Preish Coach Rigby and be part of a new program here at UIC,” walked and senior Coryn Schmit was intentionally walked. Zavala said. Junior Jenna Marsalli doubled to left-center to score Komp “Coach Rigby has a great vision for the team and and Preish. is determined to build a championship program right Junior Natalie Hernandez led off the top of the fourth in- away. I share his vision and look forward to working ning with a triple and advanced home on a throwing error by with him and being part of a Valparaiso. Komp singled to center field, before Schmit was new family.” intentionally walked. Zavala was a standout With runners on first and second, Marsalli singled to right prep player at Thomas Kelly field to score Komp. Junior Jacki Fletcher posted the final two High School in Chicago, runs of the fourth frame with a single to score Schmit and collecting All-State honors Marsalli. Photo: Steve Woltmann in three consecutive sea- With four more runs in the top of the fifth, UIC retired the Senior Kara Komp posted three hits at Valparaiso Sunday. sons. Crusaders. She began her college The scoring spree began with a single by Hernandez, who in six innings. Komp led UIC with two hits and Heeley posted career at Northern Illinois stole second. Preish doubled down the right-field line to score UIC’s sole RBI of the contest. in 2003, before transferring Hernandez, then Schmit singled to send Preish home. Senior Valparaiso put two runs on the board in the bottom of the to Northwestern State in Juliana Zavala Cyndi Becker pinch ran for Schmit. Freshman Laura Swan first and one in the bottom of the second to jump out to a 3-0 Natchitoches, La., where she walked. Fletcher singled to third base to move Becker and lead. completed her final three years of eligibility (2004-06). Swan and load the bases. Sophomore Erica Hampton singled UIC takes a break from conference play today with a 5 p.m. Zavala had one of the most decorated careers in NSU to left field to score Becker, and junior Courtney Heeley match at Northern Illinois. women’s soccer history. She totaled 64 points, including pushed in an RBI off a walk. The Flames head to Wright State this weekend, with games 27 goals. The Flames held Valparaiso off in the bottom of the fifth to scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. In her junior season (2005), Zavala was named re- secure the game, 10-0. They face Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis cipient of the inaugural Golden Ball Award, awarded In the second game of the day, Miller blanked six batters at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Indianapolis. annually to the top collegiate point-scorer among all of the Division I schools in Louisiana. She was an All-Southland Conference First-Team selection in 2005 after scoring 13 goals and totaling Michelson earns league’s pitcher of week honors 32 points. She scored the game-winning goal in the Southland Conference Tournament final to propel the By Mike Laninga have a good start and for Tomas to throw nine innings is huge Demons into the NCAA Tournament. for our bullpen.” Zavala was recognized as an “All-Louisiana” First- Sophomore pitcher Tomas Michelson was selected Horizon Michelson improved his season record to 4-2, scattering Team honoree at the conclusion of the 2005 campaign. League’s Pitcher of the Week seven hits over nine innings. He did not give up any walks or In her rookie season, she led the Demons in scoring, April 8-14. earned runs. tallying nine goals and 19 points, and was named to the Michelson tossed his first The Naperville native holds an earned run average of 1.82, Southland Conference All-Tournament Team. collegiate complete game which ranks second in the Horizon League, and an opposing After her collegiate career, Zavala was a personal in a 6-1 win against Wright batting average of .238, which ranks fourth. trainer, physical therapy tech and a club coach at the State Friday. The conference honor is Michelson’s second — he also Chicago Sports Zone and Chicago Storm Academy. She He posted a career-high earned the title Feb. 18. also coached for the Arkansas Rush Youth Club. In 2008, eight strikeouts during Fri- Michelson was named the National Primetime Pitcher of Zavala was an assistant coach at her alma mater, Kelly day’s win. the Week in February by CollegeBaseball360.com for his per- High School. “Tomas is a competitor formance at Texas A&M. She graduated with a bachelor’s of science in health and he had another great The Flames will be back in action today, playing at North- and exercise science from Northwestern State in 2007, outing,” head coach Mike ern Illinois at 3:05 p.m. The team heads to Youngstown State and received a master’s degree from Arkansas State last Dee said. this week, with games set for 2 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday and spring. “It’s always important to Tomas Michelson noon Sunday.