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Published by The American Physiological Society Integrating the Life Sciences from Molecule to Organism The PhysiologistPhysiologist Association of Chairs of INSIDE Departments of Physiology 2006 Survey Results Richard L. Moss and William S. Spielman University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University APS Launches Stopgap The Association of Chairs of in Table 1 for the first time is infor- Departments of Physiology annual mation on the average number of con- Fellowship survey was emailed to 184 physiology tact hours for faculty and on the type Program departments throughout the US, of medical physiology course being p. 92 Canada, and Puerto Rico. A total of taught. 71 surveys were returned, for a Student/trainee information is pro- response rate of 38.5%. This rate is vided by ethnicity for predoctoral and AAMC Survey almost identical to that of the 2005 postdoctoral categories, as well as Results survey (39%). Of the 71 surveys predoctoral trainee completions, p. 98 returned, there were 22 public and 49 stipends provided, and type of sup- private medical schools. port (Table 2). The data provides the reader with Institutional information is provid- Opening up Open general trends of faculty, overall ed in Table 3. Departmental budget Access: Weaving departmental budgets, and space information (Table 4) shows type of the “Author Pays” available for research. As a reminder, support, faculty salaries derived from beginning in 2004, ACDP decided not grants along with negotiated indirect Safety Net to include faculty salary information costs to the departments. Table 5 p. 106 in this report. Because of the limited ranks responding Institutions accord- response rate and variability in ing to their total dollars, research APS Testifies departments responding on a year- grant dollars, and departmental by-year basis and the completeness of space. Space averages are presented Before Congress the AAMC salary data, which is more as research, administration, teaching on FY 2008 generally used, the ACDP Council and other. Funding decided to no longer collect or report For an update of AAMC salary data, p. 108 this data. Data are still provided please see the accompanying article. though on tenure, gender, and ethnic- ity of faculty (Table 1). Also included (continued on page 93) Volume 50, No. 3 - June 2007 www.the-aps.org 89 Published bimonthly and distributed by The American Physiological TheThe Society PhysiologistPhysiologist 9650 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20814-3991 ISSN 0031-9376 Hannah V. Carey President Contents Dale J. Benos Past President Irving H. Zucker President-Elect Association of Chairs of Publications Martin Frank Departments of Physiology Opening up Open Access: Editor and Executive Director Councillors 2006 Survey Results Weaving the “Author Pays” Susan M. Barman, Richard L. Moss and Safety Net 106 Barbara E. Goodman, Joey P. Granger, James W. Hicks William S. Spielman 89 Irving G. Joshua, David M. Pollock, Gary C. Sieck, Public Affairs Dee U. Silverthorn, Fellowship Report APS Testifies Before Congress J. Michael Wyss From Laboratory to Legislation on FY 2008 Funding 108 Ex Officio Kenneth Baldwin, Kim E. Sarah K. England 91 APS Submits Comments on Barrett, Michael A. Portman, Thomas A. Pressley, the NIGMS Strategic Plan 110 Curt D. Sigmund, APS News HHMI Seeks Early Career Peter D. Wagner APS Launches Stopgap Investigators 110 Publications Committee: Chair: Fellowship Program 92 Kim E. Barrett; Members: Eileen M. Hasser, Martin F. Kagnoff, Positions Available 111 Peggy Mason, Ronald L. Terjung. Director of Publications: Margaret AAMC Survey Results Reich. Design and Copy Editor: AAMC Medical School Faculty Book Reviews 116 Joelle R. Grossnickle. Subscriptions: Distributed to Compensation Survey 98 members as part of their member- Book Received 116 ship. Nonmembers in the USA (print only): individuals $60.00; Membership institutions $95.00. Nonmembers in Canada: individuals $65.00; New Regular Members 101 People & Places institutions $100.00. Nonmembers elsewhere: individuals $70.00; New Student Members 102 Florant Receives Award 118 institutions $105.00. Single copies New Affiliate Members 103 Four APS Members Elected to and back issues when available, $20.00 each; single copies and back Recently Deceased Members 103 National Academy of issues of Abstracts issues when available, $30.00. Subscribers to Sciences 118 The Physiologist also receive Communications abstracts of the Conferences of the American Physiological Society. APS Sponsors USC Doctoral The Wine Wizard 120 The online version is available free to all worldwide. Student for Media Fellowship103 The American Physiological Society Senior Physiologists’ News 121 assumes no responsibility for the statements and opinions advanced Education by contributors to The Physiologist. New Program Improves Scientific Meetings Please notify the APS Member- ship Department as soon as pos- Trainees’ Presentation Skills 104 and Congresses 125 sible if you change your address Twenty APS Members to Host or telephone number. Headquarters phone: 301-634-7118 Summer Research Experience APS Membership Fax: 301-634-7241 for Sixteen Science Teachers 105 Application 127 Email: [email protected] http://www.the-aps.org Printed in the USA 90 The Physiologist Fellowship Report Vol. 50, No. 3, 2007 From Laboratory to Legislation Sarah K. England University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics When I was granted my PhD, I thought a broad working knowledge on multiple that running a research laboratory at a subjects rather than a detailed under- top-tier university would fulfill my pro- standing of a single topic. My portfolio fessional aspirations. However, after was expansive and included health care heading my own research program for workforce, NIH reauthorization, mater- eight years, I became interested in pursu- nal child health issues, rural health, ing opportunities that would complement medical liability, women’s health, health my career. In the fall of 2004, I received disparities, and nursing issues, to name an announcement for the Robert Wood a few. The learning curve was very steep, Johnson (RWJ) Health Policy Fellowship but not impossible. With the large vol- (http://www.healthpolicyfellows.org/home ume of information available on each .php), which offers mid-career health pro- topic, trying to stay current on all issues fessionals the opportunity to work in a took a lot of energy. Many times some congressional or executive branch office specific aspect of each of “my” issues in Washington, DC. The overall goal of would surface during the year and there the program is to enrich fellows’ under- hardly seemed to be ample time to know standing of public policy practices and all the details about it. how government health research relates There is no “typical” day in the to the mission of the fellows’ institutions Senate. I met with constituents from and local communities. After researching New York, drafted legislation, attended more about the program, I decided that Sarah England spent a fellowship Senate and House hearings and brief- this experience would increase my under- working with Senator Hillary ings, wrote scholarly articles, prepared standing of the legislative process and Rodham Clinton on public health speeches, statements, and briefing the relationship and interactions policy. memos for the Senator. I also traveled between the National Institutes of to New York to attend an event and staff Health (NIH) and Congress that affect in the intersection of health and educa- the Senator on one of the issues. my day-to-day existence as a researcher tional policies as it relates to training The largest portion of my time was in the basic sciences. students and eliminating health dispar- spent drafting three pieces of health- I was selected to be a member of the ities. After a three-month orientation related legislation: 1) The SHINE Act class of 2005–2006 along with five that included meeting with representa- (Screening for Health of Infants and physicians and one epidemiologist. tives from think tanks, trade associa- Newborns) was developed to help states Before accepting and pursuing a fellow- tions, the Institute of Medicine, and key increase their newborn screening capa- ship of this nature, it was essential that health policy gurus, we interviewed for bilities so that all babies have the oppor- all the stars aligned correctly—I would positions on Capitol Hill. At this point tunity for early diagnosis and lifesaving be on developmental leave for 12 to 16 the experience seemed surreal, as I treatment; 2) The GEDI Act months. This required support from my never imagined when I got my doctorate (Gestational Diabetes Act) focuses on institution, most importantly from my that I would work on Capitol Hill focus- lowering the incidence of gestational department chair and college dean, both ing on health-related legislation. We diabetes, which puts women at risk for of whom were open-minded about this were interviewed by members of the complications during childbirth and atypical sabbatical realizing that this House and Senate, Democrats and puts children at risk for developing Type would not only benefit me, but also my Republicans, and personal offices and 2 diabetes as adolescents or adults; and institution. committees; a few fellows interviewed in 3) The Nursing Education and Quality Prior to embarking on this adventure, the executive branch. After many hours of Health Care Act (NEQHC), which was I was fortunate to have senior-level of discussions with health staff and the drafted with the hopes of increasing the research staff in my laboratory capable other fellows, I accepted the offer to number of nurses who become faculty of continuing on in my absence. My work with Senator Hillary Rodham and developing initiatives to integrate grants were all funded and not up for a Clinton on her health legislative team. patient safety practices in nursing edu- renewal the minute I walked back on Moving from academic researcher to cation; it also provides funding for rural campus.