uicnews.uic.edu July 12 2017 Volume 36 / Number 34 uicnews.uic.edu

For the community of the University of Illinois at Chicago

GLOBALCollaboration improves IMPACT health care in Ethiopia / pg. 6

Photo: Juhri Selamet

UI Health Illinois Urban garden Record number marches in legislators addresses of Flames make Pride Parade end budget food insecurity honor roll impasse 2 3 8 1212 Facebook / uicnews Twitter / uicnews YouTube / uicmedia Flickr / uicnews Instagram / thisisuic & uicamiridis 2 UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017

UI Health marches in Pride Parade It was all pride and smiles June 25, when about 80 tators to the city’s Uptown and Lakeview neighbor- commitment to inclusiveness than any university students, staff and faculty members marched as UIC/UI hoods. around. We know that no health enterprise in Illinois is Health in the 48th annual Chicago Pride Parade. UIC’s involvement in the parade started within the more engaged in the pursuit of health equity and the The hospital and all seven of UIC’s health sciences College of Nursing because of the college’s research elimination of health disparities than UI Health. And we colleges were represented in the delegation. focus on sexual-minority health, said Liz Miller, director should be broadcasting those truths,” Miller said. For the first time this year, UIC and the hospital offi- of marketing and public affairs for the College of Nurs- “It felt great to be able to publicly affirm our alliance cially appeared in Chicago’s largest parade, which in ing. It later expanded to include all of UI Health. with the LGBTQAI+ community at such a joyful event.” recent years has attracted an estimated 1 million spec- “Here on campus, we know we embrace a clearer Photos: Mark Mershon uicnews.uic.edu UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017 3 Legislators end state’s record-setting budget impasse By Francisca Corona — [email protected]

Lawmakers ended the state’s re- and $40 million in Medicaid funding to cord-setting budget stalemate July 6 by support the hospital and clinics. passing a spending plan that will provide Amiridis noted that although the univer- full-year funding for the University of Illi- sity still needs to address the fiscal 2016 nois System for the current fiscal year. deficit of about $125 million, he and other The resolution, which was reached university leaders are glad that the storm of after members of the General Assembly budget uncertainties has passed. voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “Now we can focus on what we do best: vetoes of the budget package, is the serving our students and the citizens of state’s first budget plan — and UIC’s first Illinois,” he said. full-year budget appropriation — since In an email to the campus community, U fiscal 2015. Fiscal 2018 began July 1. of I President Tim Killeen wrote he is grate- ful “to legislators working overtime and “NOW WE CAN making the difficult decisions on a compro- mise to avert the potentially dire conse- FOCUS ON WHAT WE quences that loomed if the budget DO BEST: SERVING stalemate had extended through a third fiscal year.” OUR STUDENTS AND He also thanked community stakehold- THE CITIZENS OF ers who voiced their support for the U of I System before explaining the importance ILLINOIS.” of innovative legislation, like the System’s “Today’s legislative action to pass a proposal to shift to performance-based balanced budget for the state is a great funding. Killeen said the university would step forward for higher education in Illi- continue to advocate for stable future fund- nois and for UIC,” UIC Chancellor Michael ing through a plan known as the Invest- Amiridis wrote in a campus announce- ment, Performance and Accountability ment last week. “I am relieved and full of Commitment (IPAC) reform. The agreement optimism as we look to the future.” would provide predictable funding to the According to the budget plan, the U of university from the state over the next five I System expects to receive about $538 years in exchange for tangible performance million for fiscal 2018 —10 percent less goals that serve the needs of the state and than state support in fiscal 2015; an ad- support Illinois students. ditional $300 million to cover shortfalls “I hope the lessons learned during this The Illinois General Assembly on July 6 passed a plan that will provide full-year funding in fiscal 2017; Monetary Award Program long and difficult impasse will help restore for the University of Illinois System for the current fiscal year, which began July 1. (MAP) funding for fiscal 2017 and 2018; long-term stability,” he said.

CDC division director named public health dean By Sharon Parmet — [email protected] “I AM CONFIDENT THAT DR. years. The division focuses on pro- Wayne Giles, director of the Division grammatic and research activities in for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention GILES WILL ADVANCE THE community health promotion, arthri- at the Centers for Disease Control and MISSION OF THE COLLEGE tis, aging, health care utilization, and Prevention, will become dean of the AND EXPAND ITS IMPACT.” racial and ethnic disparities in health. School of Public Health Sept. 1, pending Giles has more than 150 publica- approval by the University of Illinois leading clinical trials evaluating the ef- tions in peer-reviewed journals. He Board of Trustees. fectiveness of cholesterol-lowering has been the recipient of numerous Giles, 56, succeeds Paul Brandt- agents. awards, including the CDC’s Charles Rauf, who was dean of the school from “The School of Public Health is a crit- C. Shepard Award in Assessment and 2008 to January 2017. ical part of UIC and its mission is dedi- Epidemiology and the Jeffrey P. Ko- The Division for Heart Disease and cated to protecting and improving the plan Award. Stroke Prevention works to improve car- well-being of the people of Chicago, the Giles has a bachelor’s degree in diovascular health through public health state of Illinois, the nation, and the world biology from Washington University in strategies and policies that promote through education, research, policy and St. Louis and a master’s degree in epi- healthy lifestyles and behaviors, healthy service,” said Robert Barish, vice chan- demiology from the University of environments and communities, as well cellor for health affairs. “I am confident Maryland. He received his medical as improve access to early and afford- that Dr. Giles will advance the mission of degree from Washington University in able detection and treatment. the college and expand its impact. He St. Louis, and completed a residency Giles’ past research and scientific will be a great asset to our University in internal medicine at the University work includes examining the prevalence and our local and global community.” of Alabama at Birmingham and a resi- of hypertension in Africa, studying racial Wayne Giles Giles previously led the Division of dency in preventive medicine at the differences in stroke incidence and Population Health at the CDC for six University of Maryland. 4 UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017 CAMPUS NEWS

Scientific leader to head Chicago Biomedical Consortium

By Bill Burton — [email protected] She helped formulate the CBC concept and the proposal that led to Phase 1 The Chicago Biomedical Consortium knowledge of drug discovery, as well as funding, during which CBC researchers (CBC), a research and education collab- connections to an outstanding network advanced our understanding of the biolo- oration of Northwestern University, UIC of relationships with the pharma, bio- gy underlying heart disease, autism, leu- and the University of Chicago, has tech and biotech investment communi- kemia, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and named James E. Audia, a distinguished ties,” said Brian Kay, the CBC scientific other medical conditions. researcher and scientific leader with director at UIC. During Phase 1, almost 300 merit- more than 30 years of broad experience In six years at Constellation, Audia based awards supported research in in the pharmaceutical industry, as its focused on epigenetics and the discov- drug discovery, epigenetics, biomedical new executive director. ery of small molecules that target chro- engineering, proteomics and systems Audia, currently chief scientific officer matin regulatory mechanisms in cancer, biology. Researchers and projects funded at Constellation Pharmaceuticals, as- immunologic disorders and other dis- by the CBC have so far earned $514 mil- sumes his position Aug. 1. A named in- eases. Under his leadership, Constella- lion in additional external funding, mostly ventor on more than 100 issued patents, tion established a portfolio of novel from the National Institutes of Health, and he will usher the innovative consortium inhibitors and immuno-regulatory mole- generated more than 1,700 publications. into a new phase in its second decade, cules in blood cancers and solid tumors. For Phase 2, the Searle Funds at The with a focus on fostering entrepreneur- Audia succeeds Kathryn C. (Katie) Chicago Community Trust has pledged ship and guiding translational research Stallcup, who will retire in September $21 million over five years, including $5 projects toward commercialization. after serving as executive director of the million for the first year, which began “Jim brings expertise and deep consortium since its launch in 2006. James E. Audia Jan. 1. Helping chemistry teachers, students tackle heavy metals By Carlos Sadovi — [email protected] UIC has received a nearly $450,000 mental scientists from UIC, Northwestern principal investigator National Science Foundation grant that University, Loyola University and mem- Kathryn Nagy, profes- will help high school chemistry students bers of the Chicago Environmental Jus- sor and head of Earth and teachers from seven Chicago public tice Network. and environmental schools study and address urban heavy “The young people in high school sciences. Others in- metal contamination in their communi- chemistry classes are going to study the volved with the project ties. problems of toxic metals, including mer- include Shelby Hatch The project, called “The Poisoned cury and lead, in soil and water samples of Northwestern Uni- Onion,” will support educators to teach taken from communities throughout the versity; Alanah Fitch,of chemistry within the context of heavy city,” said Danny Morales-Doyle, the proj- Loyola University Chi- metal contamination in the soil and water ect’s principal investigator and assistant cago; and Kimberly of Chicago neighborhoods. professor of education. “We are going to Wasserman, executive The collaboration includes teachers come together to figure out how we can director of the Little and science educators from Chicago actually engage students in these au- Village Environmental Public Schools, chemists and environ- thentic science projects in the communi- Justice Organization. ty.” Their goal is to have As part of the project, Morales-Doyle between 500 and 600 and Alejandra Frausto, a chemistry teach- high school students Kathryn Nagy, head of Earth and environmental sciences er at Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy in participate during the the Ashburn neighborhood, plan to hold three years of the pro- summer institutes during the three years gram. key segment will be to educate commu- of its funding life. The institute will bring “This project is a great way to intro- nities on how they can prevent exposure together high school teachers, scientists, duce environmental earth science to stu- to heavy metals. community organizers and several high dents at the same time that they can The project will position Chicago school students to plan “Youth Participa- become excited about learning chemis- teachers and students as “Change Mak- tory Science” projects in high school try,” Nagy said. “It’s really important for ers” who are capable of addressing the chemistry classes during the following students to see how STEM disciplines crises of inequity in science education school year. relate to their own lives. We hope this and environmental contamination that The lessons will have students collect project stimulates their interest in pursu- matter deeply to them, according to the soil and water samples and have them ing chemistry and/or environmental sci- National Science Foundation. analyzed at the partner universities’ labs. ence in their future careers.” Most recently, issues of urban con- The students will then review their data Another important component of the tamination have become a concern after and present findings to the community program is to raise awareness about the the crisis in Flint, Michigan, showed lead and their peers at a “Poisoned Onion” health consequences and other negative contamination in the city’s water supply. conference at UIC. The name refers to implications of heavy metal contamina- “Urban residents often are not aware the Native American origins of the name tion as an issue of environmental racism. that their homes are built on or near an Chicago, which pertains to the wild on- While putting the spotlight on some industrial site where metals were re- Danny Morales-Doyle, education ions that grew in the region. areas of extensive heavy metal contami- leased to the local environment,” Nagy Project leaders also include co- nation that may require remediation, a said.

Send campus news information to Christy Levy at [email protected] uicnews.uic.edu UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017 5 Twin donates part of small bowel to brother in rare transplant By Sharon Parmet — [email protected]

Patrick Noel was on his way home down the road I might be asked to do- from his brother’s house July 24, 2016, nate part of my small bowel to him, and when a car pulled up next to him. The I was fine with that right from the start,” stranger in the other car asked Patrick if Derrick said. he lived in the neighborhood. Sensing In September, Patrick was referred to something was wrong, Patrick hesitated Enrico Benedetti, professor and Warren briefly, but said that yes, he was from H. Cole Chair of Surgery at the University Calumet City. The man looked at Patrick, of Illinois Hospital. A renowned trans- pulled out a gun and shot at him 10 plant surgeon, Benedetti has performed times before driving off. approximately two-thirds of the world’s It was a case of mistaken identity. small bowel living donor transplants. He Six shots hit Patrick; one grazed his is also one of just four surgeons world- head, others hit his back, foot and leg. wide to have performed an identical twin Another bullet pierced the blood ves- living-donor small bowel transplant. Only sels supplying his small intestine, and four of these surgeries had been per- the organ quickly began to die. formed worldwide. An ambulance rushed Patrick, 32, to It looked like Patrick had found an- a nearby hospital where surgeons other perfect match in Benedetti. worked to remove the bullets. Because “When I learned that Patrick had an of blood loss, he lost his small bowel and identical twin willing to make the dona- about half his colon. tion, I knew that a living-donor trans- plant would not only be “BECAUSE HIS BROTHER IS possible, but because his brother is a genetic match, A GENETIC MATCH, HE IS he is also a perfect match,” Benedetti said. “Rejection ALSO A PERFECT MATCH.” and infection are the two For months afterward, his stomach main concerns for any transplant, espe- emptied directly into a colostomy bag cially opportunistic infections that arise and even as he received nutrition intra- due to the immune-suppressing anti-re- venously, Patrick was quickly losing jection drugs. Because of Derrick, Pat- Enrico Benedetti, professor and chair of surgery, with Derrick (center) and Patrick Noel. weight. rick effectively avoids both these risks.” Doctors at the hospital warned Pat- Because Derrick was a perfect match, After Benedetti attached the bottom ers recovered rapidly. rick that he would more than likely re- Patrick wouldn’t need to take immunosu- of Patrick’s stomach to what was left of “Because Patrick is doing so well due quire a small bowel transplant. The small pressive drugs to prevent organ rejec- his large bowel, his weight loss began to to the fact that his new organ is a perfect bowel, also known as the small intestine, tion. Most transplant patients require slow. match, we plan to get him off the intrave- is responsible for absorbing nutrients these drugs for the rest of their lives. On April 27, the Noel twins underwent nous feeding in less than half the normal from food. If either damaged or removed, Before Benedetti could perform the the transplant surgery. time,” Benedetti said. patients must receive nutrition intrave- transplant, in addition to the intravenous Benedetti and Ivo Tzvetanov, associ- Derrick is planning to return to work as nously which carries risks of line infec- feedings, he needed Patrick to start eat- ate professor of transplant surgery in the a barber as Patrick continues to gain tions and liver failure. ing solid, soft foods, as well as broths College of Medicine, removed about 7 weight and strength at home. Luckily, Patrick had a perfect match and soups. feet of the small intestine from Derrick Derrick never thought twice about un- for a transplant: his identical twin broth- “If he could absorb at least some — most people have about 20 feet of dergoing the operation to help his broth- er, Derrick. water through his remaining large small intestine — and used it to connect er, said a grateful Patrick. “When the doctors found out that I bowel, it would be a big improvement,” Patrick’s stomach and large bowel. The “He didn’t ask any questions,” Patrick was Patrick’s twin, they hinted that Benedetti said. surgery went smoothly and both broth- said. “He just said, ‘Yes.’”

Trial to compare injection to daily pills for HIV prevention By Sharon Parmet — [email protected]

UIC will begin recruiting participants the grant. Novak said. At UIC, the trial will be conducted for a clinical trial to compare the efficacy “The number one reason that Truvada To determine the efficacy of cabote- by Project WISH, the clinical trials re- of a newly-developed injectable drug to fails to prevent the transmission of HIV is gravir compared to Truvada, Novak and search arm of the UIC College of Med- prevent new infections of the HIV virus when it’s not taken consistently every colleagues will be recruiting partici- icine’s division of infectious disease. with Truvada, the only FDA-approved drug day as prescribed,” Novak said. pants to the HPTN 083 study, a multi- The trial is funded by the National In- currently available to prevent the spread Cabotegravir is an injectable pre- national trial that will enroll stitutes of Health and is part of their of HIV. exposure prophylaxis administered once approximately 4,500 HIV-uninfected HIV Prevention Trials Network. Truvada, approved in 2012, is a pill that every two months. men who have sex with men and trans- “If the trial is successful, Cabote- is taken every day to prevent becoming “If people only need to get a shot gender women at risk for acquiring HIV gravir may have a huge impact in cur- infected with HIV, said Richard Novak, the once every two months instead of having infection, ages 18 or older at sites in tailing HIV transmission in the future,” Harry F. Dowling Professor and chief of to remember to take pills every day, we the Americas, Asia and South Africa. Novak said. infectious disease in the College of Medi- think that the rate of transmission among Novak hopes to enroll approximately For more information, visit cine and principal investigator on those on the injectable will decrease,” 60 patients in Chicago. projectwish.uic.edu 6 UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017

meets East Meets West is a collaboration of Provost Susan Poser and Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs Robert Barish EDUCATING ACROSS THE GLOBE UIC trains health specialists in Ethiopia

By Jackie Carey — [email protected]

Since 2012, College of Medicine fac- ulty members have dedicated their time and expertise to training obstetric and gynecologic residents in Ethiopia — an initiative known as the Mela Project. This year, the Mela Project engaged faculty members from departments across cam- pus to address some of Ethiopia’s most pressing health-related challenges. “Because Ethiopia, as it is today, is a new nation — having only established its democratic constitution less than 30 years ago — its government and health care infrastructure are not yet fully estab- lished,” said Gelila Goba, founder of the Mela Project and assistant professor of “ETHIOPIA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF MATERNAL MORTALITY IN THE WORLD.”

obstetrics and gynecology in the UIC Col- lege of Medicine. Giving birth is itself a health risk in the East African nation, Goba said, where Dr. Gelila Goba (center) teaches a group of Mekelle University OB/GYN residents how to perform a hysteroscopy, a procedure for the only 10 percent of births occur under the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal bleeding. (Photo: Juhri Selamet) care of a trained professional, such as a doctor, midwife or nurse. In addition to complications from childbirth, women in graduating class, almost tripling the uni- to infertility in these patients.” andrology lab. “Andrology testing is not Ethiopia also lack access to vaccines, versity’s OB/GYN faculty. Scoccia estimates that he saw nearly particularly difficult, but it does require cancer screening and fertility counseling, “These graduates are now much- 30 women each day for infertility issues. highly specialized training to collect and among other basic primary health care needed faculty who can train new resi- Gail Prins, the Michael Reese Profes- analyze accurately.” essentials. dents and medical students,” Goba said. sor of Urology and Physiology, said The training UIC provided will increase “Ethiopia has one of the highest rates New this year for the Mela Project are there’s more to the infertility challenge in the impact of the five graduates and the of maternal mortality in the world,” Goba expanded sub-specialty training elec- Ethiopia. 29 students — residents-in-training from said. tives for Mekelle residents in reproduc- “I met so many couples who had long Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somaliland There’s a significant shortage of doc- tive endocrinology and infertility and struggled with infertility only to learn that — in patient care, research, teaching, tors in Ethiopia, specifically OB/GYNs adolescent gynecology, which were the male partner had never even under- health care administration and national who specialize in women’s health. Recent rolled out during UIC’s spring visit to the gone basic testing,” Prins said. “In these and regional planning, Goba said. data suggests that there may be only one center. cases, only half of the problem was being Mary Stephenson, the Theresa S. Fal- OB/GYN in Ethiopia for every 500,000 Bert Scoccia, professor of obstetrics addressed, yet women had carried the con-Cullinan Professor of Obstetrics and women. and gynecology, provided lectures and full burden, often feeling embarrassment Gynecology, said that UIC’s commitment training in reproductive endocrinology and shame.” to educating future physicians in Ethiopia SPECIALTY AND SUB-SPECIALTY and gynecologic surgery to address infer- Prins helped Mekelle set up its first is a natural extension of the university’s TRAINING tility, which is prevalent in Ethiopia. andrology lab to provide male fertility mission to reduce health disparities and The Mela Project specifically aims to “The cases we see in Ethiopia are very testing, such as sperm counts and mobil- educate leading clinicians and research- improve medical education and training different than those we see commonly in ity. ers. through the establishment of an OB/GYN the U.S.,” Scoccia said. “Many women “It was eye-opening to see how good “Our work in Ethiopia is an example of Center of Excellence at Mekelle Universi- have tubal disease from prior untreated we have it here and working with the resi- how UIC can make a global difference,” ty in Ethiopia. This year, the program infections and the pervasiveness of tu- dents at Mekelle was incredibly reward- Stephenson said. “Our partnership with graduated five faculty members — its first berculosis is also a significant contributor ing,” said Prins, who also directs UIC’s Mekelle is a two-way street. As our facul- Are you involved in an east-west collaboration? Email [email protected] and we may feature your story! uicnews.uic.edu UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017 7

East Meets West is a collaboration of Provost Susan Poser and Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs Robert Barish

ty provide specialty and sub-specialty training to Mekelle residents, our UIC res- idents have unique opportunities to work in Ethiopia with a group of patients whose health needs are very different from what we see in the U.S. “For them and for our faculty, these ex- periences add depth and breadth to their skills, research and community-based engagement.”

COMMUNITY-BASED CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING Also new for the Mela Project is a col- laboration with the University of Illinois Cancer Center and the Tigray Regional Health Bureau to study and improve cer- vical cancer screening programs in Tigray, the northern region of Ethiopia where Mekelle is located. “The Ethiopian government has a goal to screen every woman for cervical can- A residential street in the Mekelle Market neighborhood of Mekelle, Tigray Province, Ethiopia — only four miles from Mekelle University. cer by 2020,” Goba said. “As part of this (Photo: Juhri Selamet) goal, they need to get out in the commu- nity and study the effectiveness of their “Health, particularly preventive health, the number of screenings offered and to UIC from the IDP Foundation, a private current screening methods and compare happens in communities, not just in hos- provide additional sub-specialty training. nonprofit foundation dedicated to en- them with alternative practices, like Pap pitals,” Watson said. “I was particularly Stacie Geller, the G. William and Clair couraging and supporting the develop- smear and HPV testing.” inspired by the work happening in rural Mae Ar- ment of The Mela Project is helping engage communities in Ethiopia and the way ends Pro- “OUR WORK IN ETHIOPIA IS AN innovative the community and perform a cost- screening programs have mobilized com- fessor of EXAMPLE OF HOW UIC CAN and sustain- effectiveness analysis of the screening munity health workers, a model we are Obstet- able solu- protocols. Goba selected Karriem Wat- exploring in Chicago.” rics and MAKE A GLOBAL DIFFERENCE.” tions to son, director of community engagement “In studying cervical cancer screening Gynecology and director of the Center for complex global issues. Goba is the princi- research implementation science in the programs in Ethiopia, we have to be par- Research on Women and Gender, will pal investigator on the grant. UI Health Cancer Center, and Kyle Cheek, ticularly mindful of the costs of the pro- provide mentoring training for junior fac- “Lecture by lecture, student by student, clinical associate professor of informa- grams,” said Cheek, who before joining ulty. Rajul Kothari, assistant professor of and patient by patient, UIC is making a tion and decision sciences in the UIC Col- UIC in 2013 worked as a corporate clinical obstetrics and gynecology and difference in Ethiopia,” Goba said. “The lege of Business Administration, to health care analytics executive. administrative director of gynecologic students are so hungry for specialized support the work. Cheek met with Tigray health officials oncology, will teach an oncology training training and I am very proud that UIC has and worked with the region- to Mekelle residents. the support necessary to continue this al health bureau to struc- The Mela Project is funded by a grant good work.” ture data collection and analysis so that, in addition to promoting improved clin- ical outcomes, the govern- ment could monitor the cost of care. “Ethiopia simply does not have the resources we have in the U.S.,” he said. “They cannot afford even the smallest inefficiencies, and they are looking at this kind of data to inform insurance and risk pool programs and policies.” Already, the Mela Project has screened 125 women in rural areas for HVP and cervical cancer. Dr. Humberto Scoccia (right) works with Mekelle University OB/GYN residents to review the pelvic x-ray NEXT STEPS On July 19, members of Dr. Gail Prins (center) trains Mekelle University laboratory technicians how to perform films of a patient diagnosed with infertility. semen analysis (sperm count), a critical part of a viable andrology laboratory and an im- (Photo: Juhri Selamet) the Mela Project will return portant step in diagnosing and treating infertility. (Photo: Juhri Selamet) to Ethiopia to try to double

Are you involved in an east-west collaboration? Email [email protected] and we may feature your story! 8 UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017 Urban garden addresses food insecurity By Robert Schroeder — [email protected]

The corner of Harrison and developed UIC’s first urban gar- gardens based in Halsted streets doesn’t feel very den at the intersection, aiming to Highland Park. rural, with traffic buzzing by the address issues of sustainability Planting finished busy intersection and the Willis and food security in low-income June 27, moving Tower looming in the back- Chicago communities. the project into ground. But that will soon “Growing up in Chicago, we the next phase of change. both know what living off the raising the first Students Dorrian Neeley and corner store can do for you,” harvest. Lashawn Evans, both in the un- Neeley said. “We think we can A sampling of dergraduate Human Develop- influence the community starting this summer’s ment and Learning program in with this garden and hopefully bounty includes the College of Education, have expanding, so people can have tomatoes, basil, the ability to feed themselves.” okra, Swiss Their idea blossomed in the chard, raspber- Child and Youth Policies in Urban ries, carrots, America course (ED 135), taught pumpkins, by Chris Miller, assistant clinical squash, edama- professor of educational policy me, watermelon, studies. Neeley and Evans purple potatoes sought to study sustainable food and kale. systems as an independent proj- Neeley and ect, a plan embraced by Miller Evans plan to sell and Alfred Tatum, dean of the what they raise at College of Education. low costs to UIC UIC education students are growing a garden near Harrison and Halsted streets. During the Spring 2017 se- students and at mester, Neeley and Evans regis- farmers markets in Chicago. level of control.” can do that by growing plants in tered a student organization, “There are so many things As future educators, Neeley your own garden, a community acquired access to the plot of you can’t control in your life, but and Evans see urban gardening garden or a community center, land and earned funding from nutrition and what you eat can efforts as key cogs in community you’ll educate yourself and Lashawn Evans (left) and UIC to partner with The Organic give you so much agency over growth. those who live around you. You’ll Dorrian Neeley. Gardener, creators of sustain- your health,” Evans said. “You need to learn how to sus- make your community better able garden-to-table organic “We want to give people that tain yourself,” Neeley said. “If you overall.” uicnews.uic.edu UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017 9 UIC author chronicles Chicago mob during Prohibition By Jeffron Boynés — [email protected] Although much has been “PEOPLE SOMETIMES written about notorious gang- WONDER WHY A ster Al Capone, there has not been a complete history of orga- BUSINESS PROFES- nized crime in Chicago during SOR IS STUDYING Prohibition — until now. ORGANIZED CRIME, UIC professor emeritus John BECAUSE TO THEM IT Binder’s exhaustively re- searched new book, Al Capone’s SEEMS DISTANTLY Beer Wars: A Complete History RELATED TO THE of Organized Crime in Chicago SUBJECT.” During Prohibition, sheds light on the bootlegging gangs in the history of Prohibition era gang- city and the suburbs. It also ex- land in Chicago.” amines their other major rackets Binder also describes the — prostitution, gambling, labor John Binder fight by federal and local author- (Source: Prometheus Books) and business racketeering, and ities, as well as citizens’ groups, narcotics — from 1920 to 1933. against organized crime. In the “People sometimes wonder pending on the time period.” process, he refutes numerous why a business professor is Published by Prometheus myths and misconceptions re- studying organized crime, be- Books, Al Capone’s Beer Wars lated to the Capone gang, other cause to them it seems distantly highlights how the Capone criminal groups, the St. Valen- related to the subject,” said gang — one of 12 major boot- tine’s Day Massacre and gang- Binder, associate professor legging mobs in Chicago at the land killings. emeritus of finance in the UIC start of Prohibition — gained a What emerges is a big picture College of Business Administra- virtual monopoly over organized of how Chicago’s underworld tion and a recognized authority crime in northern Illinois and evolved during this period. This on the history of organized crime beyond. The book is based on broad perspective goes well be- in Chicago. 25 years of research and uses yond Capone and specific acts “However, in reality, the exact many previously unexplored of violence and brings to light opposite is true. The sole goal of sources. what was happening elsewhere organized crime — whether it’s “The years I’ve spent as a in Chicagoland and after Ca- Capone’s gang during Prohibi- business professor studying pone went to jail. tion, or his successors — is to finance and economics have “The violence and political enrich the members. They do it been incredibly useful in under- corruption that go along with primarily by running illegal busi- standing what these guys are organized crime are important Binder’s book sheds light on the history of organized crime in nesses, providing alcohol or really doing,” Binder said. “It and interesting, but they are only Chicago during the Prohibition. (Source: Prometheus Books) gambling or whatever else, de- has helped me write a complete part of the picture,” Binder said. More divided votes signal evolving city council By Brian Flood — [email protected]

Chicago aldermen are becom- said. “Aldermen are also more the factors noted for this devel- ing more independent from willing than in the past to pro- opment are the 2015 runoff Mayor Rahm Emanuel, although duce their own legislation and election, the video of the Laquan at a slow pace, according to a propose solutions to critical city McDonald shooting, the city’s new report by the UIC political problems rather than wait for, or gun violence crisis, and police science department. to clear, their proposals with the misconduct. The study — produced by Dick 5th floor.” While the mayor doesn’t have Simpson, professor of political From June 17, 2015, to March as much clout as before and al- science; Maureen Heffern Ponic- 29, 2017, there were 67 divided dermen are freer to act on their ki, graduate student; Allyson roll call votes, which is when at own and to oppose him, he is still Nolde, undergraduate student; least one or more aldermen vote able to pass his legislation. and Tom Gradel, a former political against the mayor and his admin- “Even though the increase in media consultant — measured istration. divided votes during the past aldermanic voting patterns and Some of the most contentious two years signals rising indepen- the opposition Emanuel has issues with the closest divided dence on the part of aldermen, faced since June 2015. roll call votes included equity in the mayor has still not lost a According to the report, five contractor job opportunities for vote,” Simpson said. “He has not aldermen voted 100 percent of minorities at the airports, police needed to use his veto and he the time to support the mayor’s misconduct, regulation of Dick Simpson (Photo: Jenny Fontaine) still has overall control over the position on divided roll call votes “shared economy” services like council.” and another 22 voted with him 90 Uber and Airbnb, 2016 city bud- dence, including 10 aldermen, The findings suggest that The full report, “Chicago’s percent of the time. get tax increases and appropria- and could develop into a perma- Emanuel is “undeniably weaker” Evolving City Council: Chicago “However, the number of al- tion of tax increment finance nent independent bloc, accord- now than in his first term in office City Council Report #9,” which dermen voting with the mayor (TIF) funds. ing to the researchers, who also as he has lost popularity among details the voting patterns and less than 90 percent of the time The council’s Progressive note that the group becomes voters and the city’s social prob- historical comparisons, is on divided votes has risen to 23 Caucus has seen increased ac- more effective when it joins the lems have become more visible available online at bit.ly/ over the last two years,” Simpson tivity and growing indepen- Black or Hispanic caucuses. and pressing. Among some of 2s3HNn2 10 UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017 Biopharmaceutical scientist wins NIH research award By Sam Hostettler — [email protected] Ying He, research assistant professor sickle cell disease, little progress has of biopharmaceutical sciences, has re- been made in understanding and treat- ceived a Pathway to Independence Grant ing sickle cell pain, especially chronic from the National Institute of Health’s Na- pain. tional Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to “Pain is not only a life-long companion advance her career as a research scien- but also a predictor of mortality rate in tist. patients with sickle cell disease,” Ying He Limited to the most promising post- said. doctoral investigators, the Pathway to Z. Jim Wang, professor of pharmacol- Independence grant provides up to five ogy and pharmaceutics in the College of years of support consisting of two Pharmacy, said Ying He’s award is phases: the first gives awardees one to well-deserved. two years of mentored assistance, while “Ying excelled in her graduate studies phase two provides up to three years of and postdoctoral training at UIC,” Wang independent support contingent on se- said. “I’m so glad that her peer reviewers curing an independent academic posi- agreed that she is a bright scientist with tion. Ying He, research assistant professor of biopharmaceutical sciences, is developing great potential for a successful indepen- She is working to develop effective pharmacological interventions to slow the progression of sickle cell disease. dent academic career. The Pathway to pharmacological interventions that can Independence Grant is highly competi- slow the progression of sickle cell dis- tissue, cause excruciating pain, stroke, verity of the disease. However, more than tive and is a prestigious career award. I ease and improve the quality of life for and hemolytic anemia. The blockage of 50 percent of patients do not respond to look forward to seeing Ying move on to a patients. Sickle cell disease is a group of blood flow caused by sickled cells also hydroxyurea, Ying He said. tenure-track position in the near future.” inherited disorders that affects hemoglo- causes damage to most organs, including There remains a critical and urgent In addition to her latest award, Ying bin, the molecule in red blood cells that the spleen, kidneys, liver and brain. need to identify additional fetal hemoglo- He has twice been named a winner of the delivers oxygen to cells throughout the Only one drug — hydroxyurea — is cur- bin production agents, as “increased fetal AAPS National Biotech Student Award body. rently approved by the U.S. Food and hemoglobin can alleviate disease symp- by the American Association of Pharma- About 100,000 Americans — primarily Drug Administration to treat sickle cell toms and decrease acute painful epi- ceutical Scientists; a NIH Sickle Cell of African or Hispanic descent — suffer disease. The drug induces the production sodes,” she said. While new treatments Scholar; and has won the UIC Best Dis- from the disease, which can damage lung of fetal hemoglobin and reduces the se- are extending the lives of patients with sertation Award. AVON’s breast cancer walk gives UIC $75K Funds will support UI Health patient navigation program By Jackie Carey — [email protected]

AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Can- “Despite the many advances that have specialty care, or suffer substantial loss of “WE WANT TO HELP GUIDE cer presented the College of Medicine made breast cancer a curable disease, quality of life because they have never CHICAGO’S MOST VULNERABLE and UI Health with a $75,000 check too many women in Chicago are still had their disease explained in a way they during the closing ceremony of its annual dying,” said Hoskins, associate professor understand. The health disparities these WOMEN THROUGH THE two-day fundraiser June 4. Kent Hoskins, of medicine and principle investigator on patients face are heartbreaking and un- COMPLICATED PROCESS OF A who leads the hospital’s Center for Breast the grant. “Too often, underserved African acceptable.” BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS Care, accepted the check at Maggie Daley American and Latina patients are diag- Hoskins said the money will fund a pa- AND TIMELY TREATMENT.” Park. nosed late, lack access to high-quality tient navigation program to help women diagnosed with breast cancer. Funds raised during AVON’s annual “We want to help guide Chicago’s event in Chicago go primarily to organiza- most vulnerable women through the tions and projects that improve care and complicated process of a breast cancer outcomes for breast cancer patients in diagnosis and timely treatment, so that Chicago’s neighborhoods and suburbs. we can better address the barriers these The Chicago event was the third of seven women face,” Hoskins said. walks throughout the country.

UIC News Staff Published on Wednesdays during the Advertising Coordinator academic year (monthly during summer) by: Samella Wright — [email protected] Office of Public and Government Affairs Visual Communication & Design University of Illinois at Chicago Anna Dworzecka — [email protected] 601 S. Morgan St., 1320 UH (MC 288) Associate Graphic Designer Chicago, IL 60607-7113 Megan Strand — [email protected] Editorial:...... (312) 996-0662 Editorial Associate Advertising: . . . . .(312) 996-3456 Francisca Corona — [email protected] Fax: ...... (312) 996-3754 Photography Jenny Fontaine — [email protected] Associate Editor Christy Levy — [email protected]

Senior Executive Director, Public Affairs UI Health’s proceeds from the breast cancer walk will fund a patient navigation Sherri McGinnis González — [email protected] program to help women diagnosed with breast cancer. uicnews.uic.edu uicnews.uic.edu UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017 11 PEOPLE Joanna Michel Fulbright scholar to study plant use in Colombia By Sharon Parmet — [email protected]

Joanna Michel, instructor of of the displaced persons now live professor of public health at the medical education and associate in urban centers. Michel wants to Universidad de Antioquia in Me- director of UIC’s Urban Medicine understand how this migration dellín and assistant professor at Program, has received a Fulbright has altered women’s use of the University of Illinois College U.S. Scholar Program award to plants for medicinal and nutri- of Medicine at Rockford. study how women displaced from tional purposes. Michel has a Ph.D. in pharma- rural to urban areas in Medellín, “Many of the plants that were cognosy and medical ethnobot- Colombia, use medicinal and nu- available and culturally relevant in any from the UIC College of tritional plants in their health care rural areas may be harder to find Pharmacy. Previous honors in- practices. and grow in urban locations,” Mi- clude UIC’s Silver Circle Award Michel, who is also an affiliate chel said. “We will conduct inter- for teaching and an earlier Ful- professor in the UIC School of views and focus groups to bright Fellowship to support her Public Health, is one of 800 fac- determine how women are Ph.D. work in Guatemala. ulty and professionals who will adapting their use of these plants The Fulbright U.S. Scholar travel abroad during the 2017– and how it effects their well- Program, created in 1946 to 2018 academic year through the being and that of their families. increase mutual understanding program, which is the flagship “Some of the questions we Joanna Michel will travel to Colombia to study how women use between U.S. citizens and the medicinal and nutritional plants. (Photo: Roberta Dupuis-Devlin) international educational ex- hope to answer are how do people of other countries, rec- change sponsored by the U.S. women obtain these plants, or ognizes academic and profes- government. have they replaced plants with dens? How is family health im- in cities?” sional achievement in addition to Ongoing armed conflict in Co- medicines that can be found in pacted by the shift in location, The four-month research proj- record of service and demon- lombia has caused a dramatic the city? Are families growing and is this related in any way to ect is a collaboration between strated leadership in recipients’ population shift, and 93 percent medicinal plants in urban gar- the limited availability of plants Michel and Sergio Cristancho, respective fields.

AWARDS GRANTS Alexandra Filindra, associate Alice Butterfield, professor Internet scholar honored for communication work professor of political science, of social work, received a Ful- By Brian Flood — [email protected] and Noah Kaplan, clinical assis- bright Specialist grant to teach tant professor of political sci- as a visiting lecturer from July Zizi Papacharissi, profes- er these tools lead to po- ence, received the best article 24 to August 8 at Assam Don sor and head of communica- litical influence, award from the American Politi- Bosco University in India. tion, has been named a particularly for underrep- cal Science Association’s elec- fellow of the International resented groups. The tions, public opinion, and voting Wenpeng Xu, a doctoral Communication Association. publication earned her behavior section for their article student in anthropology, re- She was awarded the the National Communi- “Racial Resentment and Whites’ ceived a Henry Luce Founda- prestigious honor in recog- cation Association’s Gun Policy Preference in Con- tion/American Council of nition of her record of schol- 2015 Human Communi- temporary America.” The award Learned Societies pre-disserta- arly achievement in the cation and Technology recognizes the best article pub- tion summer travel grant. The study of human and mediat- Division Outstanding lished in Political Behavior in the award, which provides funding ed communication and con- Book Award. previous calendar year. Filindra for graduate students to explore tributions to the association. In A Private Sphere: and Kaplan will be honored Sept. venues, make preliminary re- Recipients are chosen Democracy in a Digital 1 in San Francisco during the search arrangements, and gain through a competitive selec- Age, she examines how association’s annual meeting. advice from Chinese scholars to tion process and elected by online media redefine prepare for research in China, the small group of previously our understanding of Deirdre McCloskey, profes- will support Xu’s research ex- elected fellows from the public and private in sor emerita of history, won the amining early Chinese ceramic leading academic associa- late-modern democra- Hayek Book Prize from the Man- production and trade. tion of communication cies and set new hattan Institute for her book, Zizi Papacharissi (Photo: Jenny scholars. parameters for civic Fontaine) Bourgeois Equality, the culmina- John Hicks, a doctoral stu- Papacharissi, who stud- engagement. tion of her Bourgeois Trilogy. Mc- dent in anthropology, received a ies the social and political Papacharissi has edit- Closkey received a $50,000 dissertation fieldwork grant consequences of online ed seven books and authored nalism at University of Texas at award and delivered the annual from the Wenner-Gren Founda- media technologies, was or co-authored more than 60 Austin’s Moody College of Hayek lecture June 13 in New tion to support his project “Vol- honored during the associa- scholarly articles and chapters. Communication, where she York City. canism and Vulnerability in the tion’s annual conference She is editor of two scholarly received a Ph.D. in political Early Colonial Period Agricultur- held last month in San journals, including Social communication and new al Landscape of the South- Diego. Media and Society, which she media. HONORS Central Andes.” Hicks research- Her most recent book, founded in 2015. The International Commu- es changes in landscape and Affective Publics: Sentiment, Her productive and highly- nication Association has 4,300 Disability studies doctoral stu- farming in southern Peru Technology, and Politics, ex- cited scholarship was honored members from nearly 80 dent Elizabeth Thomson is the around the 1600 eruption of plores online social move- in 2014 when she received the countries and is recognized by vice-chair of the Association on Huaynaputina, one of the larg- ments, storytelling practices High Impact Scholar award for the United Nations as a non- Higher Education and Disability est volcanic eruptions in record- via social media, and wheth- alumni from the School of Jour- governmental organization. Standing Committee on Diversity. ed history. 12 UIC News | Wednesday, July 12, 2017 SPORTS Dee receives regional Coach of the Year honors By Dan Yopchick — [email protected]

Baseball head coach Mike Dee was mark that was second nationally to Oregon named the American Baseball Coaches State (14) and Long Beach State (12). Association/Diamond Mideast Region UIC also flourished defensively last sea- Coach of the Year. son. The Flames led the NCAA in fielding Dee, who was also named Horizon percentage (.984). The team’s average of League Coach of the Year for the 10th 0.63 errors per game was the lowest in the time in 19 seasons, helped the Flames country. match the school record with 39 wins A program-record six Flames were while securing a Horizon League champi- drafted under Dee’s guidance in 2017. onship and the program’s fifth NCAA Right-handed pitcher Connor Ryan was Championship appearance. UIC partici- selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the pated in the Hattiesburg Regional, hosted eighth round, and Rob Calabrese was taken by Southern Mississippi, in June. by the San Francisco Giants in the 10th Under Dee’s tutelage, the UIC pitching round. Mickey McDonald (Oakland Athlet- staff registered the lowest earned-run ics), David Cronin (Chicago White Sox), Jake average in program history. The Flames Dahlberg (St. Louis Cardinals) and Cody finished the campaign with an ERA of Bohanek (Houston Astros) were chosen on 2.65, lower than the previous record set in the third day of the First-Year Player Draft. 2003 (3.19). UIC ranked second in the Pitcher Mitchell Schulewitz signed a free country in ERA, hits allowed per nine in- agent contract with the Kansas City Royals, nings (7) and WHIP (1.11). and Ricardo Ramirez signed a professional The Flames had 11 shutouts this sea- contract with the Traverse City Beach Mike Dee has led the Flames baseball team for 19 seasons. son, eclipsing the 2002 record by two — a Bums of the Frontier League.

Heflin nominated as NCAA Woman of Year Record number By Laura White — [email protected] of students make league honor roll By Tim Hurley — [email protected]

An all-time high 79 stu- dent-athletes were named to the Horizon League Spring Academic Honor Roll. Notably, the UIC athletics pro- gram as a whole posted an all- time best 3.15 GPA. Among individual sports, the men’s tennis team had the overall highest GPA at 3.60, and women’s cross coun- try and golf tied for second at 3.49. Many Flames earned outstand- ing GPAs in spring semester. Sev- Recent softball alum Elaine Heflin was time Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, nized for her academic success by enty-two athletes recorded a GPA selected as a nominee for the NCAA All-League First Team selection and Na- earning a spot on the Horizon League of 3.75 or higher, with another 39 Woman of the Year award, which honors tional Fastpitch Coaches Association Honor Roll every eligible semester. earning a GPA between 3.5 and graduating female college athletes who (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region honoree. She also was recognized on the All- 3.74. Overall, 194 Flames earned have distinguished themselves in aca- The 10-time Horizon League Pitcher Academic Team as a junior, when she a GPA above 3.0. demics, athletics, service and leadership. of the Week broke the 20-year-old UIC carried a 3.38 cumulative GPA and To make the league’s honor roll, Heflin, who graduated in May with a strikeout record with 18 against North- was named NFCA All-America Schol- students must have completed at bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and ern Kentucky during her senior campaign, ar-Athlete. least three semesters as a full- a minor in English, excelled on the field when she also set the single-season re- Heflin volunteered in the communi- time student at the same member and off in her four years with the Flames. cord for saves (5). With her career totals, ty with UIC’s SPARK (Students Per- institution and have a cumulative Heflin was a driving force in UIC’s she placed in the top 10 in appearances forming Acts of Random Kindness) GPA of at least 3.2. championship turnout of three regular (112), wins (47), saves (11), complete organization, as well as with Special To see a list of students who season conference titles, one tournament games (50), shutouts (13), innings Olympics. She also was a coach for made the honor roll, visit crown and an appearance in the NCAA pitched (539.2) and strikeouts (501). Youth 14 Girls Fastpitch Softball and bit.ly/2tDbrCb Tournament in 2017. She was a three- The Downers Grove native was recog- provided pitching lessons.

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