F E A T U R E I N T H I S I S S U E

A new dining experience is coming to this fall...... 2

Technology is useful, but medicine needs to get back to basics, a U N I V E R S I T Y professor of pediatrics says...... 5

It’s now the O’Hara Student Center, but vestiges of the Concordia Club remain. See pages 6 & 7. TIMES VOLUME 43 • NUMBER 20 JUNE 9, 2011 UNIVERSITY OF Pitt teams score well on NCAA report card ll of Pitt’s 19 Division I with an APR below 925 can lose sports teams exceeded scholarships, and scores below 900 Astandards established for can trigger more severe sanctions, academic performance in the latest including restrictions on financial “report card” issued last month by aid, postseason competition and the National Collegiate Athletic practice time. Association (NCAA). On the penalty side, 103 teams Two of Pitt’s teams — gym- at 67 schools have been sanctioned nastics and men’s basketball for poor academic performance, — received special recognition the NCAA reported. Eight teams from the NCAA for being ranked — five men’s basketball and three among the top 10 percent in their football teams — are banned respective sports among all Divi- from competing in the postsea- sion I programs. son in the coming academic year The report measures teams because of poor performance in against the academic progress rate the classroom. Deborah Walker (APR) that the NCAA developed In addition, another seven seven years ago as a way to gauge teams faced a postseason ban but college athletes’ progress toward received a conditional waiver for Walker elected earning their degrees. Scores the coming year. These teams are assigned based on eligibil- remain subject to the postseason SAC president ity, retention rates and degree- ban in future years if they do completion rates. not meet their specific academic he Staff Association Coun- The benchmark score of 925 performance conditions or imple- cil (SAC) announced the out of a possible 1,000 equals ment an NCAA-approved aca- Tresults of officer elections roughly a 60 percent success rate demic improvement plan. at its monthly meeting yesterday, in graduating players within six A total of 55 teams did not June 8. Officers serve two-year years. earn a 925 APR and had a student- terms beginning at the conclusion The NCAA report reflects the athlete leave school ineligible, of SAC’s June meeting. Photos by Mike Drazdzinski/CIDDE four-year average for every team and thus have lost scholarships. Newly elected officers are: Pitt’s gymnastics and men’s basketball teams received special • President — Deborah over the academic years 2006-07 recognition from the NCAA for being ranked among the top 10 Five teams have lost immediate through 2009-10. The average percent in their respective sports among all Division I programs. scholarships and received the first Walker, who had been serving APR for all 6,422 Division I teams penalty (public warning) as well as chair of the newly formed is 970, up three points from last a perfect 1,000 for the gymnastics report. The men’s basketball for posting an APR below 900. staff mentoring committee and year’s average. team. team’s score was 985, compared Another 16 teams under 900 a member of the program and Thirteen of Pitt’s 19 sports The 10 Panthers women’s with the national average for all APR received a public warn- planning committee. She defeated teams improved their scores from programs recorded no score lower 344 Division I men’s basketball ing; 19 teams received practice Libby Hilf, vice president for the 2010 data, with the largest than 970 for the multi-year APR teams’ score of 945. restrictions. marketing and communications. improvement coming in baseball period. The Panthers football team’s The APR breakdown of Pitt’s Walker succeeds Gwen Watkins, (up 25 points) and men’s basketball Men’s basketball and football, score was 949, compared to the 19 Division I teams is available who did not run for re-election. (up 23 points). the two major revenue-generating national average of 946 for all 244 at http://web1.ncaa.org/maps/ • Vice president of steering Pitt teams’ APRs ranged from a sports, both fared well compared Division I football teams. aprRelease.jsp. — incumbent Jon-Paul “J.P.” low of 955 for men’s swimming to to Division I peers in the latest Under NCAA policies, teams —Peter Hart n Matychak, who also serves on the marketing and communications committee. He defeated Rich Colwell, immediate past president of SAC. • Vice president for marketing and communications — Monika : Planning for 2025 Losagio, who had been serving as ommunity-initiated plan- Social Work affiliates are acting vice chair of the salary and job clas- ning for Oakland’s future as facilitators for the project. The sification committee. She defeated Cis continuing into its third project also has been endorsed by Jesse Nicholson, who chairs the phase, following the recent Oak- the University Senate community newly formed diversity and inclu- land 2025 community action relations committee. sion committee and is a member of forum, part of a year-long effort Among forum attendees were the governance committee. to develop a master plan for the a mix of Oakland residents, busi- • Treasurer — Monica Cost- neighborhood. ness owners, landlords, employees low, who defeated Amy Elliott. The forum was the culmi- of Oakland institutions, students, Both candidates were serving on nation of a five-week series of bicyclists and transit riders. the program and planning com- dialogues in which groups shared Attendees voted on the top mittee, with Costlow serving as their experiences and their vision action ideas to determine priori- committee chair. for making Oakland a better place ties for action teams, Sherry-Tor- Officers are prohibited from to live, work and play. (See April res explained. Those priorities are: chairing any of the standing com- 28 University Times.) • Transportation and mittees, but they can opt to be a The May 12 action forum drew pedestrian safety. member of any SAC committees. more than 200 people, according Recommendations include Results of the election, which to Tara Sherry-Torres, community approaching Oakland-area insti- was held electronically for the first organizer at Oakland Planning tutions and public agencies to pool time, were announced by Barbara and Development Corp. (OPDC), their resources to create a bus loop Mowery, chair of SAC’s elections which is coordinating the project for intra-Oakland travel; improv- committee. SAC members at the with support from neighborhood ing safety with better enforcement June 8 meeting endorsed the elec- institutions and community part- of traffic laws, and raising aware- tion results unanimously. ners, including Pitt. School of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 —Peter Hart n

1 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES

L E T T E R S Fund education with soft drink/bottled water tax To the editor: and contribute to obesity, which Ever since Gov. Corbett in turn contributes to diabetes announced cuts in educational and they also contribute to dental spending, there has been an caries. Tap water is fine to drink, outcry that those cuts should be so bottled water is a luxury and eliminated and funding should people should be able to pay a tax continue as before. for luxury items. Also, if enough There is a simple way to fund legislators back the tax on Marcel- education at all levels in the state lus shale gas, then Gov. Corbett’s of , which would be veto could be overridden. by imposing a 5 percent or 10 A. Baumhammers percent tax on soft drinks and a 5 Clinical Professor percent tax on bottled water. Soft Department of Periodontics drinks have no nutritional value School of Dental Medicine

University Times letters policy Letters should be submitted at least one week prior to publication. Persons criticized in a letter will receive a copy of the letter so that they may prepare a Peter Hart response. If no response is received, the letter will be published alone. Letters can be sent by email to [email protected] or by campus mail to 308 . The University Times reserves the right to edit letters for clarity or length. Individuals are limited to two published letters per academic term. Unsigned Oakland: Planning for 2025 letters will not be accepted for publication. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ness regarding alternative means improve the area’s image. greening initiatives and trail con- of transportation. Sherry-Torres said general nections,” Sherry-Torres said. Sherry-Torres commented recommendations at the May “While these action teams work, Montgomery memorial that transportation concerns have 12 forum included surveying we will also move forward with mounted in the Oakland commu- residents on their preference for the broader Oakland 2025 plan- set for June 20 nity since the elimination of the an online community forum or a ning process.” 84B Oakland Loop bus route as printed newsletter to raise aware- Workshops and strategy ses- A memorial gathering for Edison Montgomery is scheduled for part of the March 27 Port Author- ness of local events, services and sions will be held in the fall, she 4-6 p.m. June 20 in the University Club Gold Room. ity service cuts. initiatives, and engaging Oakland added. Montgomery, who died April 1, 2011, served the University • Housing issues. coalitions and organizations on a By the end of 2011, Sherry- under six chancellors beginning in 1956. (See obituary in the April Recommendations include branding campaign to promote Torres said, the hope is to combine 14 University Times.) reactivating the Oakland code Oakland’s assets. the action teams’ recommenda- The family suggests memorial donations to the Edison Mont- enforcement task force and She said 76 people signed up tions into a comprehensive Oak- gomery Phi Beta Kappa Junior Prize. Checks should be made engaging community members for the three action teams, which land community plan that will out to the referencing the Montgomery to enforce codes on negligent will meet during the summer to serve as a blueprint for improve- prize and sent to the University Honors College, 3600 Cathedral landlords, housing violations, review the recommendations and ments. of Learning, Pittsburgh 15260. parking violations and littering; develop written action plans. For more information, call The Montgomery prize is given annually to the member of the encouraging investment in the “Over the summer our action 412/621-7863 ext. 17; email junior class judged to be best at fulfilling Phi Beta Kappa’s ideals Oakland housing market, and teams will pursue a more efficient Sherry-Torres at [email protected], of intellectual scope and academic attainment. Montgomery was working with police, student and coordinated Oakland bus or visit www.opdc.org/programs- executive committee secretary of the Pittsburgh chapter of Phi groups and community organiza- loop, reactivating the Oakland services/plan-partner/2011-com- Beta Kappa, 1985-2000. Pitt’s Xi chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa tions to address noise, underage code enforcement task force and munity-plan/. Society named the award for him in 2003. n drinking and nuisance bars. sprouting new neighborhood —Peter Hart n • Strengthening neighbor- hood quality and connectivity through investment in com- New restaurant coming to Schenley Plaza this fall munity beautification, greening efforts and public spaces. restaurant being built by tures such as rain barrels, rooftop fin said the Eat’n Park group’s con- Carnegie Library entrance are in Recommendations include the Eat’n Park Hospital- herb gardens and greenery-filled cept would be a unique addition the plaza’s future. connecting West and South A ity Group in partnership “living walls” are incorporated in to the plaza. The fact that it’s not While the plaza’s expansive Oakland, as well as the Oakland with the Pittsburgh Parks Con- the design. The restaurant also a “cookie-cutter, stripmall kind lawn is intended to be a permanent business district, with the Eliza servancy is taking shape near the will participate in composting and of concept” is attractive, as is the feature, Griffin said public recre- Furnace Trail and Second Avenue carousel at Schenley Plaza. recycling practices typical of the design, which he said coordinates ation features or art someday could by improving steps and trail con- Although rain has slowed restaurant group’s other locations, well with existing plaza elements. be added elsewhere on the plaza. nections, and developing a series construction, the as-yet-unnamed Broadhurst said. The use of glass and cedar will The public space is intended to of beautification initiatives to restaurant is expected to open in Jim Griffin, Pittsburgh Parks complement nearby structures, serve a broad range of interests, he September, said Mark Broadhurst, Conservancy director of facilities, he noted. said, citing the diverse program- Eat’n Park’s director of concept said a sit-down restaurant that Griffin labeled the plaza a ming that already has included free development. would add to the food service work in progress, noting that the concerts, yoga and other exercise, The neighborhood bistro-style offered at four seasonal kiosks footprint of the plaza has been pogo-stick competitions, circuses, restaurant will serve alcohol and has been part of the vision for extended to the area in front of the the International Children’s will feature a simple seasonal menu Schenley Plaza. Although alcohol Carnegie Library and museum as Festival and celebrations of Bill U N I V E R S I T Y that will include hearth oven and will be served, drinks won’t be well as to the space adjoining Pitt’s Mazeroski’s famed 1960 World rotisserie items, Broadhurst said. permitted beyond the restaurant, . Series home run. TIMES The restaurant will offer breakfast, Griffin said. He cited the restoration of Griffin said the conservancy EDITOR lunch and dinner year-round, Plans by another local restau- the Mary E. Schenley Memo- is open to new ideas for plaza N. J. Brown 412/624-1373 accommodating 150 patrons with rant group to build on the site rial Fountain as another recent improvements and activities; [email protected] indoor and outdoor seating. Car- were approved in 2006, but the improvement, adding that repairs public input is welcomed at www. WRITERS ryout service also will be available. proposed Atria’s restaurant never to the Christopher Lyman Magee schenleyplaza.org. Kimberly K. Barlow 412/624-1379 Breakfast will include quick, progressed to construction. Grif- Memorial Fountain near the —Kimberly K. Barlow n [email protected] handheld items, with brunch offerings on the weekend breakfast Peter Hart 412/624-1374 menu, he said. Speed also will be [email protected] emphasized during the lunch hour. BUSINESS MANAGER Customers will place their orders Barbara DelRaso 412/624-4644 before being seated, but restaurant [email protected] staff will serve the meals and clear Events Calendar: [email protected] the tables. Full service will be The University Times is published bi-weekly on Thursdays by the University of Pittsburgh. offered during dinner hours. Send correspondence to University Times, The restaurant is being 308 Bellefield Hall, University of Pittsburgh, designed to a LEED-silver level Pittsburgh, PA 15260; fax to 412/624-4579 standard, although Broadhurst or email: [email protected]. said it’s not been determined Subscriptions are available at a cost of $25 for the publishing year, which runs from Septem- whether to pursue the actual ber through July. Make checks payable to the LEED certification. University of Pittsburgh. Natural light will dominate the The is available electronically at: www.utimes.pitt.edu. side of the restaurant that faces the plaza, he said. Other “green” fea-

2 JUNE 9, 2011 Faculty volunteers sought to “adopt” a Pitt dorm floor he Office of Residence Life Some examples of the kinds of ranks,” he said. Informal interac- is recruiting for its faculty out-of-classroom events include tion with faculty tends to drive that Tassociates program. coffeehouse visits, movie nights point home in a non-threatening A joint venture of the offices followed by discussions, museum way, O’Brien said. of Student Life and Residence trips, sporting events, ethnic festi- Following O’Brien’s report, Life and the first-year student vals and kayaking, hiking or rock Assembly members suggested experience program, the faculty climbing outings. that the faculty associates name associates program provides Some funding is provided by may not convey properly the pro- opportunities for first-year stu- Student Affairs to subsidize the gram’s focus, slowing recruitment dents to interact with faculty outings, O’Brien noted. efforts. Members also suggested members outside of the classroom, He said about 98 percent of developing a stronger advertis- said Jamis O’Brien at this week’s the Pittsburgh campus’s roughly ing campaign to recruit faculty, Faculty Assembly meeting. 3,700 incoming freshmen live in including a greater web presence (See View From Outside the the residence halls, giving Pitt that includes testimonials from Classroom column, April 30, 2009, approximately 90 floors housing faculty participants. University Times.) first-year students. Assembly member Susan The goals of the program are “What we’d like to do is Shaiman, who has participated to “demystify the ivory tower” for provide the faculty associates in the program for several years, potentially intimidated freshmen, experience for all our first-year endorsed it enthusiastically at the and to increase student retention residents,” O’Brien said at the June 7 meeting. “I find it really and satisfaction, said O’Brien, June 7 Assembly meeting, adding rewarding dealing with first-year assistant director of Residence that in the last academic year 65 students, and the RA does most of Life. faculty, the highest number in the the work,” Shaiman said, adding “Interaction with a profes- program’s five years, participated. that for her the program was sional in the field who has a PhD “The program is quite flex- mostly fun. for first-year students can be ible, and the RAs do most of the “We’ve had an ice cream social, quite daunting,” especially in the logistics,” O’Brien noted. watched Steelers games and had a classroom setting, he said. “One Faculty commit to a minimum Labor Day picnic,” she said. of our goals is to provide a venue of five hours a term, with no maxi- For more information on the to promote interaction outside mum. They agree to meet with faculty associates program, con- the classroom, in order to open residents at least three times per tact O’Brien at [email protected] up the lines of communication term, and early in the term are or 8-1195. and to make faculty be more asked to lead a brief orientation q dent Michael Pinsky delayed his —Whether including the stu- approachable.” session on navigating academics In other Assembly business: expected report on task force dent evaluations in teaching port- A secondary goal of the pro- at Pitt. • Nicholas Bircher, chair of recommendations for Pitt open- folios should be at the option of the gram is to provide mentoring One outcome of the pro- the Senate bylaws and procedures access policies. (See April 29, 2010, faculty member or a requirement; opportunities for faculty in infor- gram has been improved student committee, reported that his com- University Times.) —To what extent the evalu- mal settings. Faculty volunteers communication skills, O’Brien mittee is reviewing the policy for The task force had planned ations reflect actual teaching are paired with a resident assistant maintained. forming search committees for “to suggest that all subsequent effectiveness as opposed to an and assigned to interact with stu- “One thing holds true in all senior-level positions. peer-reviewed publications that instructor’s popularity; dents living on the RA’s dorm floor. the interactions: Students don’t Following the recent search we have be made available through —Whether the questions on “An RA is one of our upper- communicate in the same ways for a new provost, the commit- the University of Pittsburgh in the form should be reviewed and level student leaders who live and they used to, and not all commu- tee discovered that the policy, one form or other to the world,” updated; work on a floor. They’re employed nication is terribly appropriate, which dates to the early 1990s, Pinsky said. —How to factor into consider- by Residence Life and trained to especially as they move on to the potentially needs revising. Among “I can’t discuss it today, ation the relative difficulty of the provide activities and events for professional level. Using text- the murky issues, Bircher said, because Provost [Patricia] Beeson course and whether the instructor the first-year students,” O’Brien speak in emails, for example, is is which administrators qualify requested that I meet with her is a “tough grader” — factors that explained. not appropriate in the professional as “senior” under the policy and and [library system director] Rush can influence students’ evaluations whether the process of choosing Miller, and that we establish what negatively, and Project to close part of Bates Street staff and student search committee the issues are and create a second —What weight, if any, to give Beginning at 10 a.m. today, June 9, Bates Street traffic is expected members should be by selection committee that will over the students’ disparaging comments to experience intermittent delays until 3 p.m. when Bates Street will be or election. summer discuss this in greater on a teacher’s appearance or class- closed to traffic in both directions between the intersection of Bates- “As it stands now, the policy detail.” room behavior. Second Avenue and Bates-Glenwood ramp (376-West off-ramp) to says there should be some kind of Pinsky said he expects to report Assembly member Linda accommodate bridge beam work on the Eliza Furnace Trail Bridge. election but it’s not clear whether on the issues early in the fall. Frank advocated developing a Detour routes are: the election is by the Student Gov- • Assembly member Jeen- parallel peer evaluation system, • South detour: to 376 West; exit 71A ernment Board, for instance, or a Shang Lin of the School of so that educators’ teaching effec- ; right onto First Avenue; right onto Second Avenue. vote by all students,” Bircher said. Engineering asked that Assem- tiveness will be evaluated by other • North detour: Hot Metal Bridge; right onto Carson Street; The bylaws and procedures bly evaluate the consistency of educators in addition to students. right onto Birmingham Bridge; right onto ; right committee will work with the schools’ use of student teaching Pinsky agreed that the issues onto Boulevard of the Allies. Office of the Secretary, the Chan- evaluation forms provided by the were worth considering and said • West off-ramp/south detour: 376 West; exit 71A Grant Street; cellor’s office and the General Office of Management and Evalu- he will pass them on to the Senate right onto First Avenue; right onto Second Avenue. Counsel to iron out those details ation of Teaching. educational policies committee Normal traffic flow is expected to resume at 6 a.m. June 10. n over the summer, Bircher said. Assembly members pointed to and the Provost’s office for input. • University Senate Presi- a number of related issues, such as: —Peter Hart n Shopping for a cause

The Graduate School of Pubic Health’s spring fun- draiser benefiting the Evelyn H. Wei Scholarship Award in Epidemiology held June 3 in drew more than 250 people and raised $3,495.

The fundraiser offered shoppers jewelry, photog- raphy, artwork and quilts donated by faculty and staff of the Department of Epidemiology. A silent auction and door prizes raffle contributed to the day’s fun.

The scholarship fund was established in memory of Wei, a Pitt researcher and GSPH alumna, who was killed by a vehicle in 2004 near her Regent Square home.

Since December 2004, the fund has raised a total of $45,341.

Contributions can be made directly to the Evelyn H. Wei Memorial Scholarship Fund by sending a check payable to University of Pittsburgh to: Apryl Eshelman, A631 Crabtree Hall, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh 15261 and writing Evelyn Wei Fund in the memo line.

Kim Sutton-Tyrell, professor and vice chair for aca- demics in the Department of Epidemiology, who helped organize the fundraiser, shows off some of the goods on sale.

Peter Hart

3 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES TOGETHERTHINKING e live in amazing argued. times,” Virginia “Interactive networked computing is Indeed, the digital realm is “WTech faculty unruly and akin to a coffeehouse, member Gardner Campbell told Campbell noted. However, the participants in the Center for the invention that most closely more controls that are put in Instructional Development and place with regard to the digital Distance Education’s summer environment, “the more it turns institute. resembles what’s inside our own minds.” into school and not shared cogni- If the assertion is true — that ingenuity, things would be fine. food. … Many times I think to of human cognition. Not faster tion,” he said. we are in the midst of the largest But we’re in education. We want myself that each press on the pedal typewriters, not a place to store increase in expressive capabil- people to be ingenious,” he said. is like earning a credit hour. It all your photos. All those things Awakening the ity in human history — “We shouldn’t be,” he lamented. “This are important and interesting, but digital imagination have an amazing rocket to ride. Interactive networking is why [students] want to know they were actually machines gen- “The idea is to help faculty We’ve got an amazing engine “Interactive networked com- what’s going to be on the final erated to enable thinking together and staff and students develop for teaching and learning and puting is the invention that most exam. This is why they come up in more effective ways.” into digital citizens and that hap- research, for what it means to be closely resembles what’s inside to you and say ‘How long do you Campbell held up the example pens through the awakening of in higher education,” said Camp- our own minds,” he said, arguing want the paper to be?’ They’re of an 18th-century coffeehouse the digital imagination,” he said, bell, Virginia Tech’s director of that the reason to get interested in engaged in a pedal-pressing as a vital and productive learning pointing to Ben Franklin as a professional development and interactive networked computers exercise,” Campbell said. “We environment. “Unruly? Yes,” but model of inventive curiosity “who innovative initiatives, in his June is the purpose for which they were talk about diploma mills, but the from those forums came the ideas would have felt right at home in 2 talk, “Beyond the Tech Churn: invented: to share the richness of diploma mill of the mind is the and techniques that framed the the information revolution.” Faculty Development and the human cognition. worst: when students want that scientific revolution. Self taught and with no PhD, Digital Imagination.” Citing Eric Whitacre’s virtual piece of paper to get it over with.” Citing the online lectures Franklin was a scientist, diplomat, That increase in capacity is choir (http://ericwhitacre.com), Citing tech guru Peter Thiel’s of the Khan Academy (www. writer and publisher. “He was not on the scale of the revolution which combines the voices and scholarship program that pays khanacademy.org), Campbell someone who manifested the kind that followed the invention of the images submitted by individual young people “not to go to school, quoted founder Salman Khan as of integrative learning, the kind of printing press, but rather on par singers from around the world; but to develop their ideas instead” saying, “I teach the way I wish I was broad lateral thinking with really with the impact of the emergence John Boswell’s musical remixes, as worst-case, he said going to taught. The lectures are coming great expertise in several distinct of the alphabet, Campbell argued. which combine famed scien- school versus developing ideas from me, an actual human being areas that we say we want our “Twenty-six little characters in tists’ discourse with electronic shouldn’t be an either-or. “And who is fascinated by the world students to be,” Campbell said, the English language: Infinitely music (www.symphonyofscience. yet there’s a lot in the way we’ve around him. The concepts are noting that success in the 21st malleable, infinitely recombin- com), and the community lipdub designed our schools that goes in conveyed as they are understood century will require similar skills. able, the bedrock of the way that video of Don McLean’s “Ameri- this direction, in the middle of this by me, not as they are written in “We’re all going to have to do a lot we take what we do when we talk can Pie” created as a response digital age,” he said. a textbook developed by an edu- of learning and relearning and we and encode it so that people don’t to Newsweek’s assertion that cational bureaucracy.” are going to have to go lateral.” have to be at the same place at Grand Rapids, Mich. was among Sharing cognition To become widely influential, The digital imagination should the same time to communicate,” America’s dying cities (www.expe- “For me the great adventure those with a passion for learn- empower freedom in thinking and he said. riencegr.com/my-grand-rapids/ has been in going back and dis- ing and teaching must have a learning, he said. It is a realm in “All science, all commentary, lipdub), Campbell argued that the covering something that I didn’t digital imagination, Campbell which learners can self-narrate all learning, all education depends digital imagination is what brings know and was never told when said, noting that the digital age and self-curate and share what on this. We’re looking at a moment such projects to life. I was coming through school, can scale the labors of love that they’ve created. “These things that, it seems to me, is as rich with “It was the idea that made it which was that computers in an learners create and publish online. run antithetical to what we do in possibility as the emergence of the possible,” he said. interactive network environment “It doesn’t mean a loss of rigor, higher education and in education phonetic alphabet.” Other examples in which were invented to share the richness it means a shift in thinking,” he generally,” he said. Colleagues may argue that 95 creative participation plays a role “When the digital imagination percent of what is shared online include the Little Big Planet game is awakened, when we become “is crap. But 95 percent is always for Sony PlayStation 3 (www. aware of the possibilities for the crap. Have you looked at print?” littlebigplanet.com), which allows sharing of cognition, a lot of he countered. “It’s not about the users to create and share their interesting disruption happens. medium, it’s what you’re doing own game levels. Introduced in A lot of education happens out with it. And it’s always going to October 2008, by last August 3 in the open. be a fairly low-yield operation. million user-generated levels had “Students come into our That’s just the way it goes.” been uploaded, Campbell said. schools beginning their life’s The game is designed to work, not getting it over with. Why use computers? stimulate interest, engagement They understand that sharing the Campbell cautioned faculty and creativity, he said, noting that process of learning is also part of that they shouldn’t take interest the U.S. Department of Education what learning produces,” he said. in computers “because the kids recognized Little Big Planet as a “The process and product have are doing it,” or out of a sense of way to enhance STEM (science, a sort of particle/wave interrela- obligation. technology, engineering and tion. They discover that they may Neither should they think that mathematics) education because learn things and have ideas and computers will make them more of the physics engine embedded questions that may have never productive. “They will, but it’s a in the game. occurred to their professor and certain kind of productivity that’s Another example is the may be of interest to people in very difficult to manage because enhanced online version of the different courses, in different you will open floodgates that do president’s 2011 State of the schools, in different countries, of not have a logical closing point. Union address, which facilitated different ages.” “As soon as you get down viewer participation and com- Awakening the digital imagi- this digital path, there’s a whole mentary in various forums. nation and empowering students world there and it is growing at “In an open discussion of this requires a massive faculty develop- an exponential rate,” he said. “The kind, interest is generated in some ment effort, Campbell said. digital age unlocks a certain kind part by the fact it’s open and can “Our digital imaginations have of human ingenuity and creativity go in various directions depending to be awakened as well. It’s not easy and innovation that does not actu- on how people want to express to do, but it’s incredibly rewarding ally make you more productive” themselves. We get really wor- and it’s actually fun.” in terms of crossing things off a ried about that in the classroom,” q to-do list. Campbell said, arguing that too To view Campbell’s entire pre- “It may make you more pro- much of school is more akin to sentation, including discussion of ductive as a creative, imaginative a Skinner box. There are clear how he promotes students’ curios- human being, but now you’ll have learning outcomes and assessment ity and engagement in his classes, to figure out what to do with that,” is easy to do, but the box itself is visit http://mediasite.cidde.pitt. he said, arguing that growth in the an impoverished learning environ- edu/mediasite/SilverlightPlayer/ digital realm is attributable to the ment, he pointed out. Default.aspx?peid=36b28bc274f Kimberly K. Barlow humans behind the computers. “The rat steps on a pedal and Gardner Campbell, director of professional development and d480791c89af235a46638. “If we would simply turn off our is rewarded with a little pellet of innovative initiatives at Virginia Tech —Kimberly K. Barlow n

4 JUNE 9, 2011

s part of the Provost’s rounds and that patients’ families Inaugural Lecture series, typically view them positively, Apediatrics professor Basil particularly when they’re encour- J. Zitelli, who was named the aged to ask questions and when the Edmund R. McClusky Endowed visits are conducted in a sensitive Chair in Pediatric Education, Back to basics and respectful manner. celebrated his appointment by Students gain expertise and presenting a May 26 talk, “Back confidence by honing their powers to the Future, with Apologies to of observation and physical exami- Sir William Osler.” Histories & exams should be primary nation skills, as well as by observ- Osler, a co-founder of the ing both normal and abnormal Johns Hopkins medical school, diagnostic tools, med school prof says findings, he said. is considered one of the fathers of modern medical education. Improving med students’ skills A proponent of teaching medi- Zitelli said he challenges his cal students at patients’ bedsides, students to play a game with Osler is credited with establishing themselves, selecting one aspect the medical residency system. of the physical examination to pay q particular attention to for a time. The advent of advanced medi- One week it may be “second heart cal technologies has increased sound week,” in which students access to information, improved pay special attention to what doctors’ efficiency and enhanced they hear when listening to the patient safety, Zitelli said. Doc- patient’s heartbeat; the next will tors have access to iPods, iPads, be “nasal turbinate” week in which computers and a wide range of students more closely observe scans, blood tests and even genetic patients’ upper respiratory tracts, tests to help them diagnose and for example. treat patients. “We depend upon “I think we should He also challenges them to technology and our patients and find something in their examina- families expect the very best. They utilize the history tion that the resident or attending expect us to use technology. They physician hasn’t documented. sometimes actually come in and and physical exam Or, when demonstrating infant demand it,” he said. physical examinations, Zitelli said “The question is, has technol- to formulate the he sometimes asks his students ogy produced the best health care to tell him what they see without system?” diagnosis, then touching the patient. “When Many people believe so, yet challenged in that way, they are technology carries with it a down- use technology to able to do a phenomenal physical side as well. Citing one study examination, just by observation.” that found 12,000 deaths from verify it.” All these techniques aim to unnecessary surgeries, 80,000 improve students’ powers of —Basil J. Zitelli from infections and 106,000 from Jim Burke/CIDDE observation, he said. “It’s impor- the adverse effects of medication, tant when walking into the room Zitelli noted that some of those test results, errors are built into in cyberspace and communication “listening is unspoken caring.” their powers of observation are deaths could have been due to the statistical definition of normal, issues had to be resolved. Learning Reliance on lab tests and tech- tuned up,” he said. the use or misuse of technology. Zitelli said, explaining that norms the system and the proper syntax nology has reduced emphasis on “I believe that technology are defined as two standard devia- took time, too, he said. “Any good physical examinations, he provides a magnificent means of The cascade effect tions from the mean in a healthy system, any technology, requires said. “We are getting further and verifying diagnosis, but the misuse One risk associated with tech- population. repeated evaluation and refine- further away from our clinical of technology may lead to errors nology is the “cascade effect” — a That means one in 20, or 5 ment,” he cautioned. skills.” and the cascade effect and may chain of events initiated by an percent of normal results, will be Overreliance on technology Recent studies showed that a interfere with patient-physician unnecessary test that has caught considered as abnormal, he said. can delay diagnosis and treatment significant portion of residents relationship and lead to estrange- a doctor’s attention. Zitelli cited “This is purely a statistical defi- when technology is not available. from U.S. medical schools could ment. the case of a 12-year-old boy who nition, and does not necessarily How can doctors treat a patient not perform a complete standard- “The history and physical complained of headaches. The mean that the patient who had when the computer is down or ized abdominal exam accurately, examination remain the most boy’s physician referred him to an that particular lab test result is, the MRI machine isn’t working? he noted. Fewer than half used efficient and cost-effective means optometrist, who found a minor in fact, abnormal.” What happens when unexpected the traditional four-part approach of making a diagnosis. The his- refractive error. A skull X-ray was As the number of tests results come back from the lab? of inspection, palpation, percus- tory and physical examination normal, but a CT scan found a increases, the probability of at sion and auscultation — visually re-establishes the needed contact minor abnormality. That dis- least one abnormal result rises as Back to the basics observing, feeling, causing vibra- between the physician and the covery caused the family anxiety well. “If a single test was done, Citing the term coined by Her- tions to produce a sound and patient, particularly with the amid fear that it could be a tumor. there’s a 5 percent chance that bert L. Fred in a medical journal listening. laying on of hands,” he said. Ultimately an MRI showed the it will be abnormal. If you have editorial, Zitelli cautioned against Another study of pediatricians “Accurate physical diagnosis same abnormality, heightening 12 tests that are done — not “technologic tenesmus” — the from academic institutions found demands that we enhance the their fear. an unusual number of tests — uncontrollable urge to rely on that 54 percent reported making powers of observation through When the boy was referred to there’s a 46 percent chance that sophisticated medical gadgetry for diagnostic errors once or twice a teaching and continued lifelong Zitelli’s clinic, a careful history at least one of those tests will be diagnosis, almost to the exclusion month and 45 percent reported practice. Through teaching we and physical exam showed the abnormal. And if you have 100 of a good history and physical making an error that harmed can share the joy of the clinical headaches weren’t progressive, tests done — again, that’s not an exam. the patient. “When looking at experience with the students and and there was no family history unreasonable number of tests for “It preys upon the ill-trained, those errors, the diagnostic error residents,” he concluded. of migraines. The boy had been patients who have some complex the ill-informed and those who are generally was the failure to get “I believe Dr. Osler was cor- under stress due to some prob- illnesses admitted to the hospital looking for shortcuts,” Zitelli said. information through history, rect when he said that the whole lems at school. As it turns out, — you have a virtual certainty that To combat the downside of physical examination or adequate art of medicine is observation the abnormality was a benign at least one of those tests will be technology, Zitelli urged a return chart review,” Zitelli said, adding, and, as the old motto goes, that cyst. Furthermore, by the time considered abnormal,” he said. to the basics. “I think we should “Perhaps Dr. Osler was correct to educate the eye to see, the ear the boy was seen in the clinic, his Rather than relying solely on utilize the history and physical when he said medicine is learned to hear and the finger to feel takes headaches had disappeared. test results, doctors need to evalu- exam to formulate the diagnosis, at the bedside and not in the time. And to make a beginning to Another example is fetal moni- ate testing. “We have to know what then use technology to verify it,” classroom.” start a student on the right path is toring, which can cause anxiety we’re doing and put the results he said. Zitelli noted that medical all that we can do.” for women in labor, Zitelli said. in the context of the particular “History and physical exam students typically enjoy bedside —Kimberly K. Barlow n If anxiety slows labor, medications patient,” Zitelli said. “Some of the are noninvasive and are by far the can speed it up, but those can have tests we do may be out of the range most cost-effective.” an adverse effect on both the infant of normal but not necessarily be Overreliance on technology Robert Morris joins PSC’s Internet hub and the mother and can raise the abnormal for the patient.” also can threaten doctor-patient Three Rivers Optical Exchange Beyond this, said Wendy risk for a Caesarean section. He Zitelli noted that technologies relationships, he said. If doctors (3ROX), the high-performance Huntoon, PSC director of net- said studies have shown that in such as electronic medical records trade the practice of traditional Internet hub operated by the Pitts- working, “Robert Morris will also most cases, the use of fetal moni- and computerized physician order medicine that includes laying on burgh Supercomputing Center receive all the 3ROX regional toring didn’t improve outcomes. entry (CPOE) significantly cut of hands and sitting at a patient’s (PSC) that serves universities, routes, thus enabling better con- medical errors, but the introduc- bedside for sitting behind a large research sites and K-12 schools, nectivity with other universities Lab tests: What’s normal? tion of a new technology also has desk with a computer and a sheaf has added Robert Morris Univer- and area school districts.” Shotgun testing also is a temp- its tradeoffs, sometimes producing of test results, they run the risk of sity to the fold. PSC is a joint effort of Pitt, tation, Zitelli noted, saying that it’s other errors. alienating their patients and miss- RMU now has access to Inter- Carnegie Mellon and Westing- simple for doctors to order a set He said there were growing ing crucial information that could net2 and to National LambdaRail, house. of tests, rather than just the single pains when these systems first were be gained simply by listening. research/education networks that More information about test they really want. put in place at Children’s Hospital. “Listening is a form of respect,” connect universities, corporations 3ROX is available at http://www. However, when it comes to Test results sometimes were lost he said, citing Osler’s assertion that and research agencies nationally. psc.edu/networking. n

5 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES A NEW STUDENT

SPACE O’Hara Student Center retains Concordia Club details, elegance

The $5.8 million transformation of the former Concordia Club into the O’Hara Student Center is largely complete. The University purchased the three-story, 18,000-square-foot building at 4024 O’Hara Street for $2.1 million in December 2009.

The renovation retained much of the building’s early 20th-century charm, while creating a student lounge, large event spaces and student group offices and meeting rooms.

Kenyon R. Bonner, associate dean of students and director of Student Life, said the building will be used for student organization events and activities as well as student-focused programming.

A dozen student groups will occupy offices on the building’s upper floors this fall, but the Writing Center (above, left) and Math Assistance Center (above, right) already are settling into their new spaces.

The focal point of the student center’s first floor is a large student lounge (left) that features seating areas and several flat panel TVs.

Photos by Kimberly K. Barlow

6 JUNE 9, 2011

Above: A portion of the ball- room’s ornate plaster molding.

At left and below: Details from the first floor’s wood paneling.

Many of the club’s ornate features remain in the new student center.

At left: Box beam ceilings and wood paneling were retained in the student lounge; the Uni- versity seal was added as a focal point on the grand staircase.

Below: The renovated second-floor ballroom is the student center’s largest event space. The room opened in April with the annual Blue Stars Red Carpet student awards ceremony as its first event.

7 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES

R E S E A R C H N O T E S The work was conducted The University Times Research through the Center for the Neural Notes column reports on funding Models of Guo-Qiang Bi and former Pitt memories are formed when the Basis of Cognition, operated by awarded to Pitt researchers and on memory bioengineering faculty member cortex, or outer layer of the brain, Pitt and Carnegie Mellon. findings arising from University Henry Zeringue. launches into extended electrical research. creation We welcome submissions from developed The team fashioned ring- activity after the initial stimulus. Pitt profs all areas of the University. Submit shaped networks of brain cells that But the brain’s complex structure question cell information via email to: utimes@ Pitt researchers have devel- not only were capable of transmit- and the diminutive scale of neural phone study pitt.edu, by fax to 412/624-4579 oped a way to make neural ting an electrical impulse, but also networks mean that observing this or by campus mail to 308 Belle- In a letter published May 25 field Hall. networks more accessible for remained in a state of persistent activity in real time can be nearly in the Journal of the American For submission guidelines, experimentation. By reproduc- activity associated with memory impossible, he said. Medical Association (JAMA), visit www.utimes.pitt.edu/?page_ ing the brain’s complex electrical formation, Zeringue said. team, however, was several faculty members from id=6807. impulses in models made of living Unraveling the mechanics of able to generate and prolong this the Department of Physics and brain cells, the team facilitated this network communication is excited state in groups of 40-60 antenna’s electric field pattern. Astronomy questioned the design The study authors also assumed an unprecedented view of the key to understanding the cellular brain cells harvested from the and conclusions of a study pub- neuron activity behind memory and molecular basis of memory hippocampus of embryonic rats. In that the resulting radiation field lished Feb. 23 in JAMA that sug- acted as it would in a vacuum, formation. creation, he said. addition, the researchers produced gests a correlation between cell The paper was co-authored Magnetic resonance images the networks on glass slides that which ignores the complex inter- phone use and increased glucose action of electromagnetic fields by neurobiology faculty member have suggested that working allowed them to observe the cells’ metabolism in the brain. interplay. and living tissue. In the study, researchers led These factors could produce To produce the models, adhe- by the National Institute on Drug sive proteins were stamped onto substantially different conclusions Abuse (NIDA) reported that 50 from those reported in JAMA, silicon discs, cultured and dried. minutes of cell phone exposure The brain cells then were fused Kosowsky said. resulted in increased glucose The Pitt writers also faulted the to the proteins and given time to metabolism in the brain region grow and connect. The research- report’s data analysis as inconsis- closest to the phone’s antenna, tent and incomplete. Graphs in the ers disabled the cells’ inhibitory but that this burst of activity was response then excited the neurons paper that illustrate brain glucose of unknown clinical significance. metabolism do not include error with an electrical pulse. Pitt faculty members Arthur The resulting burst of network bars to indicate the influence of Kosowsky and Eric Swanson uncertainty and noise — factors activity was able to be sustained and professor emeritus Edward for 12 seconds. Compared to the unrelated to the experiment — on Gerjuoy wrote that the research- the researchers’ measurements. natural duration of a quarter of a ers’ analyses were inconsistent second at most, the model per- As a result, Kosowsky said, the with their data; that their analysis effect of cellular phones on glucose mitted an extensive observation method was prone to statistical of how the neurons transmitted metabolism appears to be highly biases, and that they did not use significant in the plotted data, yet and held the electrical charge, a model that realistically repre- Zeringue said. the NIDA team stresses in their sents cell phone radiation and its paper that phone use resulted Bioengineering doctoral stu- propagation into the brain. dent Ashwin Vishwanathan in only a modest increase in Kosowsky said, “The brain metabolism. In short, it’s difficult conducted the work in Zeringue’s is not a symmetrical material lab. The work most recently was to determine whether the study’s that operates in a vacuum. It’s a results are significant or marginal, A fluorescent image of the neural network model developed at reported in the Royal Society of complicated organ with intricate Pitt reveals the interconnection (red) between individual brain Kosowsky said. cells (blue). Adhesive proteins (green) allow the network to be Chemistry (UK) journal Lab on electrical properties that we think constructed on silicon discs for experimentation. a Chip. The NIDA team members were not adequately considered in also knew which brain scans were the analysis of this experiment, as from active and inactive phones, it was described in JAMA. making biases in data analysis “We want to illuminate some more likely, according to the letter. potential shortcomings in a study At the same time, the researchers that has been presented as making did not randomize the side of the a significant contribution to the head on which study participants question of whether cellular placed the active phone, nor did phones impact brain function they control for the possible effect and health.” of heat from an active phone. The Pitt faculty members The Pitt letter is available noted that the Feb. 23 report at http://jama.ama-assn.org/ oversimplified electromagnetic content/305/20/2066.1.full. radiation by assuming that cellular phone antennas are simple dipoles in which electrons oscillate the Nursing faculty length of a linear antenna, such projects funded as on a radio. Modern cellular School of Nursing faculty antennas are more often fractal, members recently received fund- consisting of complex, repeat- ing: ing shapes that can change the • Marilyn Davies received support from Pitt’s Central Research Development Fund for her project titled “Providing Health Information to House- holds with Preschoolers at Risk for Obesity.” • John M. O’Donnell, direc- tor of the nurse anesthesia pro- gram, received a $32,628 award from the Health Resources and Services Administration to sup- port nurse anesthesia students. UPB learning research to be published Wayne Brinda, a Pitt-Brad- ford education faculty member, will have two articles appearing in education journals this fall. “Ladder to Literacy” will appear in the fall issue of Middle School Journal, the journal of the National Middle School Associa- tion. Brinda also will present the paper at the association’s annual conference in November. Brinda said that the paper is based on the research he did for his doctoral thesis at . He worked with two CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

8 JUNE 9, 2011

P E O P L E O F T H E T I M E S The People of the Times column features recent news on faculty and staff, including awards and other honors, accomplishments and administra- Samuel Stebbins, director Cross, Allegheny County depart- (APS) Forum on Education. The tive appointments. We welcome submissions from all areas of the University. Send informa- of the Center for Public Health ments of health, human services forum seeks to involve its mem- tion via email to: [email protected], by fax at 412/624-4579 or by campus mail Preparedness at the Graduate and aging, UPMC, One Vision/ bers in activities related to physics to 308 Bellefield Hall. School of Public Health (GSPH), One Life and Voices Against education at all educational stages, For submission guidelines, visit www.utimes.pitt.edu/?page_id=6807. has been recognized by the Violence. from elementary to graduate Pittsburgh-based Minority Emer- school to lifelong learning. school district. GSPH bestowed the award gency Preparedness Task Force The National Academic Advis- Singh will be responsible In her role as director of the on Barré-Sinoussi last month, (MEPTF) for his outstanding ing Association (NACADA) for overseeing institute’s Center for Women in following her scientific lecture on commitment and dedication to selected Patrick Mullen, assistant the invited ses- Business, Munger works through the diverse host responses to HIV its goals. Stebbins has served on director of the School of Arts and sions at the two the PowerLink program to create and simian immunodeficiency the task force since its inception Sciences Advising Center, as an national APS for-profit advisory boards for virus infection and a community three years ago. Administrators Institute Award meetings, the women-owned businesses. The lecture on the global benefit MEPTF advocates for specific recipient for his dedication and publication of boards create a customized match of multidisciplinary science in emergency preparedness needs of leadership to the advising program three newslet- between the owners’ strengths researching HIV. the racially disparate communities at Pitt. ters and com- and a team of experts including Barré-Sinoussi is the director through coordinated assessment, Since 1983, NACADA has munications with the executive CEOs, CPAs, strategic marketers of the Regulation of Retroviral mitigation and recovery initia- honored individuals and institu- members of other APS units on and other professionals. Infections Unit at the Institut tives. After initiating the only citi- tions making significant contri- issues including co-organizing Pasteur in Paris. She and Luc zens emergency response team in butions to the improvement of the invited and plenary sessions Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, a Montagnier received the Nobel Allegheny County (located in the academic advising. at various meetings. virologist who accepted the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2008 for Arlington Heights housing com- The goals of NACADA are to Prize in Medicine for research their discovery of HIV, which munity), MEPTF has expanded promote high-quality academic The Institute for Entrepre- that led to the identification of stemmed from Barré-Sinoussi’s its agenda to include projects advising and professional devel- neurial Excellence, part of the the human immunodeficiency 1983 publication that reported involving minority preparedness, opment of its membership and Joseph M. Katz Graduate School virus, is the 2011 recipient of the the discovery of a retrovirus in a sudden infant death syndrome to enhance the educational devel- of Business, announced recently Graduate School of Public Health patient at risk for AIDS. awareness and prevention, vio- opment of students. Mullen will that Lee Ann Munger, director of Porter Prize in recognition of Along with her research activi- lence prevention, personal safety be honored during NACADA’s the institute’s Center for Women her outstanding ties, Barré-Sinoussi is president and caregiving. annual conference in Denver, in Business, has been nominated achievements of the scientific committee of The task force is sponsored by Oct. 2-5. by Gov. Tom Corbett to serve on promoting the National Agency for AIDS the Pennsylvania Department of the State Charter School Appeal health and pre- and Viral Hepatitis Research and Health and is funded in part by the Chandralekha Singh, a fac- Board. The position will allow venting disease heads the agency site in Southeast Birmingham Foundation. Mem- ulty member in the Department Munger to apply her professional through her Asia. bership includes a wide variety of of Physics and Astronomy, was expertise to evaluating appeals contributions Established in 1983 by the agencies, such as GSPH, the City elected to the four-year chair line from applicants whose charters to HIV/AIDS Health Education Center, the of Pittsburgh EMS, American Red of the American Physical Society have been denied by their local research. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

R E S E A R C H N O T E S CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 groups of reluctant and struggling a significant effect on addressing 50 percent of the American popu- immune response against the lyzed the risk of common cancers middle-school-age readers, 10 in the needs of urban and all reluctant lation find it very important that tumor antigens. in 13,388 healthy women at high an urban area and 10 in a rural area. adolescent readers. Our hope is providers share data,” Beckjord “Nearly half of the recurrent risk of breast cancer, based on Brinda interviewed each of the that administrators will see the said. “Most compelling to me, as glioblastoma patients and two- the participants’ baseline self- students and teachers and worked importance of continuing field a researcher, is the willingness of thirds of the anaplastic glioma reported smoking, alcohol use and with them over four months to trips to theatrical events; teach- almost 60 percent of the cancer patients had shrinkage of their physical activity. develop a system of introducing ers will draw on local theatres as patient respondents to have their tumors or stable disease,” Okada Land’s study showed that information before it is read. The resources for building enjoyment information de-identified to sup- said. Further trials are underway. compared to women who never system also supports students’ and excitement with reading, and port research activities. This find- smoked, the incidence of inva- reading during the exploration theatres will see themselves as ing could lead to further research Habits, women’s cancers analyzed sive breast cancer was 60 percent of a novel in a way that increases literacy resources.” using electronic health records.” Stephanie Land, a Gradu- higher for women who smoked comprehension and interest. In addition to teaching at Pitt- ate School of Public Health at least 35 years and 35 percent He said he was interested in the Bradford, Brinda is the artistic Breast cancer chemo combo tested faculty member and director higher for women who smoked area because as a middle and high director and co-founder of Prime Adam Brufsky, a faculty of the ReSET Center, and her 15-35 years. school student, he was himself a Stage Theatre in Pittsburgh, member in medicine and associate colleagues examined the associa- Also, the incidence of colon struggling reader. which blends education with director of clinical investigation at tions between lifestyle behaviors cancer was significantly higher Reluctant readers played a role theatre for adolescents, teachers UPCI, and his colleagues analyzed and cancer incidence in women for women with longer histories in Brinda’s second publication for and families. data from a subset of patients in enrolled in the breast cancer of cigarette smoking. Endometrial this fall as well. a larger trial called RIBBON-2, prevention trial conducted by the cancer incidence was significantly His article, “Bringing Litera- Oncology which added bevacizumab, or Pittsburgh-based National Surgi- higher in women with low levels ture to Life for Urban Adolescents: research Avastin, to chemotherapy regi- cal Adjuvant Breast and Bowel of leisure-time physical activity, Artistic, Dramatic Instruction and presented mens for second-line treatment Project. which may be due to the associa- Live Theatre,” will appear in the Researchers from the Uni- of metastatic breast cancer. The prospective study ana- tion between fitness and obesity.n Journal of Aesthetic Education. versity of Pittsburgh Cancer They found that among the Brinda and co-author Janine Institute (UPCI) and the School 159 patients with triple-negative Certo of Michigan State Univer- of Medicine recently presented breast cancers, meaning the Pitt, Beijing to collaborate sity conducted a yearlong study findings from their projects at tumors do not carry estrogen, in two sixth-grade classrooms in the American Society of Clinical progesterone or human epidermal a high-poverty, urban, western Oncology annual meeting. growth factor 2 (HER2) recep- on med education research Pennsylvania middle school. Among them were: tors, adding bevacizumab length- Pitt’s School of Medicine and program will be guided by Jeremy In addition to reading young ened progression-free survival, Tsinghua University School of M. Berg, who will leave the direc- adult novels, students attended Patients willing improved treatment response rate, Medicine in Beijing have entered torship of the National Institute theatrical productions of the to share health info and potentially increased overall into a first-of-its-kind collab- of Health’s National Institute of novels put on by a semi-pro- Ellen Beckjord, a psychiatry survival by nearly six months. orative education and research General Medical Sciences at the fessional theatre company that faculty member affiliated with Brufsky said, “We await the agreement to bring Chinese end of June to become associate produces adaptations of literature UPCI Behavioral Medicine, and final analysis of this trial later medical and graduate students senior vice chancellor for science and designs instructional support her colleagues found that cancer this year to see if the benefit is to Pittsburgh for training in bio- strategy and planning. materials to meet literacy chal- patients are eager to share their sustained in this subset of patients medical research. The agreement While the focus of this collabo- lenges. electronic health information to who have few other effective treat- was signed by officials of both ration is on the students, faculty The study demonstrated the improve quality of care. ment options.” universities in Beijing. will be able to apply to spend up positive impact artistic and dra- The researchers analyzed For each academic year begin- to a year at the other institution matic instructional strategies have a 2010 survey of more Brain cancer vaccine tested ning in 2013, Tsinghua University as a visiting scholar to conduct as pathways to comprehension, than 7,400 cancer patients by Hideho Okada, a faculty will send 25-45 students to Pitt projects in a host laboratory. engagement and enjoyment. LIVESTRONG and the National member in neurological sur- for two years as visiting research This endeavor aims to expand “These results are essential to Cancer Institute’s 2007 survey gery, with colleagues tested a scholars. The students also will scholarly ties and facilitate aca- urban learners who often receive Health Information National novel brain cancer vaccine they have opportunities to observe demic, scientific and cultural the worst kinds of instructional Trends Survey to determine developed for safety and ability health care activities at UPMC. exchanges between the institu- activities tied to standardized test patient perspectives on electronic to generate an immune response. They already will have completed tions and comes at a time of scores and lack opportunities with health information. They found that among three-and-a-half years of univer- increased activity by Pitt and the arts,” Brinda said. “Transfor- “Nearly all people affected by patients with recurrent malig- sity education in China. UPMC in China more generally. mation occurred with a series of cancer think that privacy is impor- nant glioma, the vaccine was well Tsinghua University has 155 An annual research sympo- activities designed to guide the tant with regards to electronic tolerated; the most common side research institutes, nearly 26,000 sium, intended to build relation- process of reading and make it health information, and more effects were skin reactions at the students and more than 7,000 ships and educate each site about enjoyable. than 70 percent want information- injection site and transient fever faculty in 14 schools and 56 the other’s work, will be held in “Artistic and dramatic peda- sharing with providers to be more and chills. About 80 percent of departments. alternating years at each univer- gogy supported by live theatre has convenient. In comparison, almost the participants developed an At Pitt, the new education sity. n

9 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES University launches pet food drive itt has launched a pro- Pitt sponsors of the pet gram to help financially food drive include the Office Pstrapped area families of the Chancellor, the Office feed their pets. of Community Relations, the Pitt’s People for Pets, which Department of Public Safety and runs through July, will partner the University Library System with Animal Friends’ Chow (ULS). Wagon program to provide pet For more information on the food to area food banks, including drive, call Zupcic at 4-7709, or the Oakland Food Pantry. Animal Friends at 412/847-7052. Steve Zupcic of Pitt’s Office of Donated canned and dry cat Community Relations said, “For and dog food, kitty litter and dog many Oakland Food Pantry cli- and cat treats can be dropped off ents, their pets are the only source though July at the following on- of companionship for them. This campus collection sites: is very typical of people who live • ground in poverty. Many times the pet floor elevator lobby. owners share their food with their • Craig Hall lobby. pets, or go without medication • ground floor and nutrition themselves in order lobby and all ULS Pittsburgh to feed their pets.” campus libraries. The Oakland Food Pantry • Parran Hall Fifth Avenue lobby. also provides litter, leashes and Pitt Police Officer Dave Nanz • Posvar Hall main floor eleva- pet treats to needy pet owners, with Officer Riggs, the Pitt tor lobby. police dog trained to identify Zupcic said. explosives. Riggs has been • Public Safety Building lobby. Online monetary donations named honorary chair of Pitt’s • Scaife Hall 4th floor Terrace to the pet food drive can be made pet food drive. Street entrance. at www.thinkingoutsidethecage. able to Animal Friends should be • main floor org, and clicking on the Pitt’s sent to 562 Camp Horne Road, information desk lobby. People for Pets link. Checks pay- Pittsburgh 15237. —Peter Hart n

P E O P L E O F T H E T I M E S CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Porter Prize is named in honor the dental profession on the U.S. records and reg- of the center’s founding chair, surgeon general’s expert panel istration. He also Milton Porter. on “Prescription Drug Abuse will serve as a Since 1999, the prize has in Youth,” which convened in member of the been administered by GSPH Washington, D.C. Moore dis- UPT president’s with support from the Adrienne cussed abuse issues in the health senior staff. and Milton Porter Charitable care setting. Fitz comes to Foundation. • Also at the School of Dental Pitt-Titusville Medicine, Alexandre Vieira of after having Several faculty members in the the Department served as the Schools of the Health Sciences of Oral Biology academic vice president for five recently were acknowledged with was appointed years at MacMurray College in awards or accolades. to the board of Jacksonville, Ill. His administra- • Michael Beach of the School directors of the tive credentials at MacMurray of Nursing’s Department of Acute Society for Clin- include serving as assistant vice and Tertiary Care received a ical and Trans- president for academic affairs, $100,000 award from the Robert lational Science interim chair of the Department Wood Johnson Foundation to (SCTS). of Education, chair of the Depart- provide $10,000 scholarships for Vieira researches the genetics ment of History and Political 10 second-degree students during of oral facial clefts, caries and Science and member of the faculty next fall and spring terms. periodontal diseases. status committee. Beach, who has worked in SCTS was created by the Fitz earned his PhD in political the tri-state area National Institutes of Health in science at Pitt. in search and 2006 to heighten awareness of the rescue and disas- discipline of clinical and transla- Pitt-Bradford has named Britt ter management tional science in academic institu- Moore as the new head coach of for the past 15 tions, industry and philanthropy, the men’s basketball team. Moore years, leads the as well as among the broader has spent the last six seasons as an new trauma and public and governmental leaders at assistant coach at Albright College emergency pre- the local, state and national levels. in Reading, Pa., including the last paredness sub- two as associate head coach. specialty within the acute care David Fitz has been named Moore helped guide the nurse practitioner area of concen- vice president for Academic Affairs Albright Lions to a 99-57 record, tration. Through this emphasis, at the Titusville campus, effec- posting 15 or more victories in students are trained in disaster tive July 1. Fitz will be respon- five of his six seasons as a coach. and mass casualty care. sible for all aspects of academic The team won the 2010 Middle • Kathryn Puskar, coordi- affairs, including faculty affairs, Atlantic Commonwealth Confer- nator of the psychiatric mental curriculum review and academic ence championship. n health clinical nurse specialist program at the nursing school, received the 2010 Ellen Rudy UPMC signs medical services pact in China Clore Excellence in Research UPMC announced recently Shanghai, said this is the first Writing Award from the Journal that it will provide remote, of what UPMC hopes will be of Pediatric Health Care for an second-opinion pathology consul- many agreements to provide article she co-authored entitled, tations to KingMed Diagnostics, medical services throughout Asia. “Identification of Suicide Risk the largest independent medical “UPMC’s reputation for clinical Among Rural Youth: Implications diagnostic laboratory in China. excellence is attracting partners for the Use of HEADSS (Home, Using equipment that scans like KingMed. At the same time, Education, Activities, Drug use glass pathology slides and stores by leveraging our clinical successes and abuse, Sexual behavior and and transmits images electroni- in , UPMC Suicidality).” cally, KingMed will have the is able to generate revenue that Puskar’s research interests ability to seek second opinions on supports jobs and world-class focus on adolescent health, life patient diagnoses from UPMC’s health care and research at home,” transitions, depression and coping pathologists through a secure, Tu said. methods. web-based telepathology portal. The collaboration also is • Paul A. Moore, who chairs The service is expected to start expected to include training for the Department of Dental Anes- by late summer. Chinese pathologists in UPMC’s thesiology at the School of Dental Travis Tu, head of UPMC’s Pittsburgh facilities, as well as joint Medicine, was invited to represent new representative’s office in academic meetings. n

10 JUNE 9, 2011

C A L E N D A R Disorder,” Nicole Edgar; June Deadlines 23, LRDC 2nd fl. aud., noon CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 SSWR Summer Institute Friday 17 Pathology Research Seminar June 22, A219B Langley, 1 pm Exhibits “Expression of Mutant LRRK2 Engineering/Bioengineering Workshops Elicits Calcium Imbalance & “The Role of Matrix Metallo- Registration deadline is July 2 for Medical Education Grand Audubon Exhibit Depletion of Dendritic Mito- proteinases in Influencing Stem 2 Pitt workshops: “Community- Rounds “Brown-Headed Worm-Eating chondria in Neurons ,” Salvatore Cell Behavior & Skeletal Muscle based Intervention Research “Assessment in the Workplace,” Warbler,” June 7-20; “Little Cherra; 1104 Scaife, 12:30 pm Healing,” Ian H. Bellayr; June for Underserved & Minority John Norcini, Foundation for the Owl,” June 21-July 5; Hillman HSLS Workshop 22, 202 Bridgeside Point II, 2 pm Populations,” July 12-14, Katie Advancement of Int’l Medical ground fl. exhibition case, reg. “Pathway Analysis Tools 2,” Medicine/Neuroscience- Greeno, Shaun Eack & John Education & Research; Scaife 4th library hours (8-7715) Ansuman Chattopadhyay; Falk Neurobiology Wallace; “Biosocial Methods fl. lecture rm. 3, noon (8-9000) Library classrm. 2, 1-3 pm “Beyond Neurons: The Role of for Social Work Research,” July MMG Faculty Candidate the Oligodendrocyte-Specific 26-28, Michael Vaughn, Holly Seminar Thursday 23 Gene CNP1 in Major Depressive Matto & Lenise Cummings. Luisa Hiller; 503 Bridgeside (info: www.sswr.org/SSWR- Point 2, 3:15 pm summer-workshops.php) n Craniofacial Genetics Sym- Saturday 18 posium “Craniofacial Genetics Course Behavior Symposium,” Alexan- HSLS to serve as regional medical library • Summer 6-week-1 ses- dre Vieira; 355 Salk, 10 am-noon The Health Sciences Library sionals, public librarians, educa- fessionals and the general public sion ends; final examinations System (HSLS) has been awarded tors, community organizations, with equal access to biomedical scheduled during last class a five-year contract from the community colleges, health advo- information. meeting. PhD Defenses National Library of Medicine cacy groups, faith-based organiza- The goals of the 2011-16 to serve as the regional medical tions and self-help groups. contracts are: to develop col- • Official date for awarding Medicine/Cell Biology & library (RML) for the Middle The eight RMLs and the NN/ laborations among network of degrees. Molecular Physiology “Regulation of Clathrin-Coated Atlantic region of the National LM member network support the members and other organizations National Library of Medicine’s to improve access to biomedical Monday 20 Vesicle Nucleation,” James Thie- Network of Libraries of Medicine man; June 9, 1103 Scaife, noon (NN/LM). outreach efforts to health profes- information resources throughout A&S/Communication The Middle Atlantic region sionals and consumers to increase the nation; to develop, promote • 6-week-2 session enrollment “Mythologizing Charles Van includes the states of Delaware, awareness, facilitate access and and improve electronic access to period ends & classes begin. Doren: The 1950s, the Media New Jersey, New York and Penn- provide training in the many web- health information by network sylvania. based information services, such members, health professionals and Tuesday 21 & the Making of Cultural Memory,” Heather Fisher; June HSLS is one of eight institu- as MEDLINE/PubMed, Med- organizations providing health 9, 1128 CL, 1 pm tions nationally serving as regional linePlus and ClinicalTrials.gov. information to the public, and to UPCI Basic & Translational GSPH/Human Genetics medical libraries contracted by the Since its authorization by Con- promote awareness of, access to Research Seminar “Pleiotropic Relationships National Library of Medicine. gress in 1965, NN/LM has worked and use of biomedical information “Receptor-targeted Radiophar- Among Measures of Bone Min- HSLS faculty and staff will to equalize and enhance access resources for health professionals maceuticals for Cancer Imag- eral Density, Bone Geometry, work to promote access to health to health sciences information and the public, with a particular ing,” Carolyn Anderson; Hillman Lean Muscle Mass & Fat Mass,” sciences information with a variety throughout the United States. Its emphasis on contributing to Cancer Ctr. Cooper Classrm. D, Ryan Minster; June 10, A115 of intermediaries, including health mission is to advance the progress Healthy People 2020, an effort noon (412/623-7771) Crabtree, 2 pm sciences librarians, health care of medicine and improve public to identify nationwide health Senate Community Relations A&S/Philosophy providers, public health profes- health by providing health pro- improvement priorities. n Committee Mtg. “At the Gates of Consciousness: 272 Hillman, noon-2 pm Physicalism and Phenomenal Molecular Medicine Research Concepts,” Erhan Demircioglu; Seminar R E A C H June 10, 1001B CL, 3:30 pm “Keap1-Nrf2 Signaling: Targets A&S/Philosophy for Disease Prevention,” Thomas “Multitasking, Consequential- the University community. Kensler; Children’s Hospital ism & Practical Imagination,” Rangos Research Bldg. 3rd fl. Gregory Strom; June 13, 1001B main conf. rm., noon CL, 2 pm A D V E R T I S E MMG Faculty Candidate A&S/Economics Seminar “Essays on Fiscal Policy,” Samah in the University Times. Gary Thomas; 503 Bridgeside Mazraani; June 14, 4900 Posvar, Point 2, 3:15 pm 10:30 am A&S/Biological Sciences Wednesday 22 “Physiological Basis for Predator Escape in Salmonella,” Kristen A. • Summer 6-week-1 session Butela; June 14, A219B Langley, grades must be approved by 1 pm instructors by 5 pm before A&S/History & Philosophy final posting can begin. of Science “Studies in the Logic of Explana- • Summer 6-week-2 session tory Power,” Jonah Schupbach; add/drop period ends. June 14, 1001D CL, 2 pm A&S/Neuroscience • Summer 4-week-2 session “Non-classical Glucocorticoid deadline for students to submit Receptor Action Regulates Gap monitored withdrawal forms Junction Intercellular Commu- to dean’s office. nication & Neural Progenitor Cell Proliferation,” Ranmal Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Samarasinghe; June 15, 1195 Rounds BST, 11:15 am Dominick Tuason; Montefiore Medicine/Integrative Molecu- 7th fl. LHAS aud., 7 am lar Biology Clinical Oncology & Hematol- “Identification of Human Vam6p ogy Grand Rounds as a Novel Cellular Interactor “Biomarkers, HPV & Race: The for Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Changing Face of Head & Neck Large T Antigen,” Xi Liu; June Cancer,” Kevin Cullen; UPMC 15, Hillman Cancer Ctr. 2nd fl. Cancer Pavilion Herberman conf. rm., 2 pm Conf. Ctr. 2nd fl. aud., 8 am A&S/English HSLS Workshop “Teaching Queer: Possibilities “The WOW Factor: PowerPoint for Writing, Reading & Know- for Posters,” Julia Jankovic; Falk ing,” Stacey Waite; June 16, Library classrm. 2, 9:30-11 am 501G CL, 3 pm Pathology Research Seminar GSPH/Biostatistics “Platelet-Derived Growth “Joint Modeling of Censored Factor Receptor Alpha Signal- Longitudinal & Event Time ing in Gliomas: SHPing the Data,” Francis Pike; June 21, 109 P13K Pathway to Oncogenesis,” Parran, 12:30 pm Kun-Wei Liu; 1104 Scaife, noon Engineering/Bioengineering HSLS Lunch With a Librarian “Ventral Root or Dorsal Root “Registered Research & Clinical Ganglion Microstimulation Trial Databases,” Ahlam Saleh; to Evoke Hindlimb Motor Falk Library conf. rm. B, noon Responses,” Dennis Bourbeau;

11 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES

C A L E N D A R HSLS Lunch With a Librarian UPCI Basic & Translational “Searching for Dollar$: Grant Research Seminar Resources on the Web,” Barbara “New Experimental Designs June Folb; Falk Library conf. rm. B, & Data Analysis Methods for noon Tumor Xenograft Studies,” Thursday 9 Office of the Provost/Aca- Friday 10 demic Career Development Daniel Normolle; Hillman Postdoc Data & Dine Sym- Monday 13 Cancer Ctr. Cooper Classrm. Sr. VC’s Research Seminar Sr. VC’s Research Seminar posium D, noon (412/623-7771) “Inorganic Chemistry in Cancer “Direct Observations of Protein “The Postdoctoral Experience: EOH Seminar Diagnosis & Treatment,” Ste- Motions During Biologically Expanding Scientific Horizons,” “Immigration & Health: Can Wednesday 15 phen Lippard; Scaife aud. 5/6, Relevant Timescales Using D. Lansing Taylor; WPU Assem- They Co-Exist?” Marc Schen- noon Atomically Detailed Simula- bly Rm. & Ballrm., 5-9 pm ker, UC-Davis; 540 Bridgeside Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Provost’s Inaugural Lecture tions,” Lillian Chong; Scaife Point, noon (www.eoh.pitt.edu) Rounds “A Life in Transplantation,” Ron aud. 6, noon Kraig Graham; Montefiore 7th Shapiro, medicine; Scaife lecture Tuesday 14 fl. LHAS aud., 7 am rm. 6, 4:30 pm Clinical Oncology & Hematol- Education & Law Event ogy Grand Rounds “14th Annual Samuel Francis “Development of Immuno- School Law Symposium & modulating Agents in Chronic UNIVERSITY Special Education Workshop,” Lymphocytic Leukemia,” Asher WPU Assembly Rm., 8:10 Chanon-Khan; UPMC Cancer TIMES am-3:30 pm (registration 7:30 Pavilion Herberman Conf. Ctr. am; RSVP to [email protected] 2nd fl. aud., 8 am or 8-3907) Pathology Research Seminar publication schedule Office of Research/NCURA “Hepatocytes Have 2 Different Workshop Kinds of Cell Cycles,” Joseph Events occurring Submit by For publication “Managing Interactions & Locker, Albert Einstein College Potential Conflicts With Uni- of Medicine; 1104 Scaife, noon June 23-July 7 June 16 June 23 versity Spin-Offs & Other Small (8-1040) Businesses,” S120 Starzl BST, Senate Council Mtg. July 7-21 June 30 July 7 11:30 am-3:30 pm 2700 Posvar, 3 pm Molecular Medicine Research July 21-Sept. 1 July 14 July 21 Seminar Thursday 16 The University Times events calendar includes Pitt-sponsored events as well as non-Pitt events held on “Homeostatic Mechanisms a Pitt campus. Information submitted for the calendar should identify the type of event, such as lecture Controlling Adrenergic Recep- HSLS Workshop or concert, and the program’s specific title, sponsor, location and time. The name and phone number of tor Function,” Manojkumar “Advanced PowerPoint for Pre- a contact person should be included. Information should be sent by email to: [email protected], by FAX Puthenveedu; Children’s Hos- sentations,” Julia Jankovic; Falk to: 412/624-4579, or by campus mail to: 308 Bellefield Hall. We cannot guarantee publication of events pital Rangos Research Bldg. 3rd Library classrm. 2, 9:30-11 am received after the deadline. fl. main conf. rm., noon

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 C L A S S I F I E D house. W/D, porch & attic room. $1,340 + Teach Di erent. • $8 for up to 15 words; $9 for 16-30 utilities. Available Aug. 1. Sachs Management words; $10 for 31-50 words. Co. 412/421-2140. • For University ads, submit an account SERVICES number for transfer of funds. ELDER LAW—ESTATE ATTORNEYS Educational Technology • All other ads should be accompanied by Michael H. Marks & Associates. Elder law; a check for the full amount made payable nursing home/Medicaid cost-of-care planning; Center to the University of Pittsburgh. wills; POAs; trusts; probate & estate administra- • Reserve space by submitting ad copy tion; real estate. Squirrel Hill: 412/421-8944; one week prior to publication. Copy and Monroeville: 412/373-4235; email: michael@ www.cidde.pitt.edu/ets payment should be sent to University marks-law.com. Free initial consultation. Fees Times, 308 Bellefield Hall, University quoted in advance. Personal & informative. of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh 15260. FREELANCE RESEARCHER • For more information, call Barbara Copy source documents from the Library of DelRaso, 412/624-4644. Congress, the National Archives and other federal government agencies. Call 1-301/565- 2917 or email to [email protected]. FITNESS ROW, ROW, ROW... SUBJECTS NEEDED The Pitt Masters Rowing Club is recruiting BLOOD PRESSURE & THE BRAIN new members. Staff & faculty of all skill levels Research study with one MRI & two interview Mobile Learning Courseweb Training & ages are welcome to join. Includes indoor sessions seeks healthy adults ages 35-60. Cannot practice sessions & on-river rowing. For have hypertension, heart disease or diabetes. more details about club membership, contact $150 compensation. Some invited to repeat [email protected]. study in 2 years with additional compensa- tion. Contact Kim Novak at 412/246-6200 or HELP WANTED STUDENT WORKER Compile events calendar for University Times, beginning immediately or start of fall term. 15 hours/week, very flexible schedule. Must be organized & detail-oriented. Prefer freshman, Buy it, sophomore or junior, but seniors are welcome to Audio/Video Consulting Coursecasting apply. Would like work-study-eligible student but not a requirement. Email resume with work history & contact information ASAP to [email protected]. sell it. Faculty can visit us SUMMER HELP WANTED Need responsible student (undergrad/grad) in B-23 Alumni Hall with car. Two or 3 days a week to check on 13-year-old, run errands, help w/chores. find it Nothing too intense. Very part-time (6-8 Monday-Friday hrs/wk). Flexible. Major bonus if you have some interest or skill to share: Know iMovie, in the 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. photography, guitar, drums? 412/916-3176; [email protected] TUTOR University Times Economics/calc tutor needed. Will pay. Contact CENTER FOR me by email: [email protected].+ CLASSIFIEDS! Instructionaltional DevelopmentDevelopment HOUSING/RENT & Distance Educationducation SOUTH OAKLAND Dawson St. 4 BR, completely renovated, Call equipped kitchen, central AC. $1,400 +. Avail- able Aug. 1. 412/600-6933. SQUIRREL HILL 412/624-4644. Wilkins Avenue near Wightman. 3-BR town-

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