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Vitae: The magazine of the University of Massachusetts Medical School Spring / Summer 2001 Vol. 23 No. 3 campus growth 5 inside: The Three ‘I’s’ (page 10) Our Time to Lead (page 26) A Decade of Distinction (page 28) Contents: school of medicine, opened in 1970 The University of Massachusetts Medical School graduate school of biomedical sciences, opened in 1979 graduate school of nursing, opened in 1986 school of medicine, opened in 1970 The University of Massachusetts Medical School graduate school of biomedical sciences, opened in 1979 graduate school of nursing, opened in 1986 Five Eight building on success for the common good Vitae: L., the plural of life The name of this magazine encompasses the lives of those who make up the UMMS community, for which it is published. They are students, faculty, staff, alumni, volunteers, benefactors and others who aspire to help this campus achieve Ten Thirteen national distinction in education, research and public service. driving education decades of research 2 news & notes 25 development update 15 grants & research 28 the last word 17 alumni report Contents: school of medicine, opened in 1970 The University of Massachusetts Medical School graduate school of biomedical sciences, opened in 1979 graduate school of nursing, opened in 1986 school of medicine, opened in 1970 The University of Massachusetts Medical School graduate school of biomedical sciences, opened in 1979 graduate school of nursing, opened in 1986 Five Eight building on success for the common good Vitae: L., the plural of life The name of this magazine encompasses the lives of those who make up the UMMS community, for which it is published. They are students, faculty, staff, alumni, volunteers, benefactors and others who aspire to help this campus achieve Ten Thirteen national distinction in education, research and public service. driving education decades of research 2 news & notes 25 development update 15 grants & research 28 the last word 17 alumni report News & N tes: o David Drachman, MD Jay Himmelstein, MD, MPH umms professor a ‘ticket to work’ explores drug’s for people with effect on dementia disabilities U.S.News & World Report, in its With results certain to impact future Attainment of competitive “Best Graduate Schools” issue research on the treatment of cognitive umms researchers employment continues to be a contribute to published in March, ranked the impairment and dementia-inducing significant obstacle for people with pivotal issue of University of Massachusetts diseases such as Alzheimer’s, a new disabilities. However, with guidance nature Medical School fourth in the nation study co-authored by Professor and from UMMS, the Massachusetts On February 15, 2001, the Chair of the Department of Neurology, Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) on its list of Top Medical Schools– prestigious journal Nature unveiled David Drachman, MD, concludes was recently awarded a $4.3 million Primary Care. UMass Medical School the first draft sequence of the that people age 50 and older could grant to develop and evaluate programs praised its exceptional faculty in human genome. The result of a be 70 percent less likely to develop to help individuals with disabilities the advertisement above, for collaboration involving 20 groups dementia if prescribed cholesterol- meet their employment goals. providing quality instruction to its from the United States, the United nih awards $ 6.7 million lowering drugs called statins. medical students—recognized by Kingdom, Japan, France, Germany Because of successful collaboration for cancer research a U.S.News “Top Ten” ranking Because vascular and cholesterol- and China, the draft sequence was between UMMS and DMA on various related mechanisms are thought generated from a physical map and public policy issues, when a Medicaid every year since 1995—and leading The rewards of a collaborative research environment were clearly evident in to have a role in the development covers approximately 94 percent of Infrastructure Grant was made America’s medical schools in March, when the University of Massachusetts Medical School was awarded a of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular the human genome. available through the federal Ticket innovative curriculum and dementia, Dr. Drachman and to Work and Work Improvement educational research. five-year, $6.7 million program grant from the National Institutes of Health Director of the UMMS Program in co-authors, including Dr. Hershel Incentives Act, DMA turned to the (NIH). Granted to the UMass Cancer Center, the funds will support the Gene Function and Expression Jick of the Boston University School Medical School to help the agency efforts of a team of 50 UMMS faculty and staff representing a variety of basic Michael R. Green, MD, PhD, first central mass. of Medicine, undertook an vie for, and ultimately, receive the and clinical departments. Immense in its scope, the project will investigate Howard Hughes Medical Institute heart transplant epidemiological study of the potential funds. According to Principal performed the method by which genes are redistributed in the nucleus of a tumor cell. Investigator and professor of effects of statins on dementia. Investigator Jay Himmelstein, The cooperative effort comprises a group of junior and senior investigators with molecular medicine, was one of the Launching a new era in cardiovascular Concluding that patients prescribed MD, MPH, UMMS assistant laboratories in every research facility on the Worcester campus and will incorporate experts to contribute to the notable medicine in Central Massachusetts, statin drugs were 70 percent less chancellor for health policy and molecular, cellular and genetic approaches to this scientific dilemma. issue with the article, “Expressing UMMS surgeons performed the likely to have dementia than those director of the Center for Health According to Principal Investigator Gary S. Stein, PhD, the Gerald the Human Genome.” With UMMS first cardiac transplant surgery in with no diagnosis of high cholesterol Policy and Research, the grant will L. Haidak, MD, and Zelda S. Haidak Professor of Cell Biology, and deputy co-authors Rosella Tupler and the state outside Boston on February or exposure to cholesterol-lowering address systematic inequities that director of research for the Cancer Center, the grant was a direct consequence Giovanni Perini, Dr. Green 27, followed in quick succession by drugs, Drachman, Jick, et al, continue to affect the disabled of the successful collaboration among several UMMS departments over the examines the implications of the procedures in April and May. The encouraged other researchers to population and “fund lasting past five to seven years. “This grant reflects something very positive about the human genome for gene expression cardiac transplantation program’s conduct further studies to enhancements to the Medicaid Medical School. This is a group of people who can work effectively together, processes. The authors write, “The team, directed by James S. confirm their findings. According program to improve health systems and more importantly, truly enjoy doing so,” Dr. Stein said. availability of the human and other Gammie, MD, UMMS assistant to the authors, “If substantiated, and employment opportunities.” genome sequences will revolutionize professor of surgery, and Lana the implications of this study are all fields of biomedical research. But, DMA Director of Plans for the Elderly Tsao, MD, UMMS assistant considerable. These findings suggest Shown in the future home of the UMass Cancer Center, grant researchers from left to right, as the genome is itself the object and Disabled and Project Co-director professor of medicine, performed that the use of statins could front row: G. Wayne Zhou, PhD; Janet Stein, PhD; Gary Stein, PhD; Jane Lian, PhD. of gene expression, the impact may Eleanor Shea-Delaney agreed. “Our the surgeries at clinical partner substantially reduce the risk of dementia Back row: Andre J. Van Wijnen, PhD; Anthony Imbalzano, PhD; Greenfield Sluder, PhD; be particularly profound for those partnership will greatly improve the UMass Memorial Health Care. in the elderly, either by delaying Stephen Doxsey, PhD; German Pihan, MD; and Jeffrey A. Nickerson, PhD of us studying this process.” quality of services available for both its onset, or by opposing specific working adults with disabilities and or general age-related changes that those who wish to work.” result in cognitive impairment.” 2 Vitae spring - summer 2001 spring - summer 2001 Vitae 3 News & N tes: o David Drachman, MD Jay Himmelstein, MD, MPH umms professor a ‘ticket to work’ explores drug’s for people with effect on dementia disabilities U.S.News & World Report, in its With results certain to impact future Attainment of competitive “Best Graduate Schools” issue research on the treatment of cognitive umms researchers employment continues to be a contribute to published in March, ranked the impairment and dementia-inducing significant obstacle for people with pivotal issue of University of Massachusetts diseases such as Alzheimer’s, a new disabilities. However, with guidance nature Medical School fourth in the nation study co-authored by Professor and from UMMS, the Massachusetts On February 15, 2001, the Chair of the Department of Neurology, Division of Medical Assistance (DMA) on its list of Top Medical Schools– prestigious journal Nature unveiled David Drachman, MD, concludes was recently awarded a $4.3 million Primary Care. UMass Medical School the first draft sequence of the