nun >eeperThursday, January 23, 2003 Jjj^ Volume 13 | Number 2 Get in the game: Vital Signs-i- Wellness Center opens Jan. 31 Christine Hurley Deriso none fitness facility on Friday, Jan. will open for member use that day at unmatched in the Augusta area," 31. 4p.m. said Mr. Hartenburg. "The feedback After years of planning, months of The entire MCG community is "This is a truly outstanding facil­ from individuals who have toured construction and weeks of equip­ invited to a ribbon-cutting ceremony ity, one that will make every member the facility has been just tremen­ ment installation, the Medical at noon on Jan. 31. An open house of the MCG community proud," said dous. People are overwhelmed that College of Georgia Wellness Center will immediately follow with door Wellness Center Director Dale such an outstanding facility has been will open its doors as a second-to- prizes and refreshments. The center Hartenburg. "It will serve as a com­ made available to them." munal area of fitness and recreation All members of the MCG commu­ for the entire MCG community. The nity are welcome to join, including overall quality of the facility and employees, faculty, alumni, houses­ equipment is so great that I think taff and retirees of MCG, MCG GPI study helps students, faculty, staff members, Health, Inc. and the Physicians kids focus housestaff and alumni will whole­ Practice Group. Students are auto­ heartedly incorporate it into their matic members by virtue of their stu­ lifestyle and daily routines." dent activity fees. In all membership The center features sleek architec­ categories, spouses also may join. tural lines, floor-to-ceiling glass Memberships are available on a walls, cushioned hardwood floors monthly, four-month or yearly basis. and state-of-the-art exercise equip- Daily guest passes are also available. ment. "The facility is virtually See WELLNESS page 7 President Rahn named to 100 Most Influential Georgians'list DMAT goes camping Medical College of Georgia President Daniel W. Rahn is included in Georgia Trend magazine's 2003 list of the 100 most influential Georgians. Georgia Trend annually publishes its list of most influential Georgians. This year's list is included in the magazine's January 2003 edition. The magazine notes President Rahn's vision and leadership in areas including faculty recruitment and biomedical research. "Just a year after his Issue X-Ray appointment," the article says, "Rahn has ambitious plans for the school to Buzzle • 13 become a leading research center. An aggressive building program has Campus Beat already started, with ground broken in July for a 64,000-square-foot inter­ • 11 disciplinary research building and plans completed for a new cancer Marketplace • 15 research building. Rahn has been pushing for a Georgia Cancer Coalition regional center of excellence in Augusta and also plans to go after national Milestones • 10 designation from the National Institutes of Health." Newsbriefs • 7 The magazine cites President Rahn's plan to increase research funding to $100 million in five years. "He's also put muscle behind MCG's technology Off the Clock • 12 transfer, which investigates ways to commercialize research," the article SWELL Award • 12 Dr. Matt Kluger, vice president for research and dean of the School of Graduate Studies, shot says. some hoops in the Wellness Center before the President's Cabinet meeting convened there Dr. Rahn was named MCG's seventh president in June 2001. Where in the World? • 14 Monday, Jan. 13. (Phil lones photo) .^ MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA U.S. Postage PAI D beeper Permit No. 210 Division of External Affairs Augusta, GA Medical College of Georgia Non-Profit Org. Augusta, Georgia 30912 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2003 Grant helps equip MCG biomedical business incubator Toni Baker and Christine Hurley Deriso Authority. "These funds will ensure that An approximately $500,000 our new facility is one of the grant to the Georgia Medical best-equipped in the Southeast, Center Authority will be used to and perhaps the nation," said Dr. equip the Medical College of Michael G. Gabridge, associate Georgia's biomedical business vice president who directs MCG's incubator. Office of Technology Transfer OneGeorgia, a state initiative and Economic Development. that uses a portion of tobacco "Entrepreneurs are going to find settlement money to create infra­ Augusta an ideal place to start up structure in non-metropolitan a new life-sciences company." Georgia, provided the grant. The The incubator, he said, will Georgia Medical Center capitalize on MCG's unprece­ Authority, a state agency with dented research growth. The uni­ the primary mission of optimiz­ versity's research funding has ing Augusta's role as a medical increased more than 133 percent city, opted to use it to fund sci­ over the last five years, including entific and business equipment 10 to 25 percent growth in each for the incubator. The facility, of the last three years, he noted. scheduled to open in spring Matching entrepreneurs with the 2004, is designed to convert bio­ scientists, Dr. Gabridge said, will medical research into marketable energize both scientific and eco business ventures. nomic development by fostering Dr. Matt Kluger (from left), MCG vice president for research and dean of the School of Graduate Studies, discusses incubator "We are very enthused about prompt utilization and commer­ plans with Dr. Michael Gabridge and Lenie Roos-Gabridge. (Phil Jones photo) the MCG incubator and our new cialization of scientific discover­ •Augusta Biobusiness Center (a ies. fast track for completion. space for entrepreneurs and sci­ "Having the incubator will mini-research park under devel­ The incubator will be housed The incubator will include five entists to interact. Each company help us recruit and retain key opment that will work closely in the new addition to the large laboratory/office suites', a will be assigned an advisory faculty members and simultane­ with the incubator)," said Lenie Interdisciplinary Research conference room, an autoclave board, a pool of biomedical busi­ ously help MCG fulfill its role in Roos-Gabridge, executive direc­ Building. Ground was broken on room, a room for samples that ness experts to analyze and the Augusta area's economic tor of the Georgia Medical Center the addition last fall and is on a require refrigeration and ample advise. development," Dr. Gabridge said. beeper Administration changes announced Christine Hurley Deriso tion and finance has been divided into two more ^msawg^ Division of External Affairs highly focused vice presidential positions. Dr. J. Medical College of Georgia is Augusta, Georgia 30912 Medical College of Georgia President Daniel W. Rahn Michael Ash, senior vice president over these areas, has announced several changes in the university's Christine Hurley Deriso, Publications Editor has become the vice president for administration. Dr. Ellen Gladden, Beeper Editor administrative structure, effective immediately, includ­ Ash is serving as interim vice president for finance ing discontinuation of the senior vice president title and until the recruitment of a chief financial officer, which the division of select responsibilities. Specific changes: Beeper is published biweekly by Graphic Advertisirg, a private firm in no way connected with the Medical College is under way, is complete. This change recognizes the of Geoijja. Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and are not considered an official expression complexity of MCG's financial relationships and posi­ by the Medical College of Georgia. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, to include inserts, does • The position of senior vice president for academic tions the financial officer to focus on fiscal concerns not constitute an endorsement by the Medical College of Georgia of the products or services advertised. affairs has been retitled to provost. Dr. Barry D. without balancing other administrative responsibili­ News and photos are provided by the Division of External Affairs. Direct correspondence about news to MCG Beeper, FI-1042. Goldstein will continue in this role. The change in title, ties. which more closely reflects the nomenclature of MCG's • Clayton D. Steadman's title has been changed from MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA peer institutions and fellow University System of legal advisor to the president to vice president for legal Daniel W. Rahn, M.D., President Georgia institutions, does not reflect a change of R. Bryan Ginn Jr, Vice President for External Affairs affairs. This represents no change in responsibilities. responsibilities. • The chief information officer will now carry the title • Dr. David M. Stern, dean of the School of Medicine, of vice president for information services and report Direct advertising inquiries to: will continue to serve as MCG's chief clinical officer, directly to the president. Recruitment for this position Daniel R. Pearson, Publisher but will no longer carry the title of senior vice presi­ is well under way. • . ^ GRAPHIC ADVERTISING dent of clinical activities. This alteration represents no • The vice president for information services and the RO. Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397 changes of responsibilities. vice president for finance will join other senior admin­ (706) 860-5455 • The position of senior vice president for administra­ istrators as members of the President's Cabinet. E-mail: graphicadv@knology. net «. £ (t.C'C * t 1 & u i «.H THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2003 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA beepe Check changes help Breast cancer is topic of budget balancing Jan. 28 Deans' Symposium Dr. Stephen C. Peiper, professor Medical College of Georgia employ­ Previously pre-tax payments for such and chairman of the Medical ees with biweekly paydays will soon benefits were withheld with the total College of Georgia Department of notice a change in their checks. benefit premium being deducted Pathology, will discuss "Strategies Human Resources Benefits from their first or second paycheck of to Block Breast Cancer Metastasis: Manager Patricia Riley noted a new each month.