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In the News
November 2009November 23 update.
Dixon Judge Lays Down the Law: No More Cell-Phone Use in Court
University of Maryland School of Law professor William Reynolds, JD said the judge correctly interpreted the rule. But, Reynolds added, he is in favor of allowing courtroom tweets. "Do I think it's a good idea to ban it?" he asked. "I think courtrooms should be completely open. I think TV trials should be permitted, so I think Twitter should be permitted as long as it's done unobtrusively."
Prescribing Success
When Ellen H. Yankellow talks about how she started her company, she does it in an "aw shucks" manner and says she became an entrepreneur "accidentally." Yankellow, PharmD, the chair of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, is the topic of Q&A.
November 20 update.
Four Groups Threaten to Sue Over Mirant's P.G. Landfill
Four environmental groups are threatening to sue the owners of a Prince George's County landfill they say is dumping toxic chemicals into a creek feeding the Patuxent River watershed. The Environmental Law Clinic at the School of Law is a co-counsel for the Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and Patuxent Riverkeeper.
Pulmonary Hypertension Support Group to Meet Saturday Evening
Rena McDonald, of Gerrardstown, said she struggles with pulmonary hypertension on a daily basis. McDonald said she sees Myung Park, MD, director of the Pulmonary Vascular Diseases Program and assistant professor of medicine at the School of Medicine, on a regular basis to help with her condition.
November 19 update.
Justice Department Sets 9/11 Terror Trial Venue: NYC
Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and the director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, applauded Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to hold a trial in New York City for five men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks.
Sheila Dixon Trial
Professor Doug Colbert, JD, from the School of Law joined WAMU's Morning Edition Host Matt McCleskey to talk about the Sheila Dixon trial. He has been watching the proceedings. Colbert appeared on WJZ to say the prosecution had streamlined its case and that the defense created reasonable doubt, in an interview also posted on baltimoresun.com. On WBAL-TV, he commented after the defense rested.
UM Law Is 50th Most Super Law School
DR blog on legal matters: The folks who bring you Super Lawyers came out this week with a ranking of the top law schools in the country. And it's dopey. Blog criticizes the rankings, including placement of the School of Law.
November 18 update.
What Will Become of the Case Against Dixon?
Doug Colbert, JD, professor at the School of Law, discusses the direction of the case against Mayor Sheila Dixon. In recapping remarks on the radio show, the blog quotes Colbert saying, "Don't sell the prosecution short," in its decision to drop a key witness.
Analysis: Not Calling Lipscomb Alternately Deemed Brilliant, Befuddling
"I do not think there is any way to characterize it except stunning," said David Gray, JD, PhD, MA, assistant professor at the School of Law. "They cut a deal with him. That is stunning."
CrimProf Blog - Nov. 17
Rena Steinzor, JD, professor at the School of Law, has posted "High Crimes, Not Misdemeanors: Deterring the Production of Unsafe Food" (Health Matrix: Journal of Law-Medicine, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2010) on SSRN.
Exploring Prosecution Strategy in Dixon Case
Doug Colbert, JD, professor at the School of Law, suggests the decision to drop two of the charges against Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon and to avoid calling her former boyfriend is part of a strategy to "undermine the defense theory" and to eliminate him from the minds of the jury.
On the Move
Meg Johantgen, RN, PhD, an associate professor at the School of Nursing, is the first recipient of the Research Mentorship Award from the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues, a part of AcademyHealth, a professional organization for health service researchers.
On the Move
Ann Mech, JD, RN, an assistant professor at the School of Nursing, received the Delmarva Foundation's 2009 Trustee "Driving Quality" Award, which recognizes the importance of hospital board leadership and support for initiating and sustaining quality improvement efforts.
University of Maryland, Baltimore Taps Maroon PR for Branding Campaign
The University of Maryland, Baltimore has hired Maroon PR to build a branding campaign for the professional and graduate-level school.
November 17 update.
BCCC Center Unveiled at UM BioPark
A life sciences training center for Baltimore City Community College was dedicated at the University of Maryland BioPark.
Will Anyone Go to Jail?
Now there is talk that the very people involved in the great American heist have co-written new legislation. Michael Greenberger, JD, a School of Law professor and veteran federal regulator, studied the House committee's 187-page bill and detected the fine needlework of Wall Street lawyers.
November 16 update.
'Despair' Gene Linked to Bipolar Disorder, Depression, and Schizophrenia
A gene, touted as the "despair" gene, which earlier had no relation with mood disorders, has now been found to have a link with bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenic conditions, according to pharmacy scientists at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Elisabeth Barbier, PhD, and Jia Bei Wang, PharmD, professor in the School of Pharmacy, ran a series of standard behavioral tests on the mice without the PKCI/HINT1 gene, concluding that it may have an important role in mood regulation.
Life Sciences Job Training Center Opens at UMB BioPark
Baltimore City Community College unveiled Monday a life sciences training center at the University of Maryland BioPark.
Mouth: A Diagnostic Indicator for General Health
One day in medical clinics, the big picture of a patient's state of health may be found in little pictures from the mouth, says Li Mao, MD, professor at the Dental School.
Southern Maryland Chosen for Health Care Pilot Programs
Health care in Southern Maryland will benefit from two federal stimulus grants totaling nearly $5 million. Claudia Baquet, MD, of the School of Medicine applied for both grants and will lead the research.
November 13 update.
'American Casino' Opens at the Senator
'American Casino,' a documentary tracing the crippling effects of the subprime mortgage crisis and predatory lending from Wall Street to Main Street, opens for a one-week run at Baltimore's Senator Theater. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is interviewed extensively in the film.
Career Changers Look to Nursing, Pharmacy
Mature students switch fields, earning degrees from the School of Nursing and School of Pharmacy in programs located at the Universities at Shady Grove.
Defense: Dixon Thought Cards Were Meant for Her
"It would have been much more problematic if the jury was also considering perjury counts of failure to report gifts," said David Gray, JD, PhD, a School of Law assistant professor. "She couldn't stand up and say, 'These were gifts,' without putting herself on the hook for the perjury counts."
Drug Seminar Coming to the Civic Center
Renowned national lecturer and Dental School professor emeritus Harold Crossley, DDS, PhD, will lead more than 300 community members through two provocative day-long workshops that highlight the root of drug addictions, which for many abusers begins at home in the medicine cabinet.
Gansler's Predictable Betrayal
Jana Singer, JD, a School of Law professor who in 2007 filed papers supporting 19 gay and lesbian plaintiffs who challenged the state law defining marriage as between a man and woman, said there's "a very good chance" that Attorney General Douglas Gansler's opinion on recognizing same-sex marriages from other states will be favorable to gay couples.
Gene Linked to Mood Disorders
A gene has been linked for the first time to mood function in a study by Jia Bei Wang, PhD, professor, and Elisabeth Barbier, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at the School of Pharmacy. Their findings may open the door to research that could lead to treatments for disorders such as depression and schizophrenic conditions. The news reports follow publication in the journal BMC Neuroscience of results of behavioral tests on mice lacking the PKCI/HINT1 gene.
Maryland Drug Researcher Died of Allergic Reaction
School of Medicine pharmacologist Carrie John, PhD, died from an allergic reaction and not because she injected a seemingly tainted batch of the narcotic buprenorphine, according to the state medical examiner.
Protein Blocks Cell Death in Neurons
The lack of understanding of the disease, as well as the support of several famous people who suffer from PD, has helped to propel Parkinson's research forward. Nevertheless, much remains a mystery, which is why discoveries like the one by W. W. Smith, X. Li and colleagues at the Hopkins School of Medicine, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy and the Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine in China are very exciting.
Studying the Dixon Trial
Doug Colbert, JD, calls opening statements a draw in the trial of Mayor Sheila Dixon during an interview on WMAR-TV. The professor at the School of Law brought members of his Access to Justice clinic to study arguments during the trial, and The Daily Record quotes student Kimberly Stewart as viewing the attorneys as "the best of the best."
The Gift of Life
"The most special part of it is that the donors and recipients knew nothing of one another, except that the donors wished to see the recipients off dialysis and the recipients wished to receive the gift of life," said Matthew Cooper, MD, transplant surgeon and associate professor at the School of Medicine.
WNY Native Named Civil Rights Director
A native western New Yorker, Thomas Perez, has been named Civil Rights director within the U. S. Justice Department. He was a law professor for six years at the School of Law.
November 12 update.
AAPS Announces Annual Awards
The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) recognized researchers at the organization's 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Los Angeles this week. Stephen Hoag, PhD, assistant professor at the School of Pharmacy, is a 2009 AAPS Fellow.
Coping With Demand for Scarce Flu Vaccine
Pediatricians have been working with the state to steer whatever doses of H1N1 vaccine they can to the most vulnerable children, says Virginia Keane, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and pediatrician for special-needs children in Maryland's Pediatric Ambulatory Center. She is also president of the state chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Drug Seminar Coming to the Civic Center
As drug use continues to climb throughout the Eastern Shore, members of the region's medical community are coming together to help parents and neighbors learn the signs of drug abuse. Renowned national lecturer and Dental School professor emeritus Harold Crossley, DDS, PhD, will lead more than 300 community members through two provocative day-long workshops.
Low-Cost Legal Advice: Cheap Trick Thursday
There's a unusual item on the menu at the Hollywood Diner: legal advice. The program is called The Legal Grind. Law students at the School of Law help with the intake process and can sit in on the consultations if the clients permit, according to the video posted above.
Spotlight Turns on New Evidence in Dixon Case
David Gray, JD, PhD, a School of Law assistant professor, called the new allegations a "side show" that State Prosecutor Robert A. Rohrbaugh could be using to prejudice the jury against Sheila Dixon. Doug Colbert, JD, a School of Law professor, said that prosecutors have a right to continue investigating up to and during a trial.
The Money Man's Best Friend
Legislation crafted in the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at financial regulatory reform is riddled with loopholes and exceptions to the benefit of big banks and Wall Street. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is quoted.
November 11 update.
'An Elevator Ride Away' From BioPark Jobs
An article and related blog item describe the new Life Sciences Institute, an associate's degree program of the Baltimore City Community College based at the BioPark. The location could hasten hiring. James L. Hughes, MBA, vice president of research and development, says the University's goal for the BioPark has been to "to create as many jobs as we could" for a full range of city residents.
4 Kidneys Swapped in Bellybutton Surgery
University of Maryland Medical Center surgeons have transplanted four kidneys after removing them through donors' belly buttons. The patients and surgeon Matthew Cooper, MD, director of kidney transplantation at UMMC and associate professor at the School of Medicine, announced the procedure Tuesday morning, a week after the surgeries were completed.
Bezdek on Alinsky & Law
Professor Barbara Bezdek, LLM, of the School of Law, has posted "Alinksy's Prescription: Democracy Alongside Law" (John Marshall Law Review, Vol. 42, 2009) on SSRN.
Jury Seated in Trial of Baltimore Mayor
Doug Colbert, JD, a School of Law professor who observed the jury selection process, says both sides should be satisfied with the panel.
Mikulski's on Her Feet Again, and in the Game
The Life Sciences Training Center at the Baltimore City Community College location in the University of Maryland BioPark in West Baltimore was mentioned in a post about Sen. Barbara Mikulski.
November 10 update.
Bay Cleanup Critic Speaks
Howard Ernst, author of a new critique of the Chesapeake Bay restoration, will speak at 6 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 10) at the School of Law.
Grant Will Aid Minority, Rural Communities
School of Medicine researchers received nearly $5 million in federal stimulus money from the National Institutes of Health to create two programs to improve health for minority and rural communities.
Jury Selection Begins in Dixon Trial
School of Law Professor Douglas Colbert, JD, comments on the jury selection process for the trial of Mayor Sheila Dixon on charges of theft. Adjunct Professor Andrew Levy, JD, also commented for WJZ-TV and the New York Times.
Records Keepers Do Public a Service
Beyond the official savers are useful archives kept by people and organizations that gather particular sets of records. The University of North Texas Libraries also have an extensive Congressional Research Service collection, as does the Thurgood Marshall Law Library at the School of Law.
Senate Confirms Davis to U.S. 4th Circuit
Andre Maurice Davis, JD, won confirmation as a judge on the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Davis, a 1978 graduate of the School of Law and an adjunct professor, has been a federal judge in Baltimore for 14 years and was first nominated nine years ago. The Senate failed to act, and the nomination expired at the end of the Clinton administration. In The Daily Record, William Reynolds, JD, a professor at the School, described his former student as "by no means ideological."
Some Criticize Health Measures
Civil liberties advocates caution that mandatory vaccinations, forced quarantines and restricted interstate travel would not only endanger individual rights but also would be unlikely to prevent disease in the event of a severe H1N1 outbreak. "These raise the highest constitutional problems," said Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security at the School of Law, at a recent panel discussion. Marita Mike, MD, JD, health director, is also quoted.
November 9 update.
AAPS Announces 2009 Fellows
The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) has named two faculty members from the School of Pharmacy as new AAPS fellows: Stephen Hoag, PhD, assistant professor; and Peter Swaan, PhD, associate professor.
Gift Card Scandal Could Sink Baltimore Mayor
David Gray, JD, PhD, MA, an assistant professor at the School of Law, said prosecutors could have a difficult time meeting their burden of proof. "The prosecutor must prove a specific intent to deny the benefit of those cards to the party who had lawful title in the cards," Gray said. "It's really not Mayor Dixon's job, nor is it her attorneys' job, to explain anything."
People on the Move - Nov. 3
Oscar Gray, JD, will receive the 2009 William Lloyd Prosser Award in recognition of outstanding lifetime contributions to torts from the American Association of Law Schools. Gray, who is the School of Law's Jacob A. France Professor Emeritus of Torts, is recognized nationally for his work as editor of the definitive Harper, James and Gray on the Law of Torts.
Public Defender's Neighborhood Office Makes the Case for Its Survival
The Neighborhood Defenders program, launched in 2007 to provide both legal and social services to residents of the impoverished neighborhood, was the topic of discussion Thursday as judges, public defenders, and legal experts gathered at the School of Law to debate the future of legal services for the poor. Just ensuring people have the proper bail can have a positive effect on the communtiy that has been targeted by an aggresive arrest policy, argued Professor Douglas Colbert, JD, director of the University's Access to Justice Clinic.
Trial Begins for Baltimore Mayor
Andrew Levy, JD, a professor at the School of Law, said many city residents have been pleasantly surprised by the mayor's performance. "I think they have also been surprised by the somewhat pedestrian nature of the theft charges, both the amounts at issue, which are relatively small, and the circumstances under which she is alleged to have stolen them."
U.S. to Tighten Rules for Bay Cleanup
The Obama administration is to unveil today its plan for taking control of the lagging Chesapeake Bay cleanup, amid growing grumbling from developers, farmers, and even state officials that Washington is overreaching in what has until recently been a largely cooperative effort among the bay states. "What they really need to do is hold the states' feet to the fire," said Rena Steinzor, JD, president of the Center for Progressive Reform and a professor at the School of Law.
November 6 update.
AIDS Confab Highlights Progress, Needs in U.S.
Derek Spencer, director of the JACQUES Initiative at the School of Medicine's Institute of Human Virology, noted that since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic more than 25 years ago, death rates have decreased dramatically. Now, many people living with HIV/AIDS are living longer and experiencing health issues typically related to aging.
Gemina, an -Omics Database With Geospatial Surveillance for Pathogens, Ramps up for More Bugs
Gemina, which connects -omics data with a geospatial surveillance function for tracking infectious disease outbreaks, has been online since 2006 and is growing both in terms of data and functionality, principal investigator Lynn Schriml, PhD, told BioInform. She is an investigator at the School of Medicine's Institute for Genome Sciences and assistant professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine.
On the Move
Allan Krumholz, MD, director of the Epilepsy Center of Excellence for the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System, a professor at the School of Medicine and director of the University of Maryland Epilepsy Center, has been awarded the American Epilepsy Society's 11th annual J. Kiffin Penry Award for Excellence in Epilepsy Care.
On the Move
Deborah Lynne Potter, a partner at The Jaklitsch Law Group, has been named president of the School of Law Alumni Board for the 2009-2010 academic year. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Maryland College Park.
Pharmacists Are Necessary to the Medical Care Model
Roger Merrill, MD, chief medical officer of Perdue Foods Inc. of Salisbury, Md., told students at the School of Pharmacy Oct. 3 that they should be concerned about future health care costs.
Responding to Mass Casualties
When an incident such as the shooting at Ft. Hood results in multiple injuries, even the most well-equipped trauma center would be hard pressed to handle the flood of patients and would likely send some cases elsewhere for emergency treatment. Andrew Pollak, MD, associate professor of orthopaedics at the School of Medicine and head of the division of orthopaedic traumatology at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, is quoted.
Review of "American Casino"
Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is referenced extensively in this review of "American Casino." The film chronicles the subprime mortgage crisis from Wall Street to Main Street and features Greenberger's expert analysis.
November 5 update.
Lawsuit: Mandatory Retirement at 70 Violates Equal Protection Clause
Circuit Court Judge Charles G. Bernstein is taking the state to court, charging the mandatory judicial retirement age of 70 is unconstitutional. Former Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge John Fader II, JD, a visiting professor at the School of Law, said the issue of mandatory retirement has been debated for years.
New Hope for Hyperkalemia
A team at the School of Medicine has identified a new molecular pathway that prevents the chemical being excreted normally through the kidneys. Says Professor Paul Welling, MD, "We are particularly excited about the translational potential of our basic science discovery.
Nurses Who Happen to Be Men
More men are joining the nursing profession as demonstrated by the increase in enrollment in nursing programs. At the School of Nursing, enrollment increased by 10 percent this fall. Current figures indicate that 12 percent of the student population is male, well above the national average. Lou Heindel, DNP, CRNA, assistant professor and director of the School's nurse anesthetist master's specialty, is quoted.
November 4 update.
Baltimore Could Face Free-Speech Lawsuit If Pregnancy Center Bill Is Passed
School of Law professor Mark Graber, JD, PhD, said the bill is constitutional. "There is a commercial speech doctrine that says government cannot regulate most advertising as long as it's truthful, but there are no decisions that say government can't require a business to make truthful statements about what the business does."
New Class of Molecules May Help Prevent Fatal Complication in Patients With Kidney Disease
Researchers at the School of Medicine have made an important discovery about why potassium builds up to dangerous levels in the bloodstream. Their study was just published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. Professor Paul Welling, MD, said, "Currently, there are no drugs that specifically target the molecular defect in kidney potassium retention." Fellow Liang Fang, PhD, and Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, are also quoted.
Updating Child Support Guidelines
Correne Saunders, MPP, research director of the Family Welfare Research and Training Group at the School of Social Work, explains how guidelines help a judge set child support payments. But Maryland's guidelines are outdated, leading to a push for revision in next legislative session.
November 3 update.
Dixon to Choose Between Judge, Jury
Next week, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon will go on trial on theft charges amid allegations that she stole gift cards intended for needy families. Professor Doug Colbert, JD, of the School of Law, is quoted.
Gibsonalia: Archives of a Political Life
Larry Gibson, LLB, professor at the School of Law, has been a driving force in local, national, and international political campaigns for over four decades. The School's Thurgood Marshall Law Library has a newly launched online archive of campaign paraphernalia. Gibson discussed these historical campaigns on "Maryland Morning With Sheilah Kast."
Maryland Mesothelioma Lawsuit Results in $20M Award in Baltimore
School of Nursing Assistant Professor Jocelyn Farrar, DNP, ACNP-BC, CCRN, who developed mesothelioma as a result of washing the clothes of her grandfather, was awarded $20 million by a Baltimore City jury.
Panel Weighs in on Banks Deemed 'Too Big to Fail'
There's still a fight on Capitol Hill to regulate banks deemed "too big to fail," the institutions that many believe are at the center of the economic crisis. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is a panelist on the show and is quoted extensively.
November 2 update.
Financial Bill Under Attack Over Loopholes
As Representative Barney Frank nears his goal of pushing a massive financial regulation package through the House Financial Services Committee, parts of the legislation are coming under blistering assault from consumer groups as well as key Democrats, who say it contains loopholes that could set the stage for another financial meltdown. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is quoted.
H1N1 Flu's Greater Toll on Young People
Children have suffered disproportionately, acquiring secondary infections that appear to be linked to their bodies' robust immune responses. John Straumanis, MD, head of the Hospital for Children's Pediatric ICU and an assistant professor at the School of Medicine, said the lungs become inflamed as the immune system engages. In children, the temporary lung damage can be worse because their immune systems work harder than those of adults.
Jury Awards $20M to Worker's Grandchild in Asbestos Case
A Baltimore City Circuit Court jury on Friday awarded more than $20 million to School of Nursing Assistant Professor Jocelyn Farrar, DNP, ACNP-BC, CCRN, who contracted mesothelioma from being exposed to asbestos.
On Your Mind
Commentary on the power of laughter for healing, based on work of cardiologists at the School of Medicine.
Scaring up Some Fun
Local story on Halloween tagged with: The Maryland Poison Center at the School of Pharmacy is an excellent resource for educating the public on safety issues, including the safety concerns of parents regarding Halloween treats.
Surprising Powers Could Be Granted if Flu Threat Worsens
"The powers that are given to governors and often to the chief executives of localities are truly extraordinary," says Michael Greenberger, JD, founder and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security at the School of Law. "They virtually can constitute martial law."
Trick-or-treating at the BioPark
James McHenry Elementary School students, including a 6-year-old wearing a vampire's big teeth, showed off their costumes and collected candy from tenants of the University of Maryland BioPark. Marcos Chibucos, PhD, bioinformatics analyst at the School of Medicine's Institute for Genome Sciences, dressed as a Blues Brother to hand out treats.
University of Maryland, Baltimore Heads $12.2 Million Study of Chlamydia
A new $12.2 million, grant from the National Institutes of Health, will allow a team of scientists, led by the Univesity of Maryland, Baltimore, to perform molecular genomics analyses of the disease-causing powers of chlamydia on a scale never attempted before. Patrik Bavoil, PhD, professor at the Dental School and Jacques Ravel, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine's Institute for Genome Sciences, will lead the five-year project.
Using Linezolid Instead of Vancomycin to Treat Serious Infections Means Fewer Rehospitalizations: Presented at IDSA
Treatment with the antibiotic linezolid appears to prevent fewer rehospitalizations than does vancomycin for a number of infections, including staphylococcal infections, according to C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, a professor at the School of Pharmacy. |
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