In the News

July 2006

Doctors Develop Protocol for Talking to Patients
The (Baltimore) Sun - July 28

When delivering bad news, physicians should take time to ensure that patients understand what is being said. Douglas Ross, MD, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine, says medical students are introduced to end-of-life issues within the first two years of their program.
www.baltimoresun.com

Medical Salesmen Prescribe Lunches
The (Baltimore) Sun - July 29

New pharmaceutical industry guidelines barred sales representatives from offering physicians tickets or trips, so buying lunch became an increasingly important way for drug companies to get the attention of doctors. Francis Palumbo, JD, PhD, professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the School's Center on Drugs and Public Policy, said he's much less troubled about lunches than other permitted industry practices, such as payment of consulting fees and research grants to doctors.
www.baltimoresun.com

Pharmacy Services Tighten Up
The Detroit News - July 31

Disputes between major drugstore chains and local insurance companies have already left more than 230,000 people in Detroit with fewer pharmacy choices. "It will likely take years for the full effects of the changing marketplace to play out," said Bruce Stuart, PhD, professor at the School of Pharmacy and executive director of the Peter Lamy Center for Drug Therapy and Aging.
www.detnews.com

Take a Pass on Gas
The (Hagerstown) Herald-Mail - July 31

While passing gas is natural, it is not polite. The best way to prevent it during an important occasion is to avoid certain foods-not just during the occasion but for 12 hours prior, says Jean-Pierre Raufman, MD, professor at the School of Medicine.
www.herald-mail.com

Man Group Buys Majority Stake
Dow Jones Newswire - July 28

Man Group plc has bought a majority in U.S. Futures Exchange LLC, the U.S. arm of Eurex, in an effort to increase volume in exchange-traded derivatives and introduce products to its brokerage customers. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and former director of markets and trading at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said Man Group's interest in the U.S. Futures Exchange is understandable. "I'm sure they (at Man Group) have an idea of how they can make it work," Greenberger said.

Maryland Courts Should Ignore New York's Same-Sex Marriage Decision
The Daily Record - July 28

In this Op-Ed, Steven Schwinn, JD, assistant professor at the School of Law, analyzes why the New York Court of Appeals upheld a state law restricting marriage only to opposite-sex couples, and the decision's impact in Maryland. "The Maryland courts, in considering our own same-sex marriage case, Deane v. Conaway, now on appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, would do well to ignore this flawed opinion altogether," writes Schwinn.

New Treatment Offers Hope for Head and Neck Cancer
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 5 p.m. - July 27

Two experimental vaccines that could someday extend life and improve the quality of it for people with head and neck cancer are being tested at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "It's a way to try to turn on the immune response so it recognizes the tumor but not the tissues around the tumor," said Scott Strome, MD, professor at the School of Medicine.
wjz.com

School of Medicine Surpasses Fundraising Goal
The (Baltimore) Examiner - July 27

The School of Medicine led the University of Maryland, Baltimore in exceeding its fundraising goal for the fiscal year ending in June, contributing $43.6 million of the $60.6 million raised by the University. Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, vice president for medical affairs, University of Maryland, and dean of the School of Medicine, said he increased the schoolýs staff, including positions dedicated to raising money.
www.examiner.com

Fundraising Goal Exceeded
The (Baltimore) Examiner - July 27
The Baltimore Business Journal - July 24

The University of Maryland, Baltimore set a new record for fundraising over the past year, bringing in $60.6 million in donations. "We're very excited that we exceeded what seemed like, a year ago, an extremely ambitious goal," said T. Sue Gladhill, MSW, vice president for external affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
baltimore.bizjournals.com
www.examiner.com

Spreading the Word About Cardiac Care
The (Baltimore) Examiner - July 27

The Community Health Awareness and Monitoring Program (CHAMP), which is affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical System, reaches out to churches and hairstylists to train members to take blood pressure readings. Blacks have the highest cardiovascular death rate of any ethnic group in the U.S., due in part to high rates of elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure, said Elijah Saunders, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and head of CHAMP's Hair, Heart and Health program.
www.examiner.com

Ergonomics Relieves Stress on Body
The Washington Times - July 25

Ergonomics is the correct use of body posture to prevent musculoskeletal injury not only at work, but during any activity of daily living. Gad Alon, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, recommends frequently changing positions while working at a desk to prevent loading (putting weight and stress) on any one area of the body.

The Limits of the Law
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - July 26

During a live interview, Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law, talked about the legal case involving a 16-year-old cancer patient from Virginia who has refused conventional medical treatment and why Sen. Arlen Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, has filed a lawsuit against President Bush.

A Growing Business for Clinical Trials
The Baltimore Business Journal - July 21

Clinical research organizations are hired by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to run clinical trials-research studies done on human volunteers to test the safety and effectiveness of a new treatment. Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd., a Japanese drug research company, is relying on its new $20 million research facility at the UMB Biopark to bring in the business. The company, which has a 96-bed pharmacology center, has finished its first trial and is planning a second one.

Fundraising Goal Exceeded
The (Baltimore) Sun - July 25

The University of Maryland, Baltimore has received a record $60.6 million in donations over the past year, exceeding the campusý fundraising goal by 5 percent. "We are especially pleased that the number of seven-figure gifts has increased by 50 percent over the previous fiscal year," said Mary Campion, associate vice president for development.
www.baltimoresun.com

Inexpensive Test Could Quickly Spot Celiac Disease
Chicago Tribune - July 25

Italian researchers have unveiled an inexpensive test for spotting celiac disease that would give results in less than three hours versus the typical two days, but its availability in this country is up to the manufacturer. Alessio Fasano, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Center for Celiac Research, says the first test results for his research into a pill that theoretically could stop one of the body's proteins from letting too much gluten into the gut are very positive.
www.chicagotribune.com

Nurses Work Too Hard, Too Long
Nursing Spectrum Magazine - July 17

Alison Trinkoff, ScD, RN, FAAN, a professor at the School of Nursing, surveyed more than two-thousand RNs about their work schedules, and studied the relationship between their work hours, including mandatory overtime and on-call hours, and musculoskeletal problems. Shorter work hours might make a nurseýs time on and off the job more enjoyable and might also benefit employers, notes Trinkoff.
community.nursingspectrum.com

Prescription Mistakes More Prevalent Than Thought
The Daily Record - July 24

According to a study from the Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit medical advisory branch of the National Academies, an estimated 1.5 million adverse drug events are caused by mistakes in prescribing, administering, or taking medication. Sheila Weiss Smith, PhD, an associate professor at the School of Pharmacy, suggested legislation to require that particularly dangerous drugs include a patient consult with the pharmacist, or even laws to include pharmacists in the original discussions about medication options in the doctor's office.

The Laci Effect
O, The Oprah Magazine - August 2006

Four years after the murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn son, lawmakers are taking a closer look at the statistics that increasingly show pregnant women as the victims of violent crime. Pregnant women in Maryland are two times more likely to get killed than women who are not pregnant, and studies in other cities and states have come up with similar results, said Cara Krulewitch, PhD, CNM, assistant professor at the School of Nursing. "These are startling findings," she says. "Something's going on here that we donýt know about."

Homicide Case Marred by Lapses
The Washington Post - July 23

Nearly a year after the arrest of a man who police say killed two men and wounded a third, a series of questionable decisions during the police investigation and prosecution led to the mid-trial dismissal of charges this month against the only suspect. Prosecutors should have identified any glaring deficiencies in the police probe, said Abraham Dash, JD, a professor at the School of Law.
www.washingtonpost.com

Medical Condition Keeps Some From Drug Tests and Jobs
Kansas City Star - July 24

Paruresis is a social anxiety disorder that prevents 17 million people nationwide from using a public restroom. In an era of widespread drug testing in workplaces, schools, and elsewhere, the condition is a serious matter, says Steven Soifer, PhD, associate professor at the School of Social Work and staff director of the International Paruresis Association.
www.kansascity.com

Putting Limits on Pursuit of Beauty
The (Baltimore) Sun - July 23

Miss Maryland, Brittany Lietz, is using her title to educate teenagers about the dangers of tanning, after she was diagnosed with stage two melanoma last year. Lietz says she had planned to become a doctor but transferred to the School of Nursing because her experience "made me want to be a nurse."
www.baltimoresun.com

Slow Demise for Long Preoperative Fasts
The (Baltimore) Sun - July 23

Many medical experts say the widespread practice of keeping patients' stomachs empty overnight before surgery has little evidence to back it up. "Patients who haven't had anything at all for hours tend not to do well with blood pressure and pulse during surgery," says Douglas Martz, Jr. MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine. Doctors offer a variety of explanations for the persistence of the midnight cutoff.
www.baltimoresun.com

Study Examines Life Expectancy
The Boston Herald - July 23

The Long Life Family Study, which is following 1,000 families, is the largest-ever federally funded study of longevity genes in families. Alan Shuldiner, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said the magnitude to which longevity genes extend life becomes more important as people enter their 90s.
news.bostonherald.com

Critical Area Changes Dismay River Keepers
The (Annapolis) Capital - July 19

The guardians of several Anne Arundel County waterways oppose a set of proposed changes in the countyýs Critical Area law, saying the revisions could make it easier to harm the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and that the changes do nothing to address shortcomings in the county's Critical Area enforcement that were cited in a recent report by the School of Law's Environmental Law Clinic.
www.hometownannapolis.com

Dean's Life After Retirement
The (Baltimore) Examiner - July 19

A beachfront home with an empty dock off Florida's Manatee River awaits Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, vice president for medical affairs, University of Maryland, and dean of the School of Medicine when he officially retires. "It's nice to not be answering the telephone or getting a message on your BlackBerry all the time," said Wilson. "Dean Wilson is among the most talented physicians serving in academic medicine today," said David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
www.examiner.com

Doctors Reach Community Through Churches
The (Baltimore) Sun - July 7

The Community Health Awareness and Monitoring Program (CHAMP), which is affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical System, visits 25 churches in the Baltimore area to train members to take blood pressure readings. "The program is like a coalition of churches," said Elijah Saunders, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and head of CHAMP's Hair, Heart and Health program, which has begun training local barbers and beauticians to take clientsý blood pressure.
www.baltimoresun.com

Health Information Is Key at Youth Street Fair
Baltimore Times - July 13

The Division of Adolescent Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at the School of Medicine hosted its fourth annual Youth Street Fair for teens and young adults earlier this month. "The Youth Street Fair is really an open house to engage young people to health services," said Ligia Peralta, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine.

Homeland Security Funds Cut
WETA-FM, 11 a.m. - July 19

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, talked about how the Department of Homeland Security has slashed anti-terrorism funding for Washington, D.C., and the surrounding regions, as part of a decision to reduce grant funds for major urban areas in the Northeast while providing more to midsize cities.

Physicians Feeling the Pinch
The (Baltimore) Examiner - July 19

When the son of Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, vice president for medical affairs, University of Maryland, and dean of the School of Medicine, told him he didn't want to follow in his footsteps, he knew something was wrong with his profession. Wilson said doctors are no longer the wealthy professionals parents encouraged their children to become, and the current state of America's health care system is largely to blame.
www.examiner.com

Young Athletes Try Not to Wilt in Heat
The (Baltimore) Sun - July 19

While the sun beat down on wide-open playing fields and the temperature flirted with 100 yesterday, youth sports camps went on as scheduled. "For those who are in camps or otherwise have to be outside, frequent fluid intake is important," said Keyvan Rafei, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Man "Crushes"
Pittsburgh Tribune Review - July 16

"Guys bond in a way that is less physically affectionate and less interpersonally revealing [than women]," says Geoffrey Greif, PhD, associate dean at the School of Social Work, who is the author of a forthcoming book on male friendship called "Guys Will Be Guys." Man crushes, signs of which might include adopting certain slang expressions or dressing similarly to another guy, probably attract more comment today than they would have a century ago, Greif says.
www.pittsburghlive.com

Medical Condition Keeps Some From Drug Tests and Jobs
St. Louis Post Dispatch - July 17

Paruresis is a social anxiety disorder that prevents 17 million people nationwide from using a public restroom. In an era of widespread drug testing in workplaces, schools, and elsewhere, the condition is a serious matter, says Steven Soifer, PhD, associate professor at the School of Social Work and staff director of the International Paruresis Association.
www.stltoday.com

When Heat Overcomes The Body
The Baltimore Sun - July 18

When it comes to hot weather, the human body acts remarkably like a home's central air conditioning-complete with a thermostat and cooling mechanism. But extreme conditions can overwhelm that system, resulting in heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and death. "When humidity rises, evaporation doesn't work as well," said Robert Koos, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine. Brain damage, organ failure, and death can occur when body temperature reaches 107 or 108 degrees, said Kenneth Butler, DO, associate professor at the School.
www.baltimoresun.com

Death Penalty Case Puts Spotlight on Role of Administrative Law Judges
The Kansas City Daily Record - July 16

The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services rejected an administrative law judge's proposed opinion that Maryland death penalty procedures are illegal because they were not adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. "Since state agencies have the ultimate responsibility for policy choices, though, they retain the power to decide whether an ALJ has made the right call," explained John Fader II, JD, a senior judicial fellow and lecturer at the School of Law and a former judge for the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

Demand Is Great For Health Care Professionals
The Baltimore Sun - July 16

Janet Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing, discussed the shortage of nurses, nurse faculty members, and allied health professionals. "The shortage of both nursing and nursing faculty is an issue facing the entire country," she said. Allan also mentioned the "Teach for the Health of It" program of the Governor's Workforce Investment Board that places prepared RNs into nursing faculty positions as soon as possible to offset the vacancies created when nurses become faculty members.

Names in the News
The Baltimore Sun - July 14

David Stewart, MD, MPH, has been named chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the School of Medicine. Stewart, who has served as acting chairman of the department since 2003, also becomes chief of family medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Robert Redfield, MD, associate director and co-founder of the Institute of Human Virology and professor at the School of Medicine, has been named chairman of the International Subcommittee of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.
www.baltimoresun.com

The World of Health Care Invites Diversity
The Baltimore Sun - July 16

Mary Etta Mills, ScD, RN, FAAN, associate dean for academic affairs at the School of Nursing, and student Diana Sunchu, BNS, ý06, RN, discuss how diversity can foster learning at the School of Nursing. "Our school is recognized for its level of diversity by funding agencies such as the National Institute of Nursing Research and the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality," says Mills. "We believe that we need to reflect the patient population, and we want patients to feel comfortable in the health care setting," she added.

Understanding Nursing Degrees
The Baltimore Sun - July 16

Keith Plowden, PhD, RN, assistant dean for baccalaureate studies at the School of Nursing, discusses the importance of a bachelor's of science in nursing degree and the importance of it in today's workforce. "Diploma nurses are still in today's workforce, but in terms of professional entry-level nursing, most nurses have either graduated from a community college program with an associate degree in nursing and/or attended a college or university and earned a bachelor of science in nursing," he said.

Enwonwu Discusses Noma
"Outlook," BBC Radio ý July 14

Cyril Enwonwu, PhD, ScD, MDS, a professor at the Dental School, discussed the tragic noma disease, an ulcer that attacks the face of children in impoverished countries, and steps that need to be taken for treatment. Enwonwu is the former director of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research.
www.bbc.co.uk

Forgery Has Become High-Tech
The Daily Record - July 14

Forensic examiners say computers and other advances have made it tougher for even a trained expert using high-tech equipment to determine whether a document is genuine. "Some of the new developments in forgery are enough to make some people long for the days of the best evidence rule, when lawyers looking to get a document admitted into evidence generally had to come up with the original," said Andrew Levy, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law.

Middle East Crisis
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5 and 6 p.m. - July 13

Samer El-Kamary, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the Division of International Health at the School of Medicine, discussed the ongoing violence in the Middle East from the perspective of a Muslim-American.

Miss Maryland Educates Young People About Cancer
The Baltimore Examiner - July 14

Miss Maryland Brittany Lietz, a student at the School of Nursing, is using her title to educate teenagers about the dangers of tanning, after she was diagnosed with stage two melanoma last year.
www.examiner.com

More Complex Role for Secret Spy Court
The Baltimore Sun - July 14

The highly secret spy court that would pass judgment on the National Security Agencyýs warrantless surveillance program under a deal announced yesterday has issued just one public ruling in its nearly 30-year history and from its inception was never intended to consider the kind of complex constitutional questions at issue in the heated debate over the government's counterterrorism methods. "It's not really a court that's expected to do constitutional analysis," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.baltimoresun.com

Nursing Informatics Conference Is Scheduled
The Baltimore Times - July 13

The School of Nursing will host the world's largest conference on nursing informatics later this month. "We are honored to have so many esteemed members of the nursing informatics world join us for SINI. We are thrilled to be celebrating the 16th anniversary of this event," said Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing.
www.btimes.com

Selling Prescriptions to Prisons Is Big Business
The Baltimore Sun - July 14

Correct Rx Pharmacy Services supplies prescriptions to Maryland prisons, where clinical pharmacists work with 27,000 inmates to help them understand how medications can help manage health conditions. "The model makes sense," said C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research at the School of Pharmacy.
www.baltimoresun.com

Vaccine Turns Body Against Cancer
The Baltimore Examiner - July 14

A possible cure for some types of mouth, larynx, and throat cancer is being tested at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Researchers have begun testing "Trojan peptide" vaccines to treat squamous cell carcinoma, a common type of head and neck cancer. "It's really founded on very strong science," said Scott Strome, MD, visiting assistant professor at the School of Medicine, who developed the vaccine.
www.examiner.com

Alleged Terror Plot Renews Criticism of Slash in Anti-Terror Funding
WTOP Radio 1500, 4:30 p.m. - July 10

The alleged plot to bomb rail transit tunnels in Manhattan has renewed criticism of the Department of Homeland Security's decision to cut the city's federal anti-terror dollars, said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Antero Pietila: Heal the City's Lasting Scars: Reinvigorate Riot-torn Areas
The Baltimore Examiner - July 11

As long as the lasting scars of the riots sparked by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. are not healed in nine neighborhood retail districts that were ruined by them and languish as ghost towns nearly four decades later, the cityýs revitalization efforts fall short. ýIf revitalization finally takes place along 1100-1400 blocks of West Baltimore Street, the University of Maryland, Baltimore will be the incubator. It is building another biotech center, giving the area a shot in the arm,ý he wrote.
www.examiner.com

Death Penalty Case Puts Spotlight on Role of Administrative Law Judges
The Daily Record - July 10

The secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services rejected an administrative law judge's proposed opinion that Maryland death penalty procedures are illegal because they were not adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. "Since state agencies have the ultimate responsibility for policy choices, though, they retain the power to decide whether an ALJ has made the right call," explained John Fader II, JD, a senior judicial fellow and lecturer at the School of Law and a former judge for the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

Heart Drug Riddle Solved
The Baltimore Sun - July 11 (and 6 more newspapers)
The Washington Post - July 11
The New York Times - July 11
WMAR-TV, Ch. 2, 5 p.m. - July 10
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5 p.m. - July 10
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 6 p.m. - July 10
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - July 10
WJLA-TV, Ch. 7, 5 p.m. - July 10

Researchers at the School of Medicine say they have solved a mystery that has intrigued cardiologists for years: why one of the most commonly prescribed heart medications doesnýt always work. "The effectiveness of beta blockers-a class of drugs given to many of the estimated 5 million patients with chronic heart failure-depends on the genetic makeup of receptors in the heart," said Stephen Liggett, MD, professor of medicine and physiology at the School of Medicine and lead author of the study.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.washingtonpost.com
www.nytimes.com

Al-Qaida's New Role: To Inspire Plotters
Newsday - July 9

The reportedly disrupted plot to bomb rail transit tunnels under the Hudson River once again shows that much of post-9/11 international terrorism is driven by inspiration and "self-starters" who seek out networks and plan attacks on their own, say terrorism experts and law enforcement officials. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the recent alleged plots appear to be the work of "small fries" with neither "the intellect nor the assets to carry them out."
www.newsday.com

Alleged Terror Plot Renews Criticism of Slash in Anti-Terror Funding
Newsday - July 10

The alleged plot to bomb rail transit tunnels in lower Manhattan has renewed criticism of the Department of Homeland Securityýs decision to cut the Big Apple's federal anti-terror dollars. "This continues to point out the obvious, that New York is a key target for terrorist plots and that diminishing the amount of money New York gets is not a wise policy," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.newsday.com

Area Schools Address Nursing Shortage
The Baltimore Sun - July 9

In a story that addresses the nurse faculty shortage, Patricia Morton, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, director of the new Doctor of Nursing Practice Program at the School of Nursing, says that "the program is addressing the shortage of nurse faculty at the same time providing a new doctoral alternative. She adds, "In today's health care climate, there is a great demand for nurses who have skills and competencies to have academic appointments as well as to assume leadership roles in complex organizations."

Growing HIV Institute to Join Medical School
The Daily Record - July 7

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents has unanimously "endorsed in principle" the recommendation of system Chancellor William E. Kirwan, PhD, that the Institute of Human Virology, a 10-year-old program charged with investigating diseases such as HIV and AIDS, be moved under the oversight of the system's School of Medicine. "It will definitely add to the overall budget profile of UMB," said Kirwan. "It will probably bump them up several places in the rankings."

Mother and Daughter Graduate Nursing School
Nursing Spectrum - June

Karen Buchanan and her daughter Bridgette Burnette, who both graduated from the School of Nursing in May, were the focus of this story.

PSC Firing Blocked by Court of Appeals
The Baltimore Sun - July 8

Prolonging the uncertainty surrounding one of the state's most high-profile political battles, the Maryland Court of Appeals has ruled that the current members of the embattled state Public Service Commission can keep their jobsýat least until the court issues a more formal opinion. "It means nothing other than, 'We need to think about this more; we need to discuss this among ourselves,'" said John Fader II, JD, a senior judicial fellow and lecturer at the School of Law and a former judge for the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.
www.baltimoresun.com

Path of Building Cranes Tracks the Disappearance of Blue-Collar Baltimore
The Baltimore Sun - July 8

"During a long walk, I got a jolt when I saw the new-to-me University of Maryland biotech buildings on the west side of MLK, at Baltimore and Poppleton streets,ý writes Jacques Kelly in his weekly column. "As you walk around the expanding University of Maryland neighborhood, on either side of MLK, you cannot help but think how quickly the old, blue-collar Baltimore is falling away, replaced by jobs in medicine and science."
www.baltimoresun.com

Some Users of Herbal Medicine Go Straight to Plants
The Virginia Pilot - July 10

With an estimated 19 percent of Americans using herbal medicines and other dietary supplements, jars of capsules and tablets crowd grocery and drugstore shelves. But in some areas, particularly in ethnic communities, many people buy their medicinal herbs in raw plant form. Lixing Lao, MD, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Program at the Center for Integrative Medicine, advises consumers to use medicinal herb sellers who are credentialed by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
home.hamptonroads.com

Committee Formed For Stem Cell Research Fund
WAMU-FM, 5 p.m. - July 6
7 a.m. - July 7

Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, dean of the School of Law, discussed her appointment to the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, a new state commission that will oversee the spending of $15 million the state has set aside for stem cell research.

Defending the Civil Rights of People With Disabilities
The Daily Record - July 7

The Maryland Disability Law Center is a private nonprofit in Baltimore established by federal and state laws to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. "It's a great organization," said Susan Leviton, JD, professor at the School of Law. "They're willing to help people that other people aren't willing to go out on a limb for."

Down Syndrome Traced to One Gene
The Scientist - July 6

Two teams of researchers have found that genetic abnormalities in molecules that regulate neuron growth may be at the root of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. "Neurotrophins are growth factors that maintain the health of neurons," said Susan Dorsey, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the School of Nursing and lead researcher on one of the studies. "The thought has always been that the problem in neurodegenerative diseases has been a lack of supply of neurotrophins."
www.the-scientist.com

Justices Limit Wartime Powers
The National Law Journal - July 3
ABC World News Tonight, 6:30 p.m. - June 29

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that wartime tribunals created to try detainees at Guantanamo Bay are not valid under U.S. law or international treaties. "The President's assertions that he has unfettered power in the war on terror were brought to a screeching halt by the court," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.

New Commission Named to Tackle Stem Cell Funding
The Baltimore Business Journal - July 7
The Washington Business Journal - June 7

A new state commission will take on the task of overseeing the spending of $15 million the state has set aside for stem cell research. Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, dean of the School of Law, is one of the 15 members of the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund.
baltimore.bizjournals.com

Plans For a New Forensic Center
The Baltimore Business Journal - July 6

The state has awarded almost $4 million to a design team to build the new State Forensic Medical Center at the UMB BioPark. Design is set to be completed by March 2008, with construction set to begin the following June.
www.bizjournals.com

Reach of Promising STD Vaccine Likely to Grow
The Daily Record - July 6

The recently approved vaccine for the virus that causes cervical cancer could make a huge dent in the number of cases of the deadly disease, but experts believe there is plenty of work left for researchers, and plenty of unrealized possibilities for the vaccine itself. Vaccinating men could help protect the far more vulnerable female population from the virus, since it is most often transmitted through heterosexual sex, said James Campbell, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine.

Trademark Law Tips
The Daily Record - July 7

James Astrachan, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, wrote a commentary about one of the most common issues that arises in the practice of trademark law.

Justices Limit Wartime Powers
"Politics Live," ABC News Now, 1:40 p.m. - June 30
"Nightline," ABC, 11:30 p.m. - June 30

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that wartime tribunals created to try detainees at Guantanamo Bay are not valid under U.S. law or international treaties. "Five justices of the Supreme Court told the President that he must be controlled by the principles that Congress has set down for how to treat detainees caught in the war and that there are prescribed procedures he must follow and he does not have unilateral authority to make his own decisions in this area," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.

My Life as a Summer Associate
The Wall Street Journal - June 27

Carolyn Gleason Sanchez, a second-year student at the School of Law and one of four law students selected to participate in The Wall Street Journal's "2006 Summer Associate Diary," is sharing her experiences working as a summer associate at a law firm in Southern California.

New Clues to Neurodegenerative Diseases Discovered
Forbes.com - July 5

Two teams of researchers have found that genetic abnormalities in molecules that regulate neuron growth may be at the root of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. "Neurotrophins are growth factors that maintain the health of neurons," said Susan Dorsey, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the School of Nursing and lead researcher on one of the studies. "The thought has always been that the problem in neurodegenerative diseases has been a lack of supply of neurotrophins."
www.forbes.com

PSC Suit Ready to be Heard
The Baltimore Sun - July 6

Maryland Public Service Commission Chair Kenneth Schisler will tell the State Court of Appeals this week that the General Assembly ran roughshod over the state constitution when it voted to fire him and the other members of the agency. If Schisler is not successful in his request for a temporary restraining order, he may take his lawsuit to circuit court for a decision on whether his underlying argument is valid. "The fact that you lose on a [restraining order] does not mean necessarily that you would lose on the merits," said Abraham Dash, JD, professor at the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Pfiesteria Danger Is Assessed
The Baltimore Sun - July 6
The Baltimore Examiner - July 6

Scientists still don't know what caused neurological disorders in people swimming and working in pfiesteria-infested waters nine years ago, but a study released by the School of Medicine found watermen are at little risk today. "The question remains unanswered as to what caused the very real illnesses among persons with exposure to the Pocomoke River in 1997," said J. Glenn Morris Jr., MD, dean of the new School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.examiner.com

Gates Foundation Has Transformed Medicine, Touched Millions
The Baltimore Sun - July 2

Thanks in part to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the worldýs richest charity, once-neglected disciplines such as tropical medicine and international public health are attracting crowds of talented and enthusiastic students and researchers, academics say. ýGates has in many ways revolutionized our approach to disease at a global level,ý said J. Glenn Morris Jr., MD, dean of the new School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and a professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Guantanamo Justice
Bangor Daily News (editorial) - June 30

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that wartime tribunals created to try detainees at Guantanamo Bay are not valid under U.S. law or international treaties. The ruling offers the Bush administration a good way out of the Guantanamo problem, said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. For those who want to close the prison-which President Bush on several occasions has said is his desire-the ruling encourages the detainees to be treated as prisoners of war who can be tried in military courts-martial or civilian courts.
www.bangornews.com

Simms Stepping Up for Attorney General
Maryland Gazette - July 5

With his sights newly trained on attorney general, Stuart Simms is hoping to tap into some of the support he garnered in the Washington, D.C., region during his brief run for lieutenant governor. One of his opponents, Thomas Pýrez, JD, MA, assistant professor at the School of Law, says he has professional roots in the stateýs two biggest metropolitan areas and can appeal to voters statewide.
www.gazette.net

Stem Cell Fund Commission Incomplete
The Baltimore Sun - July 1

A new law providing $15 million in state funds for stem cell research is now in place, and the names of 11 of the 15 commissioners-including Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, dean of the School of Law-who will decide how the research dollars will be spent have been submitted to the state.
www.baltimoresun.com

Summer Poison Hazards
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 10:30 a.m. - July 2

Bruce Anderson, PharmD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of operations at the Maryland Poison Center, talked about summer poison dangers and gave tips to protect the entire family.