In the News

December 2008

Maryland County Council Considers Commission To Target HIV/AIDS
KaiserNetwork.org - Dec. 22

Anne Arundel, Md., Council member Daryl Jones has introduced legislation that would create a county HIV/AIDS commission to focus on outreach and look for ways to prevent the spread of the disease, The (Baltimore) Examiner reports. The council will vote on the legislation on Jan. 5, 2009. The commission has helped improve communication between Baltimore and HIV/AIDS groups, as well as helped the city with tracking HIV/AIDS, according to William Blattner, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, chair of the commission, and associate director of the School's Institute for Human Virology.
www.kaisernetwork.org

Pentagon Wants Military to Have Domestic Security Role
"Focus 580," WILL (NPR), Illinois, 11 a.m. - Dec. 22

By 2011, the Pentagon wants 20,000 troops dedicated to responding to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic catastrophe in the U.S., a proposal that has raised civil liberties concerns regarding the Posse Comitatus Act. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and the director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the Pentagon's plan will face opposition from governors across the country. "I believe the states have had such a strong voice on this, that this kind of proposal will be actively reviewed, and because of the increase, hopefully by 2011, in National Guard support, there really wouldn't be any need for this kind of specialized force."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

State Expands Pharmacy Programs to Meet Demand
The Daily Record - Dec. 22

Maryland's state schools are working to meet an increasing demand for pharmacists, officials said. The School of Pharmacy is expanding its Pharmacy Hall, with completed construction expected by fall 2010. Pharmacy student Anthony Raska, said he once testified before the Maryland General Assembly about the need to update the School's pharmacy building to meet the needs for more pharmacists, and steps have been taken to help the state keep up with the changes within the industry.
www.mddailyrecord.com

For Many, a "Blue" Christmas is Part of the Season
Baltimore Examiner - Dec. 19

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, nearly 10 million Americans are affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a mood disorder in which people experience depressive symptoms in the winter and sometimes summer. An even greater number is affected with the milder "holiday blues." "The holidays bring expectations. We all have fantasies of how the holidays are really 'supposed' to be, but in reality, we may partly be setting ourselves up for something that may not be able to be achieved," said Deborah Rejent, DSW, associate dean for the masterýs program at the School of Social Work. "This leads to a state of affairs where we are being called upon to respond to situations that may not be typical of what we deal with during other seasons of the year."
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Gitmo's Future in the New Administration
National Journal - Dec. 20

President-elect Barack Obama has promised that one of his first major initiatives will be to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, shutting the door on opaque military tribunals. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and the director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the existing system at Gitmo is fraught with problems, and "civilian criminal trials will work with al-Qaida operatives."
www.nationaljournal.com

Looking Like a Stress-Mas This Year
Chicago Tribune - Dec. 22

The abundant body of holiday-stress research reveals the obvious (finances are most likely to cause it at the holidays!) and the obscure (27 percent say they will buy fewer sweets to combat stress!). In a study conducted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, subjects who watched the movie "Kingpin" were left with better-functioning blood vessels than those who watched "Saving Private Ryan."
www.chicagotribune.com

Mistletoe: A Holiday Bundle of Contradictions
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 20

Mistletoe is a striking collection of contradictions for a plant that has been so emblematic of Christmas for so many centuries. The American variety, which comes mostly from the Carolinas, is harmless, said Angel Bivens, MBA, public education coordinator for the Maryland Poison Center at the School of Pharmacy.
www.baltimoresun.com

No Criminal Charges in Bay Bridge Wreck
Capital Gazette - Dec. 19

The driver who fell asleep while crossing the Bay Bridge this summer - apparently causing a fatal wreck that sent a tractor-trailer plunging into the water more than 30 feet below - will face only traffic charges. Andrew Levy, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law and a Baltimore defense attorney, said Kratovil could have tried to seek criminal charges against Baldwin. "It's probably a pretty responsible, conservative decision (to not seek criminal charges)," he said. "I'm not sure all prosecutors would make that same decision."
www.hometownannapolis.com

Obama Picks Former Treasury Official To Head CFTC
Propublica - Dec. 19

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Gary Gensler, a former assistant Treasury secretary, to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC could be tasked with regulating the complex financial instruments that brought down some of Wall Street's most venerable institutionsýor, the agency could merge with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the CFTC, said, "It could be that Gary is being brought in to shut it down or it could be a sign, given his prestige and clout, that the CFTC is going to play a prominent role in regulatory reform."
www.propublica.org

Of Service: Who Will Serve HERO's Legal Clients?
The Daily Record - Dec. 22

The announcement last month that Health Education Resource Organization was closing its doors leaves the region facing an ominous question: Who is going to serve HERO's former legal clientsýneedy HIV and AIDS-infected clients in Baltimore and around the state? A meeting earlier this month called by Maryland Legal Services Corp. pulled together representatives from agencies including the School of Law's HIV Clinic to discuss options for continuing legal services to HERO's clients and other people with HIV/AIDS.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Plenty of Assistance When Looking for Assisted Living
"Maryland HealthCare Quarterly" The Daily Record - Dec. 20

Several organizations, including the State Bar Association, Legal Aid Bureau Inc. and the Law and Health Care Program of the University of Maryland School of Law, cooperatively produced "Assisted Living in Maryland: What You Need to Know," a 72-page publication that provides extensive information to help consumers select facilities that would be best for them.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Quote of the Day
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 22

Deborah Rejent, DSW, associate dean for the masterýs program at the School of Social Work, on ways people can deal with seasonal affective disorder around the holidays: "There are lots of options. What you really need to ask is, 'What's the right one for me right NOW?' Try something. If it doesn't work, try something else. It's going to vary from person to person."

State Expands Pharmacy Programs to Meet Demand
Southern Maryland Online - Dec. 19

Maryland's state schools are working to meet an increasing demand for pharmacists, officials said. The School of Pharmacy is expanding its Pharmacy Hall, with construction expected to be completed by Fall 2010. Pharmacy student Anthony Raska, said he once testified before the Maryland General Assembly about the need to update the school's pharmacy building to meet the needs for more pharmacists, and steps have been taken to help the state keep up with the changes within the industry.
somd.com

Three-Minute interview: Curt Civin, MD
Baltimore Examiner - Dec. 18

Curt Civin, MD, a pioneer in cancer research, has joined the University of Maryland School of Medicine as a professor of pediatrics, associate dean for research and founding director of the school's new Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Civin, who has served on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore for 30 years, brings with him his entire research team of 15 postdoctoral fellows, students and researchers.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

When You Con Your Own
The Los Angeles Times - Dec. 22

We're obsessed with race and ethnic relations in the U.S., so much so that we tend to believe that most crime, violent or otherwise, is committed across racial, ethnic or religious lines. We make a special category for "hate" crimes. Indeed, Charles Ponzi, who gave pyramid schemes his name in the 1920s, mostly defrauded his fellow Italian Americans. In part because these crimes do target identifiable groups and shatter the victim's notions regarding the relative trustworthiness of their group members, Lisa Fairfax, JD, a professor at the School of Law argues that affinity fraud should be added to the roster of hate crimes. Fairfax's notion that affinity fraud deserves special notice is worth considering.
www.latimes.com

Dieting May Cut Risk for Gum Disease, Mostly in Males
Medical News Today - Dec. 18

For men, especially older men, dieting may help reduce the risk of gum disease more than for women, according to a new study by researchers at the Dental School and other institutions. The study, published in the journal Nutrition, also provides the latest clue to a powerful link between chronic inflammation and poor health, according to Mark Reynolds, DDS, PhD, associate professor.
www.medicalnewstoday.com

Environmental Health is a Cure for Hospitals, Communities
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 19

Profile of Barbara Sattler, RN, DrPh, FAAN, and the School of Nursingýs Environmental Health Education Center, where officials research and advocate for cleaner, greener, and healthier health care. Sattler has led projects on community exposures to hazardous waste sites, mediation techniques for dealing with environmental issues, and how to make hospitals more environmentally friendly.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Flowers Participates in NYLF/LAW
Ada (Okla.) Evening News - Dec. 18

During the six-day program, the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law introduced students to challenging careers in the legal profession. Nick Flowers, Byng High School senior, and son of Chris and Debby Flowers of Ada, Okla., was selected to participate in the forum in November 2008. "I visited some of our nationýs most prestigious law schools, including the University of Maryland School of Law."
www.adaeveningnews.com

For Everyone's Health, Greener Hospitals are Catching On
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 19

Paxson Barker, RN, BS, spent more than a decade as a nurse scrubbing down the cardiac catheterization lab with harsh cleaning products that left her with severe asthma and a debilitating airway disease. Now Barker, a PhD student at the School of Nursing, is spreading the word about these harmful chemicals and the need for hospitals to adopt greener cleaning practices.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Maryland Health Care Quarterly
The Daily Record supplement ý December

Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN, MS, FAAN, a professor at the School of Nursing, has been honored with the University's 2008 Founders Day Research Lecturer Award. Lipscomb is internationally known for her work in occupational and environmental science. She focuses on the impact of unsafe work environments and long hours on health care and human service providers.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Prosecutor Fights White-Collar Crime and Guides Students
Exhibit A - Dec. 18

Adam Lippe, JD, assistant stateýs attorney in Baltimore County and adjunct professor at the School of Law, discussed his career and the training he received to prepare for it.
exhibitanewsbaltimore.com

Special Report: Searching for Tobacco's Future
Richmond Times-Dispatch - Dec. 14

Research has yet to show a way to cut the risk of smoking. Kathleen Dachille, JD, associate professor at the School of Law who tracks Philip Morris' push for Food and Drug Administration regulation of tobacco, said, "If they are the first ones out with a reduced-risk product with the FDA imprimatur, they will hit pay dirt here."
www.timesdispatch.com

City Clinics' Burdens Spill Over to ERs
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 18

A growing number of Baltimore residents are being treated in hospitals for illnesses that could be prevented with routine medical care, a new study has found. The health commissioner says the data show "a fundamental failure" of the city's health system. For now, busy city emergency rooms are filling gaps in care, said Keyvan Rafei, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine and head of pediatric emergency medicine at University of Maryland Medical Center, who oversees an emergency department program for children with asthma. The program was launched in 2003 after physicians noticed a surging number of visits from children with asthma, many of whom had never been diagnosed.
www.baltimoresun.com

Pharmacy Professor Discusses Research and Drug Safety
The Jewish Times - Dec. 15

Ilene Zuckerman, PharmD, PhD, professor and chair of the department of pharmaceutical health services research at the School of Pharmacy is interviewed on her newly announced Fulbright Scholarship, her upcoming professional visit to Thailand and about drug safety. (To read this story, please contact the Communications office at ext. 6-7820 or respond to this e-mail.)

'Dentist to the Stars' Celebrates 10th Anniversary of VIP Smiles
BlackNews.com - Dec. 17

Catrise Austin, DDS, celebrity "Dentist to the Stars," will host the 10th Anniversary of VIP Smiles, her 57th Street private practice at the World Famous Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St. Always fiercely independent and direction oriented, Austin founded VIP Smiles in 1998 just two years after graduating from the famed University of Maryland Dental School.
www.blacknews.com

As Going Gets Tougher, Americans Discover Laughter
Agence France-Presse - Dec. 17

With the U.S. economy slumping, the going has got very tough, but the tough are no longer shopping. They're laughing. Not just any old laughter, but laughter yoga-a form of exercise that blends bold belly laughs and noisy "meditation" with rhythmic clapping, waddling around like a penguin or taking part in a conga line, and deep, yogic breathing. A study by School of Medicine researchers, reported by Agence France-Presse in 2006, showed that watching a comedy film boosts the flow of blood to the heart while watching a sad film makes the flow decline.
www.google.com

Crossroads of History
WMAR-TV, Ch. 2, 5:30 p.m. - Dec. 16

Larry Gibson, LLB, professor at the School of Law, discussed the meaning of the Barack Obama presidency on a live studio segment that offers context for the election. Gibson showed the breadth and depth of interest around the world in Obama's election as evidence that it is unlike anything that has come before.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Fed Cuts Interest Rate, Considers Other Measures to Stimulate Economy
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9 (Washington, D.C.) 9 a.m. - Dec. 17

The U.S. Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate to zero to 0.25 percent this week, a move that could be the first in a series of actions geared toward stimulating the economy. Now the Fed is considering buying long-term treasuries, which could ultimately bring down mortgage interest rates and jump-start the housing market. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said, "We're in a depression in the housing market. If we can get our housing stock sold, people can start refinancing, get new money, again that will loosen up the credit."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Index That Tracks Prime Mortgage Securities Put On Hold
TheStreet.com - Dec. 17

A financial data firm has postponed the launch of a new index that would assign a market value to prime mortgage-backed securities, which could lead to massive write-downs for banks that carry mortgages on their books currently valued much higher than the new market would dictate. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said, "The value assigned to these securities tends to be overly optimistic, not overly pessimistic."
www.thestreet.com

Medical School Enrollment is Up, But Falls Short of Meeting Needs
JAMA - Dec. 17

Steady increases in enrollment have pushed the number of first-year students in U.S. allopathic medical schools past 18 000 for the first time, according to new figures from the Association of American Medical Colleges. Although the growth includes a substantial increase in Latino medical students, experts caution that growing enrollment is not the only answer to meeting future patient care needs, in terms of the number and diversity of physicians. "A diverse student population is incredibly important to the educational mission," said Milford Foxwell Jr., MD, associate dean of admissions at the School of Medicine. The national increase in Latino students is promising, Foxwell said, but student diversity varies regionally.
jama.ama-assn.org

New Discovery Offers Clue to Tension Headaches
SawfNews - Dec. 10

After evoking much surprise and polite skepticism from anatomists worldwide, a 1995 discovery of a previously unknown connective neck tissue by researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore has made Grayýs Anatomy, at last. Delayed tribute for a new discovery is understandable in a field where anatomists have been rigorously studying the human body for more than 500 years, said co-discoverer Gary Hack, DDS, associate professor at the Dental School.
news.sawf.org

Stem Cell Research Pioneer Leaves Hopkins for University of Maryland
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 17
The Daily Record - Dec. 17
Eurostemcell.org - Dec. 17

Stem cell research pioneer Curt Civin, MD, has been named to lead the new Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the School of Medicine. Civin will become a professor of pediatrics in the Division of Hematology/Oncology, as well as associate dean for research, and the founding director of the new center. The move ends Civin's 30-year career at Johns Hopkins University's medical school. He will bring 15 of his postdoctoral fellows and $21.5 million in research funding to the new center.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.eurostemcell.org
www.mddailyrecord.com

Top 10 Yuppie Conditions
ABC News - Dec. 17

The plethora of health-nut "gluten-free" foods available makes it simultaneously easier for people to explain celiac disease and difficult for them to be taken seriously. Doctors started drawing the connection between wheat and intestinal problems after the end of World War II, according to Alessio Fasano, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and director of the School's Center for Celiac Research. Fasano said that during WWII, when bread was made with potato flour in many parts of Europe, doctors noticed that many of their patients' intestinal symptoms stopped. Then after the war, all the symptoms came back when people started making wheat flour again.
abcnews.go.com

Best Practices Blog Authors to Present at University of Maryland School of Law
BestPracticesLegalEd - Dec. 3

Dean Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Professor Peter Joy are scheduled to present at the School of Law conference titled "Curriculum Reform: Linking Policy and Practice." The conference promises to highlight innovative legal education programs from around the country that were created in response to the Best Practices for Legal Education text.
bestpracticeslegaled.albanylawblogs.org

Licking An Addiction
Reading Eagle (Pa.) - Dec. 16

Millions are quite attached to their lip balm. Marcia Driscoll, MD, PharmD, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the School of Medicine, says lip balm addiction is real-albeit a bit surprising. She said she recently asked some residents on her staff about it, and three of them pulled lip products out of their pockets. "This might be more common than I believe," she said to herself.
www.readingeagle.com

Simulators Can Teach Old Docs New Tricks
The Washington Post - Dec. 16

Medical schools and their affiliated teaching hospitals have been using simulators for two decades. Over the years, they have become increasingly sophisticated, with robots that talk and bleed. The University of Maryland Medical Center and the School of Medicine opened a simulation center in 2006.
www.washingtonpost.com

Treadmill Exercise is Important for Stroke Rehabilitation
Health and Age - Dec. 16

Strokes can interfere with the control systems within the brain that are required for normal walking. Researchers from the School of Medicine and their colleagues studied 71 stroke patients over the age of 45 who continued to have problems walking, even after completing conventional stroke rehabilitation. These patients were placed on either a stretching program or a treadmill exercise program that gradually increased in duration and intensity. The researchers found that the patients who were enrolled in the treadmill exercise program experienced improvement in their walking speed and cardiovascular fitness. The researchers also used functional magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate brain function, and they found that training on a treadmill activated circuits within the brain that were associated with better walking.
www.healthandage.com

University of Maryland Researchers Discover Gene Mutation That Appears to Help Prevent Heart Disease
MedHeadlines.com - Dec. 16

Researchers at the School of Medicine have discovered a novel gene mutation among the Old Order Amish population that significantly reduces the level of triglycerides in the blood and appears to help prevent cardiovascular disease. "We found that about 5 percent of the Amish have a gene mutation that speeds up the breakdown of triglycerides," says the lead investigator, Toni Pollin, PhD, an assistant professor. Professor Alan Shuldiner, MD, the study's senior author, says, "The Old Order Amish are ideal for genetic research because they are a genetically homogenous people who trace their ancestry back 14 generations to a small group that came to Pennsylvania from Europe in the mid-1700s."
medheadlines.com

AAPS Recognizes Researchers in the Pharmaceutical Sciences
PharmTech.com - Nov. 26

The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists recognized researchers at their annual meeting in Atlanta last week. Larry Augsburger, PhD, professor emeritus at the School of Pharmacy, was awarded the Dale E. Wurster Research Award in Pharmaceutics.
pharmtech.findpharma.com

Advice on Preventing Seasonal Poisonings
WFMD Radio 930, (Frederick, Md.) - Dec. 12

Talk show host Kevin McManus interviewed Bruce Anderson, PharmD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the Maryland Poison Center, on how homeowners can prevent poisonings from toxins and carbon monoxide during the year-end holiday season.

Balm Addiction Not So Easy to Lick
WSOCTV.com (N.C.) - Dec. 12

Millions are quite attached to their lip balm. Marcia Driscoll, MD, PharmD, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the School of Medicine, says lip balm addiction is real-albeit a bit surprising. She said she recently asked some residents on her staff about it, and three of them pulled lip products out of their pockets. "This might be more common than I believe," she said to herself.
www.wsoctv.com

Best & Brightest: From Foster Care to Top U.S. Law Firm
Diverse Issues in Higher Education - Dec. 15

Michelle McLeod grew up moving between foster families and group homes. But she did not allow her often unstable living conditions as a foster child to hold her back in what she wanted to accomplish in life. She is now a first-year student and a leadership scholar at the University of Maryland School of Law, and one of the 15 largest law firms in the world just awarded McLeod a prestigious fellowship.
diverseeducation.com

Hard Times Mean More Abuse
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 14

As the economy spirals downward, domestic abuse appears to be increasing around the region and the country, advocates and shelter officials say. "Economic stress is a very, very important factor in domestic violence," says Shoshana Ringel, PhD, MSW, an associate professor at the School of Social Work and an expert on domestic abuse. Ringel says that for many couples, financial problems can "definitely push things over the line."
www.baltimoresun.com

Maryland Grads Enjoy a Sweet Celebration
Nurse.com - Dec. 8

The School of Nursing's 2008 nurse anesthetist graduates enjoyed a sweet feast Dec. 5. While celebrating the completion of their master's program, the 25 students were surprised with a cake made by Baltimore's Charm City Cakes, the business owned by well-known chef Duff Goldman. The cake, which was from four of the group's fellow graduates, was shaped like an anesthesia gas machine and included impressive details.
include.nurse.com

Midnight Regulations
WYPR Radio - Nov. 25

Robert Percival, JD, MA, a professor at the School of Law, discussed the outgoing Bush administration's attempts to enact so-called "midnight regulations" on the Maryland Morning program. "This administration has had one of the worst records in history on environmental, health, and safety regulations and, in many cases, [Bush's 'midnight regulations'] are parting gifts to the oil companies and developers," Percival said.
stream.publicbroadcasting.net

New Master's Degree Program at the School of Law Approved
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 13

The University System of Maryland Board of Regents approved two new degree programs. The University of Maryland School of Law won approval to offer a master's of law degree, a one-year program for students who already have their JD degree and want to focus on specialized areas including environmental law, constitutional law, and business law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Obama's Economic Team Taking Shape
"This Week," RTE Radio (Ireland) - Dec. 14

President-elect Obama's economic team has taken a somewhat centrist shape, a move that could be concerning to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. But Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said, "Obama's answer to that is, 'I'm the guy who's going to worry about the working man, just give me the tools and I will get the job done,' the tools being surrounding [himself] with very bright people."
www.rte.ie

Some Personal Reflections on 'To Kill a Mockingbird'
Law & Humanities blog - Dec. 12

Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, professor at the School of Law, has published "To Kill a Mockingbird Perspectives," at 41 Maryland Bar Journal 54-59 (September/October 2008). In the piece, she explores the implication of some of the fictional liberties taken by the book's author Harper Lee. Ifill also challenges her own previously uncritical view of the character of Atticus Finch.
lawlit.blogspot.com

The Art of Appellate Advocacy: Colleges, Elections, and Appeals
The Daily Record - Dec. 15

"Some people might think that my son's current status as a college-bound high school senior bears no comparison to the historic election we just witnessed, and has utterly no connection with this column's supposed focus on appellate advocacy. If you are one of those individuals, you have never read this column before or have seriously underestimated me if you have," wrote Andrew Baida JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, and a partner at Rosenberg|Martin|Greenberg, LLP.
www.mddailyrecord.com

The Women Who Warned Us of Wall Street's Woes
TheDailyBeast.com - Dec. 15

Brooksley Born, chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the late 1990s, pushed for regulation of certain financial derivative instruments during her tenure, but her efforts were reportedly blocked by former Fed chair Alan Greenspan and other Capitol Hill economic bigwigs. Today, those derivatives are at the heart of the financial crisis, playing a major role in the collapse of Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and AIG. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the CFTC under Born, also advocated for derivatives regulation. "Brooksley was this woman who was not playing tennis with these guys and not having lunch with these guys. There was a little bit of the feeling that this woman was not of Wall Street," Greenberger said.
www.thedailybeast.com

University of Maryland Researchers Discover Gene Mutation That Appears to Help Prevent Heart Disease
Calorie Lab Calorie Counter News (Nev.) - Dec. 12

Researchers at the School of Medicine have discovered a novel gene mutation among the Old Order Amish population that significantly reduces the level of triglycerides in the blood and appears to help prevent cardiovascular disease. "We found that about 5 percent of the Amish have a gene mutation that speeds up the breakdown of triglycerides," says the lead investigator, Toni Pollin, PhD, an assistant professor. Professor Alan Shuldiner, MD, the study's senior author, says, "The Old Order Amish are ideal for genetic research because they are a genetically homogenous people who trace their ancestry back 14 generations to a small group that came to Pennsylvania from Europe in the mid-1700s."
calorielab.com

Gene Mutation in Amish May Protect From Heart Disease
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 12

Researchers at the School of Medicine have discovered a novel gene mutation among the Old Order Amish population that significantly reduces the level of triglycerides in the blood and appears to help prevent cardiovascular disease. The mutation, found in about 5 percent of the Amish studied, speeds the breakdown of triglycerides, which are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School, a preventative cardiologist and co-author of a study published in today's issue of the journal Science, called it a "landmark" finding, because most heart disease research has focused on cholesterol, not triglycerides.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

University of Maryland Researchers Discover Gene Mutation That Appears to Help Prevent Heart Disease
New York Times - Dec. 12 (And 78 other articles)
Globe and Mail (Toronto, Can.) - Dec. 12
Science Now - Dec. 11
U.S. News & World Report - Dec. 11
CNN - Dec. 11
ScienceCodex.com - Dec. 11

Researchers at the School of Medicine have discovered a novel gene mutation among the Old Order Amish population that significantly reduces the level of triglycerides in the blood and appears to help prevent cardiovascular disease. "We found that about 5 percent of the Amish have a gene mutation that speeds up the breakdown of triglycerides," says the lead investigator, Toni Pollin, PhD, an assistant professor. Professor Alan Shuldiner, MD, the study's senior author, says, "The Old Order Amish are ideal for genetic research because they are a genetically homogenous people who trace their ancestry back 14 generations to a small group that came to Pennsylvania from Europe in the mid-1700s."
www.nytimes.com
www.cnn.com

'New' Neck Discovery Hits Gray's, Offers Clue to Tension Headaches
Innovation Report - Dec.12 MuscleMagFitness.com - Dec. 12
Research Science News - Dec. 8

After evoking much surprise and polite skepticism from anatomists worldwide, a 1995 discovery of a previously unknown connective neck tissue by researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore has made Gray's Anatomy, at last. Delayed tribute for a new discovery is understandable in a field where anatomists have been rigorously studying the human body for more than 500 years, said co-discoverer Gary Hack, DDS, associate professor at the University of Maryland Dental School.
www.innovations-report.com
researchsciencenews.blogspot.com

Charges Dropped In Robbery, Beating
The Annapolis Capital - Dec. 10

Prosecutors last month dropped criminal charges against six teens charged in connection with a vicious Sept. 5 robbery in Annapolis that left a man incapacitated and unable to speak with police. Andrew Levy, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law and a Baltimore defense attorney, said that if co-defendants start blaming each other it can be difficult to sort out who did what, especially when there is no forensic evidence or bystanders to corroborate the details.
www.hometownannapolis.com

Joyful Music Is Powerful Heart Medicine, Researchers Find
TechJournalSouth - Dec. 11

Listening to stressful or disturbing music can be bad for the heart, according to a new study. Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine who led the study, said people shouldn't read too much into the results, "although you could argue that country music is light, spirited, a lot of love songs."
www.techjournalsouth.com

Scientists See Progress on a Dengue Vaccine
Voice of America - Dec. 9

Dengue is spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Four related viruses cause the disease. Recovery from one of them provides lifetime protection only against that virus. Scientists at research centers around the world say they are making progress toward vaccines to protect against dengue fever. Robert Edelman, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, is an expert in dengue vaccine research. He says at least two experimental vaccines have moved beyond laboratory tests and are now being tested in people.
www.voanews.com

Take Action Thursday: Seasonal Poisonings and Toxins
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 7:30 a.m. - Dec. 11

Bruce Anderson, PharmD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the Maryland Poison Center, appeared on the morning show to discuss poisoning possibilities associated with the year-end holiday season and to answer questions from callers. The station posted information on its Web site (www.foxbaltimore.com) about the Maryland Poison Center.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

A Good Laugh May Reduce Health Risk
Littleabout.com (India) - Dec. 10

"We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels," says Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. "This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol buildup in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack."
www.littleabout.com

Maryland Should Improve Access to Emergency Care, Report Says
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 10

Patients filled beds quickly after the newly expanded emergency department at the University of Maryland Medical Center opened six years ago. "Most of the hospitals around the state have built new emergency departments, to have them fill up," said Brian Browne, MD, acting chair of emergency medicine at the hospital and professor at the School of Medicine. Maryland's struggles to provide patients adequate access to emergency care helped earn the state an overall B-minus and a fourth-place national ranking in a report Tuesday from the American College of Emergency Physicians.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Miniature Nuclear Reactors Could be Target for Terrorists
Foxnews.com - Dec. 10

A handful of companies are developing nuclear 'minireactors,' power sources that are transportable and could provide years of energy to small communities-as well as an opportunity for terrorists. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and director of its Center for Health and Homeland Security, said, "Anything that's portable and provides technology would assist terrorists in their goal to perfect a nuclear weapon, and it's very dangerous to the United States."
www.foxnews.com

New Discovery Offers Clues to Tension Headaches
South Asian Women's Forum (India) - Dec. 10

After evoking much surprise and polite skepticism from anatomists worldwide, a 1995 discovery of a previously unknown connective neck tissue by researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore has made Grayýs Anatomy at last. Gray's Anatomy, celebrating its 150th anniversary edition, is known worldwide as an essential reference for medical students and health care professionals. Delayed tribute for a new discovery is understandable in a field where anatomists have been rigorously studying the human body for more than 500 years, said co-discoverer Gary Hack, DDS, associate professor at the University of Maryland Dental School.
news.sawf.org

Craft for a Cause-Hats and Mittens for James McHenry School
"Baltimore by Hand" blog The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 7

For the past couple of weeks, Roberto Allen has been driving around Baltimore with a car full of yarn. He doesn't knit or crochet. In fact, Roberto is vice president of legal affairs and intellectual property for Alba Therapeutics Corp., a biopharmaceutical company located in the University of Maryland BioPark. Allen reached out to the craft community after he discovered that the students at nearby James McHenry Elementary School were in need of hats, gloves, and mittens.
weblogs.baltimoresun.com

Four Women Who Warned Us of Wall Street's Woes
wowowow.com - Dec. 8

Brooksley Born, chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the late 90s, pushed for regulation of certain financial derivative instruments during her tenure, but her efforts were reportedly blocked by former Fed chair Alan Greenspan and other Hill economic bigwigs. Today, those derivatives are at the heart of the financial crisis, playing a major role in the collapse of Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and AIG. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the CFTC under Born, also advocated for derivatives regulation. "Brooksley was this woman who was not playing tennis with these guys and not having lunch with these guys. There was a little bit of the feeling that this woman was not of Wall Street."
www.wowowow.com

Mayor Honors Baltimore Businesses for Community Outreach
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 9

"Through good times and bad, Baltimore businesses have always given back to the community," Mayor Sheila Dixon said Monday at the Mayor's Business Recognition Awards Luncheon, presented by the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Baltimore Development Corp. The Dental School was among those honored.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Tomkinson to Chair Grant Review Committee
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 9

Alan Tomkinson, PhD, a professor at the School of Medicine and associate director for basic research at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, will chair a committee to review applications for research projects to be funded through a new three-year $360,000 grant from the American Cancer Society.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Baltimore to Host World Stem Cell Summit
The Gazette - Dec. 5

Hundreds of stem cell researchers and policy makers from around the world will gather in Baltimore next fall for the World Stem Cell Summit. Since its establishment in 2006, the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund has granted $38 million for 82 research projects, said Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, chair of the commission that administers the fund and dean of the School of Law.
www.gazette.net
wjz.com

Catholic Groups Fear Abortion Rights Bill
Christian Science Monitor - Dec. 5

The Roman Catholic Church is coordinating a national postcard campaign next month to oppose the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA). Abortion opponents fear the new Democratic majority in Washington could succeed in passing the decades-old bill and Barack Obama would make good on his campaign promise to pass the FOCA. "Congress should darn well clarify this, because if we don't, we will be back where we were when Roe came down and everyone was thrown into a tailspin," says Robin Wilson, JD, a professor at the School of Law and an expert on conscience clauses.
www.csmonitor.com

Could a Mumbai-like Attack Happen on U.S. Soil?
WMAL, 6:30 a.m. (Washington, D.C.) - Dec. 3

After a shocking terrorist attack on a hotel and other popular tourist spots left almost 200 people dead in Mumbai, India, questions have been raised as to whether a similar attack could happen in the U.S.-particularly in Washington, D.C., around inauguration time. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and the director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said, "Each of us as citizens, participating in inaugural events and otherwise, must keep our eyes and ears open."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Medicines Start Thinking Green
Wall Street Journal (health blog) - Dec. 5

Many of the medical industry's most wasteful habits, including those made in the name of hygiene and sterility, may in fact "be creating avenues for disease," said Barbara Sattler, RN, DrPH, FAAN, a professor at the School of Nursing and director of its Environmental Health Education Center.
blogs.wsj.com

On the Move
The Daily Record - Dec. 5

Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN, FAAN, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been honored with the University's 2008 Founders Day Research Lecturer Award. Lipscomb is internationally known for her work in occupational and environmental science. She focuses on the impact of unsafe work environments and long hours on health care and human service providers.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Pain Studies Could Help Cancer Patients
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 5

Susan Dorsey, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at the School of Nursing studies chronic neuropathic pain or nerve disorders caused by chemotherapy. She is the featured researcher in the Examiner's "Power Friday" series profiling the area's top researchers. Dorsey is trying to find ways to alleviate debilitating pain by using animal models.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

University Researchers Seeking $2.4M for Medical Studies Center
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 5

Susan Dorsey, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at the School of Nursing studies chronic neuropathic pain or nerve disorders caused by chemotherapy. Meanwhile, at the Dental School, researchers have been studying chronic pain, such as temporomandibular joint disorders, that involve the jaw muscles. "We have worked as a group over here for a while in the same building and the same department," said Joel Greenspan, PhD, a professor at the Dental School. Although the researchers collaborate with each other and other researchers in Baltimore, they want to create a pain center to facilitate that work.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Baltimore to Host World Stem Cell Summit
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 4
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 4

Hundreds of stem cell researchers and policy makers from around the world will gather in Baltimore next fall for the World Stem Cell Summit. Since its establishment in 2006, the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund has granted $38 million for 82 research projects, said Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, chair of the commission that administers the fund and dean of the School of Law.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com
www.baltimoresun.com

Biotechnical Institute of Md. Awarded Bauer Grant
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 4

The nonprofit Biotechnical Institute of Maryland, which trains unemployed and underemployed workers for entry-level technician jobs at bio-pharmaceutical companies, has been given a four-year, $1 million grant from the Charles T. Bauer Foundation. The institute has placed more than 200 graduates in life sciences organizations and companies throughout the Baltimore area, including the Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Osiris Therapeutics, and Human Genome Sciences.
www.baltimoresun.com

Carnegie Foundation Sold on CCBC Teacher's Excellence
Catonsville Times - Dec. 3

A Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville program in which students provide free aerial mapping and analysis to area organizations has earned its director, Scott Jeffrey, the 2008 Maryland Professor of the Year award from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Bruce Anderson, PharmD, ABAT, director of the Maryland Poison Center at the School of Pharmacy, wrote of partnering with Jeffrey and his students to track, by state legislative districts, the abuse of prescription and other drugs. "The partnership has been terrific!" Anderson wrote.
www.explorebaltimorecounty.com

Court Orders New Trial for Fired Worker
The Daily Record - Dec. 4

A woman who says she was fired for complaining that a co-worker grabbed and kissed her is entitled to a new trial in her lawsuit against her former employer, the Court of Special Appeals has held. A visiting professor at the School of Law, Deborah Eisenberg, JD, said the appeals court was right not to extend the Workers' Compensation Act to cover the financial loss and emotional pain resulting from sexual harassment.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Saga of Financial Crisis Continues
WUSA TV, Ch. 9, Washington, D.C., 9 a.m. - Dec. 3

While executives from the Big Three automakers return to Congress looking for a bailout of their own this week, government auditors are reporting that the original bailout of the financial services industry lacks oversight and control. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said, "The money's gone into the banks, but [the government doesn't] know if it's been used for lending, for dividends, for buying new companies, there's no way to trace whether the money has been spent for the purpose Congress wanted it spent on."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Balm Addiction Not So Easy to Lick
WJBT-TV, Ch. 6 - Dec. 2
The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.) - Dec. 2

Millions are quite attached to their lip balm. Marcia Driscoll, MD, PharmD, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the School of Medicine, says lip balm addiction is realýalbeit a bit surprising. She said she recently asked some residents on her staff about it, and three of them pulled lip products out of their pockets. "This might be more common than I believe," she said to herself.
www.wjbf.com

Kudos
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 3

William Regine, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, was recently named the first Isadore and Fannie Schneider Foxman endowed chair in radiation oncology at the School of Medicine. The gift will support radiation oncology research at the School.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Lawyer Heads to Ghana for Third African Campaign
The Daily Record - Dec. 2
Joy OnLine (Ghana) - Dec. 2

Larry Gibson, LLB, professor at the School of Law, will be jetting off to Ghana Wednesday night to give a presidential candidate closing days' advice in advance of the African nation's election on Sunday. It's a trip that Gibson has made several times in recent months on behalf of candidate Nana Akufo-Addo. Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, MPA, dean of the School, said Gibson's campaign work in Africa translates well to the classroom, where he teaches election law.
www.mddailyrecord.com
myjoyonline.com

Report Finds High Risk of Devastating Terrorist Attack on U.S.
WTOP Radio, 103.5 FM (Washington, D.C.), 8:20 a.m. - Dec. 3

A commission reviewing the threat of terrorism both at home and abroad has released a report that calls for more U.S.-led efforts to counter a nuclear or biological terrorist attack. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and the director of its Center for Health and Homeland Security, said, "We have been reminded at such a high level that ý this is a problem that still remains, and needs to be taken seriously by both the White House and Congress."
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Report Finds High Risk of Devastating Terrorist Attack on U.S.
WBFF-TV, Fox45 (Baltimore) 7 a.m. - Dec. 3

A commission reviewing the threat of terrorism both at home and abroad has released a report that calls for more U.S.-led efforts to counter a nuclear or biological terrorist attack. Robin Clark, JD, a staff attorney at the Center for Health and Homeland Security at the School of Law, said the report raises particular concerns about bioterrorism. "The biotech industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and the labs where we test and try to develop countermeasures to biological weapons have not been subject to the same type of security regulation ý as nuclear facilities," said Clark.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Coping With Holiday Stress
The Morning Show, WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 7:18 a.m. ý Dec. 2

Deborah Rejent, DSW, MSSW, MA, a professor at the School of Social Work and associate dean for the School's master's degree program, discussed what triggers stress around the holidays and how to cope with it. She also discussed relaxation techniques to combat stress.

Is Eric Holder the Right Pick for Attorney General?
To the Point, KCRW Radio, Santa Monica, Calif., 12:41 p.m. - Dec. 1

President-elect Barack Obama's transition team has selected Eric Holder, a senior official in the Justice Department during the Clinton administration, as its nominee for attorney general. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former Justice Department official, said, "Holder is a tough prosecutor who is well-grounded in civil liberties protection. I haven't met anyone who has that balance so well in his head."
www.kcrw.com

Putting State Money to Good Use
The Frederick News-Post - Nov. 30

The Maryland Stem Cell Research Commission recently announced that it had received 187 letters of intent from researchers vying for $18 million in state funds available from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, which substantially survived the state's recent budget difficulty with a modest $1 million cut for fiscal 2009. To date, the fund has allocated a total of $38 million to 82 scientific projects, leaning heavily toward academic research dominated by scientists at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with only one award going to a private company.
www.fredericknewspost.com

'Group Think' Plagues Bailout
U.S. Banker - Dec. 1

The Troubled Asset Rescue Program was originally supposed to purchase toxic securities from banks, but now the federal government is using that money to take equity stakes in large financial institutions. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said, "[The Treasury and the Fed are] an old boys network [that is] unable to analyze the problem in any other way than to benefit institutions. There's a total refusal to understand that the problem is the depression in housing prices itself ... and if you can't fix the underlying problem, it's like pouring water down a hole."
www.americanbanker.com

AAPS Recognizes Researchers in the Pharmaceutical Sciences
PharmTech.com - Nov. 26
PharmTech.com - Nov. 16

The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) recognized researchers in the pharmaceutical sciences at the AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta last week. Larry Augsburger, PhD, professor emeritus at the School of Pharmacy, was awarded the Dale E. Wurster Research Award in Pharmaceutics. His research has contributed to the basic science underpinning oral solid-dosage form fabrication and quality and to the practice of manufacture and regulation of these products.
pharmtech.findpharma.com

AIDS Advocates Call on WHO for Action
AIDSHealthCare ý Nov. 25

As World AIDS Day 2008 approaches, a coalition of hundreds of HIV/AIDS medical care providers and advocates, representing dozens of organizations, today sent a letter to Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, urging an end to harmful single-dose HIV/AIDS treatment as a recommended treatment for expectant mothers and infants worldwide. Robert Redfield Jr., MD, professor at the School of Medicine and director of the School's HIV program, was among the coalition members.

An About-face on Stem Cells
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 1

Maryland scientists say the about-face on stem cells is good news because it will uncork the nation's largest source of funding for promising medical research using hundreds of new cell lines, including many offering clues to the nature of genetically based diseases. Those cells are now off-limits for federal grants. "Taking the largest funder off the table had an impact. Putting it back will certainly have a positive impact," said Paul Fishman, MD, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Alzheimerýs Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
www.baltimoresun.com

As Hospital Infections Spread, So Do Medical-Malpractice Lawsuits
The Daily Record - Dec. 1

A new type of medical-malpractice lawsuit is on the rise-claims based on hospital infections. The University of Maryland Medical Center has been doing "active surveillance for MRSA" since October 2006, when the staff began noticing many infected patients entering the hospital from the community, said Harold Standiford, MD, MACP, clinical professor at the School of Medicine and former medical director for infection control at the facility.

Balm Addiction Not So Easy to Lick
The Fayetteville (Ark.) Observer - Dec. 1

Millions are quite attached to their lip balm. Marcia Driscoll, MD, PharmD, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the School of Medicine, says lip balm addiction is realýalbeit a bit surprising. She said she recently asked some residents on her staff about it, and three of them pulled lip products out of their pockets. "This might be more common than I believe," she said to herself.
www.fayobserver.com

Blokkerende Blaas
Quest (Belgium and Holland) - December issue

Steven Soifer, PhD, MSW, an associate professor at the School of Social Work, was quoted in this article about shy bladder.

Doctor Shortage a Major Concern
The (Ocean City) Dispatch - Nov. 28

It has been cited by numerous experts in the field of medicine that this decision to cap medical school enrollments had a direct impact on the current shortages in physicians, rather than the projected surplus. The result of this vast mistake could threaten the well-being of almost 54 million Americans and could see the problem not amended until 2022 if more doctors aren't trained, according to Robert Barish, MD, MBA, a professor at the School of Medicine and vice dean for clinical affairs.
www.mdcoastdispatch.com

Don't Fear the Mummy - Fear Her Dentist
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Nov. 27

Judging by the state of Mery the mummy's teeth, dental hygiene likely wasn't a top priority 2,800 years ago, and it may even have been the cause of her demise. "She had the most horrendous dental disease," said Barry Daly, MD, chief of abdominal imaging at the School of Medicine, which performed a computerized tomography scan of the ancient mummy for the exhibit titled "Mummified" at the Walters Art Museum.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Financial Gimmicks No Substitute For Real Productivity
PoliticalCortex.com ý Nov. 30

It's almost conventional wisdom by now; financial instruments known as credit default swaps (CDS) amount to little more than sleight-of-hand activity, but CDS played a major role in tanking the market and crippling some of America's most venerable financial institutions. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said a CDS "is a contract between two people, one of whom is giving insurance to the other that he will be paid in the event that a financial institution or a financial instrument fails."
www.politicalcortex.com

HIV Patients Have a Higher Risk of Developing Cancer as Well
Atlanta Journal Constitution - Nov. 21

Patients with HIV have a much higher risk of developing certain cancers such as lung, liver, head and neck. Doctors fear a cancer epidemic among this group could be coming. "We're really at the first stages of systematically looking at the epidemic and fully looking at cancer," said William Blattner, MD, a co-founder of the School of Medicine's Institute of Human Virology. "We're seeing people we have treated successfully for HIV at much higher risk" for cancer, said Kevin Cullen, MD, director of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center.
www.ajc.com

Holiday Anxiety May Cause Uptick in School Violence
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Nov. 26

Anxiety over shattered families and the upcoming holidays may be contributing to a surge in violence in Baltimore's public schools, experts said. As the holidays approach, students may be returning to a broken home-causing increased levels of anxiety that can be expressed in violent outbursts, said Michael Lindsey, PhD, MPH, MSW, assistant professor at the School of Social Work.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Kudos: Current Accomplishment
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Nov. 25

Melissa Bellin, PhD, MSW, an assistant professor at the School of Social Work, received the Association of University Centers on Disabilities Young Professional Award for her integrated research program on spina bifida and family-centered care.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Look to Harlem to Help Marylandýs Needy Families
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 1

With the economic crisis, there is an ever more urgent need to replicate the Harlem Children's Zone in distressed neighborhoods across Maryland and to ensure that all families receive the support they need for long-term independence. Efforts to replicate the Harlem Children's Zone are already getting started in Maryland. The University of Maryland, Baltimore is planning a zone in West Baltimore.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Medical Names in the News
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 1

Peter Swaan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the School of Pharmacy, has been named editor-in-chief of the journal Pharmaceutical Research, the official journal of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. Swaan is also director of the School Center for Nanomedicine and Cellular Delivery.
www.baltimoresun.com

Next on the Agenda: Fix the Financial Regulatory System
Nightly Business Report, PBS - 7 p.m., Nov. 27

The 111th Congress and the incoming Obama administration face the daunting task of overhauling the government's financial regulatory system, and that push could include increased regulation in the opaque derivatives market. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), advocated increased federal oversight of derivatives when he was with the CFTC in the late 1990s.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Nonprofits in A Faltering Economy
The Los Angeles Times - Nov. 27

State and county officials claim that foster homes and kinship care can absorb the children no longer in residential care. However, a national study found that foster parents are paid less than the cost to kennel a dog, according to a 2007 lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco on behalf of foster parents and the children they serve. Another study by the University of Maryland School of Social Work, released the day the lawsuit was filed, found that California has fallen behind in caring for its most fragile wards. California Department of Social Services authorities dispute the Maryland study's analysis and conclusions. However, in October, U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled in the 2007 case that California is violating federal law by failing to provide adequate reimbursement to foster parents.
www.latimes.com

Nursing A Community; You Make a Difference
Nursing Notes - November

Outside the walls of hospitals and clinics, community health nurses are educating and empowering communities to understand the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. "As a community health nurse, I assume the responsibility of a nurse and teacher," said Robyn Gilden, RN, MS, a community, public, and environmental health nurse at the School of Nursing. Barbara Sattler, RN, DrPH, FAAN, a professor at the School and director of its Environmental Health Education Center, is featured in a Q&A about why she became a community nurse.

Op-Ed: Beyond Nebraska to a Better Child Welfare System
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Nov. 28

Since Nebraska passed an open-age safe-haven law in February, 30 children have been abandoned by their parents at hospitals throughout the state. Richard P. Barth, PhD, MSW, dean of the School of Social Work, is nationally known for his work on foster care, adoption, and other child welfare issues.
www.baltimoreexaminer.com

Social Workers Get More Expertise on Money Woes
The (Louisville) Courier-Journal - Dec. 1

The School of Social Work recently embraced the concept of "financial social work," offering workshops and mini-courses for students and people already working in the field. Dick Cook, MSW, executive director of the School's outreach service, said a primary goal is to help clients think more broadly about how to build assets.
www.courier-journal.com

Summers Article Lacks Independent Thinking
The Daily Record - Nov. 28

In a letter to the editor, Robert Condlin, LLM, JD, professor at the School of Law, writes: " 'Outward appearances can be deceiving when it comes to [Lawrence] Summers, a lauded economist who became president of Harvard University, only to resign after some faculty members accused him of harboring sexist thoughts.' ýExcerpt from Associated Press article, Nov. 24. This is one of the strangest summaries of the Larry Summers fiasco I have ever seen."

UMB Students Serve Annual Thanksgiving Feast for Homeless Persons
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5 and 6 p.m. - Nov. 27

Students from the School of Medicine have organized their 19th annual "Project Feast," a Thanksgiving dinner for homeless and disadvantaged persons in West Baltimore. Students, faculty, staff, and friends from all eight University of Maryland, Baltimore schools gathered at Booker T. Washington Middle School to assist in the midday meal and provide free clothing and nonperishable food items. One of the organizers, School of Medicine student Lindsay Appel, was interviewed.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Winter Brings Flu, Summer Brings Bacterial Infections
UPI.com - Nov. 27
Science Codex - Nov. 26
Medical News Today - Nov. 26
Physorg.com - Nov. 26
BioCompare.org - Nov. 26

In the same way that winter is commonly known to be the "flu season," a new study suggests that the dog days of summer may well be the "bacterial infection" season. The findings were made by scientists from Oregon State University and Eli Perencevich, MD, MS, associate professor at the School of Medicine.
www.upi.com
www.sciencecodex.com