Palliative care discussion, invited presentations top week's agenda

Several interesting events are scheduled for the upcoming weeks at the Medical Center.

Tuesday, March 27

Cal-Irvine researcher to mark spinal cord progress

Dr. Oswald Steward, director of the Reeve-Irvine Research Center and senior associate dean for research at the University of California-Irvine, will present the Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences seminar, “Progress Toward Regenerating Axons After Spinal Cord Injury,” from noon-1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, in classroom 3A (room 318 on the North Wing).

All Medical Center faculty, staff and students are invited. For more information, call Bernadette Grayson at 4-6809 or email her at bgrayson@umc.edu.

Wednesday, March 28

Panel discussion to focus on palliative care

Dr. J. K. Mansel, professor of medicine (pulmonary and critical and palliative care), Dr. Lisa Didion, associate professor of pediatrics (Office of Patient Experience), Dr. Sharon Douglas, professor of medicine and associate dean for VA education, and Linda McComb, hospital chaplain, will participate in “Palliative Care: Not Just the End, but Also the Beginning – A Panel Discussion on Matters of Faith and Family Conversations” at noon on Wednesday, March 28, in room SM-122 in the new School of Medicine academic building.

The discussion is sponsored by the UMMC Faith Forum in conjunction with InclUsive Conversations through the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Lunch will be available to the first 50 in attendance. For more information, email Edgar Meyer at emeyer@umc.edu.

Neurology faculty to focus on post-ischemic neuroinflammation

Dr. Junie Paula Warrington, assistant professor of neurology, will host the Department of Physiology and Biophysics seminar, “Neuroinflammation Following Placental Ischemia,” from noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, in room CW308 of the Classroom Wing.

For more information, call Courtney Graham at 4-1820 or email her at chortongraham@umc.edu.

Jackson Lab IT expert to cover computation collaboration

Dr. William S. Sanders, manager for research cyberinfrastructure in the Information Technology Department at the Jackson Laboratory will present the bioinformatics collaborative seminar, “Making IT Work: Facilitating Collaboration Between IT and Researchers for Computation-intensive Programs,” at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, in room CW 106 of the Classroom Wing.

All Medical Center faculty, staff and students are invited. Lunch will be available on a first-come basis. For more information, call Shaurita Hutchins at 4-5749 or email ummcbc@umc.edu.

Thursday, March 29

UAB bioinformatics officer to introduce research opportunities  

Dr. Jake Chen, professor of genetics and computer science, chief bioinformatics officer and associate director of the Informatics Institute at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will give the Department of Biomedical Materials Science presentation, "From Data Science to Precision Medicine: Unique Research Opportunities in Translational Bioinformatics," at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, in room D505.

For more information, call Dr. Amol V. Janorkar at 4-6170 or email him at ajanorkar@umc.edu.

Singapore scientist to cover metabolism, liver diseases

Dr. Philipp Kaldis, senior principal investigator at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, A*STAR, Cell Division and Cancer Laboratory, Singapore, will give the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology seminar, "Metabolism, Cell Division and Liver Diseases," at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, in classroom 6A.

Friday, March 30

Expert to outline pathologist’s role in gynecologic cancer prevention

Dr. Christopher P. Crum, professor and director of women’s and perinatal pathology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, will present “The Pathologist and Gynecologic Cancer Prevention” at 8:15 a.m. on Friday, March 30, in classroom R-153 (lower amphitheatre).

All Medical Center faculty, staff and students are invited. For more information, call Hollie Thomas at 4-1879 or email her at hpthomas@umc.edu.

Cancer Institute faculty to host drug development discussion

Dr. Shou-Ching Tang, associate director for clinical and translational research at the UMMC Cancer Institute, will host a series of discussions with pharmaceutical company representatives. The third, with Novartis representatives, “Drug Development Pipeline,” is scheduled from 12:30-2 p.m. on Friday, March 30, in room G451-07 of the Arthur C. Guyton Research Center.

The discussion will focus on drugs entering clinical trials, whether any may help Mississippians in cancer treatment, and research being conducted by Cancer Institute members. Individuals involved in cancer care and research are invited. Lunch will be available on a first-come basis. For more information, call Veronica Mayes at 4-1979 or email her at vmayes@umc.edu.

Monday, April 2

BC spinal cord expert to give optimistic view of autonomic dysfunction

Dr. Andrei Krassioukov, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and endowed chair in spinal cord rehabilitation research at the University of British Columbia, will give the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology seminar, “Till Death Do Us Part: An Optimistic View on the Pessimistic Reality of Autonomic Dysfunction Following Spinal Cord Injury,” at noon on Monday, April 2, in room 6A.

For more information, call Pam Banks at 4-1690 or email her at pbanks@umc.edu.

JSU political scientist to explain race-based trauma

Dr. Byron D’Andra Orey, professor of political science at Jackson State University, will present the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s “inclUsive conversation,” “Race-based Trauma and the Fear of Driving while Black” from noon-1 p.m. on Monday, April 2, in room CW-106 in the Classroom Wing.

Lunch will be available on a first-come basis. For more information, visit www.umc.edu/odi or call Mandy Scott at 5-7857 or email her at mscott4@umc.edu.

Tuesday, April 3

Vice chancellor to discuss gender equity, health care

Dr. LouAnn Woodward, vice chancellor for health affairs, will present “Bridging the Gap: Gender Equity in Health Care and Administration” at noon on Tuesday, April 3, in classroom SM-122, the M1 lecture hall in the new School of Medicine education building.

The presentation is sponsored by the Associated Student Body and the Group on Women in Medicine and Science. Lunch will be available to the first 75 attendees. For more information, email Edgar Meyer at emeyer@umc.edu.

Thursday, April 5

Miami neurosurgeon to offer brain, spinal cord injury strategies

Dr. W. Dalton Dietrich, professor of neurological surgery, neurology, biomedical engineering and cell biology; senior associate dean for discovery science; distinguished chair in neurosurgery; and scientific director of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, will give the Annual Neuroscience Research Day presentation, "Protection and Repair Following Brain and Spinal Cord Injury: Current and Future Strategies," from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 5, in the second-floor conference center of the Norman C. Nelson Student Union.

Other research day activities will include faculty and trainee poster sessions from 9-11 a.m.; lunch from 12:15-1 p.m. and a presentation on science advocacy by Dr. James K. Rowlett, UMMC professor of psychiatry, from 1:15-2:15 p.m.

For more information, call Karneilla McGee at 5-3706 or email her at kmcgee@umc.edu.         

March of Dimes president to talk birth equity partnership

Stacey Stewart, March of Dimes president, will give the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Distinguished Lecture Series presentation, “A Partnership for Birth Equity in Mississippi,” from noon-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 5, in classroom R-153 (lower amphitheatre).

Lunch will be available on a first-come basis. For more information, call Mandy Scott at 5-7857 or email her at mscott4@umc.edu.

Monday, April 9

Millsaps teaching fellow to discuss Hinduism, Buddhist cures

Dr. Charles S. Preston, postdoctoral teaching fellow in the Department of Religious Studies at Millsaps College, will give a UMMC Faith Forum presentation sponsored by the Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, “Buddhist Cures for Suffering” at noon on Monday, April 9, in classroom R354 (upper amphitheatre).

Lunch will be available to the first 50 in attendance. For more information, call Edgar Meyer at (662) 719-0276 or email him at emeyer@umc.edu.

Innovation director to detail intellectual property strategy

Dr. James Petell, director of the Innovation Development and Licensing Office, will give the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology seminar, "Innovation Development-Step 2 Intellectual Property Strategy and Protection," at 3 p.m. on Monday, April 9, in classroom 3A.

All Medical Center faculty, staff and students are invited. Refreshments will be available on a first-come basis. For more information, call Cherese Kelly at 4-1851.

Tuesday, April 10

Medicine chair to speak at annual Research Day event

Dr. Javed Butler, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine, will give the keynote address for the department’s annual Research Day, “The Need for and Importance of Imbedding Clinical Trials in Our Daily Professional Lives,” at noon on Tuesday, April 10, in the second-floor conference center of the Norman C. Nelson Student Union.

Research Day also will include MSRP oral presentations from 8-9:30 a.m. in Conference Room A; a poster session and continental breakfast from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the gymnasium; and an awards presentation from 1-1:15 p.m. in conference rooms B and C.

All Medical Center faculty, staff and students are invited. For more information, call Marsha Manuel at 5-9725 or email her at mmanuel@umc.edu.

Thursday, April 12

Cancer Institute director to host pair of overviews

Dr. John Ruckdeschel, UMMC Cancer Institute director, will host a pair of quarterly Cancer Institute Director’s meetings on Thursday, April 12.

The first meeting will take place from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in room CW106 of the Classroom Wing and the second will take place from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in room MK1109 at the Jackson Medical Mall Thad Cochran Center.

All Medical Center and University of Mississippi employees who work with cancer patients or who conduct cancer research are invited. The meetings will include an overview of UMMC Cancer Institute objectives, an update on progress toward those objectives and a question-and-answer session.

Refreshments will be available. For more information, call Susan Roberts at 5-6802 or email her at scroberts@umc.edu.

UAB epidemiologist to cover epigenetics emergence

Dr. Ryan Irvin, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, will present "The Emerging Role of Epigenetics in Cardiometabolic Disease" at noon on Thursday, April 12, in room CW308 of the Classroom Wing.

The seminar is sponsored by the Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research, the Mississippi Center for Obesity Research, and the Cardiorenal and Metabolic Diseases Research Center. For more information, email Lisa Boney at lboney@umc.edu.

CAY to serve up autism Food for Thought

The Center for Advancement of Youth and the Junior League of Jackson will host a “Food for Thought” presentation, “Autism (ASD): The Who, What, When, Where, How and Whys of Autism Spectrum Disorder,” on Thursday, April 12, in the second-floor conference center of the Norman C. Nelson Student Union.

Child development experts from the CAY will answer questions during the free event. All members of the community are invited. Dinner will be available on a first-come basis. Child care will be available for ages 3-10.

Registration and dinner will begin at 6:15 p.m. with the program to follow at 6:45. For more information, visit umc.edu/answers, call Sara Hart Fellows at (601) 209-5504 or email her at sfellows@umc.edu.

Friday, April 13

Accountable Health founder to connect SpaceX, moon shots, diabetes

Fred Goldstein, founder and president of Accountable Health LLC, will give the Distinguished Population Health Lecture, “SpaceX, Moon Shots and Diabetes in Mississippi,” at noon on Friday, April 13, in room 1B of the School of Health Related Professions.

Lunch will be available to the first 50 in attendance. For more information, call Sondra Redmont at 4-2705 or email her at sredmont@umc.edu.

Monday, April 16/Tuesday, April 24

MEW to host Poor People’s Campaign anniversary events

The Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities will mark the 50th anniversary of the Poor People’s Campaign with a panel discussion and viewing of the Emmy Award-winning documentary, “’The Line’ Poverty in America: It’s Not What You Think,” from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 16, in the second-floor conference center of the Norman C. Nelson Student Union, and a presentation on the economics of poverty from 11 a.m.-noon on Tuesday, April 24, in classroom R354 (upper amphitheatre).

The April 16 panel discussion will be moderated by Dr. Louwanda Evans, an assistant professor at Millsaps College, and will include William Bynum, CEO of the Hope Enterprise Corporation, and Dr. Corey Wiggins, executive director of the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP. The April 24 presentation by Dr. Ed Sivak, executive vice president of communications and policy at the Hope Enterprise Corporation, is on “The Economics of Poverty: Where Do We Go From Here?”

For more information about either event, call Robria Horton-Daniels at 5-9016 or email her at rldaniels@umc.edu.

Wednesday, April 18

UT professor to give practical guide to posters

Dr. Karen Szauter, professor of internal medicine and assistant dean of educational affairs at the University of Texas Medical Branch, will present "Preparing Poster Presentations: A Practical Guide" from 1-3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, in classroom 5A (North Wing).

All Medical Center faculty, staff and students are invited. For more information, call Lashanda Phillips at 4-1640.  

Friday, April 20

Blood drive offers opportunity to replenish what UMMC uses

Medical Center faculty, staff and students can help replenish the blood supply that UMMC uses during the Mississippi Blood Services' quarterly blood drive Friday, April 20.

The institution's Standing Committee on Blood Donations is challenging donors to replenish 50 units during each day of the drive. On average, the Medical Center uses 50-150 units of blood each day.

The Mississippi Blood Services mobile unit will be set up from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Grants Ferry. All donors will receive a T-shirt. For more information about the drive, email Tammy Bouchillon at tbouchillon@msblood.com.

Friday, April 27

East Carolina public health chair to give Edelman Lecture

Dr. Ronny A. Bell, professor and chair of public health at East Carolina University, will give the fourth annual Marian Wright Edelman Distinguished Lecture Series presentation, "The Emerging Threat of Type 2 Diabetes in Youth," from 1-2 p.m. on Friday, April 27, in room CW106 of the Classroom Wing.

The presentation is sponsored by the Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for the Elimination of Health Disparities. For more information, call Robria Horton-Daniels at 5-9016 or email her at rldaniels@umc.edu. 

Friday, May 4

Pair of speakers scheduled for Radiology Grand Rounds

Dr. Thomas E. Merchant, radiation oncologist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, will present “Radiation Therapy for Medulloblastoma: 20 Years of Advancement” from 8-9 a.m. and Dr. E. Mark Haacke, director of the MR Core Facility at Wayne State University, will present “Evaluating Neurodegenerative Disease Using SWI, SWIM and STAGE Imaging” from noon-1 p.m. as part of the Department of Radiology Grand Rounds on Friday, May 4, in Lecture Hall 124 of the Phil Bryant Medical Education Building.

For more information, call Cheryl Johnson at 5-3862 or email cajohnson2@umc.edu.