The University of Toledo

Additional education programs have been scheduled in response to faculty and employee interest as the benefits open enrollment period continues.

Some previously scheduled programs have been moved to accommodate large numbers of participants as well.

The updated schedule of programs on Health Science, Main and Scott Park campuses is listed below:

• Monday, Oct. 26, 10:30 a.m., Nitschke Hall Auditorium, and 2 p.m., Student Recreation Center Oak Room;

• Tuesday, Oct. 27, 9 a.m., Health Education Building Room 105;

• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m., Scott Park Student Center Auditorium, and 2 p.m., Health Education Building Room 105;

• Thursday, Oct. 29, 9 a.m., Student Union Room 2592;

• Monday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m., Health Education Building Room 105;

• Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m., Nitschke Hall Auditorium;

• Wednesday, Nov. 4, 9 a.m., Student Union Ingman Room; and

• Thursday, Nov. 5, 7:30 a.m., Health Education Building Room 105.

Open enrollment continues through Friday, Nov. 13.

All employees must re-enroll by completing enrollment forms and bringing them to HR, whether they elect to make changes in 2010 benefits choices or not, to ensure their coverage continues after Dec. 31.

Forms have been posted on HR’s Web site at http://hr.utoledo.edu. Employees who do not have access to computers may pick up enrollment packets in HR, which is located in the Transportation Center on Main Campus and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Employees who have questions following the educational programs may e-mail benefits@utoledo.edu with specific inquiries. HR personnel will respond within 48 hours.

The University community has already pledged $85,000 to the annual Community Charitable Campaign, with more activities planned as it enters its third week.

A bake sale featuring autumn treats is slated for Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Skyview Food Court on Health Science Campus, and the online auction program, UTBay, is in full operation. Items are added weekly to the auction, which can be viewed at www.utbay.org. New selections include UT outerwear, artwork and more.

The prize patrol found its first winners last week, with Robert Hogle and Dave Horvath, both in Information Technology, receiving gift items simply for adding their pledges to the campaign. Two winners — one from Health Science Campus and one from Main Campus — will be selected each week.

UT’s goal is to pledge $250,000 or more by the conclusion of the campaign Nov. 20. Donations may be made via e-mail or pledge cards, which are available throughout campuses. Credit cards, cash, checks and payroll deduction will be accepted.

Check the University’s donation progress at UTC3 thermometers located at the Glendale and Arlington avenues entrances on Health Science Campus or in the Student Union on Main Campus.

UTC3 evolved as a means to diversify the available philanthropic choices. Through this campaign, donors may contribute to a variety of causes, including those related to health, animals, legal aid, environment, poverty and children. The United Way is one of four organizations, including Northwest Ohio Community Shares, Community Health Charities of Ohio and Earth Share of Ohio, that accepts pledges and can distribute them to specific organizations, depending on the donor’s preference.

Does an unsung hero work in your department? Do those “little things” that help colleagues, neighbors or complete strangers?

If so, honor his or her efforts with a Jefferson Award nomination.

The Jefferson Awards program recognizes members of the UT community who give their time and talents to charitable organizations — local, national and international. Each recipient receives a certificate and a medallion from the national Jefferson Awards organization, in addition to a well-deserved pat on the back.

Nominating is simple: Go to UT’s Jefferson Awards Web page at www.utoledo.edu/utcommcenter/jeffersonaward/nominations.html. This month’s nominations are due Wednesday, Oct. 28.

The Main Campus Medical Center has been dealing with a long and steady stream of students that are not feeling well in recent days.

Dr. Christopher Halasy, medical director and chief of medicine of the Main Campus Medical Center, said since more than a dozen students have tested positive for influenza A in the past week, it can be assumed that if students have a cough and/or a sore throat and a fever, they likely have influenza A and H1N1. Therefore, the Medical Center is no longer testing for the virus unless the patient has a chronic condition and is at higher risk of complications.

The Student Medical Center also is reminding students that unless they are pregnant or have a chronic condition, such as diabetes or asthma, they should not need to seek care at the center. However, students who still feel they need to be seen should make an appointment.

“It is critical that people isolate themselves when they get sick to prevent the spread of the flu,” Halasy said. “For the majority of students, there’s not much we can do other than recommend that they take Motrin or Tylenol, not aspirin, for fever and aches, get rest, keep up their fluids and self-isolate.”

If students get sick, they should stay home or in their residence hall rooms away from others until it’s been 24 hours since they’ve had a fever.

In addition to exposing others to flu by visiting the Medical Center, the large volume of students also is causing access issues, which may impede those at high risk of flu complications from being seen and getting treatment.

“Many of the students that we’re seeing just have colds and are apprehensive about H1N1,” Halasy said.

The University’s Faculty Senate has endorsed a relaxed attendance policy related to H1N1 illnesses, and on Friday Dr. Rosemary Haggett, Main Campus provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, underscored the importance of faculty cooperation in preventing the spread of disease.

“I am asking that faculty refrain from asking students for a doctor’s note if they’re sick with the flu,” Haggett said. “One, the Medical Center is not providing notes for the flu, and two, it is contrary to our message that encourages students to remain isolated. Further, faculty play a critical role in letting students know about their relaxed attendance policy and encouraging students to not attend class if they have the flu.”

Students should, however, contact their professors and inform them that they are sick and will be absent. That communication remains the student’s responsibility, and it should take place at the front end of an illness, not after the fact.

The University has a limited number of H1N1 nasal spray mist vaccine available and will again vaccinate the UT population at highest risk of developing H1N1 flu on Monday, Oct. 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Student Union Room 3018 on Main Campus.

The vaccine will be available to students and other individuals ages 18 to 49.

The following people should not get the H1N1 nasal spray vaccine.

• Pregnant women;

• People 50 years of age and older;

• People with a medical condition that places them at higher risk for complications from influenza, including those with chronic heart or lung disease, such as asthma or reactive airways disease; people with medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney failure; or people with illnesses that weaken the immune system or who take medications that can weaken the immune system;

• Children or adolescents receiving aspirin therapy;

People who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder of the nervous system, within six weeks of getting a flu vaccine; and

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who are allergic to any of the nasal spray vaccine components.

In order to speed up the vaccine delivery process, pre-register using the following link https://h1n1vaccine.odh.ohio.gov.

To pre-register, go o to the “individual/family pre-registration” section at the top of the page and scroll to the box on the far right titled “Individual Login.” You will need to click the link for “New Individual/Family to Pre-Register” to create a login. Create a login and password, click the “Register a New Individual” button on the right of the screen and enter the requested information; say yes to the head of household question, which seems to facilitate easy access to the site. Once all the information is complete, click the “Save” button. Then click “Print Patient Form.”

Bring the printed form and your picture ID with you to the Student Union.

There will be limited facilities for registration on site.

Racing for 17 hours in weather conditions ranging from heavy winds to thick fog to thunder and lightning did not stop the UT club sport sailing team from qualifying for a national championship.

UT students Ryan Lashaway, Catherine Sopher, Mike Stark and Brian Goldberg will compete against nationally ranked teams for the 2009 Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association Sloop National Championship Friday through Sunday, Oct. 23-25, in Connecticut.

UT’s sailing team will compete at the varsity level against the U.S. Naval Academy, University of Wisconsin, Boston College, Brown University, Washington University and Charleston University, among others.

Due to three of the four members having more than 10 years of experience racing all over the country through various weather conditions, Lashaway feels they are ready for anything.

“I sailed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the high was 40 degrees and the wind was between 15 to 20 knots.” Lashaway said. “It became difficult to rig the boat when all the rope was frozen solid. Although it’s not always that cold, a majority of the time we are in shorts and T-shirts.”

Unpredictable weather conditions, varsity-level competition and staggered skill levels only fueled the team’s growth. Stark said the sailing team is looking for anyone who wants to learn how to sail, race or just have fun.

“Students need to know that it doesn’t matter what you have tried or not tried before; college is about experiencing new things, so sign up for a club sport that sounds fun or interesting to you,” Stark said.

UT club sports include badminton, basketball, crew, ultimate Frisbee, water polo, soccer, wrestling, sailing and a wilderness expedition.

For more information on UT sport clubs, visit www.hometeamsonline.com/utsportclubs.

Members of the UT community will have a chance to celebrate “Galilean Nights” Saturday, Oct. 24, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Brooks Observatory.

Weather permitting, guest will be able to observe Jupiter and its Galilean moons that were discovered by Galileo more than 400 years ago.

“Galilean Nights” is a free event for faculty, staff, students and alumni. Guests may arrive between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. in the lobby of McMaster Hall to be taken up to the observatory.

If it’s raining or cloudy, the event will be canceled.

For more information, call Alex Mak at 419.530.4641 or e-mail alexander.mak@utoledo.edu.

As health organizations across the nation recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month during October, The University of Toledo Cancer Center is co-sponsoring a program for cancer survivors, their caregivers and the health-care professionals who work with them.

Goldman

Author and breast cancer survivor Caren Goldman will highlight a series of speakers on the disease at a forum titled “About Healing” Thursday, Oct. 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Waterford at Levis Commons, located at 7100 South Wilkinson Way in Perrysburg.

Goldman is the author of Healing Words for the Body, Mind and Spirit. Her writing specializes in the crossover between spirituality, psychology, health and the humanities as cancer patients and survivors struggle to confront the complex and conflicting emotions that breast cancer generates for those afflicted and their family and friends.

Additionally, Dr. Iman Mohamed, UT associate professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Hematology and Oncology, and Tina Ferner, coordinator of integrative medicine at the Mercy Cancer Center, will talk about efforts to bring together the various services and medical disciplines a patient faces when confronted with a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment regimen.

This program is sponsored by The University of Toledo Cancer Center, the Mercy Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society, the Victory Center and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

For more information, contact Sue Carter at 419.383.3913.

The iCARE program invites all UT Medical Center staff to participate in its first pumpkin-decorating contest Friday, Oct. 30.

Judges will select first-, second- and third-place awards for the pumpkins that reflect the most individuality and uniqueness.

Pumpkin entries can be dropped off at the iCARE celebration table in the Skyview Food Court from Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Friday, Oct. 30, from 7 to 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m.

The iCARE program is about patient-centered care and treating every patient as the individual he or she is while taking into consideration his or her culture, personal preferences, traditions, lifestyle, values, etc.

Although summer trips to the beach have faded into fall walks in the park, it is still important to take steps to prevent the harmful effects of excessive and unprotected sun exposure.

The University of Toledo Medical Center Cancer Committee, in collaboration with the American Cancer Society, is sponsoring free skin cancer screenings Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Surgery Clinic on the second floor of UTMC on Health Science Campus.

Sun damage can lead to painful sunburns and premature skin aging, including wrinkles, spots and a dry, leathery texture. Worst of all, unprotected and prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to skin cancer.

“Skin cancer, if caught early, can be treated fairly easily,” said Jan Tipton, clinical oncology nurse at the UTMC Cancer Institute. “Once skin cancer spreads, it’s much more difficult to treat, so it’s particularly important to catch early.”

For more information on this free, public screening, call 419.383.4444.