The University of Toledo

The Block Health Science Building on Health Science Campus will be closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Friday, Feb. 19, for building renovations.

Large equipment will be moving steel beams and erecting framework during the evening and early morning hours. For safety purposes, the building will be closed only when work is performed during these hours.

Daytime operations will not be affected.

If you have questions, contact the Department of Facilities and Construction at 419.530.1448.

The University of Toledo Men’s Chorus has been chosen to perform at the Ohio Music Education Association 2010 Professional Development Conference Thursday, Jan. 28, in Cincinnati.

The group, which numbers more than 40 members, is one of only five selected to sing.

It isn’t easy to be selected to perform at the conference, according to Dr. Stephen Hodge, professor of music, who has directed the UT Men’s Chorus since it was founded in 1994.

“It’s extremely difficult. The state of Ohio is saturated with choral programs. There are 43 major colleges and universities in the state with choral programs, and a lot of them submit frequently,” he said.

The UT Men’s Chorus will perform a 10-song program, with pieces ranging from gospel to classical repertoire, in the Regency Ballroom on the first day of the conference, which runs Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 28-30. The program will include four selections that feature soloists.

Hodge is very proud of the chorus. “They are a good, hard-working group,” he said. “It takes a lot of work to prepare for something like this. They only rehearse together twice a week. So that means they have to dedicate a lot of time to practicing on their own, and they do.”

The last time a UT choral group was selected to perform at the statewide conference was in 2005 when the Women’s Chorus performed and the Concert Chorale appeared for a clinic. Prior to that, the Concert Chorale performed in 1997.

The Ohio Music Education Association is the third largest of the 52 federated state affiliates of the National Association for Music Education. Ohio members are involved at all levels of music education, serving more than 1.8 million public school students in 612 public school districts and 51 colleges and universities in the state.

UT Men's Chorus

Visitation and funeral services for Dr. Debra D. Buchman, professor of nursing and director of the Center for Nursing Research and Evaluation, will take place Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 25 and 26.

The noted UT faculty member and researcher died of cancer Jan. 22 at age 58.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate her life Monday, Jan. 25, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave. A scripture service will take place at 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26, at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Church, 5373 S. Main St., Sylvania. Interment will follow at Toledo Memorial Park.

Condolences may be sent to www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Heart to Heart Program in the UT College of Nursing or Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

Buchman was an instructor in the MCO College of Nursing from 1981 to 1990, and worked as a quality research analyst in the MCO Hospital from 1993 to 1998, when she was named manager of clinical data in Quality Management. In 2000, she returned to the faculty in the College of Nursing as an associate professor and assistant director of the Center for Nursing Research and Evaluation. Buchman was promoted to professor in 2006 and named director of the center in 2007.

Last year, Buchman helped with the statistical work as the UT nursing program was up for reaccreditation. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the national accrediting body for baccalaureate and master’s level nursing education, granted the University accreditation through 2019.

She received dean’s awards for teaching and for research. Her research interests included patient safety and reducing errors in health-care settings.

In 1990, Buchman was a graduate assistant at The University of Toledo and began working with Dr. Jeanne Brockmyer, UT Distinguished Professor of Psychology. For more than 20 years, the two collaborated on research on the effects of violent video games on children. Their work led to numerous publications, as well as national and international conference presentations.

Buchman received a doctoral degree in education from UT in 1997. She served on the advisory board for the UT Center for Successful Aging.

An organization dedicated to identifying the concerns of women within the UT community will hold a general meeting Friday, Jan. 29, with the purpose of expanding the group to include elected leaders from Health Science Campus.

The Women’s Leadership Forum was created in 2005 on Main Campus; it currently has a governing council of 16 members who represent faculty, staff and students. Its smaller counterpart on Health Science Campus, the Women’s Program Initiative, formed in 2007 with similar goals of advocating for women; its advisory committee of about 17 members plans programs.

The goal, according to Dr. Nancy Collins, a faculty member in the Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department and chair of the Women’s Program Initiative, is to replicate the Women’s Leadership Forum structure on Health Science Campus and to create a unified group with equal representation from both campuses. The group will meet once per semester with provosts from each campus.

“On Jan. 29, we’re going to set an election date for a complete set of council representatives from Health Science Campus to join the established Main Campus leadership as a unified organization.”

The unified Women’s Leadership Forum, Collins said, will host elections for Health Science Campus officers in February. Discussion regarding the method of election and other information will take place at the Jan. 29 meeting, which will be held at noon in Health Education Building Room 105 on Health Science Campus. Men and women from both campuses are invited to attend.

The planned February elections on Health Science Campus will be open only to faculty, staff and students from that campus.

The Women’s Leadership Forum was formed with the goal of identifying and advocating women’s causes. The organization has examined issues such as gender equity, funding for Apple Tree Nursery School, gender and racial distribution of recent layoffs, the number of female full professors, the impact changes in UT’s attendance policy have on women, and workload issues pertaining to female faculty members, among other issues.

“The Women’s Leadership Forum gives a voice to various groups of women with the University and ensures that the institution remains transparent in enacting its policies and procedures,” Collins said. “As you improve situations for women, you improve the health of the entire institution.”

Collins encourages men and women from both campuses to attend Women’s Leadership Forum meetings to learn about the status of women’s issues at UT, support their peers, and bring situations of concern to the organization for further examination.

“Even though we advocate for women, the scope of the forum’s investigations touches the entire campus community,” she said. “We’ve had men on campus tell us they’re thankful because our investigation of issues improved their situations as well.”

For more information about the Jan. 29 meeting or the Women’s Leadership Forum, contact Charlene Gilbert, director of the Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women and forum convener, at charlene.gilbert@utoledo.edu, or Collins at nancy.collins@utoledo.edu.

The University of Toledo Medical Center has made strides in heightening patient safety measures defined by a national initiative called Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP).

Established in 2005 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the SCIP goal is to achieve a 25 percent reduction in surgical complications by the end of this year. Research has shown that a significant percentage of post-surgical complications, such as infections and deep vein blood clots, can be prevented by following evidence-based procedures outlined in SCIP recommendations.

“Although some complications are unavoidable, surgical care can be improved through better adherence to evidence-based practice recommendations and by designing systems of care with safeguards,” said Barbara Hankenhof, clinical performance improvement coordinator at UTMC.

Other national partners in the SCIP initiative include the American Hospital Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the Joint Commission.

SCIP has identified several critical areas in which adhering to quality processes can significantly reduce surgical complications during patients’ pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care, with focus on three key areas of prevention: infection, cardiovascular complications and venous thromboembolism.

Recently, UT Medical Center achieved 100 percent compliance in the following areas targeted by SCIP:

•  Antibiotic selection;

• Glucose control;

• Appropriate hair removal;

•  Venous thromboembolism  (VTE) prophylaxis; and

•  Colorectal post-op normothermia.

UTMC scored well in a handful of other indicators, including antibiotic post-op discontinuation (97 percent), timely antibiotic pre-op administration (96 percent) and peri-operative beta blockers (95 percent).

“It’s all about patient safety practices,” Hankenhof said. “In some cases, it was just a matter of educating our staff to better document what we’ve already been doing.”

Studies indicate that the following basic measures are vital in preventing complications targeted in SCIP:

•  Timely administration of antibiotics just before surgical incisions are made decrease the risk of infection.

•  Continuing to administer beta blocker medication reduces strain on the heart.

•  Appropriate administration of VTE prophylaxis after surgery reduces the risk of blot clots forming in the lungs and deep veins.

UTMC’s performance was measured by analyzing a sample of surgical charts in the following major surgery categories: colon surgery, hysterectomy, cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, and total hip and total knee replacement. This sampling allows administrators to trace the processes of care in each patient’s case from pre-op through the initial post-op phase.

UTMC has created a multidisciplinary SCIP committee to review processes and procedures, target potential areas for improvement, and provide feedback to surgical caregivers. Hankenhof has conducted continuing educational programs for all staff involved in surgical patient care, attended department meetings and educational conferences, and performed on-the-spot patient care reviews.

“It says a lot about the collaboration among every member of our patient care teams, from nursing, to physicians, to pharmacy staff and others who perform clinical care, that we’ve been able to improve our compliance so significantly,” she noted. “It shows our commitment to exemplary patient safety.”

Hankenhof said adherence to procedures outlined in SCIP and other quality performance programs is expected to affect reimbursement practices in the future. Working within the SCIP guidelines will allow UTMC to remain competitive in the greater Toledo area, benefit the organization financially, and bolster public confidence.

UTMC will continue to monitor its performance and quality standards in 2010. SCIP has identified new areas for evaluation, including:

• Prompt post-surgical urinary catheter removal, which reduces the risk for urinary tract infections.

• Body temperature regulation, which reduces the risk for surgical infections.

For more information about UTMC’s participation in the SCIP initiative, contact Hankenhof at 419.383.6193 or e-mail barb.hankenhof@utoledo.edu.

Almost a year ago, a group of engineering students made the trip to Los Sanchez, Honduras, to give the gift of clean, easily accessible water to a local village.

The University of Toledo student chapter of Engineers Without Boarders is planning to return to Honduras over spring break on an assessment trip to help plan future projects.

“We would like to complete some smaller projects utilizing the water that we originally brought to the village of Los Sanchez,” said Adam Dellinger, vice president of membership for the UT chapter of Engineers Without Borders. “For example, we might put in a tilapia farm so that they can raise fish to sell. Also, we would like to install an irrigation system for farming or provide other basic infrastructural needs such as chimneys or latrines.”

In addition to continuing their work in Los Sanchez, the students will assess the possibility of installing a similar water distribution system in the nearby village of La Barranca.

Six students and two technical mentors will conduct the upcoming assessment trip to Los Sanchez, where they will compile basic information needed for the project design.

Although the UT students have received support from organizations that include the Toledo Rotary Foundation and the Toledo Technical Society, projects can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000, so fundraising is a key factor in the success of their group.

In order to raise money and awareness for the trip, these students have started to collect and recycle ink cartridges and toner from the UT community. The students take the items to Cartridge World, a company that specializes in cartridge refilling and recycling, where they receive a small profit for each reusable item.

Some cartridges and toners won’t generate any money because of their inability to be reused; however, the students will still take them to be recycled.

“Although fundraising for the project is important, what’s more important is that we are recycling the plastic and raising awareness for our efforts,” Dellinger explained. “Instead of throwing it out and putting it in a landfill, you can get your ink cartridge recycled and in the process raise some money for a really great cause.”

There are nine cartridge drop-off stations on Main Campus:
• Student Union in the UT Bookstore and by Starbucks and Rocket Copy;

• International House, Parks Tower and Carter Hall near the front desk or mailboxes;

• Ottawa East near the dining hall;

• Rocket Hall in the Rocket ID Center; and

• Plant Operations in the lounge.

The UT student chapter of Engineers Without Borders was organized in 2007 to provide the opportunity for students to become involved in service-learning activities while helping to meet the needs of communities in developing countries and in disaster areas.

For more information, or to arrange cartridge pickup, contact Dellinger at adam.dellinger@rockets.utoledo.edu.

UT student-athletes earned a collective grade point average of 3.115 for fall semester, the second-highest mark in school history. The best combined department GPA was 3.157, set last spring.

The 3.115 GPA also marked the seventh time in the last nine semesters that UT student-athletes earned a combined GPA higher than 3.0. Additionally, 11 of UT’s 15 sport programs had team GPAs of 3.0 or above, and every team had a combined GPA of at least 2.6.

Individually, 27 student-athletes earned perfect 4.0 GPAs last fall, while 115 individuals (more than 30 percent) earned a spot on the dean’s list by garnering at least a 3.50 GPA.

Additionally, 55 percent (211 of 383) of UT student-athletes achieved a 3.0 grade point average or better for the 2009 fall semester, the 12th consecutive semester in which at least half of Rocket student-athletes earned a 3.0+ GPA.

“Once again, our student-athletes had a terrific semester in the classroom,” UT Vice President and Athletic Director Mike O’Brien said. “This is the second consecutive semester in which our student-athletes have combined for a grade-point average of above a 3.1. Everyone involved with the academic success of our student-athletes — our coaches, staff and University faculty — shares in this accomplishment. They should all be very proud of what they have achieved.”

Women’s golf led the way with a team GPA of 3.651, followed closely by women’s soccer with 3.637. Both teams came very close to setting the team record for GPA in a semester; that 3.685 mark was set by women’s soccer last spring).

2009 Fall Semester Team 3.0+ GPAs

Women’s Golf 3.651
Women’s Soccer 3.637
Women’s Cross Country 3.485
Women’s Swimming 3.412
Men’s Tennis 3.361
Women’s Volleyball 3.303
Softball 3.286
Women’s Tennis 3.269
Women’s Track & Field 3.227
Men’s Golf 3.213
Women’s Basketball 3.078

The deadline for submitting materials for the 2010 University of Toledo Authors and Artists Exhibit is Friday, Feb. 12.

Faculty and staff members who have published books, articles and conference papers since February 2008 are encouraged to submit these materials for inclusion in the exhibit.

The exhibit will be on display in the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections on the fifth floor of Carlson Library from March 29 through April 30.

Faculty with works in the exhibit will be honored at a reception Monday, March 29, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Dr. John Murray, UT professor of economics, will present opening remarks.

Faculty authors on Main Campus should send or e-mail their publications to Suhasini Kumar, Government Documents Department, Carlson Library, mail stop 509. Faculty members on Health Science Campus should send or e-mail their publications to Jolene Miller, Mulford Library, mail stop 1061. Faculty in the Department of Art with works for the exhibit will receive notification in late January of procedures for displaying their artwork.

Those submitting works are asked to provide a complete bibliographic citation for each publication to assist with the preparation of the exhibit catalog.

For more information, contact Barbara Floyd, director of the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections, at 419.530.2170.

The University of Toledo’s Anonymous Reporting Line provides employees with an easy and confidential way to report potential concerns about ethics, safety, integrity and legal compliance, using 1.888.416.1308 to ensure calls are confidential and anonymous.

The Anonymous Reporting Line is intended to supplement, not replace, the normal processes used to resolve issues described in the University’s Code of Conduct. These processes include discussing issues with your supervisor, other local management, your Human Resources representative, Legal Affairs or the Compliance and Privacy Office, which has become part of the Internal Audit Department.

“We encourage employees to work with their supervisors or other management within their departments,” said Compliance Officer Lynn Hutt. “But if you are uncomfortable discussing your concerns with these individuals or anyone else at the office, then the Anonymous Reporting Line provides a way to report your concern privately.”

The Anonymous Reporting Line is managed by EthicsPoint, an independent third party that will document your concern and ensure the protection of your privacy. However, not disclosing your identity may impede the ability to perform a thorough investigation. “If you call in to report a potential violation, please provide detailed and accurate information,” said Internal Audit Director David Cutri. “Your identity will be protected by EthicsPoint, as they work with you to obtain additional information to help facilitate our investigation.”

Employees, contractors, vendors and other third parties should use the Anonymous Reporting Line to report any serious, potentially costly and safety-compromising issues, or you may call directly Human Resources, Internal Audit (Compliance and Privacy Office) or Legal Affairs.

Click here for more information.

Student works are on display through March 21 in the Center for the Visual Arts Gallery.

The University of Toledo Department of Art is showcasing the work of its students in an annual juried exhibit that will be on display through Sunday, March 21, in the Center for the Visual Arts Gallery on the Toledo Museum of Art Campus.

Eric Troffkin, sculptor and art faculty member at Wayne State University, is serving as juror.

An opening reception will be held Friday, Jan. 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Center for the Visual Arts Haigh Auditorium. UT President Lloyd Jacobs is scheduled to speak. Troffkin will give a lecture about the exhibit and his own work, and then present awards.

Troffkin joined the Department of Art and Art History at Wayne State in fall 2009. Prior to that, he was a lecturer in sculpture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 2000 to 2002 and a visiting assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis from 2002 to 2009. At Washington University, Troffkin served terms as sculpture area coordinator and director of graduate studies; he oversaw a transition in the master of fine arts curriculum to a multidisciplinary format to encourage artistic dialogue and collaboration across media and fields of inquiry.

He received the master of fine arts degree in sculpture from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and a bachelor of arts degree in fine art and English literature from Amherst College in Massachusetts.

About his artwork, Troffkin wrote, “My interests lie at a crossroads where expectations of future progress encounter these uncertainties: Can the consequences of progress be foreseen? Is the notion of progress itself a matter of faith? And if so, upon what foundation is such faith built? My artworks mark and investigate these crossroads. They are pieces of fiction, fabricated from the familiar visual language of the commercial products and industrial objects that inhabit our architecture and dot our urban and rural landscapes. Through the reproduction and alteration of such technological objects into sculptural form, I aim to provide a focal point for considering their psychic impact.”

The annual student exhibition can be seen Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information on the free, public exhibit, opening reception and lecture, call the Art Department at 419.530.8300.