The University of Toledo

Starting Friday, Oct. 1, the mail room on Health Science Campus will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.

“We will open the location earlier in order to improve service levels to Health Science Campus customers by earlier route deliveries and by delivering picked up mail to the post office the same day,” said Fred Reese, manager of print services and interim manager of mail services.

In June, the mail service functions on Main and Health Science campuses were combined to increase operational efficiencies.

Reese said that means mail from the U.S. Postal Service is picked up from the post office, sorted at the mailroom on Main Campus, and then delivered to Health Science Campus for route distribution. Internal Health Science Campus mail is picked up, resorted and staged for next-day delivery. All outgoing mail is metered on Main Campus and delivered to the post office.

He added that the use of mail stop codes is critical to the accuracy of sorting and delivery of mail.

“All internal campus mail and U.S. Postal Service mail must be properly addressed with mail stop codes,” Reese said. “Mail pieces that have codes are sorted immediately. Mail pieces without codes are put into a separate bin and set aside so someone can check the campus e-directory to find the mail stop codes.”

For timely delivery of mail, Reese encourages everyone to use mail stop codes and to verify his or her mail stop code and other information in the e-directory.

“When subscribing to magazines and other periodicals, please provide your mail stop code,” he said. “In addition, please have your mail stop code printed on all stationery, business cards, envelopes and invoices to ensure prompt delivery.”

For more information, contact Reese at fred.reese@utoledo.edu or 419.530.7351 or Jen Pastorek, director of supply chain management, at jennifer.pastorek@utoledo.edu or 419.530.8707.

A pediatric physician at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital has been selected the new chair of Department of Pediatrics at The University of Toledo.

Dr. Jeffrey Blumer, who is a professor of pediatrics and pharmacology at Case Western Reserve University, will assume his new role Friday, Oct. 1.

“The University of Toledo provides a great opportunity to continue the traditional academic mission of a Department of Pediatrics that is sometimes lost among other concerns such as health-care reform or the economy,” Blumer said. “The University of Toledo has made a commitment to continue to provide faculty and research in a service environment, and I am honored to be part of that.”

Blumer said he is excited about the University’s recent partnership with ProMedica Health System and the College of Pharmacy’s move to the UT Health Science Campus as he looks for ways to partner and grow the work of the Department of Pediatrics.

“Dr. Blumer was impressive in his leadership skills, passion for teaching, clinical experience and strong research record,” said Dr. Marijo Tamburrino, professor and chair of the UT Department of Psychiatry, who served as chair of the Pediatrics Chair Search Committee. “He communicated a zest for mentoring students, residents and faculty, and articulated a clear vision for the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Toledo.”

Blumer received a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Pennsylvania State University, a PhD in pharmacology from Northwestern University, and an MD from Case Western Reserve University.

He is board-certified in pediatrics with a subspecialty in pediatric critical care medicine.

Blumer has spent nearly his entire more than 30-year career at Rainbow Babies Children’s Hospital and as a faculty member at Case Western University, with a brief stint as a pediatrics professor at the University of Virginia from 1989 to 1991.

He has an extensive research career around drug therapies for children, studying how they respond and react to refine dosing strategies. He will bring that active research lab with him to the University.

“We are honored to have Dr. Blumer join The University of Toledo. His extensive career in pediatrics and the truly groundbreaking research he has been involved in with drug therapies for children will be a great asset to our Department of Pediatrics,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, chancellor, executive vice president for biosciences and health affairs, and dean of the UT College of Medicine.

The University of Toledo Alumni Association will present the 2010 Gold T, Blue T and Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum awards at the Alumni Gala and Awards Ceremony Friday, Oct. 1.

These three recipients will be recognized — along with distinguished alumni from each of UT’s colleges — at the event, which will begin at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Auditorium.

Tickets for the gala are $30 each and can be purchased by calling the Office of Alumni Relations at 419.530.ALUM (2586) or by visiting www.toledoalumni.org.

Dr. Charles Balch of Annapolis, Md., will be honored with the Gold T Award, which is presented to a UT graduate in recognition of outstanding achievement in his/her field of endeavor while providing leadership and noteworthy service to the community. A 1964 graduate of UT, he is professor of surgery, oncology and dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of the Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network. He also serves as deputy director for clinical trials and outcomes research at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.

Recognized as one of the leading melanoma experts in the world, Balch is the editor of Cutaneous Melanoma, regarded as the authoritative textbook on melanoma, now in preparation for its fifth edition.

Partnering with Dr. Seng-jaw Soong, he performed one of the first prognostic factors analyses for melanoma in a landmark paper that was the first to use the Cox multifactoral regression analysis. Balch and Soong were the first to identify the major prognostic factors for Stage I, II and III melanoma that were the independent predictors of survival. Their research on the natural history and predictive factors of melanoma clinical outcome redefined the criteria used worldwide for stratification criteria and end-results reporting of clinical trials as well as TNM (tumor-node-metastasis) staging for melanoma.

Since 1997, Balch has served as chair of the Melanoma Staging Committee of the American Joint Committee on Cancer.

Walter “Chip” Carstensen of Brooklyn, Mich., will receive the Blue T Award, which is presented to a UT Alumni Association member and University alum who has made outstanding contributions to the progress and development of the association and his/her alma mater.

Recently named president of Block Communications Inc., Carstensen served as president of the UT Alumni Association during the 2009-10 academic year.

He was a driving force behind the successful completion of Veterans’ Plaza on Main Campus, a tribute to those who have represented the United States in wartime and in peace. He also spearheaded the integration of the College of Law alumni operation into the UT Alumni Association. A volunteer on UT’s successful $106 million capital campaign, Carstensen has served as adviser and corporation president of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity since 1991. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from UT in 1972 and 1974, respectively.

Prior to his appointment with Block Communications, Carstensen served as president and general manager of Buckeye CableSystem since 2002.

Joel McGormley (Law ’99) of East Lansing, Mich., will be the recipient of the Edward H. Schmidt Outstanding Young Alum Award, which is presented to a University alumnus who is 35 years or younger in recognition of outstanding achievement in his/her field of endeavor while providing leadership and noteworthy service to the Alumni Association, University or community.

Assistant attorney general for the Michigan Department of Attorney General, McGormley became the division chief of the Appellate Division at the age of 33 — the department’s youngest division chief.

In his role, McGormley oversees all of Michigan’s habeas corpus litigation in federal district court and the subsequent appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, as well as the criminal appeals to the Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court for the state’s 56 smallest counties. The 1999 graduate of the UT College of Law also has argued — and won — a case before the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.

For more information about the gala, contact Dan Saevig, UT associate vice president for alumni relations, at 419.530.4008.

A leader in spinal surgery will be honored with The University of Toledo College of Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award during Homecoming events Friday, Oct. 1, on Health Science Campus.

Dr. Howard S. An, the Morton International Endowed Chair and professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, is a 1982 graduate of the Medical College of Ohio. An also is the director of the Spine Surgery and Spine Fellowship Program at Rush.

Not only did An receive his medical degree at MCO, he also completed his internship and residency in orthopedic surgery at the Medical College of Ohio Hospital.

“This is truly a great honor. No question about it,” An said. “Not only did I graduate from medical school in Toledo, but it is where I did my residency. Toledo is home.”

An will deliver a free, public lecture titled “Low-Back Pain Associated With Lumbar Disc Disorders: Current Advances and Future Treatment” at noon Friday, Oct. 1, in Health Education Building Room 103. He will discuss the causes and diagnosis of back pain as well as the latest developments in treatments.

During An’s visit, he will participate in grand rounds Saturday morning. An said he is excited to have that opportunity to meet with colleagues and hear from them about the work they are doing.

A leader in spine surgery, An has published more than 240 articles, 100 chapters and 20 books on spinal surgery and instrumentation. He is president of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine.

The UT College of Medicine also will present its Alumni Community Award to Dr. Anne Ruch, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Toledo Hospital, who is being recognized for her work with global health issues in Guatemala.

Ruch is the founder of the nonprofit organization SewHope Foundation, which is an acronym for Strengthening and Empowering With Health, Opportunity and Education. She leads six to eight short-term medical and surgical mission trips each year to the areas of Peten, Guatemala, to provide health care to the community and nutrition for the children, as well as improve education of local health workers and other services.

Ruch, who is a 1988 MCO graduate who completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the college hospital, also works with UT medical students who participate in annual mission trips to Guatemala.

Dr. Naoko Aminaka, visiting assistant professor in The University of Toledo Department of Kinesiology, will conduct research on knee pain and is in need of people to participate in her study.

Aminaka is asking that anyone with front knee pain (patellofemoral pain syndrome) or knee osteoarthritis to contact her about participating in the study, which will last no more than two hours, during which participants will be asked to walk up and down stairs.

“I’m looking at a population that may complain about daily aches and pains in their knees,” she said. “I want to find out if their pain is similar to those that have osteoarthritis.”

Aminaka is hoping to find out what factors are causing the pain and if researchers can help reduce or eliminate the pain to avoid disabilities in the future.

“I hope to start conducting research within the next month or so and I’m looking for about 40 participants,” she said.

The research will take place on Main Campus in the Applied Biomechanics Lab in the College of Health Science and Human Service. Participants could be asked to return for further studies if needed.

If you are interested in participating, contact Aminaka at 419.530.4351, 727.642.3558 or naoko.aminaka2@utoledo.edu.

A service and family remembrance for Ashel G. Bryan, former chair of the Medical College of Ohio Board of Trustees and well-known local businessman and philanthropist, will take place Thursday, Sept. 30.

The funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 875 Haskins Road, Bowling Green.

A reception will follow from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery in the Bowling Green State University School of Art.

Bryan died Sept. 26 at age 89 in his Bowling Green home.

From 1976 to 1985, he was a member of the MCO Board of Trustees, serving as chair for four years. Under his leadership, the Health Science Campus grew. The hospital, Dowling Hall, the Kobacker Center and the Dana Conference Center were built.

Bryan also was a member of the MCO Foundation Board of Trustees from 1984 to 1995; he served as president from 1991 to 1994.

He and his wife, Dorothy, were longtime benefactors of the Health Science Campus. Their generosity created an outdoor landscaped commons area for patients, students, faculty, staff and the public. Their donations also supported the infusion center, renovations to the UT Medical Center Outpatient Pharmacy, and a boardroom and student lounge named in their honor. In addition, they established a number of scholarship funds in their names, endowed professorships, and an emergency hardship fund for UTMC nurses.

Earlier this year, Bryan donated his wife’s artwork, “The Chemo Painting Series,” to the University. She created the paintings to chronicle her battle against cancer; she died in 2001. The series is on display on the second floor of the Health Science and Human Service Building. Dorothy’s artwork also hangs in the UT Cancer Center and other locations on Health Science Campus.

In 1987, Bryan was named an MCO Distinguished Citizen; he received an honorary degree from MUO in 1996.

The retired bank executive was a member of the Presidents Club and Heritage Oak Society.

The family suggests tributes to the Ashel and Dorothy Bryan Nurses Emergency Fund at the UT Foundation. For more information, call 419.530.7730.

The decision to attend law school can be overwhelming. First there is the LSAT, then getting all the recommendations together, plus the costs associated with the applications. But The University of Toledo College of Law wants to make it easier with the UT Advantage Program.

“The UT Advantage Program offers presumptive admission to University of Toledo undergraduate students with a 3.4 GPA and who score 156 on the LSAT. This will give students peace of mind that they will have a place in the fall,” said Jessica Mehl, assistant dean of admissions in the College of Law.

This is the first time the College of Law has offered this program to students; applications can be submitted starting Friday, Oct. 1. It is hoped that at least 12 to 15 students enroll; there is no application fee for any student, regardless of their credentials, to apply.

Dr. Sam Nelson, UT professor of political science, who is an academic adviser for pre-law undergraduate students, added that the program serves as a guide for students during their undergraduate years.

“You get the question, what do I need for law school? This program is valuable to freshmen because it gives them something concrete to work toward while in school if they are considering law school,” he said.

Each year the law school receives more than 1,000 applications and only enrolls about 160, which means the competition can be tough. This program will not only help to alleviate the stress involved in the process, but help students remain connected to the University and Toledo community.

Breanne Democko, a second year law student, who received her bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration and a minor in English from UT in 2009, said maintaining the connections she made during her undergraduate years at the University is part of the reason she chose to attend law school here.

“I interned with general counsel on the Health Science Campus in undergrad and was offered a position as research assistant while attending law school. I would not have had that opportunity if I moved away,” she said.

Democko pointed out that staying in a city you are familiar has its benefits.

“Law school is a huge transition,” she said. “Taking the jump to a new city can be detrimental to your studies because you’re spending time figuring out the new school and area. Being settled here helped me ease into my academic experience.”

In addition to maintaining the connections established during undergraduate years, Mehl said there are many opportunities for continued growth both personally and professionally at the UT College of Law.

“In addition to Toledo Law just being named best value by National Jurist Magazine, Toledo has a very close-knit legal community,” she said. “There are opportunities for students to take part in pro bono work and legal clinics as they progress in their individual studies. The opportunity for hands-on experience is limitless.”

Last year the UT College of Law offered more than $1 million in scholarships and aid to its students. UT Advantage is just one more way the school aims to help students, Mehl said.

Controversial themes of life, religion, love and hardship make literature a portal to understanding the human condition, but each year hundreds of groups attempt to ban these books from high schools, universities and public libraries.

The University of Toledo and the American Library Association are teaming together for the 13th annual UT Banned Books Week Vigil to fight for intellectual freedom and to celebrate the right to read.

This year’s theme is “Think for Yourself and Let Others Do the Same.” The vigil will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, on the second floor of Sullivan Hall on Main Campus. The 2010 event is dedicated to Brian Hickman, a former UT employee and devoted seven-year committee member, who has taken a job out of state.

“This international event creates awareness of the right to learn, to think critically, and to express one’s views,” said Dr. Paulette Kilmer, professor of communication. “Our UT Banned Books Week Vigil generates conversation and contemplation about the role of reading in our democracy and our culture.”

Door prizes will be given out every half hour. Food will be provided throughout the day starting with doughnuts at 9 a.m., finger foods at 11:30 a.m., and pizza served at 4:30 p.m.

Topics and speakers for the event will be:

• 9 a.m. — A greeting from Dr. Marcia Suter, associate professor and director of library service, and “Speech, Reading and the Banning of Thoughts” by Dr. James Benjamin, professor and chair of communication;

• 9:30 a.m. — “The First Amendment and the Public Interest Standard” by Dr. David Tucker, associate professor of communication;

• 10 a.m. — “Unfortunate Candor: Banning Walt Whitman,” by Dr. Tom Barden, director of the Honors Program and professor of English;

• 10:30 a.m. — “Keep the Interwebs Neutral: Non-Neutrality and Censorship on the Web” by Dr. Paul Many, professor of communication;

• 11 a.m. — “We Are Strangers” by Warren Woodbury, Toledo author;

• 11:30 a.m. — “Remembering Rane Arroyo: Passionate Poet, Professor and Friend” by Dr. Barbara Mann, associate lecturer of English;

• Noon — Keynote address: “The Story of Giles Corey,” an original poem by Dr. Glenn Sheldon, associate professor with the Honors Program;

• 1 p.m. — “Postcards From Prison: Censorship and the Penal System” by Dr. Renee Heberle, associate professor of political science;

• 1:30 p.m. — “Civil Rights, Civil Liberties and the Two Faces of American Culture” by Dr. Carter Wilson, professor of political science;

• 2 p.m. — “Book Burning in Nazi Germany” by Dr. Larry Wilcox, professor emeritus of history;

• 2:30 p.m. — “How to Ban a Book!” from Dr. Ben Pryor, assistant vice provost of learning ventures and associate professor of philosophy;

• 3 p.m. — Comments from UT President Lloyd Jacobs;

• 3:30 p.m. — “Jeopardy!” with Hasan Dudar and Jason Mack, Independent Collegian editor-in-chief and managing editor, respectively;

• 4 p.m. — “Remembering Judith Krug: Librarian and Founder of Banned Books Week” by Elaine Reeves, lecturer for University Libraries;

• 4:30 pm. — “Sexuality in Children’s Books” from Dr. Sharon Barnes, associate professor of women’s and gender studies;

• 5 p.m. — “In Moderation: Censoring Public Website Comments” by Michael Miller, editor in chief of the Toledo Free Press; and

• 5:30 p.m. — “Three Troubled Tunes” from Dr. Edmund Lingan, assistant professor of theatre, and Risa Beth Cohen.

“Students should consider the Banned Books Week Vigil a lively break from classes and their hectic schedules,” Kilmer said. “They should drop in to participate in a lively dialogue about books, movies, songs, the Internet and other censorship issues.”

Committee members for the event are Kilmer, Sheldon, Reeves, Dr. Linda Smith, senior lecturer with the Honors Program, and Melanie Dusseau, academic adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Sponsors this year contributing food and prizes are New Sins Press, Barry’s Bagels, Dunkin’ Donuts, The Toledo Free Press, UT Business Technology, UT Dean of Students Office, UT Career Services, UT Bookstore, UT Credit Union, UT Starbucks, Glacity Theatre Collective, and UT Theatre and Film Department.

For more information on the free, public event, contact Kilmer at 419.297.2764 or pkilmer@utnet.utoledo.edu.

The accolades continue for The University of Toledo Medical Center. After being recognized by University HealthSystem Consortium in March for surgical care and improving patient safety measures, two University representatives will present how UTMC made these improvements possible at the University HealthSystem Consortium Quality and Safety Fall Forum.

“This presentation isn’t just important to the UTMC community, it is important to patients,” said Dr. Ronald McGinnis, associate dean for clinical affairs and UTMC medical director. “The Surgical Care Improvement Project aims to prevent complications from surgery like blood clots and infection. We have transformed the process and now rank in the top 10 percent of university medical centers and this helps keep patients healthy.”

The University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) is an alliance of 107 academic medical centers and 241 of their affiliated hospitals, representing approximately 90 percent of the nation’s nonprofit academic medical centers.

According to its website, the mission of UHC is to advance knowledge, foster collaboration, and promote change to help members succeed in their respective markets. The consortium’s vision is to be a catalyst for change by accelerating the achievement of clinical and operational excellence.

Barb Hankenhof, clinical performance improvement coordinator, will join McGinnis in San Diego for the UHC national Quality and Safety Fall Forum Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. The duo will share how UTMC was able to improve its surgical care measurements through simple steps such as instituting new forms and holding educational meetings and frequent sessions with staff.

“Requirements can change quarterly and we meet with the staff to educate them on the new guidelines,” Hankenhof said. “We know that there will be new challenges, but you can continue to improve if you work together.”

In addition to lessons on processes that can help prevent surgical complications, McGinnis said there are some practical lessons other institutions can take away from UTMC.

“Leadership is important, from the top down, everyone was focused on the issue,” he said. “We also partnered with outside agency KePRO to learn new things from other institutions. We used that information to get better and now KePRO is using us as an example because of our high level of performance.”

KePRO is a quality improvement and care management organization with offices around the country. Its headquarters is in Harrisburg, Pa.

UTMC continues to better surgical safety and recently received a high score for the number of cases that met all 10 compliance measures. The medical center received 100 percent compliance scores on six measures and 96.6 or higher on the other four measures.

“We aren’t resting on our laurels. We are always testing new things to make things better,” McGinnis said.

Tune in to “Environmentally Sound” Tuesday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. on AM 760 WJR.

This month host Larry Burns, UT vice president for external affairs and interim vice president for equity and diversity, will discuss the importance of our water natural resources.

In this month’s episode:

• Michele Arquette-Palermo, an official with the Clinton River Watershed Council, who leads the Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education, will discuss her work to protect and promote education of natural resources.

• Dr. Patrick Lawrence, UT associate professor and chair of geography and planning, will talk about the recent annual “Clean Your Streams” event and efforts to preserve Ottawa River in Toledo.

• The importance of the Great Lakes to Michigan’s economy will be the focus of conversation with Dave Lorenz of Pure Michigan Travel.

• And Ohio Nature Conservancy officials Josh Knights and Richard Hylant provide an update on their work to protect the state’s resources, specifically Lake Erie.

The University and Detroit’s WJR Radio produce the monthly, hourlong program that focuses on sustainability, the environment and alternative energy.

Listen on the Web at www.utoledo.edu/environmentallysound.