Telling our stories

Colorado School of Public Health opens July 1

(June 30, 2008) On July 1 the Colorado School of Public Health (CSPH) officially opens at UC Denver in collaboration with Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado. The opening is the newest chapter for the faculty and staff of the Department of Preventive Medicine & Biometrics, which for years has been in the School of Medicine. The department formally dissolves from SOM July 1, signaling the official opening of the new school.

The CSPH will be led by founding dean and former preventive medicine chair Richard F. Hamman, MD. Appointed by Chancellor M. Roy Wilson last fall, Hamman will lead the five new CSPH departments: Biostatistics & Informatics; Community & Behavioral Health; Environmental & Occupational Health; Epidemiology; and Health Systems, Management & Policy. The school is currently located at the 9th & Colorado campus and will move to the Anschutz Medical Campus later this fall.

University of Colorado Hospital extends tobacco-free zone

(June 30, 2008) The University of Colorado Hospital is taking a step toward improving the health and wellness of its employees, medical staff, patients and their families by extending its tobacco-free zone beyond the walls of the hospital to include the areas outdoors as well. The extended tobacco ban begins July 1.

University of Colorado Hospital President and CEO Bruce Schroffel said the move supports the mission of the hospital and creates a healthier environment for its employees, physicians, patients and families. “We are an organization dedicated to the health of our patients as well as to the health of our community,” Schroffel says. “We have a responsibility to prevent and decrease illness.”

One suggestion to come out of the ban was from an employee who raised the idea of converting smoking shacks to secure bicycle racks. Hospital administrators supported the idea, adding that the move actually allows the ban to do more than just eliminate smoking. The secure racks, they say, promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging people to ride their bikes to work.  Conversion of the shacks to bike racks also begins July1.

The hospital has been educating employees and patients about the ban for months and has offered smoking cessation classes, free for those who wish to quit smoking. All tobacco products will be banned on property owned or leased by the hospital with the exception of permitted use in the inpatient psychiatric services unit and at the Center for Dependency, Addiction and Rehabilitation.

College of Nursing announces new associate dean

 (June 30, 2008) Karen H. Sousa, RN, PhD, was recently announced as the University of Colorado Denver College of Nursing’s new associate dean for research and extramural affairs. She begins in this position on July 1, 2008, and will be in the college’s Informatics, Health Systems and Leadership division. Dr. Sousa was previously with Arizona State University.

“This is a very exciting time in the history of UC Denver’s College of Nursing with the new campus and all the new opportunities and relationships that it brings,” Sousa says. “I look forward to being part of this fabulous team that honors the connection between research and practice. We will continue to build on the strong reputation for theory-based research.”  

The UC Denver College of Nursing former Associate Dean for Research and Extramural Affairs was Lauren Clark, RN, PhD, FAAN. Gwen Van Servellen, RN, PhD, FAAN, served as the interim associate dean.

College of Engineering hosts Libyan ambassador

(June 30, 2008) UC Denver’s College of Engineering and Applied Science Dean Renjeng Su, right, hosts Libyan ambassador Ali Aujali, left, for a visit with university and local leaders Monday, including Chancellor M. Roy Wilson, MD, center. The visit demonstrates UC Denver’s commitment to growing strong, mutually beneficial partnerships that engage our local, national and global communities.

Learning Resource Center garners international certification

(June 23, 2008) Efforts to build and revamp the UC Denver Learning Resources Center’s (LRC) tutoring program and tutor training has paid off. The College Reading and Learning Association’s International Tutor Program Certification (CRLA’s ITPC) notified LRC Tutorial Coordinator Hue Nguyen late last week that LRC is now internationally certified as a tutoring program and qualified to certify tutors at both level I and level II.

Certification by CRLA’s ITPC is endorsed by the National Association for Developmental Education, Commission XVI of the American College Personnel Association, the American Council of Developmental Education Associations, Association for the Tutoring Professional and the National Tutoring Association. Associate Vice Chancellor Frank Sanchez says this achievement is, “a significant step in providing the highest quality of academic support for our students.”

UC Denver, the zoo’s a hoppin' place

(June 16, 2008) UC Denver faculty, staff and alumni got an up close and personal look at lions, tigers and bears . . . and giraffes, kangaroos, monkeys and, you name it.

More than 1,000 UC Denver employees, alumni and their families took part in the yearly event sponsored by the Alumni Association and Chancellor’s Campus Life Committee. Although UC Denver at the Denver Zoo participants were welcomed from 2-10 p.m. Saturday, June 14, “Everyone was excited to have the zoo open exclusively for UC Denver during the evening hours, after 6:30 p.m., when the animals were seen up close,” explains Julie Mullin, alumni association assistant director Downtown. “Zoo employees were available to share their knowledge about leopards, giraffes, etc.”

Tickets were sold on both campuses and through the alumni associations (Anschutz and Downtown) for a discounted price and included the option to "wolf down" hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, soft drinks and cookies.

Photos: Arctic Wolf, above, and South African Lion, on front, courtesy of the Denver Zoo.

CAM Records' release on USB Drive a first

(June 13, 2008) The College of Arts & Media’s CAM Records class has introduced its latest music release on a USB Drive as well as on CD. "Because the CD versions arrived so close to the end of the semester," explains Storm Gloor, assistant professor in the Department of Music and Entertainment Industry Studies, "CAM Records decided to produce the USBs during the summer and make a big splash this fall as students return."

USBs can be used for other practical purposes and can even load the music to iTunes. Artists on the current release will be contributing additional tracks as the USBs hold much more content. “It's very likely that we will be the first college record label to release on such a format,” Gloor explains.

UC Denver students, faculty take part in Western Cast Iron Art Conference

(June 13, 2008) On Thursday June 5, students from several western universities including UC Denver came together for the inaugural Western Cast Iron Art Conference. The conference, held at Demiurge Design here in Denver, was created to educate and inspire art lovers and give a better understanding and appreciation of cast iron as a sculpture medium.

College of Arts and  Media Professor Rian Kerrane, a co-founder of the conference, attended along with her students Alex Scott and David Horner and pour assistants Kelsey Dalton and Mike Beckemeyer. Both student and professional participants used a cupola—a vertical furnace for melting iron to be cast—to turn the iron into fabricated forms. The Western Cast Iron Art Alliance consists of iron casting artists in the western states aiming to promote the cast iron medium in the region. For additional information, visit: www.wciaa.org.

CAM Records wins Independent Music Award

(June 13, 2008) College of Arts & Media (CAM) Records was recently named as an Independent Music Awards (IMA) Vox Populi Winner. CAM Records’ Put Your Ear to the Ground: Colorado Cuts Vol. 2 was selected as the College Record Label winner.

The IMA is an international program that promotes independent artists, labels and releases. This year, IMA opened the voting process to fans and industry voters at the online Vox Populi Jukebox. More than 30,000 votes were cast.

"We are extremely proud of our student record label and all of our accomplishments," said Storm Gloor, CAM assistant professor of Music & Entertainment Industry Studies. "As an IMA winner, we will be promoted to industry leaders, current fans, and new fans alike - an incredible opportunity."

For more information and a complete list of Independent Music Award winners, please visit: www.IndependentMusicAwards.com 

Annual luncheon honors outstanding staff, retirees

(June 4, 2008) For as long as anyone can remember, the Downtown Campus Staff Council has organized the staff appreciation luncheon to honor the dedication and commitment of university colleagues. This May, about 250 people gathered at the Tivoli Turnhalle as dozens were acknowledged for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and even 30 years of service. 

The lunch, consisting this year of vegetarian and meat lasagna, was highlighted by the talents of university employees and professional singers Willie Brown and Linda Theus-Lee. A magician rounded out the event entertainment.  

Chancellor M. Roy Wilson, MD, honored staff members chosen by their peers as outstanding in their departments and retirees for their service to the university.

“This is community building event meant to thank each and every employee – both classified and professional exempt – and to let them know they are appreciated,” said council member Mary Ulibarri.

The downtown and Anschutz staff councils are consolidating as of July 1. However, Ulibarri says for the immediate future the campus events will remain separate.

Photos: At right, Resa Cooper-Morning not only emceed the event this year, but was also honored for her system-wide outstanding staff award. Left, the elegant and talented Willie Brown entertains an enthusiastic crowd.

UC Denver’s Practice Change Fellows Program announces participants

(June 4, 2008) Ten fellows from around the country have been selected to participate in the Practice Change Fellows Program at the University of Colorado Denver. The two-year program is aimed at building leadership capacity among nurses, physicians and social workers who have operational responsibility for geriatric care.

These fellows will receive $90,000 and the support of local and national mentors to further develop their leadership skills and complete a project with the goal of implementing a new geriatric service line or aging program. The following ten individuals were chosen for the 2008 class:

The program will be directed by Eric A. Coleman, MD, MPH, from UC Denver’s Division of Health Care Policy and Research (HCPR), and Nancy Whitelaw, PhD, from the National Council on Aging (NCOA). 

The Practice Change Fellows program is supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the John A. Hartford Foundation and administered by the University of Colorado Denver.  To learn more about the program, please visit www.practicechangefellows.org.

UC Denver to receive major translational research funding

(May 29, 2008) Fourteen academic health centers in 11 states are the latest members of the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) consortium. UC Denver is among the recipients of $533 million over five years to help researchers turn lab discoveries into treatments for patients. Details are available in a news release from the National Institutes of Health.

Celebrating 110 years of history, a new beginning in nursing

(May 21, 2008) The College of Nursing wrapped up a weeklong celebration of National Nurses Week and the 110th anniversary with an open house May 19 at the Education 2 Building at Anschutz Medical Campus. The day offered tours, prizes, refreshments, music and a ribbon cutting celebration. Participants in the ribbon cutting were, from left, Angie Romani, president of the CON Advisory Board, Dr.  Paula Nelson-Marten, chair of the CON Faculty Executive Committee, Janet Mordecai, major donor to the CON and member of the CON Advisory Board, and Dean Patricia Moritz. To read more about the celebration, check out the article in UCH Insider.

A really cool celebration of National Nurses Week

(May 15, 2008) Nurse – as both noun and verb, this word reflects kindness and care. During National Nurses Week, May 6-12, the College of Nursing at UC Denver’s Anschutz Medical Campus cared for students, faculty and staff in a rather unconventional way – with ice cream – at the third annual University of Colorado Student Nurses Association (CUSNA) ice cream social. Passersby and those who got the memo got the scoop from instructors and the dean in an array of different flavors. Nursing the hot and sugar-starved were, left to right, Tammy Spencer, MS, senior instructor, Carolyn Boszak, BS student and president of CUSNA, Jessie Tate, BS student, Kalina Miller, BS student and former CUSNA president, Leigh Walzer, BS student, and Fara Bowler, coordinator of the CON skills lab.

 Damrauer chosen acting provost

(May 13, 2008) Bob Damrauer, professor of chemistry in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has agreed to serve as acting provost between May 18 and June 30 while Provost Mark Heckler is on vacation leave. At the completion of his vacation, Heckler will leave the university to be president of Valparaiso University. Chancellor M. Roy Wilson will formally appoint a new provost or interim provost July 1.