In Brief – Dec. 10, 2018

People

New Nephrology Division Chief

Dr. Nasrollah Ghahramani has been named chief of the Nephrology Division, effective Dec. 10. He has served as the interim chief of nephrology and vice chair for educational affairs since 2016. Born in Shiraz, Iran, Ghahramani earned his undergraduate education at the University of Pennsylvania and completed medical school, residency, chief residency and nephrology fellowship in Tehran and Shiraz. He was appointed assistant professor of medicine at Penn State in 2006 and promoted to professor in 2016. Ghahramani’s research on chronic kidney disease has been continually funded by the National Institutes of Health and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute since 2008.

Upcoming Events

Employee Holiday Celebrations

All Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine employees are invited to attend the annual holiday celebrations in the Rotunda Café.

The celebration for night shift employees is 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11 in the main dining room. The celebration for first and second shift employees is 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14 in the main serving area and dining room. See the full article for food service holiday hours.

Create Online Games

Eliza Donne, multimedia specialist, will offer training in Unity, a development software that allows participants to create video games and simulations in a 3D environment that can be published on multiple platforms:

• Thursday, Dec. 13
• 4-5 p.m.
• C1620K

 Craving Chats

Dr. Judson Brewer, director of research and innovation at Brown University School of Medicine’s Mindfulness Center, will give two presentations on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at Penn State College of Medicine:

“The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Cupcakes to Smartphones, the Mechanisms Underlying How Mindfulness Helps Change Unhealthy Habits”

• 7:30-8:30 a.m.
• Lecture Room D

“The Craving Mind: Why we get hooked, and how mindfulness helps us break free from addictive habits”

• Noon-1 p.m.
• C3860

Tai Chi and Qigong

University Fitness Center (UFC) will host a Tai Chi and Qigong specialty program to teach new students exploring the potential benefits of the practice. More experienced students will find an emphasis on building internal energy:

• Wednesday, Dec. 26
• 5:45-7 p.m.
• Find out more

Surgical Weight Loss Information Seminar

Penn State Surgical Weight Loss will offer information about various tools in a seminar open to the public:

• Tuesday, Jan. 8
• 11 a.m.-noon
• 4000 Vine Street, Middletown
• 717-532-7260 or email surgicalweightloss@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.

Arthritis Class

UFC will launch a new Arthritis Foundation class to help arthritis sufferers and people with related conditions increase range of motion and flexibility, improve aerobic condition and endurance and build strength:

• Jan. 9 to Feb. 27
• 5:15-6:15 p.m.
• Register online

UFC will waive the $80 fee for employees who take six of the eight classes.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

An eight-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program is available to all Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine employees and students:

• Jan. 28 to March 18
• Mondays
• 6-8:30 p.m.

Register by Jan. 22 by contacting Timothy Riley or Holly Socolaw. Choose an orientation date of Monday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. or Monday, Jan. 21 at 6 p.m.

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