Weekly Quick Hits — Friday, Nov. 15, 2019
Weekly Quick Hits recaps announcements and events from The Daily Brief email. Check your email inbox for more.
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PEOPLE
Carnish Named to Clinical Pastoral Education Board
Rev. David Carnish, Hershey Medical Center’s manager for clinical pastoral education, was elected to a three-year term on the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education’s board of directors. The organization certifies clinical pastoral education programs at hospitals and hospices in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Coffman to Step Down
Courtney Coffman, Penn State Health St. Joseph vice president and chief financial officer, announced that she will leave the organization on Dec. 13 after a two-and-a-half year tenure. “Courtney has made a notable impact on our organization and our community,” said John Morahan, Penn State Health St. Joseph president, and Paula Tinch, Penn State Health senior vice president and chief financial officer, in a joint message to the St. Joseph workforce. “Her efforts to provide greater understanding and transparency around Penn State Health St. Joseph’s financial information has been beneficial to managers and frontline staff alike.” An interim CFO will be announced in the coming weeks, and St. Joseph will launch a national search for a new individual to lead its financial operations.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Penn State Health Drug Take-Back Nets 335 Pounds
Penn State Health collected 335 pounds of medication and 15 sharps containers during Prescription Drug Take-Back events on Oct. 26. The events were held in partnership with the Derry Township, Lower Paxton Township and North Londonderry Township police departments.
Life Lion EMS Wins CARES Award
Penn State Health’s Life Lion EMS received the Pennsylvania CARES Award. The award, given in October in observance of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, acknowledges the agency’s dedication to collecting out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) data for quality improvement purposes. Life Lion EMS’s dedication to collecting the data has helped strengthen the collaboration between 911 centers, first responders, EMS agencies and hospitals, with the ultimate goal to improve OHCA survival rates.
Massini, Black Thank Veterans
Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini and Penn State College of Medicine interim dean Dr. Kevin Black thanked our faculty, staff, residents, students and volunteers who have served, or are currently serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces. Read their Veterans Day message.
College of Medicine Develops Gene Interaction Model
Researchers at Penn State College of Medicine have developed a new method to model how genes interact with each other, which may someday contribute to the development of personalized treatments for patients. The researchers say the new model is able to construct personalized networks for an individual patient that can show complex gene interactions in multiple directions and predict how those interactions may change over time. Learn more.
New Site for Risk Management
Hershey Medical Center’s Department of Risk Management launched a new site on the Infonet. It provides information about professional liability, policies and frequently asked questions about managing patients under age 18. Risk Management’s mission is to mitigate risk for our patients, providers, staff and Hershey Medical Center.
Clinical Trials on Studyfinder
Participating in research is one way you can be part of tomorrow’s health care breakthroughs. Visit Studyfinder for clinical trials that are currently looking for volunteers. Here are just a few:
- The Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial
- Nicotine and Tobacco-Related Research
- NASH Fitness Intervention for Thrombosis (NASHFit) Trial
UPCOMING EVENTS
“Mixed Methods” Nov. 19
Lauren Van Scoy, associate professor of medicine, will present “Mixed Methods” at the next Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design Research Methods Seminar Series. This seminar will be Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the College of Medicine H4504 (Clinical Research Center). Register here by 5 p.m. on Nov. 18.
Diverse Business Contractor Event Nov. 19
As part its continuing commitment to diversity and inclusion, Penn State Health is hosting a Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE) Contractor Outreach Event for diverse contractors on Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Spooky Nook Sports, 75 Champ Blvd., Manheim. Diverse business owners and contractors will learn about the system’s DBE labor, vendor and service needs for the new Lancaster Medical Center. Those who wish to attend and should reserve their seat by today, Nov. 15. Read more.
“Building Effective Community Collaborations” Nov. 21
Martha Wadsworth of Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s Community Engagement Research Core will join Dawn Witherspoon and Laureen Teti of Penn State Parents and Children Together to present “Building Effective Community Collaborations” on Thursday, Nov. 21 from noon to 1 p.m. at 116 Henderson, University Park. The event, part of the Bench to Bedside and Beyond Seminar Series, will offer practical advice on building strong community collaborations. T he session will be streamed to the College of Medicine, C1742K, and online. Register online to receive the online stream link.
“What You Should Know about Heart Failure” Nov. 26
Dr. David Silber will present “What You Should Know about Heart Failure” on Tuesday, Nov. 26, from noon to 1 p.m. at the College of Medicine, C3621. Lunch will be provided, and Continuing Medical Education credit is offered. The event is part of the Clinical Documentation Improvement Lunch and Learn Series.
Goldenberg Inaugural Lecture Nov. 26
Dr. David Goldenberg will present “Of Thee I Sing: The Anatomy, Physiology and Health Benefits of Song,” during his inaugural lecture as chair of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. The talk will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. in Penn State College of Medicine’s Junker Auditorium and be livestreamed at med.psu.edu/oto-chair. The College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM.
“Vaping 101” Dec. 4
Dr. Harish Rao, Penn State Health pediatric pulmonologist, and Eric Rothermel of the Harrisburg YMCA Center for Healthy Living will present “Vaping 101: What Parents and Kids Need to Know,” Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital’s Tree House Café. To register, call 717-531-0003, x282670.
“The Opioid Epidemic: What Everyone Needs to Know” Dec. 10
Dr. Yngvild Olsen and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, authors of “The Opioid Epidemic: What Everyone Needs to Know,” will deliver the keynote address at Penn State Addiction Center for Translation on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Hershey Medical Center’s Junker Auditorium. The event will feature preclinical and clinical addiction research at Penn State campuses and build opportunities for collaboration through five- to 10-minute data blitz-style faculty presentations, a poster session and a keynote address from nationally recognized experts in substance use. Registration is requested. Lunch will be provided for those who register by Dec. 3. Continuing Medical Education and APA credits for Penn State Health employees are available.
Abstracts Sought for Women’s Health Research
Faculty, students and trainees are encouraged to submit research abstracts for the Penn State Center for Women’s Health Research by Friday, Dec. 13. The sixth annual event takes place on Thursday, April 16, 2020, at the University Conference Center in Hershey. It will feature research from across the academic community related to women’s health and sex/gender differences. Dr. Jane Liebschutz of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will give the keynote address on women and substance abuse. Read the call for abstracts and contact WomensHealthResearch@phs.psu.edu with questions.
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