Pulse

Volume5/1999_March17March 17, 1999 PULSE Betz Named Senior V. P. For Health Sciences, School of Medicine Dean Lorris Betz A. Lorris Betz, M.D., Ph.D., has been named Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine, effective June 1. Betz was selected following an extensive national search conducted by a committee of U. faculty, staff and students. Ed Clark, M. D., professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics, who headed the search committee, calls Betz " a world- class academician. We're extremely pleased Dr. Betz found the opportunities at Utah to be interesting and challenging," Clark said. In addition to his duties as dean of the medical school, Betz will serve as one of two senior vice presidents at the university and CEO of the University of Utah Health System. His responsibility will be all health-related organizations on campus, including University Hospital, the Huntsman Cancer Institute and the colleges of Health, Nursing and Pharmacy. Betz comes to Utah from the University of Michigan, where he spent two years as interim dean of the medical school. " Clearly, at Michigan he demonstrated that he is one of the outstanding administrators in the country," Clark said. m Quality Award Nominations Due March 31 Nominations for the hospital's annual quality awards are due on Wednesday, March 31. The Best Performance By " U" award recognizes individuals, the Quality Through " U" award recognizes the work of process improvement and value analysis teams, and the Excellence by " U" award recognizes units and departments. Nomination forms are available outside the Employee Service Center ( A level, near visitor elevators) or from Cindi Phillips, Quality Resources, x5- 7287. Award recipients will be recognized, along with employees who have completed increments of five years of service, at the annual hospital awards banquet on Friday, May 7. For additional information, contact Wendy Bailey, 5- 5932. " Having worked with Dr. Betz in the past, I am familiar with the experience, commitment and passion he brings to the office," said U. President Bernie Machen. " Dr. Betz will provide exceptionally strong leadership to ensure that the University of Utah's health sciences remain at the forefront nationally." " I'm very excited about the opportunities at the University of Utah," Betz said. " Through its research, educational and clinical care programs, the health sciences center is poised to become a national and international leader in the improvement of health care." Betz said one of his first duties as senior vice president will be to initiate a phase of strategic planning. " This is an excellent time for everyone to come together to develop a common vision and set of goals for our future," he said. Betz earned his bachelor's and medical degrees as well as a Ph. D. in biochemistry and physiology from the University of Wisconsin. He completed his pediatric residency and a research fellowship in pediatric neurology at the University of California San Francisco, then joined the University of Michigan medical school faculty in 1979 as an assistant professor. In 1987, Betz was named full professor of pediatrics, surgery and neurology. He has since served at the Michigan school as associate dean for faculty affairs, senior associate dean for academic affairs and executive associate dean, as well as interim dean. Betz and his wife, Ann, are the parents of two children. Presidential Staff Awards Due March 26 Nominations for the University's Presidential Staff Awards are due on Friday, March 26. The awards recognize four full- time staff members who have made superior contributions to the University. Recipients receive $ 1,000 and attend a luncheon hosted by U President Bernie Machen. Nomination forms will be sent to all full- time staff via campus mail. To be eligible for the award, an employee must have at least five years of continuous service to the University. Two awards will be given to exempt staff and two awards will go to non- exempt staff. For more information, contact Mary Talboys, 583- 2500. How About a Sandwich for Lunch? Doug Sines and Brian Cole demonstrate their submarine and hoagie sandwich making skills at the hospital's new deli located on the A level near the bridge to Primary Children's Medical Center. The deli is open from 11 a. m.- 3: 30 p. m., Monday through Friday, and offers a variety of sandwiches, chips and drinks. Orders can be sent by fax, x5- 3990, so your sandwich is ready when you get there. Fax order forms are available at the deli. Child- Life Activities to Recognize UH Pediatric Patients and Visitors As part of Children in Healthcare Week, University Hospital's four child- life specialists will participate in a variety of activities. On Monday and Wednesday, staff will provide activities for patients and their families in the outpatient pediatric clinic ( Clinic 6). Throughout the week, staff will deliver information to patients and staff about how children cope when someone they love is in the hospital. " Our job is to help children cope with all aspects of being in the hospital," said Shannon Pay, child- life specialist. Other staff members include Kristen Quinn, Camille Gleave and Heidi Smart. For more information about the office, call x5- 3854. This Month in the Hallside Gallery... The landscape paintings of Mark Vinci are featured this month in the medical school's Hallside Gallery, AC 113. " I paint vast landscapes because I am drawn to their beauty, power and limidessness," said Vinci. " My Mark Vinci paintings capture the openness and scope of the settings, conveying peace, comfort and permanence." His work has been featured in various galleries across the country. Carl Wittwer Named First Holder of Endowed Chair in Pathology Carl T. Wittwer, M. D., Ph. D., has been named the first holder of the C. Scott and Dorothy E. Watkins Endowed Chair honoring Ernst J. Eichwald, M. D. Wittwer is associate profes-sor in the Department of Pathology and also technical vice president of new technol-ogy at Associated Regional and University Pathologists ( ARUP). A native of Lansing, Michigan, Wittwer received his doctorate in biochemistry in 1982 at Utah State Univer-sity. After completing medical school at the University of Michigan in 1984, he returned to Utah for his residency. At ARUP, Wittwer initiated development of a molecular diagnostics laboratory and currently serves as medical director for flow cytometry. These laboratories are involved in state- of- the- art testing for diagnosis of malignant, infectious and immunologic diseases. Wittwer also is active in biomedical instrumentation development for DNA diagnostics. " This honor recognizes Dr. Wittwer's outstanding work as a dedicated clinician, researcher and educator, who takes an active interest in fostering the development of capable and caring physicians for the future," said Carl R. Kjeldsberg, M. D., professor and chair of the pathol-ogy department. The chair recognizes the contributions of Ernst J. Eichwald, M. D., professor of anatomic pathology, who is internationally known for his work in discovering that bone marrow transplantation was possible. Mr. Watkins donated funds to the chair in honor of his first wife, Dorothy, who died of cancer in 1996. He and his wife Berniel Thayne Watkins both are members of the University of Utah Health Sciences Council. SLOC Needs Drug Testing Escorts The Salt Lake Organizing Committee needs volunteers to serve as drug testing escorts at the US Skiing Nationals this Saturday, March 20, through Wednesday, March 24. Volunteers must be 18 years or older and available for at least three hours at a time. For more information, contact Michele Brown, at 212- 2515 or e- mail michele. brown @ slc2002. org. Auxiliary Sale This Thursday and Friday University Hospital's Auxiliary is sponsoring a decorative scrub sale this Thursday and Friday from 8 a. m.- 4 p. m. in the cafeteria. PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Carl T. Wittwe