Pulse

Volume5/2001_March19SALT LAKE 2002 PARALYMPICS March 19, 2001 PULSE SALT LAKE 2002 UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER John C. Carey John Carey Assumes Editorship of Medical Genetics Journal John C. Carey, M. D., M. P. H., professor of pediatrics, has been named editor- in- chief of the American Journal of Medical Genetics. The publication is the most widely read and cited genetics journal involving patient care in North America and second in the world, Carey said. Editorial offices soon will move to Research Park from Primary Children's Medical Center. John M. Opitz, M. D., professor of pediatrics and founding editor, will assume the position of editor- in- chief emeritus. David H. Viskochil, M. D., Ph. D., associate professor of pediatrics and chief of the medical genetics division, and Margaret Weist will continue as associate editor and assistant editor, respectively. The publication is devoted to material on diagnosis and management of genetic diseases and counseling of patients and families. According to Carey, medical genetics has been under the pediatrics umbrella since it started in the 60s and 70s, because most physicians who are medical geneticists started in pediatrics. " So many traditional diseases present in children, and such conditions as Down syndrome, phenylketonuria ( PKU) and other birth defects have a genetic component. Continued on back Remember InfoFair on Wednesday The Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library will present " Genome Research in Healthcare: Cracking the Code," the theme of this year's InfoFair Wednesday. Daniel R. Masys, M. D., director of Biomedical Informatics at the University of California, San Diego, will give the Clifford C. Snyder, M. D. and Mary Snyder Lecture at 9: 30 a. m. in the Eccles Institute of Human Genetics auditorium. For more information, including additional presentations and events, visit http:// medlib. med. utah. edu/ infofair/ infofair2001. Keith Barney, a social worker with the Spinal Cord Injury Team in U Hospital's Rehabilitation Services, competed in the biathlon and cross- country events in the Paralympic Nordic World Cup at Soldier Hollow earlier this month. Barney, who lives in Alpine with his wife and three teenage children, first came to UH Rehab as a 14- year- old patient for a spinal cord injury he received in a hunting accident near his hometown of Idaho Falls. Although Barney is familiar with international competition, he admitted he doesn't have much experience in ski racing. He had trained in hand cycling for the 2000 Sydney Games until the event was dropped. Barney admitted he was nervous for his first big winter event but was excited to be racing with world-class competitors and was pleased with his performance. " It is a neat atmosphere with all the flags, national anthems and people from around the world." Not only is Barney representing his country and state, he said he represents " each of the guys in rehab with spinal cord injuries. It shows if you put in the time you can compete on the world level." Barney said he will continue to train and compete throughout the year in preparation for next winter's Paralympic trials for the 2002 games. Continued from front 2002 Olympic Treats Jean Brown, left, Clinical Ancillary Services, accepts an Olympic gift basket from William Holt that she won at the last Olympic Lunch and Learn. Now, increasingly, medical genetics is focusing on adult diseases, especially in such areas as oncology, cardiology and psychiatry. " Most human diseases have some genetic component; it is hard to find a condition- other than trauma and injury- without a genetic link," Carey said. Carey focuses his clinical work and research on birth defects and syndromes and the ways families cope with these circumstances. He came to the U in 1979 from the Univer-sity of California, San Francisco. Doing a Good Turn Daniel Merrell, a Boy Scout from Holladay, made and delivered 61 lavender aroma therapy pouches to the hospital for his Eagle Scout service project. Sharon Martinez, Community Outreach and Volunteer Services, said the bags are placed in pillowcases to calm patients and to freshen the room. U Hospital Drug Information Service Takes on National Role U Hospital's Drug Information Service ( DIS) will help pharmacists nationwide access clinically relevant and timely information on ways to manage drug shortages, reported DIS manager Linda S. Tyler, Pharm. D. An agree-ment to provide the service to the 30,000 members of the American Society of Health-systems Pharmacists ( ASHP) was announced by ASHP in February. The Drug Information Service staff will provide ASHP members with information on current drug shortages and therapeutic alterna-tives that can be used to surmount diminishing drug inventories caused by changes in produc-tion, limited distribution programs and short-ages of raw materials. " The Drug Information Service has strived for many years to provide timely information to our practitioners on drug shortages," said Tyler. " We want to prevent patient care problems and quickly identify alternatives and options. We feel privileged to be selected to provide this information to ASHP at the national level." Tyler was quoted in a February USA Today article on the current nationwide shortage of adult tetanus booster vaccine and other medica-tions. She is a professor of pharmacy practice in the College of Pharmacy, and has been at the U since 1986. CDUS to Hold Administrative Fair The Career Development for University Secretaries ( CDUS) Committee is planning its annual Administrative Professionals Conference and Resource Fair on April 10. " It's All About You" is this year's conference theme. Events will include a continental breakfast, lunch and keynote speaker, State Sen. Paula Julander ( D- Salt Lake). Workshops will be presented by four University vice presidents and other professionals. CDUS will also sponsor a blood drive in the Union Building the morning of April 10. The CDUS Committee works with Human Resources to offer educational and career opportunities for all levels of University secretaries. For more information, call Gayla Hansen, xl- 5808. To register, go to www. personnel. utah. edu/ cdus. Get Slim for Spring, Life The American Heart Association wants you to feel " Slim for Life" with help from classes that will be held in the Cafeteria meeting room on Mondays at 1 p. m., March 26 - May 22. Slim for Life is al0- week course that focuses on healthy lifestyle changes through diet, exercise and stress management. The class fee is $ 60. For information on additional classes or to register, call Lynn, 484- 3838, or Jeanette, xl- 2569. C PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPE