Pulse

Volume5/2004_December20PULSE December 20, 2004 UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER Larry Jung August L. 'Larry' Jung, M.D., Honored With Endowed Chair In His Name August L. (Larry) Jung, M.D., who established Utah's first newborn intensive care unit ( NBICU) more than three I decades ago, recently was recog-nized at a program announcing I the August L. ( Larry) Jung, M. D., Presidential Endowed Chair in the Division of Neonatology. The pediatrics department endowed the chair, which a physician will be selected to hold, with $ 1.25 million. Jung, professor of pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology, not only trained the first generation of neonatologists but also established neonatal care units throughout the Intermountain West, according to Edward B. Clark, M. D., professor and chair of pediatrics at the medical school and medical director of Primary Children's Medical Center. " Dr. Jung changed the lives of thousands of infants and their families," Clark said. lung, whose parents ran a pumpernickel bakery in Chicago, came to Utah in 1953 to study forestry at Utah State University. Because of an illness of his first- born daughter, Christine, Jung became interested in the needs of newborn babies. Shortly after that, Jung switched his Continued on back Medical Billing Donations Add Up A little holiday competition at the University Medical Billing office recently gathered more than 1,500 pounds of food for the Utah Food Bank. The payment- posting team, including Kelly Kesler, Binh Chung, Jennifer Nash, Teri Olsen, Amanda Siggard, Selena Wilson, Jared Olney, and Michael Morris, won the prize for donating the most food- more than 700 items. All food contributed was delivered to Jiffy Lube, which matched the donation before it was sent to the food bank. The payment- posting team also initiated the project. UH Passes JCAHO with Flying Colors Dear Hospital Staff: We did it! After a week- long visit, I'm pleased to report the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations ( JCAHO) now recognizes what we've known all along: that the faculty and staff of University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics are commit-ted to providing high quality and safe care to patients. The hospital was evaluated on 560 standards and received only nine comments where improvements were needed. Changes already have been made to address those areas. All in all, we received an " A" grade! The expert reviewers who visited our facilities had many positive comments. The group was impressed by the complexity of our organization. They specifically mentioned the quality of the communication that goes on between care providers at shift changes in our inpatient units. They also said that our burn, SICU, and behavioral health units were among the best they've seen. Our state- of- the- art emergency command center also earned high marks. I realize the tremendous amount of work that went into preparing for the visit and want each of you to know I'm grateful for your hard work. It's satisfying to know that our efforts to make UUHC a world- class organization will be recognized by JCAHO with a three- year accreditation. Special thanks go to Sunny Vance- Lauritzen and Kathy Oleson who coordinated the ongoing prepara-tions for this year's visit. I'd also like to thank Senior Vice President Betz for his leadership during the review. Sincerely, Rick Fullmer, CEO Holiday Shuttle, Parking Changes Commuter Services is making a few changes to parking options on Dec. 23, 24, and 31. On these days, the O Zone shuttle will not be operating, but permit holders may park in A- parking areas. The Medical Center TRAX shuttle will operate Thursday, 5: 30 a. m.- 10 p. m.; Friday, 7 a. m.- 6 p. m.; and Dec. 31, 5: 30 a. m.- 6 p. m. There will be no service on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1. Holiday Social Recognizes Volunteers Volunteer services' Maria Anton, left, gave UH volunteers Janet and Ben Kolman a box of pears, which all volunteers received at last week's holiday social to thank the group for their hours of dedicated service and contributions to the hospital and patients. Recognition Set for Longtime U Staff More than 100 U employees will be recognized on Jan. 10 at the U of U Staff Service Awards Luncheon. Staff from across campus will be honored for 25, 30, 35, 40, or more years of service. Other staff members who wish to join their co- workers are welcome to purchase a ticket for $ 10 and RSVP by Dec. 30. For more informa-tion or to buy tickets, contact Terri Crow, x5- 0928. Pulse Takes a Break Until Jan. 3 Pulse will not be published for the week of Dec. 27. Information may be submitted for the next issue, Jan. 3, by contacting Jason Burgess in the Office of Public Affairs, xl- 3102. Information must be received by the Wednesday before the Monday publication date. Happy Holidays from Afghanistan Several Utah soldiers, who have close ties to U Hospital, sent holiday greetings from far away Bagram, Afghanistan. Pictured, left to right, are 1st Lt. Mathew Garrand ( son of Sandy Garrand, R. N., 3 North); Chaplain Mark Allison ( UH Chaplain); Specialist Deborah Harris ( a U student and sister of Kathryn Harris, Environmental Safety Office); and Sgt. Michael Spader ( son of Vicki Spader, Home Dialysis Program). Presidential Endowed Chair continued career to medicine, graduating from the U medical school in 1961, then completing a pediatric residency. In July 1968, under Jung's direction, the U opened its NBICU- one room with the capacity to care for five babies. The unit was the only one between Denver and the West Coast and Phoenix and Canada. The Division of Neonatology today has a faculty of 22 and has trained 45 fellows since its 1973 founding- much of this through Jung's teaching of students, interns, residents, and nurses. Five of his former faculty have been or are division chiefs at major U. S. universities. In 1999, Jung stepped down as chief of neonatology, but he continues as a professor. The establishment of a chair in his name came as a " total surprise," Jung said. " I'm very flattered. It was a great honor to receive this award." PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER In Memoriam Melvin Denis, a M. D., Ph. D. student, died in a Big Cottonwood Canyon avalanche Dec. 12. Denis had finished his doctorate degree and was set to begin his third year of medical school in April. Fellow students said they will remember his kindness and sense of humor. Funeral services were held last week at his home in Miami. A memorial service also will be planned for the first of January and a trust fund for his family has been established at the University of Utah Credit Union. For more information, contact Janet Bassett, x5- 6408. uuhsc. utah. ed