Message of the Week #155
August 20th, 2002

NOTICES:
NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE LOG-IN SITE: Academic Technology is working on a merge of the old system with the new system. We anticipate this will be ready next week. Watch for further postings. In the meantime, if there are service postings on your SOLE site that are not yours, please "click the trash can" to delete the posting.

NEW HEALTH INSURANCE REPORTING PAGE: A form has been created on your personal demographic page (not through SOLE) for reporting your current Health Insurance Information. EVEN IF WE HAVE A COPY OF YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE CARD, update this report ASAP. This form will be a required update every year. Students are under the Integrity Policy as they complete the information.

USE OF STUDENT SERVICES FACILITY: Please be aware that the fax, phones and copier in Student Services can only be used by students for official class business or in the event of an emergency. The business of the office, the number of students we serve, and the current budget cuts preclude us from making these systems available for personal use. Thank you for working with us in this regard.

EVENTS:
AOA ELECTION (AOA MEMBERS ONLY): August 28, 2002, 5:00 p.m. Morgantown: John Jones "A". Charleston: Room 3290 WVU Building. The teleconference election between campuses will be to select the remaining members from the Class of 2003.

FOOTBALL TENTS: Oct. 5 and 26 at the POC Portico. All medical students, with one guest, invited. Mark you calenders.

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What's Happening this Week — Morgantown:

Class Notes:
MORGANTOWN HSC EVACUATION PROTOCOL: The Schools of the Health Sciences Center have devised individual evacuation plans as directed by the HSC policy. The School of Medicine policy is attached. READ THROUGH THIS POLICY so that we can ensure compliance by all medical students.

REQUEST TO MINIMIZE HALLWAY NOISE: The Department of Pathology offices (second floor HSCN) are many times used for patient discussion purposes. With the start of the new academic year, the student activity level has greatly increased in the second floor hallways. Each school is asking their students to observe reasonable rules of conduct on the second floor (around the Pathology Offices) akin to the hospital floors (i.e., keep conversation muted and not hang out in the hallways. They should not be used as lounges. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

HSC MAILBOX REMINDER NOTICE: Your student mailboxes are designed for interdepartmental notices only. The box is not secure. DO NOT USE THIS MAILBOX AS A SOURCE FOR RECEIPT OF EXTERNAL MAIL, i.e. concert tickets, magazines, etc. All non-HSC mail should be delivered to your home address.

STUDENT SERVICES OFFICE SCHEDULE: Beginning September 1st, the Office of Student Services' weekly staff meeting will be held on Thursdays, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

MS 4/Class of 2003:
CLASS QUARTILE RANKINGS: The Class Quartile rankings have been compiled. You will be informed of your quartile ranking when you meet with the Dean to discuss your Dean's Letter. You will not receive an individual ranking, but a quartile designation. If you have already meet with Drs. Cather/Ferrari/Griffith to discuss your Dean's Letter, you may contact the Student Services Office for this information.

GETTING TO RESIDENCY PART 2 - October SESSIONS: Morgantown-Thursday, October 10, 3PM-5PM, John E Jones, 1, 2, 3 / Charleston-Tuesday, October 15, 11:30AM-3:30PM, 4th floor WVU Building. To register, respond to this e-mail or contact Student Services. Note your preferred date and specialty.

STEP 2 - CHANGE IN NUMBER OF ITEMS / DELAY IN SCORE REPORTING NOTICE FROM THE NBME: Starting on or around August 15, 2002, a transition period will begin in which the number of items in current forms of the Step 2 examination will change from approximately 400 to approximately 370 items. Although the transition will occur quickly at many test centers, there may also be some locations where the changes take slightly longer to complete. The overall transition period will likely last approximately 6 weeks. The length of the examination day will remain unchanged. The decrease in the number of items per form will be accounted for in scoring the examination results, so that scores on new and old forms will be comparable. Because of these changes in timing, along with other changes in the Step 2 test item pool, it will be necessary to delay the reporting of scores of some examinees for an additional 1-2 weeks beyond the normal 3-4 turnaround period. All efforts will be made to minimize these delays and the number of examinees who are affected.

2003 USMLE STEP 2 APPLICATIONS NOTICE FROM THE NBME: The 2003 Step 2 application will be available on August 14, 2002 on our website, www.nbme.org. While students may print the application, we prefer that they apply on-line using the NBME Interactive Website for Applicants and Examinees, which can be reached by clicking on the USMLE link of the NBME website. Also, the NBME will not distribute a 2003 USMLE CD in bulk to medical schools this year. The tutorial and sample items that would normally be available on the CD can be downloaded directly from the USMLE website.

MS 3/Class of 2004:
THIRD YEAR CLASS MEETING: Friday, August 23, 2002, Noon - 1 p.m. in the Path Amp. Lunch is being provided.

MS 2/Class of 2005:
SECOND YEAR ORIENTATION: Mark your calenders. Friday, September 20, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Location to be announced. ATTENDANCE REQUIRED.

USMLE STEP 1 APPLICATIONS: Do not begin this process until after we have met during Second Year Orientation.

MS 1/Class of 2006:
OSHA CERTIFICATION REMINDER: Remember to complete your on line OSHA certification by Friday, August 23rd at 5 PM. Failure to do so will result in our office notifying your course directors that you will be unable to participate in patient care activities and shadowing.

SCAVENGER HUNT WINNER IS: Melissa Brooks! Congratulations Melissa. Please stop by the Student Services Office and pick up your prize.

HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION: Complete your Health Insurance Information on your personal demographic page by September 1st.

FIRST YEAR ORIENTATION FOLLOW-UP SESSION: Thursday, September 12, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Location to be announced.

MED PUB CLASS AVAILABLE: The Orientation program this year did not provide time for a "Pub Med" computer course. Students have previously found this training valuable during their medical school career as they work through various research processes. Pub Med relates to other databases from the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health. The Computer-Based Learning Center is offering two courses this fall that fit well into your official schedule: Friday, October 25 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. or Thursday, November 14, 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. If you wish to register, call 293-6128 (CBLC) between the hours of 9 and 12, Monday through Friday.

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What's Happening This Week — Charleston:

Class Notes:

RECEPTION FOR DR. FERRARI: Thursday, August 22, 4:30PM - 6:30 PM 4th floor WVU Building. Join Dr. Ferrari as he bids farewell to his interim positions as Charleston Division Associate Vice President for Health Sciences, Dean of the School of Medicine and CAMC Director of Medicinal Education. Program begins at 5 PM. RSVP 347-1206 or sburgy@hsc.wvu.edu.

RESEARCH LUNCH AND LEARN: The next Research Lunch and Learn will be held August 21 from noon - 1 p.m. and is entitled, "The Future of Intravascular Stenting: Findings from CAMC and Others," by Mark Bates, M.D. It may be viewed in Rooms 101 and 102 at General Hospital, the Board Room at Women and Children's Hospital and by "live" lecture in Room 2000 of the WVU Building next door to Memorial Hospital. Please RSVP to 388-9960 to be included in the lunch count.

COURSE OFFERING: Thursday, August 22, 3:00-4:30 PM, WVU Computer Lab. Medical Presentations: Full Text and PowerPoint. To register call 347-1219 or e-mail mschott@hsc.wvu.edu.

FALL TUITION/FEES/FINANCIAL AID: The late fee of $40.00 is now in effect for any fall tuition/fees payments that are outstanding. Please be prepared to add that amount to your total when making any payments for Fall term. Payment can be made via phone using Visa, MasterCard, Discover credit cards or your debit card if coming into Student Services is not convenient this week. All financial aid checks should be received by the end of this week. Contact Tammy on Monday, August 26th, if you have not received your refund check by that day by phoning 347-1210 or e-mail at tflanagan@hsc.wvu.edu.

BLOOD DRIVE: August 26, 11am - 3 PM. Red Cross will be parked outside Women and Children's Hospital. Call 345-9051 to schedule an appointment to donate.

MS 4/ Class of 2003:
CLASS QUARTILE RANKINGS: The Class Quartile rankings have been compiled. You will be informed of your quartile ranking when you meet with the Dean to discuss your Dean's Letter. You will not receive an individual ranking, but a quartile designation.

GETTING TO RESIDENCY PART 2 - October SESSIONS: Morgantown-Thursday, October 10, 3PM-5PM, John E Jones, 1, 2, 3 / Charleston-Tuesday, October 15, 11:30AM-3:30PM, 4th floor WVU Building. To register, respond to this e-mail or contact Student Services. Note your preferred date and specialty.

STEP 2 - CHANGE IN NUMBER OF ITEMS / DELAY IN SCORE REPORTING NOTICE FROM THE NBME: Starting on or around August 15, 2002, a transition period will begin in which the number of items in current forms of the Step 2 examination will change from approximately 400 to approximately 370 items. Although the transition will occur quickly at many test centers, there may also be some locations where the changes take slightly longer to complete. The overall transition period will likely last approximately 6 weeks. The length of the examination day will remain unchanged. The decrease in the number of items per form will be accounted for in scoring the examination results, so that scores on new and old forms will be comparable. Because of these changes in timing, along with other changes in the Step 2 test item pool, it will be necessary to delay the reporting of scores of some examinees for an additional 1-2 weeks beyond the normal 3-4 turnaround period. All efforts will be made to minimize these delays and the number of examinees who are affected.

2003 USMLE STEP 2 APPLICATIONS NOTICE FROM THE NBME: The 2003 Step 2 application became available on August 14, 2002 on our website, www.nbme.org. While students may print the application, we prefer that they apply on-line using the NBME Interactive Website for Applicants and Examinees, which can be reached by clicking on the USMLE link of the NBME website. Also, the NBME will not distribute a 2003 USMLE CD in bulk to medical schools this year. The tutorial and sample items that would normally be available on the CD can be downloaded directly from the USMLE website.

MS 3/Class of 2004:
ON-LINE COURSE EVALUATION: Implementation of the on-line course evaluation for the third year courses is applicable with the Block I rotations. The course evaluations are to be completed by Thursday, August 22.

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External Announcements:

CDC HOSTS PROGRAM ON WEST NILE VIRUS: On August 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hosted a satellite program on the West Nile Virus, led by CDC Director Julie L. Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H. The broadcast provided information on pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical diagnosis, laboratory testing, and prevention strategies for West Nile Virus infection. Videotape copies of the program and an archived version of the Internet broadcast are available. Information: Public Health Foundation, 1.877.252.1200, or go to http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/PHTN/webcast/westnile/