Message of the Week #169
November 26th, 2002

FAMILY HAPPENINGS:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, HANUKKAH, AND RAMADAN TO ALL! Have a safe and happy holiday.

NOTICES:
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS:
- The Offices of Student Services will be closed for the Holidays Wednesday, November 27 thru Sunday, December 1st.

- MS1's will be off after their exam
- MS1 Tuesday, November 26 thru December 1st
- MS2 Saturday, November 23 thru December 1st
- MS3 Thursday, November 28 only
- MS4 at preceptor's discretion

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH Rotations Information Session - All students are welcome: Tuesday, December 3, 5:00 p.m., 2116 HSCN (Morgantown) room 3290 (Charleston). RSVP requested. See Attached.

ALUMNI AFFAIRS WEBSITE: Alumni Affairs has a website. You can access it at: www.hsc.wvu.edu/alumni

AMWA: The American Medical Women's Assoc. offers a number of student benefits to women medical students. (Medical Education Loans, Community Service Scholarship, Research Paper Award, Mentoring Award, Bed and Breakfast Program). Email Marie Glanz for further information mglanz@lamwa-doc.org There are flyers available in the Student Services Office on the Credenza.

DISTINGUISHED TEACHING FACULTY AWARD: Nominations are being accepted through December 13, 2002 for the School of Medicine Distinguished Teacher Award. For further information please go to SOLE, SOM Faculty Awards, then click Criteria located on left hand side of page.

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE GRAND ROUNDS: Friday, December 6, 2002, Noon - 1:00 p.m., JJCR, 1,2,3. "Transitional Lives: West Virginia Experiences Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease", by Elizabeth Quintana, MS, RD, LD, CDE.

FMIG MEETING: January 29, 2003, noon - 1, Room 3067.

SIG MEETING: December 11, 2002, noon -1, Room 2094.

EVENTS:
HSC ALUMNI OFFICE ANNUAL HOLIDAY CLOTHING SALE: School of Medicine t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, warm-ups, etc. December 2-13

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Stop by the alumni office room G-104 to do some shopping. (call 293-5110 if you need directions) We accept cash, checks, visa, MasterCard and discover.

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What's Happening this Week - Morgantown:
HOLIDAY EMERGENCIES: Contact Dean on Call, beeper 0673.

PARKING OFFICE TO EXCUSE CITATIONS FOR FOOD DONATIONS: The WVU Parking Office, in cooperation with Student Government and the greater Morgantown community, will offer individuals a chance to feed the hungry and have a parking citation excused at the same time. During the amnesty program Dec. 4-11, the parking office will excuse a citation for three canned food items that are 10 ounces or more or three bags of dried goods such as rice or pasta. In other parking office news, the information system supporting the office will be unavailable Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 25-26, because of a system upgrade and maintenance. However, the parking office will remain open, and staff will be available to answer questions.

Class Notes:
MS 4/Class of 2003:
Community SERVICE: Notices were sent by email to the Class of 2003 regarding Community Service hours. It is a graduation requirement to complete at least 100 hours of service. We will update you again in about 3 months for those who have not completed hours. So far 24 of you have completed 100 hours or more and 8 of you have entered 0 hours. Please continue entering hours even after you have completed the 100 hour requirement.

DEC. GRADUATION: If you are planning on attending the graduation ceremony on Friday, December 6, 2002 at the WVU Coliseum, you need to contact Eloise Tomei at 293-8024 or 293-8029. It is important to RSVP for this event in order for you to be recognized during the ceremony. Although reservations are required to formulate a guest list, there will be no actual tickets for this event and no restrictions on the number of guests invited. To order caps and gowns, please call Alicia Cayton at the WVU Bookstore at 293-7464. Or if you want to borrow a cap and gown from Student Services, you need to contact Carol Kurcaba, SoM Student Services at 293-4961. If you borrow a cap and gown from SoM Student Services, you will need to return these items to us no later than Friday, December 13, 2002.

MS 3/Class of 2004:
MS3 INFORMATION MEETING ON INTERNATIONAL ROTATIONS: Monday, December 9, 12-1p.m., JEJ Dining Room A. Contact Student Services for release from clinical conflicts if you wish to attend. RSVP Nancy Sanders 3-5916, nsanders@hsc.wvu.edu if you plan to attend. See attachment.

MS 2/Class of 2005:
STEP 1 REGISTRATION ONLINE: Register online through the Interactive Website for Applicants and Examinees at http://www.nbme.org instead of submitting paper applications. It takes longer to process paper applications and slows down the overall outcome for students.

STEP 1 SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS WITH PROMETRIC: schedule your USMLE examination appointment by telephone or by using Prometric's web-based scheduling system at http://www.2test.com. This website also allows you to confirm your appointments, regardless of how they scheduled them, and to print related appointment information. Access your information by entering the confirmation number provided by Prometric when the appointment was scheduled.) Use the telephone number printed on the Scheduling Permit to cancel or reschedule an appointment.

Community Service Opportunities:
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS: The 3rd year Physical Therapy class will be hosting information booths regarding the Big Brother Big Sisters program. They will be held during lunch hours in the student lounge (near the bookstore) during the week of December 2-6. See attachment.

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What's Happening This Week - Charleston:
HOLIDAY EMERGENCIES: Contact Dr. Griffith, 341-1500.

HSC ALUMNI OFFICE ANNUAL HOLIDAY CLOTHING SALE: School of Medicine t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, etc. Prices range from $5 -$25. Orders can be placed for warm-ups $65 and jackets $45. December 2, 3, 4, 5 and December 9, 10 from 9:00 am-4:00 pm each day. Stop by the Alumni Office across from the elevators on the first floor to do some shopping. Visa, MasterCard, checks and cash accepted with a 10% discount for cash purchases.

Class Notes:
MS 4/ Class of 2003:
COMMUNITY SERVICE: Notices were sent by email to the Class of 2003 regarding Community Service hours. It is a graduation requirement to complete at least 100 hours of service. We will update you again in about 3 months for those who have not completed hours. So far 24 of you have completed 100 hours or more and 8 of you have entered 0 hours. Please continue entering hours even after you have completed the 100 hour requirement.

MS 3/Class of 2004:
LUNCHEON FOR STUDENTS ON MEDICINE ROTATION: MONDAY December 2, 2002 at Noon in Room 2063 WVU Building. Students who are on the Block III Medicine Rotation are scheduled to have a luncheon with Vice President and Dean, Dr. Hansbarger. All students throughout the year while on the Medicine Rotation will be invited to subsequent block luncheons on February 17, April 14, and June 9. Mark your calender for the applicable block date.

MS3 INFORMATION MEETING ON INTERNATIONAL ROTATIONS: Monday, December 9, 12-1p.m., room 3290. Contact Student Services for release from clinical conflicts if you wish to attend. RSVP Nancy Sanders nsanders@hsc.wvu.edu if you plan to attend. See attachment.

PATHWAY EVALUATION PROGRAM: Wednesday, December 4, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4th floor WVU Building. Come by the Office of Student Services to pick up your Briefing Document that must be completed prior to the career evaluation program. (Don't forget to bring with you to the workshop). Course coordinators have been advised that you will be attending and are to be excused from rotation. Lunch will be provided by the Graduate Medical Education Office.

Community Service Opportunities:
REACH OUT AND READ PROGRAM: Beginning January 2003 the CAMC Children's Medicine Center will be participating in the national Reach Out and Read Program. Volunteers are needed to read to children in the waiting room to help model the positive experience of reading aloud. This is a great opportunity to impact the well-being of southern WV's children. Contact the Center's clinic nurses Carol or Sue or contact Drs. Remi Lawrence or Kim James at 388-2525 to sign up for a specific time.

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External Announcements:
2003-2004 COMMONWEALTH FUND/HARVARD UNIVERSITY FELLOWSHIP IN MINORITY HEALTH POLICY:This innovative fellowship is designed to prepare physicians for leadership roles in the formulation and implementation of public health policy and practice at the national, state or local level. For application materials and/or further information, please contact Jennifer Trickett, Program Coordinator at 617-432-2922; jennifer_trickett@hms.harvard.edu website: www.mfdp.med.harvard.edu/fellows_faculty/cfhuf/index.htm Application Deadline: January 2, 2003.

MEDLENNIUM USF COLLEGE OF MEDICINIE'S LITERARY JOURNAL: Is now accepting entries for their 4th edition to be published in 2003. They are a student run organization that publishes the work of health care students and medical residents. Entries may win 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes in selected categories. Submit your work for any of their categories. Poetry, Fiction/Essay, Personal Statements and Medlennium is Now Accepting your Color Photography and Artwork. Don't miss the Mar. 1st deadline. For more information go to: http://www.med.usf.edu/medstud/medlenniumo