|
|
University Unveils Sculpture of Rosalind Franklin, PhD
 | | RFUMS Trustee Rosalind Franklin Jekowsky, far left, and Martin Franklin, at podium, the niece and nephew of the university's namesake, unveiled a bronze sculpture in her honor during a ceremony on May 29. |
A decade after making history as the first medical institution in the United States to recognize a female scientist through an honorary namesake, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science unveiled
a bronze likeness of the British researcher.
In a May 29 ceremony that drew coverage by the Lake County News-Sun and the Daily Herald, RFUMS celebrated Dr. Rosalind Franklin's life and invaluable scientific contributions, including her famous X-ray diffraction Photo 51, which was crucial
to the discovery of the structure of DNA.
In taking Dr. Franklin's name on
Jan. 27, 2004, the university also took Photo 51 as its logo and "Life in Discovery" as its motto.
"It is our intention that the sculpture that we unveil today will remind all who enter her
namesake university that a life lived in discovery is a worthy and attainable goal and one that reverberates beyond the veil of our own mortality," said RFUMS President and CEO Dr. K. Michael Welch.
Martin Franklin and RFUMS Trustee Rosalind Franklin Jekowsky, a nephew and niece of the scientist, who died in 1958 at age 37, unveiled the larger-than-life bronze partial figure mounted on a granite base, the work of local artist Julie Rotblatt-Amrany.
"Our aunt would be pleased that her legacy includes this university, which is preparing health science and biomedical professionals who will work on behalf of patients, not in isolation, but in teams that build and capitalize on each member's skill, knowledge and strengths," said Martin Franklin. "In honoring her, you honor ideals that can lead each generation to greatness."
Following the ceremony, a luncheon meeting brought together Martin Franklin and Rosalind Franklin-Jekowsky with recipients of the Franklin Fellows Scholarship. Established through a generous gift from Martin and Julie Franklin on behalf of the Franklin Family, in honor of the university's centennial, the fellowship fosters the development of interprofessional service projects aimed at improving the health and well-being of local underserved residents.
|
- The university celebrated its 100th commencement on June 6 at the Civic Opera House in Chicago, conferring about 630 graduate medical and health science degrees. Dr. K. Michael Welch, RFUMS president and CEO, told the Class of 2014 that they are "poised to be leaders in collaborative, interprofessional healthcare teams." Commencement speaker, Sylvia Manning, MA, PhD, president of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters for her contributions to higher education. The commencement was preceded on June 5 by the annual Awards Ceremony, held at the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier. More than 100 graduating students across the university's five schools and colleges were recognized for excellence in academics and service.
- The 49th annual installation for Alpha Omega Alpha, Delta Chapter of Illinois, was held May 28 at RFUMS, where 32 CMS students were inducted into the honor medical society. Dedicated to the belief that patient care will be improved by the recognition of high educational achievement, gifted teaching and leadership that supports the ideals of humanism and service, AOA has 123 chapters in medical schools around the U.S.
- A team from the university's Resuscitation Institute took first place in a poster presentation at the Hines VA Hospital and Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Research Day on May 20. "Effects of Pretreatment with Ginseng on Resuscitation from Cardiac Arrest," was produced by Raśl J. Gazmuri, MD, PhD, along with Karla Whittinghill, PhD; Yang Miao, MS; and Jeejabai Radhakrishnan, PhD. More than 60 abstracts were submitted for the event and of those, 24 were selected for poster presentation. Preliminary research suggests that taking ginseng could facilitate resuscitation from cardiac arrest. Dr. Gazmuri and his team were inspired by the work of Morris Karmazyn, PhD, from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, who visited the institute in 2012.
- Michelle Hastings, PhD, CMS associate professor in the department of cell biology and anatomy, presented "Targeting RNA Processing for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases" at the University of Illinois at Chicago on June 20.
- Anthony R. West, PhD, CMS associate professor and vice chair of the department of neuroscience, is editor of the recently published "Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases in the Central Nervous System: From Biology to Drug Discovery." The book examines advances in understanding phosphodiesterases within the central nervous system and therapeutic applications of the enzymes.
- Jim Carlson, PhD, MS, PA-C, vice dean of the College of Health Professions, authored a scholarly article on the university's application of the i-Human patient simulator. "Use of a Web-based Virtual Patient to Enhance Case-based Learning in Health Professions Training" appears in MEdSim magazine. Carlson is also RFUMS associate vice president for clinical simulation.
- Bala Chandran, PhD, professor and chair of the department of microbiology and immunology, received a two-year, $424,875 NIH grant for a study titled "Interferon gamma inducible protein 16 and KSHV gene expression."
- The pharmaceutical company AbbVie will fund research by Gulam Waris, PhD, assistant professor in the department of microbiology and immunology, on "Establishment of liver fibrosis assay using stellate cells." The $17,200 grant is for one year.
- Marina Wolf, PhD, CMS professor and chair of the department of neuroscience, has been awarded a five-year, $1,846,933 NIH grant to study "Synaptic mechanisms maintaining persistent cocaine craving."
- The Resuscitation Institute received $7,500 from the Jeffrey Kraut - Friends of Medical Research for a study titled "Disodium carbonate/sodium bicarbonate buffer combined with the NHE-1 inhibitor zoniporide for resuscitation from cardiac arrest."
- Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine Dean Nancy Parsley, DPM, MHPE, hosted a luncheon on June 10 for both outgoing and incoming Scholl College Student Ambassadors who assist with admissions and recruitment events. Ambassadors share their experience and knowledge of SCPM and RFUMS with prospective and new students.
- RFUMS faculty, staff and students participated in "All Together Better Health VII," a biennial global conference on interprofessional practice and education held June 6-8 on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. RFUMS submitted 17 abstracts for the event and presented numerous posters and oral papers.
|
|
Alliance for Health Sciences News
| |
|
- DePaul Pathways Honors students completed their freshman year at DePaul with a reception held at the Lincoln Park Zoo on May 29. RFUMS faculty attended to help the students reflect on their first year and discuss their pathway to a graduate program in health care. Students were encouraged to pursue a health-related volunteer experience over the summer, and many are also participating in summer research opportunities. "We are encouraged that this first group of students may yield an excellent cohort of applicants to RFUMS in the next two or three years," said Patrick Knott, PhD, RFUMS vice president for strategic enrollment management. More activities are planned to begin in the fall. The next Pathways Honors cohort class will matriculate in August to begin the freshman fall quarter at DePaul. RFUMS faculty will participate in orientation activities over the summer.
|
- A story on the podiatric profession appeared May 30 in The Chicago Tribune's CareerBuilder. The piece includes interviews with Karona Mason, DPM, associate dean of clinical experience at Scholl College, and Laura Pickard, DPM '90.
- The university's electric vehicle charging stations, installed in 2013, garnered media attention in two publications, the Lake County News-Sun on June 12 and the June issue of The Parking Professional magazine. The articles include interviews with Bob Jackson, RFUMS director of operations-facility management, Vince Butera, director of materials management, and plug-in car owners Adrian Gross, MD, and Carl Correll, PhD, both CMS associate professors in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology.
|
|
Gallery -- Campus Events and Community Outreach
| |
|
- Richard Macdonald, DPM '60, delivered the alumni welcome at the 100th Commencement Ceremony of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, held June 6.
- Joel Klein, MD '87, contributed to an article on a new allergy medication for Highland Park News.
- Patrick Deheer, DPM '90, received the 2014 International Federation of Podiatrists Humanitarian Award for his role in the comprehensive diabetic foot program at the Hospital Bernard Mevs, through Project Medishare, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
- Sara Kaiser, MS '11, authored an article on natural foods that thicken the blood for sfgate.com.
|
|
Advancement and Community News
| |
|
- RFUMS launched a new session of the INSPIRE summer research program on June 9. Twelve INSPIRE students from Waukegan and North Chicago are enrolled in the eight-week program designed to create pathways for Latino students into higher education and health or research careers. The program offers real-life workforce experience, academic guidance and support, applied research opportunities, family engagement, career exploration, and one-on-one mentoring. INSPIRE, which stands for Influence Student Potential and Increase Representation in Education, is made possible through the generous commitment of RFUMS faculty advisors and graduate student mentors. Data shows that 70 percent of INSPIRE students improved their grade point average in the sciences after their first year of participation and 100 percent who retake the ACT average an improvement of almost two points in their scores. Nationally, only 57 percent of students who retake the test improve their scores, typically scoring just one point higher on their second attempt. One hundred percent of INSPIRE students have matriculated at two- or four-year colleges after graduating from high school.
- The Future Healthcare Professionals Club at North Chicago High School held its last session for the academic year on May 8 as participants reviewed past lessons and learned a new one: cranial nerves. The club introduces students to pre-health education through hands-on activities and demonstrations offered by RFUMS students. New sessions will start early next fall.
- RFUMS took part in a Parent Resource Fair hosted by the North Chicago Community School District on May 13. More than 20 agencies provided parents and students information on community resources. RFUMS highlighted three programs it offers to local high school students: INSPIRE, STEP UP and the Future Healthcare Professionals Club.
- The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County has renewed its support of the RFUMS Physician Assistant Scholarship Program, which provides two scholarships per year to incoming physician assistant students who commit to providing primary care services in Lake County's medically underserved communities for a minimum of two years after graduation.
- Don't miss the final chance to make a gift before the end of the fiscal year. Your gifts enable the funding of areas of critical need that will benefit our students, including increased student scholarship support. There are three ways to donate: Make a gift to the Centennial Scholarship Campaign, the university's Annual Fund, or purchase a commemorative brick paver or bench, Please participate and make a difference in the lives of our students.
|
|
We want to hear from you. | |
|
|
Your comments and suggestions are highly valuable as we strive to continually provide excellent service and support to the RFUMS community. Email judy.masterson@rosalindfranklin.edu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
