UNMC, Partners Across Nebraska Sponsor Free April
Mini-Medical School Series; Genes & Chips: Combining New Science, New
Technology for a Healthier Tomorrow
The University of Nebraska Medical Center invites the public to its
free April Mini-Medical School series titled, Genes & Chips: Combining
New Science, New Technology for a Healthier Tomorrow. The series will
show new ways of diagnosing and preventing disease through the merging
of computer science, engineering and medicine. These fields are working
together to create gigantic leaps in medical knowledge, tools and research.
Anyone who attends even one Mini-Medical School session will receive
a UNMC Mini-Medical School diploma for attending. Seating is limited.
The series is scheduled every Thursday evening in April April 5, 12,
19 and 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. (CDT) and 6 to 8 p.m. (MDT). It will originate
on the UNMC campus in Omaha and be transmitted live to west Omaha, Columbus,
Dakota City, Grand Island, Kearney, Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, ONeill
and Scottsbluff (see details on last page of news release).
Topics include: the development of new drug delivery systems which direct
drugs to the targeted area; computerized medical records and their impact
on health; patient simulators used in teaching UNMC students; ways to access
legitimate health information on the Internet; and surgery with the da
VinciTM Surgical System — a new robotic system used for surgeries at UNMC
and Nebraska Health System.
The da VinciTM Surgical System was used at UNMC/NHS for the first time
last August to perform a computer-assisted procedure on a patient who needed
a bowel resection. To date, 12 clinical procedures have been performed
for various conditions. Compared to traditional surgery, computer-assisted
surgery sometimes referred to as robotic surgery benefits patients
because the incision made during surgery is as little as one inch. This
significantly reduces the patients pain, recovery and rehabilitation time.
Today, the speed of biotechnology helps researchers move their discoveries
quickly to the patient, said James Linder, M.D., professor of pathology/microbiology
at UNMC. Results of medical uses of biotechnology include new drugs, new
tests to better predict risk for disease, and computer-assisted surgical
systems that significantly reduce patient pain, recovery and rehabilitation
time.
The satellite broadcast can be received by any facility across Nebraska
that has NebSat (Net 2) with TeleStar5 satellite downlink capability. For
the channel number, call UNMC at (402) 559-5190.
UNMC Mini-Medical School dates, topics and presenters:
April 5 Tapping into technology
From black bag to laptop — Learn how computer technology is leading
us to a healthier future, how medical records will be managed and how computers
support the decisions of health-care providers, presented by James Linder,
M.D., professor of pathology/microbiology, and visiting professor, Peter
Kiewit Institute of Information Science, Technology and Engineering, University
of Nebraska.
Technology to tailor treatments — Discover how computers measure gene
expression and distinguish differences in diseases, which may help explain
why some people respond to treatments and others dont, presented by Wing
(John) C. Chan, M.D., UNMC professor of pathology/microbiology.
April 12 What technology can teach us
Practicing on virtual patients — Find out how computer equipment and
simulators in the classroom are teaching the next generation of health-care
professionals, presented by John H. Tinker, M.D., UNMC chairperson and
professor of anesthesiology.
Doctor.com medical advice on the Web — Study ways to access medical
information on the Internet and learn how to identify legitimate health
Web sites, presented by John Windle, M.D., section chief and associate
professor of cardiology, and director of UNMC Health Informatics Program.
April 19 — Directions to a healthier tomorrows
Fighting cancer on the genetic level — Learn how cancer occurs when
certain genes are turned off, how UNMC researchers use technology to detect
these changes and how new treatments are being developed, presented by
Judith K. Christman, Ph.D., UNMC Chairwoman and Stokes-Shackleford Professor
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Special delivery drugs — Discover how researchers are developing new
drug delivery systems that will act like magic bullets, presented by Alexander
(Sasha) Kabanov, Ph.D., Dr.Sc., UNMC associate professor of pharmaceutical
sciences.
April 26 — Surgery, computers and robots
Technology and touch: A joint effort — Find out how engineering, robotic
surgery and computers are assisting orthopaedic surgeons in the operating
room, presented by Hani Haider, Ph.D., UNMC associate professor of orthopaedic
surgery.
On the cutting edge — Explore the world of computer-assisted surgery
and see how UNMCs new da VinciTM Surgical System works, presented by Byers
W. Shaw, Jr., M.D., UNMC chairman and Musselman Professor, Regents Named
Chair.
While the program is free to the public, Nebraska and Iowa nurses who
wish to receive eight contact hours of continuing nursing education credits,
can do so at a cost of $40, through the UNMC College of Nursing, which
is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission
on Accreditation, Iowa provider number 78. Call Sue Wisnieski for more
information, (402) 559-7487.
This is the 11th UNMC Mini-Medical School Series. Some previous topics
included: brain disease, cancer, womens health, genetics, heart disease,
geriatrics, diabetes and respiratory systems.
Locations of FREE UNMC Mini-Medical School Series
Genes & Chips: Combining New Science, Technology for a Healthier
Tomorrow
Four consecutive Thursdays, April 5, 12, 19 & 26
7-9 p.m. CDT
6-8 p.m. MDT
Columbus
Contact: Jeri Howard, Central Community College Columbus Campus, North
Education Building, Room 904, 4500 63rd St. To register, call (402) 562-1252
or via internet at www.unmc.edu
Dakota City
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Commissioners Meeting
Room, Courthouse (lower level)
To register, call (402) 987-2140 or via internet at www.unmc.edu
Grand Island
College Park, Fonner Park Room, 3180 W. Highway 34
To register, call (308) 385-5014 or via internet at www.unmc.edu
Kearney
Rural Health Education Distance Learning Center, Communications Center
Building, Room 101, University of Nebraska at Kearney, 1918 University
Drive
To register, call (308) 865-8055 or (308) 865-8065 or via internet
at www.unmc.edu
Lincoln
UNMC College of Dentistry, 40th and Holdrege Streets, Dixon Lecture
Hall
To register, call (402) 472-9993 or via internet at www.unmc.edu
Sponsors: UNMC College of Nursing and UNMC College of Dentistry
Norfolk
Northeast Community College, Lifelong Learning Center
University Classroom, 601 E. Benjamin Ave.
To register, call (402) 370-4000 or via internet at www.unmc.edu
North Platte
Nebraska Plains Higher Education Center
McKinley Education Center, Room 106, 301 West F Street
To register, call (308) 532-3611, ext. 167 or via internet at www.unmc.edu
Omaha
UNMC College of Nursing, Cooper Auditorium, 42nd Street and Dewey Ave.
To register, call (402) 559-4315 or via internet at www.unmc.edu
and
NHS Clarkson West Medical Center, 144th & West Center Road, Conference
Room, 2nd Floor (seating limited)
To register, call (402) 559-4315 or via internet at www.unmc.edu
ONeill
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Courthouse Annex, 128
N. 6th St.
To register, call (402) 336-2760 or via internet at www.unmc.edu
Scottsbluff
UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division, University Complex
Panhandle Station
4502 Ave. I, Room 201
Call (308) 632-0410 or via internet at www.unmc.edu
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