The University of Nebraska Medical Center invites Nebraskans to attend
a free health educational series on smallpox, titled, Smallpox: What You
Need to Know, on Thursdays, Feb. 13, 20 and 27, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
(CST). During the series, Nebraskans will learn about smallpox, the social
and ethical issues, the risks involved in the smallpox vaccine, the safety
mechanisms in medical research and how the state will respond in the event
of a bioterrorist attack.
The goal of Mini-Medical School is to educate Nebraskans on health issues
that affect them, as well as highlight the strides being made in research
and treatment at UNMC. The free series will be broadcast live via satellite
from Omaha to: Alliance, Columbus, Grand Island, Kearney, Lincoln, Long
Pine, Norfolk, North Platte, ONeill, Red Cloud, Scottsbluff and Sidney.
Continuing education credits for nurses also are available. Anyone with
satellite downlink capability can receive the series by accessing Nebraska
Satellite System 2, (NebSat2) channel 107.
On Feb, 13, the program, Smallpox 101, speakers will discuss viruses
and vaccines and the history, treatment and prevention of smallpox. On
Feb. 20, Research: Risks, Rights and Responsibilities, speakers will
address the risks and benefits of the smallpox vaccine and safety mechanisms
in medical research. On Feb. 27, Securing Nebraskas Homeland speakers
will discuss how Nebraska plans to protect the citizens of Nebraska against
the threat of a bioterrorism attack.
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of presenters.
Seating is limited. Registration is required. To get more information about
the series, go to: www.unmc.edu/smallpox.
While the program is free to the public, Nebraska and Iowa nurses who
wish to receive six contact hours of continuing nursing education credits
can do so at a cost of $30 through the UNMC College of Nursing. The University
of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing Continuing Nursing Education
is accredited as a provider of continuing education in nursing by the American
Nurses Credentialing Centers Commission on Accreditation with approved
provider status in Iowa and California.
To get technical information about accessing NebSat2 satellite downlink,
call Brenda Jeter at (402) 559-9049 or bjeter@unmc.edu.
Smallpox is a contagious, and sometimes fatal disease caused by the
variola virus. Fever and a progressive skin rash are symptoms. Smallpox
first emerged in human populations thousands of years ago. In 1980, the
disease was declared eradicated following worldwide vaccination programs.
Routine smallpox vaccinations in the United States ended in 1972.
Two known samples of smallpox were kept in secure laboratories in the
United States and the Soviet Union. With the political upheaval that dismantled
the former Soviet Union and its secret bioweapons program, some people
fear that terrorists or rogue nations could have lured unemployed Soviet
scientists into creating weapons of mass destruction using smallpox. After
the terrorist and anthrax attacks in the fall of 2001, the U.S. government
began making plans to respond to a potential attack.
A detailed nationwide smallpox response plan is designed to vaccinate
people quickly and contain a potential outbreak, including a plan includes
the creation of healthcare teams who have been vaccinated and are ready
to respond. Public and private institutions are working together to implement
Nebraskas response plan.
UNMC Mini-Medical School dates, topics and presenters:
Feb. 13 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (CST)
Smallpox 101 Learn the basics of viruses, vaccines and the immune
system. Find out how the vaccine was developed from cowpox, why people
who were immunized at one time would need to be revaccinated, and what
are the potential side effects. Intro to Virology 101 will be presented
by Steven Hinrichs, M.D., director, Center for Biosecurity, University
of Nebraska, director, Nebraska Public Health Laboratory, medical director,
Clinical Microbiology, Professor, UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology;
Understanding Vaccines will be presented by Jose Romero, M.D., associate
professor, pediatrics and pathology/microbiology, joint appointments at
UNMC and Creighton University, chief Latino recruitment officer for UNMC;
and Preventing the Spread of
Smallpox will be presented by Philip Smith, M.D., professor and chief,
section of infectious diseases, UNMC Department of Internal Medicine. Panel
moderator will be David Crouse, Ph.D., interim vice chancellor for academic
affairs, interim dean for graduate studies and professor, UNMC Department
of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy.
Feb. 20 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (CST)
Research: Risks, Rights and Responsibilities, — Meet members of
UNMCs Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects,
who will discuss the safety mechanisms in medical research, the social
and ethical issues of the smallpox vaccine and the importance of informed
consent. Research will be presented by Ernest Prentice, Ph.D., associate
vice chancellor for academic affairs, UNMC regulatory compliance, professor,
UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, and chairman of
the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on
Human Research Protection; Rights will be presented by Tim Kelso, J.D.,
attorney and community representative, UNMC Institutional Review Board
for the Protection of Human Subjects; Risks will be presented by Mark
Rupp, M.D., associate professor, infectious diseases, and medical director,
Nebraska Health System Department of Healthcare Epidemiology; and Responsibility
will be presented by Toby Schonfeld, Ph.D., assistant professor, section
of humanities and law, UNMC Department of Preventive and Societal Medicine.
Moderator will be Dr. Prentice.
Feb. 27 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (CST)
Securing Nebraskas Homeland — Learn the basics of public health.
Discover how state and local agencies are working together to protect Nebraskans
in the event of a bioterrorist attack. Learn about your local plan and
what you can do. The Importance of a Local Coordinated Plan, will be
presented by Pat Lenaghan, co-chairwoman, Omaha Metropolitan Medical Response
System; Public Health and The Douglas County Plan, will be presented
by Adi Pour, Ph.D., director, Douglas County Health Department; and The
Nebraska Plan, will be presented by Richard Raymond, M.D., chief medical
officer, Nebraska Health and Human Services System. Moderator will be David
Crouse, Ph.D., interim vice chancellor for academic affairs, interim dean
for UNMC Graduate Studies and professor, UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell
Biology and Anatomy.
Locations of free UNMC Mini-Medical School series:
Alliance
Box Butte General Hospital, The Alliance Room, 2101 Box Butte Ave.,
Alliance, NE
To register, call Jeanne Murray, Box Butte County Extension, (308)
762-5616, or e-mail jmurray1@unl.edu
Co-sponsored by Box Butte County Extension and Box Butte General Hospital
Chadron
The Scottsbluff Room, Chadron State College Student Center, Chadron
To register, call 308-432-6278 or e-mail hpoffice@csc.edu
Co-sponsored by Chadron State College
Columbus
Central Community College-Columbus, West Education Center, Room 205
4500 63rd St., to register, call (402) 562-1276 or smahlin@cccneb.edu
Co-sponsored by the Central Community College-Columbus
and Columbus Safety and Health Council
Grand Island
College Park, Room 203-4
3180 W Hwy 34, call (308) 385-6411 or sholsten2@unl.edu
Co-sponsored by College Park
Kearney
University of Nebraska at Kearney, Center for Distance Education
Communications Building, Room 221, 1918 University Drive, call (308)
865-8503
or holoubeckja@unk.edu
Co-sponsored by the University of Nebraska at Kearney
Lincoln
UNMC College of Dentistry, Dixon Lecture Hall
40th and Holdrege Streets, call (402) 472-9993, or gtmason@unmc.edu
Co-sponsored by the UNMC College of Nursing and UNMC College of Dentistry
in Lincoln
Long Pine
Pine Continuing Education Center
200 East 4th
To register, call 402-387-2213 or 1-800-634-8951 or e-mail cplate1@unl.edu
Co-sponsored by the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension and
Long Pine Continuing Education Center
Norfolk
Northeast Community College, Lifelong Learning Center
Suite D, 601 E. Benjamin Ave., call (402) 844-7335 no e-mail registration
available
Co-sponsored by Northeast Community College
North Platte
McKinley Education Center, 301 W. F St
To register, call (308) 696-1201 or e-mail shirleensmith@alltel.net
Co-sponsored by the West Central District Health Dept. and McKinley
Education Center
Omaha
University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing
Cooper Auditorium, 42nd & Dewey Ave., call (402) 559-4315 or jemeier@unmc.edu
Sponsored by UNMC
ONeill
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, Courthouse Annex
128 N. 6th St., call (402) 336-2760 or rkulm1@unl.edu
Co-sponsored by University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Office
Red Cloud
Webster County Historical Museum
721 W. 4th (West Highway 136), Call (402) 746-3417 or dlienemann2@unl.edu
Co-sponsored by Webster County Cooperative Extension Office
Rushville
Sheridan Cooperative Extension, 105 Loofborrow, Rushville, NE
To register, call 308-327-2312 or e-mail scarson1@unl.edu
Co-sponsored by Sheridan Cooperative Extension
Scottsbluff
UNMC College of Nursing, University Complex Panhandle Station
Room 201, 4502 Ave. I, (308) 632-0410 or bhartsho@unmc.edu
Co-sponsored by UNMC College of Nursing West Nebraska Division
Sidney
Western Nebraska Community College, 371 College Dr.
To register, call (308) 254-5825 ext. 1262 or e-mail sjohnson@hamilton.net
Co-sponsored by Memorial Health Center and Western Nebraska Community
College
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