Mini-medical school to focus on women and cancer

UNMC, in partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, will present a Mini-Medical School on women and cancer. The series, which will be held Oct. 14, 21, and 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (CDT), will be broadcast live via satellite from the UNMC campus in Omaha, to 30 communities.

During the series, participants will learn about improvements in cancer diagnosis, treatment and symptom management, as well as the latest research and advances in women’s cancers. Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center and a breast cancer physician, will kick off the series on the first evening.

Broadcast sites The Fall 2008 Mini Medical School will be broadcast to the following sites across Nebraska: Alma, Harlan County Health System, 717 N. Brown St. Atkinson, West Holt Memorial Hospital, Clinic Education Room, 406 W. Neely St. Broken Bow, Broken Bow Public Library, 626 S. D St. Chadron, Chadron State College, Student Center, Scottsbluff Room, 1000 Main St. Columbus, Central Community College-Columbus, Student Center, Room No. 179, 4500 63rd St. Fremont, Fremont Area Medical Center, Health Park Plaza, Dunklau Conference Room, 450 E. 23rd St. Grand Island, Central Nebraska AHEC at College Park, Room No. 305, 3180 W. Highway 34 Harrison, Sioux County Courthouse, Meeting Room, 325 Main St. Hastings, Central Community College-Hastings, Platte Building, Room No. 218 (upstairs, east end) E. Highway 6 Holdrege, Central Community College – Holdrege Center, 1308 2nd St. Imperial, Chase County Community Hospital, Telemedicine Room, 600 W. 12th St., limited space available Kearney, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Communications Building, CMCT No. 217, 1910 University Drive Lexington, Community Health & Fitness Center, Education Room, 1600 W. 13th St. Lincoln, UNMC College of Dentistry, Dixon Lecture Hall, 40th & Holdrege streets (Due to construction, the east side main entrance will be closed. Patient/visitor parking has moved to the west side of the building.) Lynch, Niobrara Valley Hospital, Telehealth Room, 401 S. 5th St. McCook, Center for Enterprise, McCook Community College, McMillen Hall, Room 208, 1205 E. 3rd St. Norfolk, Northeast Community College-Norfolk, Lifelong Learning Center, Suite B – night 1; Suite C – nights 2 and 3, 801 E. Benjamin Ave. North Platte, West Central District Health Department, Conference Room, 105 N. Dewey Ogallala, Educational Service Unit 16, 314 W. 1st St. Omaha locations UNMC campus, Oct. 14 and 21, UNMC Durham Research Center, Suzanne & Walter Scott Auditorium, Emile St. and Durham Research Plaza. Free parking in Lot 2, patient parking structure (located southeast of building). UNMC campus, Oct. 28, Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education, Truhlsen Campus Events Center, northeast corner of 42nd and Emile streets. Free parking in Lot 4 parking structure (located south of building). Clarkson West Medical Center, Suite 201, 2727 S. 144th St. (east side of building that faces Oakview Mall). Seating is limited. O’Neill, North Central District Health Department Conference Room, 422 E. Douglas St. Osmond, Osmond General Hospital Conference Room, 402 N. Maple Pender, Pender Community Hospital Basement Meeting Room, 603 Earl St. Red Cloud, Webster County Historical Museum Exhibit Hall, 721 W. 4th St. (W. Highway 136) Rushville, UNL Extension in Sheridan County, 105 Loofborrow Scottsbluff, UNMC College of Nursing, University Complex Panhandle Station, Room No. 201, 4502 Avenue I Sidney, Western Nebraska Community College, 371 College Drive Tecumseh, Johnson County Hospital, Conference Room, 202 High St. Valentine, Cherry County Hospital, Conference Room, 510 N. Green St. Wayne, Wayne State College, Gardner Hall, Business Building West Point, St. Francis Memorial Hospital, Telehealth Room, 430 N. Monitor St. Anyone with the satellite downlink capability can tune into the series on Nebraska Satellite System 2, Channel 105. In addition, any facility with Internet Protocol capability may be able to receive the broadcast. For more information, contact Brenda Jeter at bjeter@unmc.edu or (402) 559-9049.

In Omaha, speakers will present on Oct. 14 and 21, in the Durham Research Center Auditorium. On Oct. 28, the series will be presented in the new Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education in the Truhlsen Campus Events Center.

In addition to the campus location, participants in Omaha can watch the series via satellite at Clarkson West Medical Center, Suite 201, 2727 S. 144th St. Seating is limited at this location.

“A diagnosis of cancer is something no woman wants to face, but chances are, one out of every three women will have to face it during their lifetime,” Dr. Cowan said. “The good thing is as a nation, we’re starting to see the benefits of cancer research started in the 1970s that’s translating into improved treatments and earlier detection. For the last decade, there’s been an improvement of more than 12 percent in the survival of patients with cancer.

“Here at UNMC, scientists are leading the way in discovering new treatments, advances and even preventive measures for the many different types of cancer that women face. This work will lead to even more effective and less toxic therapies in the future.”

This year, for the first time, UNMC has partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska on the series.

“At Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, we are committed to delivering the health and wellness solutions people value most,” said Bill Minier, M.D., vice president of medical policy and medical director. “We are excited to have this opportunity to work with UNMC in this education effort. We know first-hand, through the experiences of our families, our employees and our members, the challenge of going through a cancer journey.”

UNMC’s Mini-Medical School is a health education program that provides Nebraskans with the latest information and research about current diseases and health issues. Taught by UNMC experts, the series is designed for anyone who wants to learn more about issues surrounding significant developments in health research and patient care.

While the program is free, continuing nursing education credit is available for nurses. The cost is $40, regardless of the number of sessions attended. Participants must register for Mini-Medical School at the site they will attend, and they will receive contact hours for each session attended.

To register for one of the sites listed below, visit www.unmc.edu/minimed, or call toll-free (877) 852-0013.

A list of each night’s presentations is below:

Tuesday, Oct. 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (CDT)

• UNMC’s fight against cancer — Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., director, UNMC Eppley Cancer Center;
  
• Innovative therapies in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma — Julie Vose, M.D., professor and chief, section of oncology/hematology;
  
• With child, with cancer — Steven Remmenga, M.D., professor, section of gynecologic oncology; and
  
• Robotic surgery: Removing reproductive cancers — Kerry Rodabaugh, M.D., associate professor, department of obstetrics and gynecology

Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (CDT)

• Beating breast cancer: From patient to survivor — A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Cowan will include: Cheryl Williams, M.D. associate professor, department of radiology; James Edney, M.D., professor, department of surgery; Bob Thompson, M.D., associate professor, department of radiation oncology; Elizabeth Reed, M.D., associate professor, section of oncology/hematology, and director of the UNMC Breast Cancer Program; and Constance Visovsky, Ph.D., associate professor, UNMC College of Nursing department of adult health and illness; and
  
• What’s covered? And why? — William Minier, M.D., medical director, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.

Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (CDT)

• Targeting tumors — Hamid Band, M.D., Ph.D., professor, Eppley Institute, and director, UNMC Center for Breast Cancer Research;
  
• DNA: Are you at risk? — Jim Shull, Ph.D., professor and chairman, department of genetics, cell biology and anatomy;
  
• Early diagnosis, better prognosis — Vimla Band, Ph.D., professor and vice chairwoman of research, department of genetics, cell biology and anatomy, and associate director, UNMC Center for Breast Cancer Research.