Welcome to ROUNDS!

This weekly e-newsletter goes out to all OU-COM and CORE personnel and students.

 

The ROUNDS archive is here.

 

NEWS

Microbiology Annual Spring Meeting hosted by OU-COM

            The Ohio Branch of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) will be holding its annual spring meeting at Ohio University April 8 and 9.

            Society members Erin Murphy, Ph.D., assistant professor of medical microbiology, and Peter Coschigano, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology, are leading the planning efforts to host the event at OU-COM.

            The meeting will begin with an ASM branch lecture and social time in Walter Hall on Friday evening and continue on Saturday with a keynote lecture by Christopher Woolverton, Ph.D., of the Department of Environmental Health Science at Kent State University, Saturday, April 9, at 8:30 a.m. in the Baker University Center Ballroom A.

To register for the conference or for more information and a detailed program schedule, visit the Ohio Branch ASM Spring Meeting website at http://microbiology.muohio.edu/obasm/meetings.html#registration.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT 

Funding to commercialize new technologies available from research VP

            The vice president for research announces two internal funding programs for faculty and staff seeking to commercialize new technologies.

            The Technology Seed Fund is a new competitive award program designed to advance the development of novel applied technologies that have near-term potential for licensing and commercialization. This investment in faculty research is designed to enhance economic development in Ohio through the creation and commercialization of new technology, and to leverage extramural funding.
            These funds will support the “imagining” and “incubating” stages in the Third Frontier Technology Commercialization Framework. The subject of the proposed projects should be allied to technology focus areas included in the Third Frontier program or focused areas of the University System of Ohio Centers of Excellence at Ohio University: Scripps College of Communication; Energy and the Environment; and Health and Wellness. The program will offer awards up to $25,000 per project.

            This program replaces the state of Ohio’s Research Challenge program. However, funds from the former Research Challenge program are still available for a limited time. For more information, visit: http://www.ohio.edu/orsp/budget/rechall_guidelines.pdf or contact the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at 593-0378, andrewt1@ohio.edu.
            In addition to the Technology Seed Fund, the vice president for research is offering a new round of funding through the Technology Gap Fund, which was established in 2009 to advance faculty and staff inventions. This fund will provide awards of $15,000 to $50,000 for projects that are in the later stages (i.e., “incubating” and “demonstrating”) of the Third Frontier Technology Commercialization Framework.

            Faculty and staff must submit proposals for both programs by 4 p.m., Thursday, April 28. Full guidelines and submission forms for the programs are available on the vice president for research website, http://www.ohio.edu/research/funding.cfm.

 

 CALENDAR   

 Class of 2013 raises funds for new white coats

            The Class of 2013 will hold another Ohio Medicine fundraiser featuring the sale of new spring clothing, including men’s shorts and shirts, and women’s shorts and tanks, as well as ball caps.

·         Event: Thursday, March 31, noon, Irvine Bricks

·         Event: Friday, April 1, noon Irvine Bricks

 

Careers in Medicine/Hospital Residency Programs Expo

• Event: Wednesday, March 30, 10 a.m., Baker University Center

 

31st Annual 5K Medicine Run/Walk and Children’s Obstacle Course

            Sponsored by Sigma Sigma Phi, this annual event to promote a healthy lifestyle for residents of the Athens community and to raise funds for OU-COM’s Free Clinic, is accepting pre-registrations now through March 21.

New this year, registration is also available online at https://commerce.cashnet.com/oucommedrun. The entry fee is $20 and includes a T-shirt. Registration and payment by check can be made to OU-COM Medicine Run, and dropped off or sent to G-014.

• Event: Sunday, April 17, 9 a.m., outside Grosvenor Hall

 

2011 DOC Awards

           Honor fellow faculty, staff and students for their dedication and contributions to OU-COM. Tickets, which are available at the student affairs office, are free for faculty, staff, and students but will cost $10 for guests and should be picked up by Friday, April 8.

• Event: Wednesday, April 20, 5:30 p.m., Baker University Center Ballroom

 

Ohio Osteopathic Symposium 

            Find the program brochure, online registration, hotel reservations information, and exhibitor information for the CME annual convention at http://associationdatabase.com/aws/OOSA/pt/sp/symposium.

• Event: April 28-May 1, Hilton at Easton, Columbus

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Faculty Development Tidbit.   Orchestrating Classroom Discussions

            Effective discussions don't just happen. They must be orchestrated by a sensitized listener who protects the ideas and dignity of students. The following should be useful in your efforts to achieve more worthwhile discussions in your class:

• Early in the term—at the first class meeting, if possible—conduct some problem solving in groups of two or three students. Over time, expand the group size as problems become more complex.
• Establish clear ground rules for discussions that foster validation of all opinions, civility, and participation from all students.
• Through an icebreaker, name tents, and other activities, ensure that students know one another’s name and understand something of each other’s background.
• Monitor ground rules and achievement of learning goals, intervening with refocusing and clarifying questions—either rhetorical or didactic—when necessary.
• Scan the entire group and encourage participation from those at opposite locations within the classroom, fostering a more dynamic and inclusive atmosphere.
• Avoid calling on those whose body language communicates they are clearly not engaged—it will only stifle their later participation. Instead talk with them individually after class, assess, and encourage.
• Be very reluctant to directly criticize an “incorrect” student response, or to provide the “best” answer. Instead clarify in a non-threatening way, and perhaps ask if someone else “sees it another way.”
• When discussion bogs down, clarify, summarize, and add additional support information before moving on.
• Close discussions positively by asking if someone would like “the final word” or by connecting the outcome of the discussion to course objectives.
•  

            Like so many teaching and learning activities, orchestrating discussions—live or online—is a balancing act between the costs of time and potential learning benefits. To ensure the greatest reward, always plan effectively, with your learning goals foremost in your mind.  

Source: http://www.developfaculty.com/tips.html

 

Note from Steve: I love the “Conductor” analogy. Each instrument, like each student, is uniquely suited to contribute to the overall symphony of learning. With practice, attention and careful guidance, you can direct the group to beautiful learning. 

 

Find more tips at your OU-COM and CORE faculty development web resources:  www.oucom.ohiou.edu/fd/programs.htm or www.ohiocore.org/cf/index.htm.  If you have a great strategy that seems to always work, please send it to me, and I’ll include it in a future Faculty Development Tidbit.  
Tidbits courtesy of your Office of Faculty Development with Steve Davis, Ph.D.; Robbin Kirkland, Ph.D.; and Olivia Sheehan, Ph.D.

 

OU-COM in the News

hiVelocity News (3-24-11)

“Interthyr targets tough-to-treat diseases from Athens headquarters”

http://www.hivelocitymedia.com/innovationnews/Interthyr3_24_11.aspx.

 

The Athens Messenger (3-27-11)

“Every picture tells a story. This one does more”

http://www.athensmessenger.com/news/local/article_ed92bd50-586e-11e0-a067-001cc4c03286.html

(The Messenger requires a paid subscription to view the entire article)

 

Please send your news/announcements to rounds@oucom.ohiou.edu each week by Wednesday, 3 p.m. for consideration in the following ROUNDS. If you have questions, suggestions or corrections, please contact Richard Heck, writer/editor, at 593.0896 or heck@oucom.ohiou.edu