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School Notes School of Architecture Perspecta issues published The latest issues of Perspecta, the widely read and oft-cited journal edited by students at the school, were recently released. Issue 40, edited by Jacob Reidel '08MArch, Marc Guberman '08MArch, '08MBA, and Frida Rosenberg '07MEnvD, is called "Monster," and explores the themes of scale. "While 'monster' has been a pejorative term," says Reidel, "it can be seen as something that’s very positive. In genetics, monsters represent a variation from the norm." The magazine includes an article by Assistant Professor Eeva-Liisa Pelkonen '94MEnvD about the New Haven Coliseum, which was designed by Kevin Roche in the Brutalist style. "We loved the building," Reidel says, "but knew it was reviled by many." It was demolished in 2007. Perspecta 41 was edited by Gabrielle Brainard, Thomas Moran, and Rustam Mehta (all '08MArch). Its theme is "Grand Tour," which was selected, Mehta says, "because the Grand Tour was once the definitive means by which architects saw the world. We felt that today, while travel is far more commonplace for architects, it was worth asking why we travel, with so many good photos available on the Internet; where we go, if not just to Rome anymore; what we do when we are there, since we're often not measuring buildings and collecting antiquities; and how it changes us when we return.” Editors of Perspecta are chosen through a competitive process, and those selected have two or three years to complete their issue of the magazine. Symposium observes Palladio birthday A symposium to mark the 50oth anniversary of the birth of Andrea Palladio, a key figure in the development of Western architecture, was held at the architecture school February 13-14. Participants discussed the impact of his classic treatise, I Quattro Libri dell'Architettura, on the development of modern architecture. The symposium, "What Modern Times Have Made of Palladio," was convened by Kurt W. Forster, Vincent Scully Visiting Professor and a member of the Research Council of the Palladio Center in Vicenza, Italy. Discussants included scholars Howard Burns, Guido Beltramini, and Andreas Beyer, and architects and designers Peter Eisenman, Louis I. Kahn Visiting Professor; Rafael Moneo; and Greg Lynn, Davenport Visiting Professor. Paul Rudolph focus of events The school hosted a two-day symposium, "Reassessing Rudolph: Architecture and Reputation," in which scholars, critics, and architects from around the world reconsidered the designer’s life (1918-1997) and legacy. Organizers said Rudolph’s reputation "rose and fell along with the fortunes of postwar modernism in America." The event was held during the weekend of January 23-24 at Paul Rudolph Hall. The symposium was followed on January 29 by the Gordon H. Smith Colloquium, which focused on the technical aspects of the restoration of Paul Rudolph Hall. Presenters included Charles Gwathmey '62BArch, the project’s architect; and Elizabeth Skowronek, Robert Leiter, Patrick Bellew (lecturer at the architecture school), and Arthur Heide.
School of Art Applications on the rise Applications to the School of Art’s fall 2009 class increased by 11 percent over last year’s applications. As of January 7 (the application deadline), the school had received 1,278 applications, the greatest number the school has ever had. Every department at the school showed an increase: painting and printmaking received 618 applications; sculpture, 248; photography, 243; and graphic design, 169. The school regularly admits about 65 students per year.
Yale College A message from Mary Miller In my new role as dean of Yale College, I am delighted to have this forum to communicate with the alumni community. It is a great challenge to capture, in the space of a magazine column, the vibrant life of a college teeming with the activities of students and faculty; the lines that follow only scratch the surface of their many successes, but I hope that these brief "snapshots from Yale" will give some small sense of the excitement that it is my privilege to witness here every day. Freshman seminar explores "The Nature of Genius" With support from an anonymous donor and under the supervision of Dean of Freshman Academic Affairs George Levesque, Yale College is reinventing the boundaries of the interdisciplinary Freshman Seminar Program. Beginning this spring semester with the first two in a pilot series of "meta-seminars," the initiative encourages students to explore how to think, rather than what to know. Combining innovative pedagogical techniques, team teaching, and resources from Yale’s Instructional Technology Group (ITG), this semester’s courses—Exploring the Nature of Genius (taught by Craig Wright, music department) and The Seven Deadly Sins (Professor Paul Bloom, psychology)—will expose students to a wide range of disciplines, approaching each topic from a range of perspectives under the guidance of faculty members and guest speakers. Exploring the Nature of Genius will use technology housed in the Bass Library’s Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) to offer video conferencing, student interviews, special guest lecturers, and anonymous pre- and post-semester evaluations of student progress. Devised in collaboration with Barbara Rockenbach and Bill Rando at the CLC, Professor Wright’s syllabus guides students into a more sophisticated understanding of "genius," challenging them to think abstractly about the concept and to apply this new perspective toward a deeper understanding of their own capacities and liabilities. Casey Gerald delivers keynote at NFF awards dinner For many, the call to speak on behalf of college football’s 15 most highly accomplished scholar-athletes would be an intimidating burden. For Yale senior cornerback Casey Gerald, a Rhodes Scholarship finalist, it was a welcome opportunity to pay tribute to the sport—and the human spirit—that guided him from the unlikeliest of beginnings in a hardscrabble Dallas neighborhood to the pinnacle of Ivy League achievement. Gerald, a finalist for the prestigious National Football Foundation (NFF) Draddy Trophy, was nominated by NFF board member Jack Ford '72 to address a packed house at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria last December. While he did not bring home the trophy, Gerald’s speech was a highlight of the evening, drawing on the shared experience of so many lives touched by football. For Gerald, this team effort permeates the Yale experience both on and off the field. He is passionate about the uniquely human quality of the Yale community—professors, administrators, and students united in service to the world. It is just this type of weighty expectation that fosters Gerald's determination. "Yale," he says, "has made me the person that I am today.”
Divinity School YDS alumna delivers sermon at National Prayer Service Sharon E. Watkins '84MDiv, general minister and president of the Disciples of Christ, became the first woman ever to deliver the sermon at the National Prayer Service when she preached on January 21 at National Cathedral in Washington, DC, at the conclusion of presidential inaugural activities. Drawing on the wisdom of the prophet Isaiah, the words of "America the Beautiful," speeches of Martin Luther King Jr., and the imagery of the Statue of Liberty, Watkins challenged President Barack Obama to "stay centered on the values that have guided us in the past, values that have empowered to move us through the perils of the present, of earlier times, and can guide us now into a future of renewed promise." Watkins concluded, "Even in these hard times, rich or poor, let us reach out to our neighbor, including our global neighbor, in generous hospitality, building together communities of possibility and of hope." Watkins, who delivered the opening sermon at YDS during Convocation and Reunions 2005, has served as general minister and president of the 700,000-member denomination for three and a half years, the first woman to hold the position. Dean predicts "minimal disruption" to academics during financial downturn In an end-of-the-year letter to the wider YDS community, Dean Harold Attridge said tough financial times "will require our careful attention, patience, and imagination, but together we can weather this storm and even enhance our ability to prepare men and women to serve church and society." Attridge held up recruitment and retention of excellent faculty, as well as student financial aid, as top priorities that will be protected, and confirmed that renovation of the "Back Buildings"—the old ISM space and the Common Room and Refectory—will continue, with occupancy targeted for summer 2009. However, replacement of the Canner Street apartments will be delayed until conditions are more favorable. Predicting "minimal disruption to our academic functions," Attridge noted that the school is systematically exploring cost-saving measures in other areas. Paracleats down Shoots and Leaves in battle of Heaven and Earth Heaven triumphed over earth on November 16 when the Divinity School’s soccer team, the Paracleats (from the Johannine epithet of the Holy Ghost, paraclete, traditionally translated as "comforter"), cut down Shoots and Leaves, representing the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, in the finals of the Yale Graduate & Professional Schools intramural soccer tournament. The score was 2-0. Both teams entered the match with undefeated records. Though Forestry claimed a Goliath-like advantage, having allowed not a single goal all season, the 'Cleats would take aim with two keenly placed shots on goal, reminiscent of young David hurling a single smooth stone to slay the Philistine giant. With the blow of the final whistle, the Paracleats walked off the field, basking in the divine providence of another championship title. Having allowed not one Forestry goal, they had given new meaning to the phrase emblazoned on the socks of Micah Luce '07MAR, '08STM: "Jesus saves.”
School of Drama Theater management professional named associate dean Joan Channick '89MFA, former managing director of New Haven’s Long Wharf Theatre and a part-time lecturer in the School of Drama, became associate dean on February 1. In her new position Channick will participate in planning and management, from recruiting and financial aid to professional development and postgraduate placement. Channick’s career in theater management has spanned two decades in New Haven, New York, and Baltimore; prior to that she practiced law in Boston. Her class at Yale School of Drama has focused on legal issues in the arts. Dean honored as artistic groundbreaker James Bundy '95MFA, dean of the School of Drama and artistic director of the Yale Repertory Theatre, is among five individuals and organizations recently honored by the Arts Council of Greater New Haven with a 2008 Arts Award. These awards are given to those whose "fresh, raw ideas spur innovative programs, unleash remarkable results, and foster a lively, ambitious artistic community.” In its citation the council notes Bundy’s "exemplary support to his students and new playwrights" and his "commitment to highlighting bold, illuminating work," as well as his "advocacy on behalf of education programs" and his "ambitious artistic vision," which "have had an immeasurable impact on his students, colleagues, audiences, and friends.” Yale Rep accessibility director recognized for services to visually impaired The Connecticut Board of Education and Services for the Blind has presented its 2008 Raymond E. Baldwin Award to Ruth M. Feldman, director of education and accessibility services at Yale Repertory Theatre. The Baldwin Award, established in 1983, recognizes an individual, civic organization, or volunteer group for outstanding contributions made for the betterment and enrichment of the lives of visually impaired and blind persons in Connecticut. Yale Repertory Theatre offers all patrons the most comprehensive accessibility services program in Connecticut, including a full season of open-captioned and audio-described performances; a free assistive listening system; large print and Braille programs; a direct TTY line to Yale Rep’s box office; and wheelchair accessibility and accessible seating in each of its three theaters. Ruth Feldman joined Yale Repertory Theatre in 2003 and is responsible for its accessibility services program, along with a number of educational projects. She is a founding member of the national Audio Description Coalition and trains and mentors Audio Describers.
School of Engineering & Applied Science The promise of engineered osmosis Water and energy are two resources on which all of modern society depends. As demands for each increase, researchers look to alternative technologies that promise sustainability and reduced environmental impact. Yale researchers Menachem Elimelech, professor of environmental and chemical engineering, and environmental engineering doctoral student Robert McGinnis propose engineered osmosis as the key to addressing not just one resource challenge, but both. They suggest that the solution to these resource challenges may lie in the design of osmotically driven membrane systems, capable of producing freshwater from nonpotable sources, including seawater; producing electrical power from naturally occurring salinity gradients; and generating electricity from low-temperature heat sources such as reject heat from thermal processes and conventional power plants. Their findings are featured on the cover of the December 1 issue of Environmental Science & Technology. The force of light to drive nanomachines While the energy of light is well understood, harnessed, and used in many ways, there also exists a light "force"—the push or pull action that causes something to move. Certainly, the force of light is far too weak for us to feel in everyday life, but we may be able to imagine its effect at the submicrometer scale. Contrary to common belief that photon forces are too weak for practical use, a team of researchers led by Hong Tang, assistant professor of electrical and mechanical engineering, has shown that the force of light can be harnessed to drive nanoscale mechanical devices. Featured in the November 27 issue of Nature, their research shows, for the first time, the direct measurement, quantification, and exploitation of optical force in a silicon photonic circuit, opening the door to a new class of semiconductor devices that are operated by the force of light. Since its appearance in Nature, Tang’s research has gained widespread attention, including that of Scientific American, the National Science Foundation, MIT Technology Review, and others. SEAS launches new website The School of Engineering & Applied Science is proud to announce the launch of its new website, seas.yale.edu. The new SEAS site features more robust content, showcasing areas of innovative research, and includes an expanded alumni section that features online photo scrapbooks of Yale Engineering over the years. The site also offers RSS feeds for news and events, which allow subscribers to receive automatic updates. We encourage alumni to visit our site to let us know about your experience at Yale and where you are today.
School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Americans eager to reduce their energy use Many Americans are already taking action to reduce their energy use and many others would do the same if they could afford to, according to a national survey conducted by Yale and George Mason universities. Roughly half of the 2,164 American adults surveyed last September and October said they had already taken important steps to make their homes more energy-efficient, and a substantial number—between 10 and 20 percent—said they planned to take action over the next year. Almost two-thirds of the respondents said that they would like to buy a fuel-efficient car, but over a third said they can’t afford one. While saving money is by far the most common reason why people take energy-saving actions—including insulating their attic, caulking and weather-stripping their home, setting their thermostats to more energy-efficient levels, and buying a more fuel-efficient car—large numbers of respondents said they were also motivated to reduce global warming by the desire to act morally and by taking energy-saving actions that made them feel good about themselves. By more than a 2-to-1 margin, respondents also said they believe that making changes to reduce their energy use will improve—not diminish—the quality of their lives. “Overall, many Americans are ready, willing, and able to save energy at home and on the road. Many others are ready and willing, but need some help," said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change and lead investigator on the survey. "A national strategy to conserve energy and invest in energy efficiency will find the American people a willing partner.” A copy of the survey is available at http://environment.yale.edu. Study to investigate air pollution’s effect on newborns A five-year study at Yale, funded by the National Institutes of Health, will investigate whether a woman’s exposure to air pollution and automobile emissions during pregnancy can lower her baby’s birth weight and result in preterm delivery. Preterm delivery and low birth weight are major causes of infant mortality and severe morbidity in the United States. Researchers will study the exposure of pregnant women to carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and both fine and coarse particle pollution; use data derived from birth certificates; and track an existing cohort of about 10,000 pregnant women, who live in Connecticut and Massachusetts and have already yielded detailed information about prior pregnancies, residence history during pregnancy, smoking habits, rates of alcohol consumption, and occupational and other exposures.
Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Dean Butler to extend term At the request of President Richard C. Levin, Graduate School dean Jon Butler will extend his term until June 30, 2010, a year past the end of his current appointment, to provide continuity of leadership in both the Graduate School and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In the fall of 2009, President Levin will appoint a search committee to advise him on Dean Butler’s successor. Since 1997 Dean Butler has served in succession as director of the humanities division, chair of the Department of History, and, since 2004, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. In addition, he is the Howard R. Lamar Professor of American Studies, History, and Religious Studies. In making the announcement President Levin said, "Jon Butler has served Yale with great distinction. As dean, he has been a tireless advocate for graduate education and for the quality of graduate student life. I am very grateful for his wise counsel and devoted leadership, and am delighted that he has agreed to continue as dean for an additional year.” Graduate student assembly organizes mentoring week To highlight the importance of good mentoring as an integral part of graduate education and to celebrate some of the outstanding mentors at Yale, the Graduate Student Assembly and the Graduate School hosted Mentoring Week 2009 in February. During the week, seminars and programs focused on what to expect from a mentor and how to establish and maintain a productive and supportive relationship between faculty mentor and student "mentee." For more information, see gsa.yale.edu. Best college professor Jerusha B. Detweiler-Bedell '01PhD, associate professor of psychology at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, has been named the Outstanding Baccalaureate Colleges Professor of the Year. The award is one of four administered by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and sponsored by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to recognize professors for their influence on teaching and their commitment to undergraduates. According to the award announcement, "Detweiler-Bedell … challenges her students to investigate real-world puzzles, encouraging them to design and conduct experiments, participate in small-group debates, and engage in research projects that have resulted in changes on campus." This year’s U.S. Professors of the Year award winners were selected from a pool of nearly 300 nominees. TIAA-CREF is the primary sponsor of the awards ceremony, and Phi Beta Kappa hosts a Congressional reception for the winners at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC.
Law School Law School salutes new secretary of state U.S. senator and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton '73JD, recently selected by Barack Obama to serve as America’s 67th secretary of state, is among the latest YLS graduates to reach high public office. "Senator Clinton has deep foreign policy understanding, universal name recognition, and a profound commitment to restoring the United States' reputation in the world for respect for human rights and the rule of law. It is most fitting that she will be the first Yale Law School graduate to serve as secretary of state since Cyrus Vance," said Yale Law School dean Harold Hongju Koh. YLS graduate named to U.S. Senate Denver Schools superintendent Michael Bennet '93JD was chosen by Colorado governor Bill Ritter to fill the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Ken Salazar, who was appointed interior secretary in the Obama administration. Bennet, a Democrat, will serve until 2010, when the seat comes up for reelection. Bennet was appointed superintendent of Denver Public Schools in June 2005. He previously served for two years as chief of staff to Denver mayor John Hickenlooper. He also worked for six years as managing director of the Anschutz Investment Company in Denver and was counsel to the deputy attorney general in the Clinton administration. Bennet earned his bachelor's degree in history from Wesleyan University; at YLS he was editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal. YLS Supreme Court Clinic wins its first case Yale Law School’s Supreme Court Advocacy Clinic reached a milestone in late January, earning its first victory before the High Court in the case Fitzgerald v. Barnstable School Committee. The case concerned a lawsuit against a school district brought by parents who claimed their kindergarten daughter was being sexually harassed. The court agreed with the clinic when it ruled Title IX did not preclude lawsuits against public schools for sex discrimination. The clinic, begun in 2006, allows students to work on real-life public interest cases pending before the court. Charles Rothfeld of Mayer Brown, a clinic supervisor who argued the Fitzgerald case, said, "The clinic really has come into its own as a successful operation that is having a real impact on the work of the Supreme Court. This year, we will have argued three cases and written the briefs for parties in four cases. The students are getting more experience in the court than many practicing lawyers do.”
School of Management Case study team aids Faith and Globalization course Soon after former British prime minister Tony Blair agreed to teach a course on Faith and Globalization at Yale, the SOM case study research group was asked to develop several new cases to be taught alongside more traditional materials. Over the course of four months, writers created nearly a dozen new cases, covering topics such as the rise of evangelicalism as a political force; whether countries actually become more secular with modernization; the role of Buddhism in Sri Lanka’s civil war; and the relationship in China between the growth of Christianity and the development of the economy. With the exception of one, all were "raw" cases, a form pioneered by SOM that presents a greater variety of sources than traditional business school cases, thus presenting more opportunities for a higher level of analysis. Private Equity Conference evaluates state of the industry For the past eight years, the SOM Private Equity Club has hosted a conference looking at different aspects of the industry. This year’s event, titled "The Road Ahead," faced the unique task of evaluating private equity in the midst of an ongoing financial crisis. About 200 industry professionals assembled in Greenwich, Connecticut, in November to face very uncertain times for a group that had enjoyed several years of impressive growth. Keynotes were delivered by Philip Yea, CEO of 3i Group, and Scott Schoen '80, co-president of Thomas H. Lee Partners. Panels addressed a range of topics, including infrastructure investing, global sourcing of capital, and distressed investment opportunities. SOM responds to expected challenges in the job market Despite the challenging economic environment, the percentage of the SOM Class of 2009 who had received and accepted offers, as of January 2009, was in line with last year’s graduating MBA class. But many expect the deep recession to be reflected in the job market, and the school has launched a number of initiatives to assist students still looking for positions. The Career Development Office planned a first-ever spring job fair, as well as other industry- and sector-focused networking and recruiting events to help expand the pipeline of opportunities for both internships and permanent placements. Dean Sharon Oster has asked SOM alumni and faculty to increase their outreach efforts on behalf of current students, as well. "As a community, we can work together to address the current challenges," Oster said. In addition to these initiatives, Oster announced to the SOM community that she would forgo $100,000 of her salary in order to fund incremental summer internships for first-year SOM students at Yale University—including positions as case writers at SOM, working on business cases in industries in which they have a career interest.
School of Medicine Major reform of premed education under way The Scientific Foundation for Future Physicians Committee, co-chaired by medical school dean Robert J. Alpern, is studying the standard premedical curriculum with an eye toward making it more relevant to the practice of modern medicine. While science and medicine have changed dramatically in the last century, the premed curriculum has remained static, the committee determined. For example, a full year of organic chemistry is still required, although the relevance of much of it to medicine is marginal. Meanwhile, subjects such as statistics, biochemistry, and genetics aren’t required. Alpern said the committee’s key proposal is to replace required courses with "scientific competencies"—the knowledge and habits of thought that a student should have upon entering medical school. The committee, organized by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and drawn from medical schools and undergraduate institutions, will present its recommendations this year. The next step will be to revise the MCAT, the aptitude test students take for admission to medical school, so as to reflect the changes in the premed curriculum. "It’s not going to happen overnight," Alpern said, "but when it does, I think it will represent a major transformation in medical education.” Researchers zero in on a natural way to fight obesity Medical school researchers may have discovered a new weapon in the battle against obesity—a naturally occurring molecule secreted by the gut that makes rats and mice less hungry after fatty meals. This research finding suggests that the molecule may help regulate how much animals and people eat, according to research team leader Gerald I. Shulman, professor of medicine and cellular and molecular physiology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. Shulman’s team studied a family of lipids called N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines, or NAPES, which are synthesized and secreted into the blood by the small intestine after fatty foods are eaten. The team found that rodents injected regularly with NAPES ate less food and lost weight. The next step is to see if the team’s findings apply to humans. Large grants support study of AIDS, drug addiction, and inmate recidivism In an effort to ease the transition for inmates reentering society, Yale University AIDS Program researchers will use grants totaling $6.4 million to study HIV prevention and drug treatment in soon-to-be-released prisoners in Connecticut and Malaysia. "Successful programs are urgently needed to break the cycle of chemical dependence and incarceration," said principal investigator Frederick L. Altice, professor of medicine. "Prisoners with drug dependence have a high rate of incarceration and recidivism and are at high risk for transmitting HIV." The grants were provided by the National Institutes on Drug Abuse and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency.
School of Music Philharmonia’s Turangal'la in Carnegie hailed by the press The YSM’s Philharmonia Orchestra earned rave reviews for its December performance in Carnegie Hall of Olivier Messiaen’s massive, ecstatic Turangal'la-Symphonie. The performance, called "sensational" by the New York Times and praised by Classics Today, the Dallas Morning News, and other media outlets, was conducted by renowned Messiaen interpreter Reinbert de Leeuw. Turangal'la capped YSM’s weeklong celebration of the Messiaen centenary, directed by William Purvis. The celebration featured a broad range of concerts as well as a panel discussion. The programs offered an overview of Messiaen’s output, from piano music to song cycles, from the Livre du Saint Sacrement for organ to chamber works such as the famed Quartet for the End of Time. For more, go to www.yale.edu/music/messiaen. Parisot to be honored for a half century on the faculty Aldo Parisot, renowned cellist, former member of the famed Yale Quartet, and beloved cello teacher, is now celebrating his 50th year on the faculty of the School of Music. On April 21 at Zankel Hall in Carnegie Hall, the Yale in New York series offers a tribute to Parisot, showcasing the Yale Cellos, an ensemble founded and directed by Parisot. The program will feature music by Heitor Villa-Lobos, a close friend of Parisot's, including the Bachianas Brasilieras No. 1 (for cello ensemble) and No. 5 (with soprano Hyunah Yu). Also on the program are Chrisopher Rouse’s Rapturedux; David Popper’s Requiem, with pianist Elizabeth Parisot; the New York premieres of Dave Brubeck’s Elegy and The Desert and the Parched Land; and the New York premiere of Ezra Laderman’s Simoes. YSM plans second symposium on music in schools The second biennial Symposium on Music in Schools will take place June 10-11, 2009. Sponsored by the Yale College Class of 1957 and the Yale School of Music, the symposium is part of the Music in Schools project, initiated by the Class of '57 in honor of their 50th reunion in 2007. Once again, the symposium will bring together approximately 50 teachers from around the country who are selected for their outstanding accomplishments in teaching music in public schools. This year’s distinguished music educators will convene in New Haven to discuss vital issues in music education and participate in skill-building workshops. The 2009 symposium will focus on two topics: (1) linking music to the general classroom; and (2) is El Sistema, Venezuela’s famous music education program, adaptable in the United States? In addition to facilitated discussions on these topics, participating teachers will attend workshops presented by selected alumni from the 2007 symposium.
School of Nursing YSN community service awards presented to two local women Yale School of Nursing recently presented Diversity Action Community Service awards to two local women who are leaders in bringing better health care to underserved populations. Connecticut state senator Toni Nathaniel Harp was recognized for her role as Homeless Service Director at Hill Health Center, a community center targeting special populations, such as homeless people and persons with AIDS. Senator Harp has prioritized managed care reform, helping uninsured children, raising the minimum wage, advocating economic development for cities, encouraging an early detection system for child abuse, supporting truancy court, and ensuring the safety of children in child care. YSN alumna Lucinda Canty '94MSN is a certified nurse-midwife with 14 years' experience providing care in the Hartford area. She was honored for her leadership as the founder of Soutoura Health and Wellness Center, which promotes quality health care and education to women and adolescents. Canty has developed educational and support programs for pregnant teens and teen mothers, and she provides teen reproductive health workshops at local schools and community agencies. In 2008, she was inducted as a Connecticut Health Foundation Health Leadership Fellow. “These two remarkable women embody the spirit of YSN’s mission—'better health care for all'—and we truly are pleased to recognize Ms. Canty and Ms. Harp for their hard work and dedication to serving the communities of Connecticut," said Kris Fennie, chair of the YSN Diversity Action Committee. Nursing library opens in China with YSN book donations Thanks to the efforts of Yale School of Nursing's faculty and staff, a new library of nursing has opened in China with more than 4,000 books. The Shanghai Lida Polytechnic Institute opened its English Nursing Library in November after a five-year project at YSN to amass thousands of nursing textbooks and monographs. The new library is one of the largest and most comprehensive English language collections on nursing in the People’s Republic of China. It is also accessible to students from other area universities. The official opening was attended by YSN staffer Sydney Martin of the dean’s office. Ms. Martin, who participated in the project since its beginning, helped dedicate the library’s plaque with Institute chairman Shan Zhao Hui before a large audience of government officials, journalists, and university students and faculty. YSN gets a permanent home Yale University recently purchased the School of Nursing building at 100 Church Street South, the site of New Haven’s former Lee High School. YSN had leased the building from Church Street Development Associates since June of 1996. "We are thrilled with the possibilities, and planning is under way," said Margaret Grey '76MSN, YSN dean and Annie Goodrich Professor. The $33 million deal for the property was completed in late November.
School of Public Health Partnership offers management education to Chinese women The Yale School of Public Health is partnering with Tsinghua University in Beijing to provide management and leadership education for 500 underserved women in China working in the health care field. The partnership, beginning in 2009, is part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative. Together, Yale and Tsinghua will create a curriculum to build the business and management skills of mid- and senior-level managers in the health sector, particularly in the areas of quality improvement, human resources development, financial management, and leadership. "This is a transformational time for China’s health sector with an expanding economy and commitment to high-quality health services for all," said Elizabeth H. Bradley, professor and director of Global Health Initiatives at Yale. "But policy reforms are less effective unless there is skilled management and strong leadership in health institutions.” Fears of promiscuity pose barriers to cervical cancer vaccinations The public’s concerns about costs and increased promiscuity among teenagers appear to be hindering use of a vaccine against the human papilloma virus (HPV) to prevent life-threatening diseases. (See "Why the HPV Vaccine has Stalled" for a Yale Alumni Magazine report.) There is an ongoing public health campaign promoting the vaccination of girls against HPV to prevent genital warts and cervical cancer, but a Yale study shows that the public believes that the benefits are outweighed by potential disadvantages. The Yale researchers—Sanjay Basu, a PhD candidate, and Alison Galvani, assistant professor in the Division of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases—studied how concerns about adolescent promiscuity and everyday economics persuaded many parents and guardians to not have their children treated. The vast majority of those surveyed thought adolescent sexual activity would nearly double among those receiving the vaccine. Concern about increased promiscuity was the single biggest factor in the decision not to vaccinate, the study found. Racial disparities in prostate cancer Black males are far more likely than their white peers to die from prostate cancer, an outcome that is tied to the stage at which the disease is diagnosed. This racial disparity in stage at diagnosis is largely due to socioeconomic factors and access to health care—not necessarily biological differences—and is therefore potentially reversible, said Beth Jones, an associate professor and the study’s lead author. Prostate cancer is a major health threat to adult men, with some 186,320 new cases expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year. The Yale researchers examined data from 251 Connecticut men with the disease and found African American males were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage and had a far greater chance of dying from the disease. Prostate cancer fatalities are closely linked to the stage at which the disease is diagnosed. When the cancer is detected early, there is a nearly 100 percent survival rate. |
Note to Readers The Yale Alumni Magazine carries this supplement in every issue for news from Yale’s graduate and professional schools and Yale College. This supplement is underwritten by the university and is not produced by the magazine staff but provided by the schools. |
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