IU GERIATRICS electronic news for April 2002

The IU Geriatrics Program and the IU Center for Aging Research invite you to a presentation co-sponsored by IUCAR and the IU Cancer Center. Visiting Professors Roanne J. Segal, MDCM from the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre and Robert D. Reid, PhD from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute will present "Effects of Aerobic and Resistance Exercise in Patients with Cancer" Wednesday, April 10, 12-1:30pm in the Cancer Pavilion, RT 101. Please contact Linda Hess at 274-3152, lihess@iupui.edu by noon April 8th to place a lunch order.

NEW GRANTS

Principal Investigator Steve Counsell, MD was invited to apply and was awarded $200,000 from The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Association of Directors of Geriatrics Programs for "Developing a New Generation of Academic Programs in Geriatrics." The primary goal of the two-year project is to develop new training sites for medical students, residents and fellows in primary care geriatrics at Roudebush VA Medical Center. A secondary goal is to facilitate the development and funding of geriatrics health services research at the VAMC.

PUBLICATIONS

McHorney CA. Use of item response theory to link 3 modules of functional status items from the Asset and Health Dynamics Among the Oldest Old study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2002 Mar;83(3):383-94.

Katz DA, McHorney CA. The relationship between insomnia and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic illness. J Fam Pract 2002;51:229-35.

Benzer W, Oldridge NB. Current concepts in cardiac rehabilitation. Medical considerations and outcome evaluations. J Clin Basic Cardiol, 2001;4:211-9.

Bennett S J, Perkins S M, Lane K A, Deer M, Brater D C, Murray MD. Social support and health-related quality of life in chronic heart failure patients. Qual Life Res. 2001;10(8):671-82.

Amsler MR, Murray MD, Tierney WM, Brewer N, Harris LE, Marrero DG, Weinberger M. Pharmaceutical care in chain pharmacies: beliefs and attitudes of pharmacists and patients. J Am Pharm Assoc (Wash). 2001 Nov-Dec;41(6):850-5.

Takao M, Ghetti B, Murrell JR, Unverzagt FW, Giaccone G, Tagliavini F, Bugiani O, Piccardo P, Hulette CM, Crain BJ, Farlow MR, Heyman A. Ectopic white matter neurons, a developmental abnormality that may be caused by the PSEN1 S169L mutation in a case of familial AD with myoclonus and seizures. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2001 Dec;60(12):1137-52.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Christopher Callahan, MD traveled to the American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) offices in New York to review grant applications for the John A. Hartford / AFAR Academic Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine and Geriatric Psychiatry program. These awards provide support for second or third year fellows in geriatrics or geriatric psychiatry who wish to pursue an academic career in research or clinical education.

Christopher Callahan, MD presented "Delirium in Older Adults" at the Department of Medicine noon conference March 12th. He also presented "Aging Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine" to the IU School of Medicine Dean's Council on March 16th.

Bridget Fultz, MA, Gretchen Ricketts, BSW, and Kathy Frank, RN, MSN completed a Research Coordinator Education Course March 20-22. The hands-on course is for coordinators, faculty, and fellows who want a full understanding of the research resources and regulatory requirements for clinical research at Indiana University. The course was sponsored by the IU Schools of Medicine and Nursing. Bridget coordinates the IMPACT and PREVENT studies, Gretchen coordinates GRACE, and Kathy is the Program Administrator for the IU Geriatrics Program.

Christopher Callahan, MD and Martin Farlow, MD were quoted in the Indianapolis Star article "Drink to your Longevity" published March 22. Reporter Abe Aamidor described a Dutch study that suggests moderate alcohol consumption lowers the risk of dementia among older adults.

UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS

Look for your IU Geriatrics Program colleagues at the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Society of General Internal Medicine May 2-4 in Atlanta. Amna Buttar, MD will present a poster in Session I Thursday at 5:00pm, Grand Hall East. Saturday will be a busy day for Geriatrics Fellow Michael Sha, MD. He will present an oral vignette in Session D2 at 11:15am in Lenox, then will dash to Grand Hall East and his poster displayed in Session 3 at 1:00pm! Please stop by and support these SGIM members from IU.

Glenda Westmoreland, MD will participate with nationally recognized generalist geriatrician teachers, clinicians, and investigators to lead the May 3rd SGIM workshop "Tools for Assessing and Teaching Common Geriatric Problems." The 4-5:30pm workshop includes didactic presentations, small group sessions for hands-on practice with assessment instruments, and teaching on managing clinical problems.

Glenda will also be the session coordinator for the Geriatrics Interest Group 7-8:30pm Friday at the national SGIM meeting. The group studies and publishes strategies to improve resident teaching in geriatric medicine in multiple settings. They are developing a Web site to host education products for clinician educators in geriatrics. This SGIM Geriatrics Interest Group will also meet at the 2002 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Tom Gardner, MD and assistant professor of urology in the IU School of Medicine, will present "Erectile Dysfunction in Older Adults" at the IU Geriatrics Conference April 10, 7:30-8:30am, Wishard T2008 A&B.

Chris Suelzer, MD and Chief of Internal Medicine at the Roudebush VA Medical Center, will present "Substance Abuse in Older Adults" at the IU Geriatrics Conference April 17, 7:30-8:30am, Wishard T2008 A&B.

Wildon Farwell, MD will present "Do Olanzapine and Risperidone Cause Weight Gain and Diabetes?" at the next Aging Research Work in Progress April 23, 8-9am in VA A-4174.