IU GERIATRICS electronic news for September 2004

The IU Geriatrics Program and the IU Center for Aging Research congratulate geriatrician Douglas K. Miller, MD, who is one of 43 IU School of Medicine and Clarian Health Partners physicians recognized as a specialists in their fields and included in the 2004 issue of "America's Top Doctors." Doug was cited for his specialization in frailty syndrome, dementia, and falls.

America's Top Doctors is published by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., a research and information company founded in 1992 to help consumers find top doctors and top hospitals. The book is researched and published by medical professionals.

GRANTS

Christopher M. Callahan, MD, has been awarded a K24 from the National Institute on Aging. The five-year grant is a Midcareer Investigator Award which will allow Chris to continue his patient-oriented research and build from the environment of ongoing NIH-funded clinical trials to expand the reach of his intervention research into new clinical and patient-centered venues. The award also will formalize and support his role as a mentor for junior faculty and fellows who are developing careers in patient-oriented research.

The K24 follows Chris' successful 10-year progression through a series of K awards designed to fund activities that promote his individual research career and Indiana University's capacity to conduct research through the Center for Aging Research. Congratulation, Chris!

PUBLICATIONS

Gruber-Baldini AL, Boustani M, Sloane PD, Zimmerman S. Behavioral symptoms in residential care/assisted living facilities: prevalence, risk factors, and medication management. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004 Oct;52(10):1610-7.

Dodel RC, Du Y, Depboylu C, Hampel H, Frolich L, Haag A, Hemmeter U, Paulsen S, Teipel SJ, Brettschneider S, Spottke A, Nolker C, Moller HJ, Wei X, Farlow M, Sommer N, Oertel WH. Intravenous immunoglobulins containing antibodies against {beta}-amyloid for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 Oct;75(10):1472-1474.

Champion VL, Skinner CS, Menon U, Rawl S, Giesler RB, Monahan P, Daggy J. A breast cancer fear scale: psychometric development. J Health Psychol. 2004 Nov;9(6):753-62.

PRESENTATIONS

Michael Weiner, MD, MPH, presented "Portable, wireless videoconferencing facilitates patient-physician communication in the nursing home" at the International Conference on Communication in Healthcare held in Bruges, Belgium, September 14-17, 2004. Local co-authors were Schadow G, Lindbergh D, Warvel, J, Abernathy G, Perkins SM, Fyffe J, Dexter PR, McDonald CJ.

The conference brought together researchers, teachers, consumers, policy makers and practitioners interested in all aspects of communication in healthcare, to create networks, to share new work and new ideas, and to provide an enjoyable and motivating experience for all participants.

Mike Weiner presented "The Influence of Information Technology on Physician-Patient Relationships" during the Ninth Regenstrief Conference held September 29-October 1, 2004, at Turkey Run State Park in Marshall, Indiana.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Malaz Boustani, MD, MPH, Chris Callahan, Teresa Damush, PhD, Hugh Hendrie, MB, ChB, DSc, Siu Hui, PhD, Doug Miller, Usha Subramanian, MD, MS, Wanzhu Tu, PhD, and Mike Weiner, attended the Ninth Regenstrief Conference held September 29-October 1 at Turkey Run State Park. The theme of the biennial conference was "Re-forming Relationships in Health Care: Creating a National Research Agenda for Relationship-Centered Care." Co-sponsors of the conference were Regenstrief Institute and the Relationship-Centered Care Initiative, a project based at Regenstrief and supported by the Fetzer Institute.

GENI PI Glenda Westmoreland, MD, MPH and Project Manager Kathy Frank, RN, DNS, attended the Association of Directors of Geriatrics Academic Programs 2004 Reynolds Grantee Annual Meeting on September 30-October 2, 2004 in New York City. Glenda presented both an oral presentation summarizing Year 01 grant activities and a poster describing past and future work on the GENI project. The focus of the oral presentation was the GENI Expert Faculty Retreat. Both presentations were well received. GENI is the "Geriatrics Education Network of Indiana: A Statewide Dissemination of Geriatrics Training."

Glenda and Kathy also attended sessions on emergency medicine, internal medicine and community physician training in geriatrics and found a number of opportunities to collaborate with other institutions.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jeanne Dickens, MD, will present "Depression of the Elderly in Primary Care," at the October 20 IU Geriatrics Conference held in Wishard T2008 A&B from 7:30-8:30am. Dr. Dickens is associate professor of psychiatry, IUSM.

Laura Sands, PhD, will present, "Health Consequences of Frail Elders Living in the Community without Needed ADL Help," at Aging Research Work in Progress November 2, 8:30-9:30am, in the Regenstrief Institute 6th floor boardroom. Dr. Sands is an associate professor of nursing in the Purdue University School of Nursing.

The November 3rd IU Geriatrics Conference features Rudy Yung, MD, associate professor of ophthalmology. His presentation, "Diagnosis and Treatment of Macular Degeneration," will be held in Wishard T2008 A&B from 7:30-8:30am.