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Published monthly for CC employees by Clinical Center Communications March 1999 Learning from a distance Laboratory system debuts Working better Noses for news No Smoking policy New fire alarm system Children & healthcare week Dr. Cornman dies Dig this How low? News briefs

The first class of the CC-Duke University Training Program in Clinical Research. Seated (left to right) are Marjorie Garvey, Raphael Schiffmann, and Joshua Kouri. Standing (left to right) are Gabor Illei, Joseph Hoxworth, Richard Messman, Douglas Shaffer, Kara Sovik, Irini Sereti, and Susanne Goldstein. Not pictured: Salman Azhar, Richard Nahin, Jorge Tavel, and George Wittenberg. Learning from a distance It's late afternoon as students assemble in a sixth-floor conference room. A television monitor displays students filling a classroom hundreds of miles away, at Duke University in Durham, N.C. There, a professor steps up to a lectern to begin the day's talk. Cameras and microphones in both classrooms swing into action, enabling these distant groups to see and hear one another with ease. Class is now in session. Fourteen NIHers comprise the inaugural class of the CC-Duke Training Program in Clinical Research. This spring, they will complete the first of two years of course work done via videoconferencing. "It's worked much better than I anticipated," NCI's Dr. Richard Messman said of the long-distance learning. "The teachers are very responsive to us, and the interaction is much as if we were right there at Duke." Designed primarily for clinical fellows and other health professionals who are training for careers in clinical research, the program offers formal courses in research design, statistical and decision analysis, research ethics, and research management. "The program is very practical," said Dr. Raphael Schiffmann of NINDS. "I am the principal investigator on several different clinical research protocols, so the courses are directly relevant to what I do." Academic credit earned by participating in the program may be applied toward satisfying the degree requirements for a Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research from Duke University School of Medicine. A non-degree option is also offered. In addition to the videoconferenced classes from Duke, some courses are held on-site by adjunct faculty. When class is not in session, students can connect with Duke via fax, email, telephone, or the internet. Although students say the current setup works well, next year's sessions should be even more effective, according to DeNedra Bluitt, CC coordinator. "We plan to have a larger classroom and make some technological improvements so our students feel even more a part of the Duke site," she said. Applications for the 1999-2000 academic year are available from the NIH Office of Education, Bldg. 10, Room 1C129. Enrollment is limited. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 15. Accepted applicants will be notified by July 1. "It is a great opportunity," said Dr. Schiffmann, "and very convenient to be able to attend classes right here at the Clinical Center. I strongly recommend it for anyone with an interest in clinical research." The course web site at http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/cc_duke/info.html has information regarding course work and tuition costs for the 1999-2000 academic year. E-mail queries regarding the program may be addressed to Dr. William E. Wilkinson, Program Director, at crtp@mc.duke.edu, or call DeNedra Bluitt, CC coordinator, 6-9425. index

Working Better: Are you time-management challenged? Ever had a day where you felt super productive? Your schedule with work, family, and other priorities just seemed to flow. Then, BAM!...all urgencies hit at once. Doing even simple tasks takes twice as long because you feel overwhelmed. If you are the type of person who often feels time-management challenged without knowing what direction to take next, this article will provide you with some fresh ideas to help you get your life back on track. 1. Be "Present Moment" Focused It is easy to sink into your past or fly forward into your future, but all you really have is right here and now. Stop and take a deep breath. Try to get the positive thoughts rolling and you will be more productive. I often read passages from "The Precious Present," by Spencer Johnson, to remind me of these important truths. I encourage you to pick up a copy if you find your mind scattered in the midst of daily "to do" items. 2. Simplify Your Life We make our lives too complicated. Why do we order too many magazines that end up in a pile barely touched, let alone read? Why is it that we spend so much time sorting and reading through junk mail? Why do we check e-mail every half hour? Why do we worry about balancing the checkbook when we can use on-line banking services to lighten the load? Why do we stress ourselves out cleaning the house when we could hire a housekeeper once a week? Simple changes can lead to more time-time you can spend focusing on things that really matter. 3. Focus on "Like" Activities In the midst of the daily shuffle, do you jump from one project to the next, not really feeling like you are accomplishing much? Try scheduling "like" activities into time slots. For example, correspondence may require scheduling a specific time each day to read and write e-mails, return phone calls, set up future meetings, and confirm appointments. Also, it's important to take full advantage of the time of day when you have the most energy. If that's in the morning, schedule high priority activities during that time, then wait until the afternoon to do less important tasks. 4. Detach from Outcomes Wouldn't it be nice if we could know all of the outcomes of our efforts right now? Like knowing if our protocol was approved so we could begin our research project? Yet we need to learn that everything has its own timing. When we try to push, it often just comes back to us as worry and stress. Resolve to do what you have control over one day at a time. It will help prevent you from getting overwhelmed and enable you to reserve important energy for more important tasks. 5. Say "No" Creating healthy boundaries between you and the people in your life is done by this simple, complete word. Always remember that people will waste your time if you allow them. So stop feeling guilty about taking time to nurture yourself. People often ask me how I have time to read. My response is that it is a conscious choice on my part. Think about it: you bend over backwards for everyone else, so why not spend some time for yourself? 6. Nurture Your Calling Do something that brings meaning and fun into your life. Find work that fully engages you so that time flows with effortless ease. That is when you know you are following your calling. I believe that all of us know what our calling is. Most of us, however, are afraid to embrace it because of money or what other people might say. Serious illness or life setbacks often cause us to re-examine how we're spending our time. I've known people who, after a setback, suddenly change careers or take a vacation they've always wanted. As a wise sage once said, "You have to risk your identity for a bigger future than you're presently living." 7. Let Go As Jim Valvano, the late coach of the North Carolina State University basketball team, once remarked, "Every day you should take time to laugh, to think, and to cry." Try to hold onto every situation in your life like you hold onto a railing on a roller coaster. You find if you let go, life can be a rush! Time is meant to be nurtured, enjoyed, and treasured. You can stay healthy and happy in many ways by letting go of the unpredictables in life. --by Michael Scott Michael Scott has contributed several articles to Clinical Center News. He is a keynote presenter and author of the book and tape "Catch Your Balance and Run," available at NIH R&W stores.   index

CCNews needs noses for news Just a reminder that Clinical Center Communications and Clinical Center News are located at 6100 Executive Boulevard, in Rockville. Being off campus presents some logistical challenges to keeping up with the ever-changing environment of the Clinical Center. We hope those of you in the building will remember to send us your story ideas, news, and calendar items. We can arrange for photography of most hospital events. If you are an aspiring writer, submit a story and get a byline. Submissions are preferred in Microsoft Word or in the body of an e-mail. Your eyes, ears, and noses for news can help CCNews be as timely and informative as possible.   index

Reminder: No smoking near CC Now that the beautiful new south entry is open, staff and visitors should remember not to smoke within 100 feet of it-or any other entrance to the Clinical Center. Fumes from tobacco smoke are known to affect smokers and nonsmokers alike. To help curb the associated risk of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, the NIH instituted a ban on the use of lighted tobacco products in various locations, including NIH buildings both on and off campus, in government-owned vehicles, near entrances and exits, and within designated "Smoke-Free Zones." Unique to the CC is a policy developed in accordance with the standards of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, which was revised by the Medical Executive Committee in 1997, and takes into account not only the employees of the CC, but also its patients and visitors. Here, the health risks of smoking are coupled with another known risk, deaths due to fire. Findings reported by the National Fire Protection Association showed that 75 percent of fire fatalities in health-care institutions occur among patients using smoking materials. Therefore, at the CC, smoking has been banned in all patient-care units, and throughout the building, including all stairwells and parking garages. Smoking is also prohibited within 100 feet of all entrances and in "Smoke-Free Zones." Employees who wish to stop smoking can call the NIH Employee Assistance Program for information and referral at 6-3164.   index

Mike Lanouette (back) and Raymond Lim-Sharpe flip the switch in the CC Electric Shop to cut power to the 1950's-vintage fire alarm system. The Electric Shop is responsible for maintaining the new, much improved system. New fire alarm system up and running You've probably heard that voice. "There is an emergency in your area! Please evacuate!" Heads poke out into the halls; quizzical looks are exchanged. Where's the fire? Chances are, there wasn't one. It was the testing of the new facility-wide fire alarm system. As of last month, CC occupants have a much improved level of fire (life) safety because of the new system, which is the culmination of three years of installation and testing by staff of the Fire Prevention Section and the Division of Engineering Services. "That was no small task, given that we had to individually test more than 4,000 devices, such as smoke detectors, manual pull stations, audiovisual alarms, and overhead speakers," said J.P. McCabe, chief of the Fire Prevention Section, Emergency Management Branch, Division of Public Safety. The new fire alarm system does two important things: 1) It automatically instructs occupants on what to do in an emergency, and 2) it tells the NIH Fire Department the exact location of the alarm and type of device that initiated the alarm. McCabe said CC occupants will now know when there is an emergency in their area. He also said the new fire alarm system permits orderly evacuations of only those zones that are in alarm and verbally instructs occupants to exit to a safe zone. The state-of-the-art system can be activated by manual pull stations, smoke detectors, and sprinkler system water flow switches. It even monitors itself to make sure all its components are working. This means that the system can't be taken out of service without a "trouble" signal going to the NIH Fire Department. The Fire Department then calls the Electric Shop to repair the system. Now when you hear that voice, do what it says. For more information on the new system and what to do in case of a fire, call the Fire Prevention Section at 6-0487. index

CC Celebrates Children and Healthcare Week The CC will celebrate the 20th annual observance of Children and Healthcare Week, March 14-20. This year's theme is "Partners in Pediatric Pain Management," to help focus attention on better management of the pain that children can experience when receiving medical care. The Clinical Center program will include a multidisciplinary pediatric poster exhibit outside the special events office, Room 1C174, and other events for our pediatric patients and their families. This annual event is sponsored by the Association for the Care of Children's Health and is provided by the CC Children and Healthcare Week Planning Committee. Watch for details on fliers around the CC. For more information, call Kristin Johnsen at 6-7704.   index

Rehabilitation Medicine's Dr. Tillye Cornman dies Dr. Tillye Cornman, 82, a physician with the Clinical Center's Rehabilitation Medicine Department, died Feb. 2 of congestive heart failure. Dr. Cornman was born in New Orleans. She trained as a nurse before earning a medical degree at Louisiana State University in 1943. She completed an internship at Metropolitan Hospital, and a residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. She was listed in the second edition of "Who's Who of American Women." In 1951 at age 34, Dr. Cornman was working in private practice in New Orleans when she was shot by a patient who was undergoing treatment for mental illness. The attack left her paralyzed from the waist down. During her rehabilitation, she developed an interest in physical medicine and rehabilitation. She received training as a physiatrist, and subsequently joined the Clinical Center's Rehabilitation Medicine Department in 1954. She was a diplomate of the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Cornman retired in 1988, but served as a consultant until 1996. She was a longtime resident of the NIH Apartment House, until it was demolished last year. Colleagues remember Dr. Cornman as a dedicated and caring member of the staff. "Tillye was a staunch patient advocate," said Dr. Lynn Gerber, chief of the Rehabilitation Medicine Department. "She was very well liked and respected by her patients, who noticed that she was able despite her own disability." Dr. Cornman was also an advocate for causes she believed in. According to her daughter, Joan Uhlig, in the 1960s she challenged a law stating that people who lived on federal property could not vote, and she won before the Supreme Court. When she attempted to see the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives and found that the building was not wheelchair accessible, she wrote a letter to then Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and soon received a reply that a ramp had been installed. Said Dr. Gerber, "I will remember Tillye for her spirit and her commitment. If she felt something wasn't right, she'd try her best to change it. She was a very effective person." Dr. Cornman is survived by her daughter, five sisters, two grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. A memorial service is scheduled for April 6, at 3:30 p.m., in the Chapel on the 14th floor. All are welcome to attend.  index

Dig this No, an asteroid didn't land in the CC's front yard. It's just the excavation for the new Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center. Between 50 and 60 dump trucks make at least 10 trips each on a typical day. Each truck can haul off about 12 cubic yards of dirt. That's about the size of a Priority One shuttle van. Some 180,000 cubic yards of dirt eventually will be hauled off, leaving a hole in the ground a quarter of a mile long and between 25 to 40 feet deep. The displaced dirt will cap a full landfill near Olney. For construction updates, consult the web site (http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/waytogo/update1.html), or look for "The Way to Go" fliers in displays throughout the Clinical Center. index

Help the Clinical Center "lower the bar" on costs.

If your cost-saving idea is approved, YOU are eligible to receive 10 percent of the savings generated. See your supervisor for details and a cost-savings proposal form.

News briefs Construction Q&A If you have questions about construction of the Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center, come to an information session on March 16 for some answers. Project coordinators will be available in two shifts to talk informally about the construction and the new building: 7:30-8:30 a.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m. The sessions will be at the Clinical Research Center exhibit on the Clinical Center's first floor. It's across from the Admissions Desk and near the now-closed north entrance. Watch this web site (http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/waytogo/update1.html) for CC construction news and information. Identical twins Normal, healthy, identical-twin pairs of any age, race, or sex are needed for a study of the differences in the genotype and phenotype of their T cell-receptor repertoire. This study will provide insight as to the reasons for various T cell responses, given a particular HLA class I haplotype, in relation to genetic and environmental factors. Participants should be willing to undergo a thorough medical history, HLA testing, complete blood count, and leukapheresis, and should be available for further questioning about their medical history. Twin donors will be paid for their blood donations. For more information, call the HLA Laboratory at 6-8852. RoundTable On Mar. 26, Clinical Center RoundTable presents Arthritis of Recent Onset: Studies in Patho-genesis and Prognosis. Dr. John I. Gallin, CC director, will moderate, and the panelists are Dr. Hani El-Gabalawy, NIAMS; Dr. Ralph Schumacher, VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA; and Dr. Lynn Gerber, CC. Interested parties can view the live broadcast in Lipsett Amphitheater from noon to 1 p.m. CME credit is available. Vaccine study Normal volunteers who have been immunized with hepatitis B and other vaccines are needed for a study of risk factors for adverse events to vaccines. Enrollment consists of completion of a questionnaire and donation of a blood sample through a local physician. For further information, please contact Ejaz Shamim, M.D., Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Immunology, CBER, FDA, Bldg. 29B, Room 2G11, 301-827-0459; fax 301-827-0852; e-mail: shamim@cber.fda.gov. Alling memorial service planned A memorial service in honor of the late Dr. David W. Alling, CC biostatistician, is scheduled for Friday, April 16, at 3:30 p.m. in Lipsett Amphitheater. Dr. Alling died in January of respiratory failure. His service to NIH spanned 40 years. Since 1996, the Clinical Center was fortunate to have Dr. Alling as a special assistant for biostatistics. All are welcome to attend the service. For more information, contact Dee Koziol, 6-2209. index

Editor: Sue Kendall Clinical Center News, 6100 Executive Blvd., Suite 3C01, MSC 7511, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-7511. Tel: 301-496-2563. Fax: 301-402-2984. Published monthly for CC employees by the Office of Clinical Center Communications, Colleen Henrichsen, chief. News, article ideas, calendar events, letters, and photographs are welcome. Deadline for submissions is the second Monday of each month. top | cc home page | nih home page |