A leadership transition, new

construction and extraordinary

responses to a snowstorm, water

outage and flood marked 2004 on

the KUMC campus. The following

are some of the highlights listed

chronologically:

Resource CenterThe Patient Education Resource

Center opened in the hospital’s newly

remodeled Cancer Center. The center

provides cancer patients and families

with information regarding types of

cancer, treatment options, clinical tri-

als, support groups, survivorship,

complementary therapies, nutrition

and prevention. It was funded through

the annual Treads and Threads fund-

raiser at Kansas Speedway.

UHC ChairIrene Cumming, president

and chief executive officer of

The University of Kansas Hospital,

was elected chair of the board of

directors of the University

HealthSystem Consortium (UHC).

The organization is an alliance of

the clinical enterprises of 91

academic health centers.

SnowboundMore than a dozen employees

from The University of Kansas

Hospital put their SUVs to good use

to transport employees “essential to

patient care” during a snowstorm

Feb. 4-5. The storm left the Kansas

City metropolitan area blanketed in

8-10 inches of snow.

New NameThe KU Medical Center officially

renamed its cancer research organiza-

tion the Kansas Masonic Cancer

Research Institute (KMCRI) in

March. The new name reflects the

$20 million committed by the Kansas

Masonic Foundation to support can-

cer research on the KUMC campus.

Most ImprovedThe University of Kansas

Hospital was recognized by Solucient

as one of 100 most improved hospi-

tals in the United States. The list

appeared in the March 15 issue of

Modern Healthcare magazine.

Improvement was measured in the

areas of patient outcomes, operational

efficiency and financial performance

over a five-year period.

Heart CenterPreliminary designs for the hos-

pital’s new heart facility (above) were

released in March. In October, the

hospital announced its official name –

the Center for Advanced Heart Care.

New RecruitsThe KU School of Medicine

named nationally recognized

researcher Roy Jensen, MD, as

director of the Kansas Masonic

Cancer Research Institute. Other

new SoM faculty researchers/clini-

cians in 2004 include David

Albertini, PhD, Darryl Quarles,

MD, Curt Hagedorn, MD, John

Grant MD, and Yvonne Wan, PhD.

Graduation 2004About 500 graduates from the

KU Schools of Medicine, Nursing

and Allied Health and the Graduate

Studies program joined more than

3,500 University of Kansas gradu-

ates May 23 in Lawrence for the

132nd annual commencement cere-

monies. On May 25, Chancellor

Robert Hemenway, PhD, presented

KU student Andy Marso with his

diploma at The University of Kansas

Hospital, where Marso was recover-

ing from bacterial meningitis.Pages 2-3 Year in Review, cont.

Page 4 Classifieds, etc.

Memorable Moments: A Look Back at 2004

30 DECEMBER 2004 • VOLUME 6 • NUMBER 53

Inside

continued on page 2

The University of Kansas Medical Center

Heart WalkMore than 660 walkers joined

the KUMC team for the June 12

American Heart Walk. The campus-

wide effort raised $76,915, making

KUMC second in the region.

KUMC Doctors Among BestThe June issue of Kansas City

magazine included 32 KUMC physi-

cians among its list of the top 132

physicians in the metropolitan area.

External AffairsDavid Adkins was named to the

new position of vice chancellor for

External Affairs in June. Adkins

reports to the KUMC executive vice

chancellor and oversees Alumni and

Community Relations, the staff of

KU Med magazine, Health and

Technology Outreach and Continuing

Education at KUMC. He also works

with other government relations and

university marketing staff.

Water, Water EverywhereA pipe burst in the Murphy

Administration Building June 20,

causing water damage to all floors,

although hardest hit were offices on

the building’s south end. The building

was closed through June 27 as an esti-

mated 12,000-15,000 gallons of water

were pumped out. Professional

cleanup crews used drying fans, dehu-

midifiers and HEPA air filtration units

to restore the interior. Waterlogged

floors, walls, carpet and office equip-

ment were restored or replaced. Staff

responded by setting up temporary

offices in the Varnes Center in the

School of Nursing, complete with

phones and full computer access. KU

Chancellor Hemenway used the event

to make the case to lawmakers for

funds for preventive maintenance.

PET/CT ScannerThe University of Kansas

Hospital began using its new positron

emission tomography/computerized

tomography (PET/CT) scanner in the

Nuclear Medicine Department in

early July. The scanner features digi-

tal imaging technology that allows

physicians to view parts of the body

in greater detail in order to treat them

earlier and more specifically.

Biomedical Research GrantThe National Institutes of Health

awarded a record $18 million biomed-

ical research grant to Joan Hunt,

principal investigator and senior asso-

ciate dean for Research and Graduate

Education at the KU School of

Medicine. The grant – the largest ever

awarded a Kansas university – helps

establish cooperative inter-campus life

sciences research throughout Kansas.

White Coat CeremonyThe KU School of Medicine

welcomed its 100th class at the annu-

al White Coat Ceremony Aug. 6. The

175 students were cloaked by faculty

and initiated to the ideals of medical

professionalism. During the event,

Robert Daugherty Jr., MD, PhD, and

his wife, Joy McCann Daugherty,

announced their pledge of $500,000

for a rural health professorship.

JayDoc ClinicThe JayDoc Clinic celebrated

its first year in operation, received a

$15,000 grant from the Kauffman

Fund and held its first benefit.

Hagen RetirementAt the Aug. 17 faculty and staff

convocation, University of Kansas

Chancellor Robert Hemenway, PhD,

announced that Donald Hagen, MD,

(above left) KUMC executive vice

chancellor, planned to retire Dec. 31,

2004, to be succeeded by Barbara

Atkinson, MD, executive dean and

vice chancellor for Clinical Affairs,

School of Medicine. The university,

hospital and community said farewells

to Hagen and his wife, Karen, during

the first weeks of December.

Allied Health GraduateThe KU School of Allied Health

Year in Review, continued from page 1

2

The University of Kansas Hospital hired a record 102 new nursing graduates inMay. Approximately two-thirds of the new hires hold BSN degrees and enteredthe hospital’s year-long Nurse Residency Program.

graduated its first student from the

Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography pro-

gram in August. The program was

established in 2002 to meet the grow-

ing demand for cardiac sonographers.

Treads and ThreadsThe third annual Treads &

Threads gala Sept. 10 (below)

attracted more than 2,000 partygoers

and raised more than $333,000. The

event, which benefits the Cancer

Center at The University of Kansas

Hospital, featured cuisine from 22

Kansas City-area restaurants and

caterers, music from two dance

bands and a fireworks display.

Zerhouni VisitFor the first time, a director from

the National Institutes of Health visit-

ed the KUMC campus. During the

Sept. 17 visit, Elias Zerhouni, MD,

visited with executives and biomedical

researchers and complimented Kansas

for its commitment to biotechnology

and life sciences, noting, “There is a

buzz about Kansas.”

Flu Shot ShortageThe hospital cancelled its Oct. 30

free drive-thru flu shot event in

response to the nationwide flu vaccine

shortage. The event would have been

the 12th annual one. Instead, the hos-

pital shared more than 1,750 doses of

vaccine with area health departments.

Clinical Research CenterThe KUMC Executive Vice

Chancellor’s office, the KU School

of Medicine and The University of

Kansas Hospital collaborated to

establish a Clinical Research Center

located on the ground floor of Delp.

Leadership TeamExecutive Vice Chancellor desig-

nate Atkinson announced administrative

changes Nov. 1. Effective Jan. 1, 2005,

Karen Miller, RN, PhD, will assume

the new title of senior vice chancellor,

Academic and Student Affairs. She

will retain her duties as dean of the

schools of Nursing and Allied Health.

Shelley Gebar, RN, MPH, will assume

the duties of Atkinson’s chief of staff,

while continuing as senior associate

dean of Operations and Administration

for the School of Medicine and chief

operating officer for KUPI. Joan Hunt,

PhD, will become vice chancellor for

Research and eventually will take on

the role of president of the KUMC

Research Institute.

Water ShutdownThe University of Kansas Hospital

and nearby campus buildings experi-

enced a 12-hour planned water outage

Nov. 19-20. Teamwork and extensive

planning allowed the shutdown to pro-

ceed with a minimal impact to hospital

operations or patient care.

Diversity GrantsIn early November, the KU

School of Medicine received a

National Institutes of Health and

two Health Resources and Services

Administration grants totaling

$11.8 million to recruit and provide

opportunities for underrepresented

students and faculty.

Jewell GiftWilliam Jewell, MD, and his

wife, Sheila, committed $500,000 to

establish the William R. Jewell, MD,

Distinguished Kansas Masonic

Professorship Fund. Jewell is the for-

mer director of the Kansas Masonic

Cancer Research Institute.

Under ConstructionHard hats, fences and cranes

were signs of progress across the

KUMC campus, as construction

proceeded for the new Center for

Advanced Heart Care, a hospital

utility plant and the Biomedical

Research Building. Second-floor

renovations expanded technological

capabilities at Dykes Library.

Top RankingsUS News and World Report

ranked the KU School of Allied

Health’s Speech-Language

Pathology, Audiology and

Occupational Therapy graduate

programs among the top 10 pro-

grams. The Physical Therapy and

Nurse Anesthesia programs were

ranked 10th and 14th, respectively,

among public universities.3

Coming UpClassifieds, etc.Automotive

1998 Audi A4, V-6, 2.8L Quattro, 5-speedmanual transmission, red, sunroof, leather,62K miles, $11,000. 913-782-6225.

1993 Ford Explorer XLT, green, 4-door,4x4, manual transmission, 143K miles,great condition, 1 owner, $3,200. 913-205-6094.

For Sale

Charming Prairie Village Cape Cod, eat-in kitchen, large family room addition,new kitchen appliances, finished base-ment, $230,000. 913-403-8066.

Utility trailer, 4'x6', sturdy steel frame,sides, tailgate, lights, large wheels/fend-ers, safety chain, $200. 913-362-2492.

For Rent

Spacious house in KC North, 3 BR, 21/2

BA, 2-car garage, 20 minutes fromKUMC, family-friendly neighborhoodnear Zona Rosa, available Jan. 2005,$1,300/month. E-mail jagtox@aol.com.

House, 2 BR, 1 BA, 1-car garage, 15 minutes from KUMC, great storage,easy highway access, shared laundry,$400/month rent, $150/month utilities(gas/electric/water). 913-894-6558 or913-484-7791.

Free to Good Home

Young female puppy, mostly blackLabrador, friendly, loving, nice personality.913-558-0370.

3901 RAINBOW BOULEVARD • KANSAS CITY, KS 66160 • (913) 588-5000 • WWW.KUMC.EDU

From left, Dietetics employees (frontrow) Sylvia Ramsey, Ethel Price, (backrow) Martina McGhee, Brian Taylor,Dorothy Henderson and EarlenePeoples enjoyed the festivities aftergetting their picture taken with Santa.

Saturday, Jan. 1• Happy New Year!

Tuesday, Jan. 4• Surgery Grand Rounds: “Bariatric

Surgery,” Kahdi Udobi, MD, 7-8 a.m.,Clendening Auditorium.

Wednesday, Jan. 5• Internal Medicine Grand Rounds:

“Year in Review: General andGeriatric Medicine,” Sally Rigler, MD,Emran Rouf, MD, Srinivas Puli, MD,8-9 a.m., Wahl West Auditorium.

• Landon Center on Aging Brown Bagseries: “Yoga and Viable LifestyleManagement,” Alan Lippincott, cer-tified Kundalini Yoga instructor,noon-1 p.m., Landon Center 200.

Thursday, Jan. 6• History of Medicine Lecture: “Rose

Alma Riste, MD (1887-1975):Tuberculosis Control in India,” 4:45 p.m. reception, 5:30 p.m. lecture, Clendening Auditorium.

The Dec. 22 hospital holiday party featured an assortment of holiday treats aswell as pictures with Santa and gifts. From left, Kim Hoffman, RN, Radiation/Oncology; Natalie Lammers, RN, Operating Room; Kate Weber, RN, OperatingRoom; and Ginger Gault, MT, Blood Bank, visited the dessert table.

Irene M. Cumming Donald Hagen, MDPresident and CEO Executive Vice ChancellorThe University of University of KansasKansas Hospital Medical Center

Laura Coffey, EditorCarolen Collins, Internal Communications Manager

Kirk Buster, Graphic DesignJan Lewis, Editorial Manager

Val Renault, Senior WriterMary King, Communications Services Director

In The Center is a weekly employee publication published by The University of Kansas Hospital’sCommunications Services Department. Send story ideasto Laura Coffey, Bldg. 48, Room 1074, e-mail lcoffey@kumc.edu or call 8-0446.

Ad Policy - Send or bring your ad, 30 words or less, to Bldg. 48, Room 1070, fax to 8-0241, or e-mailinthecenter by noon Thursday of the week before it isto run. Ads run free of charge for employees, studentsand volunteers. All ads must include the advertiser’sname and work extension (or student box number) forverification. Only home phone numbers–no pagernumbers or work extensions–will be published. Pleaseinclude area code. No ads for commercial services orpets for sale will be accepted. Ads will not be taken bytelephone. Ads may be held a week if space is limited.