The 91探花 Academic Medical Center ( 91探花AMC) has a new name: 91探花Medicine. The new name was approved by the 91探花AMC Board at its Dec. 2 meeting. The Board was so enthusiastic about the new name that it is asking for 91探花Board of Regents approval to change it鈥檚 own name to the 91探花Medicine Board.

91探花Medicine also will be used for marketing 91探花clinical services previously advertised under the 91探花Physicians brand, according to John Coulter, associate vice president for medical affairs and chair of the 91探花Medicine Marketing Committee. Advertising containing the new name will take to the television airwaves early next year.

鈥� 91探花Medicine works well from a variety of standpoints,鈥� Coulter explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 short, highly descriptive and encompasses both the clinical and basic science aspects of our mission.鈥�

Coulter noted that the 鈥渁cademic medical center鈥� terminology has long been a major source of confusion to those unfamiliar with the 91探花medical organization, and even to those within the University. The 91探花AMC includes two 91探花owned and/or managed teaching hospitals, each with the words 鈥渕edical center鈥� in their name: Harborview Medical Center and 91探花Medical Center. It also includes the 91探花Physicians Neighborhood Clinics and the School of Medicine.

鈥淲hile retaining their separate names as before, all of these entities now are united under the banner of 91探花Medicine,鈥� Coulter said. Use of the new name has been approved by the Office of the Vice President for Medical Affairs, he added.

The new name is already in use on the former 91探花AMC web site and the 91探花home page, and soon will be featured in television and newspaper advertising in place of the 91探花Physicians brand.

鈥淭he ads will be very different from any other health-care advertising out there right now, and they will speak directly to who we are as an organization: a group of very special individuals who have decided to devote their lives to academic medicine,鈥� said Coulter. 鈥淲hatever our roles 鈥� teachers, researchers, clinicians or staff 鈥� those associated with 91探花Medicine understand the sanctity of medicine in people鈥檚 lives.

鈥淭he advertising will make this very clear in ways that not only speak to the public but that also should instill added pride among those of us who actually are part of 91探花Medicine,鈥� he added.

For now, 91探花Medicine鈥檚 only logo will be what鈥檚 known as a 鈥渢ype treatment鈥� with no accompanying graphic device: just the words in a specific font. The 鈥淯W鈥� in 91探花Medicine matches the new 91探花adopted this fall by University Relations.

The process of conversion to the new name and graphic treatment will be 鈥渆volutionary,鈥� and may affect a number of applications, from business cards to letterhead and signage. For most within 91探花Medicine, business cards and stationery should stay the same unless such items currently include the words 鈥�91探花 Academic Medical Center.鈥� If they do, when existing stocks run out, the words 鈥� 91探花Medicine鈥� should replace the old name. The new name鈥檚 type treatment also will start replacing the familiar purple-and-gold 91探花Physicians logo everywhere except the 91探花Physicians Neighborhood Clinics and the 91探花Physicians practice plan.

91探花Medicine is working with the Seattle advertising firm, THINK, in developing the ads and naming strategy. THINK鈥檚 Bill Toliver has been a frequent attendee at scores of small and large meetings across 91探花Medicine in recent months to explain the ad campaign and naming strategy and to hear ideas from countless individuals.

Dr. Martha J. Somerman, an expert in cell behavior and in molecular approaches to restoring tissue, has been named the dean of the 91探花President Richard L. McCormick announced today. The appointment follows a national search and is subject to confirmation by the 91探花Board of Regents at its next regular meeting on May 17.

55, is associate dean for research at the She was recently president of the American Association for Dental Research, serves on the advisory council for the National Institute of Craniofacial and Dental Research, National Institutes of Health, and is a diplomate of the American Academy of Periodontology. She was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2001.

“I am very pleased by the appointment of Martha Somerman,” said 91探花President Richard L. McCormick. “She is well-respected for her teaching and research, and has attained prominent national recognition for both. Dr. Somerman will provide fine leadership for our strong and nationally renowned School of Dentistry.”

Somerman was selected after a national search led by Dr. Paul G. Ramsey, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine.

“I am honored and privileged to be associated with such a prestigious and prominent dental school,” said Somerman. “I hope to contribute to its continuing growth and success.

“I also want to thank my colleagues at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry for the support and encouragement they have given me during the past 11 years,” she added.

Somerman succeeds Dr. Paul B. Robertson, who retired last year as dean after nine years, and was recently named the Washington Dental Service Foundation Distinguished Professor in Dentistry. Robertson remains active in clinical teaching to dental and graduate students and continues his research interests in the oral consequences of primary and acquired immunodeficiency diseases.

Since July 2001, the acting dean of the school has been Dr. James C. Steiner, associate dean for curriculum and instructional resources.

Somerman received her D.D.S. degree from New York University in 1975, and her Ph.D. from the University of Rochester, New York, in 1980. She received a periodontics certificate that same year from Eastman Dental Center, Rochester.

Somerman has been the William K. and Mary Anne Najjar professor in the Department of Periodontics, Prevention and Geriatrics at the Michigan dental school since 1991. She chaired the department from 1991 to 2001. She also has been a professor in the University of Michigan medical school鈥檚 Department of Pharmacology since 1995. Previously, she was on the faculty of the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery.

Since 1981, she has maintained a private practice in the specialty of periodontics. Somerman鈥檚 laboratory focuses on understanding the factors, genes and mechanisms regulating formation, maintenance and regeneration of soft and hard connective tissues. Her research support is from both NIH and the private sector. She has over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals and has served on several editorial boards.

Somerman will assume her new duties on Sept. 18. Her annual salary will be $276,000.

Among the largest dental schools on the West Coast, the 91探花School of Dentistry offers both predoctoral (D.D.S.) and graduate training in dentistry. The school operates the largest dental outpatient clinic in the Pacific Northwest.

The school has earned a strong reputation for its innovative programs and pioneering research in oral health. The 91探花School of Dentistry received almost $10 million in research support in 2001 — more than any other dental school — from the one of the National Institutes of Health.

About 75 percent of all dental practitioners in Washington state graduated from the 91探花School of Dentistry.

“Widespread news coverage has been given this week to Donald Church, who, in the course of a lifesaving procedure at 91探花Medical Center in June 2000, experienced a serious medical error. A malleable surgical retractor was left in Mr. Church’s abdomen following his operation. The retractor was later removed, and fortunately this mistake has no long-term consequences for Mr. Church’s health.

“As stated to reporters earlier this week, our hospital has accepted full responsibility for this error, publicly apologizing to Mr. Church and implementing procedures to further reduce the likelihood of another such incident. These procedures include counting retractors. Our staff works diligently to count accurately and discover ways to improve our processes and aims for zero defects. Thus, we have dedicated additional resources to expedite a thorough review of all of our operating-room counting practices in order to re-engineer any related process or procedure that would further increase patient safety.

“We know of four other, very similar errors involving retained metal surgical instruments that have occurred at UWMC since 1997. As one of the nation’s top teaching hospitals and a public institution, we feel it is important to discuss these medical errors.

“The most recent case involves a patient who had a very complex abdominal surgery at our hospital in September. A malleable retractor used in closing the incision was mistakenly left in her body; we removed the object in October. We have accepted responsibility for this error and apologized to the patient. As in the case of Mr. Church, the woman has made a full recovery from her cancer surgery and is doing well.

“Although there is very little published data on the subject, we feel confident that errors of this kind are uncommon. At UWMC, for example, they represent one in approximately 12,000 cases per year–or less than .01 percent of all cases performed at UWMC since 1997.

“We assure the public that they can continue to have confidence that care delivered at our hospital is second to none. Incidents such as these reinforce our resolve to improve the safety of health care in every way possible.”

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The following statement is from Dr. Eric Larson, medical director at 91探花 Medical Center:

“Widespread news coverage has been given this week to Donald Church, who, in the course of a lifesaving procedure at 91探花Medical Center in June 2000, experienced a serious medical error. A malleable surgical retractor was left in Mr. Church’s abdomen following his operation. The retractor was later removed, and fortunately this mistake has no long-term consequences for Mr. Church’s health.

“As stated to reporters earlier this week, our hospital has accepted full responsibility for this error, publicly apologizing to Mr. Church and implementing procedures to further reduce the likelihood of another such incident. These procedures include counting retractors. Our staff works diligently to count accurately and discover ways to improve our processes and aims for zero defects. Thus, we have dedicated additional resources to expedite a thorough review of all of our operating-room counting practices in order to re-engineer any related process or procedure that would further increase patient safety.

“We know of four other, very similar errors involving retained metal surgical instruments that have occurred at UWMC since 1997. As one of the nation’s top teaching hospitals and a public institution, we feel it is important to discuss these medical errors.

“The most recent case involves a patient who had a very complex abdominal surgery at our hospital in September. A malleable retractor used in closing the incision was mistakenly left in her body; we removed the object in October. We have accepted responsibility for this error and apologized to the patient. As in the case of Mr. Church, the woman has made a full recovery from her cancer surgery and is doing well.

“Although there is very little published data on the subject, we feel confident that errors of this kind are uncommon. At UWMC, for example, they represent one in approximately 12,000 cases per year–or less than .01 percent of all cases performed at UWMC since 1997.

“We assure the public that they can continue to have confidence that care delivered at our hospital is second to none. Incidents such as these reinforce our resolve to improve the safety of health care in every way possible.”

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Dr. William J. Bremner has been named chair of the Department of Medicine at the 91探花 School of Medicine. His appointment, which follows a nationwide search, is subject to confirmation by the 91探花Board of Regents.

Bremner, 55, has been vice chair of the Department of Medicine since 1987. He is director of the UW’s Population Center for Research in Reproduction and chief of medical service at Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System.

“The School of Medicine is very fortunate to have William Bremner taking over the leadership of our largest department,” said Dr. Paul Ramsey, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. “He brings an outstanding combination of administrative leadership skills to the chairmanship and exemplifies the excellence of the department’s teaching, patient care and research missions.”

Born in Bellingham, Wash., Bremner completed undergraduate studies at Harvard University and returned to the state to attend the 91探花medical school in 1964. He completed a National Institutes of Health predoctoral research traineeship in psychiatry in 1967 and received an M.D. in 1969.

Following an internship at Vanderbilt University Hospital, Bremner completed a residency in internal medicine in 1972 and a fellowship in endocrinology at the UW. Bremner then pursued basic science studies in reproductive endocrinology for three years at Monash University and Prince Henry’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. He received a Ph.D. after completing his thesis in 1978.

Bremner joined the School of Medicine faculty in 1977 as an acting assistant
professor of medicine and of obstetrics and gynecology. He became an assistant professor of medicine and chief of endocrinology at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 1979 and an associate professor of medicine in 1982.

Also in 1979, Bremner co-founded the UW’s Population Center for Research in Reproduction, often called the “Pop Center” — an interdisciplinary research center dedicated primarily to understanding the basic biology of the male reproductive system and to putting this knowledge to use in solving clinical problems related to infertility and contraceptive development.

Bremner’s research is directed at understanding the control systems for human reproduction. In particular, he studies the hormone signals that are important in transmitting information from the outside world through the brain and pituitary glands to the gonads (testes or ovaries) and from the gonads to the body as a whole.

Bremner’s awards include the Henry Christian Award for Excellence in Research from the American Federation for Clinical Research as well as election to the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians.

In 1987, Bremner became a full professor of medicine, chief of medical service at Veteran’s Hospital and vice chair of medicine. As chief of medical service, he has been responsible for the teaching of medical students and residents in internal medicine who rotate through the hospital. He became director of the Population Center in 1988.

Bremner is a member of the Endocrine Society, American Federation for Clinical Research, and serves as a consultant to the National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Bremner becomes the fifth chair of the Department of Medicine. He succeeds Ramsey, who was named vice president for medical affairs and dean in July, 1997. Dr. Wayne Crill, professor and chair of the Department of Physiology and Biophysics, headed the search committee. Dr. Henry Rosen, associate chair of the department, has served as acting chair in the interim.

“Dr. Rosen has served the department and school with distinction and energy throughout his period as acting chair,” said Ramsey. “I join his many colleagues in expressing gratitude for this service.” The 91探花Department of Medicine has 430 full-time and approximately 1,000 clinical faculty members in the five-state region served by the medical school. The department is recognized internationally for its depth and breadth of basic science and clinical research programs.

Dr. Nancy Fugate Woods, associate dean for research at the 91探花 School of Nursing, has been named dean of the school, 91探花President Richard L. McCormick announced today. The appointment, which follows a seven-month national search, is subject to confirmation by the 91探花Board of Regents at its next regular meeting on Feb. 20.

Woods, 51, is also the founding director of the School of Nursing’s internationally known Center for Women’s Health Research and a former chair of the Department of Family and Child Nursing. She has been a faculty member since 1978.

Woods succeeds Dr. Sue T. Hegyvary, who has served as dean since 1986 and who last April announced her intention to resign her administrative position this year. Hegyvary will continue as professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems.

“Sue Hegyvary’s accomplishments as dean have reflected great credit on our nursing school and the University as a whole,” said 91探花President Richard L. McCormick. “She and Nancy Woods have been close colleagues for many years. I am confident that with Nancy’s wonderful blend of experience and leadership, our nursing school will continue at the absolute forefront of nursing research, teaching and clinical programs.”

“I could not be more pleased with the outcome of this national search,” said Hegyvary. “This school has a passion for excellence, which is reflected in this choice. When Nancy was unanimously recommended as associate dean for nursing research a year ago, the search committee commented that they had found the best candidate for the position right here at the 91探花. The same holds true as she becomes dean.”

“I am humbled by the confidence shown in me by the University and by my colleagues,” said Woods. “This is a challenging time in which to lead change in both higher education and health care. We have an outstanding tradition of excellence and with a talented faculty, outstanding students and a dedicated staff, I am committed to continuing this tradition.”

Woods, who will receive an annual salary of $160,008, earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wisconsin State University at Eau Claire in 1968, a master of nursing degree from the 91探花in 1969, and a Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1978.

She has provided leadership since the 1970s in developing women’s health as a field of study in nursing science. Her early research focused on the relationship of women’s social environments and their health, emphasizing the health consequences of women’s multiple roles and social supports. With colleagues at Duke University and the UW, she conducted the first study of perimenstrual symptoms in American women.

With 91探花colleagues, Woods established the Center on Women’s Health Research in 1989 to study women’s health across the lifespan. Her current research focuses on mid-life women, their health and health-seeking behavior patterns. She has been especially interested in women who may experience challenges to their health because of their age, ethnicity, multiple roles and socioeconomic status.

Woods was appointed associate dean for research in January 1997. Among her many activities and honors, she is a member of the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine and a fellow and former president of the American Academy of Nursing. She was a member of the National Advisory Council on Nursing Research for the National Center for Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health, and a member of the Women’s Health Task Force of the NIH. Last fall she received the first Vivian O. Lee Women’s Health Award, to be given annually by U.S. Public Health Service Region X to honor individuals who have shown leadership, creativity and vision in improving the health of women and their families.

Woods is married to Dr. James Woods, a toxicologist and senior research leader at Battelle Seattle Research Center. He is also a 91探花research professor of environmental health and internationally recognized for research in mercury toxicity. The Woods’ daughter, Erin, 17, is a student at Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The 91探花first offered nursing courses in 1918, and the School of Nursing was established in 1945. Today it is internationally recognized for its commitment to development of knowledge about nursing practice through research and to excellence in clinical practice. It offers four degree programs, including a doctorate in nursing science that prepares nurses for research activities in academia and practice.

The 91探花School of Nursing receives the largest amount in nursing research awards from the National Institutes of Health. In 1995-96, it received more than $7 million in research awards, including more than $6 million in NIH funding. It has the largest number of fellows in the American Academy of Nursing, a prestigious honor society for nursing leaders. It has consistently been voted the top nursing school in national rankings.

The school has three departments: Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, Family and Child Nursing, and Psychosocial and Community Health Nursing. There are 449 students, including 322 graduate students, and 85 full-time faculty.

91探花 President Richard L. McCormick has appointed a committee to advise him in the search for a new dean of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine.
The 11-person committee will be chaired by Dr. Paul B. Robertson, dean of the School of Dentistry, and will have faculty representation from the public health, medical, and nursing schools, as well as a student representative.

The person named to the position will replace Dr. Gilbert Omenn, who left the 91探花in September of this year to become executive vice president for medical affairs at the University of Michigan. “Gil Omenn was an exceptional dean for many years. He helped create one of the most outstanding programs in public health and community medicine in the country,” said McCormick. “The outcome of this search for his successor will help define the direction and future of the school for many years to come.”

The dean of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine is the academic leader and chief administrative officer of the school and is responsible for the development and management of all academic programs and resources, as well as fostering extramural research. The school has 180 full-time faculty, 600 students and 350 staff and is comprised of five departments: Biostatistics, Environmental Health, Health Services, Epidemiology and Pathobiology. It also has affiliations with state and local health departments, hospitals, HMOs, federal agencies and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

The advisory committee will immediately begin to invite letters of interest and nominations for the position. McCormick has asked the committee to consider a diverse array of highly qualified candidates both within the University and nationally. Candidates must submit letters of interest no later than March 13, 1998.

In addition to Robertson, committee members are Kenneth Anderson, administrator of the School of Public Health and Community Medicine; Dr. Breck E. Byers, chair of the Department of Genetics; Dr. Susanna Cunningham, associate professor of biobehavioral nursing and health systems; Dr. Paula Diehr, professor of biostatistics; Dr. David Eaton, professor of environmental health; Dr. Mary-Claire King, professor of medicine and genetics; Dr. Andy Stergachis, chair of the Department of Pharmacy; Dr. Kenneth Stuart, chair of the Department of Pathobiology; Dr. Michelle Williams, assistant professor of epidemiology; and Theresa J. McCann, a doctoral candidate in epidemiology, who will serve as the student representative on the committee.

The School of Public Health and Community Medicine has pioneered teaching innovations such as direct links to the State Health Department for hands-on epidemiology courses, the Extended Degree Program for the Master of Public Health degree and an interschool course on environmental risk assessment, and is in the process of developing new degree pathways in public health genetics.

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Seattle-based world leaders in the fight against cancer today announced that they are forming a new, combined clinical cancer program.
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the 91探花 (UW), and Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center are creating the new program, called the “Cancer Care Alliance,” to speed the development of new knowledge of, and treatment for, various cancers.

In addition to providing state-of-the-art cancer care, the Alliance will organize a regional network to speed the sharing of treatment protocols and other new information that could improve the ability of physicans and hospitals to diagnose and treat cancer patients.

The program will unite the cancer-care components of the three institutions, and significantly extend their strengths. All share a long and successful history of collaboration in cancer clinical services to support their respective missions in clinical research, training and patient care.

Subject to final approval by governing boards of each institution before year’s end, the new, not-for-profit Alliance will be officially incorporated this January as the first-ever integrated ambulatory and inpatient cancer program for the three institutions.

“This will be a powerful alliance, one that may well turn out to be a model for other parts of the country,” said National Cancer Institute Director Richard Klausner, a leading proponent of highly integrated clinical cancer research systems.

“Overall, this initiative will combine and greatly magnify the already enormous capabilities of three of the Northwest’s most renowned cancer clinical institutions,” said Dr. Fred Appelbaum, who is director-designate and a member of the Alliance’s interim board. “Basically, we believe we can accomplish significantly more by closer collaboration and program integration–the sum will be greater than the parts.”

Appelbaum, who also is director of the Hutchinson Center Division of Clinical Research and a 91探花professor of medicine, added that another significant benefit expected to come from the Alliance is more efficient pooling of administrative costs now borne by each institution separately, contributing to cost-effective care.

“This is one of the most far-reaching developments in the history of the 91探花medical school since inception of our regionalized program of medical education more than 25 years ago,” said Dr. Paul G. Ramsey, 91探花vice president for medical affairs and dean of the 91探花medical school. “When the Alliance becomes fully operational in 2001, people from throughout the Northwest and elsewhere will benefit from a far more integrated, comprehensive cancer clinical system than has ever existed here before. The Alliance will support the clinical research, training and patient care missions of the three outstanding non-profit institutions that are responsible for establishing this model system.”

“Through the fully integrated, team approach to cancer the Alliance plans to take, Children’s Hospital will be better positioned than ever to reduce the suffering of young cancer patients in our region,” said Dr. Bruder Stapleton, pediatrician-in-chief at Children’s and professor of pediatrics at the 91探花medical school. He also is a member of the Alliance interim board.

A new, 130,000 square-foot outpatient clinic is planned as a central feature of the Alliance. It will serve as the “front door” for collective integrated programs of the Alliance, and will provide a series of multidisciplinary clinic settings for patient diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as ambulatory clinics for bone marrow transplant patients. Plans call for constructing the facility, whose estimated $50 million cost will be shared by Alliance members, on the Hutchinson Center campus at southeast Lake Union in Seattle. The facility will be completed in early 2001.

When the Alliance is fully implemented, adult inpatients of the Alliance will receive care at the 91探花Medical Center, one of two comprehensive teaching hospitals owned or managed by the UW. All pediatric Alliance inpatients will receive care at Children’s Hospital

Dr. Nancy Woods, associate dean for nursing research and director of the 91探花 School of Nursing’s Center for Women’s Health Research, is the first recipient of the Vivian O. Lee Women’s Health Award.
The award, to be given annually by U.S. Public Health Service Region X, honors individuals “who have shown leadership, creativity and vision in improving the health of women and their families.”

“This is a great description of Nancy’s work,” commented Dr. Sue T. Hegyvary, dean of the School of Nursing. “We congratulate her on this award.”

“This award belongs to all the people in the region whose collaboration makes possible the delivery of health services to women,” said Woods. “Vivian Lee left a rich legacy of service to women most in need.”

Woods joined the 91探花faculty in 1978. She and colleagues established the Center for Women’s Health Research in 1989 to study women’s health across the lifespan. Her current research focuses on midlife women, their health and health-seeking behavior. She has been especially interested in women who experience threats to health due to age, ethnicity, multiple roles and socioeconomic status. She was named associate dean for research earlier this year.

Woods has been president of the American Academy of Nursing and was a member of the Women’s Health Task Force for the National Institutes of Health and of the Advisory Council for the NIH Center for Nursing Research. She was elected a member of the Institute of Medicine in 1993.

The award is named for Vivian O. Lee, a graduate of the 91探花School of Nursing who was director of the Office of Women’s Health of the U.S. Public Health Service Region X until her retirement in 1995. The school named her a distinguished alumna in 1993, and created a scholarship fund in her name in 1995.

91探花 President Richard L. McCormick today (Thursday, Sept. 4) named Dr. Patricia A. Wahl acting dean of the 91探花School of Public Health and Community Medicine, subject to approval by the University’s Board of Regents.
Wahl, a 91探花professor of biostatistics, has been associate dean of public health since 1985.

Wahl replaces Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn, who has been named executive vice president for medical affairs at the University of Michigan.

“Gil Omenn worked with tireless personal energy and dedication to strengthen health promotion programs and research throughout Washington state and America,” McCormick said. “The 91探花 is fortunate to have had him in its midst for so long.”

McCormick also thanked Wahl. “I am grateful for her willingness to take on this assignment. Pat has been associate dean for 12 years and will provide excellent leadership and stability in a time of transition.”

A search committee will be appointed soon, McCormick added, to begin the task of identifying leading national candidates to fill the vacancy created by Omenn’s departure.