Keith Miller, Executive Director of WIND, retired at the end of May after 35 years of dedicated service to the college, the university, and the state. After earning his Ph. D. in communications from Bowling Green University and teaching at Cornell, Keith came to UW in 1972 to teach in the Department of Communication. In 1972, however, Keith became involved in the interdisciplinary Wyoming Human Services Project that focused on ameliorating the social issues and “people problems” occurring in Wyoming’s energy boom town, a commitment that changed his objective from communication to social work. In the early 1990s, Keith began to build WIND, a university-affiliated program that addresses issues faced by individuals with disabilities, and became WIND’s director in 1994, a position he held until his retirement. Over the years, Keith has enthusiastically guided the institute, which has become Wyoming’s premiere resource for people with disabilities.

Wyoming Health Fairs

The 2007 blood draw schedules have been announced. In Laramie, the draws will be held in the Half Acre Gym from 7-10 am on September 19th, October 25th, October 26th, December 4th, and December 5th. (For locations statewide, please call 800-979-3711.) The following tests will be available:

Blood Chemistry Profile ($20)—This is a full 31-level screening for bone and electrolyte levels, along with heart and kidney functions and liver and lipid functions with cholesterol, protein, iron, glucose, and thyroid levels. The patient is required to fast for 12 hours unless he/she is a diabetic and is advised to drink plenty of water and take medications as usual. (Great West covers the chemistry panel once a year.)

Hemogram ($10)—A complete blood count (CBC) of red and white blood cells and platelets will be reported. The test also screens for anemia, leukemia, and other disorders affecting blood cells. 

PSA for Men ($20)—This screening is for prostate cancer in men over age 50. If there is a family history of prostate cancer, it is recommended at age 40.

Hemoglobin A1C ($20)—This test measures historical blood sugar control up to 3 months and is recommended twice a year for diabetics.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ($20)—CRP is an inflammatory marker, a substance that the body releases in response to inflammation. CRP levels can provide physicians with information about a patient’s risk of heart disease. (Patients must not consume caffeine prior to this test.)

Ferritin ($15)—Ferritin indicates the level of stored high iron and can be useful in screening for hemochromatosis, anemia, and some liver diseases.

ColoKit ($5)—This is a take-home test to screen for the risk of colon cancer.

College Graduation Ceremonies

Two hundred twenty-two students from the College of Health Sciences received their undergraduate and graduate degrees on Saturday, May 5th. Graduation is a special time for our students and their families and friends, and not even the morning’s “lovely” spring snow storm could dampen their enthusiasm. Good luck to all of our deserving graduates, many of whom have already received employment and entrance to the graduate programs of their choice! (Kimberly Schindler from Wheatland, who received her bachelor of nursing degree, is seen here with her husband, Jamie.)

WWAMI Medical Education Program

Each year, WWAMI students who are completing their four years of medical school participate in the University of Washington School of Medicine’s hooding ceremony, which includes the traditional Hippocratic oath and is an important transition between earning the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree and moving on to graduate medical education. On Saturday, June 2nd, nine Wyoming WWAMI students received their hoods and were officially recognized as new medical doctors who will shortly begin their residency training in a wide variety of specialties. Erin Cook from Wheatland will study internal medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in Tulsa, and Sam Linford from Star Valley will study orthopaedic surgery at the University of Utah Affiliated Hospitals in Salt Lake City. Kevin Helling from Casper will attend the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison for his obstetrics and gynecology residency; Gregg McLanahan, also from Casper, will attend the University of Rochester/Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota for his pediatrics residency; and Tracie Caller from Rock Springs will attend the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, for her internal medicine residency.  John Beck from Torrington will study orthopaedic surgery at the Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pennsylvania; Ashley Sholes (Bouzis) from Casper will study psychiatry at the University of Washington Affiliated Hospitals in Seattle; Jonathan Olson’s residency in dermatology has been deferred until summer 2008; and Jacob Lieb from Riverton will study emergency medicine at the University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals in Tucson.

 Social Work

Eager Jackalope Loop Participants

The 6th Annual Jackalope Loop, a 5K run sponsored by the Association of Student Social Workers and the Associated Masters Students of Wyoming, was held March 31st on Laramie’s Greenbelt. Despite the chilly, overcast morning, an enthusiastic group raised $2,000 for Laramie’s Downtown Clinic, which provides free medical health services for uninsured area residents. Divisions and schools in the college competed for the privilege of displaying the coveted Jackalope trophy during the coming year. The winner? The Division of Social Work—of course!  The division was very active during National Social Work Month in March. All UW social work students, as well as the many field instructors who serve as mentors and teachers and division faculty and alumni, were honored during an afternoon reception. During the reception, Gary Parker, a master of social work alumnus who works as the Wyoming State Mental Hospital, was recognized with the Social Work 2007 Field Instructor of the Year Award. During the week, the division also found time to host a special faculty appreciation breakfast, participated in UW’s Discovery Days, cosponsored a conference on international social work best practices, and planned and hosted the Shepard Symposium for Social Justice.

Mary Walsh, a bachelor of social work student from Cheyenne, was selected to attend the Denver Go Run conference held in late May on the Auraria campus in Denver. Go Run is a weekend-long training dedicated to equipping young people with leadership to demystify the political process and provide the nuts and bolts of running for political office by focusing on essentials such as communications, fundraising, and campaigning. Mary was also selected to participate in a special conference held in Salt Lake City—“Sustainable Living: Securing Our Future”—sponsored by Sustainable Environments and Ecological Design and Americans for Informed Democracy.  

School of Pharmacy

  Hoy’s Drug Store in Cheyenne, with help from UW, has opened the first telepharmacy in the state at UW’s TriCounty Clinic in Pine Bluffs. With this technique, patients simply bring their prescriptions to a clinic pharmacy technician, who then puts the prescriptions under a video monitoring system so a pharmacist at Hoy’s Drug in Cheyenne can read them. Using bar codes and checks, the pharmacist makes sure the patient has the correct drug and dosage. A computer is activated, and the correct medication comes out of a 900-pound, bullet-proof “vending machine” at the Pine Bluffs clinic. If the patient needs a medication not in the machine, the pharmacy technician will pick it up in Cheyenne so the patient can have next-day delivery. Douglas Parks, M.D., a family practice physician from UW’s Family Medicine Residency Program in Cheyenne, works four days a week at the clinic and says that the technology, which has twice as many checks as a retail store, is as safe as any drug store. Furthermore, “We have nine to 10 patients a day who are not having to drive,” he says. Parks adds, “A parent who comes in with a sick child won’t have to bundle up the child and drive 45 minutes to get medicine.” Surrounding states have been implementing the system for several years; North Dakota, for instance, has 20 such telepharmacies. Tim Seeley, President of the Wyoming Pharmacy Association, says he hopes the Pine Bluffs’ venture is successful because there are many small towns in Wyoming that could use a similar service.

Undergraduate and Preprofessional Advising

The Undergraduate and Preprofessional Advising Office is pleased to announce the recipients of scholarships for UW students admitted to medical or dental school.

Lisa Hill from Newcastle received the L. Floyd Clarke Scholarship. When Dr. Clarke retired in 1976 as the college’s Associate Dean of Paramedical Sciences, a scholarship fund was established in recognition of his 41 years of service to UW and his untiring interest and efforts on behalf of students. Dr. Clarke was instrumental in establishing programs in pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, and medical technology and served as principal advisor for students enrolled in these areas. Clarke scholarships are awarded to advanced students in these programs, and recipients are selected on demonstrated scholastic excellence and the potential for success in the chosen profession. Lisa is an excellent recipient of this scholarship. She graduated with outstanding grades this May with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary health sciences. She has been active in many student groups and organizations, including WWAMI’s Community Health Advancement Program and Student Providers Aspiring to Rural Experience, and has worked as a nanny, volunteered at a local pediatrician’s offices, and served an internship at the Cathedral Home for Children. Lisa, who will begin medical school in the fall at the University of Washington through the WWAMI program, envisions a future working with children. She also received the Lawrence J. Cohen, M.D., Scholarship awarded to an outstanding student admitted to medical school who expresses an interest in pediatrics. Dr. Cohen was the first practicing pediatric specialist in Wyoming and served as administrator of Wyoming’s Division of Health and Medical Services. This scholarship was established by friends and family in honor of his more than 40 years of medical service to the state. (Lisa received a Paul E. Hildreth Scholarship, as well. Please see paragraph four.)

This year, there are five recipients of the Noel and Constance Wilkie Dental Fund Scholarship created by the Wilkies to further dental education in Wyoming. Aaron Larsen from Casper graduated in May with a remarkable record in medical microbiology. Aaron has worked as a teaching assistant for microbiology labs and has conducted research in molecular biology. (Please see paragraph four.) He will attend the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry in the fall. Callista (Callie) Owen from Cheyenne will also attend the University of Nebraska. Callie completed a degree in zoology/physiology with an outstanding GPA, has been active in academic and service honoraries, and has worked as a teaching assistant in the anatomy lab. Jeffrey Livingston from Star Valley, Erica Ross from Cheyenne, and Brittney Hahn Erving from Jackson and Burns will attend Creighton University School of Dentistry. Jeffrey has worked as a teaching assistant for microbiology, anatomy, and physiology; Erica, who earned her degree in the interdisciplinary health sciences program with minors in nutrition and chemistry, has conducted research in nutrition and provides home health care for a paraplegic patient; and Brittney is completing a master’s degree in nutrition and health, has volunteered with the Heart-to-Heart Pregnancy Center in Laramie, and has worked as a certified nursing assistant. Aaron, Jeffrey, Callie, and Erica also received Delta Dental Plan of Wyoming Scholarships.

Lisa Hill and Aaron Larson were awarded Paul K. Hildreth Memorial Scholarships. John E. Hildreth and Dorothy R. Hildreth established this scholarship in memory of their son, Paul, a dental student who attended UW.

The 2007 William D. and Anna K. Wilson Scholarship, founded by the Wilsons to honor an outstanding pre-medical student who has been accepted to medical school, was awarded to Kristopher Schamber of Green River. Kristopher, who has a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a master’s degree in neuroscience, will attend the University of Washington School of Medicine through the WWAMI program.

We are extremely grateful to all our donors who make it possible to reward our most exceptional students.