FYI…UCSF in the News is a daily summary of news stories published worldwide that highlight UCSF, its affiliated programs, and issues that affect the University.  To read the full news story, click the individual headlines listed below.

On the second Wednesday of each month, FYI…UCSF in the News includes an additional "Research Roundup" section that lists research papers authored by UCSF faculty and published in the journals Cell, Health Services Research, JAMA, Lancet, Nature, NEJM, Nursing Research, and Science.

UCSF PRINT AND ONLINE COVERAGE

  • The Termination of UCSF Dean David Kessler (The Hospitalist.org -- Wachter's World Blog)
    Dr. Robert Wachter, associate chairman of the UCSF department of medicine and chief of the Division of Hospital Medicine writes on his blog, "Wachter's World" last Friday: "Well, today the great Mecca of medical care and innovation that is UCSF all but ground to a halt. Our Dean was just let go under very odd circumstances, and everyone’s flocking to water coolers and Starbucks around the city to find out who knows what."
  • Stanford hospitals pick architects for up to $2 billion expansion/seismic project (East Bay Business Times)
    The Business Times reports: "Stanford Medical Center -- made up of the side-by-side Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital -- has picked two sets of lead architects to design a joint Palo Alto expansion and seismic upgrade project that could cost as much as $2 billion all told." Stanford's architect, Rafael Vinoly Architects in New York, also designed the UCSF Helen Diller Family Cancer Research Building.
  • Science looks at faith's healing power (Oakland Tribune)
    John Dodd, a Walnut Creek resident says his wife recovered from brain hemorrages during her pregnancy because of intercessory, or healing prayer on her behalf by other people. "In San Francisco, a leading researcher in mind-body medicine found a positive link between intercessory prayer and the well-being of people with AIDS. Prayed-for patients in a study by the late UCSF professor Elizabeth Targ had fewer setbacks and lived longer than a comparison group," reports the Oakland Tribune.
  • Study Links Sex Education to Delayed Teen Intercourse (News Blaze)
    Newsblaze in Sacramento reports: "Sex education greatly boosts the likelihood that teens will delay having intercourse, according to a new study that is the first of its kind in years." Claire D. Brindis, Dr. P.H., professor, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Health Sciences, and Interim Director, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California, San Francisco, is quoted.
  • UCSF takes fifth floor to fill up Mills Building (Globe Street.com)
    GlobeSt. reports: "The University of California at San Francisco has signed a long-term lease for the fifth floor of the Mills Building, a 22-story financial district office building at 220 Montgomery St. The 38,297-sf full-floor lease drops vacancy in the building to 2%, according to the building owner, Swig Co. -- http://www.themillsbuilding.com/.
  • Medical school grad's suit accuses S.F. police of roughing him up (San Francisco Chronicle)
    The Chronicle reports: "[Edward Yamoah], a recent graduate of UCSF Medical School has filed a $1 million federal civil rights suit accusing San Francisco police of roughing him up and injuring his shoulder as he was tinkering with a car near an auto repair shop."
  • Study shows those at risk for spinal fractures (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
    The Post-Gazette reports: "A new study led by Dr. Jane Cauley at the University of Pittsburgh has found that older women with low bone mineral density or an existing spinal fracture are at especially high risk for a later fracture." Dr. Michael Nevitt of the University of California, San Francisco, and Dr. Steven Cummings of the California Pacific Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco, are co-authors.
  • Dean says he was forced out (Contra Costa Times/Associated Press)
    The AP reports: "Dr. David Kessler, a nationally known public health advocate, says he was forced out as dean of the UC San Francisco School of Medicine after raising questions about 'financial irregularities."'
  • Will the Independent Citizen's Oversight Committee Declare Independence (Christian Newswire)
    The Christian Newswire reports: "The recent termination of Dr. David Kessler as Dean of the UCSF Medical School has raised the question of whether or not Dr. Kessler must vacate his seat on the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee ("ICOC") as reported in some news media reports."

UCSF TELEVISION COVERAGE

  • SF Hospitals Overcrowded (FOX News KTVU-TV CH 2 San Francisco)
    KTVU reports: "San Francisco hospitals are in serious trouble. According to a new report, over half of the city's facilities are overcrowded and facing a severe bed shortage. A national consulting firm conducted the research, saying that if new capacity is not added soon, there will be no space left for hospitals to respond in an emergency. The timing of the report coincides with an $800 million bond measure going before voters next year that will fund the reconstruction of San Francisco General Hospital." -- Air Times: 7 and 8 AM

UCSF RADIO COVERAGE

  • Drug Patent Protections Set to Expire (KQED-FM San Francisco -- Forum)
    Bill Soller, executive director of the UCSF Center for Consumer Self-Care talks to KQED's Scott Shafer about what the expiration of drug patents means for the pharmaceutical industry and consumer. Air Time: 10 AM

UCSF HEADLINES

  • 10 Tips from a UCSF cardiologist for a heart-healthy season (UCSF News Office)
    Rita Redberg, MD, director of UCSF Women's Cardiovascular Services and author of numerous books, articles and scientific papers on heart-health and lifetime wellness, gives tips on heart health during the holiday season.
  • UCSF Ushers in a New Era for Autoimmune Disease Research (UCSF Today)
    "Scientists from the Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis (RRAC) teamed up with the UCSF Planned Giving Program to present a luncheon on Oct. 30 to increase awareness of UCSF's leadership in the field among estate planners," writes Kate Volkman at UCSF Today.