THE M.D. ANDERSON ALUMNI AND FACULTY ASSOCIATION MINUTES of STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, March 12, 2009 Wiess Conference Room, R11.1659 11:00 a.m. PRESENT: ABSENT: Yvonne Bazunu (ex-officio) Cassie Ballard (ex-officio) Dr. Michelle Barton Dr. Diane Bodurka Dr. Michael Businelle Anne Bettinger Dr. Elizabeth Bloom Dr. Toya Candelari (ex-officio) Dr. Oliver Bogler Brett Chiquet Dr. Joya Chandra Dr. Tina Fanning Chyi Chou Dr. Michael Deavers Charlotte Fuselier (ex-officio) Dr. Gary Gallick Dr. J Freireich Dr. Mahesh Kanojia Leigh Greathouse (via teleconference) Dr. Stephen Tomasovic (ex-officio) Dr. Beverly Handy Dr. Naoto Ueno Dr. Thomas Haynie Dr. Peter Hu Dr. Thomas Matney Sharon Pepper Dr. Adan Rios Dr. Louise Strong Dr. Charles Walter A. Review and approval of Minutes of previous meeting Dr. Bloom opened the meeting at 11:00 a.m. She requested that the Steering Committee review the minutes of the last meeting and the minutes were approved. B. New Business Subcommittee Reports: Trainee Lecture Series - Leigh Greathouse, Chair (reporting remotely from Smithville) Leigh explained that the Trainee Lecture Series is in its fifth year. Past lecture speakers include Dr. Andrew von Eshenbach, Frank J. Rauscher, PhD, Samuel J. Hassenbusch, PhD, and Jorge Cham. This year’s lecture is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2009 in the Hickey Auditorium. The keynote speaker is Dr. Michael J. Zigmond, Professor in the Department of Neurology at the University of Pittsburg, who studies Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Zigmond’s lecture is intitled “Habits of Highly Effective Scientists.” This event was coordinated with the help of the School of Health Professions students, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences students, as well as postdoctoral trainees. The event will include a Noon luncheon and a lecture at 2:00, followed by a catered reception. Invitations will be sent out via E-mail to all trainees, including those from the University of Texas Medical School and Baylor College of Medicine. Promotion of the event will be made internally as well as outside the Institution. The next meeting of this subcommittee is scheduled for March 18, 2009. Distinguished Alumnus and Distinguished Faculty Alumnus Awards - Dr. Diane Bodurka, Chair (Dr. Bodurka was unable to attend due to an emergency so Sharon Pepper gave the update.) There are eight nominees for the Distinguished Alumnus Award and nine nominees for the new Distinguished Faculty Alumnus Award. The subcommittee met but had not yet determined a winner for each award. They had, however, made the decision that the lecture associated with the awards would alternate from year to year. Meaning, the Distinguished Alumnus Awardee would deliver the lecture one year and the Distinguished Faculty Alumnus Awardee would do so in the next. The award nomination format will be revised to include an online application process. Dr. Bodurka will attend the PRS Executive Council meeting in April and at that time will present her subcommittee’s choices for the Distinguished Alumnus and Distinguished Faculty Alumnus Awards. Dr. Freireich requested that the list of nominees be posted on the Alumni Association website. International Affairs - Dr. Joya Chandra, Chair Dr. Chandra reported that the International Affairs subcommittee met several times. As a result of those meetings, and including conversations with Mitch Latinkic and Amy Hay (Global Business Development), the subcommittee decided to pilot an International Alumni Chapter in Turkey. The selection of that location for the pilot was based on an existing institutional plan to create a Radiation Oncology Satellite there that is similar to the Radiology Satellite Treatment Center in Bellaire. The newly generated interaction between Istanbul and Houston will provide a ready mechanism for communication between the two alumni entities. Chandra explained that we can use this arrangement to help us ‘work out the kinks’ of establishing International Chapters, too. The subcommittee further proposed the selection of Dr. Ugur Selek as the first Chapter Head. He is a Radiation Oncologist and an alumnus who did a fellowship in Radiotherapy. She proposed that he serve a 2-year appointment with the following responsibilities: 1) Help identify other alumni in the region that could be members of the Association; 2) Recruit these members to participate at meetings/activities; and 3) Promote visibility of the Alumni Association in that region. The Committee voted unanimously to invite Dr. Ugur Selek to serve with the title of Chapter Head. They also approved of the proposed appointment length and list of responsibilities. A question was posed by a Committee member about policies governing the term limits of the Chapter Head and identifying a possible Head-Elect. It was suggested that the Membership and Bylaws subcommittee work with the International Affairs subcommittee to draft a policy for International Chapters. Mike Hogg Award - Dr. Louise Strong, Chair Dr. Strong reported that the subcommittee is looking for a third member, since Dr. Rakesh Kumar left. The subcommittee recently decided to broaden the selection criteria to include Albert Lasker awardees, and they also decided to plan ahead with awardees for 2010 and 2011. The next Mike Hogg Award and Lecture is scheduled on May 27, 2009 and will be held at four o’clock in the afternoon. The award will be given to Elizabeth Blackburn, PhD, Lasker Award winner. The nominees for the next two years will receive invitations by Dr. Strong to accept the Award and give lectures here. For 2010, the subcommittee has considered Mario R.Capecchi, PhD and for 2011, Harald zur Hausen, both Nobel Laureates. Trainee Excellence Awards - Dr. Charles Walter, Chair Dr. Walter announced the four abstract winners of the Trainee Excellence Awards for the August 1, 2008 – February 2, 2009 cycle. They are: Michelle Hildebrandt, Postdoctoral Fellow, Cancer Prevention and Population Science; Bhaskar Dutta, Postdoctoral Fellow, Cancer Medicine; Di Ai, Postdoctoral Fellow, Internal Medicine; and Ke Sai, Postdoctoral Fellow, Cancer Medicine. There were a total of 54 abstracts submitted in this cycle. Trainee Research Day - Dr. Oliver Bogler, Chair Dr. Bogler announced that May 1 is the date of the event. Over 200 abstracts were submitted, of which 190 were determined to be eligible. The event consists of a Poster Competition beginning at 9:00 am, Grand Rounds Platform Presentations at Noon and a Poster Session starting at 1:30 pm. Categories include: Post Graduate Basic Science, Post Graduate Clinical/Translational, Post Graduate Population/Patient-Oriented, Graduate Student Basic Science, Graduate Student Clinical Translational, Undergraduate (School of Health Professions). Over 44 judges have already signed up to serve. The process will be the same as last year with 10 abstracts being selected in each category; with the first place winners presenting their abstracts orally at Grand Rounds. The other eight will compete in the Poster Competition for prizes. Dr. Bogler reported that the judging will be live and that he is currently trying to solicit more faculty to get involved. The abstract prizes for the three categories are: Post Graduate $1,000.00 to $750.00 Graduate Students $750.00 to $500.00 and Undergraduate $500.000 to $350.00. Leigh Greathouse wanted to know how many students from Smithville actually participate in TRD. She suggested that the event also be offered at Smithville. Dr. Bogler suggested postponing the abstract judging for another week to allow more abstract submissions from the Smithville campus. Alumni Relations - Dr. Adan Rios, Chair The Alumni Dinner date has not been scheduled. Sharon Pepper informed the Committee that due to the current economic situation of the Institution, we are not sure, but will know soon if funding will be available for this event. Dr. Rios thought that last year’s charity, the Red Cross, was a good target. For the dinner this year, he has been in contact with the Recording Academy and Lyle Lovett, specifically. The Academy could have an auction to help purchase musical instruments for local high school students. They have also hosted the Latin Grammys here in Houston and have incredible access to the Press. Dr. Rios expressed that since the goal of the Alumni Dinner is to give to the community, and to have visibility, that teaming up with this Academy could really build the event. Dr. Walter suggested that the selected speaker and/or the entertainment come from a music group that specializes in music therapy. C. Old Business Dr. Chandra questioned why the AACR reception was cancelled when the Provost of M. D. Anderson (Dr. DuBois) is the president of the AACR. She felt that it sends a strange message to our Alumni who look forward to the event every year. Dr. Freireich pointed out that it sends a bad message to be spending money on food and drink when the Institution is suffering financially. D. Other The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled for May 14, 2009. E. Adjourn As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.