From turf to table: growin’ up at Eugene Field

Elizabeth Nokes and students in Mrs. Cauthon's second grade class at Eugene Field with their vegetable garden.

Eugene Field, known as the children’s poet, describes a magical tree on the shores of Lollypop sea in his whimsical poem Sugar Plum Tree.

While his tree rained marshmallows, gumdrops and peppermint, a group of Eugene Field Elementary School second graders had a more, well, down to earth experience this spring and summer.  They planted and grew garden vegetables in a project spearheaded by Elizabeth Nokes, liaison to our Partner in Education school.

Mrs. Cauthon and students tend the plants.

Nokes describes the project:
We began in April. None of the children had ever grown their own food, and some had not eaten vegetables fresh from the garden.

In the classroom we talked about basic agriculture, healthy eating and where the food we eat comes from.  It was amazing to watch the entire class as they learned new information and became excited about it.  We talked about careers and how lots of different careers come in contact with agriculture and have an impact on the food we eat. 

I brought in all different types of fruits and veggies for the kids to see and try.  We ate everything from bananas to peppers to kumquats.  The kids had fun trying new things; some of them they liked and others weren’t big hits! 

We picked our garden vegetables in June. The kids were able to pick, prepare and eat everything that we had planted.  They were extremely excited and some liked the taste of the veggies while others weren’t so fond of them. 

Overall the project was a huge success.  The kids were able to understand where their food comes from, healthy eating and how to grow things that they can eat.  The teacher was extremely appreciative and said that overall it had a very positive effect on the kids. 

Research symposium slated

“Developing Tomorrow’s Research Today” is the title of a research symposium sponsored by OSU-CHS Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. The event is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11, in Merkel Auditorium. Speakers include Elyse Summers, J.D., David Wright, Ph.D., Dale Hammerschmidt, M.D., Hollis King, D.O./ Ph.D., Michael Pollak, Ph.D. and Tom Lang, M.S.

Topics include how to avoid common problems with research; plagiarism, authorship and research misconduct; institutional review board relationship with the researcher; building collaborations, IRB basics and getting published.

Contributing sponsors are the Northeast Oklahoma Osteopathic Foundation, the OSU Department of Family Medicine HRSA grant, the alumni association and Tulsa Regional Medical Center. Registration is $50 through July 14 and $65 thereafter. For more information contact Teri Bycroft at (918) 561-1243. 

Dr. Eddy honored by Girl Scout council

Dr. W. Steve Eddy, associate professor of family medicine, received the Celia and Ed Archer award from the Girl Scouts of Magic Empire Council. It is the highest award given by Magic Empire Council to non-Girl Scout groups, businesses or individuals who have contributed service to the Council.

Eddy, along with medical students, has conducted free physicals for the last 10 years for girls who attend camp and cannot afford a physical from their own physician.  Each year the number of girls needing assistance has increased. Presenting the award is council board member Becky Speight. (courtesy photo)

OSU TAKECHARGE! offers free cancer screenings

The TAKE CHARGE! program at the Oklahoma State University Women’s Health Care Center offers free breast exams, mammograms and pap smears for women who qualify.  Women age 50 through 64 who meet income eligibility guidelines, and do not have Medicare, Medicaid or insurance for screening tests, may be eligible for these free services. 

TAKE CHARGE! services include a health history, screening pelvic exam and pap smear, clinical breast exam, instruction on breast self-exam and education about lowering cancer risk.  A complete referral and follow up for women with abnormal results is included. Mammograms are for women ages 50 through 64 years old.  Oklahoma women 65 and older are provided annual screening mammography through Medicare Part B.

For more information, call the OSU Women’s Health Care Center (918) 561-8573 or (918) 561-8390.

OOA backs 'healthcare truth and transparency' legislation

The Oklahoma Osteopathic Association has joined the American Osteopathic Association in support of a bill that would restrict use of the title “physician.”

The Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2006 was authored by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Okla.) and other members of the U.S. House of Representatives to ensure healthcare consumers better understand a provider’s training and qualifications. The act would define a physician as a DO, MD, DDS or DDM.

HR 5688 is awaiting action by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. 

Related links
AOA Joins Call for Transparency and Consumer Education in Health Care
Sullivan Introduces Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act

OSU Med alumni golf tournament July 10

The Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumni Association will host its Summer Classic Golf Tournament Monday, July 10, at Oaks Country Club in Tulsa. Ryan Miller, director of alumni affair, says the event benefits student scholarships and activities, the alumni association and college programs. Registration beings at 10 a.m. tournament day, with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

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Round of Applause

Abstract Published
“An assessment of CroFab™ anti-venom activity in vitro by HPLC-SEC and a new microplate format PLA2 assay,” Journal of Immunology 176(Suppl.):S9, 2006 -  Drs. Joseph Price and Charles Sanny.

Grant Received
Received the H.A. and Mary K. Chapman Charitable Trust, $77,419.00.  Money will be used for the purchase of instrumentation for the Toxicology and Criminalistics tracks in the Forensic Sciences Program  - Dr. Robert Allen.

Invited Research Seminar
“Attacking Pain at the Source: Controlling Sensory Nerves,” Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, College of Pharmacy, June 22, Tulsa, OK  - Dr. Ken Miller.

Chaired the 25th Annual Meeting of the Oklahoma Society of Physiologists, June 2, Tulsa, OK  - Dr. Al Rouch.

Publication
“A new genus of eomyid rodent from the Miocene of Nevada,” Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 51(2):385-392, 2006 - Dr. Kent Smith.

Received notice that a manuscript for article titled “Student-led Stress Management Program for First-Year Medical Students”, was accepted for publication in the journal Teaching and Learning in Medicine, Dr. Susan Redwood (first author) and Dr. Michael Pollak.

Reviews
Grant reviewer for the national Alzheimer’s Association, Dr. Nancy Van Winkle.

Reviewed a manuscript for Transfusion, Dr. Robert Allen.

“Trail Guide to the Body DVD,” a DVD Review in American Association of Anatomists News, 15(2):11, 2006 - Dr. Bill Meek.

Reviewed a manuscript for Toxicology - Dr. David Wallace.

Reviewed article for Journal of Travel Medicine (JTM), “Pilgrims from Marseilles, France to Mecca: Demographics and Vaccination Status”, Dr. Stanley E. Grogg.

Other
A. T. Still Award of Excellence
From the OOA, presented to osteopathic physician who most exemplifies and helps preserve the teachings and philosophy of osteopathic medicine, to Dr. Ken Graham.

Dr. Michael Eimen appointed by the Office of Rural Health at OSU Center for Health Sciences to the Alumni Association Professorship in Rural Medicine.  Eimen will serve a two-year term beginning June 2006 and ending May 2008.

Regents’ Specialty Teaching and Research Awards, presented at commencement: Drs. Kirby Jarolim and W. Stephen Eddy received the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award.  Dr. Craig W. Stevens received the Regents Distinguished Research Award for research excellence.

Teri Bycroft won third place in the art quilt category at the Green Country Quilter’s Guild show.

Congratulations to recent graduates from the Leadership Development Program Johnathan Franklin, Sandra Hale and Vicky Pace.

Also, to recent Ambassador Program graduates Jan Barber, Susan Eubanks, Lisa McCutcheon, Renee Motte-Williams, Sarah Quinten, Amanda Sumner, JoAnn Threlkeld and Betty Jo Westerfield.

Reappointed to Oklahoma board of Osteopathic Examiners, Dr. Thomas Pickard.