February 2008
| Forensics studies accredited |
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OSU-CHS Graduate Program in Forensic Sciences has been accredited by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences after an extensive audit process through its Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission. It is one of only eight graduate programs nationwide to receive the designation.
“This formal evaluation shows prospective students and employers that our forensic biology and forensic toxicology programs meet the high standards of quality set by the AAFS and the FEPAC commission,” Robert Allen, Ph.D. (photo) and chair of the department, said. The program offers master’s degrees in forensic sciences and in forensic sciences administration. A graduate certificate in forensic document examination is also offered. The forensics program is largely online and also opens enrollment to non-program students.
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Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond have begun an Early Assurance Program, a joint pilot program that helps UCO’s pre-medical students to better plan admittance to the medical school.
“The pilot program focuses our recruitment efforts with prospective medical students early in their academic careers,” Leigh Goodson, Ph.D., vice president for enrollment and external affairs, says. “We are pleased to work with UCO’s strong pre-medical curriculum to allow students to better chart progress with early assurance information.”
Curriculum, grades, prerequisite, grade point averages and enrollment criteria must be met, along with Medical College Admissions Test scores, interviews, recommendations and other requirements, in order to be accepted into OSU’s osteopathic medical school. Goodson said the medical school plans to approach other regional universities to develop similar programs.
The OSU-CHS Research Symposium is Friday, Feb. 22. A poster viewing in Founders Hall takes place at 11 a.m. and presentations are from noon to 3:30 p.m. in D-107. David Wallace, Ph.D., assistant dean of research, will make opening remarks at noon and present awards at 3:45 p.m.
Student ACOP sets “Min-Medical School for Kids” |
Third- through fifth-graders from Eugene Field Elementary School will attend “Mini-Medical School for Kids” from noon to 2:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29, in Founders Hall. Sessions on nutrition, healthy eating, anatomy, exercise and obesity will be presented by OSU medical student members of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians. In a separate session, teachers will receive materials for classroom follow-up that re-emphasize the importance of proper nutrition and staying active.
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Medical books to Africa |
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Library director Beth Anne Freeman (left) and Dohn Martin, associate director (right) presented medical books to Gabriel Wesley Msongole (center) recently. The OSU-CHS medical library is helping to provide medical books to the Ekwendeni Hospital and the Ekwendeni School of Nursing in the Republic of Malawi, in southeastern Africa. The books will be used to support health care services.
Msongole, the contact for the outreach program, gave an informal talk about Malawi and its health care services for library staff and medical student who work in the library. |
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Candy on Valentine's Day is almost a cliché, but have you ever wondered why chocolate is a romantic gift? Tom Curtis, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology who is exploring interactions between sweet tastes and social bonding, may have an answer.
"Candy may contribute to romantic encounters by "priming" the system, predisposing a potential partner to respond favorably," says Curtis, who studies social bonding in voles. It appears that sweet tastes activate "reward pathways” and these same pathways contribute to the formation of bonds between romantic partners. Curtis conducts studies of how natural rewards such as sucrose affect the formation of monogamous pair bonds through a grant from the National Institutes of Health.
"The first step is to understand the mechanism of bonding--why some species, including humans, form long-term, monogamous bonds, but others don’t,” he explains. This understanding may, in turn, shed light on disorders that are characterized by deficits in social bonding, such as autism. In addition, the mechanisms that underlie pair bonding are much the same as those that are affected by addictive substances. Understanding how pair bonding works could lead to a better understanding of addiction, how social bonds may be “protective” against substance abuse and how prior substance abuse may affect the ability to form meaningful social bonds.
Round of Applause
David Barron, OSU-CHS manager of student financial aid and scholarships, says the official default cohort rate for fiscal year 2005 has been released by U.S. Department of Education, and shows OSU-CHS is one of only four medical schools in the nation with a default cohort rate of zero percent for the last three cohort years. OSU-CHS students from the 2005 cohort year have been able to successfully pay on their student loans and none has defaulted. “We are extremely proud of our students and will continue to provide them with the counseling and support they need to be successful,” Barron says.
Appointment
Appointed to the editorial board of the Journal of Epithelial Biology and Pharmacology Al Rouch, Ph.D.
Awards
(See story this issue) Accreditation to Graduate Program in Forensic Sciences by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. One of only eight nationally, and the only one west of the Mississippi River to receive accreditation. Robert Allen, Ph.D.
Travel award from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to present a paper “Estrogen mediated protection against invasive E. coli via both estrogen receptor and mitogen-activated protein kinase dependent pathway” at the Nuclear Receptors in Liver and Digestive Diseases Workshop, Rockville, Md. Rashmi Kaul, Ph.D.
Presentations
Forensic dentistry topics at the Yankee Dental Congress, Boston, Mass. Tom Glass, D.D.S./Ph.D.
Publications
“Identification through typing of DNA recovered from touch transfer evidence: Parameters affecting yield of recovered human DNA.” J. of Forensic Identification 58:33-41. Robert Allen, Ph.D. and others.
Book chapter published: “Non-Mammalian Models for the Study of Pain,” in Sourcebook of Models for Biomedical Research, Ed. Conn, M, Humana Press, Towata, N.J., 2008. Craig Stevens Ph.D.
Reviews
Two manuscripts for the Journal of Microbiological Methods. Frank Champlin, Ph.D.; two manuscripts for Physiology and Behavior Kathleen Curtis, Ph.D.; research manuscript for the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Anil Kaul, Ph.D.; paper for Immunological Investigations Rashmi Kaul, Ph.D.; two manuscripts for Frontiers in Bioscience Gerwald Köhler, Ph.D.
Going Green:
Dress appropriately for the season; wear layers of clothing during the winter months.
Avoid the use of portable electric space heaters.
Keep exterior doors and windows closed during the heating and cooling seasons.
Use hot water sparingly.
Avoid hot plate coffee makers; use thermal carafe style coffee makers instead.
Turn off all unused electrical appliances when not in use.
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