Reunion, homecoming set for Feb. 27-28

The Medical School will honor graduates of the classes of 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999 at Homecoming and Reunion Feb. 27-28.

The event will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at The Lake House at Discovery Green in downtown Houston.

“The energy and enthusiasm from our Alumni Association President Nicole McGinty, ’94, and board members, has really helped us to engage our alumni,” said Resa Ott, director of alumni relations. “In combination with our new venue, Discovery Green and the Hilton Americas, we know it’s going to be a great weekend.”

This occasion also marks the first official reunion of those who have participated in the annual China elective under the direction of Dr. Henry Strobel, associate dean for faculty affairs.

Homecoming will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday with registration and coffee in the Medical School’s Leather Lounge, followed by a one-hour continuing medical education course on Ethical Issues in Stem Cell Research by Dr. Eugene Boisaubin, professor of internal medicine.

Also at homecoming, the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus award will be bestowed upon the family of Mark Stinson, and his brother will debut a video of his life.

The annual meeting of the Alumni Association will commence at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, followed by lunch in the Leather Lounge and Webber Plaza. The group will then tour the school and Memorial Hermann — Texas Medical Center before the dinner event at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Americas, where a disc jockey provided by the class of 1994 will shake things up.

View more details.

-D. Brown

UT Physicians employee takes training on the road

Koressa Gregory, director UT Physicians charge capture, recently was called upon to serve her country by the Department of Defense (DoD). Gregory is not in the military or the reserves, but she was asked by the federal government to prepare a two-day coding/auditing training course for Navy Medical East in Portsmouth, Virginia.

She accepted the challenge and taught the course, which was pre-certified for 12 hours of CEU credit through both the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), two weeks ago.

“Even though the Military Health System (MHS) has specific coding/auditing guidance developed by their internal Unified Biostatistical Utility, the ‘core’ is still the same,” she said. “All MHS auditors are required to be certified under one of the two national certifications offered either through the American Academy of Professional Coders or American Health Information Management Association.”

Gregory said the course was a success.

“We discussed several issues; one of which was the ramifications of inaccurate documentation and the impact that makes on the revenue cycle process,” she said. “We discussed specifically the rules and regulations for adhering to the policies for reporting inpatient and outpatient consultations and the difficulties seeing a consultation visit come full-circle.”

Gregory said she plans to offer a similar one-day course for continuing education credits to the certified coders at UT-Houston. “I have also been approached by Pat Harris of the Harris County Medical Society and asked to provide a one-hour talk on the ramifications of documentation on a successful business plan for our fourth-year medical students,” she said.

Gregory had previously worked for the DoD as an auditor for three years and was a traveling auditor/educator for the Army and Navy for three years before returning to the UT Health Science Center, where she worked from 1986-1999.

-D. Brown

Art Wall Committee seeks members

The Medical School’s Art Wall Committee is looking for eager volunteers who appreciate art and would be able to commit two hours per month on the project.

The Medical School’s Art Wall is a project of the Beautification Committee, designed to enrich and enhance the learning and work environment. The wall also provides the Medical School family the opportunity to contribute to this effort and showcase their talents.

To volunteer, please send a brief explanation of why you would like to serve to Lynne Arnett by March 15.

For more information, visit the Art Wall Web site.

Faculty development leave proposals due April 1

Proposals for Faculty Development Leave are due April 1 in the Office of Faculty Affairs, MSB G.300. Proposals can be submitted twice a year – Nov. 1 and April 1.

The guidelines can be found here. For questions, call Faye Viola, 713.500.5101.

Softball, basketball players wanted

Men’s and co-rec softball leagues are now forming. The league is played 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday starting March 16. The cost is $150 for UT-Houston students and $175 for all other UT/TMC-affiliated teams. There will be a captains’ meeting at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 25. Every team must have one representative present to receive rules and mock schedule.

Men’s and women’s teams for the five-on-five basketball tournament are now forming. The tournament will be played at 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 25 and possibly Thursday, March 26. Cost is $75 for UT-Houston students and current recreation center members, $100 for all other UT/TMC-affiliated teams. Captains’ meeting will be held at 6 p.m., March 18. Every team must have one representative present to receive rules and mock schedule.

For more information, contact Kelly McNamara at 713.500.8422 or visit the Web site.

Eye on the prize

Celebrating diversity

Medical students recently put on two great events to celebrate diversity, a Black History Month Program and the Asian Extravaganza.

 

 

UT-Houston Medicine is in!

See the Winter 2009 issue of UT-Houston Medicine online here.