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Alum Notes

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Winter 2000

The Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center have established the Ligon Research Center of Vision. 

Scribe Winter 2000

The Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center have established the Ligon Research Center of Vision, a multidisciplinary center that will explore new technology that may help provide sight to the blind.

Dr. John Crissman, interim dean of the Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine, and Dr. Arthur Porter, president and chief executive officer of the Detroit Medical Center (DMC), have announced the establishment of an academic services contract between the medical school and the medical center.

V. Elayne Arterbery, MD, interim associate chair of Wayne State University’s radiation oncology department, is managing the clinical evaluation of CV787, an experimental drug that has been designed to selectively infect and destroy only prostate cancer cells.

The United States Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program awarded a grant to Dr. Michael Cher to study gene therapy treatments which may halt prostate cancer growth in the bones.

Although there appears to be a biological difference in prostate cancer among African-American and white men, race doesn’t seem to affect the rate of progression in men who experience recurrence, according to a study conducted by Mousumi Banerjee, PhD.

Shijie Sheng, PhD, studies maspin as a potential molecular marker and tumor suppressor for breast cancer.

Bruce Berkowitz, PhD, with funding from Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, has developed a non-invasive technique using magnetic resonance imaging that may predict the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has renewed a grant to Jiri Zemlicka, PhD, for the 16th year to study possible antitumor and antiviral agents.

The family medicine department at the Wayne State University School of Medicine has undergone a self-assessment and determined what is necessary to help it develop and remain successful. The result is a nationally-funded project called “The Champions Project: A Two-Tiered Mentoring Approach to Clinical Faculty Development.”

A new program, called Teaching Children How to Raise Children, is a semester-long class to educate teen mothers about the health care needs of their children. It was designed by four resident physicians: Drs. Victoria Garriet, Antonya Godbold, Stacy Leatherwood, and Lucia Roman-Marcial.

Alum Notes Winter 2000

Robert Ligon pledged $5 million to Wayne State University and the Kresge Eye Institute to pursue research and development in artificial vision.

Alumni contributed a record-breaking $471,223 to the Alumni Annual Fund, the main source of funding for student support and educational programs at the School of Medicine.

People turn to state Rep. Paul DeWeese, R-Williamston, for all kinds of relief. Some ask him to improve their children’s education, while others seek help in overcoming burdensome government regulations. Still more want him to stitch up wounds.  DeWeese, [WSU alum], can oblige them all. He transforms himself, sometimes daily, into seemingly different people

Catherine Henry, MD, ‘85, was named president of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) for the 1999-2000 term.

Robert and Roberta Sokol were recently honored at a celebration of the establishment of the Robert J. Sokol, MD/Medical Alumni Association Endowed Prize Fund.

One hundred Year I, II and III students participated in the second annual Alumni-Student Career Evening, hosted by the Medical Alumni Association. Sixteen alumni from various specialties offered perspectives on their fields of expertise, helping students get a feel for different areas of medicine.

More than 80 guests participated in the School of Medicine’s annual Dinner With the Stars in November, 1999. This event brings together donors with the medical students who have benefited from their endowed scholarships and loan funds.

The Doll Hospital and Toy Soldier Shop of Berkley has established an Internet operation – Toy-Shoppe.com – which allows Wayne State alumni to help raise money to  Support Our University Libraries (SOUL). Through the SOUL program, alumni, donors and friends of the university will be able to use the Wayne State ID number – LIB001 – every time they purchase toys at Toy-Shoppe.com. Every month, Wayne State will receive a check for 10 to 12 percent of each purchase made by our supporters. Participation in the program costs nothing.

Medical Alumni Reunion and Clinic Day Weekend May 12-13, 2000

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Amy DiCresce
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