The Reporter: June 1996, Vol.7, No.3
Reporter at Large

Gov. George Pataki has appointed Dr. Allan Rosenfield chairman of the New York State AIDS Advisory Council. Dr. Rosenfield, dean of the School of Public Health, is the second chairman in the council's 13-year history, succeeding the late Dr. David Rogers. The council members provide advice to the New York State Department of Health's AIDS Institute, the state commissioner of health, the governor, and the state legislature on a broad range of HIV/AIDS issues that affect the health of citizens of New York. Although newly appointed to the council, Dr. Rosenfield served on council subcommittees, including a particularly contentious subcommittee he chaired on the testing of health care workers.

Dr. Craig R. Smith, P&S associate professor of surgery, has been appointed chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Dr. Smith joined the faculty in 1984 as associate director of the CPMC Heart Transplant Program.

The Complementary Care Center is offering ongoing yoga classes for faculty, staff, students, and their families and friends. The classes are designed to accommodate all levels of physical condition, age, and experience and are taught by a certified yoga instructor. Yoga is a system of exercise that has been known to reduce stress, release physical and emotional tension, increase relaxation, and improve strength, flexibility, and peace of mind. More information on the classes-which are offered on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. and Fridays from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. and are $15 for each class or $75 for a series of six-can be obtained by calling 305-9622 (ext. 69622).

The Blizzard of 96 is now history. But for certain members of the Columbia family, it was more than just a nuisance: It required a lot of extra work. Those people, staff of Facilities Operations, were thanked for "going above and beyond" at a party this spring that recognized their hard work. The heavy snow required around-the-clock snow shoveling of stairways and entryways, and Health Sciences engineers had to be on site to maintain the heating systems. The employees received gifts and personally signed letters of appreciation from Dr. Herbert Pardes, vice president and dean, and Bob Maffia, director of Facilities Operations. Employees recognized were John D'Onghia, John Guldner, Norberto Lopez, Federico De La Asuncion, Larent Duval, Lariano Guererra, Joe Fernandez, Radames Santiago, Sammy Bracero, Chris Tiru, Fernando Sanchez, Marco Camacho, Trevor Walsh, Johnnie Johnson, Jorge Martinez, Oswaldo Padilla, Rafael Wagner, Alfred Arce, Marcos Peralta, Angel Rodriguez, Suhail Iqbal, C.K. Kuan, Raul Reina, Otillio Garcia, Diana DeJesus, Calvin Croal, Lonzie Tramble, Jose Feliciano, Lazarus Cardenas, George Camp, M. Beye, Ruben Rosa, David Reyes, Ramsey Puch, Lourdes Payamps, Frank Bauer, Johnnie Boria, Robert Potts, Jose Colon, Luis Briu, Hector Herrera, Alex Scott, Ronnie St. John, and Stanley Hobson.

The Columbia School of Public Health has been awarded a bronze medal for its 1995 Dean's Report by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The school entered its report, "From Policy to Practice," in the individual institutional relations publications category. The report uses bold colors, photography, and graphics to highlight the work of the school's six divisions and four centers as they relate to current public health issues.

The Physicians Scientific Society has selected Dr. Darrick E. Antell, P&S assistant clinical professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery, as its president. The society, based in New York City, is an invitation-only group of physicians and surgeons from various specialties.

The Franklin Institute, at its 1996 awards convocation, presented the Bolton L. Corson Medal to Dr. John Lindenbaum, P&S professor of medicine. The Franklin Institute Awards honor "distinguished individuals whose work has changed the world." Dr. Lindenbaum was recognized for delineating the fundamental importance of Vitamin B-12 in human nutrition and defining effective diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic strategies.

Commencement speakers at this year's Health Sciences graduation ceremonies were John Hockenberry, writer and commentator for NBC Dateline, for the physical therapy program commencement; Dr. Barbara Neuhaus, former director of the P&S occupational therapy program, for the occupational therapy commencement; Dr. Lonnie R. Bristow, president of the American Medical Association, P&S commencement; Dr. Loretta Ford, dean emeritus of the School of Nursing at the University of Rochester, School of Nursing commencement; Dr. June E. Osborn, professor of public health and medicine at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health commencement; and Dr. William Ten Pas, president of the American Dental Association, School of Dental and Oral Surgery commencement.

Send information for Reporter at Large to the Office of External Relations, P&S Box 62.