2002 News Releases

USP Health Tip -- Could Bolstering Biodefense Improve the Overall Public Health Infrastructure?

Could the government’s war on bioterrorism strengthen America’s overall public health infrastructure? Military initiatives have spread many new technologies throughout society, and public health preparedness may be no exception, according to Dr. Robert Field, director of the health policy program at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.  More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Student Wins Gold in National Karate Championship

When Irina Shcherbataya looks back on her trip to Orlando this past November, she will not think about her missed opportunity of meeting Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, she will remember capitalizing on another golden opportunity. The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) student traveled to O-Town to capture first place in a national karate championship, and that’s exactly what she did. More...

 

November 19, 2002

USP Students Volunteer at MANNA to Help Prepare Meals for Local People Living With HIV and AIDS

Approximately 10 students from University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) will act as “kitchen volunteers” for the Metropolitan AIDS Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA) on Friday, November 22, 5:30 – 8 p.m. The students will help prepare meals inside MANNA’s facility, located at 12 S. 23rd Street, Philadelphia, Pa. The meals will then be delivered to people living with HIV and AIDS in the Philadelphia area. The students are members of USP’s Student Community Involvement Program, an agency of the Student Government Association, whose main focus is community outreach.  More...

 

November 12, 2002

Local Sculptor to Exhibit Artwork in Mall Area of University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) will display the artwork of Dean Vastardis, a sculptor and recent Temple University graduate, in the mall area of the campus, located at 43rd Street and Woodland Avenue, on Tuesday, November 12. Vastardis will give an opening lecture at 5 p.m., followed by a reception at 6 p.m. The sculptures will be featured in USP’s mall area until April. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact (215) 596-8895.  More...

 

Q102 To Help Celebrate Topping Off Ceremony for New Athletic/Recreation Center at USP

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) will hold a steel “topping off” ceremony for its new 78,000-gross square-foot athletic/recreation center on Thursday, November 14, noon, at 43rd Street and Woodland Avenue. Adding to the festivities will be the appearance of Donna Storm, DJ for Q102's Power Hour, who will broadcast live from USP. During the ceremony, the main entry ridge beam, which will be signed by the campus community, will be hoisted by crane onto the structural framework of the new building.  More...

 

November 8, 2002

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia to Hold Women in Science Workshop for Female High School Students

Nearly 35 local 11th grade female students interested in the sciences will have a golden opportunity to interact and seek educational and career advice from several women scientists at a workshop on Saturday, November 16, 8:30 a.m., at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP), 43rd Street and Woodland Avenue. The workshop, “Is Science in Your Future? Exploring Careers in the Sciences,” is sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Association for Women in Science and USP.   More...

 

October 28, 2002

USP Promotes Former Associate Director of Admission to Director Of Enrollment Communication

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) promoted Dianna Collins to the position of director of enrollment communication. She has been with USP since 1994, recently serving as associate director of admission. Prior to joining USP, she was an assistant director of admission at Chestnut Hill College.   More...

 

National Pharmacy Week Encourages The Public To Seek Advice From Their Local Pharmacists

The role of the neighborhood pharmacist has changed dramatically over the past two decades, and the public is reaping the benefits. Pharmacists not only dispense complex and life-saving medicine, they also provide patient-based services, such as drug monitoring, disease management and counseling. But is the public taking advantage of this service? According to the American Pharmaceutical Association, a recent survey showed that nearly half of consumers do not always read product labels, fewer than 40 percent are consulting pharmacists, and one-third are not aware of the risks sometimes associated with these medicines.  More...

 

October 4 , 2002

USP Health Tip -- The Growing Number of Uninsured Americans Could Threaten the Economy

The growing number of uninsured Americans could make the economy less productive and threaten a recovery, says Dr. Robert Field, director of the health policy program and associate professor of health policy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. “Unless Congress begins to seriously address this issue, the prognosis could be bleak,” he adds. More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Receives Grants From W.W. Smith Charitable Trust

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia recently received a grant in the amount of $70,000 from the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust. The grant will be used for W.W. Smith Charitable Trust scholarships, awarded to worthy full-time students, based on financial need and good academic standing. It is the most significant source of private aid to students at USP. The Trust also bestowed to USP a $10,000 grant that the University will use for its W.W. Smith Scholarship Program, which provides $5,000 grants to each of two deserving students who are past W.W. Smith Charitable Trust recipients and who are entering their senior year. More...

 

September 12, 2002

USP Health Tip -- Heavy School Backpacks May Be Too Much For Children To Shoulder

The quintessential picture of a young student slouched forward while toting a burdensome backpack to school is not the image occupational and physical therapists would like to see.  Schoolchildren and teens all over the country carry backpacks filled with textbooks and other heavy items that can cause physical strains and pains.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimated that more than 3,300 children, aged 5-14 years, were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to backpacks in 1998.  This does not include the long-term effects, such as neck and back ailments, which backpacks can cause if used incorrectly.  These numbers may increase if parents and school officials are not educated in backpack safety.  More...

 

September 5, 2002

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia to Present Health Policy Symposium on Funding of Medical Research

Medical Research in America has greatly improved our lives and promises even greater benefits in the future.  Financial support behind this huge research enterprise has three primary but separate and distinct sources:  government, industry and foundations. To address this important topic, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia will host a half-day health policy symposium, titled "Who Should Fund Medical research?  The Roles of Government, Industry and Foundations," on Friday, September 20.  The event will take place 8 a.m. in Wilson Student Center (Room 205) on USP's campus, located at 43^rd Street and Woodland Avenue.  Attendance is free but reservations are required.  For more information, call (215) 596-7616.  More...

 

September 4, 2002

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia to Host Poetry Reading By Local Poet and Writer

University of the Sciences will host an afternoon poetry reading by John Timpane, commentary page editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer and author of several works, including Poetry for Dummies, It Could Be Verse, and Writing Worth Reading.  The poetry reading will take place on Wednesday, September 18, 4 p.m. in Wilson Hall 205 on USP's campus, located at 43^rd Street and Woodland Avenue.  Admission is free.  For more information, call (215) 596-8895. More...

 

USP's Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees Receives Prestigious Award from PSHP

The Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists (PSHP) recently named Marvin S. Samson, vice chairman of the board of trustees of University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP), as this year's recipient of the Sister M. Gonzales-Duffy Lecture Award.  The award was established in 1985 by the PSHP in honor of the late Sister M. Gonzales-Duffy, R.S.M., a PSHP member and director of pharmacy and central service at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa. 

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August 8, 2002

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Names New Director of Clinical Quality and Research For Advanced Concepts USP

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia recently named Dr. Diana Papshev as the new director of clinical quality and research for Advanced Concepts USP, the strategic business unit of the University.  Dr. Papshev will be responsible for the clinical quality of all Advanced Concept's work product and deliverables to clients, for overseeing research initiatives, managing student clerkships and internships and for developing strategy for growth and participating in new business development.

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Misher College of Arts and Sciences at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Names New Dean

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia recently announced that Dr. C. Reynold Verret, is the new dean of Misher College of Arts and Sciences.  In his new position, Dr. Verret will lead a diverse faculty of scholars and educators. More...

 

USP Health Tip -- Potassium Iodide Pills Are Helpful - But Not A Cure-All - For Individuals Exposed To Radioactive Materials

If a terrorist attack were to befall a nuclear power plant on American soil, a tiny pill may be one of the biggest defenses for nearby residents.  Potassium iodide (KI) tablets block the thyroid gland's exposure to radioactive iodine, helping to prevent the risk of thyroid cancer during a radiation emergency.  On July 5, Governor Mark Schweiker announced that Pennsylvania will join Delaware and New Jersey through a Federally funded program in providing KI tablets to individuals living within a 10-mile radius of a nuclear power plant. But will these pills shield the public from all the harmful effects radiation can cause?  Unfortunately no, says Dr. Steven Sheaffer, vice chairman of experiential learning at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP). More...

 

University Of The Sciences In Philadelphia Presents Faculty Service Awards

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia annually presents service awards to faculty who have demonstrated outstanding work during the academic year. Six members of USP's faculty were recognized for their achievements and contributions at USP's Annual Faculty Luncheon. More...

 

University Of The Sciences In Philadelphia Professor Receives Lindback Teaching Grant

The Christian R. & Mary F. Lindback Foundation recently presented a Minority Junior Faculty Award to Miriam Diaz-Gilbert. The award will support her research on the writing competency of Doctor of Pharmacy students who are not proficient in the English language, as well as the writing skills that these students are expected to demonstrate during their sixth-year clerkships.  Diaz-Gilbert, assistant director of the writing center at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, plans to develop an interactive textbook for English as a Second Language (ESL) pharmacy students to help them master the writing skills essential in their clerkships and the pharmacy profession.  More...

 

USP Health Tip -- The Economy May Be Down, But Healthcare Graduates Are Not Feeling The Dismal Effects

Graduation is just around the corner for thousands of college seniors, but the troubled economy is causing a roadblock of broken dreams and false hope, as potential employment opportunities are dismally scarce.  The job market may seem barren to many students majoring in previous staples, such as business, but it is fruitful to those desiring employment in the healthcare field.  According to many published reports and college career services, available healthcare positions are in abundance for graduating students, even though on-campus recruiting is dramatically declining.  Patricia Peterson, director of career services at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP), says the trend of booming healthcare opportunities is no accident. More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Celebrates 181st Commencement

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) will present honorary degrees to three prominent leaders in the health and science community as part of USP's 181^st Commencement celebration, which will be held for the first time in the new Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 260 South Broad Street, on Tuesday, May 21, 11 a.m.  Dr. Arthur Caplan, director of the Center for Bioethics and Trustee Professor of Bioethics at University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Gail R. Wilensky, the John M. Olin Senior Fellow at Project HOPE; and Gloria Glasser, secretary and treasurer of The Glasser Family Foundation, Inc., will be acknowledged for their respective contributions to the areas of health and science. More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Presents 2002 Alumni Association Awards

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia presented its 2002 Alumni Association Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame Induction during the Annual Alumni Reunion, which was held on Saturday, May 4. Five alumni and one honorary alumnus were recognized for their achievements and contributions to both USP and society.  More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Professor Receives Prestigious 2002 Guggenheim Fellowship Award

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation recently presented Dr. Paul Halpern, professor of physics at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP), with a prestigious 2002 Guggenheim Fellowship Award.  Dr. Halpern of Wynnewood, Pa. (19096), was among 184 artists, scholars and scientists nationally selected to receive a fellowship from more than 2,800 applicants for awards totaling $6,750,000.  Guggenheim Fellows are appointed on the basis of distinguished achievement in the past and exceptional promise for future accomplishment. More...

 

USP Health Tip -- New Drugs Marketed in 2001 May Be Small in Number, But Not in Importance

There were a total of 26 therapeutic agents that reached the United States market for the first time in 2001.  This marked the smallest number of new therapeutic agents to hit the U.S. market since 1995, when only 23 new medications were unveiled in the states.  According to Dr. Daniel Hussar, Remington professor of pharmacy at Philadelphia College of Pharmacy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, there may have been a decrease in the number of newer medications released to Americans, but some of them have significant advantages over older medications.  More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Sponsors Science Fair At Wilson Elementary School

The scientists of the future recently exhibited their skills in front of a panel of University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) judges at Alexander Wilson Elementary School.  USP sponsored a science fair for students in the local grade school, located at 46^th Street and Woodland Avenue, April 2-6.   More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia to Hold Celebration of Music From Around the World

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) will present "The Misher Week of World Music," a celebration of music from around the world in its intellectual context, from April 8-12. The Misher Week will highlight the richness of world music and will show another way to understand and value the great diversity of people.  Audiences will hear and see drummers from Japan, dancers from India, South American and African singers, a Klezmer band and many other groups who make music unique to their own national tradition and ethnic heritage. George Ruckert, senior lecturer in ethnomusicology at MIT, will be in residence all week.  He will give a public lecture on "World Music in the 21^st Century."  He will also teach various classes, be available for discussion, and perform on Monday afternoon for the general public. The Misher Week honors former USP President Allen Misher.  Admission is free and open to the public.  For more information, call (215) 596-8895.  More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia to Host Piano Composer and Recitalist

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) will welcome John Sciullo, piano composer and recitalist, to present a musical and lecture performance on Friday, March 22.  The concert will be held in Wilson Hall, 43^rd Street and Woodland Avenue, at 8 p.m.  Tickets for the general public are $5; admission is free for USP students, faculty and staff.  For more information, call (215) 596-8895.   More...

 

Middle School Instructors Participate in Teacher Development Workshop at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

Fifteen teachers from middle schools in the West Academic Area of the School District of Philadelphia recently participated in a half-day teacher development workshop, "Problem-Based Learning: Apprenticeship for Life," at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP).  During the workshop, the teachers explored various aspects of problem-based learning by participating in an activity called "BYOP: Bring Your Own Pollutant," which entailed them using a biological system and bioluminescent bacteria to determine the effects everyday pollutants have on a life system.   More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Breaks Ground For New Athletic Facility

The landscape of 43^rd Street and Woodland Avenue will change dramatically as construction crews break ground on a new multi-million dollar athletic/recreation center for University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP).  USP President Philip P. Gerbino recently kicked off the festivities for the groundbreaking.  The new building, part of a $30 million campus expansion and beautification project, will provide current and future USP athletes and students with state-of-the-art sports, recreation and meeting facilities.  Plans are also being made for a landmark college green and unified setting that will create a vibrant university campus.  More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Installs State-of-the-Art Nuclear Resonance Spectrometer

One of the most powerful instruments that identifies three-dimensional structures of molecules was recently unveiled at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP).  USP students and faculty now have access to a new state-of-the-art Bruker AVANCE 400 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, which is an important experimental tool for chemists and biochemists. More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Welcomes the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Trio

The Philadelphia Classical Guitar Trio will present a concert at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) on Friday, February 22.  The concert will be held in Wilson Hall, 43^rd Street and Woodland Avenue, at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets for the general public are $5; admission is free for USP students, faculty and staff.  For more information, contact Kim Robson at (215) 596-8895.  More...

 

USP Health Tip -- How Much Does the Public Know About the Life-Saving Capabilities of Aspirin?

National Heart Month in February annually aims to educate Americans about the prevention of the number-one killer of people over the age of 45 -- cardiovascular disease.  But how many people across the county know that an inexpensive drug they take when they experience aches and pains also helps to prevent recurrent heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems? Medical research has shown that regular aspirin use helps to reduce the risk of formation of blood clots that can block heart arteries and cause heart attacks.  While this may seem like great news for people who have either suffered from heart attacks or are at high risk for one, many patients who need to take aspirin are not doing so, according to Dr. Cynthia Sanoski, assistant professor of clinical pharmacy at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.  More...

 

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia Hosts Complementary and Alternative Medicine Experts

Several experts in the field of complementary and alternative medicine will speak at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) this spring.  The speaker series, in conjunction with the recent opening of USP's museum exhibit, "The Eclectic Road to Health," will focus on topics such as eclectic medicine, patent medicines, dietary supplements and other areas of complementary and alternative medicine.  The series will begin on Wednesday, January 23, with a presentation on "Taxonomy of Complementary Medicine," by Marc Micozzi, MD, PhD, of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.  More...