University Swine Flu Updates

The Columbia Pandemic Planning Working Group is working hard to disseminate timely, accurate information to the Columbia community. The information is developed collaboratively by those experts on campus who are charged with the responsibility for ensuring the general health and safety of the Columbia community.

Visit http://www.columbia.edu/cu/studentservices/preparedness/ for the most up-to-date information.

Read more ...

Alternative Spring Break to Costa Rica

Application Deadline: Mon., Dec. 14

Are you a pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-dental, pre-nursing, medical, dental or nursing student at Columbia University? Do you want to spend nine days in Costa Rica over spring break learning more about your profession and getting hands-on experience while helping communities in need?

Trip Dates: March 13-21, 2010

Trip Details
The group will visit Cartago and Turrialba where clinics will be set-up in various locations such as schools and churches.

Trip Experience Video

About the Organization
VIDA is an exciting not-for-profit humanitarian volunteer program that offers hands–on, eye-opening and mind-enriching international volunteer experiences to students of medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. We offer unparalleled volunteer experiences for those who want to learn about medicine, discover new cultures and share with those less fortunate while providing free health services to improve the quality of life of impoverished people and of animals in Central America.

Cost
-Application Fee: $100 due by 12/14/09
-Total: $1,395; Deposit: $500 due by 12/14/09
-Price includes: ground transportation; airport pick up/drop off; lodging; bilingual, health professionals; guides; interpreters; supplies/materials for clinics; most meals and tours; Not included: airfare or the application fee of $100)

More Information

Contact
Rachelle Meyer
rdm2110@columbia.edu
Postbac Premed Program student
VIDA Campus Coordinator for Columbia University*

*This is not a Columbia University sponsored trip.

Read more ...

Columbia Student Medical Outreach Fundraiser

Event Date and Time: Wed., Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m.

Message from a Postbac Premed Alumna
My name is Kathryn Keegan, and I am a first-year medical student at Columbia University and also a former Columbia Postbaccalaureate Premedical student. As a member of the Columbia Student Medical Outreach (CoSMO) clinic, the student-run primary care clinic for uninsured patients living in Washington Heights, I would like to extend an invitation to the Postbaccalaureate student body to our upcoming fundraising event.

Event Name
Tango Night with Chris Vasquez

Event Location
Alumni Auditorium, Black Building
650 West 168th Street, at Fort Washington Ave

Event Details
Chris Vasquez will give a lesson on the history of tango through music and dance, celebrating the musical life of tango singing legend Carlos Gardel. Refreshments will accompany the performance, including authentic Argentine empanadas, desserts (alfajores), and coffee. All proceeds go toward prescription medications for CoSMO's uninsured patients.

Cost
$15 general, $10 with student ID

Purchase Tickets
http://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/7639785

About Chris Vasquez
Chris Vasquez is a Dominican-American tango singer, who was recently
recognized by the NY Argentine Consulate as "Best Singer" in the New
York International Tango Competition. He was also a voice competition
finalist at the Medellin International Tango Festival. He sings the
songs of Carlos Gardel, Anibal Triolo, Astor PIazzolla among many
others, and has performed in cities across the United States as well
as in South America, including in Medellin, Colombia and Buenos Aires,
Argentina. He has created two shows that combine tangos sung in
Spanish combined with narration in English: The Son of Tango: A
Tribute to Carlos Gardel and To Live, To Love, To Tango! which
premiered to a sold-out crowd of 700 in Buffalo, NY. In addition to
performing tango, Mr. Vasquez has appeared in theater, TV commercials,
TV shows, and the movie The Producers. To learn more about Mr.
Vasquez and to hear some of his music, visit his MySpace page at
http://www.myspace.com/chrisvasquezmusic.

Read more ...

Seminars on Narrative Genetics

Next Seminar: Thurs., Dec. 3, 6-8 p.m.

Organization
Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy

About the Program
Narrative genetics is a new and interdisciplinary way to understand genetics in our lives, our culture and our politics. The Faculty Seminar on Narrative Genetics, like all ISERP seminars, is free and open to the public. Each workshop will focus on an aspect of narrative genetics and will include a presentation of work in progress. Readings will be posted to the seminar website and on our open Google site (or suggested if a published book) by the presenter to enhance the discussion. Others are encouraged to share their work at these sessions in brief informal presentations, and, if they wish, to post manuscripts to the seminar for comment and discussion.

Schedule of Seminar Meetings 2009-2010
Light refreshments will be served.

December 3, 2009, 6-8 p.m.
Location: 801 International Affairs Building, Columbia University
Patient and genetic counselor perspectives regarding pre-implantation genetic testing for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer risk
Katayoun Chamany, Ph.D., Eugene Lang College, and Lisa Rubin, Ph.D., New School for Social Research, Health Psychology

January 21, 2010, 6-8 p.m.
Location: 801 International Affairs Building, Columbia University
Genes and Plays: Using theatre to enhance understanding of the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetics
Karen Rothenberg, JD, MPA. Scholar-in-Residence at Columbia Law and Senior Sabbatical Fellow at its Center for the Study of Law and Culture; Visiting Professor, Berman Institute of Bioethics, Johns Hopkins University; and Marjorie Cook Professor of Law and Former Dean, University of Maryland School of Law

February 25, 2010, 6-8 p.m.
Location: 801 International Affairs Building, Columbia University
The Social Life of DNA: Traditional and genetic 'root-seeking' and the implications of these practices for contemporary understandings of race and ethnicity, diaspora, ancestry, and memory
Alondra Nelson, Ph.D., Columbia University, Sociology

April 8, 2010, 6-8 p.m.
Location: 801 International Affairs Building, Columbia University
[topic TBA]
Susan Squier, Ph.D. Brill Professor of Women's Studies, English, and STS, The Pennsylvania State University

May 6, 2010, 6-8 p.m.
Location: 801 International Affairs Building, Columbia University
Social Determinants of Autism
Peter Bearman, Ph.D. Columbia, Sociology, ISERP

Read more ...

Narrative Medicine Rounds

Event Date and Time: Wed., Dec. 2, 5-6:30 p.m.

Next Session
Virgil Wong
Artist and filmmaker Wong’s work grapples with bioethically vexed medical technologies – including nanorobots, a smart-as-human genetically engineered mouse, and a male pregnancy program. His fictional “RYT-Dwayne Medical Center” (www.rythospital.com) had been called “disarmingly authentic” by the New York Times.

Upcoming Sessions

Event Location
Faculty Club
P&S Building
630 West 168th Street (between Broadway and Fort Washington Avenue)
4th floor, Room 446

About the Program
Narrative Medicine Rounds are lectures or readings presented by scholars, clinicians, or writers engaged in work at the interface between narrative and health care. Rounds are held on the first Wednesday of each month from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Columbia University Medical Center Faculty Club, followed by a reception. Rounds are free and open to the public. Students, staff, faculty, patients, friends, and interested others are warmly welcome to join us.

Read more ...

Prehealth Summer Opportunities Panel

Event Date and Time: Mon., Nov. 30, 6:10-7:30 p.m.

It's already time to think about what you will do this summer. Come to get tips about how to begin your search for summer opportunities and hear from your premedical peers who have each had interesting and rewarding summer experiences. This is a program not to be missed. This program is co-sponsored by the Office of Preprofessional Advising and CU AMSA.

Register

Read more ...

Information Session, Alternative Spring Break to Costa Rica

Event Date: Thurs., Nov. 19, 7:30-8 p.m.

Event Location
Lerner Hall, Room 502

Session
This information session will provide details about the Alternative Spring Break trip to Costa Rica. For an overview of the trip, please visit
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gs/postbac/deansnotes/2009/10/cu-alternative-spring-break-to-costa.html.

Read more ...

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Visit to Campus

Event Date: Thurs., Nov. 19, 6-8 p.m.

Event Location: W & J Warren Room 311

Register

Presenters

Hilda Luiggi, M.S., Associate Director for the Office for Diversity and Community Outreach in Undergraduate Medical Education

Dr. Iris Reyes, Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine

Lauren Matthews, M2

Sponsor
Charles Drew Premedical Society Chapter of Columbia University

Read more ...