MIND & BODY
ARTS & CULTURE
UCSF Fitness Fun
Sample fitness classes at the Sept. 25 Fitness Festival » PAGE 5
World Class Deal for Culture Lovers
IN THIS ISSUE
Events » PAGE 2 News Briefs » PAGE 3 Puzzles » PAGE 15
Synapse Culture Card offers cheap access to arts events » PAGE 14
The UCSF Student Newspaper
Thursday, September 25, 2014
synapse.ucsf.edu
Volume 59, Number 1
ORIENTATION ISSUE
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Grad School: Like A Hike in the Woods Dear Reader,
L
ast month, I almost died while hiking in the woods with a classmate in the Philippines. We were returning to the main road from the Hanging Coffins in Sagada; we crossed a river and lost the trail, a few hours before sunset. We tried not to panic, knowing that there was a house on top of the hill, and we just had to find a way up. Like good scientists, we hypothesized that the slightly less dense areas were more likely to lead to trails, and observing three flattish patches of grass, we investigated. But each time, the hypothetical trail became steeper and eventually reached a thick patch of brambles—a dead end. Each time, we grew more afraid of cobras, of nightfall, imagined graver headlines about the “Two American Women Missing in the Philippines.” After our third attempt, we had two options: go back the way we came or scale the steep hill ahead of us, brambles and
Jillian Varonin/BMS5
all. Going back would take too long; we would get even more lost crawling through mud and cow dung in the dark. We were so close to that house, we could see it. We had to climb on.
For what felt like an eternity (but was probably less than an hour), we climbed over and through patches of thorns that tore into our palms and our bare limbs. Sometimes the hill got so steep that the only way we could climb up it was by boosting each other up onto the next ledge. Finally, we found the trail again, and we made it to the main road just before sunset, sweaty and muddy and covered in scratches but relieved to be alive. (Then we held the hedgehog that you’ve already seen if you’ve liked the Synapse Facebook page.) Dear reader, grad school (or professional school or what have you) is like hiking in the woods. You might get lost in the beginning or between third and fourth years or maybe at the end, unsure of what to do next. Sometimes, you try really hard, only to reach a dead end or several. Sometimes, it seems smarter to go back, and maybe that’s true. You might face seemingly insurmountable challenges and need a little boost. We’ve all been there. Just remember: the trail is so close. You’ve made it so far, and you have so much support here at UCSF. Within these pages, you’ll learn about the numerous fantastic departments that offer this support, from Student Health and Counseling (SHC) to the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) to First Generation Support Services (FG2C). Student groups include campus-wide and individual school governments, the Graduate Queer Alliance (GQA) and the newly
GRAD SCHOOL » PAGE 3
OPINION
Professional School: A time to do what’s important to you By Akshay Govind Associate Editor
L
ess than one month after I started dental school in 2004, my father suffered a heart attack, and it was determined he would need quadruple bypass surgery to treat the impaired blood flow through his coronary arteries. I was in school three thousand miles away from home and felt totally overwhelmed with the amount of material being thrown at me in a class full of the smartest people I had ever met. I talked to my family frequently, my dad assured me he would be fine, and I convinced myself it was an acceptable decision not to fly home to be with them during the days and weeks that followed. We got lucky. Everything went fine with his surgery and he recovered decent cardiac function, but it was sobering to see how easily I had gotten sucked into the microcosm of professional school and could have missed
seeing my own parent alive for the last time. With that bit of perspective, I knew there had to be other things I had missed out on because I was busy fretting about some detail of school. D o n’t get me wrong — it is important to try hard in school, to keep up with reading, and to meet people who can serve as mentors, but you need to make sure the pressure doesn’t reduce you into being someone other than yourself. There are always a few people in every class who seem to either know or remember
“Don’t
everything, but most people do struggle with one thing or another; and if not, more power to them. O n e of the advantages of a mostly Pass/No Pass (or Pass Now / Pass Later) system is that it really does allow you some flexibility in the timing of your refined understanding of difficult topics. If you’re struggling in class, do seek help early and try not to get too down on yourself about it. You will almost certainly catch up with enough practice and repetition, and
get me wrong — it is important to try hard in school, to keep up with reading, and to meet people who can serve as mentors, but you need to make sure the pressure doesn’t reduce you into being someone other than yourself.”
you’ll get better at scheduling the other things in your life that still let you be who you are. As you move through your professional training, your personal identity and your professional identity will become more and more intertwined, and you will discover new aspects about your personality as you interact with more patients in different settings. Keep in mind, there is not just one way to be a good professional, and an important part of what should develop during your training is your own identity as a clinician; this includes, but is not limited to what specific fields might interest you within your profession. You also get to make decisions about how you interact with your teams, auxiliary staff, whether you shake hands with patients or hug them, and importantly, how your career fits in with the rest of your life. Other people will often tell you what did or did not work for them, and certain peo-
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL » PAGE 14
2 | September 25, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
EVENTS MISSION BAY EVENTS FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS AT MISSION BAY
Thursday, September 25, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 4th Street & Nelson Rising Lane, Mission Bay Join the food truck lunch party every Thursday at Mission Bay and explore the tasty culinary options to break up your routine. Each week will feature two different vendors, so there will always be something new. Grab some friends, get some food and take your lunch experience up a notch.
OUTDOOR MOVIE AT MISSION BAY: GRAVITY
Thursday, September 25, 7 p.m., Koret Quad, Mission Bay Grab a picnic blanket and enjoy a free screening of the Academy Award-winning film, Gravity! In the event of rain, the movie will be cancelled. campuslifeservices.ucsf. edu/artsevents/29/outdoor_movie_at_ mission_bay_featuring_gravity.
DISCOVERY DRUGS WITH DARWIN
Friday, September 26, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Genentech Hall Auditorium A lecture by Dr. Andrew Hopkins, one of the leading investigators in academic drug discovery who pioneered the concept of the “druggable genome.” Dr. Hopkins has been a vital contributor to pioneering the concepts of “ligand efficiency” and designed polypharmacology.
MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICES
Friday, September 26, 1-2:30 p.m., Byer Hall, 212, Mission Bay The Muslim Community at UCSF holds regular Friday prayer services (Jum’a) for the Muslim community every week. Come join your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer, lunch and socializing. All are welcome.
MISSION BAY FARMERS’ MARKET
Wednesday, October 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Gene Friend Way Plaza, Mission Bay Shop healthy, shop fresh, shop Californiagrown at the UCSF Farmers' Market, every Wednesday (rain or shine). Sponsor: Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association.
PARNASSUS EVENTS UC ORACLES TOASTMASTERS
Thursday, September 25, noon-1 p.m., Nursing, 721, Parnassus Toastmasters empowers people to achieve their full potential. Through our member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change. Be the speaker and leader you want to be! Attend one of our meetings to learn more. Meetings are open to UCSF students, faculty, staff & volunteers. http://ucoraclesucsfedu.weebly. com/.
CHANCELLOR’S CONCERT SERIES
Thursday, September 25, noon-12:45 p.m., Cole Hall Looking for a place to study or relax between classes? CLS Arts & Events has got just what you need. The Chancellor's Concert Series on Thursdays is a great place to set up your laptop and study or just take a break from classes while listening to classical music.
MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICES Friday, September 26, 1:30-2 p.m., Medical
Sciences, 159, Parnassus The Muslim Community at UCSF holds regular Friday prayer services (Jum’a) for the UCSF Muslim community every week. Come join your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer, lunch and socializing. All are welcome.
CAMPUS EVANGELISTIC FELLOWSHIP
Friday, October 3, noon-2 p.m., Millberry Union, 111W, Parnassus There will be a pup every Friday in October so don’t miss out! Take time to de-stress with Lady Jenna, a Cockapoo, from Animal Assisted Therapy of SPCA. Enjoy some tea or hot chocolate, and leave your stress at the door! Sponsor: Student Life.
GPSA MEETING
Monday, October 6, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Library, 220, Parnassus Meet your executive board members at the monthly GPSA meeting and be a part of the discussion on topics relating to student priorities. gpsa.ucsf.edu
BAGEL DAY
Friday, September 26, 7-10:30 p.m., Nursing, 517, Parnassus Join the Campus Evangelistic Fellowship for its weekly meeting, with Bible study, hymn singing and fellowship.
Tuesday, October 7, 9 a.m., Nursing Mezzanine Come enjoy some free bagels and coffee each month and learn about campus services and events.
[NEW STUDENTS] CHANCELLOR’S RECEPTION AND NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION FAIR
CULTURE CARD SALES: $25 FOR 25 PERFORMANCES
Monday, September 29, 4-6 p.m., Millberry Union Gym, Parnassus Mingle, network, enjoy free food and beverages and learn about great campuswide student clubs and services. Need more? The Chancellor will be giving away some truly great things. (Think sweatshirts, gift certificates, a FitBit and more!) This event is by invitation only. Be on the lookout – you will receive a ticket from your school.
CHANCELLOR'S STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS
Tuesday, September 30, noon-1 p.m., Cole Hall, Parnassus The UCSF community is invited to join Chancellor Sam Hawgood, MBBS, for his inaugural State of the University Address. The first 200 people to arrive will receive a free gift bag with souvenirs commemorating UCSF’s 150th anniversary. Refreshments will be served.
GPSA WELCOME ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Wednesday, October 1, noon-1 p.m., Saunders Court, Parnassus The Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA) invites all students to kick off the new school year with a welcome ice-cream social. Come explore your new backyard, eat (free) delectable SF treats, and meet new friends!
PARNASSUS FARMERS’ MARKET
Wednesday, October 1, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ACC, 400 Parnassus Ave. Shop the Farmers’ Markets on Wednesdays to pick up locally grown produce and more. Sponsor: Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.
UCSF RUN CLUB
Wednesday, October 1, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Millberry Union Central Desk, Parnassus Please drop by and join UCSF Fit & Rec for a run. Each Wednesday night, the Run Club runs various distances (from 3-6 miles) at 9 to 11 minutes per mile.
ENGLISH CORNER
Wednesday, October 1, 6-8:30 p.m., Medical Sciences, 159, Parnassus English Corner is an informal Conversational English Class given as a free community service and provided on a voluntary basis by both people born and raised in the United States as well as many people who have, at one time in their lives, experienced life as a new immigrant to the US.
PET THE PUP AT DOG DAY AFTERNOON
Tuesday, October 7, 9 a.m., Nursing Mezzanine San Francisco Performances Culture Card is the best deal in town for arts lovers. This easy, accessible and inexpensive program$25 for 25 performancesis your direct connection to world-class classical music, vocal programs, dance and jazz. Make sure to bring your UCSF ID!
OFF-CAMPUS OFF THE GRID: UPPER HAIGHT
Thursday, September 25, 5-9 p.m., Stanyan and Waller Streets, SF Off the Grid is a roaming mobile food extravaganza that travels to different locations daily to serve delicious food, with a free side of amazing music, craft and soul.
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: OUTBREAK NIGHTLIFE
Thursday, September 25, 6-10 p.m., Cal Academy, Golden Gate Park, SF Explore the fascinating and frightening history of pandemics as NightLife takes a look at the dynamic diseases that have shaped the world we live in. Lightning Talks & Pandemic Pub Trivia in African Hall. Survival Techniques & Elixir Lounge in East Pavilion. Turntablist Performance in the Coral Reef. http://bit.ly/NightLifeTickets.
FILM NIGHT IN THE PARK: AMERICAN HUSTLE
Saturday, September 27, 8 p.m., Dolores Park, 18th St and Dolores St, SF Bring your blankets, pillows and lawn chairs for Film Night in the Park, an annual summer film festival of favorite flicks presented outdoors at community parks around San Francisco. Admission is free! Refreshments, candy and popcorn are available for purchase. sfntf.squarespace.com/filmnight/.
EXPLORATORIUM FREE DAY
Sunday, September 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Pier 15, SF The Exploratorium is a twenty-first-century learning laboratory, an eye-opening, alwayschanging, playful place to explore and tinker featuring hundreds of science, art, and human perception exhibits. http://bit.ly/1dJtq8w.
ALICE NOW & ZEN FEST 2014
Sunday, September 28, noon-5 p.m., Sharon Meadows, Golden Gate Park Every year Alice 97.3 throws a big end-of -the summer free concert in Golden Gate Park’s Sharon Meadow. The 2014 “Now & Zen” Fest features a lineup of adult-friendly rock that includes Matt Nathanson, Neon Trees, American Authors, and Lindsey Stirling. In addition to the concert there’s tons of
vendors, food and specialty booths in Sharon Meadow. Gates open at 11 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS UC GLOBAL FOOD INITIATIVE FELLOWSHIP
Applications deadline: October 1 The University of California Global Food Initiative (UCGFI), recently established by UC President Janet Napolitano calls on students across all ten UC campuses to propose innovative approaches to address challenges of nutrition and sustainability. UCSF will award three UCGFI fellowships to students in the 2014-15 academic year. Learn more: saa.ucsf.edu/UCGFI.
BRIGHT HORIZONS CARE ADVANTAGE
Effective fall 2014, the Student Services Fee Committee is newly sponsoring student access to the Bright Horizons Care Advantage Program (formerly called Sittercity). This new service is designed to assist student parents, and students with adult care responsibilities, in identifying resources to meet their dependent care needs. A second advantage of the program is that it provides free membership for students who wish to work and provide care (i.e. sitter, tutor) to others. www.careadvantage.com/ucsfstudent.
POETS & WRITERS
Join an ongoing informal workshop facilitated by UCSF author Dr. David Watts. Beginners welcome, bring a poem or a short prose piece, or just come to listen. Group meets Mondays 4:30-5:30pm, 350 Parnassus, #900. Contact hdwatts@comcast.net.
BIG IDEA CONTEST
Pre-proposals deadline: November 13 at noon Big Ideas is an annual student innovation contest aimed at providing funding, support, and encouragement to interdisciplinary teams of students who have creative solutions to important social challenges. Since its founding, Big Ideas has inspired innovative and high-impact student-led projects aimed at solving problems that matter to this generation. bigideas.berkeley.edu.
FG2C STUDENT WELCOME (BACK) DINNER
RSVP deadline: September 29 Wednesday, October 1, 5-6:30 p.m., Faculty Alumni House UCSF First Generation 2 College students! Welcome! You may be of the first generation in your family to graduate from college, but you are not alone. Please join the First Generation Support Support Services for at the annual Welcome (Back) Dinner and connect with your fellow first gen student community. firstgenwelcome.eventbrite.com.
UCSF FITNESS & RECREATION - REC PASS: ON SALE
UCSF students can purchase an annual Rec Pass for $69 and access all Outdoor Programs and Recreational Sports – making it easy to catch up with friends or meet new ones over a game of basketball, on a kayaking tour of the bay, or during a backpacking trip in the wilderness. Annual passes are valid July 1 through June 30. Purchase your Rec Pass at the Fitness Center Service Desk. campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/ fitnessrecreation/information/program_ index/student_rec_pass.
ARE YOU A FIRST GENERATION TO COLLEGE STUDENT (FG2C)?
Register with the First Generation Support Services Office to give you access to all of the First Generation Support Services and helps the office advocate for you! http://bit. ly/firstgenregister
synapse.ucsf.edu | September 25, 2014 | 3
NEWS
Grad Division Celebrates New Students and Postdocs
NEWS BRIEFS Appointments and Awards S am Hawgo o d, MBBS, was confirmed i n Ju ly as U C SF ’s 10th chancellor. Having served as Interim Chancellor since April as a successor to Susan Desmond-Hellman, MD, MPH, he has most recently held positions as Dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs. Chancellor Hawgood joined UCSF in 1982 as a research fellow.
Br u c e Wi n troub, MD, is now ser ving as Interim Dean for the School of Medicine while a committee searches for a permanent replacement for Chancellor Hawgood. Wintroub joined UCSF in 1982, and since 1985 has been chair of the Department of Dermatology, a position that he will Photo by Susan Merrell continue to hold during his current appointA pyramid of incoming Tetraders: (top) Sumitra Tatapudy; (middle, left to right) Nairi Hartooni, Valentina Garcia, Efren Reyes, Kelsey Haas; (bottom) Joment. seph Choe, Nick Sanchez, Justin Salat, Allison Cohen.
By Bryne Ulmschneider Staff Writer New students and postdocs were welcomed to campus on Koret Quadwith free food, a raffle with tempting prizes and a chance to mix with people from the UCSF community. With over 700 people in attendance at the September 15 event, this was a great opportunity to mingle, chat and enjoy free food and ice cream. Vice Chancellor of Student Academic Affairs Elizabeth Watkins called out the lucky raffle winners, who walked away with goodies, such as gift certificates and UCSF shwag. Additionally, student organizations, including Associated Students of the Grad Division, Women in Life Sciences at UCSF, the Science Policy Group and Society for Advancement of Hispanics/ Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) at UCSF, had the opportunity to greet students and recruit new members.
Synapse
“The Graduate Division BBQ has always been a great way to start the year, both offering opportunities to meet new students as well as reconnect with older ones," said Raul Torres, a fourth-year BMS student and a SACNAS officer. "Everyone at the beginning of the year is always full of energy, and being at the BBQ presented a great opportunity to draw some of that energy into our chapter.” “(This) is a great venue to recruit new members, inform students about what science policy is, what projects we work on and the types of events we hold during the academic year,” added sixth-year Tetrad student Alison Leaf from the Science Policy Group. After all the prizes had been handed out and the free food trickled away, students played games in the quad while enjoying some rare San Francisco sunshine.
Bryne Ulmschneider is a fourth-year Tetrad student.
500 Parnassus Ave. Millberry Union 108W San Francisco, CA 94143 tel: (415) 476-2211 | fax: (415) 502-4537 synapse@ucsf.edu
The UCSF Student Newspaper synapse.ucsf.edu STAFF
Jenny Qi | EDITOR Akshay Govind | ASSOCIATE EDITOR Angela Castanieto | ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Grad School » FROM HOME PAGE
formed Student Peer Support Center (SPSC), which targets graduate student mental health. There’s even a place for you if you, like me, are really into poetry. New Columns and Features We’ve collected advice from upper years, earthquake preparedness tips and a taste of normal Synapse content—recent news stories, upcoming event listings and regular columns, both old and new, such as This Date in UCSF History, our own version of #TBT. Synapse strives to serve as a resource for students (and all readers) throughout the academic year, and this summer we editors have worked incredibly hard to launch a new Synapse to better serve you, the UCSF students and trainees. In addition to news and events, you can look forward to many other biweekly and monthly columns: Life of a Grad Student, which interviews PhD students from all walks of life to tell the stories of the people behind the benches; UCaSeFiles, a medical mystery series inspired by the New York Times column; the cartoon series Medical Mythbusters; Let’s Get Physical, a physical therapy advice column. We’re also launching new series that focus on policy, careers and biomedical startups, to name a few. Weekly Editorial Meetings
About
Synapse is the UCSF student-run weekly newspaper, which runs on Thursdays during the academic year and monthly during the summer. Synapse seeks to serve as a forum for the campus community. Articles and columns represent the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Board of Publications or the University of California.
Submissions
Announcements and letters should be submitted six days before publication. All submissions can be either emailed or mailed. All material is subject to editing. Letters to the Editor must be signed by the author.
Subscriptions Subscriptions cost $20/year ($40/outside US).
Advertising
Paid advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of Synapse. Synapse and its editorial board reserve the right to decline advertisements promoting false or misleading claims, known health risks, or content deemed by the editors to be antithetical to the interests of UCSF students or the UCSF community. Synapse does not accept advertisements from tobacco or alcohol manufacturers, or sexually oriented personal ads. Synapse reserves the right to run any ad with a disclaimer.
And of course, if you have an interest in writing, editing, photography or just learning more about campus, check out some of our old articles at synapse.ucsf.edu and join us at a Synapse meeting (Wednesdays at 12 p.m. in the Multicultural Resource Center). You can contribute to an existing column or pitch your own article ideas. Few of us had experience when we started, but we have all learned so much and are glad we got involved. Synapse has been one of my favorite parts of grad school, and I think many of our writers and editors would agree. Welcome to the 2014-15 Orientation Issue of Synapse, the UCSF newspaper. We are so excited to welcome you (back) to campus, and we’re here to help you find your way. Best, Jenny Y. Qi Editor
Carol Takao, PhD, was appointed this September as Executive Director of Student Life. With an extensive background in higher education leadership, Takao most recently was associate director of financial aid at UC Berkeley’s Division of Student Affairs. Peter Walter, PhD, received the prestigious 2014 Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, also known as the “American Nobel,” for his work on the unfolded protein response. Walter joined the UCSF faculty in 1983 and also recently won the Shaw Prize, Asia’s top scientific honor. Walter shares the Lasker award with Kazutoshi Mori, PhD, of Kyoto University.
Three UCSF Hospitals to Open at Mission Bay Thousands of diverse people came together on Saturday, September 6, for a 5K walk through Mission Bay and ending with the Lights On Festival in front of the medical center. The merriment was all in honor of the three new hospitals that will open on February 1, 2015: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco, UCSF Bakar Cancer Hospital and UCSF Betty Irene Moore Women’s Hospital. There were costumes and face painting and celebrity sightings, but UCSF Medical Center CEO Mark Laret reminded crowds why they were truly gathered there. With “every step you take, think about a child whose life is going to be saved in that hospital and a mom who’s going to have an easier birth because of innovations here.”
Career Exploratory MIND Program Launched
Motivating INformed Decisions (MIND) held its first class September 13. The program aims to give UCSF graduate students and postdoctoral scholars the professional skills needed to explore a wide range of careers outside of academia and eventually change the culture to promote greater acceptance of these “alternative careers.” Vice Chancellor of Research and Executive Vice Dean of the School of Medicine Keith Yamamoto kicked off the first Saturday with introductory remarks and stayed to interact with the 40 trainees, about evenly split between graduate students and postdocs.
4 | September 25, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
NEWS
UCSF Hosts First Bay Area TED MED
ORIENTATION
UCSF is Moving
Advice to new and old students alike about earthquake preparedness By Matt Springer Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
T Photo provided by Chris Foo/Pharmacy2 TED MED volunteers from UCSF included Dan Holohan, Aude Dalie, and Chris Foo.
By Chris Foo Staff Writer
T
he TED MED conference, the first in the Bay Area, promised to “unlock imagination” through innovation and scientific excellence. A subset of the widely known TED Talks, TED MED invited scientists, clinicians and innovators in medicine and biotechnology as speakers for the weeklong event at UCSF beginning Sept. 10. UCSF co-hosted the event, along with Stanford University and the American Medical Association. This year’s event was held simultaneously in Washington DC and San Francisco. Speakers from both cities took turns presenting via an on-stage video feed. The result was an interdisciplinary platform where professionals could share their efforts towards a common goal: to advance the field of medicine by inspiring one another with poignant stories of compassionate care and fresh, sometimes controversial, ideas. The student volunteers would say it succeeded. “My favorite speaker was Dr. Leana Wen,” said second-year BMS student Dan Holohan. “Dr. Wen advocated that transparency must also extend to the personal views and conflicts of interests of doctors. Just as patients divulge private information to their health-
care providers, doctors should reveal information that could impact the treatment of their patients, including funding sources, views on social issues such as women’s health and LGBTQ rights and pay differentials for one treatment versus another.” Dr. Wen created the controversial Who’s My Doctor website (whosmydoctor.com), where doctors are encouraged to sign the Total Transparency Manifesto and post information about their educational background, drug company affiliations and even hobbies. In response, critics hacked her personal email and sent her a bomb threat. But according to Dr. Wen, patient needs are evolving, and the practice of medicine must evolve with it. “As medicine is moving more towards a behavioralist versus infectious model of disease, the importance of trust and transparency among patients and doctors will become even greater,” agreed Holohan, inspired by her talk. While TED MED brought together a plethora of engaging speakers, it was not just a forum for ideas. In fact, the organizers also created an area called “The Hive,” where dozens of start-ups and entrepreneurs were stationed to display their newest products and services. One company, QuantuMDx, aimed to “diagnose a disease in under 15 minutes” with
their molecular-diagnostics device. The prototype contains a micro-scale molecular diagnostic chip complete with DNA sequencing capabilities, potentially allowing for the accurate diagnosis of a range of infectious diseases. This is very similar to Virochip, a start-up company whose product helps diagnose infectious diseases. Another device from Cerora measured brainwave activity and correlated it to known pathological patterns to aid in diagnosing neurological diseases. Start-ups like these were given a stage to pitch their ideas and connect with potential funders and collaborators. Surrounded by Nobel laureates and a stimulating startup culture, UCSF students are well positioned to become the next generation of biomedical innovators. Aude Dalie, a second-year BMS student, not only felt energized by extraordinary talks such as that of Dr. Wen, but also enjoyed the opportunity to build relationships with other volunteers. “One of my favorite parts of this past week was sharing the experience with fellow UCSF students and learning from their rich and varied perspectives. I have never felt more fortunate to be a part of the UCSF community and at the forefront of scientific progress.”
Chris Foo is a second-year pharmacy student.
rue or false: “I don’t have to worry about preparing my home for earthquakes because I’m a student, and I’m only going to be here for a few years.” Translation: “Earthquakes don’t occur while I’m a student.” Ok, future scientists/clinicians, let’s evaluate that hypothesis and its corollary, “Earthquakes don’t occur when anyone is a student.” Therefore, because earthquakes occur with regularity in the Bay Area, “Nobody is ever a student.” I probably don’t have to hit you over the head any heavier than that, but I will point out that during the destructive 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, I was a grad student at Stanford! Once the quake occurred, I was no different from anyone else in that I had to assess damage at home and in my lab. Fortunately, there was no damage in my home, even though my housemates and I had not taken earthquake preparedness measures, and the only damage in my lab was that something fell on the keyboard of the lab’s Mac (yeah, in the late 80’s, we had “the lab computer”) and ruined the E key, making it impossible to type “Eureka!” and therefore impeding scientific progress and discovery. However, we lucked out; thousands of people were injured with 62 fatalities, and many more had moderate to considerable damage inside their homes. Take Precautions Welcome to San Francisco...but I mean that sincerely, not facetiously, because most of the problems experienced by people in California earthquakes in the past 100 years have been preventable by taking certain precautions, many of which are not that hard to do. People just don’t get around to them, and so when even moderate events like last month’s Napa quake occur, you end up with lots of people in the vicinity with substantial damage in their homes that simply would not have occurred if they had taken the recommended precautions for life in the Bay Area. Although city governments are trying to make structures safer, when “the Big One” comes, even a home that isn’t structurally damaged will contain a lot of damaged possessions unless you have taken your own preventative measures. "Starter" Advice Here is some quick “starter” advice for those who aren’t familiar with earthquake safety and for those who have only heard the myths. These are easy and don’t require a bunch of precautions: 1) Don’t hang heavy framed pictures over the head of your bed (and don’t have anything unfastened that could fall over onto the head of your bed). 2) If you are inside during a large quake, know the following: • DON’T run out of the building (into the danger zone next to the building where most injuries occur) • DON’T get next to something thinking it will protect you (despite what you may have read in a notorious e-mail chain letter)
UCSF IS MOVNG » PAGE 14
synapse.ucsf.edu | September 25, 2014 | 5
ORIENTATION
CLS: So Many Options for a Healthy, Happy School Year By Rani Goel Campus Life Services
B
eing a student at the world’s top research and medical sciences institution means that it’s essential for you to be in the best shape mentally, physically and spiritually. Campus Life Services (CLS) is dedicated to supporting you to stay healthy, happy, engaged and in balance. It offers students low and no-cost programs, hosts many events and creates opportunities for you to thrive during these years of hard work at UCSF. Get to know CLS, and you’ll be in good hands. Stay fit, have fun As you become acquainted with the campus and the community, you may soon realize that Fitness and Recreation becomes a huge part of your life. The fitness centers at Mission Bay and Parnassus are included in the tuition for most UCSF students and include access to the latest in cardio and weight equipment, pools and a climbing wall. You’ll be able to meet new people, learn and improve skills, try new activities, go on group outings, challenge yourself physically and enjoy a variety of ways to de-stress and give your mind a break. Additionally, Fitness and Recreation offers these popular programs for students: • Premier Membership: Participate in a choice of 140+ group fitness classes for $20 a month. • The Rec Pass: With this pass, UCSF students gain unlimited access to Outdoor Programs catalog trips, clinics, classes, and free registration to all Rec Sports League offerings. For only $69, this is one of the best deals offered at UCSF. • Sports Leagues: Join a basketball, volleyball or futsal league for some friendly competition at Parnassus or Mission Bay. Winter league sign-ups begin December 1-11. • Climbing Wall at Mission Bay: Challenge mind and body on this outdoor climbing wall, with a view of downtown San Francisco. Classes are offered for beginners or individual instruction, and recreational open
climbing (Tuesdays and Thursdays) is free for students. Note: because the wall is located outside, it usually closes for the winter months, December–March. • Outdoor trips: Go kayaking, stand-up paddling, hiking and camping with experienced guides and other members of the UCSF community. All catalog trips are included with purchase of the Rec Pass. • UCSF’s Tahoe Cabin: Students receive priority registration for this large cabin, available for group rentals up to 16 people, located near North Lake Tahoe’s most popular ski resorts. Student reservations begin October 15, however, student reps begin October 13. • UCSF Student Reps: Do you have a passion for exercise, the outdoors, and living a well rounded life? If yes, then consider becoming a Student Rep. You’ll be the liaison between your class and Outdoor Programs. Meet new people, and exercise your voice in the types of programs we offer. As a perk, you gain pre-reservation for the Tahoe cabin on October 13. Connect with Fitness and Recreation at: campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/fitnessrecreation Eat, meet and relax There are a wide variety of food options on UCSF campuses. The food court at Millberry Union offers a delicious range of eateries for you to enjoy. At Mission Bay, there are plenty of places for meals, snacks and hanging out. There are even guest food trucks offering a variety of international fare that bring some of the best food weekly to campus. Connect with Retail Services at: campuslifeservices. ucsf.edu/retail. Be entertained and come to the party Arts and Events puts on several fun and free events like concerts, Halloween costume contests, an annual Block Party, movie screenings and discounted group outings. Bookmark the calendar, sign up for the newsletter and friend Arts and Events on Facebook to get all the details on where the events are
Photo courtesy of Campus Life Services The Climbing Wall at Bakar Fitness & Recreation Center at Mission Bay offers great views of downtown San Francisco,.
happening. Get to know Arts and Events at: campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/artsevents. Save time and money Time and money are precious, and it’s a relief to know that Campus Life Services has got your back. They’re always finding ways to make things a little easier and hook you up with special offers. • Use the shuttles, City Car Share, carpool or take advantage of other ways to get around town. Explore Transportation Services: campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/transportation. • Save money and be green, when you buy coffee or tea from most campus retailers. Bring your own cup and get a discount. Learn more here: bit.ly/ucsf_byoc. • Purchase tickets to attractions through
MIND & BODY
Put your family first Child Care and Family Services provide many services and referrals for the kinds of care your family might need, from day care to educational programs and connections to many family services in the Bay Area. Get to know Child Care and Family Services: campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/childcare. Noontime Schedule 11:15 am-11:45 am GRIT™ CARDIO 11:50 am-12:35 pm ZUMBA® 12:45-1:15 pm CXWORX™ 1:30-2:20 pm BODYFLOW ™
UCSF Makes Fitness Fun
Evening Schedule 5:00-5:45 pm ZUMBA® 5:50-6:20 pm Motown Moves 6:25-7:15 pm BODYCOMBAT ™
Staff Report
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ne of the biggest obstacles to regular exercise is that it can seem hard or boring. The excuses about lack of time or motivation are classic. But what happens when the concept is changed from “exercise” to something more fun like, say, a dance party? Group Fitness classes at the Fitness & Recreation Centers at UC San Francisco have been making fitness fun since the 1970’s. UCSF faculty, staff, students, and neighbors of all ages and sizes have been finding a lot more than just “exercise” here on campus. “The instructors are awesome, knowledgeable, and overall fun. I participate in numerous group classes per week, BODYJAM (twice or three times a week), BODYFLOW, CX-30, Qi Gung, Stretching. I really feel that my health and energy level have improved tremendously since I joined the Fitness Center. In addition to group classes I also like the weight-training floor and the Personal Trainers always ready to help me improve my daily work out. I elect the Millberry Fitness Center
Arts & Events and save money. To save money, visit: bit.ly/UCSF_CLS_OnlineStore_Discounts. • If you have better things to do than laundry, let Laundry Locker handle it. Learn more at: bit.ly/UCSF_LaundryLocker. • Buy your course materials, computers, school supplies and UCSF apparel online. Visit the Online Store: bit.ly/ucsfcampusstore.
UCSF Fitness Festival is September 25.
at Parnassus, the ultimate best gym in the Bay Area.” –Regina Chapman On September 25, attend the UCSF Fitness Festival and get a taste of just how fun group fitness classes can be. The event, open to the entire campus community and the general public, will be held at the Millberry Fitness & Recreation Center at Parnassus Kimi Hori, Fitness Manager and longtime class instructor, beams with enthusiasm for the fitness programs at UCSF and is excited to open up this event to all. “We’re inviting people from all different
Photo by Les Mills
levels of fitness to enjoy the ability to have fun and experience fitness in a social, fun atmosphere. With the music pumping, friendly and knowledgeable instructors and peers to move along with–you forget you’re exercising and end up having a good time. The benefits are amazing…” A variety of sampler classes will be offered so attendees can get a good workout (or two) and try something new. Shower and towel service will also be included to make it easy to take a lunchtime break and get back to work, or stop by at the end of the day.
Personal Trainers will be available for body composition testing and consultation to help you understand your results. You’ll learn your lean muscle and body fat percentages and can begin to set goals from there. September 25 is the day you’ll want to be there, to sample the group fitness buffet, and take advantage of event membership specials. Anyone enrolling as a Premier member will receive a special gift — a complimentary 75-minute massage gift card ($85 value). Standard members who upgrade to a Premier membership will have their upgrade fee waived ($50 value). And, members who bring a friend to the event will receive a free gift. The event takes place from 11:00 am-2:30 pm and 4:30-7:30 pm at Millberry Fitness & Recreation Center at 500 Parnassus Ave, Level B1. For more details and class descriptions, visit: campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/fitnessrecreation or call 415.476.0348.
6 | September 25, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
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LGBT Resource Center: Creating a Safe, Inclusive UCSF
ship, and providing high quality, culturally sensitive care to our patients. In addition to community building awareness activities on campus, the LGBT Resource Center is pleased to launch the FAST (Faculty, Alumni, Students, Trainees) LGBT Mentoring Program. Designed to support our LGBT students at UCSF, mentees can receive guidance from
mentors on issues related to career development, work/life balance, networking, “out-ness” as a professional, and navigating through complicated work environments and systems. If you are interested in getting involved, please complete the FAST Enrollment Form at lgbt.ucsf.edu/fast-mentoring-program or contact larry.lariosa@ucsf.edu
Student Inside Guide
UCSF Resources & Services
become an
INSIDER By Tina Novero
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he UCSF LGBT Resource Center, a division of Office of Diversity & Outreach provides education, information, support, and advocacy services to our campus community. We work toward creating and maintaining a safe, inclusive, and equitable environment
events & announcements
for LGBTQQI students, staff, faculty, postdocs, residents, fellows, alumnae and patients. The Center aims to sustain visibility and a sense of community throughout the campus and medical center. We are committed to building workplace equity, promoting student and staff leader-
career planning health & wellness learning skills social opportunities
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Student Disability Services
discounts and deals community outreach
By Lisa Meeks
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tudent Disability Services (SDS) works with all UCSF students who have disabilities (temporary or permanent) to provide necessary accommodations in housing, classes, and other settings as appropriate. If you have a disability or a temporary injury and wish to learn more about SDS, please contact one of the following people: Schools of Medicine, Dentistry or the Graduate Division: Lisa M. Meeks, Ph.D. Lisa.meeks@ucsf.edu
student groups
Schools of Nursing, Physical Therapy or Pharmacy: Elisa Laird-Metke, J.D. Elisa.Laird-Metke@ucsf.edu Want to earn some cash? SDS pays an hourly rate to students who are willing to share their notes with classmates who have a disability that makes them unable to take thorough notes for themselves. If you are interested and work-study eligible (or willing to become so!), please contact studentdisability@ucsf.edu to inquire about available positions.
disability services transportation & more! insideguide.ucsf.edu studentlife@ucsf.edu facebook.com/ucsfinsider
Help UCSF Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Meet Our Goal of Climate Neutrality We need your help HERE! Here’s how: • Turn off lights and equipment when not needed • Put all your workstation power needs on a power strip and turn off at the end of the day • Purchase energy efficient equipment • Retire old unused energy inefficient equipment • For more information go to http://livinggreen.ucsf.edu Source: http://www.ucsf.edu/sites/default/files/fields/field_insert_file/d_ucsf_greenhouse_gas_reduction_strategy.pdf
synapse.ucsf.edu | September 25, 2014 | 7
Take the IT Security Challenge! Go to http://awareness.ucsf.edu EVERYONE WINS A PRIZE!
This one cent sticky note...
Just cost UCSF over $2,000,000.
There’s a better way to remember passwords. An electronic data breach can cost a healthcare organization over $2,000,000. Those resources could be better spent on patient care, research and education. Get password tips at security.ucsf.edu. Together, we can advance health worldwide - securely.
UCSF IT SECURITY AWARENESS
8 | September 25, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
ORIENTATION
Learning Resource Services Helps Students Maximize Their Potential Staff Report
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t Learning Resource Services (LRS), students can develop strategies to improve the way they learn, study, organize, and even take tests. “Students often find their way here when they want to maximize their learning potential in this rigorous academic and clinical training environment,” said Peggy Ryan, director of LRS, a unit in Student Life. Every UCSF student is eligible to utilize Learning Resource Services, where students consult with a specialist in learning techniques to develop strategies customized to their strengths and designed to enable them to enhance their learning, better organize their study and research time, use memory more effectively, and prepare well for exams and presentations, thus reducing the stress associated with performance in a high-stakes setting. “A good deal of evidence-based information is currently coming out of the Science of Learning field about practices that promote effective learning,” said Ryan. “Our objective in LRS is to make this information available to students along with the ‘tried and true’ methods that have worked for students in this environment in the past. If we can further show them how to customize those strategies to fit their collective and individual needs, they will then have a valuable skill for lifelong learning.” In addition to individual consultations, LRS offers group consultations for students who study together; and, at the request of the various UCSF schools, workshops for large classes. The workshops are developed to address the specific needs and interests of students within each school. Some of the workshops offered each year are: • Study Strategies for the USMLE Step 1, • Stress Reduction and Preparing for the Test Day • Your Brain on MEPN, • Skills for Academic Success in the School of Pharmacy • Academic Skills for the Physical Therapy Program (Creating a Study Plan & Effective Learning Strategies), “At all stages of education, students basically have to be able to do two things,” said Ryan. “They have to be able to learn and they have to be able to demonstrate what they’ve learned.” Check out the LRS website (learn. ucsf.edu) or call for an appointment. Contact Peggy Ryan, Director, (415) 502-0319 or peggy.ryan@ucsf.edu.
“Keep an open mind. Don't feel like you have to lock yourself into a certain type of lab during rotations, and try to go to lab meetings when you're deciding where to rotate. People don't do this enough, and it's the best way to see how a PI and the people in his or her lab interact.” ~ Third-year grad student
“Get a Clipper card ASAP, so you don't have to keep paying cash for Muni fare. A nice way to get to the San Francisco airport from the Inner Sunset is to take the 44 to the Glen Park BART station and then BART to SFO.”
“School can be very stressful at times and you need to remember to take care of yourself. Make sure to exercise and eat healthy. SF has so many great running trails and hiking opportunities. Make sure to take advantage of them.”
~ Third-year grad student
~ Second-year pharmacy student
“Keep your UCSF ID on you when you're out and about — many cafes and boutiques give student discounts.” ~ Third-year physical therapy student
Letter from GPSA President
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ear UCSF Student Body, The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) would like to welcome you to the 2014-2015 school year, and we send an especially warm welcome to our first-year students—welcome to UCSF! A new academic year begets new challenges and changes but also new prospects for growth and development, including some exciting opportunities in student government that I would like to share with you. Throughout last year, a group of students, including myself, worked with administrators to restructure student government at UCSF. Historically, the Associated Students of UCSF (ASUC), comprising students from the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy, operated and collaborated independently of our Graduate Division, Physical
Therapy and Nursing—the Graduate Students Association (GSA). Our goal was to create a unified umbrella government (GPSA) that could more effectively and efficiently serve the needs of the student body. Furthermore, discipline-specific school governments were conserved to maintain some independence, while Physical Therapy students gained their own representation under the formation of the Associated Students of Physical Therapy (ASPT). I am excited about GPSA because for the first time, student leaders representing all six disciplines will be sitting at the same table, improving communication, inter-professional collaboration, community outreach and providing a unified voice of the UCSF student body. There are opportunities in GPSA for all students, including organizing events, sitting on
advisory boards (i.e. transportation, housing, student services fee, etc.) and working closely with colleagues from other disciplines. It is a way to truly have your voice heard and advocate for changes on our campus. Topics at future meetings will include: UC system-wide issues including sexual harassment and violence against women, professional student supplemental tuition increases, and mental health access; UCSF-specific issues will include discussing the sale of sweetened beverages on campus, shuttle transportation and updates from the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). If the new paradigm of medical practice necessitates multidisciplinary collaboration, there is no better place to start than during your graduate training! We highly encourage all students to spend a few minutes browsing
the website: gpsa.ucsf.edu, attend a meeting, or contact gpsa@ ucsf.edu if you have specific questions. Matthew Cummings Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate, 2016 GPSA President, 2014-15
ORIENTATION
Student Health Care at UCSF
Student Health & Counseling Services and the UC Student Health Insurance Plan Staff Report
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tudent Health & Counseling Services (SHCS) provides comprehensive primary care and mental health care at two clinics. The Mission Bay clinic is located on the 3rd floor of the William J. Rutter Community Center and the Parnassus clinic is located on the P8 Level of Millberry Union West. SHCS also provides wellness-related workshops and programs across campuses. These services are available to all registered UCSF students, regardless of whether they have waived the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). (Exception: A student who has applied for reduced fees as a ‘Student Employee’ does not have access to SHCS.) Services at Student Health Student Health offers comprehensive primary care, urgent care, immunizations, physicals and preventive health examinations, mental health counseling, nursing advice and triage, alcohol and drug consultations, nutrition services, travel consultations and will assist in coordinating your specialty care. SHCS is the first point of contact for students and enrollees and will help coordinate all your healthcare needs. These services are available to all registered UCSF students, regardless of whether they have waived the UC SHIP. For details on services please visit: studenthealth.ucsf.edu/ healthcare-services. Primary Care visit can be scheduled online at https://myhealthrecord. com. The link to the scheduling system can be found on the SHCS homepage.
**Please note, there may be a fee for some services if you have waived UC SHIP. ** Counseling and Psychological Services SHCS offers short-term mental health counseling at both Mission Bay and Parnassus clinics for all registered students and UC SHIP enrollees. To schedule an appointment at SHCS, call or visit Student Health and ask to speak to a nurse about mental health appointments. If additional therapy or long-term therapy is required, enrollees will be referred to a therapist outside of SHCS. For those covered under the UC SHIP, outpatient behavioral visits with a UC provider is covered 100% after $5 co-payment, visits with an in-network provider are covered at 100% after a $15 co-pay, and out- of-network providers are covered at 70% after the $200 annual deductible. SHCS also offers an after-hours mental health crisis and counseling hotline. Contracted therapists provide telephone intake, assessment and crisis counseling services during non-working hours Monday through Friday and 24 hours on holidays and weekends. To connect with a therapist, call SHCS at (415) 476-1281 and select option 7. Wellness Programs and Outreach SHCS is committed to serving the health and wellness needs of students. As an integral part of this mission, we offer wellness programs and outreach services that include workshops, lectures, small group series discussions, health education, and consultation
services to the larger campus community. These educational programs and resources include topics on general wellness, nutrition, prevention, student development, community building, and mental health and promote the development and well- being of UCSF students in meeting their academic and professional goals. This fall, programming includes the annual Fall Hump Day Student Wellness Series, with topics ranging from Stress Management to The Perks of Being an Introvert; the Flavorful Fall Nutrition Series, with topics ranging from Cheap Eats to Nutrition for Women; Mental Health Awareness Week, focused on student self-care; and Success Series, with topics ranging from The Imposter Syndrome to Transitioning to Life as a UCSF Student. Visit http://studenthealth.ucsf.edu/wellness for updates and the full Fall quarter calendar. UC SHIP - Insurance Benefits UC SHIP provides comprehensive health care including medical, behavioral health, and pharmacy services by non-Student Health practitioners and clinics. All medically necessary, specialty care, hospital stays, physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care, prescriptions, lab tests, radiology services and more are covered by the plan if authorized by a SHCS provider. UC SHIP is a three tiered benefit plan (UC Family, Anthem Blue Cross, Out-of-Network) allowing you access to high quality specialty care and flexibility to choose a provider of your choice. Primary Care Services are provided by SHCS.
STUDENT HEALTHCARE » PAGE 9
synapse.ucsf.edu | September 25, 2014 | 9
“Download the app "Transporter." It shows real time data for next MUNI arrival, so no guessing when you should be at a stop.” ~ Third-year physical therapy student
“During the first couple of years of med school, you have a decent number of free afternoons. Take advantage of some of them to get out and explore the city and have a nice break between morning class and evening studying.”
“Don't be afraid to ask questions during class, to your PI during rotations, and at seminars. Too many students don't speak up to admit they don't know something, and this is how you can sometimes fall behind.”
~ Third-year med student
~ Sixth-year grad student
Letter from ASGD President
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o my fellow UCSF graduate student, I hope the start of the new academic year has been a very productive one. If you are new to UCSF, I welcome you to UCSF and hope these next few years will be as rewarding for you as they have been for me so far. But whether you are just starting or have been at UCSF for a few years now, there are important changes in your student government structure that you should be aware of. Those who have been at UCSF for a while are probably familiar with the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA), the student government charged with representing the interests of graduate, nursing, and physical therapy students at UCSF. The GSA worked with the Graduate Division and campus-wide administration to address student concerns on important issues that include, but are not limited to, housing, child care and health care. Additionally, GSA provided career development opportunities via conference travel support, alumni functions and registered campus organizations (RCOs), and it also hosted social events to allow graduate students to meet
other students in relaxing, nonacademic environments. Going forth, the Associated Students of Graduate Division (ASGD) will be the organization solely responsible for representing the specific needs and interest of graduate students at UCSF. While the discussion of campus-wide student concerns is now vested in the Graduate and Professional Students Association (GPSA), ASGD will continue GSA’s close relationship with Graduate Dean Liz Watkins and her Graduate Division administration in synergistically improving graduate student life at UCSF. Some issues that ASGD is addressing in the current academic year are: •• the benefits of and drawbacks t o t h e u n i on i z at i on of graduate students, •• t he d e f i c i e nc i e s i n t he qualification of graduate s t u d e n t s f o r w o r k e r s’ compensation, and •• the impact the opening of the new UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay will have on graduate student life. Furthermore, ASGD will continue the things that GSA did in years past, such as:
•• Conference Travel Award Program •• Game Nights at Mission Bay/ Parnassus •• C a r e e r a n d R e s e a r c h Development Days, and •• Collaborations with the Graduate Division and other campus units in Student Ac a d e m i c A f f a i r s a n d Campus Life Services. Lastly, ASGD will continue to financially support RCOs that greatly benefit graduate students. However, for ASGD to continue to be successful in serving graduate students at UCSF, it needs graduate students like you to be an active part of it. The benefits of being an active member of ASGD include getting to know students outside your program or lab, gaining a deeper understanding of the issues that affect students at UCSF, familiarizing yourself with everything UCSF has to offer, exploring various non-academic career paths and contributing to the improvement of the graduate student experience at UCSF. If you are interested in participating in ASGD or just want to learn more about how we can help you during your time at UCSF, please:
•• talk to me or any of our board members, •• attend our monthly board meetings that occur on the 2nd Mondays of every month and alternate between Mission Bay/Parnassus, or •• email us at asgd@ucsf.edu. Additional information about us can be found at asgd-ucsf.org. On the behalf of the board members of the Associated Students of Graduate Division, we look forward to serving your career, social and student life needs during your time at UCSF. Michael Le PhD Candidate, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences President, Associated Students of Graduate Division
Student Health Care » FROM PAGE 8
If you are out-of-area you may request a referral to primary care from SHCS. No primary care services outside SHCS are covered without a referral. All UCSF students are automatically enrolled in UC SHIP unless an online waiver application is submitted and approved. Eligibility begins for new students at the start of their program. Coverage for Graduate Division and School of Medicine students is effective September 1st. Coverage for School of Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy students is effective September 17th. UC SHIP complies with major Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) benefits. UC SHIP has no annual or lifetime limits on medical and behavioral health benefits, unlimited pharmacy prescription drug benefits, no caps on essential health benefits and has no pre-existing condition restrictions. Benefits added for the 2014-15 plan year include increased coverage for psycho-educational testing, coverage for genetic testing to assess risk for a variety of conditions and coverage for participation in clinical trials, both according to Anthem clinical guidelines. Deductibles, coinsurance, medical copay and prescription copays now count toward the maximum set for out-of-pocket costs student pays in a benefit year. UC SHIP also provides for dental and vision benefits. Vision and dental care do not require a referral from a SHCS provider. For a complete summary of the UC SHIP benefits, please visit the Student Health and Counseling website: studenthealth.ucsf.edu . ** UC SHIP Member ID cards for all enrolled students will be mailed mid-September. In the meantime, you can contact Student Health and Counseling to request a temporary ID. ** SHCS is your partner in managing your health. If you have an idea about how SHCS can improve services or if you have any question – please let us know. Feel free to contact Executive Director Susan Rosen, MD, or Director, Adele Anfinson, MHA, or submit an anonymous message by clicking the ‘feedback’ link at the bottom of our website. Refer to our website: studenthealth.ucsf. edu, or call us at 415.476.1281 for more information.
ORIENTATION
Save the Date for UCSF’s 150th Anniversary Celebration at Mission Bay! • Live Music & Entertainment • Jugglers & Stilt Walkers • Zumba • Free Chair Massage • Wells Fargo Stagecoach • Souvenir UCSF 150th anniversary items • 45+ Vendors The first 3,000 attendees, (beginning at 12:00 pm), will receive a special giveaway and a $5 150th-celebratory Bear Hug
Staff Report
Wednesday, October 8, 12:00-2:00pm 550 Gene Friend Way, UCSF Mission Bay
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elebrate 150 years of UC San Francisco’s rich history and vibrant community at the 8th Annual Block Party at Gene Friend Way Plaza. Free to the entire UCSF community, this event will be buzzing with live entertainment, a chance to win a $500 gift certificate to Café 24/Público and: • Farmers’ Market • Chalk Art Contest (11 am-12:30 pm) • Photo Booth • Prize Wheel & Giveaways
coupon towards food at the event. Beginning at 11:30 am, the first 300 farmers’ market shopp ers will receive a commemorative re-usable shopping bag. New to the block party this year is an authentic Wells Fargo stagecoach, which will be parked on the plaza for all to see. Attendees will be able to take a seat in the stagecoach to experience a bit of the old West and pose for photos with friends.
A popular attraction at UCSF’s 125th anniversary celebration, the Wells Fargo stagecoach has a direct connection to UCSF history. Pioneering physician Hugh Toland, who founded the medical college, used stagecoaches to carry his advice and medicines to his patients in the California hills. It was one of the first mail order businesses on the West Coast! Check out more colorful UCSF history on the 150th anniversary website at ucsf150.ucsf. edu/. For more information, please visit: bit. ly/BlockParty8.
“One way to combat those feelings of inadequacy, which will inevitably pop up, is to remember: you can only do your best. Are you doing the best you can? Usually, the answer is yes. Give yourself a break.” ~ Grad Division alumnus
10 | September 25, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
ORIENTATION
What You Need to Know About Student Financial Aid By Carrie Steere-Salazar Director, Student Financial Aid
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ost of the pertinent information about the Student Financial Aid (SFA) office is already well known if you are a student in need of money to help you pay for school. The application cycle begins each January and by now you should have accepted your awards, completed promissory notes for your various loans and submitted documentation if documentation was requested. If classes already started, you should have fall financial aid money in your bank account. But if you do need some information about deadlines, disbursements, types of financial aid or available advisor drop-in schedules, be sure to check out our webpage, or stop by the front desk on the second floor of Millberry Union West (right by the library steps) — we’d love to see you! The basics are posted on the SFA website: finaid.ucsf.edu. This article lists a few additional notes about financial aid. Deferring Your Loans Defer your outstanding federal student loans from undergraduate school. Interest on any prior federal subsidized loans will be paid by the government during your deferment. Make sure to update your personal information with your lender as well; any change in your address or student status (such as enrolling here at UCSF) is critical to report! Usually, the deferment is automatic once your status as a student at UCSF is certified. Someone Always Wants to Make a Buck
Borrow Only What You Need Your financial aid Offer Letter may list loans for which you qualify, based on your application. But if you have other ways of meeting your expenses, then by all means borrow only what you need! You can always apply later in the academic year (until May 2015) if your budgetary needs change. Extra Expenses That being said, if your financial aid does not cover your basic costs, please refer to our website to learn about allowable budget increases, or contact the office so you can discuss your situation with an advisor. Know Your Advisor You have a special advisor assigned to you (based on your school). Get to know your advisor. He or she can help you figure out a budget, or answer questions about your prior loans or current award package. If you are planning to take time off for research or to pursue a related degree or certificate, your advisor can help you plan that event. And your advisor might think about you when a special opportunity or event occurs. You can identify who your advisor is by checking our website. Please Read Our Messages We send notification to you about financial aid adjustments, about holds that are placed on your account, forms that we might still need, available scholarships and a whole host of other things related to your aid. Our disbursing agent, TMS, also sends email under its address, which is Afford.com. We don’t send messages that aren’t really important (to you) so please be sure to read and respond to us. Be sure to forward your UCSF email to another account if you are not regularly reading mail sent to your official UCSF address.
SHCS Wellness Programs Fall Wellness Series @ Parnassus Take a mid-week break and join Student Health and Counseling for the Fall Hump Day Student Wellness Series! Topics focus on staying well throughout the year. Talks will occur every Wednesday at Parnassus in HSW 300. Wednesdays, 11/5-12/10, Noon-1pm (Please note, there will be no workshop on 11/26 due to the holiday break).
By Amy Wight McKinney UCSF Housing Program Analyst
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CSF Housing Services strives to make living in on-campus housing a pleasurable, convenient, and safe experience for all. Tenants benefit from programs and events where they can learn about on-campus resources and meet their neighbors. Even if San Francisco feels like a big, overwhelming city, Housing Services is a safe haven, where people care about you and want you to succeed as a new resident of San Francisco. Staff members are quick to offer advice and resources for living in the city, getting around, finding affordable groceries and clothes and even how to find your next apartment. Meeting neighbors and making new friends with people who are in the same boat, makes the experience of living in on-
DAY
Nov 5th: Relationships 101 What makes relationships work? Join SHCS providers, Dr. Susan Rosen and Dr. Lance Raynor (life partners), in a presentation and discussion about well researched tenets of lasting relationships. FREE LUNCH provided for students with RSVP! For more information or to RSVP, email lance.raynor@ucsf.edu
Nov 12th: Stress Management Stress can motivate us to perform at our best, but it can also make it difficult to focus, lead us to be overwhelmed, and keep us from doing our best. At this Student Health and Counseling workshop presented by John Tighe, LCSW, learn hands-on strategies to manage your stress and use stress to its advantage. FREE LUNCH provided for students with RSVP! For more information or to RSVP, email john.tighe@ucsf.edu
Nov 19th: Perks of Being an Introvert Have you been called ‘shy’, ‘quiet’, ‘a thinker’, or a ‘wallflower’? Do you appreciate alone time? Do you find it exhausting to operate in large social gatherings or on teams? Do you experience social anxiety? Congratulations, you may be an introvert! Come learn more about the power of introversion in a world that often seems dominated by the extroverted and outspoken, and how your temperament can help you thrive. FREE LUNCH provided for students with RSVP!
ORIENTATION
UCSF Housing Tips
Fall 2014
For more information or to RSVP, email james.lyda@ucsf.edu
Dec 3rd: Holidaze: Enjoying Alcohol and Food without Overdoing it The holidays can be a time of cheer, but it can be easy to overdo it, leading many people to drink or eat more than they want. Do you want to enjoy the holidays, and be sure not to overdo it? Join us for a 1-hour presentation led by John Tighe, LCSW and Alison Boden, MPH, RD, on keeping alcohol and food a balanced, healthy part of the holiday season. FREE LUNCH provided for students with RSVP! For more information or to RSVP, email john.tighe@ucsf.edu
campus housing an incredible networking experience and hopefully, a fond memory that they'll benefit from for years to come. Here are some tips for being successful in UCSF Housing: 1. Read the weekly tenant update and info on the digital signage in your building for important announcements. 2. Attend Housing-sponsored events. 3. Become familiar with the front desk staff. They're your allies! 4. Meet your neighbors and make new friends, or at the very least find someone to borrow an egg from. 5. Read your emails. That's the primary way Housing Services gets in touch with you.
Dec 10th: QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training
QPR
This workshop offers training and practice in suicide prevention and intervention skills, utilizing the nationally recognized QPR (“Question, Persuade & Refer”) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper approach. QPR is listed in SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Practices and Policies, and skills learned in the workshop carry the life-saving potential of CPR. This program is relevant for all students and is not exclusively for clinicians. Participants will receive a certificate designating them as an official QPR Gatekeeper, which can be a valuable addition to a CV or resume. FREE LUNCH provided for students with RSVP! For more information or to RSVP, contact james.lyda@ucsf.edu
Flavorful Fall Nutrition Series in October Every Wednesday, from 12-1PM at Parnassus’s HSW 300 in October - Add some wellness to your Wednesdays and join SHCS for a lunchtime talk on food and nutrition with registered dietician Alison Boden, MPH, RD. (October 8th: Cheap Eats!; October 15th: Healthy Steps for Healthy Weight; October 22nd: Nutrition for Women; October 29th: Food & Mood). FREE LUNCH provided for students with RSVP! For more information or to RSVP, contact Alison Boden, MPH, RD at nutrition@ucsf.edu
Success Series this Fall Monthly Thursdays at Parnassus, 12-1pm in Toland Hall Get organized and develop your professional self! The Success Series offers monthly workshops aimed at enhancing your professional experiences and academic well-being at UCSF (October 16th: Big Fish in an Ocean of Big Fish- Transitioning to life as a UCSF student; November 13th: The Imposter Syndrome and How to Overcome It ) Co-sponsored by Student Health and Counseling Services, the Multicultural Resource Center, Student Disability Services, and First Generation Support Services FREE lunch provided for students with RSVP! For more information or to RSVP, email https://ucsfsuccess.eventbrite.com
For a complete list of SHCS outreach events, please visit: http://studenthealth.ucsf.edu/calendar
Private agencies have been busy sending electronic and printed advertisements to students, telling them they should consolidate their loans ”right away” or they will miss important opportunities to lower their interest rates. You do not need to consolidate loans while you are a student. Your status as a student is accepted at any of the agencies that service your old and current loans. If you received subsidized federal loans while you were in undergraduate school, interest will not accrue on those loans once they are in an “in school” status. You might be tempted to refinance your federal loans by consolidating them into a new private loan with lower inter-
est rates. Beware. Read the small print. These agencies do not generally guarantee an interest cap. Interest can accrue more often than under the federal program and the various list of borrower options — including the income-based payment, public loan forgiveness and loan cancellation provisions — are not offered. Some agencies charge as much as $400 (or more) to handle loan paperwork.
synapse.ucsf.edu | September 25, 2014 | 11
ORIENTATION
First Generation Support Services
ORIENTATION
The Library’s Got your Back! By Gail Persily Director, Educational Technology Initiatives
V
isit us for face-to-face tech support at the Library Help Desk on the second floor of the Parnassus Library.
•• Get help with encryption, virus and malware protection. •• Sync UCSF email to phones, laptops, tablets. •• Set up your wifi connection. •• Exercise while studying in full service computer lab and media center. Check out the library’s study spaces, including 24/7 spaces: tiny.ucsf.edu/studyspaces. •• Group study rooms; reserve one now: tiny. ucsf.edu/reserve. •• 24/7 study on the main floor of the Parnassus Library. •• UCSF-only quiet (and beautiful) study room Parnassus Library, fifth floor. •• Coming soon: The Hub and the Hideout at Mission Hall open in mid-October. Ask us for help with all your information management needs. •• Get help online or in person: library.ucsf.edu/askus. •• Find guides to online resources in your subject area: guides.ucsf.edu. •• Get to know the liaison librarian for your school or program: tiny.ucsf.edu/librarians.
ORIENTATION
Student Life Launches Veteran Support Services Staff Report
Y
ou may be part of the first generation in your family to graduate from college, but you are not alone! Our office is here to support you through your journey at UCSF. We offer community events, discussion groups, success-oriented workshops, networking and mentoring opportunities, and more. Some of our upcoming Fall 2014 events: • Student Welcome Dinner • Where Do I Fit? Discussion Group • Transitioning to Grad/Prof School • Imposter Syndrome Workshop We’d love to meet you at our FG2C Student Welcome (Back) Dinner on Wednesday, Oct 1, 5-6:30 pm. RSVP @ firstgenwelcome.eventbrite.com Get access to all of our services at: bit.ly/firstgenregister. Learn more at firstgen.ucsf.edu. Find us on Facebook at firstgenUCSF.
Student Life
Photo by Paul Day UCSF Memorial Day Celebration 2014.
Staff Report
Bagel Days Come enjoy free bagels and coffee each month and learn about campus services and events.
Mission Bay Dates! Student Lounge ! Genentech Hall 2nd Floor Tuesday, September 2 @ 9 a.m.! Tuesday, November 4 @ 9 a.m.! Tuesday, February 3 @ 9 a.m.! Tuesday, April 7 @ 9 a.m.! ! !
email studentlife@ucsf.edu website studentlife.ucsf.edu
Parnassus Dates! Nursing Mezzanine ! Nursing School 3rd Floor Tuesday, October 7 @ 9 a.m.! Tuesday, December 2 @ 9 a.m.! Tuesday, March 3 @ 9 a.m.! Tuesday, May 5 @ 9 a.m.! ! !
O
n August 21, Student Life launched Veteran Support Services, dedicated to providing a welcoming environment for student veterans and active duty service members. Veteran Support Services is here to help our student veterans navigate UCSF and provide them mentoring from other student veterans, guidance on education-
al benefits, and tools to succeed academically and personally. If you are a veteran or active duty service member, sign up today for the Veteran & Active Duty Listserv to learn more about our upcoming Veteran Support Services events, programs, and related news and information. Please visit the Veteran Support Services website at veterans.ucsf.edu.
12 | September 25, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
ORIENTATION
Office of Diversity and Outreach Nurtures a Welcoming University Culture
Vice Chancellor Navarro (second from right) with students at the annual Black History Month Celebration.
By J. Renee Navarro
“D
iversity – a defining feature of California’s past, present and future – refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and more.”
As the Vice Chancellor of Diversity and Outreach, I would like to welcome new and returning members of our campus community to UCSF. The Office of Diversity and Outreach, established in 2010, serves as the campus leader in building diversity in all aspects of UC San Francisco’s mission of advancing health care worldwide through ongoing assessment, development of new programs and consensus building.Our mission is to nurture a culture that is welcoming and
Photo by Paul Day
supportive and to engage diverse ideas for the provision of culturally competent education, discovery, patient care and community engagement. The office provides ongoing cultural competency training and support for first generation, underrepresented minorities, LGBT, women, the disabled, and others within our campus community. We h o s t t h e A n n u a l L e a d e r ship Forum on Diversity, campus-wide
outreach initiatives, Diversity Month celebrations in October, and contribute to ongoing enhancements to our curriculums. This year we are excited to welcome Alejandra Rincón, PhD and LaMisha Hill, PhD to the Diversity and Outreach team. Dr. Rincón, chief of staff, Diversity and Outreach, brings a breadth of experience to UCSF working on issues affecting students of color, English language learners, and undocumented immigrants in higher education. Prior to UCSF, she worked for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund managing programs and scholarship funding for the organization. Dr. Hill, the newest member of the Diversity and Outreach team, is the director of the Multicultural Resource Center. Dr. Hill will work to continue the mission of the Multicultural Resource Center promoting a campus culture of inclusion and equity for faculty, students, trainees and staff. She has extensive experience in the UC system, completing a pre-doctoral internship at UC Riverside and a post-doctoral fellowship at UC Berkeley. I encourage you to visit the Diversity and Outreach website, which will provide you with information on campus resources, events, and links to our divisions: Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity; Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), LGBT Resource Center; Multicultural Resource Center; and University Community Partnerships. diversity.ucsf.edu/ In addition, I invite you to join the Diversity listserv. To subscribe, send a message to listserv@listsrv.ucsf.edu. The one line of the message should read: Subscribe UCSFDiversity first name last name. Please don’t hesitate to contact my office. J. Renee Navarro, MD, Pharm D Vice Chancellor, Diversity and Outreach Professor of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care Email: Diversityoutreach@ucsf.edu Phone: 415-476-7700
Diversity Month 2014: “Building Community at UCSF” First Generation College Student Welcome (Back) Dinner October 1, 5pm-6:30pm Millberry Conference Center
Welcome (back) new and returning FG2C students! Please join us for an informal dinner to meet and reconnect with your fellow UCSF FG2C students. We'll bring dinner! RSVP by 9/26. Cosponsored by First Generation Support Services, the School of Pharmacy, School of Dentistry, and the Graduate Division.
SFGH Movie Screening: “Inocente” October 2, Noon-1pm SFGH, Carr Auditorium
"Inocente", an intensely personal coming-of-age documentary about a vibrant Latina teenage artist from a dauntingly tough background in San Diego who refuses to allow her struggles with poverty and homelessness to get in the way of her extraordinary talent.The event is free and hosted by the School of Medicine, SFGH Dean’s Office. Food and drink will be provided.
VET NET Ally Seminar: Veteran Awareness & Ally Training for Staff October 3, 9am-1pm Parnassus Library, CL 220
Please join Student Academic Affairs for student veteran awareness and ally training.
The VET NET Ally seminar is an education and awareness program that develops a network of faculty, staff, and administrators committed to creating a welcoming and supportive campus environment for military service members and veterans that study at UCSF. Please RSVP to attend.
AAMC Unconscious Bias Learning Lab at UCSF October 7-9 Laurel Heights Conference Center
The Unconscious Bias Learning Lab for the Health Profession, a partnership between the AAMC and Cook Ross Inc., one of the leading consulting firms in the country, is now open for registration. This will be the final three-day learning lab for the health professions. Registration is required. For questions, contact Jessica Vaughan, jvaughan@aamc. org, 202-828-0507.
150th Anniversary Campus Celebration: Block Party 8 @ Mission Bay October 8, Noon-2pm Mission Bay, Gene Friend Way
This community-driven event is designed to give students, staff, and faculty at Mission Bay a place to connect. This year, the 8th Annual Mission Bay Block Party coincides with the 150th anniversary of UCSF. The day
will be celebrated with music, food, and giveaways. Come by the Diversity and Outreach table to meet the team! Sponsored by Campus Life Services Retail, University Development/Alumni Relations.
“Takes an Uprising”: LGBT History Month/National Coming Out Day Celebration October 9, Noon-1pm Toland Hall
Join us for our LGBT History Month/National Coming Out Day Event, sponsored by the UCSF LGBT Resource Center. This year, we bring San Francisco lesbian author/community activist Patricia Jackson. Through her work on the Intergenerational Storytelling Project and many years with San Francisco’s LGBTQ youth and elders, Patricia shares her journey and hopes to encourage, inspire, and expand activism in the LGBTQ communities. For more information on Patricia, visit takesanuprising.com. Sponsored by the LGBT Resource Center.
Movie Screening: “Fixed: The Science/Fiction of Human Enhancement” October 16, 5pm-7pm Toland Hall
“FIXED” takes a close look at the drive to be “better than human” and the radical technological innovations that may take us there.
What does “disabled” mean when a man with no legs can run faster than most people in the world? With prenatal screening able to predict hundreds of probable conditions, who should determine what kind of people get to be born? If you could augment your body’s abilities in any way imaginable, would you? Sponsored by the Committee on Disability Issues.
Health Disparities Research Symposium 8 October 17, 8am-1pm Laurel Heights Conference Center
Symposium 8 is an opportunity to highlight faculty and trainee research on health disparities. UCSF has a multitude of researchers with national and international reputations in disparities research and this symposium will provide a forum to showcase this work. Registration is required.
UCSF/SFSU First Annual Community Partnerships Celebration October 23, 5pm-7pm San Francisco County Fair Building, 1199 9th Avenue
UCSF’s University Community Partnerships and SF State’s Community Service Learning Program will be holding a !st Annual Community Partnerships Celebration. The celebration
will highlight the work that both institutions do in the San Francisco. RSVP required.
Multicultural Resource Center Open House October 24, Noon-2pm Multicultural Resource Center, Millberry Union, MU123W
Visit the Multicultural Resource Center and meet the new Director of the Multicultural Resource Center, LaMisha Hill, PhD.
Asexual Awareness Day Brown Bag Discussion October 29, Noon-1pm S-174
The UCSF LGBT Resource Center is hosting a brown bag lunch event to learn about Asexuality. This 45 minute talk with discuss the theories behind asexuality, patient intake, how to talk about asexuality with patients who may identify as such, and how it differs from abstinence and celibacy.
2014 Chancellor Diversity Awards October 30, Noon-2pm Millberry Union Gymnasium
Celebrate the achievements of 13 awardees in the following four categories: Advancement of Women, Disability Service, GLBT Leadership, and the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Diversity. Invitation only.
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ORIENTATION
So You’ve Made It to UCSF: What’s Next? Staff Report
R
ight now, you are probably overwhelmed by the frantic bustle of returning to school, wondering where your next classroom is, looking for a study buddy and watching any savings you have evaporate in rental or textbook costs. Hopefully you’re also still basking in the pride of having made it to UCSF. But in a few months, once you’ve settled in the routine of classes, exams and endless shuttle or elevator rides, you might well ask yourself: What’s next? What comes after UCSF? And how do I prepare for it? That’s when you’ll want to turn to the Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD). The OCPD helps students from all UCSF schools hone their academic or professional skills, decide on a career path and prepare for a successful job hunt. • Are you a pharmacy student looking for
an internship? A dentistry student preparing a research poster? The OCPD staff can help you polish your resume or craft an outstanding poster presentation. • Are you a graduate student interested in teaching? The OCPD organizes teacher training and teaching opportunities. • Are you going to a professional meeting and unsure about how to put a talk together or how to network with strangers? The OCPD runs workshops on slide presentations and on networking at conferences. • Are you trying to figure out how to approach a difficult professional conversation with a supervisor or mentor? We can help you develop a conversation strategy. • Are you unsure whether you’ll go into private practice or residency? Academia or industry? Research, teaching or the clinic? The OCPD offers workshops and one-on-one consultations to help you find the career path that’s right for you.
Where to find us? OCPD has offices located on the Parnassus campus (Medical Sciences Building, Room S-140) and on the Mission Bay campus (Community Center, Room CC310). You can call (415) 476-4986 or e-mail (ocpd@ ucsf.edu) to make an appointment. In the meantime, check our extensive Web site (http://career.ucsf.edu/). It describes our programs and services for each school and specialty, has links to a detailed calendar of OCPD-sponsored events and gives you access to a wide collection of annotated samples — residency letters, cover letters, CVs and resumes, and sample interview questions — to help you prepare for your next move. Note: The OCPD serves not only students but also postdoctoral researchers. Our oneon-one consultations are free and confidential. URL: career.ucsf.edu; telephone: (415) 476-4986; email: ocpd@ucsf.edu
ORIENTATION
Two New RCOs To Serve Students Student Peer Support Center Targets Graduate Student Mental Health
Graduate Queer Alliance Promotes a More Inclusive Scientific Community
By Shanni Silberberg and Kate Darling Contributing Writers
U
CSF doctoral students disproportionately depend on behavioral health services and psychiatric care compared to professional students, as shown in the health care utilization data compiled by Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) during the 2013-2014 academic year. Many doctoral students would not be surprised to hear this, having experienced firsthand the unique set of challenges faced by this population. After completing course work, many doctoral students find themselves working in isolation, often without clear expectations or metrics for success. And in isolation, graduate students encounter grueling expectations for research and teaching productivity, workplace conflicts, and experiences of sexism, homophobia, racism and ableism. Outside of school, students must deal with the pressures of financial instability and trying to maintain some semblance of worklife balance. Grad school is a stressful time, and not surprisingly, all of this can take a toll on a student’s mental health. As a response to a growing need for mental health services and as an attempt to build a more accepting community at UCSF, graduate students Kate Darling and Shanni Silberberg are pioneering a Graduate Student Peer Support Center (SPSC). The SPSC will house student leaders trained in peer support by the SHCS staff. The leadership team will host quarterly campus-wide events aimed at de-stigmatizating of mental health and promoting community building. Leaders will pilot ongoing peer-support groups with graduate students, and advocates will be available by phone, email or via the website to answer students’ academic or personal concerns. Kate and Shanni will also be collaborating with Student Health’s Dr. James Lyda, Graduate Division personnel, the Associated Students of the Graduate Division (ASGD), and graduate student volunteers to launch SPSC during Mental Health Awareness Week (October 5th-11th). To ensure that SPSC offers relevant programming, a needs-assessment questionnaire will be sent to all Graduate Division PhD students this fall. Students interested in participating and/or becoming student leaders should contact SPSC.UCSF@gmail.com for more information. The SPSC is funded by a grant from UCSF Student Mental Health Initiative (SMHI), which was established by the California Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63) in 2005.
Shanni Silberberg is a Neuroscience Doctoral Candidate. Kate Darling is a Sociology Doctoral Candidate.
The GQA co-founders (left to right): Trevor Sorrells, Samuel Thompson, Jade Sales-Lee, and Mark Jeng. Photo by Lauren Shields/BMS4
By Mark Novisky Contributing Writer
F
ounded in 2014 to provide a social community and professional space for LGBTQA scientists, the Graduate Queer Alliance (GQA) is a new organization for LGBTQ and allied graduate students and post-doctoral fellows at UCSF. GQA events focus on the relationship between careers in science, sexual orientation and gender identity. GQA’s inaugural event, OUT in Science, took place in May 2014 in collaboration with the UCSF LGBT Resource Center and the Gladstone Institutes. The event consisted of a panel of five prominent LGBTQA scientists from UCSF, Stanford and Genentech, who shared personal stories of coming out as lesbian, gay or transgender to their fellow scientists, how their life experiences influenced their career paths, and subsequent perceptions within the scientific community. In August, the GQA organized a group outing at the Church of 8 Wheels for LGBT Roller Disco Night. The GQA has many events coming up: On October third, the GQA will host a meet-and-greet picnic to welcome incoming and returning LGBTQA students, post-docs and allies. The picnic will take place at 4pm on Mission Bay’s Koret Quad. Other GQA social events this year will include game nights, happy hours and progressive dinners. Additionally, as a part of the GQA’s goal to promote awareness and outreach, the GQA hopes to better educate the scientific community about LGTBQA issues, as well as mentor local high school and undergraduate LGTBQA groups about careers in science. Being at the intersection of the scientific and LGTBQA communities positions the GQA to make exciting and important contributions to the UCSF community. The GQA is proud to be a part of the Bay Area’s long history as a hub for both LGTBQA activism and scientific innovation.
Mark Novisky is a third-year BMS doctoral student.
ORIENTATION
Counseling Services for Students: The “C” In SHCS Staff Report
C
ounseling services at Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS) are a well utilized resource that can help students find support and develop tools for leading productive, well-balanced, and fulfilling lives. SHCS has a diverse group of counselors who are experts in the unique needs of graduate and professional students. Counseling: A confidential space for support, free of cost All students are eligible for brief, timelimited counseling, regardless of whether they have waived the UC Student Health Insurance Plan. SHCS counselors understand that UCSF students have busy and dynamic schedules, and we offer flexible scheduling, including evening hours. Our psychiatrists also provide medication consultation/evaluation and medication management as appropriate. There is no wrong reason to seek counseling Depression, anxiety, adjusting to life as a UCSF student, academic concerns, relationship problems, loss of a loved and how to manage relationships with faculty are only a few of the reasons students seek counseling. Sometimes students just need a safe, confidential space to work through a shortterm problem. Others may be going through something more severe. Scheduling an initial consultation with an SHCS counselor is a great way to pinpoint the issue, obtain some non-judgmental feedback, and develop a plan for action. Sometimes an SHCS counselor will determine that a student would be best served by seeking long term counseling in the community with a provider who can see them longer than our session limit. In this case, SHCS Counselors and support staff can help facilitate referral to providers in the community, with an emphasis on providers who accept the student’s insurance. Addressing stigma SHCS believes that seeking support from others and using one’s resources are signs of strength and important tools for success. SHCS understands that for some students, the idea of counseling evokes fear of being perceived as unstable, seriously impaired, or weak. For others there may be strong cultural or familial beliefs against talking about one’s problems outside of the family. SHCS counselors are sensitive to these concerns and work with students to address them to establish a comfortable experience. We place the highest priority on privacy and confidentiality. Wellness Programs and Outreach: Bringing SHCS Counselors to You SHCS offers free workshops, lectures, small group series, and education to improve mental, emotional, and physical wellness. For details, please check our Fall calendar at our website studenthealth.ucsf.edu. To schedule a counseling appointment, students can call the SHCS main line, (415) 476-1281, or talk to their SHCS medical provider. If you are a student, and SHCS is closed, and you need urgent support you can speak with a mental health provider 24/7 over the phone via our Mental Health Crisis Line, (415) 476-1281, option 7. If you are experiencing a life-threatening crisis, go to the nearest ER or call 911.
14 | September 25, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
Professional School
ORIENTATION
» FROM HOME PAGE ple will say “finish your training, then do the life thing,” while others will say, “life is going along and there’s no perfect time, so just do it now.” I believe the truth lies somewhere in between, and that your first decision as a professional is how you approach the balance between your life and the professional world where there is always more work to be done. You need to think through the specific costs and benefits of life decisions, and it’s ok for the decision you make to be different than the one recommended by an advisor. In retrospect, you will make a few mistakes, but part of this process is learning to make reasonable decisions without all relevant information. Learn from your mistakes to spot similar situations as they come up. You might even consider having a goto person with whom you check in regularly (say, monthly) to discuss your personal
and professional goals, listen to challenges and successes, and help each other talk out loud through the life decisions you are facing. Needless to say, last year when my father had a bout of flash pulmonary edema from congestive heart failure (from which he also recovered), I was on a plane to be at his bedside within an hour, and my professional life has gone on. Overall, eat well, exercise, sleep, spend time with friends and family, work hard, take good care of patients, read a bit of professional literature on a regular basis, be nice, don’t do illegal or stupid things, and check in with yourself and a trusted friend to see how you are doing. Healthcare is a great field. Enjoy it as part of your entire life.
Akshay Govind is a fourth-year resident in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
» FROM PAGE 4
3) Other precautions you should take to substantially cut down your risk of being injured the next time two parts of the Bay Area try to move in different directions include: • Brace tall furniture to the wall • Have enough food, water, and other necessary supplies to enable you to be self-sufficient for at least 7 days. Of course, there are more ways in which you can prepare. Since 2008, I’ve given talks about home earthquake preparedness at UCSF and to the public at SF Public Library branches. The next regular cycle of UCSF talks will take place during the first half of 2015. Videos from previous events are also available on my website.
Keep your eye on the talk schedule and the streaming video resources using links available at cardiolab.ucsf.edu/molcardiolab/ earthquake.html. (Streaming video of an updated version of the talk from a few weeks ago will be available on the website in late September, replacing the 2010 version.) You can read even more at my blog, quaketips.blogspot.com. I post articles about how to do things, why some things should not be done, does bottled water really expire, etc. Here’s an excerpt from one of the first articles: “Those in other parts of the country might say that at least they have advance warning about the hurricanes, etc… We DO have advance warning about earthquakes; we just have it much farther in advance than for other disasters...so, there's going to be an earthquake, do something about it. There, you've been warned!”
Matt Springer is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology
We’re in a water crisis. Limit your shower time to 5-minutes or less.
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Use the dishwasher rather than hand washing dishes.
Report water leaks to facilities management.
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gallons/day
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Turn the water off while brushing your teeth.
Save
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gallons/min
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UCSF WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGY The state of California has declared a state of emergency due to extreme drought conditions which necessitates that we take every precaution to avoid the wasting of water. To learn more, visit livinggreen.ucsf.edu. How are you LivingGreen? Share your experience with #UCSFLivingGreen
S
tudent Life is here to help you maximize your “out of classroom” experience by supporting and enhancing student activities, fostering community and cultivating leadership development. Student Life offers a variety of quarterly programs to help you balance all areas of your life — to be successful academically and personally and to provide opportunities to meet students from other disciplines. Student Life is truly a campus-wide student service, providing programs and resources for UCSF students in all professional schools and the Graduate Division. To kick off your first year on the right foot, follow these three easy steps to get the inside scoop about UCSF and to get involved. 1. Check out the Student Inside Guide insideguide.ucsf.edu The Student Inside Guide is a one-stop shop resource of services and information about UCSF and the San Francisco community. It is the one place you can go to learn everything you need to know about being a UCSF student, including information on transportation, student health, social opportunities, learning skills, discounts and deals, finances, community links, student groups
and governments, disability services, career planning and international needs.Also be sure to read your weekly Student Inside Guide email each Thursday to keep up to date on campus and local events, insider tips and announcements. 2. Join or start a Registered Campus Organizations studentlife.ucsf.edu/involvement/ registered-campus-orgs Registered Campus Organizations (RCOs) are a very important part of campus life, and each year, Student Life supports more than 160 RCOs at UCSF by offering a variety of free resources, such as suggesting vendors, renting out event supplies, printing posters, recommending funding sources and more. If you ever need event support or help finding like-minded peers, contact Student Life. 3. Attend a student government meeting studentlife.ucsf.edu/involvement/studentgovernment Student Life advises the Graduate and Professional Student Association and encourages all students to attend a monthly meeting to meet Executive Board members and to become a part of the discussion on topics relating to student priorities.
ARTS & CULTURE
A World-Class Deal for Culture Lovers
S Save
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Student government leader, Doug Jacobs, encourages students to get involved.
Staff Report
Join the water saving efforts and reduce your water usage by 20%. Save gallons today by following these simple steps:
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Photo by Dawn Maxey/MS3
Staff Report
UCSF is Moving • DON’T brace yourself in a doorway (despite what you may have learned as a kid) • D O get under something sturdy and hang onto it to ensure it remains over you throughout the quake.
Become a UCSF Insider in Three Easy Ways
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an Francisco Performances’ Culture Card is the best deal in town for arts lovers. This easy, accessible and inexpensive program, at the low cost of $25 for 25 performances, is a student’s direct connection to world-class arts events in this cultural capital. The Culture Card is designed for maximum value and minimum fuss for busy, artscrazy students and fellows. Just s h ow up on e hour before concert time with a Culture Card and valid student ID and proceed to the box office to claim a free seat. Bring a friend and purchase a half-price ticket at the time you pick up your free ticket. The Culture Card is a program of San Francisco Performances, an organization that presents recitals, chamber music, jazz and contemporary dance. “The Culture Card program is an important part of our organization’s music education initiatives,” said Christine Lim, director of education at San Francisco Performances.
“In a city as culturally sophisticated as San Francisco — not to mention one with a sizable student population — we want to ensure that local students have access to world-class performances at a low cost.” What is the value of this $25 investment? The Culture Card offers 25 performances from a selection of 60-plus events in San Francisco Performances’ 2014-2015 season, including some of the hottest tickets in town. This season’s offerings include performances by composer and pianist Philip Glass; choreographer Wendy Whelan; jazz pianist Vijay Iyer and Saturday morning lecture/concerts on Mozart with our resident ensemble the Alexander String Quartet and music historian-inresidence Robert Greenberg. These events take place in SFJazz Center, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, all easily accessible by public transportation. Buy the card online at sfperformances. org/culturecard or by phone at 415-677-0331.
synapse.ucsf.edu | September 25, 2014 | 15
PUZZLES
Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham
The Crossword
by Margie E. Burke
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS 1 Comic strip 15 16 14 sound 19 18 6 One of a cereal 17 threesome 21 22 20 10 Get ready 23 24 14 Way to cook eggs 25 26 27 15 Exceptional 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 16 Miner's bonanza 28 17 Weave together 36 39 40 37 38 19 Bump up against 42 43 44 41 20 Hang in the balance 45 46 47 48 49 21 Summer starter 50 51 52 53 54 55 23 Florentine farewell 56 57 58 59 24 Makeup bag item 61 62 25 Photoshop, say 60 27 Made tracks 64 65 63 28 Self starter 67 68 66 29 Dark cloud 32 Protuberant Copyright 2014 by The Puzzle Syndicate 36 Lacking the 63 Brainchild 9 Kitchen gadget 38 Packaging string knack 39 Dove call 64 This and that 10 Record sales 43 Mother, in Milan 40 Manicurist's 65 In the past, in 46 Update, as status 11 Maid Marian's board the past machinery 41 Barn bedding 66 Bring in 48 Thingamabob man 42 Midterm event 67 Ground beef 12 Reason out 49 Fuel efficiency, 44 Forest dweller 13 One of the option less commonly 45 Cassis cocktail 68 Fender flaws 50 Free from Greats 47 Asylum 18 Scouting unit restraint DOWN 22 Roofing occupant September 2014 material 51 Dutch cheese 50 Duckling's 1 Roasting rod 25 Force 52 Career soldier 2 Southern bread 26 Marathon, e.g. 53 Absconded with problem 55 Work like a dog 3 Show disrupter, 28 Towel word 54 Old photo tint 56 Morsel of meat 30 Bagel topper 58 Stevie Wonder maybe 57 Katzen of 4 Type of acid 31 Fertile soil song, "____ 5 Bully's warning 33 Taxicab emblem cookbooks She Lovely" 60 Hair piece? 6 Logger's tool 34 Heavy metal 59 Spud's buds 61 Words to a 7 Library no-no 35 Salon service 62 Tom, to the piper 8 Exasperate 37 Punjab's locale toppled tot
Edited by Margie E. Burke
Difficulty : Easy
HOW TO SOLVE:
www.phdcomics.com
(Answer appears elsewhere in this issue)
Copyright 2014 by The Puzzle Syndicate
HISTORY
This Date in UCSF History title: "Why Academics Really Use Twitter" - originally published 8/20/2014
By Taylor LaFlam Staff Writer 50 Years Ago: Synapse. Vol. 9, No. 1; Sept. 17, 1964 The brief article “Medical Student Wives to Greet Newcomers” catches the eye for its reflection of a markedly changed student body—one with far more women and far fewer married students in today's class. Furthermore, in its use of a manner of naming now rarely seen outside of wedding invitations, it leaves the officers’ first names lost to history, or at least requiring some serious Google sleuthing to determine. “The Medical Student Wives Club of the U. C. Medical Center will hold its annual Welcoming Tea and first meeting of the year on Saturday, September 26 in the Faculty Lounge of Millberry Union. Events will begin at 1:00 p.m. — with a tour for new student wives of medical school facilities — during which they will be met and welcomed by Dan of the Medical School, Dr. Wm. O. Reinhardt. . . . “New officers of MSW…are Mrs. Lawrence W. Jones, President and Mmes. E.H. Epstein, Vice-President; Lyle J. Strand, Recording Secretary; Robert L. Roe, Corresponding Secretary; and John A. Jones, Treasurer.
HUMOR/FAKE NEWS
Incoming Students Overwhelmed by Solution to Sudoku Plethora of Cheap San Francisco Housing StaffHumorist CSF’s newest class of students re arrived from allover the cently country to start a life in one of the States’ most iconic andpopular cities. United in previous As years, students were pleasantly surprised to discover the abundance of affordable housing options in the city. Larry Benavides, an incoming medical student, was thrilled to find that the media’s portrayal of an expensive
U
San Francisco was greatly overhyped. “I’ve only had to add $20,000 dollars in
debt to pay for housing this year. Just a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of tuition,” he said. “Considering the double digit increase in rent prices for the past three years, I expected things to be much worse." “Since I’m already loaded with tens of thousands of dollars of undergraduate debt, I couldn’t get a loan to pay for living space here,” said new graduate student Max Hopper, “But I did some research and found a nice guy who only required the working labor of my firstborn child. I’m downright lucky.” Mounting debt was also a concern for Heather Rhoma, an incoming Nursing stu-
dent. Fortunately, Heather found nine other students in similar circumstances. “We pooled our resources together to get a small studio. I have 25 square feet all to myself. It’s a dream, really. Couldn’t ask for more.” Outside the university, San Francisco residents have clamored for more affordable housing options. Government officials have requested patience on the matter and encourage locals to remember that compared to Monaco and the International Space Station, the cost of living in San Francisco is very reasonable.
“. . . Events for the coming year will feature a series of speakers from fields of education, politics, business and other professions, a dinner-dance, volunteer services at Moffitt Hospital in December, the annual spring fashion show, and many other events scheduled for discussion at the first meeting.” Also from 50 years ago:
From 20 years ago: Synapse, Vol. 39, No. 3, Sept. 22, 1994: The structure of the first floor of the Medical Sciences Building may seem immemorial to UCSF students, a feature of the building since its original construction. In truth, its open staircase that cuts back as it leads to Saunders Court and its square array emerged during a remodel completed 20 years ago, as reported in “Education Center ready for business” by Doug Wong. Much resulting from that remodel remains, including the large open Nursing Building lobby. The “37-inch high-resolution Mitsubishi television monitors, which are Sun Microsystem, Macintosh and SVGA-compatible with 9 and 15-pin connections” found in each classroom are, alas, are no longer with us.
Taylor LaFlam is a sixth-year MSTP student.
16 | September 25, 2014 | synapse.ucsf.edu
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