Duke University News Briefs, April 29

Compliance officer for health system

Lori Feezor has been named associate vice president and chief compliance officer for the Duke University Health System.

An attorney specializing in health care law and risk management, Feezor will lead the health system's compliance efforts and help ensure that its management, employees and affiliated physicians are knowledgeable about all applicable laws and regulations. In addition, Feezor will oversee the health system's program to safeguard the privacy of patients' health information.

Feezor will report to Victor J. Dzau, M.D., chancellor for health affairs at Duke and president and CEO of the Duke University Health System.

"Lori's appointment demonstrates our strong commitment to providing exceptional leadership in our compliance and privacy programs," Dzau said. "Compliance programs are critically important because they involve every department in the health system and touch every patient we serve."

Prior to joining Duke, Feezor represented health care clients at the law firm Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman and was principal attorney for The Feezor Group in Washington, D.C. She previously served as risk manager for the health system of the University of California, Davis, and as assistant general counsel for University Health System of Eastern Carolina in Greenville, North Carolina.

Duke to hold IOM meeting

What can universities do to address the problems of bringing health care to areas of poverty in the world? The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies will hold a regional meeting on this topic at Duke next week.

A public symposium on "Global Health and Reducing Disparities: The Role of the University" will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, in the Schiciano Auditorium of the new Fitzpatrick CIEMAS.

The last time Duke hosted an IOM meeting was 10 years ago.

Dr. Barton Haynes, director of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute will give the keynote address at the symposium. Following the address, there will be a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Victor Dzau, Duke's chancellor for health affairs. Panelists will include:

Gilbert W. Merkx, vice provost for international affairs, Duke; Dr. Kevin Schulman, professor of Mmedicine and business, Duke; and Kathryn Whetten, associate professor of public policy and community and family medicine;

Prior to the meeting, Dzau and Enriqueta C. Bond, president of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, will hold a luncheon for civic leaders to give them an opportunity to hear IOM President Dr. Harvey Fineberg, describe some of the institute's initiatives.

Registration is requested, but not required.

Talks about end of life

The events around the Terri Schiavo case led many people began to ask: "How can I make sure something like this doesn't happen to me?"

Two local organizations that work in the field of end-of-life care, the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life and Project Compassion, have organized a pair of free community panel discussions to help families and individuals better understand care preferences for people near death.

The events, to include comments from experts in medicine, law, faith and patient/family issues will be at the following dates and location:

* Tuesday, May 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., UnionBaptistChurch, 904 N. Roxboro Street, Durham

* Monday, May 9, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Chapel HillBibleChurch, 260 Erwin Road, Chapel Hill, NC

Local radio host Linda Belans will lead the discussions.

Return of the Farmers Market

The smell and sight of fresh fruits and vegetables, newly cut flowers and potted plants, exotic spices and cooked vegetables returns to Duke May 6 as part of the fifth annual Farmers Market. Duke employees are invited to purchase these healthy foods while listening to local musicians. Take a stroll through the market and experience the richness of the warm season.

The market is sponsored by LIVE FOR LIFE. The National Cancer Institute recommends 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The Duke Farmers Market makes meeting this standard easy by providing an abundance of organic fruits and vegetables. In May there will be a wide variety of fresh produce to choose from, including greens, sweet potatoes and strawberries.

The market will be located in front of the Medical Center Bookstore and on the walkway between DukeHospital and the MedicalCenter. The Duke Farmers Market will take place 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. every Friday from May through June and every other Friday July through September.

Farmers Market Dates:

May 6, 13, 20, 27

June 3, 10, 17, 24

July 8, 22

August 5, 19

September 2, 16, 30

Brain tumor action week

The BrainTumorCenter at Duke will mark Brain Tumor Action Week, May 1-7, with booths in both DukeHospital and Duke Clinic. The booths will have information about brain tumors, be staffed by professionals from the center, as well as patients and families affected by a brain tumor. In addition, special items will be available for raffle.

The objective of Brain Tumor Action Week is to gather support for increased funding for brain tumor research and the development of and access to better treatments. Brain Tumor Action Week is sponsored by the North American Brain Tumor Coalition (NABTC), a network of charitable organizations that raise funds to support research related to brain tumors.

For more information, contact the BrainTumorCenter at Duke at 668-2650.

Ladies Night Out

Do you know "What Your Doctor Needs to Know?" Find out on Wednesday, May 11 at 7 p.m. at the Ladies' Night Out at DurhamRegionalHospital featuring Marian McCrary, M.D., of Durham Internal Medicine.

McCrary will discuss helpful ways to maximize your office visit with your physician -- from bringing your list of medications, family history, allergies primary concerns, patient history and more. She will cover the information to prepare for your appointment and why it is important.

Ladies' Night Out is a series of free, informal seminars on topics related to women's health. Sessions are held at the hospital at 7 p.m. Tea and light refreshments will be served.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 470-6520 or visit www.durhamregional.org.

Reserving meeting space

It's time to reserve space for 2005-2006 courses, seminars, conferences, lectures and meetings. Reservations for the lecture hall and conference room space in DukeHospital, Duke Clinic, Bryan Research Lab, Hanes House and MedicalSciencesResearchBuilding for 2005-2006 fiscal year must be made by Friday, May 6. Meeting space must be re-scheduled each year.

For more information or a reservation request memo, e-mail to mcedrooms@mc.duke.edu or call 684-3629