News Briefs

'Streetscape' Improvements Starting on Walnut Street
Earlier Hours, New Staff for TJU Bookstore
Walter J. Curran Jr., MD, Elected RTOG Group Chair
Dr. Rattan to Receive Janssen Award
National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week April 20-26
Support Deleware Valley Transplant Program Event

'STREETSCAPE' IMPROVEMENTS STARTING ON WALNUT STREET

Three blocks of Walnut Street will be undergoing a construction "facelift" in coming weeks, resulting in significant new construction and safety improvements.

Designed to improve the environment for pedestrians, the project is part of the Center City District's (CCD) Walk!Philadelphia streetscape improvements project, says John P. Sullivan, Jefferson's Vice President for Administration. Jeffersonians will see work beginning along the 800, 900 and 1000 blocks of Walnut St. and continuing in stages until July.

The project entails:
* Major street corners reconstructed with new curbs, paving and ramps
* New sidewalk paving in selected areas
* New pedestrian-scaled street lights to double sidewalk illumination
* New street trees and planters as well as new pedestrian directional signs and maps

EARLIER HOURS, NEW STAFF FOR TJU BOOKSTORE

The Thomas Jefferson University Bookstore, 224 South 11th Street, introduces earlier opening hours and a new staff to better serve Jeffersonians. The bookstore is now open Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Previously, the store opened at 9 a.m. weekdays and 10:30 a.m. Saturdays.
"We found that both students and employees prefer the convenience of the earlier hours so they can make their purchases before going to class or their jobs," says Doris Abrams, Associate Manager. "Changing our hours is in keeping with our 'customer-friendly' policy," she adds. Other staff members ready to serve you are Frank Zaccone, Manager; Doreen Comito, Merchandise Coordinator; and Kerr Reno, Receiving/Shipping Coordinator.

Mr. Zaccone and Ms. Abrams invite all Jeffersonians to "stop by and say hello." You can call the bookstore at 888-TJU-BOOK or 215-955-7922.

WALTER J. CURRAN JR., MD, ELECTED RTOG GROUP CHAIR

Walter J. Curran Jr., MD, was elected group chair of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), a consortium of American and Canadian university medical centers and community-based programs working to improve the outcome of adults with cancer. Dr. Curran is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology and the interim clinical director of the Kimmel Cancer Center (KCC) of Jefferson Medical College. He serves as the director of ambulatory care within the KCC and as codirector of both Jefferson's Brain Tumor Program and Lung Cancer Center.

Dr. Curran has assumed leadership of RTOG's cooperative clinical trial and cancer prevention activities effective March 1, 1997.

DR. RATTAN TO RECEIVE JANSSEN AWARD

Satish Rattan, DVM, Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Jefferson Medical College, has been selected for the 1997 Janssen Award.

The award is a prestigious honor recognizing outstanding contribution by a physician or scientist to the advancement of the understanding of gastrointestinal motility in health and science. The award winner is chosen from recommendations of leaders in the field of gastroenterology throughout the United States and Canada.

Dr. Rattan will receive the award from Janssen Pharmaceutical Co. during the Digestive Diseases Week (DDW) Conference May 9 to 14 at the Washington, DC, Convention Center, with a 6 p.m. award ceremony and party at Union Station May 12 to which Jeffersonians are invited. The award includes a prize of $10,000.

NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR AWARENESS WEEK APRIL 20 - 26

Jefferson Celebration in West Atrium, Gibbon

* Rainbow Booth, April 21, 23, 25 * Video presentation, "A Modern Fairy Tale: Bad Turns Good," created and acted by Challenge Class pupils of General George G. Meade School, April 25, 10:45 a.m. * Cartoons by Charley Parker, April 25

SUPPORT DELAWARE VALLEY TRANSPLANT PROGRAM EVENT

Dash for Organ Donor Awareness, a 10K Run/5K Walk, sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, on Sunday, April 20, at The Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps. Registration: 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. - $15. Run begins at 10 a.m., and walk begins at 10:45 a.m. For early registration ($12.) through April 11, call Chuck Brucker at 5-6428.