Jefferson Center for Autism Receives Recognition from Pennsylvania Legislators
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives recognized Jefferson's Center for Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology and the Center's Director, Gerry A. Stefanatos, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Jefferson Medical College, for their outstanding contributions and efforts in the study and treatment of autism and related disorders. The resolution, adopted December 10 by the state legislators, notes that Dr. Stefanatos developed "novel approaches to diagnose neurological abnormalities associated with epileptic aphasia and autistic spectrum disorders." The resolution, sponsored by Representative Dennis O'Brien, was introduced at the request of parents of autistic children.

Carmen Sultana, MD, Named to First Class of Women's Health Scholars in National Educators Program
Carmen Sultana, MD, who practices obstetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and who is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gyencology at Jefferson Medical College, has been named to the first class of participants in the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) and Solvay Pharmaceuticals Educational Scholars Development Program.

The program is the first-ever comprehensive educational curriculum designed to help obstetrics and gynecology professors teach women's health more effectively. The 20 physicians of the first class were selected from a competitive group across the United States based on their credentials and demonstrated commitment to the field of women's health.

The 15-month program in which Dr. Sultana will participate offers scholars additional credentials and in-depth training to prepare them for expanded educational responsibilities and positions within their medical institutions.

APGO is a nonprofit association dedicated to promoting excellence in women's healthcare education by providing an exchange of information on programs of study, teaching methods, and research activities among gynecologic and obstetric programs.

Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., of Marietta, Ga., is a research-based pharmaceutical company active in the therapeutic areas of women's health, gastroenterology and mental health.

Jefferson's Women's Liaison Task Force Hosts First Annual Reception

More than 50 members of Jefferson Medical College (JMC) faculty, house staff and student body attended the first annual reception sponsored by the Women's Liaison Interdepartmental Task Force.

The numbers and enthusiasm of those turning out helped make the event "a big success," says Susan M. Parks, MD, Instructor in Family Medicine, one of the event's coordinators with Mira Gohel, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, and Deborah K. Witt, MD, Instructor in Family Medicine.

Karen D. Novielli, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, and Director of the Geriatric Fellowship in Family Medicine, is the Women's Liaison Officer for Jefferson's Women's Liaison Task Force.

Keynote speaker for the inaugural reception was Loretta P. Finnegan, MD, Director of the Women's Health Initiative of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, JMC. Her hour-long talk covered several issues of women's health, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and osteoporosis. She described the Women's Health Initiative, which is a multicentered trial with more than 164,000 women enrolled to study HRT and osteoporosis.

Also addressing the group was Christine A. Arenson, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, who worked with Dr. Finnegan at Jefferson.

Dr. Novielli's welcoming address provided background about the role of the Women's Liaison Offices, which were established by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Currently 225 Officers have been appointed by 122 United States medical school deans.

The officers, or the task forces they establish, help foster women's networking and the developing and sharing of resources within and among medical centers. Activities can include programs targeted at women's professional development to promote recruitment of women faculty and administrators and to serve as liaison with other professional women's groups.

The reception for the Jefferson Task Force was sponsored by start-up funding from the University's Affirmative Action Office.

Currently women comprise 42 percent of the applicant pool and total enrollment in United States medical schools, 34 percent of residents, and 25 percent of faculty.

Jefferson's Women's Liaison Interdepartmental Task Force, established by Dr. Novielli, meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at noon in the East Atrium Conference Room. For more information, contact Karen Novielli, MD, at 955-2361.

Recycling Hazardous Waste at Jefferson -'More Than Meets the Eye'

When you think of materials being recycled at Jefferson, items made of paper, aluminum, cardboard and glass may come to mind first. They are the most common, and we are all familiar with the collection receptacles located throughout the campus.

However, what you might not realize is that considerable amounts of other material are also recycled every day at Jefferson. Hazardous wastes and materials containing hazardous substances generated by the University and the Hospital are also recycled, according to Stephen J. Baker, Chemical Waste Coordinator, Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

Mr. Baker explains that certain kinds of hazardous waste formerly landfilled or incinerated are now recycled through the Chemical Waste Program of the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

These include:

• Lead acid, nickel cadmium and lithium batteries. These contain metals that can be reclaimed and reused through smelting.
• Lead casings. The lead can be reclaimed.
• Refrigerators. These contain ozone-depleting CFC's, and are sent to a facility where the gas is reclaimed and all parts are recycled.
• Mercury. Taken from broken thermometers and blood pressure cuffs, it is distilled and reused as a new product.
• Solvents such as alcohol and xylene are recycled through fractional distillation and returned to Jefferson laboratories as new product.

Mr. Baker reports that 17,280 pounds of the mentioned materials were recycled in fiscal year 1998 in the following categories: batteries - 1,500 pounds; lead - 2,886; solvents - 1,156; refrigerators - 11,740.

1998 Leon Peris, MD, Medical Records Prize Awarded to Resident

Each year, the Leon Peris, MD, Medical Records Award is presented to a resident who is completing his or her training in any of the hospital clinical departments and has the best overall record of timely, accurate, and complete chart dictations for inpatient care. This year's Leon Peris, MD, Award winner is Peter Singson, MD, Resident, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Singson received a plaque and a $100 Dining With Heart gift certificate. First runner-up, Joseph G. Boak, MD, Resident, Department of Medicine, also received a $100 Dining With Heart gift certificate.