In Brief

A favorite holiday exhibit at the Memorial Art Gallery that focuses on a popular Christmas decoration is making a return engagement.

Crèches from Around the World: The Earl Kage Collection showcases manger scenes collected over the past half century by Kage, a Rochester photographer. Included are four dozen examples from Latin America, Europe, the Far East, and the United States.

Eight of the works are new to the Kage collection. They include an illuminated Krippe from Germany and a Mexican clay nativity, once in the collection of the Los Angeles Folk Art Museum, that features five different tableaux. Crèches from Around the World remains on view through Sunday, January 9.

In addition to this exhibit, MAG celebrates the holiday season with events that explore many cultures and traditions. On Sunday, December 19, there will be a family holiday concert featuring music from around the world, and a Kwanzaa celebration marking the African-American cultural holiday will be held on Sunday, December 26.

Check the Currents calendar for further details on these events.

Make a holiday wish come true

Children's Hospital at Strong is partnering with CURE Childhood Cancer Association and Mix 100.5 to make miracles happen this holiday season. The University community can help in any of the following ways: donate a new, unwrapped gift for a child under 12 to benefit the Children's Hospital; call x3-5948 to make a cash donation toward the purchase of an item from the Children's Hospital wish list; or make a cash gift to benefit CURE.

The wish list includes items requested by divisions within the Children's Hospital. Items range from equipment needs identified by patient care units (like the neonatal intensive care unit) to child-friendly materials like stickers, a "sight and sound" mobile, or books and crayons requested by the Child Life Program.

Donations will be accepted at any Mix Christmas Miracle display; the radio station will broadcast specific locations and times. In addition, donations may be made at any Bon-Ton location at the four major malls. The Christmas Miracle Campaign runs through Saturday, December 25. For more information call x3-5948.

Hansen given teacher award

Hansen

The School of Medicine and Dentistry's John Hansen has been awarded the Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award. He is professor of neurobiology and anatomy, and associate dean for admissions.

Hansen was the first basic science course director to use case-based exercises and problem-based learning cases at Rochester, and has led workshops in tutor training. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and reviews on topics ranging from basic neurobiology to medical education. As a member of the Curriculum Steering Committee, Hansen plays a major role in instituting the new Double Helix Curriculum, as well as directing the first-year Human Structure and Function course.

He received his Ph.D. in anatomy from Tulane University and did post-graduate work at Harvard Medical School, the University of Iowa College of Medicine, and the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. Hansen spent 10 years on the faculty of the University of Texas Health Sciences Center before coming to Rochester in 1985.

The award was bestowed during the 110th annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges held recently in Washington, D.C. He was one of four across the nation to receive the award.

Smokers' Health Study begins

Researchers at the College and ViaHealth are beginning a study to assess health-related concerns and behaviors of individuals who smoke. The research is funded by a four-year $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Geoffrey Williams, the study's principal investigator and a physician at the Genesee Hospital, is collaborating with Edward Deci, professor of psychology, and Richard Ryan, professor of psychology and of psychiatry, to understand more about how smokers view their health.

The study will include 1,400 individuals who smoke and will follow them for 18 months. "We want to know more about how people think about smoking and their diet, and whether and how they decide to make health-related changes," said Williams, an assistant professor of medicine at the School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Williams, Deci, and Ryan have collaborated on other projects that investigate human behavior and health. This latest study will be based at the Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology on the River Campus.

(Participants are currently being enrolled for the study. See "Research participants needed.")

Sign up for Strong Health program

A new Strong Health program that teaches people how to self-manage their chronic conditions and maintain healthier, more active, and fulfilling lives is now accepting reservations for sessions to be scheduled in the new year. The program is taught by volunteers who themselves have a chronic condition and have been trained to lead the workshop.

It's open to anyone with a chronic health condition--such as heart problems, chronic back problems, lung illness (asthma, bronchitis), multiple sclerosis, diabetes, or arthritis. The workshop also welcomes caregivers of chronic disease sufferers.

For more information or reservations call x3-3456.

Teen honored for LLE research

A summer research project at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics has earned a local high school student recognition as a semifinalist in the first Siemens Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition.

Kendra Bussey, a senior at Pittsford-Sutherland High School, will receive a certificate of commendation and a medal for being named one of 22 regional semifinalists, and one of 108 national semifinalists. The Siemens Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition is a new program funded by the Siemens Foundation to promote math and science education.

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