In Brief

SMH wins consumer award

Strong Memorial Hospital has won the National Research Corp.'s Consumer Choice Award. The annual award is based on the perceptions of 500 Rochester-area residents regarding multiple quality and image ratings, which are collected in the company's annual Healthcare Market Guide. Strong has won the award all five years since the award's inception.

"We are delighted that Strong Memorial Hospital has again been recognized as Rochester's most preferred hospital," said Robert Panzer, chief quality officer of Strong Health. "This recognition reflects the success of our staff in meeting the challenge of providing care that is patient-centered, high-quality, and cost-effective."

Strong is among 122 American hospitals in 100 markets to earn the honor. In accepting the award, the hospital's CEO, Steven Goldstein, noted, "This award carries special significance because it is based on the experiences and impressions of our most important audience: our patients."

National Research Corp. specializes in measuring health care performance. Its 2000 Healthcare Market Guide is the largest and most comprehensive study of its kind in the nation. The corporation was the first to introduce performance norms to the health care industry and has conducted more satisfaction studies for health care organizations than any other firm.

Trumpeter makes Rochester debut

Jenkins

Renowned jazz trumpeter and newly appointed Eastman School faculty member Clay Jenkins makes his Rochester debut in a performance with the Eastman Jazz Trio on Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. in Kilbourn Hall. The concert is free and open to the public.

Jenkins left California and came to ESM this fall and joined the faculty as associate professor of jazz studies and contemporary media. He was most recently a member of the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra (now affiliated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra). He also has performed as a member of the Count Basie, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich orchestras, plus performed and/or recorded with a number of other jazz luminaries. Prior to teaching at ESM, he served on the faculties of the University of Southern California, the Colburn School of Performing Arts, and the California Institute of the Arts.

Jenkins and the Eastman Jazz Trio--pianist Harold Danko, drummer Rich Thompson, and bassist Jeff Campbell (all members of ESM's jazz faculty--will perform selections to be announced from the stage.

Art of Sister City's kids shown

A new exhibit at the Memorial Art Gallery celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Sister Cities partnership between Rochester and Novgorod, Russia, and the 200th anniversary of Russian literary hero Alexander Pushkin's birth. The exhibit is a reciprocation of a showing earlier this year in downtown Novgorod, which featured works by students at MAG's Creative Workshop.

Children's Art from Novgorod showcases 50 paintings and drawings by Russian children and teens that depict stories and poems by Pushkin. The works were selected following a citywide competition in Novgorod.

The exhibit remains on view in MAG's Lucy Burne Gallery through Saturday, December 16.

Smilemobiles keep on rolling

Strong Health's Smilemobile Program celebrated its 30th anniversary and dedicated its new unit on November 1 at School No. 14 on University Avenue.

"Community service is the foundation of Eastman Dental Center's long history of providing dental care to those in need," said Cyril Meyerowitz, professor and chair of the Eastman Department of Dentistry and EDC director. "EDC continues that tradition with innovative programs such as the Smilemobile Program, which brings dental care to those who would not otherwise have access to it."

It is fitting that the celebration took place at the University Avenue school because that location is the site of one of Rochester's first dental clinics opened in 1910 by several leading dentists to care for neighborhood children.

Smilemobiles are mobile dental units that travel to inner-city and rural sites to provide comprehensive oral health care to children. In the early '60s, several part-time dentists and volunteer assistants and hygienists developed a program that provided basic oral health services for elementary school children.

Today, a full-time pediatric dentist, auxiliary personnel, and a coordinator staff each Smilemobile. The services have been expanded to include X-rays, fluoride treatment, sealants, restorations, stainless steel crowns, and extractions. Dental health education is now made available to classrooms, parents, teachers, and the community.

Craft sale scheduled

Faculty, staff, and students can start their holiday shopping early this year by attending the third annual "Crafts Under Glass" craft sale on Friday, November 17. The sale will be held in the Hirst Lounge of Wilson Commons, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Crafters will be selling jewelry, origami boxes, quilt wall hangings, wooden toys and games, stained-glass ornaments, handmade lip balms and soaps, and more. There will be a performance by the Midnight Ramblers at noon. For more information check out the Web site at www.sa.rochester.edu/sao/craft.html.

Chew on these Health Bites

The fall 2000-spring 2001 Noon Hour Health Bites series will once again be offering events at the Medical Center and the River Campus. The informal series of health- and wellness-related topics, sponsored by the Strong Employee Assistance Program, will be held on the second Tuesday of each month.

The fall schedule of events continues on November 14 when the topic will be "What To Do About Sexual Harassment in the Workplace," presented by Kathy Sweetland, University intercessor. The program takes place in Room 2-6408 (K-207) at the Medical Center. Other upcoming topics include occupational illness, tax preparation, gardening, divorce, child care, and nutrition.

As always, formal registration isn't required for any of the Noon Hour Health Bites and there's no fee. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches. For a full listing of events see the Web site at www.urmc.rochester.edu/eap/bites.html. The Currents calendar also will regularly list events.

Research participants needed

Depression--Mothers with children ages 3-8 are needed for a study investigating children's learning and parent-child relationships. Mothers must have been depressed or experienced manic depression at some time since the birth of their child and not be receiving any public assistance. Participants will be compensated $20 for a one-time two- to three-hour visit. Call x5-2991.

AIDS vaccine--Healthy, HIV-negative volunteers ages 18-60 are needed for clinical research trials of HIV-prevention vaccines. Participants will receive up to $700. Call x3-AIDS.

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