On September 8 th , Steven Freund, of Ritz-Cartlon Hotels and Resorts, returned as our speaker for the annual UM Dermatology Customer Service Presentation. UM Dermatology leads all UMHS departments with excellent patient satisfaction ratings. Such results come from the continued commitment and efforts of Dermatology staff and physicians to provide the finest care to patients and their families and to treat co-workers with professionalism and respect. Mr. Freund commented that he was “preaching to the choir”, in acknowledgement of Dermatology’s successful customer service efforts. Dr. Charles Ellis remarked that since establishing Dermatologgy’s customer service program in 1999, the department has maintained excellent Patient Satisfaction Survey scores. Additionally he recognized our KMS Billing Unit, led by MaryBeth Lawler, for being ranked #1 in the Faculty Group Practice (FGP) in Net Collections, Charge Lag Time and Days in Accounts Receivable and our Research Groups’ efforts for achieving a greater than 50% increase in NIH funding over last year’s levels. Keep up the good work! Special thanks goes to the PIC committee for their dedication and hard work in sponsoring this event: Dr. Ellis, Carol Scheel, Kay Marshall, Pam Kitchen, Mary Bolang, Jeanine Witten and Cindy Kamish. In addition, much appreciation goes to Diane Fiolek, for ordering and coordinating distribution of the employee appreciation gifts. Fall 2005 DERM CUSTOMER SERVICE: “PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ”
Transcript
On September 8th, Steven Freund, of Ritz-Cartlon Hotels and Resorts, returned as our speaker for the annual UM Dermatology Customer Service Presentation. UM Dermatology leads all UMHS departments with excellent patient satisfaction
ratings. Such results come from the continued commitment and efforts of Dermatology staff and physicians to provide the finest care to patients and their families and to t reat co-workers with professionalism and respect. Mr. Freund commented that he was
“preaching to the choir”, in acknowledgement of Dermatology’s successful customer service efforts.
Dr. Charles Ellis remarked that since establishing Dermatologgy’s customer service program in 1999, the department has maintained excellent Patient Satisfaction Survey scores. Additionally he recognized our KMS Billing Unit, led by MaryBeth Lawler, for being ranked #1 in the Faculty Group Practice (FGP) in Net Collections, Charge Lag Time and Days in Accounts Receivable and our Research Groups’ efforts for achieving a greater than 50% increase in NIH funding over last year’s levels. Keep up the good work!
Special thanks goes to the PIC committee for their dedication and hard work in sponsoring this event: Dr. Ellis, Carol Scheel, Kay Marshall, Pam Kitchen, Mary Bolang, Jeanine Witten and Cindy Kamish. In addition, much appreciat ion goes to Diane F i o l e k , f o r ordering and coordinating distribution of the employee appreciat ion gifts.
Fall 2005
DERM CustoMER sERviCE: “PuttiN’ oN tHE RitZ”
DERMatology HaPPENiNgs
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gooD tiMEs at tHE DERMatology Fall FaMily PiCNiCOn October 9th, Michigan’s often fickle weather
offered up yet another spectacular autumn day for Dermatology’s Annual Fall Family Picnic. Held this year at Montbelier Park in Ypsilanti there was fun enough for all who attended.
Many Dermatology staff and faculty came with their children (and their pets) to enjoy the delicious cook-out picnic food. Highlights of the day included Volleyball, Tug-of-war, Pinatas, and a rousing game of kick ball for all ages. Thanks goes out to event coordinator Sara Williams and all those who contributed their time and talents to ensure an enjoyable afternoon for us all: Kay Marshall, Mary Bolang, Denise Galazka, Tonya Harrigan, Mary Beth Lawler, Mary Joe Tate, Jeanine Witten and
many others who helped set up and clean up. Special thanks
to Bob Neesam, Bob Tate, and Jerry Bolang, who manned the grill. Thanks also to Rob Gielczyk, Ryan Holzwarth, and Jen Vis for “running” the kick
ball game.
“you’RE suPER” aWaRDEEs!
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DERMatology staFF CoRNER
NEW EMPloyEEsWe are pleased to welcome the following
WElCoME!• Dr. Yolanda Rosi Helfrich has returned to
Dermatology as our newest faculty member. Dr. Rosi will be seeing patients at our Taubman office location and will work with Dr. Sewon Kang in the Clinical Research Unit and as part of the MS2 Dermatology teaching sequence.
• Our new Medical Assistant (M.A.) at Dermatology-Reichert, Sonia Martinez comes to us from Thoracic Surgery and began with Dermatology in late August. Sonia moved to the US from San Salvador to train as an M.A. in Boston and settled in Michigan in 1998. Sonia enjoys speaking Spanish with anyone interested and is gently prodding her office supervisor, Sara, to pull her Spanish speaking skills out of the closet. We are so happy to have you with us, Sonia!
• On October 17th, Stacey Drogs joined Dermatology as our Financial Analyst. She comes to us from Financial Operations, and brings with her several years of experience in financial accounting and reporting. Stacey lives in Dearborn with her husband Scott, their daughter Rachel, age 5, and dog Polar.
CoNgRatulatioNs DERM NEWlyWEDs
Jennifer Bell & Adam Keith Lisa Clark & Graham Tidbury Christina Hatfield & Darren VasselSandra Paek & Robert Cho Yolanda Rosi & Don Helfrich
KuDos• Drs. Yiru Xu and Gary Fisher are pleased to announce the funding of the “Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-kappa regulation of EGFR” NIH grant, 2005-2010. This novel research focuses on a critical and heretofore unknown mechanism of epidermal growth factor receptor. Given the essential role that the epidermal growth factor receptor plays in the regulation of normal cellular function, and certain forms of cancer, this exciting new area of research holds great promise.
• This September Jessica Stodart (Taubman) “Walked for a Cure” for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with family and friends. Their team the “Abbi-cadabras” (named for Jessica’s daughter who was diagnosed last year with type 1 diabetes) has raised $4100. More than one million Americans have type 1 diabetes, a disease most often diagnosed in childhood that strikes suddenly, lasts a lifetime, and carries the constant threat of deadly complications. JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research – a cure is within our reach. To contribute to this worthy cause please go to “http://walk.jdrf.org/.
Kay MarshallShari NemethKristi Robson, MDGeorge Skandamis, MDDara Spearman, MD **Gayle Williams
**Multiple Awards
MaRK youR CalENDaRs• December 17th, 2005 RESIDENCY INTERVIEWS
• January 27th , 2006 DERMATOLOGY WINTER PARTY at Barton Hills Country Club, Ann Arbor
• April 19th, 2006 MICHIGAN DERM MEETING
DERMatology sPotligHt
IT’s A CONTEsT!NAME THAT PROGRAM
We’re seeking to re-name the Taubman Dermatology office’s Thursday afternoon SCAD (Skin Cancer and Dermatology) program.
The nature of the program has changed through the years. Although we continue to see patients who have a history of melanomas and skin cancers, we also see patients for biopsies, rashes and a variety of non “skin cancer” diagnoses.
The new name should reflect the broader nature of the skin conditions treated in this program without using the term “cancer”.
Good luck! Please submit your entires to Mary Bolang ([email protected]) by Novemnber 21st. The Performance Improvement Committee will select the winner and award a prize.
Dr. john Voorhees is esDr ruDi Cormane LeCturer
Dr. John Voorhees is one of an exceptional few U.S. members of the European Society for Dermatologic Research (ESDR) to serve as the ESDR Rudi Cormane lecturer, an honor typically reserved for the european members. The Cormane lectureship recognizes the invited speaker as an individual who has made exceptional contributions to dermatologic research. Dr. Voorhees, an ESDR member since 1972, has earned an international reputation in the field of investigative dermatology that is virtually unparalled. With over 550 publications, he has been named the most cited author in Dermatology medical literature and is a member of 40 national and international scientific/medical societies. Notably, Dr. Voorhees was similarly recognized by the Society for Investigative Dermatology with the Stephen Rothman Award earlier this year. Dr. Voorhees has served as the Duncan & Ella Poth Distinguished Professor since 1995 and UM Dermatology Chair since 1975.”
Our Dermatology Cutaneous Surgery Program, directed by Dr. Timothy Johnson, so impressed Mr. & Mrs. Becker that they wanted to provide in some way for its continued success. As a result of their generous $2 million contribution, the Lewis & Lillian Becker Professorship was established in 2005.
In recognition of his exceptional service to his patients, and for his organization of a clinical, translational research program in skin cancer, Dr. Timothy Johnson was named as the 1st Lewis & Lillian Becker Professor of Dermatology. On the afternoon of October 9th, the Beckers and their children, together with many faculty and friends, attended an inaugural luncheon to formally thank the Beckers for their remarkable generosity and also to celebrate Dr. Johnson’s efforts and contributions leading to his receipt of this honor.
Those present, heard comments from a variety of speakers, including Mr. Lewis Becker, Dr. Marc Brown (University of Rochester, New York), Dr. Kelch, Dr. Voorhees and Dr. Johnson, that provided a clear understanding of both the inspiration for the
Becker’s gift and the extraordinary promise that such endowments provide for the future of skin cancer treatment and research.
Pictured above : Mr. Lewis Becker (left), Dr. Timothy Johnson (center) and Mrs. Lillian Becker (right).
