A Virtual Toothache Helps Student Dentists Learn Patient-Side Communications
Masha is a dental patient. Her oral health problems continue to change as she meets new Case Western Reserve University student dentists in Second Life's virtual dental office. The middle-aged avatar is an integral part of a new research project of the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and the College of Arts and Sciences department of communication sciences to teach and give students practice time to communicate with mock patients.
Not only do findings from the study have potential to revolutionize dental education but also to change the way national testing is done for patient-side communication skills.
Kristin Z. Victoroff, assistant professor of community dentistry at the School of Dental Medicine, will direct the three-year Innovative Dental Assessment Research and Development (IDEA) Grant project from the American Dental Association's Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. She will develop patient communication scenarios for simulated education and test their effectiveness in preclinical training for students. Read more.
Center for Community Partnerships Invites Campus Community to Take Survey About Volunteering
Last year, over 60 million Americans contributed 8.2 billion hours of volunteer service. The Center for Community Partnerships at Case Western Reserve University recognizes that faculty, staff and students volunteer their time year round, and as a result, the center is updating the university's community impact information by asking the campus community to complete a Community Service Survey.
"By extending the Community Service Survey to the entire campus we hope to have a more accurate gauge on the type of programs, investment of volunteer service and sponsorships to assess the positive impact the university has in the community at large," said Latisha James, director of the Center for Community Partnerships.
The summary of updated information will be announced during this year's Case for Community Day to help increase awareness about the university's collective impact in the community. The survey deadline is September 2. Learn more about the university's community programs and partnerships.
Campus News
The Kelvin Smith Library staff invites the campus community to try out a new research database featuring both summer travel and leisure information. PressDisplay allows users to access local news, entertainment, cultural events, dining and sporting venue information from home. PressDisplay provides instant access to current newspapers from the United States and around the world, and its offerings have just been expanded by 30 percent. Learn more.
Summer is a time when blood donations are low. To answer the call for more donations, the American Red Cross is holding a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 29. Donors can stop by the bloodmobile that will be parked on the quad. To schedule an appointment online, enter sponsor code CaseWestern.
For Faculty and Staff
The Writing Resource Center (WRC) is now scheduling fall writing workshops. Writing consultants are available to visit classrooms to deliver presentations and/or to conduct interactive workshops on a range of issues relevant to first-year as well as graduate and professional school writers. Consultants are also available for shorter presentations introducing students to the WRC and its services. For questions or to schedule a fall writing workshop, send an e-mail to the WRC.
For Students
Beginning with the 2008-2009 academic year, Aetna Student Health will serve as the new administrator of the university's Student Medical Plan. Service will not be interrupted nor will the policy noticeably change. The student fee for the plan will increase slightly, to $660 per semester, due to rising healthcare costs in general. The university will continue to offer the Optional Dependent Medical to students who wish to purchase coverage for their dependent spouse, domestic partner and children. Details are posted online. Contact Louise Matchett at 368-3050 with questions.
Events
The Continuing Medical Education program is hosting a conference, Neurocritical Care 2008: Getting Better, September 11-13. An international group of experts will review the latest information in neurocritical care and cerebrovascular disease. Continuing education credits are available, and neurointensivists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, critical care physicians, internists, anesthesiologists and emergency medicine physicians are invited to attend. Nurses and other allied health professionals may also find the conference to be of value.
Refer to the Web event calendar for a list of events and activities on campus and in the community today and in the days ahead.
The views and opinions of those invited to speak on campus do not necessarily reflect the views of the university administration or any other segment of the university community.
