ReportWire

Tag: In the Workplace

  • Experts available to discuss potential harm to patients from AI-based software in doctor’s offices

    Experts available to discuss potential harm to patients from AI-based software in doctor’s offices


    In a new commentary published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), University of Maryland School of Medicine faculty warn against the use of AI-driven software tools and other large language models to summarize patient medical data without proper review and oversight from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Without proper regulation, the commentary authors say these new tools could lead to biased decision-making and misdiagnosis. That could lead to severe harm to patients.

    Katherine Goodman, PhD, JD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at UMSOM, Core Investigator at the University of Maryland Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC) and lead author of the opinion, along with her colleagues point out that there are currently “no comprehensive standards for large language model-generated clinical summaries beyond the general recognition that summaries should be consistently accurate and concise.” They add that the FDA’s “final guidance for clinical decision support software – published two months before ChatGPT’s release – provides an unintentional ‘roadmap’ for how large language models can avoid FDA medical device regulation”.

    Dr. Goodman and Daniel Morgan, MD, MS, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health and senior author on the commentary, are available for interviews to discuss concerns about how AI software tools could lead to narrative errors and bias in a patient’s electronic health record and recommendations to improve these tools.

    To request an interview, please contact UMSOM media relations.

    Full commentary can be found here. 

     

    MEDIA CONTACTS:

    Holly Moody-Porter

    Senior Media & Public Relations Specialist

    University of Maryland School of Medicine

     

    Deborah Kotz

    Senior Director of Media Relations

    University of Maryland School of Medicine





    University of Maryland School of Medicine

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  • Bernadette Boden-Albala to be honored for contributions in addressing stroke inequities

    Bernadette Boden-Albala to be honored for contributions in addressing stroke inequities


    Newswise — Irvine, Calif., Jan. 30, 2024 — Bernadette Boden-Albala, M.P.H., Dr.P.H., director of the University of California, Irvine Program in Public Health and founding dean of the planned School of Population and Public Health, has been selected to receive the prestigious Edgar J. Kenton III Lecture Award from the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, just prior to its annual International Stroke Conference. She is being recognized for her lifetime achievement of contributions to investigation, management, mentorship and community service in the field of stroke inequities or related disciplines.

    “It’s a great honor to be acknowledged by the American Heart Association’s leadership at such an important event,” Boden-Albala said. “Stroke exhibits significant racial and ethnic inequalities, encompassing differences in incidence, prevalence, treatment and outcomes. This award and lecture provide me with a valuable platform to highlight the crucial role of community-based research, particularly in addressing stroke disparities among diverse communities.”

    An internationally renowned expert in the social epidemiology of stroke and cardiovascular disease, Boden-Albala has authored or co-authored 170 publications that have become a blueprint for community-based stroke and heart disease prevention. Her robust research portfolio spans more than 25 years, with a focus on the roles of sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, social support, social networks and stress. Her work has significantly contributed to the understanding of inequalities and patterns of disparity across the U.S. and globally.

    The American Heart Association will host its 2024 International Stroke Conference on Feb. 7 to 9 at the Phoenix Convention Center. Boden-Albala will present her lecture Feb. 6 at a pre-conference symposium called Health Equity and Actionable Disparities in Stroke: Understanding and Problem Solving. Held at the same site, HEADS-UP is recognized internationally as the premier meeting dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease and brain health. This annual gathering brings together a vast network of professionals to gain insights into the physiological processes associated with stroke, explore more effective therapies for brain health and stroke recovery, and collectively strive to reduce the burden of stroke worldwide.

    About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.

    Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources.

    NOTE TO EDITORS: PHOTO AVAILABLE AT
    https://news.uci.edu/2024/01/30/bernadette-boden-albala-to-be-honored-for-contributions-in-addressing-stroke-inequities/





    University of California, Irvine

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  • Some mosquitoes like it hot

    Some mosquitoes like it hot

    Newswise — Certain populations of mosquitoes are more heat tolerant and better equipped to survive heat waves than others, according to new research from Washington University in St. Louis.

    This is bad news in a world where vector-borne diseases are an increasingly global health concern. Most models that scientists use to estimate vector-borne disease risk currently assume that mosquito heat tolerances do not vary. As a result, these models may underestimate mosquitoes’ ability to spread diseases in a warming world.

    Researchers led by Katie M. Westby, a senior scientist at Tyson Research Center, Washington University’s environmental field station, conducted a new study that measured the critical thermal maximum (CTmax), an organism’s upper thermal tolerance limit, of eight populations of the globally invasive tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus. The tiger mosquito is a known vector for many viruses including West Nile, chikungunya and dengue.

    “We found significant differences across populations for both adults and larvae, and these differences were more pronounced for adults,” Westby said. The new study is published Jan. 8 in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

    Westby’s team sampled mosquitoes from eight different populations spanning four climate zones across the eastern United States, including mosquitoes from locations in New Orleans; St. Augustine, Fla.; Huntsville, Ala.; Stillwater, Okla.; St. Louis; Urbana, Ill.; College Park, Md.; and Allegheny County, Pa.

    The scientists collected eggs in the wild and raised larvae from the different geographic locations to adult stages in the lab, tending the mosquito populations separately as they continued to breed and grow. The scientists then used adults and larvae from subsequent generations of these captive-raised mosquitoes in trials to determine CTmax values, ramping up air and water temperatures at a rate of 1 degree Celsius per minute using established research protocols.

    The team then tested the relationship between climatic variables measured near each population source and the CTmax of adults and larvae. The scientists found significant differences among the mosquito populations.

    The differences did not appear to follow a simple latitudinal or temperature-dependent pattern, but there were some important trends. Mosquito populations from locations with higher precipitation had higher CTmax values. Overall, the results reveal that mean and maximum seasonal temperatures, relative humidity and annual precipitation may all be important climatic factors in determining CTmax.

    “Larvae had significantly higher thermal limits than adults, and this likely results from different selection pressures for terrestrial adults and aquatic larvae,” said Benjamin Orlinick, first author of the paper and a former undergraduate research fellow at Tyson Research Center. “It appears that adult Ae. albopictus are experiencing temperatures closer to their CTmax than larvae, possibly explaining why there are more differences among adult populations.”

    “The overall trend is for increased heat tolerance with increasing precipitation,” Westby said. “It could be that wetter climates allow mosquitoes to endure hotter temperatures due to decreases in desiccation, as humidity and temperature are known to interact and influence mosquito survival.”

    Little is known about how different vector populations, like those of this kind of mosquito, are adapted to their local climate, nor the potential for vectors to adapt to a rapidly changing climate. This study is one of the few to consider the upper limits of survivability in high temperatures — akin to heat waves — as opposed to the limits imposed by cold winters.

    “Standing genetic variation in heat tolerance is necessary for organisms to adapt to higher temperatures,” Westby said. “That’s why it was important for us to experimentally determine if this mosquito exhibits variation before we can begin to test how, or if, it will adapt to a warmer world.”

    Future research in the lab aims to determine the upper limits that mosquitoes will seek out hosts for blood meals in the field, where they spend the hottest parts of the day when temperatures get above those thresholds, and if they are already adapting to higher temperatures. “Determining this is key to understanding how climate change will impact disease transmission in the real world,” Westby said. “Mosquitoes in the wild experience fluctuating daily temperatures and humidity that we cannot fully replicate in the lab.”

    Washington University in St. Louis

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  • Urology of Virginia Announces New Chief Executive Officer

    Urology of Virginia Announces New Chief Executive Officer

    Newswise — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Jan. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Urology of Virginia announces that Dr. Joshua Langston has been elected Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer, as of January 1, 2024. He will continue the legacy of excellent organizational guidance, innovation and service of his predecessor, Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas. Dr. Miles-Thomas commented on the transition, “Dr. Langston has a long history with our organization and is well-equipped to lead us into an even brighter future. I have complete confidence that under his guidance, we will continue to excel and make a positive impact on the lives of our patients. It has been an honor to serve as President and CEO, and I look forward to witnessing the continued growth and success of Urology of Virginia from a different vantage point.”

    Dr. Langston completed medical school at UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He went on to residency training at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and completed a fellowship in Andrology & Male Reconstructive Urology at the Institute of Urology in London, England. He serves as medical director of Men’s Health Virginia, a division of Urology of Virginia, where his team focuses on health needs of aging men. Dr. Langston has a strong interest in health policy and advocacy on behalf of patients, and currently serves as Chair of the Political Affairs Committee for the Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA). He was previously selected as the American Urological Association (AUA) Holtgrewe Legislative Fellow, spending time away from his practice as a health policy legislative advisor in the U.S. Senate. He is Chair of the Health Policy Committee of the Mid-Atlantic AUA, serves on the Public Policy Council and Legislative Affairs Committees of the AUA, and the Board of Directors for the American Society for Men’s Health, amongst many other roles.

    Regarding his appointment, Dr Langston said: ‘It is truly an honor to be selected by my partners for this role. Urology of Virginia has a 100-year history of being a national leader in innovative, patient-centered care and research. I look forward to working together with my colleagues to cast a vision for growth and evolution in the face of a changing national healthcare paradigm that will allow us to continue to serve our community for another 100 years.”

    About Urology of Virginia

    Urology of Virginia (UVA) has a 100+-year history of providing comprehensive and quality care to the entire Hampton Roads region, including northeastern North Carolina.

    The clinical care team consists of over 30 board certified Urologists, most of whom are fellowship trained, nationally recognized, awarded and published. More importantly, they provide superior care and individualized attention to their patients. Included in the team of urologists – with subspecialties such as oncology, urologic reconstruction, stone disease, and andrology – are a specialty trained GU Pathologist, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, RN’s, x-ray and ultrasound technicians, and a vast array of other health care professionals. Our providers also comprise the Department of Urology at Eastern Virginia Medical School, training the next generation of urologists. The Urology of Virginia Research Division maintains participation in cutting edges trials, and has been responsible for many landmark studies over the years. The Schellhammer Urological Research Foundation (SURF), the organization’s charitable arm, provides funding for research and community care.

    To learn more about Urology of Virginia and its service offerings, please visit urologyofva.net.

    Urology of Virginia

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  • ‘The Human Element’

    ‘The Human Element’

    Newswise — Sometimes, the best way to see what you’re made of is facing a challenge. Andrew Broadbent, an accomplished project manager at the at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility located at DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, took on such a challenge earlier this year though DOE’s Project Leadership Institute (PLI) and emerged from the yearlong endeavor with his team victorious.

    Cultivating Leadership

    Every year, PLI selects around 25 experienced project leaders endorsed by DOE national laboratories, program offices, and site offices to participate in their intensive, yearlong leadership development program. This program is designed to cultivate the necessary skills to effectively take on and execute high-risk projects. The cohort is split into five teams that work together over the course of the year to conduct a case study analysis of a recent DOE project. Throughout the program, the cohort travels to different national labs across the country to attend events and participates in self-paced learning during the summer. These modules cover important concepts, like leading innovative teams, that often highlight real-life success stories.

    “Everyone on the team has extensive project management experience,” said Broadbent, “so we were all, largely, in the same boat here, and we learned a lot from each other along the way. Each event provided something useful to take away, making it a really valuable program for anyone in the DOE involved with project management.”

    As the program concludes, each team creates a final report and presentation capturing the successes and failures of the project, analyzes the lessons to be learned, and submits them for judging. The judges confer on the analysis they found to be the most impactful and present the winning team with a shared plaque that travels to each teammate’s home institution. Broadbent’s contributions ensured that the plaque would make its final stop at Brookhaven later next year.

    Transforming cUlture Through inclusiOn (TUTO)

    Broadbent’s team, dubbed TUTO, consisted of members from different national laboratories—Jessica Bentley (Sandia National Laboratory), Lisa Ehlers (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), Vincente Guiseppe (Oak Ridge National Laboratory), and Hiro Tanaka (SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). Each member strengthened the team with their diverse backgrounds, talents, and project experiences. Broadbent drew plenty of inspiration from the projects he has helped manage. For 16 years at NSLS-II, he has been instrumental in the design, installation, and commissioning of several beamlines that are currently serving users who are performing cutting-edge research, as well as future beamlines that will offer the facility new capabilities.

    For their project, the team explored the execution of DOE’s Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) project at Michigan State University (MSU). FRIB’s mission is to produce and research rare isotopes for advancing knowledge in nuclear physics, material science, medicine, defense, and industry. The project was completed in June 2022.

    “FRIB is a unique project not only for its one-of-a-kind mission and technological success but also for its leadership. They successfully navigated an unusual funding and regulatory framework to project completion within budget and five months ahead of schedule,” remarked Broadbent.

    While they explored the project through PLI’s core concepts, they also sought out the values employed by the FRIB team that made their project so successful. In their analysis, they narrowed it down to four main concepts: curation, fluidity, character, and engagement.

    “Curation” was reflected in several aspects of project management, from making a team of diverse people with diverse talents to only selecting processes within the project that are predicted to add value.

    “Fluidity” goes hand in hand with curation. As much as one can try to control a project, unexpected changes are bound to happen at any stage. Things that were carefully curated can suddenly take a different shape. Fluidity is about having that expectation and being able to adapt strategically without compromising on core needs, like safety.

    “Character” fueled these concepts, as it described how respectful relationships from effective and empathetic leaders fostered trust, good communication, and conflict solutions that allow work to be performed smoothly and safely.

    Lastly, there was the concept of “engagement,” teams taking pride and ownership in their work, creating a positive safety culture, sparking community and stakeholder involvement, and promoting inclusivity. All of these concepts link together in such a way that each reinforces the others.

     

    While the presentation covered a lot of ground and sparked some productive discussions, the competition was formidable. There was one more Brookhaven employee in 2023’s cohort: Angelika Drees, collider group leader for the Collider-Accelerator Department. While she was working with another team, she enjoyed comparing and contrasting her experiences with Broadbent as the program concluded and brought back a lot of insight to her current role.

    “I have never looked at another DOE project that closely before and I feel like I learned so much just from making comparisons,” recalled Drees. “It made me think about the new Electron-Ion Collider project in a different way. In some sense, there are a lot of similarities; it’s an accelerator and it has complex physics. And though it may not be the same in terms of scale and scope, there were general concepts that translate from one project to the other. Looking at this project so closely taught us a lot.”

    The scoring between teams was reported to be closer than it had ever been in the past. Regardless of the outcome, the exercise was valuable to all involved and provided a lot to think about for future projects.

    “We really enjoyed doing this,” remarked Broadbent. “Even though writing reports like this tends to be a lot of work, we worked together very well as a team and managed to have fun. It was a very different kind of experience and really made us think. The human side is something everyone can understand, and something everyone can improve upon. That thought came to mind very early on in the project and never went away. Each attribute we uncovered was very human-focused.”

    Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit science.energy.gov.

    Follow @BrookhavenLab on social media. Find us on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and Facebook.

     

    Brookhaven National Laboratory

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  • Wireless tracking system could help improve the XR experience

    Wireless tracking system could help improve the XR experience

    Newswise — A new technology developed by engineers at the University of California San Diego has the potential to make the extended reality (XR) experience smoother and more seamless. The technology consists of an asset localization system that uses wireless signals to track physical objects with centimeter-level accuracy in real time, and then generates a virtual representation of these objects. Applications of this technology range from enhancing virtual gaming experiences to improving workplace safety.

    The team, led by Dinesh Bharadia, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, presented the technology at the ACM Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems (SenSys 2023) held in Istanbul, Turkey.

    Existing localization methods encounter significant limitations. For example, many XR applications use cameras to localize objects, whether it be through virtual reality (VR) devices, augmented reality (AR) glasses or smartphone cameras, said study co-first author Aditya Arun, who is an electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student in Bharadia’s lab.

    “However, these camera-based methods are unreliable in highly dynamic scenarios with visual obstructions, rapidly changing environments or poor lighting conditions,” said Arun. Meanwhile, wireless technologies such as WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) often fall short in providing the required accuracy, and ultrawide-band (UWB) technology involves complex setup and configuration.

    The new asset localization system developed by Bharadia’s team at UC San Diego, in collaboration with Shunsuke Saruwatari at Osaka University, Japan, overcomes these limitations by providing accurate, real-time localization of objects with centimeter-level accuracy, even in dynamic and poorly lit environments. The system is also packaged in an easily deployable and compact module, measuring one meter in size, that could be incorporated into electronic devices like televisions or sound bars with minimal setup.

    The researchers built their system by harnessing the power of wireless signals in the sub-6 GHz regime. “Unlike camera-based methods, these wireless signals are less affected by visual blockages and continue to operate even in non-line-of-sight conditions,” said Arun.

    The system uses wireless signals to pinpoint battery-operated UWB tags that are attached to objects. It consists of two main components. One is a UWB tag that transmits a beacon signal for localization. The other component is a localization module equipped with six UWB receivers that are time and phase-synchronized to receive the beacon signal. As this signal travels, it reaches each receiver at a slightly different phase and time. The system combines these differences in a clever way to accurately measure the tag’s location in 2D space.

    In tests, the researchers used their system to play a life-size chess game using everyday objects. They retrofitted mugs with off-the-shelf UWB tags, transforming them into virtual chess pieces. As the pieces were moved around on a table, the system was able to smoothly track their movements in real time with centimeter-level accuracy.

    “We found that our system achieves 90th percentile accuracy in dynamic scenarios and performs at least eight times better than state-of-the-art localization systems,” said Arun.

    The team is currently refining the system. Next steps include improving the PCB design to make the system more robust, reducing the number of receivers to improve energy efficiency, and adding antennas along the vertical axis to support full 3D localization.

    Paper title: “XRLoc: Accurate UWB Localization to Realize XR Deployments.” Co-authors include Aditya Arun*, Sureel Shah and Dinesh Bharadia, UC San Diego; and Shunsuke Saruwatari*, Osaka University, Japan.

    *These authors contributed equally to this work.

    University of California San Diego

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  • Materials Research Institute names 2023 Roy Award winners

    Materials Research Institute names 2023 Roy Award winners

    Newswise — UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Six Penn State materials researchers have received the 2023 Rustum and Della Roy Innovation in Materials Research Award, covering a wide range of research with societal impact. The award is presented by the Materials Research Institute (MRI) and recognizes recent interdisciplinary materials research at Penn State that yields innovative and unexpected results.  

    The award includes three categories: Early Career Faculty, Non-Tenure Faculty, and Research Staff and Graduate Student. It exists thanks to a gift from Della and Rustum Roy, who are both late alumni of Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and were long-serving faculty in the college.  

    This year’s winners, listed below, were announced at the 2023 Materials Day event in October.  

    Early Career Faculty category

    Amrita Basak, assistant professor of mechanical engineering 

    Basak’s work is built around high-impact transdisciplinary research that addresses the global requirement of sustainable manufacturing in power generation, propulsion, defense, energy storage and construction. For metals, her research group uses laser powder bed fusion and laser directed energy deposition techniques to process high-performance materials such as iron and nickel alloys and oxide-dispersed strengthened alloys. Her research group is also interested in learning what makes certain materials have superior properties and how to use them.  

    “Our research has the potential to improve properties of parts fabricated by 3D printing reducing cost and material wastage,” Basak said. “These would result in higher performance. For example, if we can make parts that can withstand high temperatures, gas turbines’ efficiency would increase.” 

    Elizabeth Elacqua, assistant professor of chemistry 

    Elacqua’s research group focuses on developing ways to synthesize new polymers. This research is nature-inspired and founded on using polymer chemistry to address bottlenecks in organic synthesis and using organic chemistry to address challenges in polymer synthesis. Her group also studies the use of abundant chemicals, such as those left over from the petroleum refining process, to make new rigid, diamond-like polymers. 

    “The polymers we are making thus far have specific applications ranging from light-promoted catalysis to organic semiconductors and high tensile strength materials,” Elacqua said. “While everything is still in its infancy, we can envision accessing polymers that are integral components of future technologies, such as solar cells and composite materials.” 

    Non-Tenure Faculty and Research Staff category  

    Seng Huat Lee, assistant research professor of bulk crystal growth 

    Lee’s research revolves around new quantum materials, unique substances with extraordinary properties that make them of interest for developing faster computers and advanced energy systems. He works to develop new quantum materials with tailored properties, particularly materials that potentially generate new types of quantum technologies. He uses various bulk growth techniques to synthesize and discover emergent quantum phenomena on bulk single crystals, which are crystals that form as a single, uniform piece which gives them unique behaviors. 

    “Government agencies have recognized the importance of developing novel quantum materials,” Lee said. “Quantum materials hold the potential to revolutionize numerous industries, encompassing quantum information science, energy harvesting and telecommunications, by ushering in next-generation technologies.” 

    Wenjie Li, associate research professor of materials science and engineering 

    Li’s research focuses on the development of sustainable and renewable energy conversion materials and devices. One example is converting waste heat energy to useful electricity using thermoelectric materials. This research emphasizes both materials innovation and translation of materials properties to device and system performance to deliver practical solutions. 

    “My research focuses on materials and device innovations to accelerate science-based solutions that solve pressing societal problems in the area of energy, climate and environmental sustainability,” Li said. “My research can ultimately contribute to development of sustainable and renewable energy supplies and decarbonizations that can benefit everyone.” 

    Graduate Student category 

    Sarbashis Das, graduate student in electrical engineering 

    Das’s research includes work to start a 2D materials foundry which will make the high-quality films grown by MRI’s Two-Dimensional Crystal Consortium Materials Innovation Platform available to the commercial marketplace. This was inspired by his participation in the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps program, which is for university-based researchers interested in exploring the commercialization potential of their work. His research also involves developing commercial artificial intelligence-aided graphene chemical sensors for use in real-time detection of food spoilage, adulteration and contamination in food processing facilities. 

    “Our efforts will potentially lead to the mainstream adoption of 2D materials and their fascinating properties to solve real-world challenges,” Das said. “The use of 2D materials for real-time food spoilage sensors will enable us to tackle the global problem of food safety in a scalable and sustainable manner. Apart from food, this technology could have broad applications such as real-time monitoring of corrosion in critical infrastructure, which will improve public safety.” 

    Tyus Yeingst, graduate student in biomedical engineering 

    Yeingst’s research focuses on biomaterials, specifically hard polymers, hydrogels and nanoparticles. The applications of these biomaterials are for tissue regeneration and cancer treatment. These materials are controlled using high-intensity focused ultrasound and near-infrared light to properly deliver and release the therapeutics. Along with his Roy Award, he was recognized as one of six Penn State graduate students to win the prestigious National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship.

    “Applications for my research include bone regeneration for those suffering from aging, osteomyelitis, cancer and battlefield injuries,” Yeingst said. “Cancer treatment also covers a large base of the population, as everyone knows someone or is someone who has been affected by cancer.” 

    Penn State Materials Research Institute

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  • Women leaving academia due to hostile workplace climate.

    Women leaving academia due to hostile workplace climate.

    Newswise — Women faculty are more likely to leave academia than men faculty throughout all career stages in U.S. universities, University of Colorado Boulder researchers revealed in the most comprehensive analysis of retention in academia to date. 

    The team published the findings Oct. 20 in the journal “Science Advances.” The researchers found that a harsh workplace climate, which can include harassment and feelings of not belonging, was the most common reason women left academia. This attrition affects not only early-career professionals, but also those who have achieved the highest ranks in universities, the study found.

    This finding helps to explain, in part, why women remain underrepresented among faculty in nearly all academic fields in the U.S., said Katie Spoon, the paper’s first author and a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science. For example, only 28% of professors in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields are women in the U.S., despite women receiving 40% of STEM PhDs for the past 10 to 15 years.

    “If you look back at the literature from 20 or 30 years ago, it painted a much bleaker picture than many of the newer studies today,” said Aaron Clauset, the paper’s corresponding author and a professor of computer science. “Things are changing, but there is still a lot of work left to do.” 

    Previous research on gendered attrition in academia tended to have a limited scope. 

    Many studies investigated faculty retention only among assistant professors, in STEM fields, or at high-prestige institutions, due to the difficulties in finding and reaching faculty who left academia.

    Spoon and her team analyzed a census of employment records of all 245,270 tenure-track and tenured professors from 391 PhD-granting universities and institutions in the U.S. They came from STEM fields, but also disciplines like social sciences and business. The tenure track is a professor’s pathway to promotion. Faculty members usually start as assistant professors without tenure. If they get promoted, they become tenured associate professors, and eventually they can be promoted to full professors, an indefinite appointment that tends to come with more academic freedom and job security.

    The researchers found women are leaving academia at a higher rate than men at every career stage, especially after they receive full professorship. During their appointment as assistant professors, women are 6% more likely to leave their jobs than men each year. The attrition rate is higher among full professors, where women professors are 19% more likely to leave academia than men each year. 

    “We were surprised to see the gender gap actually grow after faculty received tenure, given how important the title is,” Spoon said. “This result suggests that perhaps the field has neglected thinking about tenured women and their experiences.”

    The team also surveyed more than 10,000 current and former faculty members for factors that led or could lead to their decision to leave a faculty job. The result showed women are more likely to feel pushed by a variety of factors out of their faculty positions, while men are more likely to be pulled toward more attractive jobs elsewhere. The most common reasons women, especially tenured women, reported for leaving academia were harsh workplace climates, which can include dysfunctional leadership, harassment, discrimination and feelings of not belonging. 

    While previous research has suggested that women are more likely to leave academia in pursuit of better work-life balance, the new paper found that male faculty were about as likely to leave for this reason.

    “We see an emphasis on work-life balance among early career faculty members,” said Clauset. “But the issue with workplace climate is the dominating factor among the women tenured professors, a position that lasts the majority of one’s academic career.” 

    The researchers hope their paper will inspire administrators nationwide to take action.

    “It can start with asking faculty, particularly women, what needs to be done, listening, and taking specific, concrete steps to address their concerns,” Spoon said.

    University of Colorado Boulder

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  • Tips for setting, reaching financial goals

    Tips for setting, reaching financial goals

    Whatever a person’s individual dreams, setting clear financial goals is a vital step toward making them a reality.

    Nathan Harness, Ph.D., director of the Financial Planning Program in the Department of Agricultural Economics in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, offered his perspective on why setting financial goals is important as well as the most effective way to identify, prioritize and meet those goals.

    Why setting financial goals is important

    Whatever your dreams – large or small – setting realistic financial goals is critical for achieving whatever matters most to you. And understanding how to set these goals is essential for creating a financial framework that works for you by reflecting your personal priorities and values.

    “When you set financial goals, you bring specific direction and purpose to your money,” Harness said. “Financial goals help you build a vision for the future for yourself and others. Specific and measurable goals help bring accountability and coordination to your financial life.”

    Harness said it’s important to reflect on your motivations and intentions, as well as your dreams and desires.

    “It’s not just about creating a checklist, it’s a powerful tool to bring together what you deeply value with your daily actions. This can bring alignment between your core values and life aspirations.”

    Guidelines for developing financial goals 

    Realistic financial goal setting is an initial step on a path that can help lead to a more secure and purposeful future, Harness said, adding a realistic goal should be:

    • Achievable. Base goals on actual or reasonably anticipated income. Don’t count on a surprise inheritance or winning the lottery.
    • Specific. A specific goal might be to buy a new car within 12 months or to save enough for a down payment on a house in less than four years.
    • Measurable. Each goal should have a deadline, which might be the age at which you want to retire or the timeline for affording the once-in-a-lifetime vacation you’ve been dreaming about.

    Harness said, as with many other personal goals, it’s important to know and understand the motivation behind them.

    “Ask yourself about the real purpose of your goals,” he said. “Think about what motivates your decision and what you hope to benefit by reaching that goal.”  

    He said it also helps to establish financial goals with a general time frame in mind.

    “Short-term financial goals are usually those you hope to achieve within the next one to three years, while medium-term goals are those three to five years in the future and long-term goals are typically seven or more years in the future.”

    He said short-term goals typically require investments with short-term maturity dates or savings vehicles that provide safe interest, if possible, and protection from a loss of principal.

    “For medium-term investments or savings, you need to make sure you can access your funds without incurring a penalty,” he said. “And for long-term goals, you’ll want to consider investments that are more likely to yield better returns over time, such as the stock market. Of course, a financial planner can help you with making such investment decisions.”

    Listing and prioritizing  

    After identifying your goals, it’s important to prioritize them, Harness said.

    “Write down your goals in the priority you want to give them, making sure they are clear and realistic,” he said. “And check on your goals from time to time to make sure you are on track and see how you are progressing.”

    Harness said to note specific details about each goal, including a desired time frame to reach them, the amount of money needed and how much has been saved to date.

    “These priorities can be different from person to person, so make sure these priorities reflect your values and what’s important to you and not someone else,” he said. “Prioritize short-, medium- and long-term goals, but do not forget that it is often possible to work toward more than one goal at a time.”

    For example, he said, it’s possible to save for a vacation or to buy a new vehicle while also putting money aside for retirement.

    “You can determine how much attention to give each of these goals based on your personal evaluation of their importance and adjust them if something changes.”

    Money management basics to help achieve financial goals

    Harness said after identifying goals, you need to put some financial basics in place to provide a strong foundation for pursuing your goals.

    These basics include:

    • Paying off debts. Paying off outstanding debts, especially any high-interest credit card debts, is a good start toward freeing up some of the money you need to save so you can contribute more resources toward your financial goals.
    • Having an emergency fund. While it may seem like putting money aside for emergencies is a financial “detour” from saving for your goals, it is actually a vital safety net for preserving your net worth.

    “It’s important to set funds aside for unexpected and potentially costly situations, such as losing a job or incurring substantial medical expenses,” Harness said. “A good rule of thumb is to have enough money stashed away in an easily accessible savings account for covering three to six months of normal living expenses.”

    Changing or modifying financial goals

    “After you have identified your financial goals, it’s important that you realize these may need to change or evolve based on various life changes or circumstances,” he said. “While you should generally revisit your financial goals at least once a year, you should also revisit them when a significant change impacts your life or financial status. It can also be helpful to share your goals with a trusted partner or establish a relationship with a certified financial planner.”   

    Financial goals should be flexible enough to account for changes in one’s life or view of what is most important, he said.

    “Financial goals help you clarify your priorities and prepare for a future in which you have accomplished those things you have determined are the most important to you,” he said. “But it is not entirely static, and you need to be open to the possibility that these goals may need to be modified.”

    Harness said to keep in mind the original motivation behind a particular financial goal and ask yourself if that motivation has changed for any reason.

    “Be honest with yourself about your financial goals and your ability and desire to meet them,” he said. “Having realistic, purposeful and well-thought-out goals makes it more likely that you will feel confident about those goals and will stay on track to achieve them.”

    Texas A&M AgriLife

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  • Sustainable futures beyond mining

    Sustainable futures beyond mining

    Newswise — Mining brings huge social and environmental change to communities: landscapes, livelihoods and the social fabric evolve alongside the industry. But what happens when the mines close? What problems face communities that lose their main employer and the very core of their identity and social networks? A research fellow at the University of Göttingen provides recommendations for governments to successfully navigate mining communities through their transition toward non-mining economies. Based on past experiences with industrial transitions, she suggests that a three-step approach centred around stakeholder collaboration could be the most effective way forward. This approach combines early planning, local-based solutions, and targeted investments aimed at fostering economic and workforce transformation. This comment article was published in Nature Energy.

    Dr Kamila Svobodova, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow at the University of Göttingen, argues that, in practice, governments struggle to truly engage mining communities in both legislation and action. Even the more successful, often deemed exemplary, transitions failed to follow the principles of open and just participation or invest enough time in the process. Early discussions about how the future will look following closure help to build trust and relationships with communities. A combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches engages people at all levels. This ensures that the local context is understood and targeted specifically. It also establishes networks for collaboration during the transition. Effective coordination of investments toward mining communities, including funding to implement measures to support workers, seed new industries, support innovations, and enhance essential services in urban centres, proved to be successful in the past.

    “To ensure energy security, it’s essential for governments to recognize the profound transformation that residents of mining communities experience when they shift away from mining,” Svobodova explains. “Neglecting these communities, their inherent strength of mining identity and unity, could lead to social and economic instability, potentially affecting the overall national energy infrastructure.”

    Moving toward closure and consequently away from mining is not an easy or short journey. “It is essential that governments recognize that the transition takes time, and persistence is essential for success,” says Svoboda. “They should openly communicate their strategies, ensuring communities and other stakeholders are well-informed and engaged. Building trust and providing guidance helps residents navigate the uncertainties associated with transitions. By embracing the three-step approach that centers around stakeholder engagement, governments can prioritize equitable and just outcomes when navigating mining transitions as part of their energy security strategies.”

    University of Gottingen

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  • ASTRO 2023 Session Shines Spotlight on Physician Burnout

    ASTRO 2023 Session Shines Spotlight on Physician Burnout

    Newswise — MIAMI, FLORIDA (EMBARGOED UNTIL SEPT. 29, 2023, AT 5 PM ET, 2023) – Physician burnout was already a trending topic within the medical community before 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic brought national attention to the issue.

    Typical stressors such as long hours, poor work-life balance, frustrating insurance denials and cumbersome medical documentation were compounded by new challenges from a novel, deadly virus that killed millions worldwide and necessitated a paradigm shift in care delivery.

    The side effects were widespread and readily apparent. By late 2021, research by the American Medical Association, Mayo Clinic and Stanford Medicine found that the prevalence of burnout among physicians was almost 63%, up from less than 40% the previous year. Additionally, research has repeatedly shown that occupational burnout among physicians is considerably higher than with the overall U.S. workforce.    

    So, where do things stand now? A panel of experts will delve into this topic at ASTRO 2023, the annual meeting of the American Society of Radiation Oncology, Oct. 1-4, in San Diego. The discussion, titled “Getting It All Done – Practical Strategies at All Career Stages,” occurs on Monday, Oct. 2, from 8-9 a.m., in Room 2.

    Crystal Seldon Taswell, MD, radiation oncologist and researcher with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, will co-moderate the panel discussion with Leah Katz, MD, from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.  

    Seldon Taswell and Katz will provide background on the extent of burnout within radiation oncology and medicine in general. They also will discuss the curriculum gap for residents regarding time management, balancing clinical and research work and learning boundaries for better work-life balance in an always-connected world.

    “Radiation oncology and other specialties do an excellent job of teaching resident physicians the clinical side of the job,” said Seldon Taswell, who specializes in treating breast and musculoskeletal cancers. “But often, there is a curriculum void in teaching the intangibles that ensure proper work-life integration and professional satisfaction.” 

    Seldon Taswell noted that the ASTRO panel discussion was purposely designed to offer practical strategies for practicing physicians at different stages of their careers. Panelists are:

    • Sara Beltran Ponce, MD, radiation oncology resident and mother, sharing her personal time-management tips and ways to support physician-parents.

     

    • Matt Katz, MD, physician and parent, explaining how to navigate work-life balance through various career changes and pursue academic interests in a private-practice setting.

     

    • Anthony D’amico, MD, PhD, veteran radiation oncologist and professor, offering insights into building core values into daily routines and mentoring residents/attendings as they seek balance in their lives.

     

    • Christina Henson, MD, early-career physician and parent, discussing how she navigates clinical care, research and resident teaching, as well as the challenges for women in medicine.

    “We know from research and physician surveys, in particular, that poor work-life integration is a critical driver of professional burnout,” explained Seldon Taswell. “This phenomenon can lead to higher rates of depression, drug and alcohol abuse, divorce and suicidal thoughts among physicians.”

    She added that professional burnout has potentially harmful effects on patient care, including increased medical errors, decreased patient satisfaction and strained relationships among physician colleagues.

    “Physician well-being goes hand-in-hand with the health and wellness of patients and our healthcare system in general,” Seldon Taswell said. “I look forward to participating in this important conversation at ASTRO 2023 to ensure physician wellness remains in the national spotlight.”     

    # # #

    Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

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  • Van Andel Institute appoints new Graduate School dean and chief academic officer

    Van Andel Institute appoints new Graduate School dean and chief academic officer

    Newswise — GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Sept. 26, 2023) — Van Andel Institute has appointed Eric Swindell, Ph.D., as dean and chief academic officer of Van Andel Institute Graduate School, effective Dec. 4, 2023.

    Swindell joins the Institute after a distinguished 25-year career in scientific research, with the past several years dedicated to leadership positions in biomedical graduate education. He brings a proven track record as a dynamic, energetic and motivational team builder who possesses a deep understanding of science graduate education and a robust commitment to collaboration and inclusiveness.

    “I am excited to join Van Andel Institute and honored to lead the Graduate School in continuing to train the scientific leaders of the future,” Swindell said. “The combination of cutting-edge research, innovative educational programming and the ability to make paradigm-shifting discoveries makes Van Andel Institute a unique home for all trainees.”

    Currently associate dean at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in Houston, Texas, Swindell comes to Van Andel Institute Graduate School with an extensive background in research as well as graduate education administration, including recruitment, admissions, academic affairs, promotions, and curriculum. His previous experience includes academic leadership roles at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and UTHealth Houston.

    “There is no doubt Dr. Swindell will build on the Graduate School’s strong foundations to sustain and extend our our impact on the scientists of tomorrow,” said Peter A. Jones, Ph.D., D.Sc. (hon), VAI chief scientific officer and Graduate School president. “His vision for the Graduate School’s future is bold and exciting. In close collaboration with our faculty, he will further elevate our ability to train graduate students to lead in academia and industry.”

    Swindell has deep technical expertise and has held research positions at Baylor College of Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Max Planck Institute and the University of Texas. The recipient of several prestigious awards and honors, Swindell has served on multiple academic and research committees and published several high-impact papers.

    Born in Bermuda, Swindell earned his undergraduate degree in microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin and his Ph.D. in biochemistry from Baylor College of Medicine. He completed postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Baylor College of Medicine before joining the faculty at University of Texas McGovern Medical School.

    ###

    ABOUT VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE Van Andel Institute (VAI) is committed to improving the health and enhancing the lives of current and future generations through cutting-edge biomedical research and innovative educational offerings. Established in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1996 by the Van Andel family, VAI is now home to more than 500 scientists, educators and support staff, who work with a growing number of national and international collaborators to foster discovery. The Institute’s scientists study the origins of cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases and translate their findings into breakthrough prevention and treatment strategies. Our educators develop inquiry-based approaches for K-12 education to help students and teachers prepare the next generation of problem-solvers, while our Graduate School offers a rigorous, research-intensive Ph.D. program in molecular and cellular biology. Learn more at vai.org.

    Van Andel Institute

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  • Expert: Auto workers’ strike could impact future labor organizing

    Expert: Auto workers’ strike could impact future labor organizing

    In an unprecedented move, unionized auto workers from General Motors, Ford and Chrysler owner Stellantis have joined forces to pressure Detroit’s big three automakers into increasing wages and benefits.

    Even before the United Auto Workers (UAW) walked out Sept. 15, 2023 had already been unofficially named “the summer of strikes” for the unusually high level of labor activity. That’s because the persistently tight labor market combined with growing frustration over wage inequality has encouraged workers across industries to fight back and organize, according to Jake Rosenfeld, an expert on labor unions and a professor of sociology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

    Also fueling the trend: Support for unions is higher than it has been in nearly six decades. In a 2022 analysis for The Washington Post, Rosenfeld wrote, “The recent successes of organizing drives at Starbucks, Amazon, Trader Joe’s and elsewhere suggest unions are capitalizing on worker support and finding ways to overcome the barriers that have diminished their ranks in recent decades. The rising popularity of unions will probably bolster these efforts. After all, labor organizing is impossible if there is no support for unions.”

    With 13,000 auto workers in Missouri, Michigan and Ohio now on strike and others positioned to join them — including the union that represents autoworkers in Canada — the outcome of the UAW strike has the potential to impact future labor activity in the U.S., according to Rosenfeld, author of “You’re Paid What You’re Worth and Other Myths of the Modern Economy” and “What Unions No Longer Do.”

    “Past research has shown that successful strikes can prove contagious and spread to other industries,” he said. “But the strikes have to be successful. It’s important to keep in mind we have ongoing strikes out west in Los Angeles with writers, screen actors and hotel workers that unions are also watching closely. If these strikes fail, that could dampen enthusiasm for further action just as quickly as a successful strike could increase enthusiasm.”

    Below, Rosenfeld answers some of the common questions associated with the UAW strike.  

    Some have criticized the UAW’s demands as unreasonable. What’s your take?

    It’s hard to know without being privy to the inside negotiations which of the union’s demands are bargaining chips and which are non-negotiable. Certainly, they are asking for a lot, but the broader context here is important. For decades, the companies have eroded autoworkers’ contracts, claiming doing so was necessary to maintain competitiveness and — in the aftermath of the Great Recession — to stay afloat financially. The union is trying to claw back a lot that was lost during those lean years now that the companies are enjoying record profits.

    Do you think the current political environment has emboldened the auto workers?

    I think broader public sentiment certainly buttresses the union’s case here. But probably more importantly is the economic environment: You’ve got record-low unemployment combined with an auto sector that is thriving, making it the perfect opportunity for auto workers to ask for a share in the revenue.

    Will the work stoppage be long? What factors could affect that?

    Nobody wants a long strike, so certainly the incentives — and increasing pressures — are on both sides to find a deal. It does seem that both sides are actively negotiating, which hopefully indicates that they can find a solution in relatively short order.

    Last December, President Joe Biden and his administration played a role in preventing a railroad strike that would have devastated the economy. How might the Biden administration get involved in this strike?

    Whether or not the Biden administration gets involved likely depends on the duration of the strike and the broader devastation a long strike could play in key — politically speaking — state economies. But for now, what I’d expect is that the administration lets this play out while offering mediation as needed and requested by both sides.
     

    Washington University in St. Louis

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  • Bess Wildman named Vice Dean of Academic Administration and Finance for UChicago’s Biological Sciences Division

    Bess Wildman named Vice Dean of Academic Administration and Finance for UChicago’s Biological Sciences Division

    Newswise — Elizabeth (Bess) Wildman has been named as the new Vice Dean of Academic Administration and Finance for the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division. Her first day at UChicago will be November 27, 2023.

    The Vice Dean is the chief administrative officer of the BSD, responsible for all financial functions supporting academic units and ensuring a sound administrative infrastructure to effectively support its academic research and educational mission. Reporting directly to Mark Anderson, MD, PhD, Dean of the Biological Sciences Division and Pritzker School of Medicine and Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, Wildman will serve as a senior advisor and partner in the direction of research and administrative matters for the BSD and Pritzker School of Medicine.

    As a member of the senior leadership team, Wildman will be responsible for strategic financial and administrative planning, budget development and implementation, and policy formulation and organizational development. She will also implement processes and administrative systems to foster growth, efficiency, recruitment, and retention of faculty and building the financial strength of the BSD. She will have direct oversight of financial operations and budgets as well as facilities planning and management, human resources, information services, and faculty compensation.

    Wildman joins UChicago following a 25-year career in a variety of executive roles with proven success delivering administrative, operations, and financial results at leading schools of medicine, practice plans, and health systems. She joins UChicago from the University of California San Francisco, where she most recently served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the physicians’ organizations and cancer service line since 2019.

    Prior to her time at UCSF, she served as a founding member of the executive search division at the Medicus Firm, a physician search firm based in Nashville, and held a progressive series of finance, administrative, and operational leadership roles at Vanderbilt University, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

    University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division

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  • Maryam Saeri named Chief Administrative Officer of the University of Chicago Faculty Practice Plan

    Maryam Saeri named Chief Administrative Officer of the University of Chicago Faculty Practice Plan

    Newswise — Maryam Saeri has been named Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the University of Chicago Faculty Practice Plan (FPP), effective September 5, 2023.

    As CAO, Saeri will work with leaders across the FPP, university, and health system to enhance financial planning and compensation models, facilitate practice strategy, help drive ambulatory network development, and represent FPP for contracting and value-based practice. Reporting directly to Aytekin Oto, MD, Chief Physician and Dean for Clinical Affairs, she will have accountability for effective physician group development, recruitment, strategic planning, revenue cycle, physician compensation and overall physician group operational efficiencies.

    Saeri joins UChicago from Yale University, where she has been serving as Chief Operating Officer for Yale Medicine since 2016. In that position, she helped lead the evolution and growth of Yale Medicine into the largest academic multi-specialty practice in New England by designing and leading the implementation of numerous clinical optimization strategies and scalable innovations resulting in greater operational rigor, market differentiation, and excellence in patient care and experience. Prior to that role, she was Vice Chair of Finance & Administration for the Department of Pediatrics at Yale from 2013 to 2016 and held several leadership roles at British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada, from 1999 to 2013. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master’s Degree in Business Administration (Healthcare Concentration) from the University of British Columbia.

    University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division

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  • Expedited work permits for migrants a key part of ‘transition to life’ in NYS

    Expedited work permits for migrants a key part of ‘transition to life’ in NYS

    Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday called on the White House to do more to help the surge of migrants coming to New York. In a public address, she pushed for expedited work permits and more federal monetary assistance. 

    Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer, clinical professor of law at Cornell Law School, says allowing migrants to work is an important part of alleviating the crisis. 

    Kelley-Widmer says:

    “Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams, together with the Biden Administration, must work collaboratively to ensure that all arriving migrants are supported in their transition to life in New York State. In upstate New York, coalitions of service providers have already been working to welcome new arrivals.  

    “Once migrants’ basic needs like housing and medical care are met, they will be ready to seek work. Allowing migrants to work means they can reciprocate the care upstate communities are extending them, helping to alleviate the worker shortage in these areas. But, under the current law, they cannot apply for a work permit until their asylum claim has been pending for six months. 

    “The Biden Administration should work to expedite the asylum and work authorization process, which they could do through an interim final rule under the Administrative Procedures Act. Municipalities across New York and the nation have the humanitarian duty to welcome migrants, who will in turn revitalize local economies and become part of the community.”

    Stephen Yale-Loehr, professor of immigration law at Cornell Law School, says that problems caused by the recent influx of migrants to New York can be resolved without the courts. Yale-Loehr says:  

    “An influx of migrants has cost New York City over a billion dollars. As a result, Mayor Eric Adams is trying to relocate some migrants upstate. Some upstate counties have responded by issuing ordinances barring migrants from being relocated to their areas. The issue is now being litigated. The legal issue is whether the New York state constitution requires the whole state to provide a right to shelter, not just New York City. 

    “This issue can be de-escalated and resolved politically, rather than through the courts. First, Congress should appropriate money to help all states that are housing these migrants. Second, the NY state legislature should allocate money statewide to help migrants relocate. Third, migrants should be given work permits so that they can help resolve labor shortages throughout the state. Done correctly, this can be a win-win for everyone.”

     

     

    Cornell University has dedicated television and audio studios available for media interviews.

     

    – 30 –

    Cornell University

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  • Automate or informate? Firms must invest in specific types of IT to improve working capital management

    Automate or informate? Firms must invest in specific types of IT to improve working capital management

    Newswise — The management of working capital — or a firm’s current assets minus its current liabilities — aids organizations in making efficient use of their existing assets and maximizing cash flow.

    The relationship between efficient working capital management and firm performance can be complex due to globally dispersed supply chains, number of suppliers and product variety, and technological uncertainty, among other factors.

    New research from the University of Notre Dame shows that information technology represents a critical investment that firms must make in order to make informed, objective and firm-specific working capital decisions that would result in improved performance.

    “Impact of working capital on firm performance: Does IT matter?” is forthcoming in the Journal of Operations Management from Sarv Devaraj, the Fred V. Duda Professor of Management in Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.

    Based on a sample of 1,054 U.S.-based manufacturing firms during 2011-13, the study analyzes IT infrastructure investment, which includes spending on servers and hardware, and IT labor investment — hiring and training IT employees.

    The study explains how IT infrastructure and IT labor perform distinct roles that can help automate (use technology to increase the speed and accuracy of process execution) and/or informate (use technology to create new information), thereby moderating the working capital-firm performance relationship.

    “Our results show that IT infrastructure investments have a stronger impact on the positive relationship between working capital management and firm performance than IT labor investments,” said Devaraj, who specializes in business analytics, supply chain management and the business value of technology. “This is mostly due to the structured and transactional nature of the data underlying working capital processes.”

    The three metrics that drive a firm’s working capital performance are days inventory outstanding (DIO), which represents the firm’s inventory on hand at the current sales rate; days payables outstanding (DPO), or the period of time that a company takes to pay off its suppliers; and days sales outstanding (DSO), which represents the period of time between the sale of goods and the collection of revenue by the company.

    Firms can improve performance by aggressively managing their working capital by reducing DIO and DSO and increasing DPO. However, delaying payables excessively, cutting down on inventory or unduly shortening the receivables cycle can make the supply chain vulnerable and impact firm performance negatively.

    The study reveals that IT infrastructure expenditures improved the positive effects of DPO while reducing the negative effects of DIO and DSO on business performance. It also found that IT labor investments can boost the beneficial effects of DPO while lessening the negative effects of DIO. However, the DSO-firm performance link was not reduced by IT labor investments.

    While the performance effects of working capital processes related to inventory, payables and receivables are amplified by IT infrastructure due to the mostly structured nature of the underlying processes, IT labor can also have a unique role to play in the working capital-performance relationship.

    IT business analysts can interpret working capital data, analyze key cash flow metrics, gauge the implications of changes in the supply chain environment for working capital management and share these insights with senior management and other employees. They can also develop new processes based on the needs of relevant stakeholders.

    “As businesses struggle to figure out how best to manage their working capital, it’s important for managers to get buy-in from their superiors for any new IT investment,” Devaraj said. “Our findings should enable managers looking after working capital-related processes to justify making greater investments in IT and, particularly, in IT infrastructure.”

    Co-authors of the study are Palash Deb from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Suvendu Naskar from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and Preetam Basu from the University of Kent.

    University of Notre Dame

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  • AANA Launches MOTION Career Exploration Platform to Empower CRNAs with Better Career Choices

    AANA Launches MOTION Career Exploration Platform to Empower CRNAs with Better Career Choices

    Newswise — ROSEMONT, Ill. – The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) has launched its new interactive career exploration platform, MOTION, to assist each of AANA’s nearly 61,000 members in making informed career choices.

    MOTION is a cutting-edge, map-based career-exploration platform that is purpose-built to assist CRNAs in making well-informed career decisions and locate the best opportunities for personal and professional growth. The platform empowers members to take control of their job search by providing them with the most comprehensive database of virtually every CRNA employer location in the United States.

    “At AANA, our mission is to be tireless advocates for all Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), supporting their careers and enriching their lives and those of their families,” said Chief Executive Officer Bill Bruce. “As the healthcare landscape evolves, we recognize the need to equip our members with better tools to navigate their career paths. MOTION will provide our members with the resources they need to thrive in their profession.”

    Created by MedGeo Ventures, MOTION was born from the belief that the right career move can be transformative, not just for pay scale and hours, but for every aspect of life. CRNAs, upon login, will be presented with a map that features CRNA employer locations. Each location on the map will be flagged and searchable as one of three designations:

    • INACTIVE SITES: Employers have the option to add branding and update the information for their practice sites and providers at any time, free of charge.
    • NETWORKING SITES: Employers can upgrade their sites to “networking” status to build a talent pipeline or hire opportunistically. The Networking Sites offer detailed employer information, including contact information.
    • HIRING SITES: Employers can upgrade to hiring sites, allowing them to identify locations with active job openings. Hiring Sites provide all the features of Networking Sites, plus unlimited job postings for that location.

    Additional features unique to AANA’s MOTION platform include map layers of community information such as housing costs and commute times; employer messaging to directly engage with employers before submitting an application; the ability to follow a site or entire market to get notifications of material changes; and AANA career liaisons to assist members with career option research and facilitate member referrals to employers.

    MedGeo, a partially held subsidiary of AANA, strives to equip members of the healthcare profession with better tools to navigate their career paths.

    “We are living through a unique time in the history of our field, and we are committed to supporting CRNAs with a platform that delivers more data and better ways to connect with employers,” said MedGeo Co-Founder, Jarod Collins.

     

    About MedGeo

    MedGeo is a map-based career exploration platform that’s purpose-built for medical association members. Our white-labeled, interactive experience gives associations more ways to improve the member experience with advanced search filters, robust comparative data, and an enjoyable search experience for job seekers.

     

    About AANA

    Founded in 1931 and located in Rosemont, Ill., and Washington, D.C., the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) is the professional organization representing nearly 61,000 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and student registered nurse anesthetists across the United States. As advanced practice registered nurses, CRNAs are anesthesia experts who administer more than 50 million anesthetics to patients in the United States each year and are the primary providers of anesthesia care in rural America. CRNAs represent more than 80% of the anesthesia providers in rural counties. For more information, visit www.aana.com.

     

     

    American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology

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  • ORNL Buildings Researchers Earn Top ASHRAE Honors

    ORNL Buildings Researchers Earn Top ASHRAE Honors

    Newswise — Kashif Nawaz and Mahabir Bhandari, building technologies researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, were recognized for research achievements in support of ASHRAE during the 2023 annual conference of the national heating, refrigerating, and air-conditioning engineering society.

    Nawaz, a distinguished researcher and head of ORNL’s Buildings Technologies Research Section, received the Crosby Field Award, which honors the highest-rated paper presented before a technical session, a symposium or poster session or at a society meeting. He was recognized for the paper, “Impact and Value of ASHRAE’s Standards and Technology (RP-1848).”

    Nawaz has more than 15 years of research and development experience and is a recognized leader in different aspects of a building’s heating, cooling and dehumidification systems, including novel heat exchangers. He has pioneered the development of a new generation of high-temperature heat exchangers manufactured with ceramics and composites using additive manufacturing. His recent research has led to the development of unique concepts for direct air capture of carbon dioxide from buildings. Nawaz previously received ASHRAE’s Exceptional Service Award and the Distinguished Service Award.

    Bhandari, a researcher in the Building Envelope and Materials Research group, received the Distinguished Service Award, which salutes members who have served the society with distinction by giving their time and talent in chapter, regional and society activities. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of building energy performance. Bhandari’s research focuses on whole-building energy simulation and the integration of energy-efficient technologies in buildings. He also leads the combined heat and power deployment support program for DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office. He has served as a chair of ASHRAE’s fenestration technical committee.

    “We are proud of these distinguished researchers for all that they do, not only for ORNL but also for the larger professional community,” said Robert Wagner, director of ORNL’s Buildings and Transportation Science Division. “Both Mahabir and Kashif have made significant contributions to the advancement of building envelope and equipment research.”

    Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is a global professional society committed to serving humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and allied fields.

    UT-Battelle manages ORNL for DOE’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.

    Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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  • Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Earns $8.6 Million Grant to Protect Workers

    Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health Earns $8.6 Million Grant to Protect Workers

    BYLINE: Bubba Brown

    Newswise — The Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (RMCOEH), a partnership between the University of Utah and Weber State University and one of the nation’s leading centers focused on the health and safety of workers and their environment, was recently awarded an $8.6 million grant that will allow it to further a mission that touches tens of thousands of people each year in Utah and across the West.  

    The purpose of the funding, from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, is to provide students with graduate-level training in occupational and environmental health and safety, offer continuing education to professionals and businesses, and perform research that moves the needle on topics related to worker health and safety. RMCOEH is one of 18 NIOSH-sponsored Education and Research Centers in the U.S. RMCOEH has received funding from NIOSH since the center’s founding in 1977 and must reapply for the grant through a competing renewal process every five years. 

    “We are grateful for our partnership with NIOSH and pleased that we continue to demonstrate our ability to turn grant money into real-world impacts that improve lives of workers and aid businesses,” said Kurt Hegmann, M.D., who has directed RMCOEH since 2003. “We’re here to make sure as many workers as possible return to their families, healthy and whole, at the end of the day. That’s a responsibility that we, as well as the folks at NIOSH, take seriously.” 

    RMCOEH uses the NIOSH funding to support its academic programs in Occupational Medicine, Ergonomics and Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Occupational Injury Prevention, and Targeted Research Training, all housed at the University of Utah, as well as its Continuing Education program at Weber State. The grant also funds Outreach and Pilot Project Research Training initiatives.

    Since its inception, RMCOEH has produced 781 graduates from its degree programs. The vast majority of the center’s trainees assume professional positions in which they typically work to improve the health and safety of thousands of workers. The center’s Continuing Education and Outreach efforts, meanwhile, have touched an annual average of 93,000 people and 8,200 businesses over the last five years.

    RMCOEH’s research impacts are just as vast. Faculty and trainees publish approximately 80 peer-reviewed papers a year, producing groundbreaking work on topics ranging from musculoskeletal disorders among workers to wearable robotics that may enable people with debilitating conditions to return to work. During the pandemic, the center helped lead research on COVID-19 that resulted in two peer-reviewed articles in The New England Journal of Medicine, the world’s most prestigious medical journal, as well as several other papers. 

    “We’re immensely proud of what we have accomplished,” said RMCOEH Deputy Director Matthew Hughes, M.D. “It takes contributions from everyone involved with the center at both universities. It’s exciting to think about where we will be a few years from now when we are applying for this grant again.”

    This NIOSH award marks the first time RMCOEH has earned the funding as a multi-university partnership. After the center operated solely at the University of Utah for most of its existence, the Utah Legislature in 2021 passed a law bringing Weber State into its operating structure. Buoyed by the partnership, the first of its kind in Utah, RMCOEH has entered an era of growth that is unique in its history.

    The center is currently launching an Occupational Health Nursing graduate certificate program at Weber State alongside a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety and health. It will add graduate degree programs in Mining Safety and Occupational Health Psychology at the University of Utah next year. RMCOEH intends to apply for supplemental NIOSH support for the three new graduate-level offerings this fall.

    “Put simply, RMCOEH would not exist without the support NIOSH has given us over the last 40-plus years, and would certainly not have established such a remarkable legacy,” Hegmann said. “We are gratified that NIOSH continues to entrust us to carry out our mission, and we will do all we can to ensure that workers and employers would agree that it is money well spent.”

    University of Utah Health

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