Tag Archives: University of Michigan

Adventures in Michigan: Polish Exhibit opening at Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts

Entertainment, Local Entertainment, , , ,
From “100 Years of Polish Independence: Zakopane 1918.” (University of Michigan)

By The West Michigan Tourist Association

The Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts (RRCA) is pleased to present an exhibition and lecture on Zakopane, Poland. “100 Years of Polish Independence: Zakopane 1918”is an exhibition of photographs from the archives of the Tatra Museum in Zakopane. It tells the unique story of the short-lived Republic of Zakopane, which was established in the concluding weeks of the First World War. The exhibit will run from Feb. 10 – March 27 with an opening reception and lecture on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 1 – 5 p.m. The University of Michigan lecturer and assistant director of undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan history department, Dr. Kate Wroblewski, will present a lecture at 2 p.m.

Situated in the scenic Tatra Mountains, in the 19th century, Zakopane attracted artists, writers, and intellectuals from Poland’s four corners. Together with the local inhabitants, they created a diverse and distinctive community that flourishes today. This exhibit will feature stunning archival photographs revealing the beauty, originality, and diversity of the mountain resort town and its inhabitants.

The University of Michigan Alumni Club of  Greater Manistee-Ludington is providing support for the reception and in assisting with the transportation of the exhibit. “We are thrilled to introduce Zakopane to Manistee! We appreciate the support from the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Greater Manistee-Ludington in making this a reality,” said Xavier Verna, Executive Director of the RRCA. “We are working together to curate this photography exhibit with food, music, and the Polish community in our region. Two Slices will prepare Polish-inspired food, and music will be furnished by Virgil Baker and the Just for Fund Band.“

The lecture and exhibit are free and open to the public. Reserve your spot for the lecture at RamsdellTheatre.org/art-exhibits. The exhibit is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Enter through 1st Street to view it. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, February 15 from 1 – 5 p.m.

CCPS has curated the exhibit and organized public lectures in collaboration with the Tatra Museum, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute in Warsaw, and Culture.pl as part of POLSKA 100, an international cultural program commemorating the centenary of Poland regaining Independence. It is financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland as part of the multi-year program NIEPODLEGŁA 2017-22.

School News Network: STEM fair projects lead to university research spots

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, , ,


Brady Strabel and Gabrielle Dykhouse, now University of Michigan freshman, researched gene editing for last spring’s East Kentwood High School STEM Fair (courtesy photo)

By Erin Albanese

School News Network

 

They may be in Ann Arbor establishing roots as college freshman, but four 2018 East Kentwood High School graduates used their senior STEM Fair projects to gain acceptance into a prestigious University of Michigan research program.

 

Now, as research assistants in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, they are conducting research on the environment, anatomy and magnetics in outer space, while working alongside U of M researchers on an ongoing or new research project.

 

Science teacher Chad VanHouten, in back, challenges students to research topics they are interested in (courtesy Photo)

Last spring, students had the chance to pick their own topics and delve into research for the fair. AP Biology students Brady Strabel and Gabrielle Dykhouse partnered on a project on gene editing in bacteria; Emma Pinchak studied small crustaceans called isopods (think potato bugs) and their dexterity and speed. Dat Huynh researched optimal light intensity for aquatic plants.

 

“The goal of the STEM Fair is to provide an opportunity for students to do research that they are interested in, not necessarily research that we put on them,” said AP Biology teacher Chad VanHouten, who emphasized that giving students free reign of learning can lead to great things. “We have four kids this year that used their STEM Fair projects to get into this elite program, and it is research above and beyond their normal major.”

 

Dat Huynh presents a calculus project he did along with research on aquatic plants (courtesy photo)

Bringing Science to the Next Level

 

The students are now researching complex topics. Gabrielle, a neuroscience major, is studying technology related to cardiac electrophysiology (the electrical activity of the heart).

 

She said her high school experience paved the way for her. “I wanted to pursue research in Michigan’s groundbreaking medical operations. My research experience definitely set me apart from the newbies and my (Advanced Placement course) content knowledge has made the college content transition very easy,” she said.

 

For UROP, Gabrielle interviewed with a Harvard medical school graduate cardiologist, now a U of M researcher, about his project with atrial defibrillation. She said the researcher told Gabrielle that her high school project set her apart.

 

“He basically said that out of his nine applicants mine stood out by far, and if I’m interested the position is mine.”

 

Emma, an environmental science major, is conducting global warming research in the area of forestry management. She said she was able to tell UROP program leaders about high school lab experience.

 

“Nothing seems too difficult. I’m especially seeing overlap in examples of famous studies we talked about in (East Kentwood biology and environmental science classes), especially to do with pollution and ecology.”

 

Brady, who is considering computer science or aerospace engineering as majors, is working on the project involving devices that measure magnetic fields for extreme environments.

 

Emma Pinchak, right, tells an East Kentwood graduate about her research on isopods (courtesy photo)

“We’re basically developing, packaging and deploying these new magnetometer systems around the poles and in space,” he said. “East Kentwood science exposed me to laboratory experience, helping me to identify my interest in research and strengthening my application for applying to research teams.”

 

The district’s annual fair is open to all STEM classes – middle school students have also participated – challenging students to make posters about the research they’ve done, from building robots to creating rat mazes. Students, parents and community members attend

 

“Kids are teaching kids, which we love,” VanHouten said.

 

Check out School News Network for more stories about students, schools, and faculty in West Michigan.

School News Network: ELL apps ‘open doors’ for early childhood

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, , , ,

Researcher Dr. Twila Tardif, far right; and Dr. Carol Lautenbach, Godfrey-Lee’s Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Design, second from right; pose with Tardif’s research assistants and family

 

By Birdie Bereza

School News Network

 

Adrian Lara-Lopez is a spirited 5-year-old. His favorite thing about school, he says, is playing Legos. He zooms out of sight of his mother, Maria Lopez, on the playground outside of the Early Childhood Center, where he is a kindergartner. But when it’s time to sit still for a few minutes and work on an educational mobile app designed specifically for English-language learners, he happily obliges.

 

“I like the games!” he exclaims.

 

Adrian is one of eight English-language learners at the school who are participating in research led by Dr. Twila Tardif, a developmental psychologist, professor and researcher at the University of Michigan.

 

Tardif has spent the last two decades studying how children develop spoken language and reading, with a focus on bilingual children. She helped develop a set of animations for teaching English as a second language for abcmouse.com, a digital learning resource for children ages 2-8.

 

Tardif said the broad goal of the research is to understand how children learn from apps and animations. She hopes to see whether or not carefully scaffolded apps and animations that support classroom learning can help ELLs grasp academic English.

 

Using the abcmouse.com platform, Adrian and other study participants work one-on-one with a parent outside of school. They spend about 10 minutes a day viewing a series of games and videos on a tablet, computer or mobile device. The animations teach them about things like colors, numbers, and the alphabet. They then talk with the parent about what they viewed.

 

“He’s learning a lot,” said Lopez, who speaks Spanish, as Jose Lara, Adrian’s father, translates. “He’s getting better at learning his numbers. He’s watching and and learning every day.”

 

Lopez said she thinks the work Adrian is doing on the app has improved his understanding of his homework and of what he is learning in school.

 

Adrian’s sister, Lizbeth Lara, 9, chimes in: “Sometimes he gets frustrated with homework but with this, he is entertained.”

 

 

Kindergartner Adrian Lara-Lopez uses the abcmouse.com app with his mother, Maria Lopez

Partnering for Success

 

Roughly 75 percent of families in the district are Hispanic and 50 percent of students are ELL, said Dr. Carol Lautenbach, the district’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning design. Lautenbach said  Spanish-speaking parents who are monolingual may not feel like they have enough ways to help their students learn.

 

“Parents are willing and eager to help, but they need the tools. This provides an opportunity to increase parents’ efficacy over a child’s success,” said Lautenbach. “We do the best we can at school with the time we have, but we know that students need more than the time at school.”

 

Godfrey-Lee students are the first wave to participate in this particular study, which will last two months. Tardif connected with GLPS through Kathy Hirsh-Pasek who, along with Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, co-authored the book “Becoming Brilliant.” GLPS has embraced the principles detailed in the book and worked with the authors to implement those principles in its schools.

 

“The district made a great partner because the families we are working with don’t necessarily have a lot of native English speakers to help at home,” said Tardif.

 

In addition, Tardif said, the district has “an extremely supportive staff, from the superintendent to the teachers who are involved.”

 

Adrian Lara-Lopez plays outside the Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Early Childhood Center, where he is a kindergartner

Teaching through Tech

 

Tardif said there is a huge variety of technology learning out there, and that the back-and-forth between the developers and the users is critical to getting it right.

 

“We absolutely need to do much more research about how kids are learning from apps and other technology,” Tardif said. “This kind of teaching is not going to go away.”

 

Ultimately, she said, her team hopes to find ways to improve learning and to provide support to children, families and schools.

 

“Research on how and what children can learn in different settings will help move that forward one step at a time.”

 

So far, Jose Lara is impressed with how the abcmouse.com platform and the animations developed by Tardif and her team have helped his son.

 

“We like this program, because (Adrian’s) really learning from it,” Lara said. “More and more, he’s recognizing letters and numbers. It opens doors for him.”

Astronomer discusses possibility of ninth planet in upcoming presentation

Entertainment, , ,

Astronomer Dr. David Gerdes visits Grand Rapids to talk about the possibility of a ninth planet.

 

Is there a ninth planet after all? The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) and Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Association (GRAAA) hosts Dr. David Gerdes, one of the lead astronomers searching for the ninth planet, on Thursday, March 15 at Schuler Books, 2660 28th St. SE.

 

There was a great deal of controversy when Pluto was officially removed as a planet in 2006, and it has not completely died down in the more than a decade that has elapsed since its demotion. Now there is growing evidence that a much larger planet lies beyond Pluto, and its discovery would mean that the solar system has nine planets again.

 

On Thursday, March 15 at 7 p.m., Dr. Gerdes will explain his latest research in a presentation The Coolest Place in the Solar System: New Worlds Beyond Neptune, located at Schuler Books, 2660 28th St. SE. The event is free and open to the public.

 

As one of the leading astronomers searching for a ninth planet, Dr. Gerdes is a well-known Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Michigan. Gerdes is currently located in Chile and utilizes a large telescope for his research.

 

There may be more than one additional planet lurking beyond Neptune. As Dr. Gerdes will explain, whatever is out there is so far away that any reflected sunlight would be very feeble, so its detection involves study of how its gravity effects other objects lying near the fringes of the solar system. These would include Pluto and other Kyper Belt objects.

 

Dr. Gerdes believes telescopes may now be big enough to detect worlds beyond Neptune if they knew where to look. He and colleagues are making calculations that will tell astronomers where to point telescopes to search. An announcement of a major discovery could be coming in the next few years.

 

This event is co-sponsored by the GRPM and GRAAA. For more information at graaa.org under Events Calendar.

Metro Health celebrates affiliation with U-M, looks toward the future

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, , , , ,

Metro Health: University of Michigan Health President and CEO Michael Faas (second from the left) stands with some of the officials who attended the celebration on Jan. 5. They included Metro Health: University of Michigan Health Chief Administrative Officer Floyd Wilson Jr. (far left), University of Michigan Executive Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs and President, Clinical Enterprise, David Spahlinger, M.D. (center) and Metro Health: University of Michigan Health Corporate Board Chair Doyle Hayes (far right). (Photo by Joanne Bailey-Boorsma)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

Metro Health’s announcement of its affiliation with the University of Michigan had even Lt. Governor Brian Calley saying “Go blue.”

 

“And those who really know me, know that is a hard thing for me to say,” said the Michigan State University graduate. Calley, along with state and local officials joined hospital staff and officers for a celebration Thursday, Jan. 5, of the new affiliation between Metro Health and U-M. The event took place at the hospital.

 

T-shirts were handed out with the new logo that includes the familiar maze-color M with Metro Health and the words University of Michigan Health underneath. Blue and gold balloons adorned the Professional Building as the Godwin Heights High School cheerleaders welcomed people in through the hospital doors and the Godwin Heights High School Band played the U-M fight song.

 

The purpose of the event was to provide staff and elected officials more detail about the new affiliation, which, according to a press release handed out at the event, is not a partnership. According to Metro Health: University of Michigan Health Corporate Board Chair Doyle Hayes, who spoke at the event, Metro Health employees would remain Metro Health employees and the decisions of what’s important to the community will remain with the physicians and members of West Michigan.

 

Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll congratulates Metro Health University of Michigan President and CEO Michael Faas. (Photo by Abigail Stricker.)

“This affiliation brings together a trusted community resource, this is your resource, and the specialty care of U-M national leadership which also brings medical research and innovation,” Doyle said. “This affliction will provide West Michigan with greater access to high quality health care.”

 

Metro Health: University of Michigan Health President and CEO Michael Faas said Metro Health already has begun recruiting and is starting to look at future plans that include expansion of the Metro Village Health, the first of its kind in the nation, and beyond into other buildings outside of the Wyoming campus. Hospital officials have indicated that future plans could be announced later this year.

 

Wyoming Mayor Jack Poll said it has been wonderful to watch Metro Health grow over the past 10 years since it moved to the city, with changes that no one really could have predicted.

 

“Well this is obviously very exciting for the City of Wyoming to see the merger occuring,” Poll said. “Two wonderful organizations that are very well established that are now teaming together to bring better health care to the City of Wyoming.”

Metro Health, U-M affiliation brings more choice to West Michigan

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Health, , , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

When Metro Health moved to Wyoming about nine years ago, it was tasked with not being just a boutique hospital in a suburban community, but a catalysis to bring quality care to not only its immediate community of Wyoming but the West Michigan region. With Metro Health’s affiliation with the University of Michigan Health System, Metro Health President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Faas believes the hospital has achieved that.

 

Metro Health President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Faas

“We were faced with trying to clinically integrate and grow while at the same time maintain services and infrastructure that we have,” Faas said during a recent interview about the new affiliation between Metro Health and U-M. “There is having more importance to the community, more market share, more money and new buildings and as these issues kept circling we knew that we needed to get a lot bigger and more significant for some of these things to happen.”

 

To achieve this, according to Faas, Metro Health started exploring the possibility of a partnership with another institution. Metro Health officials first went to non-profit U-M as the hospital had formed a relationship with U-M providing radiation oncology. However, Metro Health ended up courting a few other possibilities including the for-profit Tennessee-based Community Health Systems. The deal with Community Health Systems did not happen and Metro Health officials began to look at other possibilities.

 

“We knew one day it could happen,” Faas said of Metro Health’s affiliation with U-M. “We had favored that one the most because we felt it was the best match. Good things came to fruition for all the right reasons.”

 

In fact the affiliation between U-M and Metro Health is not that unusual especially as hospital officials deal with the many challenges in health care from reform efforts to becoming more clinically integrated. Just recently, Grinnell Regional Medical Center in Toledo announced negotiations with UnityPoint Health Des Moines and University of Iowa Health Care. Several hospitals in the Upper Peninsula have similar partnerships.

 

While Wyoming City officials have not had any meetings with Metro Health or U-M on the affiliation, City Manager Curtis Holt said he sees it being a great thing for the community, especially since health care is one of the fastest growing industries.

 

“I have said ever since Metro Health came to Wyoming that it is a great addition to the City of Wyoming,” Holt said. “They do a great job. I think they are beneficial to our community and to our residents which is the most important thing.”

 

Holt said he is cautious over the dollar value that the new affiliation will bring to the city since it is a non-profit venture and collection from this type of development is limited. The city could benefit from the spin off ventures such as restaurants, stores, commercial businesses and other small industries that develop from the affiliation, he said, adding that he is looking forward to meeting with Metro Health officials in the coming weeks to discuss Metro Health/U-M’s plans for the future.

 

“I believe that [Metro Health] has been so focused on getting this affiliation in place, and now that it is, they can start to focus on how they are going to make a difference in the community,” Holt said.

 

Which is exactly correct according to Faas. Now that the affiliation is in place, plans will begin to move forward on various projects which will include the building up of the Metro Health Village. However, the biggest change area residents will see is that for the first time in awhile, there will be a real choice in health care services in West Michigan, Faas said.

 

“U-M has been providing health care to all the residents of Michigan for more than a century,” Faas said. “Now with this relationship with Metro Health, U-M health care is more accessible, more convenient, and less expensive then everyone driving to Ann Arbor.”

Metro Health announces affiliation with U-M Health Services

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Community Health, , , ,

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma

joanne@wktv.org

 

With an eye toward providing more medical services and increasing health care options in West Michigan, Metro Health this week officially announced that the affiliation process with the University of Michigan Health System has been completed.

 

In June, Metro Health and UMHS signed a letter of intent for an affiliation. In September, both institutions approved the affiliation agreement with final regulatory approvals needed. More announcements about the affiliation and its impact are expected in the new year.

 

“We are a sister organization to them,” said Ellen Bristol, Metro Health director of internal communications and media relations. “Our governance will be by the University of Michigan regents, but we are still Metro Health. It means our employees are still Metro Health employees and U-M employees are still U-M employees.”

 

Physicians, executives and community members from West Michigan will continue serving on Metro Health boards and committees, working closely with University of Michigan leaders.

 

“The new affiliation will offer greater access to U-M services and physicians,” Bristol said. “There will be more choices offered and the hospital is able to deepen its services.”

 

The new logo for Metro Health which shows its affiliation with U-m Health Services.

U-M and Metro Health began working together in 2009 when U-M started providing radiation oncology at The Cancer Center at Metro Health Village. Clinical relations continued to develop in pediatric cardiology and pediatric endocrinology, all of which helped to pave the way for the affiliation, said Marschall Runge, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president for medical affairs, dean of the U-M Medical School and CEO of the U-M Health System.

 

“We are excited to further expand U-M services in West Michigan and to provide access to the highest quality care available to more Michigan residents,” Runge said. “Working together, we will improve the health of our patients and our communities.”

 

Metro Health President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Faas said the affiliation marks a new chapter in Metro Health’s history, “one that builds on the incredible legacy which began in 1942 when 23 osteopathic physicians opened Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital. I can think of no better way to honor our founders than to ensure Metro Health is able to to grow and continue serving patients of years to come.”

Metro Health and U-M Health System take next step towards partnership

3-bottom, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Non-Profits, , ,

metro health buildingBack in June, Metro Health announced its plans to join with the University of Michigan Health System. Three months later, the partnership is now one step closer with a definitive affiliation approved by both the board of directors of Metro Health Corporation and the Regents of the University of Michigan.

 

“We are excited about this relationship that should continually improve the care we can – together – provide residents of the state of Michigan. Metro Health will be essential to helping us move groundbreaking research and discovery from bench to bedside,” said Marxchall Runge, M.D., Ph. D., executive vice president of medical affairs, dean of the U-M Medical School and CEO of the U-M Health System.

 

Metro Health and U-M Health System will create a clinical care network that builds upon the strengths of the world-class U-M academic medical center and a very successful community-based health system. Together the two organizations will be able to collaborate on new and improved clinical care models across the system, enhancing patient access to physicians and other care providers at both organizations.

 

The partnership will focus on bringing increased health care innovation to West Michigan and Beyond.

 

“We are very excited about the opportunities we will have, together, to advance the boundaries of clinical practice and medical science through research discoveries and disseminating knowledge,” added Michael Faas, chief executive officer of Metro Health.

 

Along with innovation, the affiliation will enable Metro Health to further expand its primary care and speciality services, as well as enhance its use of complex medial technology.

 

Metro Health and the University of Michigan have no current plans for a satellite medical campus like the partnership with Spectrum Health and Michigan State University.

 

The deal is expected to be completed by year end, pending final regulatory approvals and completion of the closing process.