From the Dean: No rest for the researchers
I should begin by noting that Susan and I plan to take a little time off to relax and be with family over the next few weeks, so this column will be brief.
That said, it’s worth noting that faculty researchers at our School have not relaxed in their many efforts this summer. Several of them, in fact, learned recently that they are or will be receiving impressive research awards announced by a pair of federal agencies.
First, the Chair of our Department of Geriatrics, Dr. Don Jurivich, and his Dakota Geriatrics crew were notified that they have been awarded a $5 million Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant as part of HRSA’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program. This new grant is the second such award the team has received since 2019 to build the geriatrics workforce in North and South Dakota. More news on this grant is forthcoming.
Second, Dr. Gary Schwartz, chair of our Department of Population Health, and his colleagues across UND learned recently that UND will receive a nearly $500,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant that will help Dr. Schwartz and his team continue an already strong research agenda focused on radon. As you likely know, radon is a colorless and odorless radioactive gas present in many homes in North Dakota. In this case, the grant will help our School and UND’s Department of Communication better understand strategies for engaging North Dakotans directly on radon education and identify factors that will help homeowners take action on radon.
Excellent work, everyone.
Finally, it doesn’t seem possible that we will be welcoming the incoming medical student Class of 2028 in a few short weeks! What has been a quiet interlude after our three recent commencement exercises in May will come to an abrupt end on July 1! But I can’t wait to greet the incoming medical students and our other students who will be joining us later. By the way, the early start to the medical program was occasioned by the recent major curricular revamping that took place over the past few years.
Until then, given travel and the July 4 holiday, my next column will appear on July 12. So, please enjoy the nice weather and have a happy and safe Fourth of July holiday.
Joshua Wynne, MD, MBA, MPH
Vice President for Health Affairs, UND
Dean, UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences
