In the news

People under 50 can have strokes, too

A report examining the prevalence of strokes among people under 50 years old includes research and commentary from Wayne State University neurologist Dr. Seemant Chaturvedi, who took a look at how often people under the age of 50 were misdiagnosed. \"In our initial study, we found that about one out of seven, 14-percent of the patients, were being misdiagnosed in the emergency room, and one out of seven is a pretty significant number,\" he said. In the U.S., there are about 800,000 strokes a year with 10 percent experienced by those younger than 50.

Slightly more jobs for LIS grads working with kids in schools, public libraries

Freshly minted librarians have more opportunities to work with children and young adults in school and public libraries, according to Library Journal\'s annual Placements & Salaries Survey. \"Based on the reports of the graduates, school library placements continue to be viable,\" says Stephanie Maatta, an assistant professor at the Wayne State University School of Library Information Science, who has written the survey since 2003. \"Those who were already in the school system found it somewhat easier to move into a school library position. For those who were new to [the] field without any teaching experience, [they] felt it was much more difficult to break into the school district.\" A photo of Maatta is included.
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TechTown leadership change is real-life lesson for startups

A feature story highlights the growth and development of TechTown and the transition of leadership as Executive Director Randal Charlton steps down. Leslie Smith, general manager and former Michigan Economic Development Corp. director of business acceleration will succeed Charlton as president and CEO expanding the incubator beyond a startup support entity into a regional business development agency. Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour said he hopes that under Smith, TechTown will begin \"graduating\" companies -- growing them beyond startup phase when they can operate without assistance -- allowing the incubator to work with more and more companies. \"Randal certainly did do a terrific job getting it rolling, and Leslie has got the capability of going forward,\" Gilmour said. \"We\'re sad to see Randal go, but I think it\'s a good transition at this time. Under Leslie, we want greater size, scope and greater impact and influence.\"

Declining numbers of blacks seen in math, science

In a story examining a decline in African Americans' involvement in STEM education and careers, Joseph Francisco, a black chemistry professor at Purdue and past president of the American Chemical Society, spoke about his positive experiences at Wayne State University. After receiving his PhD, Francisco had several job offers, but he chose WSU. "I saw an opportunity at Wayne State to do good science in a supportive place that gave me the flexibility to make a contribution to the community," he said. "To give something back, to a black community."

Community protests Gilmour appearance at Chamber banquet

Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour was the keynote speaker at the 19th Annual American Arab Chamber of Commerce (AACC) Build Economic Bridges Banquet held Friday at The Henry Hotel. AACC Executive Director Fay Beydoun said in The Arab American News story, that the organization chose to invite President Gilmour based on his status within Michigan's economy. "Mr. Gilmour is a major player in Michigan's economy, specifically southeast Michigan," she said. "His accomplishments regionally as a top executive with Ford Motor Company as the Chairman of the Community Foundation and an effective board member of the new economic initiative (are noteworthy), and his experience and role complement the mission of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce." In response to his scheduled appearance, some members of the Arab Student Union demonstrated outside the chamber\'s banquet to protest because of Wayne State's decision last year to pull the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity Award. According to Matt Lockwood, WSU's director of communications, a task force has been formed and will begin meeting early next month. It will be comprised of people from WSU and the surrounding community and focus on how the university can expand and build upon its lineages with the Arab American community.

1.7 million NIH grant will help Wayne State University researchers prepare girls to study health-related disciplines in college

Sally Roberts, Wayne State University assistant professor of mathematics education, was awarded a $1.7 million grant to help prepare high school girls for success in math, science, technology and engineering, and boost the number of female students studying those disciplines in college. The National Institute of Health awarded the five-year grant to Roberts, who is planning programming in Metro Detroit targeting high school girls for science and math disciplines, including a summer academy, events for parents and students during the academic year and mentoring from WSU students.

WSU's Perinatology Research Branch

Fox 2 reporter Deena Centofanti's local "Health Works" segment exploring research on premature births being conducted at Wayne State University's Perinatology Research Branch, ran nationally on other Fox network outlets. A discovery made by researchers could save hundreds of thousands of babies from being born too soon across the country. Doctors know that women who have what is known as a \"short\" cervix are at higher risk for delivering a premature birth. A new gel containing progesterone can be rubbed on the cervix and help lower the risk. Dr. Roberto Romero, chief of the program in Perinatal Research and Obstetrics and Professor of Molecular Obstetrics and Genetics at Wayne State; and Dr. Sonia Hassan, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Wayne State University School of Medicine and associate dean for Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, were featured in the story.

The art of script

Gerry E. Conti, assistant professor and director of the Human Movement Laboratory, Occupational Therapy, Department of Health Care Sciences for Wayne State University, commented about the benefits when children learn to print and then write in cursive. "When you are doing writing cursively ... what happens is that hand is leaving a very distinct memory of letters in the sensory motor cortex in the brain," Conti said. When typing, Conti said fingers do not know an L from an F, but when the hand is writing individual letters, the physical action sends a message to the brain's cortex. "So the next time you see that word, it triggers that sensory motor memory," Conti said.

WSU's Perinatology Research Branch

Fox 2 reporter Deena Centofanti's local "Health Works" segment exploring research on premature births being conducted at Wayne State University's Perinatology Research Branch, ran nationally on other Fox network outlets. A discovery made by researchers could save hundreds of thousands of babies from being born too soon across the country. Doctors know that women who have what is known as a \"short\" cervix are at higher risk for delivering a premature birth. A new gel containing progesterone can be rubbed on the cervix and help lower the risk. Dr. Roberto Romero, chief of the program in Perinatal Research and Obstetrics, and Dr. Sonia Hassan, professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Wayne State University School of Medicine and associate dean for Maternal, Perinatal and Child Health, were featured in the story.

Damon Keith Center for Civil Rights grand opening

Wayne State University's Law School today is set to celebrate the grand opening of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights. The Keith Center honors the life and legacy of Keith, a federal judge, civil rights figure and 1956 Wayne Law alumnus. "Part of the new building is a permanent version of our 'Marching Toward Justice' exhibit telling the story of the 14th Amendment, and it's been designed to be a public destination site," professor Peter Hammer told WWJ Newsradio 950. The two-story, 10,000-square-foot building features classrooms, conference rooms, student organization space and a lecture hall.

Wayne State University opens Judge Damon J. Keith civil rights center

Numerous media outlets reported the dedication and opening of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights at Wayne State University. An overflow audience in the university\'s 600-seat Community Arts Auditorium stood to applaud when Damon J. Keith, 89, took the stage. Those attending included political leaders, federal, state and local judges. The two-story, 10,000-square-foot addition to Wayne State University\'s Law building on the west edge of the midtown campus will serve not only as the center for education in the laws of civil rights, but will also house programs to stimulate debate and action toward social justice and connect with area residents through legal clinics exploring laws for immigration and asylum, the disabled, the environment, small business and nonprofits. A photo gallery and video are included in the Detroit Free Press story. WJR talk show host Mitch Albom, who was a featured speaker at the grand opening ceremonies, mentioned the event at the top of his 5 p.m. show.

Experts want stronger message: Babies need to sleep on their backs and alone

A renewed call to encourage putting babies to sleep on their backs and discourage co-sleeping were among the solutions suggested by a panel of doctor-academics at a statewide summit in Ypsilanti called to curtail infant mortality in Michigan. The state MDCH in May appointed an 11-member team of doctor-academics to begin to address the issue. The group asked itself, "What can have the greatest impact in the shortest amount of time?" said Dr. Valerie Parisi, dean of Wayne State University's School of Medicine. While "Back to Sleep" or "Safe Sleep" campaigns have been underway since the early 1990s, the panel recognizes that not everyone is getting the message.
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Wayne State University professor gets $1.7 grant to help prepare girls for math, science

Sally Roberts, Wayne State University assistant professor of mathematics education, was awarded a $1.7 million grant to help prepare high school girls for success in math, science, technology and engineering, and boost the number of female students studying those disciplines in college. The National Institute of Health awarded the five-year grant to Roberts, who is planning programming in Metro Detroit targeting high school girls for science and math disciplines, including a summer academy, events for parents and students during the academic year and mentoring from WSU students.

Auto union UAW approves controversial Ford contract

Mike Smith, labor historian at Wayne State University, commented in a story about the influence of the United Auto Workers (UAW) over the years. UAW membership dropped significantly from the heyday of the automotive industry decades ago. Members tallied 1.5 million in 1979, but today that number is close to 355,000, one-third of which works in the auto industry, says Smith. The two-tier system in 2007 was "a massive philosophical change for the UAW" and signified the organization was becoming more willing to cooperate with the domestic automakers in order to keep their membership numbers solvent and prevent further labor cuts. "The whole game has changed. The main issue for bargaining now is job security," Smith adds. Marick Masters, director of the Douglas A. Fraser Center for Workplace Issues and Labor@Wayne, also was quoted in the piece. Even when the economy improves, UAW workers should not expect a return to the earlier era when they were guaranteed certain pay and benefit packages and were not necessarily forced to share in the long-term success of the company, says Masters. "What you're going to see is a continuing effort to reward a leaner workforce in a way that doesn't balloon the fixed costs of the company."

Dr. Roberto Romero, NIH Principal Investigator Of PREGNANT Study, Co-Sponsored By Columbia Laboratories, Honored With John Dingell Hero For Babies Award By March Of Dimes

Dr. Roberto Romero, chief of the Perinatology Research Branch of the Division of Intramural Research of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was awarded the 2011 John Dingell Hero for Babies Award by the March of Dimes Michigan Chapter. Romero was honored for his work in preterm birth at the Perinatology Research Branch (PRB) including the PREGNANT study, which was conducted collaboratively under a Clinical Trials Agreement between Columbia and the PRB/NICHD/NIH and of which Dr. Romero was the NIH Principal Investigator.

Staebler Appointed to Development Authority

At its Oct. 17 meeting, the Ann Arbor city council voted to appoint Ned Staebler to fill an open four-year term on the local development finance authority board. Staebler took a position starting in the summer of 2011 as vice president of economic development for Wayne State University, after previously serving with the Michigan Economic Development Corp. Staebler currently serves on the city's Housing and Human Services Advisory Board, which was established in 2007 to replace two other bodies.