NEWS
UC SHIP in the Age of ObamaCare
OPINION
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Synapse The UCSF Student Newspaper
Thursday, October 24, 2013
synapse.ucsf.edu
Volume 58, Number 7
MIND&BODY
NEWS
Fitness-Focused Med Students Feel the Burn Affordable Care Act at UCSF: What You Need to Know By Brian Shaw Staff Writer
T Photo by Jeffrey Chen/MS1 First-year medical students Brennan Vail (left), Solomon Lee, Donald Goens and Joy Lin scramble up a Kezar Stadium hill at a recent session of Tachycardio, a tri-weekly circuit workout led by classmate Onur Yenigun.
Second Years Are Up and Running
First Years Call In the Marine Corps
By Yi Lu Editor
By Dennis Zheng Staff Writer
or Libby McNiven, a second-year medical student at UCSF, reaching out to a friend to join her for a workout at Kezar Stadium was simply a means of motivating herself to stick to her training regimen. Now, McNiven posts nearly every week to a Facebook group that has swelled to 36 members, suggesting workouts ranging from the difficult (sprints) to the insane (laps of walking lunges). On one particularly sunny day, six MS-2s took advantage of a free afternoon and met at Kezar Stadium for a high-intensity workout. The day’s session began with five minutes of dynamic workouts, which had the students jumping, lunging, kicking and skipping on the track, past the jogging lunchtime warriors. The group then regrouped and decided on a sequence of sprints, push-ups and one-legged squats, with ample modifications for the uninitiated and unfit. After half a year of track meet-ups, McNiven and a core group of regulars have infused the workouts with their own fitness interests and goals. Given the diversity of the workouts, McNiven has a hard time picking what she likes best about the group. But the same spirit of camaraderie that inspired her to start these workouts still motivate her today. “I think I like doing things with people that I wouldn’t do myself,” said McNiven. “A sprint Tabata is 20 seconds of sprints and 10 seconds of rest, repeated eight times. It’s four minutes of really hard work. When you’re done, you feel so good for having done it. But I would never do it by myself.”
he second-year medical students aren’t the only ones putting in work — and getting worked over — at Kezar Stadium, where first-year UCSF medical student Onur Yenigun leads a tri-weekly workout aimed at strengthening his fellow classmates both physically and mentally. The former Marine Corps squad leader has brought a taste of boot camp to campus, and first years, whether fit or a little flabby, have responded in kind. His Facebook group, the aptly named “Tachycardio,” now boasts more than 50 members. “When I was in the Marine Corps, I noticed how going through tough workouts and tough situations together builds camaraderie and teamwork,” said Yenigun. “I thought that by doing this, it could bring us all closer together.” At a recent session, Yenigun welcomed about 15 students to “Lunge Hell” (future punishments include “Upper Body Blast” and “Full Body Torment”). Some were assigned laps; others leapt up from a squat over and over; and the rest crawled up a grassy knoll on all fours. Under Yenigun’s command, no area of the stadium was spared. Groups ran the bleachers, sprinted down the track and, of course, struggled through sets of lunges — all with little time to rest. Later, sweaty pairs first squatted against each other’s backs until the point of collapse, then carried each other on their backs. Participants were honorably discharged after an hour of the circuit, and most anticipated at least one more tour of duty. Tachycardio’s bulkier version of Richard Simmons has no plans for stopping, either. “If I’m feeling the burn, I’m sure everyone else is,” Yenigun said.
Yi Lu is a second-year medical student.
Dennis Zheng is a first-year medical student.
F
T
his fall marks the third year that UCSF students under the age of 26 have had the option of staying on their parents’ health insurance plan instead of switching to university coverage. The gargantuan Affordable Care Act (ACA), known by its popular moniker ObamaCare, includes in its many provisions the possibility for young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans. “I didn’t want to have another $3,000 of debt,” said first-year medical student David Ramirez, of his decision to stay on his parents’ health insurance and not to enroll in the University of California Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). Despite the savings, he has had difficulty establishing medical care in a new city without a connection to providers. Fellow first-year medical student Jill Hagey, on the other hand, enrolled in UC SHIP both because of its convenience and its
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT » PAGE 7
ARTS&CULTURE
Science and literature collide at Litquake 2013 By Jenny Qi Executive Editor
“Y
ou know what it is? It’s a golden handcuff with the key thrown away,” wrote John Steinbeck of San Francisco. Oscar Wilde echoed this sentiment, noting, “Anyone who disappears is said to be seen in San Francisco. It must be a delightful city and possess all the attractions of the next world.” Writers and booklovers have long been drawn to our foggy City by the Bay. Unsurprisingly, it is now home to the annual literary festival dubbed Litquake, the largest literary festical on the West Coast. What began in 1999 as a daylong series of free readings in
LITQUAKE 2013 » PAGE 8
2 | October 24, 2013 | synapse.ucsf.edu
EVENTS MISSION BAY EVENTS
PARENTHOOD AND A RESEARCH CAREER
Thursday, Oct. 24, noon-1:30 p.m., Rock Hall, Lobby, Mission Bay Join Women in Life Sciences and Student Life for a panel discussion featuring faculty, postdocs and graduate students, as they discuss their experiences building families while in different stages of their career. They will discuss their child care situations and tips they learned along the way. Lunch provided with RSVP. http://bit.ly/17GHwoA.
VSA ELECTION
Thursday, Oct. 24, 12:10-12:50 p.m., Health Sciences West, 303, Parnassus As a board member of the Vietnamese Student Association, you will have the opportunity to work with other professions, learn more about leadership and Vietnamese culture and, most importantly, have fun! Please prepare a short, one-minute speech introducing yourself. And even if you don’t plan to run, support your friends and vote.
SACNAS AT UCSF’S FALL FIESTA
Thursday, Oct. 24, 5:30- 9 p.m., Millberry Union, Parnassus Come for an evening of free food, dancing and prizes. Start the night off by participating in a salsa dance lesson, and then take your skills to the dance floor with a live DJ. Open to all students, postdocs and staff. Sponsor: Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science.
SYNAPSE NEWSPAPER
Friday, Oct. 25, noon-1 p.m., Graduate Division Conference Room, third floor, Mission Bay Community Center Synapse is looking for Mission Bay and Parnassus writers, bloggers, photographers and designers. Come to the lunch meeting, share your story ideas and enjoy a free lunch. RSVP to synapse@ucsf.edu.
MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICES
Friday, Oct.25, 1-2 p.m., Helen Diller, 160, Mission Bay The Muslim Community at UCSF holds regular Friday prayer services (Jum’a) for the UCSF Muslim community every week. Join your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer, lunch and socializing. All are welcome.
MISSION BAY RIPS
Friday, Oct. 25, 4-5 p.m., Genentech Hall Auditorium, Mission Bay RIPS is a seminar series wherein one student and one postdoc present their current research. Talks are 15 minutes in length and are preceded by a 20-minute social. Snacks and beverages are provided.
MISSION BAY FARMERS’ MARKET
Wednesday, Oct.30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Gene Friend Way Plaza, Mission Bay Shop healthy, shop fresh, shop Californiagrown at the UCSF Farmers’ Market every Wednesday (rain or shine). Sponsor: Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.
MISSION BAY BLOCK PARTY 7: CHALK ART CONTEST
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Gene Friend Way Plaza, Mission Bay Join the chalk art contest prior to the kick off of the Block Party festivities. Chalk will be provided. Sign up for the chalk art contest
in front of Publico on the day of the event. Hurry, space is limited. Judging begins at 12:45 p.m. Winners announced at 1 p.m. Grand prize is a $500 gift card redeemable at Café 24 or Publico.
MISSION BAY BLOCK PARTY 7: FESTIVITIES
Wednesday, Oct. 30, noon-2 p.m., Gene Friend Way Plaza, Mission Bay Ten years after the opening of Genentech Hall at Mission Bay, UCSF celebrates the campus’ place at the center of a new global health economy. Please join Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann for special remarks at 12:30 p.m. welcoming students, faculty, staff and community partners to Block Party 7. The first 500 attendees will receive a special gift. Festivities will include a photo both, prize wheel, music, jugglers, free chair massages and lunch specials.
UNWIND: STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR WOMEN
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2-3 p.m., Medical Sciences, 171, Parnassus Take a breather and learn helpful techniques to relax and manage your stress from Felicia De La Garza Mercer, Ph.D. This workshop will focus on Chilling Out — Relaxation Skills. Free lunch for students who RSVP to felicia.mercer@ucsf.edu.
PARNASSUS EVENTS PERKS OF BEING AN INTROVERT
Thursday, Oct. 24, noon-1 p.m., Medical Sciences, 214, Parnassus Have you ever been called “shy,” “quiet,” “a thinker,” or a “wallflower”? Do you appreciate alone time? Do you find it exhausting to operate in large social gatherings or on teams? Do you experience social anxiety? Congratulations, you may be an introvert! Learn about the power of introversion in a world that often seems dominated by the extroverted.Find out how your temperament can help you thrive. Free lunch for students who RSVP to james.lyda@ucsf.edu.
MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE CENTER ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, Oct. 24, noon-4 p.m., Multicultural Resource Center, Parnassus The Multicultural Resource Center will be hosting an Open House and Art Show to celebrate its one-year anniversary.
TECH TOOLS FOR YOU: AN INTERACTIVE INTRO TO HEALTH TECH AND INNOVATION
Thursday Oct. 24, noon-1 p.m., Medical Science, 174, Parnassus Organized by the student-led Health Technology Interest Group, this lunchtime elective will introduce students to healthrelated tech tools that are available to them now and in the future; teach students how to use these tools; and provide opportunities for students to connect with mentors. Students can register via the Student Portal.
PET THE PUP AT DOG DAY AFTERNOON
Friday, Oct. 25, noon-2 p.m., Millberry Union, 111W, Parnassus A pup will be visiting every Friday in October, so don’t miss out. Take time to de-stress with Lady Jenna, a Cockapoo, from Animal Assisted Therapy of SPCA. Enjoy some tea or hot chocolate, and leave your stress at the door. Sponsor: Student Life.
MUSLIM FRIDAY PRAYER SERVICES
Friday, Oct. 25, 1:30-2 p.m., Medical Sciences, 180, Parnassus The Muslim Community at UCSF holds regular Friday prayer services (Jum’a) for the UCSF Muslim community every week. Join your fellow brothers and sisters for prayer, lunch and socializing. All are welcome.
TACKLING DIFFICULT PROFESSIONAL CONVERSATIONS: REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Library, Parnassus Learn how to have positive conversations more often, understand difficult conversations, and prepare for them. Space is limited, so sign up today. Presented by Nancy Friedman, a leadership development consultant, facilitator and executive coach for Next Step: Leadership Development and Executive Coaching. Open to all graduate students and postdocs. Cost: $17. Pre-registration required by Oct. 18 at 5 p.m. Sponsor: OCPD. Register at ocpd-conversations.eventbrite.com/.
SHADES OF OPEN ACCESS
Tuesday, Oct. 29, 12:30-2 p.m., Nursing, 217, Parnassus Learn about the latest open access and open data developments and what they mean for you. Find out about what the new UC Open Access policy means to UCSF researchers, how it intersects with the NIH Public Access Policy, and what’s in store for helping you manage your article deposits and for making your data open via DataShare. library.ucsf. edu/content/participate-open-access-weekevents-october-2013.
PARNASSUS FARMERS’ MARKET
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., ACC, 400 Parnassus Ave. Shop the Farmers’ Markets on Wednesdays to pick up locally grown produce and more. Sponsor: Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association.
SYNAPSE NEWSPAPER
Wednesday, Oct. 30, noon-1 p.m., Millbery Union 123W, Parnassus Synapse is looking for Mission Bay and Parnassus writers, bloggers, photographers and designers. Come to the lunch meeting, share your story ideas and enjoy a free lunch. RSVP to synapse@ucsf.edu.
WHERE DO I FIT? BEING FIRST GENERATION AT UCSF
Wednesday, Oct. 30, noon-1 p.m., RSVP for location, Parnassus Are you of the first generation in your family to graduate from college? Is it difficult for your family to understand what you do here? Do you sometimes feel like an outsider at UCSF? If you answered "yes" to any of the above, please join First Generation Support Services for lunch. Share your experiences with fellow first-gen college students, and learn to survive and thrive while you’re here. RSVP by Oct. 24. fg2cgroup.eventbrite.com.
UNWIND: STRESS MANAGEMENT FOR WOMEN
Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2-3 p.m., Medical Sciences, 171, Parnassus Take a breather and learn helpful techniques to relax and manage your stress from Felicia De La Garza Mercer, Ph.D. This workshop will focus on Chilling Out — Relaxation Skills. Free lunch for students who RSVP to felicia.mercer@ucsf.edu.
FLAVORFUL FALL NUTRITION SERIES: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Wednesday, Oct. 30, noon-1 p.m., Nursing, 527, Parnassus Take the first steps toward achieving a healthy weight, presented by Student Health’s Dietitian. Learn more about nutrition, exercise and mindful eating in this one-hour
overview discussion. Free lunch for students who RSVP to nutrition@ucsf.edu.
OFF-CAMPUS LIVER CANCER LECTURE BY DR. R. KATIE KELLEY
Thursday, Oct. 24, 5-6:30 p.m., Herbst Hall, 1600 Divisadero St., second floor The scourge of liver cancer disproportionately affects Asians. Dr. Kelley, one of our expert medical oncologists who specialize in cancer treatment, will educate us on how we can help under these unfortunate circumstances. Find out about this cancer and its state-of-the-art treatments. This is a free bilingual (English/ Cantonese) lecture open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsor: Asian Health Institute. Please RSVP to (415) 8853678.
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: CITIESALIVE NIGHTLIFE
Thursday, Oct. 24, 6-10 p.m., Cal Academy, Golden Gate Park Explore the greenest museum on the planet with a scavenger hunt, and win great, green prizes from eco-friendly organizations. Academy botanist Frank Almeda will discuss how the museum’s 2.5-acre living roof serves as an important ecosystem for birds, bees and the building itself. http://bit.ly/ NightLifeTickets, http://bit.ly/CLSDiscounts.
OFF THE GRID: UPPER HAIGHT
Thursday, Oct. 24, 5-9 p.m., Stanyan and Waller Streets, SF Off the Grid is a roaming mobile food extravaganza that travels to different locations daily to serve delicious food, with a free side of amazing music, craft and soul.
FRIDAY NIGHTS AT THE DE YOUNG
Friday, Oct. 25, 5-8.45 p.m., de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, Golden Gate Park Friday Nights at the de Young offer a variety of interdisciplinary arts programs, including live music, dance performances, film screenings, panel discussions, lectures, artist demonstrations, special performances, hands-on art activities and more. Programs are free and open to the public, but do not include admission to the museum’s galleries.
NO DUMB QUESTIONS SCREENING
Wednesday, Oct. 30, noon-1 p.m., Carr Auditorium, San Francisco General Hospital No Dumb Questions is a documentary about three sisters, aged 6, 9 and 11, struggling to understand why and how their Uncle Bill is becoming a woman. Q&A with the director will directly follow the screening. Snacks provided. nodumbquestions.com/.
BENEFIT FOR PROJECT OPEN HAND
Saturday, Nov. 2, Treasure Island The Ultimate Towner Obstacle Course Race is taking place on Treasure Island. It's a 4-mile course with Fast and Fun classes and 25 obstacles — climbing over walls, crawling through mud, zigzagging over wine barrels. Come run, walk, climb, or just spectate and have a complimentary beer from Lagunitas. Event registration: ultimatetowner.com.
ANNOUNCEMENTS UCSF SCHOOL OF PHARMACY MUSICALS PRESENTS AMALUNA
Thursday, Nov. 21, 8-10 p.m., Grand Chateau, AT&T Park, SF Sunday, Nov. 24, 4:30-6:3 p.m., Grand Chateau, AT&T Park, SF Tickets are on sale for Amaluna — the newest Cirque du Soleil touring show. Tickets are available ranging from $50-$95, based on seating area. All proceeds benefit third- and fourth-year students at the UCSF School of
synapse.ucsf.edu | October 24, 2013 | 3
Pharmacy. freewebs.com/ucsfsopmusicals/.
UCSF SHUTTLE CHANGES
All passengers are now required to be seated while riding the UCSF shuttles. Additionally, 25 to 50 percent more shuttles have been added during peak times on major routes. Please visit the Campus Life Services (CLS) website for a complete list of changes and revised shuttle schedules, including changes to shuttle stops. campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/ transportation/services/shuttles.
STAND UP FOR SCIENCE VIDEO COMPETITION
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) is sponsoring a competition for the most effective and creative video showing how biomedical and biological research is funded in the United States and how the results of federally funded research benefit Americans. Ideas for submission include, but are not limited to: interviews, animation and music/ dance videos. The grand prize winner will receive $5,000. Video submissions will be accepted through Nov. 30. The winner will be announced in February 2014. faseb.org/ About-FASEB/Scientific-Contests/StandUp-for-Science/About-SUFS.aspx.
TAHOE CABIN RESERVATIONS
Spend some time with friends and family at CLS Outdoor Program’s winter cabin in Truckee (North Lake Tahoe). The cabin sleeps up to 15 people. Conveniently located near North Tahoe’s best ski areas, this winter home comes fully equipped. Reservations for students can be made at both Parnassus and Mission Bay Fitness & Recreation Centers at 8 a.m. First come, first served. In person reservations only. Please call (415) 476-2078 for more details.
SEP RECRUITING FOR 20132014 CLASSROOM PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
The Science and Health Education Partnership (SEP) offers opportunities for UCSF volunteers to work with San Francisco K-12 teachers to co-plan and co-teach a series of four investigative science lessons in the teachers’ classrooms during the spring semester. The commitment is only 20 hours,
flexibly scheduled from January to May. Professional students, graduate students, postdocs, research scientists and faculty are all eligible to apply. Applications are available online on SEP’s website: ucsf.edu/sep.
SEP RECRUITING FOR 20132014 CLASSROOM PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS
The Science and Health Education Partnership (SEP) offers opportunities for UCSF volunteers to work with San Francisco K-12 teachers to co-plan and co-teach a series of four investigative science lessons in the teachers’ classrooms during the spring semester. The commitment is only 20 hours, flexibly scheduled from January to May. Professional students, graduate students, postdocs, research scientists and faculty are all eligible to apply. Applications will be available online starting Friday, Oct. 4 on SEP’s website: ucsf.edu/sep.
UC ORACLES TOASTMASTERS CLUB SPEECH-A-THON: “SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR!”
Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, noon-1p.m., Med Sci Bldg, S214 We will feature speakers of different communication levels who will speak on various fun and engaging topics. Stop by and experience how UC Oracles can improve your public speaking and leadership skills. Everyone has room to grow. Join us! Contact: maria.deguzman@nursing.ucsf.edu.
APPLY FOR A MS IN GLOBAL HEALTH SCIENCES
The master’s degree program in Global Health Sciences will be accepting applications through Feb. 15 for the 2014-15 class. This will be the inaugural class at Mission Hall on the Mission Bay campus. Visit the website for more information. globalhealthsciences.ucsf. edu/education-training/masters-program.
CLASSIFIEDS RETAIL STORES FOR RENT
Sunset SF retail stores for rent: $3,200/ month each, 2132 & 2134 Taraval Street, easy transportation, 1 bedroom, kitchen, full bath in the back of store. (415) 665-4567.
Synapse
500 Parnassus Ave. Millberry Union 108W San Francisco, CA 94143 tel: (415) 476-2211 | fax: (415) 502-4537 synapse@ucsf.edu
The UCSF Student Newspaper synapse.ucsf.edu STAFF
Yi Lu | EDITOR Jenny Qi | EXECUTIVE EDITOR Alexandra Greer | SCIENCE EDITOR Angela Castanieto | ASSOCIATE EDITOR Steven Chin | MANAGING EDITOR Victoria Elliott | COPY EDITOR
About
Synapse is the UCSF student-run weekly newspaper, which runs on Thursdays during the academic year and monthly during the summer. Synapse seeks to serve as a forum for the campus community. Articles and columns represent the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Board of Publications or the University of California.
Submissions
Announcements and letters should be submitted six days before publication. All submissions can be either emailed or mailed. All material is subject to editing. Letters to the Editor must be signed by the author.
Subscriptions Subscriptions cost $20/year ($40/outside US).
Advertising
Paid advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views of Synapse. Synapse and its editorial board reserve the right to decline advertisements promoting false or misleading claims, known health risks, or content deemed by the editors to be antithetical to the interests of UCSF students or the UCSF community. Synapse does not accept advertisements from tobacco or alcohol manufacturers, or sexually oriented personal ads. Synapse reserves the right to run any ad with a disclaimer.
OPINION
Funding Uncertainties Dim the Hopes of Biomedical Scientists By Jason Porter, PhD, Dai Horiuchi, PhD, and Bradley Webb, PhD
I
n mid-February, the Science Policy Group at UCSF published an article in Synapse in the shadow of the looming Budget Control Act (BCA), more commonly known as sequestration or “the sequester.” We expressed the hope then that policy makers in Washington, D.C., would look beyond their partisan affiliations and agendas and prevent the 5 percent across-the-board spending cuts legislated by the BCA, including an immediate $1.55 million reduction in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget. As we know, cooler heads did not prevail, and in the eight months since the sequester has taken effect, there have been dramatic cuts to both competing and non-competing grant renewals, placing a significant burden on labs here at UCSF. These hardships are not limited just to heads of labs but have also trickled down to trainees. We recently conducted a survey to get a better idea of how the current funding climate is affecting UCSF postdocs and graduate students. Though the full results of this survey will be published at a later time, we would like to comment on a few themes that have emerged. A majority of trainees are suffering in a number of ways, including from declining morale, decreased productivity and increased time spent writing grants and submitting fellowship applications. An even more disturbing observation is that an overwhelming majority of trainees, both graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, say that they are now less interested in pursuing careers in academia, and instead are more inclined to enter industry or leave science altogether. On top of this, one in five respondents are considering leaving the United States for scientific careers overseas, where science funding is increasing. These skilled scientists, trained at the expense of U.S. taxpayers, are choosing to leave academia, or science all together, potentially diminishing the favorable return on investment that biomedical research and training has afforded the U.S. economy. In Fiscal Year 2013, UCSF received $487 million from the NIH, making the University second on the list of the top recipients of the NIH funding and one of the nation’s best places to receive training and conduct research. Since its inception, UCSF has produced countless numbers of scientists who have made and are making significant contributions to their respective fields of biomedical research, not only in the United States but around the world. As a result of sequestration and other likely budget cuts, this legacy is in danger. The Science Policy Group at UCSF is determined to advocate for scientific funding. Luckily, we are not alone; we are networking with like-minded university groups from San Francisco to Boston. We have sent representatives to Washington, D.C., to educate and petition our elected officials about the importance of continued investment in medical research through the NIH. Our organizing members participated in UC Hill Day, where members from the University of California system traveled to Washington to raise support for higher education. They also participated in the Rally for Medical Research Hill Day in Washington, where they met with health policy advisors in the offices of Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Fein-
SCIENCE POLICY GROUP » PAGE 6
NEWS BRIEFS UCSF Researcher Makes Sense of Conflicting Advice on Calcium Intake
In recent years, studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding whether calcium supplements used to prevent fractures increase the risk of heart attack. Now, in an assessment of the scientific literature, reported as a perspective piece in the October 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a UCSF researcher says patients and health care practitioners should focus on getting calcium from the diet, rather than from supplements, when possible. “Osteoporosis may result from inadequate calcium intake, and it’s quite common for certain segments of our population, such as the elderly, to consume less than the recommended amount,” said Douglas C. Bauer, MD, UCSF Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatistics. “But a high-calcium diet should be the preferred method to receive adequate amounts of the nutrient. The Institute of Medicine’s recommended dosage for postmenopausal women over the age of 50 and men over 70 is 1,200 milligrams per day. “If it is not possible to consume enough calcium from the diet, the use of calcium supplements is most likely safe and not associated with cardiovascular outcomes,” he said.
3 Faculty Members Elected to Institute of Medicine Three UCSF faculty members are among the 70 newly elected members of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), considered one of the highest honors in the health sciences. The IOM serves as a national resource for independent, scientifically informed analyses and recommendations on issues related to human health. The new members were announced on October 21 at the institute’s 43rd annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The latest additions from UCSF – Jeffrey A. Bluestone, PhD; Molly Cooke, MD, FACP; and Matthew W. State, MD, PhD – bring the number of IOM members from this University to 89. “Molly, Jeff and Matt represent our excellence in education, research and clinical care and science and demonstrate that leadership comes in many flavors,” said Sam Hawgood, MBBS, Dean of the UCSF School of Medicine and Vice Chancellor of Medical Affairs at UCSF. “The Institute of Medicine will be enriched by their outstanding contributions.”
Scientist Identifies Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Target for Drug Development Often deadly “triple-negative” breast cancers might be effectively treated in many cases with a drug that targets a previously unknown vulnerability in the tumors, according to a new UCSF study. UCSF researcher Luika Timmerman, PhD, an investigator at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, found that many cell lines obtained from triple-negative breast cancer are especially dependent on cystine, one of the 20 amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins that all cells need. She used an FDA-approved drug to inhibit activity of a transporter protein that ferries cystine into triple-negative breast cancer cells, and found that it significantly inhibited their growth in culture and when the cancer cells were transplanted into mice. Timmerman described her discovery in a study published online on October 3 in the journal Cancer Cell. Roughly one in six women with breast cancer have triple-negative breast cancer, and only about three out of four with this type survive five years or more.
4 | October 24, 2013 | synapse.ucsf.edu
NEWS
Dental Externship Program Offers Valuable Community Experience
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Photo by T. Booth Haley/DS4 Dr. Mehran Hossaini discusses, with his characteristic acerbic wit, “Oral Surgical Procedures: Better Outcomes Through Better Patient Evaluation.”
By T. Booth Haley Staff Writer
D
irectors of dental clinics from across Northern California gathered at UCSF Parnassus last Friday, at a symposium to share their experiences in community health. Every year, dental students in their third and fourth years do externships at these clinics to learn about dental care in under-served communities. The externship program — “the crown jewel of our dental school education,” according to Dr. George Taylor, Department Chair in Preventive and Restorative Dental Sciences — serves as a rich educational tool for young dentists, and also dispatches more providers to work at public clinics, which always have unmet need. Over breakfast, Dr. Bahar Amanzadeh, Director of the externship program, offered opening remarks. A packed schedule of lectures, discussions and panels followed, covering topics pertinent to community dentistry. Led by externship site directors and many outstanding educators from the School of Dentistry, the talks included presentations on oral surgical procedures, pediatric dentistry, the art of clinical feedback and externship program development. “In pediatric dentistry, you can do true preventive care,” Dr. Brent Lin, Director of the Pre-Doctoral Pediatric Dentistry Program, reminded the attendees. “A patient can come in with a disease-free mouth, and you can actually prevent them from developing any caries.” The majority of clients at most community clinics are children, and, indeed, pediatric care is the most efficacious approach to public health. Unfortunately, the populations
treated in the externship clinics rarely come in disease-free. During lunch, Dr. John Featherstone, Dean of the School of Dentistry, presided over an appreciation of Dr. Nelson Artiga, who last year stepped down after many fruitful years as externship program director. Dr. Artiga, a venerable figure at the dental school, discussed the history and significance of the externship program, which began in 1971 at Clinica de la Raza in Oakland and has since expanded to 19 participating clinics. “At one time, dental education was pretty much just about cranking out private practitioners with very little understanding of under-served communities,” said Artiga. “The current model has shifted philosophically towards public health. Now we provide our students with a full package so that they have an understanding of private practice and the community-based dental practice.” Community clinics under the Affordable Care Act will be doubling or tripling, so this aspect of dental education is more and more important, he added. “There is an epidemic of childhood oral disease, and we’re trying our very best to see that under-served populations do not suffer disproportionately.” The experiences of students at these various community clinics, which are located as far away as Eureka, Mount Shasta and Chico, confirm the value of the externship program to the School of Dentistry. “It’s great to see patients in a fast-paced setting,” said Mike Kurylo, a fourth-year dental student, “We go from two patients a day at the school clinic to 10 patients a day on externship. Not only did I learn a lot, but also I was able to see firsthand the huge need for dental care for the majority of California.”
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T. Booth Haley is a fourth-year dental student.
NEWS
Free Flu Shots at UCSF Get a flu shot and win a Timbuk2® Messenger Bag! Through Monday, November 4, UCSF will be holding free drop-in flu shot clinics to all UCSF employees, students and volunteers. After each day that a clinic is held, the names of those who have received a flu shot will be entered in a raffle, and one lucky person will win a Timbuk2® Messenger Bag. Drop-in clinics will be held at various UCSF locations, including Parnassus, Mount Zion, Mission Bay, Mission Center Building, Laurel Heights, China Basin, Executive Park, Beale Street, 3360 Geary St. and 2300 Harrison St. The UCSF flu shot drop-in clinics are part of an effort to protect staff, patients and the integrity of the UCSF workforce. The UCSF flu shot policy REQUIRES that all UCSF Medical Center employees, staff, students
and volunteers be vaccinated for the seasonal flu. As required by state law, anyone who declines a flu shot must sign a declination form and wear a hospital-supplied mask while in areas where patients are seen, evaluated and treated. Declination forms will be made available in mid-November on the UCSF Occupational Health website. Please visit the following site for more information on UCSF policy: manuals.ucsfmedicalcenter.org/AdminManual/IndividualPolicies/InfluenzaVaccination.pdf The 2013 Flu Shot Drop-In Clinic schedule is available now at occupationalhealthprogram.ucsf.edu/index.asp. For information about the Flu Shot program, please contact Occupational Health at (415) 885-7580, option 1, or email ohs@ucsfmedctr.org.
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synapse.ucsf.edu | October 24, 2013 | 5
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Stem Cells and Wound Healing Presentation: “Blurred lines in epidermal wounding but not homeostasis” Presenter: David Pardo. Paper: Page, M.E., et al., “The Epidermis Comprises Autonomous Compartments Maintained by Distinct Stem Cell Populations,” Cell Stem Cell, 2013 Oct 3;13(4):471-482.
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Traditionally, we associate certain stem cell markers with certain tissues, but multiple stem cell (SC) populations can actually exist in a single tissue. In the hair follicle, for instance, we’ve got Lrig1+ SCs and Bulge SCs. Hair follicle SCs can also contribute to wound healing, but we don’t know how the architecture is maintained or which population(s) might contribute to wound healing. To identify the population(s), the authors asked a few key questions: 1. Is there a functional difference between the SC populations in the hair follicle? If there is, then those differences might make one more likely to contribute to the wound-healing response than another. They found that yes, there is a difference, and that Lrig1+ SCs proliferate more, suggesting that they are the likely culprits. 2. Are epidermal SCs maintained as a hierarchy, as in the gut, or in independent compartments? It turns out that the different populations are never found outside their respective compartments at homeostasis. 3. How does wounding change SC behavior? Surprisingly, the compartments become disrupted during the wound, and remain disrupted for up to a year after the wound has healed. Understanding SC order is important, but what does that mean for the rest of us? This has implications in cancer. If these proliferative cells lose their natural order during wounding, this suggests that a window is opened for cancers to form. And indeed, the authors found that oncogenic (Kras) signaling induces additional tumors after wounding. This information can be used to better understand cancer development and eventually prevention.
Jenny Qi is a third-year BMS student who blogs at bmscartoons.tumblr.com.
6 | October 24, 2013 | synapse.ucsf.edu
Science Policy Group » FROM PAGE 3
Oligos For Your Application Photo courtesy of Science Policy Group Florie Charles and Laura Simpson, members of the Science Policy Group at UCSF, in Washington, D.C., during the recent Rally for Medical Research Hill Day.
stein, as well as Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi and Jackie Speier. One of the key points raised at these events was the importance for voters of contacting your senators and representatives to urge them to support medical research. You can find tools and information as well as contact information for your representatives online at numerous sites, including Research! America (www.researchamerica.org/contact_ representative). The Science Advocacy Subgroup of the Science Policy Group at UCSF was originally formed earlier this year by a group of UCSF postdoctoral scholars deeply concerned about the potential negative impacts that the sequester or the across-the-board budget cut could bring to academic biomedical sciences community.
Our primary mission is to raise awareness among scientists and non-scientists for the need to protect and invest in the future of biomedical research in the United States. This year, the Science Policy Group will be hosting seminars and workshops on science policy. We invite the UCSF community to participate. You can learn more about the Science Policy Group at UCSF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UcsfSciencePolicyGroup). If you are interested in joining our Science Advocacy Subgroup and to start making a difference, please contact us at spg.advocacy. ucsf@gmail.com.
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Jason Porter, PhD, Dai Horiuchi, PhD, and Bradley Webb, PhD, are members of the Science Advocacy Subgroup, Science Policy Group at UCSF.
NEWS
Wellness Campaign Seeking Student Input By Ilka Felsen Staff Writer
W
hat does wellness mean to you? Do visions of kale, aromatherapy and organic labels dance in your head? Or is wellness simply the absence of disease? For the Wellness Program at UCSF, the meaning embodies much more than catchphrases and buzzwords. Most of all, the Wellness Program empowers UCSF employees to be active participants of their own health. The Wellness Program is looking to make a splash on campus in January. Led by a small team of four committed individuals, the program promotes living well for more than 23,000 UCSF employees. Since its inauguration three years ago, the program has offered dozens of free nutrition lectures, cooking demonstrations, yoga and Zumba classes and chair massages. The program is a large promoter of the current flu shot clinics, and collaborates with several wellness partners on campus to implement the health-testing program Know Your Numbers and the UCSF Walking Program. Now, the Wellness Program is looking for student input on its next project: the Culture of Wellness. This visual campaign features images of various UCSF employees, from the
individuals serving our community at Moffitt to school administrators, demonstrating wellness in simple acts. The visual campaign is planned to roll out in the second week of January, and will also provide managers with a “Wellness Toolkit” stuffed full of healthy tips and tools to utilize right in their offices. So what can you do? The Wellness Program is looking for your ideas to include in the Wellness Toolkit. Have you learned something in your studies you think the UCSF population could benefit from? Or do you practice your own wellness methods that you would like to share? Things already planned as part of the toolkit include: a daily stretching poster that managers can hang up in break rooms, healthy potluck rules to live by and 30 wellness-atwork tips. Submit your ideas to Leanne Jensen at Leanne.Jensen@ucsf.edu by November 8. Your entries should be no longer than a page in length and have a focus on wellness. Be creative, think simple and, above all, fun!
Ilka Felsen is a second-year physical therapy student.
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*Certain requirements and eligibility criteria apply. ©2013. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved. Information subject to change.
81175
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synapse.ucsf.edu | October 24, 2013 | 7
NEWS
UC SHIP in the Age of ObamaCare By Jenny Qi Executive Editor
“H
ow is ObamaCare going to change our health insurance?” many students have been won-
dering. Enrollment in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), more commonly known as ObamaCare, began October 1, 2013, for coverage beginning January 1, 2014. The controversial health reform strives to make preventative health care more accessible for most Americans. As insurance plans change, UCSF students may have more options in the future, but what is the best option? “Each student [needs] to determine whether UC SHIP (the UC Student Health Insurance Plan) is a better financial deal for them,” explained Heather Pineda, Director of UC SHIP. “UC SHIP’s benefits also need to be taken into consideration, because SHIP is essentially a platinum-level plan [in the ACA], including Dental and Vision coverage, but the cost is much lower.”
UC SHIP is currently the most commonly utilized health insurance plan for UCSF students, with 68 percent of students enrolled in SHIP for the 2013-2014 plan year, according to Adele Anfinson, Director of UCSF Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS). But this number may drop next year. “We do anticipate some students who benefit from premium subsidies through Covered California to move to the exchange plans,” said Pineda. The subsidies are given based on family income levels, up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Students from lower-income families may therefore benefit significantly and have greater incentive to move away from UC SHIP. While this may be a more financially feasible option for some, others may have to analyze the costs and benefits carefully. Pineda warns that “many of the plans under Covered California [or another state exchange] have very limited provider networks.” By contrast, UC SHIP gives members access to the full Anthem network, including UCSF providers. Students may be relieved to know that UC SHIP is already fully compli-
ant with ACA recommendations and will not have to undergo drastic changes. Advantages of UC SHIP UC SHIP has no pre-existing condition clause and offers 100 percent coverage for women’s contraceptives. This year, in response to student requests, UC SHIP eliminated lifetime medical and annual prescription caps. “There are no additional benefit mandates related to ACA for next year, and therefore no planned benefit changes to UC SHIP,” said Anfinson. As a result, no significant premium increases are expected, either. Anfinson noted that because UC students are a part of the advisory committee for UC SHIP, its benefits are tailored to students. This is not the case for other plans. UC SHIP covers psycho-educational testing to assist students with a learning disability. And for students traveling internationally during the summer, SHIP covers travel vaccinations at 100 percent and medical evaluations out of the country. Of particular interest to UCSF students, UCSF Medical Center waives the annual de-
ductible and co-insurance for students covered by UC SHIP, when referred by Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS), which lowers out-of-pocket costs. Another appeal of UC SHIP for busy students is its convenience. Enrollment in UC SHIP is automatic for students unless they choose to waive it, which makes all students immediately compliant with the ACA requirement to obtain health insurance. Moreover, if students have insurance concerns, SHCS is readily available to help. The student budget also includes a mandatory fee for UC SHIP. “If you waive enrollment in UC SHIP, your student budget is reduced, and it impacts the amount of financial aid to which you are entitled,” said Anfinson. Student Insurance Forum For more information about UC SHIP and health insurance options for students, an open forum will be held November 1 at S-214 in the Medical Sciences Building on Parnassus at noon. Heather Pineda will be present, and SHCS will address the premium rates for next year at the meeting. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP to shc@ucsf.edu.
Jenny Qi is a third-year BMS student.
Affordable Care Act » FROM HOME PAGE
cost. “For me, it was going to be more expensive to stay on my family’s plan than to enroll in [UC SHIP],” said Hagey. The landmark ACA is changing the face of health care in the United States. Ramirez and Hagey’s decisions indicate how the complexity of health insurance and of the tax codes creates different economic incentives for the different individuals covered. ACA Expands Benefits The ACA seeks to extend insurance coverage to more people and to increase the benefits of insurance. This involves expanding the reach of both public and private health plans. In the public sector, Medicaid, the government health insurance plan for the very poor, is being extended to single adults without children. In the private sector, health insurance marketplaces have been created to allow individuals to comparison shop for health insurance, based on the cost of benefits. Additionally, individuals in this marketplace cannot be denied coverage because they have pre-existing health issues, and their insurance rates are not tied to their overall level of health. In order to expand the pool of people buying insurance, a tax will be levied on those who refuse to buy insurance, unless they qualify under a few very specific exemptions, such as objections based on religious conviction. Opposition on Both Sides This strategy of increasing the number of insured individuals has run into opposition on both sides of the aisle in Congress. Many conservatives feel that the government
is infringing on individual liberties by forcing Americans to buy health insurance, while many liberals feel that the law does not extend coverage far enough. Especially galling to liberals is the fact that many low-income individuals will still not be able to obtain coverage under Medicaid. As a result of the June 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling limiting the law’s expansion of Medicaid, about half of all states have chosen not to expand their Medicaid programs. Governors of these states assert that the program is either too costly to implement or simply a waste of money. “The bottom line here is that Medicaid is a failed program,” said Gov. Rick Perry of Texas. “To expand this program is not unlike adding a thousand people to the Titanic.” Regardless of where one stands in the debate, there is no doubt that the law stands to have sweeping effects. The insurance industry is facing mounting pressure to comply with the many new regulations, such as ensuring that 85 percent of all premium dollars are spent on health-related activities. How ACA Affects UCSF Employees In light of these changes, many employers have announced major shifts in the insurance coverage that they are offering. UCSF is no exception. Because of skyrocketing premiums, UCSF is eliminating four insurance plans this year and replacing them with two new plans, which have lower premiums but also more restrictive networks. Employees with long-standing ties to physicians who are out of network will have to pay higher out-of-pocket costs to continue to see them, according to the UC Open Enrollment website, The University of California is offering a revamped menu of plans for 2014. The two new ones are: UC Care, UC's own
Student Inside Guide events & programs health & wellness finances` news, reviews & deals community outreach & more!
Get there with one website insideguide.ucsf.edu
three-tier PPO (preferred provider) plan, which offers members access to UC doctors and hospitals as well as the Blue Shield PPO network; and the Blue Shield Health Savings Plan, which features a UC-funded health savings account. Health Net Blue & Gold, Kaiser Permanente, Western Health Advantage and Core (administered by Blue Shield) will still be available. Four plans — Anthem Blue Cross PPO and PLUS, Anthem Lumenos with HRA and Health Net Full HMO (health maintenance organization) — are being discontinued. “The costs for these plans continue to increase at a much faster rate than the other plans,” said Michael Baptista, UCOP Executive Director of Benefits Programs and Strategy. “Neither the university nor employees can continue to absorb double-digit annual increases.” Employees currently covered by Anthem Blue Cross PPO, Anthem Blue Cross PLUS and Health Net HMO will pay lower monthly premiums next year, regardless of the new plan they choose. Savings will depend on the new plan, their salary band and the number of their dependents covered. UC will continue to cover an average of about 85 percent of the cost of the premiums. The final premiums will be announced soon. The Republican Party has repeatedly challenged the ACA, with the intent of abolishing the law. However, despite the recent government shutdown and the threat that Congress might refuse to raise the debt ceiling and allow the nation to default on its obligations, its opponents have not so far managed to overturn the law. The ACA is here, and its various and sundry provisions will affect all of us for years to come.
Brian Shaw is a first-year medical student.
8 | October 24, 2013 | synapse.ucsf.edu
LitQuake 2013
CHOOSE YOUR OWN BACCHANALIA WITH LIT CRAWL
» FROM HOME PAGE
the park has evolved into a week-long cultural celebration. Events include seminars in the library and tales of comical debauchery in cafés, ultimately culminating in a boozy closing night Lit Crawl. This year’s Litquake took place October 11-19.
DOCTORS AND PATIENTS/MEDICINE AND LITERATURE
Photo by Jenny Qi?BMS3 César Love reads his poetry at the Los Días de Los Muertos Celebration in Casa Bonampak.
By Jenny Qi
Photo by Yi Lu/MS2 Left to right: Jason Karlawish, Louise Aronson, Chris Adrian and discussion facilitator Julie Lindow.
By Yi Lu Editor
A
lthough medical professionals have a rich history of writing and publishing beyond their disciplines, fewer physicians have tried, and succeeded, in making their mark in fiction. On October 14, UCSF students, staff, and fellow community Litquakers packed into the Book Club of California to hear three physician-fiction writers speak at “Doctors and Patients/Medicine and Literature,” an event co-hosted by the UCSF Medical Humanities Group. After a short introduction, the evening opened with readings from the three headliners: Dr. Chris Adrian, a former UCSF resident in Pediatrics and a fellow in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, read the opening of his latest novel, The Great Night, a reimagining of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream taking place in San Francisco’s Buena Vista Park. Dr. Louise Aronson, Associate Professor of Geriatrics at UCSF, read two interconnect excerpts from her first collection of short stories, History of the Present Illness, which immersed the audience into the pace of life on the wards from both a doctor’s and a patient’s perspective. Dr. Jason Karlawish, Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, read from his debut novel, Open Wound, on the complex lifelong relationship between an ambitious surgeon and his most famous patient, a young illiterate fur trapper. Throughout the rest of the evening, all three authors talked about the place of medicine in fiction, as well as the imaginative power of fiction and narrative in medicine. “Imagining how I can care for someone, even if it’s not real, changes how I practice,” Adrian said. When asked why she chooses to write fiction, Aronson distinguished between “truth” with a little “t,” and “Truth” with a capital ‘T.” While the former demands timeliness and context, the latter, embodied in fiction and other creative works, can transcend time and place. Adrian put it a bit more earthily, “I’d rather write about magic ponies than a 67 year-old in a Volvo.”
POETRY AND SCIENCE: A SHARED EXPLORATION
N
early 100 free readings spread over three phases (aka hours). Hipster glasses on every corner of the Mission (even more than usual); enraptured audiences in consignment shops and police stations and dance clubs; there’s something for everyone at the intellectual bacchanalia that is Lit Crawl. Lit Crawl events ranged from an open mic against the murals of Clarion Alley to pop science readings about food to cultural celebrations infused with the pungent burning of incense. Oh, and lots of readings about sex, because what else do people think about on a Saturday night? My fellow attendees and I ended up selecting readings based on a combination of novelty, geographic convenience and coin flipping. Phase 1 led us to Stage Werx Theater for “The Vent,” which is a fabulously diverse storytelling series held monthly at this theater. I entered as Mosa Maxwell-Smith told the audience about her hilarious failed attempt at “unleashing her inner sex goddess.” In stark contrast, science fiction writer Jeff Greenwald told a heartwarming story about meeting his childhood hero Arthur C. Clarke, who scribbled all over his stories with a red pen and concluded, “You still have about a million words to write, but you’re just about where I was at fifteen.” We headed towards the Beauty Bar next for “Hot & Heavy: Fierce Fat Girls on Life, Love, and Fashion.” The women’s stories about their paths to body acceptance were heartbreaking and funny and uncomfortably thought provoking — everything a Lit Crawl reading should be. By the time we reached Laszlo Bar for Lit Camp’s “The First Time,” the venue was packed. The Make-Out Room had a line out the door. Our subsequent trek down Valencia led us to colorful Casa Bonampak for the Los Días de Los Muertos Celebration. Poets, including San Francisco Poet Laureate Alejandro Murguía, read to the quiet soundtrack of Spanish guitars, while volunteers burned incense and painted faces. My advice for next year’s attendees? Caffeinate and learn how to teleport.
Jenny Qi is a third-year BMS student. Yi Lu is a second-year medical student.
Chancellor’s Concert Series
F a l l
/ 2013
Presenting exceptional artists in classical music on a science campus
By Jenny Qi
“S
cientists need to be tuned into our writing colleagues, or we’ll miss the universe,” declared Dr. Bruce Miller during a presentation on his research of Alzheimer’s disease. He cited observations about the disease written by Gabriel García Márquez long before scientists began to study it. The sciences and humanities are often pitted against each other as two distinct cultures, noted this year’s UCSF Artist-in-Residence and renowned poet Jane Hirshfield, who introduced the event. But as the presenters at this event proposed, science and art have a lot more in common than we think. Both are observations of the world around us, and each can inform the other. The first half of the event included scientific presentations by Drs. Marilu GornoPhoto by Ken Vermes Tempini, Virginia Sturm and Bruce Miller. To a packed auditorium consisting primarily of Dr. Bruce Miller champions collaboration beLitquake folks, the scientists discussed their tween scientists and artists as director of the research in language cognition, the neurosci- UCSF Memory and Aging Center. ence of emotion and the impact of disease. Following were poetry readings by Jane Hirshfield, geologist-writer Forrest Gander, UCSF’s own David Watts and former US Poet Laureate Kay Ryan. In keeping with the science theme, Hirshfield read a poem about a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, how “his thoughts have turned against him like crows against an injured of their kind.” She remarked afterwards, “I didn’t realize how many poems I had that touched on science,” reinforcing the idea that perhaps science and humanities are not so separate after all. A collaboration between Litquake and the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, the “Poetry and Science” event was held in the Gladstone Institutes on October 16th.
Live Streaming. Enjoy the concert http://tinyurl.com/ConcertStream The Chancellor’s Concert Series is a series of live classical chamber music performances that has been a treat to the USCF Campus for the past 15 years. The series is primarily held in Cole Hall on the Parnassus Campus. For your convenience, Campus Life Services, Arts & Events is now bringing concerts directly to you via Live Streaming. This means that even if you can’t make it to Cole Hall, you can watch from your computer or other Internet-connected device. You’ll also be able to watch select archived performances at your leisure.
Noon on Thursdays Director: Pearl Toy, M.D. Poetry: David Watts, M.D. Program notes: Nelson B. Schiller, M.D.
12:00–12:10 pm Seating 12:10–12:15 pm Poetry reading by David Watts, M.D. 12:15 –12:45 pm Concert (No eating during performance)
Live in Cole Hall / 513 Parnassus Avenue / San Francisco
Production: Arts & Events
Check updates at: campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu Call: 415.476.2675
Select concerts will be available for live streaming or to conveniently watch at a later time. Please use this link: http://tinyurl.com/ConcertStream
FOOD
synapse.ucsf.edu | October 24, 2013 | 9
SF Brunch: Mission Beach Cafe By Dawn Maxey and Akshay Govind Staff Writers
M
ission Beach Cafe, located on 14th and Guerrero streets in the Mission District, is a self-proclaimed New American bakery, restaurant and wine bar that features fresh, seasonal, local and organic ingredients. That description, which applies to approximately six bazillion Bay Area restaurants, meant absolutely nothing to us, so we decided to brave the staggering brunch crowd one Sunday morning to see what all the fuss was about. Arriving 10 minutes before the place opened, Akshay was able to put our names down on the already lengthy and quickly growing list. Luckily, we made the first round of seating. Mission Beach Cafe Strangely, we were only given one menu to 198 Guerrero St., San Francisco share between us and when we asked for an(415) 861-0198 other, our request was denied. Shrugging our missionbeachcafesf.com shoulders, we practiced our sideways reading as we scanned what appeared to be typiMonday-Thursday 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. cal permutations of egg scrambles, Benedicts Friday 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. and pancakes. Saturday 9 a.m. – 11 p.m. We ultimately decided on the Wild MushSunday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. room Benedict ($13.50), French Toast ($13) and a couple of coffees. Mission Beach Cafe brews Blue Bottle coffee, which was a definite plus. Not only was it strong and delicious, it was bottomless, which can either be a miracle or a terrible tragedy depending on both your caffeine tolerance and ability to say no. When our main orders arrived, we noted that the portions were generous. The French toast was nice and thick — with a chewy exterior and a nice custardy inside. The fresh berries and mascarpone cheese topping went nicely with the warm bread, though we would have appreciated more than just a dollop of cream and a smattering of blueberries for our three giant pieces of toast.
Photo by Dawn Maxey/MS3 French Toast (top) with mascarpone cheese and fresh berries. Wild Mushroom Benedict (bottom) with spinach, caramelized onions, truffle Mornay sauce and potatoes.
The Benedict was solid as well. The eggs were plump and rich, and the freshness of the steamed spinach, sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions made for a well-balanced flavor that could be bolstered at will by a savory and smooth truffle Mornay sauce. The side of panfried potatoes fulfilled our inner child’s need for munchables, and the only downside of the dish was the burnt edges of the English muffin. Aside from the food, the restaurant had spaciously high ceilings and tasteful artwork. Other patrons nursed gigantic round wine glasses filled with mimosas of varying shimmering colors, and although there was a long line of people waiting to be seated, we were given adequate time to eat our food and make conversation. Overall, Mission Beach Cafe produces high-quality versions of classic dishes with all the right buzzwords to direct a steady flow through its doors from San Francisco’s endless reservoir of clean-cut thirty somethings. Though the food is a touch pricey, the ambiance is open and relaxed — perfect for a weekend morning brunch. We don’t anticipate they’ll print more menus anytime soon, but like us, nearly all patrons will stroll in and waddle out, happily stuffed with fare that is fresh, seasonal, local, and organic.
Dawn Maxey is a third-year medical student. Akshay Govind is a second-year resident in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
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10 | October 24, 2013 | synapse.ucsf.edu
OPINION
Mama M.’s Soul Advice: Running in Place
D
ear Mama M., As a grad student, I feel like I’ve spent the past three years of my life running in place. I haven’t had any professional or personal successes: no paper, no graduation in sight, no relationship, and I feel left out of life. It seems like everyone around me has something to be congratulated about, and I’m coming to resent it. How can I be happier for my friends when good things happen to them without just being angry and jealous? Running in Place _______________________________
D
ear Running in Place, Let me first give you a giant virtual hug. You sound like you have spent what precious little spare time you have beating yourself up, and that is a hard road. So, first, take one minute to close your eyes and let some love into your busy, angry, jealous mind. There is such a paper-thin line between jealousy and inspiration. I am asking you to delineate that space for a moment. Every emotion has two sides. The other side of jealousy is inspiration, so flip it over like a pancake, and make it into something more useful. Here are a few thoughts that can help. First off, you will graduate one day. I know it does not feel that way, but you will. Second, you deserve to be loved even if you are not published yet. You will see the results of your hard work in your own time, and you will get published at some point. All of your “running in place” has giv-
en you awesome quad muscles but not much perspective. Look beyond your peers for a moment and recognize that you succeeded at getting your ass into this amazing school and jumping through hoops of fire each day, especially the ones in your own psyche. The thing about happiness is that it is a moving target. You reach one goal, and then you want something more. Expand your worldview. It may be time to stop running in place for a minute and breathe. Catch your breath and try to remember who you are, darling. Your primary purpose on Earth is not really to reach those external goals set down by society, your department, your parents, your ego and everyone else. You are really here to learn who you are, and to find your own bliss in the process. Elie Wiesel wrote in his book Souls on Fire: “When you die and go to heaven, your Maker is not going to ask, ‘Why didn’t you discover a cure for such and such? Why didn’t you become the Messiah?’ The only question we will be asked in that precious moment is ‘Why didn’t you become you?’ ” Like you, many people in our world think they need to achieve things, publish articles, get degrees, have relationships, and in so doing, they think they will discover who they
are. But the truth is, they have it backwards: First, we are here to discover who we are, and in so doing, all the other good things will follow naturally. And if we can learn to actually like who we are, that will give us a more permanent state of happiness. Here is my third point (and get a glass of wine, because I am about to give you some cheesy advice): Take 10 minutes every morning and every night to be grateful for all that you are — for your amazing mind, your healthy body, your quiet, soft bed or 10 other things that you are blessed to be and to have. This practice is your lifeline. If we don’t take time to notice what we have, then our minds get full with what we don’t have, and we feel nothing but despair. Comparing your life to others’ is an automatic process that has to be stopped by you and you alone, sugar. You are the superhero that can stop the runaway train of stuff that doesn’t matter. But you have to practice every day, and that is hard to remember when you are in an environment of external demands and rewards like academia. Keep expanding your world-view, darling. You are very special, and who you already are matters so much more than you know. Selfdiscovery and unconditional love make an elixir, a magic potion, so drink up, relax, and — if you need to make comparisons — then choose to compare your yesterday with your today and leave everyone else out of it. Make time to appreciate the wonders of your own life, honey. Unconditionally, Mama M.
Mama M. and her editor are health professionals at UCSF/San Francisco General Hospital, who understand the challenges that health professional students are confronted with. This column is a place where students can get honest, compassionate, humorous advice, wisdom and love. Send letters to MamaM.synapse@ gmail.com.
ARTS&CULTURE
Celebrate 10 Years of Mission Bay With Block Party 7! Staff Report
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very year since 2007, Campus Life Services has put on a big, memorable party at UCSF Mission Bay. People from every campus come out to connect with the whole UCSF community. This year, Block Party 7 will be held on Wednesday, October 30. There will be a photo booth, free chair massage, prize wheel and lots of giveaways. For your entertainment, there will be jugglers, stilt walkers and music. Enjoy sampling and shopping at the farmers’ market, as well as a variety of lunch specials. The first 500 attendees will receive a special commemorative gift, so plan on getting there early. One of the highlights of this event is the chalk art contest, where artists can create pieces of art and enter to win prizes. This year, the grand prize is a $500 gift card for food at Café 24 or Publico. Anyone can sign up (even non-“artists”) on the day of the event in front of Publico, but be aware that space is limited, so if you’re feeling creative, sign up early. This year, the party carries even more cause for celebration — UCSF Mission Bay’s 10th anniversary. Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann will be addressing the community at 12:30 p.m. in recognition of this special milestone in the history of UCSF. So mark your calendar, tell your friends, and plan on being at the party of the year.
synapse.ucsf.edu | October 24, 2013 | 11
PUZZLES
Mission Bay Retail | University Development and Alumni Relations
The Weekly Crossword
ACROSS 1 Staff symbol 5 Make revisions 9 Columbus ship 14 Country crooner Jackson 15 Baseball team 16 Small intestine part 17 Nevada senator 18 Make much of 19 Hasidic leader 20 Centennial State 22 Pay increases 23 SAG member's gig 24 Musical based on "La boheme" 25 Feudal tenant 28 Wolverine State 32 Increased 33 Daydream 34 Zodiac sign 35 Starter home, for some 36 Late actress McClanahan 37 Macon residents 40 Triad, in music 42 Sooner State 43 Discontinues 44 Sneaker brand 45 Suggestive 46 Dwell on 49 Blue Hen State 53 Prepared a card game 54 Only prefix 55 Egyptian sacred bird 56 Chip maker 57 One of Sony's record labels
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Ten years after the opening of Genentech Hall at Mission Bay, UC San Francisco celebrates the campus’ place at the center of a new global health economy. Festivities kick off at noon. Please join Chancellor Susan Desmond-Hellmann for special remarks at 12:30 pm welcoming our community partners, employees, faculty, and friends to Block Party 7!
Copyright 2013 by The Puzzle Syndicate
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Golf peg Feared fish Crohn's disease Bird beaks London subway Iowa college town 21 Map feature 22 Right-hand page DOWN 24 Orange peels DEA agent, people, 1 Week 25 Common of 10/14/13 - 10/20/13 slangily in La Paz 2 1954 Sonny 26 Sneak ____ Rollins song (2 wds) 3 Airplane part 27 Winding device 4 Sign one's name 28 Food from heaven 5 Ultimate purpose 6 Semiconductor 29 Rotary-wing 7 Division word planes, briefly
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In commemoration of this remarkable milestone, the first 500 attendees will receive a special gift!
Sky-blue Exigencies Gets frothy Plant cuttings Tangled Horrible Large intestine beginnings Out of control Multi-colored cat Museum piece Father of Thor Nota ____ Fill up Amino acid Son of Adam Disencumbers Abstract being Mend a hem
Piled Higher and Deeper by Jorge Cham
Love your vendor! Buy on campus, support Arts & Events. Partial proceeds from Retail partnerships fund Arts & Events for the UCSF community. Find out more at: bit.ly/loveyourvendor
HALLOWEEN PARTY October 31, 2013 ✖ 12noon-1pm PARNASSUS Millberry Union Event & Meeting Center 500 Parnassus Ave. UCSF Campus Life Services - Arts & Events, Fitness & Recreation Outdoor Programs and the Multicutural Resource Center presents the UCSF Halloween Party & Costume Contest. Categories: • Best Individual - UCSF Student and Staff • Best Group - UCSF School and Department
FREE Nacho Bar & Agua Fresca - while supplies last
HUMOR
Professional Students Lament the Lack of Attractive Undergrads dy on this campus so much to ask? Everyone here is so professional and image-conscious. edical student Jaclyn Fields Can we at least form a temporary partnership was found moping ininformation: le c- with USF or SFSU to hold a couple seminars For more www.campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/artsevents ture yesterday over the nota- on this campus to attract some sexy rogues Love your vendor! Buy on campus, support Arts & Events. Partial proceeds from Retail partnerships fund Arts & Eventsor foryouthful the UCSF community. outhere?” more at: bit.ly/loveyourvendor ble absence of hot undergrads on campus. jocks Find over she said of the “Is having some undergraduate eye can- situation. “I know our school isn’t known for, you know, looks. But seriously, I can’t even daywww.phdcomics.com dream in class, because there’s no one to wistfully stare at. I haven’t had even a half-hearted swoon since coming here. It’s a nightmare.” Dental student Richard Shu agreed. “Women almost never date guys younger than themselves. I just graduated last year!” he said. “I’m at the bottom of the pile here. Enticing some younger people onto the campus would seriously help out my dating life. Think about it: This would be in the best interest of student morale. It’s a worthy investment. Professional students simply can’t reach their full potential when they’re thinking about all the hot bombshells that aren’t on this campus.” The Committee for Student Dating Welfare will be holding a meeting next Tuesday to discuss the pros and cons of enticing sexy undergraduates to visit UCSF.
By Staff Humorist (Answer appears elsewhere in this issue)
Copyright 2013 by The Puzzle Syndicate
Solution to Sudoku
www.campuslifeservices.ucsf.edu/retail
Photo booth | Prize wheel and give-aways | Music | Jugglers and stilt walkers | Free chair massage brought to you by Living Well at UCSF and Campus Life Services Retail | Lunch specials | 35+ vendors
CAMPUS LIFE SERVICES ARTS & EVENTS PRESENTS
HOW TO SOLVE:
Chalk Art Contest
Join our chalk art contest from 11:00 am-12:30 pm! Judging begins at 12:45 pm, winners announced at 1:00 pm. Sign up in front of Publico on day of event – hurry, space is limited. Chalk will be provided. Grand prize, $500 gift card redeemable at Café 24/Publico.
Difficulty : Medium
Plus+
First 300 customers receive a one-of-a-kind reusable Block Party shopping bag with purchase after 11:30 am, provided by Campus Life Services Retail & University Development and Alumni Relations.
Edited by Margie E. Burke
Farmers’ Market
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title: "Be Specific." - originally published 9/23/2013
12 | October 24, 2013 | synapse.ucsf.edu
Solutions
Solution to Sudoku
Write for Synapse synapse@ucsf.edu Free Online Classifieds for UCSF Students & Staff on Synapse Who needs CraigsList when you can post FREE classified ads on the Synapse website? All you need is a ucsf.edu email account. Go to synapse.ucsf.edu/classifieds to sign up today!
Vision Optical Look sharper. See better. Find us easier, too. Contemporary prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lens fitting Millberry Union, B1 For appointment & information 415.476.3100 Hours: M-F 8:30 am-5:00 pm
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Open at Parnassus & Mission Bay Campuses
for your convenience we accept: All major Credit Cards • Recharge for catering Bear Hugs • UCSF Resident Meal Card
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Parnassus: Millberry Union I Level, Parnassus, 415.661.0199 Open Daily 7:00 am-10:00 pm Mission Bay: 550-B Gene Friend Way, Mission Bay, 415.865.0423 Mon-Fri 7:00 am-9:30 pm / Sat-Sun 8:00 am-9:00 pm
You’re Funding Fun! A portion of every dollar you spend at campus retail vendors helps support Arts & Events at UCSF
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You’re Funding Fun! A portion of every dollar you spend at campus retail vendors helps support Arts & Events at UCSF
You’re Funding Fun! A portion of every dollar you spend at campus retail vendors helps support Arts & Events at UCSF