Unibed VW^y
The university-wide United Way
campaign had raised $51,000 as of
Sept, 18, according to chairperson
Janet Sanfilippo, who noted that
approximately $26,000 of that amount
has been contributed by medical center
personnfel.
The medical center goal this year is
$48,000. Co-chairing the drive in the
medical center are R.C. (Bucky)
Waters, assistant to ■the vice president
for health affairs, and William O.
{John) Robinette, assistant
administrative director of the hospital.
The university-wide goal is $97,500,
nearly 10 percent of the entire United
Way goal for Durham County.
New text clarifies how disease occurs
The processes that underlie diseases in
the human body are the subject of a new
book just published by Little, Brown and
Co. of Boston.
The book, "Pathobiology: How Disease
Happens," was written by Dr. Frances K.
Widmann, associate professor of
pathology and assistari't chief of
Laboratory Service at the VA Hospital.
Widmann said her 400-page volume is
designed primarily for students in allied
health professions who are taking their
first course in pathology. Such students
include medical technologists, physicians'
associates, nurses and pathology
assistants.
Facts often isolated
"I wrote it because I felt thkt too many
textbooks in the health professions are
arranged like medical dictionaries," she
said. "Students are too often left with a
broad range of isolated facts that are easy
to forget."
“Pathobiology; How Disease Happens"
is an attempt to show how disease
conditions are inextricably bound to the
normal functions of the body, the
physician said. The material represents a
framework upon which students can set
knowledge gained in later studies,, she
added.
Widmann, who is also medical director
of Duke's Medical Technology Program,
said the text has been divided into 10
chapters that build on one another,
"Students who use the book will have
to memorize less, but think more," she
said.
Glossary aids beginners
Among the subjects covered are cells,
tissues, circulatory function,
inflammation, immunology, infectious
diseases, cancer, genetics and metabolic
diseases. There is also a glossary that
explains many of the technical terms that
confront and confuse beginning allied
health students.
The physician said she believes
educated laymen with an interest in
medicine would enjoy reading the work
because clarity was one of her principal
concerns in writing it.
Widmann is- the author of numerous
articles and reviews. She is also the editor
of the American Association of Blood
Banks' Technical Manual and the past
■three editions of "Clinical Interpretation
of Laboratory Tests."
Studies of ^motors/ fruit flies
among projects funded by NSF
The National Science Foundation has
awarded grants totaling $191,878 to four
scientists at Duke.
Dr. Jacob J. Blum, professor of
physiology, has received $45,000 to
finance a study entitled "Ciliary
f
a
CHAPEL IN THE ROUND - Duke University Chapel is visible from the
central core on the Duke Hospital North construction site. A portion of
the sOMth bed tower is seen on the right and the roof of the Sei«y G.
Mudd Building is visible on the left. (Photo hy Parker Herring)
Imaging Division
Motility." Cilia are tiny hair-like
structures that propel certains
microorganisms through liquids and are
also important in higher animals.
In humans, for example, they line parts
of the lungs and help clean those organs
by sweeping inhaled dust back to the
throat. Blum will be studying how an
enzyme called dynein promotes
movement of cilia, which scientists say
are among the "world's smallest motors."
Dr. Sheila J. Cbunce, associate
professor of anatomy, has received
$61,878 in support of a two-year project
entitled "Genetic Embryology of
Drosophila." -
She will examine the effect of different
temperatures on the devebpment of
embryos produced by sterile fruit flies.
Because they are inexpensive, are easy to
handle and breed rapidly, the insects have
long been a source of genetic information
for scientists.
Dr. Robert E. Webster, professor of
biochemistry, will continue his studies of
the "Morphogenesis of the Filamentous
Bacteriophage" with the aid of a $45,000
grant.
Webster said he is trying to elucidate
steps in the buildup of bacteria-
destroying virus on the cell membranes of
the host bacteria. He hopes the research
will provide information about
membranes and how certain proteins
assemble along them.
Dr. Robert L. Hill, professor and
chairman of the Department of
Biochemistry, has received an additional
$40,000 in support of his "Structure and
Function of Glycosyl Transferases"
study.
Glycosyl transferases are important
enzymes involved in the synthesis of
complex sugars in humans and animals.
Hill said.
(Continued from page I)
involved in diagnosing illness from the
outset rather than simply performing and
evaluating tests ordered by a referring
physician.
The reorganization also should aid
research by allowing radiologists to be
more accurate in comparing existing
diagnostic procedures with each other
and with those developed in the future,
he added.
Putman said Ravin, who earned both
his A.B. and M.D. degrees at Cornell
University, will be associate professor
here.
Ravin completed an internship in
surgery in 1969 at the University of
California's San Francisco Medical Center
and his residency in radiology at the
University of Utah in 1974. He served as
Winchester Fellow in diagnostic chest
radiology at Yale-New Haven Hospital
the following year and was named to the
Yale faculty in 1975.
His scientific efforts have been directed
toward non-invasive methods of
evaluating pulmonary arterial
hypertension. He also has been analyzing
physical factors that affect tomographic
images in an effort to minimize distortion
and improve picture quality.
The appointment of Stephen F. Phelps
as administrative direttor of radiology in
May is helping the department cope with
the business aspects of its reorganization,
Putman said.
Phelps, a 1959 graduate of the
University of North Carolina, is a former
vice president of Wachovia Bank and
Trust Co. He has been assistant treasurer
at Duke for the past four years.
This week on TV
Duke's Cancer Information Service will
be featured on WRAL-TV's (Channel 5)
"Aware" program tomorrow at 7 p.m.
Hostess Waltye Rasulala will interview
Dr. Diane McGrath, director of cancer
control for the Comprehensive Cancer
Center, and information specialists
Karen McCrory and Andy Silberman to
learn about all the types of information
offered by the service.
North Carolinians can call the service
toll-free from anywhere in the state by
dialing 1-800-672-0943. From Durham
County, dial 286-2266.
SHE Wv4S A MAINSTAY AT DUKE — This photograph of Lillian Daniels Trevathan, which was
taken in the 1930s or '40s, shows her in a pose familiar to long-time Duke employees. Mrs.
Trevathan was an original staff member of Duke Hospital and was head of the hospital
information desk until her retirement in 1969. She died Sept. 14 in her Durham home and is
survived by her husband, one daughter, one grandson, three brothers and one sister. Memorial
contributions may be made to the Trinity Avenue Presbyterian Church.