Newspapers / InterCom (Durham, N.C.) / Dec. 15, 1978, edition 1 / Page 3
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Reunion weekend planned for children with diabetes The "First Annual Between Sessions Eagle's Nesters Reunion" begins today at Camp Chestnut Ridge in Mebane for approximately fifteen adolescents with diabetes mellitus. The weekend, the first of a series of three, has been planned to reinforce what the campers learned this summer at the North Carolina Camp for Children with Diabetes (NCCCD), formerly the North Carolina Camp for Diabetic Children (see Intercom, 8/11/78). The name was changed to reflect the staff's philosophy that the primary purpose of the camp is the enjoyment of children who happen to have diabetes. This pilot weekend is for 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds. The second will be for a younger age group, and the third will serve as a training session for those campers who will be junior counselors during the summer camp next August. The junior counselors act as liaisons between the campers and the medical staff, and as role models for the younger campers. Michael Rocco, a third year medical student who is a coordinator of the weekend project, said, "The between- camp sessions will serve to reverse the gradual decline between summer sessions, in both the information retained by the camper and in the performance of self-management techniques." A child with diabetes mellitus is faced with the facts that his or her disease is chronic and hereditary and that poor control of the disorder can lead to blindness, cardiovascular, kidney and nerve diseases, and gangrene. "The purpose of the NCCCD and the follow-up weekend is to help children Somjen finds problems, promise while teaching in Nigeria with diabetes mellitus learn to cope, both emotionally and physically with their chronic condition, and to introduce health care providers to the medical, psychological and social issues that' impact on children with diseases," Rocco said. For example, he explained, children with diabetes mellitus must learn the necessity of testing their urine's sugar and ketone levels four times a day, for the rest of their lives. They also must realize the important interactions among their specialized diet, their activity and their insulin intake. "Weedend plans," according to RN Fran ■Lebovitz, a former Duke staff member who is another of the reunion's coordinators, "call for a party, athletic events, fun with cooking (and eating) and time for sharing ideas and feelings in an informal way." Lebovitz, Rocco and four other medicai students will staff the camp this weekend, all on a voluntary basis. It is hoped that a grant proposal will be accepted which will cover the $10 fee for each camper. A psychologist whose specialty involves children with chronic diseases- will lead voluntary small group meetings of the campers tomorrow. This activity is of extreme importance, Rocco said, as it is essential that the campers learn "to accept their -disease, and to accept the responsibility of controlling their disease." Rocco, speaking for himself and his fellow coordinators, said that "by helping these children achieve a positive attitude about themselves and a \vorking knowledge of their condition, it is our ultimate goal that they will be better able to live fuller, more productive, healthier lives as they mature to adulthood." (Continued from page l) university, but they still have a noticeable impact," the scientist pointed out. "At one of the newer universities, for example, we heard that there is a vice chancellor who appoints only people of his own ethnic origin to all the leading positions. That creates a lot of bad feelings." Selecting any of the African languages as the official one for Nigeria would be politically impossible, Somjen said. Swahili, which many Americans believe to be a universal African tongue, is spoken only in parts of east Africa. Hindrances don't include wild animals Foreign visitors often make the mistake of comparing Nigeria with their own countries, he said. Such comparisons are both unrealistic and unfair since different environments have required different adaptations. "One has to go there himself with a willingness to adapt," Somjen said. "There are many things that you would not find acceptable here that you have to work with in Nigeria." There are no wild animals to worry about in residential areas, he said, smiling, although "everyday life has a million small hindrances that you don't count on." While travelling, one has to carry extra gasoline because the stations frequently run out even though Nigeria supports itself by exporting oil. It may take eight days to get a telegram delivered and anywhere from two to four weeks to receive a letter once it has reached the capital city of Lagos. Stabilizing influence The scientist said he feels long-term cultural exchange programs can provide a stabilizing influence on third world nations like Nigeria, just as they do in more developed countries. "There is always the danger of these countries' turning in on themselves and going in a very bad direction unless there is a continuous exchange and input of reason," he said. "To say it in very big words, 1 think the technologic, scientific and economic exchange is essential for the future of mankind. "It will be important to put money into programs that keep the doors open, but it will be even more important to put a lot of heart into them," he added. "Moreover, we need these countries as much as they need us." YOUTHFUL GRANDFATHER OF AFRICAN EDUCATION-founded only 30 years ago, Ibadan University is the oldest university in Nigeria and the second oldest in all of black Africa. Medical center professor Dr. George Somjen, who spent last semester teaching medical students there, said Ibadan and its newer sister institutions offer promise for the developing nation. Overcrowding of classes remains a problem for the schools, he said. Variety of roads lead to Duke for faculty appointees Eight new faculty members have been appointed at the medical center, according to Dr. Frederic N. Cleaveland, university provost. They include Dr. Genevieve M. Bartol, associate professor of nursing; Dr. Melvyn Korobkin, professor of radiology; and six assistant professors in the departments indicated: Dr. Barrie J. Hurwitz, medicine; Dr. Francis J. Keefe Jr., medical psychology division of psychiatry; Dr. Dennis R. S. Osborne, radiology; Dr. Frederic]. Romm and Frank E. Harrell Jr., community and family medicine; and Dr. Robert S. Waite, pathology. Bartol graduated from Villanova University in 1960 with a B.S. degree in nursing. She received an A.B. degree from Maryknoll College in the Philippines in 1968. After completing her doctoral studies at the Teachers College of Columbia University in 1976, Bartol joined the faculty of Louisiana State University where she was an associate professor, serving as coordinator of mental health. Korobkin completed his undergradu ate education at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1963 and Correction A photo of Dr. Ruby Wilson, which appeared on page 3 of last week's Intercom was incorrectly attributed to Parker Herring. The photo actually was taken by Jim Wallace. received his medical degree from the Yale School of Medicine in 1967. He served his intership at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and completed his residency at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), in 1971. Korobkin has been an associate professor of radiology at UCSF' since 1974. Hurwitz graduated from Queen's College, Queenstown, South Africa, in 1961 and from Witwatersrand University Medical School in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1968. After serving his internship and residency at Johannesburg General Hospital, Hurwitz served three years as a neurology resident at Cornell University Medical Center. He was also a neurology fellow and instructor at Cornell. A research fellow in the psychiatry department at Harvard Medical School before coming to Duke, Keefe was awarded a B.S. degree from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, in 1971, He received a Ph.D. from Ohio University In 1975. He also held predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships from the National Institute of Mental Health. A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Osborne received his medical degree in 1961 from Otago Medical School in Dunedin, New Zealand. He was an assistant professor in radiology at Yale medical school, a lecturer in radiology at Aukland Medical School and radiologist in charge at Princess Mary Hospital in Auckland. Romm completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia College in New York in 1966 and received his medical degree from Harvard in 1970. He served his internship at North Carolina Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill and received his master's in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975. Romm has been a research assistant professor in UNC's Department of Epidemiology since 1976. The University of Alabama at Birmingham awarded Harrell a B.S. degree in 1973. Since 1973, Harrell has been a doctoral candidate and research assistant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Lipid Research Clinics Program. Waite received his B.A. in chemistry In 1965 and concurrently earned a Ph.D. In physiology and a medical degree in 1975. All three degrees were conferred by Duke. Since 1975 he has been serving his pathology residency here. Professional news Dr. E, Harvey Estes, professor and chairman of the Department of Community and Family Medicine, has been appointed by Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. to the Commission on Prepaid Health Plans. Another appointee is Dr. Stuart W. Sessoms, senior vice presi dent of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North director of the hospital. DR. ESTES Carolina, former Dr. Herman Grossman, professor of radiology and pediatrics, presented courses on "Genito-Urinary Tract" and "G.I. Tract in the Neonate" at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America held Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in Chicago. On Dec. 11, he attended a meeting of a National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements committee which is preparing a booklet on radiation protection In children. Earlier this fall, Gossman gave a presentation on "Imaging for Childhood Cancer" during a National Conference on the Care of the Child with Cancer, sponsored by the American Cancer Society and held in Boston. At a Chicago meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics, he presented a paper on "Retroperitoneal Tumors," participated on a panel which discussed "Abdominal Masses" and took part In a seminar dealing with "General Pediatric Radiology." Dr. Richard H. Daffner, assistant professor of radiology, presented a paper on "Computerized Tomography of the Esophagus" during the Radiological Society of North America meeting.
InterCom (Durham, N.C.)
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Dec. 15, 1978, edition 1
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