Professional News
TREATIES AFFECT HER JOB—Cathy Gotten is the person to see for information on
"anything international." Her office is in Room 120, Davison Building. Her extension
is 684-6347. (Photo by John Becton)
Dr. Redford B. Williams Jr., associate
professor of psychiatry, presented a
paper on cardiovascular effects of
vigilance behavior and participated in a
symposium at a meeting of the Society
for Psychophysiological Research in San
Diego, Calif., Oct. 20*24. He spoke on
behavioral approaches to cardiovascular
disease at the American Heart
Association meeting in Miami, Fla., Nov.
15-18.
Dr. H. Keith H. Brodie, professor and
chairman of the Department of
Psychiatry, spoke on “Psychiatric
Research: Past Directors, Newr Frontiers"
as guest speaker at the Southern Medical
Association's Section on Neurology,
Neurosurgery and Psychiatry in New
Orleans, La., Nov. 10. He also gave the
banquet address that day at the Alton
Ochsner Medical Foundation in New
Orleans, where his topic was "Recent
Developments in the Biology of
Depression."
Ifs AWorld of Stamps^ Visas and People
By John Becton
How much does it cost to mail a
letter to Uruguay?
What are the opportunities for
postgraduate study in Europe?
What do I have to do to be able to
practice my profession abroad?
Cathy Gotten, the medical center's
international advisor, says if she
doesn't know the answer, she can
find out.
When she is not answering
questions such as these, she might
be translating regulations and
handling paperwork involved in
various visas.
Or she might be advising any of
the 250-300 internationals in the
medical center on a variety of
problems.
Information Soune
"I am an information source on
anything international," Ms. Gotten
said.
In this role, she is the laison with
the U.S. Immigration and
Naturalization Service, the
Department of Labor, the Social
Security Administration and the
State Department Bureau of Gultural
Affairs.
Also, she is a member of the
National Association of Foreign
Student Advisors.
Regulations
Constantly Changing
Keeping up with regulations is an
on-going process, because they are
affected by politics throughout the
world.
Every time treaties or boundaries
change and whenever Congress
passes a bill having any implications
for the status of international
visitors, Ms. Cotten's job is altered.
"They have passed a bill which
will become effective Jan. 1 and will
change many people's lives
tremendously," she said. "It will
change all the immigration
regulatioTts for the Western
Hemisphere to the system which
exists for the Eastern Hemisphere. It
will make things'easier in the long
run, but there will be a lot of extra
work for the first couple of years or
so."
Even Taxes Are Uncertain
Ms. Gotten determines the status
of international employees prior to
their being put on the payroll.
"This is important because some
are not allowed to work at all under
their special visas," she said. "Also,
we have tax treaties with some
countries, which mean their citizens
are exempt from taxes here, and ours
are exempt in their country."
And the task she says is the "most
complicated" is helping file petitions
for citizenship.
Office Established in 1974
It was decided just over two years
ago that it would be more convenient
for the medical center to have a
separate international office.
It was established in June, 1974^
with Mary C. Fendt serving as
advisor.
Ms. Gotten was an undergraduate
in the university at the time, and
became Ms. Fendt's assistant.
She completed her degree in
cultural anthropology in 1975 and, in
addition to part-time work with the
medical alumni office, assumed the
position of international advisor this
past July.
'Prime Group'
"1 like the internationals," Ms.
Gotten said. "Most are eager to tell
you about where they are from. It's a
good way to leam a lot about your
world from the people who live in
it."
She further pointed out that many
international visitors are "some of
the top medical people in the world."
Her predecessor agreed.
"They are by nature a 'prime
group,' well educated and
individuals with a lot to contribute
to the medical center, as well as to
Durham as people, apart from their
technical skills," Ms. Fendt said.
See Ms. Gotten First
Qne thing that makes it simpler for
everyone involved in bringing an
international visitor to the medical
center, is getting in touch with Ms.
Gotten first.
This way necessary forms can be
in order before the guest arrives, and
potentially insurmountable
problems can be avoided.
Once they are here, she is available
to help in the adjustment to differing
lifestyle, culture and language.
A Matter of Interpretation
Ms. Gotten pointed out that many
international visitors may know "the
King's English" fluently, but find
our highly idiomatic American
dialect rather hard to comprehend at
first.
Since she has a complete listing,
she can put internationals in touch
with others from the same country
who faced similar problems when
they first arrived.
These files also help when the
international office is called on by
other departments.
For example, Ms. Gotten was able
to recruit most of the new
interpreters when the Language
Bank was updated this fall (see
Intercom, 10/29/76).
Cathy Gotten is a sort of
combination travel agent, counselor,
reference source and authorizing
official for all international activities.
You can find her in Room 120,
Davison Building (Dr. Jay Arena's
office); The phone number is
684-6347.
Dr. Kenneth A. Schneider, director ot
Hospital Laboratories, presented a talk
entitled "Hormonal and Lnzyme
Imbalances Associated with Dyslexia" at
the Dyslexia Seminar in Chicago
recently.
Three faculty members in the
Department of Surgery have become
fellows in the American College of
Surgeons. They are Dr. Robert W.
Anderson, associate professor, general
and thoracic; Dr. Donald Serafin,
assistant professor, plastic and
maxillofacial; and Dr. Samuel A. Wells
Jr., associate professor, general and
thoracic, and assistant professor ot
microbiology.
As members ot the college, the fetors
may use the designation "F.A.C.S." —
Fellow, American College of Surgeons, —
after their names. It indicates that they
have completed their medical education,
have had advanced training in general
surgery or a surgical specialty recognized
by the college, and have shown ethical
practice and good character.
Founded in 1913, the American College
of Surgeons is the world's largest
organization of surgeons.
Dr. David Davis, professor of
anesthesiology, was guest speaker at the
monthly meeting of the Association of
Operating Room Technicians at N.C.
Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, Oct. 25.
The lecture on "Reading the EKG" was
given as a continuing education
opportunity for ORT's.
Wayne MacKintosh, American
Registered Respiratory Therapist
(ARRT), clinical coordinator for the
Division of Respiratory Therapy, was
elected to the Bozu'd of Directors of the
American Association for Respiratory
Therj^y at the armual convention in
Miami, Nov. 3-10. He will serve a
three-year term.
Also attending the meeting were
Houston R. Anderson, ARRT, technical
director; Gerald Raybom and Robert
Silver, supervisors; and Elaine Uca and
Robert Silver, ARRTs.
Anderson is immediate past president
of the r\atioiud organization.
/FT™
DON'T FORGET YOUR PARTY!
Mark your calendar now for the
annual Christmas Party for the Duke
Medical Center.
It will be Wednesday, Dec. 15, in
the Courtyard Cafeteria. The hours
will be from 2-4 p.m. for people who
work during the day and from 10
p.m.-midnight for the night people.
Santa Claus will be there. He
hopes you will be, too.
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