The Shiffman Medical Library has arranged for a free trial of R2 Digital Library, the web-based e-book collection for medicine, nursing and allied health, from Rittenhouse Book Distributors Inc. The trial is open to all Wayne State University faculty, staff and students, and runs through Aug. 31.

If you would like to take a look and assist in helping to evaluate this resource, visit R2 Digital Library Online Trial.

Library staff members are interested in receiving comments about the system. For more information, contact Wendy Wu, Information Services librarian, at wendywu@med.wayne.edu.

Monica Y. Alexander, M.D., an assistant professor of ophthalmology with the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has secured a grant to provide free vision screenings in the community.

The $19,000 Student Sight Savers Program Grant, provided by the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation, will fund 250 free screenings for adults, Dr. Alexander said.

Screening dates and locations have not yet been announced. Screenings generally take place one Saturday morning per month.

If during a screening problems are discovered, patients will be instructed to follow up with the Kresge Eye Institute.

Dr. Alexander said the Student Sight Savers Program was started by “my mentor and fellowship preceptor,” Dr. Eve Higginbotham, M.D., in the early 1990s. Dr. Higginbotham is now dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine.

Students interested in volunteering to participate in the screenings may contact Dr. Alexander, or Larissa Dub, Steffany Kerkstra or Tiffany Kent via the School of Medicine email system.

An open house will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Lochmoor Country Club in Grosse Pointe. A memorial service for friends and family will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Mammen, who served Wayne State University and the School of Medicine for more than 40 years, died July 1.

Wayne State University submitted its application for a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on June 16. This application is to fund integrated research to transform clinical and translational research, with the goal of developing bedside treatment more rapidly and efficiently.

“I’m very excited about this application,” said Michael Diamond, M.D., principal investigator for the CTSA project, assistant dean of Clinical & Translational Research and Associate Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine. “I think there are definite strengths and assets that Wayne State brings to a comprehensive national infrastructure that will help us in the assessment of our application by the NIH.”

School of Medicine Dean Robert M. Mentzer Jr., M.D., noted that the application meets one of the strategic goals set by the School of Medicine, which align with the university’s strategic plan of improving Wayne State’s stature as a nationally ranked research university.

Former School of Medicine professor and founding dean of the Wayne State University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Eberhard Mammen, M.D., died July 1.

Dr. Mammen joined the School of Medicine in 1958 as a Fulbright scholar in the department of physiology and pharmacology. An outstanding scientist, educator, administrator and clinician, Dr. Mammen was internationally recognized for his expertise in the field of hemostasis. He was a leading authority in the use of mini-dose heparin in prophylactic treatment of deep vein thrombosis.

Dr. Mammen served as Wayne State University's dean of the College of Pharmacy from 1974 to 1982 before retiring from clinical practice in 1996. He returned in 2000 to serve as Interim Dean for the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. During his time as dean, Dr. Mammen designed the first interdisciplinary pathophysiology course and offered a curriculum in which allied health professionals made hospital rounds with physicians.

A beloved professor, Dr. Mammen mentored and educated many medical students and Ph.D. candidates and earned their deepest respect and gratitude. He was honored by his students five times with the esteemed LAMP award, which is presented each year to the basic science faculty member who provides the most the most valuable and rewarding learning experience.

Henry Ford Hospital welcomed 62 Wayne State University School of Medicine third-year students to their campus today to begin their clinical rotations. Under the new SOM Clinical Campus program, these students will complete all or most of their required clerkships at Henry Ford Hospital.

The students, who were chosen at random from over 80 students who asked to be part of the pilot program, were welcomed to campus today with an extensive group orientation.

Eric Scher, M.D., Director of Medical Education for the Henry Ford Health System personally welcomed the SOM students to the campus. “I want you to consider yourselves integral members of the team,” he said. “At Henry Ford, we will provide a good learning environment. We want you to have an outstanding clinical experience.”

The SOM Clinical Campus initiative is an important aspect of the education section of the Strategic Plan for the school, developed last year by Dean Robert Mentzer, M.D. The goal is to establish a number of Clinical Campuses in order to secure adequate clinical clerkship training sites for third and fourth-year students

The Henry Ford Clinical Campus is the initial pilot project of this concept for the 2008/2009 academic year. By 2009/2010, all third-year students will complete their rotations at a single hospital or healthcare system affiliated with the School of Medicine.

“It is our firm belief that the Clinical Campus program will assure our students the continued excellence in clinical education for which the Wayne State University School of Medicine has long been known,” said Thomas Roe, M.D., Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education.

The School of Medicine will continue to work with its other affiliated hospitals toward the establishment of additional Clinical Campuses to ensure that every member of next year’s third-year class is guaranteed a spot at one of these campuses for their clinical rotations.