University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Arts in Healthcare to be launched

The Arts in Healthcare Initiative established by the Center for the Arts will be celebrated and launched with a special event from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 24 in the CFA.

The Arts in Healthcare initiative was established by the CFA to bring the performing and visual arts into health care settings at Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute to enhance the healing environment for patients and caregivers. The first comprehensive program of its kind in Western New York, it is funded by a grant from the John R. Oishei Foundation, with additional support from the Seymour H. Knox Foundation and the Society for Arts in Healthcare.

The Oct. 24 event, supported by a gift from Bank of America, will include a cocktail reception and light dinner. It will be free and open to the public. Reservations are required and must be made no later than Oct. 17 at 645-6259 or cyarwood@buffalo.edu.

The event will include a performance of "Woven Harmony" by Robert and Rebecca Bluestone, a husband-and-wife team from Santa Fe, N.M., who will be in Buffalo for a week-long residency as part of the initiative, working with patients and hospital employees. Robert is classical guitarist; Rebecca’s artistry is reflected in the tapestries she creates.

Rebecca is an ovarian cancer survivor and was caregiver to her late mother, who died as the result of breast cancer. Robert was Rebecca's caregiver during her treatment and recovery. They are passionate about unlocking for their audiences the powerful connection between creativity and healing in the health care environment.

Discovery Seminars needed

The Office of the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education is seeking faculty members to create and teach one-credit seminar courses in the spring 2009 semester as part of the Discovery Seminar Program.

Courses offered through the program are designed to engage freshmen and sophomores, integrate them into the academic community and get them excited about academics at UB.

Faculty members who participate in the seminar program receive a $500 award for developing their course that can be used for any academic purpose including travel, research, supplies and books.

Click here to learn more and submit a proposal.

Questions may be directed to vpue@buffalo.edu or 645-6003.

Estate planning seminar to be held

Attorney Laurie Menzies of Pfalzgraf Beinhauer & Menzies LLP will present “Estate Planning 101,” a free workshop sponsored by UB’s Office of Gift Planning, at 10 a.m. Nov. 3 in the Center for Tomorrow, North Campus.

Menzies will present information on minimizing estate taxes and determining how much income is needed for retirement, as well as discuss how the presidential election and changes in law will impact individuals’ estates.

Space will be limited. Register at 881-7488.

Marks to deliver Perry lecture

James S. Marks, senior vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Group, will present the 20th annual J. Warren Perry Lecture of the School of Public Health and Health Professions at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 31 in 105 Harriman Hall, South Campus.

The lecture is titled “Buffalo, the University and the Public’s Health.”

Marks, 1973 graduate of the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, also serves as vice chair of the board of directors of C-Change—a national cancer coalition whose members are the nation’s key cancer leaders from government, business and nonprofit sectors—and sits on the membership committee of the Institute of Medicine. He previously served as U.S. assistant surgeon general and director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

The annual lecture, which will be free and open to the public, honors the founding dean of the former School of Health Related Professions. It will be preceded by faculty/student poster presentations beginning at noon.