Michigan Solar Car defends national title in sweeping victory
Despite nearly sunless conditions in the final two days, the University of Michigan Solar Car Team has successfully defended its decade-long reigning championship — winning the 2016 American Solar Challenge for the sixth consecutive time. The team, which raced the solar car Aurum, crossed the finish line at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 6 in Wind Cave National Park in North Dakota. The race, which happens every other year on a different course, began July 30 in Ohio. Michigan raced against 23 other teams of college students that had built their own solar-powered electric vehicles. This is the ninth time that U-M has won the race.
Buddy’s Pizza president makes $500,000 matching gift for Alzheimer’s research
Robert Jacobs is no stranger to neurological disease: He lost his father to Alzheimer’s disease, and was himself diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome a decade ago. So the Buddy’s Pizza president takes neurological research personally, and has demonstrated his commitment with a remarkable gift to the Program for Neurology Research & Discovery: He will match up to $500,000 to support research into environmental toxins and their potential link to Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier this year, PNR&D Director Dr. Eva L. Feldman, along with Dr. Stephen A. Goutman and others, published a study that showed a high percentage of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis had been exposed to agricultural pesticides. The Jacobs gift gives the PNR&D a jumpstart on a similar study of Alzheimer’s patients.
Kallie Michels will serve as interim VP for communications
Kallie Bila Michels has been appointed interim vice president for global communications and strategic initiatives, effective Sept. 1. President Mark Schlissel announced the appointment Aug. 3. Michels has been associate vice president for communications since 2008. She will step in for Lisa Rudgers, who is leaving the university Aug. 31 to launch a new consulting firm.
Michigan life science innovators: Apply now for funds to kickstart an idea
Medical research teams now can apply for up to $30,000 to get a new idea off the ground, or up to $200,000 to help them cross the treacherous middle stage of testing a promising new drug, device or diagnostic tool. It’s the first round of funding from the new Michigan Translation and Commercialization (MTRAC) for Life Sciences Hub. The competition is open to teams from any Michigan public university, and any nonprofit research institute or health system based in the state. Full information and secure application forms are available at myumi.ch/LRABq for new ideas, and myumi.ch/JNQEV for ideas that have already shown promise. The deadlines for the first round of funding are Dec. 31 and Sept. 26, respectively.
Million-dollar gift to School of Nursing motivated by maternal care
She didn’t know it at the time, of course, but her own birth would inspire Eleanore (Maitland) Higginson’s career path and a gift to the University of Michigan. “I was a twin but my brother was stillborn, and my mother barely survived herself because of the terrible care she received,” says Ellie. “As I grew older, I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of difference better care could have made. The outcome could have been entirely different.” She eventually attended the U-M School of Nursing, and became a nurse, working at University Hospital and teaching nursing students. Ellie’s career spanned more than 40 years in various nursing positions including gynecologic oncology and wound care. George and Ellie Higginson recently committed a $1 million-dollar gift to create UMSN’s first professorship in midwifery.
African Studies Center announces new leadership for 2016-17 academic year
Effective July 1, A. Oveta Fuller, associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical School, has been appointed as the director of the African Studies Center in a one-year appointment. Judith T. Irvine, Edward Sapir Collegiate Professor of Linguistic Anthropology, Department of Anthropology, is joining her to serve as ASC’s associate director for the year.
Campuswide New Faculty Orientation planned for Aug. 31
The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching will once again conduct a campuswide New Faculty Orientation to introduce all new faculty to the University of Michigan. The orientation will take place from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Aug. 31 in the Michigan League. The program will include remarks by President Mark Schlissel and Provost Martha Pollack, information about support for faculty research and teaching, and interactive sessions in which faculty can share experiences and strategize about good teaching. An Information Fair is included in the event, with representatives from key university offices providing materials and answering questions about life at U-M. For additional information, contact Hitomi Katsumi (hkat@umich.edu; 647-4765), or visit crlt.umich.edu/16nfoagenda.
UMHS becomes equity partner in Together Health Network
The U-M Health System is taking the next step in its partnership with Ascension and Trinity Health — the founding sponsors of Together Health Network. The Health System is now a minority equity partner in the statewide, physician-led clinically integrated network of health care providers. The network, which launched in 2014, has providers readily accessible to 75 percent of all Michigan residents. “This partnership strengthens the ability of the citizens of Michigan to obtain access to the highly specialized services available at the University of Michigan,” said Dr. David Spahlinger, president of the UMHS clinical enterprise. The new partnership adds a UMHS representative to the Together Health Network board and will add UMHS representatives to various Together Health Network committees.
U-M hospitals, health centers ranked No. 18 in U.S., No. 1 in Michigan
The University of Michigan’s hospitals and health centers are among the top 20 hospitals in the nation, according to the 2016-2017 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The Aug. 2 “Best Hospitals” list names U-M to the Honor Roll, ranking it No. 18 in the U.S. and first in Michigan. The Honor Roll includes 20 hospitals nationwide. This is the 24th consecutive year U-M has been nationally recognized for strong across-the-board performance.
