Weill Cornell Provides Support for a Medical School in Tanzania

3/11/02 Dean’s Bulletin
Weill Cornell Provides Support
for a Medical School in Tanzania
In response to the severe lack of adequate medical personnel in the East African Nation of Tanzania, Weill
Medical College, the Catholic Church of Tanzania, and the Tanzanian Ministries of Health and Higher
Education have combined efforts to support the Bugando University College of Health Sciences (BUCHS).
BUCHS is a medical, nursing, dental, and pharmacy school, scheduled to open later this year, in Mwanza.
Weill Cornell is also hosting physicians from Tanzania on an on-going basis to provide them with
educational training and hands-on experience to impart at BUCHS.
The establishment of BUCHS will make it only the third medical school in Tanzania, one of the poorest
countries in the world. Before BUCHS, there were only two medical colleges in Tanzania (the Kilimanjaro
Christian Medical Centre in Northern Tanzania and the Muhimbili College of Health Science on
Tanzania’s east coast) for a population of approximately 33 million people, with an average of one M.D.
for 25,000 persons. BUCHS will allow Tanzania to quadruple its current number of physicians and to
increase the physician-to-general population ratio to one in every 7,000 persons, which meets the “Health
for All” standards set by the United Nations. The school will ultimately graduate 175 medical
professionals --doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and
dentists-- every year, from four- and five-year programs.
To help fund the Tanzanian project, a total of $21.4 million is needed for hospital renovations and the
development of Tanzanian physicians as faculty of Bugando Medical School. Last October, the Asante
Supper, which was held at the Westin Hotel in Stamford, raised $500,000 toward this goal. The event was
part of “Touching Tanzania,” a fundraising collaboration initiated by Weill Cornell Medical College; the
Tanzanian government; and Maryknoll Father and Brothers in Ossining, New York. These organizations
came together through the tireless efforts of the Rev. Dr. Peter LeJacq, a 1981 alumnus of Cornell
University Medical College and a Maryknoll Missioner who has served at the Bugando Medical Center (a
Catholic hospital on the shores of Lake Victoria where BUCHS will be located), since 1987.
Currently, at Weill Cornell, are two visiting physicians from Tanzania: Dr. Emmanuel Kimwaga, 46, and
Dr. Mange Manyama, 28. To date, a total of five physicians from Tanzania have visited Weill Cornell to
observe classes and to receive training. (Drs. Peter Rambau, Stephen Mshana, and Robert Mbelwa have
since returned to Tanzania.). Both Drs. Manyama and Kimwaga, who arrived at the Medical College on
January 8, expressed sincere appreciation for the “committed and dedicated staff” here. They are studying
under the supervision of Dr. Estomih Mtui, director of the Program in Anatomy and Body Visualization,
who is also a native of Tanzania.
In contrast to the Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar initiative, which is operated by Cornell and
involves the awarding of a Cornell degree, the Tanzanian project entails Weill Cornell providing
computers, textbooks, curriculum support, and training of prospective faculty at BUCHS. No Cornell
degree will be awarded in the Tanzanian project.
photo #1 caption for home page:
Weill Medical College, the Catholic Church of Tanzania, and the Tanzanian Ministries of Health and
Higher Education have combined efforts to support the Bugando University College of Health
Sciences (BUCHS) in Tanzania, scheduled to open later this year.
photo #1 repeat--caption for link page:

(from left): Dr. Emmanuel Kimwaga and Dr. Mange Manyama are receivi ng training in the basic
medical sciences and computers from Weill Cornell to promote their development as faculty of
BUCHS. They are studying under the supervision of Dr. Estomih Mtui, director of the Program in
Anatomy and Body Visualization at Weill Cornell, who is also a native of Tanzania.
#
2001-2002 Feil Scholars Honored
Three generations of members of the Feil family, who, for the past 15 years have shown a strong
commitment to the Medical College’s educational mission, gathered in Weill Cornell’s Archbold Commons
on January 9, to honor the 2001-2002 Feil Scholars.
More than 30 family members--including children, grandchildren, in-laws, and cousins of the late Louis
Feil and his widow, Gertrude--and friends, attended the event hosted by Dr. Antonio Gotto, the Stephen
and Suzanne Weiss Dean of the Medical College.
Dr. Carol Storey-Johnson, the senior associate dean for education, introduced the four new Feil Scholars:
Michael Cohen, Kristina Paley, Zsofia Stadler, and Eric Strauss.
Dr. R.A. Rees Pritchett, professor of clinical medicine, and John J. Caronna, professor of clinical
neurology, shared memories of Mr. Feil and paid tribute to his widow, Gertrude, and son, Jeffrey, in
continuing a legacy that has benefited the Medical College for more than a decade.
Established in 1988 by the family and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Feil in honor of their fiftieth wedding
anniversary, the Gertrude and Louis Feil Scholarship Fund has provided financial aid to a total of 17
deserving medical students. The family has been adding to the fund since its establishment.
photo # 2 caption:
The 2001-2002 Feil Scholars stand with Dr. Antonio Gotto (center), the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss
Dean of the Medical College. From left: Michael Cohen, Zsofia Stadler, Eric Strauss, and Kristina
Paley.
#
Oprah’s Personal Trainer, Bob Greene, Joins
Weill Cornell to Help Launch
National Cholesterol Awareness Campaign
Free Cholesterol Testing Provided to First 100 Participants
To help kick off a national cholesterol awareness campaign, Weill Cornell and Oprah Winfrey’s personal
trainer, Bob Greene, joined in focusing the public’s attention on one of America’s most pressing public
health issues, coronary heart disease (CHD), which currently afflicts an estimated 12-million people in the
United States.
Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, hosted the event held
at the Griffis Faculty Club on February 15. Both Dr. Mosca and Mr. Greene discussed the fight against
heart disease, the latest research on prevention and treatment, and how people can learn to live hearthealthy
lives. Preventive Cardiology staff also offered free lipid profile screenings to the first 100
participants.

Topics presented were “Debunking the Myths,” which discussed how one can acquire the building blocks
needed for a healthy heart; “Understanding the Metabolic Syndrome,” which reflected on the syndrome’s
relation to heart disease; “Understanding the Cholesterol Dilemma,” which included information on how
the new National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines affect Americans in their efforts to stay hearthealthy
and fit; and “Treatment Options Update,” which discussed the latest available therapies for
managing heart disease and cholesterol.
Mr. Greene, author of the New York Times bestseller Get With the Program, also signed free copies of his
book.
photo caption #3:
Preventive Cardiology staff offered free lipid profile screenings to the first 100 participants to help
kick off a National Cholesterol Awareness Campaign held at Weill Cornell’s Griffis Faculty Club on
February 15.
photo caption #4:
Dr. Lori Mosca, director of preventive cardiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Bob
Greene, personal trainer to Oprah Winfrey and author of a new bestseller, Get With the Program,
discussed the fight against heart disease, the latest research on prevention and treatment, and how
people can learn to live heart-healthy lives.
#
Weill Cornell Holds Science Press Breakfast on COX-2
Weill Cornell and Pharmacia, a global-based pharmaceutical company located in Peapack, New Jersey, cosponsored
a special breakfast seminar for the media, on the topic “From Arthritis to Cancer: A New View
of COX-2,” last January 30.
The event, held in the Uris Faculty Room (A-126), attracted writers and producers from WABC-TV,
Glamour Magazine, Contemporary Surgery, Oncology Times, Drug Topics, and Drugstore News, among
other media.
The seminar focused on the latest news on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme associated with
inflammation and implicated in many cancers. COX-2 was discussed as a novel target for cancer treatment
and prevention. Participants were also treated to a half-hour, hands-on laboratory experience on COX-2
expression, led by Dr. Kotha Subbaramaiah, assistant professor of medicine.
Dr. Lisa Staiano-Coico, senior associate dean of research, moderated the event. Dr. Andrew Dannenberg,
the Henry R. Erle M.D.-- Roberts Family Professor of Medicine and director of cancer prevention at Weill
Cornell, presented “A Novel Pharmacological Target for Prevention and Treatment of Cancer.” Dr. Mark
Pochapin, chief of endoscopy and associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell, and Dr. Nasser
Altorki, chief of endoscopy and professor of cardiothoracic surgery, presented “Meet the Experts: Current
Phase II and III Research.”
photo # 5 caption:
Dr. Lisa Staiano-Coico, senior associate dean of research, moderated the special breakfast seminar
for the media on January 30, co-sponsored by Weill Cornell and Pharmacia.
#

Awards and Honors
Dr. David Hajjar, the Frank H.T. Rhodes Distinguished Professor in Cardiovascular Biology and Genetics
and dean of the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, is currently serving as president of the
American Association of University Pathologists (“Pluto Club”) for the 2001-2002 term. Dr. Hajjar is also
serving as co-chairman of the 2002 Keystone Conference on Inflammatory Paradigms and Vasculature,
which will be held April 9-14 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and serves on the Development Committee
of the North American Vascular Biology Organization of the American Heart Association. Next year, Dr.
Hajjar will be honored as the recipient of the 2003 FASEB (ASIP) Chugai Award for excellence in
mentoring and scholarship. This prestigious award is presented to a member of ASIP (American Society for
Investigative Pathology) who has had a distinguished career combining excellence in mentoring of students
and research fellows in education with outstanding research achievements in experimental and investigative
pathology. He will present the keynote lecture and chair The Chugai Symposium for Young Investigators
during ASIP’s 2003 annual meeting in San Diego.
photo # 6 caption:
Dr. David Hajjar
Dr. Norman Relkin, associate professor of clinical neurology and neuroscience, and director of the
Cornell Memory Disorders Program at NewYork Weill Cornell Medical Center, hosted a discussion on the
screening of the new movie “Memento,” an event sponsored by the “Brain Interest Group” and “Psychiatry
Within Cinema” on January 29 in Weill Cornell’s Archbold Commons.
Dr. Rock Positano, adjunct clinical assistant professor of medicine, received a letter of thanks from David
Schomburg, chief of staff and director of medicolegal investigations at New York City’s Office of the
Chief Medical Examiner, for his efforts in locating and identifying those who had perished during the
World Trade Center tragedy. Dr. Positano was commended for helping to comfort families during the
difficult time. Mr. Schomburg wrote, “It is a comfort to us to know you have been, and remain, at the
ready, to provide us with your professional expertise at a moment’s notice.”
Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld, the Rossi Distinguished Professor of Clinical Medicine at New York Weill Cornell
Medical Center, and attending physician at both NYPH and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, is
the author of a new book, Power to the Patient: The Treatments to Insist on When You’re Sick (Warner
Books Hardcover; February 19, 2002). In his latest work, Dr. Rosenfeld, who is the author of seven
previous New York Times bestsellers, writes about the most up-to-date information on the proper diagnosis
and treatment of the most common ailments afflicting Americans today.
The Rev. Curtis Hart, director of Pastoral Care and Education at NewYork Weill Cornell Medical Center,
published an article entitled, “The Contribution of Pastoral Care to Bioethics” in the January 2002 edition
of Second Opinion, an interdisciplinary journal. The article is based on Rev. Hart’s experiences at
NYWCMC. Second Opinion, a publication of the Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith, and
Bioethics, is based in Chicago.
#
CME Courses
Weill Medical College’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) Committee has approved the following
educational activities for Fall 2001:
For information/registration, contact Tom Grandville at 914-597-2466.

Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery (8 CME credits): March 13
For information/registration, contact Linda Franklin at 746-6027.
Faculty Development in Clinical Teaching (2 CME credits): March 14, 21
For information/registration, contact Dr. Carol Storey-Johnson at 746-1050.
Clinical Research Course (1 CME credit): March 14, 21, 28
For information/registration, contact Phyllis Supino at 746-2118.
Novel Approaches to Managing High-Risk Patients (2.5 CME credits): March 16
Satellite symposium at annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta, Georgia.
For information/registration, contact Jesse Jou at 746-0194.
Gastro-Esophageal Neuroenteric Disorders (4 CME credits): March 16
For information/registration, contact Ming Su at 746-4400.
Update Your Medicine: (Update Rheumatology) (2 CME credits): March 20
For information/registration, contact Maggie Almonte at 746-4752.
In addition to the above “live” courses, the CME Committee has approved the following web-based CME
activities presented by the Hospital for Special Surgery. To access these on-line CME activities, log on to:
www.ecornell.com.
Rheumatology Board Review (Course # HSSO5)
Managing Osteoporosis (Course # HSS06)
Sports Medicine for the Active and Athletic Child (Course # HSS04)
Osteoporosis: Advances and New Directions in Management (Course # HSS02)
Weill Medical College of Cornell University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing
Medical Education to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians.