• General Educational Development, class starts Monday, Sept. 15
• English as a Second Language 1 and 2, class starts Monday, Sept. 8
• Study Skills with Math & Reading (a College/technical school/ apprenticeship preparation class)

Classes to begin September 2008 and are open to all Health System employees. To register or for more information, contact Steve Raymond:

OFFICE OF LEADERSHIP & STAFF DEVELOPMENT
2901 Hubbard, Rm. 1222A
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2435

Phone: 734-936-5052
Fax: 734-615-2674
E-mail: raymonds@umich.edu

For details regarding the contest, visit www.1000pitches.com. Contest deadline is Oct. 5.

For more information, e-mail the Medical Innovation Center, sponsor of the health category in the contest, at UM-MIC@med.umich.edu.

Sunglasses are available at all four of Kellogg's Optical Shops, as well as the U-M Alumni Store, for $29.95, plus tax. No discounts apply. For more information, call the Optical Shop in Ann Arbor at 734-764-5144; in Brighton at 810-844-2576; in Canton at 734-844-3251 and in Milford at 248-684-7337.

To see how you can help Kellogg cure eye disease, visit www.kellogg.umich.edu/cure.

Do you and your coworkers have big ideas about how to improve efficiency and reduce waste? Are there opportunities to make better use of our resources and improve the services we provide? FIGs can help you make an impact by funding your innovative ideas.

Since 2005, FIGs has awarded $628,127 to support 94 projects around the Health System. This round of FIGs has a budget of $125,000 to be distributed among the most innovative applicants.

The application process is quick and simple; fill out the online application by Tuesday, Sept. 30, and find out within 30 days of the submission deadline if your idea gets the bucks! Applications are available online at www.med.umich.edu/i/fig/application.htm.

For extra motivation, participants are asked to pay $15 to join. If all program goals are achieved at the end of six weeks, you will be eligible to win great prizes and can choose to have the $15 refunded or donated to the Cancer Survivorship Program for the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. Fees given by those who do not meet program goals will automatically be donated.

Program success includes staying within two pounds and/or ½ inch or less of pre-program weight or waist circumference, logging activity minutes in the MHealthy Tracker at least five of the six program weeks, meeting the weekly exercise goal, and completing the pre- and post-program surveys.

Register at www.mhealthy.umich.edu by Tuesday, Sept. 23. The program runs Sept. 23 - Nov. 4.

Workshops will meet in the CVC 3rd floor Conference Room 3701.

The U-M Center for Computational Medicine and Biology announces its Pilot Research Grant Competition for 2008 (FY2009). The goal is to bring together research faculty in different fields (computational/mathematical/statistical/informatics and biological/chemical/clinical/translational) in joint projects that will foster successful future proposals to NIH or other funding agencies. Applications must be submitted by two primary collaborators at U-M, one from each of the two different domains listed above. At least one investigator must be on the roster for the Center for Computational Medicine and Biology affiliate faculty.

Visit the Web site for complete application guidelines and instructions. For questions, please e-mail CCMBpilotRFA@umich.edu.

Abstracts of research in basic science, curriculum innovation, clinical outcomes, health services, policy and methodology are welcome. We encourage abstracts describing current works in progress as well as completed studies. There will be three prizes for best abstract presentations: $250, $100 and $75. Criteria are originality of concept, sophistication of methodology and clarity of presentation.

Abstracts should be sent electronically no later than Sept. 30, to June A. Wilson at juneaw@umich.edu.

To download an abstract submission form, visit the Web site below. For more information, call 734-615-7282.

All major credit cards will be accepted. Payroll Deduction is available to employees that meet the requirements. Purchases over $100 will be deducted with four consecutive deductions.

The new venue is the Auditorium in the Biomedical Science Research Building, located at 109 Zina Pitcher Place. The closest parking available is at the structure on Palmer Street next to Palmer Commons.

For more information, visit the Web site below.

Abstract submission and registration are due by Oct. 1.

Tickets for the six performances are available online at www.ums.org or by calling the ticket office at 734-764-2538. In the spirit of the University Musical Society and Health System partnership, a special $10-off discount for this performance is being offered to anyone ordering tickets, identifying themselves as a Health System employee.

To learn more about this performance, visit www.ums.org or visit this blog from the Chicago Tribune's theater critic.

Relationships among sisters, and between mothers and daughters, can be both deeply rewarding and rife with jealousy and competition. This session, presented by Orli Avi-Yonah, M.S.W., Ph.D. and Sharon Gold-Steinberg, Ph.D., helps to promote a community of healthy female relationships. Co-sponsored by the Strong Moms Strong Girls program.

There will be a "pick up" lunch for those attending grand rounds.

PF Chang's, Fleming's Steakhouse, Mitchell's Fish Market and several more restaurants from the area will be serving free appetizers and beverages throughout the evening.

New this year - the Detroit Ignition Soccer Team will be there with players and dance team members to sign autographs!

All ticket sale proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.

To purchase tickets e-mail Michelle Eleby at meeleby@med.umich.edu.

Deadline for registration is Wednesday, Sept. 10.

Get inspired and mobilized to embrace the promise of diversity and transform nursing practice! Develop strategies that utilize the joy, fun and creativity revealed when diversity is embraced by attending this presentation. The cost of the program is $25 which includes dinner. A cash bar will also be available. Registration is required. To register, visit www.med.umich.edu/ESN/programs/chinn or call Laura at 734-936-9180.

1.25 contact hours for nursing will be provided.