Published monthly for CC employees by Clinical Center Communications

September 1997

Drawing depicts a side elevation of the proposed south entry to the Clinical Center. The view is looking west, from outside the B1-level cafeteria. Construction is slated to begin in mid-September.

Clinical Center's back door on front burner

Mid-month, construction of a new south entry to the Clinical Center (CC) is slated to begin directly behind Masur Auditorium. The new structure will serve as the CC's main entrance for the next four to five years while the Clinical Research Center (CRC) is being built on the north side of the building.

During the 6 months of construction, however, the CC's back door must be closed and foot traffic redirected. At a Town Meeting Aug. 20 in Masur Auditorium, project architect Margie DeBolt and project officer Don Sebastian reviewed what we can expect in the coming months:

The existing south entrance will be locked sometime this month.

Back-door foot traffic will be redirected through the B1-level cafeteria doors or the door at the west end of the North Corridor on the first floor, just before you get to Transfusion Medicine (see map ).

The door by the NMR facility at the B1 level will be inaccessible by later this fall due to various construction projects affecting that area.

A new road will be built through part of parking lot 10H; expect about 100 fewer parking spaces there during this phase, although the net loss is predicted to be only 20 spaces at project's end.

The NIH Library and Masur Auditorium will remain open as usual.

Locations of emergency exits in the area are likely to change during construction. Any relocations will be clearly marked, so be sure to check for signs during your visits to the library and auditorium. Also, about 50 seats will be removed from the auditorium to meet fire codes as a result of fire-exit changes.

Planners stated that construction will take place during normal working hours, but that every effort will be made to minimize disruption during scheduled events.

When the dust settles, there will be a sloping driveway leading up to a spacious, three-lane, covered drop-off area. The drive will continue down the hill, carry on through parking lot 10H, and loop back onto Service Road West. Inside, the new lobby will have a reception area, security desk, and hallways along either side of Masur Auditorium leading into the main part of the building. Stairs from the new lobby to the B1-level cafeteria are also planned.

Concurrent with this project will be the rerouting of Center Drive at the north side (front) of the building. The new road will be finished before the existing one is closed. These two projects pave the way for the CRC groundbreaking and herald the start of the many improvements to our building known collectively as the Clinical Center Renewal Project.

Questions and concerns regarding the south entry can be directed to Don Sebastian, project officer, at 496-8102, ext. 15.

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Medicine for the Public lectures begin Sept. 23

The ever-popular Medicine for the Public lecture series, sponsored by the Clinical Center, kicks off its 21st season on Sept. 23. The lectures, which are free and open to the public, are held at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays in Masur Auditorium.

The series features physician-scientists working at the forefront of medical research at the National Institutes of Health. Lectures aim to help laypeople understand the latest developments in medicine-new therapies, diagnostic procedures, and research.

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), three of this season's MFP lectures will focus on NHLBI-related research advances.

Here's what's on tap:

Sept. 23, Multiple Sclerosis: A New Understanding

Dr. Henry F. McFarland, chief of the Neuroimmunology Branch of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, will go over factors influencing multiple sclerosis and the signs and symptoms of the disease. He'll lay out the diagnostic tests available, who is most vulnerable, treatments, and recent research findings.

Oct. 7, Vision and Aging

Today, there are more than 32 million Americans age 65 or older, and this number is growing. With aging, however, comes an increased risk of eye problems that can seriously affect the lifestyle and independence of the older individual. Dr. Robert Nussenblatt, scientific director of the National Eye Institute, will outline the four major eye disorders that can affect vision later in life. These are glaucoma, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Oct. 14, Genetics of Lung Disease: Insights into Asthma, Emphysema, and Cystic Fibrosis

About 12 million Americans have asthma. Nearly 2 million suffer from emphysema. About 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis-the most common fatal genetic disease in the United States-are diagnosed each year. By identifying the genes associated with these serious lung diseases, researchers can pinpoint susceptibility and, ultimately, develop new treatments and cures. Dr. Joel Moss, chief of the Pulmonary-Critical Care Medicine Branch, NHLBI, will talk about recent advances in these areas.

Oct. 21, Hormones and Heart Disease After Menopause

Heart disease is a leading killer of women over 60, yet until recently, it was considered a man's disease. Dr. Richard Cannon, deputy chief for clinical services in the Cardiology Branch of NHLBI, will address the roles hormones play in heart disease and what lifestyle factors are involved in maintaining a healthy heart. He will also discuss the dark side of hormone replacement therapy as well as current research efforts.

Oct. 28, New Perspectives for Bone Marrow Transplants

Dr. John Barrett, chief of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit of NHLBI, will explain what bone marrow transplants are, how they cure diseases, and what lies on the horizon for this life-saving treatment.

There is no lecture on Sept. 30. For additional information on specific topics or speakers, call

496-2563.

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 If it's fall, it's flu-shot time

"But summer isn't even over yet!" True, but still it's not too early to mark your calendars for your annual flu shot. The Occupational Medical Service (OMS), located in building 10, room 6C306, provides the shots free of charge to NIH employees. Clinical Center employees are encouraged to get an annual flu shot to help keep themselves and our patients from getting influenza. This year's schedule for all employees appears at right.

For the convenience of patient-care staff, OMS will visit CC nursing units to administer the shots. The preliminary schedule for those visits is at left.

Watch for schedule updates in the next issue of CCNews.

Unit Visit Schedule
Date	Unit	Time
Oct. 6	12W	7 am
	2J	8 am
	9W	3 pm
	10W	4 pm
Oct. 8	7E	7 am
	7E	3 pm
	10W	8 am
	8W	9 am
	6W	3:30-4 pm
	9W	4 pm
Oct. 10	4W	3 pm
More slots may be added. Check the October issue of CCNews for updates.

General Schedule
First letter, last name	Date	am	pm
NOPQ	Oct. 15	7:30-11	1-3
RS	Oct. 16	7:30-11	1-2
TUV	Oct. 21	7:30-11	1-3
WXYZ	Nov. 23	7:30-11	1-2
AB	Nov. 28	7:30-11	1-3
CD	Oct. 30	7:30-11	1-2
EF	Nov. 4	7:30-11	1-3
GH	Nov. 6	7:30-11	1-2
IJK	Nov. 12	7:30-11	1-3
LM	Nov. 13	7:30-11	1-2
Open	Nov. 20	7:30-11	1-2
Open	Nov. 21	7:30-11	1-3
Evening clinics will be held Oct. 16-Nov. 20, Mondays and Thursdays, 4:40- 8 p.m.

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Long-time CC employee dies

 Nelson "Chip" Chipchin, a volunteer at the Clinical Center since 1977, died earlier this summer.

Chipchin, who was born in Russia, was a Russian language interpreter for patients. He also escorted patients to various clinics.

Chipchin began his volunteer experience shortly after his retirement from the State Department. He graduated from New York University, served during World War II, and became an intelligence officer for the Army. He spent several years with the Voice of America and in 1952 transferred to the Russian Desk in Munich. He was a foreign service officer for the United States Information Agency. He was assigned to Munich and Nuremberg in 1973 and retired in 1976 from his position as an escort officer for visitors from his native country.

Chipchin received many awards while a volunteer at the Clinical Center, and had given over 10,000 hours of service by the time he retired from volunteering earlier this year. (by Andrea Rander)

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Presidential visitors

Charlie Carter (far left) and Dr. Joseph Gallelli (far right) showed the Clinical Center's new cell processing laboratory to a group of Presidential Classroom Scholars, who visited this summer. Presidential Classroom is a civic education program that brings high schoolers to Washington to see the federal government in action. Students are in the top 25 percent of their class academically, and our visitors had a special interest in science and technology. They spent an afternoon learning about the challenges of biomedical research after hearing talks by NIH historian Dr. Victoria Harden, Dr. Christine Grady, acting director of the CC's Department of Clinical Bioethics, and James Alexander, acting director of the Office of Education. The visit was hosted by the Visitor Information Center. index

News briefs

JCAHO's coming

 Mark your calenders for Oct. 28, 29, and 30. That's when the Clinical Center will be visited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, or JCAHO. They were last here in 1994, awarding the Clinical Center high marks and a three-year accreditation.
www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/jcaho1/

The Clinical Center is featured in an article in the September issue of Washingtonian magazine, on newsstands now. Author Larry Van Dyne spent several months interviewing patients and staff and has written a comprehensive overview of the CC, its mission, and how it is central to the NIH picture. He also spotlights stories of several patients who have found real hope and help here, including a patient of CC director Dr. John I. Gallin.

Clinical Center employees considering early retirement now have until Dec. 1, 1997, to submit their requests to Thomas Reed, Director, OHRM/CC. Employees must be off the CC rolls by Dec. 31. Eligibility and ground rules for early outs are unchanged. For more information, call 496-6219.

Getting Up to Speak will cover basic skills, tips on using visual aids, and advice on managing "stage fright." The class is on Sept. 18, 8:30 a.m.­ 4:30 p.m., at 6100 Executive Blvd., first floor, conference room 1. Call the education and training section at 496-1618 for details on this class and others coming this fall.

For a free class introducing the Chinese martial arts, come to the NIH Fitness Center (building 31, B4 level) at 1 p.m. on Sept. 8 or 10. Wear comfortable clothing. Sponsored by the R&W Chinese Martial Arts Club. For more information, call 703-759-9869.

The Nutrition Department has begun to offer some of its menus in Spanish. Interested? Call Alberta Bourn at 496-4981.

Get creative and think up some great slogans for next year's official NIH National Fire Prevention Week poster. Send your entries by Sept. 30 to the fire prevention section, building 15G, room 2, or fax them to 402-2059. The winner will be selected during next month's festivities. For complete contest rules, call 496-0487.

The In Vivo NMR Research Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Oct. 7, in conjunction with the NIH Research Festival. The program at the Mary W. Lasker Center (the Cloister) will feature lectures on in vivo NMR spectroscopy and functional neuroimaging by Drs. Jeffry R. Alger (UCLA), Chrit T. W. Moonen (University of Bordeaux), and Robert Turner (University of London), all of whom worked previously as investigators in the NMR Center.

Activities will begin at 12:30 p.m. with short talks commemorating the founding and development of the Center, followed by the three lectures. A poster session (including refreshments) is scheduled from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Posters related to in vivo NMR are solicited. Abstracts (about 250 words) should be sent by Sept. 12 to

Dr. Joseph A. Frank by e-mail (jafrank@helix.nih.gov) or as hard copy (building 10, room B1N256).

Since its inception in 1987 with financial support from all ICDs with intramural programs on the NIH campus, the Center has provided state-of-the-art facilities for carrying out in vivo NMR research with both humans and animals. The Center's building has been expanded to accommodate independent ICD NMR research programs, and significant further expansions are planned.

For more information, contact Daryl J. DesPres at 496-8141, or by e-mail, despres@helix.nih.gov.

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