UNTHSC’s legislative priorities The Texas Legislature’s 81st Session is officially underway, and it opens with a new House speaker, Joe Straus, R-San Antonio. The Health Science Center’s top legislative priority for the session, as always, is to ensure faculty and staff salaries and benefits.  Our special item requests include funding for tuition revenue bonds for Building H of our 15-year Master Plan, biomedical research, primary care education and primary care residencies.  We should learn the outcome of those requests in late spring. You can read more about these bills and monitor the legislature’s actions at the Texas Legislature Online Web site.		Employee Profile Karen Carpenter Public Service Officer HSC Police click here

Join the President’s Fitness Challenge
The UNTHSC President’s Fitness Challenge, a new free program organized by the Founders’ Activity Center, can jump-start your healthy lifestyle on your own terms. The 12-week program is open to all faculty, staff and students and is focused on weight loss and physical activity.  It starts with a physical analysis and consultation that will determine a fitness plan that is right for you. After that, you exercise and track your progress on your own. You don’t have to be a member of the Founders’ Activity Center to participate, and there are no mandatory classes or exercise requirements. At the end of the 12 weeks, awards will be given to the participants who made the most progress.  The President’s Fitness Challenge runs Feb. 1 – April 25.

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MD Degree Study Group chair selected
Kenneth Barr, former Fort Worth mayor, was selected to serve as chair of the newly formed MD Degree Study Group.  As a longtime Fort Worth business and community leader, Barr is familiar with the health care needs of North Texas and has experience leading this kind of discussion. He currently holds several positions on business and community boards, including chairman of the North Texas Commission.

The MD Degree Study Group was established to complete a comprehensive and balanced evaluation of the major issues related to the possibility of adding a parallel MD degree at UNTHSC in addition to continuing and improving the DO degree program of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.  On Jan. 29, when the group meets for the first time, they will discuss preliminary information, and prepare for the upcoming UNT System Board of Regents meeting. For more on the MD Degree Study Group and a list of its members, visit the Study Group Web site.

News Briefs		In the News
• Data you can use   • Board of Visitors meet next week   • Get ready for RAD   • Parking on campus during the Stock Show   • Wear your Western duds   • Chili Cook-Off Challenge   • Hulen clinic now seeing pediatric patients		• UNT system financially stable   • Fort Worth Business Press features UNTHSC   • Dangers of children’s medicines   • Dr. Brenner on the economy and health
Kudos		Useful Links
• Dr. Sharp completes Integrative Medicine Fellowship   • Dr. Roberto Cardarelli in the       Annals of Family Medicine   • PA Class of 2010 paint exam rooms for kids		• Save the Date   • Sign up for Campus Connection   • View Past Issues   • Contact us    Construction webcam - EAD    Construction webcam - PCC
Need to Know
• HRS: Release of Employee Information   • HRS: Health Insurance Reminder   • HRS: New Training Resource site   • Travel: New Mileage Rate for 2009
UNTHSC Rocks! Photos
Click here for pictures of employees wearing their 2008 Employee Appreciation Day Shirt out and about.		Dorothy Kilgore Accounting Cashier Dec. 21, 2008

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