More Inside:

Writers Weekend | 3 Dental School Art Gallery | 4 Healthy Perspectives | 9 Brain Games | 12

Volume 1 - No. 4 Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Arts Schedule | 17

Going tobacco-free in August: GRU prepares to clear the air

Phil Jones photo Phil Jones photo Phil Jones photo

Bonnie Dadig

Craig Norris

Wesley Vaughn

During their military careers, Craig Norris and Wesley Vaughn provided combat medical support, a job neither one had ever imagined doing. Now, as civilians with a passion for health care born of their battlefield experiences, they are overcoming obstacles with determination and help from Georgia Regents University faculty as they train to become physician assistants. Early in the Iraq war, with medics not always available when and where they were needed, the Army began to train soldiers in smaller units as combat lifesavers able to stabilize the injured before the medevac choppers arrived. We called it first aid on steroids and you had to volunteer for it, said Vaughn, a two-tour combat heavy engineer in one of the first units deployed. I always volunteered. I

By Sharron Walls

New PA program focuses on veterans

volunteered for air assault school. I volunteered to be an underwater demolition guy. I just knew it was going to happen anyway, so I figured Id just get it over with. There wasnt a whole lot of thought to it, it was as simple as raising my hand. Norris had a similar experience. An Army infantryman in the 1990s who decided to reenlist in 2000, he was told he couldnt come back unless he became a combat medic. I never had any interest in that whatsoever, he recalled. I think they just didnt want me to waste an opportunity. During his first posting, in Kosovo, Norris trained with a physician assistant who said he had a knack for the job. Back in Germany, another PA told him much the same. With that encouragement, he apSee PA Program, page 6

Weve all seen the statistics and the health reports; we know that tobacco is bad for us. But why is the university emphasizing a tobacco-free campus now, when the policy goes into effect Aug. 1? Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death, Director of Cancer Information and Awareness Christine OMeara said. And because we care about our students, employees and patients, we need to act now. We simply want a healthy learning environment and a safe work environment. Expanding the tobacco-free policy across the GRU landscape affords all students, faculty and staff as well as the patients in our care the opportunity to breathe air untainted by tobacco smoke. Helping the GRU community not only understand the policy requirements but the reasons behind the policy is where OMearas Community Education and Outreach Workgroup comes into play. This is about addressing the

By Adrian Greer

students and employees who want help quitting. Also, to increase awareness, the group will host a Tobacco-Free Campus Kick-Off event that coincides with the National Kick Butts Day, on March 20 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Jaguar Student Activities Center on the Summerville Campus. The event focuses on the consequences of smoking or chewing tobacco and letting students and staff know that help is available. Nursing students

attitudes and providing support to help people take action, because from a public health perspective, we know knowledge alone doesnt change behavior, she said. Nicotine is an addictive drug and use of tobacco can lead to a lifelong addiction, OMeara said. But people do overcome it and quit smoking. And we will do what we can to help our students and colleagues make that change. Smoking-cessation programs will be available for

By the numbers
Nicotine is an addictive drug whether you smoke it, chew it or spit it. Smoking causes an estimated 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80 percent of all lung cancer deaths in women.

See Tobacco, page 5

More deaths are caused each year by tobacco use than by all deaths from HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides and murders combined.

GReport Office of Communications & Marketing Augusta, Georgia 30912

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

GReport

Georgia Regents University

Briefs

News, events and more

Patient Satisfaction Report now available
The February 2013 Patient Satisfaction Report is now available. To review the report, go to http://report.gru.edu/ files/2013/03/patient_satisfaction_report_ february_2013.pdf call ahead and make an appointment at 706-721-3695 or walk in during our hours of operation.

Membership special

The GRU Wellness Center March Special is a Personal Training Introductory Package for only $49. The Introductory Package includes one comprehensive fitness assessment and three half-hour sessions with a certified personal trainer. Call 721-6800 for more information.

http://report.gru.edu/ Communications and Marketing Georgia Regents University Augusta, Georgia 30912

Ribbon-cutting

A ribbon-cutting is slated for 2 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at Forest Hills Golf Club for a grand re-opening of the recently renovated club house. For more information, contact Forest Hills Golf Club at 706-7330001. Forest Hills Golf Club is home to the Jaguars mens and womens golf teams.

A walk-in mammography clinic for employees worth $100 toward health savings accounts is held the first Friday of each month from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Breast Health Center on the first floor of Georgia Regents Medical Center.

Breast health screenings

The Bridge Conference Series, which reviews evidence-based best practices, guidelines and protocols for glycemia management, begins Thursday, March 21 in three locations: at 7:30 a.m. in BI-4080, at 1 p.m. in BI-4080, and at 4:30 p.m. in BT-1810. The conference will also preview the Adult Subcutaneous Insulin Protocol Subphase developed by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses and pharmacists.

Bridge Conference Series

Direct news correspondence to: Adrian Greer, Editor

greport@gru.edu AD-1102, 706-721-4410

Research and fine arts conference

Cultivate your knowledge is the theme of the 14th Annual Student Research and Fine Arts Conference at GRU on Wednesday, March 27. The conference, sponsored by the National Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. in the Jaguar Student Activities Center. The conference is free and open to the public. For more information or a complete conference schedule, visit www.aug.edu/pkp.

Brown Bag Seminar

A Tuition Assistance Program Training Class will be held in the Summerville Student Center in the Butler Room from 9-10 a.m. on March 21. For policy information and applications, visit http://www.usg.edu/hr/benefits/tuition_ assistance_program_tap/ The summer semester application period is April 1-15. Apply in room 1142 of the Human Resources Annex or via fax to 706-434-7486. Application must precede class registration. For registration deadlines of the 31 participating teaching institutions, visit http://usg.edu/hr/benefits/tap_dates/.

The Student Research Brown Bag Seminar will be held on Friday, March 22 from 1-2 p.m. in the JSAC Ballroom, Summerville campus. Topics will be Mexicans immigration patterns to America and the effects of resentment on African-American womens caregiving. Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch; pizza and drinks will be served.

BANNER systems down

Due to system consolidation efforts, BANNER, Document Manager (Xtender), TouchNet, and Marketplace will be viewonly from midnight on March 22 through midnight on March 31, with full service returning on April 1. During this time there will be no access to self-service BANNER (Elroy/Pulse). The downtime is required to merge the Banner systems.

Individual, confidential counseling sessions on retirement will be held on both the Health Sciences Campus and Summerville Campus this spring. Fidelity will offer sessions on the Health Sciences Campus in room 1107 of Annex 1 April 16 and 17, May 28 and 29 and June 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fidelity will offer sessions on the Summerville Campus in the Skinner Conference Room on April 18 and June 6 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, visit fidelity. com/reserve or call 800-642-7131. TIAA-CREF will offer sessions on the Health Sciences Campus in room 1107 of Annex 1 March 20, April 16, May 23 and June 19 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. TIAACREF will offer sessions on the SummerVP and CMO position ville Campus in the Skinner Conference The Enterprise Search Team is accepting Room on March 21, April 17, May 24, and recommendations for Vice President and June 29 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 800Chief Medical Officer of the Georgia Re- 732-8353 to schedule an appointment. gents Health System. Confidential review VALIC representatives are available on of materials will begin immediately and each campus each day from 8 a.m. to 5 continue until the appointment is made. p.m. to assist with retirement and complete Send suggestions to Carolyn H. Burns at financial planning needs. For more in706-721-7224 or executivesearch@gru.edu formation or to schedule an appointment, contact 706-722-4600 or erika.pracht@ valic.com. The Green Team is recruiting students, staff and faculty to volunteer for GRUs Earth Day 2013 celebration. For more information, contact Sharon Quick at 706721-2619 or squick@gru.edu.

Tuition assistance

Retirement counseling

The GReport is published biweekly by Aiken Communications, a private firm in no way connected with Georgia Regents University. Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and are not considered an official expression by Georgia Regents University. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, to include inserts, does not constitute an endorsement by Georgia Regents University of the products or services advertised. News and photos are provided by Communications and Marketing

Direct advertising inquiries to:

Dee Taylor, Advertising Director AIKEN COMMUNICATIONS

P.O. Box 456, Aiken, SC 29802

1-800-559-2311 ext. 2371 or 803-644-2371

dtaylor@aikenstandard.com

DEADLINES
for April 3 issue - Mar 26 at noon for April 17 - April 9 at noon
Georgia Regents University

Dr. Ricardo Azziz, President Christine Hurley Deriso, Publications Director

Earth Day volunteers

A Blood Drive will be held on March 27 and 28 in the Childrens Hospital of Georgia Lobby from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can

Blood Drive

The Office of Military and Veterans Services has moved to the second floor of Washington Hall. The department assists service members, veterans and affiliated family members. The office hours are weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 706-729-2255.
See Briefs, page 13

Military and Veterans Services office

EMPLOYEE ADDRESS CHANGES & CORRECTIONS should be made to Human Resources through department managers.

Leading Georgia and the world to better health by providing excellence in biomedical education, discovery, and service.

Georgia Regents University GReport

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Writers Weekend at Summerville slated for March 22-23

By LaTina Emerson

The Georgia Regents University Department of English and Foreign Languages will present the 2013 Writers Weekend at Summerville from 1 to 10:30 p.m. March 22 and from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. March 23 at the Jaguar Student Activities Center. Aspiring writers will learn from award-winning authors who will discuss the elements of the craft and share their published childrens literature, creative nonfiction, fiction and poetry. Participants seeking feedback on their own writing can also register for individual critiques with one of the authors. In addition, GRU Creative Writing faculty will lead Emerging Writers Workshops for high school students seeking individual or group feedback. Participants can earn one continuing education unit (CEU) through the GRU Division of Professional and Community Education. Writers Weekend at Summerville is the result of extensive effort and planning to grow the GRU Creative Writing program and to revive Augustas writing community, said Anna Harris, Lecturer in English Studies at GRU. This event is designed to bring together emerging and established voices who share a love of and passion for reading and writing. We are especially lucky to have two rising literary stars to help us in this endeavor: poet Jericho Brown, whom Claudia Rankine described as a devastating genius, and novelist Michel Stone, whose work was likened to that of John Steinbeck by Library Journal. We hope this years event marks the beginning of an annual must do for Augustans and our friends in the surrounding area. Authors and writing instructors participating in the Writers Weekend at Summerville include: Jericho Browns first collection of poetry, Please, won the 2009 American Book Award and has received praise since its re-

lease. Brown is currently working on his second collection of poetry, The New Testament. Deno Trakas has published fiction and poetry in more than two dozen journals, including the Denver Quarterly, Oxford American, and the Louisville Review. His most recent book, Because Memory Isnt Eternal: A Story of Greeks in Upstate South Carolina, was published in 2010. Michel Stones debut novel The Iguana Tree received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and an IPPY Award as one of the top novels published in 2012 by an independent publisher. The book was also named a spring 2012 Okra Pick from the Southern Independent Booksellers Association. Christine Hurley Deriso has written professionally for more than 25 years. Her work includes her award-winning childrens book, Dreams to Grow On, followed by tween novels DoOver, The Right-Under Club and Talia Talk; the youngadult novel, Then I Met My Sister; and the self-help book, Green Tea and Beyond, cowritten with GRU Cell Biologist Stephen Hsu. Wendy J. Turner is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and chapters on medieval mental health, law and medicine, and law and alchemy. She also writes fiction and was the 2011 recipient of the Mark Sergura Austin Award for Best Fiction at the Harriette Austin Writers Workshop at UGA for her novel, Falcon, Crow, Raven, Goodwitch. Jared Hegwoods fiction can be seen in The Yalobusha Review, The Adirondack Review, The Manifest Review, Juked, Keyhole Magazine, Night Train and others. His fiction has twice been nominated for The Pushcart Prize and his first collection of short fiction, Marriages of Convenience, will be published by Burnt Bridge Press in Spring 2013. He teaches writing at GRU. f. Simon Grant is the co-

Phil Jones photo

New GRU degree track to focus on environmental health

By Sharron Walls
Submitted Photo

Program Director Pavani Rangachari

Jericho Brown. founder of the literary journal Collective Exile. His short fiction has been published in Prose Axe. He teaches writing at GRU Paul Sladky has contributed to several works, including Reference Guide to Short Fiction, Language Quarterly and Instructor Resource Manual: The St. Martins Guide to Writing. He teaches writing at GRU. Anna Caroline Harris writing has appeared in Cellpoems, Mikrokosmos, Poetry for the Masses, and Metro Spirit and NakedCity magazines. She teaches composition and creative writing, and advises Sand Hills magazine, at GRU. Writers Weekend at Summerville is co-sponsored by GRU Student Activities and the Division of Professional and Community Education. To register, visit https://aceweb.aug. edu/wconnect/CourseStatus. awp?~~132CDWW2013. The registration deadline is March 22, and the cost varies. Registration is free for GRU students and can be up to $80 for local residents with a manuscript for review.

A masters-level degree track at Georgia Regents University designed to address environmental health concerns will soon enroll its first students. A Master of Public Health concentration in Environmental Health will become the third M.P.H. track offered jointly by GRUs Colleges of Allied Health Sciences and Graduate Studies. Up to 20 students with clinical and non-clinical backgrounds will begin the two-year program this fall to learn multidisciplinary skills needed to become qualified in the fast-growing environmental health field. This program focuses on environmental factors that affect community health, said Dr. Andrew Balas, Dean of the College of Allied Health Sciences. Graduates understand the biological, physical and chemical agents present in environments, how they affect community health and how to control exposure. Environmental health professionals may conduct data analysis; create disease-prevention programs; educate health care providers; conduct research to promote evidence-based quality improvement; integrate preventive medi-

cine into clinical practice; and perform community wellness outreach efforts. They often hold leadership roles in environmental health agencies, health care organizations, research institutes and the pharmaceutical and information technology industries. An M.P.H. from GRU offers a broad interdisciplinary knowledge base and skill set, said Program Director Pavani Rangachari. It enables a very different way of thinking. Environmental health professionals use a living environment perspective to promote public health and effectively influence communities to improve health and wellness. Core public health courses such as health administration and policy, behavioral health, biostatistics and epidemiology are augmented with niche courses in environmental toxicology, evidence-based quality improvement, data analysis, financial management, health literacy and infectious diseases. GRUs M.P.H. program also offers concentrations in Health Management and Health Informatics. Students are accepted with backgrounds in such
See New Degree, page 16

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

GReport

Georgia Regents University

Art gallery showcases talent of alumni, dentists statewide

By LaTina Emerson

pieces, as well as limited editions, artist prints and autographed copies. As the states only dental school, the Georgia ReWe were particularly interested in dentists who gents University College of Dental Medicine now has were artists giving us an example of their work. We a new addition to its list of accomplishments: an art have two dozen or more pieces where the dentists gallery. were actually the artists, some of whom have given To the best of our knowledge, ours is the only up dentistry and are doing their art now, Drisko dental school nationwide to house a large art gallery, said. Thats not too surprising, because dentistry said Dean Connie Drisko. is very much an art and a science. Its about color, More than 175 pieces of art, including paintings, shape, aesthetics and dexterity. So people who have photography, wood work, blown glass and metal that eye often also have artistic ability, either in visculptures, line the walls of the dental buildings gal- sual arts or performing arts. lery, named Transcendental: Works of Impression. Two pieces of art in the building have won juried The art was donated by alumni and dentists across competitions, including a 26-foot chandelier by Authe state. gusta artist Paul Pearman, and an eight-foot wooden The seed was planted in my mind about 10 years carving of a ship by Dr. Travis Smith, GRU Assistant ago when I visited Eastman Dental Clinics new den- Professor of General Dentistry. tal building in London, Drisko said. They had been Alumni and others are invited to visit the gallery at Phil Jones Photo told they must set aside a percentage of the cost of the 1430 John Wesley Gilbert Drive, Augusta, Ga. 30912. More than 175 pieces of art line the walls of the dental buildings building to spend on art. For more information, contact the Deans Office at gallery, named Transcendental: Works of Impression. The college has been collecting art over the last 706-721-2117. 18 months and has received some museum quality

Internal Audit Office may surprise you

The office works with departments Its not all about the numbers When people think of audits, scary ideas throughout the university and health sysClay Sprouse joined Georgia Regents as the new often come to mind about the IRS coming tem, encompassing a broad range of posChief Audit Officer in November; however, this was not to your house, sifting through your records sible risks. and trying to fine or penalize you. But the For example, the risks for a radiology de- his first time on this campus. He worked in the audit Office of Internal Audit at Georgia Regents partment at the medical center vary widely department of the (then) Medical College of Georgia is actually nothing like that. from the risks for an English department on from 1986-89. Before returning to campus in 2012, he completed his MBA at Augusta College (now Georgia In fact, the department functions more as the Summerville Campus. Regents University) and became a Certified Public Aca responsive business partner, according to We help management look at all the countant, Certified Internal Auditor and Certified InforClay Sprouse, the new Chief Audit Officer. risks and then focus our efforts to ensure Sprouse recognizes internal auditing can the critical issues are managed effectively, mation Systems Auditor. In my history, I have audited everything from fire be of most value while serving as a trusted Sprouse emphasized. departments to telephone systems, and those diverse advisor, providing independent opinion The department has seven employees and objective evaluation. He hopes to be with various specialties who work on audits experiences are why I love auditing, Sprouse said. This wide range of experience gives him and his staff approachable and accessible to leadership across the enterprise. The department also as well as other members of the Georgia includes a student intern from the Hull Col- a unique perspective. Before coming here, he managed Submitted photo lege of Business. an audit team at Savannah River Remediation, LLC, leadRegents community. ing the department in a variety of complex initiatives. Chief Audit Officer Clay Sprouse works with We are at our best when collaborating While specific audit engagements vary Auditors get to learn about all of the areas of the his team. with departments to facilitate improvefrom year to year in response to identified organization, and that allows them to see the forest and ments and manage change. We focus our efrisks and managements needs, there are a not just the trees, he said. forts on departmental goals to help manage- is up to the leadership, the Board of Direcfew areas of routine focus, including techI actually deal with people more than numbers, ment take advantage of opportunities and tors and Board of Regents to decide on the nology, hospital systems and compliance Sprouse said about his new position of Chief Audit Ofavoid pitfalls, Sprouse explained. Were course of action to be taken, Sprouse said. issues. ficer. And Ive always found it very interesting to be able focused on risk management and making In fact, according to Sprouse, departments Our office isnt out to pester people or to learn more about all of the various departments and sure the university, the health system and should feel free to contact the Office of Inpoint out where a department has minor processes and help people solve problems. This job the employees can perform to their potenternal Audit for suggestions about improvfailures, Sprouse said. We want to work offers a lot of opportunities to meet a variety of people tial. ing operations. with them to ensure that theyre operating throughout the enterprise. The department stresses consulting and We want people to be open and work with effectively and efficiently. In the end, we advisory service. our office to prevent small problems from prefer working with departments rather than Being in a management position, Sprouse said he also enjoys being able to help others reach their goals. If the department finds issues, they make developing into significant issues, he said. against them. In fact, Sprouse said that helping people just comes recommendations to management, but We want people to be able to ask questions naturally to him. because of our independent relationship, it and contact us for help.
By Adrian Greer

Georgia Regents University GReport

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

MedWAR puts wilderness skills to the test

By Adrian Greer

Are you looking for a challenge that tests your mind and your physical ability? If so, the MedWAR event may be just what youre looking for. MedWAR is an approximately 15-mile course at Fort Gordon where teams solve medical emergency situations while racing to the finish. This race combines canoeing, biking and running through the wilderness at Fort Gordon, Event Coordinator Laura Simmons said. And then there are various wilderness emergency medical scenarios throughout the course where a team will be tested on medical knowledge. The race will be held on April 20. The event is quite popular and has a limit on teams, so those interested should register as soon as possible to secure a spot, according to Simmons. We have about 24 teams signed up already and a maximum of about 30 total teams. To register for the race or see more information, visit www.medwar.org/southeast/. The charge is $280 per four-person team.

MedWAR 2013 is right around the corner and there are only a few spots left.

Submitted photo

There is a warning though to all who enter. There will be some surprises, Simmons said. Some of our scenarios will be pretty out there. Penalties may apply to faulty choices, but we guarantee they will have fun, Simmons said. Thats really what this is all about. Physicians and medical students are the most common participants, but others are welcome, too, The daylong event is followed by a dinner. Racers are also welcome to camp out that night if they want to stay in the wilderness a little longer. versities like Emory and Armstrong Atlantic University in Savannah, both of which ushered in their tobacco-free initiatives in 2012, she said.

Tobacco...from page 1
and faculty will take blood pressure measurements and the BreathEasy Coaltion will test lung function. That evening at 6 p.m. in room 170 of University Hall, a forum will be held to discuss the policy and why the campus is moving tobacco-free, to highlight effects of smoking and to celebrate one quitters success at becoming a former smoker. This change comes at a time when many universities, towns and counties are also deciding to curtail their constituents exposure to tobacco smoke and spit tobacco. We have 21 Georgia universities that are tobacco-free, and that positively impacts over 127,000 students, OMeara said. Nationwide, there are 1,130 colleges that have made the change. And 600 of those campuses have made the change in the past year. GRU as a whole and specifically our Summerville and Forest Hills campuses adopting the tobacco-free change are becoming leaders in this area, according to OMeara. Other universities and colleges will learn from our experience, just as we are learning from neighboring uni-

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

GReport

Georgia Regents University

Pa Program...from page 1
plied to and was accepted for the Armys PA school. Then 9/11 happened and everything changed. Norris became a soldier again, in Iraq. Though Norris and Vaughn never crossed paths during the war, a decade later their resolve, despite injuries and setbacks, has them walking the same hallways, entering the same classrooms, pursuing the same dream. Its a dream shared by Dr. Bonnie Dadig, Chair of the Physician Assistant Department. Weve always had one or two veterans in the program each year, Dadig said. Now were reaching out earlier, when they return from overseas. Were looking to eliminate enrollment barriers unique to veterans. The department received an $834,000 Health Resources and Services Administration federal grant last fall that will, among other things, help former military service members transition to civilian careers as PAs. The Green to Grad program aims to increase the number of veterans enrolled to four or five students per class, or about 10 percent. Educating, mentoring and training our nations warriors as they return to civilian life is very important to us, Dadig said, noting that many faculty members have prior military affiliations and are well-versed in the special circumstances affecting former service members. We strongly support our veteran students. We know they have the attributes to serve our profession well as they go on to provide quality, compassionate health care in Georgia and throughout the nation. A specialized set of admission criteria and transcript review includes consideration of course work started but not completed due to deployments as well as evaluation of life skills often associated with military members, such as composure in high-stress environments and exceptional levels of responsibility. Both Norris and Vaughn are comfortable with the stress inherent in the PA program. Yes, its high, said Norris. I recognize it, but Im not going to let that stress beat me up as some of my classmates might. There are

some things more important than getting an A. As a combat lifesaver, Vaughn noticed that when everything was going down the tube, I was doing OK. He could feed off the stress and get the job done, a helpful characteristic in a program he says is equal to if not greater than combat. I would rather do another tour in Iraq than do this again. Drawing on their extensive trauma experiences, Norris and Vaughn are able to assist in many of the labs. Putting in IVs, said Norris, thats like 101 for a combat medic. I can help my fellow students learn how to do that and other things such as splinting and injections. In PA school, we pull from everyones skill sets. Its an intensive 27-month curriculum that culminates in a Master of Physician Assistant degree. While a bachelors degree is not mandatory, admission requires extensive prerequisite coursework, which can often be a challenge for active and former military members to acquire. It took Vaughn, disabled from a back injury in Iraq, six years to complete his prerequisites while working full-time as a janitor and farm hand and raising a family. To go from being in charge of a dozen soldiers to scrubbing urinals is a different dynamic. It didnt take me long to put two and two together: Youve got to get an education. Norris, who also suffered a back injury in the Army, cobbled together classes here and there, then completed a degree in biology at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. He worked closely with his Veterans Affairs vocational rehabilitation counselor to make sure hed meet the requirements for PA school and chose the GRU program for its national reputation. This is about access and transfer credit, said Vice President of Military and Global Affairs Jeff Foley. Foley, a retired Brigadier General and former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon, envisions the lessons learned from this pilot program being applied to other academic areas. Helping veterans gain access to the wonderful education oppor-

tunities here at GRU is the right thing to do it is that simple. Older, non-traditional students with prior military backgrounds such Norris and Vaughn, at age 40 and 34 respectively, bring life experiences that Dadig considers priceless to their education. It is our expectation that they will also impart this experience and confidence to their non-military, more traditional classmates. To support Green to Grad objectives, Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, the Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home and both Veterans Affairs medical centers in Augusta have agreed to serve in recruitment, advisory and clinical training roles. Dadig hopes to expand the program to members of the National Guard and Reserves. Coincidentally, the first physician assistants had been military medics during the Vietnam War. In time, as the number of veterans declined, more civilians and women were recruited into PA programs. By reaching out to military members again, said Dadig, the profession is returning to its roots. Four days before his first anatomy final, Vaughn was diagnosed with compartment syndrome from his original injury and had to medically withdraw, missing the entire year. They held one of those precious 40 seats for me, he said. This department has a special place in their hearts for the military, and when they say theyre going to do something, they see it through. They dont treat us any better than the other students, but they work hard to make sure were taken care of. Norris concurs and considers himself blessed. The faculty and staff here, I love them to death, I dont know how else to say it. Theyve gone out of their way to make sure I have what I need. The emotion is strong on both sides. Dadig sums it up: Its sort of like battle buddies; were not going to leave a man behind.

Georgia Regents University GReport

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Dr. Laura D. Carbone

Carbone is MCGs new Chief of Rheumatology

By Toni Baker

Dr. Laura D. Carbone, Director of the Metabolic Bone Center and Rheumatology Fellowship Program at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, has been named Chief of the Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University. Carbone, also a Professor of Medicine, is an expert in metabolic bone disease with a special interest in fractures in spinal cord injury patients. She joins the MCG faculty in November. She is a member of the Expert Panel, Osteoporosis Practice Improvement Module of the American Board of Internal Medicine. She is a grant reviewer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and her research on fracture prevention in spinal cord injury and disease is funded by the VA. She also is a collaborator on a Womens Health Initiative Extension looking at osteoporosis in menopausal women. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles. Carbone received the UTs 2012 James B. Lewis, Jr. Excellence in Teaching Award for Top Resident Educator as well as two Golden Apple awards for excellence in medical student education. She is a graduate of the Medical College of Wisconsin where she received the Janet M. Glasgow Memorial Citation for excellence from the American Medical Womens Association and was elected a member of Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. She completed an internal medicine residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and a rheumatology fellowship at Robert Wood Johnson University and UT before joining the faculty in Tennessee. She has a master of science degree in epidemiology from the UT Health Science Center.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

GReport

Georgia Regents University

GRU College of Nursing to host Nurse Practitioner training

By LaTina Emerson

The Georgia Regents University College of Nursing will host the 2013 MEGAi Days, a two-day training event for Acute Care Nurse Practitioner students and faculty, March 21-22 on the universitys Health Sciences Campus. Keynote speakers include Lt. Col. Wes Sharpe, U.S. Marine Reserves and Target Leadership, and Dr. Ruth Kleinpell, Director of the Center for Clinical Research and Scholarship at Rush University Medical Center. Sharpe, a former F-18 pilot and current international airline pilot, will discuss Creating a Culture of Operational Excellence and Safety in Your Organization at 11 a.m. March 21, and Kleinpell, a nationally recognized expert on advanced nursing practice, will present Current Issues Related to Scope of Practice for the APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) at 11 a.m. March 22.

Submitted photo

Lt. Col. Wes Sharpe, U.S. Marine Reserves and Target Leadership, will be one of the speakers at the 2013 MEGAi Days. We are excited to be able to bring these experts to Augusta to share the latest developments in ACNP (Acute Care Nurse Practitioner) practice and organizational safety, said Dr. Beth McLear, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Coordinator at GRU College of Nursing and Coordinator for the MEGAi Days event. While the focus of MEGAi days is student learning, we feel confident that other nursing faculty and health professionals will find these discussions relevant and useful. Guest presentations are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www. gru.edu/nursing or contact Dr. Beth McLear at bmclear@gru.edu or 706-389-6801.

Georgia Regents University GReport

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Working with a cultural perspective

By Dr. Lorraine Evans

Better healthcare through better understanding is the tag line that says it all. Healthy Perspectives (HP) is the program that seeks to build better understandings through providing cultural competency education and training to everyone at Georgia Health Sciences. All students, faculty, and staff across the enterprise participate to connect the classroom to the conference room to the clinic. The ultimate goal is to provide the best possible care for patients. The goal of building a culturally competent enterprise makes Georgia Health Science a pioneer organization in the healthcare arena. Culture is about values, beliefs, behaviors and languages. Culture shapes how we look at, and understand, the world around us. This understanding is especially critical when it involves your health. Healthy Perspectives teaches about understanding your own perspective as well as the cultural influence of others. In order to provide the best care, we need to develop partnerships with our patients, so by recognizing how we, personally, understand the world we can begin to see how we might make assumptions about others who are different from us. We live in an increasingly diverse world and interact with people of different cultural backgrounds on a daily basis. If we understand how our family, community, education, region, religion, and so on influenced us to think about a topic then, hopefully, we can begin to understand how a set of different circumstances could lead to a different perspective in others. Through building self-awareness we can begin to forge relationships and build connections that ultimately lead to providing the best health care to all patients. Cultural competency is a process, not an end-point. Building the knowledge and skills to interact effectively in a cross-cultural situation is a life-long learning experience. Cultures are not static, however, and the more we learn about the subject, the more we realize we dont know! Healthy Perspectives is housed in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

There are two components to HP: student learning and professional development. The student learning portion is under construction but nearly complete. A pilot group of nearly 90 students completed the learning modules in the fall with excellent results. All four areas of cultural competency knowledge, attitude, skill and self-awareness reflected growth and were statistically significant. Moreover nearly three-quarters of the students agree the course contributed to their development as a future practitioner. The initial professional development

training was completed earlier in the spring and included nearly 8,000 participants. All new employees also complete an introduction to cultural competency during their orientation and refresher courses during annual compliance training in November. It is easy to focus on the differences between people and sometimes we forget how much we have in common with others. We forget that when we all come to GRU, we are working toward the same goal; better healthcare. The program has developed a video that illustrates that while we have differences there are common bonds and links that we all share.

That is what this program is really about in many ways. Recognizing that cultural difference is not necessarily a barrier and, through continuous self-reflection, we can appreciate the perspectives of others and provide better healthcare services. You can view the video at http:// georgiahealth.edu/diversity/qep/ Dr. Lorraine Evans is faculty for the Healthy Perspectives Program. Evans graduated from the University of Georgia with a PhD in Sociology and a research focus on the impact of diversity in the workplace, on occupational structures, and on education processes.

Dr. Lorraine Evans

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Pig Out on the Boardwalk!

t stop n d i d eeze cool br Out on the nter the Pig nt Activity Ce ville Stude the Summer s r a u g a t J way on rch 6. Studen dogs e z e e r B on Ma e some hot of s u p m Ca and at at a variety t u o e cam e fun m o s d and ha n hand. o events

Adrian Greer Photos

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Match Day
edical College of Georgia fourth year students found out where they will launch their residency on Friday, March 15. The event was held at Lee Auditorium and had a 1980s theme. Congratulations to the 190 MCG students matched! Patricia Johnson photos

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Georgia Regents University

Campus Safety
Editors note: Please contact GRU Police at 706-721-2911 with any information about the following incidents or other crime- or safety-related issues. On Feb. 28, while conducting a security check at the University Village Apartment Complex, located at 6000 Jaguar Way, GRU Police observed two males standing on the thirdfloor breezeway of the 5000 building. Officers

Drug Violation

made contact with the subjects and detected the odor of marijuana. A small clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance and a rolled marijuana cigarette were found in the left jacket pocket of Tyran Teasley. The second subject was identified as Rueben Dean. The

substance found in Teasleys jacket pocket tested positive for marijuana and taken into evidence. Teasley was issued a Richmond County Ordinance citation for Possession of Marijuana. Both Teasley and Dean were issued Criminal Trespass Warnings and escorted off campus.

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Briefs...from page 2
Weight loss seminar
The Georgia Regents Weight Loss Center offers free educational seminars regarding morbid obesity and weight loss surgery, including treatment options, benefits and risks. Visit georgiahealth.org/weightloss to register.

Orchestra accepting new members

The GRU Orchestra meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. All faculty, staff and students are welcome to join. For more information, contact Dr. Martin David Jones at 706-6674878 or mdjones@gru.edu.

Join EII

Improve your smile

GRU dental hygiene students offer free cleaning and oral cancer screenings to qualified patients with heavy tartar buildup or who have not had a cleaning in 10 years or more. Please refer such candidates to the Department of Dental Hygiene at 706721-2938.

GRU faculty, staff, retirees and students are welcome to join campus choruses. Main chorus ensembles practice Mondays at noon and Tuesdays at 1 p.m. at the Summerville Campus Fine Arts Center. Additional choruses are available. Contact Bill Hob bins at whobbins@aug.edu or Patti Myers pmyers@gru.edu for placement.

University choruses

The GRU Educational Inno vation Institute meets at noon on the second Wednesday of each month in the Terrace Dining Dogwood Room to discuss health professions education and educational research. The institute provides refreshments and participants may bring their lunch. For more information, contact EDI@gru.edu.

Group meets the third Monday of each month from 6-7:30 p.m. at Augusta Oncology Associates, 3696 Wheeler Road. Call 706-721-5557 for more information.

A support group for loved ones of children with autism spectrum disorders meets the first Tuesday of every month

Autism support

from 6-7 p.m. in the Patient and Family Resource Library on the eighth floor of Georgia Health Sciences Medical Center. For more information, call 706-7216838 or email ddrakele@gru. edu.

See More Briefs, page 16

Support Groups
Blood cancer/BMT support
A blood cancer support group meets on the third Wednesday of every month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Cancer Center Community Room. For more information, call 706-721-9134 or 706-721-1634 or visit georgiahealth.org.

Patient Experience Report

BCIS training

Georgia Regents Health Systems Patient Experience Report covering July 1 through Nov. 30 is available. Contents include an executive summary, unit/department drill-downs and a comments section with a global overview of patient comments from Avatar International surveys.

Certified instructors will offer a self-defense course using principles taught by the National Crisis Prevention Institute, Verbal Defense and Influence Program and Superior Academy techniques. Participants will learn how to generate voluntary compliance, defuse explosive behavior and defend against aggression. The course also teaches therapeutic physical interventions. Register through MC Strategies.

A support group for those impacted by trauma meets the third Wednesday of every month from noon to 1 p.m. in the fourth-floor west conference room of the Georgia Health Sciences Health Center. For more information, call 706-721-4633 or 706721-3264 or visit georgiahealth.org.

Trauma support

Gyn cancer support

The CSRA Gyn Cancer Support

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Polycystic ovary syndrome puts glucose control in double jeopardy

By Toni Baker

Polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition affecting about 10 percent of women and characterized by excess male hormone and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, appears to cause a sort of double jeopardy for those struggling the hardest to control blood sugar levels, researchers report. Humans use insulin and other non-insulin mechanisms to convert blood sugar, or glucose, into energy and control levels in the blood, where it becomes a destructive force. A new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism comparing 28 healthy women to 28 women with PCOS showed the latter have declines in both approaches, said Dr. Ricardo Azziz, reproductive endocrinologist and PCOS expert at Georgia Regents University. Most surprising was the finding that the PCOS women who had the most difficulty controlling glucose via insulin were also the ones with declines in their ability to use non-insulin approaches. More typi-

cally, when insulin resistance increases, the bodys non-insulin dependent usage increases, apparently to help compensate. In these women, non-insulin activity was essentially unchanged except in those with the most insulin resistance, where it dropped. Women with PCOS who have the highest levels of insulin resistance, the greatest difficulty controlling their sugar and the highest risk for diabetes, appear to have a double defect in how glucose is controlled, which affects both the mechanisms that use insulin and those that do not, Azziz said. While the amount of fat around the internal organs, called visceral fat, predicted the degree to which insulin had difficulty controlling glucose, the regulation of glucose by non-insulin means was more closely associated with the amount of fat under the skin, or subcutaneous fat. If the fat is not as sensitive to insulin, that obviously means blood sugar levels, and probably fat and cholesterol levels as well, increase and the pancreas responds by pro-

ducing more insulin, Azziz said. Fat abnormalities can have a tremendous impact on how we feel and how we function. The body uses insulin to convert sugar into energy for the cells in response to eating, stress or other acute causes of blood sugar increases. Fat is a big user of this approach. However, some tissues, such as the brain, red blood cells and adrenal gland, dont require insulin to convert glucose to energy. Thats one reason why regulating only insulin does not cure diabetes, said Azziz, noting that when fasting, about 80 percent of the bodys glucose usage occurs independent of insulin. Next steps include understanding the molecular mechanisms behind these significant differences in how PCOS affects glucose usage, Azziz said. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and Helping Hand of Los Angeles Inc. Study participants, age 22-44, were from the Los Angeles area. Co-authors

Phil Jones photo

Dr. Ricardo Azziz include scientists from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of California, Los Angeles.

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Previous military service may be purchased as additional Teachers Retirement Service Credit
By Adrian Greer

If you served in the military and youre a member of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia retirement plan, then you may be able to purchase service credit that would allow your previous military service to count towards your Teachers Retirement Service. All time served may not be eligible for purchase toward your teacher retirement service, but to find out if your time is eligible, you should contact the GRU Human Resources Department at 706-721-3770 or email Catherine Holmes, Benefits & Data Administration Supervisor at cholmes@ gru.edu. This credit shows the states dedication to former solders back on the home front, according to Vice President of Military Affairs Ret. Gen. Jeffrey Foley. This decision is another indicator of the respect and admiration

that the State of Georgia has for veterans, Foley said. You can find out more about the program at the Teachers Retirement System website at trsga.com. Eligible military service includes: National Emergency: Military service may be established during the following periods of national emergency: Dec. 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 - World War II June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955 - Korean Conflict Aug. 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975 - Vietnam Era Nov. 14, 1979 - Present If your current TRS membership date is before March 28, 1974, certain military service may be established outside the periods of national emergency by paying the employee contributions plus interSee Credit, page 19

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More Briefs 2...from page 13

Volunteers Needed
Psych study
Adults age 18-70 with either a history of or no history of mental illness are needed for a psychiatry study. Participants will be interviewed and give blood/urine samples. Participants will be paid. Contact Courtney Caulder at 706-721-3048.

A support group for new moms meets Tuesdays from 1-2 p.m. in Building 1010C at 1225 Walton Way. For more information, call ext. 1-9351 or visit georgiahealth. org. Adults age 55 and older with high blood pressure are needed for a GRU study. Participants, who will be paid and receive free blood pressure medication, will have blood pressure readings and provide blood samples. Contact Heather Anderson at 706-7219684.

Moms connection

Pressure study

Diabetes study

Women age 18-50 with Type II diabetes are needed for a GRU study. Participants will be asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Call 706-721-0084.

New Degree...from page 3

diverse fields as medicine, nursing, allied health, finance, engineering and information systems. The program is accredited by the Council of Education in Public Health and may be completed part-time. Seventy-five percent of classes are offered online. A public health internship and a capstone research project are included. Internship opportunities are available through the GRU Health System, the Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Eisenhower Army Medical Center, the East Central Public Health Division, the Georgia Prevention Center and Georgias Area Health Education Centers. For more information, contact Rangachari at 706-721-3436 or prangachari@gru.edu, or visit www.gru.edu/alliedhealth/MPH/.

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Arts

Exhibits, events and more

Concerto Competition set, spring exhibits on display

The GRU Department of Music held auditions for the annual Concerto Competition on Wednesday, Feb. 13 in the Maxwell Theater. From an outstanding pool of music majors, three winners were selected: Tayler Kitlan, flute, Mi El Jang, piano, and Larissa Roman Rodriguez, soprano. Tayler Kitlan, a senior music education major who was also the 2013 recipient for the Powers Baldwin Music Award, will complete her student teaching during the fall semester of 2013 and graduate in December. Mi El Jang, student of Dr. Clara Park, is a senior piano performance major and will graduate in December of 2013. Larissa Roman Rodriguez, recently awarded the Lucie Ruzicka Vocal Music Award for 2013, will graduate in May with a BA degree in music. In addition to a cash prize, each musician will be a featured soloist with the GRU Orchestra on Thursday, April 25, at 7:30 pm in the Maxwell Theater. Begun in 1997, the Concerto Competition has featured outstanding student musicians and fostered musical excellence for 17 years. The GRU Department of Art is holding its annual spring art exhibits for senior BFA and BA art majors. Between now and early May, 27 art students will exhibit projects at a variety of venues across the community, including the Mary S. Byrd Gallery on the Summerville campus, the J.B. Whites building exhibit space, Tire City Potters, Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art, Arts & Heritage Center of North Augusta, Howard Johnson conference room, Sutherland Mill, North Augusta Municipal Building, and Local Artists 1155. GRU Theatre and the Department of Communications will host the 2014 Patti Pace Performance Festival Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2014 at the Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre. As conceived by the late Dr. Patricia Pace fourteen years ago, the conference brings together teachers, students, scholars, and artists in a community of discovery. After her untimely death, the conference was organized by her colleagues and friends across the southeast, rotating between the following host schools: Louisiana State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Georgia Southern University. Faculty and students from theatre and communication departments across the country gather for the two-day conference which features a non-competitive learning environment, where discovery, play, and experimentation provide participants a safe space to experiment with the product and process of theatre, perfor-

Submitted photo

This work by Rosalind Avrett is called Body Analysis. Rosalind is a senior, having one of those shows and this piece was the Philip Morsberger purchase award winner. mance, and communication. As well, the student organization, The Theatre Guild, is planning flash mobs, community outreach projects, and several other activities for the fall semester. Contributors are Dr. Angela Morgan, Dr. Kristin Casaletto, Dr. Melanie OMeara, and Dr. Karen Aubrey.

Arts Schedule
Of Mice and Men - Maxwell Theatre March 21 - March 23, 7:30 pm and March 24, 3:00 pm Writers Weekend at Summerville - Jaguar Student Activities Center March 21, 1 pm - 10 :30 pm & March 23, 9 am - 5:45 pm Conservatory Wind Ensemble - Maxwell Theatre March 25, 7:30 pm
Public Reading & Book Signing. Summerville Campus (Reservations required. To reserve a seat, visit http://afternoon-with-paretsky.eventbrite.com.)

An Afternoon with Sara Paretsky - University Hall, Room 170, March 29, 3 pm Golden Dragon Acrobats - Maxwell Theatre March 30, 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm

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Signaling molecule may help stem cells focus on making bone despite age, disease
By Toni Baker

A signaling molecule that helps stem cells survive in the naturally low-oxygen environment inside the bone marrow may hold clues to helping the cells survive when the going gets worse with age and disease, researchers report. They hope the findings, reported in PLOS ONE, will result in better therapies to prevent bone loss in aging and enhance success of stem cell transplants for a wide variety of conditions from heart disease to cerebral palsy and cancer. Theyve found that inside the usual, oxygen-poor niche of mesenchymal stem cells, stromal cell-derived factor-1, or SDF-1, turns on a survival pathway called autophagy that helps the cells stay in place and focused on making bone, said Dr. William D. Hill, stem cell researcher at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University and the studys corresponding author. Unfortunately with age or disease, SDF-1 appears to change its tune, instead reducing stem cells ability to survive and stay in the bone marrow, said Samuel Herberg, GRU graduate student and the studys first author. Additionally cells that do stay put may be less likely to make bone and more likely to turn into fat cells in the marrow. The researchers believe its the changes in the normal environment that come with age or illness, including diminished nutrition, that prompt SDF-1s shifting role. You put new cells in there and, all of the sudden, you put them in a neighborhood where they are being attacked, Hill said. If we can somehow precondition the transplanted cells or modify the environment they are going into so they have higher

levels of autophagy, they will survive that stress. Autophagy is the consummate green, survival pathway, where the cell perpetuates itself by essentially eating itself over and over again, in the face of low food sources, other stress or needing to eliminate damaged or toxic product buildup. The researchers believe autophagy slows with age, so deadly trash starts piling up in and around cells, Hill said. Your cells normally have a reminder to take out the trash, said Dr. Carlos Isales, MCG endocrinologist and Clinical Director of the GRU Institute of Regenerative and Reparative Medicine. That reminder, SDF-1, becomes inconsistent as you get older, so rather than being an activator of the trash signal, it becomes an inhibitor. Herberg led efforts to genetically modify stem cells from mice to overexpress SDF-1 in fact the researchers were in the enviable position of being able to adjust expression up or down and control autophagy in their novel cells. They found that while SDF-1 didnt increase stem cell numbers, it protected stem cells hazards related to low oxygen and more by increasing autophagy while decreasing its antithesis, programmed cell death, or apoptosis. They get away with lower oxygen needs and lower nutrient needs and stem cells are able to survive in a hostile environment as they are attacked by damaging molecules like free radicals, Hill said. In fact, the cells can thrive. The success of stem cell transplants is mixed and we think part of the problem is the environment the cells are put into, said Isales. Ultimately we want to find out what is the triggering event for aging, what is

the chicken, what is the egg and what initiates this cascade. This new finding gives us a piece of the puzzle that helps us see the big picture. Theyve already begun looking at what happens to SDF-1 in human bone marrow stem cells and have identified a couple of drugs used to treat other conditions that increase SDF-1 production and protection. They envision a collagen matrix, almost like a raft, that delivers SDF-1 and stem cells or SDF-1 alone where needed, enabling targeted bone regrowth in the case of a bad fracture, for example. It was already known that stem cells secrete SDF-1 and that the cell survival pathway, autophagy, was upregulated in stem cells. We started thinking, if SDF-1 is secreted here in response to low oxygen, it must be important in cell survival, said Hill and the researchers became the first to put the pieces together. Cell survival and its antithesis, apoptosis, are both tightly regulated and necessary, Herberg notes. And, in excess, both can be deadly. In fact, cancer therapies are under study that block autophagy with the idea of making cancer more vulnerable to chemotherapy. One of SDF-1s major roles is helping the body properly assemble during development. Its produced by stem cells and found in high levels in the lungs and bones. MCG researchers are looking for other sources of SDF-1 production in the body and how those might change with age. Bone formation tends to decrease at about age 60, notes Isales, principal investigator on the $6.3 million Program Project Grant from the National Institutes of Health that funded the study.

GRU upcoming home games

Baseball Mar. 20 - Newberry Mar. 27 - USCA Apr. 9 - Erskine Mens Tennis Mar. 21 - Col. St. Mar. 29 - F.M. Womens Tennis Mar. 21 - Col. St. Mar. 29 - F.M. Softball Mar. 20 - Car.New. Mar. 24 - W. Ga. Apr. 5 - USCA For more information, visit: http://www.jaguarsroar.com

Surina Walker

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credit...from page 15
est. To be eligible, your college training or teaching service must have been interrupted by the military service and you must have returned to public teaching within five years of your release. Military Draft: Military service can be established for active military duty during a military draft period, if you were honorably discharged. The draft was in effect from Sept. 16, 1940 thru March 31, 1947 and June 24, 1948 thru July 1, 1973 Ordered Military: Military service can be established for ordered military duty for special events such as Operation Enduring Freedom, Desert Storm, etc. You must purchase the service within 5 years of the termination date of the ordered military duty. Retired Military: If your current TRS membership date is on or after March 28, 1974, you cannot re ceive credit for military service if your service is, or will be, used for retire ment benefits from another state or federal retirement program (excluding social security and U.S. Civil Service). Therefore, if you are retired from the military and receive a military pension based on this service, you cannot establish military service with TRS.

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Mens golf team takes title at Palmetto

Staff reports

Paced by four finishes in the top 24, the Augusta State Mens Golf team registered its second straight victory on March 12 when the Jaguars claimed the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate at historic Palmetto Golf Club. The Jaguars, who were playing alongside South Carolina and North Carolina State in the final round, combined for 2-over 282 and carded the low round of the day by five strokes. ASU overcame a four-shot deficit to

overtake South Carolina and North Carolina State. At 856 (+16), the Jags finished seven strokes ahead of the Gamecocks and bested the Wolfpack by eight shots. ASU freshman Maverick Antcliff, playing in just his third event for the Jags, fired a 4-under 66 and notched a third-place finish at 1-under 209 (7073-66). Junior Alex Wennstam carded an even-par 70 and tied for sixth at 2-over 212 (70-72-70). Sophomore Robin Petersson and

senior Derek Chang each signed for a 3-over 73 and tied for 19th and 24th, respectively. Sophomore Cody Shafer tied for 76th. USC Aiken standout Matt Atkins won the individual title when he post-

ed an even-par 70 and a three-round total of 4-over 206 (68-68-70). Virginias Mac McLaughlin was second, two shots off the pace, while ASUs Antcliff tied with South Carolinas Matt NeSmith for third.

The victory was the second in as many events for the Jags and their second win under second-year head coach Kevin McPherson.

The team shows off the hardware after the big win.

Staff photo