TODAY news - Apr 24, 2003

Thursday, April 24, 2003 TODAY

Loma Linda University news

eUniversity committee develops a plan enabling LLU to jump light years ahead

This column marks the initiation of a series focused on introducing the coming new wave of information technology and reorganization of the University’s technology functions. These momentous changes, expected to positively affect each individual at the University, were studied in depth and approved by the eUniversity executive committee, with advice and guidance from the larger eUniversity committee.

With the goal of confronting two key parallel issues—moving information among ourselves and streamlining our decision-making processes, the inaugural meeting of the eUniversity committee was August 6, 2001. The eUniversity executive committee began on January 24, 2002. Each of these innovations will be featured in future TODAY columns.

DUN: Larry S. Bishop was named director of University networks (DUN) in September, 2002. Mr. Bishop’s mandate is to oversee the University’s network, as well as desktop support for central areas. He directs University network operations, including planning, deployment, configuration, and monitoring of infrastructure, core services, authentication, and security.

DUIS: J. Mailen Kootsey, PhD, was named director of University information systems (DUIS) on December 2, 2002. Dr. Kootsey works with an advisory committee to establish and administer a foundation for organizing, integrating, and distributing information. This implementation includes unified access, content management, workflow, security, integration, and policy management.

He works with the director of University networks, application and system managers, and administrators to integrate LLU content, such as course management, library services, student services, research, finance, and human resources. Dr. Kootsey has been charged with developing policies and procedures for information systems administration.

Blackboard™: The University has purchased the enterprise version of Blackboard™. The new servers are on campus, implementation is underway, with the goal to have the new Blackboard™ available campus-wide by the end of spring, 2003, quarter. The enterprise version will have more capacity than the previous version. “The Medical Center is also buying into this,” says Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, University chancellor and chair of the eUniversity committees. “They will be using it for distributing information to their employees for various continuing education functions, among other uses.

“ This will become the educational platform for the University and also provide us a much better platform for taking education internationally,” Dr. Hart explains.

Blackboard™ services are headed by Andrew Haglund, LLU online system administrator.

Info office and info ed: “The grants management is coming together very nicely,” says Dr. Hart. “We are now at the point where we are running about $5 million or $6 million ahead of where we were previously. The drawdowns from the federal grants occur twice a month; but we were applying for it only once a month. We had all of this money in grants, but we weren’t applying for it so we were having to cash flow the grants instead of using the federal money when we could have access to it.”

Portal: The eUniversity executive committee also recently made a decision on the portal. “It basically gives us the ability for every faculty and staff member, every student and potential student, to access information, to have entry into all our systems—obviously with appropriate security mechanisms to control what they should or should not be into,” explains Dr. Hart. “The portal subcommittee has been working for a year, looking at all different kinds of portal systems. They recommended Plumtree, which was approved by the eUniversity executive committee. Plumtree will be implemented fairly quickly and has several useful modules, such as content management and workflow.”

LDAP: The University network office is building an LDAP directory and repository of security information for LLU. The lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) stores information about who you are, what privileges you have, what programs you have access to, your password, and your login name.

“ If we have a good LDAP directory on the University side, and the Medical Center has an equally good one, and we find a way to blend those—you can’t just have two separate directories…you have to link them—then a person can have privileges on both sides of the fence,” reports Dr. Hart.

T-3: The University networks office recently completed the migration from two T-1 lines to a fractional T-3, which will increase bandwidth and decrease cost.

Step-by-step: Step-by-step is a quick guide to the online world at LLU; an accompanying glossary helps decipher acronyms and technical terms. The two are meant to be a fluid and changeable guide that grows as new procedures are brought online. The guides can be found on the

LLUAHSC homepage, <www.llu.edu/>, and are formatted as PDFs (opened with Adobe Acrobat Reader). Soon each URL (or web address) indicated in the guide will have live links to its reference.

ACS remote authentication: The server hardware has arrived and is expected to be online soon.

Business intelligence:

Loma Linda University is embarking upon a project to build a data warehouse to enhance various business processes and administrative decision-making. This project will last several years as the institution builds up a new data resource for executive decision-making and to enhance the management of numerous operational departments and business functions. Critical needs in enrollment management, especially recruiting, will be a high priority.

A data warehouse is both a project and a collection of databases. A data warehouse database contains one or more copies of data already held in other (original) databases—generally those supporting existing business application software such as PeopleSoft (for human resources) and Banner (for data about students, faculty, classes, and other teaching matters). Those original, production databases tend to be designed to support the online transaction processing, but are not structured for efficient reporting, summarization, research, or data mining.

Data mining involves exploring large masses of data for new insights into the “reality” which the data describe. For example, LLU will be looking for factors which contribute to student success in various degree programs, and for factors which will enhance recruitment of the best students from all sources and markets.

A data warehouse carries more history than the production databases, and the data can also be integrated to permit new understanding of cause-effect relationships in the University and its environment. A data warehouse also provides a place to hold data from external sources (enrollment and graduation statistics from feeder schools, for example).

LLU has purchased a “suite” of inter-related software products from SAS. Included in the contract for the various modules (data storage, data transfer, data reporting, data mining, etc.) are numerous hours of training and on-site consulting.

Key benefits of a data warehouse: trivialize the cost of creating new, ad hoc reports from the University’s data asset; enable users to create reports on their own with ease; and survey our data asset to spot lapses in quality, inconsistencies, and deficiencies. Currently, it takes a computer programmer considerable time to create a new report at the request of a user; some report requests wait for up to six months. We hope to drive down the time it takes to create a new report (provided the data exists within the data warehouse, is properly structured, and in good condition) to perhaps 15 to 30 minutes.

Most reports will not require an experienced computer programmer. Rather, the users of the data can create the reports themselves using the graphical user interface through the web browser already on their office computer.

A major functional step in the project is data asset inventory and quality review, which involves identifying all existing automated data resources around the University. The obvious ones exist beneath the widely-used business software packages (such as Banner and PeopleSoft), but there are a host of local databases, some confined to someone’s computer, or residing on a server computer which supports a single School in the University. There may even be some simple spreadsheets which contain data critical to a particular business function or school. All of these need to be identified and surveyed.

The SAS system, and any other databases in this project, will have strict standards of security, limiting the ability of any user to view only what he or she is authorized to see.

Key project personnel are Lisa Beardsley, PhD, vice chancellor for academic affairs (vision and high-level objectives); Robert Gardner, PhD, director of institutional research and planning (institutional reports, planning reports, strategic enrollment management, design, and implementation); Brian Harris, IT project manager (project management, vendor relations, and overall planning of the technical infrastructure); J. Mailen Kootsey, PhD, director of University information systems (overall project direction and funding); Michael Scofield, MBA (data architect, data quality assessment, data integration design, data mining, report creation, overall security design); and Jenny Tang (programming, database administration, and infrastructure support).

SAS: As an educational contractor and technology solutions provider, SAS higher education is focused on understanding an organization’s business drivers and creating answers to complex problems. In short, SAS helps colleges and universities meet their missions and goals.

As a solutions provider, SAS helps integrate and augment diverse resources within an existing environment through leading data warehousing, analytics, and traditional business intelligence applications. SAS helps institutions to turn vast amounts of data from any source and across channels into the usable knowledge they need to make better decisions. As the world leader in software and services that drive intelligent organizations, SAS creates and implements business solutions tailored to meet the needs of today’s institutions.

SAS intelligence has delivered the latest technology to higher education customers for more than a quarter-century, helping to move them toward the future effectively and efficiently.

SAS recognizes that many colleges and universities are among the world’s leaders in IT development and applications; many higher education institutions are recognized globally as incubators for IT innovation. SAS higher education is using IT’s tools to address a multitude of problems, issues, and opportunities in science and medicine, in business, and, of course, in education.

SAS creates and implements solutions tailored to meet the needs of today’s colleges and universities. Driven by the need to maintain their status as IT thought leaders, these institutions rely on SAS to turn volumes of data from any source and across every channel into usable knowledge.

Since 1976, SAS has delivered the latest technology to higher education customers. Originally developed at North Carolina State University to analyze agricultural data, SAS remains true to its roots with a continuous commitment to excellence in the academic environment. Software and solutions from SAS are licensed and implemented in more than 3,400 colleges and universities worldwide.

eUniversity committee members (italics indicate membership also in the executive committee): Individuals serving on the eUniversity committee with Dr. Hart include Dr. Beardsley; Larry S. Bishop, director of University networks; Robert S. Blades, MBA, vice president for information systems, LLUMC; W. Augustus Cheatham, MSW, vice president for public affairs,

LLUAHSC; William F. Colwell Jr., School of Medicine Blackboard™ support; Alan Connelly, MBA, assistant dean for finance, Graduate School; Jerry E. Daly, MSLS, director, Del E. Webb Memorial Library; Carleen Drake, associate director, Del E. Webb Memorial Library; Renee Easton, director of human resource management information systems; Waldena J. Gaede, associate director, University relations, LLU; James E. Gillespie, CPA, LLUAHSC internal auditor; Albin H. Grohar, PhD, executive director of advancement, LLU; Mr. Harris; D. P. Harris, Collegis at San Bernardino Valley College; W. William Hughes III, PhD, professor of physical therapy; Cameron Kaiser, student, School of Medicine; Dr. Kootsey; Arthur W. Kroetz, PhD, chair of radiation technology, School of Allied Health Professions; Jerry W. Lee, PhD, School of Public Health professor; Jan Michaelis, DrPH, director of information systems, School of Nursing; Lance Mohr, MD, resident physician, LLUMC; Kathleen L. Moore, MHIS, director of alumni affairs and information systems, School of Dentistry; Les Morton, manager of technical services, communication network services, LLUMC; Gary Nelson, assistant dean for finance, School of Medicine; Lizette Norton, MBA, director, human resource management, LLUAHSC; Que Osler, director of School of Medicine information systems; William J. Pearce, PhD, professor of physiology/pharmacology, School of Medicine; Ralph Perrin, DrPH, dean, student affairs, LLU; Janelle Pyke, MA, director, University records; Donald G. Pursley, DBA, executive vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, LLUAHSC; Mr. Scofield; Alvin Siagian, network security officer, LLUMC; Verlon Strauss, CPA, vice chancellor for financial affairs and compliance officer, LLU; Barry L. Taylor, PhD, vice chancellor for research affairs, LLU; Steve Vasta, system analyst, communications network services, LLUMC; John L. Wical, MS, director of administrative systems, LLU computer services; and Gerald R. Winslow, PhD, dean, Faculty of Religion.

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New MD/OMS program offered by LLU

Charles J. Goodacre, DDS, MSD (right), dean, School of Dentistry and his wife, Ruthy (second from right) host a dinner honoring Philip Boyne, DMD, MS, DSc-ORSR, emeritus professor and his wife, Mary Anne, for their establishment of the Philip and Mary Anne Boyne Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/MD Scholarship Endowment in the School of Dentistry. The fund will provide scholarships for students in the first two years of the six-year program.

In addition to the established School of Dentistry four-year residency program in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS), a new combined OMS residency and MD degree track at Loma Linda University has been approved.

Applicants accepted into the six-year combined MD/OMS track are granted advanced standing in the LLU School of Medicine.

Candidates must take the current licensing examination prior to graduation from medical school, and a one-year postgraduate internship in general surgery which fulfills the state medical licensure requirement.

The remainder of the program will fulfill the requirements for advanced education in oral and maxillofacial surgery as required by the American Dental Association, which includes a minimum of 30 months of oral and maxillofacial surgery experience.

The program utilizes the clinical facilities of the School of Dentistry, LLUMC, Riverside Regional County Medical Center, and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.

The residency includes extensive training in maxillofacial trauma, facial reconstruction, maxillofacial pathology, orthognathic surgery, aesthetic surgery, temporomandibular surgery, craniofacial surgery, and dentoalveolar surgery.

A financial gift to LLU by Philip Boyne, DMD, MS, DSc-ORSR, emeritus professor, and his wife, Mary Anne, has established a scholarship fund to help defray the medical school tuition costs of a participant in the MD/OMS program.

The scholarship will extend for a two-year period and then be available to another applicant.

It is anticipated that the financial aid will be of measurable assistance to applicants who may be financially burdened by the costs of their recently completed dental school education.

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Kimberly Gunderson to speak for chapel programs in May

Kimberly Gunderson

Loma Linda University chapel programs for the month of May will feature a speaker from the Pomona area.

Kimberly Gunderson, a motivational speaker from the First Baptist Church in Pomona, will be the chapel speaker for Wednesday, May 7.

Ms. Gunderson grew up in Tully, New York, and graduated from Boston University with a degree in history and education.

She married Glenn Gunderson in 1983. He is currently the senior pastor of the 3,000-member First Baptist Church of Pomona.

Ms. Gunderson is active in her speaking and teaching ministry and has a heart for urban outreach. She and her husband recently finalized the adoption of their two foster children. They have been married for 18 years and have six children. Their four oldest children have been involved in missions in Venezuela, Iceland, England, Equador, Thailand, and parts of the United States.

Loma Linda University chapel programs are sponsored by the office of student affairs and are held in the University Church of Seventh-day Adventists on the Loma Linda campus. Programs are held every Wednesday from 8:10 to 9:00 a.m.

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Faculty notes

Mark G. Haviland, PhD, professor of psychiatry, School of Medicine, has published a paper titled, “Do Health Care Ratings Differ by Race and Ethnicity,” in the March, 2003, issue of the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety. Co-authors are Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD, and Ron D. Hays, PhD, division of general internal medicine and health services research, University of California/Los Angeles (UCLA), and Steven P. Reise, PhD, department of psychology, UCLA.

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SIMS visits Haiti during spring break

The SIMS team includes (from left to right) Jack Bennett, MD; Barbara Bertel, RN; Linda SewerBridges-Williams, student, social work, Graduate School; Lenora Cannegieter, student, health promotion, School of Public Health; Maritza Harrison, student, School of Nursing; Martine Polycarpe, MPH, program director, SIMS; Eric Walsh, MD, MPH.

Haiti is an island that boasts a unique cultural and artistic tradition. But the nation also struggles with environmental degradation and destitute poverty. That’s why LLU’s Students for International Mission Service (SIMS) visited Haiti during spring break, from March 21 to 28, 2003.

The group of nine was composed of a medical team and a public health team. They were stationed at Simeus Clinic in Pont-Sonde, Haiti.

At the clinic, the medical team gave health care to the Haitians who started lining up at 4:00 in the morning—five hours before the clinic opened. The most common health problems the medical team treated included malnutrition, skin diseases, and intestinal parasites.

The public health team introduced disease prevention and education. While the Haitians waited in line at the clinic, presentations were held on the importance of clean water, the healthy benefits of fruits and vegetables, among other health topics.

“ I gave a mini presentation on three vitamins (vitamin D, vitamin B-12, and calcium) and supervised the children while coloring pages from coloring books,” says Lenora V. Cannegieter, student, master’s in public health. She also taught how charcoal could be used as a useful home remedy after purchasing some on market day.

In addition to that, the public health team surveyed the community to find out what its health seeking behaviors are. After the data is collected from the surveys, public health professionals will be able to address the area with the health concerns. They will try to find community leaders and empower those individuals to help their own community.

A little Haitian boy consumes the remainders of what is left in the bowl.

Linda SewerBridges, student, master’s in social work, explains that the best part about her trip was “sitting in a yard with a female completing a survey. When I told her that there were treatments for a person with HIV/AIDS, she started yelling to the others in the yard who came running over. I spent another 30 to 45 minutes lecturing on STD and HIV/AIDS prevention.”

Martine Y. Polycarpe, MPH, SIMS program director, shares, “Haiti is considered to be the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, yet despite hardships, the resilience of the Haitian people can be seen as they try to make small changes for the better and in their hope for a new way of life.

“ We at SIMS are excited for this opportunity to work together with the Haitian people,” Ms. Polycarpe continues, “to build relationships based on trust, listen to each other, and empower community members to stand on their own.”

To continue future mission projects, SIMS is in need of funds. If interested in making a donation, contact the office of advancement at (909) 558-4597.

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Thursday, April 24, 2003 TODAY