Briefly mentioned

By: Alexia Lang

Posted: 11/10/08

Medical School names endowed chair

The UMKC Medical School, the Vision Research Center and Truman Medical Center named Peter Koulen as the Felix and Carmen Sabates Missouri Endowed Chair in Vision Research.

Koulen, who has focused his studies in pharmacology, molecular biology and neuroscience, comes to UMKC from the University of North Texas in Fort Worth.

Dr. Koulen holds a Master's and Ph.D. from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany and post-doctoral fellowships at the Max-Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt, Germany and the Yale University School of Medicine.

"I am very grateful to the Vision Research Foundation of Kansas City for funding an endowed chair that supports the recruitment of Dr. Peter Koulen to UMKC and the Department of Ophthalmology," Betty M. Drees, dean of the UMKC School of Medicine, said in a press release. "Dr. Koulen is an outstanding scientist, and his research leadership will allow the Vision Research Center to pursue its mission of understanding and preventing diseases that cause blindness.

This is the type of research that translates new discoveries into improved health and well-being in our community."

UMKC shows pride

As part of a series promoting discussions on tough issues, the university hosted "UMKC Pride: The Power to Create Change" last Wednesday.

Presented by the Division of Diversity, Access and Equality (DDAE), the event was part of a lecture series addressing the issues of race, class, gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

Best-selling author, TV host and political commentator Keith Boykin was keynote speaker for the evening.

"It allows communities to engage in challenging discussions," Karen Dace, Ph.D., Deputy Chancellor of the DDAE, said in a press release. "It also provides opportunities to hear from national leaders on subjects often marginalized and yet key to attitudes and perceptions of self, others and community."

Keith is the author of three books, he hosts BET's "My Two Cents" and he is the editor of "The Daily Voice." He attended law school with Barack Obama and served as special assistant to President Bill Clinton.