The Wichita City Council approved a plan this month that will move forward a project between Wichita State University and the University of Kansas to build a 471,000-square-foot health sciences center in the heart of downtown Wichita.

With $205 million of the necessary $300 million raised for the project, construction on the Wichita Biomedical Campus is expected to start in early 2024 and be completed sometime in 2026. 

The new Rural Maternal Health Symposium will bring together leaders, providers and more to address a number of rural health concerns. A recent report put Kansas at the top of its list of hospitals at risk of closing, with access to maternal health even more dire.

“Women already have long drive times to hospitals to deliver their babies so (Kansas hospital closures) will affect maternity services. Maternal morbidity and infant mortality are also higher in rural communities,” noted Lisette Jacobson, Ph.D., MPA, M.A., associate professor in the Department of Population Health at KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

More than 100 faculty and staff at Wichita Collegiate School recently benefited from hands-on training, preparing them to act quickly with skills that can save lives.

“We were proud to be a part of their community education and to better prepare the school for medical emergencies,” said Nisha Agasthya, M.D., FAAP, medical director for Kansas Project ADAM and clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics-Critical Care at KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

During the visit, the group performed several procedures, utilizing the Simulation Center equipment and manikins. Along with CPR and stethoscope use, the youth also spent time learning how to start IVs and each participant successfully delivered a baby using the birthing simulator manikin.

The free film screening will take place Friday, Sept. 8, at KU School of Medicine-Wichita. There will be time after the 37-minute film for comments and questions with Tiffany Schwasinger-Schmidt, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Clinical Research. The event is sponsored by KU School of Medicine-Wichita in partnership with the KU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Chancellor Douglas A. Girod has approved the promotion and award of tenure for 163 faculty and researchers, including 18 of our faculty members.

“Congratulations to an exceptional group of faculty and researchers who have reached an incredibly important milestone in their careers," Girod said. "These dedicated scholars and educators address the challenges of our changing world and drive KU forward as a leading research institution."

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Sept. 17 is the sixth annual National Physician Suicide Awareness Day. The day is dedicated to honoring the memory of colleagues who have died by suicide and to continue to raise awareness and discussion on how to prevent it. Several upcoming events will honor those impacted by suicide.

Medical students interested in the diverse communities and patient demographics unique to Kansas are invited to spend the evening networking with residents and faculty from the five Kansas family medicine residency programs. The virtual Kansas Family Medicine Residency Fair will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, sponsored in part by the Department of Family & Community Medicine at KU School of Medicine-Wichita.

The Excellence in Health Care awards from the Wichita Business Journal recognize medical professionals who have distinguished themselves as leaders, teachers and experts in health care. Award winners include doctors, nurses, administrators and more who have had a broad and positive impact in the Wichita area.

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