Former Mexico President Speaks At Emory Graduation

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox is set to speak at graduation ceremonies of Emory University this morning in Atlanta. He will also receive an honorary doctor-of-laws degree from the university. Fox was elected president of Mexico in 2000. Following the end of his term in 2006, he founded Centro Fox—a presidential library and museum modeled loosely on the humanitarian work of former U.S. president Jimmy Carter. Fox also became president of Coca-Cola Mexico.

Perdue Signs Two Bills To Boost Business

Businesses in Georgia could be in line for substantial tax breaks, following a pair of bills signed into law by the Governor.

One piece of legislation changes how tax credits are earned by companies doing business in the state—allowing bigger breaks for more higher-paying jobs added. The other bill would end the tax on business inventories—this however needs a constitutional amendment through a voter referendum.

Both measures moved through the Legislative session with little resistance.

Thomas Smith, assistant professor with Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business, says even with state budget shortfalls, direct help for companies is good:

"I think we’ve got to worry about first thing’s first, and worry about the state budget second. And the first things we’ve got to worry about are--are the businesses able to do business? And if they can’t, then, who cares about the state budget."

Still waiting to be signed by Governor Perdue--legislation to give tax credits to businesses that hire unemployed Georgians for a certain length of time, and to reduce long-term capital gains which would be subject to federal taxes.

Emory Says Suspending $1.9B Expansion

Emory University says it is suspending a $1.5 billion medical expansion project because of the uncertainty about the economy. School officials say construction has yet to begin on the projects, including a new hospital on Clifton Road.

The chief executive officer of Emory Healthcare, John Fox, says the suspension likely will last through 2009. Fox says Emory is not in a bad financial situation, but it has to take steps to make sure it doesn't get there.

Emory's plans also included a large outpatient clinic on its main Clifton Road campus, plus a medical tower on West Peachtree Street that would have hospital beds along with outpatient clinic space.

Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
http://www.ajc.com

(AP)

Former Mexico Prez To Speak At Emory Graduation

Former Mexican President Vicente Fox is scheduled to speak at Emory University’s spring commencement May 11th. The Atlanta school will also give Fox an honorary degree.

Fox was elected Mexico’s president in 2000. Following the end of his term in ’06, Fox founded Centro Fox. The presidential library and museum is loosely modeled on the humanitarian work of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter at Atlanta’s Carter Center.

Fox earned an MBA from Harvard University and also held the post of president of Coca-Cola Mexico.

Emory prof gives up prominent post after investigation

An investigation into allegations of conflict of interest has resulted in an Emory University professor stepping-down from a prominent post at the Atlanta school. Dr. Charles Nemeroff agreed to step aside from his post as chairman of Emory’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. U.S. Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa earlier this year began an investigation alleging Nemeroff was paid substantial sums of money by pharmaceutical companies but did not file reports to school officials as required. Some money was said to have come from speaking engagements promoting sales of certain drugs. Under the agreement, Emory University for two years will not make any grant or contract requests in which Nemeroff has a role. Nemeroff will stay with the school as professor.

Congress investigates Emory professor

A former Emory University department chair is under investigation for money he took from pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Charles Nemeroff stepped down Friday as chair of the psychiatry department. Congressional investigators say Nemeroff made nearly $3 million as a consultant for drug companies from 2000 to 2007 but failed to report at least $1.2 million of it to Emory. In an Emory news release, Nemeroff denied the allegations.

(Associated Press)

Three schools among top 100

Three Georgia colleges rank in the top 100 of the nation’s best schools, according to U.S. News & World report. Emory University ranks 18th where tuition is $36,000. Georgia Tech ranks 35th where in-state tuition is 52-hundred dollars. University of Georgia ranks 58th where in-state tuition is $6,000.

Emory buys SCLC archives

Historical records for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference are now housed at Emory University in Atlanta. Documents include sympathy cards when Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, drafts of speeches and photographs. The SCLC was co-founded in 1957 by Dr. King and other African American leaders from across the South with the purpose of advancing the cause of racial equality. Emory purchased the material but will not disclose for what price.

Emory to archive Alice Walker papers

Emory University announced today that Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker is placing her literary archive at the school in Atlanta. Walker, a native of Eatonton, Georgia, won the prize for her 1983 work “The Color Purple” which focuses on the struggle of Southern blacks, particularly women. Walker periodically visits Emory for readings and meetings with faculty – a relationship the author cited as explanation for her decision.

Dalai Lama gets professorship from Emory

Emory University in Atlanta was the weekend host for events surrounding the visit of the Dalai Lama and other spiritual leaders. The panel called for followers to practice understanding of others’ religions across the world. The Dalai Lama said Sunday "The world is getting smaller. We really need closer understanding of each other. It's essential".

The Dalai Lama today will get a distinguished professorship from Emory. He will speak to the public in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, along with delivering a lecture at Emory. Over the weekend, thousands on the campus of the private college heard the Tibetan leader talk on subjects ranging from neuroscience to Buddhist meditation.

Click here for more GPB coverage of the Dalai Lama.

Emory: Dalai Lama, experts discuss depression

The Dalai Lama with Emory-IBD Tibetan Studies faculty and students, 2006. (Emory University)

Thousands filled Emory University's gymnasium Saturday to listen as scientists and the Dalai Lama discussed how Buddhist practices can affect depression.

The researchers - some of the country's top experts on depression - said Buddhist meditation can play a big part in treating patients suffering from the debilitating disease. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work with depression because each case is unique, and often nontraditional therapies like meditation training are helpful when used with other treatments, the researchers said.

"With other diseases, we can measure things and predict what treatment we should us," said Dr. Charles Nemeroff, head of the Emory School of Medicine's department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. "But in the disease state of depression, it could be mindfulness, cognitive behavior therapy or medicine."

The Dalai Lama praised a study being done by Emory researchers Dr. Chuck Raison and Geshe Lobsang Negi on how compassion meditation affects students' mental health. He said the study's results will have wide application to preventing depression. Speaking in English, he said:

"I think in our life, it is very important to have compassion,"

The daylong conference, hosted by Emory and the Boulder, Colo.-based Mind & Life Institute, is part of a weekend of events at Emory with the Dalai Lama, who has accepted a distinguished professorship at the prestigious private college. Nearly 4,000 people attended Saturday's conference.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about Emory University.

(Associated Press)

Atlanta, counties to hold Anthrax exercise

Five Georgia counties will conduct a week-long exercise in October that will play an Anthrax release scenario.

The test is to test the effectiveness of working with volunteers from the business community in order to distribute medication to the affected population.

The week long exercise, which runs from October 22 to October 26, will include a one day drill on October 25 in Barrow, Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

The Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health, the Community Continuity Atlanta Partnership (CCAP), Georgia Division of Public Health Office of Emergency Preparedness, Business Executives for National Security (BENS), Emory University, Hands on Altanta, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), and county Boards of Health are behind the exercise, according to a DHR statement.

President Bush to honor Dalai Lama

President George Bush will attend a ceremony to award Congress' highest civilian honor -- the Congressional Gold Medal -- to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader accepted a distinguished professorship at Emory University this year. He will formally begin his role there October 22nd. The president also will welcome the Dalai Lama in the White House residence Tuesday.

Research center fined after monkey death

An Atlanta animal research center has paid a $15,000 fine after inspectors found animal care problems linked to the death of a macaque monkey. The animal died last year at Yerkes National Primate Research Center - part of Emory University. It’s one of eight federally funded national primate research centers. Yerkes officials denied any willful wrongdoing, but last week agreed to pay the penalty.

Largest NIH grant in Georgia history

Four Atlanta-area universities and medical organizations are taking a share of a $31-million dollar federal grant. The money is from the National Institutes of Health. It’s going to a partnership of Emory University, the Morehouse School of Medicine, the Georgia Institute of Technology and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The money is geared toward better translating lab discoveries into patient treatments.

5.4 million gift for Emory lung disease research

Emory University in Atlanta is getting a 5.4 million dollar gift to help researchers fight lung disease. The grant is coming from the founder of Monster.com, Andrew McKelvey. This represents a second monetary gift that McKelvey is giving the school. A previous gift of 20-million dollars was given to a lung transplantation center at Emory's School of Medicine, named after McKelvey. The center represents Georgia's only lung transplant program. It's expected about 26 transplants will be performed this year, which is double the amount performed in 2001.

Lawmakers hear support for Grady training program

State lawmakers studying Georgia's growing doctor shortage say Atlanta's financially troubled Grady Hospital is critical to training physicians across the state.

Researchers told the state house committee that Georgia needs more physicians to keep pace with its growing and aging population. They say Grady Hospital's residency program attracts young doctors who otherwise would not come to Georgia. Presidents of Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory's medical school say Grady is a "magnet" for doctors, and the loss of the public hospital training program would give them "heartburn." Yet local officials say Grady may close at the end of the year unless it gets more that $120 million.

State Rep. Barry Fleming, the committee chair, was listening.

"There's not a better teaching program probably in the Southeast than in Grady as far as educating doctors on how to work on patients," Fleming said during a break in the meeting. "That's why the health of Grady is vital."

Fleming says Georgia should shore up current programs, including Grady's residency training, before launching new ones. He represents Harlem, a suburb of Augusta, and supports an expansion of the Medical College of Georgia there. But eventually, Fleming says, the state will need a second public medical school at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Emory nets record donation

Emory University's school of public health is set to receive its largest gift ever – 50-million dollars. The Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta has been promised the money by the O. Wayne Rollins Foundation and Rollins' widow, Grace Crum Rollins. Officials say the gift will allow the 17-year-old school to more than double its physical space and attract high caliber faculty and students.