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Dr. William Kassler, Incoming American Medical Student Association Foundation President, Sees Bright Future
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. William Kassler as President and Chair of its Board of Directors.
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Massachusetts, Tennessee Health Plans Might Offer Ideas On U.S. Health Care System Overhaul
Congressional lawmakers who are crafting a plan to overhaul the U.S. health care system might be able to look to state health insurance programs in Massachusetts and Tennessee for ideas, the AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Health reform legislation modeled after Massachusetts" near-universal health insurance law "is likely to emerge" in Congress, "although details remain unsettled," the AP/Star Tribune reports. The plan also could include components of Tennessee"s CoverTN program, which charges beneficiaries who smoke or are overweight higher premiums. Lawmakers in the Senate already have discussed a lifestyle tax funding mechanism, such as taxes on alcohol and sugary beverages. According to AP/Star Tribune, Massachusetts "chose to cover virtually everyone," while Tennessee "chose to get just a few more people bare-bones insurance at a budget price with limits on how much plans would pay for hospital stays."Alan Weil of the National Academy for State Health Policy said, "The belief that we should all have health insurance coverage is broadly held," but "there are tremendous differences around the country in beliefs on how to achieve that goal." He added, "We learn from Massachusetts that a bold objective matters. If it can be sustained, that"s terrific," and "[i]t would be nice if you had a southern state that had achieved universal coverage and did it in a different way, but we don"t have that" (Johnson, AP/Minneapolis Star Tribune, 5/28).
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Pharma And Biotech Companies Plug Into Singapore's Integrated Research Network
Leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies are drawing on Singapore"s
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Computer Games Stretch And Hone Older Brain

The Brain Emporium offers Cleveland elders an opportunity to refute the adage "You can"t teach an old dog new tricks." The Emporium, Northeast Ohio"s first computerized brain fitness center, is a mind gymnasium where local elders can pump up their mental strength and increase their flexibility. Founder and director T.J. McCallum, an associate professor of psychology at Case Western Reserve University, envisioned such an exercise center three years ago. With funding from the university, doors opened this spring. Located in the Fairhill Partners complex, the facility gives older adults the opportunity to work with cutting-edge brain-training programs and games at little to no cost. Judson Retirement Community resident Josephine Rich, 89, has found her participation in The Brain Emporium both enjoyable and helpful: "This is great because I feel that I am benefiting from all of this fun," she said. "I enjoy the challenge. I really think my recall is better. I find that I don"t have to refer to my lists as often." The Brain Emporium"s computerized programs are designed to engage and stimulate different areas of cognition, including memory, visual-spatial abilities, mental flexibility, processing speed, language and planning. Another regular Brain Emporium attendee, Mickey Lewin, 71, believes the games have helped improve her memory. "People can tell me numbers and I don"t have to have them repeat them," she observed. "I don"t reverse numbers like I used to. I remember more things now." Visitors to The Brain Emporium work with McCallum and his graduate student assistants, who design training regimens tailored to an individual"s interests and abilities. In addition to offering a diverse array of brain-fitness computer programs, the Brain Emporium encourages older adults to engage in physical movement, thereby building coordination and agility, while playing virtual tennis, bowling, or darts on a Nintendo Wii. Students from the Intergenerational School, at Fairhill, can earn privileges to volunteer at the Brain Emporium and instruct the older adults on the Wii. The Brain Emporium is open to the public Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; however, hours may increase to meet growing demand. McCallum is also currently creating an undergraduate class that incorporates brain fitness programs and educational information designed to help older adults maintain a healthy brain. The Brain Emporium programs aren"t yet proven to slow diseases such as Alzheimer"s, but do engage elders and sharpen their minds, McCallum said. "If you don"t use your body, it atrophies and the same is true for the brain." Case Western Reserve University


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