A Norwegian anesthesiologist, trauma expert, humanitarian and human rights activist will share his experiences working to save lives during the Israeli attacks on Gaza at an upcoming lecture at The University of Toledo.

Dr. Mads Gilbert will speak at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3 in Nitschke Auditorium on Main Campus. A reception will be held after the lecture and Gilbert will sign copies of his latest book, Night in Gaza, which will be available for purchase.

Gilbert heads the department of emergency medicine at the University Hospital of North Norway and is a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Tromsø.

For more than 40 years, Gilbert has supported solidarity work with the Palestinian people, serving during several intense, violent periods in the Palestinian territories and in Lebanon. He is renowned for his work including his books Eyes in Gaza and Night in Gaza, which document the horrors of Israel’s “Operation Cast Lead,” an attack that killed about 1,400 Gazans, and “Operation Protective Edge,” which killed more than 2,000 civilians.

Gilbert’s visit is organized by UT Students for Justice in Palestine, an advocacy group whose mission is to raise awareness of issues facing the people of Palestine and pursue social justice as global citizens.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity have Dr. Gilbert visit the UT campus,” said Shahrazad Hamdah, a UT Higher Education graduate student and steering committee member of the student organization. “We invite anyone interested in health care or humanitarian efforts to hear this respected physician and human rights activist speak about his experiences.”

The lecture is sponsored by Tiffin Area Pax Christi, Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition, Project Peace, Northwest Ohio Free Speech Alliance, United Muslim Americans of Toledo and Al-Madinah Community Center.

The University of Toledo Medical Center will recognize three individuals for their contributions to the field of emergency medical services at the Emergency Medicine Wall of Honor Ceremony.

A reception will start at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in the Jacobs Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center on the Health Science Campus. The program begins at noon with remarks from UT President Sharon L. Gaber, Dr. Christopher Cooper, executive vice president for Clinical Affairs and dean of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences, and Dr. Kristopher Brickman, professor and chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine.

“This is the sixth year we have honored those who have made a significant contribution to the field of emergency medicine,” Brickman said. “The individuals recognized are the trailblazers in their field and they have set the gold standard for what it means to be an emergency medicine professional.”

The Emergency Medicine Wall of Honor, made possible through funding from The Blade, was established in 2011 to celebrate the achievements of those who have lived a life of self-sacrifice in committed service to the emergency medicine community.

Each year, nominations are submitted by a committee of community stakeholders and reviewed by a multidisciplinary selection committee.

This year’s honorees are:

• Carl W. Neeb, retired Toledo Fire Chief. After serving 30 years with the Toledo Department of Fire and Rescue, Neeb retired as chief of the department in 1980. He was known as the “Father of Paramedics” in Toledo due to his invaluable contributions in establishing emergency medical services within the Toledo Fire Department. His expertise and involvement helped develop and implement Lucas County’s Advanced Life Support System and was instrumental in its success as one of the first and finest systems in the country.

• Bruce D. Janiak, professor of emergency medicine, Medical College of Georgia. Janiak was the first resident in emergency medicine in the United States and is recognized as one of the fathers of the specialty. He is considered a true visionary in the field, having explored and implemented concepts such as telemedicine well before it became standard practice. He served as president of the American College of Emergency Physicians and the Emergency Department Benchmarking Alliance, an organization that defines the best clinical and administrative practices. He is a lecturer, instructor and author and consultant specializing in medical malpractice.

• Judith A. Ruple, registered nurse. Ruple was chair of the National Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee Education Subcommittee for the American Heart Association and president of the National Association of EMS Educators. She was the director of the Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic program in the UT Department of Health and Human Services. Ruple served as a content level leader of the National EMS Education Standards Project and was the principal investigator for the State of EMS Education Research Project, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. She has written more than 35 publications and received numerous grants for research and development in the area of Emergency Medicine Services Education.

Ryan White Program hosts inaugural event to support HIV/AIDS community

The University of Toledo Medical Center’s Ryan White Program will host a night of dinner and dancing to support HIV and AIDS patients and their families.

“Re-tie the Red Ribbon” is Saturday, Oct. 1 from 6-10 p.m. at Hensville in downtown Toledo. Tickets are $50 each and include a variety of food stations and live entertainment by Fu5ion.

“We are excited to kick off this brand new event in such a great venue,” said Richard Meeker, manager of fundraising and special projects for the Ryan White Program. “The funds we raise will go to the Ann Wayson Locher Memorial Fund for HIV Care to provide support to adults and children in the Toledo area affected by HIV.”

Ann Wayson Locher opened the first grant-funded free and anonymous HIV testing site in northwest Ohio in 1985 and was one of the key organizers of the Ryan White Program.

Her daughter said she was an infection control nurse who was passionate about caring for those in underserved populations.

“She focused in on HIV care in the 1980s and never looked back,” Megan Locher said. “My siblings and I grew up in the clinic and as we got older we all volunteered there. The physicians, nurses and staff became members of our family. We learned the importance of giving back to the community and caring for those who were struggling.”

The Ann Wayson Locher Memorial Fund was created in her honor upon her death in 2010. The fund continues the work she started and provides health care and social services for HIV and AIDS patients who have needs that cannot be covered by other agencies or programs.

“She was passionate about identifying gaps in health care and finding ways to reach those who needed help the most,” her daughter said. “She didn’t want patients to have to choose which health care services they could receive based on their financial or personal situation.”

Meeker said the organization has seen an increase in the number of clients seeking assistance.

“The number of families requesting assistance for housing and basic living assistance has been on the rise in recent years,” he said. “The goals of this event are to enlist the community in supporting these families and to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS in Toledo and northwest Ohio.”

UTMC’s Ryan White Program uses a multidisciplinary approach to provide health care services and support to persons living with HIV and AIDS in the Toledo area. It is the regional referral center for patients needing assistance.

“Mom and her team developed the program to be a place where people could get comprehensive care,” Megan Locher said. “The team is made up of a dedicated group of physicians, nurses, nutritionists, social workers and financial counselors and so many more professionals who work tirelessly to provide a network of care to HIV and AIDS patients and their families. Her legacy lives on in the lives that continue to be improved through the services the Ryan White Program provides.”

Call 419.383.4072 or email Richard.Meeker@utoledo.edu to order tickets.

The University of Toledo Department of Political Science and Public Administration is holding its first presidential debate watch event with students 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 26 in University Hall Room 3820.

Political science students will watch the debate between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump, engage in fact-checking, follow social media response and participate in a discussion and evaluation.

“The debates are the last significant events that potentially move poll numbers unless there is a sudden major economic crisis or terror attack,” Sam Nelson, associate professor and chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, said. “Debates are rarely game changers, but Trump is a different kind of candidate so maybe they will have bigger effects than in the past. It’s important for students to participate in the process and see both candidates side by side answering questions about issues facing the country.”

A presidential debate watch event also is scheduled to be held Wednesday, Oct. 19 in the same location.

Ben Morales will sign copies of his book, Hindsight: Northwest Ohio Through the Lens of Time, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Gathering Volumes, 196 E. South Boundary St., Perrysburg.

Published by The University of Toledo Press, Hindsight features historical black-and-white photos that Morales held and lined up in front of the same locations to take new seamless shots that meld time.

It all started four years ago when the graphic designer was working at a local ad agency and was looking for inspiration for the “You Are Here Toledo” project. He searched for an old photo of the Washington Street Bridge.

“I found a really nice old shot of the bridge and, along with that, I found a lot of old shots of the Toledo area that I’d never seen before,” Morales recalled. “I was just kind of amazed by the richness of Toledo’s history and how interesting it looks and how different it looks, but at the same time, we could still see a glimpse of that today that I hadn’t really taken notice of until then.”

Something compelled him to print out a couple of the black-and-white shots. He cut out the images of the former Key Bank on Madison Avenue and a shot looking down Madison and tucked them into his pocket.

“On my lunch break, I was just walking around downtown and thought it would be cool to go to the actual locations and compare and contrast — look at the photo compared to how it looked in real life,” he said. “So I took the opportunity to walk to those locations and do my best to line them up, and I took my first shots with my old iPhone 4.”

Then he posted the photo of the old-timey snapshot framed in the present on Instagram.

“The photos got a really resounding response, and people suggested more locations,” Morales said. “I thought it would be interesting to try to see if I could find more of these photos and continue it as a series.”

Photos and historical information on The University of Toledo, Ohio Theatre, Toledo Zoo, Holy Rosary Cathedral, Oliver House, Toledo Museum of Art, Side Cut Metropark, and other landmarks are included in the 145-page book.

“There’s just something about old photos — there’s just sort of a haunting beauty behind them,” Morales mused.

Hindsight: Northwest Ohio Through the Lens of Time is $39.95 and is available at at Gathering Volumes, as well as online at utoledopress.com and at Rockets Bookstore, 3047 W. Bancroft St. Review copies are available by contacting Yarko Kuk, managing editor of the UT Press, at yaroslav.kuk2@utoledo.edu.

“The past is all around us, but we don’t always notice it because it is often tucked away in between modern structures, and it may not be quite as visible as it once was,” Morales said. “I want people to be able to see, notice and appreciate the beauty of the past and take ownership of it.”

The first African-American to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations will speak at The University of Toledo 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 in Savage Arena.

Andrew Young, a former member of Congress and mayor of Atlanta, worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement to organize desegregation efforts throughout the South, including the 1963 march through Birmingham, Ala. Young was with King in Memphis, Tenn., when King was assassinated in 1968.

“Ambassador Andrew Young’s life of humanitarian service and activism for racial and social justice can inspire all of us to reinvigorate our efforts as individuals and as a University and community to achieve justice, peace and inclusion,” Dr. Jamie Barlowe, dean of UT College of Arts and Letters, said. “His presence on our campus is both a gift and a call to service, particularly important in today’s world of social and political unrest.”

The free, public event presented by UT’s College of Arts and Letters marks the 10^th anniversary of the Edward Shapiro Distinguished Lecture Series that has included such speakers as Toni Morrison, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Elie Wiesel, Oliver Sacks, E.J. Dionne, Michael Sandel, Jon Meacham and Wynton Marsalis.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Young served as U.N. Ambassador from 1977 to 1979. Young is the recipient of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, France’s Legion of Honor and the NAACP’s Springarn Medal. Young founded the Andrew Young Foundation to support and promote education, health, leadership and human rights in the U.S., Africa and the Caribbean.

The University of Toledo Engineering Career Development Center will host the Fall 2016 Engineering Career Expo Wednesday, Sept. 21.

Representatives from more than 160 companies will be available to talk to students and alumni of the UT College of Engineering during the career expo 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the first floor of Nitschke Hall and North Engineering.

The event will connect students with companies seeking talent needed for success.

“Many companies from across the United States participate in this event,” said

Dr. Vickie Kuntz, director of the Engineering Career Development Center. “A few of the nationally recognized companies scheduled to participate include BP America, Eaton Corporation, Fiat Chrysler, FirstEnergy, GE Appliances (a Haier Company), Honda, Johnson & Johnson, KIEWIT, Marathon and SSOE Group. The quality of the attending companies speaks highly to the quality of our engineering students.”

The career expo is a great opportunity for job-seeking students to network with employers, she said, noting that student attendance in past events has topped 600. Kuntz expects more than 600 students and alumni to participate in this event.

The career expo is open to UT College of Engineering students who are enrolled in the mandatory co-op program. Additionally, UT engineering alumni who have been in the work force for a few years and are interested in exploring other positions are welcome.

Every year thousands of children in the U.S. and around the world are forced to become victims of a criminal underworld and suffer in plain sight.

Survivors, social workers, law enforcement officers, educators, nurses and researchers from across the globe are coming together for a two-day conference at The University of Toledo to bring the sex and labor trafficking trades out of the shadows and help end the abuse through education and advocacy.

UT is hosting the 13^th Annual International Human Trafficking and Social Justice Conference Thursday and Friday, Sept. 22 and 23 in the Student Union on Main Campus.

The conference is hosted by UT’s Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute and the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition.

“Human trafficking affects more than just the victims, it hurts the whole community,” said Celia Williamson, UT professor of social work and director of the Human Trafficking and Social Justice Institute. “Since 2004, this annual conference has welcomed presenters from 31 states and 15 countries to educate social service, health care and criminal justice professionals on this form of modern slavery and the needs and risk of victims, as well as their customers and traffickers. We are laying the groundwork for future collaborative research, advocacy and program development.”

One session allows participants to watch a video of UT medical students treating a human trafficking victim inside a state-of-the-art patient simulation suite at UT’s Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center on Health Science Campus. The victim is a high-tech medical mannequin that can bleed and breathe.

“Nearly 90 percent of sex trafficking victims encounter an ER or clinic, but only a quarter of health care professionals think that trafficking impacts their patients,” Katie Bush, clinical simulation and education research associate, said. “This simulation presentation will showcase how our students going into the health care field are being trained to spot red flags of trafficking and help rescue victims.”

Bush will discuss the simulation from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 in the Student Union Room 3010-A.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is speaking 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 in the Student Union Auditorium.

Additional speakers include:

• FBI Special Agent James Hardie and Detective Pete Swartz with the Toledo Police Department, who specialize in investigating child sex trafficking as part of the FBI’s Innocence Lost initiative, 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 in Student Union Room 2584.
• International human trafficking expert Mohammad Ashraful Alam, who is presenting “Sex Trade Behind the Scene of Women and Girls Trafficking: A Case of Bangladesh” 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 in Student Union Room 2584.
• Theresa Flores, a human trafficking survivor who will be presenting “The Healthcare Needs of Domestically Trafficked Women: Study Results” 2:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 in Student Union Ingman Room.

Click here for a full schedule of events.

For more information, visit traffickingconference.com or email traffickingconference@gmail.com.

School is in full swing and that means backpacks are loaded with textbooks, binders, homework and athletic gear. Backpacks are convenient for toting must-have items to school, but they can quickly become too heavy for children to carry safely.

Sept. 21 is National Backpack Awareness Day and a University of Toledo physician advises parents to make sure children are properly loading and carrying backpacks to avoid back strain and pain.

“When a backpack is too heavy, its weight can pull the child backwards,” said Dr. Nabil Ebraheim, professor and chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. “The child counteracts the weight by arching their back or bending forward, causing the spine to compress unnaturally, which can contribute to neck, shoulder and back pain.”

The best way to avoid back strain is to avoid overloading backpacks. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, children should limit their backpack weight to between 10 and 15 percent of their body weight.

“It also is important that backpacks are sized properly to the child and have wide, padded straps as not to restrict circulation or cause nerve pain,” Ebraheim said. “A backpack with a waist strap also may help to transfer weight to the hips and help to prevent slouching.”

Students should be taught how to properly carry a backpack to avoid serious injury or long-term damage to the spine.

“Carrying a backpack over just one shoulder causes an uneven distribution of weight that forces the child to compensate by leaning to one side,” Ebraheim said. “That causes muscle strain and extra stress on the discs in the spine. Over time it could contribute to more serious back problems such as scoliosis.”

Ebraheim said when loading a backpack, try to concentrate the bulk of the weight closest to the child’s body and near the middle of the back. This distribution of weight will help the child achieve better posture and balance, reducing the risk of back or neck injury and falls.

He said schools who are replacing heavy textbooks with tablets are on the right track.

“With today’s modern technology, there’s no reason students should be carrying so many textbooks back and forth to school,” he said. “Schools that make the switch to digital learning are doing more than simply engaging students with an interactive way to teach, they also are protecting students’ health by lightening the load of their backpacks.”

The Student Union at The University of Toledo will be renamed in honor of a 55-year UT veteran who dedicated his career to helping students succeed.

The building will be renamed the Lancelot Thompson Student Union, pending approval by the UT Board of Trustees at its next meeting, UT President Sharon L. Gaber announced Monday evening at a memorial service for the late University leader.

The Lancelot Thompson Student Union honors the professor emeritus of chemistry who served 20 years as the University’s first vice president for student affairs.

Dr. Lancelot C.A. Thompson, professor emeritus of chemistry who served 20 years as the University’s first vice president for student affairs, died Sept. 10 at age 91.

“Generations of future students will know his name and the impact he has had on our University,” Gaber said. “I could not be more proud to continue his legacy in this way.”

The President also announced a new Dr. Lancelot Thompson Student Activities and Diversity Fund that will support programming to enhance the student experience and advance diversity and inclusion initiatives.

A true trailblazer, Thompson was the first African-American full-time faculty member at the University when he joined UT in 1958 and the first black faculty member to receive tenure. He went on to become the first African-American vice president.

A committed classroom teacher, he was one of the first four recipients of the University’s Outstanding Teacher Award. To inspire the next generation of college students, Thompson helped organize UT’s annual Aspiring Minorities Youth Conference, which continues to this day.

Throughout his career and after retirement in 1988, when he was named professor emeritus, Thompson mentored a large number of students and student-athletes.

In 2014, the Dr. Lancelot C.A. Thompson Meeting Room was dedicated in his honor in the Student Union that will now bear his name.

At the time, Thompson noted his passion for helping students. He said, “If anything is said about me, just let it be that I cared about people, especially students, so they had all the help available to them.”

Click here to download photographs of Thompson.