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Spring 2000

Welcome to the second issue of the Rieders Renaissance Report, the quarterly newsletter reporting the activities of the Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation. The lead article below introduces you to Mr. Robert McMichael, our Director of Educational Programs. Also in this issue, you will find a review article on our successful Summer Mentoring Program and an appeal for funds from our friends and supporters for this exciting and unique opportunity offered by the Foundation. Lastly, please read comments about the Summer Mentoring Program from recent alumni and a description of the upcoming symposium - Unexpected Suspicious Hospital Deaths.

ROBERT F. McMICHAEL, B.S.

By Joseph R. DiPalma, M.D.

The Fredric Rieders family is pleased to announce that Robert F. McMichael has joined the Foundation as Director of Educational Programs. Among his other duties, he will organize the Summer Mentoring Program for high school students and teachers.

A true native Philadelphian, Bob attended Northeast High School and then Lincoln University graduating with a major in biology. He was a varsity baseball player and an outstanding student. After college Bob was drafted into the U.S. army, Bob served two years in the Medical Corps, most of the time in Germany. After the service, still interested in a career related to medicine, he accepted a position as a Research Associate with Joseph R. DiPalma, M.D. who was then Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology at Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. Bob turned out to be a natural researcher because he had good judgment, persistence and patience beyond his years; incidentally, qualities that would have made him an excellent physician. Most of his work occurred in the famous Cardiovascular Institute of Hahnemann Medical College and involved anti-arrhythmic drugs, heart failure, coronary heart disease and anesthetic agents. Papers were published in Science, American Journal of Physiology, American Heart Journal and various pharmacology journals. Graduate students rotating through his laboratory gained much from Bob's superior techniques and vast experience in experimental approaches. Over many years, summer medical student research fellows did projects under his direction.Bob's particularly outstanding research work was his seminal investigation of the toxic pulmonary effects of perlite (a silica mineral used in agriculture). This work led to protection mandates to prevent perlite dust inhalation.

In the early seventies, Bob attained the much deserved rank of Senior Instructor and Dr. DiPalma, who was then Dean of the Medical School, asked him to assume a role as leader of the then burgeoning minority movement. Bob became Director of the American Foundation for Negro Affairs Program at Hahnemann. He was also a member of the Affirmative Action Committee of Hahnemann University. In the eighties, Bob was the recipient of substantial grant support from the National Institutes of Health and a number of Industrial firms to run his increasingly popular summer high school science enrichment program for minority students. These grants ran well into the nineties and thus enabled hundreds of minority students to gain exposure to high tech medical sciences and medicine. A great majority of the students went on to college, graduate school and medical school.

Ironically, Bob who was once denied the opportunity of becoming a physician himself has instead become a maker of scientists and physicians. The Foundation looks forward to a rewarding Summer Mentoring Program in the year 2000.

SUMMER MENTORING PROGRAM 2000

By G. John DiGregorio, M.D., Ph.D.

The major objective of the Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation Summer Mentoring Program is to encourage, stimulate and advance the knowledge of high school teachers and students in the field of science and medicine. One objective of the program, the focus on minorities, is similar to the one that Bob McMichael directed at Hahnemann University. This particular program is an offshoot of that program. Mr. McMichael has retired from Hahnemann but his love for this particular minority program has stimulated him to join our organization.

The Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation sponsored its first mentoring program at the Foundation from June through August 1999. The program consisted of three research teams each comprised of a staff member, a teacher and a high school student. Each team of researchers were assigned a specific research project and given ample space and supplies from the Foundation for their project. The summer program also consisted of weekly conferences, lectures and informed presentations. On August 12, 1999, at the end of the mentoring program, each student presented their research findings, to the entire internal staff and outside invited visitors.

The Foundation is now planning the year 2000 Summer Mentoring Program. We are going to increase the program projects from three to five research units, each consisting of a teacher, students and a staff advisor. The curriculum will consist of the following:

1. Orientation-
   Prior to beginning their research, an orientation will be presented to the groups concerning the facilities and safety policies of the Foundation. Research projects will be assigned before initiation of laboratory work, so as to give the unit an opportunity to do a literature search and familiarize themselves with the laboratory and reference resources.
2. Research-
   Each unit is responsible for conducting an original research project with the assistance of the Foundation staff.
3. Conferences-
   Once per week, each group will meet along with their faculty advisor, Drs. Fredric Rieders, G. John DiGregorio and Mr. Robert McMichael to present an update of their research.
4. Lectures-
   Weekly lectures will be presented to the group from a cross disciplinary team within the staff concerning various topics including chemistry, statistics, biochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, and basic concepts in medicine.
5. Journal Club-
   Each week, the research group will discuss a research paper from the current literature.
6. Summer Mentor Program Presentation Day-
   On August 18, 2000, a member of each research unit will participate in the formal scientific program at the Foundation by presenting their research findings in a seminar forum.
7. Written Paper-
   a research paper will also be created and is expected to be published in an appropriate peer reviewed journal. In 1999, publications were accepted by the Academy of Forensic Sciences and the Journal of Chemical Education.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Pediatric Toxicology March 23, 2000 - presented by Lee Blum, Ph.D.

Toxicologic Aspects of the Drug Development Process April 20, 2000 - Presented by Richard Fruncillo,M.D., Ph.D.

Molecular Diagnostics for Colorectal Cancer May 18, 2000 - Presented by Scott Waldman, M.D., Ph.D.

MALDI-TOF Applications July 20, 2000 - Presented by Catherine Bentzley, Ph.D.

Summer Mentoring Program Presentation Day August 18, 2000 - Presented by Mentors and Students

APPEAL FOR FUNDS

In the milieu of a high tech toxicology and analytic laboratory, which has and uses the finest and most advanced equipment, the Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation (FRFRF) has established a unique mentoring program. The purpose is to expose both student and teacher to the art and practice of modern scientific technology in a direct and practical manner. Furthermore, its purpose is to involve the student and teacher in hands-on work, including development and application of analytic techniques and to greatly encourage participation in research. In this approach, student and teacher are equal partners in learning by doing. This combination of a mature mind with that of a youthful uninhibited brain is the classical model which often facilitates innovation and discovery, especially discovery of the self.

Without a schedule and a scheme of increasing intellectual challenges any program soon becomes stale. The team of student and teacher will have a prepared set of lectures, seminars, bench work and visits to unique laboratories. Individual projects are an important tool and competition to excel in the group is an excellent stimulus. In addition, the Foundation has in residence a number of distinguished scientists that will be available to the teams. There is also an extensive library and computer access to the scientific literature is available.

The Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation has the definite aim to favor those who have been educationally disadvantaged because of minority status or other factors such as poverty, language, environmental conditions or physical disabilities. Teachers will also be selected on the basis of proven achievement in science, math, social sciences and philosophy. Robert F. McMichael is Director of Educational Programs and is in charge of recruitment for the Summer Mentoring Program. Those interested in participation in this program should make application by April 1, 2000.

To expand the successful Summer Mentoring Program for the year 2000, the Foundation has to appeal to its friends and supporters. This one on one intensified program is expensive to run. Over the past three years, the Foundation funds have come almost entirely from Fredric Rieders and his family. Extensive infrastructure support, including "staff on free loan" was and is furnished by National Medical Services, Inc., which is owned and operated by the Rieders family. The Foundation has also been greatly helped by volunteers who have contributed their services gratis. Furthermore, administrative costs have been covered by the Foundation so that any contribution will be used only for support of the program.

It is anticipated that to expand this very successful program, a sum of $70,000.00 must be raised. Dr. Fredric Rieders is appealing to his friends and Foundation supporters to share in his dream to give this unique educational opportunity and incentive to young minds that might otherwise be bypassed. It is also expected that the general public will give support. For your convenience a contribution card is enclosed.

The Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation is a non-profit operating foundation. Donations to the foundation are generally tax-deductible under section 170C(2) of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, gifts of publicly traded stocks and bonds that have increased in value (and you have owned for more than one year) may provide greater tax value than giving cash. We suggest that you fully discuss your gift intentions with your tax advisor. An acknowledgement of each donation will be provided by the Foundation.

ALUMNI COMMENTS

Evan Beard, a former summer intern, was asked how the summer program affected his studies/career. "The program was an excellent opportunity for me to gain experience in researching and knowledge of the operations and work demand in the field of forensic science and toxicology. The program has further stimulated my interest to enter the general field of chemistry and forensic sciences."

Rachel Cruz, a former summer intern, was asked how the summer program affected her studies/ career. "The program has provided a stepping stone to independent and in-depth research. This program provided the experience, which I will need to work independently in a university laboratory."

Carolyn Selenski, a former summer intern, was asked to comment on the program. "During the program, I learned two important lessons about myself and science. First, I work best in the laboratory environment and I will pursue a career as a scientist. Second, seemingly failed research brings you one step closer to the answer."

UPCOMING EVENTS- SYMPOSIUM

"Unexpected Suspicious Hospital Deaths"On June 15, 2000, the Fredric Rieders Family Renaissance Foundation is presenting a symposium focused on Unexpected Suspicious Hospital Deaths to be presented from 1:00pm to 6:00pm at the National Medical Services Facility in Willow Grove, PA. Attendance is by invitation only. Continuing Education credit may be provided by the Coroners Education Board of Pennsylvania. The Speakers will include Drs. Fredric Rieders, Randall Baselt, Michael Baden and G. John DiGregorio. See back page for the details of the program.

The agenda for the symposium is as follows:

1:30-1:45 p.m. - Introduction: “The Foundation Symposia” – G. John DiGregorio, M.D., Ph.D.

1:45-2:30 p.m. - “The Role of the Forensic Pathologist/Medical Examiner/Coroner in the Investigation of Suspicious Hospital Deaths” – Michael Baden, M.D.

2:30-2:45 p.m. - Discussion

2:45-3:30 p.m. - Break and Tour of NMS Lab Facilities

3:30-4:15 p.m.- “Cases Illustrating Evidence Collection in Suspicious Deaths” – Randall Baselt, Ph.D.

4:15-4:30 p.m. - Discussion

4:30-5:15 p.m. - “Death Dealing Caregivers: A Short 40-Year History of Personal Cases” – Fredric Rieders, Ph.D.

5:15-5:30 p.m. - Discussion

5:30-6:00 p.m. - Open Forum: "Where Do We Go from Here?" - Fredric Rieders, Ph.D., Moderator

6:00 p.m. - Buffet Dinner