JULY 1998 STORY IDEAS

6/26/98

The following Ohio University professors are available for insightful interviews on topics in the news. Please contact Dwight Woodward at (740) 593-1886 or Todd Anderson at (740) 593-1885 to arrange an interview.

OHIO UNIVERSITY NO. 1 IN PRODUCING FAMILY PHYSICIANS:The Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine is the nation's No. 1 medical school in producing family doctors, according to a study of 143 U.S. medical schools by the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) Foundation. The AMSA, an independent organization of more than 30,000 medical students from 125 allopathic and 18 osteopathic medical schools across the country, reviewed the most recent data on the number of graduates in primary-care residencies from 125 allopathic (M.D.) and 18 osteopathic (D.O.) medical schools. OUCOM was rated No.1 with 72 percent of its 1996 graduating class in family practice residencies. OUCOM Dean Barbara Ross-Lee says, "Our high placement is a result of the osteopathic profession's longstanding commitment and track record in primary care, strong primary care-centered curricula and recruitment missions, and the high number of primary care physician role models involved in the educational process." Ross-Lee, the first black woman to head a medical college in the United States, is an articulate spokeswoman on the importance of training family physicians in the United States.

GM STRIKE A THREAT TO THE ECONOMY? The General Motors strike and the current Asian financial crisis pose a threat to the boom times of the American economy, according to Richard Vedder, distinguished professor of economics at Ohio University. "A little strike in one or two plants can bloom into a fairly significant problem for workers," says Vedder. "It shows the interdependence of workers. The chances of a recession are growing, but I think they are still less than 50-50." Vedder says GM has higher labor costs than most other automobile manufacturers and company officials are determined to keep labor costs down. But just-in-time inventory methods that require manufacturers to keep a limited supply of parts could quickly lead to parts shortages at all of the automaker's plants, forcing more layoffs if the strike isn't settled soon, according to Vedder. Vedder has written op-eds for numerous newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times.

MILD WINTER MEANS MORE MOSQUITOS: The mild weather last winter means more mosquitos this summer, according to William Romoser, co-director of Ohio University Tropical and Geographical Disease Institute. "It looks like a bad year. It was a mild winter and a lot more survived," says Romoser. "With lots of rain, it could be a bumper crop." While most mosquito bites may just mean an itchy bump for a few days, mosquitos can carry encephalitis, a flu-like illness that on rare occasions can be debilitating or even fatal. Romoser says the best way to get rid of mosquitos is to eliminate their breeding grounds, anyplace with standing water such as old tires, cans or bottles.

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