31
March
2008
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18:00 PM
America/New_York

Story Ideas for Media 4-1-08

News


Ohio State graduate program ranked by U.S. News & World Report.
According to the U.S. News & World Report 2009 edition of “America's Best Graduate Schools” released this week, three graduate programs at The Ohio State University gained significantly in rankings among American universities since last year's report. Pharmacy rose to number five after being ranked 11th in the 2008 edition, and physical therapy cracked the top 20 for the first time, with a ranking of 19th – up 16 positions from the previous year. And the master of fine arts program climbed to 21st from its previous 28th position. In addition, the university received top five rankings in vocational/ technical education, counseling/personnel services (education), dispute resolution (law), pharmacy, industrial design, American politics, social psychology, and veterinary medicine. Each year, U.S. News ranks professional school programs in business, education, engineering, law, and medicine. The magazine also ranks programs in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and many other areas, including selected health specialties. CONTACT: Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110. SEE: http://www.osu.edu/news/newsitem1953


How Buckeyes spent their spring break. From a wrestler who won a national title to a professor who took a group of undergraduates to Europe, Ohio State faculty, staff, and students did great things over spring break. See how a few Buckeyes spent their week “off.”


Research


Asthma medicines often not prescribed as national guidelines recommend.
More than a decade after national guidelines were issued for asthma treatment, some patients still don’t receive prescriptions for the inhalers that experts say offer the safest and most effective long-term control of the disease, a new study suggests. Physicians’ prescribing practices based on expert recommendations improved between 1998 and 2002 overall. But the study showed the use of the medications that are considered most effective in controlling the condition began to decline after 2003, leading researchers to suspect doctors might be too cautious in their prescribing practices. Additionally, the elderly and minorities tended to be less likely to be prescribed the long-acting controller medications called for in the guidelines, according to Ohio State University research examining prescribing trends over the seven-year period. The research is published in the current issue of the journal “Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.” CONTACT: Rajesh Balkrishnan, College of Pharmacy, (614) 292 6415. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/asthmaguide.htm


Events


Ohio State to kickoff of Disability Awareness Month – April 2-3.
April is recognized as Disability Awareness Month at Ohio State and this year will be celebrated with two kickoff events. Dancing Wheels, a dance troupe that includes dancers in wheelchairs, will perform at 7 p.m. on Wednesday (4/2) in Campbell Hall, Room 200, 1787 Neil Ave. An art exhibit and reception will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday (4/3) in Bricker Hall, second floor, 190 N. Oval Mall. The exhibit highlights the work of artists with disabilities and will be displayed through April 30. A complete schedule of events and programs is available http://www.ods.osu.edu/. CONTACT: