Story Ideas for Media 7/17/12

News

Ohio State Wexner Medical Center named 'Best' in 10 specialties. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center leads the region with 10 ranked specialties, including cancer and cardiology, in the latest "Best Hospital" rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Wexner Medical Center is among only a handful of hospitals in the country ranked in multiple specialties.
The "Best Hospitals" rankings are featured online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals and are based on several criteria including clinical outcomes, patient safety and reputation. The annual ranking of the nation's top performing hospitals by U.S. News & World Report has become a leading resource for consumers and a benchmarking tool for health care providers and insurers.
In the 2012-13 rankings Ohio State is recognized as a leader in cancer care, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, ear, nose and throat, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, pulmonology, physical rehabilitation and urology.
Ohio State also was named high-performing in gastroenterology, neurology and neurosurgery and orthopedics. Specialties designated as "high-performing" scored extremely high and perform nearly as well their nationally ranked counterparts. CONTACT: David Crawford, Wexner Medical Center Public Affairs and Media Relations, (614) 293-3737, or crawford.1@osu.edu. SEE: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/mediaroom/releases/Pages/Wexner-Medical-Center-Among-Nation%27s-Best-in-10-Specialties.aspx.

University police chief to receive National Sports Safety and Security Award. Ohio State University Police Chief Paul Denton has been named the National Center for Spectator Sport Safety & Security's (NCS4) Professional of the Year.
This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing safety and security issues, while also making contributions that have set an example for others to follow. Chief Denton was nominated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
"This is really a credit to the hard work of our excellent public safety team," said Chief Denton. "The planning, preparation and time they put in 24 hours a day, seven days a week is a testament to their commitment to keeping Ohio State's faculty, staff, students and visitors safe."
Chief Denton will officially receive the award on August 1, 2012 during the NCS4 National Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans. The NCS4 is a world-wide interdisciplinary Center specifically focused on research, education, and outreach efforts in sport event security. The Center provides internationally recognized academic programs, enhances training capabilities and develops integrated security solutions. CONTACT: Lindsay Komlanc, Administration & Planning Director of Marketing & Communications, (614) 292-2041 or komlanc.2@osu.edu

Events

Scared of Dying? Want to Talk about Death? Death Café Brings Topic to Life -- July 19. On July 19, two Ohio State College of Social Work graduates Lizzy Miles and Maria Johnson, both licensed social workers, will be hosting the first Death Café pop-up event in the United States. The Death Café was founded in the United Kingdom by Jon Underwood, and has one simple objective: to provide a safe place for community members to talk about death and have tea and cake. The event is open to people of all belief systems, and does not promote a particular ideology. According to Miles, the objective of the Death Café is to raise death awareness and bring clarity so people can enjoy "the now." The Café, now fully booked for July and August, seems to have tapped into an unmet need and will give people an outlet to talk about their fears, concerns and opinions related to death. It will be held in the community room of a Westerville restaurant. CONTACT: Frankie Jones-Harris, jones-harris.1@osu.edu, (614) 330-2206.

The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276 or cook.17@osu.edu; Jim Lynch, (614) 247-4110 or lynch.270@osu.edu; or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385 or murray-goedde.1@osu.edu