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History
The development of ISATNA has proceeded over the last several years, initially with bilateral visits between Iowa City and Adelaide from Ray Blight CEO, South Australia Health Commission; William Menzel, Ribloc Industries, Adelaide, South Australia; Malcolm Pradhan, University of Adelaide; Bob Taylor, University of South Australia; John Skinner, Flinders University; and Geoffrey McLennan, University of Iowa, among others. These interactions led, in May 1997, to a successful video conference between Adelaide and Iowa City with participants from Adelaide and the University of Iowa interacting and proceeding with the further development of the interaction.
The process of the development of ISATNA in Iowa has been developed initially under the Office of the Provost, initially with Mike McNulty and Kathleen Buckwalter, and with the Office of Sponsored Programs with David Skorton; within the College of Medicine, Robert Kelch and Michael Kienzle; the College of Pharmacy, Hazel Seaba and Shane Scott; the College of Dentistry, Ron Ettinger; the College of Engineering, Eric Hoffman and Malcolm Pope; and the College of Business, Edward Moldt and Claire Fairfield. The process in Adelaide has been developed initially under the University of South Australia with Ian Davies; the South Australian Health Commission with Ray Blight and Andrew Davis; the Royal Adelaide Hospital with Ian Olver and Brendan Kearney; and the University of Adelaide with Derick Frewin and Richard Ruffin; the South Australian Research Development Institute with Rob Lewis; and with very helpful continuing support from William Menzel, Chairman, Ribloc Industries. Christine McLennan has been instrumental in facilitating initial ISATNA interactions and continues to be heavily involved in the growing process of ISATNA and its development; Diane Cuykendall has provided help with the web based forum, and with the timetable for the Provost's visit; Janice Cook-Granroth developed, and has maintained, the web site. The process of maturing ISATNA is still on-going, and full maturation is not expected for several years.
An initial reception was hosted by William Menzel and Christine McLennan in Adelaide in 1997 and set the stage for those involved in South Australia and what could be expected for the future.
Since 1998 several people have left their academic positions, and several others have contributed actively to the further development of this unique interaction. The South Australian Health Commission has been re-organized, and is now part of the Department of Human Services. Brendan Kearney has moved from the Royal Adelaide Hospital to a position that covers Health Care in South Australia. Malcolm Pope and Claire Fairfield have left the University of Iowa, as has the Dean Miller from Engineering. Dean Banker from the Pharmacy College in Iowa has retired, but is still actively supportive of ISATNA. Ray Blight left South Australia. Importantly, developments continued with a delegation from Iowa planned to visit South Australia in August 1999.
In 1999, the Provost of the University of Iowa, Jon Whitmore, visited South Australia with a delegation from the University of Iowa. The delegates from Iowa included Mike McNulty, Vice-Provost for International Affairs; Kathleen Buckwalter, Vice-Provost for Health Sciences; Joseph Buckwalter, Chair, Orthopedic Surgery; and Geoffrey McLennan, Transnational Alliance Coordinator. This delegation was hosted in South Australia by the Minister for Health and Human Services, Dean Brown. The delegation visited with the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide; Flinders University; The Department of Health and Human Services; and the South Australian Research and Development Institute. A reception for the delegation was hosted one evening by Dean Brown. The visit from Iowa to Adelaide was very important in continuing the interaction with Adelaide, and in developing further activities.
Also in 1999, Dr. McLennan was the invited keynote speaker on translational interactions at the First NSC-NSF Joint Workshop on NGI Applications meeting in Taiwan. For more information, click here.
In 2000, contacts were established with the National Science Foundation to underwrite some activities in the context of the ISATNA interaction. The University of Iowa Foundation became involved in fundraising for ISATNA. Similar initiatives were initiated in Adelaide. Student exchanges began to be promoted a little more, with students from South Australia coming to University of Iowa for elective semesters. At the time, these students were from Engineering and Pharmacy backgrounds. Planning for the first students from Iowa to South Australia also began. South Australia participated in the University of Iowa Health Informatics program, via video-conference. This was very well received. The first double-badged educational web site was co-developed, on the topic of Lasers in Medicine, involving the University of Iowa and the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
By 2001, four Engineering students have spent from 6 to 10 months at the University of Iowa. These students have come from Flinders University and from The University of South Australia. Several Pharmacy students have spent 6-week electives at the University of Iowa. The first Medical student from the University of Iowa has completed a 12-week elective at the University of Adelaide working in Orthopedics specifically at the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital, and the first Engineering student attended Flinders University in 2002. As with other years there have been several visits to the University of Iowa from Adelaide, including the Dean of Engineering from Flinders University. In addition, a long awaited video-conferencing series addressing issues of palliative care, and issues of the dying patient has been initiated. This will be the first of many similar interactions. The University of Iowa has also committed partial support to facilitate NSF and other external funding opportunities.
In 2002, two Engineering students have spent 6 months at the University of Iowa. These students have come from Flinders University and from The University of South Australia. One Medical student from the University of Iowa spent 12 weeks during the US summer, attached to the Cancer Services Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Continuing discussion continued on various business models. The Palliative Care teams at both ends of the ISATNA had a number of video conferences and visits.
In 2003, two Engineering students have spent 6 months at the University of Iowa. These students have come from Flinders University. In addition one Medical student from Adelaide has attended the University of Iowa for an elective. One Medical student from the University of Iowa spent 12 weeks during the US summer, attached to the Cancer Services Unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Continuing discussion continued on various business models. Several faculty members from the University of Iowa have visited with potential collaborators at the University of Adelaide. Two of the Engineering students who had done their placement in Iowa on a previous visit, have returned to undertake graduate studies.
In 2004, one more Adelaide graduate, who was a previous ISATNA student, returns to undertake graduate studies.
In 2005, the first ISATNA student completes
her graduate studies with a Ph.D. from Iowa – a great achievement and a testament to the quality
of work achieved by ISATNA students. She has gone on to a postdoctoral fellowship position at MIT.
Another Adelaide student does her rotation in Iowa with outstanding results for her research.
In 2006, the two Adelaide Ph.D. candidates
at the University of Iowa continue their high quality of work. Dr Olver has left the Royal Adelaide
Hospital for a national cancer administrative opportunity, based in Sydney, NSW. Staff interactions
slowly develop and the two ISATNA sites become more supported by their home institutions as the program
gains momentum and stature. ISATNA will be the model for international interactions at an international
conference on establishing transnational interactions in genetic counseling in Manchester, United
Kingdom, in May 2006. Dr. McLennan is the Keynote Speaker. See at: http://igce.med.sc.edu/
ISATNA will host another Engineering student from Flinders University this year bringing the total of students to date to 12 in Iowa and 3 from Iowa to Adelaide.
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