Microbiology: SARS Cellular Receptor Discovered Neurobiology: Mechanism Found for Migraine Med Outreach: Experts Go Global with Telemedicine Health Care Policy: Patients May Stop Meds in Move to Tiered Formularies Neurology: Brain Regions May Sap or Spur Creativity Defects in Trafficking Protein Linked to Reduced Brain Size and Mental Retardation High-voltage Pulses Open Up Study of Gene Function   The HMS Faculty Council HMS Appointments to Full Professorships Scholars in Medicine Program Presents 51 Fellowships Chris A. Walsh Takes Helm of MD-PhD Program Amos Endowed Professorship Established   Asthma Swim Program Buoys Health, Spirits in Chinatown   When Phone Calls Make for a Bad Connection   Front Page

IN THE COMMUNITY Asthma Swim Program Buoys Health, Spirits in Chinatown With the guidance and support of the Pediatrics Department at the South Cove Community Health Center, HMS students started the Boston Asthma Swim Program in September at the center's Chinatown location. Currently, 14 children age seven to 12 are enrolled in the program, which runs every Friday afternoon for two hours. The first hour is dedicated to asthma education, answering questions about what asthma is, how lungs function, what happens during an asthma attack, and how to manage asthma. In the next hour, the young people swim with one-on-one attention given by volunteers in the program. "Showing children with asthma that they can live a normal life and do what they feel empowered to do is the goal of the swim program," said Eugene Welch, executive director of the health center, which is dedicated to improving the health of Asian Americans in the state with a special focus on the medically underserved. "The program allows children with asthma to learn how to swim, at no cost to the participants, while learning to control their asthma." The center has one of the lowest rates in Boston for young asthma patients getting rushed to hospital emergency rooms. Welch attributes this success to education of patients by health center medical staff, along with the work of second-year HMS student Grace Chan and nine other Medical and Dental School volunteers in the swim program. He notes that the Boston Asthma Swim Program is very happy to work with faculty wishing to participate. Interested members can mentor medical students or get involved directly by contacting Eugene Welch. --Hammid Firoozeh