Community Cowboy
Howard Barnett has served as the president of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa since 2009 and of OSU Center for Health Sciences since 2010. Prior to this, Barnett was a businessman and had served in Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating’s administration.
I was interested in OSU-Tulsa since the mid-1990s when I was chairman of the Tulsa Metro Chamber. That was a time that then-President Jim Halligan of (the Stillwater campus of OSU) began talking up the idea of a branch campus in Tulsa. A tenet of his argument was that Tulsa didn’t have any public, bachelor degree-conferring universities. He enlisted the Chamber as an early ally; we wanted the economic development impact of a branch here, and we knew it needed to be a large research university. I always followed the process and progress of OSU-Tulsa, and when the (presidency job) opened up, though I hadn’t thought about it until then, I saw it was a good opportunity.
The medical school was a new and very rewarding addition. I’m the first president over both campuses, so in terms of changes that have been wrought (under my presidency), that has to go to the top of the list. To a degree, it has changed OSU’s profile in the community. OSU Center for Health Sciences has multiple clinic locations in Tulsa that serve 140,000 patients a year.
Our relationship with OSU Medical Center in Tulsa allows us to be the only osteopathic medicine program in the country that is part of an academic health center, which allows us to participate in a variety of programs. There are many osteopathic colleges across the country that have no affiliation with a hospital. We run the residency program at OSU Medical Center, with 160 residents and fellows in the program. We provide a lot of doctors for rural and underserved Oklahoma, and we’re very proud of our ability to get that done.
Our enrollment is up about 22 percent for the past three years. I will not commit the logical fallacy of connecting enrollment to me being here. One of the first things we did (when I became president) is spend four to five months in a strategic planning process. Those plans have helped us focus and helped us do our jobs right. The biggest thing it did was help everyone in the institution focus on who we are, why we are here and our role in the community.
I’m here for OSU in the sense that I work for OSU, but I’m really here for Tulsa. I believe in the mission of OSU-Tulsa and what it does for community, students and businesses, and I want to continue to build on the success that (former OSU-Tulsa president) Gary Trennepohl achieved.
Form & Function
For All Ages
A Farmhouse Classic
Simple Luxury
Simple And Serene
Small Space, Big Effect
What’s Killing Oklahoma?
Our state ranks as one of the top five unhealthiest states in the nation. Oklahomans face a shorter life expectancy than those in most other states, according to the 2011 State of the State’s Health Report. Our State’s Health Report Card is lined with D’s and F’s in most categories.
So what makes Oklahoma rank so poorly? Our high prevalence of smoking and obesity combined with the facts that only one in seven Oklahomans eat enough fruits and vegetables plays a large part; we also rank 49th in the nation for lack of physical activity.
Heart Disease
Cardiovascular disease tops the list as the leading cause of death in our nation as well as our state. Twenty-seven percent more Oklahomans die of heart disease than the national average, earning the state the second highest spot and an ‘F’ on the State Health Report Card.
When treating and preventing heart disease, doctors mainly address the risk factors, says Dr. James Hanlon, an internal medicine physician with St. John Health System’s OMNI Medical Group. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes are the leading causes of cardiovascular disease.
Hanlon recommends quitting smoking, consuming alcohol in moderation, eating appropriately and exercising regularly.
“We can’t change age, family history or gender,” explains Hanlon. “But lifestyle changes are very important in controlling heart disease.”
Dr. Joe Reese, an internal medicine physician with Saint Francis Health System, says routine screenings are also important to prevent deaths due to heart disease.
“Heart disease is preventable,” encourages Reese. “It is best treated before symptoms exist. Aggressive screening and risk factor analysis is very helpful.”
Reese also points out that some effects of heart disease are reversible, especially with lowering of blood pressure and cholesterol. Inexpensive, effective drugs are available to combat these conditions.
Cancer
The second leading cause of death for Oklahomans is cancer. Oklahoma has the seventh highest rate of cancer deaths in the U.S., giving us a ‘D’ on our report card. Cancer death rates are significantly higher among men than women, but that gap is narrowing as the number of men dying from cancer is decreasing.
Men most commonly face prostate; lung and bronchus; colorectal and urinary; and bladder cancers. Women battle breast; lung and bronchus; colorectal and uterine cancers most often.
Our high rate of cancer deaths is thought to have two main causes: the high prevalence of smokers and lack of access to medical care in rural Oklahoma.
“Some cancers are preventable, especially those associated with tobacco use. Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccines,” says Reese. “Early detection is very important and is associated with a much more favorable outcome.”
Respiratory Diseases
Chronic lower respiratory diseases, specifically chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic bronchitis and asthma claims the third most number of Oklahomans. Oklahoma has the highest number of deaths from lung diseases in the nation, resulting in another grade of ‘F.’
“The vast majority of chronic lung disease is related to smoking,” says Hanlon.
COPD accounts for 98 percent of deaths from chronic lower respiratory diseases in Oklahoma. Smoking is the leading cause for COPD.
“Curbing our tobacco use will greatly reduce our lung disease and reduce hospital admissions,” says Reese. “Lung disease accounts for most hospital admissions.”
Stroke
Cerebrovascular disease (stroke) is the fifth leading cause of death for Oklahomans. Strokes usually affect seniors age 65 and older. In addition to killing a lot of Oklahomans, stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States.
“Preventing a stroke is very similar to heart disease,” says Hanlon.
“It is important to manage blood pressure and cholesterol,” agrees Reese.
Diabetes
Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death for Oklahomans. Oklahoma has the fourth highest diabetes death rate in the nation, giving us yet again another ‘F’ and costing Oklahoma billions of dollars each year.
“Diabetes kills by damaging your heart and kidneys,” explains Reese.
“Diabetes is no longer a disease of the elderly,” comments Reese. “It’s becoming more common in 30- and 40-year-olds.”
Diabetes is best controlled by weight loss, says Hanlon.
For All Ages
When this couple with four young children and a family dog decided to build their dream house on a midtown Tulsa lot, they had some specific ideas about the design of their new kitchen. “They wanted it to be contemporary using natural materials,” says Sherri Duvall of Duvall Architects, PC. Duvall’s business partner and husband, John, was the lead architect on the project. “Plus, they wanted the home and especially the kitchen to be family-friendly and easily maintained,” she adds.
The spacious kitchen opens into a comfortable family room where all the finishes were kept light and clean. Wide plank oak flooring with a tobacco gray washed finish flows throughout both spaces, while the walls and ceiling are a soft white.
Barry Suderman, owner of Woodmasters Cabinetry & Millwork was an integral part of the building team, custom-crafting the kitchen cabinets. “Again, the idea was to keep the design sleek and simple,” says Duvall. The cabinets are white oak with a light wash, and dramatic brushed stainless steel handles run horizontally across the span of doors.
The countertop and full height backsplash is white Carrara Venatino marble, supplied by Midwest Marble. By considering specific storage areas for typical household appliances and other cooking supplies, the counters are kept clean and uncluttered with the exception of a few carefully selected decorative items.
The large island has a finished concrete countertop and holds the main sink so whoever is cooking or cleaning remains a part of the activities and conversations going on in the room. The Kartell pendant light fixtures are from SR Hughes.
A full-sized Thermador refrigerator and freezer flank the beverage bar where an additional sink and wine refrigerator are located. Suderman also custom-crafted the overhead cabinets of stainless and frosted glass. Specialty lighting both inside the cabinets and below create additional ambiance. Stainless appliances from Thermador are used throughout the kitchen.
The countertop overhangs the island, creating a casual eating area plus a comfortable place for children and friends to gather. Additional seating was also created at the end of the nearby cabinet peninsula. The barstools are also from SR Hughes, as are the Louis Ghost Chairs surrounding the custom made dining table where the family gathers for meals.
“The homeowners wanted to create an inviting environment that would be adaptable for their growing family,” says Duvall. “And they were successful.”
A Farmhouse Classic
In an old Victorian farmhouse in central Oklahoma is a remarkable kitchen for a family of multi-taskers. Home to two commuting professionals and their gifted teen-aged sons, every detail of their custom kitchen was created to be user friendly with an ease of maintenance.
“It is a period kitchen with a modern edge,” explains Certified Kitchen Designer Sally Sullivan of Showcase Kitchens and Baths, Inc. Stainless steel accents the mix of red and white cabinets with bead board inset by Wood-Mode that feature prairie-style mullions on the upper glass front cabinets.
The space was originally two rooms and included an enclosed porch with a shed roof. “The floors weren’t even the same level,” says Sullivan. And a large sliding glass door reduced the available counter top and cabinet space. Undaunted by the challenge, Sullivan assisted the homeowners as they meticulously planned each aspect of the dream kitchen.
Once the design details were finalized, the husband began the tedious renovation. “He did it all himself, including laying the wood floor,” says Sullivan. “One of his biggest challenges was making the structural changes required to level the ceiling.” In keeping with the period of the home, Sullivan suggested adding bead board to the ceiling.
The owners’ antique leaded glass panel and a vintage stained glass window were also incorporated into the kitchen design. And they provided the colorful light fixtures hanging over the island.
“The island is the hub of the kitchen,” Sullivan adds. “And since everyone in the family is tall, we made it a custom 39-inch height.” Because there is limited cabinet space, the island houses a Thermador warming drawer and a Sharp microwave drawer in addition to an under-counter wine refrigerator.
The island also provides the only eating area in the kitchen, so an overhang accommodates the owners’ existing four barstools. The stainless prep sink is positioned next to the chopping block that was custom made by the husband and allows the cooks to gaze out the large expanse of glass from the door to the windows deftly placed over the sink. Plus, they can watch television or see the computer as they work.
The countertops and sink are soapstone, and a bright white tile was selected for the backsplash. The Thermador stainless 48-inch oven and range plus the full sized refrigerator-freezer combination provide ample space for her love of cooking. The result is a comfortable family friendly farmhouse kitchen.
Simple Luxury
When the owners of a 1930s midtown Tulsa colonial home were ready to update their master bathroom, they contacted designer Carolyn Fielder Nierenberg, ASID, of Campbell Design Associates, Inc.
Typical of a home from that period, there was originally no master bath. So, in the 1980s, the homeowners enclosed a first-floor screened porch to create a family room and dedicated the second floor space to a luxurious master bath and closet. But after nearly 30 years, it was time for a 21st-century renovation.
“The goal was to create a spa-like atmosphere using a clean, neutral palette,” says Nierenberg. “And we wanted the end result to be uncluttered,” the homeowner adds.
Although the layout ultimately remained the same, the space was gutted, and every finish and fixture replaced. Don Morrall Construction joined the team, and the three-month renovation began.
Ceramic floor tiles were replaced with travertine. Sophisticated Italian Diano Reale marble, supplied by Midwest Marble, is used on countertops, shower walls, for the bathtub surround and wainscot.
One of the biggest changes was the renovation of the old steam shower. “It was originally tiled on all four sides and had a small metal and glass shower door,” recalls Nierenberg. “Plus, the steam equipment was above the shower, creating a low, seven-foot ceiling.” So the equipment was relocated, the ceiling raised and the space opened up with two full height glass walls. Two sets of rain showerheads and controls were installed at his and her heights, and a bench, long enough to lie down, was strategically placed to hide the steam jets.
A taller vanity for the husband was created that includes the couple’s shared sink. A marble frame surrounds the mirror where two sections open to reveal storage shelves hidden behind. The entire unit is freestanding, and on the backside are shelves for linens and toiletries. Instead of traditional towel racks, various hooks are utilized for towels and robes.
Her vanity is situated near the new French doors, providing natural light. “The drawers are designed perfectly to hold all my necessities, and that helps keep the space uncluttered,” shares the homeowner.
“Because the French doors open onto their very private backyard, we didn’t use any window coverings,” explains Nierenberg. Over the whirlpool bathtub, the existing traditional shutters were kept, providing privacy and keeping with the traditional exterior.
“We incorporated all the ‘bells and whistles’ into the project and absolutely love the results,” the homeowner says.
Simple And Serene
When the homeowners began working with John and Sherri Duvall of Duvall Architects, PC on the design of the master bathroom for their new home, the goal was to continue with the theme established throughout the rest of the house: a contemporary feel with simple design.
“Their preference was to utilize natural products, such as wood and stone,” explains Sherri Duvall. Ultimately, it is the organic patterns of the products themselves – travertine and white oak – that provide the overall design of the room. Instead of using the materials as background for other colors, wall coverings or art, it is the stone and wood that become the art of the room.
Midwest Marble was tapped to provide the travertine. The company meticulously installed rectangular travertine tile on the bathroom floor and on the walls and ceiling of the steam shower in a classic brickwork pattern. Detailed inset travertine shelves provide a place for toiletries. Using a butt joint, it is the natural grain of the travertine that becomes the design by eliminating the additional element of grout.
Large slabs of travertine were selected for the bathtub surround, top and backsplash. The whirlpool-style bathtub with multiple jets is large enough to accommodate several of the couple’s young children and has become a favorite gathering place for nightly baths.
In addition, a perfect piece of travertine was located for the lengthy countertop of the other predominate element in the bathroom, a massive sweep of cabinets down an entire wall. By keeping the cabinet design simple using full flush overlay doors, again the design becomes more about the natural patterns of the wood than about the design of the doors. Modern brushed stainless steel hardware blends with the gray tones of the travertine and contrasts with the warm tones of the wood.
Two custom sets of upper cabinets accented with frosted glass flank the full size mirror offering the couple their own armoire-style space for storage. The cabinetry was custom built by Barry Suderman, owner of Woodmasters Cabinetry & Millwork.
Simple “his and her” under-mount sinks are conveniently located near each upper cabinet. Stylish brushed stainless plumbing fixtures blend with the hardware below, and the other fixtures for the shower and bathtub. A pair of elegant sconces provides a blast of light that sparkles off the mirror, creating an even greater feeling of uncluttered openness.
“Ultimately, the space is simple and serene,” says Duvall.
Small Space, Big Effect
Homeowners might be tempted to ignore the typically small powder room when it comes to establishing a dramatic, stylish design. But, in fact, it is because this is a minimal area that a homeowner has more of an opportunity to show off the style that will provide a unique welcome to guests.
“It’s a perfect place to create an impactful statement as soon as visitors come in the front door,” says interior designer Rick Phillips, who suggests using a texture on the walls to provide a sense of depth. “Plus, a grass cloth or beaded wallpaper provides a striking background to display artwork.”
Phillips resists using the space above the toilet for a storage cabinet and instead creates a focal point for art.
Whether your goal is to create something wild and wacky or subtly sophisticated, the options are endless. First, establish a design theme that will visually tie the space to the surrounding architectural style. And if possible, use a pocket door, reducing the space required for a door swing.
For budget-conscious homeowners, painted faux finishes with metallic touches or bold stencils are popular options. Or splurge on an expensive wall covering – like ones embedded with Swarovski crystals – since such a small quantity would be required.
Using a piece of furniture as a vanity also provides an array of choices, from contemporary to traditional. Countertop options range from petrified wood, marble or granite to finished concrete. A vessel sink is a great alternative to the typical drop-in or under-mount style, but double check that the overall height isn’t too tall for guests, especially if using a piece of furniture. Make sure that when hanging a mirror it is also at a convenient height for guests. Large mirrors can mask the room’s diminutive size; recently, one of Phillips clients even insisted he mirror her powder room ceiling.
Lighting options are practically infinite. Pendant lights can be dropped on either side of the vanity, or sconces can flank the mirror. Depending on the available space, consider using a pair of lamps on either side of the sink. Pinhole ceiling fixtures can direct the light to specific artwork while adding a dimmer creates an even subtler ambiance.
Keep accessories simple and uncluttered. For a classy touch, provide a variety of toiletries from hair spray to lotions decoratively displayed for your guests.
“And because of the small space it is even more important to be meticulous about every detail,” shares Phillips.
