North America: Andrews University Names Two Deans ... Andrews University, a Seventh-day Adventist-owned school, has appointed two new deans. Denis Fortin is the new dean of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews. A professor of theology and chair of the department of Theology and Christian Philosophy at Andrews, Fortin fills the position vacated earlier this year when then-dean John McVay accepted the presidency of Walla Walla College. Keith Mattingly will be dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He currently chairs the department of Religion and Biblical Languages and has been an Andrews faculty member since 1984. Mattingly follows William Richardson, who retired earlier this summer. In addition to holding master of divinity degrees from Andrews, both Mattingly and Fortin have served as Adventist church pastors and are committed to academic excellence and spiritual growth. Additionally, Fortin has authored several books on Adventist history and theology, and Mattingly served as a chaplain in the United States Army Reserve for 28 years. [Beverly Stout/ANN Staff]

South Africa: Missionary and HIV/AIDS Worker Awarded ... Dr. Eugenia Giordano, associate director of the Adventist AIDS International Ministry (AAIM), has received a Woman of the Year award from the Association of Adventist Women (AAW). AAW is an independent group that considers itself an advocate for women in the church. Giordano and her husband Oscar, both of whom are medical doctors, have served as Adventist medical missionaries to Africa since 1990. Both work in the AAIM office to educate the church and its members on AIDS. They also help those already living with HIV or AIDS find ways to support themselves. They also work to eliminate the stigma of having HIV or AIDS. Dr. Giordano says of her award: “Sometimes in life we are always looking for happiness and joy but, the only happiness we have control of is when we do something for other people.” [ANN Staff]

Loma Linda University to Host American Health Care Congress ... Health care reformers are expected to meet in Ontario, California on Oct. 18 for the 3rd Annual American Health Care Congress. The Congress, hosted by Seventh-day Adventist-owned Loma Linda University School of Pubic Health, will provide workshops, panel discussions, and presentations meant to help health professionals find practical, sustainable ways to ensure across-the-board affordable health care for families, businesses, and public agencies. While geared toward physicians, public health professionals, educators, and students, the Congress is community-based and open to the public. [Loma Linda/ANN Staff]

Cyprus: Arabic Health Book Launched in Middle East ... A book on health issues and lifestyle called, “The Heart of the Matter” has been launched in the Middle East region of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, especially translated for and adapted to the needs of the Arab reader. Author Marilyn Johnson, an Adventist physician who has served in the Far East, originally wrote the book about healthy living and a wide range of subjects, not only related to the heart, but to the entire body, for an audience in Far Eastern countries such as Singapore and Thailand. “Heart of the Matter” is now being sold through workers in various countries around the Middle East. [Amir Ghali/Middle East Union/ANN Staff]