- On this Veterans Day, SMPH recognizes and honors all those in our community of students, faculty, and staff who have served honorably in the military. We thank them, and all veterans, for their bravery and contributions to our national security, and for the sacrifices they have made. We also thank those who support a spouse, partner, or child who is a veteran or currently serving. Read a tribute to veterans in science and medicine here.
- University Health Services encourages employees to prepare for Thanksgiving recess. They recommend strictly limiting your close contacts, scheduling a COVID-19 test if you plan to travel, and getting tested upon return. Also refer to last week’s message from Hope Broadus, JD, Associate Dean for Human Resources, about on-site work for employees and undergraduate students after Thanksgiving.
- A team led by Jonathan Temte, MD, PhD, Associate Dean for Public Health and Community Engagement, is recruiting volunteer cohorts of employees and graduate students from across representative campus populations to provide regular samples for COVID-19 testing. Volunteers from the SMPH community are needed. More information on this volunteer surveillance testing can be found on this flyer and this website.
- Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two cases related to the requirement that all Americans maintain health insurance coverage. Dean Robert N. Golden, MD, issued a statement on the topic. “From both a medical and a public health perspective, it is vitally important that everyone has at least a basic level of health coverage and ready access to healthcare and preventive services,” he said. “This not only advances the well-being of individuals, it also serves the best interests of communities and our nation.” Read more
- View this week’s Quick Links, with a call for nominations for the UW–Madison Student Worker of the Year, and valuable information for all personnel, for researchers, and for clinicians.
Building an Anti-Racist SMPH
- The first Health Sciences Equity and Diversity Lunch and Learn Series on “Decolonizing Care: An Overview” will occur on November 17, 12:00-1:00 p.m. with speaker Dr. Roberta Waite, EdD, RN, FAAN from Drexel University. Register and Download a flyer (PDF)
- View upcoming events relating to anti-racism topics at UW–Madison and beyond.
Shout-outs:
Please send kudos about your colleagues. Honor someone at go.wisc.edu/shoutout and we’ll share the stories. Submit your thoughts and we’ll share them in a future issue.
“There is nothing worse than having your computer fail at 4:48 on a Friday afternoon. A huge SO to Mary Beth Sperl, who patiently waited for me to get to campus to meet her, set up a loaner computer, and made sure all of the essential programs were loaded on the loaner computer. All after 5:30 on a Friday night! I am eternally grateful for her patience, support, and email follow ups to make sure I have everything I need. As we rely so heavily on technology during COVID, I am thankful for Mary Beth and all of the Ed Tech and IT staff who keep us ‘up and running.’ Thank you!” – Jill Thein-Nissenbaum, PT, ATC, DSc, Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Program
Wellbeing Wednesday:
Badger Virtual Care Package: University Health Services has curated a page with resources that highlight ways to stay connected and healthy during the time of COVID-19. Their tips have multiple ideas for self-care. While geared toward students, much is accessible to faculty and staff as well.