Top news:
- Start off your observance of MLK Day by reflecting on the impact of racism in health care and learning at a virtual event that will be livestreamed to Facebook on Jan. 15, 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The talk features Dr. Tito Izard, one of our own alumni who is a frontline fighter for health equity in the Milwaukee area. We checked in with Dr. Izard to learn more about his background and motivations. “I’m a community doc. That’s what I am; that’s my destiny,” he said. Read more
- Curious about what to expect during COVID-19 saliva-based PCR testing this semester? University Health Services has some tips. Wondering whether individuals who have been vaccinated will still be required to test? The short answer is yes — details here from the university’s FAQs.
- Two weeks from today: the Winter Faculty/Staff Meeting is on Jan. 25 from 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. via Webex. The agenda includes a presentation by Dr. Stephen Meyn on genomic medicine at UW–Madison and updates about COVID-19 responses on campus, antiracism efforts, and the Building Community program. All are welcome to submit questions for the Town Hall discussion here.
- View this week’s Quick Links, with valuable information for all personnel, as well as information for researchers and clinicians.
Building an Anti-Racist SMPH
- In October, we shared institutional support for an Association of American Medical Colleges statement expressing concern about the chilling effect of the Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping. On December 23, a federal judge issued a nationwide temporary injunction against President Trump’s “Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping” Executive Order (EO) published last September. The order is currently undergoing a court challenge.
- 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.
“Thank you to all the ophthalmology residents who continue to work hard and bring a positive attitude to the table, the attendings who are constantly ensuring our well-being and modifying methods to teach us during this pandemic, and the rest of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS) team for keeping the spirits high!” — Nenita Maganti, MD, Internal Medicine/ Ophthalmology Resident
Telecommuting Tip
Staying warm and saving money while telecommuting: Working from home in winter has its perks (no commuting in a snowstorm!) but it also means keeping the thermostat at a comfortable level during the work day. UK-based magazine The Homeworker has tips on keeping costs down while staying warm.