Top news:
- Final reminder: This coming Friday, Jan. 15 at 11 a.m., SMPH is hosting an MLK Day event that will feature a keynote by Tito Izard, MD ’96, titled Legends and Legacy: The Masking of Black Health in America. The event will be livestreamed on our school’s Facebook page. Please submit a question for Dr. Izard here. For those who are not able to participate in real time, it will be available on our Facebook page afterwards.
- The Winter Faculty/Staff Meeting is on Jan. 25 from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. (note correction to ending time) via Webex (event link now available). 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.
- New information – Spring semester COVID-19 testing: This afternoon, the second weekly email from Chancellor Rebecca Blank to UW–Madison employees provided information about how to make appointments through the Safer Badger app, testing instructions, and the opening of the UW–Madison COVID-19 Assistance Line at (608) 262-7777. Please review:
- today’s employee message
- instructions on how to prepare for and provide a saliva sample at a testing site, which should be followed carefully to reduce the likelihood of a “rejected” result.
- a slideshow explanation about how COVID-19 exposure notification works
- updates to FAQs
- those with instructional and student mentoring responsibilities may wish to review today’s messages to graduate and professional students and/or to undergraduate students
- 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
- On Jan. 25, 2021, the University of Wisconsin–Madison will welcome journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson as the keynote speaker for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Wilkerson is the author of “Caste” and “The Warmth of Other Suns,” and she is the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in journalism. Wilkerson will discuss connections and reflections on the messages and life of Martin Luther King Jr. in researching and writing “Caste.” This will be a Q&A-style event. Learn more and register
- 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.
Wellbeing Wednesday
Safety in colder temperatures: The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing many activities and social interactions outside, even in winter. It’s important to be prepared for extremely cold temperatures. The City of Madison offers tips on staying safe outside in the cold and also preparing your vehicle and home.