In the Know: SMPH Updates for January 20, 2021

In the Know: SMPH Updates for January 20, 2021

• In memory: With a heavy heart, we share the news that Peter Eichman, MD — a former dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health (then called the Medical School) — passed away on Jan. 7 at the age of 95. He joined the faculty in 1954 as a professor of neurology, a position he held for nearly five decades. He was appointed dean in 1965 and played a major role in making our academic medical center into what it is today. Read more 

• In advance of the next Hot Topics in Public Health Symposium titled “The Coronavirus Pandemic at One Year,” watch the video of last year’s panel that took place right as the coronavirus was emerging. Then, join the reconvened panel via Facebook on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 4 p.m. to discuss what experts predicted correctly and what lessons they learned. Submit a question here. 

• Safer Badgers/COVID-19 Testing updates: Testing sites are now in their second week of operation. Please review:
  • today’s employee message and graduate/professional student message
  • Safer Badgers app (used to make testing appointments and manage your health history): view a new video demonstration
    • In addition to the iOS version released previously, the Android version of the Safer Badgers app is now available in the Google Play store.
    • If you installed the beta version of the Android app, you must follow these instructions, or you will lose any negative test results obtained through the app and your badge will reset to “building access denied” until you record another negative test.
  • join an online forum at noon on Thursday, Jan. 21 for employees, graduate students and professional students. Email questions to chancellor@wisc.edu (include “Safer Badgers employee forum” in the subject line)
  • how to test successfully: 1) hydrate early in the day, and rinse your mouth with water 1 h before testing, 2) in the 60 min prior to your test, no liquids, food, gum, toothpaste, smoking, etc. (NPO in clinical terms), 3) “pool the drool” under your tongue as you approach the test site
  • University Health Services is seeking additional staff for test sites. With supervisor approval, employees can dedicate some of their paid working hours as voluntary COVID-19 Health Technicians 

• The Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine focuses on advancing our understanding of human genomics and harnessing this knowledge to improve health and well-being through precision medicine. Hear an update about exciting work at the center from director Stephen Meyn, MD, PhD at the Winter Faculty/Staff Meeting on Jan. 25 from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. All are welcome to submit questions for the Town Hall discussion here. 

• Vaccination update from UW Health: On Jan. 19, Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced that individuals age 65 and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, starting as soon as January 25, 2021.
  • UW Health has a new online form that individuals can complete at uwhealth.org/vaccine to express their interest in receiving a vaccine (once eligible) and to be considered for same-day appointment openings, should those occur.
  • Updated vaccine FAQs have also been released on uwhealth.org/covid
  • Current resources for clinical personnel on the U-Connect intranet include talking points to use with patients/callers; staff FAQs; and patient FAQs 

• 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 

• SMPH Spring 2021 Initiative: Advance Health by Acting Against Racism. A series of events and a toolkit of resources are available throughout the semester. A new webpage for this initiative serves as a one-stop-shop for our anti-racism events this spring, as well as others on campus and resources for further learning.

• 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.

“We would like to recognize and thank Alexis Eastman, MD, for her ongoing support of the Senior Chats program. Senior Chats, which started during pandemic summer 2020, is a student-led program through which health professions students provide social support to isolated seniors via regular phone conversations. Dr. Eastman has helped us make connections to senior care facilities through her extensive network of contacts and has generously connected her interested patients to our program for matches. We’re very grateful to Dr. Eastman for her help!” —  Senior Chats student leaders and Kristi Jones, MPH, Director, Community Service Programs

Well-being Wednesday

Winter fun in Madison Parks: The city of Madison Parks Division has a helpful page on many winter activities, such as cross-country skiing, fat tire biking, snowshoeing, and more, and recommendations of which parks are best for each.