Top news:
- UW–Madison COVID-19 updates:
- The university has begun releasing $9.89 million in emergency COVID-19 student aid that was allotted from federal funding. A first round is for undergraduate students with the highest demonstrated financial need. Additional funds are available for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students experiencing emergency financial hardship.
- For SMPH MD students, the Medical Student Emergency Support Fund is an option as well. This fund supports financial wellness by easing burdens due to unforeseen life circumstances faced by medical students during the pandemic.
- Please review today’s testing and vaccination update message to employees, graduate students and professional students. Those with instructional or mentoring responsibilities may want to review today’s message to undergraduate students.
- The university has begun releasing $9.89 million in emergency COVID-19 student aid that was allotted from federal funding. A first round is for undergraduate students with the highest demonstrated financial need. Additional funds are available for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students experiencing emergency financial hardship.
- Final reminder of John Lewis: Good Trouble film screening: Only ~75 spots remain for the screening and sign-up closes at noon on Friday, Feb. 19. Fill out this form to receive a link to view the film. Each viewer can watch the documentary at their leisure between Feb. 20 and Feb. 22. Learn more about the event and watch the trailer.
This event is co-sponsored by SMPH and UW Health and is part of a series of events and resources focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion titled the SMPH Spring 2021 Initiative: Advance Health by Acting Against Racism.
- The Wisconsin Medicine Livestream returns on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. to examine how SMPH and UW Health are pushing the boundaries of transplantation. Read more
- Faculty physicians: this year’s U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals and Specialties” annual survey will be conducted soon through Doximity. Watch for your survey invitation from Doximity in late February through March 2021, and cast your vote for UW Health clinical specialty programs. A high reputational score can make a difference in rankings. Our academic medical center is usually a high performer in the data-driven categories, so if we turn out our vote, we can make a difference in the outcome.
- Learn more about the single payroll initiative: a series of town halls will hosted by UW System in March about how the new single biweekly payroll system for UW–Madison employees will affect your paychecks, and how you can prepare for the change. The first session is March 3 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., with additional sessions on May 4, May 13, and May 17. Read more
- 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
The Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus is hosting a series of events to honor Black History Month. On Feb. 19 at noon, a discussion about how to support and promote Black men’s health will feature community activists and researchers who have received funding from a Wisconsin Partnership Program Community Impact Grant. Register
- View upcoming events relating to anti-racism and/or diversity, equity and inclusion 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.
“I would like to recognize the UW-Madison Campus SARS-CoV-2 Incidence Surveillance Team: Shari Barlow, Mary Checovich, Maureen Goss, Emily Temte, Cristalyne Bell, Cecilia He, Carly Hamer, Katie Bieser, Lily Vesel, Gabby Henshue, and Jake Barlow. This intrepid group has braved the frigid February weather, long hours, and has even worked through 2nd dose COVID-19 vaccine side effects to assure that SARS-CoV-2 surveillance efforts for UW-Madison faculty and staff have continued without interruption over the past 25 weeks.” — Jonathan Temte, MD, PhD, Associate Dean for Public Health and Community Engagement
Wellbeing Wednesday
Navigating our stressful world: Campus colleagues on the Facilities Planning & Management and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences wellness committees are hosting a LifeMatters Series with sessions from February through May. They are open to all UW employees. The next seminar is on Feb. 23 and is titled “Managing Multiple Priorities.”