In the Know Quick Links – Week of May 10, 2021

Timely information to help build community within SMPH:

In memory

We share sad news of the passing of Michael N. Gould, PhD, professor emeritus of human oncology, who died on May 8 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He joined the faculty in 1979 and devoted his career to discovering genetic factors that contribute to breast cancer and identifying a potential anti-cancer drug. Read more

Resources for everyone

    • Vaccination updates from UW–Madison and UW Health: 
      • Many vaccination appointments are available this week for employees, students, friends, family, and members of the public through University Health Services. All three types (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) are available, and anyone age 12 and older can be vaccinated through UHS. You do not need to be affiliated with the university to get vaccinated on the UW–Madison campus. Appointments are preferred, but drop-ins at the Nicholas Recreation Center (currently operating M-F) are fine as well. Sign up at go.wisc.edu/myuhs
      • Please read this week’s message to employees and students.
      • UW Health offers information for patients including a COVID-19 vaccination scheduling dashboard, and a summary of vaccine information for UW Health employees on U-Connect
      • Safer Badgers/COVID-19 Testing updates and health/safety information:
        • The positive test rate in the campus community is exceptionally low, with zero cases reported for on campus tests among students or employees on May 9 and a 7-day positivity rate for both populations of 0.1%. Thank you for continuing to take measures to keep the UW–Madison community safe.
        • Information about summer Covid-19 testing, building access and events guidance has been released by campus, and additional details for SMPH were noted in an April 26 message from Dean Golden.
        • All members of the UW–Madison community should maintain green Badger Badge status throughout the summer, either through vaccination status or testing. Three sites are open for summer testing: Kohl Center, Pyle Center, and Porter Boat House which is drive-up only. Nasal swab PCR tests are being offered. Saliva testing has ended.
        • Employees and students who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be excused from routine on-campus testing. Your Badger Badge in the Safer Badgers app will remain green unless you report symptoms or test positive for COVID-19.
        • If you have been vaccinated by University Health Services, you will not need to submit proof of vaccination for exemption from testing. Your badge will turn green automatically and you should receive a message telling you this is due to your vaccination status.
        • If you have been vaccinated elsewhere (including through UW Health), you must submit proof of vaccination. Follow these instructions for uploading vaccination records.
        • Continue to wear face coverings in public and in working and learning environments if you have been vaccinated. While CDC released new recommendations this week indicating that fully vaccinated individuals should be able to go mask-less in more settings, mask wearing is still important and required in many locations. Policies and requirements relating to mask usage at UW–Madison and UW Health are still in effect. Thank you for helping to keep our community safe.
        • Room reservations in HSLC will only be taken for instructional purposes until the university releases updated guidance about classroom distancing and density requirements, and SMPH has determined how to operationalize this guidance in our school.
        • Elevator capacity in Health Sciences Learning Center, Wisconsin Institute for Medical Research, Medical Foundation Centennial Building, and Medical Sciences Center has changed from a maximum of 2 people per elevator to a maximum of 4 people per elevator.
        • A message from Dean Golden provides more guidelines for in-person events:  
          • A form to request exemptions to campus event policy restrictions on a case-by-case basis is available. Exemptions will be rare.  
          • If an in-person event is approved, leaders and supervisors may not require or exert pressure on any SMPH employee or learner to attend or support any in-person event. (Employees can be expected to do remote work related to in-person events.) If a university employee believes they are being pressured to attend an event, they should report the situation to SMPH Employee Relations.
        • New podcast: Bioethics Symposium, a project of the Department of Medical History & Bioethics. In lieu of the traditional in-person symposium event (which was canceled in spring 2020), this inaugural slate of episodes features SMPH bioethics faculty in conversation with leading figures on ethical issues raised by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  Tune in
        • The Spring 2021 issue of Corpus Callosum is now online. This issue of Ebling Library’s journal of the arts features 32 entries including music, visual art and writings from students, staff, and faculty of the UW–Madison health sciences community. Attend a May 18 meet-the-artist event and access the issue here
        • Night owls, take note: DoIT Network Services will be performing maintenance on its datacenter network hardware firewall on Saturday, May 15 from 11:59 p.m. to approximately 3 a.m. Many IT services supported by DoIT will be disrupted or completely unavailable during these times. Read more and email questions to changemanagement@doit.wisc.edu.
        • Furlough reminder: Employees with furlough time obligations must record that time no later than June 30. An online calculator is available for checking your furlough balance. Only hours already approved by your supervisor will be reflected; hours that are pending approval will not be included. Furlough obligations have been reduced by one day (8-hour equivalent).
        • Transportation Services will resume regular parking operations September 1. To secure parking, you must apply before the June deadline. Watch your email in May for more information. Verify your contact information to receive updates. Learn more here. Questions? Email healthsciencesparking@mailplus.wisc.edu or leave a message at 608-263-7943.
        • A new cybersecurity awareness training has rolled out. The mandatory, microlearning format training must be completed by all UW–Madison faculty and staff (excluding graduate students and undergraduate student employees) by June 30. Students will undergo training this fall. Read more
        • Funding opportunity for community organizations aims to alleviate pandemic’s impact on children: The Wisconsin Partnership Program has announced $1.6 million in COVID-19 Response grant funding to help address the toll the pandemic is taking on the social and emotional health of the state’s adolescents. Letters of intent are due May 17. This opportunity is open to Wisconsin-based, nonprofit community led organizations. Read more
        • Payroll schedule and benefits deductions changes coming in 2021: Beginning in April, employees who were paid biweekly had most deductions for benefits split evenly over the first two biweekly paychecks each month. Beginning in July, employees who are paid monthly will be moved to a biweekly pay schedule. Informational forums will occur on May 13 and May 17. Read more
        • Title and Total Compensation (TTC) Project: This project involves a redesign of staff job titles and compensation structures across all UW System campuses, with an implementation date set for November 7, 2021. See this update from the SMPH HR team. Many informational resources are available on the UW–Madison TTC Project website.
        • Visit the leadership search candidate page for details on candidate interviews. Visits have ended for the Chair of the Department of Medical Physics, Chair of the Department of Neuroscience, and Chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, but recordings of the visits are available. Passwords to access video recordings are “Neuroscience2021,” “MedMicroImm2021,” and “MedicalPhysics2021” for each respective search.
        • Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology position now open: The online position profile contains extensive information on this opportunity and a PDF is also available for download. Please recommend this opportunity to colleagues in the field of alumni relations and send suggestions to the search committee co-chairs. The application closes June 6Read more 
        • ShopUW+ has launched, replacing the previous purchasing platform MDS/Shop@UW. Read more
        • Employees will now see a new line titled “Months in Service” in the Absence Balance tab in Time and Absence, accessible from MyUW. This is a way to see your total number of months of service. Faculty, academic staff, and/or limited employees who have completed 10 years (120 months) of service are eligible to bank leave that would otherwise be lost or carried over. The new line tracks progress toward 120 months. More information is available here

      Resources for researchers

      • Research funding opportunity: The Ride raises funds to support state-of-the-art cancer research at UW–Madison and is now accepting grant applications, with a deadline of August 15. Applicants must have a UW–Madison professor title series and be involved in cancer research in basic, translational, clinical, social/behavioral and population sciences. Read more and apply
      • There has been a change affecting the number of people who can be in research spaces at one time. People in research labs must maintain 6-foot physical distancing and continue to use face coverings in indoor locations when others are present. A previous requirement specifying a minimum of 113 square feet per person has been lifted. Read more
      • Celebrate Clinical Trials Day 2021: Tune in on Thursday, May 20 from 3-4 p.m. to hear from SMPH and UW Health leadership about clinical trials research at UW and the new Clinical Research Professionals Community of Practice. Read more and get the event link
      • The Office for Faculty Affairs and Development has released the Promotions Oversight Committee Guide and the SMPH Mentoring Guide. The Promotions Oversight Committee Guide provides clarity for departments, faculty and committees for the process of promotion from assistant to associate professor on the CHS and Tenure tracks. Topics include committee composition, responsibilities for those involved with the Promotions Oversight Committee, and a playbook with timeline and committee processes. The Mentoring Guide gives an overview of mentoring functions and structures to support faculty development. It also offers tools and strategies for selecting mentors and meeting mentoring needs. This guide can be used by both faculty mentees and mentors.
      • Principal Investigators: The SMPH Office of Research is your information source for funding opportunities. Bookmark these links:
      • ICTR-CAP Education and Training will offer a discussion titled “Using Design Models to Inform Translational Research” on May 17 from noon-1 p.m. Design models have a great deal to offer researchers developing projects to improve human health. In this panel discussion, we will explore the intersections and unique aspects of User Centered Design, Design Thinking, and Design for Dissemination. Panelists will discuss how these designs can be applied to expand stakeholder input into research and maximize the likelihood that interventions/solutions are put into use. They will also explore both common pitfalls and ways to successfully incorporate these designs into grant proposals. Register

      Resources for medical educators and clinicians

      • The Wisconsin Medical Journal (WMJ) is seeking to expand its pool of highly qualified reviewers. Volunteers are sought in all medical specialties, and there is particular demand for reviewers with an interest in public health. Reviewers are invited to review manuscripts electronically and are asked to submit reviews within 3 weeks. WMJ is a peer-reviewed, indexed journal owned jointly by SMPH and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Learn more and sign up
      • The latest newsletter from the UW Center for Interprofessional Education (CIPE) has been released. Read more and subscribe
      • The Office for Faculty Affairs and Development has released the Promotions Oversight Committee Guide and the SMPH Mentoring Guide. The Promotions Oversight Committee Guide provides clarity for departments, faculty and committees for the process of promotion from assistant to associate professor on the CHS and Tenure tracks. Topics include committee composition, responsibilities for those involved with the Promotions Oversight Committee, and a playbook with timeline and committee processes. The Mentoring Guide gives an overview of mentoring functions and structures to support faculty development. It also offers tools and strategies for selecting mentors and meeting mentoring needs. This guide can be used by both faculty mentees and mentors.
      • Registration is now open for Pathways to Promotion 102, being held virtually October 18 from 1-5 p.m. Tailored to faculty in the Clinical Health Sciences (CHS) and Clinician-Teacher (CT) tracks who expect to go up for promotion within the next year or two, the interactive workshop includes:
        • Emphasis on what you need to do in the last year before you seek promotion.
        • Logistics of putting your packet together.
        • Overview of the promotions committees function and process by current members. Opportunity to sign up for a 15-minute one-on-one consultation on your personal statement and/or dossier.
        • Mentors are also welcome. Register here. Questions? Contact ofad@med.wisc.edu
      • The latest quarterly issue of Wisconsin Medical Journal (WMJ) is now available online. The issue, which includes research and commentary published by SMPH faculty and learners, features papers on savant syndrome, medical education, health policy advocacy, sleep apnea during pregnancy and more. WMJ is a peer-reviewed, indexed journal owned jointly by SMPH and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Access the full issue here. If you’d like to receive email updates when new content is posted online, sign up here.
      • Two members of the School of Medicine and Public Health and one in the School of Nursing have been named 2021 Champions of Humanistic Care by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation. They are Jonathan T. Ketzler, MD, associate professor of anesthesiology; Nathan Wheeler, MD, internal medicine resident; and Susan Zahner, DrPH, RN, associate dean for faculty affairs at the School of Nursing and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor. These incredible individuals are being honored for their compassion and courage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
      • Faculty physicians: take action now to fulfill maintenance of certification (MOC) requirements by the end of the year. Earn MOC Part 4 credit for quality improvement work you’ve completed related to COVID-19 or other topics. Get started today by responding to this intake form, and direct questions to Cathy Means. The following courses are approved for MOC part 2 credit:
      • SMPH Medical Education Day will occur on May 27, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. as a virtual event featuring keynote speaker Cynthia Nebel, PhD, of Vanderbilt University. The event is open to all SMPH faculty and staff and will feature professional development opportunities, engaging workshops and oral presentation sessions that highlight education initiatives and innovation. Read more and register

      Upcoming Events: Anti-Racism and/or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

      • The UW Health Equity Leadership Institute (HELI) is going virtual, with three sessions occurring between May and August. The first sesssion will occur on Thursday, May 27 from 9-10:30 a.m. and will feature three UW HELI alumni and their community partners discussing their work, its impact, and how the efforts of health equity scholars may have value in work you do and settings you operate in. Read more and register
      • SMPH members shared their expertise during the 2021 Global Health Symposium, which was titled “Fostering Resilience Through Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Knowledge.” It was co-hosted on April 14 by the Global Health Institute and the SMPH Native American Center for Health Professions. View the video recordings
      • On April 26, a panel of student affairs professionals gathered to discuss strategies for supporting Asian and APIDA students at UW–Madison. They explored specific needs and cultural considerations when working with Asian and APIDA students. In addition, the video description has numerous resources for further learning. Watch the video
      • Continuing education credit is now available for four papers published in the recent special issue of the Wisconsin Medical Journal focused on the impact of race and racism on health. Credit is available through the UW-Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP). Look for articles that display a blue “CE” button at wmjonline.org, and to register, click on the “earn continuing education credit” links or visit the ICEP website. There are no fees for participating in or receiving credit for this online enduring educational activity. WMJ is a peer-reviewed, indexed journal owned jointly by SMPH and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
      • The Graduate School is sponsoring a virtual presentation on May 18 from 4-5:30 p.m. titled “Niceness is Not Anti-Racism: How White Aspiring Allies Can (and Must) Step Up Their Game.” Read more and register
      • SMPH Spring 2021 Initiative: Advance Health by Acting Against Racism. A webpage for this initiative served as the one-stop-shop for our anti-racism events this spring, as well as others on campus and resources for further learning.
      • The Building Community/Ebling Library Book & Film Club will host a discussion on Wednesday, June 2 at noon of The Fire Next Time, James Baldwin’s 1963 bestseller. To register and get access to an electronic version of this book, please visit the Book Club website. You do not need to have completed the book to join the discussion. Ta-Nehisi Coates once said of the book: “Basically the finest essay I’ve ever read…. Baldwin refused to hold anyone’s hand. He was both direct and beautiful all at once. He did not seem to write to convince you. He wrote beyond you.” Register
      • The UW–Madison Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement has issued a call for proposals for breakout sessions at the annual UW–Madison Diversity Forum. The event will be held on November 2 and 3, 2021 at Union South and will also be livecast to remote participants. Workshop, panel discussion or lecture concepts for 75-min long breakout sessions will be accepted for consideration. The deadline has been extended to May 17. Read more and submit a proposal
      • Save the date: Ruth Shim, MD, MPH, Associate Dean of Diverse and Inclusive Education at the University of California–Davis, will deliver the Psychiatry Department’s annual Greenfield Memorial Lecture in person on Sept. 16 at 5:30 p.m., and will present a Grand Rounds talk on Sept. 17 at noon. The talks will focus on the topic of structural racism in medicine and in the field of psychiatry. Read more
      • Save the date: A virtual Women’s Health and Health Equity Research Lecture & Symposium will be presented by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology on October 14, 2021. Read more