For the School of Medicine and Public Health Community
In the Know Quick Links – Week of November 15, 2021
Posted on
Resources for everyone
COVID-19 operational updates:
University Health Services (UHS) offers COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for eligible employees and students. Read more and sign up for an appointment through the MyUHS app or the MyUHS web portal.
New: In order to comply with a federal executive order requiring COVID-19 vaccination for all federal contractors, all UW–Madison employees, including student hourly employees, must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious accommodation exempting them from the requirement. Employees must complete their vaccination series (one dose of Johnson & Johnson or two doses of Pfizer or Moderna) no later than Jan. 4, 2022. Read more
Employees and students who have not shared proof of COVID-19 vaccination with UHS must test weekly on campus. Those who are required to test weekly but fail to do so will be held accountable. Affected students and employees have received email messages with details. Read more If you are vaccinated and have not shared your record with UHS, do so now.
Test site information is available on the university’s Covid-19 response website. Testing sites will close at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24 and remain closed for the rest of the week due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
All students, employees and visitors to the UW–Madison campus are required to wear masks when inside campus buildings, including SMPH facilities. The Chancellor’s order has been extended through Jan. 15, 2022 (see announcement and FAQ).
Ordering workspace personal protective equipment (PPE): To order items like face masks, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, mask fitters, or face shields, request them from the MDS warehouse through ShopUW+ (available at no cost to campus units until the current inventory is exhausted). Contact your department fiscal specialist for help. For questions on accessing ShopUW+, contact your department fiscal representative or the Dean’s Office transaction team.
A cart with masks and disinfecting wipes is in the HSLC atrium near room 1335 (see photo). Employees are welcome to take supplies for their unit. The cart will be re-stocked regularly. Hand sanitizer dispensers are present in all common areas and building entrances.
UW Health requirements include:
Universal masking in all UW Health facilities.Read more on U-Connect (requires UW Health login or VPN to view)
Non-COVID policy, procedure, guidance, and operational news:
All SMPH employees are required to get their flu shot or fill out an appropriate waiver each year (deadline: Dec. 6). Read more
Learn about SMPH guidelines on advocacy, political campaign activity and lobbying at our public institution in an overview article, which provides definitions for these terms and explains how state laws regulate employee involvement in several such activities. Read more
Campus travel policy updated: UW-Madison employees, graduate students, and undergraduates traveling for in-person business, research or instructional field activities no longer need an approved extension form for international travel. Learn more
Are you working a hybrid schedule but paying for full-time parking? You may save money by switching to a flex permit and/or a multi-day pass. Learn more and email the Health Sciences parking desk for information or assistance switching your permits.
The TTC Salary Structure was published on Nov. 1. Every job title in the UW System now corresponds to a specific salary grade. The new job library and salary structure are based on recent market-informed title and compensation data.
TTC was implemented throughout the UW System on Nov. 7.
The UW–Madison Remote Work Policy is in effect.If your role is in scope of the policy, you must have an approved remote work agreement in order to work offsite. If you do not, you must be working on site.
To submit a remote work agreement request, see Step 4 of the SMPH Remote Work Guide. Step by step instructions for accessing the form on the my.Wisc.edu portal are available here. Additional resources are available as well. Questions? Contact smphworkmode@med.wisc.edu.
The UW–Madison Office of Human Resources has released resources about remote and hybrid work including FAQs, courses and toolkits on managing hybrid teams, information on remote work technology, and more. Access their page
UW Health construction: Impacts to University Hospital front entrances and travel routes through December 2021. Employees and providers should avoid the main drive and both the Clinics and Hospital entrances at University Hospital during construction. Clinics entrance will be closed through Dec. 31, 2021. Staff entry from Lot 75 will be limited and may require use of stairs. A video and directions on alternative employee entry points are available on U-Connect (requires UW Health login or VPN to access). SMPH employees who cannot use stairs should request a “fast pass” badge backer by filling out a UW Health accommodation form available on U-Connect. Contact the UW Health HR Service Center at (608) 263-6500 with questions about the fast pass request process.
Gathering, giving, and connecting:
The third installment in the series on Building Community initiative work teams highlights the efforts of the Well-Being Strategy Work Team. This group worked to identify strategies to encourage personal and professional fulfillment while fostering an environment that inspires healthy lifestyle choices and supports well-being. Read about their process and recommendations
Discuss important societal topics with your peers at an Ebling Library and Building Community Book Club. Upcoming: Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family on Friday, Dec. 10. Register today
Every dollar counts and no gift is too small: The annual Partners in Giving campaign has launched. Under the theme “Make an Impact,” the campaign joins together state, UW–Madison, and UW Health employees to support hundreds of local, state, national and international organizations. Give today
See a recording of the Fall Faculty/Staff Meeting, which was held on Oct. 11. Watch the recording
The SMPH Office of Global Health and the UW–Madison Global Health Institute invite you to support Afghan individuals and families who are currently being housed at Fort McCoy. To aid with sorting through information about how to help, the units have summarized recommendations in order to make it as simple as possible to contribute in whatever way is best for you. Learn more
Candidate visits for the position of chair of the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine: Academic and town hall presentations by candidates are occcurring between Nov. 4 and Dec. 9. See details here. Recordings of talks will also be available at that page. The password to access video recordings is EmergencyMedicine2021.
SMPH invites applications and nominations for the position of chair of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Please share the position information with qualified candidates in your professional network and/or send their names in for nomination. Read more
Candidate visits for the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology position have occurred. See details here.
Resources for researchers
The 20th Annual Medical Student Research Forum will showcase the work of medical student researchers on Monday, Nov. 22 from 1-5 p.m. via Zoom. Learn about incredible research done by medical students and hear a keynote talk by James Conway, MD, the winner of the Dean’s Excellence in Medical Student Research Mentorship Award and Shapiro Guest Lecturer. No pre-registration required. Get more information
For clinical researchers:
Chief Clinical Research Officer Betsy Nugent shares, “The OnCore Integration Project is underway at our institution. The first step has been to create a single team to support OnCore users across SMPH with a new portal for requests. Please reach out to this team using their new portal starting immediately.” Access the Biomedical Informatics Systems Support Portal
The second round of the Research Forward initiative is now accepting proposals: A cover sheet with a 300-word abstract is due Dec. 6, and the complete proposal is due Jan. 24, 2022. The Research Forward competition from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education funds projects that have the potential to fundamentally transform a field of study, as well as projects that require significant development prior to the submission of applications for external funding. Read more
Nominations are being accepted for the 2021-22 H.I. Romnes Faculty Fellowships, Kellett Mid-Career Award, Vilas Associates Competition, and WARF Named Professorship. Earlier in 2021, seven faculty members from our school received fellowship awards – the highest number in the past decade. Submit a nomination Deadline: Feb. 4, 2022.
Gearing up for talks and presentations this semester? Looking for insights on inclusive language? Read the SMPH Presenter’s Guide. Originally written by a group of medical students in fall 2019, it is reviewed annually, revised as needed, and has been endorsed by the Building Community Steering Committee. The Presenter’s Guide gives examples of how to talk about underrepresented identities in medicine. Read the guide
Office of Faculty Affairs and Development news:
New resource webpage: Faculty Award Opportunities. The page contains a downloadable chart and award opportunities categorized by career stage. See the page
The newest issue of Faculty Central, the e-newsletter from the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development, features a recap of the 2021 New Faculty Orientation, a new Faculty Awards Opportunities page, info on Pathways to Promotion Workshops, and more. Read the newsletter and subscribe
Available: Promotions Oversight Committee Guide and the SMPH Mentoring Guide. The Promotions Oversight Committee Guide provides clarity about the process of promotion from assistant to associate professor on the CHS and Tenure tracks. The Mentoring Guide gives an overview of mentoring functions and structures to support faculty development.
2021-2022 Pathways to Promotion workshops:
Pathways to Promotion Tenure, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, 4:30-6:30 p.m. (location TBD). In-depth examination of the UW Madison promotion and tenure process from the perspective of UW–Madison and SMPH. Learn more and register
Pathways to Promotion 101 for CHS/CT track faculty, Monday, March 7, 2022, 1-5 p.m. (Virtual; in-person option TBD). Recommended for CHS and CT track faculty in their first few years at SMPH. Tailored to those who would like an introduction to promotion processes or have never attended a Pathways to Promotion seminar. Learn more and register
Principal Investigators: The SMPH Office of Research is your information source for funding opportunities. Bookmark these links:
The 20th Annual Medical Student Research Forum will showcase the work of medical student researchers on Monday, Nov. 22 from 1-5 p.m. via Zoom. Learn about incredible research done by medical students and hear a keynote talk by James Conway, MD, the winner of the Dean’s Excellence in Medical Student Research Mentorship Award and Shapiro Guest Lecturer. No pre-registration required. Get more information
All are invited to “Break Free from Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Disorders,” a free, virtual community talk hosted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology on Nov. 18. Physicians in the Departments of Ob-Gyn, Surgery, and Urology will answer common questions about bladder and bowel leakage and pelvic organ prolapse. The event will also feature issue-focused breakout discussions on pelvic organ prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, accidental bowel leakage, overactive bladder, pelvic floor physical therapy, and more. Learn more and register
Resource for instructors and advisors: University Health Services has issued the Healthy Academics Toolkit focused on how to support student health and well-being. Read more and access the toolkit
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 a collection of papers on rural health, COVID-19, opioid overdose mortality rates 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
Continuing education is available: 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.
The journal is continually seeking to expand its pool of highly qualified reviewers. Learn more and sign up
Gearing up for talks and presentations this semester? Looking for insights on inclusive language? Be sure to read the SMPH Presenter’s Guide. Originally written by a group of medical students in fall 2019, it is reviewed annually, revised as needed, and has been endorsed by the Building Community Steering Committee. The Presenter’s Guide gives examples of how to talk about underrepresented identities in medicine. Read the guide
The Office of the Provost offers a web resource about Fall 2021 instruction focusing on how campus COVID-19-related policies and guidelines impact instruction. Read more
Office of Faculty Affairs and Development news:
New resource webpage: Faculty Award Opportunities. The page contains a downloadable chart and award opportunities categorized by career stage. See the page
The newest issue of Faculty Central, the e-newsletter from the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development, features a recap of the 2021 New Faculty Orientation, a new Faculty Awards Opportunities page, info on Pathways to Promotion Workshops, and more. Read the newsletter and subscribe
Available: Promotions Oversight Committee Guide and the SMPH Mentoring Guide. The Promotions Oversight Committee Guide provides clarity about the process of promotion from assistant to associate professor on the CHS and Tenure tracks. The Mentoring Guide gives an overview of mentoring functions and structures to support faculty development.
2021-2022 Pathways to Promotion workshops:
Pathways to Promotion Tenure, Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022, 4:30-6:30 p.m. (location TBD). In-depth examination of the UW Madison promotion and tenure process from the perspective of UW–Madison and SMPH. Learn more and register
Pathways to Promotion 101 for CHS/CT track faculty, Monday, March 7, 2022, 1-5 p.m. (Virtual; in-person option TBD). Recommended for CHS and CT track faculty in their first few years at SMPH. Tailored to those who would like an introduction to promotion processes or have never attended a Pathways to Promotion seminar. Learn more and register
Clinic focuses on diagnosing rare genetic disorders: The Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine has launched the UW Undiagnosed Genetic Disease Clinic and Research Program, which aims to improve the health and well-being of individuals with undiagnosed genetic disorders, particularly those who are suspected of living with a genetic disease who have remained undiagnosed despite an extensive clinical workup. Clinicians may refer patients using this form.
Renewing Your WI Medical License? Need a transcript of your continuing education credits? Access CME / CE transcripts: Log in to your ICEP Learner Profile (https://ce.icep.wisc.edu), click “My account”, and then “My Activities” to download a full listing of your credits earned since 2018. For help, view ICEP’s FAQ page for more information or contact the ICEP helpdesk at help@icep.wisc.edu. If you are looking for a record of an activity that took place before Jan. 1, 2018, or you are requesting a transcript for RSS sessions (Grand Rounds, Case Conference, Journal Club, etc.) that took place before June 30, 2018, complete the CE Credit Reprint Request Form.
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:
Resources and Upcoming Events: Anti-Racism and/or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Register today for the 2021 Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) Symposium and first annual Awards Ceremony, which will be Tuesday, Nov. 30 from 3-5 p.m. on Zoom. Join for a keynote and Q&A titled “Breaking Down Barriers” by Malú Tansey, PhD, Norman and Susan Fixel Professor of Neuroscience and Neurology at the University of Florida. It will be followed by a panel discussion and awards announcement. Read more and RSVP
The next installment of the Interprofessional Diversity and Equity Lunch and Learn series on “Decolonizing Curriculum” will be on Thursday, Nov. 18 noon-1 p.m. The series addresses issues related to equity and inclusion across health care settings. The series consists of monthly speakers and panels hosted by the Schools of Nursing, Medicine and Public Health, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine. Read more and register
New resources added to the Racial Equity Tools collection: Racial Equity Tools is a website designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. It offers tools, research, tips, curricula, and ideas for people who want to increase their understanding and to help those working for racial justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities, and the culture at large. This fall, 101 new tools were added to a collection that now includes over 3,200+ resources and 98 “bookcases” (category pages). Search the collection and see the expanded RET Glossary.
A Hot Topics in Public Health Symposium was held on Wednesday, Oct. 6. The event was titled “Immigrant Health: An Insider’s View” and a recording is available on the school’s YouTube channel. Read more
Meet the 2021 cohort of the Centennials Scholars and Clinicians Program, a community of diverse SMPH faculty from backgrounds underrepresented in science and medicine. Administered by the SMPH Office of Faculty Affairs and Development, the program initiated in 2009 to provide departments the resources to recruit and develop faculty from groups that experience health disparities in Wisconsin. Read more about the scholars and how to apply to the program
Treaties: How we come to be where we are: View the recording of a Sept. 30 event with Ho-Chunk Nation’s leading legal experts about treaties and how our ongoing nation-to-nation agreements with the Ho-Chunk Nation are fundamental to daily life here at Teejop (day-JOPE), the place currently known as Madison, Wisconsin. Watch the video and read more
Leadership announcement – Associate Dean for Diversity and Equity Transformation: As of Oct. 11, Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, MA, CDM, UW Health Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, has expanded the scope of her work to also become the inaugural Associate Dean for Diversity and Equity Transformation for SMPH. Her appointment establishes a multifunctional SMPH Office of Diversity and Equity Transformation that will be integrated with the existing UW Health Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Read more in a message from Dean Robert N. Golden, MD
The Fall 2021 Campus Climate Report has been released by the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement (DDEEA). The report highlights notable efforts over the past year by the division, which serves the entire UW–Madison campus. Read more
The Native American Center for Health Professions has started an exciting podcast called Medicine Talkers. It will cover health topics from an Indigenous perspective. In the recently released second episode, listen to an overview about NACHP and meet team members from the center. Listen on Spotify
Continuing education credit is now available for four papers published in a special issue of the Wisconsin Medical Journal focused on the impact of race and racism on health. No-cost 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. WMJ is a peer-reviewed, indexed journal owned jointly by SMPH and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
