Update to SMPH meeting recommendations: Based on current and trending COVID-19 case data on campus and in the community, the SMPH recommendation encouraging virtual rather than in-person meetings will not be extended beyond February 15.
Workspace personal protective equipment (PPE): Order items like face masks, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, mask fitters, or face shields from the MDS warehouse through ShopUW+ (available at no cost to campus units until existing inventory is distributed). 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 PPE is in the HSLC atrium near room 1335 (see photo). Employees are welcome to take supplies for their unit. Hand sanitizer dispensers are present in all common areas and building entrances.
UW Health COVID-19 requirements, announcements, and alerts for employees and affiliate individuals are available on U-Connect (requires UW Health login or VPN to access). Read more
Non-COVID policy, procedure, guidance, and operational news:
Payroll information: The check payable Thursday, Feb. 10, was for a “C” payroll period. This means many of the usual deductions, including health insurance benefits, are not taken on this check. Learn more
UW Health cybersecurity update for Citrix users: Starting in late January and into February, multi-factor authentication (MFA) will be required for UW Health Citrix users from additional locations outside the UW Health network, including SMPH and all of the UW–Madison campus. Read more
All SMPH employees are required to get their flu shot or fill out an appropriate waiver each year (the deadline was Dec. 6 – submit your information now if you haven’t already). Read more
UW Health construction: Impacts to University Hospital front entrances and travel routes through spring 2022. Employees and providers should avoid the main drive and both the Clinics and Hospital entrances at University Hospital during construction. A new staff entry is expected to open in March 2022. Soft launch of the new clinics entrance is anticipated in May.
Staff entry from Lot 75 is currently 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). 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.
Gathering, giving, and connecting:
Mark your calendar for upcoming events:
The SMPH community can celebrate medical students by virtually attendingMatch Day on March 18 at 10 a.m. A Zoom link will be available soon. Read more
A new event series for investigators, researchers, and learners: On April 22 from 3-5 p.m., SMPH Collaborate invites individuals from across campus involved in research to foster connections through the sharing of research discoveries and building of community. The event will feature research presentations and a social hour. Read more
The annual SMPH/UW Health Diversity Summit will take place in fall 2022 this year, rather than spring. There are four other upcoming events this semester that center on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Look out for more information soon on the third installment of the Native American Center for Health Profession’s Distinguished Lecture Series in April. The second installment in the series is on Thursday, Feb. 17 and you can register here.
On April 6 at 12:15 p.m., John Meurer, MD, MBA, will give a public talk as part of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s Forum series. His talk is titled “Early childhood development: value of education, improvement in screening, and advocacy for policy investments.” Meurer is the school’s 2022 Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) visiting professor, and will also speak to this year’s AOA inductees. More information will be available soon.
The 13th annual Bioethics Symposium will occur on April 7 from 1-5:30 p.m. with in-person and virtual options. This year’s theme is “Valuing Health, Addressing Inequality: A Symposium in Honor of Longtime UW–Madison Bioethicist Dan Hausman.” Read more
The next installment of the Hot Topics in Public Health Symposium on April 21 from 5:30-7 p.m. will feature activist Judith Heumann for a virtual talk titled “A Conversation on Disability Rights.” Details to follow.
Thank you to the nearly 2,000 staff members in the school who completed the SMPH Community Pulse survey last month. Your input will help chart the future of the school’s climate improvement and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Stay tuned for detailed results from the survey, and ideas and actions planned as an outcome.
Watch the video of the Winter Faculty/Staff meeting, which covered an update on the pandemic from a global health perspective, an overview of the Office of Diversity and Equity Transformation, and insight on the new Wisconsin Medicine Institute for Clinical Trials. Watch the video
Newest issue of Quarterly online: When COVID-19 cases began to emerge in Wisconsin in early 2020, the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW) embraced the opportunity to collect valuable statewide data to assist the university and state in the face of the growing pandemic–an effort featured in the cover story in the latest issue of Quarterly. The issue also includes a look at the UW Undiagnosed Genetic Disease Program and its clinic, launched last July by the Center for Human Genomics and Precision Medicine; and a profile on the Department of Medical Physics, celebrating 40 years of technology development, clinical care and education. Read more
Submit your artistic creations for the spring issue of Corpus Callosum: Ebling Library’s online arts journal is seeking photographs, photos of your paintings and fabric work, poems, short stories, music compositions and more from those in the UW-Madison’s health sciences departments and schools as well as employees of UW Health. The call for submissions runs through March 22. Submit up to one piece in each category. Submit your work
Partners in Giving campaign: Under the theme “Make an Impact,” the campaign joins together state, UW–Madison, and UW Health employees to support hundreds of nonprofit organizations. Active phase of the campaign has ended but gifts are still welcome through May 2022 – Give today
Leadership searches:
SMPH invites applications and nominations for the position of Chief Financial Officer. Please share the position information with qualified candidates in your professional network and/or send their names in for nomination. Read more
SMPH invites applications and nominations for the position of chair of the Department of Pediatrics. 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 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine have occurred. All visits will be virtual. The password to access video recordings is PALMchair2022. See details about the virtual sessions here.
Candidate visits for the chair of the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine have occurred. See details and recordings here. The password to access video recordings is EmergencyMedicine2021.
Candidate visits for the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology position have occurred. See details here.
Resources for researchers
The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research will present “Engaging Patient/Community Advisory Boards to Support Translational Research” on Friday, Feb. 25 from 2-3 p.m. During this online panel discussion, academic and community partners will share their experiences with different types of patient/community advisory boards, as well as lessons learned and tips for developing, engaging, and sustaining advisory boards. Learn more and register
“Write Winning NIH Grant Proposals”: This seminar, being held online April 7 and 8 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., is open to professors, scientists, research administrators, fellows, students, or others across the UW-Madison campus interested in NIH proposal submission. Sponsored by the Department of Medicine’s Office of Research Services, there is no charge to members of that department. Others will be assessed a $320 fee to cover costs. Read more and register
“Linking Cells to Communities”: Amy Kind, MD, PhD, will provide an overview of the new Center for Health Disparities Research on Friday, Feb. 18 from 10-11 a.m. as part of the center’s seminar series. She will also discuss the concepts of mechanistic health disparities research theory, social-biological phenotyping, multilevel analytics, and the exposome. Kind, the center’s director, is the school’s inaugural associate dean for social health sciences and programs. Read more and get the Zoom link
National group to focus on well-being of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in the sciences: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has announced the formation of a new Roundtable on Mentorship, Well-being, and Creativity in Scientific Research. The three-year initiative will convene national leaders to explore the levers, drivers, and disruptors in mentorship, in scientific research, and where actions can have the greatest positive impact, particularly on the well-being of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Read more. To receive information on the Roundtable’s activities and publications, sign up for its mailing list.
Throughout February, the campus Data Science Hub is hosting its third annual Data Science Research Bazaar focused on the theme of Data and Communities: Sharing and Protecting Data. The events will be held virtually. View the full schedule and register
Funding available for strengthening research cores: research core facilities are shared resources offering a wide range of services such as access to scientific instruments, technologies, services, training, and expert consultation. Funding is available to support the upgrade, replacement or duplication of heavily used shared research resources through the Research Core Revitalization Program (RCRP). SMPH investigators who are interested in submitting a proposal should coordinate with Rich Halberg, PhD, Senior Director of SMPH Cores and associate professor of medicine. The proposal submission deadline is Feb. 21.
The UW Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) program is now accepting applications for two new scholars. Apply by Feb. 28. The start date for the scholar positions is June 1. This opportunity is available for early-career faculty at UW–Madison whose research focuses on women’s health or sex and gender differences. Read more and apply
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
Resource: 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 101 for CHS/CT track faculty, March 7, 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 Wisconsin Medical Journal (WMJ) is seeking candidates (MD, DO or clinically oriented PhD) to serve as a deputy editor: The WMJ is an indexed, peer-reviewed journal published through a collaboration between the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Previous experience as an associate or deputy editor is preferred, as is prior editorial board and reviewer experience. Visit the WMJ website to learn more about qualifications and the application process. Apply by March 15.
Celebrate medical students by virtually attendingMatch Day on March 18 at 10 a.m. A Zoom link will be available soon. Read more
The Kern National Network is launching a new discussion series that will examine external influences shaping and driving the vitality of health care learners, professionals, and broader society over the next decade. The second of four live virtual sessions, “Flourishing in the Community,” is April 26 at 4 p.m. Learn more and register
UW System COVID-19 student health care worker initiative: Instructors and mentors, please share information with students about a new incentive for UW students with nursing skills and other health backgrounds to work on the front lines of Wisconsin’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. About 1,000 students meeting specific criteria will be eligible for a $500 tuition incentive for working in hospitals and other health care settings. Read more
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 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
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
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
Resource: 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 101 for CHS/CT track faculty, March 7, 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
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: fulfill maintenance of certification (MOC) requirements. Earn MOC Part 4 credit for quality improvement work. 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
The annual SMPH/UW Health Diversity Summit will take place in fall 2022 this year, rather than spring. There are four other upcoming events this semester that center on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Look out for more information soon on the third installment of the Native American Center for Health Profession’s Distinguished Lecture Series in April. (See below for information about the Feb. 17 second lecture in the series.)
On April 6 at 12:15 p.m., John Meurer, MD, MBA, will give a public talk as part of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s Forum series. His talk is titled “Early childhood development: value of education, improvement in screening, and advocacy for policy investments.” Meurer is the school’s 2022 Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) visiting professor, and will also speak to this year’s AOA inductees. More information will be available soon.
The 13th annual Bioethics Symposium will occur on April 7 from 1-5:30 p.m. with in-person and virtual options. This year’s theme is “Valuing Health, Addressing Inequality: A Symposium in Honor of Longtime UW–Madison Bioethicist Dan Hausman.” Read more
The next installment of the Hot Topics in Public Health Symposium on April 21 from 5:30-7 p.m. will feature activist Judith Heumann for a virtual talk titled “A Conversation on Disability Rights.” Details to follow.
“Linking Cells to Communities”: Amy Kind, MD, PhD, will provide an overview of the new Center for Health Disparities Research on Friday, Feb. 18 from 10-11 a.m. as part of the center’s seminar series. She will also discuss the concepts of mechanistic health disparities research theory, social-biological phenotyping, multilevel analytics, and the exposome. Kind, the center’s director, is the school’s inaugural associate dean for social health sciences and programs. Read more and get the Zoom link
Honoring Black History Month: This year’s national theme is Black Health and Wellness, a powerful message for our time. Explore the origins of Black History Month and this year’s theme with resources from the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) in Washington D.C. Dive deeper into the topic with a curated list of eight readings on Black health and wellness from ASALH. Find the resources here.
Honor the 2021-22 Outstanding Women of Color honorees on Thursday, March 3, from 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Pyle Center, hosted by the UW–Madison Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement. This year, four of the six awardees have an SMPH connection! Register here
Cat N. Burkat, MD, professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences
Sheryl Henderson, MD, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics
Carola Peterson-Gaines, outreach specialist, School of Pharmacy and honorary associate/fellow, SMPH Department of Medicine
Danielle Yancey, MS, director of the Native American Center for Health Professions
Serving on a faculty search committee this Spring? If so, you are encouraged to participate in “Searching for Excellence and Diversity: A Workshop for for Faculty Search Committees in SMPH, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Vet Med.” The workshop will be presented April 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. by the Office for Faculty Affairs and Development and WISELI (Women in Science and Engineering Leadership Institute). It is intended for faculty search committee chairs and members, department chairs and administrators assisting faculty search committees. Registration is required. Learn more
Inclusion of learners with disabilities: In a commentary published in Academic Medicine, Dean Robert N. Golden, MD and Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Elizabeth Petty, MD urge medical schools to provide inclusive education for learners with physical and sensory disabilities. Read more
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
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 resources, research, tips, curricula, and ideas for people who want to increase their understanding and to aid those working for racial justice in systems, organizations, communities, and society at large. In December, 71 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.
Meet the newest 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
Treaties: How we come to be where we are: View the recording of an 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
Continuing education credit is 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.
