SMPH Intranet
For the School of Medicine and Public Health Community

In the Know Quick Links – Week of Oct. 10, 2022

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For everyone    For researchers    For medical educators and clinicians

Anti-racism and/or diversity, equity and inclusion

Resources for everyone

COVID-19 operational updates:

  • Masks in SMPH: Masks are no longer required in most campus spaces but are still required in some areas of the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR), such as its entrance, central elevators, basement, and patient imaging areas, due to patient care occurring in these spaces. They are also required inside the Clinical Teaching and Assessment Center on the third floor of the Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC) to enable clinical simulation learning scenarios for health professions students. Pay attention to signage to know if a mask is still required in a specific area. See this map’s highlighted areas to know where to wear a mask in WIMR and HSLC.
    • Be respectful of individual choices about mask wearing. Those who want to continue to wear masks are encouraged to do so.
    • See this Q&A from campus on mask use.
    • When you work or learn in a health care setting (e.g., UW Health facilities, the VA Medical Center, or our statewide campus locations), follow the requirements of that setting.
  • 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:

  • Annual HIPAA training required by Oct. 14: All faculty, staff, students, and volunteers at SMPH must complete “2022-23 HIPAA Privacy & Security Training,” an online course in Canvas.
  • SMPH Divisional Disability Representatives (DDR) note that October is National Disability Employee Awareness Month. Divisional Disability Representatives Kasey Hoffman and Ann Kowaliczko will be hosting a “Get to Know your DDR” virtual Lunch & Learn on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. This virtual event is for SMPH employees who are interested in learning more about the accommodations process. See the DDR web page on the SMPH Intranet for more information and to learn about accommodations at SMPH.
  • New resource from SMPH HR — Stay Interview Toolkit: Stay Interviews are employee-centered conversations, typically covering just five questions in 30 minutes, between an employee and their supervisor that are designed to be candid, collaborative, open, and help build trust. A new toolkit is now available for supervisors and supervisees to utilize Stay Interviews.
  • The Annual Benefits Enrollment (ABE) period is Sept. 26-Oct. 21: See what’s changing for 2023, review your benefits and enroll, or make changes. Note that certain benefits require re-enrollment each year, and ABE is the only time employees can make changes to those benefits unless an eligible life event or qualifying employment change occurs during the year. Onsite drop-in sessions are available in October to meet with a payroll and benefit specialist. Changes made during ABE are effective Jan. 1, 2023.
  • Reminder: All faculty and staff, including undergraduate and graduate student employees, are required to complete 2022 Cybersecurity Awareness Training by December 1. The training takes about 30 minutes and does not need to be completed in one sitting.  
  • Reminder: All employees who engage in remote work of any kind must have a current and approved Remote Work Agreement on file: The SMPH Remote Work Guide provides more details and instructions, such as how to enter into an agreement for the first time or check the expiration date of a current agreement, as well as how a supervisor and employee should review it.
  • The med.wisc.edu website is being redesigned over the next year. This important project will ensure the site effectively supports the school’s strategic goals and aligns content with target web audiences including prospective SMPH students. Additional goals include improving user experience, optimizing content maintenance, and ensuring that the site to can be accessed by all users regardless of factors such as visual, auditory, or neurological ability, device type, or internet speed. Learn more at the SMPH Web Strategy site
  • Make a habit to check and update your emergency contact info and other personal information in MyUW periodically. Faculty and staff can update their information in HRS by signing into MyUW, selecting the “Personal Information” tile, and clicking “Update My Personal Information.” Students can update information in SIS in the Student Center in MyUW. Read more
  • Subscribe to ATP Touchpoints to receive updates on the Administrative Transformation Program: The objective of this large-scale initiative is to rebuild HR, finance, and research administration systems and services at all UW System campuses, with an aim of reducing the complexity of the current administrative environment and refocus valuable personnel time on UW’s missions. Read project news and subscribe to receive future issues of ATP Touchpoints. Use the Tell Your Story form to submit feedback on the program and see the list of SMPH Ambassadors for ATP at UW–Madison to contact with questions.
  • Did you know? Lactation rooms are available in many SMPH facilities, such as the UW Medical Foundation Centennial Building (MFCB), Health Sciences Learning Center (HSLC), and Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR). There are also numerous lactation rooms in UW Health facilities. A list of SMPH and nearby UW Health lactation rooms is available here
  • Review guidelines on advocacy, political campaign activity, and lobbying at our public institution: They describe helpful definitions, dos and don’ts for SMPH employees, and how to get more information. Read more

Gathering, giving, and connecting:

  • Physician Assistant Week is Oct. 6-12, which recognizes the PA profession and its contributions to the nation’s health. This year’s theme from the American Academy of PAs is “PAs Go Beyond.” This week we recognize and thank the incredible students, staff, and faculty in the school’s Physician Assistant Program.
  • October is National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM): “Choose to Move” is the theme of the 30th anniversary of NPTM, which recognizes the outstanding impact physical therapists and physical therapy assistants have on society and health care. Established in 1926 and accredited in 1929, our Doctor of Physical Therapy program is one of the first three PT programs in the nation. Currently it consists of three cohorts of 40 students preparing to enter the workforce and provide interprofessional, evidence-informed care as clinicians, educators, researchers, administrators and consultants.
  • Save the date for the Fall Faculty/Staff Meeting on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Health Sciences Learning Center Room 1335 HSLC or on Zoom. Dean Robert N. Golden, MD, will give an annual report and present the 2022 Folkert O. Belzer Award. Danielle Yancey, MS, will highlight the Native American Center for Health Professions as the center’s director.
  • On Thursday, Oct. 27, 5:30-7 p.m., learn from experts in infectious disease and health equity virtually at Hot Topics in Public Health: Race, Racism and COVID-19 in Wisconsin: Sheri Johnson, PhD, professor of population health sciences and director of the UW Population Health Institute, will serve as moderator. The presenter will be Ryan Westergaard, MD, PhD, MPH, associate professor of medicine and chief medical officer and state epidemiologist for communicable diseases for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
  • The 50th annual Partners in Giving campaign has begun, and – new for 2022 – includes a Pet Costume Contest for the SMPH community. This year’s workplace charitable giving campaign theme is “Caring for 50 years.” Learn more about Partners in Giving and how to support your choice of more than 500 charities to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most, locally and globally. In addition, all are welcome to submit photos of costumed pets through Oct. 21. To raise spirits while raising funds, a photo winner will be chosen by popular vote later this month.
  • The SMPH Committee on Academic Staff Issues (CASI) Staff Spotlight series is seeking nominations of academic and university staff who deserve recognition for their hard work contributing to the school’s education, research, and service missions.

Leadership searches:

  • Find the latest information here.

Resources for researchers

  • New Animal Protocol Writing Service offered at Biomedical Research Model Services (BRMS): BRMS has experienced staff who can transfer non-UW animal use protocols into UW–Madison’s Application for Research Review Oversight at Wisconsin (ARROW) system or amend existing protocols. This service will save new and existing investigators time, accelerating the start of new studies.
  • Announcement from medRAMP: The school’s Research Administration and Proposal Development Services unit has instituted a nominal fee structure for single-investigator proposals to increase staffing capacity and provide additional support. Established in 2015 with a charge to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and multi-investigator projects, medRAMP offers specialized services focused on overall pre-award project management for multi-PI, multi-project, and/or multi-institutional proposals from inception to submission at no cost to departments. Research administration services for single-investigator proposals are available for a fee. Visit the medRAMP website to learn more about its services and the new fee structure.

Resources for medical educators and clinicians

  • U-Connect, UW Health’s intranet, has a section with information for clinicians and advanced practice providers.
  • 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. Visit the WMJ website to learn more about qualifications and the application process. The deadline to apply is Oct. 31.
  • Save the date for the 21st Annual Medical Student Research Forum on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 in the Health Sciences Learning Center from noon to 5 p.m. Each fall, the Student Research Forum showcases the research accomplishments of SMPH students conducting research under the guidance of faculty mentors.
  • Registration open for faculty mentor training workshops: The Office for Faculty Affairs and Development will present Faculty Mentoring Faculty— Cultivating Effective Mentoring Relationships to Promote Faculty Development on Jan. 10 and 24 from 4-6 p.m. in Health Sciences Learning Center rooms 3110B and D. Participants should plan to attend both sessions, which are best suited for associate and full professors in SMPH on the tenure and CHS tracks.
  • New policy released pertinent to clinical departments hiring dually-employed faculty: SMPH Policy 3020, Faculty Relocation for Clinical Departments, defines and establishes the school’s requirements for the procurement and payment of faculty household relocations and costs associated with indefinite work assignments.
  • Continuing medical education opportunity with Wisconsin Medical Journal (WMJ): Gain American Medical Association credit for free with any of the WMJ courses available in the ICEP Portal. Topics include rural residence as a predictor of better health outcomes, quality of diet in children with developmental disabilities, and how faculty and medical students’ perceptions of learning differ.

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

  • Monday, Oct. 10 marks Indigenous Peoples Day in Wisconsin. It is an important day to acknowledge that the land our university and school stands on is ancestral Ho-Chunk land and recognize the contributions of Native communities. Take action and learn more by exploring these opportunities:
    • Watch the recording of the plenary session of the recent Diversity Summit focused on Indigenous health. The speakers gave an overview of Indigenous health in Wisconsin and focused on the importance of Indigenous health equity.
    • Attend the Indigenous Peoples Day Powwow at 7 pm on Oct. 10 in the Symphony Room of the Gordon Dining and Event Center. It is hosted by Wunk Sheek, a student organization that serves students of Indigenous identity and members of the UW–Madison community interested in Indigenous issues, culture, and history.
  • On Thursday, Oct. 27, 5:30-7 p.m., learn from experts in infectious disease and health equity virtually at Hot Topics in Public Health: Race, Racism and COVID-19 in Wisconsin: Sheri Johnson, PhD, professor of population health sciences and director of the UW Population Health Institute, will serve as moderator. The presenter will be Ryan Westergaard, MD, PhD, MPH, associate professor of medicine and chief medical officer and state epidemiologist for communicable diseases for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
  • Medical students reflect on Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month: “In medical school, being Latina means sharing that culture with our peers, wanting them to enjoy some of our food and music while also sharing some of our life experiences. Belonging to the Latino Medical Student Association has given us an avenue to grow our community, strengthen our bonds with each other, and share our culture with UW SMPH as a whole,” says medical student Ana Isabel Torres. See how the school is honoring and celebrating the month on our social media channels, in a presentation about notable Hispanic/Latinx figures in medicine at SMPH and beyond, and through reflections from medical students in the Latino Medical Student Association.
  • Explore evidence-based teaching practices for fostering inclusion, belonging, and achievement: The Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring is offering professional development opportunities for faculty, instructors, and graduate assistants. Flexible formats are available. Register now for Teaching at UW: Foundations and Enhancing Online Education.
  • AAMC publishes medical education competencies for diversity, equity, and inclusion: These cross-continuum competencies help educators design or adapt curricula and aids educators and learners in their individual professional development and diversity, equity, and inclusion journeys. In August, AAMC will host two forums to discuss these medical education competencies. Read more
  • SMPH diversity, equity, and inclusion web-based modules now available: 22 modules developed by the Office of Diversity and Equity Transformation are open for self-enrollment on Canvas. The learning modules cover antiracism, equity tools, and bias in healthcare. Enroll on Canvas and click “Go to the Course” to access the modules
  • “Badge backer” card provides tips for preventing and responding to microaggressions: Developed by the Office of Diversity and Equity Transformation, this resource is a printed, foldable card that can fit right into your ID badge holder. The card includes key response strategies to interrupt microaggressions, discrimination, and bigotry to make it clear that we value and stand behind our learners, staff, and faculty. Request badge backers using this form
  • How can I help make the university more inclusive to our community members with disabilities? A new campus website called Accessibility @ UW–Madison provides a central location for campus accessibility answers. Read more
  • Office of Diversity and Equity Transformation launches Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at SMPH: ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with organizational mission, values, goals, business practices, and objectives. ERGs do this by focusing on the experience and perspectives of people of a particular race, ethnic or cultural background, gender, gender identity, religion, age cohort, sexual orientation, history of disabilities, military services, or similar parameters. This program, which has been operating successfully at UW Health for two years, is now open to SMPH employees. Learn more