Quick Links for In the Know

For everyone   For researchers For medical educators and clinicians

Anti-racism and/or diversity, equity and inclusion

COVID-19 operational updates:

• Refer to the COVID-19 response website for up to date information for the UW–Madison community.
• 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.
• 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
  • Information from UW Health Employee Health Services related to COVID-19 is available, including return-to-work guidance for those working in clinical settings. Read more

Non-COVID policy, procedure, guidance, and operational news:

• 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
• 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

Gathering, giving, and connecting:

• Register now for the next installment of Hot Topics in Public Health on Thursday, March 30 from 5:30-7 p.m.: The event will feature Michael Fiore, MD, MPH, MBA, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. Fiore will cover the medical, public health, health equity, and policy issues surrounding tobacco use and addiction.
• Save the date for the 2023 Bioethics Symposium on Thursday, April 13 from 1-5:30 p.m.: This year’s theme of “Toward an Anti-racist Bioethics” will feature both local and national bioethics experts. SMPH, UW Health, and UW–Madison faculty, staff, and learners are invited to attend.
• The recording and presentation slides from the Winter Faculty/Staff Meeting are now available:Reviewing the materials is an excellent way to learn more about the work taking place in the school regarding social health sciences and programs, the Centennial Scholars/Clinicians Program, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Leadership searches:

• Assistance for NIH-supported researchers: Effective for applications starting Jan. 25, 2023, all NIH-supported researchers producing scientific data must submit a data management and sharing plan as part of their proposals. To assist with this major change, data management specialists in collaboration with Ebling Library are offering NIH Data Management and Sharing Drop-In Sessions for spring 2023.
• Calling all researchers: The med.wisc.edu relaunch project is now at a stage where we are planning out visual assets, and we need your help. To highlight the vibrancy of research occurring throughout our school, we would like to include scientific images for illustrative purposes, such as page banners. See the specifications on our Web Strategy site and submit your images.
• Calling all researchers: The SMPH Research Administration & Proposal Development Office (medRAMP) seeks examples of successful grant proposals for its Grants Library Repository. The repository provides examples of funded research, career development, and research training grant applications to increase grant writing efficiency at our institution. To submit a proposal, complete the SMPH Grant Library Consent form. Individuals can also request access to the grants library. medRAMP is housed in the Office of Basic Research, Biotechnology and Graduate Studies.
• 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.
• Save the date: The 2023 Wisconsin Research & Education Network (WREN) Conference is Friday, June 2 at the UW–Madison Arboretum Visitor Center. The theme is “Including Historically Underrepresented Populations in Primary Care Research.” More information to follow.

• U-Connect, UW Health’s intranet, has a section with information for clinicians and advanced practice providers.
• Faculty interested in education scholarship can register for the SMPH Education Scholarship Retreat to learn how to move their work forward: The workshop, which is offered by the Office of Faculty Affairs and Development, will be held in-person on Wednesday, April 26 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (lunch provided) in Health Sciences Learning Center 3110C (Interactive Learning Center). To get the most out of this workshop, attendees should have an educational idea or project they can actively work on or think about.
• Religious observances and academic flexibility reminder: As instructors and students review class schedules this semester, now is the time to note any need for academic flexibility due to religious or cultural observances. The SMPH health professions programs (MD, MPH, DPT, MPAS, MGCS) provide specific instruction to students regarding religious observances, aligned with UW–Madison policy, and in consideration of the unique characteristics of clinical education settings. Students should plan ahead and refer to their program handbook for specific details.
• Save the date and submit a proposal for Medical Education Day on June 1 and submit a nomination for the Dean’s Teaching Awards and Dean’s Medical Student Research Mentorship Award: The event features learning and networking opportunities for faculty and staff educators who teach health professional students at SMPH in Madison and across the state of Wisconsin. The event is free and open to all faculty, staff, residents, and fellows.
• University Health Services (UHS) mental health services are available, confidential, easy to connect with, and no cost to students: As a reminder to students, student advisors, teaching faculty, and other mentors, UHS resources are available to all students. An Access Appointment is the first step to individual and group counseling. Other opportunities such as Let’s Talk, Thrive Workshops, Connecting Badgers, and a 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support Line are also available. Common issues UHS can help address include test anxiety, sleep, procrastination, stress, depression, relationships, and more.
• 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.

• The Microlearning Facilitation Resources from the Office of Diversity and Equity Transformation have been added to Canvas: The resources are built for groups to start facilitating conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion topics. All faculty and staff have access to them. The series is a resource for engaging in regular 20- to 45-minute discussions to strengthen awareness and a common purpose around DEI at SMPH as well as build connection and community on teams. We all have a role in creating an antiracist and inclusive culture at SMPH, and this discussion tool can support you in doing this critical work. If you would like to consult further about how to use these resources, please reach out to Naomi Takahashi.
• Check out a recap of the SMPH and UW Health In Community MLK Event: If you missed the event or want to rewatch it, a link to the documentary Art + Medicine: Speaking of Race and a recording of the panel discussion are available.
• The UW–Madison Diversity Forum may be over, but the recordings and resources live on: By accessing the agenda, session recordings and resources are still available. See SMPH and UW Health experts in sessions like “ Laying the Groundwork for Brighter Futures: Pathways to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Administration,” “Nothing for Us Without Us: Experiences with Community-Academic Partnerships” and “Racism? Not in Our House!”
• 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