Student loan counseling sessions are March 5 and 6

Student loan counseling sessions will be held March 5 from noon to 8 p.m. and March 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 8405B Upstate University Hospital.

The sessions are free and open to all state employees.

To make an appointment, email [email protected] or call 518-785-1900 (ext. 387).

Sessions will provide assistance with federal student loans and options to reduce payments or seek some debt forgiveness.

Appointments are available on alternate dates but should be made well in advance of the April 30 deadline for federal student loans. For more on this deadline, visit: https://pefmbp.com/financial-legal-services/student-loan-counseling/.

To ensure a successful counseling session, visit www.studentaid.gov in advance to review options. Before the session, gather the following information:

• What type of loans do you have, Federal Family Education loans (abbreviated FFELP), or Direct loans, issued through the William Ford Direct loan program?
• What repayment plan are you paying through? (An income-based plan? The 30-year Standard Plan, etc.)
• Have you used much forbearance or deferment time?

For those with no student loans, Cambridge Credit Counseling also offers credit counseling and debt management services. For more, visit: https://pefmbp.com/financial-legal-services/debt-counseling/.

The March 5 and 6 sessions are sponsored by Upstate, PEF, PEF Membership Benefits, and Cambridge Credit Counseling. Participants do not need to be represented by PEF to take advantage of this free offer. 

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Nominations sought for the 2024 President's Employee Recognition Awards

President's Employee Recognition Award nominations are sought through April 1. Information and nomination form available here: www.upstate.edu/pera. Questions? Email Megan Chase at [email protected].

The six award categories are:

• Outstanding Contribution of the Year
• Community Service of the Year
• Team of the Year
• Leader of the Year
• Employee of the Year
• Provider of the Year

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Global Health seeks volunteers for influenza research

Upstate Global Health seeks healthy volunteers ages 18 to 64 for respiratory virus research. The Upstate team is working with the National Institutes of Health to develop better influenza vaccines. Participants will be compensated for their time. For more information, email [email protected] or call 315-464-9869.

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Flex Spending Account deadline reminder

Those enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA-Health and Dependent Care) in 2023, have until March 31, 2024 to submit any expenses incurred in 2023 for reimbursement: https://goer.ny.gov/program-information.

Participants will be able to use up to $610 of monies remaining in the 2023 Health Care Spending Account toward eligible expenses incurred during the 2024 calendar year, as long as the account has been open as of Dec. 31, 2023.

In addition, participants will now be able to use the remaining balance in the 2023 Dependent Care Advantage Account toward eligible expenses between Jan. 1 to March 15, 2024. Claims must be submitted by the March 31 deadline.

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REDCap training webinars open for registration

Research Technology Core will hold monthly REDCap training webinars on the second Tuesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. Sessions will alternate between basic and intermediate, beginning with the March 12 Orientation and Basic Surveys and April 9 Advanced Survey Settings and Repeating/Multiple surveys. For a list of all sessions and registration links, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/imt/departments/research-core/redcap.php. Questions? Email Wendi Ackerman at [email protected].

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Enhance students' professional development with global learning experiences

Teachers: Do you want to increase your students’ global and cultural competencies and employability? Learn from international colleagues and their students? If so, consider adding Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) to your courses. For more, visit: https://sunyolis.libguides.com/sunycoil/. No prior experience necessary. For additional information, email Seth Perry at [email protected].

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Nursing News email listserv is open to subscribers

All Upstate nurses are welcome to sign up for Nursing News, an email list that sends two emails per month to keep nursing staff updated on all nursing-related information at Upstate. Nursing News is set the first and third Friday of each month, with additional news shared as needed. To subscribe, visit: http://lists.upstate.edu/mailman/listinfo/nursingnews. Questions? Email Morgan Gaffney at [email protected].

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Stop the Bleed training is available for all staff

Uncontrolled bleeding is the number one cause of preventable death in trauma. Learn to ‘Stop the Bleed’ with direct pressure, wound-packing, and tourniquets. Step 1: Take Stop the Bleed on Brightspace Step 2: Sign-up for Stop the Bleed Skills (15 minutes). Questions? Email [email protected].

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T-shirt sale to benefit Joey’s Wish is Feb. 15

A T-shirt sale to benefit Joey’s Wish will be held Feb. 15 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the second-floor lobby outside Café 750 at Upstate University Hospital. For more information, email [email protected].

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Bioethics and Humanities Journal Club is Feb. 15

The Bioethics and Humanities Journal Club will meet Feb. 15 at noon via Zoom. To register, visit: https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcqcemgqTkoHNX6GEZAg7eQEnAE9vG_WijT. Questions? Email Kathleen Szczech at [email protected].

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Deadline to purchase tickets for the Black History Month Gala is Feb. 16

Upstate Student National Medical Association in collaboration with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will host the annual Black History Month Gala Feb. 24 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Semi-formal attire is requested. Student admission is $40 and general admission is $75. Proceeds will fund student scholarships. The deadline to purchase tickets or a table is Feb. 16 via email at [email protected].

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Transplant Center ribbon cutting is Feb. 16

Upstate Transplant Center will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, Feb. 16 at 12:30 p.m. at Upstate Specialty Services at Harrison Center (550 Harrison Street) to celebrate the relocation to Upstate Specialty Services. Tour and refreshments to follow. Questions? Email Linda Curry at [email protected].

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Yoga for All is Feb. 16, 23, and March 1

Yoga for All is facilitated by Upstate clinicians trained in Trauma Adapted Yoga, a form of yoga based on trauma research, evidence-based yoga therapy and body-based methods with gentle exercises for self-management of common symptoms and reactions. No experience is necessary and all are welcome. Questions? Email [email protected]. The schedule is as follows:

• Feb. 16 from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. in the Performance Center at Upstate Golisano
• Feb. 23 from 12:40 to 1 p.m. in 8405A Upstate University Hospital
• March 1 from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. in the Performance Center at Upstate Golisano
• March 1 from 8:15 to 9 a.m. at Community (exact location forthcoming)

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Pet A Pooch supervisors sought for Feb. 20, 28, 29 and March 19

Pet A Pooch supervisors are needed to escort pets and their humans on the Upstate campus in February. For more information and to sign up, email Deb Emerson at [email protected]. The schedule is as follows:

• Feb. 20 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Upstate University Hospital
• Feb. 28 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Upstate University Hospital
• Feb. 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Upstate University Hospital or ambulatory building
• March 19 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Upstate University Hospital

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Volunteers sought for breakfast service at the Samaritan Center Feb. 21

Join members of Upstate Emerging Leaders United Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 6:15 to 9 a.m. at the Samaritan Center, 215 N. State St., as the group helps with breakfast service. The Samaritan Center mission is No One Goes Hungry. To participate, or for more information, email [email protected] or Scott Neal [email protected].

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Employee Assistance Program to host Hug Your Mug event is Feb. 22

Upstate’s Employee Assistance Program will host Hug Your Mug events Thursday, Feb. 8 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at IHP and Thursday, Feb. 22 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Nappi. Free hot cocoa will be served and EAP committee members will be on site. Questions? Email Deb Emerson at [email protected].

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Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offers Black History Month events Feb. 22 and 27

The Upstate Office of Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will offer a series of events in celebration of Black History Month.

• A session on Structural Racism and Health is planned for 1 to 2 p.m., Feb. 22 in 2331 Weiskotten Hall, featuring Brittany Taylor, community impact director of the American Heart Association.
• Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Personnel panel presentation from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Feb. 27 in 4414 Academic Building. Featured panelists are Davie Bey, managing principal at DKON Consulting; Jamie Lyn Perry, assistant professor of management at Syracuse University and Gwen Webber McLeod, president of Gwen Inc.

Also on tap for Black History Month is the Black History Month Gala Feb. 24 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Crowne Plaza, 701 E. Genesee St., Syracuse.

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Upstate Golisano fundraiser is Feb. 24

Drag Me to the Masquerade, a community fundraiser for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, will be held Saturday, Feb. 24 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Springside Inn, Auburn. Tickets are $85 and include dinner, show, and a masquerade mask. For more information about tickets, email Danielle Bright at [email protected].

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Blood drive is Feb. 28

An on-campus blood drive will be held Wednesday, Feb. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. in the atrium of Setnor. To schedule an appointment, visit: www.upstate.edu/blood. 

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Voya to host financial wellness workshop Feb. 28 and March 1

Voya will host a financial wellness workshop Feb. 28 at noon in 9295 Weiskotten Hall and March 1 at noon in Classroom A/B at Community. The principles of financial wellness, goal setting, protection, spending and saving, maximizing employer benefits, and retirement planning will be discussed. A snack and drink will be provided. To register, visit: https://boblaferriere.timetap.com/#/ and choose the preferred location.

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HealthLink seminar on genetic testing and prostate cancer is Feb. 29

A HealthLink seminar on genetic testing and prostate cancer will be held Feb. 29 at 5 p.m. via WebEx. In partnership with the Upstate Men to Men Prostate Cancer support group, Dr. Gloria Morris will discuss who should consider being tested, what is involved, what a genetic counselor does and how they can help you or loved ones. She will also discuss how genetic testing can lead to earlier identification of men who are at risk for prostate cancer and to more targeted care options for some men. To register, visit: https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIrcumorjMjHdd9iJgo_py_H57-OHGbsAMU

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Well NYS Everyday February challenge is to connect and socializing

Well New York State Everyday is a wellness initiative dedicated to educating, engaging, and empowering New York State employees to choose to eat foods that are healthy for them and to

be physically active. The Well New York State Everyday theme for February is to connect and socialize. For more information on this initiative, please visit: https://oer.ny.gov/wellnys-everyday. If you missed the webinar, a recording can be found here: https://oer.ny.gov/wellnys-everyday-webinars. For more information, email Christine Podolak at [email protected].

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Advocates to accept applications for grant funding in February

The Advocates for Upstate will accept applications for grant funding Feb. 1 to 29. All departments and programs affiliated with Upstate on all campuses are eligible to apply for funding to be used between June 1, 2024 and May 31, 2025. Advocates for Upstate’s mission is to improve patient care and satisfaction, support medical education and enhance community health. Items or services that can be funded through department budgets are not eligible for Advocates Grant Funding. Detailed overview and guidelines along with application forms are available on Advocates for Upstate’s website. For more information, contact Jonathan Adler at [email protected] or 315-464-5610.

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Women in Medicine Symposium is March 1

The Women in Medicine Symposium will be held Friday, March 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in 4414 Academic Building. The keynote address will be delivered by Upstate’s Chief Medical Officer Amy Tucker, MD. A panel discussion moderated by Yolanda King will include: Drs. Cynthia Taub, Keshia Suhail, Ruth Weinstock, Elizabeth Asiago-Reddy, Tanya Paul, Dana Savici; and Tara Mathews. The event will offer breakout sessions, mentorship sessions, and networking. Participants will learn skills in leadership development, negotiation, navigating difficult situations, finding balance with personal and professional life, and ways to accelerate career development. R.S.V.P. by Feb. 23 at: https://womeninmedicine.rsvpify.com. The event is presented by Upstate’s Department of Medicine and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

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Joey’s Wish Bowl-A-Thon is March 2

The second annual Bowl-A-Thon to support Joey’s Wish will be held March 2 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Flamingo Bowl, 7239 Route 57, Liverpool. Tickets are $20 each and include two hours of bowling, shoe rental, pizza, and soda. Joey’s Wish raises funds to support research that aids in ending the addiction crisis. To register, email Ann Morrell at [email protected].

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AOA visiting professor presentation is March 5

Lily Peng, MD, PhD, deputy director, NEJM AI, will present Artificial Intelligence: Bridging the Gap from Bench to Bedside March 5 from noon to 1 p.m. in 2231 Weiskotten Hall. The Upstate community is welcome to attend. The event is sponsored by Upstate’s chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. For more information, email Patty Gooden at [email protected].

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Beyond the Doctorate Research Day is March 6

Beyond the Doctorate Research Day will be held Wednesday, March 6 in 4414 Academic Building. The College of Graduate Studies, Postdoctoral Affairs, and Graduate Medical Education invite the Upstate community to celebrate the research accomplishments of Upstate’s postdocs, residents, and fellows. Questions? Email Shaunna Arnold at [email protected].

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Estate planning lunch and learn is March 8 

The Upstate Foundation will host a lunch and learn on estate planning Friday, March 8 from noon to 12:30 p.m. in C1076 at Upstate Cancer Center. All are welcome to bring a lunch to the event. The session will also be available via Zoom. Carolyn Hendrickson from the Upstate Foundation and Jennifer Alfieri, Esq., from Tompkins Trust Co., will discuss vital estate planning documents, how to ensure families are protected, and how to direct assets. To register, visit: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/f/4kzk/n?vid=13v5zp. Virtual participants will be sent the Zoom link once registered. For more information, contact Carolyn Hendrickson at [email protected].

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Try curling at Upstate charity event March 9

A one-day curling event to benefit Upstate’s Joslin Diabetes Center will be held March 9 at Utica Curling Club in Whitesboro. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the event runs until 3 p.m. Cost is $65 and includes all equipment, instruction, and the donation. The event is geared toward those who have never played and would like to try the Olympic sport of curling. Teams of four are welcome. Upstate family and friends are welcome to join. For more information and to sign up, email Doug Rosenthal at [email protected].

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Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds is March 13

William Meurer, MD, University of Michigan, will present What’s Cooler than Being Cool? The ICECAP Trial in 2024 Wednesday, March 13 from 1 to 2 p.m. at EMSTAT, 550 E. Genesee St. The event will also be available via Zoom. Meurer is principle investigator for the Influence of Cooling Duration on Efficacy in Cardiac Arrest Patients (ICECAP) trial. Upstate is a participant in this SIREN multi-center, NIH-funded study. The Upstate community is welcome. To join via Zoom: https://upstate.zoom.us/j/93163933149?pwd=ZFhIMmJIZE56LzlRQWNvdzBTRUFwZz09. Questions? Call Lauren Pacelli at 315-464-6201.

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Submissions for 37^th annual Dearing Writing Awards competition due March 18

Submissions are sought for the 37^th annual Dearing Writing Awards competition, open to all Upstate students, residents, staff, and faculty. Submissions of fiction, memoir, poetry are welcome by March 18. To submit and for full details, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/bioethics/writing-awards/dearinghome.php. For more information, email Kathleen Szczech at [email protected].

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Library access is through the Sim Center basement until March 22

Library entryway construction is underway until March 22.  All access to the Library is through the basement entrance of the Simulation Center. Signs are posted. Check the library website for updates. Questions? Email Michelle Bowers at [email protected].

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Team Upstate seeks St. Baldrick's participants for March 24

Team Upstate seeks participants to help raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which directly funds pediatric oncology research. The St. Baldrick’s Day event will be held March 24 at Spinning Wheel, 7384 Thompson Rd, North Syracuse. The Upstate community, family and friends are all welcome to join Team Upstate, fundraise, and volunteer to have your head shaved. Participants who sign up prior to March 5 will receive a Team Upstate shirt. Instructions on where to meet will be emailed to registered participants a week prior. For more information, email Abigail Venskus at [email protected]. To join the team or donate visit: https://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/TeamUpstate.

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March is Social Work Month

March is National Social Work Month. The Social Work profession is an essential piece of the Upstate community that supports the diverse psychosocial needs of patients across the healthcare continuum. Social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. Upstate employs over 75 licensed mastered social workers at Upstate University Hospital, Upstate Community Campus, Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and multiple ambulatory and specialty clinics. The 2024 National Social Work Month theme is Empowering Social Workers: Inspiring action, leading change. Social workers are uniquely qualified to help individuals, families, communities, and even the larger society, including advocating when regulations and laws must be changed in order to help people who need it. Social Workers enter the profession because they truly want to help others. Help celebrate the profession of social work by thanking an Upstate social worker in March.

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Submit photos for Hospital Week

In preparation for Upstate’s National Hospital Week celebration May 13 to 17, individual photos are sought for the online gallery and printed materials. Selfies are acceptable and show your Upstate pride. Email photo to [email protected] by March 8^. For more information visit www.upstate.edu/hospitalweek.

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Upstate Frame of Mind focuses on the game Dungeons and Dragons

Robin Dean, PsyD, MSEd, a licensed psychologist in Upstate’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic, and Vince Wong, MD, a second-year child and adolescent psychiatry fellow, will discuss Dungeons and Dragons and how game roleplay offers potential for an effective vehicle for group therapy in the fifth episode of the podcast Upstate Frame of Mind. To listen to the episode, visit: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4j5VCQ9edtDyLP9urNzuep?si=qJcMMI_GSv6ALb92ZdUXbw. Consider liking and subscribing, as it helps others find the podcast. Questions? Email Faiz Kidwai at [email protected].

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The Informed Patient podcast this week: Cold/flu/covid, cochlear implants versus hearing aids, pediatric living kidney donations/transplants

The Informed Patient podcast recently featured interviews with these specialists about screening for a crippling muscular disease, repairing a birth defect and ensuring that prescription drugs are delivered to and taken by patients.

• Why newborns are screened for a crippling disorder – spinal muscular atrophy – is explained by child neurologist Ai Sakonju, MD.
• Treatment to correct cleft lip and cleft palate can start soon after birth. Arthur Bigsby, DDS, discusses the birth defect and the team process to alleviate it. He is a maxillofacial prosthodontist, a specialist in correcting problems of the mouth and face.
• Pharmacists, aware of how procedures, costs and other factors can prevent patients from getting and taking their prescription medications, work in various ways to ensure a smooth process. Christina Hyde, ND, manager of pharmacy utilization and program development, describes the efforts.

The Informed Patient podcast and HealthLink on Air radio show are produced by Upstate Marketing and University Communications. The Informed Patient interviews are available through various podcast platforms, including YouTube. HealthLink on Air is broadcast on WRVO Public Media at 6 a.m. Sundays. Audio and transcripts of the podcasts and the radio shows are also available at upstate.edu/informed.

To suggest an Upstate expert or topic for a possible podcast, email Amber Smith at [email protected].