Collection drive for Your Cause 2023 charity begins this week

Upstate’s 2023 Your Cause charity recipient is Francis House, a hospice home to individuals with terminal illnesses. Upstate will hold a collection drive for key items from now until April 7. 

Products needed most are: unscented baby wipes, brownie mixes, Chapstick and lip balms, coffee, cookie mix, dry soup packets, fabric softener, Febreze air freshener spray linen and sky, grocery store gift cards, fruit, granola bars, juices (64 ounces), paper towels, protein bars, and surgical masks.  

Collection boxes will be located in the following areas: 

• Upstate University Hospital, Nursing Business Affairs Room 1105 and 6K/6H
• Upstate Cancer Center, main lobby
• Weiskotten Hall, main lobby
• Community, west lobby/staff entrance 
• Upstate Child Care Center
• Joslin Diabetes Center
• EM-STAT, room 200E 
• UHCC, 2^nd floor adult medicine kitchen
• 550 Harrison, Suite 1
• Telergy Building, third floor

For more information, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/specialevents/collection-drive.php.

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Input sought from Epic users 

Input is sought from Epic users on how Epic impacts wellbeing and suggested changes are welcome. To submit feedback, visit: SUNY Upstate 2023 EHR Experience Survey (qualtrics.com).

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Celebration of the Faculty is March 28

Upstate’s Celebration of the Faculty will be held today, March 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. in 4414 B/C of the Academic Building. New, promoted, and emeritus faculty, in addition to Gold Standard Award winners, will be honored. To R.S.V.P., visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3HQYXXN. Questions? Email Kelly Donovan at donovake@upstate.edu. 

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Student Research Day is March 29

The Charles R. Ross Memorial Student Research Day will be held March 29 from 1 to 5:30 p.m. in two locations. The keynote address and oral presentations will be held in 9295 Weiskotten Hall and poster presentations will be held in 4414 A/B/C Academic Building following afternoon presentations. For more information, contact Shaunna Arnold at ArnoldSh@Upstate.edu or 315-464-4547.

The event features student presentations from: Rachel Aber, Christopher Trevisani, Aya Kobeissi, Yetunde Kayode, and Arnav Rana. The keynote address—Building a Career in Rare Disease—will be presented by Samuel Mackenzie, MD, PhD, National Institute of Mental Health and University of Rochester Medical Center, at 3 p.m. Mackenzie is a Class of 2015 Upstate Alumnus.

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Retirement reception for Kris Brindak is March 29

A retirement reception for Kris Brindak will be held March 29 from 1 to 3 p.m. in 1328B Upstate University Hospital. Brindak has worked as a clinical educator in Professional Development and Learning for 15 years, previously worked in the Clinical Research Unit, and has been a registred nurse at Upstate for more than 31 years. The Upstate community is welcome. Questions? Email Sara LaPointe at LaPointS@Upstate.edu. 

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Upstate Foundation celebrates National Doctors’ Day March 30

The Upstate Foundation, as part of its Grateful Patient and Family Program, will celebrate its 12^th National Doctors’ Day on March 30. The Foundation will distribute tributes from Upstate University Hospital patients recognizing their doctors’ dedication to providing the highest quality and compassionate health care to our community.

National Doctors’ Day was established to recognize physicians, their hard work and their contributions to society and the community. Each year, hundreds of grateful patients pay tribute to their Upstate physicians for their service, skill, and compassion. These handwritten accolades will be distributed to honor the doctors who provided such exceptional care. The Upstate Foundation extends its appreciation to all our healthcare professionals for your kindness and commitment.

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Neuro Research Day is March 31

Neuro Research Day will be held Friday, March 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 2231 Weiskotten Hall. The symposium will feature Upstate faculty, students, and residents covering basic and clinical neuroscience research. Invited speakers include Jayeeta Basu from New York University, Oliver Bracko from University of Miami, and Peng Jiang from Rutgers University. The event is presented by Neurosurgery and the Neuroscience Graduate Program. For more information on the event, visit: www.upstate.edu/neuroresearchday. 

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Undergraduate Medical Education presentation is March 31

Karen Lounsbury, PhD, professor of pharmacology at University of Vermont, will present Active Learning in Undergraduate Medical Education: What Is It and How You Can Do It March 31 at noon in 4414 B/C Academic Building. The event is open to anyone involved with or interested in undergraduate medical education. Lunch will be provided and RSVP is requested: RSVP HERE. Questions? Email Theresa Stowell at stowellt@upstate.edu.

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Deadline for Flex Spending claim submissions is March 31

Employees who contributed to a Flex Spending Account in 2022 must submit all unpaid claims no later than March 31, 2023 for all qualifying expenses incurred from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2022. Any remaining funds up to the IRS limit from the previous year will then carry over into the current plan year’s account balance with our new administrator after the runout period end date. The IRS carryover limit is $570 for 2022. To download claim forms or other documents, please go to Program Materials | Office of Employee Relations (ny.gov)  

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National Public Health Week celebration at Community is April 3 to 6

In recognition of National Public Health Week, held the first week of April, informational tables will be featured April 3 to 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Upstate Community Hospital. The schedule for topics, displays and education is as follows. 

• April 3: burn safety, public health system, safe kids, employee assistance, CPR, VR for wellness, and vaccines.
• April 4: parenting, child abuse, tobacco use solutions, staff wellbeing, herbs and spices, healthy eating, CPR/AED education, trauma response.
• April 5: advanced directives, Oasis and HealthLink, healthy relationships and sexual assault, kidney health, poison prevention, Upstate Triage, and Public Health Hotline.
• April 6: Bee Campus information, volunteerism, opioid use disorder education, spiritual care and reiki.

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Pet a Pooch seeks session supervisors beginning April 5

Upstate’s Wellness Program has scheduled Pet a Pooch animal support sessions each month to help staff de-stress. Session supervisors are sought to escort the dog volunteers and their humans to designated locations and stay with them during the sessions. Pet a Pooch sessions are held at Upstate University Hospital and Upstate Community Hospital. For more information or to volunteer, email Deb Emerson at EmersonD@Upstate.edu. To find out more about Pet a Pooch, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/wellness/. 

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Workshop on substance use disorder and recovery is April 5

The Interprofessional Education Leadership Team will host Substance Use Disorder and Recovery April 5 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. via Zoom. The discussion will be facilitated by Caitlin M. Nye, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CHSE. Expert panelists include: Gita Ramamurthy, MD; Tom Ringwood, NP; Theresa Baxter, NP; Moira Strouse, BA. To register and receive a Zoom link, send your name and email address to Sue Davie at upstatesimulation@upstate.edu. 

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Child Life 101 Workshop is April 6

Upstate’s Child Life Program will host the Child Life 101 Workshop April 6. The virtual workshop is free and open to high school juniors and seniors, and college students interested in learning about the role of a child life specialist in a hospital setting. Registration is due by March 31. For more information, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/gch/patients-families/child-life/student-opps.php.

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TEDx SUNY Upstate event is April 6

TEDx SUNY Upstate will present Unspoken Voices April 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the CNY Biotech Accelerator Theater. Listen to speakers bring out the full chorus of harmony and dissonance in our discourse that we need in order to celebrate our differences through our perspective and identities rather than letting it pull us apart. To register, visit: https://www.tedxsunyupstate.org. 

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Blood drives are April 6, 7 and 11

Upstate will host blood drives April 6, 7 and 11. To register, visit www.Upstate.edu/BloodDrive. The schedule is as follows: 

• April 6 from noon to 5 p.m. in the atrium of Setnor Hall
• April 7 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Performance Center, 11^th floor of Upstate Golisano
• April 11 from noon to 5 p.m. in the cafeteria at Community

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Property Management Surplus Warehouse is now closed, will relocate April 7

The Property Management Surplus Warehouse, formerly located at 160 Ainsley Dr., will relocate and open April 7 at a new location: 1001 East Water St. Warehouse hours will be Fridays from 8 to 11 a.m. and parking will be located on the Erie Blvd. side of the building. The Ainsley Drive location is now closed. For more information, email Sean Barkley at BarkleyS@Upstate.edu.

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Final OneDrive training session is April 7

The final OneDrive training session offered by Upstate IMT will be held April 7. To attend, register at: https://www.upstate.edu/pdl/intra/register/index.php?topicid=165455 or watch a recording at https://upstate.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/t/1_8numzt8a. Additional resources include self-paced learning at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/m365-onedrive-collaboration-use/introduction. 

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Schwartz Rounds is April 11

April is the Cruelest Month—Coping with Staff Suicides will be held April 11 at noon via Zoom. Schwartz Rounds is open to everyone at Upstate. Those willing to share a personal experience during this session are asked to email Brigid Dunn at DunnBrig@Upstate.edu.

To add to your calendar, click: https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/tJwvcuitrjgoE9JtA2lqO8Sa4aPMF0CYixhF/ics?icsToken=98tyKuCgrD4rH9SWshCBRow-AI_4d-_ziHZBj_p3iD63DzF8OjD3YuNyH5QvM-HZ. To join Schwartz Rounds from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device: https://upstate.zoom.us/j/98251503296.

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Upstate Cancer Center Spring Fling is April 13

Upstate Cancer Center will host Spring Fling, a mini-health fair April 13 from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by to learn more about financial counseling, nutrition counseling, spiritual care, survivorship, psychosocial oncology, We/She Matter(s), and more. For more information, email Christine Benton at BentonCh@Upstate.edu.

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REACH mental health workshop is April 13

Upstate’s mental health initiative REACH will hold a workshop April 13 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. REACH, funded by the Patrick Lee Foundation from Buffalo, NY, aims to increase the capacity of primary and family medicine providers of all profiles (MD, DO, NP, PA) in Central New York to systematically screen, identify, treat, and refer patients suffering from mental health disorders. 

The educational program comprises of a one-day intense workshop followed by optional biweekly electronic education (one hour) using the Project ECHO platform where providers can join and discuss cases from their practice with our faculty.

The program is free for all participants and the intensive workshop is awarded 6.00 AMA PRA category 1 credits. The number of participants for the intensive workshop is limited and we are encouraging early registration.

For more information about REACH, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/psych/education/reach.php. To register to participate in the April 13 workshop, visit: 

https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcrdeuprj4jE93yjRj8blICkxsxRTofWgeU. Email questions to Marcy Guzik at guzikm@upstate.edu.

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Bioethics and Humanities Reiss Family Lectureship events are April 13 and 14

Upstate’s Center for Bioethics and Humanities will host the inaugural Reiss Family Lectureship in Ethics and Equity April 13 and 14 in person and online. This inaugural event will feature Stephanie Tillman, CNM, a nationally-recognized expert on trauma-informed care and reproductive justice. Tillman will present three talks. The schedule is as follows: 

• April 13 from 8 to 9 a.m. in 103 Weiskotten Hall and online. CME credits will be available. Topic: Trauma-Informed Intimate Exams: (re)Considering Consent
• April 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the community room at Salt City Market. Topic: Trauma-Informed Abortion Care: Community Partnerships
• April 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 2244 Academic Building and online. CE credit will be available. Topic: Trauma-Informed Care Scripting: A Case Study of Chaperones for Intimate Examinations

To register for the presentations, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/bioethics/education/reiss-lectureship.php. Questions? Email Andrea at ChiaraAn@Upstate.edu. 

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Organ Donor Council seeks donations for silent auction by April 14

Upstate’s Organ Donor Council will host a virtual silent auction from April 17 through 21. Donations are sought by April 14. Prizes will be awarded to the most creative, most lucrative, and best theme auction item. To arrange to have a donation picked up, call 315-464-9093 or email Shortsle@upstate.edu. Proceeds from the auction will be used to promote organ donation, educate the public on the donation process, and register new donors. 

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Joey’s Wish Spring Fling is April 15

Joey’s Wish Spring Fling will be held April 15 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the VFW in Mattydale. The event will feature a DJ, food trucks, vendors, raffles, a Karaoke contest, and more. Tickets are $20 and a portion of ticket sales will benefit the Upstate Foundation. All are welcome. 

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Concussion Symposium to be held April 17

Upstate’s fourth annual Concussion Symposium will be held April 17 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Institute for Human Performance. Concussion Through the Continuum: Current Concepts in Managing Acute Injury to Complex Recovery will offer CME credits to participants. Registration is $50; $10 for students. To register, visit: www.upstate.edu/cme. 

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Easy for You is April 18

Easy for You, Upstate's tobacco treatment program, will be held April 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 7335B Upstate University Hospital. Those with an Upstate ID are welcome to receive help quitting tobacco, chew, or vape. Free nicotine replacement therapy is available. For more information contact Theresa or Carolyn Walczyk at 315-464-3519 or walczykc@upstate.edu.

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Upstate Cancer Center FRC Open House is April 27

Sarah Lawler, clinical outreach librarian, will host an open house April 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Family Resource Center on the first floor of Upstate Cancer Center. Lawler will share information about the services she provides patients and their families. Attendees will receive a special book. The Family Resource Center houses pre-printed materials, brochures, books, and computers for patient use. For more information, email Christine Benton at BentonCh@Upstate.edu.

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Pathway to Wellness announcements for April

To join the following events, use this link unless otherwise noted: https://upstate.webex.com/meet/brisks.

• Waste Not 2.0—Sustainability and Waste Reduction is April 3 at 3 a.m. Heather Farkas from Morrison will talk about the Waste Not program implemented at Upstate.
• Narcan training is April 4 at 10 a.m. with experts from CNY Area Health Education Center and Onondaga County Department of Health. Learn signs of an opioid overdose and how to administer Narcan. Free Narcan kits will be mailed to participants after the 10-minute session.
• Create and Stick to a Budget is April 5 at noon. The 30-minute session will discuss a monthly budget that assigns every dollar to a budget category, including: bills, debt, savings, giving, allowance. Tips will be offered on how to stick to a budget once it’s created. To register, visit: https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/rf8d130897facbbbcbed112e38410aabf.
• Orientation to Wellness at Upstate is April 7 at noon. Suzanne Brisk will discuss wellness options, including: SUNY PERKS, Well NYS Every Day, self-care ideas, CAB gym facilities.
• Managing Stress without Smoking/Vaping is April 10 at 10 a.m. Theresa Hankin, RRT, NCTTS, will discuss managing stress instead of using nicotine products.
• Humor for 10 minutes is April 11 at 2 p.m. Laughter is the best medicine and April is stress month.
• What is Upstate KAREs? Is April 25 at noon. Joey Angelina will discuss Upstate KAREs, a new wellness hotline established for anyone with an Upstate ID. Angelina will explain the hotline, the services it provides, and what happens when someone calls 315-464-KARE.
• Mindful Leader—Micro Meditation on Sound is April 27 at 2 p.m. Take five minutes to practice focusing on sound, a gentle practice to help with focus and mindfulness.
• Get into the Zone with Emotional Intelligence is April 28 at noon. Mickey Lebowitz, MD, will discuss emotional intelligence, EI, and the zone. He will provide tips to help get someone back into the zone.

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SUNY Campus Climate Survey to take place in April

SUNY Upstate maintains a deep commitment to addressing and preventing sexual and interpersonal violence on campus, and understanding the climate is an important step in this process. We will conduct the biennial SUNY Campus Climate Survey from April 10 to 30 to better understand Upstate Community members’ experiences with sexual and interpersonal violence, and their awareness of policies, reporting options, and support services available on and off campus. Hearing the experiences and perspectives from as many folks as possible is critical in our effort.

Campus community members will receive the link to the survey in an email from Survey@suny.edu. To demonstrate legitimacy and guard against spam or false emails, the Climate Survey email will include the first name of the recipient and be sent to the e-mail address they maintain on file with their campus. For more information about the Campus Climate Survey, email Title IX Coordinator and Institutional Equity Officer Katie King at kingkath@upstate.edu. 

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Save the date: Upstate Cancer Center retreat is May 19

The Upstate Cancer Center annual retreat will be held May 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in C1076 A/B/C on the first floor of the center. Pawel Kalinski, MD, PhD, will present Reprogramming Tumor Microenvironments to Sensitize Cold Tumors to Immunotherapy at 11 a.m. To R.S.V.P. and for more information, email Kelly Kilpeck at KilpeckK@Upstate.edu.

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Upstate seeks volunteers for CMV infection study

Upstate seeks volunteers for a clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of a new Moderna mRNA CMV vaccine in healthy adolescents and adult females 16 to 40 years of age. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) causes asymptomatic infection and mononucleosis-like illness in healthy adults. Congenital CMV occurs in 30-35 percent of mothers who acquire primary CMV infection during pregnancy. Maternal infection in the first half of pregnancy is associated with the highest risk for severe manifestations of congenital CMV in the infant. Currently, no vaccine is available to prevent CMV infection. To learn details about participating in the clinical trial, contact the study coordinator at 315-802-1105 oranwarn@upstate.edu.

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The Informed Patient podcast  

The Informed Patient podcast recently featured interviews on emergency room congestion, local health concerns and a drug that has recently appeared on local streets.

• How the pandemic contributed to longer waits at emergency rooms is explained by Bill Paolo, MD, chair of emergency medicine.
• Onondaga County’s top health problems – including obesity and drug abuse -- are outlined by county Health Commissioner Katie Anderson, MD, PhD, who is also an Upstate faculty member.
• The dangers of a new street drug, xylazine, are discussed by Ross Sullivan, MD, director of medical toxicology.

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, and 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 www.Upstate.edu/Informed. To suggest an Upstate expert or topic, email Amber Smith at SmithAmb@Upstate.edu.