Upstate offers entrance to Lights on the Lake

As an official sponsor of this year’s Lights on the Lake, Upstate will offer complimentary admission to the event Thursday, Dec. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Onondaga Lake Parkway for individuals with a valid Upstate ID. One vehicle per Upstate ID will be permitted entrance.

Lights on the Lake is a two-mile drive-thru show featuring towering holiday displays, larger-than-life Land of Oz, a twinkling fantasy forest, colorful section arches, memorable animated scenes, and a fairy tale magic grand finale. A valid Upstate ID will be required upon entrance. Happy Holidays!

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Upstate ID for Thanksgiving holiday meal

Meal tickets no longer required

Upstate celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday by providing a complimentary holiday meal to all staff working a shift on this day. Meal tickets are no longer needed. There will be a meat option and a vegetarian option.

Staff working Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, will use their Upstate ID at checkout to receive one meal per person, and all staff who work a shift on the holiday are eligible.

Complimentary holiday meal serving times are the same for Upstate University Hospital and Community and are listed below.

• 5 to 8 a.m. — Thanksgiving breakfast
• 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Thanksgiving lunch
• 4 to 8 p.m. — Thanksgiving dinner

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Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team fundraiser 

The Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team is offering tickets for a chance to win a $1,000 gift card. Money raised supports equipment purchases, staff retention, outreach, and educational opportunities for Upstate’s transport team members. Tickets are $15 each and funds are held at the Upstate Foundation (Fund 35900). To purchase a ticket, see a Pediatric SWAT/Transport Team member or Jessica Falgiatano at [email protected]. Cash or Venmo accepted, do not need to be local to win. Click here for specifics: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zOXJ9Dk4R2kJTv5jinNgCo_rPVzIEplb/view?usp=drive_link.

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Survey to assess opinions on masking in patient care areas

A survey to gauge opinions on masking practices in patient care areas is now open. The survey is part of a research project that will help inform future masking policies to ensure a safe and effective care environment. To access the survey, visit: https://redcap.upstate.edu/surveys/?s=FCTF8NWNATECFANK. Responses are anonymous and participation is voluntary. The survey will close Nov. 30. Questions about the survey? Email Jana Shaw, MD, MPH, at [email protected]. The survey was developed by Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Infection Prevention.

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Shirt sales at Upstate

• The Pediatric Transport Team will hold a shirt sale Thursday, Dec. 5 from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside Café 750 on the second floor of Upstate University Hospital. Questions? Email Jessica Falgiatano at [email protected].
• Connect Care will hold a shirt sale to benefit the patient assistance fund held at the Upstate Foundation. Short-sleeved shirts are $20-23 each and long-sleeved shirts are $25-28. The sale ends Dec. 19. To order, visit: https://upstateconnectcare.myshopify.com. Questions? Email Shanon Marcotte at [email protected].

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Tranquility Tuesday is Nov. 26 and Dec. 3

Tranquility Tuesday will be held today, Nov. 26 and Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 12:30 to 12:45 p.m. on the second floor of Nappi Wellness Institute or virtually via WebEx. Each session is a unique meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, and relaxation practice experience. Questions? Email [email protected] or [email protected]. To join the virtual option, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m4cf0ace0b87237183612a0b6496ca516. Use Meeting ID: 2305 438 7566, Password: jyYW3FriJ74.

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Ambulatory Lecture Series is Nov. 27

The Ambulatory Lecture Series will be held Wednesday, Nov. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. in the fifth-floor conference rooms (5143/5147) at Nappi Wellness Institute. The series focuses on ambulatory departments and clinics and how they help patients, services offered, and how to refer patients to these clinics. The lecture series is also offered via WebEx, here: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=mc9070d3f534f6e3660f8edf04bf9aac2 (meeting number: 2312 223 1466 password: Ambulatory1). Questions? Email Beth Wells at [email protected].

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Pet a Pooch is Nov. 27 and Dec. 2

Staff are welcome to Pet a Pooch Nov. 27 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in 12405A Upstate University Hospital and Dec. 2 from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. in the Community Room at Community. For more information, email Christine Cole at [email protected].

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Holiday closures for Nov. 28 and 29

• Property Management Surplus Warehouse will be closed Nov. 28 and 29. Questions? Email Sean Barkley at [email protected].
• Record Storage Warehouse will be closed Nov. 28 and 29. Questions? Call 315-464-5814 or email [email protected].
• Payroll Services and Human Resources will be closed Nov. 28 and 29. Payroll related questions, email [email protected]. Human Resource questions, submit through AskHR: https://solutions.upstate.edu/TDClient/650/HRPortal/Home/.
• Duplicating and Printing will be closed Nov. 28 and 29. Questions? Email Garrett Stetson at [email protected].
• Office of Volunteer Programs will be closed Nov. 28 and 29. Questions? Email Kristin Bruce at [email protected].

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Open Enrollment for Research Foundation employees open until Nov. 30

The health, dental, vision care plans, and Flex Spending Account open enrollment period for Research Foundation employees is open now through Nov. 30. The Benefits Bulletin (October 2024 edition) was mailed to the homes of all eligible staff. 

Important reminders:

• Print confirmation statements after making any changes for open enrollment.
• Employees MUST re-enroll in flexible spending benefits each year at: www.rfsuny.org/selfservice.
• Employees participating in Dependent Care Spending must elect the subsidy if they wish to receive it.

The Research Foundation Central Office benefits department will host office hours Nov. 15, 22 and 29 from noon to 1 p.m. The open hours are for staff to call in and ask any questions related to open enrollment. Dial-in #: 877-853-5247 Meeting ID: 879 6110 8721. Questions? Email Heidi Steckel at [email protected].

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Applications for 2025 Your Cause charity due Nov. 30

Team Upstate seeks applications for a Central New York agency to be its featured Your Cause charity in 2025. The Your Cause program offers Upstate employees an opportunity to nominate a charity that will be the focus of Upstate volunteer outreach through the year. The 2024 Your Cause agency was Empower Parkinson, Inc. To nominate an agency for the Your Cause sponsorship, individuals need to complete and submit application form by Nov. 30. Team Upstate committee will review applications and announce the winning organization in December. The application is available here: https://www.upstate.edu/teamupstate/your-cause/index.php. Completed applications should be emailed to Nancy Prott in the President’s Office at [email protected].

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Children’s Hospital fundraisers end Nov. 30 and Dec. 31

• Valvoline is raising money for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Now through Nov. 30, stop by Valvoline for an appointment and an opportunity to earn a coupon by donating back to the children’s hospital. Email [email protected] for more.
• Ace Hardware will round up purchases and donate the money to Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital now through the end of 2024. Email [email protected] for more.

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Payroll relocation rescheduled for Dec. 2

Payroll Services will relocate from Jacobsen Hall to the KPH building (formerly the Telergy building) in East Syracuse Monday, Dec. 2. Upstate ID badge inquiries will still be available at Jacobsen Hall, Community, and will be added at the new KPH location. Payroll representation will be available in Jacobsen Hall while that space is converted for its new purpose. Payroll and timekeeping contact information will remain the same. Call 315-464-4840, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. 

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Registration for bioethics conference to open Dec. 2

Registration will open Dec. 2 for the third annual Paul Schyve, MD, Center for Bioethics Conference. The event will take place May 2 and 3, 2025 at the University of Rochester Medical Center Saunders Research Building and School of Nursing. Upstate’s Center for Bioethics and Humanities is an event co-sponsor. A call for abstracts and registration will be forthcoming. For more information now, visit: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/medical-humanities/recent-news-and-events/activities-events/annual-bioethics-conference.aspx.

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Epic information available online and in person Dec. 2 and 23

The Epic systems upgrade was successfully completed Nov. 16. Following the upgrade, staff may have noticed improvements in both system performance and visual appearance. To learn more about the changes and how they may affect your workflow, staff can access detailed resources by visiting the IMT/Epic Resources button on the iPage and searching for Fall 2024 Upgrade.

Staff are invited to stop by the Ask Me About Epic drop-in tables from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

• Dec. 2 at Community Hospital
• Dec. 23 at Upstate University Hospital

For more information or to ask a question, visit https://bit.ly/umutcoe.

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Advanced Practice Grand Rounds is Dec. 3

Lisa Wolniak, RPA-C, and Andrew Weinberg, DO, FACC, will present ECG Pearls and Stress Testing Made Easy Dec. 3, from noon to 1 p.m. To join, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m1645f7b2525de69ea5e8747a57636e17. Questions? Email Tiffany Senke at [email protected]. CME credit will be available for participants. 

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Schwartz Rounds is Dec. 3

Schwartz Rounds will be held Dec. 3 at noon in room ANB at Community. Panelists will present The Balancing Act: Carrying Grief and Joy in Our Care. Discussions will include the emotional complexities of caregiving and how individuals can hold both grief and joy simultaneously in their roles. Panelists will share stories on the emotional weight of loss, while also celebrating moments of connection, growth, and gratitude. The conversation will touch on the importance of self-care, emotional resilience, and finding balance during caregiving challenges.

Schwartz Rounds is open to staff of all departments and offers a compassionate listening environment. 1 CE Hour for participants. All staff regardless of role are welcome. Questions? Email Chaplain Zeynab Mancini at [email protected].

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Giving Tuesday is Dec. 3

Giving Tuesday, the international day of giving, will be held Tuesday, Dec. 3. The Upstate Foundation welcomes individuals to make a gift supporting Upstate’s collective mission of patient care, education, scientific research, and community health and well-being. Matching funds will be available Dec. 3 to double the impact of gifts.

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Retirement reception for Julie White is Dec. 9

A retirement reception for Julie White, PhD, dean of Student Affairs and vice president for Educational Services, will be held Monday, Dec. 9 from 3 to 6 p.m. in the atrium of the Health Sciences Library on the first floor of Weiskotten Hall. The Upstate community is welcome. For more information, email Lori M. Ferguson at [email protected] or Sharon Huard at [email protected].

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Learning from our Neighbors series is Dec. 9

Learning from our Neighbors will be held Dec. 9 at noon in the Performance Center on the 11^th floor of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Kevin Frank, director of the Brady Faith Center, will speak on The Privilege and Proximity in Pastoral Care with our Neighbors. Refreshments will be provided.

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Productivity Enhancement Program for state employees open through Dec. 9

The Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) is open now through Dec. 9 for eligible state employees who are represented by: CSEA, PEF, UUP, PBANYS, NYSCOPBA, and M/C-affiliated. PEP allows eligible employees to exchange previously accrued annual leave (vacation and/or personal leave) in return for a credit to be applied toward their employee share NYSHIP premiums on a biweekly basis for 2025. In no case can the credit available under the program be applied to the employer share of NYSHIP premiums. For more information and enrollment forms, visit: https://solutions.upstate.edu/TDClient/650/HRPortal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=10995 (Upstate login is required). Enrollment closes Dec. 9.

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Open enrollment for the Flex Spending Account Program for state employees is open through Dec. 9

The 2025 Flex Spending Account (FSA) Program open enrollment period for New York state employees is now through Dec. 9 (closing at 11:59 p.m.). To be eligible to enroll in the FSA Program, state employees must be annual salaried, work at least half time, meet the eligibility criteria for enrollment in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP), and be expected to be employed for the entire 2025 calendar year. Please note that if you wish to continue your current enrollment, you will need to re-enroll for the 2025 plan year. For more information and how to enroll, visit: https://oer.ny.gov/how-to-enroll.

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Pelvic health topic for Wellness Speaks Dec. 10

Rebecca Carey, PT, DPT, E-RYT, will present on pelvic health and wellness Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. via WebEx. To register, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/weblink/register/rdd5f46ef36dfcb29275cfbd3a39d64f2. For more information, email Christine Cole at [email protected].

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Nominations sought for Chancellor and President awards due Dec. 16

Nominations are sought for the 2025 SUNY Chancellor’s Awards and Upstate President’s Awards. These honors recognize major contributions to the missions of Upstate Medical University and SUNY. Honorees will be recognized at the 2025 Fall Faculty Convocation. Faculty, students and staff are encouraged to submit nominations. A description of the awards, requirements of the nominations, a list of previous awardees, and the nomination form can be found at https://www.upstate.edu/academic-affairs/about/faculty-awards/index.php. Nominations and supporting documentation must be in PDF format, and the deadline for nominations, including all supporting documentation is Dec. 16, 2024. Questions? Email Cheryl Alger at [email protected].

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Cheers for Peers event is Dec. 19 and 20

Upstate’s Employee Assistance Program and Pathway to Wellness will host Cheers for Peers Dec. 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the cafeteria at Community and Dec. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the second-floor stadium of Nappi Wellness Institute. The event centers around gratitude and celebrating our colleagues. The Upstate community is welcome.

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Yoga for All in December

The Yoga for All schedule for the month of December is as follows:

• Dec. 2 from noon to 12:30 p.m., virtual
• Dec. 5 from noon to 12:45 p.m., 4507 Setnor
• Dec. 6 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., 2151/2153 Nappi Wellness Institute
• Dec. 12 from noon to 12:45 p.m., 4507 Setnor
• Dec. 19 from noon to 12:12:45 p.m., 4507 Setnor
• Dec. 20 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., 2151/2153 Nappi Wellness Institute
• Dec. 27 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m., 2151/2153 Nappi Wellness Institute

For more information and for the virtual link, please email [email protected]. All upcoming sessions are listed on the Upstate Wellness calendar, here: https://calendar.upstate.edu/events/category/wellness/.

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. 

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Nominations for Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service due Feb. 1

Nominations are sought for the 2024-2025 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Classified Service. This award recognizes State classified service employees represented by CSEA, PEF and PBA of NYS for excellence and superior service. Nominations are due Feb. 1 and should be emailed to Megan Chase, HR, at [email protected]. For additional information and nomination form visit: https://solutions.upstate.edu/TDClient/650/HRPortal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=10937.

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Well NYS Everyday for December

Well NYS Everyday for December is to be kind with a random act of gratitude. The corresponding webinar, Share a Random Act of Gratitude, will be held Dec. 11 at noon. To register for the webinar, visit: https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/r42dbaa1306294449e19d43ec2f00cdc5. For more information and to sign up to receive the Well NYS Daily To-Do Challenge by email every day, visit: https://oer.ny.gov/wellnys-everyday. For more information, email Christine Cole at [email protected].