Wellness resources for Upstate

Call 315-464-5273 (4-KARE) is the universal answer to: Who should I call? A 24-hour, free, confidential, comprehensive wellness resource for anyone with an Upstate ID. The phone line, email, and online chat are answered by experienced triage nurses who can provide callers with mental health counseling; spiritual, medical, physical, safety and professional well-being resources; activate the Critical Incident Stress Management team; and connect callers with the Connect Care Clinic to schedule a same day or next day appointment on campus. It is a 24-hour resource for the Upstate community.

To reach 4-KARE via email, send a message to: [email protected].

To begin a live webchat with a triage nurse, visit: https://amtelcoweb1.upstate.edu/ISWeb/Chat504/Chat.html?account=504&dispatch=WebChatTriage.

For more resources, visit the Upstate Well website: https://www.upstate.edu/wellness/.

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Pharmacology lunch and learn is Jan. 28

Pharmacology will host a lunch and learn seminar on the latest advancements in ion channel drug discovery and patch-clamp technology with Sophion Bioscience today, Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 4414A Academic Building. Registration is required for space and to ensure lunch for all attendees by Jan. 21 to Susie at [email protected]. Researchers interested in using their own cells to test on the equipment, email Kyle Wagner at [email protected]. Questions about the event, email Kay Magnarelli at [email protected]. The event will feature a demonstration of Sophion’s semi-automated benchtop patch-clamp system, QPatch Compact. For more, visit: https://sophion.com/products/qpatch-compact/.

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Active Shooter Training is Jan. 29

University Police will host Active Shooter Training sessions Jan. 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room 5002 Nappi Wellness Center with a remote option. To join remotely, click: Join the meeting now and use Meeting ID: 256 382 405 141 and Passcode: 7uZ6jC78. (Additional Active Shooter Training sessions will be held Feb. 5 and 12 in 5143 Nappi Wellness Institute.)

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Center for Bioethics and Humanities Journal Club is Jan. 29

The Center for Bioethics and Humanities Journal Club will be held Jan. 29 at noon via WebEx. Deirdre Neilen, PhD will present. To receive the article to be discussed, email [email protected]. To join the meeting, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=mc130725663236c953281c6bd85f0c8fb.

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Celebration honoring the 175^th birthday of Dr. Sarah Loguen Fraser is Jan. 29

A celebration honoring the 175^th birthday of Dr. Sarah Loguen Fraser will be held Wednesday, Jan. 29 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the ninth-floor auditorium in Weiskotten Hall. Register to attend: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJCiACV1XsmrwVBhw_tLAM3stsq49SLsqXFkAK6gEpmGRKdA/viewform. For more information, email [email protected] or call 315-464-5433.

The program will feature a panel discussion with artists whose work celebrates the intersection of art, healing, and Loguen Fraser's enduring influence. Featured artists include:

• Susan Keeter, an award-winning artist whose work focuses on historical narratives and the contributions of women in medicine.
• Roshele Royster, PhD, ATR-BC, a professor of art therapy at Syracuse University who integrates creativity and mental health in her work, using art to promote emotional healing and resilience.
• Malik Abdoulmoumine, a contributing artist in the acclaimed exhibit This Woman's Work, curated at the Community Folk Arts Center. This exhibit celebrates the rich history of Black women caregivers and healers in Central New York.

The Dr. Sarah Loguen Fraser Alumni Scholarship will be presented to Zuri William (MS2), whose aspirations and achievements embody Dr. Loguen Fraser’s enduring spirit.

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2W lab draw station closing permanently Jan. 31

The laboratory draw station on 2 West at Upstate University Hospital will permanently close Friday, Jan. 31. Staff and patients should use the laboratory draw station on the second floor of Nappi Wellness Institute, Suite 2A. Questions? Email Stacey Keefe at [email protected].

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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. The 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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Nominations sought for Black History Month awards by Feb. 3

Upstate’s Black History Month committee seeks nominations to recognize individuals, groups, and community organizations that have worked to advance the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Upstate and in our community. To nominate, visit: https://forms.office.com/r/8nHa6ckS8X. Nominations are due by Feb.3 and award recipients will be announced the week of Feb.10. Awards will be presented at the SNMA Gala on Saturday, Feb. 22.  Questions? Email [email protected]. 

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22nd annual Pediatric Emergency Medicine Assembly is Feb. 5

The Department of Emergency Medicine will sponsor the 22nd annual Pediatric Emergency Medicine Assembly, scheduled for Wednesday Feb. 5. The event will be held at the Collegian Hotel, 1060 East Genesee Street, Syracuse. To register and see conference details, visit: https://www.eventsquid.com/event/26528.

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2025 Fay Whitney Lectureship is Feb. 5

The 2025 Fay Whitney Lectureship will be held Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the CNY Biotech Accelerator or virtually via livestream. Registration is required. To register, visit: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/7Tlf6A?vid=1h49se. This year’s event features a screening of the documentary Everybody's Work by SHIFT Films, followed by a panel discussion with nursing leaders featured in the film and from Upstate and beyond. The event is complimentary and offers 2.0 contact hours of continuing education through ICNE. All employees, students, and faculty are encouraged to attend. The event is also open to the public. Questions? Email Spencer Champagne at [email protected].

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World Cancer Day event is Feb. 7

Join representatives from Upstate Cancer Center, She Matters, We Matter, and Upstate’s Mammography Van Friday, Feb. 7 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Salt City Market for a World Cancer Day information and screening event. Information tables with valuable resources about cancer prevention, screenings, and treatment will be open for all. The Upstate Mammovan will be onsite from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. offering breast cancer screenings. To schedule a mammogram, call 315-464-2588 or visit: www.upstate.edu/noexcuses. Questions about the event? Email Chris Benton at [email protected].

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Women in Medicine symposium is Feb. 7

The Department of Medicine will host the second annual Women in Medicine symposium Friday, Feb. 7 from 5 to 9 p.m. in 4414 B/C Academic Building. The first hour is a networking event. The symposium will celebrate achievements, share stories, and discuss challenges faced by women in the field of medicine.  Juliet Aires Giglio—a screenwriter, novelist and tenured professor at SUNY Oswego where she teaches screenwriting—will deliver the keynote address: Lessons learned from Hollywood to real life and to Medicine. To register, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-in-medicine-tickets-1203668768689?aff=oddtdtcreator. Questions? Email Nitch Jones at [email protected].

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Upstate Cancer Center funding applications due Feb. 7

Applications for the Upstate Foundation’s Cancer Center Annual Fund funding are due Friday, Feb. 7 by noon. This small-project funding is for programs that enhance the patient experience at Upstate Cancer Center, clinics, and satellite locations. Guidelines and applications are available here: https://forms.office.com/r/rns3xdEVnZ. All details can be entered in electronic format. The Cancer Center Annual Fund is supported through donations from grateful patients and their families, as well as members of the Upstate family and the community. Questions? Email Pamela Wells at [email protected].

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Friend in Deed funding applications due Feb. 7

Applications for the Upstate Foundation’s Friend in Deed funding are due Friday, Feb. 7 by noon. Friend in Deed funding is for projects that enhance the patient experience at Upstate hospitals and clinics. Guidelines and applications are available here: https://forms.office.com/r/x9UJeQCS74. All details can be entered in electronic format. Friend in Deed is the annual fund for the hospitals and is largely supported through donations from grateful patients and their families, as well as members of the Upstate family and the community.

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Radiothon for Kids seeks volunteers for Feb. 11 and 12

The Radiothon for Kids to benefit Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital will be held Feb. 11 and 12 from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the lobby of Upstate University Hospital. Volunteers are sought in two-hour shifts. Refreshments and parking passes will be provided. To sign up to volunteer by the Feb. 8 deadline, visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A45ABAE2DA6F5C07-54456970-radiothon#/. For more information about Radiothon for Kids, visit: https://www.upstatefoundation.org/GCHRadiothon. Questions? Email Cynthia Rotella at [email protected].

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Cooking session on healthy eating for diabetes is Feb. 12

A hands-on cooking session demonstrating techniques for creating a diabetes-friendly recipe will be held Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the teaching kitchen at Nappi Wellness Institute. The event is free and open to the public. To register by Feb. 10 at noon, call Upstate Connect at 315-464-8668. A chef will discuss ingredients for a specific recipe while a registered dietician talks about the nutritional benefits. The presenters will answer questions about diabetes-friendly cooking throughout the session. All are welcome but registration is required.

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Valentine campaign to benefit Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital ends Feb. 14

Burger Kings throughout Syracuse, Binghamton, Watertown, and Rome/Utica (Carrols Corporation-operated) will hold their annual Valentine campaign to benefit Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Purchase a Valentine sheet now through Feb. 14 for a $1 donation and get $6 worth of free coupons in return. Coupons may be used from Feb. 14 to March 31. For more information, contact Danielle Bright at [email protected].

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Data literacy courses to be held via Brightspace beginning Feb. 18

Data literacy courses designed for higher education professionals will be offered by SUNY’s Center for Professional Development (CPD). The courses will be available online via Brightspace and are ideal for faculty, staff, and administrators who want to build confidence and competence in using data for strategic decision-making and storytelling. 

• Fundamentals of Working with Data covers the basics of data analysis and governance, and will be offered Feb. 18 to March 31 or May 13 to June 23
• Storytelling with Data focuses on translating data insights into impactful narratives, and will be offered April 1 to May 12 or June 24 to Aug. 4

Upstate is a member of SUNY’s CPD, which allows for discounted pricing of $300 per course when registering for one; $260 per course when participants register for both courses at the same time. To pay with CPD Points, please contact your campus points contact to determine points eligibility.  Click here for more information and for registration. Questions? Email Courtnee Corcoran at [email protected].

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Black History Month Gala is Feb. 22

Upstate’s Black History Month Gala will be held Feb. 22 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Sky Armory, downtown Syracuse. Black Hollywood Glam: Lights, Camera, Revolution will feature Samantha Williams, MD, an Upstate graduate, as keynote speaker. Tickets are $75 general admission, $50 for students and trainees, and $40 for members of Upstate’s Student National Medical Association. Tickets include cocktail hour, dinner, awards, entertainment. Proceeds from ticket sales will fund student scholarships. Tickets will be sold Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays from noon to 2 p.m. on the first floor of the Academic Building. To reserve a table for eight, email [email protected] with the names of all attendees after purchasing tickets. Formal attire is requested. Questions about the event? Email [email protected].

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Drag Brunch for Upstate Golisano is Feb. 22

The 7^th annual Drag Brunch to benefit Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital will be held Saturday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Springside Inn in Auburn. This year's theme is Back to the 80s. Tickets are $55 and include one show (at either time) and brunch. Raffles will be available at the event. For more information on how to get tickets, please contact Danielle Bright at [email protected].

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Advocates seek applications for grant awards by Feb. 28

Applications for the Advocates for Upstate’s Grant Funding Program are due Feb. 28 at noon. Awards will be announced in May and funds disbursed between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026. Applications for grants are accepted from departments across Upstate Medical University and must be used for items and/or services not funded through department budgets. Review guidelines and find application form, here: https://www.upstate.edu/advocates/grants-scholarships/grant-application.php. All applications must be submitted via email, along with any questions, to [email protected].

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Student Research Day is March 12

Student Research Day will be held March 12 and will spotlight student researchers in Upstate’s Colleges of Graduate Studies, Medicine, Health Professions, and Nursing. The event includes oral presentations, a keynote address, and a poster session. The deadline to submit an abstract to be considered for an oral presentation is Sunday, Jan. 12 by 11:59 p.m. Poster presentation submissions are due by Wednesday, Feb. 12 by 11:59 p.m. To register, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/grad/students/srday-form.php. Questions? Email [email protected].

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Submissions for 38th annual Dearing Writing Awards competition due March 17

The Center for Bioethics and Humanities seeks submissions for the 38th annual Dearing Writing Awards competition now through March 17. Works of fiction, poetry, and memoir on any topic are welcome. The competition is open to all Upstate staff, faculty, residents, and matriculated students.

Submit two copies: one copy including the writer’s name, home address, email address, telephone number, and category; students should indicate their college and class year. The second copy should include only the title and category with the work. One entry per writer, maximum of 2,500 words double-spaced for essays and fiction, and no more than 5 poems. Send submissions to Andrea Chiaravalloti at [email protected]. Winners will receive a monetary award. All submissions receive consideration for the Center for Bioethics and Humanities annual journal, The Healing Muse. For more on the journal, visit: www.thehealingmuse.org.

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Kingston Syracuse Pathway Conference is March 27 and 28

The Kingston Syracuse Pathway Conference will be held March 27 and 28 at The Lodge in Skaneateles Falls. The conference is free and participants can register for one or both days, here: Eventbrite Registration. All Upstate researchers and those interested in the cross-border research and innovation collaborative partnership are welcome.

• Thursday, March 27 features a buffet dinner and cocktails, a discussion on psychedelic research by keynote speaker Claudio Soares, MD, from Queen’s University, and a Start-up Company Pitch Competition for early-stage innovators. Pitch Applications are accepted now through February 27.
• Friday, March 28 includes presentations on growth strategies of academic health centers, new product development, aging/wellness/rehabilitation, prenatal mental health, cancer, and end-stage drug therapeutics in the academic setting.

For a full agenda and speaker details, visit: https://cnybac.com/education/4th-annual-kingston-Syracuse-pathway-conference. Questions? Email Kathi Durdon at [email protected].

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Pathway to Wellness announcements

• Tranquility Tuesday will be held Jan. 28, Feb. 4, and every Tuesday, from 12:30 to 12:45 p.m. on the second floor of Nappi Wellness Institute or virtually via WebEx. To join the virtual option, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m4cf0ace0b87237183612a0b6496ca516 and use meeting ID: 2305 438 7566 and password: jyYW3FriJ74. Each session is a unique meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, and relaxation practice experience. Questions? Email [email protected] or [email protected].
• Yoga for All will be held Jan. 31 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. in 2151/2153 Nappi Wellness Institute. For more information and for the virtual link, please email [email protected]. 
• Pet a Pooch is Feb. 3 from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. in the Community Room at Community. Pet a Pooch is for Upstate staff only.
• The Well NYS Everyday theme for February is to reset. The webinar Unlocking Success with Tracking Behaviors will be held Feb. 3 at noon. To register, visit: https://meetny-gov.webex.com/webappng/sites/meetny-gov/meeting/register/7ec8164756104cfeb4f4d5661db8d0a0?ticket=4832534b000000056ce312c6623ee7fbb99d6b21de1ac33852b6c5c861e830be42f2e6ebb4e1d9a0&timestamp=1737989341790&RGID=rca766b7fa8c2c7752b301736b7eb88e0&isAutoPopRegisterForm=false.
• New for 2025, a Well NYS Weekly Challenge begins every Monday and ends on Sunday. Participants who complete at least five days of the weekly challenge may share experience on the I Did It portal, visit: https://oer.ny.gov/i-did-it. For more information on the weekly challenge and to sign-up to receive the Well NYS Daily To-Dos by email every day, please visit: https://oer.ny.gov/wellnys-everyday. For more information, email Christine Cole at [email protected].
• Save the date: Yoga for healthcare staff wellbeing. Yoga for healthcare staff wellbeing, a two-day experiential workshop, will be held May 16 and 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Performance Center on the 11^th floor of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. The workshop is free. A donation to the Upstate Well fund is welcome. Rebecca Alexander Carey, PT, DPT, and Nayla Khoury, MD, will offer wellness strategies to healthcare staff for personal self-care and to foster healthy interactions with patients and colleagues for improved wellbeing. For more information on the workshop and to register, email [email protected].

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Apparel and flower sale information

• In support of the Heart and Vascular education and employee recognition fund, long- and short-sleeve shirts will be available for purchase today, Jan. 28 from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. outside Café 750 at Upstate University Hospital. Questions? Email Kristen Iglesias at [email protected].
• Long-sleeve "get pumped" shirts in pink and black, short-sleeve "mental health matters" shirts, and short-sleeve orange Syracuse shirts are available in limited sizes. Sales will be held Jan. 29 from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. outside Café 750 at Upstate University Hospital and Jan. 30 from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. near the employee entrance at Community. Email [email protected] for more information. Proceeds support the efforts of Upstate’s Nursing Excellence Council.
• Vasculary Surgery is selling shirts online, here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/vascular-surgery/. Proceeds will be used for education and research. Questions? Email Courtney Martuscello at [email protected].

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SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund applications sought

Applications are sought for the SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF). The fund supports the advancement of SUNY innovations from the lab to the marketplace. Upstate will select two projects to submit to TAF and investments are awarded through a competitive process that evaluates each technology for innovativeness, market potential, and financial viability. The applications are due in March. Questions? Email Christopher Neville at [email protected]. For more information, visit: https://www.suny.edu/impact/research/taf/.

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Save the date: Beyond the Doctorate Research Day

Beyond the Doctorate Research Day will be held Wednesday, April 9 from 1 to 5:30 p.m. The deadline for oral abstract submissions is Feb. 2. The deadline for paster abstract submissions is March 23. To register, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/postdoc/postdoc-life/bdrday-form.php. Questions? Email Shaunna Arnold at [email protected].

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The Informed Patient podcast

The Informed Patient podcast recently featured an interview with surgeon Callistus Ditah, MD, and nurse Lauren Calloway.

• The aortic valve in our heart helps keep the blood flowing in the correct direction through the heart. A damaged or diseased valve can affect blood flow to the rest of the heart and body. Callistus Ditah, MD, an assistant professor of surgery at Upstate specializing in thoracic, or chest, surgery, goes over the methods of repairing an aortic valve and the alternative, replacement with either tissue or a mechanical valve.

• Oncology nurse Lauren Calloway from the Upstate Cancer Center received the first annual Beth Baldwin Oncology Nurse award. She explains what she loves about her chosen specialty.

For more on The Informed Patient, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/informed.