Students organize Syria and Turkey Earthquake Relief Fund

Several Upstate student organizations have formed a coalition to raise money and provide medical relief for the Syria and Turkey Earthquake Relief Fund. The coalition will match donations up to a total of $500. All proceeds will go directly to aiding communities on the frontline through the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS). Donations to the Syria and Turkey Earthquake Relief Fund will help SAMS address this immediate need by providing trauma supplies and developing a comprehensive emergency response to save lives and treat the injured. The fund is held at the Upstate Foundation.

To donate, visit https://www.upstatefoundation.org/EarthquakeRelief. Questions? Email Katie Farkouh at FarkouhK@Upstate.edu.

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Pet a Pooch seeks session supervisors

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 at 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/.

Upcoming sessions in need of supervisors are as follows:

• March 1 from 12:45 to 2:30 p.m. at Community Room, Community
• March 29 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Upstate Cancer Center
• April 5 from 12:45 to 2:30 p.m. at Community Room, Community
• April 5 from 12:45 to 2:30 p.m. in 5523 Upstate University Hospital
• April 20 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 3241 Community Hospital
• April 26 from 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Upstate Cancer Center

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SAVE THE DATE: Concussion Symposium to be held in April

Upstate’s fourth annual Concussion Symposium “Concussion Through the Continuum: Current Concepts in Managing Acute Injury to Complex Recovery” will be held April 17 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Institute for Human Performance. CME credits will be offered. Registration is $50; $10 for students. Registration information will be forthcoming.

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Pathway to Wellness events

• Mindful Leader Cultivating Compassion Meditation is Feb. 16 at noon for 10 minutes.
• Orientation to Wellness at Upstate is Feb. 21 at noon for 20 minutes. SUNY PERKS, Perks Online Academy, Well NYS Everyday, and other wellness opportunities will be discussed.
• 10 minutes of Humor is Feb. 27 at 10 a.m.

To join the above events, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/meet/brisks.

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Upstate Foundation iHeart Radiothon is Feb. 15

The Upstate Foundation iHeart Radiothon to benefit patient needs at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital continues today, Feb. 15 in the lobby of Upstate University Hospital. For more information, call Danielle Bright at latourda@upstate.edu or Cynthia Rotella at rotellac@upstate.edu.

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Harvard physician speaks on caring for patients with disability Feb. 17

Lisa I. Iezzoni, MD, MSc, professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, will present Physicians’ Experiences with and Perceptions of Caring for Patients with Disability Feb. 17 at noon via Zoom. Dr. Iezzoni is a member of the National Academy of Medicine in the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and is the 2022/23 Sally Starling Seaver Fellow at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. She has published widely on health care experiences of persons with disabilities.

To join the event, visit: https://upstate.zoom.us/j/93345013818?pwd=NzRJNlZzekJaNmZqY1kycm1BdVY5QT09 or https://upstate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 933 4501 3818 and password: 422467. For more information, contact Patty Gooden at GoodenPa@upstate.edu. This presentation is sponsored by students in the Upstate chapter of AOA, the national medical honor society.

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Virtual Nursing Grand Rounds is Feb. 21

Examining the Impact of Implicit Bias on Nurses’ Experiences and Patient Outcomes will be presented by Caitlin Nye MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CHSE and Florence Mandebvu DNP, RN, GCNS-BC, Tuesday, Feb. 21 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. To join, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m4b986dc5ac699625d4c3372145625332Meeting number: 2311 917 7377 Password: XJde8rRU5g8.  

The presentation will be recorded for viewing via Brightspace Nursing Grand Rounds (NGR) Course. Registration is not required. 1.0 contact hour will be awarded by the ICNE. For more information, email Holly Briere at BriereH@Upstate.edu or visit: https://www.upstate.edu/nursing/prof-dev/comm_mtgs/grand-rounds/index.php.

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Installation of evening chaplain is Feb. 21

Join Upstate’s Spiritual Care for an installation ceremony for Rev. Alisa Unell, new evening chaplain, Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. in the Interfaith Chapel on the first floor of Upstate University Hospital. Fellowship and food will follow the installation ceremony. R.S.V.P. to Nic MacLane at 315-464-4687.

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Event supports Burn Camp for Upstate’s pediatric burn survivors and Clark Burn Center staff Feb. 24

The Burn Foundation of CNY Night at the Syracuse Crunch game versus the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Upstate Medical University Arena. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds benefit the Burn Foundation of CNY in support of Burn Camp, an annual burn camp weekend for burn survivors and their families, and continuing education opportunities for Upstate’s Clark Burn Center staff.

To purchase tickets, pre-order is required by contacting Emily Kissinger at 315-473-4444 ext 126 or ekissinger@syracusecrunch.com by Wednesday, Feb. 22 or order online at www.syracusecrunch.com/burnfoundation using promotional code: BURNFOUNDATION. Questions about Burn Camp or this event? Email Shannon Mullen at MullenS@Upstate.edu or Paul Knierman at KniermaP@Upstate.edu.

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Black History Month Gala is Feb. 25

The Renaissance Gala ‘Celebrating Black Excellence’ will be held Saturday, Feb. 25 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Sky Armory. Student tickets are $35 each; all others are $50 each. Tickets must be purchased by Feb. 22 at the CAB Information Center or by calling 315-464-8860. To purchase a table or make a donation to the SNMA in support of the gala, call 315-464-8860. For more information, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/diversityinclusion/celebrating-cultural-heritage/2023/renaissance-gala.php.

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Drag Gala to benefit Upstate Golisano is Feb. 25

The second annual Drag Gala to benefit Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital will be held Saturday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at Springside Inn, 6141 W. Lake Road, Auburn, N.Y. For more information, visit: 2nd Annual Benefiting Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital Gala | Facebook or email Danielle LaTour Bright at LaTourDa@Upstate.edu.

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Colorectal Cancer Awareness event is March 1

Katie Krawczyk, MA, RDN, CNSC, will host a Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month information table March 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the atrium of Upstate Cancer Center. Stop by for a healthy food sample and information about colorectal cancer screening and risk reduction. Questions? Email Christine Benton at BentonCh@Upstate.edu.

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Group photo for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is March 3

Sport your blue and join us for a group photo for National Dress in Blue Day to recognize Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The photo will be taken Friday, March 3 at 9:20 a.m. in the atrium of Upstate Cancer Center. Dress in Blue Day raises awareness about colorectal cancer and honors those who are impacted by it. Questions? Email Christine Benton at BentonCh@Upstate.edu.

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Bowling for Al Todeschini Pancreatic Cancer Fund is March 4

The Bowling for Al Todeschini Pancreatic Cancer Fund event is Saturday, March 4 at Flamingo Bowl in Liverpool from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Proceeds provide for the unmet needs of pancreatic cancer patients at Upstate Cancer Center. To register, visit: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/U0GV8g?vid=x7r9f. Text PanCan to 41444 to donate.

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Joey’s Wish Bowl-a-thon is March 4

The Joey’s Wish Bowl-a-thon is Saturday, March 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Strike ’N Spare Lanes in Syracuse

Proceeds benefit Joey’s Wish Fund, held at the Upstate Foundation, to support research related to the causes and treatment of substance use disorder and addiction. To register by Feb. 28, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joeys-wish-bowl-a-thon-tickets-457329935147?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. To make a donation to Joey’s Wish Fund, visit: https://www.upstatefoundation.org/page.aspx?pid=298.

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Dearing Writing Award Competition Ends March 13

The Center for Bioethics and Humanities annual writing award competition ends Monday, March 13. The competition is open to all matriculated students, residents, employees, and faculty at Upstate. Fiction, poetry, and memoir on any subject are welcome.

Submit two copies: one copy should have the writer’s name, address, telephone number, and category on it; students should indicate their college and class year. The second copy should include only the title and category with the work. Please note: 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, Center for Bioethics and Humanities, via email at chiaraan@upstate.edu. Winners will be announced and awards presented April 5.  Winners will receive a monetary award. All submissions receive consideration for CBH’s annual journal, The Healing Muse. www.thehealingmuse.org.

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New York State Flex Spending deadline for claims is March 31

State employees who contributed to a Flex Spending Account in 2022 must submit all unpaid claims by March 31 for all qualifying expenses incurred from Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2022. Remaining funds up to the IRS limit from the previous year will carry over into the current year’s plan account balance with the new administrator after the runout period end date. The current IRS carryover limit is $570 for 2022. To download claim forms or other documents, visit: https://oer.ny.gov/program-materials.

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Wellness resource hotline launched 

A wellness resource hotline has been established for Upstate employees, staff and students. The wellness hotline is available 24/7 and is designed to help improve the wellness of the Upstate community by providing callers with resources to support medical, physical, emotional, professional, safety, and spiritual wellbeing. The hotline is confidential and is staffed by Upstate Triage Center nurses under the medical direction of Deborah Mann, MD, assistant professor of Emergency Medicine. Everyone with a valid Upstate ID is welcome to take advantage of this resource.

No identifying information is collected and calls are completely confidential. To reach the hotline, call 315-464-5273 or 315-464-KARE.

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Mindful Meditation is each Tuesday 

Mindful Meditation will be held every Tuesday from 11 to 11:15 a.m. via WebEx. Annemarie Cristino, LCSW, CEAP, coordinator of Upstate’s Employee Assistance Program, will offer 15 minutes of mindful meditation instruction and information. Mindfulness centers on fostering connections between the brain, mind, body, and behavior. To join the session, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/meet/cristinA

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Team Upstate seeks shavees for St. Baldrick's fundraiser 

Team Upstate seeks shavees to raise money for the St. Baldrick's Foundation to fund pediatric oncology research. The event will be held March 19 at the Spinning Wheel. 7384 Thompson Rd, North Syracuse, NY. To join the team or donate visit: https://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/TeamUpstate. Individuals who join before Feb. 28 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 VenskusA@Upstate.edu. 

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Nominations sought for the 2023 President's Employee Recognition Awards 

President's Employee Recognition Award nominations are sought through April 1. Information and nomination form available at: https://www.upstate.edu/pdl/intra/services/upstate_stars/president_award/index.php.

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 

For more information, email Megan Chase at chasem@upstate.edu.

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The Informed Patient podcast

The Informed Patient features interviews on why to choose a life in science, what lupus means for the liver, and how well patients with both stroke and Covid did.

• Choosing science as a career, as well as what he has learned about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, from psychologist and researcher Stephen Faraone, PhD.
• How lupus can interact with the liver, from MD/PhD candidate Akshay Patel.
• A look at how stroke patients with COVID fared vs. those who did not have the viral illness, from neurology resident Navreet Kaur, MD.

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.