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Upstate Announcements for April 3, 2024

Message from President Dewan on internal controls

A message from Upstate President Mantosh Dewan on the importance of internal controls is available online, here: https://www.upstate.edu/internalcontrol/intra/pdf/ic-letter-from-president.pdf

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Volunteer providers sought for street medicine program

Upstate’s Housecalls for the Homeless program seeks board certified and licensed providers with Epic access, specifically: MD, DO, PA, NP, RN, LCSW, and LMHC. Teams will be assigned one location where they will see patients on a regular basis. Locations include: Salvation Army Women’s Shelter (female DO/MD preferred), Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities Men’s Shelter, Samaritan Center, and mobile van outreach with In My Father’s Kitchen.

Housecalls for the Homeless provides direct medical, psychiatric, and addiction care services to almost 400 unhoused individuals living in Syracuse each year. The service needs help to expand outreach to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable community members. Enthusiastic providers who care about giving back to the Syracuse community and are willing to commit to a long-term volunteer position are sought.

To learn more and to shadow a current Housecalls for the Homeless provider, visit:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2WYD--sxrMEfZRmA26OWsgsQCRADTyp8gPXJKSHN6Ujhmvg/viewform. Questions? Email Rachel Ziemba at [email protected].

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On My Own Time art exhibit seeks submissions

The Upstate community is welcome to submit an original work of art to be displayed in the On My Own Time art exhibit at the Upstate Library. Registration is required by April 19. Several pieces will be selected for an exhibit at the Everson Museum of Art this fall. To register, visit: https://forms.office.com/r/LZ5yyccigD. For more information, email Laura Benjamin at [email protected].

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Global Health seeks participants for tick study

Upstate Global Health Institute seeks participants ages 18 to 75 to help track tick exposure. Two in-person visits will be required to participate. Compensation is $50 for each visit. For more information, email [email protected] or call 315-464-9869.

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Upstate celebrates April as Workplace Violence Prevention Awareness Month

The month of April is observed as Workplace Violence Prevention Awareness Month. The goal of this awareness month is to increase recognition, prevention, and response to workplace violence. It encompasses a range of behaviors, from verbal abuse to physical assaults, and includes disruptive actions like domestic violence and stalking when they impact a workplace. During this month, Upstate is focused on education to creating safe work environments, identifying signs of violence, and implementing preventive measures. 

If you encounter any workplace violence situations or want to discuss a violent event, please contact any of the following: 

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Upstate Mentoring Program seeks new mentors

The Upstate Mentoring Program is recruiting new mentors to share time and talent, and guide the development of fellow colleagues from across the institution. To become a mentor, submit an application by April 30, here: https://solutions.upstate.edu/TDClient/650/HRPortal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=10722.

Mentors will receive training and then meet with assigned mentees once a month from July 1 to June 30, to assist them in accomplishing development goals. For more information on the Upstate Mentoring Program, email MaryAnn Stark, Professional Development and Learning, at [email protected].

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Input sought on practitioner well-being

Upstate's medical staff, including physicians and APPs, are encouraged to complete this anonymous assessment of current well-being at Upstate. The assessment will take approximately 10 minutes. Many existing programs have been implemented from prior input. Results will be shared and reporting for questions with fewer than 6 responses will be suppressed to preserve anonymity. To take the assessment, visit: https://amawellbeingsurvey.org/take-survey/2506389217453. Questions? Email [email protected].

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Join Upstate in celebrating Earth Month

In celebration of Earth Month, join Upstate’s team for the One Healthcare EcoChallenge competition. Register as an individual on the Upstate team and commit to taking small actions in April to protect the environment and your health. Checking in and completing tasks increases Upstate’s score and allows us to compete against other health systems across the country. For more information, email Paul Corsi at [email protected]. To register, visit: https://onehealthcare.ecochallenge.org/users/join.

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Tranquility Tuesdays with Kaushal Nanavati, MD

Tranquility Tuesday with Dr. Nanavati is held every Tuesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on the second floor of Nappi Wellness Institute. The Upstate community is welcome. There is also a virtual option via Zoom, Meeting ID: 407 812 4814, Password: wellness. Each session is a unique meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, and relaxation practice experience. Questions? Email [email protected]

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Blood drives are April 4, 5, 9

The schedule for April blood drives at Upstate is as follows:

  • April 4 from noon to 5 p.m. in the atrium of Setnor
  • April 5 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Performance Center on the 11th floor of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital
  • April 9 from noon to 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Community

To register for an Upstate blood drive, visit: www.upstate.edu/blood.

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Wear Blue Day for child abuse awareness is April 5

The Child Abuse Referral and Evaluation Program (CARE) invites the Upstate community to wear blue Friday, April 5 in solidarity with child abuse prevention efforts across the country and in our community. For more on the CARE program, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/gch/services/care/.

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Neuro Research Day is April 5

Neuro Research Day will be held April 5 from 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 2231 Weiskotten Hall. Speakers include:

  • 10:45 a.m. William Zeiger, MD, PhD, assistant professor at University of California-Los Angeles, will present "Mechanisms of circuit plasticity in the healthy and injured somatosensory cortex”
  • 11:55 a.m. Bradley Lega, MD, associate professor at University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, will present “Multimodal characterization of human episodic memory circuits”
  • 3 p.m. Monica Vetter, PhD, professor and chair of Neurobiology at University of Utah, will present “Pathways for generation and elimination of retinal neurons”

For the full schedule, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/neurosurgery/research/research-day.php. Questions? Email Lisa Grace at [email protected].

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Physical therapy education information sessions are April 5 and 10

Student Admissions will offer two information sessions for those interested in a career in physical therapy. An in-person session will be held April 5 at 3 p.m. and will include a tour of the facilities and information on Upstate’s DPT program. To register, visit: https://engage.upstate.edu/register/PTSpring. A virtual session will be held April 10 at 6:30 p.m. To register, visit: https://engage.upstate.edu/register/PTVirtual. Questions? Email Student Admissions at [email protected]

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Physician assistant open house for prospective students on April 6

Upstate’s physician assistant program will host an open house Saturday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 2231 Weiskotten Hall. Information on the PA program and the application process will be available from PA faculty and current students. To register for the open house, visit: https://engage.upstate.edu/register/PA-OpenHouse-2024. For more information, email Derek Sexton at [email protected] or Maggie Moore at [email protected].

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Eclipse is April 8

Syracuse is in the path of the solar eclipse that will occur on Monday, April 8. There are no planned changes expected to Upstate’s operations that day. Clinic appointments, classes and other regularly scheduled activities will proceed as normal. Individuals who are out and about and want to view the eclipse, should take special precautions. The most important step to take is to ensure eye safety. For more on how to safely watch the eclipse, listen to Upstate Ophthalmology Chair Dr. Robert Fechtner on the Informed Patient podcast. For more information on the eclipse, visit the National Eclipse website.

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Upstate Neurology relocating April 9

Upstate’s Neurology Clinic will relocate to the second floor of Upstate Health Care Center April 9. The clinic is currently located on the fourth floor. All phone and fax numbers remain the same. Questions? Email Shayne Moll at [email protected].

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Advanced Practice Grand Rounds is April 9

Advanced Practice Grand Rounds will be held April 9 from noon to 1 p.m. via WebEx. Christine Lopez, MSN, PPCNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, RN-BC, NE-BC; Elizabeth Wood, MSN, APRN, FNP-C; and Cassandra Senif, FNP-C, will present Peds GOLD Team and BERT Team. To join, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m7f4862d3b35b7d9ea0020fe4876d0f2b. For more information, email Tiffany Senke at [email protected]. CME credit will be available for participants.

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Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds is April 10

Dara Kass, MD, founder of FemINEM, will present FemEM: Updates in Reproductive Healthcare and Emergency Medicine April 10 at noon in 103 Weiskotten Hall. Questions? Email Kara Welch at [email protected].

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Parenting support group and speaker series meets April 10

A parenting support group, and a corresponding guest speaker, for those who have experienced non-violent domestic abuse will be held the second Wednesday of each month at HealthLink, 6333 State Route 298, E. Syracuse.

The speaker presentation will be held at 5:30 p.m. online and in person at HealthLink. The support group is in-person only immediately following the speaker, at 6:30 p.m. The speaker schedule is as follows:

  • April 10: Rebecca Carey, PT, DPT, E-RYT, Benefits of Vagal Nerve Regulation and Concepts of Polyvagal Theory
  • May 8: Kathryn Hagen, PsyD, Tools for Parents to Support Children
  • June 12: Cariann Coward, PsyD, Benefits of Self Care Practices

Parents and caregivers of all ages welcome to lectures. To register, visit: https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApcOmuqzsiHdKUzERYGAtgywFNyPI0w-fh. Questions? Email Amy Allen at [email protected].

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Wellness Speaks on mindful eating is April 10

Terry Podolak, RD, will discuss mindful eating April 10 at 10 a.m. for 10 minutes during Wellness Speaks, a virtual platform for experts to share wellness information with the Upstate community. To register, visit:  https://upstate.webex.com/weblink/register/r7ee948f274acfc48ba948593ec908801. Questions? Email [email protected].

To view the March 18 Wellness Speaks discussion on seasonal depression with Nayla Khoury, MD, visit: https://upstate.video.yuja.com/V/PlayList?node=43446329&a=1572742952.

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Making Connections in Media and Medicine is April 11

Jon Frankel, a three-time Emmy award winning correspondent with a 30-year career in journalism, will be the guest speaker at Making Connections in Media and Medicine April 11 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Syracuse University National Veterans Resource Center. CME credit will be available for participants. The event is free and open to the Upstate community. To register, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LV8F2G7.

Jon Frankel is a three-time Emmy-award winning correspondent as a member of HBO’s Real sports with Bryant Gumbel. His career spans more than 30 years including local sports journalism and network news with NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, World News and Nightline and CBS’ Early show. Many of Mr. Frankel’s stories intersect sports and public health such as his reporting on the gun industry, CTE and traumatic brain injuries in football, and the trials of skiing the World Cup’s daunting Hahnenkamm course. Jon was a correspondent on the acclaimed 2016 Real Sports expose on the International Olympic Committee that captured a duPont-Columbia University broadcast journalism award and the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Journalism.

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Department of Medicine Grand Rounds is April 11

Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease will present Mpox: A Case Study in Syndemic Response Thursday, April 11 at 5 p.m. in 4414 B/C Academic Building. A virtual option is available, here: https://upstate.zoom.us/j/94144086204 Dial in: +1 646 876 9923 or +1 646 931 3860; Meeting ID: 941 4408 6204, Password: 215210. Questions? Email Nitch Jones at [email protected].  

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Donate Life Month events are April 11, 12, 15, 19

A Donate Life T-shirt sale will be held April 11 and 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside Café 750 on the second floor of Upstate University Hospital and in the cafeteria at Community. Shirts are $20 each. Sales support the Upstate Donor Fund which provides community education and outreach on organ donation.

Wear blue and green Friday, April 12 to support Donate Life Month, take a photo, and send to Michelle Lonkey at [email protected] by April 18. Photo contest prizes are available for first, second and third place.

Donations for the Donate Life virtual silent auction are due by April 15. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative, most lucrative, and best theme. Proceeds from the auction will be used to help promote organ donation and register new organ donors. To make arrangements to have your submission picked up, email Liz Keesler at [email protected] or Erin Shortslef at [email protected]

A Donate Life Month celebration will be held Friday, April 19 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Performance Center on the 11th floor of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. The Upstate community is welcome. Donate Life t-shirts will be available for purchase at the event.

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NYS Thoracic Society conference is April 11 and 12

Upstate will host the NYS Thoracic Society annual conference April 11 from 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., and April 12 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the auditorium on the ninth floor of Weiskotten Hall. Check-in will be held in the atrium of Setnor. The conference will cover a broad range of topics relevant to the daily practice of pulmonary and critical care medicine. For a full agenda, including speakers and topics, visit: https://www.nysthoracic.org/2022-conference. To register, visit: https://www.nysthoracic.org/signup. Questions? Email Andrea Hadcock at [email protected].

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Yoga for All is April 12, 19, 26

Yoga for All will be held April 12 and 19 from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. in the Solarium on the 12th floor of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. The April 26 session will be held virtually only from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

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. For more information and to request the virtual link, email [email protected].

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Upstate Transplant and Nephrology Symposium is April 13

Upstate Transplant Center will host the third annual Transplant and Nephrology Symposium Saturday, April 13 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in 4414 B/C Academic Building. Registration is required by April 5. To register and for more information, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/transplant/symposium.php

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Medical Laboratory Professionals Week is April 14 to 20

Upstate’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine is celebrating the vital role that medical laboratory professionals and pathologists play in health care and patient advocacy during Medical Laboratory Professionals Week April 14 to 20. The lab includes a diverse team of specialists, pathologists, technologists, and support staff and results over 3 million tests a year. The Upstate couriers log over 21,000 miles a year for almost 43,000 specimen deliveries and pickups. Upstate’s laboratory acts as a reference lab locally and regionally, providing top notch testing and state of the art instruments and lab techniques to hospitals, clinics, and researchers. Pathology is a dynamic department that is continuing to grow, evolve, and refine the paradigms of pathology and laboratory medicine to provide the best patient care.

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THC in peds discussion is April 15

Vincent Calleo, MD, FACEP, FAAP, will present THC in the Pediatric Population Monday, April 15 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Performance Center on the 11th floor of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. There will be a virtual option. This event is approved for 1.0 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) for licensed social workers. To register, visit: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/nsh1NTJ. Select in-person or remote. Lunch will be provided to the first 40 people who R.S.V.P. for in-person attendance. The registration deadline is Friday, April 12.

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Upstate Concussion Center symposium is April 15 

The fifth annual Upstate Concussion Center symposium will be held Monday, April 15 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Institute for Human Performance. Updated Guidelines for Managing Students and Athletes Following Concussion will teach best practices for assessing and managing students and athletes following injury using the most up-to-date consensus statement recommendations. For more information, visit: https://calendar.upstate.edu/event/updated-guidelines-for-managing-students-and-athletes-following-concussion/. Questions? Email Stephanie Virginia at [email protected].

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Schwartz Rounds is April 16

Schwartz Rounds will be held Tuesday, April 16 at noon in 8405 A/B, Upstate University Hospital. Panelists will share personal experiences as healthcare professionals who have been family members of patients. The discussion will include feelings of frustration, pain, and the expectations they had regarding the care provided. The discussion will offer a unique perspective from the other side of the hospital bed. Schwartz Rounds is open to staff of all departments and is intended to support staff by offering a compassionate listening environment. 1 CE hour is available for participants. For more information, email Chaplain Zeynab Mancini at [email protected].

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T-shirt sale is April 18

A T-shirt sale will be held Thursday, April 18 at 11:30 a.m. outside Café 750 on the second floor of Upstate University Hospital. The sale is hosted by Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Division, and the Sarcoidosis Support Group. Questions about the sale? Email Shania Edwards-King at [email protected].

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Reiss Family Visiting Lecturer in Ethics and Equality events are April 18 and 19

Center for Bioethics and Humanities welcomes Ricardo Nuila, MD, associate professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, as the 2024 Reiss Family Visiting Lecturer in Ethics and Equality for two events April 18 and 19. The event schedule and registration links are as follows:

An internist and a writer, Dr. Nuila’s first book—The People’s Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine—was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, was a semi-finalist for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, and an Amazon Best Nonfiction Books of 2023. For more information about these events, email Andrea Chiaravalloti at [email protected].

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Kick Butts Day is April 19

The Tobacco-Free Task Force will host Kick Butts Earth Day Friday, April 19 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. beginning in the lobby of Upstate Cancer Center and from 1 to 3 p.m. in the main lobby of Community. Help beautify Upstate’s outdoor spaces by cleaning up cigarette butts and other litter. Clean-up will happen rain or shine; grabbers will be provided. Please R.S.V.P. to Jackson Tarr at [email protected].

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College of Health Professions open house is April 19

A spring open house for College of Health Professions bachelor’s degree programs will be held Friday, April 19 at 3 p.m. at Upstate and will include a campus tour, faculty introductions, and degree information. Information on the following programs will be offered:

  • medical imaging/radiography (x-ray)
  • BPS-CT
  • BPS-MRI
  • ultrasound
  • medical biotechnology
  • medical technology
  • radiation therapy
  • respiratory therapy

To register, visit: https://engage.upstate.edu/register/CHPOHSpring2024. Questions? Email Student Admissions at [email protected]

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5K to support Upstate’s Your Cause charity is April 20

A 5K run/walk will be held April 20 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Long Branch Park. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. The event will benefit Empower Parkinson, Upstate’s 2024 Your Cause charity, and is organized by Upstate’s DPT class of 2025 service chairs.

Empower Parkinson Inc. provides support, hope, and a network for those living with Parkinson's disease in our community. The organization hosts exercise classes, support groups, and educational groups. For more information about the organization, visit: https://empowerparkinson.org.

To register for the 5K and/or to make a donation, visit: https://runsignup.com/Race/Donate/NY/Liverpool/Empowered5KRunWalk. Questions about this event? Email Julie Lombardi at [email protected].

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National Volunteer Appreciation Week begins April 22; shirts for sale

Upstate’s Office of Volunteer Programs has crew neck and v-neck T-shirts in various sizes available for $15 each. To purchase a shirt, visit https://www.upstate.edu/volunteers/ and click on the T-shirt sale button. Questions? Email Laura Waltar at [email protected]. Join Upstate in celebrating National Volunteer Appreciation Week by wearing the shirts April 22 to 26.

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Men to Men prostate cancer support group is April 25 

The Men to Men prostate cancer support group will meet the last Thursday of each month from 5 to 6 p.m. at HealthLink, 6333 State Route 298, E. Syracuse. There will also be an online option. During the April 25 group, Alina Basnet, MD, will discuss advances in imaging, surgical and non-surgical treatment options, and hormonal versus non-hormonal therapies. To register, visit: https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIrcumorjMjHdd9iJgo_py_H57-OHGbsAMU. Questions? Email Amy Allen at [email protected].

Upcoming support group dates are as follows:

  • April 25, online and in person
  • May 30, online only
  • June 27, online and in person

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Upstate Cancer Center Research Retreat is April 26

The Upstate Cancer Center Research Retreat will be held April 26 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the CNY Biotech Accelerator. Lunch and refreshments will be provided and a shuttle service to the event will be available. For more information on the event, including an agenda, a link to registration, and a link to submit an abstract, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/cancer/research/retreat/.

Suzanne Conzen, MD, University of Texas Southwestern, will deliver the annual Carol M. Baldwin Lecture. The event will also include: progress reports from the Cancer Center Research programs and institutional leadership, and winners of the 2024 pilot grants that will propel research into the future will be announced.

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Open House at Upstate Cancer Center’s FRC is April 29

An open house will be held April 29 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Family Resource Center on the first floor of Upstate Cancer Center. In celebration of National Library Week, Sarah Lawler, clinical outreach librarian, will share information about the services she provides to our patients and their families. Attendees will receive a free book. The Family Resource Center houses pre-printed materials, brochures, books, and computers for patient use. Questions? Email Chris Benton at [email protected].

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Sarcoidosis Support Group is April 30

Upstate’s Sarcoidosis Support Group will meet Tuesday, April 30 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the fifth-floor classroom at Upstate Health Care Center. The meeting is hosted by Upstate’s Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Division. To register, email Shania Edwards-King at [email protected].

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Memorial Service set for Stephanie Lessun May 1

A memorial service will be held for Stephanie Lessun May 1 at 2:30 p.m. in Room 4414 of the Academic Building. Lessun, a member of the Upstate Social Work team since 2018, died March 13. Upstate Spiritual Care is hosting the event.

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Norton College of Medicine to host open house for prospective students May 7

Upstate’s Norton College of Medicine will host a spring open house Tuesday, May 7 from 3 to 5 p.m. in 4414 B/C Academic Building. Prospective students will have an opportunity to engage with distinguished faculty, passionate students, and discover the resources available to aspiring medical professionals. Registration is required, here: https://engage.upstate.edu/register/?id=95da2769-73c8-4c9e-85a7-4f27aefb27ee. For more information, email Jennifer Garbutt at [email protected].

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Registration for Syracuse Workforce Run due May 20

The Syracuse Workforce Run will be held Tuesday, June 6 at 6:45 p.m. on Onondaga Lake Parkway in Liverpool. Registration is $43. To join Team Upstate, review race details, and read eligibility requirements, visit: https://calendar.upstate.edu/event/syrrun/. The registration deadline for Team Upstate is May 20. Questions? Email Rebecca Pesci at [email protected].

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Become an Upstate admissions ambassador

Do you know someone—friend, family member—who would be a great fit for one Upstate’s academic programs? If so, be an admissions and ambassador and refer them here today: https://engage.upstate.edu/register/Refer-A-Student. Upstate offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate advanced level degrees between our four colleges—Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine and Nursing. Many of these degree programs provide the education and training necessary to land some of the most in-demand health care jobs. To learn more about any of Upstate’s programs, request more information here: https://engage.upstate.edu/register/EmployeeAdmissions

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The Informed Patient podcast

The Informed Patient podcast recently featured interviews with these specialists about sundowning, dementia risks and cannabis’s links to mental decline.

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].

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