Upstate Announcements

Upstate Announcements is a weekly bulletin listing the events for that week at Upstate.

To submit an item to Upstate Announcements

Email details in plain text in the body of an email to announce@upstate.edu.
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The latest announcements are from December 7, 2023:

Holiday snack distribution

Upstate’s traditional holiday snack offerings will be available across campus to thank employees who contribute to Upstate’s mission of teaching, research and patient care. Snack offerings will be available at the following locations:

Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to noon—first floor lobby of Weiskotten Hall
Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and Dec. 8 at 5 a.m.—snack carts will visit units at Upstate University Hospital and Community
Now through Dec. 8—off-site locations (UHCC, CAB, Jacobsen Hall, 250 Harrison, Sarah Loguen Center, the Galleries, etc.) will receive snack deliveries

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Child Life seeks volunteers for Snowflake Central

Child Life seeks volunteers for Snowflake Central. Volunteers are asked to sign up for one shift. Help is needed in storage to unload and organize donations or in the store helping family members shop for gifts. Volunteers must have a current Upstate ID. To sign up for one shift, visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084AAAAB28ABFD0-46448764-snowflake. For more information, email Beth Kinsley at Kinsleye@upstate.edu.

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IMT launches new service portal as Upstate’s Help Desk ticketing application

IMT has introduced a new service portal, Team Dynamix (TDX), replacing the current HEAT ticketing system. Employees are now encouraged to submit help desk requests through the TeamDynamix (TDX) service portal. The IMT Help Desk continues to be available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 315-464-4115 or by email to helpdesk@upstate.edu.

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Nominations sought for the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service

Nominations are sought for the 2023-2024 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 may be emailed to Megan Chase, Human Resources, at chasem@upstate.edu. For additional information and nomination form visit:https://www.upstate.edu/pdl/intra/services/upstate_stars/chancellor-award.php.

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Team Upstate seeks 2024 Heart Walk team captains

Team Upstate seeks motivated individuals to serve as team captains for the 2024 American Heart Association Heart Walk, to be held Sunday, April 14 at OCC, 4585 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Team captains coordinate their department’s participation in the event. Team Upstate has been one of the top Heart Walk teams for the past 26 years due in large part to the efforts of its team captains. To become a team captain, visit: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7592924/Heart-Walk-2024. For more information, email Becca Pesci at pescir@upstate.edu.

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Yoga first Friday of each month

Yoga for Everyone will be held on the first Friday of each month from 8:15 to 9 a.m. in the Performance Center of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. No experience necessary. For more information, email KhouryN@Upstate.edu.

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Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team T-shirt sale is Dec. 7

The Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team will sell T-shirts Thursday, Dec. 7 from 6:30 to 11 a.m. outside Café 750 on the second floor of Upstate University Hospital. Shirts are $20; cash or Venmo are accepted. Quantities are limited. Questions? Email Jessica Falgiatano at falgiatj@upstate.edu.

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Cardiology Grand Rounds is Dec. 8

Cardiology Grand Rounds will be held Friday, Dec. 8 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. via WebEx. Stephen Little, MD, FRCPC, FASE, FACC, Houston Methodist and Weill Cornell Medicine, will present Echocardiography: At the Crossroads of Imaging and Intervention. Little will discuss echocardiographic features used in patient selection for transcatheter mitral and tricuspid valve intervention, the frontier and current limitations of structural heart intervention, and summary points of the new ASE training guidelines for interventional echocardiography. To join, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m2ca1a48ff971af6dec558d71e1a86b0c (meeting number/access code: 2317 581 3693, meeting password: Cardiology1). One AMA PRA credit is available to participants. Presentation is open to MDs, residents, fellows, Pas, NPs, RNs, and the public. Questions? Email Lisa Carroll at SchirtzL@Upstate.edu.

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COVID-19 vaccine clinic is Dec. 8

Employee/Student Health will offer Moderna’s 23/24 Spikevax Covid-19 vaccine Friday, Dec. 8 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Performance Center on the 11^th floor of Upstate Golisano. Vaccine will be available by appointment and walk-ins. To schedule an appointment via the Employee/Student Health portal, visit: https://eshportal.upstate.edu/. Covid vaccines from alternate manufacturers are available at outpatient pharmacies. Once vaccinated, send proof of vaccine documentation to Employee/Student Health at: https://www.upstate.edu/ipage/intra/ and click on Upload Vaccine Information.

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Cardiology Grand Rounds is Dec. 8

Cardiology Grand Rounds will be held Friday, Dec. 8 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. via WebEx. Stephen Little, MD, FRCPC, FASE, FACC, Houston Methodist and Weill Cornell Medicine, will present Echocardiography: At the Crossroads of Imaging and Intervention. Little will discuss echocardiographic features used in patient selection for transcatheter mitral and tricuspid valve intervention, the frontier and current limitations of structural heart intervention, and summary points of the new ASE training guidelines for interventional echocardiography. To join, visit: https://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=ma6156849e524ef7c03f1b97ac6f3e1c5(meeting number/access code: 2316 606 4628, meeting password: Cardiology1). One AMA PRA credit is available to participants. Presentation is open to MDs, residents, fellows, Pas, NPs, RNs, and the public. Questions? Email Lisa Carroll at SchirtzL@Upstate.edu.

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Joey’s Wish T-shirt sales are Dec. 8 and 14

Joey’s Wish T-shirt sales will be held Dec. 8 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second floor of Upstate University Hospital and Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the cafeteria at Community. Shirts are teal and are $20 each. Cash, check and Venmo payments will be accepted. To pre-order shirts, email Ann Morrell at MorrellA@Upstate.edu. Proceeds help individuals fight addiction. To learn more about Joey’s Wish, visit: https://www.joeyswish.org/about-us. The fund is held at the Upstate Foundation.

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Productivity Enhancement Program for state employees is open now through Dec. 11

The Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) is open now through Dec. 11 for eligible New York State Employees who are represented by CSEA, PEF, UUP, and M/C-affiliated employees. 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 2024. In no case can the credit available under the program be applied to the employer share of NYSHIP premiums. For more information, visit: https://www.upstate.edu/hr/intra/benefits/pep.php. Enrollment closes Dec. 11.

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Open enrollment for the Flex Spending Account Program for state employees is open now through Dec. 11

The 2024 Flex Spending Account (FSA) Program open enrollment period for New York state employees is now through Dec. 11 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 2024 calendar year. Please note that if you wish to continue your current enrollment, you will need to re-enroll for the 2024 plan year. For more information and how to enroll, visit: https://oer.ny.gov/how-to-enroll.

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Clark Burn Center shirt sale is Dec. 11

Clark Burn Center will sell long-sleeve T-shirts Dec. 11 from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside Café 750 on the second floor of Upstate University Hospital. Shirts are $20 each or two for $35. Proceeds support patients and families with burn injuries. Questions? Email Tamara Roberts at RobertTa@Upstate.edu.

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Schwartz Rounds is Dec. 12

Schwartz Rounds will be held Tuesday, Dec. 12 at noonin the conference room at Upstate Cancer Center. A light lunch will be provided. The title of the panel presentation is Centering on our values during difficult times: All it's got to take is some warmth to make it. The Upstate community is welcome to attend. Schwartz Rounds is open to staff from all departments and is designed to provide a compassionate listening environment. One CE hour is available for participants. Questions? Call Brigid Dunn at 315-464-5596.

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HealthLink seminar on back pain is Dec. 12

Ali Hazama, MD, director of Neurosurgery at Upstate Community Hospital, will discuss lower back pain and endoscopic lumbar fusion, also referred to as transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF). TLIF is a more recent approach to spinal fusion. TLIF offers advantages that can enhance long-term outcomes and recovery rates with reduced postoperative pain. Register here for this online only session: https://upstate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwrfuqprD0iE9P79ykkwL6DHXAeWARcCFPv.

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Lights on the Lake open to Upstate ID holders Dec. 12

As an official sponsor of this year’s Lights on the Lake, Upstate is providing complimentary entrance to Lights on the Lake Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. Dec. 12 entry is open to individuals with an Upstate ID. Only one vehicle entrance per Upstate ID. 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. Please show an Upstate ID for entry; no ticket needed on this day.

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Easy for You is Dec. 12

Easy for You, Upstate's tobacco treatment program, will be held Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30p.m.in Multi-D suite C3068 on the third floor of Upstate Cancer Center. Those with an Upstate ID are welcome to receive help quitting tobacco, chew, and vape. Free nicotine replacement therapy is available. For more information contact Theresa Hankin or Carolyn Walczyk at 315-464-3619 or walczykc@upstate.edu.

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Social Work shirt and sweatshirt sale ends Dec. 15

Upstate Social Work is selling short-sleeve and long-sleeve T-shirts, crewneck sweatshirts, and hoodies now through Dec. 15. Items may be picked up at Upstate or delivered to a home address. To order, visit: https://upstatesw.markproductstore.com/. Proceeds will be held in a fund at the Upstate Foundation. For more information, email Melisa Trabert at trabertm@upstate.edu.

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Advocates for Upstate hosts year-end raffle now through Dec. 15

The Advocates for Upstate will host a year-end raffle to support the grants program that assists Upstate departments in meeting important patient, staff, and volunteer needs. A gift package, worth almost $300, includes gift cards from: Lori's Gifts, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, and Chocolate Pizza Company. The package also includes a five-piece spa set, a warm throw, moose munch, a handmade wooden bowl, mugs, hot chocolate mix, chocolate spoons, and gloves. Each $10 ticket provides three chances to win. The raffle is open now through Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. and the drawing will take place at Dec. 15 at noon. To purchase raffle tickets, visit:

https://advocates-for-upstate.square.site/product/baby-it-s-cold-outside-advocates-winter-raffle-/13?cs=true&cst=custom. Questions? Call Jonathan Adler at 315-464-5610.

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Retirement reception for Bonnie Seitz (Miner) is Dec. 15

A retirement reception for Bonnie Seitz (Miner), MS, RN, CNS, CPN, CNS, pediatric safety officer, will be held Dec. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Performance Center on the 11^th floor of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Seitz retires after more than 30 years in pediatrics. For more information, email Mary Melice at MeliceM@Upstate.edu.

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Salvation Army Christmas Bureau is Dec. 20

The Salvation Army Christmas Bureau distribution day will be held Dec. 20 at the OnCenter. To volunteer, complete the form here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F49ABAE2FA2FEC70-45295579-salvation. Due to space restrictions the Salvation Army cannot accept any last-minute volunteer requests. Spaces are filled on a first come, first serve basis. Questions about volunteering at this event? Email Becca Pesci at PesciR@Upstate.edu.

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Retirement reception for Dr. P. Sebastian Thomas is Dec. 20

Retirement reception for P. Sebastian Thomas, MD, will be held Wednesday, Dec. 20 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in E8405 A and B. Dr. Thomas, professor and chair emeritus of Anesthesiology, retires after 42 years of service to Upstate. The Upstate community is welcome.

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Property Management warehouse closed Dec. 22

The Property Management Surplus Warehouse (1098 Erie Blvd E.) will be closed Dec. 22.

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Retirement reception for Richard Beers is Dec. 27

A retirement reception for Richard Beers, MD, will be held Wednesday, Dec. 27 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the 5E break room, E5507 Upstate University Hospital. Dr. Beers will retire after 31 years of service as professor of the department of Anesthesiology. The Upstate community is welcome.

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NYSHIP Health Insurance Option Transfer Period open now through Dec. 29

The New York State Option Transfer Period is open now through Dec. 29. The 2024 publications have been mailed to homes, including information about Planning for Option Transfer , 2024 NYSHIP Choices, and 2024 NYSHIP Rates . Employees may use the Health Insurance Transaction From PS404 to make changes to their benefits. All questions and forms can be submitted to benefits@upstate.edu.

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Friend in Deed funding applications due Jan. 12

The Upstate Foundation seeks applications from Upstate employees for Friend in Deed funding for projects that enhance the patient experience at Upstate University Hospital and Upstate Community Hospital. 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. Guidelines and applications are available on the Upstate Foundation website at https://www.upstatefoundation.org/friendindeed. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, Jan. 12 at noon. For more information, call the Upstate Foundation at 315-464-4416.

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Upstate Health Justice Conference is Jan. 15; donations sought

The Health Justice Conference at Upstate seeks to highlight the ways healthcare professionals can serve as community advocates for social health and wellbeing of marginalized communities. As part of the annual conference, which will be held Jan. 15, scholarships are awarded to local high school and college students who have demonstrated values aligned with the social justice and community advocacy aspects of the mission of the event. To support these scholarships, donations can be made here: link. For more information, email Katie Farkouh at farkouhk@upstate.edu.

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New interlibrary loan webpages and tools

Upstate Health Science Library’s request management platform, ILLiad, has a new web experience and new requesting tool—the DOI/PMID Resolver. The DOI/PMID resolver is located above ILLiad’s article request form. Instead of entering a citation manually, users now have the option to enter either a PMID or DOI, and have the resolver auto-complete the citation. Any PMIDs or DOIs entered that users should already have access to will appear as a link underneath the resolver. More information on this new tool is available in the DOI/PMID Resolver tutorial and our Article Requesting guide. More information on all of ILLiad’s requesting tools and pathways are available on the Interlibrary Loan guide and ILLiad tutorial video playlist. Contact the Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Department of the Library with any questions at request@upstate.edu.

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The Informed Patient podcast

The Informed Patient podcast recently featured interviews with these specialists about vasectomies; tattoo care and removal; and avoiding sedentary behavior.

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 SmithAmb@Upstate.edu.