Pediatrics Flyer
The official newsletter of the Department of Pediatrics
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Beth Knackstedt, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- What's your preferred name? Beth Knackstedt, although I definitely still respond to Beth Doby as well. Because let’s be honest - no one can spell Knackstedt.
- When did you join the Department of Pediatrics? I came here in 2006 for residency, was a chief resident in 2009, and stayed for fellowship then my current faculty position.
- What is/are your role(s) in the department? Inpatient and outpatient ID (including HIV), medical director of transplant/immunocompromised infectious diseases, and domain expert in ID for the SOM.
- What's your favorite part of your job? I truly love getting to care for kids and their families and hopefully provide some comfort and reassurance during scary times and situations.
- Do you have any pets? Bosco is a 100 pound black lab mix dog from a shelter in Star Valley, Wyoming who deeply believes he is a lap dog.
- Do you collect anything? Unintentionally, I have a coffee mug and camping equipment problem…My husband and I joke we could run an outdoor gear rental company.
- What are your hobbies and/or talents? In a previous life, I was a halfway decent pianist. Now my hobbies revolve around being outside as much as possible.
- What is your favorite motto or quote? "There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." –Nelson Mandela
- What’s your favorite band, musical artist, or music genre? Gregory Alan Isakov is my musical soulmate, followed closely by Mandolin Orange. I love anything with bluegrass instruments.
- What’s your favorite book or movie? One Long River of Song by Brian Doyle
- What are you currently reading, watching, or listening to? I’m currently reading Girl, Woman, Other which is excellent so far. I’m anxiously awaiting Sarah Jarosz’ new album coming out June 5.
- Who or what inspires you? My 104-year-old grandmother, Mary.
- What is your favorite way to decompress after work/on the weekends? Camping, backpacking, and back country Nordic skiing.
- If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in one thing, what would it be? Parenting!
- What’s the most interesting or weirdest job you’ve ever had? I worked at a day center for elderly adults with memory issues and/or dementia - it’s what inspired me to go into medicine!
- What is something you learned recently? I learn multiple things every single day. It’s one of the reasons I love this job so much.
- If you could share a meal with any three well-known individuals, who would they be? Desmond Tutu, Michelle Obama, and Angela Dunn. And Mother Teresa. And Steffi Graf.
- What do you consider your superpower? My superpower and kryptonite - my power to worry.
- What is your guilty pleasure? The Last Alaskans (a beautifully done reality show about living in the ANWR).
- What’s something you saw recently that made you smile? I smile every time I see my daughter (well, almost every time 😊).
- What's the most daring thing you've ever done? I eat raw oysters. I jaywalked once (don’t laugh - I’m a rule follower).
- What is something that might surprise us about you? I eat mostly vegetarian, but I crave liver mush (don’t ask and certainly don’t google it - it’s a repulsive food only Southerners have heard of). And I really want to live in a yurt.
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Miriam Velazquez
Medical Assistant and Sleep Clinic Coordinator
Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine
- When did you join the Department of Pediatrics? June 2014 (Started at PCH in March 1999 in the Pediatric Pulmonary Clinic.
- What's your favorite part of your job? Patient care, I love all our cute patients.
- Do you have any pets? 2 dogs, Shrek and Molly; 2 Cockatiels, Tweety and Copeton (he sings Baby Shark); also have chickens, and recently bought two peacocks. We at one point owned a pony, horses, and goats!
- What are your hobbies and/or talents? I love to cook and try different recipes. I like to bike ride, hike, and travel. We also do DIY projects around the house
- What is your favorite motto or quote? "Do what makes you Happy, Love as long as you live, Be with the ones that make you smile."; "Expect nothing and appreciate everything."; and "SERENITY"
- What’s your favorite band, musical artist, or music genre? I love all kinds of music genres. My favorite music is Oldies. I grew up in the 80's & 90's, so Hip Hop, Rock en Español, and Metallica. We went to a Metallica concert for the first time in 11/2018.
- What’s your favorite book or movie? GREASE and comedy movies
- What are you currently reading, watching, or listening to? I am watching The Masked Singer. I also like to watch the Food Network and HGTV.
- Who or what inspires you? My family.
- What is your favorite way to decompress after work/on the weekends? Relaxing on my hammock in my gazebo; spending time with family; grilling with a nice fireplace and listening to music if the weather is nice; if not, then just on my couch with a cozy blanket...
- What’s the most interesting or weirdest job you’ve ever had? I worked at Tom’s Burger in LA. It was a very fast paced burger place. I remember dropping the takeout food. The chef was not happy, and I was only 15 years old.
- What is something you learned recently? I learned how to make hand sanitizer, and also to telecommute. I always wished I could work from home, I love it.
- What do you consider your superpower? Being Wonder Woman. 😊 I am a good project inspector!
- What is your guilty pleasure? Anything sweet like chocolate and caramel, kettle corn, and cinnamon almonds. Yummy.
- What’s something you saw recently that made you smile? My beautiful roses blooming.
- What's the most daring thing you've ever done? Last year we went zip lining for the first time in Cancun. I screamed the whole way down. It was scary and fun.
- What is something that might surprise us about you? My husband and I built our home from the foundation on up. I also own a 1966 Ford Mustang. I love classic cars, and my husband has a garage full of lowrider Chevys. We like to go cruising and go to lowrider car shows.
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Welcome to the Team!
To see the new faculty and staff who joined us in May,
click here
.
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Tori Gean
- Transitioned from Administrative Assistant for Cardiology to Administrative Assistant for Infectious Diseases and Safe & Healthy Families.
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Ruby Roller - Pediatrics Administration: Completed her Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree through the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Congratulations, Ruby, on all your hard work!
Jane Griffith - Pediatrics Administration: Earned her Professional Management Certificate through Professional Education at the University of Utah. Way to go, Jane!
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Departing Emergency Medicine Fellows
The Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellows will be graduating on June 30 and moving on to their respective adventures. We wish them all the best on this next step in their journeys!
Dr. Catherine Qualls, DO
PEM Attending Physician
Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital
Spokane, WA
Dr. Katherine Wolpert, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
University of Washington School of Medicine
Dr. Elizabeth Keating, MD, MSPH (PEM-GH track)
Adjunct Instructor as of 08/01/2020
Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
University of Utah School of Medicine
2020-2021 Fogarty Global Health Fellow via Vanderbilt-Emory-Cornell-Duke consortia
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Urgent Need: Blood Drive at Primary Children's
In order to meet an urgent need for blood products, Primary Children’s caregivers are invited to donate to the American Red Cross blood drive on
Monday, June 15
or
Tuesday, June 16
in the
Eccles Building King's Peak Conference Room
. Please see the flyer for details and to make an appointment:
Red Cross Blood Drive
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Coursera through the U
For a limited time, Continuing Education is offering free access to the Coursera catalog of courses. Register by July 31 and you'll have until September 30 to complete any of the programs Coursera offers online.
More info can be found here.
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The
Salt Lake Tribune
published an op-ed article by our own Drs. Reena Tam, Katie Gradick, Elizabeth Keating, Vicki Wilkins, and Margie Diaz-Ochu
regarding Utah's
racial health disparities surrounding COVID-19
:
Are we really all in this together?
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Recent Publications from the Division of Emergency Medicine
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Recognize Someone for a Job Well Done!
The department has a new online tool you can use to show appreciation for other members of Pediatrics and recognize them for exemplifying the PROMISE behavior standards: People Centered, Respect, Ownership, Making a Difference, Innovation, Safety, and Excellence.
Recognitions will be published in an upcoming issue of the newsletter.
Please note:
if a submitter's name is not given, we will not publish the comment.
However, the submitter's name will remain anonymous in the newsletter.
The link to the recognition form can be found on the department intranet home page, or click the box below.
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This Month's Recognition
Toni Harbour - Emergency Medicine
Recognized for Innovation
"Recognizing Toni Harbour, Research Manager for Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, for her commitment to driving forward the many research projects we have concurrently running within our division. While we haven't been able to continue some patient enrollments due to COVID-19, she eagerly seeks ways to diversify and maximize our team's ongoing contribution to the research mission of the department and the university by finding new retrospective opportunities and advocating for alternative enrollment methods. She has a true passion for research innovation, and is an invaluable researcher and leader for both our division and the nationwide PECARN (Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network) that we participate in!"
Casandra Robles - Clinical Enterprise Prior Auth Team
Recognized for Ownership
"Casandra Robles is a superb employee. She stepped up to help with Tech Check for the telehealth visits while her workload was lighter during COVID. She is always willing to help and takes the initiative to expand her skills. She is a real team player. Thanks for being amazing, Casandra!"
UDAC Medical Support Staff
Recognized for Making a Difference
"Our UDAC Medical Support Staff are the key to our providers having patients to see. It is amazing to walk by their desk and hear them talk to patients. They never lack kindness, patience and understanding. They repeat the same information over and over. They listen to patients that want to tell a story. As the first link to our clinic by most of our patients, they provide the perfect "first impression." They are truly amazing and we could not be a successful clinic without them. Thank you Chris, Sarah and Liz. You are SO loved and appreciated!"
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WHITE COATS FOR BLACK LIVES
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On Friday, June 5 at 11 a.m., health care workers nationwide knelt together for 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silent reflection and commitment to improve the health and safety of black Americans and other people of color. Many U of U Health employees joined in support.
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DEPARTMENT CHAIR'S SUGGESTION BOX
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Dr. Giardino wants to hear from you!
If you have any ideas or concerns you'd like to share with Dr. Giardino, please submit your comments to his suggestion box. The link can be found on the department intranet home page in the "Contact Us" tile, or send a suggestion now by clicking box below.
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