UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - November 30, 2021/DIVERSITY
Welcome to the FMCH Tuesday Talk. Please continue to send us your announcements, celebrations, and accomplishments to FMCHtuesdaytalk@umassmed.edu.
Table of Contents
Message from the Chair
Upcoming Events
Focus of the Week - Diversity
Announcements
Frankly Speaking Podcast
Faculty Presentations/Publications
Clinical Services Spotlight
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
 
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. For those of you who were on call over the holiday weekend, a very special thanks for your service.
 
Remember to keep December 14th at noon free for the Department’s virtual Annual Awards Ceremony.  
 
I would also like to acknowledge the recognition that Erik Garcia received last week as he was named by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette as one of city’s Hometown Heroes. Erik was recognized for his work with the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Project: 

Statewide, the hospital capacity crisis – due to many factors including Covid-19, deferred care, and critical staffing shortages – has led the state to issue guidance to reduce elective surgeries that require an inpatient bed (effective 11/29).

Finally, all eyes are on the Omicron variant. It is too early to fully know how its many mutations will affect contagiousness, disease severity, and vaccine protection. That said, early data suggests at least that the rate of spread is considerably faster than Delta. So, a reminder to please observe all masking and social distancing protocols and get your booster. We cannot afford to let our guard down. We’ve been assured that PPE stockpiles are in good shape.
Upcoming Events


FMCH Grand Rounds
Tuesday, November 30th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Valerie Coppenrath, PharmD, Presents: Pharmacogenomics.
Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/191986273?pwd=NEtlZmNkdWlSUGwyeTJQU3dCeUs1QT09

Faculty Development Workshop
Thursday, December 2nd, 12:30 - 1:30 pm, Smartphrases - Epic Workshop.
Please RSVP to Jennifer.Masoud@umassmemorial.org.

TendHealth Faculty COVID Recovery Series Cohort 2
Friday, December 3rd, 4:00 - 5:15 pm
RSVP as soon as possible to Jennifer Masoud to reserve your spot in your chosen cohort, Jennifer.masoud@umassmemorial.org.

FMCH Grand Rounds
Tuesday, December 7th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Patrick Smallwood, MD, Presents: 'Section 12/35 and Capacity Evaluation' for Family Medicine Patients.
Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/191986273?pwd=NEtlZmNkdWlSUGwyeTJQU3dCeUs1QT09

Strategic Planning Listening Sessions for Community Health
Thursday, December 9th, 12:00-1:00 PM
If you are interested in participating, here is the Zoom Link. 
Focus of the Week - Diversity

The People of Color Affinity Group will gather on Friday, December 3rd, at 6 p.m.  RSVP here. This group aims to create a safe space where those who have experienced structural oppression, marginalization and/or other micro-aggressions can share their experiences with others who have a shared sense of identity. The Worcester Family Medicine SOAR (Structural Oppression & Anti-Racism) Committee and the Diversity and Inclusion Office are co-hosting the December meeting and social gathering of this group for the UMass Chan community. 

The FMCH Diversity Survey is now closed and analyses are underway. We thank the 72 people who took the time to share their thoughts. Respondents included 50% identifying as faculty, 34% as staff and 18% as learners.  We have compiled preliminary results and documented comments by theme to inform decision-making during the strategic planning process. We plan to review portions of the aggregate results with the SOAR Committee and will use feedback from that group to guide deeper analyses and design an executive summary with infographics highlighting key findings.  

We are thankful to the department for centering diversity as the primary topic of a November 17th listening session, to Philip Day and Judy Savageau for their thoughtful facilitation, and to the small but vocal group who participated. The work of strategic planning continues with more outreach in December.  You are encouraged to share your thoughts on diversity-related topics at any of the upcoming sessions, including the December 9th noontime community health session, or directly with Drs. Fowler and/or Bradford.    

The UMass Chan Diversity Campus Read is featuring two books this year: Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington and The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee.  Interactive discussion sessions focused on specific chapters have been organized during December and January.  The Lamar Soutter Library has print and electronic copies available as well as discussion guides for each book on their website. See https://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2021/11/dio-launches-diversity-campus-read/ for details and links. 
Announcements

TendHealth Faculty COVID Recovery Series
You matter! The Department wants to support you through your COVID recovery efforts. We have hired TendHealth to provide recovery courses for our faculty.  A series of four sessions over two months will guide you through recovery and build resilience. 
Objectives:
Learn new concepts, build resiliency, and find community through live courses.
The team of expert and diverse instructors bring together a community of like-minded health professionals to learn new skills and expand our insights.
Faculty will need to choose one cohort and stick with it for all the sessions. 
TEND is able to move the start date of the faculty cohorts back to hopefully avoid cancelling patient sessions. Here are the new dates:
Cohort 1: Mondays 8-9:15am, 12/13
Cohort 2: Fridays 4-5:15pm, 12/3, 12/17
RSVP as soon as possible to Jennifer Masoud to reserve your spot in your chosen cohort, Jennifer.masoud@umassmemorial.org.

The Worcester Family Medicine Residency SOAR (Structural Oppression & Anti-Racism) Committee founded the POC Affinity Group to create a safe space where those who have experienced structural oppression, marginalization and/or other micro-aggressions can share their experiences with others who have a shared sense of identity. This group is intended for medical residents, fellows, and faculty of UMass Chan residency programs, as well as UMass Chan students (SOM, GSBS and GSN) and faculty. The group will engage in conversations, workshops, social networking events, celebratory events, community involvement, and much more. The Worcester Family Medicine SOAR committee has joined with the Diversity and Inclusion office and will be holding our first meeting and social gathering, which will be held on Friday, December 3rd at 6:00 pm at the home of Dr. Mattie Castiel. Please register here to attend and to receive address and directions.

FMCH Vision 2030 Strategic Planning Fall Listening Sessions 
With 2021 drawing to a close, the department would like to continue work on a strategic planning process.  Vision 2030 is a project to look at the department’s long-term goals. What do you want our department to achieve by 2030? What will we be known for? We want your voice to be heard, please consider attending one (or more) listening sessions which will occur over the next two months. Site specific sessions will occur during standard meeting times to allow for easy access and minimize scheduling issues.
Upcoming:
  • Community Health: Thursday, December 9th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm.
  • Undergraduate Medical Education - TBD.
Please RSVP to jennifer.masoud@umassmemorial.org for any of the theme based sessions and specifically to be included in the scheduling of the community health session.

Please consider for in-person learning Pri-Med East 
Thursday−Saturday, December 9−11, 2021 at the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center. Many of our colleagues will be presenting for 19 AAFP CME hours. This year’s keynote speaker is Pulitzer Prize-winning author Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD on: “Themes From the Future of Medicine”. I hope to see you there.

UMass Chan Medical School is implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to information systems. MFA is a digital authentication method that requires two or more forms of verification factors before access is granted. Prior to MFA, only a valid username and password have been required. Adding a second form of authentication is a best practice. MFA registration is required for all who use UMass Chan information systems, including email. Students, faculty, and staff must register by Friday, December 17th. You will need to choose at least one secondary authentication method: a text to a mobile device; a phone call to a mobile device or landline; or an alert on the Microsoft Authenticator mobile app. Similar to our current use of the Duo app to access HR Direct, Microsoft Authenticator provides a secure method for multi-factor authentication. To learn more about multi-factor authentication and how to register, visit the MFA information page. The Help Desk will also host training sessions on Thursdays from noon to 12:30 to assist users in learning how to register. Register here for a session. By December 31st, all users will need to use MFA. If you have any questions, please contact the IT Help Desk via chat, email or phone (508-856-8653).

Mick Huppert Community Health Scholar Awards
If you are working on a community engaged initiative with a second year medical or nursing student, please reinforce for them this opportunity: For the fourth year, the annual Mick Huppert Community Health Scholar awards will be given to second year medical and graduate school of nursing students who have demonstrated a commitment to community engaged service and scholarship. Students should also have an interest in a career as a family physician or family nurse practitioner. Between two and four awards, each up to $2,500 will support awardees’ proposed community health initiatives. Medical and nursing student pairs will be considered and are encouraged. A pair would split one award. Click the link to get to the full announcement and application form. https://umassmed.edu/fmch/communityhealth/sep/mick-huppert-community-health-scholar-awards/ Applications due to Suzanne.Cashman@umassmed.edu by January 17, 2022.

White Belt Training Opportunity - Upcoming LEAN Training
UMassMemorial Health is committed to disseminate LEAN management tools to all physicians and clinicians and offer leadership development to our providers. Practicing LEAN principles enables team building and promotes respect to our fellow caregivers. It’s a platform that fosters innovation and improves the care we provide to our patients — as well as to advance our own work environment. LEAN is practiced by many caregivers in our health care system. Physicians and clinicians should be educated and have the tools needed to implement successful huddles, idea board systems and process improvement efforts. Our department will offer LEAN white belt training through two upcoming grand rounds. The first session will be a great refresher for those trained many years ago and the second session will include important updates including how to use Innovation Station. For individuals who have not done LEAN training in the past, this is an opportunity to meet the institution's requirement for white belt certification.  
  • January 25th, 12-1pm: LEAN White Belt: Part 2 - Innovation Station
If you are unable to make these trainings and are in need of certification, additional Lean White Belt training registration is available through E-learning 4U.  

UMass Chan Medical School is leading a statewide collaborative to improve training for all medical students in serious illness communication, which was featured at the annual summit of the Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care (http://maseriouscare.org/news/summit-2021). The summit focused on an equity-first approach to improve communication and care of people and families facing serious illness. Jennifer Reidy, MD, chief, Division of Palliative Care, is chair of the collaborative which includes faculty, administrators and students from Boston University, Harvard and Tufts Medical Schools. The group has created shared competencies, mapped current curricula and conducted student focus groups at each school. This data is timely with UMass Chan's curriculum revolution. For more information, check out the collaborative's website here: http://maseriouscare.org/medical-schools-collaborative.

Thanks to Frank Domino, Nick Hajj, Kristina Gracey and Jeremy Golding for teaching suturing for the Primary Care Principles OEE. Per the student leaders: The suturing session last week was fantastic, easily the best session so far - the first one we've had in person in 2 years! The students really enjoyed it. (Thanks also to Karen Rayla for all the organizing.)
Frankly Speaking Podcast

A weekly Podcast series covering newsworthy topics in primary care medicine.

Please join us to discuss. Overview: For patients who would like to prevent pregnancy, many options-both hormonal and nonhormonal-exist. Despite the availability of multiple options, many patients do not use them because of either a lack of knowledge or a lack of access, the later being especially true in uninsured and non-English-speaking communities. Research has shown over the years that while unintended pregnancies have decreased in the United States, more can be done, and primary care providers can play an important role in helping to further decrease and eliminate barriers to contraception. Guest: Mariyan L. Montaque, DNP, FNP-BC, presents: "Contraception:
When Do We Start Them?". - Frankly Speaking Ep 252.
Faculty Presentations/Publications

Psychology trainees and faculty Daniel Mullin, Sarah Pearson, Ethen Eisdorfer, Jenna Mullarkey and Elizabeth Dykhouse, recently published a paper entitled Prevention of Psychological Trauma Among Health Care Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. The paper is free to download here: https://content.apa.org/fulltext/2022-06988-007.html

The psychology trainees are post-docs in our Primary Care Psychology and Medical Education Fellowship. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic our fellows provided proactive psychological first aid to family medicine residents caring for hospitalized patients. This fellowship is currently accepting applications for positions beginning in the summer of 2022. More details are available in the APPIC directory and here: https://umassmed.edu/fmch/fellowships/non-affiliated/psychology/
Clinical Services Spotlight:
COVID-19 UPDATES

COVID MA Updates
  • As of 11/26/21, there were a total of 847,030 confirmed COVID cases in MA, and 18,939 confirmed deaths.
  • The 7-day average of percent positivity is 3.37%.
  • There were 771 hospitalized patients with 156 in the ICU and 84 intubated.
  • Total breakthrough cases in MA increased by 6,917 in last week. This is a 30% increase over last week. 
  • Of the breakthrough cases, there are 43 confirmed new deaths.
 
COVID and UMMMC
  • COVID-19 positive inpatients at Medical Center: 60 (including 12 in the ICU).
  • Breakthrough cases at Medical Center: 26 (4 in the ICU).
  • The asymptomatic testing positivity is 3% (up from 2%).
  • Symptomatic test positivity is 14.1% (up from 13.2%).
  • Employees out due to COVID for November to date: 100 (64 for October 2021).
  • Of the breakthrough cases at UMass Memorial, 8 had Johnson & Johnson, 3 had Moderna, and 14 had Pfizer. 
 
COVID Booster
  • As of November 17, 2021, all MA individuals older than 18 are eligible for the COVID booster. The CDC recommends that patients be allowed to self-determine their risk of exposure.
  • The recommendation is to proactively reach the following:
  • People who are age 65 and older.
  • People who are age 18 years or older who have completed the first two doses of Pfizer and Moderna at least 6 months ago.
  • People with underlying medical conditions or who have received one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. 

Last Chance for COVID-19 Booster Shots at Medical Center:  Booster shots for caregivers are available at University Campus and Memorial Campus vaccine clinics. If you completed your two-shot Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or if you received your Johnson & Johnson one-shot vaccine at least two months ago, you are eligible for a booster shot.
 
Monoclonal Antibody Treatment
Demand for monoclonal antibody treatment continues to increase. UMass has increased capacity to 36 appointments per day. The state will stand up 3 more locations in the next few weeks to meet the demand.
 
Flu Update and Vaccine Requirement
  • The deadline to receive the Flu vaccination is December 15, 2021.
  • The deadline to submit medical and religious exemption documentation is December 1, 2021. 
  • Additional information and forms can be found on The Hub. https://www.umassmemorialhub.org/node/29771
Wellness Resources

The Caring for the Caregiver Program provides resources such as the Caregiver Support Line (508-334-HELP) and The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which offers a variety of services and supports (including virtual peer support and wellness tips. EAP can be accessed at 866-263-3525, or www.LiveandWorkWell.com, [company code UmassMemorial]. More information is available on the Caring for the Caregiver page.
Working on Wellness
Yoga Classes with Dr. Liz Erban
Please join department members for early morning gentle yoga, Wednesday mornings 6:30am via Zoom.

Much appreciation to Dr. Erban for hosting these outstanding classes. Join Zoom Meeting
Zumba with Dr. Anna Zheng

Zumba Monday 6am is on hold.
On hold until the new year in 2022. 

Thursdays 6:15pm: Live/in-person or ZOOM
Please join department members Thursday evenings at 6:15pm**(30 Anna Street: tall ceilings, spacious indoor location) and get moving with Zumba. Please note details and any changes via webpage: http://annazheng.zumba.com/. ZOOM still possible for all classes.
 
Much appreciation to Dr. Anna Zheng for hosting these outstanding classes. New to the class? If it's your first class or you are interested in joining, please email Dr. Zheng at ZumbawithAnnaZheng@gmail.com to register, complete brief health screen and receive the ZOOM link.