UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - November 16, 2021/COMMUNITY
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 - Community
Announcements
Frankly Speaking Podcast
Department Member Recognition
Clinical Services Spotlight
Message from the Chair

As we approach the winter holidays, I want to express my gratitude for the work you all do every day to care for our patients, our learners, and each other. Thank you for your skill and compassion, and for your willingness to persist despite all the challenges brought on by the pandemic. I am so proud of all you do. I wish all of you a healthy, safe, and relaxing Thanksgiving filled with family, love, and gratitude. 
Upcoming Events

UMass Cancer Center
Wednesday, November 17th, 3:00 - 4:00 pm, "Community Engagement: Informing Awareness, Uptake, and Research to Improve Cancer Screening". Presented by Karriem S. Watson, DHS, MS, MPH.
Password: 919204

Faculty Development Workshop
Thursday, November 18th, 7:30 - 8:30 am, Optimizing Epic during a live patient encounter - Epic Workshop.
Please RSVP to Jennifer.Masoud@umassmemorial.org.

American Board of Family Medicine Maintenance of Certification
KSA (SAM) Workshop: “Care of Children”
Thursday, November 18, 2021, 8:00 – 10:00 AM
WEBINAR (no need to leave your desk) Link will be sent prior to 11/18/2021
We will complete the latest (just released) 60 question Care of Children KSA via a virtual CME event. You will record your answers while we work through the KSA, then after completion, log into your ABFM account and enter the results and claim your CME credits through the ABFM. Successful Completion of the Knowledge Self-Assessment (KSA) Module is eligible for up to 10 ABFM Credit Hours.
See the attached invitation for a WEBINAR to complete the ABFM KSA: Caring for Children. To register, please complete and follow the directions on the attached registration form.

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

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 - Community

Community Health: November, 2021

Population and Community Health Clerkship
Thanks to director Heather-Lyn Haley along with department faculty Suzanne Cashman and Linda Cragin, and the entire planning team for completing the gargantuan effort of the Population and Community Health Clerkship. All courses stop to facilitate full-time effort by second year medical students and graduate nursing students to explore the interprofessional networks of care that serve the health needs of specific communities or populations. Students are required to write reflections, prepare and present a group presentation and engage in community service-learning relevant to the community issues being studied. It is impossible to acknowledge all of the community-based leaders who make this course possible. We are deeply grateful to our collaborators, including department faculty and residents who contributed to 24 of the 38 experiential learning opportunities:
  • Accountable Care in the Massachusetts Medicaid Program: An introduction with a Focus on Health Equity (Contributing Faculty: Terry Lindblom, Paul Kirby, Kim Lenz)
  • Barre Biodome: Expanding Seasonal Access to Fresh Produce and Creating a Community Meditation Space in Barre, MA (Kristina Gracey)
  • Caring for the Uninsured and Under-Resourced (Jim Ledwith)
  • Coming Home: Exploring the Challenges of Community Reentry and Health Equity for Criminal Justice Involved Populations (Warren Ferguson, Kate Pivovarova)
  • Confronting Telehealth Equity on Rural Outer Cape Cod (Andy Lowe)
  • Elders Climate Action MA/UMass Team (Roger Luckmann)
  • Examining Racism as a Public Health Crisis (Matilde (Mattie) Castiel)
  • HIV in Massachusetts: A state’s action plan and two community responses in Worcester and Lawrence (Phil Bolduc, Chris Bositis, Vanessa Carson-Sasso)
  • Identifying Education & Training Needs Within the Disconnected Youth Population on Martha's Vineyard (Suzanne Cashman)
  • Improving health and medication literacy among patients with limited English proficiency at the Family Health Center of Worcester (Sara Casey; residents Katherine Price , Robin Christian, Stephanie Eierle and Henry Louis)
  • Injury prevention IS public health (Worcester DPH and UMMHC Injury Prevention Program (Michael Hirsh)
  • Introduction to Veterans/Military Health Issues (Linda Cragin, Resident: Ben Eovaldi)
  • Language Access and Patient Encounters (Lisa Morris)
  • Living with a Disability (Linda Long-Bellil)
  • LUV (Listening to Unheard Voices): Making Opioid Interventions More Effective by Humanizing Addiction (Heather-Lyn Haley)
  • UMMS Dominican Republic Batey Health Initiative (Michele Pugnaire; Global Health Fellows: Satu Salonen and Raulo Colon-Mulero)
  • Moving Worcester: Meeting Worcester’s Leaders in Physical Activity Promotion (Elizabeth Erban)
  • Oral Health in Underserved Populations- More important than you think! (Hugh Silk)
  • Prehospital Care and Disaster Management: Healthcare delivery amidst unprecedented circumstances in the 2020s (Nicholas Hajj)
  • Providing compassionate care to Worcester’s Homeless Population (Erik Garcia, Stephanie Connors)
  • See it My Way: The VIPs (Visually Impaired Persons) in Worcester County (Heather-Lyn Haley)
  • Seeking Refuge During a Pandemic: Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health in Lowell, MA (Emily Ferrara)
  • Understanding and addressing root causes of vaccine hesitancy among LatinX youth in Lawrence (Linda Cragin)
  • Worcester Healthy Baby Collaborative (Sara Shields)

Strategic Planning Listening Sessions for Community Health
As part of a department effort to further strategic planning, there will be two listening sessions focused on the Community Health elements of the department. The first is scheduled for Thursday, December 9th from 12:00-1:00 PM EST. If you are interested in participating, here is the Zoom Link. The second will likely take place at the beginning or end of the workday to accommodate community-based clinician faculty and the time slot is still to be determined. 
Announcements

The WFMR Structural Oppression and Anti-Racism (SOAR) Committee is planning a number of upcoming didactic sessions as part of the SOAR framework for residents. We are looking for faculty and residents interested in co-facilitating the following sessions:
  • Intersectional Feminism and Reproductive Justice on Tuesday, November 16th (specifically looking for faculty co-facilitator)
  • Anti-AAPI Racism (AY21)
  • Oppression Against Indigenous Peoples (AY21)
  • Anti-Latinx Discrimination (AY21)
  • Disability, Ableism, and Holding Medicine Accountable (AY22)
  • Immigration and Colonialism (AY22)
  • Medicine and the LGBTQ+ Community (AY22)
If you are interested or have questions, please contact Jordan Howard-Young, MD at
Jordan.Howard-Young@umassmemorial.org.

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.  
  • November 16th,12-1pm: LEAN White Belt: Part 1 
  • 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.  

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:
  • Diversity and Inclusion Efforts: Wednesday, November 17th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm.
  • Behavioral Health: Friday, November 19th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm.
Dates and times for theme based discussions are below. We encourage participation from any individual across the department with interest in these areas.
  • 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.

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, 11/29, 12/13
Cohort 2: Fridays 4-5:15pm, 11/19, 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 medical school has started the annual employee giving campaign – UMass Chan Cares. Visit UMassChanCares.org by November 23rd to donate by payroll deduction, check, or credit card. Your donation may be directed to a variety of organizations and causes, including:
  • UMass Chan’s North Quadrant Support Services initiative, which is our partnership with the Worcester Public Schools.
  • Several funds administered by the Medical School’s foundation: Research Fund, Student financial aid, Diversity and Inclusion Fund and Veterans Fund for Health Research.
  • More than 1,000 nonprofit organizations through our partnership with the United Way of Central Massachusetts.

The MassAHEC Urban Health Scholars are collecting socks for a student run foot clinic at AIDS Project Worcester in December. New socks can be left in the box in the Mail Room on the 3rd floor of Benedict or email Linda.Cragin@umassmed.edu and she will pick them up. Thank you in advance.

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

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).

Teaching of Tomorrow (TOT)
January 7-8 and March 25-26, 2022
Registration is Open! 
For over 25 years, UMass faculty from the departments of Family Medicine and Community Health, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics have trained over 1,500 clinical faculty and preceptors from across the Northeast and beyond. TOT focuses on building and refining foundational skills for effective clinical teaching in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings. Preceptors from any specialty and discipline will enhance their clinical teaching skills through discourse and practice. TOT also provides valuable opportunities to network with other clinician educators. Our award-winning faculty utilize the principles of adult learning, drawing on participants’ experience and building knowledge through dialogue. The conference provides frequent opportunities to practice and assess new skills in a safe and fun environment.
Audience:
  • Clinical educators – MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs, RNs, Behavioral Health, Pharmacists
  • Primary Care and Specialty providers
  • Teachers of students, residents, and advanced learners
  • Teachers in both In-patient and Ambulatory settings
Frankly Speaking Podcast

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

Please join us to hear a discussion on the results of the recently published studies on salt and cardiovascular disease, along with an overview of the Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS). Overview: While the data conflict on how much sodium intake is optimal for preventing cardiovascular disease, it is clear that daily salt intake for most Americans exceeds what is recommended However, restricting salt intake on an individual or on a public health level has been controversial. An interesting alternative is the use of salt substitutes, which can help to decrease sodium intake while increasing potassium intake and both have been associated with lowering blood pressure. Guest: Robert A. Baldor, MD, FAAFP, presents: "Time to Recommend the Use of Salt Substitutes for CVD Prevention". - Frankly Speaking Ep 250.
Department Member Recognition

Jim Ledwith, MD, in costume appropriately as a crusader, was interviewed on Spectrum News for the Halloween-themed flu and COVID vaccine clinic at the free clinic at Epworth Methodist Church. See him here: 

Congratulations to several UMass Chan medical students who are receiving a scholarship from the Worcester District Medical Society this week, recognizing their involvement in community service: 
Alec Allain ‘22, Kendall Burdick ’23 PURCH/AHEC Scholar, Brennan Dagle ’22 FMIG, Kelly Flanagan ’22, Dhanya Kumar ’23, Cindy Le ’23 MassAHEC Urban Health Scholar, Ashwin Panda ’23, MassAHEC Urban Health Scholar, Nathan Taber ’23, and Rebecca Toohey ‘22.
Clinical Services Spotlight:
COVID-19 UPDATES

COVID-19 New Surges
COVID-19 is increasing again in Europe and new shutdowns may be near. COVID-19 cases are also rising in states with the highest vaccination rates (New Hampshire, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Vermont, Illinois, Colorado, and New Mexico).

US
  • The US had more than 80,000 new cases in the last 4 days. 
  • The US has had 5,115,156 cases as of 11/14/2021 with 783,565 related deaths.
  • MA is listed among the states where new cases are increasing but not among those with the highest increase.
 
WORLD
  • Total COVID cases in the world (as of 11/14/21), 254,027,824; Total Deaths, 5,115,156.
  • According to UNICEF, 11,700 of the total cases occurred in those less than 20 years old.
 
Massachusetts
  • There have been 814,054 cases of COVID in MA, with 18,758 confirmed deaths.
  • The 7-day average of percent positivity has increased to 2.32%.
  • Currently, there are 522 patients hospitalized in MA with 131 patients in the ICU and 66 intubated. 
  • According to the State of Massachusetts, people are still considered fully vaccinated if they have received two doses of either Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, or a single dose of Johnson and Johnson vaccine more than 14 days ago. Currently in Massachusetts, you do not need to receive a booster shot to be fully vaccinated. People who have a condition or have taken medication that weaken the immune system should speak with their healthcare provider to discuss. https://www.mass.gov/guidance/guidance-for-people-who-are-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19.
 
UMMMC
  • Confirmed positive cases at the medical center was 27 on 11/14/21 (7 in ICU).
  • In acute care, 7 of the 17 were fully vaccinated and in the ICU, 1 of the 7 was fully vaccinated. Of the 27 COVID positive cases, 10 of 27 (37%) were fully vaccinated.
  • Across the system, 97.4% of caregivers are now vaccinated.
  • The system overall expects little disruption due to the mandatory vaccine requirement; however there are a few areas with staffing difficulties as a result.
 
Children and COVID Vaccine
  • Massachusetts schools K-12 will continue to require masks until January 15, 2022.
  • Children 5-11 who live or go to school in MA are now eligible to get the Pfizer vaccine.
  • The vaccine is administered 2 doses, 3 weeks apart at a lower dose than those 12 years of age and older.
  • Children 5-11 may receive other vaccines and the COVID vaccine at the same time.
 
Flu Season 2021-2022
  • Flu vaccination is due by December 15, 2021. If you are applying for an exemption, the exemption request is due by November 15th. Remember to check the Hub for appropriate forms.
 
Wellness
Congratulations to the teams that participated in the Step-Up activity. Keep it moving. If you enjoy walking, just do it! Way to go, Health Alliance Fitchburg Family Practice and Hahnemann Family Health Center.
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.