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Memorial fund opened to honor Stephanie Lessun

A memorial fund has been opened in honor of Stephanie Lessun, a social worker at Upstate since 2018. The fund will be used to assist Stephanie’s husband and children. To contribute, mail checks to Upstate Foundation, 750 E. Adams St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13210. In the memo section of the check, write in: “In honor of Stephanie Lessun.” To contribute with a credit card donation, visit: http://www.upstatefoundation.org and click on “In honor of Stephanie Lessun.”

Donations sought for Donate Life virtual silent auction  

Upstate’s Organ Donor Council seeks donations for the Donate Life virtual silent auction to be held April 19 through 30. Donations are due 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 DahlinE@Upstate.edu or Erin Shortslef at ShortslE@Upstate.edu.

Applications sought for Clark Endowment for Pediatric Research funding

Applications are now being accepted for funding of up to $15,000 for one year from the Clark Endowment for Pediatric Research, an initiative established through Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and the Upstate Foundation. Any faculty or staff member at Upstate Medical University, Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, and Upstate University Hospital involved in pediatric research activities is eligible to apply for funds. These funds may be used to support both basic and clinical research projects and research equipment relevant to child health. Funds allocated in 2024 are available for the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. For more information and for an application, email Lisa Blystone at blystonL@gz-jlwl.com.

Ask HR has launched

Human Resources has launched Ask HR. Ask HR will answer HR questions anytime, anywhere and will be available on desktop computers and mobile devices. The system will feature a virtual help desk where employees can request assistance and track their requests as they are helped by HR experts. Ask HR will appear on the Upstate iPage today, March 20. To learn more, visit: http://upstate.video.yuja.com/V/Video?v=9862840&node=43278455&a=147792493&autoplay=1. Questions? Email Deidre Keefe at KeefeD@Upstate.edu.

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month information table is March 21

Katie Krawczyk, MA, RDN, CNSC, Upstate Cancer Center registered dietitian, and the We Matter team will host an information table today, March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon in the lobby of Upstate Cancer Center. Healthy snacks and information about colorectal cancer screening and risk reduction will be available. The event is open to everyone. For more information, email Chris Benton at BentonCh@Upstate.edu.

Journal Club focus is Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) Bill March 21

Bioethics and Humanities Journal Club will be held March 21 at noon via WebEx. Ed McArdle, JD, assistant professor at the Center for Bioethics and Humanities, will present: Should New York Approve a Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) Bill? What Would This Mean for Clinicians if MAiD Does Become Law in New York? Questions? Email Kathleen Szczech at SzczechK@Upstate.edu. The link to join is: http://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m90c3ac65f148b76473016255dfdc1bfd

Ninth annual Pedaling 4 Paige is March 23

The ninth annual Pedaling 4 Paige will be held Saturday, March 23 from 9 a.m. to noon virtually and at Elevate Fitness in Dewitt. To join the Upstate Cancer Center team, Pedaling Petunias, visit: http://runsignup.com/Race/91272/Donate/7bfCaWW1JadpjIGF. Proceeds benefit Paige’s Butterfly Run and pediatric cancer efforts in Central New York. Questions? Email Chris Benton at BentonCh@Upstate.edu.

Volunteer piano players sought for World Piano Day March 28

Help Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital celebrate World Piano Day with a full day of piano music Thursday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Family Resource Center on the 12th floor of Upstate Golisano. All types of music are welcome, including: ragtime, jazz, concertos, sonatas, showtunes, Disney songs, pop tunes, or nursery rhymes. Sign up for one or two 15-minute slots to help us keep the music going all day for patients, family, and staff. To sign up, visit: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094FA9A62CA0F5C70-48443956-piano. For more information, email Maggie Burns at BurnsMar@Upstate.edu.

Cardiology Grand Rounds is March 29

Jennifer Liu, MD, FACC, chief of cardiology at Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, will present Cardio-Oncology: Navigating Challenges, Charting New Frontiers March 29 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. via WebEx. One AMA PRA credit is available to participants. The presentation is open to all. To join, visit: http://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m5ab6581cf5eb4be2bbbd173166215d6a. (Meeting number:  2304 013 1218 Meeting password: Cardiology1. Questions, email Lisa Carroll at SchirtzL@Upstate.edu.

Yoga for All is March 29

Yoga for All sessions will be held March 29 from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. in 9405 A/B Upstate University Hospital and virtually. Sessions are 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. Questions? Email KhouryN@Upstate.edu.

Flex Spending Account deadline is March 31 

Those enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA-Health and Dependent Care) in 2023, have until March 31, 2024 to submit any expenses incurred in 2023 for reimbursement: http://goer.ny.gov/program-information. Participants will be able to use up to $610 of monies remaining in the 2023 Health Care Spending Account toward eligible expenses incurred during the 2024 calendar year, as long as the account has been open as of Dec. 31, 2023. In addition, participants will now be able to use the remaining balance in the 2023 Dependent Care Advantage Account toward eligible expenses between Jan. 1 to March 15, 2024. Claims must be submitted by the March 31 deadline.

Join Upstate in celebrating Earth Month beginning April 1

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 CorsiP@Upstate.edu. To register, visit: http://onehealthcare.ecochallenge.org/users/join.

Nominations for the President's Employee Recognition Awards due April 1

President's Employee Recognition Award nominations are sought through April 1. Information and nomination form available at: gnexc.gz-jlwl.com/pera. Questions? Email Megan Chase at ChaseM@Upstate.edu.

The six award categories are: 

  • Outstanding Contribution of the Year 
  • Community Service of the Year  
  • Team of the Year 
  • Leader of the Year 
  • Employee of the Year 
  • Provider of the Year

Public Health Week at Community runs April 1 to 5

Stop by the cafeteria at Upstate Community Hospital for information on Public Health Week April 1 to 5. For more information, email Beth Sellers at SellersB@Upstate.edu.

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: gnexc.gz-jlwl.com/blood.

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: http://gnexc.gz-jlwl.com/neurosurgery/research/research-day.php. Questions? Email Lisa Grace at GraceL@Upstate.edu.

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: http://engage.gz-jlwl.com/register/PTSpring. A virtual session will be held April 10 at 6:30 p.m. To register, visit: http://engage.gz-jlwl.com/register/PTVirtual. Questions? Email Student Admissions at admiss@gz-jlwl.com. 

Wellness Speaks on mindful eating is April 10

Christine 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:  http://upstate.webex.com/weblink/register/r7ee948f274acfc48ba948593ec908801. Questions? Email PodolakC@Upstate.edu.

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

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: http://gnexc.gz-jlwl.com/transplant/symposium.php.

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: http://calendar.gz-jlwl.com/event/updated-guidelines-for-managing-students-and-athletes-following-concussion/. Questions? Email Stephanie Virginia at VirginiS@Upstate.edu.

 

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 EdwarSha@Upstate.edu.

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 ChiaraAn@Upstate.edu.

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: http://engage.gz-jlwl.com/register/CHPOHSpring2024. Questions? Email Student Admissions at admiss@gz-jlwl.com. 

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 http://gnexc.gz-jlwl.com/volunteers/ and click on the T-shirt sale button. Questions? Email Laura Waltar at WaltarL@Upstate.edu. Join Upstate in celebrating National Volunteer Appreciation Week by wearing the shirts April 22 to 26.

Trivia for Pancreatic Cancer is April 27

Trivia for Pancreatic Cancer will be held Saturday, April 27 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Solvay Tyrol Club (213 Lamont Ave.). Teams can include up to six players and the fee to play is $20 per person. There will be prizes for winning team, gift baskets and 50/50 raffles, snacks, and a cash bar. Participants are welcome to bring in food and snacks, but no drinks. To register to play, visit: http://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/4XllvQ?vid=1474b9. Questions? Call Janice Todeschini at 315-415-3157 or Lynn Przydrozny at 315-663-4815.

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 EdwarSha@Upstate.edu.

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: http://engage.gz-jlwl.com/register/?id=95da2769-73c8-4c9e-85a7-4f27aefb27ee. For more information, email Jennifer Garbutt at GarbuttJ@Upstate.edu.

Global Health seeks healthy volunteers

The Upstate Global Health Institute seeks healthy volunteers age 18 to 64 for respiratory virus research. Global Health is working with the National Institutes of Health to develop better influenza vaccines. Participants will be compensated for time. For more information, email Trials@Upstate.edu or call 315-464-9869.

Fall 2024 applications for BPS-MRI and BPS-CT are open

Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) applications are sought for radiography students interested in pursuing specialty education in CT or MRI. For the full schedule, including information about programs and classes, visit: http://gnexc.gz-jlwl.com/chp/programs/mibps/study.php.  To apply, visit: http://gnexc.gz-jlwl.com/chp/admissions/apply.php. Questions? Email Student Admissions at admiss@gz-jlwl.com. 

Tranquility Tuesdays are every Tuesday

Join Kaushal Nanavati, MD, for Tranquility Tuesdays every Tuesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. in the second-floor stadium seating area of Nappi Wellness Institute or via Zoom. Each session is a unique meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, and relaxation practice experience. To join virtually, use Meeting ID: 407 812 4814, Password: wellness. For more information, email NanavatK@Upstate.edu.

Well NYS Everyday

The Well NYS Everyday challenge for March is to make meals rather than eating out. For more information and to sign-up for daily challenges, visit: http://oer.ny.gov/wellnys-everyday. For more information, email Christine Podolak at PodolakC@Upstate.edu.

The Informed Patient podcast

The Informed Patient podcast recently featured interviews with these specialists about safely watching the upcoming total eclipse, live kidney donors and the Upstate Sim Center.

  • How to protect your eyes while watching the total eclipse of the sun on April 8 is the topic of Robert Fechtner, MD, chief of ophthalmology. He also outlines what can happen to unprotected eyes by looking at the sun. Click here. 
  • The importance of altruistic kidney donations – that is, by living donors – is explained by transplant chief Reza Saidi, MD, who also explains how the donors can lead healthy, normal lives with their remaining kidney. Click here.
  • Upstate’s Simulation Center, in the basement of Weiskotten Hall, allows students to go through realistic versions of patient care. The center’s director, Hesham Masoud, MD, describes the workings of the center, which includes full-size models of hospital rooms and can use both living model patients or specially designed manikins. Click here.

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 gz-jlwl.com/informed.

To suggest an Upstate expert or topic for a possible podcast, email Amber Smith at SmithAmb@Upstate.edu.

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