UCONN HEALTH
THE PULSE
Issue 357 | March 30, 2023
Supporting Population Health, On and Off the Job
Her day job is to support Healthy Planet, the tool within Epic dedicated to improving population health. So it makes sense that when she’s away from work, Jessica Parmelee advocates for access to affordable housing.
THE POWER OF POSSIBLE.
Form Is (Mal)function: Protein’s Shape Lets Bacteria Disarm It
From the lab of Jianbin Ruan comes findings that unravel one of the mysteries surrounding Shigella bacteria, which are to blame for fever and gastrointestinal problems in 450,000 Americans each year. Learn more.
Board of Directors Recognizes Zita Lazzarini
Congratulations to Zita Lazzarini, associate professor in the Division of Public Health Law and Bioethics in the Department of Public Health Sciences and director of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Medicine — chosen for this year's UConn Health Board of Directors Faculty Recognition Award!
DEAR DR. LIANG
As you are aware this is the month of Ramadan. Are there any plans to offer special prepared halal food (prepared by Islamic Law) for Muslims in the cafeteria? Also could this be something that can be discussed with the cafeteria to have a halal corner for food? 

Thank you for your questions, which I’ve shared with Kevin Geraghty from Morrison Healthcare, our food and nutrition vendor. He reports the current menu already has numerous offerings that are halal observant, and his team is ensuring they are clearly indicated. Additionally, the food court in the main building is offering halal box lunches and has a halal section in the grab-and-go-cooler.

These are good suggestions, and I encourage anyone with these types of ideas to offer them directly to Morrison for the fastest response.
Have a question for Dr. Liang? Just find his smiling face on UConn Health Express and click “Ask Dr. Liang a Question.”
UPDATES/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Seasons of Gratitude: April
Next month we recognize some of the professionals who make our exceptional work possible:
  • Occupational Therapy Month
  • Patient Access Week, April 2-8
  • Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week, April 3-7
  • Health Information Professionals Week, April 17-21
  • Patient Experience Week, April 23-29
  • Psychology Week, April 23-29
  • Medical Lab Professionals Week, April 24-28
  • Administrative Professionals Day, April 26
Take a moment to share your thanks and encouragement with these colleagues in April. It's all part of our Seasons of Gratitude.
Introducing UConn Health Gives
Get ready for the first-ever UConn Health Gives! This new 48-hour fundraiser April 19-20 is aimed at improving your experience working right here at UConn Health. You can donate to support an area you are passionate about, ranging from employee wellness and diversity, equity, and inclusion to training for medical assistants and medical technicians and support for our nurses. Learn more.
Group on Women in Medicine and Science Reconvenes
This Women’s History Month our Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) held its first in-person seminar since COVID joined by the provost's office. Dr. Luanne Thorndyke from UMass presented “Frontiers in Gender Equity: Endowed Positions and Why They Matter.” Her recent report, co-authored by our Laurinda Jaffe, revealed a significant gender disparity in endowed positions in medical schools. (From left: Kristyn Zajac, Vice Provost Gladis Kersaint, Nilanjana Maulik, Dr. Luanne Thorndyke, Laurinda Jaffe, Liisa Kuhn, and Dr. Marja Hurley.
New Art Exhibits Feature Felines, Landscape Paintings
Two new exhibits are on display in the Celeste LeWitt Gallery in the food court. See "A Sense of Place" by Kathleen Curran Smits, president of the Art League of New Britain, and "Mostly Cats" by Deborah Sacks, a retired Connecticut public school art teacher, through June 1.
PIC OF THE WEEK
More for the Final Four
Second-year students James Grant, Taylor Doolan, Julia Neri, and Dustin Moore represented UConn at the annual SonoSlam medical school ultrasound competition. It was part of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine conference in Orlando, and the first competition since 2019. "They made a very positive impression," says their faculty adviser, Dr. Meghan Herbst. "This was a five-hour fast-paced competition that involved identification of anatomy, pathology, and decision-making, and our team successfully made it through several cuts to the final four, when they ultimately lost to Yale, the team that won. Most teams consisted of senior students further along in their curriculum than our team." Congratulations to future Drs. Neri, Doolan, Moore and Grant for their strong showing! (And good luck to the UConn men's basketball team in the NCAA Tournament Final Four!)
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