UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - January 18, 2022/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
Faculty Presentations/Publications
Department Member Recognition
Clinical Services Spotlight
Message from the Chair
 
First, thanks again to everyone for helping us get through the Omicron surge as best we can. We know these are extremely challenging times and that everyone is tired. I am incredibly proud of our community and hope that the coming months will offer some relief and return to normalcy.
 
There is a critical blood shortage, so please donate if you can.
 
Related to the surge, some quick updates:
  • We had a couple of volunteers to help with inbox management during the surge (thanks!!) and we are working to get that help in place asap.
  • The demand for testing through the school’s surveillance program is very high. You MUST have an appointment for testing or you will be turned away.
  • A new feature of Service Now will be added this week that allows for caregivers to report symptoms then directly schedule testing. Watch for an announcement with details.
  • The school requires a booster and the same requirement is expected soon from the clinical system. School employees and dual docs should upload their booster documentation here. 
  • 3 more surge spaces opened this week to meet unprecedented demand for acute care and critical care beds.
  • Evidence of plateau?
  o COVID wastewater surveillance offers a little hope- both Boston and
Worcester are trending downward. This has been shown to be a
leading indicator.
o  All Mass hospitals are reporting plateau or slight decline of patient
volumes and staff out due to COVID.

Looking ahead, and on a more positive note, I want to bring to your attention some opportunities included in this newsletter that are available in the department: 
  • Several positions in the Worcester residency (contact Ginny).
  • An investigator position focused on community-engaged intervention research (contact Suzanne Mitchell).
  • Vice Chair for Community Health position with Jennifer Bradford and Linda Cragin co-chairing the search committee (contact Linda). 
 
Networking to promote these positions is the best recruitment strategy we can use. If you have a contact, direct them here:  https://umassmed.edu/fmch/about-us/career-opportunities/or or if you access to any listservs and want a short posting, please contact Linda.Cragin@umassmed.edu.
Upcoming Events

Lean White Belt - Part 2
Tuesday, January 25th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Lynne Lombardi, MBA, Senior Lean Consultant in OPD, UMMS
Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH
Focus of the Week - Community

Don’t miss the UMass Chan MLK Celebration on January 24th at noon. It will feature a keynote address from Noel Manyindo, MD MBA MPH, speaking on the important role of community health in achieving social justice and health equity. Dr. Manyindo is a public health physician, health equity strategist and justice advocate. He is currently serving as Associate Medical Professor and Chair of the Department of Community Health and Social Medicine (CHASM) at the CUNY School of Medicine, where the “agenda is centered on advancing health equity and eliminating racial and other intersecting inequities through community-oriented and community-partnered research, teaching and practice, including chronic disease epidemiology, health behavior, upstream health policy and systems, health system and services, and global health.” His past work includes significant contributions to the New York City Bureau of Health, the National Urban League, and the MA Office of Refugee and Immigrant Health. Fun Fact for our department: His residency training was in Family Medicine and Community Health at Howard. Register now for this virtual event, which will also include presentation of the Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion and the MLK Jr Semester of Service Student Awards.
 
We are excited to share news of the winning entries in the UMass Chan 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Semester of Service Student Awards, which are designed to support student-initiated work that addresses community-identified health needs through collaborative partnerships. This year we received 14 strong proposals and were able to secure funding for five through the Diversity and Inclusion Office and Office for Community and Government Relations. Student teams will be recognized at the event on January 24. 

  • Improving Pediatric Oral Health in Worcester  
Fiona Splaine (SOM ‘24), Ekaterina Skaritanov (SOM ‘24), and
Marie McGourty (SOM ‘24) 
Partnering with Marie's Mission 
To run six oral health education sessions providing increased awareness about the
importance of oral health, actionable steps families can take to improve their oral
health, and the resources to schedule a child’s first dentist appointment.  
  • Setting the Tone  
Christopher Fay (SOM ’23), Nichita Kulkarni (SOM ’22), Jeremiah Hyslip (SOM
’23), Christian Keenan (SOM ’24), Zahin Ahmed (SOM ’25), Sumayyah Akhtar
(SOM ’25), Webb Camille (SOM and GS1 of PhD) 
Partnering with Family Health Center Worcester  
To develop and deliver a series of educational lectures on clinical signs and
symptoms in black and brown skin, creating a lasting clinical teaching resource, as
well as to purchase and distribute bandages in darker skin tones at
Family Health Center Worcester.  
  • Moving the Walls: Enhancing interprofessional care and patient privacy in free medical clinics  
Angela Patterson (GEP-DNP ‘24), David Runyan (GEP-DNP ‘24), Jillian
Steacy (GEP-DNP ‘24), Kourtney Mantyla (GEP-DNP ‘24), Morgan Hill (GEP-
DNP ‘24), Jacob Waldman (GEP-DNP ‘24), Casandra Gale (GEP-DNP ‘24),
Emily Dillon (GEP-DNP ‘24), Joshan Niroula (GEP-DNP ‘24),
Rachel Odillia (GEP- DNP ‘24) 
Partnering with Worcester Free Care Collaborative  
To strengthen the Worcester Free Care Collaborative (WFCC) through incorporation
of Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) students, which will expand the
range and quality of free medical care provided. Additionally, funds will be used to
purchase adjustable walls, creating private space to provide medical consultation
and/or learning discussions between volunteers, SOM and GSN students, and
medical providers.  
  • Worcester CARES-Caring for Afghan Refugees through Educational Support  
Sayeda Sahar Peerzade (SOM ’24), Sumayyah Akhtar (SOM ’25),
and Michael Mallouh (SOM ’25) 
Partnering with Worcester Islamic Center Social Services  
To mitigate educational disparities during resettlement while continuing to support
the endeavors of community partners, including a patient navigator program, a K-12
student tutoring program focused on school preparedness, and improving access to
vaccines and other resources at the WICSS free clinic.  
  • STEM Start 
Naomi Stuffers (SOM '24), Annie Ma (SOM '24) and Lyle Suh (SOM '24)  
Partnering with Worcester East Middle School
To introduce a new healthcare career-oriented mentorship aspect to
the STEMStart program at Worcester East Middle School, which will include a
healthcare fair and mentor panel consisting of female professionals from various
STEM careers.  
Announcements

The Worcester FM Residency has four new residency leadership roles open: Children’s Health Education Director, Advocacy Director and two Associate Program Director (APD) roles. In addition to being posted internally, the APD roles are also being posted externally. Please find the job descriptions attached. Email Ginny Van Duyne to express your interest and please include your CV (virginia.vanduyne@umassmemorial.org).

Suzanne Mitchell is leading the search for a mid-career, tenure track, Community Health Investigator dedicated to the conduct of research aligned with our mission emphasizing the relationship between clinical practice and community health with a focus on serving vulnerable populations and promoting health equity across the lifespan. Please see the application requirements at AcademicJobsOnline position 20374, https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/20374. Please refer inquiries to Suzanne.Mitchell2@umassmed.edu.

Hepatitis C and General Hepatology
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes)
You are invited to join an exciting virtual collaborative learning opportunity!
What? Hepatitis C ECHO, a virtual case-based tele-mentoring educational model
Who? Primary care interdisciplinary team members (providers, nurses, social workers, community health workers, patient navigators, etc.)
Why? Tele-mentoring model that links specialists to primary care providers (PCPs) via video conferencing from any computer; Case based, iterative learning facilitated by specialists and related experts; through guided practice, PCPs become proficient in specialty care
When? A new cohort begins Friday, February 11th, 2022, 12:30 - 1:30pm ~ with 10 sessions held bi-monthly.
Curriculum content includes:
  • HCV screening
  • Acute HCV
  • Chronic HCV: Workup
  • Treatment of non-cirrhotic patients
  • Treatment of cirrhotic patients
  • Monitoring during treatment
  • Monitoring post treatment
  • "Topic by request"
  • Other hepatitides in the context of HCV/Hepatitis A&B
  • Treatment of special populations

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. 

Volunteers needed for WFCC
Worcester Free Care Collaborative is always in need of volunteer family physicians and family nurse practitioners to support its mission to address needs of the uninsured and underinsured of our community. We also need help with pediatric vaccine program management. You fill find it fulfilling to address needs for vulnerable patients and work with highly motivated student volunteers. Contact student leader Tyler Healy (tyler.healy@umassmed.edu) for needs across the 6 programs or Danielle Heims-Waldron (danielle.heimswaldron@umassmed.edu) for Monday night’s Epworth program. 
Frankly Speaking Podcast

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

Please join us for an overview: Per CDC data, approximately 2.5 million Americans present each year to emergency departments with head injuries, and 15% of all high school students report experiencing at least one concussion. Current guidelines recommend physical and cognitive rest for 24-48 hours post-concussion with minimal guidance on screen time parameters. Recent evidence is emerging that supports avoidance of screen time and encouragement of aerobic activity as strategies to shorten and lessen post-concussion symptoms. Join us as we discuss 2 recent studies regarding screen-time and aerobic exercise that add critical information to best practice for reducing post-concussion symptoms. "Improving Recovery from Concussion: New Evidence That May Help Post-Concussion Recuperation". - Frankly Speaking Ep 259.
Faculty Presentations/Publications

The New England AIDS Education and Training Center, under the leadership of Philip Bolduc, MD and Vanessa Carson-Sasso, MSW, provided a webinar, HIV Discrimination, Privacy and Confidentiality: Impact on the Delivery of Oral Healthcare presented by NEAETC Dental Director, Helene Bednarsh, BS, RDH, MPH and David Reznik, DDS Chief, Dental Medicine Director, Oral Health Center - Infectious Disease Program, Grady Health System. Vanessa moderated the session with 70 participants from across the country.  The webinar reviewed laws protecting people with disabilities with a focus on the delivery of oral healthcare to people with HIV. A recording of the webinar and slides are available: https://www.neaetc.org/events/view/19844.

Kristina Gracey, MD, MPH, recently published with colleagues at the Ugandan medical clinic Engeye (https://www.engeye.org/) and Albany Medical Center on best practices for global health training. Chang KZ, Gracey K, Lamparello B, Nandawula B, Pandhi N. Global Health Training Collaborations: Lessons Learned and Best Practices. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Nov 29:tpmd210193. The article can be accessed here: https://www.ajtmh.org/view/journals/tpmd/aop/article-10.4269-ajtmh.21-0193/article-10.4269-ajtmh.21-0193.xml
Department Member Recognition

Dan Mullin, PsyD, MPH and Stacy Potts, MD were recognized in UMassMed News and MassLive for the work they are doing to address vaccine hesitancy in pregnant and post-partum women. https://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2022/01/umass-chan-develops-model-to-help-clinicians-discuss-covid-19-vaccines-with-pregnant-women/.
Clinical Services Spotlight:
COVID-19 UPDATES

World
  • World deaths to date are 5,559,021, which represents 1.7% of cases (42,408 cases per 1M, and 713 deaths per 1M).
  • The US cases total 66,995,533; of these 98% of patients have recovered. 
 
COVID Update MA
  • As of 1/17/2022, MA has had 1,426,283 COVID cases and 20,939 deaths. 
  • Current active cases in MA are 698,392.
  • The number of hospitalizations as of 1/14/2022 was 3,223 with 460 patients in the ICU and 279 intubated.
  • Current 7-day average positivity rate is 19.9%.

COVID Updates UMMMC
  • The number of COVID positive inpatients UMMHC is 285 with 194 at UMMMC (45 in ICU). 
  • In house test positivity for symptomatic patients is 47%, and 16% for asymptomatic patients.
  • Worcester Stop-the-Spread test positivity is 37.5% (down about 2%).
  • 400 caregivers are out due to COVID (41 in past 24 hrs).

Who is fully vaccinated?
  • People are still considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 if they have received two doses of either the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines or a single dose of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine for more than 14 days ago. 
  • This also applies to COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (e.g. AstraZeneca/Oxford, Sinopharm).

CLINICAL UPDATES
 
Shortage of Blood products
Reminder from Kathleen Obrien. 
 
We expect that this critical shortage will continue for the foreseeable future, therefore we must take measures to ensure that we have enough blood for lifesaving care. These include:
  • All caregivers must use discretion when transfusing blood products (especially red blood cells and platelets) until further notice, reserving it for only patients that absolutely require transfusion.
  • If a caregiver orders more than two units of blood, the blood bank will review the case and communicate the appropriate next steps. 
  • If you need assistance to determine if it is appropriate to utilize our limited blood supply, please call the Blood Bank at ext. 11960 or 508-421-1960. 
 
Several multidisciplinary leadership groups are meeting daily to address this issue and will continue to do so until our supply returns to normal levels. If you or someone you know are able to donate, please go to the Red Cross website and enter your zip code to see what local appointments are available or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. 
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
New Yoga Link!
Our Yoga class hit the 1 year anniversary - which in zoomland means we need a new link. Happy anniversary yogis and much gratitude to our fearless leader, Liz!

Also, a great time to join, new members always welcome. Start your mid week with some relaxing yoga! 

Please join department members for early morning gentle yoga, Wednesday mornings 6:30am via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting ID: 923 9393 3653 Passcode: 764113
Zumba with Dr. Anna Zheng

Thursdays 6:15pm: 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? Please email Dr. Zheng at ZumbawithAnnaZheng@gmail.com to register and complete brief health screen if it's your first class and the ZOOM link.