UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - February 18, 2025/COMMUNITY

Welcome to the FMCH Tuesday Talk. Please continue to send us your announcements, celebrations, and accomplishments to FMCHtuesdaytalk@umassmed.edu. 

Table of Contents

Congratulations and a Reminder!

Upcoming Events

Focus of the Week - Community

Announcements

Black History Month Highlights

Scholarship Opportunities

Department Member Recognition

Publications and Presentations

Frankly Speaking Podcast

Resources

Congratulations and a Reminder!


Congratulations to Steve Earls who will be inducted into the MassAFP Preceptor Hall of Fame and to Olga Valdman for receiving the MassAFP Innovation Award. Both awardees will be recognized at the MassAFP Annual Meeting & Spring Refresher to be held March 14-15 in Waltham. 


And remember after you register for the MassAFP Annual Meeting & Spring Refresher, register (separately) to stay Saturday afternoon for our 50th Anniversary Celebration and Reunion. We have a great afternoon and evening planned:


UMass Family Medicine at 50: Staying Focused on Access, Equity, and Justice


Register here!

Saturday afternoon will kick off with a casual networking lunch followed by a program starting at 1:30 that explores the role of family medicine in health and health justice, culminating with a networking reception from 4:30-6:30. With the support of generous sponsors, the ticket price is $75. CME approval is in process. Registrations must be received by February 28th.

Upcoming Events

FMCH Grand Rounds

Tuesday, February 18th, 12:00 - 1:00pm"Primary Care Psychiatry", 

presented by Jordan Howard-Young, MD, Stephany G. Eierle, DO, and Tia Strong, LICSW.

Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/191986273?pwd=NEtlZmNkdWlSUGwyeTJQU3dCeUs1QT09

Focus of the Week - Community

Hugh Silk, MD, MPH, Vice Chair of Community Health

Heather-Lyn Haley, PhD, Program Director


The Community Health Improvement Planning (CHIP) process helps us see beyond clinical data to the experiences of the communities in which we serve. Your participation in the process allows you to share insights you’ve gained in the clinic across individual patient visits and to hear about trends at the community level that can improve your ability to provide care. These plans also shape local funding priorities. There are multiple ways to participate that don't require a lot of time:  

  • The North Worcester County CHIP process is underway, led by the Health Equity Partnership for North Central (CHNA9), with a new multi-year plan drafted and asking for your engagement. This region includes Fitchburg and Barre. Take a few minutes before February 28th to learn more and provide your input. 
  • The Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester is planning now for the March 28th Annual Meeting, at which time they will provide updates on progress toward CHIP goals over the last year and announce the Equity Award winner. Register now for the meeting, planned for 3:30-5:30pm at 18 Chestnut Street.  
  • The City of Worcester has seen an increase in traffic fatalities and in response have lowered the speed limit city-wide to 25 mph. Belmont Street and Shrewsbury Street are among the worst traffic spots – please remember to keep your speed down when traveling near our campuses. Take a look at the Vision Zero Safety Action plan to learn more and provide your feedback there. 


Big changes ahead for the Population and Community Health Clerkship in 2025, as we expand our time with MS3s from ten consecutive days in September to a new model of twelve days split up into three sets of four days in June, September and March:  

  • June 24-28, 2025 PCHC Part One 
  • September 23-26, 2025 PCHC Part Two (includes Engagement Mixer Sept 24) 
  • March 31–April 4, 2025 PCHC Part Three 

Learn more now and reach out ASAP to Dr. Haley to get started on planning now.

Team descriptions will be due at the end of April.

Announcements


From UMass Memorial Medical Group: Fraud Targeting MA Physicians

Please be advised of a widespread scam that is presently occurring and may impact Medical Staff members. This scam specifically targets physicians and involves receiving a call where the caller identifies themself as an investigator or special agent from the DEA or the Board of Medicine. The fraudulent caller tells the physician that their license or DEA is in jeopardy then requests personal information and/or money.

Agencies such as the DEA and the Board of Registration in Medicine do not call providers requesting personal confidential information, to request money, or to threaten loss of licensure or registration. If you receive one of these calls, please do not follow the caller’s instructions. Contact one of the following to verify whether a member of their staff initiated the call and needs to speak with you:

  • DEA: Boston FBI Field Office at 857-386-2000 or DEA Duty Line 571-362-8487
  • MA License: Call the Board of Medicine at 781-876-8230. 

They will notify you if the call was not from the Board of Medicine and is a scam call.

Please also notify the UMass Memorial Medical Center Compliance Office at: Lisa.mccusker@umassmemorial.org or by cellphone, 508-831-8034. Please feel free to contact our Office of the General Counsel, (508) 334-1700, with any questions.


UMass Chan Women’s Professional Pods Program is enrolling individuals who identify as women or other minoritized gender identities in medicine and science and have an academic faculty appointment at any one of the three UMass Chan Medical Campuses. This program is available for all health care providers, including APPs.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Caitlin Tanski at caitlin.tanski@baystatehealth.org.

See link below:

Women's Professional Pods Program (WP3) | Baystate Health.


New Clinical Practice Guideline for Medication Abortion Services at UMass Memorial Health Clinics

UMass Memorial Health is working to ensure equitable access to reproductive health care with the introduction of a new Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for Medication Abortion. This evidence-based guideline provides a standardized protocol to help clinicians competently offer medication abortion services, making care more accessible to patients across our system. The initiative is part of UMass Memorial’s broader commitment to reproductive health and addressing racial disparities in accessing abortion services at earlier gestational ages, where care is safer and outcomes are improved. Kristina Gracey provided co-leadership to the development of the CPG. For more information see flyer. You can access the full guideline on the Hub.


Peers for Promotion

Assistant Professors in the non-tenure track who are considering going up for promotion can apply now for the Peers for Promotion Program, which helps prepare and support faculty through the process. Applications are due February 20th and include:

  • Completed application
  • Current CV in the UMass Chan format(uploaded as part of application submission)
  • Signed Chair/Division Chief Support Form (you will download the form within the application itself, and then upload a signed version as part of the application submission)


Hepatitis C and General Hepatology Project ECHO

(Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes)

You are invited to join an exciting virtual collaborative learning opportunity which will allow you to build expertise in the evaluation and management of patients living with chronic

Hepatitis C. (see attached brochure and curriculum schedule)

A new cohort begins Friday, February 21st, 12:30-1:30pm ~ with 10 sessions held

bi-monthly.

Register Today!


UMass Chan Medical School’s Summer Intensive for Presentation Skills (SIPS) is a three-day in-person program for faculty interested in improving their ability to design and deliver outstanding presentations. Information sessions for interested faculty will be held on February 26th at 4pm and February 28th at 12pm via Zoom (attend one).

Register for an information session HERE.


The Center for Integrated Primary Care is offering a free webinar on Engagement Skills for Primary Care Practice on Thursday, February 27th from 12-1pm

More details and registration here.


Email Retention and Destruction Policy to Take Effect March 3, 2025 

For people who principally use their umassmemorial email address: emails older than 4 years will be destroyed on March 3, 2025. Think about any messages that you may need in the future. Examples include any emailed evaluations that may be helpful for your promotion portfolio or sensitive documents (like HR, student grade challenges). For more guidance, please refer to the Records Retention Policy, which defines a record, and the Record Retention Schedule, which identifies the length of time each different type of record should be retained. For emails older than 2021 that you wish to retain, please follow this step-by-step job aid.


STFM's Medical Student Educators Development Institute (MSEDI) is now accepting applications for its 2025-2026 fellowship class through March 4th. This 18-month fellowship offers training, tools, and support for faculty who educate medical students and is particularly suited to those who aspire to be clerkship directors or medical student education directors. MSEDI Fellows build skills in developing curriculum, advising students, and recruiting & maintaining preceptor networks. Apply or learn more at 

https://stfm.org/MSEDI


Save the date for the Mass AFP Spring Refresher

March 14-15, 2025

See the link for registration. https://massafp.org/page-1075355


The 2025 Faculty for Tomorrow Workshop for Residents will be held on May 3rd, 2025 as part of the STFM Annual Spring Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. See link for additional information.

https://www.stfm.org/awardsscholarships/scholarships/facultyfortomorrowresidentscholarship/overview/

Black History Month Highlights


What is Black History Month?

The month began as a week-long celebration in 1926, initiated by historian Carter G. Woodson, who selected the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Over time, it expanded to a month-long celebration, officially recognized in 1976 during the U.S. Bicentennial. Black History Month highlights the profound impact of Black individuals in fields ranging from civil rights to science, the arts, politics, and more. It also serves as a time to reflect on the ongoing struggles against racism and inequality. Each year often has a theme that directs the focus of educational programs and events.


Below is a list of 20 significant Black history pioneers who have made profound impacts across healthcare, medicine, and science: “The Top 20”

  1. Dr. Charles Drew – Surgeon and researcher who developed improved techniques for blood storage and established the blood bank. 
  2. Dr. Mary Eliza Mahoney – The first African American woman to become a professionally trained nurse in the U.S. 
  3. Dr. Ben Carson – Neurosurgeon known for separating conjoined twins and pioneering advancements in neurosurgery. 
  4. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams – Performed one of the first successful open-heart surgeries and founded the first interracial hospital in the U.S. 
  5. Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler – First African American woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S. 
  6. Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson – Physicist and the first African American woman to earn a PhD from MIT, with work in nuclear physics and technology. 
  7. Dr. George Carruthers – Physicist and inventor, developed a camera for space exploration used on the Apollo 16 mission. 
  8. Dr. Patricia Bath – Ophthalmologist who invented the Laserphaco Probe, revolutionizing cataract surgery. 
  9. Dr. Jeanette E. Brown – Chemist, one of the first African American women to earn a degree in chemistry, and a pioneer in advancing minority representation in the sciences. 
  10. Dr. St. Elmo Brady – The first African American man to earn a PhD in chemistry in the U.S. 
  11. Dr. Alvin Ailey – Choreographer and activist, promoted the health and well-being of African American artists. 
  12. Dr. Marjorie Stewart Joyner – Hair care entrepreneur and inventor who created a permanent wave machine, influencing public health in beauty care. 
  13. Dr. Mae Jemison – Physician, engineer, and the first African American woman in space, contributing to space exploration and health research. 
  14. Dr. Earl Edward Shepard – Neuroscientist with significant contributions to brain research. 
  15. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha – Pediatrician who exposed the Flint water crisis, advocating for children’s health and safety. 
  16. Dr. Oluwaferanmi O. Okanlami – Doctor and advocate for healthcare accessibility, especially for individuals with disabilities. 
  17. Dr. LaSalle Leffall – Renowned surgeon and former president of the American Cancer Society, dedicated to cancer research and treatment. 
  18. Dr. Edward Alexander Bouchet – The first African American to earn a PhD from Yale, pioneering contributions to physics and education. 
  19. Dr. Claudette Colvin – A nursing student who helped bring attention to racial injustice in healthcare through her activism. 
  20. Dr. James McCune Smith – The first African American to earn a medical degree in the U.S. and an advocate for racial equality in healthcare.


These individuals have paved the way for future generations, breaking barriers and making transformative contributions in healthcare, medicine, and science.

Scholarship Opportunities:  2025 Family Medicine Advocacy Summit


Society of Teach of Family Medicine's Advocacy Scholarships for New Faculty

STFM supports five scholarships annually for new faculty to attend FMAS. Scholarships cover the cost of registration, travel, hotel accommodations, and meals not provided by the conference up to $1,500. Applicants must be members of STFM and fulfill all eligibility requirements. More on that here.  Deadline to apply is February 28th.

 

The Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors

AFMRD provides scholarships for at least 16 family medicine residents, 2 AFMRD members, and 2 current NIPDD fellows. AFMRD reimburses up to $2,500 for approved FMAS travel, lodging, meals, and registration expenses for the scholar. More on that here.

Deadline to apply is February 28th.

Department Member Recognition



In celebration of Black History Month, Dr. Josephine Fowler shares her perspectives on her work, the motivations behind her advocacy, and her visions for a more inclusive and equitable health care system.

Massachusetts Medical Society: Josephine Fowler, MD: Championing Health Equity

Presentations and Publications


Hugh Silk, with medical student Sumayyah Akhtar, librarian Gregg Stevens, and posthumously with Judy Savageau had a Summer Internship project recently published: Oral Health Articles in Primary Care Journals: A Bibliometric Review in Journal of Public Health Dentistry. 2025 DOI: 10.1111/jphd.12656. View abstract

Daniel H. Lasser Family Medicine Education Innovation Fund


You can contribute by credit card to this link or QR code:

https://alumni.umassmed.edu/lasserinnovationfund.


Or send a check payable to UMass Chan Medical School with “Lasser Fund” in the memo to: UMass Chan Medical School Office of Advancement, 333 South Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545. If you want to make a multi-year pledge, gift of securities or a wire transfer, contact 

giving@umassmed.edu for information. Donations from your IRA:  

https://plannedgiving.umassmed.edu/give-from-your-ira.

Frankly Speaking Podcast


Please join us for a weekly Podcast series for an overview: Listen in as we discuss the US Surgeon General's new advisory on the impact of alcohol on cancer incidence and mortality. We review the latest data, explore alcohol's role in carcinogenesis, and provide evidence-based guidance to help you counsel patients on safer consumption and cancer prevention. Guest: Jillian Joseph, MPAS, PA-C, presents: "I Guess I Won't Have Another"-Alcohol and Cancer Risk - Frankly Speaking Ep 420.

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frankly-speaking-about-family-medicine/id1194659367

Resources


Resources to promote Family Medicine Proud and celebrate our 50th Anniversary

a PowerPoint template, Zoom backgrounds, logo etc:  

https://www.umassmed.edu/fmch/faculty-resources/department-logos/


Past editions of the Tuesday Talk are available at 

https://www.umassmed.edu/fmch/ under Resources.


The UMass Memorial Caring for Caregivers Program is available at 508-334-HELP,

EAP at 866-263-3525, and the UMass Chan EAP at 800-322-5327.

www.LiveandWorkWell.com 


Yoga Classes with Dr. Liz Erban.

New members always welcome. 

Please join us on Wednesday(s), 6:30-7:30am, for a gentle awakening yoga session led by the talented Liz Erban.

https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/91343267992?pwd=ZHF3NHVrVlR1MVdMV09HSE5lTzdsQT09