UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - March 10, 2026/EDUCATION | | |
Table of Contents
Upcoming Events
Focus of the Week - Education
Announcements
Department Member Recognition
Frankly Speaking Podcast
Resources
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Upcoming Events
FMCH Grand Rounds
Tuesday, March 10th, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Maritza Jerome, DO, presents "Transitional Patients Off of GLPs".
Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/191986273?pwd=NEtlZmNkdWlSUGwyeTJQU3dCeUs1QT09
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Grand Rounds
Thursday, March 12th, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Shannon McCleery, PsyD, presents "Primary Care Behavioral Health Approach to Adult ADHD Diagnosis". Lazare Auditorium (S1-607) and https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/818349233?pwd=VVRDNUxZZmF4K3NqNXppTHJiVmNSUT09
Meeting ID: 818 349 233 Password: PsychGR1
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Focus of the Week - Education
Jeanne Cawse-Lucas, MD, Vice Chair of Education
Please plan to attend the Annual Faculty Development Day (formerly known as the departmental retreat) the afternoon of Thursday, May 14th, at the Albert Sherman Center on the UMass-Chan campus. Topics will include addressing bias in the clinical and learning environments, ambulatory procedures, intrapartum care, and integrating learners into scholarship. Now is a great time to ensure that your clinic schedule is clear! For new faculty members (in the past 3 years), there will be a new faculty academic onboarding that morning (May 14) from 9-12pm in the Benedict Building, which will cover scholarship opportunities, library resources, and setting yourself up for a successful academic.
The Fellowship in Primary Care Psychology and Medical Education had a very successful recruitment and match. This summer we will have two new fellows start their two-year fellowships with us. Sara Johnson will be with the Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency, and Eleanor Deveaux will be with the Worcester Family Medicine Residency with placement at the Barre Family Health Center.
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The Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA) and Information Technology (IT) are launching Softdoc’s Etrieve, a new user-friendly platform, for the 2026 Faculty Annual Performance Reviews (APRs). In response to feedback from our initial digital APR, we're pleased to launch this year's enhanced version, featuring a more streamlined workflow for faculty, supervisors, and chairs.
School-employed faculty, supervisors, and chairs will have access to Softdoc’s Etrieve starting, March 2nd (https://umassmedcentral.etrieve.cloud/Index). Sign in to Softdocs using your UMassmed or UMass Memorial credentials. If you are already signed in to your UMass Chan or UMass Memorial account, you will be automatically signed into Softdocs, and no additional sign in may be needed.
The APRs for school-employed faculty* have a deadline for completion of May 31st.
A range of materials are available to faculty, supervisors and chairs to support the implementation of this new process. Training sessions are being recorded and posted, and IT and OFA have worked together to provide step-by-step guides which will all be available on our website. In addition, we will be offering open OFA office hours every Wednesday, 1:00-2:00pm, to answer any questions related to the APR process and the new platform (Open Office Hours).
*Please note the APRs only apply to our employed faculty in accordance with the Academic Personnel Policy of UMass Chan Medical School, Section 5.5.
*Additional LIVE training sessions will be scheduled in the late spring/early summer in advance of the APRs for clinical employed faculty who are required to complete a UMass Chan APR.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with the APR Governance Committee and all faculty to continue to further refine these important processes to better support your academic work. Please direct any questions to facultyAPRs@umassmed.edu.
Missy Gleckel, MD, delivered a lecture to fourth-year medical students titled “Gender-Affirming Care in the United States in 2026,” focused on GAC in current times and critical, practice-relevant information for students preparing to enter residency. This session was part of the Horizons Phase Intersession C: Health Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion.
Upcoming Trainings
- Research Rx: Design Smart, Analyze Right, and Write Well
March 24th, 12-1pm, presented by Tasneem Zaihra Rizvi, PhD. Register here.
- Inclusive Teaching in Clinical Education
April 28, 12-1pm, presented by Mary Paterno, PhD. Register here.
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Announcements
The UMass Chan Dept. of Family Medicine and Community Health has been awarded a grant to evaluate AI use in clinical practice in the primary care setting. This project entails the participant to complete an 8-9 question multiple choice pre survey. A subset will be asked to primarily use a specific AI tool for their clinical needs but may still use other tools like websites, other apps or books afterwards. After 2 weeks, all participants will again complete the survey. For their participation, all will receive a high end insulated travel mug (like a Camelback or Yeti). Please share this invite with all primary care providers in your system, including Family Physicians, Primary Care Internists, and Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants who practice primary care. If interested, please sign up by registering your name and email at link below:
https://umassmed.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cO6dYGsDRaNyhwi?Q_CHL=qr
MassAFP 2026 Annual Meeting & Spring Refresher
Friday-Saturday, March 13-14, 2026. See list of Exhibitors and register here.
(Message from Frank Domino)
The Department is offering a “Precepting Performance Improvement Program - Part IV” as part of the ABFM recertification process. If you precept LEARNERS (preferably medical students) 180 hours per year, you are eligible. The process involves completing one of the BRIEF online Faculty Development Modules, committing to making at least ONE change in your precepting skills, and then precept students. After 180 hours, you will receive a post-test in December to revisit your commitment to change, and we will process with the ABFM. This Enrollment Form also serves as the Pre-Test. If you have any questions, please reach out karen.rayla@umassmed.edu.
Joint Commission Readiness
We have officially kicked off the Joint Commission Readiness Countdown—our very own prep rally for the big upcoming triennial survey. Each week leading up to survey, we’ll post a fun and informative activity on the Hub.
- Go to the Hub and scan the weekly QR code with your phone or click the link.
- Complete the activity for the week.
- Get entered into our weekly prize drawing
Spread the word to your teams, encourage everyone to join in, and let’s make this a fun, team-powered push toward readiness. We’re excited to launch our very first weekly Joint Commission Newsletter starting March 1st. Each edition will spotlight key JC focus areas and “easy wins” in a clear, concise, and totally actionable way—think of it as your weekly cheat sheet for survey success. Each week we’ll share tips, reminders, and little nuggets of wisdom to help you and your teams stay ahead of the game.
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Department Member Recognition
Congratulations to Nick Hajj for being recognized with the school’s Educational Achievement (Star/Faculty) Award for his passionate, engaging teaching and long‑standing mentorship that strengthens students’ commitment to rural health through hands‑on learning, community engagement, and thoughtful guidance. The ceremony will be April 30th, 4-6pm in the Albert Sherman Auditorium.
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Frankly Speaking Podcast
Please join us for a weekly Podcast series. A prescribing cascade occurs when adverse effects of a medication are mistaken for a new condition and treated with additional drugs. Older adults experiencing polypharmacy are most at risk. The impact of prescribing cascades can be substantial, leading to falls, organ injury, unnecessary imaging and tests, and more. Join us as we explore how to recognize and prevent these harmful cascades in your patients. Guest: Susan Feeney, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, presents, "New Complaint? Wait! Could It Be a Medication Side Effect?". Frankly Speaking Episode #475. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frankly-speaking-about-family-medicine/id1194659367
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