UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - May 2, 2023/CLINICAL

Welcome to the FMCH Tuesday Talk. Please continue to send us your announcements, celebrations, and accomplishments to [email protected]

Table of Contents

Message From the Chair

Upcoming Events

Focus of the Week Clinical

Announcements

Presentations and Publications

Department Member Recognition

Frankly Speaking Podcast

Clinical Services Spotlight

Message From the Chair


The Department’s Annual Retreat will be Thursday, May 11th at UMass Chan South Street Campus in Shrewsbury. More detail is below. Lunch and registration will open at 12:00 noon with the formal program commencing at 1:00pm. The retreat will conclude with a networking reception with hors d'oeuvres, cash bar and musical entertainment from 5:00 – 6:30pm. I hope to see you there!

 

UMass Chan Remillard Family Community Service Fund Opportunity

The UMass Chan Office of the Provost is pleased to solicit proposals for projects intended to amplify the impact of our institution on the community.  The evaluation criteria include:

1. The potential to improve the lives and/or health of residents of Worcester or Central Massachusetts.

2. The potential impact of the program or project on individuals, groups and communities that are economically or educationally disadvantaged or underrepresented.

3. A specific connection to the missions of UMass Chan in the fields of education, patient care or research.

Proposals are due May 29th to [email protected], the award date is August 1st. 

PROPOSAL OUTLINE: 1 to 2 pages TOTAL in length (no letters of support, please); describe the (a) project goals, (b) potential impact, (c) outline of work and (d) proposed budget; only UMass Chan full-time faculty, staff, residents and students are eligible to apply. Student applications must have an identified faculty sponsor. The budget should not to exceed $20,000, one- year duration. For more information and assistance, contact [email protected]. For a proposal guide and information sheet please email [email protected]


Many of you are aware that Dr. Warren Ferguson, our former Senior Vice Chair of Community Health, is officially retiring. We are hosting a reception in his honor on June 20th at 5:30pm at the Ecotarium in Worcester. You can RSVP to [email protected].  We are also collecting tributes – please add yours here

Upcoming Events


UMass Chan Psychiatry Grand Rounds/Semi-Annual Thompson-Hall Lecture

Thursday, May 4th, 12:00 - 1:00pm"Parricide: Tragedy and Reality", presented by Debra Pinals, MD.

Meeting ID: 818 349 233 Passcode: PsychGR1

https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/818349233?pwd=VVRDNUxZZmF4K3NqNXppTHJiVmNSUT09


FMCH Grand Rounds

Tuesday, May 9th, 12:00 - 1:00pm"Caring for Individuals Who are Homeless and Housing Insecure-Addressing Medical, Dental, Behavioral, and Social Issues", presented by Brian Bickford, Hugh Silk, MD and Erik Garcia, MD.

Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH

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


FMCH Grand Rounds

Tuesday, May 16th, 12:00 - 1:00pm"Psychological Experience and Treatment of Pain", presented by Lauren Pudalov, PsyD.

Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH

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


FMCH Grand Rounds

Tuesday, May 23rd, 12:00 - 1:00pm"Better Performance for All: Evaluation of Metabolic Health", presented by Adam Ridley, MD.

Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH

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

Focus of the Week - Clinical


Check out the UMass Memorial Center for Mindfulness and what they have to offer.

https://www.ummhealth.org/center-mindfulness

Center for Mindfulness Upcoming Courses- UMass Memorial Medical Center

Below is the link to the Spring and Summer Courses 2023.

https://www.ummhealth.org/umass-memorial-medical-center/services-treatments/center-for-mindfulness/mindfulness-classes

 

Wellness Committee UMass Department of Family Medicine- WOW

The committee is searching for new members to join our team. We meet monthly on the 4th Friday at noon. If you are interested in joining send an email to Maryanne Adams at [email protected] to get on the monthly invite list.


Caregiver Appreciation Week begins this Thursday, May 4th and runs through Wednesday, May 10th, 2023!

Last year’s Daily Drawing was a huge success! Help us get the word out about our 2023 raffle by posting the attached flyer in your areas. Encourage your fellow caregivers to enter daily to win some great prizes for themselves and their teams.

  • 12 individual winners will have the chance to win a Dunkin’ gift card, a $50 gift card to a local Central MA restaurant, or a pair of Woo Sox tickets.
  • 2 team prize will be awarded each day! Managers of those areas will have their choice of team outings, including Sip N Paint, Escape the Room, Axe Throwing, Movie Theater Night or Catered Lunch ($1,000 maximum).

Don’t miss out on the fun! Get posting and start talking it up!

Announcements


Past editions of the Tuesday Talk Newsletter are available

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

2023 Huppert Awardees

The Department is pleased to share the 2023 Mick Huppert Community Health Scholars Awardees: 

  • Brain Injury and Intimate Partner Violence in U.S. Asylum Seekers: Assessing Barriers to Brain Injury Evaluation

Elizabeth Irvin, Class of 2026/PURCH

Mentor: Lucy Candib, MD

  • Encouraging Civic Engagement in Southeast Asian Youth

Minhtam Tran, Class of 2026/PURCH

Mentor: Heather-Lyn Haley, PhD

  • Partnerships with Community Organizations to further the work with the Worcester Refugee and Immigrant Communities

William Lemnios, Class of 2026, Erik G Bratland, Class of 2026/PURCH

Mentor: Olga Valdman, MD


Update regarding Buprenorphine Prescribing:

The federal government has changed the regulations governing the prescribing of buprenorphine (Suboxone). Any clinician with a DEA number may now prescribe buprenorphine for the treatment of OUD, in any setting, without any additional training. Many clinicians who have not previously prescribed buprenorphine for management of Opioid Use Disorder are now interested in doing so. The Center for Integrated Primary Care is excited to offer free, online training in the assessment of OUD and treatment with buprenorphine and naltrexone. This content takes approximately 2 hours to complete and those who complete it will receive free CME. 

Thank you to the UMass Chan Medical School’s CME office for supporting this offering.


Mindfulness and Compassion During Tumultuous Times - Essential Tools to Remain Steady and Whole, presented by Paula Gardiner, MD, MPH, CMMT and Gail Gazelle, MD, MCC, CMMT.

Friday, May 5th, 2023, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm (ET)

At this in-person program, you will acquire practical strategies to quiet your mind and gain mastery over worries and self-doubt. You’ll learn about the neuroscience behind mindfulness and meditation, and practice with a variety of readily accessible tools that will help you attain calm, clarity, and the balance you need to build resilience and avoid physician burnout. Event Info (massmed.org).


Undergraduate Medical Education

Vista Town Hall: Please join us in person or online at the Vista Town Hall. The purpose of our time together is to share new information and collaborate with our community on topics related to Exploration and Horizons planning and development. From time to time, we will share Discovery phase milestones. 

  • Wednesday, May 10th, 12:00-1:00pm (hybrid), Amp 3

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://umassmed.zoom.us/j/91713231333?pwd=SGkvUENlN2diTGZaajlDZlY2eGZnZz09&from=addon Password: 890756


FMCH Vision 2030 – Next Steps: Belonging and Engagement

Dear Faculty, Residents/Fellows, and Staff, please join us for the FMCH Annual Retreat on Thursday, May 11th at UMass Chan South Street Campus, 333 South Street, Shrewsbury.

As a participant you will have the opportunity to:

  • Revisit FMCH Vision 2030
  • Promote Advocacy Efforts for Primary Care
  • Provide Faculty Development
  • Build a Culture of Mentorship

In follow up of our strategic planning last year, we have identified two areas to expand upon this year.  As we develop our role as leaders in Family Medicine across the state, we will explore legislative advocacy activities. Additionally, we will launch our new department mentorship program. Breakout sessions in the afternoon will include areas of continuing medical education as listed below:

  • Belonging –Restorative Justice
  • MCH – Shoulder Dystocia
  • Epic Mastery Workshop (Laptops required)
  • Educational Scholarship
  • Medical Humanities
  • Advocacy, Legislative Action

Lunch and Registration will open at 12:00 noon with the formal program commencing at 1:00pm. Lunch topics will be available to gather to discuss areas of interest. The retreat will conclude with an hors d'oeuvre, networking reception and cash bar with musical entertainment from 5:00 – 6:30pm.Here is the agenda. Please Register Here. We hope to see you there!


Free Recruitment Doula Training

A Doula provides information, emotional and physical support, resources, and continuous labor support. Doulas are associated with positive birth outcomes. The training is fast approaching in mid-June, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the cohort reaches 15. Please note that applicants must be able to attend all six of the training days in order to accept the scholarship funding (June 15, 16, and 17 as well as June 23, 24, & 25, 2023 from 9:00am - 6:00pm each day). See flyer for additional information. If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please email Laura Pichardo at [email protected].

Photo Sessions (FREE headshots!)

Date: Every other Wednesday

Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm

Locations: Sherman Center - 5th floor (near staircase) 

If you are in the need of a faculty headshot or need to update your current one, please sign up via the link below.

Sign Up Link here.

Presentations & Publications


Olga Valdman, MD, and Judy Savageau, MPH, recently had an article published in Family Medicine, "Border Health Training for Family Physicians: Is There a Need and Interest?"

Fitzsimmons-Pattison D, Valdman O, Scott MA, Sullivan K, Savageau J. Fam Med. 2023;55(X):0-0. doi:10.22454/FamMed.2023.283488.

Department Member Recognition


APA’s Psychology Week was last week, April 23rd-29th. The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health was one of the featured departments that employed psychologists by the UMass Chan Medical School and Memorial Health Psychology Network. Dr. Ekaterina Pivovarova spoke about her work in conducting federally and locally funded research on improving access to treatment (see feature below). 

https://www.apa.org/news/apa/psychology-week

Congratulations to Dr. Shaida Fareed!

Dr. Fareed received an integrated BH site enhancement grant to pilot “open access clinic”. 

Congratulations to Dr. Paul E. Daniel, Jr., 

a hospitalist in the Department who was honored by President Biden with the 2023 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service. Congratulations Paul!!!

Frankly Speaking Podcast


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

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


Please join us for an overview: Alcohol abuse has become more prevalent in the past decade, which means that primary care providers must play a crucial role in treating this preventable disorder. Don't miss this discussion on the current state of alcohol abuse and how to use evidence-based screening tools for prevention. Guest: Jill M. Terrien, PhD, ANP-BC, presents: "Screening for Alcohol Use and Abuse: Prevention with a Capital P". - Frankly Speaking Ep 326.

Clinical Services Spotlight:

CLINICAL UPDATES


COVID-19 Variant- Arcturus, Variant XBB 1.16

  • Higher rate of transmission.
  • The new COVID symptom is conjunctivitis or pink eye.
  • Other symptoms are cough, cold, and fever.
  • Has been identified in 22 countries including the US.
  • Less severe.


COVID-19 MA

  • COVID Public Health Emergency ends May 11th. 
  • There were 1,034 new cases of COVID in the last 7 days.
  • The 7-day average of percent positivity is 2.47%.
  • There were 11 new confirmed deaths in the last 7 days.


COVID-19 UMMMC

  • On May 1st, the 7-day average positivity rate is 4.8%.
  • On May 1st, the In-house average, 7 with 57% are fully vaccinated.
  • There were 4 in the ICU with 2 being fully vaccinated.


Tips for your patients regarding post-COVID assistance. Federal action led to the end of extra COVID-SNAP on 3/22/23.

  • MA is providing extra SNAP for April, May, and June (at least $38/month).

Visit http://Mass.gov/ExtraCOVIDSNAP to learn about the extra state SNAP & how you can get the most out of your benefits.

Update: Pregnancy, Lactation, and COVID-19 Therapeutics.

https://www.Covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/special-populations/pregnancy/pregnancy-lactation-and-Covid-19-therapeutics/

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.

Yoga Classes with Dr. Liz Erban

New members always welcome. 

Please join for early morning gentle yoga, Wednesday mornings 6:30am via Zoom.

Much appreciation to Dr. Liz Erban for hosting these outstanding classes. 

Join Zoom Meeting ID: 923 9393 3653 Passcode: 764113

https://umassmemorial-org.zoom.us/j/92393933653?pwd=RW9TL3FhZGtLUVZBa09oMWhIQzZDUT09