UMass FMCH Tuesday Talk - September 30, 2025/DIVERSITY

Table of Contents

Upcoming Events

Focus of the Week - Diversity

Announcements

Department Member Recognition

Presentations and Publications

Frankly Speaking Podcast

Resources

Upcoming Events

FMCH Grand Rounds

Tuesday, September 30th, 12:00 - 1:00pm, "From Vision to Practice: Innovating to Deliver the Quadruple AIM", presented by David Gilchrist, MD, MBA, FAAFP, CPE.

Meeting ID: 191 986 273 Passcode: FMCH

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

FMCH Town Hall

Tuesday, October 7th, 12:00 - 1:00pm

Meeting ID: 191 986 273

Passcode: FMCH

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

Training for Bias Recognition and Upstander Opportunities

• Ongoing education on implicit bias, structural racism, and cultural humility is being built into clinical onboarding and continuing education as a system wide initiative and within our Family Medicine and Community Health Department.
• We support being upstanders in our department and will be rolling out simulation-based learning and case-based discussions that will help us practice upstander skills. 
• Coming soon! "Learning to Be An Upstander".

What Is an Upstander?

An upstander is someone who speaks up or acts when they witness bias, harassment, bullying, or inequity. Upstanders:

• Interrupt harmful behavior.
• Support the person being targeted.
• Address the issue directly or indirectly.
• Work to change the environment or norms.

Understanding the Impact of Equity in the Workplace and Learning Environment

Equity in medical education isn’t about treating every learner the same—it’s about meeting individuals where they are. 

Physician and healthcare learners come from diverse backgrounds and face unique challenges, and true equity means ensuring each person has access to the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.

When institutions commit to building equitable learning environments, the impact is profound. It enhances personal growth, strengthens team collaboration, and ultimately improves patient care. Equity isn’t just a value—it’s a catalyst for excellence in medicine. Family Medicine commits to being a leader in this area. 

Implicit Bias Test

Take this free, implicit bias test which may help you to reflect on personal bias.

https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

Announcements

Help Improve IUD Insertion Care at UMass – 5-Minute Provider Survey

Please help this student project. If you currently perform IUD insertions at a UMass Memorial Health clinical site, please share your insights in this quick, confidential survey. Your input will help improve patient comfort and standardize care across clinics. Click here to take the survey. Thank you for your time and contribution!

Rising Together: In support of Health Equity for Refugee and Immigrant communities, Friday, October 17th

RISE is committed to serving refugees and immigrants now and always. 

Please join RISE for a night of celebration, connection and impact. Savor flavors from around the globe, and help raise funds to advance health equity in our community. 

Secure your ticket soon! https://givebutter.com/RISE4Health See flyer for additional information.

Intro to Pocus Hands On Course (Introduction of Point of Care Ultrasound)

October 25th, 8:00 - 5:00pm, iCELS Simulation Lab, Albert Sherman Center

Please see flyer for additional information. https://www.umassmed.edu/icels

UMass Chan 30th Research Retreat, October 28th-29th, 2025

We cordially invite you to attend the UMass Chan 30th Annual Research Retreat, October 28-29, 2025. The retreat is scheduled on-site at the UMass Chan Medical School University Campus and typically features talks from new UMass Chan faculty and students, and offers opportunities for networking. More details regarding the agenda will follow as we get closer to the event. See flyer.

The Shriver Center is happy to host a training on Autism diagnosis for Primary Care Providers on November 6th and 7th. These will be all day sessions and will take place in the Paul DiMare Center. The training will be provided by Behavioral Pediatrics from Vanderbilt University. Training will include: Screening Tool for Autism in Toddlers and Young Children (STAT™) training plus implementation planning. CMEs will be provided, and the training is free to those participating. Please contact Deborah Dreyfus (Deborah.Dreyfus@umassmemorial.org) by October 6th if you would like to attend.



Mission of Mercy is coming to Worcester - WE NEED YOU

We need medical providers to help clear patients so they can get free Dental Care.

November 15th, 2025 at the DCU Center.

Sign up now - for more information and to sign up go here.

The goal is to serve 300 patients in one day who otherwise would go without. Thanks!

Department Member Recognition

Congratulations to Dr. Jennifer Bradford for nomination for membership in the UMass Chan chapter of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society as Faculty of the UMass Chan Medical School. She was nominated by AOA members Hugh Silk and Jeanne Cawse-Lucas. The school will hold an induction ceremony on Nov.12^th at 5pm. Details to follow.

Dr. Katherine J. Atkinson, graduate of UMass Family Medicine Residency and clinical family medicine instructor, was honored with the MMS 2025 Woman Physician Leadership Award.

Presentations and Publications

Hugh Silk was an invited speaker on the topic of Interprofessional Integration and Early Oral Health Interventions at the American Academy of Cariology Annual Meeting in Buffalo, NY on September 25th.

Philip Bolduc is lead author, along with Philip Day and others: Promoting Human Immunodeficiency Virus Syndemic Care in Health Professions Education: Linking Workforce Demands to the Aspirations of a Rising Generation published in Clinical Infectious Diseases: 

https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciaf347/8262351. 

Frankly Speaking Podcast

Please join us for a weekly Podcast series. The healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly, and clinicians are navigating conflicting guidance on established, evidence-based recommendations. Recent news suggest acetaminophen use during pregnancy causes autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is not the consensus of medical experts based on available data. When guidance from various sources conflicts with established research, clinicians face challenges in providing evidence-based care. Join us to review the current evidence on acetaminophen and ASD risk. Guest: Susan Feeney, DNP, FNP-BC, NP-C, presents, "Autism and Acetaminophen-Separating Fact from Misinformation". Frankly Speaking Episode #452. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/frankly-speaking-about-family-medicine/id1194659367

Resources

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