Travel Office message on credit card use

Travelers with a JP Morgan state travel card cannot use the card for any travel or conference registrations for fiscal year 2024/2025 until July 1, 2024. The Travel Office cannot approve travel authorizations until July 1 for travel after June 30. Travel will not reimburse next fiscal year travel until July 1. Questions? Email Travel@Upstate.edu.

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HR introduces paperless position classification and salary review request

Human Resources will now use an improved paperless Position Classification/Salary Review Request and ALR tool. The online, streamlined paperless procedure allows supervisors, on behalf of employees, to efficiently submit classification reviews, salary requests, and ALRs through a user-friendly self-service application. This will expedite the approval process. The form is available here: http://selfserve.nhfilmexpo.com/ais/applications/hr/hr_request/views/index.cfm (log in is required).

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Tranquility Tuesdays with Kaushal Nanavati, MD

Tranquility Tuesdays are held every Tuesday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on the second floor (stadium seating area) of Nappi Wellness Institute, and virtually. Each session offers a unique experience in meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, and relaxation. To join via Zoom, use Meeting ID: 407 812 4814 and Password: wellness. For more information, email Dr. Nanavati at NanavatK@Upstate.edu.

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RD Live is every Wednesday in March

To celebrate National Nutrition Month in March and National Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist Day, join RD Live every Wednesday in March from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Café 750 on the second floor of Upstate University Hospital. RD Live will also be held Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the cafeteria at Community.

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Blood drive is Feb. 28

An on-campus blood drive will be held Wednesday, Feb. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. in the atrium of Setnor. To schedule an appointment, visit: lxxm.nhfilmexpo.com/blood. 

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Workshop on designing academic posters is Feb. 28

A workshop on designing academic posters will be held Wednesday, Feb. 28 from noon to 12:30 p.m. via Zoom. BioRender will offer actionable tips and techniques for designing research posters, how to create individual figures for posters, experimental methods, biological pathways, and an introduction to BioRender software. To register, visit: http://biorender.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_whPoiDjjSVOyVZIvZD8RbQ. For more information, email Shaunna Arnold at ArnoldSh@Upstate.edu.

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Voya to host financial wellness workshop Feb. 28 and March 1

Voya will host a financial wellness workshop Wednesday, Feb. 28 at noon in 9295 Weiskotten Hall and Friday, March 1 at noon in Classroom A/B at Community. The principles of financial wellness, goal setting, protection, spending and saving, maximizing employer benefits, and retirement planning will be discussed. A snack and drink will be provided. To register, visit: http://boblaferriere.timetap.com/#/ and choose the preferred location.

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Rare Disease Awareness Month event to feature gold-medal winning Paralympian Feb. 29

Paralympian gold medalist Allysa Seely will speak Thursday, Feb. 29 at 6 p.m. in 2231 Weiskotten Hall to mark Rare Disease Awareness Month. Dinner will be provided and seating is limited. R.S.V.P. here. For more information, email Allysa P. Kemraj at kemraja@nhfilmexpo.com. Seely, an Arizona native, was diagnosed in 2010 with Chiari II malformation, basilar invagination, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She won the gold medal in the paratriathlon at 2016 Summer Paralympics and the 2020 Summer Paralympics. Rare Disease Month focuses on raising awareness and generating change for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease, their families and caregivers. Seely’s presentation is sponsored by the Upstate Student Government, Campus Activities Governing Board, Accessible Upstate, and GENEius Club.

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Dr. Sarah Loguen Fraser Day is March 1

Dr. Sarah Loguen Fraser Day will be held Friday, March 1 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 4414 Academic Building. The event will honor 2022 and 2023 scholarship recipients Velisha Guillaume-MS3 (2022) and Samantha Hanley-MS3 (2023). Samantha Jones, MD, assistant professor of Emergency Medicine and 2011 graduate, is the keynote speaker. Dr. Jones will lead the conversation A Perspective on Pediatric Care in Syracuse, highlighting Dr. Loguen Fraser’s impactful work in pediatrics. The Upstate community is welcome. For more information, contact Multicultural Affairs and Student Inclusion at UpstateMASI@Upstate.edu or 315-464-5433.

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Yoga for All is March 1, 13, 29

Yoga for All sessions will be held March 1, 13 and 29. The schedule is as follows:

• March 1 from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. in the Performance Center at Upstate Golisano
• March 1 from 8:15 to 9 a.m. in Community Hospital Dining Room #1 and Hybrid Virtual
• March 13 from 12 to 12:45 p.m. in Community Hospital Classroom A/B 
• March 29 from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. in 9405 A/B Upstate University Hospital and Hybrid Virtual

Sessions are facilitated by Upstate clinicians trained in Trauma Adapted Yoga, a form of yoga based on trauma research, evidence-based yoga therapy and body-based methods with gentle exercises for self-management of common symptoms and reactions. No experience is necessary and all are welcome. Questions? Email KhouryN@Upstate.edu.

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AOA visiting professor presentation is March 5

Lily Peng, MD, PhD, deputy director of NEJM AI, will present Artificial Intelligence:  Bridging the Gap from Bench to Bedside March 5 from noon to 1 p.m. in 2231 Weiskotten Hall. The Upstate community is welcome to attend. The event is sponsored by Upstate’s chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society. For more information, email Patty Gooden at goodenpa@nhfilmexpo.com. A WebEx link will be provided on the morning of the presentation.

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Advanced Practice Grand Rounds is March 5

Dana Lonis, FNP-BC, will present Glucommander: Improving Outcomes Tuesday, March 5, from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, email Tiffany Senke at senket@nhfilmexpo.com. CME credit will be available for participants. To join, visit: http://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=me7f296be95dd611e2cfa09cf3ddd58a5

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Student loan counseling sessions for state employees are March 5 and 6

Student loan counseling sessions will be held March 5 from noon to 8 p.m. and March 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 8405B Upstate University Hospital. The sessions are free and open to all state employees. To make an appointment, email Tiara.Smiley@pef.org or call 518-785-1900 (ext. 387).

Appointments are open to all state employees and provide assistance with federal student loans and options to reduce payments or seek some debt forgiveness.

Appointments are available on alternate dates but should be made well in advance of the April 30 deadline for federal student loans. For more on this deadline, visit: http://pefmbp.com/financial-legal-services/student-loan-counseling/.

To ensure a successful counseling session, visit www.studentaid.gov in advance to review options. Before the session, gather the following information:

• What type of loans do you have, Federal Family Education loans (abbreviated FFELP), or Direct loans, issued through the William Ford Direct loan program?
• What repayment plan are you paying through? (An income-based plan? The 30-year Standard Plan, etc.)
• Have you used much forbearance or deferment time?

For those with no student loans, Cambridge Credit Counseling also offers credit counseling and debt management services. For more, visit: http://pefmbp.com/financial-legal-services/debt-counseling/. 

The March 5 and 6 sessions are sponsored by Upstate, PEF, PEF Membership Benefits, and Cambridge Credit Counseling. Participants do not need to be represented by PEF to take advantage of this free offer.  

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College of Nursing virtual open houses are March 6, 10, 11, 12

The College of Nursing will host virtual open houses for those looking to advance their nursing career. To register, visit: http://engage.nhfilmexpo.com/portal/virtual-events. Questions? Call Jacqueline Lad at 315-464-4570. The schedule is as follows.

• March 6 at 6 p.m.
• March 10 at 3 p.m.
• March 11 at 10 a.m.
• March 12 at 10 a.m.

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HealthLink on GI issues is March 7

Jeffrey Albright, MD, will discuss the most common types of stomach issues, treatments, and nutritional guidelines for prevention Thursday, March 7 from 6 to 7 p.m. via WebEx. Dr. Albright will also discuss in-person and at-home options for colon cancer screening. To register, visit: http://upstate.webex.com/weblink/register/rf187f7e9fb8e6e4ce536ee90011743c8.

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Cardiology Grand Rounds is March 8

Rita A. Jermyn, MD, FACC, St. Francis Hospital, will present Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of Cardiac Amyloidosis Friday, March 8 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. via WebEx. To join, visit: http://upstate.webex.com/upstate/j.php?MTID=m23d3a248df43274c7b61aa6d5bc9b94e (Meeting number:  2312 568 5554 Meeting password: Cardiology1). One AMA PRA credit is available to participants. Presentation is open to MDs, residents, fellows, Pas, NPs, RNs, and the public. Questions? Email Lisa Carroll at SchirtzL@Upstate.edu.

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HealthLink on tremors is March 12

Johnathan Miller, MD, will discuss medical conditions that can cause tremors, treatment strategies, and deep brain stimulation surgery Tuesday, March 12 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. via WebEx. To register, visit: http://upstate.webex.com/weblink/register/r931ce34f4e11a6facb52d6567b16507d.

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Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds is March 13

William Meurer, MD, University of Michigan, will present What’s Cooler than Being Cool? The ICECAP Trial in 2024 Wednesday, March 13 from 1 to 2 p.m. at EMSTAT, 550 E. Genesee St. The event will also be available via Zoom. Meurer is principle investigator for the Influence of Cooling Duration on Efficacy in Cardiac Arrest Patients (ICECAP) trial. Upstate is a participant in this SIREN multi-center, NIH-funded study. The Upstate community is welcome. To join via Zoom, visit: http://upstate.zoom.us/j/93163933149?pwd=ZFhIMmJIZE56LzlRQWNvdzBTRUFwZz09. Questions? Call Lauren Pacelli at 315-464-6201.

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Colorecal Cancer Awareness Month information table is March 21

Katie Krawczyk, MA, RDN, CNSC, Upstate Cancer Center registered dietitian, and the We Matter team will host an information table March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon in the lobby of Upstate Cancer Center. Healthy snacks and information about colorectal cancer screening and risk reduction will be available. The event is open to everyone. For more information, email Chris Benton at BentonCh@Upstate.edu.

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Ninth annual Pedaling 4 Paige is March 23

The ninth annual Pedaling 4 Paige will be held Saturday, March 23 from 9 a.m. to noon virtually and at Elevate Fitness in Dewitt. To join the Upstate Cancer Center team, Pedaling Petunias, visit: http://runsignup.com/Race/91272/Donate/7bfCaWW1JadpjIGF. Proceeds benefit Paige’s Butterfly Run and pediatric cancer efforts in Central New York. Questions? Email Chris Benton at BentonCh@Upstate.edu.

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Flex Spending Account deadline is March 31

Those enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA-Health and Dependent Care) in 2023, have until March 31, 2024 to submit any expenses incurred in 2023 for reimbursement: http://goer.ny.gov/program-information. Participants will be able to use up to $610 of monies remaining in the 2023 Health Care Spending Account toward eligible expenses incurred during the 2024 calendar year, as long as the account has been open as of Dec. 31, 2023. In addition, participants will now be able to use the remaining balance in the 2023 Dependent Care Advantage Account toward eligible expenses between Jan. 1 to March 15, 2024. Claims must be submitted by the March 31 deadline.

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Pet A Pooch supervisors sought for April, May and June

Pet A Pooch supervisors are needed to escort pets and their humans on the Upstate campus in April, May and June. For more information and to volunteer, email Deb Emerson at EmersonD@Upstate.edu. The schedule is as follows:

• April 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community Campus
• April 29 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Downtown Campus
• May 6 from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Community Campus
• May 13 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Downtown Campus
• May 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community Campus
• May 21 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Downtown Campus
• June 3 from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Community Campus
• June 10 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Downtown Campus
• June 12 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Community Campus
• June 18 from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Downtown Campus
• June 26 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Downtown Campus

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Well NYS Everyday for March

Well New York State Everyday is a wellness initiative dedicated to educating, engaging, and empowering New York State employees to choose to eat foods that are healthy for them and to be physically active.

The March Well NYS Everyday Monthly Challenge is to shop and make your meals instead of dining and take-out. You are invited to join two webinars on March 6 and March 20 at noon.

Register for the Weekly Meal Plan Made Easy webinar here: http://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/ra8d12c18c309c2773c3fc82895836cfa and the Smart Fearless Shopper webinar here: http://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/reec163abb1a34320ea44cb9b765557b8

For more information on this initiative and to sign-up to receive the Well NYS Daily To-Do Challenge by email every day, please visit: http://oer.ny.gov/wellnys-everyday. For more information, email Christine Podolak at PodolakC@Upstate.edu.

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The Informed Patient podcast

The Informed Patient podcast recently featured interviews with these specialists about biomarker testing for cancer; shingles; and traveling in outer space.

• Biomarker testing, a potential lifesaver for people with cancer, will be covered by health insurance under a new state law. Explaining what this means are Thomas VanderMeer, MD, medical director of the Upstate Cancer Center, and Michael Davoli of the American Cancer Society.
• How shingles might affect both young and old people – touching on chickenpox and vaccines – is explained by Upstate researcher Jennifer Moffat, PhD, who specializes in the study of the virus responsible for shingles and chickenpox.
• How civilians will be affected by things like zero gravity and isolation as outer space flights become more common is discussed by Michael Marge, EdD, an Upstate faculty member who is associated with the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety.

The Informed Patient podcast and HealthLink on Air radio show are produced by Upstate Marketing and University Communications. The Informed Patient interviews are available through various podcast platforms, including YouTube. HealthLink on Air is broadcast on WRVO Public Media at 6 a.m. Sundays. Audio and transcripts of the podcasts and the radio shows are also available at nhfilmexpo.com/informed. To suggest an Upstate expert or topic for a possible podcast, email Amber Smith at SmithAmb@Upstate.edu.