Office of Medical Education

August 10 - 16, 202

The WeeklyWire is an official communication tool of the Larner College of Medicine. Student feedback led to its development and continues to inform iterative improvements. All non-curriculum-related email communications are directed through the Wire to help support manageable email inboxes for our students; it's your one-stop-shop for all med school happenings outside of the classroom! Please do not hesitate to contact the Office of Medical Student Education with any questions.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Weekly Wire Archives

 * = All postings flagged with an asterisk are not UVM-sponsored/endorse

CLASS INFORMATION

Class of 2021

• THIS WEEK - Empowering and Engaging Future URM Surgeons*: 08/15, 11am. The Department of Surgery at the OSU Wexner Medical Center is committed to recruiting, retaining and supporting underrepresented minorities to become future leaders in surgery. Come learn about the application process and our program!  
• THIS WEEK - University of Colorado Ophthalmology Residency Virtual Meet and Greet*: 08/15, 9-11am, via Zoom. 
• THIS WEEK - Survey on Covid, Residency and Family Planning: Survey runs 8/2/2020 - 8/15/2020. A survey on how Covid-19 impacts thoughts on residency and family planning...
• THIS WEEK - Register Now! Physician Scientist Training Programs Trainee-to-Trainee Q&A Panel Series*: Series starts July 29 and sessions will be on different days, all at 7pm-8:30pm ET. These 90min sessions are exclusively for students to directly ask their questions to trainees and fellows who are in, or have recently completed research residencies...
  
• FYI re: UVM COVID-19 Student Testing Protocol Released This Past Week: Clinical Level students are currently exempt from the UVM Testing Protocol rolling out this week; local students can do it now, or you can do it later, when we get the final incorporation plan/timeline/deadlines from UVM Strong Fall 2020 team...
  
• Need a professional photo? Due to campus closures and COVID-19 restrictions, the portrait studio is currently closed. Plans for a cautious and measured reopening are underway. In the meantime, check out these tips for taking a photo with your smartphone!
• University of New Mexico Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Residency Program Virtual Open House*: 8/18 6-7:30pm. Click here to learn more and register...
• Annual Harvard Affiliated Residency Programs VIRTUAL Showcase*: 09/12. 1-4pm. Learn more here...
• COMTS Technical Support Changes: Walk-in technical support is no longer available. All technical support requests must start with a footprint ticket or a call to our service center at: 802-488-5553
• UMASS General Surgery Virtual "Meet & Mingle"*: 08/27, 6:30-7:30pm, virtual (pre-register to receive connection information). Target audience is M4s/co2021, however, all students are welcome to join. Please come meet and mingle with the General Surgery Residents of UMASS!
• UC Davis School of Medicine: Diversity in Graduate Medical Education Residency Open House*: 08/29, 9am-1pm, virtual (RSVP for connection info).
• Teaching in Medicine Elective: 09/14/2020-09/25/2020 or 01/04/2021-01/15/2021. Teaching in Medicine will introduce medical students to teaching in academic medicine. There is a reading week and a week of small-group sessions with residents, fellows, and faculty. Contact the course director for more information.
• The University of New Mexico Orthopaedics Virtual Information Program*: If you are interested in learning more about the Orthopaedic Residency Program in New Mexico to participate in the Virtual Information Program (VIP)...
  

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Class of 2022

• FYI re: UVM COVID-19 Student Testing Protocol Released This Past Week: Clinical Level students are currently exempt from the UVM Testing Protocol rolling out this week; local students can do it now, or you can do it later, when we get the final incorporation plan/timeline/deadlines from UVM Strong Fall 2020 team...
• COMTS Technical Support Changes: Walk-in technical support is no longer available. All technical support requests must start with a footprint ticket or a call to our service center at: 802-488-5553
  
• Clerkship Wellness Cup: A friendly, wellness-themed competition between Flight Groups! Earn "Wellness Points" for your Flight by taking photos of you completing wellness challenges. At the end of 3rd year, the winning Flight will get a sponsored dinner to a local restaurant...
• Wondering how to use the Interaction Tracker? In each clerkship theme, in the Interaction Tracker tab there is a link to the tracker, a video on how to sue the tracker, and information for students on what to do if you have any issues. Questions? call COMTS at 802-656-7300.

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Class of 2023

• APPROACHING DEADLINE - COVID-19 Safety Training & Green and Gold Promise: Instructions on how to complete training went live on 08/03 and training & attestation must be complete no later than the day prior to arriving on campus for in-person instruction/curriculum. Students will not be permitted to enter UVM buildings/begin in-person instruction without completing this.
  • All co2023 members who are working during orientation week will follow the schedule we set up for our first-year students...
• FYI re: UVM COVID-19 Student Testing Protocol Released This Past Week: Please complete your 5-day as soon as it arrives (regardless of timing), and sign-up for your day-zero test, now...
  • All co2023 members who are working during orientation week will follow the schedule we set up for our first-year students...
• UVM Transportation & Parking Services: Students who live off-campus and plan to drive to campus/"student commuters" should review this information regarding parking permits...
• Med Student Note Taker Needed: Position pays $15/hr. The Student Accessibility office is looking for one LCOM Class of 2024 student to take class notes and submit them to our myACCESS Portal so that students with designated accommodations can access them...
• ACTION NEEDED - Verify Personal Information: Please take a moment to check that your preferred name, pronoun, and contact information are accurately listed in OASIS. If anything is incorrect, please update it through your myUVM account. Please contact Melissa Long, LCOM Registrar, with any questions.
• Class of 2023 July Curriculum Team Communication: Review the Curriculum FAQs your amazing Curriculum Team pull together to help support you as you prepare to return home to Larner...
  

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Class of 2024

• THIS WEEK - Orientation Week Wellness Day – Afternoon Activities: 08/13, 8am sign-up deadline. We are currently planning an optional afternoon of wellness day activities, hosted by senior students, on Thursday, 8/13. If opportunity sounds exciting to you, please sign-up by Thursday morning, so we can provide leaders with your name and phone number to allow you to connect should any confusion occur…
• THIS WEEK - Virtual Resource Fair: 8/14 1:30-3:30pm via Zoom. Wondering what resources and supports are available to you, as a new student at the Larner College of Medicine? Join Medical Communications and OMSE at our Virtual Resource Fair...
• FYI re: UVM COVID-19 Student Testing Protocol Released This Past Week: Thank you so much for working to meet the our incredible UVM Student Testing Protocol's requirements; we appreciate you...
• Welcome to the LCOM Orientation Course: 7/31 email from Dr. Karen Lounsbury.
• Welcome from COMTS: 08/4 email with welcome and important information from the Larner College of Medicine Technology Services (COMTS)...
• Orientation Evaluations: 08/28 submission deadline. Please make sure to wait until a session has occurred to evaluate it, and please do not submit your evaluation until Orientation Week is finished and the questionnaire is complete...
• UVM Transportation & Parking Services: Students who live off-campus and plan to drive to campus/"student commuters" should review this information regarding parking permits...
• ACTION NEEDED - Verify Personal Information: Please take a moment to check that your preferred name, pronoun, and contact information are accurately listed in OASIS. If anything is incorrect, please update it through your myUVM account. Please contact Melissa Long, LCOM Registrar, with any questions.
  
• Orientation Week: 08/10-08/14. We are SO excited to welcome you home, to the Larner College of Medicine. On your Orientation web-page, you will find helpful resources, including a brief overview of your Orientation Week schedule, a To-Do List, contacts, and more...
• "One Checklist to Rule Them All": We know we’ve been sending you bits and pieces regarding your fall semester, some of which include asks of you and various deadlines. We worked to compile a reference document compiling all task established thus far to help you track some of the more administrative tasks, as you prepare to make Larner your home...
• Optional Larner College of Medicine Campus Tours: Tours offered 8/10, 8/11, 8/13 (sign-up for one slot, if you are interested). Get an Insider’s Tour of Larner College of Medicine...
• White Coat Try-On: 8/10, 8/11, 8/13, 8/18, 8/20, 8/21 - see sign up link for times. White Coat Sizes are needed for all members of the Class of 2024...
• Welcome Message from You Dean for Medical Education: Review this July 28 message from Dean Zehle, your Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education, which links to a number of helpful resources...

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WEEKLY UVMLarnerMed FYIs

• On Behalf of Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education Zehle - Announcing Interim Associate Dean for Students: 08/07 email - we are pleased to announce that Lee Rosen, Ph.D., has been appointed Interim Associate Dean for Students, effective August 3, 2020...
• Join the #MasksOnVT & Rally Together campaign on social media! Ends 8/14. Learn more about how you can participate...
• Welcome from the Dana Medical Library: Welcome and helpful information regarding the Dana Medical Library...
  
• Anesthesiology Dept. Leadership Transition: 08/06 message from Dean Page and Dr. Deschamps. Announcement that Melissa Davidson, M.D., will become our Interim Chair of Anesthesiology upon the retirement of Donald Matthew, M.D.
• Given Lot Water Town Construction Notice: 07/21 construction notice for a City of Burlington Public Works Department project to wrap up renovations/upgrades to the water tower located in the Given parking lot...
• New Larner Medicine Issue! The July 22, 2020 issue (Volume II, Issue 14) of Larner Medicine just hit the shelves; check it out...
• OMSE Staff Transition - Aimee Gale (OMSE Business Manager): Aimee Gale, our beloved Business Manager, will have her last workday with OMSE July 24, 2020. However, she isn't going far! Aimee begins with our amazing UVMLarnerMed OB/Gyn Team  on August 03, as their new Business Manager. Join us in in sending her congratulations and best wishes!
• Anesthesiology Dept. Leadership Transition: 07/16 message from Dean Page and Dr. Deschamps - Our Thanks to Dr. Donald Mathews...
• UVMLarnerMed in a Time of COVID-19 - Coronavirus (COVID-19)-Related Special Reports/Information: 
  • UVM COVID-19 Student Testing Protocol - CoVerified App: All on campus students will be participating in the surveillance testing which we anticipate will begin the week of August 24, 2020 and will take place at the Davis Center from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm daily; we will be using the CoVerified platform which has an app for students to schedule COVID-19 tests and track results.
  • Wednesday Weekly Wonders: 08/05 email - Review Dean Zehle's latest issue of the "Wednesday Weekly Wonders" for some of the latest updates regarding our UVMLarnerMed Community and medical education...
  • Front-Line Employees Hazard Pay Grant Program: If you or someone you know worked throughout the Stay at Home order as a front-line worker at a nursing home, assisted living facility, medical or dental clinic, homeless shelter, morgue and more, you may be eligible for grants of up to $2,000 if you worked during the March 13 to May 15 window.
  • Guidance on Resumption of Selected In-Person Activities in the LCOM: 07/24 Message from Rick Page, College Dean, to Larner Community...
  • Wednesday Weekly Wonders: 07/22 email.
  • Vermont COVID Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program: Designed to help low-income Vermont homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage and are facing economic hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic...
    
  • Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) Rental Housing Stabilization Program (RHSP): To fund landlords on behalf of tenants in need of rental arrearage assistance due to COVID-19, to avert tenant eviction...
  • Food Insecurity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic may be affecting student's ability to purchase foods.
    • UVM Food Insecurity Resources Page: Food insecurity is when you don’t have consistent access to enough food. Recent surveys at UVM show that one in five students have been food insecure within the past year. If you need help getting food or want to learn more about food insecurity these resources can help .
    • Vermont Department of Human Resources - Food Help: Food distribution by VT Foodbank is ongoing. Visit the website to see an extensive list of dates, times and locations, or call 2-1-1. Make sure you pre-register before going to the food distribution site. Priority at distribution sites will be given to those who have completed the registration. 
    • City of Burlington COVID-19 Food Access Resources
  • FREE Masks Available:
    • Burlington Community Mask Initiative: Tuesdays, 8am-2pm @ BPD and Saturdays, Noon-4pm @ Fletcher Free Library. Free fabric masks available...
    • And in the Student Lounge (Given Courtyard C120): Leftover from the LCOMcares Service Corps PPE Donation Drive and "medical student sewers programming"; available in labeled totes in the student lounge (SIG storage closet, right of the kitchen). Pick one up if you need of a mask! Questions? Contact The LCOMcares Service Corps.

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COMMUNITY WELLNESS

Welcome to the new "Community Wellness" section of the WeeklyWire! Be sure to review this section for any announcements regarding student wellness! If you ever have any questions about this section, it's postings, or any wellness topics, please do not hesitate to contact our Director of Student Well-being, Dr. Lee Rosen.

• THIS WEEK - Open Farm Week! From August 10-16, meet (virtually, or in person) the farmers, plants, and animals that bring your favorite high-quality Vermont products to your plate...
• The Fletcher Free Library will have a few notable events coming up:
  • A pop-up book sale will take place this Sunday, August 9 from Noon-2:30 PM on the library lawn (weather permitting). Cash sales only, so please bring some dollar bills, your mask, and a love of books! All proceeds benefit the library.
  • Window Art from Wingspan Studio: On Wednesday, August 12 Noon-4 pm, Maggie Standley from Wingspan Studio will bring the FFL front windows to life with her piece, "All Power to the Imagination". Bring your mask down to the Library lawn to watch as Maggie transforms the windows!
• The UVM Library now has an institutional subscription to the New York Times. Create your free account through the library.
• Seven Days' ongoing "Vermonting" section: This series features curated excursions to fun and educational places to visit and explore while staying local in Vermont
• Spirit of Summervale Livestream Concerts: Every Thursday; FREE. Join the Intervale Center for a revised version of your favorite community food and music festival...
• The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is offering a wide variety of upcoming classes covering art, history, yoga, the outdoors, writing, music, and more. 
• Well+Fed Project: Season 2 of the Well+Fed Project is available for free. It includes things like yoga, cooking tutorials, wine education, mindfulness practices, cross training for outdoor adventure, recipes, and more. 
• The Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is now open 4 days per week, and is FREE to all visitors through September 15th, though online tickets are still required. Check out all the details and plan your visit...
• The Vermont Comedy Club has completely overhauled their website. Check out their livestream shows, funny video content, podcasts, entertainment for the kids, and lots more...

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LCOMcares: VOLUNTEER/SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

The Vermont Multilingual Coronavirus Task Force is offering a growing number of videos with information regarding Covid-19 in many of the the main languages that are spoken in our area.  Please use and share them widely.

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UNIVERSITY OPPORTUNITIES & UPCOMING EVENTS

UVM Events under COVID-19:
Events should be hosted remotely where and when possible to support our current shelter-in-place recommendations. UVM campus will limit any events/group gatherings to no more than 25 people, physical distancing should be practiced at all times (at least 6 feet apart with masks, at least 10 feet apart without masks), and hosts should always provide a remote attendance option. 
Please be familiar with the UVM COVID-19 information & resources.

THIS WEEK:

• Choosing Wisely Recommendation of the Week(s) - Choose Wisely and WIN! Join the LCOM Choosing Wisely STARS in promoting high value care in medical education. Review this week's spotlight recommendation and enter our PRIZE RAFFLE... 
• Social Justice Coalition Book Club: Book club discussion date and time TBD. For the August read, the UVM Larner College of Medicine SJC has select The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin...
• Class of 2024 Orientation Week! 08/10-08/14. Visit the Orientation Course web-page for more information (includes a link to a brief overview of the week's schedule, under "Helpful Links")...

• MON, Aug 10:
  • National Chats for Change*: 08/10 @12pm. Join this series of monthly dialogues focusing on racism and bias. This month's topic is "White Supremacy Culture: what is it and how am I contributing to it? 
• TUES, Aug 11: No UVM/UVMLarnerMed community events posted for this day.
• WED, Aug 12:
  • UVMLarnerMed Communications Task Force Check-in: 08/12, 12-12:30pm, via Zoom. Open to Larner Community to anyone passionate about communications and/or has ideas for improving communications across the College...
• THU, Aug 13:
  • Emergency Medicine Grand Rounds: 08/13, 12-1pm via zoom. Please join our guest speaker Jacob Avila, MD who will be presenting on “Top 5 POCUS applications"...
  • Region 1 SNMA Presents "Allyship: A Lifestyle": 08/13, 9:30pm-10:30pm, via zoom. Delve deep into how to be effective and humble allies in the fight for equity and justice for Black students, patients, and communities...
• FRI, Aug 14 - SUN, Aug 16: No UVM/UVMLarnerMed community events posted for these days.

UPCOMING:

• APPROACHING NOMINATION DEADLINE - Dean's Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DACDEI): 08/17 nomination deadline. Seeking faculty, staff and student nominations. Serves as an advisory body to the Dean of the Larner College of Medicine and makes recommendations...
• Medical Curriculum Committee Monthly Meeting: 08/18, 5-7pm, via Zoom. 
• UMASS General Surgery Virtual "Meet & Mingle"*: 08/27, 6:30-7:30pm, virtual (pre-register to receive connection information). Target audience is M4s/co2021, however, all students are welcome to join. Please come meet and mingle with the General Surgery Residents of UMASS!
• Annual Stetson Lecture in Technological Advances in Medicine*: 09/8, 4-5pm. "CARs and Armored CARs: Improving CAR T Cell Therapy for Cancer" Presented by Dr. Renier Brentjens, M.D., Ph.D.

RECURRING EVENTS:

• FRIDAYS:
  • WeeklyWire Submission Deadline: Fridays, no later than 7am. Want to submit to the Wire? Submit your posting using our WeeklyWire Online Submission Form.
  • Department of Medicine Grand Rounds: 8-9am, via Zoom.
• DROP-IN MEETINGS (Remote meetings only, until further notice):
  • Dean for Medical Education 
  • Deans for Students (preclinical, clinical, CT Campus) 
  • Director of Academic Achievement
  • Director of Learning Environment
  • Director of Student Wellbeing

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STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES (Scholarships, Awards, & Finance FYIs)

• Thinking of applying to outside scholarships? 8/22 9:30am. Check-out this webinar on how to write a winning scholarship essay...
• Are you feeling food insecure? We all deserve access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food especially during a pandemic. The staff at Hunger Free Vermont is working diligently to ensure all Vermonters have access to the resources they need to stay healthy and nourished during this challenging time.

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RESEARCH, LEADERSHIP & FELLOWSHIP

Climate Change and Health*: Interested in a community of medical students working for a sustainable future? Check out this group...

THIS WEEK:

• Register Now! Physician Scientist Training Programs Trainee-to-Trainee Q&A Panel Series*: Series starts July 29 and sessions will be on different days, all at 7pm-8:30pm ET. These 90min sessions are exclusively for students to directly ask their questions to trainees and fellows who are in, or have recently completed research residencies...
  
• Research Opportunity: Medical Student Burnout: Survey runs 08/02 - 08/15. Survey on Burnout in Medical Students during the pandemic...
• DEADLINE - ACP VT Call for Abstracts*: 08/16 submission deadline. Calling Vermont Medical Students! Submit your abstract for a clinical vignette or clinical research to the American College of Physicians Vermont State Meeting's Medical Student Poster Competition...

UPCOMING:

• APPROACHING NOMINATION DEADLINE - Dean's Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DACDEI): 08/17 nomination deadline. Seeking faculty, staff and student nominations. Serves as an advisory body to the Dean of the Larner College of Medicine and makes recommendations...
  
• Submit your abstract to the 2020 Society of General Internal Medicine (New England & Mountain West) Regional Meeting!* 8/26 submission deadline. Learn more...
  
• AMA Student and resident challenge - Health systems science and COVID-19*: 09/21 application deadline. 10 randomly-selected qualifying submitters will receive $500. Show impactful learner-led activities or projects in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and describe the components of health systems science that informed those activities...
• Sarnoff 2021-22 Medical Student Research Fellowship*: 01/12/2021 application deadline. $35k annual stipend and allowance of up to $8k for travel. An opportunity to spend a year conducting intensive work in a biomedical research facility in the United States...

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ARTS & PUBLICATION

UPCOMING:

• Global Creative Competition - Medical Student Responses to COVID-19: 08/31 submission deadline. 2 categories: visual and literary and with a winner in each category receiving a top prize of 300GBP (~$400USD) and two runners up in each category each being awarded 150GBP (~$300USD)...

ADDITIONAL ARTS & PUBLICATION:

• 2020 Summer Reading for Compassionate Clinicians: Check out this summer reading list compiled by the Gold Foundation.
• Faces of the Frontline: This project, led by medical students, shares stories of clinicians caring in the COVID-19 crisis. View the digital campaign and learn more in this Q&A.
• The Nocturnists: Stories from a Pandemic: Part 2*: During this time, our stories as healthcare workers continue to be of the utmost importance. The Noturnists are officially collecting audio for Part 2 of Stories from a Pandemic...
• The Nocturnists - "Black Voices in Healthcare Episode #3 - Home"*: New audio documentary series, Black Voices in Healthcare (releasing new episodes each Tuesday); their latest episode, "Home" explores the concept of home and what it means when your profession takes you away...

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YOU SAID, WE DID - YOUR WORDS IN ACTION

If you receive feedback from students and put that feedback into action, please let our student community know; submit postings/updates to Medical Student Services by 7am, on Fridays. Postings are reviewed by the Office of Medical Student Education Medical Education Leadership Team on Mondays for inclusion in an upcoming issue of the WeeklyWire. Community members can also view our database of current and past “You Said, We Did” submissions, in the Learning Commons.

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* = All postings flagged with an asterisk are not UVM-sponsored/endorsed

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