In Brief – Jan. 3, 2019
People
Schetter Memorial Service
Dr. Susann Schetter died on Dec. 24 after a 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer. During her 14 years with Penn State Health and College of Medicine, she served as associate professor of radiology, former associate chief medical officer for Penn State Health Medical Group and former division chief of the Penn State Health Breast Center. A memorial service will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31 in Junker Auditorium.
Townsend Research Featured
A study by Guy Townsend, assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State College of Medicine, was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Townsend and his collaborators at Yale University authored “Dietary sugar silences a colonization factor in a mammalian gut symbiont.” According to the study, sugar can directly deter beneficial microbes from gaining a foothold in the guts of mice. Read more about the paper in the NOVA newsletter.
Announcements
PTO/Vacation Donation
Seven employees have been approved for the primary Paid Time off (PTO)/Vacation Donation Program:
- Tadesse Bogale, Pharmacy
- Rachel Lindell, Pediatric CT Surgery
- Zachary Moyer, Life Lion EMS
- Lisa Reichard, Hematology/Oncology Services
- Gladys Rivera, Penn State Health Medical Group – Palmyra
- Christa Yake, 6th Floor Medicine
- Cherrise Fair, Penn State Health Medical Group – Fishburn Road
Employees interested in donating their primary PTO hours may do so by going to mySolutions, search “PTO Donation” (log-in may be required) and submit the request electronically.
Influenza Policy Activated
Employees who do not have a red flu vaccine sticker on their ID badge indicating that they received this season’s influenza vaccine are now required to wear a surgical mask when they are within six feet of a patient during inpatient and outpatient clinical encounters. All employees are urged to protect themselves, their patients and their family by getting a flu vaccine. Flu vaccine, including an egg-free option, is available in Employee Health Services at H1507. Employees can call 717-531-8280 to schedule an appointment.
Wellness Toolkit
Penn State Health offers employees the 2019 Wellness Toolkit, featuring tools and programs to help improve health, well-being and performance across a multitude of wellness dimensions– physical, emotional and spiritual, social, professional and financial. Find it on mySolutions.
Torrents of Teddy Bears
Penn State Health employees helped with the Hershey Bear Teddy Bear Toss, in which fans are invited to bring stuffed animals to the game and throw them on to the ice after the home team scores its first goal. More than 34,000 stuffed-animals were tossed onto the ice at the Giant Center on Dec. 2. About 20 Penn State Health employees helped count, sort and bag the toys, which, along with a monetary donation, went to the Children’s Miracle Network. Watch the video.
Move to HIPAA-Compliant Zoom
Due to the recent discontinuation of Adobe Connect, the Penn State Health-branded Zoom platform is the only permitted video conferencing platform for faculty, staff and students of Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine because it is HIPAA-compliant. Review these Frequently Asked Questions for more information. Contact the IT Service Desk at 717-531-6281 (Milton S. Hershey Medical Center) or 610-378-2647 (Penn State Health St. Joseph), or email askPSHealthIT@pennstatehealth.psu.edu with any questions or concerns.
Upcoming Events
Ticket Sales Support THON
A portion of the ticket sales at an upcoming Hershey Bears Hockey game will benefit the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON), which raises money to fight childhood cancer:
- Saturday, Jan. 5
- 7 p.m.
- Ticketmaster website. Use code FTK.
Research Quality Assurance Workshop
Research Quality Assurance will host a quarterly regulatory workshop. Topics for discussion include eye wash, reporting work-related injury that require hospitalization and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee:
- Wednesday, Jan. 30
- Noon-1 p.m.
- C7619
Research Center Open House
Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s Clinical Research Center will host an open house of its new observational suites, available for use as part of its clinical research services to the Penn State community:
- Wednesday, Jan. 16
- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Hershey Medical Center – fourth floor off the north elevators
Lunch will be available. Read more about the research center.
Wellness Event
Penn State Health departments interested in supporting the community with education and interactive activities are encouraged to participate in a health system-sponsored event at a Hershey Bears hockey game. The health and wellness event will take place on Saturday, March 2 at the Giant Center. Department representatives should email ThisisPennStateHealth@pennstatehealth.psu.edu by Friday, Jan. 25.
iLab Sessions
Project managers will discuss the Penn State College of Medicine iLab application, which is being adopted by Penn State shared scientific facilities, at several information sessions:
- Tuesday, Jan. 8
- 10 a.m. – T2500
- 1 p.m. – C6616
- 3 p.m. – C6616
- Learn more here.
iLab will assist researchers in requesting instruments, equipment, supplies and technology, as well as services and technical expertise.
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