UTMB Announcements for 4/26/2024

Thinking about retiring within six months to a year? The UTMB HR Benefits office is hosting a Teachers Retirement of Texas (TRS) session on Friday, May 3.

The session will go over how to calculate your eligibility for retiree insurance benefits, the required documentation, and other important action items.

Click on the link below to register for the session. You will receive a confirmation email to save the session to your Outlook calendar.

Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Benefits Information Session – 10 to 11 a.m.

https://teams.microsoft.com/registration/bSXve9uFJkWnLTGuolRoUg,rU0VJ0WtVkC8kzUGkt2Nag,86_ZPREItkKGGjKpMOPRbg,XNWF3YY64k2UpgkT8B7QKA,RW9fefqbLEa8kcsO2Xs8mg,GEpxUhaIz0i40Ll6b-2D6A?mode=read&tenantId=7bef256d-85db-4526-a72d-31aea2546852

For questions or more information about the retirement information session, please contact HR Benefits at benefits.services@utmb.edu or (409) 772-2630.

Thinking about retiring within six months to a year? The UTMB HR Benefits office is hosting a Optional Retirement Program (ORP) Benefits Information Session on Friday, May 3.

The session will go over how to calculate your eligibility for retiree insurance benefits, the required documentation, and other important action items.

Click on the link below to register for the session. You will receive a confirmation email to save the session to your Outlook calendar.

Optional Retirement Program (ORP) Benefits Information Session – 2 to 3 p.m.

https://teams.microsoft.com/registration/bSXve9uFJkWnLTGuolRoUg,rU0VJ0WtVkC8kzUGkt2Nag,86_ZPREItkKGGjKpMOPRbg,SpSfDpj2xk626OF_YuK4rA,shUTx1x06k-J1xVUO8sEgg,ah4spL1_PU24p0x5JxJATA?mode=read&tenantId=7bef256d-85db-4526-a72d-31aea2546852

For questions or more information about the retirement information session, please contact HR Benefits at benefits.services@utmb.edu or (409) 772-2630.

Day 19: How do smartphone screen readers work?

A mobile screen reader differs from other versions in that it's gesture driven. Instead of a user activating the tab key or other shortcut keys to read a page, swipe gestures are used to interact with the mobile operating system. This can be moving focus from button to button, interacting with or mimicking a touch interaction.

On Apple's VoiceOver for example, a left/right swipe gesture will move the focus from element to element, but an up/down swipe will cycle through the various navigation options such as headings, links or forms.

Your smartphone screen reader can typically be found under the accessibility settings. (TalkBack on Android or VoiceOver on iOS).

Explore previous Days of A11y

#100DaysOfA11y

This survey invites all UTMB medical students to provide your insights on: (1) importance, (2) impact, and (3) process of integrating patient data on demographic characteristircs and social determinants into EMR. The survey aims to enhance the meaningful use of EMR to inform clinical and administrative deicions. Thank you.

https://utmb.us/avl

The Department of Bioethics and Health Humanities 

and 

The Elizabeth and Chauncey Leake Memorial Fund in the Medical Humanities

Proudly Presents:

"Clinical Research in Pregnancy, the FDA, and the "Shadows of Thalidomide""

by Dr. Miranda Waggoner

Department of Sociology

Rice University

Thursday, May 09, 2024

12-1 pm

HEC 3.206

OR 

Register for Zoom here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Noh_I1pFTTKruxQ069pDMw 

Abstract: In the early 1960s, FDA reviewer Frances Kelsey courageously prevented the approval of thalidomide, a drug that would soon be linked to birth defects. Kelsey’s work averted a national tragedy and simultaneously facilitated major changes in the drug approval process in the United States. In this talk, I will revisit Kelsey’s enduring legacy, not only for contemporary clinical trials and the FDA’s reputation, but also for the durable impact her work and the thalidomide episode have had on regulatory and ethical thinking about clinical research in pregnancy. Although thalidomide’s shadows have long dimmed the prospects for research in pregnancy, archival data reveal that current calls for advancing research in pregnant populations in fact powerfully align with Kelsey’s legacy.

APA Monthly Luncheon Meeting

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Administration Building Conference Room 2.204

Topic: Active Shooter a CRASE Presentation

(Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events)

Training Presentation

Presented by:

Lieutenant Shawn Carr & Corporal Curtis Dorsey

University Police 

Whether you want to work directly with patients or influence health care on a broader scale, our CCNE-accredited MSN program can help you reach your goals. This program, which includes seven different tracks, ranked #10 in Best Online Master’s in Nursing Programs category according to U.S. News and World Report for 2023!

Our seven MSN tracks include Adult Gerontology Acute Care NP, Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP, Clinical Nurse Leader, Executive Nurse Leader, Family NP, Neonatal NP, and Nurse Educator.

Fall 2024 applications are currently being accepted! Visit our website to learn about requirements, program curriculum, the application process, and more. You can also look into UTMB’s tuition reimbursement benefit.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute – OLLI at UTMB

2^nd Annual Gardening Symposium

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

1200 Market Street (UTMB Campus), Galveston, Texas 77555 

 $30 All-Day Registration – Parking and Box Lunch Included

Registration now open: https://utmb.us/aic

Join the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute for a day of gardening tips and insider information. This year’s program will provide information on a variety of topics, presented by some of the area’s most knowledgeable gardening authorities. The symposium brings together amateur backyard gardeners and gardening professionals for a day of insightful presentations and networking. Topics will focus on eco-friendly landscape gardening with special emphasis on the unique cultural requirements of our coastal environment.

The Non-Healthcare Provider Heartsaver CPR AED course trains anyone with little or no medical training to give CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a safe, timely, and effective manner.

Who should take this course?

The AHA Heartsaver CPR AED Course is designed for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in CPR and AED use to meet job, regulatory, or other requirements.  The Heartsaver CPR AED Course Completion Card is valid for two years.

What does this course teach?

• Describe how high-quality CPR improves survival
• Explain the concepts of the Chain of Survival
• Recognize when someone needs CPR
• Perform high-quality CPR for an adult
• Describe how to perform CPR with help from others
• Give effective breaths using mouth-to-mouth or a mask for all age groups
• Demonstrate how to use an AED on an adult
• Perform high-quality CPR for a child
• Demonstrate how to use an AED on a child
• Perform high-quality CPR for an infant
• Describe when and how to help a choking adult or child
• Demonstrate how to help a choking infant

Student Material

Heartsaver CPR AED Student Workbook

(ISBN: 978-1-61669-830-0)

Or

Heartsaver CPR AED Student Workbook eBook

(ISBN: 978-1-61669-818-8)

Upcoming Training dates:

May 15, 0730-1130, Galveston Campus – HEC 2.418 B

May 20, 0730-1130, Clear Lake Campus – 2^nd Floor Rm 2.211

July 16, 0730-1130, Galveston Campus – HEC 2.418 B

 Office of Life Support Education and Training Calendar

(To view our calendar, you must be on a UTMB campus or logged in to VPN)

The following policy is available for review and comment:

IHOP 09.02.08 Medical Record Forms Management

Comments on this policy will be accepted until 5:00 pm on 4/26/24 and may be submitted via email to policies@utmb.edu. Any comments written directly on to the draft policy via the website are unable to be accepted.

The following policy is available for review and comment:

IHOP 03.02.11 - Controlled Substance Theft or Significant Loss Reporting

Comments on this policy will be accepted until 5:00 pm on 4/23/24 and may be submitted via email to policies@utmb.edu. Any comments written directly on to the draft policy via the website are unable to be accepted.

Day 15: What is audio description?

Audio description (AD) addresses the accessibility of the visual images of theater, television, movies and other art forms for people who are blind or visually impaired. AD is a pre-recorded audio track describing important visual details that cannot be understood from the main soundtrack alone. Audio description is usually added during existing pauses in dialog and can include elements such as the action, settings, facial expressions, costumes and scene changes.

Check out an audio description on YouTube in this trailer for the movie Frozen.

Explore previous Days of A11y

#100DaysOfA11y

Day 16: 27% of US Adults have a disability

CDC statistics show that "27% of adults in the U.S. (affecting 1/3 of U.S. households) have some type of disability." Access can be affected by permanent disability (vision loss), temporary disability (broken arm), or situational challenges (a loud environment)

Sample digital accessibility considerations:

• Auditory - would someone need to hear to process your content if they were hearing-impaired or in a loud environment? Are captions available?
• Visual - is your content accessible to people with blindness, color blindness, or low vision? Is text large enough and does it have enough contrast?
• Speech - does your app rely on voice recognition?  Will this work with slower speech, are there alternatives for those who can't speak or who might be in a loud environment?
• Physical - if someone can't use a mouse, because of a permanent or temporary disability can they navigate through your content with just the keyboard? Do you rely on dragging (which can be difficult for some, or do you also have methods for manually selecting values?
• Cognitive - is all of the content reliant on technical jargon? Are steps clear and easy to follow for someone who is completing them for the first time or may have trouble remembering multiple steps?

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#100DaysOfA11y

Day 18: Most people use closed captions

Kapwing reports:

• 80% of people are more likely to finish a video with subtitles/captions.
• 85% of Facebook users watch videos with the sound off.

Reasons range from increased concentration, wanting to keep the sound off, to understanding video where the voices are difficult to hear or discern, etc. Engagement increases when the options for captions and subtitles are available!

Explore previous Days of A11y

#100DaysOfA11y

The following policy is available for review and comment:

IHOP - 09.03.34 - Sexual Assault Examination and Collection of Forensic Evidence for the Adult Adolescent or Pediatric Patient

Comments on this policy will be accepted until 5:00 pm on 5/3/24 and may be submitted via email to policies@utmb.edu. Any comments written directly on to the draft policy via the website are unable to be accepted.

To honor the selfless contributions of all UTMB employees to the health and wellbeing of the Galveston Community, the Galveston Symphony Orchestra (GSO) is offering up to 250 complimentary tickets to the next concert (From Warsaw with Love | May 5, 2024 at The Grand 1984 Opera House — Galveston Symphony Orchestra), featuring world-renowned concert pianist, Avery Gagliano, performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto #1 and finishing with the majestic and timeless classic, Beethoven’s 7^th Symphony.  Those who attend will be invited to a post-concert event at Edna’s Room, a reception room just next door to the Opera House.

Vouchers can be obtained by clicking here.  Vouchers must then be presented to the Grand Box Office for distribution of tickets.

Tickets will go fast!

Power of Writing Practice Retreat

April 29, 2024

9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Facilitator: Janet Cohen

Bring a journal, a pen, and your favorite prop to this dynamic writing retreat. You will write, learn, read some of your work (if you want to share), and commune with other people of like mind.

This class welcomes curious newcomers, as well as seasoned authors who have been published. You will be encouraged to drop all the "rules" about writing and simply write for the fun of it.

Suggested reading: “Writing Down the Bones” by Natalie Goldberg. 

One day registration $100

(FY24 OLLI membership, tuition, parking and light lunch included)

Registration now open: https://utmb.us/aic

 

Share your care experience and contribute to a brighter future for people with dementia.

Are you caring for your loved one 65 or older with a memory problem or dementia, and have attended at least one Annual Wellness Visit with them?

Or are you a Medicare beneficiary age 65 or older with a memory problem and have received at least one Annual Wellness Visit?

If so, your unique experience could be the key to enhancing wellness services during Annual Wellness Visits for individuals with dementia.

Compassionate caregivers and older adults with memory problems are invited to join this pivotal research study.

By participating in a brief, 30-minute interview—conveniently conducted over the phone or via Zoom—you will play a crucial role in shaping the future of dementia care.

Talk to Mr. Samuel David, our study coordinator, at (409) 772-5514 or via email at savdavid@utmb.edu    Join us in this important journey today.

Discover more about how you can contribute to this vital research by visiting https://utmb.us/a6c. Your participation could light the path to improved care and support for those living with dementia.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - Normal Healthy Participants And Subjects With Asthma Are Needed

You could qualify for one of our studies if you are a normal healthy participant or have a history of physician-diagnosed asthma AND are between the ages of 18 and 60 and are a non-smoker for at least one year.

William J. Calhoun, M.D., Principal Investigator

Taking time off from work is essential for maintaining your mental and physical health.

Regularly using your earned Paid Time Off (PTO) allows you to rest and recharge. It also:

• Prevents burnout and unscheduled absenteeism
• Increases productivity and creativity
• Promotes a healthier work-life harmony
• Creates a culture of personal accountability and wellness

Please be sure you are prioritizing your well-being and scheduling your PTO for the remainder of the fiscal year. Submitting your leave requests now helps to ensure your department is adequately staffed for the busy summer months. It also helps to safeguard UTMB’s financial health by reducing the costs associated with carrying unused PTO.

The following resources are available to assist you with viewing your accrual balances and submitting leave requests:

• How to Read Timecard Accrual Data
• Kronos Leave Types & Pay Codes Summary
• How to Submit Kronos Time-Off Requests

Cosmetic BOTOX at $10 PER UNIT

RESTRICTED TO THIS EVENT ONLY

Participating providers

Dr. Erica Kelly, Dr. Anthony Linfante, Dr. Ayezel Munoz, Dr. Lindy Ross, Dr. Janice Wilson, and Jill Resendez, AGACNP

Friday May 03, 2024 1:30 PM - 4:15 PM

UTMB Health Primary & Specialty Care

2660 Gulf Freeway South, Entrance A

League City, Texas 77573

To reserve your time please call

832-505-3376 OR 832-505-0777

Appointments are limited

The FAIR Seminar Series offers workshops for UTMB researchers, guiding them in successful
grant development, sponsor engagement, and effective research communication at all career stages.

Topic: Understanding What Sponsors Are Looking For Part 3 - NSF
Funding Opportunities in the Biological Sciences at the National Science Foundation

Speakers:  
Manju Hingorani, Ph.D.
Program Director - Genetic Mechanisms Cluster, Biological Sciences - NSF

Edda "Floh" Thiels, Ph.D.
Program Director - Neural Systems Cluster, Biological Sciences - NSF

Laura Borodinsky, Ph.D.
Rotating Program Director - Neural Systems Cluster, Biological Sciences - NSF

Wednesday - May 8th  from 12 - 1 pm

Virtual Only

Register at https://research.utmb.edu/register to receive the meeting link or email research.education@utmb.edu

All FAIR seminars and workshops are FREE and open to UTMB faculty, chairs, and research leaders. 

Please be informed that the Epic Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system will undergo a scheduled software update on May 5, 2024, from 10:00am to 12:00pm (1000-1200). During this period, the system will be unavailable for documentation purposes. However, users will still be able to access a READ-ONLY version of Epic via the Epic icon.

For more detailed information regarding the specific changes and enhancements included in this upgrade, please visit the Epic Upgrade webpage.

Information Technology Services, appreciates your understanding and cooperation during this maintenance period. Should you have any urgent concerns or inquiries, please do not hesitate to reach out to the UTMB Service Desk at 409-772-5200, option 4.