12.2.2024

UVA Health Update | Dec. 2, 2024

Holiday Wreath Auction Now Open

Bidding closes Sunday, Dec. 8 | The UVA Cancer Center Wreath Auction is back for the season! UVA Health provided wreath bases, and team members donated their creativity. Come visit the wreaths hanging in the Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center, check out the auction site, and bid today. All proceeds go toward helping cancer patients experiencing barriers to accessing treatment. Want to donate?

Operations

Construction Alert: Lee Street Parking Garage Door Replacement

Through Monday, Dec. 9; reopens Tuesday, Dec. 10 | Facilities Management will be replacing double doors connecting the Lee Street Garage to the Connecting Tower. This will occur on the 2nd level (A) and will not allow access from the garage parking directly into the Connecting Tower on the 2nd level. During this time, handicap spaces will be blocked off and rerouted to other floors. Please anticipate some delays in parking and patients getting to appointments. Questions, contact Justin Marshall.

Monthly Update: Clinical and Operational Documents

Having a working knowledge of policies and other clinical and operational documents relevant to your role and responsibilities at University Medical Center supports quality patient care and regulatory compliance. Learn What’s New in Clinical and Operational Documents. This month’s highlights include updates to the Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria Guideline, updates to the Ordering and Administering Continuous Platelet Transfusions Blood SOP, a new Transfer Acceptance and Waitlist Management: Inpatient, Emergency Department and Observation Patients Medical Center Policy, and many more. Questions? Email PolicyTechAdmin@uvahealth.org.

Winter Weather Safety

To keep everyone as safe as possible, please begin preparing for winter weather events. When severe enough, these events may cause us to modify our operations, alter parking locations and bus service schedules, and require some team members to remain in or near our patient care facilities after their shift ends. Learn more about winter weather preparedness on Connect.

Report an icy patch or area that needs clearing at a UVA Health facility by calling 434.924.2267.
Walk Like a Penguin: Keep yourself safe when traversing slippery or icy surfaces. Shane Anderson, Director of Emergency Management, advises keeping your feet under you and taking small steps (like a penguin!) to avoid falling.
The UVA Health Status Board is an online hub that communicates team member reporting status and local-level operations status detail for UVA Health medical centers, clinics, and other locations across the health system.

Leadership

Marking the seventeenth 17 day of a month in the calendar with a red marker. Note of the calendar, significant date. Signing the day on the calendar. Reminder mark on the eighteenth 18 day of month.

Save the Date: UVA Health Town Hall

Tuesday, Dec. 17 | noon-1 p.m. | Sandridge Auditorium and Livestream | Please join the Town Hall with K. Craig Kent, MD, CEO, UVA Health, and other leaders to learn more about the latest developments across our organization as we continue our momentum as One Future Together | Health and Hope for All.

Human Resources

UVA Health Recruitment Drop-in Sessions

Wednesdays | 3-6 p.m. | Dining Conference Room 2 | The UVA Health Recruitment team is available for weekly drop-in sessions. Come with questions about job applications, Workday processes, traveler conversions, or any other recruitment-related inquiries.

New Benefit: Discount on UVA Health LASIK Procedures

The team at the recently opened UVA Health LASIK Northridge is pleased to share that all UVA Health and UVA academic team members and all UVA students are eligible for a 10% discount on LASIK procedures. LASIK is not covered by most insurance plans (including the UVA Health Plan). The out-of-pocket cost is $2,500 per eye, so UVA employees and students can save $250 per eye. To receive the discount, simply inform the scheduling team that you are a UVA employee or student when you schedule your initial evaluation with the clinic. To make an appointment, call 434.982.2010.

Happenings

Nominate: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. University of Virginia Health System Award

Deadline: Monday, Dec. 2 | 5 p.m. | Established in 2013, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. University of Virginia Health System Award is presented annually to five individuals (student, faculty, or staff member of the health system), one department, and one community organization. The award recognizes those who embody Dr. King's values and teachings in cultural competence, addressing health care disparities, and/or fostering an environment of inclusiveness in accordance with the institution's mission and values. The award ceremony will be in the Rotunda Dome Room on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 6 p.m. Learn more and nominate.

Nominate: Research Achievement Awards

Deadline: Monday, Dec. 2 | 5 p.m. | These awards aim to recognize faculty for their excellence in research and scholarship leading to the advancement of knowledge and discoveries with significant impact on society. Details.

Physicians and APPs: Get a New Provider Directory Headshot

McKim Hall | Ground Floor, Room G045 | No appointment necessary. Bring a white coat if you have one; if not, one will be provided. Photos taken in 10 minutes or less on:

Tuesday, Dec. 3 | 9 a.m.-noon
Monday, Dec. 9 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 19 | 7-10 a.m.

Cookies, Coffee, and a Conversation About Care After Hospital Discharge

Tuesday, Dec. 3 | 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | University Medical Center Dining Conference Room | Let’s talk about care after hospital discharge: Have you ever been curious about home health, hospice, or palliative care — and programs offered by Population Health? Questions on Advance Care Planning? Join a cookie and coffee meet-and-greet with representatives from Continuum Home Health, Hospice of the Piedmont, Population Health, and Advance Care Planning. Questions? Contact Catherine Harris.

Open Forum | Office of the Vice President for Research: Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) — Post-Award

Wednesday, Dec. 4 | noon-1 p.m. | Join this open forum opportunity in-person or virtually to discuss UVA Research topics and share feedback about future improvements. Information regarding virtual attendance will be provided prior to the sessions. Register.

Lights of Love Tree Lighting and Caroling

Thursday, Dec. 5 | 1 p.m. | University Hospital lobby | Enjoy music of the season by the Choirs of Charlottesville High School and our guests of honor from the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, the Riedl family, to kick off the season by lighting the tree. Sponsored by the UVA Hospital Auxiliary. To help the Hospital Auxiliary continue their service of giving, consider making a tax deductible donation to support programs that directly benefit our patients and their families, such as flowers for patients, pet therapy, music therapy, and more.

Medical Center Hour | Adult RSV Vaccination: The Time Has Come

Friday, Dec. 6 | 12:15-1:15 pm | Education Resource Center and Zoom | Ann R. Falsey, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine, will discuss the burden of disease, clinical features, and risk factors for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in adults. The history of RSV vaccine development will be reviewed with a focus on adult vaccines. Data from Phase 1-3 clinical trials will be presented for the three currently licensed RSV vaccines as well as real world evidence of effectiveness post licensure. Finally, evolving Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations will be discussed.

Donate Stocking Stuffers to Volunteer Services

Deadline: Wednesday, Dec. 18 | noon | Volunteer Services, University Hospital | Volunteers have been making Christmas stockings and now it’s time to collect items to fill them to give out to adult inpatients who will be here on Christmas day. Wish list: holiday window decorations, sun catchers, adult coloring books, colored pencils, word search/crossword/Sudoku books, pencils, journals (no wire), art supplies, holiday fuzzy socks, stocking hats, holiday hats, festive headbands, battery teal lights, mini light strands, mini Christmas games. Drop off items at Volunteer Services or contact LaDelle Gay for more information. Shop the Amazon wish list.

iDRIV Scholars Program Now Accepting Applications

Applications due Wednesday, Dec. 18 | Inspiring Diverse Researchers in Virginia (iDRIV) Scholars program is founded on a dual commitment: supporting the success of exceptional investigators and building a diverse research community to enhance our mission of improving human health. Diverse research teams foster greater creativity and productivity, yet this diversity is underrepresented in the current scientific workforce. The iDRIV program aims to accelerate the research careers of early career and aspiring faculty at UVA through education, coaching, mentoring, and sponsorship tailored to early career biomedical science researchers. Learn more.

2025 Health System New Year Celebration Events

Previously, UVA Health hosted a system-wide celebration in December, during which we organized seasonal meals and other fun activities. This year, we will be shifting our timeline to January, so that we can ring in 2025 together — sharing reflections and resolutions along the way.

University Medical Center | Sunday, Jan. 12 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 6-8 p.m., 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m. | University Hospital Cafeteria
Fontaine Research Park | Monday, Jan. 13 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | TBD
Haymarket Medical Center | Tuesday, Jan. 14 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Conference Rooms A & B | 7-8 p.m., Cafe
Orthopedic Center Ivy Road | Tuesday, Jan. 14 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Outside Tent
Prince William Medical Center | Wednesday, Jan. 15 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 7-8 p.m. | Cafe
University Medical Center | Wednesday, Jan. 15 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 6-8 p.m., 11 p.m.-1:30 a.m. | University Hospital Cafeteria
Northridge | Wednesday, Jan. 15 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Marketplace
North Fork | Wednesday, Jan. 15 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Drop off family-style buffet
Culpeper Medical Center | Thursday Jan. 16 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Board Conference Room | 7-8 p.m., Cafe

Appreciation

Shout Out to Our Researchers!

While many at UVA Health deliver care to our patients or educate students about the delivery of such care, our colleagues conducting research shape the medicine we deliver tomorrow — and how we deliver it. Recent examples:

Perineuronal Nets | Research from Harald Sontheimer, PhD, and Bhanu Tewari, PhD, and their collaborators suggests that mysterious net-like structures that surround select neurons in the brain may be the key to better understand and treat Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and other neurological disorders.
Recurrent Wheezing | Nearly a quarter of children with recurrent wheezing have silent lung infections that would be better treated with antivirals than commonly prescribed steroids that can carry lifelong side effects, research from W. Gerald Teague, MD, and colleagues revealed.
Precision Medicine Guidelines | Stephen S. Rich, PhD, and collaborators developed the first comprehensive guidelines for reporting cutting-edge precision medicine research. The guidelines are set to improve patient care and health equity for people around the world.
Growth Mindset | Milad Memari, MD, and collaborators issued an important caution about how “growth mindset” can be misapplied in medical education.
Long COVID | Jie Sun, PhD, and his team identified a potential treatment for the respiratory symptoms of long COVID after discovering an unknown cause of the condition.

This is only a sampling of the research that occurs here daily. (More can be found in the UVA Health Newsroom.) We’re grateful to these team members and to all who expand our knowledge of medical science. Thank you, researchers!