The Pulse

Office of Medical Education

Quarterly Newsletter

November/December/January '22 -'23

In the Continuum

Message from the Vice Dean...

As we head into a new calendar year I want to wish you a safe and healthy holiday season and hope you find the time for activities that are most meaningful and restorative for you. 2023 will be a busy and very meaningful year for the medical school with some very exciting projects including launch of the new (renewed) UME curriculum, planning for educational opportunities in St Cloud, submission of our LCME progress report, ongoing administrative integration across campuses and many others including our ongoing work educating learners in mortuary science and across the UME/GME educational continuum and ongoing continuing education programming. Thank you all for your dedication to the medical school and hard work in all of our day-to-day operations.

With great appreciation,

Mark Rosenberg, MD

Vice Dean for Education and Academic Affairs

University of Minnesota Medical School

December All-Staff Meeting: Re-cap

Our second hybrid all-staff meeting was held on December 12th with more of a social focus in response to feedback we received from the September all-staff meeting. The Connections & Community committee hosted the meeting and organized a potluck, ugly sweater contest and cookie exchange for those that wanted to participate. (Decorations were also fabulous!)

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS...

Caroline facilitated a breakout survival activity that was fun and informative - we all know now what we need to do (or need to have) to survive if we are stranded in the wilderness. We also know what team we want to be on if we ARE stranded - (Luke's team)! Thank you Caroline - that was excellent!

Staff voted for ugly sweater winners from several contestants in three categories: 1) Best classic/traditional sweater, 2) Best hand-made (decorated) sweater, 3) Best pop-culture sweater. And the winners were:

- Best Classic/Traditional: Britt Ernst (Jeff Chipman's Admin Coordiantor)
- Best Pop-Culture: Christy Illig (presented virtually)
- Best Hand-made: Marianne Watters (uncontested - she thought she'd be competing against Michael!)

Cookie Exchange with a fun little surprise from Betsy!

Food was FANTASTIC - and there was a lot of it! Students studying in HSEC benefited from some of the left-overs!

Feedback received so far is that it was a big success and fun was had by all! Thank you to the committee members (Ashley Mishek, Janell Lopez, Corey Schultz, Esther Dale, and Marianne Watters) and to all who helped before and after the meeting!

Human Resources...

It's almost time for our annual performance appraisal season! HR will be sending a communication very soon with detailed information about next steps, the timeline, and helpful resources. Now is the time to begin preparing for your 2022 self evaluation and setting new goals for 2023. Your self evaluation should focus on what you achieved in 2022 and how you achieved it. For 2023, you'll set 1-3 major goals that are Specific, Important, and Measurable. More information to come!

Click here for a refresher on Navigating the Performance Appraisal Tool (PAT) system or watch this video

In Our Programs....

Undergraduate Medical Education

RPAP/MetroPAP

Launch 2022-2023 Class...In October, students from the Rural and Metropolitan Physician Associate Programs (RPAP and MetroPAP) began their nine-month-long journeys in their communities. The cohort consists of 30 RPAP students and seven MetroPAP students, working and training at 31 sites across Minnesota. This fall, faculty have been visiting sites for Communication Session visits, providing feedback for students on their clinic visits and interactions with patients. The team has just wrapped up interviewing applicants for the 2023-2024 class of RPAP and MetroPAP, including a road trip up to Duluth.

Orientation took place September 26-29, 2022. Students participated in both virtual and in-person sessions, including a day and a half at the University’s M Simulation center working with simulated medical situations. Students navigated simulated emergency medicine scenarios, tried their hand at suturing and knot tying, and worked with models to deliver babies and perform CPR. Students also worked with standardized clinic patients to prepare them for situations they might encounter at their sites.

Many thanks to our wonderful preceptors, sites, and colleagues for all of their support this year!

Student Affairs

Student Affairs highlighted accomplishments in 2022 - The Student Affairs Office (and all our students) was fortunate to welcome 6 new team members this past year: Megan Bauer-Erickson, M.Ed., Career Development and Residency Match Coordinator, Betsy Hendrick, M. Ed., Academic Advisor, Anjali Goel, MD, Clinical Coaching Director, Elizabeth Teschner, PhD, LP, Director of Learner Development - Duluth, and Cuong Pham, MD and Viviane Leuche, MD, Medical Student DEI Mentorship Program Leads. Our office is fortunate to have each of them and our students are better served with them joining our Student Affairs and UME team. Thank you to the entire Student Affairs team for an amazing year!

Mortuary Science

Out and About: Over the past several months we in mortuary science have been “out and about” participating in various events here in Minnesota, and across the country. Recently I participated in the annual National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association convention; funeral practice instructor Carrie Rowell attended the Cremation Association of North American's Fall Green Funeral Conference, and Kelley Romanowski, who teaches Restorative Art, completed an advanced course in decedent care at the Fountain National Academy. Closer to home, our prorgam participated in High School Career Events in Worthington, Marshall, Mankato, and the Metro Area. It was a pleasure to travel across Minnesota and give program updates at each of the Minnsotoa Funeral Directors Association District Meetings. Recent I was able to visit our Crookston Campus and meet with Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause, as we work to establish a transfer articulation agreement and develop online learning opportunities. We look forward to continued growth in 2023!

At Regional HS Career Exploration Event, Marshall MN

With Dr. Hari Close II, President National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association (NFDMA) at NFDMA Annual Meeting)

With Crookston Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause

At Hopkins HS Health Science Career Course - with current program students and MFDA Acting Director Miki Tufto

New Staff in 2022

Welcome!

Mee Vang started in December as Financial Aid Counselor working in the Medical Financial Aid office.

Role/Responsibilities –"I will be working with Medical students who are choosing to use financial aid. I hope to be a resource for students throughout their entire education."

Likes: "Spending time with family doing anything, and everything."

Hobbies/interests: "As long as the weather is good enough, I enjoy the outdoors. I don't like to travel far distances, but I'll do a day's trip to explore a little bit of nature."

Holly Proffitt started in November as the Director of Clinical Immersion and Transitions on the Curriculum team in Undergraduate Medical Education.

Role/Responsibilities: "Building curriculum in the clerkship years"

Likes: "Warm weather, college football, animals of all kinds "

Dislikes: "Rude people, sour candy "

Hobbies/interests: "Fishing, spending time with family, traveling"

Student Interns

Welcome to Emma Schwartz who started working in November. Emma will be working primarily with the GME team and on special projects as needed throughout OME.

Major: Marketing

Grad Date: June 2026

Experience/Skills: "The past two summers I have been a nanny for two young girls. I have also been a figure skating coach for the past 5 years. I have some experience working in excel and creating slideshows and have developed a variety of skills in these fields."

Career interests/goals: "I am currently unsure as to what I want to do for my future career. Recently, I have been exploring marketing and have liked it"

Likes: "ports and chocolate"

Dislikes: "Needles"

Hobbies/interests: "I love going to the lake in the summer, hanging out with friends, and working out!"

Emma is on the right and her cousin Stella (also an intern) is on the left.

Welcome to Anna Zhang who started working in November. Anna will be working with the GME and Curriculum teams, and on other special projects as needed throughout OME.

Major: Psychology and Communications

Grad Date: Spring 2025

Career Goals: "I'm interested in Human Resources and Industrial/Organizational psychology!"

Hobbies/interests: "In my spare time I like to exercise, weightlift, and try new cooking/baking recipes."

Coffee Bar/Water Cooler Chats

Tri-U-Mah

Some of our Assessment & Evaluation staff (Adam, Eric, and Claudio) will be participating in the upcoming Tri-U-Mah event on February 26th. The event will be in person this year at the Minneapolis RecWell Center and they are looking for other teams in OME to compete against! Who will accept this challenge??!! Results in the next newsletter! Good luck A&E team!

Reminder! Keep adding these recipes to our Remotely Good Recipe book! Looking for more appetizers and dessert recipes!

Kudos Korner

"I want to extend my sincere appreciation to our GME team. The operation's team has given me exceptional, unwavering emotional and work-related support as I experienced personal challenges and losses this late summer and fall. The grace they have shown me has been incredible. I am forever grateful and indebted. - Thank you so very much - [Carol Sundberg]
"Thank you to Valerie Bauer and Scott Davenport for your time and expertise in serving on our hiring search committee for the open financial aid counselor position. It was a successful and efficient search and hiring process due to your dedicated time and commitment. [Kristin Basballe]
"Kudos to Hannah Carter for her hard work on the new Events Office site! Its amazing to have all of our resources and guides available in one place. I'm so grateful to Hannah as my partner in events! " [Rachel Rudeen]
"To Joe [Oppedisano] and Ali [Holmay] for SMARTSheet-ifying the purchasing process for OME. Their expertise and collaborative spirit are now moving us forward and their contributions are likely to be implemented beyond OME. Thanks for going above and beyond to benefit us all! " [Caroline Hilk]
"...kudos to Shannon [Nelson]for her tireless commitment to our peer-based support programs and efforts. She has provided a steady, supportive hand with our Wellbeing, Peer Mentor, and Peers Supporting Peers (PSP) programs (while also keeping program coordination for OLD programs and events on track). She is an amazing asset to OME and Student Affairs. Thank you. [Scott Slattery]
"... kudos to Maryanne [Reilly-Spong] for all of her concerted and dedicated efforts in supporting our students. Providing 'confidential' services is challenging because they are private and confidential. This noted, let me acknowledge that Maryanne is providing some of the more substantive and meaningful support to students that we will go unrecognized. 'Life' doesn't go on pause for our students when they begin their training, and Maryanne is such an ardent champion and support for them when it presents itself. Cheers for all she does. [Scott Slattery]
"Kudos to Caroline Hilk for her leadership and collaborative spirit. She has been an incredible addition to our leadership team. I appreciate her patience and guidance over the last several challenging months. She has been a great source of support to me and many others. Thank you Caroline!" [Marianne W]
"A big kudos to my amazing admin team (Monica, Cynthia, Ashley, Nou Ka, and Hailey) for their hard work this past year. They have all gone and extra mile (or two or three) to ensure all runs smoothly in their program teams. They were incredible in stepping up to face the challenges during the purchasing cluster expert roll-out and helped develop a smooth and efficient process that will move forward with the finance group. Thank you for all you do - you really are a wonderful team and I am honored to work with each of you" [Marianne]
"Kudos to the Administrative Interns - Blake Barber, Stella Schwartz, Emma Schwartz, Anna Zhang, Ashton Posey, and Ishaan Gupta - for all of the work they do to support our programs in OME. You are all incredible!" {Marianne]

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