Dear Colleagues,
I would like to start by extending my sincere appreciation and best wishes to Dr. Jeff Stoff as he retires and begins a new chapter in his life. Over the last 40 years, Dr. Stoff has skillfully led the expansion of Renal Medicine from a limited number of faculty, fellows, and hospital-based sites to a robust network of clinical practices, faculty, and trainees. Under his direction the division has also built a formidable reputation in clinical nephrology, renal replacement therapy in the ICU setting and outpatient satellite dialysis treatment, and as a referral center for kidney and pancreas transplantation. His contributions have been invaluable to our department and institutions. Please join me in a retirement celebration for Dr. Stoff this evening, February 1, at the Albert Sherman Center Cube from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., where we will enjoy hors d'oeuvres and refreshments, and share memories and our gratitude. I, along with Dean Flotte, will give opening remarks.
This February, in alignment with American Heart Month, I am pleased to highlight Dr. Brigid Carlson as our Chair’s Spotlight. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Carlson, learn more about her work as a cardiologist, and pick up some important tips for improving heart health for ourselves and our families. You can read her spotlight here and in this Friday’s Connect. Later this month, be sure to check out the Researcher Spotlight in our Investigator newsletter out on February 21. There, we will highlight Dr. Lara Kovell, a physician-scientist specializing in cardiology focused on implementing evidence-based interventions to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease in women. We thank Drs. Carlson and Kovell for their commitment to their patients and research, and for promoting heart health and wellness in our campus community and beyond.
I would also like to extend a special thank you to our administrators and ops supervisors who have been doing an exceptional job helping us navigate the Workday implementation that went into effect for clinical employees on January 1. This has been a massive undertaking for our teams and I thank them for going above and beyond during this time of transition. As issues continue to be ironed out, we encourage you to utilize the Workday/IS resources provided by UMMH and contact your administrator/ops supervisor if you have any questions or concerns.
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to remind you to take moments to check in with your colleagues about how they are doing and to reflect upon your own wellness as well. We care about you and your well-being, and resources are available through UMass Chan and UMMH to support you, if/when you need them. We are currently working on a departmental SharePoint site that will house links to these resources in one place, and will share that information as soon as is it ready. In the meantime, should you need assistance, please reach out to the Employee Assistance Program.
Sincerely,
Dave
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