Dear Colleagues,
As you snack on the leftover candy from last night’s Halloween trick-or-treating (or enviably abstain), I hope you will take some time to read about a few of the exceptional accomplishments of our faculty during the past month, as well as a preview of the November Chair’s Spotlight and a couple upcoming events of note.
On October 14th, Dr. Yoel Carrasquillo-Vega of the Division of Hospital Medicine and director of diversity, inclusion and social justice in the Department of Medicine, was honored as a Hero of the Pandemic at CENTRO’s 3rd Central Mass Hispanic Heritage Breakfast that was held at Polar Park. On the same day, Dr. Kate Fitzgerald, chief of the Division of Innate Immunity, director of the Program in Innate Immunity and vice chair for research was also inducted into the National Academy of Medicine. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Carrasquillo-Vega and Dr. Fitzgerald. Their distinguished honors underscore the unique talents, dedication, and leadership of our faculty, and their impact in the local community, nationally, and internationally. I invite you to read more about these honors in our upcoming DOM CONNECT newsletter that will be out this Friday, November 4th.
In this month’s Chair’s Spotlight, we feature Karen Salomon-Escoto, of the Division of Rheumatology. Dr. Salomon-Escoto's work primarily focuses on musculoskeletal ultrasonography, with a research interest in inflammatory arthritis disease. We are grateful for her innovative approaches to clinical investigation, patient care, and medical education, and thank her for her diverse contributions to the Department of Medicine. Read more about Dr. Salomon-Escoto's work here and in this week’s DOM CONNECT.
Please join me in welcoming Admiral Rachel L. Levine, MD, Assistant Secretary for Health, for the Department of Health and Human Services, our Medical Grand Rounds speaker this Thursday, November 3rd at noon. Admiral Levine’s talk will be on “Health Challenges and Opportunities for Adolescents: Perspectives from the Assistant Secretary for Health” and will focus on the HHS’s commitment to protecting and expanding access to quality, affordable health care for all, including the nations LGBTI+ youth.
Additionally, starting on Friday, November 4th at noon, senior IM residents will present Clinicopathology Conferences (CPCs). I highly encourage our faculty members to attend CPCs. Details about the CPCs will be provided each week in the Monday morning DOMCOMM: Need to Know, On the Go newsletters. Please be sure to make note of these events in your calendar.
I would like to extend my gratitude to the veterans in our department and all those who have served, as we observe Veteran’s Day on November 11th. Also, as we enter this season of giving, please consider donating to the UMass Chan Cares campaign and/or volunteering your time to help those who are in need, if you are able. More information can be found here: https://www.umassmed.edu/ocgr/umass-chan-cares/.
wish you all a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.
Sincerely,
Dave