Eastman School of Music's centennial celebration kickoff
On Thursday, join an event marking the start of the Eastman School of Music’s centennial—honoring a century of music and celebrating the century to come. Find performance and streaming information from the kickoff event in the For the Community section.
In today’s issue:
Mohammed Bah ’23 and Miguel Yakouma ’23 have received a Davis Projects for Peace grant for a conflict-resolution project in Africa
Highland Hospital is the first hospital in the Rochester region to offer a new “superpulsed” laser for the treatment of kidney stones
Last month, the IRS announced that PPE purchased for preventing the spread of COVID-19 is now a qualified medical expense
Since Monday’s notice in @Rochester, there are no new cases of COVID-19 to report. Please note that the University’s COVID-19 Dashboard is updated daily. Whenever a new case is known, the contact-tracing process begins immediately with confirmed exposures being contacted and required to quarantine.
The Medical Center is continuing to make vaccine clinic appointments available to all University faculty, staff, and students. Visit the URMC COVID Clinic List to register.
It’s extremely important for the health of the University community that individuals continue to adhere to the face masking and social distancing protocols. Even as some individuals are now receiving their first or second dose of the vaccine, these practices to prevent the transmission of the virus cannot be relaxed.
Students earn national award for conflict resolution project
Mohammed Bah ’23, an international relations major from Monrovia, Liberia, and Miguel Yakouma ’23, a biomedical engineering major from Bangui, Central African Republic, have received a Davis Projects for Peace grant for a project in Africa that seeks to restore social bonds between warring religious groups. The project is one of only 125 projects selected, with each being awarded $10,000 for implementation this summer.
How Warner School faculty are navigating scholarship in the age of COVID-19
During a time of uncertainty and disruptions, faculty members at the Warner School of Education have continued to successfully press on and rise to the challenge of innovating their research through the pandemic. Silvia Sörensen, an associate professor of counseling and human development; Jeffrey Choppin, a professor and chair of teaching and curriculum; and Samantha Daley, an assistant professor of counseling and human development, of educational leadership, and of teaching and curriculum, share their stories.
Highland offers new ‘superpulsed’ laser for treatment of kidney stones
Highland Hospital is the first hospital in the Rochester region to offer the Olympus Soltive Laser System, a new option for treating patients who suffer from kidney stones. The system enables physicians to provide quicker and more efficient stone removal, which may translate to shorter procedure times and less patient discomfort.
UHS resuming Johnson & Johnson student vaccinations
University Health Service (UHS) will resume administering the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) one-dose vaccine to students. The FDA and CDC jointly lifted the pause on the J&J vaccine following a thorough safety review and determination that potential blood clots are very rare events, and New York State has endorsed the federal recommendations.
UHS is emailing all of the students who originally signed up to receive the J&J vaccine two weeks ago and scheduling them for appointments on Wednesday, April 28, if the students still need the vaccine. These appointments will be held at the Goergen Athletic Center on the River Campus.
Depending on how many doses are still available following Wednesday’s clinic, UHS may reopen additional slots to students on Thursday and will announce sign-up information at that point. Since the pause, UHS has safely stored its supply of the J&J vaccine on-site, and the expiration date on the vials is still several weeks in the future.
Smash away stress
Release some of your stress at the first-ever “Smashing Stress” event. When you register for this free event, you will be given a white ceramic tile and asked to write or depict on it things that are stressing you out or causing you mental distress. The next step is to smash it! Feel free to use one of the provided sledgehammers to do the job. Register here to attend the event, taking place Thursday, April 29, from 1 to 4 p.m. This event is cosponsored by Active Minds, the Mindful University Project, and the UHS Health Promotions Office.
Virtual writing retreat for AS&E grad students and postdocs
Having trouble feeling motivated or finding time to write? Join a virtual weekend writing boot camp. Log onto Zoom to meet other writers, set writing goals, and most importantly, write. For those who may need a bit more support, a writing tutor will be available. This event is open to grad students and postdocs in AS&E and takes place Tuesday, May 18, through Thursday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT each day. Register online to attend.
On March 26, the IRS announced personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes that are purchased for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19, are now qualified medical expenses. Health savings account (HSA) participants may use their funds to purchase PPE and health care flexible spending account (FSA) participants can be reimbursed for these expenses retroactive to January 1, 2020. If you have questions, contact the Office of Total Rewards.
Summer applications for tuition reimbursement
With the spring semester’s end quickly approaching, it’s time to look forward to the summer semester. Submit your application for summer classes no later than 30 days from the start of the course. The application and more information about tuition reimbursement can be found on the tuition website.
Chamber music program for Medical Center staff and clinical workers
The next “Lunch and Listen” concert from Eastman Performing Arts Medicine and the Office of Patient Experience takes place today, Tuesday, April 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST. Medical Center staff and clinical workers can join via Zoom at any point to hear artists from the Eastman School of Music, and call in to make requests. This week’s concert features three small ensembles from Advanced Chamber Music, taught by Elinor Freer, an assistant professor of chamber music.
Meal planning made easy
Join Well-U and Kayla Womeldorff, a registered dietitian, on Thursday, April 29, at noon EDT for a virtual, interactive lunch and learn how to make healthy meal planning a breeze. Topics will include how to build healthy and tasty meals, managing picky eating from adults and kids, budget-friendly grocery staples for quick meals, and simple recipe ideas. Sign up now as space is limited.
John Clancy, vice president of clinical research at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, will give the Kit Taylor Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, April 28, at 8 a.m. EDT via Zoom. The lecture is hosted by the Department of Pediatrics and Golisano Children’s Hospital. Join the talk here.
Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center's LGBTQ leadership lecture
Join Geena Rocero, a trans Filipino-American supermodel and founder of Gender Proud, a media production company centering the stories of trans folks worldwide, for the Lorri L. Jean & Darrel Cummings LGBTQ Leadership Lecture. Register here to attend the event, taking place Wednesday, April 28, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
Musica Nova concert
On Wednesday, April 28, Eastman Musica Nova will present a concert of music by four varied contemporary composers. Brad Lubman, director of Musica Nova and an associate professor of conducting and ensembles will conduct pieces by composers Sarah Nemtsov and Hilda Paredes. Georgia Mills, an assistant conductor, will conduct works by composers Beat Furrer and Daniel Kidane. The concert will be streamed live at 7:30 p.m. EDT.
Honoring a century of music and celebrating the century to come
Join the Eastman School of Music on Thursday, April 29, at 7:30 p.m. EDT for an inspirational event that will showcase the Eastman School of Music’s distinguished history, talented faculty and students, and promising future. The celebration will feature remarks from President Sarah Mangelsdorf and Jamal Rossi, the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School, who will highlight the significance of this centennial year and campaign.
The evening will be streamed live and will also include the premiere of Festival Music written by Stephen Danyew ’10E (MM) and performed by the Eastman Wind Ensemble, led by Mark Scatterday ’89E (DMA). The Sequoia Reed Quintet—a vibrant, innovative, and classically inspired student chamber ensemble—will also perform. To learn more, visit the Eastman Centennial website. If you would like to receive a reminder the day of the event and an option to add this event to your calendar, register here.
'FeGenes' research study
Rochester is participating in a study with Cornell University to look at the genetics of iron status and absorption and is recruiting healthy adult men or women of East Asian or Northern European descent to participate. The study involves two visits to the University, two blood draws, consumption of a small amount of an iron supplement, genetic ancestry testing, and answering questions about your health and diet. Individuals that complete the study will receive an analysis of their genetic ancestry, two free meals, and a $20 gift card. If you are healthy, not pregnant or lactating, not a blood donor, between the ages of 18–50, and are interested in learning more, email FeGenesUofR@gmail.com or call (607) 279-0421.
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