Why you can still trust the Johnson and Johnson vaccine
After a thorough review, a panel of experts determined that the benefits of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine greatly outweigh its risks—especially for certain groups. “The bottom line is—this vaccine is still safe and has already saved many lives and will save many more,” says Ann Falsey, professor of medicine and infectious diseases and codirector of the Medical Center’s Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit. “The fact that we paused and examined this risk demonstrates the abundance of caution we take when we are studying and implementing new vaccines or therapies and shows that our safeguard systems work.”
In today’s issue:
The Medical Center is included in Forbes’ annual list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity”
Under new New York State legislation, employees who work in New York State can receive up to four hours of protected paid time off to receive the COVID-19 vaccine without having to use existing PTO, sick time, or vacation
Rachel Haidu, chair of the Department of Art and Art History, is this year’s recipient of the President’s Ferrari Humanities Research Award
Since Wednesday’s notice in @Rochester, there are two new cases of COVID-19 to report: one River Campus student and one employee. 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.
The Medical Center is included in Forbes’ annual list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity.” The list highlights 500 employers most identified by employees as being dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Those on the list have the most diverse boards, as well as the most proactive diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Art historian Rachel Haidu receives President’s Ferrari Humanities Research Award
Rachel Haidu, an associate professor of art history and chair of the Department of Art and Art History, is this year’s winner of the President’s Ferrari Humanities Research Award. President Sarah Mangelsdorf made the announcement yesterday as part of this year’s Ferrari Humanities Symposia, a spring event founded in 2012 by University of Rochester Trustee Bernard T. Ferrari ’70, ’74M (MD) and his wife, Linda Gaddis Ferrari. They created the annual award last year to recognize a creative research approach that either builds on previously published work or charts a new direction for a new publication. Haidu’s project, “Authority, Originality, Neither: Art as Pedagogy in the Former East,” focuses on how changes or loss of politico-economic structures are reflected or manifested in concepts of originality and authority and how this influences the remaking of infrastructure. The award promotes and supports humanities research among tenured and tenure-track faculty across Arts, Sciences & Engineering who are affiliated with the University’s Humanities Center.
Research funded to study efficacy of early visual training after stroke
A National Eye Institute-sponsored award will fund a clinical trial at the Flaum Eye Institute and Center for Visual Science. Patients who have recently suffered a stroke will participate in visual rehabilitation training, and a crossdepartmental team led by Krystel Huxlin, the James V. Aquavella, MD Professor in Ophthalmology, will assess how the potential to restore vision changes with time.
Today through Sunday, May 2, undergraduates in AS&E and at the Eastman School of Music can celebrate Springfest with a wide assortment of activities. Register on CCC for the limited edition giveaway and select events. Registration is not required for everything and students will be able to check in to join events in progress, space permitting. All activities will follow COVID-19 guidelines and require a green completed Dr. Chat Bot health screening for the day. Today’s events include:
Food Truck Fest tickets will be on sale from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the second floor of Wilson Commons. Use your declining or flex to purchase tickets to use at the food truck rodeo in Library Lot on Friday during Dandelion Day. You must use tickets to purchase items from the food trucks.
The University urges faculty and staff to take advantage of the COVID-19 vaccine. Under newly passed New York State legislation, employees who work in New York State can receive up to four hours of protected paid time off where time off from work is necessary to receive the vaccine without having to use their existing PTO, sick time, or vacation. At the University this includes staff, faculty, residents, fellows, postdoctoral appointees, Strong Staffing temporary employees, and student employees.
Employees must alert their managers and timekeepers in advance of their appointment and use the following time reporting codes for time away from work to receive a COVID-19 vaccine:
Employees can receive up to four hours of paid time off for each dose they require and receive during work hours, including any booster shots that become available. This time will be retroactive to any vaccines received on or after March 12, 2021, until December 31, 2022, and is in addition to the time granted by the University for those full-time and part-time employees experiencing severe side effects following their second dose.
The Finger Lakes COVID-19 Vaccine Hub is the best source of up-to-date information on vaccine clinics. The Medical Center also continues to make vaccine clinic appointments available to all University faculty, staff, and students. Visit the URMC COVID Clinic List to register.
Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence impact panel
Attend a panel discussion about the Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program. Past program hosts will discuss the benefits of hosting a visiting scholar and how an exchange can contribute to your institution’s internationalization efforts. The virtual panel takes place today, Thursday, April 29, at 2 p.m. EDT.
Take a defensive driving course
Are you looking to reduce the points on your license or reduce your insurance rate? Liberty Mutual is offering a defensive driving course to lower both at a reduced rate. This is available to all employees with a New York State license regardless of your insurance carrier. Visit the Total Rewards website to learn more or enroll now.
EAP newsletters available
There are many ways to stay up-to-date with resources from UR Medicine EAP. Sign up today for an employee or supervisor monthly newsletter.
The Clinical and Translational Science Institute supports a local registry of individuals who are interested in taking part in future research studies. If you are interested in being included on this list, researchers may contact you in the future to ask you to take part in a research study. If you are contacted, you can decide at that time whether or not you want to participate in the clinical study. Sign up here. You can also join a national registry called ResearchMatch.
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