Four new positive cases of COVID-19

Lorraine Porcello receives 2021 Messinger Award

Lorraine Porcello, the evidence-based practice and instruction librarian at the Medical Center, was the unanimous choice for the 2021 Martin E. Messinger Libraries Recognition Award. Porcello is the 11th recipient of the annual award, which honors contributions that advance the educational mission of the library or the library profession.

Fourteen College students honored with O’Brien Book Award

Fourteen sophomores in Arts, Sciences & Engineering were recently honored with the Suzanne J. O’Brien Book Award, recognizing scholarly achievement, humanistic values, cocurricular activity, and leadership potential during their first year at the College.

Holiday hours for Strong Memorial Hospital cashiers office

The Strong Memorial Hospital cashiers office will be closed November 25 and 26 for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Even in a safe environment, people with anxiety may feel threatened

The Hill, November 22

“These findings tell us that anxiety disorders might be more than a lack of awareness of the environment or ignorance of safety, but rather that individuals suffering from an anxiety disorder cannot control their feelings and behavior even if they wanted to,” says Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez, an assistant professor of neuroscience. “The patients with an anxiety disorder could rationally say—I’m in a safe space—but we found their brain was behaving as if it was not.”

Apply for the 2022 University Research Awards

The request for proposal and application are now available for the University Research Awards, providing seed money on a competitive basis for innovative research projects.

Applications are sought from faculty across the University, and funding is awarded to recipients who demonstrate their projects, when sufficiently developed, are likely to attract external support. Applications for planning grants are also encouraged. A review committee of faculty from across the University provides peer review of the applications.

The fund has been increased from $500,000 annually to $1 million, with half of the funding coming from the President’s Fund and the rest being matched by the various schools whose faculty members are recipients.

Applications must be received by 5 p.m. EST on January 31. Late submissions or revisions will not be accepted. Selected applicants may be asked to present their research project to the executive research committee prior to the final award decisions, which will be announced in mid-May. Recipients of this award are required to peer review future University Research Award proposals.

Email completed applications to Adele Coelho.

Tickets on sale for International Theatre Program production

The International Theatre Program presents Aaron Posner’s Stupid F***ing Bird December 2–11. Tickets can be purchased here. Proof of vaccination is required at the door for all non-University faculty, staff, and students. All audience members must be masked at all times, and audiences will be seated with regular seat spacing.

Cleveland Quartet reunion at the Eastman School of Music

The Cleveland Quartet, Eastman’s quartet-in-residence from 1976 to 1995, will reunite at the Eastman School of Music in April as part of the James E. Clark Chamber Music Residency, taking place April 1–3. All events that are part of the residency are open to the public. Learn more.

‘Commit to Quit’ with new group smoking cessation program

Are you or someone you care about trying to quit smoking? The Center for Community Health & Prevention’s new virtual “Commit to Quit!” group program could be the right fit. Led by trained lifestyle counselors and smoking cessation experts, the free six-session program provides an interactive and encouraging environment designed to support participants on their quit journeys. The first 60-minute session kicks off at 4 p.m. EST on Thursday, January 13. Learn more and register.

Several women from Fairport’s Legends at Whitney Senior Apartment Community were among the first to donate hand-sewn face masks to the Medical Center back in March 2020. That chance encounter in the earliest days of the pandemic led to the group contributing to the long-running “teddy bears initiative,” which provides comfort and support to pediatric patients throughout Strong Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital. As of today, they have hand sewn, finished, and donated more than 3,000 teddy bears to Friends of Strong in just over a year.

• Dr. Chat Bot: Non–Medical Center faculty, staff, and all students | Medical Center employees
• COVID-19 Resource Center | Medical Center’s COVID-19 update page
• Current campus face mask policies
• Faculty and staff vaccine participation form (VPN or on-campus network connection required)
• FAQ on COVID-19 vaccination
• What to do if you or your close contacts have symptoms or have been exposed