Study of formula purchases in the US calls labeling practices into question

A new study led by Bridget Young, an assistant professor of pediatrics and of public health sciences, shows that a majority of infant formula sold in the United States is lactose-reduced despite not being medically necessary for most families. The sugars found in lactose-reduced infant formula are associated with higher risks of obesity, changes in the microbiome, and formulation of biofilms on teeth.

Robert Freeman, former director of Eastman School of Music, remembered

Robert Freeman, director of the Eastman School of Music from 1972 to 1996, is remembered for overseeing a major expansion at the school and increasing the national and international exposure of several performing groups. University flags on the Eastman Quadrangle and near the entrance of Strong Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department will be lowered on Thursday, November 10, for Freeman, who died on October 18.

RSV, other viruses making it hard to find a bed in children’s hospitals

The Washington Post, October 21

Elizabeth Murray, an assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine and of clinical pediatrics, says her hospital is seeing between 20 and 30 more patients a day because of the crush of respiratory illnesses. About a fifth of patients has RSV. Some are staying in the emergency department or post-surgical areas instead of getting a traditional room because the hospital is getting full. “We have to use spaces a little more creatively,” she says.

Volunteer opportunities with the Susan B. Anthony Center

The Susan B. Anthony Center ambassadors program has organized two upcoming volunteer opportunities for students. On Saturday, October 29, from noon to 4 p.m. volunteers will be working on an emergency shelter that will be opening the following week at Brightstar Community, a local community service organization. Tasks include painting, yard cleanup, cleaning, and furniture moving. On Saturday, November 5, volunteers will be involved in raking leaves and general outside clean up at Cancer Support Community Rochester from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Transportation can be provided to any University student who needs a ride there and back. Send an email by Wednesday, October 26, to volunteer on October 29, and by Wednesday, November 2, if you can volunteer on November 5. Include your name, email, phone number, class year, and if you’ll need transportation, and specify which volunteer date you would like to be registered for. If you sign up for a volunteer opportunity, it is expected you will attend to help the entire time.

Event highlights safe-sex resources

Join the UHS Health Promotion Office for the annual “Sex and Chocolate Carnival” on Monday, October 31, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Hirst Lounge, Wilson Commons. Celebrate Halloween with candy, safer-sex supplies, giveaways, raffles, and Insomnia Cookies for the first 100 attendees. Organizations represented will include Planned Parenthood, the Title IX Office, Pride Network, RESTORE, MOCHA, and more.

Webinar on relating to your advisor

The advisor-student relationship is often long-term and can be a source of support and stress. Attend a confidential webinar on Tuesday, November 8, from noon to 12:50 p.m. EST via Zoom led by University Counseling Center predoctoral interns to learn about interpersonal effectiveness skills that can help you identify what you need from your advisor and get your needs met without compromising your goals, the relationship, or your self-respect. This webinar is open to all University graduate students and is offered by University Counseling Center, the Health Promotion Office’s Graduate Student Wellness Committee, and the Office for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Affairs. Registration is required.

Apply by November 1 to advance your nursing career

New survey tool available to faculty, staff, and students

Qualtrics XM is a web-based survey tool available to University faculty, staff, and students at no cost. Similar to Survey Monkey, the user-friendly collaboration tool gives individuals the opportunity to build, distribute, and analyze online surveys while providing other features for market research. Visit University IT’s Qualtrics page for more information, training, and access to the Qualtrics portal.

Spoken word, poetry reading with José Olivarez

Poet and spoken word artist José Olivarez will speak on Wednesday, October 26, at 6 p.m. in the Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library. Olivarez’s debut book of poems, Citizen Illegal, was a finalist for the PEN/Jean Stein Award and a winner of the 2018 Chicago Review of Books Poetry Prize.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month panel discussion

The Title IX Office of the Institutional Office of Equity and Inclusion is hosting a Domestic Violence Awareness Month panel discussion today, October 25, from 7 to 8 p.m. in Hoyt Auditorium. Local experts will aim to address issues of relationship violence, both dating and domestic, while increasing awareness of the resources offered by community partners. Local groups will provide information at tables in the Hoyt Auditorium Atrium starting at 6:30 p.m. You can also grab some SWAG before the panel discussion. Find more information and register.

AAPI faculty panel discussion

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Trainee Support Committee will host a faculty panel discussion with professors of Indian heritage from noon to 1 p.m. EDT on Friday, October 28, via Zoom. The panel will discuss their experiences in academia including implicit bias, microaggression, and unequal treatment; what they recommend for AAPI trainees; what non-AAPI mentors and persons can do to support AAPI trainees; and Indian-specific matters that affect training. This discussion is open to the University community. Register in advance to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting. A video and summary of the committee’s first panel discussion are available here.

Anyone interested in learning more about AAPI stories can subscribe to an email listserv and receive a newsletter here. To join in efforts, complete this form.

LGBTQ leadership lecture

The Paul J. Burgett Intercultural Center presents the fall 2022 Lorri L. Jean and Darrel Cummings LGBTQ Leadership Lecture Series on Thursday, November 10, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. EST in-person in the Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library, and streamed live. Matt Foreman, senior program director of the LGBT Equality Program at the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund in San Francisco, will discuss his work. Register here.