Aug. 16 - New UCI Podcast, mandatory training for all employees
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Gillespie Hall in the College of Health Sciences catches the afternoon sun. Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
Mandatory training for all employees
Reminder: All faculty and staff are required to view a training video titled “COVID-19 Employee Training,” which explains what COVID-19 is, how it is transmitted, the steps the campus is taking to reduce potential exposure, and how you can protect yourself and others. This training is required by Cal/OSHA and the California Department of Public Health. Even if you will continue to work remotely, but may need to come to campus occasionally, you must complete this training. If you haven’t already taken it, the training module is available through the UC Learning Center and can be searched by title using the “Find a Course” function.
UCI Podcast: Solutions that scale
James Bullock, dean of UCI’s School of Physical Sciences, was one of the earliest proponents of a multidisciplinary initiative called Solutions That Scale. The project was created to bring together researchers from nearly every academic unit on campus to come up with ways to mitigate the effects of climate change. In this episode of the UCI Podcast, Dean Bullock discusses the origin of Solutions That Scale, what its researchers are doing now, and what they plan to do in the future.
Precision health perspectives
In February, UCI launched the Institute for Precision Health, a campuswide, interdisciplinary endeavor that merges UCI’s powerhouse health sciences, engineering, machine learning, artificial intelligence, clinical genomics and data science capabilities. The objective is to identify, create and deliver the most effective health and wellness strategy for each individual and, in doing so, confront the linked challenges of health equity and the high cost of care. Dr. Peter Chang is co-director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostic Medicine and assistant professor-in-residence in radiological sciences in the School of Medicine. Here, he discusses the promise of AI and what he sees for the Institute for Precision Health’s future.
Curing Cushing’s disease without scars
A lifelong athlete, Carolyn Tormey ran track and studied ballet as a teenager. In her 40s, she took up dressage; in her 50s, she turned to boxing, teaching Zumba and competing in triathlons. In 2019, everything changed. The Yorba Linda resident’s energy began to flag so much she would retreat to her car to rest mid-grocery shopping. She gained 45 pounds despite eating healthy and working out at least two hours a day. A rare endocrine condition called Cushing’s disease, which causes the body to overproduce cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone, was diagnosed and treated by UCI Health. This under-recognized condition affects at least 10 million people a year. “I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I wouldn’t be here if not for the doctors at UCI Health,” Tormey says.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
Americans less optimistic about COVID situation
Americans remain more optimistic than pessimistic about the coronavirus situation in the U.S., but substantially fewer express optimism than did so this spring. Gallup's latest COVID-19 survey finds 41% of U.S. adults saying the COVID-19 situation is getting better, down from 63% in late April and early May. Thirty percent, up from 15%, say the situation is getting worse, while 29% believe it is staying the same.
EVENTS
Women in Technology Inclusive Networking Kickoff Session
Thursday, 4 p.m. (sponsored by Women in Technology at UCI)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
Opinion: The Least Effective Minimum-Wage Hike
The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 15
Cited: David Neumark, Distinguished Professor of economics
Expert: Pharmacies Serving as Extenders for Opioid Treatment Programs May Help Significantly Decrease Deaths From Opioid Use Disorder
Pharmacy Times (video), Aug. 16
Guest: Jonathan Watanabe, professor of clinical pharmacy and associate dean of assessment and quality at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
90% of People Who Lose Sense of Smell or Taste from COVID-19 Regain It Within 2 Years
Healthline, Aug. 10
Cited: Vanessa Wu, UCI Health COVID-19 Recovery Service
#UCICONNECTED
UCI Women’s Soccer @UCIwsoc tweets: “Expectations are set! The Anteaters are picked to repeat as Big West Champions! Time to go make that happen.”
UCI women’s soccer hosts the 2022 home opener against Cal this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Anteater Stadium.