| Reminder: Return to Work Takes Effect Tuesday, July 6 | First, we’d like to reiterate how proud we are of how swiftly our group in the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics responded when, almost a year and a half ago, we sent many of our employees to transition to working from home. Our team responded promptly and effectively to the change, and we were largely able to continue accomplishing our work as we navigated through the pandemic together.
As you know, we have continued to vigilantly monitor the number of COVID cases in our hospital and among staff, and due to the large majority of our employees electing to be fully vaccinated, illness among our staff and faculty has continued to decline. We remain committed that all employees who want to participate in our COVID-19 vaccination program will have been offered an opportunity to do so before July 6.
Returning to our pre-pandemic practice of working in person will also put us in a better position to evaluate the potential for long-term remote work arrangements. These arrangements will be thoroughly reviewed and developed institutionally after everyone is back on site to ensure the proper considerations are made for all UI Health Care employees and those we serve, and we will continue to communicate these arrangements as we learn of them.
If you have any questions about returning to the workplace, please refer to The Loop COVID-19 Hub for frequently asked questions and answers. If you have questions related to your personal circumstances, please work with your supervisor or human resources.
We look forward seeing all team members in person again. | | | | Celebrate Your Colleagues Work anniversaries
- Rupasree Srikantha, division of Medical Genetics & Genomics, celebrated 30 years on Jun 15.
- Taylor Warner, division of Medical Genetics & Genomics, celebrated 5 years on June 20.
- Seth Garton, division of Cardiology, celebrates 5 years on June 22.
- Amy Calhoun, division of Medical Genetics & Genomics, celebrates 5 years on June 30.
- Rami Boutros, division of General Pediatrics, celebrates 10 years on June 30.
Patient Comments
"We drive five hours from Kansas City to be a patient of Dr. O'Dorisio. She is the best doctor for the PNet cancer we battle. Dr. O'Dorisio is so kind and gentle, I can't imagine any better. She is super smart! But does NOT talk over our heads."
"Dr. Hong is a lifesaver and possibly a goddess. I've never had a more respectful or helpful care provider in my life, and with nearly 20 years of chronic illness, I've seen a LOT of care providers."
Please check out the available open positions within the Department and feel free to share these opportunities with anyone who may be interested. | | | Pediatrics Leadership Announcement We are pleased to announce that Jean Prahm, MHA, has accepted the position of Assistant Clinical Department Administrator in the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics. Her first day in the Department will be on Monday, July 12, 2021.
Jean has been a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives since 2015, and has worked extensively with the University of Iowa Physicians (UIP) group since obtaining her Master’s in Health Administration (MHA) in 2017. Most recently, Jean served as an Associate Administrative Director in UIP where she supported the business functions of the UIP and the Patient Access Center (PAC) including financial management, data analysis and human resources. Jean’s prior leadership, project management and healthcare experience have prepared her well for this role and we are excited to have her join our team. She is also an acting Assistant Professor with the University of Iowa College of Public Health, leading a graduate-level course in professional development.
Jean has been awarded many honors, including representing the United States of America two times at the Olympic Winter Games in the sport of Bobsled. Additionally, she currently sits on the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation board of directors.
Please join us in welcoming Jean to our Department! | | | | Every year, June 19 is celebrated as “Juneteenth,” in honor of one of the final acts of emancipation of slaves in the United States. Juneteenth traces its origins back to Galveston, TX, where on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major Gen. Gordon Granger, landed in the city with news that the Civil War had ended and slaves were now free. The announcement came two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 that had ended slavery in the U.S. However, since that proclamation was made during the Civil War, it was ignored by Confederate states and it wasn’t until the end of the war that the Executive Order was enforced in the South. This day is also known as African American Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.
Last week, President Joe Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a Federal holiday. While this is good news, let us not forget the issues that still plague African Americans (e.g., voter suppression, health care disparities, over and under policing of Black communities). I hope that we can continue to work on solutions to solving these inequities.
Here is a short video that the Washington Post distributed last year discussing the roots of Juneteenth. I encourage you to watch it. I am also providing a link by CCOM's DEI office where you can go to learn more about Juneteenth Day.
Sincerely,
Joyce Goins-Fernandez, PhD
Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Stead Family Department of Pediatrics | | |
For those participating in Burst Your Thirst: registration has closed for this challenge. If you are part of a team, remember these helpful tips:
- If you have a FitBit or track your movement with UnderArmour, you can connect your dashboard to this device for seamless logging.
- Your team captain can also help by logging your water intake and activity minutes for you!
Watch for more information about the following virtual events that the Pediatrics Wellness Ambassadors will be leading on site and via Zoom, where able (and email Claire McGranahan if you'd like to participate):
- July 12 to July 16: Virtual Fitness Walk: Join your colleagues for a 30-minute, outdoor walk around campus.
- June 16 to June 23 and July 14 to July 21: Learn and Earns: Grab your lunch and join your colleagues for a health-focused webinar.
And, a reminder that volunteering will earn the institution some extra points. To be available to volunteer, you must have answered ‘yes’ to ‘interested in volunteering to earn company points?’ in your Corridor Corporate Games account.
You can still register to join the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics in participating in the Games! To participate, register on the CCG website using our company code, CCGUOFI. We will continue to promote the Games in Peds Express through the end of July. FAQs about the Games may be found here. | | | | Events Faculty Meeting
Normally the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Mondays of the month, from 12-1 p.m. As of June 21, this meeting may be attended in person or via Zoom. Lunch will be provided for those joining in person.
Frontiers in Pediatric Research Lectures
- No Frontiers until September 2021.
Grand Rounds
- No Grand Rounds until September 2021.
Chair’s Rounds
Fourth Tuesday of every rotation, 12:15-1:00 p.m. Residents present recent interesting clinical care cases to review and receive feedback from faculty. All faculty regardless of specialty are encouraged to attend. Chair's Rounds have resumed meeting in person; lunch is provided.
K Club
- No K Club in June or July.
| | | Association of Pediatric Program Directors Appointment Erin Howe, MD, has been elected to a regional officer position in the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD). She will serve as the Midwest Region Associate Program Director Chair. In addition to this regional representation, she will also sit on the national committees to make recommendations to the board and leaders representing all residency and fellowship program directors in the country.
From our Education office, Eyad Hanna, MD, MME, served in this role prior to Dr. Howe's appointment, and Jo Leyden-Schevers currently represents the midwest region in the APPD Coordinator role. Amy Stier, MD, MME, says of the news, "Our team is working hard to build and maintain our national reputation!" | | | | APP Corner Diana Knoedel is Retiring
Join us tomorrow, Tuesday, June 22, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the Zellweger Conference Room (BT 2001) to celebrate Diana. Remarks will begin at 2:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend!
Patient Comments
Regarding the nurses and assistants in the PSC: "We've had nothing but wonderful experiences with everyone in the department, both the eye clinic and the peds clinic."
"Julie Osterhaus is very good at her job! Very knowledgeable. [She] listens and tries to find answers."
"The staff in SFCH LL2 were amazing when our son had his procedure. They made him feel so comfortable and explained everything so he would understand. They were phenomenal making my 5 year old not afraid heading into surgery. Cannot thank them enough." | | | University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is listed among the nation’s best in five pediatric specialties in the 2021-22 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings published online on June 15, 2021 by U.S. News & World Report.
UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital—Iowa’s only nationally ranked children’s hospital—ranked in the following areas:
- 25 in Neonatology
- 35 in Pediatric Orthopedics
- 41 in Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology
- 42 in Pediatric Nephrology
- 50 in Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery
| | | | Baby Brody Brody Robert Romoser was born May 27th. He is 7lb 14oz and 20.5 inches.
Brody was welcomed home by proud parents Shelby and Tyler Romoser, and big sister, Ava.
"We are so in love with him! Everyone is doing very well and soaking up his snuggles." | | | Baby Jack Cam and Christina welcomed Jack Leichty Michels on 5/7/21, weighing 6 lbs 15 oz and measuring 20 inches, "and we are delighted!" | | | Congratulations to our Graduates! | 
2021 Resident Graduates
2021 Fellow Graduates | | | |
