UW Medicine

Please join us on May 24th for our Community Conversations webinar on Zoom to learn about cardiovascular risks in BIPOC communities.

We’re at the 2024 IARS & SOCCA Annual Meeting all weekend! Stop by our booth for swag and information about joining our team! International Anesthesia Research Society SOCIETY OF CRITICAL CARE ANESTHESIOLOGISTS

Congratulations to the 2024 UW Awards of Excellence recipients from UW Medicine who are being recognized for achievements in leadership, mentorship, community service and staff support. The awards honor outstanding alumni, faculty, staff, students and retirees who contribute to the richness and diversity of our University community. The awardees will be honored at a ceremony in Meany Hall on June 6th.

Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) provide life-altering treatment and support for patients through the entire continuum of care. They work in a variety of inpatient hospital settings as well as providing care in the outpatient or ambulatory setting. Their goal is to enhance access to care and to assist in reducing barriers to communication and participation. This can look like support in the areas of listening, talking, remembering, concentrating, coordinating and strengthening breathing, swallowing, voicing and much more! They focus on education along the way to encourage participation and engagement in all aspects of care. Some of the things that SLPs work with patients on include swallowing (Dysphagia), voice, head and neck cancer, cognition, adult language disorders, tracheostomy and ventilator care, and augmentative and alternative communication. National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, recognized throughout the month of May, provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) in providing life-altering treatment. Additionally, this month celebrates Audiologists who help identify and manage hearing loss. Audiologists help identify and manage hearing loss and make recommendations for improving hearing health and function, which can have a large impact on communication, social connection, and even cognition and falls. Show some love to our SLPs and Audiologists in the comments!

Five years in the making, the University of Washington, UW Medicine, and State of Washington have partnered to deliver the most state-of-the-art behavioral healthcare and behavioral health workforce training building in the country. The Center for Behavioral Health and Learning is a fully-integrated welcoming and healing environment for individuals struggling with serious physical and behavioral health problems. Today, we were joined by Governor Jay Inslee, State Representative Frank Chopp, State Senator Manka Dhingra, State Senator John Braun, Jane Hopkins (SEIU 1199 NW), UW President Ana Mari Cauce, Dr. Tim Dellit (Dean & CEO UW Medicine), Cindy Hecker (CEO of UW Medical Center) and Dr. Jürgen Unützer (Chair of Dept. of Psychiatry) for a ribbon cutting ceremony for this wonderful facility. "This is the place that will build the workforce that will serve all of Washington. And that in in particular is the thing I am probably the most proud of," Senator John Braun said at the event. "Yes, it will also serve patients here that perhaps can't be served other places, but it's that workforce that will come here from all parts of the state and go back to all parts of the state that will do the greatest good. And I'm super proud of that." "As a new home for our training programs, there will be the ideal setting to launch the careers of the next generation of behavioral health professionals, the physicians, the psychiatrist, the nurses, pharmacists, social workers, all members of the healthcare team will be trained here," Dr. Tim Dellit added.

Join us on May 20 from 2pm - 4pm at the Bellevue Botanical Garden for an upcoming seminar hosted by the UW Osher Center for Integrative Health, tailored specifically for caregivers in our community. In this free event, caregivers — individuals who provide care and support to those who may be ill, elderly, disabled, or in need of assistance with daily tasks — will learn practical strategies to navigate the challenges of providing care and support to their loved ones. Topics covered will include stress management, self-care practices, and holistic approaches to maintaining well-being while caring for others. This seminar features two engaging presentations: "Ancient Wisdom for Modern Caregiving," presented by Iman Majd MD, MS, EAMP/L.Ac, where timeless insights from global cultures will guide a caregiving journey, emphasizing the importance of diversity and knowing when to seek professional assistance; and "Improve Resilience with Nutrition," presented by Kelly Morrow, MS, RDN, FAND, offering practical strategies to boost resilience against stress and fatigue through simple dietary adjustments and informed food choices. Register for free here. https://lnkd.in/eEAkD3WD

Do you know the signs of Stroke? BE FAST is an easy way to remember the signs and symptoms. B: Balance. Sudden loss of coordination. E: Eyes. Vision loss or blurry/double vision. F: Face. Drooping or uneven. A: Arm. Weakness in arm or leg on one side of body. S: Speech. Difficulty speaking. T: Terrible Headache. Sudden onset. Every second counts when it comes to stroke - save this post and share this important information with others.

This past weekend, the Eagle's Spirit Totem Pole at UW Medical Center-Northwest was rededicated after being newly restored. Carved by world renowned Tsimshian artist David Boxley in memory of his sister-in-law, Cindy Sue James, who was a patient being treated for cancer at the Northwest campus, the Eagle’s Spirit Totem Pole honors Cindy Sue’s legacy and that of all cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. The Totem Pole holds deep personal and cultural significance from the bottom figure representing Cindy Sue herself, signature dimples and all, to the top where an Eagle sits representing the Eagle Clan of the Tsimshian people of Southeast Alaska.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Nora Disis, Director and Founder of the Cancer Vaccine Institute at the University of Washington, for being named 2024 UW Medicine Inventor of the Year! Dr. Disis is a trailblazer in the development of cancer vaccines. Her work has been translated to over 30 clinical trials and she holds multiple patents in the field of cancer vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics. "I am deeply honored to receive this award from my colleagues at UW Medicine. This recognition underscores the importance of translating research into impactful solutions for patients. My vision is to revolutionize how we treat and prevent cancers with cancer vaccines and immune therapies. I believe we can truly transform cancer care," she says.

This week during National Nurses Week, we have been highlighting UW Medicine Nurses that all graduated from, or are currently enrolled at, the University of Washington School of Nursing. Elise Blasco (She / Her), RN, CFRN, CEN, Assistant Director of Operations, Airlift Northwest, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2004): "I was one of eight UW School of Nursing students chosen to participate in the school’s first study abroad program. This experience fostered my love of travel and put me on track for my first job in nursing. After completing a semester in Thailand, I returned to Seattle, hooked on the field of international community medicine. After graduation, I first worked at a clinic for newly immigrated mothers and their babies. As a community health nurse, I focused on the planning and implementation of care for this vulnerable health population. I then worked in Central America, and when I returned to Seattle to work in an emergency department, I saw two nurses in blue flight suits transporting a patient. From that moment, I knew that I wanted to become a flight nurse for Airlift Northwest. I moved to Juneau, Alaska, for an Airlift position sight unseen. What initially drew me to medevac nursing was not only its autonomy but the knowledge required as a flight nurse. Like working in the ER, one must be confident working with patients of all ages and with multiple diagnoses. In time, I wanted to learn more about Airlift’s operations and business side. Now, as the assistant director of Operations, my job is to set my team and region (Alaska) up for success. This covers everything from hiring nurses to ordering medication to staffing to working with my executive team on Airlift’s strategic plan. I love that I get to use my brain in different ways." Marcos San Martin (He / Him), MBA, MN, RN, Nurse Manager, Orthopedic / Neurosurgery Unit , UW Medical Center – Northwest, Master of Nursing, School of Nursing & Health Studies (2019): "The UW School of Nursing has shaped me as a leader. The School of Nursing made learning interesting, helped me understand complex healthcare issues, and exposed me to well-informed discussions and formal research. Now, with that foundation, I develop solutions to the day-to-day issues we face in healthcare. Being at UW Medicine enhanced my ability to serve our patients and coworkers in any position I’ve held. This also gave me opportunities, including being accepted into the Master’s in Nursing program at the University of Washington and advancing my career objectives. UW is beyond a university, and UW Medicine is beyond a healthcare system." Thank you, Nurses, for your focus on evidence-based excellence and your dedication to improving the health of the public.