Community Announcements

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Community Announcements

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Mail Services Information for Winter Recess

Dear Members of the HMS Community,

During the Harvard winter break, the HMS, NRB and HIM Shipping and Receiving Department will be staffed on:

  • Wednesday, December 24
  • Friday, December 26
  • Monday, December 29 through December 31 and
  • Friday, January 2 from 7:30 a.m. until noon

Deliveries will be made to labs and offices that are open. If you are expecting a delivery you may call the receiving department at 617-432-1718 for the Warren Alpert Building (WAB) or 617-432-2769 for NRB/HIM, to check on the status of your package.

Packages that are received but cannot be delivered will be held in the receiving area until delivery can be made on Monday, January 5, 2015. It is advised that perishable items should not be ordered if there will be no one available to receive them.

If you need additional assistance during the break please contact Jose Maldonado at 617-432-1513 for WAB and Jose Toledano at 617-432-6217 for NRB/HIM.

Thank you,
Devonne Countryman
Manager, Campus Operations

108th HMS/HSDM Second Year Sho: December 4, 5 and 6

Dear Members of the HMS Community,

The HMS/HSDM class of 2017 invites you to attend the 108th Second Year Show, “Thrush Hour: The Case of the Mismanaged Curriculum.”

Performances will take place on Dec. 4, 5 and 6, starting at 7:30 p.m., at the Mainstage Theater, Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury.

To purchase tickets and for additional information about the show visit http://secondyearshow.net/2014/.

We hope you will be able to attend and be a part of this Harvard tradition.

"Science Works" mini-symposium for HMS community: 11/18

Science Works because YOU do: Celebrating the efforts of staff in supporting the research mission of HMS

Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Cannon Room (Building C)

3:30 p.m. Mini-symposium on microbial research
4:30 p.m. Reception and refreshments

Moderator: Galit Lahav, PhD, associate professor of systems biology

Good bacteria and what they can do for you
Naama Geva-Zatorsky, PhD, research fellow, Kasper lab

Using bacteria as cheap diagnostics
Jordan Kerns, PhD, research fellow, Silver lab

Tracking the Ebola genome through the 2014 outbreak
Shirlee Wohl, PhD student, Sabeti lab

The entire HMS community is invited to attend these talks that will be geared toward a non-scientific audience.

Harvard Longwood Campus IT Day: 11/18

Please attend the second annual Harvard Longwood Campus IT Day

Date:

Tuesday, November 18

Time:

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location:

Joseph B. Martin Conference Center

Event Purpose:

Information technology is crucial to furthering the research and educational mission of all schools on the Harvard Longwood Campus. It is the foundation for all of our administrative processes. Each school has dedicated IT staff, but many talented individuals in science, education and administrative departments also assist with implementation, support, oversight and advanced use of information technologies as a significant part of their day-to-day job responsibilities. IT Day will bring these individuals together and encourage collaborations across HMS, HSDM and HSPH.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

  • Create opportunities for sharing knowledge through "Hot Topics" sessions
  • Learn about tools and technologies related to educational, academic and administrative systems
  • Investigate new collaborations among colleagues
  • Listen to keynote presentations about the impact of IT on research and education

Who Should Attend:

This event is open to IT/informatics staff and to any faculty, educator, or staff member at HMS, HSDM or HSPH involved in or interested in the deployment and use of computational solutions.

For more information, please visit: http://hms.harvard.edu/harvard-longwood-campus-it-day-november-18-2014.

Learn more about mobile phone plan discounts for Harvard employees

Did you know you can get a discount on your mobile phone plan as a Harvard employee?

Please join members of the Harvard Longwood community at a Vendor Fair to learn more about the multiple plans that are available. All Harvard employees are eligible for discounts on personal mobile phone plans and the vendors at the fair can help you choose the right plan for you.

November 12, 2014
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Courtyard Cafe
Warren Alpert Building

Vendors will include:

  • AT&T
  • Sprint
  • T-Mobile
  • Verizon Wireless

Representatives from these vendors will be available to discuss phone and monthly plan options. A representative from HUIT will also be available to answer questions.

What to bring:

Please bring your Harvard ID, Harvard email address and most recent paycheck to the Vendor Fair. You can view and print your most recent paycheck online through PeopleSoft.

If you want to enroll in a new mobile plan or make changes to an existing plan, please be sure you are a named and authorized account holder.

New Transit Gallery Exhibit: October 1-December 1

Members of the HMS community are invited to visit Gordon Hall's Transit Gallery to view a new exhibit, Traveling in Place, featuring the work of David Palmquist. This exhibit will be on display from October 1 through December 1.

All are invited to attend an informal talk with the artist on October 15.

Artist Talk
Wednesday, October 15
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Goldenson 122

A reception in the Transit Gallery will follow the talk.

This event is sponsored by the HMS Office of Human Resources. For more information about David Palmquist, please visit http://www.spraylux.com/.

The Transit Gallery, located in Gordon Hall's lower level corridor, showcases professional artists in the Harvard and greater Boston communities whose works use, explore or are otherwise connected to the sciences.

To learn more about the Transit Gallery and its exhibits, please visit http://hms.harvard.edu/humanresources/community-activities/transit-gallery.

LMA Traffic Advisory: Boston Red Sox day game traffic, April - September 2014

Dear Members of the HMS Community:

Please be advised that starting on Friday, April 4, the Boston Red Sox will begin their 2014 season at Fenway Park. We anticipate increased traffic volume during evening rush hour as fans leave the park after a day game and as they arrive to the park prior to a night game. Please plan accordingly.

For MASCO Parking and MASCO Shuttles information, please visit: http://www.masco.org/directions/fenway-combined-shuttle

For MBTA information, please visit: www.mbta.com

Red Sox weekday day games are listed below:

Friday, April 4, 2:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8, 6:10 p.m.
Wednesday, April 9, 4:05 p.m.
Monday, April 21, 11:05 a.m. (Patriots' Day)
Thursday, May 22, 4:05 p.m.
Wednesday, June 18, 1:35 p.m.
Friday, July 4, 1:35 p.m. (Independence Day)
Thursday, July 10, 4:05 p.m.
Wednesday, September 10, 1:35 p.m.

Schedule is subject to change. For the complete Red Sox schedule and updates, please visit: www.redsox.com.

Please call the MASCO Customer Service Line at (617) 632-2800, if you have questions. Thank you for your understanding.

Sustainability at HMS: new communications resources, events and campaigns

Communications/Outreach Resources:

Videos and gifs promoting best green lab practices and featuring HMS's researchers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzRFGHtx6t0&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvYl0sWEtxM&feature=youtu.be

Upcoming Campaigns:

April:

Stirling Freezer Incentive Lottery: a one-time $3,000 incentive toward a purchase of a new ultra-cold Stirling unit.
Outreach about Best Green Labs Practices with weekly green tips displayed on screens across all Longwood
Reuse List/Green Room participation challenge

May-June:

Freezer De-icing challenge

Upcoming Events:

EcoOpportunity’s Sustainability Fair
Thursday April 24
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Kresge Cafeteria

The goals of the Fair are to highlight green local organizations, teach our community about environmental issues, encourage sustainable behavior and promote the work of EcoOpportunity. Confirmed exhibitors include Best Bees, The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Bikes Not Bombs, Greenovate (the mayor’s umbrella sustainability initiative for the City of Boston), Bootstrap Compost and Next Step Living/Renew Boston.

HMS Freecycling & Earth Fair
Thursday, April 24
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Courtyard Cafe April 24

The Fair will feature HMS' key green vendor partners, including WB Mason, Poland Spring and VWR who will promote their sustainable offerings. There will also be a centralized Freecycle drop-off location in the Cafe for any offices and labs that are planning their spring clean outs.

Bike Fair
May 6
HMS Quad

CPR/AED Certification Classes Offered at HMS

Dear Members of the HMS Community,

HMS Security & Emergency Preparedness will be offering Adult CPR and AED Training to interested members of the HMS community.

Bill DeSimone, a member of our security management team and certified American Red Cross Instructor, will run the training. These classes will be held on the HMS campus during the dates and times below. There is no cost to the individual or to the department. Each class lasts three hours and you only need to attend one to receive certification. Light refreshments will be served.

To register for one of the training classes, please contact Bill DeSimone at William_desimone@hms.harvard.edu.

  • Thursday, March 20, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – NRB Joseph B. Martin Conference Center Room 216
  • Thursday, April 3, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. – NRB Joseph B. Martin Conference Center Room 216
  • Thursday, April 10, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – NRB Joseph B. Martin Conference Center Room 216

These classes will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. If you are interested, please send in your request early since each class will be limited to 10 people. Depending on demand, we will arrange for additional classes during the spring and summer.

Thank you,
Rob Dickson
Director of Campus Security & Emergency Preparedness
Harvard Medical School

Important Safety Presentation: Responding in a Crisis

Dear Members of the Longwood Community,

In a continuing effort to mitigate potentially threatening situations, the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) is working closely with the Harvard schools on a variety of safety and awareness programs. In an abundance of caution, one training session will offer members of the Harvard community guidance on how to respond to an active shooter incident on campus. While these situations are unpredictable, there are recommended steps that can help people protect themselves until first responders arrive.

To learn about these steps, we encourage you to attend one of the following presentations by HUPD on active shooter protocols.

  • Monday, January 27, 2014, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., HSPH Kresge G-1
  • Tuesday, February 11, 2014, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., HMS Armenise Amphitheater, Building D
  • Monday, February 24, 2014, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., HSPH Kresge G-1
  • Monday, March 24, 2014, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., HSDM REB Auditorium
  • Monday, April 28, 2014, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m., HSPH Kresge G-1
  • Monday, May 19, 2014, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m., HMS Armenise Amphitheater, Building D

Your safety is our foremost concern, and we thank you in advance for taking time to increase your awareness of how to respond in a potentially life-threatening situation. We welcome any questions. Contact Rob Dickson at Robert_Dickson@hms.harvard.edu or 617-432-6119.

Thank you,

Charles Frizzell
Dean for Administration and Finance, Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Ken Wenger
Senior Director of Operations, Harvard School of Public Health

Rob Dickson
Director of Security and Emergency Preparedness, Harvard Medical School

LMA Construction Advisory: Callahan Tunnel Project, 12/27/13

Please be advised that on or about December 27, 2013, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will begin major construction activity on the Callahan Tunnel, which connects Boston’s North End to Logan International Airport and Route 1A to East Boston. This thirteen month project will rehabilitate the tunnel decks, curbing and wall panels which have been severely deteriorating over the years. During the work, both lanes of the Callahan Tunnel will be closed to all vehicular traffic 24/7 for approximately two-and-a-half months. Immediately after the two-and-a-half month full closure, the Callahan Tunnel will be closed nightly from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for an additional four+ months. MassDOT is currently working on the detour plans to divert vehicles to the alternate airport and 1A routes. We will share this information once it becomes available.

For more information on the project, including traffic management plans and detour information, visit the website at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/HighlightedProjects/CallahanTunnelRehabilitationProject.aspx.

To submit questions and concerns or to request additional information, please contact callahan.tunnel@state.ma.us.

Weigh in on the HMS Master Plan

HMS is developing a comprehensive master plan to guide capital planning strategy, and we need your help. A new website gives you a forum to share your ideas and join the conversation about the future of the School.

The input you and other stakeholders contribute will enable us to better plan for the future of education, research, collaboration, socialization and transportation. For example, we want to hear your thoughts about daily life on campus and how housing can be improved. We also want your ideas about how the School can be even more socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.

Log on to this new site at any time from your computer, tablet or smartphone. Simply sign up for an account by visiting http://hmsmasterplan.mindmixer.com/ using Facebook, LinkedIn, Google or your email address.

Voicing your preferences is as simple as clicking a button. You also may leave comments to spark discussion on any topic. You can complete the survey over a period of time, revisiting the site as your time allows as often as you wish.

Topics on which we invite you to weigh in include:

  • Collaboration
  • Education
  • Research
  • Transportation
  • Housing
  • Amenities
  • Sustainability

What are you waiting for? Begin sharing your opinions today and help shape the future of the Harvard Medical School.

Sincerely,
Rick Shea
Associate Dean for Campus Planning and Facilities
Harvard Medical School

Announcing a new HMS leadership position: Dean for External Education

Dear Members of the HMS Faculty,

I am pleased to announce the creation of a new HMS faculty leadership position—the dean for external education.

In recent months, I have spoken with many members of our faculty about the future of HMS at this particularly complicated juncture, one that challenges us to be inventive and to embrace ideas for new programs that will advance our shared mission while providing new sources of revenue to support these efforts. I have been inspired by the quality of these discussions, which have helped identify many promising areas of opportunity, including those for innovative expansion of our educational reach. The outstanding talent and unparalleled excellence of our faculty have made HMS an unquestioned leader in medical and graduate education. Now we are poised to further harness these assets by expanding our existing educational programs and creating new externally directed programs that will bring the trusted voice of HMS to learners throughout the world.

The new dean for external education will lead our effort to design, develop and implement new non-degree conferring educational programming and products; he or she will also be responsible for overseeing, enhancing and energizing our existing strong activities in continuing medical education and health publications.

Working closely with senior HMS academic and administrative leadership and reporting to me, the dean for external education will develop a strategic and operational plan for external education that will achieve academic and financial objectives fully aligned with and supportive of the mission of HMS. A position description is attached.

I invite your feedback and welcome your recommendations for candidates who might be suited for this important new position. Please send your comments and recommendations by December 18, 2013, to:

Susan Dale
Chief of Staff
Harvard Medical School Dean's Office
Gordon Hall, 1st Floor
25 Shattuck St
Boston, MA 02115
susan_dale@hms.harvard.edu

Sincerely,

Jeffrey S. Flier, MD
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Harvard University

Introducing TechRefresh: Purchase your computing equipment with economy and speed

Harvard Medical School has launched TechRefresh, a new computing equipment lifecycle management program for HMS/HSDM staff and faculty that provides:

  • Lowered costs for computer equipment
  • Ease of purchasing
  • Speedier delivery
  • Lifecycle tracking
  • Loaner service
  • Improved support

For more information, including FAQs, purchasing guide and future TechRefresh enhancements, visit http://techrefresh.hms.harvard.edu.

For assistance selecting or ordering a computer, contact your departmental Client Services Representative, send an email to techrefresh@hms.harvard.edu or call the HMS IT Service Desk at 617-432-2000.

Thank you,
HMS Information Technology

New and Improved MASCO Construction Coordination Website

In an effort to make the construction coordination process easier, more efficient and user-friendly, MASCO has made some new and exciting upgrades to its construction activity reporting website. There is now a section that takes all of the reported construction activities and posts them on an easy to read calendar and map. The calendar will be updated daily and the map will be updated weekly. These new tools should aid in planning and scheduling your projects and inform you of what activities will be making an impact to your part of the neighborhood.

To view the new LMA construction activities webpage, please follow the link below:

http://www.masco.org/programs/lma-construction-activities

Announcing the new HMS Department of Neurosurgery

Dear Members of the Harvard Medical School Community,

I am thrilled to share with you the news that Harvard Medical School has recently established a new academic department—the HMS Department of Neurosurgery. The historic decision to develop neurosurgery into an academic department was driven in part by the knowledge that, as a discipline, neurosurgery is widely recognized as a specialty distinct from general surgery in terms of training programs, fellowships, and specialty boards specific to its own academic status.

HMS has played an important historical role in neurosurgery. Harvey Cushing, a brain-surgery pioneer and member of the HMS Class of 1895, founded the field a century ago while he was at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, now Brigham and Women's Hospital, which this year is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Cushing is widely considered the "father of modern neurosurgery."

This change in status to an appointing academic department was championed by the chiefs of neurosurgery at four of our affiliated hospitals. Three of our affiliates—Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's, and Massachusetts General Hospital—had housed hospital-based Departments of Neurosurgery, while Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center had organized neurosurgery as a division of its Department of Surgery. Until now, our chiefs of surgery have been managing HMS faculty appointments for neurosurgeons and neuroscientists through the departments of surgery.

This change brings a number of benefits, including more direct oversight of faculty promotions and an increased capability to recruit faculty. It also creates an important entity aligned with peer institutions.

The new HMS Department of Neurosurgery will be governed by an executive committee led by Robert Martuza, the William and Elizabeth Sweet Professor of Neuroscience at HMS and chief of Mass General's Department of Neurosurgery. Dr. Martuza will serve a three-year term as the inaugural chair of the committee.

Many people throughout HMS have worked tirelessly to make this happen. I would like to thank all involved for their efforts and dedication, particularly the CEOs of the affected hospitals, our chiefs of surgery, Nancy Tarbell, our dean for academic and clinical affairs, and Maureen Connelly, our dean for faculty affairs.

Please join me in congratulating our colleagues in the new Department of Neurosurgery.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey S. Flier, MD
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Harvard University

Mini-Symposium Celebrates Efforts of HMS Staff in Supporting Research

Dear Members of the HMS Community,

Following last summer’s popular mini-symposium held in honor of Rick Mills, the Office for Academic and Clinical Affairs and the Basic Science Administrators Group will be co-sponsoring a semi-annual mini-symposium to demonstrate staff support for the HMS scientists. This upcoming mini-symposium is devoted to cancer research.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013
3:30 p.m. Mini-symposium in Cannon Room (Building C)
4:30 p.m. Reception and refreshments

The mini-symposium will feature the following brief scientific presentations:

Breast cancer beyond the tumor cells
Jason Zoeller, PhD, Department of Cell Biology

Viruses and Cancer: Understanding how Human Papillomaviruses Cause Disease
Elizabeth White, PhD, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology

Watching broken DNA molecules get repaired
Thomas Graham, BS, MPhil, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology

The entire HMS community is invited to attend these talks that will be geared toward a non-scientific audience.

HMS Employee Wins MASCO Campaign

After seven months and more than 2,050 signed pledges, MASCO pulled the names for the winners of the Karma Commuting Campaign.

Harvard Medical School's Senior Grant Manager Ashley Congdon won one of the $100.00 Visa gift cards. 

Read more here.

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New Audio and Web Video Conferencing Resource

Harvard Medical School has a new audio and web video conferencing resource just for you!

HMS is launching Lync, a tool that allows you to text chat, talk to people using voice and even have face-to-face meetings with your webcam. Lync enables virtual online meetings by enabling screen sharing, electronic file sharing and even online polling.

Do you want to have the ability to attend meetings you are unable to make in person or when a conference room is unavailable? Then learn more and download the application here.

Lync’s features enable you to…

· Connect from any device. Use your computer, smartphone or tablet anywhere a web connection is available.
· See your audience. View all attendees equipped with a web camera.
· Check availability. Foster collaboration by giving your co-workers an at-a-glance status of your availability and start an exchange with one click.
· Share documents with others in real time. Review content while in the meeting with drag-and-drop ease.

HMS IT invites you to give Lync a try and share your feedback with our Client Services team. Feel free to contact us at 617-432-2000, help_desk@hms.harvard.edu or even through Lync!

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Traffic Advisory: One-way Brookline Ave. to begin 9/23

Please be aware that a section of Brookline Avenue will be one-way starting on Monday, September 23, as part of the Muddy River project. Brookline Avenue will become one-way inbound between the Riverway Connector and Park Drive. Please plan accordingly.

For more details, please visit http://www.masco.org/list/alert.

Karma Commuting

Whether you ride public transit, cycle, drive or walk to HMS, you have no doubt faced traffic jams, competed for parking or waited for what feels like forever to cross the street during rush hour in the LMA.

The LMA is home to a vibrant community of staff members, physicians, teachers and patients who travel to and from the area each day, and each of us has a part to play in making sure that members of our community arrive at their destination safely.

That’s where Karma Commuting comes in.

MASCO, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing Boston’s Longwood Medical and Academic area for the benefit of those who live, work, study or receive care in the area, has launched a new campaign to educate and inspire commuters to create good karma by acting responsibly in traffic and watching out for their fellow community members.
What goes around, comes around.

Want to participate? Take the Rules of the Road Quiz and Safe Commuting Pledge and win airline tickets or a $100 American Express gift card.

To learn more about the campaign, road rules and safe commuting tips, please visit: http://www.masco.org/directions/karma-commuting.

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2014

White Coat Day

Incoming HMS and HSDM students accept
their white coats, joining a “tradition of service."

View the photo gallery

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Editorial Staff

Editor: Katie DuBoff
Assistant Editor: Angela Alberti
Contributors: Shannon Patterson, Chelsea Keyes, Linda Miklas, Tania Rodriguez, Susan Vomacka