1. State of the University – TODAY, Thursday, October 14

Please join Chancellor Schwab TODAY, Thursday, October 14, at 12:00 pm CDT for his annual State of the University presentation.

This presentation will be held in the Mooney Library, room 201, with limited seating, and will be live streamed via Zoom.

2. Employees: Open Enrollment Ends Tomorrow, FSA Enrollment Ends October 31

Each year, annual enrollment is your chance to choose benefits or make changes that will be effective beginning January 1 through December 31. The annual enrollment period for UTHSC employees is October 1-15.

For information about your 2022 benefits choices, please see the Annual Enrollment for 2022 Benefits newsletter. Find full details, premium charts, and plan option comparison charts at https://www.tn.gov/partnersforhealth.

Employees – consider enrolling in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program, now through October 31. Read more about open enrollment for the FSA program on this Daily Digest post.

3. Free Flu Vaccinations – Monday, October 18

University Health Services and the College of Pharmacy's APhA-ASP and SNPhA student organizations will be providing FREE flu vaccinations to all UTHSC employees and students on Monday, October 18, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm at the Madison Plaza on the Memphis campus.

This flu vaccination clinic will be first come, first served. Additional dates may be added depending on the supply of vaccine. 

Flu vaccination is not required for the 2021–22 academic year, but vaccination is strongly recommended. However, some academic programs may require flu vaccination, so be sure to comply with all program-specific requirements. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted, the annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months and older with few exceptions. During flu season, flu vaccinations protect individuals, prevent additional stress on health care resources, and decrease the chances of a flu outbreak masking a COVID-19 outbreak.

Verification of vaccine administration will be provided during the visit. Please retain a copy of this form for your records, as proof of administration will not be readily available.

If you have any questions regarding the flu vaccine, please contact University Health Services at 901.448.5630.

4. COVID-19 Booster Vaccinations – October 19-21

Next week, University Health Services (UHS) will be providing free Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 BOOSTER vaccinations for faculty, staff, and students who received their initial COVID-19 doses at UHS and have an increased risk due to occupational or institutional settings on the Memphis campus.

Please check in on the first floor of the Madison Plaza. Booster doses will be given on:

• Tuesday, October 19: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Wednesday, October 20: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Thursday, October 21: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm

Please note:

• COVID-19 vaccination cards are required
• Only Pfizer-BioNTech booster doses will be offered
• Those eligible can only receive the Pfizer-BioNTech booster dose if at least 6 months past the Pfizer-BioNTech primary vaccination series
• No appointments – walk-ins only with a limited supply to first come, first served

Here are the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on who is eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot. Here is the CDC’s Statement on Booster Recommendations.

If you have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19, please use the VaccineFinder website to locate COVID-19 vaccines available near you.

Please contact University Health Services at 901.448.5630 if you have any questions about COVID-19 vaccinations or the booster shot.

5. Nominate Students, Residents, and Fellows for Social Justice Awards By October 22

Are you, or do you know, a current student committed to social justice advocacy? Or a resident or fellow who is committed to social justice in healthcare?

Would you like to win, or nominate, a friend, colleague, classmate, student, resident, fellow, or mentee to win $500?

The Student Social Justice and Diversity Healthcare Leadership Award recognizes UTHSC students (i.e., undergraduate/graduate) in each college whose actions demonstrate the importance of social justice activism and equity and diversity while positively impacting UTHSC and the community.

The Social Justice in Healthcare Leadership Award is a collaboration between the Office of Equity and Diversity and Graduate Medical Education at UTHSC targeting medical residents and fellows who have advocated for social justice and equity and diversity while positively impacting the UTHSC and the community; specifically, residents/fellows currently registered as a trainee at UTHSC.

Nominations run from October 4 – 22. 

Contact Tiffinie Snowden at tsnowde3@uthsc.edu for questions.