February 5, 2021

1. Today is National Wear Red Day!

Each year UTHSC asks faculty, staff, and students to wear red to show their support of the Go Red for Women initiative, which empowers women to take charge of their heart health. Since we could not gather for a group photo this year, we have assembled a collage of selfies from across campus as we continue to support heart health in women!

According the American Heart Association, more than one in three women is living with some form of cardiovascular disease. Warning signs for women are not the same as men – learn more facts about heart disease in women by visiting goredforwomen.org.

2. COVID-19 Testing Site Moving to SAC Dining Hall

The COVID-19 testing site on the Memphis campus in the Student-Alumni Center (SAC) gymnasium is temporarily moving to the SAC Dining Hall (800 Madison Avenue) beginning Wednesday, February 10, through the next 4 to 6 weeks, while an air handler is installed in the gymnasium. Patients should continue to enter via the breezeway on the backside of the building, and not through the front door of the SAC.

The SAC testing site is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 12:00 – 4:00 pm and Saturdays 1:00 – 3:00 pm with no appointment necessary for faculty, staff, and students. Spouses, family members, and friends of UTHSC faculty, staff, and students cannot be tested at the SAC location and should go to a community testing site operated by University Clinical Health. The SAC testing site is closed on holidays.

The SAC testing site is for those who are asymptomatic (no symptoms) and have had no known exposure to COVID-19.

Those with symptoms or who may have been exposed to COVID-19 will be referred to a University Clinical Health mobile testing site by texting “COVID” to 901.203.5526. Test results will take about 48 hours to be returned to the patient.

3. Social Determinants of Health Intensive: Narrative Medicine

The Community Engaged Care Program invites students, faculty, and staff at all UTHSC campuses to join us on Wednesday, February 17, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm for a virtual Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Intensive with Dr. Jonathan Lewis (Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare). This SDOH Intensive will introduce participants to the topic of Narrative Medicine, which incorporates the ability to acknowledge, interpret, and act on the stories of others. Health care providers who practice with narrative competence are able to approach patients with empathy and cultural humility and are able to recognize their own personal experiences with medicine and acknowledge the journeys of their patients. This session will provide participants with some of the skills to begin practicing Narrative Medicine and directions for further study.

For more information about this workshop and to RSVP for the Zoom link, please visit the Engage website.

This SDOH Intensive workshop will count toward the Social Determinants of Health Certificate.

4. Flu Vaccinations Available at UHS

UTHSC employees and students can schedule an appointment with University Health Services for FREE flu vaccinations Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm (closed 1:00 – 2:00 pm daily for lunch) at 910 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, on the Memphis campus.

Flu vaccinations are mandatory this year for all UT employees and students, unless you have documentation to support an exemption.

To schedule an appointment, please call University Health Services at 901.448.5630. No walk-ins will be accepted.

Verification of vaccine administration will be provided during the visit.

If you have any questions regarding the flu vaccine, please visit the Vaccination Requirements page on the UTHSC website or contact University Health Services at 901.448.5630.