Dance Marathon Spring 2023 Allocation Applications Now Available

Research Applications:

This funding opportunity is seeking high risk/high reward innovative research projects to advance/improve stem cell transplantation and/or immunotherapies for pediatric cancer patients. Both basic science and clinical intervention development projects are eligible. Individuals who were awarded funding for a research project in 2022 are not eligible for a renewal. Please submit a new application. To apply, please read the instructions and email a complete application to peds-research@uiowa.edu. 

Submission deadline is Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Note: If you have any questions, please contact: Phuong Pham at peds-research@uiowa.edu or call (319) 356-7390.

Non-Research Applications:

• Non-Research Applications: The UI Dance Marathon Allocations NEW Application can be found HERE. If you have not been funded by Dance Marathon in the past year, please submit this new application by 5:00 p.m. on February 14, 2023. 
• Renewal Applications: The UI Dance Marathon Allocations RENEWAL Application can be found HERE. If you currently have a project funded through this committee, please submit this renewal application by 5:00 p.m. on February 14, 2023. 

DM Website - Allocations - Dance Marathon | The University of Iowa (uiowa.edu)

For Grants - Grants - Dance Marathon Grant Requests (uiowa.edu)

Eligibility

The PI must have a faculty appointment in the UI Colleges of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Pharmacy, or Dentistry, or be a UI Health Care Staff member (including research associate) or be a pediatric fellow in training. 

Children's Miracle Network Applications: more information will be forthcoming.

• Research Applications: please read the instructions and email a complete application to peds-research@uiowa.edu
• Non-Research Applications: TBD

When completing the application, please download the pdf and use the 'Fill and Sign' feature in Adobe Acrobat Pro to complete each section.

HR Corner

Welcome to the Team!

Srivalli (Swathi) Mamillapalli is starting as a Research Assistant in the division of Medical Genetics and Genomics on February 6.

Jeremiah Reed is starting as a Research Assistant in the division of Neonatology on February 13. 

Michael Donnelly is starting as a Senior Financial Analyst in the department of Finance on February 13.

Molly Evans is starting as a Secretary III in the division of Rheumatology on February 20. 

2023 Conflict of Interest Disclosure

As a reminder, the 2023 Annual Disclosure of Outside Professional Activities and Interests is due on April 30, 2023.

Your specific eCOI login link was sent via email. Please complete by April 30, 2023. For information about our Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment Policy, see UIHC'S Policy.

Peds WE CARE Award Nominations Are Open

As a reminder, the new Peds WE CARE Award is now open for nominations, with our first winners to be announced later this month! There is no limit to how many nominations you may submit, and no deadline for nominations. Awards will be distributed on a rolling basis. 

Awardees will receive a certificate, an opportunity to be featured in Peds Express, and earn a visit to the new "gift closet" to select an item of their choosing. 

This award is designed to recognize individuals within the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics who exemplify the mission of the department to provide high quality care to the children of Iowa and contribute to educational and scientific advancement. Any staff, provider, faculty, research support, or student with a primary appointment in the department may be nominated. Individuals may win the award up to three times in a year. 

For more resources on recognizing your colleagues, visit the Recognition Committee's SharePoint page.

Events

Pediatrics Research Day - Keynote Speaker

Pediatrics Research Day is Friday, April 7, 2023, 12:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Keynote Speaker: Raphaela T. Goldbach-Mansky, MD, MHS

"The power of de novo gain-of function mutations in revealing innate immune dysfunction ...one child at a time"

Information on lecture location to come. 

Pediatric Psychiatry Roundup: Reviewing Up-To-Date Child Psychiatric Information for a Post-Pandemic World

We invite you to join us for the upcoming virtual conference - Pediatric Psychiatry Roundup: Reviewing Up-To-Date Psychiatric Information for a Post-Pandemic World co-hosted by University of Iowa and Carle Health. This free Continuing Education event will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Session information and registration is available using the following link. 

Contact Kafi Dixon with any questions.

UIDM 29 Recap

University of Iowa Dance Marathon (UIDM) had its 'Big Event' last weekend and raised $1,174,008.29! This money goes directly to UI Stead Family Children's Hospital to support kids battling cancer and their families. Some highlights of the 24-hour-long Big Event included:

• Mini DM Presentation - Throughout the school year, Mini Dance Marathon programs consisting of elementary through high school students participate in their own 'Big Events'  modeled after the main one.
• Hospital Skit - Doctors, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, and staff on Level 11 of Stead Family Children's Hospital participated in a silly skit showing off their dance moves.
• Kiddo Graduation - A ceremony celebrating kiddos who have reached their fifth year of being off treatment.

David Dickens, MD and Alex Bassuk, MD, PhD were a few of the many faculty and staff present at the Big Event. They presented a check for $162,853 on behalf of the UI Center for Advancement (pictured above). 

University of Iowa Dance Marathon is the largest student-led philanthropy on campus. UIDM is one of the founding Dance Marathon programs and has raised over $35 million to date. 

Wellness Corner

Nominate a Wellness Hero

Wellness Heroes is a program to recognize faculty and staff members who are practicing healthy behaviors that are inspiring others in the workplace. To acknowledge their efforts, a Wellness Hero will be awarded a certificate and a prize. Any faculty or staff members can nominate any other faculty or staff members. 

Nominate a Wellness Hero today!

Wondr Health Weight Management Spring 2023

This popular and effective all online, ten-week weight loss/weight management program from Wondr Health is back again! Learn more about the eligibility requirements and details at the liveWELL website - including a video with an overview of the program. Key dates are:

• Application Period - January 30, 2023 - February 12, 2023
• Notice of Acceptance - February 17, 2023
• Program Start Date - February 27, 2023

In Need of a Wellness Check?

There is no reason too small to visit the UI Employee Assistance Program (UI EAP). Your well-being matters. Take time to check in with yourself. Learn more about reasons to visit UI EAP and what to expect during your visits. Email eaphelp@uiowa.edu or call (319) 335-2085 to set up an appointment at a time and location that is convenient for you. 

LiveWELL Ambassador Perspective: Habits

We’re a month into the New Year and perhaps your resolutions are falling by the wayside. Maybe you have had success changing a habit. Most experts agree that it takes roughly 28 consecutive occurrences (or lack of) of a behavior before it is considered habit.

Changing habits is a way to improve oneself. Whether you are forming or stopping a habit, there is always a cue to get started. You may need to create a cue when making a new habit – perhaps placing running shoes by the door to remind you about that evening jog. Or you may want to stop doom scrolling before bed. Placing the phone charger far from your bed and a book where you normally set your phone might remind you not to bring the phone to bed. There’s the craving or motivation to do the thing – the 5k fundraiser you agreed to, or the desire for better and happier sleep hygiene. The practice of the habit brings the reward. The reward can be internal or external, like good feelings, a trip, or new clothes. If the reward isn’t satisfying, no craving will occur and no cues will help maintain the behavior.

When you set out to change a behavior, remember these helpful tips for success:

• Slip-ups are inevitable. Keep practicing, you’ll get there.
• You have to do it for yourself, and really want it.
• Change habits one at a time. Several life changes at once can result in multiple failures.
• Tell people your goals. You are more successful when you are accountable.

Most importantly, be kind to yourself. For an expert’s view on habits, click here.

Recognition

Patient Comments from the Pediatric Specialty Clinic

"She was amazing. She took so much time to listen to my concern, yet also learn more about his medical history. She was so caring and compassionate. It's obvious she cares deeply for the patients she sees." -patient of Ann-Marie Berg, ARNP.

"Seeing Dr. Hong is the highlight. She is always a delight to talk with, remembers past visits with my child and she seems earnestly excited about improvements concerning my child's disease." -patient of Sandy Hong, MD.

How Building Rapport Improves the Quality of Care

Whether it's caring for her first patient of the day or her last, Brittney Kintzel's, BSN, CPN, RN goal is always the same: make a connection. Those connections not only improve the patient's experience but they can also become a valuable tool for Kintzel and her colleagues on Level 10 of UI Stead Family Children's Hospital. Read Brittney's full story HERE! 

Research Corner

Open Pediatric Clinical Research Trials

Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

The primary objective of the expansion cohort of this pilot study is to evaluate preliminary evidence of anti-tumor activity of intravenous ascorbate in combination with gemcitabine as assessed by overall response rate to inform a subsequent Phase II trial. Click through to learn more about this trial.

Principal Investigator: David Dickens, MD

Study Type: Interventional

Primary Purpose: Treatment

Compensation Available: No

Pediatric Neurology

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate motor function folowing treatment with HD nusinersen in participants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) previously tereated with risdiplam. The secondary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of HD nusiersen in participants with SMA previuously treated with risdiplam. Click through to learn more about this trial.

Principal Investigator: Katherine Mathews, MD

Study Type: Interventional

Primary Purpose: Treatment

Compensation Available: Yes

Pediatrics Research Day - Call for Abstracts

We are now accepting abstracts for the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics Research Day! All University of Iowa faculty, staff and trainees are invited to submit an abstract for presentation at the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics Research Day on April 7, 2023. First author is expected to be present for Pediatrics Research Day. 

Abstracts are due by February 26, 2023. No late abstracts will be accepted. Please submit as a Word document to Cheri Stevens. 

Format:

400 word limit (excluding title and authors)

Structured abstract:

• Title
• Authors
• Background
• Goal/Purpose/Hypothesis as appropriate
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion/Discussion
• No figures or tables
• (not included in word count):
  • Level of training of first author (Medical Student, Graduate Student, Resident, Fellow, Post Doc, or other as appropriate)
  • Category of research: Clinical or Basic Science

Questions? Please contact Katherine Mathews, MD.

Project ADAM comes to the Iowa Heartland