If viewing rounds and unable to connect through Zoom, please contact: Brandon Baksh, MD - brandon-baksh@uiowa.edu
Friday, November 8, 2024
Submitted by Karen Eicholtz-
We would like to take this opportunity to recognize our technicians who work hard to help provide excellent patient care!
A big thank you from all of us!!!
BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT 11/1/24 – 11/15/24
It’s that time of year again for benefits open enrollment! All staff who are in a regular (not temp) position working 50% or greater FTE are considered benefits eligible. Benefit eligible staff should have received communications last week from the benefits office directing them to steps to enroll, changes in our premiums and plans, and other resources. If you have questions, please contact benefits directly at benefits@uiowa.edu. Summarized below are some important reminders from the benefits office:
Open enrollment begins Friday, November 1. Changes and new rates take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Benefit eligible staff must complete open enrollment by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15.
If you choose not to make any changes during this open enrollment period:
Health and Dental Insurance Premiums and Plan Changes
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) 2025
Open Enrollment Reminders
More information about these resources is available on the 2025 open enrollment webpage.
CATASTROPHIC LEAVE/VACATION DONATIONS: Ashley Gentzler
Ophthalmic technician, Ashley Gentzler is currently eligible to receive catastrophic leave (i.e. donations of vacation time from others).
Our benefits office has supplied us with the link below to share with staff who may be interested in donating vacation time to Ashley, and Ashley has given us permission to include this in the employee newsletter.
hr.uiowa.edu/benefits/time/catastrophic-leave/catastrophic-leave-donations-another-employee
-------------------
CATASTROPHIC LEAVE/VACATION DONATIONS: Jamie Caslavka
Effective 9/24/2024, staff nurse Jamie Caslavka is eligible to receive catastrophic leave (i.e. donations of vacation time from others) from 9/24/2024 through 11/18/2024.
Our benefits office has supplied us with the link below to share with staff who may be interested in donating vacation time to Jamie, and Jamie has given us permission to include this in the employee newsletter.
hr.uiowa.edu/benefits/time/catastrophic-leave/catastrophic-leave-donations-another-employee
UPCOMING HOLIDAY CLOSURE DATES
See below a link to the Registrar’s 5-year calendar which includes University/UIHC closures dates from 2024 through 2029. Please feel free to share this link with your staff.
Five-Year Calendar | Office of the Registrar | The University of Iowa (uiowa.edu)
Of note, UIHC offices will be closed in observance of holidays on the following dates:
Let Melissa know if you have any questions!
Submitted by Melissa Monhollon-
The numbers are in, and our department’s overall participate rate for the 2024 Working at Iowa Survey was 76%! Last year, our total response rate was 74% and the year before that (2022) it was 77%. UI Health Care’s overall response rate was 77.9%!
Kudos to all of you and your teams for taking the time to complete the employee engagement survey with feedback on our workplace culture. We’re looking forward to reviewing and sharing results with faculty and staff once released, likely around the first of the year.
Submitted by Matt Browning-
Please save the date and celebrate another year with us!
What: Ophthalmology Winter Party
When: Friday, January 24, 2025 | 5 to 9 PM
Where: UI Athletics Hall of Fame
Submitted by Ian Han, MD-
Congratulations to Dr. Elaine Binkley who has been selected as a new member of The Macula Society for the class of 2025.
The Macula Society is one of the leading retina organizations worldwide, bringing together a "Who's Who" of leaders in our field. Obtaining membership is a very competitive process. By selecting Dr. Binkley as a new member, the society acknowledges her "extensive contribution to retinal literature" as per the organization's high standards.
Dr. Binkley joins a strong tradition of Iowa retina faculty in the prestigious organization (current and past members include Drs. Abramoff, Boldt, Folk, Han, Hayreh, Mullins, S. Russell, Sohn, Stone, and Weingeist).
Submitted by Brianne Roe, RN-
Congratulations to Dr. Elliott Sohn on being named an Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Silver Fellow.
The title of ARVO Fellow is an honor established to recognize current ARVO members for their individual accomplishments, leadership and contributions to the Association.
ARVO Fellows serve as role models and mentors for individuals pursuing careers in vision and ophthalmology research and help further ARVO's vision "…to advance research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders," which includes advancing basic and clinical knowledge and serving as the leading international forum for vision research and the primary advocate for vision science worldwide.
Each year's class of ARVO Fellows will be inducted at the ARVO Annual Meeting the following spring.
Induction includes:
Submitted by Brianne Roe, RN-
Ashley Gaffey, RN is now our charge nurse following Karen Reiland’s retirement. Ashley joined the Eye Clinic in September 2023 and stepped into the charge role in July after learning all she could from Karen. Before her time in the Eye Clinic, Ashley worked in the PACU here at UIHC. She graduated from Marquette University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Psychology. On a personal note, Ashley recently got engaged to her fiancé, Justin, and they are planning a wedding in June!
Submitted by Dr. Randy Kardon-
The Iowa City VA Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss has awarded a total of $279,526 for the following 2025 Pilot grants to Department of Ophthalmology faculty and researchers:
Submitted by Francie Williamson-
On November 7, we hosted a tour for several students from Iowa City Community School District who are interested in STEM careers.
-----------------------
This is a reminder that it’s Eye Donation Month and we have several activities in commemoration. Learn more: https://iowalionseyebank.org/eye-donation-month-2024
The flu campaign runs September 16 through December 6. All employees and volunteers are required to receive the influenza vaccine (from the University Employee Health Clinic or elsewhere) or decline it in ReadySet. Individuals must submit their flu vaccine survey in ReadySet to complete their compliance.
Submitted by Vikki Bell-
Dr. Richard Olson (recently retired) is in his last year of his master’s degree. He will perform his Masters Recital playing the organ on Saturday, November 16th at 7:30 PM at the Concert Hall at the Voxman Music Building in downtown Iowa City. It’s free and there are 700 seats, so he said that everyone is welcome!
Save 20% on eyewear in November during UI Optical’s eyewear sale. Shop sale prices on frames and lenses at UI Health Care–Iowa River Landing in Coralville.
For more information, please visit uihc.org/eyewear-ui-optical.
Questions? Contact uioptical@uiowa.edu or call 319-467-2125.
Submitted by Tonya Looker-
Pilot program for weight management medication strives for employee well-being
The University of Iowa is offering eligible employees the opportunity to participate in a two-year pilot program that provides insurance coverage for FDA-approved GLP-1 weight management medications.
The UI GLP-1 Pilot Program is part of the institution's effort to prioritize the physical, mental, and financial well-being of our community.
"The goal of the pilot is to measure the feasibility of a GLP-1 program for weight management that is flexible, accessible, and financially sustainable for our employees and the institution," says Joni Troester, senior assistant vice president for total rewards and deputy chief human resources officer.
"We are assessing the feasibility of covering GLP-1 medications within our existing health plans."
GLP-1 Pilot Program will include up to 500 UI employees. Applications are open until 5 pm today (Fri. 11/8).
Learn more here.
New Ophthalmology All-Staff Distribution List
Due to no longer having the ability to manage the Ophthalmology All Staff email distribution list, HCIS has created a new mailing list for us called: Ophthalmology Staff (OphthStaff@healthcare.uiowa.edu) that will continue to be managed internally.
Please use this new email moving forward to ensure the most up to date employee list is reached.
NEW – Please use: OphthStaff@healthcare.uiowa.edu
OLD – Do not use: OphthalmologyAllStaff@healthcare.uiowa.edu
Contact Ophthalmology IT
Please use these contact methods helps us prioritize your request:
Phone: 78107
Email: OphthIT@healthcare.uiowa.edu
ESC Portal: https://service.healthcare.uiowa.edu (New to ESC? Learn how to submit a help desk ticket)
Submitted by Melissa Monhollon-
POSITIONS AVAILABLE IN THE DEPARTMENT
The Ophthalmic Clinical Specialist I performs technical and diverse optical testing as a portion of the complete ocular exam, in addition to obtaining patient histories, meds and allergies for the supervising physician. The Ophthalmic Technician performs an extensive number of routine and advanced technical procedures, as delegated by the physician, to collect medical data and assist in patient care.
The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences intends to hire at either the Ophthalmic Technician, non-COA certified classification, or Ophthalmic Clinical Specialist I, COA certified classification, based on the qualifications of the successful candidate. Please indicate in your application materials the position you wish to be considered for or indicate both.
Ophthalmic Photographer II (CRA or non CRA certified) - University Campus | Req #24002422
University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, is seeking a 100% Ophthalmic Photographer II (PT38; 45) to perform ophthalmic diagnostic photography and all other aspects of clinical teaching and research imaging as well as to assist in the design and implementation of the imaging aspects of research in ophthalmology.
The Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences intends to hire either an Ophthalmic Photographer I, non-CRA certified classification, or Ophthalmic Photographer II, CRA certified classification, based on the qualifications of the successful candidate. Please indicate in your application materials the position you wish to be considered for or indicate both.
The Orthoptist provides direct patient care by performing sensorimotor testing, evaluating and treating eye movement disorders and binocular vision, participating in the evaluation and diagnosis of patients with amblyopia, diplopia, genetic disorders of the eye, pediatric and adult strabismus, and other eye movement conditions. The Orthoptist also assists in coordinating and educating fellows, residents, orthoptic students, and doctors who rotate through the services, participates in clinical research into eye movement disorders, diplopia, strabismus, nystagmus, and inherited eye disorders, and serves as a liaison between the ophthalmology clinics and other areas in the Department of Ophthalmology and other clinics throughout the hospital.
We are also recruiting for multiple faculty positions. Direct links to these postings are available here: https://jobs.uiowa.edu/jobSearch/faculty/
| Schedule Subject to Change | |||
| Mon | Nov 11 | 8:00 AM | On call rounds |
| Tue | Nov 12 | 7:30 AM | BCSC Glaucoma - Dr. Erin Boese* |
| Wed | Nov 13 | 8:00 AM | Adetayo Oladele-Ajose, MD, PGY2 |
| Thu | Nov 14 | 8:00 AM | Matthew Hunt, MD, PGY3 |
| Fri | Nov 15 | 8:00 AM | Resident Interview Day |
| Schedule Subject to Change | |||
| Mon | Nov 18 | 7:30 AM | BCSC Glaucoma - Dr. Marc Toeteberg-Harms* |
| Tue | Nov 19 | 8:00 AM | Resident Interview Day |
| Wed | Nov 20 | 8:00 AM | Brandon Baksh, MD, PGY3 |
| Thu | Nov 21 | 8:00 AM | Matthew Harper, PhD: GCL dysfunction in TBI |
| Fri | Nov 22 | 8:00 AM | Jaffer Naqvi, MD - Neuro-Op Fellow (moved from 10/18/24) |
*P indicates rounds intended specifically for residents, fellows and orthoptic students
If viewing rounds and unable to connect through Zoom, please contact: Brandon Baksh, MD - brandon-baksh@uiowa.edu
Ophthalmology Morning Rounds is held from 8:00 am - 8:45 am in the Braley Auditorium (01136), Pomerantz Family Pavilion / Zoom.
Dec 5 - Ophthalmology Town Hall
Jan 24 - Ophthalmology Holiday Party @ UI Hall of Fame
Mar 6 - Ophthalmology Town Hall
Mar 21 - Clinical Conference: Glaucoma - Mansour F. Armaly Lecture
Apr 11 - Clinical Conference: Comprehensive Ophthalmology - Wolfe Lecture
Apr 12 - Ophthalmology Town Hall
June 13-14 - Iowa Eye Annual Meeting & Alumni Reunion - Department's 100th Anniversary
UI Hospitals & Clinics | UI Carver College of Medicine | Institute for Vision Research
Copyright © 2019 - All Rights Reserved - The University of Iowa
CME ACCREDITATION: The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
CME CREDIT DESIGNATION: The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
SPONSORED BY: The University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences.
CONTENT: Determination of educational content for this educational activity and the selection of speakers and facilitators are responsibilities of the activity director. Any commercial firms providing financial support did not have input in these areas.
DISCLOSURE POLICY: Everyone in a position to control the content of this educational activity will disclose to the CME provider and to attendees all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. They will also disclose if any pharmaceuticals or medical procedures and devices discussed are investigational or unapproved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
TARGET AUDIENCE: Faculty, residents, fellows.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES: Upon participating in this educational series, the participant should be able to discuss interesting and challenging clinical cases in a didactic and interactive format.
CME CREDIT AND ATTENDANCE: Captured by self-texting a 5-digit activity code to 319-519-0048. The code is provided each day during Rounds. Before texting your attendance for the first time, you will need to text your Uiowa.edu email address to 319-519-0038. For questions, contact matt-browning@uiowa.edu.