Pictured above: Teammates Harpreet Arora, Chance Phelps (Anesthesiology), Rebekah Weil, and Tyler Magnussen

As the volume of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 reached an all-time high, the Internal Medicine Residency Program implemented a new inpatient team to help manage patient flow in the hospital. The Tinsley Harrison "Surge Team" currently carries a full load of 20 non-COVID patients daily, helping to lighten the load for other hospital teams. The all-volunteer crew is staffed by residents Jordan Tannenbaum, Robert Camacho, Harpreet Arora, Tylan Magnussen, Kelly McMaster, Reed LaHaye, Elizabeth Babin and Chance Phelps, along with attending physicians Win Williams, Rebekah Weil and Carlos Estrada. Kudos to all on this collaborative and important work in caring for our patients.

More Good News for August 19, 2020

Latesha Elopre, MD, MSPH (Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases) was featured in Dr. Anthony Fauci's opening plenary at the Ryan White Conference for her work in "Ending the HIV Epidemic," noting her development of a system to track clients referred, linked, and prescribed Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to decrease HIV diagnoses.

Lisa Willett, MD, MACM (Professor and IM Residency Program Director) and colleagues have published recommendations for the residency application cycle to adapt to COVID-19 environment. The guidance covers virtual interviews, away rotations, letters of recommendation and more. Thanks for your leadership, Dr. Willett!

Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH (Professor and Director, Infectious Diseases) wrote a JAMA editorial on the updated USPSTF guidance on behavioral interventions to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, emphasizing the need for physicians to normalize conversations about sexual history to combat rising rates of STI.

Devika Das, MD, MSHQS (Assistant Professor, Hematology and Oncology) just completed a masters program in health quality and safety. As the section chief of oncology at BVAMC and a thoracic oncologist, she will use this training to continue to develop ambulatory care delivery models for veterans with cancer. Three cheers, Dr. Das!

Dr. Well-Be says: GuideSafe™ is a great way to improve your wellness. App users will receive a notification if they've been in contact with others who report a positive COVID test—without sharing anyone's identity—giving you a way to protect your health, and the health of your family and community.

In this guest wellness column, Lauren Schultz, MSHA, MBA (Sr. Administrator, Clinical Programs & Operations) shares a working parent's perspective on finding balance amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. She reminds us that while we may look like we've got it all together, real life is happening just beyond the Zoom screen.