Dear Colleagues,
July is a month in which everything begins again in academic medicine: it’s the mark of a new fiscal year, and a new academic year. We welcome new interns and new fellows into the department, the university, and Iowa City as a whole. We set new goals and begin the cycle of teaching, research, and patient care again.
We welcome new people into our environment, as well as their own cultures and heritages. Whether a person is coming to us from California or Crete, what will be new to many is our “Iowa Nice” tradition, which Wikipedia refers to as, “the friendly agreeableness and emotional trust shown by individuals who are otherwise strangers,” or what we know as, just how people are.
This emotional trust is crucial to develop with our newcomers, no matter what time of the year they join us. We earn it through the small actions and daily interactions with others. I encourage you to continue this rich tradition in welcoming those with new faces and to carry the essence of Iowa Nice behavior into all your interactions. Helping our newcomers feel welcome and at home will ensure that they thrive in their training programs, their careers, and our community. The people we work with will become part of the legacy of the institution, carrying with them not only the expertise they hone during their time here, but also sharing their whole experience in the Midwest with others across the country.
To all our new faculty, trainees, and staff: Welcome! We are happy that you are here and we invite you to bring your authentic self to work. Enjoy the multiple offerings of this wonderful community, and we also hope that you experience and embrace our Iowa Nice tradition.
Drop in at Dr. Gutierrez’s office at SE 628 GH, join via Zoom, or make an appointment between 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month. The next session will be on June 28. This is an opportunity to bring up any issues or concerns in a confidential manner, or share your ideas on how the department can help you thrive. We want to hear from you!
In our renewed commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment that not only resonates with our faculty but also extends to staff, advanced practice providers, trainees, patients, and community partners, we are especially seeking applications from Advanced Practice Providers and residents. Anyone interested in being part of this committee is encouraged to apply here.
Please join Mentoring@Iowa for a one-day conference to help build an intentional mentoring culture across our campus. Save the date: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Summer of the Arts invites the community to come out and get to know fabulous, local musicians! Concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evenings in downtown Iowa City at the Ped Mall Stage.
This webinar will summarize the highlights from the new 2024 AAMC State of Women in Academic Medicine Report and walk through the new focus areas for the AAMC’s newly established Gender Equity Portfolio.
You can now register for the three day, in-person training that provides guidance to effectively incorporate the practice of Restorative Justice (RJ) for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in academic medicine. Plan to join colleagues from across the country in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 21-23, 2024.
July events, celebrations, and holidays
- French American Heritage Month:This month celebrates the contributions of French Americans to various fields, including literature, cuisine, and architecture, enriching the fabric of American society.
- National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: This month was established in 2008 to raise awareness of the unique mental health challenges faced by underrepresented and underserved communities of color, improve access to mental health services and treatment, and to promote strategies that break down barriers and stigma.
- Sarcoma Awareness Month: Held annually to raise awareness about sarcoma, this month promotes awareness of a rare and often overlooked cancer that can affect almost any part of the body, and highlights the challenges faced by patients and their families.
- UV Safety Awareness Month: Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Awareness Month is a time to learn about the effects of UV radiation on the body and how to protect yourself from sunburns, skin damage, and skin cancer. UV radiation can damage skin regardless of skin tone, and it can also contribute to premature aging.
- July 4: American Independence Day: Known colloquially as the Fourth of July, this is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.
- July 7*: Hijri New Year (Islamic): The Islamic New Year marks the beginning of the lunar Hijri year.
- July 11: World Population Day: This day seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989.
- July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day: Aimed at raising awareness and organizing around the issues faced by non-binary people around the world, the day was first celebrated in 2012. The date was chosen for being precisely midway between International Men’s Day and International Women’s Day.
- July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day: Mandela Day is an annual global celebration to honor the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. This day is a call to action for individuals, communities, and organizations to take time to reflect on Mandela’s values and principles and to make a positive impact in their own communities.
- July 21: Asalha Puja (Buddhist): This day is the start of a three-month mandatory retreat for all monks. Buddhists visit temples to give offerings, pray and meditate, and listen to sermons. It is intended to be a day of new beginnings and renewal.
- July 22: World Brain Day: The World Federation of Neurology established World Brain Day in 2014. The 2024 theme is “Brain Health and Prevention” and aims to educate people about the importance of optimizing brain health throughout life to prevent neurological disease.
- July 23: World Sjogren’s Day: A day to raise awareness of Sjögren’s syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The day was established by the Sjögren’s Foundation to honor the birthday of Dr. Henrik Sjögren, the Swedish ophthalmologist who discovered the disease.
- July 24: Pioneer Day (Mormon): Celebrated in Utah, this day marks the settling of the Church of Latter-Day Saints pioneers along the Great Salt Lake.
- July 26: Disability Independence Day: The day marks the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA is a civil rights law that aims to end discrimination against people with disabilities and ensure equal opportunities in all aspects of life.
- July 28: World Hepatitis Day: This day is an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis, encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public and highlight the need for a greater global response as outlined in the WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report of 2017. The date was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.
Note: All holidays marked with * begin the prior evening. This is not an exhaustive list of cultural events and holidays celebrated in this month.