Skip to main content

The Touchpoint 20 Zoom series is a 20-minute series of work and wellness topics to provide timely information to SOM staff in a condensed format. This is one of several efforts being launched to better support our staff, engage with our SOM leaders, and build community.

Rural Outreach: How the UNC School of Medicine works to reach all North Carolinians

January 27, 2023, Noon

Moderator: E. Nathan Thomas, III, PhD, Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Speaker: Meredith Bazemore, MPA, Director of the Office of Rural Initiatives; and Caroline Roberts, MD, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and provider in Prospect Hill, N.C.

The UNC School of Medicine works to improve patient care and educational opportunities across all of North Carolina, with an important focus on rural areas of the Tar Heel state. Nate Thomas will talk with Meredith Bazemore and Caroline Roberts about the importance of education and health equity for rural North Carolinians and how staff can get involved to support the work.


PREVIOUS SESSIONS

The University Ombuds Office: A Resource for Navigating Workplace Challenges and Conflicts

December 16, 2022

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, Associate Dean for Administration, School of Medicine
Speaker: Dawn Osborne-Adams, University Ombuds and Director of the Ombuds Office

Dawn Osborne-Adams, University Ombuds, joins us to tell us more about the confidential, informal and impartial resources available through the Ombuds Office to support all Carolina staff, faculty, students and administrators. She will share examples of how the Ombuds Office helps with navigating any campus issue or concern and will also provide some quick tips that may be helpful in approaching conflicts, both at work and at home.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE | VIEW BROCHURE

Before You Accept That Gift: Vendor Relations and What You Need to Know

November 18, 2022

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean of Administration
Speaker: Heather Skinner, JD, Director of Compliance and Research Integrity

With the holidays approaching, vendor gifts and lunches seem to be more prevalent. But can we accept them? Heather Skinner joins to help us navigate rules around vendor relations and conflict of interest that we can use throughout the year.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE | VIEW SLIDES

Make Time for Mindfulness

October 14, 2022

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean of Administration
Speaker: Dr. Jonathan “Jonny” Gerkin, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry

Join us for this Touchpoint 20 as Dr. Jonny Gerkin shares the basics of meditative practice and its wellness benefits, provides a 10-minute guided breathing exercise that can help you slow down and stay focused. He will also provide more information about other resources at UNC that can help us develop strategies to target stress management and burnout, while enhancing our life quality.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE | VIEW SLIDES

Virus and Vaccine Updates

September 16, 2022

Moderator: Jill Jemison, MBA, CIO
Speaker: David Weber, MD, MPH, Associate Chief Medical Officer, UNC Medical Center

Dr. Weber joins us to share what we need to know now: current status of COVID-19, more information about fall vaccines, information about monkeypox and vaccines, preparing for flu season, and other timely information to help keep us and our families healthy.

Also joining us as moderator this month will be CIO Jill Jemison, who joined the School of Medicine in August.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE

SOM Financial Updates

August 19, 2022 | 12:00 – 12:20pm  

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration

Speaker: Michael Sledge, CFO, School of Medicine & Faculty Practice

Michael Sledge returns to Touchpoint 20 to provide SOM staff with more information about how the School of Medicine funds its impactful work, provide a current view of SOM finances, and answer questions submitted ahead of the event.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE

DEI Climate Survey: Results and Next Steps

June 24, 2022 | 12:00 – 12:30pm  

Moderator: Dr. E. Nate Thomas III, School of Medicine Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

School of Medicine and UNC Health teammates took time in early 2022 to provide feedback through the DEI Climate Survey. In this special extended Touchpoint 20 session, we will share the results of the survey and next steps the DEI team has planned for taking action based on survey feedback.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE

One UNC Health is All of Us!

May 20, 2022 | 12:00 – 12:20pm  

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration

Speaker: Hogan Medlin, UNC Health System Manager, Change Management

One UNC Health is the overarching strategic vision for our health care system, and it includes the important work happening across the School of Medicine. Please join us to learn more about how your work and your teams play a vital role in this system-wide effort.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE

Functional Movement for the Workday

April 22, 2022 | 12:00 – 12:20pm  

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration

Speaker: Paula Keck, Instructor, UNC Health Wellness Center

Feel your best during the workday with exercises that counteract sitting and working at a computer, reduce stiffness and prevent long-term problems. Whether you are joining on-campus or off-site, please make some room to move and join the session with your sneakers on!

INSTRUCTIONS TO ACCESS FREE CLASSES

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE

Cybersecurity (Home & Work)

March 25, 2022 | 12:00 – 12:20pm  

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration

Speaker: Brian Penders, Chief Information Security Officer, SOM IT

Brian Penders will share more information on how UNC is working to keep UNC data and systems safe, current threats to our systems, and how each of us can take action to protect our work and personal files.

Cyber Security PPT

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE

SOM’s Research Mission Update: Innovation and Opportunity

February 25, 2022 | 12:00 – 12:20pm  

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration

Speakers: Dr. Blossom Damania, PhD, Vice Dean for Research and Catherine Barnes, Personnel Development and Training Specialist

Dr. Damania will provide staff with an update on recent innovations and achievements that fulfill our research mission goal to positively impact the health of patients in our State and beyond. Ms. Barnes will provide more information about training available for staff currently in research roles, or, for staff contemplating a role change to support our research mission.

Research Training PPT: Information/Links

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE

COVID-19 Update and the Omicron Variant

January 21, 2022 | 12:00 – 12:20pm  

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration

Speakers: Dr. Myron “Mike” Cohen, Director of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Disease and Dr. David Weber, Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases

Drs. Cohen and Weber, our own experts on COVID-19, provide the latest update on the omicron variant, and what we can do to keep ourselves and our families safe.

Research Training Information/Links

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

Wellness into the Holidays

December 17, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm  

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration

Presenters: Nadia Charguia, MD is an Associate Professor in the UNC Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Taking Care of Our Own program. She is also the Medical Director of UNC Psychiatry Outpatient Clinics. Crystal Schiller, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and Co-Director, Perinatal Psychiatry Program in the UNC Department of Psychiatry.

Drs. Charguia and Schiller will discuss common stressors encountered leading up to the holiday season and coping strategies that can help to stay healthy, happy, and balanced.

 

Advancing DEI Efforts and Staff Initiatives in the SOM

November 12, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm  

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration

Speakers: Paul Marini, Victoria Samayoa, Robert Smith III, Angela Benson, Juan Trujillo

Learn more about the D&I Council Staff Subcommittee, who serve as advocates to ensure a sense of belonging in our SOM staff community.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

Dean’s Performance Awards and Supporting a High-Performing Work Culture

October 15, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm  

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, MBA, Associate Dean for Administration

Speakers:

  • Cristy Page, MD, MPH; Executive Dean, UNC SOM
  • Lisa Voss, MS, Senior Employee Relations Consultant, SOM HR
  • Derek Hoar, MBA, Senior Employee Relations Consultant, SOM HR

In this episode, Dr. Page announces and celebrates the winners of the 2021 Dean’s Performance Awards. In addition, the Employee Relations team provides guidance and resources that support our performance in the workplace every day.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

COVID-19 Update – What You Need to Know Now

September 24, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm

Moderator: Michael Sledge, CFO, SOM & Faculty Practice

Speaker: David Wohl, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases

Dr. Wohl, one of our own experts on COVID-19, provides the latest update on the delta variant, the safety of the vaccine and treatments, boosters, and what we can do to keep ourselves and our families safe. He will also be answering our questions submitted prior to the event.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

Home Office & Campus Office Ergonomics: Tips to Help You Avoid Fatigue and Injury

August 27, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm

Moderator: Harvey Lineberry, PhD, Associate Dean for Human Resources, UNC SOM

Speaker: Kenyetta Farrington, Ergonomics Program Manager, UNC Health

Working Forward will modernize our work culture and will have more teammates working in virtual and hybrid models. Learn more about practical steps you can take to evaluate your home office or campus environment to help you avoid discomfort and potential injury.

Home Office and Campus Ergonomics Slides

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

WES Survey – What do you think? We want to know!

June 18, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, Associate Dean for Administration, UNC SOM

Speaker: Ingrid Jones, System Manager, Culture and Engagement, UNC Health

The SOM is participating in the 2021 Workforce Engagement Survey (WES) for the first time this year. Learn more about the WES, why it is important that everyone participate and share their thoughts on what is working and what can be improved, and how the confidential information will be used to help us understand how we can best support you.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

SOM Financial Updates

May 21, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm

Moderator: Uduak Ndoh, Chief Information Officer

Speaker: Michael Sledge, Chief Financial Office

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

Working Forward, not Return To Campus

Apr. 23, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm

Moderator: Michael Sledge, CFO
Speaker: Karlina Matthews, Associate Dean for Administration

  • Karlina will provide an overview of Working Forward, a 5 Phase Plan to reinvent our workforce and physical work environment.
  • She will preview how we expect our workforce to look like when we transition in late summer, introducing virtual, hybrid, and on-site work environments.
  • This transition will including making some current virtual positions “permanently” virtual.
  • We encourage participants to submit questions prior to the event.

Working Forward Slides
VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

Opportunities for Professional Development – Investing in You

Mar. 26, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm

Moderator: Karlina Matthews, Associate Dean for Administration
Speakers:

  • Mark Haapala, Director of Organizational and Professional Development at UNC HR will provide more information about opportunities through the new Carolina Talent portal and LinkedIn Learning.
  • Dr. Bryant Murphy, our new Sr. Associate Dean for Leadership Development, will share plans for future offerings for leadership development opportunities.

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

EAP Perks & More – It’s Not Just Counseling!

Feb. 12, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm

Learn how your University work, life and overall wellness can be enhanced through resources available to you as an employee.

  • Jessica Pyjas, Work/Life & Wellness Program Manager for UNC-CH provides a timely discussion of resources that you may not know are available to support UNC employees and their families – it’s not just counseling!
  • Karlina Matthews, Associate Dean for Administration, Moderator
  • Q&A
  • Additional Resources For February Touchpoint 20

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

SOM Vaccine Update

January 15, 2021 | 12:00 – 12:20pm
  • An update from Dr. Cynthia Gay, who led the Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial at UNC
  • An update from Karlina Matthews, Associate Dean of Administration, on the NC vaccination phases and eligibility
  • Q&A

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

You are DEI and DEI is You

December 11, 2020 | 12:00 – 12:20pm
  • Dr. Nate Thomas will be presenting

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

Wellness

November 20, 2020 | 12:00 – 12:20pm
  • Celebrating the 2020 Dean’s Performance Award Winners
    • Dr. Cristy Page, Executive Dean, School of Medicine
  • Coping Strategies to Address Pandemic Distress and Fatigue: What can you do now?
    • Dr. Samantha Meltzer Brody, Chair, Department of Psychiatry
  • Moderator: Karlina Matthews, Associate Dean of Administration

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.

COVID-19 Update

October 2, 2020 | 12:00 – 12:20pm
  • An update from our CFO, Michael Sledge, on SOM finances and how careful planning has prepared our COVID-19 response
  • An update from Dr. Myron “Mike Cohen”, Director of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Disease
  • Q&A

VIEW THE RECORDED SESSION HERE.