Interior of MIDB facility

Bringing People and Ideas Together

Author
VP Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD

Each of us has a different perspective, different experience and knowledge. It is the ability to connect and interact with people from other areas of study, interest, and expertise that allows us to take our own work to a higher level and truly make an impact on the health of our communities.

We are greatest when our service expands beyond the narrow mindset of division, department, school, center, institute, and college. When we are not competitors; when we are collaborators. The strengths of one add to the strengths of all. Our diverse disciplines do not constitute conflicts of interest, but complementary expertise in order to truly reimagine health.

The Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) exemplifies this by bringing together University experts across all disciplines that touch on developmental brain health across the lifespan. Formed in partnership with the College of Education and Human Development and the Medical School, MIDB is dismantling longstanding siloes to collectively accelerate discovery and improve brain health throughout life.

I am proud to share that MIDB is celebrating one year since its doors opened last November. Working together under one roof, the people of MIDB have brought to life a vision that fosters new collaborations, shares resources, integrates existing talent, and pioneers new research and service delivery approaches to advance brain health from the earliest stages of development across the lifespan.
 

Driving Innovation and Discovery

Little girl eating lunch

Research in Child Health Dinner Forum

This child health dinner forum series gathers child health researchers and practitioners from Children's Minnesota, the U of M, and community-based child-health partners. The dinner is co-sponsored by Children's Minnesota, the Department of Pediatrics, and the Clinical and Translational Science Institute. RSVP by Nov. 28.

Advancing Interprofessional Education & Training

Interprofessional Internship Program

Announcing the OACA Interprofessional Internship Program 2022-23 Cohort

OACA is excited to announce our third cohort of students in the Interprofessional Internship Program. Sixteen students from across the health sciences have been accepted and matched with core projects with clinical and community partners in Minnesota. The theme of this year’s program is to work in cooperation with those who receive care, provide care, and support the delivery of health services, programs, and education.
 

Man being examined by doctor

A Standardized Patient's Experience

Four years ago, Senait Judge-Yoakam had just graduated from college with a double major in dance and neuroscience when a friend mentioned she might be a good fit for M Simulation’s Standardized Patient (SP) program. SPs are trained to portray individuals—from patients with specific medical conditions, concerns, and histories, to clients, family members, and health care professionals—in simulated clinical scenarios used in health care education and training.
 
 

Partnering with Communities

Photo of Fatima Shaba

Driven to Serve Underserved Communities

Fatima Shaba, a second year medical student who volunteers for the U's Mobile Health Initiative (MHI), is interested in mobile health because she can help communities that have less access to medical care. She says, “Working with these communities with MHI is rewarding because it helps me meet patients where they're at-eliminating barriers to care including money, distance, and language.”
 

U-Wide Events and Opportunities

Quie & Peterson Global Health Lecture

Planetary Health: Global Health's Next Frontier?

Join the Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility's 6th annual Quie and Peterson Global Health Lecture on Nov. 14 for a discussion of planetary health. Renzo Guinto, PhD, will talk about this new scientific field and social movement, the pressing challenges confronting the health of both people and the planet today, and how global health practitioners can integrate a planetary health lens into their healing mission.

Workshop graphic

Climate Action Planning Workshop

Your voice matters. Join the Climate Action Planning Workshop on Nov. 15 to provide your input on how the University should eliminate emissions and adapt to a changing climate. There will be a brief presentation followed by small group breakouts.

Colorful graphic

The Development and Implementation of Pharmacogenomics Testing Program

Join M Health Fairview for their next System Grand Rounds presentation on Nov. 16. In this session, Pawel Mroz, MD, PhD, will describe a successful and highly collaborative implementation of the PGx testing program that was led by the Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory in collaboration with the College of Pharmacy, Institute of Health Informatics and M Health Fairview Pharmacy. This talk will also include a short case presentation to showcase how M Health Fairview’s inhouse testing makes a difference in treatment of patients.

 

Ethics Grand Rounds

Beyond Abortion: The Consequences of Overturning Roe

Join the Center for Bioethics for the next talk in their Ethics Grand Rounds series on Nov. 18. For decades abortion access has been one of the most polarizing issues in American society. The Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has catalyzed the elimination or severe restriction of access to legal abortion care in the United States. In this talk, the speakers will address the consequences of the decision beyond abortion care.

 

Sunrise in a field

Bakken Center Mindfulness Programs Information Session

This webinar led by Bakken Center Mindfulness and Wellbeing Instructor Mariann Johnson on Dec. 7 will provide an introduction to mindfulness meditation and will be particularly relevant to those new to the practice or simply curious about the possible benefits of a mindfulness practice. Participants will have an opportunity to practice a short mindfulness meditation, share their experiences, and ask questions. Examples will also be provided for practicing "everyday" mindfulness at work and at home.

Other News

partnership as ropes shaped as a circle in a group of diverse strings connected
Angela Botiba was initially drawn to the program because of its explicit focus on interprofessional education and collaboration.
Sunlight in clouds
Our dedication to workforce development today will yield a healthier and more vibrant tomorrow.
patient centered concept
The heart of health care lies in understanding the unique journeys of individuals.