In what is now at 12-year Thanksgiving tradition, UConn Health foot care specialists spent Monday evening providing new shoes and socks at two local homeless shelters.
Lori Engengro, Kathleen York, and Dr. Lauren Geaney represented UConn Health at this year’s “Our Hearts to Your Soles” outreach event at the Friendship Service Center and the Salvation Army shelter, both in New Britain.
More than three dozen people were given new shoes and at least one pair of new socks. Additional shoes and socks – more than 60 pairs of each – were left behind at the two shelters to give to others.
“Our Hearts to Your Soles” is a national effort to provide quality shoes and boots, fittings and foot exams to less fortunate men and women. Foot problems are especially common among the homeless, often exacerbated by lack access to properly fitting footwear.
UConn Health’s involvement goes back to 2007, when Dr. Michael Aronow, who at the time was on the faculty, started organizing local volunteers to take part for a night leading up to Thanksgiving. He has continued that every year since.
Red Wing Shoes provided shoes, boots, and socks. Orthopaedic Associates of Hartford also provided socks.
Last night’s mass shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks, Calif., may have you thinking about what you would do in a similar situation. UConn Police and law enforcement agencies across the country recommend escaping if you can, hiding if you can’t, and fighting only if you have to. Or to put it more simply: Run, hide, fight.
The UConn Police Department’s Safety Techniques and Awareness Resource Team (S.T.A.R.T.) offers programs that teach employees how to recognize the potential for violence, discuss realistic strategies during an active shooter threat, and help instill a survival mindset.
UConn Police Lieutenant Jason R. Hyland leads the Community Outreach Unit and says, not surprisingly, that following a mass shooting incident the number of requests for their programs increases. The Responding to an Active Theat: A Survival Mindset program is offered as a one or two hour presentation on a first-come, first-served basis. S.T.A.R.T typically presents around 60 of these free programs a year at UConn campuses throughout the state.
“Our educational programs lay a solid foundation to help employees and students increase their sense of safety and gives them a chance to think tactically if they find themselves in an active shooter situation,” explains Hyland.
During their “Responding to an Active Threat” presentation, S.T.A.R.T. officers discuss pre-attack indicators and reporting behaviors of concern, as well as the steps you should take in an active shooter situation.
Run: Have an escape route and plan in mind; leave your belongings behind; and keep your hands visible.
Hide: Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view; block entry to your hiding place and lock the doors; and silence your cell phone.
Fight: As a last resort and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to incapacitate the shooter; act with physical aggression and improvise weapons.
Hyland says their initial presentation can be followed with a second session in which the officers do a tactical walk-through of the employees’ main work area and offer specific instructions on what best route for escape or places to hide.
“We know that a trained person experiences less stress in these situations,” says Hyland. “They can focus on strategies of escape and survival while others may panic and freeze in disbelief. Our program offers an in-depth look at the physiological and psychological effects of a lethal threat situation. We then discuss methods to overcome these natural reactions and increase our survival mindset.” Hyland also recommends visiting the UConn Office of Emergency Management website for additional information and downloadable content.
If your group or department is interested in hosting a program, complete the online request form and a S.T.A.R.T. officer will work out the details with you.
UConn Health Wellness Center One Year Anniversary. November 1, 2018. (Kristin Wallace/UConn Health Photo)
The UConn Health Wellness Center is celebrating its first year of operation, a year that saw enrollment shatter initial expectations.
More than 800 faculty, staff and students have signed up to be members of the Wellness Center, located on the main floor of the academic building, former location of the Friend’s Lecture Hall (LM034).
“We were projecting 500 members to start,” says Lisa DeToma, the administrative program coordinator who oversees the Wellness Center. “We offered three classes a week when we first opened, and now we have more than doubled the weekly class offerings.”
Regular classes include qi gong, yoga, and tai chi. Themed programs such as the “stair and step challenge” are also available.
Dr. Andy fits in a chair massage during the Wellness Center’s first anniversary celebration. (Kristin Wallace/UConn Health Photo)
Today the wellness center marks its first-year success with a full day of events, including chair massages, “Ask the Dietitian,” gifts for all members, healthy snacks, nutrition information, music, and drawings.
“I have been going to our gym since the opening and my life has improved for the better in so many ways,” says Rob Gottlieb, an environmental health and safety specialist. “My stress level is down, my cholesterol and blood pressure are down, and I am feeling better about myself. I love our gym and hope to maintain an active membership. I hope it flourishes and that it is properly maintained because it offers such a valuable service to its employees – a healthy lifestyle!”
Other plans for future programs include self-defense, total body conditioning, mindfulness meditation, and possibly spin classes.
The UConn Health Wellness Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s accessible by ID badge and offers cardio machines, free weights, resistance machines, locker rooms with showers, and rooms for fitness classes. Registration forms are available on the Membership page.
Our Husky Heroes rocked it at the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event on Sunday, October 28. American Cancer Society patient navigator, Amber Tillinghast, tells us that there was an incredible team of 35 participants this year. They raised over $1200 and hosted a very successful survivor reception, in which they were able to mingle with many UConn Health breast cancer survivors. They joined the other 1500 walkers in the fight against breast cancer – one step at a time. Thank you to our participants and donors for their time, effort and support!
UConn Health hosted a dinner on Wednesday night, honoring employees who have given 25 years or more of service. Dr. Alan Lurie, chair of the Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences was the guest of honor, having served for 45 years. (Photos by Alexis Crean)
National Mammography Day is October 19 and serves as a reminder to all women that the best defense is early detection. A screening mammogram looks for breast cancer in women with no symptoms. The goal is to catch the disease early, when it may be more treatable. Make sure you get your regular checkups.
Your co-workers throughout the UConn Health community ask you to join them in raising breast cancer awareness by wearing pink on Friday. Shout out to the UConn Health Internal Medicine sites in East and West Hartford for participating in the cancer center’s Community Breast Navigation Program this year! With their help and expertise, the grant funded outreach program was able to educate women on the importance of screening and provide seamless navigation to screening.
The UConn Health Office of Healthcare and Regulatory Compliance includes (from left) Joanna Mackie, Shannon Kelmelis, Kim Bailot, Deb Abromaitis (interim compliance officer), Michelle Mendocha, Kaitlyn Rewenko, and, not pictured, Rikel Lightner. (Photo by Chris DeFrancesco)
One of the reasons for the UConn John Dempsey Hospital’s high marks in the latest Joint Commission survey is the work of the Office of Healthcare and Regulatory Compliance. Longtime UConn Health nurse and nurse administrator Deb Abromaitis serves as its interim compliance officer, and she credits her staff (and many others) for the successful visit. Today we get to know Deb a little better. She lives in Unionville with her husband, and has two grown sons and two grandchildren.
Deb Abromaitis
Favorite sport:
Figure skating
Favorite holiday:
Christmas. I love giving puzzles to my nieces, nephews and my children to figure out how to solve the puzzle to get a gift.
Favorite place(s) to visit:
Istanbul, Turkey. I also love to vacation in the Outer Banks with friends.
Favorite dining spot: I love going out to different restaurants for breakfast on the weekend with my husband and friends.
Interest outside of work:
I always love and treasure spending time with my family.
Describe your role here, and how your roles have changed/evolved over the years?
I’ve been the Interim Compliance Officer in the Office of Healthcare and Regulatory Compliance for less than a year. The first time I worked at UConn Health was about 30 years ago, and I have been in many positions over the years, starting as a per diem nurse then a nursing supervisor, manager, and director.
Some of the areas where I have managed include the Nursing Supervisors, Bed Control, Float Pool, Transportation, Emergency Management, Environment of Care, Patient Relations, Volunteers, Spiritual Services, Interpreters, Quality and Regulatory.
When you were first starting as a nurse, if someone told you that you’d be a hospital compliance officer, how would you have reacted?
I would never have believed it! I love people and knew that as long as I was a nurse I would never be anywhere but at the bedside!
What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your job today?
The most challenging would be having others understand that we are trying to be helpful when we work with areas to meet the needs and regulatory requirements for the patients, the staff and the institution.
The most rewarding is watching patient care improve, staff pride and satisfaction grow, and the institution get recognized for the great work that we do and the care that we provide.
We recently had an unannounced accreditation survey by The Joint Commission. What goes into preparing for and dealing with that, and what made it successful?
In the hospital we say that we are always prepared for a survey. It’s working hard every day to do everything possible to educate and train all staff to meet all regulations to provide the highest level of care to all patients.
What made it successful is the commitment of everyone at UConn Health to remain regulatory compliant and provide the highest level of care to our patients. We hear that it takes a village….and it truly does! There are so many employees who work very hard and are willing to do whatever they can to help have a positive impact on our survey. They are sincerely appreciated!
I don’t want to name individuals as I know I would feel terrible about leaving out the many, many people who were instrumental in this success. I do need to recognize Dr. Agwunobi’s constant support of the readiness process, including his commitment to securing repeated visits from The Joint Commission Resource consultants who helped us prepare for the actual survey. In addition, I do need to highlight:
My staff in the Office of Healthcare and Regulatory Compliance, who worked tirelessly for months training and obtaining all documents needed.
Senior leadership, who provided a plethora of time and support as well as vision.
Chapter leaders, who ensured compliance and readiness with Joint Commission standards.
Nursing and all staff who worked tirelessly to prepare their units and the entire hospital to be ready for the survey each day. Those who willingly spoke with Joint Commission surveyors and shared the positive aspects of what we do were terrific!
Support staff who assisted day in and day out as ambassadors, scribes, runners, drivers, catering, maintenance, facilities, housekeeping.
Everyone worked together to ensure we showed The Joint Commission the best of UConn John Demspey Hospital. The work of so many wonderful, dedicated staff made the entire survey an incredible success!
And when you’re not working, you’re often volunteering?
I love to volunteer, including being the opening ceremonies and figure skating competitions director and coordinator for the Connecticut Special Olympics for many years, volunteering on the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), fundraising for the American Heart Association, and I’m very proud that I brought and chaired the first Relay for Life in Farmington!
Your family seems to have several connections with UConn basketball.
My husband played basketball at UConn (Jim Abromaitis, 1975-1980). My older son played basketball at Yale (Jason Abromaitis, 2003-2007), and married Ann Strother, who played basketball at UConn. They have two children, a 3-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl. My other son played basketball at Notre Dame (Tim Abromaitis, 2007-2012). I never played basketball, but was a UConn cheerleader.
Wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits of all who attended this year’s Fall Festival. More than 1,000 enjoyed the annual autumnal treats and voting for their favorite Pumpkin Palooza entry. Thanks to those who volunteered and quickly turned the cafeteria into a delightful venue for this fall favorite. Photos by Tina Encarnacion.
More than 11,000 surgeries are performed here every year from foot surgery to brain surgery which takes a lot of coordination and planning to make sure patients get the best care possible. A key reason our ORs run smoothly and efficiently is the dedication and tireless work of nurse manager Ellen Benson. She’s worked at UConn Health for the last 28 years. Ellen lives in Harwinton with her husband of 36 years. She has three grown children.
Ellen Benson
Favorite book:
I was never much of a reader, but I fell in love with Edgar Allan Poe when I was a kid, weird little short stories, they were great for my attention span at the time
Favorite movie: I love Harry Potter and Indiana Jones movies.
Favorite time of year: I love the fall. The cool crisp air, the colors, the smells and the comfort foods (like apple crisp and ice cream). Halloween is one of my favorite “holidays.”
Favorite place to visit: This is a toss- up. I love the beach and I also love to hike in the woods, no particular location. As long as my family is with me, I’m happy anywhere.
Famous person you’d most like to meet: Colin Powell. I read his autobiography and was amazed at his life story, the places he has traveled, the work he did, the people that he knew. I would also have loved to have met and worked with Florence Nightingale – she is my hero!
Something about you today that your younger self would never believe: That I would love my job even more today than I did when I first started and that I would be the manager of the OR.
Why did you become a nurse? I went to a career fair when I was 18 years old and was introduced to the surgical technology profession. I grew up butchering chickens with my grandfather, so I thought – I can do that job! I worked for about a year full time and then realized I could do more, so my husband encouraged me to go to nursing school.
How did you end up being the OR nurse manager? I worked for nearly 19 years from 3 to 11 p.m. as a staff nurse. That was an extraordinary opportunity because I learned so much. I worked with a small group who really helped each other and it was an awesome environment. Working evenings also gave me the opportunity to be home during the day with my children. It was the perfect work/life balance for us. When my youngest daughter was in high school, my husband said it was time to switch shifts. It just so happened that the assistant nurse manager position opened up. I had never thought about going into management but I thought that it might be a good move for me. I got the position and learned many new skills. When the manager position became available, a few people encouraged me to apply. Much to my surprise, I was hired for the position and have been the manager for almost five years now.
What has been a major milestone in your career? I earned my bachelor’s degree about a year ago. That was a huge personal achievement! I was highly encouraged to complete my degree by nursing administration and they really supported me through the process. I enjoyed taking classes with the younger students who were fresh out of their associate degree programs. I have worked in the OR my whole life so it was great looking at nursing through their eyes. I ended up being a mentor to quite a few of them and I still stay in touch with them, so that was really a wonderful experience. My husband and children also helped me achieve this milestone, if it weren’t for their support, it would have never happened.
Why do you like working at UConn Health? It’s just a wonderful place to work. We have this beautiful new hospital and we have great nurses, physicians and support staff to help us fulfill our mission of teaching and caring for the people of the state of Connecticut.
I love coming to work every day. I am proud to be a part of the UConn family.
Last night’s mass shooting at a bar in Thousand Oaks, Calif., may have you thinking about what you would do in a similar situation. UConn Police and law enforcement agencies across the country recommend escaping if you can, hiding if you can’t, and fighting only if you have to. Or to put it more simply: Run, hide, fight.
