October 27, 2023

A Fond Farewell To Michele Doucette

Some somber news to share. Michele Doucette, a one-time DFM colleague has passed away after a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.

Pictured above (on the left) with friends and colleagues, Robert McGranaghan and Robyn Wearner, Michele contributed greatly to family medicine.

Her contributions to DFM included, but are not limited to, applying technology to the UME and Rural Track programs, residency improvement projects, helping develop modules for CUeLearning, assisting the Community-Campus Partnership with their website and working on BRANCH, a student-run group that helped build community gardens, which built on her experience as a registered dietician.

Our own Robyn Wearner reflects on what she learned from and will keep close to her heart when remembering Michele.

A Department of Family Medicine Mentor and Friend, Michele Doucette.

Michele took me under her wings the moment we met in the DFM in 2011. We became fast friends as we worked on meaningful projects together, and with our dear friend Robert McGranaghan. Here are my take-aways from cherished time with Michele:

1.      Listen. Michele was an active listener and this refined skill carried over into all her relationships and work, setting up success time and time again.

2.      Mentor and Friend are synonymous. A bi-directional relationship unfolds more possibilities for both mentor and mentee and a friendship formed from supporting one another, championing one another, and caring deeply for one another creates a force that fills and sustains those fortunate enough to experience mentor as friend, friend as mentor.  

3.      Strengths and teamwork. Michele modeled dedication to tasks and teams. As a systems thinker and technical leader, Michele knew her strengths and skills were stronger when shared on diverse teams she could learn from, lean on and create with.  

4.      Use tools. Identify, learn and use tools to advance your work. Some are scary at first but taking on the Michele Doucette’s growth mindset “I can do this”, and we learn and grow by challenging ourselves to use new tools to advance our work.

lick the button below to find out.

State Of The Department Wrap-up

In case you missed the DFM State of the Department Address from our chair, Dr. Myra Muramoto - we've got you covered.

Just click the button below to watch the video of her presentation - Moving Forward Together: Innovating For The Future.

Register Today!

Don't miss your chance to join the University of Colorado Department of Family Medicine as it presents the 4th Annual Greg White CSTAHR Levitt Lecture.

"Data, Algorithms, and Racial Health Equity"

• Wednesday, November 15, 2023.
• Q20-N8200 Bushnell Auditorium, 8^th Floor, Fitzsimons Building, CU Anschutz Medical Campus
• Lunch served to those who rsvp to join in-person ( **100 person limit**)
• Presentation begins at 12:30 pm (MST) and wraps up at 1:30 pm (MST)

This is a free, hybrid event features Elaine O. Nsoesie, PhD, MS – Associate Professor, School of Public Health, Boston University.

Clinical Call-Outs!

Patients are saying some nice things about our DFM clinicians.

Sean Oser - UCHealth Lone Tree Primary Care:

"I love Dr. Oser . I refuse to see anyone else. He always treats me with respect and listens to me and is always willing to help to the best of his ability. I've been seeing him for almost 5 years and won't be changing any time soon."

Jaclyn Bassett, CU Family Medicine Park Meadows:

"Jaclyn is the most wonderful person I know. She listens intently to my concerns, offers options, explains everything and is very patient. I really enjoy my visits with her. I trust in her completely."

New Research Projects

The DFM Research and Innovation team is proud to announce three recent research project additions to their portfolio.

• Long COVID; Finding The Best Ways To Help Patients
• Weight Management In Primary Care; Research Project Aims To Make It Work
• Improving Diabetes Care; Automated Insulin Delivery Systems In Primary Care

Click on the buttons below to read the stories about these exciting new projects.

DFM Strategic Planning Resource Center

As the department's strategic planning process moves forward, many on the DFM team are asking for a reminder on how to keep abreast of the latest developments and how to contribute ideas or ask questions.

As always, you are welcome to reach out to any one of our colleagues on the strategic planning steering committee or drop us a line.

The steering committee list of names and email contacts AND the link to the strategic planning ideas/questions form are all in one place that is easy to find. The DFM Intranet!

DEIA Fair And Good Trouble

The CU Anschutz Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement (ODEICE) recently held its DEIA Fair.

DFM's Dr. Cleveland Piggott delivered the keynote address and family medicine medical student, Medha Gudavalli, received the 2023 Good Trouble Award for going above and beyond to advocate for equity and justice in healthcare and society.

Click the button below for more information on the Good Trouble Award and Medha's fellow award recipients.

HR Monthly Tip

One of our benefits is Sleepio, the online sleep improvement program that’s scientifically proven to work.

Professional Development Pro Tip

All of us—from accountants to event planners—regularly perform creative acts. It's what allows us to reorient a project gone awry or capture the perfect shot of our friend beaming at their birthday party. Our brains already have the built-in machinery to be wildly creative—some of us just need a bit of clarity on the process. Check out the LinkedIn Learning course, Put Your Relaxed Brain To Work.

Give Back To DFM

Payroll deduction - One-time gift - Planned giving. Showing your support for DFM is easy. 

Visit the Endowment page to learn more about the endowment campaign and how you can become involved.

Look back at past editions of the DFM Monthly Newsletter