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“Amazing!” “Inspiring!” “A revealing perspective” is what people said about Dr. Barbara Ferrer last summer

Summer 2017, Dr. Ferrer was new on the job as Director of LA County Public Health, and lit up the NML West Conference room with her vision of what LA County healthcare could, can, and will be on her watch.

So we are delighted that she returns this year to share her progress over the past year with us.

Here’s what she said in an interview in May:

“Our 35,000-member workforce across the Health Agency are deeply committed and skilled professionals, with a passion for caring for our most vulnerable residents. As we acknowledge our need to focus on preventing disease (and not only healing), we will all need to embark on a learning journey to acquire or strengthen the skills to do health equity work. For example, we all need to build our skills around respecting and honoring diversity, including cultural humility and linguistic competency. We need to know how to confidently speak about racism and its generational impact on health, while simultaneously elevating the voices and experiences of the people we serve. We need to figure out how to defer to and embrace community leadership. People have the inherent capacity to understand themselves, their circumstances, and the solutions to address their challenges and we must be prepared to create spaces for meaningful ongoing interaction and problem solving.

“As our academic and workforce training partners help prepare the next generation of healthcare workers, our hope is that increased opportunities will be available for under-represented youth and residents to participate in health career training and academic programming, so that the health care workforce represents the diversity of the residents we serve. We would ask that an emphasis is placed on creating career paths that honor lived experience and reflect team learning through a culture of continuous improvement.”
Q & A WITH COMMISSIONER FERRER, California Future Health Workforce Commission, May 15, 2018

Places at the luncheon are dwindling, so please don’t delay registering for the July 19, 2018 event at HSC. Registration closes at noon on July 16.

Dr. Barbar Ferrer
Thursday, July 19, 2018, Noon to 1:30, Norris Library West Conference Room.
Click here to Register

Continue reading “Amazing!” “Inspiring!” “A revealing perspective” is what people said about Dr. Barbara Ferrer last summer

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Provost and Senior Vice Presidents Discuss the State of the University

Reposted from the USC Employee Gateway: https://employees.usc.edu/provost-svps-discuss-state-of-the-university/

Provost, SVPs discuss State of the University

The Women in Management (WIM) annual “State of the University” luncheon drew attendees from across USC campus locations to the Davidson Continuing Education Center last Thursday for a chance to hear from Provost Michael Quick as well as Senior Vice President of Finance Jim Staten, and University General Counsel Carol Mauch Amir.

Provost Quick recapped the recently updated strategic plan, and discussed USC’s dedication to diversity and inclusion. He also shared USC’s record-breaking number of undergraduate applicants this year – almost 64,000 applied, leading to USC’s most exclusive freshman class incoming this fall.

Carol Mauch Amir discussed her journey at USC, and noted that the number of incredible women in management positions has continued to grow over the years. She celebrated the accomplishment of USC Village opening, and highlighted upcoming projects the university has underway, including the Coliseum remodel, and USC’s involvement in the 2028 Olympics to be hosted in Los Angeles.

Jim Staten reviewing the university’s financial accomplishments over the past year, and shared plans USC intends to implement to face ongoing challenges, like those posed by recent federal and state legislation regarding tax reform.

As in previous years, the leaders addressed the crowd in a brief Q&A that allowed attendees to ask their own questions.

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WIM and METRANS Lunch with USC Trustee Suzanne Dworak-Peck

Reposted from METRANS, Pacific Southwest Region 9 UTC 

Sunday, March 25, 2018 – 9:45pm

By Richard Aviles, USC MSW MPL 2019

On March 6th, 2018, at the USC Doheny Memorial Library, USC Women in Management (WIM) and METRANS hosted USC alum Suzanne Dworak-Peck in a lunch conversation centered around her life and career, her principles, and her advice. Suzanne Dworak-Peck has served as President of the National Association of Social Work, is a member of the USC Board of Trustees, and is a proud social work practitioner, and generously provided the naming gift for the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. We appreciate her sharing her time and thoughts with us, and both WIM and METRANS for making this event possible.

Dworak-Peck stressed to the audience of students, faculty, staff, and practitioners from varied backgrounds know that at the center of her work and career, the values of social work have been at her core.  She noted that, as conveyed by the NASW’s Code of Ethics, social workers strive for “competence, dignity and worth of the person, human relationships, and social justice,” and these have been her guiding principles in all aspects of her life.

Dworak-Peck began her talk with a dilemma too common in the social work profession; for those people outside of the profession, social workers are believed to be simply “baby snatchers.” Dworak-Peck explained that the portrayal of social workers in the media does not do justice to the intricacies and pedagogy of the profession. As a dual degree student in Social Work and Planning, I am striving to follow in the legacy of Dworak-Peck: a nontraditional social work practitioner striving to find nontraditional solutions.

She reminded us that at a time where we have social movements like Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and Gun Violence Reform, it is more imperative than ever that we all reconnect to the principle of social justice. Dworak-Peck added that said principles are not limited to just the social work profession. As an example, she applied the NASW Code of Ethics in her real estate business, and believes that social workers can be, and work hand in hand with, developers, planners, artists, and politicians. Social workers, in the words of Suzanne Dworak-Peck, are driven by empathy; in a world that seems to be disconnected and disengaged, now is the time for social workers, and truly all of us, to step to the forefront and remind the world of the power of empathy and human connection.

About the Author: Richard Aviles

Aviles is a dancer, choreographer, and dual degree student. As an artist, Aviles focuses on choreographing queer and feminist theories in American Modern Dance. As a student, Aviles is interested in using his background in choreography to further his interest in spatial analysis and the role of social workers in the development process.

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7/28/2017 Luncheon with Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Director of LA County Public Health

Have lunch with the woman in management who takes care of the health of all 10.4 million of us in LA County.

Luncheon with Dr. Barbara Ferrer
Director of LA County Public Health

When: Friday, July 28, 2017, Noon Where: Norris Medical Library West Conference Room
Luncheon with Dr. Barbara Ferrer
Director of LA County Public Health
When: Friday, July 28, 2017, Noon
Where: Norris Medical Library West Conference Room
RSVP: http://uscwim.org/calendar.asp

As director of public health, Dr. Barbara Ferrer works to further the Los Angeles County Health Agency to further its mission to integrate services and activities that enable the Health Agency to build health equity across the county. The Department of Public Health is one of three agencies that make up the Health Agency. The other two are the Department of Health Services and the Department of Mental Health.

Dr. Ferrer was previously the chief strategy officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she oversaw key program areas, including food, health, and well-being. She has also been a senior leader of public health agencies in Massachusetts, particularly in Boston.

Dr. Ferrer has a doctorate in social welfare from Brandeis University, where she was a Pew Doctoral Fellow. She also holds master’s degrees in public health from Boston University and in education from UMass, Boston. She earned her bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Cruz.

Reservation and cancellation deadline is July 21, 2017 so we can get the catering worked out. Please email Ginger Mayerson at mayerson@usc.edu. Checks must be received by July 17 to Ginger Mayerson (MC 0281) to facilitate check-in. RSVPs will be voided on July 18 if checks are not received to accommodate the waiting list. WIM is responsible for each RSVP, so kindly bear in mind that there is no refund for no-shows. Please call Ginger at 323-384-6049 if you have any questions.

click for pdf flyer

Click here for the whole 2017 WIM HSC Summer Program post


And don’t forget to check our calendar for exciting new events.

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WIM HSC Summer Program

Updated July 17: Click here for updated pdf Summer Program flyer; Updated July 13: good to go on Yoga Breathing, thanks everyone; Updated July 12 to add name and description to 8/8 prof dev biking session; Updated July 11 to add note on Yoga Breathing; Updated July 10 to add prices for events; Updated July 6 to add August 8 biking Prof Dev session (see below).

The first ever WIM HSC Summer Program:

Yoga Breathing for Health and Happiness
(and those times when screaming into a pillow isn’t an option)
July 18, 2017 10:00-11:00am
Yoga teacher Lisa Moncure shows us various breathing techniques to get calm and centered when the stress goes up, and how to use breathing to boost your energy naturally, especially around that mid-afternoon slump. More information on this event closer to the date. Seating is very limited, so please don’t delay submitting your RSVP.
Norris Medical Library West Conference room
FREE for WIM members; $10 for non-members

Mixer at Edmondson Lounge
Unwind with WIM.
July 20, 2017 4-7pm
Edmondson Lounge. Please RSVP in case Edmondson changes the date (this happens sometimes).
FREE to all.

Luncheon with Dr. Barbara Ferrer
Director of LA County Public Health
July 28, 2017 Noon to 1:30
More information on this event closer to the date. Seating is very limited, so please don’t delay submitting your RSVP.
Norris Medical Library West Conference room
$18 for WIM members; $20 for non-members

Learning Google Hangouts
August 2, 2017 8:30-9:30
Rev up your speakers and microphone and learn how fun and useful Google Hangouts can be for you.
Online course, so need you to RSVP so we can email the GH link to you.
FREE for WIM members; $10 for non-members

Citizen Cycling – a quick and fun guide to urban bike riding
August 8, 2017 9:00-10:00am
Josef Bray-Ali and Susan Wong discuss biking in LA, especially the HSC part of LA, biking to work, and biking for fun. It’s all about gear, dressing for bike riding success, safety (hear stories about every possible crazy thing that can happen to riders in this part of LA), and the benefits of biking as often as possible. All your biking questions will be answered on August 8. Children under 18 may attend for free if accompanied by a responsible adult. RSVP closes on Friday, August 4, at NOON. Seating is very limited, so please don’t delay submitting your RSVP. Thanks.
Norris Medical Library West Conference room
FREE for WIM members; $10 for non-members

Using Google Drive
August 9, 2017 8:30-9:30
Spend some time with the most useful tool in the admin toolbox.
Online course, so need you to RSVP so we can email the GH link to you.
FREE for WIM members; $10 for non-members

Mixer at Edmondson Lounge
August 15, 2017 4-7pm
Unwind again with WIM.
Edmondson Lounge. Please RSVP in case Edmondson changes the date (this happens sometimes).
FREE to all.

Joy, Success and Meaning: Creating the Balance you Desire
August 17, 2017 Noon to 1:30
Are you living the life you have always wanted, or are you just going through the motions of every day? This workshop introduces a structured method to help you identify the most important areas in your life and to focus with intention on the areas that you want to improve. You will leave this workshop knowing what is important to you and excited about making positive changes in various areas of your life. You may be discussing topics of a personal nature (but you don’t have to), so please come with an open mind and agree to keep everything said confidential. Facilitated by Elaine Padilla, Ana Nguyen, and Kristine Moe. Seating is very limited, so please don’t delay submitting your RSVP.
Norris Medical Library East Conference room
FREE for WIM members; $10 for non-members

Dates and times subject to change, please RSVP to be notified.


And don’t forget to check our calendar for exciting new events.

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December 6, 2016: Local to Global Community Capacity Building

Local to Global Community Capacity Building
Tuesday, December 6, 12:00 pm – 1:00 p.m.
Speaker
Lynn Crandall, MA, Director IGM Art Gallery
HSC Location: IGM Harkness Auditorium, CSC Bldg 2nd Fl
[For those coming from UPC: The best parking option/location will be the San Pablo Structure. The booth is staffed. Here’s the map: CLICK Walk out to Alcazar and then walk up the slight hill toward Soto St. to the CSC building (white with turquoise square in front of it on the map)]
Lunch: Members $18 | Non-members $20
RSVP at http://www.uscwim.org/calendar.asp by November 23rd


Continue reading December 6, 2016: Local to Global Community Capacity Building

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October 18, 2016: Jodie Gates, Director, Vice Dean, USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance

UPC Speaker Series w/ Jodie Gates, Director, Vice Dean, USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance

A tour of the new Kaufman School of Dance will be included within the scheduled program, with attendees walking over from the discussion to the school. 11:30 to 1. Entire program to end at 1:00pm.
RSVP here: http://uscwim.org/calendar.asp