September 2021

Meeting Minutes

September 29, 2021

SURPAS Council Meeting Agenda

Wednesday September 29th , 2021 11:30am-1:00pm 

Location: Zoom

 

Quorum:  13

  • Acknowledgment statement, inc group norms/mutual respect (2’) 
  • Welcome, Zoom etiquette (2’) 
  • Introductions and approval of minutes (5’)

4 new postdocs introduced

  • Welcome

Acknowledgement statement, Introductions and approval of minutes (10’)

Minutes approved by Julia and Vimala

  • Updates (10’)

COVID testing updates, testing once weekly if vaccinated and twice weekly if not as of September 20th

  • FSHC Presentation (45’)
    • Rosan Gomperts

Faculty staff help center representative. 2 confidential offices at stanford (FSHC and Ombuds). FSHC provides free and confidential services (coaching, consultation ect..) 10 sessions with first session as consultation. Facilitates conversations for work relationship difficulties, department support, online resources. They do groups and workshops, such as postdoc groups to talk about workplace issues or family groups. Workshops around emotional intelligence, facilitated conversations. Ex. work relationship that needs support can be done through here. Website (helpcenter.stanford.edu) with videos and other resources. 

Rosan talked about symptoms of stress/anxiety such as fatigue, headache, withdrawal, poor concentration ect… Managing anxiety by broadening window of tolerance, listening to others with an open mind, taking things one day at a time, and getting support (can do this through the help center). Mentioned that a lot of postdocs are experiencing burnout. Suggests to go outside, mindfulness techniques, boundaries, 

Resources for postdocs:

MERU health resource is free for postdocs, app based program. Works on anxiety, depression, stress. Meet with a therapist once and have access to them. SHCA insurance can get inexpensive visits with a therapist and psychiatrist that is cheap. BeWell program at stanford, Cardinal at work, Ombuds office, FSHC

Chinyere asks if there are any problems that would not qualify at FSHC. Rosan mentions if someone has a clinical level of mental health issues, they would talk to them about what previous support they’ve gotten and go from there. May be better served by more focused clinician, the FSHC is more broad. 

PTS is common for all kinds of things but way to tell if they need to reach out is all physiological (ex. Clenching, chest tightness). 

Eamon asks what the capacity of the FSHC is, what is the timeline? Rosan mentions that they are very busy but usually able to see somebody within 2 weeks. They only make one appointment the first time and then can make 2 appointments going forward. So will get more consistent after first assessment.

  • Council Member Elections (10’)
    • Kun Lyu

Wants to help develop postdoc community, enjoys teamwork. Wants to help with postdoc career development, focusing on non-academic options, networking events, bootcamps ect.. Interested in the housing and transportation committee. 

Chinyere asks about postdocs having an opportunity to showcase research and practice oral presentations, how would you go about facilitating this? 

Kun mentions he has experience in 3 minute thesis competition, where present whole thesis in 3-5 minutes so have practice presenting work in a concise format. On board to start planning something like that. 

VOTED IN- 14 yes 

  • NPAW (10’)

Chinyere thanked everyone involved in NPAW and volunteers. Inviting feedback from postdocs. 

  • Upcoming events (10’)
    • Coffee Social
      • Date: October 22nd, 2021
      • Location: TBD
  • October Council Meeting – Thursday, October 28th, 2021