What's New
TODAY: Today with Macrae
Join Jim and special guests as we observe World AIDS Day and for the latest funding and program updates.
1:30-2:45 p.m. ET
Join the session
Call-in: 833-568-8864
Webinar ID: 161 971 2539
You can find recordings and presentation slides from 2018 to the present in the webcast archives.
|
MONDAY: BPHC All-Hands
Join Jim for a recap of the National Association of Community Health Centers Partner Conference, updates on the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), Uniform Data System patient-level reporting (UDS+), and more!
Monday, December 9
1:30-2:45 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
Join by phone: 833-568-8863
Webinar ID: 160 111 3771
|
Updated BPHC Data Resources page now available!
This week, OSBO’s Data Division updated the BPHC Data Resources page on the BPHC Information and Resources (BIR) SharePoint site. Visit to learn more about BPHC's internal and external data tools, dataset and visualization resources, and much more! The restructured page helps you locate resources quickly. There is also a new "Archived" section for historical workgroups and other older material. If you have feedback or questions on the updated page, contact OSBOBI@hrsa.gov.
|
New ServiceNow Ticket System starts tomorrow
OIT is launching a new ticket system TOMORROW (Friday, December 6) to replace the NIH ServiceNow portal. This new system is tailored to HRSA's specific needs, making it easier to submit and track IT requests.
Go to the registration page to sign up for an overview session in December or January on using the new system.
|
Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey update
BPHC is gearing up for a new FEVS action planning cycle as 2024 results are shared across offices. Before identifying new FEVS priorities, leadership is excited to share final updates from the plans we implemented in response to the 2023 results. Visit the BPHC FEVS Action Plan Portal to see a summary of progress and accomplishments from all offices this past year to improve in FEVS priority areas. Highlights include:
- 123 completed staff engagement activities.
- Staff recognition events.
- Strategic planning sessions at multiple levels.
Stay tuned for a presentation of 2024 FEVS results and next steps related to action planning during Monday’s All-Hands. You can explore these results and action planning resources via the HRSA CART 2.0: EVS Cross Agency Reporting Tool, the BPHC FEVS Data Comparison Tool (2019-2024), and the BPHC FEVS Sharepoint site.
|
BPHC staff tour Whitman-Walker
Last month, 15 BPHC employees visited Whitman-Walker in Washington, D.C. Whitman-Walker is a HRSA-funded health center that provides community-based health and wellness services. For over 50 years, Whitman-Walker has served as a first responder and care-provider for those living with HIV, a leader in LGBTQ+ care and advocacy, and a research center helping discover breakthroughs in HIV treatment and prevention science.
Tour participants learned about the health center’s history and met with its executive leadership team and staff. The health center shared insights about a variety of health and wellness services it provides, its patient population, the challenges it faces, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) outreach efforts, and more.
We spoke with one of the tour participants, Rebecca Dutton, a Public Health Analyst in OPPD, about her experience.
How was your overall Health Center Tour experience?
The tour was incredibly inspiring, as it highlighted the dedication and hard work of the health center staff. It was a valuable opportunity to learn more about their daily operations and to have my questions about the health center patients, staff, and funding answered firsthand.
What were some of the highlights from the tour?
Hearing directly from Whitman-Walker's leadership about their history, mission, and future plans. Touring the facility — exam rooms, pharmacy, and building — offered valuable insights into their operations and community impact. Their commitment to reducing the life-expectancy gap in D.C. was evident, particularly through plans for their new Max Robinson Center in Ward 8.
How does your work at BPHC connect to the day-to-day work of the health center?
My work at BPHC focuses on understanding the needs and efforts of health centers by engaging with leaders, staff, patients, and community members to improve programs and policies, ultimately enhancing the efficiency and impact of the Health Center Program. Hearing directly from Whitman-Walker staff and observing their operations provided valuable insights and deepened my understanding of how our work translates into meaningful outcomes.
Do you have any thoughts you would like to share with future Health Center Tour participants?
The tour was an inspiring way to see the real-world impact of BPHC's work through the lens of one rather unique health center. It provided a perspective that goes beyond reports or UDS data. The tour also offered an opportunity to connect with colleagues across BPHC and understand their work more deeply.
Missed the last wrap-up article about the BPHC Health Center Tour Program? Read about Neighborhood Health in the September 5 Insider. If you are interested in participating in a tour, let your supervisor know.
 Meghan Davies (far right), Chief Operating Officer of Whitman-Walker, poses with BPHC staff.
Victoria Andriessen presents poster at APHA conference on health centers and ending the HIV epidemic
Last month, Victoria Andriessen, Public Health Analyst in OQI's Data and Evaluation Division, presented a poster on a study titled, "Health centers and the HIV epidemic: A crucial safety net" at the American Public Health Association (APHA) 2024 Annual Meeting and Expo. Analyses indicate that health centers provided care to a substantial proportion of patients living with HIV in 2021 and 2022, are at the front line for providing HIV testing and early detection, and can serve as valuable resources for addressing the HIV epidemic. View the poster in the UDS Data Resources Conference Presentation Library.
Reflecting on the experience, Victoria left with a sense that "it is important to not only be culturally sensitive and expand access to care for communities that have historically been excluded from medical resources, but also to create public health policies that are data-driven, inclusive, and meet communities where they are."
If you have questions about this study, contact Victoria Andriessen.
NOTE: At the same conference, Ayanna Williams, Public Health Analyst in OQI’s Quality Division, presented on “Understanding the impact and challenges of self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) in HRSA-funded health centers: Findings from the National Hypertension Control Initiative.”
 From left: Victoria Andriessen, Public Health Analyst, BPHC; Devki Shah, HRSA Pathways Intern, IEA; Elizabeth Ruiz, Public Health Analyst, IEA.
Length of service anniversaries
To acknowledge BPHC employees’ federal length of service milestone anniversaries, we publish a quarterly bulletin and announce the names at a BPHC All-Hands meeting. Learn more, and see some of the staff with anniversaries, in the fourth quarterly bulletin issued yesterday.
CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who reached a milestone service anniversary between October 1 and December 31!
|
Getting to know Jessica (Jessi) Rettberg
Editor’s note: Interested in participating in a “Getting to know” column for the first or second time? Take a look at the questions to see what’s involved and check out our Getting to Know BPHC Staff page.
Meet Jessica (Jessi) Rettberg, Public Health Advisor, Technical Assistance & Assessments, OHCPM:
|
When I was a kid, I wanted to be:
A nurse.
Where did you grow up and what do you like best about your hometown?
I grew up in Perry Hall in Baltimore County, Maryland, and I really love taking walks at our local parks and reservoirs.
You’re happiest when:
I’m traveling. For example, the picture is from a recent trip to Iceland.
What is your favorite sport or sports team?
I’m not a huge sports fan, but I do root for Ohio State’s football team since I went to college there.
What is your favorite kind of pie?
My favorite kind of pie is chocolate peanut butter pie.
Learn more about Jessi. Email BPHC Insider to submit your name for a future Getting to Know.
|
HRSA & HHS Happenings
TODAY: World AIDS Day Commemoration Event
Join HRSA’s 2024 World AIDS Day Commemoration Event in-person or virtually. This year’s theme is "Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress.” The event will feature remarks from HRSA leadership, several new announcements, and an engaging panel discussion with HIV community leaders and people with lived experience.
The event is open to all HRSA recipients, subrecipients, stakeholders, and federal employees. We encourage HRSA staff to attend in person!
11:00 a.m.-noon ET
5600 Fishers Lane Atrium
Registration page
In case you missed it, see the Dear Colleagues letter from Associate Administrator Jim Macrae about World AIDS Day.
|
TODAY: Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Employee Resource Group annual event
Join the RPCVs@HRSA Employee Resource Group for their virtual 8th annual “Around the World with Peace Corps: A Global Health & Cultural Experience” event to learn about your HRSA colleagues’ international service. This event highlights the culture of volunteerism and community-driven work that is central to Peace Corps service and HRSA’s mission.
2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Join the session
|
TUESDAY: Resolving Conflict webinar
Join the Council on Employees with Disabilities for a webinar exploring how to resolve conflict with a co-worker through an impartial mediator with HRSA’s Voluntary Mediation Services.
Tuesday, December 10
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
Call-in: 833 568 8864
Webinar ID: 87753317
|
NEXT THURSDAY: 42nd Annual HRSA Honor Awards ceremony
Plan to attend next week’s annual HRSA Honor Awards ceremony! HRSA will provide transportation and serve light refreshments after the ceremony. Send reasonable accommodation requests to RA-Request@hrsa.gov.
Thursday, December 12
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Hilton Rockville Executive Meeting Center
1750 Rockville Pike
Rockville, Maryland 20852
|
Save the date: HRSA holiday party on December 17
Join your colleagues from across HRSA for the HRSA holiday party at 5600 Fishers Lane to celebrate the season! Bring your favorite dessert to share and wear your ugliest holiday sweater.
Tuesday, December 17
2:00-4:00 p.m. ET
5th floor Pavilion rooms
|
Staffing Updates
New hires
Both effective Sunday, December 1.
-
Tihitina Chamiso, OQI, Public Health Analyst.
-
Kelly McGowan, OQI, Public Health Analyst.
On the move
-
Haleh Sepasi, OSBO, Supervisory Management Analyst (Deputy Office Director), effective Sunday, December 1.
BPHC job announcement
-
Public Health Analyst, GS-685-12 (FPL 13) closes Friday, December 13. Duty locations: San Francisco, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Rockville, Maryland; New York, New York; and Seattle, Washington.
For other jobs at HRSA, visit USAJOBS.
For other detail opportunities, go to the Detail and Deployment Opportunities SharePoint page.
How satisfied are you with this issue? Give us your feedback.
|
