UC President Janet Napolitano has rescinded a policy that barred the university from investing directly in companies that commercialize technology that has emerged through UC research.

The president also announced the formation of the UC Innovation Council, an outside group of advisers who will support the university’s many efforts in technology commercialization. The group, whose members will include a cross-section of investment and business executives, venture capitalists and technology experts, will meet for the first time in August.

“These measures are key to supporting and expanding the entrepreneurial culture on our campuses, and enhancing the innovation ecosystem at the University of California,” Napolitano said in her June 26 announcement. “The technology and companies incubated at UC have a direct and critical impact on the state’s economic growth, and our continued support is integral to our university’s public mission.”

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Survey seeks opinions on UC-sponsored medical plans

It isn't spam, it isn't phishing — it's a real survey from UC Human Resources, asking for your opinion on your university-sponsored medical plan.

Unlike in previous years when the university surveyed a small sample of employees and retirees, this year all faculty, staff and retirees enrolled in UC-sponsored plans are being asked to provide feedback. Retirees enrolled in Medicare plans are not being surveyed.

The survey should have popped into your email inbox on Monday (June 30), that is, if you are faculty or staff with an email on file. The email provides this link to the online survey.

Employees and retirees without work email addresses are due to receive postcards by mail, inviting the recipients to go online to complete the survey.

The survey is open through July 15.

“The university invests heavily in this area and we realize the importance of these plans to our participants,” said Dwaine Duckett, vice president of Human Resources. “This feedback will help us with planning and shaping our offerings for future years.”

With about 20 questions, the survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous and confidential.

Questions? Contact UC Human Resources by email.

Medical center adds same-day surgery site in Davis

Orthopaedic surgeons based at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento are performing some outpatient surgeries and procedures in Davis as part of a new affiliation with the Davis Surgery Center.

The location provides a convenient alternative for same-day surgery patients who reside in Yolo County.

Surgeries at the center, 2120 Cowell Blvd. in south Davis, involve noninvasive arthroscopic repairs to bone and joint injuries of the hand, knee, shoulder, wrist and elbow, including carpal tunnel syndrome and meniscal tears. Complex procedures requiring post-operative hospital admission will continue to be scheduled at the medical center.

“The Davis center offers a small, accessible location for those whose procedures don’t require the many resources of a large academic medical center,” said Maureen McKennan, regional affiliations officer for the UC Davis Health System. “We hope this will be one of many affiliations that we establish to help serve patients in surrounding communities who rely on UC Davis for their care.”

More information about UC Davis orthopaedic surgery is available online.

Lyft, Uber, AirBnb: Under review, but not banned

The UC Office of the President has concerns about employees’ use of Lyft and Uber transportation and other so-called peer-to-peer services, such as AirBnb for lodging, but has not ruled them out as options for UC business travelers.

The issue arose June 25 when Inside Higher Education reported on an email that ciculated on the UCLA campus, saying Lyft, Uber, AirBnb and other service startups “should not be used because of concerns that these services are not fully regulated and do not protect users to the same extent as a commercially regulated business.”

“As the market matures and these businesses evolve, the university may reconsider whether reimbursement of travel costs provided by peer-to-peer or sharing businesses will be allowed.”

The Office of the President responded that it had not implemented a ban. “University employees currently use those services and are reimbursed for them when they involve UC business-related travel,” a spoksewoman said.

“We are, however, reviewing and evaluating issues revolving around the safety and security of our employees when they use such services. We are actively seeking ways to overcome potential liability and safety concerns and would like to work proactively with companies such as these to get everyone to a point of complete comfort with the risks involved.”

Inside Higher Education published a clarification on June 27, with the headline: “Actually, California, go ahead and order that Uber.”

Bloodmobiles drive off with 320 pints

Bloodmobiles filled up with 320 pints in last week’s collection drive on the Quad. “What a wonderful past two days we have shared out there on the UC Davis campus,” Felicia Roper of the Sacramento-based BloodSource wrote in an email.

She said 427 people registered to give blood (not everyone completes the process, for a variety of reasons), including 132 first-timers.

“It is because of your generosity, enthusiasm and commitment to saving patient lives that patients will be granted another day,” Roper said.

BloodSource serves more than 40 hospitals in Northern and Central California, including the UC Davis Medical Center.

The next blood drive is scheduled for Tuesday-Wednesday, Aug. 26-27, also on the Quad.

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