Statement from Dr. Gold
Statement from Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
Chancellor, UNMC
Chairman, Nebraska Medicine Advisory Board
UNMC and Nebraska Medicine wish to express our most heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those who were killed and injured in this weekend’s tragic act of violence in Orlando. We as a community are dedicated to the health and wellness of all people in our society, including those of the LGBT community. We grieve with them on their loss and wish those injured a speedy and complete recovery. In this moment, let us not perpetuate the cycle of hate and violence, but rather, as a community dedicated to healing, stand together to interrupt this cycle of senseless violence as the creative, loving, justice-seeking Americans that we are.
Violence of this nature is very much a public health issue, rooted widely across our country and around the world. It emerges continually to cause pain and suffering and, in this instance, a tragic loss of life of historic proportions. These tragedies affect not only those individuals and communities that are directly impacted, but touch all of us who have dedicated our careers to the elimination of human suffering. As a prominent academic medical center, we are dedicated to transforming human lives for a healthier future through healing and prevention.
A remembrance and community-strengthening event will take place Friday afternoon in the Durham Outpatient Center Atrium, in response to Sunday morning’s killings of 49 people in Orlando.
The Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs’ office and the LGBT+ Faculty Mentoring Group are hosting the event, which will begin at 3 p.m. It will include short remarks and light refreshments.
All faculty, staff, and students from UNMC and Nebraska Medicine are welcome to attend.
“The purpose of the event is to remember those who lost their lives to this senseless tragedy, as well as show our support of the LGBT community on campus and throughout our community,” said Russell Buzalko, Ph.D., an assistant professor in emergency medicine and chair of the LBGT+ Faculty Mentoring Group. “It’s also an opportunity to reach out to all members of the UNMC community.”
Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., said that violence of this nature “is very much a public health issue, rooted across our country and around the world.
“These tragedies affect not only those individuals and communities that are directly impacted, but touch all of us who have dedicated our careers to the elimination of human suffering,” Dr. Gold said. “As a prominent academic medical center, we are dedicated to transforming human lives for a healthier future through healing and prevention.”