There will be a town hall meeting from 12 p.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4 via Zoom, at which UNMC and Nebraska Medicine inclusion, wellness and academic and clinical leaders will discuss the COVID-19 crisis in India. With a massive surge in cases and an overwhelmed health system, the situation in India is a humanitarian crisis that has had a global effect, including at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.
A number of members of the medical center community have family and friends who have been affected by the pandemic.
“The university and Nebraska Medicine are thinking of our students, faculty and staff from India at this time,” said Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor at UNMC. “As they cope with this crisis, trying to get information from or help to family and friends in India, support from mentors, peers and the rest of the UNMC and Nebraska Medicine community is essential.”
“We recognize the importance of a forum for everyone to be able to come together during a crisis like this,” said Jim Linder, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine.
“Persons of Indian descent represent a large group of our students, faculty, clinicians and staff,” said Dele Davies, MD, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “We are cognizant of the impact this is having on this group of our UNMC and Nebraska Medicine families.”
Speakers will include Dr. Gold, Dr. Davies, Vimla Band, PhD, chair of the UNMC Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy; David Cates, PhD, director of Behavioral Health, Nebraska Medicine; Steve Wengel, MD, assistant vice chancellor for wellness, UNMC and UNO; and Sheritta Strong, MD, director of the UNMC Office of Inclusion.
The event will provide:
- an opportunity for all members of the medical center community to learn about how the crisis has affected the medical center community and about opportunities to help and support their colleagues.
- an opportunity for members of the Indian community to speak with medical center leaders about how the medical center can help meet their needs and have a space to share their ongoing concerns;
- options for financial support for colleagues and students through the University of Nebraska Emergency Assistance Fund and the Nebraska Medicine Emergency Assistance Fund; and
- information on a coordinated and effective wellness response, emphasizing access to wellness resources across the medical center.
Very good initiative for the Indian Covid-19 Crisis.