As year’s end, it is common practice to reflect on what has transpired over the prior 12 months. In preparation for this year’s message, I reviewed my InterCOM message from a year ago. Unfortunately, and with great disappointment, I found that most of the major concerns of the time remain, while many of the hopes have not come to pass. Political divisiveness, the pandemic and issues related to racism and social justice remain top of mind and largely unchanged.
Admittedly, two of the three are unlikely to be changed in a single year, but there was much optimism for the control of the COVID pandemic in the U.S. with the arrival of safe and effective vaccines and other means to both prevent and treat disease. However, as I write this message, we find ourselves in much the same situation with COVID as a year ago, due in large part to our inability to make progress on the other two issues (political divisiveness and racial/social injustice), coupled with the lack of global commitment/ability to develop and implement an effective global strategy for control of COVID. Viral genetic mutations resulting in delta and now omicron developed in other parts of the world where vaccine penetration is poor, reiterating that highly communicable infectious diseases are a global as well as local problem.
Our hospitals currently are full of very sick COVID patients, many of whom made the conscious decision to not take steps to prevent their infection — vaccine, masking, etc. As a result, patients who need timely care for other problems find themselves unable to receive it due the limited capacity of our hospitals to achieve the staffing needs required to provide that care. Our health care providers are stretched to and beyond their limits and increasingly subjected to hostile patients and family members. Having just finished an inpatient infectious disease consult service attending role at the VA — and preparing to do the same at Nebraska Medicine after the first of the year — I have some appreciation of the challenges that our clinical faculty residents, fellows, staff and students are confronting every day as they seek to provide the best care possible to not only those with COVID, but to all who need their help. You each have my utmost respect and appreciation.
Perhaps receiving less attention outside of UNMC and the College is the activity of our research and education programs. Their steady progress and success, as the individuals involved work around and through the pandemic and other obstacles thrown in front of them, has been truly admirable. Our students continue to learn and excel, and our research is contributing not only to the response to the pandemic, but leading progress in the understanding, diagnosis and prevention of a myriad of diseases and afflictions that beset mankind. I also am extremely thankful and appreciative of your efforts throughout the past year.
Despite the difficulties and setbacks of the last year, I have great hope for 2022. The potential expansion of COVID vaccine eligibility to all age groups, likely approval and release of a new potent oral anti-viral agent against SARS-CoV-2 and increased global distribution of vaccine offer hope that improvement in the pandemic may occur. Within the College, our diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership team are stimulating dialogue, as well as developing and implementing new programs to enhance the diversity of our college and make it a more welcoming place for all.
I am looking forward to spending time with my three young grandchildren in the coming weeks. The energy, excitement in the world around them and the eternal optimism exhibited by most children is stimulating and will undoubtedly reinvigorate me after a challenging year, preparing me to leap forward optimistically into 2022. I hope that each of you has and takes the opportunity to recharge over the holidays.
In closing, I once again thank you for all you do and will leave you with the same message as last year:
With the hope of a better future for all, I wish you, your families, and friends a wonderful holiday season and happy new year.
Bradley Britigan, MD
Dean, UNMC College of Medicine