Dr. Kratochvil to lead Big Ten task force for emerging infectious diseases

The Big Ten Conference Monday formally announced the formation and membership of its first-ever Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Initially formed on March 7, at the request of Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, the 14-member task force consists of a representative from each conference institution appointed by the Big Ten Council of Presidents/Chancellors.

The task force was formed to provide counsel and sound medical advice to ensure the health, safety and wellness of the Big Ten’s students, coaches, administrators and fans. Members of the task force represent a diverse set of disciplines across campus health care systems and schools of public health, and their input will serve as a resource for the conference to make important decisions based on information received from local, state and federal health departments, along with the NCAA.

“These are unprecedented times in our world and the focus of any conversation taking place in college athletics right now is the health, safety and welfare of students and the public,” Warren said. “We are truly blessed to have a collection of world-class research institutions with the resources and talented medical experts on campus that allowed us to quickly assemble this task force to address a global pandemic. We are thankful to have the task force in place moving forward to allow the Big Ten Conference to position itself at the forefront of this issue and to share best practices for the management of and response to emerging infectious diseases now and in the future.”

The group is chaired by Chris Kratochvil, M.D, UNMC associate vice chancellor for clinical research and professor of psychiatry and pediatrics, as well as the executive director of the Global Center for Health Security at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.

UNMC, which played a key role in the treatment of the Ebola virus in 2014, is home to the National Quarantine Center, the nation’s only federal quarantine unit, and is also the location of the National Biocontainment Training Center.

“The task force leverages extraordinary expertise from across the Big Ten, tackling COVID-19 related issues important to student-athletes and athletic programs,” Dr. Kratochvil said. “Strong participation by all of the Big Ten universities has provided for a robust and synergistic team. The group serves as a resource to the entire conference, addressing current infectious disease concerns, while preparing the Big Ten for the safe resumption of athletic activities in the future.”

The task force has been working via weekly conference calls to assist the conference and its member institutions with best practices both currently, in light of the fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and long term. The group has provided input during conference discussions regarding the cancellation of winter and spring sports competition during the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year and will provide critical guidance around return-to-campus decisions at the appropriate time.